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The prestigious young men in the private room went silent when they saw the face revealed after the cap was removed.
They now understood the true meaning of a perfect match.
They thought the celebrities should take a look at Yvette’s face to see what real beauty truly looks like.
Even Keira, who had been bawling her eyes out moments before stared blankly at Yvette, utterly mesmerized.
She thought, ‘Her flawless beauty is clearly natural–there is no sign of any cosmetic enhancement. If only I had been blessed with such a divine appearance, I wouldn’t have needed to go through so many surgeries. With looks like that, I could easily dominate the entertainment industry.’
Jealousy burned within Keira, so intense it almost drove her mad.
She also knew that the man standing at the door was none other than Jeremiah, the one Joel had mentioned.
She felt that Jeremiah’s aura, appearance, and presence completely outshone Joel and the others by far.
Wiping away her tears, Keira steeled herself and began to plot.
The other men were speechless.
They had thought, just for once, they might beat Jeremiah in the “girlfriend competition.”
It turned out that they were completely wrong.
They glanced at the women they’d brought–overly made–up–and then at Yvette, who was effortlessly beautiful without a trace of makeup.
The men couldn’t help but feel both bitter and envious.
Once again, they found themselves utterly defeated.
The pair standing in silence at the door stirred a kind of reverence in everyone present, as though their very presence
demanded submission.
These men had assumed that, at best, a girl from a small place like Seacrity might be pretty, but now they realized–she was beyond that, otherworldly.
The first to break the silence was Samantha.
She rose from the sofa, her black dress accentuating her graceful curves, and walked elegantly toward Yvette in her high heels.
It wasn’t until she moved that the crowd snapped back to reality.
Jared, afraid she might act impulsively, quickly stepped forward with a troubled look..
He cautiously asked, “Samantha, maybe don’t go over there?”
After all, everyone in their circle knew that if it weren’t for Yvette, Samantha would marry Jeremiah.
So Jared believed that the meeting between Samantha and Yvette was practically a declaration of war.
He couldn’t decide whose side to take.
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Samantha had been his ultimate crush since he was a child.
Jared’s eyes darted around as he thought about how likely he was to keep Jeremiah in check.
Samantha patted Jared’s head. “Move aside.”
Then she continued walking.
With each step she took, everyone’s anxiety heightened.
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They thought, ‘Oh no, this is about to get ugly. Samantha has a seventh–degree black belt. If a fight breaks out and Jeremiah doesn’t step in, his girlfriend will be in real danger.
Keira, head down, smirked maliciously as Samantha walked past.
She thought, ‘Go on. Fight… Just make sure to ruin her face while you’re at it!
Samantha stopped in front of Jeremiah and Yvette, her red lips curving into a smile.
She thought, ‘Andrew hasn’t exaggerated–this girl, even in a simple white t–shirt and jeans, possesses an undeniable, distant beauty. She isn’t even wearing any makeup. I’ve never acknowledged anyone’s beauty as greater than my own, but I have to admit, today, I’m impressed.‘
Glancing at their outfits, she noticed they were wearing matching clothes.
She thought, ‘Jeremiah is so cunning; anyone can see they are dressed as a couple.’
Jeremiah looked at Samantha standing in front of him.
His voice turned stern as he asked, “What are you doing here?”
His blunt tone surprised everyone; they all thought he was being too harsh and heartless.
In reality, the rumors about Jeremiah and Samantha were nothing but hearsay, spread through word of mouth.
The two rarely crossed paths at social gatherings.
Even when they did, Jeremiah always kept a straight face, never showing much interest in anyone.
Everyone had thought it was normal, assuming they didn’t want to be too affectionate in formal settings.
Now, though, things seemed… off.
Samantha wasn’t fazed by his attitude–she was used to it. Jeremiah had been this way since they were kids.
Samantha let out a cold snort.
Turning her head, she looked at Yvette and asked in a husky voice, “Yvette Zeller?”
The way Samantha pronounced the two words had its own unique charm.
Yvette looked up, her expression sharp yet playful, her jawline strikingly pretty.
She raised an eyebrow and replied leisurely, “Samantha Mitchell?”
Jared’s mouth twitched slightly as he listened to their conversation.
He thought, These two sure know how to greet each other with the utmost brevity. Could you possibly say more?‘
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Everyone held their breath.
They felt like the scene resembled the exchange of names before a fight.
Samantha was momentarily taken aback.
Then she smiled, her dimples faintly visible as she tucked her hair behind her left ear.
E
90%
+5
She said, “Andrew was right–you are interesting. Let me officially introduce myself. I’m Samantha Mitchell, Andrew’s sister. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She extended her hand.
Yvette glanced at her slender hand but didn’t take it.
Instead, she nodded slightly and said, “I’m Yvette Zeller.”
Joel and Jared watched as Samantha’s hand was left hanging and exchanged a glance.
They thought, “This is unbelievable! In all of Betrico, very few people ever received such a gesture of goodwill from Samantha. Yvette is the first to ignore it. Where on earth did Jeremiah find this bold and impressive girlfriend who shows no respect even to Samantha?‘
Jared covered his eyes–he didn’t dare watch what would happen next.
He thought that Samantha wouldn’t tolerate being slighted like this and was bound to have a confrontation or fight with Yvette.
Samantha withdrew her hand without fuss.
The feeling of being rejected was new to her, but she found it oddly refreshing.
She had heard from Andrew that Yvette disliked physical contact with strangers, and now she knew it was true.
It made sense that Yvette and Jeremiah were a couple, given their shared aversion to being touched by strangers.
Samantha took another step forward.
She whispered, “I’m sure you’ve heard all those rumors about me and Jeremiah. They’re nonsense. Honestly, I prefer beautiful women. Like you.”
She winked flirtatiously as she said this.
Jeremiah’s lips twitched. He thought, ‘Does Samantha think I am invisible? She is trying to flirt with my girlfriend right in front of me!‘
He warned, “Samantha, stop it.”
Yvette studied the mischief in Samantha’s eyes for a moment before replying calmly, “Good to know. I like beautiful women too, and you’re definitely my type.”
Stunned, Samantha looked at the serious Yvette and saw only her own reflection in Yvette’s deep eyes.
She felt her face grow warm beneath her makeup.
She thought, ‘Wait–am I getting flirted with now?‘
Jeremiah ground his teeth, thinking, ‘Why are they staring at each other so affectionately? I am still here!‘
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He felt a twinge of jealousy as Yvette had never looked at him that way.
The two women locked eyes for a full minute before Samantha finally looked away, defeated.
Y0%
+5
She thought, “This girl is impressive. But it makes sense; Jeremiah will never find a girlfriend who’s just an ordinary woman.’
Coughing to cover her slight embarrassment, Samantha muttered, “You’re good.”
Yvette looked away and calmly replied, “Not bad.”
Samantha was speechless and thought, “This girl is all action, no talk.’
She offered, “Want to sit with me? I’ll mix something special for you.”
The two exchanged smiles.
“Sure,” replied Yvette.
One was all charm and allure, the other distant and stunningly beautiful.
Some people just clicked without needing many words, and Yvette and Samantha were exactly that.
The crowd felt as if they had been taken on an emotional rollercoaster by the unexpected twist.
They thought, ‘Aren’t these two supposed to fight over Jeremiah? Now they look like best friends. Meanwhile, Jeremiah seems like the one left out, standing alone at the door looking rather pitiful. What’s happening?‘
The crowd couldn’t help but want to revel in his misfortune.
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Jeremiah watched the two women walk away, speaking quietly.
He sighed and followed them–he had been used to such a situation.
The rest of the group quickly made way, knowing they didn’t have the same standing as Yvette to act so casually around him.
As the three took their seats, Jared began to liven up the atmosphere.
Everyone was now more reserved and cautious, casting furtive glances toward the trio on the couch every now and then.
To be fair, the sight of the three of them sitting together was truly pleasing to the eyes.
Keira, seeing things not going her way, clenched her teeth in frustration.
She turned to Joel, who had just recovered from his shock, and tears instantly welled–up in his eyes.
“Joel, please forgive me! I’ll never do it again, I swear!” she sobbed.
Joel looked at her impatiently and forcefully shook her hand off.
Without mercy, he said, “Keira, let’s part ways amicably. Leave now.”
Irritated by Joel’s ruthlessness, Keira snapped and lost control of her emotions.
She thought, ‘Without Joel’s backing, those I’ve offended through his influence will surely retaliate against me. I can’t let that happen; I might as well go all out and take him down with me.’
With a crazed expression, she screamed, “Joel, since you’re so heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Joel’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at the frantic Keira.
He thought, ‘What is this woman planning to do?‘
Keira’s outburst brought the lively atmosphere to an abrupt silence.
Just as Samantha finished mixing a cocktail for Yvette, the music halted, and all eyes shifted toward the commotion.
Only Jeremiah and Yvette remained unaffected.
Jeremiah was focused on peeling an apple for Yvette without even lifting his head.
Yvette sipped her cocktail with her eyes lowered, contemplating whether or not to have another.
‘What if I get too tipsy and start a fight?‘ she thought, then glancing at Jeremiah, who was concentrating on peeling the apple. ‘Can he take a hit? To drink or not to drink–that’s the question.
Keira, furious at being ignored by the trio, yelled, “Ms. Zeller, did you know that before you arrived, everyone was saying Samantha was Mr. Chavez’s childhood sweetheart and that they were the perfect match? They said you came from a small city and weren’t good enough for him!”
Of course, Keira embellished that last part.
Everyone present froze in fear upon hearing this.
‘Is this reckless woman trying to get us into trouble?‘ they thought.
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Joel was even more frightened.
His panic heightened as he caught Jeremiah’s sharp gaze fixed on him.
3
He hurriedly stopped Keira. “Shut up! When did we ever say that? Are you out of your mind? Don’t try to pin this on us!”
The others quickly joined in to explain.
They hadn’t forgotten about the women locked away in prison.
“Jeremiah, Ms. Zeller, she’s lying. We never said such thing!”
a
“Yeah, Jeremiah, we’re innocent. You have to believe us! How could we possibly talk like that behind your back?”
“Jeremiah, Ms. Zeller, this woman is crazy. She’s just mad because Joel wants to break up with her, so she’s randomly accusing us.
“We swear we didn’t say anything like that!”
Samantha watched as the crowd anxiously tried to explain.
45
11
She tilted her head, looking at Yvette’s expressionless face, and said, “They’re smart enough to know what they can say. They didn’t have the guts to say anything like that. This woman’s just trying to stir up trouble.”
Hearing Samantha speak up for them, everyone gave her grateful looks.
Now it was up to Yvette to decide what to do next.
The attention of everyone in the room returned to her.
They had completely understood how much Yvette meant to Jeremiah.
Yvette rest her arm lazily on the couch, her shirt sleeves rolled up casually.
Her pretty, cold eyes swept over the room, and her delicate brows arched slightly.
She set down her cocktail, tilted her head slowly, and asked Jeremiah, “I’m not good enough for you? Is that so? Do I not deserve you?”
Jeremiah glanced around at the uneasy crowd.
Then he said sternly, “Not good enough? I’m the one who’s not good enough for her, not the other way around. Got it?”
Everyone in the private room looked up in disbelief.
This statement carried a lot of weight.
Jeremiah was practically humbling himself for his girlfriend.
They thought, ‘What kind of charm does Yvette have to make him say something like that? If even Jeremiah isn’t good enough for her, who else would dare claim they are?‘
Yvette looked at the disbelieving crowd with her clear, bright eyes.
In a flat tone, she asked, “Did you all hear that clearly?”
Everyone in the room instinctively nodded and said in unison, “Yes.”
Their response was more synchronized than a military drill chant.
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3
After speaking, they exchanged glances, thinking, ‘How embarrassing! How did we let ourselves be so completely intimidated by one woman?‘
Yvette turned to look at Samantha, motioning with her eyes toward the empty glass on the table.
It was a silent request for another glass.
Samantha’s eye twitched; she found Yvette rather hard to please.
Without a word, she resignedly began mixing another drink.
She never imagined that she, a powerful CEO, would be reduced to a bartender for someone else.
She swore she couldn’t help it.
She simply couldn’t refuse a stunning beauty with such a commanding presence.
Keira’s face turned as pale as a sheet.
Right now, she felt like someone who had tried to gain something but ended up losing instead.
Her attempt to stir up trouble had completely backfired.
Seeing that her tactic didn’t work, she planned to use her usual dramatic antics of crying and throwing a tantrum.
90%
She screamed like a lunatic at Joel, “If you break up with me, Joel, I’ll kill myself right here! Let’s see how the media spins that story!”
After saying this, she looked around at everyone, pointed at them, and continued, “And the rest of you, with your privileged backgrounds, what will you do if you’re labeled as murderers?”
Keira’s words hit the group where it hurt most, and they were shocked and scared.
They glared at Keira, a crazy woman in their minds, gritting their teeth in anger.
If she died here, the media would spin stories without regard for the truth, and those reports would undoubtedly tarnish their family’s reputation.
Keira, thinking she had everyone under her control, looked at Joel with arrogance and said, “Joel, are you breaking up with me or not? Just say it!”
Joel was furious.
If he had known Kerra was such a woman, he wouldn’t have been with her.
Joel swallowed his humiliation from the threat and planned to agree to Keira’s request to stay together.
Just as he was about to speak, a calm, cold voice rang out. “You want to kill yourself?”
Everyone turned to look at the sofa.
The speaker was none other than Yvette, who had quietly downed three cocktails.
Yvette uncrossed her legs and stood up, ready to help Keira.
This was the first time Jeremiah had seen Yvette drink.
He thought, ‘She’s only had three cocktails, and they’re not even strong. She’ll be fine, right?‘
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Yvette put her hands in her pockets.
She walked in a perfectly straight line and stopped right in front of Keira.
With an intense gaze, she asked again, “Are you really thinking of killing yourself?”
Eagle King once told her, after drinking, always ask twice before granting someone’s request.
That was what she was doing right now.
3
Keira braced herself, thinking, “There’s no way I’m backing down now. What could a woman possibly do to me?‘
She shouted, “Yes, if Joel breaks up with me today, I’ll throw myself against the wall and kill myself!”
Yvette kept her eyelids slightly lowered, her eyes bloodshot and her expression serious.
She lifted her eyelids, her eyes now bright, clear, and focused.
She mumbled slowly to herself, “I’ve already asked twice.”
No one in the private room understood what she meant. They thought, ‘What does asking twice have to do with anything?‘
0
In the next moment, everyone was shocked.
Before they could react, Yvette had already lifted the arrogant Keira with one hand.
She then tossed Keira aside as effortlessly as if she were throwing away a rag.
Keira flew through the air and crashed by the wall, her knees slamming into the ground with a heavy thud that made everyone’s hearts tighten.
Yvette’s movements were fluid and swift, as if she’d done this a thousand times.
Her face was filled with hostility, her lips pressed into a cold line, and her eyes slightly drooping.
Her action left all the political scions in the private room utterly stunned.
Their eyes were wide open, nearly popping out of their sockets
“Who the hell is this violent maniac? someone thought, stunned,
Samantha’s eyes lit up instantly as she thought, D***n, that toss was so ***da***
Jeremiah, observing Yvette’s back with deep eyes, pressed his lips together and thought, “Have I overestimated her alcohol tolerance?
Keira let out an ear piercing scream that seemed like it could shatter the roof.
Her hair was disheveled and her lipstick was unrared across her face, making her look more like a crazed woman than the refined model she was.
Glaring at Yvette, she screamed. “You ps**ho! Who gives you the right to hit me?”
Yvette stood in front of Keira, her gaze unfocused
She slowly lifted her head and raised her eyes; her face was blank and icy, her eyes cold and bloodshot.
She said lightly, “I asked you, did you say you wanted to die?”
Keira was struck speechless.
Under Yvette’s gaze, her hands trembled with nervousness, and she was unable to form coherent words. “I-I did say that, but 1-
Before Keira could finish, Yvette cut her off, thinking. What is the point of saying so much if she wants to die? Eagle King once said, after drinking. I shouldn’t listen to anyone-just help them fulfill their wishes and then go to sleep.
While everyone else was still in shock. Yvette lifted Keira off the ground without saying a word and, forming a fist with her right hand, delivered a punch straight to Keira’s left eye.
The force knocked out Keira’s contact lens, instantly turning her eye into a swollen mess.
She struggled frantically, trying to escape Yvette’s grip, but it was useless.
She was like a helpless chick in Yvette’s hand.
Yvette glanced at Keira’s left eye and muttered, “No, it’s not symmetrical.”
Chapter 23
Everyone’s eyes twitched, and their faces froze.
Now’s the time to care about symmetry? someone thought.
Yvette spun the wildly struggling, crying Keira around and, without hesitation, punched her in the right eye.
Now, they were perfectly symmetrical.
Keira screamed at the top of her lungs, looking even more unhinged.
But no matter how much she thrashed, she couldn’t escape Yvette’s grasp.
The onlookers huddled together in fear, not daring to say a word, afraid of becoming the next target.
