Day after day, Joe could not avoid his duties at the company any longer, but Yvonne refused to let anyone else near her. With no other option, he started bringing her to the office. To ensure she wasn’t disturbed or triggered by anything, Joe set up children’s toys and equipment in his office. He also issued a notice that no one except his assistant was allowed inside.One morning, as Joe brought Yvonne into the office, some employees immediately recognized her. Seeing her in her childlike state, they began whispering and gossiping, saying all sorts of things. Though Joe did not hear them, Nigel did. Nigel had finally convinced Mr. Gibson Sr. to allow him to handle business, and on his first day at Turner Corporation, he ran into Yvonne. Seeing the woman he still loved in such a state broke his heart. When he overheard someone say she deserved it, rage flared inside him. But Nigel was not the impulsive young man he once was.Instead of causing a scene, he followed his assistant
A month had passed without any incidents, and it was time for Nina’s prenatal checkup. After breakfast, she asked Orion to go upstairs and pack her things for the hospital, giving him instructions on what to bring. Being heavily pregnant made everything a challenge, so Nina sat on the couch, using her phone to guide Orion step by step.Nash had been tied up with work lately, wanting to be there for her but unable to. Nina understood, which was why she decided to head to the hospital on her own.Half an hour later, Orion came running downstairs with a small backpack. "Mom, I’m grown up now, right? I can help you with things."Nina smiled and patted his head gently. "Yes, our Orion is really growing up."Beaming, Orion slung the backpack over his shoulders, grabbed the wheelchair, and helped Nina into it. Fortunately, the wheelchair was electric. Otherwise, Orion’s small frame wouldn’t be able to push it.The driver spotted them and immediately got out of the car to assist. "Ma’
Joe silently cursed Nina in his heart a hundred times over. He had his reasons for bringing Yvonne to the hospital, and as the one taking care of her, who was she to interfere? Outwardly, though, he kept his smile, explaining smoothly, "Nothing happened. I just happened to have some free time today, so I brought her in."After that, he turned to Yvonne and asked gently, "Are you hungry? Let’s go get something good to eat."Yvonne immediately nodded, eagerly repeating that she wanted something delicious."Mr. and Mrs. York, let’s catch up another time. I’m going to take her to eat," Joe said before walking off with Yvonne. Nina, however, wasn’t fooled by Joe’s act. As soon as he left, she turned to Nash, voicing her suspicion that Joe was up to something. She insisted that Nash use his connections to find out Joe’s true motives. It was finally her turn for the check-up, so Nash wheeled her into the examination room. While she was inside, Nash called the hospital director. He kn
At an outdoor bar on the outskirts of the city, Nash poured a drink for Joe. With a slight smile, Nash asked, "As a man, I have to say I don’t understand you. There are so many women in the world. Why are you so fixated on Yvonne?"Joe sneered, "Then why are you so obsessed with Nina?"Nash met his gaze, speaking each word deliberately. "Because she feels the same about me."Joe fell silent, unable to respond.Taking a swig of his drink, Joe let out a cold laugh. "Cut to the chase, Nash. No need to beat around the bush."Nash set his glass down, his face turning serious as he locked eyes with Joe. "Removing Yvonne’s uterus. Is your plan to keep her mad for the rest of her life?"Joe shook his head, not answering directly.A cool breeze blew through, and Joe glanced up at the sky. Suddenly, he heard Nigel’s voice nearby. He turned to see Nigel sitting with a beautiful woman. She was likely his new love interest, judging by the way Nigel looked at her.Joe scoffed. "Honestly,
Yvonne nodded. She knew that as long as she went along with whatever Joe wanted, he would not get mad at her. Nervously and awkwardly, she pressed her lips to his, mimicking what he had done before by giving a small bite. But that was it, she did not know what else to do.Joe, in a great mood, pulled her close and let things escalate. Afterward, he brought her a pill and a glass of water, watching as she swallowed it. Yvonne was curious, wondering why she had to take medicine after every encounter. However, she was too scared to ask and just did as she was told. Once she finished, she obediently lay back down. After Joe left the room, she snuck to the door and listened. She heard him standing outside for a while before he finally walked into his study. Relieved, she climbed back into bed and fell asleep.The next day, after lunch, Joe took Yvonne to the hospital to discuss the surgery again. When they were told it could not proceed for the time being, Joe immediately suspecte
Awoken from her nightmare, Yvonne sat dazed for a long time before she crawled off the bed. She then huddled in the corner, crying softly.Worried that Yvonne might not be adjusting well on her first night, Nina went upstairs to check on her. Hearing the sound of crying from inside the room, she immediately opened the door.When she turned on the light and saw Yvonne curled up, Nina was startled. She gently wrapped her arms around her. "Did you have a bad dream?"Yvonne nodded.Nina, out of habit, rubbed Yvonne’s forehead. Yvonne paused, confused."Did we know each other before?" Yvonne asked softly.Nina nodded. "Yes, we did. We were very close friends."Yvonne tilted her head, trying to remember. "We were friends, and you used to rub my forehead like this?"Pointing to her forehead, she looked at Nina with innocent curiosity.Nina forced a smile and nodded, tears almost spilling from her eyes. Back when Yvonne was upset, Nina would comfort her this way. Now, Yvonne couldn’t
