Yasmin answered, "How can that be? I checked it before sending it out, and the dress was fine.""The dress we received is damaged. You better come to Giselle's house now to fix it, or she won't have a dress to wear tonight," Roxy snapped before hanging up. She immediately sent Yasmin a photo of the damaged dress.Yasmin took a look. Parts of the lace had been torn, but it was an easy fix.Grabbing her toolbox, Yasmin was about to head out when she remembered she was going to Giselle's birthday banquet. She better dress up, or she might be unable to get in. Digging around, she found a light-colored dress she had designed and put it on. After applying some makeup, she rushed to No. 10, Newphoria Bay.However, when she arrived, she saw someone guarding the entrance.The guard didn't allow her to enter without an invitation.Yasmin bit her lip and dialed Roxy's number, but the latter never picked up.Yasmin's brows furrowed in agitation. Just then, a low voice came from behind
"Sure." Erik agreed without hesitation and turned to leave.Walking past the corridor, he glanced at Yasmin, who was downstairs. However, she didn't notice him. Instead, every man's eyes were trained on her.Feeling uncomfortable, he leaned against the railing and deliberately called out loudly. "Yasmin Starr."Yasmin lifted her head and finally noticed the people on the second floor—including Blake. The man was resting against the railing as he regarded her from above. Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn't say anything."You're here, our darling Yasmin!" Joel leaned over the railing with a glass of wine in his hand, his lips curved into a lazy grin."Don't call me that," Yasmin retorted calmly. "I'm just used to it," Joel pouted. "Why don't you invite Mr. Burke up for a drink?"Yasmin glanced at Ivan.The man replied, "Sure."However, Yasmin didn't want to go upstairs. She wasn't here for them tonight, so she whispered to Ivan, "Why don't you go, Mr. Burke? I need to fi
However, they didn't go to their usual spot. Instead, she was led to a small garden.Yasmin had just sat down when she heard some footsteps. She looked up and saw Blake slowly walking toward her, his tall figure casting a shadow over her."What do you want?" Yasmin studied him. Blake stood before her, blocking the light above her head. "Your life sure is exciting, Ms. Starr. Yesterday, it was Erik; today, it's Mr. Burke. You never fail to surprise me."Yasmin frowned.Blake never said anything nice.Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Well, it has nothing to do with you."Yasmin tried to leave, but the man grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.Infuriated, she snapped, "What are you doing, Blake? Did you call me over just so you could humiliate me?"Grabbing ahold of her chin, Blake peered down at her coldly. "Didn't you say I was your sponsor earlier? Well, in that case, shouldn't you be hoping to see me? So, why are you unhappy?""Who likes to be humiliated?" Yasmin was furio
Just then, the door swung open."I brought you your clothes, Erik." Roxy said. But then, what followed was a scream. "Erik, Yasmin, what are you two doing?"Blake had been standing a distance away, and his body froze when he heard this.He then pushed past several women and saw what was happening in the room—Yasmin was on top of Erik, while Erik wore only a towel around himself.After just one look, Blake's glare turned venomous.Yasmin was silently panicking and was about to explain when Roxy rushed over and tugged at her dress. "What are you doing here, Yasmin? Didn't I tell you that Giselle's room is at the end of the corridor? What are you doing in Erik's room? And both of you were… were…"Roxy pretended to hesitate, as though she found it hard to finish her sentence.Meanwhile, the women in the room were already wearing disdainful expressions."Look at what the daughter of the Starr family's like, trying to seduce a man at Giselle's birthday banquet!""How shameless!"
