Waiting for a Spring of My Own

My dad may be an idiot, but he's loaded. I may be useless at everything, but at least I'm pretty. My older sister, Yvonne Quinn, is the only smart one in the family. She has grand ambitions, so she has no interest in inheriting our little family business. In the end, Dad makes the call and picks the poorest but most even-tempered guy among the top-ranking students to marry me and join the Quinn family. As it turns out, Dad has an excellent eye for people. Yannick Jordan really is the perfect husband. He's strikingly handsome and refined, gentle and patient by nature, and thoughtful and attentive in everything he does. In just two years, he becomes a rising star in the business world, and I become the Mrs. Jordan everyone envies. But he has one fatal flaw: he's far too devoted to his career. Once our honeymoon is over, I'm left enduring two long years of a marriage in name only. If I want to see him, I have to book an appointment a month in advance. If I want to have dinner with him, I have to wait until he's done with countless meetings, business engagements, and negotiations. But Yvonne never has to wait. After all, she and Yannick aren't just partners in a joint venture. They're also trusted allies who always have each other's backs. Together, they weather malicious schemes from rival companies, survive the darkest days of a financial crisis, and work side by side through countless nights until dawn breaks. Everyone praises them as an unbeatable power couple in the business world, a match made in heaven who seem unstoppable together. But I'm the only one who feels like a thorn between them. Chapter 1 The night before the company went public, Yannick Jordan, usually so cool and composed, finally let himself unwind. Slightly tipsy, he nestled into my arms, gently running his fingers through my hair as he murmured in a low, tender voice, "I know you've put up with a lot over the past two years. Tomorrow, there'll be a segment for family members to give speeches. Put on your prettiest dress and join me onstage to give a speech." His words left me so excited that I barely slept a wink. I spent the entire night choosing the perfect evening gown and rehearsing my speech over and over again. But the next day, when it was time for the family speeches at the press conference, my older sister, Yvonne Quinn, stopped me. "Speaking onstage isn't a beauty pageant. You haven't contributed anything over the past two years. If you go up there, people will say you don't deserve to be there." "Be good. I'll give the speech for you." I instinctively turned to Yannick beside me, hoping he'd stand up for me for once. I waited for him to say that, of course, his wife deserved to stand by his side. But he simply ruffled my hair. "I didn't think this through. Yvonne really is better suited for this." After the press conference, Yvonne slipped her arm from Yannick's and smiled as she pinched my cheek. "Sorry you had to miss out, Nico. Your birthday's coming up soon. How about I buy you a few extra dresses to make it up to you?" she asked casually. I joked, but I meant it. "I don't want dresses or jewelry, Yvonne. Even long-distance couples get to see each other once in a while, don't they?" "Can't you let me have one night with my own husband, too?" Yvonne's expression stiffened, a flicker of disappointment crossing her eyes. She replied coolly, "Suit yourself. Just don't regret it." That night, I slipped into the sexy new nightgown I'd just bought, planning to spend an intimate night with Yannick. Just as things were heating up and we were on the verge of taking things further, Yannick's assistant called to tell him that Yvonne had gotten drunk at the company's celebration party and leaked confidential company information. All the tenderness vanished from Yannick's face in an instant, and he hurriedly got up. He said, "We can always make love another time. The company has only just gone public, and its footing is still shaky. I have to go take care of this. Don't worry. I'll come straight back as soon as I've handled it." As he hurriedly dressed, he muttered in frustration, "I told her ages ago not to drink when I'm not around." Watching him rush around in such a panic, I spoke up softly. "I know Yvonne was a little careless, but you don't have to—" Before I could finish, Yannick's expression suddenly turned icy. "What would you know about it?" I froze. In our two years of marriage, I'd never seen him like this before. His eyes burned with anger and disgust. He quickly realized he'd gone too far and reined in his emotions. His voice softened, but his words still left no room for argument. "I'm sorry. I was too worked up. What I mean is, you're not Yvonne. You have no idea how much she's done." "I'll make up for all the time I've neglected you, but don't take it out on her." I