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Bonnie had forgotten Janice was still there and quickly stepped out from the crowd. She walked over to Janice, and the attention shifted toward her. Janice looked innocent, drawing the eyes of a few male students nearby.
Seeing that she’d succeeded in attracting attention, Janice flashed a sweet smile at the onlookers, relishing the admiration.
Bonnie said with a shy smile, “Janice, my dorm is just up ahead. I’ll take you there to rest for a bit, and later, I’ll help you find a place to stay.”
Just then, Yvette’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it. It was from Simon, asking her to come to his office.
Bonnie walked back to Yvette. “Yvette, I’ll take Janice to my dorm first, then find her a place later. I’ll meet you and Jeremiah afterward.”
Yvette put her phone away and nodded casually. “Okay.”
John, hearing that Janice was Bonnie’s sister and noticing her bandaged foot, eagerly offered to help her to the girls‘ dorm.
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Janice assumed John was interested in her. She looked at his simple clothes and secretly sneered. “This guy’s clothes are way too plain, she thought, though she kept a sweet smile on her face.
“Thank you,” she said to John, whose cheeks flushed.
He had no idea that his well–intentioned gesture would nearly land him in hot water. If he’d known, he would never have volunteered.
After the three left, Yvette nodded briefly to the onlookers before heading to Simon’s office.
Inside the office, Yvette knocked and entered to find the usual spread of snacks on Simon’s desk, though this time, there was a broader selection and even a fresh cup of milkshake, clearly just delivered.
Simon was on the phone, and he gestured for Yvette to take a seat. She settled herself on the sofa, pulled out her phone, and opened a bag of snacks, munching contentedly.
Simon, noticing her at ease, chuckled and continued his call.
Meanwhile, a text arrived from Eagle King. [Boss, any plans lately? I’m bored out of my mind. Flying Fish just got back home, and said he’s going to try acting and make some extra cash to blow. I’m practically turning to stone over here.]
Yvette bit into chips, then typed back: [I’m heading to South East Aploth in Golden Triangle in a few days. You’re welcome to join if you’re interested.]
Within a minute, Eagle King replied: [Boss, I’m definitely interested. Count me in. It’s been years since I’ve been to Voraxia. Wonder if our old friends there are still around.]
Yvette’s gaze deepened as she read the message, fingers pausing mid–typing, and her expression thoughtful. After a moment, she put her phone away.
Simon ended his call and sat down across from her on the sofa. This day’s got my head spinning with all the work.”
Since the incident with Patrick, the director’s position at Argrol University had been vacant, leaving Simon to handle every aspect of university affairs.
Patrick’s mess had kept Simon swamped until now, so as soon as he heard Yvette was back, he texted her right away. She was always busy, and catching her was no easy task.
Yvette pushed the freshly made coffee toward him and said politely, “Mr. Sunderland, here’s some coffee.”
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Simon, delighted, accepted it gratefully. “So, did everything go shoothly while you were away?”
Yvette raised an eyebrow and nodded, her tone light and unhurried. “Yes, all done. She came back with us
Simon nodded. After some small talk, he steered the conversation toward Patrick.
Simon looked grave. “The verdict on Patrick’s case is out. It was handed down a few days ago. Amy was acquitted, and Patrick got fifteen years. By the time he’s out, he’ll likely be a broken man.”
Yvette leaned back and nodded, her voice cool. “Has Amy returned to school?”
Simon sighed. What Amy had endured at the hands of her advisor was something hard to heal from
He began. “No, she took a leave of absence, but the school will hold her spot indefinitely. Only she can work through the wounds, both mental and physical, on her own.
“We can’t help. I’ll make sure someone visits regularly to offer her whatever help we can.”
Yvette’s eyes darkened as she held her milkshake, her gaze sharp and steady. Slowly, she spoke. “I’ll give you 70 million.”
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Simon’s hand trembled slightly, spilling half his coffee not because of the 70 million, but because he had no idea why Yvette would give him that amount out of nowhere. ‘Is she just so wealthy that she’s got money to burn? Simon thought, amused.
It seemed plausible. Yvette’s wealth likely surpassed what she could reasonably spend.
Yvette continued, her tone calm and measured, “Use the 70 million to establish a foundation under Argrol University’s name, dedicated to helping women like Amy who’ve been raped. You can handle the details, Mr. Sunderland.”
Simon was stunned. He’d considered a hundred different reasons she might have for giving him 70 million, but the thought of her wanting to establish a foundation never crossed his mind.
‘Well… He was speechless, watching Yvette sip her milkshake with quiet composure. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice somber. “Alright. I’ll make it happen.”
Yvette always acted more than she spoke. Though she seemed indifferent and detached, her heart was compassionate and full of empathy.
Simon lowered his gaze, feeling an unexpected pang of sadness. In recent years, the teaching profession had somehow become one of the least trusted.
Cases of teachers harassing or raping students were alarmingly common. If not for Patrick’s situation, Simon would never have believed such an ugly yet kind monster was working so close by.
It was too late, even with Patrick in prison. The scars he’d left on Amy would never fade. Amy was both unfortunate and fortunate, fortunate to have met people like Yvette.
But in other corners of the world, many young women were still caught in the clutches of abusers, too afraid to speak out. Meanwhile, outside the girls‘ dormitory, John dropped off Bonnie and Janice, practically making a run for it. He couldn’t be blamed, though. Janice had practically clung to him the entire way.
Too shy to say anything about it, he was just glad to have fulfilled his duty, and he left the instant he could.
Janice, mistaking his reaction for shyness, felt utterly confident in herself. Once inside the dorm and alone with Bonnie, Janice dropped the act and started ordering Bonnie around, pouting. “Bon, my foot hurts. Could you get me some water?”
Bonnie nodded agreeably. “Alright, Janice, just wait here. I’ll grab a basin and bring you some.”
When Bonnie came back with the basin of water and opened the door, she found Janice fiddling with something on the
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“Janice, what are you doing?” she asked, Janice looked at the skincare bottle in her hand with distaste and placed it back on the desk with a grimace.
“Bon, is this really what you use for your skincare? This stuff is so cheap, and it’s not even a real brand. Won’t it be bad for your skin?” she asked.
Bonnie set down the basin in front of Janice with some effort, wiping her brow as she answered cheerfully, “Janice, I’ve always used it, and it works just fine. It won’t hurt your skin. Don’t worry! Go on and wash up.”
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Janice curled her lip, disgusted as she placed the lotion she was holding on the table, and muttered, “Bon, I’m not saying this to be harsh, but that Andrew looks like he’s loaded.”
She continued. “If you’re out of money, why don’t you ask him for some? He wouldn’t be stingy enough to not give you a little, would he?”
Janice said this just to test how far Bonnie’s relationship with Andrew had progressed.
Bonnie looked at Janice and suddenly felt that there was something unfamiliar about her. But then she thought maybe Janice was just casually asking.
“Janice, just because I’m dating Andrew doesn’t mean I have to spend his money. I have a scholarship for school, and I also work part–time to earn my living expenses. It’s enough for my daily needs.”
Bonnie’s satisfied look made Janice extremely annoyed, ‘What an idiot! Attending such a top school and not trying to find a wealthy man to rely on, just burying herself in books and even working part–time – is this really living?”
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Janice knew Bonnie wasn’t lying. When Bonnie went to get some water, Janice had already sneaked a look into her wardrobe. It’s full of cheap clothes from street stalls, not a single designer piece, and her makeup collection is just embarrassingly basic.
Janice just couldn’t get it, ‘Yvette, Andrew, and Jeremiah even have private jets–they must be loaded. Has Bonnie lost her mind? Choosing to live such a tough life instead, she’s absolutely crazy.
She was deep in her thoughts, ‘How can I ever afford a mansion and a luxury car by relying on myself? If I have friends like that, I’d certainly take advantage of them.’
Janice watched Bonnie packing without any intention of helping
Originally, Janice thought she could connect with Yvette and her crew through Bonnie, but that’s clearly not happening now However, she’s really fallen deeply in love with Andrew and doesn’t want to give up.
‘Even if Bonnie married into a wealthy family, it would be pointless. With her simple mind, how could she handle the scheming and drama of high society?‘ Janice thought, ‘I would be more suited for that life!’
In the evening, Bonnie finished tidying up the dorm, leaving it spotless. She was so exhausted that her back ached and she could barely straighten up.
