"Good. Don''t make the same mistake again. Misbehavior will be punished," Oscar said, his lips curling into a smile that sent a chill down Queena''s spine.


    "Mr. Rogers and my sister are so in love. It''s truly something to envy," Yvonne said, appearing suddenly behind them.


    Oscar looked up at Yvonne, his expression instantly shifting back to that of the perfect gentleman. “Queena is my fiancée. Of course we''re in love. Ms. Jones, you and Queena are the same age. I imagine you must be thinking about marriage yourself."


    "I could never be as lucky as Queena to marry someone like Mr. Rogers," Yvonne replied with a ttering smile, stepping forward to link her arm with Queena''s.


    Her affectionate gesture made them look like the closest of sisters.


    "It''s been so long since I''ve seen Queena. Mr. Rogers, would you mind lending her to me for a little while? We have some sisterly secrets to share.”


    Yvonne batted her wide, innocent eyes at him.


    "Queena needs to stay with me and socialize. I''m not sure it''s a good time," Oscar said, a polite refusal. He seemed reluctant to let Queena be alone with anyone.


    “Oh, don''t be so stingy, Mr. Rogers. Just for a little bit. I was hoping to ask her for advice on how to find a wonderful man like you."


    Yvonne said in a yful, wheedling tone.


    Looking resigned, Oscar finally relented with a nod. He looked at Queena, his smiling toneced with a clear warning, “Have a nice chat with your sister. And be careful what you say. We wouldn''t want people tough at us."


    "I... I understand," Queena said, a flicker of fear in her eyes.


    “Queena, let''s go over there. They have juice and little cakes," Yvonne said,


    cheerfully pulling Queena toward the other side of the room.


    She led Queena all the way to the most secluded corner of the ballroom before letting go of her arm.


    "It seems life in the Rogers family isn''t treating you so well," Yvonne said, raising an eyebrow as she looked Queena over with a hint of disdain.


    Queena''s face was pale, the dark circles under her eyes prominent. A fresh red mark, where Oscar had gripped her, was stark against her skin.


    "So, are you here to gloat?" Queena hissed through gritted teeth, ring at Yvonne.


    "You are rather pathetic. But I''m a kind person. I believe in returning with kindness. So, I''m here to


    you


    out, yvonne peptied


    slowly.


    "You''d be that generous?" Queena was clearly skeptical.


    "Believe it or not,


    that''s up to you,"


    Yvonne continued. "I heard George


    has been transferred to Ironhold. You should go see him. If he had the power


    etorget you engaged into the Roger''s family, he surely hasa way


    "}


    to make them treat you better.


    "But Oscar won''t let me go out alone," Queena said instinctively, not realizing she had let the truth slip.


    Just as Yvonne had suspected. Oscar and Queena''s engagement was a form of house arrest.


    The Rogers family didn''t fully trust George. To prevent him from betraying them, they were using Queena as leverage.


    "Then you''ll have to find a way,"


    Yvonne said. "If you can''t even manage that, then you can wait to Lot in the Rogers mansion. No one can help you."


    Yvonne finished, patting Queena''s shoulder before turning and walking away.


    As she returned to the center of the ballroom, she heard the strains of a beautiful piano melody.