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Jeremiah appeared at the dessert shop wearing his military uniform. He exuded a chilling and authoritative presence, signaling others to keep their distance.
Every vehicle in the Skyland fleet was equipped with GPS, including the little black scooter Yvette had been riding lately. So as soon as his meeting ended, he came straight here. He was a bit surprised to see Aurora here.
Jeremiah, towering at six feet seven inches, created a strong sense of pressure over everyone in the room. His dark eyes were deep and mysterious. He glanced around the room. His gaze lingered slightly on someone, and a subtle hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. He thought, ‘Yvette must’ve kept her identity hidden, or else who knows how mom might have reacted?’
Yvette chose not to mention it, and Jeremiah didn’t expose her secret either. Then he turned his gaze back to Aurora.
As Jeremiah’s gaze swept over the group of women, including Darnell, their breathing became more controlled. They’d heard that Jeremiah had a reputation where even a frown could mean trouble. Eleanore especially wished she could grow wings and fly away.
The famous and elusive, youngest iron-willed Jeremiah of Clusia, renowned throughout Betrico, came in person. They wouldn’t be able to hold their cool.
Aurora exclaimed happily to Jeremiah, Jeremiah, why are you here? I haven’t seen you in a while, and you’ve become even more handsome! Truly my boy. You’ve inherited my good looks
Jeremiah paused slightly. He seemed a bit helpless. He said to Aurora, “Mom, being naturally good-looking doesn’t quite apply to me.”
Aurora looked unfazed. “I know. I just wanted to point out my own beauty. Don’t overthink it.”
Jeremiah was speechless.
Aurora was moved to tears. She was absolutely thrilled that Jeremiah came for her.
Aurora tiptoed and patted Jeremiah on the shoulder. She had a little smug grin on her face. “Jeremiah, what brings you here? Did your dad send you? He’s always worried too much. Doesn’t he know my fighting spirit? It’s such a hassle for you to come!”
Her words said one thing, but her expression said another. Acting all coy, her eyes had a little spark of arrogance in them. The rich ladies didn’t dare say a word since Jeremiah came in. They were secretly hoping for “the Living Reaper” to leave
soon.
Jeremiah looked at the group of scared, hurt women. Calmly, he asked, “Mom, what happened?”
Aurora was surprised. From his words, it seemed Jeremiah had no idea what had happened. She wondered, ‘So why is he here? Is it a coincidence? Does he come here for coffee and desserts? Wait, he doesn’t like that at all. He must be here with his girlfriend! Aurora’s eyes lit up, thinking she could soon meet her daughter-in-law.
In just a minute, Aurora’s thoughts had drifted far and wide.
Jerenitah saw Aurora lost in thought and knew she was probably daydreaming again. So he looked at Darnell in his uniform and asked, “What happened?”
Darnell gathered his courage and stepped forward. He thought, I really shouldn’t have left home today. It is definitely not the right day. How can I end up dealing with this situation?
He answered. “Mr. Jeremiah Chavez, this is Deputy Chief Darnell from Betrico Police Station. Today, Mrs Chavez came
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here for coffee and had a run-in with some ladies. A small fight broke out.”
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Darnell noticed a slight frown on Jeremiah’s face and quickly added, “But don’t worry, Jeremiah. Mrs. Chavez wasn’t hurt. In fact, she handled those ladies herself. Before you arrived, she agreed to settle things privately with just one extra condition. She wanted these ladies to apologize to this young lady, and that would be it. However, they were a bit hesitant.”
After saying this, Darnell took a deep breath and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. What Darnell saw in Jeremiah was command without anger? Just standing there, Jeremiah had an undeniably chilling presence.
Jeremiah glanced at Yvette standing there, hands in pockets, gazing down. His tone was calm, like he was just asking normally. “What does it have to do with her?”
At that moment, Aurora realized something. She knew Jeremiah well. She found Jeremiah seemed to be angry. She was confused since she didn’t lost anything. Aurora turned around, walked over to Yvette, took her hand, and went back to Jeremiah.
Yvette’s eyes were half-closed as she looked at the delicate, smooth hand on top of her left hand. It was evident that a lot of care had been taken in maintaining it. The hand felt warm and dry.
Yvette didn’t react much, just obediently allowed Aurora to hold her hand.
This action made Jeremiah, who was standing not far away, stop for a moment. He knew very well how cautious Yvette could be. Now, seeing her treat Aurora like this really surprised him.
But no matter how he looked, there was something strange about Aurora’s hand. He hadn’t even held Yvette’s hand that many times himself, while Aurora took advantage of Yvette.
Once Aurora reached Jeremiah, she immediately began introducing Yvette. “Jeremiah, this is my new friend Yvette. She just helped me out. It was Yvette who stopped the door from being opened and didn’t let those women escape, saving me a lot of trouble. Otherwise, I’d have to go door to door, which would be exhausting.”
Eleanore and her group were so furious their eyes turned red. According to Aurora, if anyone ran away today, she’d have to go to their houses to confront them. That was really too much.
After Aurora finished, without waiting for Jeremiah’s reaction, she turned to Yvette and continued, “Yvette, this is my son. He’s in the military, just making a living. He’s a bit aloof, so don’t mind him.”
Jeremiah looked down. Yvette glanced up.
They exchanged a look, one with a hidden smile, the other without any expression. With a mutual understanding, neither of them said a word.
Aurora didn’t find anything unusual. Even if he saw a fairy, he’d probably have the same expression. She couldn’t imagine how his girlfriend managed to deal with his personality.
Jeremiah was sure that with Yvette there, Aurora wouldn’t get hurt. He glanced at the woman across from him, then looked again at Darnell. He calmly spoke two words, “The reason.”
Darnell’s heart, which had just relaxed, tensed up again. From the way it sounded, he realized that Jeremiah intended to get
to the bottom of this.
The women who had been hit all kept their heads down and stayed silent.
Darnell was absolutely furious. These idle rich ladies usually gossiped nonstop, while now they dare not to speak up in front of Jeremiah.
He had no choice but to bite the bullet and respectfully answer again, “Mr. Jeremiah Chavez, these ladies said something that reached Mrs. Chavez’s ears, and she gave them an earful. I haven’t had a chance to ask exactly what they said. You’ll have to ask Mrs. Chavez and these ladies directly.”
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Jeremiah knew one of the women opposite him, Gloria. He had seen her a few times at the Chavez family’s house.
Jeremiah’s eyes were ice-cold. He knew Aurora wasn’t someone unreasonable. It must be that they said something that crossed the line, or Aurora wouldn’t have been so harsh.
Jeremiah’s dark eyes landed on Gloria, and she trembled with fear. Her fingers were almost digging into her palm.
Jeremiah spoke softly, without a trace of warmth in his voice, “Speak.”
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Playing dead wasn’t an option for Gloria. She shakily raised her head. She blurted out everything at once, word for word.
Eleanore glared at her with resentment. She thought, ‘You usually don’t have a working brain, yet you remember everything perfectly now. Idiot!’
The other ladies wished they could stop Gloria from talking. They were all mad at her.
Gloria dared not to look at anyone after finished talking. She had acted on impulse, and now she was truly terrified by Jeremiah’s icy stare.
Even Aurora was a bit surprised. She recalled that Gloria’s mind usually wasn’t this sharp. She thought, ‘Indeed, people’s potential emerges under pressure.’ She was quite proud of Jeremiah.
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Jeremiah listened to Gloria’s words, and lowered his eyes, his voice deep and somber. “Are you saying she’s not deserving of
apology or my girlfriend not good enough for me?”
Eleanore and the other ladies shook their heads vigorously in denial. “Mr. Jeremiah Chavez, that’s not what we meant. We just think someone as honorable as you should be with a woman like Samantha. We didn’t mean anything else.”
“Yes, Mr. Jeremiah Chavez. We were just talking, and Aurora has already reprimanded us.”
“Yes. We won’t say anything more. Please don’t take it out on us. You’re a major, and a small issue like this could spoil your reputation.”
Eleanore bit her lip in frustration. “Mr. Jeremiah Chavez, we were just speaking the truth. With your status, how could you possibly match with someone from a modest family in Seacrity? Aurora had already hit us just for saying that. Look at my hair.”
Eleanore was trying to provoke Jeremiah. She thought, ‘You’re a respected major from Clusia. Can you really hold a grudge just because we made a few remarks about your girlfriend?”
Jeremiah’s gaze shifted slightly, and his deep, dark eyes were icy and intimidating. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
Once connected, he slowly began to speak, his words were brief and straight to the point. “Prepare seventy million in cash. This statement left everyone there completely stunned. They didn’t know why Jeremiah would ask for so much cash.
Yvette, standing beside Aurora, watched everything with a detached expression.
After hanging up, Jeremiah moved forward with his long strides, placing himself right in front of Yvette.
