Yasmin was stunned and glared at Blake. "No way! Don't talk nonsense.""I can see your face and ears are red. It seems like you're feeling flustered," he said as he leaned closer and gently kissed her ear.Yasmin stiffened and pushed him away. "Stop it. Dr. Parsons said you need to abstain.""A kiss doesn't count as a strenuous activity." Blake chuckled softly and told Malcolm to drive.An hour later, they arrived at the Ford residence. Malcolm helped Blake out and into a wheelchair. Yasmin walked over to push him.Blake smiled and instructed Malcolm to leave."Yes, sir," Malcolm replied, driving the car into the courtyard.Yasmin felt a bit anxious about returning to the Ford residence. She stopped at the door.Blake sensed her worry and squeezed her hand. "Why did you stop? Are you nervous?""A little." She felt complicated about seeing Arthur.Blake reassured her, "Don't worry. I'm here for you.""Okay." She nodded, gathered her courage, and pushed him inside."Mr. and M
"Nobody's born knowing everything. Just learn, and you'll soon get it."As Yasmin and Annalise chatted in the kitchen, Lizzie's voice came from outside, "Grandpa Arthur, I'm here!"Then, Lizzie looked at Blake and greeted him, "Blake."Blake's expression remained indifferent.Arthur asked, "Why are you here on New Year's Eve?"Lizzie handed over the New Year's gift and said, "Grandpa Arthur, I'm here to bring you a New Year's gift.""What did you bring?" Arthur liked Lizzie quite a bit and invited her to sit beside him."Some health supplements for you, of course!" Lizzie sat down, looking exceptionally beautiful in her red dress. She said to Arthur, "Grandpa Arthur, give me your hand. I'll check your pulse.""You know how to check pulses?" Arthur was a bit surprised.Lizzie smiled shyly. "Of course I do, Grandpa Arthur. I studied both traditional and modern medicine. I want to be the first to help when our family members feel unwell."Her sweet appearance and respectful deme
"Oh?" Arthur was curious. "How do you two know each other?"Lizzie explained, "Her father is our patient. He's being treated at Westview Hospital Center under our team's care. The medical bills run into millions of dollars every month."She intentionally shared this information with Arthur.But to her surprise, Arthur's face was filled with sympathy upon hearing this. He looked at Yasmin and asked, "Yasmin, how's your father?"Yasmin was helping Blake to his seat and replied, "Still the same."Blake looked at Yasmin and held her hand as if to comfort her.Yasmin understood his intention and smiled slightly. "I'm fine."The two looked like a loving couple.Arthur said, "The money should be spent if it can save a life. It's worth it."Everyone was full of pity for Yasmin.Blake served her food and reminded her to eat slowly.Lizzie found it irritating. They pitied Yasmin now, but would they still pity her if they knew Stuart was the one who killed James?They would probably
"Probably. So, I know I can't leave you." Blake looked at Yasmin intently, then lifted her finger. "You're wearing the diamond ring tonight?"Yasmin replied, "Didn't you send this ring to me?""Yes." He nodded, his gaze deep. "But I was afraid you wouldn't want to wear it.""The ring is quite beautiful." Yasmin smiled softly.She was wearing the light purple dress he had given her today. It was simple and elegant, and paired with her delicate face, she looked stunningly beautiful.They looked at each other. Suddenly, fireworks shot up in the distance, lighting up the sky."Fireworks!" Yasmin turned her head, pointing to the fireworks.Blake smiled and asked, "Do you like it?"He was asking if she liked it, not if it was beautiful.Yasmin was startled. "Did you… arrange for them?""Yes." Blake nodded. "I haven't celebrated New Year with you for the past two years. This year is our first together."He clasped her hand tightly as he spoke.Yasmin looked at his hand, somewhat
"It was more terrifying at first. A piece of flesh was missing. It's been healing for a while now and is much better. Joel said it'd be fully healed soon."Yasmin stared at his wound in silence. She hadn't known his injury was so severe. He never mentioned it or changed his bandage in front of her. She had no idea the wound was that serious.Seeing her deep in thought, Blake smiled and asked, "Are you feeling guilty seeing my wound like this?"Yasmin looked up at him, her eyes suddenly a bit red.Blake was taken aback and felt sorry for her. He held her hand tightly. "It's okay, really. We were in the car at that time. Even if I didn't hold you, I'd likely still get injured. You don't need to blame yourself."She took a deep breath. "Let me put the medicine on for you.""Can you do it?""Have you forgotten? I took care of you when you were injured before," Yasmin said.Blake seemed to remember those moments. He gave her a meaningful look and smiled. "You're right. You took ca
Arthur's face was stern, as if he had been holding back for a long time. He coldly questioned Roxy, "Did Brian consider Blake his cousin when he tried to kill him?"Roxy was taken aback, a hint of guilt flashing across her face.Due to this incident, Arthur had stopped them from visiting the Ford residence often. They probably wouldn't have been allowed in today if it weren't for the New Year celebration.This matter was like a thorn in Arthur's heart. It made him believe their family was too heartless, and he didn't want to be closely associated with them.Annalise also spoke up, "I don't believe Yasmin is the kind of person who throws her weight around. It was actually your family who often bullied her because of her lower status."Yasmin was surprised upon hearing that. She glanced at Annalise and Arthur.Annalise gave Yasmin a warm smile.Arthur directly ordered, "Roxy, you should go back. Every time you're here, you bring chaos to the Ford residence. I don't want to see you
When Lizzie heard Blake was getting married, she wanted to return to the country. However, Marie forbade her from doing so. She said the woman Blake was marrying wasn't his true love but someone he was forced to marry.Lizzie calmed down, deciding to wait until they got divorced to return.As expected, after two years, she finally heard about Blake's divorce. She was so happy that she couldn't sleep. She told Marie she wanted to go back immediately. Marie promised to help bring her and Blake together, making their families even closer.This way, Lizzie would inherit the Keating family assets without any worries. Otherwise, without the Keating family bloodline, Adelle might not be willing to pass on the entire family fortune to her. Lizzie didn't want to face the day when she would have to fight with Blake over the inheritance. So, the best solution was for them to marry.Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Annalise had even agreed to try to bring them together.But suddenl
Yasmin's heart skipped a beat, and her eyelashes fluttered. "What's the matter?" she asked."I miss you." Although Yasmin was right in front of him, Blake still missed her so much—so strangely and intensely.Yasmin felt uncomfortable under his gaze, especially when they were so close to each other. His deep gaze and low voice inexplicably made her feel hot."What are you trying to do?""I want to hug you." He leaned over, and his hot breath fell on her lips.Yasmin's heartbeat quickened a little. "Then, just hug me.""Okay." Blake hugged her and kissed her lips in the next second.Yasmin's eyes widened in surprise. "Didn't you say you just wanted to hug?""I couldn't help it." He chuckled. His thin lips passionately and lustfully lingered on hers.Yasmin felt her body become inexplicably soft. He pulled her, and they fell onto the couch. However, she was still rational and patted his shoulder. "Remember what Dr. Sawyer said. Don't indulge too much."Blake said hoarsely,
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