Chapter 12 Offspring of Despicable Birth

Elsewhere.

Having returned to the Garrison home, Emma White and Isolde Garrison entered to see Timothy Garrison talking on the phone while descending the stairs, an anxious expression evident on his face.

"Assistant Tan, haven't we settled on everything? The terms on both sides were nearly agreed upon, so why has the Jennings Group suddenly said they won't cooperate?"

Emma White and Isolde Garrison felt a sudden jolt in their hearts upon hearing this, and when they exchanged looks, they could see the guilt in each other's eyes.

Isolde wanted to approach Timothy Garrison to talk, but he sternly gestured with his hand to stop her from causing a disturbance.

Turning back to the phone, he restrained his emotions and even began speaking somewhat pleadingly, "Is it that our Garrison Clan's terms were too high? All this is negotiable, we can give up a portion of the previously agreed profit margin, I truly am sincere about wanting to cooperate with the Jennings Group."

Whatever was said on the other end of the line, Timothy Garrison's facial muscles twitched slightly, then he seemed to collapse all at once, sitting down abruptly on the bench at the entrance.

Seeing this, Emma White and Isolde Garrison hastened to approach him, "Timothy, what's happened?"

Timothy Garrison, clutching his head and looking utterly exasperated said, "What happened? How should I know what happened? The Jennings Group just suddenly called to cancel the collaboration, even though things were going well before!"

He suddenly turned to Emma White, "Didn't you take Isolde to visit the Jennings Family's third lady? Did something happen there?"

At his question, Emma White felt her heart start pounding, clearly the Jennings Group hadn't mentioned the incident at the Jennings Family, she opened her mouth to explain, but was quickly pulled aside by Isolde,

"There's nothing wrong, Daddy, we didn't even get to see the third lady of the Jennings Family."

Emma White instinctively looked at Isolde and saw her pinch her arm gently, clearly signaling not to reveal anything.

Timothy Garrison did not suspect further; he just irritably scratched at his scanty hair, muttering to himself,

"Then what exactly is it? The Jennings Group... such a good partner... If we succeed in partnering with the Jennings Group, our family could climb to the next tier! No, I can't just let this go."

As he spoke, he got up and hurriedly walked out, not minding Emma White and Isolde Garrison who were left behind.

Only after he had exited out the main door did Emma White turn to Isolde, "Isolde, what were you doing pulling me just now? The Jennings Family's cancellation of the deal could be because of that little wretch..."

"Mom!" Isolde interrupted Emma White, still holding out hope, "On my way back, I thought it through carefully. Mr. Jennings didn't explicitly say that Scarlett was his daughter; maybe we misunderstood?"

Isolde refused to believe that Scarlett, once separated from the Garrison Family, could actually be the daughter of such a prestigious family like the Jennings. She couldn't accept Scarlett having a higher status than her own.

"How could we have misunderstood? If Scarlett isn't Mr. Jennings's daughter, then why would he suddenly cancel the deal between our families? And why would the butler say such things?"

Emma White was almost certain that Scarlett had to be the daughter the Jennings Family had recently found. How else could it be such a coincidence?

She must explain the situation to her husband as soon as possible; if it was true, the Jennings Family had a huge enterprise and her family had raised their daughter—it wouldn't be excessive to show gratitude with a mountain of gold or silver, so why cancel the partnership?

That's just ungrateful.

"Anyway, I don't believe it. Think about it, Mom. If Scarlett were the long-lost daughter of the Jennings Family, why wouldn't the Jennings send someone to receive her?

The person who contacted Dad also said they were living in the mountains with poor signal; people like the Jennings have no need to lie to us."

Isolde tried her utmost to convince Emma White, but also herself,

"Today Mr. Jennings suddenly became angry, perhaps just upset that we caused a scene at the Jennings house. As for the cancellation of the collaboration, that must be a coincidence. Business matters aren't taken lightly; surely it has nothing to do with what happened at the Jennings Family today."

Emma White, upon hearing this tirade, also began to harbor doubts, "Is that so?"

"Definitely." Isolde Garrison declared with conviction and took out her phone,

"Just now, the group was discussing the affair of the Jennings Family's young Miss, saying that the day after tomorrow the Jennings Family will hold a banquet to officially introduce that young Miss, and if we could somehow get our hands on the banquet invitation, we would know for sure when we see her in person."

Upon hearing this, Emma White's face immediately showed a hint of hesitation.

After all, Jennings Group had just terminated cooperation with their two families; getting an invitation would not be easy.

Isolde Garrison, seeing her reaction, hastily said,

"If Scarlett Garrison is not the recently found daughter of the Jennings Family, that would be for the best. We could then take the chance to clarify today's misunderstanding with Mr. Jennings, and perhaps Dad might also seize the opportunity to reclaim the cooperative project. At such an event, Mr. Jennings would certainly find it difficult to refuse."

She paused for a moment, then clenched her teeth in secret, revealing another possibility,

"If by any chance, Scarlett Garrison really is the Jennings Family's young Miss, after all, our family has raised her for a while; she surely couldn't recognize her biological parents and then refuse to acknowledge us, right?"

Isolde Garrison's words instantly enlightened Emma White.

Her eyes lit up.

Indeed, why hadn't she realized that before?

Whether Scarlett is the daughter of the Jennings Family or not, this matter would be beneficial for them!

"Isolde is right, if that little bitch Scarlett really is the daughter of the Jennings Family, then in front of so many people, the Jennings Family surely couldn't just kick us out. Whether it's the cooperative project or something else, the Jennings Family would have to give us something in gratitude, having raised their child after all."

Emma White thought more and more that this was the case, and with a slap of her hand, she said, "I'll figure out a way to get the invitations. At that time, bring your father, and you should also buy a couple of beautiful dresses. You must dress up beautifully the day after tomorrow."

At a banquet hosted by the Jennings Family, the attendees would certainly be the elite and young ladies of renown in Sea City; her daughter Isolde's first appearance in such circles was bound to dazzle everyone.

Upon hearing this, Isolde Garrison immediately nestled shyly against Emma White, sharing the same thoughts as her.

...

Scarlett Garrison was unaware of the Garrison Family's scheming, and after dinner, she finally saw her new room, led there by her second aunt, Odessa.

It was a suite on the third floor near the edge, a very spacious room divided into an inner and outer section, utterly styled like a princess's dream with a childish theme, with the outer corner of the room piled with various toys and gifts.

There were even items like a baby carriage.

"This originally was the nursery prepared for you; over the years, your big brother always had it kept this way. But I thought it was decorated too childishly, so I had planned to arrange another room for you, and then redecorate this one with fresh paint and furnishings for you later. I didn't expect it to upset you, please don't be upset with me."

As Odessa spoke, she affectionately took Scarlett Garrison's arm.

Scarlett Garrison unobtrusively withdrew her arm from her grasp,

"I won't."

Odessa, observing her cold demeanor, forced a smile that froze for a moment, then made a few more comments, before turning to leave and closing the door behind her. As the door closed, the once affectionate smile completely faded away, and as she turned her head back towards the door, her eyes carried a touch of grimness.