Chapter 209 Yvette's Breakdown

Albert's eyes turned ice-cold in an instant. He stared at Yvette from afar, his presence heavy and intense..

On the other end of the line was a private detective Albert had just hired. Willard, with his professional ethics, couldn't dig into Lassie's medical records because of privacy laws.

But a private detective? Different story. If Albert wanted info, the detective could get it. Albert's throat tightened as he asked, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," the detective replied coolly. "You hired us for a reason. Trust our intel."

Albert hung up without a second thought and walked away. It seemed that the huge inheritance he had received gave her plenty of room to act.

When Sylvia told him Lassie suddenly had ALS, he felt a twinge of sympathy. But knowing Lassie's nature, he stayed cautious. Albert had his doubts, so he did some digging.

Sure enough, from Yvette refusing to divorce and moving into the Valdemar Villa, to Lassie faking ALS and hitting up James for cash, it was all a well-planned scam to milk money from the Valdemar family and him.

Now, just thinking about Yvette made him sick. Albert sneered at himself. This was the Yvette he had been so desperate to win back.

"Mom, were you really faking your illness?" Yvette's voice was shaky and accusing.

Lassie's face fell. She awkwardly licked her lips, avoiding Yvette's eyes. Yvette's fists clenched, her face a mix of anger and heartbreak.

The hospital entrance was packed, people rushing by. The three of them stood by the curb, constantly jostled by hurried patients and their families.

Yvette was on the brink of a full-blown argument with Lassie but held back. Taking a deep breath, her eyes red with fury, Yvette glared at Lassie. "Did I have to drag you to the hospital for a check-up before you'd admit it?"

"Yvette, let me explain, it's not what you think." Lassie got up from the wheelchair, reaching for Yvette's hand.

Yvette stepped back, dodging her touch. She was wary of Lassie now. "Don't touch me."

Just then, a taxi pulled up, and Yvette flagged it down. "Let's go home first," she said coldly, opening the car door. "You better have a good explanation."

The ride home was silent, filled only with the sound of their breathing. Yvette stared out the window at the bustling streets, clenching her teeth. She fought to keep her emotions in check.

She couldn't believe all her daily misery and pain, even the effort she put into breaking the divorce agreement with Albert, moving into the Valdemar Villa, and asking James for money, had all been part of a grand lie cooked up by Lassie.

Yvette couldn't even imagine the fallout if the Valdemar family found out Lassie's illness was a sham. For the first time, Yvette felt a deep sense of despair knowing Lassie was perfectly healthy.

The taxi pulled up to their building. Yvette got out, grabbed the wheelchair from the trunk, and without waiting for Lassie and Zora, she lugged it straight home.

The building was tall, and Yvette was panting under the weight of the heavy wheelchair. Even though Lassie wasn't sick, Yvette's mood was even heavier.

It took Lassie forever to get upstairs. She looked timid and didn't dare speak to Yvette. Yvette sat on the sofa, giving Lassie a cold stare. "Got a good excuse ready?"

"Yvette," Lassie said, guilt all over her face. "I didn't mean anything by it."

Yvette thought she could handle it, but the moment Lassie spoke, she lost it. She jumped up from the sofa, breaking down as she yelled, "Mom, why did you lie to me? Why did you use your health to deceive me?!"

A flash of irritation crossed Lassie's face. She stepped forward, trying to explain, "Don't be mad. I did it for your own good."

"For my own good?! How is this for my good?" Yvette finally couldn't hold it in anymore, and tears started streaming down in big drops.

Even though Lassie wasn't an ALS patient, she had just had brain surgery. Yvette still couldn't control her emotions, nearly going mad.

"I've been good enough to you. Why won't you let me go?" Yvette was utterly broken. "I was ready to start fresh, but you tricked me into thinking you had ALS, dragging me back into this mess. Are you my mother or my enemy?"

Yvette's words made Lassie unhappy too. She dropped the act and scolded Yvette with a frown, "Don't be stupid. Albert is loaded. Everyone else wants to get close to him, so why should you divorce him? I faked my illness for you. If you really divorced him, you'd regret it later! If you listened to me, I wouldn't have to go through the trouble of faking an illness."

Yvette said, "You still think faking an illness was for my good? Did I force you to fake it?"

Lassie's voice grew louder and more agitated. "If you divorced Albert without even negotiating compensation, you'd be at a loss! I only faked being sick for a few days, and he inherited the fortune. We won't have to worry about our future! You can do anything, study anywhere, travel wherever, and spend money however you want. No matter what you do, Albert won't divorce you. I saved you, don't you get that?"

Yvette felt like her eardrums were about to burst from Lassie's yelling. Listening to her absurd words, Yvette felt powerless. She looked at Lassie helplessly. No matter how much sense she made, it wouldn't get through to someone like her.

She had long been ready to cut ties with her family, but Lassie's health issues kept pulling her back. Her compassion had been used by Lassie to exploit her.

Yvette shook her head, feeling her limbs go numb. She took a deep breath. "From now on, I won't care about you anymore. Whether you're really sick or faking it, it has nothing to do with me," Yvette said with a self-mocking smile. "I've done enough."

Love Lost, Regret Found
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