Marcia arrived at the café as promised and was just about to step inside when she saw Helen getting out of her car."You're quite punctual," Helen remarked.Marcia gave her a polite smile, and the two women walked into the café. The awkward timing left the place nearly empty, the dim lighting casting a soft glow around them.Amid the soothing background of gentle music, Helen broke the silence. "I invited you here to talk about you and Eli."There was an elegance in Helen's demeanor, though it was tinged with an air of detachment, clearly the mark of someone raised in wealth and refinement.Elijah, it had to be said, bore a striking resemblance to her—at least a good seventy percent of his features mirrored hers.But while Elijah exuded an innate coldness, an almost aloof and distant presence, Helen's every gesture was poised and appropriate.Yet her gaze carried an undeniable pride that was hard to ignore.Marcia looked up at her calmly. "Madam, you may as well speak plainly."Their
After a short wait, Claire arrived."Why did you go out without your wallet?" Claire asked, panting slightly as she sat down."I left in a hurry and forgot. Thanks a lot." Marcia handed her the bill. "It's $223. I'll pay you back when we get home."Claire waved it off. "Don't worry about it. Let's go. By the way, have you eaten yet?"Marcia shook her head. "Not yet. What about you?"Claire shook her head too. "Me neither. Let's go grab something to eat. For some reason, I've been craving spicy food."Pregnancy often changes a woman's tastes, and Claire was no exception. She used to have a sweet tooth and couldn't handle anything spicy, but ever since she got pregnant, she'd developed a surprising love for spicy dishes.The situation with Fidel had been a heavy blow to her, but motherhood brought incredible resilience. For the sake of the baby, Claire had recovered remarkably—both physically and emotionally—and her appetite was impressive.After Marcia was discharged from the hospital,
Marcia and Claire had just sat down at the restaurant when Elijah arrived. To Marcia's surprise, he wasn't alone. He'd brought three other men with him.The most animated of the group was Myron, who immediately grabbed Marcia's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Married, huh? Not bad! I didn't expect you to be this charming!"Marcia shot him a glare. "Of course I am."Myron burst into laughter, giving her a thumbs-up. "That confidence! You're just like Elijah—exactly the same!"Elijah didn't even spare him a glance. "Thanks for the compliment," he said coolly.Myron, annoyed at being outmaneuvered, hooked an arm around Kevin. "Come on, we agreed! Back me up here!"Marcia glanced at the two of them, wondering if they were here to eat or to bicker.Casting a reproachful look their way, she noticed Kevin lifting his glass toward her with a calm smile."Cia, congratulations. Wishing you a happy marriage."Marcia met his gaze, a flicker of guilt surfacing as she remembered the words he'd spok
When they returned to the apartment reeking of alcohol, Elijah was still drunk, clinging to Marcia and refusing to let go.Marcia wanted to fetch a damp towel to wipe his face, but she couldn't move under his weight.With no other choice, she let him pull her onto the sofa, lying there as he rambled on in his drunken stupor.The pleasant scent of Elijah, mingled with alcohol, surrounded Marcia, making her wonder if she was also a little intoxicated.Suddenly curious, Marcia asked, "Elijah, why did you marry me?"Elijah closed his eyes and chuckled. "Because you're beautiful."Marcia rolled her eyes but couldn't help feeling pleased. "How beautiful?"He opened his eyes and studied her for a long moment before answering, "Beautiful enough that I'll never get tired of looking at you."His eyes sparkled under the crystal chandelier, filled with laughter and the haze of intoxication. They reminded Marcia of the finest wine, pulling her into their depths, drowning her again and again."Even
Before heading out, Marcia grabbed the dress from Demon and the shoes Hayden had given her.The dress, slightly frayed at the neckline thanks to Elijah's roughness the previous night, needed repair.She glanced at the designer label and decided to drop it off at a boutique during her lunch break.As for the shoes, though worn once, she figured someone at Demon would appreciate them.Elijah noticed her carrying a paper bag and asked curiously, "What's in there?"Marcia smiled lightly. "Something borrowed that I'm returning."She chose not to mention her meeting with his mother yesterday, avoiding unnecessary conflict.Elijah, assuming it involved Claire, didn't press further.When they went downstairs, Andrew was already waiting to drive them.As a driver, Andrew was competent—discreet and loyal.Still, Marcia couldn't ignore the occasional cautious glances he stole, leaving her a little uneasy.She chalked it up to natural curiosity and didn't overthink it. After all, if Elijah found
The meeting room fell into an awkward silence.Booth, growing anxious, tried to signal Jane with a glance, but she stubbornly held her ground, glaring at Marcia with disdain.Marcia responded calmly, her tone light and composed. "The initial draft of Clearvista's acquisition plan was written by me."Jane froze for a moment, then frowned. "So what? We're the ones doing all the work. It has nothing to do with you. You're just a secretary!"Unbothered, Marcia replied, "And what about it? Does my job title matter here? This acquisition project is crucial, Jane. I hope you can approach it with a level head."She wasn't wrong. Sin Group had never been a company ruled by nepotism. It valued talent above all else.Even a newcomer could rise to a managerial position within months if they proved their abilities. Elijah had a sharp eye for talent, and those he identified often thrived.This keen judgment was one of the reasons Sin Group maintained its position as an industry leader, unrivaled by
Later in the day, Marcia arrived at the boutique with her dress.While waiting for the dress to be mended, she sat in the VIP lounge, lost in thought. What exactly was she insecure about? If people knew about her past, they would undoubtedly conclude she wasn't worthy of Elijah.A divorced woman and someone who couldn't bear children—Marcia sighed, knowing such thoughts were futile. She had never been plagued by these emotions before, but ever since being with Elijah, she felt unworthy of him in every way. Why had Elijah married her? It was a mystery she had no desire to unravel."Miss, your dress is ready," a staff member in a black uniform said, handing her the paper bag.Seeing that Marcia remained seated, the woman carefully unfolded the dress for her inspection. "Miss, what do you think of the repair work?"Marcia glanced at it and nodded. "It's great, thank you."The staff member neatly folded the dress again and handed it back with great care. She couldn't help but sneak a curi
At noon, Marcia arrived at Demon again, only to find its doors tightly shut.She waited outside for a while and spotted someone inside in a cleaning uniform tidying up. Knocking on the glass door, she tried to get their attention."Ma'am, we're not open yet. What brings you here?"Marcia called through the glass, "I need to speak to your boss. Is he here?"Perhaps her voice was a bit too loud because a window on the third floor creaked open, and a disheveled head poked out. Wearing nothing but a robe, Hayden glared at her with an irritated expression."Who is it? What do you want with me?"Marcia looked up to see Hayden's half-exposed chest and his barely contained fury."Do you and Elijah have some kind of vendetta against me? Can't you people leave me alone during the day?" Hayden snapped. He was clearly not a morning person. Draping his robe lazily over his shoulders, he revealed a muscular chest that would have been impressive if not for his sour mood.Marcia remained unfazed. "I'
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,