Now that Skin Dew Essence had slipped through Kingston Pharmaceuticals'' fingers, the family simmered with resentment.
But Charles saw more than loss; he glimpsed an opportunity-one that, if seized boldly enough, could catapult him straight past Jasmine, cementing his authority once and for all.
"Charles," Jessica said carefully, watching her son''s eyes glint with ambition, "Jasmine''s already got a new product ready tounch. Don''t you think betting everything we have might be reckless?"
"Mother," Charles scoffed bitterly, rolling his eyes, “Jasmine''s just bluffing. Whatever she''s cooked up can only be some pathetic imitation scraped together from our leftover research data"
"Sure, Alex might have a knack for patching up bodies, but this is pharmaceutical science, not some street-level stitching" "Without real professors backing them, they''re just throwing darts blindfolded. Besides, Skin Dew''s patent is firmly in Jericho''s grasp now-and he''s already sold it off to that Chicago lord."
Jessica frowned, unconvinced. "But Jasmine insists it''s entirely new product-" Charles mmed his fist down, interrupting her sharply.
"Bullshit! SkinDew took us a decade-do you really think Jasmine could conjure something groundbreaking in a month? She''s ying you like a fool!"
Jessica hesitated, doubt flickering across her face. "Then how much SkinDew Essence are you nning to buy?"
"As much as possible-everyst cent we have," Charles announced decisively, his voice radiating a ruthless confidence.
"Drain the family vault dry. And if that''s not enough, then borrow more."
Jessica''s expression darkened, anxiety mounting. "Charles, aren''t we overreaching?"
Charles threw his head back,ughing mockingly at her caution.
"Overreaching? Mother, the market analysis for SkinDew Essence is phenomenal. Every millionaire in the country is practically drooling for it. If we control enough of the stock now, imagine the astronomical profits we''ll reap. Trust me the return always matches the risk. Soon, even Jasmine will kneel and recognize who''s truly running this family."
The next morning, Kelly urgently called Jasmine.
"Did you hear? One of the Chicago lords–the Dupont family—is nning to officiallyunch SkinDew Essence in just two days at the Texas Interstate Convention Hall."
With Kingswell''s unmatched intelligencework, secrets rarely remained hidden.
Jasmine pressed her temples as a sharp headache spiked through her skull, then steeled herself, her eyes shing with cold resolve.
"If they want a battle, we''ll give them a war. We''reunching our product too."
"You''re thinking ofunching on the same day?" Kelly asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Exactly," Jasmine shot back, a defiant grin spreading across her lips.
"Let''s see whose product the world chooses."
Kelly studied Jasmine, pride swelling in her chest at how quickly the little girl had transformed into a formidable force-bold, cunning, and dangerously smart.
Jasmine Kingston had grown teeth sharper than Albert''s and wits that Charles couldn''t begin to match.
"Where exactly do you want your event?" Kelly asked cautiously. Chapter 255
Jasmine''s eyes sparkled wickedly. "Right opposite their doors."
19
Kelly smirked knowingly. "But that verlue is already booked "Offer triple," Jasmine said without hesitation, her voice drippin "Is that really necessary?" Kelly questioned softly, sensing Jasmi "Necessary?" Jasmineughed bitterly.
"They stabbed us first. It''s time everyone sees exactly how the Ki aiming straight for their throat."
Two dayster, the Duponts'' grandunch of Skin Dew Essence pa relentless chatter and swarming with wealthy elites, all lured by t by an aggressive wave of nonstop advertising.
The venue radiated grandeur, swathed in silk banners and bor Outside, luxury cars lined up endlessly, depositing one distinguis About an hour before the grandunch kicked off, a sleek ck lír
Jasmine stepped out with effortless grace, her arm looped confide iming enemy territory.
Her presence was electric, her beauty a force that demanded atter
Beside her, Alex, in nothing more than a simple shirt and jeans, e sea of luxury
and shing cameras surrounding them.
Charles spotted them immediately, sneering contemptuously as }
"Jasmine! Didn''t
to see you here-did Henry Dupont actu
His voice was dripping with sarcasm, his gaze deliberately sliding Jasmine shrugged, unfazed, her eyes coolly dismissive. "I''m not] "Then why exactly are you here?" Charles mocked, eyebrows rais "Oh," Jasmine said breezily, a wicked smirk ying at her lips,
there."
She gestured casually toward the other hall within the same Texa
event.
"What?" Charles sputtered, shock jolting through him. "Impossi "Never what?" Jasmine interrupted sharply, enjoying his stunne "Saw thising? Of course you didn''t. You''re too busy counting Charles nced toward her indicated venue- a building utterly d
He burst into harshughter, mockery vivid in his eyes. "You''re j expecting- ghosts?"
Jasmine stepped in closer, her gaze ice-cold, her voice slicing thr
"Laugh while you still can, Charles. Because soon, you''ll be chok your SkinDew
Essence stock now. Save Mother from the disaster
Charles''sughter snapped off like a broken wire, his face twistir
Jasmine didn''t so much as blink. She just stood there, smiling cold, victorious already knowing she''d cracked him wide
open.
Today''s Bonus Offer
***
Only after Jasmine had disappeared into the crowd did Charles finally register her
words, fury igniting inside him like a wildfire,
Absolute nonsense!" he snarled, his face twisting in contempt.
"SkinDew Essence is practically gold dust right now! People are begging on their knees, throwing money at us just to get a single drop. Your pathetic jealousy is showing, Jasmine!"