Aurora glanced at the space between Jeremiah and Yvette. She thought, ‘Tsk. Jeremiah must be truly angry now, not noticing how close he stood to Yvette.’
Aurora thought it was unacceptable, thinking Jeremiah should behave himself since he was no longer single anymore. So she pulled on Yvette’s sleeve, gesturing with her eyes for her to step back a bit.
Yvette looked at her. Obediently, she took two steps back, gradually increasing the distance from Jeremiah. Jeremiah slightly tilted his head. His jaw was set. He thought, ‘Is my mom trying to steal my girlfriend? And she succeed?’
Jeremiah looked back at the group of women with disapproving looks. His eyebrows were sharply angled, and his eyes were narrow and sharp. His lips were thin and lightly pressed, and his face was vividly defined. He was cold and proud. Even though he stood alone, he exuded such a commanding aura, as if he was looking down on the entire world.
His voice was deep and ice-cold. “Tomorrow, the Chavez family will personally deliver each of you $3.3 million as compensation for the injuries you suffered today.”
Hearing it, Yvette merely raised her head slightly to glance at him, then moved aside, sat on a chair, and started playing with her phone.
Seeing this, Aurora sat on another chair nearby and nudged Yvette’s arm. With a regretful look, she sighed while watching the group of ecstatic women across from her. She spoke softly, “Oh man, if I had known they were going to be paid 3.3 million dollars, I’d have hit them a few more times. Now it feels like I missed out.”
Darnell, who was closest to them, couldn’t help but twitch his eye. He found that Aurora was quite odd. Clifford really had a unique taste. But Jeremiah’s actions really left him totally confused. He found Jeremiah was different form the rumors.
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Aurora really regretted it. If only she knew it was going to cost that much money upfront, she would’ve kicked a few more times. She even wanted to give them a few more kicks. However she never questioned Jeremiah’s motives and decisions. She completely trusted him.
Yvette put down her phone, tilted her head slightly, and smirked with a relaxed posture. Her beautiful eyes were icy cold. “They won’t get it.”.
Aurora paused, surprised. Then she shook her head. “My son never breaks his promises. He’ll definitely pay.”
Yvette didn’t argue. She just lowered her head and continued playing with her phone.
The rich ladies couldn’t believe what they just heard.
Gloria was short on cash and was the worst off among them, so she bravely asked, “Mr. Jeremiah Chavez, are you really going to pay us each 3.3 million dollars?”
Seeing that Jeremiah didn’t deny it. The rich ladies were all getting a bit excited. They wouldn’t have thought things would take such a twist that Jeremiah not only didn’t blame them but even decided to compensate them.
Eleanore and the others were feeling smug again. They assumed Jeremiah was just compromising to protect his reputation.
Eleanore reached to fix her hair and ended up touching a bald spot. She forgot that her hair was almost pulled out by Aurora. So she awkwardly put her hand down again. She said, “Since Jeremiah is so reasonable, we’ll accept it. We will personally wait for the Chavez family to come to our house tomorrow.”
The others were also delighted to receive the money. They all thought it was quite a good thing.
Jeremiah looked at their joyful faces. With a faint smile, he casually said, “You’ll wait at home? No need.”
you mean?” Eleanore and Gloria were stunned and looked at Jeremiah with confusion. They spoke in rare unison, “What do Jeremiah ignored them and turned to look at Darnell, who was standing nearby. “I want to sue them for slandering a soldier. Darnell was surprised. He quickly caught on to Jeremiah’s plan. No wonder Jeremiah compensated each of them with 3.3 million dollars first. This was a perfect example of using civility before strength.
The new Clusia law this year toughened penalties for slandering soldiers and their families.
Jeremiah wasn’t your typical soldier. If he wanted fully investigation, this could become a serious matter. The women’s casual gossip, if taken seriously, could result in prison time unless Jeremiah decided to let it go.
Darnell swiftly stepped forward and said, “Understood. Jeremiah, I will arrest them immediately, and we’ll follow up with you on the next steps.”
Aurora, sitting on the bench, turned her head stiffly towards Yvette. “Jeremiah is so handsome.”
Yvette slightly lowered her gaze and raised an eyebrow. She didn’t disagree with Aurora’s words. “Yeah. He’s pretty handsome.”
When Yvette complimented Aurora, she seemed quite proud. “Of course. He’s my son! Let me share a little secret if he hadn’t been so cute and handsome when he was little, I would have sent him to kindergarten much sooner. But as he grew up, he went astray and isn’t cute anymore.”
The rich ladies didn’t know anything about what the crime of defaming a soldier was. Upon hearing that, they immediately panicked. “What do you mean by defaming a soldier? We were just gossiping. Is it really that serious?”
“Don’t underestimate us. We’re not ordinary people. We have lawyers.”
“Exactly. It’s just a defamation charge. Are you really going to put us in jail for that?” Facing Jeremiah, the rich ladies felt
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unsure and were just trying to act tough.
Darnell chuckled coldly. Even with all this, these rich ladies couldn’t understand the situation. Darnell knew it wouldn’t be easy to take Jeremiah’s money. He didn’t mind explaining it to them, “Ladies, please come with me. The law against defaming soldiers was just passed this year. The maximum penalty is ten years, the minimum is two. You can have your lawyers meet us at the station. They’ll explain how serious this is”
After saying that, Darnell called out. The police outside rushed in. Before the rich ladies could react, they were all handcuffed.
Eleanore and her group panicked completely. They started pleading for leniency. They said a lot of things. Seeing Jeremiah didn’t respond, they turned to Aurora.
Aurora was having a great time playing Super Mario with Yvette. She completely ignored the women’s wailing and screams.
Right at that moment, Eleanore suddenly remembered someone. She shouted loudly, “Mr. Jeremiah Chavez, aren’t you worried this might impact Mr. Clifford Chavez? He wouldn’t allow you to do this.”
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As soon as Eleanore spoke, the room fell silent.
Darnell paused too. He thought, ‘If this really gets out of hand, these ladies have connections. Jeremiah doesn’t care. But what about Clifford?’
Jeremiah stood there with a blank face, his cold eyes showing no warmth.
Just then, a stern voice came from the entrance of the dessert shop. “What wouldn’t I allow?”
Everyone’s eyes widened as they turned to the doorway. They saw a man in a black suit standing there with a stern. expression. They were all taken aback. For none of them had ever expected the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Clifford Chavez, to personally appear here.
Clifford was different from Jeremiah. He was an influential figure who appeared frequently on TV news.
Although Eleanore called Clifford’s name with enthusiasm, she had only seen Ethan on TV. Seeing him in person made her too scared to say a word.
Everyone present, except for the Chavez family and Yvette, felt the same shock as Eleanore. He once skillfully debated many at international conferences as the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leaving everyone scared.
Darnell felt his body tense up, his heart pounding hard. He thought, ‘First Jeremiah comes, and now Clifford is here, too. Don’t they realize what a huge impact they have?’
Clifford simply glanced at everyone casually. The gaze that lingered on Jeremiah was just a second longer than on everyone else. His mind was completely occupied with Aurora.
Aurora was so vague and unclear on the phone, and her texts were just as ambiguous. Even though Clifford could tell she was fake crying on the phone, he was still worried sick. He was given a moment of peace in his life.
Clifford saw the sorry state of the women across the room, his expression became serious, and he frowned slightly. He already had some guesses in his mind. He moved past everyone and stood in front of Aurora, who was sitting in a chair. First, he glanced at Aurora. He made sure she wasn’t hurt anywhere, which made him feel less worried. Then his gaze swept to Yvette sitting next to Aurora, and he paused slightly.
He had noticed her as soon as he entered. He found Yvette and Aurora pretty close. He was quite surprised because Aurora might seem easygoing on the surface, but she was actually quite selective. She hadn’t been this close to anyone in years.
Aurora had already put her phone away and stood up to face Clifford. Moments ago, she was excitedly playing a game, but her expression shifted instantly. She immediately threw herself into Clifford’s arms, crying.
The speed at which she switched her expressions was truly astonishing.
“Oh, honey. They bullied me. I was so scared all alone. Luckily, I know a bit of martial arts. Otherwise, you might never see me again,” She finished speaking and blinked her eyes.
A fifty-year-old woman making such expressions didn’t seem fake at all, but rather adorably innocent. Of course, it was the familiar fake crying that Clifford knew well.
Aurora didn’t even shed a single tear. According to her, a woman’s tears were more precious than pearls, and crying even once was a huge loss. In Clifford’s arms, Aurora appeared so petite and perfectly snug.
Darnell’s face stiffened slightly. He thought, ‘Jesus! Her mood swings are faster than a tiger’s.’
