Teresa's voice was filled with anguish. Queena, her eyes red and swollen, added in a choked, considerate tone, "Mom, please don't scold her. It's just a role. If my sister wants it, she can have it. I'll just accept that I wasn't right for Mr. Turner's lead part." "Be confident. Take out the 'accept'," Yvonne said as she strolled into the room. "The role was never right for you. Mr. Turner probably didn't cast you because you're plain and high-maintenance. Giving you a supporting role was likely just a favor to Nexus Media. So, what's with the waterworks now, Queena? Are you hoping I'll give the part back to you? In your dreams. Or are you trying to drive a wedge between me and our parents? If so, congratulations, you've succeeded. Too bad I don't give a damn."

She finished her speech and turned to a nearby maid. "Is dinner ready? I'm hungry."

That evening, Yvonne ate alone at the dining table. Her appetite was unaffected, and she even complimented the chef on the improved sweet and sour pork ribs.

After her meal, she headed up the hardwood staircase. As she rounded the landing, she saw Queena standing there, clearly waiting for her.

"What's your game this time?" Yvonne stopped, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

"Yvonne, I really underestimated you. I can't believe you landed the lead in Mr. Turner's film. I don't care whose bed you had to warm to get it, but as long as I'm around, you will never make a name for yourself." Queena's meek facade had vanished, replaced by a twisted, vicious expression. "And as long as I'm in this house, you'll never have Mom and Dad's love. I am, and always will be, their perfect daughter."

Her voice suddenly rose to a shrill, desperate cry. "Yvonne, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have competed with you for the role or for Mom and Dad's affection! If you don't want to see me, I'll disappear! Just please, please don't push me down the stairs! I'm scared..."

With that, Queena feigned a slip, her body lurching toward the edge of the staircase.

Yvonne stood with her arms crossed, patiently watching the performance. Just as Queena was about to tumble, Yvonne shot out hand and grabbed her her movements swift and precise.

"Queena! Yvonne... what... what's happening?" George, Teresa, Jeffrey, and

Joseph all came rushing over, drawn by Queena's screams.

They had expected to find a scene of Yvonne maliciously pushing Queena down the stairs. Instead, they saw Yvonne holding onto Queen, who was teetering on the edge.

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"Queena, are you okay? What happened? Did Yvonne bully you again?" Jeffrey hurried to Queena's side, his face etched with concern as he saw her tear-streaked face.

Yvonne let out a cold snort. "Are you blind, Jeffrey? Didn't you see she was about to throw herself down the stairs to frame me?"

"Shut up! Queena is too kind to ever frame someone like that!" Jeffrey shot back. He had been the last to arrive and hadn't seen the whole thing.

But Joseph, with his short legs, had

run fast enough to witness it all. "I saw it," he piped up. "Queena was en her own and Yvonne

falling on her

caught her." The recent scolding seemed to have taught him the

value of honesty.

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George and Teresa had also seen it: Queena screaming for Yvonne not to push her

while simultaneously throwing herself toward the stairs.