Chapter 193 No Returning

Yvette's deep, dark eyes slowly shifted between me and Clover. She exuded a powerful demeanor that an inexperienced lady like Clover couldn't match. The mature elegance she carried was unmistakable. "If you want me to stand up for you, you'd better keep quiet," Yvette said, her tone calm yet firm. Lydia, clearly intimidated by Yvette, gritted her teeth and tearfully complained, "Fine. I won't say anything, but you have to help me clear my name. Otherwise, my reputation is ruined. I've never been so humiliated in my life—this is all thanks to your husband." Yvette remained indifferent and simply responded with a quiet hum. Clover, protective as ever, stood firmly in front of me. Her gaze was locked on Yvette, ready to defend. "I'm telling you, as long as I'm here, don't even think about touching him." Yvette gave her a cold glance and replied, "Aren't you busy enough with your many admirers? Now you're going after a married man?" Clover, seemingly struck off by a sudden realization, wrapped her arms around me, and spoke coldly, "I almost forgot, you've been spreading rumors about me. Owen is handsome, charming, and exactly the type I like. So what if he's married? If he divorces, I'll be the one pursuing him." I shot her a helpless glance. It seemed like she was fully prepared to take on the Jenning family head-on. I didn't resist, letting her hold onto me. Yvette glanced at the hand Clover placed on my shoulder, and her eyes flashed with a cold light. Oliver, standing nearby, wiped his sweat nervously, wishing he could escape this chaotic scene. Seeing Yvette's cold reaction, Lydia's rage grew. "Yvette, did you see that? Your husband's already been involved with someone else. The Jenning family is known for its strict values, and never has there been such a scandal. If you don't teach them a lesson, your reputation will be ruined!" I crossed my arms and looked at Lydia coldly. "You can talk all you want, but if you can't back it up with proof, be careful. "I'll sue you for slander." Clover quickly chimed in, "That's right. Let me tell you, the Jackman family is no pushover. Keep talking, and I'll call the police. Let's see who they arrest—us or you!" Lydia stomped in frustration but suddenly caught on to something. "The Jackman family?" Lucy leaned in to explain, "The Jackman family is the prestigious family I mentioned. While they might not have as many business ventures as the Jenning family, most of them hold secretive, powerful roles in various fields. "The Jackman family's eldest son… You won't find any information on him. The second son's in business, and the youngest is a checkers master who is incredibly famous… What was his name again? "I can't quite remember, but I've heard that he's so skilled that the entire checkers community trembles at the sound of his name. He's even represented the country in competitions. His reputation is so strong that even international leaders respect him. The family is influential, and their connections are vast. "So many people want to get close to the Jackman family but can't even get into their circle. I heard that they're preparing a banquet soon to celebrate finding their grandson, a genius illustrator. "The Jackman family is here at the auction to pick a gift for him. Considering you're looking for a son-in-law, you might want to be cautious. Who knows, the Jackman family's daughter might end up being your daughter's future sister-in-law." Lydia fell into a deep thought, and her eyes flickered with uncertainty. I kept my distance, unable to hear their full conversation, but my attention remained fixed on Yvette. "Yvette, let me say this one last time. Your mom misunderstood. I've already told her we're divorced, but she kept causing trouble. I couldn't take it anymore and slapped her. If you want to defend her, then come at me directly. If you don't act now, I'll leave." I wasn't really concerned about Yvette's response unless she decided to target Clover afterward. However, if she dared to make a move against me, I wouldn't hesitate to give her a piece of my mind. Clover quickly interjected, "Owen, you need to lay it all out. Don't make it sound like you're the one at fault. She kept provoking you and insulting you—listen to what she said. Is that the kind of thing a decent person would say? "The worst part is, she said you got a huge sum of money from your ex-wife in the divorce and demanded you give it back. Otherwise, she threatened to drown you. Who could stand for that? Of course, you had to slap her to snap her out of it." I couldn't help but laugh. Clover's half-true description was so convincing that if I hadn't experienced it myself, I might have almost believed it. Upon hearing this, Lydia immediately exploded. "I never said anything about drowning him! You—" She was about to scold Clover when Lucy grabbed her arm, silently urging her to hold back. Lydia clenched her teeth and swallowed her words. Clover sneered, "Well, you did say it—you bullied him first!" Yvette coldly glanced at Lydia, "You said things like that? You claim the Jenning family is so strict, but how about raising your own standards?" Lydia's face froze. She looked genuinely aggrieved, and her eyes turned red. "Yvette, I'm only trying to help you. How can you say that to me?" Yvette's expression remained indifferent. "I've said it before. My personal matters with Owen have nothing to do with anyone else. You insult him, and he slaps you—consider it even. Now, go to the private room. The auction is about to start." Clover and I exchanged surprised glances. We hadn;t expected Yvette to take our side this time. In the past, she never cared about my struggles. Lydia's eyes widened in shock, nearly bursting in rage. "Yvette, you're just going to let this slide? How can you equate verbal insults to physical violence?" Yvette's expression remained cold. "Mind your mouth, and he'll keep his hands to himself." I couldn't help but nod in agreement. That was exactly how I felt. Although Lydia hadn't truly meant to drown me, she certainly didn't have the right to insult me. Lucy, sensing Yvette's decision to put an end to this argument, gently tugged at Lydia's sleeve. Fuming, Lydia glared at me. "Owen, no matter what you do, you'll never be good enough for my daughter. Now that you're divorced, stay away from her. I'll personally choose her next husband for her. I'll make sure you understand what compatibility means. And as for you leaving the Jenning family, as long as I'm here, don't even think about coming back!"