Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Chapter 94

Lena stood to the side, unable to get a word in edgewise.

Calix, that traitor!

Hadn't he promised to stand up for her? Was this his idea of taking a stand?

A turncoat, he was switching sides!

Lena was seething with anger, watching Josefina interact with Calix, feeling utterly out of place!

This was her brother Calix! The brother she had known for eighteen years!

Even if she wasn't the true Harrison daughtee, she had still spent eighteen years as part of the Harrison family! Why couldn't she continue to be the spoiled Miss Harrison?

After stewing in her own turmoil for what felt like an eternity, Lena approached with a forced smile. "Josie, you’re back! Mom made your favorite seafood pasta today."

Calix, all smiles, tugged at Josefina's wrist. "Come on, I've got a surprise for you. Let's go check it out."

Josefina let herself be led away by Calix, leaving Lena feeling like a square peg in a round hole.

Wasn't Calix supposed to be her brother? Just moments ago, he was all bravado about taking her side, and now he was physically escorting Josefina away—since when did men have such a hard bark and a soft bite?!

Fuming, Lena grabbed her purse and marched forward.

Regina sidled up quietly, whispering, "Miss Lena, I noticed Calix picked up quite a few gifts. Before Josefina arrived, you were the apple of this family's eye. Now she's here, and it seems she’s stolen

your spotlight. Miss Lena, you better come up with a plan."

Lena trudged on, her pace slow, her expression dark. "What can I possibly do? Everyone adores her and pities her. What can I do?"

Regina watched Lena's forlorn figure with a twinge of sympathy. "Miss Lena, isn't your birthday coming up? Why not invite Josefina to your birthday bash?"

Lena had considered this before, but Josefina had stubbornly refused to attend. No matter how she enticed her, Josefina seemed to anticipate the consequences of her presence.

Perhaps Calix could be the perfect excuse to draw Josefina out this time.

With this thought, Lena's spirits lifted, and she quickly returned to the house.

…

Calix, proud as a peacock, presented his array of gifts to Josefina. "Josie, this is a dress for you, the first of its kind worldwide." Josefina glanced at it—ah, the brand was all too familiar, an everyday sight. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Next, Calix unfurled a scroll, revealing a landscape painting. Coincidentally, it looked incredibly familiar—it was the very painting she had done just two days prior that Luke had taken to the auction.

It had reportedly been sold to a gentleman for a cool ten million. It turned out that the gentleman was Calix.

"Josie, this is a masterpiece by the renowned artist Gideon. I'm not sure if it's to your taste, but I made a point of winning it for you."

Josefina nodded. "Thank you, I love it." It was her own creation. How could she not love it?

But receiving it from a family member in this manner felt a bit like a bitter pill to swallow.

"Here are some skincare products for you, and I also bought you a new car. I hope you like them." Calix beamed at her like a child eager for praise, his bright eyes shimmering with delight. It was, if nothing else, rather endearing.

"I love them," Josefina responded with a gracious smile, her voice sweet to the ear.

Josefina had no idea why Calix would prepare so many gifts for someone he had never met before. It was quite a surprise.

In reality, Calix hadn’t planned on coming back at all, nor had he intended to prepare these gifts. Garrett and Hattie had called him to do and say those things…