Standing against the backlight, Darren resembled an elegant aristocrat yet carried the pride of a god with a touch of arrogance.Hannah gazed at him. A subtle smile graced her lips. "Mr. Winchester, you know I can't ride, right?"Hannah was limited by her upbringing in the slums, which shaped her perspective. Even after marrying Nigel in her previous life, she strived to become a refined lady, dedicating herself to Nigel's family.Every skill she acquired had a purpose, with most of her time devoted to proving herself. Horseback riding was an expensive pastime for nobles with no practical advantages for her and was never on her radar.Darren's eyes held a trace of warmth. "It's fine if you can't ride. You usually know your way around everything in this world. I'll be here to protect you and ensure you stay safe. Do you trust me?"Of course, she did. Without hesitation, Hannah placed her hand in his. With his guidance, she mounted the horse.Seated on the horse, a particular e
Hannah held a huge bouquet of roses, arranging the carefully chosen gifts into the prepared bag.The rose petals glowed with a passionate warmth, adorned delicately with morning dew.Her eyes held a hint of redness, and a surge of emotions washed over her, rendering her momentarily speechless.In this moment, the painful memories of her childhood seemed to find solace along this journey.Once impoverished and burdened with terrible memories, it felt as if these gifts and roses had become part of her journey, brimming with love.Just then, the 18th instructor approached, not alone but with two others.Seeing them, Hannah's nose tingled, and tears nearly welled up."Hannah, no tears allowed! On this day, you've gotta sport that happy grin!" Still getting the hang of horseback riding, Taylor beamed with a wide smile, waving her gift."Take it easy, Taylor." With a touch of concern in her eyes, Avery held the reins for her, keeping a watchful eye.Up ahead, Flynn rode beside t
"Good. If you ever betray Hannah, I'll take her away, far away, where you'll never find her." Flynn observed Darren intensely with his sharp eyes."You won't get that chance." Darren's gaze suddenly sharpened, his dark eyes filled with possessive dominance as he stared coldly at Flynn.The mere thought of this possibility ignited a thick sense of murderous intent within him.In this world, no one could separate him from Hannah.Under his cold gaze, Flynn's face paled slightly, yet he showed no sign of yielding. He steadfastly displayed his sincerity.The eyes of the two men met briefly. Then, each averted their gaze under the concerned looks of Taylor and Avery.Flynn then pulled on the reins as if they had reached an unspoken agreement. The white horse beneath him gradually slowed, falling behind the horses that Taylor and Avery rode.The crisp sound of hooves echoed loudly.Riding spiritedly on horseback, the siblings from the Winchester family approached briskly.Anth
"No way!" The other siblings shouted at Kaden.Darren didn't need to speak as everyone glared at Kaden."Stop dreaming! It should be me filling Hannah's display cabinet!" Naomi retorted with her hands on her hips. "Are you lost in your daydreams? You have no achievements to boast about. Don't forget, Hannah's display cabinet is now filled with items thanks to my little tank!" Andrew scoffed as he mocked.Upon his return, he resolved to complete his tasks, striving to earn medals and other accolades as soon as possible. They were all to be presented to Hannah, filling the display cabinet with his belongings!As the siblings quarreled, Anthony watched the scene. A glint of intrigue was in his eyes.Didn't the captain ask him to participate in some competition before coming back?He was set to win a gold medal upon his return. How could he let his younger siblings steal the spotlight?As the siblings bickered, Hannah smiled. While holding the roses, she opened a new gift.Seve
"It was ruled as a suicide." Riley's expression was grim."During the night, taking advantage of the inattentiveness of the prison guards, he used the sharpened end of a toothbrush and stabbed it into his throat, ending his own life.""So, he's dead?" Hannah pondered as she furrowed her brow."How is that possible? Even if he admitted to being guilty, it's just a few years in prison. Why would he choose to end his own life?"Although they had only met briefly, Hannah had a rough understanding of the man.He was a laborer in construction, somewhat opportunistic and driven by profit.Rumor had it he got entangled in gambling debts, suffered countless beatings, and brought misery to his wife, children, and mother.He lived in a damp basement, barely scraping by.This man was selfish and self-centered. Such individuals would usually fear death. How could he contemplate suicide?"Even I find it suspicious. We investigated but found nothing unusual," Riley said, adjusting his glasse
Having been trapped by recordings twice, Misty had truly learned her lesson. Even when discussing matters privately with Jessica, she refused to leave any trace."Suicide? Seriously?" Jessica burst into laughter, her voice oozing sarcasm."We're not exactly saints. Don't we all understand people like him? People like him are greedy, addicted to gambling, selfish, and have no moral boundaries!"You, me, and him are all the same! None of us would ever think of death when we can live—not to mention stabbing ourselves with a sharpened toothbrush!"How painful could that be?Just the thought of it sent shivers down her spine and raised goosebumps on her skin."Does he even deserve to be lumped together with me?" Misty expressed disdain, a hint of disgust in her eyes. In truth, deep down, Jessica wasn't very different.Jessica scoffed. "Sure! Go ahead and be as arrogant as you like! Since you're keeping your guard up and won't share any details, don't blame me for stepping back."
Who would casually kill someone and then send her such chilling messages as if nothing happened? Even with the revelation of the real culprit, Misty didn't feel relief. Instead, an icy shiver ran through her, sending goosebumps across her skin.It was nothing short of terrifying.Unfortunately, the person on the other end was well aware of her thoughts as her phone continued to buzz."Feeling scared, my dear? What can I do? I wouldn't want you to be afraid of me. Will you still be as sweet even when frightened? I miss you, my adorable girl," the messages read.Each sentence reflected in Misty's wide, fear-dilated pupils. Attempting to scream proved futile for her. It was as if extreme fear robbed her of the ability to make any significant noise or movement.Her thoughts moved sluggishly. Her body felt rigid. Even the simplest actions, like shifting her gaze, became an arduous task.After a moment, she managed to overcome the stiffness in her fingers and typed with considerabl
"Watch out for the broken porcelain, my girl. It's okay to get angry, but I'll be sad if you get hurt."Was this person monitoring her?Could he see her every move?Staring at the shattered teapot in the corner, Misty felt a cold sensation from the soles of her feet to her scalp. She stared blankly with wide eyes, unable to react.Was this person the devil?"Who are you? Come out! Stop hiding! Where are you?" Unable to contain herself, she shouted into the air, frantically searching every corner of the living room as if she had gone mad.The maid had already distanced herself due to Misty's furious outburst.She was the only person present in the entire living room, making the situation even more terrifying.Her face turned pale, and her mind felt like it was on the verge of breaking. "Come out, show yourself!"She was terrified.It was as if there were omnipresent eyes somewhere, watching her and observing her madness and fear.Displaying a gaze of joy, the watcher se