Caroline and Vivian couldn’t help but grimace.
Hit the jackpot? Did she think running a company was like playing the lottery?
Though they didn’t quite believe her, the fact was she had her fingers in so many pies, involved in
every industry you could think of.
What a madwoman.
Regardless of the future prospects, dealing with the current two billion in debt was something nobody
would willingly shoulder.
Yasmine said, “It seems you have no objections, not that it would matter if you did. So, it’s settled.”d2
A two billion-dollar debt was no joke, but it was all invested in various projects. If not by the end of this
year, by next spring, it would be a veritable feast.
Yasmine had long since figured out Caroline’s lack of vision, and short-sightedness; the near collapse
of Summers Co. years ago wasn’t without reason after all.
Yasmine didn’t let Chloe come downstairs, but Chloe had heard everything from upstairs. At sixteen,
she was already seeing through the veneer of things.
The current state of the Summers family had been laid bare today. Her mother had given her a shield in
front of everyone, a safety net for her future recklessness. Her mother was always serious, rarely
smiled, and her occasional tenderness was something of a rarity.
Chloe once thought her mother’s affection was solely dependent on her potential for success in the
future. Now she understood that her mother had secured a future for her, one where no matter how
wild or rebellious she got, she would have no worries.
Chloe quietly returned to her room. She believed her mother was always the strongest one. But her
strong mother, two years later on her 18th birthday, jumping from the second deck of a luxurious yacht.
All Ava wanted was to ensure Yasmine could never return to Y Country. Yasmine had grown up in an
orphanage, and now being hunted, it was proof enough of the chaos in that royal world.
Yasmine wanted to meet the mother she’d never seen, but she couldn’t. If it were the old days, she
wouldn’t have been cornered like this. But now, she was a mother, wanting to leave all the world’s
beauty to her daughter, to let her live happily and carefree, away from deceit and power struggles.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtLooking back, she used to live so freely and boldly, that even in love, she never lost her pride. Perhaps
vulnerability truly was a fatal flaw.
Now, her entire meaning in life was Chloe. To protect Chloe, she would do anything, just to see Chloe
live as she hoped.
“Mom!”
However, as Yasmine plunged into the sea and water filled her ears, nose, and throat, the heart-
wrenching sound that followed made her heart ache suddenly.
Unable to breathe, her body jerked, and the book in her hand fell to the ground with a thud. Yasmine’s
eyes snapped open, hand clutching her chest, breathing heavily.
Calm returned, and she looked around. It was then she realized, this was Boyd’s new mansion.
She hadn’t died. Chloe was married, to a man who adored her, and they had two beautiful babies. And
her, she was once again entangled with Boyd.
She sat up slowly, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Her hands pressed into the plush carpet, and
she gazed out at the darkening sky, exhaling softly.
Chloe’s cry had made her realize the pain of regret in an instant, so when she woke up to find Boyd
had saved her, she was, in truth, grateful.
Since Ava had her in her sights, Boyd had been there. Yasmine was cheated on by Nick, pressured
and cornered by Viviana, and under constant vigilance from Carolina. Boyd was fully aware of how she
had been living those years.
When he opened up to her, she never thought about how embarrassing and ridiculous these tough
years might seem to Boyd. She only knew she was alive.
She remembered when she first woke up, Boyd had told her, “What you want to give isn’t always what
the other person wants, no matter how good your intentions.”
She agreed. She had given what she thought was best to Chloe, but it wasn’t what Chloe really
wanted. So she was grateful to be alive, grateful to Boyd.
But that gratitude evaporated when he forcibly brought her to B Country.
This man, after all these years, never changed. Beyond relentless pursuit, he had no other tactics.
From the start, he probably never intended to let her return and see her daughter again. He just wanted
to keep her by his side, with no ties to anyone else. Not only did he prevent her return, he even
stopped others from finding her.
This man was more obsessive and domineering than ever.
Fortunately, Damon had found her, and now, this was her life again. He was like that, and she was out
of options. Regardless of what she said, it seemed to mean nothing to him.
She rubbed her temples gently, scoffing at her situation where she was haunted by him in her dreams
and now in reality.
The door opened quietly, and Boyd walked in. Seeing her sitting alone on the bed, he smiled slightly,
“When did you wake up?”
He sat down beside her, not really expecting an answer to his question, and asked, “What are you
thinking about?”
Yasmine blinked, turning to look at him. She remembered their college days when he was called
reserved, but that was only relative to his peers. Now, he exuded a mature composure that came with
time, comparing favorably to everyone.
“I just had a nightmare,” she suddenly said, catching Boyd off guard.
“What kind of nightmare?”
“I dreamt that I almost died trying to save Serana, that I was kidnapped by Johnson, that you shot me,
that I lost my child, that in a hotel, Serana lost her baby too, that I jumped into the sea in front of
Chloe.”
Boyd’s smile froze on his face.
“Boyd, why can’t you just leave me alone?” Yasmine threw her hands up in exasperation. “I’ve built a
life with Nick for over a decade, and we have a kid together. You had your thing with Serana. I’m not
without my faults, and the thought of you with other women turns my stomach. And I’m sure the feeling
is mutual. You’re not dependent on me. Why can’t you just let go?”
“There was nothing between Serana and me. I’ve told you, Herschel isn’t Serana’s, nor is he mine.”
Yasmine took a deep breath, skepticism lining her face. “Nothing? You expect me to believe you lived
with her for years and never touched her once?”
Boyd held her gaze for a few seconds. “No. I thought you made up your mind about us when you saw
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmme carrying Serana out of that hotel room years ago. So I figured you wouldn’t need to ask about the
past decade.”
Her brows knitted. “I didn’t want to bring up that hotel incident because of what happened with Nick.
But since you did, you think pestering me about it is fun?”
“It is,” Boyd nodded firmly. “Because you’re here with me now, and that’s all that matters.”
Yasmine closed her eyes. It was always like this. No matter what she said, he had only one response.
“You’re set on us torturing each other for life, huh?”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay
Updated for All Books Updates…
“Yasmine, whatever you like, whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. You can do anything, spend time
with Chloe, take care of those adorable grandkids, or go shopping with Elizabeth. But the one thing I
won’t allow is for you to leave me. If you’re angry, upset, furious, or sad, you can yell at me, throw
things, or do whatever you need. If you call this torture, then let it be. It’s better than not being able to
see or touch you at all.”
Yasmine stood and walked to the window, her arms folded tightly, lips pressed into a thin line.
Boyd followed, draping a shawl over her shoulders. “Dinner’s ready.”
She remained silent.
“Skipping meals isn’t good, especially not at our age. It can take a lot out of you. I’m sure Chloe
wouldn’t want to see you looking run-down, and the grandkids might get scared too.”
Something flickered in Yasmine’s eyes, her expression hardened, yet she turned and left the room.
Boyd watched her leave, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. She was easier to handle now than
before. Back then, she was a force of nature, untamed and unmanageable, but now, she had her
vulnerabilities. Ever since he pulled her out of the sea, he knew it.
Today was the first time he exploited them. To his surprise, it worked. Finally, he found a way other than
relentless pursuit.
He followed her downstairs and pulled out a chair for her. Yasmine sat down, albeit with a frosty
demeanor. He signaled the servants to serve dinner, which, of course, consisted of Yasmine’s favorite
dishes.
Boyd tried to serve her, but she pushed the plate aside. “Don’t worry, I won’t punish myself just to spite
someone else. But whether I eat depends on my mood, and right now, just seeing you is enough to
make me lose my appetite. If you really want me to enjoy this meal, I suggest you stay out of my sight
for the time being.”
Boyd retracted his hands, taking the hint.