"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
There wasn't a trace of warmth in Bianca's gaze.And Yvette...! Before Zane got married, no matter how many years she spent with Alto, she had always waited. She believed that everything would end as she had hoped once everything settled down. So, she was willing to wait.But Bianca's presence, coupled with her sharp and candid words and gaze, filled Yvette with a deep sense of humiliation. Yvette was no longer the only one by Zane's side, a realization that pierced her heart deeply."Between you and him..."Yvette tried to speak but was abruptly interrupted by Bianca. "What's between him and me is irrelevant!" Yvette remained silent.Bianca emphasized, "I am his wife!"The word struck a nerve, leaving Yvette breathless and stunned as the two locked eyes—one sharp, the other cold and numb. After a long, silent moment, Yvette smiled bitterly. "Wife, huh..." She muttered.Hah... his wife!Suddenly, something flashed in her mind, and tears streamed down her face.Bian
Zane's frown deepened at Yvette's words.Looking at the pitiful figure before him, his heart sank further. Help him?Their relationship with the Entes family was delicate at the moment. By showing that she was close to Bianca, she was undoubtedly attempting to dispel rumors indirectly."Go back," Zane said.Those words were chillingly straightforward. Yvette stiffened instantly upon hearing them."Zane, you..." What did he mean? Why was he asking her to go back? Was it the implication she feared? Why did he seem so devoid of warmth?!A suffocating sensation gripped Yvette.Zane continued, "Don't come to Versant Villa again.""But you...""Intelligent people don't entertain or spread rumors," Zane cut her off with his icy tone before she could finish.In that moment, Yvette's heart wavered. A storm of hysteria now replaced the initial pain and grievance in her eyes. She smiled bitterly and said, "Intelligent people don't entertain or spread rumors, huh? Is it b
However, Bianca's capabilities seemed to exceed Zane's expectations."You're competent," he said as he pulled her into his arms.He planted a warm kiss on her forehead, sending a sensation through Bianca that seemed to breach her defenses. However, she remained rational.She was aware of what the intimacy between her and Zane meant."Is it almost over?" Bianca mumbled in Zane's arms, her voice somewhat subdued.They appeared perfectly harmonious to outsiders, but little did others know about the underlying complexities...!Zane replied, "Things aren't that simple. You'll have to endure a bit longer.""Okay."Not that simple? Indeed. During the family banquet, she had seen that everyone from the Entes family was far from straightforward. How could such matters be easily resolved?During lunch, the table was set with Zane's favorite dishes. Despite their transactional relationship, Bianca displayed a strong sense of professionalism. Through this unusual bond, she seeme
Sensed it?Sensed what...?!Though Yvette was reluctant to admit it, recalling Bianca's words at this moment made her realize that something had indeed changed."You..." Yvette attempted to speak, yet words failed her when she tried.Bianca looked at her with a smirk. "Could you let go of me now?"Observing Yvette's cold, pale face, Bianca didn't have the patience to prolong the confrontation.In Yvette's mind, a whirlwind of thoughts raged. Eventually, the grip around Bianca's wrist gradually loosened."I won't see you out," Bianca said coldly.Without another word, Bianca turned and left. Her departing figure radiated an aura of decisiveness. What was this feeling?It felt as if Bianca would never face any harm. Her unyielding departure made those who saw her want to keep her for themselves.Indeed! Yvette felt this way about Bianca now. If a woman felt this way, how much more so a man? What about Zane? As these thoughts swirled in Yvette's mind, she felt overwhel
Bianca's words struck a chord deep within Natalie, solidifying her wavering beliefs. Indeed, substitutes were real...! But how could this be happening to her? That was a riddle she couldn't solve in this lifetime."Nat..." Bianca glanced at her."Blair, huh..." Natalie sneered with a hint of sarcasm. After she mentioned Blair, she took another gulp of her wine.Bianca paused, looking puzzled. "Who's that?""The apple of Cedric and Irwin's eyes," Natalie responded, her voice dripping with irony.Bianca fell silent.What?!Natalie chuckled again."Stop drinking," Bianca said."It was all a sham, you know?" Natalie slurred, her voice drenched in intoxication."Nat," Bianca tried to reason.At that moment, Bianca grasped the gravity of Natalie's revelations about her visit to Wexford. She grabbed Natalie's wrist firmly, "Enough drinking, okay?""All of it was fake. Everything...!" Natalie reiterated.Though she had seemingly moved on and tried to be indifferent, lear
Natalie was intoxicated, and deeply at that.That night, Bianca didn't return to her own home. Instead, she stayed by Natalie's side all night as Natalie suffered from severe vomiting.Lydia and Xyla were frantic, especially considering Natalie's already delicate health."Ms. Sanders, please talk to Ms. Walker! Her body can't handle alcohol," Lydia expressed her concerns.Natalie's eyes were already bad, so what would happen if she continued drinking like this?!Bianca nodded in acknowledgment.After everything was settled and Lydia and Xyla had left, Bianca looked at the pale-faced Natalie lying in bed with a tightness in her chest."Liars, they're all liars!" In Natalie's world, wasn't the relationship between Cedric and Irwin nothing more than deceit?Their very existence hurt her! And they had been deceiving her for far too long!Over time, even if Natalie wanted to deny investing emotions into it, it was impossible because she had indeed put her heart into it. So, the
Everything was chaotic, and Natalie couldn't make sense of it.Everything she had once believed now seemed completely altered.It was a question she had never entertained nor considered, but now it was right before her.And Bianca... When she heard Natalie's question, a coldness flashed in her eyes."Don't you know?""What?""Up until now, you still don't know how to deal with Cedric and Irwin?"Natalie hesitated. "I...""Or is it that even now, you can't let go of him?" Bianca was referring to Cedric.To Bianca, Natalie was once an aloof child at school. Why had she changed so drastically over this matter?Clearly, it was because of Cedric. After Natalie had met Cedric, it was as if she had turned into a completely different person. The depth of that man's influence on her was evident.Natalie felt a tightness in her chest. She shook her head firmly. "That's not it!" Ultimately, they were talking about a decade's worth of emotions...!It wasn't the same as letting
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