CHAPTER 120: FOUR-LEAF CLOVER

Jenna had stopped crying long ago. Her eyes and throat hurt from wailing and cursing her entire existence, but now she felt better. Jenna had stopped crying long ago, but she was ashamed of raising her face.

She had not only cried because she was jealous, but she had cried in front of a child! If she tried to stand, she would have to face the girl and also explain why a little cut had made her cry like she lost a loved one.

"Mm,"

Jenna flinched when she heard the soft snore coming from the girl. The young girl held her until she fell asleep, it was a really sweet gesture, but Jenna was also ashamed.

Deciding to slip out while the girl was sleeping, so she could wash her face and act like everything was okay, Jenna first moved the girl’s hand, letting her rest on her side. Then she tried to move her feet.

"Oh sh-" Jenna cursed under her breath. The position she had stayed in was a fatal one, now a part of her body had slept, leaving her unable to move. Jenna struggled to move her leg with force but hit the girl in the process.

When the girl moved, Jenna closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

"Good gracious," the girl whispered, rubbing off drool from her face. She stood up from the floor and dusted her dress.

Jenna tried to peek when she felt the girl move away.

"You’re awake too," the girl pointed out.

Jenna hated her luck so much. She opened her eyes and yawned, forcing a look of surprise.

"Did I wake you?" The girl asked, her face greased in guilt.

Jenna waved her hands dismissively, "It’s all fine," she replied, yawning again. This time it wasn’t an act.

"You must be famished," the girl ran to the table and returned with the tray she left earlier. "Taste something, at least."

Jenna pressed her lips, the girl wasn’t talking about her crying or making fun of her. She was younger but behaved like a grown woman.

"What is your name?" Jenna asked.

The young girl frowned, "It is Olivia, Lois said it to you..." her voice trailed. "But it’s okay...not everyone remembers my name."

"Olivia," Jenna repeated, "I am Jenna."

The young girl, named Olivia, smiled. "Everyone here knows you," she dropped the tray, stretching a hand for Jenna to hold. "And it looks like you need help to stand."

The pride in Jenna wanted to refuse, but if she stayed any longer in that position she might lose her legs. Common sense won against pride, she grabbed the girl’s hand.

Jenna forced her legs to move, and she sat on the nearest chair with a soft thud. A sigh of relief washed over her, feeling her muscles ease up.

"Here, have some food." The girl placed the tray in front of Jenna.

Jenna acknowledged her kindness with a smile, taking the piece of bread to her mouth when she noticed the young girl wetting her lips. Jenna tore the bread in two halves, handing the other to the girl.

"N-no...I’m not hungry, you see? I just need breakfast and dinner. Meals in between are a crime for a lady," she sputtered with a soft gulp, while her eyes remained on the piece of loaf.

Jenna pushed her hand forward, "It’s a gift, Olivia, for helping me out." She opened the girl’s hand and placed it.

"If it’s a gift...then it’s unladylike to reject." Olivia gobbled the bread even before Jenna could take a piece from hers.

Jenna stifled a laugh when she saw how the girl ravished the bread. Her own stomach grumbled, and Jenna quickly threw the bread into her mouth.

Both of them covered their faces and laughed without saying a word.

"Lois can be quite difficult at first," the girl began after they had stopped laughing. "But when you get to know her...she’s really like an angel."

Jenna wanted to roll her eyes, but she chose not to. The young woman she had seen earlier dined with devils and demons. Nothing heavenly about her or her tongue, but Jenna didn’t want to break the young girl’s heart.

"She does not trust many, it takes her time..." Olivia continued, brushing the bread crumbs from her palm. "Eventually you’ll understand her."

Eventually... Jenna repeated in her mind. If she didn’t murder her first. Staring at her palm that was now wrapped.

"You can clean it later, Nana has the things for stitching a wound," Olivia said, pointing at Jenna’s palm.

Jenna hummed, "Why do you call Lady Rachel, Nana?" She asked with her brows furrowed.

Olivia snickered, trying to hide her face.

"What?" Jenna raised a brow, touching her face.

The girl shook her head, "It’s obvious you’re new here....a lot of us don’t always say her name. Some say matron, or nan...but you..." she covered her face and laughed again.

Jenna licked her lips, throwing her face to the side. She didn’t find it funny, but for some reason she loved to see the girl laugh. It was an innocent sound.

"My mother once lived here," Olivia began after she stopped laughing, "She came back one day heavy with me in her belly. Two days after she gave birth, a man came and took her for marriage."

Jenna paid keen attention to what the girl had to say.

"I needed breastmilk...but my mother didn’t want her husband to know of me....so she left. I suckled from Nana or...Lady Rachel," she said, mimicking Jenna.

It wasn’t funny, but yet again the girl was laughing about it. Jenna couldn’t imagine being abandoned by her own mother because she wanted to have a family. The girl’s mother saw her as a stain on her image.

"Nana says in two years’ time I’ll be joining other ladies to train for marriage."

Jenna noticed the change in her expression, "Are you excited to get married?"

The girl paused, holding her dress tightly. "No," she finally replied. "I don’t want a man to take me away from Nana...what if I carry a child and like my mother he leaves..." her voice faded, her eyes distant in thought.

"But I heard from other ladies that I’ll get cursed with wrinkles if I don’t get married." Olivia shrugged. "I will have to do it one day. How does it feel to be married to a man you’ve never known before?"

Jenna wanted to laugh too. Now she understood why the girl laughed at her pains.

"It’s hell," was all Jenna could say.

The girl frowned, "But you’re here to get back to go into that hell?"

"Not this time," Jenna replied, shaking her head. "This man isn’t a monster...he treats me well, he’s like finding a four-leaf clover in the midst of singles. He protects me...knows me well and makes me laugh."

Olivia gasped, "He sounds like a great man."

"He is," Jenna agreed.

The girl sighed, "You’re so lucky. You must be so excited to marry him then."

Jenna nodded, she was excited. "I am...if he will choose me." Her lashes batted, covering the worry that now filled her eyes.