Chapter 31
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Outside the door, Kayla let out a cold laugh, thinking, ‘So that’s why the lights are still on at this late hour. Turns out Dad is home. And Tristian is telling on me behind my back.
Funny, Can’t handle me, so he runs off to complain? That brother I used to admire so much, the one who thought he was born to shine, is really nothing more than a coward.‘
Just then, a hand gently squeezed Kayla’s. Kayla looked up and met Bailee’s worried eyes.
“Don’t be upset. Tris must’ve misunderstood. He didn’t mean to talk about you like that,” Bailee said softly.
Kayla had a wry smile inwardly. ‘Even now, Mom’s still trying to make peace between us. She’s still trying to smooth things over between me and Tristian. But she doesn’t know we passed the point of no return a long time ago.
‘Now that he wants to play this game openly, I guess it’s time I gave him a real performance. Tris, hope you’re ready.‘
Kayla gave Bailee a gentle nudge and suggested, “Mom, your clothes are all bloody. Why don’t you get changed first before meeting them?”
Bailee looked down and saw how stained and messy her clothes were. She thought Kayla was right. “Okay. I’ll change and let you talk to your father and Tris. Just explain things to them, so they don’t misunderstand you.”
Kayla nodded calmly, watching her mother walk away before showing a knowing smile.
She let out a low scoff, pulled her bag open, and took out her makeup kit. She picked up a concealer first. She gently dabbed it under her eyes, sketching out subtle shadows to mimic the look of exhaustion.
Next, she used a light foundation and lightly tapped it across her cheeks, deepening the contours around her nose to give her face a paler, sicker appearance.
She then picked a muted lip gloss, just dull enough to wash out her natural lip color, leaving behind a weak, almost lifeless shade.
Then, with her fingertip, she brushed a thin layer of translucent powder around her eye sockets, making them appear more sunken, more fragile.
Her fever from earlier had already drained her complexion. A few subtle touches were all it took to create the perfect illusion: frail, pale, and just pitiful enough to draw sympathy.
She studied her reflection in the mirror, tilting her face side to side. Satisfied, she gave a slow nod.
‘Dad and Tristian always fall for Marianna’s helpless act and tearful look, don’t they? Fine. I’ll beat them at their own game. Let’s see how they deal with their own favorite trick,‘ Kayla thought with a smirk.
With a cold smile still hanging on her face, she packed away the makeup, adjusted her expression, and calmly opened the door
The moment the door clicked open, Tristian’s rant came to an abrupt halt.
Kayla didn’t even glance his way. Her eyes locked onto Jackson’s instead, and her face immediately lit up with a weak, tearful kind of joy. Her eyes turned red as she choked back a sob. “Dad, you’re finally home. I miss you so much.”
Before anyone could react, she stumbled forward and threw herself straight into Jackson’s arms.
In her past life, Jackson and Tristian had always sided with Marianna. They criticized Kayla constantly. Bailee was the only
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Chapter 31
one who ever believed in Kayla.
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But that love didn’t last too long. Bailee died in a car accident. Kayla lost the one person who’d loved her without condition.
Kayla used to fear Jackson and avoided even being near him, let alone daring to act so affectionate.
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