?


    "Come on, Mom, get it straight. I''m your son, not Leda. Since when do you threaten to break my legs over her?" "Just because she''s the daughter-inw I''ve chosen. No one''s allowed to mess with her, and that includes you." York felt a lump in his throat at the mention of ''daughter-inw''...


    Turning away, he crossed his arms and huffed, "She''s got too high standards, doesn''t care about your... stuff."


    Nor about me, her supposed fiancé!


    "Well, you got that right," Katrina nodded in agreement. "Leda does have high standards. But she''s got every right to aim for the best, don''t you think? Not everyone is like you, sneaking around like some alley cat, never knowing if you''reing or going..."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    York spun around, shouting, "I''m your flesh and blood, for heaven''s sake!"


    "I know, no need to yell and break my heart."


    "...What?"


    "I left the stuff for you to give to Leda. Make sure she gets it soon, you hear?"


    "Saw that, won''t reply."


    Katrina went straight for the jugr, grabbing his ear: "Did you hear me?"


    "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Yeah, I heard you!"


    "Oh, and next weekend, I''ve organized a little get-together. Make sure you bring Leda along, it''ll be a nice way for her to meet my old gang!"


    "Really, do we have to?" York''s eyes flickered with unease. He had already burned bridges, how was he supposed to bring her along?


    Was this a suicide mission?


    Katrina''s face darkened: "Of course, we have to. Just do as you''re told, will you?"


    "Fine, I''ve got someone waiting for me downtown. I''ll leave first. Don''t forget to call Leda."


    York: "...Sure."


    Only after Katrina left did York feel


    the weight of the world on his


    shoulders. Meanwhile, Leda wal


    going about her life as usual


    working, chilling.


    asionally hitting the bars, ying some ball, life went on as before.


    Except for one thing...


    ?


    "N: "Leda, you''ve been with that Gibson boy for a while now. Sure I''ve seen him, but when are you officially bringing him home for the family to meet?"


    Leda quickly distanced the phone, "Hello? Mom, what''s that? Bad reception here, can''t hear you clearly. I''ll call you back when I''m free—" With that, she hung up.


    The whole ordeal was smooth as silk, a routine now perfected.


    But once the phone was down, Leda stared at her cocktail, lost in thought.


    Mrs. N actually wanted to formally introduce York to the Reynolds family, clearly impressed with him.


    Too bad, they were already done.


    Leda was now fretting over finding someone new to keep her mother satisfied...


    What a headache.


    If only she had been more cautious that night, she wouldn''t have lost such a valuable partner.


    Unaware of Leda and York''s drama was Roseanne.


    After Madeleine Payne returned from a conference in Australia, she was off again to a symposium in Ravenport, this time with Roseanne in tow.


    They were gone for five days, setting


    back theirb work significantly. So, upon return, Roseanne, without even unpacking, dashed for theb


    én.kikistories


    swno


    But she found theb door shut tight, with Mamie and Scales sitting in the hallway, looking like two lost souls...