She couldn''t believe it. After all her schemes to frame Yvonne and drive a wedge between them, Matthew was still defending her. The bond they had forged through hardship was clearly stronger than she''d thought. If she had known Matthew would make such aeback, she never would have been so final in her rejection of him back then. She should have kept him on the hook.


    "Wilma, is breakfast ready? Let''s eat," Teresa said, changing the subject. She seemed thrown by Matthew''s defense of Yvonne and decided not to press the matter further. She turned to him with a smile. "We''re having a traditional breakfast this morning. I hope you like it, Matthew."


    "I have to get to the office, Mrs. Spencer. I''ll join you another time." Matthew rose to leave.


    "Of course, a young man''s work is important," Teresa said, then shot Queena a meaningful look. "Queena, walk Matt to his car."


    "No need to trouble Queena. Yvonne can see me out," Matthew said, his eyes fixed on Yvonne.


    Yvonne followed him out, nonchntly kicking at loose pebbles on the path. Matthew''s car was parked in the driveway. He walked to the passenger side, opened the door, and took out a ck velvet jewelry box, holding it out to her.


    "For you."


    Yvonne took the box, puzzled. Insidey an exquisite and expensive sapphire ne, nearly identical in style and value to the one Queena had worn the day before. The only difference was the gemstone-Queena''s was a ruby, hers a sapphire.


    Was he treating them like his personal harem, making sure to distribute his favors equally?


    "Satisfied now?" Matthew''s voice was cold,ced with a condescending arrogance. "I never knew you were so greedy."


    He gave a million-dor piece of jewelry to Queena without blinking, but when he gave one to her, it was greed?


    Yvonne''s slender fingers lifted the ne from the box. She examined it for a moment, a cold smile touching her lips. Then, without warning, she drew back her arm and flung the ne into the nearby swimming pool.


    The priceless piece of jewelry hit the water with a tiny ssh, and the surface quickly returned to its calm, cid state.


    "Are you done? I''m going back inside." With a slight lift of her brow that made her look both proud and beautiful, Yvonne casually stuck one hand in her pocket and turned to leave But Matthew grabbed her army.


    His handsome face was a mask of fury, his eyes cold and hard. "Get it," hemanded.


    "Excuse me?" Yvonne tilted her chin up, feigning confusion.


    "Get the ne. Don''t make me say it a third time."


    Yvonne yanked her arm free, augh escaping her lips. "Are you insane, Matthew? Or have you just been


    reading too many toxte romance novels?"


    Did he really see himself as the brooding hero who could abuse the heroine a thousand times while she remained devoted to him? The audacity.


    She turned and walked away, leaving him standing there.


    "Yvonne, you''ll regret this!" he yelled after her, his voice a near roar.


    "The only thing I regret is ever helping a thankless snake like you."


    The real Yvonne must have felt that same regret when she was kidnapped, and her


    own fiancé had stood by and done nothing.


    As Yvonne walked back toward the


    walked


    vi, she saw Queena approaching from the direction of the pool.


    Dressed in a beautiful, custom-made gown and crystal heels, Queena looked every bit the pampered princess she had been raised to be.