eborn Exposing My Adopted Sisters Plot
Chapter 8 Worth Less Than a Maid
95
+8 Pearis
“It’s not for a girlfriend. It’s for my little sister.” Lyman’s tone was laid–back, his steps unhurried, yet he carried the kind of confidence that turned heads instantly.
The girls nearby were starstruck.
“Imagine having him as your brother!”
“I used to think Taylor’s five brothers were the ultimate catch, but honestly, even all of them combined can’t match up to him.”
“Wait, who’s his sister then?”
Out of the classroom window, Taylor’s fingers dug into her palm. She hated to admit it, but her five adopted brothers couldn’t measure up to him.
Jesse, on the other hand, wished the ground would swallow her whole. In her past life, she had avoided attention at all costs. Now, with Lyman strolling in like this, it was too much. She turned quickly, ready to slip away.
“Where are you going, Jesse?”
His deep voice rolled across the hall, freezing her in place.
The crowd hushed instantly, eyes swinging between them.
Her back stiffened. Great. Now I can’t ignore him. With no choice, she turned and walked toward him with slow, measured steps.
“Hey, big bro.” The greeting came out soft, a little awkward.
Lyman arched a brow, his hand dropping onto her lead. His fingers ruffled her hair with ease, carrying a faint trace of mint and tobacco.
A tremor ran through her. It had been far too long since anyone touched her with that kind of thoughtless affection.
Gasps rippled through the room.
“So, Jesse is Lyman’s sister?”
“Wait, isn’t she supposed to be a Spencer? How does that make him her brother?”
Unbothered, Lyman grabbed her wrist and steered her into a vacant classroom. He sat, popped open the lunchbox, and revealed a spread that made mouths water.
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Chapter I Worth Less Than a Maid
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“Buffalo chicken, slices of pot roast, Cajun crawfish boil, and a hearty spicy beef stew.”
Lyman’s sharp profile caught the sunlight, and Jesse blinked. “How did you know my taste?”
Her so–called brothers never noticed. The chef always made the sweet dishes Taylor enjoyed, leaving Jesse with food she could barely stand.
“I saw you this morning,” Lyman said with a lazy smile. A playful spark lit up his dark eyes as he grinned. “Out of everything on the menu, you went for the hot fish tenders. So I figured you’re a spicy kind of girl.”
Her chest tightened. Love or indifference, it’s always lurking in the smallest details.
“What if you guess wrong?” Jesse asked.
Lyman leaned back, tapping his fingers on the desk, exuding that carefree attitude from head to toe. “Then, rinse it off and eat it anyway. Who cares? I brought it for you, so you might as well have it.”
He was overbearing, impossible to refuse.
Her eyes burned. “I like spicy. I really do.”
All this time, she thought Lyman was nothing but arrogant. She had never seen him care for anyone this way. It had been too long since someone treated her like she mattered.
The rest of the day passed quickly. Without Taylor or her brothers‘ demands hanging over her, Jesse finally felt light.
As the classes wrapped up, snowflakes floated down again. She drew his scarf snug, tucking herself in until only her eyes showed.
At the school gate, Taylor threw herself into Mike’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Mike, I skipped a class for training and got marked down. What am I supposed to do now? I asked Jesse for help, but she didn’t. If my grades drop, I’ll lose my scholarship…”
Tears streaked her face, softening Mike’s heart.
He held her close, rubbing her back. “Don’t cry, Taylor. It’s just a mark. I’ll fix it.”
He cupped her face, brushing away her tears. “Even if you don’t get the scholarship, we’ll cover everything. Whatever you ask for, we’ll give.”
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Chapter 8 Worth Less Than a Maid
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+8 Pearls
“I want to earn it on my own,” Taylor sniffled, her eyes welling up. “I don’t want people to think I’m taking advantage or that I stole Jesse’s spot.”
Mike’s voice grew even softer. “I know, you’ve worked the hardest. You deserve this; nobody can deny that. Don’t cry anymore.”
Jesse hung back, not paying much attention to their performance.
Mike saw her anyway, his glare sharp. “Where do you think you’re going? I’m here with Taylor, and you don’t even have the decency to say hi?”
She sped up, ignoring him.
His temper erupted. He caught her wrist in a crushing grip, dragged her back, and slammed her into the wall. Her shoulder throbbed with pain.
She gripped it tightly, her face growing pale.
Mike acted blind to her pain, his voice rising. “Taylor asked you to cover her notes and roll call. Why didn’t you? Philip died because of you, and you can’t even do this tiny favor?”
Jesse’s eyes lifted, cold as steel. Her voice was steady, every word sharp. “Mr. Mike Spencer, this isn’t the Spencer Residence. Put your hands on me again, and I’ll call the cops.”
His eyes went wide. “What did you just say? You’d actually call the cops on me? I’m your brother!”
“You already said I’m not your sister.” Her tone was ice.
For a moment, his fury dulled. In his mind, it was clear that she was only sulking over Taylor. Looking at her pale face, he thought, She’s still my sister. What’s the harm in giving her a way back?
“Fine. Admit you were wrong, and you can come back. I’ll make you the team’s backup. Taylor just joined; the competition’s only two days away, and she’s still shaky with the controls. You’ll help her. Tomorrow, you’ll also cover her class.”
Jesse met his gaze head–on. “When did I ever say I wanted to go back to the Spencer
Residence?”
Mike scowled. “I’ve already compromised. What more do you want from me?”
“You call this giving in? I’m going back just to run errands for you and Taylor like a maid?” Her sarcastic tone cut like a knife,
He snapped, “Since when were you a maid?!”
“I’m not even that. A maid gets paid, isn’t cursed at or smacked around for nothing, and still
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Chapter 8 Worth Less Than a Maid
gets time off. Me? I had none of it.”
Jesse’s words landed like a slap. A hush fell as students murmured, eyes wide.
Mike’s face went dark; his temper boiled over.
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“Jesse, the way you talk makes it sound like the brothers were really rough on you. I know you’re angry at me for taking their affection, but saying these things hurts them.
“If you’re that upset, I’ll leave…” Taylor’s gentle voice carried in, filled with feigned sorrow.
Her words poured straight into the flames.
“You don’t have to go!” Mike bellowed, his chest heaving. “She’s the one who doesn’t belong with
us!”
Send Gifts
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