The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 127
“Who asked her to touch me with that fake concern? Disgusting!”
Tamara leaned into Milford’s embrace, tears falling patter-patter as she choked out, “Milford, I was just instinctively afraid Yvonne would get hurt…”
Milford looked at Yvonne with a dark expression. “Apologize.”
Yvonne bit her lip hard, stubbornly turning her head away. “Dream on!”
Leilani watched the farce coldly. Seeing Yvonne’s agitation, she stepped forward to support her arm and spoke calmly. “Tamara, you know Yvonne doesn’t like you, yet you insist on forcing your presence on her. You know exactly what your intentions are. Don’t treat everyone like they’re stupid.”
“Milford might be blind, but that doesn’t mean everyone buys your act. Tamara, you’d better stop trying to find relevance in front of me and Yvonne. Otherwise, don’t blame me if I spill everything about the past to Mrs. Sherwood. You’ll find it hard to clean up that mess.”
After warning Tamara, Leilani turned to Yvonne. “Ignore them. I’ll walk with you outside.”
Yvonne nodded with red eyes, avoiding Milford’s gaze, and walked out quickly with her cane. She was clearly furious.
Leilani didn’t glance at Milford or Tamara once as she followed Yvonne out.
Behind them, Tamara was still sobbing. “Milford, it’s all my fault. I should just visit Yvonne secretly in the future.”
After these repeated scenes, Milford no longer felt helpless seeing Tamara’s tears. Instead, he felt a wave of exhaustion.
Hearing her crying, he rubbed his brow, his tone weary. “Don’t worry about what happened just now. Let’s leave first. I’ll talk to Yvonne properly later.”
He had to talk to her. Tamara was his fiancée and Yvonne’s future sister-in-law. The relationship had to be managed.
Tamara wanted to say more, but seeing the fatigue and irritation in Milford’s eyes, she unwillingly clenched his coat. Finally, she nodded/obediently. “Okay.”
Leilani took Yvonne to the sanatorium garden. Without Tamara’s interference, Yvonne let out a long breath and grumbled, “So annoying. What did she come here for?”
“Just to put on a show,” Leilani said calmly.
She saw it clearly. Tamara’s dream had always been to marry into the Sherwood family.
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Although the engagement was proceeding, Milford had wavered recently. Tamara had to work harder to win him back.
Milford cared most about his sister. Tamara had successfully gotten engaged to Milford precisely because her image of meticulous care during Yvonne’s coma had moved him.
Yvonne pouted. She knew how perfect Tamara’s image was in her mom’s and brother’s
minds.
“Hypocrite,” she muttered.
Thinking of her inexplicable dislike for Tamara, Yvonne hesitated, then leaned in to whisper to Leilani, “Actually… I really don’t like Tamara. I always feel… her attitude toward me is strange.”
Leilani paused and looked at her. “How so?”
Yvonne frowned, trying to recall something, but shook her head. Since she woke up, Tamara rarely visited.
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Olivia Harris
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.