Chapter 1905


    Derek shook his head while Bryson and Aliza exchanged a look, their lips pressed tightly together in


    silentmunication.


    Bryson sat down at the kitchen table, and Alizadled out some soup for them.


    Yasmine took a spoonful and then spoke up, "Aliza, I''ve been off my foodtely. Next time, could


    you add a dash of vinegar to the soup?"


    Aliza sighed, then asked, "Maybe you should see a doctor?"


    Yasmine just shook her head. "It''s nothing. Sometimes you just crave a change of vor."


    That was when Derek chimed in with a tease, "So, does that mean you''re thinking of recing


    Boyd, too?"d2


    A sharp kick under the table from his father came with a stern re. Aliza also threw Derek a


    disapproving nce.


    Biting back a grimace, Derek shoveled a forkful of food into his mouth.


    Yasmine didn''t seem to react to the jab. After she finished her soup and picked at her food, she put


    down her fork.


    Aliza looked worried. "You''ve hardly touched anything."


    "I''ll eat when I''m hungry," Yasmine said, standing up.


    "I''ll whip up some light snacks for youter, just in case."


    "Sure."


    The mood was subdued. Nobody said much more as Yasmine retreated to her room. A sudden


    breakup can mess with your appetite, that was for sure.


    Back in her room, Yasmine flipped open herptop to search for a movie with good reviews, then


    she grabbed her phone and curled up in her chair to y some mobile games.


    She split her attention between the movie and the game. Texts and calls kepting in, but she


    just cut the calls short and ignored the messages, continuing her gaming.


    There weren''t many numbers on her phone, really. Aside from gaming and catching up on news, the


    phone might as well have existed just for Boyd. Other than him, who else would reach out to her?


    She had no idea what he wanted with his relentless calls and texts, but just seeing his number


    irritated her. Whatever he might say would likely just annoy her further, so she kept to her movies


    and games, not about to let anything ruin her peace.


    Downstairs, Boyd leaned against his car, scrolling through his phone, his face shadowed as he saw


    his messages sinking into the digital abyss. He looked up at her darkened window, where faint,


    colorful light flickered.


    He could almost picture her at her desk by the window, half-watching TV, half-absorbed in her


    phone, dismissing his calls and texts without a second thought.


    Knowing she wouldn''t give him the time of day was maddening, but doing nothing wasn''t an option


    either. It would only leave him anxious and afraid.


    After a while, the light in her room went on, and he saw her silhouette. He stood and dialed her


    number again. But the shadow moved away, and the call went unanswered.


    After her bath, Yasmine just went to bed and turned off the light.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Boyd lingered outside for nearly four hours more.


    Derek, not one for tidiness, surprised himself by gathering the trash from his room and taking it out.


    At ten o''clock, Boyd was still there. Shaking his head, Derek approached him. "Man, you''ve made


    your point. Go home."


    Boyd nced at him. "How is she?"


    "She didn''t eat much dinner, but she snackedter. She''s fine, probably asleep by now," Derek said,


    gesturing toward Yasmine''s window.


    He looked Boyd over and saw his clenched jaw, the stoic facade.


    "That girl, she''s tough. Acts like she doesn''t care, and has a knack for settling with whateveres


    her way. What did you do to make her want to break it off?"


    Despite probing into tender territory, Derek was genuinely curious.


    "Settle..." Boyd repeated, lost in thought.


    He didn''t want her to settle. He could give her everything she wanted. Why would she settle for just


    getting by?


    Seeing Boyd''s response, Derek knew he wouldn''t get anything more out of him. "Anyway, she''s one


    of a kind. Happy as a saint one minute, fierce as a demon the next, and stubborn as a mule. You


    know her, so you might as well go home. She won''t budge if she''s made up her mind, and you


    lingering here won''t help. If anything, it''ll make her more irritable, and then the whole family''s


    walking on eggshells. Do yourself a favor."


    "If that''s the case, then I''m sorry," Boyd finally said. He had to see her. He wouldn''t ept the


    breakup.


    Derek was taken aback. "You''re both as stubborn as each other. Fine, if you''re set on waiting, wait. I


    can always not go home."


    His curiosity unsatisfied and his mission unaplished, Derek felt like he''d taken out the trash for


    nothing.


    The next morning, Yasmine was roused by her rm. She got up and turned it off, then she drew


    back the curtains to see that familiar car still there. She unplugged her phone charger and headed


    to the bathroom to get ready for the day.


    After breakfast, she left for school with Derek. Bryson had arranged a ride for them, already waiting


    downstairs.


    Just as they stepped out, Boyd got out of his car.


    Yasmine, however, got straight into her ride without so much as a nce at him.


    Derek did give Boyd a look, shrugged his shoulders, and then joined Yasmine in the car.


    The car headed straight for the university, with Boyd''s car following at a distance.


    Yasmine kept ying games on her phone.


    Derek watched Boyd''s car in the rear view mirror. "He''s been waiting since yesterday afternoon,


    didn’t leave all night, and now he''s trailing us. Look, I get you two are having issues, but this has


    gone on long enough."


    Yasmine didn''t look up from her game but asked, "Do you think he got any sleepst night?"


    Considering the worn-out look on Boyd''s face that morning, Derek shook his head. "Doubtful. He


    seems really into you. If he could sleep after you sprung a breakup on him, he''d be heartless. And if


    that''s the case, he ain''t worth keeping."


    Yasmine was silent for a moment, then nodded. "He probably didn''t sleep. He''s my choice, after all.


    I should know him."


    Derek rolled his eyes. "Since you know him so well, how about you show him somepassion."


    She didn''t respond. When she finally spoke again, Derek nearly choked on his surprise.


    "Hey, any chance there''s a reward for reporting someone driving on fumes?"


