Chapter 232 The Banquet 2
The music bounced off the walls of the dance hall. Yvette had one hand resting lightly on David's shoulder, while the other was clasped in his.
Yvette's dress was completely backless, and David, ever the gentleman, placed his hand gently on her waist.
Feeling Albert's intense stare from behind, Yvette looked up at David and whispered, "Did you plan this?"
David's eyes twinkled as he replied, "You did too."
Yvette chuckled softly, and they shared a knowing smile.
Yvette smiled and looked down, missing the sudden coldness in David's eyes.
David glanced up, locking eyes with Albert over Yvette's head.
Their gazes clashed in the air. David openly provoked Albert, confident he wouldn't make a scene.
Dancing with a family member was perfectly acceptable.
Unless, of course, Albert admitted he suspected something more between them.
But Albert would never do that in front of the Valdemar family.
Seeing the anger in Albert's eyes, David smirked, bent down slightly, and whispered in Yvette's ear, "Yvette, I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to ask you, how's Lassie doing? What made you suddenly move back in with the Valdemar family?"
Yvette swayed to the music with David and answered, "She's recovered. As for why I moved back, it's complicated."
Yvette knew that although David and Albert never got along, David always had Albert's back.
After a moment, Yvette looked into David's eyes and said, "Let's just say Albert and I probably won't be getting divorced."
David instinctively frowned but quickly masked it, not letting Yvette notice.
David asked, "Do you still want to divorce him?"
Yvette was taken aback, saying, "That's not even a question anymore."
Yvette's vague words made Albert's lips curl into a cold smile.
It seemed neither of them wanted a divorce.
Albert was always like this, effortlessly getting everything he wanted.
David smiled, staring at Albert's angry eyes from afar, and whispered, "If you need my help with anything in the Valdemar family, just ask."
"Okay," Yvette replied.
The ball ended, and the dinner went smoothly.
Yvette instinctively looked for Albert but couldn't find him. Instead, David stayed by her side, easing her awkwardness.
The two stood with glasses of wine, watching the guests toast and laugh.
At that moment, Loren, who had previously troubled Yvette, approached with a drink and apologized, "Yvette, when we first met, I almost got into it with you. You should have told me you were Albert's wife!"
Saying this, Loren looked reproachfully at David, saying, "Albert, you have such a beautiful wife, and you didn't bring her home to meet us sooner. I almost gave her a hard time. If David hadn't stepped in, it would have been bad!"
David smiled and said, "Aunt Loren, I'm David. If I had such a beautiful wife, I would have brought her home to meet you all long ago."
"David!" Loren was a bit embarrassed. "I mixed you two brothers up again."
"It's cool, I'm used to it," David said with a shrug.
In all the years David had been back with the Valdemar family, no one ever mistook him for Albert because Albert was never around.
David smiled and kept chatting with Loren.
Yvette, listening to David's words, felt a bit uneasy. She glanced at David, and despite his gentle and tender smile, she sensed something different about him.
Yvette stared at David, her eyes searching. David seemed to feel her gaze and suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met, and Yvette quickly looked away, putting down her wine glass. "I'm going to the restroom. You guys keep chatting."
As Yvette walked away, the smile on David's face vanished. He answered Loren absentmindedly and then spotted James by the dance floor.
James was with a girl, saying something that made her cover her mouth and blush, laughing happily.
David frowned and walked up to James with a cold expression. "Dad, I need to talk to you."
James glared at him, grumbling, "Can't it wait? Can't you see I'm talking to a guest?"
"If flirting qualifies as talking to a guest, then by all means, continue. Otherwise, my matter is more important," David said flatly.
Hearing this, the girl who had been laughing suddenly looked embarrassed. "I'll leave you to it," she said.
James was clearly annoyed with David for interrupting. "What is so urgent that it can't wait?"
"Are you the one preventing Yvette and Albert from getting a divorce?" David asked bluntly. "I don't get it."
"Yes." James looked up at him and continued, "What's so hard to understand? Your grandpa is dead, and the marriage alliance with the Horizon Group isn't a priority anymore. The assets Albert controls now rival ours. There's no need to pressure him."
"But you're stopping them." David stepped closer, asking, "Why?"
"You're as clueless as Lisa." James glanced at him and questioned, "Why do you care if I stop their divorce? You used to be all for the marriage alliance. Now you're questioning me?"
David frowned, looking displeased but said nothing.
A smile appeared in James's eyes as he looked at David meaningfully and said, "You've been holding Albert's place for so many years, bearing so much for him. What? Now you're starting to feel wronged and dissatisfied?"
"This was my own choice, nothing to feel wronged or dissatisfied about." David pursed his lips, continuing, "If they want a divorce, let them proceed. Why are you stopping them?"
"They could have divorced before, but now if they divorce, Yvette will take half of Hayden's inheritance," James said sternly. "Do you think I would do something so foolish? This is what the Valdemar family worked hard for. How can we let an outsider take it away?!"
David's Adam's apple moved slightly, inquiring, "Is that how you treated my mother back then?"
James was stunned and spoke with dissatisfaction. "David, you're asking for my help now, not interrogating me."
"I'm not asking for help, I'm proposing a deal," David said seriously. "You can have whatever you want, but once you get it, let them divorce."
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