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
Yasmin blushed. "Hurry up and dry your hair so you can go to bed.""On it." After drying his hair with a blow dryer, Blake climbed into bed. The four-foot bed was too narrow for two people, so as soon as Blake got in, there was hardly any space left.Yasmin, who was sleeping on the inside, shifted closer to the wall, afraid of lying too close to him. Noticing her squirming, Blake pulled her into his arms with a smile, pressing her against his chest. Yasmin jolted. "What are you doing?""You're too close to the wall, and it's dirty. Scooch over a little." He pulled her back against him.Yasmin felt uncomfortable being so close to him. To escape the awkwardness, she turned around to face him.However, that only made the situation worse.His gaze on her was intense as his finger brushed her lip suggestively. "What?" Yasmin met his stare.Blake smiled. "Why did you turn around? Did you want to watch me sleep?""Not at all," she denied. However, Blake ignored her words as he
Blake glanced at Yasmin. He could tell from her expression that she already knew what was happening.However, she didn't cry or make a scene. Instead, she just went to fetch his clothes and helped him put them on.Blake hugged her tightly and murmured, "I'll bring you home on Christmas, so wait for me.""Okay," was all Yasmin could say.Inside, she was feeling anxious and restless, but there was nothing she could do since she was also worried about Annalise.If something happened to Annalise, her and Blake's relationship…Not daring to think further, Yasmin followed Blake downstairs and watched his car fade into the night. Yasmin couldn't sleep after Blake left.Without his familiar embrace, it felt like all warmth had left her.…Blake only reached Stanton City the next morning.Since he arrived during peak traffic hours, he ended up being stuck on the road for another two hours. As such, it was already 9:00 am by the time he arrived at Stanton Bay.Joel had called to say
He accepted the suit and went to put it on.Annalise and Giselle exchanged glances and secretly heaved a sigh of relief. Annalise asked, "Giselle, has the makeup artist arrived?""Yes," Giselle replied. "But the wedding dress isn't here yet.""Ask your manager to give them a call. The guests will be here soon; we don't want them to wait too long.""All right." Giselle immediately turned to give Annie some instructions.Blake emerged from the bathroom dressed in the suit while Giselle was talking to Anna. There was a hint of guilt in Giselle's eyes as he stared at her.Still, Giselle couldn't help being drawn to his flawless appearance.He was a good-looking man, and the suit he put on only made him more dazzling.Annalise smiled as well, pleased with her son's charm.She said, "You look wonderful, son. Giselle, you should get ready too. The guests should be arriving soon. Butler, bring me my wheelchair. I want to get up."The butler immediately did as he was told. Blake w
Yasmin's head went blank, and she asked dumbly, "They're getting married? How's that possible?"She had just been in Blake's embrace last night as he told her to wait for him, so how could he be marrying Giselle today?"Her manager even came to our studio to show off their wedding photos!" Eunice said angrily. "It's bad enough that the bitch is getting married to him, but to flaunt it in our faces? How can she be so shameless?"Yasmin was numb. "Eunice, could you send me the photos?""Sure. Check your messages."With trembling hands, Yasmin opened her messaging app.In the photos, Blake, dressed in a suit, was walking into a room where Giselle waited for him in a wedding gown. The woman's eyes were tender as she gazed at him. Yasmin shut her eyes painfully.It was too cruel for her.Her vision turned blurry, and her heart ached so badly that her fingers were shaking. If he was going to marry Giselle, why had he come looking for her in the first place?Did he enjoy toying w
The wedding ceremony had begun, and Annalise was busy entertaining guests. Everyone was already seated, but Giselle was still nowhere to be found.Annalise started to get anxious, so she turned to her butler and demanded, "What's going on? Why haven't the two of them come down yet?""Don't worry, Madam. I'll send someone to check on them," the butler answered. He was about to go upstairs when Blake walked in.The butler immediately notified Annalise. "Mr. Blake has arrived, Madam. I'm sure the bride will be here soon."Annalise felt slightly reassured after seeing Blake and waved the butler away.Today's wedding was simple because Arthur had previously opposed having Giselle in the family.As such, Annalise could only set things up secretly once the elderly man left the country.By the time Arthur returned, it would be too late to stop the ceremony.Besides, Blake and Yasmin hadn't legally divorced yet, so today's ceremony was just a formality. Blake and Giselle's registrat
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