Theodore was very calm as he said those words. It seemed as though those thoughts had been carved into his very bones and he was speaking them instinctively, and no one could change his mind.Aurora looked at him with dismay, as though she had been struck by lightning. There was an empty look in her eyes, as though they had lost their spark."What about me? Everything that has happened between us, the things you did to me, what are they to you? What is my heart and body to you?" she asked. Every word of hers was drenched with agony and sorrow, as if someone was burning her at a stake.Theodore looked down as guilt flashed past his eyes."I'm very sorry for what I did to you," he said as he lifted a hand and wiped her tears away. "Thank you for replacing Rose and bringing me warmth.""Replacing Rose…" Aurora lost all hope upon hearing Theodore's words.As it turns out, she had been a mere replacement all along. Theodore had never treated her as who she was, Aurora Payne.Whet
Theodore grabbed Aurora's hand and pried her fingers away. "Go back and get some rest. Go to sleep and for all you know, I'll be back tomorrow morning."He hoped he'd be back first thing tomorrow morning.Not because he wanted to come back to Aurora, but because he wanted to find Rosalie as soon as possible.Theodore turned around and held Aurora's shoulders.Aurora's tear-streaked face and look of misery made Theodore say helplessly, "Aurora, don't invest too much emotions on me. I can't give you much."He admitted that he was wrong. He had made it clear right from the start, but this woman was undaunted in sacrificing everything for him with no hesitation whatsoever.He was moved by it and accepted her being Rosalie's replacement, using her to relive those happy moments during his marriage with Rosalie.Yet, he still couldn't wipe Rosalie away from his memories. He was still living in the past, unable to extricate himself from it.He wiped the tears from Aurora's face with gu
Theodore had reached out to local forces in Melrine. He knew that to locate Rosalie effectively, he needed their help. They were familiar with the area and typically well-resourced. They also had strong underground connections and extensive intelligence networks.Furthermore, SK Enterprise's business in Melrine was huge, so they maintained connections with various local factions across the regions. They retrieved surveillance footage across Orego. Though they located the car Rosalie had been driving, they couldn't find where it ultimately ended up.The surveillance in Orego wasn't comprehensive. Cameras were primarily installed in places like commercial centers, government buildings, important sites, and transit hubs to ensure safety. Residential areas, remote locations, or sparsely populated areas had low or no camera coverage. Their only option was to analyze the available footage and search different locations based on possible leads.Though they didn't know exactly where Rosal
Suddenly, a startled shout pierced the dry air. "There's someone buried under the sand!"Theodore heard the shout and rushed over like a madman. He stumbled several times along the way, but each time, he clawed his way back up. At last, he reached the spot the person had pointed out.A piece of fabric was poking out from beneath the sand.Theodore's heart felt as though it was being gripped by an invisible hand. His gaze was filled with confusion and fear as waves of despair and anguish surged within him, drowning his soul.With a thud, he fell to his knees and put his trembling hands into the sand. He frantically started scooping away the sand, his hands still shaking. He was overwhelmed by panic and dread.Every heap of sand being shoveled away felt like the ticking of an endless clock, tearing his heart into countless pieces."Mr. Spencer, please don't do this." Two foreign men stepped forward, attempting to pull him back.Theodore's hands were bloodied from digging. His fingers w
In a daze, Theodore reached out. He lightly touched the air, as if he was touching her.Gazing up at the sky, his eyes were weary yet tender, filled with endless longing and yearning."Rose…" With a soft thud, his hand fell to the ground. His eyes closed and he passed out."Mr. Spencer, Mr. Spencer?" A few people quickly lifted Theodore and carried him toward the vehicle.-In the afternoon, the villa basked under the radiant sunlight.The sky was as pure as a sapphire, with feathery white clouds drifting across the horizon. The lush green trees and colorful flowers surrounding the villa complemented each other, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.However, within the villa, chaotic sounds echoed. The sharp clang of objects clashing and the sound of things crashing down could be heard, all conveying an atmosphere of agitation and unrest.It was as if the interior and exterior of the villa were two entirely different worlds—one peaceful, the other tempestuous.Inside a room, a child w
At that moment, a subordinate hurried over. Seeing the mess on the floor, he carefully avoided the shards and approached Sebastian."Mr. Carter, Theodore has gone to the desert."Sebastian rushed forward and grabbed his subordinate's arm. "Did he find her?"His subordinate shook his head. "No, he didn't."Sebastian had also sent his men to look for Rosalie, but they hadn't been able to track her down. Eventually, even her phone became unreachable.So, he sent people to follow Theodore to see what his investigation would turn up.At first, he didn't inform Theodore that Rosalie had already checked in to let him know she was safe. He wanted Theodore to find Rosalie, because if Rosalie was safe, then Theodore would be finished, since Rosalie only wanted some time alone.If Theodore kept trying to reach her and searched for her everywhere, Rosalie would surely be even more annoyed with him. Then, Sebastian would step in and take her away.Yet if something really had happened to Rosalie, th
Perhaps Sebastian had frightened Steve, as his crying grew even louder. With his little mouth open, he wailed loudly."Can you please stop crying? Steve, am I not holding you? Don't you always like it when Daddy holds you?" Sebastian said."Normally, when your mother holds you, you cry. But when I hold you, you stop. Look, I've been taking care of you all this time. Haven't I been good to you? So why are you still crying? Are you… Are you missing Theodore too?"Sebastian's gaze suddenly turned dark and menacing."Tell me, is that it? Are you thinking of him because he's your real father? Steve, you have to understand that I'm your father! I've been the one taking care of your mother and you. I treasure you both, but what about Theodore? He doesn't even know you exist! He's out there enjoying himself with other women!" Sebastian cried."Steve, I'm your father. When you grow up, you'll only acknowledge me, right? You can't accept Theodore. He can never be your father."Only I am your fat
Sebastian felt his heart melt."Baby, are you smiling at Daddy? Steve, can you smile once more, please?"Sebastian was so moved he nearly cried. It was the child's first smile, and it was directed at him.For the first time, he truly felt the joy of being a father. All along, though Sebastian cherished Steve, he had always felt some distance from the baby.After all, Steve was Theodore's child. It was because of Rosalie that Sebastian had grown fond of the boy, hoping this would earn Rosalie's affection.Deep down, he couldn't say he truly loved this child. Yet, at this moment, he suddenly felt he was falling in love with Steve.It felt as though Steve were his son, regardless of his bloodline.Blood ties no longer mattered. The moment Steve smiled at him, Sebastian no longer cared about anything else.Steve smiled again, his eyes clear and bright.When he smiled, it was like a small flower blooming, delicate and enchanting. His laughter was as crisp and delightful as silver bells, a h