Chapter 26 Let Bygones Be Bygones

Yvonne wasn't the type to hold grudges.

Upon hearing that Elijah would send her off, she smiled, her eyes shimmering. "Well, thank you then."

She got in Elijah's car and directly took the front passenger seat without asking for permission.

The car slowly drove out of Bird Hills.

Yvonne wanted to bring up a topic several times, but each time she chose to remain silent.

She couldn't let go of the words Elijah had said about maintaining a lover's relationship.

"Joseph really likes you," Elijah suddenly said.

"Children who lack motherly love tend to seek a sense of dependence in older women. I was like that when I was young." Yvonne adjusted her seat slightly and closed her weary eyes.

"Maybe." Elijah's expression turned gloomy. "I became his father, but I couldn't give him a complete family."

"You can still find a woman and marry her." Yvonne's tone carried a hint of sarcasm. "Even if you have three kids, there are plenty of stepmothers eager to get close to you."

Elijah frowned and said, "The word 'divorce' doesn't exist in my life's dictionary, only 'widowhood'. If I get married in this lifetime, I won't get divorced."

"Then I wish you find a suitable partner soon," Yvonne sneered and lit a cigarette.

The two didn't speak further. Yvonne opened the car window, and the smoke between her lips and teeth quickly dissipated.

Yvonne thought he would stop at the entrance of the residential area, but the car drove in and stopped in front of her apartment building.

"Thank you."

After getting off the car, she didn't hesitate and walked toward the elevator lobby.

"Yvonne," Elijah called out to her in a deep voice.

She paused her steps but didn't turn around.

"Joseph needs two weeks of rest at home. If you're not busy, would you come to Bird Hills and keep him company?" Elijah's deep eyes were filled with anticipation, but Yvonne didn't notice.

"Sure," Yvonne readily agreed.

Little did she know, Elijah had long grown accustomed to her enthusiastic initiatives, and her current indifference was driving him crazy.

"Miss Brooks, rest assured that I will pay you hourly for your service." It seemed that only by saying this could he appease his dissatisfaction with her.

"Mr. Harper has given me an opportunity to earn money, and I will certainly fulfill my duties wholeheartedly." Yvonne was speaking when the elevator doors suddenly opened.

Without even saying goodbye, she entered the elevator lobby.

Elijah didn't leave immediately. Leaning against the car, he lit a cigarette and took a few drags before extinguishing it.

He felt an inexplicable annoyance in his heart.

Upon returning to Bird Hills, Joseph had been accompanied by the nanny back to his bedroom.

Every time Joseph fell ill in these past few years, it would bring sleepless nights to Louis.

So Elijah had prepared a room on the first floor for Louis.

Louis couldn't sleep and brewed a pot of tea, leisurely drinking it in the living room.

Elijah had trouble sleeping and never dared to drink tea at night. He poured a glass of plain water and sat across from Louis.

"Yvonne will come tomorrow, right?" Louis asked.

Elijah rubbed his temples. "She won't start work until next week, but she'll come to accompany Joseph these few days."

"It's evident that Joseph likes her." Louis gently blew on his teacup. "Living in an environment without a mother's love for a long time, a child becomes more sensitive and insecure."

"What's your point? You want Yvonne to be Joseph's stepmother?" Elijah sneered.

"If you don't want to find a stepmother for Joseph, then bring his biological mother back." Louis smiled meaningfully. "I heard Emily is coming back."

"Does her return have anything to do with me?" Elijah was displeased.

"If she is Joseph's mother..."

"Emily and I are not what you imagine." Elijah's gaze fell on the closed door of Joseph's bedroom. "Joseph is mine alone, with no relation to any other woman."

Louis knew that if he said too much, he would be scolded, so he chose to stay silent.

Fortunately, Joseph had a peaceful night.

The next day, Louis examined him and gave detailed instructions before leaving for work.

Yvonne arrived just as Louis left, not only bringing fruits for Joseph, but also a few children's books.

Joseph was recovering well, full of vigor. Grandma Auntie said that Joseph had eaten a whole chicken sandwich and had a bowl of chicken soup in the morning.

When it was lunchtime, despite Auntie and Joseph's repeated requests, Yvonne walked away from Bird Hills. She was angry.

Elijah invited her to accompany Joseph, and Auntie and the nanny said numerous times that Elijah was in the study on the second floor. She stayed at Bird Hills the whole morning, and Elijah didn't even show up!

At least he could have come downstairs to say hello, but he didn't.

The car entered Sunshine Community and parked.

Just as Yvonne got out of the car, Anthony, who had been waiting for a long time, stepped out of a black sedan and blocked her way.

"Yvonne." Anthony's handsome face displayed fatigue and guilt.

Yvonne's face turned stern. "Don't call me that. You don't deserve to."

Anthony's pupils contracted, staring intensely at the woman in front of him. "You hate me, and I don't blame you."

"I don't want to see you. Disappear from my sight immediately!" Yvonne impatiently bit a cigarette while saying, "If I see you here again, I'll move out immediately."

Anthony took out a bank card from his pocket and handed it over. "Take it. I can't bear to see you suffer. The password is your birthday."

"Is this compensation for seducing a teacher in college or a mental damage fee for being cheated on?" Yvonne smirked, her red lips spreading widely.

