The room brimmed with joy as everyone celebrated.Wearing a satisfied smile, Freya mimicked Lana's cunning tone. She playfully rubbed her round belly and teased, "Dad, when did you learn to speak like that?"Hector grew increasingly frustrated. He retorted, "What do you mean, learn to speak? I've always—"He abruptly stopped, startled by his own words.Just a few days ago, he had suffered a stroke and was unable to speak. He had to rely on conservative treatment from his private doctor.Yet now, after Lana treated him with acupuncture, he could talk again?Amidst his astonishment, Hector looked at Lana with newfound respect. "Lana, your medical skills are truly exceptional!"Lana didn't downplay the compliment and replied, "I'm just average, ranked third best in the world."Her mentor held the first position, and her senior colleague claimed the second. Hence, Lana considered herself third.Freya's face rarely broke into a smile. She commented, "Ms. Clark, I'm glad I made the
"Aim his arrow?" Hector's revelation left Lana stunned. "So he wants to shoot me to death?" she uttered in disbelief.Hector hurriedly clarified, "No, no, no! Cupid, the god of love, wants you and my grandson to be together!"Lana shook her head, denying the offer. "No, no, no. Such a good opportunity should be reserved for a nice girl from a good family. I'll pass," she said firmly.Recently crowned as the wealthiest woman in Zanteles, Lana had no intention of being ensnared in the cage of marriage again.Outside, there were plenty of handsome and caring young men waiting for her affection.Unfazed by Lana's initial rejection, Hector remained persistent. "Well, if you won't accept my proposal to be my granddaughter-in-law, at least do me the honor of attending the homecoming dinner for my stubborn grandson."Given that it was merely a dinner event, Lana agreed.She acknowledged her limited social circle in the new city. Thus, Lana viewed the Garrison family's invitation a
"Sorry Jeff, but I already have plans for Sunday. How about another time?" Nadia's polite decline was met with a familiar sigh from Jeff.He had grown accustomed to her rejections. Still, a hint of sadness lingered in his voice. "Nadia, when will you be able to accept my invitation?"Don't you trust me? If you need to, I can introduce you to my parents right away, even my whole family."Jeff was genuinely smitten. He was eager to express his affection for Nadia, the girl he deeply admired.As Jeff grew more patient and understanding, Nadia's heart weighed heavier with concern.Having experienced mistreatment in the past, she wrestled with feelings of unworthiness. Despite recognizing Jeff as a kind and decent man, she was hesitant. She didn't want to shatter his heart."Jeff, please don't misunderstand. It's not what you think. I just … I just …" Nadia hesitated, struggling to find the right words to convey her emotions.With a resigned sigh, Jeff replied, "I understand, Nadia.
Why was Lana here?What made her deserving of an invitation to the Garrison family heir's homecoming dinner?Rosa couldn't help but envy Lana's effortless charm. It was a quality that seemed to outshine her own carefully chosen outfit.Sensing Rosa's jealousy, Lana teased her with a disdainful whistle. It instantly cast a shadow over Rosa's expression.Reluctantly, Rosa approached Lana. She avoided eye contact as she whispered under her breath, "Hello, Queen Lana."Feigning ignorance, Lana asked, "I'm sorry. What did you say?"Rosa's frustration grew. It became increasingly clear that Lana was intentionally embarrassing her in front of everyone.Despite her irritation, Rosa felt compelled to adhere to the instructions Joyce had given her before they left the house.Reluctantly, in the end, Rosa complied and shouted, "Hello, Queen Lana." Her voice was laced with an unmistakable tone of grievance.Lana's smile turned into a mocking grin. "Good girl! If only you were this obedien
Carol was accompanied by Rosa and a handful of other girls. They began to form a tight circle around Lana.To those in the know, it seemed like a friendly greeting. However, to the unaware, it appeared as if Lana was on the verge of a confrontation with the younger ladies."Why are you still being so nice to her after how she treated you, Carol?" Rosa's frustration spilled out as she interjected. She couldn't hide her exasperation.Rosa couldn't bear the thought of witnessing another clash between Carol and Lana. She knew she would bear the brunt of their disputes.This time, she was determined not to let Carol get entangled with Lana again."It's not as simple as you think, Rosa," Carol explained, her voice tinged with deception. "Lana might not acknowledge me, but she's still my sister. I can't just stand by and watch her being ridiculed."Upon hearing Carol's explanation, the other girls who followed them chimed in. They defended Carol's actions and revealed some uncomfortable
In the wake of Chris and Carol's relationship, Chris underwent a remarkable transformation. It was one that was evident to everyone around them.Carol's gentle demeanor, especially when her gaze softened with affection. That spoke volumes about her happiness."He's truly amazing. How did I get so lucky to have him? And the lovely clothes he bought for me! I feel like the luckiest woman in the world," Carol gushed. Her words stirred envy among the other girls present.One of the girls sighed wistfully, her heart yearning for someone as wonderful as Chris. "I wonder if I'll ever find someone like him," she lamented."Sweetie, I hate to break it to you, but your situation isn't quite like Carol's. Why not just go along with the dates your family sets up for you?" another one teased."But are all men like Chris, though?" someone else wondered aloud.As the compliments continued, Carol turned to Lana. There was a glint of pride in her eyes. "Lana, I have to say, I'm genuinely happy
