Chapter 13
Zephyr remained calm. He looked up at her and asked in concern, “Did it hurt? Was I too rough?”
Yvette quickly realized that she had overreacted and shook her head.
Seeing that she didn’t seem to be in pain, but rather looking startled, Zephyr reflected on his earlier words as he pulled her arm back toward him to continue his work.
Now that she knew the truth, Yvette held her breath and couldn’t help glancing at him, observing him covertly.
His eyelashes were long and slightly curled –Yvette was envious. His fingers, long and slim, looked great for painting. His hair was lush and thick, unlike some other medical students she
knew…
Yvette’s mind raced as she stared at Zephyr, entranced.
When he finished bandaging and looked up, he caught her staring intently at him, her eyes filled with curiosity. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” “Thanks, doctor–Zephyr.”
She switched her form of address just in time, though neither seemed quite appropriate. Still, she ended up calling him by his first name.
Seeing his questioning gaze, she wrestled with her self internally for a moment before making up her mind. “Did you pick out the jewelry I have at home?” she probed. Zephyr nodded lightly. “Yes, I did. You don’t like them? If you’d like, we can pick new ones together when you have time.”
Yvette shook her head quickly and forced out a bright smile. “No, I like them.”
It was the first time Zephyr had seen her smile during the few hours they had spent together.
Although it didn’t seem entirely genuine, it still managed to relieve the slight unease that he was feeling.
At least their first meeting had gone relatively well. That was enough for him.
Charlotte stayed in the hospital for a week, long enough to make her feel like her bones were turning to mush.
On the day she was discharged, the three–day–long rainstorm in Jurbane City finally let up.
Kade sent her home and left almost immediately.
Charlotte tried to make him stay for a meal, but he frowned and made an excuse to leave.
After he had disappeared from view, Charlotte dropped her act of disappointment and picked up her phone to call her friends. “Yvette is out of the hospital? I didn’t see her there at all. How lucky. I can’t believe that accident hadn’t killed her.”
On the other side of the closed door, Kade’s hand on the door knob froze when he overheard Charlotte’s smug tone.
“Kay’s gone. He’s probably gone to see her. It’s alright, I’ll just send him a message later, and he’ll come back for sure.
“Zach’s head was smashed in! She’s ruthless. Next time, we need to get more people. I’d like to see how she gets away then!
“Of course, Kay would believe me. He didn’t even bother to check the surveillance cameras when Yvette brought it up. You should’ve seen her face at the time—you would’ve laughed out loud and gave the trick away!”
Charlotte’s mocking tone sounded loud and brash in Kade’s ears.
The surveillance cameras?
He suddenly recalled what had happened before they had left the hotel, and tensed.
Had something really happened before he arrived?
His grip tightened as he frowned.
After a few more giggles, the room fell silent again.
Kade’s mind was in turmoil.
Ignoring the car keys he’d left inside, he turned, hailed a cab, and rushed to the hotel.
Under the pretext of retrieving a lost item, he managed to get the management to let him access the surveillance footage from a week ago.
The footage showed that Charlotte’s friends had cleared out the bathroom moments before Yvette had entered. Then, they placed a sign for maintenance on the door and left.
Then, Charlotte’s male companion appeared, slipping into the bathroom after making sure that no one was around.
A few minutes after that, Yvette came out in a panic and slapped Charlotte, who was waiting at the door.
The cameras had even recorded their conversation.
Kade’s expression darkened further as he listened to what Charlotte had said.
But the most damning thing was the footage from the camera at the entrance of the hotel.
Two of Charlotte’s friends sped toward Yvette in a car. They crashed into her, knocking her out of the frame.
He suddenly remembered the phone call he’d gotten that night. With the context from Charlotte’s earlier words, he felt as if his blood had run cold.
His heart began pounding as he took out his phone to text Yvette.
When he hit the send button, a red exclamation mark appeared beside his message on the screen.
Had Yvette blocked him?
The realization made his hands tremble uncontrollably. Frantically, he switched to the keypad and dialed her number.
After a long beep, a cold, automated voice responded.
She’d blocked him as well.
Kade felt as if something was lodged in his throat, making it hard to breathe.
He couldn’t stand here any longer. Quickly, he rushed out and got a cab back home.
When he opened the door, he was stunned by the unfamiliar living room.
100
The cabinets of figurines, the photos hanging on the walls, and the desk that held all her sketches….
Everywhere he looked, all the things that belonged to Yvette were now gone.
Chapter 13
In disbelief, he walked further into the house, only to find that the study, bathroom, studio, and bedroom were clean and empty.
He scoured the entire apartment, but he couldn’t find anything related to Yvette.
She, along with all her belongings, had disappeared without a trace.
Yvette had no other close acquaintances in Jurbane. Where could she have gone? Why didn’t she tell him?
Mind blank, Kade looked around in bewilderment and noticed a letter on the bedside table.
Quickly, he ran over and opened it up. When he saw the first line, he froze. “I’m breaking up with you, Kade.”
