Vivienne doesn't know if she and Asher have the possibility of becoming family. In the end, Asher bought an LCD TV and placed it in the living room. Vivienne often asks Asher to watch TV, thinking that if he could be exposed to various TV programs, he might become less isolated.Vivienne's cooking skills are average at best. After preparing a simple meal in the kitchen, she planned to bring the food to the living room. However, she discovered Asher standing at the kitchen doorway, silently watching her. Startled, she patted her chest and asked when he had been standing there."Did I startle you?" he walked closer and asked."A little," she replied, picking up two plates of food and crossing past him to the dining table in the living room. Just as she was about to return to the kitchen, a pair of hands suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her into his embrace.Her back was pressed against his chest, and he rested his chin on her shoulder, burying most of his face in h
Vivienne's body trembled as she tried to pull the person's hand down, but he firmly kept her eyes covered, not allowing her to see anything. "Vivi, don't look at him! I am the one you're involved with, so you can't look at him!" His gaze was focused, almost possessive.The way she had looked at the TV screen earlier had made him feel suffocated, as if every breath he took had become painful. Even though she had told him she felt nothing for Ezra, why did he still feel hurt and uneasy?"Are you lying to me?" he whispered lowly in her ear."What?" Her ears felt ticklish, and when her vision was engulfed in darkness, she had a strange sensation as if her world existed only with him."Do you truly feel nothing for Ezra? Or were those words just a lie, a way to deceive me?" he questioned, his voice filled with pain.She paused, taking a deep breath. This time, she carefully pried open his fingers, pulling his hand away.Light flooded her vision again, and Vivienne looked at Asher in front
"Yes, that's what they said on the phone," Vivienne replied. Finally securing a job allowed her to breathe a little easier. If she hadn't found a job quickly after quitting the club, she would have had difficulty covering her living expenses next month."I've never seen someone like you. You have a wealthy boyfriend, yet you're eagerly looking for a job that pays $4,000 a month," Julian remarked. In this city, after deducting rent and expenses, that salary would barely be enough to get by.Vivienne smiled. "If money gets mixed up in a relationship, it feels strange to me." At least, she hoped that both parties would be equals in their relationship."Yes, you're right!" Julian agreed repeatedly.The next day, Vivienne went to the company to sign the contract. The HR manager who had interviewed her initially was now wearing a friendly smile. "Vivienne, you're here. Here's the contract, take a look. If you have any questions, feel free to ask," the manager greeted her."Thank you, Manage
"Is that so?" Asher replied indifferently, without any expression of joy.Fortunately, Vivienne had anticipated this kind of reaction. After knowing each other for so many years, if Asher had shown a different expression, Vivienne might have found it strange."Today, I'll treat you. Let's celebrate!" she suggested. Although she had never asked Asher for anything or money, it was undeniable that Asher usually paid for their meals and other expenses. Vivienne could only occasionally afford expenses at supermarkets or street vendors."Celebrate?" Asher raised an eyebrow slightly."But I can only afford something cheap. I can't afford anything too expensive," she quickly clarified, then asked, "Is there anything you want to eat or do?"He shook his head. It seemed that ordinary things didn't interest him at all.Well, it seemed like asking was futile. Vivienne's gaze fell on a nearby cinema, and she made a decision, "Then let's watch a movie. There's a good one currently playing." Going t
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone fell silent. The bar in question had once been the hottest spot in the city, with powerful connections behind it. But it was suddenly wiped out overnight.Anyone who had spent a long time in the streets knew about this incident. There were rumors linking it to the Montgo family, but no one could say for sure whether it was true or not."Could it be..." someone started hesitantly but couldn't continue. Could that young man from earlier be the one who took down the bar? It seemed impossible, especially considering that the bar had been shut down seven years ago when the young man was just a child."It's him," the boss confirmed with absolute certainty. He had been a bartender at that bar back then, and he still remembered that night vividly. It was this man who barged in, followed by a group of heavily armed police officers, all for the sake of taking away an unconscious woman.And that woman was none other than the one from earlier. Perhaps
"I don't want to," he admitted candidly. "But everything you've said, I want to experience it." He wanted to understand why she liked it, to feel that indescribable something she felt.Vivienne was taken aback, and Asher extended his right hand, hooking his pinky finger with hers. "A hundred years unchanging, you taught me that," he said softly.She was momentarily stunned. Yes, she had taught him that when they were young. Since then, whenever they made a promise, he would use this gesture to seal it.Just like ten years ago, when he promised to set her free. And now, he wanted to make a promise to watch a sports match with her."Next time, we'll go," he said, pressing his thumb against hers and whispering."Okay," she finally snapped out of her daze. The lights around them suddenly dimmed, and the movie started playing on the big screen."Let's watch the movie," she suggested, trying to pull her pinky finger out of his grip, but instead, he tightened his hold. His fingers interlocke