"Excuse me, miss, do you have any questions?" Jennifer's voice crackled through Lana's phone. It snapped Carol back to reality."No … no questions here!" Carol replied, trying to brush off the situation. She wasn't keen on getting herself into trouble. So, she kept her distance and avoided any further conversation with Jennifer."Ms. Jennifer, Lana's just feeling a bit restless. You seem pretty swamped, so don't mind us. Carry on with your important stuff," Carol continued."Yeah, alright!" Jennifer could sense Carol's reluctance. So, she was ready to end the call.However, her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she noticed the dress Carol was wearing. "Hey, wait a sec, that dress you're wearing …"Jennifer's abrupt mention of the dress left Carol visibly flustered, her heart racing with anxiety.She swallowed hard before stammering, "Ms. Jennifer, please proceed with your tasks. I don't want to disturb you."Despite Carol's optimistic expectations, Jennifer's tone grew sharp. "The
Lana's identity as the owner of "Enjoy" was revealed. Now, she found herself thrust into an unprecedented spotlight.After exchanging pleasantries with the socialites, Lana swiftly escaped the bustling banquet hall. She retreated to the vast, breathtaking garden of the Garrison family, which resembled a sprawling prairie.Social gatherings like these were not Lana's forte. She couldn't muster insincere compliments. She had always preferred the solace of admiring her beauty in solitude.However, Lana's moment of tranquility was abruptly shattered. The same alpaca that had spat at her before charged at her once again, initiating a new round of attacks.In such a picturesque setting, Lana had never anticipated to find herself chased by an alpaca.Desperate to escape the alpaca's relentless pursuit, Lana dashed into an area resembling a small garden. Enclosed by ornate iron gates, the alpaca couldn't enter, and Lana couldn't flee either.However, it provided Lana with a momentary r
Would Lana forgive him and spend the rest of her life with him?Liam's heart was filled with a sense of anticipation.Since the reason for the incident had been clarified, everyone let out a sigh of relief at the same time and also went back to rest. Even Leonardo was taken away just to give the two people who had been apart for a long time some space to be alone.After everyone had left, Liam straightened out his clothes and approached Lana, then proceeded to slowly crouch down."Lana!"In the man's deep and sexy voice, there was an unusual tremor and a hint of choked emotion.Liam had no idea what kept him going during these years after losing Lana.Liam didn't dare to do anything too bold. Instead, he gently leaned his handsome face against Lana's hand, repeatedly calling her name.Three years had already passed since Lana left in a fit of anger, setting off a series of events afterward.If she still had any resentment, it would have vanished when she saw Liam's tall figu
Liam's outstretched hand awkwardly hung in the air, and eventually, he could only withdraw it."Speak up if you have something to say, or else, stay quiet. We're not in the mood to listen to you." Hector's attitude toward Liam was still unfavorable, to the extent that he didn't even want to see him.Lana suddenly said, "Something very serious actually happened today."Following that, she placed Leonardo down and showed everyone the wound on his neck.A ring of red marks surrounded Leonardo's delicate neck. In some places, the marks were so swollen that it looked like a tire had been wrapped around his neck. It was a shocking sight to behold.Hector, Violet, Mandy, and Romelius were immediately enraged."What happened to Leo?""What happened to his neck? It could have been fatal if it was any worse.""Who was responsible for watching Leo today? How could they be so negligent and let the child get injured so badly?""This doesn't look like any ordinary wound. It looks like it wa
"Stop looking at me like that. If you want to kill or torture me, go ahead." Cynthia knew what would happen to her after the truth came out, so she gave up struggling. "However, even after my death, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life!"As they listened to her absurd threat, Lana and the Traffic Light Trio burst into laughter."If ghosts were real, then Emilia would be the first to look for you."When her deceased sister was mentioned, Cynthia's smile remained unchanged. "That fool probably never knew it was me who betrayed her until her death."Considering the situation, Cynthia didn't believe she could leave the Garrison Villa tonight."What exactly do you gain by single-handedly destroying the Cooper family?"Lana was still very confused by Cynthia's actions.After all, Emilia and Cynthia were twins and had the same blood coursing through their veins. With all the Coopers gone, Cynthia had nothing to gain from it either!Cynthia sneered at Lana's question. "Lana, yo
