n

n

nPaula brought Yvonne to the ice cream store and handed her over to Raylene in safe conditions.

n

"Back already?

" Raylene asked when she noticed that they had come back in just a few minutes.

nYvonne was fuming inside so she did not hear what her mother had asked so Raylene turned to the maid to get some answers.

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"Young Miss was scammed by a commoner boy for a slice of pie.

" Paula bowed her head and answered.

nHoward and Raylene both turned towards the little girl who was now happily eating the pie.

n'She doesn't look like someone who would get scammed. In fact, I'm sure she must have done something to that commoner boy!' Howard's misconceptions about his sister were deeply rooted in his mind.

nSo he harrumphed at her and decided to focus on the second bowl that he had ordered when she had left.

n

"Where were you when someone was bullying her?

" Raylene was not so lenient.

nHer sweet and bubbly aura had transformed into a menacing one which brought Yvonne back from her food trance.

nIf there was something that Raylene would not tolerate under any circumstances, then it would be that her family was being bullied or mocked by anyone, no matter who it was.

n'Huh? Why is she so angry?' Yvonne looked at the two women and wondered what had happened.

nEarlier, she was pissed at that boy but realized that it would do her no good by staying annoyed at some stranger. Rather her pie would get cold.

nSo she concentrated on what was more important to her and began savoring the pie.

n'Asmodeus wasn't wrong. This is the best pie that I have ever tasted!' Yvonne gave him a mental thumbs up for at least doing something right in his script.

nThat was when she felt Raylene's body language change and she looked up at her mother who was now glaring at the maid.

n

"I wanted to speak up but the Young Miss wouldn't let me.

" Paula whispered in an aggrieved tone.

n'What did this woman just say? When did she ever open her mouth the entire time we were together?' Yvonne's brows creased and she glared at the maid.

nFeeling Yvonne's gaze, still with her head lowered, Paula glimpsed in her direction and noticed the scowling face that looked just like Raylene's.

nShe gnashed her teeth and then looked down at her feet.

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"When we get home, remember to go to the Lower Hall and get your punishment.

" Raylene spat out those words and then waved her hand to send the maid away.

nPaula's eyes widened but she did not speak a word. She bowed one last time and walked out of the store.

nHer fists crumpled her maid's uniform as she lowered her head and walked back to the carriage.

n'What's the Lower Hall? How come I've never seen or heard about this place before?' Yvonne wondered because, after her classes, she would usually roam around the mansion to find peaceful spots to hangout.

n

"Mom… Don't you think that you are being harsh on her? I am sure 'she' must have done something wrong that Paula is covering up.

" Howard spoke in the maid's defense when he heard the punishment she had received.

n

"The one who should be punished is her!

" He pointed his finger at Yvonne and scowled at her.

n

"Howard St. Claire, you can speak in this matter when you start taking responsibility as the heir. Until then, do not interfere.

" Raylene looked at him with stern eyes and gave him no room to poke his nose in her decisions.

nHearing the harsh tone that his mother had used, Howard put his head down but the ice cream had lost all its taste by now.

n'Again with the heir responsibilities!' He tightly held the spoon in his fingers and glared at his hands.

nHe then recalled a certain conversation that he had chanced upon a while back.

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"I WILL become the heir. No matter what!

" He suddenly looked up and declared with a loud voice.

nHe glanced at Yvonne from the corner of his eyes and sneered when he saw her expressions changing.

n'Whaa..? What about becoming a knight? He was just drooling over the knights patrolling the streets and now he wants to become the heir?' Yvonne's mouth opened wide when she heard Howard's resolute words.

n'I knew it! You just want to get the heir's title and kick me out of the family! I won't let you succeed in your plans even if I have to give up on my dreams for that!' Howard turned in her direction and glared furiously.

nYvonne tilted her head to the side and wondered why he was giving her such a nasty look.

n'What did I ever do to you to receive such treatment?' She felt that she had done nothing to mess with him from when she had come back from the Summer Mansion.

nBut what she did not know was that Howard had overheard her conversation with Rutherford about taking over the heir responsibilities from Howard.

nHe had obviously misunderstood her intentions and there was no one to clear the insecurities that had formed in his innocent mind.

nRaylene quietly watched how her children were behaving and she did not know what to do.

n'I know that Vonny was wilful in the past but she seems to have changed for the better.' She smiled at her lovely daughter and then looked at her son.

n'It pains me to see that he still cannot accept his sister.' She shook her head and rubbed both of their heads.

n

"Finish your food. We still have many more stores to visit.

" Raylene informed them and chuckled when she saw both of them making a crying face.

n'Was what we bought earlier not enough?' Yvonne dropped her shoulders.

n'Another day wasted just looking at clothes!' Howard sighed and resigned himself to his fate.

nSoon, Raylene dragged her children to the next store which was a men's clothing store.

n

"Let's buy something nice for my baby boy so that he looks like a charming Prince.

" She pulled on his cheeks and led him into the store while Yvonne was in her arms.

nThis time Paula was nowhere to be found so Raylene had to look after both of them on her own.

nYvonne scoffed when she heard the word 'Prince' and made a disgusted face.

n'Why should such a handsome boy be compared to that pig of a Prince?' She shook her head and removed the image of the drowning pig that had appeared in her mind.

nHoward once again misunderstood her silent actions.

n'What does she mean by making that face? Am I that ugly that calling me a Prince makes her feel so disgusted?' He glared at his little sister and turned away with a huff.

n---

nFar away from where Yvonne was right now, the little boy from the cafe was skipping as he reached the garden right in the middle of a labyrinth.

nHe seemed familiar with the place because he confidently took every turn and found the two people sitting around a small circular table.

n

"Big brother!

" He rushed to the bigger man there and stood obediently before him.

n

"Once again you sneaked out to buy some pie?

" The tall and handsome man ruffled his hair when he saw the box in his hand.

n

"I can already smell the cinnamon.

" The other person there, a younger boy sniffed and sighed in satisfaction.

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"Come on, eat it before it gets cold.

" The boy opened the box and served them a slice each.

nThe younger boy did not think of anything else and only concentrated on the plate before him.

nThe man however noticed that there were only two slices instead of the usual three and glanced at his brother with a questioning look.

nFeeling his gaze, the boy looked embarrassed and scratched his nose.

nHe recalled the little girl with dark violet eyes who had requested for the pie and how he had extorted extra money from her in return.

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"They were too tempting so I ate my share in the cafe itself.

" He lied and looked away from his brother's piercing eyes.

n'When will he realize that he cannot lie in front of me?' The man shook his head and cut his piece in half.

nHe put it on a separate plate and pushed it to his little brother.

n

"I just had some snacks earlier. I don't think I can eat the entire slice, will you share it with me?

" He asked and waited for his reply.

nThe boy looked up at his brother and nodded with a wide smile.

n

"Thank you.

" He did not reject his brother's kind gesture and began to fork out large portions of his half.

nThus, these three men of different sizes enjoyed the pie in each others' company.

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