"No, I won't," she assured him.He remained silent for a moment, then slowly released their interlocked fingers. Her hand instantly gained its freedom, gradually slipping away from his grip.She couldn't tell whose sweat was in the palm of her hand anymore—hers or his. Trembling, she reached into her bag and pulled out a tissue, wiping away the sweat in her hand.With lowered eyes, he looked at her wiping her hand and asked, "Am I dirty?"She hesitated, raising her head to look at him. "Why would you say that?""If I'm not, why did you wipe your hand?" he questioned in return.His gaze, deep and intense, made her heart tremble involuntarily. She stammered, explaining in front of him, "I wiped my hand because it was sweaty, not because..." She struggled to explain. She didn't have to explain, but his wounded expression compelled her to clarify."Is that so?" he murmured, raising his hand to hold the back of her head, and his lips pressed against her earlobe. "Then prove it to me.""Pro
The only thing Vivienne could remember was Asher dropping her off at the school gate, and then she ran back to her dormitory as if she were escaping for her life."What's wrong with you? Your face is so red," Julian looked at her friend curiously and asked."It's nothing," Vivienne quickly replied, even though there was a lingering sensation in her palms from that moment, even through the fabric of her clothes.That guy, oh my god, what was she thinking?Vivienne forcefully shook her head, put down her bag, and walked into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror—a flushed face, a forehead glistening with a thin layer of sweat from running, and a pair of eyes filled with complicated emotions.Is this the feeling of a pounding heart, is it love?"Vivi, your mom called earlier. She wants you to call her back when you get a chance," Julian shouted from outside."I know," Vivienne hurriedly responded. She splashed her face with cold water, walked out of the bathroom, and called h
When Sheila Montgo's baby was born, Asher felt a little disappointed because the child's appearance showed no resemblance to her mother.In Asher's daydreams, he hoped his daughter would look more like Vivienne. However, being a newborn, with wrinkled skin and all, she simply looked like a little monkey.As Sheila grew day by day, her facial features became more distinct, and she started to resemble Asher more and more. Despite Asher's initial disappointment, Vivienne was delighted, especially when she saw the two pairs of eyes, one big and one small, staring at her. It gave her a sense of accomplishment.It was after Sheila's birth that Vivienne learned about the Montgo family's blood curse. Asher took the initiative to tell her, and the revelation left Vivienne utterly shocked, like a storm at sea.The Montgo family's blood curse meant that in the next generation of Montgo children, one of them would inherit it. Although Vivienne felt uneasy and worried, when Sheila turned five, the
Compared to the newborn baby, Nelson was more concerned about Viola. After she was brought back to her hospital room, he never left her side. After the baby was cleaned up, it was brought to the bedside, lying next to Viola.The little baby closed its eyes. Was this his and Viola's child? A rush of tenderness surged in Nelson's heart. Would the child resemble him or Viola? If possible, he hoped the child would resemble Viola more.Just as he was thinking about this, the baby suddenly moved, half-opening its eyes and then bursting into wailing cries. Viola, who had been sleeping, woke up because of the baby's crying."Bring the baby to me; she must be hungry, and I want to breastfeed her," Viola said.Only then did Nelson realize that she had woken up. Following her instructions, he stiffly picked up the baby. In that moment of holding the soft little body, he felt an indescribable sensation.Viola couldn't sit up at the moment, so she needed to lie down to breastfeed the baby. Nelson
The day before Viola's due date, she was admitted to the hospital and underwent various routine checks. On the following day, Viola remained calm and even flipped through magazines before entering the operating room.In contrast, Nelson was visibly more anxious and approached the doctors several times, asking about various possible emergency situations during childbirth, even though they had already explained them to him many times.When Viola was wheeled into the operating room, Nelson's whole body tensed up. He stood outside the room, staring at the closed door as if he were a statue.Anyone could see how nervous he was, and as time passed, Nelson's complexion grew paler.Viola was considered an older mother, and despite the best doctors that the Montgo family had arranged and even with a caesarean section, there were still risks.Sebastian noticed Nelson's anxious state and gently patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Viola and the baby will be fine."But Nelson remained motionless, h
