The four of them continued chatting, with Rosalie trying to hide her discomfort while laughing and talking with Rebecca. Rebecca's memory was fragmented, but she often spoke about how well Rosalie and Theodore had gotten along. Listening to those fond memories, Rosalie felt a surge of emotions; she and Theodore had shared such beautiful moments. It was unfortunate how things had turned out, and now Rebecca was sick. But perhaps it was for the best that Rebecca remembered only the happy times and not the complications that followed. Still, it was a pity that Rebecca had forgotten that she was about to become a great-grandmother herself.Throughout the conversation, Sebastian maintained a smile, appearing attentive and gentle; but on the inside, he felt like he was about to burst with jealousy. Hearing about Rosalie's past with Theodore drove him wild. That man had merely been lucky to have Rosalie for ten years as childhood friends. He didn't deserve such fortune. Yet now, fate
Seeing Sebastian's grim expression, Sydney could sense his strong dislike for Theodore. The thought of her two sons being at odds troubled her deeply. Although they were both her children, she couldn't expect them to get along, especially since they were raised in such different environments and were now in love with the same woman. Theodore was the younger brother, and Sebastian the older; yet now, the older brother was married to the younger brother's ex-wife, who was also carrying his child. This tangled relationship made Sydney's head spin and filled her with anxiety. She had never felt so troubled; the conflicts of one generation had carried over to the next."Sebastian." She finally spoke up.Hearing her calling him by his first name made Sebastian feel uneasy. "Ms. Harper, I don't think it's appropriate for you to call me that.""Is it wrong for me to call you by your name? Given my age, I think it's not too offensive," she replied.Sebastian took a deep breath and nod
Hearing the word "meaningless", Sydney felt her heart sink. Yes, to Sebastian, what did the Spencers mean? And what did she, as his mother, mean? He didn't even know she was his mother. She was too afraid to tell him, fearing that Sebastian would hate her. Being hated as a stranger felt better than being hated as a mother. This painful feeling was something she could endure alone, while Sebastian would think he was simply hating an irrelevant person, rather than realizing he was hating his own mother.Sebastian, puzzled, asked tentatively, "I thought Rose would go to her Madam Jarvis’s house today. I didn't expect to meet you in a restaurant. Where are your husband and son?""They're busy and don't have time," Sydney replied. "So I brought her out to take her for a stroll.""Is that so?" Sebastian was curious. He didn't know about the others, but how busy could Theodore be to not even see Rosalie? This was a golden opportunity. Unless, Theodore didn't even know he had a chance
Seeing the disappointed look on Sebastian’s face, Sydney felt bad. "I can talk to her."Sebastian’s lowered eyes flashed at that instant. He looked up, and said with slight shock, "What did you say?"Sydney repeated herself, "I can talk to her and try to persuade her to go abroad with you soon, and help you regain your memories."Somehow, Sebastian had this feeling that Sydney was scheming against him. Why was she suddenly helping him?"Don’t joke around with me," he said. "I’m not joking. I mean it," Sydney replied. "Why are you helping me?""For Theodore, for Rose, and to make things not so complicated between the three of you.""What about Rose’s grandmother? Rose would never abandon her and go abroad.""That’s why I need to talk to her," Sydney went on. "Whether I end up successful or not, I’ll do my best."Rosalie soon helped Rebecca back to the dining hall, where both of them sat back down.She was initially worried Sydney might get into an argument with Sebastian, b
"Rose, didn't you already make plans to leave after divorcing Theo? Yet, you haven't left even after so long. So much has happened, and things are a mess right now. I think you should leave this country for a breather.""Mom, how do you expect me to leave at this point?""Why not? If you're worried about Grandma, don't. Your dad and I will take good care of her. As for Theo, he doesn't even dare appear before Grandma right now, and she doesn't recognize him at all.""But Mom…""Rose," Sydney said, cutting her off again. "I'll update you in real-time about Grandma's condition. If anything happens, I'll definitely call you back immediately. This place is very unsafe, and your abductor is still on the loose. What if he comes back and kidnaps you again? It's better for you to stay in another country for a period of time. You're not all by yourself now. You have a baby.""But I promised Grandma that she'd be the first person I show my baby to once he's born!""Grandma no longer rememb
Rosalie was unable to sleep, tossing and turning in bed.She walked to the courtyard and sat on the swing, feeling the cool night breeze brushing past her cheeks. Sebastian stopped right behind her with a soft blanket in hand, gently draping it over her shoulders.Rosalie turned around and smiled. "Seb, why are you still awake?""You, too," Sebastian remarked as he sat next to her. "A penny for your thoughts?""I'm just worried about Grandma.""I can understand that. To be honest, her condition is incurable, but she'll be fine as long as someone is watching her round the clock.""I really want to take care of Grandma. If only I weren't pregnant."Rosalie felt her heart breaking as she said so. She was so excited about having this baby, and insisted on having the baby even at the expense of her own life.Yet now, she was lamenting the existence of the baby. She couldn't believe she was singing such a different tune right now.Sebastian held her hand gently. "Rose, don't say t
