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Chapter_6
Nellie’s patience wore thin as she noticed Zachary lingering on his thoughts. She decided to be more direct.
“Zachary,” she began, feigning concern, “it’s not that I dislike Yvette. But with Mr. Grillin coming from Cloudity, we can’t afford any missteps. Winona has worked so hard to get on his radar. What if Yvette does something… improper and ruins everything?”
Zachary frowned, troubled. Nellie’s words struck a chord. He sighed, taking her hand gently. “So, what do you suggest? Time is running out. If Yvette starts learning etiquette now, it might already be too late.”
This was the moment Nellie had been waiting for. After a thoughtful pause, she offered her solution.
“Zachary, if you’re willing to let Yvette experience some tough love, I have an idea,” she said, hesitating for dramatic effect. “I have a cousin at Argrol University who specializes in etiquette training for girls from families like ours. Her reputation is stellar, and she’s transformed even the most unrefined ladies. If Yvette is willing, I’d be happy to take her there.”
Zachary’s expression brightened. The idea made sense, and he trusted Nellie’s judgment. “Do it,” he said decisively. “Talk to Yvette about it. It might be exactly what she needs.”
Nellie’s heart swelled with satisfaction. So what if you’re Lilian’s daughter? You’ll still be under my control, Yvette, she thought smugly.
Unknown to Zachary, Nellie’s cousin had a notorious reputation for her severe discipline. Young women who had crossed her rarely emerged unscathed, and most lacked the power to resist her methods.
Later that evening, Zeke and Winona returned from their day at the golf course. They had spent the time with Victor, making subtle jabs about Yvette and ensuring their alliance against her remained strong.
As they entered the house, Yvette descended the stairs gracefully, her posture regal and her expression composed. For a moment, the three siblings faced each other, and the contrast was striking.
Yvette, with her striking resemblance to Lilian, radiated cool beauty, a sharp contrast to Zeke and Winona, who bore traces of Nellie’s softer features.
Zeke, Nellie’s pride and joy, had always been her ticket to acceptance into the Chambers family. She had been pregnant with him when she married Zachary, and from the moment of his birth, she had doted on him. Zeke hadn’t grown spoiled; instead, he excelled in academics and business, making Nellie’s efforts seem justified.
Zeke and Winona had already heard about Yvette’s return. They had previously tried to have her removed from the picture, but their attempts were met with mysterious failures. While they didn’t suspect Yvette directly, they knew they had to tread carefully now that she was under Zachary’s protection.
Their father’s guilt over Yvette only made the situation more precarious. To Zeke and Winona, she wasn’t just a sibling—she was a threat to their inheritance. With a shared glance, they silently vowed to deal with her discreetly.
Feigning surprise, Zeke stepped forward, his voice warm and welcoming. “You must be Yvette. I’m Zeke. If you ever need anything, just let me know. I’ll take care of it.”
Winona chimed in, her voice equally sweet but her eyes assessing Yvette’s every move.
As Yvette’s striking beauty came into full view, a pang of jealousy shot through Winona. She had always been considered one of the top beauties in her social circle, rivaled only by Rebecca Carter. But Yvette’s elegance and poise were unmatched, and her presence was magnetic.
Winona’s mind raced with worry. If Victor sees her, he might lose interest in me. The engagement that had originally been Yvette’s could easily slip from her grasp.
Out of the corner of her eye, Winona spotted two figures approaching from the stairs behind Yvette. Seizing the opportunity, she leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper but loud enough for Yvette to hear.
“Your mother is dead. Why even come back? This house has no place for you.”
Winona smirked inwardly. She had perfected this tactic over the years—provoking others just enough to make them lash out while she maintained a façade of innocence. She anticipated Yvette’s anger, sure it would lead to an outburst that would expose her as unrefined and impulsive.
Go on, Yvette, Winona thought gleefully. Make a scene. Let Dad see how trashy you really are.
But to her surprise, Yvette didn’t react. Instead, she turned her head slightly, a faint smirk curling her lips. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding, locked onto Winona’s.
“Is that the best you’ve got?” Yvette said coolly, her voice low and steady.
Winona froze, caught off guard by the unexpected response. Yvette wasn’t the naive country girl she had imagined—she was someone who had faced far darker threats than a petty insult.
For the first time, Winona felt a flicker of fear. This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought.
