Cedric left after dropping such earth-shattering news. Even if he didn't say anything else, Rebecca knew what to do now.Half an hour later, Rebecca and Elizabeth snapped out of their stupor. When their eyes met, confusion still lingered in their eyes. "Stephen's niece?""Yes," Rebecca nodded."Stephen Jarvis from Regal Horizons International?""Yes," Rebecca nodded again."S-she..." Elizabeth faltered, unsure of what to say at this moment.Rebecca was also unsure of what to say now. Natalie was Stephen's niece, a result that no one had anticipated. Though only a niece, he was Natalie's only family in this world. Judging by Stephen's attitude, it was clear that her existence was extraordinary in his world.Rebecca turned pale. Her lips trembled as if trying to say something, but at this moment, nothing came out.Christina entered and sensed that something was amiss. She approached and asked, "Mom, what's wrong?""Tina...""Huh?"Rebecca still didn't know what to say and
Natalie was still unaware of what had happened at the Johnson Manor.She had been in meetings the whole day in the office. When she returned to Elegance Bay, Stephen was already waiting for her at the dining table. He had told her that he had planned to leave in three days, but then had extended his stay for some unknown reason."The dishes tonight look good," Natalie sat down and remarked to Stephen.Stephen glanced at her and said, "Of course! They're all your favorites.""Thank you, Uncle.""You've settled everything on your end, so I should be heading back tomorrow," he mentioned.He had received the news in the afternoon. Rebecca had revoked all actions against Natalie, indicating that the Johnson family was now aware of their relationship. As long as they knew their limits, he felt reassured.Natalie raised an eyebrow at him. "Tomorrow?""Yes."Natalie was silent."I stayed because I was worried about you, but now it seems there's nothing to worry about!" he teased.
So now that Stephen's niece had come out, it was inevitable that those with ulterior motives would seek alternatives. Hence, Natalie needed to be cautious. Seeing how smart she was, Stephen felt somewhat reassured.Then, he pushed several other tickets to Natalie. "There are two art exhibitions this month. Go and see them with Irv.""That many?""Whether someone is suitable or not not only depends on shared interests and values but also on the ability to accommodate each other."Irwin liked concerts, while Natalie liked art exhibitions.Understanding Stephen's intention, Natalie felt deeply moved. Taking a deep breath, she forcefully suppressed the pain in her chest."Uncle.""You feel like crying?""No, I'm not going to cry!""That's good!" Stephen couldn't stand seeing women cry, as he had caused a few women to cry in his younger days.Natalie was truly touched. The warmth and kindness that Stephen gave her was always present.-That night, Natalie slept well as usual
Isabella struggled to see what was in front of her.However, despite Cedric waving his hand in front of her eyes, she couldn't even see a hint of a shadow.Only boundless darkness enveloped the entire hospital room.The atmosphere in the room became tense!"Doctor!" Cedric roared in anger.His furious outburst made the already tense atmosphere in the room feel as if it were covered in ice.Dr. Landry had broken out in a cold sweat. He trembled as he approached, "Ms. Morgan, can you see anything?"His voice quivered slightly. In fact, everyone present already understood Isabella's current situation.Isabella's heart was in her throat.Waving her hand in front of her eyes, Isabella could only see darkness—nothing but darkness!At that moment, her world collapsed completely."I... How could I..."She couldn't see anything.Nothing!Wasn't today the day she welcomed the light?How could this happen?How could she see nothing at all?!"Ced! Ced!" Isabella reached out, frant
Natalie maintained her professional image as a career woman. She started caring less about who she dined with, influenced in part by Stephen. As a result, no one dared to write about her recklessly.In the car, Irwin was driving, and Natalie sat in the passenger seat. Irwin casually asked, "Did your uncle go back?""Yeah, he was supposed to leave earlier, but he stayed here for a few more days because of me."Also, because of the Johnson family! Rebecca and Benjamin had been aggressively trying to drive her out of Verde City before this, and the situation had been hysterical!With how they acted, Natalie could anticipate the relentless pursuit she would face if she truly left Verde City."Well, you do make people worry," Irwin remarked.Natalie felt a bit embarrassed. "Not really.""You look the part."Natalie was speechless.Okay! She acknowledged that her petite stature did give off an impression of someone who might need extra care. She was too short, making it se
"You're fortunate to have found your uncle!" Irwin said.Otherwise, considering the methods of those people in the Johnson family, they could have torn her apart!Later, Stephen's presence behind the scenes drove the Johnson family members who wanted to destroy her insane, as they couldn't do anything to her."I'm grateful as well!" Natalie said.She spoke the truth.While she had been fearless and unstoppable back then, Stephen's presence had provided her with significant support.-After lunch, Irwin personally drove Natalie back to Sylvan Gems. When she got out of the car, he didn't forget to remind her, "I'll pick you up at six."Natalie nodded. She was aware that the concert would take a while, and she needed to grab something to eat before fully enjoying the experience. Even if she ate, she doubted she would appreciate the event.After Irwin left, Natalie picked up her bag and turned to enter the company. To her surprise, she met Cedric with his icy gaze, standing no
