After Calvin's inexplicable disappearance from the hospital, Marcia hadn't seen him again. Looking at Nicole's current state, could it be that the two of them had a falling out?Marcia couldn't hold back and asked, "Nicole, Calvin is a childhood friend of mine. We're just friends, nothing more. But why are you here? Didn't you used to hate Hayden?""Friends?" Nicole sneered, her expression dripping with sarcasm. "Whether you're friends or something more… it has nothing to do with me! And where I am, or who I hate, is none of your business! Why would I hate Hayden? He feeds me, shelters me, and now he's even investing money in me. Why would I hate him? You, on the other hand, should drop the innocent princess act in front of me!"Marcia frowned slightly, unable to comprehend why Nicole was speaking so bitterly."Nicole, are you misunderstanding something?""Misunderstanding?" Nicole scoffed, her voice sharp with anger. "You invite a man to your home in the middle of the night, and that
Marcia and Myron entered the restaurant one after the other. Elijah and the others were already seated. The moment Claire saw Marcia, she stood up excitedly and waved."Come sit over here! You just went upstairs, and Elijah came down right after. He ordered a whole table full of dishes, all your favorites," Claire said with a playful grin, her face full of envy.Marcia forced a smile. "Oh, come on. These are dishes you like too. Claire, eat more. Weren't you saying you were starving earlier?""Hehe, as if I need you to tell me! I've already started eating," Claire said sheepishly, completely oblivious to Marcia's strained demeanor.Elijah cast a deep glance at Marcia, noticing Myron signaling him discreetly. His brows furrowed slightly, but he kept his tone gentle as he spoke to Marcia. "Sit down and eat something first. We can talk afterward."Claire quickly nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Eat first. The shrimp is really fresh—try it!"As they spoke, Hayden walked in slowly, his arm a
Marcia curled up on the couch, stealing a glance at Elijah, who was engrossed in his book. She couldn't hold back any longer and blurted, "Eli, are you really okay with Claire and Myron living together?"Elijah didn't even look up, his expression calm. "Why wouldn't I be?""They're members of the opposite sex. Isn't that… inappropriate?""Myron won't do anything reckless," he replied matter-of-factly.Marcia hesitated. She wanted to say she was more worried about Claire acting impulsively, but Elijah's unwavering confidence threw her off. Instead, she muttered, "Are you saying Myron doesn't like women?"Elijah finally closed his book and set it on the coffee table, raising an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?""Claire's not bad at all! She's got a great personality, and she's beautiful." Marcia paused, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "Besides, if someone like me could marry you, why can't Claire find her match? Myron might not seem serious, but he's attentive and gentle.
By the time Marcia's period ended, Elijah had become increasingly bold.That day, Marcia deliberately dressed conservatively as she headed to the office. Upon arriving, she learned that Kevin had been working overtime day and night because Alan had resurfaced again!Alan was now able to attend the Calderstones bidding conference! This news made Marcia feel uneasy. What kind of backing did Alan have?The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. Marcia couldn't shake the nagging feeling in her chest.Jane approached her with a cold expression, clearly impatient. "The manager wants to see you."Marcia looked up at her, nodding. "I know."She opened her drawer to grab her notebook, but Jane snapped, "Hurry up. I have work too! Didn't you hear? The bidding project is at a crucial point. It's ridiculous that I have to chase after you like this!"Marcia paused. She replied softly, "You're coming to get me; it's part of your j
"Patricia, you finally made it!"Kevin stood up and smiled as he saw Marcia walk in.With a mischievous grin, Kevin teased, "What took you so long? Your dear husband couldn't bear to let you go? He couldn't stand being apart for even a few minutes?"Marcia smiled at his playful tone, then nodded seriously, replying, "Yes, my dear husband really can't live without me. So, what is it that you need? I have to get back soon.""Patricia, you've changed!" Kevin put his hand over his chest, feigning a hurt expression.Marcia couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, stop fooling around. What's going on?"Kevin cleared his throat, his expression suddenly turning serious as he said to Marcia, "Looks like we need to head to Calderstones.""Calderstones?" Marcia raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain further.Kevin nodded. "The tender dates have been changed several times. Alan has had multiple private meetings with people from Calderston
As Marcia walked out of Kevin's office, she happened to see Jane standing nearby, talking to Booth. Their eyes met by chance. Jane shot her a quick glare, then turned her head, letting out a couple of disdainful huffs.Booth looked a bit awkward, as though he wanted to greet Marcia. But Jane's stern look stopped him, and his hand, which had been raised to wave, froze mid-air before dropping back down.Marcia gave the two of them a cold glance before walking straight back to her office."Look at her, acting all high and mighty! Booth, you should stay away from her. She's clearly not a decent woman! She's already seduced the boss, and now she's trying to cozy up to the manager. I bet Azure will be hers before long!" Jane spat, glaring at Marcia's retreating figure, her voice full of bitterness.Booth, watching the woman he loved, felt a heavy sense of helplessness. "Jane, I think you're misunderstanding Patricia. Actually, she...""Booth, who's your
When Marcia returned to her office, Elijah was just stepping out. Seeing her, he said softly, "Perfect timing. Come in, I need to talk to you about something."Marcia quickly followed him inside."What's going on?" she asked.Elijah frowned slightly, as though something was bothering him. "Did Kevin tell you about tomorrow's business trip?""Yes, that's right. Eli, you're coming with us tomorrow, right?""That was the plan, but there's an issue with the U.S. branch that I need to take care of. Looks like it'll just be you and Kevin tomorrow. Cia, if anything comes up while I'm away, make sure you contact me immediately."As Elijah spoke, he shook his head. "Forget it, I'll postpone the trip to the U.S. by a couple of days; it won't cause too much of a loss. I'll still go with you tomorrow...""Eli!" Marcia raised her eyes, looking directly into his, her voice soft but firm. "I remember you saying that I would be the head of Azure."
