Restoring a Life After Seven Years of Wrong Love novel Chapter 24

In the past, Yvette had always played the role of the docile, endlessly forgiving wife in front of Jabez. But burying her true feelings in a marriage was never healthy.

Now, looking back, deciding to leave was the right choice. At the very least, she was finally allowing herself to show real emotion.

“Good, good. His friends are good people. You’re his wife, you should spend more time with his social circle.”

“I will, Sybil,” Yvette replied, keeping the flawless smile plastered on her face.

“See, Sybil? I told you she was already in bed, but you didn't believe me,” Jabez murmured, stepping into the frame and leaning intimately close to Yvette.

So close, in fact, that Yvette was instantly hit by the sharp scent of his signature cedarwood cologne—mixed with the cloying sweetness of a woman’s perfume.

She subtly shifted her weight, creating distance between them.

Jabez took a seat on the adjacent sofa, leaving the phone in her hands so the two women could chat.

Yvette completely understood the subtext of his actions.

He was only here because Sybil had forced him to call.

She chatted with the older woman for a few more minutes before finally ending the call.

The moment the screen went black, the smile vanished from her face.

“Jabez, next time could you give me a little warning? Bursting in like that is terrifying.”

Ignoring her entirely, Jabez simply plucked his phone from her hands.

“Jabez... my stomach hurts,” a weak, trembling voice called out. Willow stood near the doorway, looking pale and fragile.

It was only then that Yvette realized Jabez had left the front door wide open.

He hadn't closed it because he wanted to keep a clear boundary with his wife, explicitly ensuring his girlfriend felt secure.

Jabez instantly bypassed Yvette, practically running over to Willow and sweeping her into his arms, treating her like fragile glass. He looked terrified that the slightest thing might happen to her or her stomach.

Yvette let out a hollow laugh.

He treated Willow’s mild stomach ache like a life-or-death crisis, entirely unaware that his actual wife was carrying his child.

But her child was meant to remain in the shadows, unwanted, and would certainly never receive this kind of frantic devotion from its father.

From the very beginning, this baby was never supposed to happen.

Her scheduled procedure was only a few days away.

She took two steps forward and slammed the suite door shut with a resounding bang.

Out of sight, out of mind.

“She really isn't upset?” Trent muttered, utterly bewildered. “Why do I feel like she was looking at me with pure disgust?”

Milton patted his shoulder. “You weren't hallucinating.”

“No, seriously, what right does she have to be disgusted by me?” Trent bristled. “She manipulated her way into this marriage, and she has the nerve to look down on me?”

Milton just shook his head and stepped into the elevator.

Trent followed, complaining loudly the whole way, while Milton just listened in silence.

—

Yvette was back at the Azure Atelier, carefully peeling the backing off a damaged painting, when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen.

It was Simon Shelby’s teacher. Simon was Jabez’s younger brother.

His grades were terrible, and whenever he bombed an exam, he was too terrified to tell his mother, Wynne Farrell. Instead, Yvette had always covered for him, attending his parent-teacher conferences and hiding his academic disasters from the rest of the family.

When Wynne eventually found out, she had furiously reprimanded Yvette.

Yvette had been caught in the middle, looking like the villain to everyone.

“Ms. Yeats, Simon got into a physical altercation at school today and ran off. I can't reach him, and no one knows where he is. Has he gone home?”