Even Eleanore and the others were baffled by Aurora’s sudden display of fragility. When Aurora was hitting them, she wasn’t this weak. They all thought Aurora was an actress and no wonder Clifford was so taken with her.
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Eleanore and a few others immediately opposed Aurora, “Mr. Clifford Chavez, you really shouldn’t be deceived by Aurora. She was the one who started it,”
“Yes. We can all attest to that. Look at how badly she hurt us.”
“She started it, Mr. Clifford Chavez. She’s just putting on an act for you.”
In spite of everyone’s presence, Clifford held Aurora even tighter in his arms.
Aurora leaned closer to whisper to Clifford. Her hand was on his waist, hidden under his suit, so no one could see except Yvette. Aurora pinched the skin on his waist a little harder, and Clifford let out a hiss. He thought, nothing good ever came from her throwing herself at him like this.
Aurora whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Act well. I’m a poor little woman who got bullied, and you’re the good husband who’s going to stand up for me. If you don’t perform well tonight, forget about sleeping in bed. Humph.” What Aurora thought was a private whisper was clearly heard by Yvette sitting next to her.
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Yvette lowered her eyes. Her long, thick eyelashes concealed the smile in her eyes. With deep, dark eyes, she casually tapped her toes. She turned her head slightly to give Jeremiah a lazy look, then watched nonchalantly as Aurora and Clifford showed off their affection.
Jeremiah looked on helplessly. He thought, ‘Don’t you two have any restraint with Yvette so close? You better not lead Yvette astray.’
Jeremiah gritted his teeth. He wasn’t surprised that Aurora was getting hooked on acting. There was nothing he could do. He had to play along with it, or he’d be sleeping in the study again tonight. “Aurora, keep acting. Let’s see what happens when we get home.”
Aurora wasn’t scared at all. She pretended to pat his shoulder sarcastically. “Put on a good show. I believe you can do it.” With those words, Aurora unhesitatingly slipped out of Clifford’s arms. Then she went on fake crying, looking so earnest it was almost funny. “Honey, you have to stand up for me.”
Clifford adjusted his suit, giving a cold glance at the anxious women arguing in front of him. His voice was cold. “I know exactly what kind of person Aurora is. If you didn’t provoke her, why would my gentle and kind wife, who’s scared of even killing a chicken, lay a hand on you? Her actions show you must have said or done something.” He spoke with such confidence, as if it were the absolute truth.
Aurora sneakily gave him a thumbs-up.
Clifford saw it and playfully scratched her palm while holding her hand. “Be good.”
Aurora obediently nodded, looking every bit the dutiful wife.
If Jeremiah hadn’t seen Aurora catching and slaughtering chickens on the farm when he was a kid, he might have believed it
too.
Darnell’s eye twitched slightly. He thought, ‘You make a definite statement without even asking, firmly convinced it is the others who provoke your wife first. Truly lovesick!’
Clifford turned to Darnell. “Darnell, can you tell me what happened?”
Caught off guard by being called out, Darnell quickly went over everything again, including Jeremiah’s plan to sue these women for slandering soldiers.
After listening, Clifford stared blankly at Eleanore, Gloria, and the others. He said seriously, “Let me tell you all. My son’s choice of girlfriend is none of your business. Who dares say my son is just fooling around? In the Chavez family, we don’t divorce. Only death separates us, and we would never toy with anyone’s feelings. What’s it to you what kind of a person my daughter-in-law is?”
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Clifford knew that given Aurora’s personality, something must have truly pushed her to the edge for her to react so intensely. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have beaten them.
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Clifford’s words left Eleanore and her group speechless. Since he had personally stepped in and acknowledged Jeremiah’s girlfriend’s status. They couldn’t say anything more. Now, they were filled with regret and fear, but it was too late. Eleanore and some others tried to stammer out something, but Clifford didn’t give them the chance.
Clifford turned to Jeremiah. “You did well. I’ll cover the seven million.” He practically confirmed Jeremiah’s intent to sue these women for slandering soldiers.
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Eleanore and her group looked as if they had seen ghosts. They thought they had a protector coming, only to face disappointment once again. The scene immediately turned into a wailing chorus of despair. Each one, with painted faces, was wailing and pleading with the Chavez family to let them go,
Jeremiah glanced at Darnell.
Darnell, quick to catch on, immediately directed his men to escort everyone to the police station.
It took ten minutes for the police to load all the crying and shouting women into the patrol cars.
During this time, Jeremiah, Yvette, Aurora, and Clifford all had indifferent expressions. It was surprisingly unanimous.
Standing not far away, Darnell couldn’t help but be taken aback by their expressions. He found the appearance of these four was really something. Even celebrities couldn’t compare.
After seeing everyone off, Darnell went back to the dessert shop. Just as he reached the entrance, he heard Clifford’s voice. “I’ve told you. Don’t handle things like hitting people by yourself Look. Your hand is a little swollen. Does it hurt? Do you want me to blow on it?”
These words made Darnell feel embarrassed. He felt like he wouldn’t need to eat anything for three days. He thought, I’ve never thought that Clifford, who usually seemed so serious and stern, would act like this in front of Aurora. You can never judge a book by its cover.
Darnell summoned his courage to reenter the dessert shop, pretending he hadn’t heard what Clifford just said. He kept a respectful demeanor. “Mr. Clifford Chavez, Mr. Jeremiah Chavez, everyone has been taken to the station. Do you have any further instructions?”
Clifford politely said Darnell, “Thank you, Darnell. The Chavez family will send someone to the station to assist with the follow-up work.”
Darnell was flattered to see such a gentle expression from, Clifford. It was rare for Clifford to show this kind of kindness. “Alright, Mr. Clifford Chavez. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to the station.”
After Darnell excused himself, only Yvette, Jeremiah, Aurora, and Clifford were left in the dessert shop.
Clifford glanced at Yvette with a hint of curiosity. He asked Aurora, “Is this your friend?” He knew Jeremiah wouldn’t have any female friends to ask about, so he didn’t bother to ask him.
Aurora nodded. “This is the pretty girl I just met. Her name is Yvette. She came to help me in a fight, and if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much today.”
Aurora nodded. “This is the pretty girl I just met. Her name is Yvette. She came to help me in a fight, and if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much today.”
Charlie gave Yvette a friendly smile. The Chavez family rule was that he must like whoever Aurora liked.
Charlie didn’t look down on Yvette for her simple clothes. “Hello, Yvette. I’m Charlie, Aurora’s husband. Thanks for today.”
Yvette nodded politely, her voice calm and her appearance stunning. “Hi, I’m Yvette.”
Their conversation was very polite and formal.
Standing next to them, Jeremiah lowered his gaze, his thin lips barely moving. “Can I say
something?”
Yvette, Clifford, and Aurora all turned to look at Jeremiah. It was obvious no one wanted him to speak.
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Jeremiah just stood there-silently.
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Aurora took Yvette’s hand, and took the opportunity to touch it. She found Yvette’s skin was soft and smooth. She really liked her and thought about taking her home. Then she suddenly pulled Clifford aside, and they whispered about something.
Jeremiah seized the moment to stand next to Yvette and gently reached for her hand. He wore a look of grievance. “Since I came in, you’ve only looked at me five times.”
Yvette paused, lifted one side of her mouth into a slight smirk, and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah.”
Jeremiah gazed into her dark, bright eyes and went on speaking, “My mom held your hand for three minutes earlier, she even took the opportunity to rub your palm.”
Yvette looked relaxed and glanced at Jeremiah, who seemed to be quite upset. She tugged at her lips. “Jeremiah, don’t be so jealous.”
Just as Jeremiah was about to say something, Aurora came back, pulling Clifford along. She looked thoughtfully at the positions of Jeremiah and Yvette. She thought, ‘Did I knock myself out in the fight? Why do these two seem much closer now? It should be my delusion.
Jeremiah coughed to get Aurora’s attention. “Go ahead.”
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Aurora came back to her senses. She immediately turned to Yvette with excitement. “After discussing, Yvette, it seems like fate has brought us together. I feel we are destined to be great sisters. How about we become sworn sisters? You’ll be my little sister. What do you say?”
After saying this, Aurora cheekily pointed at Jeremiah. “If you agree, you’ll get a handsome nephew for free! Imagine how proud you’d feel taking him out.”
let her be. Judging
Jeremiah didn’t say anything at the side. As long as Aurora was happy, that was all that mattered. Over the years, due to his status, Aurora really didn’t have many friends, so it was rare to find someone she liked. So Clifford from Yvette’s face, she seemed to be a good kid.
He looked at Yvette. His tone was formal. “Don’t worry. Our Chavez family will treat you like family, we definitely won’t let you down.”
Yvette lifted her gaze, glancing at Aurora, then at Jeremiah. There was a hint of a faint smile in her eyes. “Okay.”
Aurora joyfully hugged Yvette, almost spinning around in excitement.
