Sean drove through the night, finally arriving at the pre-booked guesthouse in the early hours.By the time they arrived, Emily had already drifted into a half-asleep state. Looking over at her peaceful expression as she slept, Sean hesitated to wake her. He eventually gave her a gentle nudge. “Emily, wake up. We’re here,” he whispered softly.Still groggy, Emily followed him into the guesthouse. With everything she had been through recently, the getaway felt like a much-needed escape. Despite Sean’s young age, he had proven to be incredibly dependable.Sean escorted Emily to her room, waiting until the door closed securely before heading to his own. Inside, Emily locked the door, pushed her suitcase to the side, and collapsed onto the large bed. The night breeze from earlier had chased away her drowsiness, leaving her wide awake. She rested her hands gently on her stomach, lost in thought.At the hospital in Bay City, a sudden equipment malfunction had prevented the proce
Justin glanced at the stack of documents piling up on his desk but ignored them. He got up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and dialed Emily's number.Disconnected.“Emily, you’re getting bolder by the day!” he fumed.As he set his phone down, another call came in from Zac.“What is it?” Justin snapped, his tone sharp, his earlier irritation far from settled.Zac, unfazed by his mood, chuckled on the other end. “I heard you sent people to Bay City to bring Emily back. What’s more, you’re using some school lecture to target Sean? Justin, don’t tell me you’re jealous. You’ve already split up with Emily. Do you seriously still feel the need to vet who she spends time with?”Justin’s expression darkened at the jab. His voice turned icy. “Who told you that?”“Sam,” Justin thought. “Is my assistant bored with his job? Does he think RC Corporation is some gossip column?”Zac could practically hear Justin’s frustration and quickly clarified. “Relax, it wasn’t Sam. I overheard pa
Sean was always brimming with confidence in himself, and this time was no different.To be honest, Emily didn’t feel any significant changes in herself. Aside from the queasiness she experienced the previous morning, she felt perfectly fine. Even her appetite was great today. If it weren’t for the results printed in black and white on the medical report, she wouldn’t believe she was pregnant.“Did you tell Helen that I’m pregnant?” Emily asked calmly, her eyes steady on Sean.“As long as you go for the check-up, I won’t say a word to Helen,” Sean promised.Hearing that, Emily turned on her heel and headed off. If Sean hadn’t told Helen yet, she would take this chance to end the pregnancy. She had made up her mind and wasn’t about to waver.She quickly completed the registration and payment for the procedure, despite Sean’s attempts to stop her.At the abortion department, a nurse glanced at her paperwork and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, but the department is closed for the
Helen clenched her fist in frustration, declaring, “That scumbag!”Emily chuckled softly. Having someone stand behind you, supporting and protecting you, was such a comforting feeling.She tried to calm Helen down. “Take it easy. I’ve changed my number, so he won’t be able to reach me now. But I’m worried he might send someone to keep an eye on you.” Helen scoffed, waving an imaginary fist. “If he dares, I’ll handle them one by one! Let him try!”Then, an idea struck Helen. “Do you think he’s harassing you because he wants to get back together?”“He’s not trying to reconcile,” she mused silently. “He just wants me back as his hidden mistress.”“You better not even think about taking him back!” Helen warned firmly. “Don’t worry. I won’t have anything to do with him again!” She quickly reassured Helen, wanting to put her at ease.“How’s it going with Sean lately? Is he keeping things lively?” Helen teased with a mischievous laugh.The mention of Sean reminded Emily of somethi
Wilfred boarded his private jet in Merika State, heading for Haven State's Lincourt City. His assistant trailed closely behind. “Sir, would you like me to arrange contact with Miss Walker upon arrival?” the assistant asked. *“Let’s do that giant pendulum ride!” Emily exclaimed, pointing enthusiastically at the attraction. Her flushed face glowed with excitement, her forehead and nose glistening with sweat, and strands of damp hair clung to her cheeks. She was clearly having a blast. Sean handed her a wet wipe with a doting smile. “Emily, you’re pregnant. Rides like the pirate ship or the giant pendulum are off-limits! You’re lucky I let you go on that kiddie roller coaster earlier. That’s as thrilling as it gets!” Emily rolled her eyes internally. It really was a kiddie ride. “How about the Ferris wheel?” Sean suggested, gesturing toward it. The sunset cast a golden hue over the park, making it a perfect photo opportunity. Emily sighed, stealing one last wistful gl
Beneath the dazzling Jupiter Land fireworks, surrounded by a bustling crowd, the sky lit up with bursts of vibrant light.The booming fireworks left Emily momentarily stunned, her mind blank as the sound reverberated around her.But then, she saw the unwavering seriousness in Sean’s eyes. It was a gaze so genuine it struck her deeply.She had always dismissed Sean’s confessions of affection as playful banter, never taking them seriously. Yet, at this moment, she could no longer deny the sincerity radiating from him. It was undeniable, and it shook her to the core.Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, each beat in sync with the fireworks exploding above.She knew her reality. She was an orphan with no memories, carrying another man’s child. Her recent betrayal had scarred her deeply, making her wary of the emotional entanglements of wealthy men. She was scared. She didn’t know how long Sean’s seriousness would last. And when it faded, what kind of devastation would follow?
