Chapter 1878


    After a deep kiss, Chloe''s cheeks inevitably blushed a conspicuous shade of crimson.


    Damon nced at the little babies and pursed his lips, far from pleased. Clearly, they were like two


    little gooseberries.


    "Join me for lunch."


    It was only away from these little gooseberries that they could have their real alone time.


    Chloe instinctively turned towards the bed, where their adorable babiesy, her expression filled


    with reluctance. She hadn''t spent that much time with the babies, after all.


    Damon’s firm hand on her waist tightened slightly.d2


    "They''ve taken up so much of the time that belongs to me. The only reason they''ve gotten away


    with it is for your sake, because they''re your precious ones."


    Chloe blinked. "They''re your precious ones too."


    Damon''s lips formed a straight line, his demeanor clearly showing a touch of annoyance. "If you


    keep favoring them over me, they might just lose that privilege."


    Chloe couldn''t help but chuckle, reaching up to touch his forehead. "Come on, wake up. They''re


    your son and daughter, your flesh and blood. You should be happy I love them so much."


    Damon took her hand from his forehead and bit gently on her knuckle. "I used to let them have their


    way, but not anymore. If you don''t start reflecting and take action, they''ll never get another minute of


    your time from me."


    Chloeughed in spite of herself. "What do you want for lunch? I''ll make it and bring it over."


    That finally got a smile out of Damon. "I want anything you make."


    Chloe smiled back, straightened his clothes, and stepped out of his embrace. "You really should get


    going."


    Damon nced outside the window. Then nonchntly turned back, "He can be an eyesore


    sometimes."


    Chloe raised an eyebrow and looked out the window, "Maybe he really did something wrong."


    Damon checked his watch, his voice cool and detached, "Is that so?"


    Chloe sighed softly, found a jacket for Damon, and helped him into it. "Let them sort it out."


    "Mm."


    He walked over to the bed, kissed each of the tiny, soft cheeks, and then headed downstairs.


    Nate was already waiting by the door. He quickly opened the car door when he saw Damon


    emerge.


    The car rolled away from the house, and Chloe stood by the window, watching the vehicle until it


    was out of sight.


    The gate opened, but instead of leaving slowly as usual, Damon''s car stopped under that ginkgo


    tree, right beside that man.


    Chloe saw Boyd''s gaze shift to the car.


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    The window rolled down, and Damon''s handsome profile reflected in Boyd''s light brown eyes. His


    cold personality made his eyes seem like they were naturally imbued with a chill. His smile was cold


    and unassuming.


    Since Damon forcibly took Yasmine away right under his nosest time, Boyd seemed to have been


    holding a grudge. Even now, standing on Damon''s soil, he couldn''t hide his hostility.


    Damon smirked and nced at his watch. "I hear you made a mistake once."


    He cut straight to the point, hitting Boyd''s sore spot.


    Boyd''s brow furrowed, but Damon watched him with a half-smile.


    "You couldn’t receive forgiveness even after seven or eight years. The mistake must have been


    quite outrageous."


    His smile and words wereced with mockery, irritating Boyd. "What are you trying to say?"


    Damon''s gaze was drawn to a falling maple leaf, "Not giving up?"


    Boyd''s hands in his pockets clenched suddenly.


    Watching the leaf hit the ground, Damon spoke again, "Better to atone with death than live without


    forgiveness?"


    Nate, sitting in the driver''s seat, was slightly taken aback. When had Damon started meddling in


    others'' affairs? Even if it involved his wife''s mother, feelings between two people couldn''t be


    interfered with, no matter how close they were. Hadn''t his wife always been clear on that?


    And Damon was never the type to meddle. What was going on today?


    Damon''s words provoked a re from Boyd. "It is none of your business."


    Nate scratched his head ufortably. He sneaked a nce at Damon''s expression – there was


    nothing unusual.


    "Out of my generosity, I''ll let you linger until death. But it seems to me, rather than wasting away


    here, you might as well end it now and spare yourself some agony. I understand though, fear of


    death is human nature."


    Damon finished calmly, lifting his eyes to Boyd once more with a mocking smile.


    The window closed, and the car departed. Chloe watched Damon''s car disappearpletely before


    turning her gaze to Boyd. He stood unchanged, motionless, lost in thought. After a while, he


    suddenly reached for a cigarette, lit it, and stood facing the mansion''s gate, silent and still.


    It’s too far to make out his expression.


    Curious, Chloe wondered what Damon had said to him. It was rare to see Boyd smoke. Was he


    upset?


    Though puzzled, she couldn''te up with an answer. She turned back to the bed, and seeing her


    babies'' joyfulughter, she couldn''t resist showering them with kisses.


    Elizabeth knocked and entered. She went straight to the adorable little ones. Delighted by their


    lively cuteness, she buried her face in their small chests, causing them to giggle. Then she stood


    up, her face turning to Chloe with a hint of grievance.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Elizabeth took a deep breath, looking ready to cry, "Chloe, did you say something to your mother?"


    Chloe was confused: "Hm?"


    "She''s packing up. And she says you''re kicking her out."


    Chloe paused, thenughed helplessly.


    "Is it true, Chloe?"


    Chloe nodded. "Yeah. I did mention it to her."


    Elizabeth looked disapprovingly at her. "How can you just kick her out? She''s finally back, with two


    adorable grandkids, and she helps me look after them every day."


    Chloe ran a hand through her hair, a look of concern etched on her face. "So, where is she?"


    Elizabeth sniffed slightly, "In her room, no doubt crying her eyes out."


    "I''ll go check on her then. Can you watch the kids for a bit?"