Pharaoh sighed, "That explains it. Medically speaking, it’s complicated. The point is, she shouldn’t be staying here any longer, even if she doesn’t know why herself."Nina glanced back at Yvonne, her heart aching. "Then I’ll leave it to you to take care of her, Father."Pharaoh didn’t see this as too difficult. As long as Yvonne was willing to go with him, once they reached the tribe, things would be much easier to handle.After learning about Yvonne’s condition, Pharaoh set up a separate place, designed like a small garden, just for her. Besides regular room cleaning and three daily meals, there would only be one attendant to take care of her. This peaceful environment would help Yvonne find some tranquility.They arrived at the tribe around dusk. Yvonne seemed uneasy, almost fearful of the darkness, and her overall state wasn’t good.Sensing this, Pharaoh had the attendant take her to her quarters. While she was getting settled, he made sure food was delivered to her room.Whe
Hannah handed her the storybook, pointing at the illustration. "Here it is, the blue sun. I think the little girl did a beautiful job."Yvonne repeated softly, "The blue sun, it’s beautiful."She kept repeating the words until she drifted off to sleep.The next morning, Hannah woke up and, not seeing Yvonne, started to search for her. She finally found her in a corner of the courtyard, drawing on the ground with a stick. The drawing was abstract and hard to interpret, but Hannah didn't interrupt her. Instead, she quietly informed Pharaoh and arranged for some art supplies to be brought over.She figured that since Yvonne used to be an artist, reconnecting with something she once loved could help her heal.Days passed, and Yvonne became engrossed in painting. The walls of her room on the second floor were soon covered with her drawings. Hannah had them framed and displayed throughout the other rooms on the second floor.Back in Birkham, Nina heard about Yvonne’s progress and fel
Vera's expression changed completely as she looked at the family. “What are you talking about? Why would I stay here? I have my own life.” “Vera, didn’t you say you couldn’t find your brother?” Alice’s voice grew anxious. “Then take my brother instead! He’ll protect both of us. This is a good thing for you! Don’t tell me you think my brother isn’t good enough?“His leg isn’t perfect, and he can’t do heavy labor, but he’s not useless. And I can help him with the farm work—we can do it together!” Her words were absurd. If Vera had known this was her real intention, she never would have accepted her help. “Enough, both of you, stop talking.”Gerald had lived long enough to understand that his son and Vera were worlds apart. He also knew that there was no way she would willingly stay. But plenty of women in the village hadn’t wanted to stay either. That didn’t matter. As long as she was here, that was enough. He got straight to the point. “Our village
The young girl suddenly looked torn. In their village, getting a wife was extremely difficult. Families with a little money could sometimes bring a wife in from outside, but for families like hers, who had nothing to offer, it was nearly impossible. To make things worse, her brother had a bad leg. As a child, he had been mocked by other kids. He could still walk, but not quickly—and he couldn’t do the heavy farm work required to support a family. Now that he was getting older and still living alone, she felt incredibly anxious. Today, by some stroke of luck, she had met a woman in the mountains who was as beautiful as a goddess. She was determined to make this woman her sister-in-law. But if she left now, what if the woman ran away or was taken away by someone else in the village? What would happen to her brother then? *“It’s already so late,” Vera said gently. “Even if everyone in the village knows each other, it’s still not safe for a young girl
Up ahead was a village. “Miss, it’s really late today, so I’ll take you home first. My parents and brother will take good care of you, and you can get a good night’s sleep at our place. Once you’ve rested, we’ll take you to town tomorrow.” The young girl tightened her grip on Vera’s hand. “My mom is a great cook! She’ll definitely make a big meal to welcome you.” It really was late. The sky was completely dark, and Vera’s phone battery was nearly dead. The girl was still so young. She had already gone out of her way to bring Vera back from the deep mountains. It wouldn’t be right to ask her to take her all the way to town tonight. Vera still had some cash in her pocket. After covering the cost of transportation, she decided she would leave the rest for the girl’s family. If it weren’t for the girl, who knew how long she would have been wandering in the mountains? “My house is just ahead. It’s not in great shape, so don’t mind it too much. Next year, whe
