‘Beg him? Have I lost my mind?’ I wondered.I let go of his hand, not caring if Ryan and Jack saw us or not, feeling reckless, I turned and started walking out.Suddenly, everything went black. A man's long coat was thrown over my head, deftly guiding me back, pressing me against the railing, avoiding the gaze of those two.Lingering at the tip of my nose was a clear minty scent.The scent suited Frank perfectly.Ryan's footsteps seemed to pause. I heard Frank's unconventional voice, "Mr. Frost is interested in the private affairs of young couples?"Ryan seemed to scrutinize, his voice was deep. "Your girlfriend's shoes, my wife seem to have a pair just like them."My heart skipped a beat.This is a limited edition of a certain brand, and there are only a few pairs in Jelaston, easily countable on one hand.Clearly, I didn't overhear any secrets. I could have just left openly, but now with Frank stirring things up like that, I somehow felt guilty.I didn't dare move."Seem?"
It seemed like the person who readily agreed to my terms yesterday wasn't him.I was somewhat annoyed and at a loss. "Didn't you agree not to let anyone else know for now?""Huh?" Frank frowned. "I agreed not to let anyone know you were spying and recording."‘Fine. So he had done nothing wrong after all. Was it just that I hadn't been clear enough?’"Do you have a grudge against the Frost family?""No." Frank looked at me, perplexed. "Can't you understand vicious business tactics? After being with Ryan for three years, hasn't he taught you any of this?"I couldn't help but pause.His straightforwardness was both frightening and intriguing because of his second question.I squeezed my palms and replied honestly, "No."After being by Ryan’s side, what had he taught me? Independence, tolerance, patience, devotion...Besides treating each other with respect, we had no unnecessary exchanges. He never discussed matters of fame and profit with me.This time, Frank seemed taken aba
.This was the first time I had encountered someone who constantly talked about money."Well, forget it then. I'll ask someone else." With that, I turned and headed indoors.Just as I returned, Jane came out from the private room, her eyes slightly red, clearly having cried. "Let's go back.""Is everything sorted out?" I took her coat from her and draped it over her shoulders.She sniffed, her eyes clear. "Yes. From now on, whether he forms alliances or not, it has nothing to do with me."Upon hearing her decisive words, I admired how she could handle things so calmly.On the way home, Jane drove, and suddenly I received a call from Jack.After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "Charlotte, the person with Frank just now, was that you?"I was taken aback but didn't lie to him. "Yes, it was me... How did you know?"Frank had covered me up so well.Even Ryan... only asked about a pair of shoes in such an uncertain tone.Yet Jack managed to guess it was me.On the othe
"I heard that Frank came to Jelaston this time to look for clues about his former fiancee.""I didn't expect him to be such a devoted person."I was somewhat surprised that there was someone like Jack, who persisted in his feelings for someone he met in his youth, for so many years.Jack smiled and didn't say much more. He then just added, "Will you be home tomorrow? I'll bring the gift over after work.""The gift?" It took me a moment to remember what he mentioned last night and nodded. "Alright, I should be home these next few days."The next day, I woke up naturally and felt the empty space beside me in bed.Jane was gone.I picked up my phone and saw her WhatsApp message. "I’m off. If Tom goes crazy again, I'll come back to seek shelter.""You’re such a player. You ran off after sleeping with me."I replied with a smile and lazily lay in bed, scrolling through my phone.The matter with Jessica and John, along with what she and Wen Fang had exposed at the Civil Affairs Bur
"Stop trying to scare me!"After Bob yelled this sentence, his eyes showed fear, and before I could respond, he ran away!"Alright, Jane, I have something to attend to right now, I'll get back to you later."I hung up on Jane's call and turned to Bradley, who seemed invisible as always. "Did you just going to stand by and watch your father treat your mother like this?"Bradley shrugged. "I don't have his strength, and he doesn't listen to me."I was furious beyond words, unsure of what to say.But Aunt Laura endured the pain and spoke up, "Bradley, wait outside for a moment. I need to talk to your cousin.""Okay."After Bradley left, I pulled up a chair and sat by the bedside. "Are your injuries taken care of properly? Is there anything left untreated?""No. These wounds just look severe. The doctors and security stopped your uncle before it got too serious."Aunt Laura shook her head, looking weaker than the last time I saw her. Tears silently streamed down her face. "I want
On my way to the Frost Group, I couldn't help but feel relieved that Ryan finally seemed willing to start suspecting Lauren and Jessica. I should have been able to breathe a sigh of relief. Perhaps this time it would provide answers to both grandpa's and his mother's deaths. However, deep down, I still felt unsettled, though I couldn't quite pinpoint why.Upon arriving at the Frost Group, I immediately sensed a stark contrast to the atmosphere of the past. Everyone was hurrying around with serious expressions. As I exited the elevator on the top floor, this atmosphere reached its peak.Gary personally waited for me in the elevator lobby and escorted me to the CEO's office. Sensing my curiosity, he sighed. "The online situation has had a huge impact on the company. Several projects that were on the brink of completion are now being viewed with skepticism by our partners."I furrowed my brows. "It's gotten this serious?"It seemed that Frank indeed had considerable skills. His action
