Chapter 12

Yeva was blinded by rage. With her hands held high, she was confident that Sage would be badly injured.

However, it was as if Sage had eyes at the back of her head, she tilted her head just as the vase would have made contact. She turned around and grabbed Yeva's hand, which still clutched the vase.

Immediately after that, the vase had somehow ended up in Sage's hands. Leaving Yeva no time to react, Sage landed a hard slap on Yeva's right cheek, causing her to fall to the ground with a screech of pain. "Aaah!"

Yeva felt slightly dizzy before feeling the burning sensation on her right cheek. She could not bring herself to get back on her feet.

"How dare you?!"

With a cold expression Sage threw the vase to the floor, and, with a loud bang, the vase shattered. Yeva curled up and yelled another terrified scream as she covered her ears.

Sage, on the other hand, approached her. Yeva inched back as Sage advanced. Eventually, her back was against the wall, and she stared at Sage, terrified. "You… don't come any closer…"

"Weren't you just about to attack me a few minutes ago? Giving up already?"

Sage stretched out her hand, and Yeva thought that she was going to hit her again so she closed her eyes tightly. However, Sage had only intended to mess her hair.

"You are a cousin who was fond of, and I'm sure that I had never treated you badly. So, tell me why you hate me to the point that you and Julian came up with a plan to get rid of me?"

It was only after that did Yeva open her eyes and look into Sage's eyes. Then, she scoffed, "You really don't know, do you?"

Sage studied Yeva carefully. She knew that there must be a reason for Yeva's hatred.

Staring at Sage, who still looked beautiful under the dim yellow light, Yeva was slowly engulfed with jealousy and resentment. So shocked was she that she was unable to say what she felt.

"You, me, and Leah, we're supposed to be cousins, but how did we grow up in very different environments? Your dad is the chairman of Norah Group, and you are your parents' only child. You were their precious little girl, the apple of their eyes. They made sure to give you everything that you wanted and everything that you asked for. They hired private tutors when you didn't want to go to school, and they even bought an entire rose garden just because you liked roses. Everyone in Salem City knows of you, but what about me? My parents had divorced when I was still very young, and my dad was a mere manager at a state-run company. All my clothes were your hand-me-downs."

Yeva started crying as she went on, "We are all daughters of the Norah family. So, why is it that you get to live your best life while I'm stuck in that poor situation?"

Even after Yeva had explained herself, Sage still could not seem to comprehend her logic. She frowned and said, "So, you're saying that I'm to blame?"

It seemed to her that her care for Yeva had been interpreted as mere charity.

"Your biggest mistake was rejecting Julian Jefferson!"

Yeva wiped away her tears and pulled up a smug smile. "You didn't expect us to get together, huh? You rejecting him is your loss. Julian is going to inherit the Jefferson family, and all the girls in Salem City are lining up to marry him. They are desperate to marry him. Only you, Sage Norah, have had the guts to reject him! I bet that you are not aware that I'm going to marry him soon, and I'll be Mrs. Jefferson. Plus, the Jefferson Group is now much more influential than the Norah Group!"

"What a waste of time indeed! Why do I even bother?"

Sage shook her head helplessly. Yeva did not give her the answer she was expecting.

Sage blamed herself for asking.

She then looked at Yeva and said, "Is someone like him even worth your time? Once you get married to him, please do address yourself as Mrs. Jefferson instead of going around telling people that you're a member of the Norah family. I don't want to be embarrassed for you."

…

In the study room of the Yuriel family's old residence, the argument between Grandpa Yuriel and Jace had escalated.

"If you are still determined to marry Sienna Zelda, go ahead, but don't invite me to your wedding. I don't want to be embarrassed!"

Jace's grandpa then left the room ​​sullenly.

"Oh my, what's going on?"

Grandma Yuriel and her daughters-in-law were having tea in the garden when they overheard the loud commotion in the study room. Seeing her husband storming out of the room with a dark face, Grandma Yuriel quickly walked over to comfort him. "There, there. Why are you getting all worked up?"

Grandpa Yuriel had a short temper. "How can I stay calm when that brat has abandoned our lovely granddaughter-in-law for that cunning woman?! Tell me, is he out of his mind?! He must be to make such a decision."

Grandma Yuriel sighed helplessly as she watched her husband storm off. At the same time, Jace walked out of the study room and met his grandma's eyes. He greeted her softly, "Grandma."

"All this for that woman. Is she worth it?"

Grandma Yuriel sighed. "Have you forgotten how your dad treated your mom? Had you still remembered how your mother had to deal with her pain all these years, you would not have had anything to do with the Zelda family."

Jace gnawed on his lips, his eyes filled with determination, as he said, "The Zelda family and Sienna, they're different."

"Are they different? In my opinion, I think they're one and the same."

Her voice contained a hint of mockery, and Grandma Yuriel was smirking. However, she knew how stubborn her grandson was; therefore, she did not continue with that topic. Instead, she said, "I heard that Sage left without taking anything with her. Do you know where she went?"

Jace shook his head and said, "I'm still looking for her."

"Sigh, it's a pity that I've lost such a precious granddaughter-in-law," sighed Grandma Yuriel as she patted Jace's shoulder. "You do know that it's your loss, right?"

Jace frowned. He wondered why everyone was telling him how great Sage Luz was. For some reason, it made him uncomfortable.

She had been nothing but quiet, and she kept a low profile. So, when did she start gaining favor with the people around him?

"Sir, something's happened."

Zayne rushed over and interrupted his thoughts. He said, "Your mom went to see Miss Sienna, and… she might have hit her."

The light in Jace's eyes dimmed as he rushed out the door.

…

Sienna was staying in an apartment that Jace had arranged for her. The apartment was a hundred and twenty square meter and had three rooms. It was more than enough space for a single person. Sienna, however, was unsatisfied as she had wanted to stay at Yuriel Mansion.

She was patiently waiting for the day she moved into the Yuriel Mansion as Jace's wife.

Sienna made coffee with her newly bought coffee machine and sat elegantly on the sofa. She reached for the phone to check the news. After a nap in the afternoon, Sienna thought that the article would have surely shocked everyone in Salem City.

To her surprise, there was nothing on her and Jace. Sienna started to panic as she scoured through the internet. Perhaps, the buzz had died down, but it was impossible that there would be nothing about her and Jace.

Browsing through the official website of Yuriel Group, Sienna realized that her article was gone and had been replaced by an official announcement that their website had been attacked by a hacker.

'How have things changed after a nap?'

Feeling confused, Sienna made phone calls to several internet influencers that she was acquainted with. However, she was met with complaints from them on the other end of the line. "I mean, please don't come to us with fake news! Do you know how much trouble you caused us? Are you so desperate to marry into a wealthy family that you are going insane? I must have been out of my mind to have believed you! I was scolded by netizens, and my account has been blocked as well! I'll take the money, but don't come asking me for any more favors!"

This internet influencer was considered polite when compared to the other internet influencers Sienna had called. They all had cursed furiously at her.

Furrowing her brows tightly, Sienna started panicking as she wondered why and how things had turned out this way.

She tried to collect herself and was about to call Jace when an elegant woman in a wheelchair showed up in front of her.

Sienna felt her stomach drop. She scrambled to her feet anxiously and said, "Mrs.… Mrs. Yuriel."