Chapter 124 What Exactly Happened Back Then?
Yvette's face stayed calm, her eyes flicking between James and Albert.
Ever since her colleagues left the conference room, Yvette had been on edge.
Right now, James wasn't just Albert's dad; he was also a big shot at her company.
"Mr. Valdemar, please wait a moment." Yvette glanced at Albert. "Albert, keep Mr. Valdemar company. I'll get some warm water."
Yvette's calm eyes somehow eased Albert's anger and restlessness.
It seemed Yvette wasn't backing down in front of James.
Yvette left the room with the pitcher, leaving Albert and James alone in the big conference room.
James's sharp gaze zeroed in on Albert. "Worried I'll embarrass her?"
"You know exactly what you're up to."
Albert sat across from James. The long oval table wasn't narrow, but it sure set the stage for a showdown.
James wasn't here for Albert today. He sneered and ignored him, slightly easing the tension.
Yvette walked back with the pitcher, not even bothering to reheat it, and brought it back as it was.
She knew James didn't care about the water temperature, just who was pouring it.
Yvette lightly knocked on the door and only entered after getting permission.
She walked straight to James, poured the water, and handed it to him. "Mr. Valdemar, here's your water."
James didn't even look at her. He took the cup and set it aside.
Yvette acted like she didn't notice and poured a cup for Albert, then sat down next to him.
The moment she sat down, James knew she had made her stance clear.
James looked at Yvette, a bit surprised.
"A woman who secretly marries a man has no manners at all." He glanced at Albert. "Is this the wife you chose?"
Albert's voice was cold. "This is my wife, Yvette."
Albert didn't say more. Yvette met James's disdainful gaze but smiled and said, "Dad, I'm Yvette."
James looked her up and down. "You're calling me Dad already?"
Yvette nodded. "I'm Albert's legal spouse. As long as you acknowledge Albert as your son, I should call you Dad."
James had planned to make things tough for Yvette but didn't expect her to take the initiative.
"I am Albert's father by blood, and that can't be changed," James said coldly. "But whether I acknowledge you as my daughter-in-law is another matter."
"You're right. Albert and I are only legally bound, and that can change anytime. Rest assured, if Albert and I end our marriage, I won't call you 'Dad' anymore."
"Fine." James took a sip of the lukewarm water, frowning. "Since you're prepared for this, I'll be straightforward. Our family has always hoped that both David and Albert would marry women of equal social status. You lost your father early, your mother doesn't work, and you have a brother. You don't match the Valdemar family's status. I don't approve of your marriage."
Albert's face changed. He straightened up, about to speak, but Yvette calmly spoke first.
"My parents worked hard all their lives to raise Wayne and me. Despite his poor health, Wayne has always worked hard, got married, and had kids. I've been well-behaved, successful at work, got married, and now I'm pregnant. There's nothing wrong with that." Yvette smiled slightly. "Are you really going to force your son to give up his marriage and unborn child for your so-called 'equal social status'?"
Before James could answer, Yvette shrugged.
"If you don't plan to do that, whether you approve or not, Albert and I are legally married, and I should call you 'Dad.' That's just the manners my parents taught me, nothing more."
Yvette stood up, her hand on her belly, and nodded slightly at James. "I have work to do. I'll leave now. Albert, take good care of Dad."
With that, Yvette smiled and left the conference room.
James watched Yvette's back, his veins bulging in anger. "Albert, is this the wife you married? It's not enough for you to anger me; you had to marry someone to help you do it?"
Albert's eyes lingered on Yvette's figure. Though his face was expressionless, there was a faint smile in his eyes.
Albert's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he couldn't help but smile.
"Yes, this is the wife I married."
David had followed the director around the entire medical evaluation center, but his mind was entirely on the conference room, wondering what was happening inside. He was out of it the whole time.
After a quick look around, he asked to wander on his own.
After shaking off the colleagues from the medical evaluation center, David hurried to the conference room. If Yvette had been wronged by James, he would feel guilty.
Just as he reached the door, he saw James coming out with a cold face, followed by Albert.
James looked at David's face, still fuming. "I have some matters to attend to. You can go back to the company on your own."
"Alright, take care on your way."
Watching James leave, David then looked up at Albert. "Where's Yvette? Is she okay?"
"She's fine." Albert's face darkened. Thinking of Yvette's different feelings for David, he subconsciously clenched his fists. "I have something to ask you."
David frowned slightly. "What is it?"
"What exactly happened between us back then?"
David's eyes flickered, but his face remained gentle. "What do you mean? We haven't seen each other for years."
"You know what I mean." Albert's jaw tightened. "That year in the countryside, what exactly happened between us and Yvette?"
The gentleness on David's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a cold look in his eyes.
"It seems you remember me but forgot about competing with me for Yvette."
"Competing?" Albert looked at David in disbelief. "What do you mean?"
"Don't you understand, Albert?" David sneered. "Don't you know your own heart? If you really liked Yvette, why would you forget her? Why would you fall for someone else?"
Albert was stunned, unable to speak for a moment, his breathing becoming uneven.
"Albert, if you don't truly like her, then let her go."
