"Really?" Darleen''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Seeing Edna and Jonah heading straight for a fairy-tale ending brought her immense joy.


    She fancied herself not as Miss Fletcher, the lesser-known daughter of a local family, but as the


    rightful Miss Lindsay, heiress to the Lindsay legacy.


    The Lindsays and the Christensens were as thick as thieves, and soon enough, Darleen would rub


    shoulders with Mr. Christensen and take on the esteemed role of Mrs. Sinir.


    Edna nodded affirmatively, "You better get ready."


    "I''m on it!" Darleen dashed into the house with the speed of a gazelle.


    Jessica, lost in thought, gave Edna a meaningful look before speaking, "I''ve got a jar of pure


    wildflower honey, brought from the countryside by a friend. Take it to J, will you?"


    A smile curled at the corner of Edna''s lips, "I''ll be sure to pass on J''s thanks."


    Jessica instructed the maid to fetch the honey.


    In no time, Darleen re-emerged, dressed to the nines.


    Just then, Edna''s phone rang. Her expression shifted noticeably as she answered, but she quickly


    regained herposure and hung up with a smile, waving at Darleen, "That was J, hurrying us


    along. Let''s not keep her waiting!"


    "Sure thing," Darleen nodded in agreement.


    Edna bid farewell to the elderly Mrs. Fletcher, ignoring the subtle shifts in the room''s atmosphere,


    and promptly escorted Darleen out the door.


    "Pfft! What''s there to be smug about?" Patsy huffed.


    Samantha shared the sentiment, "Indeed! As if Jonah would ever spare her a second nce!"


    "Both of you zip it!" Jessica''s voice was stern, "Once she marries into the Lindsay family, our family


    will benefit. Can''t you even pretend to be happy? Shallow fools!"


    Silence fell like a heavy curtain.


    Patsy and Samantha exchanged nces, neither daring to utter another word.


    Stepping out of the Fletcher estate, Edna''s sunny disposition clouded over.


    They hopped into a rideshare and left the vi neighborhood.


    Curiously, Darleen asked, "Huh, why didn''t J send a car for us?"


    Edna''s face was a mask of sternness, and Darleen, adept at reading her moods, immediately


    straightened up, staying as quiet as possible.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Edna''s expectations for Darleen were sky-high.


    Proper posture for standing and sitting, mastery of the arts, and Darleen''s childhood was virtually


    nonexistent, spent in various sses and workshops.


    Even now, Edna''s demands were stringent — nothing less than top grades would do. Failure meant


    a chilling silence or worse, physical reprimand. Thankfully, Darleen had always risen to the


    asion, never disappointing Edna.


    Soon, they arrived at a hotel in Capital City.


    Darleen was confused. Weren''t they supposed to visit the Lindsays?


    Looking at Edna, she asked, "Mom, are we in the wrong ce?"


    Edna replied, "J''s tied up today. We''re not going to her ce for Christmas."


    "Oh." Darleen''s heart sank with disappointment, but she didn''t press further.


    At the Yeager residence in Cloudcrest, the holiday vibe were in full swing, with the TV broadcasting


    holiday specials.


    Nanson and Anthea were busy hanging festive banners and window decals.


    Carole''s voice floated from the kitchen, "Annie, we''re fresh out of vinegar. Could you do a quick run


    to the market and pick some up?"


    "Sure thing," Anthea replied, setting down the banner. "Be right back!"


    She grabbed her phone and coat, and hurried out the door.


    The market was just outside the neighborhood.


    Carole needed the vinegar pronto, so Anthea jogged along, but as fate would have it, she collided


    with someone rounding the corner.