Rebecca took a deep breath and sighed. "Let her temporarily lend her eyes to Bella. Bella can't wait any longer!"Although Cedric had made a similar decision before, hearing these words from his own mother made him feel a tightness in his chest. The thought of Natalie's eyes being used for Isabella made him incredibly uneasy."I'll figure out another way," Cedric said without hesitation. He didn't consider this option further, even though he had thought this way before. But the vivid image of Natalie, unable to see anything, surrounded by darkness and helpless, suddenly flashed through his mind. The sound of her hands striking objects as she felt her way around, the frustration, the fear—it all felt so real, even though it hadn't happened.It sounded so familiar, yet it also made his heart tighten.It even caused an involuntary shiver down his spine.No!Despite all the anger and frustration he had felt towards Natalie recently, the mere thought of her being a helpless in
Natalie was surprised that such a significant event was something she only learned from her uncle. Even during all these years of marriage, Cedric had never mentioned this to her. She hadn't heard anything about it from anyone in the Johnson family either."This happened when he was ten years old, and he almost died," Stephen explained.Natalie's heart tightened as she heard this. No wonder Cedric had never told her about it. It wasn't a pleasant memory, and he probably wished he could forget it forever."At that time, Isabella's brother saved him. Cedric survived, but Ivan didn't," Stephen continued.Natalie was taken aback. Ivan had died?! Was that why…?"Nat, be careful with the Johnson family. Why don't you come back to Simeria?" According to his analysis, the Johnson family probably still didn't know about Isabella, except for Cedric. He likely had been too preoccupied with Natalie's constant arguments to find the right moment to inform the family.Ivan had been
"W-what's going on?" Christina nervously looked at Rebecca. A sense of danger was flashing in her mind!Why would Rebecca suddenly make such a request, asking Christina to treat Isabella better if nothing had happened? Christina had been living by Rebecca's side for many years, and she knew very well what kind of person her adoptive mother was.She was a proud and arrogant woman. If Isabella hadn't done anything to her, Rebecca wouldn't have changed her views so easily!Rebecca looked at Christina and took a deep breath. When she next spoke, her voice betrayed her unease. "She is your brother's benefactor and... our family's benefactor.""Benefactor!?" Christina was taken aback."Yes." Rebecca nodded.Rebecca began recounting the events of that incident, which had haunted her for many years. Even though it had happened many years ago, it still gave her nightmares from time to time. No matter how strong she appeared on the outside, she had her own vulnerabilities. And Ce
Natalie had answered without hesitation.In an instant, Cedric's eyes turned cold, and he smiled with a chilling demeanor. His features became sharp and frigid. Just as Cedric was about to say something, Natalie had already opened the CD on the computer. At the same moment, Cedric's phone rang.Faintly, the voice of an anxious nurse came from the other end, "Mr. Johnson, please come quickly! Ms. Morgan, s-she...""What happened to her?" Cedric yelled upon hearing it was Isabella.In a rush, he stood up, his height causing him to almost bump into Natalie's head. Being so tall was really a danger to everyone around him!Natalie looked up at the man in front of her.Natalie couldn't hear what else was said on the other end of the phone, but Cedric shouted, "I'm coming right now!"Finishing his call, he didn't wait for Natalie to react or even grab his coat. He just headed for the door.Natalie's breath caught. "Wait!""Go back for now. We'll talk about today's events later,
This matter was too sudden, and it shattered everything he had previously believed in a flash! In his mind, all he could see was Isabella's pitiful appearance, with the bandages over her eyes constantly reminding him of her blindness. It was Natalie's doing! She had cruelly bribed the kidnappers, causing Isabella to lose her eyesight and rendering her legs useless. She was crippled, blind! Natalie had ruined her life. But now, who could provide him with a reasonable explanation for the video? Isabella wasn't blind, and her legs weren't useless!"Very good...!" he uttered coldly.Just then, the phone rang. It was from the hospital again. He answered. "Hello.""Mr. Johnson, Ms. Morgan has been issued a critical condition notice. We need a family member's signature!"The voice on the other end grew increasingly fainter, clearly sensing the dangerous air emanating from Cedric even across the phone waves."Mr. Johnson, Ms. Morgan, she...""Tell her she's on her own!" C
Although she no longer had any ties to Verde City, she had lived there for many years. Suddenly being told to go abroad made her feel like a rootless wanderer.Stephen turned serious as the conversation continued, "I have something else important to entrust to you."Natalie instinctively asked, "What is it?"Stephen replied, "Winnie has been reluctant to return to Regal Horizons all this while, and I had a talk with her yesterday. Nat, you'll be taking over the group's management in the future. While I'm still capable of doing it for the next few years, I'll guide you."Manage Regal Horizons International!? Such a massive corporation...! Stephen had never mentioned it before, so Natalie had no idea. She tensed after hearing this news out of the blue.She instinctively said, "I can't do it!" Handing over such a large conglomerate to her was overwhelming to even think about. The complexities involved were too much for her to handle. Managing it well was beyond her capabili
Cedric's world was in complete disarray. Reflecting on this period, starting from the time Isabella was kidnapped... That was also the point at which his relationship with Natalie had completely broken down.It wasn't like Natalie hadn't caused trouble before. But it was only after Isabella's abduction that he had consistently protected Isabella and believed that Natalie was ruthless!But who could have anticipated...!Images of Isabella's transfer records to Dr. Walton and videos of her moving effortlessly in the hospital flashed through his mind. How could she...?!-When Natalie finished work in the evening, she walked towards the parking lot. There, she noticed a man leaning against her car, smoking. His handsome profile seemed melancholic, like a brooding prince. There were already several cigarette butts on the ground, indicating that he had been waiting there for some time.The sound of Natalie's high heels clicking against the ground echoed in the air as she appro
It really was over.Irwin placed his wine glass down and elegantly took a bite of a piece of beef. His demeanor was naturally refined, and his every gesture exuded elegance."Have you seen today's headlines?" Natalie asked.She immediately regretted asking the question. Irwin was such a busy man. How could he have time to read those things?But to her surprise, he nodded.Natalie inquired, "What do you think about it?""Did you do that?" Though he was asking a question, his tone was assertive.Natalie nodded."It seems like you really hate him, hmm?"He was referring to Cedric. If she didn't hate him, she wouldn't have taken such a significant matter to the public for judgment. Natalie was an intelligent woman. Before taking this action, she knew very well the impact it would have on Cedric. She also knew the repercussions it would have on the Johnson family. After all, there was more to the Johnson family than meets the eye!Natalie's lips curled into a smile. "The
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