Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 281: Who do you think you are?

Jessica took a deep breath and stood rooted at the spot, her ears perked up and her sense of hearing heightened. Her eyes subtly scanned the hallway, alert to every flicker of movement.

Then she noticed another restroom, just beside the one she had exited from moments earlier.

A strange feeling crawled down her spine. She couldn’t shake off the sense that someone had been waiting for her. Watching her. Maybe they lacked the courage to approach, or perhaps they were simply waiting for the right moment.

Her instincts screamed for caution, but then she decided to create an opportunity for the person. Taking a deep breath, she stepped backward, retreating into the restroom, leaving the door slightly ajar.

She turned toward the sink, her expression hardening. Her heartbeat slowed through sheer willpower.

She twisted the faucet. The water gushed out with a steady stream, splashing against the porcelain.

Slowly and calmly, she began to wash her hands, her eyes locked on her reflection in the mirror. She wanted to see the person and possibly meet her enemies sooner.

It had been clear at the table that she wasn’t welcomed by them. She had an inkling they were afraid she would take over the leadership, but she didn’t care.

From the mirror’s surface, she watched. Still, no one approached. The hallway remained silent.

She pulled the hand towel from the rail and dried her hands with quiet precision. Then, she stepped back out into the hallway with controlled grace and shut the door behind her with a firm click.

"Who’s there?" Her voice rang out, sharp and cold.

The door to the other restroom creaked open, and a tall, slender woman emerged. Her face was round but with sharply defined cheekbones, plastered in thick makeup that seemed more like armor than adornment.

Her fingers and wrists were weighed down with gold bangles and rings. Her designer gown shimmered with gold accents, catching the hallway light like a curtain of stars.

But her eyes were icy and unwelcoming, carrying no sparkle.

still and observant, noting every flicker of emotion that passed through the woman’s expression. What

Cassandra Santiago.

extended family members who had made no

up and down and let out a humorless chuckle. "Seems you’re not as clueless as I thought. I was

raised one brow slowly but said nothing. Silence was her armor now. Her eyes calmly took in the other woman, her pose, her clenched fists, the barely

the table had spoken louder than words ever could, as

to challenge a line that many here thought

mildly curious that

that didn’t come. Irritated, she snapped, "Young lady,

slowly, reigning in her reaction. Her pregnancy had already tested her patience several times that day. But this wasn’t the moment to lose her cool. It was, however, not a moment to

think it’s strange, Mrs. Cassandra, that a family as old as the Santiagos never taught

side, her long manicured nails digging into her palm. The insult hit its

she said,

tilted her

the heels of her stilettos clicking with authority as she let the restroom door shut behind her. "Who do you think you

Jessica frowned slightly. "Disrupt?"

wasn’t just a seat," Cassandra spat. "It was a declaration. She had subtly made you the heir of the Santiagos. That seat has never been given lightly, and tonight you were handed it like some treasured heir. Just like that.

but composed. "I have no quarrel

folding her arms. "You’ve taken your time plotting this moment, haven’t

on, yet she couldn’t start now to explain her innocence in this matter and, left with no

I only honored it."

daughter has spent her life under Lady Matilda’s watchful eye. She’s earned every chance, every recognition. While you—where were you all these years? What

a thought settled in her heart. "Isn’t it possible that Cassandra might have been

narrowed slightly. She made a decision to keep a close watch on her, but then she would let her have the upper hand. Besides, she

cloying, overwhelming floral—invading Jessica’s space. "You may hold Lady Matilda’s attention now, but