The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Casper's father, Gary Gibson, demanded, "We called you to ask where Casper is."noveldrama

Beside him, Casper's mother-Julia Glynn-warned, "I suggest you tell us before we make you."

A humorless chuckle escaped Jessica. She never expected them to stoop so low as to threaten her. "When Casper and I were still married, all you ever did was pick on me. I brushed off your condescending remarks and put up with your abuse because of Casper.

"When you preferred another woman as your daughter-in-law and forced me and Casper to get a divorce, I did as you asked. I've done everything you told me to."

She finally understood why it was so important for women to be self-sufficient. How else would they ever grow a backbone if they didn't have a penny to their name? At least she wouldn't have to back down from anyone or anything now.

"Neither of you have anything to do with me now. What made you think you could boss me around or that I'd be civil with you?" she countered venomously.

Gary snapped, "Because you want to reconcile with Casper!"

Jessica sneered, "I don't know what prompted such a ridiculous idea, but what I can tell you is that I am not interested in Casper at all. My days since the divorce have been nothing short of glorious, in case you're wondering."

Indeed, she had no complaints about her life other than having to think of ways to stroke Steven's ego.

She added, "The only reason you're asking for Casper's whereabouts is because you want to set him up with a woman you approve of.

"The thing is, it's been ages since Casper and I divorced, and you haven't succeeded in this department. It certainly speaks volumes about your competence or the lack thereof, don't you think?"

Gary barked, "You think you can talk down to us because we're broke, but I bet you'd take a very different tone with us if we still had money."

"Oh, I've known about you faking your bankruptcy right from the start," Jessica said, mercilessly calling out his lie. "You only told the world that you were bankrupt because you wanted to get rid of me."

Gary and Julia had always thought of Jessica as a gullible airhead, but her words stumped them. The former asked, "You knew the truth, yet you agreed to get a divorce?"

"Yes," Jessica drawled. "I just grew tired of putting up with you and living with Casper. I assume you still remember what I said on the day Caspe and I finalized the divorce. I made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with the both of you or Casper, and I'd appreciate it if you leave me and Cody alone."

She bit out, "If I'm guessing correctly, you reached out to Cody initially to learn about Casper's whereabouts, but he wouldn't give you an answer. If he did, you wouldn't have come to me."

Gary and

Julia w

were stunned that

Jessica had guessed correctly. Before they could respond, she continued icily, "Because you detest me, you refused to give me or Cody any love or attention even when he was a baby. You don't get to ignore his existence only to come back and claim that you miss him now."

Gary frowned. He couldn't care less about Jessica, but Cody was his grandson, and he truly missed the boy. "Regardless of what you say, I'm still his grandfather."

Jessica couldn't believe the extent of their shamelessness. She slowed her speech. "Did you forget how you believed Ruby's son was your biological grandson right to Cody's face? So why don't you go ahead and shower her kid with love instead?"