On the evening of the banquet, the Garrison Villa was bustling with distinguished guests.Initially, everyone's attention was on the precious great-grandson of the Garrison and Kane family. With his confident and lively demeanor, the chubby child was absolutely adorable. Everyone was naturally curious about who the child might have chosen as his stepmother.It should be noted that the Garrison and Kane family only had one great-grandson. His future was destined to be extraordinary. As long as one could control the child, it was much more worthwhile than dealing with those individuals from the two affluent families.After all, the elders from the two families were very attentive and doting toward this child. Surprisingly, Liam, who was said to have been away from home for a long time, had returned. During the reception of guests, he unexpectedly had a smile on his face.The ladies who had come tonight, vying for the position of Liam's wife, became even more excited.Liam typi
On the night before the banquet, Romelius and Mandy finally brought Leonardo back.Lana was overjoyed, and she immediately went to the bungalow where they were staying.At that time, Leonardo had just returned home and was playing with toys on the living room floor."Leo, you're back! Did you miss Mommy? Mommy missed you so much!"Lana ran toward Leonardo, talking to him while reaching out to hug him. In a flash, Leonardo suddenly ran toward Romelius while holding a toy car.After that, he kept hiding in his arms, refusing to come out. He would occasionally peek out from the gaps to glance at Lana.His actions clearly showed that he refused to accept Lana.Lana's enthusiasm was dampened, and her outstretched arms awkwardly remained in midair. She looked at Romelius and then at Mandy as if waiting for them to persuade Leonardo. However, these two remained silent and only greeted Lana in a casual manner."Oh, Lana, you've come?" Mandy said while presenting her with a basket o
Due to the fact that the Garrison family was going to hold a banquet to introduce the mother of their beloved great-grandson, Leonardo, the Garrisons once again became the talk of the town in Dawsbury.The last time Dawsbury was so lively was when Hector introduced the Garrison family's heir to everyone.As soon as the news was released, the Garrisons became noticeably busier in the following days. All of them were busy scurrying around and helping Hector deliver the invitations.In addition to people who had business dealings with the Garrison family, the invitations were naturally sent to people who were familiar with Lana in the past. Therefore, as soon as the Traffic Light Trio received the invitation, they didn't even go to work and immediately ran to Liam's office—intending to get an explanation from him.At that time, Liam had just finished a phone call from overseas and was deep in thought when the office door was suddenly kicked open.Lincoln stood at the door, looking
With that, Sawyer ignored the unpleasant expressions on Freya and Hector's faces. He immediately picked up his child and walked away.Hector was furious. He glared at Liam, his eyes burning with anger. It was clear that he thought Liam was the one responsible for Lana's predicament.Liam was once again innocently caught in the crossfire.Freya set aside her current tasks, offered some comforting words to Hector, and then got up and chased after them.She knew Sawyer well enough and was certain that he would never have treated someone like this unless there was a reason.As Freya's family of three left, Lana's face bore a sorrowful expression. "Since I'm not welcome here, I guess I'll just go."With that, Lana got up and walked toward the door.Hector and Violet had been waiting for Lana's return for a long time. Now that she was finally back, how could they possibly let her go?Naturally, the two of them chased after Lana and tried to talk her out of leaving. They eventually ma
Liam sensed a challenging undertone in Lana's stare. After all this time, had they truly become adversaries?Releasing Lana abruptly, Violet gently patted her arm, her eyes filled with profound hurt."You're here, alive and well. Why did you leave us in the shadows? Even if you chose not to contact anyone else, you should've considered reaching out to me. Do you have any idea how much I missed you?"Over the years, Violet had been grappling with a deep sense of loss.Though it remained an unspoken sentiment among them, Violet was aware of the underlying blame directed toward Liam for what was believed to be Lana's demise.Had Liam been more emotionally available, their relationship wouldn't have crumbled. It would've stopped Lana from seeking refuge overseas while carrying their child, an act that set the stage for her heartbreaking destiny.Witnessing Liam's anguish and believing Lana to be lost forever had taken a severe toll on Violet's health, aging her considerably."Gr
Liam guided Leo to Lana's room.As they entered, Lana was already awake, bathed in the serene morning light streaming through the window.Upon hearing their arrival, Lana, while brushing her hair, shifted her gaze toward them—a familiar scene echoing times gone by."Good morning, Liam and Leo!" she greeted them effortlessly.Without hesitation, Leonardo squirmed out of Liam's embrace and darted toward Lana, exclaiming, "Hi, Nana!"Lana paused, momentarily surprised by Leonardo's nickname. "Leo, you should be calling me 'Mommy'!" she gently corrected him.Leonardo hesitated momentarily before redirecting his attention to Liam.Even though Liam hadn't exchanged a single word with Lana, he spoke up when Leo glanced his way, firmly stating, "Feel free to do as you wish. There's no need to seek my approval. Alright?"Leonardo nodded obediently and turned his gaze back to Lana, continuing to address her as "Nana."While Lana appeared somewhat displeased by this unexpected turn of ev