They thought, Yvette is so strong. She could easily take down eight of us if she wanted to; we can’t afford to upset her. The once-arrogant Keira is now reduced to this pitiful state.
Keira was really scared now.
She crawled and scrambled to get as far away from Yvette as possible.
Yvette fixed her gaze on Keira, and with a faint smile, she raised an eyebrow
She thought, “Why is this woman Bering! I haven’t fulfilled her with yet
She then held Keira’s throat tightly, her eyes cold and fierce. Suddenly, there was a cracking sound.
Keira’s agonizing scream set chills down everyone’s spine.
Her right hand was broken and hung limply
Another cr****k sounded, and Keira’s left shoulder was dislocated
Yvette released Keira, who rolled on the ground in agony
Everyone turned to look at Yvette and was shocked and frightened to see her smiling in a moment like this.
But somehow, they found her smile strangely endearing and thought of her as a mix of angel and devil.
Everyone unconsciously touched their own right hand, feeling as though it had broken as well.
They couldn’t help but think. Oh my goodness… this is terrifying… I want to go home!”
Then they turned their attention to Jeremiah for his reaction.
After all, the scene was quite bl****dy, and normally, no girl would act so violently in front of her boyfriend.
Jeremiah gave a calm glance to those looking at him
Then his gaze turned sharp as he said, “If this woman dies, I’ll handle the aftermath.”
The people in the private room once again realized that Jeremiah would go to any lengths to indulge his girlfriend.
Kriza was truly scared
knew that if he didn’t beg for mercy, she would die here.
by the usual rules at all; she wasn’t human-she was a devil
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Keira didn’t dare to pretend anymore.
She knelt on the ground and kept bowing fervently, crying and begging for mercy. “I’m sorry! I was wrong! I’ll never threaten you again. I’ll leave right now. Please let me go, Ms. Zeller.”
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.
Just moments ago, Keira had been so smug, and now she was utterly pathetic.
Everyone knew who was responsible for this reversal.
Yvette gazed at Keira for a few silent seconds..
Her beautiful face was a mix of wildness and rebellion, her eyes cold as ice.
Her voice was icy. “Do you still want to die?”
Keira shook her head frantically.
She was certain if she nodded, Yvette would kill her right here.
She said, “I don’t want to die, Ms. Zeller. I really don’t want to die! Please, let me go.”
Yvette shifted her gaze away from Keira and tilted her head slightly, looking at the others with their complex expressions.
Her eyes were filled with innocence and purity, which was captivating.
Her voice was emotionless. “She said she doesn’t want to die. Is that right?”
The people around nodded even more frantically than Keira, eager to answer.
“Yes, Ms. Zeller, she said she doesn’t want to die.”
“Yes, she said it, Ms. Zeller.”
“We all heard her!”
They were scared too. Nobody wanted a murder on their hands.
They thought, ‘Who else could handle a girlfriend like this but Jeremiah? A devil of a woman paired with the Living Reaper
–
-a perfect match. Even with all the courage in the world, we wouldn’t dare to be with someone like Yvette’
Joel was already dumbfounded, his soul seemingly knocked out of him.
A stray thought crossed his mind. ‘Is Jeremiah… the one on the bottom? It’s hard to say.
Jared shuffled over to Samantha, shrinking his neck.
In a quiet voice, he said, “Samantha, Jeremiah’s girlfriend is even more violent than you”
Samantha gave Jared a look and said with admiration, “She’s definitely tougher!”
Samantha decided she liked Yvette even more.
If she were a man, she would definitely pursue Yvette-what a thrill that would be!
Yvette turned to Keira curled up in the corner, her lips curving into a faint smile.
She said, “I really am a good girl. I just saved a life.”
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Everyone was stunned by her words.
They thought, ‘Saved a life? Is she serious? Who saves a life by beating someone like that?’
Keira, in her current state, was beyond being just miserable right now. She’d probably go insane from the trauma.
Jeremiah’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a smirk formed on his lips.
Now, he was sure Yvette was drunk-there was no way she’d say something like that otherwise.
After finishing her declaration, Yvette didn’t spare Keira another glance. She turned around, walked up to Jeremiah, and gave
a smile.
Then she looked him in the eye and asked earnestly, “Am I a good girl?”
Jeremiah looked at her intently, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead.
His voice is low, raspy, and gravelly, like sandpaper scraping against the heart-deliberately slow and teasing. “You’re good. You’re the best.”
Yvette’s smile widened.
She thought, ‘Eagle King says I cause trouble when I drink. Nonsense. I never cause trouble.
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The compound kids in the private room finally understood what birds of a feather flock together‘ truly meant. Watching the two flaunt their love as if no one else was there, they hoped that they could blind themselves with this public display. And
sneaking peeks at the couple instead. they wanted to look but didn’t da
If it weren’t for Keira passed our
on the floor, the two in this scene truly were a picture–perfect couple.
ལ
Yvette grabbed Jeremiah’s hand, giving it a little rub, but looked unimpressed. She pursed her lips. There was a callus on the
base of his thumb, which was pretty
She gave a slight smile and look, ”
their hearts start to beat faster.
actually.
around at the people. Her face was the picture of innocence. Everyone she glanced at felt
Yvette slowly began, “Do any of you have wishes? Feel free to share them, I actually have some free time today.” Her gaze first rested on Samantha.
Samantha managed to force a difficult smile. She extended a hand to reassure Yvette, “I don’t have any wishes. I’m beautiful, wealthy, my parents are alive, and my family is happy. I don’t need anything.” Her words were very sincere. The main thing was, she was scared too because she also noticed that Yvette might have been drinking.
Yvette sighed a bit disappointedly, then turned her attention to Jared. “Hey, do you have any wishes, bro?”
Jared jolted in shock. The scene earlier had left him mentally scarred; he didn’t plan on making any more birthday wishes after today. He shook his head energetically. He was almost in tears, “No, Ms. Zeller, I have no wishes.”
Yvette looked at him seriously for a few moments. She was confused and thought, ‘Why is he crying? It’s not like anyone hir him.‘ Yvette cracked her knuckles. She then turned to look at the group huddled together, her gaze sincere and her
any of you have any?”
demeanor exceptionally pleasant. “Do
At her words, everyone stepped back. They waved their hands frantically, “No, we don’t.”
Yvette closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was a hint of sleepiness in her gaze. She said softly, “Alright, if not, then forget it.”
Jeremiah noticed she was getting drowsy. He drawled on with a lazy voice, faintly smirking… His voice was deep and strong with a rich, masculine magnetism. “I do, I’m ready to head home and sleep now.”
Yvette tilted her head, stared at Jeremiah, then grabbed his hand and started to walk out. “Alright, let’s go home and sleep,” she agreed.
Seeing the two of them about to leave, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Yvette led Jeremiah to the door, then paused for a moment. She turned around.
The compound kids felt tense again. They thought, ‘What is Ms. Zeller going to do now?”
Yvette waved warmly to everyone inside as she said goodbye, “I am leaving, bye! See you next time, guys.”
Everyone had the same thought: ‘Next time, no way, I’m not going to meet this couple again. After tonight, they decided together to put Jeremiah and Yvette on the blacklist for future parties, definitely a top–level threat.
After this, whenever the Chavez family’s
ture mistress Yvette was mentioned, everyone went silent out of fear.
After tonight, a new saying spread around Betrico. Crossing Jeremiah might still leave you a way out, but upsetting Yvette
meant the end of the line.
Jared watched as the two finally left. He
out a deep breath and felt like he had been suffocating. “Wow, that was terrifying.
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Mr. Chavez’s girlfriend is really something. I’m totally impressed,” he admitted.
As he spoke, the others in the room finally snapped back to reality, except for Keira, who had fainted and was still being ignored.
Joel chimed in, “When Yvette looked our way earlier, I felt like I was skating on thin ice. I was sweating bullets.”
“Don’t even mention it. It was so creepy. I felt the same way, and my back is drenched now,” someone else added.
“I know, right? It’s crazy! We should’ve guessed that Mr. Chavez’s girlfriend wouldn’t just be some nobody. She’s seriously impressive,” exclaimed one of the guys, amazed.
“Yeah, if it weren’t for Ms. Zeller, we’d still be at the mercy of that model,” another added, relieved.
Everyone suddenly remembered Keira. They glanced at Keira, who was passed out on the ground like a ragdoll. With a smirk, they expressed their disdain.
In an unusual show of kindness, Joel called Keira’s agent to have her taken to the hospital.
Samantha didn’t have time to discuss with them here. This trip was definitely worth it for her. She met Yvette, who was quite an interesting person. Well…She had a strong feeling that because of Yvette, Betrico might not stay peaceful in the future.
With a smile, Samantha picked up her handbag, waved goodbye to everyone, and left. She sped back home in her luxury car. As soon as she entered the house, she saw her father, Tim, sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper. Samantha slipped off her high heels and handed her bag to a maid. Sliding into her cozy slippers, she walked over casually. “Dad, why are you still awake so late? Isn’t the military district busy these days?” she asked.
Tim removed his glasses and rubbed his temples; he’d been sitting there for an hour. Seeing Samantha so upbeat, he asked, “What’s going on, Samantha? Why are you so happy today? Weren’t you feeling a bit down just the other day?”
Samantha took a sip of the orange juice she had poured. She tilted her head slightly. “Oh, nothing much. I just happened to see Mr. Chavez and his girlfriend today. She’s pretty interesting,” she said, intrigued.
Tim was already aware that Samantha had been seeing someone for a while. He was fully aware of who he was. There was absolutely no connection between his daughter and Jeremiah–it was just unfounded gossip.
Hearing Samantha’s words, Tomorrow paused briefly and set the newspaper aside. “You said you saw Jeremiah with his girlfriend, is that right?”
Samantha nodded, and there was a mix of admiration and a hint of regret. “Yeah, today we had a gathering, and they happened to show up. I have no idea how Jeremiah got so lucky to find such an interesting girlfriend,” she said.
Tim was momentarily stunned. He thought, ‘Can Jeremiah’s girlfriend really earn such high praise from Samantha? I know how high my daughter’s standards are. There aren’t many people in Betrico that she’d compliment like that! It piques my curiosity. Just how outstanding is this girl?‘ He had heard about the dessert shop incident. Helping her future mother–in–law in a spat was indeed quite impressive.
Tim said, “What’s going on with you and that Zion? Still sulking? Listen, these artsy types love being dramatic. If it doesn’t work out, just dump him, and I’ll find you someone better and more attractive, alright?”
At the mention of Zion’s name, Samantha’s eyes flickered. She looked up at Tim casually. With a does anyone in our Mitchell family not manage to tame a wild horse?”
Tim was left speechless for a second.
serious tone, she said, “Dad,
Samantha continued, “If the little toy gets fussy, I’ll let him be for a few days. Don’t worry, Dad, I can handle it. If he doesn’t listen, I’ve got plenty of ways to make him behave.” She smiled confidently.
Tim looked at Samantha with satisfaction. His daughter had never failed to get what she wanted, whether it was a person or
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a thing. He thought, ‘It’s just a man, after all, nothing to worry about!
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Tim nodded. “Alright, I won’t interfere. But if things get tough, just be assertive with Zion. His genes are good, so give me a grandkid and then dump him if you like. Our family can afford to raise the child, you know,”
Samantha smirked. Being assertive was an option. The man loved her deeply but was just pretending to be tough to save face. She was curious to see how long Zion could keep up the act before speaking up.
The next day, at ten o’clock. In the master bedroom of Skyland. Yvette promptly opened her eyes. She turned her head to glance at the dent on the bed beside her. There was a faint mint scent, which was very faint.
0
Yvette was quite sure that a certain man had slept beside her all night. She looked down at her pajamas. They were new, and it was the first time she had worn them. She thought, ‘Who changed them?’ It was obvious, no questions needed.
Yvette got up, put on her slippers, and got out of bed. She opened the door and walked to the stairs, where she ran into Jeremiah, who was on the phone going up. Jeremiah paused when he saw her. Then he said to the person on the other end, “Got it, I’ll handle it.” He hung up the phone afterward.
Jeremiah looked at Yvette gently and said. “Awake? Hungry? I made you some breakfast, your favorite little pierogies, this time with shrimp filling.” This was a new filling Jeremiah had recently learned. He thought that Yvette would get tired of eating the same thing all the time, so it was necessary to try different flavors.
Yvette lifted her eyelids. Her eyes still held a touch of sleepy laziness. She said slowly, “Did you eat?”
Jeremiah had bloodshot eyes, as he barely slept last night. Jeremiah replied, “Not yet, I’m waiting for you.”
At the dining table. Yvette took a bite of the small pierogies, still warm and perfectly seasoned. Jeremiah’s cooking skills were improving greatly.
Yvette wiped her mouth, looked up, and her gaze landed on Jeremiah. His deep, dark eyes were slightly narrowed. She cleared her throat, “I drank yesterday, did I hurt you?” Based on past experiences, whenever she got drunk, someone ended up being the victim, and it was usually Jeremiah.
She looked around. She thought, ‘He didn’t have any injuries? Could it be my stamina have dropped recently? Didn’t manage to hurt him? But that seemed unlikely!
Jeremiah put down his chopsticks, seeing her act like she forgot everything. There was a hint of amusement in his eyes. He thought, ‘Yvette’s memory loss from drinking is impressively complete. She almost beat someone to death last night and now is totally oblivious?’
Jeremiah didn’t answer right away. He pulled out the newspaper from the table and handed it to Yvette.
Yvette took it without hesitation. She took a glance and thought, A tabloid?’
There was a large headline: [Famous Model Was Brutally Attacked, Suffers Multiple Injuries, And Announced Retirement From Modeling Today.], [Is Keira Quitting Modeling Due To An Accident, Or Was It Orchestrated By Someone With Ill- Intentions?], [Who Attacked Keira? She Remains Silent.]
Yvette looked closely at the face in the photo. Her fingers tapped gently on the table, and she was silent for half a minute. Then she lifted her eyes to Jeremiah and asked with confusion, “This woman looks familiar. Why are you showing me this?”
Jeremiah looked into her eyes, genuine and sincere, his voice soft and amused, “Last night, at Sky Nimbus, you beat up this woman.”
Yvette lowered her eyes to the picture of the woman in the newspaper, looking a bit puzzled. She couldn’t recall how it happened. She thought, ‘Did I harm someone innocent? This might be difficult to handle. Usually, when she drank too much, she’d spar with skilled fighters, and most of the time, it was the Eagle King. This was the first time she hit an ordinary
person.
Yvette frowned and thought, ‘In situations like this, should I offer compensation? How much should I pay? Would 100 million dollars be enough?’
Jeremiah noticed her conflicted expression and had a pretty good idea why. He thought, ‘How could Yvette be so adorable? She probably didn’t even remember why she hit the model.’
Jeremiah cleared his throat, his gaze serious and focused. “Don’t worry, she was set on ending it all, but after having a good talk with you, she realized she wanted to live and make the most of her life. You’re literally her lifesaver.”
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Yvette, still doubtful, asked-again, “Really?”
Jeremiah looked at her sincerely and replied, “Really, you saved her life.”
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Only then did Yvette believe him. She never thought that a night of drinking could end with saving a life. She should tell the Eagle King about this. So he wouldn’t always think she was just hitting people randomly when drunk-this time she did something good.
Seeing that she believed him, Jeremiah picked up his spoon and continued sipping his soup. He thought, ‘Is this what it’s like to soothe a child?’ Today he finally got the hang of it.
Jeremiah finished his meal and set off again for the military base. There were only five days left until the Ybaullan delegation visited Clusia. Recently, he’s been coordinating with Betrico University to decide on someone to compete against Kaiden Harper and Robin Jenkins. The candidate selection was still hotly debated and Jeremiah would have the final say. This was no small matter. The match’s outcome would impact Clusia’s honor and reputation, so extreme caution was
necessary.
With Jeremiah gone, Yvette was alone at Skyland. She curled up on the sofa, cross-legged. FastPulse Technologies’ beta game had reached its final phase, and what she held was the last version. Whether they could launch by the end of the year depended on how quickly Yvette could finish the game.
She was halfway through the game when a call came through from Howard. It was the first time the two had contacted each other since the Smith family in Seacrity dealt with the Chambers family. Howard knew this person’s temperament-unless there’s something important, Yvette rarely initiates contact.
Yvette paused her game, lightly tapped her finger, and answered the call. The voice on the line was as cold as ever. “Howard.”
Howard skipped the pleasantries, and got straight to the point. “Ms. Zeller, you asked me to reach out to the head of the biochemistry lab, Director Rashad, about investing in his suspended project. There’s been some progress. Could we meet?”
Yvette glanced at the wall clock. It was exactly 11:30. She paused for two seconds. “Okay, Howard, 1 PM this afternoon at 401, Building 3, Skyland.”
The place was not too far, but not too close to Jeremiah’s villa. It was the set James had given Yvette. Howard was momentarily surprised at the mention of Skyland. “Ms. Zeller, are you in Betrico now? Are you staying at Zeller?”