Smoke twirled in her pale hand, highlighting her ten green nails that were vibrant and bold.

"It doesn't matter how you see it." Anthony's expression softened slightly. "Yvonne, give me three years, and I will repay everything I owe you."

"In three years, you'll have your happy family." Yvonne threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped on it a few times.

Anthony blocked the only way upstairs, so she turned and tried to open the car door, wanting to get away from this nauseating man as soon as possible.

Anthony reacted quickly and reached out to pull her into his embrace.

She raised her hand and slapped Anthony across the face!

A touch of crimson appeared at the corner of Anthony's eyes as he held onto her wrist and growled, "Does this slap relieve your anger?"

"No!" Yvonne swung her hand and struck Anthony's face again.

Anthony didn't dodge.

One after another, crisp slapping sounds filled the air.

"Keep hitting until you calm down!" Anthony let go of Yvonne's hand and pointed at his swollen face. "Yvonne, if you still can't let go, take a knife and stab my heart."

Yvonne slowly lowered her raised palm.

"Anthony…" It took her great effort to say this name. "I've slapped you three times. From now on, all our grievances and debts are settled."

"Yvonne, our issues can't be resolved with just a few slaps." Anthony's eyes shimmered coldly, unwillingly saying, "Let's both calm down."

Then, Anthony got back into his car, and the vehicle quickly drove out of Sunshine Community.

Yvonne stood at the entrance of the building, staring at her reddened palm in a daze.

A draft of wind blew by, making her feel chilled to the bone.

"Are you familiar with him?" Elijah's deep voice suddenly came from behind Yvonne.

Turning around, Yvonne could clearly see the mockery in Elijah's eyes.

"I am familiar." Yvonne concealed her disappointment and smiled brightly, "What else do you want to know?"

Elijah's face tightened as he handed over a paper bag. "There were extra dishes made in the kitchen for lunch, and my aunt packed a few for me to bring over."

"The food has been delivered, you can go now," Yvonne said unkindly.

Seeing that Yvonne didn't take it, Elijah placed the paper bag on the floor and picked up the bank card that Anthony had thrown, placing it on Yvonne's car windshield.

Yvonne ignored it and lit a cigarette.

"You spent three and a half hours with Joseph this morning. Tell me, I'll count for you." Elijah's eyes turned cold.

As soon as he heard Yvonne leaving in Bird Hills, he immediately followed.

Of course, he also made up the excuse of his aunt asking him to deliver food.

However, he didn't expect to witness a scene of love and hatred as soon as he got off the car.

He was supposed to just be a spectator, but he felt like there was a needle poking at his heart.

Yvonne was not a pushover and replied, "Winslow charges three hundred dollars per hour for one-on-one tutoring. Since we know each other so well, I'll give you thirty minutes for free, and you can pay nine hundred dollars."

"No need, I can afford that." Elijah opened his phone and transferred one thousand and fifty dollars to her.

"Thank you." Yvonne quickly took the money and walked back toward the building with the bank card in her hand.

The north wind blew, and ice particles started floating before winter arrived.

Elijah was only wearing a thin coat, and it wasn't until he was completely drenched that he snapped out of it.

He picked up the paper bag from the ground and threw it in the trash.

How could a few packed meals compare to a bank card?

How could his casual partner compare to the true love in his heart?

Why did he always have to seek discomfort despite being calm and rational?

He drove out of Sunshine Community and returned to Rhode Hills.

Elijah took off his soaked clothes, took a hot shower, and inexplicably walked into the bedroom where Yvonne had stayed.

The window was slightly open, the floor was spotless, and the bed was neatly made without a single wrinkle.

He had a cleanliness obsession, whether in life or in relationships.

Except for Joseph and Philippe, no one else had ever entered this house.

Yvonne was an exception.

According to his plan, as soon as Yvonne left, he would throw away the bedsheets and pillowcases she had slept on.

But then, he hesitated.

He didn't clean this room at all, and the bedsheets remained the same.

Until now, he still hadn't figured out why he softened his stance after just hearing a few soft and gentle words from Yvonne.

In matters of love, he was clear about his feelings and never dragged them out.

Yvonne was not his type, nor would she ever be Mrs. Harper's candidate, but Elijah repeatedly fell into Yvonne's tender trap and couldn't free himself.

Lying down slowly, Elijah closed his eyes and tried to feel the lingering scent of Yvonne.

Suddenly, his hand touched an earring in the blanket.

About the size of a rice pearl, it was transparently black, just like its owner, sparkling with captivating luster.

Elijah was awakened by Michael's phone call and asked sleepily, "What's up?"

"Aren't you going to the law firm?" Michael could tell Elijah hadn't fully woken up yet.

"I didn't sleep well last night, so I took a nap at home today." Elijah got up. "Is it about Yvonne joining FA Center Company?"

"I have high hopes for someone you recommended. However, the design department is full of experts, and it's quite challenging. I'm afraid she won't be able to adapt as a newcomer."

Michael's voice was deep. "The workload in planning and logistics is lower."

"She studied interior design, so let her join the design department." Elijah said without hesitation.

"Okay." Michael suddenly sounded gloomy. "Next Wednesday is Shirley's sixth anniversary, and I'll be flying to Norway..."

"My sister said before she passed away that she didn't want to see you in her next life." Elijah's voice turned cold. "Don't cause her any more trouble."