Elaine sat on the sofa, finished drinking a glass of water, and got up to fetch her bag and book from her room, intending to go to school. The housekeeper hurriedly followed her and asked, "Are you going to school?""Yes," Elaine reassured her, knowing what she was worried about. "I can't hide at home forever. I haven't done anything outrageous, so why should I be afraid of what others say?""But..." the housekeeper disagreed.Elaine gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry."She drove her yellow Beetle to the school, and this time, there were no unexpected incidents along the way. However, when she entered the design department, she encountered two fashionable young women in the lobby on the first floor. Elaine didn't know them.The two women stared at her, obviously recognizing her. One of them, a woman with short hair, said to her face, "To do such a thing and still dare to come out, shameless!"Elaine glanced at her but didn't bother to argue.The woman persisted and suddenly rush
Melissa Garcia and her daughter, Sarah, had just finished the press conference and hurried to Aaron Group. In the comfortable car compartment, Sarah, who had shed tears in front of the camera, now gripped a handkerchief tightly, her eyes filled with resentment."Mom, I don't understand why you made me say those words. It's clearly that shameless Elaine's fault. Why didn't you let me scold her!" Sarah exclaimed.Melissa Garcia looked at her contorted face and sighed inwardly. She had protected Sarah too well, leaving her inexperienced in plotting. Fortunately, she was there. With just one daughter, Melissa naturally wanted to protect her with all her heart.Covering Sarah's hand, Melissa Garcia explained earnestly, "Mom intentionally wanted you to say those words. Think about it, this whole situation was originally Aaron's fault. If you were to angrily confront and scold him, it would only make people think you have a bad temperament. But now, by speaking up for him, people will see yo
Indeed, as Renee said, the B-52 was a visually appealing and enjoyable drink. The intense heat and icy cold collided violently in Elaine's stomach, causing tears to well up in her eyes. However, her heart felt inexplicably relieved. Elaine continued to drink, downing three glasses in a row, tears streaming down her face as she fanned herself with her hand."You're right. This drink... is good," Elaine said with a distant voice.Renee quietly watched her, drinking her own glass in one gulp. Unlike Elaine, Renee didn't express any profound emotions. She merely pursed her lips slightly, her watery eyes filled with a hint of indiscernible sadness.Elaine held an empty glass in her hand, her laughter trembling like blooming fireworks, only to be extinguished in an instant, leaving behind a scene of devastation. Biting her red lips, she suddenly grabbed another glass and downed it, the hoarse sound of her voice carrying a touch of huskiness that tugged at the heartstrings."Before I was fou
The dim light inside the car intensified the enigmatic expression on Aaron's face, making it even more inscrutable. The two of them locked eyes, each seeing the unwavering stubbornness in the other's gaze. Breaking the eye contact, Aaron spoke, "Naturally, I will marry Sarah."In that moment, Renee felt a sense of desolation. She lowered her voice and warned, "Then stop getting involved with Elaine."Aaron looked at her in confusion and asked, furrowing his brows, "What is your relationship with the Smith family?"Renee gathered her long hair and stared at him fiercely. "Remember my words: stop bothering Elaine. She's a good girl, and you can't give her happiness. Don't interfere with others who can.""What do you mean?" Aaron's tone became harsh.Renee pushed the door and got out of the car. Aaron grabbed her, remembering the wedding dress design she had seen her drawing at the resort. His eyes narrowed with a cold gleam. Was she really going to get married?"Be clear about who she i
After leaving the hospital building, Elaine waited for Calvin in the security room of the hospital parking lot. After waiting for more than ten minutes, Calvin finally walked over."Mr. Jones," Elaine called out hurriedly.Calvin stopped and glanced at her, smiling and showing his white teeth. He gently asked, "Elaine, why are you here waiting for me?""Yeah," Elaine nodded and looked towards the hospital building, saying, "Let's go. I'll treat you to a meal. There's something I want to talk to you about.""Sure."The two of them walked one after the other to the parking lot. Soon, the discreet white BMW drove out, and the security guard in the parking lot hurriedly chased after them, holding the lunch box. "Miss Smith, your lunch box..."The two people in the car didn't hear him. The white BMW quickly drove away. The security guard hesitated, holding the lunch box and looking around, unsure of how to handle it."I'll take care of this lunch box for you, Miss Smith," a voice sounded b
Inside the private room, Elaine stared straight at Calvin, her hands tightly clenched under the table. She said, "I overheard your conversation with Mason. I want to say, please pretend you didn't hear anything. Mason is trying to protect me, but I don't want to involve you.""Do you have someone you like?" Calvin stared at her and calmly asked.Although Elaine didn't understand why Calvin asked such a question, she shook her head and said, "No, I don't."Calvin smiled and said, "That's good. Since you don't have anyone you like, then be my girlfriend. I may not have grand ambitions, but I have a good character. I may not be the best man in the world, but I will do my best to treat you well."As he spoke, his gentle gaze remained fixed on Elaine. Despite the presence of glasses, Elaine could still feel his sincerity. In fact, even if he hadn't said anything, Elaine had no doubt about his character. Mason sought his help, which clearly indicated that he trusted him.However, she clench
Elaine's body trembled slightly. She longed for the warmth that Calvin provided, but... her fingers tightly clenched his shirt. After a moment of silence, she tried to pull away from his embrace. Sensing her movement, Calvin tightened his grip, causing Elaine to fall directly into his arms. Her nose hit his chest, causing a slight pain.Calvin chuckled lightly, holding her and walking away. He confidently said, "I think the air here isn't fresh. Let's go somewhere else to eat."He brazenly walked away with Elaine in his arms. As they passed by Sarah, he reached out and pushed her. "You're in the way, move!"Sarah's face turned green with anger. Before the two of them could walk far, she rushed over and grabbed Aaron. "Look at her! She looks fragile on the surface, but behind everyone's back, she's always scheming and seducing Aaron. Look, she's gotten close to Aaron again. Is she really unable to go a single day without a man?"She shook Aaron's arm forcefully, but after waiting for a
Having breakfast under the butler's contented gaze and walking out of the house under Sylvia's ambiguous look, Elaine's mind was still in a daze. How did things turn out like this?Calvin was in a good mood. Seeing her sitting there absentmindedly without fastening her seatbelt, he leaned over to fasten it for her. There was a pleasant scent coming from him, like shower gel or soap, a comforting fragrance.Elaine pressed her body against the seat, trying to avoid any contact with him. She looked at his clean profile and hesitantly said, "I thought I made it clear yesterday.""Yeah," Calvin raised his gaze, and the gold-rimmed glasses reflected the tenderness in his eyes, like the warm March sunlight that made one unable to resist indulging in it. Elaine was momentarily distracted but was brought back to reality when Calvin flicked her forehead.Regaining her composure, she met his smiling eyes. Elaine's cheeks blushed slightly."How about it? Do you think I'm quite handsome?" Calvin c
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