Janice, on the other hand, was lying on the bed, sleeping comfortably. It wasn’t until Bonnie brought back dinner that she finally woke up.
Bonnie specially went to the cafeteria and packed four dishes and a soup, bringing them back in a thermal container.
Janice looked at the food in the container, wrinkled her nose in disgust, and put her chopsticks down. “Bon, is this really the food from your cafeteria?”
Bonnie nodded as she put on her coat. “Well, Janice, you should try it, it’s really delicious. You eat first, I need to go Yvette for a bit. I might be a little late coming back.”
As soon as she heard the name Yvette, Bonnie’s sister’s expression changed immediately.
find
She looked at Bonnie and said with a sneer and a sarcastic tone, Bon, I’m just saying, be cautious around that Ms. Zeller. She clearly isn’t an ordinary person. Be careful, or you might get tricked without realizing it.”
Bonnie stopped, turned around, and for the first time, looked at Janice with a scrutinizing gaze.
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After a brief silence, Bonnie’s face became serious and her voice firm. “Janice, stop saying things like that. Yvette isn’t the person you’re describing. You may not know her well, but it’s wrong to defame her.”
It was the first time Janice had seen Bonnie act like this, and she froze, stunned. Just as she was about to say something, Bonnie opened the door without hesitation and left.
Janice suddenly felt a huge wave of panic, as if something important was about to leave her.
11
At Jeremiah’s villa, Yvette, Samantha, and Charles were cooking steak. The table was filled with a variety of dishes. Andrew picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and sighed, looking all despondent.
Emmett poured some juice and looked at the distracted Andrew. “Why the sigh? Doesn’t the steak taste good?”
Everyone else at the table also turned to Andrew, while Yvette, eyes lowered, was texting Jeremiah. She looked up and casually said, “Bonnie will be here in five minutes.”
As soon as Andrew heard this, he perked up instantly. Without his girlfriend, even the steak didn’t taste as good. Andrew exclaimed happily, “Look at Yvette, she always knows what I’m thinking, a true expert!”
At this point, Andrew cidn’t help but flatter Yvette, something he practically had ingrained in his bones.
Emmett was speechless, while Charles just shook his head.
Samantha looked at Andrew with disdain. “Sorry everyone, it’s his first time being in a relationship, so please bear with him.”
As soon as those words were spoken, the doorbell rang. Andrew quickly went to open the door, and as soon as he saw Bonnie, he instantly perked up.
“Bon, you’re here!”
Bonnie forced a smile. On her way here, she had been thinking about Janice’s words, feeling down.
After the two came in, Bonnie first greeted Yvette, then nodded to everyone else in turn. “Hi Yvette. Hi Samantha.”
Yvette put away her phone, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Bonnie, her beautiful eyes maintaining their usual coolness. “Yeah, have a seat.”
Samantha eagerly pulled Bonnie over to the seat next to her, calling her “little sister–in–law” at every turn. By the end of the meal, Bonnie was blushing, her face consistently rosy.
Andrew could only grit his teeth on the side, watching Samantha and Bonnie interact so closely. ‘Seriously, his rival is his sister?‘ he wondered.
After they finished their steak, the group played a few rounds of Werewolf. By the fifth round, Andrew refused to play any longer, because Yvette identified the werewolf correctly every single time just made the game boring to him.
On the balcony, Bonnie looked at the moon with a heavy heart. Grandma was gone, and now it was just her and Janice. Yet, she felt like the sister who had loved and cared for her all these years had changed.
She changed so much that Bonnie barely recognized her. ‘Am I just overthinking?‘ she wondered.
Yvette walked over to Bonnie with the warm milk Andrew had specially prepared for her. She looked at Bonnie with a blank expression and said casually, “Andrew warmed this up for you.”
Bonnie took the milk and drank it quietly. Yvette didn’t hurry away; she sat down on the rocking chair, rocking back and forth in a relaxed manner.
After a moment, Bonnie placed the empty cup on the table. She looked down and softly asked, “Yvette, do you think people really change?”
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Yvette half–closed her brows, her cold eyes glancing at Bonnie. Her dark gaze was tinged with a trace of malice.
With a lazy, nonchalant tone, she said, “The human heart is the most unreliable thing in this world. People change, or maybe they never changed at all. It’s just that you’re only seeing it clearly now.”
Bonnie was taken aback, and it was a while before she spoke again. “Yvette, you’re right.”
The next day, news surfaced that Argrol University, in collaboration with Seacrity’s government and with $70 million from an anonymous investor, had established a Women’s Protection Association.
The identity of the mysterious person sparked countless speculations, but no matter how much the reporters pressed, Simon refused to reveal any details about them. In the end, the public could only let it go without any answers.
However, this incident sparked a societal discussion on sexual assault against women. Relevant authorities began to pay attention to the issue and promptly enacted related laws, which, to some extent, helped protect women’s personal safety.
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In the following days, Janice came and went at odd hours, and her wardrobe had completely changed. She now wore branded clothes, and her bags went from a few thousand to tens of thousands, even over a hundred thousand. She wore heavy makeup every day.
Bonnie watched all of this with her eyes wide open.
In the middle of the night, Janice came in smelling of alcohol. As soon as she turned on the lights, she saw Bonnie sitting on a chair, which startled her.
“What are you doing, Bon, up in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? You look like a ghost.”
The clothes Janice was wearing were different from the ones she went out in earlier. She had obviously changed.
Bonnie said, “Janice, what have you been doing lately? Didn’t you promise me that you’d seriously look for a job? What are you doing now?”
For a moment, Janice’s expression was awkward, then she became embarrassed and angry. She snapped at Bonnie, “Bon, I’m your older sister. How dare you question me like this?”
Bonnie looked at the unfamiliar Janice in front of her and said weakly, “Janice, stop dodging the question. Are you in a relationship?”
Recently, Janice had been living quite comfortably. She used a few subtle tactics to latch onto a wealthy second–generation heir from the finance department at Argrol University.
Although the man had a girlfriend, he promised to break up with her and give Janice a legitimate status. Now, everything she wore and used came from this man’s money.
To Janice, Bonnie no longer had any value. She no longer wanted to maintain the facade of their sisterhood.
Janice sneered. “Bon, stop with that worried expression. I don’t care in the slightest. To tell you the truth, I’ve found myself a rich guy. He’s willing to spend money on me, buying bags and clothes, and now I’m living the life I’ve always wanted.”
Bonnie watched Janice, now so arrogant and full of herself, with a heavy heart. She knew Yvette was right–people do change. Janice was no longer the older sister she once knew.
“Janice, do you realize you’re being the other woman? That guy is a known player at our college and already has a fiancée who’s a perfect match for him. He’s not going to marry you.”
Janice laughed dismissively while fiddling with her nails, and said, “Oh, I’m aware of his fiancée. She’s not even as good- looking as me. Robert will dump her eventually, and I don’t care!
Bonnie felt a chill in her heart, ‘Is Janice really knowingly choosing to be the other woman?‘
Janice looked at the devastated Bonnie and, since things were already tense, decided to escalate it completely.
Janice said, “Bon, we’ve been sisters, so don’t blame me for not warning you. A man like Andrew, who only earns a few thousand a month, isn’t worth it.”
She continued. “If you’re smart, I’ll have Robert introduce you to a rich guy. Why work so hard? Isn’t it better to make money while lying down?”
Janice originally intended to target Andrew, but the next day, when she followed Bonnie to find him, she discovered that he wasn’t a wealthy heir at all–he was just an ordinary worker. Andrew was a librarian.
No matter how handsome he was, his aura instantly faded. She had already known that Bonnie, that fool, would never be
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Bonnie suddenly felt a wave of nausea..She couldn’t bear to look at Janice anymore.
Janice didn’t care. She ignored Bonnie’s reaction, packed her things, and looked at Bonnie before leaving.
“Bon, people from our little village have always treated you and me differently. You were the saint, while I was like your servant. Even Grandma favored you. That’s why I’ve been jealous of you since we were kids, even hated you.”
She paused and then continued. “When we were little, I even thought about drowning you. Now, it’s all come to this. I’ve endured it for so long, but from today on, I’m no longer your sister. Let’s just be strangers.”
With that, she left Bonnie’s room without a second thought, leaving Bonnie standing there in shock. It turned out that when she was five, Bonnie was really pushed into the river by Janice. If it weren’t for the villagers passing by, she would have drowned.