"I..." Viola hadn't finished her sentence when Nelson's lips pressed against hers, stopping the words that were about to come out. His tongue swiftly entered her mouth, stirring her saliva, and he took her tongue into his mouth, biting it as if venting all his frustrations.Though her tongue wasn't bleeding, it hurt terribly, and her lips also throbbed with pain from the pressure of his lips. She tried to push him away, but his hands easily restrained her wrists."Mmm... Hmm..." Viola initially struggled, but she didn't dare to move too much, afraid of hurting the child in her belly. Giving up on resisting, she allowed Nelson to kiss her.He kissed her with his eyes closed, his long, thick eyelashes casting a heavy shadow on his eyelids. Meanwhile, she kept her eyes open, staring at his face that was now closer than ever before.He deepened the kiss, seeming to release pent-up emotions, indulging and losing himself in the sensation.When he finally ended the kiss, Viola knew she must
When Viola returned to the Montgo mansion, Sebastian looked at her with a look of disbelief as she stood there with a big belly. Before leaving, Viola had told her family that she was sent to work in another city by the hospital, and her family didn't suspect anything. They just advised her to take care of herself while outside."How many months pregnant are you?" Sebastian's voice sounded."Almost 8 months," Viola replied honestly."How is your health? You're a doctor yourself, so you should know the risks of having a child at this age," Sebastian worriedly asked. After the shock, his main concern now was his sister's well-being."I know, but there shouldn't be any major problems if it's a cesarean section," Viola said. For women like her who have never given birth before, a cesarean section would be more suitable than a natural birth."Why didn't you stay at home?" Sebastian asked."Because I wanted to clear my mind and quietly find a place to give birth," without getting entangled
Since the day they parted at the hospital, Nelson withdrew the surveillance around her, and he didn't want to know anything about her. Later, when he tried to find Viola, he couldn't locate her no matter how hard he tried. Until one day, Mort brought news about her. It turned out that Viola had gone to a remote village the next day and had been living there for several months.The car sped along the road. Viola, Viola! Nelson kept repeating her name in his heart. She was so close, only two hours away... no, an hour and a half, and he could see her!He had so many words he wanted to say to her. He wanted to tell her not to try to avoid him, that he could endure her disgust, her indifference, and even her love for her Dependence on Fate. But... he couldn't endure not seeing her!Ten years ago, when she disappeared from his world, even though he aged overnight, he could wait for her to come back. But now, after she vanished, he had lost even the patience to wait.He couldn't endure it li
Nelson suddenly laughed, his laughter was cold, each laugh feeling like a chilling cold wind blowing across his cheeks.After a moment, his laughter ceased, and he stared straight at her, his voice icy to the extreme, "No regrets! I, Nelson, believe that I can do anything for you, but there's one thing I can't do. Viola, it's not up to you to decide when it's over! It may be over for you, but for me, it's not over yet!""What do you want to do?" His gaze and tone made her feel uneasy."Viola, unless you die, I'll follow you to the end, no matter what!" He said each word deliberately, like a bolt of thunder striking her mind, shaking her heart.She was stunned, and her heart pounded wildly. Did she make a mistake? Did she make a mistake? "To the end"... he actually said such words. Perhaps she had pushed him to the brink for him to say such ruthless words. Or should she say that she had extinguished all of his hopes?Before she could speak, Nelson had already turned around and left the
In the obstetrics and gynecology operating room, he ran as if he had gone mad, his handsome face showing anxiety, unease, and panic.If those who knew Nelson were to see him in this state, they would undoubtedly be shocked. The composed and calm man would reveal such an expression!The light was on at the entrance of the operating room, but among the crowd waiting outside, he didn't see that familiar figure.Is she inside the operating room? His heart clenched tightly, feeling the intensifying unease.Nelson rushed toward the operating room, and the nurse at the door tried to stop him, "Sir, there's a surgery in progress, you can't just go in like this!""Get out of my way!" He coldly retorted, pushing the nurse aside. The fierce aura emanating from him made the nurse dumbfounded. Though he was undeniably handsome, he looked more like a ferocious demon at that moment.Nelson charged toward the operating room again, and this time, the other nurses and attendants reacted. They bravely s
One month later, when Viola was at the hospital working, she suddenly felt nauseous and started vomiting. It was then that she realized she might be pregnant. She went to the pharmacy and bought a pregnancy test kit. Looking at the two bars on the test kit, her body felt a chill.Is she pregnant? Although pregnancy test kits might not always be accurate, the chances of them being wrong were very low. And now, she had tested with more than one kit, and they all showed that she was pregnant.Viola was usually calm and composed, even when dealing with family matters that made her anxious and worried, she could still make quick judgments. But now, she really didn't know what to do. She never imagined that one day she would be carrying Nelson's child!Back in her office, Viola lowered her head, looking at her still-flat abdomen. Was there really a life growing in her uterus? But right now, other than experiencing morning sickness, she didn't feel anything else. It even made her feel like t