murmured a subdued "Okay" and let the matter drop. Yannick leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, making a promise. "Be good. Once I've taken care of this, I'll put everything else aside and spend all my time with you." I wanted to believe him one last time. But I waited and waited. Dawn broke, and he still hadn't come back. Instead, entertainment headlines flooded every corner of the internet. Chapter 2 Someone had posted photos of Yvonne dead drunk, with Yannick quietly following behind her, indulging her every whim as they went from the carousel to the Ferris wheel. The comment section went absolutely wild. It was flooded with comments like: "Now that's a power couple!" "Who else is obsessed with their more than friends, less than lovers vibe? Their subtle tension is somehow even more addictive than watching an actual married couple!" I stared blankly at the screen, suddenly remembering how, long ago, I'd spent two weeks begging Yannick to take me to an amusement park on his day off before he finally agreed. I'd even made him swear he wouldn't stand me up again like he had the previous ninety-nine times. That day, I'd planned everything down to the last detail, even visiting the amusement park beforehand to scout it out. I'd prepared for every possible contingency. Everything except the possibility that he'd stand me up yet again. "Yvonne's migraine is acting up again, so I'm going to get her some medicine first. You can look around on your own and head home early." I was furious. I called him to confront him, my voice thick with tears. "Yannick, why do you come running every time Yvonne calls, but never listen when I'm the one calling? "Are you my husband or Yvonne's lapdog?" He sighed and replied in a voice so calm it was almost cruel. "I'm sorry, but the company is at a critical stage right now. I don't have time for romance." His words left me feeling as though I'd thrown a punch at a pillow. I silently ended the call. After that, I stopped arguing with Yannick altogether. Because there was no point. Thinking back on it now, I couldn't resist leaving a comment of my own. "Made for each other! Hope you two last forever!" Once I'd posted it, I immediately called Dad. "Dad, don't you still have a company overseas that's on the verge of going under, with no one to manage it? Let me take over." That evening, when Yannick hurried home, I was looking down at a plane ticket to Merovia for a week later. The divorce papers the lawyer had delivered lay on the table. I made no effort to hide them. I left them right there in plain sight. But he didn't even spare the divorce papers a glance. He walked in with a frown and snapped coldly, "This is ridiculous! Do you realize that if someone with an ulterior motive spreads that comment around, it could hurt the company and cause trouble for Yvonne?" I answered softly, "It was my fault. I'll delete it right away." Yannick clearly hadn't expected me to be so compliant. The tension in his expression eased slightly, and his voice softened as he held out a hand to me. "All right, stop being so childish. I'll take you to the gala tomorrow night, okay?" I subtly shifted aside to avoid his touch and replied calmly, "Okay. I won't throw tantrums anymore." I wasn't about to waste my time getting upset with someone who would soon be nothing more than a stranger to me. Late that night, I went out for a glass of water and happened to overhear Yannick talking on the balcony. "Yeah, she's already agreed to come with me. Get some rest. I left your hangover soup in the usual spot. You can only have one sugar cube. You still have a cavity, remember?" My hand jerked, and water sloshed over the rim of the glass, the icy liquid chilling my fingers. So that was why he'd suddenly offered to take me to the gala. When had I ever been given an opportunity like that before? It was almost laughable. He couldn't care less about me, yet when it came to Yvonne, he paid attention to every little thing she liked and knew her preferences inside out. He even knew perfectly well that she would sneak off to the gala. The moment Yvonne appeared at the gala, Yannick immediately slipped his arm free of mine, leaving me standing alone as he hurried over to her. His brows furrowed, and his voice was tinged with concern. "I knew you'd come. I knew you wouldn't stay home like you were supposed to." Yvonne rolled her eyes. "How could I not come? Knowing how impulsive you are, how could I not worry about you?" The two of them bickered as if no one else were around. A business partner who had come over to offer a toast chuckled and teased, "Mr. Jordan, Ms. Quinn, you two really are in sync. Is this your younger sister? Did she tag along with you two to broaden her horizons?" Yannick and Yvonne exchanged a glance, tacitly accepting the implication, then laughed it off without making