Chapter 56: Chapter 56: War of Words
Cheryl Stuart gave Jessie Sterling a practiced smile and a nod of acknowledgment.
Jessie watched as Mason Walsh stormed toward her and Lynn Jennings, with the other woman in tow.
"Aren’t we leaving?" Jessie asked, noticing that Lynn’s feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, showing no intention of budging.
Lynn replied, "Leave for what?" Her gaze met Mason’s without flinching. "Have I done something to be ashamed of?"
Jessie couldn’t help but give Lynn a mental thumbs-up. ’She’s practically torched her own family’s dinner table, yet she’s still this composed. Most people could never pull that off.’
Since Lynn wasn’t leaving, Jessie certainly wasn’t going to be so disloyal as to abandon her. Besides, she had always found Lynn’s "defection to the enemy" to be incredibly satisfying. Of course she was going to stand by Lynn and not let anyone push her around.
"Well, well, if it isn’t our family’s rebellious little sister."
Mason was clearly looking for trouble. The moment he walked over, his words were dripping with sarcasm.
"What? Feeling guilty, so you moved out? Trying to avoid a beating from Mom and Dad? You sure run fast, Lynn Jennings," Mason said bluntly.
When he looked at Lynn, his eyes held a trace of hidden resentment, and he seemed to be grinding his teeth.
Ever since Lynn had moved out, the news that she was working at Scitech Pharma’s research institute had spread like wildfire.
When Mason first found out about Lynn’s choice, he had been smug, thinking she had just handed him leverage against her.
Lynn had gone to work for their family’s mortal enemy’s research institute. In the future, would anyone still suspect that the Jennings family’s pharmaceutical business might be handed over to this little brat?
But soon, Mason wasn’t smiling anymore.
Not only did people in their social circle not think his position as the "Second Young Master of the Jennings family" was secure, they actually thought he had forced Lynn to leave the family.
Mason found it impossible to defend himself. He had been stewing in frustration for some time now.
When had he ever forced Lynn?
Hadn’t he already relented and agreed to let Lynn work at their own family’s research institute?
Lynn’s expression turned cold when she heard Mason’s words.
"What are you talking about, Second Brother? I’m an adult with the education and skills to support myself. Is getting a job considered rebellious now? Do you really think we’re living in some feudal society, where women are expected to be pretty decorations at home for others to control as they please?"
Lynn’s words were quite blunt. She knew that many people were likely watching the confrontation between her and Mason. How could she possibly let him get the upper hand?
After all, the attendees at this charity gala were mostly the wives and daughters of prominent families.
Most of the women in this circle had been exposed to power. Very few who had tasted power were willing to give it up voluntarily. Who said women couldn’t be in charge?
Lynn’s words immediately caused many people in the room to look at Mason with disapproval.
At a moment like this, Jessie was, of course, the first to step up and champion Lynn’s cause.
"Now that’s an interesting thing to say, Second Brother. How is Lynn getting a job rebellious? Or did you win the genetic lottery and now you think you’re some kind of celestial being?" Jessie asked with a sweet smile.
Mason’s expression turned even uglier.
He had long known that Lynn and Jessie were close. It wasn’t surprising that Jessie would stand up for Lynn, but hearing it still infuriated him.
’Won the genetic lottery? Isn’t that just a jab suggesting that he only got what should have been Lynn’s inheritance because he was a man?’
Mason looked at Jessie with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Jessie, you’re getting quite sharp-tongued. With that spoiled temperament of yours, I wonder if your man from the Morgan family will be able to tolerate you after you’re married. As the ’Second Brother’ you’ve known for so many years, let me give you a piece of advice: men don’t like overly difficult women."
Jessie suppressed the anger rising in her chest, her smile remaining fixed. "Second Brother, do you know why some men prefer obedient and gentle women?" Before Mason could answer, Jessie kindly explained it for him. "Because some men are incompetent—useless, really. They can’t handle a woman who is more outstanding or intelligent than they are, so they turn around and preach that women need to be gentle, submissive, and virtuous to be liked. They’re afraid of women who are stronger than them, and they love to find their sense of self-worth and validation from those weaker than themselves. Wouldn’t you agree, Second Brother?"
Mason’s face flushed red with anger. Before he could say anything, Lynn burst out laughing.
"Jessie, that’s a bit too absolute," Lynn said, covering her lips with a hand, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "Even if a man is brimming with confidence and sets his sights on a girl from a certain circle, the girl still has to be interested in him. If he can’t win her over, he has to settle for second best."
The unspoken meaning in Lynn’s words was clear: men only claim to like submissive women as an excuse to save face.
Goaded by Lynn and Jessie’s double act, Mason’s face alternated between red and pale. He took a deep breath, realizing he was powerless against Lynn today. After throwing out a "You’d better watch yourself," he left with Cheryl Stuart.
Jessie and Lynn, however, were now in high spirits. They exchanged a look and immediately burst out laughing with a PFFT.
This was the first time Cheryl Stuart had attended this kind of event with Mason Walsh.
She was his longest-lasting girlfriend, and in her eyes, being brought to a charity gala by Mason meant their relationship had become more stable.
But Mason had never introduced her to his family.
Of the two women they had just met, Cheryl had never seen Lynn Jennings before, but she was stunned when she saw Jessie Sterling’s face.
How could she not recognize that face?
Just a month or two ago, at that fashion show, her team had bought press releases, but the whole thing had almost backfired spectacularly.
That group photo—the one that had been scrubbed so clean from the entire internet that not a trace remained—the woman who had accidentally appeared in the shot was none other than the Jessie Sterling she saw today.
"Was that your sister just now?" Cheryl asked Mason.
She knew a little about Mason’s family situation. No matter how awkward his standing in their circle was, for someone in Cheryl’s current position, hitching her wagon to Mason already put her ahead of most other stars in the entertainment industry.
Mason sneered, "Just a self-righteous little brat!"
He was clearly still fuming over Lynn’s earlier words.
Cheryl placated him, "Then why do you even bother with her? The family business is going to be in your hands anyway. She’s just a young girl, so what’s the big deal if she gets to show off with a few clever words now? But who was that with your sister? Why did she call you Second Brother, too?"