The Times Group remains silent on the circulating rumors of Ryan and Bonnie's engagement, fueling speculation and leading everyone, including Ryan's own staff, to believe it's true. This silence puts Eudora in a precarious position within the company. Everyone knows she was Ryan's “bedding” assistant. With his impending marriage, Eudora is now seen as a discarded relic. A sparrow can't become a phoenix, and if she doesn't find a way out quickly, she'll be left vulnerable to the wrath of the true phoenix.The change in her colleagues' attitude towards Eudora is palpable. Whispers and snide remarks follow her, and even basic courtesy seems to have vanished from their interactions, replaced by a condescending air.Vivian, in particular, has become increasingly hostile. The worst incident happened today. While Eudora is making copies for Ryan, Vivian storms over and, in front of everyone, flings a stack of papers at her face.Eudora instinctively ducks, the papers hitting her head and sc
Back in his office, Ryan's still holding onto Eudora's hand. He sees her looking at him, and a little smile plays on his lips. There's a kind of warmth in his eyes.“What are you staring at?” he asks.Eudora snaps out of it. She blushes and looks away. “Nothing... nothing,” she mumbles.After a beat, she says, “About what happened... thanks. I mean, firing Vivian like that... was that really necessary? She's actually really good at her job.”Ryan raises an eyebrow. He leans in a little and says, “You're trying to get me to take her back?”Eudora hesitates. She shakes her head slowly. Vivian's been a real pain in the neck for a long time. Eudora's pretty good at taking things, but she's not stupid. She's not going to let Vivian walk all over her. Still, she reminds Ryan,“Look, I just want you to see the whole picture. That way, if you end up regretting this, you can't blame me.”He raises an eyebrow, giving her a smirk that isn't quite a smile. “And who else would it be but you?
Ryan, with his amazing background, incredible skills, and successful career, is basically every girl's dream guy. He'd be the perfect son-in-law, too.Bonnie, she grew up with everything handed to her. She's used to getting her way, so she thinks she's pretty amazing. From the start, she couldn't imagine Ryan turning down a perfect catch like her. After all, marriage isn't just about dating, right? There's a lot more to it. And in this city, who else has her kind of family, looks, and education? Sure, she partied a lot in college, but she still got her degree, so she's got that going for her.But when she sees how Ryan is acting, she has to ask,“Don't you care about upsetting my family by doing this?”“That's a false rumor. There's no reason to be offended if I just clear things up.”“But I'm the bride's side. No matter what, I'm the one who'll get hurt the most. Are you determined to make me lose face for a cheap hooker from a nightclub?”Ryan's eyes are ice-cold, his face is grim,
Bonnie is fuming. The busy tone on the phone is driving her nuts. She's the baby of the family, the apple of her dad's eye, always getting her way. But today, everything is going wrong, and her dad isn't even on her side. It feels like the world is against her. She's so frustrated and upset, she just needs to throw a tantrum at someone.Right now, a random number pops up on her phone. After a second thought, she picks up.A young woman's voice comes through,“Hey, you're Ryan's fiancée, right?” Bonnie doesn't know why, but instead of saying no, she just mumbles, “Uh-huh.”“I'm an old friend of Ryan's. I know something about him that you might want to hear.”Bonnie raises an eyebrow, intrigued but not buying it. “Who are you, and why should I believe you?”There's a pause on the other end, like the caller is thinking it over. Finally, she says, “My name is Clenda Lynne, and I used to be close with Ryan. I know he's not going to marry you. He's still hung up on someone else.”Bonnie's
The party is over, Ryan leans back against the headboard, satisfied. His hand gently caresses Eudora's bareback, savoring the silky smooth feel of her skin. He feels that if he could have a cigar now, it would be no different from being in heaven. But he remembers that Eudora dislikes the smell of cigarettes, so he holds back his cravings.He asks, “What were you thinking about in the kitchen earlier? You were so lost in thought, I was there for a while and you didn't even notice.”Eudora has been so well-behaved today, he feels like he should show off a little. If she wants something, he can indulge her, as a reward.Eudora's hands unconsciously grip the blanket, revealing her tension and anxiety. She has heard that men are more open to talking after they have been satisfied. Perhaps…She hesitates for a long time, finally whispering, “Ryan, could you lend me some money? I'll pay you back as soon as I can.”Ryan asks, “How much?”She mentally calculates the cost of surgery, hospital
The night has passed. Eudora is still in a daze, her mind replaying Ryan's insults.She doesn't know whether to hate him or be grateful. Every time she feels herself getting lost in his fake sweetness, he crushes her fantasies with cold hard facts, pulling her back to reality, reminding her that she is just a cheap hooker, trading her body for money.Ryan is incredibly possessive. Could he really be willing to trade her to another man? If so, after tonight, will he just abandon her again, like he did seven years ago? Worse, will she become some kind of object he constantly passes around to others?With his cold and distant attitude, she can't bring herself to ask if his words were just a moment of anger or the truth. And what about… her daughter's surgery money?Ryan, of course, notices Eudora's anxiety, but he doesn't care and keeps assigning her tasks as usual.Around three in the afternoon, as Eudora is about to be consumed by her jumbled thoughts, Ryan approaches her, breaking the
