A blood-curdling scream could be heard.Hailey scrambled down the stairs with her newborn baby in her arms. With tears in her eyes, she kept screaming her husband’s name. “Maddox! Maddox!“Please don't let it be you, Maddox! Please!”…Everyone around her stared at her. To them, she was just a beautiful lady who had gone out of her mind. She looked like she was on the verge of falling apart. Her slippers had slid off her feet and there was a baby in her arms who kept crying non-stop.A male body lay down in the flower bed in the center courtyard. His limbs were hanging off the raised concrete as blood seeped out all over it. There wasn’t any life in his eyes. He was just staring at the sky, where dawn had just broken over the horizon. It was the beginning of a new day, but he’d never live to see it. “Maddox.”Hailey called out from among the crowd. Making her way through them, she walked over to her husband’s dead body. Staring at him with unblinking eyes, it took her les
‘This is how we can be together for an eternity, Maddox.’…Silence hung over the center courtyard. By the time Gladys made her way here, the crowd was muttering amongst themselves. The old servant had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Working her way through the crowd, she finally saw Maddox and his wife in a pool of blood. She couldn’t take such a heartbreaking and grisly sight. Falling to her knees, she stared at the young couple and said in a choked-up voice, “It’s Maddox and his wife! It’s really them.”Holly waved her arms in the air and continued to wail at the top of her lungs. The old servant swooped the baby up gently while tears flowed down her withered cheeks. “I recognize this jade. You’re Maddox’s daughter!”It was so excruciatingly painful that it felt like someone had stabbed her through the heart. Holding the baby in her arms, she said shakily, “Oh, my sweet child. Let’s take a last look at your mom and dad. You won’t be able to see them again after today
Kim nodded. “Leave it to me, Ms. Gwynn!”After a brief moment, Gwynn said in a daze. “Find a nice, cozy place and bury them together. I want these engravings on his tombstone. ‘Here lies Gwynn’s loving protector, Maddox. Loving husband to Hailey.’ I’ll take their daughter to visit them every year on their death anniversary.”…Gwynn attended Maddox and Hailey’s funeral. Carrying Holly in her arms, Gladys and Kim supported her from both sides. She said before their tombstones, “Don’t worry, guys. I’m going to take good care of Holly and raise her until she’s all grown up.”There was a picture of Maddox and Hailey embedded in the tombstone. It was a happy picture, and they both had big smiles on their faces.…Kim finally managed to call her director. It had already been three days since Gwynn received the cornea transplant. She no longer understood who was more important to Noah. Was it his wife or Ms. Gianna? She was calling now because she wanted to tell him what happened
Noah was about to say something, but the Gerlandian doctor came over with a stack of X-rays in his hand. “I’d like a word with you, Mr. Noah. It’s about Ms. Gianna’s condition.”So, he responded to Kim, “I’ll call Gwynn in a while.”Then, he hung up. Kim couldn’t help but curse at her director.…Things were looking grim for Gianna. The doctor said it wasn’t plausible to surgically remove her uterus. Simply put, she had no chance of surviving the cancer. The Gerlandian doctor said gloomily, “By my estimation, she only has three more months left to live. Stay by her side while you still can, Mr. Noah!”After the doctor left, Noah stood by the window with a phone in one hand and a cigar in the other. However, the cigar wasn’t lit. Gianna hugged him from behind, sniffing his scent longingly. It was fine if he refused to sleep with her, as long as he kept her company. They looked just like a married couple. She was about to die, but she wasn’t scared at all. That was becau
Gwynn picked up the phone after a brief moment.They didn’t utter a single word for a long time. All they could hear was each other’s light breathing. They were supposed to be a married couple. However, it felt as if they were starting to not recognize each other’s breath. Noah broke the silence. “How’s the recovery going?”The night was as cold as it felt in winter. Gwynn spoke dryly in Francorian, “I think Kim has filled you in on what's been going on here. I’m recovering very well. I’ve got Maddox’s corneas and regained my sight… As for him, he jumped off the hospital building and died. His wife followed him into death not long after.“I know you’ll be bothered by the fact that I’ll always have his corneas the next time we meet each other.“I don’t think this is something you can live with!“That’s why I’m asking for a divorce, Noah! Once you’re free from the bonds of marriage, you’ll be able to treat Gianna the way she deserves. You can love her and even marry her for all I
The pediatrician used his stethoscope to listen to Holly’s heartbeat and breathing.After a brief moment, he tucked it away and said, “She probably caught a cold and has a mild case of pneumonia. It’s not that serious. She’ll be right as rain once I prescribe her some medicine.”The word ‘pneumonia’ unnerved the old servant.She asked gingerly, “Should we hook her up to an IV drip? The other children get it when they have pneumonia.”He smiled. “It’s not that serious.”He was aware of Holly’s tragic background. Reaching out, he brushed his fingers on her cheeks tenderly, and said to Gwynn, “If it’s possible, feed her some breast milk, Ms. Gwynn. That’ll help the baby girl build up her immune system.”Gwynn nodded. “Okay.”Carrying Holly in her arms, she soothed the baby tenderly. Tears filled the doctor’s eyes. He hid it in a cough and said, “I’m going to prescribe her some medicine now.”She asked the old servant to follow the doctor. After weeks of attentive care, Holly sta
