Chapter 272 Yvette's Diary
From the moment Albert stepped out of the car, every move he made was towards Yvette.
Memories of their past together flashed through his mind—days spent in the countryside, Yvette being his devoted mistress, and their life after marriage.
He knew he had messed up a lot, so when the doctor said "she" had amnesia, Albert felt a weird mix of relief and hope.
He was willing to endure all the suffering Yvette had gone through just to have her back. Regardless of how she had treated him, he wouldn't utter a word of complaint.
Albert couldn't wait to push past the medical staff and get into the ward.
His excitement was overflowing; he wanted to hug Yvette right then and there and pour out all his love.
But as soon as he opened the door, Albert's heart sank.
No, it wasn't Yvette.
The woman seated inside still had scabs on her cheeks that were not completely healed. Despite sharing some resemblance in figure, hairstyle, and eyes with Yvette, she was not Yvette.
Albert's hand remained on the doorknob, clutching it so tightly that it almost snapped.
Vincent was right behind him. Seeing that the woman on the bed wasn't Yvette, he felt a pang of disappointment.
If he felt this let down, how crushed must Albert be?
Vincent turned to see Albert's face had gone pale, his expression even more devastated than when he first heard Yvette was missing.
It was like the hope that had been keeping him going had just been cruelly snuffed out.
"Mr. Valdemar," Vincent called out.
Upon hearing Vincent's voice, Albert snapped back to reality, composed himself, steadied his stance, and closed the door.
Albert's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he walked away, his face blank.
"No, thank you," Vincent told the confused doctor before catching up with Albert.
Back in the car, Vincent nervously apologized, "I'm sorry, it was my mistake. I gave you hope only to let you down."
Albert, who had been silent, pressed his hand to his brow before finally speaking in a hoarse voice, "Keep looking."
Albert leaned back, slowly closing his eyes to hide the despair within them.
He thought, 'Yvette, I beg you, as long as you show up, I'll take any punishment willingly.'
When Albert arrived home to a setting sun, he didn't bother turning on the lights. Barefoot, he entered the room and hesitantly opened a drawer he had avoided for a long time.
Inside was the evidence of his worst mistake, the firefly necklace.
With trembling fingers, Albert carefully took out the necklace, his rough fingertips gently caressing its uneven surface.
He had always tried to become stronger, but he could never protect the people he wanted to protect.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Albert put the necklace in his pocket and went to open the door.
Lassie, with swollen eyes, walked in. She stood in front of Albert but said nothing.
Albert's thin lips moved slightly. "Mom."
"Did you find her?" Lassie glared at him.
Albert pressed his lips together and composed his expression.
Seeing Albert's face, Lassie immediately began to wail. She screamed at Albert, "I gave you a living, breathing daughter, and now she's just disappeared?"
Albert frowned, feeling a surge of impatience.
Since Yvette's disappearance, Lassie had been coming over to cry and make a scene.
Albert had always put up with it because he wanted to save his energy for finding Yvette.
But right now, Lassie's wailing was just making his bad mood worse.
Lassie collapsed to the ground, clutching her collar and pounding her chest. "Yvette, I failed to protect you. If I had known that marrying Albert would lead to this, I would never have agreed."
Albert had heard those words a million times, but today they hit him harder than ever.
His lips pressed tightly together, his face dark and his aura even darker. He lifted his eyelids slightly. "I'm still looking. I won't give up on finding her."
Lassie's voice grew sharper. "You've been looking for so long. Hurry up and find her! Whether she's alive or dead, there should be some news. She can't just vanish into thin air!"
"Mom," Albert's eyes were cold, his tone a warning. "As long as I still call you 'Mom,' please leave my house immediately."
"But..."
Lassie was cut off by Albert's icy interruption, "If you want to keep cashing my checks, cut out the drama."
She was shocked, grasping the hidden meaning in Albert's words.
"I get it, you think I'm stirring up trouble to milk you for money, that I'm just using Yvette's disappearance as a cash cow." Lassie sniffled, wiping her tear-streaked face. "You all say I favor Wayne and don't love Yvette, but there ain't a mother on this planet who doesn't love her kids."
No longer hysterical, Lassie suddenly stood up from the ground. She swayed slightly and continued, "I have two children, and mothers are always compassionate. To me, fairness isn't giving both children the same love, but ensuring both children continue to live. Without Yvette's help, Wayne might die. But I never expected Yvette's situation to be even worse."
Lassie slowly took out a notebook from her crossbody bag. She stared at it for a long time before murmuring, "I know, it's probably very difficult to find her now."
She looked up, tears streaming down her face but not falling on the notebook.
Lassie handed the notebook to Albert. "This meant the world to her. With her gone, I felt you should have it."
It marked the first time Lassie exited Albert's place in silence.
Albert couldn't tell if she had left him a locked notebook or a glimmer of hope for Yvette's return.
It turned out he wasn't the only one starting to lose hope.
Albert had never seen this notebook before, but he remembered Lassie saying it was something Yvette cherished.
The notebook, secured with a combination lock, was small, and the pages inside were slightly yellowed. Although it could be easily pried open, Albert carefully began to try different combinations.
This was something Yvette cherished. If he damaged it or read her diary without permission, she would probably be angry when she returned.
Thinking this, Albert casually set the combination to his own birthday and gently pressed the unlock button.
The lock clicked open easily.
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