I vaguely guessed that the Renolds family's situation was probably complicated, but it wasn't appropriate to ask Jennifer, whom I had just met, about it.After a slight hesitation, I shook my head. "I'm sorry, I can't promise you that. He has his own convictions, and as his friend, I can only support him."He could have liked someone for twenty years, and he had always been calm and steady. He must have weighed the pros and cons of everything. It wasn't something outsiders could interfere with.Jennifer didn't show any displeasure on her face, just calmly said, "Aren't you curious who he likes?""If he wanted to tell me, he would."Since he hadn't told me yet, it meant he didn't want me to know. I also felt that between friends, it wasn't necessary to be completely transparent; it was okay for each other to have their own secrets.She suddenly changed the subject. "After graduating from college, my grandmother originally hoped he would inherit the family business early, like Ryan
"When I was brought back to the Renolds family that year, everyone cursed me as an illegitimate child."He fell silent for a moment, complex emotions swirling in his beautiful eyes. "But I knew, it was my dad who deceived my mom..."I finally understood that beneath the gentle exterior, Jack had also endured a long and painful past. His father was his mother's first love, but for the family's sake, he secretly married someone else without telling his mother. By the time she found out, he was almost born..."My mom took me far away, but we still couldn't escape Sally's revenge.""She..." As he mentioned this, pain flashed in his eyes, along with suppressed hatred that quickly subsided. "She's dead."His hand hanging by his side clenched into a fist, knuckles turning pale.I felt a heavy weight in my heart...He was eight years old that year, and his mother should have been around 30. Yet, because of her poor judgment of character, she paid such a heavy price.Jack smiled bitterl
I couldn’t give him an answer to that question.After all, I remembered that the girl had gotten married.I restarted the car and smiled gently. "I wish you well.""Okay," Jack responded cheerfully.I drove him to the building where he lived and hesitated before speaking, "About your injuries...""Don't listen to Jennifer's nonsense."He reached out and took the medicine, effortlessly easing my awkwardness. "Tom's at my place; just have him take care of it.""Alright." I felt somewhat relieved.It wasn't that I didn't want to help him with his wounds, but after all, it involved his back, which would require removing his shirt... My status might not be quite appropriate, and he would probably feel embarrassed too.As I prepared to return the car keys to him, he suddenly glanced over. "Today... I startled you, didn't I?"I lightly pinched my palm and honestly admitted that I was indeed frightened when I saw Sally hitting him like that. The whip had torn through his flesh.Bu
Jessica glanced at me. "It's convenient, but my mom has been waiting for you. It's just that Charlotte better not come in first. The doctor said my mom has been in a coma for too long, and her memory is quite confused. It's best for her to see only familiar faces first, to avoid affecting her physical and neurological recovery."The way she said it made it seem like I would be committing some unforgivable crime just by entering.I wasn't that insensitive. I looked at Ryan. "You go in. I'll leave first.""Since that's the case." Ryan coldly glanced at Jessica, then put his arm around my shoulder. "Let's wait for Ms. Wood to recover for a few days before coming to see her."I glanced at him in surprise, wanting to push his hand away, but he acted as if he didn't notice, unmoving."Ryan..." Jessica looked embarrassed, her eyes reddening. "Yesterday, you drove me away, and now at this time, you still...""Jessica, don't be unreasonable."From inside the ward came a weak voice of a w
Ryan's dark eyes glanced at me, as if hoping I would step back.I smiled faintly, firmly stating first, "What she said is true. We'll send her away by tomorrow night at the latest.""I don’t want an answer from you..."Ignoring my words, Lauren stared only at Ryan, looking like she couldn't bear to face the truth. "Ryan, tell Ms. Wood, is it true?"Perhaps my gaze was too direct, but despite his discomfort, Ryan spoke in a deep voice. "It's true.""Mom, did you hear that!"Jessica cried out, "Ryan clearly promised you he would take care of me, but now he's siding with outsiders to bully us."Ryan's face turned cold. "Charlotte is my wife, not an outsider!""You're getting divorced!"Jessica's face was streaked with tears as she emphasized firmly.As if she was the one who had been wronged.Ryan frowned, feeling displeased. "Until the divorce certificate is in hand, she remains my wife."I was somewhat surprised that he emphasized our relationship like this to Jessica."Eno
Ryan's mother, grandfather, and child. Three generations died at their hands."Charlotte! What nonsense are you spouting?" Jessica rushed over, shoved me, and warned fiercely, "I can sue you for defamation, do you know that?"With the situation slightly "improving," Lauren, also puzzled, looked over. "Ms. Wilson, what do you mean by that?""You know full well what I mean"Under Ryan's cold and gloomy expression, I spoke word by word to Lauren, "Back then, in order to marry into the Frost family, you pushed Ryan's pregnant mother down the stairs. Have you forgotten?""You need evidence to say that!" Lauren's voice rose and fell, seemingly very angry at my accusation!Just as Grandfather said, she thought that by destroying the surveillance, she left no evidence behind.Jessica, reminded by her words, also seized the crux of the matter. "Right, Charlotte, conviction isn't solely based on hearsay. Evidence, right?"I called Gary to bring over the document I had just given to Ryan.