The next day at the Argrol University cafeteria.
Yvette, Bonnie, and Charles had just finished getting their meals when they ran into Janice and her group.
She arrived with that rich kid, Robert, and a few others. Among them, Janice was the only girl hanging onto Robert’s arm. Janice leaned into Robert, her smile charming and cute. In just a few days, she had become the ultimate trendsetter.
Janice froze for a moment when she saw Bonnie and Yvette, then acted as if nothing had happened and walked over casually.
After sitting down, Bonnie took a bite of a rib and forced a smile. “Yvette, you should try this, it’s really tasty.”
Yvette lifted her eyes and sat casually, saying, “If you don’t feel like smiling, then don’t.”
Charles slowly ate the food on his plate and said calmly, “It’s silly to get upset over someone who isn’t worth it.”
Bonnie was startled for a moment.
As soon as Yvette entered the cafeteria, everyone around recognized her instantly. With a face like that, staying low–key was impossible.
However, the students at Argrol University were very taciturn. Due to Yvette’s powerful presence, no one dared to approach. They could only silently observe from a distance.
Janice noticed Robert and his friends deliberately avoiding the numerous seats near Yvette, choosing to sit farther away instead. She couldn’t understand why they did that.
Janice tidied her hair and cautiously asked Robert, “Robert, there are so many seats over there. Why didn’t you sit there?”
Robert thought Janice was just curious.
He whispered, “At Argrol University, wherever there’s a Goddess, everyone just naturally leaves that seat empty.” Janice’s face went rigid, her pupils contracted, and her breath caught slightly. She stared steadily at Yvette ahead.
‘Goddess? Are you referring to this Yvette? No way. Absolutely impossible, she thought.
Robert didn’t notice Janice’s bewildered expression. “See? That’s the girl over there, the most beautiful one. Her name’s Yvette. Don’t you keep up with the news?”
Janice definitely wasn’t going to admit that she was from a small, isolated town in Cloud Province, out of touch with the latest updates. She could only nod firmly. “Oh, I do watch it, every day, of course.”
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Seeing Janice claim to watch the news every day, Robert didn’t press further. ‘Anyone who had been following the news recently should know about that international event, right? What’s there to be surprised about?’ he thought.
Robert looked at Yvette and the other two with a sense of admiration and said, “It’s not just the goddess who’s amazing. Look at the two people beside her. One is Charles, who was promoted to assistant by the law professor shortly after transferring here.”
He continued. “The other is Bonnie. She seems ordinary, but she’s outstanding–she gets scholarships every year and is one of the top students who’s been recommended for graduate school by the university.”
Everyone at the table was lively and animated, each offering their own thoughts about those three people.
“If the Goddess could just smile at me once, I’d die happy, really
“Stop daydreaming, man. I wouldn’t even dare to think about the Goddess. But if I could just talk with Bonnie, that’d be great.”
S
“Who wouldn’t agree with that? But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; we’re not that fortunate. I wonder how many days the Goddess will stay at the school this time.”
“If the Goddess decided to stay on campus, I’d definitely be at the cafeteria every day.”
Off to the side, Janice felt tense while listening to their conversation, forcing a strained smile.
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Two days later, Bonnie and Yvette ran into Janice at an upscale mall where Bonnie worked part–time. Janice was strolling around with a middle–aged man who had a bit of a belly and was balding. The two of them seemed close.
Bonnie stared at Janice, who was all dressed up, then quickly looked away. She turned to Yvette, who was seated on the couch, and said, “Give me a minute, Yve. My shift just ended, and I’ll go change. Then we can meet up with Andrew.”
Yvette, lounging comfortably with her legs crossed, looked up. Her eyes sparkled faintly as she spoke, her voice calm and smooth, “Sure.”
Bonnie smiled and was just about to leave when Janice’s voice rang out. “Hey, you, the salesperson! Bring that outfit over here. I want to try it on.”
Hearing Janice’s voice, Bonnie let out a sigh. She thought, ‘Life has a way of throwing people you didn’t want to see right in your path, while those you missed stay just out of reach.
Yvette didn’t move from her seat, watching Janice approach with a cool expression as if she were a complete stranger. It was only when Janice came closer that she noticed Yvette behind Bonnie and gasped. “What are you doing here?”
Bonnie turned around to stare at Janice who looked utterly shocked. She worked hard to conceal the bitterness inside, keeping a polite smile as she said softly, “Hello. Let me know which outfit you like, and I’ll bring it over for you
When Janice noticed Bonnie’s uniform, she immediately understood that Bonnie was working part–time there. Her initial surprise quickly turned into disdain as she scoffed. To her, Bonnie’s refusal to use any “connections” meant she would stay low on the social ladder forever.
Seeing Yvette’s indifferent expression, Janice felt a surge of anger. She couldn’t understand why anyone admired Yvette so much at Argrol University. Yvette was just a “top student with a pretty face. She thought, ‘What is all the fuss about?‘
Realizing Jeremiah wasn’t around, Janice started scheming again. She was with her new sugar daddy, who had taken a particular interest in her. He had been generous and even had ties to the underground world–more than enough to handle someone like Yvette.
Her sponsor even had a private jet. She thought, ‘Sure, Jeremiah might have some money, but my man is nothing to scoff at I’m gonna pay Yvette back for that kick in Dungo Village!’
Yvette raised her head, her brow furrowing slightly as a chill settled over her expression. Her eyes, cold and deep like a lake, gave Janice a single frosty glance.
That look made Janice’s grip on her bag so tight that she nearly tore it. She bit her lips. It was that same dismissive look that made her feel as insignificant as an insect in front of Yvette.
With a huff, Janice threw herself onto the couch directly across from Yvette. Then, just to show off, she called the chubby man over, acting overly affectionate and addressing him as “darling” at every turn.
When the man, Ben Murphy, waddled over and caught sight of Yvette, his eyes lit up. Although he was speaking to Janice, he couldn’t stop sneaking glances at Yvette.
“Anything you like?” Ben said to Janice, “Whatever you want, I’ll get it for you. Money is not an issue. I’ll buy you a villa next time.
Janice froze, surprised by his sudden generosity. He hadn’t been this lavish yesterday. However, seeing the way his gaze kept drifting toward Yvette, a wave of panic hit her. Yvette wasn’t doing anything but sitting there, yet she still managed to steal all
the attention.
Janice leaned in closer to the man, deliberately brushing her breast against his. Sure enough, his attention shifted back to
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her. She pouted and said, “I want this girl to serve me, babe.”
Bonnie glanced down at her watch. Her shift was officially over. Taking a deep breath, she responded calmly, “Excuse me, Miss, Sir, but my shift has ended. Another girl will assist you shortly.”
Hearing how Bonnie addressed her, Janice’s expression flickered with unease, but she quickly masked it with anger. She thought, ‘How dare Bonnie cut me off like this?‘
Janice fumed, “I don’t care if your shift is over. I’m demanding that you help me, or I’ll file a complaint.”
Ben dug into his black bag, pulled out a thick wad of cash, and tossed it onto the table. He sneered, “You need to learn some respect. If I say you’re staying, you’re staying. Serve us well, and this tip is all yours.”
Seeing Ben back her up, Janice became even bolder. She figured that Yvette was silently watching because she was intimidated. She thought that Bonnie must finally see Yvette’s true colors–she wasn’t as impressive as she seemed.
Bonnie couldn’t believe Janice had stooped this low, but this was the final straw. Without losing her composure, she looked at Janice and replied calmly, “Whatever.”
Ben’s face twisted with irritation at Bonnie’s indifferent attitude. He had made his fortune in real estate during a lucky boom, becoming a nouveau riche who was used to people catering to him.
Now, seeing a mere salesgirl act like she didn’t care, he shot up from the couch, raising his hand to slap her.
Janice watched eagerly, hoping the slap would land hard. Bonnie deserved it in her eyes, and after Bonnie, she planned to deal with Yvette too–neither of them would get away.
However, just as Ben raised his hand, he was suddenly sent sprawling to the floor with a fierce kick. He hit the ground hard, smashing his lips and losing a front tooth. Groaning in pain, he clutched his mouth, wailing loudly.
Janice froze, a chill running through her as the scene struck an eerie familiarity. This was just like what had happened to her in Dungo Village a few days ago when she had been knocked to the ground. Her body shook at the memory.
