Yasmin's brows furrowed. At the sight of this, Ivan's lips pursed into a grim line. He was about to say something when Wendy came over and informed, "Mr. Burke, something has happened.""What is it?" Ivan asked, turning to look at his secretary with a stormy expression.Startled by his harsh tone, Wendy answered, "MG Group has terminated their collaboration with us."Ivan frowned. "Do we know why?"Wendy inched closer to him and said in a voice that was only loud enough for him to hear, "Blake's behind this."Ivan's face darkened instantly. When he saw Yasmin staring at them in confusion, he quickly concealed the icy gleam in his eyes and stroked her hair indulgently. He told her to go back without him before he rose to his feet and left.Yasmin watched him leave and heard him ask Wendy in hushed tones, "He's here in Merania?" She didn't know who he might be referring to.After Ivan left the hospital, Yasmin called Isaac. He sounded amused on the other line as he asked, "You cal
Yasmin's head grew heavy after she heard what Isaac had to say. She suddenly felt like Ivan had spun a web to trap all of them. She took a deep breath and asked tiredly, "And what about Wendy? Who is she to Ivan?""A woman who loves Ivan and will do all his wicked deeds just to please him," Isaac explained. He paused before adding, "If you believe me at all, Yasmin, come to Rimmervale and meet me in person. "I'll need you to bring NAS Group's trade secrets with you, of course. Let's work together to bring down that sly two-faced fox."His proposition was met with a long silence. He prompted, "Don't you trust me?"She did not trust him at all, but she still didn't know why he chose her of all people to help him with his endeavors. She asked tentatively, "Why did you seek me out?""Because your family is rich, and I need money," Isaac said frankly. Without money, he did not stand a chance against Ivan in the international business scene. "Also, you're as much a victim of his lies a
Yasmin's blood ran cold as fear struck her. She looked at Vanessa solemnly and said, "Vanessa, replace these medications with the ones Grandma really has to take. Don't let anyone see you swap them out."There was no telling who among the housekeeping staff and bodyguards reported to Ivan. Besides, Imogen had only just had surgery, and her movements had to be kept to a minimum. Yasmin would have to lie low and observe how things pan out for the time being.She added for good measure, "Vanessa, this stays between us. Grandma can't know about this."The last thing she wanted was for Imogen to have a heart attack after learning Ivan had been poisoning her. She figured it would be wise for them to hold off the news for now.Yasmin and Vanessa were still talking when the former's phone rang. She jumped in surprise and glanced at the name flashing across the screen. Her mouth ran dry when she saw Ivan's name—like the words had been carved by the devil himself.She must have spaced out,
Yasmin's eyes widened in shock. "Why?""Why? Haven't you heard about what happened four years ago?" Isaac countered, perplexed.Yasmin truly hadn't heard anything. She recalled Ivan telling her that Blake had solved the little hiccup that had occurred at Windmere Group and agreed to let her go. She hadn't asked about the events in Stanton City since.Isaac knew from Yasmin's silence that Ivan had spun her yet another lie. He said gravely, "Four years ago, Windmere Group experienced a crisis after you left. Ivan and Neil worked together to kick Blake out of the board of directors and took away his position as the acting CEO of the company."However, Blake had his own supporters in the company. With their endorsement, Neil could not kick him off the board so easily. But all this was well within Ivan's expectation. After all, his goal was never to rip Windmere Group out from under Blake but to sell off its shares and projects."At the time, Neil had used his position in the company t
Yasmin's heart thundered in her chest. Her instincts cried at her to run, so she did.However, Blake grabbed her by the arm to stop her from fleeing. He chuckled darkly as he drawled, "Where are you running off to? I only just got here, and we have so much to catch up on, don't you agree, Yasmin?"She blanched. The next second, the pungent scent of chloroform invaded her nose, and darkness claimed her.When Yasmin awoke, she found herself lying on a couch in a suite. She felt drained. Although she tried to get up, she couldn't summon enough strength to do so.Just then, the door to the suite opened. A backlit, towering silhouette entered the suite and came to a stop before her. It was Blake, and a sneer tugged his lips as he perched next to her. She could feel his menacing gaze raking over her limp form.Yasmin tried to move, but her limbs felt like they were weighed down by lead. Blake snorted at her effort and said, "Don't bother. The drug hasn't left your system yet."He sat e
The thought prompted Blake to tighten his grip on the gun once more, his gaze devoid of warmth. Once he killed Yasmin, she would stop haunting his dreams. He would stop recalling the things that happened four years ago, and he would not be tortured by those memories any longer.It was then that Yasmin saw the scar running along his neck. Isaac had told her that Blake was ambushed by the mercenary group while he was in his car. He sustained gunshot wounds and a cut to his neck.She wondered if the scar had come from that event. Tears spilled fiercely down her cheeks as she thought about how much danger he had been through.Blake saw her tears and chuckled humorlessly. "Scared?"Yasmin shook her head. "I heard you were nearly assassinated once. You were shot and you took a cut to the neck. Is that how you got that scar?"Blake's smile grew even more wicked when he heard this. "You said you were used as a pawn, but when I was nearly assassinated two years ago, you never once came b
Blake seemed shocked by Yasmin's request. He raised a brow at her and asked, "That's your last wish? To kiss me?""Yes," Yasmin said. "Since you don't believe me no matter how much I've tried to explain to you, all I ask for in my final moments is to kiss and hug you."He was surprised to hear this. He narrowed his eyes, demanding, "What are you playing at?""You're holding a gun to my head, and I could die at any second. What tricks could I possibly pull? It's not as if you'd believe what I say, so…" Her gaze fell on his lips, hoping she hadn't guessed his feelings for her wrongly.She did not want to stoop so low and use his feelings as a weapon, but she didn't want to die, either. She still had to save Imogen from Ivan's evil plot, and Tristan was waiting to see her, too.And so Yasmin would play her cards well if it meant her survival. She would not die until she had made sure Imogen and Tristan were safe.Without waiting for Blake to respond, she pushed her aching body up an
Yasmin kissed his throat and brushed her lips across the scar on his neck, her slender hand feeling up the buttons of his shirt. As she undid them, her free hand slid down his firm chest.She felt the proof of his desire and chuckled. "See? You're turned on as well. Why don't you just admit that you want me?"She slipped her hand under his waistband. He stiffened and tried to hold her hand still, but she was as lithe as a snake. She evaded his touch and lowered her head.As Yasmin knelt next to him, she did her best to worship every part of him with her mouth. Blake tensed under her. She had never gotten on her knees and taken him with her mouth before. It was a strange sensation—to hate her yet be unable to push her away. He even felt excited, the thrill making his blood sing.They stayed on the couch, their silhouettes tangled.Yasmin grew tired after a while. Her jaw ached, and her tears were spilling freely down her cheeks. She couldn't do this anymore. Perhaps she just wasn