“On the day Mr. Yeats came to pick me up, Marian locked me in the woodshed…” Yvonne whispered, her small hands clutching tightly onto Kelvin’s sleeve. She was so nervous that even her voice trembled.
The room fell silent. Maybe it was because they were shocked by the thoughts of a three–year–old, but for a long moment. no one said anything-
“Daddy, I’m telling the truth… Yvonne’s tiny voice carried a sob, and her eyes, so clear and pure, seemed to show everything inside her.
Kelvin lifted a hand and gently ruffled her hair. “I believe you.”
As soon as those three words left his mouth, Jan spoke up as well, shaking his head in disbelief. He remarked, “She’s really only three?”
Ian had already been surprised the first time he met Yvonne. She spoke fluently, her thoughts were clear, and she was unbelievably likable.
But now, hearing about what Marian had done, Ian was even more stunned. He thought, ‘Are kids evolving in secret these days? A three–year–old already scheming, locking another child in a woodshed just to get closer to the Yates family?
“If she’s already this ruthless at her age, what will she be like when she grows up?”
Jeremy shivered, rubbing his arms to chase away the goosebumps. He said, “I knew something was off about that girl. She kept sneaking glances at Yvonne, glaring at her.”
Jeremy thought, ‘Looks like my gut feeling has been right–Marian really isn’t a good person. Yvonne has been through so much, yet people still keep trying to bully her
“With a kid like that in the Yates family, I doubt they’ll ever have a peaceful day again.” Jeremy sighed.
Since Oliver sat right behind him in class, Jeremy figured he’d give him a little heads–up tomorrow.
At the Yates‘ house, Marian knew the family was upset with her. She also knew she’d gone too far back at the Adler family.
So, Marian had to find a way to win them back. The best way? Play the victim.
As soon as she stepped through the door, Marian started crying. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry.”
Nina hesitated for a second, her steps slowing. Hearing the sobs, she couldn’t help but turn around.
Marian’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, her small face blotchy from being wiped too hard. She looked pitiful.
When Nina saw this, some of her anger faded. Though she wasn’t as warm toward Marian as usual, she said, “Come inside first.”
Meanwhile, Oliver walked straight upstairs without a word, clearly uninterested. After he left, Marian’s e
moment.
But that wasn’t the priority right now–winning back Nina was. The others could wait.
darke
With that in mind. Marian walked up to Nina slowly, sniffling as she started her story, telling her how Yvonne had bullied her at the orphanage
The more Nina listened, the more shocked she became. She could hardly believe it. She had always thought Yvonne was
Chapter 26
quiet and well–behaved, but in the orphanage, she had been a little tyrant?
Now, hearing Marian’s version of the story. Nina understood why she had been so resistant to seeing Dani.
Looking at Marian’s tear–streaked face, Nina sighed, all of her resentment vanishing,
“If you were being bullied at the orphanage, you should have told me sooner, Nina said, her voice soft as she pulled Marian into a hug, stroking her hair.
Hidden from view, a glimmer of satisfaction flickered in Marian’s eyes. She answered, “I didn’t dare to, because you were thinking of adopting Yvonne back then…”
When Nina heard that, her heart ached. She patted Marian’s back gently. “Well, you’re our daughter now, and of course, I’ll believe you.”
Marian sniffled, her eyes still teary as she looked up. “Thank you, Mommy.”
“Since Yvonne bullied you before, there’s no need for you to go to the same preschool as her,” Nina added.
Neither of them noticed Oliver standing at the top of the stairs, watching them in silence. He looked at his mother, who was full of love and concern for Marian, and felt something complicated stir inside him.
Nina had no idea–the roses Oliver had brought home from school a few days ago, the ones she had loved so much, had actually been from Yvonne.
Yvonne had given them to Jeremy, but the class had swarmed him, grabbing at the flowers until only one remained, and Oliver had been the one to take it.
The roses had stayed fresh in their home for four or five days, their scent filling the entire living room. Nina had adored them, even asking the staff to bring out her favorite vase to display them.
Lowering his gaze, Oliver returned to his room silently.
Nina had one major flaw–she trusted too easily. To her, the world was full of kind people. Her brothers were overprotective of her, Robert practically worshipped her, and she had been spoiled like a child her whole life.
Maybe that was why, when faced with a three–year–old, Nina had lost the ability to tell the truth from lies. Whatever Marian said, she believed.
Nina had instantly taken her side when Marian claimed Dani had threatened her.
But Oliver had asked around. He hadn’t gotten much useful information, but he had learned one thing–Marian acted completely different when she was home alone.
Because of that, Oliver had even suggested installing security cameras, but Nina had shot the idea down immediately, saying it would make the maids uncomfortable.
That was the moment Oliver truly understood what it meant to be ‘Innocent.
The next day, Oliver heard a completely different version of the story from Jeremy. According to him, Marian was the real bully.
Oliver slumped over his desk, feeling conflicted. He had already suspected that the truth wasn’t what Marian had claimed, but actually hearing it was something else entirely.
Jeremy noticed his expression and said, “Believe what you want, but I’m standing by my sister. If you don’t believe me, we can go to the orphanage after school and ask around.”
el “Fine”
Oliver nodded. “Fine”
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