Chapter 173

Christina and Mia's online feud had caused quite a stir, even dragging up some of Christina's past scandals. But surprisingly, the news was quickly suppressed.

Everyone knew by now that Christina had a powerful backer-William.

Jennifer couldn't hold back any longer.

She went to Emerald Lakeside again and found Missy.

"What are you doing here?" Missy was working in the yard and her first instinct was to chase Jennifer away when she saw her.

But Jennifer had already stepped inside.

Missy had no choice but to put down her bucket and walk to the doorway, blocking Jennifer's path. "I have people at home. It's not convenient for you to come in. You should leave."

"Missy, what do you mean by this? We had an agreement. Are you planning to break it?" Jennifer frowned.

Her patience was wearing thin.

She had been in a foul mood these past few days, and Missy's refusal to cooperate was pushing her to the edge.

Missy didn't want to anger Jennifer.

But she had to think of herself too. "I don't want to go against Christina anymore. If William comes after me, I can't bear the consequences. You know my family's situation. If I had money and power, I could follow your lead."

Missy had always thought William had a special place for Jennifer, that his feelings for Christina were just a fling.

But at the funeral, Missy saw clearly how much William cared for Christina.

She was genuinely scared.

If William wanted to crush her, it would be as easy as squashing an ant.

"Missy, the temp worker from that day is already in jail. Aren't you curious why you're still safe and no one has come after you?" Jennifer sneered.

Before Missy could respond, Jennifer continued, "It's because I helped you. Without me, you'd be in jail with that temp worker, not standing here talking to me."

"I did you a huge favor, and now you want to kick me out and cut ties? Fine, then I won't bother covering for you anymore."

"What do you mean?" Missy panicked.

She had thought her recent peace was due to good luck, not realizing Jennifer had a hand in it.

Jennifer chuckled, "What do I mean? Exactly what I said. If you get it, you get it. If not, I'll leave right now."

Missy quickly grabbed her arm.

When she spoke again, her tone was pleading, "I'm helping you. You can't throw me under the bus."

"So help me one more time, and we'll be even. After that, whether you stay here or go abroad, I'll support you." Jennifer was desperate to get rid of Christina.

And she needed Missy's help to do it.

She couldn't risk doing it herself and getting caught. That would be the end of her.

William's patience with her was limited.

Missy hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing, "Fine, but this is the last time. After this, you have to send me abroad and never contact me again."

"Deal." Jennifer agreed readily.

It was just a promise. Whether she kept it would depend on her mood.

Given Missy's situation, there was no way she could escape Jennifer's grasp.

Missy stepped aside, "Let's talk inside. Tell me what you need me to do."

Jennifer followed her in, looking around disdainfully.

Missy's grandfather came out of his room and, seeing the well-dressed Jennifer, felt even more self-conscious. He forced a smile, "Hello, are you Missy's classmate?"

"Yeah," Jennifer nodded curtly, barely acknowledging him.

Missy's grandfather felt even more awkward. He glanced at his own faded, patched clothes and then at Jennifer's expensive-looking bag. He didn't know brands, but he could tell it was valuable. Meanwhile, his granddaughter Missy had to use a faded canvas bag. The contrast pained him, "Missy, I'll go back to my room. There are fruits and drinks in the fridge. Make sure to treat your guest well."

"I know, Grandpa," Missy replied.

She went to the kitchen, took out some drinks and fruits, and brought them to Jennifer. Jennifer picked up an apple, saw a blemish, and lost her appetite. She then grabbed a drink, noticing it was from last year, "This is almost expired. Why haven't you thrown it out?"

"It's not expired yet. It's still good to drink," Missy explained, "It has half a month left before it expires."

"What's the difference?" Jennifer tossed the drink back at Missy. To her, these were just trash. She wouldn't drink them even if she were paid.

Missy's lips twitched. To her, these drinks were already a luxury. Her grandfather had asked her to bring them out because he thought they were good enough for guests. But Jennifer didn't appreciate it at all.

"I don't care how you do it. Just follow Christina and find a way to get rid of her. Otherwise, you'll end up in jail and won't even have expired drinks to drink," Jennifer laid out her plan. She didn't care if William loved Christina. As long as Christina was out of the picture, all her problems would be solved.

"I understand," Missy didn't argue, "Don't forget your promise. After this, send me abroad and take care of my grandfather. Put him in a nursing home and cover all the costs."

Her grandfather had raised her, and she was deeply attached to him. She had to think about his future. If she left, she needed to ensure her grandfather was taken care of.

Jennifer's eyes narrowed, "I know."

Missy's bond with her grandfather was a leverage point.

In the following days, Missy tailed Christina. She thought she was being discreet, but William was already aware of everything. William knew Christina didn't want to see him. He didn't want to argue with her but couldn't stop worrying, so he had his assistant keep an eye on her and report any issues immediately.

"Mr. Cavendish, I've noticed someone following Ms. Windsor these past few days. They don't seem like a professional," the assistant placed the photos on William's desk.