Joe grinned, calling out to Jeremiah and Samantha before darting back behind Yvette, looking smug. With his powerhouse by his side, he could relax. He tugged on Yvette's sleeve, smiling exaggeratedly. "Yve, they didn't kidnap me, so maybe take it easy, okay?"

He felt he was being reasonable. Back in Mysonna, he'd ensure the kidnappers and the auction house faced consequences. He did, however, owe the man on the couch a debt.

Jeremiah, on the couch, squinted at Joe's hand on Yvette's sleeve, a sneer playing on his lips. Yvette leaned casually by the doorway, observing Joe's self-satisfied expression. She cracked her knuckles silently, thinking, This guy never tires of tugging on my sleeve…

Jeremiah said, low and firm, "Take your hand off her, or I'll cut it off."

Joe's reflexes overruled his brain; he instantly let go and stepped back. The embarrassment was immediate, and he opened his mouth to retort, but the gleam in Jeremiah's eyes silenced him. A chill ran down his spine; Jeremiah was deadly serious.

Samantha, leaning against the wall, cleared her throat. "Uh, maybe we should all sit down and talk. There seems to be a misunderstanding."

Yvette turned to the slightly hurt Joe. "Let go and get in there."

Joe began to piece things together. If I were really in trouble, Yve wouldn't be so calm—she'd be fighting. So… why is she here?

He pointed at the people in the room, nervously turning to Yvette. "You… do you know these guys?"

Yvette nodded slightly. "Yeah, they're my friends."

Joe's face fell. He'd been showing off, only to discover they were Yvette's friends. Mortified, he straightened his clothes, smoothed his hair, and grinned at Jeremiah, Samantha, Eagle King, and Emmett.

"Well, a misunderstanding, right? Since you're Yve's friends, we're on the same team. I was joking. Violence isn't my thing. Let's forget it, okay?"

Eagle King scoffed and resumed drinking. Samantha and Emmett politely introduced themselves, but Jeremiah remained impassive.

Uneasy, Joe edged closer to Yvette, unaware of his impending regret. Yvette strolled to the couch, sat, and glanced at Jeremiah. With a slight smile, she met his intense gaze. "Upset?"

Jeremiah's dark eyes held hers. "Is he worth 100 million dollars? Then what about me?"

With a smirk, Yvette crossed her legs, tossing her hair. "Priceless."

The coldness around Jeremiah vanished. He gently squeezed her fingertips. "Alright, I'm good now."

Samantha, Emmett, and Eagle King were speechless. Joe stared at their intertwined fingers, stunned. He rubbed his eyes, looking again as if witnessing a shocking revelation. What on earth is going on between them?

He pointed at their hands, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "You… Yve, are you…"

Jeremiah glanced at the shocked Joe, pulling Yvette closer, an arm around her shoulder, subtly suggesting Joe step back.

Joe stumbled back, utterly crushed. Does Yve have a boyfriend? Oh, that hurts.

Yvette rubbed her temples, then looked at the hand on her shoulder, noticing his naiveté. "Jeremiah, this is Joe. He's Carl Yoder's grandson."

At the mention of Carl's name, Samantha and Emmett looked startled. Samantha studied Joe. He resembles Carl, but that's where the resemblance ends. His demeanor is completely different.

Emmett asked, "Are you serious, Yvette? He's really Carl's grandson?"

Their reaction was understandable. Even Jeremiah raised an eyebrow in surprise. Carl was well-known in certain circles. One of Mysonna's earliest immigrants, he'd made a prominent name in business when Clusia struggled globally. He became a leading figure for the Clusian community, a legend.

For years, the Yoder family represented the Clusian community's highest echelon. In the 1970s, Carl had retrieved several invaluable national relics looted by foreign forces, paying a vast sum and donating them to Clusia. These treasures remained in the Betrico National Museum.

Emmett and Samantha were stunned that the easygoing boy before them was Carl's grandson.

Feeling their stares, Joe straightened defensively. "What's with the looks? I'm not worse than my grandpa."

Emmett laughed. "Are you sure? Look at Mr. Yoder's elegance and charm—you're miles away from that."

Joe couldn't counter that. Eagle King, upon hearing Carl's name, looked at Joe with surprise. No wonder his face seemed familiar.

Eagle King had a history with Carl. Early in his career, he'd taken a contract to assassinate him. Inexperienced, he'd taken any job. He'd only been caught once—during a failed attempt on Carl's life. Carl, following protocol, subjected him to brutal questioning.

As a professional, loyalty was paramount, and he refused to reveal his client's identity. Carl then visited the dungeon and offered a deal: a favor in exchange for his release. Eagle King accepted. He retrieved a crucial document for Carl, who released him. He knew he still owed Carl a favor.

And now, in Fhongsoly, he encountered Carl's grandson, connected to Yvette—a surprise indeed.