Chapter 24: Jenny is my wife
Eduardo's face suddenly darkened at Betty's words. He put his hands on the wheel, stopping it from moving and glanced back at the imbecile that just spoke.
Jenny was puzzled. She should clear the table after everyone has eaten? Her mother had corrected her several times. This Betty of a girl is an idiot.
Don't they have servants at home who do it? When was she relegated to the position of a maid, that served and clear the table for Betty and her murderous parents? Even if the case is so, is she supposed to say it before her parents in-law that she is a proper lady?
"Excuse me, do you know whose wife you just talked to? Jenny is my wife and not a servant in this house. She's the eldest madam of this family and you talk to her about clearing the table and being a proper lady?
Who gave you the audacity to say a word against my wife? Who invited you to our family dinner that allowed you to point fingers at my wife? Maybe you haven't realised, she's no longer Jenny Davis, but Jenny Anderson. Don't forget something so vital again.." Eduardo chided her.
Betty felt her legs shivered at the words of the eldest master. She never knew he would talk in defence of Jenny so much. Had he grown to love her so much? She was yet to finish analysing her thoughts when Eduardo's mother spoke. "If she wasn't a sister to my daughter in-law, I would readily have thrown her out" she declared and eyed Betty from her head to her toes.
Jenny cannot explain how sweet her belly was. She smiled triumphantly and glanced at the shame faced Betty. She must have thought her mother was there as usual to shield her from her stupidity.
"Don't take her words to heart mother, she's still so young and ignorant" Jenny said and bent slightly to kiss Eduardo's hairy cheek," Forgive her my love" she said and smiled.
They appeared sweet together, though one on a wheelchair and the other pushing the wheelchair for him. Yet, they are great and fit to be a couple. Eduardo Anderson perceived her breath as she kissed his cheek.
He didn't appear surprised, but it only affirmed that she was the woman that night at the alley. The breath, the close body scent cannot be mistaken. He wished to kiss her back and appreciate her for saving his life that night. He would have been napped and possibly killed that night if she wasn't there and agreed to play along.
Mrs Anderson smiled. She likes Jenny more. Her daughter in-law is pure hearted
That impressed her and was glad her son ended up with this woman and not the arrogant one. This Indeed was a blessing in disguise.
The family got back to the sitting room and Jenny whispered words to Eduardo and he brought his phone and dialled a certain person's number.
Betty sat down gently and didn't dare bustle with the family members. Soon Eduardo's bodyguard brought the present from the car and handed it over to Jenny. She then presented it to her parents in-law.
The older couple were stunned. Jenny gave them presents for coming to visit them for the first time? They were overjoyed. Mrs Anderson was the first to untapped her present, it was a set of jewellery. She was happy, these were pure diamond jewellery. She held the present close to her chest, she liked it already, how thoughtful of Jenny.
When Eduardo's father untapped his present, it was a golden chain wristwatch. It fit into his arm perfectly and he smiled. "Thank you Jenny,"he said. Eduardo must have assisted her by giving her the exact measurements.
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Together with the flowers whose fragrance filled the house, the old couple were glad and appreciated Jenny. Betty looked on, her eyes almost popping out and her neck stretching so hard to look at everything in the jewellery box.
Where did Jenny get so much money to buy these presents when she couldn't pay for her mother's hospital bills? This Jenny is a senseless fellow. She was busy presenting gifts to her husband's family when her mother's remains were yet to be found. What kind of a being is she?
Eduardo's parents stood up and went upstairs shortly. "Sister in-law, what about my own present? You sure know you have a brother-in-law too?" Luke asked. He was waiting to see if Jenny brought him a present as well, but it appeared she didn't.
"Oh pardon my forgetfulness. But I'll try and give you something as well" She said and thought of what to do. An idea occurred to her and she looked at Eduardo's wrist, he was wearing a golden wristwatch, very similar to the one she gave her father in-law.
Without seeking his consent, she stood up and went to squat in front of her husband, grabbed his hand and unbuckled his wristwatch. Eduardo was surprised but ended up laughing. He allowed Jenny to remove his wristwatch as Betty and Luke were looking on. " You would lend me your wristwatch honey" Jenny said and smiled. " My pleasure," Eduardo declared.
She straightened herself and presented the wristwatch to Luke. The latter was very happy. He collected it and immediately put it on. His brother bought that wristwatch abroad and in the whole world, there was only one such type. There were similar ones, but not exactly it's type.
He had asked his elder brother to give him but he refused. He said he would get him a wristwatch but cannot give him the particular one he was wearing. Now seeing Luke put it on and raised his hand for the brother to see, Eduardo smiled and shook his head.
"Only Jenny could have made you have it" he chimed and Luke planted a featherlight kiss on Jenny's temple. Soon their parents came downstairs. When they saw them, they were happy. So soon, the family had really absorbed Jenny like she was from that family from birth.
They wish someday, they would see their daughter too. And bring her home, to be a part of their family and never to be separated again.
"My dear, this is for you" Eduardo's mother said, giving Jenny a Jewellery box. "This is a present from Eduardo's grandmother before she passed on. Today, I give it to you dear as the next madam of the Anderson family.."she added. Jenny felt her head shivered. She can't take it. She was going to get divorced with Eduardo. It would be wrong for such an ancestral gift to be passed to her. She drew backwards and folded her hands behind her. "No Mother, I don't think I should be the one to receive this"she refused.
