The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 189

Preston was on his phone. Hearing his name, he spoke flatly into the receiver, "I'll take your report later," and ended the call.

Jenna immediately shot Belle a guarded, hostile glare.

"Who do you think you are?"

Suddenly, her eyes landed on Chloe trailing behind Belle, and a calculating sneer crept onto her face.

"Chloe, what exactly are you trying to pull? If you have something to say, spit it out. Do you really need to hide behind someone else to fight your battles?"

Belle glared right back at Jenna. "This has absolutely nothing to do with Chloe! I'm here to speak with Mr. Hayes personally!"

Preston put his phone down and looked up with an icy stare.

"What is it?"

Belle didn't hold back. "Mr. Hayes, what exactly is your relationship with the woman sitting next to you?"

Preston paused, briefly glancing at Chloe before a dark smirk played on his lips.

"And on what authority are you asking?"

Belle was seething. "Fine! Clearly, it's something shady! Then let me ask you this: what were your grounds for aggressively lobbying to get Jenna Cameron the assistant position with Dr. Sharpe?"

"Does she have some unparalleled academic brilliance? Does she possess incredible moral character? Or better yet, does she even have a college degree?"

The moment those words left her mouth, Jenna snapped. She shot out of her chair.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

Belle didn't flinch. "Exactly what it sounds like. If you think I've said anything factually incorrect, go ahead and sue me for slander!"

"Preston..."

Jenna whipped around to look at him, her eyes immediately welling with tears as she played the ultimate victim. "I couldn't finish my degree in time, but it wasn't my fault... how can she say something so cruel to me?"

"I'm so sorry, did I just cause trouble for you? You shouldn't have gone out of your way to get me this opportunity..."

She turned her gaze to Chloe. "Chloe, I know you're mad that Preston pulled strings for me, and that's why you're giving him the cold shoulder."

"But I need you to know it's a complete misunderstanding. Taking this assistant position is purely to benefit Vantage Group, not for my own selfish gain."

"Of course, if you still refuse to understand, I won't blame you. Women are naturally prone to jealousy, after all. I just hope you can start thinking about Preston a little more. We're in public. Having someone march over here and scream at him... don't you think that's a bit out of line?"

It was a masterful performance. She claimed the moral high ground, painted herself as a selfless martyr, and effortlessly pinned all the blame on Chloe.

Having delivered her lines, Jenna subtly monitored Preston from the corner of her eye, waiting for his reaction.

But Preston remained entirely stoic. He displayed none of the annoyance or anger she had anticipated.

He was staring intently at Chloe, a complex storm brewing in his eyes, but he said absolutely nothing.

Belle let out a sarcastic bark of laughter. "Jenna, cut the gaslighting and stop trying to change the subject!"

She turned her crosshairs back on Preston. "Mr. Hayes, I expect a real explanation today. From an objective standpoint, Jenna Cameron is entirely unqualified to be Dr. Sharpe's assistant!"