Time seemed to stop as their eyes locked. Vivianne offered a gentle smile, her lips softly grazing Frederick's.To her surprise, Frederick responded with an unexpected passion, overwhelming the inexperienced Vivianne. She felt dizzy and breathless, her mind a blank canvas as he held her tightly. Frederick was typically passive and only occasionally received affection from Vivianne. However, he was acting strangely out of character now.As he grew bolder in his advances, Vivianne understood his intentions. Panicked, she cried out, "Frederick, I'm not ready. We're not married yet. Please, give me two days to prepare." But Frederick seemed deaf to her pleas, his kisses growing more fervent.Suddenly, Vivianne's phone rang.Recognizing her father's name on the screen, she begged, "Frederick, stop! My dad is calling. I need to answer it." Frederick ignored her entirely as if possessed.Vivianne was forced to struggle against him. Amid their struggle, the Violet Spirit Vessel
Frederick's brow furrowed as he pondered, and then his eyes widened with realization. "Did you say your father called to say he had a stomach ache?"Vivianne nodded as her confusion grew. "Yes, but why are you and my dad making such a fuss about it?"Frederick suddenly leaped out of bed. "We need to check on him. He might have been poisoned!"Vivianne's blood ran cold as she remembered the packet of parasitic worm eggs Frederick had given her earlier.He had explained that if her father ingested them, any harmful parasites introduced later would be attacked by these worms, resulting in pain as they battled within his body. She had repeatedly warned her father to alert her immediately if he felt any discomfort so they could investigate who was trying to harm him.Vivianne quickly dressed and jumped out of bed. "Let's go to my dad," she urged.She berated herself for forgetting this crucial detail until Frederick reminded her.They rushed to Theodore's room, where they found h
Vivianne trembled as she wiped away tears. "How... How do we lure him out?"Frederick calmly replied, "Remember how we concealed the fact that four patients were cured? The culprit likely saw they weren't and assumed no one could treat the poison, which is why he struck again. We'll tell the Monroes your father was poisoned and we can't treat him, so he must go to the medical room."When he's there and the poison doesn't kill him, the culprit will panic and strike again. That's when we'll catch him." Vivianne nodded and approved of Frederick's plan. She then turned to her weakened father and said, "Dad, you need to play along for a bit."Writhing in agony from parasitic bites, Theodore could only manage a nod from his bed. A deeply worried Vivianne rushed to get helpTheodore was in the medical room, where doctors examined him thoroughly. Despite finding no obvious issues, his extreme weakness was undeniable, leaving the medical team perplexed.The illness was a baffling mys
Unable to remain at Vivianne's side in the medical room due to his urgent search for the York family, Frederick entrusted Theodore's safety to Scarlett, Tyger, and Jacob. All three were proficient fighters, and Tyger and Jacob had made a full recovery. Their combined strength would deter most threats, and even if they couldn't defeat an attacker, they could buy enough time for Frederick to return.Salmasian had few individuals, like Varek or Mr. Faith, who were capable of easily overpowering Tyger. If such a person wanted Theodore dead, they wouldn't resort to poison; they would simply attack directly. Parasitic poison users typically weren't skilled in hand-to-hand combat and relied on their poison's potency. This was why the culprit first tested the poison on four victims, fearing a medical expert might be protecting Theodore.If a medical expert could neutralize the poison, the poison user would be rendered powerless.As Frederick departed, he cautioned the trio in a low vo
As the cruise ship ventured further into the deeper sea, anticipation grew for the upcoming auction. Albert discreetly met with Grace and Priscilla. "As my nephew's girlfriend, I have a favor to ask."Eager to foster a connection with the head of the Harmon family, Grace readily agreed. "Of course, what can I do for you?"Albert produced the auction catalog and turned to the final page."I need you to bid on this ruby ring for me. Certain circumstances prevent the Harmon family from bidding directly. If you win, the family will cover the cost and assist you in regaining your position in Jenaire City." Albert's words were music to Priscilla and Grace's ears. He had clearly done his research and understood their predicament. The Harmon family's influence rivaled the Monroe family's, and purchasing a ring seemed a small price to pay for their support. While Grace was elated, Priscilla remained cautious. "How much should we be prepared to spend on this ruby ring?"Priscilla was w
