?Chapter 169:


    Jessica’s POV:


    I loungedfortably on the sofa, savoring the gentle massage Frank was giving me. His hands worked expertly, and his words were the true balm to my pride. “It was wrong of me to hit you the other day,” he apologized with a sheepish smile, attempting sincerity. “I’m sorry, honey.”


    I scoffed, my eyes admiring my freshly manicured nails. “If I hadn’t handed over that woman’s mother’s keepsake to Kristina, she wouldn’t have let us off so easily. Offending the Harrison family would have ruined any chance for you to climb the socialdder.”


    Frank nodded repeatedly, his eagerness to please almost pitiful. “You’re right. You’re always the smart one.” My parents, sitting nearby, chimed in, adding their support to the mix. My mother scolded Frank, “Look at you, only knowing how to worry. In the end, it’s Jessica who saved the day!”


    Frank could do nothing but nod along, his head bobbing like a puppet’s. “Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right. It’s all my fault.”


    Their words filled me with a sense of pride, a warm glow of satisfaction swelling in my chest.


    shback:


    That day, right after Frank had dared to strike me, Kristina had stormed in, her presence like a storm cloud darkening the room. She was every inch the arrogant heiress, demanding an exnation.


    “Our family’s manager had an ident at your wedding. I’m here today to get some answers!”


    Her voice dripped with disdain, her eyes sweeping over us as if we were nothing more than dirt under her shoes. “If you don’t give me a satisfactory exnation, don’t think I’ll go easy on the Dunn and Thomas families!”


    Frank, the coward, stood trembling at the side, not daring to utter a single word under her fierce interrogation.


    His pathetic disy only deepened my contempt for him. How had I not seen how useless this man was before?


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    “Why aren’t you saying anything?” Kristina’s hand mmed down on the table, her face twisted in anger. “If you don’t give me what I want, I’ll make sure your families go bankrupt!”


    “Please calm down…” Frank’s voice wavered as he practically groveled, his knees ready to buckle. “It’s all a misunderstanding… Just a misunderstanding…”


    As he struggled to find the right words, my parents rushed in, clearly having heard about the situation, and immediately started fawning over Kristina, their desperation palpable.


    My mother bowed repeatedly, her voice pleading. “Miss Harrison, we’re so sorry. It was all an ident. Please, be magnanimous and don’t hold it against us.”


    My father added, smiling obsequiously, “Yes. It was just an unfortunate ident. Please don’t hold it against us.”


    “An ident?” Kristina sneered, her disbelief clear. “Because of your mistake, we lost a valuable person. Do you think I can just let that slide?”


    “Well…” My parents exchanged nervous nces, their previous confidence crumbling.


    And Frank, the coward, stood there with his head down, acting as though none of this concerned him. But I knew better. As a woman, I could sense that Kristina wasn’t just here for revenge on behalf of her family. There was something else, something personal. I recalled the longstanding grudge she harbored against Makenna, and a n began to form in my mind.


    Her real target was Makenna.


    Smiling inwardly, I quietly fetched the ne that Makenna treasured most from her room and presented it to Kristina.


    “Miss Harrison, I have something for you.”


    Kristina’s eyes narrowed as she took the ne, her disdainful gaze sweeping over it. “What’s this worthless trinket? You don’t think you can appease me with this?”


    But I was ready. I quickly exined, “Please don’t underestimate this ne. It’s a keepsake from Makenna’s mother, and she treasures it greatly.”


    At that, Kristina’s eyes lit up, her interest piqued. “Really?”


    Seeing her shift in mood, I felt a wave of relief. “Of course, I wouldn’t dare lie to you.”


    Kristina’s mood visibly improved as she examined the ne, a satisfied smile spreading. She patted my shoulder approvingly. “Not bad. You’ve done well. I heard your family needed help with a business deal. Since you’ve shown such sincerity, I’ll lend a hand.” With that, she left, clearly pleased with her new acquisition.


    As I watched her go, relief washed over me, and I couldn’t help but smile in triumph. I had yed my cards perfectly.


    End of shback


    Reying the events in my mind, I felt even more smug as I leaned back into the sofa. Frank continued to shower me with sweet words, but it was my own cleverness that trulyforted me. I was the one who saved us all.


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