    Elizabeth nodded vigorously, "Sure, you go check on her."


    --


    Yasmine''s door was slightly ajar. Chloe hesitated, her hand poised to knock, but she decided


    against it and gently pushed the door open instead.


    In the corner sat a suitcase, and on the neatly made bedy a purse. The room was spartan in its


    simplicity. After two months, the only personal items on the nightstand were a cellphone and a few


    books.


    The woman who had been hurt by Chloe''s unceremonious dismissal stood by the window, wrapped


    in a woolen tartan shawl, clutching it tightly to herself, unmoving.


    Chloe let out a soft smile as she softly closed the door behind her and approached.


    Yasmine turned around, her face betraying a numb difort. She drew the shawl closer and her


    expression chilled. "What? Can''t stand the sight of me?"


    Chloe feigned ignorance, "What are you looking at?"


    Yasmine''s brow twitched and she pressed her lips together, "Can''t I enjoy the view onest time


    before I go?"


    Chloe walked over to the window, her gaze settling on the figure lingering at the manor''s entrance.


    Her lips curled into a smile. "The view is indeed lovely," she admitted, unable to suppress a chuckle.


    The excuse her mother hade up with was so childishly simple.


    Turning back to Yasmine, whose expression had turned frosty and silent, Chloe probed, "So, you''re


    saying I''m kicking you out?"


    With a scoff, Yasmine retorted, "What''s the use of having children when they don’t even want you to


    stay around?"


    Chloe nodded thoughtfully, "I take back what I said. I''m not trying to kick you out. Damon mentioned


    that guy looks rather bothersome, and I agree. But he is an elder, after all, and I can''t very well be


    rude. The kids have grown ustomed to you, so why don''t you go down and set things straight


    with him? Tell him not to hang around here anymore, ruining our mood."


    Yasmine''s frown deepened.


    "I really hope you can stay and continue to help with the kids. And you brought that man here after


    all, so it''s only fair you deal with him, right? You''re not scared to face him, are you?"


    "Chloe, this is childish," Yasmine could tell Chloe was pushing her to confront Boyd. "Do you really


    think these shallow tricks can provoke me?"


    "What do you think, if I were to go down and talk to him, would he obediently leave?"


    Silence fell between them, and Yasmine''s face grew even more troubled. She knew that man was


    too proud to be swayed by a few words from anyone else.


    After a deep breath and a long look out the window, she conceded that the constant visits were


    indeed irritating. "I''ll go and talk to him."


    Chloe shrugged, "That would be a big help."


    Yasmine shot her a cold nce and strode toward the door.


    "Don''t forget your coat," Chloe called after her, but Yasmine didn''t respond.


    --


    Boyd had just lit his second cigarette when Yasmine''s figure appeared at the door. He crushed the


    cigarette beneath his shoe, grinding it into nothingness. He straightened up, a hand emerging from


    his pocket, and watched, somewhat awkwardly, as Yasmine approached.


    "Yasmine..."


    He eagerly wanted to get closer to her, but Yasmine frowned slightly, staring at his raised hand, and


    pursed her lips. There was a faint emotion in her eyes, but in Boyd''s eyes, it was her utmost


    disgust.


    He paused and drew his hand back. She hated the smell of smoke.


    "Do you have any idea how much of a nuisance it''s been, you showing up here every day for


    months?"


    Boyd was silent for a moment, then bent down to pick up a handful of ginkgo leaves, rubbing the


    hand that had just held the cigarette.


    Yasmine averted her gaze from the sight of his hand marked by the golden leaves, her lips pressed


    tight.


    "They''re troubled by it, and that''s their problem. I didn''t stop them from being happy."


    Yasmine''s eyes narrowed, "Why are you ying dumb? They hate you, and you know it."


    "They could learn to like me." Boyd released the leaves, his hand cut by their edges. "You''ve been


    here long enough. It''s not right, with Chloe married and all. You''ve been staying for over three


    months, don''t you think it''s inappropriate?"


    Yasmine stepped back, "That''s none of your business. Boyd, leave now."


    Boyd looked at her calmly, "Thirsty?"


    Her brow furrowed in annoyance.


    Boyd continued, "How many times have you said that? It''s proven useless, so why waste your


    breath?"


    Yasmine was silent, the tension between them thick in the air.


    Boyd caught a falling ginkgo leaf, turning it over in his hand. "The Harper kid told me that since I''ve


    made an unforgivable mistake, I should atone with my life."


    Yasmine watched him warily, her eyes searching for his point.


    "I did wrong and don''t deserve forgiveness, but dying as atonement is not something I''m willing to


    do. He said I''m just not willing to ept it."


    Boyd nodded, "He''s right."


    There was a pause before Boyd continued, "But then he said that instead of wasting time here, it


    would be better to end it all now, to spare the extra torment." He sighed, "I hate to admit it, but I


    can''t deny he''s right."


    Impatience flickered in Yasmine''s eyes, "So what are you trying to say?!"


    "So..." Boyd suddenly shed a wry smile, "He says I''m not willing to ept that you''re not mine."


    His expression cleared in a strangely liberating way, but Yasmine felt a chill envelop her. She


    realized what he was hinting at, her eyes widened with rm. Pulling her shawl tighter, she took a


    step back and turned to leave.


    Yasmine''s arm was pinned with surprising strength. "Boyd!" Yasmine''s voice carried a clear note of


    anger.


    Boyd did not let go. Instead, he stepped closer, trapping her body against his. "Why should I waste


    my time here, just waiting to end up with the same oue as thest one? I''m not content with


    you not being mine, Yasmine. That''s not what I''m here for."