Yvette had her eyes half-closed. “Yeah, I came a few days ago and will leave once everything’s settled.”,
Howard was delighted. He thought, ‘Finally, Ms. Zeller is just at my doorstep. This time, no matter what, even if I had to cry my heart out in front of Ms. Zeller, I had to get her to visit the company to see how InnoCrest Technologies is progressing, and maybe even ask for some advice. The InnoCrest Technologies had been established for many years now. He had put a lot of effort into inviting Yvette to Betrico repeatedly. He also wanted to reveal her identity to the public. But it just never seemed to work out. The reason was simple, she just wanted to avoid the hassle. A reason that left Howard confused and amused for years. In the whole world, perhaps only Yvette didn’t care for money or power. She simply wanted a quiet and peaceful life. This mentality was something he truly admired without complaint.
Howard quickly replied, “No problem, Ms. Zeller. I’ll be at Skyland. See you there!”
Yvette hung up and went back to her game. She furrowed her brows slightly and still thought it was a bit too easy.
Meanwhile, at InnoCrest Technologies, Howard pressed a button on his phone to call his secretary, Liam, to reschedule all his afternoon appointments. Seeing Yvette was more important than anything else. Even if the world ended now, he needed to stay by the Yvette’s side. Not for anything else, just for that sense of safety.
Liam noticed Howard was excited. He was a little puzzled and thought, ‘How did it become just like when they worked with the Chambers family in Seacrity again?’ He suddenly remembered that the boss had just made a phone call from the office. He thought, ‘Really? Can it be that he’s going to meet Ms. Chambers from the Chambers family again? No wonder I am suspicious. Last time before Liam met Ms. Zeller, he was just like this.
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Liam cautiously asked, “Mr Yates, are you going to see Ms. Zeller?”
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Liam’s heart was pounding. Last time Howard met with Yvette, he gave away 45 billi
dollars. It was as if he didn’t even think about it. The contract with the Chambers family was basically InnoCrest Technologies giving them 45 billion dollars as a gift. He even gave away the game development and core departments. To Liam, it seemed like Howard had gone crazy. After Howard returned to Betrico, he seemed normal again. Liam thought, ‘It’s not even two months, and he wants to meet this person again? With years of experience as a secretary, I have a strong hunch that there are even more things to send this time.’
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Howard árrived at Skyland ten minutes carly. What a coincidence. He had a few villas in Skyland and occasionally stayed here, but he didn’t visit often.
As soon as the security guard saw the car, he knew another important person was back. He grinned from ear to ear. “Welcome home, sir,” the security guard greeted warmly.
Howard nodded slightly from inside the car to show acknowledgment. “Thanks for your hard work,” he said appreciatively.
The young guard’s heart practically leapt with joy. He thought, The people living in Skyland are quite a classy bunch. So I hardly faced any trouble, but it is the first time someone responded to me actively. Oh, right…There is someone else. That incredibly cool and beautiful girl who rode her scooter out every day. She would sometimes stop to say hello. She even eyed his lunchbox the other day. So, he ordered one more for her. They ended up having lunch together in the security booth. That girl really enjoyed her meal.
He guessed that she might be a maid for one of the families. He thought, ‘Otherwise, why would she ride a little scooter every day? Her employers must be really stingy. It’s such a waste for someone as pretty and charming as her. He had been working as a security guard at Skyland for years. He swore she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen there.
His thoughts were off in the clouds. By the time he snapped back to reality, Howard’s car was already far down the road.
In front of Villa 3, number 401, Howard adjusted his suit. Turning his head to look at Liam, he asked, “So, how does it look? Is there anything that doesn’t fit right?”
Liam’s eyebrow twitched. With professional composure, he replied, “Mr. Yates, your outfit is absolutely perfect.”
Howard had already asked Liam three times on the way over. Liam’s throat was getting dry. He thought, ‘How could there be any problems?’ A custom-made, handcrafted suit cost 150 thousand dollars. The cufflinks were bought at Sotheby’s auction, worth 1.5 million dollars. Even the shoes were a global limited edition, only five pairs available worldwide. This outfit was so extravagant, he felt like kneeling in it. He thought, ‘Why does Mr. Yates still think something’s not right?”
Howard had already informed Liam about the meeting with Yvette. He told Liam to wait in the car and went up to knock on the door on his own.
Liam watched Howard’s back and sighed. He thought, ‘Who exactly is this Yvette? He’s never taken meetings with presidents or leaders this seriously!
This villa, gifted by James, was Yvette’s first visit and it was refined and sophisticated. The entire style leaned towards Clusian aesthetics, with all the furniture made of rosewood. All the antiques in this house were part of James’s personal collection. Rare items, genuine originals one can’t find on the market, were displayed all over the villa.
Howard recognized them as soon as he walked in. He thought, ‘When did Ms. Zeller start liking these antiques?’ He usually preferred collecting authentic pieces and could instantly tell that everything in the villa was genuine. He thought, ‘What a grand gesture!’
Howard changed into slippers and carefully…looked at a horse sculpture next to the couch. His gaze deepened. He looked up at Yvette, who was nestled in the sofa. “Hello, Ms. Zeller,” he began, “this horse should be from the year between 620 to 680. If I’m not mistaken, it’s worth at least 20 million dollars. It’s so rare that you can hardly find such a piece on the market, even at auctions.”
At his age, Howard’s favorite things were antiques. He sat down on the sofa and asked another question. “Where did you acquire this, Ms. Zeller?”
Yvette glanced at the horse sculpture and gave a deep “hmm.” Her voice was calm. “A grandfather gave it to me.”
Howard was momentarily speechless upon hearing this. He thought, ‘Of course, it had to be the young-boss. Just look at that charisma! So, where is this grandfather? Does he happen to need a grandson? I wonder if being a bit older would be acceptable?’
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Yvette lounged on the sofa, her long legs folded, as she swirled the water in her glass. She took a sip. She thought, ‘Ah, nothing beats
Samantha, good drink. She remembered the person who mixed her drinks yesterday. She thought, ‘Her name is
Samantha. Would there be a chance to have another drink with her?’
Howard withdrew his gaze from the horse sculpture. He looked at Yvette. “Ms. Zeller, I’ve made some progress on Rashad’s project you wanted me to invest in. I’ve already met him twice, and I’ve laid out my conditions. If InnoCrest Technologies is going to invest, we need to send someone into the lab to participate in this shelved project. Rashad is quite cautious and said he’ll need to think it over before giving me an answer.”
Yvette rubbed her wrist. She raised an eyebrow and her eyes turned cold. “Double the offer,” she said casually. “He’ll it, trust me.”
agree to
Howard didn’t think so and believed that Rashad wouldn’t give in so easily. He thought, ‘Why does Ms. Zeller insist on getting into the biochem lab?’ He couldn’t figure it out. ‘What is in there that attracts Ms. Zeller so much that she’d spend a fortune to get in? What can a national-level lab possibly have that Ms. Zeller desperately need?’
Howard sighed. For all these years, he truly cared for Yvette like a younger family member. Money didn’t matter to InnoCrest Technologies; what mattered was the person, Yvette. Even if he knew he was being nosy, he had to ask. “Ms. Zeller, could you tell me why you’re so determined to get into Rashad’s biochem lab?”
Yvette lifted her gaze. Her eyes were cold and fierce with a chilling aloofness seeping through. Her voice was unnervingly calm. She slowly spoke, “The truth, the answer lies only in Rashad’s lab.”
For Yvette, killing Rashad wouldn’t be difficult at all. In fact, it would be effortless. But she wouldn’t let Rashad die that easily. She was determined to find out what had Lilian gone through in that biochemical lab back then. She would send Rashad to hell in the most brutal way. She had many ways to punish Rashad, but she aimed to break him emotionally first. Rashad would have to endure all the suffering Lilian endured before he could die…
Howard looked at Yvette, who was exuding a cold and indifferent air. He knew he shouldn’t ask for more answers. He gazed at Yvette, who seemed like a different person. After careful consideration, “Ms. Zeller, don’t worry. No matter what you want to do, I’ll cooperate fully. Once I get back, I’ll contact Rashad immediately. We’ll double his offer and see what he says. I’ll get in touch with you then.”
Yvette looked down, then lifted her gaze again. The fierce expression she had moments ago, like a relentless wolf, seemed to soften significantly. Seeing the worried look on Howard’s face, she calmly said, “Howard, it’s just a little game with an annoying bug. No need to worry.”
Howard managed a smile, although it was somewhat strained. He thought, ‘How can I not worry? Is Ms. Zeller really planning to deal with Rashad? Even with the status of InnoCrest Technologies’ backstage chairman, it’s really hard for her to go up against a national-level authority!’
He thought, ‘How can I not be worried about Ms. Zeller? InnoCrest Technologies doesn’t really matter; it is Ms. Zeller’s creation anyway. If it’s gone, it’s gone. But nothing must happen to Ms. Zeller.’
Howard watched Yvette sip her orange juice casually, deep in thought, ‘No, he I have to place an order on the Black Gold site. When the day come for she to face Rashad, Ms. Zeller, just a young girl, surely needs someone to back her up.’
He had heard that Black Gold had the world’s top assassin, who had never failed a mission. It would be great if he could take the job. He’ll pay whatever the top assassin want.
Howard was already prepared for the worst. If the top choice isn’t available, the second or third best would be great.
Howard took a sip of water to compose himself before asking. “Hey Ms. Zeller, do you know about Black Gold Web?”
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Yvette glanced at him with her dark eyes. She leaned back without a care. Her long, straight legs were crossed. In a cool, clear voice, she said, “Yeah.”
Howard wasn’t surprised she knew about the website. Sometimes Ms. Zeller was so mysterious he felt like bowing down. When he met her, it was as if she had descended from the heavens…
Howard looked at Yvette very intently. He expressed his idea. “Ms. Zeller, why don’t we place an order on Black Gold Web and hire the top assassin, Zola, as your bodyguard? Whatever the cost, just to keep you safe.”
Howard, fearing Yvette might misunderstand, quickly elaborated. “I heard Zola takes on jobs on Black Gold Web based solely on personal inclination, but once they accept a job, they never fail. Still holding the top success rate on Black Gold Web. People say Zola has a peculiar and unpredictable personality. No one knows their gender; they’ve always appeared in a mask and use a voice modulator. However, I guess Zola might be a man–this line of work seems like a man’s domain, right?”
Of course, he didn’t know that two of the top three assassins on Black Gold Web were actually women. Howard decided that, regardless of the cost, he needed to ensure Yvette’s safety.
Yvette lifted her gaze and paused slightly. She cast a calm glance at the very earnest Howard. Her delicate eyebrows raised slightly. She thought, ‘How can I protect myself?‘ In a light and slow tone, she said, “No need, Howard. She won’t take the job.”
Howard was taken aback. He thought, ‘Did Ms. Zeller express that too confidently? How could she know for sure that the person wouldn’t take the job?‘
He said, “Ms. Zeller, let’s discuss this later. After all, we still have six months.”
Yvette could tell from Howard’s expression that he hadn’t given up yet. She sighed and thought, ‘Oh well, just to avoid being assigned to protect myself, I should make it clear.
She suddenly spoke up, “Howard, do you think there’s a chance that I’m actually the number one assassin, Zola, you’ve been talking about?”
Howard replied without a second thought, “Ms. Zeller, you must be kidding. If you’re Zola, then I must be the Eagle King, ranked second. Hahaha…”
Yvette hesitated for a moment, with her eyes lowered, noticing how Howard refused to believe it. She pinched her fingers slightly, and spoke with a hint of helplessness, looked him in the eye and repeated slowly, “Howard, I really am Zola.”
Howard thought Yvette was just trying to stop him from placing an order on the Black Gold website. He thought, ‘Ms. Zeller was really too much. How have I never noticed this imaginative side of she before?‘
He thought for a few seconds, ‘Should I go along with her joke? It’s so rare for her to be this funny. Would it be rude not to go along with her joke?‘
He took a deep breath. Then he looked at Yvette with genuine sincerity. “Ms. Zeller, I actually always forget to tell you, I’m the third–ranked assassin on Black Gold, Flying Fish. Do I look like one?”
Howard silently applauded himself. He thought he was playing along really well, almost flawlessly…
up
This time, Yvette was the one taken aback. Seeing him trying hard not to laugh, she felt a headache coming on. She picked the orange juice from the table and took a sip. Her delicate fingers lightly tapped the rim of the glass, her voice clear and cool. Her eyes were as deep as a cold pool and as clear as a crystal. “Howard, I’m actually Zola. When you went bankrupt, I was on a mission and happened to save you from jumping into the sea.”
Howard heard these words. His face, which was just trying not to laugh, suddenly froze. The glass he was holding slipped
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from his hand and hit the floor with a bang, with water splashed everywhere. Neither of them paid attention to it. Howard really couldn’t believe what he just heard. His heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest.
5
He thought, ‘Ms. Zeller turns out to be the top–ranked hitman on the Black Gold Network? Surprised or what? Isn’t that thrilling? It is so freaking surprising and exciting. What kind of legendary figure have I encountered? Back then, she just decided to give me money without a second thought. She even took me back to the business world to invest, securing the first start–up fund that led to today’s company. And now she is calmly sitting on the sofa, telling me she’s also a hitman? This world has gone completely mad. But it wasn’t Yvette who’s crazy it was Howard.
He believed what Yvette said–she really is the number one hitman, Zola. Yvette never lied and didn’t need to. He thought, ‘So it isn’t a joke? Is that true? The most feared and untouchable hitman on the Black Gold website, known as Zola, who never takes a contract for less than 66 million dollars, is actually Ms. Zeller?‘
When Howard thought about how he acted just now, he felt inexplicably guilty. He took a deep breath and gave a slight smile. His expression was somewhat amusing. “Ms. Zeller, you really scared me to death! With your status, I don’t even know what to say. Just two words: ‘Respect.” He couldn’t find any other words. All he could summarize his feelings into were this one word. Indeed, Yvette was someone to be idolized.
After a while, Howard finally regained a bit of his sanity. He looked at Yvette, who was calmly sipping orange juice on the couch. He twitched his eye slightly and cleared his throat. “Well, Ms. Zeller, how many more surprises are you hiding that I should know about? Why don’t you just spill them all at once? I can… I can handle it.”
Howard reiterated once more. His voice unconsciously rose several octaves. “Bring on the storm!”
His voice was so loud that Liam, not far from the villa, could hear it. He shivered involuntarily and just knew that whenever Howard met Yvette, nothing good would happen. He quickly took out his phone, ready to dial 911 at any moment.
He was on high alert and wondered if Yvette did something that drove Howard crazy. Judging from the tone, his mental state wasn’t good. Liam debated whether he should rush into the villa and rescue Howard. After thinking it over, he decided against it for staying alive was more important…After all, Howard will have to take care of himself.
In the mansion Yvette’s eyes were half–closed. Her eyes were clear and focused. The stray hair on her forehead added a hint of defiance. Looking at the somewhat awkward Howard before her. She spoke calmly, “No, you can’t handle it. Take it slow.”
5000–what does it Howard felt a bit choked, as if the words made him want to punch Yvette. He thought, ‘But the imply about Ms.Zeller status?‘ Howard thought it was best not to think about it anymore. Yvette was right; better to “take it slow.” That’s good. Otherwise, if it’s too intense, he might really not be able to handle it…
Howard had completely calmed down by now. Then he looked at Yvette with a “please pay attention to me” expression. Yvette lifted her eyelids and gave him a quick glance. Her expression was indifferent. “Howard, just say what you want to say.”
Howard sat up straight and adjusted his suit, looking the picture of propriety. He cleared his throat softly. “Ms. Zeller, do you think I have the potential to be a hitman?”
Yvette tapped her fingers on the table and paused. Her lips curled in a barely–there smile, “No.”
He thought, ‘Seriously, what man doesn’t dream of being a hero when he’s young? Hasn’t watched gangster movies.‘ He wanted to be a leader for many years. The guy’s getting old, but still felt the urge to rebel.
Unwilling to give up, Howard asked again, “Ms. Zeller, is there any other job in the hitman business I could do? Anything at all, I’m not picky, won’t ask for a salary.”
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Yvette looked at him, eyes downcast. Her voice was hoarse and she rubbed her temples. She thought, ‘Middle-aged rebellion in men is really scary. If one day Jeremiah becomes that rebellious, just give him a good slap and be done with it. That’ll save a lot of trouble.’ She glanced at Howard, who looked really thrilled. “Howard, I usually keep to myself and don’t really know the rules of this circle.”
Howard’s eyes were clearly saying, “I don’t believe you, don’t lie to me.”
Yvette paused for a second. She thought, ‘If that’s the case, I’ll just be straightforward. She calmly said to Howard, “Howard, I’m above the rules, no rules can hold me back.”
Howard was momentarily at a loss for words. He thought, ‘Ms. Zeller sure is bold and proud. In the business world, I’m someone who can even make the rules. I lead the trends in the capital market, so I can totally understand and agree with Ms. Zeller’s words. Howard could only put aside his dreams of being the big boss for now. His middle-aged rebellion didn’t succeed after all!