Chavez watched Aurora with affection.
The three of them looked incredibly harmonious and warm, and no one noticed Jeremiah’s stiffness.
Jeremiah saw the scene, narrowed his sharp eyes, and gritted his teeth, He knew Yvette was gonna play dumb until the end. So he said, “I disagree.”
All three of them turned to look at Jeremiah.
Clifford frowned. He thought Jeremiah would definitely have some opinions about Yvette being his aunt. So he spoke up, “Don’t upset your mom. You have a girlfriend already. You can’t prevent your mom from making girlfriends.”
Aurora pouted and quickly tried to comfort Jeremiah. “Jeremiah, whether you like little Yvette or not, I understand. Just accept it. Objecting is pointless. At best, we won’t make you call her “Auntie.””
After saying that, she turned and flashed Yvette an apologetic smile. “Hey, Yvette. Don’t mind him. He is just like that with a quirky temper and isn’t the most likable. But it’s alright. He has a girlfriend and isn’t home much. When you come over, I’ll have him move out. So no worries. He won’t bother you.”
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Jeremiah stared at the three of them, mainly focusing on Yvette, and slowly began to speak, “I’m here to find my girlfriend. Her name is Yvette.”
Aurora reflexively replied without even thinking, “I know you’re here to find your girlfriend. You don’t like sweets. Your girlfriend’s name is Yvette. What a coincidence!”
After finishing her sentence, Aurora glanced at Yvette. “Yvette, what a coincidence! Jeremiah’s girlfriend has the same name as you. It’s fate!”
Aurora realized something was off only after she spoke. She suddenly widened her eyes in shock, frozen in place. It took her half a minute to process it. She pinched Clifford’s arm. “Honey, Jeremiah said his girlfriend’s name is Yvette.”
Clifford had already figured out that it was a big misunderstanding. He thought, ‘Aurora’s girlfriend is actually Jeremiah’s girlfriend. What a coincidence!’ Enduring the pain in his arm, he said to Aurora, “Silly, they’re the same person.”
Aurora suddenly let out a loud scream. She stepped back two paces and hid behind Clifford.
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Aurora pecked out from behind Clifford’s back, her expression was a mix of shock, joy, and confusion. She thought, ‘So now the situation is that Yvette is actually my dream daughter–in–law She’s Jeremiah’s girlfriend?‘
Her mind quickly shifted gears. She felt that she and Jeremiah had the same great taste. Both of them had chosen the same wonderful woman.
Clifford pulled Aurora from behind him. He thought, ‘You’re going to be a mother–in–law. Stop acting so childish. Quit hiding
Without Clifford in front of her, Aurora felt a bit uneasy. She gave him a glare. Then she looked at Yvette. She had promised to be a gentle and charming mother–in–law in front of her daughter–in–law. But she let Yvette see what just happened.
Aurora regretted it so much, she was beside herself. With an embarrassed expression, she told a lie she didn’t even believe. “Well, actually, the person you saw wasn’t me. You’re sleepwalking now. Do you believe me?”
Both Jeremiah and Clifford were speechless.
After saying that, Aurora absentmindedly stared at Yvette. Thinking about how likely it was to knock Yvette out right now. After speaking, Aurora’s head drooped. Her image of the powerful businesswoman who could command the corporate world was gone. She was now radiating an aura of complete dejection.
Yvette slowly lifted her eyes, her gaze calm and her expression neutral. “You were pretty cool just now.”
A few simple words once again made Aurora lift her head instantly. She was filled with delight that Yvette actually called her impressive. “Yvette, you think I’m cool, right? Let me tell you. I wasn’t even serious just now. If I showed all my killer moves from my younger days, they would have been impressed ages ago. I even once trained under an old monk, but don’t let that get out. I’m really humble about it.”
That nickname caught Clifford and Jeremiah by surprise again. They found Aurora quite nonchalant and were completely at a loss when it came to Aurora’s whims. They’d been handling it this way for years. It’d been a long and tough journey, to put it mildly. They got used to it. Especially Clifford, who was, more accustomed.
Aurora patted her chest and quickly added, “Don’t worry. From now on, if there’s ever a fight, just call me. I’ve got your back. With those thin arms and legs, you’re probably not cut out for fighting, but it’s okay. We’re like family, right? I’ll step in, and you just stay behind me.” She had every bit the demeanor of a leader.
At first glance, Yvette knew that Aurora didn’t have any vibe of ancient martial arts. But she didn’t reveal Aurora. She just nodded. “Okay.”
To Aurora, Yvette seemed both cute and well–behaved. She felt her heart melting at Yvette’s cuteness.
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Jeremiah couldn’t stand to watch. Aurora had never seen Yvette take down a crocodile with her bare hands. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said such things even if her life depended on it.
Off to the side, Clifford noticed how Aurora’s mood changed suddenly, one moment happy the next gloomy, and he sighed helplessly.
Aurora is in her fifties now. Yet she was still easy to feel thrilled once being praised.
And all that talk about the old monk was from many years ago. The man indeed taught her a few techniques, but she didn’t learn a single one. In the end, she frustrated him so much that he became a monk and retreated into a monastery, never leaving it since.
Jeremiah saw how Aurora was being so friendly with Yvette, and felt a sting of jealousy. But he couldn’t take it out on Aurora, so he just glared at Jeremiah next to him. He was upset that Jeremiah found a girlfriend to steal Aurora’s attention.
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At the same time, Jeremiah also glanced at Clifford. He was also upset that Aurora became his love rival,
But, to be honest, Clifford was stunned for a moment. The girl who was about to be Aurora’s sister suddenly turned out to be Jeremiah’s girlfriend. Even Clifford was very composed and used to handling big situations, he found it quite amusing that Aurora and Jeremiah both fell for Yvette.
Yvette maintained her usual cool demeanor, her jet–black eyes shining like polished onyx.
Jeremiah stepped forward and gently took her cold, delicate hand. They stood together. She tilted her head without saying anything. In terms of looks alone, they were unbeatable, the perfect match and a feast for the eyes.
Aurora’s eyes lit up when she saw the pair standing together, but then b
mood darkened. For someone who really cared about appearances like her, this combination of a handsome guy and pretty girl was perfect for her. She’d feel bad if she didn’t ship this couple. But she was somehow upset that Yvette was with Jeremiah, not her. She found that quite frustrating.
Jeremiah glanced at Yvette, then looked up at Clifford and Aurom. With a serious expression, he spoke in an official tone, “Dad, Mom, this is my girlfriend Yvette. She’s going to be my wife and the mother of my children.”
Clifford looked at their hands, fingers intertwined. It was such a natural gesture. Although he was quite happy inside, his face remained stern. “Alright, got it.”
His attitude towards Jeremiah was distant, as if he didn’t care much. But when he turned to Yvette, his expression became much warmer. Even though he maintained a serious demeanor, it was clear that Clifford was very pleased. He said to Yvette, “Hello, I’m Clifford, Jeremiah’s father.”
Yvette lifted her eyes and saw Clifford’s gaze filled with kindness. There was a slight pause. In her usual calm voice, she said, “Hello, I’m Yvette, Jeremiah’s girlfriend.”
Both of them reintroduced themselves. It was clear their titles and roles had changed from just a moment ago. They added a bit of formality.
Upon seeing the poised Yvette, Clifford felt satisfied. As the Chavez family’s daughter–in–law, she didn’t need a noble background, but she couldn’t be petty. If Yvette had merely stood by watching the fight or tried to interfere, he wouldn’t have approved of her. He frequently said the same thing. As long as she was justified, even if she caused chaos in Betrico, the Chavez family would support her. He was quite pleased with Yvette and proud of Jeremiah.
In a word, the Chavez family was known for protecting their own, not tolerating any nonsense.
Aurora stepped forward to pry Yvette’s hand from Jeremiah’s grasp, successfully taking over Jeremiah’s previous spot.
Jeremiah looked at his now–empty hand. The hand he was holding a second ago was now in Aurora’s grip. He had a slight twitch at the corner of his eye. He felt it was necessary to remind Aurora. “Mom, she’s my girlfriend.”
Aurora nodded confidently and said without hesitation, “I know. She’s my daughter–in–law.”
Jeremiah was once again defeated by Aurora’s shamelessness. The way she confidently took things from others definitely made her the most shameless one.
Clifford coughed a couple of times. “Aurora, you’re my wife.”
Aurora squinted at Clifford. “I know. Yvette is my daughter–in–law.”
Clifford had a strong feeling that his status in the family was about to drop again.
Aurora, without caring what Jeremiah and Clifford thought, warmly took Yvette’s hand. She smoothly slipped the safety. charm bracelet from the temple, which she wore, onto Yvette’s slender wrist. She chuckled warmly.
