The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 265

"Dad, please, it's not Jake's fault!" Jade cries softly, desperate to shift the blame before Charles turns his wrath on her. "I was the one who begged him to announce it. Evan was so worried I wouldn't make our relationsip public, and he kept pressuring me behind the scenes. I panicked and went to Jake. Please don't yell at him."

She expertly throws the clueless Evan straight under the bus.

Jake glances at her. He was just about to say, 'This is happening because you forced my hand,' but seeing the tears streaming down her pale face, he stops. She looks so fragile, as if one harsh word might break her completely.

Swallowing his frustration, he takes the hit. "It was my oversight, Dad. Don't blame Jade."

Despite everything, he still has a soft spot for the sister he has spoiled for years.

"Of course I blame you!" Charles snarls, pointing a finger directly in Jake's face. "Why would I blame Jade? This is your failure as an executive!"

"Jake, this was a massive miscalculation," Nikolai adds, his brow furrowed with anxiety. "The shareholders are furious. We need a crisis management plan, immediately."

Nikolai isn't trying to gang up on his brother; as the family's legal counsel, he just doesn't understand the entertainment industry's volatile nature. He only cares about the boardroom fallout.

As a wealthy socialite, Deanna's solution to everything involves throwing money at it.

"Mom is right," Jade sniffles, seamlessly seizing the opening to pivot the narrative. "None of this would have blown up if Tara hadn't posted those private photos and recordings online. She did this to us."

Her voice trembles with just the right mix of sorrow and grievance. She keeps her eyes downcast, looking utterly defeated and pitiful. It's a masterclass in manipulation; anyone looking at her would feel like a monster for raising their voice.

"Exactly! This is all Tars's doing!" Charles erupts, entirely manipulated by Jade's tearful accusation. "If she hadn't stirred the pot, none of this would be happening!"