Ben glared up at her, furious. “What are you looking at? Get over here and help me up!”
Janice quickly rushed forward to help Ben up, feigning concern. Are you alright, babe?”
Ben, whose speech was slurred by the missing tooth, glared at her in frustration. “Can’t you see? I’m… I’m missing my tooth… It’s gone!”
Putting on a sympathetic face, Janice cooed, “Oh, babe, does it hurt? I saw it all. It was that woman, Yvette, who kicked you. She’s the one to blame! You can’t let her get away with it!”
Ben shot a furious look at Yvette, his pride wounded as much as his lips. He thought, ‘Is she trained in boxing or something? How could she kick that hard?’
Seething, Ben shouted, “How dare you kick me? I know people in high places, and I won’t let you go easily. Have you ever heard of the Chambers family? Top dogs in Seacrity. I know the head of the family and trust me, you’re finished.”
Bonnie’s face showed a flicker of surprise and amusement when Ben mentioned the Chambers family. She thought, The Chambers family? Is he stupid? Did he even realize he was saying this in front of the daughter of Mr. Chambers?
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Bonnie glanced over at Yvette, feeling sorry for Ben. She thought, ‘Why did he mention the Chambers family? If Mr. Chambers truly knew this guy, well, he might piss Yve off!
Yvette raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly as her intense gaze settled on Ben and Janice. Suddenly, a sly smile crept onto her face. “You’re saying you know Zachary Chambers, right And that he has your back, huh?”
Ben was caught off guard when Yvette mentioned Zachary, momentarily stunned. However, he quickly regained his composure and nodded, trying to look confident.
He said, “Well, it seems you’ve got a little bit of sense, knowing Seacrity’s top family and Mr. Chambers. Yeah, that’s exactly who I talking about. He and I are close.
“If I call him, he’ll definitely send someone to teach you a lesson. So, I’d suggest you apologize and hang out with me for a few days, and maybe I’ll consider letting you go.”
Ben’s eyes roamed over Yvette, clearly more focused on her looks than on his threat. Sure, Janice was attractive, but compared to Yvette, she was just nobody. If he got to choose one between them, he would definitely pick Yvette.
Janice had no idea what was going through Ben’s mind. She thought he was genuinely standing up for her Although she didn’t know much about this “Mr. Chambers“, she could gather from Ben’s tone that he must be a powerful and wealthy figure.
Feeling smug, Janice turned to Yvette and sneered, “My man and Mr. Chambers are as close as family. Offending us means offending him. If you don’t listen to us, we’ll kick you out of Seacrity.”
Bonnie watched the two of them put on their little show and try to threaten Yvette, feeling disgusted.
She thought, ‘Do they have any clue about the relationship between the almighty Zachary they were talking about and Yve? And yet, here they were, boasting like fools. What a joke.’
Watching Janice’s arrogant look, Bonnie knew there was no going back to their sisterhood.
Yvette, unfazed by their threat, sat down on the couch with a calm aura in her sharp gaze. Crossing one leg over the other, she casually played with her phone, exuding fearless confidence. She looked every bit the boss, with an air of defiance.
Yvette looked at the two in front of her, her eyes gleaming with a hint of malice, and she gave a casual smile. “Since you know Zachary, I’ll give you a chance. Call him over. The head of Seacrity’s first family must be impressive, right?‘
Ben froze. He thought, ‘Is she out of her mind?‘
He did want to call Zachary over, but he had only sat at the same table with him a couple of times. Their relationship was nothing more than ordinary.
He had never expected anyone to believe that the Chambers family would actually come to his aid. He had said it just to intimidate Yvette, but now, he wasn’t sure how to respond.
After a long pause, Ben stammered, but no words came out. Even Janice noticed something was off.
She immediately pulled Ben aside, whispering urgently, “What’s wrong, babe? Yvette is challenging you. Hurry up and call Mr. Chambers to back us up, or we’ll just be the laughingstock. Please, call him now!”
Ben couldn’t tell her the truth without embarrassing himself, and the truth was, he had no way of actually bringing Zachary here. As he was caught in this awkward situation, suddenly, Yvette’s phone rang.
Ben couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief as the phone rang, and their eyes instantly focused on Yvette’s phone. She
sead “Zachary” and answered the call without showing any signs of surprise
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“Where are you, Yvette Are you coming home to have dinner with me?” Zachary’s voice came through the phone, warm and familiar.
Yvette raised her eyes, glancing at Ben opposite her. With a faint lift of her eyebrows, she calmly replied, “I’m at Starlight
Plaza.”
Before she could even finish, Zachary’s excited voice came through. “Starlight Plaza? What a coincidence! I’m here inspecting the stores too. Which floor are you on? I’ll come up in a few minutes.”
Starlight Plaza was part of the Chambers Group’s holdings, and Zachary had unexpectedly come by to check on the business, never expecting to run into Yvette here.
Yvette raised an eyebrow, her expression indifferent. “Fifth floor
Zachary immediately replied, “I’ll be there in about 15 minutes.”
After a brief pause, Yvette ended the call. Bonnie, who had overheard the conversation, wasn’t sure at first and asked cautiously, “Was that Mr. Chambers, Yve?”
Yvette nodded slightly and pursed her lips. “Yes.”
Hearing that, Ben and Janice, who had been eavesdropping, immediately tensed. Janice’s expression quickly shifted from smug to incredulous as she let out a sharp laugh, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
She said, “Wait, Bonnie, you’re not talking about Zachary, the head of the Chambers family, are you? That’s impossible! Don’t think you and Yvette can just muddle through and get away with this. Yvette broke my babe’s teeth, and we won’t let her go.”
Bonnie was taken aback for a moment but then nodded seriously, saying, “Yes, the person who called is the head of the Chambers family, Mr. Zachary Chambers. He’s…”
Before she could finish, Ben’s loud laugh cut her off. “You two little girls have no idea who Zachary is, do you? He’s a prominent figure in Seacrity, someone you could never just casually call or meet.
“Don’t think you can fool me with a phone call. If you refuse to apologize, neither of you are leaving. Get down on your knees and apologize now!”
Janice chimed in, agreeing with Ben, “Exactly, Yvette’s surname is Zeller and Zachary’s surname is Chambers. Come on, at least educate yourself before you lie. This is just ridiculous!”
Yvette slowly stood up from the couch, her eyes scanning her watch. Zachary would be here in about ten minutes–just enough time. She turned her head toward Bonnie and whispered, “Close the door.”
Bonnie glanced at Janice and Ben, knowing all too well that crossing Yvette came with consequences. No one was exempt, not even her sister.
Bonnie quickly walked over to the counter, pulled out a smart key from the drawer, and used it to remotely lock the door, cutting off the view from the outside. Now, only the four of them were left inside the store.
Janice and Ben froze when they saw the door close, confused. They thought, ‘Why is she shutting the door?‘
Janice, feeling suddenly panicked, shouted, “What are you doing, Yvette? Open the door now!”
Ben, clutching his mouth where Yvette had kicked him earlier, was clearly shaken. His legs were still throbbing from the blow, and he couldn’t stop trembling.
Yvette raised an eyebrow, her expression sly and dangerous. Her gaze was sharp, and her voice was cold as she slowly said, “Why did we shut the door? To lock you in, of course. It’s time for you to face the consequences.”
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Janice and Ben stiffened, thinking, ‘Lock us in? Oh no, this is going to be serious.
Janice quickly took a step back and hid behind Ben, her face filled with fear. “You… Don’t come any closer!”
Ben, however, wasn’t about to let Janice hide behind him. He roughly pulled her out from behind.
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Ten minutes later, Janice and Ben stood there, rubbing their swollen faces, glancing at each other with nothing but resentment.
Bonnie stood aside, observing the two of them–Janice and Ben–who had been slapping each other moments ago. Her gaze drifted to the silver gun on the table, and she let out a sigh.
Just ten minutes ago, after the door was closed, Yvette had done nothing to physically intervene. Janice and Ben, seeing Yvette pull out the gun, were so terrified they lost all composure
They had blamed each other until they finally started fighting. Throughout it all, Yvette had simply sat on the couch, not saying a word. And now, here they were, reduced to this pathetic state.
Janice had it worse. After all, Ben, being a man, had the advantage in physical strength. Janice had been beaten badly, her screams piercing the air in a tragic, shrill cry.
