This time, there was no one stopping their divorce.Elaine knew that Renee wouldn't have given up so easily if she hadn't been heartbroken. But even though she understood, it still hurt. After Renee left, Elaine left as well. She drove around aimlessly, not wanting to go back to the Smith family home or her own house. Suddenly, an idea struck her: she should have a place of her own. It didn't need to be big or luxurious, just a place where she could retreat and be undisturbed.She was almost excited about the idea and couldn't wait to buy a small house. Since it was too late to do that at the moment, she checked into the nearest hotel and booked a suite.She turned off her phone, sat on the carpet with a laptop on her lap, and within reach were some potato chips and a drink. At that moment, the world seemed quiet, as if it belonged to her alone.After researching for a while, she jotted down details of the houses she was interested in and planned to visit them when she had the time. R
Renee and Mason's divorce proceedings went exceptionally smoothly, without any disputes over property division or children. No crying, no yelling, no arguing.Mason handed something to Renee. She saw a bank card in his hand and couldn't help but smile. Money was never what she lacked. "No need," she said, walking past him without a second glance.Seeing her resolute figure, Mason took a few steps forward and grabbed Renee's arm, placing the bank card into her hand. "Just take it!"What was this? Money to ease his guilty conscience? Renee had maintained her composure for three years, but sometimes, she wanted to be a bit reckless. She decided to leave an impression in his memory this time. "No, thank you!"She tossed the bank card back to him, observing the tight crease between his brows caused by anger. A sense of vindication welled up in her. This time, she also wanted to leave him with a proud and beautiful back.The sunlight was beautiful. The reflection of the woman's stunning fig
Elaine deliberately spoke in a veiled manner, knowing that Aaron could understand her. She was curious to see how he would handle this situation. She lowered her head, and her fingers brushed over the reddish marks on her wrist, her eyes shimmering with tears. It was time to play the role of the victim.Sure enough, Aaron's eyes darkened with understanding. There were only a few people who knew about the photos, and besides her and her daughter, he couldn't think of anyone else who would care so much about these things. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes briefly, and he stood up abruptly. "I will make her confess."He immediately took out his phone and called Sarah, his voice far from its usual calm. "Come to my house right away!""Okay, I'm coming," Sarah replied.At the Garcia residence, just ten minutes before Aaron's call, Melissa had handed her a USB drive containing the compromising photos and videos. Sarah had been about to call Aaron herself, so how could she not be happy
Elaine ultimately didn't call the police; she gave up because she knew Aaron had once again chosen to protect her. Not wanting to see the two of them together, she went upstairs to her workspace.Her workspace was also in chaos. Blueprints, fabrics, design catalogs, and various tools were scattered all over the floor, a mess similar to the aftermath of a storm. She gazed silently at this scene, her anger almost uncontrollable.Since she couldn't rely on Aaron, she could only rely on herself.Amid the mess, she found an inconspicuous notebook. She flipped it open to a section with a few lines of numbers and names. She stared at them for a while, then resolutely took out her phone and dialed a number corresponding to one of the sequences."Uncle Yang, yes, it's Elaine. I have something I'd like to trouble you with. Okay, tomorrow morning at ten. Alright, I'll visit you."After the call, she glanced at the chaos around her. She had no intention of tidying up. Instead, she headed back to
Aaron ultimately didn't explain anything further, but judging from his confident tone, Elaine had a faint feeling that there might be something happening behind the scenes that she wasn't aware of. This certainty from Aaron was reassuring. She wouldn't have to worry constantly about exposing her true identity.She sat on the sofa, watching TV, while the housekeeper stood nearby, staring at her intently. Whether Elaine took a stroll in the garden or went to the kitchen, the housekeeper followed her closely, her eyes filled with fearful suspicion. Elaine decided to retreat to her workshop for some peace and quiet.The housekeeper paced back and forth at the top of the stairs, clearly still suspicious. When she saw Aaron coming down, she approached him anxiously. "Mr. Brown, are you absolutely certain that they are not the same person? I can't help but think they look exactly alike, especially when I saw her walking in the yard just now. From the entrance, she looked just like the former
Her words struck like a heavy blow to his heart, and Aaron remained silent for a long time. He didn't say anything, and Elaine didn't want to either. They both silently contemplated the complex dynamics between the three of them, which had become so convoluted."I've said I'll take care of you," Aaron emphasized once more.Elaine had heard it countless times, but since she had played a significant role in their marriage, and since divorce was not an option, some things needed to be discussed openly. She took a deep breath and calmly said, "You still don't understand. I'm on the opposite side from Sarah. So, how could you possibly take care of both of us at the same time? I don't want to make things difficult for you. Feel free to protect Sarah, but please, while doing that, don't come and question me about why I don't trust you anymore. My heart is not an ocean, boundless and forgiving."With these words, Elaine felt exhausted. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She kne
