Jamie had no other answer but to agree. Ben slipped the silver ring onto her finger, its snug fit making it feel as though it was meant to be there, encircling her finger securely. She then took his matching ring and placed it on his finger. It was only then that Jamie noticed a subtle difference between their rings. The letters engraved on hers were raised, smooth to the touch. But on Ben’s, the letters were etched into the inner band, pressing against the skin. It wouldn’t cause pain, but it was surely uncomfortable.Jamie paused briefly, staring at the ring with a trace of astonishment. Ben noticed and extended his hand for her to pull him up. The gesture served as a gentle nudge to snap her out of her thoughts.“Sorry, I zoned out for a moment,” Jamie whispered apologetically as she leaned closer to him.Ben, his arm now linked with hers, led her toward their guests to make toasts. “I noticed,” he murmured quietly. It was why he’d reminded her. Luckily, the brief moment
The thought that Winnie might be watching her at this very moment helped Jamie compose herself. She quickly found her stride, greeting familiar faces with ease.Nina, watching Jamie and Ben alternate sipping drinks, suddenly had an idea. “How about you two do a toast with your arms linked? It’s way more romantic and fun. What do you all think?”Orion, his mouth full of food, was the first to raise his hand in agreement. “Yes!”Jamie gave them a helpless look. “Orion, you’ve been totally corrupted by your mom.”Nina, wiping Orion’s mouth, raised an eyebrow. “Corrupted? I’m just making your wedding more entertaining.”In the end, Jamie relented. She turned to Ben and picked up one of the glasses. “I’ll drink this one,” she offered.Up until now, Ben had been doing most of the drinking, knowing Jamie wasn’t great with alcohol. He picked up the other glass and nodded.Orion watched them curiously, wide-eyed. Nina quickly covered Orion’s eyes. “No peeking. This is for grown-ups.”
Jamie had to fight back her tears as she gazed at her long-lost sister. It didn’t take long for her to notice that Winnie’s face wasn’t the same as before. Her eyes trembled as she gripped her sister’s hands tightly. “What happened to your face? Was it from the fire? Does it hurt?”Winnie touched her face and lowered her gaze. In truth, she didn’t care much about her appearance anymore. A different face was a small price to pay for her life. Surviving had been a blessing in itself.But for someone who had always thought this way, hearing Jamie’s concern broke through her defenses. Winnie’s eyes reddened for a brief moment. “It hurts, Jamie. It hurts so much.”She had never felt pain like this before. The fire had been agonizing. The weeks spent motionless in bed had been unbearable. And being controlled, drugged, and beaten by that man had hurt the most.As Winnie spoke, her voice grew smaller, filled with pain. “It hurt so much, Jamie. There were so many times I just wanted to
The next morning, Charlie kept staring at Jamie, making her feel a little self-conscious. Thinking he might have noticed something unusual, she asked, “Why are you staring at Mommy? Eat your breakfast, or you’ll be late.”Charlie, nibbling on a bun, blinked innocently and mumbled with his mouth full, “I heard from my friends at preschool that when Mommy and Daddy love each other, a new baby brother or sister comes soon. Mommy, am I going to have a sister?”Jamie nearly choked on her coffee. She pounded her chest a few times before regaining her breath and glared at Charlie, whose face was full of curiosity. “What nonsense are you talking about? Eat your breakfast.”“Oh,” Charlie said, pouting. He decided Mommy was just shy.Jamie had no idea what was running through his little head. If she did, she definitely wouldn’t let it go so easily.*After dropping Charlie off at preschool, Jamie drove to work like usual. When she walked into the office, the stares she received almost st
Jamie froze for a moment, realizing it wasn’t a reprimand or her needing to apologize for something she had messed up. “Well, why didn’t he just say so earlier?” she silently remarked.She instantly relaxed and pulled out her phone, scrolling briefly before landing on a suggestion. “How about this place?”Ben nodded. “That works. Also, pick Charlie up from preschool on the way. He doesn’t need to stay the whole day. We’ll take him with us after lunch to visit the family home.”Jamie didn’t ask why they would be heading there, but the look on Ben’s face said enough. She had a hunch. Very few people could make Ben wear that expression, and the only one who came to mind was his father. This visit must have something to do with him.*After lunch, they headed to the Lucas family estate. Although Charlie had visited before, this was his first time going with Jamie, and he was bursting with excitement. He fidgeted nonstop in the car, leaning this way and that.Jamie finally reached
Ben suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief.Mrs. Lucas quietly closed the door behind her and turned to face him. Seeing the turmoil in his expression, she let out a soft sigh. “Don’t hold a grudge against your father anymore. He may have a sharp tongue, but that’s just his way. All those years you insisted on becoming a lawyer, he may have scolded you, but deep down, he was proud of you.”Ben said nothing.To grow up believing that his father didn’t care for him, only to discover one day that his father’s feelings were more complicated and layered. It wasn’t something anyone could accept easily.Without a word, Ben left the estate, skipping dinner. Jamie didn’t push him for an explanation, and when Charlie started asking questions, she gently hushed him.It wasn’t until they were back home, lying together in bed, that she finally voiced the question that had been on her mind since they left the estate. “Are you upset?”Ben was silent for a long time before finally sp