Lime Street Railway StationMarcia was always punctual and usually arrived at least 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. Since this business trip was only for three days, she hadn't packed much. Just a small travel bag with a few changes of clothes. When she entered the waiting hall, Kevin hadn't arrived yet. She vaguely remembered there were supposed to be two more people joining the trip, but she wasn't sure who they were.Looking up at the display board, Marcia saw it was 9:40 AM, which was 20 minutes earlier than the meeting time. She casually found an empty seat and was about to pull out her phone to send Elijah a message, but when she checked her pocket…Her phone was gone!Marcia thought for a moment. She had checked the time on her phone right before getting off the train, so had she left it on the car by mistake?She frowned slightly, feeling a headache coming on. There was a lot of sensitive information on her phone, and she'd rather lose her wallet than her phone.Just a
Elijah frowned. "Impossible?" He couldn't understand. "But then... how could you? No, we're going to the hospital right now! The doctors I know are far more reliable than him. I've always found him suspicious. Let's get you checked first, then we can talk about this.""Are you not happy that I can conceive?"Elijah shook his head. "How could I not be happy? But I don't trust him. Let's go to the hospital, okay?"He was overwhelmed with joy, but beneath that joy lay deep concern. If Jeff was lying, how would Marcia handle it? He could live without a child, but he couldn't bear to see Marcia fall into despair again.He never wanted to see her cry. That pain would be far worse than not having a child."Eli, sit down first." Marcia dared not let him take her to the hospital—if they found out she had recently lost a pregnancy, things would be disastrous."The surgery two years ago... Jeff was actually the lead surgeon." Marcia watched Elijah's expression darken as her voice unconsciously d
Marcia leaned against Elijah's chest, yet a slight unease crept into her heart.She still remembered Jeff's instructions—no intimacy for a month. But when she stole a glance at Elijah, his brows were tightly furrowed, his expression serious. For some reason, her heart softened again and again."Eli, what are you thinking about?"Hearing the slight anxiety in Marcia's voice, Elijah held her tightly, resting his head against her neck. His voice was low and gentle. "Nothing. I just think... it's really good that you're here.""Myron is really getting engaged? To... that Nancy?" Marcia traced her fingers over his firm arm, feeling a growing sense of security.She wished she could rely on him like this forever."Mm." Elijah's response was muffled, carrying a hint of an unspoken heaviness.Marcia thought for a moment. "His family has a rule that a man can only marry one woman in his lifetime, right? Does your family have a rule like that?"Elijah chuckled lightly and ran his fingers through
Elijah let out a soft sigh and gently pulled Marcia behind him. "What are you doing?"Marcia bit her lip, feeling a bit foolish for her reaction. Why did she assume Hayden would actually come to blows with Elijah?Elijah, standing tall and unwavering, met Hayden's gaze head-on, his expression calm. "To bring Myron back to Liverpool.""Back to Liverpool? If he's taking that woman with him, then what's the point? He might as well not come back at all! Damn it!" Hayden raised his fist but ultimately slammed it against the table instead."Hayden, sit down." Myron's voice was deep and hoarse. He seemed exhausted, yet his expression remained resolute. "I chose to marry Nancy on my own. It has nothing to do with my mother or Eli. I appreciate your concern, but enough with the arguments."He glanced at Kevin and chuckled. "What are you scheming now? Think I'm lying?"Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly. "Not at all. If you say so, then it must be true." He had initially suspected this was just
"Patricia, I thought you two would head straight to the second floor!" Hayden teased with a mischievous grin, taking a sip of his orange juice.Marcia ignored him, her eyes immediately landing on Myron, who sat beside Kevin with a face as dark as ink. At the head of the dining table sat a frail, pale-skinned elderly woman who was scrutinizing her with an assessing gaze.Marcia couldn't help but feel nervous."Auntie, this is Patricia. What do you think? Beautiful, right?" Elijah draped an arm over Marcia's shoulder, grinning proudly.Gloria took a sip of water before smiling lightly. "Hmm, she is beautiful. No wonder you've been so restless, eager to come home!""That's not true! I'm also happy to spend more time with you!" Elijah chuckled, then gently nudged Marcia forward. "Cia, come say hello to Auntie."His eyes were filled with warmth, a look that was second nature to him in front of Myron and the others. But for Gloria, it was the first time witnessing this side of him, and she
