Chapter 24

When Matthew was broke and destitute, Queena never mentioned anything about being “childhood sweethearts.” Now that he was a billionaire, suddenly their feelings were “deep.” And they wanted her to graciously step aside and bless the union of a cheater and a homewrecker.
The Spencers were truly something else—not much to look at, but they certainly had beautiful dreams.
“So, you’re admitting that Queena and Matthew have been messing around behind my back. Makes sense. If they were so innocent, why would Matthew give Queena a million-dollar necklace? He’s not a charity.”
Yvonne’s half-smiling words made Queena’s face flush crimson.
“Yvonne, I’m so sorry,” Queena began, tears welling up in her eyes. “I shouldn’t be competing with you for Matt. But he’s been in love with me for so many years. He worked so hard to get where he is today just so he could give me the best life possible. I was so moved by his devotion… I couldn’t help but fall in love with him too. Yvonne, please, can’t you just let us be happy?”
She was a picture of tragic beauty, crying a river of tears.
“So, is breaking the engagement your idea, or Matthew’s?” Yvonne asked casually, her face showing no trace of pain or sadness.
The real Yvonne would probably be on the verge of dying from despair right now. But Yvonne wasn’t her.
“Queena’s wishes are Mr. Gonzalez’s wishes,” Jeffrey answered for them, unable to hold his tongue.
Yvonne nodded. “Fine. Then you can pass a message to Matthew for me. Tell him to transfer half of his tech company’s shares into my name, and I’ll agree to end the engagement.”
“Are you out of your mind?” George and Jeffrey stared at her in disbelief.
“When Matthew was broke and living on the streets, I was the one who helped him. Without me, there would be no Matthew Gonzalez. He’s been freeloading off me for years. Don’t you think it’s time he paid me back?”
“So what if you helped him?” George shot back, his voice dripping with self-righteousness. “He’s a tech mogul now. He’s not a man that plain remarkable country
ernet
bumpkin like you can hold onto Since you’re going to be dumped sooner or later anyway, you might as well step aside for Queena and preserve the friendship between our two families.”
Yvonne was so furious she felt like flipping the table again.
Perhaps learning from last time, the Spencers hadn’t even bothered preparing dinner, fearing another outburst. Yvonne was now both hungry and enraged. She should have just eaten at the Jones’s house. It had been years since she’d had her mother’s home cooking.
“Whether I can hold onto Matthew is my business. Queena, on the other hand, knowingly became the other woman. That’s just shameless. If my daughter ever did something so depraved I’d slap the life out of hers Yet here you all are not only unashamed but proud, as if you’re happy to keep it all in the family.”
Yvonne stood up abruptly. This family’s moral compass was so warped, it was pointless to waste another breath on them.
“If you want to end the engagement, tell Matthew to give me the shares. Otherwise, it’s not happening.”
With that final declaration, she turned and walked upstairs, completely ignoring George’s furious roars behind her.
“That wretched girl! I knew we never should have brought her back! We should have just let her die out there!”
Yvonne returned to her room.
It was no longer empty. Teresa had
purchased everything on her list. Clothes, shoes, and bags were neatly arranged in the walk-in closet, and the drawers held a few decent sets of jewelry. The selections were made without much thought, almost dismissively, but Yvonne was mostly satisfied.
She took a shower, changed into a new set of pajamas, and pulled the file she’d taken from the Jones’s house out of her bag. Just as she was about to open it, her phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID. It was Matthew.