Ynda’s mind was still drifting when May called. “Got the test results yet? Ynda, don’t drag this out. Even if you hide the pregnancy, you’ll have to get rid of it eventually.”
Ynda winced, biting back her irritation. “I’m going now. But rx–I’m not pregnant. Charles isn’t exactly great in bed, y’know? Maybe he’s the issue. And you and Dn are still young–you could have another son.”
“You!” May sputtered, livid. “This woman must be out of her mind–how dare she talk like that?‘ she thought.
After hanging up, Ynda felt a twinge of regret. May was petty and had always disliked her. Pushing back would only make things worse.
Sure enough, when Ynda pulled into the hospital parking lot, Linda was already there waiting.
The Sinir family had money in this hospital–not as big as the one where Megan stayed, but perfect for those hush–hush affairs within wealthy circles. Anyone in the know who wanted a discreet medical check woulde here. The staff kept their mouths shut tight.
Ynda could only get tested here to put the Sinirs at ease. But she hadn’t expected Linda to show up.
After getting out of the car, Ynda slowly approached and called out respectfully, “Mom.”
Linda only wore an emerald bracelet, standing straight with an air of pure elegance. “Go get tested. I’ll wait in the car. Come back with me afterward.”
Ynda dropped her gaze, swallowed every question, and walked straight to the hospital.
Thirty minutester, the results came back: not pregnant. She didn’t need to send the report to Charles; the hospital would handle that.
She clutched the report and followed Linda into the car, with her own vehicle driven back by Linda’s staff.
During the entire ride, Linda said nothing.
Ynda kept her head down, the test slip crumpled in her fist.
After a while, the car stopped at the Grant residence. Just as Ynda squatted by the entryway to change her shoes, a p suddenlynded.
She was knocked sideways; her forehead brushed the cab and her cheek red hot,
swelling fast. <fn8b3c> This content belongs to ?ovelFind</fn8b3c>
The servants there had grown used to such scenes, silently continuing their work.
Linda, who had just delivered the p, sauntered over to the sofa and sat down.
A servant quickly brought her a cup of coffee and set it on the side table.
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Linda picked up the cup and took a delicate sip, her every movement still graceful and refined.
Ynda had feared Linda the most–she was the one who always raised her hand first.
Still stinging from the p, Ynda slipped on her shoes and walk over to the sofa.
Before she could sit, Linda shot her a cold, piercing look. “Stay right there.”
Ynda froze, standing still with her back rigid as a board.
She knew May had to be the one pping her gums again. May was that mean–anytime she got mad, she made sure the person who ticked her off paid for it.
Linda set down the coffee cup with a clink, her voice sharp. “Badmouthing your husband to his mother, huh? Is that what we taught you?”
Ynda pressed her lips together, saying nothing. She’d learned Linda’s rules since childhood. Talking back to May like that was enough to earn her three days locked in the punishment
room.
Linda smoothed a strand of hair and sighed. “You’ve been in the Sinir family two years. Since it’s your first slip–up, stand there till morning. No dinner tonight.”
Ynda stayed silent. Arguing now would only make it worse. The Grants had adopted her for one reason: to seal the marriage alliance. Defying her mother–inw waspletely off- limits.
Anger coiled in Ynda’s chest, hot and tight, stinging her eyes till tears threatened.
She’d followed the Grant family rules perfectly: been faithful to Charles and yed the perfect housewife. And then she’d walked in on his affair, humiliated, stripped of every scrap of dignity.
“I heard from the Sinirs you’re going to work?” Linda asked. Her tone was hard, like she was determined to crush Ynda’sst bit of pride.
Ynda tried to exin. “Mom, I…”
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Before she could finish, Linda hurled her coffee cup over. It cracked against her forehead and left a burning red welt.
“When you married Charles, I told you your only job was to take care of him,” Linda snapped. “He nearly passed out at work this morning from low blood sugar. Didn’t you know?”
Ynda’sshes fluttered. She really hadn’t known. Last night, she’d slept in a separate room from Charles. This morning, after dealing with May, she’d gone straight to sign Ian’s contract.
She finally understood why May’s words stung today–Charles had woken up with low blood sugar. Anytime something happened to him, both the Sinirs and Grants would jump to me her for “not caring enough.”
Ynda thought it was ridiculous. She’d looked after Charles all these years, and he worked out regrly–how’d he suddenly get low blood sugar?
It was a in power y–a brutal reminder that she was nothing without him. The elders from both families could force her to bend.
‘Typical Charles—he doesn’t even have to lift a finger, and I’m already falling apart,‘ Ynda thought bitterly.
Linda opened her mouth for round two when the front door swung wide.
Samuel walked in wearing a custom charcoal suit. At twenty–seven, he was already a rising star in Beloris’s elite circles.
Linda’s face instantly brightened. She turned to Ynda and whispered, “Go stand in the yard. Stay out of the way.”
Samuel handed his coat to a nearby servant. His gaze drifted up, caught the red mark on Ynda’s cheek, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Linda beamed, “Back early today?”
Samuel wasposed, serious, and rarely smiled–just like Linda. In his presence, Ynda always stayed silent, <i>too </i>intimidated to speak.
He was making waves these days. Everyone knew how sharp he was–steady yet decisive, like a sharp de quietly sheathed. He waspletely different from Charles, who always masked his ruthlessness with a smile and cool demeanor.
Samuel ignored Linda and headed for the stairs. Over his shoulder, he said, “She’s a person, Mom. Lay off the pping.”
Linda would tear into Ynda just like beating a dog. Behind closed doors, she never showed
mercy.
an ounce of
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Upon hearing Samuel’s words, Linda smiled, her eyes sliding to the figure standing in the yard. “If she messes up, she pays. She needs to remember–her only shot is Charles.
“You’re tied tight to the Sinirs now. Don’t blow this. Samuel, we took her in for one reason: to be a pawn in our marriage alliance, nothing more.”
Ynda stood in the yard, too far away to hear their conversation. She watched Samuel nce in her direction before climbing the stairs without a word.
Five hourster, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Charles walked in, sliding open the floor–to–ceiling doors, and stopped in front of Ynda. “You were outte. I knew I’d find you here,” he said with a smile, extending his hand to help her up.
Back in the day, Ynda would’ve broken down in tears. But now, her head was clear–she saw right through his little game. He could have shown up hours earlier, but he’d left her waiting for five brutal hours.
She ignored his outstretched hand and walked right past him into the living room.
Charles raised an eyebrow and then slipped an arm around her waist. “Upset? Mad at me?”
Ynda stayed silent, limping forward. Her ankle still wasn’t right, and after standing for hours, her legs were stiff–she could barely stay on her feet.
Charles stood there, watching the stubborn line of her back. She looked like a weed pushing through concrete–bent by the wind, maybe, but never broken.
Back in school, she used to cry while doing homeworkte at night, determined to reim her top spot. She always had to be the best, or she couldn’t rest.
Charles chuckled softly, stepped closer, and slid his arm around her waist again. “Sometimes, messing with her can be pretty fun,” he thought, a little smirk ying on his lips.