Joshua gave Shermaine a long , meaningful look , though it disappeared almost instantly , They were going to be husband and wife in name , but nothing more . To him , Shermaine posed no threat , so he had no reason to dig deeper into he background . Shermaine's voice was sweet , and she smiled with innocent charm , " Mr. Owen York , am I really that good ? " " You are , " Owen replied without hesitation . " You're just as excellent as your brother . " Shermaine was at the age where she should've been thriving , yet because of those fourteen years of separation , all the glory and life that should've been hers had been handed to Wendelyn , her adopted sister . ' Owen figured if Shermaine had grown up under the Jean family's protection , she would've become someone outstanding . She wouldn't have carried such a bad reputation , and no one would've dared to mistreat her . Fortunately , she was still young and sharp . It wasn't too late for anything . That game of chess lasted an hour before they knew it . Ever since his health had declined , Owen had rarely enjoyed a game of chess this thoroughly . Part of it was because he seldom went out anymore , and the friends around him weren't exactly strong players . He chuckled , " Sheary , I knew I wasn't wrong about you . " Shermaine lost , but it was a respectable loss . " You flatter me , " she said . Owen still hadn't had enough . If they played another round, Shermaine might not even lose . Her learning ability was genuinely impressive - she'd even picked up on his tactics mid - game and silently started using them against him . But after that match , he didn't have the energy for another . His body was weak , and fatigue was setting in . Joshua helped Owen up . " Maybe you should go upstairs and lie down for a bit . I'll have the driver take you home later . " Owen nodded and said to Shermaine , " Sheary , I'm tired . I'm going upstairs to rest . " Shermaine put the pieces back into the chess box and smiled , " Okay . " Since Wendelyn was still there , it wasn't the right time for Shermaine to check Owen's condition . She figured she'd wait until Wendelyn left and Owen had rested . " Excuse me , ladies , " Joshua remarked as he helped Owen upstairs . The two of them gradually disappeared around the corner . Now , only Shermaine and Wendelyn were left in the living room . Wendelyn felt utterly humiliated . As soon as Joshua and Owen were gone , she couldn't hold it in anymore . " Shermaine , you clearly knew how to play chess but lied and said you didn't . You're way too calculating . " Shermaine popped a cherry into her mouth and raised an eyebrow . " What , you just can't handle the fact that I played too well to be a first - time Wendelyn shot back , " It wasn't your first time / She just couldn't bring herself to admit that after years of learning chess , she still lost to Shermaine , who picked it up instantly and played that well . It felt like a slap in the face . Shermaine gave a soft laugh . " Sounds like you know the truth deep down . Honestly , you should be grateful I didn't completely humiliate you . " 1/2 ( 20:36 FI , 30 MIN Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Joshua gave Shermaine a long , meaningful look , though it disappeared almost instantly . They were going to be husband and wife in name , but nothing more . To him , Shermaine posed no threat , so he had no reason to dig deeper into her background . Shermaine's voice was sweet , and she smiled with innocent charm , " Mr. Owen York , am I really that good ? " " You are , " Owen replied without hesitation . " You're just as excellent as your brother . " Shermaine was at the age where she should've been thriving , yet because of those fourteen years of separation , all the glory and life that should've been hers had been handed to Wendelyn , her adopted sister . Owen figured if Shermaine had grown up under the Jean family's protection , she would've become someone outstanding . She wouldn't have carried such a bad reputation , and no one would've dared to mistreat her . Fortunately , she was still young and sharp . It wasn't too late for anything . That game of chess lasted an hour before they knew it . Ever since his health had declined , Owen had rarely enjoyed a game of chess this thoroughly . Part of it was because he seldom went out anymore , and the friends around him weren't exactly strong players . He chuckled , " Sheary , I knew I wasn't wrong about you . " Shermaine lost , but it was a respectable loss . " You flatter me ," she said . Owen still hadn't had enough . If they played another round , Shermaine might not even lose . Her learning ability was genuinely impressive - she'd even picked up on his tactics mid - game and silently started using them against him . But after that match , he didn't have the energy for another . His body was weak , and fatigue was setting in . Joshua helped Owen up . " Maybe you should go upstairs and lie down for a bit . I'll have the driver take you home later . " Owen nodded and said to Shermaine , " Sheary , I'm tired . I'm going upstairs to rest . " Shermaine put the pieces