Chapter 41 Just Wishing For More Blessings

Elijah's fingers brushed across Yvonne's forehead.

Very lightly, very softly.

In that moment, Yvonne had a feeling of being cared for, of being cherished.

"Come with me to Seattle," Elijah said without a doubt in his tone.

"I can't go." She knew she couldn't be too stubborn at this moment, and softened her expression. "Just starting at FA Center Company and taking time off, how would my colleagues think of me? Besides, the RD event ends next week, and this week I still need to work on the drawings."

"Then at least find a reliable hospital in Winslow for a check-up." Elijah didn't insist further and let go of her.

"Don't worry, I won't be careless with my face." Yvonne finally relaxed her tense nerves and finished the glass of water in her hand.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Yvonne picked up her bag to leave, but Elijah called her back and handed her a bank card.

"You can use this card for now, the password is four zeros and two ones."

Even though Elijah was being so implicit, Yvonne's self-esteem dealt a severe blow.

She didn't rush to take it, and chuckled lightly, "Is this allowance calculated monthly or yearly?"

Elijah's expression turned serious. "By saying that, are you humiliating me or yourself?"

"I'm just curious about what price you can offer me. Since we've gone this far, what's the point of talking about humiliation?" Yvonne threw the card into her bag, waved goodbye to Elijah. "Goodbye, Mr. Harper."

Elijah didn't say a word.

Yvonne's high heels faded away, and Arthur came in.

As she left the law firm, Yvonne was particularly excited. She checked her bank card balance at the ATM and saw $100,000.

How stingy!

She had heard that Elijah was the highest-paid lawyer in the country, with his fees starting in the six figures, and that was not even considering his thriving new energy company...

For him, $100,000 shouldn't be a big deal, right?

When it comes to generosity with money, it has to be Mr. Winston. He is generous and likable!

But then she thought of the three platinum bags Elijah had given her, each one exceeding $100,000. In an instant, she felt relieved.

Taking a taxi to Wood Mansion, Yvonne found her white Volkswagen in the parking lot and prepared to return to FA Center Company.

After getting into the driver's seat and locking the car, she instinctively checked her phone.

Mrs. Winston had mentioned her in the group chat again, asking if she had returned to Winslow.

The more lies she told, the better she became at it.

She quickly typed a message saying "Still in Seattle" and sent it.

Mrs. Winston sent a voice message: "Darling, you're getting engaged soon. Can't you take a day off from work?"

Before she could think of a reply, Ryan spoke up for her in the group chat: "Mom, young people should prioritize their careers. I assure you on Yvonne's behalf that she'll definitely be back in Winslow before Saturday."

Mrs. Winston didn't say anything more.

Yvonne placed her phone on the dashboard and fastened her seatbelt.

She heard a knock on the window.

To her surprise, it was Mrs. Winston outside the car!

Yvonne was dumbfounded.

Her car windows had transparent sun film applied, making everything inside visible from the outside.

Mrs. Winston was holding two shopping bags, followed by two nannies who also carried bags of luxury brands.

"I saw your license plate and followed you. It’s really you!" Mrs. Winston exclaimed. "Yvonne, didn't you just say you were in Seattle?"

Yvonne panicked and slapped her forehead, then reluctantly got out of the car.

"You hurt your forehead? Instead of scolding you, I should be concerned." Mrs. Winston quickly held Yvonne's head and examined it. "Have you been to the hospital? Did you take any medication?"

Yvonne hesitated and lied, "Auntie, actually, I returned to Winslow yesterday. I accidentally injured my forehead in the apartment. I didn't want to embarrass myself during the engagement ceremony, and I was afraid you would make fun of me. So I secretly sought treatment and hoped to recover by the day of the engagement."

"You silly child! Ryan has chosen you, how can we ever despise you?" Mrs. Winston shook her head with concern. "I know the chief surgeon at the hospital. Let me take you to her, she’ll prescribe some effective medicines."

Yvonne was also afraid of being left with scars, so she readily agreed.

She used WhatsApp to request a sick leave for stomach ache, and Owen approved it immediately.

Mrs. Winston and the nannies got into a luxurious black car, while Yvonne followed in her own car.

She called Ryan and sighed with relief when he answered, although it was noisy in the background with a woman coquettishly speaking. Ryan only said a few trivial words before hanging up.

With Mrs. Winston's help, Yvonne quickly obtained the medicine personally prepared by the head surgeon.

After leaving the hospital, Mrs. Winston insisted on treating Yvonne to a meal. Feeling guilty, Yvonne didn't refuse.

Mrs. Winston chose a well-reputed restaurant.

All the private rooms were full at this time, so the two of them selected a relatively quiet spot in the public dining area on the ground floor.

After ordering their food, Yvonne used the excuse of going to the restroom and discreetly settled the bill.

Mrs. Winston unlocked her phone and showed Yvonne the engagement items she had purchased over the past two days.

The more Yvonne looked at them, the more guilty she felt.

"Yvonne, can you take a day off tomorrow? There are two different plans for the engagement ceremony, and I want you and Ryan to personally decide." Mrs. Winston smiled kindly.

Yvonne had a stunning face and a tall figure. She dressed appropriately in front of Mrs. Winston, who instantly took a liking to her.

