Chapter 291: Not Married, But I Have a Girlfriend
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Joyce maintained her warm and concerned expression, gently patting the back of Yvonne Donovan’s hand.
In truth, she had already discreetly suppressed the flicker of glee deep in her eyes.
She already knew the answer.
Sean Sterling wasn’t married, but his heart was already taken. The Sterling Family, for the time being, disapproved of the match.
That was enough.
As for who the woman was or what her family background was, she wasn’t in a hurry to investigate.
She remained composed, keeping all her thoughts carefully concealed.
"Oh, so that’s how it is. No wonder you’re so troubled. If I were in your shoes, I’d be so worried I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night either."
Mrs. Joyce let out a long sigh, her tone full of sympathetic regret. Every single word struck a chord with Yvonne Donovan.
"What mother doesn’t want the best for her child? A marriage is a serious matter that can’t be taken lightly. You have to consider the family’s reputation while also taking your child’s feelings to heart. It’s only natural that you have so much on your mind."
After hearing this, Yvonne Donovan’s eyes welled up. The grievances that had been building up in her heart for so long instantly came flooding back.
She squeezed Mrs. Joyce’s hand tightly, and when she spoke, her voice held a barely perceptible catch.
"My old friend, you’re the one who understands. So few people truly try to see things from my perspective. My heart is in agony every single day."
Mrs. Joyce’s gaze was gentle and sincere. "I’m just putting myself in your shoes. For women our age, what else is there to worry about besides our children and family matters?"
Yvonne Donovan nodded. "You’re right."
At this moment, Mrs. Joyce deliberately avoided mentioning her daughter, Ivy Joyce. She showed no hint of eagerness to secure a marriage alliance, instead just patiently consoling Yvonne Donovan.
She appeared perfectly composed as she picked up her cup and took a sip of warm tea.
"However, Yvonne, on the other hand... when children grow up, they develop their own ideas. They don’t always follow their parents’ wishes."
"This is not the time for a direct confrontation. Pushing too hard will only backfire and end up harming the relationship between mother and son."
She paused.
"From what I remember, Sean is a mature and sensible young man. You and Mr. Sterling should talk to him calmly. No hitting, no scolding. Try to move him with your sincerity. One day, he’ll understand all the trouble you’ve gone through for him."
The more Yvonne Donovan listened, the more she liked what she heard. The tension in her brow eased considerably.
"You’re absolutely right. I probably pushed my son too hard. We ended up having a huge fight and nearly disowned each other."
Mrs. Joyce’s eyelid twitched. She could just imagine how fierce their argument must have been.
’To nearly cut ties with his family for her... just how in love must he be?’
"He’s the son you carried for ten months. As they say, blood is thicker than water. He’s closer to you than anyone. How could you two really cut ties? Words spoken in anger are just that—angry words. You can’t take them seriously."
Yvonne Donovan said, "I know they were just angry words. In fact, just yesterday, my son made me chicken soup himself, brought it to my hospital room, and sincerely apologized."
Thinking back to last night, she still felt a sliver of relief.
Mrs. Joyce said, "You see? I told you Sean is a sensible young man. He just needs time to process things. Take my advice: don’t push him. He’ll come to his senses on his own."
Yvonne Donovan nodded, thanking her old friend.
"I feel so much better after talking with you today. Otherwise, I don’t know how much longer I could have kept it all bottled up."
"I’m glad I could help you sort things out." Mrs. Joyce maintained her kind and considerate demeanor.
’The time isn’t ripe yet. Making a move now would seem too deliberate and opportunistic.’
’Better to stop here, be patient, and wait for the next perfect opportunity.’
...
「The Joyce Residence.」
Ivy Joyce sat on the sofa, watching TV distractedly. She was anxiously waiting for her mother, checking the time over and over again.
’She’s been gone for so long, why isn’t she back yet?’
The longer she waited, the more irritated she became. When a maid brought over a plate of fruit, she took her frustration out on her.
"Go away! I’m in no mood to eat right now. Can’t you take a hint?"
The maid lowered her head and retreated sheepishly.
After what felt like an eternity, the mistress of the Joyce family finally returned.
Seeing her mother return, Ivy Joyce immediately shot up, linked her arm with her mother’s, and asked anxiously, "Mom, what did you find out? Is Sean Sterling married or not?"
