The True Heiress: Legend Mode novel Chapter 9

"Well, no, of course not."

"Then she can take her sweet time adapting. There's a limit to how spoiled a person should be."

Gwendolyn's smile was practically glued to her face. "Ever since we got back, she's been locked in her room. She refuses to speak or eat. Why don't you just take the high road and go apologize?"

"If she wants to starve, let her."

Upstairs, Rhiannon, who had been eavesdropping with her ear pressed to the door, scowled viciously.

She waited until she heard Juno retreat to her new room before creeping out into the hall. She caught the tail end of Gwendolyn's exasperated sigh.

"She is exactly like you were when you were young. Arrogant, feral, and completely uncontrollable."

Harrison raised an eyebrow. "Well, she is my daughter."

Rhiannon's stomach plummeted. Her adoptive parents were actually starting to accept Juno. If this kept up, she would be completely phased out of the family hierarchy.

Spotting her on the stairs, Gwendolyn rushed over, her face full of maternal concern. "Rhiannon, are you okay? Are you hungry? I had the chef make some soup. You haven't eaten all day, please have a little."

"I knew you still loved me, Mom. It's okay, I'm fine."

"Did Juno do that to your face?"

Expecting her mother to go on a tirade against the country bumpkin, Rhiannon played the gracious victim. "She just got back. She still has some rough edges from her old life. I'll help guide her so she can change."

Gwendolyn sighed heavily, looking at her with pity. "Just bear with it for now. God knows what horrors Juno endured out there. We need to treat her with a little extra kindness."

Rhiannon's mask nearly shattered. Her mother wanted her to be kind to that psycho?!

If they gave her an inch, she would take a mile! She deserved nothing!

Suppressing her absolute fury, Rhiannon maintained a demure expression. "You're right, Mom."

"Oh, your uncle Kaelen Jagger came by earlier. You were upset, so he didn't want to bother you, but he's officially handing the new jewelry campaign over to you."

Rhiannon gasped, overwhelmed by the sudden prestige. "But what if I mess it up?"

"We're all family. Don't say things like that. Just relax and treat this as a stepping stone for your design career."

Rhiannon nodded fiercely. "I won't let you down! I'll put my heart into it!"

Gerda's eyes gleamed with calculation. "Your father mentioned that the Jaggers handed Rhiannon a massive design project. When it comes to spoiling our own, the Corringtons absolutely will not be outdone. So, here's the deal: I'm handing our entire jewelry division over to you."

It was a massive, incredibly generous power move.

At that moment, an elderly advisor stepped forward, lowering his voice. "Madam, out of all our family's assets, the jewelry sector is by far our weakest link."

The Jagger family held an absolute monopoly over the luxury jewelry market. The Corringtons' brand... was basically on life support.

This also proved exactly why the Jaggers had handed the project to Rhiannon—it was a flex.

A brief, awkward silence fell over the dining room. A second later, Gerda blinked in genuine surprise. "Is it?"

The advisor forced a painful smile. "Yes, ma'am."

The Jaggers mercilessly crushed the Corringtons at every turn in that specific market. They might have been in-laws, but there was absolutely no mercy in their business dealings.

Gerda frowned. So embarrassing. That wouldn't do. "Then pick something else."

Juno cut in, her voice calm. "No need. I'll take it."