the slightest effort to speak up for me. A little while later, Yannick finally turned and walked over to me, explaining casually, "If our competitors found out that the president's wife was someone as young as you, they'd find all sorts of ways to target you." His words no longer stirred any emotion in me. I simply replied, "Yeah, I know." "Nico, be good and find somewhere to wait for a while." The moment he finished speaking, the crystal chandelier hanging above Yvonne a short distance away suddenly came loose and plummeted toward her. Chapter 3 Before anyone could react, my eyes widened, and I instinctively lunged toward Yvonne. But in the next instant, a dark figure moved faster than I did. Yannick lunged forward almost instinctively, grabbing Yvonne and roughly yanking her behind him to shield her. He completely forgot that I was standing right in front of him. Sharp shards of crystal crashed into me, and a searing pain exploded through my body. My vision went black, and I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils. I lay on a cold hospital bed, my head throbbing with pain, unable to move a muscle. The doctor had just finished examining my injuries. He stepped out of the room and announced, "The patient has lost a lot of blood and needs an urgent transfusion. Who here has type O blood?" The moment he finished speaking, two voices sounded from outside the door at the same time. Yvonne hurried forward, her voice urgent. "Take mine! I'm her older sister, and we have the same blood type!" Right behind her, Yannick said in a low voice, "Take mine. I'm her husband, and I have type O blood." Yvonne immediately turned to glare at him, her voice laced with urgency and resentment. "You know perfectly well that you have severe anemia! Every time you donate blood, you get dizzy and weak. Why are you trying to play the hero?" Yannick's expression remained cold, his tone stubborn. "I'm fine." "Why do you always have to be so stubborn?" Yvonne lowered her voice, unable to hide her resentment. "Back then, when you broke up with me for the sake of my ambitions and future, you never asked me either..." Yannick froze, his dark eyes flickering. "That was years ago. Are you really going to keep bringing it up?" They stood arguing outside my hospital room, every word carrying clearly to my ears. I lay motionless in bed, staring blankly as my heart sank little by little, until it turned completely cold. No wonder Yvonne had always tried, both openly and subtly, to stop me from choosing a husband back then. Now everything finally made sense. My husband, Yannick, had broken up with Yvonne because he didn't want to hold her back. Marrying me had simply given him a legitimate reason to support her. Even the doctor had had enough. While the two of them were busy arguing, the blood bank had already delivered the blood. "Will you two stop arguing? The transfusion is finished. The family can go in and see her now." The moment Yvonne saw me, her eyes instantly reddened. She gently blew on my wounds. "Nico, does it still hurt? You silly girl. Did I need you to shield me? Nick was right there!" Yannick looked at me, his tone unusually indulgent. "Didn't you say you wanted to go to Havenport to see the fireworks? Once you've recovered, I'll take you there. How does that sound?" Yvonne immediately cut in, her voice edged with displeasure. "Absolutely not. The company's just getting off the ground, and everyone's working their tails off. What will the employees think if the boss takes time off to watch fireworks at a time like this?" Yannick furrowed his brows slightly. "That's between my wife and me. I'll explain things to the employees myself." Yvonne was at a loss for words. Reluctantly, she turned to me and softened her tone. "Nico, how about I take you to a fashion show and do some shopping?" I was physically and emotionally exhausted. I couldn't muster the slightest interest. "You two decide." Seeing how uninterested I was, they lost the will to argue. Yannick sat down beside my bed and took my hand. "I'll go home and get you a few changes of clothes. You can tell me which ones you like..." Clothes I liked? I let out a bitter laugh. Was there even a single thing in that closet that I actually liked? I had always preferred bright, playful dresses with a touch of sexiness. But Yvonne always said they were too flashy and would detract from Yannick's cool, aloof aura. Over time, my closet had become nothing but black, white, and gray. I protested to Yannick more than once, but he would only reply coolly, "You're still young. Yvonne knows better, so just listen to her." Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. Feeling wronged, I confronted him. "I'm young, so I should be able to wear whatever I like! Why should I have to run everything by Yvonne when it comes to how I dress?" I poured out all my pent-up hurt and frustration, then covered my ears, waiting for Yannick to either lecture me or offer a few words of comfort. But after waiting for what felt like forever, I looked up, only to realize he hadn't been listening to me at all. He was on the phone. Chapter 4 "Choosing Yvonne's assistant is her personal matter. Just pick someone suitable. You don't need to ask me about every little thing." "But I do have a few requirements." "The assistant needs to be attentive. Yvonne can be careless, so the person should be smart and sensible, someone who won't cause trouble or create extra problems." "And it has to be a woman. Men and women should keep their distance, after all. A woman would be more convenient for taking care of her." "Forget it. I don't trust your judgment. I'll choose someone myself." Only after hanging up did Yannick finally notice that I'd been standing there for quite some time. He let out an "Oh," as if he'd just remembered I was there, then casually pulled out a black card and tossed it to me. "You didn't like the clothes, did you? I'll have Logan take you shopping," he said offhandedly. I asked as casually as I could, "Isn't Logan a man, too?" He fell silent for a long moment before finally muttering, "It's different." Of course it was different. Perhaps in his eyes, the whole notion of men and women keeping their distance applied only to Yvonne. On the day I was discharged, Yannick came to pick me up himself. I was almost flattered by the unexpected attention. In the car, his expression remained as cold and distant as ever. He merely glanced up at me and said in a low, even voice, "I got something for you." After a brief pause, a hint of nervousness and anticipation crept into his voice. "Consider it a way of making it up to you... I hope you like it." The car drove all the way to a new villa. The moment we stepped inside, Yvonne's voice rang out. "Well, look who's back!" Acting like the lady of the house, she began showing me around. "Nick and I picked this place out together. It's a gift for you. The views are beautiful, and it gets plenty of natural light." She said it as though it were the most natural thing in the world, a smile playing on her lips. "And best of all, it's close to me, so I can drop by to see Nick whenever I want." I slowly took in the entire house, my heart sinking. They called it a gift for me, but the interior was decorated in Yvonne's favorite classic, sophisticated style, not the rustic, nature-inspired style I loved. To top it all off, I'd never learned to play the piano, yet an expensive grand piano sat conspicuously in the middle of the living room. Seeing how absorbed I was, Yannick and Yvonne exchanged a smile before turning their expectant eyes on me. "Well? Do you like it?" I forced a faint smile. "It's nice," I said evenly. And it was. It was just better suited to being a home for the two of them. Suddenly, Yvonne seemed to remember something and added offhandedly, "Oh, right. I've moved everything from your bedroom over and unpacked it for you. You can move in tonight." My mind went blank. I snapped back to my senses, my voice trembling. "What did you say? You moved everything here?" Without another word, I spun around and rushed upstairs to the bedroom. I yanked open the wardrobe, then opened the safe on the bottom shelf. It was completely empty. There was nothing inside. Downstairs, the two of them were still chatting and laughing. My legs felt unsteady as I made my way down the stairs and fixed my gaze on Yvonne. I swallowed the bitterness and panic churning inside me and stared hard at her, my voice trembling. "Where's my necklace? The watch necklace I left on the nightstand in the old house. Where did you put it?" Yvonne froze for a moment, looking somewhat innocent. "When I was packing your things, I saw how badly tarnished it was. I thought you'd just been too lazy to throw it away, so I..." "Where did you throw it?" "That necklace was a keepsake my mom left me! What gave you the right to throw away my things without asking me?" Tears spilled down my cheeks. My hands and feet turned icy cold, and my lips trembled uncontrollably. All I could think about was how, when I was little, I'd curled up in Mom's arms in her final moments, as she wiped away my tears again and again. "Nico, don't cry. I'll always live inside this necklace and protect you. Don't be afraid. I'm right here..." The hurt surging through my chest left me seeing red. In a fit of anger, the words burst out before I could stop myself. "Just because you're adopted, does that mean she isn't your mother?" "Nicolette, shut up!" Chapter 5 Yannick cut me off with a furious shout. It was the first time I'd ever seen him lose his temper like that. And every bit of his anger was for Yvonne. "Yvonne bends over backward for you, always putting your needs first. Just