Chapter 203
At this moment, I didn’t dwell on the past–the memories of us together, the little moments that once meant so much.
It seemed I had truly let go. There was no anger, no resentment, just a familiar face, a stranger I hadn’t seen in ages.
“Mr. Parker, it’s been a while,” I said, smiling graciously.
The words were barely out of my mouth before Hayden’s expression darkened, his face losing the warmth that had briefly lingered there.
Yasir, unable to contain his shock, rushed up to me. “Yvonne, you’re really alive?” he asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Yes,” I replied, nodding without hesitation, offering no secrets or lies.
In truth, I could have returned to the country under a different identity, but where would the thrill in that be?
Seeing the looks on Yosef, Sophia, and Joanna’s faces–it was a rare and priceless spectacle.
“But why did you take so long to come back? You didn’t even let us know? Is Jethive Group… yours?” Yasir threw a barrage of questions my way, his eyes almost popping out of his head.
Nevin stood beside him, staring at me as if he couldn’t believe his own eyes. “Yvonne… didn’t die…”
I was about to say something when a voice rang out from the crowd.
“Yvonne?”
I froze.
No need to look; I knew instantly. It was Lucy calling me.
For years, only she called me like that.
In the past, hearing those two syllables always warmed my heart. But now, now it felt like I had been plunged into an ice cellar, the chill seeping into my bones from all sides.
But fate had no intention of granting me the chance to refuse. In the blink of an eye, Lucy was before me.
Her eyes were bloodshot as she trembled and touched my hand, stammering, “Yvonne, you’re really alive.”
She was so emotional, I thought she might try to hug me.
And just for a split second, something in me urged me to step back.
Maybe it was because of her ties to Joanna, or perhaps it was her delicate pink dress, the butterfly bow on her chest that I feared I might crush.
But in that brief moment, Lucy froze, her large, tear–filled eyes wide with confusion.
“Yvonne, what… what’s happening?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Miss Coffey, don’t crease your bow,” I said, a slight smile tugging at my lips.
She blinked, then looked down at her dress, realizing her mistake.
The entire interaction didn’t escape Hayden’s notice. His brow furrowed slightly as he took a step toward me, his voice low and rich, though surprisingly gentle. “Yvonne, where have you been all these years?”
I was used to his cold indifference, so this unexpected gentleness caught me off guard.
“We’ve been divorced for a while. Where I go is no longer your concern, is it?” I replied, maintaining my polite, distant smile.
Hayden’s eyes froze, the ice returning to his gaze.
At that moment, Marlon spoke up. “Yes, Mr. Parker, you’re overstepping, don’t you think?”
Nevin, ever the defender of Hayden, jumped to his side. “What are you talking about? They’re a couple. What’s it got to do with you?”
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3:37 PM
Chapter 203
1 raised an eyebrow, a little surprised he still thought of me as his “sister–in–law. Was he really this deluded?
Around us, people murmured in hushed tones.
“Is it really Yvonne?”
“This is unbelievable! Thought she was dead. How did she survive? Has she got some fate protecting her?”
“She’s alive? This is a miracle.”
“Are you sure she’s not a ghost come back for revenge?”
That last comment made me laugh out loud. I turned to Joanna, whose face had gone pale, and said, “If I were a ghost, who should I be seeking revenge on?”
Joanna’s eyes widened in terror, her voice almost failing her as she started to tear up. Perhaps she sensed that death was creeping closer to her than she’d imagined.
Sophia quickly stepped in, reacting in a panic. “Oh my God, it really is you, Yvonne! We’ve been praying for you to come back, and now… now fate has answered us. You can’t imagine how much your father and we’ve missed you.”
I stepped away from her grasp, a wry smile curling my lips. “Should I be thanking you for that?”
Sophia’s strong demeanor faltered, and her smile turned into a forced twitch, unsure of what to say.
“Yvonne…” Yosef, tears streaming down his face, called my name.
I couldn’t tell what those tears were for, but they made me think of crocodiles. When they eat, they cry. Perhaps it was to make people believe they weren’t as cruel as they seemed.
Before anyone could process what was happening, the auction host took the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Wavepeak Stadium’s auction. The auction is about to begin. Please take your seats.”
The tension in the air broke, and the crowd dispersed, though the curiosity remained.
I didn’t look back at anyone. I walked toward my seat, feeling the weight of a hundred gazes on me.
Once, I would have had to follow
Hayden into such events, relying on him. But today, I was here for myself, standing tall on my own.
Marlon, accompanying me, commented, “For a moment there, I thought you might rush over and tear Joanna apart.”
I recalled the fury I felt when I first returned to Elysiumville, how I longed to confront Joanna. But after three years, I wasn’t that impulsive person
anymore.
“Didn’t you say? A gentleman waits ten years for revenge,” I replied coldly, each word devoid of emotion.
Marlon smiled slightly as we sat
Own together.
“That family is in for a shock,” he added, glancing over his shoulder.
Yosef and his crew were seated far away, not daring to come any closer.
But then Marlon said, “Hayden’s coming.”
My brow twitched. I didn’t turn around, but I could feel the presence of someone approaching.
The faint smell of tobacco reached my nostrils.
Only Hayden could smell like that.
But the seat next to me was marked with “Herbbite Construction“-how had Hayden ended up here?
I stiffened, not even bothering to glance in his direction.
Marlon spoke first. “Mr. Parker, I think you’ve got the wrong seat. the Parker Group should be in the front row.”
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3:37 PM ·
Chapter 203
The seating arrangement was carefully orchestrated for business moguls. The closer to the front, the more powerful and wealthy the person was.
Though Jethive Group was well–known overseas, it was still new in Elysiumville, so we were placed in the third row.
It seemed that the event organizers were giving me a little respect today.
But no one expected Hayden to sit next to me.
Even without the spotlight on me, I could feel every eye in the room on us.
I was sitting on pins and needles.
