Winona’s eyes widened in disbelief. "How dare she deny that?" she hissed. "What a bitch!"

Feeling sorry for Winona, Zachary cleared his throat, rubbed his sore arm, and said, "Yvette, since Winona has apologized, can we just let it go? Keeping the peace in the family is important. I’ll give you a villa in South Bay!"

Nellie was upset. That villa, over seven thousand square feet, was Zachary’s prized possession, promised to Zeke as a birthday gift. Giving it to Yvette as compensation seemed excessive. Giving her a villa worth over thirty million dollars? Winona’s heart raced with anger, but since it all started because of her, she remained silent.

Zeke, witnessing the unfolding drama, realized he’d lose his birthday gift. Though not short on cash, the villa was significant, and he'd planned a party with heirs from the four families. His face twisted as he silently cursed Winona.

Yvette merely glanced at Zachary, showing no surprise. The others, however, reacted as if the villa’s value was significant.

Zachary assumed Yvette didn't understand the villa's market value; mentioning it would seem like showing off. Her lack of reaction to such a generous offer left him unsettled.

The usually quiet butler, Lucas, stepped forward. "Ms. Zeller," he said respectfully, "this villa is one of Mr. Zachary Chambers’ prized properties, worth over thirty million dollars."

"So what?" Yvette asked, amused, raising an eyebrow.

Her haughty demeanor enraged everyone but Lucas, who was accustomed to her arrogance.

Nellie gritted her teeth. "Honey, since Yvette doesn’t seem interested, let’s not push it. She just arrived; let’s just have her stay at home. I have a limited-edition jewelry set that would be perfect for her. Consider it an apology." Lowering her voice, she added, "Didn't you promise Zeke the villa? If you give it to Yvette, he’ll be disappointed. Let’s find another way to compensate her."

Yvette, a skilled lip-reader, understood Nellie perfectly.

Zachary momentarily forgot his promise to Zeke, but Yvette's presence changed things. He now wanted Yvette to have the villa. He felt trapped.

Seeing Zachary hesitate, Nellie used Yvette's attitude to her advantage. "You might not realize this," she said pretentiously, "but your dad promised the villa to Zeke. Since you don’t want it, how about I add a Porsche to the jewelry? Sound good?"

Yvette sensed more to it than money. "When will the villa officially change hands?" she asked.

Winona breathed a sigh of relief. If Yvette agreed, she'd avoid a public apology, which would make her a laughingstock. But she despised Yvette's apparent shift from seeming indifferent to money to eagerly accepting the villa.

"Changed your mind?" Yvette asked.

Zachary quickly assured her, instructing Lucas to handle the paperwork. But Nellie, seeking Zeke's support, shot him a glance.

Zeke, harboring inappropriate thoughts about Yvette, was happy to seal the deal. "Since Dad promised it to her, it only makes sense," he said smoothly.

Nellie fumed. Even her obedient son was charmed by Yvette. "She's just as cunning as Lilian!" she thought.