Everett finally turned to face her.


    His expression was still cold, his gaze unyielding. He looked at her and said, word by word, "The past means nothing to me now. I have a family. I''ll repay your kindness with money, everyst bit." "And I''ll grant you one request. Think it over, and you can ask anytime."


    Yasmine trembled, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded, "Mr. Everett, what are you talking about... I''ve been waiting for you... How could you just brush me aside with money?"


    "Don''t you remember? You used to like me!"


    Watching her dissolve into tears, Everett felt nothing. Not even a flicker of emotion.


    That day in his office, when he picked up the jade pendant, he''d stared at it for a long time before locking it away. He thought finding the girl from his past would make him happy. But when it turned out to be Yasmine, all he felt was disappointment. Maybe she didn''t match the image he''d built up in his mind, or maybe nostalgia had painted a prettier picture.


    The shadowy figure in his memories didn''t match the real Yasmine.


    But maybe it was his heart that had changed. It had already made room for Selena, a woman who was anything but easygoing. He couldn''t make space for anyone else, nor did he want to.


    He couldn''t erase the memory of what once was, couldn''t deny it, so he had to find a way to make amends.


    Everett didn''t respond to Yasmine''s usations or her affection. He just walked away with long strides.


    Alex, shocked yet again, snapped his mouth shut and hurried after him.


    Yasmine copsed onto the bed, her tears slowly turning into resentment...


    When Everett returned, little Mateo was awake.


    His throat was injured, leaving him unable to speak for now, but everything else checked out fine. He didn''t like the hospital, and neither did Selena, so they signed out and headed home. Later that night, after wrapping up work in his study, calming his business partners, and postponing a trip, Everett made his way back to the master bedroom.


    On the bed, which he shared with Selena, was the little guy sprawled out in panda pajamas, arms and legs wrapped around his mom, sleeping like a log. Everett leaned against the doorframe, chuckling softly.


    Was this what it meant to invade his own space-sleeping in his bed, hugging his wife? Only his son would dare to pull something like this. Everett moved closer, nning to carry the little guy back to his own room, but Selena woke up, her eyes sleepy and unfocused.


    Realizing what he was up to, she wrapped her arms protectively around their son. "Little Mateo was scared. I promised I''d stay with h


    tonight. You can take the guest room."


    en


    him


    Everett couldn''t help butugh, teasing her, "You''re kicking me out for our son? Selena, where''s your loyalty? Did a dog eat it?" Selena paused, then gave in.


    "Alright, I''ll take him to his room."


    As she started to get up, Everett noticed that her focus was entirely on their son, not him, and a pang of jealousy hit him. But he gently ced his hand on her shoulder.


    "Don''t worry about it. Let him stay here, okay?"


    Selena settled back down, pulling her son close.


    Everett didn''t head to the guest room; instead, hey down on the other side, wrapping his arm around both his wife and son.


    His breath brushed her hair.


    Through their son, he tenderly kissed her cheek and sighed, "I''m just d you''re both safe."


    In the quiet of the night, hearts tend to soften.


    Selena felt her heart stir. She didn''t reply out loud, but inside, she was d Everett was home with them.


    As theyy there, enjoying the


    warmth of the moment, a thought crossed her mind. "Everett, did you find out who that teacher was, the one who saved our son?"