Faced with Xavier’s questions, Nate was stumped over the line. He had obviously not expected to hear Xavier’s voice at all.
Amidst Nate’s silence, Xavier sneered, “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”
After another bout of silence, Nate replied through his gritted teeth, “Xavier, why is Yolanda’s phone in your hands? What have you done to her? Let me tell you, I was the one who gave her all the instructions. If you want vengeance, come at me instead of an innocent girl.”
Xavier snorted. Concurrently, he eased up on restraining Yolanda. “It looks like you’re quite ready to confess. Since you’re so brave, why did you send a woman to do your dirty work?”
“Shut up!” No sooner had Xavier spoken than Yolanda protested before Nate could reply.
She hissed at Xavier, “Stop trying to sow discord. My relationship with Nate isn’t something you can easily break.”
After throwing Yolanda a thoughtful glance, Xavier shifted his attention to the phone with a slight curl to his lips.
“I understand now. Ms. Xander, you have feelings for Nate, but do you know why he tried to harm me? It’s for a woman named Yulissa White. Without being aware of the relationship between them, how can you be so sure that he isn’t using you?”
Yolanda obviously knew that Xavier was speaking the truth. However, as long as neither she nor Nate brought it up, she could always pretend to be oblivious to the fact.
Therefore, Xavier’s attempt at mercilessly revealing the truth infuriated her.
The icy expression on her face was visibly replaced by one of anger. “I told you to shut up!”
However, just yelling at him alone wasn’t enough to calm her rage. She was filled with the urge to give Xavier a slap.
Because of his absolute dominance in strength, Xavier would never lay a finger on a woman.
To him, they were the weaker of the species, and he would never bully the weak.
Nevertheless, if they didn’t know better and insisted on doing him in, he would no longer have any reason to hold himself back.
Xavier—with a faster reaction time than Yolanda—grabbed her wrist and swiftly twisted her arm behind her back. Nudging her gently, he sent her stumbling forward two meters.
Upon impact, she crashed into the lamp and books on the desk, causing a loud commotion when everything fell to the ground.
Having heard the noise over the phone, Nate raised his voice as he said, “Xavier, I told you to come at me. Don’t take it out on a woman.”
Knitting her brows, Winnie snapped back at him, “Nate, let me remind you that it was Yolanda who struck first. Regardless of whether she was stopping us from getting treatment or tainting the silver needles with poison, she had always been the first to act maliciously.”
“Winnie, I didn’t realize you were there.” The fury in Nate’s tone intensified. “What makes you think you’re qualified to judge her? You’re no angel yourself.”
Winnie was amused, but her tone was serious as she said, “That’s right. You’re the only one who’s righteous here, and none of us can compare to you. Anyway, cut the crap, and let’s meet up. There’s something I need to confirm with you.”
“I have no time to meet any of you,” Nate rejected them outright.
Winnie was all the more tickled by his response. “Mr. Nate, do you think this is a negotiation? I’m sorry if you have gotten the wrong impression. In reality, I’m just notifying you about it. Previously, we never knew who the mastermind behind Yolanda was. Now that we do, do you think you’re in a position to refuse?”
Nate’s stance was firm. “I have nothing to say to you lot.”
“You’re a public figure, popular actor, and one of the scions of the Fraser family. If you refuse to discuss with us, do you then intend to talk to the media, and the elders of the Fairchild and Fraser families?”
The effectiveness of Winnie’s threat elicited another silence from Nate.
He didn’t mind losing his reputation, but the Fraser family’s was one he couldn’t afford to ruin.
Sensing his hesitation, Winnie was confident that his stance was already wavering.
Hence, she named a venue right away, “We’ll meet at the same old place where you sincerely apologized to me in front of Old Mr. Fairchild and your mother.”
With that, Winnie hung up the phone.
She had barely done so when there came a knock on the door.
The next moment, Sebastian’s voice could be heard. “Yolanda, Nini, what are you doing inside? I think I heard something crashing on the ground.”
Detecting the anxiousness in Sebastian’s tone, Winnie walked up to Yolanda and signaled for her to speak.
Crawling back to her feet, Yolanda glared at Xavier as she replied, “Grandpa, it’s nothing. I just accidentally knocked over a lamp.”
Winnie added, “Old Mr. Xander, we’re done with our discussion and will be out at once.”
Just as she spoke, she opened the door and emerged with Xavier, one after the other.
Cognizant that they were going to see Nate, Yolanda—missing him dearly—wanted to go with them to see him too.
She swiftly placed the lamp back on the desk and hurried after them.
Unexpectedly, Sebastian, who was standing by the door, stopped her when he saw her pursuing Winnie.
“Yolanda! You’re not allowed to go anywhere today. You’re grounded at home!”
Yolanda furrowed her brows. “Grandpa, this isn’t a prison. Why can’t I go out?”
“Yolanda”—Sebastian was heaving in anger—”do you really think that I’m oblivious to what’s going on? I have been standing by the door and have overheard everything that transpired inside. It was then that I learned of the despicable deeds you have done for the sake of that kid, Nate. Yolanda, stop being so stubborn. He clearly doesn’t care about you. All these years, your feelings have always been one-sided. It’s wrong for you to help him hurt others.”
“Grandpa, stay out of my business. I know very well what our relationship is, so don’t stick your nose in blindly when you know nothing at all!”
“Stick my nose in blindly?” Sebastian was filled with disappointment. “I couldn’t care less if it was just a matter of love, but do you know that you’re helping him commit a crime? How could you taint my silver needles with poison? If Xavier had been hurt or died from it, it would have been murder. Do you understand?”
Yolanda was obviously aware.
Unfortunately, Sebastian’s words weren’t getting through to her, and she had no intention of listening any further.
Turning around, she went back into her room and slammed the door in Sebastian’s face.
Inside, Yolanda gave Nate a call.
“Nate, I’m sorry. It was my mistake to have accidentally let them discover you. Tell me, where are you meeting them? I’ll head over to be by your side.”
“There’s no such need,” Nate replied flatly. “I’ll deal with them myself since I have already been exposed. Anyway, here’s where we draw the line. I don’t want you to be dragged into it any further.”
Yolanda’s brows knitted slightly. “Aren’t we already on the same boat? Regardless of how difficult the path forward is, I’m willing to walk it with you.”
“Really, Yolanda. Forget it.”
“Why? Are you concerned about me? Ever since the call just now, you were worried that Xavier would hurt me. That shows that I mean something to you, doesn’t it?”
As Yolanda pressed on with her questions, she was oblivious to how pathetic she sounded to Nate.
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