Sebastian stared at the woman before him, feeling his heart softening.He was still a little angry at her this morning and, if he were being honest, he had flared up at his subordinates because of his bad mood.But now, he realized that all the anger in him had dissipated. He wasn’t even angry at the lost project.Conversely, he felt content.There were a few levels to that feeling of content.Each level was like an empty bag that, once filled, would move on to the next level. The next level was a larger bag.He felt like the first bag was already full, and that he had progressed to the next level.With regard to Rosalie, he didn’t ask for much. His bar was very low to start with, and he would feel content with just a smile or a tender word from her.The knowledge that she was concerned for him instantly filled the empty bag on the first level to the brim.The bag on the second level was opened, and it was empty. Strangely, at the same instant when the bag on the first level w
They way his eyes looked right now…“Sebastian,” Rosalie said, looking at him with crystal clear eyes. “We’re good friends. You helped me when I was at my lowest, and I’m just returning the favor. I don’t mean anything else, so please don’t overthink things.”Sebastian felt as though someone splashed an entire bucket of cold water over his head. He didn’t know if Rosalie was deliberately reminding him not to overthink things, or if it was just a casual remark on her part.Whatever it was, Rosalie had only one objective in mind—which was to stop him from overthinking. They were just friends, and she was just showing concern for a friend.A friend…Sebastian’s mind was in a mess.At the same time, a sharp knife was slicing through his heart.He knew they were just friends—he knew that all along. That was why he had been so cautious. However, it didn’t stop his heart from breaking when Rosalie pointed it out so incisively and matter-of-factly.Rosalie was still feeling uneasy, and
“I do have someone I fancy,” Sebastian said as he looked at her.Rosalie asked doubtfully, “Is that so? Do you really have someone you fancy? Who is she?”“She…is very close to me…”Rosalie instinctively wanted to take a step back, but her body froze on the spot as the corners of her lips twitched.Sebastian suddenly took a step closer to her. Rosalie instinctively stepped back.“Rose, can you do me a favor?” he asked. “What is it?” Rosalie asked.“Can you teach me how to court a lady?”“Me, teach you?” Rosalie said in disbelief. “I think Yvonne would be a better person to ask. I’m such a dull person, and I don’t understand men very well. I don’t understand women, either.”“I’m sure you do. The woman I fancy is quite similar to you in character. I’m afraid Yvonne wouldn’t understand. She’s so rambunctious, she wouldn’t know a thing about quieter and more reserved ladies.”“Is that so?” Rosalie asked. “Who is this lady you fancy?”“She… I met her at a banquet. She’s very res
“Yeah,” Sebastian nodded. “That’s her name.”“Do you have a photo of her?” Rosalie was curious as to how the girl who caught Sebastian’s fancy looked. Her curiosity was further piqued by the fact that Sebastian said that she was similar to her in character. “A photo of her…” Sebastian looked as though he suddenly remembered something. “It’s in my phone, but I left it at home and didn’t bring it with me. That’s also why I didn’t see your text and answer your calls.”What a perfect excuse! It didn’t seem at all suspicious. He was telling the truth, too.He had left the house in a hurry this morning and, in his ire, forgot to bring his phone. He would never not answer Rosalie’s calls.“I see.”As it turned out, Sebastian had already left his house when she texted him.“I’ll check out her photo next time, then. But have you tried courting her? Or did you try and fail?”“The problem is…” Sebastian lamented helplessly, “she has a boyfriend.”“Oh, so she’s not single.” Rosalie s
Rosalie found it difficult to accept the fact that the furious Sebastian, who was flaring up earlier, was the sorrowful, vulnerable, and helpless man before her now.Yet, they were undeniably the same man.Even a man like Sebastian had moments where he couldn’t control his anger and rage. There were also moments where he felt sorrow and disappointment.Sebastian lifted his head, and looked seriously at her. “Rose, help me think through this, will you?”Rosalie nodded and said anxiously, “I’ll help you. Give me a moment and let me think it through.”She was taking it very seriously.Sebastian had helped her so much. Now that she finally had a chance to help him, she would do all she could. If she could help him with his relationship, it would make her feel better and not feel so indebted to him.“Why don’t you start off as friends with her first? Don’t think about pursuing her, and just treat her sincerely. Show her concern, and hang out with her casually. I trust she’ll slowly g
“What’s the matter?” Sebastian asked.Rosalie recalled something, but she wasn’t too sure about it. It didn’t seem appropriate for her to abruptly bring it up too, so she shook her head. “Nothing. Let me help you clear up the mess. These documents are important. Don’t just throw them around like this next time.”Rosalie bent down to pick up the documents, piece by piece.“No need, Rose. Let me.”Sebastian rushed over to pick up the documents with her.Their hands touched when they tried picking up the same document.Rosalie pulled her hand back, as if she felt a jolt of electricity. Her lips curled in an awkward smile as she handed the document to Sebastian.“I’ll be going now. I still have things to do.”Sebastian asked, “Aren’t you going to wait for Yvonne? I’ll call her now and tell her to come back.”“No need. I have something to do, and I won’t be able to have lunch with her anyway. Perhaps next time.”“Where are you going? I can give you a lift.”“No need. I can just
