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Novel Catalog
Chapter_118
Winona glanced at her phone as the call came through. She greeted Richard with a warm smile, then gently waved to Victor and the others, signaling them to go ahead without her. “Please, go ahead. I’ll be right behind you,” she said, her voice polite but laced with a quiet determination. After they walked off, she stepped to a corner of the hotel lobby and answered the call.
“Hello?” she said, her voice calm, though a flicker of coldness lingered behind the words.
A stranger’s voice responded from the other end. “Ms. Chambers, I’ve given Lucas the sleeping pills as you instructed. He thinks he’s just feeling unwell and didn’t suspect a thing. He’s already lying down. Like you told me, he asked me to pick up Ms. Zeller. I’m heading out now to take her to the hotel.”
There was a brief pause before the man continued, his tone growing more nervous. “Ms. Chambers, you know how strict Lucas is with the household staff. If he finds out, I’m finished. I’ve already booked my flight back home, but I need the 150 thousand dollars you promised. Once I get it, I can return to my family in the countryside.”
Winona’s lip curled slightly, though she quickly masked it with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. The things I have to do for this family, she thought, disgusted by the transaction. Still, she forced herself to remain patient with Fabian, even though the very sight of people like him made her skin crawl.
“Don’t worry, Fabian,” she said coolly, her voice smooth. “Once you bring her here today, I’ll ensure the 150 thousand dollars is transferred to your account. That money will be enough for you to return to your wife and children, right?”
She let the promise of the reward linger, then added with a sharp edge, “But don’t get too comfortable. If you mess this up, the consequences will be far worse than you can imagine. Crushing you would be as easy as stepping on an ant.”
On the other end of the line, Fabian went quiet, stunned by the venom in Winona’s words. He had never heard her speak this way before. The usually gentle Winona sounded cold, calculating—and terrifying.
He hadn’t understood why Winona wanted him to take Yvette to the hotel instead of the Chambers residence. When he received her late-night message, he had hesitated, but in the end, the temptation of the promised money was too strong to resist. He didn’t ask questions. He just followed instructions.
Winona hung up the phone with a smirk, the sinister satisfaction in her expression lingering for a moment. She quickly deleted the phone number and transaction details, ensuring there was no evidence left to trace her actions.
Meanwhile, Yvette walked out of Argrol University, her black backpack slung carelessly over her shoulder. She was dressed simply in athletic wear and worn-out canvas shoes—nothing like the image of a high society heiress. With her plain appearance, no one would guess that she was the eldest daughter of the Chambers family, one of the most influential families in Seacrity.
Fabian, standing next to the car, immediately spotted her. In terms of looks and presence, Yvette far outshone Winona. The housekeepers had always considered Winona beautiful, but Yvette… she was in a different league entirely. Before Yvette arrived, Winona had been considered the beauty of the house, but now, even they could see there was always someone better.
Fabian approached, lowering his head in a respectful gesture. “Hello, Miss. I’m Fabian Evans, Lucas’ assistant. Lucas is suddenly unwell, and I’ve been sent to pick you up. Please, get in the car.”
Yvette simply nodded, her expression neutral, and slid into the back seat. She pulled out her phone, her fingers quickly finding the latest message from Jeremiah: Aren’t you planning to invite me tomorrow? followed by a cute smiley emoji.
A flicker of a smile crossed Yvette’s lips, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. She thought about replying but ultimately chose not to. She slipped her phone back into her bag, her thoughts momentarily distant. Then, she turned her gaze to the window, resting her chin on her hand, as sunlight streamed through the glass. The breeze stirred her hair, casting light and shadows that danced across her face, giving her an air of tranquil leisure.
Yvette casually glanced at Fabian, who was glancing nervously at her in the rearview mirror. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her tone light but with a sharp undertone.
Fabian’s heart skipped a beat, and he nearly lost control of the steering wheel. She noticed? he thought, panic rising in his chest. He had been careful not to look at her too much, but apparently, she had caught him staring.
He scrambled to explain himself. “Ms. Zeller, I’m sorry, I wasn’t peeking on purpose. It’s just… I got a little nervous.” His words came out in a disjointed rush, and he wiped his forehead, feeling cold sweat break out.
Yvette, though, didn’t press further. She simply glanced away, her expression cool and unreadable. Fabian continued to sweat under her gaze, finding it almost impossible to hide his nervousness. He breathed a little heavier, trying to calm himself, but the atmosphere in the car had shifted. He could feel the weight of her presence beside him.
Suddenly, Yvette spoke again, her voice cutting through the silence. “This isn’t the way to the Chambers residence, is it?”
Fabian froze. His heart started pounding again, and his grip tightened on the steering wheel. He quickly recovered, though, remembering Winona’s instructions. Stay calm. You can do this.
“No, Ms. Zeller,” he said, trying to sound more confident. “Today is the welcome party for Mr. Griffin, Winona’s teacher. The family is at Exoir Hotel, and Mr. Chambers instructed me to take you there.”
It was a plausible story, but Fabian didn’t realize how many holes it had. Yvette didn’t say anything immediately, only gave him an amused look. Fabian felt a brief sense of relief—perhaps he had fooled her.
But Yvette didn’t press the issue, instead turning to look out the window again. Fabian, thinking he had succeeded, relaxed a little, though he was still jittery. Soon, he would get his money and be free of this family’s problems.
Meanwhile, Zachary rushed over to Room 203 of Exoir Hotel right after finishing work. He couldn’t afford to overlook Richard’s reputation, especially after hearing how highly respected the man was in the art world.
At first, Richard had been displeased when he hadn’t seen Zachary yet, but Nellie explained the delay, apologizing sincerely at the dinner table. Winona also chimed in, offering her own explanations to placate the situation.
When Zachary finally arrived, it was clear he had been in a rush, but Richard, realizing that Zachary was important to Winona, didn’t make an issue out of it. Respecting his position as Winona’s father, Richard kept his mood cordial.
The dinner was lively, with everyone chatting and toasting each other. Zachary, who had spent many years in the business world, quickly bonded with Richard over mutual interests, and before long, the two seemed almost like old friends.
But as the evening progressed, Richard suddenly set down his fork and turned his attention to Winona, who was sitting quietly at the table, barely participating in the conversation. He glanced at Zachary, his expression serious. Zachary, sensing the change, furrowed his brow, not understanding what had just shifted in the air.
“Mr. Griffin, is everything all right?” Zachary asked, his voice tinged with concern. “If there’s something troubling you, please, let me know. If there’s anything I can do to help, I won’t hesitate.”
Richard took a moment before speaking, his voice calm but deliberate. “I’ve heard that you recently found a daughter named Yvette, is that right?” he asked, looking intently at Zachary.
Before Zachary could respond, Richard continued, “It seems these two girls are very dear to you. But you shouldn’t neglect one for the other. Winona’s been upset recently, but when I asked her about it, she wouldn’t tell me what was wrong.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “Eventually, it was Victor who told me that your other daughter, Yvette, has been bullying Winona. I may not be involved in family matters, but after tomorrow, Winona will officially be my apprentice. If no one else will care for her, then I will.”
Richard’s words hung in the air like a threat, though wrapped in concern. Zachary’s expression faltered slightly as he realized the gravity of the situation.
