Yasmin was shocked by this. She lowered her head and greeted, "Grandpa.""What did you say to Roxy? Why did she blanch at your words?" Arthur asked.She hadn't expected him to overhear every word of their conversation downstairs. She said, "Nothing much. We just had a small argument."She thought he wanted to tell her off for daring to teach his precious granddaughter a lesson. To her surprise, Arthur nodded approvingly. "You did the right thing, Yasmin."Yasmin was stunned. She looked up at him. Arthur smiled and said, "Roxy's parents have spoiled her rotten, so she's always been obnoxious and precocious. It's good for her to have someone like you to take her down a notch or two. This way, she won't dare to step a toe out of line anymore."Yasmin's heart settled back in her chest at his words. She hadn't expected Arthur to be so understanding. It had been two years since she'd married Blake. Though Arthur had always been nice to her, he'd never spoken to her privately like this.
Yasmin's footsteps stopped. She heard Blake say, "You don't need to worry about this.""I don't need to worry? This is your marriage. You're already 30 years old, Blake. With how my health is nowadays, who knows how many more years I can live? My only wish is to see you have children. When your position in the company is stable, and I'm gone from this world, you'd still have a child to keep you company. "Blake didn't respond to Annalise's words. He turned and walked into the room.Annalise's chest felt heavy. She turned around and spotted Yasmin. Her expression immediately turned glum. "How long have you been standing there?""I just came up," Yasmin replied."Blake is so distant and never initiates anything. You should make the first move. Both of you are married now, so there's no reason not to be more open with one another. Play coy with him. Men love it when women do that."Annalise urged Yasmin to seduce Blake. Annalise felt like if she tried enough and they used those herb
Yasmin asked, "How am I not fit for him?"Blake turned around. His expression was cold. "Your family is bankrupt, and you're penniless. Who would you be a good fit for?"Yasmin's pride was wounded. But she couldn't deny that Blake's words were true.She wasn't fit to be with Blake or Ivan. She had never desired to, either. All she wanted was to live a proper life and pursue her dreams."Cat got your tongue?" Blake asked again when Yasmin grew silent.Yasmin pursed her lips. "There's nothing for me to say. You're all respectable people in high society. I'm just a lowly commoner who doesn't deserve any of you."She then got up to take a walk in the courtyard.When she opened the door, Annalise was standing outside. "Here's the herbal brew, Yasmin. Drink up while it's hot."Yasmin wanted to vomit at the sight of the herbal brew.But with Annalise's eyes on her, she had no choice but to take the bowl of dark brew back into the room."I'll watch you drink it, Yasmin," Annalise sai
Joel kicked him. "What bullshit are you talking about? This is Blake's wife, Yasmin Starr.""I'm so sorry. I should've known better," the man quickly apologized to Yasmin.Yasmin smiled. "It's alright."There were five other people in the room, all of them handsome.Yasmin turned to Joel and said, "Hi there, Dr. Sawyer."Joel handled Yasmin's annual health checkup, so they knew one another already."Yasmin, Blake," Joel greeted. He shooed away the two people sitting in the middle of the room and let Yasmin and Blake sit down.They had a pretty lively conversation afterward and got to know one another better.When the waiter brought in drinks, Yasmin reached out for a glass as she was feeling thirsty. But Blake took the glass away. He said to the waiter, "Get me a glass of orange juice.""I want a cold drink." Yasmin wanted to have some alcohol."Did you forget how you behaved yesterday after getting drunk?" Blake stared at her coldly.Yasmin blushed somewhat upon recalling w
Joel thought Blake must've scolded Yasmin. Otherwise, she wouldn't appear so frightened.He clicked his tongue and said to Blake, "Women are made to be taken care of, Blake, not disciplining. You excel in so many areas, be it looks or capability. Yet you're too tough when it comes to women. Yasmin is your wife, not your subordinate. How could you be so harsh with her?""She only responds to harsh treatment." Blake eyed Yasmin when he said this. There was a different glint in his eyes.Yasmin nearly choked on her drink.What were Blake and Joel talking about? They weren't even on the same track.Joel was astonished. He hadn't expected Blake to be so cruel to Yasmin. He shot Yasmin a sympathetic look and said, "You poor thing, Yasmin."Yasmin grumbled quietly, "Poor thing indeed. Anyone who has to put up with Blake's temperament is doomed to suffer.""Exactly!" Joel agreed. Worried Yasmin would be bored, he invited her to play cards. "Let's play some blackjack, Yasmin."Yasmin di
Yasmin froze in place.All her savings combined only amounted to 10,000 dollars. How could she pay now?Erik saw how ugly her expression was and chuckled. "Don't tell me you don't even have a couple hundred thousand dollars saved up, Yasmin?""This won't do," Joel responded. "A couple hundred thousand dollars is nothing with Blake around. He'll surely cover for Yasmin."Yasmin's face had crumpled.Blake had cut her bank card off. Where could she find the money to pay back everyone at the table?Right when she was moping about this, Joel called out, "Blake, why don't you come to play Yasmin's hand? She keeps on losing."Blake was looking at his phone on the couch. He shot Yasmin a look when Joel said this.Yasmin's brows knitted tightly together as she thought about her financial debt.Blake's own brows knitted slightly. He got up and went to the card table. "Scooch over."Yasmin looked up at him.Blake met her eyes. "Move. Do you hear me?"Yasmin glumly shuffled over. Bla
Yasmin glanced at Blake. His side profile was really attractive. She suddenly felt that being supported like this wouldn't be a bad thing at all.Despite feeling that way, Yasmin was aware that she couldn't allow herself to sink too deeply. Giselle was pregnant, so Yasmin needed to keep herself in line."What are you daydreaming about?" Blake said gently.Yasmin returned to her senses and looked at him in a daze. "Huh? What?""My phone is on the couch. Get it for me," Blake said."Okay." Yasmin obediently went over to pick up the phone. She then saw a bunch of missed calls from Giselle. The light in her eyes dimmed instantly.Just then, the door opened. Giselle walked in with a purse.Yasmin just so happened to pass by the door and bumped into her.Giselle smiled lightly as if she'd forgotten about the awkward situation from this morning. She nodded at Yasmin. "You're here too, Yasmin?"Bitterness welled in Yasmin's heart.Giselle held her hand and said delicately, "I'm sorry
Blake ignored her and ran out the door. He found Yasmin by the club entrance. She was sitting on the roadside, staring dazedly at the flowers by the curb.Blake walked over. Yasmin looked up just in time for him to grab her wrist. He then wordlessly led her away.Yasmin was surprised. "What are you doing, Blake?""We're going home." Blake shoved Yasmin into the Cullinan and drove it back to Ford Residence.Yasmin stayed silent the entire trip.They didn't talk even after reaching home. Yasmin went to get her clothes, then entered the bathroom to shower.When she exited the bathroom, Blake was on the call with someone. Yasmin thought that it was probably a call from Giselle. Blake said over the call, "I won't be joining you."Yasmin's heart clenched. She pretended she didn't hear it and dove under the bed covers to sleep. All of this had nothing to do with her anymore.Yasmin just had to treat Blake like a stranger and not mind everything else.The lights were soon switch
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