Andrew took off Alice's dress but paused, seeing her breasts behind nipple cups all red."What's that?" Andrew asked."It's scalded." Alice replied and leaned to kiss him, but he stopped her, looking at the burn marks horrifiedly."Even I know it's a burn, but when did this happen? It doesn't appear to be an old injury; it looks quite recent.""Andrew, let's finish what we started; I can't get over your hot torso." Alice said playfully and touched his chest, but he gripped her both hands and ceased her."Answer me first. It's looking in quite bad shape; you need medical treatment. Let's go to the doctor."Andrew stood and reached for his shirt, but Alice grasped his wrist."Andrew, no need to stress. Although it occurred this morning, the hot water spilled on my dress and innerwear, and so it wasn't too painful. Additionally, I've consulted with my doctor, and it's not a severe issue."Alice smiled, seeing his genuine concern as he kept his worried gaze on her wound."Are you sure, as
"Are you too sleepy or high? I asked you why she turned opportunist in your eyes, out of the blue, when she was close to you till yesterday." Andrew asked sternly.Alice realized she was too harsh and thoughtless and spoke absurdly. She got up hurriedly, and the comforter slipped from her chest, exposing her bare body. Andrew whistled while swapping gazes."Oh, gosh......." Alice pulled the comforter up rashly and scratched the scalded part."Ahh, ouch......." She winched in pain."Easy......" Andrew said that and held her by the shoulder.He placed her on the bed and blew a gentle stream of air over her wound. "You need to watch out, honey."Andrew brought over the first-aid box and carefully administered burn ointment to her breast, while Alice gazed at him with misty eyes. For years, she had never experienced such care. No one had been there to tend to her injuries or illnesses, not her parents or any family members.'He is too good to me, and I always end up hurting him.'"Andrew,
Alice was stunned by Mia's furious scream out of the blue. Bella was always dear to Mia. They shared a close bond and were each other's confidantes. Marie's scolding of Bella left Mia unsettled, and she held some bitterness towards Alice for bringing the matter to light. On her way out for work, she observed Bella's discomfort before Alice and concluded that she was being mistreated. This led her to unleash her frustration, expressing herself in an irrational manner. "Dr. Mia, what's wrong with you?" Skylar asked instead of Alice. "I finally got to see her malicious heart behind this beautiful face. She knows to act well." Mia said it with hatred. "Mia, watch your mouth. Alice is older than you; you can't be disrespectful to your brother's wife." Bella scolded her. "Brother's wife, my foot. You deserve to be Andrew's wife; he would be a lot happier. God knows what spell she casts on him." Looking at the tight-lipped Alice, Skylar couldn't take on Alice's insult anymore and chim
The mansion was filled with the sound of Bella's piercing scream. In haste, the entire family gathered in the living hall, where they found Bella on the last step, a smear of blood on her forehead. "Oh, my daughter, are you alright?" Sophie screamed. "Mom, seriously, does she seem okay to you?" Benjamin exclaimed, as he and Andrew assisted Bella to her room. "Send her to the hospital," Marie said. "No, I'll be taking care of her at home," Mia firmly stated before entering Bella's room. Mia and Benjamin proceeded side by side to the living hall after tending to Bella's injury, where everyone awaited them. "How's Bella?" Sophie asked desperately. "There are no grave injuries, but her damaged leg is in a pretty bad state. She'll have to remain bedridden for a week," Benjamin reported. "Andrew and Alice, join me in my study in an hour," John instructed, then stood and walked off. A somber atmosphere settled over them as they all stood up, preparing to retire to their respective r
John swapped a glance at Alice with a faint smile."Alice, you have no knowledge of the company, yet 12 years ago, I queried Bella with the same questions, and she had all the correct answers. Doesn't that seem peculiar?"Alice squinted her eyes. 'Seems like I disappointed Grandpa.'"Well, it's possible she had all the answers because the company wasn't as expansive back then as it is today," Alice stated in her defense.She's resolute in not allowing Bella to outshine her in matters related to Andrew."Is the monumental growth of the company over the past 12 years the reason you lag behind Bella?" John asked solemnly and raised his eyebrows."Yes..." Alice refuted confidently."I see...." John emphasized his words. "Then I will ask the questions whose answers are unchanged.""Bring it on." Alice will not give up without putting up a fight."Tell me Andrew's birth date.""11th of October.""His favorite color?""Black.""His favorite cuisine?""Sea foods.""Holiday destination he likes