Finally, the two stopped. Ben, with a wounded face, spat on the ground and pointed at Janice, saying to Yvette, “She’s the one who started all this and dragged me into this mess.
“I was just fooled by her. If you’re angry, take it out on her. I’m innocent in all of this.”
Ben trembled as he saw the gun on the table, his fear palpable. He understood that he had crossed a line he should never have crossed.
After years of navigating through society, he knew all too well what it meant when a woman could casually pull out a gun–he had just kicked a hornet’s nest.
Janice, lying on the floor, slowly raised her head. Her face was bruised and battered, every inch of her body in pain. Her eyes locked onto Yvette who was sitting calmly on the couch, resembling a demon.
Janice’s chest rose and fell with every labored breath, her eyes wide with seething anger, tears of hatred pooling in them. “From the moment I laid eyes on you, Yvette, I hated
you.
“Why is even my only sister on your side and all I have left is this old man to help me get what I want? It’s not fair! If I were you, I would be a thousand times better than you.”
Yvette had beauty granted by heaven and a rich boyfriend like Jeremiah, and everything was handed to her effortlessly. Unlike her, Janice had to struggle and manipulate a man as old as her father to survive.
Even Bonnie, for Yvette’s sake, would easily cast aside their years of sisterhood, never even allowing Janice to speak ill of
Yvette.
Yvette lowered her head slightly, her gaze turning piercing as she glanced at Janice. Her eyes were as sharp as ice, chilling and emotionless. She leaned back against the couch, her profile distant and indifferent, and her expression devoid of any warmth.
It was this very indifference and unreachable aura around Yvette that stung Janice deeply, Yvette seemed so untouchable, almost divine as if everyone else were beneath her. Her presence made Janice realize just how insignificant and small she truly was.
Bonnie stepped forward, observing Janice’s expression, and at this very moment, she finally moved on.
With calm clarity, Bonnie said, “This is the last time I’m talking to you as your family. You always complain about why things are the way they are. The truth is, you’re not Yvette, and you never will be.
“Even if you somehow became like her, you would still be walking the same path you’re on now–using your body to get everything you want through men. You’ve turned Yvette into some imagined enemy, just to find a way to justify your
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Janice froze, stunned by Bonnie’s words. She thought, “That’s bullshit. Yvette is the one to blame. Why did someone like her have to exist, showing me just how pitiful I am in comparison?
This is probably what they mean by an unexpected failure. Even if an exceptional person does nothing at all, just standing there will make others jealous.
Janice covered her ears and screamed frantically, “I don’t want to hear it, Bonnie, you’re such a fool. Stop talking! It’s all Yvette’s fault. You’re my sister, not hers!”
Ben, processing what Janice had just said, paused in confusion. He thought, ‘She’s insane. Why had I ever gotten involved with her? She deliberately came to cause trouble for her own sister, making a scene in her store. What a madwoman.
Bonnie stood there, watching Janice stubbornly cling to her delusions. She said in a low and firm voice, “Maybe I’ve never really seen you for who you are.”
Janice sneered with madness in her eyes. “You’re right. When you were five, I wanted to drown you. Too bad that the hunter saved you.
“Afterward, I burned down his house while he was out hunting. His pregnant wife died in the fire. He paid the price for his meddling.”
Janice’s words came out lightly, as though she were proud of them. To her, if that hunter hadn’t interfered, Bonnie would have died long ago, and she would have been her grandmother’s only granddaughter.
Bonnie stared in disbelief at Janice, her eyes wide with shock as she processed her words.
She had been too young to remember the fire that had ravaged their village, but now she realized that it was because of Janice that the hunter’s family had suffered. The realization hit her like a slap in the face.
Bonnie’s lips trembled with rage as she glared at Janice, who was still smiling with a twisted sense of satisfaction. Bonnie’s voice rose in fury. “You… You’re hopeless.”
Ben, who had never imagined that he had gotten involved with a murderer, turned pale. Fear overtook him, and he instinctively shrank away, not daring to utter a single word.
Yvette, who had been sitting on the couch, stood up slowly and walked over to Janice with an air of calm indifference. She looked down at her, her eyes cold. She thought, ‘Humans are inherently good, but some people are born evil.
Yvette crouched down beside Janice. Without warning, she slammed Janice’s head against the ground again and again, exuding an eerie, cold aura. Each strike was like a death sentence, and the room echoed with the sickening sound of Janice’s skull hitting the tiles.
Janice didn’t expect Yvette to act so quickly. Before she could react, her mind grew increasingly fuzzy, and all that echoed through the clothing store were the repeated sounds of her head hitting the floor.
It wasn’t until Janice’s head became a bloody mess that Yvette finally released her grip.
Bonnie looked down at Janice who was lying on the floor with weak breaths and said nothing. Instead, he pulled gloves out of her pocket, walked up to Yvette, and said, “Take this, Yve.”
Yvette glanced at Bonnie for a moment before taking the gloves from her. With a calm grace, she began to wipe her hands clean slowly as if nothing had happened.
Ben, terrified and trembling, had long since retreated to the corner of the room, unable to do anything but watch in horror.
His eyes were wide, fixed on the bloodied and bruised figure of Janice and then to Yvette, who stood as still and unbothered as a statue. He was so scared he couldn’t even breathe normally, afraid that the slightest misstep would provoke Yvette’s
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Yvette’s gaze flickered toward Ben, her expression as cold as ice. Ben’s knees buckled in–fear, and before she could even speak, he collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down his face. “Please, Ms. Zeller, I swear I didn’t see anything!
“I’m not even close to Janice. She came to me at the bar yesterday, and I was just out of my mind. Please, don’t hurt me. I swear, if I had known she was a murderer, I would’ve never gone near her!”
As Ben knelt and begged for mercy, his tears flowed freely, making him more pitiful.
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Yvette ignored Ben’s frantic pleas. With a slight tilt of her head, she turned to Bonnie and calmly said, “Open the door.” Bonnie nodded, taking the key out of her pocket. With a swift motion, she unlocked the door, and it creaked open.
As soon as Ben saw the door open, he scrambled to escape, his fear making him move with panic. He didn’t want to stay any longer in this terrifying place because he felt that Yvette was more dangerous than anyone he had ever encountered.
However, as Ben reached the doorway, he bumped into Zachary Lucas, and a group of bodyguards. The bodyguards instantly went on alert when they saw someone rushing toward Zachary, and one of them delivered a punch, knocking Ben to the ground.
Ben scrambled to his feet, and upon seeing Zachary, he thought he had found a savior. “Help, Mr. Chambers. There are two murderers in there! You need to call the police!” he cried out.
Unexpectedly, Zachary ignored Ben, his gaze sliding past him and landing on Yvette. His eyes flickered with a glint of recognition.
Ben, too consumed by fear, failed to notice the excitement in Zachary’s eyes. He kept shouting for help.
Without a word, Zachary stepped around Ben and walked toward Yvette, entirely ignoring both Ben’s frantic cries and the severely injured Janice on the floor.
Lucas looked at Janice lying on the ground, frowning. He thought, ‘It seemed that Ms. Zeller did it. What did she do to provoke her to such an extent? It must have been something serious. Otherwise, Ms. Zeller wouldn’t have been so ruthless.
Zachary walked over to Yvette and Bonnie, a smile tugging at his lips. “What brings you to Starlight Plaza, Yvette? Is there something you’re into? Everything here belongs to us, so if you like anything, we can have it delivered to you.”
Lucas barely held back a sigh. It seemed that Zachary was so excited to see Yvette that he couldn’t even notice the woman lying on the ground.
Stepping forward, Lucas lowered his voice and asked, “How should we handle the woman on the floor and the man who seems out of his mind, Ms. Zeller?”
It was only then that Zachary seemed to notice Janice, but he didn’t show much surprise. After all, Yvette’s actions were always so normal to him. There was nothing worth making a fuss over.
Yvette, with her hands in her pockets, answered casually, “The one on the floor should be sent to the police station. Zane will know what to do. As for this man, do whatever you want with him.” Her words sealed the fate of both.
Lucas nodded respectfully. “Understood, Ms. Zeller. I’ll handle it immediately.”
Ben froze in shock when he heard Lucas address Yvette as “Ms. Zeller“. His eyes widened, his lips trembling, unable to form any words.
He thought, ‘It seems that Zachary’s butler has great respect for this woman. Wait, she must be the long–lost daughter of the Chambers family.’
