Chapter 648 Albert's Tricks
Albert looked down at Yvette, his gaze calm as still water. "What?"
"Impressive as always, Mr. Valdemar." Yvette blinked, her smile radiant. "You really know how to handle people."
The way the two children had called out "Mommy" with such obvious hostility—anyone with half a brain would have taken the hint and left.
Albert didn't argue, simply shrugging. "BoBo and CiCi were worried someone might bother you. They came to back you up."
"Is that so?" Yvette feigned sudden understanding. "So you weren't jealous this time?"
"Of course not." Albert's eyes swept over Yvette's slightly curved lips. "When I'm jealous, it doesn't look like this."
Albert's words caught Yvette off guard. "What do you mean?"
"Don't understand?" Albert leaned closer, closing the distance between them in an instant. His familiar scent enveloped her, carrying a hint of dominance. "Want me to show you?"
Yvette lifted her chin slightly, meeting his gaze again. His eyes were deep and intense, his features carrying an unmistakable edge of possession.
Yvette leaned back slightly, creating distance. "What are you doing?"
"Exactly." Albert chuckled softly, his arm sliding around Yvette's slender waist. "When I'm jealous, I 'punish' you."
Yvette wasn't comfortable with such intimate gestures in public. Her cheeks flushed as she glanced around, relieved to see no one else watching them. BoBo and CiCi were absorbed in their own activities.
She pushed Albert away, surrendering. "Okay, you weren't jealous. Happy now?"
Albert didn't force the issue, slowly releasing her.
Seizing her chance, Yvette immediately ran toward BoBo and CiCi, calling over her shoulder, "I'm going to help the kids catch crabs and collect shells."
"Go ahead."
Albert watched Yvette join BoBo and CiCi, the smile fading from his eyes.
His gaze shifted, and when it landed on the man in the distance, all traces of amusement had vanished.
Those eyes held an intimidating intensity, boring straight into the stranger.
Albert had noticed long ago that the man who'd approached them hadn't actually left—he was watching them from afar.
He gave the man a deliberate look, his lips curving into a smile that dripped with unmistakable contempt.
Albert's stare was pure, undisguised challenge.
Albert gave a low, humorless chuckle as the man dropped his gaze and beat a retreat.
He'd swatted away pests like that more times than he could count—and never once thought them worth his time.
Sunlight danced across the rippling waves, and above, seagulls wheeled lazily in the salt-bright sky.
Yvette closed her eyes for a moment, letting the sun's warmth seep into her skin and the steady hush of the waves fill her ears. BoBo and CiCi's laughter rang through the air like silver bells, each note a light tap against her heart.
BoBo and CiCi looked at their bucket, now full to the brim with treasures, and turned to Yvette. "Mommy, look how much we found! Anyway, it's so hot! I want to go in the water!"
Each child grabbed a handle of the bucket with one hand and took Yvette's hands with the other, pulling her toward the water's edge.
They kicked off their shoes, letting the cool seawater lap at their little feet.
"The water's so cold!"
"It feels amazing!"
The two children ran and played along the beach, splashing through the waves, their laughter carried on the ocean breeze.
Just then, a woman approached them.
"You kids look like you're having the time of your lives!" The woman's smile was like the first sunlight after a long winter—warm, bright, and impossible to ignore. "Your laughter is contagious! I couldn't resist snapping a few photos. Want to see? They came out beautifully."
She turned her camera around, the screen glowing with captured moments, and held it out to Yvette, BoBo, and CiCi. "Look at this one—you, right in the middle of the waves! Isn't it perfect?"
Her voice danced with warmth, drawing them in without effort.
Yvette leaned closer, curiosity tugging her forward. The woman had caught more than just their images—she had caught the way the sunlight kissed the water, the way joy lit the children's eyes.
Each frame felt as if the world had paused to hold its breath, preserving the children's purest smiles against the backdrop of the boundless sea.
Yvette's eyes widened in delight. "Thank you—these are gorgeous."
"Your two children are just naturally photogenic—so beautiful and expressive. They had no idea I was photographing them, so their expressions are completely genuine and natural. They're absolute naturals!" The woman's admiration was clearly heartfelt.
Being praised made BoBo and CiCi both shy and proud. "Thank you!"
"You're so welcome! I love being around children, and I love photography too. Being able to capture beautiful moments like these—especially with such lovely kids—makes me incredibly happy and fulfilled."
The woman gently patted BoBo and CiCi's heads. The two children, usually quite wary of strangers, seemed to relax because of the woman's obvious kindness and the fact that she'd taken such care with their photos.
"I hope their mother likes these pictures." The woman held up her camera. "If you'd like, I'd be happy to send them all to you."
Yvette nodded immediately. "I'd love that! Let's exchange contact information."
"Perfect!"
The woman pulled out her phone and began adding Yvette's contact information, casually mentioning, "I'm traveling solo this trip, mainly for photography. I never expected to be lucky enough to meet you all."
Yvette saved the woman's contact in her phone, only then learning that her name was Thalia Harvey.
Thalia smiled. "Photography is just my hobby. I'm actually a preschool teacher—I guess I have a bit of an occupational hazard when I see adorable children."
Thalia crouched down to meet BoBo and CiCi at eye level. "Would you like to play with me for a while?"
"Yes!" CiCi enthusiastically took her hand.
"Wonderful!" Thalia's expression and tone were perfectly animated—exactly what children loved. "I absolutely love playing with kids! But I think I didn't take nearly enough photos of you. Would you be my little models and let me take a few more?"
Thalia stood up, smiling at Yvette. "I mostly photographed the children earlier—you weren't in many shots. Would you like to join them for some family photos?"
Yvette knew that each photograph would become a precious memory, capturing their family's beautiful time at the beach.
She nodded. "That would be lovely. Thank you so much."
"It's my pleasure." Thalia's smile remained warm, though something in her eyes seemed to deepen slightly. "Since we're taking more photos, why don't we ask the children's father to join us? I could take some wonderful family portraits of all four of you."
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