Chapter 68 One Night
The night enveloped the entire room, with only the dim bedside lamp casting a feeble glow.
Alcohol had taken over Albert's thoughts, blurring his vision and confusing his senses. That intense emotion still rampaged inside him, but Albert didn't continue.
Beside him was Yvette, sobbing softly. Albert's breathing gradually steadied. He wanted to explain something to Yvette, but he couldn't find the words to follow "I'm sorry."
The smell of alcohol in the air numbed Albert's mind, making him almost forget how they had ended up here again.
She didn't move, always with her back to him. This was the first time she had shown such vulnerability in front of him.
Albert suddenly realized that Yvette's suppressed crying pained him more than seeing Violet's tearful eyes.
He wanted to turn around and hug her, but as soon as he tried to move, he felt her shrink back in fear.
Feeling uncomfortable and afraid of scaring her further, Albert remained still.
Thinking about what Yvette had said, he began to recall that it seemed he only ever sought her out after drinking or socializing.
Was it a coincidence? Or did he really only let himself go when he was drunk? He couldn't tell anymore.
In his memory, Yvette was always gentle and focused. A few times, when he went to check on her, he saw her talking to someone outside the clinic, with a slight smile on her face, a gentle and dignified curve at the corner of her mouth.
But now, her eyes always carried a hint of resentment when she looked at him, and that smile was gone.
Making her cry was never his intention.
Albert thought dejectedly, why did he, always so calm and composed, lose control in front of her?
Yvette quickly composed herself. Despite her disheveled state, she silently got up and dressed.
Hearing the sound behind him, Albert, enduring the pounding headache, propped himself up on one side to look at her.
Yvette had her brows furrowed, her tears already wiped away, but the area around her eyes was still red.
Albert was about to speak when Yvette lifted her eyelids. Their eyes met accidentally, each holding their own thoughts.
Just moments ago, they were one step away from the most intimate act, yet now they were speechless, making the atmosphere awkward.
Yvette immediately looked away and got up hastily.
She took a couple of steps towards the door when Albert's slightly hoarse voice came from behind.
"Yvette."
Yvette paused, her hand on the door handle stiffening. She restrained herself and said, "I'm leaving now."
Her voice, hoarse and trembling from crying, sounded especially aggrieved.
Albert got up from the bed. "I'll take you."
Yvette was stunned and turned to look at him. Albert walked towards her, his tall body swaying, clearly drunk.
She shook her head. "No need, I can go by myself. You've been drinking, you can't drive."
Yvette refused him, making Albert frown instinctively. He still insisted on taking her.
"It's not safe for a woman to walk alone at this hour. I'll take you."
Saying this, Albert grabbed Yvette's slender wrist and tried to lead her out.
This man, always ignoring her opinions, was still so overbearing even when drunk.
Thinking about everything that happened tonight, Yvette felt a surge of dissatisfaction and struggled a bit more. "I said no..."
Just as Yvette started to speak, Albert's tall, strong body suddenly swayed in front of her and began to fall.
Yvette was startled and moved to catch him. But his weight was too much for her, and she ended up being pinned against the wall.
Ignoring the pain in her back, Yvette shook Albert. "Albert, Albert."
No matter how Yvette called, the man kept his eyes closed, frowning, showing no signs of waking up.
Albert must have drunk too much tonight and caught a chill. Even someone as healthy as him couldn't hold up under such strain.
Albert shifted, curling up on the ground. Yvette watched him, feeling torn. She knew she should decisively leave the man who had repeatedly hurt her and trampled on her dignity, yet she couldn't help but soften.
After all, he was still her lawful husband.
Yvette sighed and finally helped him up. "Albert, this is the last time."
Albert was tall and strong, and Yvette struggled to move him from the floor to the bed.
Yvette went to get a glass of warm water for Albert. When she returned to the room, Albert was still lying motionless on the bed.
She carefully walked to the bedside and gently patted his face. "Albert, drink some water."
Feeling his unusually warm temperature, Yvette reached behind his neck to help him sit up and drink some water.
But as soon as she touched the back of his neck, the burning heat of his skin contrasted sharply with her cool hand.
Albert had a fever.
Yvette sighed helplessly, "Looks like I can't leave tonight."
She had planned to leave after giving Albert some water, but with him drunk and feverish, she didn't dare to go.
Yvette found a fever patch in the medicine box and brought a basin of cool water to wipe Albert down and reduce his fever.
She struggled to move him. Maybe her movements were too big, and Albert regained some consciousness, opening his eyes groggily.
"You have a fever, Albert."
Albert, still groggy, grabbed Yvette's hand and pulled her into his arms.
His burning body against hers felt very warm.
She wondered if his fever made him mistake her for someone else.
Yvette pushed him away gently. Being weak, the man was effortlessly shoved aside, his chest heaving.
Before she could react, Albert suddenly pushed her away and turned to vomit.
Yvette worked tirelessly through the night, cleaning up Albert's mess and ensuring his well-being. It was only when he finally succumbed to a deep sleep, signifying the end of the ordeal, that Yvette noticed she too was splattered with some of his vomit.
There were no clothes for her here, but she couldn't bear wearing dirty clothes. After some thought, Yvette took one of his white shirts from the closet.
It wasn't the first time she wore Albert's clothes, but it was the first time she wore something so close-fitting. Looking at the shirt just covering her thighs in the mirror, Yvette felt a bit uneasy.
She put her dirty clothes in the washing machine, calculating that they should be clean and dry by morning.
Exhausted from the night, Yvette lay down on the edge of the bed and soon fell asleep.
At around eight in the morning, Albert was still asleep. Yvette decided to make some breakfast to help with his hangover.
While Yvette was rummaging through the fridge for ingredients, she suddenly heard the sound of someone entering the door with the password.
Caught off guard, Yvette forgot she was only wearing a shirt that barely covered her hips and walked out of the kitchen barefoot, looking towards the door in confusion.
The next moment, the door opened, and Violet walked in, carrying breakfast.
Both women were stunned.