The two talked for another hour. Afterward, Howard walked out of the villa looking energized. Liam, seeing someone finally come out, quickly got out of the car. If Howard didn’t come out soon, he might fall asleep waiting.
Liam approached Howard with a slight bow. “Mr. Yates, you’re out.”
Howard said, “Okay, let’s go back to the company. Remember to schedule lunch with Rashad from the biochem lab for
tomorrow.”
Liam nodded repeatedly. Once in the car, he kept glancing at Howard through the rearview mirror. Judging by Howard’s good mood, there shouldn’t be any problems. His anxious heart finally calmed down.
Howard had already noticed Liam sneaking glances at him. He thought, ‘Is there something on my face? Why is this kid sneaking glances at me?’
Howard closed the document and looked up. He caught Liam as he peeked at him.
The two of them locked eyes. The atmosphere was strange and awkward.
Howard wore a serious expression. “You’ve glanced at me no fewer than ten times on this trip. Is something wrong with me?”
Liam quickly shook his head. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He thought, ‘Can there be anything more awkward than being caught by the boss? My toes are digging into the ground out of embarrassment.
Liam quickly replied, “Mr. Yates, I just feel like you’ve been especially happy since leaving the villa.”
Howard wasn’t upset. He glanced at the anxious Liam and said calmly, “It’s nothing, I just learned something unexpected.”
Howard was known for his poker face. Except when he was with Yvette, getting a smile from him was nearly impossible for everyone else.
Liam really couldn’t imagine what could make Howard so happy. It definitely wasn’t because of money; it had to be because of Yvette.
The next day, at the national new energy press conference. Major media outlets from around the world were all present. Every media outlet brought their latest equipment to secure the best positions for first-hand video coverage.
The successful development of new energy in Clusia marks a new era in energy. Clusia has surpassed the advanced technologies currently owned by Mysonna. This press conference is truly attracting a lot of attention. Today, the world’s attention is focused on this event.
James attended today in formal clothes. At his level, he only showed up if it’s a really formal and significant event.
09:22 Sat, Oct 26
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45
In the lounge, Marcus helped Jay straighten his tie. He lowered his head slightly, his voice was a bit deep. “What’s going on? You’ve been distracted since carly morning. What are you thinking about?” Marcus asked.
Jay looked up and found that Marcus was a head taller than him. The height difference really made him want to punch Jay. He thought, ‘What did this guy eat to grow so tall? I heard he drank a lot of milk as a kid. Maybe I should drink some too. Growing late is still growing! As long as I grow a bit, it’s fine.
Jay said, “It’s nothing, just that I feel weird if Siren doesn’t come today. Without her in the new energy development, we might still be on the wrong path, and wouldn’t have succeeded so quickly. On a day like today, when we’re celebrated for our success, she doesn’t show up. It makes me a little sad. She should be here with us, getting everyone’s applause.”
Marcus was silent for a few moments and he looked at Jay’s face. “Jay, do you think it’s possible that Siren isn’t showing up just because she’s too lazy?” Marcus suggested.
The nice atmosphere was just interrupted like that. Jay suddenly wasn’t sad anymore. He twisted Marcus’s arm with force, wrinkling his black suit.
Marcus hissed in pain. Jay reluctantly nodded. “Okay, I guess you might be right.”
Seeing Jay’s mood improve, Marcus chuckled too. He thought, “This guy just loves getting caught up in the details. There is still another theory I haven’t mentioned-maybe Yvette really doesn’t care about the Siren identity? Or what if she doesn’t lack the fame, status, and wealth that everyone yearned for?’
At exactly 11 o’clock, the new energy press conference officially began. Besides the core members from the national physics lab, top leaders from relevant departments also attended this press conference. Everyone attended this conference had important statues in this country.
Jay and Marcus were seated on either side of James. One on his left, the other on his right; one in a black suit, the other in white, making for a striking combination. Marcus had already gained some popularity in society. A few years back, when he was taking classes at Betrico University, a student secretly took a picture of him, posted it online, and it went viral. So, besides James, the media focused their cameras on him the most.
The press conference proceeded smoothly. It went smoothly until the final part, when James went on stage to speak. With a cane in hand and his back straight, James walked up to the stage slowly. Even though he was almost in his eighties, his posture was still upright.
As the top figure in the country’s physics field, he couldn’t afford to show weakness in front of the world media. James got on stage, picked up the microphone, and looked at the international media below. His words were forceful and clear for a full thirty minutes. The auditorium echoed with his powerful voice.
Finally, it was time for the reporters to ask questions. James looked energetic, his face glowing with health.
This time, Mysonna’s government sent their top mainstream media. They were widely recognized as having the most challenging media personnel to deal with. The person who came this time was a white man, appearing to be in his forties, with keen eyes. He was the first among the media present to ask a question. “Hello, Dean James, in your report you mentioned that this new energy project owes much of its success to someone named Siren. It was their research that sped up the development and introduction of this technology. However, this person is unwilling to show up, could you explain why Siren doesn’t want to make an appearance? Is there a reason for this? Please elaborate.”
Jay and Marcus exchanged a look. It was obvious they had come well-prepared. It seems like it was the right call for Yvette to keep Siren’s identity a secret. They both thought, ‘How many talents have they already taken from our country to Mysonna?
‘Mysonna has been looking for opportunities to tarnish Clusia’s reputation these past years. They’re quite adept at swaying public opinion and misleading people worldwide.’
James lifted his eyelids and wore a polite smile. He’s handled this kind of malicious situation countless times when he was younger. The current scenario is just a piece of cake. He thought “Trying to blow things out of proportion?’
James picked up the microphone and slowly looked at the white male reporter who asked the question
012
James said, “Regarding Siren’s identity, unless she personally agrees, neither the National Physics Lab nor I will ever announce it publicly. There are only two simple reasons for not revealing her identity. First, she does not wish to. Second, as of yesterday, her file has been approved, and she has officially become a First-Class Researcher in Clusia, and will henceforth receive national protection.”
As soon as James said this, the media reporters from Clusia were in an uproar.
The title of First-Class Researcher was no small matter.
So far, only three individuals at the National Physics Lab hold that title, James, Marcus, and Jay.
Now, there was a fourth, Siren.
A male reporter from Clusia, with a malicious grin, continued his questioning, “Mr. Owens, isn’t it too hasty to grant Siren the title of First-Class Researcher based on just one project?”
James smiled slightly, calm and composed, as if entirely unbothered by the question.
He began, “Just one project? It seems the reporters present may not fully understand. Let me clarify. The fact that the new energy project was completed so quickly and implemented in production is all thanks to Siren’s efforts. I have already submitted a detailed report to the World Physics Organization in Mysonna. You should find that the World Physics Organization’s website has now updated its page with information on Siren’s contributions to the new energy project. If there are any doubts, you can check the website.”
James’ words were well-grounded, leaving the reporter momentarily speechless.
The reporters behind him immediately began checking the World Physics Organization’s website using their laptops and phones.
Seeing the updated content on the new energy project page and the calm expression on James’ face, any other journalists who had intended to cause trouble fell silent.
After all, if the World Physics Organization, the most authoritative entity, had already recognized Siren’s identity, they had no grounds to question it further without embarrassing themselves.
The male reporter accepted the phone handed to him by his colleague, and when he saw the official First-Class Researcher certification seal on the website, his face turned grim.
Suddenly, someone whispered, “Oh my God, Siren is a woman? And she’s only 22? That’s unbelievable.”
His comment stirred a commotion among the reporters.
“Really? I see it too. She’s only 22. Does that mean she’s now the youngest First-Class Researcher in Clusia?”
“A woman? Siren is a woman, a 22-year-old genius?”
“She must be the youngest participant in this new energy project
“Not only that, but she’s broken the record. She became a First-Class Researcher even earlier than Marcus did. She’s truly created a miracle.”
They had no choice but to reveal these two key details about Siren.
James had already discussed this with Yvette last night, advising that if Siren wanted to get certified by the World Physics Organization in Mysonna, she would need to disclose her age and gender.
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James coolly eyed the journalist from Mysonna who was gritting his teeth in frustration and said politely, “Do you have any further questions, sir?”
‘Let’s see how these journalists from Mysonna will try to dispute the recognition granted by their own country’s organization,’ James thought.
Actually, this situation wasn’t entirely James’ doing, and it caught him somewhat by surprise.
He hadn’t expected the World Physics Organization to approve everything so swiftly this time.
Normally, getting certification was an arduous process, but this time, the moment the materials were submitted, they were approved immediately.
Even the website update was unusually prompt.
The reporter remained silent, clearly embarrassed.
He backed down from further questioning, and the other journalists naturally followed suit.
The remaining press conference went smoothly and wrapped up in less than an hour, as planned.
At the end of the press conference, James stood tall and spoke to the world’s media with a determined voice. “Five thousand years ago, we stood with Nileian, facing the floods. Four thousand years ago, like the Babelians, we cast bronze. Three thousand years ago, we pondered philosophy alongside the Aegians. Two thousand years ago, we fought with the brave Veronians. A thousand years ago, we shared the prosperity of Saracian. And now, we stand once more among the nations of the world, never faltering. The researchers from Clusia have always strived to innovate and surpass. I hope more young talents like Siren will return to the embrace of their homeland, to build the future of our nation.”
As soon as James finished speaking, the conference hall erupted into thunderous applause.
Only the reporter and his TV crew stood apart, grinding their teeth as they watched the dignified and unyielding figure of James on stage.
Moments ago, the reporter had made a phone call to Mysonna, trying to dig up more information on Siren.
Instead, he received a stern warning, advising him not to pursue the matter further or exploit Siren for a story.
With such a clear message from the top, the reporter had no choice but to book the earliest flight back to Mysonna, retreating in disgrace.
*****
At the Chavez residence, the television was on.
The press conference was broadcast live.
That meant everyone in Clusia had seen the entire event, from beginning to end.
Jeremiah had brought Yvette to the Chavez residence today, as per Aurora’s insistence.
They had barely been apart for a short while, but Aurora already missed Yvette terribly. Aurora sat right next to Yvette, while Jeremiah and Clifford occupied the other end of the sofa.
The four of them watched the entire live broadcast of the new energy project press
conference.
Aurora casually peeled an orange and handed it to Yvette. “Yvette, it’s sweet. Try it. I had someone bring it back from the south especially for you. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
E
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Yvette naturally accepted it, took a bite, and nodded slightly. “It’s delicious.”
Aurora beamed with delight, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at Yvette’s profile.
Yvette’s side profile was stunning, a masterpiece crafted by the hands of God.
Seeing this, Clifford let out a discontented huff. “Sweet? What’s so sweet? It’s just an orange. I didn’t taste anything sweet.”
Jeremiah, dressed casually, with his long legs crossed, glanced at Clifford’s expression, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
He then looked at Yvette, who was being fed by Aurora, paused briefly, and then casually picked up an orange to try for himself. “So sour.”
Aurora, still watching James on the television, sighed. “I never would have guessed Siren is a 22-year-old woman.”
Hearing this, Clifford lowered his newspaper and said solemnly, “Indeed, a true genius. Her future is limitless. Since Mr. Owens personally applied for her to become a First-Class Researcher, it speaks volumes about her character.”
Jeremiah, with a side glance, observed Yvette lounging on the sofa, focused on eating her orange, feet propped up.
His eyes darkened slightly, deep in thought.
+5
‘Isn’t it a bit too coincidental? Siren and Yvette are both 22? Siren is also a woman? Could there be some connection between the two?’ he wondered.
Yvette finished the last slice of her orange, her eyes cold and her gaze sharp as she met Jeremiah’s intense stare.
She frowned.
Then she spoke slowly. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Aurora immediately turned her head when she heard this, noticing the two of them locked
eyes.
She shifted her body to block Jeremiah’s view.
‘Only I get to admire Yvette’s beauty. I’m not letting him stare at her, Aurora thought possessively.
Clifford, feeling a twinge of jealousy, thought to himself, ‘Does Aurora not love me anymore?’
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Jeremiah noticed Aurora’s actions and lightly coughed, pressing a hand to his lips.
‘Is Mom jealous that I’m looking at Yvette?’ he wondered.
His expression turned serious, and his tone was stern. “Mom, she’s my girlfriend.”
Aurora stood protectively in front of Yvette, her voice bold and unyielding. “Yvette and I are closer. Let’s have a fight, and whoever wins gets to take her!”
Seeing that mother and son were about to start another battle over Yvette, Clifford felt a headache coming on.
As the head of the household, he had no choice but to bury his head in the newspaper again.
He couldn’t afford to provoke Jeremiah, and he definitely couldn’t afford to provoke his wife.
So, the best course of action in this situation was to let them sort it out themselves.
Over the years, Clifford had perfected the art of staying out of conflicts at home.
Yvette tilted her head, glancing at Aurora, who was brimming with arrogance.
Her deep gaze shifted slightly.
And she curled her fingers.
Her voice, as always, was cold and detached. “You can’t beat him. If you really want to fight him, I can help.”
Jeremiah was stunned.
Aurora, too, stared blankly at Yvette, who had seriously offered her assistance.
‘My goodness! How can there be such an adorable girl?’ Aurora thought.
Jeremiah looked at the two women, both eager for a fight, and was stunned for a moment.
He was more surprised by his mother’s behavior.
‘No mother would be this excited about beating up her own son, right? I guess I’m destined to lose to these two in this lifetime,’ he thought.
Jeremiah bit his lip. “Fine, I give up, Mom. You win.”
Clifford glanced at him sideways. ‘He should have given in sooner. I’ve been losing to Aurora for years, and he thinks he could win? It’s just like a few days ago,’ he thought.
By the time Yvette and Jeremiah returned to Skyland, it was already midnight.
Yvette went upstairs to shower first.
When she came back downstairs, Jeremiah had prepared beef pasta for her, along with freshly ordered lobster and a
milkshake.
This had become her go-to midnight snack in recent days, and she never got tired of it.
Yvette curled up on the sofa, enjoying her meal.
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Jeremiah didn’t have the habit of eating late-night snacks.
Sitting beside her, his slender fingers skillfully peeled the lobster and placed it on Yvette’s plate.
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+5
After a moment of silence, looking at Yvette, Jeremiah suddenly spoke. “I went to Argrol University in Seacrity as a librarian at Mr. Owens’ request, to find Siren.”
Yvette paused, lowering her milkshake cup.
She lifted her gaze, her eyes unreadable.
She let out a soft laugh, her pure eyes lazily fixed on Jeremiah. “Oh, so did you find her?”
Jeremiah calmly placed the last piece of lobster on Yvette’s plate. “I think I did, and I fell in love with her. What should I do?”
His tone was light and casual.
Yvette glanced at his strong profile, highlighted under the soft lighting, and felt her heart stir slightly.
Half-closing her eyes, she kept her calm. “That means you have good taste. Keep loving her.”
‘Who wouldn’t know how to say sweet things? I can too, she thought.
Jeremiah chuckled. ‘Is Yvette acknowledging that she’s Siren?’ he wondered.
He wasn’t quite sure how he felt, but maybe relief was the closest
He was relieved that, out of billions of people, he had met Yvette at just the right time.
At that moment, Jeremiah’s phone rang.
He answered, and the voice on the other end was grave. “Mr. Chavez, Kaiden and Robin have secretly arrived at an apartment in Betrico. Our men are currently monitoring them. These two didn’t come with the visiting Ybaulla delegation. They might be plotting something in secret. Should we take precautions in advance?”
Jeremiah’s expression remained unyielding, his eyes cold as he replied in a deep voice, “Understood. Proceed as planned.”
“Understood, Mr. Chavez,” the man on the line responded.
Jeremiah hung up the phone and glanced at Yvette, who was still enjoying her beef pasta.
“Take your time eating. Get to bed early tonight. I have some matters to attend to in the study,” he said gently.
Yvette looked up, giving a slight nod. “Okay, you go ahead and handle your business.”
She paused for a moment, studying his face.
She had overheard his conversation on the phone. ‘It seems some people really need to meet in person,’ she thought.
“When is the visiting Ybaulla delegation arriving?” Yvette asked.
Jeremiah was a bit surprised that she would inquire about such matters.
Without holding anything back, he replied, “They’ll arrive the day after tomorrow at eleven.”
Yvette nodded, acknowledging the information, and said nothing more.
She then continued eating her beef pasta.
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+45
As the night deepened, the sky was overcast, and the moon and stars were obscured. The wind howled outside, rustling the branches of the trees, leaving only one silhouette by the window
In the master bedroom, Yvette stood by the window, the lights in the room turned off.
In the darkness, the faint glow from her phone screen illuminated her face, showing a conversation with Charles.
The next day at ten o’clock, Andrew stepped out of the airport in Betrico, dressed in trendy brand-name clothes and wearing shoes that cost him two months’ salary.
He walked out with an air of confidence, feeling like the coolest guy in the world.
Back in Betrico, Andrew had transformed back into the second son of the Mitchell family, brimming with self-assurance.
During his time in Seacrity, Andrew had settled into a regular 9-to-5 job, and he felt he had grown from the experience.
He knew he would only be in Betrico for a few days before returning to Seacrity to continue his job as a librarian.
