Chapter 64

Chapter 64:

Jenna nodded as she ended the call, her expression hardening.

That treacherous fool!

How dare he try to undermine her?

Her mind raced with vengeful thoughts. Jenna was convinced that the assistant manager’s threat to quit was nothing more than a ploy to make her back down. But as Jeffry’s daughter, there was no way she would yield to an employee’s demands. Instead, she was determined to drive him out herself, to watch him grovel and beg for her forgiveness.

As her eyes fell on the five million dollars she had just received from Denali, a satisfied smile spread across her face. Her plan was only beginning, and she was eager to see it unfold. Jenna typed a quick message to Denali: “Go ahead with the plan!” A satisfied smirk played on her lips as she sent it off.

Meanwhile, Elaine and Carly had just finished their spa session, both feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. As they settled into their post-treatment glow, Kristine couldn’t help but smile. “This place you recommended, Mrs. Reed, is fantastic.”

Carly returned the smile warmly. “I’m glad you like it. Feel free to come here anytime—just charge it to my account.”

After changing back into her clothes, Kristine picked up her phone, her relaxed demeanor quickly shifting. “What?” she muttered under her breath.

Elaine, noticing her daughter’s sudden change in expression, asked, “Something wrong?”

Kristine quickly stashed her phone away, trying to brush it off. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

But Carly, ever perceptive, asked, “Did something happen with Madisyn again?”

Kristine forced a polite smile. “No, Mrs. Reed, nothing like that.”

Carly, however, wasn’t convinced. She pulled out her own phone and quickly found what she was looking for—several trending topics that had caused quite a stir.

“Denali was blackmailed.”

“Why did Natural Beauty pay her hush money?”

“Are Natural Beauty’s products causing allergies?”

Carly nudged Elaine, her tone laced with amusement. “Look at this! Madisyn is in hot water again. Apparently, she went to Denali herself and paid her off to keep quiet. What an idiot! She didn’t think Denali would turn around and expose the whole thing. How could she be so foolish?”

Carly had spoken her mind a bit too freely, and she quickly glanced at Elaine’s face, realizing she might have overstepped. “Oh, I was too blunt, wasn’t I? Are you upset with me? I just think Madisyn has really gotten Natural Beauty into a mess this time.”

Elaine found the news on her phone, her expression turning complex. It didn’t seem like something Madisyn would do. She was usually so sharp and thoughtful…

“I’m sure whatever it is, Madisyn has her reasons,” Elaine replied calmly. “She needs to learn from this and grow. If we’re always hovering over her, she’ll never develop her own skills.”

Carly raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. “Really? But Kristine has never caused such big trouble, has she?” She sighed, glancing at Kristine with a mix of affection and pity. “It’s true what they say—a child is better off being raised by their own parents from the start.”

Elaine’s discomfort was palpable, though she tried to keep her composure. Carly’s words had hit a nerve.

Sensing the tension, Kristine quickly intervened. “Mrs. Reed, please don’t say that. Madisyn has her strengths. She’s honest and unpretentious. Maybe she’s just not cut out for business.”

Carly smiled warmly at Kristine, clearly appreciating her loyalty. “You’re so kind-hearted,” she said, looking at Kristine with admiration. Carly was clearly very fond of Kristine. It was just a shame that the Johns family couldn’t see what they had right in front of them.

Elaine was just about to say something when her phone rang. She picked it up.

“Hi, Mom. I’m done here. Where are you?”

Elaine’s voice warmed as she responded, “We’ve just wrapped up our spa session. We’re still at the shop, but we’ll head out for dinner soon. How about we meet at the restaurant directly?”

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”

Kristine watched her mother’s gentle expression, feeling a subtle shift in her own emotions. It was hard not to notice how easily Elaine could be so partial, seemingly without reason.

They all made their way to the restaurant, where Madisyn was already seated, looking poised and graceful, almost like a living painting.

“Madisyn!” Elaine greeted warmly as she took the seat beside her, while Kristine and Carly settled in across from them.

The moment Carly laid eyes on Madisyn, a sneer tugged at the corners of her mouth. To Carly, Madisyn was nothing more than a pretty face. Feigning interest, Carly leaned forward slightly. “Madisyn, aren’t you going to tell us what you did?” she asked.

Madisyn glanced at Carly. “Why do you ask?”

Carly smirked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “You really have a knack for drawing attention, don’t you? Just one careless move, and the whole internet is buzzing about you.” She giggled, watching Madisyn’s reaction, half expecting her to be clueless about the situation online.

Kristine shot Carly a warning glance, but Carly ignored it, pressing on with her thinly veiled attack. “Next time, try not to hand over hush money so blatantly. No one’s that naive. Even if Denali clears things up, people still won’t believe it.”

Carly waited, eager to see Madisyn’s composure crack, expecting her to panic or at least show some sign of distress. But Madisyn remained as calm as ever, her expression unchanging.

“Okay,” Madisyn replied simply, her tone indifferent.

Carly blinked, taken aback. What just happened? She had been so sure that Madisyn would be flustered, maybe even ashamed. Yet, here she was, utterly unfazed by the supposed scandal.

Carly couldn’t understand it. Didn’t she know how serious the matter was?

Determined to provoke a reaction, Carly pulled out her phone and pointed to the harsh comments from netizens. “Look at this. The reputation of Natural Beauty has taken a hit because of you. You really messed up this time. But, of course, you’re young, and it’s normal to make mistakes.”

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