Chapter 341: Leave Quickly, Don't Come Back

The contrast was striking. Yael was like a little sun, radiating warmth and light. But Taylor, even when he simply stood and smiled, made me feel as though a snake lurked nearby, its hiss sending chills down my spine.

“Mr. Carlyn, sorry to disturb you.”

“Disturb? Not at all. Yael mentioned Ms. Gardner kindly offered to keep Whitney company, and I’m thrilled about it.”

He said it so casually, but the words “keep company” instantly made me uneasy. Whitney was being held captive—wasn’t offering to accompany her a way of trapping me as well?

He still wore that insincere smile. “Please, Ms. Gardner.”

Damian stepped in behind me, and I explained, “There have been some issues at home recently. My husband isn’t comfortable with me being alone. Would he mind if there were more people around?”

“No, not at all. Please, go ahead.”

In the living room, Yael poured me a cup of tea. The house was decorated in a predominantly Western style; even the teacups were European in design.

“Hi, Zoey.”

“Yael, sorry to disturb.”

“Ms. White will be here shortly, please make yourself comfortable.”

As he spoke, the elevator doors slid open slowly, and Whitney stepped out. This time, she wore a small, candle-style dress, looking polished and elegant, a far cry from the white dress she’d worn before.

“Whitney, it’s good to see you again,” I said, handing her the gift. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I picked up a few things at random. I hope you’ll like them.”

She slapped my hand away with a sharp “smack,” and even Damian took a step forward, his face hardening as he stared at her with clear disapproval.

“What are you doing? I don’t even know you! Do you have a problem? Do you always make friends this way?” she shouted defensively.

“Whitney, that’s no way to treat a guest.”

Taylor intervened, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and offering an apology. “Mrs. Bolton, please don’t take offense. My girlfriend has a bit of a short temper and tends to lose control sometimes.”

The Whitney I’d met before seemed so vulnerable; she shouldn’t be acting like this now.

“It’s fine. I’m not bothered,” I said.

“If you’re not bothered, then I am,” she snapped. “We’re not even close—why do you keep approaching me? Do you know who I am? Do I know you?”

“Sorry, I heard you had surgery. Please calm down, don’t be angry. I just want to be friends with you,” I said, trying to de-escalate the situation.

“Friends? That’s absurd! I don’t need friends, and I don’t want your pity. Just leave!”

Seeing her cause a scene, I quickly took a few steps back.

“Mr. Carlyn, I think it’s best if I leave now. I don’t want to upset Ms. White,” I said.

Taylor wrapped his arms around Whitney, trying to comfort her, and didn’t have a moment to pay attention to me. Yael stood up to escort me out, and as I hurried away, I glanced back. Whitney was looking at me, tears streaming down her face. I saw her lips move silently, “Leave quickly!”

It was clear now—I hadn’t been mistaken. She truly needed help. With Taylor watching her every move, she couldn’t reveal the truth to me. She could only push me away.

The elevator doors slowly closed, and I saw Whitney being held tightly by Taylor, staring at me with tears of hopelessness streaming down her face. A sharp pain pierced my heart.

Yael looked at me with an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry, Zoey. Normally, Ms. White stays in her room, and I don’t interact with her much. I’m not sure why she’s acting like this.”

“It’s fine. I was too forward.”

“If the chance arises, I’ll bring you over again.”

“Alright, let’s wait until she’s a bit calmer.”

I spoke with Yael for a little while before getting into the car. As I rolled down the window, I saw Whitney standing on the fourth-floor balcony again. She gazed down at me, her eyes filled with desperation, like a bird with broken wings. I could see her lips forming the words, “Don’t come back.”