Later, Mrs. Winston learned that she had been suppressed by her stepmother since she was young and cut off from her father, George, unilaterally. This made Mrs. Winston feel even more pity for her.

Mrs. Winston only had Ryan as her biological child, so she treated Yvonne like her own daughter. The engagement ceremony on Saturday was extremely important to her.

“Auntie, you have great taste. I’ll like anything you decide." Yvonne dared not ask for another day off tomorrow.

"People say that girls nowadays are hard to please, but you're really different," Mrs. Winston said, her gaze suddenly freezing, her face turning pale.

Yvonne followed Mrs. Winston's gaze- Ryan was coming down from the second floor with a woman who had a curvaceous figure!

"Ahem—" Yvonne purposely coughed twice, trying to remind Ryan.

Ryan's attention was on the woman in his arms. They were teasing each other affectionately, almost to the point of being face to face.

Mrs. Winston looked at Yvonne, feeling guilty.

Yvonne's brain shut down completely. She didn't know how to react in this situation.

"Child, don't be angry. Let me teach that bitch a lesson!" Mrs. Winston went to the staircase to intercept Ryan and the woman.

Yvonne didn't want to get involved and helplessly covered her eyes.

Mr. Winston, good luck to you!

A WhatsApp message popped up on her phone from Hannah. She had passed the interview for Winslow's prestigious high school chemistry teacher.

It was truly a cause for celebration!

Mrs. Anderson's biggest wish was for Hannah to become a teacher and marry a good man, and now half of that wish had come true.

Yvonne quickly sent a "Congratulations" message. Hannah invited her to have Korean cuisine in the evening, and she happily agreed.

The sound of Mrs. Winston's reprimanding voice came from the staircase.

Although Mrs. Winston's voice wasn't loud, it attracted the attention of the onlookers.

Yvonne couldn't "play dead" anymore and reluctantly walked over.

Ryan had distanced himself from the woman in his arms and was now smiling and persuading Mrs. Winston.

Mrs. Winston stared fiercely at the woman and continued to berate her without using any foul language, yet her words were filled with sarcasm.

Perhaps this was what a cultured and elegant socialite should be like.

People like Mary and Grace only wore a coat of luxury, but deep down, they were still common folks.

Ryan continuously gestured to Yvonne, who quickly reached out to support Mrs. Winston. "Auntie, calm down. We shouldn't let outsiders laugh at us."

Mrs. Winston tightly held Yvonne's hand and shook her head with a sigh. "You are so rational even at a time like this. If the Winston family ends up in your hands, I can rest assured."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the woman ran out of the restaurant, while Mrs. Winston pulled Ryan toward her and Yvonne's table.

Yvonne and Ryan exchanged meaningful smiles.

"Apologize to Yvonne immediately! When you get home, write an assurance letter. If you have any further dealings with other women, your bank card will be frozen for life!" Mrs. Winston pointed at Ryan's nose, laying down the final ultimatum.

Ryan nodded obediently, "I'm sorry, I apologize. I'm a wretched person! Yvonne, please forgive me?"

Yvonne almost burst into laughter and covered her mouth, pretending to be somewhat upset. "If this continues, the wedding won't happen!"

"This won't happen again! The woman just now was a friend's girlfriend. I just happened to run into her." Ryan kept twirling his earring, trying to please Yvonne.

Knowing that saying more would only lead to loopholes, Yvonne chose to remain silent with a straight face.

Mrs. Winston started rambling on, admonishing Ryan in a low voice.

They ordered a tableful of dishes but barely ate anything before leaving.

In the parking lot, Mrs. Winston held Yvonne's hand and comforted her for a long time, advising her to discipline Ryan more.

As they watched Mrs. Winston's car drive away, Yvonne and Ryan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, you went outside and got caught by my mom, huh?" Ryan leaned against Yvonne's car, with his hands in his pockets.

Yvonne countered with a smile, "We're getting engaged on Saturday, can't you control your instincts for a while? Today, you got caught by your mom."

Ryan nodded repeatedly.

"Auntie said she will send engagement invitations to all of your family members, friends, and business partners."

Just thinking about this issue made Yvonne's head ache.

"My mom wants the whole world to know that I'm getting engaged." Ryan kicked an empty bottle on the ground helplessly. "I protested several times, but it was futile."

"Ryan, do me a favor—" Yvonne suddenly looked serious. "Please do something, don't send an invitation to Elijah."

"The Harper family and mine have a long-standing relationship. It's unlikely that we won't invite them." Ryan squinted, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "Why are you so afraid of Elijah? What's the relationship between you two?"

"We have no relationship." Yvonne's confidence noticeably wavered.

Ryan assumed a listening posture. "If you don't tell me the truth, how can I help you?"

"We're just ordinary friends," Yvonne continued to hold her ground. "If you're willing to help, then help. If not, forget about it."

"You've asked, so I have to help. There's a family banquet tomorrow night, are you prepared?" Ryan smiled and walked away.

Yvonne's mind was in a mess as she sat in the driver's seat for a while.

Mr. Winston's engagement was a grand event. She could hide it from Elijah that day, what about the future?

Anyway, Elijah would eventually find out, so she just had to stay calm.

The sharp ringtone instantly woke her up from her thoughts. She glanced at it and saw that it was Elijah calling.