Chapter 64
The car turned around and drove off. Jameson walked up to Shermaine and asked, “Why aren’t you going in?”
Shermaine lowered her gaze slightly. “I was just about to.”
Jameson responded with a simple “Hmm.”
A gust of wind swept past. Shermaine squinted, thinking, ‘That woman’s perfume lingered on his clothes. It’s revolting. Could this be the same woman he cheated with back then?’
As soon as Jameson stepped inside, he handed his coat and briefcase to the housekeeper. The housekeeper’s expression shifted briefly as she took the coat, but she didn’t say anything.
Jameson hadn’t expected Ross to return from his business trip so soon, but he wasn’t exactly thrilled to see his son either. He just said indifferently, “You are back.”
“Yeah,” Ross responded coolly. But the moment he spotted Shermaine coming in, he smiled brightly. “Sheary, I miss you so much.”
Shermaine’s eyes sparkled with joy, and her lips curved into a radiant smile. “Ross, you’re finally back!”
Ross walked over, grabbed her backpack, and ruffled her hair affectionately. “Finally, you’re back. I’ve been waiting forever!”
Standing side by side, the two siblings were an absolute showstopper. Though they looked quite alike, their auras were completely different. Shermaine was strikingly beautiful, while Ross was charmingly gentle.
Janice couldn’t help but think, ‘They are undoubtedly the best in this family. But their parents just don’t know a gem when they see one.’
Shermaine smiled. “If you’d told me you were coming back today, I would’ve come home earlier and picked you up.”
“In the car Joshua gave you?” Ross asked.
“Yeah, I’ve been itching to take it out for a spin,” Shermaine replied matter-of-factly. That was exactly what she thought.
“You two seem to be getting along well these days,” Ross remarked.
Shermaine hadn’t forgotten what Ross had told her, so she replied quickly, “It’s nothing special. I did accept his gift, but don’t worry–I will return the favor.”
Ross was glad that Shermaine would return the favor and that she remembered his advice. He offered, “How about I return the favor on your behalf?”
Shermaine shook her head. “No need. I can handle it myself.” She didn’t want to seem like she wasn’t putting in the effort herself.
Ross didn’t push further but added warmly, “I got you gifts too. They are in your room. Go check them out after dinner.”
“Thanks, Ross,” Shermaine said with a bright smile.
Ross had also brought gifts for Janice and the others, because if he didn’t, people might accuse him of favoritism. Truth be told, in this family, he only cared about Shermaine and Janice. So, he had his assistant take care of the gifts for everyone else.
The whole family had gathered, and the dinner prepared by the maids was already laid out on the table.
The Jeans sat down and began eating. The happiest among them were Shermaine, Ross, and Janice. They chatted and laughed, radiating warmth and harmony, like the perfect family.
Jameson felt a hint of sadness because his own children weren’t close to him. It was his fault for cheating back then, but he didn’t regret it.
Besides, he and Ruth were nothing more than a couple in name, sharing a house but not a life. Just the thought of Ruth, who had become so foolish over the years, completely killed his appetite.
Ruth and Wendelyn were both in a sour mood. Nothing that happened during the day had gone smoothly for them, and this meal was anything but enjoyable.
Wendelyn was the first to leave the table, heading upstairs shortly after.
Then came Ruth, who received a call about a card game. She set down her fork and went upstairs to get ready to head out.
Next was Jameson, who immediately went to his study.
The departure of the three didn’t bother Shermaine, Janice, and Ross in the slightest. Shermaine even ended up eating more than usual. After dinner, she sprawled on the sofa, content, squinting her eyes like a well-fed, languid cat.
Before long, Ruth strutted out in her high heels. She didn’t have the slightest clue that Jameson’s recent habit of leaving early and coming home late was because he was enjoying the company of another woman.
After Shermaine went upstairs, she didn’t rush to see the gifts Ross had brought her. Instead, she slipped quietly into Jameson and Ruth’s master bedroom.
Finding Ruth’s hair wasn’t hard. In no time, she picked one up in the dimly lit room and carefully wrapped it in a plastic bag before slipping it into her pocket.
Just as she was about to leave, she heard footsteps and then Wendelyn’s voice. “I’ll bring it down to you now. Alright, talk later.”
Wendelyn was about to open the door when Ross asked, “What are you doing outside Mom and Dad’s room?”
Wendelyn turned around and explained, “Mom forgot her wallet. She asked me to bring it to her.”
Ross’s face remained calm. “It’s not appropriate for you to go in. I’ll take it to her. You go back to your room.”
‘What does he mean by ‘not appropriate’? Although I’m adopted, I’m part of this family. But Ross makes it seem like I am an outsider, someone who has no right to enter the host’s room. And besides, it’s Mom who asked me to go in,’ thought Wendelyn.
But she didn’t want to argue with Ross. So she suppressed her irritation and replied, “Got it. I’ll go back to my room.”
Ross nodded. Once Wendelyn reached the third floor, he opened the door to the master bedroom and stepped inside.
Inside, he saw Shermaine casually leaning against the doorframe, not at all flustered that Wendelyn might have walked in and caught her. “Sheary, what are you doing in here?” he asked.
Shermaine had no choice but to pull out the hair she had picked up.
Ross instantly understood her intentions. “You’ve barely been back, and you’re already suspecting that she isn’t our mother. Honestly, I had the same suspicion years ago. I even did what you’re trying to do, but unfortunately, the DNA test results confirmed she really is our mother.”