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."

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

over completing the launch tonight will set the business in motion tomorrow while she waits

his phone, quietly went through the message then he looked across the

brief nod passed between them. Within minutes, he stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand. The crowd

a smile. "Thank you for being with us tonight. As part of the gala, we would like to take you on a short journey. A story. The true story of J&D Globals —

projector screen lowered slowly as the instrumental

their discussions and actions to lean forward and watch the scene that

with

weeds growing around. The company was in ruins. The audience

hallways, checking rooms with broken furniture and smashed equipment and another voice heard but

work of bringing the company back to life — new

Jessica, her face concealed but her back familiar to the guest. She wore a simple outfit, hard

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

different rooms, offering advice, answering questions, and inspiring

voice narrating the incident that led to the fall of the group making it clear, it was never taken away from the parent company but had only been given a

building — beautiful, shining, alive. And over it, words appeared on the screen: Welcome

hall remained silent for a second longer, as if collectively holding its breath. Then applause erupted as whispers rippled through the

came

still, her eyes

they had just witnessed. Photographers began snapping pictures again, this time with renewed energy.

tables away, looked pale. Her earlier confidence had turned

expected this

well as the evidence of the

way to Jessica’s table,

he said, his voice warm with admiration. "I look forward to our partnership and I will be investing in