The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 709

"Your brothers are right, Tara. Since they're both asking, why don't you come home for a family dinner?" Charles says, a flicker of genuine hope warming his eyes. Seeing his sons finally attempt to bridge the gap with their sister feels like a massive victory.

Standing in the corner, Jade stares at the scene in absolute disbelief.

Jake begging Tara to come home is shocking enough, but Alec? Alec, the brother she had spent years meticulously brainwashing to despise Tara? Even he is practically pleading with her. And Charles, who had treated Tara with distant coldness for years, is now looking at her with total adoration.

What the hell is going on? How did she lose control of the narrative so fast?

"They're right, Tara!" Jade steps forward, plastering on a sickly sweet smile. "You must be exhausted after working so hard to save Nikolai and Mom. Let's all go home and eat together."

Tara pauses mid-step and turns, locking her freezing gaze onto Jade. "I couldn't possibly be as exhausted as you. It takes a lot of energy to pretend to care for your adoptive mother. Your filial devotion is truly inspiring."

The sarcasm drips from every word. Jade's smile falters as the insult lands with pinpoint accuracy.

"It's the least I can do," Jade counters, her voice trembling slightly to play up her innocence. "Mom treats me like her own flesh and blood. Caring for her is my duty."

Determined to spin the situation to her advantage, Jade steps closer, reaching out to grab Tara's arm in a fake show of sisterly affection. Tara, disgusted by the charade, smoothly sidesteps and shakes off Jade's hand.

Sensing her moment, Jade yanks her arm back and uses the momentum to dramatically collapse onto the floor. Tears instantly flood her eyes as she looks up with a trembling lip.

"I explicitly ordered you to stay away from Deanna and to stay out of this hospital!" Charles sneers, his gaze laced with absolute disgust. "Clearly, you think my words are just suggestions."

Whenever Charles disciplined his sons, his anger was fierce but rooted in fatherly frustration. The look he is giving Jade right now is fundamentally different. It is pure, unadulterated revulsion.

Jade shrinks back, feeling the icy sting of his hatred, but she quickly rallies behind her fabricated confidence.

"Dad, how can you say that?" she cries out, perfectly portraying a heartbroken daughter. "Why is it a crime for me to visit Mom? Even if she's just my adoptive mother, I love her! Or are you treating me like trash because I'm an illegitimate daughter? Is that it? I'm still your flesh and blood! I still have the Dennis family running through my veins!"