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
“Quincy,” Lydia noticed the call and spoke up, “Someone’s calling you. Go ahead and answer. It’s not like you need to worry about me anymore. We’re getting divorced, after all.”In just a month, they would have their divorce papers, and that would be the end. They would be strangers with no ties left between them.Quincy finally pressed the answer button, feeling utterly drained. “Mom, is there something you need?”“Quincy, where have you been these past few days?” Mrs. Perez’s voice was filled with concern.Ever since that day in the hospital when Quincy mentioned the special herbal tea, Mrs. Perez had been quick to act. She urged her husband to rush home, and then had Mabel keep Quincy occupied. They managed to dispose of the herbal tea successfully, so even if Quincy searched every corner of the house, he wouldn’t find a trace.After finally breathing a sigh of relief, Mrs. Perez grew increasingly frustrated when Quincy seemingly disappeared, avoiding even a single visit. He wo
Quincy didn’t get angry at Lydia’s words. Instead, he just felt more guilt. “I’m sorry, Lydia. Truly, I am.”“There’s no need for apologies, and no need to waste any more time on me,” Lydia replied. “They just called our number. Once we’ve got our divorce papers, you’ll be free to be with Miss Tiffany as openly as you want.” She stood up.Together, they approached the desk, and Lydia addressed the clerk, “Hello, we’re here to file for divorce.”“Are you both sure you want to go through with this?” the clerk asked, following protocol.Lydia nodded firmly. Quincy didn’t say a word, but his expression spoke volumes. He clearly didn’t want this.The clerk picked up on Quincy’s hesitation and took a moment to offer some advice. “Every marriage has its share of disagreements and arguments. That’s completely normal. Sometimes people rush into divorce, only to regret it later. I’ve seen many couples come back and remarry.”“We’ve made up our minds. Please continue with the paperwork,”
“Quincy,” Lydia turned to face him. “In what capacity are you saying that to me?”Before Quincy could respond, Tiffany, who had rushed over from her cab, answered for him. “Obviously as your soon-to-be ex-husband, Miss Fay. Let me remind you, you’re still married. Accepting roses from another man while you’re still married. That’s cheating, isn’t it?”Lydia nearly laughed out loud through her frustration. “Cheating?” Was she seriously being accused of cheating?What did Quincy and Tiffany think they were? She and Eugene were entirely innocent, nothing had happened between them. And even if it had, Tiffany, as the mistress, had no right to accuse her of anything.“Tiffany, who told you to come here?” Quincy’s eyes burned with anger.Why did she keep interfering like this? He shoved Tiffany aside. “This is none of your business. Get out of here.”“Quincy! Wake up! She’s been seeing this man since before you two decided to divorce. How can you not see what’s going on?” Tiffany shout
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