The assistant locked eyes with Quincy’s silent but clearly angry gaze, and for a moment, he felt completely stuck. Without saying another word, he quickly took the box and left the way he had come.Lydia glanced at Quincy, a bit hesitant. “Are you upset?”“No.” Quincy paused, noticing the concern in her eyes, and added, “You don’t need to tiptoe around me. If you have something to say, just say it. I won’t be mad.”Still, he didn’t offer any explanation for what had just happened. After the auction, Lydia noticed him glance back over his shoulder, but she couldn’t tell if he was looking at Eugene or not. Something about the tension between the two men made her feel like there was more going on than she understood.As the yacht had set sail at the start of the auction, all the guests were expected to spend the night on board. The organizers had thoughtfully arranged private rooms for everyone. Lydia and Quincy were assigned rooms as well—two separate ones, with a significant dista
Eugene made his way to the private room where Lydia was being kept. Just as he was about to open the door, Quincy appeared, his expression cold and tense."Did you take Lydia?" Quincy demanded, his voice sharp.Eugene paused, his hand resting on the doorknob, before slowly turning to face him with a slight, almost mocking smile. "What are you talking about? Isn’t Lia supposed to be with you?""Lia?""It’s a nickname we used to have for her when we were kids," Eugene explained smoothly, his tone calm but laced with an unsettling undertone.Quincy’s eyes narrowed. From the first time he had met Eugene, Quincy had sensed that he wasn’t just an ordinary rival. In their world, few people were truly innocent, but Eugene was different. He was someone whose presence sent chills even through those who thought themselves untouchable.And someone like that having an obsession with Lydia? Quincy had been on guard from the start, but it seemed this charity event had given Eugene another ope
Lydia was woken by Quincy’s voice, his expression filled with concern. Groggily, she opened her eyes and saw him leaning over her.“Quincy… why are you here? My head hurts so much,” she murmured, pressing a hand to her temple. It felt like her head was about to split open.She tried to recall what had happened before she blacked out, but her memory was a blur. The last thing she remembered was seeing a waiter, and then… nothing. She couldn’t even piece together how Quincy had found her.Lydia asked Quincy about it, but his expression grew complicated. He hesitated, as if he had something on his mind but wasn’t sure whether to say it. Finally, he chose to hold back. "You’re not feeling well, so don’t worry about it too much. It’s almost morning, and the yacht is returning to the harbor. Let’s just get off and head home."Seeing how evasive he was, Lydia instinctively felt that Quincy was hiding something from her. But her headache was too severe to focus on it. For now, she let it
"But I hope this will be the last time," Lydia said firmly. "And please, tell Eugene for me that I don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore."Mrs. Ford seemed like she wanted to say something more, but Lydia had had enough. She was truly afraid of what they were capable of, so she hung up the phone without hesitation.After the call, Lydia paid extra attention over the next couple of days, even asking the receptionist to keep an eye out."No, we haven’t received any suspicious packages in the past two days," the receptionist said, shaking her head."Good. Keep an eye out, and if anything shows up, just throw it away," Lydia instructed, feeling finally at ease as she walked away.With no more mysterious packages arriving and no further contact from the Ford family, Lydia's mood lightened. She truly believed that the Fords had finally stopped causing trouble. But a few days later, she arrived at the office early, as usual, only to find employees gathered and whispering a
"Miss Lydia, are you alright? Maybe you should go to the hospital or call Mr. Quincy.""The stuff online isn’t always true, don’t worry too much about it.""Yeah, don’t let it get to you."The people who were gossiping just moments ago suddenly acted concerned, crowding around Lydia with worried faces. But their concern didn’t warm her, it left her feeling cold.Ignoring their offers to help, Lydia grabbed one of the employees from the planning department and asked, "Where is Quincy?"The planning department was right next to Quincy’s office. The employee informed her that Quincy was inside his office, but the door was locked.Not wasting another second, Lydia rushed over, leaving the group behind. When she arrived, she found the door locked, and even Quincy’s assistant was standing outside, unable to enter."Miss Lydia, you’re here! We can’t get in. Quincy saw something on his phone earlier and then locked us all out," the assistant explained, frustration clear in his voice. "H
"Even without all this, I’d still believe you. You’d never do something like that to me," Quincy said softly."Quincy!" Lydia cried out, throwing herself into his arms.She cried hard, her tears flowing, but deep inside, her heart felt warm and light. As long as Quincy believed her, that was all that mattered.Quincy immediately had the PR team working around the clock to squash the online rumors. They threw tens of thousands at the problem, sending cease-and-desist letters, and the whole company was scrambling to get a handle on the situation. But it seemed like there was a force behind the scenes pushing the rumors to spread even further.Despite all their efforts, the gossip was out of control. A few days later, Lydia’s parents found out.Mrs. Fay called immediately, though it was clear Mr. Fay was the one who wanted answers. She was just the messenger."What’s going on between you and that boy from the Ford family? Didn’t you say you didn’t like him?" Mrs. Fay asked, soundi
