The woman was strikingly beautiful, and her voice was soft and gentle. A glint of concern in her dazzling eyes stirred a protective instinct in anyone who looked her way. Sage flashed her a reassuring smile. "No worries." "What's going on?" Shane ended his call and approached the ladies.Observing the woman's concern for the kitten, Sage chose to keep the minor incident to herself. "It's nothing. Let's go." With a nonchalant shrug, Shane followed her into the teahouse. The teahouse exuded an ageless charm and radiated an air of grace and antiquity. On the ground floor, a harpist played amidst soft fountains and a delicate mist, lending an almost otherworldly atmosphere to the main hall. A waiter led them upstairs to a private room. The second floor was a sanctuary, with antique furnishings and the comforting aroma of tea, which provided an immediate calmness to the soul. Perhaps it was an illusion, but Sage detected another faint fragrance—a subtle, sweet scent. It was per
Marcus remained composed as he spoke. He revealed that Robin had cared deeply for Giselle. She treated Giselle like her own daughter for years. Witnessing Giselle's anguish over her child drove Robin to act rashly. As for the photo of Giselle meeting the nurse, Giselle had accidentally stumbled upon the scene and she was unaware of its context. "Giselle was completely unaware of the whole situation," Marcus explained. "She may be indulgent, but she would never resort to such reckless behavior." Listening intently, Sage's brows knitted together in mild skepticism. Ivy was straightforward. She admitted to causing the miscarriage herself. If Robin hadn't been bribed, Sage wondered, how could she have possibly collaborated with Ivy? "But this is based solely on Robin's account," Marcus pointed out. Sensing Sage's doubts, Marcus continued, "Given the rumors online about your alleged involvement in Ms. Shekdotter's accident, I had Robin's background thoroughly checked. I found
Marcus seemed remarkably well-informed if he was aware of Sage's recent divorce from Ian within just a few days. Sage responded with candor. "I haven't given it much thought. I've just ended a marriage and have no plans to dive into another relationship." "That's okay. I'll wait for you," Shane promptly declared, punctuating his words with a flamboyant romantic gesture. Sage shot him a wry glance before turning to Marcus. "Mr. Rosethorn, it's getting late. We should head back.""Marcus, let's catch up when you're free," Shane added. Marcus offered them a warm smile. "Sure." After bidding Marcus farewell, Sage and Shane made their way to the car. As they exited the parking lot, Sage glanced into the rearview mirror. A subtle change in Marcus's expression caught her eye. It was a hint of detachment she hadn't noticed before. Turning back to Marcus, he appeared as composed as ever. "Why are you staring at him?" Shane asked. "Marcus isn't guided by emotions. He's a typic
Sage showed Shane the message Ian had sent her without hesitation. "Why would Ian bring this up? Does he know Marcus as well?" Shane replied slightly dismissively, "Isn't it normal for two influential business figures to know each other?" "Don't worry," Sage reassured him. "You'll be just as influential someday." "Who cares?" Shane scoffed. "The nurse who drugged you was introduced by Ian. You meeting her today and Ian learning about your meeting with Marcus isn't that surprising. "Earlier today, Ian seemed quite upset. He didn't even get out of the car to confront anyone. Could he be adopting a more restrained approach?" Rolling her eyes, Sage pocketed her phone. She didn't want to get further entangled with Ian, regardless of his motives. Later that evening, after dinner with Shane, Sage returned to her hotel. As she prepared to exit the car, Shane handed her a set of keys. "It's a place in Sandar Garden. Everything's ready inside. Feel free to move in over the next f
Soon, Ian approached the elevator with his effortless stride, his long legs carrying him swiftly. When his eyes met Sage's, his expression was inscrutable. "Tiana, I'm in the elevator now. The signal's quite weak. I'll catch up with you later," Sage said, ending her call. After pocketing her phone, she turned to the woman by the elevator. "Excuse me, I'm headed out." Though the woman seemed puzzled, she obligingly stepped back into the elevator to make way for Sage. But just as Sage was about to leave, Ian blocked the doorway, halting her exit. "Could you move, please?" Sage frowned, slightly irritated. Ian's tone was cool and detached. "I'm not stopping you. Go ahead." Despite his words, his imposing stature and stance effectively blocked her from leaving. With a steely gaze, Sage shot back, "How do you expect me to go when you're blocking the way?"Ian's expression remained impassive. "You do you, and I'll do me. Whether you can leave isn't my concern." Growing frustra
With a soft clatter, Sage's bag tumbled to the ground, scattering its contents. "I'm so sorry!" the person exclaimed, quickly assisting her in gathering her belongings. Startled, Sage stepped back, finding herself enveloped in a broad embrace. The subtle scent of cedar filled her nostrils, accompanied by the comforting warmth of the embrace. "Are you okay?" Ian's voice rang out from above. Even with a flirtatious companion by his side, Ian feigned concern. Sage found his act distasteful. Pushing away from Ian as if she were being repelled, Sage brushed off her arms and bent to retrieve her belongings. "I'm fine, thank you." "Sandar Garden," Ian remarked abruptly, picking up a set of keys. His demeanor cooled as he questioned, "Is this Shane's place?" Unaware that Shane lived in Sandar Garden, Sage saw no need to explain. "That's not your concern." Swiftly reclaiming the keys, Sage exited the elevator without a backward glance.Watching her retreating form, Ian's gaze darke
