Chapter 1928


    Boyd slid his fork back onto the table with a finality that made the nearby maid''s expression flicker


    with surprise. Those words were harsh, showing no consideration at all.


    Holding her breath, Yasmine watched as Boyd silently set down his fork, gave a nod, and slowly


    rose from his seat.


    "Go ahead and eat. Just remembered I need to call Herschel back."


    Yasmine sat with perfect posture, elegantly lifting a forkful of food to her mouth and chewing


    thoughtfully without so much as ncing up.


    The maid watched Boyd leave, and she couldn''t help but call out softly. Boyd turned back, locking


    eyes with her. "Make sure she eats well."


    After finishing her meal, Yasmine rose and left the dining area, her demeanor as cool and detached


    as if her heart were made of stone.d2


    To drive someone away with such cutting remarks and show no remorse—could she really be that


    heartless? It seemed this woman was indeed the sort to be aloof and indifferent.


    Upstairs, Yasmine found a book, and, standing by the bedroom window, she began to read. Yet it


    took her an age to turn the page.


    Two hourster, after reading, freshening up, and promptly at half-past eight, Yasminey in bed


    and picked up her book again.


    This time, Boyd entered, a warm ss of milk in hand, and set it beside her with a low chuckle. "It''s


    a bit hot. Give it five minutes."


    Yasmine said nothing.


    Boyd disappeared into the bathroom. Twenty minutester, he emerged to find the milk ss empty


    and Yasmine still engrossed in her book.


    Ten minutes passed, and Yasmine set the book down, ready to sleep. Boydy beside her, her back


    to him.


    Sharing the same bed had been the case all these years, ever since he had brought her to the B


    Country.


    Yasmine thought Boyd might just be the most shameless man she had ever met. Her legs were


    numb, unable to walk or run, and she was even powerless to resist when he shamelessly crawled


    into her bed each night. But with time, one could grow ustomed to anything—even


    shamelessness.


    Night after night, year after year, his presence beside her had be a routine, to the point where


    his absence felt like something was missing. Even after her leaving B Country and him behind, he


    still managed to make his presence felt daily.


    Boyd watched her back, his gaze falling on the hair scattered on the pillow. He remembered her


    short hair from years ago as if it were yesterday. Reaching out, he gently picked up a strand of her


    hair and twirled it between his fingers. "What do you want to do tomorrow?"


    Yasmine''s eyes drifted open, settling on the empty ss vase on the windowsill. "I want to visit Little


    Sun and Little Moon."


    "Alright, I''ll take you."


    "Well, change of n then."


    He let her hair fall gently back in ce.


    "I''ll just drop you off. I won''te in. Do you want to have lunch there? I can pick you up before


    dinner."


    "Chloe won''t miss one less mouth at dinner."


    Boyd paused, "Okay, I''lle after dinner to pick you up."


    Yasmine didn''t reply, her gaze returning to the vase before she closed her eyes again.


    The next morning, after breakfast, Boyd took Yasmine to Greenfield Vige and left her at the


    entrance. "I''ll be back to pick you up at seven."


    Yasmine didn''t respond to Boyd''s words.


    At eight in the morning, the two little babies were particrly lively. The vast estate buzzed with


    activity, the presence of the toddlers infusing it with joy and vitality.


    Before Yasmine even entered, the yful sounds of Elizabeth with the babies and their giggles


    could be heard. A rare smile finally graced Yasmine''s usually stoic face.


    Upon seeing Yasmine enter, Elizabeth paused, then ran over with tears brimming in her eyes. "My


    dear, I thought I''d never see you again in this lifetime."


    Yasmine lightly pushed her aside, "That sounds like a curse."


    "Never! You have no idea how much I''ve missed you."


    "Just one day apart, aren''t you being a bit dramatic?"


    Elizabeth, spoiled and pampered, acted like a child despite her age.


    After sanitizing her hands, Yasmine approached the stroller to inspect the two beautiful infants. It


    was hard to imagine what kind of heartthrobs these little cherubs would grow into.


    Her expression softened even more, her affection for her grandchildren surpassing even the love


    she had felt for her daughter Chloe when she was born. Seeing them, she suddenly felt that nothing


    else mattered as much.


    Chloe, having tidied upstairs, came down and greeted Yasmine with a small smile. "Have you had


    breakfast yet?"


    She seemed not at all surprised by Yasmine''s presence, as if she was unaware of her mother being


    taken away by Boyd the day before. But how could she not know?


