The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 225

"Oh, stop it, you guys. Don't talk about Lucinda like that," Jade says, her voice dripping with fake concern. "We can all see how talented she is. If my brother hears you saying these things, he'll be furious."

Hearing the group gang up on Lucinda fills Jade with a twisted sense of satisfaction. This is her signature move—pretending to defend her target while subtly twisting the knife. By bringing Jake into the conversation, she subtly accuses Lucinda of using her fiancé's power to intimidate people.

In the past, Lucinda would have missed the subtext and genuinely believed Jade was standing up for her. But after witnessing this exact routine multiple times, the highly perceptive dancer quickly caught on. At first, she didn't know how to address it with Jake, assuming Jade was simply a spoiled, bratty younger sister. She tried to let it go. But as Jade's behavior escalated into deliberate sabotage aimed at destroying their relationship, Lucinda realized the truth.

When she delicately tried to bring up Jade's toxicity to Jake, he shut her down immediately. Jake and his brothers defend Jade with a blind, almost fanatical loyalty, as if they are under a spell. Over time, Lucinda lost all interest in marrying a man who prioritized his manipulative sister over his future wife. She tried to break off the engagement several times, but the intense pressure of the alliance ultimately forced her to yield to her family's demands.

"I don't have any hidden agenda, and I'm not trying to offend anyone," Lucinda says coolly, stepping back. "Please, continue your conversation. I'm going to step out."

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