Chapter 14 I'm Coming for You
Before going home, Yvette sat downstairs for over ten minutes, composing herself.
The sensor light in the dimly lit stairwell was out, so she used her phone's light to unlock the door.
As she reached for the corridor light switch, she hesitated, not wanting to disturb anyone. Instead, she retraced her steps and used her phone's flashlight.
Carefully making her way through the corridor, she passed Lassie's room, and the door opened.
Lassie, with disheveled hair, had woken up to the noise and was surprised to see Yvette. "Why are you back at this hour?" she asked, scrutinizing Yvette.
Yvette occasionally worked night shifts, but she usually returned home around eight or nine in the morning. Feeling Lassie's gaze, she grew a bit nervous but maintained her composure.
"I suddenly felt unwell, like I might be catching a cold, so I took the night off," she casually explained.
Lassie, immediately angry, said, "You're pregnant. It's no wonder you catch a cold wearing so little. I've told you many times to keep warm. You can't take medicine when you're pregnant. Let me make you some soup."
Yvette had only made up a random excuse, but as she entered the room after freshening up, she realized she was indeed a bit congested.
It might have been from waiting in the cold all night. She might really be catching a cold.
Lassie quickly prepared a bowl of soup and placed it on the table in Yvette's room. Yvette felt the warmth emanating from the bowl.
"Drink up quickly," Lassie urged.
Yvette blew on it gently and began to sip.
Lassie sat on the edge of Yvette's bed, her mind filled with thoughts of what Zora had said.
"When is your mysterious husband coming to our house for dinner?" she asked, feeling a bit uneasy.
Yvette paused her movements for a moment, then regained her composure. "This week," she replied.
Upon witnessing Yvette's reaction, Lassie grew angry, but wary of waking the Wayne household, she had to lower her voice and say, "You and your brother are the only children I have. Regardless, you need to have a wedding, right? Do you have any plans at all?"
Lassie's temperament grew more anxious as she spoke. If she continued in this manner, she was bound to argue with Yvette.
Not wanting any conflict, Yvette offered a vague response. "You could ask him when he gets home."
Lassie chided, "I've told you, but you don't take it seriously. Are you planning to stay here forever? Once you're married, you should live in your own home. The neighbors will laugh at us if they see you living here all the time."
Yvette reasoned, "Many of my classmates who got pregnant are taken care of by their parents at home. I only have one meal a day at home. Can't I stay here?"
Yvette frowned. 'Move? Where would she go? To Albert's place?'
She felt embarrassed, not even knowing where Albert lived.
They always stayed in hotels whenever they were together.
Lassie persisted, "And what about after you have the baby? Are you still going to live here?"
Yvette was at a loss for words. It was indeed a question she hadn't considered. She looked away.
Yvette suggested, "Let's talk about it after I give birth."
Seeing Yvette's compromise, Lassie continued, "If you're willing to let me take care of you and your child, you should discuss giving me some compensation with your husband."
Yvette thought Lassie was genuinely concerned, but then she brought up money again. Yvette didn't want to argue with her, so she quickly finished the soup and handed the bowl to Lassie, saying, "I'm going to sleep."
Carrying the bowl away, Lassie turned back before leaving. "I could come stay at your place for three years to help you take care of the children," she added.
With the door closed, the house finally fell back into a peaceful quiet.
Yvette rested her hand on her stomach, looking somewhat perplexed.
Could her relationship with Albert last for three years? She felt it probably couldn't. It was the only thing she was confident about.
Perhaps because she was coming down with a cold, Yvette had a poor appetite. Sylvia brought her food, but she only took a few bites.
She threw away the box, and Yvette's phone started vibrating.
Sylvia: [Another meeting. You won't believe it, but the hospital wants us to lead a team for a physical examination!!!]
Yvette replied: [When did they say that?]
Sylvia: [Just got the notification. The hospital for the examination is very far away. I regret it. What's the difference between being busy like this and being at the hospital? What about my days off??]
Yvette also felt desperate. The journey to the hospital for the examination was over thirty kilometers and would take a whole day.
Sylvia continued passionately: [I don't even have a boyfriend! No one to drive me!]
Yvette: [Everyone is taking the bus.]
Sylvia: [Taking the bus means getting up at six! Ask Albert to drive you. He must drive you; you're pregnant and need more rest.]
As soon as Sylvia mentioned Albert, Yvette's appetite diminished even more. She felt like she might vomit, even the little amount of food that she had managed to eat.
She was thinking about how to reply when she looked up and saw the person who made her uncomfortable standing in front of her.
He was wearing a uniform and looked tall and imposing. His hat was casually held at his side, giving him a formal yet relaxed appearance. His gaze was somewhat cold, and people passing by instinctively moved closer to the right wall.
Yvette hesitated about whether to greet him. There were many people around, and they didn't seem to have the kind of relationship where they could greet each other familiarly in public.
She just nodded slightly at him, preparing to leave.
Albert called out to her, "Yvette."
Yvette turned back to look at him. Recently, he had been calling her by her name instead of Dr. Orlando.
"Are you here to get the director's signature? She won't be in until this afternoon," Yvette said.
Albert didn't immediately respond; he just gazed at her. His gaze was so intense that she couldn't ignore it. Uncomfortable, she turned her head, avoiding his eyes.
Albert said, "I'm coming for you."
Yvette responded, aloofly, "Fine."
This was the first time Yvette had shown indifference towards Albert, which put him in a bad mood. His eyes grew melancholic.
His gaze fell on her flawless face, and he noticed that she had applied lipstick today, probably to conceal her somewhat tired appearance.
The color was a delicate pink, unlike her usual mature style, making her lips look like freshly ripened peaches on a tree.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
Albert pondered for a moment and asked in a deep voice, "How long did you wait yesterday?"
Yvette remained calm, shrugged slightly, and said, "Not long."
Raising her gaze, she noticed a slight relaxation in Albert's expression.
Yvette pursed her lips lightly, her eyes betraying a subtle hint of reproach.
Suddenly, she asked him, "What would you do if I said I waited for you until past three in the morning yesterday?"
Albert paused, taken aback.
She immediately burst into laughter. "I was just teasing."
