Back at Lotus Villa, Clyde was still awake. When Natalie entered, he was on the phone. His expression was unpleasant, and he seemed to have mentioned Wexford.Natalie's heart tightened once again.When Clyde saw her, he hastily said something to the other end, then hung up and walked towards Natalie."Why are you back so late? And in your sleepwear?!" Clyde asked.Instead of answering his question, Natalie changed the subject and asked, "Is there another issue in Wexford?"At the mention of Wexford, Clyde's frown deepened. He wasn't a talkative person, and he still needed some time to get used to the recent change in his status since coming to Simeria.The only person he probably spoke more often to was Natalie. They looked identical and had been in the same space since the moment they came to life. Even after being separated for so many years, there seemed to be an unspoken understanding between them, tugging at their hearts involuntarily."It's not a big issue. You don't n
Silence filled the air.Even through the phone, one could feel the coldness of the confrontation between them.After a while, Cedric took a deep breath and said, "Children are fragile when sick. She has been calling for you since she started to have a fever.""She's calling for her mother, not me." Natalie's tone grew colder.To Cedric, Natalie's current self seemed like a stranger. It felt as if they had never known each other."Kyle is on his way," Cedric added as his tone became more assertive.Natalie chuckled coldly."Why are you laughing?" Cedric asked."Cedric, do you know what you look like right now?""..." Before he could respond, Natalie continued, "You used to repeatedly force me to do things for her mother.""...""Do you remember what you made me do? Her mother is now dead, so you'll do anything for her child, huh?"The air fell silent once again.Once, it was Isabella. Now, it was Isabella's daughter!The Cedric in this life...!It seemed like he would n
"Let's talk outside!" Cedric said as he grabbed her wrist and walked towards the door.However, Natalie shook his hand off. She looked at Kayla with a mocking glint in her eyes.She had to admit that Cedric was really good to Isabella's daughter. Every detail in this room showed careful consideration. Natalie's mockery became more apparent as she said, "You've done so much to Cly and Caleb just to force me to see her, right?"Cedric was silent.Cly?! Caleb?!The chill that was already present in the man intensified when he heard Natalie's sudden reference to Clyde and Caleb. The look in his eyes towards her became colder.Natalie walked past him and approached the bed.Looking down at Kayla lying on the bed, Natalie's eyes were filled with disdain.Seeing Natalie's gaze, Kayla subconsciously didn't dare to move. When Cedric saw Kayla instinctively curled into herself, his anger rose again."Natalie." His tone became heavier.Natalie sat in the chair Cedric had just vacate
"Why don't you come and have a drink tonight with me? Even though there's no wedding, I still hope you can enjoy the happiness of my marriage," Bianca said calmly over the phone.However, Natalie sensed bitterness beneath this calmness. She had witnessed the entanglement between Bianca and Malcolm firsthand and had experienced Malcolm's dreadful side. Yet now, out of the blue, Bianca had married Zane?!In this short span of time, what had transpired? Marriage had always been sacred in Bianca's eyes, influenced by her past profession. Natalie knew that Bianca and Zane weren't close. So, what had Malcolm done to push Bianca, who had always regarded marriage highly, into marrying the seventh lord?"Where are you staying now?""I'm your neighbor. I'm staying behind Hillside Villa.""...Alright, I got it."The area around Hillside Estate had four directions. Natalie occupied the east side and was unaware of who resided in the remaining three. Unexpectedly, the seventh lord was
After meeting Caleb, Natalie headed straight to Versant Villa in Hillside Estate, where Bianca was waiting. When she arrived, she saw Zane getting into a car.Zane looked dignified and imposing, and he was wearing a dark windbreaker. He exuded a chilling aura, his gaze cold and distant. This vibe was unique to the Entes family. Natalie had felt it before from the fifth and sixth lords.Now, she was feeling it from the seventh lord, Zane Entes.As the convoy passed by her, the car window slightly lowered. Zane's cold, piercing eyes met hers, sending shivers down Natalie's spine. This wasn’t the Zane she remembered. He was no longer Zane Jacobs, her assistant, but Zane Entes, the Entes family's seventh son!The car halted, and he said in a deep voice, "She's waiting for you.""I see," Natalie responded, unsure how to address the current Zane.Zane's lips curled into a faint smile. At that moment, Natalie felt he was even more mysterious than before. Then, he left.When N
Bianca's voice seethed with rage as she exclaimed, "Why didn't you just get rid of that child?" The fury in her tone was unmistakable.Cedric seemed to be an ever-present figure in Natalie's life. First, he mistreated Natalie, and now he pulled this move.Natalie sighed. "She's just a child."While she had reservations about Kayla and didn't particularly want to be around her, she didn't harbor the same extreme feelings as Bianca."Why doesn't he just leave with that child?" Bianca's anger was as clear as day. If Isabella's daughter meant so much to Cedric, he should spend his life with her!Compared to Bianca's fiery temper, Natalie appeared more composed. "It's up to him wherever he chooses to go with the child.""You're really okay with that?""Yes," Natalie responded. Aside from the discomfort she felt when Isabella's name was mentioned, she remained unfazed."But with him here in Simeria and close to you, there are bound to be complications," Bianca warned.Natali
Of course not!Right from the start, Natalie knew Malcolm should pray that he never gave Bianca a chance to turn things around. Otherwise, chaos would ensue in Simeria.Given the circumstances, Natalie knew persuading Bianca to leave Simeria was futile. Even if she did, as Bianca mentioned, she'd have no future and certainly no freedom. Given Malcolm's intense vendetta against her because of Faye, Bianca would be hunted down no matter where she went.At that time, the fate awaiting her would be unimaginable."Bia," Natalie murmured, looking at Bianca and feeling the weight of their situation. Marriage and men were intricate webs. Once trapped, escape might be impossible.These were things that women should not easily get involved with. Once involved, it would be irreparable and beyond redemption if they made the wrong choice."You can't drink now, right?" Bianca asked as she gently caressed Natalie's cheek with elegant fingers.Natalie replied, "Just a little."Although i
Just as they left Hillside Estate and reached the foot of the mountain, the car stopped.The driver exclaimed, "Ms. Walker..."Ahead, a Phantom obstructed their path, preventing them from reaching the main road. Despite the darkness, Natalie's blurred vision could discern that the car belonged to Cedric. A chill ran down her spine.With a thud, Cedric emerged from his vehicle and approached her side. The driver recognized him, and an underlying tension filled the air."Ms. Walker, we can turn around and...!""No need," Natalie said.If Cedric had gone to such lengths to corner her here, what more could he be capable of? Before she could react further, Cedric had already opened her car door, his demeanor hinting at an unspoken dominance.In the presence of Zane's driver, Natalie maintained her composure. She calmly exited the vehicle and entered Cedric's car. Then, they drove silently towards Peach Garden.Over time, Natalie had noticed that conversing with Cedric invariably
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