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
The night was thick, refusing to dissipate. The mountains stacked upon each other, with clusters of tree shadows concealed amidst the green waters and blue mountains, where a pure white building stood like a butterfly with spread wings, quietly nestled. The house had a particularly beautiful name: "Butterfly's Departure."Emily stood by the window, her exquisite appearance contrasting with her pale, paper-like complexion. Her eyes were filled with lifelessness, like a stagnant pool devoid of even the slightest ripple. In half an hour, she would die, and her heart would beat in another woman's body.And she...How can a person live without a heart?The wooden door creaked open, and amidst the passage of time, a man walked in. He possessed a tall and majestic figure, handsome and sharp-faced, as if crafted by God's most perfect art. Handsome, yet cold."Only half an hour left until the operation. Do you... have anything else to say?" Aaron's voice carried a strong weariness.The glass w
It was early summer in June, the season when white roses bloomed.A sensational piece of news spread through the streets and alleys of the city. Aaron, the CEO of Aaron Group, and Sarah, the heiress of Luman Real Estate, were set to hold a grand engagement ceremony on June 19th. It would also be Sarah's twenty-third birthday. The two childhood sweethearts had been together for nine years and were finally tying the knot.In the executive residential area of St. Love Hospital, a south-facing two-bedroom apartment boasted excellent lighting. Several pots of blooming white roses swayed gently in the breeze. Inside the off-white single sofa, a woman was fast asleep. Her delicate features, including her finely shaped eyebrows and mesmerizing eyes, were like a painting. Her long, feather-like eyelashes peacefully rested, while her almost translucent, fair skin glowed in the sunlight. With her cherry blossom-pink lips, she was a picture of ethereal beauty.Suddenly, she abruptly opened her ey
Elaine ran out of Cold Garden as if escaping, gasping for breath after running a long, long distance. Suddenly, she felt ridiculous. Why was she running when she hadn't done anything wrong? A black Porsche pierced through the darkness and stopped next to her. The car door opened, and Sylvia rushed over, grabbing Elaine's hand. "We finally found you, Elaine! You scared us." "I'm sorry," no one had ever cared about her like this before, and seeing Sylvia's anxious expression, Elaine immediately felt guilty and apologized. "It's okay, as long as you're okay," Sylvia smiled, shaking her hand, then gestured towards the car. "Mason is here too. Let's go home. Dad is waiting for us to have dinner." "Okay," Elaine nodded, letting Sylvia lead her towards the car. But she couldn't help but turn her head to look at the house. Perhaps she had startled it, as all the lights in the entire house were now on, a stunning sight in the dark night. "Get in the car quickly." Prompted by Sylvia, Elain
Today is Bowie Smith's 60th birthday, and the entire Smith family is in high spirits. After Elaine finished breakfast, she was dragged out by Sylvia to take care of her skin, do her hair, and finally go shopping at the department store.Since her near-death experience, the Smith family has provided her with the best of everything—food, clothing, and all the necessities. They seem to pity her for her past experiences, and everyone in the family treats her exceptionally well, especially Sylvia, who treats her like a real sister.Elaine enjoys all this care and attention, feeling like a well-behaved little sister.Of course, she knows that there is still a demon residing in her heart, but this demon only surfaces when it comes to certain specific people.As for its power, she should be able to find out tonight."How about this dress? You have fair skin and a good figure. Actually, you can pull off any color or style of clothes. But I think you look best in white, like a pure angel," Sylv
Elaine never expected that her reunion with Aaron would happen under such circumstances, in a hotel restroom, facing each other. She could clearly see the subtle changes in his expression, and it was evident that he could see hers too.Clutching her palms tightly, she quickly lowered her gaze, and when she looked up again, her eyes were filled with indifference and detachment. Her voice was faint as she said, "You've mistaken me for someone else."Turning around, she intended to leave.Her arm was grabbed, and the man's grip was strong, causing her hand to ache as he squeezed her hand bones. She frowned, glared at him sideways, and spoke with an annoyed tone, "Sir, please let go!"But that firm grip on her hand didn't loosen. Elaine felt a sense of unease, but quickly dismissed her own concerns. After all, it was Aaron who owed her. Should she be afraid of him?Wouldn't that be ridiculous?Her lips curved into a mocking smile, and she emphasized her words, "If you don't let go, I'll c
Elaine stood on the stage, receiving applause from the audience. She could sense the admiration in the eyes of many present, and it made her feel somewhat uneasy. However, Sylvia's words echoed in her mind just in time, "Don't be afraid, Elaine. The Smith family is your proud capital." In an instant, she felt a surge of power coursing through her body. She smiled gracefully.The applause from below grew louder, and someone even whistled. Elaine gracefully inclined her body and, as she looked up, her gaze unavoidably met the two prominent figures in the venue. The man was handsome, and the woman was beautiful, captivating everyone's attention. But it was also piercing to the eyes. Her heart ached, and she quickly averted her gaze. Suddenly, her left arm tightened, and a deep voice brushed past her head, saying, "That's enough."While Elaine was still dazed, Mason had already escorted her off the stage. Sylvia, who was waiting nearby, immediately excitedly approached and held Elaine's h
Elaine clearly saw the satisfaction in Sarah's curved red lips, which ignited a surge of anger within her. She had been trying hard to convince herself to forget that past and start anew. But now, some people never change and insist on humiliating her. Did she really have to passively wait to be beaten? Is that possible?She clenched her fist, about to speak, when Sylvia stepped forward and shielded her, looking at Aaron with a sarcastic smile. "Oh, the gallant knight in shining armor has arrived. How devoted you are. But Aaron, there should be a limit to your protectiveness. Your fiancée insulted the people of the Smith family, and we're not allowed to retaliate? Are there no more decent women in the world? You insist on defending someone without any morals."Elaine didn't expect Sylvia, who usually seemed innocent and lively, to be so unrelenting when insulting someone. She looked at Sylvia with admiration, and Sylvia winked at her mischievously. Elaine suppressed a smile."Who are
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