Chapter 582 Albert: Wait for Me at Home
As Albert stood at the bend in the staircase, he gazed down at the courtyard below. The cheerful footsteps and laughter of children grew louder, drawing nearer.
Without waiting for Vincent to finish whatever he was saying on the other end of the line, Albert hung up abruptly. He pocketed his phone and strode down the stairs, pulling open the front door.
BoBo and CiCi stood there in their vibrant clothes, which made their cherubic faces look even more adorable.
"School's out?" Albert called out, his voice tinged with a hint of warmth.
The children looked up at the sound of his voice. The moment they saw Albert, their eyes lit up with excitement, faces breaking into radiant smiles.
"Daddy!" they cried in unison, their voices clear and bright as they raced toward him with boundless energy, waving their small hands in delight.
Yvette walked behind them, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she watched them dash toward Albert.
"BoBo, CiCi, slow down! You might trip," she called out with tender concern, but her warning came too late. The children had already reached Albert.
They stretched out their little hands, and Albert crouched down, gathering both children into his arms. He felt their soft hair and warm bodies against him, his hardened heart melting instantly.
"Daddy! Why are you home today?" CiCi blinked her eyes, her voice sweet as she nestled against Albert. "BoBo and I were very good today. We got stickers from the teacher! Ms. Everly even said we're clever!"
Albert chuckled softly. "Did you thank Ms. Everly?"
"Of course!" BoBo interjected earnestly. "CiCi and I are very polite."
Albert couldn't help but smile at the proud expressions on their innocent faces. He looked up at Yvette, who stood nearby, her eyes filled with tenderness and joy.
Albert raised an eyebrow, his smile meaningful. "Seems like seeing me first thing is quite the treat."
Yvette clearly understood his implication and smiled demurely without responding. The oblivious BoBo and CiCi, however, nodded vigorously. "Yes, Daddy!"
Albert set BoBo and CiCi down, stroking their soft, delicate cheeks. "Go wash your hands, and I'll join you for dinner."
"Yay!" they exclaimed.
As the children scampered off hand in hand toward the bathroom, Albert turned to Yvette, his gaze deep and meaningful.
"Yvette, I might need to go to Eldoria for a few days," he said.
Yvette froze, suddenly uncomfortable at the mention of Eldoria. "Is something wrong?"
"Business trip for the hospital. The forum is organizing another event," Albert explained, his eyes apologetic. "No medical team this time, just business matters. With your health concerns, I don't think it's wise for you to take a long flight."
Yvette nodded. "How long will you be gone?"
"Four or five days," Albert added quickly, as if afraid she might object. "I'll try to get back as soon as possible."
"Alright, I understand."
Knowing how much effort Albert had put into the hospital's affairs, Yvette bit her lip and added softly, "Don't worry about us. The children and I will be fine."
Albert's eyes lingered on her face. "Wait for me to come home."
"I will."
The date of Albert's business trip was set quickly. The night before his departure, Yvette absently helped him pack his suitcase, her movements slow and mechanical, her gaze distant and unfocused.
She knew this trip was important for the hospital, and creating the country's premier surgical treatment center was, in turn, important for her. This meant everything to Albert.
Yet Yvette couldn't shake an inexplicable sense of unease.
She stuffed Albert's clothes into the suitcase, then took them out to reorganize them, trying to calm her racing thoughts through busy work. It was only a matter of days, but Yvette felt afraid.
Her body was like a ticking time bomb with an unlit fuse—calm for now but potentially explosive at any moment. Still, the significance of the Valdemar Group and the hospital to Albert meant she couldn't ask him to stay.
Yvette exhaled softly, a sound that Albert immediately caught.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" he asked, turning to her with concern.
"No, I'm just wondering if we've forgotten anything," Yvette replied, keeping her eyes lowered to hide her emotions.
Albert reached out to stroke her head. "I told you to let Beatrice handle this. You should rest."
"I want to do this for you. It's no trouble," she insisted.
Albert frowned slightly, seeing through her distracted state. "If it's not physical discomfort, then something's bothering you?"
"No, I'm just worried about you," Yvette said, her eyes avoiding his.
Despite her attempts to conceal her feelings, Albert sensed the turmoil within her. He leaned forward, pulling her into his embrace. "Don't worry. I'll only be gone a few days and will be back before you know it."
Yvette buried her face against his solid chest, closing her eyes and nodding, allowing herself to sink into the warmth of his arms. She mumbled a soft response.
What was merely a brief separation for Albert felt like an eternity of absence to Yvette.
"You'll miss me?" he asked.
Yvette tensed, embarrassed that he had read her thoughts so easily. She neither confirmed nor denied it.
Albert's soft, teasing laugh reached her ears. Before she could react, his hand was at the nape of her neck, gently forcing her to look up as his lips descended on hers.
"Then tonight, remember how it feels when I'm here," he murmured.
His kiss came like a tempest, and though Yvette instinctively wanted to push him away, the thought of the impending separation made her wrap her arms around his neck instead, responding eagerly to his passion.
As the heat between them intensified, Yvette bit her lower lip, listening to Albert's deep, magnetic voice laced with amusement.
"Have you memorized it?" he asked.
"What?" Yvette replied, her gaze unfocused.
"The feeling of having me here," he said with a smile.
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