Chapter 48 Parent-Teacher Meeting

As she waited for him to answer, Yvonne had already prepared what she would say. But Elijah didn’t pick up.

Yvonne didn't give up and called again.

“What’s up?” Elijah asked coldly.

“I have something to say," Yvonne nervously laughed. "I left my friend's birthday gift, a water cup, in your car. I can't throw it away. Where are you now? I'll come and get it."

"It's already been thrown away in the trash can," Elijah lied intentionally, still upset from noon.

"Oh," Yvonne sighed, "just forget it then. It's my fault for not explaining properly."

"Is there anything else? If not, I'll hang up." Elijah remained aloof.

"There's nothing else." Yvonne ran out of words, but chose not to end the call.

Elijah didn't hang up either, and the two of them fell silent. Yvonne wanted to say something several times, but hesitated. Just as she made up her mind to apologize to Elijah, the call ended.

The busy tone in her ear woke her up.

He was a heartless man, devoid of emotions and unaffected by anyone. It was impossible to connect with him emotionally; she could only use him, not let herself be moved by him!

Sorting out her messy thoughts, Yvonne drove back to Sunshine Community.

The next morning, she requested half a day off from Victoria and went to Joseph's school. Joseph attended Winslow’s most expensive private international school. To appear more like a parent of a six-year-old, Yvonne purposely dressed in a mature and respectable dress.

Unexpectedly, she ran into Elijah when she went to sign in at the classroom.

"You're here," Elijah greeted her proactively.

Upon seeing her, Elijah couldn't hide his joy.

"If I had known you were coming, I wouldn't have come," Yvonne murmured softly.

"Oh, I don't have time. I just came to attend the parent-teacher meeting." Elijah approached her and whispered in her ear, "This parent-teacher meeting requires both the parents to come."

Yvonne instantly blush. "I am an aunt, not a mom."

"Joseph has always been telling teachers and classmates that his mom is abroad. After the New Year, he will enter the elementary school. His mom has never appeared at school. All the other kids' parents came to today's parent-teacher meeting. Can you cooperate a bit?" Elijah said and extended his right arm.

Yvonne glanced at the couples beside her and reluctantly hooked her arm around Elijah's.

This man was cold and emotionless just yesterday evening, but now he had put on a different face. At the end of the day, it was all for his son!

In his eyes, she was merely a dispensable tool!

A teacher in her thirties came smiling. "Is this beautiful lady Joseph's mom?"

Yvonne smiled at the corner of her lips, her cheeks burning, neither admitting nor denying.

"She is Joseph's mom, and my wife. She has been abroad all these years. Luckily, she returned just in time for the parent-teacher meeting," Elijah smoothly lied.

Abroad?

He must be referring to Emily!

Yvonne felt a pang in her heart, intentionally glaring at Elijah when she took her seat.

"Do you find it amusing to bring this imposter? I wonder if the true love from abroad will be jealous when she sees me sitting here," she jokingly whispered into Elijah's ear.

To others, the two of them were doting and loving.

Elijah frowned, calmly asking, "Who told you that the one from abroad is the true love?"

"Is she not the one from abroad? Could it be someone from within the country?" Yvonne blurted out.

Elijah's gaze turned deep. His tone was cold as he said, "Yvonne, Joseph's origin is different from what you think."

"If it is, it is. If it's not, it's not. You always like to keep secrets." Yvonne sneered, "Being with you is not easy!"

Elijah remained silent.

Joseph's teacher gave a speech, followed by the principal, both discussing good family relationships and nurturing children's characters.

After the parent-teacher meeting, each student's parents took a group photo. The homeroom teacher said they would put the photos of every mom and dad on the back wall of the classroom.

Yvonne couldn't smile in the photos, but Elijah calmly embraced her, a faint smile on his face.

The teacher sent the parents' photos one by one to the parent group chat. After Elijah forwarded it to Yvonne, he went to chat with Joseph's teacher.

Yvonne walked out while looking at her phone.

In the photo with Elijah, apart from her slightly awkward expression, the two of them appeared affectionate, without any hint of incongruity, like a couple or a pair of spouses.

"Yvonne, what are you doing here?" A surprised female voice suddenly came from the classroom at the stairwell.

Yvonne looked up and saw Sarah, ready to descend the stairs, holding her dress.

Ryan's cousin, Sarah, had met Yvonne twice before, so they were somewhat familiar with each other.

"I thought I was mistaken, didn't expect it to be really you," Sarah scrutinized Yvonne suspiciously.

"Keep it down! It wasn't easy for me to slip in." Yvonne had a clever idea and intentionally took out a business card from her handbag, the one from the FA Center Company's design department.

"It's almost the end of the year, and I heard that various influential figures have gathered at Winslow Business District today, so I came to give it a try."

"With Ryan's help, you don't have to work so hard," Sarah smiled and said, "Uncle and aunt have given you so much dowry. It’s enough to live without worries."

Afraid that Sarah would eventually figure it out if they spent too much time together, Yvonne quickly made up an excuse and left.

"I'm in a hurry to go back too, let's go together." Sarah clung to Yvonne.

Yvonne had no choice but to go downstairs with her.

Halfway down the stairs, a teacher chased after them with pen and paper in hand.

