Irwin's involvement with Isabella had only accelerated the breakdown of the marriage between Natalie and Cedric. Stephen's face darkened at this realization. While Irwin bore significant responsibility for the pain Natalie endured, there was some truth to what he said. Given Cedric's demeanor towards Isabella at the time, even if it hadn't been her...His lifestyle was complicated, and another woman might have easily taken Isabella's place.-After the party concluded, the entire staff at Lotus Villa buzzed with activity, hurriedly tidying up. Natalie had someone drive her back to Hillside Villa, where Luna eagerly awaited her.Upon seeing Natalie, Luna giggled. She waved her chubby arms and rushed towards Natalie, dressed only in a simple outfit and a diaper. Natalie found Luna's chubby legs utterly endearing as the child approached her."Mama! Mama!" Luna called out, trying to climb up Natalie's legs.While many claimed that little girls were more reserved, Natalie no
It was a stack of photographs!At first glance, it seemed quite dated. But in an instant, Natalie's expression changed drastically as she looked deep into Cedric's eyes.A chilling glint flashed in her eyes!"Cedric!" Natalie hissed through gritted teeth.She rose swiftly, lifting an ashtray as if to strike Cedric directly on the head.Her fury was palpable.Yet, the moment she raised her hand, Cedric's dark gaze met hers, rendering her motionless. Her heart raced uncontrollably.With a crash, the ashtray fell to the ground, its impact echoing in the room. Natalie's eyes held a chilling intensity as she glared at Cedric.She took a few deep breaths. "These..."These what?She couldn't even bring herself to voice whatever those photos contained.Her heart was a chaotic mess. She felt numb, almost paralyzed.It was obvious that she...!She was unable to accept it.She knew of Clyde's hardships during his early days in Wexford, but the extent of his hidden struggles
The heavy breaths of the two echoed over the phone line. Bianca sensed his rising anger and frustration as Malcolm's breath grew increasingly erratic.People said that spending enough time with someone allowed one to truly understand them, regardless of love or hate. And with Malcolm, Bianca had come to realize just that!"If there's nothing urgent, Lord Malcolm, I'll hang up!" The emphasis Bianca placed on "urgent" was evident in her tone. It was a subtle reminder to Malcolm that she was no longer just a number by his side, but was now his sister-in-law. By hierarchy and tradition, she should address him as Lord Malcolm. And he... should treat her with the respect she deserves.-On the other end, Malcolm felt even more infuriated after Bianca disconnected the call. The recent events at the Jarvis family were still fresh in his mind, especially the graceful dance between Bianca and Zane.It was undeniable that the most talked-about people were Natalie and Clyde. However
However, Malcolm seemed as if he hadn't heard anything.The force in his hand grew stronger and stronger until…Slap! Bianca slapped Malcolm harshly across the face. While Malcolm was furious, he also returned to his senses.The tense atmosphere became even more stifling after Bianca struck Malcolm.Bianca had… actually slapped Malcolm?!With her freedom secured, Bianca glared viciously at Malcolm, mocking him, "Incompetent man!"Everyone present was silent.She had lost it.She had truly lost it!Yet Conrad remained relatively composed. In his eyes, hadn't the old Bianca always acted this way around Malcolm?No matter how he suppressed her, her proud demeanor, filled with untamed spirit, always remained unyielding.Bianca glared fiercely at Malcolm, her gaze pushing him almost to the brink.Once again, he gripped Bianca's throat tightly.The scene made everyone feel like they were on a roller coaster, but Bianca was relentless!She wouldn't allow Malcolm to oppress her
It wasn't that Cedric was fixated on her!It was clear that he was just being biased. He wanted to give Kayla a mother, not just a stepmother, right? This favoritism truly made others jealous.It was Isabella before, and now it was Kayla."What does it feel like to be consumed by flames?" Cedric suddenly looked at Natalie, his eyes sharp and piercing, as if he could see through everything.Natalie was silent. Upon hearing this, her face turned pale."The fire in the detention center… It burned so much. It was agonizing!" She emphasized the term ‘detention center’ particularly hard.Cedric fell silent, and the intensity in his eyes deepened further."Then, what does it feel like to be in darkness?" He stressed each word heavily.Undoubtedly, things had been chaotic recently. Cedric had too many affairs on his plate, but that didn't mean he had forgotten everything Natalie had said.Perhaps... he was testing her?However, seeing the hint of vulnerability in Natalie's eyes a
However, in the next moment, Natalie said, "I don't want to hear it!""Nat, this concerns you and Isabella...""Enough, Cedric! Just what do you think you're doing?" Isabella. Every time, he dared to mention Isabella. What could one even say about this man? Was Isabella a figure he could never move on from in his world?Undoubtedly, Natalie's reaction towards Isabella right now only confirmed what Kyle had said.Isabella was a taboo in Natalie's heart.She despised anyone even uttering Isabella's name."Nat, I understand you're in pain...""Pain?" Natalie laughed mockingly. "You overestimate yourself."Pain? Where did he see the pain in her?"Nat!"Watching Natalie ignore his explanations, Cedric felt a heavy weight on his chest. It was as if something was pressing down on him, causing immense pain and suffocation."I'm exhausted!" Natalie felt fed up with this relentless man who had been bothering her all night. It felt like dawn was approaching, yet he showed no si
Natalie stood still, refusing to turn back. A chilling aura emanated from her, and she said in a voice colder than before, "I've said it before. Whatever suffering you all endure is your own retribution!"Having said that, Natalie continued walking without waiting for Cedric's response. Cedric remained where he stood, enveloped in an icy coldness.Natalie's words echoed relentlessly in his mind, threatening to tear apart his sanity once more."Retribution..." He murmured softly, a suffocating feeling gripping his heart.Retribution? Was it not enough retribution after they had lost their lives? Why wasn’t that enough?!Cedric felt a stifling ache in his chest.-Meanwhile, having retreated inside, Natalie found it hard to regain her composure. She once never believed in such things, yet here she was. And then there was Cedric. Would there be more?She never imagined that such bizarre things would happen in this world.The history between Cedric and her seemed fated
In the end, it took Cedric a considerable effort to persuade Kayla to attend school. Afterward, he headed straight for the kindergarten.At that moment, Natalie was in a classroom playing games with Luna. She was holding Luna in her arms alongside other mothers. Cedric could see that maternal gentleness about her from behind and through the glass window. No matter how she had changed, her patience with children remained undiminished.His fists clenched tightly.Thirty minutes later, Caleb received a call from Cedric, who informed him about the situation concerning Natalie and the child. After detailing everything, Cedric uttered, "I hope you can take the child away."Caleb stayed silent as he rubbed his forehead. Thankfully, Natalie had briefed him earlier. Otherwise, this call from Cedric would have been utterly bewildering. He lit a cigarette, took a couple of puffs, and then asked, "Do you genuinely love her?""Caleb!""So, you want me to take the child away so she'll
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