Chapter 9

"Yasmin, shut up!" Logan snapped. "Fuck! Can you all stop already?" Jeremy, who had been silently playing on his phone, suddenly stood up, ruffling his messy hair in frustration. "Can't Yasmin just keep her own things? She's an adult! She's married! Why the hell are her things still stuck in this house? Just let her take them and be done with it! All this bickering is annoying as hell!" Yasmin's eyes lit up. Getting her mother's belongings back was her main goal today. She hadn't expected Jeremy to side with her so effortlessly. The room fell into silence. Most of Annie's belongings were priceless heirlooms. Neither Patricia, Logan, Wanda, nor Veronica wanted to part with them. Patricia was the first to snap out of her daze. She grabbed his hand and whispered, "Jer, those are all your assets. If Yasmin takes them, what will you do?" "Grandma! Those are Yasmin's assets! Her mom left them to her! What do they have to do with me?" Before anyone could react, Jeremy grabbed a nearby antique ornament and started heading toward the door. He turned back to Caleb and asked, "Caleb, aren't you going to help your wife out?" The angsty teen's tone was bratty, but Caleb showed no sign of annoyance. Instead, he casually grabbed two jewelry boxes, looking perfectly content to play along. Logan wanted to stop Jeremy, but with Caleb involved, he had no choice but to back down. These were Yasmin's mother's belongings. With some of Annie's heirlooms already missing, what excuse could he possibly use to justify safekeeping them? Despite the pain of watching it happen, he had no choice but to order the maids to start packing. In the end, everything was loaded into Yasmin's G-Wagon—completely filling the trunk and back seat. Patricia was so heartbroken she teared up, shooting a vicious glare at Wanda and Veronica. If it weren't for those two, it wouldn't have come to this! "Caleb, Yasmin, it's almost lunchtime. Stay and eat before you go," Logan offered, trying to butter up to Caleb. "No thanks. I have class this afternoon," Yasmin replied, wanting nothing more than to get out of there. Veronica looked expectantly at Caleb. "Caleb, I made your favorite foods today." Veronica's attempt to seduce Yasmin's not-yet-divorced husband disgusted her to no end. Yasmin couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. She didn't care whether Caleb stayed or not and got ready to leave on her own. Suddenly, Jeremy's voice rang out. "Of course, he's leaving with Yasmin. Why would he stay behind?" He looked at Yasmin, his gaze seemingly trying to tell her, "Are you stupid or what?" Yasmin almost laughed out loud. Since when was this kid so funny? She even found him a little adorable. Before leaving, she turned to Veronica and smiled meaningfully. "Veronica, if you have any ulterior motives, at least make them subtle. It's embarrassing." Veronica's expression shifted, but she quickly composed herself. She sighed, adopting the look of someone forced to tolerate childish nonsense. "Yasmin, Caleb and I have been friends for years. You should be mature about this and stop overthinking things. It's not appropriate." "Who hit her?" Caleb suddenly asked. Logan, who had just been grieving over his late wife's heirlooms, tensed up. His body stiffened as cold sweat formed on his back. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Caleb stared at him indifferently, saying nothing, but his presence alone was enough to apply pressure on him. Finally, Logan caved. "It was… just a misunderstanding," he forced out, then turned to Yasmin. He rushed over to apologize, "Yasmin, I was just upset earlier. You know I didn't mean it! It won't happen again, I promise! Caleb, you have my word!" When he hit her, it never crossed his mind that Caleb would take issue with it. Yasmin almost laughed at the irony. So, he had come to support Veronica, but at the same time, he decided to conveniently defend her when needed? Giving her a slap and then a sweet treat. Was this some kind of twisted game he was playing? Seeing Yasmin remain silent, Logan tried again, saying, "That emerald bead necklace… Wanda will buy it back for you at the auction." "Alright." Yasmin didn't push further. Edith was still in the hospital, and Logan was technically still her legal guardian. She couldn't afford to go to war with him just yet. … With Annie's belongings secured, Yasmin's mood was significantly better. She couldn't suppress the slight curve of her lips, though the moment she smiled too widely, the pain in her cheek made her gasp. "You got slapped, and you didn't even think to complain?" Caleb asked from the passenger seat. "Complain to who? You?" Yasmin was just about to start mocking him, but she hesitated. After all, it was Caleb's comment that had made Logan back down. Thinking about the slap she had given him at the bar, a flicker of guilt surfaced. She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Why didn't you tell me the Barnes family dropped the charges? If I had known, I wouldn't have…" She wouldn't have slapped him. Yasmin took a deep breath. "Either way… Thanks—" "It wasn't me." Caleb had been watching her look of obvious joy, but now, he turned away and looked out of the window instead. "It was Grandpa's decision." "Oh." Yasmin's smile faltered, and she quickly forced a lighthearted nod. "Mr. Grant Senior is the best!" She should've known better than to foolishly assume it was Caleb. She had lied about Mrs. Grant Senior helping out, but the reality was that Mr. Grant Senior had stepped in instead. Well, it was more or less the same. "Am I not treating you well?" Caleb asked. Yasmin was truly confused. "You? Treating me well? Do you think you treat me well? If you treat me well, would I have been humiliated by you last night?" "Ms. Whitmore, if you refuse to be my wife, then you don't get the privileges that come with the title." Yasmin was about to argue when Caleb's phone rang. He answered. "Veronica?" Yasmin's mood instantly plummeted. Her long lashes lowered, hiding the loneliness creeping into her gaze. She looked at him with a sad gaze. His expression gradually darkened, and finally, he responded with a single word, "Alright." Then, he hung up. "Yasmin, take me back to the Whitmore estate," he stated. Yasmin let out a sharp laugh, her temper flaring. They had just left that damn house! "So, I'm your personal chauffeur now? I gave you a ride from there, and now, I have to drive you back? Should I escort you to her bed while I'm at it?" Caleb's tone held clear disapproval. "Yasmin Whitmore, Veronica hurt her hand." "What?" "She said you pushed her by accident. Now, her left hand is hurting again." When had she… Wait a minute. When Veronica had reached for her earlier, Yasmin had brushed her hand away. But she barely used any force! "You actually believe her?" Yasmin scoffed at the absurdity. Caleb's voice was flat. "Minnie, I believe in facts."