Some rumors among the elite of Seacrity flashed through Ben’s mind. It was said that in memory of his first wife, Zachary had his returned daughter take her mother’s surname. Ben hadn’t believed the stories, but now, it seemed that they were
true.
Looking at the smiling Zachary and the expressionless Yvette, Ben lowered his head.
The Chambers family’s bodyguards stepped forward, swiftly taking both Janice and Ben away, and sending them off to wherever they belonged.
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Yvette turned to Bonite and said softly, “Go change. Andrew is waiting outside.”
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Bonnie, watching Janice being carried away, snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing Yvette’s words. She nodded quickly. “Okay, I’ll be right back, Yve. You can chat with Mr. Chambers for a while.” She gave a polite bow to Zachary, acting sweet.
Zachary had seen Bonnie before, but this time, noticing the way Yvette interacted with her, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Honestly, the personalities of Bonnie and Yvette seemed completely different, so their friendship was certainly surprising to Zachary. However, no one could be sure where human connections came from.
Zachary couldn’t help but sigh. “This girl doesn’t seem like someone who could be your friend.”
Yvette casually squeezed her fingers, raising an eyebrow with a calm expression, her gaze gentle but her tone still cool. “She’s stronger and more decisive than you might think.”
After all, someone raised to be the special woman of a centuries–old village wouldn’t have an ordinary temperament.
Yvette hadn’t overly involved herself in Janice’s matter because she wanted Bonnie to see the people around her clearly. How she chose to handle it was entirely up to her.
Lucas, now a devoted fan of Yvette, was confident in her judgment. He thought that if she said someone was good, he was undoubtedly good.
Lucas was reminded of Zoe. He thought, ‘Ms. Zeller is so good at reading people. Who would have expected that someone with Zoe’s physical limitations would be talented in design and finance? In a short time, Zoe had brought immense profit to the Chambers Group.
‘If Ms. Zeller hadn’t seen her potential, Zoe would have been overlooked. That would have been a huge loss for the Chambers Group. If things kept progressing this way, Zoe would undoubtedly become one of the best employees there.
Zachary knew that Yvette was planning
to go out for a meal, and he insisted on tagging along with them.
Yvette couldn’t resist his request. With a sigh, she reluctantly agreed.
Fortunately, the meal turned out to be quite enjoyable. With Andrew, who was good at cheering people up, even someone as serious as Zachary was amused.
The two of them hit it off so well that Zachary even decided to adopt Andrew as his godson, a proposal Andrew eagerly accepted.
He thought, ‘Who wouldn’t want a rich father? Come on, he’s the head of the most prominent family in Seacrity. Not to mention, he is also the future father–in–law of Jeremiah as well as Yvette’s real father.‘
Lucas observed Zachary and Andrew drink, thinking, ‘How could someone with such close ties to Jeremiah be poor? But what if Andrew’s father didn’t approve of this godfather arrangement? That could cause some trouble.‘
The next day, however, when Tim heard about the situation, he only said one thing. “Andrew must’ve stepped in some serious luck with this one.”
This really was pure luck. Given his wealth, Zachary would be considered a royal member in ancient times. Whoever got to be his godson was lucky.
Of course, Zachary was unaware of just how distinguished he had become, and it was likely that his future standing would only grow more prestigious.
The next day, Zane called Yvette. “Ms. Zeller, the file on Janice was urgently transferred from Normis last night. I’ve had a look, and besides the hunter case you mentioned, she’s also linked to an incident in her village where someone was tortured to death.
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“According to the testimony of a villager arrested from Dungo Village, he saw her and Sheldon beating a girl, and later, the girl drowned.
“This case still needs more time to verify, but rest assured, Ms. Zeller, I will personally handle it. If Janice is truly responsible for the girl’s death, she will face the full force of the law.”
Zane had rushed to the police station as soon as he received Yvette’s call yesterday. As soon as she returned to Seacrity, he had plenty of work to do, but honestly, he didn’t mind it at all.
After all, ever since he became a police officer, his goal had been to serve the country. He wasn’t here to just sit idly by.
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Yvette said politely, “Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Chappell.”
Zane chuckled softly, knowing exactly who he was speaking to. He wasn’t about to accept any thanks. “Ms. Zeller, this is part of my job. It’s no trouble at all.”
They exchanged a few more words. Zane informed Yvette that Janice had woken up in the hospital and had been demanding to see Bonnie, insisting she wouldn’t cooperate otherwise.
However, Janice couldn’t keep up her stubborn act for long. After all, she told the truth herself, and there were witnesses. Plus, they had sent people to Normis overnight to gather evidence.
If something had happened, there would be a trace of it. The law never misses a detail, and no one could escape its reach.
Yvette hung up the phone and turned her gaze toward Bonnie, who was savoring her pork ribs. She raised an eyebrow and said, “Janice wants to see you.”
Bonnie paused for a moment, finishing the last piece of rib. She nodded calmly, her voice soft but resolute. “I will go, Yve. It’s the right thing to do.”
Yvette’s expression remained indifferent as she replied, “Alright. Let Andrew go with you. I’ll wait for you to come home. There will be a huge dinner.”
Bonnie paused, a little confused. She thought, ‘A huge dinner? Who’s making it? Emmett, Charles, Andrew, and Samantha- none of them can cook, right?‘
Yvette pursed her lips, casually replying, “Jeremiah will be back soon. He’s cooking.”
Now Bonnie understood. It was Jeremiah who was making dinner. If it weren’t for Yvette, there was no way she would get to eat a meal cooked by him.
It wasn’t just Bonnie. When Emmett and the others heard that Jeremiah was coming back to cook, they were all excited. They were shocked and couldn’t believe he would do such a thing.
Bonnie put down her fork, grinning as she scratched her head, looking adorably clueless. “If Jeremiah is cooking, I’m definitely coming back on time. This kind of chance probably won’t come around again in my lifetime.”
Yvette nodded, her finger tracing the rim of her cup. She casually took a piece of orange and popped it in her mouth, saying, “Fine.”
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Janice was wrapped in bandages, her face disfigured. She had already realized the gravity of her situation–police were stationed outside her room.
She hadn’t expected that her impulsive words would land her straight in jail. She couldn’t understand why Yvette’s single statement had led to her being brought to the police station. She wondered, ‘What is she exactly?‘
Even now, in her current situation, Janice still didn’t think she was wrong. She insisted that it was everyone else’s fault, never
hers.
As Janice stared out the window, lost in thought, Bonnie and Andrew had already arrived at the hospital entrance. Zane had warned them in advance, so the police outside didn’t stop them.
Andrew grabbed Bonnie’s hand and gently patted her on the head. “If you need anything, I’ll be right outside,” he said softly. Bonnie nodded, reassuring him, “Don’t worry. We need to clear this up one way or another.” She then pushed the door open.
As the door creaked open, Janice stiffened, turning her head. When she saw Bonnie enter, her eyes darkened with malice.
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Bonnie closed the door behind her and walked over to the bedside, sitting down calmly at the foot of the bed.
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Janice’s voice was sharp. “How dare you show up here, Bonnie? Why didn’t you stop Yvette when she called the police? You’ve ruined me, do you know that?”
Bonnie hid the bitter smile in her eyes as she looked up at Janice There was no longer any turbulence in her heart when facing her so–called sister.
She said, “Janice, do you think Grandma was unfair to you because I was born special while you were born a day earlier? You thought if you had been born later, you would be the special one and Grandma would have treated you differently, right?”
Janice’s face twisted in fury as she glared at Bonnie, gritting her teeth. “Yes! Because I was born before you, I have to be just an ordinary person while you get to be the special one.
“What makes you so special? You’re nothing but a disaster, and Mom died giving birth to you!”
Janice’s words cut into Bonnie like a sharp sword. She wanted to see Bonnie break down and to see her despair. She wanted to take her down with her.
However, Janice was wrong. Bonnie just stared at her calmly, far too calm for what she had expected.
Janice couldn’t believe it. She screamed in a frenzy, “Why aren’t you crying? Don’t you love to cry? You killed Mom! You should be suffering for that. You should be the one to despair!”
Bonnie remained calm. If she had heard those words in the past, she might have crumbled, but after being with Yvette for so long she had learned to build a strong heart to face any kind of hurt. She had to strive to become stronger.