Having finished his talk with Vicky, Andrew headed towards John's study, but he came to an abrupt halt at the door, captivated by John's confession. The revelation of betrayal from the person he held in highest regard left him stunned, but after hearing the full conversation, he couldn't blame him. His grandpa's intentions were solely focused on his welfare, contrasting with Bella, who made a regrettable choice driven by greed for assets. "Alice, grandpa did me a favor by removing Bella from my life," Andrew said with a poker face. Alice studied Andrew's composed expression and sensed the turmoil beneath the surface. She tenderly caressed his arm, whispering, "Let's leave the past behind. Our strength lies in being together, and we should treasure every moment." She sealed her words with a gentle kiss on his lips. "Yes, you are right." Andrew held her shoulder and kissed her. "Ouch, Andrew, what's with all of this sudden attack?" Alice asked between the kisses. "I am in the pro
"Ahh......" Alice woke up with sharp pain all over her body.She fluttered open her eyes, instinctively shielding them from the sharp, piercing sunbeams.She fought to acclimate to the light, forcing her eyes open, only to discover herself sprawled on the mucky earth, encircled by towering trees and untamed underbrush, her body riddled with numerous open wounds and blood seeping out."Ahh, ouch......" Alice let out a low groan as she got to her feet, realizing she was in the midst of the dense woods."Where am I? How did I get here?" Alice mumbled between sobs, and tears rolled down her eyes.Tears fell for a moment, but she swiftly wiped them away. "I must find a way out of this place."Alice looked around in search of her phone but couldn't find it. She felt another wave of disappointment wash over her."No, I will stay motivated."Fisting her hand with determination, Alice mustered her courage, moved ahead, and winced as pain shot through her left knee, a testament to its severe in
Alice unwillingly witnessed the new secret of a member of the Kingston family, which is under wraps from everybody.The scene made her even guiltier for Vicky's accident and Mia's misery."Let's go back." Alice pushed her wheelchair back."What's wrong?" Skylar asked."Skylar, please reach out to my doctor and also arrange a caravan." Alice directed, rapidly propelling her wheelchair back to her room."What? For what, out of the blue?" Skylar asked in astonishment."I want to move away from here; do it promptly." Alice urged, filled with a whirlwind of various thoughts.She pushed the door of her room open, but Skylar halted her.Skylar gripped the handles of the wheelchair and admonished Alice, locking eyes with her. "Are you not thinking straight? Making hasty decisions like this when you should be focusing on resting?"Alice met her gaze, her expression filled with concern. She let out a sigh and confessed, "The adversaries I face are a danger to everyone in Andrew's family. I don'
Listening to lawyer Jones's argument, Alice and Vicky held their heads. They were at a dead end when a sudden voice made them jump in surprise."Pardon the interruption, but I have evidence that exposes Mason Rex not only as a bad father but as a genuinely awful person," Andrew declared with a sense of outrage upon entering the courtroom.Alice and Vicky exchanged surprised glances before turning their attention to Andrew, whose expression was stern and his eyes blazed a fierce red. Even Mason and Jones were visibly shaken, captivated by the intensity emanating from his fiery gaze.The judge glared at him and massaged his temples. "What's going on here? Mr. Kingston, maintain order in the court or face removal. Defense counsel, enlighten us on this new development." His irritation heightened with the persistent interruptions.Vicky was completely in the dark about what Andrew was talking about, rendering him dumbfounded. He looked at Andrew and the judge with a zipped mouth, like a de
"I may not have singled out your name, but to the plaintiff's lawyer, your statement carried significant weight."Vicky's remark triggered laughter in the courtroom, leaving Jones feeling offended."Excuse me, we don't need to play a cheap trick when truth is our ally. Mr. Rex is Emma's biological father, and a parent needs no justification to reclaim their daughter.""Your honor, I earnestly implore the court to weigh Mr. Rex's blood relation to the child and render a decision in his favor. Allow an anguished father to reunite with his daughter."Jones, at this moment, had no recourse but to go to court, relying on Mason's biological fatherhood as the sole influential factor in tilting the case in their favor.Vicky sighed and shook his head, accustomed to Jones's theatrical displays and feigned emotions aimed at swaying the court."What if there's a legitimate reason?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow."What?""What if I propose that even a father like Mason may have a rationale fo
In the courtroom, Paul Rex brought to light a new revelation, a piece of knowledge shared among Alice, Andrew, and Vicky. Yet, their challenge lay in the absence of concrete proof to back up the information they possessed."Point duly noted, Your Honor. Mr. Mason Rex professed a profound love for his ex-wife and conveyed regret for the child. However, this revelation unveils a contradiction—indicating he was never genuinely inclined towards marriage or assuming responsibility for the child but was compelled to do so."Vicky's words stirred a reaction from Mason, who hastily stood up to defend himself. In response, Jones gestured for him to exercise caution and avoid actions that could prove unfavorable in the proceedings."What unfolded next, Mr. Rex?" Vicky shifted his focus back to Paul, encouraging him to pick up where he left off."I deeply regret coercing this troublemaker and hoping he would reform for the well-being of his wife and child. Sadly, my choice subjected the poor wom
