bJoshua /bbgave /bShermaine ba /bblong/b, meaningful look, though it disappeared almost instantly,

bThey /bwere going to be husband and wife in name, but nothing more. bTo /bhim, Shermaine posed no threat, so he had no reason bto /bdig bdeeper /bbinto /bhe bbackground/b.

Shermaine’s voice was sweet, and she smiled with innocent charm, “Mr. Owen York, am I really that good?b” /b

b“/bbYou /bare,b” /bOwen replied without hesitationb. /b“You’re just as excellent as your brother.”

Shermaine was at the age where she should’ve been thriving, yet because of those fourteen years of separation, all the glory and life that should’ve bbeen /bhers bhad /bbeen handed to Wendelyn, her adopted sister.‘

Owen figured if Shermaine had grown up under the Jean family’s protection, she would’ve be someone outstanding. She wouldn’t have carried such ba /bbad reputation, and no one would’ve dared to mistreat her.

Fortunately, she was still young and sharp. It wasn’t toote for anything.

That game of chesssted an hour before they knew it.

Ever since his health had declined, Owen had rarely enjoyed a game of chess this thoroughly. Part of it was because he seldom went out anymore, and the friends around him weren’t exactly strong yers.

He chuckled, “Sheary, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”

Shermaine lost, but it was a respectable loss. “You tter me,” she said.

Owen still hadn’t had enough. If they yed another round, Shermaine might not even lose. Her learning ability was genuinely impressiveb–/bbshe’d /beven picked up on his tactics mid–game and silently started using them against him.

But after that match, he didn’t have the energy for another. His body was weak, and fatigue was setting in.

Joshua helped Owen up. “Maybe you should go upstairs and lie down for a bit. I’ll have the driver take you hometer.”

Owen nodded and said to Shermaine, “Sheary, I’m tired. I’m going upstairs to rest.”

Shermaine put the pieces back into the chess box and smiled, “Okay.”

Since Wendelyn was still there, it wasn’t the right time for Shermaine to check Owen’s condition. She figured she’d wait until Wendelyn left and Owen

had rested.

“Excuse me,dies,” Joshua remarked as he helped Owen upstairs. The two of them gradually disappeared around the corner.

Now, only Shermaine and Wendelyn were left in the living room.

Wendelyn felt utterly humiliated. As soon as Joshua and Owen were gone, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Shermaine, you clearly knew how bto y /bchess but lied and said you didn’t. You’re way too calcting.”

Shermaine popped a cherry into her mouth and raised an eyebrow. “What, you just can’t handle the fact that I yed too bwell /bbto /bbbe /bba /bbfirst/b–btime /b

Wendelyn shot back, “It wasn’t your first time/ She just couldn’t bring herself to admit that after years of learning chess, ishe /istill lost bto /bbShermaine/bb, /bbwho /bpicked it up instantly and yed that well. It felt like a p in the face.

Shermaine gave a softugh. “Sounds like you know the truth deep down. Honestly, you should be grateful I bdidn’t /bbpletely /bbhumiliate /bbyou/bb./bb” /b

b1/2 /b

(20:36 FI, 30 MIN

bChapter /b12

bChapter 12 /b

bJoshua /bgave Shermaine a long, meaningful look, though it disappeared almost instantly.

bThey /bwere going to be husband and wife in name, but nothing more. To him, Shermaine posed no threat, so he had no reason to dig deeper into her background.

Shermaine’s voice was sweet, and she smiled with innocent charm, “Mr. Owen York, am I really that good?”

b“/bYou bare/b,b” /bOwen replied without hesitation. “You’re just as excellent as your brother.”

Shermaine was at the age where she should’ve been thriving, yet because of those fourteen years of separation, all the glory and life that should’ve bbeen /bhers had been handed to Wendelyn, her adopted sister.

Owen figured if Shermaine had grown up under the Jean family’s protection, she would’ve be someone outstanding. She wouldn’t have carried such a bad reputation, and no one would’ve dared to mistreat her.

Fortunately, she was still young and sharp. It wasn’t toote for anything.

That game of chesssted an hour before they knew it.

Ever since his health had declined, Owen had rarely enjoyed a game of chess this thoroughly. Part of it was because he seldom went out anymore, and the friends around him weren’t exactly strong yers.

He chuckled, “Sheary, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”

Shermaine lost, but it was a respectable loss. “You tter me,” she said.

Owen still hadn’t had enough. If they yed another round, Shermaine might not even lose. Her learning ability was genuinely impressiveb–/bshe’d even picked up on his tactics mid–game and silently started using them against him.

But after that match, he didn’t have the energy for another. His body was weak, and fatigue was setting in.

Joshua helped Owen up. “Maybe you should go upstairs and lie down for a bit. I’ll have the driver take you hometer.”

Owen nodded and said to Shermaine, “Sheary, I’m tired. I’m going upstairs to rest.”

Shermaine put the ipieces /iback into the chess box and smiled, “Okay.”

