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
Justin sat across from Zac in silence, his gaze lowered as he mulled over something. Zac, noticing his lack of response, repeated himself. Only then did Justin lift his eyes to meet his. His voice was slow, measured. “She hasn’t fully recovered. She can’t be discharged.”With a single sentence, he had made the decision for Haley. Just like before. Once again, he was keeping her by his side—not in a villa this time, but in a hospital. And in the end, what difference did it make? The same overbearing possessiveness. The same suffocating control. To love someone was to give them everything he had. But if she refused to love him, then he would take away her freedom instead, binding her to him. A chain with no key. One end locked around him, the other around her. They would be forever entwined. Neither able to leave the other. And freedom? As long as she was within his reach, that was the only freedom he would allow.Zac understood exactly what Justin meant,
“Justin, have you seen the news online?” Emma’s voice carried a tone of worry, but beneath it lay a carefully calculated move. She had debated for a long time. Waiting anxiously for his reaction was pointless. It was better to take the initiative. Feigning shock and ignorance, she played her role seamlessly. Whether Justin had seen the post or not, whether he suspected her or not, she had to remain composed. If she lost control now, it would only raise suspicion. Even if Justin did doubt her, once he investigated and found that the post had nothing to do with her, it would help clear her of suspicion. “What post? I’m busy. I don’t have time for the internet.” Justin’s voice was distant, devoid of warmth, as if he were speaking to a subordinate. It was nothing like the indulgent tone he had once reserved for her five years ago. His gaze, however, never left Haley. He watched her intently, studying every shift in her expression, worried that she might misunderstand his
”Yes, yes, boss.” After issuing his warning, the man hung up again, cursing under his breath. Frustration surged through him, and he kicked the nearby sofa with full force. *That afternoon, Justin finally returned. The first thing he did was try to take Haley’s phone. But before he could grab it, she turned away, dodging him effortlessly. “What are you doing?” She looked at him warily. The doctor had already said she could use her phone, so what had gotten into him now? “Don't look at it,” he said, his voice carrying a rare trace of hesitation. Justin was scared. He didn’t want her to see the rumors online, the ones accusing Heidi of orchestrating her car accident. He was afraid she would see his mother differently, that she would start to resent her. But Haley met his gaze, instantly reading the meaning behind it. It was the kind of unspoken understanding that came from years of knowing each other, something that hadn’t faded even after five years apart.
“Alright, I got it.” Haley replied. Like Helen, her first instinct upon seeing the post was to suspect Emma. But by the time she reached the end, she sensed something was off. That was why she had Richard investigate. And sure enough, her hunch was right. Unlike Helen, however, she wasn’t fuming with anger. She had already expected this outcome. “Do me another favor,” she texted Richard again. “Dig up everything you can about this newly registered company. If you can find out who’s really behind it, even better.”Justin had saved her life. Maybe she’d finally found a way to repay him. *For the past few days, Emma had been stuck at Jacob’s place, unable to go anywhere.Of course, she had seen the news. After reading through the entire post, her eyes flashed with resentment. Who did this?! Her mind immediately jumped to one suspect. It had to be “him.” Suppressing the tremor in her fingers, she scrolled through her call history and dialed his number.
Their goal was to manipulate public opinion to undermine RC Corporation and Justin’s credibility, ultimately increasing their own chances of success.Haley analyzed the situation while calmly continuing her breakfast. Seeing that Helen had arrived so early, she figured her sister hadn’t eaten yet. Without a word, she slid half of her breakfast toward her. Helen, deep in thought, furrowed her brows and put on an air of calculated scheming, as if she were a seasoned strategist. “So, basically, Justin is too high-profile now, and everyone’s just waiting to take him down,” she concluded with exaggerated seriousness. Haley nodded in agreement. It made sense. After Mr. Yates Sr. passed away, Justin had inherited a massive share of RC Corporation at such a young age. It was only natural that the older generation in the company resented him. Targeting him was to be expected. Helen nodded knowingly, pretending to be contemplative. But the moment the aroma of food hit her, she
Helen cursed under her breath, pulling out her phone to show Haley the latest online buzz. The video of Heidi’s body had disappeared, but a new wave of rumors had taken over. — Heidi Yates was murdered by the artist, Haley!The post was disturbingly detailed, as if the person writing it had been present at the scene. Every twist and turn was laid out so vividly that it almost felt real. [The mother of RC Corporation’s CEO, Heidi Yates, disapproved of a world-renowned artist marrying into the family. Before her death, she allegedly hired someone to tamper with ‘her’ car, causing a brake failure that led to a fiery explosion. In retaliation, the artist lured her to a secluded riverside and pushed her into the water, leaving her to drown. Has RC Corporation’s CEO once again fallen for the wrong woman? Who is truly his fated love?][With judgment like this, can he really lead RC Corporation into a brighter future? What will become of the company under his leadership?]Below the
Justin wasn’t without blood relatives in this world. He still had his two sons—Chase and Alex.The thought lingered at the tip of Haley’s tongue, but in the end, she held it back. She considered telling him for a moment but decided against it.“I'm sorry,” Justin's voice was thick, weighed down by the remnants of his tears.Haley was surprised. She hadn’t expected him to apologize. Shaking her head, she replied, “It's fine.”Though, thanks to him, her pajama top was damp with tears. Now she would have to change.Justin released her and, seeing that she was still awake, no longer bothered to soften his footsteps.Under the dim glow of the small nightlight in the living area, he made his way to the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, he splashed cold water onto his face, washing away the traces of his tears.Haley said nothing. She simply used the moment he was in the bathroom to change into fresh sleepwear.When he came back out, he flipped on the main light, his face composed once
Outside, the night was still and quiet.Justin stood by his car, making no move to open the door. An unlit cigarette rested between his fingers.He wanted to smoke, but the thought of the lingering scent clinging to him and bothering Haley made him hesitate. His dark eyes were fixed on the distant city skyline, his thoughts drifting. He stood there for a long time, lost in thought, until William’s voice pulled him back to the present. “Mr. Yates, we should go.” Snapping out of it, Justin finally reached for the car door, ready to head back to the hospital. But before he could step in, his phone rang. It was Emma. “Justin, I saw the news online. Is it true? Is Aunt Heidi… is she really gone?” Emma’s voice was filled with concern, laced with just a hint of fear—soft, fragile, like an innocent little rabbit. On the other end of the call, she held her phone in one hand, scrolling through news videos on a tablet with the other. Despite the worry in her voice, her e
Justin answered truthfully, “My mother had a habit of traveling. She texted the house staff, saying she was going on a trip. None of us thought much of it at the time. It wasn’t until two days later, when we couldn’t reach her, that I started searching.“When I checked her bank statements and found no transactions at all, I knew something was wrong. That same night, I reported her missing.”The officers took note. His statement aligned with the messages found on Heidi’s phone.“All right, we’re done here. You’re free to go,” the officer said, organizing the case file before tapping on the final page. “Sign here.”Justin mechanically repeated the process. Perhaps because he had just signed his name in the morgue, this time, his signature was a little smoother. But it was still unsteady, his hand refusing to cooperate.As he put down the pen and pressed his fingerprint on the document, he finally asked the question that had been gnawing at him. “What was my mother’s cause of death