The Heiress They Lost Came Back Overpowered

Yvonne Lowell nearly choked on her breath and shot her a glare. "Can you get your mind out of the gutter for one second?"

"You’re the one who said it, aren’t you?" Nina Jennings pouted indignantly.

"And besides, what I meant was, are you two together now? I don’t know who’s really the one with their mind in the gutter here."

Yvonne Lowell raised a hand to touch her nose. "The wound got wet when I showered after coming back. So I just had him help me change the bandage and apply some medicine."

After a pause, she added, "I was dressed."

"Tsk, that’s it? So, are you two together or not?" Nina Jennings’s eyes shone with the light of pure gossip.

"No."

"No?! You’ve held hands! You’ve hugged! I’ve started shipping you two, and I thought I’d be a godmother by next year. And now you tell me you’re not together? Yvonne Lowell, which one of us is the one who’s not serious here?!"

Nina Jennings’s eyes were filled with condemnation, as if she were personally channeling the spirit of poor, pitiful Leo Grant.

Yvonne Lowell rolled her eyes at her. "Could you watch a little less TV? Have all your years of medical school gone to waste? Do you really think holding hands gets you pregnant?"

"Is that the point?! The point is you’re being a total player! You’re toying with his feelings! All gain and no responsibility!"

Nina Jennings was so mad she almost hurled the throw pillow in her hands, but her sanity suddenly returned, and she stopped herself just in time.

’Whoops, that was close. I almost forgot that even if she’s injured, I can’t beat her.’

’If that pillow had gone flying, my life probably would’ve been over, too.’

Yvonne Lowell dug a finger into her ear, which was starting to ache from all the shouting. "And here you are, crying foul on his behalf. How do you know he isn’t enjoying it, too?"

"What do you mean? Are you saying he’s just playing around, too?! That can’t be right. Isn’t he supposed to be afraid of women? How could he be a player?"

Nina Jennings’s train of thought instantly flew off the rails. "Oh, I get it! He’s afraid of women because he likes men!!!"

Yvonne Lowell quickly cut off her wild train of thought. "Stop! What I mean is, we’re both enjoying the current situation. Besides, why should I have to be the one to define the relationship?"

"Okay, that’s enough. Stay out of my business. You should stay here tonight. Your place is a mess; you probably can’t live there yet."

With that, she got up and went upstairs.

She left Nina Jennings brainstorming on the couch. It was a while before Nina finally snapped out of her thoughts.

She suddenly snapped her fingers. ’Aha, I’ve figured it out!’

’Her dear Yvonne and Leo Grant are mutually interested, but Yvonne doesn’t want to be the one to take the initiative.’

’In other words, making the relationship official is something Leo Grant has to do.’

’Besides, shouldn’t a confession have a little fanfare?’

Having figured it all out, Nina Jennings also went upstairs for her beauty sleep.

She had to wake up early tomorrow to be in top form to seduce (scratch that) pursue her dear Sid.

...

The next morning, Nina Jennings stood by the window, trying to see if Silas Lynch was in the house opposite, but instead, she spotted Leo Grant walking over.

She rushed downstairs to open the door for her future brother-in-law. "President Grant, you’re early."

Leo Grant: ’That’s not really necessary. I actually know the code...’

Leo Grant nodded slightly. "Is she not up yet?"

"Nope. When she’s injured, her internal clock just shuts down," Nina Jennings said, opening the door wider and turning to walk inside.

Hearing this, Leo Grant frowned. "Does she... get injured often?"

Nina Jennings faltered for a second before answering evasively, "Oh, not really. I meant back when we were in training."

Leo Grant could tell she was being vague, but he had no intention of digging for the truth.

He knew perfectly well that if she hadn’t just let that slip, he would never learn about Yvonne Lowell’s past from anyone without her express permission.

Seeing that he didn’t press the issue, Nina Jennings breathed a sigh of relief. ’Phew, that was close. I was *this* close to getting a beating from Yvonne Lowell.’

"Should I go wake her up? It’s about time, anyway." Nina Jennings looked at the man sitting on the couch like he owned the place, feeling a little apprehensive.

’I really don’t want to be alone with Leo Grant,’ she thought. ’If he coaxes everything out of me, I’m toast.’

"No need. Let her sleep. I can just wait for her here."

After a moment, Leo Grant added, "I’ve already sent someone to prepare breakfast. Silas Lynch is across the way, too."

Nina Jennings’s eyes lit up. Now *that* got her attention!

"Okay, I’m heading over then. Thanks, future bro-in-law!" Nina Jennings said, already turning to leave.

Leo Grant raised an eyebrow. ’Future bro-in-law? That’s not a bad title.’ It seemed his support group was now two people strong.

No, wait, more like 1.5 people for now. After all, Caleb Lowell was still in wait-and-see mode.

Just as she was about to leave, an idea struck her. A cunning glint flashed in Nina Jennings’s eyes. She stopped, leaning against the doorframe to look back at Leo Grant.

"President Grant, since you’re being such a good sport, I’ll risk a beating to give you a little tip."

Leo Grant looked up at her, his eyes signaling for her to continue.

"Yvonne has always been super competitive, ever since she was a kid. If you want to move your relationship to the next level, you have to be the one to make the first move. Who knows, maybe she’s just waiting for you to say the word?"

"And another thing—girls generally like a bit of ceremony. I’ve said all I’m going to say. You can figure out the rest. I’m out."

Nina Jennings strode purposefully toward the house across the way, as if she could already see her future godson and goddaughter waving to her. Heh heh...

Leo Grant lowered his gaze, his fingertips drumming on the armrest of the sofa.

Nina Jennings’s words had clearly sent him into deep thought.

’Of course he wanted to take their relationship to the next level. As for being the one to make the move, he was more than willing.’

’He’d only held back because it seemed his Little Marshmallow was enjoying herself—relishing the back-and-forth between them.’

’But did Nina’s words mean that his Little Marshmallow was actually waiting for him to make the first move?’

’But... what did she mean by ’a bit of ceremony’?’

"What are you doing here?"

Leo Grant’s thoughts snapped back to the present. He looked up and saw Yvonne Lowell leaning over the second-floor railing, watching him.

"You hadn’t come over for breakfast, so I came to check on you." Leo Grant smiled and walked up the stairs to her side.

Yvonne Lowell yawned and leaned directly against him. "I was too tired, so I woke up late."

Leo Grant instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist. Looking at the girl in his embrace, his heart suddenly melted. She seemed to have become much more reliant on him since her injury.

"Should I carry you over? A different style today?"

Remembering yesterday’s mortifying scene, Yvonne Lowell’s expression turned unnatural for a second.

"Has Jennings already gone over?"

"Yes, I told her Silas Lynch was across the way."

Yvonne Lowell pursed her lips. "Then let’s not go over. I have no interest in being a third wheel."

"Alright, I’ll have Warren Lynch bring it here."

Yvonne Lowell nodded, pulling him downstairs.

Just as they sat down on the couch, the phone rang.

Looking at the caller ID on the screen, Yvonne Lowell let out a silent sigh but still chose to answer.