Blake asked nonchalantly, "What is it, Aunt Marie?""It's about the imported medical equipment project that I mentioned to you before. Do you think Keating Corporation has a chance of winning the bid?"Marie had sent people to Windmere Group multiple times to inquire about the bid. She obviously wanted Blake to help Keating Corporation."Aunt Marie, if your company's quotation is reasonable, you'll surely win the bid." Although Blake spoke gently, he didn't reveal anything to her.Marie said, "How about you just tell me so I can be happy a few days earlier?"From her words, it seemed as if Windmere Group had already decided to accept Keating Corporation's bid.Blake replied calmly, "Aunt Marie, it's the New Year today. I don't want to talk about work."He didn't reveal a word about it.Marie restrained her smile, clearly unhappy after being rejected. "Blake, I heard you spend over a hundred thousand dollars monthly to save Yasmin's dad. Is that true?""Aunt Marie, what does th
Annalise suddenly walked out while the two were chatting.They were surprised. Marie said, "Annalise, why did you come out?""There are guests downstairs, so I must attend to them. Just make yourselves at home." With that, Annalise and her maid, Lydia, left.Marie instructed Lizzie, "Lizzie, follow Annalise downstairs and learn how to be part of the Ford family.""Okay," Lizzie said with a smile, then followed Annalise downstairs.…Yasmin was arranging the crystal glasses downstairs.These crystal glasses were usually kept in the cabinets. They would only take them out during the New Year to serve wine to the guests. There were a total of 68 glasses. They were very expensive."Yasmin, have you arranged the glasses already?" Annalise was a tad bit surprised.Yasmin had been working downstairs. Upon hearing Annalise's voice, she looked at her and replied, "The staff mentioned that these glasses are dried and asked me what to do with them just now. "I recalled seeing you h
Yasmin carried the box. It was quite heavy since there were six bottles of red wine in it. She took a deep breath and kept moving."Isn't that Yasmin?"Yasmin had just reached the yard when she heard a sharp voice calling out to her with a hint of hostility.She turned her head and saw a voluptuous woman in a red dress, looking arrogant and domineering. She was Nikki.Why was she here?Was the O'Shea family also a business partner of the Ford family?While Yasmin was pondering, Nikki was displeased that she had been ignored. So, she raised her eyebrows and questioned, "Why are you here?""If I say I'm Blake's wife, will you believe me?""You? Blake's wife?" Nikki said in a high-pitched voice. Then, she continued coldly, "How could that be? If you're his wife, then I'm the Queen."Yasmin felt it was impossible to converse logically with her, so she said, "Never mind, then."The red wines were too heavy, so she wanted to bring them to the villa quickly."Hey, don't go. We're n
However, Darion gave Yasmin no room for discussion. He insisted on snatching the red wines from her. Yasmin didn't want to let go. So, the two began to quarrel.Nikki felt her eyes sting from the scene.Darion was so cold toward her but incredibly gentle toward Yasmin. The more she looked at them, the more dissatisfied she felt. She ran over and pushed the red wines out of their hands.In the end, all six bottles of red wine shattered onto the ground with a resounding crash.Yasmin was shocked. She looked at Nikki in horror.Darion scolded Nikki, "Are you crazy? Why did you do that?""I think you're the crazy one. You turn into jelly when you see her," Nikki snapped back.Then, the two started shouting at each other.Standing to the side, Yasmin stared at the red wines on the ground. The purplish-red liquid was spreading everywhere.How was she going to clean this up?She felt a headache coming on.Meanwhile, the two were still quarreling. Nikki said, "Why must you help
Nikki's eyes reddened when she heard Darion say those words in front of everyone.Darion continued, "Nikki, I originally didn't plan to say all these. After breaking up with you, I didn't reveal the reason for our breakup for your sake. "I only told you that we weren't suitable for each other, so I suggested we take a break from each other. But you thought I was giving you a chance and kept pestering me. You go around and tell people that you're my wife."He added, "I was only in a relationship with you. I didn't marry you. I've done no wrong to you, nor have I ever cheated on you. "Love is freedom. Who says love means we have to be tied to each other forever? Isn't it normal for us to break up when we realize we're not suitable for each other? Why bother haunting the other person like a psycho?"Nikki lost control of her emotions. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She shouted angrily, "You just like her. That's why you're belittling me!""It's you who have problems." Darion's ex
Lizzie had been smiling, but she froze when she heard the voice. She turned around in shock.It was Blake.He was sitting in his wheelchair, with Malcolm assisting him. He wore an all-black suit, and his handsome face was hard to read.Lizzie's heart skipped a beat. Then, she heard Marie say, "Blake, you came just in time. Your wife is seducing another woman's man. She's been caught red-handed."Blake took a glance into the distance.Nikki was hitting Yasmin, who was fighting back. Meanwhile, Darion was stunned. He couldn't believe that Yasmin was Blake's secret wife.While he was pursuing Yasmin, everyone said she was Blake's canary.However, he always saw how poorly Yasmin's attitude was toward Blake, so he guessed that she wasn't interested in Blake.With that assumption, Darion immediately felt that Yasmin was someone hard to win over. Additionally, he had been fooled by Blake before, so he deliberately wanted to charm Yasmin and show off to Blake.Unexpectedly, she turned
Nikki was taken aback.Marie couldn't hold back any longer. She said, "Blake, you've got to be kidding me. Why should Nikki apologize and make up for it?"Indifferent, Blake said, "She broke the alcohol that belonged to the Fords, disrupted the gathering for New Year's, and acted so rudely and abrasively. Shouldn't her father apologize on her behalf?"After speaking, he looked at Nikki and said, "You should apologize deeply to my wife. Otherwise, I'll make sure you won't be able to stay in Stanton City."Nikki's face turned pale.Everyone present was taken aback.Blake was known to dislike his wife. Everyone wondered why he was so protective over his wife now. His behavior didn't show his dislike toward her; it seemed like he was showing affection toward her.Annalise smiled as she noticed how Blake protected Yasmin. She could tell—her son was smitten."Let's go," Blake said to Yasmin after giving his instructions.A cold look flickered across Marie's face as Yasmin was abou
"I think you're making excuses. You're the daughter-in-law of the Ford family; you have everything you need. You can bask in your lavish life even if you don't continue to run your business. Why do you need to behave so sluttily?" Marie mocked.Yasmin calmly replied, "I may be his wife, but I am also independent. I run a studio to earn a living. If Mr. Carter likes my designs and comes to buy clothes, I don't see why I should turn him away.""You know whether he likes your designs or you. You clearly know why the man approached you, yet you still flirt with him," Marie said, then looked at Blake, "Blake, look at this! Your wife is so manipulative. No matter what I say, she has a comeback. Does she even have any respect for anyone more senior than her?"Blake ignored her and looked at Yasmin. "Do you plan to continue arguing with her?"He was about to argue if she wasn't planning to.Yasmin said lightly, "I don't know what is wrong with her. She kept causing trouble as soon as she
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