For Elaine, it was such a struggle to free herself from the painful past, to restrain herself from thinking about those things, from hating. She thought that with time, those memories would slowly fade away and she hoped she could truly achieve that.But it seemed that her resilience was not enough. The words she heard that night kept lingering in her mind, causing her sleepless nights. When she woke up in the morning and saw the time on the digital clock, it reminded her of something unpleasant.Today was June 19th, Sarah's birthday, and also the day of her engagement to Aaron.Close to ten o'clock, Sylvia knocked on Elaine's door. "Elaine, you know, we've been invited to go somewhere. Are you okay staying alone at home?"Elaine opened the door, a faint smile on her face. "No problem, what could happen? They can go ahead and plan their wedding while I live my life. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. That's it.""Yes, what could happen?" They would go to plan their we
"Mom, I don't believe it. Aaron won't abandon me," Sarah said.In the dressing room, Sarah leaned against Melissa Garcia, continuously wiping away her tears. Her carefully applied makeup had long been ruined, with streaks of colorful foundation running down her face, washed away by her tears. Her eyes were swollen, and tears continued to flow."Don't cry, sweetheart," Melissa Garcia comforted her, wiping her tears gently. There was a hint of anger in her shrewd eyes, but her tone remained gentle. "Don't cry anymore. Your tears are breaking your mother's heart."Sarah sobbed intermittently, holding onto Melissa Garcia's hand tightly. "Mom, please help me call him. I want to see him. I need to see him right away!""Alright, alright, I'll call him for you," Melissa Garcia reassured her, freeing up one hand to grab her phone. She dialed Aaron's number under Sarah's anxious gaze, using her eyes to comfort her daughter.Sarah held onto Melissa Garcia tightly, her perfectly manicured nails d
As Elaine's calm voice fell, even the driver, who had been focused on driving, couldn't help but look up in the rearview mirror. Aaron pursed his thin lips and suddenly grinned."Give her the knife.""Mr. Brown," the driver hesitated, but Aaron gave him a cold glance, causing him to reach into the storage compartment and pull out a fruit knife, hesitantly handing it over.Aaron didn't take it himself, instead glancing lightly at Elaine.Elaine reached out and took the fruit knife.Of course, she knew that this fruit knife wouldn't be able to sever a hand. She was expressing her determination to Aaron, her determination to have no further entanglement with him. She believed that Aaron understood."I hope Mr. Brown remembers what you just said."To apply pressure on Aaron, Elaine tightened her right hand around the handle of the knife, leaving deep marks on her palm. After a moment's pause, she took a deep breath and aimed the knife at the center of her left palm.She closed her eyes ti
Chapter 33: Stay with Him for Three Days"You can't cut off his hand!" The driver was the first to speak up in opposition.Jason followed suit and said, "Is there really no other way?"Matt didn't answer, his gaze fixed on Elaine, who was looking down and remained silent. "What do you say?" he asked.Upon hearing this, everyone nervously stared at Elaine. She looked up with a calm face, showing no emotions, and her voice was indifferent. "I don't mind."Matt's lips twitched as he stared at Elaine like she was a monster."Miss Smith, you..." Jason had a hint of reproach in his tone.Glancing at the unconscious Aaron on the bed, Elaine pursed her lips and refused to change her mind.Suddenly, the person lying on the bed woke up. Aaron struggled to open his eyes, glanced at Elaine, then looked at Jason, and commanded, "Don't let her leave.""I know," Jason quickly promised.Aaron shifted his gaze back to Elaine, giving her a deep look. Elaine stubbornly clenched her teeth and was about t
"Is that okay? Of course not!" Elaine glared at Aaron. Aaron's attitude made it clear that she couldn't leave the house until he said so.Being blackmailed like this, she felt extremely unwilling. Weighing the pros and cons, she said, "If you want me to agree, there's a condition.""Let's hear it," Aaron said, weak but still mysterious as he looked at her."After three days, I will leave through this door, and you will never appear in front of me again. Even if we coincidentally meet, we won't acknowledge each other."Elaine boldly spoke out her plan, feeling anxious inside but maintaining a calm demeanor on the surface. She even raised her chin slightly, staring arrogantly at Aaron. She would never allow herself to show weakness in front of this man again.She thought her provocation would make Aaron angry or dismissively scoff at her, mocking her for overestimating herself. However, Aaron just looked at her deeply, as if contemplating something or remembering something profound. She
Melissa Garcia knew from the moment he appeared that his target was Aaron Group. She understood that his mention of death didn't mean making Aaron disappear from this world but rather making him vanish from Aaron Group.From her perspective, Sarah deeply loved Aaron, and Aaron had always respected her. There was no need for her to help Lionel.But now Lionel had something to hold against her."I need time to consider," she thought, wanting to buy some time to come up with a foolproof plan.Lionel sneered, "You're smart, and I'm sure you understand what I mean. I just want to reclaim what rightfully belongs to me. As for Aaron, once he leaves Aaron Group, he'll be nothing. You and your daughter will have no power over him.""What do you mean?" Melissa Garcia asked, surprised.Lionel smirked but remained silent.Melissa Garcia had her own considerations. Although she was satisfied with Aaron as her son-in-law, it was true that Aaron wasn't a man she or Sarah could control. Take the rece
This man, who was hailed as a genius in the business world and always admired by everyone, was like a deity towering above the rest. Even Sarah, once she crossed his bottom line, he would turn his face without hesitation.And now he sat at the dining table with a dark expression, the echoes of a woman's unrestrained laughter resounding in his ears. Elaine stood at the staircase, bending over with laughter.After laughing, she elegantly adjusted her disheveled hair and glanced back at him, innocently saying, "Don't you still have another hand to use?"Elaine nonchalantly turned her head and arrogantly raised her chin as she walked upstairs."Elaine!"A man's furious roar came from downstairs.Elaine slammed the door with a loud bang, using it to counter his yelling. In the depths of her heart, an evil thought even crossed her mind—would he die if he went without food for three days and three nights? But she was thinking too much. Aaron wasn't a fool, and he certainly wouldn't let himse
This meal tested Elaine's patience every minute, but thankfully it finally came to an end. Elaine was washing dishes in the kitchen when she heard Aaron making a phone call to have clothes delivered. It brought her a little relief.Coming out of the kitchen, she saw Aaron sitting in the living room. After giving it some thought, she returned to the kitchen and poured a glass of water, placing it in front of him. Aaron raised his eyelids to look at her."Thanks.""No need," Elaine replied without being polite. She went straight to the point, "Can I borrow your phone to make a call?"Aaron's face turned dark, and he glared at her in annoyance.Elaine didn't care and said, "I have to make a call home. They will be worried."Not only would they be worried, but Elaine had disappeared without any reason. The Smith family would probably be frantic searching for her. Although she hadn't completely integrated into the Smith family, the people there treated her sincerely and she didn't want to
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