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Chapter_13
Nathan paused, the weight of his words lingering in the air before he finally broke the silence. “You’re really going to do that, Yvette?” His voice, normally steady, now held a sharper edge.
Yvette let out a cold laugh, as if Nathan should have already known her answer. “Of course. If you can’t handle it, I will,” she responded, her tone dripping with finality.
Nathan sighed, the frustration clear in his voice. “Fine. I’ll do my best to keep Braydon away. He won’t show up in front of you for a year, I promise.”
Yvette scoffed under her breath. “A year? Playing word games with me now, Nathan?”
Before he could respond, she hung up the phone without a second thought, the sound of the call ending echoing in the quiet room. A year? She didn’t need his promises. She’d handle Braydon in her own way, and it wouldn’t take a year.
Meanwhile, in Winona’s room, a tense silence hung in the air as Nellie quietly administered medicine to Winona. The cold, clinical atmosphere made Winona’s stomach tighten with anxiety.
Winona had always been told by everyone that her mother, Nellie, was kind and gentle, a woman who knew how to raise her children well. But Winona knew the truth. Her childhood had been anything but kind. Nellie had pushed her relentlessly to perfect her skills in piano, dance, calligraphy, horseback riding, and art. Winona had always been expected to follow these rules without question, to always keep up with the other noble girls—or else.
The memories of her childhood haunted Winona. She vividly recalled a dance competition when she was younger, one she was never allowed to win. She had to face Rebecca, whose skills were extraordinary. That night, Nellie had dunked her into cold water, making her cry and beg for mercy. When Winona fell ill with a high fever, Nellie took advantage of the situation and dropped her out of the competition. It was only when Zachary arrived home that night that Nellie softened, stroking Winona’s head, but Winona knew the truth: she was just a pawn in her mother’s game to maintain appearances and win her father’s favor.
“Did you do something stupid today?” Nellie’s voice cut through Winona’s thoughts, her tone sharp and calculating.
Winona’s heart dropped, her body tensing in fear. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to. I just couldn’t hold back…”
Nellie stared at her, the silence stretching long enough to make Winona feel suffocated under her gaze. Finally, Nellie softened, her lips curling into a small smile. “Forget about today. That bitch isn’t so easy to deal with. We need to plan carefully. Next time, do anything stupid with more confidence. You’ve been training for years, yet you haven’t made any progress at all.”
Winona felt a slight relief at Nellie’s words, but a nagging fear still lingered in her chest. “Mom, I’m worried about Victor…”
Nellie’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing with calculation. “Are you worried he’ll be attracted to Yvette and won’t want you anymore?”
Winona nodded, admitting her fear. Yvette was undeniably beautiful, and that had shaken Winona’s confidence. She wasn’t sure if she could compete with someone like her.
Nellie smirked dismissively. “Relax, Winona. As long as I’m a Smith and you’re your grandfather’s favorite, he won’t have the guts to look elsewhere. Even if his engagement was arranged by Mr. Carter and Lilian, that doesn’t matter. Those years are long gone. I’m the lady of the Chambers family now. Nobody’s taking your spot.”
Her voice was filled with unwavering confidence as she continued, “Next month is your apprenticeship ceremony. You need to show Yvette the difference between a noble girl and a country bumpkin. She might be pretty, but what else does she have that compares to you? Once Victor sees the gap between you two, he’ll understand who he should marry.”
Winona’s confidence slowly started to return as she absorbed her mother’s words. Yvette might have beauty, but she couldn’t possibly match the power and prestige that Winona had. With her mother’s guidance, Winona could regain her position.
Before leaving, Nellie asked about Zeke’s whereabouts. Winona hesitated, but after a moment, she admitted that Zeke was at a nightclub. Nellie’s fury was immediate. Zeke had always been a problem, and now, with exams coming up, he was off on foolish adventures instead of focusing on what mattered.
As Nellie stormed out of the room, Winona looked up slowly, a sinister smile creeping across her face. She knew exactly how to deal with Zeke. And when the time came, she’d show Yvette just how far she was willing to go.
In a far more chaotic scene, Zeke was lost in the haze of drinks and laughter at a nightclub. He was surrounded by friends, indulging in the thrill of the moment. Lately, he had been spoiling a C-list celebrity, who had once seemed innocent and uninterested in money. But in just three months, she had transformed—driving a luxury car he had bought her, living in a mansion, and flaunting designer clothes that used to be out of her reach. It was a twisted thrill for Zeke, watching this woman, once pure, now corrupted.
Leaning back in his chair, Zeke took a long drag from his cigarette, watching the celebrity dance on a pole in the private room. The smoke curled around his face, shrouding the darkness within him. But even as he watched the woman perform, his thoughts kept drifting back to Yvette, to her icy, alluring smile.
When the celebrity finished her dance and walked over to charm him, Zeke only had one thing to say. “This woman’s for you guys to enjoy.”
His friends eagerly jumped in. “Thanks, Zeke! You’re the best!”
But the celebrity’s surprise was palpable. As she lunged for Zeke, trying to grab his leg, he swiftly kicked her to the floor, sending her sprawling. The room fell silent for a moment, and the once lively atmosphere suddenly shifted, but Zeke didn’t care. His actions had no consequences to him—he was numb to it all.
But even in his haze, Yvette’s face lingered in his mind.
