Inside the study room at Maple Peak, Yves and Dylan were both present. Under the dim lights, the atmosphere in the room was chilling."Wexford?" A strong sense of danger flashed in Irwin's eyes.Who would have thought that Cedric had suddenly left Simeria and returned to Wexford? And for what reason did he go there ahead of everyone else?Could the person in Wexford be in critical condition? For years, that person had placed everything on Cedric's father. Now, with Cedric returning to Wexford ahead of everyone else, what did it signify? Had Cedric been chosen as the successor for the impending transition?When Irwin thought about this, the coldness in his eyes deepened."Yes, sir," Yves said with a serious expression.Irwin sneered with a level of coldness rarely seen from the usually dignified and serious man. The next moment, he instructed, "Summon Jeremy, Adrian, and Roland!"It was apparent that something significant had happened in Wexford. Over the years, that
In Hillside Villa, the dim lights created an eerie sense of quietness.Natalie's phone vibrated, and she glanced at the number. It was Irwin.That man...!She answered in a flat tone, "Hello."At this moment, Malcolm's words suddenly flashed in Natalie's mind. He had told Natalie never to try to manipulate a man who was heartless and didn't love her, and then he had named Irwin as an example!Although Malcolm wasn't a good person, she had to admit his words were true.Irwin treated her with utmost tenderness, but she had never seen genuine love in his eyes."I'm downstairs."Natalie was momentarily stunned.She stood up, walked to the French window, and saw Irwin's imposing black G-Wagon parked beside her car. He wore a black windbreaker, exuding elegance and clarity."I'll be right down," Natalie said and hung up the phone. She turned around and grabbed her coat, throwing it over her pajamas. Then, she slipped on her slippers before going downstairs.Lydia was busy
Irwin's gentle tone turned serious as he said, "Lord Malcolm is not a good person."Natalie was silent.Cedric had said the exact words more than once before.Now, Natalie couldn't help but think...Who among them was a good person? None of them were!Yes, that was what Natalie felt.Cedric wasn't a good person. Neither was Malcolm, and neither... was Irwin.-After Irwin left, Natalie felt shaken by his words. She couldn't calm down for a long time, even when she tried to relax under the dim lights of the villa.An hour later, Natalie arrived at Lotus Villa.It was almost midnight, and Stephen frowned when Natalie entered his study."Did the driver bring you here?" Stephen clearly sounded upset.Natalie nodded. "Yes."Stephen asked, "Is something wrong?"Since moving out from Lotus Villa, Natalie rarely stopped by so late at night.So, did something happen today?!"Cedric is in Wexford," Natalie said."..."As soon as she said that, Natalie saw a flash of shock in
They had all left.All of a sudden, everyone was gone!That night, Natalie didn't sleep a wink at Hillside Villa. She knew better than anyone else what she would face after daybreak.Putting aside Cedric... Irwin and Stephen have been in Simeria all this time.No one would pay too much attention if they were gone for only a few days.But what if it was a long time?And things would be especially bad for her. She was the niece that Stephen had just severed ties with. When she suddenly returned to Regal Horizons International, what kind of ruckus would that cause?!Wexford...What does it mean to them, and what does it mean to her?!At this point, she probably knew Irwin and Cedric had dragged her into the heart of this matter.Last night, she didn't directly confront Irwin. However, she only maintained a pitiful and laughable dignity on the surface...!Back when she had gotten together with Cedric, had he approached her deliberately with a purpose in mind?She didn't know!
To make matters worse, Malcolm claimed she wasn't impressive!With her height of 146 cm, it would be even weirder if she was impressive!Just then, Malcolm's phone vibrated.Glancing at Natalie, whose eyes seemed to be spitting fire, he casually answered his phone."What is it?" Malcolm asked coldly.Natalie couldn't hear what was being said on the other end of the line, but in the next moment...Malcolm's sinister expression darkened further, and the smirk that had been present moments ago vanished.Caught off guard by his sharp gaze, Natalie's heart skipped a beat.Then, Malcolm said to the person on the other end of the line, "Get her back here!" Each word carried a malicious tone.His words were directed at the phone, but the menacing look was fixed on Natalie.In an instant, she understood who he was talking about.Her heart climbed up to her throat.Malcolm hung up the phone.Natalie stood up. "Who are you trying to bring back?"Malcolm approached her. He had a co
Natalie's mind went blank, and she didn't return to her senses for a long time.She didn't even know when Malcolm had left.In her mind, there were lingering images of her beginnings with Cedric, the experiences they shared, and the horrifying outcomes. Undoubtedly, her modest height meant she wasn't the most beautiful girl in school. At most, she was delicate and petite.However, there were plenty of other attractive girls.So, why was Cedric singularly fixated on her?Their seven-year-long relationship had been filled with tender care, but it suddenly turned into a marriage that felt like she had stepped into hell.Her world had been turned upside down after that. There were so many differences in life before and after their marriage. There was also the cruel aftermath and...That massive fire...!And then the fire at the detention center...!Everything, including the reunion with Cedric in Simeria, had always been considered an unforgettable past and an inescapable nightm
Irwin mentioned that Malcolm wanted to establish a connection with the Jarvis family to gain complete control over the Entes family. Yet now, one of his own people was claiming Natalie would be his future wife?!To be blunt, these people were indeed two sides of the same coin to Natalie!"Sis, are you leaving now?" Despite Natalie's ever-changing expression, Roland's tone remained serious and firm.Natalie asked, "Can I talk to Irwin?""Of course you can!" Roland took out his phone, dialed Irwin's number, and handed it to Natalie.The phone screen flashed with Irwin's name as she waited for the call to connect. Soon, a warm voice came through. "Nat.""Irv, I don't know what I should say about you now." Irwin had lured Stephen to Wexford, making the already chaotic situation even messier. He had also done this in an attempt to control Cedric.And now, Irwin even wanted her to go to Wexford. Why? Obviously, it was to prevent her alliance with Malcolm and thereby limit
Roland's expression was ever-changing as he looked at Natalie.Without directly answering Roland's question, Natalie lifted her gaze to look at him, her eyes filled with specks of starry laughter. "What would happen if the Entes family finds out about Frederick? Wouldn't you need to work hard and fast to transfer that half of the documents?"Roland was silent."Disregarding everything else about the Entes family, you have to admit that the one thing they don't lack is people. If every one of them were to keep an eye out for Frederick, you wouldn't be able to transfer those documents even if you wanted to, right?"Roland felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet!Natalie's cunning smile completely shattered all the threats and toughness in his mind.She was too frightening.If she really went to Wexford, it would undoubtedly lead to further chaos."Roland, how about we make a bet?""What are we betting on?""Let's bet whether Lord Malcolm is more interested in Bianca's
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