"Cedric just told me that she's permanently blind! I think the surgery must have failed!"The more Natalie spoke, the less she could conceal her delight."Failed?""Yes!""It's karma!" Bianca exclaimed without hesitation.In the past, Bianca had observed how Isabella schemed against Natalie. When that woman risked her own eyes to conspire against Natalie, Bianca thought she was exceptionally ruthless.However, she had ultimately paid the price for her own cruelty."That's exactly it! Karma!" Natalie laughed."She trusted Cedric too much!""Yeah, she believed him all the way!"Thinking about how Isabella trusted Cedric so much, Natalie felt a twinge of bitterness. She had once trusted Cedric too. But unfortunately, reality brutally slapped her in the face.Isabella had similarly trusted Cedric. She believed that even if she truly went blind, Cedric would find a way to restore her sight.But in the end... what good was trust?"She should have known that if she reached that p
"Do you know Stephen Jarvis?" Christina asked triumphantly, looking at Isabella's defeated expression.Stephen Jarvis? It wasn't an unfamiliar name. During the half-year she spent by Cedric's side, she gained considerable knowledge about prominent domestic and international families. Stephen Jarvis was the wealthiest man in Simeria."Heh, what are you trying to say? That you discovered you're his daughter after so many years of being the Johnson family's adopted daughter?" Isabella mocked.Although she had always dismissed the title of being the adopted daughter of the Johnson family, she knew that it was the most taboo subject for Christina."Heh, I'd love it if that had happened! But having the Johnson family is enough for me!" Christina retorted. "However, Natalie is Stephen's niece! Do you know what that means? It means Stephen is Natalie's uncle!"As Christina continued, Isabella's face grew paler. Eventually, her lips trembled uncontrollably.Natalie was...?Her worl
Bianca was still pondering how to reject Malcolm. Undoubtedly, even when she sought him out a week ago and proposed they get married, she hadn't truly wanted to marry him. As she contemplated things now, she even anticipated how crazed Malcolm might become when she presented her decision.Her phone buzzed with a call from Malcolm. In the past, Bianca would have ignored it outright, but now... she wasn't one to burn bridges."Hello?""I'll be there in ten minutes. Come down.""It's quite late."Just like before, whenever this man wanted to talk to her, especially about meeting up, she couldn't muster a pleasant expression.The man on the other end of the line simply stated, "I want to see you."Bianca’s heart clenched at those words. She was accustomed to Malcolm's cold, domineering demeanor. Even when he desired a woman, he maintained that haughty attitude. So, hearing such tender words from him was beyond her expectations."Hmph.""Come down, okay? I have a surprise for you."
As Zane reached halfway up the hill, he noticed a familiar car parked outside. Neil, the butler, was waiting outside, and upon seeing Zane return, he approached respectfully."Lord Zane.""Who's here?" Zane frowned, glancing at the brightly lit villa.What was going on? Usually, this place was dim in the evenings, but today, everything was unexpectedly bright."Ms. Stewart has returned," Neil replied.Zane's mind went blank for a moment. He stared stiffly at the butler, his pupils rapidly constricting."Ms. Stewart arrived this afternoon."Yvette!The familiar name flashed through Zane's mind like a gust of wind. How many times had he wanted to hold onto her? But in the end, for various reasons, he had to let her go bit by bit.And now, Yvette was back!Where had she been all this time?Since leaving Simeria, it was like she was a bird that had escaped its cage and soared into the sky, never to return. Zane had asked the Stewart family about her once, but even they didn't kn
"Maybe something happened," said Bianca.Natalie felt her eyelids twitch in response. What kind of terrifying situation was this?"When I say 'something happened,' I don't mean anything bad, but..."But what?In that moment, Bianca's gaze toward Natalie deepened, and she understood what her friend meant."You mean...?" asked Natalie.Bianca nodded silently.Natalie fell quiet as she pondered the situation.What if that was really the case?Natalie couldn't help but admit that if it truly was, it would naturally be a favorable outcome for her."Don't forget, if he can come, he can also leave. He can't change anything here, so it's better for him to return to the world he belongs to," Bianca explained.During this time, Natalie had transformed Simeria into a fortress. But even in such circumstances, Cedric had mysteriously vanished. Up until now, there hadn't been any clues. Even Kyle had been through so much, yet hadn't uttered any useful information.So, it had to be said t
