The Serpent's Smile
That night, the Lance family gathered for their nightly dinner. The entire family would be there because everyone was in town and free. There was no true thought about the situation between Jessica and Amber; Jessica had become very apologetic and remorseful. She seemed genuinely regretful, and all of the family members had begun to believe that she had finally changed. Most of the family had arrived and were in the main living room speaking energetically. The children were in their area engaged in their activities, and the air was calm and happy.
It all changed when Jessica, Amber, and Dan arrived—actually, Jessica waited for Amber and Dan to arrive. She sat in her car, and when the couple arrived, she got out and smirked at her sister. Both Amber and Dan were immediately on guard. Dan leaned into Amber as Jessica sauntered up the stairs.
"Maybe we should go to my parents' for dinner. Mom has been demanding to see us lately."
Amber shook her head. "We need to face Jessica head-on." She looked to her sister's vehicle—now a family SUV instead of her sporty coupe. "I think she was waiting here for us. Let's not disappoint her."
Dan wanted to say that his wife was overreacting, but he thought better of it when he saw Jessica was still at the door. He frowned; she should have already walked into the living room by now. She smiled broadly and seductively at him, and he raised an eyebrow. His stomach turned and he took out his phone.
"I am sorry, Amber Ann. I do not want to play this game with her anymore." He smiled at Amber Ann and kissed her softly on the cheek. His heart flipped in his chest when she let her finger run down his jawline as he pulled back. She smiled into his eyes.
"I understand. I will see you at the garden after dinner."
He smiled and kissed her again. He then turned, speed-dialing David, and left the estate without another word.
Amber turned and saw Jessica frowning at Dan's back. She passed her older sister and spoke lightly. "It seems you are running men off these days instead of catching them, dear sister."
She did not pause and calmly walked into the living room, got a glass of water, and greeted her parents. Jessica entered, got a grapefruit Italian soda, and sat with a sly smile on her face. Everyone noticed that she did not speak to Angelica and Damon Sr. and that she was swirling her drink absent-mindedly with a distant expression on her face. The room tensed collectively, family looking to each other—some unsure what to do and others wanting to attack.
Damon Sr. spoke first. "Amber Ann, I thought Dan was free tonight."
She looked at her father with a smile and did not skip a beat. She spoke, her eyes never leaving their father, but Jessica felt like her sister was talking directly to her.
"Oh, he planned a new wildflower garden for BonBons Sereins and he ordered special snails and fish for the ecosystem-pond he designed for it. It seems they came earlier than expected. He told me to apologize for him, Daddy. I forgot."
She sipped her water and looked her father in his eyes with a smile. He could not help but glance at Jessica, and the scowl on her face told it all.
"That's okay. I am glad to see you two doing projects together."
Angelica sat forward—maintaining sight of Jessica peripherally. "That mineral bath of yours is truly a wonder, darling! Your aunt and I have already booked two more visits. Those waters are unbelievable."
She watched Jessica toss back her Italian soda like it was a shot of liquor and then get up and get another from the porter. She knew her daughter had not changed in that moment, and her heart twisted with pain as she spoke to her second daughter. She needed to figure out a way to stop Jessica.
"I saw that. Calm Stays will be calling you tomorrow to see if you would rather book there. You can get one of the premium packages and have unlimited sessions at the spa."
Angelica's eyes lit up and that made Amber smile. She refused to look at Jessica, but she saw the initial concern in her mother's eyes. Samuel watched the exchange. He was furious. He knew Jessica had been in contact with Anthony Shaw, but since he found out the assassin had left Carson City, he had left his older sister alone about it. Now he could see something clearly brewing. He made a mental note to get the Two Minds Private Eye agency to start watching Jessica again.
He had people maintaining an eye on Shaw and Jessica, but that detective agency delved deeper than he knew how. He sipped his drink and felt his phone buzz. It was a text from Virginia in the sibling group chat that excluded Jessica.
Virginia: "She is at it again. I want to go over there and slap her."
Damon Jr.: "Don't jump to conclusions. Amber Ann is calm."
Virginia: "Amber Ann has grown; I have not."
Samuel: "Amber has always had a cooler head than both you and Jessica, but I agree our older sister is definitely scheming. Amber?"
Amber Ann: "Don't worry. Dan still has the detectives watching her."
Virginia: "Did he not come because of her?"
Amber Ann: "Jessica unintentionally ran him off in the driveway. He is trying so hard that he does not want to deal with her nonsense."
Virginia: "If she wasn't pregnant I would… I don't know what I would do."
Amber Ann: "Calm down. It will be okay."
Paul: "You are definitely too nice, sis."
As her siblings texted each other, Jessica quietly thought to herself. She would see how liquid his finances were and then she would have "friends" put a strain on his businesses. Once he pulled out of Blue Serene, she would swoop in with Anthony's money and own the company. A slow scheming, predatory smile grew on her face.
'Amber Ann is fragile. When she realizes she can't win, she will run and hide, and Dan will see how weak and useless she truly is.'
Jessica took a small sip of her drink. This time, she would have her way.