Page 197 of Taeja

Taeja laid her hand atop his, and he unclenched his fist to grip her hand. “She’s a baby. She won’t hurt you, and you won’t hurt her.”

Zain nodded, awkwardly clearing his throat as he tried relaxing.

Seeing movement in the corner of her eye, Taeja looked over.

Wayne entered the house, holding two laden bags in his hands. “Hey, Tae.” He cleared his throat as his eyes flickered to Zain. His brows knitted briefly at ZsaZsa before he looked at Taeja and gulped. “Mi carry apple fi yu.”

“Apple?” Taeja stood and walked toward Wayne. She smiled as he showed her the apples, which had a rich, purple color. “Thanks, Wayne.”

He nodded. “I heard you wanted some, so I brought some for you. Also, as an apology for trying to… look you.”

Taeja chuckled, amused by his nervousness. “Yu good, Wayne. You couldn’t have known that I’m your cousin—”

“Nuh tell him dat,” Cassedi interrupted. “Nasty wretch. Everything yu walk and look.”

“It’s fine. Really,” Taeja reassured Wayne, who nodded while handing her the bags. “And thanks for this.”

Taeja brought the bags to the kitchen. She took two apples out of it and washed them in the sink. She brought them to Damon. He was still on his business call, but he accepted them with a big smile. Taeja nodded, then returned to the living room.

Wayne was long gone.

ZsaZsa was in Cassedi’s hold.

And Zain was biting back a smirk.

Taeja nervously tapped herfinger on the table. She knew the woman sitting across from her was hooking onto her every movement.

Cassedi cleared her throat.

Taeja’s shoulders slackened as she felt the woman look away from her. Taeja looked up, relieved that the woman was looking at Cassedi. She used the time to get another good look at the woman.

Her lips were painted a fiery red. Her long locs were twisted into a fancy top knot with a multicolored scarf wrapped around it. Those cold eyes didn’t strip away any of her beauty. She looked like an empress from folklore.

Taking a sip from the glass of red, the woman laid the glass atop the table. “She has his eyes.”

Cassedi’s brows furrowed as she looked at Taeja. “I think she has mine.”

“Maybe I am imagining it because I have not seen him in a while,” Merissa said.

Detecting the trace of disdain in her aunt’s tone, Taeja chuckled nervously. “Is that a good or bad thing?”

Merissa’s icy gaze settled on Taeja. “A bad thing.” She moved the glass to her lips, taking a long sip. Humming as she placed the glass on the table, Merissa sat more upright. “When Cassedi told me you were here, I did not know that you would want to meet me.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to meet you?”

“Because the family wants nothing to do with Jerry or his kin,” Merissa said, her eyes flickering to Cassedi. “However, I hold no contempt toward your mother. She is always welcome in my home, despite how she came into it.”

“What do you mean?”

Merissa’s eyes widened, narrowing as they settled on Cassedi. “You never told her?” she asked, and Cassedi shook her head. Merissa scoffed. “Figures,” shemumbled, grabbing the wine glass to take another sip.

“Never told me what?” Taeja moved to the edge of her chair. “Cassedi, you said you told me everything.”

“You tell her, or I will,” Merissa insisted.

Cassedi sighed. She lowered her head as she whispered, “Jerry is a jacket.”

“Hardly,” Merissa muttered. “Teddy was delusional like all mistresses are, but she is not completely deranged.”

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