Elaine recognized the woman who had hugged her as Janet, her former colleague from the hotel where she used to work. Janet was essentially her only friend. Elaine hadn't expected to run into her, let alone see her with Calvin."You've got the wrong person," Elaine said as she gently pushed Janet away. She tried to make her expression look more natural while shifting her gaze toward the man not far away. With a calm demeanor, she greeted him, "Mr. Jones.""What's the matter?" Janet slapped her on the chest again. "Are you really going to play this game with me? You're Emily, aren't you? Don't tell me you don't remember me. I'm Janet. We used to live together. Have you really forgotten?"Elaine smiled modestly. "You must be mistaken. I'm Elaine.""How is that possible? You're clearly Emily," Janet insisted.Elaine tried to explain again, but finally, she had no choice but to say, "If you don't believe me, you can ask Mr. Jones.""Is that so?" Janet turned to look at Calvin. "Boss, is sh
At this moment, Elaine's eyes turned slightly red, and there was a warm feeling in her heart.Seeing that she had accepted the bank card, Aaron's expression improved significantly. His gaze swept lightly across her workspace, then settled back on her serene and beautiful face. "Don't overwork yourself. Get some rest early," he said."Okay," she replied.There must have been more work for him to attend to, as Aaron soon returned to his study. Elaine stood still for a moment but then, feeling that she had something to say, she entered the kitchen. She assumed that after a day of tranquility, things were about to be disrupted again."I just want to track down those men in black," she offered an explanation proactively.Aaron walked over. Elaine thought he had already heard the news, but it seemed he wanted to hear her explanation firsthand. He stood there silently, which sent a shiver down her spine.Elaine began to move her lips, attempting to explain herself. Suddenly, Aaron spoke, "Di
In the following weeks, Lance frequently invited Sylvia to meet up. Gradually, Lance developed feelings for Sylvia and decided to confess his feelings. However, Sylvia felt he was too young for her and turned him down.A few days later, Sylvia was taking a break in her office. She heard footsteps approaching the door and assumed it was a nurse coming to remind her about a patient. She set down her coffee cup and stood up. But when the door swung open, it wasn't a nurse who entered; it was Lance, dressed in a suit and holding roses.Almost reflexively, Sylvia's heart skipped a beat. She pretended to flip through patient records and casually asked, "Why are you here?"Not receiving an immediate response from Lance, Sylvia raised her head to find him standing less than two meters away, holding roses and looking directly at her.Lance said, "You asked me to think it over carefully, and I did that after I went back."His expression was incredibly earnest, and Sylvia's fingers, gripping the
Seeing the young man staring at her, Sylvia wasn't one to be subtle. Considering the potential identity of the young man, even though she didn't have any disdain for that profession, she still felt a bit strange. So, taking advantage of the moment when the man was in a daze, she swiftly moved out of his embrace.Realizing that her arms were suddenly empty, Lance snapped back to reality. He lowered his head and looked at his empty arms, feeling a sense of loss. A trace of disappointment appeared on his clean face, and his eyebrows furrowed slightly."Lance, I advise you to think it over. I'm offering you a high price. Don't regret it!" The woman took the opportunity to approach, and her finger almost pointed at Lance's nose in an arrogant manner.Sylvia didn't like this woman at all and wanted to teach her a lesson. However, her hand was pulled by Lance, whose fingers were clean and slender, with neatly trimmed nails, just like him, giving off a very clean impression.Sylvia lowered he
From a very young age, Sylvia displayed a different side compared to other girls. While most girls immersed themselves in pretty princess dresses and shades of pink, and vied for the attention of handsome young men, Sylvia showed little interest. Furthermore, she had an exceptional older brother, Lance, which led her to have high standards when it came to men. Ordinary young men simply couldn't capture her interest. During her school years, many pursued her with flowers and gifts, but failed to attract her. Later, when she began working in the emergency department of a hospital, she encountered gory scenes every day. Her conversations were often peppered with terms like "fracture," making her one of the renowned figures at St. Love Hospital's emergency department. Sylvia didn't think much of men. They seemed to exist only to fulfill certain needs, and she had little desire for such things. Having become accustomed to being on her own over the years, even as her family members marrie
