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
"Steve, remember this name—Theodore. He is your enemy."-Night fell.The hospital was immersed in darkness, with starlight outside like scattered pearls glimmering over the buildings. The faint light outlined the hospital's silhouette as the moon slowly rose, casting a soft silver glow over the world.Theodore lay on the hospital's white bed with a white sheet covering him. The room was filled with the smell of disinfectant.Soft light bathed his pale face, highlighting his exhausted expression.An IV drip hung beside the bed, with a clear liquid slowly flowing into his veins.Theodore opened his eyes, his gaze wandering around the room. He sat up in bed and glanced at the IV drip bag, noticing there was still about half remaining.The door to the ward opened, and a foreign man walked in."Mr. Spencer, you're awake.""Have you found her?" Theodore asked anxiously.The man shook his head. "Not yet. We're still searching other locations."The light in Theodore's eyes dimmed, his face he
Wesley looked at Yerick, who was kneeling on the ground, and his heart ached.He painfully closed his eyes, wanting to say something, but he couldn't bring himself to speak the words at the tip of his tongue."Mom, why did you die without telling me who my father is? Were you afraid I would hate him? I did hate him, but now I'm all alone. How I wish I could find my real father. Even though I'd be angry at him, I think I would forgive him, as long as…as long as he's willing to accept me as his son."Wesley opened his eyes, a flicker of hope flashing in his gaze. Finally, he released the emotions he had been holding back. "Yerry, I'm your father."Yerick turned to look at Wesley, his eyes wide with shock. "What did you say?"Wesley crouched down, knelt on one knee, and held Yerick's hand tightly. "I am your biological father. I'm sorry for only telling you now, Yerry.""You're my biological father? Why… Why you? You're my godfather!" Yerick's expression was one of disbelief."Yerry, tha
Yerick drove, taking Wesley away from the house.It was only then that Wesley realized the place Yerick had brought him to was desolate, with only a small house in sight. The area was so remote that there were no streetlights."Yerry, why did you buy a house here?" Wesley asked."It's quiet. I like it," Yerick replied."It's quiet, alright, but it's so isolated and with no shops nearby. Did you live here before?" Wesley asked."Godfather, this is just a place I come to when I want to clear my head. Plus, with a car, it's easy to go anywhere," Yerick explained.They had been driving for about ten minutes, but through the car window, Wesley still hadn't seen any other residents. It felt eerily silent.After a while, the car came to a stop. There were lights here now, but they didn't seem like public streetlights."Godfather, let's get out. My mom is just ahead."Wesley got out of the car, and the two of them, holding flowers, walked down a small path in front of them.Wesley looked aroun
After Theodore calmed down, he looked up and said toward the door, "Someone, come in."The bodyguard walked in. "Mr. Spencer, how can I assist you?""Contact my father and tell him I have urgent matters to discuss. Ask him to come over.""Understood."The bodyguard immediately went out to make the call. After a while, he returned, saying, "Mr. Theodore, I couldn't reach Mr. Wesley. His phone is turned off.""Can't reach him?"The bodyguard nodded. "Yes. His phone is switched off.""Keep trying. Call the company, call his home. We need to find him."Theodore suddenly had an ominous premonition.-Wesley slowly opened his eyes, smelling a faint floral fragrance.He sat up from the bed and turned his head to see a diffuser nearby. It was letting off a swirling mist. Feeling a bit dizzy, and he glanced at the unfamiliar surroundings.He got out of bed. Where was this place?Just then, the door opened, and Yerick walked in. "Godfather, you're awake.""Yerry, where are we? Didn't we just hav
"You make it sound so easy. How do you know Sebastian wouldn't do such a thing? Do you know what he did to me? He tried to kill me several times! Do you think he will treat my son any better?"Theodore shoved him away and staggered.Justin quickly supported him, saying, "I know Sebastian isn't a good person, but this child isn't just yours. It's also Rose's. He loves Rose very much. He wants to be with her, so he wouldn't be stupid enough to harm Steve.""What if…""What if he really harms Steve?" Justin immediately said. "Don't worry. I'll tear Sebastian to pieces if that happens, and I'll give my life for it!""Give your life for it?" Theodore scoffed, "Do you think you can handle that?"Justin helped Theodore back onto the bed. "Just watch the video first."Justin turned to leave."Where are you going?" Theodore immediately asked.Justin paused at the door and turned back, saying, "I'm going to bring Steve to you.""Wait a moment." Theodore called out to him."What is it now? If you
