Chapter III

Upon hearing the knock, Lucy quickly rose to answer the door. "Coming, Bon!"

Her older brother, Zack Coffey, entered. I stood, mirroring Lucy's action. "Hey, Zack."

Zack glanced at me. He and Lucy resembled each other, but his features were sharper, his demeanor more composed and steady.

"Yvonne, I remember you love strawberries." He placed a plate before me.

Lucy hopped over. "Snow White? When did you get these?"

Snow White strawberries were a prized variety. While common strawberries were red, Snow Whites were white and graded; top-grade ones were expensive, especially out of season. Among the wealthy, they weren't rare, but for those who loved them, enjoying them during a low moment was paramount.

"This afternoon," Zack replied.

"Then we got back just in time!" Lucy popped one in her mouth, offering me one as well.

I wanted to thank Zack, but a mouthful of strawberries prevented me from speaking. He waited patiently until we'd nearly finished before broaching the main topic. "I heard there's a Parker Group company event tomorrow!"

I paused, surprised by his mention of the Parker Group.

Lucy took a bite of her strawberry, looking puzzled. "Zack, when did you become interested in the Parker Group?"

Their families weren't direct competitors, nor did they have significant business dealings. Zack never even mentioned the Parker Group at home. Indeed, Lucy had voiced negative opinions about Hayden.

I nodded. "Yes."

Seeing my silence, Zack continued, "Since Lucy's free these days, why don't you take her with you tomorrow?"

As soon as he finished, Lucy protested, "Brother, why should I go? It's a company gathering."

Unsure of Zack's intentions, I remained silent, listening to their exchange.

"You're grown up now. It's time to see the world," Zack said affectionately, ruffling her hair. "It'd be great if you went along to help Yvonne, so no one bullies her."

Initially reluctant, Lucy readily agreed upon hearing she could protect me. "Okay. Yvonne, I'm going with you," she said.

The siblings settled the matter swiftly, leaving me little room to object.

"The Parker gathering might not be fun. Lucy, if you want to do something else, I'll take you," I offered.

"I just want to help you…" She nuzzled my shoulder affectionately. We were practically inseparable; even real sisters weren't as close.

Zack, accustomed to our closeness, shook his head with a resigned smile. "Stop being so cute. The strawberries are all gone; go get more."

"There's more?" Lucy sat up, her eyes gleaming. "Yvonne, wait for me!"

After Lucy left, I turned to Zack. "Did you send her away on purpose? What do you want to tell me?"

Zack's bright eyes held a flicker of admiration. "You've been smart since you were young."

"She's genuinely kind," I corrected. "Unlike Lucy, who's carefree."

"Yes, she's kind, but she's not cautious at all. I'm always worried she'll be taken advantage of without realizing it," Zack sighed. Don't be fooled by her carefree and fearless demeanor; it made her an easy target for resentment.

He paused. "Days ago, Lucy suddenly said she wanted to start a business with you."

"Her intentions are good; she wants to support you, but my parents are getting old and can't handle many surprises, especially with the Parker family. We can't afford to offer them any more," he explained.

His words were concise and to the point. I understood immediately.

"So you want her to work at the Parker Group?" I asked.

"Yes," Zack nodded honestly. "Even though this might seem unfair to you, but… Yvonne, I hope you can understand me. It's good for Lucy."

"I see," I replied with a smile. "I appreciate Lucy's intentions and will talk to her about it."

I never planned for Lucy to join my endeavor. I had no family left to care for, so I was fearless. But Lucy was different; she had a whole family.

Seeing my acceptance, Zack breathed a sigh of relief. "That's wonderful." He murmured, continuing, "You know about my relationship with Hayden, right? If Lucy goes to the Parker Group, I'm worried."

He stopped abruptly, realizing his words might be inappropriate. He looked at me cautiously.

I smiled softly. "Don't worry, I won't drag Lucy into this. I'll be leaving soon."

"That's not what I meant. It's late; you can rest here. You're such good friends with Lucy, and our family should help you…"

I gently shook my head. "I see. No one is obliged to help me. You have your own challenges. I'll tell Lucy something came up at home when she returns."

Zack studied me before sighing. "Thank you for understanding."

Soon, Lucy returned. We happily ate the remaining strawberries before I left the Coffey residence. I felt no resentment, only that the night air was bone-chilling. I tightened my coat collar and quickened my pace.

I ended up back at Rosy House; Rita called, saying the Jackson family had arrived. What one feared would come to pass.

I rushed inside; even before entering, I heard my father's angry shout from the living room, "When on earth is she coming back! What are you servants even doing? Did any of you inform her?"

A trembling servant stammered, "I-I've already notified Mrs. Parker, y-you…"

I looked at the servant. "You can go now."

The servant's eyes were red. "Yes, Mrs. Parker."

"You actually came back!" my father yelled angrily. As soon as I turned, a slap landed on my face. "Smack!" The sound echoed. A burning sensation spread rapidly.