Facade of Love

Chapter 449 He Really Is a Fool

Idris always seemed to be asking me that. Clutching the phone, a pang of sadness hit me, but I kept my voice steady. "How are you healing up?"

"Do you even care?" His voice was heavy, tinged with something close to anger.

He had every right to be mad. He got hurt because of me, and I had not even been to see him. His anger was more than fair.

I took a shallow breath and whispered, "Seems like you're healing up pretty well."

"Yvette!" He blurted out, his voice laced with undisguised fury, "Don't you care at all?"

Care?

How could I not?

However, still...

I forced a small smile through the phone. "Glad to hear you're better. I won't be stopping by, though."

I was about to end the call when his voice rushed through, "Wait, don't hang up."

I hesitated, feeling a sharp tug in my chest.

"Yvette, I need to see you. I'm at Enchanted Eats, waiting. If you don't show, I'll just wait longer." With that, he was gone.

Staring at the silent phone, I let out a wry laugh. When did he get so headstrong?

People always needed one last meeting, a proper farewell, because who knew if it would be the last? I guess for him and me, it was going to be. I needed to say goodbye the right way, wish him the best, and tell him to take care of himself.

Enchanted Eats had an old-world charm. It was a cozy spot that was usually quiet, especially with the March chill keeping people away.

I pushed open the booth door, and there Idris was with those intense eyes that seemed to carry whole galaxies in their depths. He looked thinner, and his face was ghostly. He was clearly not back to full strength.

I let him watch me, unmoving, as I took a seat across from him in the snug nook. I poured myself some tea, the liquid's warmth a small comfort, and topped off his cup too.

Finally, I met his steady gaze, my voice even. "You really should be resting up in the hospital, you know."

"Why didn't you come to see me?" he asked, his tone unexpectedly innocent, almost childlike.

I pressed my lips together, offering a slight, wistful smile. I did not answer his question but instead extended the box I had brought. "This shouldn't stay with me any longer. It belongs with its true owner," I said. Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

His eyebrows knitted together as he opened the box. The sight of the White Jade Bracelets inside made his frown tighten even more. He looked at me, barely holding back his anger. "Yvette, what's this all about?"

In another life, I would not have been able to face him with such serenity. However, whether he was seething with rage or just plain mad, I found him utterly mesmerizing.

I inhaled slowly and spoke. "Everything happened so fast with the divorce. I forgot to give these back to you. Luckily, it's not too late. Idris, thank you. You've saved me more times than I can count, even risking your own life. I owe you, but I'm sorry, I've made up my mind not to pay it back. Mr. Kobe's life... I can't bring him back. I can’t repay the life-saving debt I owe you either. I guess I'll always be in your debt."

He glared at me, his voice a deep, controlled rumble. "Yvette, what are you trying to say?"

Some things just had to be laid out on the table, so looking straight into his dark eyes, I confessed, "Mr. Kobe's death is tied to me. Idris, I'm sorry. I never thought it would come to this. All I can do now is apologize."

If only I had known sooner that Chandler Copper was Kobe. Then, I would not have been so overconfident, thinking I could save him. I would not have walked right into the trap Lucas set for me.

However, it was all too late. All I could offer him was my apology and nothing more.

The moment I mentioned Kobe, Idris's gaze turned into an abyss, his dark eyes sinking deeper. He rasped, his voice rough with emotion, "Yvette, is this really all you've got to say to me?"

I just nodded, my heart so numb from the pain that I could not feel it anymore.

A bitter laugh escaped him as he stared at me, his eyes red-rimmed with anger. "So, you think you can end this relationship with a simple 'sorry'? Yvette, what do I even mean to you? Am I just some lovesick fool who'd die for a mere apology to you?"