"Sage, I know I might seem foolish, but who among us is truly flawless? Wilson might not be as attentive as I'd hoped, but that's simply his nature. Apart from work, he's rather indifferent to everything else," Tiana explained. Sage questioned, "Do you truly believe Lana has no feelings for Wilson?" Pausing to collect her thoughts, Tiana replied, "It takes two to foster a connection. Wilson has assured me that his relationship with Lana is in the past and is hardly worth mentioning. He has never lied to me, and I trust him." A memory flashed in Sage's mind. "Tiana, you're not pregnant, are you?" Recalling her previous life, Sage remembered this was the time Tiana had discovered her pregnancy. That discovery led her to resign and set off a cascade of events. While Wilson hadn't betrayed Tiana with Lana, his vague demeanor, along with Lana's and Wendy's meddling, had deeply hurt Tiana. "Why are you asking all of a sudden?" Tiana looked puzzled."Just answer me, are you preg
"Both Shane and Ian have warned me about Marcus. I think I can't let my guard down around him just yet," Sage confided. Tiana agreed with Sage. "Given your involvement with the Shekdotter family's business, are you considering a confrontation with Ivy?" "With all she owes me? Of course. I'm planning to settle the score," Sage declared with determination.Tiana's concern was palpable. "Ivy is cunning and ruthless. You need to be extra cautious around her." "Don't worry, I will," Sage reassured her. As their conversation continued and they dove deeper into the Shekdotter family's intricacies, Sage heard the doorbell ring. "I'll talk to you soon. I think room service is here with my fruit," she remarked. "Alright," Tiana responded. Hanging up, Sage padded barefoot to the door and opened it, expecting to find a waiter. Instead, she was met with Ian's striking figure. He had discarded his coat, revealing a meticulously tailored white shirt that highlighted his trim waist. T
Ian said calmly, "I just got back from a business trip and came by to check on Sage."Giselle didn't ask more questions. She explained to Sage, "I just saw Selena over there. I went to her and clarified that this was my idea. Selena said it was okay."Seeing Selena's calm and relaxed demeanor, Sage didn't have the energy to pretend to be friendly with her.She said to Giselle, "I'm going back to the ward," and then headed to the elevator.Ian was at her heels. "Sage, if you're too tired, just lean on me."Sage stayed silent and didn't respond to Ian, just staring blankly at the numbers on the elevator panel.In the hospital room, Tiana had been waiting for Sage for a while.Seeing Ian, Tiana was equally surprised and asked, "What are you doing at the hospital? Weren't you on a business trip away from town?"Ian succinctly said, "I came back once the task was done."Tiana looked at Sage. "How did it go?"Sage nodded numbly. "Pretty good."Tiana could tell from Sage's expressi
Sage paused slightly in her steps and turned to look at Shane. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she asked, "Is there anything else?"Shane felt an indescribable discomfort as he watched Sage's unsteady appearance.But he didn't know why he had to call out to Sage, especially since he didn't remember anything about her."Since you say we are good friends, and I got hurt because of you, why can't you visit me more often?" Shane questioned, finding a reason.“Sorry, she won't be available.”As soon as Shane finished speaking, the door to the hospital room was suddenly pushed open.Sage turned her head and saw Ian's tall, upright figure.He was wearing a custom-tailored black suit, looking like he had rushed over from somewhere, carrying an air of exhaustion.Ian had been on a business trip for the past two days. Why did he suddenly show up now?Sage glanced toward the doorway but didn't see any signs of Giselle.Sage had a faint guess about who was behind this. She gave a self-d
Shane's thought process was quite logical.Sage calmly replied, "You were worried that she was only momentarily taking a step back, so you couldn't fully trust her and wanted to observe for a while."Shane also mentioned that when Sage came to the hospital room two days ago, the way she spoke to him was very familiar. It wasn't like how typical business partners would interact.Sage admitted that they were not just business partners but had become good friends through their interactions."But I wouldn't take a good friend to my mother's grave," Shane suddenly said.Sage was taken aback upon hearing this. Had Giselle told Shane about this, too?Seeing Shane looking at her, Sage calmed herself. "You were deceiving Giselle."It's not just this, but also some of our daily interactions. You embellished the details and even went out of your way to act nice to me in front of her."Shane indeed did that before. Sage wasn't at all diffident to talk about it.Shane could see it, too. "S
