Or was she lying to Brian on purpose to buy time?Blake couldn't figure out what was going on. But suddenly, he thought about how Yasmin had been behaving around him recently.She always had a good appetite and would occasionally vomit. She was also very attentive to her stomach whenever she was going out. Not to mention, her waist had become a bit thicker than before.Blake then suddenly recalled the time when she was in the hospital's obstetrics department. She had bumped into him and looked panicked.Blake narrowed his eyes. So, at that time, she was already pregnant?But why didn't she tell him?Just as Blake was lost in thought, the phone beside him rang.Blake picked it up. He said coldly, "Hello?""Blake, it's me," Brian's voice came from the other end of the line. "Your wife and child are in my hands. I advise you not to act rashly."Brian emphasized the word "child".Blake's eyes narrowed. He said in a deep voice, "What do you want?""I want you to prepare a pri
Yasmin felt anxious as she drank the water.Coincidentally, another pregnant woman was beside her. While Yasmin was getting water, she blocked her hand from Brian's view and slipped a note into the pregnant woman's hand.After getting the water, Yasmin casually walked away as if nothing had happened.The pregnant woman glanced at Yasmin only after she had left. Then, she saw Yasmin quietly sitting in front of several men and drinking the water.Everything seemed normal, but Yasmin's face was very pale.The pregnant woman had a strange feeling in her heart. Then, she walked a few steps away before opening the note Yasmin had given her.It read, "My name is Yasmin Starr. I'm being threatened. Please contact my husband and tell him that I'm here. His phone number is..."Yasmin had secretly written this note while she was in the basement.She had thought that if she couldn't find an opportunity to escape, it would be better to seek help than to do nothing at all.The pregnant wo
Brian laughed grimly. "Good. Blake tricked me into coming here for an ultrasound and set me up. "Yasmin, it's not that I don't want you alive, but Blake doesn't want you alive. If you want to blame anyone, blame him."Then, Brian pulled the trigger.At that moment, Yasmin felt a chill engulfing her from head to toe. It sent shivers down her spine.Perhaps she was truly going to die now.As death approached, time seemed to slow down. But suddenly, a strange courage surged within Yasmin. And in that instant, she leaped up, pushed Brian away, and ran.Shocked, Brian pulled the trigger.The sound of the bullet brushed past Yasmin's ears. Then, she heard a "bang" as the bullet lodged itself into the body.However, the one who fell to the ground was Brian.Brian's shot earlier had missed. Then, a shot from the front door had hit Brian, and he'd fallen to the ground.Then, a tall, dark figure ran from around the corner and held Yasmin in a warm embrace.Yasmin was stunned and ca
Mary chuckled as she went downstairs. "Coming right up."Yasmin was still groggy from waking up. So, she stared blankly into space as she sat on the bed.Blake gently spooned some warm soup into Yasmin's mouth. "You're in the fourth month of your pregnancy. The doctors said that you and the baby are doing great."Yasmin cocked her head slightly before realizing what Blake meant. She looked at him with sparkling eyes.Then, Blake beamed and said, "I know about your pregnancy now. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"Despite his nagging, Blake was thrilled to learn about Yasmin's pregnancy. He was overjoyed. And upon learning that Yasmin was carrying his child, Blake was resolved to never let her leave his side.Yasmin paused briefly before saying, "I planned to tell you after we'd patch things up."Blake suddenly pulled Yasmin into his arms, taking her by surprise. Then, he promised, saying, "Now that you're carrying my child, we'll never be apart again."After Blake vowed neve
However, Yasmin was anxious about Blake's safety. "Will they come after you?"As Yasmin laid in his arms, Blake calmly remarked, "They wouldn't have the guts to. After all these years, if they could've gotten rid of me, they would've done it. Nothing's going to happen."Even though Blake had casually brushed it off, Yasmin understood the danger that lay within the shadows.Back then, Blake didn't have a father or anyone to stand up for him. In contrast, Neil had a family with three children. They would've been the ones who took care of Blake and were in charge of Windmere Group back then.Suddenly, it dawned on Yasmin that Blake had never had it easy. Besides having to face off against his own family, Blake had plenty of enemies outside as well. Everyone, including Blake, had their own struggles.Yasmin gently said, "Sounds like you've been dealing with a lot too."Under the dim light, Blake fixed his eyes on Yasmin and made a bold request. He said, "Things have been tough fo
Upon seeing the baby bump, Blake beamed and teased Yasmin, saying, "Looks like your belly is growing.""Hey!" Yasmin quickly covered her belly with her hand. Blake then playfully laughed and helped Yasmin into her outfit.Once they were done getting dressed, Blake took Yasmin's hand and guided her downstairs.Yasmin thought that Blake was only exaggerating his caring behavior as an act and didn't want to play along. So, she withdrew her hand. "I'll walk by myself."But Blake was firm and insisted on guiding her down the stairs. "No, I need to walk with you." Upon seeing how cautious Blake was, Yasmin simply shrugged.Then, when they arrived at the dining table, Yasmin reached for a cherry. But then, Blake suddenly asked, "Is it safe for you to eat cherries while you're pregnant?" He was even more jittery than Yasmin was.Yasmin was dumbfounded by his question. "I don't see any issue with it. After all, cherries are a fruit."However, Blake still quickly grabbed his phone a
Yasmin grumbled, "Your approach is too old school."Blake chuckled. "Isn't it a universal fact that women love flowers? Do you not like them?""I'm not upset with the flowers. It just feels a bit too staged.""That doesn't matter. What's important is that you like the flowers."Yasmin gently touched the pink roses. "It's pink again. You're quite obsessed with pink.""Well, I've always believed that pink suited you perfectly. From the moment I first met you, I knew that pink was your color.""When did we first meet?"Blake thought about it before replying, "It was probably on your 20th birthday."At that time, Blake had showed up at the Star family's house and saw Yasmin coming down the spiral staircase in a pink dress. And ever since then, he just couldn't take his eyes off of her.Yasmin blankly stared at Blake. "So, you fell in love with me at first sight?"It turned out that Yasmin's feelings had never been one-sided. In truth, Blake had been attracted to Yasmin from the s
Yasmin was baffled. "What happened then?"With a troubled expression, Eunice said in resignation, "Didn't I get wasted on the day of divorce? He was there—"Yasmin nodded. "I'm aware of that. Did you get pregnant that day?"Eunice replied, "Yes. I was opting for an abortion, but it required the signature of other family members. I didn't dare to tell my parents, so I asked him to sign instead. But he denied my request—"Yasmin gaped at Eunice. "Did he convince you to keep the baby? And you just went along with it?"Eunice shook her head. "It wasn't like that. As you may have already known, our family situation is quite complicated.""Yes," Yasmin replied. Carl had two wives and many illegitimate daughters. Yasmin was aware of Eunice's situation. Eunice sighed. "My dad is in the ICU. His other family had people watching the ward and forced him to sign away his inheritance. "They wanted to seize all his money, so they stopped me from seeing him. So, I had no choice but to turn
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