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Novel Catalog
Chapter 250
Upon hearing James’s words, Yvette turned her attention to Samuel, who stood at the top of the steps, his brow furrowed, exuding an air of defiance.
Just then, a white car pulled up in front of Bamboo Hall, followed closely by a black vehicle. The doors opened, and out stepped an elderly man with neatly combed gray hair. He wore a dark, patterned suit—handmade and undoubtedly expensive.
Then, a young boy emerged from the second car. The boy was thin and seemed to move closer to the elderly man, keeping his head lowered. He began counting on his fingers and muttering words softly under his breath, words that no one could quite catch.
One of the bodyguards from the black car handed the old man a cane, which he accepted with a nod. The elderly man scanned the area before his eyes landed on Yvette and Samuel standing on the steps. From his position, he could only see Yvette’s back, but he could clearly make out Samuel’s figure.
James’s brow furrowed slightly as he observed the scene. Samuel, noticing that Yvette remained unfazed by his previous remarks, was about to escalate the situation when his eyes caught sight of the elderly man stepping out of the car.
Realizing the importance of the moment, Samuel quickly adjusted his suit, brushing off any signs of tension, and walked forward with respect. When he reached the elderly man, he spoke with a modicum of humility, “Mr. Owens, welcome. The private room is ready. We’ve been waiting for you and your guests.”
The elderly man was none other than James Owens, the director of the National Physics Lab in Betrico and one of the most respected elders in Clusia. He had been a leading figure in the country’s physics field, known for his early studies abroad and significant contributions to Clusia’s scientific community.
James had dedicated his entire career to advancing the country’s physics projects, and his role in Clusia’s scientific achievements could not be overstated. Samuel had only met James twice, and they weren’t particularly familiar with one another. Despite that, Samuel understood that no one, not even families as powerful as the Lake family, could match the influence James wielded.
Samuel’s overly friendly demeanor toward James was a calculated move—he wanted to show Yvette that Bamboo Hall should not be underestimated, even in the face of such high-profile individuals.
James observed Samuel’s behavior, but instead of responding, he simply ignored the young man’s attempts at politeness. Instead, he turned his attention to the boy, who was still muttering quietly to himself, his eyes fixated on the ground.
“Michael,” James called softly, his voice kind. “Let’s go inside. Soon, you’ll meet the person you’ve been so eager to see.”
Michael, his head still down, suddenly lifted it. His delicate face lit up, and his eyes sparkled with a childlike enthusiasm. There wasn’t a trace of malice in his gaze—just a pure, innocent curiosity. He nodded excitedly, clutching James’s sleeve and urging him, “Grandpa, let’s hurry! I can’t wait!”
Samuel, seeing this interaction, curled his lips in disdain. The boy named Michael must be the fool of the Owens family, Samuel thought. James must be so unfortunate to have such a fate. His son and daughter-in-law died young, and now his grandson…
Michael seemed to sense the hostility from Samuel and quickly took a step back, his face showing signs of unease. He looked at Samuel, then at James, as if seeking reassurance.
James, not fully understanding Michael’s discomfort, placed a hand on his shoulder and reassured him, “It’s alright, Michael. Don’t be scared.”
Seizing the opportunity, Samuel jumped in, “Mr. Owens, should we go inside first? Has your guest arrived? If you need me to, I can wait here personally.”
However, before James could respond, he turned toward Yvette, who was now slowly turning to face him. James’s face lit up with genuine excitement, and with his cane tapping the ground, he moved past Samuel without another word, heading straight for Yvette.
Michael, still not lifting his head, followed closely behind James, maintaining a steady pace.
Samuel, left in bewilderment, quickly scrambled to catch up. His heart was pounding in his chest as he tried to make sense of the scene before him.
When James reached the bottom of the steps, he stopped directly in front of Yvette. His voice, though slightly quivering with age, carried warmth and concern. “Yvette, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you send me a message? Have you been waiting long? You must be tired. Please, come inside. It’s so hot out here. You’re fair-skinned—you don’t want to get tanned.”
Samuel’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt as he watched the exchange, his face going pale as despair slowly set in. If FastPulse Technologies won’t invest in Bamboo Hall, we can always find another partner. But Yvette being so familiar with James? This changes everything.
Samuel’s mind raced. If James found out what had just happened—if he discovered the issue at Bamboo Hall—it could destroy everything. James’s influence was unmatched, and his words carried weight that could topple businesses with a single comment.
Betrico’s high society revered James. Many would find it difficult even to meet him, let alone engage in conversation. Samuel had hoped to maintain an air of control, but now, standing on the precipice of losing everything, he felt powerless.
Yvette, however, remained calm and composed. She nodded politely at James, her voice steady. “Thank you for your concern. Let’s choose another place.”
James paused for a moment, then turned to look at Samuel. The look in his eyes was one of quiet understanding, as if he already suspected something had gone wrong before his arrival.
James’s demeanor shifted. He tapped his cane on the floor, and the sound resonated in the air, sending a wave of unease through Samuel. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on Samuel’s chest.
Michael, who had been watching the exchange, suddenly grew quiet. When Yvette’s gaze swept over him, Michael quickly looked away, his cheeks flushed with shyness. He hid behind James, stealing furtive glances at Yvette. His eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and awe.
James spoke again, his tone lighthearted. “Let’s go somewhere else. We’ve eaten here at Bamboo Hall for so many years, but it’s become old news. I think it’s time we try something new.”
Samuel felt as though the ground had been ripped out from under him. His hands trembled as he watched James, Yvette, and Michael move past him, the weight of the situation becoming unbearable.
Samuel collapsed onto the floor, his knees buckling beneath him. His voice trembled as he pulled out his phone. He dialed his father’s number with a shaky hand.
When the call went through, he spoke with a hollow voice, “Dad, it’s over. Bamboo Hall is finished.”
After leaving Bamboo Hall, James and his party found another discreet restaurant, one that also required membership but offered even better food. Although the ambiance wasn’t as elegant as Bamboo Hall, the food was far superior.
Once seated in a private room, James instructed his bodyguards to leave, and only Yvette, James, and Michael remained.
James was the first to break the silence. His voice held a touch of reflection. “Hello, Siren. If I hadn’t seen you for myself today, I would have had a hard time believing that you were Siren.”
Yvette gave a small, polite smile. She lowered her gaze slightly and held her coffee cup with a graceful hand. “Call me Yvette. It was just a lucky break.”
James waved a hand dismissively. “Yvette, the new energy projects you’ve been working on have also been researched abroad. If you had shared your thesis and experimental data with them, I’m sure you would have been rewarded handsomely. But instead, you gave it to Simon anonymously in exchange for a spot at Argrol University. That’s an unfair trade. With that data, you could have gotten into Mysonna’s top universities, not to mention one as obscure as Argrol. It shows your dedication to your country.”
Yvette took a sip of water, then set the glass down. Her gaze flickered momentarily as she replied softly, “No.”
James chuckled, his expression confident. “You can’t deny it, Yvette. Even if you did, I wouldn’t believe you. Patriots are always so humble.”
Yvette said nothing in response. She simply looked at James, her face calm but unreadable.
