The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 155

Tara knows that if she is going to invest this heavily in their careers, they need more than just a mutually beneficial arrangement—they need absolute loyalty. A team only thrives when everyone fights side-by-side. A fractured company is useless to her. Right now, she values quality far over quantity.

"You have my word. I take my professional integrity very seriously," Jim says instantly.

"Same here. You're pulling us out of a nightmare; we won't let you down," Kent adds. Both men are eager to prove their commitment, terrified she might doubt their intentions.

In the past, their perception of Tara was entirely skewed by Jade's manipulative crying and victim-playing. But seeing Tara in action—confident, articulate, and fiercely intelligent—shatters those illusions entirely. Jade's constant weeping and fake niceness now just look transparently manipulative. Comparing the two women, the winner is obvious. Tara is decisive, visionary, and intensely professional.

With the tension broken, the conversation flows smoothly. Only Loretta remains quietly seated, an unmistakable shadow of misery clinging to her. She tries to hide it, but the despair is written all over her face. Tara noticed it from the start but wanted to secure the two men before giving Loretta her full attention.

"Loretta, you haven't said much. What's on your mind?" Tara asks gently.

"Can you really?" Loretta asks, her voice breaking. "Only a few of their most trusted insiders know I ghost-sing for Jade. If I debut as a solo artist, Jade's fans and the entire music industry will brand me as a cheap knockoff. Jake will unleash a PR nightmare on me. He'll hire bots to trash my reputation and drag your company down with me."

Loretta slumps back, entirely defeated. She feels trapped in a dead end, terrified that pursuing her dream will only bring disaster to Astra Media.