Ryan takes Eudora to an upscale French restaurant housed within a five-star hotel.A middle-aged man is already waiting for them. Tall and impeccably dressed, his suit fits him well, preventing him from appearing too thin. His features are unremarkable, giving off an air of kindness and approachability. Though his hair is jet black and styled with care, it couldn't hide the fact that he is well past fifty.Eudora can't shake the feeling of disappointment as she steals glances at her tonight's client. It's inevitable, her life as a hooker is about to begin.Liam Hemsworth, despite being older, is surprisingly warm towards Ryan. When Ryan introduces the beautiful girl beside him as his secretary, Liam doesn't pry further and even seems to hold her in higher regard. Their conversation flows easily, focusing mainly on their upcoming business collaboration. Eudora occasionally chimes in when spoken to, but mostly she remains silent, a decorative presence.She is also quite confused. The da
The sun blazes high in the sky, but Eudora is still waking up. It takes her a few moments to focus, the aches in her body slowly pulling her back from the fog of sleep. She remembers the night before, tangled with Ryan's business partner until the early hours. Even though the alcohol muddled her memories, the bits and pieces that remain are enough to make her want to disappear.In the past, Eudora could have convinced herself, and others, that it was just Ryan all along. It wouldn't have changed anything, but the thought could have salvaged her pride, sparing her the torment of feeling like a cheap hooker, sleeping with anyone for money. But now, the last scraps of her self-respect are gone. Shame and humiliation choke her, making her chest feel like it's about to explode.She looks up at the sky, trying to hold back the tears. What's the point? This was her choice, right from the start! All she wants now is to get the money and help her daughter get well. She hopes her little girl w
Donna slept like a log. When she finally woke up, her parents were gone. She looked everywhere, but the only room she hadn't checked was her dad's, and it was closed. Just as she was about to knock, the butler stopped her. He put a finger to his lips and whispered, “Your parents just got home from the hospital. They're still really tired and need to rest.”Donna wasn't buying it. She pouted and said, “But I wanna play with them!” “You can play with me,” the butler said. “Come downstairs, the chef made pudding for you today.” Hearing about the pudding, Donna forgot her parents for a minute and ran off to find the chef.“Slow down, honey, no running on the stairs!” the butler called, his old legs struggling to keep up with Donna's little legs.Inside the bedroom, Eudora lay face down on the bed, panting, “I… I think Donna is calling for us.”Ryan covered her, his body relentlessly moving. He seemed frustrated by her distraction and increased his speed, forcing her to bury her face i
The luxurious car pulled up in front of the grand mansion. Ryan stepped out, his face beaming. One arm was still wrapped in a brace, while the other held tightly onto Eudora’s hand. Together, they walked inside, exuding the confidence of a warrior returning from a glorious victory.“Dad! Mom!” Donna squealed with joy and ran over to hug them tightly.Today was the day Ryan was discharged from the hospital, a cause for celebration. The chef took the chance to show off his skills, preparing a meal that had everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves.After lunch, Donna could barely keep her eyes open. She had been so excited about her parents coming home that she stayed up late at night and woke up early to wait for them. Now, completely worn out, she dozed off on the sofa without anyone needing to lull her to sleep.Eudora carried her to her room, but as she stepped back out, Ryan called her over.“Come check my back. It’s itching like crazy!”She sighed and followed him, grumbling as she
While Ryan and Eudora's relationship was growing stronger and his health was recovering smoothly, Clenda was still facing her sentence.Despite the overwhelming evidence against her, Clenda admitted her guilt and also exposed Bonnie's illegal actions.Although it all started with Clenda, who actively approached Bonnie and urged her to harm Eudora, the plan failed, and Clenda became the target of Bonnie's revenge. From a cause-and-effect perspective, Clenda brought this upon herself, but legally, Bonnie had committed crimes such as rape, coercion, blackmail, and defamation, and she had to face the consequences.When Bonnie's father heard the news, he was completely shocked. This time, he refused to step in and help Bonnie cover things up. His daughter had gone too far, and it was time for her to learn a lesson. If he continued to protect her, she would never grow up. More importantly, he couldn't bear Ryan's retaliation.Eudora, hearing Ryan's account, felt a mix of emotions. “Evil wil