After all, this was his job, and he had to see it through.
He had committed to six months, and he wasn’t going to cut it short, even by a day.
The true reason behind this commitment was something only Andrew knew.
Acar sent by Samantha was already waiting at the airport entrance.
As Andrew stepped out, the Mitchell family’s driver approached him.
Noticing that Andrew had lost some weight, the driver thought, ‘Mr. Mitchell must have gone through quite a bit to look this thin. How unfortunate.’
“Mr. Mitchell, you’re finally back! Tim specifically rescheduled military affairs today, and he and Samantha are at home waiting for you to have dinner,” the driver said.
Andrew looked at the driver, puzzled. “Dad is here? He didn’t leave today?”
“No, Mr. Mitchell. They’re both at the Mitchell residence waiting for you,” the driver confirmed.
Andrew felt a bit taken aback.
‘Dad has never waited for me to eat before. He is usually too busy. What’s going on today?’ he wondered.
Before he could ponder further, Andrew spotted a familiar figure walking out of the airport.
As he looked closer, he realized it was Yvette.
‘What a coincidence!’ he thought, surprised to see her there.
Just as he was about to approach her and say hello, he noticed a handsome man run up to Yvette as she exited the airport.
Andrew couldn’t hear their conversation, but he could see the excitement on the man’s face.
His feet froze in place as he watched Yvette chatting happily with the handsome guy.
In the next moment, he wished he could blind himself.
The attractive man even helped Yvette with her black bag, which she accepted without hesitation. This was definitely not
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normal.
Andrew bit his lip, feeling conflicted.
He continued peeping.
Andrew thought, ‘I can’t pretend I didn’t see this! Oh God, can I just disappear right now? No, that’s not an option… I can’t just ignore this when I’ve stumbled upon it. This guy dares to mess with Jeremiah’s girlfriend? He’s got a death wish! I have to teach him a lesson, or I’d be letting Jeremiah down.
Determined, Andrew rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush forward.
He had already made it halfway when, for some reason, he abruptly turned back and headed toward the car.
The driver, utterly bewildered, stared in confusion.
‘Has Mr. Mitchell been under too much stress in Seacrity for too long? Is he losing it?’ the driver wondered.
Andrew quickly pulled out his phone from his bag, turned it on, and urgently dialed Jeremiah.
He was anxious, afraid that the two might leave before he could do anything.
However, once the call connected, he found himself at a loss for words.
‘What if Jeremiah can’t handle the shock?’ Andrew thought, suddenly hesitant. ‘A pure, cold man crushed by his first crush’s betrayal, spiraling into depression… What if it gets even worse… What if he can’t take it and ends up…’
Andrew’s mind ran wild, imagining countless tragic scenarios of Jeremiah’s heartbreak.
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“Is there something going on?” Jeremiah asked.
Andrew, holding his phone, snapped back to reality upon hearing the cold voice on the line.
He glanced at the two people at the airport entrance, gritted his teeth, and decided to take the plunge. “Mr. Chavez, I’m back at Betrico Airport. Guess who I just saw?”
Jeremiah on the other end of the line paused for two seconds, then replied coolly, “Andrew, are you bored?”
Upon hearing Jeremiah’s tone, Andrew sensed his impatience and quickly continued, “Jeremiah, this is serious! I saw Yvette at the airport, and there was a really handsome guy over six feet tall with her. They were laughing and chatting, and he even helped her with her backpack!”
Andrew spoke rapidly without taking a breath, and once he finished, he let out a slight sigh.
He was met with three seconds of silence from Jeremiah.
‘What’s going on? Jeremiah isn’t even angry that Yvette is with another man?‘ Andrew thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah’s hand, which was signing, paused slightly. “A handsome man?”
Andrew, hearing Jeremiah’s words, took a careful look at the man in the distance and summarized it.
Rubbing his chin, he replied, “Yeah, he’s pretty good–looking, but he’s not quite as good as me.”
Jeremiah was silent for a moment.
Noticing that Yvette and the man seemed ready to leave, Andrew felt a surge of urgency.
He quickly said into the phone, “Jeremiah, it looks like Yvette and this guy are about to go! Hurry over! Don’t worry. I’ll follow them and keep you updated. You know my professional scouting skills. I won’t be noticed!”
Before Jeremiah could respond, Andrew hung up.
He turned to the driver and said, “Give me your jacket. You can head back now. Tell my dad and Samantha I’m busy saving Jeremiah’s future. It’s a big responsibility, so I’ll skip dinner for now.”
He said this while quickly taking off the driver’s jacket.
At the airport, people were bustling about.
Some bystanders gaped as they watched a handsome guy strip a jacket off an older man, surprised by his actions.
Andrew didn’t have time to care about their reactions.
He slipped on the jacket and drove off, tailing Yvette and her companion as they left the airport, leaving the driver alone, bewildered, shivering in the wind.
In the car, Charles was driving.
He glanced at Yvette, who was playing a game with her head down, his lips twitching slightly.
He remembered how, during their rigorous training, his group always sought ways to challenge the sharpness of Yvette, who was their coach.
They had attempted nearly thirty different challenges against her, including firearms, off–roading, combat, judo, kendo, taekwondo…
The result was never disappointing.
They never managed to win.
They always fell short by just a point, at most two.
In the Seventy–Two Chambers, over a thousand people were thoroughly suppressed by Yvette.
Eventually, they were left with no choice but to rely on intelligence since they couldn’t win physically.
It proved that seeking out difficult challenges when one was idle was a quick route to frustration.
There was a professional esports player from the Goodman family in the training camp who provocatively challenged Yvette to a game from FastPulse Technologies.
The result was astonishing.
This time, Yvette didn’t just win by a point.
She crushed him by fifty points.
Jogical
Later, it was heard that the esports player left the training camp with psychological scars and announced his retirement from the esports scene.
Now, as Charles watched Yvette seriously playing Super Mario, he found himself at a loss for words.
+5
‘Could it be that after reaching a certain level of skill, one can only find joy in playing such childish games?‘ Charles thought. ‘Yvette’s world is truly unfathomable for someone like me.’
Yvette put away her phone, glanced at the rearview mirror, and smirked before saying to Charles, “Turn left.”
This was the exact opposite of the direction indicated by the navigation.
Upon hearing this, Charles immediately turned left without a hint of hesitation.
Suddenly, Charles realized something and also looked into the rearview mirror.
The black car behind them had been following ever since they left the airport.
‘Did I just arrive in Clusia, and now I have enemies chasing me?‘ he thought.
Charles‘ expression turned cold, and his voice was harsh. “Yvette, it might be someone sent by Chief Braydon. Could I…”
As he spoke, he made a slicing motion across his neck.
As the leader of the Seventy–Two Chambers, Charles had taken many lives and didn’t care about taking another more.
Yvette raised her gaze, glanced at him indifferently, opened a bag of chips, and took a bite. “This is a society governed by the rule of law. If there’s a problem, we should go to the police.”
Charles‘ hand froze on the steering wheel, his expression turned extremely strange.
Hearing those words come from Yvette’s mouth was genuinely shocking.
He took a moment to collect himself. “Yvette, given my identity, going to the police would be inappropriate, right?”
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‘As a gang leader, going to the police? I’d definitely be mocked by others for that, he thought.
Yvette turned her face away, showing little expression.
Her lips pressed together, and her voice was cool. “Oh, find a place to park. I’m hungry.”
Charles glanced at the chips in her hand, noting that Yvette still had quite the appetite.
However, he believed Yvette had a way to deal with whoever was following them.
‘Whatever Yvette decides to do, I’ll follow her lead. It’ll definitely be fine, he thought.
“Okay,” Charles replied.
+5
In the black car, Andrew gripped the steering wheel tightly, thinking, ‘Is my title of driving king a joke? Do you think you can suddenly turn and shake me off? Dream on! There’s no way!‘
Andrew had been following them ever since leaving the airport.
He noticed that the road seemed somewhat familiar.
‘Isn’t this the road back to Skyland? Is Yvette planning to take that guy back to Mr. Chavez’s villa? She’s being so bold, he wondered.
Andrew saw the car ahead stop next to a street lined with restaurants.
The next second, Yvette got out of the car, followed by the man.
Andrew noticed Yvette glance his way, and he quickly lowered his head, waiting a minute before daring to look up again.
When he did, he saw that the two figures were already gone, prompting him to get out of the car to look for them while secretly wondering, ‘I must not lose them. Otherwise, how will I explain this to Jeremiah?‘
After searching along the street for ten minutes, Andrew finally spotted the two in front of a restaurant window.
He hurried to the adjacent window, pretending to buy something, and distractedly asked, “How much for this?”
Before the vendor could respond, Andrew quickly added, “Oh… I’ll take two portions.”
The vendor hesitantly asked again, “Are you sure you want two portions?”
Andrew kept his eyes on Yvette and the man and replied without turning his head, “Yes, two portions. Hurry up and make them.”
The vendor, thrilled that someone was finally buying two portions of the set meal, eagerly started preparing the order. Yvette had already spotted Andrew. She was indeed surprised to see him.
Noticing what he was buying, a mischievous smile crept onto her lips, and her expression became relaxed.
Charles also noticed Andrew, feeling pleased with his successful disguise.
Holding the freshly made fried chicken, he turned to Yvette. “It’s ready, Yvette. What else do you want to eat?”
Then he lowered his voice. “Should I take care of him? Don’t worry. I’ll leave no traces.”
S
Yvette, with her hands in her pockets, casually glanced at Andrew in the distance.
She replied to Charles, “No need. I know him. Let’s go.”
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Charles was taken aback
‘Yvette knows this guy? What’s going on? This guy is following
However, Charles felt relieved since that man wasn’t an enemy
Charles followed Yvette into a steakhouse and sat down.
The combination of the handsome man and the beautiful wor
People in the steakhouse subtly glanced at the two of them.
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Andrew, trailing behind, saw the two enter a steakhouse and quickly sent the location to Jeremiah.
The vendor handed two ready meals to Andrew. “Hello, sir, that’ll be 18 dollars. Thank you for your patronage.”
When Andrew turned around and saw what the vendor was holding, his expression suddenly froze.
He pointed at the contents of the bag, covering his nose, and complained. “What is this? It stinks!”
The vendor was not pleased. “Sir, this says herring in a can. Are you joking about how it smells?”
Andrew’s face turned dark. He had never eaten this before.
The smell made him want to vomit.
With people queuing behind him, he had no choice but to pay quickly and walk away with the bag.
All he wanted was to find a trash can and toss this thing out.
Andrew felt like he was covered in the foul odor.
As he approached the trash can to throw away the can of herring, he looked up and saw Yvette leaning against the door of the steakhouse, laughing as she watched him.
The man next to her was also present.
‘How awkward. How do I explain this?‘ he thought.
Andrew forced a smile and waved the bag in his hand. “Hey, Yvette! Fancy seeing you here! I just arrived in Betrico today. I was passing by and got hungry, so I thought I’d grab a bite. What a coincidence running into you!”
A smirk played on Yvette’s lips as she glanced at the stinky bag.
Even from a distance, she could smell it.
She raised an eyebrow.
Then, she asked calmly, “Want to eat together?”
Andrew was taken aback.
‘Why is she suddenly in such a good mood?‘ he wondered.
He felt somewhat flustered but then thought this was just perfect, so he nodded eagerly. “Sure! I haven’t eaten yet. When Jeremiah arrives, we can eat together…”
He hesitated and glanced awkwardly at Charles. “So, Yvette, does your friend mind? If he does, that’s fine.”
Charles choked a bit.
Why does Yvette’s friend sound so snarky? It’s the first time I’ve seen a guy talk like that,‘ he wondered.
Yvette narrowed her eyes, her voice indifferent. “He doesn’t mind. Come on in.”
As Andrew saw Yvette and Charles turn around, he thought to take the chance to toss the herring can into the trash.
He couldn’t stand the smell for another minute.
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Charles was taken aback
‘Yvette knows this guy? What’s going on? This guy is following Yvette? What kind of situation is this?‘ he wondered.
However, Charles felt relieved since that man wasn’t an enemy.
Charles followed Yvette into a steakhouse and sat down.
The combination of the handsome man and the beautiful woman attracted attention.
People in the steakhouse subtly glanced at the two of them.
SEND GIFT
Jeremiah glanced around the private room at the three people inside.
His eyes landed on Charles’ face, pausing for a moment before he calmly withdrew his gaze.
A few days ago, Charles’ information had been on his desk, and Jeremiah hadn’t expected to see him so soon in Clusia,
Charles, in turn, was taken aback by Jeremiah’s strikingly handsome face, causing him to loosen his grip on his fork.
‘So, Yvette’s boyfriend is a young major general in Clusia? Holy shit!’ he wondered.
In that moment, Charles couldn’t find the right words to describe his feelings.
He could only think, ‘Yvette is amazing.
Andrew looked at Jeremiah with a sense of grievance.
From the moment Jeremiah entered, he glanced at Charles briefly before fixing his gaze entirely on Yvette.
Andrew, a handsome guy, was completely overshadowed.
Andrew spoke up. “Jeremiah, you finally made it!”
He stood up from his chair, and with each step he took, the overwhelming smell of canned herring grew stronger.
Jeremiah took a couple of steps back.
The odor was too much for Jeremiah, a complete germaphobe, to handle. His serious aversion to strong smells made it unbearable.
With a cold expression, he said to Andrew, “Sit back down.”
Andrew immediately understood why Jeremiah looked that way.
‘Oh no! My image has been ruined by this herring smell!’ he thought to himself.
With a long face, Andrew plopped back down onto his seat.
‘Alright, forget it. Whatever… he comforted himself as he wondered.
Jeremiah walked over to sit next to Yvette.
She looked up at him as he settled beside her.
Her
eyes were pure
and cool, and her voice was sweet. “Have you eaten yet?”
Jeremiah’s eyes, usually so deep and reserved, now sparkled with tenderness as he turned his head slightly and replied, “Not yet. I just finished handling some matters at the military district before coming here.”
After Yvette started dating Jeremiah, she noticed that his eating habits were quite irregular.
He was very picky with his food.
Although he would accompany Yvette to eat everything she loved, he rarely ate more than a few bites.
Yvette took the various pieces of steak cut from the serving plates and piled them onto Jeremiah’s plate until it was overflowing.
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Jeremiah smiled to himself as he wondered, ‘So much meal! Yvete must really love me.
Charles thought to himself, ‘Yvette is so biased. At least leave me a couple of pieces of steak!”
Andrew was taken aback. ‘My steak? I had been eyeing it for almost five minutes, and now it’s all gone. How heartless!’ he wondered.
While Jeremiah wasn’t particularly fond of meat, he felt he had to eat it since Yvette served it to him, even if he wasn’t hungry.
After setting down her fork, Yvette pointed at the composed Charles and said calmly, “This is Charles Jameson, my apprentice.”
Andrew dropped his fork with a loud clatter.
The man he had been suspicious of for so long turned out to be Yvette’s apprentice.
Andrew rubbed his chin.
He glanced back and forth between Charles and Yvette.
‘Charles looks nearly thirty, while Yvette is just over twenty. Is Yvette really his mentor? Why does Charles seem more suited to be the teacher?’ he pondered.
Andrew concluded in his mind.
Yvette must not be a normal person. I can’t treat her like a normal person anymore,’ he thought.
After thinking about how busy he had been all morning, Andrew felt like it had all been a waste of time, not to mention he had ended up smelling terrible. ‘I’m so pathetic,’ he thought.
Charles maintained a gentle and restrained demeanor.
After so many years in the underworld, he had learned to disguise himself and avoid revealing a domineering attitude.
Otherwise, his trump card would be exposed.
Nodding at Jeremiah, he said earnestly, “Hello, Lady Boss, I’m Charles.”
In Charles’ understanding, Yvette was undoubtedly the one in control.
It didn’t matter whether Jeremiah was a major general in Clusia or the president of some country, yet he definitely listened to Yvette.
So he didn’t see anything wrong to address Jeremiah as Lady Boss.
Andrew, who had just taken a bite of food, suddenly sprayed it all over the floor.
He staried at Charles in disbelief.
‘Oh man! He’s joking with Jeremiah! That’s so bold! He actually called Mr. Chavez Lady Boss! This is insane! Oh my god, I have to share this with someone. It’s too funny, Andrew thought excitedly.
He furtively took out his phone, thinking about who to tell.
But the more he thought about it, the more he feared that if this got out, Jeremiah might come after him.
I’m definitely not as brave as Charles. Better play it safe, Andrew wondered.
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After some hesitation. Andrew decided to share it with Samanth
Andrew: [Samantha, you won’t believe this. Someone just called Mr. Chavez Lady Boss. It’s hilarious!]
Barely a minute had passed when Samantha replied.
Samantha: [Get lost. If you want to die, don’t drag me into it. Do you think you can joke about Mr. Chavez?]
Andrew pursed his lips at her cold response.
Yep, definitely my sister. Abandoned me at the first sign of trouble, he thought.
Jeremiah’s fingers twitched when he heard the words, his gaze sharp and icy as he stared at Charles.
