"I’m not afraid." Lydia shook her head. She had her own thoughts on the matter.Facing Nina, she started counting on her fingers as she explained, "First, if these people are watching your family, they’ll definitely dig into your connections and find out we’re friends. Second, I could bring a few bodyguards with me. If we live together, our safety might even improve."She truly didn’t want to stay at home. Eugene showed up every day, going out of his way to impress her parents, and it made her genuinely uncomfortable. But seeing the sincere smiles on her parents' faces, Lydia couldn’t bring herself to chase him away. She couldn’t even say a harsh word to him.She had already hurt her parents once before because of her stubbornness. Now that she was back home after her divorce, did she really want to go against them again? That would be so ungrateful.These feelings weighed heavily on her heart. Rather than silently enduring them alone, she figured a change of scenery might do her s
"Lydia, where are you planning to go?" Mrs. Fay quickly stood up and hurried to Lydia’s side.Mr. Fay joined them, reaching for her suitcase. "We’re not against you going out, but it’s late. How about you get some rest?""I’m not going out for a stroll. I’m going to stay at a friend’s place. I’ll be with Nina. You know her," Lydia reassured them, specifically mentioning Nina's name to ease their worries.Mr. and Mrs. Fay did know Nina. They exchanged glances, reluctant to let Lydia leave. After all, Lydia and Quincy had first fallen for each other at the York Corporation. Now that she was finally moving forward with the divorce, the last thing they wanted was for her to end up near Quincy again. If he was over there, he could sweet-talk her during the month-long wait, and she might change her mind. They couldn’t let that happen."Lydia, I really think you shouldn’t go over there. Nina has two kids now, and she’s already so busy taking care of them. You’d only be adding to her loa
Now that Lydia was staying at someone else's home, he didn't want to burden the York family's staff with the task of cooking, but he also couldn’t expect Lydia to cook for herself. Bringing a chef along seemed like the most convenient solution.“Dad, you really think of everything.” Lydia felt a warm glow in her heart, deeply touched. She was truly fortunate to have such wonderful parents.Mr. Fay held her hand. “It’s not about thinking things through. It's because I truly love you. When someone genuinely loves you, they can’t bear to see you suffer. Remember that.”Lydia nodded. “I understand.”After all the pain she had endured, she knew it was time to wake up. It would be foolish not to.As they neared the York family estate, Lydia sent Nina a message. Nina came to the door herself to greet them, giving Mr. Fay a warm nod. “Hello, Mr. Fay. I’m sorry you had to come all this way so late. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”“No need. You young folks probably have a lo
Nina opened her arms and gave Lydia a big hug. “Let’s not think about all that right now. Since you’re here, let’s focus on something fun. How about a barbecue in the garden tonight?”“Sounds good. But could I see your two kids first?” Lydia managed a small smile.Nina happily agreed.They walked to the living room, where little Gemma was already awake, her big eyes curiously taking in the world around her.“Gemma!” Orion cheerfully bounded over, holding a toy rattle, which he shook from side to side, producing a light, rhythmic sound.Gemma immediately giggled at the sight.She reached out with her tiny hands to grab the rattle, but Orion held it just out of her reach, raising his arm. “If you want it, you have to come and get it, Gemma.”Gemma stretched her little arms, trying her best to grab it, but she was so small that she couldn’t reach. After a few unsuccessful attempts, she pouted, squeezed her eyes shut, and started to cry.“Don’t cry! I was just teasing you. I’d neve
Her marriage was over, but she still wanted others to enjoy their happiness together.“Have you eaten tonight?” Nina asked, still a bit concerned about her. She had seen how upset Lydia was earlier. Now that Lydia was here as a guest, Nina wanted to make sure she was taken care of.Lydia nodded. “Don’t worry. I ate at home. I’m an adult and I can take care of myself.”“Alright then. But if you get hungry later, just let Mrs. Watson know. She can whip up a snack for you,” Nina said, offering a gentle reminder.She then showed Lydia to the guest room, a suite with a private walk-in closet and bathroom.“Thank you,” Lydia said sincerely.After Nina left, Lydia stayed in the room alone. She opened the window, letting the cold wind brush against her face, until her phone rang. It was her dad.She answered, and before she could speak, her eyes filled with tears.“How’s it going over there? I’ve already arranged for some bodyguards, and they’ll be there tomorrow along with a nutrition
Of course, Mr. Fay had his own reasons for wanting Lydia to stay close. If she moved out, how would he and Eugene ever have a chance to nudge her back together?“Dad, I could come home every day, or have the nutritionist come to my place and handle all my meals. Please, just let me have a little space to clear my head,” Lydia pleaded. Eventually, Mr. Fay gave in with a nod.That night, Lydia hardly slept. The bed was comfortable, but her mind was too cluttered for any real rest.The next morning, Nash and Nina prepared a heartfelt breakfast together, making sure to include a plate for Lydia.“Nina, I’ve been thinking since this morning. I just don’t believe Quincy would cheat. There’s got to be some big misunderstanding causing all this,” Nash said as Nina was about to take the breakfast out.In truth, Nina had the same feeling. Lydia and Quincy had always seemed close, and it was a shame they were going through this, especially so soon after marrying. But she felt hesitant to
