Chapter 840: Chapter 839

Keira glanced at the woman before her and noticed how she tilted her head, deliberately showcasing the unscarred side of her face.

Keira suddenly walked closer and asked, “Did it hurt when half your face was destroyed?”

The woman froze for a moment, visibly startled by the question.

She clearly hadn’t expected such a sudden inquiry, especially one that sounded like concern. A hint of sadness flashed in her eyes before she pressed her lips together and said, “I don’t really remember anymore. It happened the year after you left. They ruined my face, and that was nearly twenty years ago now. It probably hurt a lot back then… Anyway, Keera, remember this: if you can’t secure the position, get out. Change your face, take on a new identity, and never come back.”

Keira studied Jessica’s face, her voice low and contemplative. “Does everyone who loses end up like this?”

Though worried about Jodie South, Keira knew asking directly would trigger the woman’s temper. Instead, she tried to probe indirectly.

The woman, however, saw right through her. “You’re thinking about Jodie, aren’t you? Well,” she scoffed, “she’s doing slightly better than me, I suppose. Word is, she gets whipped every day. Oh, they’re probably streaming it live on tonight’s news.”

Keira’s fists clenched tightly at the words.

The woman, unfazed, continued in a detached tone, “Still, that’s a mild punishment, really. She’s almost fifty now and past childbearing age. If they’d found her twenty years ago…” She trailed off, her gaze lowering.

Two men walked into the room then–one older and one younger.

The older man approached Jessica and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Jessica, this is all my fault. If you hadn’t stayed loyal to me back then, refused the men they sent to you, and secretly had your uterus removed, none of this would’ve happened. They wouldn’t have broken your legs or ruined your face…”

Jessica.

Keira silently memorized her name.

Jessica slapped the man’s hand away, her voice sharp. “I had fertility issues even before all this. Stealing Keera was my desperate attempt to give them a bargaining chip. But even that wasn’t enough. After I lost the inheritance battle, I was stripped of every shred of dignity. Month after month, they came to inject me with ovulation hormones, trying to force me to bear more heirs for the South family. If I hadn’t had my uterus removed, I’d probably still be stuck in a cycle of failed pregnancies. I didn’t do it for you–I did it for me!”

The man sighed quietly, saying nothing more.

The younger man crouched in front of Jessica, taking her hand in his. “You’re so brave, Jessica.”

Before Jessica could respond, the older man shoved the younger one aside. “Knock it off with your little act, you scheming bastard! Jessica, he’s not genuine. Don’t let him fool you!”

Keira stood silently, watching the scene unfold.

For once, she was witnessing two men bickering over a woman–a dynamic she thought only existed in cheesy romance novels.

Jessica turned to her and broke the awkward moment. “This is your Uncle Jake–he used to change your diapers when you were little. And that’s your Uncle Ryan.”

Keira’s gaze shifted to the younger man.

Jessica, visibly uncomfortable, explained, “Even though I’m not in power anymore, the South family still sends me one man a year. Ryan didn’t want to be sent elsewhere, so he ended up staying here.”

Ryan quickly added, “Jake, I’ve never been intimate with Jessica. You don’t need to treat me as a rival. I just want a safe place to live.”

Jake sneered. “There you go again, spinning your innocent little tales.”

Ryan gave Jessica a pleading, puppy-dog look, his eyes radiating helplessness.

Jessica immediately turned to Jake, snapping, “That’s enough! Don’t I spend every night with you? Why do you have to keep picking fights with him?”

Jake clenched his teeth in frustration, pointing at Ryan but failing to find the words. In the end, he stomped off, heading upstairs. “Fine, fine! I can’t out-argue him. I’m going to bed!”

Ryan cast Jessica another forlorn glance. “I’ll head upstairs too. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your reunion with your daughter.”

As the two men disappeared, Jessica turned back to Keira, only to catch her struggling to suppress a laugh.

“What are you laughing at?” Jessica snapped, her tone defensive. “If you lose your inheritance battle, this will be your future too! Everyone who loses is sent a new ‘companion’ every year to ensure the bloodline continues. Unlike others, I’ve been loyal–I’ve only ever been with Jake. Ryan just looked pitiful, so I let him stay.”

Keira’s silence only deepened the awkwardness. The look in her eyes made Jessica shift uncomfortably. “He’s like a helpless fawn, all wide-eyed and innocent. I just felt sorry for him, okay? What’s wrong with that?”

Keira finally chuckled, shaking her head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Jessica huffed and glanced at the clock on the wall. “You must be hungry. I’ll have them prepare some food for you.”

Before Keira could respond, Jessica turned on the TV. “Aren’t you worried about Jodie? Let’s check on her.”

Keira turned toward the screen–and there she was. Jodie South.

Her breath caught in her throat.