The sudden wave of killing intent made Charles freeze in place.
“What a terrifying aura,’ he thought.
Yvette glanced at the two men with mild amusement. Charles calling Jeremiah Lady Boss was definitely unexpected.
She was sure Charles did it on purpose.
In the next moment, the murderous intent around Jeremiah dissipated completely.
He tilted his head slightly, his eyes half-closed in a drowsy, languid way.
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His voice softened, carrying a touch of melancholy. “I never thought I’d see the day where I’d be called Lady Boss. It’s… nice.”
Andrew had just finished sending his text when he heard Jeremiah’s words.
His phone slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.
‘What the hell? What’s Jeremiah doing? Is he acting? What’s with this whole delicate routine?’ Andrew wondered.
Seeing Jeremiah’s uncharacteristically vulnerable expression sent a wave of goosebumps all over his body.
It was disturbing.
This was the same iron-blooded warlord who’d made his name known in Betrico at the age of eighteen.
And now, he was playing coy.
Charles hadn’t expected Jeremiah to own up to the title so readily, feeling a sense of defeat.
Yvette crossed her legs and leaned back.
Her face showed little emotion.
She was already accustomed to Jeremiah’s flirtatious behavior.
Her cold eyes narrowed slightly, and a subtle smile tugged at her lips.
“Having a playful boyfriend like Jeremiah is nice. Since he loves to act, I shouldn’t ruin his fun,’ she thought.
Yvette glanced at Charles, who was clearly uncomfortable, and lightly rubbed the rim of her cup as she said softly, “This is Jeremiah Chavez. Just call him Mr. Chavez.”
Yvette had spoken directly, and no matter how reluctant Charles felt, he could only nod politely and say, “Alright, Mr. Chavez, it’s nice to meet you.”
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Yvette’s words were an order to Charles, and he would never dare defy them.
Jeremiah gave Charles a half-smile, recognizing that he had figured out Yvette’s preference for a gentle approach.
Since Charles had taken a step back, Jeremiah felt no need to prolong any discomfort.
Jeremiah nodded slightly.
He succinctly introduced himself. “Hello, I am Jeremiah Chavez.
As Andrew watched the scene unfold at the dining table, he thought to himself, ‘Mr. Chavez is truly cunning!
However, he was surprised by how obedient Charles was to Yvette.
She must have been quite strict in her teachings.
Automatically, Andrew categorized Charles as someone from the artistic community.
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After all, with Yvette being an internationally acclaimed young painter under the pen name Cyanbird, it made sense for her apprentice, Charles, to be an artist as well.
Charles wasn’t a lover.
Since the misunderstanding had been cleared up, Andrew felt no hostility toward him.
In fact, Charles’ audacity to joke with Jeremiah was proof enough that he was worthy of friendship.
That kind of courage was one of his greatest strengths.
Curious, Andrew turned to Charles and asked, “Charles, how much do you typically charge per piece?”
Of course, Andrew was referring to the price of a painting, but Charles interpreted it differently, thinking he meant how much it cost to kill someone.
He didn’t shy away from the topic since he wasn’t involved in any killings in Clusia.
He had nothing to worry about.
In some parts of the world, violence and war were commonplace.
Clusia was simply a sanctuary amidst that chaos.
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Charles took a sip from his cup, looked at Andrew, whose face was curious, and replied, “It depends on my mood. For important people, it’s usually 30 million dollars, for less important ones, 10 million. Sometimes, I’ll even take jobs for free.
In the criminal circles of Mysonna, only a few had considered hiring Charles for an assassination. The payment was secondary: the real issue was that Charles led the Seventy–Two Chambers for the Goodman family. Apart from Braydon, no one else dared to order him to take a life.
Andrew was shocked. He wondered, ‘With my low salary, there’s no way I can afford to place an order with Charles. When did prices in the art world go so crazy? Plus, I’ve never even heard of Charles before. It’s hard to believe that a relatively unknown painter can charge so much.
Andrew was silent for a few seconds. He thought, ‘Is painting really that profitable? Should I pick up the brush again?’
But then Andrew thought of his art teacher’s assessment of him and decided against it. After all, back then he was the kind of guy who could draw a chicken egg so badly it looked like a duck egg–so maybe he should quit dreaming about it.
With an envious tone, Andrew said, “Charles, your industry is so promising. I’m envious.”
Charles raised his head slightly. There was a bit of confusion in his eyes.
Charles noticed Andrew’s envious gaze, which was genuine and sincere. He wondered, ‘What exactly is this guy envious of? Is it that he envies my ability to kill? What a weird guy! No wonder he could do something as bizarre as following us from the airport.
Andrew was unaware that Charles had already labeled him as a “weird guy” in his mind, and the impression was quite profound.
Jeremiah glanced at the two of them, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he thought, ‘The two are on completely different wavelengths, yet they speak with such enthusiasm. Charles discusses killing with a chilling nonchalance, while Andrew is talking about painting, and neither realizes the absurdity. It’s truly hilarious!’
Charles was baffled by Andrew’s
continuous questions. He regarded Andrew as a “weirdo motormouth” and bolted to the bathroom as an excuse to slip out of the VIP room.
Jeremiah caught a glimpse of Charles’s retreating figure, finished the last piece of meat, put down his utensils, and said to Yvette, who was enjoying her grilled pork chops, “I’m heading to the bathroom.”
Yvette glanced at him, still chewing on her food, and mumbled, “OK.”
Jeremiah couldn’t help but pinch Yvette’s soft cheeks, who looked like a hamster with her cheeks puffed out while eating.
Charles adjusted his clothes in the men’s bathroom, then leaned over the sink, hands deep in soapy water.
Then Charles heard footsteps approaching, but he didn’t even glance up from the sink, his hands momentarily stilled mid- scrub. He could feel the newcomer was no ordinary Joe.
The next moment, Jeremiah strode in. He made a beeline for the sink, fixing his military uniform in front of the mirror. There was an air of restrained allure about him.
-Jeremiah, hands smoothing over his military uniform, spoke up. “Charles Jameson, you were the head of the Seventy–Two Chambers under the Goodman family in Mysonna, the top family in the underground world. You managed all the shady dealings for the Goodman family–arms, assassinations, casinos, but stayed clear of drugs. Half a month ago, you parted away with the current head of the Goodman family, Braydon, and got injected with the new No.7 Toxin. You vanished from Mysonna after that. Now, here you are, showing up as the apprentice to my girlfriend’s. This turn of events is quite interesting.”
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Hearing that, Charles tensed up instantly. He jerked his head up all the calmness he had a moment ago gone. Now he was on guard, ready for anything.
Charles thought to himself, ‘So Jeremiah recognized me as soon as he walked in, and he could sit at the same table with me, eating without giving away anything. Yvette’s boyfriend is unfathomable!
Charles fixed his gaze on Jeremiah, coldly stating, “You seem to have all the information, so you must get that Yvette’s identity is not simple. I don’t know the details of your family background, but climbing to major general in Clusia at your age? That’s no ordinary feat. You’ve got to have some serious military clout behind you. If it turns out that Yvette’s on a completely different playing field from your military dynasty, would you still stand by her the way you do now?”
Jeremiah looked at Charles, whose face was tense with worry. After turning off the faucet, Jeremiah said in a serious tone, “This is not your concern. No matter who Yvette is, she will be my wife one day. No matter what dangers come our way, I’ll protect her anytime.”
Hearing those words, Charles stood there, stunned.
Jeremiah continued, “Charles, I don’t want you to cause any trouble for Yvette. While you’re in Clusia, I’ll have people ensure your safety, but once you leave, you’ll be on your own.”
Charles knew that Jeremiah said all this because of Yvette.
Jeremiah didn’t realize that Charles was safest by Yvette’s side. Braydon wouldn’t dream of messing with Charles while she was around. Even Damian wouldn’t tangle with Yvette, so Charles was safe. But these thoughts were better left unsaid.
Charles shook his head, declining the offer. “There’s no need for you to send protection, Mr. Chavez. If I’d depended on others to protect me, I wouldn’t have survived for now. I’ve had more close shaves than I can count. Rest easy. I won’t bring any trouble to Yvette.”
Jeremiah dried his hands, looking at Charles with a cold gaze. “OK, I hope you’ll remember the words you’ve spoken today.”
Charles held Jeremiah’s gaze without flinching. “I hope you remember your words today too, to stand by Yvette’s side for a lifetime, through thick and thin.”
Jeremiah nodded, then turned and walked away.
As he reached the door, Charles called out from behind. “Mr. Chavez, Yvette has been through a lot to become who she is today. I hope you’ll cherish her.”
If one were to count the scars on Yvette, one’d probably run out of numbers. To stand at a higher place, one must endure trials that would break the ordinary person. That was how Yvette had walked her path, through a sea of corpses and blood, escaping death countless times. She made it this far on her own.
With a solemn expression, Jeremiah pushed the door open and left. As soon as he was outside, he sent a message to Bruce.
Charles had just revealed something on his own–he addressed Yvette by her last name, not “Ms. Zeller“.
Zion had just returned to Betrico today. He had been on a whirlwind tour of concerts, traveling all over the place, and now with only the final concert in Betrico, he could wrap up the year perfectly.
Zion had a dedicated piano room in Betrico, so as soon as he got off the plane, he headed straight there without taking a
moment to rest.
When Zion arrived at the piano room, he found the door open. A flash of joy crossed his face, only to be replaced by a sense of desolation. Zion thought, ‘Even if I know who’s there, what good does it do? There’s no future for her and me. Samantha is a renowned businesswoman in Clusia, the most outstanding among the political scions, while I am just a pianist. Although I earn a decent amount, it’s a drop in the ocean compared to Samantha’s wealth.‘
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Samantha always thought Zion was stubborn, but Zion knew deep down that it was just his self–esteem causing trouble.
During the time away from Betrico, Zion was consumed by thoughts of Samantha, going crazy with missing her every minute, night after night, with the longing that had become a part of him.
With a pounding heart, Zion stood at the doorway for a long moment before carefully, almost cautiously, pushing the door
open.
As the door opened, Zion spotted a red silhouette. When Samantha turned around, showing off her outfits, Zion clamped his eyes shut, too bashful to make eye contact. He exclaimed, “Samantha, it’s broad daylight out! What’s the deal with the outfit?”
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Samantha was clad in a red silk nightgown, her skin delicate and smooth. Holding a glass of red wine, she turned gracefully to face Zion, who was standing at the door with his eyes tightly shut. Her face was blushed, and she let out a scornful sniff. “Broad daylight? Zion, open your eyes. What’s with the holier-than-thou act? You never said such things when we were together. What’s with the sudden act of virtue now?”
Zion’s ears turned red with embarrassment at those words, as memories of their past affectionate moments flashed before his eyes.
Zion thought to himself, ‘I know all too well how brutal Samantha can be when she confronts someone. Who knows what she might say next if I don’t respond?’ With that thought, Zion slowly opened his eyes.
He saw that Samantha had changed positions, sitting on a chair next to the piano with her long legs crossed, the tips of her. toes lightly touching the floor, her red dress of thin gauze both revealing and concealing.
Zion choked down a hard swallow, trying his best to play it cool, deliberately shifting his eyes away, steering clear of making eye contact with Samantha.
In a somber tone, Zion said, “Samantha, we’ve already broken up. Don’t do this. You’re the Mitchell family heiress, the dream girl for every guy in Betrico. There are plenty of political scions that would line up for a chance with you. I’m not the
one.”
With a heart heavy with loss, Zion uttered, “I’m not the one,” in a voice laced with desolation. As soon as he finished, he couldn’t face Samantha; he bowed his head, his fingers clenching into the palm of his hand.
Samantha didn’t show an ounce of anger at his words. Instead, she graced Zion with a smile that was all kinds of captivating. “Zion, you broke up with me on your own. Did you get my consent? I’m the one who starts the game, and I’ll be the one to end it. It’s not your call to cut us off. Got it?”
Beneath Samantha’s smile was a hidden fury. She thought to herself, ‘This jerk still thinks about breaking up? Fine, I’ll make him pay in bed.’
Zion looked at Samantha and said, “Alright, then you say break up.”
Hearing his words, Samantha was so angry she could have strangled him. Over the years, everyone outside praised him as a gentleman with an elegant demeanor and kind to all. But she, as the one closest to him, knew all too well that Zion was stubborn.
Samantha glared at Zion, her gaze unreadable, and a heavy silence fell between them.
Samantha placed her glass down and strutted to Zion with a slinky grace. Standing right in front of him, she flashed a captivating smile and said, “Alright, if breaking up is what you want, I won’t be the one to hold on tight. I’m on board. Let’s have a drink to sever our ties.” She continued, pressing the wine glass into Zion’s hand and giving him a playful wink, “Go ahead and drink. Once that’s done, we’re history.”
Zion stood there, dazed, clutching the wine glass. He was the one who wanted to call it quits, but now that Samantha was the one walking away, the gut punch of loss left him struggling for air.
Zion’s hand clenched around the wine glass, slowly tightening, until after two long minutes, he raised his eyes to meet Samantha’s gaze, a look of lingering reluctance in them. He downed the wine in one swift motion, a tear suddenly escaping from the corner of his eye, plummeting to the floor, and disappearing as if it had never been.
Samantha’s eyes lingered, and she thought, “This guy is putting on a show of deep affection. It must be all those piano keys that scrambled his brains. Why make things so complicated when they could be simple? Love is love, and if it’s over, it’s over. Be decisive. All these messy thoughts-this mule-headed man is just being stubborn. What’s the point of crying now?’
But as Samantha saw Zion like this, a hint of tenderness welled up in her heart.
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After he finished his glass of red wine. Zion’s eyes were slightly glazed as he looked at Samantha with a longing gaze and said, “There. I’m done.”
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Samantha swept aside the loose, strands of hair, her wavy tresses pouring down to her waist like a cascade. Glancing at Zion, whose eyes were reddened, she said, “Okay, I’ll be gone in ten minutes. Come on over and have a seat.”
Zion listened to his inner voice, telling himself he only had ten minutes, so he decided to stop holding back. He went to the sofa and sat down neatly, hands on his knees. Even though he was a man in his thirties, his gaze was as pure and clear as a teenager’s.
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This was precisely the reason Samantha had noticed Zion the moment she first laid eyes on him. She craved that kind of
pure gaze.
Zion looked at Samantha, staring at him in a daze, and asked, “Aren’t you going to sit with me?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Samantha moved over and sat beside Zion. They were close enough that she could reach out and poke his lips gently. They were soft, one of the many things she’d initially liked about him.
Feeling the soft touch of Samantha’s fingertips on his lips, Zion’s body suddenly tensed up. Samantha had a thing for poking them, and she never seemed to get enough of it. She was well aware of Zion’s sensitive spots and was about to touch his earlobe when, in the next moment, Zion’s cold hand had captured her wrist, his grip gradually tightening. Pressing his lips together, he spoke with an affectionate yet warning tone, “Stop teasing, would you? You know I have no defenses against you.”
Samantha looked up, her eyes sparkling with a captivating charm. She released her grip and said with a straight face, “No problem at all. I won’t touch you.”
Zion, though, felt puzzled. He wondered, ‘How can the assertive Samantha ever be so obedient? Something about this scenario just seems strange!
For the next eight minutes, the two fell into a comfortable silence, relishing the moment. Despite the air conditioning being set quite low, Zion felt a tingling in his heart, as if little bugs were gnawing at him. He glanced over at Samantha, who was smiling, and something suddenly clicked for Zion. He stared back at her, her gaze inscrutable. He had recognized what was happening to him.
Zion spoke with strained effort. “Samantha, what have you done? This is insane!”
Samantha, resting her chin on her hand, looked up at him and nodded without a moment’s hesitation. “Yeah, it’s what you’re thinking. Don’t worry; it won’t have any lasting effects on you. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
Battling the unease in his body, Zion sighed in defeat, “Just leave. I’m going to take a shower, and I want you gone quickly.” After all, his current reaction to seeing Samantha was no different from a wolf seeing a steak.
Samantha’s mood plummeted. She thought, ‘I never back down from what I want. The man I want is Zion, and no matter when, if I wish it, he has to be by my side, meekly staying put. If he doesn’t understand it, I am ready to make him get it today.’
Samantha sneered, “But I don’t want to go.”
Zion looked at Samantha, reluctantly giving in. “Alright,” he said. As Samantha raised her hand, with a meaningful gaze, Zion responded, “Samantha, don’t you dare back out on me later.”
Samantha, her fingertips playing with a strand of her long hair, whispered seductively into Zion’s ear, “I never will. You can
count on it.
Zion’s expression turned grim. Samantha’s firecracker got going, and no one could stop her. The fact that she’d cooked up this scheme to drive him crazy was both endearing and infuriating.
It wasn’t until the deep of the night that the door to Zion’s master bedroom reopened, a full ten hours after midday had
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Zion came out of the room with a refreshed and invigorated dejicanor, walked to the kitchen, and poured himself a glass of lukewarm water. Samantha’s voice was extremely hoarse. With the glass of water in hand, Zion returned to the room. He gazed at Samantha, who was wearing a white camisole and was covered in hickeys, and his eyes darkened. He had indeed lost control this time. No matter how much Samantha begged during the process, he didn’t stop.
