He Waited She Wilted (Ottilie and Yorath) novel Chapter 257

Sensing that Ottilie was awake, Jevon glanced back. "Comfortable ride?"

"The temperature was perfect, and the ventilation system is excellent," Ottilie replied.

"If you like it, I'll order one for you as a daily driver."

He stepped out and opened her door.

"I don't need anything this expensive," she said, stepping out. "A cheap, standard car is fine."

"It wouldn't be on the company dime. It's a personal gift from me."

"I don't accept unearned rewards." Ottilie had no desire to get deeply entangled with these people.

Taking their money meant being in their debt.

If she accepted their lavish gifts, she'd be forced to paste on a fake smile out of obligation the next time she saw them, no matter how much she despised their company.

She refused to live such a hollow life just for money.

She was a single woman with only herself to feed; she hadn't stooped to selling fake smiles yet.

"Consider it a wedding gift," Jevon offered casually.

Ottilie froze for a second, then looked away, entirely rejecting the topic.

"Happy wedding day, Ottilie," Jevon added.

Keeping her head down, she walked up the stairs to the apartment.

She knocked on Yves's door.

It opened quickly. Yves stood there in comfortable loungewear.

His face lit up the moment he saw her. "Tilly! Is everything sorted out?"

"It is. I brought you some oranges."

She handed the bag over to him.

Just as she was about to step inside, she remembered Jevon was still there.

She turned back to him. "Mr. Crawford, we won't be inviting you in."

Jevon crossed his arms, leaning elegantly against the opposite wall with a cynical smirk.

"No problem at all. You two take your time. Talk for as long as you want. I'll wait right here."

Yves looked at Jevon nervously. "Perhaps you shouldn't wait, Mr. Crawford. I'd hate to take up your valuable time."

"It's no trouble. Time is the one thing I have in abundance," Jevon replied with impeccable, mocking politeness.

Yves gave a stiff nod and closed the door.

And Ottilie was so small, so helpless, so pitiful... it shattered his heart just thinking about it.

"I should be the one apologizing. I didn't have the power to help you escape a tyrant like him."

"You were dragged into this mess because of me," Ottilie said softly. "If you say things like that, I won't be able to look you in the eye. From now on, let's just be friends. Best friends."

She knew she sounded completely heartless saying it.

But if she didn't make a clean break, Yorath would never let it go.

And the ones who would suffer the most were the two of them.

Tears welled in Yves's eyes.

He knew his quiet hopes for her were now nothing but ash.

Besides, how could a man like him ever be worthy of someone as ethereal as her anyway?

"Whatever you say, Tilly. We have a deal. Best friends."

She nodded. "Want an orange? I'll peel it for you."

She peeled one of the oranges and handed it to him.

He took a bite, but the sweetness only tasted like bitter ash in his mouth.