Chapter 1940

Bringing her back was never going to be a loss for them. Those two-always so calculating, never letting anything slip by. Even if something seemed useless, they'd find a way to make it work for them.

"You still haven't apologized to me," Fiona said, her voice laced with a playful arrogance.

She was stretched out on the sofa, hands resting on Jackson's thigh, lips tilted into a teasing smile. "If I hadn't seen what was inside that envelope, do you really think I would've let you off so easily?"

Jackson just smirked. "If I had someone deliver that letter to you, it means I already had everything figured out."

Fiona couldn't help but feel a little smug.

She remembered the day she got that breakup letter from Jackson. She was so angry she almost marched straight over to confront him. Breaking up was one thing, but to do it like that? It felt so cold, so impersonal. Since when did they start talking through letters?

But as she ripped the letter apart, she noticed a row of numbers scribbled inside the envelope. Something in her just knew—it had to be a phone number.

She called, and Jackson picked up right away.

He explained everything in just a few words. After she hung up, Fiona put on such a good act that not even Tyler or Jane-her closest friends-noticed a thing. No one else suspected, either.

“Jackson, I missed you," she whispered as she sat up and leaned into his shoulder.

To everyone else, it looked like she and Jackson were completely over. The truth? They were closer than ever. All of it-every argument, every cold shoulder-was just for Amy's benefit.

With Jackson beside her, Fiona relaxed, her head on his shoulder. She was asleep within minutes.

Meanwhile, in another part of town, Amy and Esther from Country M were in the middle of a heated argument in their hotel room.

"Miss Esther, please calm down," Amy said, grabbing Esther's wrist and trying to keep her from losing it. "We can't let Jackson and Fiona play us like this. Remember, we're supposed to be on the same side."

Esther had just been thoroughly humiliated and wasn't about to listen. She yanked her hand away and shot Amy a glare that could freeze fire.

"Do you take me for a fool, Amy? You think I'm that easy to trick? I told you the Woods family isn't someone we can mess with. Even ewe with the lab backing me, there's no way can go up against Jackson right now. The Woods have been powerful in the States for years. Thanks to your bad intel, I just embarrassed myself in front of him."

"And Fiona! You didn't bother to mention she's from the Stonnell family. Both her parents were legends in the last generation. Were you trying to get me killed?"

Esther's hand shot out and slapped Amy across the face-hard.

That was it. Country M had just made enemies of both the Woods and Stonnell families. If the higher-ups found out, Esther was as good as dead.

Amy's cheek stung, but she just

clenched her fists tighter. She was

always the one getting pushed around, shaped and molded by everyone else. When would it be her turn to stand at the top and call the shots? She was so done with this life.

“Miss Esther, if we win the competition, we still have a chance," Amy said quietly. She pulled out her phone and opened the latest gossip about Jackson and Fiona's breakup, holding it up for Esther to see Her voice softened, coaxing. "I'm not lying to you. Every word said is true. Jackson only stood up for Fiona today because they have history. Even if they're done, he wants to end things on good terms."