Finished

Lily bquickly /bstepped in front of Elsie, shielding her. “Elsie band /bPaul are together. Are you seriously trying to break them up!

bYunice /bstared at her mother’s protective posture. Did she forget I’m her daughter too?

But Lily’s favoritism was nothing new. Yunice had gotten used to it. Maybe it was because she’d never breally /bfelt loved by her mother that walking away from that bond came so easily now,

She didn’t back down. “I’m not the one trying to break them up–Morgan is. I already did everything I could to win over the Johnsons. So why are you taking it out on me?”

Lily shot back. “How do I even know you really tried?”

Even Owen looked ufortable hearing bthat/b.

Yunice replied calmly, “Morgan’s not some puppet. You can’t just hand him someone band /bexpect him to fall for her. Elsie’s smart and beautiful–why wouldn’t he bwant /bher instead?”

b“/bbYou-/b“Lily opened her mouth to argue, but instead, she started to tear up. “All I did was ask you ba /bbquestion/bb, /band byou /bsnapped at me? I didn’t cause bthat /bscar on your face–why are you so angry with me? How can you hold such a grudge against me?”

Now Lily was crying. Then Elsie started crying too. It gave Owen a headache just listening to them.

He dropped the hand that had been resting on his forehead and looked straight at Yunice. “Yunice. Apologize to Mom.”

There was weight in his voice now–tight, controlled, on the edge of losing bpatience/b.

So Yunice bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

But Lily bwasn’t /bdone. She helped Elsie up with a cold scoff. “Sorry doesn’t help. You still can’t help Elsie.”

Owen cut in coldly. The Johnsons don’t want her. What’s Yunice supposed to bdo /babout that?”

Lily froze, stunned. It took her a moment to realize–Owen was ming her. He’s ming me!

He didn’t even look at her. He was already done with the conversation.

The only reason Owen agreed to let Yunice marry into the Johnson family was bbecause /bMorgan’s mom promised they’d treat her well–and with their money band /bstatus, it seemed like a smart bchoice /bback bthen/b.

But now? It bwas /bobvious. They couldn’t even keep Morgan in check.

Owen made his decision then and there. “If Morgan bdoesn’t /bwant Yunice, then the engagement’s off

“But–Lily started to object, but the seriousness in his tone stopped her cold. All she could do was throw a bitter nce.

Yunice’s bway/bb. /b

Yunice didn’t crack a bsmile/b–she kept her thoughts to herself, bnot /bletting anyone read her.

Owen stood up band /bheaded for the stairs. “Elsie. Come with me.”

Yunice knew that tone. She knew Owen had already made up his mind.

bAnd /bbthis /btime, even Owen wouldn’t be able to protect her.

Elsie knew it too. Tears welled in her eyes bas /bbshe /bclung desperately to Lily’s bhand/b.

But no matter how much Lily cared, it wasn’t benough /bto bchange /bOwen’s mind.

4:15 PM c

Chapter 56 The Decision

All three of them blooked /bdown at the same time.

Owen stepped forward, picked it up–and froze.

It bwas /ba cigarette. Still warm.

Finished

His eyes widened in disbelief, then darkened fast. He clenched it in his fist, turned to Elsie, and snapped, “Upstairs. Now”

Elsie bflinched /bbut followed. Lily, panicked, rushed right behind.

Yunice was the only one left standing in the living roompletely ignored.

She reached up and lightly touched the bruise on her face, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

She had to bthank /bPaul–not just for blowing up the Johnson engagement but for leaving behind the cigarette bthat /blet the drama y out perfectly

Upstairs

Elsie stood stiff in bfront /bof Owen, her eyes wet, trembling under his re. Usually, if she looked ba /blittle pitiful, he couldn’t bring himself to braise /bhis bvoice/b.

But not this time. Even with Lily right there trying to ease the tension, Owen’s tone was sharp.

He held up the cigarette between his fingers. “This is Paul’s. Don’t lie to me. Just tell me the truth–did something happen between you two?”

He knew that brand. Paul always smoked it.

Elsie’s face flushed as she fidgeted with her fingers, too embarrassed to look up.

Lily jumped bin/bb, /bscolding him. “Owen! You bcan’t /btalk to Elsie like that–she’s a young woman. What kind of question is that? Don’t you have any shame?”

But Owen wasn’t backing down. He raised his voice. “bI /basked you–did something happen?”

Elsie shrank bback/b, panicked. She honestly didn’t know how that cigarette had ended up in her clothes. Maybe it fell in while she and Paul were fooling around, maybe he tucked it there by ident–but there was no way she could admit that.

But she couldn’t admit that. No bway/b.

Eyes shiftingb, /bvoice trembling, she blurted out. It wasn’t mine… Yunice must’ve slipped it into my clothes. I don’t know why she’d do something like that, but it bwasn’t /bmineb./bb” /b

She thought throwing Yunice under the bus would get her out of trouble. Maybe Owen would blow up at Yunice instead.

But Owen didn’t even react to the usation. He pulled out bhis /bphone instead. TIL just call Paul and ask him myself.”