Ivan knew that this was likely Isaac's doing. Ever since he was sent to Rimmervale, he had been causing trouble in secret.Now that Blake had regained his strength, he and Isaac were constantly causing trouble for Ivan.One moment, there were problems at NAS Group; then they somehow lost a major client. Following that was the car explosion, and now someone was trying to abduct Gavin.Ivan grew increasingly frustrated. He turned to Yasmin and said, "Yasmin, I have something urgent to attend to. I'll come back tomorrow to see Grandma.""Alright," Yasmin replied. The sooner he left, the better.That said, Yasmin was curious about Wendy. She wondered what exactly her relationship with Ivan was.Yasmin watched as Ivan walked to the door, lost in thought. Suddenly, a pebble caught under his shoe, and he nearly stumbled forward.Wendy rushed over to support him before he could trip. Her voice was tense with concern as she called, "Mr. Burke."She held him close, her body emitting a fa
After Ivan left the house, Yasmin immediately called Blake. She was mostly worried about his brewing anger and how difficult it would be to calm him down later.The phone rang for a while before it was finally answered. However, there was silence on the other end, as if Blake was waiting for her to speak first.Yasmin stood at the top of the stairs, glancing around to make sure no one was around. Then, she whispered into the phone, "Darling, I'm home."When she called him "darling", it was actually just to flatter him, of course.Blake's cold demeanor softened a bit when he heard her voice. He asked, "When you went back with him earlier, you two didn't do anything, did you?"The suspicion in his voice was evident. Yasmin snorted. "What could possibly happen in just half an hour?""A lot can be done in half an hour."Yasmin was both speechless and irritated. "We were in the car the whole time, Blake. From the restaurant to my place, you can check for yourself—the journey takes ab
Yasmin suddenly remembered this detail. Before even coming to Merania, she had already undergone a DNA test with Imogen. Yet, Ivan had never mentioned this to her. He only offered to help her leave Blake.In hindsight, he must have known she was Imogen's granddaughter. However, he kept it a secret. He manipulated her into leaving Blake, just to keep them apart.If Blake had brought Yasmin to Merania to meet Imogen, Ivan wouldn't have had the chance to gain Imogen's favor.Yasmin's realization sent a shiver of fear down her spine. It was clear now that Ivan had been plotting this for a long time, possibly starting four years ago."Yes, that's right," Imogen confirmed. She also realized this herself recently. Everything had been orchestrated by Ivan.She asked, "Yasmin, did Ivan know you were from the Sander family long before?"Yasmin couldn't recall at first and was about to shake her head when a memory suddenly flashed in her mind.That time!It was when she went to the mounta
Yasmin was resolute. She couldn't leave alone with the secrets. It would put Imogen's safety at risk if Ivan found out. She couldn't bear to think about her grandmother suffering because of her actions.Hence, she shook her head. "No, Grandma, I can't leave without you. You and Dad are still in Ivan's clutches. I need to get all of us out of here!"Stuart was still in the ICU, and she feared that leaving could endanger both him and Imogen. Yasmin was determined to find a way to save her family.Imogen said, "It's alright, Yasmin. I'm old and my health is failing. A few years less doesn't matter."Yasmin shook her head vigorously. "No, I can't leave you behind. Grandma, I've thought about it. When Ivan and I have our wedding, he'll be convinced everything is going smoothly."That's when you'll give me the USB flash drive. He'll be off guard, and that's when we can all go to Rimmervale together."Yasmin had been going over this plan numerous times since she was confined by Blake. I
Yasmin's breathing quickened. "The bodyguards here are all Ivan's people. Don't act impulsively."If Blake came now, Ivan would certainly find out. If it came down to that, things would get even more complicated.Yasmin feared causing more trouble. Right now, Blake was a threat. His presence was hindering her plans, so Yasmin held back her anxiety as she said, "Darling, can I set up the surveillance tomorrow? Just one more night.""No." Blake didn't like this feeling. Either she stayed by his side, or he would storm into her room.Yasmin bit her bottom lip, not knowing how to persuade him.Blake seemed genuinely unhinged now. She believed he might be psychologically troubled. He was full of doubts, was always guarded, and had tremendous mistrust in everyone.Perhaps the events from four years ago had changed him.But now, she was genuinely afraid of him. She feared he might lose control and decide to use a helicopter to bring her back to Stanton City this instant. That would be
Blake's lips curved into a faint smile upon hearing Yasmin's words. He no longer seemed upset. "You finished your shower?""Yeah," Yasmin replied as she leaned against a pillow while holding her phone."I just visited Grandma. She said her eyes don't hurt anymore, but they're still bandaged. She needs to avoid using them for now and have a doctor come daily to apply medication.""That's good," Blake responded.After that, neither spoke for a moment. Yasmin faked a yawn, pretending to be very sleepy."Are you tired?" Blake asked."Yeah." Yasmin stretched lazily. "You wore me out this morning. Then I went out to eat and had to deal with Ivan when I got back. I'm exhausted…"She yawned several times in a row. Tears of fatigue welled up in her reddened eyes. Her neck still bearing the marks he had left earlier in the day.That morning, she was freshening up when he leaned against the bathroom door, watching her intently. On a whim, he grabbed her from behind and lifted her onto the
After finishing her sentence, Yasmin lay back down. She appeared upset and unwilling to talk further.Blake called her name, but Yasmin merely muttered, "Let's stop talking. I'm going to sleep."Yasmin hugged a stuffed animal and turned her back to the video call to sleep.Blake watched her for a moment. Then, he downed the rest of his wine and picked up a file from the coffee table.Soon, Yasmin's steady breathing came through the phone, indicating she had fallen asleep. Blake's gaze lingered on the screen. Yasmin had always been a restless sleeper. She turned over, and one fair leg slipped out from under the covers. Then, she curled up, draping her leg over the blanket. She hugged the blanket as if it were a body pillow.Watching her, Blake couldn't help but smile.Yasmin had the habit of hugging things while asleep. When they slept together, she would cling to him like a koala bear.In the early days, when their relationship was still strained, Blake found it annoying. Even
But with so many people around, Imogen decided to say nothing and nodded for Yasmin to go ahead.Yasmin directed the technicians to install the surveillance cameras in certain places.Having surveillance in Imogen's room was actually a good idea. If Yasmin needed to leave, she could still check on Imogen via her phone. And if they needed to have a private conversation, they could simply unplug the camera. As such, Yasmin didn't mind this arrangement.Installing the surveillance cameras was quite simple. It just needed to be mounted on the ceiling at the right angle.Yasmin noticed Clara standing nearby, watching without leaving. She frowned slightly and asked, "Clara, is breakfast ready? Grandma is hungry."Clara replied, "Yes, breakfast is ready.""Please help Vanessa bring Grandma downstairs for breakfast," Yasmin instructed, trying to get her to leave.Vanessa was a smart woman. She instantly understood Yasmin's intention. She glanced at Clara and said, "Clara, I can't suppor
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