?


    Frankie stepped off his snowboard, casting a nce at the two disheveled women, Judy and Mirana, in the snow tube. With a curious smirk, he asked, "Yvette, Mr. Chavez, what kind of trouble have these two gotten themselves into this time?"


    Jeremiah, his face impassive, responded in a firm,manding one, "Take them to the starting point. Let them see what real excitement feels like."


    The two women fell silent at his words, their eyes widening in fer as tears began to stream down their faces. Any trace of their earlier smugness had vanished, reced by pure dread.


    Chris and Frankie instantly caught on. The former gave Jeremial a confident nod, his tone steady as he said, "Don''t worry, Mr. Chavez. We''ll make sure they get the full experience."


    Frankie wasted no time. Grabbing the rope of the snow tube, he dashed a cheeky grin and leaned down toward the women. "Don''t worry!" he quipped. "By the time we''re done, you two are going to love skiing."


    His words, far from reassuring, only made Judy and Mirana tremble harder, their terror written all over their faces.


    Ten minutester, a snow tube was careening wildly down the high-difficulty ski track. It zigzagged erratically, the screams of the two women inside piercing the cold air as it echoed across the entire ski area.


    For a full hour, their terror resonated before finally giving way to silence.


    Frankie nced at the two unconscious figures slumped in the snow tube, then casually grabbed the rope and dragged it back to where Jeremiah and Yvette stood waiting. He gestured toward them, stating ndly, "Yvette, Mr. Chavez, looks like they''ve passed out."


    Yvette barely moved, her wless features devoid of emotion as she slowly opened her eyes. Without so much as a nce at the unconscious women, she murmured calmly, "Two minutes.


    Jeremiah nced at the sleek, limited-edition watch on his wrist. "Yeah, almost."


    Frankie and Chris exchanged puzzled nces. ''Two minutes? Why was Yvette timing this?'' they wondered. Just then, a woman''s voice shouted from a distance, “Judy! Mirana! Where are you?" They turned to see a woman in a bright pink ski suit sprinting toward them.


    Frankie and Chris nced back at Jeremiah and Yvette, but neither of their expressions shifted. Their calm, unreadable faces betrayed no hint of surprise at the woman''s approach.


    Savannah''s worried demeanor flickered for a moment, eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Yvette, Jeremiah, and the others. But her expression shifted again when she saw the two unconscious figures in the snow tube. Her face paled, genuine shock recing her feigned concern.


    Savannah had been observing from a distance, but now that she was up close, the severity of Judy and Mirana''s condition hit her. Their faces were ghostly pale, and they looked lifeless as if teetering on the edge of death.


    A wave of panic washed over Savannah, but she quickly masked it. Covering her mouth in mock disbelief, she pointed a trembling finger at the snow tube. "H-How could you do this to them? What happened? This is cruel! How could you be so harsh on them?"


    Her tear-streaked face, full of emotion, made her look fragile, even pitiable.


    Yvette narrowed her eyes slightly, a faint smile curling her lips. Her gaze held a cold glimmer, and the hint of ruthlessness at the corners of her mouth was unmistakable.


    Her voice was calm yet cutting as she replied, "What did we do? You already know, don''t you? Or didn''t you get a close enough look?"


    1/3


    Wed, Jan


    Savannah''s face darkened, her eyes darting uneasily as her finger curled beneath her ski jacket. Yvette''s sharp words left her shaken. ''Did Yvette realize I was watching?'' she mused.


    It seemed impossible. She had been careful, keeping her distance in the massive ski area, certain no one could pinpoint her


    location.


    A shadow of confusion crossed Savannah''s eyes as she firmly referted, "Miss, you''re really crossing a line. I know Clusians aren''t particrly warm to Ybauns, but you can''t just use me like that. I just got here and found my friends like this


    because of you."


    She spoke with a tearful wobble, her shaky stance making her look as though she might copse at any moment.


    Turning her pleading gaze to Jeremiah, Savannah softened her voice further. "Mr. Chavez, your girlfriend is in the wrong here. She hurt my friends. Please, help me get them to a hospital before it''s toote, or there will be legal consequences.


    Frankie and Chris immediately understood what she was trying to do. Savannah''s focus wasn''t on justice-it was on Jeremiah. She was boldly vying for his attention, as though Yvette wouldn''t notice.


    If Savannah truly understood Jeremiah and Yvette''s temperaments, she would''ve realized how risky her strategy was. Maniption wasn''t for the faint of heart, and Savannahcked the skill to y such a dangerous game.


    Savannah kept her gaze fixed on Jeremiah, her eyes filled with a mix of affection and shyness.


    Jeremiah, however, cocked his head slightly, his piercing gaze shifting to Yvette. She met his eyes with her own, dark and luminous, and the moment their gazes locked, a knowing smile spread across both their faces.


    Jeremiah stepped forward, hismanding presence bearing down on Savannah like a weight. His voice was cold, sharp as ice. "Talk about legal liability with my girlfriend when there''s actually a dead body."


    He paid no attention to Savannah''s faltering expression as he returned to Yvette''s side. Taking her hand in his, he murmured, "Let''s go." Yvette nodded gracefully, her serene demeanor unshaken.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    As they walked past Savannah, Yvette paused briefly. Her gaze remained indifferent as she patted Savannah''s shoulder lightly, the gesture as enigmatic as it was deliberate. "Your tactics are too basic. You should go home and read ''The Art of War," she said tly.


    Frankie barely suppressed augh at Yvette''s "life lesson." "The Art of War?'' he thought. "There''s no way that Ybaun even knows what that is. This is hrious!''


    Chris'' lips twitched in amusement. ncing at Savannah, he seriously doubted she even knew what “The Art of War" was. Only Yvette could nonchntly school a love rival on seduction tactics.


    But no matter how much Savannah studied, Jeremiah''s attention would remain firmly out of reach as he only had Yvette.


    eyes


    for


    Savannah blinked, genuine confusion crossing her face. ''What''s The Art of War''? I''ve never heard of it before she wondered.


    Savannah watched reluctantly as Jeremiah prepared to leave. She couldn''t understand how he could stay so indifferent, even after she had humbled herself so much.


    Her desperation mounted as Jeremiah moved to walk past her. She quickly pinpointed his spot. Then, in afinal, calcted move, she closed her eyes and let herself fall forward-straight into Jeremiah''s arms.