Marcia and Elijah walked hand in hand toward the villa. Since it was located in the suburbs, the fresh air was a rare luxury.A cool breeze brushed against Marcia's face, making her instinctively shrink her neck."Are you cold?" Elijah asked, his voice tinged with concern as he pulled her into his embrace. "I was worried you'd feel uncomfortable if we stayed in the car for too long. Looks like I miscalculated again!"Marcia shook her head and snuggled against his chest with a soft laugh. "Not at all. The air is refreshing, and the scenery is beautiful. But how did you know I was feeling restless in the car? Do you have some kind of mind-reading power? That would be incredible!"Elijah chuckled, gently ruffling her hair. "Your nose is all red. You look just like a little bunny. Makes me want to eat you up!"As he spoke, he playfully rubbed her cheeks. When Marcia looked up at him with a smile, he couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her cool lips."Aren't they waiting for us inside? Le
Seeing the two of them like this, Marcia couldn't shake the strange feeling growing inside her. She pulled out her phone to check for any messages from Elijah. The last thing on their chat was a simple "Good night" from both of them. A faint smile curved her lips.She casually snapped a photo of the highway scenery outside the car window and sent it to Elijah.Since it was still early, she hadn't expected an immediate response. But to her surprise, he seemed to have been awake all night—his reply came almost instantly."Already on the road? Are you tired? You should get some rest in the car!"Marcia bit her lip lightly and typed back curiously, "Did you not sleep? I'm not tired. I've been resting at home these past few days.""Hmm, I heard about that. Why are you so lazy and always sleeping?" Elijah chuckled, then added, "Even though I feel bad for you, my love, I'm so happy that I'll see you soon."Seeing him call her lazy, Marcia instinctively glanced at Kevin, who was driving. It h
Ever since that terrible experience, Marcia had developed a subtle aversion to "Calderstones."Elijah had been away for five days now. They spoke on the phone daily—sometimes just exchanging a few words, other times lingering as if they couldn't bear to hang up.The distance seemed to intensify their feelings, making them feel like a couple deeply in love.A call in the early morning. The phone was warm in her hand. Though sadness still lingered in her heart, Marcia felt as if Elijah was slowly healing her, piece by piece.Since her surgery, she had become more sensitive—more reliant on Elijah. She wanted him to return, yet at the same time, she hoped he wouldn't come back too soon. She longed for his embrace but also feared the warmth he brought.Torn between these emotions, her longing for him only grew stronger.Sometimes, as she lay in her empty bed, she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if he were beside her&md
"He's just a wolf in sheep's clothing," Hayden remarked leisurely, pouring himself a cup of hot water. Watching the steam rise, he smiled faintly and casually asked, "Patricia, did you already know Myron was fine? Otherwise, how could you be in the mood to come out for a meal?"Marcia was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, she chuckled. "I contacted Eli. Besides, there wasn't much to eat at home. Everyone's had a tough day—it's only right that we treat ourselves to a meal. Why? Do you think there's something wrong with that?"Hayden smirked. "Not at all. Just a funny coincidence." He blew on his cup, took a small sip, and added, "Anyone who didn't know better would think you hadn't been home at all."Shirley shot him a glare. "Hayden, your mindset is all wrong!""Oh?" Hayden raised an eyebrow and turned to look at her.Shirley shook her head dramatically and said with an air of seriousness, "Have you been spending too much time with Demon? You've picked up the nasty habit of
"Did she ask you anything? Or did she want you to do something?" Marcia sat up straight, her tone cold and sharp.Jeff snapped out of his thoughts and replied calmly, "She was curious if you were pregnant. Oh, that reminds me, was she the one at Calderstones that time...?"Before he could finish, he paused, realization dawning on his face. "No wonder!"Marcia stared at him intently. "What did you tell her? Did you take her money? What about Alan? Was he there too?"Jeff shot her a glare. "I'm a doctor. What do you take me for? She's pregnant, and Alan? Oh, you mean that man? No, I didn't see him."Pregnant? A sharp pain struck Marcia's heart. Kate was pregnant again, while she… she had lost her child.Fate was truly laughable. The heavens remained as unfair as ever.Perhaps sensing her hatred too clearly, Jeff coughed lightly and continued, "Alright, stop glaring at me. I'm on your side."Marcia eyed him suspiciously but said nothing.Jeff sighed. "I refused to be her private doctor,