Taking a deep breath, Sage knocked on the hospital room door.Giselle walked over, glanced down the hallway, and asked with a puzzled expression, "What took you so long? Where did you go?"Sage forced a smile. "There were a lot of people waiting for the elevator."Giselle saw how broken and fragile Sage looked. Thinking she was worried about meeting Shane alone, she couldn't help but gently pat her on the shoulder."It's okay. Take your time talking with Shane. If Selena returns, I'll tell her that everything was my idea."Sage didn't have the energy to explain further to Giselle. She simply said thank you and then walked into the hospital room.Shane sat upright at the head of his bed, dressed in a hospital gown, with bandages still on his head.His handsome face looked a bit thinner than before. Under the hospital room's lighting, he had the delicate appearance of a frail young nobleman.Shane was also quietly observing Sage as she walked over.She had a slender and delicate
Selena nodded. "It's understandable, Ms. Joyner. However, before you go to see Shane, could you take a moment to hear me out?"Sage was aware that Selena had been deliberately waiting for her.Sage sent a message to Giselle saying she would be a few minutes late, and then followed Selena to the stairwell beyond the emergency exit.The stairwell was brightly lit, with gleaming floors and an overall quietness that inexplicably added a sense of oppression.Sage asked, "Ms. Morrison, what do you want to talk to me about?"As soon as she finished speaking, Selena suddenly knelt down in front of her."Ms. Morrison, what are you doing?"Sage hurriedly went to help Selena, but the injuries on her back hadn’t fully healed yet. The movement caused her wounds to hurt, and she winced in pain, furrowing her brow."Ms. Joyner, please don't help me up. Let me finish speaking."Selena's face showed determination, and her almond-shaped eyes, similar to Shane's, had a hint of tears."I know Sh
Since Giselle already knew, Sage didn't deny it. She asked directly, "So what do you think? Are you planning to go abroad with Shane?""Do you even need to ask? Of course I'm not going!"Giselle was somewhat annoyed. "Nothing's going on between Shane and me! Why would they suddenly want me to go abroad with him?""But your brother thinks this is a good opportunity for Shane to develop feelings for you," Tiana said.Sage also shared Marcus' analysis with Giselle. "Your brother hopes that you and Shane will end up together in the end. If you still have some feelings for Shane, this could be a good opportunity.""I couldn't care less about such an opportunity!" Giselle said. "No matter how much I liked Shane, that's all in the past now."I'm not a martyr. I would never degrade myself just to win a man's affection. Besides, even if I gave him everything, what I might get in return could be resentment, not love.""Giselle, you are truly wise and perceptive!" Tiana couldn't help but s
"However, Elle has become more thoughtful and no longer acts willfully now. I believe that Shane will change his opinion of her."With them spending so much time together, there's a high chance that Shane will develop feelings for Elle."Sage fell silent. People were naturally fragile when they were alone and were easily moved by the care and warmth shown by others, especially considering they would be in a foreign country.Therefore, it seemed highly likely that what Marcus mentioned could happen."Even though my parents agreed to dissolve Elle's engagement, they are quite satisfied with Shane. They watched Shane grow up and know him well."If our two families could be united through marriage, it would be a joyous occasion for everyone."Ms. Joyner, I know that Shane likes you, but he has currently forgotten you. You also understand that it is very difficult for the two of you to be together."Even if Elle didn't accompany him for the treatment abroad, Mr. Morrison Senior would
Marcus put down the gift he was holding and said tactfully, "I've heard about your situation from Elle. I just visited Shane, and I thought I'd drop by to see you as well."Sage thanked Marcus and invited him to sit down. Then, unable to hold back, Sage asked, "How is Shane doing? Is he okay?"Because Shane didn't remember her, and the Morrison family wouldn't allow her to visit, Sage hadn't been able to see Shane in person for the past couple of days.Marcus said, "He's doing okay, more or less. He has multiple injuries, and his hand and leg are not very functional. On top of that, he frequently gets headaches, and his mood is quite unstable.""He probably remembered you, right?" Sage asked intentionally.She could definitely guess that Shane remembered Marcus. However, she wanted to know if Shane still harbored the same hostility toward Marcus.Instead of asking directly because it didn't seem appropriate, she decided to ask a different question instead.Marcus knew what Sage
George acknowledged her with a slight nod, while Simon asked bluntly, "What are you here for?""I heard Shane has woken up and came to check on him," Sage said honestly.Simon's tone was stern as he said, "Ms. Joyner, you should be aware of the current situation with Shane.""We won't hold what happened between you and Shane against you anymore, but we hope you'll stop bothering him in the future and completely cut ties with him."Before Sage could speak, Giselle's voice rang out. "Mr. George, Simon!"Seeing Giselle, Simon's attitude softened a bit.George also had a kind smile on his face. "Have you come to see Shane, Elle?"You see, even though Shane has forgotten so many things, he remembers everything about you very clearly. That shows he still cares about you," joked George.Giselle glanced at Sage and replied with a hint of playfulness, "Mr. George, you really shouldn't joke with me like this."Shane hasn't completely lost his memory, so it's perfectly normal for him to