That day, Ben didn’t go to the office. Instead, he urged Jamie, “It’s about time. Let’s go.”Jamie, carrying Charlie, hurried out. “Coming, coming.”Seeing her glowing appearance, Ben smiled and teased, “You’re looking more beautiful every day.”Jamie rolled her eyes playfully. “I didn’t know you could be so smooth-talking.”Ben chuckled. “Is telling the truth considered smooth-talking? Or are you just afraid to face how stunning you really are?”Jamie sighed, exasperated but amused. “Alright, enough. Let’s get going.”Ben started heading to the car but paused, giving himself a once-over. Shaking his head, he said, “No, this outfit doesn’t match yours. We don’t look like a couple.”“You’re seriously going to change?” Jamie raised an eyebrow.“Of course. Help me pick something,” he said with a grin.Unable to argue with him, Jamie followed him back upstairs. After rummaging through his wardrobe, they chose an outfit that complemented hers perfectly. Satisfied, Ben admired himse
“Charlie, give Grandma a kiss, will you?” Mrs. Lucas asked, holding the child in her arms.Charlie shook his head firmly. “No!”Mrs. Lucas froze for a moment, a flicker of hurt flashing across her face. But she understood that it would take time for them to fully accept her. She didn’t push it. “Alright, let’s just keep taking the photos.”The photographer was about to continue when loud commotion suddenly erupted outside. Irritated, the photographer walked to the door and yelled, “Keep it down!”No sooner had the words left his mouth than a man burst in, wild-eyed, grabbing the photographer’s equipment and slamming it to the ground. Everyone was stunned. Jamie instinctively shielded Charlie in her arms, her heart racing.The intruder’s gaze landed on the family taking their happy photos. His bloodshot eyes burned with rage as he screamed, “Why do you get to be so happy? Why?!”Panic filled the air as the man charged toward them. Jamie, acting on instinct, pushed Charlie behi
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
“I didn’t mean to just now. Besides, you’ve been acting all sneaky lately—so really, who else is to blame?” Seeing Yelena in tears, Liam, who had been furious just moments ago, felt a small pang of guilt. He was never good at expressing emotions. But watching her like this made him a little uncomfortable. “Go get your hand treated. Otherwise, people who don’t know any better might think I’ve been abusing you.” With that, he turned and walked away. Yelena watched his retreating figure, feeling a bit helpless. This wasn’t something she could decide on her own. Installing surveillance? It wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Liam was naturally suspicious. If he caught wind of it, the consequences would be disastrous. But she had no choice. She had a mission to complete, and there was more at stake than just this moment. Letting out a deep sigh, she finally decided to head to a clinic to get her hand treated. *“What happened to you? That’s a serious injury. You
And just like that, the conversation fell into a brief silence. Meanwhile, on the other side, Hunter received a call from Yelena. “What did you just say?” Yelena told him that her hand was broken, and on top of that, Liam seemed to be getting suspicious. She wasn’t sure what to do, so she called Hunter for advice. “I don’t really care what happens to you, but at the very least, take care of yourself.“Otherwise, if something else goes wrong later, I’ll have to step in and clean up the mess. Don’t you think so?” Hearing this, Yelena was a little taken aback. “It’s not just about my injury. The real problem is, I’m scared of what he might do now.” Sure, she had taken the two hundred thousand dollars, but she had to stay alive to spend it. At this rate, she wouldn’t even make it through in one piece. “I already told you—protect yourself. If you need anything else, I’ll try to provide it. But right now, I need you to do something for me.” Hunter had been look
“Yes, it’s in that mountain area. If you’re worried, you can go check it out yourself. But as for anything else, we don’t really have much more information.”Compared to everything else, this was the most baffling situation.“You make a good point. But given the current circumstances, I think it’ll be difficult to pull off.”Vera was speaking with the private investigator. Deep down, she was more worried than anything else.“Don’t worry,” the private investigator reassured her. “Aside from what we discussed earlier, nothing else seems too extreme. Plus, we’ve already looked into it pretty thoroughly.”By the time he finished speaking, his expression had grown more complicated.“Alright. I understand.”After hanging up, she anxiously looked straight ahead. If she had been mentally prepared before, now she was starting to feel uneasy. “What’s going on?” Caleb asked while driving, glancing at her. Vera hesitated, debating whether to tell him or not. But seeing the strange
“I only had one surgery today,” Caleb said as he drove, his voice calm but firm. “Now that it’s done, I want to know why this happened.” After that, he said nothing more. Vera sat in silence, her heart uneasy as the car pulled up in front of an upscale club. Even though her hand was already bandaged, she still felt a sting of pain every time Caleb showed concern. “So this is what it feels like to have someone care,” she thought to herself.Back when Vera had been stepped on, her only concern had been the contract—whether the deal would fall apart and if her suffering had been for nothing.If it had been anything else, she probably wouldn’t have cared as much.But Caleb’s concern made it impossible for her to brush aside.It kept lingering in her mind, refusing to let her feel indifferent.“Don’t overthink it,” Caleb said, his voice firm. “Whatever happened between Luna and me doesn’t change the fact that this concerns me too—and I owe it to you to make things right.”
