Chapter 156 I Won't Invite You to My House
The gap between them wasn’t huge, but Yvette’s icy vibe made Albert squirm.
Albert clamped his lips shut, slowly got off the couch, and shot Yvette a downcast look.
They just eyeballed each other in silence, their stares clashing mid-air, neither one breaking first.
Right then, Lassie, who was busy in the kitchen, heard the commotion. She quickly killed the stove and dashed out, spatula still in hand.
Lassie threw Yvette a desperate look. "Yvette, you're back? Didn't you invite Albert for dinner? What's with the attitude?"
As soon as Lassie finished, both Yvette and Albert realized it was all part of her plan.
Yvette was already fed up with Lassie’s antics lately, and now she felt even more trapped and pissed. She frowned, her bright eyes showing a mix of helplessness and anger. "Come outside, I need to talk to you."
Lassie got all flustered. "Whatever you gotta say, say it here. I won’t butt in."
Yvette shot Lassie a cold glance. "Mom, we get what you're trying to do. Just stop."
She turned back, serious. "Come with me."
The sun was setting, and the hallway was dim, with just a small window letting in some orange-red light.
The walls were peeling, and there were old bikes and junk in the stairwell. This old neighborhood was just like this, kinda embarrassing. Much like Lassie’s recent stunts.
Yvette’s throat felt dry and scratchy. She swallowed and looked up at Albert, backlit by the fading light.
The last time they met was at City Hall.
Yvette pressed her lips together. "Sorry, it was Lassie who invited you without telling me."
Albert nodded, "I know."
His voice was low, echoing a bit in the narrow stairwell.
If it were the old Yvette, she’d have been over the moon about his "I know" for ages.
"I called you out here," Yvette lowered her eyes. "I just hope you won’t let my mom mess with you. If she bugs you, I’m sorry and I’ll try to stop her."
Yvette’s words were clear, snuffing out the faint hope in Albert’s heart.
Albert’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. "She said you asked me to come."
"I know." Yvette blinked. "Don’t let her fool you again."
"So, you wouldn’t invite me?" Albert’s voice tightened.
"No." Yvette nodded firmly, "I wouldn’t."
After sending Albert away, Yvette turned and headed upstairs.
After just a few steps, Yvette saw Lassie, who had been waiting at the door, craning her neck to look outside.
Yvette frowned, anger flaring up again at the thought of Lassie’s meddling.
Seeing Yvette come up alone, Lassie immediately knew their talk hadn’t gone well.
She didn’t even change her shoes, running out and shouting down the stairs, "Albert, Albert, dinner’s ready, come up and eat!"
The voice was grating, and Yvette turned away in disgust, saying coldly, "He’s gone, he’s not coming back."
Lassie angrily slapped Yvette's arm. "What the hell are you doing? I busted my butt to get him here, and you just sent him packing! Do you even appreciate my efforts?"
Yvette bit her tongue until she passed Lassie, stepped into the house, and shut the door. Then she turned to face her.
Yvette‘s eyes were still filled with disgust, as she spoke calmly and coldly, "I'm swamped right now, about to quit my job, and haven't figured out my next move. You better stop stirring up trouble for me."
"Your priority right now isn't finding a job. What's the point of that?" Lassie said anxiously, "You should be patching things up with Albert, not letting him divorce and remarry. Do you get that?"
Hearing this spiel again, Yvette used to feel all sorts of things. But now, she felt nothing.
Yvette's eyes were calm, looking at Lassie with a blank expression. "I'll say this one last time, if you keep causing trouble for me, I won't give Wayne another dime. After I get divorced, you'll have to make money to pay back Albert. If you don't, and the lawyers come after you, I won't lift a finger."
Yvette's words made Lassie's face change dramatically. She opened her mouth, but the usually sharp-tongued Lassie could only stutter, "You, you... Yvette!"
Yvette coldly curled her lips. "It's your call. I'm not hungry, don't call me for dinner."
With that, Yvette turned and went to her room, locking the door behind her.
Yvette returned to her room and opened the package she had just received.
She had been hesitating about making this decision. But after Lassie's endless boundary-crossing and attempts to control her life again, she finally made up her mind.
Ending her marriage with Albert would set her free.
Yvette flipped through the book briefly, and memories came flooding back, reminding her of her original passion for these books.
Yvette looked back, and for a long time, there was no sound of Lassie knocking or calling at the door.
It seemed her words had temporarily shocked her.
Just then, Yvette's phone rang. It was Wyatt.
Yvette answered.
"Yvette, what's going on?" Wyatt's voice was unusually impatient and impulsive. "I heard the application deadline for the professor's program is coming up, and you haven't submitted your application yet?"
Yvette lowered her eyes. "Yeah, I know. Did the professor ask you to remind me?"
"The professor said to wait for you, but the other professors are getting impatient." Wyatt said anxiously, "I gave you the form to encourage you to choose the professor ASAP. You're not really planning to come to the Central National Hospital, are you?"
Yvette joked, "Why, you don't want me to go there?"
"I do want you to come. But, Yvette." Wyatt paused, "I know you're better suited for Center Hospital, to develop well under the professor's guidance."
Yvette's smile slowly faded, and she felt a touch of emotion.
Maybe only Wyatt, as a fellow student of Mr. Wilson, could understand her.
Yvette blinked and said seriously, "I might have to give up the professor's opportunity."
