Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

The night was deep, and Billy was wide awake, restless with a mind that refused to quiet. He held his phone and dialed Josefina's number. The unfamiliar number rang through, and Josefina answered. Billy's voice was tinged with urgency. "Josie, it's Dad. I really need to talk to you."

Without a second thought, Josefina hung up.

Undeterred, Billy grabbed another phone and tried again. "Josie, please, just hear me out, okay?"

Predictably, Josefina disconnected the call once more.

Billy was persistent, each call met with Josefina's unwavering resolve to block him. On the sixth attempt, she finally answered, her voice icy, "Billy, spit it out already. What do you want?" Josefina's cold demeanor sent a shiver down Billy's spine, his grip tightening around the phone.

Still, he forced a gentle smile, and his voice followed suit. "Josie, I'm calling because I want Ruby to apologize to you in person. It's all Ruby's fault. If it weren't for Ruby's stubbornness and unforgivable mistake, you wouldn't be so angry."

A mocking laugh escaped Josefina. "So, what? You're scared to lose money, and you don't want to pay up, that's why you're calling?"

"Josie, I won't lie. That thought

crossed my mind. But what matters most is what you want. I know Ruby has upset you, and I want to give her the chance to make it right. From now on, consider her your little sister. She'll do whatever yousay. If you don't want her around, I find her another place to live. Your happiness is what's important, Josie."

Josefina sat on a swing, her cheeks caressed by the night breeze.

She had endured Billy's exploitation for too long, never once revealing her true identities. Now, just by exposing one of her many secrets, she had him bending to her will.

With Bluetooth earbuds in, Josefina

stared up at the starry sky, her voice

Ret

as tranquil and profound as the night, "My happiness was never a

concern for your family, Mr. A

don't play the sentimentality

ties to

with me. I have no emotion' back

your family. As for Ruby, won't back down. Don't call me again."

Billy tried to respond, but Lauren burst in, snatching the phone away, cursing, "Josefina, you ungrateful brat! After all we've done for you! How can you do this to Ruby? Does it make you happy to see her ridiculed? It's all your fault, Josefina."

A scoff came from Josefina, "So, did

I make Ruby claim my work as her own? Was it me who chose to be incompetent and yet pretend

otherwise? Lauren, you raised meet

because I was part of the Antonio family. But I'm actually curious. You've always said I'm not like you, not part of the Antonio family. Why didn't you do a paternity test sooner? If you had, I would've been out of your lives much earlier. What secret are you hiding, Lauren?"

Lauren's face turned pale, her back to Billy hiding her panic. She shouted into the phone, "What are you implying, you little troublemaker! If you know what's good for you, you'll drop the case against Ruby." Josefina hung up without another word, promptly blocking the number. Lauren's curses fell on deaf ears.

Billy grabbed the phone back, pointing at Lauren in anger, "What the hell are you doing? Why did you provoke Josefina? Do you have any idea how many times I had to call before she answered? Lauren, you're useless. You pay the damn settlement yourself."