Sebastian and Rosalie had fixed a date for their departure overseas.Before going abroad, Sebastian finally managed to acquire Farover Enterprise.The company wasn't willing to be acquired, but Sebastian used various means, even underhanded ones, to force them to sign the agreement. What came next was the transfer of shares.Sebastian had underestimated the abductor indeed. The abductor turned out to be more insidious and devious than he imagined.Initially, Sebastian had wanted to seize the opportunity to track down the abductor by transferring shares to him. He didn't expect the abductor to engage an agency to receive the shares. The man had successfully concealed his identity by engaging a third-party agent.Sebastian was unable to confirm the buyer's true identity, no matter how hard he tried and how many ways he employed.Continuing to investigate things was only going to be a waste of time and effort.The abductor didn't even seem to care that Sebastian was trying to t
Theodore stopped in his tracks, and turned around.Seeing the pained expression on his mother's face, he asked, "What exactly is going on? Are you hiding something from me?""Theo, I just want to ask you this: are things really over between you and Rose?"Theodore shut his eyes sorrowfully. Clenching his fists, he said, "Rose was the one who wanted to end things between us. What choice did I have?""Do you mean that you still want to be with her?"Theodore smiled bitterly. "Do you know why I refused to let you contact Rose when I got injured before? Do you know what happened when I went to rescue her?""What happened?" Sydney asked.Theodore sighed. "Forget it."He didn't want them knowing the truth. It was enough for him to just take it alone.All Rosalie did was to choose Sebastian over him. What wrong did she do? She simply didn't love him.Seeing Theodore making a move to leave, Sydney rushed forward and stopped him in his tracks. "Stand right there! What exactly happened
It was like a long, long nightmare.Rosalie didn't know how much time had passed. All she could remember was herself walking in the desert for a long, long time. She felt tired, thirsty, and hot. She saw no end to the desert and she seemed to be looking for something, although she had forgotten who she was.Just as she fell from tripping over a stone and found herself unable to crawl back up, a man appeared before her.Rosalie looked up, and tears welled up in her eyes the moment she saw who it was.She suddenly remembered who she was and she reached out a trembling hand, calling out, "Justin… Justin…!"Her voice was hoarse.Justin crouched down. "Rose.He reached his hand out, as tender as before.Rosalie felt as though she had found her lifeline. Yet right before their hands touched, a loud gunshot sounded as she saw a bullet pierce mercilessly through Justin's chest. Blood trickled down the wound.Justin collapsed to the ground."No…no, no!"Rosalie yelled at the top of h
"Sebastian Carter, dare you kill me? Hahaha…!" Rosalie laughed.Her scornful laughter was akin to blades that pierced Sebastian's heart. He knew his time was up and all forms of pretense were useless.Although he refused to concede defeat, he had no other choice.Anyone who loved this woman was bound to end up in a horrible plight.Out of the blue, he asked, "Theodore, do you love Rose?" "Of course I do, but I'm not as perverted as you are," Theodore spat."Yes, I'm perverted while your love is noble and dignified. At the very least, Rose loved you once, but what about me? She has never loved me." Sebastian chuckled bitterly, tears filling his eyes. "I just want her to love me! What wrong have I done? I just don't want to lose the woman I love. How is that wrong?"Until now, Sebastian refused to admit his wrongdoings. He might know it in his heart, but he refused to admit it outright.Tears of indignation rolled down his cheeks as he bawled like a child. "The only wrong I di
Sebastian gritted his teeth as he vented his overwhelming wrath on Rosalie's body.Rosalie shut her eyes and bit down on her lips hard, bearing with the pain. She didn't cry out for fear that the people outside would hear her and realize the indecency that was going on.The men outside were shouting anxiously. Just then, one of their members ran over with an electric drill in hand. "I found this! Let's try it."A loud drilling sound came from the door. A few minutes later, the door lock finally came loose.The door was kicked open with a loud bang and Theodore barged in with his men. Sebastian and Rosalie were seated by the bedside, with Sebastian holding a gun pointed at Rosalie's temple.Rosalie's hair was in a mess, with tears streaming down her face. Her sleep gown was all tattered and torn.Fire burned in Theodore's eyes when he saw the scene before him. "Sebastian Carter, what did you do?!""I did everything you can imagine! If you don't believe me, just watch." Sebast
