Chapter 66 Confinement
Yvette sat alone in the unlit living room.
Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a cold and tranquil glow on the minimalist gray floor tiles.
She finally calmed down.
Albert's "Don't go, Yvette" made her heart race wildly. She began to recall those beautiful memories she had buried deep in her heart.
Back in the day, in the everyday ritual of school's end, with a single glance over her shoulder, she could find him amidst the crowd on the playground. He stood tall and straight, the sunlight bathing him, rendering him dazzlingly radiant.
For so many years, she had struggled with these complex emotions, even being cautious about feeling moved.
She covered her eyes and sat for a while. In the end, she softened and decided to stay and take care of Albert.
After fumbling around for a bit, she figured out the general layout of Albert's house. She prepared a hot towel in the bathroom, intending to give Albert a gentle wipe-down.
Just as she walked back to the bedroom, Albert's phone rang.
In the empty and dim room, the phone's ringtone was somewhat piercing and soon woke up the sleeping Albert.
Albert groggily answered the phone.
"Hello."
He was drunk and not very clear-headed. Instinctively, he held the phone to his ear, not noticing that the voice on the other end wasn't coming from the earpiece but from the bedroom's Bluetooth speaker.
The device must have automatically connected when he entered the room. Now, the speaker was broadcasting the phone's audio, and the high-end equipment produced no static, creating a surround sound effect in the room.
Violet's voice had calmed down, tinged with concern, "Are you home?"
Albert mumbled, "Yes."
Violet didn't notice anything unusual and continued naturally, "Are you okay? Did you drink too much?"
Albert did not respond.
Violet paused for a moment, then said apologetically, "I'm sorry. I lost control today, just venting my anger. I know that acting like this only makes things harder for you."
Yvette was still holding the hot towel, unsure whether she should go in.
Violet continued, "Now that I think about it, we're in the same situation. We're both suffering in this present predicament, yet I've only been absorbed with my own feelings, neglecting yours. Looking back, your act of pushing me away was actually a way of shielding me, wasn't it? You didn't want me to get caught up in public opinion, right?"
Perhaps thinking about the current situation, Violet couldn't help but choke up a bit, "I lost control. Please forgive me. I've just been in so much pain lately. You said you didn't love Yvette, but I didn't believe you. I shouldn't doubt your love for me."
Hearing her name, Yvette's spine stiffened, and her expression turned unnatural.
She couldn't help but wonder.
'Did Albert see Violet tonight?'
'What did they talk about?'
'Did he tell Violet he didn't love her?'
Although Yvette knew this was true, did he have to tell Violet? Did he have to destroy her self-esteem?
Her fingers tightened around the towel, wrinkling it. She bit her lower lip, unable to take it anymore, and turned to leave.
In the dark hallway, Yvette left in such a hurry that she kicked a decorative item in the corner.
A loud noise echoed as a metal sculpture fell off the display stand.
The noise jolted the drunken Albert awake.
The Bluetooth speaker's sound abruptly stopped.
A sharp pain shot through Yvette's toe. She gritted her teeth to avoid making a sound, but the pain made it hard for her to walk.
In the darkness, Yvette looked down to check her leg. Behind her, she heard decisive, heavy footsteps. When she looked up, Albert was already standing in front of her.
Albert stood against the light, his expression hidden in the darkness, making it impossible to read his emotions.
He moved his head, presumably to check the fallen sculpture and Yvette's foot.
Thinking about everything she had just heard, Yvette felt humiliated and said through gritted teeth, "I'll leave now..."
Before she could finish, Albert had already scooped her up.
His strength was still impressive, holding her effortlessly. As she looked up, her face brushed against his ear. His short, stiff hair pricked her sensitive skin.
His breath reeked of alcohol. As he walked inside, the slanting light intermittently fell on his face, his expression somewhat heavy.
Yvette pushed against him forcefully. "Let me go. I'm fine. I want to go home."
Albert ignored her and laid her down on the bed.
Yvette struggled to sit up and leave, but Albert grabbed her injured foot, pressing down on the wound. Yvette immediately gasped in pain, unable to struggle anymore.
Albert casually turned on the light.
The room suddenly lit up, and they found themselves staring at each other, Yvette's face full of resentment, which he clearly saw.
"I'll go buy some medicine. You stay here."
Albert stood up, running a hand through his hair, clearly still not fully sober.
Yvette insisted, "No need. I'm going home."
Albert's gaze was deep and sharp, exuding a chilling intensity. Clearly, her stubbornness had angered him.
"Yvette, this isn't like you," Albert said.
His reproach stung her.
She couldn't help but lift her head and question, "Why do you insist on me staying? For over two years, you never invited me over. Why now?"
Albert frowned. "You're hurt."
Yvette replied coldly, "I said I'm fine."
Albert was silent for a moment, then coldly asked, "What are you angry about? Because of Violet's call?"
Yvette let out a self-mocking laugh, trying to calm down, but her voice still trembled. "Why did you drink today? Why did you get so drunk?"
She stared at Albert, finally asking through her heartache, "Did you two have a fight? Is that why you drank so much? Because of Violet?"
Unable to hold back anymore, Yvette continued, "Do you have to humiliate me like this? Sleeping with me because you're in pain after breaking up with her. Now seeking me out because you're upset after fighting with her and drinking too much. Albert, do you see me as no different from a call girl who comes at a single call?"
Albert instinctively denied, "I didn't."
Yvette let out a bitter laugh, "Did you explain everything to Violet? Does she know you never loved me? Are you two back together? If so, then let me go."
Albert felt extremely irritated. Watching Yvette's talking mouth, he wished she would shut up and stop talking.
Yvette didn't want to continue. She said, "I'm leaving."
Before she could get off the bed, a strong figure pinned her down.
That person leaned over, using his absolute strength to hold her firmly in place, trapping her with his body.
