<h4>Chapter 377: I’ll handle it my way...</h4>


    In the pool, Bernice found herself losing her breath. Her body burned from the poison mixed with the sting of fuel that clung to the water.


    Her lungs tightened with the crushing loss of oxygen. She swam desperately to the edge of the pool, fingers brushing salvation, but just as her hand gripped the tiles, her strength faltered. She slipped back into the depths with a ssh.


    Her consciousness blurred, slipping away like sand through open hands.


    She stretched feebly toward Cassandra, but her mother could do nothing despite being at the edge of the pool because her own body was trembling, too weak to drag Bernice to safety.


    "Jessica... you will pay for this. I will make sure of that," Bernice whispered, her voice broken, barely audible.


    Cassandra’s head snapped toward Jessica. Droplets clung to Jessica’s clothes from the violent ssh, but her cold expression was sharper than the water dripping down her dress.


    "Do you want to get her killed?" Cassandra demanded.


    "Why did you push her into the pool?"


    "Jessica, you are heartless!"


    "Has she done you any wrong? She only invited you here to settle your indifferences!"


    Jessica’s lips curved into a slow, icy smirk. "Cassandra, aren’t you being biased?" she drawled, her tone steeped in mockery. "I never touched her. She jumped in herself."


    Cassandra’s mouth opened to retort but then she felt a presence behind her and a shiver ran down her spine.


    Slowly, she turned, and her eyes widened at the tall figure emerging from the shadows.


    "No... no, it can’t be possible. He shouldn’t be here," she panicked, her breath quickening.


    "He was at the banquet when I called her out. How... how could he be here now?" she murmured, hands trembling by her side.


    Without so much as a nce at Cassandra, Davis strode forward, every step deliberate and heavy with authority. His gaze locked onto Jessica.


    In silence, he scooped her effortlessly into his arms. The garden seemed to shrink around his presence.


    Before leaving, he cast a single, cold nce at Cassandra...an unspoken warning that pierced deeper than words.


    Cassandra barely had time to gather herself when several young men materialized from the shadows.


    Rough hands shoved her hard, and before she couldprehend what happened, she toppled into the pool.


    The ssh reverberated like thunder spilling over the edges, the biting coldness of the water wrapping around her body, dragging her under.


    Her hands iled wildly in the air,grasping for something...anything at all but there was nothing but toppled again and again.


    Water surged into her lungs as she gulped desperately for air. Her chest convulsed, chokin


    Through the blur of water and panic, her eyes found Bernice still clinging weakly to life, her body trembling, her gaze desperate, waiting, hoping someone...anyone would save her.


    Davis, already walking away, paused. His voice was like ice. "They shouldn’t die in there," he ordered tly.


    He resumed his footsteps, his eyes shifted to the woman in his arms. "Why didn’t you step away from the ssh?"


    Jessica giggled lightly, unbothered. "You don’t have to pull such a long face. She fell so hard, the ssh was impossible to avoid."


    Davis’s jaw tightened, his voice a low growl. "Just hope your grandmother gives me a good exnation. Otherwise..."


    It shouldn’t be right to make any move without officially giving the Santiago’s family a chance.


    "Jessica tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Hey, didn’t we agree on this before I followed her out?"


    "We agreed before you followed her out," Davis snapped. "Does that agreement mean she should plot your death right in your maternal home?"


    "Not... not like that," Jessica muttered.


    Pushing open a door, he set her down gently. "Take a bath first. I’ll be back."


    Jessica caught his hand quickly, her tone coaxing. "Hubby, take it easy. We can handle this another way, can’t we?"


    "You don’t bother about that. I’ll handle it my way," Davis said, his eyes steel. "As long as the Santiagos give me a good exnation, I am not unreasonable."


    Jessica sighed, scratching her head lightly. For once, she held her tongue. "Did you get the recording?"


    "I did." He shut the door behind him.


    "What and mine," Jessica muttered, exhaling as she headed for the bathroom in resignation. For now, silence was her best option.


    It wasn’t as though she wanted Davis to stay quiet. Bernice and Cassandra had crossed the line...far beyond mischief. They had plotted against her very life.


    And Jessica was no saint. She never forgave discreet plots against her, let alone tant attempts scheme against her life and that of the olddy.


    Meanwhile, in the hallway, Davis clenched his fist and dialed a number. His tone was clipped, merciless. "I have some people for you at the Santiago residence."


    He ended the call and dialed another. "Gather every incriminating piece of evidence against Bernice and Cassandra Santiago within three hours."


    "Sir... three hours is too short," the voice on the other end stammered.


    "You can buy from the ck market. Price isn’t a problem."


    "But the protocols..."


    "Two hours," Davis cut him off sharply. "Or you can count yourself out."


    "I...I’m sorry, sir." The voice cracked with fear.


    Ending the call, Davis strode toward the banquet hall. Ethan followed silently, his lips moving in prayer for the unfortunate subordinate tasked with such an impossible mission.


    Difficult or not, the ck market always delivered. And tonight, with the equivalent price, the secret will be in her hand.


    Settling down at their table, Davis slipped a device into Ethan’s hand.


    "Broadcast immediately," he said coldly, his tone final.


    Ethan sighed and rose from his seat, slipping quietly through the crowd as he made his way toward the backstage of the hall.


    Meanwhile, Donald, blissfully unaware of the subtle undercurrents rippling through the estate, took center stage.


    His voice, rich andmanding, carried across the grand hall as he prepared to introduce their granddaughter; the very reason for thisvish gathering.


    The guests leaned forward in anticipation, their conversations falling to a murmur.


    Though it was intended she wouldn’t step into the limelight, a sh of her adjusted photo was expected to be rolled out to satisfy the audience.


    While Lady Matilda hoped to introduce her personally to trusted and important business associates present at the scene.


    At that moment...