The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

Nathaniel brought Mango back to their bedroom and he looked at her worriedly.

Mango knew what he was worried about, so she said with a smile, "I'm fine. I admit that I was indeed upset initially, but I've thought it through and my parents have showered me with love for so many years, so how can I throw a fit at them when they've finally found their own daughter? Moreover, I have my own parents too, though I'm somewhat displeased that they do this without informing me beforehand."

"Is it as simple as you said? I feel that they are blatantly forcing it on you. This woman is almost the same age as you yet she's acting like a child and expects you to raise her. I'm really unhappy with this and your parents clearly know about your condition, but they..."

Nathaniel was a smart person and he could easily see through the intention of Mango's parents.

Nathaniel treated them genuinely as his own parents because they had raised Mango in the past, but he was really displeased with their actions now.

However, Mango hurriedly covered his mouth.

"I know that you're concerned about me and that you want to help me vent my anger, but what else can I do? I don't have the heart to throw a fit at them and ignore their request... Also, I saw my dad selling off his paintings at a pawnshop and he spent eight million dollars to buy a violin. You know how much my dad cherished his paintings yet he's willing to give it away all for Gisella. So, I really just hope that Gisella can be more obedient to them and don't disappoint them. Now that I have the ability to help them, I should do so and everything is fine with me as long as Gisella doesn't go overboard. I'll just think of it as I have a younger sister."

Mango shook her head helplessly.

Nathaniel looked at her and he said distressedly, "Haih... You're always making yourself suffer."

"It's okay as it's just a few days. I guess they'll bring Gisella home when they're done with the renovation."

Mango wanted to clean the floor as she said, but she realized that it was spotless.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, perhaps Susan came to clean up the room."

Mango shrugged it off before putting her pen and paper away.

Nathaniel was stunned when he saw that she was drawing.

"You're drawing your designs?"

"Yea, I had some ideas today although it didn't seem right. Anyway, I left my iPad at my grandfather's house, so I'll have to go over to his place tomorrow."

"Do you want me to have a look at your design?"

Mango paused for a moment when she heard Nathaniel's words before she shook her head and said, "It's okay as I want to assess my own ability and even if I didn't get shortlisted, I've still tried my best. I would surely get shortlisted if you help me, but that's not what I want."

"Alright, I'll listen to you and you can do whatever you want."

Nathaniel caressed her head gently.

Suddenly, Mango thought of something.

"By the way, what's going on with Pryce?"

"What do you mean?"

Nathaniel was a little surprised.

"Did you not release Pryce?"

"Of course not, what's wrong?"

Mango frowned as she saw that Nathaniel seemed solemn and he wasn't joking at all.

"I went to the arcade to play games with Zion today and we bumped into a young man who was deliberately stirring up troubles."

Then, Mango told Nathaniel about everything that had happened at the arcade this day including the conversation between Pryce and Paul. She emphasized the fact that Pryce addressed her as his sister-in- law and Zion as his niece before she told Nathaniel about the poppy flower.

Nathaniel frowned after hearing what Mango said.

"That's impossible. Pryce has been under my surveillance all this while and no one has called Pryce during the period of time that you mentioned."

"How is that possible? I even have their call record."

Mango took out her phone and searched for the call record before handing it to Nathaniel.

Nathaniel looked at it and his eyes narrowed before he dialed the number directly, only to receive a signal that the phone was turned off.

At that moment, Mango was surprised.

"The call went through this afternoon though..."

"I'll go to the arcade and have a look."

Nathaniel was about to leave as he spoke.

"I'll go with you."

Mango grabbed her coat as she wanted to leave with Nathaniel.

Nathaniel didn't want Mango to come with him, but he nevertheless agreed as he was afraid that she might overthink the situation when she was home alone. Gisella was in the living room when Mango and Nathaniel came out, but they left the house without greeting her and they had no idea what she was doing. Also, Zion was in the room and they weren't worried that Gisella would do something to Zion as his intelligence was more than enough to defeat Gisella. Soon, Mango and Nathaniel arrived at the arcade, but it had been closed down and the entrance was chained up securely.

"How is this possible? It should be the peak hour of the arcade now, how could there be no one here? Zion and I clearly came here this afternoon..." However, Nathaniel stopped Mango before she could finish her words.

"It seems that you and Zion had accidentally found out about their secret and the person Paul called this afternoon may not be the Pryce we caught. So, this might be where the members with the poppy flowers tattoo gather, but they must have run away as you and Zion surprised them this afternoon."

"What do you mean? You're saying that the person we caught is not Pryce?"

Mango was confused at that instant.

Then, Nathaniel shook his head and said, "I have no idea either. We caught Pryce but he refused to say anything and his father had never called him all the while as if he had totally abandoned Pryce. However, this seems impossible and unreasonable. Also, it's really strange that you've encountered another Pryce here and he even called you his sister-in-law... Could it be that there are four of us and Pryce is just an abandoned child?"

