She gritted her teeth as hatred churned violently in her chest.
’Slut!’
Zoe Morgan glanced over at her and said gently, "Yvonne, are you coming over to my place tonight?"
But Yvonne Morgan declined. "Some other time, Auntie. I’m worried about Mom’s health."
’Her parents had been cold toward her lately; she had to do her best to show them how devoted a daughter she was.’
Zoe Morgan nodded. "All right, I’ll take you home first."
"Thank you, Auntie," Yvonne Morgan said gently.
On the way back to the Morgan residence, Yvonne Morgan even stopped to buy some pastries from the shop Aria Sinclair loved.
"Mom’s appetite hasn’t been good lately. I’m so worried about her."
"Her appetite’s poor?" Zoe Morgan asked, concerned. "Has she gone to see a doctor?"
Yvonne Morgan was silent for a few seconds before saying quietly, "A doctor’s visit probably won’t help. Mom has no appetite because of my sister, Renee Jennings."
"It’s because of her again?" Zoe Morgan frowned.
"Mom really misses Renee."
Zoe Morgan gripped the steering wheel tightly. "How can my sister-in-law be like this?" she said, exasperated.
"It’s understandable, really." Yvonne Morgan lowered her head, her voice soft. "After all, Renee is her biological daughter."
Zoe Morgan’s expression darkened, her tone laced with displeasure. "But has she considered your feelings? You’re her daughter, too."
"I..." Yvonne Morgan bit her lip. "I’ll be fine."
"Don’t say things like that." Zoe Morgan took her hand, her voice stern. "I need to have another talk with my sister-in-law."
"You don’t have to. I don’t want to make things difficult for you, Auntie."
"It’s no trouble at all, as long as it makes you happy."
Yvonne Morgan took a deep breath, her voice catching. "Auntie, thank you, really. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what I’d do..."
"Yvonne," Zoe Morgan said, her heart aching for her. "You’ve been through so much."
Yvonne Morgan lowered her eyes, the corner of her mouth twisting into a cold, disdainful sneer.
’Old hag. You know I’m suffering, but you haven’t done a single thing to help. You’re completely useless.’
Though she thought this, she didn’t let it show. Instead, she squeezed Zoe Morgan’s hand, tears of gratitude streaming down her face. "I’ll be fine, Auntie. Please don’t let me come between you and Mom."