Passion 227

Chapter 227

Xavier unconsciously put out his cigarette. He had expected Yvette to come out and cry, shout, or even slap him, as she had before. But she did none of that; instead, she was unusually calm.

“I’m going out for a walk. Her voice was hoarse.

Without waiting for Xavier’s approval, she left the office. As she left the company, she felt several strange gazes upon her, though the office was nearly empty.

The sky was overcast, and light rain had begun to fall when Yvette went out.

Standing in the drizzle, Yvette felt a sense of desolation. She walked along the street, unaware that a discreet black car was quietly following her.

The person inside the car was watching her every move with worried eyes.

“Stop the car.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the car soon stopped, Claude stepped out of the vehicle with a coat and an umbrella. With one hand holding the umbrella, he quickly walked up to Yvette, shielding her from the rain.

Yvette saw Claude’s handsome face when she turned her head.

He handed her the coat. “Put this on,” he said, Yvette’s clothes were already soaked from the rain.

Yvette took the coat and draped it over her shoulders. Thank you. What are you doing here?”

Claude had specifically come to see her, but to avoid pressuring her, he lied, saying, “I just finished some business nearby and happened to see you.”

“How’s business?” Yvette asked.

“Very successful,” Claude replied with a gentle smile. To celebrate, why don’t I take you out for a meal?”

Yvette quickly shook her head. “Xavier has bodyguards following me. If we go out to eat and he finds out, he’ll be furious.”

Claude felt a pang of bitterness in his throat. “Yvvy, do you not trust me?”

Yvette looked at him, confused.

Claude then added, “I’m not afraid of Xavier. Now that your plan has succeeded, we can go back. You don’t need to worry about what he thinks anymore.”

Yvette didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Claude or thought he was inferior to Xavier. She just thought that she had caused this friend of hers too much trouble.

Claude knew what Yvette was thinking when she fell silent.

Except for that one time five years ago when she had sought his help to go abroad, she had never reached out to him for any troubles she had faced while overseas.

Even when she had been harassed by foreign men, she had chosen to report it to the police rather than tell anyone. If Viola hadn’t failed to get ahold of Yvette, he wouldn’t have known that she had almost been

taken advantage of at work.

That day, Viola had spoken to him privately. “Yvvy has been stubborn since she was young. Besides her father, she only sought Xavier’s help when something happened.

“She told me it’s because Xavier is her husband. He’s one of the few people she considers family. I believe that she will only feel secure enough to rely on you if you become her boyfriend and marry her.”

Claude recalled Viola’s words as he reached into his pocket for something he had been carrying since his

return.

Just then, Yvette spoke up. “Alright, let’s go eat.” She forced a smile and added, “I actually wanted to talk to you too.”

Because of their childhood bond, and after so many years of being acquainted, Yvette saw him as an older brother.

Claude could only put the item back in his pocket. In the end, he was too afraid to say anything in case they could no longer be friends.

He knew Yvette too well and knew that she didn’t love him romantically. After all, when she loved someone, she would hide nothing and would be open about it.

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