To Frederick's surprise, Wayne's demeanor had shifted.Instead of his usual respect, he gave Frederick a dismissive look and spoke sharply. "Mr. Sirius has always been tolerant and respectful toward you. I trust you won't abuse his kindness and cause further trouble for him."With that, Wayne turned and walked away. He was convinced of Frederick's lack of medical skills and harbored resentment for the slap he had received from his master due to Frederick's actions.Frederick was perplexed by Wayne's sudden change in attitude. He had always been treated with respect, leaving him to wonder what had prompted this shift.Just then, Grace's voice dripped with sarcasm from the side."Well, well, where's Vivianne today? Did she flee early to avoid exposure? She left you, the grand imposter. So, how dare you shamelessly linger here?"Bewildered by Grace's animosity, Frederick inquired, "What are you talking about?"Grace let out a mocking laugh. "You think we're unaware? You heard about
Priscilla's anger flared at Frederick's words. She had offered him kind advice, only to be met with criticism. Her good intentions felt utterly misunderstood."What's there to verify?" she retorted sharply."My mother witnessed you hitting my brother. I saw Viviane suing me. I caught you molesting June. These are facts, not fiction." Frederick nearly laughed at her outburst. Priscilla had always been quick to judge, never delving deeper into the truth."Forget it. It's pointless to argue," he said, cutting the conversation short.As their argument escalated, June anxiously interjected."Pris, please listen to Frederick's side of things. You never do, and it leads to these misunderstandings."Priscilla glared at June. "Frederick? I'd rather forget our marriage ever happened. It's like being bitten by a dog."Frederick was weary of the bickering and simply ignored her.Priscilla longed to retort, but the auction had commenced. A graceful woman took the stage, her smile captivat
The evaluation hinged on who could bring in the most revenue. Valyr City was a prime location and had already been claimed by others.Isabella, as a more distant Smith relative, was simply sent to Graceland Province.As a member of a prestigious Valyr City family, Isabella had expected Graceland Province to be less affluent, but not this destitute.The bidders were unaware of Isabella's true wealth and offered sums they believed were generous, yet Isabella found them unimpressive. Observing this, Grace took the opportunity to taunt Frederick. "Why don't you just go? Nothing here is within your budget. Standing here without buying anything shows you really have no shame."Frederick looked scornfully at Grace. "You haven't bought anything either, so what gives you the right to taunt me?"Grace's anger ignited. "That's because I haven't found anything I like yet. I am not like you, who can't afford anything at all. There's a big difference. Even the auctioneer's gavel, made of ra
Mary's case was the most severe, while Ivan's symptoms were the mildest, and Frederick could roughly deduce the sequence of transmissions among them. It was clear that Mary infected Nigel, who then passed it to Kimberly, then finally passed it to Ivan. Frederick also saw that Ivan was actually a decent person who unfortunately ended up being betrayed and infected. However, Nigel was primarily worried that Ivan might start trusting Frederick, as he wanted Ivan to believe in his capabilities to carry out his plan.Originally, he intended for Mary to insult Frederick for being poor and unskilled, but she ended up attacking him for having an unpleasant odor, which backfired when Frederick exposed her for contracting syphilis. Now, Nigel had no choice but to take matters into his own hands, he then said to Frederick, "Hehe, Frederick. We all know Ivy is a director, what exactly do you do to be worthy of her?"Nigel assumed that Frederick was just a low-level salesperson, something
Hearing Frederick's words, Kimberly jumped with joy and stopped crying. While wiping her tears, she pointed at Mary, laughing and said, "You're covered in syphilis, yet you're making fun of me.""Slut, I wonder how many people you've slept with!" After being pointed and insulted, Mary was furious and she was ready to fight Kimberly. "You bitch! I am going to teach you a lesson!" At this moment, Nigel felt terrible. If Mary was diseased, he'd be the first victim. He grabbed Mary and shouted, "Bitch, let me teach you a lesson first. Now I know why you always wanted the lights off! I thought you were shy, but you just didn't want me to find out."In a fit of anger, Nigel slapped Mary hard across the face. Just as Mary was about to explain, she was interrupted by another slap. Holding her face, she yelled angrily, "Nigel, how dare you hit me?! Do you want me to expose all your little schemes and tricks?"Nigel froze in horror; if Mary exposed him, it would have been disastrous.