Emily and Sean were chatting and laughing, happily discussing what to order for their hotpot later. The mood was light and carefree. Across the street, Justin spotted them as he approached. The sight froze him in his tracks, his expression darkening further. He had gone to great lengths to track Emily down. Monitoring Sean’s social media, using connections to get Sean’s new license plate number, and even pulling favors with the Department of Transportation to access highway surveillance footage. After piecing everything together, he had finally pinpointed her location this evening. He had dropped everything to come straight here personally, only to find Emily acting all cozy with Sean!Justin’s expression darkened, exuding the aura of a man catching like someone catching his partner red-handed. With long, determined strides, he headed straight for the entrance with his entourage of black-suited bodyguards trailing behind. Passersby stopped and stared, instinctively stepping
“Mr. Sean Smith, whether you’re just messing around with her or genuinely serious, at least wait your turn. My contract with her isn’t up yet, so you’ll have to stand in line,” Justin sneered, his gaze cold and dismissive, treating Emily like she was nothing more than an object.Emily stood behind Sean, her fists clenched, her entire body trembling. She felt as though she had been stripped bare and thrown onto a crowded street. A mistress! A contract! Disgust churned in her stomach as regret consumed her. How could she have ever been drawn to Justin's looks, let alone fall for him? How could she have been so desperate to be close to him that she had signed that degrading contract? Now, all she felt was disgust. Sean met Justin’s arrogance with an easy, sarcastic tone. “Three months left? Isn’t the mighty Justin Yates ridiculously wealthy? Since when did you get so petty to chase her all the way here? Aren’t you worried people might laugh at you? Or has RC Corporation gon
Sean tightened his grip on his utensils, his knuckles turning white, barely suppressing the anger from being called out so directly. “I’ll grow. I’ll fix all of this in time,” he said through gritted teeth, his voice firm but strained. “You might grow, but Emily doesn’t need to waste her time waiting for you,” Wilfred replied calmly. Sean’s suspicion only deepened. Wilfred was clearly interested in Emily. “If I can’t give her happiness, what makes you think you can?” *Meanwhile, Zac left Heidi’s room once he was sure she was fully recovered. Walking from the hallway to the main hall, he scanned the crowd but didn’t see Emily anywhere. Had the Yates family driven her off? If Emily had gone to vent to Helen, Zac was sure Helen wouldn’t let this slide. The mere thought of Helen causing trouble for him sent a chill down Zac’s spine.Spotting Justin in the crowd, Zac waited until he wasn’t surrounded by others before approaching. “Where’s Emily? Did she leave? Aft
“Miss Yates?” Wilfred turned to Emily after Sean declined the invitation, his tone polite yet insistent. Emily hesitated, caught in a dilemma. She wanted to hear more about Haley’s artistic inspirations, but turning down Sean’s dinner offer only to accept Wilfred’s would feel wrong. Sensing her discomfort, Wilfred added with a calm smile, “Please, don’t feel obligated. I simply dislike owing favors.” That made sense. Though Emily didn’t know much about Wilfred’s background, his presence at Heidi’s exclusive birthday celebration hinted at significant influence. People of his stature likely avoided debts that could lead to unreasonable demands. But if anyone owed a favor here, it was Emily. Wilfred had helped her earlier by speaking up in her defense. With that thought, she spoke up. “Actually, it should be me treating you to dinner, Mr. Wilfred. After all, you helped me back in the room.” “Well then,” Wilfred said with a light chuckle, “as we say back in Haven State, i
“Mr. Wilfred,” Emily nodded politely. “What’s going on?”“Oh, we’re out of gas,” Wilfred replied with a small chuckle. “Trying to figure out how to get down the mountain.”The Mandale Hotel was nestled halfway up a coastal hill.“My apologies, Mr. Wilfred,” his assistant interjected, clearly embarrassed. “I completely forgot to refuel.”Emily hesitated, feeling awkward. She wanted to offer them a ride since Wilfred had just helped clear her name. But then she remembered that she hadn’t driven here. She had come with Sean.“You can ride with us,” Sean offered smoothly, breaking the tension.“That’s very kind of you. Thank you,” Wilfred said with a warm smile.The four of them climbed into the car. Sean took the driver’s seat, and Wilfred’s assistant quickly claimed the front passenger seat, leaving Emily and Wilfred in the back.Sean couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance. He had wanted Emily in the front with him, not chatting away with Wilfred in the back.“So, Miss Yat
