Skyler wore a light green evening gown, which was quickly stained crimson as the chandelier crashed onto her back. The blood streamed down her body. Dennis rushed forward, his voice filled with unprecedented panic. "Mom, are you okay?" Skyler briefly closed her eyes in pain. Seeing Chester unharmed, she managed a small, relieved smile. Just as she was about to speak, she lost consciousness. Dennis quickly scooped her up and ran outside. Warren, observing the scene, immediately instructed Charlie, "Seal off this area, check the surveillance, and find out who tampered with the chandelier." "Yes, Mr. Larkin," Charlie replied. Warren then approached Evelyn, gently touching her head to comfort her. "Don't worry. I'll go check on her. Chet and the rest will help manage things here."Seeing Skyler covered in blood, Evelyn's eyes turned red with worry. She stammered, "Will Mrs. Potter be alright? She was already in fragile health." "She'll be fine. It's just a superficial wound.
"I think someone is trying to take advantage of the situation and might have further plans," Warren speculated. Dennis frowned and said, "Protect Evie. She is likely their target." Chester glanced at Dennis, noting an uncanny resemblance of Dennis' features with his. He might have thought Dennis was his son if he hadn't been faithful to Iris. He looked at Dennis with surprise as he asked carefully, "Why does Skyler have a fear of hospitals?" Dennis' expression darkened. "When she was young, she trusted the wrong man. He betrayed her, she was injured in a fire, and assassins came after her. She often woke up covered in wounds, lying in a hospital bed. That's how she developed this phobia." Hearing this, Chester felt a sharp pain in his chest. He could only imagine Dennis and Skyler's suffering—scars that would never fully heal. Grinding his teeth, Chester said, "Men like that deserve the harshest punishment. Betraying such a kind woman is inhumane." Dennis' gaze was cold.
Upon hearing this, Chester stood frozen in place, his brow furrowing. "Do you think I'm unfaithful, too?" he asked. Warren pointed out, "Isn't it true? You and Iris often argue about this." With a sigh, Chester replied, "She argues with me because I haven't been intimate with her since the kidnapping incident." "Why avoid her? Have you found someone else?" Warren inquired curiously. "It's not that. I've lost my virility. I've consulted numerous doctors and undergone countless tests. They all said I'm physically okay, but I just can't perform. I thought it was a lack of interest in Iris, so I sought solace elsewhere, but I found no interest in other women either. "You all believe I'm out there philandering, but I haven't even touched anyone. In fact, I feel repulsed by them. Psychologists say it's a psychological issue, but after years of treatment, there's been no improvement. I've given up," Chester explained. This was the first time Warren confronted his father's issues.
The man stared fearlessly at Chet. "Why the concern for her? She's your buddy's woman. What's bothering you? Or perhaps there's some secret between you two?" "Shut up! I could shoot you dead right now," Chet threatened, his gun aimed at the man. In response, the man immediately pressed the knife against Evelyn's neck. "Go ahead and shoot. Let's see if your bullet is quicker than my blade. I forgot to mention that back in my hometown, I used to slaughter cattle. No matter how large the beast, I could end its life with a single strike—let alone a fragile woman." With that, he applied pressure to the blade, and a trickle of crimson blood adorned Evelyn's fair, slender neck. Startled, Chet released his grip on the trigger and yelled, "Don't you dare touch her!" "If you want me to spare her, back off, or I'll ensure the person you've just found dies before your very eyes," the man threatened, causing everyone to take a step back and dare not make any move. Terrified, Evelyn trem
Just as he was about to reach Evelyn, a gunshot echoed from behind, and the man crumpled to the ground. Blood pooled beneath him as he lay on the ground. Quickly, Warren shielded Evelyn's eyes, his voice a gentle reassurance. "Don't be afraid, it's over now. Let's go." With a tender gesture, he lifted Evelyn into his arms, exchanging a few words with Charlie before they departed. Evelyn, still reeling from the confrontation with the kidnapper, now rested weakly against Warren's chest. Her hands clung tightly to his shirt with her lips trembling. Her tear-filled eyes gazed at Warren as she weakly asked, "Warren, how's Mrs. Potter?" Warren dipped his head and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. He replied, "She had a few stitches on her back, but she's alright now. Don't worry." Evelyn gazed into Warren's eyes which were so reminiscent of Dennis'. She softly remarked, "In times of peril, most women would scream, yet Mrs. Potter charged forward without hesitation. Isn't that stra
Dennis felt a jolt in his chest. "Did you remember something?" "Not yet, but when the chandelier fell, a brief image flashed in my mind of being with him. Even though it was fleeting, I'm certain Chester was the man in the vision." Hearing this, Dennis tightened his grasp on Skyler's hand. "You had feelings for him, didn't you?" Taken aback by Dennis' direct question, Skyler paused before softly responding, "I suppose so, or else I wouldn't have intervened to save him. Dennis, do you think I was morally questionable in the past, knowingly engaging in an affair with a married man? And is there a possibility that you're his child?" Dennis anticipated that Skyler would eventually question his descent. Just as he was about to reply, a knock on the door interrupted them. Opening the door, Dennis found himself locking eyes with Chester. "Dennis, how is your mother? I came to check on her." Carrying a fruit basket and a bouquet, Chester's expression was gentle as he met Dennis' ga
Chester's gaze momentarily froze upon hearing that name. Wayne, the Larkin family's butler, stood as the sole victim of the tragic fire years ago. How could Skyler possibly have any connection to him and retain such a profound memory of the incident? He regarded her with a mixture of confusion and intrigue. "Do you recall anything else about Wayne?"Skyler shook her head. "I have no clear memories of him. However, his name often echoes in my nightmares. I believe he played a pivotal role in saving me, perhaps during that fire.""But according to the records, Wayne was the only person present during the fire, and surveillance footage confirms no one else entered." A sense of disquiet settled over the room. If Skyler was indeed present during the fire, it could have been a deliberate act rather than a mere accident. Dennis, who had remained silent until now, interjected, "While the footage from the day of the fire shows only Wayne's presence, there's a ten-minute gap in the surve
The sensations had been so overpowering that Evelyn feared she wouldn't be able to leave the house today if it happened again. She promptly pushed Warren away and rose from the bed, stating, "I need to visit Mrs. Potter today." But as she attempted to stand, a strong arm encircled her waist. A low, husky, and enticing voice whispered in her ear, "It's no hurry, a kiss before you go wouldn't hurt." With that, Evelyn found herself drawn back onto the bed. A cascade of tender, lingering kisses enveloped her. She was clueless to as when Warren had become so skilled; even the simplest kiss from him was captivating. It elicited a soft moan from her lips. Just as they were lost in their passionate embrace, there came a knock at the door, followed by Simon's voice. "Evie, Mrs. Miles Senior is here to see you. You and Warren should come down to greet her."Evelyn pushed Warren away immediately, her voice still carrying traces of desire. "Dad, we'll be down in a moment." Her voice wa