"Why didn't you go upstairs to sleep?" Blake asked.Yasmin's face was flushed with sleep. She rubbed her eyes, only then realizing she was in his arms. His body heat warmed her."I was waiting for you to come back for dinner," she said softly.Blake was stunned, his gaze softening. "Fell asleep waiting?""Yeah. You didn't say when you'd be back." She felt a little embarrassed. "You can put me down now."Instead of putting her down, Blake carried her straight to the kitchen. Her bare feet dangled without slippers."Where are your shoes?" Blake asked, setting her on a dining chair."By the sofa."Blake went to fetch her cute little cotton shoes, squatting down to slip them on her feet. "It's getting cold, so remember to wear socks.""Okay," she responded, feeling the warmth of the moment.Blake could be really gentle. If life were just about the day-to-day, he'd be the ideal man—successful and faithful, a real catch.Dinner was already laid out on the table."Let's eat." Blak
"Done." After licking off the milk foam, he felt satisfied and let her go.Yasmin's face turned red. She ran off like a little bunny.Blake laughed. Was she really that shy?After finishing his dinner, he went upstairs to look for her. However, he didn't find her in her room. He called out, "Yasmin.""I'm here." Yasmin poked her head out from the attic, holding a book."What are you doing up there?"Her lips curved into a smile. "This is my secret hideout. Wanna come up?" Yasmin invited him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.Blake wasn't interested in the attic. But seeing her enthusiasm, he didn't refuse and climbed the stairs.Yasmin said gleefully, "Look, my hideout hasn't changed at all."When the house was cleared out, the court forgot the attic. As such, everything there was left untouched.Blake looked around. There was a dressing table, a bookshelf, hundreds of dolls, and many photo albums. Clearly, she grew up surrounded by love. That was why she was so innocent.
"Why? Do you have secrets here that you can't share?" Blake turned to ask her.Yasmin wouldn't say. Her face was flushed a deep red as she pushed him toward the slide. "Anyway, this is my private space. You can't just barge in. Go down the slide, hurry!""I don't want. That's for kids." Blake refused to use the slide."It's convenient. You have no idea how cool my room is. If you climb out the attic window, you land straight in the pool. You can dive straight in from here."Blake was baffled by her room's design. "Your dad wasn't scared you'd fall to your death?"She could climb out to an apricot tree from her room and dive into a pool from the attic. Didn't her dad consider the possibility of an accident when he designed this room?"That's the fun part. What would you know, old man?" Yasmin insisted on him taking the slide down.Blake wouldn't budge. Somehow, they ended up sliding down together. Blake was worried she might fall, so he held her tight.They landed at the bottom,
Yasmin was stunned. Her hands were still around his neck. "Your mom woke up?""Yeah." Blake pulled away her hands. "I need to go to the hospital."Yasmin couldn't describe the feeling in her heart.Blake's mom was awake. Would she push for their divorce again? Now that Blake had agreed to help save her dad, she didn't want to part ways with him.She felt a little upset but knew it wasn't the time for complaints. Thus, she obediently stood up.Blake glanced at her. "Not happy?""No." She shook her head and went to grab his coat for him.As Blake got dressed, he stared at her and asked, "Did Roxy come to apologize today?""No." Yasmin shook her head again."Have you thought about what compensation you want?" She was somewhat distracted when she responded, "What compensation?""She had someone steal your sketches, wasting all your hard work. Have you thought about how much you want from her for the damages?"Yasmin hadn't really considered it. She thought for a moment. "Two
Giselle bit her lower lip. "Weren't you two supposed to get a divorce? How come you're living together now?""We're not getting divorced," Blake replied calmly.Giselle's eyes darkened. She had worked hard caring for Annalise in the hospital, and now he wanted to be with Yasmin? That couldn't happen.She had to make Blake marry her before Annalise got better. Once her child was born, she would lose all leverage. The longer she waited, the slimmer her chances became.When they arrived at the No. 10 villa at Newphoria Bay, Giselle slightly clenched her fists and pretended to twist her ankle as she exited the car."Ah!" She cried out in shock.Blake reacted quickly and grabbed her hand. He looked concerned as he asked, "Are you okay?"Pretending to pass out, Giselle firmly shut her eyes. Thus, Blake's question went unanswered.Blake pressed his lips together, carrying her into the villa.Annie opened the door for him.Blake carried Giselle upstairs, laid her on the bed, and th
When Blake returned, Yasmin was looking at her phone.Hearing someone at the door, she quickly hid her phone under the pillow.Blake opened the door just in time and caught her slipping the phone under the pillow, pretending to sleep. He furrowed his brow and took off his coat. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"Yasmin didn't answer and pretended to be asleep.Blake sighed as he walked toward the coathanger. He removed his shirt and pants, then wore a robe. Approaching the bed, he noticed her red nose."Why have you been crying?" He turned on the night lights to see her face better.Yasmin sniffled and said, "It's nothing.""If it's nothing, why'd you cry?" He thought about what she might have been doing. "What were you looking at on your phone?""Nothing.""Let me see.""No!" She refused, but Blake had already grabbed the phone.Yasmin tried to snatch it back, but Blake flashed the phone in front of her face—unlocking the face ID.She was stunned. "Give it back!"Blake held
Yasmin bit her lip. "Mr. B, if your mom gets better, will she make you marry Giselle?"She didn't want him to marry Giselle, especially since the baby wasn't even his. Why should he be stuck with her?"Do you not want me to?" he asked.Yasmin nodded. "Yeah, I want to be with you."Her words made his heart skip a beat. He pinched her chin and said, "If you don't want a divorce, you'll have to listen to me from now on."He kissed her, his familiar and dominant presence overwhelming her.He was a good kisser. Yasmin quickly got lost in the moment, gently responding while wrapping her arms around his neck.Blake's gaze was so deep, as if it could swallow everything up....The next day, Yasmin came downstairs feeling refreshed.She went to check on Mary, who was making breakfast.When she entered the kitchen, Mary was about to mash some potatoes to go with grilled salmon.Yasmin quickly said, "Mary, don't just serve the mash plain. Mix in some chopped veggies and spices as well
Frowning, Blake asserted, "This is my house. Where else would I be?"He continued, "Now, where were we? Oh right, hiring a lawyer. Roxy, do you really want to go to court?""I..." Roxy faltered, struggling to find the words.Ignoring her presence, Blake reached out and touched Yasmin's head like she was a little cat. "Did you sleep well last night?""It was okay," Yasmin answered. They spoke as if Roxy wasn't there.Inside, Roxy was in turmoil. What's happening? Weren't they supposed to get a divorce? Why do they seem so close?With Blake around, Roxy didn't dare act up. She just stood there, biting her lip in frustration.Blake was about to have breakfast and didn't want to deal with Roxy any longer. He left her with a choice, "Court or five million, you decide."Then, he took Yasmin's hand and went to the dining room.They both sat down. Blake saw the mashed potatoes on the table and raised an eyebrow. "Did you add veggies?"She was always like this, finding ways to make hi
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