Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 244: A toast...

Jessica walked quietly back into the grand hall. The music had softened, and the lights glowed gently over the large crowd of guests.

Several business investors and executives mingled with each other. Discussing business deals and setting up new partnerships.

In the background, soft music floated as the MC was discussing with the manager the next show to come up.

But for Jessica, all these faded into insignificance as her sharp gaze moved across the room, observing the faces in the crowd—flattery smiles, waiting ears and plotting minds. She sighed.

Once she reached her table, she sank into her seat with poise, her expression hidden but her fingers clasped over another in contemplation of the next course of action to take.

After her confrontation with Tricia in the garden, she knew things might take a different turn at any point and with the first rumour not clarified it might be more troublesome to clarify later when another storm hits.

Tricia’s offer, her anger, and her insult were still fresh in Jessica’s mind. She knew Tricia wouldn’t take rejection lightly, especially not after being exposed in her own game. But Jessica was no longer playing defensively, she had a sense of resolution within her.

She picked up her champagne glass but didn’t drink. Instead, she scanned the faces seated at various tables.

A few notable investors, press members, and foreign dignitaries remained focused on the ongoing program, others exchanged low whispers with their associates, quietly evaluating the situation.

But Jessica noticed something else: some of the new investors had begun to step in, holding the attention of key guests, making conversation, and keeping the launch alive and steady.

That was good.

With the most pressing elements under temporary control, Jessica paused the final investment option she had in mind. Timing, after all, was everything.

She tapped her phone and made a discreet call to one of her subordinates. "Is it ready?"

"Yes, ma’am. Everything is queued. We’re waiting for your signal."

and drafted a brief message to Ethan: "Anchor the next program, And everything about the launch should be done tonight. We

tonight will set the business

the investors and executives, caught the buzz of his phone, quietly went through the message then he looked across the hall and caught Jessica’s

nod passed between them. Within minutes, he stepped onto the stage,

to take you on a

over the ballroom. The projector screen

their discussions and actions to lean forward and watch the scene that began rolling out as the screen flickered

with

broken gates, rusty signs, weeds growing around. The company was in ruins. The audience went

hallways, checking rooms with broken furniture and

hard work of bringing the company back to life — new paint,

to the guest. She wore a simple outfit, hard

colors, arranged furniture, corrected drawings, and led meetings with the staff. She was not just a guest. She was a part of the

offering advice, answering questions, and inspiring

was a voice narrating the incident that led to the fall of the group making it clear, it was never

building — beautiful, shining, alive. And over it, words appeared on the screen: Welcome to the new face of Allen

second longer, as if collectively holding its breath. Then applause erupted as whispers rippled through

came back

eyes

began snapping pictures again, this time with renewed energy. A few investors who had previously stepped back could be seen quietly

away, looked pale. Her earlier

this

as well as the evidence of the previous company’s financial records displayed and its audit

his way to Jessica’s

look forward to our partnership and I will be