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Chapter_179
Inside the villa, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Sienna, guilt lining her face, instinctively shrank back as she met Yvette’s eyes. Her voice was small, almost apologetic.
“Yve, I didn’t mean to hide my pregnancy. Nathan tampered with the condoms,” she stammered, the weight of her words making her shrink even further.
Yvette, her expression unreadable as always, sniffed and raised an eyebrow. Sienna’s gaze dropped, her words coming out in a hurried whisper. “Blame me for coveting appearance a little too much. It wasn’t my intention… he has no power over me anymore.”
Frankie, noticing the tension between the two women, discreetly grabbed a cup of water and backed away. He knew better than to get involved in women’s disputes—too much fallout to risk.
Yvette’s gaze flicked to Sienna, her dark eyes sharp and unyielding. “It’s your choice whether to keep the child. No one can take responsibility for your life,” she said, her voice calm but firm.
The words hit Sienna like a blow to the chest. She wondered if Yvette was blaming her for what had happened. She felt a pang of sadness at the thought.
Yvette’s legs were crossed, and she let out a soft frown, unsure why Sienna was suddenly feeling down. “Don’t worry about the child. Raising him should be easy. I raised myself just fine.”
Frankie nearly spat his water out, blinking in surprise. “Wait, you raised yourself?” He exaggeratedly gave Yvette a thumbs-up, his voice full of mock awe. “Yvette, what do you mean?”
Yvette shot him a glance, her eyes sharp with a silent warning. The message was clear: Are you an idiot?
After a brief pause, Yvette continued, her tone matter-of-fact. “I cooked for myself, dressed myself, studied, and earned a living. Does that confuse you?”
She didn’t add that since she was a child, she had been entirely self-taught, never understanding what others considered “struggle.” Life for her had been about survival, not pity.
Frankie stared at her, momentarily lost in thought. He couldn’t help but admire her unshakable self-sufficiency. He thought, What did God deny Yvette? Beauty? Talent? No. She’s stunning, and a world-renowned artist—her painting once sold for 160 million at auction.
He gazed at her for a long time, finally conceding that life seemed to have dealt Yvette an unfair hand. She was flawless in every way.
Sienna, breaking the silence, glanced at Yvette, her expression sheepish. “Yve, you’re not mad at me, are you?”
Yvette simply hummed, her lips curling slightly at the corner. “Hmm.”
Sienna visibly relaxed, the tension in her shoulders easing.
Meanwhile, Emmett and Chris had made it back to the villa in record time, just ten minutes after Nathan’s departure. They entered the living room with brisk steps, calling out, “Yvette, Frankie, you two okay?”
Frankie, Sienna, and Yvette turned as the two men approached. Emmett’s sharp eyes immediately darted toward the unfamiliar woman in the living room. His brows furrowed as he assumed she was just another one of Frankie’s girlfriends and was about to reprimand him.
Frankie quickly caught the look and raised a hand in defense. “This is Sienna, a good friend of Yvette. She’ll be staying here for a while.”
Emmett’s tension lifted as he heard this. He gave Sienna a polite nod, his demeanor shifting from suspicion to warmth. “Ah, I see. Welcome. I’m Emmett, and this is Chris. Yvette’s friends—and now, yours too. Feel free to make yourself at home.”
Chris, less comfortable around women, gave a stiff nod and added, “I’m Chris.”
Sienna, still feeling a bit out of place, nodded back politely. “Hello, I’m Sienna. I’m sorry for any trouble this might cause. I’ll move out as soon as things settle.”
After the introductions, Emmett and Chris’s attention turned to Yvette and Frankie, their faces more serious now. Emmett asked with concern, “Yvette, Frankie—was there a man here just now? Did you see him?”
Emmett avoided mentioning Nathan’s name directly, but the implication was clear.
Frankie, ever the tactician, first nodded before shaking his head, leaving Emmett and Chris in confusion.
Emmett, sensing there was more to the story, glanced at Yvette, who was still seated on the sofa, her attention absorbed by her phone.
“Yvette,” he asked cautiously, “Did a man with flashy looks come by just now?”
Yvette barely looked up from her phone, a message flashing across her screen. [Re: Judge position for this year’s International Piano Competition.]
The message was a formal invitation for her to be a judge for the third consecutive year at the prestigious competition. She replied flatly: No need.
Once she sent the message, she looked at the others and answered in her usual calm tone, “Yes, he came and just left.”
Sienna, sensing the tension, quietly asked, “Was that man Nathan?”
Emmett and Chris exchanged surprised looks. They hadn’t expected her to know about Nathan so soon. Sienna, sensing their eyes on her, stepped back toward Yvette, feeling safer near her.
She thought, How many enemies has my ex-boyfriend made?
Frankie, sensing Sienna’s unease, quickly explained, “No, don’t scare her. That scumbag is the reason Sienna is hiding here. She wanted to break up with him, but he refused to let go and chased after her. Yvette brought her here because she was afraid he might hurt her.”
Everyone in the room knew that Frankie had lost over a billion dollars to Nathan three years ago. After that, the Goodman family had paid the price when Jeremiah led a group to intercept arms from them, costing Nathan dearly.
Emmett and Chris listened to Frankie’s explanation but seemed less interested in the details of Sienna and Nathan’s troubled relationship. They were more concerned about the implications of Sienna staying at the villa.
Emmett, still a little uneasy, asked, “Ms. Sterling, are you sure about breaking up with Nathan? He’s not someone you can just walk away from.”
Sienna’s expression hardened with resolve. “Yes. I’m sure. I truly want to break up, but I don’t want to drag anyone else into this. If it’s inconvenient for you…”
Emmett cut her off with a wave of his hand.
“The Goodman family might rule Mysonna, but they’re just kings of this territory. There are others who could deal with them. Don’t worry about Nathan—he’s more of a nuisance than a threat.”
Yvette, still leaning back casually, her voice cool, added with a dismissive tone, “It’s just Nathan. There’s no need to be nervous. If he becomes a hassle, just kill him.”
Emmett froze for a moment, processing Yvette’s blunt words. He knew her reputation, but even this was a step further than expected.
Chris, though hesitating, spoke up, his tone more serious than usual. “Yvette, the Goodman family has significant power. They’re not easy to confront.”
Yvette smirked, clearly unfazed. “Neither am I.”
The conversation turned quiet, and for a moment, Frankie just watched the three of them. Yvette had already proven her point by shooting Nathan earlier—she wasn’t someone to be underestimated. But still, the Goodman family’s power was vast, and a reminder of that was always useful.
Yvette’s eyes gleamed with something cold, something predatory. She wasn’t concerned in the slightest. For her, the war with Nathan was just beginning.
