It was 7:30 pm.Yasmin was the first to arrive at Maple Tower. Eunice followed shortly after, and they met at the entrance.Eunice grabbed Yasmin's hand as soon as she got out of the car."You got divorced with Blake today?" Yasmin had told Eunice over WhatsApp, and she was genuinely concerned."We filed for divorce. The divorce certificate will be issued next month." Yasmin pursed her lips.Eunice looked at her. "Yaz, are you okay?""I'm not sad at all. I've said it before. This is what I wanted. I'm finally free now." She smiled, her eyes hiding the sadness underneath.Eunice stared at her for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to comfort her. She deliberately raised her voice and said, " That's great. Here's to Yaz starting a new chapter!"Yasmin replied with a simple "Hmm" and lowered her eyes. No one could see the sadness in them.She told herself not to dwell on it. The situation had resolved itself perfectly. Suddenly, a Rolls-Royce Ghost pulled up in front of
Yasmin shook her head. "Not yet."They started ordering food.Yasmin texted Ivan on her cell phone. "I let my staff place their orders first.""Alright, go ahead. I just finished an interview and am on my way." Yasmin put down her phone and told the others, "Mr. Burke said he's on his way. Let's start eating."As she finished speaking, the waiter entered with the food. She even brought a bottle of fine foreign liquor.Yasmin looked at it. "I didn't order this bottle of wine.""It is a gift from a lady. She asked me to wish you a happy divorce!" The waiter had delivered the message, unaware of her situation.Yasmin's expression turned cold. She picked up the bottle and asked, "And who might this lady be?""She didn't tell me her name.""Was she pale and wearing a white dress?""Yes, that's her." The waiter nodded.It had to be Giselle. She sent the bottle of wine to irritate her.Yasmin stood up. "What room is she in?"The waiter replied, "She's from room 106."When Yasm
Yasmin's eyes shot open abruptly. Alarmed, she stretched her arm out and grabbed a can opener that lay on the nearby table. Her eyes blazing with coldness, she stabbed Caleb's stomach with the can opener in her hand.Caleb yelled and curled up on his side, cradling his stomach.Once the makeshift weapon had accomplished its purpose, she tossed the can opener aside and immediately ran outside."Don't run!" Caleb yelled after her. "Get that bitch!" He ordered his bodyguards. A few bodyguards chased after her.Yasmin's limbs felt like jelly. She had been drugged and felt exhausted. She tried to run back to Eunice's room. But the guards caught her in the corridor just as she reached the stairs.Caleb walked toward her, huffing and puffing. With a smirk, he pressed her head against the wall."Great, since you like livestreaming in public so much, let me make it happen." He pressed her against the wall. "How exciting! I haven't tried doing it in a corridor before!"In a ragg
Yasmin was filled with deep hatred when she remembered this. She wanted to hit him again, but Blake held her back, saying, "Enough. Don't dirty your hands."He tossed the bloodied Caleb at Malcolm's feet. "I'll leave him to you.""Yes, sir," Malcolm replied.Yasmin felt herself being carried up. Stunned for a second, she felt like jelly in his arms. Upon looking back, she saw Malcolm and two bodyguards give Caleb a sound beating.Giselle stood under the shaft of light, her gaze cold.Something suddenly made sense to Yasmin; the waiter who delivered the wine had said that the wine was a gift from a lady.Was Giselle the perpetrator behind the night's events?"Don't look at that bloody scene. I don't want you getting nightmares." Blake turned her head forward, not allowing her to look back.Yasmin lifted her gaze to look at him in astonishment. It was almost as if it was her first time meeting him.She never expected him to have such a wild and arrogant side.No wonder her fat
Blake and Yasmin arrived at Oak Garden.Yasmin's damp hair was plastered all over her delicate little face.Blake parted her long hair and carried her to the second floor. Yasmin lay on the bed. Despite her situation, she still had the time to joke. "Your leg has recovered?""Almost," Blake replied. "Have you removed your cast?""I removed it this afternoon," Blake replied. Upon seeing her suffering so much discomfort, he rinsed a towel for her to wipe her sweat.Feeling a sudden wave of heat, Yasmin curled up and quivered. "Joel is almost here. Bear with it for a while longer." Blake helped her up and gave her some warm water to drink.Yasmin's logic flew out of the window. She lay in his arms, drank two sips of water, and didn't want to let go of him.She felt so hot. When she touched Blake's cool skin, she refused to let go. She leaned against him, nestled in his sturdy arms."Yasmin?" Blake looked down at her.It was rather unlike her to do such a thing.She was flu
Blake was a little wild, but he knew they could only do so much tonight.Thus, he stopped what he was doing, reluctantly let go of her, and went downstairs to open the door.Blake opened the door to reveal Joel clutching his phone. Joel looked at him strangely and asked, "Blake, what's going on? I've been yelling so many times. Why was there no response from either of you?"Blake's face was frigid as he demanded, "Where's the medicine?"Joel passed him a box of medicine. Blake took it. Wanting to assess Yasmin's condition, Joel pushed at the door, intending to go into the house.With his foot, Blake stopped him from entering the house. "What's the dosage?""Take two pills and wash them down with water." Joel looked at Blake questioningly. "Blake, why are you blocking the door? Let me go and assess Yasmin's condition.""No need. Get lost." Blake took the medicine and slammed the door in Joel's face.Outside, Joel was cursing at Blake, "What the hell? I brought medicine for y
The next day, Yasmin woke up feeling sore and limp all over her body.She got down from the bed, took in her surroundings, and recalled everything that had happened last night.She had been drugged by Caleb, then saved by Blake. Her mind raced as she recalled what happened after. He had brought her back, and they made out on the bed.Yasmin clutched her face tightly.Wait, how did they end up making out last night?She had been drugged, but Blake hadn't. Why had he made out with her?Furthermore, Blake looked terrifying when he beat up Caleb. His gaze was misleading, making Yasmin think that he cared about her.She was confused again.Didn't Blake hate fickle women like her to the bone?Why was he being so nice to her?She didn't dare to follow this thought, so she stopped herself. "Forget it." She chided herself, "You're already divorced. You should not be looking back."With that, she collected her things and secretly crept downstairs. "Mrs. Ford," Mary called from t
Giselle looked at Blake with a pitiful expression and said, "Blake, please believe me. I never had any ill intentions. It was just a passing remark, and I didn't know it would escalate like this."Yasmin had enough of this. She turned and left. Blake called after her, "Not eating breakfast anymore?""Nope!" The sight of Giselle made her so furious that she had lost her appetite.Yasmin walked out of the compound and tried to call an Uber.Due to it being peak hours, many drivers were unavailable, and she didn't manage to get an Uber. As she waited, Blake's Rolls-Royce Ghost rolled up next to her."Get in." Blake opened the car door, still dressed in his exercise gear.Had he come out in a hurry?What about Giselle? Had Blake left her at Oak Garden?Yasmin, thinking of how he had saved her last night, got in his car. "Where's Giselle? Did you abandon her at Oak Garden?""She said that her stomach doesn't feel good, so I asked Mary to look after her." Blake glanced at Yasmin.
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