“Oh? So this is the apology you wanted?” Vera’s forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, but the two women standing over her barely reacted. As if this was normal to them. As if humiliating her was just another game. “I asked you a question.” Vera remained half-crouched on the ground, her hand still pinned under Luna’s heel. Helena smirked. “Yeah, I’d say that’s good enough.” She hadn’t expected Vera to be this stubborn, but it didn’t matter. With an exaggerated sigh, she casually scribbled her signature onto the contract. The deal was officially secured. Vera didn’t waste another second. She cast one last glance at the two women. “I have no interest in getting involved in your personal drama. As for Caleb and me, that’s between us. We both made our choices.” Luna’s expression twisted slightly. “I won’t bother commenting on your relationship,” she said, voice dripping with disdain. “But don’t think for a second that this will ever earn
The moment Vera heard her assistant’s words, her expression darkened. Her previously calm tone turned firm. “If that’s the case, I understand. But I still have to go. This is my responsibility, and no one else can handle it.” If she didn’t take the lead, the other party would only grow bolder. However, the moment she glanced at the name on the negotiation list, she couldn’t help but frown. Because the person she was supposed to meet wasn’t just anyone. It was Helena Xander. Vera had encountered her before—back when her relationship with Caleb hadn’t yet escalated. Even then, Helena had openly mocked her, saying that since Caleb had been Luna’s devoted lapdog for years, he should know his place and never overstep. She had also thrown a few sharp words at Vera, telling her to recognize her own status—as if warning her that getting involved would only bring trouble. Back then, Vera hadn’t taken it seriously. She never thought she would cross paths with the
“Alright, enough of this. If you’re serious about investigating, you’ll need proper psychological evaluations,” Caleb said nonchalantly.“The best way to assess something like this is through clinical observation—watch for behavioral inconsistencies, memory gaps, or personality shifts. If you can, gather video footage of his daily life. That’s the only way to get a clearer picture. Otherwise, it’s just speculation.”Caleb made the remark casually, then swiftly issued a dismissal.“You came all the way here just to mess with me? What about your own situation? How’s that going?” Caleb’s sarcasm was dry and pointed. Hunter let out a long sigh. “What else could it be? Business as usual. Compared to others, I’m probably the only one with enough patience for this mess.” He was, of course, referring to his ongoing battle with Liam. Caleb gave him a small nod. “Alright, you should get going now. I need to rest. Don’t loiter around here.” Without hesitation, he waved his hand
Vera forced an awkward smile at Hunter before quickly retreating back into the bathroom to change. Hunter, watching her leave, couldn't help but smirk. “You’re really living the good life, huh?” he teased. “Didn’t expect you to have such luck.” Caleb rolled his eyes, clearly uninterested. “Enough with the nonsense. Why are you here? And who exactly were you talking about over the phone?” He didn’t want to entertain pointless banter, especially not about women. If he was being honest, even he couldn’t fully explain his feelings toward Luna. He wasn’t sure what was left between them—was it love, or just the remnants of something that had long turned sour? That pitiful look in her eyes earlier had shaken him. For a fleeting moment, he had wanted to pull her into his arms, to comfort her like he used to. But after so many years of being humiliated and pushed aside, he had forgotten how to even speak to her anymore. So instead, he did what was easiest—he change