When Blake returned to Oak Garden, it was already nighttime. Mary walked out and said, "Mr. Ford, Mr. Arthur's secretary called to ask you and Mrs. Ford to drop by on Saturday night.""Alright," Blake said. "Has Yasmin had dinner?"Mary looked confused. "Mrs. Ford hasn't returned since leaving the house in the evening."Blake was taken aback. He hurried upstairs and saw that her desk was empty. A portion of her clothes had been taken away.Blake's expression turned icy. His handsome features looked especially menacing.…Yasmin had dinner with Eunice at the studio. Eunice bought some beer. As they drank, they talked about the collaboration with NAS Group.Eunice was surprised. "Are you serious? NAS Group is at the top of the luxury brands industry. Do they really want to work with us?""I just can't help thinking that everything's going too smoothly." Yasmin didn't know why she felt this way, but she wasn't really ready to take the risk.Eunice felt the same. "Maybe we should look out
After that, Yasmin sat on the couch and drank her beer silently. Just then, her phone rang. She answered it. "Hello?""Yasmin, it's me." Giselle's voice rang out on the other end of the line. She said demurely, "I have something to ask you.""What is it?""Well, I just wanted to know what brand of condoms Blake normally uses."Yasmin was taken aback. "What?""You've been by his side, haven't you? Do you know the brand and size he uses? He's staying over tonight, so I figured I had to get some ready. But I don't know what he normally uses, so I wanted to check with you …" This was a phone call to mark her territory.Yasmin couldn't bring herself to say anything. Bitterness overwhelmed her as she took another swig of beer."Yasmin?" Giselle was still talking. "Why aren't you saying anything? Has my question hurt you? But you said you and Blake don't have feelings for each other, right?"Yasmin didn't answer. She hung up and cut Giselle's chattering off. She downed her beer and op
Yasmin was drunk, so she felt like she was dreaming. She wrapped her arms around Blake's neck. "You're back, Mr. B.""Sucking up to me won't work." Blake thought she was trying to butter him up. His expression was cold as he reached up to pry her hands away."Mr. B, don't get together with anyone else." She leaned against him and held his face, bringing their faces close together. "I'm better than them, aren't I?"She looked into his eyes. The corners of her eyes were red from her drunkenness. She caressed his face. "I'm obedient, aren't I? Isn't that good enough?"Blake's eyes darkened. "You're the one who's been demanding a divorce, remember?"She pouted. "I feel horrible."Blake couldn't bring himself to push her away now. He held her in his arms and asked her, "Where do you feel horrible?""My heart." Yasmin put a hand over her chest. She mumbled, "I told myself that my family's in the wrong because Dad tricked you, so I can't blame you for how you've treated me. You're inno
Blake was taken aback. He said, "You're the one who begged me.""I did?" Yasmin lowered her head. "I was lonely. I wanted someone to love me after Dad went to jail …"Blake's eyes darkened. "I will never love you.""Yeah. I chose the wrong guy." Her voice was as soft as a whisper. She slowly got up to head downstairs.Blake grabbed her by the hand. "Where are you going?""To see my dad.""He's in jail. Come back." He tightened his grip on her hand, not allowing her to leave.Yasmin said, "He might be in jail, but he must miss me. He's the only person left in this world who would miss me."Blake jolted. He tugged her into his arms. As Yasmin collided against his chest, he said, "You can't visit your dad in jail at night. Go visit him tomorrow.""I still shouldn't be here. This isn't my home," she said."You don't have anywhere else to go.""I still want to leave." Yasmin was insistent.Blake ran out of patience. He lifted her into his arms, kicked the bedroom door shut, and
"Either way, you've aroused me. This time, you have to put the fire out." Blake couldn't care less what Yasmin had to say. He plastered himself to her.Yasmin shuddered. She wanted to push him away, but he caught her hands and held them behind her. She was facedown against the pillow as he held her from behind. Blake's kisses trailed down her back; his breathing was hot and heavy.A light sheen of sweat broke out on Yasmin's nose. "You can't do this. You already have Giselle! Let me go!"She wanted to push him away, but she couldn't see him and didn't know where to aim. When she accidentally pressed against his groin, she stiffened in shock as her face burned crimson. "Blake!""Settle down." Blake smacked her on the butt.Yasmin stiffened again. "Let go of me!""You have to put out this fire today. Otherwise, you won't take a step out of this room." Blake's voice was so deep that it made her heart stutter.Yasmin lay there, feeling miserable. He'd just slept with Giselle last ni
Stuart sighed. "Blake's the only man in Stanton City who can protect you. I've made my fair share of enemies. They're only letting you off the hook because of Blake. I'm worried that you'll be in danger if you guys get divorced. Now that I'm stuck here, I can't protect you."Yasmin looked distressed. Stuart continued, "I know you're upset, Yaz, but Blake can protect you. If he doesn't ask for a divorce, you should stay in this marriage. "The people out there won't dare to lay a hand on you as long as you're Mrs. Ford. You can get divorced once I'm out of here. Then, I'll be able to protect you again."Yasmin was unwilling to do as he said, but she didn't want him to worry while still in prison. Stuart said, "I know what you're thinking, Yaz. You're probably depressed from being stuck in a loveless marriage, but life isn't just about being happy."Compared to happiness, being alive is more important. Now that I'm behind bars, I can't protect you out there. My only hope is that yo
Yasmin's best friend? Eunice?Yasmin's head shot up. "What have you done to Eunice?"Blake said, "Last night, she spread rumors about my personal life online and insulted Giselle. Giselle dropped by this morning to tell me that she wanted to hold Eunice responsible for her words."Yasmin took a deep breath to calm herself down. "You guys are going after Eunice for something as menial as a headline?""Well, why didn't she consider the consequences of her actions before running her mouth?""She was just standing up for me. Besides, she only got into a few arguments with some fans. She didn't hurt anyone.""Do you really want her to get a lawyer's letter?" Blake looked down at Yasmin. He didn't seem to want to say anything else to her. He turned to leave.Yasmin was taken aback for a split second. Then, she ran after him. "What are you guys trying to pull?""Get in the car." Blake got in without shutting the door.She was afraid he would really go after Eunice, so she didn't dare
Yasmin frowned. "I'm all grown up now. I don't like pink anymore.""You're only 22. You're not even fully developed yet," Blake said.Yasmin thought he was referring to her private parts. Her face turned red."Why's your face red?" He noticed this. When he realized her mind had gone elsewhere, his gaze darkened. "What are you thinking?"Yasmin's expression turned icy. "Nothing.""Well, I know where your mind's gone. Look at how red your face is." Blake laughed and looked down at her. "Are you upset because I didn't satisfy you this morning?"Yasmin couldn't help being reminded of what had happened that morning. If not for Giselle suddenly showing up, she probably would've fallen prey to his advances. Her face burned as she pushed him away. "No!""It's nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has needs. You don't need to hide anything." Blake didn't get mad. He handed her the pink dress. "Go try it on."Yasmin looked stiff, but she didn't want to argue with him. She took the dress and
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