It could be said that since grandpa's passing, Lauren had probably become the only warmth he could find in familial bonds. But now... if what Jessica said was true, then his concept of family affection would be completely shattered. Emotions that had persisted for a decade or two would all be shattered together. Growing up in an unsatisfactory original family, experiencing this again could be another heavy blow.However, I did not agree with Albert's approach. Some things were better to be faced with immediate pain rather than prolonged agony. I stared firmly at Ryan. "Would you believe what I say?"His voice was gentle. "Yes."He must have thought about it for a long time before deciding to ask me, so his answer was not hesitant.Now that I had no more reservations, I picked up the coffee and took a sip. "If I were to say... the words I said in the hospital room that day...""Ryan!"The office door suddenly swung open without warning, accompanied by a crisp female voice that for
‘Suicide? So, is suicide their family's specialty, passed down through the generations?’ I wondered.I didn’t know what mentality I was in, but almost involuntarily, I asked, "Do you need me to go with you?"Maybe I wanted to see for myself if it was true or false.Or perhaps, I was afraid... afraid that if something really happened, Ryan wouldn't have anyone he could trust by his side.Ryan looked at me with surprise. "Can you?""Let's go." I picked up my bag and went with him to the hospital.When we arrived at the hospital, Lauren was still in the emergency room, and Jessica and John were waiting outside.The scene struck me as somewhat comical.But at such a tense moment, I shouldn't be laughing, so I mentally reviewed all the unhappy events in my life.Ryan, Jessica, John, plus Lauren inside the emergency room.If you were to draw a relationship diagram of these four people, it would probably resemble a chaotic spider web.Jessica suddenly rushed over and shoved me forc
They were heading back to their cozy little nest.On the way, her phone rang. When she saw the caller ID, she slapped Zachary’s thigh.“Oh no!”Zachary looked confused.“I forgot about Jordan!”Jordan had mentioned that she would be filming, and Westley had been by her side the entire time to protect her.Jane, preoccupied with her own matters, had assumed that with Westley around, nothing would go wrong.Her return to the country had been a last-minute decision, and she had left in a hurry.She was also dealing with the discomfort of her pregnancy.All the emotions and tasks piling up caused her to completely forget.Sure enough, when she answered the call, Jordan’s voice was full of grievance.“Aren’t we good friends?”“Yes, yes, we are,” Jane replied with an awkward cough. “Something urgent came up, so... I’m sorry.”Jordan, however, was gracious. “I understand your situation is special. Just treat me to a meal to make up for it. I’ll be flying to Jeswood soon.”“Alrig
Madam Collins’ words seemed caring, but in reality, they were meant as a warning.Zachary gently pulled his arm back and said, "No wedding, just getting the marriage certificate."“No way!” Rebecca objected.Madam Collins spoke calmly, “Registering the marriage is also a happy occasion, but it’s not suitable right now. I see your relationship is so strong, waiting a little longer won’t make a difference. The Collins family’s bloodline will never end up being talked about as illegitimate. Don’t worry about that.”Zachary wanted to say more, but Jane tugged on his arm.“I’m feeling a little unwell.”Zachary’s expression immediately changed. Without arguing with the family any further, he carried her straight to the doctor.When they reached the obstetrics department, she patted Zachary’s shoulder and said, “Put me down.”“Aren’t you...” Zachary instantly understood. “You’re trying to get me out of there?”Jane wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled him with her nose.“Pre
"I’m fine. I’ve already recovered quite a bit," Zachary said as he bent one knee to the floor.Jane instinctively wanted to kneel with him, but Zachary stopped her. "You can’t," he said, giving her a meaningful look.Understanding his intent, Jane obediently stood to the side.Rebecca became agitated. "Do your knees mean nothing to you? You’ve knelt once for her, and now again!"Lowering his gaze, Zachary said calmly, "I’m kneeling in front of my parents. There’s no question of whether it’s worth it or not. She is my fiancee, soon to be my wife. If she has caused you any displeasure, it’s my responsibility to bear it. What’s more, she hasn’t done anything wrong."Rebecca wanted to lash out, but Eric intervened. "Do you want to make your condition even worse with this anger?"A flicker of emotion passed through Zachary’s eyes, but his tone remained neutral. "I don’t understand. I only want to marry the person I love and have children. Why must you go to such lengths to oppose it
