Chapter 57: Miss Lawrence's Bold Advance

Erica, in a white, off-the-shoulder V-neck dress and wide-brimmed brown hat, arrived unnoticed. Her delicate face, adorned with European-style makeup, was usually charming and stylish, but anger now contorted her features, making her appear fierce and unattractive. A hint of jealousy and disdain flickered in her eyes as she regarded Cheyenne. She'd known Miss Lawrence wasn't simple, but hadn't expected such blatant vixenry.

This was only Erica's second visit to the Todd mansion, yet she'd already attempted a blatant seduction of the young master. Her grandfather, Layne, stood beside her, looking shocked. He shouted angrily, "Get up! You're overweight and have offended Master Iker!"

Cheyenne bristled. "Overweight? I'm over five foot six and weigh only ninety-something pounds."

The others laughed at the comical scene. But was this the real point? Wasn't the crucial detail Miss Lawrence's blatant attempt to seduce him? Their typically woman-averse young master had actually hugged Miss Lawrence! They couldn't believe their eyes—he'd hugged a woman!

Iker, sensing things were escalating, quickly pulled away. He stared coldly at Cheyenne, warning, "Miss Lawrence, get up immediately!"

"Wow, sounds like he's the one who's been taken advantage of," Cheyenne retorted, standing up. "You're heartless, Master Iker, to discard someone so readily."

Miss Lawrence was practically scolding him for being a heartbreaker! Those outside the door gasped. Had they been… intimate?

A knowing silence fell over the onlookers. Even Layne seemed stunned. But then again, Iker was far superior to Kelvin.

Iker, despite his cold demeanor, was believed to be fiercely loyal once in love. Perhaps he and Cheyenne were a good match.

Erica, unable to bear it any longer, rushed in, high heels clicking. She grabbed Cheyenne's arm, pushing her away. Then, with a concerned expression, she turned to Iker. "Master Iker, did she… do anything to you?"

Erica's reaction was understandable; she'd arrived to find Cheyenne pressed against Iker, her face buried in his chest. Given Iker's reputation for abstinence, Erica understandably assumed Cheyenne had forced herself on him. The push sent Cheyenne stumbling toward a wall.

Iker despised flamboyant women like Miss Lawrence, but he loathed someone like Erica even more—someone who'd climbed into her foster father's bed for personal gain. With cold disdain, he addressed her. "Madam Erica, why are you here? Tanner, how did you allow this?"

Tanner approached, guilt etched on his face. "Master Iker, I apologize. I failed to stop Madam Erica."

Erica's heart ached at his formal address. Tears streamed down her face. "Iker… you used to call me Erica."

Cheyenne watched, rubbing her wrist. Erica and Iker's relationship seemed far from typical stepmother-son. Erica, only twenty-one, had lived with the Todds for over ten years before marrying Mr. Kai Todd—making her Iker's stepsister. Years of cohabitation had undoubtedly fostered deep feelings. The transition from sister to stepmother must have been difficult for Iker.

But Erica's jealous and disgusted reaction to Cheyenne suggested her true love was Iker. Why, then, had she married Kai? Three years earlier, when Erica was eighteen, had she willingly given herself to Kai? On that same day, Iker had a car accident, leaving him disabled. A coincidence too striking to ignore.

At the time, Iker had a fiancée, Nadia Spence, from an equally prestigious family. Nadia, the daughter of the president, was a desirable match. Iker's disability rendered him unsuitable, leading Nadia to secretly break off the engagement. To compensate the Todds, the president awarded Iker an Imperial First Class General medal.

"Madam Erica, behave yourself," Iker said sternly, his gaze filled with disdain. "We are no longer siblings."

"Iker… I know you're still angry, but back then…" Erica tried to explain, but Iker cut her off, grabbing her neck.

His eyes blazed. "Shut up! Don't say another word!" He threw her away. She fell, crying uncontrollably.

Tanner helped her up. "Madam Erica, Master Iker wishes you to leave."

"Tanner, I truly regret it. I didn't betray Iker…" Her words were choked with sobs.

Cheyenne, eavesdropping, had gathered that Erica and Iker had once been close, but a betrayal had driven them apart. Erica's love for Iker was evident. Cheyenne wondered about their children—were they truly Kai's?

She dismissed the thought. The Todds wouldn't tolerate a woman with illegitimate children marrying into their family, and Kai wasn't easily fooled.

Erica left, heartbroken and unwilling. An unsettling silence filled the room.