The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 124

He immediately turns back to the woman. "Serene, this is Jade, the second daughter of the Dennis family. Our families are simply old friends."

Hearing this casual dismissal, Jade loses her composure completely. "Old friends? Evan, we are clearly-"

"Enough! Jade, watch your behavior," Evan snaps, cutting her off with a harsh tone.

Serene chuckles softly, unclasping the necklace and setting it back on the velvet display tray. "It seems I've come at a bad time. Mr. Jewell, you clearly have matters to attend to. I'll head back and prepare the contracts." She gives Jade a deeply meaningful look. "Ms. Dennis, some things in life simply cannot be forced." With that, she turns on her heel and glides out of the store, her posture a picture of elegant confidence.

Jade stands rooted to the spot, tears pooling in her eyes. "Evan, why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong?"

Evan massages his temples, utterly exhausted. "Jade, let's find somewhere quiet to talk."

Seeing that they need a private moment, Summer tactfully excuses herself.

Evan leads Jade up to a secluded café on the top floor of the mall. As soon as they sit down, Jade demands answers. "Evan, who is that woman? What is going on between you two?"

"She is strictly a business partner. Jade, I think there are some massive misunderstandings between us that need clearing up," Evan replies flatly.

A terrible sense of foreboding washes over her. "What misunderstandings?"

His jaw tight with fury, Evan throws some cash on the table and drags Jade out of the café. Pulling her into a deserted emergency stairwell, his patience finally snaps. "Jade, look at yourself! You're screaming and throwing a tantrum like an absolute lunatic!"

The harsh words hit her like a bucket of ice water. She freezes, her lips trembling in shock. "Evan, you've never spoken to me like that before."

Evan takes a deep breath, forcing his tone down a fraction. "Jade, go home and cool off. I have to go."

Staring at his retreating back, Jade's flawless face twists into a mask of pure, ugly rage. "Evan! You're going to regret this! I will never give up!"

Everything belonging to the Dennis family will ultimately be hers, and so will Evan. After a long moment of suffocating silence, Jade wipes her tears and fixes her makeup in the reflection of the stairwell window. She still looks effortlessly beautiful, but the cold, venomous darkness in her eyes is no longer something she can hide. Her master plan is finally in motion.