Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 221: Don’t blame me...

With slow, measured, and deliberate steps, Jessica closed the door behind her gently as she stepped into the brightly lit hallway. Her eyes scanned both ends of the corridor. As expected—no sign of Tricia. A faint knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Her expression remained indifferent as she adjusted the hem of her dress with casual elegance and headed toward one direction—the restroom.

Turning toward the restroom, she spotted Tricia rushing into one of the ladies’ rooms, her face painted in feigned distress. Jessica’s smile deepened. She didn’t need confirmation.

The scene that had just unfolded inside wasn’t surprising—Tricia’s melodramatic exit, her feigned tears, the carefully timed gasp that had drawn sympathetic glances is just a means of painting her the villain.

This she had expected from her following her attitude towards her since she arrived with Davis.

Years of experience dealing with schemers had taught her this game well and if Tricia is setting up this evening for a match, then she doesn’t mind accompanying her.

She had seen enough scheming women in her life to know that the act was far from over. It never was. Women like Tracia never left without striking twice.

She reached the restroom, her phone in hand, and pushed the slightly ajar door to open wider. Her expression was serene, indifferent. But her entrance was intentional.

Inside, the steady sound of water running echoed off the marble tiles. As Jessica stepped in, Tricia’s hand paused mid-motion over the running tap.

Her eyes met Jessica’s reflection through the mirror. The moment stretched between them. A deep scowl twisted Tracia’s face, embarrassment and fury flooding her cheeks with color.

She spun around sharply, hands clenched into trembling fists. "What are you doing here?" she snapped her voice sharp and acidic.

Jessica stepped in fully, letting the door remain wide open as she leaned her frame on the wall beside the door.

She raised her brow slightly, a smirk playing across her lips. "Why? I should be asking you that. You seemed a little too dramatic back there. I was worried. Or were you hoping I wouldn’t follow the trail of your crocodile tears?" Her voice dripped with mock concern. "Are you alright?"

Tricia turned off the tap and took a step closer to Jessica, the distance between them shrinking as tension swirled like a storm between two empresses in a battlefield of pride. Her voice dropped, filled with venom.

Her expression was icy, a stark contrast to her earlier sweetness during the toast. She didn’t believe that in her territory she would be intimidated.

"Jessica," she sneered, voice laced with venom. "Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Throwing yourself at a man like that? Do you even deserve him?"

Jessica tilted her head. Jessica blinked slowly, her smirk deepening as she regarded Tricia with the amusement one reserved for a delusional child.

clarify... which man are we talking about? Because I’m fairly certain the man who introduced me earlier used the term wife. Were you not present when he

her jaw tightening. Her fists clenched harder, nails digging into her palm. "Don’t act smart, Jessica. Calling him your husband?" "Ridiculous" she

one brow arching in disbelief. Did she not understand English? Or reality? Jessica

fists clenched. Seeing her smugness she wanted to strike her—desperately—but dared not risk Davis’s

raised her brow in curiosity, she had to find out how undeserving she is to Davis. "Are you serious? Did he complain to you?" She

think Davis won’t notice? Or are you hoping he’ll

soft sigh, almost

who’s really playing here? You, who stormed off just to

you’re doing. You fooled Alex, you charmed Lucas, but Luke?

slow and taunting. "Let him. I don’t care." Her tone was final.

Tricia, I’d suggest you think twice before dragging my name through the mud again," Jessica said, her voice laced with warning. "You don’t know what I’m capable

into the hallway. She didn’t want to concern herself with

had only followed her out because she was sure she had something to say to her, and now it seemed to have been exhausted, and she wouldn’t spend another

That’s when Tricia lunged.

her wrist tightly. "Please—I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sorry... please

with deliberate pressure, sharp nails cutting into Jessica’s

Her instincts screamed a warning. Her eyes dropped to Tricia’s grip, the nails biting deeper into her skin.

tears, her lips trembling. It was a convincing act—if Jessica hadn’t already seen the malice

lips thinned. You really want to play this

ear. Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "Don’t blame me for

heel slipping. Her head

in shock, pain flaring across her skull. But that wasn’t the

The pain spread through every part of her body, her body twitching. The crunch beneath

stepped back, Tricia’s fingers were swollen and red, the fingers trembling non-stop, it’s edges dyed red.

after the damage was done did Jessica leaned down, her

took Tricia’s injured hand in hers, inspecting the trembling fingers

I step on your fingers?" Jessica cooed softly, mockingly, as she crouched beside her.

echoed through the

had wheeled himself out of the room into the hallway to search for Jessica, witnessed the scene of her being pulled by Tricia from afar with bits of her mock pleading,

increased his speed to meet up with the women, his breathe coming

whimper. "I twisted my ankle and nearly fell. Tricia helped steady me but... I accidentally stepped on her fingers. I feel terrible. It looked bad—do you think her fingers are... broken?" She pouted, as though