Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Quinton Chandler was the second son of Brian Chandler, the Chandler Group’s CEO, and he was also Jeremy’s uncle.

Jessica was mad as a hornet at her own brother. “Why stir up Mr. Chandler? You just poured more fuel on the fire for the Chandler family!”

“So, Dad can’t find out about this,” Tom, acting all rash, tried playing the sympathy card. “You gotta save me, or I’m toast.”

“Forget the doom and gloom.” Helen shot him a look and turned to Jessica, asking, “Got any smart moves, Jessica?”

Feeling swamped, Jessica sighed, “Even if we cough up 1.5 million dollars right now, Mr. Chandler won’t go easy on our family.”

Emotions didn’t fly high in high–class circles. Charles and Quinton, locked in a feud over stocks and the family pie, had been at each other’s throats for ages. With their pops backing Charles and Quinton lord over Tom, Jessica knew they really couldn’t catch a break this time.

Tom had a lightbulb moment and said to Jessica, “Remember how Mr. Chandler eyed you before? If you join their family, he wouldn’t touch me as his brother–in–law.”

“Quit it!” Helen almost keeled over from Tom. “Mr. Chandler’s older than your dad. Don’t you know why he’s solo? Ever heard those whispers about him?”

Quinton’s reputation with women was public knowledge. Even with their bankroll and sway, nobody would throw their girl into that snakepit.

Yet, Jessica’s wheels started turning. “After years of looking after John’s family, shouldn’t they give a little something in return?”

Helen caught on quickly. “Send Yolanda over, huh?”

Jessica smirked inside, ‘Yolanda set her sights on Jeremy, right? She better be ready to duke it out if she’s gunning for my guy!‘

In the cafe, Annie eyed the fancy invite on the table, and then gazed at the guy in front of her. “Thanks, Mr. Chandler.”

Jeremy beamed, “Rare for Annie to ask me for help. Glad to do it.”

“I owe you one for this,” Annie said, taking sip of her coffee. She was low–key proud of her acting game—it felt like she was smacking the guy in front of her with a spatula, yet she managed to flash a sweet grin.

Jeremy added, “You’re too sweet, Annie. Remember when you helped me with those flowers the other day?”

“Just a tiny thing,” Annie replied, flipping her hair to conceal the trace of contempt on her lips. Life was crazy–she never thought she’d see Jeremy taking the heat for someone else’s mess.

“But…” Jeremy looked puzzled. “Didn’t the Sanders family get an invite to the Chandler Group’s shindig already? Why the separate one?”

Acting surprised, Annie shot back, “They got that invite already? No one clued me in.”

Feeling for her stuck with the Sanders family, Jeremy figured her sisters kept her in the dark on purpose. “Maybe they just didn’t get around to telling you yet. No worries; this one works too.”

“Got it,” Annie smiled.

Jeremy beamed at her, “I’ll be waiting for you, Annie.”

Annie held back a grin, avoiding his gaze and peeking out the window. She feared some changes after her rebirth. When she heard about Tom’s run–in with some mystery lady on the stairs, she knew things were happening as they should be. In her past life, Quinton had set up a scandal with Tom, giving Quinton the upper hand. Knowing Quinton’s weird taste in women, Jessica thought charming him might help.

Back then, Jessica and Yolanda were still cool. Thus Jessica had her eyes on Mira, bunking temporarily at the Sanders residence in Betrico. But this time, Mira stayed out and Yolanda became a headache. So of course, Jessica would send Yolanda to Quinton’s side. Annie was not satisfied with this result; it had to be Jessica taking the hits!

Back home from the cafe, Annie tossed the invite on the coffee table and grabbed a glass from the kitchen.

As Jessica came down the stairs, her eyes lingered on the invite for a second. “Annie, where’s this invite from?” She recognized that style–it was for the Chandler Group’s bash. Her dad warned them to spiff up and not humiliate him.

Annie strolled out with her glass. “Oh, it’s from Mr. Jeremy Chandler. You must’ve got one too, right?”

Jessica’s face went from bright to dark in a flash. “Why’d Jeremy send you a separate invite?” She finished her questions in her heart, ‘Does Jeremy can’t stand Annie the most? And ain’t he getting cozy with Yolanda lately? Why did he give Annie the invite instead of Yolanda?‘

Annie snagged the invite from Jessica’s grip with a light smile. “Take it up with Mr. Chandler, not me.” With that, she strolled upstairs, leaving Jessica brooding.

Jessica found Yolanda right away, demanding, “What’s the deal between you and Jeremy?”

Yolanda, all jumpy lately, a far cry from her usual haughty self, hesitated to spill until Jessica cornered her. “Nothing’s up with me and Jeremy. Annie bought the flowers and he sent her the card. He’s all heart–eyed for her now. He even snuck off to see her during a family dinner the other night. I saw it all!”

“Jessica couldn’t wrap her head around it. After all that effort, she had it all wrong?! “Are you clueless? Why didn’t you spill this sooner?”

Yolanda, with a rare moment of insight, replied, “Jessica, wake up! This is Annie’s move to divide us on purpose.”

“Pfft, you’re no better!” Jessica shot her a frosty look, not forgetting recent dramas, “Jessica, I messed up. I see it now. Fell for Annie’s tricks like a rookie! She’s different–up to no good now! And all the stuff I bought, she swiped them!” Yolanda spun her story, shifting all blame to Annie.

“Pssh! Fool!” Jessica scoffed. She thought, ‘Realized only now? Where are you before? Surprisingly, Mr. Chandler and Yolanda’s twist is Annie’s handiwork. And that invitation! It seems like I have underestimated her all along! But fine, whether it is Yolanda or Annie, it doesn’t matter; crossing me is a one–way ticket to trouble!‘