Chapter 3

Just as Yara and I reached a standstill, her childhood friend, Liam Jackson, showed up.

"Wendy, Yara, your place is really lively today," Liam said.

Wendy's attitude flipped instantly. She beamed at him and said, "Yara was kind enough to bring one of her classmates over to see how people like us live."

Liam said in a clear, cheerful voice, "And he's a male classmate, too."

Wendy responded, "It's only because his mom works as our housekeeper. Yara just happened to bring him along. Don't read too much into it."

He clearly knew I was Yara's boyfriend, but he pretended otherwise.

"I see." Liam straightened his cuff and said quietly, "Good. As long as he's not her boyfriend."

As he moved, a red braided bracelet slipped into view. The exact same one was on Yara's wrist.

I had asked about it before, and Yara had brushed it off. She said it was a lucky charm her mother gave her. She had gotten used to wearing it and never took it off.

But now I knew that wasn't the truth.

"Oh, come on. You know who Yara likes," Wendy said. "If you two don't end up together, those matching bracelets I got you will have been for nothing."

Liam blushed. "Wendy, you're teasing me."

Yara frowned and said unhappily, "Mom!"

Wendy shot her an annoyed look. "Fine, fine. You're all grown up now. I can't control who you like anymore."

After that, she acted like a kind and caring elder. She warmly patted Liam's hand and made small talk with him, completely ignoring Mom and me.

"Wendy, I picked out this bracelet from House of M when I was in Perly. Try it on," Liam said.

Wendy scolded him for spending so much, but happily held out her wrist.

The diamonds sparkled under the lights. The more she looked at it, the happier Wendy was.

As for the gift I had brought, it was still sitting by the front door, unopened.

Coincidentally, it was a scarf from the same brand. It was the only luxury item I could afford, and it had cost me two months of tutoring pay.

Wendy hadn't even bothered to look at it.

"If you ask me, you're the perfect son-in-law, Liam," Wendy said. "It's a shame Yara doesn't see it. Instead, she likes those lowlifes who only want to climb the social ladder.

"Well, as long as I'm around, some people will never be part of this family!"

Wendy was making it very clear that I wasn't good enough.

Mom was shaking with anger when she yanked off her apron.

She had always kept her head down, but she wouldn't let anyone insult me like that.

"Mrs. Quinn, your family is out of our league. Ian isn't lucky enough to be part of your family," Mom said. "Even if he wanted to, I would never let him lower himself like that.

"As of today, I quit. You'll have to find someone else."

Mom grabbed my hand, and we walked out.

Three minutes later, I came back.

Wendy looked surprised, then smirked. "So much for your pride. I knew you couldn't stay away."

Yara's eyes lit up. She thought I couldn't bear to leave her.

With everyone watching, I picked up the gift I had brought and took it from the entryway.

After all, I had spent nearly 2,000 dollars on it. There was no reason to give it to someone who didn't deserve it.