Chapter 26 I’ll Kill Her Myself
A negative was basically the master copy.
As long as you had that, you could make as many prints as you wanted.
Yesterday, Yvonne had been so frantic she didn’t even notice it was missing.
And now, Evelyn had her trapped.
Her voice shook as she gripped the sheets, knuckles pale. “What do you want from me?”
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Evelyn’s tone was calm, steady, and pled. No need to rush, Mom. Just focus on getting better. Let’s keep the peace for now. When the moment’s right, I’ll let you know what I’m after
Yvonne was like a poisonous fish out of water–still dangerous once, but helpless now.
Still, she wasn’t ready to give up. She narrowed her eyes. “Why should I trust you? You might’ve already sent the pictures out.”
She was grasping for control, trying to find some way to turn the tables.
To her, this wasn’t mother and daughter. This was war.
But Evelyn just chuckled.
That pale face of hers lit up with a slow, icy smile–pretty, but full of contempt.
She leaned in slightly and asked in a soft voice, “Do you seriously think you’re in a position to bargain with me?”
That question cut through Yvonne like a blade.
All the fight drained out of her. She slumped back, eyes dull and defeated.
There was nothing left. No tricks. No backup plans.
She’d lost everything.
After a long pause, she muttered, “Fine. We’ll keep it civil for now. When the time comes, I’ll do what you ask. But then you give me the negatives.”
“Glad we understand each other,” Evelyn said with a nod.
Then she added, “Someone will come get you this afternoon. I’ve got to go clean up the mess at home. I’m not staying.”
With that, she gave a light wave and turned to leave, still smiling.
Yvonne couldn’t smile back.
She couldn’t even fake it.
Alice’s name had been dragged through the mud. Seth’s mother had made a huge scene. Irene had turned cold and distant. And now Evelyn had her locked in with those damn negatives.
It was all piling up, each thing hitting her like a brick to the chest.
In just two days, she looked like she’d aged ten years.
White hairs had started creeping through her temples.
Later that afternoon, when Irene came to help her out of the hospital, a nurse even mistook them for sisters.
Yvonne almost lost it right there and then. She wanted to scream until the building shook.
But she couldn’t even stand straight. She had to lean on Irene just to walk.
From behind, she looked so bent over and worn down that she seemed older than Irene.
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9.25 AM
Chapter 26 I’ll Kill Her Myself
The past few days had sucked the life out of her.
Outside, she finally learned Zaid hadn’t shown up to bring her home.
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There was some crazy woman yelling outside the house this morning,” Irene said like it was no big deal. “Zaid got pissed and drove off. I don’t know where he went.”
Yvonne just nodded weakly.
She knew exactly who that loudmouth was.
Yesterday, after Seth made a scene at their front door, Zaid had blown up and sent him straight to jail.
So naturally, Seth’s mother showed up today, begging them to drop the charges and get him out.
No way I’m letting him out.
Alice is still missing, and that jerk gets to walk around like nothing happened? I’m not about to let that happen.
After a long silence, Yvonne finally asked, “Did Alice come back yet?”
Honestly, she shouldn’t have.
That conversation with Irene last night had already told her everything she needed to know.
But now, with no one else to ask, she had no choice.
Unlike the cold tone Irene had yesterday, today she seemed a lot more emotional.
She let out a sigh and looked at Yvonne with teary eyes. “No. I thought she was just too ashamed to come back, but now it’s been all night. I don’t even know where she’s sleeping or if she’s safe. I’m seriously worried.”
Then she apologized for her attitude the night before.
“I was rushing around trying to catch the bus, so I didn’t realize how serious things were. That’s why I said those things. Yvonne, after you fainted, I was up all night thinking about you. I wanted to visit, but I couldn’t figure out how to get here.”
She even dug out a wad of small bills from her purse. “I asked so many people for directions. Took three different buses just to save on cab money so I could help get you home.”
Family ties mattered.
Yvonne believed her.
“I’ve still got cash. I’ll pay for the cab. Let’s go home,” she said.
While she was still talking, Irene had already stuffed the money back into her pocket and agreed without hesitation. “Okay, let’s go.”
Yvonne spent one dollar to get a cab ride home from the hospital.
Upstairs, Evelyn was cleaning up her room like she hadn’t heard anything. She stayed out of sight.
And Yvonne, still nervous about the negatives, didn’t dare go upstairs to cause a scene.
She just sat on the couch to rest.
Soon enough, Irene brought her a plate of spaghetti.
It was plain. Nothing special.
Yvonne hadn’t eaten since yesterday’s drama. Her stomach had been growling nonstop. At this point, anything tasted
amazing.
She finished the food in no time.
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9.25 AM
Chapter 26 I’ll Kill Her Myself
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Then Irene nervously rubbed her hands and spoke again. “Yvonne, try not to stress about Alice. I already called your brother. Victor’s coming to help out. Once we find Alice, the three of us can talk to Zaid together and calm him down, okay?”
“Mom, you’re the best.” Yvonne was touched and hugged Irene tight.
In that moment, she completely missed the sly flash in Irene’s eyes.
Irene gently patted her on the back. “Of course. That’s what family’s for. You, Zaid, and Alice need to keep things peaceful. That way I can relax, you know?”
Evelyn saw the whole thing from upstairs, watching quietly.
Her expression stayed unreadable as she looked on. After a moment, she just gave a small shake of her head and walked back
to her room.
Most of her stuff had been wrecked by Alice. Even after picking through what was left, there wasn’t much she could use.
So she decided to head out and buy some replacements.
By the time she came downstairs, Zaid had already gotten home.
His face was tight with anger, like a storm brewing.
She had no intention of messing with him. She called out “Dad,” then stepped around him without another word.
Only Yvonne had the guts to go over to him.
Alice had been gone a full 24 hours.
With all that money on her, she could’ve easily bought a ticket and left the state by now.
So Yvonne brought up the idea of asking one of Zaid’s friends at the police department to check the ticket logs at the train. and bus stations. Maybe they could find out if Alice had taken off.
But all that did was make Zaid explode.
He’d always cared way too much about his reputation. And now, thanks to Alice, he felt completely humiliated.
And now they expected him to call in favors to help find her?
Not a chance.
He shoved Yvonne aside with a growl, his whole body shaking with rage. “If she wants to run, let her go. Hope she never comes back. If she does, I’ll kill her myself. I’m not letting her embarrass the Schmidts ever again!”
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