The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

However, Jessica gradually fell in love with Casper after she got to know him better. There was a time when she even considered spending a lifetime with him.

Casper's parents detested her, which was something she hadn't expected. They had been picking on her since the day they met and had always looked down their nose at her and criticized her.

At first, Jessica understood their condescending behavior toward her. After all, she hadn't come from a well-off family, and Casper was way out of her league at the time.

It was only normal that his parents would disapprove of her. She worked hard to please them, hoping she could win them over, but her efforts were to no avail.

Jessica took a deep breath. She swallowed her resentment and recomposed herself. At this point, she hoped Annalise's products would gain even more popularity on the market so she could follow in the latter's footsteps.

As long as she copied Annalise's marketing formula, she would make good money, too. Alas, for all the designing she had done for her collectibles, she had yet to engage a manufacturer to produce them.

Not that she had time to dwell on the negative side of things. She had a lot of work on her plate, and it wasn't until she had cleared her to-do list that she finally settled down and rang up a few manufacturers.

Unfortunately, most of the manufacturers in the locality had been engaged by Annalise since her designer collectibles sparked a new rage among comic fans. Jessica couldn't find one that would take up her orders.

with manufacturers from other cities. She only needed them for logistical purposes anyway, and the cities

sales numbers, Jessica contacted the manufacturers from the

the first payment, she haggled with the manufacturers so that they could ensure the best quality for the price she named. As a result, she did not have to invest that much in the first payment, and she

done, she glanced at the jewelry she'd

text. It was from a wealthy woman in upper-crust society who claimed to be interested in Jessica's

had bought the jewelry to resell them, to begin with.

vanished after she saw the money come

behaved like a money-grubber because she hadn't come from wealth. It was

different now. Jessica had learned to make a living and cut her

accommodate her workload. Anet

caretaker, the fees of which

could cover the costs of hiring help, to say nothing of the millions of dollars she made

of millions in