Calla was stunned when she heard those words.Mercer had come fully prepared! Once again, she had underestimated him. She was left speechless this time."B-But you should still let me contact them… I'm sure they'll get suspicious if I disappear for too long."Under Mercer's intense gaze, Calla, for some reason, found herself changing her demands from leaving to just being allowed to contact her mother and sister.Mercer lowered his head and glanced at his watch. "Alright. But it's late now. You can call your family and Alicia tomorrow morning. However, Jasmine must be present. Calla, don't try anything, or their lives will be a living hell."Calla knew he meant what he said. He could easily have someone intimidate her mother and sister, and they wouldn't be able to handle it. As for Alicia, she would live a hard life if she were to be fired.Calla realized that even if she told them about her situation, they couldn't help her and would only end up getting involved in her trouble
Mercer’s face darkened as he cast a glance at her before turning and leaving in a huff.Jasmine quickly ran out to see him off.After they left, Calla continued chewing her food while slapping a soft pillow, cursing, "Mercer, you bastard… Bastard!"After seeing Mercer off, Jasmine came back into the room and hesitantly asked, "Mrs. Garland, d-do you really have to do this? Mr. Garland is—""Don’t mention him to me again." Calla interrupted.Jasmine shook her head and left the room.From that day on, Calla began to try living peacefully here. Every morning, she would have Jasmine accompany her for walks in the nearby woods or by the creek, enjoying the fresh mountain air. At noon, she would lie on a lounge chair on the terrace, basking in the sun. In the evenings, she would sit by the bay window to watch the stars.In her free time, Calla would take out her books to study for the Certified Public Accountant exam. Her great ambition to become a public accountant had been put on
Mercer's lips curled slightly when he heard that Calla had gained weight. He seemed satisfied with the result. "Thank you for your hard work. Jasmine, see them out," he said.After the doctors and nurses packed up their equipment, they left with Jasmine.Mercer approached the bed, glanced at Calla, and then at her prominent belly. He reached out to touch it, but Calla swatted his hand away irritably."Don't touch me," she hissed."Do you think I'm interested in touching you? I just want to feel my child," Mercer retorted immediately.Calla's face flushed at his words. She then suppressed her anger and calmly said, "Mercer, since the person you love has returned, why don't you just divorce me? Even if we divorce, I can still safely give birth to your child. You can't marry the one you love without divorcing me. Do you really want to see her in pain?"Calla didn't understand why Mercer was doing this. Was it simply because she had angered him and he wanted to protect his pride as a
With his hands on the steering wheel, Simon chuckled upon hearing that."That's precisely why I haven't bothered with a relationship—women are too much trouble.""That's because you haven't met someone who captured your heart at first sight," Mercer uttered, staring at the dark mountain landscape outside the window."Mr. Garland, you seem a bit..." Simon hesitated."A bit what?" Mercer asked indifferently."A bit lovesick," Simon replied with a shake of his head and a smile.Simon had been Mercer's assistant for years. Besides their superior-subordinate relationship, they had a good personal rapport, allowing them to speak more freely when alone.Simon was adept at knowing when to be informal and when to be serious, which was why he had become Mercer's right-hand man.A rare smile appeared on Mercer's stern face. "Are you mocking me, you punk?""I would never!" Simon quickly waved his hand in denial.After some light-hearted banter, Mercer's mood seemed to improve significant
An impeccably dressed Rose only came out of the house by the time Sophie leisurely finished the tea in her cup.Seeing Rose approach, Sophie stood up with a smile."Mrs. Garland Senior, you haven't aged a day. You still look as young and beautiful as ever!"Rose seemed slightly surprised to see Sophie but quickly regained her composure. Sophie placed the gift she had brought on the stone table then. "This is a little something I brought back from Morvenia. I hope you like it, Mrs. Garland Senior."Naturally, Rose didn't care about the gift. She forced an empty smile and remarked, "I didn't think you would remember me after all these years.""You are Mercer's mother. Of course I always keep you in mind," Sophie replied smoothly.Rose scoffed upon hearing Mercer's name. "You say you came from Riverford, so I assume you've already met Mercer?""Yes." Sophie nodded."In that case, you must know that Mercer is married now, and Calla is pregnant. Mercer is going to be a father soon
"What more could I want? My heart has always been here at Garland Mansion. If it weren't for the sudden misfortune that befell my family, my child with Mercer would be calling you 'Grandma' by now!" Sophie evaded the question but clearly expressed her intentions."But Mercer is already married..." Rose began to speak, only for Sophie to interrupt her. "He doesn't love that woman at all. I'm the one he loves!""Fine. If you can make him divorce and marry you, I won't interfere. In fact, I'll sincerely accept you and even arrange a grand wedding for you," Rose said. To Rose, it didn't matter if her son married Sophie or Calla—she didn't like either anyway.However, she underestimated Sophie. "Merely not interfering isn't enough," Sophie soon remarked with a smile. "I need your support. Help me drive that woman out of the Garland family and make Mercer give up on her completely."Rose frowned at those words. "This is your relationship. How can I, as a mother, interfere or help you?"
Time flew by. Calla was now almost seven months pregnant.Her belly had grown significantly, making her movements increasingly cumbersome.She could now clearly feel the baby's movements. In a way, she had fostered a deep bond with the little one inside her.One morning, Jasmine came upstairs to report to her. "Mrs. Garland, Mrs. Garland Senior is here to see you." Calla frowned slightly upon hearing this.Since their last meeting in Sedonia, Rose had been absent from her life. Though she didn't particularly like Rose, she acknowledged their current relationship as in-laws. Therefore, Calla got dressed and went downstairs.When Calla entered the living room, she saw Rose sitting primly on the couch."Mom, you're here." Calla greeted Rose with her head lowered.Rose's eyes lingered on Calla's belly for a while before she uttered softly, "Have a seat."Calla proceeded to sit down. She could sense Rose's friendliness. At least for now, Rose's eyes didn't hold its usual hosti
Calla Sherman was awakened by the sound of running water. She opened her tired eyes and was shocked by what she saw. She was in a luxurious room. The bright morning sun shone on the sheets. The clothes of a man and a woman were scattered on the carpet, and the scent of the aftermath of a night of passion permeated the room.She looked at her naked body under the blanket and felt the discomfort coming from her nether region. She tugged at her hair as bits and pieces of the memories from last night came back to her.Her boyfriend of three years said she was not gentle, considerate, or feminine. So, he went overseas with a wealthy heiress to further his studies. She put on a brave front, but she was devastated. So, she got very drunk last night. Then, in the heat of the moment, she grabbed a man from the bar and had a one-night stand with him.She sat on the bed with her legs trembling. She had always taken good care of herself. Why would she do something that she would normall