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 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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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'