”What?” Melanie suddenly felt dizzy with worry. She took a step back to lean against the wall and asked after quickly collecting herself, “How could this be? Did you search the osmanthus tree? The one in the southeast corner?” “I did. I’ll give you a video call!” Mr. Lincoln hung up and started a video call. The video showed the Jones’ garden with the soil beneath the osmanthus tree completely dug up. That was all there was. “Miss Melanie, I thought you might have misremembered so I had the soil around the remaining two trees dug up as well, but look. There’s nothing.” Mr. Lincoln moved the camera around to show her the state of the garden. The soil around the trees in the garden had been completely turned over... Yet, why wasn’t it there? Melanie felt lightheaded. She took a few deep but weak breaths before saying, “I got it, Mr. Lincoln. You can go back now. Let me think about this.” “Alright. Think whether you remembered the place correctly,” Mr. Lincoln said bef
"Why isn't it possible?" Jeffrey asked."As you've seen, I trust Mr. Lincoln. Mom trusts him more than I do. All these years, he's been working for my father without a word of complaint. Apart from my parents, he's the greatest contributor to Jones Enterprise. Why would I suspect Mr. Lincoln of doing anything?" Melanie asked.Jeffrey raised his eyebrows. "He worked very hard when your father was still around, but he was in no hurry to gain some benefits after your father passed away either. Instead, he's been fully supportive of your mother and consequently you as well. Don't you find that odd?"Seeing he was getting through to Melanie, Jeffrey continued to speak. "Everybody is selfish to some degree. Based on how well you knew him, do you think he had any ulterior motives?"Melanie thought hard before sharking her head.Mr. Lincoln was never married, had no children, and remained single all his life. It seemed… He was not interested in anything… However, he had worked in Melanie'
Eliza knew her daughter well.Even if Melanie had not spoken, she could tell something was amiss. She stopped hoping. "Did something happen?""Mom, I hope you're ready to hear this," Melanie said."Go ahead." Eliza nodded calmly.Melanie walked closer and picked up Eliza's hand. "Mr. Lincoln went there, but he couldn't find anything under the tree.""How is that possible?" Eliza frowned."Mom, could you have mistaken it for somewhere else? Or does anyone else know about this?" Melanie asked frankly.Eliza's frown intensified. She tried to recall while shaking her head. "Apart from your father and I, nobody else knows…""Just as I thought." Melanie looked downward."Well… What do you think of Mr. Lincoln?" Melanie asked when she looked up again."Are you suspicious of Lincoln?" Eliza asked.She nodded. "To be honest, this wouldn't be the first time…"Melanie explained how when Eliza had gotten into the car accident, Mr. Lincoln came to see her with a bunch of incomplete evid
At night, Professor Turner went to Maximilian's house according to plan. There, he and several other well-known doctors had academic exchanges.At the approximated time, Melanie sent Professor Turner a message. "Professor, has Maximilian shown up yet?""He's on the second floor. I can see his silhouette," Professor Turner replied."It's not ten past seven. I'll call Professor Marshall after five minutes. Let's switch to a video call now. Point your camera at Maximilian's silhouette on the second floor," Melanie instructed."Okay. I'll find a good angle," Professor Turner replied mischievously.Melanie took a deep breath and rubbed her stomach. "Baby, Mommy's getting a little excited. Please don't mind my suddenly rapid heartbeat."For a few minutes, she clutched her phone and found it hard to sit still in her room.It was at this time that somebody knocked on the door.She glanced at the clock. There was only a minute left.Melanie walked to the door and opened it. Just as she
"Actually… I wanted to thank you in person!" Melanie uttered after fumbling with her words for a while."Haha. You've thanked me enough already. Why again?" Professor Marshall asked."Thanks to the new medical treatment you shared, my mother is getting better," Melanie said."Oh? That's great!" Professor Marshall smiled genuinely."I've always thought you were a kindred soul to me. Ever since I met you, my family and I have been on the receiving end of good things. I feel like we've known each other for a long time," Melanie added."Oh, indeed. You feel like family to me."Professor Marshall did not avoid the topic. However, he soon changed it. "How's your mother doing?""She's doing well. I've just been worrying her with too much stuff. It doesn't help with her recovery. I blame myself for that."His eyes shifted away. "What happened to you?""It's a long story. You know, many people want to hurt me. I couldn't hide even if I tried." Melanie chuckled helplessly.If Professor
"What is this?" Jeffrey was stunned.He saw Melanie charging into his room. She even locked the door behind her.If she had not brought stuff in her purse, his thoughts would have gone astray…A drop of water from his hair went into his eye. He raised his hand to wipe it away. Before he could see what Melanie had brought, somebody appeared at the door."Mel-... Dr. Jones…"The staff hesitated entering the room when he saw them inside the room.That was because Jeffrey did not have any clothes on… In fact, he was still soaked…"What is it?"Melanie walked over to the staff as if the naked guy next to her was not even there…"Oh… The professor wanted me to tell you that something happened to your mother, but he said not to worry because it isn't a big deal!" He explained.Even if it was not a big deal, it was still worrying news for Melanie…Melanie's excitement instantly turned into anxiety.She initially wanted to show Jefford the documents, but it was too late now. She hel
Eliza held Melanie's hands a little awkwardly. She thought her daughter was trying to console her. Should she ask further?Jeffrey also stepped forward to offer Melanie support from behind. His heart went out to her for being so thoughtful.However, Melanie was very calm.She retrieved the folder from her purse and helped Eliza to sit upright before showing her the documents."Mom, look here. Are these the ones?" Melanie asked.Eliza looked at the documents in disbelief. She nodded excitedly. "Y-Yes…""These really are…" Melanie murmured to herself.Jeffrey finally realized she had rushed to his room to show him these documents…He felt overjoyed but guilty at the same time for her sudden trust in him."Did… Lincoln send you these?" Eliza asked subconsciously. Before Melanie could answer, she shook her head. "It can't possibly be that quick… Even if he personally flew here…""These weren't from Mr. Lincoln." Melanie pursed her lips."I went to see Professor Marshall tonight.
"To be honest, I felt you belonged to the York family the first time I saw you. You're smart, decisive, and good at perfumery. Although the truth of your birth was kept a secret, we still found each other…"Joseph continued speaking excitedly. "I haven't been able to acknowledge you all these years. I'm sorry for all that you've been through…"Melanie blinked.She did not feel the same way he did.That was because she had grown up with her parents. Life was not difficult for her at all. In fact, she believed her childhood was much better than someone who grew up in the York family."Are… You certain?" Melanie asked."The evidence is right in front of me. Besides, I know it in my heart… Why wouldn't I be?" Joseph replied.Melanie was dumbfounded. She looked at Eliza before turning to Jefford. None of them knew what was going on."When will you come back?" Joseph asked."I… I suppose in a few days," Melanie replied."Alright… I'll hold a grand welcoming ceremony for you! Don't
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.