Chapter 58

The truth was, I'd never planned to disturb my mother's grave. I believed in letting the dead rest in peace. When Nancy was alive, I hadn't shown her the love she deserved, and I certainly wasn't going to start now by bothering her in her grave. It was Hayden who'd poked around the cemetery, causing all the commotion.

Sophia and Yosef had mentioned it before, but that seemed more about saving face for him. But what was Sophia's angle? Her stammering suggested she was hiding something.

After a long pause, Sophia looked to Yosef for support. “I only opposed it because I didn’t want you to get flak…”

“Yeah, I know you had my back. Relax, our boy’s the priority!” Yosef tried to reassure her.

He then turned to me. “You hear that! Stop stirring up trouble about your mother's business! Let it rest!”

“I said I’m throwing her a new funeral, and I mean it,” I retorted, unyielding.

Yosef lunged at me again, but I dodged him. I met his gaze coldly. Hayden was the one who…

Yosef hesitated, but Sophia tugged at him. He snapped, “I don’t care how you handle it, but if you don’t, I’m taking back those eight percent of Jackson Group shares you’re sitting on!”

My heart sank. Those shares were my inheritance from Phillip. Sophia and Yosef had never mentioned them before; Yosef's comment was clearly Sophia's doing.

When Marlon asked about taking over Jackson Group, I'd been hesitant. But it seemed Sophia was already maneuvering for my shares.

“The legacy my grandfather left me? I’m not giving it up,” I said firmly. Turning to Sophia, clinging to Yosef, I added with a small smile, “If you want to play hardball, I’m ready.”

Sophia's eyes flashed with malice before she played the victim, hiding behind Yosef. “Honey, look what she…”

Yosef shielded her and lashed out. “Yvonne Jackson! How long are you going to keep this up?”

I was stunned. Yosef rarely used my full name; he was clearly furious. With a son in the picture, I was apparently irrelevant. Having said my piece, I left.

At the door, I ran into Quinn. We exchanged a look and passed in silent understanding. I figured Sophia's son was just like her. But I didn't notice Quinn watching me go for a long moment.

I returned to the office after lunch, catching up with Lucy over coffee. She'd heard about my homecoming and slammed her iced coffee down, annoyed. “Your dad’s so old-school! He’s got a son now, but who cares? You’re his kid, too! He’s totally playing favorites!”

“Who wouldn’t want a son, right?” I chuckled. Even now, some people still prioritized sons.

I’d thought my dad was different, but I guess I didn’t know men as well as I thought.

Lucy massaged her temples, analyzing my chaotic life. “You marry a loser and have to divorce him, and now your dad’s got some crazy woman under his spell, trying to snatch your shares. What are you gonna do?”

I sipped my latte, my voice barely a whisper. “I’ll just take things as they come.”

But Lucy wouldn't let me wallow. She leaned in, smirking. “I’ve got a little surprise for you.”

“What?” I asked, confused.

Lucy winked and glanced over my shoulder. I followed her gaze to Dylan, standing at the coffee shop door. He spotted us and approached without hesitation.

I almost choked on my coffee. Lucy sang, “See? You’re already looking happier. Mixing with younger guys is good for the soul!”

I rubbed my forehead. Sometimes, I wondered what went on in her head.

Dylan reached our table quickly. I was still formulating a greeting when he leaned in, shocked. “Yvonne, what happened to your face? It’s all…”

It took a moment to remember Yosef's slap. I instinctively flinched. “It’s nothing. I just ran into something.”

Dylan clearly didn't believe me, but he let it go. He asked the waiter for ice.

Lucy grinned. “See! He’s so considerate.”

“Did you call him?” I asked, unimpressed. Lucy was trying to set us up, and I was trying to avoid Dylan.

“He keeps asking about you, and he seemed really genuine,” Lucy coughed, taking a large gulp of coffee that made her grimace.

Dylan returned with an ice pack. I quickly took it. If he’d helped, rumors would spread.

Dylan's hand lingered in the air before he asked, “Did Hayden do this?”

My heart skipped a beat. “It’s not him!” I couldn’t believe he thought Hayden had hit me.

Dylan was silent, his gaze intense. I was surprised; I'd always seen him as just a kid.

Lucy found his concern amusing. “He wouldn’t dare! Yvonne’s from the Jackson family, after all!” Her voice softened, remembering my earlier conversation about Sophia and Yosef.

The awkwardness didn't last long. She added, “Even if Hayden’s a jerk, he wouldn’t resort to violence. If he dared to hit Yvonne, I’d be the first to go after him!”

“He’s avoiding me; he couldn’t have hit me. You're imagining things,” I said with a helpless smile.

Dylan’s gaze deepened. “Yvonne, you’ve been through so much.”

Sensing the shift, Lucy stood. “Uh, I’ve had too much coffee. Gotta hit the restroom.” She left quickly, leaving me alone with Dylan. The atmosphere became flirtatious.