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Chapter_161
Yvette slightly raised her chin, an expression of ease and indifference settling on her delicate features. Her gaze was calm, almost like a serene lake—still and emotionless, showing no sign of worry or urgency. The silence around her seemed to magnify the contrast between her composed demeanor and the tense atmosphere in the room. Her lack of concern was unsettling, especially considering the situation they were in.
Bruce and the others exchanged uneasy glances. They had just come from hearing the details of Mr. Chavez’s disappearance, and the threat posed by the jungle. Yet, here was Yvette, unfazed and seemingly at peace, not even remotely concerned about the risks ahead. It didn’t make sense to them. Mr. Chavez’s life hung in the balance, and yet Yvette appeared unaffected, almost indifferent.
Bruce, who was always the pragmatic one, couldn’t help but question her mindset. He thought to himself, If Yvette wasn’t truly concerned, why would she have flown from home to Mysonna in less than five hours, showing up almost like clockwork? Yet now, standing here in front of them, her attitude suggested that perhaps she didn’t care about Mr. Chavez at all.
The contrast was too stark for them to ignore.
Finally, Yvette broke the silence with her voice—calm and measured. She lifted her eyes to meet theirs and said, “Get these things ready, and we leave early tomorrow morning.” The words were simple, yet they carried an undeniable weight. She was not asking, nor was she proposing; it was a clear directive.
Bruce’s face hardened, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. Without hesitation, he shook his head firmly, rejecting her plan. His tone was serious and borderline stern. “No way,” he said. “We can’t afford any more delays. Ms. Zeller, we understand that you’re concerned about Mr. Chavez, but it’s too dangerous for a woman to come with us to the rainforest. If something happens to you, we might not be able to protect you. And if something were to happen to you… well, we couldn’t explain that to Mr. Chavez.”
His words were not meant to be dismissive, but rather protective. He wanted to ensure her safety, though he could not quite grasp why she was so determined to accompany them on a mission so dangerous.
Frankie and Chris nodded in agreement with Bruce’s reasoning. Emmett, sitting quietly on the side, did not speak, though his eyes were filled with concern. He had always known that Yvette was a woman of immense strength, but this mission was unlike any other. The jungle was unforgiving.
Yvette’s expression remained unreadable, but she did not respond to Bruce’s objections. The silence stretched on, and Bruce assumed she had agreed with his suggestion. Without giving it another thought, he turned and prepared to leave, planning to make the necessary preparations.
However, Yvette wasn’t finished. She curled her legs up on the sofa and began rhythmically tapping the armrest with one hand. Suddenly, her calm expression shifted. A cold, sharp glint flashed in her eyes. Her gaze became piercing, and the room seemed to grow colder with the intensity that radiated from her.
Breaking the silence, Yvette spoke again, this time in a voice laced with challenge. “Let’s have a fight. If I win, the three of you will follow my lead. If I lose, I’ll stay behind and listen to you.”
Bruce’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Frankie let out a light laugh, clearly amused by the idea. He leaned forward with a cheeky grin, sizing her up. “Ms. Zeller, do you know who you’re talking to?” he asked, the playful tone evident in his voice. “Let me give you a little rundown. Bruce is a three-time free sparring champion of Mysonna. Chris is a master of ancient martial arts, and he trained with Mr. Chavez for years. As for me, while I may be the ‘newbie’ here, I’ve been learning Taekwondo since I was a kid. If we fight, and you, with those small arms and legs, get hurt, Mr. Chavez will have our heads.” He waved his hands in mock surrender. “Let’s just forget about it.”
Bruce, though usually calm, nodded seriously, agreeing with Frankie’s assessment. They all knew that Yvette was Mr. Chavez’s first love in over thirty years. She might even be the future matriarch of the Chavez family. No matter how skilled or strong she was, none of them could bring themselves to raise a hand against her.