On the day Grandfather passed away, he mentioned that Ryan would eventually find out. He couldn't be kept in the dark forever. Knowing that night was better than knowing later, to prevent him from being deceived by this Lauren and Jessica any longer.However, what caught me off guard was Albert, sounding puzzled on the phone. "Mrs. Frost, where did you hear about this?"My vision almost blacked out. I could already sense Ryan's extremely cold gaze!"Grandfather told me." I even started to doubt if I had remembered something wrong, but quickly confirmed that I hadn't. I tried to remind him, "Albert, don't you remember? It was in Grandfather's study that day, and Grandfather even took...""Are you mistaken?" Albert interrupted me abruptly!I was completely dumbfounded and couldn't believe it. "How could I possibly forget such a big thing...""Charlotte!" Jessica, who had been nervous, suddenly sneered. "Are you trying to bribe Albert to testify for you? Unfortunately, he was Gran
"So, you're afraid that the truth about his mother's death would upset him again?""Yes." Albert nodded. "The psychologist suggested taking it slow, waiting until Mr. Frost's condition improves.""Got it."I replied calmly, not feeling any other emotions. In fact, if it weren't for Grandfather's dying instructions, I wouldn't even want to deal with the Frost family's affairs.However, when I returned home and thought about Ryan's plight, I couldn't help but feel a trace of... pity.But soon, remembering how he had shouted at me in the ward, that pitiful trace of pity vanished completely.I suddenly hated myself a bit, hated that I was always unable to come up with a foolproof plan.Lying bored on the sofa, Jane suddenly arrived.I opened the door. "Why didn't you just use your fingerprint to get in?""I was afraid I might see something I shouldn't."Jane twisted her slender waist, entered gracefully, kicked off her heels, slipped into her own pair of house slippers, glanced a
Jordan and Whitney chatted casually.Most of the time, it was Jordan doing the talking while Whitney listened.After covering enough about the wedding, they talked about Jordan's work over the past few years.She also mentioned the tangled feelings and past with Westley.When she got to that part, she grew a little curious. "Whitney, before you married Caleb, did you ever like anyone?"Whitney shook her head."What about a secret crush?""Not even that."Whitney rarely talked to others about her past.Zachary only knew because he had looked into her and thought she was perfectly suited to be a pawn.And she had needed to become that pawn—to completely sever ties with her past, achieve her goals, and fulfill her ambitions."I was too busy studying and working to think about anything else."Jordan sensed she didn't want to go further, so she didn't press.Just then, Jane called, saying she and Charlotte would arrive soon and join them for lunch.She relayed the message to W
"We had a meal together before, and I noticed you always seemed to like sweet dishes, so I tried buying some. I was worried it might not suit your taste.""It does, it does." Jordan took a bite of the pudding. "It's delicious. But did you buy anything you like to eat?"Whitney said, "I already had breakfast. I can't eat anymore."Jordan offered a suggestion, "Why not try a bite of this sponge cake? It's a specialty here in Nelana."Whitney really couldn't eat any more. She had a small appetite, a condition built up over the years.If she ate a full meal, she couldn't eat snacks afterward. And if she ate snacks, she would lose her appetite for meals.She had a small stomach.But seeing Jordan looking at her so expectantly, she still picked up a piece of sponge cake and took a bite."It's very good."Jordan smiled and took a big bite of the sponge cake herself."Whitney, you're so good at picking food! This is great!"The old house was a bit remote, but it had a rooftop terrac
Jordan said Whitney would be coming over later.Westley hadn't expected that the first one to get out of bed would actually be Whitney."Just the two of you?" he asked."For now, yes."Jordan glanced at her phone. In the group chat, it was just her and Whitney talking—no response yet from Jane or Charlotte.She more or less knew why Jane hadn't responded, but Charlotte too?Still, it didn't really matter. There weren't any specific plans for today anyway.She hadn't known Whitney was coming, so it was a nice surprise."Maybe my sister will text me around noon. We can decide what to do then.""You." She pointed at Westley. "You are not allowed to show up in front of me again after breakfast."Westley nodded. "Got it."After buying food, Whitney told Caleb, "I'm going to find Jordan. You can go handle your stuff. I'll be staying at her place until the wedding."Caleb leaned against the elevator wall, his voice low and lazy. "You're telling me what to do?"Whitney wasn't in a
She replied with an emoji, then looked for her girls in the group chat to ask them out for food.Their group chat had a new member now—Whitney.And it was Whitney who replied to her."I'm already eating at the hotel. Do you want to come over, or should I bring something to you later?"Whitney had actually had a good night's sleep.Though it was a bit later than her usual habit, she still managed to get up for breakfast.Before, it was always Caleb who brought breakfast to the bedside and fed her, because she simply couldn't get out of bed.Jordan figured she was probably having breakfast with Caleb and decided not to bother her."No need, I'll just eat something nearby. Your hotel isn't close to me."Whitney replied. "I'm heading over later anyway, but I'll probably be a bit late. If you're hungry, go ahead and eat something first. I'll bring you something else."Jordan. "Thanks."Whitney. "No problem."Caleb noticed her holding her phone, her expression much softer, even t
