Chapter 698
After a pause, it was once again Joshua who broke the silence under mounting pressure. “Ms. Zeller, we need to clarify exactly what transpired between you and Yelena in Spaunia.”
Turning next to Yelena, whose face was swollen, he continued, “Ms. Lynch, Mr. Lynch, I trust you will both remain composed for the rest of this meeting. If emotions continue to in this high, I am afraid we will have to adjourn for today.”
Joshua’s demeanor toward Yvette starkly contrasted with his attitude toward them. With Yvette, his tone was polite and bordering on deferential, while with Yelena and Camden, a faint hint of impatience crept in..
The disparity was glaring, and it visibly enraged Camden, whose expression darkened. Jeremiah cast a casual glance at Joshua, but that single look was enough to unsettle the latter so deeply.
Joshua seriously considered quitting his job, thinking, ‘What kind of twisted bureaucratic system is this? My life is basically at risk just by working here!‘
To everyone’s surprise, just as they braced for Yvette’s resistance she leaned back in her chair, signaling her willingness to answer their questions. Her unexpected cooperation left the entire room stunned. They pondered, ‘How does Jeremiah’s supposed girlfriend manage to switch her demeanor so seamlessly?‘
Meanwhile, Jeremiah had another chair brought over by Emmet and sat beside Yvette. Together, they exuded a commanding presence. Their cold, expressionless faces radiated an icy aura that seemed to chill the entire room.
Yelena reluctantly dragged Camden to their seats, and her face was flushed with indignation.
Yvette, by contrast, rested her hand lightly on the table, her ease and confidence making it seem as though she owned the room. Despite being in the military district for the first time, her commanding presence left the others visibly intimidated.
Tim observed the scene from his position at the head of the table, momentarily dazed. Yvette’s overwhelming aura made her seem like a seasoned general, and for a fleeting moment, he felt a pang of envy. The coffee in his hand suddenly tasted dull.
He mused, ‘Where on earth did Jeremiah find such an extraordinary girlfriend? Why is my good–for–nothing spendthrift son still miserably single? This comparison is enough to drive me insane. Life really is unfair.”
Yvette calmly lifted her gaze, and her eyes swept over the room with a composed detachment. A chill seemed to settle over everyone present. With an air of indifference, she looked at Joshua, saying, “If you have any questions, go ahead and ask.” From that moment, it was clear Yvette had taken control of the meeting.
Joshua took a steadying breath before speaking. “Ms. Zeller, during your time in Spaunia, did you, without witnesses or valid reason, assault Ms. Lynch simply because you believed she was interested in Mr. Chavez?”
Halfway through reading the question from his script, Joshua felt a sinking sense of dread. He wondered, ‘Who wrote this question? Couldn’t they have worded it more delicately?‘
Yelena’s face brightened slightly at the question, and a small smile tugged at her lips. The room fell silent, and all eyes were fixed on Yvette as they waited for her response.
Tilting her head just slightly, Yvette glanced at Jeremiah. Her expression was enigmatic. A faint smirk played on her lips before she turned back to Joshua. “No. If I’d laid a hand on her, she wouldn’t have made it back to Betrico alive.”
With her finely arched eyebrows raised just slightly, Yvette’s casual remark carried more weight than any elaborate explanation. Somehow, everyone in the conference room instinctively knew she was speaking the truth. After all, they were hot easily fooled.
Those who had initially been inclined to believe Yelena’s accusations began to waver. They thought, ‘Could it really have happened as Yelena claimed?‘ Yelena, seeing the doubt return to their eyes, clenched her fists tightly beneath the table.
10:23 Sat, Jan 4
Chapter 698
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Breaking the tense silence, a middle–aged man in his forties spoke up in a firm tone. “Ms. Lynch, you’ve claimed Ms. Zeller assaulted you without cause.
“While you’ve presented a hospital report, we can’t convict Ms. Zeller based solely on that. Ms. Lynch, what exactly happened on that day?”
“Now that Ms. Zeller is here, please address her directly and clear up the situation,” said the middle–aged man, whose composed demeanor won over the room.
Under the intense scrutiny of the room, Yelena decided to risk it all. She thought, ‘If I can’t ruin Yvette’s reputation, mine will be the one destroyed. At the head of the table, Yvette sat with a still gaze, unblinking.
Her expression was devoid of any emotion. Sensing the impending threat, Yelena quickly spoke up before Yvette had a chance to respond. “Mr. Chavez and I crossed paths with Yvette in Spaunia.
“She was close with the local pirate chief, and because of Mr. Chavez’s ties, we were staying at the pirates‘ base. I initially thought, since Yvette was Mr. Chavez’s girlfriend and we’d likely meet often in Betrico, I should try to be friendly.”
As she spoke, Yelena shifted her gaze to Yvette and suddenly erupted, saying, “Out of nowhere, Ms. Zeller started yelling at me, accusing me of coveting Mr. Chavez. She threw me into a fountain and attacked me violently.
“She is an ancient combat artist, and I couldn’t fight back. Since Ms. Zeller had close ties with the pirates, had no choice but to endure until I got home and sought medical attention.
“The irreversible injuries I sustained will affect me for the rest of my life. I am a soldier of Clusia, therefore, the country has an obligation to protect me and ensure the perpetrator is held accountable.”
Yelena’s tearful and impassioned recounting helped sway some in the room, easing earlier doubts. Many now felt that if Yvette had attacked Yelena based solely on the unfounded suspicion that Yelena harbored feelings for Jeremiah; her actions would be cruel and unjustifiable.
All eyes turned to Yvette, awaiting her response to Yelena’s accusations. With her legs crossed, Yvette’s eyes held a cold, menacing gleam as she arched an eyebrow. She exuded a chilling aura, and her gaze calmly swept over the crowd, devoid of any emotion.
Yvette began tapping her fingers rhythmically on the table, then spoke nonchalantly. “First, I won’t waste my breath on insulting you. Second, laying a hand on you would only dirty my hands.
“Third, there are people from Clusia to Mysonna all vying for my man. Who do you fucking think you are?”
Beside her, Jeremiah had not heard any of the earlier words. His movement of reaching into his pocket paused as well. A small object was held in his hand, unnoticed by the crowd.
His mind was consumed by the phrase “my man“. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and his gaze deepened.
In the back of the room, Emmett observed everything. He thought, ‘There it is. Mr. Chavez is swooning again. He’s become a hopeless romantic.
‘Why is he smiling like a lovesick fool? There’s no helping him. Does being a hopeless romantic these days guarantee you’ll find someone?‘
