Ivan must still be in Merania. She couldn't reach him. Then, she tried to call Erik.At the time, Erik was in the president's office at Windmere Group. Blake had asked him to come.Blake was leaning against a long table, looking down at him. His every move radiated prestige.Erik glanced at his vibrating phone but didn't answer the call, turning it off and asking, "Blake, why did you ask me here?"Blake stood with one hand in his pocket. He said indifferently, "I asked you here to tell you to stop contacting Yasmin privately.""Why?"Blake adjusted his collar, revealing a noticeable hickey. He deliberately showed it to Erik. "We've made up. She's my woman."Erik saw the hickey, feeling a little sour. He hadn't expected them to reconcile. Still, he wasn't ready to give up. "What about Giselle? She's carrying your child. How do you plan to deal with her? Do you want to have them both?""Giselle's child isn't mine," Blake told him honestly. "I want you to keep this a secret."
"Erik, what are you doing?" A chilly voice came from the door.Erik's face froze.Blake walked in from outside. His handsome face carried a hint of cool detachment.Yasmin subconsciously felt guilty, but she couldn't explain why. Perhaps it was because Erik had just held her hand, and she wasn't sure if Blake had seen it."Didn't I make myself clear enough this afternoon?" Blake's gaze fell on Erik.Erik stayed silent for a moment, then left without saying anything.Yasmin watched him leave and felt confused."Done watching?" Blake's voice was cold.Yasmin snapped back to reality and asked, "What did you say to him this afternoon?""Nothing much."Blake didn't want to tell her much of what happened. He sat in the swivel chair and pulled her into a hug. His legs were long and robust.Yasmin felt awkward sitting on his lap. "Stop it. Our office has glass walls. The employees downstairs can see.""I'm just hugging you. I'm not doing anything."Indeed, he wasn't doing anything
The waitress noted their food order and left the private room.Not long after, Giselle walked into the room and called out, "Blake." Wearing a pink skirt, she said with a smile, "I was at a business meeting next door. After hearing that you're here, I decided to swing by."Giselle then took a seat.Yasmin glanced at Giselle, noticing the pink skirt that resembled her usual outfit.Blake had seemingly noticed it as well. He furrowed his brows. "Why are you wearing pink?""I'm just trying it out. Does it look good on me?" Giselle asked expectantly."You're getting old. I don't think it fits you," Blake replied indifferently.Yasmin could hardly hold her laughter. Giselle was Blake's classmate, and she was 30 years old. It wasn't particularly unusual for her not to be married at her age, but she was no longer considered young.Upon hearing this remark, the smile on Giselle's face stiffened. She complained flirtatiously, "You shouldn't ask a woman for her age, you know? How c
"This child may not be Blake's, but what about the next one?" Giselle inched closer to Yasmin. Her gaze turned hostile. "Yasmin, put yourself in my shoes. After getting pregnant, your first love asked you to give birth to the child, claiming that he would be responsible for it."But he runs away from the responsibility a few months later. What would you do?"Yasmin's face turned ashen.Giselle uttered softly, "But Blake's a responsible man. I believe he wouldn't give up on the child. I can prove it to you if you don't trust me."Yasmin didn't believe the sly Giselle. She reminded herself not to trust Giselle and proceeded to leave.However, Giselle refused to let her go. Her eyes turned cold, and she grabbed her wrist. "Yasmin, stay here. Let me prove to you how much Blake cares for me and my child.""Let go of me!" Yasmin tried to shake her off.Yasmin was aware that Giselle was pregnant. Getting too close to her would get her into trouble—but it was too late. Giselle held
Summer gestured and stopped the crowd. "Sorry, everyone. Taking photos of others without consent is a violation of rights."On the other hand, Ivan was already taking Yasmin out of the mall. They made their way to the exit swiftly.When Yasmin finally looked up, she saw a wide back. By then, Ivan had led her into his car, closing the windows to shut off the outside noises."What happened?" Ivan asked Yasmin. Upon noticing her shuddering, he draped a thin blanket over her.Soon after, Yasmin started to feel warmer. She looked at Ivan and uttered, "Thank you." Ivan asked, "Why did the crowd gather around you?"Yasmin replied dejectedly, "They thought I pushed Giselle to the floor. Everyone was taking photos of me."Yasmin was aware that pushing a pregnant lady to the floor would be sensational news.Ivan frowned. "Did you push her?""No, she fell on her own." Yasmin was afraid that Ivan wouldn't believe her, so she asked, "Do you trust me?"Ivan stared at Yasmin quietly. She s
Blake withdrew his hand without hesitation. He faced the doctor and asked, "What's wrong with her?""She was probably just startled," came the doctor's reply."Blake, I don't want to make judgments on Yasmin's character, but she pushed me just now. I was terrified…" Giselle had tears welling up in her eyes as she complained.She feared Blake would brush off the matter if she didn't mention it again. She really wanted him to defend her on this."I will clear things up after looking into this incident." Blake glanced at her before instructing Malcolm to begin investigations.Only after things had calmed down did Blake realize Yasmin hadn't accompanied him to the hospital.Blake frowned, wanting to make a call to Yasmin. However, Giselle yelled in pain again. "Blake, my belly is hurting! Can you soothe it for me?"The obstetrician warned Blake, "You shouldn't touch her belly now."Seeing that there were other occupants in the ward, Giselle knew she couldn't pull any tricks. In the
Beyond Newphoria Bay was the back of a mountain that offered a scenic view, in which lay a few rows of graves. One of them was the grave of Yasmin's mother—Mia Jennings.Somehow, Yasmin suddenly had a strong urge to visit her mom.So, Ivan silently continued driving onward.Half an hour later, they arrived at the back of the mountain where they were met by rows of white tombstones."Thanks for taking me here," Yasmin said before walking up the mountain. Ivan wanted to leave, but he knew that it would be dangerous for a lady to climb a mountain alone at night. So, he pursed his lips, got out of the car, and followed Yasmin.By then, Yasmin had already walked far ahead of him. When Ivan found Yasmin, she was standing before a tombstone with a tinge of melancholy. But for some reason, Yasmin and the scenery beyond her made for a very captivating and beautiful image. Then, Ivan saw the tombstone. He was shocked when he saw name written on it, and he felt his blood pumping. "
Yasmin put her hands into Ivan's, saying, "Thank you.""Please call me Ivo.""Alright, Ivo." Yasmin carefully walked behind him.Suddenly, a tree on their left fell."Be careful." Ivan quickly grabbed Yasmin into his arms, startling her.Then, several trees fell down consecutively, blocking their way back.At a glance, Yasmin could see a dense forest stretched out before her."What should we do?" she asked worriedly.Ivan observed his surroundings. "We need to head back. A storm may hit this area tonight, so staying here may jeopardize our safety."Yasmin nodded in agreement."Can you do it?" Ivan asked.Yasmin shook her head and said, "It won't be a problem, Ivan. I'm quite nimble.""Great. Hold my hands. This will be safer," Ivan suggested."Sure." Yasmin agreed.They then held hands and squeezed through under the fallen trees with Ivan turning behind to check on her from time to time. "Are you alright?" he asked."Yup." Yasmin was agile and traversed without much tr
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