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Chapter_145
Dennis stared at his daughter, Nellie, with a look of deep disappointment. He had always seen potential in her, but the choices she had made, the desperation she had shown in marrying Zachary, and the humiliation she brought upon the Smith family weighed heavily on him. The woman who had once been his pride was now a shadow of herself. His gaze, cold and calculating, fixed on her as he asked, “Has Zachary discovered what happened to Lilian back then?”
Nellie stiffened, a cold shiver running down her spine at the mention of Lilian. The memory of the horrors she had witnessed years ago surged through her, and for a moment, her throat went dry. It took a moment for her to regain her composure, and when she did, she answered with forced confidence, “Don’t worry, Dad. Zachary doesn’t know. He has no idea you sent Lilian to that individual for experiments. I swear.”
Only when she gave her assurance did Dennis relax slightly, withdrawing his icy gaze from her. He didn’t speak further on the matter, but the weight of his unspoken words hung heavily in the air.
Nellie, eager to change the subject, her voice shaking with anxiety, asked, “Dad, Robert publicly called off the engagement last night. I’m afraid the Carter family won’t easily agree to allow Winona to marry into their family.”
Dennis scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as his expression became inscrutable. “The Carter family isn’t in a position to let a worthless fool like Robert make decisions. Claude is still alive and kicking. Trust me, Winona will become a Carter.”
Nellie breathed a sigh of relief. Her father had always been the pillar she leaned on, and when he spoke with such authority, she knew he had something up his sleeve. If he said Winona would marry into the Carter family, it would happen, regardless of the setbacks. She let out a slow breath, then said, “Dad, Zachary has deceived me for so many years. I can’t swallow this insult.”
Dennis’s eyes turned dark, his anger palpable as the mention of Zachary stirred something within him. The divorce agreement Zachary had sent along with proof of Nellie’s past actions had been a direct provocation. Now that the two families were severed, Dennis was eager to see how the Chambers family would try to fight back. He leaned in, his voice low and menacing. “Starting tomorrow, the Smith family will launch a full-scale attack on the Chambers family. Does Zachary think his family is still as powerful as it once was? Overconfident. Within a month, I’ll make sure he’s left with nothing.”
Nellie’s eyes darted nervously as a new concern crossed her mind. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Dad… Yvette. Is Cyanbird really Yvette? You…” Her voice trailed off, unsure of how her father would react. She had heard rumors of Yvette’s talent and influence, but this was a whole new level.
Dennis’s dismissive chuckle interrupted her thoughts. He didn’t see Yvette as a threat. In his mind, no painter, no matter how famous, could ever challenge the Smith family’s power. The business world was far more complicated than anything an artist could comprehend. “What can a brat like that stir up? What does a painter know about business? There’s nothing to worry about. You haven’t learned anything since you married Zachary. If you’re worried about this, then you’ve grown weaker, not stronger.” His tone was condescending, making Nellie fall silent, unable to offer a rebuttal.
Meanwhile, at Argrol University, Yvette had just finished a call with Eagle King when she received a message from Jeremiah. He was inviting her to dinner. Her lips curled into a faint smile, and a pleasant warmth settled in her chest. She quickly typed a response, her fingers dancing across her phone with ease. “Sure.”
The reply came almost instantly: [I’ll wait for you.]
Yvette chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with a certain light as she typed back, feeling a rare sense of anticipation. She wasn’t one to prolong things unnecessarily, so getting things out of the way seemed like the best course of action.
When she arrived at the steakhouse, she saw Jeremiah standing at the entrance. His casual yet stylish outfit caught her attention, but it was his demeanor that captivated her more. He stood there, head slightly lowered, one hand in his pocket, and the other holding two milkshakes. In front of him, a young girl was speaking animatedly, but as soon as Yvette approached, Jeremiah’s indifferent voice cut through the noise. “I have a girlfriend.”
Yvette paused for a fraction of a second before walking up to him, her voice smooth and casual. “I’m hungry.”
Jeremiah looked up, his eyes meeting hers, and a warm smile spread across his face. The usual aloofness in his expression melted away, replaced by something softer, more inviting. The girl, noticing the interaction, blushed fiercely and quickly scampered away, leaving the two of them alone.
Jeremiah turned to Yvette and said, “Let’s go.”
She nodded, and together they entered the steakhouse, making their way to the familiar private room. This time, it was just the two of them.
Once inside, Yvette acted quickly, surprising Jeremiah by pinning him against the wall. His shirt had a few buttons undone, exposing the faint outline of his collarbone. Jeremiah lowered his head slightly, instinctively feeling the tension in the air. Yvette’s slender fingers traced along his Adam’s apple, a subtle yet intimate gesture. The contact made his body tense, and he swallowed hard, trying to maintain his usual composure. He couldn’t help but wonder where she had learned such a move. It was nothing short of intoxicating.
“What’s up?” he asked, his voice hushed and a little unsteady.
Yvette didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she stared at him, her gaze intense and unreadable. After a long moment, she withdrew her hand and moved to sit down, her pulse steady, her demeanor calm.
Jeremiah, still bewildered by the sudden intimacy, was left slightly intoxicated by the encounter. “Why are you doing this?”
Yvette leaned back, eyes gleaming with a touch of arrogance as she answered nonchalantly, “Just to confirm something.”
Jeremiah furrowed his brows. “Sure of… what?”
Yvette raised an eyebrow, casually picking up a slice of meat. “Do you want us to be together?”
For a split second, Jeremiah’s gaze deepened, his eyes narrowing slightly. The intensity in his look shifted, and he replied with a quiet certainty, “Yes.”
He then added, “Forever.”
Yvette turned her face away, her lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile. “Let’s eat.”
After dinner, Jeremiah drove Yvette back to her dormitory before heading to his newly bought mansion. Inside, Andrew was sitting on the couch, completely engrossed in a video game. However, frustration was evident on his face as he kept failing to beat the game. His competitive spirit was in full swing, but the levels were tough, and his patience was wearing thin.
The roar of a sports car outside caught his attention, and he muttered to himself, “What? Already? Did Jeremiah and Yvette have dinner tonight?”
Andrew sprang to his feet and began cleaning up the mess of snacks scattered around the living room. He knew how particular Jeremiah was about cleanliness. If he found even a speck of dirt, he’d flip. In a panic, Andrew made the mess worse, but by the time Jeremiah walked in, Andrew was frozen, half-hoping he wouldn’t be noticed.
Jeremiah, however, walked past him without so much as a glance, heading straight upstairs. Confused and stunned, Andrew blinked, wondering if Jeremiah even noticed the mess. He was still standing there, processing everything, when Jeremiah turned around and smirked.
“What’s up?” Jeremiah asked with an amused glint in his eyes.
Andrew sheepishly raised his hands. “I made a mess on the carpet…”
Jeremiah smiled casually. “Oh, just ask Emmett to have someone clean it up tomorrow. It’s late. Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”
Andrew, dumbfounded by Jeremiah’s nonchalant response, stood there for a moment, before muttering, “I’m going to sleep now.”
The night settled into its usual rhythm, but the warmth in Jeremiah’s voice lingered in Andrew’s mind.