Loving someone was inherently painful, especially when one didn't realize one's feelings at the start. It was only after losing the person that one woke up to the truth, but by then, the loss was final and irreversible.Things had already happened, and no amount of pain could bring back what was lost."Justin, what are you still doing here? Are you here to watch me suffer? Get out! Go! Tell Rose I will settle this with her. I'm not done with her. I will fight for custody. Steve is my child. I will take him home!"Theodore's heart was filled with hatred."I'm looking for Rose too, but I can't find her. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to you," Justin replied.Theodore froze. "What did you say?""Do you really think I came here to show off? I came because Rose's gone. If I could find her, I wouldn't have come to you. I tried to reach you before, but you were in surgery. Now that you're awake, I need you to get your emotions in check. What I'm about to tell you is even bigger than the fact
If the mysterious pregnancy and DNA test reports still left him with some doubts, hearing Justin's words in person—that Steve was indeed his son—completely erased any lingering suspicion. What replaced it was an overwhelming pain.Theodore had once wondered what it would be like if Steve were his son. He had even wondered if Steve could possibly be his son.However, thinking back to everything that had happened between him and Rosalie, he became afraid. He was afraid that if he thought too much about it, he might just be deluding himself. What would he do then?After all, when they met in Melrine, he had seen Rosalie, Sebastian, and Steve eating together at a restaurant. Theodore had watched as Sebastian and Steve interacted like father and son. His first instinct was that Rosalie and Sebastian had a child together.And Rosalie hadn't denied it. She had implicitly accepted it, which led Theodore to believe that Steve was indeed Sebastian's son.Theodore thought about his interactions w
Justin's eyes flashed with a hint of confusion. He lowered his head and saw the papers that had fallen at his feet. He bent down and picked them up.Upon seeing the contents, he asked in surprise, "Where did you get this from?""You're asking me?" Theodore sneered. "Justin, are you the one behind this? Are you deliberately causing trouble by sending these things in Rose's name?"The more Justin listened, the more confused he became. Suddenly, he noticed an envelope on the nightstand. He picked it up and, upon seeing the sender's name, glanced back at the report in his hand."This definitely wasn't sent by Rose.""Not sent by her? Then where is she now? I can't get through to her phone. Tell her I need to see her. I want to talk to her, especially about Steve. I need to know if he's Sebastian's child or mine. I want to do the paternity test myself!"Whether the contents of the mail were true or not, Theodore was determined to investigate this matter personally. He had always assumed St
Theodore thought he was dreaming.His hands were trembling as he held the documents. He repeatedly examined the pregnancy test report and the DNA test report.The result showed that Steve was his biological son.What on earth was going on?The pregnancy test report was from a year and a half ago, but the DNA test report was from just a week ago.How could this be?"Mr. Spencer, are you alright?" The assistant noticed Theodore's abnormal behavior and was somewhat concerned. He didn't dare look at the contents of the documents, as this was Theodore's mail."My phone. Where's my phone?" Theodore asked."Mr. Spencer, your phone was destroyed in the car accident. I'll get you a replacement.""Wait. Give me your phone. Quickly!""Okay." The assistant immediately handed his phone to Theodore.Theodore knew Rosalie's number by heart, of course. He quickly dialed it."Sorry, the number you've dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later."Was her phone turned off?The mail showed it
But what difference did it make? Theodore felt nothing for Cynthia—at most, just guilt."Theo, I'm not asking to be with you again, but I hope that I can see you often. That's all I want. As long as I know you're alright.""I just want to be alone for a while. Please leave," Theodore replied weakly. "Can I still visit you?"After a moment of silence, Theodore said, "Maybe in a few days. I just want to be alone now.""Alright, I'll give you some space to calm down. I'll visit you again. I hope we can still be friends. Oh, by the way..." Cynthia took a small gift box from her bag and placed it on the bedside table. "This is a gift I made for you.""What's this?" Theodore asked.Cynthia opened the box to reveal a red braided bracelet."I made this for you. Can I put it on you? It'll keep you safe and bring you good health."Theodore was indifferent. "Do you really believe in this kind of thing?""Theo, whether you believe in it or not, it's still my sincere wish. I spent the whole night