Vicky vented his simmering rage over Mason's intricate web of lies about his relationship, a revelation that outpaced even the awareness of his legal representative."Your Honor, the accused asserts a lack of recollection regarding the breakup with Miss Cooper. Nonetheless, the truth emerges: he terminated the relationship upon her refusal to endorse his company as a brand ambassador. This is what he is not in a position to accept. Subsequent revelations exposed his infidelity during the course of their relationship.""Miss Cooper, left with no recourse, exposed his misconduct, resulting in the loss of his company. In retaliation, he targeted Miss Monica after their marriage, subjecting her to a tumultuous and distressing life."Vicky's statement was left incomplete as Jones abruptly rose and began applauding. Departing from his usual objections, he introduced a surprising and unconventional method of interruption that caught everyone off guard."Lawyer Jones, can you please put words
"Your honor, before we commence today's proceedings, Miss Cooper would like to make a request to the court," Vicky stated after bowing to the judge.Mason and his lawyer exchanged glances, and Jones threw them a look that said they were pulling the same stunt, but he made it clear it's not going to fly in court—different day, same old song.The judge gave a nod of approval, granting permission for the request.Alice sauntered up, taking her spot in front of the judge after shooting a quick nod. Feeling the weight of onlookers' stares, she nervously licked her lips, sensing the heat in the room.The seasoned stage and on-camera pro, unafraid in the limelight, is now grappling with stage fright for the first time. However, driven by her love for her daughter, she pushes through.Alice let out a deep breath, mustered her courage, and started speaking. "Your honor, during the previous session, Attorney Jones claimed I'm unfit as a mother for Emma, and even...""Your honor, objection. What
Alice and Andrew stepped out of the elevator onto the 52nd floor of the Royman Hotel that evening, ready to meet Mason. Thanks to Vicky's setup, the ball was in Mason's court."Sunny, any hunch on why Mason opted for our hotel meet-up instead of his office digs?" Alice queried as they strolled in."The thief thinks everybody steals. I reckon Mason Rex's a bit wary, fearing we might have some tricks up our sleeves for this meeting. So, he's strategically set it in our territory to clear his name if anything fishy happens," Andrew mused with a touch of suspicion.He read Mason's cunning mind like an open book."Hmm, you are right.""Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Kingston."Mason awaited them in Andrew's exclusive waiting lounge; spotting their entry, he rose, extending his hand for a shake. Andrew, a bit iffy, eventually gave it the nod."So spill it, Alice, what's the rush for this impromptu meeting? Worried that the verdict tomorrow will swing my way and your little angel, oops, I mean my darli
"Your honor, it's crucial to acknowledge that Miss Cooper opted to prioritize her public image over the well-being of the infant.""That's wrong......" Alice attempted to protest, but Jones kept firing questions with a booming voice. "Why'd you stroll out with the baby solo without giving a heads-up to your folks or security?""I went with Emma to the restroom, but she bolted unexpectedly while I was washing my hands. Despite my quick commands, being small and flickering, the little baby wouldn't listen, so I had to dash after her urgently, without alerting anyone to the sudden twist of events." Alice spilled the beans without holding back."Your honor, it's worth emphasizing that the defendant isn't just self-centered but also an inattentive mother, incapable of looking after a one-year-old child," Jones remarked, a broader smirk evident on his face.Once again, he slyly targeted Alice, preventing her from defending herself. "Miss Cooper, in the interview, did you really discuss a o
Alice and Andrew were stunned to see the director of Sunshine Orphanage appear as Mason's witness."Your honor, I'd like to point out that this woman is Mrs. Green, the director of Sunshine Orphanage—the entity the defendant manipulated to falsely assert her adoption of baby Emma. Yet, Director Green's statement provides a stark contrast," Mr. Jones explained.The judge peered over his glasses at the individuals before him and declared,
"I'm the poor man whose daughter you've absconded with, masquerading your adoption as a virtuous act. You're the very definition of an opportunist," Mason hissed, an insidious smirk creeping across his face."Your words hold no weight. She's my child, and you're nothing but a loathsome fraud and betrayer. I'll ensure the truth prevails in court."Alice couldn't contain herself when he claimed Emma as his own, but when she tried to object, Mason's unscrupulous grin remained unshaken.