"Are the guest rooms upstairs? I'm tired and want to rest," Yvonne said, cutting Jerome off impatiently.

This brother and sister duo, one dumber than the next. No wonder their step-siblings had pushed them into a corner.

Jerome clearly disliked his niece. He frowned, waved a dismissive hand, and had a servant show her to a guest room upstairs.

The James family truly lived up to its reputation as a top-tier clan. Even the guest rooms were over a thousand square feet and fully equipped.

Yvonne wasn't a picky sleeper and slept soundly on the soft, imported mattress.

She slept until dawn and was woken the next day by a knock on the door.

"Yvonne, time to get up. We're having breakfast with your grandfather this morning, and we can't be late," Teresa's voice called from outside.

Yvonne rubbed her eyes, got out of bed, and ambled to the door.

When she opened the door, Teresa was standing there. She frowned at the sight of Yvonne's messy hair and bare feet.

"Look at you. Do you have any manners at all? Sleeping in so late at someone else's house... people will laugh their heads off if they find out."

Yvonne leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and said lazily, "If you don't want me here, I can leave right now. And for the record, 'sleeping in so late' traditionally refers to between nine and eleven in the morning. It's still early."

With that, Yvonne turned and walked back into the room.

Teresa followed her in, complaining, "I say one thing, and you have ten comebacks: You always blame me for neglecting you all these years. If you were as well-behaved and sweet as Queena, how could I not love you... Ouch! You child, why did you stop so suddenly without a word?"

Teresa was mid-sentence when Yvonne, walking ahead, stopped abruptly. Caught

off guard, Teresa bumped into her back, feeling dizzy from the impact.

Yvonne turned to face her, a cold

smirk playing on her lips. "So, is your plan for today to apologize to Queena, coax her back home, and play the part of a loving mother? The legitimate wife begging a mistress's illegitimate daughter to come back... now that would make people laugh. their heads off."

"Yvonne!" Teresa's face paled, then flushed with anger.

Yvonne ignored her and went straight into the bathroom to wash up, change, and

then sat down at the vanity to do her makeup.

Fuming, Teresa managed to

suppress her anger and placed a

jewelry box on the vanity. This

diamond necklace was your

grandmother's. Wear it to the

banquet today."

Yvonne gave the necklace a cursory glance. Its centerpiece was a blue diamond over ten carats, sparkling in the light. It was priceless.

It was a generous gesture from Teresa, likely a peace offering to Yvonne because

she planned to make up with Queena and was afraid of Yvonne's reaction.

Yvonne didn't say whether she'd wear it or not. She finished her simple makeup and left the room with Teresa.

Outside, Jeffrey was waiting in the hallway. "Mom, Yvonne. They have already gone to the main villa. They said we should head over once we're ready."