Hearing the words "the woman I love," Aurora's heart skipped a beat.Didn't he say they were already divorced? Did he mean that he still loved his ex-wife?Seeing the confusion in Aurora's eyes, Theodore said, "I still love her.""Then why did you get divorced?" she asked. "Because I was stupid, and frankly, a fool. I didn't cherish her when I had her, and I only realized my mistake after I lost her."Seeing Theodore's despondent look, Aurora's heart ached. He truly loved that woman; she could feel it."Have you tried to win her back?" she asked again."I've tried," Theodore said. "Many times.""And the result?""The result…" Theodore suddenly laughed. "She married someone else."Upon hearing this, Aurora couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in her heart. His ex-wife had remarried—this was good news. It meant that his ex-wife no longer loved him."Then…now…""I still love her." Theodore gazed blankly at the sky. "If she's willing to come back to me, I'd do anything. But s
"What did you say?" Aurora felt as if she was struck by lightning. "You can't just stop seeing me because I look like your ex-wife. That's not fair!""Why wouldn't it be fair? We were never close to begin with. You saved me, and I saved you. We're even."Aurora clenched her fists. "So, the reason you came here today and wanted to take a walk with me, was just to tell me this?""Yes," Theodore admitted. "I wanted to tell you these things."Aurora closed her eyes in pain. She had thought that maybe they could spend some time alone together. Foolishly, she had imagined that they might develop feelings for each other.She hadn't expected him to say something so cruel. She had been overthinking it all along.Yet, she couldn't stop her tears from falling. She didn't know why, but her heart hurt so much. Perhaps it was because from the very first moment she saw Theodore, she had fallen in love with him.It was only after meeting Theodore that she understood what love at first sight mea
Theodore avoided her gaze. "I don't want to treat you as a substitute. It's not fair to you. Even if I use you to relieve the torment in my heart, once Rose returns, I would abandon you without mercy.""Then what if…" Aurora's voice was hoarse as she spoke. "What if I'm willing to be that substitute? What if I want to give it a try?"She really wanted to try. Even if she started off as a substitute, the woman he loved had already married another man. There was no longer any possibility between them.She still had a chance to be the real thing. Everything would work out if she could make this man fall in love with her."You're willing to be a substitute?" Theodore hadn't expected Aurora to say such a thing."Can you let me try? I don't mind if you see me as her, just as long as you don't call her name in front of me."Aurora had never thought she could compromise this much. In front of the man she loved, she had even given up her dignity. She had never done anything like this for
"You... you..." Aurora felt her blood boil. "You're too much! You really are a jerk!"Theodore sneered indifferently, "You're just realizing that now? I've always been a jerk. Otherwise, why would my ex-wife divorce me? This is reality. You're not even worthy of being her substitute."Aurora bit her lip hard, tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt utterly shattered.She never expected that even after compromising so much, this man could still be so cruel. It was over before it had even begun.She shouldn't have humiliated herself. She shouldn't have.In her fury, Aurora angrily took off the suit jacket she was wearing and threw it at him."You're utterly shameless, Theodore! I hate you!" she cried before turning and running away.Theodore didn't stop her. He casually dusted off the suit jacket and draped it over his arm.The sound of her footsteps grew more and more distant.Suddenly, a scream came from behind him.Hearing the sound, Theodore immediately turned around. Not
Before Cynthia could respond, Theodore spoke first. "Her name is Cynthia Zeller."He only introduced Cynthia by name, but didn't explain how she was related to him.Cynthia thought Theodore was deliberately hiding the truth from Aurora, and felt indignant. She immediately said, "I'm Theodore's fiancée. We almost got married before."At the mention of this, Theodore's brows furrowed slightly.He thought back to his wedding with Cynthia. He had been so close to marrying her, but at the critical moment, he received news that Rosalie had been kidnapped. Without a second thought, he left everything behind.Unfortunately, he still lost Rosalie.He hadn't known what happened to Cynthia afterward, and it was only today that he saw her again. It would be a lie if he said he didn't feel any guilt at all. He felt guilty toward Cynthia to a certain extent.When Cynthia said she was his fiancée, he didn't refute her on the spot. Aurora almost fainted on the spot."Fiancée?" She looked at
It must have been him who triggered Aurora.She had heart disease and couldn't handle such emotional turmoil. It was practically a death sentence.However, what else could he have done at the time? He couldn't really treat Aurora as a mere substitute.Cynthia clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her palms.After a long while, she took a deep breath, calmed herself, and walked over to Theodore. "Theo, can you tell me what's really going on? Who is she?"Theodore leaned against the wall, his eyes lowered. "She saved me.""What?" Cynthia was a bit surprised. "She saved you? When?"At the thought of it, Theodore's heart ached again. Recalling that moment nearly took his breath away. "It's in the past. I don't want to talk about it anymore."He really didn't want to discuss it any further, and changed the subject. "About the wedding… I'm sorry. I abandoned you."Cynthia bit her lip, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction and pain."So, you do remember that yo
Theodore looked at her, unsure of what to say at that moment.He had indeed wronged Cynthia. He had no right to argue back.It was true that he had abandoned her at the wedding. Even if Cynthia cursed him, it would be entirely justified.Seeing Theodore's cold demeanor, Cynthia felt both pain and anger. She would rather Theodore argue or even fight with her.Instead, he treated her so indifferently, doing nothing at all, which only showed that his feelings for her were as dead as still water.Or maybe, Theodore had never felt anything for her from the beginning, and it had all been her own delusion."And what about this woman?" Cynthia asked. "What are you going to do? You abandoned me, and now you're planning to be with this Aurora?""Cindy," Theodore interrupted her. "You'll find a better man. Don't waste your time and emotions on me anymore.""It's easy for you to say! You just walk away, but what about me? Now I have to watch you with another woman. How can I accept that? W
"I am that kind of person." Theodore turned around. "Believe it or not."He didn't care whether Aurora believed him, or how Cynthia viewed him. He had completely stopped caring. He didn't even care how his family saw him, let alone anyone else."No, you're not like that! Theodore, why won't you admit it?" Aurora looked at him in pain. "You're suffering inside. Why won't you acknowledge it? You're not the kind of person you claim to be. There must be a reason for what you did.""What reason?" Theodore angrily replied. "Why do you always make excuses for men? There's no reason. I betrayed my wife, and I deserve everything I'm going through now! I had it coming!"Unable to control his anger, Theodore suddenly shouted. Aurora was startled by his outburst, and stared at him with wide eyes.Realizing that his emotions were out of control, Theodore immediately took a deep breath and said, "I did what I did. Stop making excuses for me. I'm not a good man."Aurora clenched her fists, tear
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