While the people at the door were showing their backs, they could still feel how awkward everything was inside.They could feel it even without looking at them.About three minutes later, Linda was pulling her tattered shirt tightly around herself with disheveled hair forced open a path among the crowd and ran out!And then, they could hear Harlow’s embarrassing and angry yelling.“Scram!”“What are you looking at?!”“Scram, all of you!”Everyone that was present were all elders among the York family, and some of them were also very important partners for the York family. Status wise, all of them were much higher than Harlow. Which of them could take such verbal abuse from him lying down?During their rage, the elders and partners all turned around without any care and chided him, “Don’t think that you’re immune to consequences just because you’re a York!”“You’re not worthy of your status!”“The Yorks are going to fall into ruins because of you!”All the guests snorted when
“Jefford?”Melanie called out to him again.Her voice echoed in the passage, and she also increased the volume. She waited for a while, but still no one responded. She had no choice but to walk down the stairs to find him. She walked straight ahead, but even when she reached the three-way intersection, she still didn’t see any sign of him.Melanie hesitated when she was at the intersection.She didn’t dare randomly go down one of the passages; the reason that Jefford was so confident when he led her here was that he knew the secret passage’s layout well. But she knew nothing about this place; if she took the wrong road, it would be possible for her to be unable to find the exit and be unable to get help.Just when she was hesitating on what to do, she heard the man’s voice. “You’re finally here.”She turned around and noticed Jefford coming down from another path.“Where did you go?” she asked.“I waited for too long and thought that you weren’t coming back, so I looked aroun
“I’ll do it!”Jeffrey chased after her and stopped Melanie from wanting to touch the candles.She didn’t argue with him. The two of them tacitly avoided the candles’ direction to avoid any traps.Click!The sounds of gears turning could be heard from under the fake candles, but nothing changed around them.Jeffrey tried a few times again and used all his might, but he still couldn’t turn the candle. When Melanie saw how he was frowning, she also gave it a try, but also couldn’t get it to turn.“That’s strange...” she mumbled.If it wasn’t supposed to turn, but it could be turned... The both of them could feel that the bottom part of the candle could be moved, and it let out a mechanical click too.“Is it something that’s already abandoned?” She proposed a theory.Jeffrey shook his head. “It’s possible. But it’s also possible that we didn’t find the right way to open it.”“Let’s go.”Jeffrey paused before saying, “The candles haven’t stopped burning, and they’re all clean,
The voice sounded mechanical. It was obviously speaking through some kind of filter.The voice sounded like it came from right above them, but it also sounded like it came from around them!It sent a chill up their spines.The first reaction when Jeffrey heard the voice was to protect her in his arms!She didn’t refuse and simply let him hold her tightly because she was indeed scared.After pausing a little, Jeffrey looked around and asked, “Who are you?”“Continue onward!” the voice demanded.Jeffrey gulped, and the two of them turned around. They noticed that the entrance they used had already closed without any sound!Jeffrey paused and held Melanie's head and said, “Since there’s only one way out... Let’s go.”“Sure.”She nodded.Since there was no retreat, then the only way left was forward.She was actually much more curious than scared; she wanted to know just how many secrets were buried under the Yorks’ ancient residence!The two of them continued further in front
“I found him!”Melanie repeated it one more time, her tone sterner than earlier.As she said that, she raised her arm and pointed at the picture with the smoking pipe that didn’t have smoke coming out of it.Jeffrey looked at it, and at the same time, a huge “whoom” sounded in the room!It repeated over and over again.Each of the pictures on the wall started to flip and disappear together, and the walls of the room turned back to white, only leaving behind the picture that Melanie had pointed out on the wall.All the pictures that were haunting them just now seemed to be just part of a hallucination.“What? You found the exit?!” the mechanical voice asked eagerly.“That’s right,” Melanie answered.Because she saw it; in the middle of the room, a hidden door had risen up. That was probably the exit.“Other than the exit? Why is my lock still secured?!” The mechanical voice became anxious.What lock?Both Melanie and Jeffrey exchanged a glance.After a while, the mechanical
“He has been waiting... for us?” Melanie repeated.“Correct. The Master has ordered us to prepare supper for Mistress Yelena and Master Leo. They have been waiting for a long time,” the servants answered. “Please come with us.”The servant turned and led the way. Melanie and Jeffrey exchanged a glance. They figured that Joseph knew everything...Otherwise, even if Joseph had something to discuss and waited for one of them, how did he know that they were together and even which exit they used?The servants led them to the dining room on the first floor.Only to see Yelena and Leo were sitting at the sides while Joseph was sitting at the host’s seat. When he saw that they had arrived, he simply looked at them and said coldly...“Sit!”The two exchanged another glance before sitting down as well.Then, the servants hurriedly prepared the dishes.The mood was extremely awkward.Melanie wanted to break the silence and asked, “Why aren’t you asleep at this time?”Before she headed
