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
Yasmin was stunned for a moment. She was unable to react coherently and only blabbered, "Huh?" She wondered if Blake could have guessed what she was thinking.Blake questioned again, "Are you tricking me into confronting Ivan while you make your escape with your grandmother?"Yasmin froze for a moment before replying, "How could I? Darling, you've been so good to me. I will repay you for all you've done. I'll do whatever you want me to, okay?"Yasmin was afraid he would see through her if they made eye contact for too long. So she moved to sit on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, and resting her head on his shoulder. This way, he couldn't see the deceit in her eyes. "Darling, I'm sorry for what happened four years ago. Let's stay together from now on, okay?"She hugged him, and he smiled in response. Though he had some doubts, he didn't want to hurt her feelings. He wrapped his arm around her waist and asked, "You're really not lying to me?""No, I'm being sincere.
Blake didn't want to think about anything else. He was focused solely on Yasmin before him, eagerly leaning in to kiss her lips. "We'll talk about it later."He impatiently started to undo her loungewear.Yasmin wanted to make him happy, so she wrapped her arms around him and began to unfasten his shirt buttons as well.Blake was thrilled by her sudden initiative. He hoarsely called out, "Little enchantress."Yasmin raised an eyebrow playfully. "Don't you like it?"Before he could respond, she teased, "If you don't like it, then forget it—""I do like it." He immediately pulled her closer. He then turned her face toward him and kissed her with a heated gaze. "I like it a lot."With that, he guided her hand to his belt. "Hurry up."…An hour later, the rain had finally eased up.Yasmin checked the time. It was already past 10:00 pm by then. She said softly, "Darling, it's late now. I need to go back."Blake was busy preparing for another round, so he was not about to let her
Blake waited for a while, but he never got a response from Yasmin. He turned on his side to look at her, but she had already fallen asleep.Blake wasn't easily discouraged, so he shook her arm gently, trying to rouse her awake.Yasmin lay with her back to him. Her breathing was soft and shallow as she slept.Blake felt somewhat helpless. He tightened his embrace around her and held her close as he drifted off to sleep.…The next morning, Yasmin woke up close to noon.She found herself snugly in Blake's arms, her body pressing tightly against his.He had again become aroused by their proximity. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her closer.Yasmin was startled, reaching out to pull his arm away. She tried to break free but ended up pressed even closer to him.Blake's breathing grew heavier. He opened his dark eyes and began to demand more.Yasmin was terrified when he was being like this. She pushed against his chest and questioned, "How ca
Vita immediately understood what had happened before she knocked on the door. Her face turned slightly red as she handed over the clothes while averting her eyes. "Mr. Ford, here are the clothes you requested."Blake hummed his thanks as he opened the door and took the bag from her.Vita seized the opportunity and glanced inside. There, she saw a beautiful woman wrapped in a blanket on the bed, casually eating oatmeal.Vita froze for a moment. However, before she could take a closer look, Blake slammed the door shut.Once the door was closed, Blake placed the bag next to the bed and began unpacking the clothes from their boxes.Yasmin was eating her oatmeal when she saw him unfolding several dresses and a conspicuous lingerie box. She quickly stopped him and said, "You don't need to open those. I'll handle it myself later."Blake glanced at her with a smile. "What's the big deal?""I'd rather you not do it," she said as her face flushed slightly.Blake didn't press further and
It had been a while since Yasmin saw Tristan, and she found herself missing him deeply. As she was lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the large wooden crates being pushed in her direction.Just as she was about to collide with the staff members, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her out of the way.Yasmin blinked in surprise as the crates were pushed past her. She found herself in Blake's arms, his deep voice cutting through the moment. "What were you daydreaming about?"Yasmin couldn't admit she was thinking about her son. She glanced upward at Blake, noticing his tightly furrowed brows—proving he was still quite displeased."I just got a bit distracted," she fibbed."Pay attention when you're walking. Those crates are full of valuable collections. If you'd knocked them over, it would've been a real hassle."Indeed, it would have been troublesome to deal with. Even though she had plenty of money now, some collectible items were irreplaceable. They were cheris
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