He smirked. “I mean, I don’t need the medicine. A kiss from you will do the trick.”As he spoke, he lifted his head, looking at Eudora with hopeful eyes. Over the past half-month, their relationship had improved a lot, but because of his injuries, and his fear of pushing too fast and making her uncomfortable, they had only held hands so far.Eudora’s face heated up. They had been much more intimate before, knew each other’s bodies better than anyone. But now, faced with Ryan’s simple request, she found herself feeling strangely shy.“Can’t do it?” he asked.Under Ryan’s pleading gaze, she lowered her head and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, light as a butterfly’s touch, there for a second before flitting away.Ryan was momentarily stunned, then looked at her again, eyes full of longing, clearly wanting more.Eudora chuckled. “Feeling better now?”He shook his head. “You kissed the wrong spot. It still hurts,” he said, pointing to his lips.She shot him a look and huffed, “You have
Ryan woke up to a stark white ceiling above him, the faint scent of antiseptic in the air reminding him that he was in a hospital.A sharp pain hit him all at once, making him groan in agony. But he didn’t have time to care about that. His first thought was: How is Eudora?Ralph was sitting by his bedside. Seeing Ryan wake up, he immediately pressed the call button for the doctor.“Where’s Eudora? How is she?” Ryan asked anxiously.“She’s resting in the room next door,” Ralph replied. “She stayed here the whole time. I had to convince her to get some sleep. She’s only been resting for about an hour.”“Is she okay?” Ryan pressed on.“She inhaled a lot of smoke. Luckily, her lungs weren’t affected, but she’s still coughing. The doctors said they need to keep an eye on her for now.”Hearing that, Ryan felt somewhat relieved.Just then, a team of medical staff entered to check on him. After confirming that everything was stable, the doctor gave a few instructions before leaving.The momen
Thick smoke billowed, and the scorching heat felt like it was searing Ryan’s lungs. But he didn’t care, he was willing to risk everything to find the woman he loved.“Eudora, where are you? Answer me!”His desperate voice cut through the chaos, making Eudora wonder if she was imagining things. She forced her stinging eyes open, trying to focus, and rasped weakly,“I’m here, Ryan… I’m here… cough… cough… cough…”As soon as she spoke, she was overcome by another fit of coughing.Through the thick smoke, Ryan finally caught sight of Eudora tied tightly to the staircase railing near the window. His heart clenched, and without hesitation, he dashed toward her.“Don’t be scared, I’m here!”His voice was hoarse but filled with warmth. Eudora looked up in anticipation, and through the suffocating smoke, she saw his tall figure cutting through the haze, framed by the raging flames behind him. At that moment, only one thought filled her mind - he was her hero.Ryan’s mind was far from calm, des
Eudora knew that in Clenda’s state of complete rage, reasoning with her was pointless. All she could do was keep trying to calm her down,“Clenda, please, just take a breath. We can talk this through. I don’t know exactly what happened between you and Bonnie, but if you let me go, I swear Ryan will help you. You have my word on that.”“Clenda, we’re both young. We have our whole lives ahead of us. Don’t throw yours away like this.”But Clenda wasn’t listening. Instead, she lashed out and slapped Eudora again, her eyes wild and furious like a cornered animal. She screamed,“You think this isn’t your fault?! When you put all that stuff online, did you even stop to think about what would happen to me?! I’ve lost everything, there’s no way to fix it anymore! You’re dying with me! I’m not going alone!”Eudora shook her head. The burning pain on her face was nothing compared to the fear tightening in her chest. She didn’t want to die. She had a daughter, a career that was just starting, and
“Come on, don’t cry. This is a good thing,” Ryan said gently.Eudora sniffled and took the handkerchief he handed her, quickly wiping her tears.“I’m okay, just a little emotional.”Ryan gave her a soft look. “Don’t worry, no one’s going to steal your credit anymore.”Eudora glanced at him with a complicated expression, then quickly looked away, avoiding his gaze. Ryan knew he had to take things slow and keep a little distance.“You’re going out with your team tonight, right?”Eudora nodded.“What time are you leaving?”“Around five.”“I’ll drive you.”Eudora shook her head. “No, stay home with our daughter. We’re just eating nearby.”Ryan nodded but still reminded her, “If you’re driving, don’t drink, okay?”“Of course not. I’ll be home early to spend time with her. I’ve been so busy this past month, I haven’t given her enough attention.”That night, Eudora and her entire team from the Couture Étoile competition had a blast celebrating. Wanting to show her appreciation, she generousl
Eudora washed her face and changed her clothes before heading straight to the dining room to have a meal with Ryan. She didn’t have the habit of using her phone while eating, so it wasn’t until after lunch that she realized the internet had erupted into a frenzy.She stared at her phone, mouth agape, for a long moment. Eudora could hardly believe it, within the span of a single meal, Clenda’s reputation had been completely dragged through the mud.“Oh my god, not a single design in the entire collection belongs to Clenda!” she exclaimed in shock.Sitting beside her, Ryan appeared relaxed, as if everything was well within his control.“You already know what she’s capable of and what kind of person she is, don’t you?” he said casually.Eudora looked up at him, hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Was it you?”Ryan neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply said, “She brought this on herself.”Only then did Eudora recall what had happened to her the night before.“How did you manage to