"It's my fault," he spoke with guilt, bending down to pull me into his embrace. His tone was both self-reproachful and gentle. "I didn't understand you enough before. I only thought you were independent and resilient, but I never considered understanding you from a husband's perspective and caring for you properly.""But I will make an effort in the future."After saying this, as if lacking the courage to wait for my refusal, he added, "I'm going to the office now. Enjoy your breakfast. If you want anything else, just let me know, and I'll bring it to you tomorrow.""Ry..."Before I could say anything, he had already left.Looking at the steaming breakfast on the table, I sat down again and started eating.No matter what, food shouldn't be wasted.For several days in a row, Ryan appeared at my door on time every morning like clockwork.If I didn't open the door, he wouldn't press further but would just leave a note on it.Every breakfast was different and accompanied by a stic
I held the steering wheel tightly with both hands, my knuckles turned pale, and under the threat of the gangster, I had no choice but to step on the gas.Even though we were out of the underground car park, the dagger was still pressed against my neck at an unnoticeable angle.I dared not move, and the fear in my heart was rising.I tried my best to calm myself down. "Who asked you to come?"The gangster snorted coldly. "Don't talk so much nonsense to me, just drive."He was very defensive.I suddenly understood what Ryan meant by what he said in the morning.However, not only did I not expect it, but he probably didn't expect that the other party would act so quickly.At this time on the weekend, there was already a traffic jam.After driving for more than an hour, the car slowly drove out of the city center area along Sky Avenue.Looking at the direction that was getting farther and farther away, I became more and more nervous.The criminal would only give the order at the
"How many times do I have to tell you? You don't deserve him!""Why didn't you believe me?"She covered her mouth and laughed, pinching my cheeks hard. Leaning in, she gritted her teeth and said, "Do you really think I'm going to let you be a stumbling block to getting into the Frost family? Do you think I'm like Jessica, who couldn't even deal with someone like you?""Charlotte, I've never failed to get what I wanted since child.""If I can't have it, my mom won't just sit back and do nothing as I become upset. You're so weak. Why do you get to compete with me?"She said this while glancing at a tattooed gangster nearby. "Call Ryan.""Okay."The tattooed man responded and immediately went to make the call.I frowned and looked at Bethany. "You and Zack are working together. What do you want?""What do I want?"She smiled and clapped her hands as she stood up, looking down on me. "Are you still worried that I'll hurt Ryan? Don't worry. He's my carefully chosen husband. Instea
As I slowly began to suffocate, my consciousness became somewhat blurred. I felt so uncomfortable...So uncomfortable that I wanted to die.Originally, I no longer wished to have any ties with Ryan, but in this situation, he was the only one I could think of.‘Ryan... please hurry... save me...’Just as I was about to lose consciousness, when a bucket of cold water was suddenly thrown over my head.The cold wind was already sweeping through the basement, and now this, not only brought me back to some level of consciousness but also made me shiver uncontrollably.The icy water streamed down my face, sliding into my collar and neck.The cold was bone-chilling.I barely opened my eyes and noticed that Bethany was also tied up to a post nearby.In fact, she had two red handprints on her face and her clothes were dirty, looking quite disheveled.However, she was standing calmly on a chair beneath her feet.I gave a cold smile, my voice a bit weak, "It seems you're quite the act
"Three..."Ryan's aura dropped sharply. He steadily raised the gun, aiming it at Bethany.Bethany desperately shook her head. "No... Ryan, don't..."Ryan, however, showed no signs of emotional disturbance. But in the fleeting moment our eyes met, I saw a deep, suppressed anguish in his gaze.Zack continued to count down. "Two..."Ryan gritted his teeth, lightly shaking his wrist, and chambered the gun with one hand."One..."Bang!In the instant the gun fired, Ryan suddenly changed direction, and with precision, pulled the trigger whilst aiming at me!I was completely frozen, my blood running cold!It turned out that I was the one he abandoned.Even if it meant I had to die.Despair seeped into every part of me in an instant. I stared blankly in Ryan's direction, my vision becoming unfocused.Although the anticipated pain did not come, somewhere within me, a sharp, piercing pain throbbed."It's my own choice...""I'm trying to win you back...""I'll take the remaining n
So, Ryan's thoughts were the same as those of the Shaw family.To him, I was merely a burden holding him back.He must have had grievances for a long time.Otherwise, such heart-wrenching words wouldn't have come so easily.A bitter smile tugged at my lips.I should never have hoped he would save me.Zack clapped his hands. "As expected of Mr. Frost. Very decisive!""Ryan..."Bethany shrank back in Ryan's embrace. "My legs hurt so much. It seems I was injured just now.""Mm." Ryan responded with a single syllable and began to walk away.Zack stopped him. "Mr. Frost, what about Ms. Wilson...?""Do as you please!" Ryan continued walking, casually to the question.It seemed that what happened to me was completely irrelevant to him.His mind and gaze were entirely on Bethany's injury.His tall, upright figure soon vanished from my view.Outside, the sound of tires on the ground resumed, and within seconds, everything was calm again.I squinted, staring at the flickering inc
Zack's previous arrogance was completely gone as he repeatedly assured Frank.Frank smiled faintly, "I don't care about the Shaw or Lawson families. If you mess with her again, I won't mind sending you down there to keep your brother company."Zack immediately fell to his knees. "I'm sorry, Frank. Rest assured, I'll remember for the rest of my life that I've come this far because of you. From now on, I'll call you 'Dad' and Ms. Wilson 'Mom'!"I had initially been confused about why Zack dared to negotiate with Ryan but was so afraid of Frank. Now, I understood.The Frost Group was all above board, with no involvement in grey areas.But the Smith family clearly operated in both legal and illegal worlds."You’re not my fucking son!" Frank cursed. "Get your people out of here, now.""Yes, sir!"Zack quickly scrambled to his feet, calling his people to leave. Before he went, he clasped his hands in front of me and whispered urgently, "Ms. Wilson, I genuinely intended to let you go.
