Empire 189

Yancey insists on taking Wisteria home despite her protests, promising to talk to her father about the incident that occurred earlier to prevent any trouble. Wisteria, initially tense, relaxes slightly but remains silent during the car ride. She notices Yancey rubbing his arm, recalling he seemed hurt, but chooses not to mention it, unwilling to show concern. Unexpectedly, Yancey stops at a 24-hour pharmacy and returns with hangover medicine for Wisteria, showing a rare moment of care that surprises her.

Their conversation turns tense when Yancey reveals the engagement is off, and Wisteria retorts that he can’t blame her for the fallout, especially given Ms. Loring’s tough nature. Yancey dismisses her comments, emphasizing his love life is not her concern. When they arrive near the Huxley estate, Yancey questions why Wisteria is still working at the shop. She explains her repeated failures in annual reviews and her desperate need to escape the family’s control, revealing her frustration and weariness. Yancey understands the harsh conditions imposed by the Huxleys and the emotional toll on Wisteria, who has been reluctant to accept his help.

After their conversation, Wisteria quietly leaves the car, and Yancey’s fleeting emotion disappears as quickly as it came. The chapter then shifts three days later to Holden at the Covington Group headquarters, where he greets colleagues and meets with Ramona. They discuss an upcoming important partnership meeting, with Ramona showing an unusual casual demeanor toward Holden. Holden anticipates a tense negotiation involving Jotham and reflects on the office gossip that will follow. The chapter ends with Holden receiving a call from Melinda, setting the stage for upcoming developments.

Yancey paid no attention to Wisteria’s protests. “I’m taking you home. I’ll speak with your father about tonight’s incident. You won’t get into any trouble.”

Only then did the tightness in Wisteria’s face ease a little, her shoulders relaxing just slightly.

The rest of the car ride was filled with silence.

Wisteria couldn’t help but notice Yancey continuously rubbing his arm as he drove. She recalled he had seemed hurt earlier. The words hovered on the tip of her tongue, but hesitation held her back, and she never voiced them.

No, it’s not my problem, she thought coldly. He’ll manage a little scrape. She wasn’t the nurturing type, and she had no intention of pretending otherwise.

Still, while Wisteria remained quiet, Yancey unexpectedly pulled the car into a nearby 24-hour pharmacy.

As she watched him step inside, a flicker of worry stirred inside her.

Was his injury worse than she thought?

But when Yancey came back, she quickly averted her gaze, staring out the window instead.

“For you,” he said quietly.

Wisteria blinked in surprise. Instead of bandages, he held a bottle of hangover medicine.

“I’m fine,” she murmured, her voice softer now, caught off guard by his concern. He was actually looking out for her.

“You threw up most of it, but just in case,” Yancey replied.

Her eyes dropped to his shirt, which she had thoroughly ruined earlier. She didn’t argue further, quietly thanked him, and swallowed the medicine.

She added, “I’ll replace your shirt. And if Halcyon needs—”

“Did you not hear me? The engagement’s off.”

Yancey’s tone was cool, his gaze fixed ahead, his expression unreadable. Wisteria took a slow breath. “Then you can’t blame me for what happened. From what I’ve seen, Ms. Loring is a tough one. If you can’t handle her, better to let go early.”

“My love life isn’t your concern.”

Wisteria fell silent, instantly regretting her words.

When they finally arrived at the Huxley family estate, Yancey didn’t pull up to the main entrance. Instead, he cut the engine a short distance away. Official source is FιndNovel.net

Wisteria tensed, sensing he wanted to say something important.

“Why are you working at that shop?” he asked suddenly.

“You already know why. That’s why you showed up today with your fiancée—”

“Is Solenne giving you trouble? Or did you get yourself into hot water again and your family’s punishing you?”

Yancey turned to look at her, his eyes unusually intense. The usual coldness in his voice softened into something more searching.

Normally, she would have snapped, “None of your business.” But after months of silence between them, now that he was breaking through, Wisteria found herself reluctant to push him away.

“I fail the annual review every year. Twenty-four times running out. If I don’t leave this house soon, I’ll lose my mind,” she said quietly, turning away. Her voice was steady, but beneath it lay a weary honesty.

She hated appearing incompetent, but the truth was undeniable—she was.

Yancey already knew some of her situation. Her mother’s inheritance was entirely controlled by the Huxley family. Wisteria had no assets of her own, and her mother’s conditions for inheritance were strict, all because of her father’s past.

Since Wisteria turned eighteen, the family foundation had subjected her to an annual evaluation. One serious mistake or bad behavior, and she’d lose the chance to break free from the Huxleys. Reject their oversight, and she’d forfeit everything. She and Solenne had never gotten along. Wisteria had wanted out of that house for as long as she could remember.

Yancey understood all this.

The Huxleys’ so-called discipline was merely thinly veiled neglect and control. No wonder Wisteria had become notorious among Havencrest City’s socialites for all the wrong reasons. Even if she did nothing, if she hadn’t met the inheritance criteria by thirty, she’d lose everything anyway.

What exactly those criteria were, Yancey never managed to learn. He had tried to help her before, but she never let him in.

Wisteria was stubborn, refusing to ask for help, especially from Yancey. She used to say she’d never owe him anything. That was the one thing she couldn’t accept. It was also why Yancey could never understand how she had walked away from him all those years ago. After everything they’d shared, she couldn’t love him—but could she really just watch him fall?

Without another word, Wisteria stepped out of the car.

A flicker of emotion crossed Yancey’s face, but it vanished into the night as quickly as it had appeared.

—

Three days later.

The morning sun shone bright in a cloudless sky. Inside the Covington Group’s headquarters, the day was just beginning.

Holden stepped out of the elevator, his polished shoes clicking crisply on the tiled floor as he walked down the hallway. He exchanged warm greetings with colleagues as he passed, stopping in front of Ramona’s office.

He knocked twice on the door before stepping inside.

“Good morning,” Ramona said, not surprised to see him. The moment Holden appeared, she looked up and smiled.

“Are you free? There’s a big partnership meeting soon. The other side is coming for a review. Want to join?”

“Sure,” Holden replied.

He hesitated, raising an eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to ask what the meeting’s about?”

“No need. If it’s a project Mr. Covington wants to review, it’s worth my time.”

Her casual response caught Holden off guard for a moment. Hadn’t she always been all business with him, guarded like a fortress?

He shrugged it off, nodded, and left the office.

Jotham would be handling the negotiations soon. Holden could already picture the sparks flying when those two finally faced each other—old flames, former “spouses.” The gossip alone would keep the office buzzing for months.

Just as Holden settled back at his desk, waiting for the meeting to begin, his phone rang. It was Melinda calling.

The chapter delicately explores the complex emotional tensions between Wisteria and Yancey, revealing layers of vulnerability beneath their guarded exteriors. Despite their past and the unresolved feelings simmering beneath the surface, both characters grapple with their own struggles—Wisteria with her suffocating family constraints and Yancey with his desire to protect her without overstepping. Their interaction in the car, marked by silent understanding and hesitant care, underscores the fragile yet undeniable bond that still connects them, even as they navigate the painful realities of their lives.

Meanwhile, the narrative subtly shifts to the professional realm, hinting at the intertwining of personal and business challenges faced by the characters. The tension between past relationships and present responsibilities is palpable, setting a tone of anticipation for what lies ahead. This chapter gently balances themes of restraint, unspoken emotions, and the pursuit of freedom, leaving readers with a sense of quiet hope amidst the ongoing struggles of the protagonists.