Rosalie was sound asleep when she heard a commotion from outside.Then, shrieks pierced the air.At that moment, the door to her room was locked open and the lights were switched on. Rosalie felt the cold muzzle of a gun pressed against her temple.Sebastian's face was dark with fury as he yanked Rosalie out of the bed."What happened?" she asked.She saw his sweat-beaded brow and knew something serious had happened.Sebastian yanked the rope in his hand and Rosalie tumbled into his arms. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pointed a gun at her forehead with another.Rosalie panted hard. "Sebastian Carter, are you going to kill me? Just shoot me!""Theodore's here. Do you want to see him?""What did you say?" Rosalie was shell-shocked. "He's here?""What, are you very happy?"A flurry of gunshots sounded outside the room."Do you hear that? He's here to rescue you," Sebastian said with a smirk.Rosalie took a deep breath and said, "Why aren't you making a run for it? If
Before his departure, Theodore carried Steve in his arms for a long time, saying many things to him."Stevie, I'm so sorry. If anything were to happen to Daddy, I can't take care of you anymore. I know I should be doing that and that I shouldn't be so selfish, but I can't help it. I have to go save Mommy. If I don't come back, you must listen to Grandpa and Grandma. They will take care of you."Theodore kissed his cheek. "I left you many videos, enough to last you till you turn 18. Remember to watch one every year on your birthday. I want you to know that I'll remember you forever."He started tearing up. "I'm sorry, Daddy needs to go. I'll protect myself and your mommy as best as I can. We'll definitely find a way back home."Theodore put Steve back into his cot."Dada…" Steve leaned against the edge of the cot and blinked innocently at Theodore."I'm sorry. Daddy's leaving." He planted a final kiss on Steve's cheek and left, his heart breaking.Steve plopped onto the mattr
They were thirty hours away from the launch of the rescue operation.Theodore called Sydney and Wesley over for a talk in the living room. With his solemn expression, the atmosphere was very tense."I called you two over because I have something very important to tell you.""What is it?" Wesley asked."If I were to die, please take good care of Steve."Shock registered on both their faces when they heard Theodore's words."Theo, what do you mean by that?" Sydney asked. "What happened? You've been acting so secretively as of late. I don't see you and can't even reach you. In fact, I can't reach Rose, either."She sensed that something major had happened, but no one was telling her what it was. She even tried contacting Christopher to understand what was going on, but he refused to breathe a word about it.The rescue operation had to be kept under wraps. Theodore and Christopher hid it from everyone else for fear of unnecessary complications and information leaks. They couldn't a
In the dark, silent night, moonlight flitted about in the night sky like a weak flame on a candle in the endless darkness.Clouds covered the sky and the night breeze felt chilly, like a sneaky thief drawing close under the cover of the night.The office was a mess, the darkness outside melting into the tense atmosphere in the room.There were many computers laid out on the large table, information and data blinking rapidly on the screen like the stars in the night sky, piercing through one's nerves.Theodore was leading the pack, walking around the periphery of the table amidst the tense atmosphere, his attention completely drawn toward the computer screens. Everyone was involved in this extremely dangerous and challenging rescue operation. They were now at the stage of planning for the rescue operation.Christopher was involved, as well. Half of the men in the office room were working under him.Theodore placed the report he received on the table and said to Christopher, "Vel
Nana's tears fell down her cheeks as she clutched the blanket tightly, her small body trembling.Sebastian was originally furious. He had suffered at Rosalie's hands, but upon seeing Nana's pitiful appearance, the anger inside him began to subside. He moved closer to her and reached out his hand, but she shrank back in fear.Sebastian forcibly pulled the blanket off Nana and lifted her. He then walked toward the balcony.Nana was terrified, but she dared not move recklessly. She could only silently shed tears, too scared to cry out loud.Sebastian carried Nana to the balcony, where a cool breeze blew. He sat down in the chair on the balcony, placing Nana on his lap."Nana, are you upset with Daddy for not saving you at that time?"Nana lowered her head and kept silent."I could only save one of you. Your mother was right by my side, and you were far from me. I couldn't get to you in time."Though if given another chance, he would still save Rosalie."You didn't die, so you're lucky. I
Sebastian took a deep breath, seemingly trying to hold back his anger. Finally, he said in a calm tone, "Let's eat first. We have plenty of time ahead of us. Rose, think about it. You're just in your twenties, and we still have so many years to go. This is just the beginning."Sebastian was not in a hurry because he was the one in control. He still had plenty of time with Rosalie. He would slowly make this woman obey him.After lunch, Sebastian didn't stay long. Even though he wanted to talk to Rosalie, she wouldn't say anything pleasant. Listening to her would only frustrate him.Just as he reached the door, Rosalie called out to him. "Wait a moment."It was rare for her to call him. Sebastian couldn't help but feel a flicker of expectation in his heart.Rosalie asked, "Won't you sleep with me tonight?"There was a hint of mockery in her eyes when she said this. Sebastian's brows furrowed tightly. He knew she was humiliating him. She was saying this on purpose, trampling on his pride