Hearing this, I fell silent.It wasn't until the car was speeding down the dark road again that I turned to Frank."How did you find this place?"Frank unlocked his phone and tossed it to me. "Your husband sent me the address."I glanced at the message from an unknown number. It might not be Ryan.Or rather, I didn't dare believe it was Ryan.Frank seemed to sense my doubt. Casually steering the car, he explained, "The Shaw family must have promised Zack some benefits to reach an agreement. Bethany only kidnapped you to go after Ryan, so this address would be known only to a few.""Zack's men have no connection to you and wouldn't know I knew you. They couldn't have sent me to rescue you.""So, the message must have come from Ryan."This was the first time he had been so patient and elaborate with me.I squeezed my hands together. "Got it, thanks."It was the usual pretense.Sending a message to Frank while Ryan was still shooting at me.At a red-light intersection, Fran
"I was just handling some matters, but I can't tell you. Please understand."Jane seemed to believe him and nodded. "I see."Raymond also nodded. "That's right."Jane smiled. "You were handling matters, but what about the others?""They also have their own matters to deal with.""So..." Jane’s gaze suddenly became sharp. "You all went off to work, but there's no one guarding the hotel entrance? Aren’t you worried that while he’s in bed with me, his enemies might come and kill him? After all, the bed is when a man is most vulnerable. You’re a man, so you should understand that, right?"For a moment, Raymond seemed distracted, as if he had seen his Mr. Collins casually asking him what mistake he had made.Then, with a cold tone, he would be sent off to Afrealia, just like Roy.The more you say, the more mistakes you make. He stopped explaining and simply said."Miss Greenwood, it’s not safe outside. You should stay in the hotel and wait for Mr. Collins."Jane didn’t believe the
He placed the pillow behind her waist and asked gently, "What do you want to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it."Jane glared at him and said, "Get out!"Zachary took her hand and said, "There’s a banquet tomorrow. Come with me."Jane pulled her hand back and replied coldly, "You’re really sick.""Yes, and you’re the reason I”m sick."Jane raised her hand, intending to hit him. "Get out!"Zachary grabbed her wrist and smiled.Jane felt that he was seriously ill and decided it was better to just leave.But as soon as she lifted the blanket, a cold wind blew, and she quickly pulled it back up."Turn around!"Her teeth were clenched in anger, wishing she could bite him.Zachary's gaze slid over her body. "What are you hiding?""I..."Jane covered his mouth. "Don’t be such a pervert."Zachary held her hand. "The banquet tomorrow has to do with the purpose of your trip. Are you really not going?""How do you know what I came here for?"Zachary didn’t answer, just looked at he
Annie saw the red marks on his neck as he moved.There was also a bite mark on his Adam's apple.Both marks told her of the wildness he had shared with Jane just moments ago.The thing she feared most had happened."And not even a day apart," Zachary said again, his voice was cold enough to send shivers down one’s spine.Annie met his sharp gaze, instinctively taking a step back.But then she felt it was wrong and moved forward to stand in front of him."What are you saying? I don’t understand," she said, reaching out to grab his arm.Zachary turned sideways to avoid her, and Ross immediately restrained Annie, kicking her in the knee and forcing her to kneel on the ground."Zachary!"Annie had never been so humiliated before.Since childhood, everyone had always revolved around her.She was given everything she wanted.Without speaking, people would rush to her, handing her things that were close to her heart.Zachary was no different, he had been delivered to her by her
"I had wanted to repay you before, but you refused. Turns out, you were saving it for such a situation. Zachary, is it fun to fool me around?"Zachary lifted his head, and his dark eyes were filled with deep desire.He had been restraining himself, and the veins on his arm were bulging.But this time, he wanted to ask her for a favor."Am I really so unworthy in your eyes?"It wasn’t that he was completely unacceptable, but after all, he had previously forced her against her will."You can’t have lost contact with your subordinates.""Nelana isn’t my turf. There are people here who don’t want me here."As for his business matters, Jane didn’t want to know or analyze anything.She simply said, "Anyway, I’m not suited to help you solve the current problem. If you want, you can get some cold water, and I’ll go buy some medicine for you."The corners of Zachary’s eyes drooped slightly, and he looked almost pitiful."Is it really that hard to help me?"Jane nodded. "I think we’r
