Lydia met Eugene's gaze, and when she saw the hint of a smile in his eyes, her heart sank. She had no idea what he was truly after. Mrs. Fay’s intentions, however, were crystal clear. She was trying to push the two of them together. “It’s been so long since you’ve seen each other, I’m sure you have plenty to talk about,” Mrs. Fay said, clearly pleased. “We older folks won’t get in the way of your catch-up,” she added, pulling Mrs. Ford aside for a private conversation.With no one else around, it was just Lydia and Eugene left standing there. Lydia didn’t waste any time. “What exactly do you want?”Eugene’s expression shifted, the warmth he had shown before disappearing. His tone turned sharp. “Isn’t it obvious what I want? When we were kids, you said you’d marry me.“Even after all these years, I’ve held onto that promise.”But the truth was, only he had taken it seriously. To Lydia, those childhood words were nothing more than childish banter.The more Eugene thought about i
Lydia nestled in Quincy’s embrace, drawing warmth from him. She sniffled and muttered, “I don’t believe it. You always make things sound so easy.”Quincy didn’t respond with words, just gently brushed her hair back. There was no need for them to say anything. Everything was understood in the silence between them.Lydia stayed in his arms for a while longer, and Quincy, sensing her unsettled emotions, didn’t rush her. They simply remained like that, in quiet comfort. Once she felt a bit better, they both got into the car, and Lydia began explaining everything that had happened.When she told him that Eugene was behind it all, Quincy wasn’t surprised at all. His expression remained calm. "I had already figured out it was the Ford Corporation. I’ve been planning to take action against them."Hearing that Quincy had a solution already in place, Lydia finally felt at ease.Just a few days later, Nash took action against the Ford Corporation. First, he blocked a major project they had
Lydia was so shocked she didn’t even know how to react. The news was completely unexpected. The doctor quickly prescribed folic acid, and neither of them said a word until they got into the car. Once seated, Quincy finally glanced at Lydia, clearly trying to contain his emotions."You…" he began, but Lydia cut him off, her voice betraying her nervousness. “I had no idea either. My period didn’t come for a month, but my cycle has always been irregular, so I didn’t think much of it.”Lydia truly didn’t know what to do about the little life growing inside her. Her parents still hadn’t approved of her relationship with Quincy, and just days ago, they were trying to set her up with Eugene. The thought of what her parents would do if they found out she was pregnant was terrifying.But despite all that, Lydia never considered not having the baby. This was her and Quincy’s child. The thought filled her with warmth, and she couldn’t help but start imagining their future together.Quincy n
Both Lydia and Quincy decided to keep the pregnancy a secret for now, especially from her parents. Lydia was particularly anxious. She feared that if her mother found out, she might cause a scene at Quincy’s company. But Lydia’s frequent absences from home, along with her early departure from the Ford family banquet, had made her mother increasingly worried.One evening, her parents had a discussion and decided to call her back home.In the Fay family living room, Mr. Fay sat on the sofa, glasses perched on his nose, pretending to read a newspaper. In reality, he was glancing toward the door, tapping his fingers as if waiting for someone.“Now, Hubby, remember what we talked about. You can’t lose your temper this time! You promised to speak kindly to our daughter, no yelling. We don’t want another argument,” Mrs. Fay reminded him.“I know, I know. Let’s wait until she’s back,” he responded, somewhat dismissively. After so many years together, Mrs. Fay was used to her husband’s
Quincy let out a sigh, gently helping Lydia sit down. "You don’t need to talk to me like that. If your dad wants to meet, I’ll go."Although Mr. Fay hadn’t formally acknowledged him, Quincy had already started seeing him as his future father-in-law. And in his mind, a father-in-law was like a second father. How could he refuse?Quincy planned to visit Fay Corporation at noon to meet her father. Lydia, worried, wanted to go with him, but he refused, insisting she stay at the company. After a bit of back and forth, Lydia finally agreed.As Quincy stepped out of the car in front of the towering Fay Corporation building, a wave of unexpected nerves hit him. He had been in plenty of meetings with high-profile companies and CEOs, especially when working alongside Nash, and by comparison, the Fay Corporation wasn’t even that big.Yet, the tension remained.Adjusting his tie, he took a deep breath and walked inside.The receptionist greeted him with a polite smile. “Good afternoon, sir
