Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_9
Winona’s eyes were wide with disbelief. How dare Yvette act so indifferent to the villa offer? What audacity. What a bitch, she thought bitterly, grinding her teeth.
Meanwhile, Zachary, feeling a pang of guilt for the growing tension, cleared his throat and tried to smooth things over. “Yvette, since Winona has apologized, can we just let this go? Keeping peace in the family is important, after all,” he said, attempting to make amends. “I’ll give you the villa in South Bay.”
The offer felt too large, too generous, and Nellie felt her stomach twist in discomfort. The villa—Zachary’s prized possession—was over 7,000 square feet of luxurious space. He had promised it to Zeke for his birthday. But now, he was offering it to Yvette as a way of compensating for the earlier tension. Is it really necessary to give away something that valuable? Nellie thought.
Winona’s heart raced with anger as her father spoke. A villa worth more than 30 million dollars… just like that? Her eyes narrowed, but she dared not voice her frustration. After all, the mess had started because of her, and she couldn’t risk making things worse.
Zeke, on the other hand, was fuming quietly. He hadn’t expected to lose the villa—his birthday gift, the one he had been so excited about. Even though he had enough money, he couldn’t ignore the fact that this was supposed to be his. Now, the villa, his prize, was slipping through his fingers. Winona, you useless troublemaker, he cursed silently.
Yvette, however, remained unfazed. She glanced at Zachary as he offered her the villa but didn’t show any sign of surprise or delight. She simply gave him a brief look, as though weighing his offer and dismissing it all at once. To her, the villa wasn’t even the issue; it was the manipulation, the power dynamics at play.
Zachary, assuming that Yvette didn’t fully understand the villa’s value, felt a bit awkward. But he couldn’t back down after offering such a lavish gift, especially when he had done so in front of everyone. Yet, Yvette’s indifference only unsettled him further.
The butler, Lucas, sensing Zachary’s frustration, stepped forward. “Ms. Zeller,” he said with respect, “This villa is one of Mr. Zachary Chambers’ prized properties, worth over 30 million dollars.”
Yvette raised an eyebrow, her expression bemused. Really? Is this an attempt to buy me off? she thought. Her voice, when it came, was calm but laced with amusement. “So what?”
Her words hung in the air, sharp and dismissive.
The reactions from the others were instantaneous. Winona’s face twisted in disdain, Zeke’s jaw clenched, and Nellie’s eyes flashed with irritation. How dare she act so haughty! Yvette wasn’t just clueless; she was completely ungrateful. A rough country girl, acting so high and mighty.
Everyone was seething with frustration, except for Lucas, who was well accustomed to Yvette’s demeanor by now.
Nellie, desperate to salvage the situation, forced a smile and said, “Honey, since Yvette doesn’t seem interested, let’s not push her. She just got back, so it’s better for her to stay at home. I’ve got a limited-edition jewelry set that would be perfect for her. Consider it an apology.”
She lowered her voice so only Zachary could hear. “Didn’t you promise Zeke the villa? If you give it to Yvette now, Zeke will be really disappointed. Let’s find another way to make it up to her.”
Nellie thought she was being discreet, but Yvette read her lips perfectly. Lip-reading was a skill she had perfected in her world of high stakes and constant games.
Zachary, momentarily distracted by Nellie’s words, hesitated. But when he saw Yvette’s unflinching gaze, he felt trapped. What now? He had promised the villa to Zeke, but now, with Yvette in front of him, he couldn’t ignore the power shift. The idea of giving the villa to her suddenly felt right.
Nellie, sensing an opportunity, decided to press on. “You might not realize this, but your dad already promised the villa to Zeke as a birthday gift. Since you don’t want it anyway, how about I throw in a Porsche along with the jewelry? Sound good?”
Yvette tilted her head, an unreadable expression on her face. “When will the villa officially change hands?” she asked, her voice quiet but piercing.
Winona sighed in relief. The villa had nothing to do with her, but if Yvette agreed to the offer, she could avoid the public humiliation of a formal apology. If it was settled privately, no one would have to know about the slap, and she wouldn’t have to grovel.
But as Winona thought about it, a new wave of resentment toward Yvette rose in her chest. So she’s pretending money doesn’t matter, but now she’s asking about the villa? Winona sneered inwardly, her distaste growing.
Zachary quickly assured Yvette that the paperwork would be handled, gesturing to Lucas to finalize the deal. But Nellie wasn’t finished yet. She shot a glance at Zeke, clearly expecting him to back her up.
Zeke, already lost in his inappropriate thoughts about Yvette, wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip. Once I have her, who cares about the villa? he thought smugly. He maintained a calm exterior, adding, “Since Dad promised it to her, it only makes sense for it to go to her.”
Nellie’s anger flared. Even my obedient son is enchanted by her? she thought, feeling a mixture of fury and frustration. She’s just as cunning as Lilian!
