Rex shouted, "Jenna! What are you doing?!" His eyes grew heavy, and his face turned stormy.
The man spoke in a chilly tone.
'He arrived in a hurry. Was he perturbed that I would harm Alice?' Jenna pondered.
Alice pouted and appeared anxious. She covered her cheek and looked behind Jenna as her eyes filled with tears at the crack of dawn. "I didn't do anything, Jenna. You misunderstood me." she protested loudly.
'Is Jenna insane? How could she strike me in Rex's presence?'
Jenna grinned. Stop acting; I know it was you.
Jenna approached Alice with a piercing, hard stare as she pulled a printed image of Rex from her bag and threw it in their direction.
Rex was startled and perplexed as he stared at the picture. Alice's face similarly darkened and became paler at once.
He had a long day yesterday and fell asleep briefly when visiting Alice in the hospital. It was evident that this photo was taken in secret at that time.
Alice Florence was the only other person in the room.
Rex was aware of who took the photo. Alice intended to use this image to enrage Jenna, but she had no idea she would end up shooting herself.
How did Alice continue to project the picture of a pathetic, weak woman?
There used to be a time when Jenna would still support Rex and put up with Alice, but that is no longer necessary.
Jenna's voice was startlingly icy, yet she grinned indifferently. "I told you that I'm here to settle debts. This is what you owe me. Alice Florence, you're the one who's a home wrecker in this case. Are you satisfied now? I wish you the best of luck in taking my place as Mrs. Hidalgo."
Rex guessed how Jenna obtained this photo without having to think too hard. Suddenly, he experienced some suffocation. His face had a complicated, chilly expression.
Rex glanced at Alice's pale, sickly face with a countenance that was still as chilly as ever.
Alice's heart began to race. She stepped in to defend herself. I didn't do anything or take this image, Rex, so Jenna must have misinterpreted something. She probably hired someone to take it so she could frame me.
As Alice yanked on his sleeve and wailed pitifully, Rex scowled briefly. Rex, I can make amends to Jenna, and if her giving me blood damages your relationship, I won't ask Jenna for blood again. I vow by Jake's name that I do not know about the picture.
Rex's eyes flittered when he heard the word "Jake," remembering his closest friend's last wish. Rex's grim expression began to lighten a little. Do you need a doctor to check it out? Jenna shouldn't have slapped you earlier because she was furious.
Alice shook her head while covering the side of her cheek that felt numb from Jenna's slap. "It's alright."
As Rex nodded and turned to face her, Jenna was standing to the side. Her lips were mockingly curved up, and she had a stern expression. Rex had an odd feeling when he saw her that way.
"You wanted a divorce because of this? Never mind, get your blood drawn first." Rex wanted to clear up the misunderstanding, but there needed to be a better setting.
In comparison to Alice's health, a trivial photo had no significance. Given that there were still outsiders in the ward, Rex intended to explain the picture to Jenna after that.
As she realized she had gotten away with it, Alice felt relieved. 'Rex still chooses me. Jenna failed once more.'
Jenna had long anticipated this result. Jenna was unconcerned about exposing Alice because she was adept at acting. She had lost interest in being associated with them. "Are you certain that she needs a blood transfusion?" Jenna calmly questioned the physician as she turned to face him from the side.
The doctor briefly went into shock. Under Rex's watchful eye, he nodded in panic when he felt Alice's glare. "Yes, Ms. Florence experienced a major blood loss in her legs just now, necessitating a blood transfusion."
Rex asked sternly, "So what are you waiting for?"
The doctor swiftly made preparations after responding, "yes, sir."
Alice smiled smugly at Jenna from a side that no one else could see.
"Wait."
Jenna did not follow the doctor out of obedience. Instead, she moved quickly and domineeringly forward, lifting Alice's quilt.
