Chapter21


    WhentheLaurierfamilydecidedtosetupanarrangedmarriagewiththeMartinezfamily,MniehadalreadyinvestigatedtheMartinezfamily’sbackground.ShehadseenphotosofeverymemberandrecognizedShannonimmediately.


    “Yes,”Shannon saidsweetlywithawell–behavedsmile.


    “Whyareyouhere?”Mniewasustomedtodealingwithallkindsofpeopleandimmediatelysawthroughshannon’spretense.Herexpressiondarkened.


    Shannonlowered herheadshyly.


    “LilyjustarrivedatLagersfield,soI’mheretokeephepanyforawhileuntilshegetssettled.”


    ThoughShannontriedherbesttoappearmeek,Mniewasstinnoyedbyher.


    “Thisisn’t appropriate,isit?”MniereleasedLily’shandandsatupstraight.


    Herfriendlydemeanorwasgone,recedbytheauthoritativepresenceofanaffluentwoman.


    “Shannon,youweretheonewhowassupposedtomarryLeid.ButsinceyourfamilysentLilyinsteadandthey’renowengaged,it’sinappropriateforyoutostayhere.Peoplewhoknowthesituationunderstandyou’rehersister,butthosewhodon’tmightthinkLilystoleyourfiancé.”


    Mniespokewithasharpgaze.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    LoidlookedupatMnieandsmiled.Hismotherwasimpressive.Hehadn’tsaidaword,andshewasalreadydefendingLily.HewascuriousaboutwhyhismotherlikedLilysomuchontheirfirstmeeting.


    “Mrs.Laurier,Lilywastheonewhoaskedmetostay,”Shannonsaid,tearswellingupinhereyes.Shelookedveryaggrieved.


    Inside,however,shehatedLilyevenmore.WhatwassospeciboutthiswretchedgirlthatMniewoulddefendher?


    ShannonthoughtthissituationonlymadehermoredeterminedtowinLoidover<b>.</b><b>Since</b>Mniewaswillingtodefendthiscountrybumpkin,itmeantthatMniewasareasonablepersonandwouldn’tmakethingsdifficultforher.


    IfShannoncouldmarryintotheLaurierfamily,shewouldbecherished.


    MniencedatShannon,herexpressioncold.


    “Yoursisterisjusttookindtorefuseyou.Shewasn’t raisedinyourfamilyandjustgotengaged.Shecouldn’tpossiblyturnyoudown.”


    Lily,whohadbeenloungingonthe side,ncedup.Shewasalittlesurprised.Noonehadeverspokenupforherotherthanhergrandmother.Usually,peoplewouldjustcriticizeher<b>for</b>beingpoorlyraisedwhenevershecausedtrouble.


    Butnow,someonewasdefendingherwithoutevenknowingthefullstory.Shefeltabumpinherthroat.Takingadeepbreath,shelookeddown


    “L”Shannondidn’texpectMnietobeso<b>blunt</b>andwasatalossforwords.Afteramoment,shelookedatLilywithtearsinhereyes.


    <b>“</b>Lily”


    “Stopbeggingher.She’stoosoft–hearted,”Mniesaid.ShencedatLily,whowascasuallyyingwithherphoneonthecouch


    Mnie’sfondnessforLilygrew.ShelikedLily’srxed andunpretentiousdemeanor.ThedifferencebetweenLilyandShannonwasnightandday.Lilyoutshone Shannonbymiles.


    Mniesaidcoldly,“Packupyourthingsandgohome.LilyisengagedtoLoid,andshe’smydaughter–inw. I’llhelpheradapttolifehere.Youdon’tneedtoworry.”


    Shannon’sintentionsweresoobviousthatMniewouldn’tallowhertostayanddisruptLoidandLily’srtionship.


    “Mrs.Laurier,1.”Shannonbitherlip.Sheclutchedherclothesrightlyastearswelled<b>up</b>inhereyes.


    ShelookedatLilyandpleaded,“Lily,Momtoldmetotakecareofyou.Iwon’tbeabletogivehera properexnationifIgobacknow.”


    Lilyhadbeenengrossedinherphheentiretime.WhenShannoncalledher,shelookedupandgaveamischievoussmile.“<b>Yeah</b>.Whynotletherstay?”


    MniewasabouttoprotestwhenLilyadded,“<b>Since</b>weneedamaidhere.”