the other day, she went from store to store picking out dresses for you herself. And when you said you didn't like them, she spent the entire afternoon feeling hurt over all those dresses she'd so carefully chosen." "She made one innocent mistake, and you just can't let it go? You have to throw a tantrum and rub salt in her wounds?" "Yvonne has poured her heart and soul into this company and this family. And what about you? What have you ever done for her? All you ever do is cause her trouble and embarrass her. What else can you do?" "You're both Quinns. How can you two be so different?" The moment the words left his mouth, the room fell silent. Yvonne was the first to react. She tugged at Yannick's sleeve. "Yannick! What are you saying?" Yannick seemed to come to his senses, the anger fading from his face as a rare hint of panic crept in. "I'm sorry. I went too far..." he said hastily. Tears welled in my eyes. I sniffled softly and asked, "What more could I have done? Wasn't risking my life for her enough?" Back when Yvonne had just taken over the company, she'd been kidnapped by business rivals because she'd trusted the wrong people. They strapped a bomb to her and threatened to blow them both up unless she withdrew her bid for a project. When everyone else was at a loss, I stepped forward and offered to take her place as the hostage, buying the rescue team precious time. But even when the police arrived and subdued the kidnappers, the bomb's countdown kept ticking. The explosion left horrific, disfiguring scars across my back. I'd always loved dressing up, but after that, I could never wear the backless dresses I loved again. Back then, everyone at the company was celebrating Yvonne's safe return. Almost no one cared about what I'd sacrificed. Only Yannick noticed how dejected I was. "How can you say no one cares? I care." "Nico, I saw everything you did. I know that Yvonne owes her life to you." He lowered his head, his breath softly brushing the crown of my head as he murmured, "Don't worry about what other people think. It doesn't matter whether they know what you did. I know, and that's what matters, okay?" In that moment, he understood my pain and gave my heart a place to rest. Now, the face I remembered and the hysterical one before me blurred together. I felt so sick I thought I might throw up. I didn't want to argue with them anymore. Every second I wasted could mean losing my chance to find the necklace. I slammed my foot on the gas and sped straight to the dump. I didn't care how undignified I looked. I crouched beside the foul-smelling heap of garbage and dug through the rotting trash with my bare hands. Sharp scraps sliced into my fingertips, but I barely noticed the pain. Still, I couldn't find it. As the sun rose, an overwhelming sense of helplessness washed over me. The golden light on the horizon stung my eyes. I bit my lip to hold back my tears, forcing myself not to break down. Just as I was growing numb, a pair of long, slender hands reached out and began searching alongside mine. It was Yannick. He stayed by my side, digging through the garbage with me until dawn. Despite his severe aversion to dirt, he didn't care that his hands were caked in grime or that he reeked of garbage. He held out my necklace, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. But when he spoke, all he said was, "We found your necklace. Now, can you stop blaming Yvonne, please?" In that moment, my throat tightened. A thousand words caught in my throat, but in the end, only two short sentences escaped. My voice trembled as I whispered, "Yannick, I'm tired. Let's get a divorce." Whatever love and resentment remained between us no longer mattered. I just wanted to set him free and set myself free, too. Yannick didn't look surprised in the slightest. He merely let out a weary sigh. "I'm tired, too. So can you please stop making a scene?" There it was again. Time and time again, he dismissed my genuine pain as nothing more than a childish attempt to get his attention. This time, I didn't say another word. I turned and walked away. No matter how many times he called after me, I never looked back. That night, I packed up my belongings and moved into the guest room. Chapter 6 In the middle of the night, that familiar, cool scent slowly drew closer. Yannick slipped his arms around me from behind, his chest pressed against my back as he gently coaxed, "Nico, how about I take you to Havenport to watch the fireworks?" "From now on, I'll spend all my time with you. If you want to see the northern lights in Northfrost or watch the penguins in Southveil, I'll take you wherever you want to go. Just please, stop being mad at me, okay?" When I didn't argue, he paused for a moment before adding, "Once you've calmed down, make some time to apologize to Yvonne. I don't like seeing her cry. Too much crying