The Forgotten Heiress novel Chapter 15

Jessica closed the door and leaned up against it. She hadn't meant to come back here so soon but circumstances had left her no choice. The last couple of days were a perfect case study of Murphy's Law, anything that could go wrong, did.

Resigned to her fate, she went in search of her mother. She found her in the family and coughed to get her mother's attention. Startled, Lauren put a hand against her chest and smiled as she turned to face her.

Jessica stepped into the room and took a seat.

"You surprised me. You move around so soundlessly..." Lauren trailed off and she took a seat across from her.

Uncomfortable with the silence that followed, Jessica fidgeted in her seat for a second then looked at her mom and apologized. She apologized not just for scaring her but for her actions and short of stellar attitude so far.

Lauren gave her a shaky smile and shook her head and spoke with conviction. "You have nothing," she and slashed a hand through the air, "nothing to apologize for. I should be the one begging for forgiveness-and I will for the rest of my life. If I could go back in time I would do things differently, I really would."

Jessica saw the pain and remorse in her mother's eyes. It tugged at her heart strings. This was what she'd been waiting for, a heartfelt apology. All along shed needed an acknowledgment that she'd been wronged and hurt.

"I know I probably should have waited and heard you out earlier. But it hurt me." Jessica emphasized her statement my tapping her chest, right over her heart. "It hurt to see you give to someone else what you never gave me. I guess you can say that I was jealous because, growing up, I didn't have any of this."

Jessica's eyes began to cloud with tears. She didn't blink, refusing to let them fall. Her voice was unsteady though, betraying all the pain she felt inside.

Lauren stood up and went to sit next to her. Closing the distance between them, she took Jessica's hand and enclosed it between both of hers. My love for you wasn't given to anyone else. I've saved it just for you. Give us," she used a hand to indicate the two of them "a chance. Give me a chance to show you that I do love you."

"I want the truth about me," Jessica voiced her request just above a whisper.

She was afraid that her plea would be ignored and Laurens suddenly shuttered look did nothing to raise her hopes.