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Chapter_290
Jeremiah noticed Aurora’s protective stance and lightly coughed, pressing a hand to his lips.
‘Is Mom jealous that I’m looking at Yvette?’ he wondered, brow furrowed in confusion. His playful attitude shifted as he tried to address the situation more seriously. His tone took on a stern edge as he turned to face Aurora. “Mom, she’s my girlfriend.”
Aurora, however, was unperturbed. Without hesitation, she stood tall, positioning herself in front of Yvette with an air of unwavering confidence. Her voice rang out boldly, demanding attention. “Yvette and I are closer,” she declared. “Let’s have a fight. Whoever wins gets to take her!” The challenge hung in the air like a dare, and her arrogance was palpable.
Seeing the brewing storm between mother and son, Clifford, who had been observing the exchange, could feel the weight of a potential battle looming. He put down his newspaper, the familiar headache beginning to form. As the head of the household, he was all too familiar with the routine—he couldn’t afford to provoke either Jeremiah or Yvette. The best strategy, he had learned over the years, was to keep his head down and let them sort things out themselves. Staying out of family conflicts had long since become his art form.
Yvette, who had been silently watching Aurora with a hint of amusement, tilted her head slightly. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, followed Aurora’s movements. Then, without warning, her fingers curled, and she spoke in her usual detached tone. “You can’t beat him. But if you really want to fight him, I can help.”
Jeremiah froze, shocked by his mother’s words. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Aurora, too, blinked in disbelief, momentarily speechless. ‘My goodness! How can there be such an adorable girl?’ Aurora thought to herself, a mix of admiration and confusion.
Jeremiah’s expression morphed from surprise to a deeper realization. He looked from his mother to Aurora, both of whom appeared eager for the fight. ‘No mother would be this excited about beating up her own son, right? I guess I’m doomed to lose to these two for the rest of my life,’ he thought.
He sighed and bit his lip in resignation. “Fine, I give up, Mom. You win.”
Clifford, who had been silently watching the scene unfold, shot Jeremiah a sideways glance. ‘He should have given in sooner,’ he thought, shaking his head. ‘I’ve been losing to Aurora for years. What did he expect? It’s just like a few days ago.’
By the time Yvette and Jeremiah returned to Skyland, the clock had already struck midnight. Yvette went upstairs to shower first, taking her time to unwind after the day’s events. When she returned downstairs, she found that Jeremiah had prepared a midnight snack for her: beef pasta, freshly ordered lobster, and a milkshake.
It had become her go-to late-night meal, a comfort she never grew tired of. She curled up on the sofa, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as she savored the food.
Jeremiah, on the other hand, wasn’t someone who indulged in late-night snacks. But tonight, as he sat beside her, he gently peeled the lobster and placed it on her plate.
For a long while, they sat in companionable silence, the soft clink of utensils the only sound between them. But then, Jeremiah, his mind still working, finally broke the quiet. He glanced at Yvette before speaking casually, “I went to Argrol University in Seacrity as a librarian at Mr. Owens’ request, to find Siren.”
Yvette paused mid-bite, her fingers briefly freezing around the milkshake cup. She set it down slowly, then raised her gaze to meet Jeremiah’s, her eyes unreadable. A soft, almost imperceptible laugh escaped her lips. “Oh? Did you find her?”
Jeremiah, ever calm, placed the last piece of lobster on her plate. He spoke with a lightness in his voice that belied the seriousness of the topic. “I think I did, and I fell in love with her. What should I do?”
Yvette’s eyes flicked to his strong profile, lit by the soft glow of the room’s lighting. For a moment, her heart fluttered unexpectedly. She half-closed her eyes, keeping her voice steady. “That means you have good taste. Keep loving her.”
Jeremiah let out a quiet chuckle. ‘Is Yvette acknowledging that she’s Siren?’ he wondered, his mind still processing her words. He felt a strange sense of relief. After all, out of billions of people, he had met Yvette at just the right time. It felt almost fated.
Just as they were sharing this brief, tender moment, Jeremiah’s phone rang. He answered it immediately, his face hardening as he listened to the voice on the other end. The message was urgent: “Mr. Chavez, Kaiden and Robin have secretly arrived at an apartment in Betrico. Our men are monitoring them. They didn’t come with the visiting Ybaulla delegation, and we suspect they might be plotting something. Should we take precautions?”
Jeremiah’s expression remained unflinching, his eyes cold as he responded in a measured voice, “Understood. Proceed as planned.”
“Understood, Mr. Chavez,” came the reply, and the call ended.
Jeremiah glanced over at Yvette, still sitting peacefully on the sofa, enjoying her meal. “Take your time eating,” he said gently. “Get to bed early tonight. I have some matters to attend to in the study.”
Yvette nodded, her gaze briefly flickering to his. “Okay, you go ahead and handle your business.”
For a moment, she studied him, her mind working behind her calm exterior. She had overheard his conversation. ‘It seems some people really need to meet in person,’ she thought, knowing something was brewing beneath the surface.
She then asked, almost casually, “When is the visiting Ybaulla delegation arriving?”
Jeremiah was momentarily surprised by her question. He had expected her to be more focused on her meal. But without hesitation, he answered, “The day after tomorrow at eleven.”
Yvette nodded in acknowledgment, then returned to her beef pasta without another word.
As the night deepened, the sky grew overcast, the moon and stars hidden behind thick clouds. The wind howled outside, shaking the trees. In the dim light of the bedroom, Yvette stood by the window, her phone glowing faintly in the darkness. On the screen was a conversation with Charles, though the details were hidden from view.
The next day, at ten o’clock, Andrew stepped out of the airport in Betrico. Dressed in trendy brand-name clothes and shoes that cost him two months’ salary, he carried himself with the air of someone who believed he was the coolest person in the world. Back in Betrico, he felt a surge of confidence, a return to his roots.
However, his focus shifted when he spotted a familiar figure ahead. Yvette was there, looking as graceful as ever. ‘What a coincidence,’ he thought, but before he could approach, a handsome man ran up to her.
Andrew froze. He couldn’t hear their conversation, but the joy on the man’s face was undeniable. To his horror, the man even helped Yvette with her black bag—an act that did not go unnoticed. ‘This isn’t normal,’ Andrew thought, his heart sinking.
He stood still, conflicted. ‘Should I confront him? This guy is messing with Jeremiah’s girlfriend… he’s asking for trouble!’ His determination flared, but just as quickly, doubt crept in. He felt a wave of hesitation wash over him. Could he really go through with it? His mind raced with imagined consequences, his sense of guilt gnawing at him.
