A cold laugh cut off Boyd's words.
Both Boyd and Serana turned their heads in unison.
Yasmine strolled out of the bedroom, her face adorned with a lingering smile, but that smile, no matter how you looked at it, was chilly.
Boyd's brows furrowed with irritation at the sight of her changed attire.
"Why did you come out?" he asked.
"Am I not allowed?" Yasmine replied with a smile, "Aren't you tired, Boyd? Must you meddle in everything? Is it really your business to approve or disapprove of who she dates?"d2
Boyd rubbed his temples and let out a sigh, "Yasmine, don't start."
"Who's starting anything?" She walked over to the couch and pulled on her coat, "I just happened upon your argument, and well, I'm not exactly a stranger to you. Got me thinking, I might as well share some of my own confusion."
"I've always been a go-with-the-flow kind of person, too comfortable with the status quo, rarely bothering to think too deeply. That's probably why I don't like to preach, and honestly, my values might be a bit askew. My current conundrum involves a few people and I figured I might as well sort it out. And if it turns out I'm the one causing a fuss..."
She paused, chuckled, and slipped on her coat, fixing her hair as she looked at Boyd. "You haven't answered my question. Serana isn't your long-lost sister, nor has she risked her life for you. Yet you're buying her a house, taking care of her education, all under the guise of lifelong friendship. Fine, I'll accept that explanation. But now I'm puzzled why you're so adamantly against her dating someone. What's got you so worked up?"
Serana finally understood the subtext of Yasmine's words, "Yasmine, it's not what you think."
Yasmine silenced her with a gesture, "As things stand, your relationship with him isn't at a point where you can speak on his behalf."
Serana bit her lip, looking conflicted.
Yasmine's gaze shifted slowly to Boyd, "Why so quiet? Did my question stump you?"
She fastened her coat and slipped her slender fingers into her pockets, her eyes fixed on his frosty face, her voice light and breezy, "Or is it that you're also questioning the answer?"
Boyd spoke coldly, "No."
Yasmine raised an elegant eyebrow, "Then tell me, why does Serana's new boyfriend bother you so much?"
"Because he's not trustworthy."
"I see." Yasmine nodded, "So, who do you think is trustworthy?"
She took two steps toward him, her lips parting slightly as she whispered, "You?"
Boyd's brow furrowed deeply. "What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"It's over."
The same serene, radiant face of Yasmine, the same calm voice.
Boyd narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her for a long moment until he was certain the words he'd heard were indeed from Yasmine's lips. His response was sharp, "I don't agree."
"I didn't ask for your opinion." Yasmine turned to Serana, "There's no need to settle for just any man to put my mind at ease."
Serana turned pale. So, Yasmine had seen right through her.
"I didn't... I just wanted a normal relationship."
"You just wanted an excuse to stay by his side with a clear conscience."
Serana was at a loss for words. She'd always known Yasmine was smart, but now she realized she had still underestimated her.
"What's your true character, Boyd knows, and you claim to understand him better than anyone. So why bother showing me sincerity with tactics you know Boyd will see through? What's the point?"
Yasmine wasn't really seeking an answer. As her words hung in the air, she turned and left without looking back, her departure as resolute and chilling as her silhouette.
Boyd wanted to reach out to hold her, but Yasmine coldly retorted, "I think the only good way for you to end this now is allowing me to leave. It's clear that I don't want to hear anything you have to say at the moment."
Boyd's hand froze in mid-air. Yasmine walked up to the door, changed her shoes and left without any hesitation. Her decisive silhouette, moving away, sent chills down one's spine.
Boyd's face turned an ashen shade of frustration as he ran a hand through his hair.
Serana stood there, pallid, trembling at the sight of Boyd's mood. "Boyd, I didn't mean..."
Although Yasmine suggested that Serana's sudden need for a boyfriend was just to give Yasmine peace of mind, Serana didn't just want Yasmine to worry about staying close to Boyd. She wanted to reassure Yasmine that she posed no threat.
"I truly didn't have any other intentions."
Boyd shut his eyes, haunted by the soft-spoken words Yasmine had left him with.
It was over.
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