Chapter 10
Phoebe froze. “No, Rosalie, get some rest. I won’t disturb…”
Before she finished her words, the door slammed shut in her face.
A hot flush rose to Phoebe’s forehead.
“See? This bitch isn’t worth your kindness. No manners at all. I can’t believe what Dominik and Karen are thinking, Tianna scoffed from behind.
Phoebe turned, her sweet smile clinging to her face like a mask. “Rosalie just needs time to adjust. She’ll come around.”
Tianna seethed at her passivity but could do nothing. “Fine, at least I like you, Phoebe.”
She thought, I’ve already clashed with Rosalie, so let me play the villain. Next time, I won’t be so careless. Rosalie, just you wait!’
“Everyone’s exhausted. Go rest, and I’ll tell Mom and Dad Rosalie’s settled in.”
Phoebe’s eyes narrowed subtly, a glint of calculation in her gaze.
After shooing Tianna back to her room, Phoebe turned toward the third–floor master suite.
As her hand hovered to knock, she noticed the door stood slightly ajar, voices seeping through the crack. She paused instinctively, breath held as she strained to eavesdrop.
Dominik and Karen were talking.
Karen’s voice drifted out, “Do you really think that’s necessary?”
Dominik replied, “If I’m overthinking, prove me wrong. Mr. Elliott sent an invitation a month ago to Mr. Colten Elliottt’s birthday party. Given Mr. Merritt’s close ties to Mr. Elliott, he’s certain to attend.
“We’ll send Rosalie over. If Mr. Merritt does like her, he’ll take her home; if not, we lose nothing. See?”
Karen sounded astonished, “You’re going to send her to be his mistress? She’s… our child.”
“Don’t phrase it like that,” Dominik chided. “A golden opportunity is here. Would you throw it away? Besides, being a wealthy daughter isn’t easy. Since we brought her back and gave her that status, she owes the family.”
Karen fell silent, her voice conflicted, “But she’s only seventeen. Is this really…”
Dominik didn’t mind it. “She’ll be eighteen soon. That’s mature enough. In ancient times, she’d already had children.”
This time Karen was silent longer. When she spoke again, her tone seemed to plead with both Dominik and herself.
“But will she cooperate? Tonight, if she’d been more sensible, we wouldn’t have been embarrassed. Do you dare to take her to Mr. Colten Elliottt’s birthday party? Present her to Mr. Merritt? What if she causes trouble?”
“We have over a month to discipline her,” Dominik soothed.
Karen didn’t respond.
He pressed on, “Besides, don’t tell her the truth. Just say arranged marriages are common in high society. Have her ‘get along with Mr. Merritt… Look, Phoebe is already engaged to the Donovan heir.
“If, I mean if Rosalie can inanipulate Mr. Merritt into marriage, she might even be formally recognized as our daughter.”
Phoebe couldn’t bear to hear more. She stumbled back to her room in a daze.
There was only one thought consuming her. ‘No. Rosalie can never be paired with Mr. Merritt. She must never gain recognition as a true Spencer. There’s only one rightful lady of this family, and that’s me!
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