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
Fidel bowed deeply to Marcia, his voice heavy with emotion. "I'm sorry, Marcia! When I ran into you at the hospital recently, the guilt that has been tormenting me for the past two years finally overwhelmed me. Even though I've performed countless surgeries at the hospital and saved many children, giving them a chance to leave healthy, I still feel an unbearable weight on my conscience whenever I see you. Because of this guilt, I resigned from my position and decided never to practice medicine again, even though I deeply love this profession and have always been passionate about saving lives."Look at him—portraying himself as so noble, so conscientious!Marcia's expression remained unreadable as she glanced at Fidel. Then, she turned to the crowd with a faint smile. "Quite the touching story."Fidel's face turned pale. "I… I truly felt guilty…""First of all…" Marcia's gaze turned icy as a sarcastic smile played on her lips. "You claim to be a doctor? Isn't a doctor supposed to prote
Alan had already anticipated Marcia's reaction. He called out loudly from behind Nydia, "Kate, Kate, come out!"Marcia heard his shout, her eyes brimming with sarcasm. So, Kate's here too? She smirked internally. I wonder how long she's been watching this show and what scheme Alan has cooked up this time?Kate stepped forward, her face devoid of makeup, dressed in her usual white attire that made her look pure as an angel. She approached Marcia slowly, her eyes reddening with every step she took.Just as Marcia instinctively raised her guard, Kate suddenly lunged forward and delivered a fierce slap to Alan's face.The sound of the slap froze the room in stunned silence.Alan clutched his cheek, disbelief written all over his face. "Kate, what are you doing?!"Kate bit her lip hard, then turned to Marcia with tear-filled eyes. "Marcia, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault back then. I was wrong!"Alan's expression twisted with anger. "Are you crazy? What nonsense are you spouting?"Kate ign
Kate's face alternated between pale and flushed, and Booth urged her, "Kneel! We're not standing in front of you, just kneel in front of the camera! Don't worry, this camera is high-definition, everyone will see your face clearly—no one will mistake you!"When Marcia saw she wasn't responding, she gave a light smile. "Given how much I resemble the woman in that photo, I have to handle this properly.""Patricia, don't push her too far!" Harold's voice darkened as he stood by Kate's side, clearly displeased. Even if Elijah were here, he wouldn't allow such disrespect.This woman truly doesn't know her place."Harold, I'm just trying to help Kate," Marcia replied coolly, her tone polite.Harold snorted. "You want her to record a video kneeling? How is she supposed to hold her head up in the future after this?"Marcia remained indifferent. "She asked for it. She wants to apologize, and I'm giving her the chance to do so."Kate, with tear-filled eyes, looked at Harold with a pitiful expres
Jeff appeared at the scene, still wearing his white coat, a stark contrast to the sea of Liverpool tuxedos surrounding him. His presence was especially conspicuous. However, Marcia hadn't noticed him when she entered.It was hard to say how much Jeff had actually heard.As Jeff's gaze accidentally met Marcia's, the usually cold, poker-faced expression he wore softened with a slight smile.He then addressed Harold, "I'm here as an emergency doctor. Are you sure you want to call me out now? Isn't that going to escalate the tension in the room?""Jeff, what's the matter with you? Can't you take anything seriously at a time like this? Haven't you been working at that hospital? Do you know this Fidel? Look at the medical records—are they real or not?" Harold said, grabbing Jeff's arm with excitement, only to have Jeff coldly pull away.Jeff seemed to have a strong aversion to being touched. He immediately took a tissue and wiped his hand, the motion making Harold seethe with frustration, t
Marcia had no idea why Jeff decided to help her, just as she couldn't fathom why the notoriously greedy Kent and Nydia would put on such a convincing act.Jeff stood silently nearby. When his gaze met Marcia's questioning eyes, his expression remained indifferent, as if nothing that had transpired concerned him.A photo lay at Jeff's feet. He bent down, studied it briefly, and then casually picked it up, slipping it into his pocket without a word.Harold's face was a mixture of embarrassment and fury as he bellowed, "Get these people out of here! Security! Hurry up and deal with this!"He had suffered a crushing blow tonight. Meanwhile, Kate shrank into the corner, her face pale with fear but her eyes filled with resentment.Kate couldn't understand why this powerful man, Harold, turned out to be such a fool—no better than Elijah in her eyes. She couldn't understand why Marcia always had people standing firmly by her side, elevating her above everyone else, while Kate herself had been
As soon as Marcia stepped out, she let out a deep sigh of relief. She couldn't predict how tonight's events would be spun into stories by tomorrow, but she knew one thing for sure—she had to contact Elijah as soon as she got back to the hotel and explain the situation.She wasn't worried about Elijah himself but was more concerned about rumors reaching his family, which could create unnecessary trouble.Kevin and the others followed closely behind her, their expressions varied but uniformly silent."Patricia..." Booth suddenly spoke, breaking the awkward silence. His deep inhale hinted at hesitation, drawing both Kevin's and Marcia's attention."This whole mess tonight—it was all my fault. If you hadn't stepped in to defend me..." Booth's voice trailed off.Marcia exchanged a look with Kevin, and both of them couldn't help but chuckle.Kevin gave Booth a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Booth, you really are a lovable guy."Booth blinked, confused by the unexpected comment."Booth," Marci
Marcia frowned slightly, instinctively stopping in her tracks."Jeff, where are you headed? We could give you a ride," she said after some hesitation.Jeff looked at Marcia with a faint, knowing smile. "No need. I'm waiting for a friend to pick me up."Marcia opened her mouth to say something else, but Jeff continued, "If you're trying to thank me for what happened in the hall earlier, don't bother. I just said what needed to be said."Marcia was momentarily stunned, but after regaining her composure, she nodded slightly and whispered a soft "thank you" before getting into another car with Kevin."Patricia, what do you think Jeff meant by that?" Kevin frowned, his thoughts uneasy.They weren't familiar with Jeff at all, yet he had stood up for Marcia in front of everyone. It was puzzling."Maybe he just doesn't like Fidel," Marcia speculated."But still, I can't shake the feeling that the name Jeff Delaney sounds familiar," Kevin mused.Marcia shook her head. "If it weren't for Claire
Elijah watched as the smile on Marcia's face froze on the other end of the phone, and he couldn't help but find it amusing."Eli, this is a glass of wine Mr. Jason prepared for you," a woman said softly, her tone shy as she handed a glass of red wine to Elijah. Even through the screen, Marcia had to admit the woman was beautiful.Marcia couldn't help but wonder where Elijah was. Late at night, and this woman, dressed in an oversized silk camisole, had knocked on his door? The implications were hard to ignore.As the thought crossed her mind, Marcia felt an inexplicable discomfort.Elijah instinctively glanced at his phone. Seeing Marcia staring at the screen with wide, curious eyes, he smirked and accepted the wine. Bringing it to his nose, he remarked, "It smells wonderful."The woman giggled shyly. "Thank you."Marcia couldn't hold back and rolled her eyes. He wasn't complimenting you, what's there to thank him for? she thought sourly.Elijah took a sip of the wine, then turned to t
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,