Both Clifford and Jeremiah were momentarily stunned by the scene. Because this safety charm held great significance for
Aurora.
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When Aurora was a child, she wasn’t very healthy. So her family made a pilgrimage to the temple, praying for her at every step. Once she started wearing it, her health gradually improved and she hasn’t taken it off for years.
And now she offered it to Yvette. It made both Jeremiah and Clifford touched inside. They knew that Aurora must really like Yvette.
Yvette looked down at the red string on her wrist. It was quite old. She knew it was worn by someone who cherished it, keeping it in great condition. She dropped her casual and laid–back demeanor. She looked up at Aurora, her eyes beautifully cool, and her voice calm. “I can’t accept this.”
Aurora didn’t get upset at those words. She put away her smile and looked intently at Yvette. “Yvette, my daughter–in–law, this charm is hidden in the bracelet. I’ve worn it since I was little. When I was pregnant, I thought if I had a daughter, I’d pass it to her so she could be protected. But I ended up having a son, Jeremiah, that rascal, so I kept it. Later, I decided that when I have a daughter–in–law, I’d give it to her personally. You wouldn’t refuse me, right?”
Jeremiah now seriously doubted if he was really Aurora’s biological child.
Afraid Yvette might not accept it, Aurora pleaded pitifully with Yvette, “Do you think it’s worthless and that’s why you don’t want it?”
Everyone knew Aurora was just trying to persuade Yvette to take the bracelet.
Yvette glanced at Jeremiah. She paused. Then she turned back to look at Aurora. This time she didn’t refuse. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll treasure your charm. From now on, I’ll protect you.”
These words brought a slight tear to Aurora’s eye. She was quite pleased with having Yvette as her daughter–in–law, leaving Jeremiah out of her mind. “Alright, Yvette, with you protecting me, even the King of Hell can’t take me.”
Aurora just jokingly remarked, who would dare to take someone from the King of Hell’s hands?
Yet Yvette replied to her quite seriously, “Yes, with me here, the King of Hell can’t take you away.”
Aurora was momentarily taken aback, then smiled, not minding it at all.
Seeing the two of them so heartwarming made Clifford very happy too. He thought, ‘Why did we end up with Jeremiah, that mischievous boy? If we had a little girl, she’d definitely be as sweet and considerate as Yvette.‘
Later, Clifford found out that calling Yvette ‘sweet‘ was a huge mistake.
Aurora wrapped her arm around Yvette’s shoulders. Both were the same height, resembling a pair of close pals. Quicker than a magician changing masks, she had already switched moods.
Both Jeremiah and Clifford were accustomed to her antics by now. Yet they found the hand draped over the shoulder looked a bit awkward.
So the two exchanged a knowing glance. With a rare tacit understanding between them, they stepped forward and pulled their wives back to their sides.
Aurora wanted to protest, but Clifford gave her a look. Seeing the look, she quieted down.
Jeremiah glanced at his watch. Unknowingly, it was already five in the afternoon. He said in a deep voice, “Let’s go. It’s perfect timing to head back for dinner. Everything’s ready at home.”
Hearing this, Aurora eagerly took Yvette’s hand again. “Come on, Yvette. Let’s head home for dinner. You’re still staying at Skyland, right? There’s no help there, and Jeremiah can’t cook, so I doubt you’ve had anything decent to eat. Come with me. Our home–cooked meals will surely be to your liking.”
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Jeremiah watched as their hands linked again. He decided it was time to change the security system at Skyland. Looking at the blacklist, he thought there should soon be another name added.
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Aurora and Yvette walked ahead, chatting happily. Aurora did most of the talking while Yvette listened quietly. They seemed like a pair of close sisters.
Jeremiah and Clifford trailed behind them, with expressions as if they’d been dealt a bad hand of cards.
Clifford noticed the intense look in Jeremiah’s eyes. “Brat, keep your wife in check.”
Jeremiah looked up defiantly and said, “Dad, keep your wife in check.”
Clifford said, “Do you think I can do that?”
Jeremiah chuckled. “Are you giving me too much credit? Do you think I can manage that?”
Clifford continued, “Spineless, how did I end up with a kid like you?”
Jeremiah, with his hands in his pockets, said slowly, “Takes one to know one.”
Jeremy thought, ‘One day, I’ll beat you.
Jeremiah thought, ‘One day, I’ll send you away.
By the end, neither of them looked at each other. Instead, they turned to look at Yvette and Aurora.
At the Chavez residence, there weren’t many servants. But they’d been working there for over twenty years. When Aurora led Yvette through the door and they saw her face, they knew in their hearts that she was going to be the future matriarch of the Chavez family.
A few servants warmly stepped forward to greet Yvette, with genuine smiles on their faces. They all knew she came from Seacrity, but there wasn’t any disdain.
In an elite family like the Chavez family, the servants were carefully selected. Their qualifications, behavior, and character were all top–notch. Their salaries were much higher than what people earned outside.
The kind of snobbish servants who look down on others didn’t exist at all. That was all nonsense from TV dramas. A servant had no right to look down on their masters.
Cara led the servants to serve the dishes, and after arranging them, they retreated in an orderly manner. The whole process was so quiet that there wasn’t a sound.
Clifford sat at the head of the table.
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On the left were Aurora and Yvette, while Jeremiah sat alone on the right. He looked really pitiful.
No need to say more. Even the seating arrangement was secretly manipulated by Aurora.
Jeremiah had a strong urge to return to Seacrity. If things continued like this, Yvette was definitely going to leave him.
The Chavez family had always preferred Clusian food. Jase went through tough times, so they weren’t really interested in Western food.
Aurora, worried Yvette might not be used to it, thoughtfully added some fancy dishes, such as red wine, cheese, steak, salad, dessert. It was all carefully prepared.
At the dinner table, Aurora eagerly placed food into Yvette’s plate with serving tools.
Clifford and Jeremiah were also at the table. Aurora had her eyes only on Yvette, constantly urging her to eat more.
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Yvette accepted everything. She ate whatever was given to her.
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Aurora liked her even more for that. She thought it was a blessing to eat well. Skinny people couldn’t hold onto luck. A little chubbiness made one cuter.
Clifford reached out his fork to pick up a piece of steak while Aurora quickly grabbed the last piece and put it on Yvette’s plate, leaving him a piece of pineapple. He took deep breaths, convincing himself that the pineapple was tastier.
Aurora noticed him staring at the pineapple without eating. “Honey, why aren’t you eating? Go on, eat! What are you looking
at?”
Clifford smiled bitterly and popped a piece of pineapple into his mouth. He missed the taste of steak. He only picked at his food during dinner.
With a small appetite, Jeremiah was already full.
When Aurora saw Yvette finished the last bite of her meal, she quickly asked Cara to bring the prepared orange juice.
Clifford noticed Yvette happily sipping her orange juice, while he only had a glass of plain water in front of him. Jealousy welled up inside him. Now he was glad that they had Jeremiah, the little rascal. If it were a little girl, Aurora probably
wouldn’t even have him in her sight.
Jeremiah was the ultimate errand boy.
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After the meal, in the living room, the TV was showing news about the country’s new energy developments.
After the meal, in the living room, the TV was showing news about the country’s new energy developments.
Aurora and Yvette lounged lazily on the sofa, neither sitting properly, looking as close as a mother and daughter. Aurora looked so youthful that people might even believe they were sisters.
Clifford handed Aurora a freshly made bowl of milk from the servant, and Aurora gave it right to Yvette. Her expression was full of genuine concern. “Yvette, eat up! We women need more milk. It’s good for our health.”
Yvette took her eyes off the TV and looked at the bowl of milk. She nodded. “Thanks.”
Aurora watched Yvette drink it down, then turned to Clifford. “Honey, could you ask Cara to bring out another bowl?”
Clifford hesitated for a moment. He thought, ‘I’m a senior director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I’m now turning into a housekeeper at home. It seems acceptable.’
Jeremiah glanced at Clifford without a word, thinking to himself ‘Who’s really better off in family status anyway?”
Clifford looked at James on TV and paused for a moment. He remarked, “Developing new energy has always been a priority for the national physics lab. For years there was no breakthrough, and then suddenly this year, they succeeded. Mr. Owens had had a hard time finding the right successor for the lab. None have met his standards. I heard he almost needed to be hospitalized from exhaustion recently. I wonder how he’s doing now.”
This topic naturally had a heavy tone. The older generation dedicated their entire youth to the country. Even in their old age, they couldn’t bear to leave the lab, never retiring. When they should’ve been enjoying their golden years, they were still working at the forefront. The patriotic spirit of people like Mr. Owens and his father was embedded in their bones, too deep to erase even in death.
Jeremiah peeled a shiny and clear grape for Yvette and placed it on her dessert. Then, he joined the conversation. “Mr. Owens is feeling better. Yesterday, Yvette met with him, so everything should be fine.”
