Chapter 50 Play the Innocent Card
Jennifer wore an expression of innocent vulnerability, a look she had perfected over the years, especially after being subjected to Sarah’s manipulative tactics.
She could turn on the charm and play the victim at the drop of a hat, using her moral high ground as a weapon.
Mary was seething with frustration at the situation. “Oh, come on, Jennifer. You’re the elder here; it’s your job to set her straight. Sandy messed up, too, so don’t let her get away with this. If outsiders hear about this, they’ll think we’re bullying you!”
Millie scoffed, saying, “Exactly! We’re not fools here.”
Hearing Millie’s comment, Jennifer felt a wave of defeat washed over her.
She thought, “I was just starting to win some favor with Madam Clark, and now Millie’s gone and ruined it.
No wonder Millie has always been overshadowed by Mary; she’s not as clever as I thought.”
Angelina remained silent for a moment, her gaze shifting to Timothy, concern etched on her face. “Are you feeling okay? No dizziness or anything?”
Chapter 50 Play the Innocent Card
2/5
Jennifer seized the moment, crouching down in front of Timothy, her voice laced with concern. “Timothy, if you’re
feeling dizzy, we should head to the hospital. We can’t take any chances, especially if you might have a concussion from that ashtray. Sandy didn’t mean to, but we should be careful.”
Mary’s frustration was reaching its peak.
She mused, “I underestimated Jennifer; she really knows how to play the innocent card, and Angelina is eating it up. This is infuriating. I need to watch my back around her.”
Timothy observed Jennifer closely, his expression unreadable.
He hadn’t expected her to be so adept at feigning innocence.
His mother had always been too strong–willed, which left her vulnerable to being manipulated.
But now, here was Jennifer, playing the damsel in distress.
A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes as Timothy replied, “I’m fine, really.”
Suddenly, Angelina turned to Jennifer, her brow furrowing. “By the way, what happened to the cast on your foot?“.
Jennifer tossed her hair back, feigning embarrassment. “Oh, I was a bit too active last night, and the cast just kind of… broke apart.”
Her coy demeanor and vague explanation left everyone in the
Chapter 50 Play
room with the impression that something more intimate had transpired between her and Timothy, leading to the mishap with
the cast.
Angelina’s face lit up with excitement. “You youngsters are
something else! Newlyweds and all, but you need to take care of yourselves too!”
Mary’s mood soured even further at this. She thought, “This is ridiculous. How is everyone falling for this charade?”
With a rosy blush, Jennifer looked down and replied, “Madam Clark, we’ll be more careful next time, I promise.”
“Hmph, let’s see how mad I can make Mary,” Jennifer thought smugly.
“Why don’t you both go to the hospital for a check–up? Jennifer, you should also get your foot looked at again,” Angelina said.
Jennifer nodded eagerly. “Of course! We’ll head there right away.”
“After breakfast, though. I’ll have the kitchen whip up some nourishing soup for you. You need to build up your strength so you can give me a healthy grandbaby soon!”
Jennifer blushed even deeper, not knowing how to respond but putting on her best shy bride act.
Timothy glanced over at her, noting how convincingly she
played the part. But he knew the real Jennifer, and this was just
Chapter 50 Play the Innocent Card
a façade.
He mused, “I clearly don’t know her as well as I thought.”
Everyone gathered in the dining room for breakfast.
Angelina was in high spirits, while the others wore varying expressions of curiosity, irritation, or amusement.
4/5
As Jennifer stared at the steaming bowl of nourishing soup in front of her, a wave of reluctance washed over her.
Mary, catching a glimpse of her hesitation, chimed in, “Ms. Hargreaves, you don’t want to drink it, do you? This soup is a special recipe from Angelina; it’s really effective for pregnancy.”
Jennifer forced a smile and replied, “Oh no, it’s just that I’m really touched by Madam Clark’s kindness. I’ll let it cool down a bit and then enjoy it. Thank you for your concern; I promise I’ll get pregnant soon and won’t let you down.”
Mary was so angry that she could hardly finish her breakfast.
Millie, however, found herself in high spirits, relishing the sight of Mary’s ire.
After all, it felt good to see Mary experiencing the same kind of ploy that Mary had used on her countless times.
Jennifer knew she had to down the soup; after all, she was in the midst of a performance.
Chapter 50 Play the Innocent Card
Holding her nose, she gulped down the entire bowl.
Mary and Acacius, however, were clearly not enjoying the spectacle.
5/5
Once the meal was over, Jennifer and Timothy hopped into the car that would take them away from the Clark Manor.
As they drove, Jennifer glanced back at the sprawling estate, her excitement bubbling over. Turning to Timothy with a playful grin, she said, “What do you think? How was my performance just now? Did you see your uncle and aunt’s faces? Priceless!”
Timothy’s gaze fixed on her. “You did a great job, no doubt. But if you’re that clever, why on earth do you let the Hargreaves family walk all over you?”
