"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 n. 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 bete," 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 sote at someone else''s house... people willugh their heads off if they find out."


    Yvonne leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and saidzily, "If you don''t want me here, I can leave right now. And for the record, ''sleeping in sote'' 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,ining, "I say one thing, and you have tenebacks: You always me 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 ying on her lips. "So, is your n for today to apologize to Queena, coax her back home, and y the part of a loving mother? The legitimate wife begging a mistress''s illegitimate daughter toe back... now that would make peopleugh. 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 ced a


    jewelry box on the vanity. This


    diamond ne was your


    grandmother''s. Wear it to the


    banquet today."


    Yvonne gave the ne a cursory nce. 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 nned 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 vi. They said we should head over once we''re ready."