Even Quincy was a bit puzzled by the sudden request from his parents to meet Lydia, but he didn’t dwell on it. He assumed they simply wanted to meet their daughter-in-law. He reassured Lydia, “We’ve already gotten married, but my parents haven’t met you yet. This is just a good chance for them to finally see you.”“Alright,” Lydia agreed, though still a little nervous.“Don’t worry, they won’t make things difficult for you.”With Quincy’s constant reassurance, Lydia felt a little more at ease. She reminded herself that meeting the in-laws was inevitable, and they were actually a bit late in doing so, considering they were already married.Quincy didn’t come from a wealthy background. His family was middle-class, living in an older apartment on the outskirts of town. Their office was downtown, so even though it wasn’t far, the traffic made the trip longer than usual.As Lydia watched the older buildings flash by outside the window, she turned to Quincy and asked, “Why didn’t you
Lydia cradled the cup in her hands. The temperature was perfect, not too hot. It was clear that Quincy had clearly checked beforehand.She glanced over at him and saw him peeling roasted chestnuts for her, and her heart instantly felt warm. Lydia was sensitive to both heat and cold, and many people, including her own parents, had called her spoiled. But Quincy never complained. He always took care of her, quietly and willingly, without a word of protest.From the kitchen came the sounds of clattering pots and the rich aroma of stir-fried vegetables. Meanwhile, Lydia and Quincy exchanged light conversation in the living room.The smile on Lydia’s face revealed that it wasn’t so much a conversation as it was Quincy trying to make her laugh and lift her spirits.Watching from the kitchen, Mrs. Perez narrowed her eyes. The more she looked at Lydia, the more displeased she became. "Look at him, fussing over her like that. I can hardly believe that’s our son," she muttered, casting L
Pharaoh noticed the resolute look in Nash’s eyes and knew exactly what kind of person he was. He had witnessed firsthand how well Nash treated Nina. Still, Pharaoh couldn't shake the reality that his days were numbered, prompting him to repeat his instructions again and again.Pharaoh had experienced it all—success, loss, and even redemption. Yet, the one thing he couldn’t make peace with was leaving his two children behind. Though he neither smoked nor drank, life was slipping away from him. Pharaoh believed his failing health was divine retribution for the sins he had committed in his past.He spent hours talking to Nash, who listened patiently, nodding in agreement as Pharaoh repeated his wishes. Despite trusting Micah to take care of things, Pharaoh still felt compelled to remind Micah, saying, “Don’t be reckless. The debts of the father often fall to the son. My remaining time has been spent with Nina, but the Yaren Tribe is now your responsibility. I expect you to make amen
Wilfred fell silent.If there was someone he couldn’t forget, it was Nina, his Ivy. But fate had not been kind. By the time he found her, she was already married to Nash and had his children. Later, when news of Nash’s death spread, Wilfred watched as Nina grieved deeply, her love for Nash evident in every tear she shed. No matter how much effort Wilfred put in, he could never truly step into her heart. He wanted Nina to be happy, to smile and laugh, even if it meant enduring his own loneliness and heartache. But the ache of unspoken love weighed heavily on him, pulling him into a spiral of internal struggle.Still, Wilfred quickly suppressed his emotions. “You’ve finished your work and now have time to meddle in my personal life?” he asked coolly, his voice cutting through the room. The assistant immediately froze, understanding he had crossed a line. “I wouldn’t dare.”“Good. Focus on your tasks and stop wasting time on meaningless matters,” Wilfred replied sharply.“Ye
No one knew how much longer Pharaoh had, but the moment a child took root in Freya’s womb or an embryo successfully developed, it would bring him a small sense of peace.Freya and Micah were determined. With the hospital director, Wilfred, personally overseeing their case, there was little room for doubt or objection. The egg retrieval process was excruciatingly painful for Freya. Micah’s heart ached for her, but he had already spoken with Pharaoh, and Pharaoh silently supported the decision. Micah felt a deep sense of guilt. “Freya, I’m sorry for putting you through this. You’ve seen Dad’s condition. I just… I don’t want him to…”He couldn’t finish the sentence. Even as a rational man, defining such a moment for his own father was too difficult. Freya embraced him, her voice steady and reassuring. “You don’t need to apologize. I’m willing to do this for you, for our family.”She knew that Micah’s push for this wasn’t selfish. It was out of love and an earnest wish to ease his
