Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Right then , Jameson called Joshua . The phone rang twice before Joshua answered . " Joshua , I hope I'm not bothering you this late , " Jameson began . " No , " Joshua replied . Jameson asked , " Is Shermaine with you ? " Instead of giving a direct answer , Joshua simply said , " She's asleep . " Jameson was overjoyed , putting on the tone of a loving father . " I haven't done a good job taking care of Shermaine . I thought her mother could handle her situation , but it turns out we still had to trouble you in the end . " To be honest , the fact that Joshua got involved had taken Jameson by surprise . The York family had really handed Jameson a gift he never saw coming To Jameson , interests came first . If Shermaine and Joshua really got married , the Jean family's business and reputation would only grow stronger . " But Shermaine's a proper young lady from a respectable family . Staying out all night like that doesn't really look good , " Jameson said hesitantly , testing the waters . " We're engaged . Her staying the night with me is perfectly reasonable , " Joshua remarked , his voice gentle and deep . Jameson relaxed . " So you're saying the engagement still stands ? " " It does , " Joshua replied . Jameson continued , " Then regarding the wedding - if you're free tomorrow , why don't you and Shermaine come by our place ? We can sit down and talk things through . How about that ? " " I'll come by tomorrow afternoon , " Joshua said . Thanks to the whiskey , Shermaine had slept soundly all night . By the time she woke up , it was already ten in the morning . Her stomach growled with hunger . With no phone in hand , she couldn't order delivery . She checked the fridge and found out that there were two eggs left . After finishing breakfast , she pulled 30 bucks out of a drawer , changed her clothes , and grabbed a cab back to the Jean residence . Shermaine didn't want to go back , but her phone was still there , so she had no choice but to go pick it up . She took her time and didn't arrive until nearly twelve o'clock . Little did Shermaine know , some people had already been waiting for her with growing impatience ever since word got out that Joshua had taken her away last night and she hadn't come home since . The moment Shermaine stepped through the front door , the housekeeper Peyton Snow froze for a second before reacting . " Ms. Shue , welcome home . " Shermaine gave her a cool nod . When she walked into the living room , she saw Ruth and Wendelyn seated properly on the sofa . The moment they saw her , their eyes immediately fell on her . Ruth and Wendelyn had assumed Shermaine would come back with Joshua , but she walked in alone . Ruth thought , ' Good . 1 . not say in front of outsiders anyway .' Wendelyn stared at Shermaine , her expression unreadable , her fingers nervously twisting together . re things I'd rather 1/3 Chapter 4 Ruth's face darkened . " Why are you just getting home now ? " Shermaine raised an eyebrow and wondered , ' Did she already find out Joshua took me from the hospital last night ? " I overslept , " she replied . Ruth snapped , " You're a proper lady and the heiress of a respectable family . Even if you're engaged to Joshua , you should know your boundaries , How could you spend the night alone with him ? " Shermaine was confused for a second but quickly caught on . She realized Joshua must have misled them . Since Ruth's tone was already harsh , Shermaine smiled faintly , " I spent the night at my fiancé's . What's the problem ? " Ruth yelled , " Watch your mouth . You and Joshua had never even met before . There are no feelings between you two . If this gets out , what do you think people will say about our family ? " " Whoever dares to run their mouth better be ready for Joshua to deal with them ," Shermaine said , sounding very much like someone using her status for leverage . Ruth was utterly speechless . Wendelyn spoke up , " Mom , don't be mad at Shermaine . It's our fault for not bringing her home last night . Otherwise , we wouldn't have troubled Mr. York . " Ruth stayed silent , thinking , ' She's right . If I'd known Joshua would go to the hospital , I wouldn't have left so soon . That really backfired . Wendelyn looked at Shermaine , her gaze full of concern . " Shermaine , have you had lunch yet ? If not , I can ask Peyton to make something for you . " " I already ate , " Shermaine replied . " Good , " Wendelyn said , as if trying to ease the tension between them . Ruth took a moment to collect herself and softened her tone . " Shermaine , I'm only being strict with you because I want what's best for you . " Shermaine smiled faintly , offering no comment . " Come sit ," Ruth said even more gently . " There's something I want to talk to you about . " Shermaine didn't even need to guess what Ruth was thinking . She went over and sat down , ready to hear whatever it was . Ruth asked , " After meeting Mr. York last night , what do you think of him ? " " He's great , " Shermaine replied . Ruth nodded . " Mr. York's success and ability are beyond what ordinary men can match . He took control of most of the York family's business at such a young age . " Even your father has to show him some deference in the business world - he doesn't dare act like a senior . In the eyes of women , he's elegant and distinguished , the man of their dreams . There are countless women who dream of marrying him . " " Your grandfather had the foresight to speak with Mr. York's grandfather early on and arrange this engagement between you and Mr. York . You were both lucky and unlucky . " You were so young back then , but because of that accident , you lost our family's protection and care . After you turned five . you grew up in a poor village and went through a hard life . " You never received a proper education . There's not a trace of refinement in you - nothing that resembles how a lady from a prestigious family should carry herself . " And after you came back to us , all of those flaws were blown out of proportion because of how much your status had suddenly risen . Chapter 4 " The York family's standards are even higher than ours . Their rules are stricter , too , I honestly don't think you're fit to marry into the York tambalean want to see you suffer over there . " Shermaine's expression didn't change . She thought , ' If I'm not suited to marry him , then who is ? Wendelyn ? She let out a soft laugh , her expression thoughtful . " You're right , Mom . " . Ruth smiled , " Then when Mr. York comes b I'll take the blame . " later , if he Wendelyn's expression subtly eased . She thought , he brings up the engagement , just say you don't want to marry him . If the York family takes offense Shermaine pondered , ' So Joshua's coming No Good At least Shermaine knows her place . That Plains everything . She really hadn't wanted to marry Joshua at first . But what she wanted even less was to hand him over to Wendelyn on a silver platter . Shermaine thought , " This was supposed to be my engagement in the first place , and now I'm expected to step aside like some swest , self - acrifting pushover ? What part of me looks that generous ? ' Then she said , " Mom , you make a fair point . But I still want to marry Joshua . " Hearing that, Ruth and Wendelyn both froze , their expressions turning gloomy . Shermaine continued , " Grandpa worked hard to secure this marriage for the Jean family . If we back out now , wouldn't that be a waste ? If it means I have to swallow a little pride and go through with it , I can handle that . " Ruth snapped , " Shermaine , you're not good enough for Joshua . You need to let go of that thought right now . " Wendelyn chimed in , " Shermaine , Mom's doing this for your own good . She means well . You don't have to shut her down like that . " Shermaine found it laughable . Her eyes turned cold . " Oh , come on , Wendelyn . This whole speech was just to push me aside so you could take my place , wasn't it ? Saying I'm not good enough - how convenient . " Wendelyn's expression stiffened . Ruth didn't even bother pretending anymore . " Am I wrong ? Wendelyn's a better match than you . " Wendelyn pressed her lips together and said softly , " Shermaine , everyone in the Jean family knows how deeply I love Mr. York . Please don't blame Mom . " She paused . " Mom didn't mean what she said . She just didn't want to see me keep crushing on Mr. York all these years with nothing to show for it , so she hoped you'd give up the engagement . " Shermaine , I know it's a lot to ask , but could you please let me have this ? " Shermaine thought , ' Figures . Mom's only good to Wendelyn . She grants her every wish . As for me , I've never even gotten a kind look from her . ' Shermaine's tone was cold as she turned Ruth down . " Sorry , but no . " A No Ads Send gift