Her hand fumbled across the bed, finally reaching the bedside lamp. "You lunatic! It's your fault, not mine. Why do you always blame others? Kate left with someone else—what does that have to do with me? Let go of me!"
She rolled her eyes in defiance, but her arms were too weak to resist. Just a little more, and she could grab the lamp...
Alan's eyes burned crimson with rage. "It's all your fault! I was fine with Kate before you came along! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have given her to Harold. That bastard said he just wanted her for one night, but now he won't return her! He's no different from Elijah—both beasts! No, fools! Secondhand goods, and yet they enjoy it so much! Is every woman I've been with so desirable? Marcia, tell me—who's better, huh?!"
He lost all reason, furiously trying to tear off Marcia's pants. But in his drunken state, he couldn't manage. Frustrated, he pressed against her through her clothes and shouted, "Say it!
Marcia gently touched her belly, a faint smile curling at the corners of her mouth.After three years of marriage, finally, she got pregnant!If her husband, Alan, knew the news, he would be overjoyed, right? And Alan's mother wouldn't come over to scold her anymore!With this thought, Marcia couldn't help but urge, "Please hurry up. I'm in a rush."The taxi sped through the rainy night and finally came to a stop in front of an extravagant villa. Marcia, beaming, opened the door and walked inside.She had planned to be away on a business trip for a week, but now she was back a day early. Alan would surely be surprised to see her, especially since she had an enormous piece of news to share.With a sweet smile, Marcia quietly made her way to the upstairs bedroom."Honey... come on... faster!" A sultry voice floated from the room.Marcia froze; that voice sounded so familiar. Her hand paused on the doorknob."Don't rush, baby! I'm not letting you go today!""Ah, honey, when are you going
Marcia wiped away her tears and stood outside the emergency room, feeling a mix of anger and fear, overwhelmed by confusion and helplessness.Suddenly, the emergency room door opened, and William was pushed out by a nurse, wearing an oxygen mask.His face was pale, twisted, and lifeless, as if he had just emerged from a coffin. The stroke had robbed him of speech, but his weary eyes fixed on the bruises on Marcia's face, and he struggled to speak, only to choke on his own saliva.Tears streamed down Marcia's face again. "Dad, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have... ignored your advice and married Alan. I'm sorry..."William trembled, pointing at the bruises on Marcia's face, and tears rolled down his cheeks.Marcia forced herself to help her father back to his room. William pointed at her face, a mix of saliva and tears running down, completely unlike the commanding figure he once was.Marcia felt a pang of sorrow but managed to smile weakly. "Dad, I'm fine. I just... fell..."William'
The next morning, Marcia woke up frozen, lying on the cold floor with her arms wrapped around her belly. Pain shot through her body like daggers.She struggled to get up, desperate to return to the office and tell her father everything. But when she tried to open the bedroom door, she found it locked from the outside. Panic surged within her as she shouted, "Let me out, Alan! Let me out!"No one answered...The silence of the room was suffocating.She banged on the door, her voice growing more frantic with each cry. "Alan! You bastard! Why are you locking me in here?""Let me out!"After two days without food or water, Marcia's voice was hoarse from shouting. She lay lifeless on the bed, despair flooding her heart.Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Alan's mother, Dinah, a short, stout woman, rushed in.She quickly approached the bed, grasping Marcia's frail body. "Sign this!" she demanded.Marcia's throat burned painfully. "Help me..." I'm pregnant...But before she could finish, Di
For the next five days, Marcia lay in bed, her pale face even whiter than the hospital sheets.Her eyes were open, yet unfocused; her already gaunt face had sunken even further, making her look ancient and devoid of life.Calvin entered the room again, unable to hold back his emotions as he approached her bedside. "Cia, please eat something. The doctor said you need to build up your strength..."His eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault for being late."He reached out to take her hand but hesitated, withdrawing. Marcia lay motionless, not even shedding a single tear.Calvin wished she would scream and cry; this version of Marcia made him feel that she was alive, yet she had died along with her father and the child she carried.Calvin was startled by the emptiness in Marcia's gaze.He fixed his stare on her and gritted his teeth, saying, "Marcia Roberts, pull yourself together! Are you really going to let Alan take everything from you? What about your pride? Yo
Liverpool.Alan had been having a rough month. He had been the dominant player in the environmental industry in Liverpool, enjoying unprecedented success over the past two years as he secured city contracts. But suddenly, a new company emerged to compete with him.Projects he thought were in the bag fell through, and the Solar Group, with which he had been working seamlessly, abruptly changed their stance.Tonight, Alan had specifically booked dinner at Röski, wanting to uncover the background of this company that dared to encroach on his territory."Matthew, we've been partners for years; we're friends," Alan sighed, taking a drag of his cigarette. "What's going on with Azure Group?"Matthew, the VP of Solar Limited, a tall, thin man in his thirties with a bald head, downed the remaining red wine in his glass and said irritably, "Alan, it's not that I don't want to tell you. I genuinely don't know!"Seeing Alan's expression darken, Matthew hurriedly added, "Drew did intend to sign a
