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Novel Catalog
Chapter_30
After leaving the Carter residence, Rebecca drove straight to her grandfather Claude’s house. She had moved out a while ago, but compared to the Carter family estate, she visited Claude’s manor more often. As she entered, the servant greeted her with a message, “Ms. Carter, Mr. Carter is waiting for you in the study and asked you to come immediately.”
Rebecca nodded, pausing briefly to remove her high heels before replying, “Got it. I’ll go right now.” She made her way to the study, where an elderly man in his seventies sat by a chessboard. The white pieces were clearly defeated, surrounded on all sides by the advancing black pieces. The game was already decided, with no chance for recovery.
The elderly man was Claude Carter, whose neat hairstyle and silver-laced brown hair gave away his age. His eyes, slightly sunken, held a combination of sharpness and the wear of time. He fixed his gaze on Rebecca, waiting for her report.
“How did it get resolved?” Claude asked in a low voice, his attention still on the chessboard.
Rebecca nodded respectfully, but there was a hint of caution in her voice. “Grandpa, Yvette forced Victor to apologize to the boy who was hurt.”
Claude’s cloudy brown eyes narrowed as he processed the information. After a long pause, he asked, “How much did the company lose?”
Rebecca’s breath caught in her throat at the question. The loss was substantial, the largest her company had ever faced since she joined. “According to estimates, approximately 160 million dollars,” she responded.
Claude’s expression didn’t change, but he tossed the white chess piece he had been holding onto the board, scattering the game in frustration. Using his cane for support, he slowly stood up. “Impressive. That’s Lilian’s daughter, right? Her talent is shocking. She managed to cost the Carter family 160 million dollars in less than an hour!”
Though 160 million dollars wasn’t a huge loss for the Carter family, Yvette’s actions had crossed a line. This wasn’t just a financial loss; it was a direct challenge to Claude’s authority, and he wasn’t one to take that lightly. Rebecca, however, felt compelled to offer her thoughts.
“Grandpa, I don’t think Yvette could have done this on her own,” she began. “When I arrived, she was arguing with Victor on the basketball court. She wouldn’t have had the time to attack the company’s network.”
Rebecca explained that Yvette, despite her apparent capability, couldn’t have breached the company’s cybersecurity system. It was too complex and secure, designed by top experts. She suspected that Yvette might have coincidentally met a hacker who had helped her, but Rebecca was still convinced Yvette herself wasn’t involved in the breach.
Claude stood by the window, his back to Rebecca, as he processed her words. His voice was low and gravelly when he spoke. “Even if the hacker wasn’t directly involved, they’re still her ally. For now, avoid any direct confrontation with her.”
The tone of the conversation shifted, and the tension in the room was palpable. At the same time, the Chambers family was in turmoil. Yvette had returned home, but things weren’t any better. In the morning, she had injured Nellie, and by the afternoon, Winona came home in tears. By the evening, Zachary, her father, was sitting in the living room waiting for Yvette without touching his dinner. The family felt like they were on the verge of exploding at any moment.
At a quarter past seven, Yvette arrived home, upbeat and happy after enjoying the milkshake she had earlier. In contrast to her father’s anger, she was the most cheerful person in the entire house. Zachary, seated on the sofa, watched her coldly. Nellie, sitting nearby with her neck bandaged and eyes swollen from crying, also glared at her. Yvette knew immediately that her father’s anger was directed at her.
Zachary didn’t hold back. “Do you know what you did today?” he asked, his voice tight with fury.
Yvette looked at him nonchalantly, her hands in her pockets, and her eyes narrowed slightly. She gave off a carefree aura, seemingly unbothered by the mounting tension.
Zachary’s voice rose as his frustration grew. “You let Rebecca pressure Victor into apologizing today? What do you think you’re doing? This is serious! Have you even considered the consequences for the Chambers family?”
Yvette, without missing a beat, retorted, “The Chambers family has nothing to do with me.”
Her words sent Zachary into a fit of rage. “You’re the eldest daughter of the Chambers family, and you say it has nothing to do with you? Why can’t you be more considerate, like Winona? I’m doing my best to compensate for your behavior—what more do you want?”
Yvette tilted her head slightly, giving him a pointed look. Her gaze made Zachary’s words falter, as he realized that in her eyes, the Chambers family and even he, her father, meant very little.
Determined, Zachary declared, “Tomorrow, I’ll have Lucas arrange everything. You’re staying in the dorms for a while to cool off.”
Yvette didn’t flinch. She nodded indifferently, as though it made no difference to her, and without another word, she turned and walked upstairs.
A few minutes later, she grabbed the black backpack she had arrived with, slung it over her shoulder, and walked out of the house without a second glance. She ignored Lucas’s calls behind her as she left the Chambers residence.
Outside, she spotted a red sports car parked by the roadside. Without hesitation, she got into the car, and with a roar of the engine, it sped off, disappearing into the distance, leaving behind a trail of exhaust fumes.
Lucas, still standing outside, was stunned. He hadn’t known Yvette had such a wealthy friend. The car she had driven was a limited edition, one that most people could only dream of owning.
Inside the house, Zachary slumped onto the sofa, watching his daughter’s departure with a mixture of regret and frustration. His mind raced with thoughts of how things had spiraled out of control.
“Honey, Yvette is too headstrong,” Nellie said softly, trying to soothe her husband. “Making her stay in the dorms will be for her own good. After next month’s banquet, it won’t be too late to have her back.”
Zachary glanced at Nellie, who was still recovering from her injuries. He understood that maintaining appearances was crucial, and Nellie had a point. “You’re right, darling. Don’t blame Yvette. She’s still young, and she didn’t mean to act this way. Focus on your recovery, and make sure Winona talks to Victor properly. After all, we are supposed to be in-laws with the Carter family, and it would be bad if things got too tense.”
Nellie nodded, flashing a small smile. “How could I blame Yvette? Don’t worry, I’m not that petty. And as for the Carter family, Winona knows what to do, as she always does. Just take it easy.”
Nellie, seizing the opportunity, pretended to faint, and Zachary helped her upstairs. The next morning, Nellie was glowing, clearly having spent a night of peace with her husband.
The following day, Yvette found herself at the center of attention at Argrol University. Word had spread quickly about her confrontation with Victor, and she had gained a fanbase overnight. Her presence on campus was now a topic of discussion, and students were either cheering for her or criticizing her. John, who had become the president of her fan club, filled her in on the newfound attention she was receiving. However, Yvette wasn’t fazed by it at all, continuing to stay true to herself.
In the classroom, Tobias was about to introduce Yvette, but the students were already buzzing with excitement. Some hadn’t witnessed the events on the basketball court, but the word had spread—Yvette was not only beautiful but also fearless, and she had earned the admiration of many.
“Mr. Sunderland, we already know Yvette!” one student called out.
“Yeah, there’s no need for an introduction!” another chimed in.
Tobias smiled, glancing at Yvette as she sat quietly with her head down. He remembered how she had come to him that morning to arrange for housing and wondered if her family had kicked her out. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Yvette wasn’t the troublemaker he had initially believed her to be. She had stood up for John, and Tobias now felt a sense of protectiveness toward her.
“All right, everyone, quiet down. Yvette, please introduce yourself,” he said.
Yvette stood up, walked to the podium, and wrote her name on the board. Her handwriting was sharp and bold, just like her personality—cool and confident. Tobias stared at the letters for a moment, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. He wondered where he had seen this handwriting before, but quickly dismissed the thought, unsure if it was just his imagination.
As Yvette continued to make her mark on campus, the ripples from her actions would soon spread even further, intertwining her future with the complex web of people and events around her.
