Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 376: I won’t let you have it all...

After a while, Jessica pulled the door open. Cassandra looked up, meeting her gaze. Her face bloomed with a smile, yet her eyes glistened with an unknown light, one that did not escape Jessica’s notice.

Jessica’s lips curved into a cold arc. Casting a fleeting glance at Cassandra, she stepped into the hallway.

"Lead the way," she murmured, a smirk playing on her lips.

Cassandra quickened her pace toward the garden, her face bright with a falsely warm smile.

"Bernice will be happy you agreed to meet her," she said. "You don’t know how guilty she’s felt since that incident. And with Lady Matilda blaming her, she’s really been sorry."

Jessica glanced at her quietly and then her eyes swept the corridor, her gaze lingering briefly on corners, shadows, and door frames.

A few subtle details were out of place, no too obvious, but enough to make her click her tongue softly.

"Did you say she’s sorry?" Jessica’s voice was low, edged with mockery. "Then why wasn’t she bold enough to face me?"

If they truly wanted to play the family-ties game, she would happily play her own version, playing along with them .

"You wouldn’t understand her," Cassandra said quickly. "She’s so outspoken she sometimes offends people without realizing it."

Jessica’s smirk deepened. "She really is your daughter."

By the time they reached the garden, Jessica’s eyes had already catalogued every little detail of the path they took and the subtle arrangement of keeping people away from there.

Taking a look around, Jessica smiled lightly.

The pool, glistening under the moonlight, had the crescent shape of the moon dancing on it.

The light evening breeze made the water ripple, sending small, dancing waves toward the edges.

At the far side of the pool stood a slender figure ...Bernice. From behind, her frame seemed delicate, almost too soft to belong to someone capable of hurting a fly.

Jessica halted in her footsteps a few distances away from her. She carefully studied the lady before her. Her eyes darted around the dimly lit garden.

A faint, sharp scent of fuel, mixed with some acidic substance hit her nose.

Her eyes narrowed.

Bernice slowly turned around to meet her gaze. The coldness in her expression was unmistakable, confirming what Jessica had already suspected.

She had regarded Jessica as an arch-enemy, and her purpose in bringing her into the garden she understood wasn’t simple in any way.

Jessica schooled herself "Be cautious to understand their purpose," she thought to herself.

"Our dear granddaughter," Bernice said, her lips twisting into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "Welcome home."

stepped back, only to find Cassandra now behind her, cutting off her

because you were sorry

unreadable as she glanced at her. "Did

lifted one shoulder

been mistaken. Or perhaps she didn’t hear me

her head. "She didn’t

course. She may be comfortable with you returning to the Santiagos to

"Bernice, aren’t

definitely channeling your anger wrongly," Jessica felt a

Bernice weren’t ready to play by the

anger? I channeled it correctly. Bernice shot back, stepping

you came. It was all your fault, and with your presence, that old hag will definitely

resentment, loss and humiliation she felt since

had decided not to take

she be able to

simple conclusion of the matter; remove the source of the

the shining presence in the

one seated beside the Old Lady at all times, subtly turning

and sometimes she suggested in favour of herself or her

with Jessica’s reappearance, those privileges seem to have slipped away and she felt her position was

the position of Vice President was handed to her, Bernice felt her patience snap leaving only rage and wounded

gaze slid to Cassandra. "So... is this the meeting? Or is this the trap you

smile was thin. "Jessica, you’re too naive to survive

"to

her back was toward

scene was staged for something far more dangerous than a

of fuel, was faint yet undeniable, seemed to come

possible the pool had

should be

trained on

walked towards her menacingly, her voice

we did

think you can do if by any chance

all of the guests

you think you can

and dizziness in certain environmental conditions, what do you

as she battled with another wave of dizziness that was both sudden and unnerving.

seemed to be the fourth time she felt herself on the verge of collapsing on

really need to check my blood and sugar levels tomorrow morning," she

date; the worst of the symptoms should have passed. Yet here

droning but Jessica’s mind was already