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Novel Catalog
Chapter_120
Richard set down his fork, his gaze cold and unwavering. The atmosphere in the room grew thick with tension, so dense that no one dared to breathe. The only one unaffected was Yvette, who sat with her head lowered, calmly enjoying her meal as if nothing had happened.
Her indifference wasn’t lost on Nellie and the others. They watched her, seething with disdain, as Yvette blatantly let Zachary take the heat for her actions without so much as a second thought.
Nellie’s frustration boiled over in silence. How dare she behave this way after everything we’ve done for her?
Richard, too, noticed the subtle lack of regard in Yvette’s behavior, his irritation sharpening.
“Mr. Zachary Chambers,” he began, his voice cutting through the heavy silence, “Since you clearly don’t appreciate my gesture, there’s nothing more to say. But your daughter, she’s in her twenties now. To bully her own sister—well, that’s inexcusable.” His voice carried a mix of disappointment and anger. “We’re all here today. Let her explain herself. Can she really rely on the Chambers family to protect her forever once she enters society?”
Richard’s words hung in the air, pointed and accusing. His glare shifted to Yvette, daring her to offer an explanation.
Zachary’s temper flared. What does he mean by ‘bullying’? he thought, confused and frustrated. Yvette would never waste time on such petty things. “You—” he started, but was cut off by Yvette’s calm, uninterested voice.
“Who are you?” she asked, her tone smooth, as if she were speaking to a complete stranger.
Richard’s eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face. Does she really not know me? he thought, anger mixing with growing humiliation. She must be doing this on purpose. She can’t seriously not know who I am.
Winona jumped to her feet, panic creeping into her voice. She shot a nervous glance at Yvette, her hands clasped together in pleading. “Mr. Griffin, it wasn’t intentional. She just got back from the countryside and might not recognize you. Please, don’t be upset.” Her voice softened as she turned toward Yvette, her expression shifting into one of concern and kindness. “Yvic, please apologize to him. Don’t make this harder for Dad, okay? Mr. Griffin’s health isn’t good, so please don’t upset him.”
Winona’s words were laced with heartfelt sincerity, her concern for Richard’s health so genuine it almost seemed too perfect. She was playing her role to the hilt. Her actions drew approving glances from Victor and the others at the table. The others couldn’t help but be touched by her apparent filial devotion.
But Nellie saw right through Winona’s act. She could almost taste the manipulation in the air. This is all a game to her, she thought, feeling a surge of irritation.
Nellie stood up, her tone sharp as she joined in. “Yvette, even if you don’t know Mr. Griffin, he’s still an elder. Apologize, for your own good.”
Victor, already irate at Yvette’s disrespect, jumped in with his own condemnation. “Yeah, Yvette, you’ve crossed the line. How could you be so rude to Mr. Griffin?”
Zeke, ever the opportunist, smirked at the escalating drama. This is a chance to see Yvette squirm, he thought gleefully. Let’s see how she gets out of this one.
“Yvie,” Winona continued, her voice now soft and coaxing, “Mr. Griffin is older than Dad. Surely you know the importance of respecting your elders. Just apologize and make this easier for everyone, okay?”
Richard couldn’t hide the smug grin spreading across his face. With everyone backing him, he was certain Yvette would crack under pressure. An apology from her would be his victory, his chance to humiliate her as she deserved. He leaned back in his chair, waiting for her to fold.
But Yvette didn’t budge.
Leaning back in her chair casually, she crossed her arms and legs, picking up her coffee as if the entire room wasn’t holding its breath. Her gaze locked with Richard’s, icy and unwavering.
“You want me to apologize?” she asked, her voice cold, with just the faintest hint of mockery.
Richard sneered, already preparing his retort. “As your elder, if you apologize to me, I’ll forgive you. We’ve all been young and reckless. Just say sorry to me and Winona, and we can move on from this.”
Yvette’s lips curled into a scoff, her eyes narrowing. “Do you really think you’re worthy of my apology?” she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. “A lot of people expect me to apologize, but…” She paused for effect, her eyes flashing dangerously. “Most of them are dead now. If you’re willing, I wouldn’t mind sending you their way.”
The room went dead silent. The wild intensity in her eyes sent a chill down the spine of everyone present. For a split second, they believed her—she looked like she wasn’t joking. Is she capable of such a thing? the thought flitted through their minds.
Richard, his anger reaching its peak, trembled with rage. He pointed a shaking finger at Yvette, clutching his chest as if he were about to collapse. His face turned pale, and he looked like he might faint at any moment.
The two people sitting next to Richard immediately reacted, scrambling to produce medicine bottles from their pockets. They hurriedly fed him a few white pills, their hands shaking with fear. Richard’s severe heart condition was well-known, and they all knew that if something happened to him, their position in the Art Association would be lost.
Winona rushed to Richard’s side, her face twisted with concern as she helped him breathe. Her eyes, however, shot daggers at Yvette, the veneer of kindness slipping away. She no longer bothered to mask her animosity.
Zachary massaged his temples, a headache beginning to form. He could already feel the weight of the consequences. Yvette, why do you insist on pushing Richard this far? he thought, exasperated. If he has a heart attack here, this could end disastrously for all of us.
Victor, Zeke, and Nellie had not expected Richard to react this strongly to Yvette. They huddled around him, concern etched on their faces, while Zachary remained by Yvette’s side, his expression unreadable.
Once Richard finally regained his composure, he glared at Yvette as though he wanted to tear her apart. His hands still shook with the aftereffects of his outburst, but his anger was unmistakable. Yvette had not only refused to apologize, but had mocked him, threatening him with a chilling coldness that unnerved everyone.
Yvette stood up slowly, unhurriedly meeting the eyes of everyone who glared at her. Her expression was as emotionless as ever, as if she were looking at a crowd of ghosts. She turned toward Zachary and raised an eyebrow.
“Are we leaving, or not?” she asked, her tone indifferent, yet laced with impatience.
Zachary paused, torn. He understood the unspoken challenge in her eyes. The choice was no longer about leaving; it was about choosing between staying or siding with Yvette. Staying meant he was abandoning her in her moment of defiance, while leaving with her meant showing where his true loyalty lay.
Zachary smiled bitterly, understanding the gravity of the situation. If I leave with her, she’ll skip tomorrow’s event, and that will be the end of things with Richard. If I stay, I’ll lose her trust forever.
With a deep breath, he made his decision. He looked at Yvette with firm resolve.
“Yvette, let’s go. Let’s head home together,” he said, his voice strong and resolute.
The moment he spoke, Nellie collapsed onto the bench, her eyes wide with shock. Her face was streaked with silent tears, the reality of Zachary’s choice crushing her spirit. Even if he doesn’t choose me, he can’t possibly leave Zeke and Winona behind, can he? She clutched her chest, her mind whirling. They are his children, too. They must be more important than Yvette, who just returned to the family… right?
Winona stood still, her face betraying nothing, but the subtle tremble in her left hand revealed the storm raging inside her. Why would he choose her over us? she thought, her thoughts clouded with fear and anger.
