Battered and bruised, Howard maintained a defiant gaze toward Nadia, seemingly oblivious to any wrongdoing.The mere thought of his daughter being mistreated ignited a fury in Wade, prompting him to rush forward, seizing Howard by the collar and delivering two punches to his face."You scoundrel! How dare you harm my daughter? I assure you, you will come to regret this.""Throughout this entire charade, you've cloaked yourself in an air of mystery. You deceived my father and thought you could wrest control of our family. It appears your understanding of boundaries is quite lacking."While Wade's words seemed aimed at Howard, it was clear he was also addressing Emilia.Wade was known for his calm demeanor. He had never shown physical aggression before, but today marked the first time he took matters into his own hands, all for the sake of his daughter."Mr. Watson, please calm down!" The police officers attempted to intervene. "We understand your frustration, but he is still a sus
The compassion in Alex's gaze was unmistakable, yet Nadia met it with a self-assured smile."Alex, there's no need for pity. I don't deserve it."Despite being aware of Nadia's troubled history, Alex opted not to share the specifics with his parents. He feared that, like him, they would be overcome with sorrow."You do deserve it!"Alex didn't adhere to outdated beliefs. In cases of sexual assault against girls, he avoided attributing blame to provocative dressing or late-night activities.He recognized that perpetrators could find various ways to carry out their misdeeds, and he considered holding victims accountable to be a flawed mindset.Nadia's expression remained stoic. Even if her secret were exposed, she wondered, what difference would it make?After all, it was a chapter of her life she had come to terms with."So, you're aware of everything?"Alex affirmed with a nod. "Howard brought it up earlier."Nadia couldn't help but respond with a sneer. It appeared that Howa
The atmosphere at the initially laid-back gathering underwent a noticeable shift upon Liam's arrival.In Liam's presence, the usually animated discussions among the aristocratic young men took on an air of unnatural deference.However, no one dared voice any dissatisfaction. After all, sharing a drink with Liam was considered a prestigious affair.Throughout the gathering, Chris maintained an air of indifference, continuing to eat, drink, and boast as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.After growing tired of his banter, Chris couldn't help but feel the evening lacked excitement. In response, he suggested, "This is getting dull. How about we invite more people to join us?"By people, Chris was, of course, referring to women.During their usual gatherings, many of these young men would bring along a few female companions.However, Liam's unexpected presence acted as a deterrent, restraining them from indulging in their typical, more uninhibited behavior."No, no! Le
"Mr. Chris, stop putting on a show for Mr. Liam. We all know you've recorded plenty of this kind of stuff too," someone remarked."Yeah, no matter how you play the good guy, Mr. Liam surely won't buy it."While many assumed Chris was merely maintaining a façade for Liam, little did they realize that Liam had already detected unsettling nuances in Chris's gaze.Chris casually threw the water-damaged phone back to the hostess, declaring, "I'll make it up to you with two brand-new ones tomorrow."Approaching Chris swiftly, the hostess declared, "Mr. Chris, I'm not interested in a phone."Intrigued, he sat upright and asked, "Well then, what do you want?"With a flirtatious touch, the hostess playfully responded, "I want you!"On an average day, Chris might have been inclined to go along with such things, acknowledging that he wasn't necessarily a saint and merely wanted to have a good time.However, today was different. He had pressing matters to discuss with Liam. Thus, he pushed
Liam rarely showed signs of distress, so Lana was taken aback the first time she heard him openly express such emotions.Reacting instinctively, Lana asked, "Is there something bothering you?"She speculated whether an issue had arisen within the company or if he had a disagreement with Hector, but Liam remained unresponsive to her questions.In a subdued tone, he said, "Please, go ahead and rest. I have a few tasks to attend to, and I won't be able to come over tonight."Following Liam's harrowing ordeal, he and Lana consistently spent their nights together, with very few exceptions, usually occurring only during his business trips.Even when Lana was hesitant, Liam would persistently find a way to stay with her. So, what had happened that night?Why did he choose not to return to Mandy's house on his own accord?Initially, Lana assumed he was just in a sour mood. "Alright, take care of yourself. I—" "Whatever, I get it!" Liam cut her off and promptly ended the call.Staring
Hector was profoundly distressed by the recent fluctuations in Liam and Lana's relationship.Hence, Lana's sudden visit to the Garrisons today brought immense joy to Hector."Lana, what's been keeping you busy lately? It's been forever since you last dropped by! I'm seriously missing you, you know?" Hector said. With that, he added, "Just relax and make yourself at home. If you're craving something or need anything, just tell me. I've got you covered, no problem."As Lana walked in, Hector greeted her with unbridled enthusiasm, chatting away happily and displaying his genuine affection for Lana as his granddaughter-in-law.Lana presented some homemade pastries, remarking, "Don't worry, Grandpa Hector. I made these during my free time. It's just a bit of experimenting. Please, do give them a try."As Lana spoke with an unexpected formality and a hint of distance, Hector felt a sudden pang in his heart.This wasn't going as expected!In the past, Lana never approached him with r
Lana's confidence in their relationship faltered upon encountering Liam today and noting his demeanor.Although she had initially believed Liam lacked the courage to leave, Lana was surprised when she observed his momentary hesitation before rapidly ascending the stairs.It seemed as if he had metaphorically extracted her heart, leaving a tangible void.While there was no physical pain, Lana found herself contending with an emotional ache."Understood! From this moment forward, we're done!"As Liam went up the stairs, the lingering echo of Lana's decisive words resonated in the air.Instinctively, he bolstered his legs with determination, moving forward with mechanical precision, climbing gradually. He bore an uncanny resemblance to a zombie.Parting with Lana was unbearable for Liam. Yet, if her happiness lay elsewhere with those older men, he believed it was better to let her go.This, he thought, was the last bit of dignity he could salvage for their relationship.Hencefort
As Alice was about to ask for more information, she was stopped by a cautionary glance from Lana.Lana's ability to convey messages through her piercing gaze had developed significantly over the past year.As Alice made her way to leave, she suddenly recalled something and turned back."Lana, how's Nadia handling the new product trial?" she asked. "I haven't seen her around the store lately."Lana, who typically upgraded the store's products annually to stay competitive, had gradually handed over the reins to Nadia as she took a step back from daily operations.Following Nadia's recent reunion with her biological family, Lana had approved a two-week leave of absence for her.Yet, despite the elapsed time, Nadia displayed no eagerness to resume her responsibilities.Despite Lana's trust in Nadia's commitment, a lingering worry crept in, causing Lana to wonder if something had happened to Nadia."You may head out first. I'll get in touch with Nadia to find out when the trial resu
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