"Do you have any idea what my sry is for a single TV series? Or how much I make from one endorsement deal? A two-hundred-thousand-dor monthly allowance? Mypany donates more than that to charity every month. How dare you even suggest such a thing, Mr. Hughes."


    "Oh, my apologies, I misspoke. It''s not an allowance; it''s for household expenses. Two hundred thousand a month would barely cover the Hughes family''s living costs. So, marrying you means not only having children and taking care of your parents but also earning nothing. You''re not looking for a wife, Mr. Hughes, you''re looking for a free ride."


    Yvonne finished with a click of her tongue. "No wonder you''re 32 and still single. You''re not just an idiot; you''re dangerously stupid. Who would dare marry you? What if your brain damage is gic?"


    Steven hadn''t expected Yvonne''s sharp tongue. He was left speechless, his face turning an ugly shade.


    Having said her piece, Yvonne couldn''t be bothered with him anymore and stood up to leave.


    Just as she reached the door, Steven''s sarcastic voice rang out again. "Yvonne, do you really think that just because Thomas has a crush on you, you''ll be the next Mrs. Taylor? I''d advise you to tone down the arrogance and stop daydreaming. The Taylors would never ept you."


    Yvonne stopped and turned, giving him a cold look. "Mind your own business. Worry about yourself first, you over-the-hill bachelor."


    With that, Yvonne walked straight out of the dining room.


    In the living room, Teresa and Jeffrey were still on the sofa.


    "Mom, what were you thinking? Yvonne rarelyes home, and you set up a blind date for her without her permission!"


    "I was only doing it for her own good. I saw Mrs. Taylorst week, and the Taylors have absolutely no intention of an alliance with us. She was so high and mighty, mocking us for even dreaming of it. Whabgood is it if Thomas likes Yvonne? Do you think he can defy his parents?"


    Teresa continued, looking utterly exasperated, "Ever since your father''s ident, we''ve been treated like pariah''s. Families I used to look downon now shut their doors in our faces. The fact that the Hughes family wants an alliance and Mr. Hughes is interested in Yvonne is the luckiest thing that could happen to her if she doesn''t marry him now what''s she going to do? Wait unti she''s been used and discarded by some rich yboy, when no one will want to marry her anymore!"


    Just as Teresa finished speaking, she saw Yvonne striding out of the dining room.


    Without a word, Yvonne kicked the armchair Jeffrey was sitting in with all her might.


    Caughtpletely off guard, Jeffrey and the chair went crashing to the floor in a heap. It was an incredibly undignified fall.


    "Yvonne, what is wrong with you?!” Teresa shrieked, jumping to her feet in a panic as she saw her son on the floor.


    "You knew I''d tose it, yet you provoked me, anyway. Have you forgotten what I''m capable of


    because it''s been a while? This


    try to


    yourst warning if you ever plot against me again, I''ll beat up Jeffrey every single time. As long as your son can take it, feel free to keep trying."


    Yvonne was already fuming from being tricked into the blind date and listening to Steven''s bizarre propositions. Seeing Jeffrey get back on his feet, she couldn''t resist and sent another vicious kick his way.


    Teresa was her biological mother, so she couldn''t bring herself toy a hand on her, but she had no such reservations about Jeffrey.


    Jeffrey was kicked two meters away and copsed on the floor, not getting up for a long moment. He didn''t make a sound, likely out of guilt.