Gwynn looked glum. …Kim opened the door and came in.Gwynn was standing by the window, gazing out wordlessly. Once she heard the sound of the door opening, she said softly, “I want to fly to Gerlandia, Kim. Can you arrange it for me? Also, I don’t want Noah to know about it.”Kim hesitated a little. After all, she was Noah’s assistant. She worked for him, but she was being asked to do something that was as good as a betrayal to him. After a brief moment, she smiled miserably. “I guess I can always look for another job.” Being the efficient lady that she was, she booked the earliest flight available for Gwynn and gave the latter Noah’s address in Gerlandia. Before Gwynn left, Kim packed some Gerlandian notes in her suitcase. “Digital wallets aren't common in Gerlandia. It’d be wise to have some cash in the local currency with you.”Gladys also prepared some pre-packed food for her. She was concerned that her mistress couldn’t get used to Gerlandian food. Worried, she said
Gwynn looked much healthier now, and had regained much of her former figure.She was still quite skinny, but there was flesh where there should be on her body. Even her skin was restored to its former glory. Dressed in a form-fitting dress, she looked slender and curvaceous.Noah stared at her for a long time. It felt as if it had been centuries since he had last seen her. The personnel from the wedding boutique asked again, “We’re going to hang your wedding photo here, Mr. Noah. Does it look fine for you?”Coming back to his senses, he took brisk steps toward Gwynn instinctively. Grabbing her slender wrist, he spoke in a hushed voice because he knew he was in the wrong this time. “We’ll talk outside.”“Why do we have to talk outside?”Shaking his hand off, she swept her eyes across the living room. Noticing the extravagant architectural style, she chuckled softly, “Is it because this is where you hide your mistress? Are you ashamed of it?”Then, her chuckle turned into a s
In the presidential suite, the newlywed night was fiery, filled with affection and intimacy. The wedding banquet was still bustling with excitement.There was a special guest, who quietly arrived and hoped to leave just as quietly. He was afraid to disturb her mood and feared that if she saw him, she might not be pleased. However, despite his best efforts, they still crossed paths in the hallway.Gael stood quietly, watching Yanni. She had just taken Ella to the restroom, as she wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone. Besides Ella, there was another small girl with her, probably one of the twins she had with Keaton. The other twin was her brother.The twins were named Shay Bright and Drew Bright. Ella adored her younger siblings. Whenever she came home from school, she would always spend some time playing with them first. At night, she would sneak her little sister into her room and cuddle her to sleep, treating her like a little doll.At first, Yanni was quite worried, but she lat
In the early morning, the first rays of sunlight bathed the earth, signaling a joyous occasion at the Sanders family home. The youngest daughter of Noah and Gwynn was finally getting married. Even more delightful, she was marrying her childhood love. Dressed in a headpiece and red bridal gown, she was as beautiful as could be, the most stunning woman Zion had ever seen.The Quarto family was busy with preparations. Although they were not extremely wealthy, Jordyn was a capable family head with a good reputation. He handled both inside and outside affairs with finesse and charm. To everyone’s surprise, he got along very well with Mason.However, Noah had some reservations. “Don't you have any relatives of your own, Mason?”Mason didn’t engage with his criticism. Together with Zoe, they helped with the wedding arrangements. A traditional Chinese wedding was far more elaborate than a Western one, but thankfully, the families had enough help to avoid any chaotic moments.During the d
That night, Jamie and Paityn returned home with their daughter Carol. As soon as they arrived, Carol went to do her homework, while Paityn went to check on their youngest son, Colten Lockwood. The housekeeper was taking care of him and, upon hearing footsteps, turned her head and softly said, "Madam, you're back? He hasn't woken up at all, he's such a good boy."Paityn smiled lightly and signaled for the housekeeper to go downstairs and rest.When the door closed, she looked down at the sleeping Colten. The little one, only eight months old, resembled his father completely; almost like a miniature copy of Jamie. Even Carol, at times, would look at her brother’s face and marvel: "It’s really a masterpiece from God!"Jamie replied, "You even know what a masterpiece is?"Carol teased, "A husband’s looks are the wife’s glory!"Paityn quietly said to Jamie, “She must have seen a supermodel runway show."Jamie immediately asked, "Did she like it?"Paityn didn't answer, just smiled.