Kimberly heard her laughter, and body odor had always been a sensitive issue for her; a wound she'd tried to cover up over the years. For Frederick to bring it up in front of everyone felt like rubbing salt into an open wound. Yet what hurt even more was Mary's laughter; as a fellow woman, it felt like salt to the wound, then roasting it. Kimberly was furious, pointed at Mary and said, "What are you laughing at? Do you want me to come over there and shut you up?"Mary felt wronged, she had only let out a reflexive laugh, but now Kimberly's anger was directed at her. "Did I laugh at you? What proof do you have that I laughed at you?""You're the one with body odor, yet you're taking it out on others. You're such an unreasonable woman!"Kimberly grew even angrier after hearing Mary's retort. "You're the one with body odor, your whole family has it!" "Look at what you're wearing, it's like you just threw on two pillowcases. You're a shameless woman, just trying to show off t
When everyone heard Ivy's words, they laughed even more. Her words effectively confirmed that Frederick did indeed have an unpleasant odor. It wasn't entirely her fault as Kimberly's words had been a bit of a trap. "Haha, if you smell, just take a shower and don't embarrass yourself here.""With all that cheap stuff on, no wonder he has a smell."Hearing this, Frederick simply gave a slight smile and then asked Mary and Kimberly, "Are two really that fragrant?"Mary and Kimberly lifted their heads proudly after hearing Frederick's words. "Why don't you ask everyone here, ask them if we smell good or not?""Exactly, go ahead and ask."Both of them considered themselves beautiful, and of course, they would smell pleasant. The men around them quickly chimed in, especially those eager to admire Mary, who was dressed in a way that gave them a bit of eye candy. "Of course, they smell good. How could these two beautiful ladies not smell good?""Hehe, Frederick with his cheap, th
In a hidden corner, Nigel said to Mary, "Damn it, that bumpkin Frederick keeps stealing my spotlight. I am worried that our plan won't go well later.""You should help me humiliate him properly, and Ivan's girlfriend will back you up."Mary pursed her lips and said to Nigel, "Every time something comes up, you just ask me to handle it. My bag hasn't been bought yet, and you've lost 300 thousand dollars"Although Nigel was annoyed by Mary hitting a sore spot, he kept his tone calm and replied, "Help me humiliate Frederick and talk him down in front of Ivan. After that, leave the rest to me. Once it's done, I'll get you more than one bag, I could get you ten bags and it wouldn't be a problem. I don't care about that small amount of money. You saw that Porsche just now, right? I wouldn't mind burning it if I had to." Hearing this, Mary was delighted and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, babe." She hadn't realized that Nigel was so wealthy and even had a Porsche. Up until th
Knowing Martin as someone who knew a lot about wood, everyone immediately looked as though they were ready for a good show. They were convinced that the Saint George statue couldn’t possibly be made of anything valuable.Martin let out a strange exclamation. "What the hell!"Kimberly, thinking that Martin was angry, quickly said, "Mr. Lawson, tell us what’s so disastrous about this wood. Are you saying it’s just a piece of junk?"Contrary to expectations, Martin replied angrily, "I’m saying that whoever preserved this Saint George statue was a jerk. This is genuine sandalwood, and yet it’s completely neglected, covered in dust."Most of the group had no idea what sandalwood was worth, but judging by the name alone, it sounded impressive.Kimberly asked curiously, "Mr. Lawson, are you saying this is really antique wood?"Martin examined the statue carefully, scrutinizing every detail. "Judging by the texture, this carving must have been made at least 150 years ago."Everyone was
"The Saint George statue was indeed a fitting choice for a karaoke." Nigel chuckled, turning to Ivy.“Why didn’t you just go on Amazon and buy a new one for a few dozen bucks? This one is obviously second-hand. Or was it picked up from some junk stall?”Frederick heard Nigel’s mockery and nodded in agreement, a faint smile on his lips. “You’re not wrong. This statue actually was picked up from a street stall.”“At the Treasure Hall in the antique trade market, no less. And yes, it’s an antique.”The truth was, the statue was from the Victorian era. Even the owner of Treasure Hall, Dominic, had recognized its age but dismissed it as worthless, tossing it onto a stall outside.Frederick had picked it up casually, thinking it would come in handy one day, and now it was the perfect gift for Ivan.Hearing this, Nigel burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. “An antique? Treasure Hall? You’re really trying to fool us.”Kimberly chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she glance
The group’s attention was fully captured by Frederick’s words, their eyes all on him. Nigel, knowing that Kimberly had informed Ivy at the last minute and that she likely didn’t have a gift, sneered at Frederick."Well, if you’ve got a gift, go ahead and show it.""Considering Ivy and Kimberly’s relationship, the gift should be pretty decent, right?"Everyone was now staring at Frederick with anticipation, curious to see what kind of gift he could produce.Ivy, on the other hand, was completely flustered. She hadn’t handed any gift to Frederick, though she understood he was trying to help her out of a tough spot. But wasn’t this making things even more awkward?Nigel continued to press him, "Where’s the gift? Come on, take it out already.""After all this time, you still can’t take it out. Don’t tell me you don’t even have one."Frederick glanced at Nigel with a calm smile. "Oh? Are you planning to bet 300 grand with me again?"Nigel froze. There was no way he had another 300 t
Ivan was deeply moved, feeling as though all the unpleasantness from their school days had been swept away. A sense of childhood nostalgia, unique to old classmates, welled up within him.The crowd continued to shower Nigel with praise, giving him thumbs up one after another."A gift worth 10 grand is no small amount. Nigel is truly generous.""That’s right. These days, even classmates hesitate to prepare gifts, but Nigel has shown such generosity.."Most of the attendees had come because of their connection with Kimberly. Each had prepared gifts with costs ranging from a few hundred dollars. Compared to Nigel’s grandiose gift worth 10 thousand, their contributions paled in comparison.Hearing the compliments, Nigel waved his hand dismissively, feigning modesty. "It’s nothing, really. After all, Ivan and I are good friends from way back."Then, Nigel’s expression shifted slightly as he added, "Speaking of good friends, I’m sure it’s not just me and Ivan here who share a special b