Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Future Daughter-in-law

Spurred by Monica Lynch’s words, the actors and crew members who had come asking for tea all came forward to put their cups down. Some who had received it in thermoses even poured the contents right out.

Surrounded by so many people, stared at and whispered about, Yvonne Sutton felt like she was on trial.

"Will you take responsibility for your words?"

The voice came from behind. Yvonne Sutton turned to see Daisy Shaw approaching, her face cold. She was dressed in a goose-yellow, cloud-patterned embroidered jacket and a skirt decorated with a hundred flowers in silver thread. With her hair and makeup already done for her role, she exuded an air of nobility and elegance, looking as if she had stepped right out of ancient times as the matriarch of a great house.

Over her costume, she wore a black cashmere coat, and she held a teacup in her hand. Her powerful presence was on full display, making her look like a formidable boss.

She walked right up to Yvonne Sutton’s side, but her eyes remained fixed on Monica Lynch.

"Daisy, you... you’re here," Monica Lynch stammered, quickly forcing a placating smile.

"I’ll ask you one more time," Daisy Shaw said coldly. "Do you stand by what you just said?"

"I... what did I say?"

Daisy Shaw narrowed her eyes and snorted coldly.

Monica Lynch pursed her lips, then tried to affect a casual air. "Oh, you didn’t know, Daisy? Yvonne Sutton is Mr. Rhodes’s new flame."

"Oh?"

"Of course, Mr. Rhodes is surely just toying with her. The one to blame is Yvonne Sutton. She really knows how to seduce a man."

"So you saw it with your own eyes?"

"Huh?"

"If not, then you’re spreading rumors."

Monica Lynch grew flustered and hurriedly shook her head.

"I... I was just speaking off the cuff."

"Hah. So you speak ’off the cuff’ and ruin a young woman’s reputation? Why is your mouth so foul?"

Monica Lynch was stunned. Daisy Shaw, despite her high standing, had always been gracious to everyone and had never publicly embarrassed anyone. Yet here she was, berating her in front of everyone, all for Yvonne Sutton.

"If you don’t want my family to sue you for slander, then apologize to Miss Sutton right now!" Daisy Shaw snapped.

Monica Lynch was even more dumbstruck. She was going to be sued by the Rhodes Family just for badmouthing Yvonne Sutton?

The Rhodes Family and Yvonne Sutton?

’What on earth...?’

Monica Lynch took a deep breath and turned to Yvonne. "Yvonne Sutton... I was just... just joking earlier. I shouldn’t have said those things."

Yvonne Sutton was also a bit stunned, not having expected Daisy Shaw to come to her defense. ’But then again,’ she thought, ’she’s probably not defending me. She’s clearing up the rumors for Silas Rhodes.’

"It’s only a joke if everyone finds it funny," Yvonne Sutton said, frowning. "I’m not laughing."

"S-Sorry."

Yvonne Sutton held up her right hand, pointing to the ring on her middle finger. "I already have a fiancé. I suggest you open your eyes and take a good look. Between the incident on the island and this, I’ve let you slide twice. Don’t you dare spread rumors about me again, or I’ll stop being polite, and we’ll see who ends up humiliated!"

Monica Lynch glanced at Yvonne’s ring and sneered, "The diamond’s big, sure, but the wholesale price was probably a few bucks. You have a fiancé? Who’d want to marry you!"

"A wonderful woman like Miss Sutton? Any man would be lucky to marry her. But you," Daisy Shaw scoffed, "I hear you’ve been pestering Silas. Well, let me tell you something right now: you want to marry into our Rhodes Family? Not a chance in hell!"

At that, Monica Lynch completely lost face. Humiliated, she turned and ran off in a rage.

With plenty of onlookers still watching the drama unfold, Daisy Shaw turned to Yvonne Sutton, beaming. "Miss Sutton, we meet again."

Yvonne still found Daisy Shaw’s over-the-top enthusiasm a bit strange.

"Hello, Daisy," she said.

"They call me Daisy out of professional courtesy, but if you call me that, you’ll be a generation off."

