Chapter 2Waiting for a Spring of My Own

Someone had posted photos of Yvonne dead drunk, with Yannick quietly following behind her, indulging her every whim as they went from the carousel to the Ferris wheel.

The comment section went absolutely wild. It was flooded with comments like:

"Now that's a power couple!"

"Who else is obsessed with their more than friends, less than lovers vibe? Their subtle tension is somehow even more addictive than watching an actual married couple!"

I stared blankly at the screen, suddenly remembering how, long ago, I'd spent two weeks begging Yannick to take me to an amusement park on his day off before he finally agreed.

I'd even made him swear he wouldn't stand me up again like he had the previous ninety-nine times.

That day, I'd planned everything down to the last detail, even visiting the amusement park beforehand to scout it out. I'd prepared for every possible contingency.

Everything except the possibility that he'd stand me up yet again.

"Yvonne's migraine is acting up again, so I'm going to get her some medicine first. You can look around on your own and head home early."

I was furious. I called him to confront him, my voice thick with tears. "Yannick, why do you come running every time Yvonne calls, but never listen when I'm the one calling?

"Are you my husband or Yvonne's lapdog?"

He sighed and replied in a voice so calm it was almost cruel. "I'm sorry, but the company is at a critical stage right now. I don't have time for romance."

His words left me feeling as though I'd thrown a punch at a pillow. I silently ended the call.

After that, I stopped arguing with Yannick altogether.

Because there was no point.

Thinking back on it now, I couldn't resist leaving a comment of my own.

"Made for each other! Hope you two last forever!"

Once I'd posted it, I immediately called Dad.

"Dad, don't you still have a company overseas that's on the verge of going under, with no one to manage it? Let me take over."

That evening, when Yannick hurried home, I was looking down at a plane ticket to Merovia for a week later.

The divorce papers the lawyer had delivered lay on the table.

I made no effort to hide them. I left them right there in plain sight.

But he didn't even spare the divorce papers a glance. He walked in with a frown and snapped coldly, "This is ridiculous! Do you realize that if someone with an ulterior motive spreads that comment around, it could hurt the company and cause trouble for Yvonne?"

I answered softly, "It was my fault. I'll delete it right away."

Yannick clearly hadn't expected me to be so compliant. The tension in his expression eased slightly, and his voice softened as he held out a hand to me. "All right, stop being so childish. I'll take you to the gala tomorrow night, okay?"

I subtly shifted aside to avoid his touch and replied calmly, "Okay. I won't throw tantrums anymore."

I wasn't about to waste my time getting upset with someone who would soon be nothing more than a stranger to me.

Late that night, I went out for a glass of water and happened to overhear Yannick talking on the balcony.

"Yeah, she's already agreed to come with me. Get some rest. I left your hangover soup in the usual spot. You can only have one sugar cube. You still have a cavity, remember?"

My hand jerked, and water sloshed over the rim of the glass, the icy liquid chilling my fingers.

So that was why he'd suddenly offered to take me to the gala. When had I ever been given an opportunity like that before?

It was almost laughable. He couldn't care less about me, yet when it came to Yvonne, he paid attention to every little thing she liked and knew her preferences inside out.

He even knew perfectly well that she would sneak off to the gala.

The moment Yvonne appeared at the gala, Yannick immediately slipped his arm free of mine, leaving me standing alone as he hurried over to her.

His brows furrowed, and his voice was tinged with concern. "I knew you'd come. I knew you wouldn't stay home like you were supposed to."

Yvonne rolled her eyes. "How could I not come? Knowing how impulsive you are, how could I not worry about you?"

The two of them bickered as if no one else were around. A business partner who had come over to offer a toast chuckled and teased, "Mr. Jordan, Ms. Quinn, you two really are in sync. Is this your younger sister? Did she tag along with you two to broaden her horizons?"

Yannick and Yvonne exchanged a glance, tacitly accepting the implication, then laughed it off without making the slightest effort to speak up for me.

A little while later, Yannick finally turned and walked over to me, explaining casually, "If our competitors found out that the president's wife was someone as young as you, they'd find all sorts of ways to target you."

His words no longer stirred any emotion in me. I simply replied, "Yeah, I know."

"Nico, be good and find somewhere to wait for a while."

The moment he finished speaking, the crystal chandelier hanging above Yvonne a short distance away suddenly came loose and plummeted toward her.