Annalise's expression grew cold, and she stopped Giselle by addressing the crowd. "Forget the wedding. Today's banquet will just be for my birthday."Giselle paled. "But why?"Amelia was dumbfounded as well and ran over. "What is the meaning of this? Didn't we already agree to hold the wedding for our children today?"Giselle burst into tears. Feeling heartbroken for her daughter, Amelia quickly wiped Giselle's tears away.Giselle clung to her mother's arm, sobbing inconsolably. She was trying to earn the pity of the crowd by making it seem like Annalise and the Ford family were toying with ordinary families like hers. After all, how could someone change their mind about a wedding so carelessly?Amelia turned to Annalise and demanded loudly, "How could you do this? You were the one who promised Blake would marry Giselle. But now you're saying otherwise. Explain yourself!"All the guests were eagerly watching the show.Annalise cast Amelia a cold glare. She initially intended
"Look here. I've already seen it with my own eyes, and yet you're still lying." Arthur scoffed. "I knew you wouldn't give up on Blake, so I made the trip to Merania on purpose. I was there the past few days investigating your past."Arthur had gone to Merania to investigate Giselle's past, not to seek medical counsel.He squinted and said, "Upon investigation, I discovered you were dating a man in Merania one year ago. Just four months ago, you conceived his child. However, the person fled when he heard you were pregnant. "I don't know how you and Blake got together, but the child in your womb is definitely not Blake's."After he had finished speaking, Arthur brought out another piece of evidence. "This is a record of Blake's whereabouts four months ago. Looking at this, it's clear that Blake didn't go to Merania four months ago."Everyone was dumbfounded upon hearing this.Arthur turned to Annalise. "You're silly too. Is the baby Blake's just because Giselle said so? You just
If Giselle hadn't been pregnant, Annalise would have slapped her hard.How shameless could one be?"Thomas, take me upstairs." With nothing else left to say, Annalise wanted to return to her room. She felt defeated after such a fiasco.Giselle could not accept that their relationship had become like this. With a wretched expression, she ran to help Annalise, saying, "Anna, let me help you."After everything, she was still trying to seek redemption.Annalise, however, was no longer moved by her actions. She frowned and said coldly, "There's no need. I now know what a liar you are. I asked about you and Blake numerous times, and you always gave me the perfect story. But in reality? Do you even love my son?"Giselle had no answer for her. She pursed her lips and said, "Anna, I told you all this because I love Blake too much.""Does that justify you lying to me about the child in your womb?!" Annalise raised her voice in rage.Giselle was pale. With tears streaming down her face,
"Fine! Since you said our agreement is over, I won't give birth to this child! I'll abort this child tomorrow!" Giselle threatened him.Blake glanced at her coldly, his gaze frigid enough to freeze her over.He said slowly, "Fine, abort the baby. In that case, I'll take back everything I've given to the O'Shea family."Giselle shuddered.Blake pried her hand off the door and said, "Rh-negative blood types are rare, but you're not the only one with it. Even if you don't do this, there will be other people."Upon saying this, he ordered Malcolm to drive away.As the car slowly left the yard, half of Giselle's face was shrouded in the shadows.Amelia was still there.She had wanted to wait for Giselle outside, but she happened to overhear Giselle and Blake's conversation.Amelia waited for Blake to leave before going over to help Giselle up. "Mom…" Giselle hugged Amelia and wailed her heart out. Amelia stroked Giselle's hair. "Giselle, this is your fate. You're not destined t
"Yasmin?" Chris called Yasmin a few times before he got a response.Yasmin glanced at him blankly and shook her head. "No, I'm not."Just as Yasmin finished speaking, a luxurious car stopped in front of them. The car door opened, and Blake walked toward them in a black suit.That suit was the one he wore in the photo.There was a trace of sadness in Yasmin's eyes.Had he come over here after the wedding?He had already married Giselle, and he still dared to come and look for her? Was he two-timing?As she saw him approaching her, she could no longer resist the urge. She turned and ran."Yasmin!" Blake frowned and chased after her.Yasmin heard him calling her and ran even faster. The tears were threatening to spill. She didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore! Her thoughts and emotions were a mess. She was so terrified of Blake catching up to her that she didn't notice a car approaching."Yasmin!" Blake called out to her from afar.In her frenzy, Yasmin had r
"Blake Ford!" Yasmin's eyes were red with rage.Blake wouldn't budge. He pulled her into his embrace, looked her in the eye, and asked, "What do you mean your emotions are a mess because I came? You hate me that much?""Let go of me!""Talk to me first." Blake glared at her coldly. He hugged her tightly when she kept flailing about. They were still on the road!Yasmin frowned. "What're you trying to do right now?!""I asked you to be quiet." Other than hugging her tightly, Blake did not do anything to her.Yasmin seemed to be tired after all that fuss, so she suddenly broke down. Her eyes were misty.Blake raised his eyebrows and asked coolly, "What's all this about?""Why come and look for me when you're already married to Giselle?" Yasmin could no longer contain herself and burst out crying. "Yesterday, you promised me that you would never marry Giselle, and yet you did just that. "Blake Ford, you've been lying to me this whole time, haven't you? You don't love me, and yo
"Are you very sad?" Blake asked.Pouting, Yasmin grumbled, "What do you think? Would you be happy to see me marrying someone else?"His face darkened instantly. "Of course not."He pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips against hers before sighing softly. "When I arrived this morning, I discovered that my mom was faking her condition. She also forced me to put on the groom's suit, which was when Annie got the chance to snap my photo."Blake continued to explain, "I already sensed something was off while I was changing, so I called Joel. He told me that my mom had nearly recovered and that Grandpa was on his way back. That's when I knew the timing was right, so I revealed the truth about the baby."Blake was afraid Yasmin wouldn't believe him if he didn't make things clear.With how simple-minded she was, there was a high chance she'd start conjuring weird thoughts if he didn't explain now.Taken aback, Yasmin asked dumbly, "You revealed the truth?""Yeah.""T-Then, wh
Blake tilted Yasmin's head and looked directly into her eyes. "Everything's over now, understand?"He kept his gaze locked onto hers. Feeling self-conscious, she nodded. "Yeah."In short, Blake didn't marry Giselle, the divorce wasn't finalized, and Annalise wouldn't oppose their relationship anymore.There was a flutter in Yasmin's stomach. She snuck a peek and saw Blake staring at her tenderly. Unable to suppress her longing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and captured his lips in a passionate kiss. Blake immediately reciprocated, but her phone suddenly started ringing in her bag.She snapped back to reality and realized that they were still on the streets. Blushing, she said, "Hang on, my phone's ringing."Blake released her, and she quickly pulled out her phone and saw that Chris was calling her. He told her that business was blooming and asked her to come back to help. Yasmin looked at the time. It was already 8:00 pm, which was usually the busiest time for nigh
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