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Novel Catalog
Chapter_2
“Let’s go,” Yvette said coolly, snapping Lucas and Tina out of their stunned reverie.
Lucas couldn’t help but stare. The resemblance was uncanny—Yvette was the spitting image of Lilian Zeller, Zachary Chambers’ first wife. He’d heard the stories countless times: Zachary had been so obsessed with Lilian that he’d nearly abandoned the Chambers family for her. If she hadn’t disappeared while pregnant, there wouldn’t even be a “Mrs. Nellie Chambers” today.
But Yvette wasn’t just a mirror of Lilian—she was even more captivating. The thought sent a chill down Lucas’ spine. With looks like hers, Zachary’s attitude toward Yvette was unpredictable. One thing was certain, though: she was someone he couldn’t afford to offend.
Pushing his disdain aside, Lucas stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Ms. Zeller, you are a Chambers by birth. Your mother left after a disagreement with Mr. Zachary Chambers. Recently, he received news about you and sent me to bring you home.”
He lowered his head under Yvette’s icy gaze. Though she appeared calm, her quiet intensity pressed down on him like a heavy weight. Beads of sweat began to form on his back, and he felt deeply uneasy.
Most women would have been ecstatic at the chance to leave a rural village for the luxury of Seacrity’s high society. Yet Yvette’s composure unnerved him.
Tina, however, mistook Yvette’s silence for smugness. She’s just a country girl trying to take Winona Chambers’ place, Tina thought bitterly. But when she noticed Lucas’ shift to a more deferential tone, her disdain only deepened. Reluctantly, she followed Yvette’s lead.
Yvette, observing their reactions, felt her indifference harden further. Without a word, she slung her black backpack over her shoulder and started walking out of the courtyard.
Lucas frowned as he followed Yvette. How could she know we were coming? Only a select few in the Chambers family knew about this mission, and it seemed impossible for the information to have reached such a remote place. Still, her composed demeanor suggested she knew more than she let on.
Tina, unable to suppress her irritation, broke the silence. “You must be thrilled, Ms. Zeller,” she sneered. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to leave this unbearable place?”
Lucas stiffened but decided to stay quiet, thinking it might be useful to let Tina dig her own grave. She’s clueless, but she could still be a pawn in this game, he thought.
Yvette’s expression didn’t change, but her gaze turned colder. She glanced briefly at Lucas, then shifted her attention to Tina, as if assessing her worth.
“You talk too much,” Yvette said bluntly, her tone dismissive. She didn’t even look at Tina again, treating her as if she were invisible.
Tina’s face flushed with anger. Just as she opened her mouth to retort, Lucas shot her a sharp glare, silencing her. Though Winona Chambers favored Tina, Lucas wasn’t about to let the maid jeopardize his mission.
Determined to teach them a lesson, Yvette deliberately chose the most rugged mountain trail for their descent. To her, it was just an invigorating workout. But for Tina and Lucas, accustomed to city life, the journey was grueling.
By the time they reached the base of the mountain, the contrast was striking. Yvette looked fresh and composed, while Lucas and Tina were disheveled, their clothes smeared with grass stains and scratches.
Lucas straightened his back, swallowing his indignation as he pointed toward a car parked nearby. “Ms. Zeller, the car is over there,” he said, forcing politeness into his tone.
When Yvette didn’t respond, her expression still indifferent, he pressed on. “Tina has offended you, and according to family rules, she should be punished. However, as she is Ms. Winona Chambers’ personal maid, I cannot make that decision. Shall I report this to Mr. Zachary Chambers when we return?”
Yvette studied him, her lips curving into a faint smile. Quite the schemer. No wonder he’s served Zachary for so long.
Lucas’ suggestion was a trap. If she made a fuss, it would paint her as petty, tarnishing her reputation in Seacrity’s elite circles. But if she let the incident slide, it might embolden others in the Chambers family to test her boundaries.
What a dilemma, Yvette thought with amusement. She gave Lucas a half-smile, causing his heart to skip a beat.
