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
Isaac understood her intentions. He was somewhat surprised to learn that Yasmin had decided to feign compliance to Blake. "So, you're trying to keep Ivan in the dark and maintain control over Blake?"Yasmin hesitantly replied, "Something like that."Isaac thought about how she had to navigate the two men and remarked, "That's not going to be easy."Yasmin had no words to offer him in response. She was sure now that Isaac was indeed a scheming man. At the very least, he had a sharp tongue.After the teasing, Isaac resumed a serious tone. "What's the second thing?" Yasmin rolled her eyes and said, "It's about my father. I need you to help me with something."Isaac needed to prove both his capability and sincerity before she would trust him."Tell me," Isaac said."My father is currently at Sunnydale Nursing Home under 24-hour surveillance. I need you to prepare a drug that can simulate death. I plan to fake his death in order to get him out."On the wedding day, Yasmin would fa
Yasmin replied, "Everything's alright, Trist.""If there's nothing wrong, then I want to come back now," Tristan suddenly declared.Yasmin was startled by this. She wiped her tears and said, "Trist, you absolutely cannot come back right now.""Why not?" Tristan asked.Yasmin couldn't find a reason to offer him and fell silent.Tristan then asked, "Did something happen in Merania? Mom, what are you hiding from me?"Yasmin was taken aback by how perceptive Tristan was. He could discern her emotions from just a few words.As Yasmin pondered how to explain herself, Pearl took the phone and said, "Yasmin, maybe you should just tell Trist." She was exhausted from keeping secrets. Pearl had been coming up with excuses for days, but Tristan kept probing, and Pearl was running out of answers.Yasmin was silent for a moment. She then nodded to herself and signaled Pearl to explain the situation to Tristan.Pearl was able to share everything that had been happening recently with Trista
Yasmin declined. "There's no need. It was very painful earlier, but it's fine now."After speaking, she leaned against Blake and said softly, "With you here, it doesn't hurt anymore."Blake couldn't help but smile. He lowered his head and blew into her eyes a few times. "Does it feel better now?"The cool breeze from his breath seemed to make her feel comfortable. Yasmin closed her eyes and replied, "Yes, it feels better."Blake then held her close as they observed the other items up for auction.At some point, a light purple diamond appeared on the display. It was dazzling and very rare.The auctioneer announced, "This is an extremely rare purple diamond with a clarity reading of SI2, weighing 7.34 carats, named 'Heart's Desire'. It's currently the most perfect heart-shaped diamond in the world. The starting bid is 800 thousand dollars!"Seeing the natural heart-shaped diamond, Blake seemed transfixed. He leaned down and said to Yasmin, who had her eyes closed, "Yaz, take a loo
Yasmin could still vividly recall the look of disgust on Annalise's face. Her gaze was sharp and cutting as if she wanted to slice Yasmin's flesh piece by piece.Even though Yasmin had Imogen and Tristan on her side now, she couldn't forget past grievances.Annalise would never accept her, no matter how wealthy or successful Yasmin became. The grudges of the previous generation were a deadlock that couldn't be resolved.When Blake heard her ask about Annalise, he said in a steady voice, "My mom is not doing well."A few years ago, she had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. After surgery, she lived for another four years, but now her health had completely deteriorated. She was currently in a nursing home, spending money to prolong her life. She couldn't even leave the care center as she might not have much time left.Hearing those words, Yasmin looked up and asked, "Madam Annalise is not well?""Yes, she fell seriously ill a few years ago. Joel said that the extra years she liv
Windmere Group had eventually regained its former glory, and Keating Corporation had averted the risk of bankruptcy, becoming a leading company in its own right.It seemed Lizzie's gamble had paid off. If Marie had been in charge, Keating Corporation would certainly have gone bankrupt. Under Blake's leadership, however, it had been revived.Lizzie was later credited with both saving Blake and aiding the family business' resurgence. Consequently, Blake's relationship with the Keatings grew closer, and Adelle frequently hinted at a potential engagement between Blake and Lizzie.Blake neither agreed to nor dismissed the idea. When Lizzie mentioned celebrating his birthday, he didn't object, leading her to believe he was on board with the engagement. She speculated excitedly that the money he spent might have been on a diamond ring to propose to her. Feeling giddy at the thought, Lizzie decided not to call Blake and bother him at this time.However, there was an unexpected explosion
Lizzie was silent for a moment before speaking up again. "Is everything not going as planned?"It was understandable that things had strayed off course. Ivan was now the heir of the Burke family and was very powerful. He wasn't someone who could be taken down so easily.In addition, Lizzie had heard that after being recognized by the Sander family, Yasmin was now a young lady of high status. The two of them had become difficult to deal with.Lizzie said, "Blake, if things aren't going well, you should come back. Aunt Anna is frightened and needs you now more than ever. Plus, I'm worried that she might be put in harm's way since you're not here."The explosion at the nursing home last night was a sign of retaliation from Ivan. Now that they had openly clashed and faced off, it was clear there would be many more battles to come, both in the public eye and behind the scenes.Before Blake left for Merania, Lizzie had opposed his decision to leave temporarily. She believed that if he s
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