Ivan was straightforward. After removing the energy crystal from his neck, he took out a gift box, saying, "I can return this energy crystal to you, Ms. Starr, but I hope you'll accept my gift in return.""Huh?" Yasmin was puzzled. "That was your birthday present. Why do you have a present for me?""I'm not used to accepting gifts from people. And if I do, I need to give them something in return." Ivan opened the gift box in his hand.Inside, there was also an energy crystal inside, but this crystal was fixed onto a diamond-studded chain.Without missing a beat, Ivan said, "I specially chose this return gift for you after you gave me that energy crystal. You won't reject my gift, will you, Ms. Starr?"Yasmin couldn't refuse him, so she accepted the gift and said, "Alright then, we'll exchange presents. Thank you, Mr. Burke."The most important thing was that she had her energy crystal back. But she still hadn't expected to receive a diamond-studded energy crystal in exchange fo
Yasmin slowly entered the ward and saw Annalise, her beautiful face pallid and sunken. No wonder Blake was upset after returning from the hospital—Annalise's condition didn't look favorable.Meanwhile, Annalise was undergoing a transfusion when Yasmin entered. "Come sit down," she said gently.Yasmin complied.Annalise looked at the needle at the back of her palm and said softly, "The test results came out today. The situation doesn't look good, and I may need to go for surgery within these two days."Yasmin nodded. She knew that Annalise had more to say, so she quietly listened. "I heard you've been back at Oak Garden these past two days?" Annalise asked.When Yasmin heard this, a shiver ran down her back as she looked at her mother-in-law.So, Annalise knew everything that had been going on.Then, Annalise said lightly, "Are you afraid that I'll suddenly die and won't be able to help you clear your father's name?"Yasmin shook her head. "No, Anna, I've never thought of th
Giselle now had a hold over Yasmin.But Yasmin looked down and coolly said, "It's not that I don't want to divorce him. The one-month cooling period isn't up yet."There were ten more days left until the cooling period ended.Giselle nodded. "I know this. But could you move out of Oak Garden? Don't stay there anymore. If Anna knew this, she wouldn't be able to bear it."Giselle was now using Annalise to threaten Yasmin.She implied that if Yasmin refused and anything happened to Annalise because of it, it would be Yasmin's fault.Giselle was really taking things to the extreme.Yasmin croaked, "Ms. Giselle, can you return the bag you're holding to me?""Huh?" Giselle was stunned and slightly puzzled. "Why do you suddenly want this bag?""Blake wants me to return the money for the bag to him because I sold the bag to you, Ms. Giselle." Yasmin explained, "I now owe him nearly 400 thousand dollars, and I can't leave Oak Garden until I pay off my debt to him."If you want me to l
The elevator doors opened to reveal a tall figure standing inside—it was Erik, and he was dressed in hospital clothes. He was stunned. "Yasmin?" "Why are you here?" Yasmin questioned him. Erik bit his lip. "Blake beat me up at Oak Garden that day. He fractured my rib, so I had to stay in the hospital."Yasmin never expected Blake to be so ruthless. But Erik deserved the beating, so Yasmin didn't feel sorry for him."You came to see Aunt Anna?" Erik asked.Yasmin nodded. "How did you know?""I came to see Aunt Anna too. We're at the same hospital, so I came upstairs to see her." Upon receiving the news that Annalise was due for surgery, Erik had decided to visit her. "You go ahead and see Anna then. I'm leaving now," Yasmin said.But just as she was about to walk into the elevator, Erik suddenly pressed the button to keep the elevator doors open.He wanted to apologize, but he couldn't bring himself to."Yes?" Yasmin stood inside the elevator and frowned at him."Nothing
"Why did you come back with him?" Blake pulled Yasmin into an embrace."I went to ask him for the energy crystal today. Then, he sent me back." Yasmin felt sad and lightly pushed Blake away, wanting to escape his hold.But Blake didn't allow it and hugged her tighter. He then rested his chin on her head and said, "Did you get the energy crystal back?"Yasmin hummed in reply.When Blake heard this, his mood significantly improved. That was more like it.He then held Yasmin's hand and led her into the dining room. "Mary cooked your favorite dishes."But Yasmin didn't reply despite the spread of her favorite food on the dining table."Mr. B, have you had dinner?" she asked in a low voice as she looked at all the dishes on the table."I was waiting for you."Yasmin nodded. Her voice was soft as she said, "Okay. Let's eat together then."It would be their last meal together.Yasmin sat down and put the bag on the table beside her.Blake glanced at her questioningly and frown
Yasmin didn't answer. Blake's breathing became heavy as he lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Tell me.""Yes," Yasmin looked into his eyes and admitted.Blake's face darkened. "What do you think?"Yasmin was quiet for a while before she coolly said, "I want to leave you."Blake had a horrifying gaze as he asked, "Are you serious?"Yasmin nodded. "Yes, I'm serious about this.""Don't you feel sad to leave?" he asked.Yasmin bit her lip. She didn't want to leave, but it was useless for her to feel that way. Besides, Giselle was pregnant, and her father was waiting for her in prison—her only choice was to give up. So, she said, "I've said so before—I've made up my mind to not love you anymore."Blake was taken aback, and his face instantly paled.Yasmin then seized the opportunity to push him away. Then, she grabbed her bag and ran away.Blake realized what was happening and quickly stepped over with his long legs to catch her. But in the process, he acciden
Yasmin wanted Blake to thoroughly hate her, so she steeled herself and said, "Yes, I've fallen in love with him and want to be with him.""You're so stubborn." Blake's gaze was cold. "Then what about you?" Yasmin looked at him, stone-faced. "Why are you still keeping me here now that you've made Giselle pregnant? "Is it because you can't sleep with her while she's pregnant? You only want to keep me here because you want someone to sleep with, don't you?""No," Blake denied it.Yasmin was stunned. "You mean you've fallen in love with me?"Blake's eyes conveyed a lot of emotions. But just as Yasmin thought he was about to admit it, he instead chose to stay silent. After a few seconds of silence, Yasmin's heart turned cold. She laughed bitterly and said, "Since you don't love me, let go of me. I want to leave."This time, Blake didn't object. He released Yasmin and sat on the bed in a daze.Yasmin smoothed out her clothes while Blake silently sat on the bed, lonely as a grav
Almost immediately, Blake's phone rang at that moment.It was Giselle calling. "Blake, your mom wants to see you. She isn't feeling well."Blake glanced at the woman quietly leaning against the windowsill, still lost in thought. But eventually, he decided not to approach her and went to the hospital instead.At the hospital, when Blake opened the door, he saw Giselle massaging Annalise's abdomen. Annalise's face was pale, and she seemed to be in a terrible condition."Mom, are you okay?" Blake sat down and held his mother's hand.Annalise weakly patted his hand back, saying, "I've been having more stomach pains lately. I don't think I'll last much longer."Blake's expression was somber as he consoled her, "Don't be silly. Medicine has improved tremendously by now. You'll be as good as new once the surgery is done.""Stop lying to me. They're going to perform a total gastrectomy on me this time. Even if the surgery is successful, I'll only have a year or two left. But if it f