Chapter 639 Jasmine Defends Avery
The Phillips family threw a big shindig for San Francisco's elite to show off Jessica's return and maybe set up a marriage alliance.
Sure, these elite families were all about their pride and power built up over generations, but they still needed those marriage connections to keep things rolling.
Jessica was the Phillips' only daughter, so she had to find a guy who was totally up to her standards. They needed to support each other to keep their power going strong.
"You're back, so I had someone pick out the best materials to make this necklace," Avery said, knowing Jessica had a thing for jewelry.
Even though she knew Jessica and Deborah were tight, she still had to show up.
She had to bring something impressive.
If Jessica didn't like it, it meant she didn't get the rules.
Deborah strutted over with Jessica, looking all smug.
Jessica opened the box, took a quick look, and then snarked, "Is the Hawthorne family going broke? The CEO gives out stuff like this?"
Kayla got a bit ticked off, knowing this was just to stir the pot. "I thought you had good taste, but looks like you don't."
Jessica's face went dark, and she shot Kayla a cold look. "Avery, your assistant seems a bit clueless about the rules. You might want to rethink keeping her around."
Jessica was pushing Avery to fire her assistant.
"She's young, just out of school, and speaks without thinking. She doesn't get your status, Jessica. Cut her some slack," Avery stepped in, shielding Kayla.
Avery was tall, rocking high heels and a casual black suit, giving off a vibe most women couldn't match.
Jessica snorted. "Given the Phillips family's status in San Francisco, asking you to fire a small assistant isn't too much, is it?"
Avery replied coolly, "My people don't get fired that easily; it's a legal society."
Jessica suddenly slapped Avery. She did it on purpose.
Avery knew Jessica wanted to make a point to Deborah today.
Right now, Avery couldn't afford to tick off the Phillips family. She'd remember this slap.
"Avery." Kayla's eyes welled up, biting her lip to hold back.
Deborah smirked.
She thought, 'Aren't you usually all high and mighty? Always talking about how illegitimate kids can't be presentable? Where's that attitude now?'
Avery gave Kayla a reassuring look and shook her head.
Kayla nodded, hiding the camera around her neck.
"Avery, I slapped you, and you don't think it's unfair, do you?" Jessica said coldly.
Avery smiled. "Not unfair."
If this slap could break the Phillips family's honor built over generations, it wouldn't be unfair.
"If Jessica isn't happy, you can slap me a few more times." Avery kept smiling.
"You should be slapped more. Coming to my return party with such a lame gift, isn't that disrespecting the Phillips family? If my dad finds out, you might have a hard time staying in the Hawthorne Group." Jessica sneered. "Your dad has to respect my dad."
"Avery is really too reckless. Even if you don't like me, knowing my good relationship with Jessica, you shouldn't bring fake goods, right?" Deborah laughed lightly.
Avery glanced at Deborah and slapped her.
If she couldn't hit Jessica, she could still hit Deborah.
She wasn't someone to be pushed around.
Jessica and Deborah were both shocked, glaring at Avery.
"Avery!" Jessica wanted to hit Avery again.
Edward said slowly, "So, this is the kind of upbringing the Phillips family has? As a lady from an elite family, I thought you were refined and elegant. But you resort to hitting people at the drop of a hat. I thought I was seeing a shrew from the countryside."
Behind Avery, Edward walked over to 'rescue' her.
Avery was a bit taken aback since she didn't really mix with the Cunningham family much.
At the entrance, Jasmine had just walked in and saw the whole scene. She turned to Edgar, who looked like he was about to charge in with a dark expression.
"Edgar, what are you doing?" Jasmine asked.
"Your sister-in-law is getting bullied," Edgar pointed at Avery.
Jasmine's eyes widened. "Sister-in-law? Which one?"
"The tall one," Edgar was practically fuming.
"She's so cool," Jasmine's first impression of Avery was that she was striking and had this androgynous beauty. "Edward's already over there; why don't you go?"
"She doesn't know I'm from the Cunningham family," Edgar coughed nervously. Avery always thought she was keeping him as a sugar baby.
Jasmine nodded, catching on. "Leave it to me."
"Avery, what gives you the right to hit me?" Deborah was almost losing it.
"Keep your voice down, or you'll show everyone your illegitimate daughter's true colors," Avery made a shushing gesture, her lips curling up in a very striking manner.
Deborah clenched her fists in anger.
Jessica also looked at Edward with a dark expression. "Edward?"
She had met Edward before; after all, the circles in Muskow were small.
"Is the Cunningham family getting involved in this?" Jessica asked.
"I'm just here to watch the fun," Edward smiled slyly.
Jessica snorted coldly, looking at the approaching Owen. "The head of the Hawthorne family is here too. Why don't you give me an explanation? Your daughter Avery came to the Phillips family banquet with such an unpresentable gift to humiliate me. Shouldn't she be slapped?"
Owen's face darkened as he walked over with a cane. He looked at Avery and spoke in a deep voice, "Apologize to Jessica."
Avery sneered, just as expected.
From childhood to adulthood, Owen only looked at power, never at right or wrong.
As long as she offended someone she shouldn't have, she had to apologize first, regardless of right or wrong.
"This necklace is top-notch, completely transparent and full, fresh and elegant, giving a sense of purity. It's a top-tier necklace," Jasmine walked over and took out the necklace to look at it.
Her fingers were slender and fair, her skin delicate, making the necklace seem even more valuable in her hands.
Jasmine said, "I remember a necklace like this being exhibited at the 2019 San Francisco International Jewelry Exhibition, valued at nine million dollars."
Jasmine put the necklace back and looked at Jessica. "You claim to be an expert in jewelry. Is your reputation false, or are you implying that Avery's nine-million-dollar necklace is too cheap?"
Jasmine's words put Jessica on the spot.
If she admitted she was a jewelry expert, it would imply the Phillips family was greedy, considering a nine-million-dollar gift too little, which would be seen as accepting a huge bribe.
If she admitted she didn't recognize the quality, it would mean her reputation for loving and collecting jewelry was exaggerated.
Although Jasmine seemed knowledgeable about jewelry, she wasn't well-known. If Jessica insisted it was fake, it wouldn't be impossible.
"Jasmine, what do you mean by that? Do you also understand jewelry? Offending the Phillips family, what good does it do you? Ethan is no longer around, you'd better keep low key," Deborah frowned, lowering her voice in a threatening manner.
Jasmine smiled, looking at Jessica. "Edgar happens to be an expert in jewelry appraisal and design and the founder of LS Fashion Brand and HO Jewelry Brand. Since Jessica just returned, you should have heard of his name. Why not let him take a look at the authenticity?"
Jessica was stunned, clearly surprised, and a bit delighted. "Edgar is here too?"
Avery gave Jasmine a grateful look, waiting for her to call Edgar over.
Over there, Edgar wished he could run away.
It was over. If Avery found out he was from the Cunningham family and not some man seeking a sugar mama, she would kill him.
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