Clifford looked at Yvette in surprise, as she showed no expression. He was quite surprised that Yvette actually knew Mr.
Owens.
Mr. Owens had hardly ever left Betrico. If he left Betrico, just like his father, he’d need a national guard escort. No one could easily get close to him.
The fact that Yvette knew Mr. Owens genuinely surprised Clifford. Since he considered Yvette as one of his own, he directly asked her what was on his mind, “Yvette, how did you get to know Mr. Owens?”
Yvette half–closed her eyes, lifted her clear gaze, and pinched her fingertips. In a casual tone, she said, “We met online. Yesterday was our first meeting.”
Yvette wasn’t lying. Her first real conversation with James was just yesterday. But she didn’t mention accepting him as a god- grandfather after just a brief chat.
Hearing this, Clifford’s lips twitched slightly. He was surprised that James actually knew how to browse the internet. It right not be a big deal. But chatting with Yvette on line was very much a coincidence.
Aurora didn’t seem as surprised as Clifford. She wasn’t overthinking it. Excitedly, she turned to Yvette and said, “Yvette, should we exchange contacts too? So next time I miss you, I don’t have to go through Jeremiah, which is kind of a hassle.”
Yvette lowered her eyes, and upon hearing this, quickly pulled out her phone and opened the app. Her voice was calm. “Do you want me to scan your code, or should you scan mine?”
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Aurora liked Yvette’s straightforwardness. “I’ll scan yours.”
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Once they added each other as friends, Aurora immediately sent Yvette the latest meme. It was a funny cartoon character. Next to it was the words “Hello!” It was cute and adorable.
Yvette sent one back to her.
The phone buzzed. Aurora glanced down at it. A cool little character was next to the words “Hey there!”
Strangely, the memes they chose looked quite like them.
Jeremiah and Clifford shared a glance and remained silent.
Chatting on the phone while sitting on the same couch seemed completely unnecessary and confusing.
Traditionally, mothers–in–law and daughters–in–law had had numerous conflicts, but it was uncertain who would have more disputes with whom in the future.
At that moment, James’s voice was heard from the TV. “Welcome, media friends. The physics lab will hold a new energy press conference in two days. More details will be provided soon.”
Clifford sipped his Grandos, having the same taste as Jase. He only drank this one kind of coffee. His eyes flickered slightly. He looked at the TV with some relief and began to speak, “The press conference held by James this time is very timely, giving our country more confidence at this year’s international conference and saving significant costs. I’ve heard that the success in new energy development is thanks to someone named Siren? Quite mysterious. From what I heard, James once tried to recruit this person but then backed off. Do you know anything about this?”
This question was directed at Jeremiah. Clifford couldn’t directly ask Yvette and Aurora what they thought about this.
Jeremiah’s mission to Seacrity to find Siren was a secret that Clifford was completely unaware of. After all, they were not in the same department, and Jeremiah reported directly to the top leader. Even Clifford didn’t have the clearance to know such details.
Yvette’s fingers paused slightly around the spoon when she heard Siren’s name. Her eyes remained calm and deep. There was a touch of chilliness to it. Then she nonchalantly continued eating her dessert.
Jeremiah was quiet for a moment. His demeanor was dignified. His voice was indifferent. “Yeah. The breakthrough in new energy development was thanks to someone named Siren. This project owes much to him, but I don’t really know the details. Maybe Jase knows more about it.”
As for why James decided against sending him to find Siren, Jeremiah never really tried to understand. Finding Siren was just a task for him. When the assignment was canceled, it no longer concerned him, requiring no further thought.
On a day that followed, Jeremiah saw a figure appear at the International Physics Conference. He regretted not pursuing it further back then.
Clifford nodded. His expression was serious. “I wonder if Mr. Owens ever found Siren. Our country, Clusia, really needs such talent right now.”
Aurora knew about Clifford’s longing for talent and placed her hand on his. She offered words of comfort, “Our country is developing really well now, it’s not like in your days. If Siren is really as talented as you say, Mr. Owens definitely wo pass on them. You know how stubborn he is, so there’s no need to worry abourit.”
Jeremiah held Yvette’s hand. “Yeah, I know. It just hit me all of a sudden. We’ve grown old and can only do so much for the country. The future depends on Jeremiah’s generation. A strong youth means a strong nation. We need more talents like Siren.”
Yvette lifted her gaze, ate her last piece of dessert, and a slight smile appeared on her lips. Jeremiah kept an eye on her at all times, and seeing this, he casually handed over a napkin. It was indeed great service.
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This gesture made the usually composed Clifford twitch his eye. He found Jeremiah, who had been distant growing up, was now completely under Yvette’s influence.
Yvette spoke softly. Her voice was cool and clear. “Mr. Owens has already successfully recruited Siren.”
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Jeremiah, Clifford, and Aurora all looked at Yvette.
Clifford’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. He thought Yvette wasn’t supposed to know about this. He found it hard to believe that Mr. Owens would be so careless that he’d reveal this to Yvette.
But Clifford couldn’t figure out how Yvette managed to know that Mr. Owens had successfully recruited Siren. He was filled with questions, but he didn’t let them out this time. Everyone had his secrets. Some things were better left unsaid. No matter how Yvette came to know Mr. Owens, Clifford had no right to ask.
Jeremiah turned his head to look at Yvette. His eyes flickered slightly, feeling as if there was something he had overlooked. But he couldn’t figure it out anyway.
Aurora didn’t think too much about it. She just thought it was because Yvette was so charming that Mr. Owens would share such secrets with her.
Without even realizing it, Aurora had become a huge fan of Yvette in just one short day, the kind of fan who would go wild, lose her mind, and run into walls for her.
The topic was naturally brushed aside, and none of the three felt the need to delve deeper.
At eleven o’clock at night, Yvette and Jeremiah finally returned to Skyland.
The reason was that Aurora insisted on keeping Yvette a while longer, even hoping the two would stay overnight. She wanted Yvette to stay. Jeremiah was just tagging along, whether he was needed or not. She kept delaying again and again, so by the time they left the Chavez residence, it was already midnight.
At the entrance of Skyland, Jeremiah pulled Yvette, who was about to walk inside, into his arms.
The
h whispered by her ear sent tingles down her spine.
He deliberately accentuated his words, his voice thick and hoarse, a mix of teasing and coaxing. “What should I do with you since I am a little jealous today?”
Jeremiah suddenly felt that Yvette had a kind of charm that irresistibly attracted both men and women. Aurora didn’t usually act like this. In just one day, she’d fallen completely in love with Yvette.
Where the big, Only Jeremiah knows that bittersweet feeling of having rivals in love of both genders. It was another day tough Jeremiah turned into a softie. He knew that Yvette responded better to kindness than to toughness and it was perfectly fine for a man to give in sometimes.
Yvette lifted her head from Jeremiah’s embrace. She slightly raised an eyebrow. There was a touch of coldness at the corners of her eyes. She calmly said, “Well. You should get used to this.”
tood in front of her. His Jeremiah was a bit surprised. He hadn’t noticed before that Yvette could be so self–assured. He voice was low and raspy, like it had been run over gravel, low but not harsh. Yet it carried a hint of tenderness. “Want to get married?”
Jeremiah wanted to be Yvette’s husband. He said the firmest words in the gentlest tone.
Those words really made Yvette pause for a moment. Then she slightly lifted her eyes. Her delicate, slender fingers tugged Jeremiah’s tie, pulling him back. He was pinned against the wall, with her right hand on it and her left hand hooking under his chin. She gave a soft scratch.
Jeremiah’s body tensed. He thought, ‘Where do you come up with these tricks? Each time you become more irresistible. I’m completely overwhelmed.
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Yvette’s dark and bright eyes flickered slightly, locking with Jeremiah’s gaze. The depth in her eyes was filled with desire. Her stunning features were highlighted by the streetlight shadows, exuding her unique charm. Her voice was clear and crisp. “Jeremiah, I’m not even at the legal age to get married yet.”
Jeremiah only said it impulsively. He completely forgot that in Clusia, the legal marriage age for women had been raised to twenty–five. Because Clusia’s divorce rate had been too high in recent years, the government decided to raise the marriage age for women to encourage people to take marriage more seriously. Yvette was only twenty–two, so she had three more years to go.
Jeremiah lowered his eyes, hiding a hint of a smile beneath them. Since they couldn’t get a marriage license, he might as well get something in return.
In the next moment, a wave of disappointment suddenly emanated from Jeremiah.
Yvette’s hand paused on his chin, a glint flashing through her eyes. She lifted Jeremiah’s chin. Their eyes met.
Jeremiah tried hard to control the surge of emotions within him.
Yvette held his gaze for a few seconds before leaning in for a kiss. Her lips rubbed against his, not with any finesse but with raw intensity.
