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Novel Catalog
Chapter_282
Jeremiah watched in silence as Yvette and Samantha made their way to the couch, talking quietly between themselves. He let out a deep sigh before following them, his steps calm, almost as if he had grown accustomed to situations like this. It wasn’t the first time, after all.
The rest of the group quickly parted to make way for the trio. They all understood one thing very clearly—none of them held the same status as Yvette to act with such ease and authority around him.
As the three of them settled on the couch, Jared, sensing the tension in the room, made an attempt to liven up the atmosphere, but it was clear to everyone that the mood had shifted. Now, the group was more reserved, cautious. Their eyes frequently darted toward the trio, uncertain and uneasy.
To be fair, the sight of the three of them sitting together was undeniably striking. Yvette, with her poised elegance, Samantha, with her unapproachable charm, and Jeremiah, holding his usual composed demeanor—together, they were a magnetic force.
Keira, however, was clearly not getting the outcome she had hoped for. The smile on her face vanished, replaced with clenched teeth and simmering frustration. She turned to Joel, who had finally shaken off the shock of the evening, but the sight of him only made her blood boil. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she suddenly lunged at him, grabbing his hand desperately.
“Joel, please forgive me! I’ll never do it again, I swear!” she sobbed, her voice cracking with emotion.
Joel, his patience already worn thin, immediately yanked his hand away. “Keira, let’s part ways amicably. Leave now,” he said coldly, his words sharp and final.
Her emotions boiled over at his indifference. Her eyes flashed with fury as she realized the leverage she had relied on was slipping away. Without Joel’s protection, all those she had wronged might retaliate. With a sudden, wild determination, she snapped, her voice rising to a hysterical pitch, “Joel, since you’re so heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Joel’s heart skipped a beat. The panic in her voice sent an icy shiver down his spine. He could feel her intentions shift, and it terrified him. “What is she planning to do?” he wondered.
Keira’s outburst cut through the tense silence that had fallen over the room, dragging everyone’s attention to her. Just as Samantha finished mixing a cocktail for Yvette, the music halted, and every eye in the room turned toward the commotion. The lively atmosphere dissipated in an instant.
Only Jeremiah and Yvette seemed unaffected. Jeremiah remained focused on peeling an apple for Yvette, his head not even lifting to acknowledge the disruption. Yvette, her attention on the cocktail in her hand, was deep in thought. She considered the prospect of having another drink. What if I get too tipsy and end up in a fight? she mused. Glancing at Jeremiah, who was still absorbed in his task, she wondered if he could handle it if things went south. She had no idea whether to drink more or stop.
But Keira, clearly feeling ignored by the trio, wasn’t about to let things go. “Ms. Zeller,” she shouted, her voice laced with venom. “Did you know that before you arrived, everyone was saying Samantha was Mr. Chavez’s childhood sweetheart? That they were the perfect match? They even said you came from a small town and weren’t good enough for him!”
Keira’s words hung in the air, exaggerated and cutting. The room fell into a heavy silence, the other guests frozen in fear. Is this reckless woman trying to drag us into her mess? they wondered, their faces pale.
Joel’s face turned white with panic as he saw Jeremiah’s sharp gaze lock onto him. Oh no, this isn’t good, he thought, quickly rushing to stop Keira.
“Shut up! When did we ever say that? Are you out of your mind? Don’t try to pin this on us!” he blurted, his voice high with anxiety.
The others, realizing the gravity of the situation, hurried to explain themselves. “Jeremiah, Ms. Zeller, she’s lying. We never said anything like that!” one of them protested.
“Yeah, we swear, Jeremiah! You have to believe us!” another chimed in, sweat beading on their forehead.
“She’s just mad because Joel wants to break up with her!” a third added, their voice laced with concern.
Samantha, watching the flurry of excuses from the group, couldn’t help but tilt her head and speak up. “They’re smart enough to know what they can and can’t say. They didn’t have the guts to talk like that behind your back. This woman’s just trying to stir up trouble.”