"Then what should I...?"

"Call me ’Auntie’."

Yvonne Sutton smiled, called her "Auntie," and thanked her for speaking up for her.

"My Silas’s reputation isn’t the best, but that doesn’t mean just anyone can spread rumors about him."

’So it really was for Silas. I guess I was overthinking things.’

"Could I have a cup of tea?" Daisy Shaw asked, holding up her own cup with an expectant look on her face.

"Of course."

Yvonne noticed the dark circles under Daisy Shaw’s eyes and asked if she wasn’t sleeping well.

"Yes, I always have trouble falling asleep. The slightest noise will startle me awake, and then I can never get back to sleep." Daisy Shaw rubbed her forehead. "The lack of sleep gives me headaches, too. Back when I was young and filming, my schedule was all over the place, and my sleep suffered. I’m not filming anymore, but it’s never gotten back to normal."

Yvonne poured her a cup of restorative tea. "I’ve added some medicinal herbs to this blend. Why don’t you try it?"

Daisy Shaw took a sip. It did have an herbal taste, but it was surprisingly delicious.

"This is delicious! You have to give me some tea bags later."

"Okay."

Daisy Shaw waved the others over. "Everyone, come have a drink! This tea is really good!"

Who would dare disrespect Daisy Shaw? Everyone immediately crowded around.

As Yvonne was about to pour them tea, Daisy Shaw pulled her back. "Let them pour it themselves. You’re not a waitress."

Just then, Director Sherman came out of the soundstage. Daisy Shaw called out to him, and he came over at a jog.

"Miss Sutton, give him a cup of calming and cooling tea."

Yvonne quickly poured a cup and handed it to Director Sherman. He took a sip, decided he liked it, and told his assistant to bring over his big mug.

"Miss Sutton, I’m sorry to trouble you," he said. "Our unit isn’t making much progress, so everyone’s on edge and needs to cool down. I heard you were making tea for the C-unit, so I thought I’d ask you to come make some for the A-unit for a day. A desperate situation calls for desperate measures, you know."

"What do you mean ’desperate measures’?" Daisy Shaw retorted. "She’s a real doctor from a top-tier hospital!"

"You’re right, my mistake. In any case, we’re imposing on Miss Sutton."

Yvonne quickly waved her hands in dismissal. She was really doing all this to pave the way for Claire Lawrence, so it truly wasn’t a bother.

"Since you know you’re imposing on her, you should manage your people better," Daisy said. "The least you can do is not have them curse her out after she helps them."

"Who cursed her out?" Director Sherman’s eyes went wide.

"Ask around and you’ll find out. Don’t act like we’re the ones making things up."

Director Sherman pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture. "Whoever it was, I promise I’ll give them a good talking-to." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Yvonne didn’t say anything. Daisy Shaw had already said everything for her.

"But you two seem pretty friendly. Do you know each other?" Director Sherman asked.

Daisy Shaw threw an arm around Yvonne Sutton. "Of course we do. Miss Sutton here is a fan of my movies!"

"I’ve seen every one of Auntie’s movies at least three times," Yvonne Sutton said quickly.

"Really?" Daisy Shaw looked pleasantly surprised. "I’m so honored."

"Every one of Auntie’s movies is a classic."

"Listen to this sweet-talker."

Daisy Shaw looked overjoyed. "Do you want my autographed photo?"

"Ah, of course."

"Tell you what, why don’t you come over to my house to pick it up some other day? I’ll give you a few extra."

"Okay, sure."

"Wonderful!"

’Wonderful? What’s so wonderful about that?’

Yvonne Sutton really couldn’t make heads or tails of Daisy Shaw’s over-the-top excitement and enthusiasm.

The next scene, which featured Daisy Shaw, was about to begin filming. As she and Director Sherman walked toward the soundstage, she couldn’t help but keep looking back at Yvonne, liking what she saw more and more.

Director Sherman found it odd, too. "You’re rarely this warm with anyone. Who exactly is this Miss Sutton?"

Daisy Shaw said proudly to Director Sherman, "My future daughter-in-law!"