Yasmin was utterly disappointed.After all, it was difficult to change other people's perception of someone once they develop a fixed impression of the other person.Meanwhile, Blake stood outside and quietly listened to what Yasmin had to say. Things did seem too coincidental to be true. Suddenly, as Blake was about to enter the room, a group of men approached him."What are you doing here, Blake?" Joel called out and walked over to peer into the room. "What's going on? What's with the crowd?"Ivan was also among the group of men. He spotted Yasmin standing on one side of the room while the group of women stood on the other side. Immediately, he could sense that Yasmin was being isolated.His expression turned dark as he walked over to stand next to Yasmin. "What's going on?" he asked.Roxy lit up when she saw Ivan and began recounting to him an exaggerated version of what had happened. After listening to her, Ivan turned to Erik and asked, "Is that really what happene
Yasmin calmly looked at Giselle, who was hiding among the crowd.Seeing Giselle's pale expression, Yasmin immediately knew that this incident had something to do with her.The fact was, there was no way Giselle would ever wear something Yasmin designed. So, everything had been a setup, even from when Giselle first ordered the dress.However, Giselle was smart enough to make others do the dirty work for her while she hid behind the scenes. That way, if things went wrong, she'd be able to escape unscathed.This was why she could walk away like nothing happened this time, but the same couldn't be said for Roxy. Roxy's face kept paling as she sensed the astonished gazes being cast on her. She felt completely humiliated!Her embarrassment quickly turned to rage, and her first reaction was to slap Yasmin.However, a pot of cactus suddenly came soaring and hit her in the center of the forehead, causing her to bleed instantly. "Aargh!" Roxy shrieked. She spun around in a daze and saw
Meanwhile, Erik was struggling to accept the truth.All this while, he had thought that Giselle was a smart and reasonable woman. He never expected her to do something like this just to destroy Yasmin.If her plan had succeeded tonight, Yasmin's reputation in high society would have been ruined. And as a result, his connection to Yasmin would be bound together forever as well."I didn't!" Giselle looked anguished as tears filled her eyes. "I didn't do anything. I don't know why something like this had to happen and ruin my birthday banquet. "I didn't even get the chance to play the piano or dance with Blake, yet he's already left with Yasmin."Giselle was hoping that her words would hint at Yasmin having seduced Blake.However, Erik quickly noticed something else—Blake's relationship with Yasmin wasn't what Giselle had told him it was like. Yasmin didn't seduce Blake. On the contrary, Blake seemed to care for her more than she did him.Erik suddenly felt like a fool, and
Yasmin replied, "I said I didn't. I didn't have an invitation letter when I arrived. "I just happened to bump into Ivan, and he brought me in with him."Blake stayed silent, but his motions were gentler as he applied the ointment to her blisters. But this was something that he himself didn't even realize. "A man like him doesn't suit you," Blake finally said."I think he's quite nice." Yasmin didn't like hearing Blake talk badly about Ivan, so she stood up for him and said, "Take tonight for example—he stood up for me and questioned Roxy without ever doubting me.""That's because he wants to sleep with you!" Blake's actions became harsh again.Instantly, Yasmin's brows furrowed as she hissed in pain.Blake then examined her injuries, his expression only returning to normal when he saw that they didn't seem serious. Then, he calmly said, "Nobody treats someone so well for no reason.""I think you just don't like him," Yasmin replied."Isn't that normal?" Blake snorted. "H
Pamela thought that Yasmin's voice sounded strange, but since Yasmin was an important client, she didn't dare offend her.Politely, she replied, "It's okay. Please take your time.""Alright, please leave for now. I'll look for you once I'm finished here," Yasmin said in a strained voice."Okay." Pamela left soon after.Once she was gone, Yasmin awkwardly tapped Blake's shoulder. "Alright, stop it. You almost got us caught just now."Blake was now satisfied. A man who had been sated was no longer as surly. He became shockingly gentle, wrapping his arms around her waist and saying, "Join me for dinner later.""Okay," Yasmin weakly agreed. "Please let me go now."Blake finally released his hold on her. Yasmin's legs felt like jelly, and she nearly stumbled as soon as he let go.He steadied her and looked down at the torn train of the wedding dress. The front, however, still looked fine. He smiled and said, "You still look beautiful in the wedding dress."Yasmin glanced at the mir
Blake didn't respond, choosing instead to stare at Yasmin. She had just removed the tiara, letting her long hair cascade over her left shoulder. This brought attention to her fair skin and made her appear as if she was an otherworldly beauty.No wonder Ivan had been mesmerized earlier. A woman in a wedding dress truly possessed a sacred kind of elegance.Blake's gaze traveled down to her chest. She looked exquisite, but something was missing—the ring. His face darkened as he asked, "Where's the ring?""I took it off when I was trying on the wedding dress. I put it in my bag," Yasmin replied. She turned around to retrieve it for him.Maybe it was the way the wedding dress hugged her slender figure, or the graceful way she bent down to pick up the ring, her hips subtly lifting. Either way, the movement exuded an undeniable allure.Blake suddenly felt an overwhelming urge rise from within him. He walked up behind her and placed his hands on her waist as if possessed.Yasmin froze
Ivan sneered in response. "Oh? Do you want to come over and have a drink at the wedding?""There's no need for a wedding toast, but I'll send you a nice little gift soon. You've had Lizzie abducted, and I haven't settled that score yet." Blake's tone was cold and menacing.Still, Ivan wasn't afraid. He took a couple of steps forward, smirking as he said, "Feel free to try—but you should think it through. You have more loved ones than I do. "Besides your mother and Lizzie, there's also your grandmother. I could blow up your mother's hospital today, kidnap Lizzie tomorrow, and have your grandmother killed the day after."Blake's cold laughter came through the phone. "Is that so? Well then, I guess I need to send you a big gift today."The two men continued their exchange from a distance. Yasmin, who was unable to hear the conversation clearly, was trembling with fear. She was terrified of what they might be discussing.It was at this moment when Wendy hurried in from outside. She
