Elaine was well aware of Melissa's intentions. She had come to defend her daughter. When Aaron suddenly held her hand, she felt a warmth in her palm. "You go rest in your room first. I'll call you for dinner later."Elaine felt a warm affection in her heart. Melissa sharply said, "Both of you sit down! Are you afraid I'll eat her up?"Seeing how protective Aaron was of Elaine, Melissa felt uneasy. She finally understood why Sarah had cried so much. When had Aaron ever been so caring toward a woman?"Then I'll go upstairs and rest," Elaine said, indifferent to Melissa, and turned to Aaron. She said a word to him before heading upstairs.Melissa wanted to call her back, but Aaron blocked her view, his brows slightly furrowed, clearly in a protective stance.Melissa turned her face away awkwardly, annoyed and frustrated. "Look at what you've done to Sarah. She cried all night yesterday!"Aaron's gaze wandered upstairs, and he sighed. "I've already made it clear to her. I'll take care of
Elaine glanced at Aaron, his expression inscrutable, leaving her unable to guess his intentions. She decided to shift her gaze towards Sylvia in the crowd, who was excitedly waving at her."Let the judges cast their votes," the host announced, his voice filled with excitement. His eyes darted between Elaine, Sarah, and Aaron, clearly relishing the dramatic potential of the situation.The entire exhibition hall suddenly fell silent. Elaine began to feel nervous, and the taunting voice of Sarah echoed in her ears, "Why are you so nervous? You're not even in the competition."Elaine merely smiled, refusing to engage with her."I personally prefer Sarah's design, so I support her to advance!" Linda, the only female judge, spoke first. She hadn't taken Elaine's designs seriously since her appearance on stage.Recalling Sarah's unwavering confidence, Elaine had a sinking feeling. She was sure that some of the judges had been swayed by Sarah's influence."Sarah," the second judge chimed in.
A text message from Nahum had arrived, containing just a few words: "Don't leave yet." Elaine wasn't sure what to expect if she stayed, but because of Renee, she chose to trust Nahum.There were still over a dozen groups of contestants left to compete. Elaine's heart was in turmoil, and she quickly sensed something was off. The contestants who had lost were all packing up and leaving; none of them were staying for a revival match."They've all left," Sylvia also noticed.A female staff member rushed in and said, "Contestants who have advanced to the next round, please line up according to your numbers. It's time to say goodbye!"Goodbye? That meant it was over. Elaine and Sylvia exchanged glances, both of them stood up. Just then, Sarah appeared again, flaunting her victory right in front of them. "You really thought there would be a revival match? I fooled you!"Sylvia was about to lash out at her, but Elaine held her back. Elaine still trusted Nahum. After all, he had cast the only
Melissa had been closely following the progress of the design competition. She received exclusive live video feeds from people at the exhibition hall. When she saw Aaron speak those words, her heart sank, knowing that things were not going well.As expected, it didn't take long for Sarah to call her. "Sweetie, don't cry. Mommy will find a solution for you. Don't cry," Melissa comforted her daughter. There wasn't much she could do at this point. She had to take a step she had hoped to avoid, even if it meant dealing with someone she'd rather not.She picked up her phone again and said, "If it's convenient, let's meet in person."One hour later, at a café. Melissa glanced at him and said, "You know my purpose, and I know what you want. Let's discuss the terms."Lionel, ever the straightforward one, quickly got up from his seat. "Sure!""In a nutshell, I don't want to see Elaine anymore!" Melissa's tone was so harsh that it took Lionel by surprise. He picked up his coffee cup. "This risk
After that day, it seemed that something had changed between Elaine and Aaron. Their eyes met, and you could sense a faint happiness in the air. Even when they were sitting in the living room, one looking at their phone and the other at the TV, it was a kind of unspoken tranquility.Elaine lowered her head to check her emails and felt a burning gaze on her. She put away her phone and looked up, only to meet Aaron's deep gaze. Her heart pounded, and she raised an eyebrow, asking, "Why are you staring at me like that?"Aaron smiled but didn't answer, extending his hand towards her. "Come here."His fingers were slender, with well-manicured and tidy nails, like an artist's hand. Elaine had a peculiar fondness for men with attractive hands, and she placed her hand in his palm. Aaron naturally closed his hand around hers.Elaine had never sat on someone's lap before, and she used to think that watching TV in this position seemed particularly intimate. However, now that she was experiencing
The ambulance arrived quickly. Calvin had been stabbed in the abdomen and had lost a lot of blood. Although the doctors had managed to stop the bleeding through emergency treatment, the pools of crimson blood were still a shocking sight.Elaine covered her face with her hands, desperately needing a moment of peace.Calvin tried to reassure her, "Even if it were someone else, I would have chased after the thief. I just didn't expect him to have a knife. It's not a serious injury!"Elaine felt terrible. He didn't want to make her feel guilty, but could she deceive herself like this?"That's enough, Calvin. You don't have to lie to lessen my guilt. I don't want to pretend I don't know and continue enjoying your kindness. It would make me lose respect for myself!"She had her own principles and boundaries!The ambulance quickly arrived at the hospital, and Calvin was taken to the emergency room. Elaine stayed outside, knowing that he wasn't in life-threatening danger but feeling restless.
Grief had struck Elaine suddenly, engulfing her in an instant. She couldn't think, she could only curl up into a small ball, as if this was the only way she could find solace.Aaron, fighting back his own pain, approached her. Even though he had reached her side, Elaine remained unresponsive. He tried to find comforting words, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything, or perhaps, he didn't know what to say.Elaine lifted her head first, seemingly surprised to see him. Her face was streaked with tears, her wet eyelashes, her helpless and panicked gaze, all portrayed a fearful child.Aaron's heart trembled lightly. Elaine had suddenly turned her head away. She covered her face with her trembling hands, her tears flowing freely. Even at her most vulnerable, Aaron was the last person she wanted to face right now. Her hand was suddenly held tightly, and she knew it was Aaron, but she didn't resist."Why are you crying alone here? Tell me, who are you shedding tears for?" Aaron asked.
Elaine held the documents given to her by Officer Davis as she exited the police station. She could hardly contain her excitement. The photos and videos they had captured clearly showed that the person who had met Geoff was none other than Melissa. Moreover, Geoff's personal account had received two one-million-dollar transfers from Luman Real Estate's company account just before and after the incident.In other words, her hunch was entirely correct; Melissa was the mastermind behind it all. After all the hard work, Elaine sat in her car, commanding herself to calm down. She had to figure out how to maximize the impact of this evidence.She arrived home close to 7 p.m., and the nanny was anxiously waiting at the door. The moment her car pulled in, the nanny rushed over."Mrs. Brown, Mr. Brown has been waiting for you. He hasn't eaten dinner yet.""I know. Please get it ready; we'll eat right away."Elaine sighed with relief as she entered the house. She quickly headed inside.Aaron sa
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