Cynthia was silent.


    Yvonne''s words had clearly caught Nellypletely off guard. A flicker of bewilderment crossed her face before sheposed herself.


    Nelly had been the matriarch of the Powell family for many years; she wasn''t someone who could be rattled by a few words. Mignon might be a fool, but that didn''t mean Nelly was.


    Nelly maintained her decorous smile, unruffled and calm.


    "I think you''ve misunderstood, Ms. Jones. Mignon is perfectly healthy, mentally and physically, and has always been emotionally stable. She was just very angry today. You may not know this, but Bet''s mother and I are good friends. Emma is very fond of Mignon and has always wanted her as a daughter-inw. It''s a match we''d all be happy to see."


    "This morning, someone whispered in Mignon''s ear that they saw Bet leaving your room. Any girl would lose herposure if she heard her fiancé was having an improper rtionship with another woman. I''m sure you can understand that, Ms. Jones."


    "Are the Thompsons and the Powells officially engaged? How could I have not heard about something so major?" Yvonne replied with feigned shock, even turning to Cynthia for confirmation.


    "Ms. Scott, have you heard anything? Or received an invitation?"


    "No," Cynthia said. She certainly wasn''t going to lie for Nelly. Cynthia had only arranged this meeting as a favor to Marshall.


    "Ms. Powell, a marriage alliance between two families is a serious matter. You can''t just make things up," Yvonne warned gravely. She continued, "I understand your maternal concern. And don''t worry won''t hold what happened this.. morning against your daughter."


    With that, Yvonne stood up. "Ms. Scott, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be going back. It was a long day of filming, and I''d like to rest."


    "I''m so sorry to have taken up your time." Cynthia nodded and politely stood up as well. "I''ll walk you out."


    Yvonne started to leave with Cynthia, but Nelly''s voice stopped her.


    "Ms. Jones, you''re certainly... different. No wonder you''ve caught Mr. Thompson''s eye," Nelly said, her voice still calm and measured, but she knew exactly how to make her words sting.


    "It''s a shame that in high society, marriage is about matching status and strengthening alliances. A pretty young girl like you might be a fun distraction, but the Thompsons elders would never allow you to marry into the family."


    "I''m only telling you this because I''ve taken a liking to you, Ms. Jones. A woman''s


    youth is finite. Don''t waste it on a man who can''t give you a future."


    Yvonne stopped, turned back to


    Nelly, and smiled. "Thank you for your kind advice, Ms. Powell. But I''m dating Bet, not his mother.. Since you and Emma are such good friends, didn''t she ever tell you that her previous che for a


    daughter-inw was Ms. Walker?


    Bet didn''t like her, and they still


    broke up. Now Emma likes your


    daughter. Do you really think a Powell is more distinguished than a Walker?!"


    The Walkers have been influential in Istra for years. Even though Vincent failed to


    get his promotion, he''s still the second-inmand, holding real power.


    The Powells may have been a notable family in the past, but they''ve been abroad for years. With the recent economic downturn overseas, they''ve only just moved back to Istra and haven''t even found their footing yet.


    There''s simply noparison between the Powells and the Walkers. And if Bet dumped a Walker, he''s certainly not going to give a Powell the time of day.