Mango found the situation really mysterious upon hearing Nathaniel's guess.

"Is that possible?"

"We'll ask Pryce about it."

Nathaniel turned around and got into the car with Mango before driving to the place where Pryce was locked up.

Desmond and Ned quickly gave way to Mango and Nathaniel when they saw that the two of them had arrived.

"Is he still unwilling to spill the beans?"

Nathaniel asked

Then, Desmond nodded.

"He won't say a word although I've tried everything I can and I've really run out of tricks."

Having said that, Nathaniel and Mango walked in.

Pryce remained emotionless when he saw them coming and he lowered his head as he seemed to be thinking about something.

Mango felt awkward although she was used to it as she looked at Pryce who had the same appearances as Nathaniel.

Pryce's look was stiff and he seemed to be expressionless as if his face was paralyzed.

Mango tugged at Nathaniel and said in a low voice, "Don't you feel that Pryce doesn't seem to have any expression? He looks the same when he quarreled with me and I haven't seen him smile nor sulk before."

Nathaniel frowned.

"What are you thinking?"

"Hm... I have a feeling that something isn't right... Why not you get his DNA and run a paternal test?"

Nathaniel was stunned when he heard Mango's words.

"Do you mean..."

"Do you remember Nick? I mean the person who pretended to be Nick. Plastic surgery is really common nowadays and since a second 'Nick' could appear, there could be another 'Nathaniel' or 'Pryce' too. I have a feeling that his face became stiff because of a surgical failure, though I'm not very sure about it."

Nathaniel understood it upon hearing Mango's words, but he was still confused. How could Kolton make a replacement for Nick and now he made another replacement for Nathaniel?

No way, man!

That wasn't right!

This person was a substitute for Pryce!

At that instant, Nathaniel could understand why his uncle wasn't in a hurry in rescuing Pryce if Mango's guess was true.

Mango saw that Nathaniel remained quiet and she knew that he must be thinking about this possibility as well although. Mango wasn't certain about it either.

Nathaniel did not ask Pryce any more questions and he walked out with Mango instead as Pryce surely wouldn't spill a word if Mango's guess was true.

He asked Desmond to take a blood sample from

Pryce while he waited outside.

Then, he passed the sample to Noah after Desmond went in and took Pryce's blood.

It would take a day before they could get any results.

So, Nathaniel and Mango returned to the Ye's Mansion.

Gisella had returned to her room and it was fortunate that she didn't stir up any more trouble.

Mango saw Nathaniel's unhappy expression, so she asked, "What are you worried about?"

"I can't seem to figure out why did my uncle return this time as he didn't take any action to attack me nor fight for the Ye family's property. Now, I'm really confused about Pryce's matter... Why did he find a replacement for Pryce? Isn't Nick enough?"

"The method doesn't matter as long as it works. Also, the cosmetic surgery industry has been extremely well-developed these days, so it should be quite easy to recreate a person's appearance. Anyway, don't think too much about it for now while we wait for the results."

Mango comforted Nathaniel.

Then, Nathaniel nodded.

That day, the two of them had a good night's sleep.

The next morning, Mango woke up and she went downstairs earlier than usual as she was afraid that Nathaniel might have conflicts with Gisella. However, what she saw surprised her.

Gisella was unexpectedly cooking in the kitchen.

Zion had his arms crossed and Mango looked at him as she asked, "What is she up to?"

"I have no idea. She has been cooking in the kitchen since I got up, but mommy, would you eat the food that she prepared? Are you afraid of being poisoned by her?"

Zion frowned as he asked Mango solemnly as if it was a big deal.

At that moment, Susan came out of the kitchen and she said with a smile when she saw Mango and Zion, "Gisella had been busying herself in the kitchen this morning and I've been helping her beside, so don't worry as it's alright. Gisella seems to be a good cook and I can tell that she has been through a lot."

However, Mango remained noncommittal about this.

On the other hand, Zion looked at Mango and said upon hearing Susan's words, "Forget it then, we can let her do the chores if she'd like. Mommy, I've already told Mateo that I'll stay at home for a few more days as I'm worried now that Gisella is

here."

Mango said with a smile as she saw how concerned Zion was towards her, "How would be able to protect me all the time since I'm an adult after all? It's okay as she wouldn't be able to stir up any big troubles since your dad is here. You should go to the military base soon, or else I'll change my decision and be really reluctant to part with you if you stay any longer."

"Alright, I'll tell Mateo that I'm leaving today then. Has Mr. Ye, woken up?"

Zion was about to go upstairs and look for Nathaniel as he spoke.

It was right at this time that Desmond came.

"Madam, where's Mr. Ye? There's something I need to tell him."

"What's wrong?"

Mango hurriedly asked as Desmond didn't seem to be in a good mood.

Then, Desmond frowned and said gloomily, "Uh! Pryce is dead!"