Yvonne saw right through Teresa''s hesitation and couldn''t help but sneer inwardly. They were all bullies who only backed down when faced with someone stronger.


    After breakfast, the Spencers had visitors.


    Teresa''s three card-ying friends, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Ward, had arrived, bringing their daughters with them.


    "Mrs. Young, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Ward, good morning," Queena said, standing beside Teresa and greeting the guests politely. With her innocent face, she was deceptively good at ying the part of the perfect, well-behaved daughter.


    "Queena, you''re as charming and polite as ever. Mrs. Spencer, you''ve raised her so well. She truly is the most outstanding youngdy in our circle."


    "You''re too kind, Mrs. Smith," Queena demurred, blushing appropriately at thepliment.


    "She''s just too modest," Teresa said with a proud smile. She had always been immensely proud of Queena.


    At gatherings like these, the original Yvonne had always stood silently behind Teresa and Queena, her head bowed in shame.


    Yvonne had no intention of stealing the spotlight either. After politely greeting thedies, she faded into the background, content to be invisible.


    "Oh, my, this must be your younger daughter," Mrs. Young remarked, her eyesnding on Yvonne. "She''s absolutely lovely. She has your eyes, Mrs. Spencer, a perfect match."


    "Yes, it''s been a while, and her whole demeanor seems to have changed. They grow up so fast, don''t they? More beautiful every day," Mrs. Ward added.


    Teresa couldn''t help but feel a flicker of pride at the praise for her biological daughter, but she quickly tempered it. “Oh, please don''t tter her. If she were half as sensible as Queena, I''d be thanking my lucky stars."


    "You''re just being humble," one of thedies said.


    They all assumed Teresa was just being modest, but Yvonne knew she was telling the truth. In Teresa''s eyes, Yvonne couldn''t hold a candle to Queena.


    In the first-floor game room, a maid had already set up an automatic card table. Teresaughingly invited her friends to y.


    Meanwhile, Queena had gathered her own friends the daughters of Teresa''s guests and led them upstairs.


    Yvonne, not one for socializing, was about to head back to her room when Teresa''s voice stopped her.


    "Yvonne, go to the kitchen and bring us some tea. Mrs. Young likes green tea, Mrs. Smith prefers a strong


    ck tea, Mrs. Ward wants oolong and have my usual herbal blend. Did you get that? Make sure you don''t mix them up."


    Teresa''s tone was no different from how she would address one of the maids.


    When Yvonne just stood there,


    staring, Teresa''s voice sharpened with annoyance. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get the tea! You have no sense at all."


    Yvonne frowned. Yvonne frowned. She remembered now. In a desperate bid for a shred of motherly affection, the original Yvonne would diligently serve tea


    fruit whenever Teresa had her friends over. Sometimes, she would even make them Soufflé.


    Teresa loved the Soufflé she made but never noticed the angry red burns on the girl''s hands from sshes of hot water.


    A mother''s love is supposed to be instinctive, not something that has to be earned through servitude. What a fool that girl had been not to understand that.


    Yvonne went to the kitchen, prepared the tea, and arranged the cups on a tray. She then walked steadily back to the game room.


    Teresa and her friends were in the middle of a hand. Teresa had just won and was in high spirits.


    Yvonne watched her mother. As Teresa reached out to draw a new card, Yvonne quickly moved the tray forward.


    "Mom, your tea."


    As Teresa pulled her arm back, her elbow collided with the tray Yvonne was holding.


    Seizing the moment, Yvonne tilted the tray just so, sending all four cups of hot tea spilling directly onto Teresa.