The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 461

Anyone who marries into the Dennis family would undoubtedly possess a stellar background and undeniable charm. But why would a top-tier woman willingly marry into a family only to be subjected to the toxic antics of a sister-in-law? Unless she is a glutton for punishment, it makes zero sense. Especially when this particular sister-in-law is only adopted, lacking even a drop of genuine Dennis blood. The more one thinks about it, the more laughable the entire Dennis family looks.

Deanna instantly catches the underlying meaning in Lucinda's words. Her face pales, a deep sense of humiliation washing over her. She never imagined that her second son's breakup had anything to do with Jade. She had simply assumed Tricia wasn't the right fit. But according to Lucinda, as long as Jade is in the picture, no self-respecting woman will ever agree to marry any of her sons. How is that fair? Her three boys are exceptional, true catches in every sense of the word. Women should be lining up for them, practically begging the Dennis family to pick them.

"I'm sorry, Deanna, but I think my friend just arrived. I should get going. Let's catch up another time," Lucinda says, smoothly excusing herself. She knows she has successfully planted the seed and delivered her lines perfectly.

"Of course. Next time," Deanna replies, forcing a stiff, strained smile. The sheer volume of information Lucinda just dropped is entirely too much to process. There are so many red flags she has either missed or outright ignored. She needs time to digest this, to meticulously dissect everything she thought she knew about her family.

Lucinda offers a polite farewell and slips away. She doesn't actually have a friend waiting. She is only here on Tara's behalf. Pulling out her phone, she types out a quick text.

[Tara, just as you predicted, Deanna was here. I said exactly what we planned. Mission accomplished, babe!]

Lucinda has practically become Tara's biggest fan. Before they crossed paths, she was just another obedient, strictly regulated socialite. Becoming friends with Tara finally gave her the courage to be her true self. Long before Jade and the Dennis brothers were thrust into the media spotlight, Tara had approached her with a master plan. She told Lucinda that once the family's dirty laundry aired, she needed to cross paths with Deanna. It couldn't look deliberate. She had to casually bump into her, wait for Deanna to ask questions, and then frame the harsh truths as helpless observations. It worked like a charm. After today, Jade's pristine image in Deanna's mind is undoubtedly fractured. Tara's foresight is truly terrifying in the best way possible.

Meanwhile, on the set of the reality show, Tara doesn't have her phone and can't see Lucinda's triumphant message. But she doesn't need to. She is entirely confident her friend nailed the assignment. Now, it won't just be her idiot brothers slowly waking up to Jade's true nature—Deanna is finally opening her eyes, too. Jade loves to scheme and play the victim, constantly trying to outmaneuver her. Let's see how she handles this.

Blissfully unaware that her world is crumbling back in Capital City, Jade remains trapped in her own delusional bubble. She assumes Tara must be seething with jealousy, forced to share the screen with Danny's official fiancée, Julianna. She imagines Tara is secretly comparing herself to the heiress, choking on her own bitterness. In reality, Tara has spent the last few days effortlessly stealing the spotlight, dominating every single frame of the show.