"Alex is here to see you, Howard," Jade said.Howard was lost in thoughts in his study when his mother came to find him."Howard!" Alex yelled, barging into the house before Howard could respond. Jade gasped in shock.Alex used to give off a respectable air to Jade, especially when he treated others. What had gotten into him tonight to make him behave so out of character?Howard seemed to know what Alex was angry about. He snubbed his cigarette and said, "Leave us, Mom."But Jade didn't dare leave them alone. It was obvious the two men had something to settle based on how upset Alex was. "You—" Jade was about to suggest that they calm down when Alex entered Howard's study without a second thought.Alex immediately grabbed Howard by the collar, frightening Jade. "C-can … can we all be civilized here?"Howard was especially passive right now. His tone grew more distant when he said, "Please leave, Mom."Jade was hesitant. "But—""Leave, now!" Howard snapped, gazing intently
After returning home from Violet's birthday celebration, Emilia couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling growing within her.Why did Howard leave without saying anything?Despite their initial exchange of pleasantries, Howard's sudden departure without displaying common courtesy seemed unwarranted."I bet it's because of Nadia," Emilia asserted.Amidst the celebration, Emilia couldn't overlook Nadia's strange behavior. She had also subtly left the venue like Howard, creating an aura of mystery surrounding their departure.Something significant must have transpired between them during that period.To Emilia's dismay, Howard was seemingly oblivious to her role as his girlfriend. He was openly and brazenly interacting with other women.The more Emilia thought about it, the angrier she became. Despite promptly dialing Howard's number, her attempts to reach him remained unanswered.Emilia's limited knowledge about Howard left her feeling helpless and uncertain about how to locate him,
"What are you going to do to me?" Howard questioned.Liam couldn't help but admire Howard. Even amid the challenging situation, Howard exuded remarkable composure, posing bold questions that showcased his poise and courage.Indeed, Howard was someone who possessed untapped potential.Regrettably, he was born at the wrong time. The Rein family's fortunes were already in decline, depriving him of the opportunity to showcase his capabilities.Despite his questionable character, Liam would have considered forming a close friendship with Howard under different circumstances.However, at that moment, Liam had no intention of aligning himself with Howard.Nadia had just emerged from the shadows and embraced a new lease on life. But now, she found herself dragged back into turmoil by Howard's presence.Even if it meant pacifying Lana's anger, Liam was determined to take action against Howard."Now that you're in my hands, you should be well aware of what I'm capable of, don't you think
After the intense ordeal, Liam returned to the Quinn Villa. Romelius and Mandy were engaged in a hushed conversation with Lana, while Nadia was noticeably absent.Noticing Liam's arrival, Mandy and Romelius eagerly beckoned him to join their discussion."Hey, Lee, what's your take on Nadia and Alex as a couple?" Caught off guard, Liam exchanged a subtle glance with Lana, who shook her head discreetly.Even though Liam had an answer in mind, he chose not to respond directly to Romelius and Mandy's question. "Why are we suddenly delving into this?" he asked.Mandy and Romelius shared a knowing look and grinned. "Well, today we noticed that Nadia and Alex seem to have hit it off. His parents left a good impression on us too. Plus, there's something special in the way Alex looks at Nadia."The evidence of Alex's feelings for Nadia was hard to miss. Even the oblivious could see his fondness for her.Taking into account both his family background and appearance, Alex appeared to be
Before her impending journey abroad, Nadia decided to take a detour to Gilsbury. She wanted to reconnect with the restaurant staff, who had become like family to her. During a heartfelt conversation, Peter and Jane shared sincere advice with Nadia, emphasizing the importance of taking good care of herself during her time overseas.In a touching gesture, Laura presented Nadia with a freshly completed pink sweater.Aware of Nadia's upcoming journey to a consistently chilly destination, Laura had dedicated two consecutive evenings to knitting the cozy garment for her.Nadia, holding the delicately crafted sweater, couldn't hold back tears.Laura's attention to detail, like Nadia's fondness for the color pink, struck a chord. At times, it was the chosen family that held onto these small, meaningful nuances.After closing the restaurant, Nadia invited everyone to share a cozy stew, creating a warm, familial atmosphere.Even the newly hired staff felt the difference, expressing grati
"Yes. Vesper never told you?" Richard found it strange. "But at that time, you seemed to have been frightened by something. You couldn't stop crying. Maybe you've forgotten it yourself."Nadia shook her head. "My dad never mentioned any of this. If it weren't for my brother-in-law's accidental revelation, I wouldn't even know I was adopted."Thomas couldn't help but sigh. "Yeah, Vesper had a warm and kind heart. Perhaps he kept it from you to shield you from any extra worries. His intention was simply to ensure you could live your best life." Hearing these words, tears welled up in Nadia's eyes.Indeed, Vesper had always offered her comfort and care. From her childhood until Vector's passing, Nadia hadn't experienced any hardship.It wasn't until Zeke became her guardian after Vector's death that Nadia began to understand the harsh realities of the world."Hey, by the way," Thomas suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed, startling Nadia. "Oh, how could I forget?"Nervously,
As Nadia agreed to meet with the woman, she swiftly arrived at the designated location, yet a sense of uncertainty lingered.Despite the long-awaited realization of her hopes, everything felt surreal to Nadia.The meeting point was the fountain at the entrance of a shopping plaza. Being closer, Nadia got there first.Though it wasn't winter yet, the lights in the shopping plaza gradually dimmed with the progressing day, and the dwindling number of people created a desolate atmosphere.Nadia tightened her windbreaker, puzzled by the choice of such a location. She felt a chill but hesitated to move, fearing the person might miss her if she walked away.During the wait, Nadia messaged Lana, updating her on the meeting and the fact that she was finally meeting her long-lost family.Upon sending the message, Nadia received a video call from Lana."Nadia, I'm so happy for you."In the video, Lana was in her study at the Quinn Villa, and in the background, Liam was still at the comput
After her video call with Nadia, Lana's brow remained knitted in concern.Having finished his day's work, Liam shut his laptop. As he observed Lana's persistent frown, he took a seat beside her."What's the matter?" Liam asked, wrapping his arms around Lana's slender waist. "Who upset you? Let me know, and I'll handle it for you."Following the episode with Howard, Lana became convinced that the rumors circulating about Liam held truth.Howard faced not only strong retribution from Liam for mistreating Nadia but also found himself stripped naked and publicly ridiculed in a bustling area.This incident quickly circulated throughout Dawsbury.Consequently, whenever disobedient children refused to heed their parents, grown-ups would caution them, alerting them of Liam's approach.At the mere mention of Liam's name, children would promptly fall in line. They feared the dual consequences of facing a beating from Liam and enduring public humiliation on the streets.Observing Lana's p