“I know you’re a good person, but Eugene, why waste so much time on me?” Lydia continued shaking her head. “There’s no future for us together.”She had no feelings for him beyond friendship. That was all they could ever be.“You still can’t get over Quincy.”“It’s not like that. It’s completely over between us.”“If it’s really over, then why not give me a chance? Lydia, you’re still young. Do you really plan to spend your life alone because of one worthless man?” Eugene pressed, refusing to back down.Growing up, he had always gotten what he wanted, and he was determined to have Lydia, too.Lydia didn’t know how to explain it to him. Maybe it was better to let him think what he wanted.She said nothing, effectively allowing him to believe he was right.“Lydia, you’re really not thinking clearly. If you had a child together and didn’t want to remarry for the child’s sake, I’d understand. But now, there’s nothing left between you two.” Eugene’s gaze dropped to her stomach.He w
"I’m definitely on your side. We can’t let Quincy stay blind to the truth, but you also need to think about your health. If you push yourself too hard and get sick, won’t that tear our family apart?" Mr. Perez continued to reassure her.He couldn’t bear it if his wife fell ill, especially if it was their son who had driven her to that point.Mrs. Perez was about to respond when an idea struck her. She quickly pulled him down to sit beside her. "I just thought of something. Quincy doesn’t want to see us now, but if I were in the hospital, say in the ICU, would he really ignore me?"“You can’t joke around with your health like that,” Mr. Perez replied immediately, rejecting the idea. The ICU was for serious cases, and he couldn’t let his wife fake such a thing.She slapped her thigh in frustration. “You’re so rigid. Does someone have to actually be sick to get into the ICU? As long as we have money, we can arrange anything we need.”All she wanted was to use the ICU as a ruse to bri
“Now that you’ve said that, I’m relieved,” Mrs. Perez replied, her smile deepening. She might not understand why Lydia was so set on disrupting her son’s life, but Lydia was, after all, the Fay family’s precious daughter, pampered from a young age. With opposition from the in-laws, Mabel and Tiffany waiting in the wings, Mrs. Perez was curious to see how stubborn Lydia could be. How long would she keep trying to be part of the Perez family?---Meanwhile, Lydia was feeling crushed but unwilling to return home. After all, she had gone against her parents’ wishes to marry Quincy, and she still remembered every word she had said in their defense. Going back now would feel like admitting she had been wrong.What she didn’t expect was her parents driving all the way to the hotel to find her. When she heard the knock, Lydia thought it was just her takeout. But when she opened the door, there stood her parents and Eugene behind them.“What are you doing here?” she asked, surprised.
Lydia didn’t hesitate before refusing. “Mom, I just separated from Quincy and came here to clear my head for a few days. How can you expect me to jump into another marriage already? I’m not ready.”Even if she were considering moving on, it would take time, and right now, she had no intention of starting something new. She didn’t have feelings for Eugene and didn’t want to remarry.“Lydia, I understand where you’re coming from, but you’re staying alone in a hotel, eating takeout. How can we be at ease knowing that?” Mrs. Fay tried to reason with her daughter. She would rather see Lydia supported by Eugene than dealing with her heartbreak alone. At least then, Lydia would have someone to lean on.Mr. Fay added, “Eugene truly cares about you. You just can’t see who genuinely has your best interests at heart. If you push him away now, what will you do if you lose that chance?”The Fays certainly had the means to support Lydia for the rest of her life, and they wouldn’t mind doing so
Lydia knew this was exactly the kind of thing her parents would do. She didn’t ask Eugene to leave, but she also didn’t engage with him. Instead, she walked to the window and stared out at the busy streets below, ignoring his constant chatter behind her.It wasn’t until he brought up her parents again that she finally listened. “Lydia, even though you’re married, you’re still their daughter. Do you really think they’d ignore what’s happening with you? They know everything about you and Quincy, including that you’re staying at this hotel, which actually has shares owned by your family.”Lydia blinked, surprised. She quickly checked her phone and, sure enough, found that her family held a one percent stake in the hotel chain. It wasn’t enough to influence management, but it would certainly allow them to access the guest list easily.So she had misjudged Eugene after all. Lydia turned around and apologized, “I’m sorry. I jumped to conclusions. But there’s no future for us, and I just