Samantha lifted her gaze to look at Zion as he approached. She pursed her lips and thought, ‘Pervert! He is a hypocritical villain, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Forget it. This newly released medication is a complete rip–off. Anyone who uses it will know what I mean.
Samantha let out a snort. Her whole body was hurting all over. It ached like crazy. She propelled herself up from the bed, supporting herself as Zion handed her a glass of water. She downed a large gulp, completely forgetting about maintaining any semblance of appearance at this point.
Zion noticed a few drops of water falling and his eyes darkened again. He wondered, ‘It felt as though the medication’s effects were still lingering.
After finishing her water, Samantha looked up and caught Zion’s gaze, immediately stepping back a few steps. She thought, ‘Even robots need some downtime, right?‘
Zion snapped out of his daze when he saw the defensive look on Samantha’s face. He cleared his throat and asked awkwardly, “Why are you doing this?”
Samantha didn’t respond to him but turned and walked to the balcony. She picked up a cigarette box from the table, took out a cigarette, and lit it. The smoke rose slowly, carrying a pleasant minty scent. The cigarettes Samantha smoked were not like those available on the market; they were specially customized and virtually harmless to the body. Her noble and aloof profile appeared and disappeared in the smoke, adding a touch of mystery and seductiveness.
She gazed at the city lights outside the window, and then turned to Zion. “Why are you doing this? What have I done? Drugged you? Fallen in love with you?”
Listening to her icy tone, Zion felt a pang in his heart and started to explain, “No, Samantha, you know I didn’t mean it that way.”
Samantha sneered and said, “Zion, it’s just that I’ve made a mistake that every man makes and I’m just captivated by your body.”
Zion knew he was indeed appealing. Samantha never hesitated to compliment his appearance.
Samantha stared into his eyes and didn’t move. After a moment, she extinguished her cigarette and spoke coldly, a tone Zion had never heard before, “Zion, we’ve been together for ten years. This is the last time I’ll ask. Have you really decided to break up with me?”
Zion felt a wave of panic rise in him. He thought, ‘Am I really going to give up on Samantha just for my fragile pride?‘
Samantha turned to look at Zion, whose face was full of pain.
Her face was blank.
Zion finally understood. He thought, ‘Samantha meant everything to me and she was part of me. I couldn’t live without her. No matter how much gossip and rumors the outside world might spread, I don’t care anymore. Once Zion realized it, he felt relieved and his face became serene.
Qnce Zion realized it, he felt relieved and his face became serene. Just as he was about to speak, Samantha interrupted him and said, “You shouldn’t have hesitated. I declare that we’re broken up.” Without a hint of hesitation, she put on her clothes and got ready to leave.
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Zion was stunned and Samantha’s indifferent expression filled him with panic. He quickly stepped forward to stop Samantha from leaving and anxiously explained, “Samantha, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to break up anymore. 1 want to marry you.” Samantha’s gaze at Zion was as cold and sharp as a knife. She gently pulled Zion’s hand away. Her expression was cold and distant, The charm she had shown earlier was gone without a trace.
What Zion feared the most was this side of Samantha, who was decisive and never dragged her feet when handling matters.
Samantha looked up at Zion and said, word by word, “Zion, after ten years, you still don’t truly understand me. When I love you, I could pamper and protect you. But when I don’t, you’re not even worth the dirt on the ground. Now I’m telling you, I don’t love you anymore. I’m tired of this love game. We’re breaking up. Don’t you get it?”
Zion stared blankly at Samantha. Her words stabbed him like a knife. He thought, “This is Samantha, passionate when in love, and ruthless when not. Shouldn’t I have known this already?
Zion was completely stunned and stood there frozen, watching helplessly as Samantha pushed open the door. It wasn’t until the roar of a sports car echoed from the doorway that he snapped out of it. He ran out barefoot, and as soon as he stepped outside, Samantha’s car drove past him.
He ran after the car like a madman, shouting desperately, “Samantha, I was wrong. Can you give me another chance? I’m begging you, don’t give up on me!” His usual grace was completely gone.
Samantha sat in the car, watching Zion running behind her with a faint smile on her lips. Then she floored the gas pedal, leaving him behind.
She thought, ‘As for why I had spoken so harshly just now, it was only to punish Zion. This time, I would make sure he never dared to rebel again. The man I loved must be firmly under my control, with no way to escape. I allowed Zion to escape to perform concerts, all for this day. If Zion really decided to give up on me, it didn’t matter. Men are abundant in the world, and I, Samantha, could have as many as I wanted. Surely, I wouldn’t abandon a whole forest for one tree, right? That would be totally stupid!‘
In Skyland, Charles, as Yvette’s apprentice, was naturally assigned a room, but it was located quite a distance from Jeremiah, and Yvette’s room. According to Skyland’s layout, one was on the far east, the other on the far west.
In the courtyard, Andrew looked at Charles and his mouth twitched. He thought, ‘It’s just like Mr. Chavez to never let someone who disrespected him easily. Well, here comes the karma. Now, every time Charles returns to Skyland, it’s a huge hassle just to get back to his room, let alone seeing Yvette on a daily basis. Mr. Chavez truly doesn’t need a knife to kill someone!‘
Andrew patted Charles on the shoulder and said with a smirk, “Bro, I’ll feel sorry for you.” Charles glanced at Andrew. There’s no sign of sympathy, just a gloating look on his face.
Yvette sat comfortably in her rocking chair, sipping on a strawberry milkshake, enjoying a delightful moment.
Jeremiah glanced at Charles and politely said, “Charles, I wonder if you like this room.”
Charles gritted his teeth and thought, ‘Such a petty mind! It’s just a title. Does he have to be so narrow–minded? He arranged the accommodation, and I can’t say I don’t like it. Under Andrew’s sympathetic gaze, Charles nodded reluctantly, his voice stiff. “Thank you, Mr. Chavez. I like it very much, especially.”
Jeremiah’s expression remained natural, not realizing anything wrong with the arrangement. He nodded slightly and said something that almost drove Charles to anger, “As long as Charles likes it, that’s great. There was another room available, right in the middle, but if you love this one so much, we’ll forget about it.”
Charles was speechless.
Jeremiah naturally added, “Charles, nice choice!“
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Yvette removed the hat shading her face, allowing the sunlight to cascade down and cast a hazy glo
on her features, her eyes misty. A few droplets of sweat adorned her forehead, captivating and enchanting, while the collarbone underneath her shirt gleamed white. She gazed at the three men in the courtyard, rocked her chair gently, and whispered softly, “I want to have barbecue.”
Andrew turned around and thought, “did I lose my memory? Didn’t we just finish cating? Is her appetite made of iron? I have finally witnessed how a foodie is born.”
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Yvette suggested having a barbecue and Andrew took on the role of grill master. As he looked at the newly set-up grill in front of him, he felt somewhat melancholy. He really wasn’t confident about handling this task.
Andrew turned his head to glance at Jeremiah, who was diligently threading items onto skewers in the pavilion, trying to win a smile from his sweetheart. Seeing this, Andrew knew he had to not only do the job but do it well. He thought to himself, Besides, it’s not just anyone I’m assisting, but my dearest Jeremiah. Mainly, I can’t stand the way Jeremiah looks at me. But Mr. Chavez is truly cunning. He skewers food right next to his sweetheart. Such a scheming boy! Who are these two trying to show off their affection to?
Andrew turned his head and saw Charles in front of him, busy starting a charcoal fire. He suddenly felt a lot more balanced and thought. If even an artist is engaged in such a task, why should I feel upset? I might as well get back to work. However, before starting, Andrew mischievously approached Charles and watched him start the fire skillfully, thinking to himself, Wow! Artists are really good at lighting fires these days?’
Andrew said to Charles, “Hey, you’re pretty skilled at this. It feels like you do this every day, doesn’t it?” Charles glanced at the grinning Andrew and thought, ‘Compared to Mr. Chavez, this man might be more to my liking. Simple-minded people are quite nice. Charles placed the lit coals to the side and skillfully fanned them to make the flames stronger.
Charles spoke up, “Practice makes perfect.” He glanced at Yvette in the distance and said, “It was Yve who taught me how to start a fire. His gaze softened with a hint of nostalgia in his voice. Charles thought, ‘It must have been ten years ago. I joined the Seventy-Two Chambers with a relatively high position, so I never bothered with such trivia myself. I was fine with killing, but not so good with starting fires. Later, when Yve took me as a disciple and we were the only two left training in the base, the task of starting fires and grilling meat fell to me every day.
Upon hearing this, Andrew was taken aback and thought, ‘Wow! I don’t expect that Yvette taught Charles that much, not only how to paint but also how to start a fire. Her teaching covers a really wide range of topics! She’s aiming to cultivate his all- round abilities!’
Andrew remarked with emotion, “Charles, you really got a great deal by taking her as your mentor.” Charles nodded solemnly. “Yeah, the best decision of my life was taking Yve as my mentor.”
Seeing that everything was ready, Andrew quickly returned to his spot and gazed at the meat in front him. He vowed to himself that he would grill the best skewers of his life for the sake of Mr. Chavez’s love.
Ten minutes later, Yvette, Jeremiah, and Charles gathered around Andrew. They looked at Andrew, who had soot all over his face and the strings of charred, unrecognizable items in his hands. They all fell silent together.
Andrew held the skewers in his hands. He was near tears, wondering if he had ruined Mr. Chavez’s love.
Jesse pointed at the skewers in Andrew’s hand and coughed awkwardly. “What on earth is this?”
Andrew scratched the back of his head and nervously explained, “These are beef skewers. I just didn’t get the cooking time right, so they’re a bit overdone, but I promise they still taste great. They just don’t look very good, but they’re edible, really,
trust me.”
Charles looked clearly unconvinced and said, “Edible? Come on, do you think our stomachs can handle this?”
Jeremiah looked at the blackened “beef skewers” in front of him, nodded and said in a serious tone, “Andrew, is this what you call the top grill master in Betrico?”
Andrew, feeling guilty, mumbled, “Well. Even a veteran can make a mistake.” In reality, this was his first time grilling, but he would never admit it. He volunteered to grill for a simple reason that the other two men were showcasing their skills and techniques, so he had to find something to show off as well. He thought that cooking the meat would be an easy task, but who knew it would be so uncontrollable. It burns so easily. It was so embarrassing.
Yvette leaned lazily against a pillar, hands in her pockets, with her eyes half-closed. She glanced at the three of them and spoke in a lazy, husky voice, “Clean this up, and I’ll do the grilling.”
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Upon hearing Yvette’s words, Charles swallowed, started cleaning up the mess before Jeremiah and Andrew could react, and urged the other two to doing so. “Hurry up! Yve is going to grill the meat herself!”
Seeing Charles so eager and fawning, Andrew was utterly confused and thought, ‘Even if Yvette intended to grill the meat herself, there was no need to be this excited, right?’ He said,” Charles, anyone who didn’t know better would think she’s preparing a Thanksgiving feast!”
Charles looked up at Andrew and didn’t say a word. He thought Wait till Andrew tries the grilled meat made by Yve and see if he’ll still talk like that. Yve is actually really inexperienced in cooking, but somehow, the meat she grilled is absolutely
delicious.’
Jeremiah turned to the side.
He raised his eyebrow. “Let me do it.”
Yvette raised her eyes and beckoned Jeremiah with her fingers. Jeremiah understood and walked over obediently. Yvette extended her beautiful, slender fingers and tapped on his chest, with a faint smile playing on her lips. She said, “My little sweetie, just wait patiently, and I promise you’ll have a delicious and satisfying meal.”
Jeremiah’s deep, dark eyes dimmed slightly upon hearing the girl’s words. He thought, ‘She called me little sweetie? And let me eat well and be satisfied? That’s probably difficult!’ Jeremiah smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll make sure to eat well and be satisfied. Don’t worry about it.”
Yvette kicked a stone by her foot, glanced at him casually and thought, ‘What’s there to be happy about?’
Andrew and Charles exchanged a look. exchanged a glance. Everything was understood without a word. Andrew thought, “Is it no surprise that my Jeremiah can remain so composed even when called little sweetie? Charles thought, ‘Yve is so incredibly impressive that even Jeremiah would have to obey her. This day is really exciting.’
After they cleaned up the mess Andrew left behind, Yvette immediately took the seat where Andrew had just been. For the next ten minutes, Andrew and Charles sat quietly on the pavilion chairs, while Jeremiah stood beside Yvette, helping her with plates and barbecue seasonings. As the two stood together, the afterglow of the sunset cast down upon them, making even their backs look perfectly matched. This must be what they call a feast for the eyes.
After taking a bite of the grilled skewers that Yvette had prepared, Andrew was completely surprised. “Wow, this is incredibly delicious!” Andrew couldn’t stop himself, eating skewer after skewer. While enjoying the food, he didn’t forget to flatter Yvette, and said, “Yvette, your grilling skills are truly extraordinary! Oh my god, I swear this is the best grilled skewers I’ve ever had. What was I eating before this? This is so good!”
Charles tasted the familiar flavor, just as delicious as it was years ago. However, the setting and his mood had changed. Back then, he was constrained, but now he was free, no longer bound by anyone.
Jeremiah took a bite and was slightly surprised. He really hadn’t expected the grilled skewers made by Yvette to be so delicious. Normally, he didn’t eat much meat, but he ate several skewers and still wanted more.
As the sun set, golden sunlight filled the courtyard, covering the buildings in a layer of radiant light.. The evening breeze gently blew, making them feel slightly tipsy and immersed in a serene atmosphere of tranquil times.
Yvette snuggled into the chair, wrapped in the jacket Jeremiah had just handed her, with her feet crossed. She felt relaxed and carefree, looked at the three people in front of her and slowly asked, “Do you guys want to have a drink?”
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Andrew immediately put down his skewers and agreed. “Yvette, you want to have a drink? You should have told me earlier! Red wine, white wine, or beer? Which one do you prefer? How about we have all of them?”
Charles didn’t mind at all. He thought, ‘I haven’t had a drink with Yvette for so many years, and it would be nice to have one now! I am actually quite looking forward to it. Yvette probably could drink three times as much as me!
Yvette glanced at them calmly and, for safety reasons, she thought it was necessary to ask about both of their health conditions first. Her voice was as cool as ever. She slowly asked, “Are you two good at taking a beating? How’s your recovery ability?
Andrew thought Yvette was just trying to lighten the mood and joked around, so he patted his chest confidently and said, “Don’t worry, Yvette. I’m so tough.” Yvette then turned her gaze to Charles, feeling the need to ask him as well, “And you?” Charles didn’t think much of it, assuming Yvette was just casually asking. So, he replied earnestly, “Yve, I haven’t neglected anything you taught me over the years. I’ve been practicing and I won’t let you down, trust me.” Yvette’s gaze paused for a moment, and then she concluded that there should be no problem.
Upon hearing those words, Jeremiah was the only one in the room who tensed up a little, and his face showed brief awkwardness. He thought, ‘Yvette definitely couldn’t drink anymore. Her drunken state is simply too tèrrifying.’ Jeremiah watched the two enjoying themselves and, after a few moments of silence, decided to intervene out of compassion. He addressed Andrew, who was about to fetch the alcohol, with a serious expression, “Andrew, I remember there is already out of wine. let’s wrap up for today.” Then he gave Andrew a look, indicating for him not to proceed.
Andrew instantly understood what Jeremiah’s look meant. He thought, ‘Could I not grasp what Mr. Chavez is thinking after being friends for so many years? My mission today is to get Yvette drunk so that Jeremiah could kiss and hug her.‘ Andrew gave Jeremiah a reassuring look and then swaggered into the room to fetch some drinks. Jeremiah felt relieved, thinking that Andrew had understood his intentions.
Charles didn’t miss the exchange of glances between the two. He saw things more clearly than Andrew. He thought, ‘What? Does Jeremiah not want Yvette to drink? That is quite conservative of him.‘ Looking at Jeremiah, Charles spoke up, “Mr. Chavez, don’t worry. We’ll just have a little, and definitely won’t overdo it.”
Jeremiah turned to look at Charles with an unreadable expression. He thought, ‘It’s fine. People create their own problems. And then he said, “Just make sure you don’t regret it.” Upon hearing this, Charles was even more confused and thought, ‘How could drinking a little wine be connected to regret?‘
Yvette took a bite of the beef skewer and nestled quietly in her chair, waiting for Andrew. When Andrew came back with wine, he happened to meet Samantha coming in from outside the courtyard.
Samantha had been sleeping soundly since she got home yesterday. She didn’t wake up until the afternoon. After calling Andrew, she learned that they were going to have a barbecue and that Yvette was also there. Who wouldn’t want to join in on such fun? However, this time she didn’t put much effort into her makeup; she just tidied herself up a bit and wore a simple simple monochrome dress before driving over. With Yvette there, it didn’t matter if she wore makeup or not; Yvette’s beauty couldn’t be outdone. Her villa in Skyland hadn’t been decorated yet. It looked like she needed to get a move on with that now, or else how could she be good neighbors with Yvette?