Since Wendelyn was still there, it wasn’t the right time for Shermaine to check Owen’s condition. She figured she’d wait until Wendelyn left and Owen had rested.

“Excuse me,dies,” Joshua remarked as he helped Owen upstairs. The two of them gradually disappeared around the corner.

Now, only Shermaine and Wendelyn were left in the living roomi. /i

Wendelyn felt utterly humiliated. As soon as Joshua and Owen were gone, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Shermaine, you clearly knew how to y chess but lied and said you didn’t. You’re way too calcting.”

Shermaine popped a cherry into her mouth and raised an eyebrow. “What, you bjust /bcan’t handle the fact that I yed too well to be a first–timer?”

Wendelyn shot back, “It wasn’t your first time/ She just couldn’t bring herself to admit that after years bof /blearning chess, she still lost to Sher. picked it up instantly and yed that well. It felt like ba /bp in the face.

Shermaine gave a softugh. “Sounds like you know the truth deep down. Honestly, you should be grateful I didn’tpletely humiliate youb./bb” /b

eb, /bbwho /b

bChapter /b12

bOwen /bbhad /bbbeen /bbthe /bone bto /bsuggest the gameb, /bbShermine /bbknew /bhis time was bprecious /bband /bbthat /bhe genuinely wanted bto /baprons a co

bwas /bbwhy/bb, /bbto /bbavoid /bwasting time, she hadn’t bgone /bbhead /bto head with Wendelynb, /b

It wasn’t a head on showdown, but it came pretty close.

Wendelyn had hoped to highlight the gap between her and Shermaine so Owen would regret choosing Shermaine.

And the bgap /bwas obvious–Wendelyn had lost miserably. She had never felt this humiliated in her life.

Shermaine never went easy on her enemies. Her tone stayed asid back and proud as ever. “And since you think I’m so calcting, bmaybe /bnext time don’te at me with such basic tricks. Honestly, it’s boring.”

Wendelyn looked like she’d just taken a p to the ego. Her face went pale with rage. She gritted her teeth. “Don’t get cocky.”

“What’s there to be cocky about just because I beat you?” Shermaine replied tly.

bIf /bthis weren’t Joshua’s ce, that sweet and gentle persona Wendelyn wore would’ve been ripped to shreds by Shermaine’s few simple lines.

Wendelyn scoffed, “What a big ego. Just because you’re back in the Jean family, don’t think that makes you somebody. Everyone knows I’m better bthan /byou in every way possible. It’s just chess–what’s so impressive about that?”

Shermaine looked at her. “Then why are you so upsetb?/bb” /b

“I’m not,” Wendelyn snapped. “Just wait and see, Shermaine.” With that, she grabbed her purse and walked out.

As soon as Wendelyn left, Shermaine called over Mariam and asked, “Where’s my room?”

Mariam stepped up, polite and proper. “Ma’am, your room is right across from Mr. Joshua York’s. I’ll take you up to drop boff /byour things.”

Shermaine wasn’t used to being called that. “Just call me Shermaine. You don’t need to be so formal.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mariam nodded.

Shermaine was instantly speechless. ‘Didn’t I just tell her not to call me ma’am?‘ she wondered.

Her luggage had already been brought upstairs by Mariam when she arrived.

Just like Mariam said, Shermaine’s room was across from Joshua’s. As soon as she opened the door and saw the overly pink decor, Shermaine was bat /bba /b

bit of a loss.

It was full of girly vibes, which wasn’t her thing at all. But she hadn’t nned on treating this ce like home anywayi, /iso bshe /bfigured she’d just deal bwith /b

it for now.

Shermaine didn’t bring much luggage, but the room had everything she could possibly need. Skincare and makeup products filled the vanityb, /brow bafter /brow, and the walk–in closet was packed with clothes, shoes, and jewelry–all brand new for the season.

Joshua had clearly put a lot of thought into preparing for his fiancée’s move–in. Shermaine stepped out of the walk–in closet and started unpacking the things she had brought.

Besides her usual clothesb, /bthere was a stack of design drafts, and most of the remaining space was filled with bottles–whiskey, tequb, /bsakeb, /band so on. She liked drinking while sketching, always with music ying in the background.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Shermaine didn’t turn around. “Is there a ss for drinking in this house?” she asked bcasuallv /b

But the voice that answered wasn’t Mariam’s. It was Joshua’sb. /bb“/bbYou /breally like drinking?”

His voice was low and smooth, like a perfectly aged liquor–intoxicating just to hear. Shermaine wasn’t someone who fell bfor /bbvoices/bb, /bbbut /bbeven /bbshe /bbfound /b

herself drawn to his voice.

She froze for a second, then turned around and saw Joshua leaning casually against the doorway, tall and refined, still there. His gaze bwas /bfixed on her, calm and maic.

No matter how many times she looked at Joshua, she still found him absurdly attractive. His face was wless, and he gave off this mix of mature confidence and raw, alluring masculine energy that was impossible to ignore.

Shermaine said, “Yeah. Got any here?”

Joshua smiled, “Come with me.”