Caleb was thinking that in the future, he could let her drink a little more.Of course, only when he was around.She looked kind of cute like this."I did say that, but didn't you just say you wanted to thank me?"Whitney felt that alcohol really wasn't a good thing.Even when hanging out with Jane and the others, she decided not to drink too much anymore.The rationality and logic that she was so proud of had completely vanished.She had never been as calm in front of Caleb as she was with others.Besides, there was a power imbalance between her and him.If she were sober, she wouldn't have been able to reject him anyway.Let alone now, when her mind was muddled.But maybe because she was muddled, she dared to say things that she didn’t usually dare to say."I just lost my balance earlier, and you helped me. Even if you don't accept verbal gratitude, that doesn't mean I owe you something this big."Caleb saw she could barely stand, so he held her by the waist to keep her
"But your reaction just now didn’t seem like you knew I was here."Jane tried to pull her leg back, but when she couldn't, she slapped him in frustration."It was called acting, understand? I didn't want you to look embarrassed, so I got those two out of the way first."Zachary rubbed her ankle with his thumb, as if he believed her. "Then should I be thanking you—for being so considerate?"Jane couldn't be bothered to argue. "Let go. I want to drink.""I'll drink with you."Meanwhile, Frank held Charlotte close and asked in a low voice, "Did she really know we were here?"Charlotte nodded. "What do you think? You really think Jane would mess around during her marriage? She might be bold, but she has boundaries. But you guys really are annoying."Frank hooked her chin with his thumb. "I knew it. You're being cold to me because you're sick of me. I've said it so many times, and you still wouldn't admit it."After saying that, he picked her up and walked out of the bar.He hadn'
Charlotte nudged him with her elbow, warning him not to stir things up.Jordan truly didn't dare to stay any longer. "Westley, take me home.""Okay." Westley finally got up. "You all take your time. If it gets too late, don't go back to the old house—just find a place to crash.""But..." Jordan suddenly felt like leaving wasn't such a good idea. "Maybe I'll stay and play a bit more."Westley simply dragged her out."Jane and Zachary...""You can't control what they do, so why bother worrying over nothing?"Jordan was settled into the passenger seat, her seatbelt fastened firmly.She didn't resist, mostly because she felt what Westley said made sense.Jane was way more capable than she was. This kind of minor drama would be easy for her to handle.Plus, with the smart and composed Charlotte around—It was better if she didn't add to the chaos.Once Westley got into the driver's seat, she asked, "Why did you guys show up? Especially you—didn't you say no seeing each other a w
But it was just a polite gesture—if they had been singing inside, they wouldn't have heard her anyway.So after knocking, she pushed the door open and went in.Charlotte and the others followed to take a look.When they saw the scene inside, they gasped.The four men from home were sitting around a cards table, all eyes on the door, each with a different expression.Zachary looked at Jane, who entered first, and said with a smile, "Honey, pick someone you like and give him a kiss."Jane took a step back and bumped into Charlotte's arms.That was when she noticed the big screen beside them—it was showing their own private room."You were watching us?"Zachary tapped the cards on the table with his long fingers, still smiling."If we weren't watching, how would we get to enjoy such an entertaining scene?"They had all been drinking.Whitney didn't hold her liquor well. She was already a little dazed. Although the room was fairly bright, everything seemed a little off to her.
Caleb didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Westley and played a card.Westley won.And it was a big pot as well.He cocked his brows. "Is this your wedding gift to me, Caleb?"Caleb asked, "Your wedding—Dr. Greyson won't be absent, will he? I heard you two are very close. You've been at death's door multiple times, and he's the one who saved you."Westley nodded. "Theoretically, yes. But I'm not sure if he might have some emergency.""Besides, it's not like you, Caleb, can't reach him. You helped him last time. It's impossible he'd ignore you now."Caleb could contact Carter, but if he did, it would mean helping Carter meet Mandy.He had no interest in meddling in romantic matters—too troublesome.But he couldn't get in touch with Tanner at all.Technically, there was no real need for him to attend Westley's wedding.Even if Whitney was invited by Jane, he himself wasn't obligated.He simply wanted to go, hoping to "accidentally" run into Carter.That way, it wouldn't loo