Her words immediately calmed some of the tension in the room. The group threw grateful looks her way, appreciating her defense of them. Now, all eyes were on Yvette, waiting for her to make the next move.
Yvette, calm and unbothered, rested her arm on the couch, her sleeves casually rolled up. Her icy, beautiful gaze swept over the room, arching an eyebrow slightly as she set her drink down on the table. Tilting her head slightly, she addressed Jeremiah. “I’m not good enough for you?” she asked softly, her voice like ice. “Is that so? Do I not deserve you?”
Jeremiah, glancing at the uneasy crowd, took a moment before responding firmly, “Not good enough? I’m the one who’s not good enough for her, not the other way around. Got it?”
The room went dead silent. His words hung in the air like a heavy weight. Jeremiah—who was known for his arrogance and pride—was humbling himself for Yvette. The crowd stared in disbelief, unsure of how to react. What kind of charm does Yvette have to make him say that? they wondered. If even Jeremiah isn’t good enough for her, who would dare claim they are?
Yvette’s eyes, sharp and clear, scanned the room. In a quiet, flat tone, she asked, “Did you all hear that clearly?”
A collective “Yes” rang out from the crowd, their voices more synchronized than a military drill. They couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. How did we let ourselves be so intimidated by one woman?
Turning her attention back to Samantha, Yvette’s eyes subtly motioned toward the empty glass in front of her. It was a wordless request for another drink.
Samantha, her eye twitching in frustration, began to mix another cocktail. She had never imagined that, as the powerful CEO of her company, she would end up playing bartender for someone else. But when it came to Yvette, it seemed she was unable to refuse her. There was something commanding about her presence that she couldn’t resist.
Meanwhile, Keira, seeing everything backfire, felt the weight of her failure. Her plans had been foiled. This wasn’t the outcome she had imagined.
In desperation, she attempted her usual dramatic stunt. “If you break up with me, Joel, I’ll kill myself right here!” she screamed, her voice shrill with madness. “Let’s see how the media spins that story!” She then pointed at everyone around the room, accusing, “And the rest of you, with your privileged backgrounds—what will you do if you’re labeled as murderers?”
The group, stunned and horrified, glanced nervously at each other. The thought of the media turning this into a scandal was terrifying. The idea of their reputations being tarnished by her actions sent them into a frenzy. They glared at Keira, but their frustration was mixed with fear.
Keira, feeling empowered by the panic in the room, turned back to Joel with an arrogant smile. “Well, Joel? Are you breaking up with me or not? Just say it!” she demanded, her voice full of venom.
Joel, who was about to cave in to her threats, felt a wave of disgust wash over him. If he had known what kind of woman Keira was, he never would have gotten involved with her.
Just as he was about to speak, a calm, cold voice cut through the tension. “You want to kill yourself?”
Everyone turned to look, and the room fell into an eerie silence. It was Yvette, her face slightly flushed from the three cocktails she had consumed. She had quietly stood up from the couch, her posture unbothered as she walked toward Keira with purpose.
Jeremiah, watching her, thought to himself, She’s only had three cocktails. They’re not even strong. She’ll be fine, right?
Yvette stopped in front of Keira, her eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down the room’s spine. “Are you really thinking of killing yourself?” she asked again, her voice now eerily calm.
Keira, now bracing herself, laughed manically, determined not to back down. “Yes, if Joel breaks up with me today, I’ll throw myself against the wall and kill myself!” she screamed, eyes wide with defiance.
Yvette’s expression remained cold and serious, her eyelids slightly lowered. After a moment, she lifted them, her eyes now bright, clear, and focused.
She muttered under her breath, “I’ve already asked twice.”
The room was left in stunned silence. No one understood what she meant, and they looked around, confused. What does asking twice have to do with anything? they wondered, but they could sense that something was about to change.
