The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 539

"Jade, Tara went missing. She didn't intentionally run away," Nikolai snaps, his tone laced with heavy displeasure as he moves to defend his sister. "You don't know the facts. How could you speak on them so carelessly?"

He glares at Jade, uncertain if she is genuinely ignorant or intentionally malicious, but he knows a comment like that in this setting is dangerous. He doesn't have the time to dissect her motives right now; he just needs to shut down the rumor immediately.

"I'm so sorry, Nikolai," Jade apologizes instantly, her eyes widening in perfect, manufactured regret. "It was wrong of me to speak for her without knowing the full truth."

Internally, Jade is cursing Nikolai for suddenly developing a brain, but the damage is already done.

Seeing her genuine-looking remorse, Nikolai's suspicions fade. He reasons that since Jade wasn't raised in the Dennis household, she naturally wouldn't know the intimate details of the family’s history.

"Who cares if she went missing or ran away? The point is, she spent years away from her family," Bonnie sneers, far too sharp to let the opportunity slip. She repeats the insinuation loudly, making sure Katie hears every word.

In their elite social circles, a young heiress vanishing for years is a scandalous red flag. No one knows where she went or what she did. Calling it a disappearance is usually just polite cover for a rebellious teenager running off with sketchy men. Bonnie's tone heavily implies that Tara has a crazy private life and is completely unfit to associate with proper high society.

Jade revels in Bonnie’s viciousness. For once, the spoiled girl’s loud mouth is actually useful. She eagerly watches Katie’s reaction, hoping the older woman’s impression of Tara hits rock bottom. With a reputation like that, Tara will never step foot inside the Calhoun estate.

Katie's voice is loud, her tone deadly serious, and her posture stiff.

Jade practically cheers in her head, thrilled that Tara is about to be publicly humiliated. She wants everyone to witness the exact moment Tara realizes that Danny’s momentary affection means nothing when his family despises her.

"Yes, I am," Tara replies with a calm nod, completely unfazed by the hostile buildup.

She has been watching the theatrical performance unfold just like everyone else. Even though she has been unwillingly cast as the villain, she knows she hasn't done anything wrong. She refuses to cower, even if it is Danny’s mother coming for her.