Alan rushed to the elevator and grabbed her arm, shouting, "MARCIA, you're still alive?!"The short-haired woman looked at him coldly, her brows slightly furrowed. "Sir, you're drunk. Please let me go."Furious, Alan retorted, "You think just because you changed your hairstyle, I wouldn't recognize you? How dare you come back, you BITCH!"He tightened his grip, but the woman struggled and said impatiently, "If you don't let go, I'll call the police!"Before Alan could respond, a familiar voice came from his right. "Alan? Have you had too much to drink?"Drew was also in the elevator. He gently patted Alan's shoulder and whispered, "Alan, you must be mistaken. This young lady is Ms. Patricia Roberts, Although the names are somewhat similar, she is not your ex-wife."Alan paused, suddenly realizing there was another man in the elevator. He was dark-eyed, with thin lips pressed tight, looking at Alan with evident annoyance."Let her go!" the man commanded coldly. The tone was firm enough
"What?"Marcia looked up in disbelief, her voice unsteady."I've reviewed the acquisition proposal. We can discuss it tonight," Elijah said, his cold gaze meeting her surprised one, his tone tinged with impatience. "With the new company opening tomorrow, I don't want anyone from Solar attending. Pass the word, and rearrange the reception."Marcia let out a sigh of relief. How could she have thought Elijah's invitation to stay the night implied something else? After all, the idea of a boss and his secretary getting involved seemed almost... expected.But still..."Sir, is it wise to cancel Solar's attendance at the last minute?" she asked, her tone calm and analytical. "Solar is one of the most established environmental services companies. We've already announced the partnership before the launch. A sudden change could impact the stock price."A faint glimmer of approval flashed in Elijah's eyes, though he scoffed. "Are you suggesting our success depends on Solar?""No, sir. Solar is me
Perhaps it was the feeling of finally drawing closer to her goal that allowed Marcia to sleep soundly that night, free from insomnia or nightmares.When she got up, she felt refreshed, joy shining in her eyes and on her brow, especially at the thought of where she would go today—her heart couldn't help but leap.She had deliberately chosen a black suit, finally mustering the courage to see him after two years...Would he blame her?But with that thought, her heart sank, and the joy in her eyes faded.After a moment of daze, she suddenly stood up from the bed, feeling light-headed.Ever since her discharge from the hospital two years ago, her health had been poor, especially suffering from severe anemia; breakfast was a must.Taking a few deep breaths to ease her dizziness, Marcia slowly made her way out of the guest room.It was clear there was nowhere nearby to buy breakfast, so she would have to make something herself.She glanced furtively at the silent second floor before quietly e
Her hand fumbled across the bed, finally reaching the bedside lamp. "You lunatic! It's your fault, not mine. Why do you always blame others? Kate left with someone else—what does that have to do with me? Let go of me!"She rolled her eyes in defiance, but her arms were too weak to resist. Just a little more, and she could grab the lamp...Alan's eyes burned crimson with rage. "It's all your fault! I was fine with Kate before you came along! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have given her to Harold. That bastard said he just wanted her for one night, but now he won't return her! He's no different from Elijah—both beasts! No, fools! Secondhand goods, and yet they enjoy it so much! Is every woman I've been with so desirable? Marcia, tell me—who's better, huh?!"He lost all reason, furiously trying to tear off Marcia's pants. But in his drunken state, he couldn't manage. Frustrated, he pressed against her through her clothes and shouted, "Say it!
Meanwhile, back in his room, Booth snapped out of his daze.Covered in sweat and grime, he had no interest in showering after his conversation with Jane. Instead, he slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly into the distance.It was unclear how long he sat there before irritation drove him to his feet. Booth stormed into the bathroom, peeled off his shirt, and splashed cold water onto his face. Suddenly, something didn't feel right.Jane was staying on the 17th floor—that much he remembered clearly. So why had he seen her waiting for the elevator on the 22nd floor? This was a hotel, not a crowded office building where people often rode the elevator in the wrong direction just to secure a spot.A suspicion crept into Booth's mind—Jane was hiding something from him. He couldn't explain the feeling, but his instincts rarely failed him.Pulling out his phone, he tried calling her, only to find her phone was turned off."Damn it,"
Calvin walked into the hotel lobby and spotted the manager, Charles, speaking on the phone at the front desk.The moment Charles saw Calvin, he hung up immediately and greeted him respectfully. "Sir, would you like me to arrange a car for you?"Calvin raised an eyebrow. "Your efficiency is quite impressive.""My apologies for earlier, sir. I hope you'll forgive us," Charles said with a polite smile.Calvin replied casually, "You were just doing your job, ensuring the guests are taken care of. By the way, she...""Please rest assured, sir. We'll take excellent care of her. Mr. Elijah has already instructed us," Charles responded quickly, knowing exactly who Calvin was referring to.Calvin chuckled. "Seems like he's not too busy in America.""He's just concerned about his wife, that's all. Sir, this way, please. Your car is ready." Charles gestured respectfully. Calvin glanced in the direction Charles indicated, seeing a black Mercedes-Benz van parked at the entrance.Calvin gave Charle
