<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The next day, as instructed by Winona, La headed to Argrol University to find Yvette.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The n was set: La would lure Yvette out to a remote area, where they’d hired some rough types from Seacrity’s underworld to lie in wait. Once Yvette arrived, she would be trapped like a sitting duck.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Not willing to risk any failure, Winona and La had recruited twenty or so burly men. Winona had seen Yvette with a gun before and had no idea what other tricks she might have. They had to be ready for anything.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">When La arrived at the physicsb, she spotted Yvette heading out. Yvette acted as if she didn’t see her, about to walk past without a nce. Quickly, La called out. “Yvette! Hey, Yvette!”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette paused, turned, and saw La motioning to her in a suspiciously discreet way. “Do you need something?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">After scanning their surroundings, La approached with a soft, apologetic tone. “Yvette, I’m here to apologize. I realize now how wrong I was yesterday–I was being petty and thoughtless. It’s been weighing on me, so I came here specifically to make things right.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">La’s voice was soaked with fake sincerity, her eyes even misting up slightly. Yvette raised an eyebrow, her response as indifferent as ever: “Mm–hmm.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Seeing Yvette’s nk face, La was fuming inside but couldn’t show it. She had said so much and even admitted her mistake, but Yvette didn’t respond at all.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">La thought, ‘I’ve made myself small and yed nice. Did Yvette really have to be so cold?‘ La forced herself to continue, “Yvette, I really mean it. Can I buy you a coffee, just to show I’m sorry?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">La cautiously made her request, hoping Yvette would agree with a nod. Yvette stood there with her hands in her pockets, her gaze cool and unfazed.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">After an awkward pause, La added hastily, “Or maybe… I know you love desserts. I had fresh ingredients flown in just for you.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“I’ve got a renowned chef waiting to prepare them at my vi outside town. It’s my way of making it up to you.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">La’s nerves were fraying as Yvette’s silence stretched on. Finally, when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, Yvette responded, “Fine. Lead the way.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Relieved, La’s tension eased. She barely noticed the glimmer of amusement in Yvette’s eyes. Yvette thought, ‘Since some people wanted to put on a show, she might as well set the stage properly.’</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Thinking she’d finally won Yvette over, La perked up. “Great, my car is just outside. We can head to the vi straight from here.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The two walked out together, only to run into Charles, who had just returned to campus. The moment Charles saw Yvette, he came over, his voice firm. “Yvette, where are you headed?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The moment Charles saw Yvette, he came over, his voice firm. “vette, where are your headed?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette nodded casually. “Oh, someone invited me for dessert.”</font></font>
Charles nced over at La, who was striking a pose she probably thought was seductive. He barely suppressed a smirk and thought, ‘What is Yvette doing with this woman?‘
La’s eyes lit up at the sight of Charles, taking in his chiseled features and impressive build. She tried her best to look coy, biting her lip in what she thought was an attractive manner. “Yvette, is this your friend?” she asked sweetly.
Neither Yvette nor Charles dignified her with an answer. Feeling the snub, La covered her embarrassment with a hasty suggestion, “We should go, Yvette. It’s gettingte.”
Charles shot La a sharp look but held back, his face impassive. Yvette said to Charles, “I better go.”
Charles nodded. This woman didn’t seem trustworthy, but if anyone were to mess with Yvette, they probably wouldn’t know what hit them. He wasn’t concerned–a woman like this couldn’t harm Yvette at all.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.
Charles watched as Yvette climbed into the ck Jeep with La. Just before the door shut, Yvette shot him a look that only the two could understand. Instantly, Charles caught on.
Another fool was walking right into Yvette’s own trap. Charles wondered, ‘Why did people keep underestimating Yvette? Did she really look that easy to mess with?‘ Charles knew better. If Yvette wanted to y along, he’d let her.
Just as he turned to head back to the campus, Andrew rushed up, practically shoving a drink into Charles’s hand before hurrying to the library, muttering something about needing a raise. Charles chuckled, it was another day of hustling for that paycheck.
Meanwhile, inside the Jeep, Yvette remained glued to her phone, ignoring La’s presence. Relieved that her scheme was underway, Ea’s nerves settled, and her previous humility vanished.
Peeking over at Yvette’s screen, La’s face twisted with a sneer at the casual game Yvette was ying–some sort of pet- raising app. She thought, ‘Seriously? What kind of person ys games like that?‘
La felt her confidence rise. World–sspetition winner or not, Yvette was still ying “kiddie” games, nothing close to the high–end online games La indulged in.
Feeling surprised, La gasped dramatically, covering her mouth. “Oh my gosh, you y that kind of game? Isn’t that, like, for little kids? So childish.
“If you want something more grown–up, I can rmend a game or two. Of course, the ones I y have entry fees in the tens of thousands. Not sure you’d be able to handle that.”
La’s superiority was practically dripping from every word. The driver briefly nced in the rearview mirror, wisely staying silent.
Yvette, however, had heard enough. Lifting her eyes, she turned to La, her face as cold as ice, lips curving into a smirkced with menace. “You talk too much. Shut up.”
La’s mouth twitched, anger simmering beneath the surface. Just as she was about tosh out, her phone chimed. Suppressing her irritation, she nced at it–a text from Winona.
Winona: [All set here. Where are you?]
La furtively typed her reply, leaving her phone away from Yvette’s view. She snuck a nce at Yvette, who seemed oblivious, eyes still on her game.
La: [Almost there. About fifteen minutes away. Don’t screw this up, or we’re both fmished.]