Tears welled up in Jacqueline’s eyes as she looked at Rowena. “Grandma…”

Rowena turned to look at Stephen before looking back at Jacqueline.

With a sigh, she said, “It’s alright, Jacqueline. Since that incident at the equestrian center was a misunderstanding, explain it again in front of everyone. I trust that Tessa is not someone unreasonable.” Considering Rowena had made such a statement, no one else dared to step in to shield Jacqueline. Sniffling, Jacqueline put on an aggrieved look and said, “That day at the center, I asked Tessa to teach me how to ride a horse.

“Everything had been going well at first, but then the horse suddenly went wild, and I-I fell off and got hurt.”

Everyone already knew that part of the story, but judging by Stephen’s tone from earlier, it seemed like there was more to the story.

No one interrupted her while they simply waited for her to continue.

Jacqueline glanced at Stephen nervously, but his gaze was so sharp that it frightened her.

So, she murmured, “It really was just a misunderstanding. At that time, I thought Tessa didn’t like me and had deliberately provoked the horse to hurt me.

“But later, I found out that the horse had a wound on its neck. It was likely that it had gotten hurt before it was brought out for me to ride. I must have accidentally pressed on its wound, causing it to go berserk.” She turned to look at Tessa with teary and sad eyes. “I’m sorry for misunderstanding you, Tessa. I shouldn’t have assumed the worst about you. Will you forgive me?”

Tessa frowned at her but said nothing.

Sophia approached Jacqueline at this moment. “Jacqueline, how could you think of Tessa in such a bad light? Why would she possibly try to harm you?”

Stephen’s father, Caleb Jacobson, who was also Jacqueline’s adoptive father, also looked displeased. “If you wanted to learn horseback riding, why didn’t you enroll in a proper equestrian course?

“Not only did you fail to learn, but you also got yourself injured and caused such a misunderstanding with your future sister-in-law.”

Jacqueline felt a deep sense of jealousy in her heart upon hearing Caleb say the words “sister-in-law”. She suppressed her emotions and said softly, “I know I was wrong.”

Stephen’s voice turned cold. “Didn’t you also claim that Tessa kicked the horse hard that day, causing it to go wild? Why are you leaving that part out now?”

Without waiting for her to respond, Stephen turned to his parents.

“Mom, Dad, who’s responsible for Jacqueline’s education? How has she ended up like this? She keeps telling lies and pulling petty tricks.”

Caleb exchanged glances with Sophia, who frowned and asked Jacqueline, “Did you really lie to us?” Jacqueline immediately burst into tears as she sobbed pitifully. “I-I was wrong, Mom.”

Rowena’s gaze grew stern.

l.ne

“Jacqueline, you only told me that it was a misunderstanding. You didn’t tell me it was a lie. Is this what you’ve learned throughout your years of education? You thought to lie and falsely accuse others?”

Samuel and Marianne finally understood what had happened.

Looking displeased, Samuel said, “Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson, Tessa would never harm someone. Don’t you

think we deserve an explanation since your child lied and falsely accused her?”

Marianne chimed in, “That’s right.

Tessa is the apple of our eye. Our family may not have as much power or influence as the Jacobsons, but our daughter is kind and pure-hearted. She would never!

to doing such disgraceful things.”

Hearing her parents’ words, Tessa felt deeply touched.

Over the years, her relationship with her family had been strained, but that did not mean they did not love or care for her.

As for her stepmother, Marianne, Tessa had always acknowledged how well she treated her. Yet, Tessa struggled with her feelings and had never been able to fully accept her.

Jacqueline cried even harder as tears streamed down her face. She stood up and turned to Tessa. “I’m sorry, Tessa. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have lied and accused you. I’m sorry-”

Rowena sighed. “Tessa, it’s true that Jacqueline was in the wrong, but she’s already apologized to you. Can you forgive her now?”

Tessa frowned. Why did Rowena sound so impatient and annoyed?

The way she phrased it made it seem like Tessa would be seen as unreasonable if she refused to forgive Jacqueline.

Just as Tessa was about to

respond, Stephen beat her to it. “Grandma, what are you saying? Whether or not Tessa forgives Jacqueline is her decision to make. No one has the right to pressure her into doing so.”

Rowena’s expression darkened. “Stephen, are you accusing me of something?”

Stephen looked at her indifferently. “I’m not. I’m just asking you not to pressure Tessa into forgiving Jacqueline.”

Seeing that Stephen was beginning to argue with Rowena on her behalf, Tessa did not hesitate as she quickly said, “It’s alright. I’ve forgiven her.”

With that said, she turned to look at Stephen and reached for his hand. She then squeezed his hand gently, signaling him not to argue with Rowena any further.

Receiving her signal, the sharpness in Stephen’s eyes softened.

Jacqueline was so enraged when she saw their exchange that she gritted her teeth hard.