Mrs. Joyce was in high spirits. She changed into her slippers, walked over to the sofa and sat down, then picked up the glass of honey water a maid had prepared and took a leisurely sip.
Ivy Joyce couldn’t help but press her. "Mom, just tell me already! The waiting is killing me."
Mrs. Joyce set down her glass, a smile gracing her lips. She affectionately stroked her daughter’s long, silky hair, her eyes filled with love and admiration.
"My daughter is so beautiful. You’re more than good enough for Sean Sterling."
Ivy Joyce froze, looking at her mother in confusion. "Mom..."
Mrs. Joyce didn’t keep her in suspense and went straight to putting her daughter’s mind at ease.
"Ivy, the Sean Sterling you like isn’t married."
"Really?!"
Ivy Joyce leaped to her feet, the anxiety on her face vanishing completely, replaced by pure, uncontainable joy.
She spun around in a joyous circle, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"This is wonderful! Thank God! As long as Sean Sterling isn’t married, I still have a chance to marry him."
"I’m confident I can make him fall in love with me!"
Ivy Joyce was so excited she could have danced. The heavy weight that had been pressing on her heart for so long was finally lifted. Even the air seemed sweeter.
However, her joy lasted less than ten seconds.
The smile on Ivy Joyce’s face slowly stiffened. She suddenly remembered what had happened in front of the cake shop last night, and her expression darkened once more.
It suddenly dawned on her. She finally understood. When Sean Sterling had said "wife," he must have meant his girlfriend, not an actual wife.
Intense jealousy and resentment welled up in Ivy Joyce’s eyes.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.
"Sean Sterling might not be married, but he has a girlfriend."
"I ran into him outside a cake shop last night. He was just coming out after buying a cake. I asked him who it was for, and he said it was for his ’wife.’ He’s not even married and he’s already calling her that! Who does she think she is?!"
The thought of Sean Sterling calling another woman by such an affectionate term made Ivy Joyce’s heart feel as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand.
Mrs. Joyce put two and two together. It all made sense now.
"No wonder you asked me to call and confirm last night."
Ivy Joyce snapped back to reality and quickly sat down next to her mother again.
"Mom, who is Sean Sterling’s girlfriend? Did Mrs. Donovan tell you?"
Mrs. Joyce shook her head.
"Mrs. Donovan didn’t go into detail. She only said that Sean Sterling found a woman he wants to marry, but she doesn’t approve."
"They had a huge fight over it, and almost cut ties completely."
Ivy Joyce gritted her teeth after hearing this.
"It sounds like Sean Sterling really cares about that woman and wants to marry her."
"Who is that woman, anyway? What right does she have to capture Sean Sterling’s heart like that?"
"I have to find out who she is. I want to see just what kind of homewrecker stole my man."
Mrs. Joyce took her daughter’s hand and patted it gently.
"Ivy, listen to me. Don’t be rash. Now is the time to be patient."
Ivy Joyce replied, "How can I not be anxious, Mom? What if Sean Sterling defies everyone and marries that woman? Then I’ll have no chance at all!"
Mrs. Joyce was unconcerned.
"Marriages in wealthy families are never about personal choice. They are decisions made after careful consideration, after weighing all the pros and cons. The Sterling Family is no exception."
"Sean Sterling is their only son. His marriage is even less likely to be left up to his own whims. He can’t just marry whomever he pleases."
"Mrs. Donovan has always had a strong personality. Any woman she looks down on will never be able to marry into the Sterling family."
Ivy’s emotions calmed down a little, and her jealousy toward Sean Sterling’s girlfriend subsided.
’If she can’t marry into the Sterling family, just having the title of ’girlfriend’ doesn’t seem like much of a threat.’
"So, Mom, what’s our next step?"
Mrs. Joyce said, "We do nothing. We wait and see how things unfold."
Ivy, after all, was still young and lacked her mother’s cunning and strategic mind.
"Shouldn’t I be trying to get on Mrs. Donovan’s good side and build a relationship with her right now?"
"No," Mrs. Joyce said, her tone serious. "That would just make you look cheap. They’d see right through our intentions."
"..." Ivy Joyce pressed her lips together and fell silent.
Mrs. Joyce then changed the subject. "However, there is one thing we can look into right now."
"What is it?" Ivy asked.
Mrs. Joyce lowered her voice, a calculating look in her eyes. "Find out who Sean Sterling’s girlfriend is. We need to know our enemy."