"Who told you to go off on your own without me? Do you dare try that again next time?" Lydia playfully scolded.Quincy could only chuckle in resignation. He glanced at her stomach, thinking, "Well, I definitely won't be taking any chances now." Lydia had become his top priority, and he knew he had to be extra careful from now on.The two of them understood the situation perfectly, but from Mr. Fay’s perspective, it looked quite different. His daughter had just run into Quincy’s arms without a second thought."Lydia, get up! Look at yourself!" Mr. Fay’s angry voice cut through the air, jolting Lydia back to reality. She immediately remembered her father was watching and quickly pulled away from Quincy.“Dad…”“Whenever I ask you to come to the company, you always find excuses. But when it’s to bring Quincy here, you’re here in no time,” Mr. Fay said coldly.Lydia was at a loss for words.Mr. Fay let out a heavy sigh, clearly displeased with Quincy, but he couldn’t go back on what
Mr. Fay maintained outward respect for Quincy in front of the business partner, formally introducing him, though he didn’t mention that Quincy was his future son-in-law.“So, this is one of Mr. Fay’s younger associates, huh? He certainly looks capable!” the business partner praised.“You’re too kind,” Quincy replied modestly.Despite the polite introduction, both Quincy and the business partner sensed the subtle distance in Mr. Fay’s tone when referring to him. This led the business partner to form a somewhat mixed impression of Quincy.Still, Quincy remained calm and composed. After a brief round of small talk, they sat down for dinner. The meal, served in a luxurious five-star hotel, was abundant. However, Quincy’s mind was elsewhere, focused on Lydia.He knew she had been struggling with morning sickness lately, and he was usually the one making sure she ate properly. He couldn’t help but wonder how she was managing on her own.Quincy discreetly pulled out his phone under the
“But I just can’t shake this feeling.” Lydia murmured, anxiety gnawing at her.“Unfortunately, you can’t reach Mr. Quincy right now unless you have someone who can get in touch with him,” her secretary suggested.Lydia’s eyes lit up. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She could call her father!Without wasting another moment, she dialed her father’s number, heart pounding with worry for both Quincy and her dad. As the phone rang, each second felt like an eternity, and she silently prayed that nothing had happened.Finally, the call connected.“Hello… signal’s bad here…” came Mr. Fay’s voice, crackling with interference.The signal was awful, and Lydia’s heart leapt back into her throat. Raising her voice, she tried to make herself heard. “Dad, where are you? I saw a video saying there might be an earthquake in Salt City!”“What? I can’t… hear you clearly,” Mr. Fay’s voice came in and out, making it hard to communicate.“I said there might be an earthquake where you are! Don’t go o
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
Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind Yelena. She spun around, her heart hammering in her chest. Liam was walking toward her, a faint smile on his lips—but the coldness in his eyes told a different story. Memories of his past cruelty flashed through her mind, sending a shudder down her spine. She forced herself to stay calm. “Who are you messaging?” He was getting closer. So close that when he finally stopped, they were nearly pressed against each other. Then, without warning, his fingers clamped around her chin, gripping tighter and tighter. Pain shot through her jaw, and Yelena winced. “No one. Just an old classmate. I ran into her a few days ago while I was out.” “Oh? Is that so?” Liam’s voice softened, almost gentle. To anyone watching, he might have seemed like a kind, easygoing man. But Yelena knew better. He would never let her off that easily. And sure enough— In the next second, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her hea
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.“Haven’t I been just fine lately?“Or do you think my hand isn’t injured enough? If that’s the case, go ahead—do it yourself. “You already know I wouldn’t fight back no matter what.” Without warning, Yelena stretched out her injured hand, an act that instantly enraged Liam. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He snapped. “I was just making a casual remark. Is that really what you think of me? I already told you—I’m not going to lay a hand on you.“It wasn’t intentional before, and you know it. We both do. Stop acting like you’re above all this when we both know who sent you here.” Yelena felt a pang of sadness. They had spent so much time together, yet this was how he treated her—always choosing to hurt her. “I know—I wasn’t someone you chose, and none of this was intentional. But after all this time we've spent together...“I thought maybe I was a little different to you. But I guess I was wrong. Nothing has changed at all.