CHAPTER 262 JACQUELINE’S SCHEMES

Mrs. Carter chuckled, "You still can't tell? That Conrad girl is deliberately picking on your wife."

Yvonne lowered her gaze. "I'm actually aware of that..."

"Oh?" Mrs. Carter was taken aback. "You are?"

"Yes." Yvonne bit her lip. "She came to greet me at first, then brought up something I really minded out of the blue to provoke me. After calming down and thinking about it again, it was obvious that she had done that on purpose."

Mrs. Carter was a little surprised now. "Since you knew about it, why did you still go ahead and do that?"

Yvonne clenched her fists tightly. "Because as I said, she brought up something that I minded the most."

"Even so, you still acted rather rashly. Have you ever thought about what consequences you would have to face for doing that?" Mrs. Carter asked her.

Yvonne shook her head. "I didn't even have time to think about that."

Mrs. Carter sighed. "Allow me to enlighten you then. If you did something like that without considering the occasion, the first impression you give off to the other guests at the ball is that you’re an ill-mannered lady, understand?" "I understand, but I don’t regret slapping her," Yvonne insisted stubbornly.

Mrs. Carter shook her head helplessly. “You're still too young, my child."

While saying that, she directed her gaze at Henry. " Since many at the ball saw you taking away Yvonne, they have probably also figured out her identity. Her reputation is inevitably damaged.

Henry, what do you plan to do?"

Henry massaged his nose bridge. "I'll buy something under her name in the next charity auction."

"My name?" Yvonne was slightly surprised.

She just didn't understand what that had to do with her damaged reputation.

However, Mrs. Carter's eyes lit up at Henry's intention. "So you will try to project Yvonne as a philanthropist t o cover up her ill behavior at the ball?"

"Correct.” Henry nodded.

Mrs. Carter took a sip of her tea, then looked admiringly at him. "Henry, you’re indeed a smart one. This is certainly a great idea."

"Thank you for the compliment, Mrs. Carter. Now, please excuse us." Henry grabbed Yvonne's hand and dragged her out of the room as soon as he finished speaking.

On their way out, Yvonne was deeply ashamed. She clasped her hands together so hard that her fingers turned red. "I'm sorry..."

"For what?" Henry turned his head around and threw a look at her.

She hung her head low, looking totally deflated." Actually, you don’t have to redeem my reputation. I don’t regret my actions. You can deny our relationship. At least that way, they won't ridicule you for this incident."

The reputations of wealthy couples were basically tied together. If the wife made a fool out of herself, then the husband might be ridiculed for that.

Given how prideful Henry was, there was no way he would be able to bear being made into the butt of a joke.

"Are you worried about me?" Henry reached out and lifted Yvonne's head by her chin. His deep eyes met with hers. "I've heard people criticizing me behind my back in the business world. Why would I even be bothered about being ridiculed for trivial things?"

"But..." Yvonne’s delicate face scrunched into a frown." I've embarrassed you."

"It's not your fault." Henry looked in the direction of the lounge, his face a little gloomy.

Yvonne's eyes flickered as she tested the waters. "Are you saying that it was Jacqueline's fault?"

“Isn't that the case?” Henry asked back.

A look of surprise flashed across Yvonne's eyes. "Well yes, but I’m surprised that you'd agree."

"What's so surprising about that?" Henry pressed his lips.

Yvonne let out an ambiguous chuckle. "Her position in your heart, of course. The Jacqueline in your heart has always been that kind and pure girl. By right, you'd never believe that she would do something like this."

Henry frowned upon hearing that, feeling a little unhappy. "So you think I attach such great importance to Jacqueline?"

"That’s not my opinion, it’s a fact. Two months ago, Jacqueline was the one who called me and provoked me. After hearing her complaint, you straight up assumed that I was the one bullying her, so..."

"I'm very sorry.” Henry suddenly turned and hugged Yvonne.

Yvonne's eyes widened. "Sorry?"

"Yes, I apologize for my behavior at that time. Back then, I hadn't figured out her true colors. My

impression of her was still the very first I had of her," Henry rested his chin on her head and said softly.

Yvonne closed her eyes. "Maybe you really never got t o know her."

A gloomy look flashed across his eyes. "Perhaps.

That'll never happen again."

"Are you sure?" Yvonne was skeptical.

The man Jacqueline loved wasn’t Henry and she was only using him. Discovering those truths had made Henry feel anger and resentment toward Jacqueline.

Even so, Yvonne could see that Jacqueline still held a certain position in his heart.

A special person would always be special. As long as she didn't do anything that completely disappointed him, she would always have a special place in his heart even if the feeling was platonic. Therefore, Yvonne wouldn't believe Henry unless he despised Jacqueline to her core and had no feelings for her at all.

However, Henry took Yvonne's skepticism as the result of his action for defending Jacqueline in the past. He couldn't help feeling slightly defeated. "It doesn't matter. I'll slowly regain your trust.”

While they were conversing, they found themselves arriving at the lounge.

Henry entered calmly and Jacqueline stood up from the sofa timidly. "Henry, you're back.”

Instead of responding, Henry went up to her directly." You said I was the one who asked you to return to the country?"

"Yeah." Jacqueline nodded. "Didn't you say that you decided to let bygones be bygones? So, I came back. Henry, I missed you so much!”

She spread her arms open and tried to embrace Henry.

Henry narrowed his eyes at her attempt, then stepped t holds this content.

o the side.

Jacqueline ended up missing him. She just stood there awkwardly with her arms open, too stunned to react to the situation.

Yvonne couldn’t help but burst into laughter when she saw that.

Her laughs sounded no different than mockery in Jacqueline's ears.

Jacqueline glared daggers at her but quickly turned to Henry with an aggrieved look on her face. "Henry, why are you..."

"Leave first," Henry ignored Jacqueline and spoke to Yvonne instead. "I have something to discuss with her privately."

Yvonne looked at him, then at Jacqueline before finally nodding. "Okay."

After she left, Henry sat down on the sofa and looked a t the woman across from him coldly. "You deliberately provoked Yvonne to make her hit you at the gala.

What was your intention?"

Jacqueline's eyes widened at his question. "You..."

"You want to ask me how I knew, right?" Henry lifted his gaze to look at her.

Jacqueline's lips trembled. "Since you've already found out, then there's no point for me to hide it anymore. Yes, I did that on purpose. But Henry, don't you understand why I did that? It's because she doesn't deserve you! Look at how vulgar she is to hit someone at an event at the slightest provocation!”

"I agree she still has a lot to learn in that department. But since you said she isn't worthy of me, then tell me who is? You?" Henry sneered.

Jacqueline stuck her chest out proudly. "Yes, only me! I'm a thousand times better than Yvonne in terms of m y background, appearance, and reputation! I'm the only one who can be your perfect match!"

"Does Liam know what you just said?" Henry crossed his legs and looked at her smugly.