"Malcolm is there. He'll watch the shop and tell Jessica where you've gone," Blake replied.Yasmin was relieved. Finally at ease, she shopped around the market with Blake. After a while, she said, "This is Cirrus Town, my dad's hometown.""I know," came Blake's response.Yasmin looked at him in confusion. "How do you know?" She never told him that her family was from Cirrus Town."I checked your family background. Plus, you like to eat the food at Cirrus, so it wasn't difficult to figure out.""Then how did you find me?""Tyler has been in Cirrus Town for a few days," he told her truthfully.Tyler had been the one to lose track of Yasmin, so his punishment was to come to Cirrus Town to look for her.The day prior, someone from Miller Village had gone to town to look for Tyler with news that a beautiful foreigner had arrived in the village. Tyler recognized Yasmin the minute he was shown a picture of her.After that, Tyler immediately called Blake.Blake was in Stanton Cit
"Jessica, I'm here." Yasmin said while exiting the car. Blake held her hand as she strolled into the house.Jessica was surprised to see them holding hands. She cautiously asked Blake, "You are Ms. Starr's…?""I'm her husband," Blake said warmly.Jessica's jaw dropped in shock. "Ms. Starr, you're married?"Yasmin hummed in response. "I've been married for two years," Yasmin said, glancing at Blake and blushing.Jessica turned her attention to the man beside Yasmin. Blake was a fine-looking man. One could immediately tell he was rich based on his temperament and appearance.Jessica said, "Well then, it's nice to meet Yasmin's husband."Upon hearing this, Blake smiled, making him look approachable and friendly.Jessica welcomed Blake into the house while Yasmin went to unload the trunk. Malcolm and Tyler went to help her.Jessica was surprised to see so many purchases. "Ms. Starr, why did you buy so much?""Jessica, I've been enjoying your hospitality for a long time and want
Stuart was a good husband, father, and employer—but he had betrayed Blake's father, James Ford.All Blake knew was that those seven people had betrayed his father, and James had died at Merania. No one knew exactly how his father died.Blake suddenly felt the urge to re-investigate this matter—but he wouldn't tell Yasmin about this. She was a simple and innocent girl, and he wanted to keep it that way."You can take a nap in my room after lunch. But first, let's eat. Lunch is ready." Yasmin pulled his hand and led him into the house for lunch.Jessica was busy placing the cutleries on the table. When she saw them enter, she smiled and said, "Blake, Ms. Starr, lunch is ready."Yasmin had bought a lot of groceries, so there was a great spread on the table.Blake sat down at the table and Yasmin took the seat by his side. Naturally, he began serving her the food.Jessica sneaked a peek at Blake. He was quiet and elegant while he ate and seemed to be a very self-controlled man. It a
When Yasmin lived alone, she would freely change clothes in the room. But now…She turned and glanced at Blake. His eyes were closed, and he wasn't looking at her.Yasmin thought for a bit. There was no need to hide since they were married. Plus, his eyes were closed.Thus, Yasmin turned her back to him, took off her bra, and slipped into her pajamas.When she looked back, Blake was staring at her. His eyes appeared to be sparkling.Yasmin was extremely embarrassed. "Weren't your eyes closed just now?""You woke me up when you changed," Blake said with a chuckle.Yasmin was speechless. She pretended to be oblivious to Blake's interested smile and put her dirty clothes in the laundry basket.As she made her way toward the bed, Blake moved further in to make space for her.Yasmin joined him on the bed.The minute she lay down, Blake hugged her tightly. "The bed is too small. Come closer or you'll fall off the bed." Yasmin lay comfortably in Blake's arms, and he whispered in h
Blake was a man of his word and immediately instructed Malcolm to install an electric pump and a water purifying system.Jessica wasn't comfortable with the sudden shower of generosity. "Blake, this is too much."Blake replied, "Tap water contains too much impurities and isn't safe for drinking without filtering."Overwhelmed by his kindness, Jessica quickly went into the house to get him some refreshments. "Blake, we don't have any tea, so I hope you don't mind this.""Water is fine." Blake took a sip before pretending to ask nonchalantly, "Jessica, what kind of person do you think my father-in-law is?"Father-in-law? Stuart Starr?Jessica answered truthfully, "Mr. Starr is a wonderful man. He always treated everyone politely, be it the housekeepers, family members, or even his subordinates. And he rarely lost his temper."In Jessica's memories, Stuart was a good man.Blake's expression turned solemn.Two years ago, when he told Stuart he knew the older man had betrayed his
Yasmin raised an eyebrow in indignation. Blake patted her head fondly in response. "Okay, then I'll go home tomorrow.""Tomorrow?" She was surprised. "Aren't you attending Anna's birthday party?""She's finally celebrating her 60th birthday, and I don't want to spoil her mood. She'll only be able to celebrate her birthday if I don't show up," Blake explained.So that was what he meant. If the groom didn't show up, the wedding naturally wouldn't take place.Annalise would have no choice but to just host her birthday banquet.Thus, Yasmin relaxed and didn't urge Blake to go home anymore. That evening, Chris returned. He was carrying a heavy backpack, and his expression was grim.Spotting Yasmin sweeping the front of the house, he rushed over, grabbed her hand, and tried to run."I heard from my classmates that the people who came to our town are looking for a woman whose surname is Starr. They said she had long hair, bright eyes, and fair skin. Isn't that you?"Chris had been
"Just a guess. You haven't been to town once since arriving, so I figured you were hiding from someone. Well, he does look quite scary." That was Chris's impression of Blake. Yasmin had to suppress her laughter. For a 13-year-old, Chris was much more perceptive than she expected. Chris continued, "Yasmin, if he's mean to you, get rid of him and come live with us here. I'll protect you."Listening in from outside, Blake's expression darkened. The brat had quite the nerve to encourage his wife to leave him.He trudged into the room with a scowl. Upon catching sight of him, Chris immediately fell silent. Worried Blake might frighten Chris, Yasmin told Blake, "Get out. We're in the middle of a tutoring session.""I'll teach him. You can go take a shower." Blake walked over and sat in front of Chris, his presence overwhelming. Yasmin protested. "I've already started teaching him.""With your limited knowledge, you can only tutor him on language. Are you sure you can teach hi
"We're just holding hands. It's not like we're doing anything wrong. Why are you so nervous?" Blake asked with a smile. Yasmin's cheeks turned crimson, and she whispered, "We shouldn't do things like this in front of a child.""He's in middle school and knows more than you think," Blake replied. "I already knew how to handle guns when I was his age."Yasmin was stunned. "Really? You learned how to use a gun at 13?"Blake paused, his eyes darkening as he realized what he'd said.He found out about his father's death at the age of 12. Determined to avoid walking the same path as James, he started learning boxing and shooting to protect himself during times of danger."Yeah. I started learning boxing, shooting, and diving."Those were all survival skills. Yasmin's feelings were complicated. She used to think he was born talented and never realized how much effort he had secretly put in. Comparatively, her life was much simpler. All her father wanted was for her to grow up happ
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