“You're so smooth-talking,” Nina teased, shooting him a playful glare before picking up the tray and opening the kitchen door.She set the breakfast on the table and called to Orion, “Breakfast is ready! Go wash your hands first, then you can eat.”“Mom, I already washed them!” Orion proudly held up his hands. “Our teacher taught us the right way to wash. They’re super clean.”“You’re such a big boy now!” Nina praised him, lifting him into his chair and sitting down to peel his egg.Nash didn’t sit idle either. He poured milk for everyone, making sure to include a glass for Lydia.“Thanks, Mr. York,” Lydia said quickly, feeling a bit formal.“No need for that. Let’s just enjoy breakfast,” he replied, steering clear of any mention of Quincy.Throughout the meal, Lydia remained quiet, watching this family of three as they laughed and chatted. The envy in her eyes was almost palpable. Once, she and Quincy had been like this, always with so much to talk about, especially when she
Orion rattled off a list of games, and the boy shook his head the whole time. He had completely forgotten to cry, his big eyes wide with curiosity. “What are those games you’re talking about? I’ve never heard of them.”“Come to preschool with me, and you’ll see. There are lots of other kids there, and we can play all of them together.” Orion kept him guessing, adding a little suspense.The boy was intrigued. He got up, grabbed Orion’s hand, and said, “I want to go to preschool with you. I want to try all those games!”The boy’s parents, relieved, approached Nina to thank her and offered praise for Orion.“They’re classmates now, and I’m sure they’ll be great friends. No need to thank us,” Nina replied, watching her son’s retreating figure with pride. She and Nash had done well raising him.Once the two kids disappeared into the school, Nina got back in the car and instructed the driver to head to the courthouse. As the reality of seeing Quincy again set in, Lydia found herself cle
Winnie reacted strongly, refusing to believe any of it. “We’ve known each other for so long. He’s always been so good to me, and he’s incredibly dedicated to his work. He’s an exceptional lawyer. How could he possibly do something like this? You have to investigate thoroughly and clear his name,” she said, her voice trembling. The captain waited until she finished before asking, “Miss Lewis, just now you called him ‘Jack.’ Is that right?” “Yes, that’s his name, Jack Green. We’re engaged, and we’re getting married soon. Is there a problem with me calling him that?” Winnie responded, momentarily stunned. Her first thought was that the captain was being unnecessarily nosy. Was it wrong for an engaged couple to call each other by their first names?The captain shook his head. “This has nothing to do with your upcoming marriage, but the name you’re using doesn’t match the one on his ID. Were you aware of that?” “You’re joking, right? That’s not funny,” Winnie said, her face
While Nash spent time with his daughter, Gemma, every day, Nina and Pharaoh had missed out on so much together. Now that the doctors had given Pharaoh only five years to live, it was clear they needed to make the most of the time they had left and create as many good memories as possible.Lydia completely understood.She waved goodbye to Nash, then linked her arm through Quincy’s as the two walked toward their parked car.“I was thinking that, since work has been slow, we could take a short trip to a nearby city,” Quincy said, glancing at her with a warm expression. “But it looks like we’ll have to postpone it.”With her by his side, life felt perfect.Lydia smiled. “If not this week, then next week or the one after. We’ve got all the time in the world.”They were still young, with plenty of time to do everything they wanted.……Meanwhile, Winnie was left alone at home since Jamie went out to work. With nothing else to do, she decided to tidy up. The villa was large, and clea
Nash was the first to speak. “Mrs. Lucas, what exactly happened to Ben? Can you tell us everything? Let’s see if there’s a way we can help.”“Alright. Thank goodness he has friends like you. Otherwise, I’d have no idea what to do right now.” Mrs. Lucas recounted the situation in detail but carefully omitted her own involvement.The living room fell silent, and everyone’s expressions darkened.“I raised Ben. I know my son. He would never do something like this. It must be a setup,” Mrs. Lucas said, her voice trembling with emotion. The more she spoke, the more heartbroken she felt. All she could think about now were her Ben’s virtues. Apart from refusing to listen to her about marriage and career plans, Ben had always been a good son.“Don’t worry, Mrs. Lucas. We’ll figure something out,” Lydia offered as she stood and gently guided Mrs. Lucas to the nearby study. “You should rest for a bit. Don’t wear yourself out.”Quincy watched Lydia closely as she left the room. Only when sh