“Don’t say such things! You’re not going to die!" Nina held back her tears, fearing that once they started, she wouldn’t be able to stop.Pharaoh smiled calmly. “Life and death are natural parts of the world. Everyone has to face it eventually. But I’ve been lucky. I found you, reunited with you, got to be part of your life, and even earned your forgiveness. I’ve already lived a fulfilled life.“All right, let’s eat. No more heavy talk.” Pharaoh seemed wary of his own emotions, not wanting his words to bring him to tears.“Okay,” Nina agreed, swallowing her emotions and putting on a brave face. She made sure the two children stayed close to Pharaoh, their laughter a comforting distraction.The next day around noon, Micah and Freya arrived. Seeing them, Pharaoh immediately guessed they had come at Nina’s urging.“You both came? The Yaren Tribe is so busy right now, especially during this critical development phase. Didn’t I tell you to focus on the important work first?” Pharaoh sa
“Fish stew isn’t good for you right now. You need to eat lighter meals,” Nina said, trying to balance Pharaoh’s preferences with his health.Pharaoh smiled warmly. “Lately, everything tastes like nothing. I’d really like to eat something flavorful.”Before Nina could respond, Nash placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and spoke up. “Let’s get you discharged, and once we’re home, Nina can cook it for you.”“Alright,” Pharaoh agreed, leaving Nina with no room to argue.Nash drove them home while Pharaoh held baby Scarlett in his arms. Meanwhile, Scarlett and Nina said their goodbyes at the hospital, parting ways.Once they arrived home, Nina went straight into the kitchen, and Nash joined her to help. “Dad’s not looking great,” Nash said quietly as he chopped vegetables. “If he wants to be home, let him. Whatever he wants to eat, whatever requests he has, let’s just give him that. And call your brother and tell him to come.”Nash’s words carried a weight that Nina couldn’t ign
Scarlett wasn’t swayed by Nina’s attempts to persuade her to stay, and Nina decided not to press further. After finishing lunch, Nina, Scarlett, and the children headed to the hospital to visit Pharaoh, with Nash driving them.Pharaoh had expressed a desire to move back home, but Nina firmly refused. At the hospital, his condition could be monitored around the clock, and Nina wasn’t willing to take any risks with his health. She couldn’t bear the thought of any sudden emergencies.Pharaoh’s face lit up when he saw the children. Orion clung to her grandfather, while little Gemma sat happily in his arms. Pharaoh gently pinched her cheeks, and she responded with a bright, toothy grin.“Pharaoh, am I really that invisible?” Scarlett teased, noticing how he only seemed to have eyes for the kids.Pharaoh finally turned his attention to Scarlett. “It’s been ages since I last saw you. My old eyes must be failing me. I didn’t even notice you. Sorry about that.”Scarlett smiled warmly. “Don
“The military is the military, but this is my home. Now that you’re here, there’s no way I’m letting you be treated poorly,” Nina said, holding Scarlett’s hand warmly. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, and seeing Scarlett now reminded her of Yvonne.Scarlett chuckled. “You could never treat me poorly. But I heard Pharaoh has been unwell. How is he doing?”“He’s undergoing chemotherapy,” Nina replied with a sigh. “With cancer, you never really know. Some people survive for decades, while others have only days after their diagnosis.”“I’d like to visit him,” Scarlett said. Despite everything, she felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Pharaoh. After all, he and Wilfred had trained her. Even though her past with Sawyer had been painful, it was behind her now. Everyone was trying to move forward.“Let’s eat first. I’ll take you to see him after,” Nina offered.“All right,” Scarlett agreed.Nina decided that leaving everything to the helper wasn’t enough. She
Ben looked at Jamie and asked, “Are you sure you can manage this on your own? Mom’s condition makes it hard to care for her without help. Turning her over in bed alone won’t be easy without a nurse.”Jamie’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Did you forget what I used to do? I’ve handled far worse jobs to pay for Charlie’s medical bills. Compared to that, this is nothing.”Her words tugged painfully at Ben’s heart. Jamie had carried the entire family’s burden on her own in the past, and the thought of her enduring so much made him ache.“I’m sorry… for everything before. You’ve been through so much,” he said in a low, hoarse voice.Jamie waved it off with a light laugh. “This isn’t some grand apology ceremony. Besides, haven’t we agreed to leave the past where it belongs?”Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang. It was Nina.“Come over with Charlie,” Nina said over the phone. “Gemma keeps asking about her little brother.”Nina genuinely considered Jamie a friend, and besid
Winnie gave a faint smile. “I’ve already let it go. But think about it, you’re now living a high-profile life as part of an influential family. Do you really want the media constantly digging into your past because of me?”She spoke calmly, but the weight of her words hit Jamie like a stone. Linda and Winnie were destined to live in the shadows.Jamie understood what Winnie was saying, but she also knew that no one could choose the circumstances of their birth. And she, for one, would never turn her back on her mother or her sister.“Winnie…” Jamie tried to argue, but Winnie interrupted her.“Don’t start, sis. Living a good life is the best thing you can do for both of us.“And even if I don’t leave now, I’ll have to eventually. You might be able to keep me here for a year, maybe two, but you can’t control my life forever. Right now, I just want a bit of freedom and to take Mom with me. I’ve already made up my mind, so let’s not waste time going in circles.”Jamie hesitated for a