Those words were no longer the last straw that could break her. Instead, they just helped her see Janice for who she truly
was.
Bonnie locked eyes with Janice and said slowly, “You haven’t read Grandma’s will, have you?”
Her tone was certain. Janice froze for a moment and sneered, “What’s so special about her will? It’s probably just more of her useless talk about us sisters supporting each other. What’s the point of reading it? I hate you, and I hate Grandma more.”
Bonnie remained calm as she walked forward and slapped Janice, putting every ounce of strength into it.
The slap sent Janice reeling, her head spinning as she held her face in shock. “You… How dare you hit me?”
Bonnie sat back down in her chair, her tone as indifferent as ever “Grandma said in her will that you’re not my real sister.”
Janice’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s impossible. You’ve gone too far with your lies, Bonnie. How could you say I’m not your real sister? Do you really think I’ll believe such nonsense?”
Bonnie didn’t bother with Janice’s outrage and continued speaking calmly, unfazed. “You’re not my sister. You were found by Grandma in an old well.
“You know the village rules, don’t you? You were our neighbor’s daughter, and because you were a girl, they followed the custom and threw you into the well. Grandma found you just before you breathed your last.
“It just so happened that Mom was about to give birth around that time, so Grandma, being kind–hearted, lied and said you and I were twins to bring you back.
“If it hadn’t been for my fortunate timing, I would have been the one to die instead. Now, do you still think Grandma was unfair?”
Janice shook her head violently, clutching it as if she were being driven mad. Her voice was hoarse as she screamed, “That’s not true! You’re lying. I don’t believe a word of it! Bonnie, you liar!”
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Andrew heard Janice’s cries and immediately sensed something was wrong. He rushed in and saw Bonnie standing calmly while Janice was on the bed, clutching her head, looking utterly had. He thought, ‘What on earth had happened?‘
Bonnie looked at Janice with a cold expression. “You say Grandma was unfair, but every meal you ate was made by her to your tastes. She stayed up late to make you new clothes.
“According to the village rules, you shouldn’t even have had the right to go to school. Grandma begged Holden, using my special status to secure your place. She gave you everything you wanted since your childhood.”
Janice’s mind seemed to cloud over, the pain in her head growing worse. Her vision was filled with the kind, elderly face of her grandma who had raised her.
Finally, Janice broke down in tears, covering her ears, but Bonnie merely gave her a cold glance. Without hesitation, she turned around and walked away.
She felt sorry for her grandma that she had raised such an ungrateful brat.
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At the entrance of the hospital, Andrew gently held Bonnie and aid in a deep voice, “Let’s go, Bonnie. Yvette is still waiting for
us at home.”
The moment Bonnie stepped outside, her eyes turned red. She tried to hold back her tears, forcing a huge smile on her face. Her voice was filled with confusion, and she appeared fragile, like a lost deer. “I don’t have a home anymore, Andrew.
She lost her grandma and sister, and she couldn’t return to Dungo Village either.
Andrew’s heart tightened as he looked at Bonnic, placing her hand over his chest. “You still have me, Bonnie. You have Yvette, Jeremiah, and Emmett. You’ll never be alone.”
Bonnie felt the warmth coming from Andrew’s chest, so warm it made her feel comforted. She wiped away her tears with her sleeve. “You’re right. I still have Yve.”
Andrew couldn’t help but smile bitterly. He knew that in Bonnie’s heart, Yvette definitely came first. It was going to be a long road, but his goal was to be a little closer to her.
However, Andrew didn’t think he could ever surpass Yvette.
In the living room of the villa, Emmett, Samantha, and Charles sat on one side of the circular couch. They glanced toward the kitchen where Jeremiah was cooking, feeling a bit stunned that Jeremiah had turned into a house husband.
Samantha, with her legs crossed, held a bag of chips and was munching happily while watching Jeremiah cook. She couldn’t help but sigh, “I really can’t believe that one day Jeremiah would actually cook for Yvette.”
Emmett set down his laptop, adjusted his glasses, and said in a serious tone, “To be honest, I never dared dream of this scene, not even in my dreams.”
Charles, hearing this, also put down his anatomy book. Earlier, when he saw Jeremiah walking in with a bag of groceries and Yvette, he had been taken aback. However, he felt that if the meal was for Yvette, then it made sense.
He thought, ‘Braydon is also a dominating figure in his own right, a man who kills without hesitation. Yet, in front of Yvette, he is as humble as could be, never daring to speak out of turn or risk angering her.
‘If Yvette asked Braydon to cook, he would probably do as he was told. There’s nothing in the world that Yvette can’t do.’
The doorbell rang, and Emmett stood up to open it. It was Andrew and Bonnie returning. Bonnie had pulled herself together and was back to her usual carefree self.
As soon as they entered the house, they saw the group sitting in the living room, all facing the kitchen. Andrew said, “Samantha, Charles, what are you two staring at so intently?”
Five minutes later, they were all seated neatly in a row on the couch–Samantha, Andrew, Bonnie, Charles, and Emmett- each of them staring at the kitchen in perfect unison.
Bonnie rested her chin in her hands and sighed with admiration. “No wonder they say men look handsome when they cook.” Andrew shifted slightly to block Bonnie’s view, clearing his throat. “Hey, my cooking skills aren’t bad.”
The other three exchanged awkward glances. They didn’t bother to call him out on it. After all, the last time he tried grilling skewers at Skyland, they came out completely burnt. And yet, he was boasting about his cooking skills.
Bonnie rolled her eyes, clearly not buying it. She thought, ‘Does he think I’m stupid? The most unlikely thing in the v that he can cook.
dis
Yvette came down the stairs in a casual outfit, and as soon as the five of them saw her, they all turned their attention to her in
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Yvette ignored the curious gazes and walked straight to the couch, sitting down with her legs crossed and her wrists relaxed by her sides. She took a sip of the coffee, Jeremiah brought it back from Betrico, and it tasted good.
She lifted her eyes to glance at them, her cold gaze softening slightly into a subtle, almost teasing smile. Her voice was casual as she asked, “Would you like to play games?”
The others froze for a moment. They thought, ‘Why is Yvette suddenly bringing it up out of nowhere?
Samantha said, “Jeremiah is still in the kitchen, Yvette. Playing games while he’s working doesn’t seem appropriate?
She looked hesitant, but deep down, she thought it would be fun However, she wasn’t bold enough to voice that opinion out loud, especially since she still had hopes of making it back to Berrico peacefully,
Andrew’s eyes lit up at the mention of a game. He quickly chimed in, “I’m in! I’m definitely up for it!”
Therefore, the four players ended up being Yvette, Andrew, Charles, and Emmett, while Samantha and Bonnie sat back as spectators.
Halfway through, Jeremiah came out of the kitchen and saw the game underway. He glanced at Yvette and, in his usual calm tone, simply said,.“Wish you good luck.”
Half an hour later, Andrew looked at his cards with an expression of utter despair. He glanced at the cards on the table before he resignedly put down his hand. With a sigh, he said, “I’m done with this round, Yvette. I give up.”
Yvette put her cards down and raised an eyebrow, her sharp features displaying a faint smirk. “Give me the money right now.”
Andrew was speechless. He gritted his teeth and transferred the money. He not only lost at Uno but also never won when playing card games. Out of twenty–eight rounds, he lost twenty–seven, and the only one was a tie. He felt frustrated.
Emmett and Charles shrugged, laying down their cards. They had both had a feeling about how this would turn out. Trying/ to win money off Yvette was impossible.
In the end, they tallied up their losses. Andrew lost 300 thousand dollars. Emmett lost 70,000 dollars, and Charles lost 100 thousand dollars. Samantha patted Andrew on the shoulder, offering him a brief moment of sympathy.
Jeremiah’s voice called out from the kitchen. “The food is ready. Come here.”
They quickly got up to serve the dishes. When the table was finally set with dishes that smelled and looked absolutely delicious, everyone froze in awe.
They had seen fancy food before, but the presentation was flawless. They thought, ‘Did Jeremiah learn this from some top- tier five–star chef? Even the plating is done to perfection.
Yvette sat back on her chair, her hand resting casually on the table, her sleeve pushing up slightly to reveal her delicate wrist. She surveyed the dishes, all of which were her favorites, so she raised her eyebrows with satisfaction.
