Natalie stepped forward.When Irwin caught sight of her fragile figure, his eyes dimmed momentarily. When she stopped by his side, he swiftly removed his trench coat and draped it over Natalie's head. Pulling her close to him, he whispered with a tone of reproach, "Did he let you out like this?!"His crisp breath lingered by Natalie's ear, and not far behind... she could feel a burning gaze fixated on her.Natalie took a deep breath and refused to look back. Faced with Irwin's tenderness, she calmly said, "Let's go."Irwin was silent.Meeting the piercing crimson eyes from a distance, Irwin's lips... curled into a bitter smile!Who had won in this scenario? Neither of them! Natalie seemed too composed, too cold—as if she had been stripped of all emotion.Irwin ushered Natalie into the car. This time, Cedric's men didn't intervene. Everything proceeded smoothly.Inside the car, Natalie gazed at the unfamiliar surroundings, her eyes still clouded with emptiness."Do you
There were times when Cedric had uttered these words to Natalie repeatedly.How was he back then, especially concerning Isabella's matter?He would repeatedly assert that she should pay the price for her actions. He arrogantly believed everything he saw and heard, trusting the rumors from outside. Yet, he never trusted her.No matter how many explanations she provided, all she received in return was his cold retort, "Natalie, this is the price you should pay." Indeed, those were the words she had heard most then."There's no 'should or shouldn't.' They merely chose to follow you," Natalie said as she sipped her milk.Her tone was layered with complex emotions.Upon hearing this, Irwin stiffened momentarily. Then, he glanced at Natalie and said in a gentle tone, "Alright. Let's not talk about this anymore.""...""Now that you're here in Wexford, what's your plan?" Irwin asked Natalie.Plan?When Irwin asked that question, the depth and sharpness in Natalie's eyes intensif
Natalie looked at Irwin with a smile on her face.While she smiled, the feeling she gave Irwin was both profound and dangerous!"What do you think I intend to do?"Irwin remained silent.Natalie sipped the glass of water before her. Without waiting for Irwin to respond, she stood up and said with a smile, "As your fiancee, I believe... I'm free to move around as always, right?""Of course.""You don't have to wait for me for lunch."Having said that, Natalie turned and walked away.Irwin watched her retreating figure.At that moment, his heart felt as if it was pounding rapidly.-Daphne was waiting for Natalie when she exited the manor. Clyde had assigned Daphne to Natalie, and she was waiting for her when Natalie exited the manor.After Natalie got into the car, Daphe handed her a bag. "This is what you asked for.""Okay, thank you."Natalie took it and opened the bag to find the current layout of Wexford, specifically around Irwin and Cedric.After going through the
"If they're investigating someone..." Cedric's voice trailed off, filled with hesitation.Someone?Who could it be?!At that moment, a distant look clouded Cedric's eyes. Certain long-buried memories seemed to resurface, causing a tightening sensation in his chest.-As soon as Natalie met with Clyde's people, news reached Irwin. Like Cedric, a chilling sensation washed over him, but he managed to suppress it before speaking. However, beneath his calm exterior, a chilling depth was evident when he said, "Keep an eye on Clyde's people.""Yes, sir." Dylan nodded in acknowledgment.Undoubtedly, Natalie's interaction with Clyde's associates wasn't as straightforward as it seemed, especially considering the complexities of her visit to Wexford. At first glance, she appeared as Irwin's fiancee, seemingly siding with him. Yet, both Irwin and those close to him knew that things weren't that simple. Even if Natalie wasn't vengeful by nature, could she really be unaffected by the
"As for you, you were by her side, time and again, especially when she was most vulnerable. Regardless of how she feels about you now..." Dylan continued gravely."...""You were once her anchor!" Dylan emphasized in a heavy tone.Irwin furrowed his brows, contemplating the weight of Dylan's words. Indeed, he had a point. Given the dynamics between him and Natalie, was he any less deserving of condemnation than Cedric?"Keep an eye on Clyde's people," Irwin repeated, his voice turning even colder as he contemplated the past. Whatever happened, Natalie must not discover the truth about their history.However, Dylan appeared even more serious as he said, "Sir, you know how Mr. Yarbrough's people are. If we intervene behind the scenes, I'm afraid it would be...!"It didn't take a genius to figure out the implications of Dylan's words.Clyde's people were in Wexford all year round and had an extensive network. If Natalie instructed them to find something, any information she s
Dylan fell silent for a moment upon hearing those words.Then, he looked at Irwin anxiously and said, "The moment she arrived in Wexford, it was destined that the history between you and that man would be laid out before her, sooner or later."Indeed.Previously, Natalie had tried her best to distance herself from Cedric. Because of that, it seemed like nothing related to Wexford would ever come before Natalie.However, no one accounted for Kayla's illness.Even more unexpected was that in Cedric's heart, Kayla seemed to hold a place even more significant than his own daughter.And this illness undoubtedly caused a tremendous upheaval in the situation!-As Natalie exited a cafe on Glory Road, she spotted Cedric getting out of a Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse parked by the roadside.The vehicle's majestic black color and Cedric's dominant presence instantly caused Natalie's expression to turn cold.When Cedric reached her side, Natalie asked coldly, "Are you following me?""What did
What a pity! Cedric had never let her go, but now he expected her to stop?!It was too late! Bang!The moment the taxi door slammed shut, it felt as if that door had also struck Cedric's heart deeply.-Back at the manor, Natalie observed the tulips scattered throughout the place.Her mind was in a mess.Even though Natalie had told Irwin not to wait for her for lunch, the spread on the dining table was still catered to her tastes.It seemed as if Irwin knew she would return, so he had waited until one in the afternoon before eating with her."The flavor seems different from this morning," she remarked, though it still had the essence of Simeria.Natalie had a keen palate. She could instantly tell that the chef was different from the one who had prepared breakfast.The man across from her took a sip of his red wine. Then, he looked directly at Natalie and casually said, "If they can mistake even the taste of milk, there's no reason for them to stay."His words were nonch
Indeed, what to do now? That was the crucial question!Irwin said, "The Schneider family knows about Natalie's relationship with Cedric. They'll undoubtedly try to intensify their involvement with him. Keep a close eye on her during this time."Natalie could venture out alone today because Irwin knew Clyde's people had made arrangements for her from the moment she landed in Wexford.But circumstances had changed.This was Wexford...! It was a place more complex than Natalie might have thought. Hence, they needed to be cautious."Yes, sir." Dylan nodded, understanding Irwin's intentions.Since Irwin had decided to bring Natalie here, he wouldn't let her fall into harm's way.-Meanwhile, Natalie was on a call with Bianca upstairs.Bianca's voice dripped with concern for Natalie as she said, "I've heard everything from Lord Zane. Nat... why don't you come back?"What kind of place was Wexford? Natalie had finally learned today!When Stephen had visited before, she hadn't t
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