“Kylee, haven’t you heard what happened with the Adams family recently?” Jada asked, leaning closer, her voice laced with curiosity and caution.
Kylee’s brow furrowed. “What happened?” she replied, her confusion evident.
Jada took a sharp breath, her tone dropping conspiratorially as she explained, “Ryan Adams was caught bad-mouthing Jessica at a restaurant. It turns out Mrs. Thomas overheard him. Because of that, the Thomas family immediately canceled their business partnership with the Adams family.”
Another woman gasped, chiming in with wide-eyed disbelief. “Yeah, and it wasn’t just any deal—it was for that massive resort project! The Thomas family was ready to sign the agreement, but they walked away from the table without a second thought. Now they’re looking for a new partner.”
Kylee’s face lost its color, her shock impossible to conceal.
The Thomas family—a name synonymous with power and influence—had taken such drastic action for Jessica?
She struggled to comprehend it. Why would the Thomas family value Jessica so highly? Why would they risk disrupting a lucrative partnership just to defend her? A wave of envy churned in Kylee’s chest, tightening her throat as her thoughts spiraled.
Why does she matter so much to them? She’s nothing but an illegitimate daughter of the Wright family. Isn’t it humiliating for them to associate with someone like her?
One of the other women spoke up, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “After what happened to the Adams family, my father warned me to be careful around Jessica. He even suggested I try to befriend her. But above all, he told me to never offend her.”
“Same here,” another added. “My dad said exactly the same thing.”
Jada leaned closer to Kylee, her tone wary. “Honestly, I was thinking about using the situation to smear Jessica’s name, but now I’m not so sure. It seems too dangerous. I’m sorry, Kylee, but we’ll have to rethink our approach.”
Though her frustration burned beneath the surface, Kylee maintained her composure, offering Jada a placating smile. “Oh, Jada, there’s no need to apologize,” she said smoothly. “I’ve already forgiven Jessica. After all, she’s my sister. How could I possibly hold a grudge against her?”
Her voice dripped with feigned sincerity, concealing her mounting fury.
Kylee had orchestrated this entire gathering with one purpose: to manipulate these women into spreading malicious rumors about Jessica. She knew they delighted in gossip and had planned to fan the flames of their disdain, ensuring Jessica’s reputation would suffer irreparable damage.
Even if the Thomas family stepped in later, it wouldn’t matter—the whispers would have already spread, their origins impossible to trace back to Kylee.
But everything had gone wrong. Jessica’s unexpected presence and the revelation of her formidable connections had turned the tide. Now, not one of these women would dare speak against her again.
Kylee’s meticulously crafted plan lay in ruins, leaving her simmering with suppressed rage.
________________________________________
Meanwhile, Jessica had returned to the dining area. She said nothing of the incident to Carola, quietly resuming her meal as though nothing had happened.
When they finished, Carola dabbed her mouth with a napkin before turning to Jessica, her expression serious. “Jessica, will you tell me what’s really going on between you and Kylee? You used to speak so highly of her—relied on her, even. What happened to change things so drastically over the past three years?”
Jessica met Carola’s concerned gaze with a bittersweet smile. Her voice was soft, tinged with irony. “I’ve just come to see things clearly, that’s all. Sometimes the people we trust the most—the ones we think are on our side—turn out to have entirely different agendas.”
Her eyes drifted to the window, her expression distant. “The human heart is a complex thing, often impossible to decipher. But one thing is clear: I’m done being played for a fool.”
Her words, heavy with unspoken truths, made Carola’s brows knit in concern.
Before Carola could press further, Jessica stood, collecting her belongings with quiet efficiency. “I have to get back to the hospital for my afternoon shift. Take care, Carola.”
Without waiting for a reply, Jessica left the restaurant, her steps steady and purposeful.
________________________________________
On her drive back to the hospital, Jessica’s phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, she saw Jonathan’s name.
Answering the call, she heard Jonathan’s steady voice. “Jessica, I need you to join us for a family dinner tonight. It’s important.”
Jonathan rarely emphasized the significance of family gatherings, and his tone piqued her curiosity. After a moment’s thought, she agreed.
Finishing her workday without delay, Jessica headed straight to the Clark family estate.
As she entered the grand villa, her footsteps echoed softly against the polished marble floor. In the living room, three familiar faces awaited her, their expressions a mix of anticipation and calculation.
Jessica’s gaze flickered, her expression shifting subtly as she took in the scene.