Andrew swallowed hard when he saw the fried chicken wings, buffalo wings, salmon salad, mushroom pasta, steak, grilled meat, lamb stew, and shrimp. Although none of these dishes were fancy, the homemade style made them even more tempting.
Everyone at the table stared at Yvette, silently urging, “Why aren’t you eating yet?
Yvette smiled, leisurely picking up a piece of buffalo wings. She chewed slowly, savoring the tender texture. Then she nodded toward them and said, “It tastes good.”
Andrew was the second to start eating. This was his first time tasting food made by Jeremiah, and after a bite of the fried
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chicken wings, he was left speechless.
He thought, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m actually eating food made by Jeremiah, and it tastes so deliciou
Samantha and the others quickly followed suit, each taking a bite, unable to stop themselves.
Jeremiah sat next to Yvette, casually peeling shrimp with elegant precision, placing the peeled shrimp onto a clean plate.
Yvette turned her head and picked up a piece of meat for him, speaking softly, “The money I just won from them is enough to buy the food you made.”
Andrew almost choked at her words. Suddenly, the meat in his mouth didn’t taste so good anymore.
However, the next moment, with tears in his cyes, Andrew took another big bite. He thought, ‘It doesn’t matter how expensive it is. I just can’t resist how delicious this meal is!‘
Chapter 440
After the meal, they sat together. Samantha asked, “Jeremiah, have you found out who is protecting Holden, the village head of Dungo Village?”
Everyone looked at Jeremiah. He had his arms around Yvette, who was busy doing the final test for the game. If all went well, the game developed by FastPulse Technologies would be launched next month. Lucy had been pushing for updates every day.
Jeremiah looked up, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light. His demeanor was full of elegance as he replied in a low voice, “The person cooperating with South East Aploth is a deputy director from Normis Customs, who has already been dismissed.
“According to his statement, Mr. Miller, a Clusian, is the person behind this. They’ve never met in person, only communicated through coded phone signals.”
Andrew handed a peeled apple to Bonnie. “Jeremiah, can we find out more about Mr. Miller? South East Aploth is a large area, and only knowing that he’s a man isn’t much to go on. Where do we even start?”
Andrew’s point was valid, and Emmett, with a serious expression added, “Mr. Miller might very well be an alias, Jeremiah.”
In these covert dealings, it was common for a person to go by several names.
Jeremiah said, “There’s no one in the South East Aploth underworld known as Mr. Miller. The phone number linked to domestic contacts has been confirmed as an overseas virtual number.”
Charles remained silent, his eyes thoughtful as he glanced at Yvette. He suddenly said, “What do you think, Yvette?”
Yvette put away her phone, turning her head slightly. Her delicate eyebrows lifted slightly, and her lashes lowered, hiding the emotions in her eyes, but a playful air lingered in her gaze.
She said, “Voraxia, being an ungoverned region, is the world’s largest drug production and trafficking hub. It’s also home to the most famous drug dealer, and its complex, ever–changing geography makes it a difficult place to control.
“There are over three thousand scattered villages, and Interpol has once joined forces with the governments of three local countries to launch crackdowns. Each major drug dealer in the area typically commands a small army–ranging from a hundred to over a thousand men.
“The entire region is involved in the drug trade, so Mr. Miller must need a large number of poisonous insects to control his subordinates. There’s only one way of doing this…”
Jeremiah seamlessly took over, his voice low and steady. “Mr. Miller is a major drug dealer from Voraxia, and he uses poisonous insects to train his trusted followers.”
Yvette raised her eyes, her gaze sharp like the stars, emitting a cold light that cut through the sky. Her voice was chilling “Didn’t you already guess this?”
Jeremiah fixed his gaze on Yvette and his eyes shimmered faintly a fleeting smile passing through his eyes.
there ourselves.” He gently squeezed her fingers. “I’ve already had people look into it. There’s only one drug dealer surnamed Miller in Voraxia, but it is a woman, not a man. To get the full picture, we’ll likely have to go
Emmett suddenly said, “Yvette’s words just reminded me of something from three years ago. It’s said that the king of Voraxia, the most famous drug dealer, Hadley Robinson, was killed by Interpol.”
A few months ago, he and Jeremiah had met Yvette in Kransbay Back then, he thought it would be a long shot for Yveue to marry Jeremiah. Looking back now, though, he realized how wrong he was. Yvette and Jeremiah were truly a perfect match.
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Charles’s gaze grew darker at the mention of Voraxia. He had been there several times, accompanying Braydon to meet some of the local drug dealers
Andrew raised his eyebrows and curiously looked at Yvette who was lounging on the couch, and asked, “Aren’t you part of Interpol, Yvette? Did you participate in the crackdown on Vorax? Was the king of Voraxia hard to capture?”
Samantha, Emmett, Charles, and even Bonnie who was too surprised to eat apples, turned their attention to Yvette, intrigued by her response.
If it weren’t for Andrew’s reminder, they would have forgotten that Yvette was an agent of Interpol. However, it was hard to remember when she kept switching between countless identities
Yvette rested her chin on her hand, her eyes as clear as water and her expression remained calm. With a subtle raise of her eyebrows and a slight smile, she casually remarked, “I’ve been there. It wasn’t hard to catch Hadley. Actually, I killed him.”
The room fell into dead silence as soon as the words left her lips Bonnie, who had been holding an apple, suddenly dropped it without realizing it, her mind momentarily blank. She couldn’t comprehend how powerful Yvette truly was,
She thought, ‘Not only is she part of Interpol but she had also taken down the king of Voraxia, a scary man. And now Yvette is casually claiming that he killed him…Oh my, I’m shocked.’
Andrew, sitting next to Bonnie, was also stunned. He never imagined that a casual question would lead to such a surprise. He could already feel another moment coming where he had to bow down to Yvette.
Charles and Emmett exchanged glances before picking up their cups of tea and taking a sip, masking the stirrings in their hearts. They thought, ‘Killing Hadley? Come on, he’s the king of Voraxia, whose underlings were said to command armies of thousands.
‘It was a feat that seemed beyond belief–unless it came from Yvette. Anyone else saying such a thing would sound like a madman.‘
Hearing that, Samantha stopped eating chips. She thought, ‘How could the gap between people be so vast? Yvette was storming through Voraxia, taking down its king when she was eighteen, but what was I doing?
‘Well, I, at that age, have been trying to make a name for myself in business. However, in comparison to Yvette, it felt like nothing‘
Jeremiah’s eyes gleamed with admiration as he observed Yvette. His long brows, sharp and defined highlighted his deep–set eyes, while his thin lips, soft yet serene, curled into a faint smile.
He thought, ‘She just turned eighteen three years ago, yet she had already killed Hadley. That’s insane.
Yvette, sensing the weight of their reactions, said in a calm tone. For this trip to Voraxia, Charles and Emmett will accompany us.”
At these words, the rest three of the group immediately protested in unison. “We’re going too.”
Bonnie, Samantha, and Andrew all shook their heads vigorously in protest. Samantha quickly swallowed the chips and looked at Yvette, her eyes wide with determination. “I’m going with you on this trip.
“I’m a Taekwondo black belt, and I’m pretty good with guns too. Don’t worry, I won’t be a burden. Please, let me go, Yvette. I really want to learn from you.”
She clasped her hands together and blinked her eyes playfully, her face filled with a mix of pleading and excitement.
Bonnie chimed in, “I want to go too, Yve. After all, it’s related to Dungo Village, and I’m a part of it. Please let me join you.” Andrew added, “Yvette, wherever Bonnie goes, I’ll go. Please let us come with you.”
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Yvette lazily raised her head, her gaze cold and distant. Her voice, calm but firm, broke the silence. “Samantha can go with us, but Andrew and Bonnie stay.”
Jeremiah nodded in agreement. He looked at Andrew and Bonne who seemed ready to protest and said with quiet finality. “You two stay in Seacrity. It’s decided.”
Andrew and Bonnie exchanged glances, then sighed. Since both vette and Jeremiah had made up their minds, there was nothing they could do.
In the end, the group heading to Voraxia was Yvette, Jeremiah, Samantha, Charles, and Emmett. They were scheduled to leave the day after tomorrow.
They returned to their bedrooms in the villa after their discussion. As Samantha passed by Andrew on her way to her room, she whispered something in his ear, and it cheered him up instantly.
Bonnie, who had been standing nearby, saw only Andrew’s reaction. She blinked in confusion, wondering what had just happened between them.
