Yasmin shivered and said to Ivan, "I have a call. It might be a delivery, so I'll have to answer it."She walked to the backyard to take the call. From this distance, she had a clearer view of the house behind hers.She saw a tall figure moving closer to the sheer curtains. Gradually, a slender, upright silhouette was revealed.It was Blake.Yasmin was startled. She answered the phone just then. "Hello?""Ms. Starr, it's Malcolm. Mr. Ford saw Ivan putting jewelry on you. He's very unhappy and wants you to come over immediately."Yasmin's voice was hushed and tinged with frustration. "Ivan is here right now. How can I just leave? If I go out, he'll ask where I'm going. Tell Blake I can't come right now."Malcolm relayed the message. Then, the phone was handed over to Blake. His tone was commanding as he questioned, "Are you coming or not?"Yasmin felt the onslaught of a throbbing headache. She held back her anger and replied, "I just told you I can't leave right now. I'll come o
It was clear that Ivan was guarding against Blake.Yasmin scrutinized the car Ivan got into, noticing that the windows were extremely thick. Yasmin asked, "Ivo, why does your car seem different than the rest?"Hearing her question, Ivan glanced at her and smiled. "I just got this car. It's bulletproof."So he really was protecting himself from Blake's attacks.As Yasmin pondered this, Ivan asked, "Yasmin, things are getting dangerous outside. Do you need some bodyguards to keep you safe?"Of course, Yasmin didn't want that. If she accepted, Ivan's men would be watching her every move. With so many already around the villa, having more would mean losing all her freedom.She smiled lightly and said, "No need, Ivo. I don't like having a bunch of people around when I go out." Her tone remained relaxed and gentle.Ivan's gaze deepened just then. "Yasmin, I'm worried Blake might hurt you.""He won't. If he wanted to, he could have done it last time, but he didn't."Ivan fell silent
Over the years, Yasmin had matured. She no longer considered those who were unsuitable for her.Now, pleasing Blake was just a temporary measure to save Imogen and Stuart. She had no intention of telling him about Tristan. She feared he might take her son away from her.At that moment, she decided to go to Rimmervale and collaborate with Isaac and Imogen's subordinates to reclaim Sander International.Once everything was settled, she would change her identity and live quietly with Tristan. She would make sure Blake could never find them again.Presently, Ivan got into his car and left.Yasmin quickly went upstairs and changed into a sensual dress before seeking Blake out. She knew he was furious now. His mood swings had become unpredictable, and she had to find a way to calm him down.As she walked through the villa's main gate, she saw several cars parked in the yard. Blake's bodyguards were stationed there now. The two men were on edge, appearing to constantly be wary of some
Yasmin retorted, "I already showered this morning.""Yes, you did. But then you met with that man. You let him put jewelry on you, and let his hands touch your neck. You now reek of him and his filth. It's disgusting, so go shower."His words cut like knives.Yasmin never imagined Blake could be this erratic. In the past, he might have said hurtful things out of jealousy. However, he had never gone to his extent.Now, he was utterly unreasonable.Yasmin bit her lip and softly explained, "Blake, I've told you, I can't antagonize Ivan right now. I can't be too resistant to him.""So you let him touch you, hold your hand, and whisper sweet nothings?" He stood up and confronted her. His anger flared as if he had recalled something, and his hatred grew stronger. "Four years ago, you acted the same way with me. You played the victim, letting me do everything for you. But then you turned around and betrayed me. I begged you not to leave, but you showed me what deception and betrayal r
Blake turned Yasmin around, placing the towel on her head to dry her hair.Yasmin swatted his hand away, shouting, "Get away from me!"Blake was caught off guard and stumbled back as she pushed him. He was about to get angry but then saw her red eyes and trembling lips. She looked on the verge of an emotional breakdown.Yasmin angrily wiped away her tears. Her voice filled with loathing as she gritted out, "Blake, you're insane."Blake was momentarily stunned by this. All his anger vanished when he saw her tears. He said wearily, "Yeah, I guess I am insane."He still loved her, but he couldn't forget the pain she caused. From time to time, he would recall those memories and start doubting her sincerity. This would lead to feelings of pain, confusion, resentment, and rage.Maybe she was like a tumor on his heart. He knew she was harmful, but he simply couldn't let her go.In the years Blake spent in Stanton City, he heard rumors of Yasmin's happiness with Ivan.His mind would
As Blake kissed Yasmin, he noticed Yasmin's body was stiff and unresponsive. He stopped and looked at her silently.It was then that he noticed Yasmin's lips were tightly pressed together. She was clearly unwilling to be close to him.Blake watched her for a moment before leaning back. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Sorry, force of habit."He had suddenly woken up, thinking he was still dreaming. He reached out to pull her close.However, Yasmin said, "I need to get up."Blake let her go. He sat on the edge of the bed and asked, "What do you want for dinner?"Yasmin glanced at the darkened sky. "It's getting late, I should head back. Ivan mentioned he'd be coming by tonight."He had indeed mentioned it during the day. Yasmin was afraid Ivan would grow suspicious if he found her missing.When Blake heard Ivan's name, he paused for a moment before speaking, "He won't be back tonight. The warehouse situation will take him a couple of days to sort out."In truth, Blake had cont
Isaac was somewhat surprised to see the text message from Yasmin. He asked, "You'll agree?"To which Yasmin replied, "Yes, I consulted my grandmother. She believes you're trustworthy, so we will cooperate. "However, you need to arrange a route to get us out of Merania. We will go to Rimmervale to work with you. If you help us, we will help you reclaim NAS Group."Isaac smiled as he read her message. Since moving to Rimmervale, he had been living comfortably. He had his own company, along with loyal subordinates. Yet, he was still resentful.He couldn't accept that the vast NAS Group was handed over to Ivan just like that.Isaac had always been the rightful heir to the Burke family. After all, NAS Group was built by his mother, Sacha Dixon, alongside his father.The full name of NAS Group was actually NASAC Group, the latter half of the name paying tribute to his mother's first name. It was named as such to symbolize their partnership in establishing the company. However, Gavin
Yasmin quickly bent down to pick her phone up, just as the door opened. Blake casually strode in carrying a bowl of pasta.Seeing her crouched by the bed, he asked, "What are you doing?"Yasmin's body stiffened, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. She feared Blake might suspect something was amiss, so she replied, "I'm checking on my grandmother.""Checking on your grandmother?" Blake raised an eyebrow."Yes." Yasmin moved to pick up her phone. She immediately minimized the chat box and opened the surveillance app instead. "I worry about her safety when I'm out, so I always check the surveillance to see what she's doing."She deliberately showed her phone to Blake.Blake took a glance at it. On the screen, Imogen was blindfolded while Vanessa fed her medicine.Blake didn't seem suspicious. He looked at her and merely said, "Dinner's ready."He had made her a bowl of pasta.Earlier, when Blake had gone downstairs to cook, the bodyguards were shocked beyond belief. They were
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