"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
In the car, Marcia stole a nervous glance at Elijah, feeling slightly annoyed at her own impatience. She worried that her earlier remarks might have raised his suspicions."Patricia..."Elijah suddenly spoke, making Marcia sit up straighter."Sir," she replied respectfully.She could feel sweat forming in her palms as she looked into Elijah's somewhat indifferent eyes."You have many acquaintances in Liverpool."This statement was not a question; it was a declaration.Marcia's palms became clammy, but she steadied herself. "Sir, I—""I have no interest in your past," Elijah interrupted her, a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone. "I just didn't expect you to be such a sharp-tongued woman."Marcia was momentarily taken aback, left speechless as she lowered her head in silence.Elijah watched her with an amused expression, his eyes revealing depths that were hard to decipher. "You look so cold before; I see that every day. So, which one is the real you?"Marcia found Elijah's demeanor to
Seeing Drew awkwardly standing at the door, Elijah surprisingly asked, "What brings you here?"Drew hurried to Elijah's desk and said politely, "Elijah, it's an honor to meet with you privately."He reached out to shake Elijah's hand but noticed Elijah merely raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed, displaying a faint look of disdain.Some people's disdain can provoke defiance or irritation, but Elijah's dismissive expression left Drew feeling no anger whatsoever.Elijah had the air of someone who looked down on everyone else, confident in his superiority.Drew quickly retracted his hand and ruffled his hair, attempting to appear nonchalant. "I sincerely apologize for last night. I didn't expect Alan to suddenly get drunk..."Elijah's impatience was evident. "Is that the only reason you came to here?""Ah, no! I came to apologize and also to see if you're free for dinner tonight?" Drew offered. "I couldn't sleep all night because of the unpleasantness; it really bothered me."Elijah's sha
Marcia's expression changed as she turned to see two familiar figures: Alan, and the woman clinging to him, who wasn't Kate.The woman in Alan's arms was clearly well-made up, her heavily powdered face appearing exceptionally pale under the lights. She wore a pink dress, looking sweet and innocent, but there was a hint of seduction in her eyes.Seeing Alan stare intently at Elijah and Marcia, the woman appeared puzzled about their identities. "Alan, let's go eat! Didn't you say today is a special good day?"Marcia clenched her fists beneath the table, unable to contain her anger. That "special good day" was the anniversary of her father's death!Alan cleared his throat and pulled away from the woman, approaching Elijah. "Sir, I apologize for last night. I hope you can forgive me."Elijah's cold gaze showed no warmth. He pursed his lips and replied flatly, "I don't know you. You've interrupted my meal with my companion."Alan's expression darkened, and he shot a menacing look at Marcia
A warm hand reached out and gently wrapped around Marcia, pulling her close."I only stepped away for a moment, and you've already gotten into trouble, little troublemaker!"Elijah's tone was unusually affectionate. The hand resting on her shoulder tightened, sending a real, palpable strength through her that made Marcia momentarily dizzy.How long had it been since someone held her like this?Unable to help herself, she looked up into Elijah's eyes.They were always so cold and calm, but at that moment, a hint of warmth and intense focus shone through, nearly drawing her in.Elijah smiled slightly at her but then noticed the revealing neckline of her outfit.His brow furrowed as he swiftly removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, casting a cold glance at Alan. "It seems I've been away too long; someone has forgotten the name 'Elijah Sinclair.'"Pag, who had been glaring at Marcia, turned pale at the mention of "Elijah Sinclair." Her legs buckled, and she stumbled back dow
As Marcia stepped out of the restaurant, Andrew was already waiting with the car parked at the entrance.When he saw Marcia wearing Elijah's jacket, he pretended not to notice, not even glancing her way.Yet, this pretense made Marcia feel even more uncomfortable.She instinctively tightened the jacket around her, catching a faint whiff of Elijah's cologne, which made her heart flutter."Patricia, you won't need to attend the meeting later," Elijah said."Why not?" Marcia asked, her large eyes filled with confusion as she looked up at him."Go home and change," Elijah replied calmly.Marcia's expression shifted slightly. "What about the meeting notes?""There has more than one secretary," Elijah said, frowning slightly. "Are you really going to attend the meeting dressed like that?"Marcia paused, lowering her head in response. "Understood, sir."The car fell into a heavy silence.As they neared Azure, Elijah finally spoke up, "Andrew, take her back to the villa, and come back to pick
"Hey, where are you going? Do you need a ride?"A male voice came from a half-open car window.Marcia instinctively shook her head, a bit wary. "No, thank you."The man didn't seem to mind. "Well, take care then. It'll take at least an hour to walk to the city center," he said, starting his engine to leave.Marcia paused, looking down at her bare, dirty feet. "Wait!" she called out.He slammed on the brakes, slightly annoyed. "Can you just finish your sentence in one go?"Feeling embarrassed, Marcia quickly added, "I'll pay you if you can take me to Clayton Square.""Oh, going there, huh? That'll cost you three times the fare," the man chuckled, unaffected by her reaction."Why? You just said you could give me a ride!" Marcia frowned, not wanting to be taken advantage of."You refused before, didn't you?" he replied, grinning. "Besides, a ride isn't free. If you took an Uber from here, it would cost a lot, too. People who shop at Clayton Square are usually wealthy."Not wanting to arg
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,