"You know her!" Yasmin exclaimed, her eyes widening with surprise. She had not realized she had scooted so near to him. "How did you know her? Do you know who her boyfriend is? Do you have any idea where she could be?" She asked one question after another.
He gaped at her, bewildered as if he had not expected her to shoot a series of questions in response to his single question. Besides, her closeness and her questioning gaze made him uneasy. His lower lip quivered as he tried to speak.
Observing his pale face, Yasmin figured he was hiding something. "Why are you not answering me?" She squinted at him skeptically. "You know something about her, don't you? What are you trying to hide?"
"I…"
"Earl…" Amber's sharp voice resonated in the mansion, making him jump. "What have you been doing there for such a long time? Come here."
"I got to go." Earl leaped to his feet and dashed to the stairs. He paused after a few steps and returned to her. "This is my card." He pulled a card from his wallet and handed it to her. "You can contact me anytime. And…" He glanced around before saying, "I am trying to find her. I will let you know if I get any information about her."
"You…" Earl dashed away before Yasmin could ask anything. "What on earth was that?" she muttered as she watched him rush up the stairs. She lowered her gaze to the card in her hand. "Earl Salas, President and CEO of Square Tech."
Since her father's company, Oregon, was also a tech firm, she figured Natasha and Earl might have met for business purposes. She couldn't help but be surprised at his timid appearance.
When she raised her head to look up at the first floor, her eyes were wide. "Why is he so scared of his wife if he is such an influential man?" she wondered. "What is his story?"
After checking the card once again, she slipped it into her purse. The click-clack noise on the stairs prompted her to raise her head. Her gaze was drawn to a middle-aged woman walking down the stairs.
The woman looked elegant in her beige mid-length dress. She maintained her figure well. Her hair was blonde, just like Amber's. Her skin was flawless as well. The exquisite make-up that she put on made her look stunning. Her short bob hair gracefully framed her round face.
It was Caroline, Declan's stepmother.
Yasmin couldn't help but compare Caroline to Grace, who was no less beautiful and elegant than the former. What made them different was their attitude. Caroline's body language was arrogant and haughty compared to Grace's gentle and kind demeanor. She radiated a cold aura that made her appear unapproachable.
Yasmin cringed under her stern glare. She, however, mustered a smile and rose to her feet. 'Hello, Mom,' she was about to say this but abruptly paused as she remembered Declan addressing Caroline as his father's wife.
"Hello, Aunty."
"Hmm…" Caroline pulled up her eyebrows and observed her up and down as if she was looking at something unworthy. "You look different."
Yasmin was not sure what to say. So, she remained quiet, nervously pushing a few locks of her hair behind her ear.
"Where is Declan?" Caroline asked, glancing around the hall and taking a seat on the sofa.
"He has gone out," Yasmin replied as she sat down.
Caroline gave her another long, hard look and said, "Now I understand why you look different. You have got rid of your glasses."
"Yes."
"Hmm… This look suits you."
"Thank you."
"Good evening, Aunt." A sweet female voice muffled Yasmin's words.
Her mouth hung open when she saw a beautiful young woman in her twenties wearing a white halter neck dress that ended just above her knees. Her impeccable skin was glowing like jade under the bright light. She was the epitome of beauty. Her figure was also attractive. Even women would be drawn to her, let alone men.
Yasmin thought her sister was the most beautiful and intelligent, but nothing could compare to this woman. She wondered who this beauty was. But her eagerness was quickly dispelled when she heard Caroline say, "Tina, my darling."
Boom…
Yasmin had the same feeling of an explosion inside her head that she had when Derrek told her about Tina.
'This is Tina, Declan's ex,' she whispered to herself.
She became envious of her. Such beauty would certainly attract Declan. She could never compete with her. How was she going to win Declan over?
'Um… Mommy.' She felt compelled to cry.
While she was sad, Tina and Caroline laughed and hugged each other.
Caroline held her shoulders at arm's length, observing her from head to toe. "Look at you. You look stunning as always."
"And you look younger day by day," Tina complimented her with her nasal tone.
"Oh, you are flattering me." Caroline laughed, waving her hand.
"Tina is right. Every time I see you, you seem more stunning than the last."
Only then did Yasmin notice the tall, good-looking man standing behind Tina. She assumed they were siblings based on the similarity of their eye colors and facial features.
The grey eyes of the man were chilly and sharp. His demeanor was cold and intimidating, just like Declan's. But he had a wide grin on his face that Yasmin had never noticed on Declan.
"Oh, my sweetheart, Sean. You know how to praise a woman." Caroline pulled him into a warm embrace. "I am glad that you can make it for dinner."
"How can we not come when you invited us?"
"Sean, Tina… You are here," Amber squealed as she rushed down the stairs, trailed behind by Earl. She threw her arms around Sean's neck as if she was meeting her lover after a long time. "I miss you."
"You look beautiful," Sean murmured and wrapped his arms around her, his gaze gentle, full of affection.
"Thank you." Amber blushed.
Yasmin's eyes were directed straight at Earl, who was standing a little away from them with his hands inside his pocket. For the first time, she noticed the coldness in his eyes. The Earl, who had been timid in front of his wife, now appeared gloomy and frightening. This man was not at all a wimp.
What surprised Yasmin was that Earl didn't stop Amber from getting close to another man, even though he didn't seem happy. He didn't pull her out of Sean's arms either. He didn't seem to mind if Amber had an extramarital affair with Sean.
Sean let go of Amber when his gaze finally landed on Earl. He smiled and stretched his hand towards him. "Hello, Mr. Salas. I hope you are doing well."
Earl glanced at his hand and then back to his eyes. He neither shook hands nor smiled. "I am good. Enjoy yourself." With that, he walked out.
Sean curled his fingers into a ball and pulled his hand back. A gleam of anger flashed on his face. But it vanished quickly before anybody could notice.
"Don't pay attention to him," Amber said, linking her arms with his and pulling him down to the sofa. "Let's have fun."
"Are you my bestie or Sean's?" Tina pouted, feigning annoyance.
"Sean is my boyfriend." Amber dropped her head on his shoulder.
"Don't say that," Sean interjected. "Your husband will be upset."
"Don't spoil my mood, Sean." Amber playfully punched his chest.
"Hahaha…" He burst out laughing.
"Who is she?" Tina asked, turning her focus to Yasmin.
"I haven't noticed her." Amber giggled. "She is Declan's wife. Yasmin, say hello to Tina."
Before Yasmin could open her mouth, Tina exclaimed, "Uh, is she Declan's substitute bride?"