Chapter 444 Two Uncles
Curtis was totally floored when he heard that. He strolled up to the iron gate, giving Jessie the once-over, his look shifting from puzzled to straight-up shocked.
"Wait, are you Jessie?" Curtis finally blurted out, not quite sure.
"Yep, that's me!" Jessie nodded, confirming it was indeed Curtis standing there.
Jessie had three siblings: the oldest, Gerald; the second, Otis; she was the third, and the youngest was Curtis.
Back in the day, Jessie was the one who looked after Curtis the most!
"Ethan, come over and say hi!" Jessie called out to Ethan, who was hanging around nearby.
Ethan didn't think much of it.
But before he could say anything, Michelle started yelling.
"So, you're Curtis's sister, huh? Didn't you cut ties with the Smith family ages ago? What are you doing back here? Don't tell me you're after Carl's inheritance? Let me tell you, you ain't getting a dime!" Michelle's words were like daggers, making Ethan frown and glance at Jessie.
Jessie didn't expect Michelle to be so harsh. She frowned and asked Curtis, "Is this your wife?"
"Yeah, her name's Michelle. We got hitched fifteen years ago, and it’s got nothing to do with you. She's right; Carl cut you off back then. You shouldn't be here now! I don't have time to recognize you as my sister!" Curtis's attitude made Jessie’s eyes widen in disbelief. Was this really Curtis?
"Fine, whatever. I just want to know where Gerald is. When was this old house rebuilt? I remember it was given to Gerald back then." Jessie took a moment to pull herself together. She bit her lip and asked, holding back her sadness.
"Of course, Gerald gave me the house. It’s got nothing to do with you now. Why are you asking so many questions?" Curtis frowned and snorted.
"Why waste time talking to her? Let's go inside. She ran off with some random guy back then and still has the nerve to come back?" Michelle immediately grabbed Curtis, and the two turned and walked back into the villa, slamming the door behind them.
"Mom, looks like a lot has gone down since you’ve been away. Don’t worry. Let’s find Gerald first." Seeing Jessie upset, Ethan quickly tried to comfort her.
If it weren’t for Jessie, he would’ve kicked down the iron gate and given Curtis and Michelle a piece of his mind!
Especially Michelle, with her sharp. She's probably the reason Curtis turned into such a jerk!
"Alright, let’s head to the cemetery." Jessie took a deep breath to calm herself and nodded slowly.
Smith Village was surrounded by farmland on three sides, with a small hill to the west, no more than a couple hundred feet high, flanked by two small rivers.
The Smith family cemetery was on this hill.
Carl had built a small house at the foot of the hill, and that piece of land and the house were supposed to go to Curtis. But things had flipped over the years!
With Jessie leading the way, Ethan quickly found the old house at the foot of the hill.
To Jessie's surprise, the small house looked almost exactly the same as before, barely any changes.
But it seemed like it had been spruced up a bit inside.
After stepping out of the car, Jessie took a deep breath, realizing Gerald still lived in the old house!
"Looks like Gerald's family hasn't had it easy all these years," Ethan sighed, seeing the state of things.
Just then, a middle-aged man in his fifties came out of the house carrying a hoe. He spotted the car parked by the cement road and saw Ethan and Jessie, his face lighting up with surprise.
"Gerald!" Jessie recognized him instantly and called out, her voice trembling.
"Jessie?" Gerald was just as shocked, his excitement mixed with disbelief.
"It's me. I'm back!" Jessie walked up to Gerald, tears streaming down her face.
"Welcome back! It's been twenty years; I've missed you so much!" Gerald dropped the hoe and hugged Jessie, tears of joy running down his face.
The siblings hadn't seen each other in two decades, and the emotions were overwhelming.
Ethan watched the scene and sighed, thinking this was why Jessie had to come back.
No matter what, at least the bond between her and Gerald was still strong!
"Jessie, is this your son?" After a while, Gerald calmed down and looked at Ethan, unsure.
"Yeah, this is Ethan. Last time I brought him back, he was only four!" Jessie quickly called Ethan over to say hi.
"Uncle Gerald!" Ethan smiled and greeted him.
"Wow, can't believe how much he's grown. He's quite the young man! Jessie, you've done a great job raising him!" Gerald nodded, pleased.
"Is it just you at home?" Ethan didn't sense anyone else around and asked casually.
"Your auntie, Emily Smith, went to the city to see your cousin!" Gerald's face suddenly showed a hint of sadness.
"Gerald, Jared went to the city? Why didn't you go with him to enjoy city life?" Jessie remembered that when she left, Gerald's son Jared Smith was about ten. He should be in his thirties now, probably settled down with a family.
"Let's not talk about him. Come in and sit. I'll get you some water." Gerald clearly didn't want to discuss Jared and quickly led Jessie and Ethan into the house.
The old house had been renovated, but the living conditions were still modest, just barely clean.
Given the circumstances, it was quite decent.
Ethan didn't mind; he wasn't the pampered type, and Jessie certainly wouldn't mind Gerald's situation.
After entering the house, Ethan and Jessie watched Gerald busy himself with pouring water. They exchanged a glance, both sensing that Gerald was hiding something.
"Gerald, I remember after Dad passed away, the old house was left to you, right? Why is Curtis living there now?" Jessie took the cup from Gerald and suddenly brought up the old house.
Ethan and Jessie both saw the deep helplessness and endless pain in Gerald's eyes.
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