"What?" "Did I hear correctly?" After a few seconds of silence, the crowd erupted into murmurs. People simply couldn't believe the number they heard. The lady who just donated her woolen shawl even priced it at three thousand, but this was emerald, a rare treasure that might only emerge once every tens of millions of years! Was Melanie ignorant, or was she playing games? "I heard that Miss Melanie is attending Elijah's birthday banquet for the first time. Is she deliberately trying to please Elijah because she is seeking cooperation with him?" Some speculated. "She doesn’t have to do that. With the support of the York family and the alliance with the Frost family, Elijah invited her to the banquet. She doesn't need to lower herself." Some opposed. "That's right. This emerald is priceless. Even if she wants to please him, she doesn't need to pay such a high price..." Some agreed. "Quiet, everyone." The host maintained order. After Melanie unexpectedly stated a low pr
Jefford's bid once again shocked the host on stage. "Mr. Yancey bids ten billion! Ten billion! Anyone else? Does anyone want to go higher?" The scene erupted once again. He was indeed from the Yancey family! Although they had been mysterious in recent years and rarely appeared in the country, it seemed that they were asserting their dominance right after they came back. As people whispered to each other, they also closely watched Gabriel's reaction. Everyone knew that this was something donated by Melanie. As her fiance, Gabriel's response was what everyone was most curious about. "Twenty billion!" Gabriel calmly raised his paddle and shouted loudly. Melanie's eyebrows furrowed, and she put her hand on Gabriel's, taking the number plate from him. "Don't bid anymore." Otherwise, she would feel very sorry for him. To let Gabriel spend so much to buy a necklace Jefford gave her, which she then wanted to discard? This didn't make sense! Although tens of millions wasn'
Gabriel stood at the foot of the stage. The audience laughed at the host's joke. "What surprise could there possibly be?" Melanie also played along with the host, lifting her arm and holding Gabriel's hand. "Wow!" The audience sighed with envy again. "I’m so jealous of both of you,” the host joked, extending his hand in a welcoming gesture. "I invite the most affectionate couple tonight to perform the opening dance for our charity ball!" Gabriel escorted Melanie off the stage again. People automatically made way for them, clearing a spot in the center of the dance floor. Surrounded by lights, they were like a perfect couple, attracting everyone's attention. The music began. As people danced freely to the music, Gabriel's hand gently stroked Melanie's back as he leaned close to her ear and asked, "Can you dance?" "Of course!" Melanie was a bit puzzled, not understanding why Gabriel had been so cautious around her these past few days. Seeing her confident reply,
No one noticed, but in another place, Linda's trusted assistant stepped forward and said, "Miss, I think Melanie's behavior today undoubtedly shows that she has completely rejected Jefford. You can reach out to offer her some benefits now." "Mm." Linda nodded, a smug smirk playing at the corner of her lips. Although she wasn't sure if she could reconcile with Melanie, given their previous confrontations, as long as Melanie didn't support Jefford, even if they couldn't be friends, it wouldn't matter. - After the dance ended, Gabriel escorted Melanie to the bar to have a drink. He asked as they walked, "How do you feel? Are you tired?" "The music was uncharacteristically slow-paced, so why would I be tired?" Melanie smiled. Seeing that Melanie's face was not flushed and that she wasn't out of breath, Gabriel finally felt relieved. Just as a few people came to greet Gabriel, Melanie said to him, "I'll go over there and have something to eat first." With that, she walked away
"Bang!" Before Jeffrey could finish his sentence, a heavy punch suddenly came from the side! Jeffrey was caught off guard. He staggered and fell to the ground. "Melanie, why did you come?" Gabriel knocked down Jeffrey and stood beside Melanie, asking with concern. "I was afraid you would cause a fatal accident!" Melanie said irritably. In the blink of an eye, Jeffrey, who had just fallen to the ground, had already stood up. Seeing Gabriel and Melanie standing so close together, his blood boiled! With clenched fists, he rushed forward and aimed another punch at Gabriel's face! "Bang!" Even though Gabriel was prepared, he was still knocked down to the other side of the ring! Gabriel tried to get up to fight back, but his legs gave out. Melanie quickly said, "Stop fighting! Let's go!" The fierceness in Gabriel's eyes softened when he met Melanie's gaze. He nodded, wanting to leave with Melanie. Behind them, Jeffrey's voice was low and frightening. "You're not takin
Gabriel's gaze was so intense as if it contained a flame that wanted to melt the frosty Melanie. But at a moment when she should have felt flustered, Melanie didn't feel her heart racing. She only felt helpless and embarrassed. "I have a family doctor who can prepare medical equipment. Can you accompany me back?" Gabriel pleaded again. He had been holding her hand all this time, and Melanie knew how much he longed for it. She couldn't bear to refuse him like this in front of his subordinates, and she also needed a chance to have a serious talk with him, so she nodded. Gabriel immediately smiled, happy like a child, completely forgetting the pain on his body. - The car arrived at Gabriel's villa in Harbor City. Upon entering, Melanie was surprised to find that the living room was surprisingly similar to her own home. There were fabric sofas she liked, blankets on the sofa, and wool rugs on the floor, both in texture and color just like those in her own home. Even the
"Who is this? Is he trying to get himself killed?" The driver cursed and was about to open the door to drive away the tall man. Melanie stopped him. "I'll go." "Madam?" The driver naturally refused and cleverly glanced at the man blocking the car. He recognized him as Jefford, who had just injured Gabriel! "You can't go!" The driver was even more troubled. "If I don't go, we won't be able to leave tonight," Melanie said, opening the door and walking out. The driver thought to himself, ‘Before leaving, the young master instructed me to make sure Madam was safely inside the Jones residence before leaving. But who would have thought that just a few minutes after leaving, Madam would be abducted by someone, and by that reckless Jefford no less?’ After some hesitation, the driver decided to call Gabriel to report the situation. However, when he took out his phone, he realized that there was no signal at all. Although the villa area was remote, it shouldn't have no signal
Just then, the roar of vehicles racing down the mountain road suddenly came! Melanie's eyes brightened instantly! It must be Gabriel sending someone to rescue her! Seemingly sensing her intention to seek help, Jeffrey lowered his voice and reminded her, "You’d better not make a sound. You wouldn't want Gabriel and the Frost family to see us like this in the woods late at night..." Melanie's eyes narrowed as she glared fiercely at the shameless man. What? Did he think he had her figured out? Even if she might be misunderstood by the Frost family, it was still much better than staying here in the lion's den! With determination in her eyes, she gathered her courage and decisively said, "I'm he... Mmm...!" But before she could finish her sentence, the man suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. "Mmm! Mmm!" She struggled and squirmed under him but her lips were firmly sucked on by him. She was unable to make a sound... Seeing her movements getting more an
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.