"Madam, you must be Joseph's mother. Apologies, you haven't written a message for your child. Please write a heartfelt message for him," the teacher said.

Sarah was instantly stunned.

Yvonne was caught in a dilemma, but after a brief moment of contemplation, she took the pen and paper from the teacher and wrote: "May you grow a pair of wings to soar over mountains and seas, and everything you see be filled with beauty."

"Thank you," the teacher nodded politely to Yvonne. "Although we could only meet Mr. Harper during the parent-teacher meetings, Joseph's character tells us that you must be a considerate and gentle mother..."

The teacher rambled on and on before finally leaving.

Yvonne didn't hear a word.

Frank still hadn't completed the funding for Ryan's company, so their relationship would have to be maintained for a few more days.

If Sarah went to the Winstons and said something...

Yvonne looked at Sarah, who was completely shocked, and said, "Today, I was entrusted by Mr. Harper to attend a parent-teacher meeting for his son."

"You mean Elijah? His son has never had a mother, and he brought you here to deceive people. I never thought Mr. Harper, who appears so dignified, could also be clueless sometimes," Sarah mocked. "You must have a deep connection with Elijah to agree to such a thing."

"Mr. Harper has done me a favor, so I agreed when he asked yesterday." Yvonne pretended to be calm. "It's just a small thing, but I'm afraid that someone with ill intentions might spread rumors."

"Now that you've already done it, what is there to be afraid of?" Sarah's attitude was ambiguous as she left Yvonne behind and walked away.

Yvonne had a bad feeling and picked up her phone to call Ryan.

She called twice, but Ryan didn't answer.

She didn't want the imminent $600,000 to go down the drain, so she left a message for Ryan on WhatsApp.

Elijah approached her before she received a reply from Ryan.

"Thank you." Elijah's voice was low, but she could hear it clearly.

"No problem!" She didn't feel relieved in her heart.

"Joseph is my friend, and I'm helping him. You don't need to thank me."

Elijah glanced at her nonchalantly.

"But Joseph still wants me to treat you to a meal as a gesture of gratitude," Elijah replied.

"Sure!" She didn't refuse, thinking it would be a waste not to enjoy a free meal. "Mr. Harper's level is beyond what regular restaurants can offer. Let's go to Spring Diner!"

Every time she thought about the bill from their last visit to Spring Diner, she felt sorry for her own money.

"Alright," Elijah agreed readily.

Yvonne found her white Volkswagen in the parking lot, and as soon as she got in, Elijah sat in the passenger seat.

"Where's your car?" Yvonne asked. She looked around but couldn’t see Elijah's car.

"Arthur drove me here." Elijah fastened his seatbelt. "After the meal, I'll need you to take me to the Harper Group."

Just as Michael and Joseph had said, Elijah really did go to the Harper Group.

"Is Mr. Harper planning to start a business?" The car slowly exited the parking lot, and Yvonne brought up a topic.

"Just helping out temporarily." Elijah adjusted his seat to a comfortable position, closed his weary eyes, and said, "But the law firm will still be my main focus."

"You and Mr. Winston are born winners." Yvonne's tone expressed clear envy and jealousy.

Elijah didn't respond.

"You were born with everything while I've worked hard my whole life, and I’m still just an ordinary person. Before I even adapted to FA Center Company, I was transferred to the logistics department," Yvonne glanced at Elijah beside her as she spoke.

Elijah had actually fallen asleep.

Back when she stayed over at Rhode Hills, Elijah often stayed in his study until late at night. Now, with the added work at the Harper Group, he was even busier than before.

She raised the air conditioning by two degrees and slowed down the car.

It should have only taken twenty minutes to reach Spring Diner, but she took thirty minutes.

After parking, Elijah still hadn't woken up.

She reclined her seat, lying down facing Elijah.

His eyes were tightly shut, and the curve of his thin lips was attractive.

She silently gazed at Elijah.

What kind of woman could occupy a place in his heart?

Elijah's sleeping face was calm and peaceful, with all the sharp edges softened, and the intimidating distance between them reduced.

On a whim, Yvonne reached out to touch his cheek.

Just as her fingers touched his skin, he abruptly opened his eyes and sat up.

"Sorry, I pulled an all-nighter last night," he apologized.

"Staying up like that can lead to sudden death." Yvonne felt somewhat embarrassed. She quickly withdrew her hand, readjusted the seat back to its original position, and said, "Let's get off, I'm hungry."

Elijah opened the car door and got out.

The biting wind blew, and he sneezed.

Yvonne tightly wrapped her cashmere coat around her and followed him into the scarlet gates of Spring Diner.

They entered the same private room as before.

Since Elijah was treating, Yvonne wanted to get back at him for ordering so much last time, so she ordered even more this time.

Halfway through the meal, Elijah's phone rang.

Without avoiding Yvonne, Elijah answered with a few "hm" and "yes," then said, "Yes, I'm at Spring Diner, in the same private room."

Out of politeness, Yvonne didn't ask who it was.

To her surprise, a knock on the door quickly followed. Yvonne thought it was a waiter and said, "Come in."

The door was pushed open from the outside, and Mrs. Winston walked in with an iron face.