Bianca’s calmness and composure, despite her young age, spoke volumes about how her experiences and wisdom had shaped her thoughts.Curtis, initially worried about her, felt somewhat relieved seeing the tranquility and maturity in his daughter’s eyes.He nodded slowly. "Hmm."In the end, he agreed.After all, she was his daughter. Despite not being raised by him since childhood, Curtis could see it clearly. Like her mother, Bianca would stick to her decisions, impervious to outside interference.Seeing Curtis finally eating, Bianca felt a sense of relief. After lunch, she considerately accompanied her father for a stroll before allowing him to rest.When Carol emerged from Curtis' room, she saw Bianca waiting nearby and hurried over respectfully."Miss.""How is he?" Bianca inquired."Sir is still worried about you, miss," Carol replied sincerely.Having been by Curtis' side for many years, Carol naturally understood Bianca's significance in his heart.Bianca sighed. "It wil
As she spoke, Seraphine felt the already dangerous aura around the man grow even darker, sending her heart racing. She tried to speak, but found herself speechless."Hmph, you useless thing!" Zane cursed menacingly.Cold sweat soaked Seraphine's back completely."There must be a way," she choked out, her tone tense.At that moment, Seraphine recalled what Zane had said to her before she came back to Simeria.He had told her that he never kept useless individuals around him. To gain his protection, one had to be useful. And now, Seraphine's only use—her engagement to Malcolm—had been effortlessly annulled."Heh," Zane sneered disdainfully.For Seraphine, this disdain was not only humiliating, but also starkly different from her experiences with Eleanor. In Eleanor's presence, she had never faced such disrespect. But now, it seemed like anyone could trample on her.In the past, even members of the Entes family wouldn't openly show contempt towards her, but now… Those past comfort
Seraphine had always harbored resentment towards Bianca. But Bianca had always been a rather composed individual, rarely resorting to such actions.So, what was she doing now?"You..." Seraphine's initial fury had been turned to speechlessness by Bianca's aggression.When Seraphine glanced at Bianca, she caught a glimpse of malice in the other woman's eyes.Before Seraphine could utter a word, Bianca bluntly asked, "You know, don't you?"Seraphine stayed silent.Know what?"You knew that Lord Malcolm and Lord Zane are half brothers You also knew why Lord Zane sought you out and took your side, right?" Bianca continued.Seraphine's face drained of color in an instant. And every subtle change in her expression was noticed by Bianca, whose eyes were filled with icy mockery.Stepping forward, Bianca gripped Seraphine's delicate chin. Seraphine instinctively tried to evade, but Bianca's hold was firm."You still dare claim this is your home?" Bianca scoffed."This has always been
When would the cycle of revenge end?While Bianca hadn't decided what to do about Eleanor's actions, Zane had already shown his claws.When would it end?If someone kept chasing after a person, what could they do?"Bia…"Curtis wanted to say something to his daughter, but was met with her unwavering gaze. Clearly, she wouldn't back down this time, just like her mother never did when faced with such situations. Both women faced things head-on, without flinching."Don't worry, okay?" Bianca reassured Curtis.There was another reason she was insisting on staying in Simeria—Bianca knew Curtis wouldn't leave with her. So, she wouldn't leave either.-Bianca and Curtis talked for a long time.Curtis still wanted to send her abroad, but her resolute attitude left him powerless. Moreover, from various pieces of information gathered earlier, it was clear that Bianca was a strong-willed child.No matter what problems she faced, she had her own opinions. So, asking her to leave was s
When Bianca returned to the Holly family’s residence, she found Curtis staring gravely at some documents. When he started coughing violently, his face turning as pale as a sheet, Carol hurried over to check on him."Sir, let Ms. Bianca handle these documents. Please don't strain yourself," Carol said, her tone full of concern."I see now," Curtis muttered heavily, as if he had just realized something crucial.Not understanding what he meant, Carol simply urged, "Your health can't handle this strain. Don't tire yourself out. You must trust Ms. Bianca."Curtis fell silent.Trust?He had always trusted Bianca, but now he regretted bringing her back. If he had never found her, would things be different now?"Where did she go?" Curtis asked."Ms. Bianca went out, but she'll be back soon," Carol reassured him, gently taking the documents from his hands.Ever since Bianca told the older woman about Curtis' health problems, Carol had been extra vigilant, making sure he avoided anythin
Bianca stared at the dangerous man, memories of their harmonious past flashing through her mind. Those moments had once seemed so genuine, yet now felt laughably absurd."Haha, how ridiculous!" Bianca scoffed, her laughter bitter."Bianca!" Zane's voice was sharp, cutting through her mirth."Zane, what if I reveal your true intentions to everyone? What will they think then?""Who would believe you?" Zane interrupted coldly, not letting her finish.Bianca's smile froze on her lips. He was right.Who would believe her? Curtis might, and so would Natalie. But was their trust enough?Clearly, it wasn't.But did it matter?"It's not your concern who believes me. I have never needed anyone's belief to stand strong," said Bianca.Many had doubted her before, but none had ever managed to break her spirit. The dangers she faced now might be greater, but for Bianca, they were just another set of challenges.She had overcome every hardship she encountered. This time would be no differe