Memories Drifted Like Paper Boats by Zyra Cole 42

Posted by ADMINMMADMIN, ? Views, Released on January 9, 2026

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Chapter 42

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Kelvin nodded slightly, his gaze was piercing, a confident smile playing at his lips.

He said, “I’m not being hasty. There’s a painting by you hanging in the back right corner of the living room.

“The center of the painting is on the left, and the signature ‘Darius‘ is also on the left. You’re left–handed, and you just picked up your cup with your left hand.”

Darius’s eyes lit up with appreciation. “Interesting. It’s been a long time since I’ve met such an interesting young man. Young people these days really are impressive.

“Is that really enough for you to be so sure?”

“No,” Kelvin replied.

Gloria asked curiously, “Then how…”

“Before I even came into the villa, I asked your family’s butler,” Kelvin said.

Ivan, who was standing nearby, nodded solemnly.

Darius burst out laughing. “So all that explanation earlier was just for show?”

“Not exactly. I did notice those things, but it wasn’t enough to draw a conclusion,” Kelvin replied.

Darius was even more impressed with Kelvin.

The fact that Kelvin picked up on his left–handedness showed just how sharp and careful he was.

The way Kelvin didn’t jump to conclusions and made sure to ask Ivan before coming in proved he was prepared and thought things through.

“Well, looks like the Gibson family’s got themselves a fine young man. Come on, have a seat and let’s chat,” Darius said, pointing to the spot next to him, nodding in approval the whole time.

Helene walked over, looking shy and bashful, her whole demeanor that of a coy little girl. She said quietly, “Kelvin, welcome.”

Kelvin said, his face calm as ever, giving a casual nod, “Hello, Miss Simmons.”

While she called him intimately, he kept it formal with her.

The gap between them couldn’t be clearer, just from how they addressed each other.

Upstairs, Lanette snuck the key from Ivan and quickly locked Edwina’s door from the outside.

It was the fourth floor. Lanette felt that there was no way Edwina could jump out.

Lanette was meticulous. She even set up a signal jammer outside, blocking Edwina from contacting the

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outside world with her phone.

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Lanette stood guard at the door, looking smug. “Edwina, let’s see what tricks you’ve got left this time.”

Edwina was sitting at her desk, sketching, when she sensed something was off the moment Lanette approached her door.

‘Why would Lanette risk getting chewed out by our parents just to lock me in my room?‘ Edwina wondered.

She felt that it must be because the only thing Helene truly cared about was at stake. She quickly walked over to the window.

Sure enough, she saw Ivan leading a familiar figure into the villa.

‘What’s Kelvin doing here? Men are such a hassle, Edwina thought.

Even if the door was wide open, Edwina wouldn’t go

downstairs.

‘What’s the point of going down? Just to walk right into their trap?‘ Edwina thought to herself.

Edwina yanked the curtains shut, blocking out every bit of light. She stayed silent, blending into the shadows. No one would even know she was there.

Downstairs, Helene sat down next to Kelvin.

She said, “Daddy, don’t give him a hard time. It’s Kelvin’s first visit. Don’t put him on the spot with all these tough questions.”

“Alright,” Darius said.

But Kelvin subtly shifted away, putting some space between himself and Helene.

Gloria saw everything.

She could tell with one look whether a man really cared about a woman or not.

At that moment, Helene was just getting carried away with her own feelings, while Kelvin clearly wasn’t interested in her at all.

Gloria spoke up. “Mr. Gibson, is there something you need today?”

Kelvin nodded.

He grabbed a napkin, jotted down a string of numbers, and slid it over to Darius.

“That’s the password for the safe deposit box at Serene Bank in Grindel City,” he said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Darius’s face darkened.

Kelvin said, his tone calm and steady, “It’s my way of making things right with the Simmons family. The Gibson family is calling off the engagement.”

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Gloria’s expression darkened instantly. “What do you mean? You want to break off the engagement and then just hand us money?

“Are you trying to insult us? How much could possibly be in a safe deposit box? Do you think the Simmons family needs your money?”

Her voice grew sharper with each question, her anger rising.

Kelvin remained composed. “It’s not money. It’s the deed to the land in the east part of the city. The Gibson family is giving it to the Simmons family as a gift.

“I have no intention of insulting the Simmons family. Since we’re the ones ending the engagement, I’m willing to offer compensation. It’s actually out of respect.”

Gloria pushed the paper back, her posture dignified yet imposing.

“We’re not desperate for that land,” Gloria shot back.

“Hey, honey!” Darius tried to stop her, but it was too late.

He asked, “Were you the one who snagged that land in the east last year?”

He’d had his eye on that land, poured a ton of effort and cash into the bidding, but still lost out.

What really bugged him was that he never even found out who the buyer was. It was all so mysterious.

Kelvin nodded.

“So it was you!” Darius was genuinely stunned. He couldn’t believe Kelvin had managed to snag something even he couldn’t get his hands on.

Darius asked, “How did you manage that?”

“Just used some unconventional methods,” Kelvin said calmly.

“What tricks did you use?” Darius was dying of curiosity.

Gloria snapped, “Enough! Seriously, Darius, can you stop with the business talk for once?”

Darius only liked cooking and doing business. He was all about the hustle, living for the excitement of making deals and outsmarting rivals.

Darius cleared his throat and sat up straight, putting on a serious face. “Well, we’re definitely not taking that piece of land.

“Honey, don’t be upset. We’re absolutely not taking it. Helene, don’t worry. Dad’s got your back.”

Helene’s cheeks burned red. She couldn’t cry, and couldn’t force a smile either.

Helene thought, ‘Breaking off the engagement? How ironic.

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Everyone in Grindel City’s high society knew she was destined to marry into the Gibson family.

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If news of the breakup got out, those socialites who used to envy her would have a field day mocking her.

Helene couldn’t accept it.

At that moment, all Helene could do was desperately pray that her parents, Gloria and Darius, would help her

out.

“Mommy, Daddy, please don’t be mad at him. Maybe Kelvin’s just not thinking straight at the moment,” Helene pleaded, her voice shaky and full of panic.

Kelvin was clearly running out of patience, but with Helene’s parents right there, he held himself back. “This isn’t some spur–of–the–moment thing.

“Honestly, I never intended for this engagement to mean anything, not from the start. I just never had the right chance to say it out loud.”

With that one sentence, Helene’s excuses died in her throat.

Darius’s brows knitted together. “Kelvin, are you here just to slap the Simmons family in the face? You really think you can walk all over us?

“We don’t want your land.

“But as for the engagement, it will be annulled.”

Helene was stunned, her world crumbling. Breaking off the engagement was the last thing she wanted. “Daddy, Mommy…”

Gloria could read Helene like a book, but her opinion of Kelvin was already in the gutter, especially after he tried to settle things with cash.

Since neither side was truly invested, Gloria felt that there was no point in continuing the engagement.

She said coolly, “Helene, don’t be difficult. Listen to us.

“This engagement has to end.

“Not only are we calling it off, but the Simmons family will do it with all the fanfare. We’ll go right to the Gibson family and let everyone see it!”