Rebirth 193
Chapter 193
Helen thought to herself,
Xavier remained stony-faced, "Mom, how many times has this happened? She needs to learn a lesson." With that, he retreated into his study, locking the door firmly behind him. This time, he was determined to no longer meddle in Helen's affairs. It was time for her to grow up.
In the study. Xavier rummaged through his belongings. He remembered Yasmine had left an album here before, brought back to mind when he heard she had suddenly gotten hurt again. There was another time she got injured, and she had insisted on taking a photo as a keepsake.
He had been searching for almost half an hour when, in a corner, he finally found a pitch-black album. As he opened it, the first photo pulled him into a memory. It was a silhouette by the Seine, boats drifting lazily by his own silhouette.
For three years, he had never opened this album. He vaguely remembered Yasmine buying it and telling him that they should fill the album with their photos together. But from the first picture, it was all wrong-it was just him by himself. The more he flipped through it, the more Xavier couldn't shake the memories that flooded his mind, as ifall those moments with Yasmine were right before his eyes.
When Xavier turned to the third page, he froze. There was a photo of Yasmine sitting all alone at the dining table. A cake was set out before her, and she wore a 'Happy Birthday' hat, all by herself. It felt like a sharp pain struck his heart. The more he tried to forget, the clearer the memories became
Strangely, he remembered this day clearly. Yasmine had called him while he was busy at the factory, carefully asking if he would come home for dinner. Without a moment of hesitation, he declined. Helen and Selena certainly wouldn't have celebrated her birthday with her. In the large dining room. under the bright lights, the birthday cake was covered with burning candles, but they only had one person to shine for-Yasmine, all
alone.
His fingers trembled as he touched the photo, as if the flames of the candles could burn him. He suddenly recoiled, feeling Yasmine's loneliness from the picture. Xavier pinched the bridge of his nose, realizing he had always fallen short somehow, owing Yasmine so much. He took out the photo and wrote on the back, August 6th, spent the birthday alone. Best wishes."
He furrowed his brows slightly, realizing the date was just two days away. Typically, if a birthday party or a banquet was to be hosted, invitations should have been sent out a week in advance. Yet, he hadn't received an invitation from the Sanchez family
As he was lost in thought, the door swung open. Yvette walked in, her eyes sharp as a hawk, fixing on him. "What are you looking at?" She Immediately noticed what Xavier was holding-a photograph of a woman.
Xavier stepped back and hid the photo behind him. "It's nothing"
"Who is that? Whose picture are you holding? Yvette approached, trying to snatch the hem from behind Xavier.
Xavier dodged her, placing the album back in its spot, tightly gripping Yasmine's photo in his palm. "Xavier! Do you have another woman!" Yvette's voice trembled, as she had clearly seen a woman in that photo Xavier's face flushed with anger,
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"Then why won't you show me!" Yvette questioned.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
Xavier took a deep breath and handed the album to Yvette. "Satisfied now?
Yvette flipped through the photos, noticing that most of them were of Xavier alone. "Are these Yasmine's Why are her things here?" Yvette frowned. wanting no connection between Yasmine and them.
Xavier let our a cold chuckle, "Probably just forgot about it"
Yorite didn't press further. Her mind still lingered on the way Xavier looked at the photos earlier, his expression intense and complicated. Seeing Xavier's impatience, she quickly explained, "Xavier, Im just feeling insecure. I'm scared you might not like me anymore, I just care about you so
much:
"I know" Xavier said unable to hide his fatigue.
Today was Yasmine's birthday, and the event was set at Morgan's villa. The
The garden space was perfect for a small birthday party
Serrarly morning, the servants at the Sanchez residence had been bustling about. Morgan had even brought in chefs from the Paragon Hotel
TEAM 10 1 Chapter 193
By six in the evening, darkness had fallen, and the garden was lit up. Yasmine was in her room getting dressed, wearing a high-end gown Morgan had specially ordered for her. She stared at a diamond necklace on the table, a birthday gift from Morgan delivered the day before. After a moment's thought, she decided to put it in the drawer instead of wearing it
On Thousand Spirit Avenue, Yonas and Yoselin were on their way over. Yoselin sang a happy tune, "Yonas, what t gift did you bring?"
"You can ask Yasmine yourself later," Yonas said, intently focused on driving.
Yoselin was curious, but her brother certainly wouldn't say anything.
As they neared the Sanchez residence, a phone rang. Yonas glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, but then answered with a distant tone, "What is it?" After a while of listening, his brows furrowed, "Wait for me there. He hung up and said to Yoselin. "Yoselin. I'll drop you off first."
"Where are you going, Yonas?" Yoselin asked anxiously.
Yonas didn't explain directly and handed a gift to Yoselin, "I have to take care of something. You go ahead with the gift"
Yoselin heard the urgency in his voice and knew it was something serious, "Alright, just make sure not to take too long. You should be the one to give the gift to Yasmine."
In the courtyard of the Sanchez residence, Chuck and Lucy arrived at the same time, both handing their gifts to Yasmine. Lucy exclaimed, "Happy Birthday, Yasmine! I know you'll love what I got you, but you'll have to wait to open it." Yasmine hugged her gifts and nodded.
"I brought you a card, a Paragon Hotel exclusive diner's card. From now on, when you visit Paragon, you'll be a top-tier customer and get a good discount, Chuck boasted.
Lucy couldn't help but tease, "Just a card!"
Chuck widened his eyes, and waved the card in front of her, "Do you have any idea how expensive this card is? It's priceless now!"
"Alright, alright, it's just a card Lucy mumbled.
Before they could start bickering again, Yoselin entered the room. "Happy birthday, Yasmine!" she said, handing Yasmine a gift she had carefully picked out.
Thanks, Yoselin, Yasmine said absent-mindedly, glancing behind her. No one there-Yonas hadn't shown up.
Noticing Yasmine's gaze, Yoselin quickly added, "My brother's dealing with something, he'll be here soon."