Annalise said, "How can I bring this up? My sister might think I'm trying to create a wedge between them. Besides, you know how pitiful she is. She isn't married and will never have her own children. It's normal for her to be slightly closed off and eccentric."Blake knew it was pointless to discuss the Keatings with his mother. Annalise had always had a soft spot towards her maiden family. So, he said, "Some people are just not worth it. Think about it."After speaking, he took the elevator to the second floor.Yasmin was lying on the bed asleep. She was too exhausted that she didn't cover herself with a blanket.Blake moved toward her in his wheelchair. Her head was resting on the blanket; her skin as white as snow.She had woken up so early today and was busy throughout the day; she was undoubtedly exhausted.Blake placed her on her pillow, took off her shoes, and covered her with the blanket. Then, he lowered his head to gaze at her face.She looked extremely delicate and so
Yasmin felt he was making a big deal out of nothing. She pouted and said, "Isn't it normal to kneel to measure pants? How else can you do it?""Ask an assistant to measure it next time," Blake ordered, looking at her on his lap.Yasmin was speechless. "But the assistant will also have to kneel before the man, right?""I don't care about other women; I care about you," Blake said, tapping her nose. "You're mine. I don't like you getting too close to other men. Do you understand?""Am I not allowed to make friends and close sales?""You can, but you must maintain an appropriate distance and tell me where you went with them.""You're asking for too much." Yasmin was displeased. She had a fierce look on her face like a little beast seething its teeth.Blake laughed and bit her red lips, "I know..."The kiss lasted a long time.It wasn't until Yasmin was mesmerized that he let go of her. He looked at her slightly flushed face.Of course, he was affected, too; his eyes were dark, s
They arrived at the night market half an hour later.The place was filled with colorful decorations, and the latest pop songs filled the air.The place was packed, but they still had room to move around.The place was bustling with activities and food. There was a merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel, stalls selling barbecued food and candy, and stalls with riddles and selling knick-knacks."That one..." Yasmin pointed to a barbecue stall not far away. "That stall is delicious. We buy from there every time we're here."She pushed him over. She was about to order skewers when Blake frowned and said, "This is junk food."Yasmin was rendered speechless.She glanced at the busy stall owner. Thankfully, there were too many people, and he was too busy to notice them in the crowd. Yasmin said, "This is how barbecued food is. It's not supposed to be healthy. We just have to not make it a habit of eating it all the time."She reached for the menu and asked, "Do you want any?"Blake looked at
Yasmin said, "It's delicious; You just don't know how to appreciate it. Eunice and I would stuff ourselves silly every time we were here. You're just too pampered and haven't experienced the real world.""Aren't you a pampered daughter from a rich family too?" Blake countered as his gaze fixed on her.Yasmin replied, "That's different. I'm a down-to-earth rich girl. When I was in university, Eunice introduced me to truffle pasta, opening a new world for me. It smells bad, but it tastes great. Once you eat it, you’ll crave it again."She picked a few strands of pasta for him. "Do you want to try? It's flavorful and delicious. You should give it a shot."Blake looked hesitant. "No, thanks.""Fine, your loss." She put the pasta in her mouth, savoring it as if her soul left her body. "Mmm, it's so good. I haven't had this in so long. It brings back memories."She was reminded of the carefree and happy times.Blake also smiled at how happy she was.After eating, they continued to st
Yasmin was a bit puzzled. "Aren't you worried it'll melt if you don't eat it?""No. The weather is cold, so I want to keep it for a few more days." Eating it all at once felt like a waste to Blake.It was already past 11 pm by the time they reached Bournegin Heights.Yasmin was exhausted. She removed her shoes, changed into her pajamas, and went to the bathroom to remove her makeup.Blake was in the living room. He discarded a bouquet from a vase and placed his chocolate art in it, admiring it with satisfaction.After a long while, Yasmin was still in the room, so Blake went to find her. He saw her standing in front of the bathroom mirror, fiddling with her phone."What are you doing?" Blake asked.Yasmin replied, "I'm buying a bottle of makeup-cleansing oil. I'm almost out, and a New Year sale is going on. Shu Uemura's official flagship store has a deal on their Amber Ultimate Cleansing Oil. They are selling 27.5 ounces of the product for 15 ounces. I'll get twice the amount fo
His free hand reached for Yasmin's hand, guiding it to his body. His voice tinged with naughtiness, "Wifey, help me..."Yasmin's ears turned red, and she scolded, "I don't think you're taking your injury seriously. The doctor said you need to abstain from intimate activities.""Something bad will happen to me if I wait too long," Blake said hoarsely. "As long as we're careful, it'll be fine."He tried to lead her into it, but Yasmin refused. She struggled. "No."Blake was persistent. The more she refused, the more exhilarating it was for him. His gaze became dangerous as he placed her hand to his lips and kissed it.Yasmin gasped as he unbuttoned her pajamas and pulled her into the covers.Yasmin couldn't resist. Fearing he might get hurt, she turned to lie in his arms.Blake sensed her care and smiled slightly, hugging her from behind...…An hour later, Blake got up and was about to carry her to the shower."Don't carry me. Your leg hasn't recovered yet. I'll go myself." Ya
Blake was silent for a moment, seemingly unhappy. The expression in his eyes darkened.Yasmin ignored him and ran out to eat the nutritious breakfast Mary made.After a while, Blake came out of the bedroom with a down jacket draped over his wheelchair and said, "It's getting colder today. Put on your down jacket."Unexpectedly, he still cared for her even when he was angry.Yasmin was surprised and slightly embarrassed. She stuffed a piece of fish into her mouth and said, "Okay, I'll wear it later."The two of them went out together to the hospital.Yasmin was a bit surprised. "Why are we at Westview Hospital Center?""It's the second day of the New Year; we should visit your family since you've visited mine. I want to visit your father with you," Blake said with a smile.Yasmin felt warm inside; it was rare that he remembered to visit her family.Yasmin smiled and went into the hospital with him.Stuart was still in the ICU. The doctor came over with the medical report and s
Yasmin said, "If he didn’t like me, it wouldn't matter, no matter how hard I tried. But we have come this far. Even if we divorced, he would still want me, despite my dad scheming against him because he had liked me from the start."The expression on Lizzie's face grew uglier as she listened, and she couldn't help but say coldly, "You two can never be together."A glint flickered in Yasmin's eyes; a thought appeared in her mind. However, she kept quiet.Lizzie leaned closer and said softly, "I know your secret. If you have any dignity left, you should leave him. Otherwise...""What secret do you know?" Yasmin remained calm, probing her.However, Lizzie refused to say more. She wasn’t that foolish to leave a trail. She had spoken out of momentary displeasure earlier; now, she covered her mouth, unwilling to reveal anything further, "You want to know, don't you? I'm not telling you.""Spit it." Yasmin moved closer, grabbing one of her hands and forcing her to speak.Fear settled o
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