Her lips rubbed against his, not with any finesse but with raw intensity.
Jeremiah’s little plan worked; he quickly took charge of the situation.
Five minutes later, Yvette pushed against Jeremiah’s chest, breaking free from his embrace. She crossed her arms over her chest, a smirk playing on her lips. “Jeremiah, if you try the poor little me act again, I swear you won’t easily get out of bed.
Emmett heard some noise at the door. He guessed it meant Yvette and Jeremiah were back. So he came out of his room, bleary–eyed. As soon as he pushed open the door, he heard those words.
The door was now open. Jeremiah and Yvette both turned to look at the door.
Emmett stared at the two of them with wide eyes, completely awake.
The silence in the room was so intense
it
was
frightening.
Emmett felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He thought, ‘Yvette said something so outrageous. Should I be heading out?‘ To make sure he wasn’t silenced permanently by Jeremiah and could see tomorrow’s sunrise. He decided to pretend he didn’t hear anything, fooling himself into believing he still had a slim chance of survival.
In the next moment, Emmett stared wide–eyed, without blinking, then suddenly closed his eyes tightly. He turned around. Muttering to himself, “Sleepwalking. I’m sleepwalking. I’m not fully awake right now. I didn’t hear anything. My memory’s bad. What should I do now? Oh right, sleep. Sleeping is super important. I need to sleep.”
With every step Emmett took, he could feel Jeremiah’s eyes watching him closely. It was like having a thorn in his back. The conversation between Yvette and Jeremiah only made him wish he could sprout wings and fly away.
Jeremiah asked, “What’s the best way to silence someone for good?”
Yvette replied, “There are many ways, such as bleeding from the nose and ears, heart–wrenching pain, being drawn and quartered, torn apart, or completely crushed.”
Hearing this in the dead of night, Emmett felt like dropping to his knees. He started walking faster and faster. He pushed open the door, locked it immediately, and then dashed to the table to gulp down a big glass of water. He took a deep breath. He had narrowly escaped disaster,
After such a close call, he took out his phone and found the small group chat with Bruce, Chris and Frankie. “Guess what I heard?”
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It was daytime in Mysonna. Bruce, Chris and Frankie were having breakfast together.
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Sienna was there too. Her child has been taken care of, and she’s gotten to know everyone recently. Frankie even set aside a room for her in the villa, and she’d been staying there to recuperate lately.
Chris responded to Emmett, [Eating. Do not disturb.]
Emmett said, [Can’t you be more shameless?]
Chris said, [Day one of blocking you.]
Emmett knew if he didn’t come up with some juicy news, they wouldn’t pay him any attention. Then, in the next moment, he typed out the sentence he had overheard.
Emmett was sure Frankie couldn’t resist gossiping about this. He couldn’t possibly resist it.
Emmett waited for a full minute, but the group chat remained–silent. He wondered if everyone had ignored their phones. He patiently waited another two minutes.
Finally, his phone buzzed. He quickly grabbed it to check, and as soon as he saw the group message, his phone slipped from his hands and fell to the ground. He shouted inward, ‘What on earth?‘
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The next morning, Emmett dragged his suitcase into the living room. He saw two people already sitting at the table having breakfast and forced a slight smile. Plastering on a grin, he braced himself and walked up to say hello. “Mr. Chavez, Mrs. Chavez, good morning. It’s such a lovely day. If you have no other instructions, I’ll head to the airport. You two take your time. Bye, Yve.” With that, he was ready to make a quick getaway
Emmett was dragging her suitcase to the airport early in the morning, all because of that guy, Frankie.
Jeremiah casually handed a dumpling to Yvette and looked up. Watching Emmett as if he were about to take off running. He calmly asked, “Did you create the group chat?”
Yvette was focused on her bowl of dumplings, glancing up at the flustered Emmett.
Last night, Frankie took a screenshot of Emmett’s message in the group chat and sent it to Jeremiah. It worked out well–at least for Frankie–because the result was that Emmett got assigned to take over the gold mine project in Afria, while a was pulled back to Mysonna. If there was ever a perfect example of “brotherly loyalty,” Frankie showed it to the, fullest.
Cold sweat ran down Emmett’s back in an instant. He thought, ‘Isn’t this just adding insult to injury? I swear that the small group chat was only created back then to help save Jeremiah. Who could’ve known that Frankie, that bastard, would use me as a trade to get back to Mysonna?‘ What a heartless move. When Emmett got back from Afria, the first thing he’d do was head to the States and castrate him.
Emmett quickly explained, “Mr. Chavez, I created this group when you went missing in the rainforest to help keep everyone in contact, definitely not to spread gossip. You have to believe me.”
Yvette finished her last dumpling. She shot him a quick glance, tapping her toes. She thought, ‘Isn’t this a self–confession?‘
Emmett clearly hadn’t realized what he said that was wrong yet. His face was full of sincerity. Jeremiah looked at him with a knowing smile and said, “Not bad.” And with that, he waved his hand.
Seeing the situation, Emmett immediately grabbed his luggage and bolted outside. In just a few seconds, he was gone, leaving behind any semblance of his cool demeanor. Forget being aloof; right now, escaping was the most important thing He thought, ‘Didn’t I just see the look in Jeremiah’s eyes, like he wants to stab me? If I don’t run now, when will I?‘
As for what Jeremiah called “not bad,” Emmett only realized how off that sounded after he got on the plane. Something felt wrong about it. When he arrived in Afria, he understood. What was supposed to be three days of work had turned into half a month. Being stuck in that godforsaken place felt like his limbs were about to start atrophying.
Not only that, but the miners there took a liking to Emmett, constantly shouting that they wanted to have his kn
without expecting anything in return. Emmett’s body and mind suffered greatly from it, and for quite some time after he returned, he felt a wave of dread every time he saw a woman. When it comes to harsh punishment methods, Mr. Chavez unmatched. After that, the group chat never had any gossip again.
At the dinner table. Yvette’s phone suddenly buzzed. She glanced at it, and it was a message from James. He wanted to take her on a tour of the physics lab. Yvette was silent for a few seconds, then typed the message and sent it. [Okay.
Jeremiah glanced at her. He smiled slightly and softly asked, “Any plans after dinner? Do you want to come to the military base with me?”
Jeremiah was very busy. Even though he was technically on leave, he still had plenty of military duties to handle. At his level, taking a vacation doesn’t really make any difference. He’s been busy with the visit from Ybaulla to Clusia, squeezing out time wherever he can
Yvette lifted her gaze, her eyes dark and bright, calm like a deep pool. She thought, ‘Why do people keep wanting to take me to these secret places? The National Physics Lab, the First Military District–is this a place ordinary people can visit?‘
Yvette smiled slightly, her voice was cool and clear. “I can’t go, I have to visit the physics lab with James later.”
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Jeremiah’s hand paused for a moment, gripping his cup. His expression deepened, and his voice dropped low. “He’s taking you to the physics lab?”
Yvette nodded freely, “Yeah, I think we’re just going to browse around.”
Jeremiah took a sip of water. He nodded and didn’t ask anything else. Yvette was actually busier than him, not taking a break
wouldn’t have brought her to the physics lab.
since she arrived in Betrico. James must genuinely like Yvette, or else b
Besides the researchers with clearance, only James has the authority to take someone in.
Jeremiah stopped, gazing at her face, and exclaimed with a sigh, I always feel like you don’t need me.”
If he hadn’t heard it firsthand, it would be difficult to believe those words came from such a strong and cold man like Jeremiah. Maybe this is the insecurity in love, Jeremiah never thought there’d be a day he would feel this way.
Yvette paused briefly, her brows slightly furrowed, her slender white wrist resting carelessly on the table. She gazed casually at Jeremiah and said, “Jeremiah, I’ve never been the type of woman to wait around. I don’t need to rely on anyone else. True strength is what really matters, and that’s how I’ve lived my life. Being in a relationship isn’t going to change who I am, so stop reading those cheesy romance novels Andrew gives you.”
Yvette’s fingers tapped lightly on the table, her collarbone looking stunning beneath her shirt. She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering with a playful tease. “Saving a damsel in distress? No way. But a damsel saving a hero? That, I might consider.”
Her words were both bold and arrogant, yet no one could find a reason to argue. Yvette was just that strong, with the confidence to back up every word she said.
Jeremiah coughed awkwardly. He thought, ‘How did she discover those novels I had so carefully hidden?‘
Jeremiah looked at her intently. Even in casual clothes, he exuded an air of elegance and nobility. His handsome, calm profile seemed to glow with a soft golden light. His gaze lingered on the slender curve of Yvette’s exposed neck, and his thin lips pressed together slightly. Such a beautiful neck, yet without a mark, it felt incomplete. In a deep voice, he said, “I’m yours. Whenever you feel like saving me, I’ll be right there, ready for you. However you want to save me, it’s up to you.”