"Why do you want to know?" Jenna asked softly, her eyes holding a mixture of curiosity and detachment.Knowing the answer no longer had any meaning now, is there? she thought to herself."Answer me, please," Rex's voice came low, deep, and almost pleading.Jenna lowered her eyes and smiled gently. "Because my family is very unimpressed with you, but I was somehow foolish and blind enough that I liked you that much."That's why I turned my back on my world, gave up my identity, and ran to you with open arms. Unfortunately, you didn’t catch me... and I fell to a painful death, she thought bitterly but kept those words locked away inside."Fortunately, I woke up. I was cured and not blind anymore." She smiled faintly. "Mr. Hidalgo, are you done? You might as well leave and help your old man draft a better apology."She took a calm sip of red wine, her eyes cold now, before turning on her heels and walking away without looking back.Meanwhile, Gino was mingling with guests alongside Marcu
Alice's expression crumbled, tears welling in her eyes as whispers from the onlookers began to stir."She called her trash… did you hear that?""She deserves it, after everything they did.""Jenna's being too kind if you ask me."The murmurs pierced through Alice's skin like cold needles. Her lips trembled as she looked around, pleading for someone to defend her. Her gaze fell on Rex, but he never looked at her. From the start, his eyes had been fixed on Jenna.'He really won't save me… not even now,' Alice thought, panic tightening around her throat. 'He always chose her. Even when he didn't realize it.'Alice's heart was racing. The stares, the whispers, they were suffocating her. She had imagined groveling in private—never in front of all these eyes or shame.Dianne and Elena remained frozen, hiding behind Old Master Hidalgo, who stood at the front but made no move to intervene. They were too afraid of the consequences. Even a single word of defense could tip the balance further ag
Chairman Hidalgo scoffed, the lines on his face deepening with tension. "Chairman Anderson, what else do you have in store? I've already seen enough of your surprises today."He didn't bother to conceal the irritation in his voice as his glare darted between Marcus and Jenna. The message was clear — he knew he had been played and hated it.'No wonder Jenna was so fearless when I complained to Marcus about her,' Old Master Hidalgo fumed inwardly. 'They really played me like a fiddle. Every move they made tonight was meant to humiliate us.'Marcus noticed Rex standing calmly nearby. Despite everything that had happened, the young man's stoic face didn't waver.'He really is composed,' Marcus mused silently. 'If only he hadn't hurt Jenna… if only his family wasn't so rotten, I might've welcomed him into ours.'Still, a pang of satisfaction fluttered in Marcus's chest. He never wanted to parade his daughter like this, but after everything they did to her, he wanted every head bowed. Every
Outside the grand hall, the online world was on fire.Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram—every major social media platform was flooded with videos, photos, and posts about the mysterious yet powerful heiress, Jenna Anderson. One trending post read, #JennaTheHeiressUnveiled, showing a side-by-side picture of her elegant appearance at the gala and an old candid photo from her days as the humble Mrs. Hidalgo."I can't believe Rex Hidalgo let go of this queen!" one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter)."Anderson Empire's CEO is a woman? Slay!!! #GirlBoss #CEOJenna," said a LinkedIn post shared by a female empowerment group.Meanwhile, a trending TikTok featured a montage of Jenna's appearance and her composed speech, set to a dramatic orchestral track. The caption read: POV: You just found out your ex-wife is richer than your bloodline.Another viral thread appeared on Reddit:SocialJusticeElite: "Jenna Anderson, aka #billionairebaby, turned a public smear campaign into the most glorious
Jenna raised her head and gave the crowd a graceful smile, but her heart whispered, What if I weren't an Anderson? What if I were just an ordinary woman? Would they still believe me? Would they still listen? The thought stung like cold steel. If she hadn't been an Anderson—if her name hadn't come with billions—her life, reputation, and dignity would have been crushed and buried under everyone's judgment.Around the ballroom, murmurs echoed like a growing storm."Did you hear what she said? If she were ordinary, this could've ruined her.""I heard she was working at a coffee shop when Rex met her. No wonder the Hidalgos treated her like dirt. But to think she's Marcus Anderson's daughter...""God, if she hadn't been an Anderson, she'd probably be hiding in shame right now—or worse, in a mental hospital.""Imagine being slut-shamed for weeks online, only to come back and slap everyone with the Anderson Empire. That's some poetic revenge right there."More voices joined in."Honestly, if
Gasps rippled across the ballroom like a crashing wave.Everyone froze as Marcus Anderson’s words echoed through the grand hall:“Everyone, meet my only daughter and heiress of the Anderson Empire… Jenna Anderson.”The sound of clinking glasses, soft whispers, and background music fell into silence.Even the chandeliers seemed to dim, as if the entire world paused for that one moment.Then, suddenly—The massive digital screens outside the venue, towering across the city’s skyline, flickered. The congratulatory messages for the Anderson Empire’s anniversary were replaced in synchronized unison.JENNA ANDERSONCEO & Sole Heiress of the Anderson EmpireVision. Power. Legacy.A stunning image of Jenna—taken just moments earlier as she stood in her emerald gown beside Marcus—appeared on every screen, every corner, every building. Her poise, beauty, and calm presence radiated through the photo. Her name, once whispered in scandal, now glowed under the city lights in gold.People outside th