back into the chess box and smiled , " Okay . " Since Wendelyn was still there , it wasn't the right time for Shermaine to check Owen's condition . She figured she'd wait until Wendelyn left and Owen had rested . " Excuse me , ladies , " Joshua remarked as he helped Owen upstairs . The two of them gradually disappeared around the corner . Now , only Shermaine and Wendelyn were left in the living room . Wendelyn felt utterly humiliated . As soon as Joshua and Owen were gone , she couldn't hold it in anymore . " Shermaine , you clearly knew how to play chess but lied and said you didn't . You're way too calculating . " Shermaine popped a cherry into her mouth and raised an eyebrow . " What , you just can't handle the fact that I played too well to be a first - timer ? " Wendelyn shot back , " It wasn't your first time / She just couldn't bring herself to admit that after years of learning chess , she still lost to Sher . picked it up instantly and played that well . It felt like a slap in the face . Shermaine gave a soft laugh . " Sounds like you know the truth deep down . Honestly , you should be grateful I didn't completely humiliate you . " e , who Chapter 12 Owen had been the one to suggest the game , Shermine knew his time was precious and that he genuinely wanted to aprons a co was why , to avoid wasting time , she hadn't gone head to head with Wendelyn , It wasn't a head on showdown , but it came pretty close . Wendelyn had hoped to highlight the gap between her and Shermaine so Owen would regret choosing Shermaine . And the gap was obvious - Wendelyn had lost miserably . She had never felt this humiliated in her life . Shermaine never went easy on her enemies . Her tone stayed as laid back and proud as ever . " And since you think I'm so calculating , maybe next time don't come at me with such basic tricks . Honestly , it's boring . " Wendelyn looked like she'd just taken a slap to the ego . Her face went pale with rage . She gritted her teeth . " Don't get cocky . " " What's there to be cocky about just because I beat you ? " Shermaine replied flatly . If this weren't Joshua's place , that sweet and gentle persona Wendelyn wore would've been ripped to shreds by Shermaine's few simple lines . Wendelyn scoffed , " What a big ego . Just because you're back in the Jean family , don't think that makes you somebody . Everyone knows I'm better than you in every way possible . It's just chess - what's so impressive about that ? " Shermaine looked at her . " Then why are you so upset ? " " I'm not , " Wendelyn snapped . " Just wait and see , Shermaine . " With that , she grabbed her purse and walked out . As soon as Wendelyn left , Shermaine called over Mariam and asked , " Where's my room ? " Mariam stepped up , polite and proper . " Ma'am , your room is right across from Mr. Joshua York's . I'll take you up to drop off your things ." Shermaine wasn't used to being called that . " Just call me Shermaine . You don't need to be so formal ." " Yes , ma'am . " Mariam nodded . Shermaine was instantly speechless . ' Didn't I just tell her not to call me ma'am ? ' she wondered . Her luggage had already been brought upstairs by Mariam when she arrived . Just like Mariam said , Shermaine's room was across from Joshua's . As soon as she opened the door and saw the overly pink decor , Shermaine was at a bit of a loss . It was full of girly vibes , which wasn't her thing at all . But she hadn't planned on treating this place like home anyway , so she figured she'd just deal with it for now . Shermaine didn't bring much luggage , but the room had everything she could possibly need . Skincare and makeup products filled the vanity , row after row , and the walk - in closet was packed with clothes , shoes , and jewelry - all brand new for the season . Joshua had clearly put a lot of thought into preparing for his fiancée's move - in . Shermaine stepped out of the walk - in closet and started unpacking the things she had brought . Besides her usual clothes , there was a stack of design drafts , and most of the remaining space was filled with bottles - whiskey , tequila , sake , and so on . She liked drinking while sketching , always with music playing in the background . Footsteps sounded outside the door . Shermaine didn't turn around . " Is there a glass for drinking in this house ? " she asked casuallv But the voice that answered wasn't Mariam's . It was Joshua's . " You really like drinking ? " His voice was low and smooth , like a perfectly aged liquor - intoxicating just to hear . Shermaine wasn't someone who fell for voices , but even she found 2/2 Chapter 12 herself drawn to his voice . She froze for a second , then turned around and saw Joshua leaning casually against the doorway , tall and refined , still there . His gaze was fixed on her , calm and magnetic . No matter how many times she looked at Joshua , she still found him absurdly attractive . His face was flawless , and he gave off this mix of mature confidence and raw , alluring masculine energy that was impossible to ignore . Shermaine said , " Yeah . Got any here ? " Joshua smiled , " Come with me . "