In the afternoon, Natalie once again spent her time in a meeting. After the meeting, Wendy came to report to her when Natalie exited the conference room."Ms. Walker.""What is it?""There's a Ms. Morgan here to see you!"Natalie was silent.Ms. Morgan?!Karina had probably already explained the relationships among those in Verde City to Wendy before leaving.But the way Wendy was behaving..."You...""Do you want to meet her? If not, I'll make her leave."Wendy's character was quite straightforward, but strangely, such a personality didn't make people dislike her.Natalie sighed and said, "Let her in.""Do you really want to see her?""What? Are you really thinking of chasing her away for me?" Natalie said as she glanced at Wendy.Wendy grumbled, "Isn't she acting all high and mighty? Why doesn't she know her place? How dare she come here to see you?"Indeed, Isabella didn't know her place."Go ahead.""Yes, ma'am."Wendy left. In a few minutes, Isabella arrived.
When Isabella heard Natalie's words, she stiffened and turned pale.At this moment, Isabelle pondered a question in her mind.Was she the devil in Natalie's world, or was Natalie the devil in Isabella's world?She had always been intent on destroying Natalie's life. However, Natalie seemed more like a nightmare and a devil in Isabella's life now!"Go back and take good care of yourself. Don't let the child in your belly be scared prematurely. After all, I have no goodwill towards you," Natalie said coldly.Her coldness made Isabella keenly feel her hostility. There was even a sense of dread creeping up her spine.Yes, dread!Isabella stood up with clenched fists as she trembled. Looking towards Natalie, she finally hissed through gritted teeth, "Natalie, just you wait! Things between you and Cedric are impossible!"Natalie remained silent. Obviously, she didn't want to dwell too much on this issue. These matters had ended for her long ago and were meaningless.Isabella grope
It turned out she had never truly understood him! When Natalie had been by his side, the deeply furrowed brows she used to see probably weren't solely due to the Johnson family's internal conflicts.There could have been something deeper behind it."Ms. Walker, are you alright?" Wendy looked at Natalie with concern. Natalie had been with Cedric for ten years. Now, Natalie realized that the person beside her in bed wasn't what she had perceived all along.It was normal for anyone to be unable to accept it, right?However, Wendy was overthinking it. After all, Natalie had seen Cedric's venomous side. What did these things behind him matter?"Why wouldn't I be?" Natalie glanced at Wendy, realizing at that moment that she didn't have many useful people around her.Stephen had reassigned Karina.Zane had taken an extended leave!With only Wendy around, Natalie couldn't help but feel a sense of..."Ms. Walker?" Seeing Natalie in a daze, Wendy called out to her, snapping her
Cedric looked at Natalie in a way that showed he could barely tolerate what she was doing.He approached her, snatched the cigarette she had only smoked halfway, and forcefully stubbed it into the ashtray. "Smoking is bad for your health!" His tone was less than pleasant.The familiarity of his words hit her. Natalie suddenly remembered saying the same thing to Cedric before. Now, he had thrown the words back at her. Ignoring Cedric, she lit another cigarette.Seeing her like this, a turbulent emotion surged in the man. He took away the lit cigarette, along with the whole pack. "Are you here just to control me?" Natalie finally lost control and exclaimed. She glared at Cedric, the coldness in her eyes piercing.That word, 'control,' was immensely significant for both of them. When Natalie married him, she had nothing. She didn't have a family or guardian. As her husband, he assumed the responsibility of not only a husband when he married her but also that of a guardian—
Cedric left.It felt like a fight was about to break out between him and Natalie regarding whether Natalie owed Isabella anything!Natalie owed Isabella?!Ever since Isabella appeared in her world, Cedric had been using the excuse that Natalie owed her...!"Are you okay?" Wendy asked when she entered the room, looking at Natalie in concern.Natalie glanced at Wendy. She shook her head as she snapped back to reality. "I'm fine. Is he gone?""He left a while ago. He looked quite angry."Angry? Natalie sneered."Ms. Morgan caused some trouble, didn't she?" Wendy asked."Obviously. It would be unlike her not to take advantage of the situation when she left in such a disheveled state earlier," Natalie said disdainfully. That was a fact. Even if Natalie had done nothing to Isabella, Cedric would always remember Natalie as the person who had nearly killed Isabelle in the past."Isn't she tired of this?" Wendy remarked.Isabella might not be tired, but everyone else involved
Irwin was the last to receive this news. He gave Dylan a deep look and asked, "Where did they go?""Mr. Jarvis has concealed the whereabouts of the two very deeply." Dylan's words implied that Natalie and Heather's destination was a mystery and that he had found no information on his end.As Dylan finished speaking, the depth in Irwin's eyes intensified. His lips curled into a cold smile.Dylan glanced at Irwin and said, "Recently, it seems Mr. Jarvis is not very supportive of your relationship with Ms. Walker.""That's not all!" Irwin's tone was icy. Even the trust between them had shattered.To put it bluntly, Stephen was now very wary of him. Originally, he was always matchmaking between Irwin and Natalie. Now... Stephen was openly and secretly obstructing the progress between him and Natalie."So, do you think Mrs. Jarvis and Ms. Walker suddenly leaving Simeria might be because Mr. Jarvis intends to do something?""It's hard to say."In Simeria, Stephen was also sta
When Irwin arrived, he saw Natalie and Stephen coming out of the airport together. Both Stephen and Natalie were momentarily stunned when they noticed Irwin, especially Stephen, whose eyes revealed a hidden turmoil."Did you call Irv?" Stephen asked."N-no, I didn't," Natalie replied stiffly.She was also wondering how Irwin found out. According to the unspoken understanding between her and Stephen, her whereabouts during this past half month would have been kept tightly sealed.But now, Irwin suddenly appeared, indicating that he knew she was returning tonight."I thought Uncle wouldn't come to pick you up, so I came." Irwin's tone remained gentle when he spoke.He looked graceful, dressed in a sleek black windbreaker. His appearance drew the attention of many girls in the bustling airport.Natalie glanced at her uncle and then said, "Uncle?""You can take Irv's car," Stephen said. His emotions were hidden, and he revealed none of his true feelings.Natalie nodded. After
When Lydia and Xyla saw Natalie return, they quickly took the suitcase from her hands.Then, Lydia said, "In the half month you were away, the entire Hillside Villa, including the streetlights, has been changed to lighting that suits you.""Alright. Thank you.""We've prepared soup for you according to Madam Heather's instructions. Would you like to have it now, or would you prefer to take a bath first?""I'll take a bath first."Natalie was truly exhausted.She hadn't expected her aunt to be worrying about her even from such a distance. In the past half month, she had not lived an easy life. Fortunately, Heather was by her side. If she weren't there, Natalie really didn't know what she would do.But now that Heather was staying there, she felt a bit more at ease.After her bath, she donned a silk robe and descended the stairs. Her slender legs were exposed, leaving Lydia and Xyla staring in astonishment.Though Natalie wasn't tall, her legs were truly eye-catching. They wer
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