If it weren’t for Nash’s help behind the scenes, Quincy wouldn’t have had what it took to start a company, much less achieve his current success. In the past, Lydia had been so devoted to him that no matter how much Eugene wanted to intervene, he had no chance. But now that Quincy’s own actions had created a crack in that love, Eugene was confident he could widen that crack until it finally shattered completely.---At the embassy, Hope had cried the entire drive, but it hadn’t swayed Nina or Nash in the slightest. When the car came to a stop, Nina stepped out and turned back to take Hope from the car.“No, I don’t want to get out!” Hope clung tightly to the seatbelt, her small hands marked with red welts from the effort. Her wide eyes overflowed with tears, which slid down her cheeks and soaked into her clothes. “Please, take me home. You said I was part of the family, so why are you abandoning me so quickly?”Nina almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Even now, Hope was tr
Hope struggled with all her might, but being so small, she was held firmly by the staff. No matter how much she kicked, her feet didn’t reach the ground. She could only watch as Nina and Nash walked away with Orion, leaving her behind.Though they had finally sent Hope away, Nina and Nash still felt a lingering unease.“It’s over now. Try not to dwell on it. How about some music to help us relax?” Nash suggested, breaking the silence.Nina nodded. “Play anything.”As Nash inserted the car key, the dashboard screen flickered to life. Instead of music, an image of a masked man dressed in black appeared, his face fully covered except for his eyes, which stared at Nash with a defiant gleam.“Who are you?” Nash’s expression turned icy.It was clear this man was somehow tied to Hope.The masked man didn’t respond right away. Instead, he laughed for a moment before speaking. “Nash, I thought you had two kids. So why is there only one in the car? Is it that you didn’t want to bring the
"A trivial person. You don't need to worry about him. Your dad and I will handle it," Nina assured, determined to keep Orion out of it. He was just a child, deserving a happy and carefree childhood, free from adult complications.But Orion didn't see it that way. "Mom, Dad, we’re a family. Is there anything I can do to help? I want to do whatever I can.""Taking care of yourself is the biggest help you can give us," Nina replied, giving his cheek a gentle squeeze. "Your dad and I will make sure you’re safe."She would protect both of her children, and as for the masked man, Nash would figure out his identity. Now, it was time for them to go home.“I know you can do it, Mom and Dad!” Orion said with a big smile. Once he was buckled in, Nash began driving home.……Back at the Fay residence.Since her parents had shown up at the hotel, Lydia had officially moved back in with them. Mrs. Fay was now constantly reminding the housekeeper, “Make extra nutritious dishes and ensure Lydia
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.
“Why do you even care about what happens to other people? Haven’t I made myself clear enough already?“Whose card is this—yours or mine?” His assistant immediately apologized upon hearing Caleb’s tone. “I hope you won’t hold this against me. I really wasn’t thinking clearly at the time—I should have considered this more carefully.” Caleb didn’t bother responding. After hanging up, he focused entirely on investigating Vera’s brother. *Meanwhile, Vera was deeply worried. If things had been somewhat under control before, now they were completely off track. The situation on both sides was far more complicated than she had anticipated. “Don’t worry. That’s exactly how it is. If you don’t want to go in person, I can go for you—but it won’t be cheap,” the private investigator said.Since Caleb had warned her about the private investigator, Vera started testing him, probing for inconsistencies. And sure enough, his story had too many holes. “Why are you so sure my b
As Caleb spoke, he looked at Vera with a hint of helplessness. After all, her hand had been injured because of Luna. “Don’t feel guilty about this. Honestly, it’s nothing to me.“And I’m not the type to carry burdens over things like this.“Besides, it’s been so long. If this had happened back then, I might have cared. But now? I just don’t think it matters anymore.” Vera’s voice was steady and sincere. But Caleb’s expression darkened. “Why would you say that? Why do you think it doesn’t matter? Do you really see me as just the same as everyone else?” For some reason, at this moment, Caleb took it personally. Vera couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course not. You’re different from the rest—so obviously, I wouldn’t see it the same way.“You’ve helped me so much. The least I can do is acknowledge that, instead of stubbornly nitpicking about what’s right or wrong, don’t you think?“Besides, whatever happened between you and Luna, that’s none of my business. It’s in