Chapter 100 Is that necklace yours, Yvette?
Violet instinctively looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Yvette caught the guilty look in Violet's eyes and knew she was right.
"This necklace," Yvette said bluntly, "was given to me by a friend. It's custom-made and one of a kind, with an engraving inside that says 'YO.' Your eyes already gave you away, so don't bother denying it."
Violet's face went pale, her expression shifting from defiance to struggle, and finally to resignation. She sneered and straightened up, shedding her guilty look.
"Yvette, you know no one can force him. So what if the necklace is yours?" Violet retorted. "If he didn't love me, why would he announce I'm his girlfriend? Why would he be so obsessed with me?"
Violet smirked, pride gleaming in her eyes. "Regardless of the necklace, can you deny the years and the real feelings we've shared? Yvette?"
Yvette bit her lip with a grim face and icy gaze.
She lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembling, unable to say a word.
Yes, Violet was right. No matter the reason, Albert had fallen in love with her, hadn't he?
Yvette took a deep breath, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes where Violet couldn't see.
Despite the turmoil inside, Yvette pretended to be indifferent, letting out a cold chuckle and meeting Violet's gaze. "In kindergarten, you learn to turn found items in to the teacher."
"Need a reminder?" Yvette smirked. "Keeping something that doesn't belong to you is what a thief does."
The pride vanished from Violet's face. She gritted her teeth and glared at Yvette. "Yvette!"
Yvette didn't mind her anger. She glanced at Violet's clenched fist holding the necklace and shrugged.
"Keep the necklace. I don't want it" Yvette said lightly.
She turned and walked away with grace. But as soon as she was out of Violet's sight, her steps grew heavy.
No matter how indifferent she acted, Yvette couldn't ignore the pain in her heart.
With heavy steps, Yvette made her way back upstairs and let out a long sigh.
"Yvette."
She stopped and looked up to see Victor.
She didn't expect Victor to come looking for her after talking to Violet.
As Albert's friend, he had always sided with Violet. But now, he was seeking her out.
It was probably because of what he had just discussed with Violet.
Yvette thought for a moment, opened the office door, and stepped aside. "Come in."
Victor followed her into the office and stood in front of her.
Feeling awkward, he rubbed his hands against his pants before saying, "I'm sorry."
His apology was abrupt, and Yvette looked up at the sound.
Victor said, "I was too judgmental before and always had a bias against you."
Yvette frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
Victor hesitated, clearly trying to gather his thoughts.
"Albert had a serious car accident in junior high school," he finally said. "He didn't leave many scars, but his brain suffered a severe concussion."
Yvette blinked, remembering how Albert seemed sensitive about car accidents. Once, when they were heading to a hotel and saw a crash, he turned pale, and she had to handle everything.
That night, she wanted to ask him what was wrong, but he seemed unwilling to answer. He just held her hand, pressed her body against his, and made love to her without giving her a chance to ask.
Later, Yvette tried to bring it up a few times but never found the right moment.
More accurately, Albert never gave her the chance.
Seeing Yvette's silent, downcast look, Victor understood she didn't know.
"As far as I know," Victor continued, "he always liked a girl who was with him during his loneliest moments. After the accident, he injured his head and forgot the girl's face and name. Later, he thought that girl was Violet."
Victor didn't need to say more; Yvette already understood.
Her emotions were turbulent, but she remained calm on the surface. "Why did he think it was Violet?"
"Because Violet had a token from him and that girl—a necklace with 'YO' engraved on it." Victor paused, looking at Yvette urgently. "Is 'YO' you, Yvette?"
Yvette took a deep breath, feeling her emotions surge without any outlet.
She felt extremely distressed. She would rather Albert had noticed Violet out of genuine interest than now turning her years of sincere feelings and obsession into a joke.
Did he love the necklace? Would he fall for anyone wearing the necklace?
Yvette laughed self-deprecatingly, lowering her eyes and staying silent.
As Violet said, the necklace was just an opportunity. He fell in love with Violet because he truly loved Violet.
And what about herself?
Thinking about the two years of anonymous, nameless intimacy with him, during which he couldn't fall in love with her, he just wouldn't.
Even if Albert knew the necklace was hers, so what? Could it change the fact that he couldn't love her in over two years?
Bringing up the necklace again would only make her seem more ridiculous.
So, the necklace wasn't really that important.
Yvette's clenched hand slowly relaxed. She looked up at Victor, her eyes full of sincerity.
"Thank you for telling me this today. I appreciate your kindness." Yvette bit her lip, her voice gentle, speaking each word clearly. "Although I would love to admit it, especially since we're married now, I'm not the girl you're talking about."
Yvette never thought she could lie so easily and naturally.
She smiled. "Albert and I were just schoolmates."