Emma hadn’t been intimate with Justin yet, and this was the one subject she absolutely couldn’t stand being brought up, especially not by Emily.Emily and Justin’s first time had been awkward. He was inexperienced, almost like a fumbling teenager, and his skills were lacking. But with time, he had grown more experienced and skilled.Snapping out of her thoughts, Emily’s eyes turned cold as she faced Emma. “If you’re so fond of used men, Miss Xander, you can have him.”With that, the elevator doors slid open. Emily stepped inside without sparing Emma another glance.As the doors closed, Emma’s face twisted in barely concealed fury.Inside the elevator, Emily cast her gaze downward, pressing the button for her floor with disinterest. Emma wasn’t worth her attention.When the elevator reached the ground floor, the doors opened to reveal Sean waiting outside. “Why are you here?” Emily asked, surprised. Sean looked mildly aggrieved. “I knew you’d try to sneak out without telling
“I heard about the incident and simply shared what I witnessed. I hope it helps with your investigation,” Wilfred said politely. Standing at 6'3", Wilfred easily looked past Justin’s shoulder to meet Emily’s gaze. He offered her a gentle smile and a nod of acknowledgment. Though Emily didn’t know Wilfred personally, she appreciated his willingness to testify on her behalf. Returning his nod, she smiled back in gratitude. “I’ve said all I know. I’ll take my leave now and let you handle your affairs,” Wilfred concluded, preparing to exit the venue. “Sam…” Justin began, intending to have his assistant escort their guest. “Justin, allow me to see Mr. Wilfred out,” Steven interjected, stepping forward eagerly. "Mr. Wilfred, let me accompany you," Steven offered with a tone of respect laced with flattery. "Thank you," Wilfred replied graciously. As they departed, Wilfred turned back briefly, giving Emily one final nod.Watching this, Emma tilted her head with feigned
“The surveillance footage caught it all!” Heidi exclaimed, tossing the tablet onto the floor near Emily.The thick carpet softened the impact, but the tablet landed screen-up, playing back the recorded footage. On the screen was a scene of Emily sitting on the sofa.“What do you have to say for yourself now?” Heidi demanded furiously.Zac, growing increasingly anxious, jumped in to defend Emily. “This doesn’t prove she poisoned anyone. It just shows she sat on the sofa. There’s no footage of her actually tampering with anything.“Besides,” he continued, “there were multiple glasses of wine. How would Emily even know which one Heidi would take?”Emily glanced at Zac with a look of gratitude.Heidi, however, was unmoved. “Zac, whose side are you on?” she asked, her frustration boiling over.“I’m on your side, of course,” Zac replied, his tone firm and righteous. “We can’t let the real culprit go unpunished. But maybe the poisoning wasn’t caught on camera, or the method used was so
Emily left the restroom, thinking about Justin’s promise to arrange a car for her to leave. She didn’t want to stay at the party any longer and decided to wait quietly in a corner while texting Sean to let him know she was heading out. As she waited, she noticed a group of people hurriedly carrying someone away from the area where she had been sitting earlier. The distance made it hard to see who it was, but she didn’t give it much thought.Bored, Emily continued waiting. Before Sam contacted her about the car, Sean appeared instead.“Why are you leaving so early, Emily? Are you still mad at me for tricking you into coming? I didn’t mean to upset you. I just didn’t want you clinging to Justin!” Sean’s voice was full of concern.Emily had been angry earlier, but her frustration had subsided. In truth, it was the hope of escaping Justin’s grasp that had lured her here. She now realized that leaving would be something she had to figure out on her own.“I don’t enjoy events like this
Zac placed some of the food residue in a bag for testing and instructed the hotel staff to clean up the mess on the floor. “How’s my mom?” Justin asked, his worry evident. “She’s out of danger for now but we’ll need to put her on an IV drip shortly.,” Zac replied, his tone reassuring. Hearing this, Justin finally exhaled in relief. “It appears to be poisoning, but we’ll need to test the food residue at the hospital to confirm,” Zac said, his expression grave. “From her symptoms, it seems like organophosphate poisoning.” “Organophosphate? You mean… pesticide?” “Yes. Fortunately, the dose she ingested was small enough to allow for rescue.” “Who could be so malicious as to try and kill Heidi?” Stella blurted out. “Can’t you keep quiet?” Justin’s uncle, Steven Yates, shot her a warning glare. Stella scoffed and rolled her eyes at her husband but didn’t press further. At that moment, the ambulance arrived at the hotel. The sirens were turned off to avoid drawin
“I was taking a dump,” Emily replied bluntly.Emma was momentarily stunned, her expression freezing. How could Emily be so uncouth, speaking so crudely?Without waiting for a response, Emily stepped past her and walked away.Emma glanced at the restroom entrance, her teeth gritting in frustration as her hand clenched tightly into a fist.*On a sofa by the side of the banquet hall, a group of well-dressed socialites sipped wine and nibbled on desserts while chatting. As soon as Emma left the room, their restrained conversation turned into gossip."Heidi, I must say, your son, Justin, is incredibly devoted. Three years, and he still can’t let go of Emma, even managing to bring her back into his life," one of the women remarked.The high-society circle wasn’t that large and any tidbit of gossip quickly spread.Heidi set her wine glass down, her expression sour. “Honestly, I wish he weren’t so single-minded. I don’t care if he finds someone of similar status or if it’s a business