Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Annika said, "Absolutely not."

Regina was taken aback. She thought that she had already apologized, and what more did they want from her?

Josefina watched her with a cold gaze, as if Regina were nothing more than an object. "You slander people at will. That's unforgivable. If Annika were the one in trouble, begging for your forgiveness, would you grant it? I doubt it."

Annika spat out, "You've wronged me, and now you're asking for my forgiveness. How do I know you won't cook up some new scheme to hurt me again?"

"Annika, it's all my fault. Please just forgive me this once," Regina pleaded, her pride swallowed.

"Annika, please, forgive Regina just this once. She's looked after me since I was little, and if she's sent away, I..." Lena's voice trailed off.

"Still on the apron strings, are you?" Josefina challenged.

Tears brimming in her eyes, Lena looked at Josefina and said, "Josie, how can you speak like that?"

"Isn't it the truth?" Josefina retorted. "The Harrison family is the one that's been supporting you for eighteen years. Why did Regina take care of you? Because the Harrisons paid her to. Food, clothes, shelter - who paid for it all? Without their money, how would she have looked after you? And now, you're willing to cover for a mere thief. What would our parents think of you?"

Lena fell silent.

Garrett and Hattie were also distressed, especially after hearing Josefina's words. Lena was solely focused on Regina's care, without considering how hard they were working to earn money outside.

Hattie had always doted on her daughters, her affection for Lena far surpassing mere financial support. Hattie had been there too, not just Regina. On days when she wasn't busy, Hattie would take Lena out fo fun, for vacations. Had Lena forgotten all these moments?

Hattie's heart ached deeply, overwhelmed by a suffocating sense of hurt.

Seeing the light dim in her mother's eyes, Lena became truly scared. She quickly said, "Mom, that's not what I meant. I just feel that Regina has been taking care of us all along. She's really putting in the effort."

Regina wiped away her tears, her

face etched with sadness. "Sir, Madam, Ms. Josefina, it's all my fault. When Annika came here, she stole the limelight. You all loved her cooking, and it hurt me. I... I just wanted Annika gone, to return the Harrison family to how things were.

Annika countered, "What? It's wrong that I'm a good cook and work efficiently? You're upset because your own cooking isn't up to snuff and can't stand others doing better? I've heard you even instructed, the chefs to cook poorly on purpose, fearing they might outshine you. And you even skimmed from the grocery money for your own pocket? Despicable."

Garrett erupted, "Regina, is what Annika is saying true?!"

Regina trembled, not with fear, but with rage. How did Annika know all of this? She had only been here two days. What had Annika been up to all this time? Was Annika investigating her? Which little snitch had spilled the beans to Annika?

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Regina defended, "Sir, Madam, Annika's lying. How could I ever do such things?"

Josefina sat on the couch, with

Oliver by her side, close to her. She

glared angrily at Regina, her voice icy and sharp. "Since Annika is making these claims, she must have evidence. Annika, what proof do you have? Let's lay it out so my parents can see what kind of mole the Harrison family has been harboring."Original from NôvelDrama.Org.