is bad for her eyes." Only then did I realize that all his efforts to appease me had been nothing more than a way to keep Yvonne from getting upset. For a moment, I almost let his tenderness fool me into believing that, deep down, there was still a place for me in his heart. I slowly removed his arms from around me and spoke in an even voice. "I've finalized the divorce papers. I'll have my lawyer send them to you tomorrow." Yannick fell silent for a long time. At last, he let out a long sigh. His eyes grew more conflicted as he looked at me. "Nicolette, I'm starting to regret this. You're nothing like Yvonne." His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. My entire body stiffened, and suddenly, I couldn't even find the strength to speak. So this was what it felt like to be kicked when you were already down. The next morning, I woke to find a bowl of my favorite rice pudding on the dining table. A note lay tucked beneath it. The handwriting was Yannick's. "If you don't want to apologize, fine. It's just that Yvonne's been under a lot of stress lately, so I'm going abroad with her for three days to do some shopping and cheer her up. When I get back, I'll take you to see the fireworks. Don't worry. I won't let you down this time." After reading it, I tossed the note aside and left the rice pudding untouched. Slowly, I slipped the wedding ring off my finger and gently placed it on top of the note, along with the divorce papers. Once I was done, I grabbed my suitcase and drove off to say goodbye to Dad. The moment I walked in and saw him, I threw myself into his arms. All the hurt I'd been holding in for so long finally spilled over. Tears streamed down my face, quickly soaking his shirt. He gently patted my back, just as he used to when soothing me to sleep as a child. "There, there. You're all grown up now. Still acting like a little kid?" I couldn't help thinking back to my childhood. Back then, our family struggled financially, and Dad had to raise me while also caring for Yvonne, who'd been entrusted to him. We had only enough savings to send one of us to college. I was afraid Yvonne would be hurt, that she'd think Dad was favoring me simply because I was his biological daughter. Though I desperately wanted to go to college, I still chose to give up my chance for her. I still remember how tears streamed down her face as she struggled to hold herself together and said, "Don't worry, Nico. I'll study hard and make sure you and Dad can live in a big house someday." Back then, Yvonne was my hero growing up. When someone bullied me and called me a poor little nobody, she taught me to pick up rocks and fight back. When boys at school harassed me, she grabbed a mop and beat the hell out of them. As I grew older, I slowly came to realize that neither Yvonne nor Dad could stay by my side forever. An overwhelming fear began to take root in my heart. That was when Yannick came into my life, like a prince straight out of a fairy tale. He promised to stay by my side for the rest of our lives and to work hard so I'd always have beautiful dresses to wear. But real life wasn't a fairy tale. Sooner or later, every dream had to end. From the moment I told Dad I was leaving, he never once pressed me for an explanation. He simply respected my decision. I looked at the white strands at his temples, my throat tightening as I choked out, "Dad, I'm going to divorce him." Dad showed little reaction. He simply continued patting my back and murmured, "Okay." I looked up at him helplessly, my eyes red-rimmed. "Dad, do you think I'm doing the right thing?" His voice was calm and gentle. "Sweetheart, marriage is like a lamp. If its light keeps flickering and going out, would you still call it a good lamp? Marriage is the same. If things keep going well one moment and badly the next, then it's not a good marriage." "Go on. I've already taken care of everything. That company will be yours from now on." At the airport, I sat quietly in the VIP lounge, waiting to board. While scrolling through my phone, I came across a news story about Yannick spending a fortune at a jewelry store. I paused for a few seconds, then scrolled right past it. With only a few minutes left before boarding, my phone screen suddenly lit up. It was Yannick. "These outfits are all the rage with young women these days. I wasn't sure what your style was, and I couldn't decide which ones you'd like, so I just bought them all for you." "When we go to Havenport to watch the fireworks the day after tomorrow, you can wear a different outfit each time." I lowered my gaze and quickly typed out a reply. "Don't bother. I don't need them anymore." In the few seconds before I blocked him, I could see that he was still typing. But I didn't hesitate for even a moment before blocking him. After all, whatever he wanted to say no longer mattered to me.