A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 535

Right then, downstairs, Declan bumped into Yvan, who was heading up.

Caught in a moment of panic by Yvan, both men were taken aback.

Declan blurted out, “What brings you here?”

Frowning, Yvan replied, “Just checking in.”

Declan scoffed, “Came to tip them off?”

Yvan, silent, finally continued with a concerned look, “I’ve warned you… this isn’t right.”

“Yeah, right.” As the night went on, it began to snow. Declan looked up at the falling snowflakes, feeling an unexplained sense of loneliness.

Why the loneliness? Because Chloe wasn’t by his side this year?

Declan laughed at himself. He had gotten so used to Chloe being a part of his life that it was only when she was truly gone did he realize… it hurt like ripping a part of himself away.

Neither Declan nor Yvan spoke after that, until Yvan made the first move towards the elevator.

Declan was stunned, “You’re going up too?”

Wasn’t that just setting himself up for disappointment?

Without turning, Yvan, hands in his pockets, simply stated, “It’s New Year’s. I ought to wish her a Happy New Year.”

The love and hatred he couldn’t let go of were long gone. The only thing he couldn’t sever was his fixation.

A fixation on making amends.

Later, Yvan stopped at Matilda’s door. After a while, he took out his phone and texted Logan.

Logan, asleep in his room, was startled by the vibration of his phone. Seeing that familiar number, he opened the message.

[Sneak out and open the door.]

As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, Logan could see the face of the man before him.

Indeed, it was Yvan.

Frowning, Logan looked closely at what Yvan had handed him—a big, red envelope. He muttered, “Why are you giving me this?”

“It’s New Year’s money.”

Yvan’s voice was a bit hoarse, probably from waiting in the cold wind downstairs.

He reached out tentatively, touching the top of Logan’s head. The warmth from the soft hair was comforting. Yvan crouched down to meet Logan’s gaze, “You don’t have to tell your mom if you’re worried she might get upset. Save it, and when there’s something you want to buy, you can get it for yourself.”

Holding the envelope, Logan’s hand trembled slightly. It was unusually thick, a sign Yvan wasn’t short on cash. But at that moment, the money seemed to carry an immense weight.

Reluctantly, Yvan moved his hand away. As Logan noticed the absence of that comforting touch, Yvan stood up, his figure tall and imposing—he should have been their shelter from the storm. Yet, fate had twisted it so he became the source of their greatest turmoil.