Chapter 661: Jacqueline Spann’s Mind

Jacqueline Spann’s heart sank. It seemed her aunt truly disliked her father. But it was no wonder—he was such a disappointment. A strong career woman like her aunt would surely look down on a useless man like him.

She had originally hoped her father could get a firm footing with Bernice, and after some time, he would be able to bring her to Tristone. But now, that hope seemed slim. She would have to figure out a way herself.

’But how can I get my aunt to offer to take me with her?’

Jacqueline Spann’s heart skipped a beat as that terrifying idea surfaced once more. She grew so nervous that her palms began to sweat and her pulse quickened. Her resolve wavered. ’Do I really have to do that?’

’I still can’t bring myself to do it.’

"I have to go. You should head back."

Bernice had to leave. This trip to Vessaria was on business; Ethan Hawthorne wanted to expand into the Zylos market and had sent her to scout things out. She had made Vessaria her first stop, partly for Jacqueline, and partly to find those little bastards.

The burn on her hand had been under treatment for over a month. Despite using the best medicine available, it had still left an ugly scar. Although Ethan Hawthorne never said a word, Bernice could clearly sense his disgust. Fortunately, she was now his right-hand woman, indispensable to his work. Otherwise, he would have replaced her long ago.

Beyond those two reasons, Bernice also wanted to look for Seven Snow Ointment. She had heard about this excellent scar-removing remedy, but it was no longer in production. It had sold extremely well in Tristone back in the day, and its effectiveness at fading scars was remarkable. The only problem was that the pharmacy’s owner had moved abroad.

But Bernice wasn’t ready to give up. After making some inquiries, she learned that the pharmacy owner’s hometown was right here in Vessaria. So, she figured she would come try her luck. Perhaps she could find the Seven Snow Ointment after all.

"By the way, have you ever heard of Seven Snow Ointment?" Bernice asked casually.

Jacqueline Spann paused, racking her brain, but she couldn’t recall anything. Annoyed with herself, she shook her head. "Auntie, what’s Seven Snow Ointment used for?"

"It’s nothing. You should go home."

Bernice hadn’t been expecting much, so she wasn’t disappointed. Jacqueline, however, made a mental note of the name "Seven Snow Ointment," planning to ask around about it later. It was a shame Clayton Xavier was ignoring her; otherwise, she could have asked him. ’He would definitely have heard of it,’ she thought.

"Goodbye, Auntie."

Jacqueline Spann forced a sweet smile. Despite her disappointment, she knew her aunt disliked impertinent children, and she couldn’t risk getting on her bad side.

Bernice smiled back, appreciating Jacqueline’s quiet and well-behaved nature. But that was all it was—appreciation. Her career was on the rise, and she didn’t have the mental energy to deal with other distractions.

After waving goodbye to Jacqueline, Bernice climbed onto a tractor parked to the side. The vehicle rumbled away. The smile on Jacqueline’s face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold expression. Still, she remained on the bridge until the tractor was out of sight before turning to head back to the village. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Tang Xiaonan and her siblings by the river.

"WOOF WOOF WOOF..."

Dollar suddenly began to bark, arching his back and barking furiously at Jacqueline. For some reason, Dollar rarely barked at the other villagers, but he made an exception for Jacqueline, barking every single time he saw her as if they were mortal enemies.

Jacqueline jumped, startled. She looked up and saw Dollar, along with Tang Xiaonan and the others, which only soured her mood further. ’Especially that wretched dog,’ she thought. ’Sooner or later, I’ll teach that vicious mutt a lesson.’

"Dollar, come back!"

Tang Xiaonan called out. Dollar let out a few more barks before obediently returning to her side. Though he fell silent, he crouched in front of Tang Xiaonan and glared vigilantly at Jacqueline, his hackles raised, looking ready to pounce at any moment.