The True Heiress's Return

Chapter 22

But thinking about being cornered by reporters that afternoon sent a wave of humiliation to Cody. He had never felt like this before. Anger and shame stirred inside him, leaving him feeling suffocated. Yvette instinctively glanced at Lago, their eyes communicating silently. The dim light in the ward made her pale face look even more pitiful. Struggling to hold back tears, she seemed to make a decision and suddenly tossed aside the blanket covering her. "Yvette?" Rebecca rushed to support her. Yvette climbed out of bed and bowed deeply toward Cody and Rebecca. "Dad, Mom, today's mess is all my fault, and I deserve the ridicule and humiliation. But I can't let you guys suffer because of me." Shen then turned to Mitchell and asked, her tone firm, "Are there still reporters outside, Mitchell? Mitchell, who had been lost in thought, looked up. "Yeah, just a few."

"Well, that's good. Yvette managed a faint smile, though her face remained pale. I'll go out and tell the reporters the truth. I'm not the real daughter of the Nelson family, and I'm just the mistaken one: This way, they'll focus on me and leave you alone. Her tone was calm, as if she had completely given up and didn't care about anything anymore. All she wanted was to keep the Nelson family safe, and she'd do anything for that.

Rebecca gasped, covering her mouth, eyes brimming with tears. Oh, Yvette, how could you be so foolish?"

Yvette's smile widened, but everyone could tell she was forcing herself. She even turned around to comfort Rebecca. "Mom, it's okay. I've always made mistakes before and faced my share of scolding. This is nothing compared to what I've been through. As long as everyone is okay, I'm not scared.

Rebecca held her hand tightly. "If only you had told us sooner that those designs weren't yours... We could have figured something out."

Yvette's voice trembled as she began to explain her "reasons." "I know Shakira didn't like me after she got home. I took her place and love from Dad, Mom, and brothers. I felt guilty, and she has every right to be angry at me.

"When I saw the portfolio that day, she hid it away, looking suspicious of me. I shouldn't have interfered, but her designs were so good! I just wanted to help her shine.

"So, I submitted her designs to Yonder Digital. I thought that if I got in and succeeded, I could tell Shakira later, and she would be happy.

to suddenly... leave home,

to tell Mom and Dad that the designs weren't mine, and Shakira was the one who passed the Yonder Digital interview, not me."

I planned to ask him not to pull out of the partnership. I thought then I could share the

I was wrong. I never thought Shakira would have joined

Sean. If he hadn't turned his back, none of this chaos would have happened. Rebecca, who had felt distant from Yvette carlier, was now overwhelmed with

This whole situation went sideways, but you were just trying to help the family, and

the projects that Yonder

the embarrassment Yvette caused the Nelson family could finally be put behind

was taken aback. "The Ortiz

out, some folks from the Ortiz family showed up at the office. Finn has signed a contract with them. Rebecca

face blushed. "Mom, we're just good

to thank him for his help today," Rebecca said with a

hesitation, she asked. "Did Shakira... come

not talk about her, Rebecca

If she hadn't stirred things up and just stayed home, would they even be