A hint of sadness flickered in Blake's eyes. Yasmin looked away, shut the car doors, and sat quietly inside. In the end, Malcolm sent her back home.After taking a shower, she leaned against the bed and looked at the night view. The night breeze was a little cold. She was feeling a bit down due to her hesitation about returning to Oak Garden.They could keep Arthur and Annalise in the dark about Stuart, but for how long?Yasmin doubted the two would accept her without resentment once everything came to light. She was truly in a tough spot.…The next day, Yasmin was working in her office when Sarah approached. "Ms. Starr, a woman downstairs claims to be Mr. Carter's girlfriend, and she wants to collect his clothes.""Hand her the clothes if she has the receipt." Yasmin held a cup of coffee in her hand and went through her fabrics to pick one.With a bitter expression, Sarah explained, "She doesn't have a receipt. I told her she couldn't collect the clothes without one. She's
Nikki was heartbroken. Her face paled as she said, "I heard you fell for a woman right after coming back, and you even bought clothes from her. I came today to see what she's like.""It's none of your business." Darion remained cold and indifferent toward her. "We broke up six months ago, Nikki. Why do you care about who I'm seeing?"Nikki dated Darion for three months and couldn't move on after they broke up.As she was surprised by his harsh words, her eyes welled up. "Jerk!" she shouted before running away.Darion didn't bother to chase after her. Annoyed, he shook his head and asked Yasmin, "Did she cause you any trouble?""No, she didn't. You showed up just in time." Yasmin didn't want to be part of their relationship drama. She gestured with her hand and said, "The clothes are ready. Do you have the receipt?" Darion tutted. "Do you have a heart of stone? She just said that I fell for you and bought clothes from you. Didn't that move you at all?""No," Yasmin stated blun
Upon seeing Yasmin, Blake furrowed his brows and embraced her tightly. "You wouldn't come to Oak Garden, so I had to come find you. What else am I supposed to do?"Yasmin was suffocating as she patted his shoulder. "I can't breathe. You're strangling me."He finally let her go, but he was still visibly upset. "You knew my leg hadn't fully recovered, and it's hard for me to get around. Why don't you come back to see me?"Yasmin lowered her gaze, looking sad. "Sorry about that, but I haven't made up my mind yet.""Then, stop thinking about it." Blake grasped her hand, locking their fingers together. "Can't you just go with what your heart tells you?""I can't be as carefree as you," she mumbled."The more you think about it, the less happy you are." He glanced at her, took her hand, and led her inside. Smelling the aroma of food, he asked, "Are you cooking?""Yes. I haven't eaten dinner yet and just made some pasta. Have you eaten?""Not yet. I've been waiting for you all along
Yasmin was working on her draft in her bedroom, but Blake's constant interruptions gave her a headache. She put down her pen and came out to glare at him. "Enough already! You keep calling me every few minutes. I'm trying to work here.""The couch is quite uncomfortable. My back hurts, and my legs feel awful. Can I lie down inside for a while?" With a pleading expression, Blake held a pillow and looked at her.Looking at his legs, she eventually gave in and said, "You're not making this up, right?""I'm not. It's really uncomfortable."Yasmin was worried that Blake's leg would get worse if he slept on the couch all night. She nodded and let him into the room. "You can sleep in the bed, but stay on the left side. Don't come over to my side. Got it?""Yeah." Blake lay down on her soft, scented bed and sighed contentedly. "Finally, this feels much better." Yasmin ignored him, returned to her chair, and continued working on her draft.However, Blake couldn't stay put for more tha
Blake kissed Yasmin passionately. After a while, he couldn't hold back anymore, and his lips trailed from her mouth down to her delicate neck.Yasmin breathed heavily. "Stop!""Just go along. We're at this point already." He fixed his intense gaze on her and dominantly stripped off her pajamas.Feeling upset, Yasmin tried to get up, but Blake pinned her back down. She simply couldn't push him away. As her anger boiled over, she bit on his shoulder.Instead of getting angry, Blake involuntarily grunted and gazed at Yasmin's rosy cheeks. "Are you trying to seduce me?""I'm not." Yasmin tried to flee, but Blake pulled her back and fervently kissed her. His hands roamed freely over her body to arouse her.As time passed, she couldn't help herself anymore, and her last bit of reason snapped. The couple completely indulged in the moment.…The next day, Yasmin woke up and found Blake holding her in his arms. She sported a conflicted expression.What happened last night made thin
Yasmin stood there blankly as she thought it through. She felt a pang in her heart and quickly took the elevator back up.Upon returning, she saw that Seth was already attending to Blake. "What seems to be the problem, Mr. Ford?""My leg went a little numb when I woke up this morning. I don't know if I've aggravated it."Blake was actually hurt!Yasmin felt her chest tighten, and she instinctively walked toward the bedroom.At this moment, Seth asked, "Did you do any intense activity last night, Mr. Ford?" "Yes." Blake didn't hide about it. With his body covered in hickeys, Seth could easily tell what had happened.Seth added, "You're injured, Mr. Ford. You need to take care of your body and stay away from nightly activities for now. Don't overdo it."Standing outside the room, Yasmin was rendered speechless. She realized she was worried over nothing.With her face flushed, she couldn't bring herself to walk in, so she left.However, Malcolm's sharp ears caught the noise.
Yasmin was worried and was about to call Joel.Blake saw her concern. He held her hand and said, "You still won't admit you care about me?""It's not the time to talk about this. Let me contact Dr. Sawyer first." Yasmin pulled her hand away to make the call.Blake refused to let go. He held her hand tighter and said, "I'm fine.""You're fine? Didn't Dr. Parsons say you couldn't walk?""Yeah, he said I can't walk for now. Better use a wheelchair or crutches when going out."Yasmin was dumbfounded. "You lied to me?""No. I just didn't finish what I had to say," Blake clarified.Yasmin got angry and tried to leave, but Blake pulled her back. He looked at her face and said, "You care so much about me, so why are you pushing me away?""I just think it's hard for us to be together." Yasmin was silent for a moment. She looked down and sighed.Even if they set everything aside and got together, they still couldn't control others' opinions. She had thought about this. If she were Arth
"It's nothing. I just came to see you." Yasmin sat down and saw Eunice having her postpartum meal. She asked, "How many days has it been since your postpartum? How much longer until your confinement is over?""Today is the 26th day. Traditionally, it's considered the end of the confinement period, but my caretaker said women are very weak after giving birth, so it's best to have a two-month confinement period.""Two months? Can you handle that?" Yasmin asked."It's actually not bad. Now, I can move around freely and even do yoga. I just need to avoid cold water and heavy lifting. Besides, with Honeybun here, I don't feel bored at all." Eunice looked happy when she mentioned her son.Yasmin smiled. "You're so lucky. You're a winner in life. You have such a cute son, and you're with Mortimer."Eunice chuckled. "Aren't you too? Mortimer told me that Blake is head over heels for you now. He's become a simp, not as proud as he used to be.""Simp? How so?""How not? Remember how proud
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