"Why are your hands so cold?"Zachary became even more anxious. He immediately picked her up, placed her on the seat, added another blanket, and asked the flight attendant to increase the temperature of the air conditioning."It’s not that cold."It was already spring. With all these layers on, Jane was worried she’d end up with a heat rash."I just washed my hands a moment ago," she explained.Zachary brought over a hand warmer for her. "Washing your hands doesn’t make them this cold. Just listen to me."Jane sighed. "It’s normal to feel nauseous during pregnancy. There might even be other symptoms later...""No, there won’t be. Nothing else will happen."Jane wanted to explain some of the facts so he could mentally prepare. When Charlotte was pregnant, Jane had read many books. If he was already this anxious now about the morning sickness, how would he handle what came later?Unexpectedly, he refused to accept any of it.Charlotte, observing the scene, couldn’t help but fee
She changed the topic, saying, "Your mother is ill."After boarding the plane, Zachary called home to check on the situation.Frank, sitting beside him, briefly explained what had happened during Zachary's coma.Zachary thought for a moment, then grabbed a blanket and returned to Jane's side, covering her with it.On the table in front of her were a tablet, fruits, water, and everything else she might need.Even so, Zachary still felt he hadn't taken care of her well enough."Do you feel uncomfortable? I heard your medical results weren’t great. If it might harm your health, then maybe..."Jane stuffed an orange into his mouth before he could finish.The orange was incredibly sour. She enjoyed it, but it made his handsome face scrunch up."Is it good?" she asked, her face full of triumphant delight.Zachary swallowed it whole and said, "Anything you feed me tastes good."Across from them, Charlotte was rendered speechless.Frank showed up just in time, popping a piece of c
Frank found the situation boring and clicked his tongue dismissively.Charlotte asked, “Wouldn’t you be happy to have such an adorable daughter?”Zachary glanced at Gemma.The little girl smiled, revealing two dimples, her big, gem-like eyes sparkling.She looked like a delicate doll.Of course, he would be thrilled to have such a cute daughter with Jane.But the one in front of him clearly wasn’t his.She didn’t resemble him or Jane in the slightest.Neither of them had dimples.If nothing else, at least a trait like his sharp canine teeth should have been passed down.But the little girl had none of those.“We will have a lovely daughter,” Zachary said confidently.Charlotte stepped aside, taking Gemma with her, leaving the two of them space.Forgetting Frank for a moment, she suddenly heard him drawl, “Congratulations, you might be having a daughter soon.”“What?”Charlotte quickly clamped her hand over Frank’s mouth and dragged him away.“Surprises like this should
Charlotte couldn’t help but sigh. “Can things really balance out like that? With the current situation, Mrs. Collins will inevitably use her health problems to threaten them into breaking up. If Zachary cuts ties with his family for Jane, it’ll only make her feel worse.”Frank lifted her face again. “Let me see if you’ve gotten wrinkles yet.”Charlotte pushed him away. “When will you ever stop joking around?”Frank chuckled. “Is cheering you up a crime now?”“It depends on the timing.”“No matter the timing, my wife’s happiness is always the most important.”Charlotte was helpless against Frank.Frank raised his hand and lightly tapped her cheek with the back of it.“Let Zachary handle his family’s affairs. Even if you keep worrying, you won’t be able to solve anything.”Hearing his words, Charlotte suddenly felt a bit clearer.“You and Zachary have a plan, don’t you?”Frank looked at her brightened eyes, and a laugh spilled from his chest.With a cryptic tone, he said, “Gu
Tanner’s index and middle fingers moved slightly.“Send her back to the country, have Carter do a checkup, and if necessary, she’ll need surgery.”Everyone’s expressions changed.Eric, who had come to deliver food, dropped everything he was holding, spilling it all on the floor.He rushed over and took Rebecca from Frank’s hands.“What kind of surgery?”Tanner withdrew her hand. “If you’re her husband, you should know she has heart problems, right?”“Her liver is in poor condition, and her heart is also weak. You’ll need to comfort her more and stop making her angry all the time.”Rebecca had worked hard for her business. When she was about to give birth to Zachary, she was still in a business meeting.After the negotiation, she didn’t even have time to go to the hospital before giving birth.She rushed to the hospital with the baby in a hurry.She had a sudden hemorrhage and ended up in the emergency room.Because of this, she developed some lingering health issues.In re
“She’s truly amazing. I could talk about her for three days and nights without stopping.”“Then don’t say it now. Wait until Zachary wakes up so Jane can hear it too. She loves listening to stories.”“You’re being awfully tactful, my dear.”Charlotte rubbed her nose, feeling a little awkward. Tanner was here to treat Zachary, so gossiping about people didn’t seem very appropriate.“You should go rest. You’ve worked hard recently.”Frank gave her a deep, lingering look. “When you need me, you’re warm. When you don’t, you’re cold, huh?”Charlotte glared at him playfully. “Can’t you show a little brotherly love?”“Zachary is still lying there. Watch your words.”Frank let out a soft scoff. “He’s faking—”Charlotte immediately covered his mouth.‘Alright, fine...’Frank pulled her hand down and gave it a firm squeeze. “Just wait until we’re back in Jeswood.”Charlotte turned and walked into the ward, but not before sticking her tongue out at him through the small window.‘Fine