“Mom’s going to take you away for a while. Where do you want to go?”Rosalie had to find a place where no one knew her, and give birth to the baby before she started showing.As she was thinking, her phone rang.Not knowing who it was, she picked up her phone. There, she saw an unknown number. She swiped across the screen to answer. “Hello?”However, no sound came from the other end of the line.“Hello, who is this?” Rosalie pressed, but there was still no response.Suddenly, the caller hung up abruptly.Rosalie was puzzled. Could it have been a wrong number?Just as she was about to put down the phone, it rang again. It was the same number.Rosalie answered again. “Hello?”And yet, there was still no sound. “If you don't speak, I'll hang up and block this number.”Despite that, the phone remained silent. There was still no sound.A sudden chill ran down Rosalie’s spine—she could hear someone’s breath. There was no problem with her phone… The caller wasn’t speaking on p
Just as Cynthia was about to scream, the man pulled out a knife and traced the edge of it lightly with his fingers. “Slitting your throat open only takes a second. Scream if you don't believe me.”Cynthia swallowed her scream, her eyes wide as she began to panic. “Who are you?! I'm telling you, I'm no ordinary person! If you dare to lay a finger on me, I guarantee you'll pay a heavy price! Theo won't let you go!”“Where is he, then?” The man looked around, puzzled. “Why are you alone in the ward, feeling so angry that you want to drag someone else to hell? Well, at least you’re self-aware. You know you deserve to go to hell.”“You...” Cynthia was so furious that her heart nearly stopped. “What do you want?!”The man put away the knife. “There's no need to panic, Miss Zeller. I'm here to make a deal with you. Like I said, we can be friends. We don’t have to be enemies.”Cynthia didn’t remember knowing someone like this strange man. Judging from his words, he seemed to know Theo
Rosalie pushed Theodore's hand away. "In that case, I must know what happened."Since Theodore got his hands on the so-called evidence and laid it right before her, there was no reason for her not to watch it. A few minutes wouldn't make a difference.Rosalie took the initiative to play the video.She sat quietly before the laptop, her eyes fixed on the video playing on the screen.The originally calm expression on her face slowly grew solemn, then turned into shock and disbelief.She couldn't believe that the man she once trusted so much could be capable of something so cruel.In the video, Sebastian broke into Theodore's house with a bunch of armed men.After they entered, they scoured the place for surveillance cameras and damaged whatever they could find.When Theodore and Aurora came back, they intercepted them and ruthlessly threatened them with their lives. They pointed their guns at Theodore, the vicious look in their eyes filled with ruthless cruelty.Sebastian pointe
He handed the thumb drive to Rosalie. "All his actions were captured and stored in this thumb drive. Rosalie Young, I'm giving you one chance to watch the entire thing. If you still think Sebastian didn't want to kill me after watching it and want to beg me to let him go, I'll agree to it!"Rosalie stared at the thumb drive in Theodore's hand, filled with doubt.She was curious about the footage inside. Since there was evidence, there was no harm in checking it out.Rosalie wiped her tears away. "Okay, I'll watch it. I want to know what happened, too."It was Theodore's words against Sebastian's at that time. She didn't know whose words to believe.Theodore grabbed Rosalie's wrist. "Come with me."He brought Rosalie to somewhere quiet and had someone bring his laptop over.He then inserted the thumb drive into the laptop and clicked open the video files inside.Rosalie sat before the laptop and saw Theodore navigate through the files and click on a video.However, he didn't
Her concern only worsened the excruciating pain he buried deep in his heart.He felt very conflicted. He desired her concern, but at the same time, he wished she would leave.Theodore looked at her with tears in his eyes, trying his darndest to keep himself calm as he said things that made his heart ache, "Rose, don't show me any more concern. Your care and concern only bring me more pain and hopelessness. No matter how much concern you show me, things between us will never return to the past. You're only adding to my pain.""Theodore Spencer, I don't understand. I really don't!" Rosalie said through her tears. "If you think that my concern only adds to your pain, why did you let Aurora get pregnant with your child?"Rosalie looked at Theodore with eyes filled with anger and sorrow. She suppressed the pain in her heart as she decided to ask him for some answers."Theo, are you taking Aurora as my replacement? Do you find everything I've given you from her?"Anger and sorrow tinge