Jane reached out to steady Marcia's back and said softly, "Sir, my name is Jane. May I ask for yours? I joined Sin Corporation the same year as Patricia—quite the coincidence, isn't it?"Calvin frowned slightly at Jane's sudden familiarity but answered curtly, "Calvin."Unbothered by his aloofness, Jane smiled and scanned the room numbers as they walked. "Oh, here it is—2711! Calvin, I almost forgot. Do you have her room card? Without it, we can't get in."After a moment of hesitation, Calvin handed Marcia's bag to Jane. "It should be in her bag. Check inside."Jane accepted the bag cheerfully and rummaged through it. "Found it!"She held up the card and swiped it against the door lock. With a soft beep, the door to 2711 clicked open."Come in, Calvin," Jane said, stepping aside.Calvin nodded and entered quickly, not noticing that Jane discreetly slipped the room card into her own pocket instead of returning it to the bag."Lay her down on the bed," Jane suggested. She glanced at Cal
Calvin didn't drive. Partly because he had been drinking, and partly because it had been a long time since he had been this close to Marcia.Marcia was light as a feather on his back as he slowly carried her toward the hotel.He had grown used to keeping track of Marcia's every move, but her heart had always been out of his reach.As a child, Marcia would cling to his arm with a sweet smile, half-coquettish, half-pleading, as she said, "Calvin, when I grow up, let's get married, okay?"She was just speaking innocent words of a child, but he took them seriously.Her casual remark stayed with him all these years. He had waited for her to grow up, imagining her as his perfect bride. But when she finally did, she showed up holding Alan's hand."Calvin, this is Alan. I...I want to marry him. You're the most important person to me, so you're the first to know," she said.Back then, Alan was a nobody, his humble demeanor barely concealed by his clean, smiling face.Calvin couldn't recall wha
Some people completely lose their memory once they get drunk.After just three glasses of red wine, Marcia had already lost all self-control.Kevin was slightly better off, still holding on to a sliver of rationality as Booth supported him. Kevin managed to exchange a few polite words with Bill and Cliff, ensuring they left the Cote Bistro with the contract in hand.Only after confirming its authenticity did Kevin collapse onto the sofa in the lobby, refusing to move no matter how hard Booth tried.After a chaotic mess, Booth entrusted Kevin to the lobby manager and went back to look for Marcia, only to find Calvin already carrying her. "I'll take her back to the hotel," Calvin said indifferently before striding off.Booth instinctively wanted to follow but was stopped by a waiter. Apparently, someone else had passed out in the private room.Pushing open the door, Booth found Myron slumped awkwardly in a corner, dozing.What's worse than one drunk person? Two drunk people—and worse st
Kevin's eyes were slightly red, but he let out a hearty laugh. "Look at what you're saying. It's an honor for Azure to have you both here today!"With that, he downed another glass of red wine.Marcia hadn't expected him to drink so heavily and looked at him with concern. Just as she was about to intervene, Myron gently shook his head. "Gentlemen, Kevin is like a brother to me. We're mainly here to catch up today, so I won't say too much. Let me also raise a glass to you both! Even though Eli isn't here, I hope you'll consider working with us on my behalf."After speaking, Myron downed his glass in one go. This time, Bill and Cliff clinked glasses with him and took a sip of their own drinks.Bill set his glass down and chuckled. "Myron, I'll toast with you today, but next time, you'd better bring a wife, or marry Nancy already! Otherwise, don't even think about getting me to drink again."Cliff, after finishing his glass, was stopped by Alison, who took over drinking on his behalf.Ma
After laughing, Marcia felt she had been too distant with Calvin, so she smiled at him and said, "Calvin, since you've returned to the country, I haven't properly hosted you. When are you heading back to Liverpool? Let me treat you to a meal before then.""I'll contact you after I get there," Calvin replied with a gentle smile, raising his glass toward her.Marcia nodded firmly and responded enthusiastically, "Alright."Just then, there was a knock at the door.Knock, knock, knock...As they were chatting, Booth pushed the door open and entered."Ma'am, everyone has arrived!" Booth announced.Marcia and Kevin exchanged a glance before quickly heading toward the door. Three individuals entered slowly as introductions were made, and the group exchanged pleasantries before taking their seats with smiles all around.Due to Elijah's influence, the guests were exceptionally polite. Myron also played the perfect mediator, lightening the atmosphere with a few jokes, making everyone laugh.Mar
Calvin looked at Marcia's surprised expression and let a faint smile tug at the corners of his lips. "Are you really that shocked to see me?" he asked softly.Marcia shook her head with a light laugh. "I should be asking you that! You disappeared from the hospital that day without a word. What brings you here?""Elijah personally invited me. It's hard to say no to his invitations, don't you think?" Calvin chuckled. "I'm here representing Shine Glow Group."Kevin, who had been wearing a playful expression, paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow curiously. "SG Group?""The owner of SG, John Linton, is my uncle. He's not feeling well and specifically asked me to attend in his place," Calvin explained, extending a hand toward Kevin. "I'm Calvin, Marcia's childhood friend."Marcia couldn't help but laugh. "We grew up as neighbors. He's closer to me than a real brother. But wait—how did I not know John was your uncle? You don't even share the same last name!""It's through my mother's side