Yvette put her phone away, cracked her knuckles, and lazily glanced up. Her face was tanned and clear, her eyes cold and sharp. Ryan’s body abruptly froze.

"Get it," Yvette said.

Her words stunned Ryan. He realized he'd worried about nothing; Yvette didn't care. Her unconcern made him feel worse. Having been egotistical since childhood, Ryan had never experienced such indifference. He laughed bitterly and, after a pause, stated firmly, "No matter what, I owe you an apology."

"I've made my choice," Jeremiah said.

Ryan turned back, stunned. Jeremiah stood behind him, holding several foreign publications. His handsome face was chilly, his eyes narrowed slightly, gleaming with a sharp, icy clarity that created an intense, intimidating aura, making Ryan uneasy. Ryan, considered a gifted individual since childhood and the sole heir to the Lewis family fortune of over $3.3 billion, felt surprisingly inferior to Jeremiah.

"Oh," Yvette responded.

The two then left together, their backs inexplicably harmonious, leaving Ryan dazed. Jeremiah feigned a casual glance back at Ryan; the glance alone sent a chill down Ryan's spine. Glancing sideways at Yvette, Jeremiah's voice was slightly hoarse. "Who's that guy? A classmate?"

After a brief pause, Yvette replied, "It's Ryan."

Jeremiah laughed, his voice low.

When Zeke returned to the Chambers residence from the nightclub, drunk and past one in the morning, he'd been frequenting nightclubs lately, disinterested in everything else and sleeping with various women, none of whom held his interest. All he could think about was Yvette, who had embarrassed him in the cafeteria—an unprecedented experience. He decided to put Yvette, the "ungrateful woman," out of his mind for the moment.

"Zeke, stop right there," Nellie said, seated on the couch in white silk pajamas. She had been there for over two hours. Zachary had been home little lately. Winona had earlier reported Yvette's arrest at the police station, ecstatic at the belief Yvette wouldn't recover. She hadn't expected Zachary to offend Daniel to bail her out.

When Zachary returned from the police station, Nellie discreetly tried to learn why Yvette had been arrested. After several questions, he said briefly that she'd had a minor quarrel with Blake's son—nothing serious. Zachary seemed displeased, so Nellie dropped the question.

Days later, news broke of Daniel's ouster, leaving Nellie anxious. She knew the Chambers family's power; Zachary shouldn't be able to bring down Daniel, the deputy mayor, even if he risked everything for Yvette. The question, "Was Yvette involved in Daniel's downfall?" plagued her. Yvette's previous cold, ruthless, and cynical stabbing of Nellie had become a recurring nightmare.

Zeke was startled. A spooky female voice in the middle of the night was creepy. The lights turned on, instantly illuminating the mansion. Seeing Nellie's disgruntled expression, Zeke knew he couldn't avoid a lecture. He wasn't concerned; he was used to it. Since childhood, he'd only been scolded, never further punished.

Zeke's excessive drinking had left his voice hoarse, his speech reeking of alcohol. "Mom, why aren't you asleep? Sitting here in the middle of the night is eerie."

Nellie's expression was gloomy. Zeke was the child she'd nurtured, yet he couldn't compare to Winona. To maintain his image, she'd spent a fortune to promote him among other young elites. Besides Ryan, Zeke had received the most attention and enjoyed the best reputation, but he was failing to meet expectations, merely enjoying himself. Nellie didn't know what else he did besides frequent nightclubs and stay out late. Now that Yvette had returned, Nellie saw Zachary's kindness towards her and felt hopeless for Zeke. All she felt was disappointment.

Nellie scolded, "Were you at the nightclubs again? Don't you know your father knows you frequent them? You indulge without restraint. Do you still want the Chambers family inheritance?"

The mention of the inheritance snapped Zeke to attention.

"Mom, don't worry," he said. "I'm the only son. Who else would Dad give the money to? Enjoy your life as an affluent wife, playing poker and shopping daily. I know what I'm doing. I'm just feeling down and need to relax. If it bothers you, I'll stop going out tomorrow, okay?"

Zeke was skilled at appeasing Nellie. He usually dismissed such matters, but Nellie was unusually persistent. His words only aggravated her.

Nellie argued, "Zeke, how many times have you made these promises? Did you keep them? After a few days, you're back at the nightclub. Half a year ago, you got a woman pregnant, leaving me to clean up the mess. Luckily, your father was on a business trip. If I hadn't handled it, have you considered the consequences? The Chambers family's reputation would have been ruined."

Zeke remembered the incident. That woman was merely a fleeting interest. Did she really think she could marry him and improve her status? He'd sent someone to deal with her, but she'd escaped and found the Chambers family. The incident terrified him; Zachary would force him to take responsibility.

"I swear, Mom, this is the last time. Please, no more lectures. It's late; you'll look exhausted tomorrow. Lora, hurry, get some milk for my mom," he said, considerately massaging Nellie's shoulders and legs. Seeing his efforts, Nellie sighed dotingly.

"You leave me no choice," she said. "Fine. Lora's already made hangover soup for you. Do something to make us proud. I've arranged for Winona to marry into the Carter family to pave the way for you. I also have a plan for that brat, Yvette. At Winona's apprenticeship ceremony, I'll ensure Yvette's reputation is ruined. Just wait, Zeke, no one can stand in your way!"

Zeke felt relieved. If he couldn't have her, he'd rather ruin her. Nellie and Zeke were up to no good.

In the faint light near the second floor, a face flickered, making…