As soon as Samantha came in, she saw Andrew holding red wine, white wine, and some beer. She dashed over like she was in a sprint and thought, ‘Oh! With Yvette here, how could these be here? Is this drinking, or risking one’s life?‘ Instantly, Samantha’s mind flashed back to the incident at the club that day.
Andrew got momentarily distracted and Samantha quickly took the wine from his hand. The other people present didn’t seem surprised to see Samantha; they had already known she was coming. Only Charles didn’t know and gazed her for a long time, wondering why this woman seemed so familiar.
Andrew said, “Samantha, what are you doing? Why are you taking my wine? It’s for Yvette.” Samantha steadied herself when she heard this. Without saying a word, she struck Andrew’s back of the head and whispered, “You little brat, I am saving your life! You absolutely can’t drink this.”
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Andrew thought, ‘Has Samantha lost her mind? Why can’t we drink the wine? Does she dislike Yvette? Didn’t they meet? She praised Yvette so highly, so why can’t she even have a drink now What’s going on?‘
With the wine in her hand, Samantha instantly came up with andea. For everyone’s safety, she was ready to give it her all. She turned around with a bright smile, planning to pretend to fall. It was time to test her acting skills. Just as Samantha was about to fall, she was caught by big hands. She cursed inwardly, shit! She knew all too well whose hands these were.
Andrew caught Samantha as she was about to fall He said, “Samantha, what are you doing? How can you fall on flat ground?”
Samantha paused for a moment, then stood up straight. She looked at Andrew’s innocent face, clenched her teeth, and thought to herself, ‘If anyone wants to take this silly kid off my hands, please do so now! Samantha took a deep breath, gave Andrew a big smile and said, “Let’s go. Carry the wine carefully and don’t drop it.”
Andrew felt a shiver go down his spine when he saw her smile. He confidently promised he wouldn’t and couldn’t resist teasing Samantha a little. “Don’t worry, not everyone is as clumsy as you. I won’t fall flat on as you did.”
Samantha and Andrew walked to the pavilion. Samantha looked at Yvette, who was casually slouched in the chair, and greeted her first. “Hi, we meet again.” She then turned to Jeremiah and said, “Mr. Chavez.” She just nodded as a greeting to the really handsome guy next to Mr. Chavez. He must not be from their social circle.
Yvette looked up, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully, and said in a cool and detached voice, “Hi.” Rebellious yet enchanting, cool yet captivating–that was how Samantha saw Yvette.
Samantha noticed Yvette’s expression, which seemed to say she already knew what Samantha was thinking. It made Samantha feel a bit guilty.
Andrew put the wine on the table, then cheekily sidled over next to Jeremiah and said, “Jeremiah, I got you, All this booze is top–shelf.” Jeremiah had his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless. He turned his head to look at Andrew, raised an eyebrow, and said casually, “You really get me, that’s nice. Just hope you’re prepared for whatever comes next.” Jeremiah gave Andrew a smile that was quite similar to Samantha’s.
That smile from Jeremiah almost scared Andrew off. He finally realized something was very wrong. It was one of the top ten unsolved mysteries of the world that why Mr. Chavez smiled at him for no reason.
Charles, who had been sitting inconspicuously on the side of the table, glanced at the woman sitting next to Yvette, and thought, ‘Her appearance is strikingly similar to that woman, but she said her name was Samantha, a different name. Except that day, the woman had on heavy makeup, and today this woman is barely wearing any. Could they possibly be the same person?‘
Charles stared at Samantha and suddenly spoke up, “Hello, did you visit an underground bar in South East Aploth three years ago?”
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Samantha, still talking to Yvette, stiffened instantly upon hearing those words. She thought to herself, “Three years ago? An underground bar in South East Aploth? Of course, I had been there. Not only had I been there, but I also did something so foolish that I don’t even want to remember it now!
Samantha’s head started to ache,
Could it be that she had such bad luck to run into him here? That would be incredibly unlucky!
Samantha’s silence drew the attention of everyone present. Except for Charles, who was glaring at her. Jeremiah and Andrew also turned to look at her. They thought, ‘What’s happening now? Could it be that they met three years ago? From Charles’s words, that’s what it seems to suggest.
Yvette glanced at Charles, who was clearly very angry, lowered her eyes and raised an eyebrow. A glimmer passed through her cool eyes. She thought, “Three years ago, there was a rumor about Charles in the underworld of Mysonna, and no one knew if it was true or not. Now, it seems that it must be true.
Samantha raised her head.
She smiled brightly as she scrutinized Charles. She thought, ‘Indeed, his face looks quite familiar. But it was so dark at that time that I didn’t really seen him clearly. Now, upon closer inspection, his facial features, face shape, and even his body build are all quite similar. Who else can ask such a question besides the person himself? Clearly, his name is Charles. Oh my god! If only a lightning bolt would strike me now and knock me unconscious. I must deny it all the way. After all, back then, he was incoherent and definitely didn’t get a clear look at my face. Otherwise, would he be so polite in asking, instead of just strangling me?‘
Andrew thought, ‘I have never seen Samantha this silent before. Something is definitely fishy between the two of them. I am really curious and must get to the bottom of this. On a dark and windy night, in an underground bar, what could a man and a woman possibly do? Just imagining the scene makes it seem pretty wild!‘
Andrew’s gaze darted between Charles and Samantha, looking as if he had suddenly realized something, and began his daring and reckless speculation. “Samantha, you’re not that kind of heartbreakers? Three years ago, you ran into Charles at an underground bar in South East Aploth. He fell in love with you at first sight, and you were mesmerized by his good looks. After a night together, you got what you wanted from him but didn’t cherish it, and then dumped him and came back, right? Just admit it.” He was almost ready to hold up a sign that said “Samantha is a heartbreaker!”
As he was feeling smug about his brilliant guess, Samantha stood up from her chair with a smile and kicked Andrew, who was grinning like an idiot. Andrew was completely unprepared and fell to the ground from the kick.
Andrew got up from the floor, rubbed his buttocks and complained to Samantha, “Hey, you ambushed me! At least give me a heads–up next time!”
Jeremiah sat next to Yvette, peeling a pomegranate. Halfway through, the crystal–clear pomegranate seeds lay beautifully on a transparent plate. He glanced at Andrew, who was getting up from the floor, and said to Samantha in a calm voice, “Too gentle.” Yvette gave Andrew a sideways look, curled her lips, and said slowly, “You can give it another kick.”
Andrew thought, “The world is getting more dangerous. Jeremiah and Yvette are becoming increasingly inhumane.‘
Samantha looked at Andrew and gritted her teeth, wondering what sin she had committed in her past life to have such a troublesome younger brother. Grinding her teeth in irritation, Samantha said, “Andrew, you really are my true brother.”
Andrew replied defiantly, “Samantha, it’s not my fault. Novels always start with the couple chasing each other, until one finally can’t escape. That’s how it goes! I’ve read about Charles’s questions in novels before. I just made a guess. If it’s not right, okay, but why kick me?”
Samantha got even more upset at this. Andrew, a man, preferred nothing more than staying at home reading romance novels. An entire wall in her house was covered with all kinds of comic books and various novels. In reality, he hasn’t even been in a relationship, yet he gave Mr. Chavez tips about love. He was all talk and no action.
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Yvette lounged casually in the armchair, sipping a glass of red wine. She raised her eyes, glanced at Andrew’s sad face, and then turned her head to look at Jeremiah who was peeling a ponegranate. She said to Jeremiah in a clear and cold voice, “Did Andrew give you the novel?”
Jeremiah’s hand paused briefly. He tilted his head and gently pinched her soft fingertip. He said in a deep voice, “Yes”
Yvette smirked and finished the wine in her glass. Then she stopped speaking. She had a goal.
Charles stared at Samantha, ignoring everyone else, and asked again, “Was it you three years ago?”
Samantha felt the eyes on her back and her body stiffened slightly. She turned around to face Charles’s suspicious dark eyes and instantly adopted a sweet demeanor. Her attitude was exceptionally polite. “Charles, I think you’re mistaken. I didn’t go to South East Aploth three years ago. Maybe the woman you me just looked like me, and that’s why you got us confused.” She couldn’t admit it, no way. Admitting it might get her into serious trouble.
Charles clearly didn’t believe any of it and was now completely sure that the woman from back then was Samantha, standing right in front of him, as stubborn as ever. He thought, ‘After all these years, I have finally caught up with this woman. I had become the biggest joke in Mysonna’s underworld back then just because of her!
Charles’s expression was ice–cold, veins bulging on his neck. He stared at Samantha with an unreadable smile. He pressed his lips together and softly asked, “Samantha, do you remember if there was a check for 15 million dollars inside that dress back then?”
Samantha instinctively shook her head and immediately denied it. “Are you kidding? What check? It was just a piece of scrap paper.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the pavilion fell into silence.
Samantha looked at the silent group. “Why are you all staring at me like that? I mean it, I wouldn’t take that kind of money!”
Andrew nudged Samantha’s sleeve with a peculiar expression on his face. He thought, ‘Even Samantha isn’t always sharp, is she? Haven’t she just admitted it herself?‘ Then he said, “Samantha, you’ve exposed yourself.”
Samantha finally realized what was happening, and her expression instantly froze. She thought, ‘Shit! Charles doesn’t play by the rules. If it weren’t for my guilt, I wouldn’t have been tricked out like this. I was being too careless.’ Samantha immediately took two steps back and looked at Charles with caution.
Charles kept a stern face, his fists clenched tightly. He had vowed back then that if he ever caught this woman, he’d tear her apart. Little did he expect that she was actually a friend of Yvette. So now he couldn’t hit or kill her, which made him even more frustrated.
The atmosphere on site wasn’t good at all. The two of them stared at each other and there was an indescribable meaning in their eyes.
Andrew rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He wondered if guessing again would get him another kick. Forget it. He couldn’t afford another kick to his rear. Better not take that risk.
Andrew asked cautiously, “We’ve been chatting for a while. Mind if I ask something? What really happened between the two of you at that bar in South East Aploth three years ago? What kind of grudge are you holding? Come on.”
Upon hearing this, Charles’s demeanor became even colder, with the air pressure around him suddenly dropping. He furrowed his brow and spoke in a frosty tone, “Let Samantha explain what she did, alright?”
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Samantha choked up for a moment and thought, ‘Since he’s not afraid of losing face, why should I be?‘
Samantha sat back in her chair, glanced around at everyone. She cleared her throat gently and said, “Three years ago, I went to South East Aploth to expand our company’s projects and partnered with a local firm. However, they pulled a fast one on me by hiring someone to rob me of my wallet and luggage. Unable to reach anyone at that moment, I ended up encountering him in a dark alley near a bar.”
As Samantha spoke, she pointed to Charles, whose face was stone–cold, and her expression became a bit unnatural. After a brief pause, she continued to say, “At that time, he seemed to be wounded by a gunshot in the alley. I noticed a black suitcase nearby, filled with quite a bit of cash. So, I just took a few bills to tide me over.”
Jeremiah glanced at Samantha and thought, “If it were as simple as that, Charles wouldn’t be this angry.”
Upon hearing this, Andrew felt immense sorrow and anger. He thought, ‘None of us knew about this. That bold and reckless South East Aploth company actually dared to target his sister. What an idiot!”
Andrew was furious and asked, “Samantha, what’s the name of that company? Do they go bankrupt?”
Samantha glanced at Andrew, and said, “Of course, I wouldn’t let someone like that off easily. After I came back, I used my own ways to bring that company down.” Thinking about it now, her voice turns cold. Then she continued to say, “I brought that company down back then and the person behind the scheme is probably picking trash somewhere now.”
Andrew thought Charles was upset over this, so he quickly patted Charles on the shoulder and said, “Bro, if it’s because my sister took your money, I apologize for her. Let me treat you to a meal and some drinks, and please don’t be upset anymore.”
Charles looked at Samantha.
He said with his eyes flickered, “Go on.”
Samantha knew Charles wasn’t upset about just money. With some reluctance, she explained to Charles, “At that time, I really had no choice. My suitcase was robbed, and I didn’t even have any clothes to wear. It was so cold at night, so I just took off your shirt and wore it. Hey, at least I used your phone to call for an ambulance for you.” Hearing that, Charles sneered.
In fact, Samantha really did call him an ambulance and the ambulance came and took the disheveled Charles to the hospital. Along the way, people took photos of him, a shirtless and injured man being carried out of a bar alley in the middle of the night. How could you possibly put a positive spin on that? By the next day, it was all over the local headlines and his face was shown without any mosaics. This incident later became known to the entire underworld in Mysonna, and became the biggest joke of his life. How could Charles not be angry?
After Samantha finished speaking, Andrew also fell silent and gave her a look that suggested she was on her own. He thought, ‘If I were Charles, I would probably want to kill Samantha too. It was such a huge embarrassment!”
Of course, Samantha knew she was wrong, and what she did wasn’t right. So, Samantha, who had never apologized to anyone in over twenty years, admitted her mistake this time. She faced Charles and said, “I really owe you an apology for this. You can do whatever you want to me.”
Andrew hesitated for a moment and stepped forward, standing in front of Samantha, his tall presence radiating a sense of safety.
Samantha suddenly felt a bit moved. She thought, ‘Had the day finally come when Andrew was mature enough to protect
me?‘
Charles glanced at the two siblings who seemed deeply attached to each other and snorted. However, the next second, Andrew extended his hand in a gesture of “please,” then stepped aside and said with a smile, “Charles, Samantha won’t fight back. So you better hurry and take this rare opportunity. Go ahead and don’t hesitate. Just make sure fot to hurt anyone innocent. Although we’re siblings, we’re not that close. I won’t feel embarrassed.”
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Charles was taken aback and felt a little confused for the first time in his life. He was now questioning if these two were really siblings. Weren’t they half–siblings?
Samantha felt like her earlier feelings of being touched were completely wasted. She thought, ‘Do I have a younger brother? I am sure I don’t. I have already decided on what his epitaph would say
Yvette looked at the empty wine glass in front of her, just about to pour herself another. Jeremiah’s large hand covered hers. He gave a slight smile and spoke in a low voice, “Enough for now let’s drink again next time.”
Yvette half–closed her eyes and flipped her hair, her exquisite features seemingly bathed in golden light under the setting sun. Her gaze was pure, dark, and shiny.
Yvette gave Jeremiah a gentle smile that reached her eyes, with light and shadow mingling, like the brightness of blooming flowers, which made Jeremiah’s breathing slow down for a moment. They were in their own world, into which no one else could blend.
Yvette nodded obediently.
She said in a hoarse voice, “Okay, no more drinking.” Then she placed her hands on both sides of her knees, sitting even straighter than a primary school student. Jeremiah sighed and thought, ‘Alright. She was being so well–behaved; she must be drunk again.
Charles watched Samantha and said in a deep voice, “Forget it, let’s leave the past behind us.”
Samantha was surprised that Charles let it go so easily, considering he didn’t seem like someone to mess with. After all, anyone who could.silently endure so much bloodshed surely wasn’t to be trifled with. Samantha knew in her heart that it was only because of Yvette. Turning her head, Samantha finally had the chance to look at Jeremiah and Yvette.
When Samantha saw Yvette sitting on the couch without any expression, and the empty wine glass in front of her, she knew it was all over. She quickly stepped forward and asked Jeremiah, “Mr. Chavez, how many glasses has she had?”
Jeremiah rubbed his temples, and replied in a deep voice, “Two glasses.”
Upon hearing Samantha’s voice, Yvette turned to look at her and flashed a broad smile. Samantha felt like she was on high, alert. She thought, ‘Yvette had smiled, exactly the same smile as before she attacked people last time.‘ Samantha quickly took steps back.
Andrew and Charles watched her reaction, feeling very puzzled. They wondered, ‘What’s going on?‘ Samantha glanced back at Charles and Andrew, staying silent for several seconds. She thought, ‘Charles is a decent guy, and I owe him quite a favor. I need to repay him. Andrew? I have already decided what to put on his tombstone anyway. So I might choose him to save myself some hassle.
After Samantha’s thoughtless deliberation, she turned to Jeremiah and said something only the two of them could understand, “Mr. Chavez, two choices, I pick Andrew, what about you?”
Jeremiah’s lips curled up into a faint smile as he glanced at Charles and Andrew, both confused. There was still a bit of brotherly bond there. So In a low voice, he said, “I choose Charles.”
Samantha felt frustrated. Their opinions didn’t match, so it would be difficult to proceed. She thought, ‘What did Charles do to annoy Mr. Chavez? Why did Mr. Chavez choose Charles at this moment? Well, it looks like the decision has to go to the person who’s already drunk.
Samantha looked at Yvette with sincerity in her eyes, and carefully asked, “Yve, who would you pick between Charles and Andrew?”
Yvette loved making choices most when she was drunk. She raised her eyes, with a hint of haziness and confusion in the depths of her pupils, and slowly murmured, “Pick who? Is this a multiple–choice question?”
Samantha said, “That’s right, you need to choose one. Only one person have wishes.”
