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Novel Catalog
Chapter_64
Hector stood motionless at the door, his mind racing as he watched the scene unfold before him. Jimmy, sensing his discomfort, remained quietly at his side, offering his company in silence. The tension between them was palpable, yet Hector was lost in thought, trying to decipher the emotions swirling inside him.
The sudden opening of the door broke the stillness, and Bonnie emerged from the room. As she passed, Hector’s eyes, sharp and focused, swept over her and landed on Yvette, who was eating. A subtle shift occurred in his demeanor—his gaze sharpened, his features tightened. Despite Yvette’s head being down, her childhood features were still unmistakable to him. Time had passed, but certain things never changed.
Bonnie, startled by the presence of a stranger, greeted him with polite curiosity. “Hello, sir. Can I help you with something?” Her voice was warm, but it held an edge of caution, unsure of what this unexpected visitor wanted.
Her question drew the attention of everyone in the room, including Jeremiah and Andrew, who had their backs to the door. They both turned, and Jeremiah’s piercing, cold gaze swept over Hector. The air between them thickened, and for a brief moment, Hector felt a shift in the atmosphere. He recognized the danger in Jeremiah’s demeanor. Similarly, Andrew furrowed his brows in confusion, wondering if someone had leaked the news of Jeremiah’s identity at the police station and if that was the reason for this strange visit. His thoughts, however, didn’t show on his face, as he remained stoic.
The tension didn’t escape Hector’s notice, but he couldn’t understand what he had done to provoke such a reaction. His confusion deepened, but he remained outwardly calm, though his mind was working overtime to figure out the dynamics in play.
Yvette’s sharp voice cut through the silence, pulling everyone’s attention back to her. “Yvette, it’s me, Hector,” he called out, his tone soft but familiar.
Jeremiah hadn’t anticipated that Hector would know Yvette, especially not in such a familiar, almost affectionate manner. He quickly relaxed, his previously rigid posture easing as the tension lifted from the room. Bonnie, seeing the change in mood, smiled and extended an invitation. “Sir, you know Yve? Come on in, then.”
Despite Bonnie’s warm gesture, Hector remained rooted in place, his gaze still lingering on Yvette. With a soft, grateful smile, he thanked her kindly, but his eyes never left Yvette. “Let’s talk outside,” she said, her voice cool, but the undercurrent of reluctance was clear.
Hector, far from offended, accepted her request without hesitation. “Okay, I’ll wait for you outside. No rush. Take your time to finish eating,” he said, his tone gentle, as if he were speaking to a long-lost friend.
Jimmy, standing by and observing the interaction, couldn’t help but be taken aback. Hector, known for his stern and no-nonsense attitude in the office, was now displaying a side of himself Jimmy had never seen before. The way Hector spoke to Yvette—with such tenderness and understanding—was completely at odds with the man’s usual demeanor. Jimmy blinked, wondering if he was witnessing a side of Hector that no one had ever seen, and found himself questioning everything he thought he knew about the man.
Outside, Yvette continued her meal before slipping off her jacket. She wore a simple white crew-neck T-shirt and casual pants, along with worn-out canvas shoes. To anyone else, she might have seemed unremarkable, but to those who truly saw her, her beauty and composure stood out. Andrew, watching her from his seat, was struck by the contrast between Yvette’s appearance and her seemingly indifferent attitude toward her wealth. She could easily wager millions, yet her casual attire suggested something far simpler. Her true value wasn’t in material things but in the power she carried within herself.
Yvette stood and made her exit, offering a casual remark to Andrew as she left, “You better hurry back, or we’ll finish everything, and you’ll end up starving!” Her words were lighthearted, but there was a distance in her eyes as she walked out.
Jeremiah’s gaze followed her as she left, wondering how Yvette maintained such a slender figure despite her seemingly insatiable appetite. He couldn’t help but think that he should take her out for meals more often.
Outside, Yvette saw Hector in the distance, smoking. His figure was slightly hunched, and a soft sigh escaped her lips as she approached him. She had always known this moment would come. He wasn’t meant to show up, not now, not when everything had been left behind.
As their eyes met, Hector’s face brightened with excitement, but Yvette remained cool and collected, her gaze unwavering. His smile faded slightly under the weight of her calm demeanor, and he put out his cigarette, asking gently, “Yvette, have you been doing well all these years?”
Her response was indifferent, almost dismissive. “It’s not bad, Hector,” she said, her tone lacking any emotional warmth.
Hector, a man in his forties, visibly trembled at her words, his mind racing with memories of the past. He remembered the first time he saw her as a child, her extraordinary talent emerging at such a young age. Yvette had been destined for greatness, and he had watched her rise, only to see it all come crashing down due to Lawrence’s selfish actions.
As he spoke, Hector’s voice cracked with emotion. “Lawrence regretted what happened during his final moments. He said he was sorry. If he could choose again, he definitely would…” His words trailed off, as if he were searching for a way to explain the years of regret that had haunted them all.
Yvette’s cold laughter cut him off. “He would what? Expose his son for plagiarizing a student’s compositions? Mr. Ross wouldn’t do that. Hector, you know it very well.” Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air with a bitterness that Hector couldn’t ignore.
He was quiet for a moment, knowing she was right. He had seen Lawrence’s true nature, the selfishness that had ultimately destroyed Yvette’s future. “Yvette, Mr. Elliot Ross has been resting on his laurels for all these years. He has no talent. He’s still using the compositions you left behind. Mr. Derek Ross said that if you want, he’ll reveal the truth and return what’s rightfully yours,” Hector added, his eyes filled with hope.
Yvette’s expression softened slightly, but her resolve was unwavering. “I’m done playing. Tell Derek not to look for me anymore,” she said, her words final.
She had long since given up on the music world. The blood that stained her hands was something she could never wash away. The thought of returning to a life she had left behind was unappealing, even if it meant reclaiming what was rightfully hers.
Hector, sensing the finality in her voice, lowered his tone. “Give me your number, Yvette. I’m heading back to Mysonna tomorrow and won’t be in Seacrity for a while.”
Yvette paused for a moment before handing him her phone number. It was a brief, almost mechanical exchange, and as soon as it was done, she turned and left without looking back.
Hector stood still for a long time, his gaze lingering on the spot where she had disappeared. His mind was lost in the past, and his heart ached with the weight of everything that had been lost. When a bodyguard approached with a briefcase, Hector briefly checked its contents before giving instructions for it to be delivered to Jimmy with a message.
As he prepared to board his plane back to Mysonna, Hector made one last phone call. He wasn’t sure why, but he knew it was necessary. The past was something he couldn’t change, but perhaps, just perhaps, there was still a chance to shape the future.