    Yasmine nced at her and responded with a nomittal "Hmm." Wasn''t she curious about her


    mother''s absence the night before? "My daughter doesn’t even care about me. I guess I''ll have to


    rely on these two little ones in the future."


    Chloe chuckled helplessly.


    "I think Boyd cares about you more than you know. Life and death seem so fanciful when you''re


    with him."


    Yasmine pressed her lips together. Life and death? Hadn''t she already faced that in the past?


    Chloe moved to the stroller, caressing the babies'' cheeks to check their temperature before


    adjusting their clothes.


    Little Sun,ying in his stroller, had kept his eyes on Chloe ever since she appeared. She felt her


    heart melt and Herschelt down to pick him up, only to be stopped by Elizabeth. "Don''t be reckless.


    Didn''t you hurt your elbowst night? Be careful."


    Yasmine frowned, "What happened?"


    Still, Chloe picked up Little Sun. "It''s nothing, just hit my elbow on the dresser while getting up to


    feed them at night. It hurt at first, but if I don''t think about it, I barely feel it. And besides, holding


    someone this important, I wouldn''t let go, even if it hurt."


    Yasmine arched an eyebrow, sensing an undertone of deliberateness in Chloe''s words that grew


    more apparent the more she listened. "It''s because you haven''t felt real pain yet. Wait until you''ve


    really wrecked your arm, then we''ll see if you can still hold on tight."


    Without hesitation, Chloe responded, "I will. After going through such pain, there''s no reason to


    drown in it forever, reliving how much it hurt. I deserve to be happier than anyone else, and get what


    I want. There''s no need for a bunch of reasons. My own desire is enough."


    Some things defy logic, yet they exist.


    With an impassive face, Yasmine took Little Moon into her arms and settled on the couch. "Your arm


    won''t be crippled, and your speech, it''s meaningless without the pain."


    Chloe pursed her lips and then Herschelt down to nt a soft kiss on Little Sun''s face.


    The subject was dropped. She might have made her stance too obvious today. After all, it was her


    mother''s own affair. She had no right to dictate a direction to her.


    Time flew, and despite the bustle of several people in the house, one could still feel the busyness.


    Damon came home early every day, sometimes bringing a stack of documents from the office. With


    a wife and kids waiting at home, the hours at the office dragged on like years.


    It was just past six when he arrived at Greenfield Vige, and Boyd was already waiting at the gate.


    Damon, putting down his briefcase, asked, "Not going in?"ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Boyd''s face was a mask of indifference, "After dinner, remember to send the guests packing."


    Damon''s brow quirked, "You want me to kick out my wife''s mother in front of her?"


    "Just be clever and subtle about it."


    The car rolled through the gates and came to a stop in front of the mansion. The sound of the car


    doors opening and closing reached not just Yasmine and the others in the living room but also the


    two tots who seemed to know something was up; they scurried over with their little legs and arms,


    full of glee.


    Chloe watched them, her face a portrait of tenderness. She stood, watching the handsome figure


    appear at the door with a brighter smile. As Damon was taking off his shoes, she walked over and


    was pulled into his embrace, feeling a kiss on her forehead.


    With a smile, Chloe helped him out of his jacket and hung it on the coat rack by the door. This was


    always her job, no matter how busy she was. The staff knew their routine and never offered to help.


    Everyone knew Damon doted on hisdy, fearful of her getting bumped, bruised, or tired, but some


    tasks were still hers alone. Their harmonious rtionship was the envy of many.


    As Chloe turned to help Damon with his tie, he leaned in and whispered, "Got to report something to


    Mrs. Harper."


    "Hmm?"


    "Just got a message to subtly nudge your mother out after dinner."


    Chloe paused, her longshes casting a beautiful curve as her eyes moved from confusion to


    surprise and then to a hint of amusement—all under Damon''s watchful gaze. With a yful smile,


    Chloe loosened the tie and whispered back, "What''s your n?"


    Damon shook his head, "You are the smart one. I''ll follow your lead."


    Chloe pondered for a moment, "So you''re asking me to send my mom packing?"


    Instantly, Damon''s expression turned serious, "I''ll check with the staff to make sure her room''s been


    properly cleaned."


    His eagerness to have Yasmine stay was evident and amused Chloe to no end.


    "What are you two whispering about? You''re together all day, every day, except when you''re


    working. Don''t you ever tire of each other?" Yasmine always felt they were conspiring and talking


    about her behind her back. Therefore, she didn''t hide her irritation. "Already bored with your twins


    just days into fatherhood? Can''t even bear to nce their way?"