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
Marcia called Elijah, and he picked up the phone almost immediately. His voice was urgent, full of impatience. "Kevin, have you reached Patricia? What's going on with her?!"Is this how he always speaks to people? Marcia was taken aback, then replied softly, "Uh, Eli, it's me...""Patricia?!" Elijah's tone immediately softened. "Why haven't you been answering your phone? I sent you messages, but you didn't reply!"Marcia felt a bit embarrassed. "I left my phone on the car. I'm sorry for worrying you."Elijah let out a noticeable sigh of relief. "How could you make such a simple mistake?!"Marcia's face flushed, and she apologized again, "Sorry. You must have been really worried. By the way, it's early morning where you are, haven't you slept yet? Did I wake you up?"Their voices were soft as they spoke. Kevin, watching Marcia with a gentle smile on her face, whistled and pointed to his seat. "You two can talk. I'll head back first."Marcia nodded, smiling awkwardly at him."I couldn't
The hotel where Marcia and her group were staying belonged to Sin Group.Initially, Kevin had booked two double suites.However, upon arrival at the front desk, the receptionist informed them that Elijah had given instructions for the four of them to each stay in separate single suites.Kevin inwardly cursed Elijah for abusing his authority yet again, but he couldn't hide his delight as he accepted the room keys. "Here, one room per person. Go upstairs and get some rest. Let's meet in the lobby at 6 p.m. sharp. If you have any issues, contact me directly."Booth and Jane exchanged a glance. "Understood," they replied in unison.Booth took Jane's luggage and headed toward the elevator. Jane hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, and quickly followed.At the front desk, Marcia was still standing with Kevin. She smiled as she took the key he handed her. "Aren't we having a meeting before heading out? Isn't 6 p.m. a bit late?""We're just going to scope things out tonight," Kevin repl
Ding-dong, ding-dong…Marcia had just finished putting on her dress when the doorbell rang. She glanced at the clock—Kevin was punctual as ever. It was exactly 3:00 p.m.Lifting the hem of her gown, she walked briskly to the door and opened it. "Coming!"The moment the door swung open, Kevin's usual mischievous grin froze on his face.Marcia was dressed in a light purple gown that perfectly complemented her fresh and elegant aura. Her soft pink lips and understated makeup enhanced her natural beauty. The V-neck design of the dress revealed her delicate collarbones, a feature that, while subtle, exuded a quiet sensuality.Her frame, though slender, was brought to life by the gown's tailored fit, accentuating her figure in all the right places."You okay? Is something wrong with how I look?" Marcia waved a hand in front of Kevin, snapping him out of his daze.Kevin quickly composed himself and let out a chuckle. "Well, this look… it's passable, I guess. But your hairstyle needs a change
Kevin didn't notice anything unusual about Marcia. He chatted animatedly with the stylist, gesturing as they discussed the perfect hairstyle for her. The two seemed to hit it off the more they talked."Alright, let's go with the plan—curl her hair and then pin it up," Kevin said with a cheerful grin, pointing at Marcia. "Patricia, I need to step out for a bit. Don't worry, this stylist is absolutely reliable!"Marcia nodded expressionlessly.The stylist sauntered over with a leisurely sway, wearing tight black jeans and a white V-neck shirt. His long hair was tied into a trendy half-bun.Marcia instinctively glanced at him but couldn't help wondering—was this person a man or a woman?When he finally spoke, Marcia realized he was a man."Sweetheart, relax," he said with a hearty laugh. "Leave your hair to me—you've got nothing to worry about! By the way, that handsome guy just now—what's your relationship with him? He
When Jane and Booth arrived at the estate, the grand hall was already bustling with people.The pair handed their invitations to the security guard at the entrance. After verifying the details, the guard smiled politely and said, "Please, come in!"Jane and Booth exchanged a nervous glance. Booth smiled reassuringly, "Let's go inside." Jane looped her arm through his, and they slowly walked into the hall.Once they were out of sight, the guard who had taken their invitations discreetly spoke into his walkie-talkie, "The Azure representatives have arrived—one male, one female. Notify Mrs. Wright immediately!"Mrs. Wright?On the other end, someone responded promptly. As Booth and Jane pushed open the doors, a person quickly stepped forward to greet them."Please, this way! Mr. Lake has arranged a VIP table specifically for you. This way will be faster."Jane and Booth froze, startled. VIP table?Jane smiled politely. "Plea
Kevin's words stunned Harold, while Jane and Booth, standing behind him, froze in disbelief. Their eyes were fixed on the slender figure ahead.Jane muttered, "How... could it be? Are they really married?"Booth lifted his gaze, staring at Marcia's back, his mouth opening and closing, unable to process the situation.Marcia gave Harold a faint smile, though her expression was cold. "Harold, attacking one of my employees without cause—care to explain yourself?""Explain?" Harold's eyes shifted briefly before he chuckled. "You must be Elijah's wife? If we're pointing fingers, this is your Azure's fault!""Oh?" Marcia's indifferent gaze landed on him.Harold grinned, continuing, "I'd prepared a VIP seat and arranged for a warm reception, expecting Elijah and his wife to attend. But instead, these two nobodies waltzed in, disgracing my hospitality! That woman even caused a scene in the hall. I was merely upset—that's why I reacted im
Alan cleared his throat and said in a deep voice, "I know many of you might not believe this. Because of Harold's involvement, I specially invited an old friend of the William family. If anyone can confirm whether this woman is Marcia, it's him!"He couldn't suppress a smug smile as he turned to Marcia, his confidence overflowing. "Are you scared?"Marcia remained silent, a faint smile tugging at her lips, revealing nothing of her emotions."Who is it?""Yeah, bring him out already!"Alan glanced at Harold, who nodded in approval. Alan immediately called out loudly, "This is Kent, the former financial manager of ROB Group. He's also the cousin of my ex-father-in-law, William Roberts. Many of you probably know him."As Alan clapped his hands, an elderly figure slowly emerged from the shadows.The moment Kent saw Marcia, his eyes reddened. "Cia... Cia, is it really you? It's such a relief that you're alive!"Marcia stared at Kent
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,