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    Jeremiah''s hand, holding the water cup, paused slightly before she nonchntly took another sip. The loyalty of the Seventy-Two Chambers'' members to Yvette was so extreme that it was truly shocking


    Yvette lifted her eyelids and nced at the four hall leaders opposite her. Each of their faces was filled with seriousness and determination. She curled her lips slightly, her eyes remaining unchanged, and asked slowly, "Are you


    The four nodded. Each one was feared throughout the underworld and was then behaving like obedient students in front of Yvette, exuding not a hint of menace.


    Ms. Zeller, we''ve made up our minds, they said in unison.


    Yvette lightly drummed her fingers on the table and leaned backzily. She said, "Stay until the end of the year-this time next year, I''lle and take you home."


    The four were stunned upon hearing that. Did she just say she would take them home? For them, home was wherever Yvette


    They were all orphans. When they met Yvette, they were utterly alone. Although older than her by a few years, they were guided by her in both training and life-a ten-year-old leading a group of older kids to where they stood that day.


    Their fondest memories weren''t of the vibrant nightlife of the underworld but of the two years spent in the training camp. Those years, despite the grueling hardships, were the most meaningful of their lives.


    Yvette was merciless in her training methods, yet those days were filled with purpose.


    Later, the days of sweeping through the underworld under her leadership became equally unforgettable. Despite life-and- death battles, not a single member was lost because, with her around, even death couldn''t im them.


    The four, in unison, shouted with years of tacit understanding, Ms. Zeller, we''ll wait to go home with you!"


    Looking at the excited four, Yvette replied in a low voice, "Go back and tell Braydon that I''ll take you all next year."


    She had no intention of keeping that a secret No one could stop her from taking her people. The four nodded, well aware of her personality. When she said she would take Seventy-Two Chambers, even Braydon would have to agree.


    Going back to notify Braydon was merely a formality. Yvette had always been that assertive.


    Once the Seventy-Two Chambers members had left, Mario immediately entered. Upon seeing Yvette, he lowered his head, no longer his earlier talkative self, but rather nervous and uneasy


    Having been in the southern region for so many years, Mario knew a thing or two. That a figure like Yvette woulde to eat at his diner, behaving so courteously, was something he still found hard to believe.


    Yvette walked unhurriedly toward the door, Jeremiah following beside her. As she passed Mario, she paused, causing his heart to race, unsure whether to look up or noL


    Yvette nced down at the tense Mario and said casually, "Your food tastes very good With that, she and Jeremiah pushed open the door and left Mario broke out in a cold sweat. He had thought she was displeased with him. It turned out she wasplimenting his cooking. Only after they had left did he finally rx.


    Surveying the mess left behind, he sighed. Times were getting tougher, especially with the gang conflicts in the southern region that showed no signs of ending. Ory folks like him ways bore the brunt of it


    As he cleaned up, he noticed something unusual on the table where Yvette had sat. He thought he was seeing things-a slip


    of paper resembling a check; He bent down for a closer look.


    When he realized it was indeed a check, Mario froze. It was a 150 thousand-dor check. A whole year''s backbreaking work wouldn''t even earn him half that. And right then, the sum had appeared out of nowhere.


    As his emotions settled, holding the lightweight check in his hands, Mario sat on the recently cleaned blue chair, deeply moved. There was no need to guess who had left the check,


    That lofty figure, who seemed unreachable, had remembered his struggling diner even after leaving. Mario''s heart swelled with a mixture of gratitude andplexity.


    In the car, Jeremiah was driving while asionally ncing at Yette, who was curled up in the passenger seat engrossed in a game. His lips curled into a smile.


    Yvette had personally written a check for the diner owner. Only he would bother to handle such after-sale issues in the underworld.


    Yvette, half-lowering hershes, casually eliminated another yer in her game. Without lifting her head, she asked in a low voice. "What are you smiling at?"


    Jeremiah, holding the steering wheel with one hand, turned aer leisurely and replied in a deep voice, "I like to smile."


    His words made Yvette pause her game. She looked up, abandoning the game entirely, and nced at Jeremiah. "Men are liars. What else do you like?" she asked slowly.


    Jeremiah, turning the steering wheel again, answered without hesitation. I like you" His expression was earnest, his tone


    sincere.


    Yvette rested her chin on her hand and replied, “That just proves you have good taste.”


    Jeremiah was used to her asional bouts of self-adoration. His expression remained calm as he countered, "Then, who do you like?" His question was light as if he didn''t care about the answer.


    Yvette arched her delicate brows, tilted her head, and repliedzily, "I like Coke." Jeremiah''s grip on the steering wheel faltered slightly. ''Who''s Coke now? he wondered. Yvette, after speaking, closed her eyes unhurriedly, a sly smile ying on her lips.


    Back at the mansion, Jeremiah sat on the office sofa, his face illuminated by dim light. His sharp features, prominent nose, and unbuttoned white shirt revealed a pale corbone, exuding an air of abstinence.


    He was still wondering who this Coke was that Yvette had mentioned. Turning his phone in his hand. Jeremiah opened it, found a contactbeled "Eagle King, and made the call.


    In Betrico, Eagle King, dressed in red shorts, a green tank top, and blue slippers, stared at the unfamiliar number, Afier confirming it, he answered cautiously, “Mr. Chavez, what a rare call, What''s the asion?"


    Eagle King wasn''t foolish. Jeremiah wouldn''t call him for idle cha-chat. If he received a call, it was most likely rted to Yvette. He knew his ce well.


    Jeremiah, listening to the water running in the bathroom, asked in a deep voice. "Who''s Coke?"


    Eagle King froze at the question ''Coke? Who''s that? he wondered. He had no idea.


    Jeremiah waited for a few seconds, and when no answer came, he knew Eagle King didn''t know either. He muttered, “Forget it and hung up.


    Eagle King, who was in Betrico''s photo studio, was bewildered. He stared at his phone, utterly perplexed. Then, suddenly


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    10:43 Thu, Dec 26 G.


    realizing something, he grinned mischievously and opened the group chat app.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    The group chat''s name was "Happy Family," with group leaders Eagle King" and "Samantha


    That chat group, created after their return from South East Apleth, included everyone close to Yvette and Jeremiah, Whether they had met or not, they were all friends orrades of the pair. The group buzzed with activity daily, though


    the two remained blissfully unaware.


    The group had a clear rule-to not add Yvette or Jeremiah.


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