Chapter 9 The game has just begun

"I want my mother's belongings and the safe which have been moved from my room before I leave for the Allens", she said icily. George didn't expect this to be her condition. Looking at Jessica's nonchalance, Risa's pleading eyes, and Clara's light caress on his arm, it is already clear the unspoken hope they had in him and Jessica's taunt if he fails the challenge. Should he refuse her condition, how will he get away from the Allen family? And should he agree, how possible is it that he will get his hands on the belongings again? "I agree", he stated as he struggled to maintain his calm. He had encountered so many powerful opponents calmly in the business world, but Jessica's request had unraveled him more than he had expected. He didn't expect Jessica to remember those belongings and the safe. She had been a little over seven years old when she left for the countryside. "Okay, I will be waiting for the items", she smirked as she pushed her seat back and stood up. Looking at their faces scrunched with fury, she was in a happy mood. She hasn't felt this good in ages. Lightly patting Risa's back, "Have a good night, Si," she smirked as she sauntered upstairs to her room. "Bang", Clara and Risa flinched in shock. George was blazing in fury, his eyes reddened in anger. Clara distanced herself from him. "Have you seen the result of your decision to bring her back?, he growled. "Honey, this isn't the end of it", Clara said as her eyes flashed with calculations. She has another plot underway. "What do you mean?" He asked, his tone a suppressed anger. Clara looked around the dining room and, not seeing any maid in sight, whispered her plans into George's ear. His face brightened immediately at the suggestion. But then a trace of worry etched his face, "Is this possible and wouldn't backfire?" Clara shook her head. No matter how old she might have grown, some traits can't be wiped out, so we explore her weakness when the time comes." She stated. "Mom, Dad, I have been kept in the dark. What is the deal?" Risa asked. Clara patted her daughter's back, urging her to calm down. "As long as am not made to marry that cripple any arrangement is fine", Risa muttered before she made her way upstairs. Jessica returned to her room, fulfilled, looking at the moonlight shining in through the window, and she felt her burden lift. Though she didn't expect the marriage alliance with the Allen family, and she couldn't predict the result she might receive in this journey, yet she promised to make the best use of it. When she sets her plans in motion, the title of Mrs. Allen will play a crucial role. She retrieved her phone and quickly dialed a number through her speed dial. "I need information on the events happening in the Allen family asap", she said with a faint tone. "I will gather as much as I can", the voice responded. Jessica set her phone down and sat down on the bed while she let her mind travel back to the time her mother had instructed her on the things in the safe. She needed them back, complete and in order, without omitting any one. ~The next morning~ The sun rose very early in the morning as if in a hurry to witness the scene of events in the Brown family. In Jessica's room, the sun filtered through, its rays illuminating the room as its golden streaks lined the walls. She lay still in a peaceful slumber without any care in the world. Her phone, placed on the bed, dinged with a new notification, and in a few moments, its ringing interrupted the tranquility. Ility, Jessica groggily stretched her hand and picked up the call. "Yes, did you find anything?" After listening for a while to what the caller had to say, she rubbed her brow. "Alright, you keep an eye on them and inform me of any of their moves." She instructed calmly. Lifting herself from the bed, she placed the call on the hands-free mode to prepare for the day. "Why are you investigating the Allens? You don't have any business feud with them, or are you planning any corporations with them? Richard's voice filtered through the phone. "It's a new adventure, so just to be prepared." She chimed. "Ahh, a new adventure? What do you mean? Can you make it clear? What are the akes?" Richard chirped. "Noisy", she muttered and ended the call as she rubbed her eyebrow. Talking with Richard had always drained her of every ounce of strength. She couldn't help but wonder the level of energy papackedod had deposited in him. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she contemplated what faced her and how she would have to navigate it, but then one thing is certain—"the game has just begun." While she put down eyeliner, a knock came through the door, followed by the voice of the d, "Master wants you downstairs." "Alright, I will be right over in a minute", she answered. After a few moments, the footsteps of the maid echoed down the hallway. Jessica picked up her bag from the bed and made her way downstairs, her face without any expression. Yesterday she had returned to this house as a Brown family daughter and today just like years back she is leaving again and this time it is even more ridiculous —she had been married off to a cripple without her consent but this time—she promised to let them know they had been wrong all along. Jessica entered the living room and found them all sitting as though they had been waiting for her. She set down her bag beside her as she sat down on one of the sofas. "Where is it?" She asked with an edge to her voice. "Don't be in a hurry, you will get it, but then you have to sign this document," George stated as he pushed the document on the table to her. "Sign a document?" she asked icily. "Yes, it is a guarantee to see that you maintain the end of your bargain even in the future", George replied. "Oh," She asked calmly with faint traces of doubt in her tone, which was picked up by the shrewd George Brown. She had expected the Brown family to try to back out on their end of the bargain, and at last they didn't disappoint her. She didn't know how her mother managed to get herself entangled with a man who is as vile as George. Clara and Risa couldn't help but clench their fist in nervousness as they waited for her to pick the pen held out to her. Jessica's smile was cold. "Are you sure you want me to sign, or do you want to wait for the Allen family to arrive and be disappointed not to have a bride with them?" she asked colly her aura sending shivers down their spine. Seeing her unflinching attitude. George lost his temper and raised his hand to slap him, but then —"Are you ready for the consequence?" She smirked, making George's hand pause mid-air. "Alright, give her the box", he said, and a maid came forward with a box. Jessica accepted the box with trembling hands, and tears stung in her eyes. Quietly, he opened the box, checking tox contents one after another. "Some documents are missing from the box", she stated calmly. Clara averted her gaze from her. She didn't expect her to remember the content of the box since she was but a child at that time. "Dad, if you are not ready to keep the end of your bargain, then we have nothing to say." She rose from her seat to make her way back to her room. After she took a few steps, a maid came in to announce the arrival of the Allen family car with the butler. They have come to pick the bride. The Brown family held their breath; they did not expect the Allen family to arrive this early. They had hoped to force her into signing the document that would keep her off the company and the properties of the Brown family, but then she was wiser than they thought. Jessica stopped in her tracks. Looking at their pale faces, she turned to face Risa; her smile unsettling. "Dear sister, your father couldn't keep his end of the bargain, so I can't marry in your place, good luck", she smirked as she walked out. "Dad, Mom, I can't marry him. Just grant her request so she can go", Risa shrieked as tears glistened in her eyes unshed. Looking at his daughter and wife, whose eyes are pleading to save Risa, George knew he had lost to Jessica. With every ounce of strength he could muster —"I will give it to you", George said; Jessica halted in her tracks as she turned around to face the man who wields the title as her father. Then to the family butler, "Tell them the bride is dressing up", George instructed. He wouldn't want them to think his reneging. Jessica couldn't help but wonder why Risa's tears could make their father change his mind while she could be sacrificed. It hurts, but there is no need to cry over it again. She had wished and prayed before, but now—she must take the law in her hands. George returned to his room and came out with a poly security bag having water and weather-resistant abilities, and handed it over to Jessica. She opened the document bag and carefully checked the contents of each of them. After she made sure they were all correct, she placed the document back and lifted her eyes to look at George. "Fine", she spun on her heels with her bag in one hand and the box in the other as she made her exit. Looking at her back, which is similar to her mother's, he was reminded of Nora. Her confidence, her arrogance that had always surpassed his. He couldn't help but clench his fist, his anger palpable. As she drew close to the door, George's voice rang behind her," Jessica, you represent the Brown family. Always remember that". Jessica smiled without any response, and with a click, the door shut behind her. Nobody had cared to see her off, nobody had led her to the door. Just like fifteen years ago, she had been pushed into a taxi and sent to the countryside.