Chapter 83 Be a man

Chapter 83 Be a man
Chapter 83: Be a man 

Yvonne pushed the bedroom door open without knocking, her hand already tense on the handle as if she had sensed something was wrong before she even stepped inside. The room was dim, quiet, heavy with a kind of stillness that didn’t sit right with her. 

Her eyes moved quickly, taking everything in, and then she saw the sacrilege. Tennessee was seated on the edge of the bed, his hands on Audrey’s back, massaging her slowly, carefully. Audrey was lying on her stomach, her face turned to the side, her body stiffening the moment the door opened.

Yvonne cleared her throat sharply. “Ahem.”

The sound cut through the room like a slap. Tennessee froze instantly, his hands stopping mid-movement. Audrey’s eyes widened in shock, her cheeks flushing as reality crashed down on her. Tennessee stood up quickly, stepping back as if he had been caught committing a crime he hadn’t planned but knew he couldn’t explain.

“I’ll get going,” Tennessee said quietly, not meeting either of their eyes.

Without another word, he walked past Yvonne, his shoulders tight, and left the room. The door closed behind him, the click loud and final. Silence followed, thick and uncomfortable. Audrey pushed herself slightly on the bed, struggling to sit up, her face burning with embarrassment.

“Yvonne, I—” Audrey started.

“What exactly was that?” Yvonne snapped, her voice sharp, controlled, but shaking underneath. She walked further into the room, stopping beside the bed, her eyes locked on Audrey. “What was I supposed to see when I walked in? My sister on her bed, with her husband’s son touching her like that?”

“It wasn’t what you think,” Audrey said quickly. “I was tense, and he just…”

“Shut up,” Yvonne cut in coldly. “Just shut up.”

Audrey flinched. “Please, let me explain.”

“There is nothing to explain,” Yvonne said, her voice rising. “Nothing. You are married to Izo. Married. That boy is his son. His son. Do you understand how sick this looks? You are Izo’s bride!” 

Audrey swallowed hard. “I didn’t ask him to…”

“I don’t care who asked who,” Yvonne said angrily. “This should never happen again. Never. I don’t want to ever walk into a room and see something like this again. Do you hear me?”

Audrey nodded slowly, her throat tight. “I hear you.”

Yvonne stared at her for a long moment, disappointment heavy in her eyes. “You are already in a fragile position,” she said. “People are watching you. Waiting for you to slip. Don’t help them. Entertainment is the super power of seduction. If you don’t want it to happen, don’t entertain it.” 

She turned sharply and stormed out of the room, the door slamming behind her. Audrey was left alone, staring at the wall, her heart pounding painfully in her chest.



Tennessee sat in the study, trying to focus on the papers spread across the desk in front of him, but his mind wouldn’t settle. His hands trembled slightly as he flipped a page, then another, not absorbing a single word. The door opened, and Yvonne walked in without hesitation.

“We need to talk,” Yvonne said firmly.

Tennessee looked up, startled. “Yvonne, I…”

“Don’t,” she interrupted. “Don’t even start.”

She closed the door behind her and walked closer, her posture rigid. “You need to stay away from Audrey.”

Tennessee stood up slowly. “It’s not like that.”

“She is Izo’s bride,” Yvonne said sharply. “His wife. And you are crossing a line you should never even think of approaching. She is your stepmother.”

“I was just helping her,” Tennessee said, his voice faltering. “She was in pain, she…”

“Enough,” Yvonne snapped. “I’ve been watching you.”

Tennessee frowned. “Watching me?”

“Yes,” she said. “I see the way you look at her. I see how you hover. How you step in the moment you think no one is watching.”

“That’s not fair,” he said weakly.

“It doesn’t have to be fair,” Yvonne replied. “It has to stop.”

Tennessee opened his mouth to speak, but the words tangled, his voice catching. “I…I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“I want you to hear me,” Yvonne said firmly. “Whatever feelings you think you have, bury them. Kill them if you have to. Because if this continues, it will destroy her, and it will destroy you.”

He looked down, his jaw clenched. “I would never hurt her.”

“You already are,” Yvonne said quietly.

The words hit harder than a shout. Tennessee stayed silent, his shoulders sagging.

“This family is already bleeding,” Yvonne continued. “Izo is fighting for his life. Audrey is broken, physically and emotionally. This is not the time for your confusion.”

She turned toward the door. “Be a man. Respect boundaries.”

Without waiting for a response, Yvonne walked out, leaving Tennessee alone in the study, staring at the empty space where she had stood, knowing she was right and hating that she was.