Chapter 555 Yvette's Confession
Though Albert had claimed he wouldn't stay for dinner, he lingered at the table until the very end, unwilling to leave Cheryl's side.
As everyone prepared to move to the lounge for coffee and conversation, James seemed eager to mend the tension between himself and Albert. He spoke with awkward formality, "I've prepared some excellent coffee in the lounge. Care to try some?"
Albert didn't even glance his way. Instead, he turned and wrapped his arm around Yvette's slender waist, addressing Cheryl, "Grandmother, we'll be leaving now."
"Leaving so soon?" Cheryl approached them. "Won't you stay a little longer?"
"No. Grandmother, I'll bring Yvette to visit you again next time," Albert replied curtly.
"We've finished eating. It's time we left." Yvette smiled graciously, nodding slightly. "Grandmother, Dad, Lisa—we'll be going now."
James's enthusiasm had been thoroughly rebuffed, and his anger flared. His face darkened as he pointed accusingly at Albert, "You ungrateful wretch! Are you trying to kill me with spite?"
Albert completely ignored James's outburst, tightening his grip around Yvette's arm as he led her toward the exit of the Valdemar Villa.
"Wait, Yvette! I have a gift for you!" Cheryl called from behind them.
Yvette stopped and looked questioningly at Albert. "Grandmother says she has a gift for me."
Albert paused with her. "Do you want it?"
"Of course," Yvette nodded. "It's a thoughtful gesture from her."
"Fine, then take it." Albert tilted his chin slightly. "Go ahead."
"Alright."
Yvette had been in Cheryl's room for quite some time. As Albert watched the hall empty until only he remained, he pulled out his phone to handle work matters. When he looked up, he saw David entering the lounge—presumably to find James.
Albert's expression remained impassive, his gaze cold and distant. From his position by the lounge doorway, he had a clear view of David and James inside. The two were engaged in animated conversation, both wearing gentle smiles, their laughter and voices weaving together in perfect harmony.
Standing alone, Albert watched James and David sitting together, their easy camaraderie forming a picture of familial warmth that stirred something indefinable within him. He had always been the one left out, the one pushed aside in scenes like this. In this family, Albert had always felt like an outsider.
A quiet melancholy flickered in Albert's eyes. He lowered his gaze, trying to mask the emotion, but it settled deep in his chest like sediment. Memories of his childhood surfaced—moments of being overlooked and dismissed, like faded photographs drifting through his mind.
David always claimed the world favored him, but Albert saw it differently. Adults always preferred the obedient child, and Albert had never been anywhere close to obedient.
One phrase echoed constantly in Albert's mind—words every member of the Valdemar family had spoken to him: "Albert, look how well-behaved your brother is!"
They questioned why he, despite being David's twin, couldn't be as compliant. Only Sarah had ever told him he could be himself, free from any constraints. Albert felt Sarah was the only person who had truly believed in and loved him—but that love had been heartbreakingly brief.
Albert's hands clenched slightly. At this moment, he resembled nothing so much as a deeply stubborn child—rejecting their attempts at closeness while simultaneously yearning to be loved, desperately wanting James's and David's affection.
He had spent his entire life proving that being unruly wouldn't prevent him from becoming the head of the Valdemar family. The feeling of being unloved had left an indelible mark on his soul.
Rain had begun falling again—not heavy, but persistent and steady.
Yvette emerged with Cheryl's gift in hand, only to find Albert standing alone in the rain. His silhouette radiated profound loneliness, as if he were completely cut off from the world. Rainwater dripped from his hair and soaked his clothes, but he seemed oblivious, standing motionless as though lost in deep contemplation.
Yvette's heart clenched at the sight. She approached quietly and opened her umbrella, shielding him from the rain overhead.
Albert started slightly, glancing up at the umbrella before turning to look at Yvette, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Why are you standing here getting soaked?" she asked softly.
Albert didn't answer immediately, simply looking down at her with eyes full of complex emotions. Rainwater continued to drip from his hair onto Yvette's hand, bringing a touch of coolness.
Yvette pressed her lips together and stood silently beside him, holding the umbrella steady. After a long pause, Albert gazed at her intently and smiled faintly. "It's nothing."
As soon as Albert spoke, Yvette caught sight of James and David through the lounge windows. Recalling the earlier confrontation between Albert and James, she realized that James's easy interaction with David represented the normal father-son dynamic.
Could Albert's melancholy have stemmed from witnessing this? Yvette was surprised to discover that Albert—who always seemed to initiate conflicts—was actually someone who longed for a normal paternal relationship.
"If it's nothing, then stop standing in the rain," Yvette said, her voice tinged with concern. "If you get sick, who's going to take care of me?"
She extended her hand further forward, ensuring not a single drop reached Albert, though this left her own shoulders exposed. Several raindrops hit the back of her neck, making her shiver from the cold.
Albert immediately placed one hand gently at the small of her back while taking the umbrella with the other, holding it over both their heads. "Don't worry—I'm not that fragile."
"Should we go home?" Yvette held up the bag in her hand. "I've got Grandmother's gift."
"Let's go home."
The umbrella couldn't fully shield them from the steady downpour, forcing them to move closer together. Albert pulled Yvette against him, enveloping her completely in his embrace and surrounding her with his distinctive scent.
"Albert," Yvette suddenly called his name.
"What is it?"
"Have I ever actually said the word 'love'?" she murmured softly against his chest.
Albert froze mid-step, looking down at her with startled eyes. In that moment, time seemed suspended. The sound of rain and distant voices faded away, leaving only the two of them beneath their shared umbrella.
Everything around them blurred into insignificance, their figures the only clear shapes visible through the rain. In Albert's dark eyes, Yvette's smiling gaze was perfectly reflected.
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