Imaging results:Tumor located in the stomach: A tumor was observed in the stomach, located at the anterior stomach wall and around 5 centimeters away from the pylorus. Regular in size and shape with distinct borders. Measures around 1.5cm x 2cm.Imaging features: Tumor in a low-density area relative to that of surrounding gastric walls. No clear compression observed in surrounding structures.Internal characteristics of tumor: Homogeneous density within tumor, no cysts or additional features observed.Lymph node involvement: No irregularities or swelling observed in surrounding lymph nodes"What's this?" Rosalie looked up as shock registered in her eyes. In disbelief, she stammered, "You…you have a tumor in your stomach?"She felt as though she had been struck by lightning.Theodore immediately snatched the report back and turned to leave. However, she grabbed his arm."Wait, explain yourself! What's with this report? You're ill?""None of your business." Theodore tightened h
“I don’t know!” Rosalie exclaimed bitterly. “I don’t know if you’re guilty of that or not, but when he was lying unconscious on the bed at that time, you forced me to give up on him! That’s the truth!”A sharp pain suddenly pierced through Theodore’s stomach.He was still gripping the test results of his check-up. Compared to the pain in his heart, the pain in his stomach was nothing.“Rosalie Young, go ahead and hate me. I’m bent on sending Sebastian to jail in Melrine. I’ve got to make him pay for what he did.”Theodore didn’t want to explain any further. He felt exhausted.Since Rosalie was intent on defending Sebastian, there was nothing else to talk about between them.Rosalie wanted to stop Theodore from leaving. “Wait. Theo, I’m begging you. Let him off.”“He wants to kill me and you want me to let him off?”“He didn’t want to kill you. I promise you, he won’t dare do something like that again. He just wanted to find me. He really wasn’t thinking of killing you.”“Let m
After a moment's silence, Theodore said, "Don't tell my girlfriend about this for now.""Of course, Mr. Spencer.""I have some things to attend to. I'll come for the biopsy once I'm done with that."He had to settle things regarding Sebastian.After leaving the doctor's office and on the way back to Aurora, Theodore bumped into Rosalie.They were walking along the same corridor and were about ten yards apart as they looked at each other.After a long time, Rosalie continued walking on as if she hadn't seen him and was about to brush past him. There wasn't much to say between them."Say a proper goodbye to Sebastian," Theodore suddenly said. Theodore's words made Rosalie furrow her brows. She looked up at him and asked, "What do you mean by that?""Sebastian's going to jail. You two don't have much time left with each other."Rosalie's face stiffened. "Why is he going to jail?""He broke into my house with his bodyguards to try to kill Aurora and I. Trespassing private prope
It was understandable for Justin to forget about it. His health wasn't in optimal condition right now, after all.Rosalie herself would forget what she wanted to say sometimes. Perhaps what he wanted to say wasn't that important, or he wouldn't have forgotten it so easily.Seeing her staying by his side and taking such great care of him, Justin had a lot to tell her. That included the words he wanted to tell her before Sebastian came in.'Rose, what if I like you?'That was what he wanted to say.Emotions roiled in his heart at that moment and he almost couldn't keep them under control. However, Sebastian's arrival had cut him off.After Sebastian left, he realized that it was pointless even if he said what he wanted to say. Rosalie had a husband and a child, and a happy family.He, on the other hand, was an outlaw. He had no right to like anybody.He couldn't even protect his kin. What right did he have to fancy another woman?It was enough for him as long as she was happy. H
Rosalie sighed. "Seb, don't worry. I won't meet him in private. He has Aurora by his side now. How could I possibly have any interaction with him? Go back with peace of mind.""Rose, promise me that you won't trust Theodore again. I'm really worried that he'll hurt you again."Rosalie nodded. "I got it. I've seen through him. Don't worry about me. Go be busy with what you need to do."Sebastian hugged her and bade her farewell.The plane was about to take off.He soon left with the baby in his arms.Rosalie watched them as they vanished out of her line of sight, and couldn't hold back her tears. She couldn't bear to leave her baby, and really wanted to fly back home with them.However, she couldn't leave an injured Justin behind. She also had her studies to complete, so she had to make the difficult decision of staying in Melrine for a few more months.Rosalie returned to the hospital feeling despondent.Justin saw her return, and shot her a warm smile. "You're back."Rosalie
Sebastian appeared very genuine. His eyes were filled with guilt when he looked at Justin."It's fine. As long as you desire to protect Rose," Justin said flatly.Sebastian's eyes narrowed, flashing briefly.What did that mean?Of course he desired to protect Rosalie! However, it wasn't Justin's place to comment on that.Rosalie was his wife, how was she related to Justin? What was this man thinking, trying to lecture him?Even so, Sebastian didn't say much. He simply smiled and said, "Have a good rest. I'll be off."Although it was only for a mere instant, Justin keenly caught the look in Sebastian's eyes. Despite that, he remained unperturbed.-Rosalie followed Sebastian back to their accommodation.The baby was still there.Rosalie kept holding him in her arms, unwilling to part with him. Throughout their journey to the airport, she kept carrying the baby, feeling terrible inside."I'm sorry. Mommy didn't take good care of you, and now I'm saying goodbye to you. But don