The grip he held her in was overpowering.At this moment, Irwin distinctly felt the chilling coldness emanating from Natalie—so icy that it was bone-chilling. It wasn't just her temperature… even her aura felt distant.Despite being right before his eyes, in that fleeting instant, she seemed miles away. She felt farther than Irwin had ever felt before. She had distanced herself entirely.This sensation was unsettling for Irwin, and he despised feeling this way. This was precisely why he had never allowed Natalie to learn about Blair despite any animosity he shared with Cedric.A decade of vengeance...Somehow, that revenge had morphed over time. Blair was initially part of a plan—to strike Cedric when Natalie was at her most vulnerable, deeply in love. But an unexpected presence, Isabella, entered Cedric's life, causing a rift between them. Watching Natalie struggle with her emotions had shifted Irwin's original intentions.Inside Natalie, it felt as if a wild beast was t
When it came to Isabella's daughter and her own, he chose Isabella's without hesitation. No matter how many years had passed, she wasn't the one he truly chose. So when the moment of decision came, he easily leaned towards the other side.The strength of Irwin's embrace tightened once more."Nat, it's not what you think...""Are you speaking for yourself or for him? Your relationship truly is something else!" Natalie's biting words cut off Irwin's attempt to explain.He was speaking up for Cedric?!Indeed, in Natalie's eyes, wasn't everything Irwin was doing right now merely an attempt to justify Cedric's actions? The seemingly broken duo still, at crucial moments, seemed to think of each other!"Nat!""To go to such lengths for a woman, was it worth it?""You...""It was no wonder Blair was intolerable!" Natalie looked at Irwin with a chilling gaze.A shiver ran down Irwin's spine.With an even more menacing tone, Natalie continued, "She... deserved to die!""Natalie!"
Irwin's head was throbbing intensely now.This was why Natalie could never find out! Once she did, many things would spiral out of control. And that was precisely where they were now: a state of complete chaos!Natalie's entire body trembled. The ten years of their relationship had already been completely overturned in her heart. Now, knowing that Cedric's people were planning to take Luna too, it was as if the wild beasts deep within her had finally been unleashed. She had suppressed these feelings for so many years. She wasn't a saint! How could she keep suppressing everything after all that had happened?!Smack!"..."The crisp sound of a slap echoed as Natalie used all her strength to slap him across the face. Her sharp nails left bloody marks on his skin.The air stood still.For a long while, Irwin stood motionless, unable to respond. By the time he came to his senses, Natalie had already left.-Upon hearing that Natalie had returned, Cedric looked at Kayla. T
Cedric stared at Natalie.There was something shattered deep within his eyes! His heart was in turmoil, as if a storm had erupted inside!She knew… she knew all of it! When Casey went to Terra Manor, Irwin had already taken her away.In fact, Cedric knew back then...! He knew she would find out eventually. Being around Irwin, nothing was certain. And in Wexford, she... would come to know about that matter!It all circled back to the fact that she got entangled in the affairs of Wexford.After what felt like an eternity, Cedric managed to gather his thoughts and looked at Natalie, murmuring, "Nat...!""The resemblance is uncanny, isn't it?" Natalie said, observing the pale-faced man across from her, with a storm raging in her mind.Ten years!A decade of feelings...! Who could have imagined that the one who once held her dear was merely in love with the idea of her, a mere shadow?Because of their uncanny resemblance, he could still hold her close, even if she was just
Irwin could feel a familiar aura, but it held none of the former hysteria that usually accompanied it. Cedric seemed to deflate at that moment. There was only a mournful undertone in his words.Irwin remained silent, his heart sinking noticeably at Cedric's words. A myriad of complex emotions flickered in his eyes. Yet, amid this complexity, there existed a peace between them that had been absent for many years."She's gone?" Irwin finally broke the silence, his voice carrying a weighty tone.As the words left Irwin's lips, Cedric's gaze sharpened, filled with an icy coldness. "Irwin, she's not Blair!" For the first time in many years, Cedric uttered the name directly to Irwin.Throughout the years, nobody dared mention Blair's name in front of Cedric and Irwin. Even between them, the weight of that name was palpable. Because that person...No matter how deep their hatred for each other was, they had never confronted this matter head-on.Blair...!It was a name associa
Was she heartless? Ruthless? Compared to what Cedric once did to Natalie, these labels seemed trivial.Suddenly, someone snatched her phone from her hand. Turning instinctively, Natalie met Irwin's intense gaze.Natalie was silent.When she looked at Irwin, the warmth that had long vanished from her eyes seemed even colder now.Clearly, she hadn't expected Irwin to catch up with her.Before she could utter a word, she felt a grip on her wrist. Irwin held her gently yet firmly. "You..." Natalie felt stifled looking at this version of Irwin.Irwin said, "I never intended for you to get involved with the situation in Wexford. But now that you're here, stay by my side."His words carried weight and depth. Anyone unfamiliar with the situation would've assumed they held immense importance in Irwin's heart. But Natalie's eyes were filled with icy disdain."Stay here?""Yes, stay here by my side," Irwin declared, his eyes reflecting an unprecedented determination.In the next
Meanwhile, the Entes family was now at a critical juncture. It was rumored that after the family banquet one evening, the patriarch of the Entes family had collapsed. Currently, many were gathered around the elderly Entes patriarch. Although Robert showed no immediate response toward Zane, it was obvious that Zane and Yvette's relationship undeniably affected him to a certain extent!In these final days of Robert's life, his thoughts seemed to be shifting constantly.-Inside a studio, Bianca sat on a low table, holding a cup of coffee. Sitting across from her was Yvette, the Entes family's fourth daughter-in-law, who was married to Alto.Upon entering, Yvette had a gentle smile, leading everyone to believe that her relationship with Bianca had strengthened after the family banquet. However, the moment the door to the studio closed behind them, an icy chill permeated the room."You know everything, don't you?" Yvette elegantly sipped her coffee, every movement exuding grac
"Do you really have that kind of relationship with Lord Malcolm?" Yvette took a deep breath and sipped her coffee. When she spoke again, her tone had calmed down as if Bianca's words were merely a reminder to her.Bianca glanced sideways, and the pressure around her seemed to lessen a bit at this moment. Then, her tone turned colder. "What do you intend to imply by this, my dear sister-in-law?"Bianca heavily emphasized the term "sister-in-law" when she spoke.Her gaze was piercingly sharp, making one feel a chill just by meeting her eyes.Before Yvette could respond, Bianca continued, "Regardless of the relationship between Lord Malcolm and me, you need to be wary of something..."Bianca trailed off and paused for a moment. When she looked back at Yvette, the sharpness in her eyes was like a sharpened blade.Yvette felt her heart painfully clenched as she met Bianca's eyes."What is it?" Yvette's mind started to go blank as Bianca stopped speaking and stared at her with c
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