“We’re already in this together! Is there a point to you sneering at me like that?!” Leo narrowed his eyes viciously.“I’m not sneering, I’m praising you!” The person on the other side pressed it even more.Leo’s fists became even tighter. He had just wanted to say something when he heard someone knocking at the door.“Someone’s here!”With that, he hung up in a rush before walking over to open the door and asked in shock, “You’re still not in bed, Melanie?”“I forgot to give this back to you...”Melanie came in and took out the wiretap that Leo had prepared for her and put it on top of his cabinet. “I used it when I heard Harlow and Linda fighting. It’s quite thrilling. Alright, I won’t disturb you anymore. Night.”After that, Melanie turned around and left.Leo looked at the wiretap and his eyes darkened. She was... testing him again?-Deep night. Finally, everyone was silent.The old butler walked into the bedroom that he had temporarily set up for Joseph and reported, “
Melanie’s smile was enough to stun Jeffrey.If it wasn’t because of the cheers from the people watching at the gate, he didn’t even know that he had momentarily lost his composure.The woman already took her seat in the passenger’s seat, and he walked over to the driver’s seat and gave her a stack of medical plasters. They had a strong herbal scent.“What are these?” Melanie couldn’t help but ask.“Medical plaster. For your wrist,” He said as he started the car.Melanie was shocked. “How did you know about my wrist...?”When she fell in the hidden passage, she was concentrating on the mechanism that opened the hidden door. She didn’t feel pain at all.Only when she went back to have supper did she feel the pain around her wrists. Could it be that he had seen it when she was instinctively rubbing it?“They said that it’ll take at least three months to heal a sprain like that. This plaster’s very good. If you put it on as instructed, you’ll suffer less than that.” The man said as
Pleasantly surprised, Melanie turned around to see the man she had been looking for. She never stopped saying his name in her head. He stood right behind her.At that moment, she stopped thinking completely.Without even hesitating, she ran toward him and dove into his arms."Ughh."Jeffrey groaned in pain. He did not dare to press against her stomach. Instead, he arched his back to hold her."Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how I…" She cried so much that she could not speak."Alright, alright. Good girl. Don't cry. I've come back."Jeffrey kept rubbing the back of her head. "Eagle was too neurotic. I've nearly gone mad from dealing with him. I finally got him to regain some of his sanity today… That's how I had the chance to find you…""How did you know where to find me?" Melanie asked."Today is the day of Nathan's trial. I know you'd definitely be in the courtroom," Jeffrey said confidently.Melanie finally calmed down a little. After letting go of him,
"We're not together…"Kenneth's facial expression changed as soon as he saw Melanie.Melanie noticed there was a hint of guilt in his eyes. This was an unsettling feeling for her. "Then where is he? What happened to you guys?"Noticing that she was shaking, Annie and Carson, who had accompanied her to court, rushed forward to assist her."Eagle had a prior arrangement with Nathan. Once Nathan and Leo's plan at the York family's residence was thwarted, Nathan would press a button. Eagle would then receive a code to detonate a bomb. He'd blow us all up," Kenneth explained."Jeffrey was the one who noticed Eagle wasn't in the right state of mind. That's why he informed me to leave with Mr. Oliver. He… Stayed behind to persuade Eagle…" He added."What happened then?" Melanie's voice was shaking."All I knew after that was that the hotel blew up. I waited for him to contact me but he never did. Mr. Oliver and I have been on the run from Nathan's shadowy pursuits. I only managed to sn
Three days later, the trial was officially in session.Leo's attorney was practically defenseless because the York family's allegations of him poisoning Joseph had been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. Leo was directly sentenced to life in prison.Nathan's attorney, on the other hand, was clever. They tried everything they could to deflect Nathan's allegations.After the presiding judge evaluated the case, he looked up. "Does the plaintiff have any more evidence that the defendant, Nathan, intentionally killed someone?"Hank sat silently at the plaintiff's table.They could only provide evidence of the time when Nathan had tried to murder Hank. However, they had no evidence of Nathan being involved in the explosion on the island this time.Hank looked at Melanie in the audience. She was also frowningThe presiding judge's implication was well understood. Without more evidence, Nathan would not receive a life sentence…"The plaintiff simply does not have sufficient evidence to
