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.

expected her to suddenly... leave home, and everything went wrong at Yonder

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

the chairman of Yonder Digital, I planned to ask him not to pull out of the partnership. I thought then I could share the truth

her face as she bowed her head, covering her face with her hands. "But I was wrong. I never thought Shakira would have joined the competition too. I

it was 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 empathy. "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. It's

take a break. This whole situation went sideways, but you were just trying to help the family, and we

up with us and taken over the projects that Yonder Digital has objected to. As for the plagiarism issue...

caused the Nelson family could finally be put behind

was taken aback.

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

"Mom, we're

sure. Once you're feeling better, you should invite him over to

nodded. After a moment of hesitation, she asked. "Did

talk about her, Rebecca said, her tone

expression soured too. Today's mess was partly Shakira's fault. If she hadn't stirred things up and just stayed home, would they