Return Of The Real Heiress: Secrets And Masks by Caspian Wood

My Billionaire Family 36 Chapter 36 In the living room, all heads turned at Cherise's voice. She was pushing Oliver's wheelchair, with Yves, who had joined them partway, walking alongside.

Shirley looked at Cherise with a mix of envy and disbelief, wondering appear so effortlessly elegant, as if she had a magical charm about her.

w so from such a modest background could Mandy, too, felt a pang of annoyance, Cherise's presence bringing back thoughts of Claire and making her jaw tighten, but she kept her feelings well disguised.

Jemma greeted Oliver with a polite nod. "Hello, Mr. Leach. We're here to see how Shirley is after her accident," she said, then turned to Cherise with a curious look. "I know Yves, but who is this young lady?" she asked, gesturing towards Cherise.

Jemma was well-acquainted with beauty, given her daughter Melissa's luminous charm as an actress and her future daughter-in-law Shirley's grace. However, the young woman before her surpassed them in appeal, and Jemma sensed an uncanny familiarity with her, as if they had crossed paths before Oliver, his pride evident, made the introductions. "Cherise, I'd like you to meet Jemma. Jemma, this is Cherise, my eldest granddaughter," he said, giving Cherise's hand a kind pat.

Jemma was surprised to meet Cherise, who was nothing like the unsophisticated country girl she had imagined.

Cherise's elegance put many a socialite to, shame, and Jemma couldn't help but think that someone with deep pockets must have helped her along the way. She pushed down her envy, reminding herself that beauty wasn't everything.

Putting on a polite smile for Oliver, Jemma greeted Cherise. "Cherise, you've grown so much. I'm Jemma, a friend of your mom's from college. The last tI saw you, you were only this fall," she said, holding her hand to indicate Cherise's height as a child. Cherise responded with a simple nod. "Hello, Jemma." While exchanging greetings, Cherise caught sight of a man behind Jemma, staring at her as if under a spell, his mouth slightly ajar. She arched an eyebrow, somewhat unsettled, despite his charming and striking appearance. Jeffrey was completely captivated by Cherise's brilliant beauty, which appeared to surpass Shirley's, bestowing upon Cherise a luminous, almost heavenly radiance.

Shirley was already on edge about Cherise's presence, and her irritation ignited when she noticed Jeffrey's gaze fixed on Cherise. In a fit of jealousy, she pinched his arm viciously.

"Ouch! What was that for, Shirley?" Jeffrey yelped, rubbing his arm.

Jemma and Mandy hurried over, their voices laced with concern. "What's the matter?" "The pain from my injury just overwhelmed me, and I sort of lashed out at Jeffrey," Shirley explained, hamming it up as she settled back onto the chaise lounge.

Cherise and Yves shared a skeptical look before rolling their eyes in sync.

Cherise briefly appraised Jeffrey and cto the conclusion that he and Shirley could be a good fit. Neither seemed particularly sharp alone, but as a pair, they might complement each other well Oliver, feeling the noise was getting to be too much, held back from reprimanding anyone with the Chambers around. Instead, he inquired, "Shirley, how's your injury? What happened?" Guided by Cherise and Yves, Oliver's wheelchair was rolled in closer to join the group.

1/2 Chapter 36 Oliver glanced at Shirley's injury and waved it off. "It's just a scratch, Shirley," he said, not too concerned. Yves, unimpressed, gave a tic eye roll. "Shirley, that cut will heal by itself if you don't get it checked, he bed, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

The room fell into an uneasy quiet. Shirley, feeling the tension turned to Oliver again. The car that brought Cherise here has been parked for quite stime," she said, her voice slicing@hrough the silence.

"I tried to thank the driver, but he just rolled up the window and sped off, at on my back shem leavingflat on continued, Her eyes flicking to Cherise. "It makes you wonder if there's something in that car they don't want us to find" Mandy, trying to sound casual, piped up, "Cherise, you can dish. We know age doesn't matter, right? A fancy car like that, the driver must be sbig shot"

Mandy's v words prompted Cherise to think of Morris. "He's my senior, and very successfulXCherise admitteris om Morris, being eight years older and Clusia's richest man, was indeed a prominent figure. Shirley's smile widened as she got the confirmation she wanted,

Jemma and Jeffrey exchanged a look that showed they sided with Shirley. They thought Cherise, despite her allure, had a messy personal life ve and her trustworthiness was questionable, making her a poor fit for Jeffrey. They were set on ending. the engagement. Oliver, frowning with worry, addressed Cherise directly. "Cherise, are those stories about you and another man true?" Just friends," Cherise answered, keeping it straightforward.

Relief washed over Oliver's face. "That's good to know," he said, clearly taking her at her word.

Everyone, except for Yves and Oliver, was convinced that Cherise was seeing an affluent older man.