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Novel Catalog
Chapter_104
The next morning, before dawn, Yvette woke up to see Eagle King and Flying Fish off at the door. Afterward, she returned to the hotel and crawled back into bed for some much-needed rest.
Around 9 a.m., the doorbell rang. Yvette groggily got out of bed, threw on an oversized T-shirt, and shuffled over to open the door, her eyes barely open.
When she opened the door, she found Jeremiah standing outside in light-colored casual clothes, holding a food container. She had already guessed it was him and wasn’t surprised. She glanced at the container in his hand and nodded. “Come in.”
Jeremiah’s eyes instantly landed on Yvette’s long, straight legs beneath her oversized shirt. The shirt’s loose fit revealed her collarbones, which caught his attention. He cleared his throat awkwardly, quickly averting his gaze as he stepped inside.
“The hotel here doesn’t serve Clusian food, so I went out and got you some,” he said, setting the food container on the table.
Yvette sniffed the air lazily, her voice still groggy from just waking up, sounding muffled compared to her usual sharp tone. “Wait a sec. I’m going to brush my teeth and wash my face,” she said, heading toward the bathroom.
Jeremiah paused for a moment, unsure what to do. “Okay,” he replied, settling into a chair.
Ten minutes later, Yvette returned from the bathroom, yawning as she scrolled through her phone. She grabbed a chair at the dining table, sat down, and began eating.
Jeremiah sat beside her, casually handing her a napkin. “Do you have any plans later? Want to go out for a walk?”
Yvette took a bite of the food, savoring the juicy tenderness. She looked up at Jeremiah. “Sure.”
After they finished eating, Yvette grabbed an outfit from the wardrobe. She’d only brought a black bag with her—nothing else. Eagle King had prepared clothes for her in advance, all in the black-and-white sporty style she preferred.
Kransbay’s weather was unusually good that day. The temperature had dropped slightly compared to the previous days. The sky was clear, and the sun was shining brightly, casting soft rays of light across the city. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, while cicadas buzzed endlessly around them.
The two of them left the hotel and wandered to a nearby food street. They strolled leisurely, sampling various local snacks. Yvette wasn’t particularly impressed by the food, and after a few bites, she stopped. It wasn’t to her taste.
Jeremiah noticed her disinterest and suggested, “Let’s try something else.” They eventually found a Clusian restaurant—a barbecue place run by a northern Clusian man. The owner, spotting their complexion, immediately recognized that they were from Clusia and greeted them warmly.
After being seated, they ordered several skewers and handed the menu back to the owner. The chubby owner, who had years of experience, quickly assessed their presence—these two weren’t ordinary customers. They were wealthy, distinguished.
“Are you two here for the emerald auction?” the owner asked.
Jeremiah paused in the middle of wiping the table. His eyes flickered as he looked up with a knowing smile. “How did you know? Can you tell fortunes?”
The owner chuckled confidently. “Not quite, but I’ve been here for years. Every year, people from all over the world come to buy raw emeralds. Some strike it rich, others don’t. Every year, we have a few people jumping off the building across the street. Stone gambling is a dangerous game.”
The owner then leaned in and whispered, “Just a heads-up—be extra careful these days. Yesterday, our local gang leader, Caleb, issued an order to catch someone. Apparently, someone had the guts to steal from him. If they catch him, they’ll definitely kill him.”
Jeremiah nodded, listening closely.
The owner glanced over at Yvette, who was focused on her phone, then added, “Are you two a couple? You look great together.”
Yvette paused when she heard the question. She kicked an empty beer can under the table, looked up at the owner briefly, and then looked back down at her phone. Jeremiah turned to look at her, but seeing her lack of response, he pretended not to hear the owner’s comment either.
The atmosphere became a bit awkward. The owner, realizing his mistake, chuckled nervously and quickly took the menu and left.
Once he was gone, Jeremiah thought for a moment before gently asking, “Are you mad about what the owner said?”
Yvette paused, sliding her phone into her pocket. She picked up her glass, poured herself some water, and after a brief moment of thought, looked at him with raised eyebrows. “Do you like me?”
Jeremiah froze, his hand mid-air as he reached for his glass. After a long pause, he looked up at her with serious eyes and nodded. “Yes.”
Yvette didn’t immediately respond. She studied him for a moment, her gaze unwavering. Then, leaning back in her chair, she asked indifferently, “When did it start?”
Jeremiah’s gaze darkened, and for a moment, his eyes seemed to swirl with something deeper, something magnetic. “Love at first sight,” he said, his voice low.
Yvette stared at him, stunned by the confession. She hadn’t expected him to say that.
At that moment, the owner returned with their skewers, interrupting the tense atmosphere. The two of them resumed eating, neither mentioning the earlier conversation.
For Jeremiah, nearly 30 years old and with years of experience in keeping his cool, confessing to Yvette was a new and nerve-wracking experience. He had expected some sort of reaction, but her calmness left him feeling both disappointed and unsure.
When they returned to the hotel, they ran into Emmett, who had just come back from running errands. From a distance, Emmett already smelled the strong scent of barbecue wafting from them.
As he got closer, the smell intensified. Mr. Chavez had taken Ms. Zeller out for barbecue again, Emmett mused. Normally, Jeremiah wouldn’t eat such things, yet now he was making exceptions.
Emmett, dressed casually that day, looked far younger than his actual age, far from the usual formal black suits he wore. He politely greeted Yvette. “Hello, Ms. Zeller.”
Yvette glanced at him, then nodded in acknowledgment. She could tell the two had something to discuss, so she wasn’t interested in sticking around. “I’ll take my leave now.”
Jeremiah handed her the takeout he’d brought back. “Okay. Tonight might get a little chaotic around here. Stay in your room and rest. We’re planning to fly back to Seacrity tomorrow afternoon. Want to come with us?”
Yvette casually nodded. “Sure. One night’s enough.”
“I’ll book your ticket then,” Jeremiah said, smiling.
“Okay,” Yvette replied.
