Chapter 18: Yvette Doesn’t Let Me Get in the Car
My heart immediately sank as I saw Yvette approach, holding the gift bag. Was this really for me, a gift for our anniversary, or had it been meant for Hand all along? My mind raced, caught between disbelief and a flicker of hope.
She got closer, and the tension grew. The conflicting emotions of doubt and unexpected anticipation warred within me. It wasn’t until the car door opened that my thoughts shattered. She glared at me, her lips barely moving, “Get out.”
Drone-like, I was unable to process the words. “What did you say?”
Her face was cold as she repeated, “Get out.”
Saman, startled, glanced back at her but said nothing. She then took my hand and bitterly smiled at myself. What was I thinking? She’d given me a gift; I had no right to expect anything.
She asked me to leave the car. Fixing my gaze on hers, I asked, “Why? You invited me to the gathering, and now you want me to get out? What’s going on?”
She had asked me to come to entertain Alex, but he wasn’t even there. I’d encountered a little trouble from her sharp eyes narrowed as she said, “Wasn’t that your idea? Go, meet your husband, get your stuff, and leave.”
She added, mockingly, “Or perhaps, if you move back in, I’ll help you pack your things later?”
There was no way I was going back to live with her. That would be volunteering to be her housekeeper again; I wasn’t that stupid. Without saying anything, I stepped out of the car. Her face darkened, and without a word, she slammed the door, getting in the car. The engine roared to life as she barked, “Drive.”
The driver hesitated, “Ma’am, this is a residential area. It’s difficult to get a cab here. How will Mr. Yates get home?”
She scoffed. “He’s smart. He’ll figure it out.”
I stepped out of the car. The car sped away, leaving me standing in the street, watching the mansion behind me—filled with people I despised. I would never beg them for help. I pulled up my ride-hailing app, but no one accepted the request.
My heart sank further. This was an upscale neighborhood; everyone had cars, often more than one. Reluctantly, I started walking, grumbling to myself. Yvette had pushed me out into the rain like a stray dog. Even Samson was kinder than her.
My body ached from the heat, and my legs felt numb. Then, out of nowhere, a thunderous crack of lightning split the sky, followed by the screech of a car. A car suddenly swerved and headed straight for me. I barely had time to react. My body collapsed to the side instinctively, thinking the car was deliberately trying to hit me. I heard the screech of brakes.
The car stopped, and a woman leaned out, holding an umbrella. She ran toward me to shield me from the rain. “So sorry! Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
I examined my body, but I reassured her, “I’m fine, no injuries.”
She looked quite panicked. When I looked closer, I saw a cute young woman with big, bright eyes and two adorable dimples when she smiled.
“Lam! I’m in my senior year, doing an internship. I just got my driver’s license, and I’m still not very good at driving. The rain made it worse. I should take you to the hospital for a check-up. I’ll pay for any medical expenses.”
I didn’t want to make her feel worse. I smiled and said, “You seem young; I thought you were underage. I don’t need to go to the hospital, but could you give me a ride?”
She blurted, “Well, it’s impolite, but I’ll show you my license, and will, with the… ”
Her voice trailed off, and I could see she was nervous. Having dealt with strong, domineering women like Yvette, I suddenly felt protective toward this sweet, innocent young woman. She was so pure and vulnerable.
(I had a driver’s license. How about…)
I was behind the wheel, with her in the passenger seat. As I drove, we chatted, and discovered we both studied animation—she was an illustrator, just like me. We found common ground and privately enjoyed the conversation. Despite her shy demeanor, we really connected. As we parted ways, she gave me her number, saying she hoped we could meet again.
I got back home, only to find my family looking displeased. Their expressions darkened.
Hell broke loose, and I was immediately questioned. They were prepared to take a statement.
After the interrogation was over and I had changed, Ky quickly approached, his expression serious. “Did they make things difficult for you?”
I just laughed. “It was them who were humbled, Uncle. You’ve sent that test in front of them. They turned pale.”
(Lies.) “Then why are you nonchalant? Duke Yerine would take you home.”
Kenny whispered, “Do you think L’in layang that? They made you walk in the rain.”
I was almost home, so I decided to walk a bit and enjoy the rain. I was a little frustrated, but it was mutual; that made her feel embarrassed, too.
Wahyu said I need to look for a job, because soon enough, companies would be knocking down our door, offering me a job.
“Anyway, I got a little revenge today,” Keay pursed his lips. “Your hypothesis was good, but…” I shook my head.
He looked at me, confused. “Why not?”
…ahead and retold…
Chapter 18: Yvette Doesn’t Let Me Get in the Car (Continued)
I lowered my gaze. “Because Lila knows about my identity. I don’t want her to know that things aren’t going well for me.”
In this life, I owed a lot to Lila. It was best for her to stay safe and happy abroad, living her life without any worries about me.
Kenny seemed to want to say something but held back, ultimately saying nothing.
The next day, while Kenny went off to work, I went for interviews. I continued sending out resumes, and because my school was well-regarded, I had a lot of opportunities.
I was hopping from one interview to the next, fitting them all in between sips of water, with barely a moment to eat. But soon, an intense pain started in my stomach.
I doubled over, clutching my abdomen, drenched in cold sweat as the sharp, familiar pain returned. It felt like the agony I had once suffered from stomach cancer, terrifying and overwhelming. I fainted from the pain.
I found myself in a hospital bed when I woke up. A familiar, gentle voice was calling my name.