CHAPTER 113 THE JADE PENDANT

"Jacqueline." Yvonne was irked but she still answered honestly.

Henry frowned. "What did she say?"

"I didn't pick up. I hung up straight away. If you want t o know, call her. She looked for you yesterday too. What if something's really the matter?"

Henry did not respond to her. After a few seconds of silence, he went outside with his phone. His action was enough to tell Yvonne that he was calling Jacqueline. An aching feeling crept into her heart instantly, upsetting her.

Yvonne despised herself. She was the one who asked him to call Jacqueline but when Henry actually did so, she minded it. Her sour mood was barely better after she stabbed the eggs on her plate with the fork like she was venting. The servant was shocked, witnessing the process of Yvonne scrambling the eggs, but she did not make a sound.

It was when Yvonne was done with it that the servant could not help asking, "Madam, let me fetch you another breakfast?"

"No need." Yvonne, who had calmed down, was more o r less flustered when she saw the thoroughly scrambled eggs on her plate, unable to bring herself to exchange it.

The servant stepped back to one side when she saw that Yvonne insisted.

By the time Henry was back from the call, Yvonne was already wiping her mouth after having finished her breakfast.

"Is Miss Conrad fine?” she asked with feigned nonchalance. Content is © by .

Henry poured himself a glass of water. "She's fine."

"Really? But she's been calling you these two days." Yvonne peered, wanting to know more.

Henry went back to silence, however, his thoughts were unknown as his gaze was cast down.

Yvonne sighed inwardly, feeling a little hurt. She clamped her mouth as well, refusing to pursue it.

Yet, Henry spoke up, “She called to ask me if I brought you back for remembrance day."

"Huh?" It took Yvonne several seconds before she broke out of her trance. "Are you answering my question now?"

With a slight dip of his chin, Henry admitted it.

Yvonne beamed in delight, and her disappointment vanished in that instant. "How did Miss Conrad know about remembrance day?"

"She's always known about the Lancasters' remembrance day but didn't know if I'd bring you, so she called specifically to ask me about it," said Henry.

Yvonne grew more puzzled. "Why did she think that you'd take me?"

"Shane told her.” Henry scowled.

Why did Shane tell Jackie that?

Yvonne did not know what Henry was thinking. His glower made her think that he was worried about Jacqueline. Enduring her bitterness, she asked in a glum voice, “Miss Conrad must be saddened huh?"

"Hmm?" Henry made a monosyllabic sound.

Yvonne rubbed her face. "Sorry, I'm talking to myself now, haha..." she chuckled dryly.

To Yvonne, Jacqueline loved Henry too. She must have felt miserable when she knew that the man she loved was taking another woman to his family's remembrance day. 1

In spite of it, Yvonne did not sympathize or pity Jacqueline. From the moment she fell in love with Henry and became his wife, she stood in opposition with Jacqueline. She would never give up her place as Henry's wife just because she pitied the former.

"Let’s go to the hall. I’ll introduce a few nice elders to you," Henry said while standing up after looking at Yvonne for a bit.

His sudden shift of topic relieved Yvonne. "Okay."

She stood up and followed him closely.

The hall was filled with people. Yvonne scanned the place and realized that there were at least twenty to thirty men and women, old and young. These were the distant relatives from the branches of the Lancasters. She did not know any one of them.

Henry took her hand again and led her over to greet a few elderlies. They looked friendly, merely giving her a double-take when they were informed that she was Henry's wife before wishing them a happy marriage.

As for the others, Henry did not show any signs of greeting them and did not introduce them to Yvonne either. She understood that the people whom he did not acquaint her with were not close to the main Lancasters.

"Yvonne, come here." Master Lancaster, who sat in the main chair in the hall, waved at Yvonne.

Henry let go of her. "Grandpa’s asking for you. Go ahead."

With a nod, Yvonne went to the old man under the pressure of many pairs of eyes. "Grandpa."

The old man smiled kindly. "Yvonne, do you know why I've asked for you?"

Shaking her head honestly, she replied, "No."

"I've asked you to come here to give you something."

"Something?" Yvonne was puzzled.

Henry pressed his lips together, already guessing the item that the old man was referring to.

Master Lancaster turned to look at Frederick who smiled in understanding and retrieved an aged antique box from behind him.

Taking the box and opening it, the old man took out a white jade pendant. "This is a Lancaster tradition.

Every Lancaster heir who's born will receive a jade pendant. Henry has one too."

"I've seen it before," said Yvonne.

She coincidentally saw it three years ago. Henry had been angry back then, warning her not to touch what was his.

That jade pendant looked similar to the one currently i n the old man’s hand, except that it was slightly larger in size.

"Hah, since you've seen it before, I won't say any more. This pendant is for you." The old man passed the jade pendant to Yvonne ceremoniously.

Yvonne was stunned. "For me?"

"That’s right. Every Lancaster heir has it. Similarly, their wives get one too. Yours should've been given to you three years ago but due to certain reasons...” Master Lancaster glared at Henry.

The reason was obvious.

Yvonne turned to look at the man as well with a troubled look. She did not know if she should accept the pendant and was asking for Henry's help.

Sensing her dilemma, Henry spoke up, "Grandpa's giving it to you. Accept it."

Receiving his permission, Yvonne was without qualms as she held the pendant in her hands carefully with moistened eyes.

She was overjoyed.

She had been waiting for three years and the day had finally come.

Henry agreeing to her acceptance of this jade pendant that represented the Lancasters was enough to say that he had accepted her as his wife.

"Grandpa, thank you..." Yvonne thanked the old man with a sob.

The old man was speechless. "Why are you crying?”

"I'm not. I’m just so happy." Yvonne explained bashfully.

Master Lancaster exchanged a look with Frederick and his smile grew more amiable. "You should be happy, but wipe your tears away now. Everyone's watching."

With the reminder, it struck Yvonne that the hall was still teeming with people. She quickly wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief that a servant had passed her and redressed her emotions.

"Sorry Grandpa. I've embarrassed myself." "That's fine, as long as you're aware. Let's go, we'll pay respect to the ancestors now." Master Lancaster stood up and led the group away from the hall.

Yvonne went to Henry and passed him the pendant. Looking at the item in his palm, Henry could not help frowning. "Why are you giving it to me?"

"Keep it for me. I'm scared that I'll lose it," Yvonne answered in a hushed voice.

Henry gave the pendant back to her with a scowl." Keep your own belongings. If you're afraid you'll lose i t, keep it in the room's safe." 1

"But..."

"That’s it." Henry cut her off impatiently.

Then, he picked up the jade pendant in Yvonne’s hand under her confused gaze and unknotted the string on the pendant.

"Henry, what are you doing?" Yvonne quickly asked.