Bianca stiffened. She chuckled, and that light laughter transmitted through the phone to Natalie's ears, carrying with it emotions too complicated for Natalie to grasp.Natalie asked, "Are you still at his manor?"Obviously, Natalie now wished Bianca would stop meddling in John's affairs and quickly leave that troublesome place.That was right!Wherever Malcolm was involved became a troublesome place. As for John's matter, even though Malcolm had intervened now, Natalie would inevitably deal with it sooner or later."You should leave. I'll handle this!" Although the current situation was tricky, everything would work out in the end.Listening to Natalie's worried tone over the phone, Bianca put down the fork in her hand. She only said, "It's too late."As the words fell, Bianca could sense the slight stiffness in Natalie's breath on the other end of the line."What's wrong?""He's got me cornered at Snow Peak."The already tense atmosphere on the phone became even heavier a
Natalie's blood boiled."Bring Luna back to me!" Natalie hissed through gritted teeth.Why?Why did this man have to linger in her world like a haunting ghost?"Nat, I just need a week!" he pleaded.A week?She didn't even want to give him a day or even an hour.If there was any other way, Cedric wouldn't resort to this. But now, he felt cornered.Natalie felt suffocated in her chest. Upon hearing Cedric's words, her vision began to blur."Don't even think about it!" she practically roared.Give it up.Why hadn't he given up by now? Why did he have to keep haunting her like this?!But all she heard from the man on the other end of the phone was, "You better prepare yourself for the custody battle over Luna!"Before Natalie could respond, Cedric hung up.And Natalie's vision spun!What did he mean by that? Was he going to take Luna forcefully?!Natalie was speechless, and her world collapsed in an instant!In that moment, hatred filled her.If Cedric were right in fron
Upon receiving news of Luna's abduction, Austin immediately returned to Natalie's side. At that moment, Natalie was already at the airport, apparently heading to Weiss Town. When she saw Austin, tears welled up in her eyes instantly. Clyde was also with Austin.Austin approached her and held her in his arms, whispering softly, "It's okay. Everything will be fine." Despite his soothing words, Natalie couldn't help but tremble. "He has Luna!" she exclaimed.Though Cedric was Luna's father, Natalie couldn't trust him any more than a stranger. The thought of what he had done to Luna made Natalie unable to bear the idea of Luna being with him for even a moment. She felt almost crazed, desperate to bring Luna back."I'll go with you," Austin said, embracing her.When did it start?No matter what difficulties Natalie faced, this man would always be by her side, even in her toughest times!Her voice choked with emotion. "No!"Austin couldn't spare time away from Simeria. While s
Cedric had hung up the phone.And Natalie was silent. She was currently held tightly in Austin's embrace, trembling all over, her mind filled with Cedric's last words."What right does he have to take Luna?" What right did he really have?Undoubtedly, Natalie understood.When Isabella died, Cedric blamed her for being cruel! And now, with Isabella's daughter gone, he was placing all the blame on her again."Austin..." Natalie's heart clenched!Would Luna come back?Natalie thought of Cedric's hatred towards her on the phone. Yes, even though that man had no right to hate her... he did it anyway.Regardless of whether he had the right... he took everything from her.Natalie didn't know how she got back to the castle, but Austin arranged it, and Clyde was by her side."Don't worry, we'll get Luna back soon." Clyde hadn't said a word all the way back from the airport.Now, finally, he spoke.He originally intended to comfort Natalie. But looking at her state now and especi
On Bianca's side, she couldn't go out now. She wanted to talk to Cedric, but Malcolm stubbornly kept her trapped in Snow Peak. These days, he and Seraphine were in and out. It created an image that Malcolm was connected to the Holly family, which meant certain activities involving the Holly family had to stop. The original investigations had, therefore, been suspended!Today, Horatio didn't go out with Malcolm. Bianca looked at Horatio. "I need to go out for a while.""I'm sorry," Horatio responded to Bianca, and those were the only words he could offer.Bianca felt a heavy pressure all over her."What if I break out?" She said it aloud, but she was already thinking about it.Horatio frowned, looking at Bianca.Bianca turned and went straight to the kitchen. When she came out again, everyone was shocked to see that she was holding a kitchen knife! "Ms. Sanders, please put the knife down," Percival said, his heart in his throat when he saw Bianca with the knife. He had h
Meanwhile, Cedric sat on the sofa, exuding an aura of hostility. His stubble gave him a weathered look, adding a hint of danger.Bianca took a deep breath and asked, "Where's Luna?"Since her arrival, she felt that Cedric's presence had been unstable, obviously because Kayla was gone. It was at this moment that Bianca realized how serious Kayla's death was for him and Natalie.Cedric had always wanted to save Kayla. His obsession had almost reached a pathological level, and no one around him could understand it. But Cedric was like that, not only towards Kayla but also towards Natalie.With a harsh draw on his cigar, Cedric's face grew colder. "She sent you, didn't she?"Bianca fell silent.Of course, he was referring to Natalie.Before Bianca could speak, Cedric sneered, "Hmph, she's become so heartless!"Kayla was one thing, but now it was her daughter who was missing. How could Natalie remain so composed and fearless?Bianca sensed how strange Cedric was being. She had
On the other end of the phone, Natalie's breath caught. "You can go out now?" Earlier, when Bianca said she would meet Cedric, she also said Malcolm was keeping her in Snow Peak Manor. So Natalie was still under the impression that Bianca couldn't leave."If I want to leave, who can stop me?""Bia.""Nat, remember, those who are affectionate and righteous will always be the ones that can be trapped." Emotions were like a double-edged sword. While one possessed them, they could also become a weapon in someone else's hands. Bianca's words were filled with cold arrogance.At that moment, Natalie also understood Bianca's meaning. But then, with a touch of helplessness, she said, "I'm not like you."Those words were choked with emotion.True, she and Bianca were different."Yes, you care about your family and about Luna. It's different for you!" Bianca was helpless in this situation. There was nothing she could do for Natalie. To Natalie, her family was the most important p
In Bianca's world, who else but Malcolm was this capable, even able to restrict her freedom? If she thought that leaving Simeria meant that everything was over, she was completely wrong!From behind her came the sound of a man's cold and dangerous voice, "So, you really want to run!"Turning around, she saw a dangerous-looking man dressed in a black trench coat standing not too far away. He was staring at her like a beast eyeing its prey. Bianca, who practically didn’t care about anything anymore, had let go of everything just to get away from this man.And yet…Thinking about what the staff had just told her, Bianca was still furious. So now, she looked at Malcolm with anger-filled eyes."What do you want!?" she snapped.Malcolm strode forward speedily, making Bianca instinctively step back from the approaching danger. Even a few passersby were looking over at them, but with one glare from Malcolm, they quickly avoided him as if the man was the devil.Just as Bianca tried to ev
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