Something about his words felt wrong. Yet Jeremiah’s expression remained completely sincere, as if he were being entirely serious. In reality, though, he was already steering the conversation into suggestive territory.
Yvette sat back in her chair, crossing her legs, a cold glint in her eyes. This old man had become more and more secretly flirty ever since he got a taste. At the slightest disagreement, he’d turn straight to suggestive talk.
**
At the Terrell residence. Ronald Terrell, the patriarch, used to oversee the national finances. However, due to health issues, he has now retired and is enjoying his later years at home. He, along with Jase, James, and Walter Moore, have been fighting alongside each other since their youth, forming a deep bond through their shared struggles. The four of them get together every so often to catch up and reminisce about the past.
At this age, gatherings become less frequent, so whenever they set a date, they make it a point to meet for coffee and chat about their recent lives. Today was one of those scheduled times
Jase was the last to arrive; he was the busiest among the four. James sat on the sofa, leaning on his cane, and his expression darkened as he saw Jase come in with Yusef. He couldn’t put on a good face when that brat from the Chavez family had stolen his newly recognized granddaughter. He might as well dream of having a pleasant demeanor.
Jase wore a dark suit that was both elegant and stunning, custom–made just for him. A closer look revealed that all four of them wore outfits made from the same material and craftsmanship, clearly from the same tailor.
Ronald said, “You finally made it, Jase. It’s not easy to see you
these days.”
Walter nodded in agreement and said, “That’s right. You need to take it easy with your old bones. Don’t pretend you’re still
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Jase sat down, leaning on his cane, while Yusef stood by his side and handed him the coffee that had been prepared in advance. Jase took a small sip and set the cup down. “I hear you,” he said calmly. “My body can still hold up, so there’s no need for you all to worry.”
Ronald and Walter both sighed. At Jase’s age, still holding his position, rumors had started circulating that he was clinging to power, unwilling to let go, driven by a love of authority. But only these old friends knew the truth–Jase wasn’t concerned with power at all. He couldn’t let go of his duty to the country. It wasn’t as if his son, Jeremiah’s, position was in any way threatened. And with Jeremiah’s current standing, even if Jase were to step down, no one would dare touch the Chavez family.
Hearing those words, James remained silent, though his expression had softened quite a bit. However, Jase had already noticed his sour look from the moment he walked in. He turned his gaze to James and said, “What’s with the long face as soon as I walk in, old man? When did I ever offend you? Why the attitude, all grumpy and upset?” Ronald and Walter both turned to look at James, waiting to see how he would respond. All eyes were on him, anticipating his reaction.
James snorted, “Can’t I just dislike your face?”
Jase frowned. He had looked the same for decades, yet now James was acting like he couldn’t stand the sight of him. It seemed like the old man must’ve been chewing on gunpowder today. Back in their younger days, James had been jealous of his good looks, and even now, he was still pulling the same stunt.
James remained silent, not offering any further explanation.
Jase never expected that the resemblance he shared with Jeremiah–those similar eyebrows and eyes–would make James so unwelcoming toward him.
Seeing the tension between the two, Ronald quickly changed the subject. “Hey, did you hear that Jeremiah has a girlfriend now? Why didn’t you mention it, Jase?”
Walter nodded as well, “I’ve heard about this too. It seems like almost everyone in Betrico knows now. I never expected Jeremiah to actually have a girlfriend.”
James chimed in with a grumble. “That kid must have racked up some serious good karma in his last life to land such a great girlfriend.”
Ronald and Walter exchanged a glance, questioning the meaning behind James’s words. Given the Chavez family’s status and the fact that Jeremiah was such an exceptional young man, it was clear that anyone who ended up with him would be the one benefiting from good fortune.
Before they could ponder further, Jase furrowed his brow from the sofa and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Walter noticed Jase’s confusion and explained, “Yesterday, at a dessert shop, your daughter–in–law got into a fight with some ladies. It seems they said some gossip, and she overheard it. Now those women are in the Betrico police station, and Jeremiah is planning to sue them for defaming a soldier. Their families are scrambling to find connections to plead with him to let it go.”
Ronald added, “That move by Jeremiah is quite ruthless. If he doesn’t back down, those women are definitely going to jail.”
James, who had been in the lab all day yesterday and was unaware of the situation, immediately asked, “What does this have to do with Jeremiah’s girlfriend?”
Ronald, noticing that James was even more anxious than Jase, patiently explained, “I heard that Jeremiah’s girlfriend was also there. She helped Aurora in the fight.”
James stood up, slamming his hand on the table. “Did Jeremiah’s girlfriend get hurt? Those women attacked both of them- did she suffer any injuries? Those ruffians must be locked up, no question about it.”
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The three in the living room looked at James in confusion. They thought, ‘Isn’t his reaction a bit excessive? Anyone unaware of the situation would think it was his daughter–in–law or granddaughter who had been attacked! Jase was equally baffled; he
thought, When did this old man start caring so much about my family’s affairs?‘
Ronald, worried that James’s agitation might raise his blood pressure, quickly tried to calm him down. “Why are you so worked up? I haven’t finished speaking yet. Don’t worry, Aurora and Jeremiah’s girlfriend are both fine. They were the ones dishing out the punishment. I heard one of those women even lost her hair after arriving at the police station.”
James sat back down, taking in the bewildered expressions of the others. He calmly took a sip of coffee and said with a composed tone, “Oh, as long as they’re fine, it’s no big deal. Losing some hair is nothing to make a fuss about.”
Jase, Ronald, Walter, and Yusef all exchanged glances, their eyes twitching slightly. They thought, ‘Isn’t this double standard a bit too obvious?‘ They all stared at James, silently questioning his sudden change in demeanor.
up at th
James, relieved to hear that Yvette was fine, resumed sipping his coffee nonchalantly. He looked others and asked, “What are you all staring at? Keep talking.”
Jase and the others thought James was acting a bit strange; old age sometimes brous out peculiar behavior. Jase turned t
Ronald with a serious expression. “Has someone contacted you?”
Ronald let out a wry laugh, knowing that none of them could keep secrets from each oth
“Yeah, one of the deputy ministers from the Treasury Department had his wife trying every possible way to reach me, hoping I could intercede for them.”
Before Ronald could finish his sentence, Jase’s expression turned noticeably cold, and James also cast a disapproving glance
at him.
Ronald, fearing that the two old men might turn on him, quickly raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “I didn’t agree to anything. I know what your family’s temper is like. I’d have to be crazy to
say yes
I turned them down right away, so don’t worry.” Jase and James’s expressions finally softened a bit.
Jase lowered his gaze, his expression serious. “This matter is up to Jeremiah. He lash out without reason; there must be something that provoked her.”
decide o
to handle it. Aurora wouldn’t
He then turned to Yusef and instructed, “Make sure my message gets across. The Chav shouldn’t y any underhanded tactics, or else they’ll face severe consequences.”
amily won’t budge on this. They
Yusef nodded and promptly left. Within an hour, everyone in the upper echelons of Betrico was aware of Jase’s words. Those who had planned to leverage connections quickly backed off; with Jase personally weighing in, no on
any risks. It would be tantamount to asking for trouble.
dared to take
In the living room, James’s expression softened a bit as he asked Jase, “What do you think of Jeremiah’s girlfriend?” He ground his teeth, thinking that if Jase said anything negative about Yvette, he would surely confront him about that old face, which bore a resemblance to Jeremiah’s.
Jase glanced at him and replied, “She’s a great young lady–smart, beautiful, composed, strong, and decisive. It’s truly rare to find someone like her.”
Upon hearing this, Yusef and Walter exchanged glances, realizing that the girl had already won Jase’s approval. It seemed that the position of Mrs. Chavez was secure. They were genuinely curious about a girl who could receive such high praise from Jase, especially since they knew better than anyone how high his standards were.
James took a sip of his coffee, sighed with relief, and looked at Jase with appreciation, saying with a hint of pride, “Well, you
do have good taste and vision.”
Jase and the others were already immune to James’s unusual behavior today. It seemed the daily lab work was affecting his
mind. Jase decided it was time to schedule an appointment with a psychologist for him–no one should go crazy at this age, especially when their health was otherwise fine.
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At the end of the dinner, Ronald turned to Jase and asked, “When will you bring Jeremiah and his girlfriend over to the house? I should really give them a welcome gift, right?”
Walter added, “Me too. I’ve got everything ready, just waiting for them to arrive.”
Jase replied, “Alright, I’ll ask that little brat if he has any time lately. Let’s see how his schedule looks.”
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The two laughed, but then James glanced at the harmonious trio and suddenly said, “Make sure to prepare an extra portion -my granddaughter is coming too.”