Mrs. Lucas deeply regretted her decision. If she had known it would come to this, she would never have sought out this man for help. “You hide behind a mask and won’t even show your face. How can you call yourself a man?”“Mrs. Lucas, do you really think throwing insults will make me take off the mask and obediently do your bidding like a dog?” The masked man remained calm, his tone even laced with amusement, which only added to Mrs. Lucas’s frustration.She was on the verge of breaking down. “Just name your price. How much will it take to get my son out of there?”As long as Ben could walk out safely and unharmed, no amount of money was too much.But the masked man shook his head. “This isn’t about money. If it were that simple, you wouldn’t be here begging me for help.”The truth was, Mrs. Lucas had come to him because she had run out of options. He was her last hope. Yet, he shrugged nonchalantly, as if to show her just how powerless he really was.“I don’t make the laws, an
Why would Caden do this?“And then there’s that recent case you handled. The client is suspected of laundering money for an international corporation, and these are the ‘evidences’ you submitted.” The captain’s brows furrowed as he pulled a file from the side, placing it in front of Ben. “Take a look at what you turned in.”The documents were full of evasive arguments, but the worst part was that a check had somehow been slipped between the pages. With all this evidence piled up against him, even as a lawyer, Ben had no way to prove his innocence.He had no idea how things had come to this. He had personally organized and submitted these files to the court, but the ones on record were completely different. Someone had swapped them out.But who?Ben handled everything himself, except for having his assistant print the documents. Could it be…?“Mr. Lucas, the evidence is overwhelming. You’d better think about how to clear your name,” the captain said, standing up and looking at Ben
“Please come with us,” one of the officers stepped up, holding a pair of silver handcuffs.Ben was even more puzzled. He hadn’t done anything illegal. Why were these officers showing up at his office? And why the cuffs?His first reaction was to step back. “You must have the wrong person.”“Your name is Ben Lucas, right? We’ve already matched your photo. I suggest you don’t resist and just come along quietly,” the officer barked.They wouldn’t be here without solid evidence. There was no mistake.“If you’re taking me in, I’d like to know the reason,” Ben replied, still trying to make sense of what was happening.To the officers, his reaction came across as defiant, making him look even more suspicious.“Don’t tell me you’re unaware of your own wrongdoing? You’re supposed to be a lawyer, familiar with the law. How convenient to play ignorant when it applies to you!“Think carefully! Confess, and things might go easier for you. Resist, and you’ll only make it worse. Don’t interfe
How could Jamie feel right about taking the money? In just a few days, Winnie had already lent her so much. She couldn’t keep taking advantage of her.“Jamie, if I were living alone, I wouldn’t care so much. But now, with Jack and the baby on the way, it’s unrealistic for us to keep living together forever. Take this money. It’s enough to cover at least half a month’s rent,” Winnie said firmly.Jamie could hear the underlying message. Winnie was trying to hint, as gently as possible, that it might be time for Jamie to find her own place. It made sense. Winnie was building her own family and naturally wanted privacy. Having a relative around wasn’t exactly ideal, especially with everything Ben had been doing lately. While he hadn’t openly revealed anything about their past, it was clear enough that Winnie had noticed something.Jamie truly wanted to move out, but the moment she started looking for a place, Ben would make her life difficult. She didn’t mind for herself, but with
The next morning, Ben opened his eyes. He immediately noticed the blanket covering him. Could Jamie have been the one taking care of him last night?He sat up, only to see Winnie sleeping on a makeshift bed on the floor.“You’re awake? You were so drunk last night that you passed out on the way home. It was a struggle just getting you here. I even tried to wake you up for some tea to help sober you up, but you were completely out,” Winnie said as she woke up, too.After straightening up the living room a bit, she went to the kitchen and came back with a mug of warm herbal tea. “I’m guessing the hangover’s mostly gone, so you probably don’t need anything strong. But this will soothe your throat.”“You don’t have to go through all this trouble,” Ben replied, placing the mug on the coffee table without drinking it.Ben looked around the room. It was just the two of them. Where had Jamie gone?The thought nagged at him, so he asked directly.“Jack, I’m not sure if I should say this…
“He… likes my sister?” The shocking thought had barely surfaced before it jolted Winnie. “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Winnie,” Jamie quickly pushed Ben toward Winnie’s side.A look of irritation crossed Ben’s face. It was Jamie he wanted to hold. What did Winnie have to do with him?Annoyed, he grumbled, “Why do you keep pushing me away?”“Jack, you’re mistaken. I’m your fiancée!” Winnie finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She strode over, took Ben’s hand, and placed it around her waist. “I get that my sister and I look a bit alike, but you can’t keep confusing us like this!”She had brushed it off the first couple of times, but this was going too far.Ben still seemed inclined to push her away.Just then, the taxi arrived, and Jamie opened the front passenger door, slipping inside. Seeing this, Ben staggered in her direction, while Winnie hurried to open the back door for him.Once inside, Ben leaned back in the seat and fell asleep almost immediately.Not wanti