Bianca had temporarily settled in with the Jarvis family. When Natalie received news of her friend's return, she immediately wanted to go see her.However, Clyde stopped his sister and went to see Natalie himself instead. When she saw her brother return alone, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment."Luna isn't in Weiss Town," Clyde revealed, glancing at his sister.Natalie's already strained expression worsened upon hearing that."Not in Weiss Town?" she questioned."Yeah," Clyde confirmed.Natalie's mind was racing.Luna not being in Weiss Town meant that she wasn't with Cedric. Then, where on Earth was she, and what was Cedric up to?At this moment, it was utterly meaningless to talk about how Cedric had no right to hate Natalie. Regardless of whether he deserved to or not, his actions clearly showed that he harbored resentment towards her.Natalie felt suffocated. She was desperate to dismantle Cedric's plans, but was completely powerless to do so."Earlier
Talking about going back to Simeria made the already solemn atmosphere grow even heavier."Just wait a little longer," said Malcolm, who seemed to be emanating an air of restlessness.He wanted to wait for Bianca? It seemed that having her around would make things more convincing.But Horatio had a different perspective."Your current fiancee is Ms. Holly, and..." he trailed off.Not mentioning that would've been better.As soon as Horatio brought up Seraphine, Malcolm exuded an even more terrifying aura.Initially, he had made the decision to be with Seraphine to provoke Bianca. But now, it seemed somewhat unjustifiable in certain respects.Especially after leaving everything behind to follow Bianca, the recent incidents involving Seraphine made everything seem... sinister. If Malcolm were to return with Seraphine now, it would only confirm suspicions."That damn woman!" Malcolm cursed.He felt frustrated every time Bianca's name came up. It clouded his judgment, leading to
Curtis' breath caught in his throat upon hearing that Bianca had fled."She’s gone?""Yes… Father, Bianca harbors resentment towards you and Mother. Let's give her some more time," said Seraphine in a resigned yet gentle tone, seeming like a devoted daughter.However, Curtis's brow furrowed in response. "Seraphine!""I'll find a way to convince Bianca once we locate her.""No need!" snapped the middle-aged man.Seraphine was stunned. She hadn't expected Curtis to be so direct, even a tad impolite."Father!" she cried out, sounding aggrieved."How did you end up engaged to Lord Malcolm?" Curtis asked sharply.Seraphine went pale.When Malcolm announced their engagement, Curtis had still been in the hospital. At that time, Seraphine had thought her father wouldn't make it, given how dire his condition had been.Yet, here he was, alive and back with the Holly family."And why is that?" Curtis' voice dripped with suspicion."It was Lord Malcolm's suggestion. He wanted to retur
Bianca wouldn't be busy with work for a while, at least not until Malcolm returned.Her phone rang with a call from Natalie."Malcolm's coming back," she said casually over the phone.Bianca raised an eyebrow at the news. "So, do you still think his return is purely for my sake? Or do you believe he genuinely sacrificed everything for me previously?"Natalie hesitated, her silence speaking volumes.Clearly, there was an answer forming in her mind. She knew Bianca was sharp in business matters, but hadn't anticipated her being so cutting in her insights. In just a moment, Bianca seemed to have seen through everything.Taking a deep breath, Natalie replied sincerely, "Bia, thank you."However, Bianca scoffed, "What do you think I've sacrificed for you?"Natalie’s solemn gratitude made it sound like she owed Bianca a great debt. In reality, though it was indeed a favor, it was not in the way Natalie perceived it.Before her friend could respond, Bianca continued, "Alright, let's
Seraphine exited the room, leaving Curtis and Malcolm alone.Setting down his tea cup, Curtis looked at Malcolm. "Lord Malcolm, why did you come here?""Obviously, I'm here to assist you," Malcolm replied."Assist?" Curtis chuckled, his laughter tinged with sarcasm.Malcolm's expression tightened, unsure how to proceed.At the other man’s silence, Curtis asked, "Are you here for Seraphine or Bia?"The different ways Curtis referred to the two women revealed his affection for Bianca and hinted at her unique place in his heart.The older man’s question left Malcolm at a loss.If he answered that he was here for Bianca, then why was he engaged to Seraphine? But if he chose Seraphine as his answer, then what did Bianca mean to him?"Unsure how to respond, Lord Malcolm?" Curtis's sharp gaze bore into Malcolm.There was no hint of hesitation in the older man's demeanor. Despite the Holly family's current situation, Curtis still exuded an aura of authority.Malcolm hadn't anticipat
Gazing at the kneeling Seraphine, Curtis harbored no shred of tenderness in his eyes. Instead, they grew sharper and colder with each passing moment.Previously, Seraphine had once knelt before his wife. Time and time again, she evoked sympathy by making herself seem like a pitiable figure bereft of support.But the Holly family had nurtured an arrogance in Seraphine that she shouldn't have possessed.Curtis shut his eyes. "I'll give you an hour to leave. If you're still here after an hour, then..."Then, what?Curtis didn't finish his sentence, but judging by his icy tone, it was clear he wouldn't allow Seraphine to remain part of the Holly family any longer.Her initial fervent pleas rendered futile, Seraphine fell silent.Who would have thought that this would be the outcome?Curtis was different from Eleanor. Though Eleanor could be sharp, she was also a woman with a soft heart.But Curtis… At this moment, he was the very embodiment of a saying: when a man becomes ruthless
There was still no word from Bianca. Both Malcolm and Seraphine were searching for her, but they couldn't find anything. Seraphine had been avoiding Curtis lately, afraid he might kick her out of the Holly family."Is there still no news?" Malcolm's voice over the phone sounded tense and threatening.How long had it been? Nearly a month! Yet, there was still no sign of Bianca."We've scoured every village nearby!" Horatio exclaimed.They had searched every possible place, but Bianca remained elusive. Before Malcolm could speak, Horatio continued, "Ms. Sanders is probably not in Weiss Town anymore."Malcolm tensed at the news. "That's impossible! She couldn't have left within an hour of departing Snow Peak. We had the town locked down tight by then.""But we've checked everywhere here," Horatio replied calmly, implying the obvious.If Bianca wasn't in Weiss Town, how did she leave? Malcolm's eyes flashed with icy determination."Horatio!""Yes?""Check the airport survei
Clearly, even now, mentioning Simeria still made her complexion change slightly.Simon noticed her expression."Lately, Malcolm Entes has been looking for you in Simeria. How did you manage to get on his bad side?" Simon's tone indicated Malcolm's notoriety. Also, Simon didn't know Bianca was in Simeria until recently. It was quite a surprise for him to find her there!He learned about it when he went on a business trip to Weiss Town.Bianca replied, "It's a long story. Anyway, I'll take your case."Simon was taken aback, evidently not expecting Bianca to agree so readily. He had thought it would take some convincing."Really?" He looked at Bianca.On her way here, Bianca had already reviewed the relevant materials of the lawsuit and understood how challenging it was. Yet, she agreed."Why? Don't you trust me?" she asked."No, I just want to tell you that this appeal is crucial for us," Simon replied.Indeed. They had already failed twice. If they couldn't win this time,
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