Xavier and Claude both ended up with bruised faces, neither faring better than the other.
However, Claude, who had previously been injured, was no match for Xavier. As Xavier’s next punch fell, Yvette stepped in front of Claude.
“Are you done?” she asked coldly, looking at Xavier.
Xavier froze, his lip still throbbing in pain. He wiped the blood trickling from his mouth and stared at Yvette without a word.
“Leave, or I’ll call the cops!” Yvette added.
Xavier felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. In the past, no matter what had happened, Yvette had always stood by his side first. But now, she had chosen someone else. He soon averted his gaze, turned around, and walked out.
After he left, Yvette immediately checked on Claude. “Are you okay?” she asked. As soon as her hand touched his arm, Claude winced and drew a sharp breath.
“I’m fine,” he replied.
However, Yvette noticed blood seeping through his sleeve and staining her fingertips. “Your arm is bleeding.”
Claude quickly removed his jacket, revealing a muscular arm with a grotesque, bleeding knife wound that had reopened during the fight. He pressed the jacket to the wound. “It’s an old injury. Did I surprise you?”
Claude hadn’t expected Xavier to be so tough.
At that moment, the people Claude had brought in also arrived, all of them bruised. Seeing Claude injured, one of them immediately came over to bandage his wound.
“Mr. Lander, should we head to the hospital?”
“It’s fine. Tell everyone to leave us,” Claude instructed.
After the group left, Claude looked at Yvette. “Did Xavier hurt you?”
“No, you arrived just in time.” Yvette shook her head. “Thank you.”
Claude frowned slightly. “I knew he wouldn’t give up easily.”
Yvette’s eyes were filled with concern. “I didn’t expect him to follow me here.”
“Should I take you away tomorrow?” Claude asked tentatively.
Yvette refused his offer. “No need. Just help me take care of Viola and the kids. I can handle this myself.”
Claude had expected her refusal. He smiled wryly. “Can you tell me why you always reject my help? Aren’t we friends?”
Yvette was silent for a moment before replying, “I don’t think I can repay you.”
She made everything clear with that one sentence. Claude understood that she would never be with him.
“I understand. No matter what, just call me if you need me.” After saying this, he left, feeling a bit defeated.
Back in the car, Claude took the diamond ring that had been in his pocket all this time and threw it out the window. On the way to the airport, he got a call from Yerick. “Hey, bro, how did it go? Did she say yes to your proposal?”
Claude hadn’t just gone to teach Xavier a lesson today; he had also meant to express his feelings to Yvette. He smiled bitterly. “No.”
“She rejected you? How’s that
possible? You’re such a great guy, and she’s already married and has two kids. How can she find anyone better than you?” Yerick couldn’t believe it.
Claude’s throat felt tight. “She doesn’t love me.”
Love, or the lack thereof, was evident. Claude knew very well that Yvette had never liked him. She had never shown him the subtlest hint that she liked him, while he had always been deluding himself.
Yerick was at a loss for words. He was about to say something when he heard a sudden, loud crash on the other end of the line.
“Bro, what happened?”
On the distant roads of Mayest, a luxury car had been struck, sending glass shards flying toward Claude. The car escorting it at the back was also caught in the collision before it was engulfed in thick smoke.