Vera’s nerves tensed up again. A sudden sound in the middle of nowhere was never a good sign. If it was a snake or some other large animal, she would be in serious trouble. Her ankle was swollen, and she couldn’t run fast. Would this be where it all ended for her? She had to leave quietly. But the ground was covered in thick layers of fallen leaves, with dry branches hidden underneath. Crack. As she stepped back, her foot snapped a twig, the sound piercing through the silence. Only one thought filled her mind—this was it. The rustling nearby grew louder. Vera squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself. Then, a voice suddenly spoke beside her. “Miss, why are you here alone? Didn’t your family come with you?” It was a person. Not an animal. Vera’s eyes flew open. A young girl stood in front of her. Fear dissolved in an instant, replaced by relief. She was saved.“I came here alone. Little one, do you know how to get out of here?” Ver
Hunter took a bite of the biscuits and ravioli she had made. The taste was surprisingly good. It wasn’t on the level of a Michelin-starred chef, but it had something even more special—the taste of home. And of course, there was the oatmeal. He took one spoonful after another, finishing the entire bowl. *Meanwhile, Vera still hadn’t found her brother. Disappointment weighed heavily on her as she prepared to leave. But just then, her phone buzzed. An anonymous message. She tapped it open and stared at the image attached. It was a watch. Alone, a watch meant nothing. But this watch was her brother’s. Vera immediately zoomed in on the photo, carefully inspecting the engravings inside. There they were—his initials. No mistake. This was his watch. Below the image, a location pin was attached. The place was nearby. Vera’s eyes filled with determination. If she had found nothing, she would have simply left. But now, she had recei
When Yelena woke up again, she was shocked to find that she wasn’t at the club. She sat up abruptly, looking around in confusion. Then, she got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and pushed the door open. “Where am I?” “At my place,” Hunter replied casually. He was working in the living room when he saw her wake up. “You slept for a long time. I couldn’t just leave you alone at the club, so I brought you back here.” Seeing the uncertainty on her face, he added, “It’s already late. Just stay here for the night. I’ll take you back tomorrow.” Yelena nodded. There was no other choice now. “There’s food in the fridge. If you’re hungry, heat something up. There are also snacks in the drawer—take whatever you want.” “Alright.” She really was hungry. She opened the drawer, grabbed a few small bread rolls, ate them quickly, and then went back to her room to rest. *The next morning, Yelena woke up early. Thinking about everything Hunter had done—treatin
Yelena quickly lowered her arm, letting her sleeve fall over the mark to cover it. “It’s nothing. Here’s your cocktail. Please enjoy.” “Yelena.” Hunter grabbed her wrist without warning. He pulled up her sleeve, revealing the deep, ugly scars on her arm. His brows knitted together instantly. “Who did this to you?” The force behind it was brutal—downright inhuman. Yelena remained silent. Who else could have done this besides Liam? But she had agreed to this. She had willingly accepted Hunter’s request and entered Liam’s world. She had no right to complain. Her silence gave Hunter all the confirmation he needed. “Liam did this to you, didn’t he?” Yelena nodded. “It’s nothing. The wounds have already started healing. They look worse than they feel. Give it some time, and they’ll fade.” “Wait here.” Hunter stood abruptly and walked away. Yelena had no idea what he was doing, but since he told her to wait, she didn’t argue. A few minu
Then again, it made sense. How could a normal person possibly empathize with a lunatic? If Yelena could understand Liam, that would make her just as twisted. *For the next few days, Yelena stayed home to recover. During that time, Liam came back a few times, bringing her flowers and food. Like a child showing off a treasure, he placed the food in front of her. “Yelena, these are your favorite honey crullers. I got them fresh from the bakery. Try them and see if you like them.” “I’m not really hungry.” She didn’t want to eat anything he gave her. She couldn’t even stand looking at him. But she had made a promise. So, she had to force herself to stay. Liam’s expression darkened. “Are you really not hungry, or do you just not want to eat what I give you?” For someone like him, once he had lost his temper once, the second time would only come faster and smoother. With a heavy thud, he slammed the honey crullers onto the table. “Yes, I hit y
If Liam had been a normal person, Hunter never would have sent her here in the first place. But of course, Yelena could only think that. She wasn’t suicidal enough to say it out loud. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “I was really just messaging an old classmate. If you don’t believe me, go ahead—check my phone.” She wasn’t worried. Whenever she contacted Hunter, she deleted each message immediately. She had even forged an entire fake conversation just in case Liam ever got suspicious. So, no matter how thoroughly he checked, there would be nothing for him to find. Liam narrowed his eyes. “Is that so? Then why do I still feel like you’re lying? Women like you—nothing but liars, every last one of you.” Then, he struck her again. Yelena screamed. The pain was relentless, merciless. She had no idea how long it lasted—only that by the time he finally stopped, she was barely breathing. Her body slumped against the floor