Justin shot Yvonne a look filled with undisguised irritation as she darted anxiously around the room.
His lips curled in a faint, dismissive smile. “Don’t bother looking for them. They’re off in Africa right now, watching the great migration on the savannah.”
Yvonne froze, dumbfounded. “Mr. and Mrs. Hawksley are on vacation?”
Then who was she supposed to appeal to? This was unacceptable!
Without missing a beat, Yvonne whipped out her phone. “No wonder Edith thinks she can do whatever she wants. With Mr. and Mrs. Hawksley both away from the family, it’s all the more reason I should let them know what’s happening!”
She looked every bit the picture of righteous indignation, chin high and eyes blazing.
Watching her, Edith was suddenly reminded of those tattletale kids in her elementary school class–the ones who’d run to the teacher over every little squabble.
Yvonne was the grown–up version, down to the self–important pout and flared nostrils. If those kids had a hint of childish charm about them, Yvonne, with nothing to gain and no innocence left, was just plain insufferable.
Still, a flicker of worry crossed Edith’s mind.
She knew she hadn’t done anything wrong–after all, anyone would have slapped Susan for saying what she did. But she couldn’t help but worry that this whole mess would end up disturbing Benedict and Sarah.
If she put herself in their shoes–traveling the world, only to receive a call from thousands of miles away about their daughter–in–law causing chaos at home and getting into fights–she’d be annoyed too.
And knowing what little she did about Yvonne, Edith was certain she’d
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embellish every detail, painting herself as the hapless victim.
Nervous, Edith glanced at Justin.
He quietly reached over and covered her trembling hand with his, meeting her gaze with a steady look that seemed to say, “Don’t worry.”
Oblivious to the tension, Yvonne was already dialing, not caring whether it was day or night where Benedict and Sarah were.
She called once, no answer. Undeterred, she called again. And again. The determination in her eyes said she’d keep at it until someone picked up, not caring in the least how exhausting it was–or how rude.
Finally, on the fifth attempt, Sarah answered.
Yvonne wasted no time switching the call to speaker, making sure everyone in the room could hear. In her mind, Benedict and Sarah had always treated her with utmost respect–certainly more than someone like Edith deserved. She was the Hart family’s darling, after all!
As she tapped the speakerphone, she shot Edith a triumphant glare. Just wait and see, her eyes seemed to say.
Sarah’s voice came through, drowsy and thick with sleep. Clearly, Yvonne’s relentless calling had yanked her out of a deep slumber. But the barrage of calls had her instantly alert, worried there might be some
emergency.
“Yvonne? What’s wrong?”
Still anxious, Sarah unlocked her phone, scanning WhatsApp for any urgent messages–only to find nothing but silence.
Before Yvonne could even speak, she burst into dramatic sobs.
Sarah’s patience was already thin. “Yvonne, if something’s happened, just tell me. Crying won’t fix anything.”
Honestly, if Yvonne wanted to bawl her eyes out, she could do it at her mother’s place. Why bring this melodrama to Sarah, who was exhausted from endless flights and barely had the energy to keep her eyes open?
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Tears streaming down her cheeks, Yvonne began her tale, embellishing every detail: “Justin’s wife is violent–she actually hit someone! It was terrifying. She nearly slapped me, and my friend still has fingerprints on her face!”
On the other end, Sarah took a long, steadying breath.
Edith’s nerves spiked. She’d considered the consequences Yvonne hadn’t–what this would mean for Sarah and Benedict, being dragged into this chaos from halfway around the world.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.