    Derek looked at her incredulously. "You can''t be serious."


    Yasmine didn''t seem to get the answer she wanted over the phone, and she pressed further. "And


    what''s the penalty for the driver? A p on the wrist and a few points off the license? Fine, I''ll report


    it."


    She went on to describe Boyd''s car and license te before hanging up.


    Derek was speechless. This woman was a force to be reckoned with.


    "Really? Fatigue driving is kinda hard to prove, isn''t it? If he doesn''t admit it, the cops can''t do


    much."


    "17 hours without sleep is practically the same as driving drunk, you know."


    "What?" Derek blinked. "Is that a thing?"


    Yasmine didn''t reply, just slouched in her seat, "Whatever, he''s annoying."


    Boyd was pulled over at the next intersection.


    When Yasmine got to campus, Boyd hadn''t caught up with her, which let her breathe a little easier.


    But it was just for two ss periods. Boyd still showed up at school. However, he didn''t approach


    her to talk, just hovered around her.


    Everyone noticed something was off between them, specting on their drama, wondering if they


    were really going to split. With graduation looming, it wasn''t unheard of for people to go their


    separate ways.


    Yasmine had arranged to grab lunch with Derek, and Boyd was still trailing them.


    Derek was clearly ufortable. "Uh, where''s Serana? You guys are usually glued at the hip.


    Why''s she MIA today?"


    The atmosphere shifted instantly. A sarcastic smile tugged at Yasmine''s lips. Boyd''s face darkened.


    Derek realized he had stepped on andmine and his scalp tingled with the awkwardness.


    Yasmine barely touched her food and pushed her te away, picking up a yogurt to drink instead.


    Boyd watched her uneaten meal and finally burst out, "That''s all you''re eating?"


    Yasmine looked at himzily from across the table, sipping through a straw. "Did I not make myself


    clear yesterday, or are you having hearing issues?"


    Seemed she wasn''t keen on avoiding yesterday''s topic.


    "I disagree."


    The yogurt bottle was empty, making a fizzing sound through the straw. Setting it aside, Yasmine


    took a breath and said tly, "What now? I want to break up."


    "I disagree."


    "I didn''t ask if you agreed." Yasmine''s impatience was palpable. "Why can''t we part on good terms?


    Remember when I risked my life to save Serana?"


    The room was charged with a palpable tension, noticeable not just from Boyd''s expression, but also


    from the evident difort etched on Derek''s face.


    Yasmine picked up a banana next to her, sniffed it, and frowned slightly, "They say ''out of sight, out


    of mind,'' but since we''re face to face, how can I forget that I nearly lost my life saving her? Just a


    ''thank you'' feels like I''ve sold myself short. Isn''t it fair to ask for a little something in return?"


    She toyed with the banana in her hand, looking less than pleased with its scent. "Then, whatever''s


    left, just cash it out for me. We''ll be square, and go our separate ways."


    Her life wasn''t cheap, and letting him off with just a breakup seemed too lenient.


    Boyd hadpletely lost his appetite. "Yasmine."


    "How much is fair? Hmm, let''s keep it real. I won''t ask for the stars, so how about a cool million?"


    Boyd''s lips were a sharp line, his voice a cold mix of anger. "Yasmine!"


    She leaned on the table, her delicate fingers caressing the abused banana, her smile soft. "What''s


    up? This is a friendship discount since yourpany''s going public next year. Can''t go any lower.


    Or is Serana''s life worth less than a million to you? Or maybe you think this devalues her? I wouldn''t


    say no to more if you''re offering."


    Boyd stood up abruptly, "You don''t have to provoke me to distance yourself."


    Yasmine smirked, "You''re overthinking it. I do want to cut ties, but I also deserve thanks for saving


    her. I don''t owe her a thing. A little gratitude isn''t too much to ask, right?"


    She got up slowly, "A million. If you think that insults her, I don''t mind taking more. Let''s talk money


    next time we meet. If you don''t want to pay, then make sure you never cross my path again."


    As she turned to leave, Boyd stepped forward and grabbed her hand. He knew she was baiting him,


    yet he rose to it. Angry but unable to let her just walk away, he took a deep breath and spoke with a


    taut, steely voice, "Fine, since Serana''s presence bothers you so much, I''ll stay out of her life.


    Happy now?"


    Yasmineughed coldly, "Sounds like you think I''m forcing you. Don''t y the victim. Think about


    who you really care about. Since day one, I''ve told you not to confuse a childhood crush with love.


    “Ask yourself what Serana means to you. You know exactly how she feels about you. Are you too


    dumb to see it? You''ve never taken a stance on her.


    “She gets a boyfriend, and you lose your mind worse than losing a multi-million-dor deal at the


    company. Why is that? You and I both know the answer, and I''m not sticking around for the


    displeasure. Did you think I''d have the patience to wait until you two finally get together, only to


    have you kick me to the curb?


    “Boyd, enough''s enough. Let''s not make a scene. Breaking up is simple – if it works, great; if not,


    we move on. No need to drag it out, making it hard for everyone. Got it?"


    Boyd stared at her coldly, "Are you done?"


    Yasmine raised an eyebrow, "Did you get the message?"


    "I know who I''ve got a thing for, no need for anyone to drop hints. Serana? She''s not a barrier


    between us. But I get it, she rubs you the wrong way, and I agree, she''s a bit of an issue. Keeping


    my distance, steering clear of her drama—that''s the best y. So don''t fret, and don''t lose sleep


    over the thought of me and her getting all starry-eyed. It''s not happening, not now, not ever. So,


    what else is bugging you? Anything else you wannay on me?"


    Yasmine furrowed her brow, pausing for a moment as she nced at the wrist he was holding, "Let


    go."