Mrs Anderson squinted. What, she expects that she would literally jump at it. She didn't expect that she would refuse it. This made her worried a little. Is She contemplating on leaving Eduardo? Is it because he is cripple? "What! Are you going to divorce my son?" She asked and Jenny's eyes became clouded with tears. She didn't want to say anything. And besides, Betty was there, she definitely would be happy if she said anything about divorce before them all. Eduardo just glanced at her, his face suddenly cold. If she dared to say anything about their discussion earlier that day, he would be furious with her.
"Luke, take your friend out of here" Mrs Anderson ordered her son. She guessed that Jenny didn't want to say anything before Betty. The latter felt like strangulating Eduardo's mother. Why would she have her taken away like that? Without another word, Luke walked Betty out and right to the garden. "Why is your mother and brother so mean towards me?" Betty asked, playing a victim.
"Because you Crossed your limit when you said such nasty words against the daughter in-law of the family. We love people a lot and all my life, there's only one language we understand in our family and you know what that language is? Love. So any word that is not rooted in love, we don't say it to each other. So next time, don't go sassy with your mouth. Besides you were supposed to be married to my brother but I guess you changed your mind because he is in a wheelchair right?" Luke asked, looking aggrieved.
Betty played dumb
"Tell me Jenny, why did you say so?" Mrs Anderson asked, taking the younger woman's hand in hers. She was worried that no woman would want to be with Eduardo except because of his wealth. If he truly can make love with a woman, isn't that going to be a calamity.
Though they could have babies through IVF, which woman would want to be by the side of a man that cannot make her feel like a woman?
"No mother. It's nothing to be worried about. I don't see myself opportuned to obtain such a position. I am poor and an orphan. Eduardo is a rich high class master of this family. I am just inferior to him. I am too insignificant to be given this great present mother..." Jenny twisted her intention.
Eduardo was dazed. Is that why she wouldn't get the present? He thought she was going to say she wants a divorce. This woman keeps making him admire her every passing day. She was beginning to like her in his heart.
Mrs Anderson cleaned the tears off Jenny's face. Such a wise girl. "You were inferior to him in the past, not now. You are his wife now and every title and position he attains, you attain as well.
You are married now. Please don't think of yourself as an orphan. We are your parents now. I may not be able to love you perfectly like your mother, but I will cherish you so much like my own daughter. You are an Anderson now so don't think little of yourself anymore. And someday, I look forward to being called a grandmother by you and Eduardo's baby someday.." she said, through moist eyes.
She was envisaging and imagining what it's like to be with her own daughter someday. Her daughter might also be someone where she needs to be treated so lovingly like Jenny. She then headed the present to Jenny and she had no option than to collect it. She thanked her mother in law and saw that she would cherish the present for the rest of her life.
Eduardo's father gifted her a brand new car. She least expected it. She jumped for joy and was overjoyed. Sjebnow owns a car. It was wonderful to be loved. She showed her car key to Eduardo and she found him smiling broadly at her. On their way home, Jenny's mood drastically changed. She was not the introverted woman who sat by the side of Eduardo and said nothing. They were saying a few things along the way and Eduardo's bodyguard already drove the car home. Eric had informed Eduardo what the midwife said. On the day Anderson's daughter was born, she saw the shadow of a woman pass. Before she could look to find who the person was, the fellow had gone. The back view of the woman that she saw, has a scar or better describe a birthmark on her upper back.
She didn't take note of who the woman was but besides her, no one was around when Tola was about to deliver. Yeb doctor and herself were attending to her. When the child was born, she was to look after the baby and clean her up, get her dressed up before taking her to the nursery when she was attacked.
Eric said they must investigate who that woman was. It's been many years but Eric would get the surveillance recording. If it was deleted as they already know, he should use high technology to have it retraced.
Eric had said ok and would Begin working on it already. As they approached the Mansion, Jenny turned to glance at Eduardo and thanked him for taking her for dinner in the Anderson's Mansion.
Eduardo nodded and gave her a hand a soft squeeze. "Now tell me, are you still looking forward to divorcing me?" he asked a rhetorical question.
"Hmmm... let me think" Jenny said, closing her eyes teasingly and Eduardo suddenly pulled her and she landed on his torso. He caressed her upper arm and felt her body shivered.
Jenny was shocked. He really could joke with her like this? She perceived his body scent and felt it was a little familiar. Eduardo thought of it also and let her go.
"We are married Jenny. Though it wasn't based on love, it wasn't hatred as well. This isn't a contract marriage. Let's be happy together and get to know each other. Feel free to talk to me or ask me any question, I will answer to the best of my knowledge" Eduardo said and Jenny nooded smiling broadly at him.
"Mum... can you imagine what happened today at the Anderson family? I had to coax Luke to bring me along. I was going to see how they would treat Jenny. And guess what, they practically took her to be a princess.
That cripple and his mother even lashed at me because of Jenny. She was given a box of jewellery handed over from her predecessors. His father even gifted her a car.." Betty was recounting what she observed at the Anderson's Mansion She was stamping her feet and showing dissatisfaction at how that girl was treated. She should be receiving such welcome and princess attention. She must get what should be hers.
"That should be yours. You are the one that deserved to be treated like a princess, because that's who you really are. You must do all you can to get back what you lost. That boy Luke, you must get him to marry you. When you become a daughter-in-law, then we will think of ways to destroy Jenny and make you her favourite" Sebrina said.
"Yes mum, marriage is where I am heading to with Luke!" Betty boasts with confidence.
"... no mum, how can I think of something so unreasonable with Betty? She's my sister in-law and nothing else" Luke refuted vehemently his mother's question that she asked him if he was dating Betty. She was once engaged to his brother and jilted him on the day of the wedding. How can he do that? Betty must be crazy if she has such thoughts.