His voice was dripping venom, disdain echoing in every syble.
But Jasmine had already disuissed him entirely.
She gracefully looped her arm through Alex''s, her face serene with confidence, as they vanished into the empty hall
"Hmph! She really has no grasp of reality!" Charles spat bitterly, eyes narrowing viciously as he watched them vanish.
"Pathetic-just scrambling desperately to make trouble as a final act of desperation! Soon enough, the Duponts will crush her underfoot. And when thewsuits pour in over her half-baked product, she''ll beg for mercy!" Meanwhile, the Texas Interstate Convention Hall steadily filled with glittering dignitaries, the Duponts''vish press conference overflowing with wealth and mour.
Money had flowed generously into their advertising campaigns and invitations, drawing elites like moths to a dazzling me. The Kingston hall, however, was starkly different-deste, hauntingly empty, upied only by anxious staff and stiff-faced bodyguards arranging free samples at the entrance.
Yet, Jasmine sat untroubled, utterlyposed.
When Kelly entered, she deliberately ced her next to Alex, seating him between two captivatingly beautiful women, as though staking a proud im.
"What in God''s name are you thinking, Jasmine? Kelly?" Jessica stormed in, her voice sharp with incredulous fury. "Throwing together this mess of a press conference at thest minute - are youpletely insane?"
"Mom, I know exactly what I''m doing," Jasmine replied coolly, her expression unwavering.
"You know? You really think you know?" Jessica''s voice trembled with exasperation, her eyes zing fiercely.
"Have you even seen the Duponts'' event? They''re packed wall-to-wall with influential figures! And here? It''s a ghost town! If word leaks, the Kingston name will be aughingstock-a total humiliation, especially for a Vancouver governor''s family!
Jessica seethed, her dignity wounded. "What on earth possessed you to act so recklessly today, Jasmine? You''re usually meticulous, precise-never this foolish!" "Rx, mother. Have a seat, grab the water bottle-you''ll soon see," Jasmine responded calmly, confidence radiating from her every word.
Her eyes shed defiantly as she added sharply, "Or you can always go join the Duponts. After all, you did sell off some of our family''s shares just to buy SkinDew
stock."
"How dare you! My finances are none of your business!” Jessica bristled
defensively.
Jasmine smiled coldly, her voice dripping with venomous sweetness.
"Actually, I should thank you—I bought back every share you and charles foolishly discarded. Now, I control more of Kingston Pharmaceuticals than both of youbined."
She tilted her head mockingly. "Onest friendly suggestion: sell off your precious Skin Dew Essence before my press conference begins. Once it starts, your stocks won''t be worth dirt.
12
Jessica scoffed defiantly, "Sell Skin Dew for your worthless, half-assed junk? Hmph! I''d love to see what pathetic stunt you''re about to pull!"
Privately, Jessica prayed no one else arrived, desperate to minimize their shame.
Yet her heart nearly stopped when a refined woman entered the hall, her
presence regal andmanding.
"Dr-Dr. Joane?" Jessica stammered, disbelief etched across her face.
This elusive figure was almost mythical, a healer who casually turned down prime ministers and kings.
"Why...what could possibly bring you here, Dr. Joane?" Jessica rushed forward, forcing a weing smile.
Dr. Joane regarded Jessica coldly, arching a delicate brow. "Do I know you?"
"N-no," Jessica admitted awkwardly, shrinking beneath the doctor''s icy stare.
Without another nce, Dr. Joane breezed past Jessica and approached Alex directly. Seeing the two beauties nking him, she chuckled knowingly, spinning a chair around to face him intimately. Her eyes sparked with intense curiosity.
"I must know more about your miraculous treatment for Jericho Kane''s daughter. How exactly did you pinpoint those three critical nerves?"
Seeing her genuine passion, Alex offered a brief, insightful exnation, each word resonating profoundly.
Joane''s eyes lit up as if she''d just uncovered a sacred secret.
"Oh, brilliant!" she eximed, diving headlong into an animated discussion, effortlessly interpreting Alex''s concise remarks. Their dialogue quickly escted into passionate excitement,pletely oblivious to everyone else. Seizing the perfect moment, Jasmine subtly signaled the staff, her voice quiet yet authoritative, “Dr. Joane''s here. Start filming -stream this live immediately."
A cunning smirk crossed her lips. "Now, it''s time we generously borrow all those lovely Dupont guests. They''ve kindly advertised for us long enough."
After a spirited exchange, Joane''sughter rang out exuberantly, shattering her image of aloof sophistication.
"Incredible! You''re an absolute genius, Alex-truly extraordinary!
Jessica stared, utterly stupefied. Was this the proud, notoriously unreachable Dr.
Joane?
She looked more like a gleeful teenager swooning over a celebrity! And what was this mysterious medical technique that had captivated Joane so thoroughly? Recovering slightly, Jessica sneered, aiming a sharp barb at Jasmine.
"So you got Dr. Joane to attend, congrattions. But what''s the point if your product is garbage? Do you really think one high-profile endorsement can crush Dupont''s dominance? Quality wins, Jasmine-not a fleeting endorsement!" Jasmine merely smiled serenely, checking her watch before turning decisively to
her staff.
With amanding nod, dozens of emerald vials gleaming brilliantly were promptly disyed for
ing.
Her voice was low and triumphant, "Let the show begin."