On the second floor, Gwen was trying on her wedding dress for tomorrow. Just as Zion had wished, it was a traditional Zutriysteinian wedding.The red wedding gown was crafted by the top artisans from Zutriystein, elegant and dignified. The headpiece she wore was adorned with wild pearls; each gem was carefully embedded, and the headpiece alone cost tens of millions. A substantial amount of money had been spent.The woman in the mirror was stunningly beautiful. Gwen gently touched her headpiece and muttered to herself, "Zion really doesn’t mind spending money on this little hobby of his."Gwynn, as a mother, patted her head. "This little girl really doesn’t know when to keep quiet, but luckily, she’s married well and is right here beside me..."She had given a generous wedding gift, exactly the same as when Holly got married. Like Holly, Gwen didn’t want any shares of the Sanders Group. The money that Zion earned was enough to support both of them and his small hobbies.Meanwhile
Ignacio said, "We can’t take care of both of you."Holly was at a loss for words.Lucius was at that lively age, but he was raised by his father and had good manners. When he saw Ocelotte, he respectfully greeted him, saying, "Second Uncle."Ocelotte patted his little head, thinking that the boy seemed sturdier than his own children, possibly because Molly was too fragile. He made a mental note to make sure Yeager got some extra nutrients when he went back.The black Rolls-Royce Phantom sped down the highway, getting them back to the Qiao family mansion before evening.The Sanders family’s sons had all moved out, leaving only Gwen still living at home. Holly, who rarely came back, was also staying at the house. She didn’t refuse, planning to stay for a few days before heading to Silvercrest to visit her biological parents and pay respects.The car pulled into the Sanders Residence, and the house was lit up brightly.In the courtyard parking area, luxury cars were parked everywhe
In the evening, Gwen was preparing to leave work.In the parking lot, she spotted Zion’s car, but it was empty. Just then, a school leader passed by and said to her, “Zion came to school. There’s a donation ceremony happening in the auditorium. You should go check it out. "Then, you two can head home together afterward. On a cold day like this, a nice dinner would be perfect. What a cozy idea!”Gwen playfully replied, “You really know how to enjoy life.”The leader, holding a bag of groceries, laughed, “See? Your teacher’s wife has been nagging me since morning to go home and cook while babysitting the grandkids.”Gwen smiled softly, watching him leave.In the sky, clouds glowed orange and yellow, their edges tinged with gold.She carried a thermos as she walked toward the auditorium. Along the way, a few students noticed her and started chirping excitedly, cheekily calling her “Ms. Gwen.”Gwen corrected them, “It’s Ms. Gwen.”The students laughed and teased, “Ms. Gwen! Mr. Z
Gwen stared dazedly at the man.Zion, dressed in a black coat, stood tall in the study, exuding an oppressive aura. He walked toward her and pulled the teary-eyed girl, her face streaked like a little tabby cat, into his arms. One hand gently smoothed her hair as his voice softened to the extreme, "Still saying you didn’t cry."Gwen leaned against his shoulder, mumbling, "You did it on purpose.""Are you at least a little touched?"She pounded on him twice more in response.Zion chuckled lowly, letting the girl vent while his heart ached silently.These past five years had been filled with fear and uncertainty for him. He had been afraid that before he could make a name for himself, Gwen would fall for someone else. If that happened, what could he possibly use to ask her to come back to him?The love story of a poor boy and a rich girl might've existed in novels, but the reality was often harsh.Gwen didn’t care, but he couldn’t bear to let her endure hardship.Now, as they
Zion and Gwen's marriage seemed inevitable, with no one putting up any resistance. Occasionally, Gwen even had a strange illusion.It all went so smoothly that the years of separation seemed like they had never happened, as if she and Zion had always been together. After their reunion, he didn’t even ask her about her life abroad and treated her just as he did before.She was no longer as youthful and tender, but Zion still saw her as if she were a 20-year-old girl. Gwen felt a bit dejected, thinking to herself, he must just like girls around 18-year-old.But unfortunately, the spring river flows eastward and cannot return!Zion only smiled.In winter, the days grew shorter. After work, Gwen arrived at Zion's villa, but he had not yet come home. The two housekeepers had already started preparing dinner.When Gwen got out of the car, she received a call from Zion. Her voice was soft and tender.“When will you be back?”On the other end, Zion checked the time and said, “I’ll be
Zion noticed Gwen gazing at him with those wide, expectant eyes again. With a chuckle, he reached into the pocket of his trench coat, pulled out a sleek wallet, and carefully extracted a platinum card. He placed it in her outstretched hand and said with a smile, “This is my secondary card. There’s no credit limit.” Gwen gasped softly, then teased, “Wow, aren’t you generous? Thank you, Teacher Qin.” Zion gave her a light tap on the head. Not missing a beat, Gwen wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned mischievously, “Thank you, my sugar daddy.” Zion’s response was to pull her close, cupping her cheeks as he kissed her fiercely. Though he once carried himself as an educator and now as a refined businessman, he found himself utterly smitten by her playful antics. After the kiss, Zion leaned close to Gwen's ear and murmured something uncharacteristically crude that sent a shiver down her spine. He playfully nipped her nose. “Turns out you’ve got a thing for bad boy