Chapter 173

Teresa’s face was set in a stern frown, her sigh heavy with disappointment. Yvonne looked at the two of them, a united front of indignation, and found it so absurd she couldn’t help but laugh.
“What did I say that was wrong? I was just telling the truth,” she retorted. “Every time Queena gets involved with Matthew, the Gonzalez family either goes bankrupt or their company’s finances collapse. Gosh, I hope my dear sister doesn’t have the unlucky fate of cursing every man she’s with.”
She paused, her eyes wide with mock concern. “Now that Mr. Rogers is her new man, I’d hate for the Rogers family to go bankrupt too! Their ancestors would probably rise from their graves to demand an explanation from us.”
“Yvonne, shut your mouth!” Queena shrieked, her eyes red with fury. She lunged at Yvonne, but Jeffrey stepped between them, holding her back.
“That’s enough, Queena. Stop it,” he said, his voice cold.
“You’re taking her side?” Queena stared at him in disbelief. The brother who had always doted on her had changed, and she didn’t know when it had happened.
“You have Mom and Dad on your side. That’s enough,” Jeffrey replied, his expression hardening. “And she’s not some random girl. She’s my sister.” He turned to Yvonne. “It’s been a long day. You must be tired. Go get some rest.”
Yvonne had no interest in continuing the argument. She turned and headed for the stairs, leaving the sounds of shouting and Queena’s dramatic sobs behind her.
As Queena’s wails intensified, George’s heart softened, and he rounded on Jeffrey.
“Queena has been a part of this family for over a decade! She is your sister! I don’t care how you treat Yvonne, but if you dare to be unkind to Queena, I will not forgive you!”
George’s furious accusation finally pushed Jeffrey over the edge. “Queena was switched at birth,” he shot back with a cold sneer. “She has no blood relation to us. Dad, you’re so protective of her… could it be there’s something improper going on between you two?”
“You insolent boy! What nonsense are you spouting?” George’s face turned crimson with rage. He raised his hand and struck Jeffrey across the face.
The sharp crack of the slap silenced the room.
Jeffrey clutched his cheek, his eyes wide with disbelief. Teresa was equally stunned.
“George, how could you hit him?” she cried out.
Jeffrey let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t you see, Mom? I hit a nerve. He’s lashing out because I exposed his dirty secret.”
“George, have you and Queena really been Teresa’s world seemed to crumble. For a woman who had built her life around her husband, infidelity was the ultimate betrayal She began to sob, pounding her fists against his chest. “How could you do this to me?”
“Mom, you’re mistaken-ouch!” Queena tried to intervene, but Teresa slapped her hard across the face.
“You shut up, you tramp!” Teresa screamed. “After everything I’ve done for you, you seduce my husband?”
Queena stumbled back, tears of shock and pain streaming down her face.
George, overwhelmed by the chaos, finally found his voice. “Teresa, stop this madness! I’ve raised Queena for more than ten years, I see her as my own daughter. If there was really something going on betweenus, do you think I would let her marry into the Rogers family?”
His logic was sound enough to give Teresa pause. She reluctantly believed him but from that moment, on, the way she looked at Queena was tainted with suspicion.