Yasmin stepped into the fitting room and changed into the wedding dress. When she emerged, her long hair was elegantly pinned up, and her red lips were vibrant. It made her look breathtakingly beautiful.Ivan saw her and was momentarily stunned. His gaze was unwavering as he stared wide-eyed. Then, he caught himself and smiled. "Yasmin, you look stunning."She gave a slight smile in response, adding to her allure.Ivan was almost entranced. He picked up a crystal-encrusted tiara from nearby and placed it on her head. She glanced upward, her eyes sparkling as she stood there in the white wedding dress. She looked absolutely mesmerizing, and Ivan couldn't take his eyes off her.Meanwhile, Blake watched from across the street with a growing sense of jealousy. The sight of them together made him smirk cynically. Unable to contain himself, he pulled out his phone and called Yasmin.He didn't want to see them looking so perfect together. It irritated him to no end.When Yasmin's ph
Yasmin's heart ached as she listened, her eyes reddening. "You're doing great, Trist. If Mom were with you right now, I'd definitely give you a big hug."Tristan mumbled, "Mom, stop acting like it's the end of the world. You sound so sentimental. I'm doing just fine here. I've got friends to play with and plenty of household staff members to look after me. "You just take care of yourself in Merania, and do whatever you need to do. Once you're in Rimmervale, we'll see each other again."Yasmin nodded. "Yes, we'll see each other very soon."Just then, the door swung open, and there Ivan stood in the doorway. Yasmin jumped in surprise and instinctively ended the video call."Why are you crying?" Ivan asked, noticing her red eyes.Yasmin wiped her tears and smiled. "It's nothing. I just miss Trist."Ivan understood that being a mother made Yasmin emotional whenever she thought about her child. He then asked, "By the way, how was Trist's winter camp? When is he coming back?"Feelin
Yasmin huffed in exasperation. "I just stole his proposal a few days ago, and now he's starting to get suspicious. If I tell him I don't want to take wedding photos, he'll be on to me for sure. If he gets suspicious, my plan will be completely ruined."Blake remained silent on the other end of the line.Yasmin sighed and continued, "It's really not a big deal. This is the last thing I need to do with him. The wedding is in seven days—it'll all be over by then.""When are the wedding photos being taken?" Blake asked.Yasmin hesitated before answering, "Didn't I already tell you? The day after tomorrow, in the afternoon."Blake only replied with a simple, "It's late. Go to sleep." Then, he ended the call.Yasmin could tell he was not all too pleased, but she really didn't want to stir up more trouble than necessary. There were just seven more days to go—Yasmin wanted to get through the final spurt safely and smoothly.…On the day of the wedding dress fitting, Yasmin was having b
Yasmin had no idea what Ivan would do to her if he learned the truth. She feared that if she angered him, he might lock her up somewhere no one would ever find her."I did that because my grandma suggested it to me," Yasmin explained."Your grandma knows about all of this?" Blake asked."Of course. Do you think someone as sharp as her wouldn't notice that every time you visited, we disappeared for hours? She figured it out a long time ago and asked me what was going on between us.""So, you told her everything about us?""Yes, she knows we've reconciled. I even planted a listening device on Ivan. We're hoping to acquire evidence of his illegal activities." Yasmin nodded as she spoke."Did your grandma suggest that to you too?"Yasmin replied briefly, "Yes."Blake let out a soft laugh. "Your grandma is quite the master of strategies.""She really is," Yasmin agreed with a smile. But seconds later, her expression grew serious. "Blake, there's something I need to tell you.""Wha
Yasmin's face turned pale as she realized the extent of the surveillance at the Burke residence."Can the surveillance footage from the study be deleted?" Yasmin asked at the time.The housekeeper shook her head. "It can't be deleted. The surveillance is linked to Mr. Burke's computer. His computer is password-protected, and only he has access to it."Yasmin's heart sank at the news. She knew that once Blake made his move to sabotage Ivan's project, Ivan would inevitably discover that she was involved.Hence, she had already discussed a plan with Imogen to handle the situation. Although the process had been nerve-wracking, everything had gone smoothly. Ivan seemed to believe her explanation.With the project now in jeopardy, Ivan would likely need additional funding, which meant it was unlikely that he would call off the engagement. Yasmin assured herself that Ivan wouldn't do anything drastic to her—not when he needed money from Sander International.After seeing Ivan off, Yasmi
Ivan gently touched Yasmin's face and said softly, "Forget it. Four years ago, you did wrong by him. It's understandable that he threatened you. But don't worry, I've already forced him back to Stanton City."Soon, I'll deal with everyone who has wronged you. I'll make him miserable and ensure he has no time to harass you."Yasmin stared at him in surprise. "Ivo, what are you going to do to those people?""I won't let a single person who hurt you get away with it. However they treated you, I'll make sure they experience the same," Ivan said, his eyes dark with resolve.Yasmin took a deep breath, unable to find the right words.Ivan seemed to realize that his current expression was too grim. He softened his demeanor and asked with a forced smile, "Let me see what you bought for me."Yasmin quickly snapped back to attention and began showing him the gifts she had purchased. Since she had never bought him anything before, Ivan looked somewhat dazed as he looked at the gifts.He pic