Chapter 16 She pointed at the mask . " I'm sorry . Now isn't a very convenient time . Besides , I have something I need to do . We'll talk later , alright ? " He offered a helpless smile . " You're always so busy . " After a pause , he added , seeming inadvertently , " If I didn't know you better , I might think you were deliberately avoiding me . " She smiled . Though her face was covered with the red rash , her eyes were still breath- takingly charming . Adorned by her smile , they sparkled , capable of captivating a heart with effortless case . " If you want , you'll always be my best brother , " she said meaningfully . Clifford flashed a smile . " Oh , really ? " After a deliberate pause , he drawled with a thoroughly frivolous air , " I'm deeply flattered . Yvette frowned slightly , but she didn't say anything else and just went downstairs . Standing alone with the cake in his hands , Clifford watched her figure until it vanished from sight . The charming sparkle that always lit his eyes was gone , replaced by an icy , utter coldness . Alfredo had specifically chosen to work from home today . Just yesterday , he had planned to pick up Yvette from the sanatorium himself . But before his car could even reach the highway , it was rear - ended . It was a minor accident , a false alarm , but it had left him deeply shaken . On this very day six years ago , Roxanne had collapsed while preparing for Yvette's special birthday celebration . Soon after , she received her cancer diagnosis . Since that moment , this date had become his personal taboo , a raw and persistent sore spot . He never dared to confront it , yet he could never truly move past it . Perhaps everything was destined . Perhaps he wasn't meant to pick up Yvette on that ominous 0.00 % 06:42 1 Chapter 16 day . : 11 298 Maybert The car was severely damaged , so he left the chauffeur behind to handle the insurance and paperwork while he hailed a cab to the office to bury himself in work . He sought to numb himself and escape reality through overtime . To his surprise , Yvette had come home herself . The sight of that horrifying red rash on her face shattered his heart , and it also reminded him of her cancer . Yvette had fallen asleep shortly after returning last night . He had remained outside her door until midnight , so consumed with worry that he even forgot to ask Serena about her birthday party . Only now did he think to ask Raymond , " How did Yvie react when she saw Rena yesterday ? " He was deeply worried that Yvette might overthink it . Serena was the daughter of his deceased close friend , Kelvin Padilla . Over a decade ago , she had occasionally come with Kelvin when he visited here . After Kelvin's death , she and her mother returned to the countryside . Their reunion was sheer coincidence - a day on which she ended up saving his life . That day , as he looked at her face , bearing a shocking resemblance to Yvette's , a peculiar feeling stirred within him , compelling him to bring her back to the Duckworth's villa . Serena was his lifesaver , and she was willing to give Yvette her bone marrow Besides , she was so kind , sensible , outgoing , and adorable . Her presence brought a long - lost joy into his life . Taking in the daughter of his deceased friend felt not only justified but righteous . He didn't think it was something he needed to explicitly explain to Yvette . But her outright refusal of Serena's bone marrow made him realize that Yvette disliked Serena . Of course , Raymond sided with Yvette . He cautiously answered , " Ms. Hawley didn't say much and went straight upstairs . But her room had been occupied by Ms. Padilla , and a few pieces of jewelry were missing from her box . Also , when Ms. Hawley first came back , Mr. Padilla tried to pick on her . He even accused her of stealing from him .... " Then , after everyone had the birthday cake , Ms. Hawley asked me to see everyone out . She 39.60 % 06:42 Chapter 16 2RB Voucher wasn't feeling well and said she needed a quiet environment to recover . " Harry was standing outside the door . Serena had called him here . When he entered , he found that his fingerprint access had been revoked , and the servants were no longer as respectful as before . Everything made him feel stifled . And Raymond's report was the final straw , enraging him further . He shoved the door open with great force and snapped , " That's bullshit ! " Raymond remained utterly calm and composed , not even bothering to glance in his direction . 06:42