Chapter 26 Purchase A Ring

Yvette didn't expect Albert to show up at this moment. She and Wyatt hadn't done anything, but the scene made it look as if they had been caught red-handed, leaving her unable to explain.

Albert held Yvette tightly, causing her heart to race.

He had a slight scent of beer, probably from having a drink, and was still in his casual clothes from the day, looking very relaxed. The dim streetlights made it hard for her to see his face clearly, making her wonder if she was hallucinating.

He had never considered her his wife. The word "wife" felt both intimate and unfamiliar to her. Her feminine sensitivity made her ponder over his casual words.

Wyatt quietly observed the two of them, feeling somewhat displeased.

After a while, he smiled politely and said, "Yvette, who is this?"

Albert looked down at Yvette, hiding his emotions.

"Who am I?" he asked.

Yvette felt a tinge of nervousness, her heart racing. She sensed that gaze as if it were urging her on. She pursed her lips, mustering the courage to say, "This is my husband, Albert."

Her voice was gentle, tinged with shyness and a hint of insecurity.

Albert appeared quite pleased with her response, his expression relaxing, as he casually glanced at Wyatt, asking in a somewhat displeased tone, "And who might this gentleman be?"

Wyatt smiled faintly, casting a deep look at them.

Yvette snapped back to reality and hurriedly introduced, "This is Wyatt, the Deputy Chief Surgeon at the Civil Aviation General Hospital, and he is my college classmate."

Wyatt raised his hand slowly, ready to shake hands with Albert. "Hello, I'm Wyatt Randel."

Albert raised an eyebrow lightly, deliberately ignoring Wyatt's extended hand, instead turning to Yvette, saying, "If you're free, we should head home. Next time, we'll have Mr. Randel over as our guest."

He was intimate with Yvette while exhibiting indifference towards Wyatt, showing no intent to give him any face.

Wyatt, naturally, did not press further, casually remarking, "Sure, I'll be waiting for your invitation."

Casting a brief glance at Albert, the two engaged in a silent standoff.

Albert had some drinks and did not drive, opting for a taxi to take Yvette home.

The driver sped along, the scenery outside the car window rapidly retreating as they soon left the harbor area and re-entered the bustling city center.

Ever since boarding the vehicle, Albert had been quiet. Yvette was unsure of his thoughts.

After a while, she tentatively suggested, "When we arrive, I'll just get off, and you can stay in the car and head back."

"All right," Albert replied curtly, not wanting to engage further.

Silence loomed between them. Yvette chose not to prolong the conversation, her gaze shifting to the passing scenery outside.

As the vehicle turned onto a dimly lit road, Albert glanced back.

At that moment, Yvette rested her chin in her hand, and her profile turned towards him. She displayed a beautiful visage and a slender neck, creating an elegant jawline-shoulder-neck silhouette. A stray lock of hair fell, exuding a faint aura of melancholy.

Recalling Wyatt's gaze towards Yvette earlier, Albert, a man himself, understood Wyatt's desire for her.

Albert furrowed his brow, feeling an inexplicable anger rise within him.

In his childhood, he detested nothing more than others coveting his toys, even those he despised.

Close to eleven o'clock, the driver steadily stopped in front of Yvette's residence.

She hadn't spoken for so long that her mouth was dry. She licked her lips and said, "I'm going now. Thank you."

As she opened the door to get out, she heard Albert say, "After work tomorrow, let's go buy a ring."

His voice was low and not very gentle, but it instantly made Yvette happy.

Yvette couldn't sleep all night, constantly replaying his last words.

His words came at an impossible time and place, yet they were so beautiful that she couldn't let them go.

'Why did he suddenly say that? Was it Wyatt's words that provoked him?' Yvette wondered.

She thought, 'Perhaps men could also develop a hint of affection towards women who have been by their side for a long time.'

As soon as Yvette entertained this thought, she immediately started to condemn herself.

'Why am I fantasizing again? Don't overinterpret Albert's actions. How many times do I have to get hurt to remember this?' she thought.

She quickly covered her head with the blanket, the suffocating feeling helping her to clear her mind a bit.

Yvette was a bit off all day. Usually meticulous and error-free, she made mistakes on three forms and was called out by Mr. Hughes in the office.

After work, Sylvia thought Yvette would be a bit down. She was the kind of woman who followed the rules, and such an incident would surely make her feel guilty and ashamed.

Sylvia knocked on Yvette's office door, only to find her already changed into casual clothes, applying lipstick in front of the mirror.

Sylvia's arrival made Yvette a bit embarrassed, and she quickly put away her makeup.

Sylvia looked surprised and said, "You seem to be in a good mood, even putting on makeup. I was worried for nothing."

Yvette asked, puzzled, "Why? Should I be in a bad mood?"

"Mr. Hughes criticized you in the office," Sylvia said.

"I don't care about such a small thing," Yvette said as she stood up and put on a dark blue coat, which contrasted beautifully with her bright red lipstick.

She picked up her bag and was ready to leave.

Yvette said, "I have something to do. I'm leaving."

"You're going to see Albert, right?" Sylvia guessed, who Yvette was meeting.

Yvette coughed nervously and said, "We're just going to buy something."

Sylvia teased, "Is it worth dressing up so much just to buy something? Yvette, can't you be a bit more reserved? Loving Albert like this is embarrassing for us women."

"Goodbye." Yvette ran off.

Albert hadn't finished work yet. There was a teaching conference today, and Yvette arrived early, waiting outside the Center.

She took out her phone and snapped a selfie, feeling that her lipstick seemed a bit too vibrant.

Just buying a wedding ring, she felt she was overdoing it a bit.

As she was about to wipe off her lipstick with a tissue, Albert emerged from the Center.

Yvette looked around and saw he was alone. 'Did he skip the meeting?' she wondered.

She stood up, ready to approach him, but Albert changed direction. She then noticed another woman waiting for Albert.

It was Violet.

Albert stopped in front of Violet, frowning slightly, looking displeased.

His voice was deep. "What's the matter?" he asked Violet.

Violet had been holding back a lot of regret and grievances. She had been trying hard to endure, but seeing Albert after so long collapsed her carefully built rationality and psychological defenses instantly.

She looked up, tears streaming down her face. The usually strong and independent girl showed a vulnerable side that made her even more pitiful.

"Are you in a hurry to do something, Albert? You don't even want to talk to me for a few minutes?" Violet said.

Albert looked down at her, frowning slightly, and said, "I'm not in a hurry."

Yvette's mood grew heavy. The agreed time had arrived, yet he answered like this. She understood why he said that.

Violet bit her lip and questioned Albert, "Why is this happening? Why did you sleep with her and marry her? Was it because I wouldn't sleep with you?"

Albert said coldly, "Maybe."

"Do you like her?" Violet asked.

He hesitated for a moment and shook his head.

"Then why did you marry her?" she asked.

"Because I have to be responsible for the child," Albert said.

Violet said painfully, "If there were no child, could we be together again?"

Yvette clenched the tissue in her hand, increasingly tightening her grip.

Albert stood across from her, unmoving. His hesitation caused Yvette intense anguish.

Yvette didn't want to hear his answer anymore. She silently stood up and turned to leave.

As she walked, she vigorously wiped off the lipstick on her lips with the tissue, the vivid red staining the paper, a shocking sight.