In mid-September, Renee gave birth to a baby girl. When Elaine and Aaron arrived at the hospital, they saw the newborn baby, wrinkled-faced and tiny. Elaine looked at her with great affection and couldn't wait to hold her.The nurse carefully handed the baby to her, a soft bundle that seemed fragile, as though she might break with a wrong move. Elaine held her with stiff movements, as if cradling something extremely delicate. She didn't dare to breathe too heavily."She's so small and so soft," she exclaimed excitedly. Elaine turned to look at Aaron and was surprised to see a hint of tears in his eyes. She was momentarily taken aback. The baby in her arms had already been taken away by the nurse."I have to take the baby to the nursery. Family members can go there to see her," the nurse said and left with the baby.In the corridor, it was just Elaine and Aaron. Elaine placed her hand on her swollen abdomen, then linked her arm with Aaron's, and smiled. "We'll have our own baby very so
As time passed, Elaine's belly gradually grew larger. With Aaron's meticulous care, she gained a little weight. Her once sharp chin filled out, and her complexion improved.During these two months, a significant event occurred: Ralph Brown passed away. He transferred all of Aaron's company's 30% of shares to Elaine, left the old Brown family mansion to Vincent, and the other five properties, including cars and various antiques, to Trevor. Mavis, at first, didn't agree with this distribution of the inheritance. Elaine didn't want those shares either, but the lawyer explained that if Elaine refused, the shares would have to be donated to a charitable organization. So, in the end, Elaine had to accept the shares. Mavis had no choice but to accept it as well, as the will had legal effect.Elaine already had 10% of Aaron's company shares, and with the additional 30%, it meant that Aaron's company ultimately returned to Aaron's control.Throughout this process, Aaron remained silent. He see
Aaron brought Elaine back to their home. He carried her upstairs, being gentle and considerate. "You're so cold. Let me run a hot bath for you."In truth, Elaine wasn't cold; it was his own body that felt icy.Seeing his lips turning purple, Elaine couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke his cheek. "I'm sorry for making you worry."Aaron just shook his head. "As long as you're okay."Elaine bit her lip. "I'm not okay. I've really thought about ending it, why go on living to face all that pain?"As her words fell, Elaine distinctly felt Aaron's arm around her tightening. Nevertheless, she continued, "I just thought of the baby in my belly. I've already killed one. I can't harm this one too, so..."Her words caused Aaron's entire body to tense. Yet, he was also relieved that they had this child. Otherwise, he might have lost Elaine forever. He shifted his gaze to her abdomen and softly said, "Thank goodness for you."Elaine was unaware of his thoughts, and her fingers instinctivel
After two days of anxious waiting, Melissa finally received the DNA test results, confirming that she and Elaine were indeed mother and daughter. The samples had been provided by Melissa herself, and the hair samples, including Elaine's and hers, couldn't have been falsified.Her fingers trembled uncontrollably. Melissa staggered backward, her back against the wall, unable to contain the shivers running through her body. Elaine was really her daughter.She was the same daughter she had heartlessly abandoned in the wilderness during that winter, the daughter she had forsaken in her ruthless quest for revenge against Tatum. She had harbored murderous intent against her daughter not once, but three times, all in the name of saving Shumo Ran's life.Elaine was her daughter!..."Aaron, hurry and find Elaine. She drove off by herself, and we're worried she might be in danger. You must find her!" Renee's voice sounded frantic on the phone."What happened? Why did Elaine leave home like that
More than an hour later, Elaine woke up. When she opened her eyes, there were people standing around her hospital bed. She blinked and felt some discomfort in her shoulder. Her brow furrowed slightly.Aaron, anxious, immediately asked, "What's wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable somewhere?"Elaine shook her head. "I'm okay. Thanks for worrying."She remembered Calvin, the man who had pushed her away, and asked anxiously, "How is Calvin?"She tried to sit up but was gently restrained by Sylvia. "Don't worry; he's okay. He has a broken leg, but the other injuries aren't too severe."Elaine, reassured about Calvin's condition, patted her stomach. "Oh, yes, I almost forgot about the baby."Aaron stopped her from moving further, saying, "The doctor said you should try to move as little as possible. Don't forget, there's a baby in your belly."Elaine rested back down.Over the next few days, Aaron not only took care of Elaine but also investigated why the driver had veered toward her. He found
Tatum went to the Garcia household since Melissa wasn't at home. After waiting for about half an hour, he heard the sound of a car outside. Tatum suddenly looked up, a hint of panic in his eyes, and slowly stood up from the sofa. It was indeed Melissa returning. She was holding her phone and talking on the phone, saying, "Don't worry, as long as you complete this task for me, I promise to send your wife and child abroad. Yes, the two million deposits have been transferred to your wife's account. I'm waiting for good news from you. Remember my requirements, go all the way!" Then she hung up and walked into the house. "Melissa!" Tatum looked at the weary woman before him. If only he hadn't insisted on leaving all those years ago... "You..." Melissa looked at the person before her, and a vague image in her mind became clearer, merging with the man before her as if he were the man from her hallucinations. She opened her mouth as if to say something but suddenly clutched her head, her