Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_265
Aurora peeked out from behind Clifford’s back, her expression a strange blend of shock, joy, and confusion. Her thoughts whirled. So, now the situation is this: Yvette is actually my dream daughter-in-law… and she’s Jeremiah’s girlfriend?
Her mind quickly shifted gears. She couldn’t help but smile to herself. She and Jeremiah clearly had excellent taste—they had both chosen the same wonderful woman. She felt a sudden bond with him, a shared appreciation for Yvette that made everything feel more connected.
Clifford, noticing Aurora hiding behind him, gently pulled her out from behind his back. His voice held a hint of playful reprimand. You’re going to be a mother-in-law now. Stop acting like a child. Quit hiding.
Without Clifford’s protective figure in front of her, Aurora felt a bit uneasy. She shot him a brief glare, then turned to face Yvette. Aurora had promised herself she’d be a gentle, charming mother-in-law, someone who would make a great first impression. But now, after what just happened, she felt she had failed at the first hurdle.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, but she wasn’t about to let it show. In a moment of sheer panic, she quickly fabricated a lie. “Well, actually, what you saw wasn’t me. You must be sleepwalking. Do you believe me?” she said, with the kind of false confidence that even she didn’t believe.
Jeremiah and Clifford both stared at her, utterly speechless.
Aurora, now completely absentminded, found her gaze lingering on Yvette. Her mind wandered briefly, imagining what would happen if she knocked Yvette out right now… but then, her head dropped, and her energy faded. The image of the powerful businesswoman who could command the corporate world was gone. What was left now was a figure radiating complete dejection.
Yvette, for her part, slowly lifted her eyes and met Aurora’s gaze. Her expression was calm, neutral, but her voice—though simple—was full of understated admiration. “You were pretty cool just now.”
Aurora’s head snapped up at Yvette’s words, her surprise quickly transforming into delight. Yvette thinks I’m cool? she thought, thrilled by the praise. “Yvette, you think I’m cool, right? Let me tell you, I wasn’t even serious back there. If I showed you all my killer moves from my younger days, you would have been impressed already. I even once trained under an old monk! But don’t let that get out, I’m really humble about it,” she added, as though the information were nothing more than a casual anecdote.
This revelation, particularly about the monk, took both Clifford and Jeremiah by surprise. They stood there, unable to comprehend Aurora’s nonchalance. After all these years of knowing her, they had come to expect the unexpected from Aurora. Still, even Clifford, who had seen it all, was a little taken aback by her strange whims.
Aurora, sensing the awkwardness, patted her chest and added confidently, “Don’t worry. If there’s ever a fight, just call me. I’ve got your back. With those thin arms and legs, you’re probably not cut out for fighting, but that’s okay. We’re family, right? I’ll step in, and you just stay behind me.” She spoke with all the confidence of a natural leader.
Yvette, with a knowing glance, recognized that Aurora’s demeanor didn’t exactly scream “martial artist,” but she remained composed. “Okay,” she replied simply, not wanting to call out Aurora on her exaggerated claims.
Aurora, watching Yvette’s calm response, felt a soft warmth spread in her chest. She found Yvette both cute and well-behaved, and her heart melted a little at the thought.
Jeremiah, however, couldn’t stand to watch this exchange any longer. He knew full well that if Aurora had seen Yvette take down a crocodile with her bare hands, she wouldn’t have said such ridiculous things. But for now, he chose to stay silent.
On the side, Clifford, who had been quietly observing, sighed helplessly. He’d seen Aurora’s mood swing from excitement to dejection in the blink of an eye. He’d come to accept that this was just part of who she was. At fifty-something, Aurora could still be easily thrilled when someone praised her—though she also had a knack for making it all about herself. And all that talk about the old monk? Well, it was a bit of a stretch. He had taught her a few techniques, but she’d never quite gotten the hang of them. In fact, she had frustrated the old monk so much that he’d eventually retreated into a monastery, never to be seen again.
Jeremiah, glancing over at the pair of women, felt a pang of jealousy. He couldn’t deny how close Aurora and Yvette seemed to be growing. His irritation wasn’t just about Yvette stealing his attention—it was the fact that Aurora, his own mother, was now so easily bonding with the woman he cared about.
Yvette, however, remained her usual cool self. Her jet-black eyes glinted with calm assurance. As Jeremiah stepped forward and gently took her hand, the perfect couple seemed to stand together in the room, looking every bit the ideal match.
Aurora’s eyes sparkled at the sight of them standing side by side. That’s a perfect pair, she thought. But then, a flicker of disappointment crept into her heart. She’d always cared so much about appearances, and here she was, looking at the handsome couple and realizing, with some frustration, that Yvette was with Jeremiah—not her.
Jeremiah turned to face Clifford and Aurora, his expression serious. “Dad, Mom, this is my girlfriend Yvette. She’s going to be my wife and the mother of my children.”
Clifford, though internally pleased, kept his face neutral. He glanced at their hands, fingers intertwined in a simple, natural gesture. “Alright, got it,” he said, his voice low. His demeanor toward Jeremiah remained distant, almost as if he didn’t care much, but when he turned his gaze to Yvette, there was a warmth in his eyes that wasn’t there before. He nodded at her, then spoke more gently. “Hello, I’m Clifford, Jeremiah’s father.”
Yvette met his gaze, her voice smooth and calm. “Hello, I’m Yvette, Jeremiah’s girlfriend.”
Their introductions carried a formal tone, an acknowledgment of the shift in roles. Clifford was more than satisfied with what he saw. As long as Yvette had strength and purpose, he would support her—no matter what had happened in Betrico. The Chavez family was known for one thing: they protected their own, and they didn’t tolerate nonsense.
Meanwhile, Aurora, ever the schemer, stepped forward and subtly pried Yvette’s hand from Jeremiah’s grasp. With a smooth motion, she took over Jeremiah’s place and held Yvette’s hand firmly. Jeremiah stared at his now-empty hand, his eye twitching in annoyance.
He couldn’t help but remind her, “Mom, she’s my girlfriend.”
Aurora simply nodded, her voice cool and confident. “I know. She’s my daughter-in-law.”
Jeremiah, once again defeated by his mother’s shamelessness, could only glare at her. The way she so effortlessly took what was his had him flustered. But he couldn’t do anything about it.
Clifford cleared his throat. “Aurora, you’re my wife.”
Aurora smirked and squinted at him. “I know. And Yvette is my daughter-in-law.”
Clifford had the unmistakable feeling that his status in the family was about to drop once again.
Without care for anyone’s feelings, Aurora slid a charm bracelet from her wrist—one she’d worn for years—and slipped it onto Yvette’s wrist. “Here,” she said with a soft chuckle. “For safety.”
Both Jeremiah and Clifford were momentarily stunned. The bracelet had special significance for Aurora. She hadn’t given it to anyone lightly. This gesture spoke volumes about her acceptance of Yvette, though it was an unspoken sentiment.
And so, the stage was set. A new dynamic was forming. The ties were being established, not just between the generations, but between the bonds of family and love.
