Chapter 513: Mrs. Scott Senses Yara Scott’s Feelings

These past two days had Mrs. Scott worried to death. She had thought of several solutions, like returning the betrothal gift, offering additional compensation, or even introducing them to another beautiful young woman, but the Walker Family wasn’t satisfied with any of it.

Furthermore, the Walker Family had given her only three days. If she couldn’t resolve the matter by then, they warned her not to blame them for being ruthless.

The stress had given Mrs. Scott more gray hairs, and she wore a worried expression every day.

Even if there was truly no other way, she couldn’t bring herself to marry Yara off to them.

She didn’t know what to do. The Scott Family could not yet afford the consequences of making an enemy of the Walker Family.

Seth also found out about the situation. He came home and asked, "Mom, why wouldn’t you tell me about something this major?"

Mrs. Scott replied, "You’re so busy with work. Telling you would only distract you. Don’t worry about any of this, just focus on your job."

"How can I possibly focus on work? You didn’t tell me about something as huge as Nina’s marriage, and now you’re hiding this mess with the Walker Family from me. I won’t allow Yara to be married off. I’ve watched her grow up; she’s my sister."

Yara was deeply moved when she heard this. ’Seth is so wonderful,’ she thought.

’If only I could be Seth’s woman.’

Not wanting to miss any chance for physical contact, Yara seized the opportunity to go over and cling to Seth’s arm. "Brother, I don’t want to marry Cameron Walker."

Seeing Yara clinging to Seth’s arm, Mrs. Scott pulled her away. "Stay out of this. I’ll handle the negotiations with the Walker Family."

Mrs. Scott felt an urge to drag Nina back and give her a beating. If it weren’t for Nina, none of this would be happening. But every time she sent people to find Nina, they were blocked by a group of men. It looked like Nina had probably hired bodyguards.

’How could I have given birth to a daughter like this? If I’d known, I should have just strangled her as a baby!’

Still, Mrs. Scott couldn’t bear to marry Yara off. The Walker Family might have some money and power, but Cameron Walker was older and already had a child. Besides, given the Walkers’ arrogance and Mrs. Walker’s attitude, Yara wouldn’t have a good life if she married into that family.

Yara and Nina were different. Nina had a bad temper and would never let herself be taken advantage of; she would undoubtedly clash with Mrs. Walker.

But Yara was so mild-mannered; she would surely be mistreated there. How could Mrs. Scott bear to let her precious treasure, whom she had doted on since childhood, go off to suffer?

"Don’t worry, Yara. Mom will figure something out."

Yara nodded and hugged Mrs. Scott. "I knew you were the best, Mom."

...

On the final day of the three-day deadline, the family was having dinner together. The atmosphere at the table was relatively harmonious.

Yara was placing food on everyone’s plates. After serving Mrs. Scott, she then served Seth.

Just then, a servant approached. "Ma’am, there is a phone call for you."

"For me?" Mrs. Scott wondered who it could be. ’What if it’s someone from the Walker Family?’

Mrs. Scott walked over and answered the phone.

Mrs. Scott froze at whatever the person on the other end said, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She whipped her head around to look at Yara and only then did she truly see her. Yara was sitting beside Seth, looking quiet and demure, her cheeks faintly flushed.

She kept placing food on Seth’s plate and stealing glances at him, her eyes filled with adoration.

And this adoration... it clearly wasn’t the simple love of a sister for her brother.

She didn’t know who the caller was. It was a woman, and she had told her one simple thing: the person Yara was in love with was her son, Seth.

The thought had never crossed her mind, not even once. But seeing them now, she felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her.

’Yara... is in love with Seth?’

’That’s absolutely impossible!’

Even as Mrs. Scott told herself it was impossible, panic began to grip her. She recalled noticing recently that Yara had been acting overly familiar with Seth.

Yara was always talking about Seth, cooking for him personally whenever he came home, and fretting over him when he was busy with work. Before, Mrs. Scott had simply thought Yara was a kind girl who cared deeply for her brother. The possibility of romantic love had never even occurred to her.

Mrs. Scott walked back to the table, looking dazed.

"Mom, what’s wrong?" Seth asked, noticing her pale expression. "Was that a call from the Walker Family? Are they causing more trouble?"

Mrs. Scott shook her head. "It wasn’t the Walkers. Just eat. Don’t you have to go back to the office? You don’t need to come home for the next couple of days. Everything’s fine here, Mom will take care of it."

Seth felt something was off. His mother seemed like a completely different person after taking that call.

"Hurry and eat, Brother. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Mom," Yara said, once again placing food on Seth’s plate. "Have some more of this, and this too. I made both of these dishes myself, so eat up!"

She didn’t even bother with the serving chopsticks, using her own pair to serve him.

This detail was now magnified in Mrs. Scott’s eyes.

Mrs. Scott felt a sharp pain, as if a knife had been twisted in her heart. No wonder Nina had said the other day that Yara had her sights set on someone else in the Scott Family.

’I can treat Yara as my daughter, but if she has other ideas—if she wants to become my daughter-in-law—that is absolutely out of the question!’

’My son deserves someone far more outstanding. He’s good enough for a bride from one of the great houses of Aethelgard!’

"Son, didn’t you say you were busy at the office? Go on, you don’t have to stay and eat with me." Mrs. Scott’s smile was stiff.

"Alright, I’ll head to the office then." Seth felt like his mother didn’t really want him to stay, and besides, meals at home had been incredibly tense lately.

Seth wiped his mouth and left. Yara was clearly unhappy. "Mom, Brother so rarely comes home. Why did you chase him away? You didn’t even let him finish eating. Maybe I should pack some food and bring it to his office later."

Yara was very enthusiastic about the idea. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d done so.

Previously, Mrs. Scott wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but now, the more she watched Yara, the more convinced she became that she had ulterior motives.

Yara had just stood up when Mrs. Scott grabbed her by the wrist. "You don’t need to trouble yourself with that," she said. "I’ll have a servant prepare some soup and send it over."

"But my soup tastes better. Let me make some for Brother," Yara insisted, still oblivious and just as enthusiastic.

"Sit down. I have something to discuss with you."

"What is it?" Yara asked as she sat back down.

Mrs. Scott’s gaze turned sharp. "I’ve been giving it some thought," she said. "Your brother isn’t getting any younger, so I’ve started looking at potential matches for him. That young lady from the Lee Family seems like a good prospect. I hear she just graduated from college and is both beautiful and talented."

"No! That woman isn’t good enough for Brother!" Yara’s reaction was surprisingly strong.

Sensing her reaction was too strong, she quickly tried to soften her tone. "Mom, Brother is still young, isn’t he? He should be focused on his career. It’s too early for marriage. And... that woman really isn’t good enough for him."