"Don’t worry, it’s a very small request. You’ll definitely agree," Sheena flatly said.
Stephen was about to retort, but Amanda stopped him.
Though her health wasn’t the best, the entire Brooks family had risen from her parents’ legacy, and even now, all the children carried her surname. As a result, her words often carried more weight than Christopher’s, her husband.
Looking at her daughter, who had grown so unfamiliar, Amanda felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.
Taking a deep breath, she said, "As long as you’re willing to go in Jasmin’s place, I’ll give you whatever you ask for."
Hearing what she said, Sheena mentally scoffed. So, all these years, the family love she had desperately sought had been nothing but a cruel joke.
Biting her lip, she said nothing more and quietly left the room.
Jasmin was successfully rescued.
For a short time, the room was filled with sobs and words of comfort.
Even Christopher, who was usually stern and composed, hurried to Jasmin’s bedroom after seeing off the guests, his face full of concern for his beloved youngest daughter.
When he bumped into Sheena at the corner, he didn’t spare her a single glance.
Caught off guard, Sheena lost her balance and fell to the ground. Her ankle quickly swelled.
The evening breeze stung her skin, and Sheena couldn't help but inhale sharply.
"Sheena, are you alright?"
Travis suddenly appeared in front of her, reaching out to help her up.
As he leaned closer, Sheena caught the faint scent of gardenia perfume on him—Jasmin’s perfume.
Gardenias had once been her favorite.
Travis had always gone out of his way to find all sorts of gardenia-themed gifts for her. But shortly after returning to the Brooks family, Jasmin had managed to break all those gifts with various excuses.
When Sheena angrily confronted Jasmin, Travis stopped her. "Jasmin didn’t mean to do that. In the end, those were just trinkets. If you like, I can get you more."
At that time, Sheen believed him but she never received anything else from him.
Instead, not long ago, Jasmin flaunted a bottle of gardenia-scented perfume in front of her. "Sheena, you’re so useless! Your family doesn’t want you, and now even your fiancé doesn’t want you!"
Sheena felt a pang in her chest and stepped back, forcing herself to stand without Travis’ help.
His hand hung awkwardly mid-air, and his face turned sour. "Sheena, I know you’re upset about going to the Wilson family for Jasmin’s sake. But I’ve already promised to marry you. What more do you want?"
"Jasmin is your sister. What’s wrong with helping her? Do you have to be so narrow-minded?"
Sheena felt a surge of anger that she couldn’t suppress. Her voice turned sharp as she retorted, "Being forced to act as a scapegoat and take her punishment—am I supposed to be grateful for that?"
Hearing this, Travis raised his voice as well. "Jasmin didn’t do it on purpose! And besides, it’s just a trip to the Wilson family. What’s the big deal?"
"If it’s no big deal, then why can’t Jasmin go herself?" Sheena clapped back.
Travis fell silent, his face growing even darker. "You’re being unreasonable. There’s no point in talking to you anymore!"
In the end, Sheena returned to her room alone.
Calling it a "room" was generous—it was worse than the servants’ quarters.
Compared to Jasmin’s bright and spacious princess-style bedroom, hers was a stark contrast.
She stayed in a damp, dark basement, surrounded by cement walls with no windows. The bathroom was so far away that every night, she had to carry a flashlight and nervously traverse a long, unlit hallway just to relieve herself.