Carson sighed. It was time to explain everything to Hank…Although Carson had spent a lot of time in Hank's hospital as Professor Marshall, and he would also tend to their men's wounds, as well as discuss a variety of topics with Hank, they had never acknowledged their relationship…Besides, Carson knew Hank hated him.Hank hated him for being heartless to his grandmother back then. That was why Hank changed his last name to Castillo instead of Yule…"Let's take Melanie back to rest. I'll explain the rest to you myself," Carson said. Hank had already figured out half of it."Grandpa, I'm not going back. I'll wait for the news here," Melanie said firmly.There was no sign of Jeffrey's corpse yet. She would wait until the rescue team confirmed that they could not find any corpse.She wanted a clear answer."Okay. I'll get the trailer ready for you. You can lie down inside. You can't afford to hurt your body anymore than you already have. I checked your pulse earlier. It's not loo
Buzz!Melanie's vision turned black. She began falling backward."Melanie! Melanie!"Carson propped her up and called the doctor over.However, Melanie opened her eyes after a few seconds and tried to stand up. "I'm fine… Grandpa, take me there… I want to go to the scene of the explosion…""You're in no state…""I'm fine. I can hold up," Melanie promised."If you don't let me go and see it with my own eyes, I'll be even more paranoid," she added.Carson knew his granddaughter too well. He sighed and frowned before requesting for a ride. He met up with Hank. The two of them accompanied Melanie to look for Jeffrey.Jeffrey, Kenneth, Mr. Oliver, and Eagle waited at the drop-off point near the York family's residence. Nathan had instructed them to not do anything rash.Mr. Oliver and Eagle were still useful to Nathan.Once Nathan acquired Joseph's signature, he would meet up with them.However, the small hotel they were waiting at was already in ruins. There was smoke everywher
'Chief… Frankie?'Leo turned around in surprise. Nathan did the same. They saw Chief Frankie and several Interpol agents walking out from behind a screen in Joseph's room.Melanie was a part of that group!"Aren't you… dead?" Leo pointed at Melanie in shock."Thanks to you, I'll live a long life." Melanie sneered.Chief Frankie waved his hand. The police behind him charged forward to put handcuffs on Leo and Nathan. Leo narrowed his eyes and quickly pressed a button on the remote in his hand."We'll all die together!" He shouted.However, no matter how hard he pressed, nothing happened in the room."What's going on here… Eagle?" Leo's voice was trembling.His hands were cuffed, and the remote control was confiscated by the police."Leo, you are suspected of poisoning Master York and attempting to murder Melanie and others on the island. We are arresting you for premeditated murder!" Chief Frankie uttered calmly."No… No…" Leo struggled but to no avail. He had no idea what wa
At the same time, Melanie and Carson were on a plane with Professor Turner. They soon arrived at Medonia.Carson contacted Hank ahead of time and asked him to pick them up with his men.After the exhausting journey, Melanie's face was pale. She seemed to be in very poor condition. "I've already contacted the maternity hospital for you. You can go there and wait for your delivery. Leave the rest to me.""No…"Melanie shook her head. "I have to go back."Jeffrey was still in Nathan's hands. She would not be able to wait peacefully if she went to the hospital.Carson knew his granddaughter well enough. "Let her go. Professor Turner and I will be with here. We'll be ready for anything."Carson was still disguised as Maximilian. Hank did not know he was Carson. Hank nodded in agreement.“Mr. Castillo, there's something I need to trouble you with.” Melanie said."I heard from Professor Marshall that you're on good terms with the chief of Medonia's Interpol. Can I trouble him to be a
"Wait a minute! Isn't Jefford actually Jeffrey?" Leo asked while running after Nathan.Nathan ignored him and continued to walk forward.Leo did not give up and followed Nathan closely. "Who exactly is Jeffrey to you?""Are you being unreasonable right now? Why are you still so unsure at this point?" Nathan glanced at Leo contemptuously."I'm dealing with serious business. Don't get in my way with your petty romantic affairs!"After saying that, he glared at Leo and exited the cabin.Leo felt chills in his heart, but he could not make Nathan stay…-Jeffrey was tied up on the deck all this time. His body was freezing, and his lips were turning purple from the cold."Hey, President Morgan, fancy seeing you like this!" Nathan laughed grimly when he saw the miserable state Jeffrey was in."Thanks to you, I've been more miserable than this on many occasions. This is nothing." Jeffrey made it sound like a walk in the park."Hehe." Nathan sneered."I know. You've had strong willp
Lynette seemed stunned. She could not help but stand up with the help of the railing on the speedboat. Her eyes turned red as looked at the island burning in the distance. There was a look of disbelief on her face…If they had not evacuated five minutes ago…By now…She would not have even been able to breathe and think…The explosion sent shockwaves across the ocean's surface. The ride became even more bumpy. With sea water splashing against them, they had all become wet."Are you alright?" Carson protected Melanie. He was worried she would not be able to take it.Her stomach did feel awful, but she braced herself and tried not to tense up. Her emotions would affect her baby.When Lynette heard the voices behind her, she turned around to look at Melanie. Her gaze had become much softer than before. "You're not going to give birth on the boat, are you? I'm a woman, but I don't know how to be a midwife!""I won't give birth now. There are still things left to do," Melanie said.