Before Jane finished speaking, she watched as Zachary slowly stood up on his own.But then he suddenly leaned towards her.She quickly held him up.Zachary rested his head on her shoulder, his breath hot and heavy against her neck, so hot it felt alarming."Wait, weren't the people around you supposed to be sticking with you at all times? How did you end up like this, all alone?"She heard the man's voice, weak and faint."Take me back to the hotel..."Jane was really at her wit's end.He didn't even tell her the name of the hotel. How was she supposed to know where to take him?In the end, with no other choice, she reached into his pocket to find his phone.She searched both side pockets of his pants, but there was no phone.He was only wearing a white shirt, no coat.That meant his phone wasn't on him.No wonder he hadn't contacted his subordinates.But that didn't make sense either—his subordinates were supposed to be with him at all times.Before she could figure it
"People are really into these things now. I often see them on live streams," said Jane.Dominic poured her a cup of barley tea. "The houses people want aren’t just any ordinary houses."Jane knew buying a house wasn't easy. It had taken her some time to secure her little place.If it weren't for Charlotte helping her out, she probably wouldn't have gotten it so quickly."Don’t worry. If I like what I see this time, when I go back and combine it with our brand, we'll promote it. You’ll be able to make money and buy a house.""That sounds good. I know how influential your brand is."The two of them chatted happily in the private room.In the room next door, however, the atmosphere was cold and tense.Annie, seemingly unaware, picked up some food for Zachary and even peeled an apple for him."I grew up in Nelana. I have lung issues, so I’m not really suited to Jeswood’s weather.""This restaurant has been around for almost 100 years. It’s a Nelana specialty. Try this, the apples
At the hospital.After confirming that everything was fine, Zachary immediately went to the airport.Frank glanced at the time. "Leaving overnight?"Zachary nodded, a look of exhaustion between his brows.Frank took Charlotte and left the hospital with him, only to see two cars.He asked, "Is Annie going with you?"Zachary nodded again.Frank was confused. "What kind of game is this?""Let's go."Zachary didn't answer, opened the car door, and bent down to sit inside.After the two cars drove off, Charlotte asked, "Last night, did you interfere too much?"Frank touched his chin. "I shouldn't have...""Shouldn't have what?""Can't I tell who he likes?"The two of them went home to pack and then went to their respective companies.Charlotte noticed that Jane's dark circles under her eyes couldn't even be covered by foundation. She asked, "Did you go clubbing last night?"Jane shook her head. "I couldn't sleep, maybe the jet lag still hasn't passed."Charlotte immediately
But Zachary’s path was different from Frank’s.He couldn’t be as reckless as Frank.Moreover, Frank had been persecuted many times before reaching this point.Zachary clearly had the option of taking a safer route, with no need to take risks.After all, he was her only son."I’ll go greet the guests, you two chat with Zachary."Frank nodded. After watching Rebecca leave, he walked over to Zachary and clinked his glass with his."Congratulations, birthday boy. You’re a year older"Zachary glanced at him. "We’re the same age.""Not the same. I was born a couple of months later than you, so I age a couple of months slower."Zachary had to continue socializing and ignored him.Frank led Charlotte to the lounge area to sit for a while.He brought her some of her favorite snacks.Charlotte had a few drinks and then needed to go to the restroom.Frank accompanied her.Suddenly, a flash of white appeared around the corner.He remembered that Annie was wearing a white gown that
They stayed at the place where the photos were taken for a while, then the group returned to the hotel.Jane suddenly remembered."Her husband is so rich, and she’s rich too, yet she only gave me a 1% discount!"Yasmin smiled and said, "I didn’t even get a discount at all. Giving you 1% off means we must get along well. When she was young, she was raised by her grandfather in the Howard family. But the Howard family is huge, with many rooms, and there were constant power struggles. Later, she married Westley, but he was often absent, and there weren’t many people backing her up. If she hadn’t become famous early on, she might have suffered financially. She wouldn’t touch the Howard family’s money, so being a bit stingy is understandable."Jane tucked her hands into her sleeves. "Maybe we got along so well because we have similar experiences."Charlotte gave Jane a hug. "It’s all in the past now.""Yes, it’s all in the past."After spending five days in St. Penalow, the group ret