But Yvette wasn’t backing down. As they tried to dismiss her challenge, she moved quickly. Before anyone could react, she was standing in front of them. Chris, ever the ancient combat artist, instinctively stepped back, and Bruce and Frankie followed suit. Yvette moved like a shadow, a blur of motion that caught them off guard. With a swift and powerful sweep of her leg, she forced them all to retreat several paces, their feet shuffling back as they tried to maintain their balance.
For a moment, the three men stood there, stunned. They had underestimated her. It was clear from the speed and precision of her movements that she was no ordinary fighter. Bruce’s eyes widened in surprise. Frankie, who was always eager to spar, began rubbing his hands together, clearly excited by the challenge. But before he could take a step forward, Chris shot him a warning glance.
“Chris?” Frankie asked, confused. “What’s the matter? I promise I won’t hurt her.”
Chris didn’t respond immediately. He just continued to watch Yvette carefully, his face serious. Finally, after a few seconds, he muttered, “Are you an ancient combat artist?”
The words seemed to hang in the air, and the three men froze. Ancient combat artists were a rare breed, individuals whose martial arts skills surpassed even the most skilled practitioners. Chris’s words carried weight. If he thought she was one of them, then they had no choice but to take her seriously.
Frankie’s jaw dropped. An ancient combat artist? His mind raced, trying to process this new information. How could that be?
Even Bruce, who had always been composed, looked visibly shocked. “Chris wouldn’t say something like that lightly. If he says she’s an ancient combat artist, then she must be,” he thought to himself.
Yvette, with a casual glance, confirmed the assumption. Her lips parted slightly as she said one word, barely above a whisper. “Yes.”
Chris, now fully aware of the situation, turned to Bruce and Frankie, motioning for them to move aside. They didn’t need any more convincing. They all knew the power of an ancient combat artist. And if Yvette was indeed one, then they had no business underestimating her any longer.
With a traditional fist salute, Chris addressed Yvette, his respect now evident. “Please, Ms. Zeller,” he said, stepping back.
Without further ado, Yvette launched into action. The two of them went at it with intense speed, their movements blurring as they sparred. The sound of their strikes echoed through the room, a symphony of skill and power.
Bruce and Frankie stood in awe. They could hardly follow the fluidity of their movements, each strike landing with precision. Five minutes passed in what felt like seconds. Then, with a sharp crack, Chris was on the ground, panting for breath, defeated.
Yvette stood where she had been, unruffled, her posture immaculate. There was not a single crease in her clothes, and she looked as though she hadn’t even broken a sweat.
For a long moment, the room was silent. Frankie blinked several times, still trying to process what had just happened. Chris—my idol—was beaten just like that?
Frankie turned his gaze to Yvette, a new sense of admiration filling his eyes. This woman… he thought, she’s something else.
Chris, still on the floor, looked up at Yvette with a mix of awe and respect. “I admit defeat, Ms. Zeller,” he said, his voice laced with genuine admiration. “You’re incredible. Mr. Chavez really knows how to spot talent. How is it possible for someone in her twenties to be this skilled in ancient martial arts?”
Yvette’s eyes flashed with cool authority as she responded, “Any objections? If not, prepare the gear. We leave at six tomorrow morning.”
The three men were quick to respond, their earlier doubts completely erased. “No objections,” they said in unison.
Emmett, who had silently observed the entire scene, nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry, I’ll prepare everything on the list. We’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
Yvette nodded in approval, then picked up her backpack from the couch. Without another word, she headed for the door.
Emmett, noticing she was leaving, quickly called out, “Ms. Zeller, you should take this suite. We’ll find another hotel nearby.”
But Yvette paused at the door, her expression still calm. “There’s no need,” she replied. “I’ve already reserved a room at 520. I’ll meet you all downstairs in the morning.”
As she left, Emmett turned to the others, still processing the implications. “520? That’s the top presidential suite,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and confusion.
The group moved on, their mission set for the jungle ahead. But now, with Yvette’s incredible skills on full display, they knew they had underestimated her. And as they prepared to venture into the unknown, they would soon discover just how much more they had to learn from the
