In the torn-up Maybach, Everly stared ahead. The clip-on mask had been damaged and was now lying by her side.Her left cheek burnt with pain as tears rolled down her face. The scene from earlier occupied her mind and made it so that she could not calm herself. Even so, she picked up the phone and found John‘s number to make a call as she drove."Violet?" He picked up immediately. "How did things go?"Her tears had not stopped as she drove the car to a sharp turn. "I messed up."She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. "It’s my fault. They realized what I had been planning to do long ago, and he… had already reinforced the guards over there. Annie and the others are now being held hostage by Carson Baxter…"There was a red light ahead, and Everly stepped on the brake abruptly. She lowered her head as tears fell from her eyes uncontrollably.It was her fault, all of it. If only she could be more patient and submit to Carson, perhaps things would noy have escalated to this p
Everly held on to the tombstone so tight her knuckles turned white.Tears fell from her eyes as she looked at Bonnie's photo through her blurry vision. She could not control her emotions.Previously, it was Bonnie and Granny Preston. At that moment, it was Annie and others. What would happen in the future?Who else? Would it be…Oliver? Was she going to continue? Perhaps, she should go to a place where nobody could find her alone and stay a recluse for the rest of her life? "Bonnie, Granny Preston, what should I do?"The weather was freezing. It suddenly started to snow again. Snowflakes landed on Everly. Not far away in the dark, Carson slowly walked over.She was not wearing her mask because it was broken. Carson had a good look at her face the moment he got down from his car.It was her! It was truly her! Slap!Carson slapped himself brutally. It was until he felt the pain only then he acknowledged that he was not dreaming."Mister Baxter!" Robbie, by the side, jumped
Everly had not looked up, and could not see the expression in his eyes.Carson looked at her with reddened eyes. He did not know what to say. He was at a loss for words at that moment, with a million emotions running through his head."Let go!" Everly yelled once more.How could Carson let go? He finally got to hold her hand once again after countless nights of reminiscing. How could he let her go?"Carson Baxter!" John walked over once more. He tugged Carson's hand and forcefully put himself in between Carson and Everly. He said angrily, "What the hell are you trying to do? Can't you see that she does not want to talk to you?"Carson ignored John. He only wanted to hold her. He was afraid that if he were to blink, she would disappear right in front of him once more."I'm warning you. As long as I'm here, don't you dare dream of doing anything to her!" John blocked Carson in his way, not letting him go."Robbie!" Carson immediately yelled.Robbie, who was not far behind, immedi
"Whether it hurts or not, you are the one who had done it, Mister Baxter," Everly said coldly. She turned around, not looking at him. "Treating me nicely after slapping me. This tactic does not work on me, Mister Baxter."Carson furrowed his brows. The distance Everly placed between them saddened him, but he was feeling more remorseful inside.This was all his fault. All her sadness and misfortune were caused by him."I'm sorry," Carson said.Everly laughed. He was sorry? How rare it was to hear those words coming out from Carson's proud mouth.She finally got the apology she wanted all these years, but not because of this incident. How ironic! Everly turned around, lifted her head, and looked at him. She was so enamored with those eyes when she was in her teens. She repressed the overwhelming emotions in her heart. She smiled and said, "Saying sorry does not have much use. Mister Baxter, why don't we make a deal.""What do you want?" He would give her whatever she wanted."Le
"Let me go!"Everly kept struggling. "Didn't you hear me? Let me go!"Carson's hand remained tightly gripped on her, and she could not break free at all. Everly opened her mouth and bit his hand. Even though his hand was bleeding from her bite, Carson still did not let her go."Everly."She only heard him call her name. Why was it always that way? Why was she always at the mercy of his hands? She seemed to be unable to get away from his grip.What did she have to do to get away from all of that! The feeling of defeat overwhelmed her. The tears she had been holding back finally fell.It was snowing heavily.Everly's tears streamed down her face, falling onto the back of Carson's hand. The heat of the tears burned into his heart.He subconsciously let her go while she took the opportunity to break free.He wanted to grab onto her once again, but—Slap! She attacked and slapped him."Don't make me hate you!" she said.The pain on his face meant nothing, but her iciness and
"Okay." John shook his head. He let out a long sigh and said nothing else, focusing on driving.Everly looked out of the window at the heavy snow in silence until she reached Orchid Garden.Annie and the others came back in one piece."Everly!" Annie called out anxiously.Everly forced a smile, and then John pulled Annie to the side.Everly let out a sigh of relief and returned to her room alone. She shut the door and leaned on it, slid down the door, and slumped onto the floor.She had not switched on the lights, nor did she open the curtains. The room was in darkness. She hugged herself into a ball in the corner. The memories of the past kept appearing in her mind.Tears kept falling. She bit her fists. She hated herself for still reminiscing about the past.…Outside, Annie and John were in the living area. John recounted the previous incident to Annie.Annie was stunned."How could this have happened?" Annie said, "Does that mean that Carson already knew of our plans pre
John and Annie stood up. The servants immediately went to answer the door.Austin's traveled-worn face appeared."Where is Everly! How is she!" Austin said anxiously. On the way here, he heard about everything through a phone call. He could not stop feeling anxiety and nervousness.Annie pointed to the room upstairs."I'll go check on her!" Austin put his luggage down and immediately headed upstairs.John felt indignant and wanted to stop him, but Annie held on to his arm and pulled him back. She shook her head.…Upstairs, in her room.Austin pushed open the door to Everly's room. It was dark inside. He switched on the light, but he could not find her on the bed.He looked around and finally found her crouching by the curtains of the window. He hesitated for a while before calling out gently, "Everly?"Everly moved a little but did not get up."How are you?" Austin bent down and swept the curtains aside. He saw how her long hair was covering her face. He hesitated a little
What was going on with her? Why was she hesitating?"Everly!" Austin urged.In the end, Everly nodded and said, "Okay. Once I get custody of Oliver, we will leave…and never return.""Hmm!" Austin smiled and said, "As long as you know what you want!"He patted her on the shoulders and said, "I'm sure you did not sleep well last night. Lie on the bed. You can only face what's coming when you're well-rested!"Everly lowered her gaze and nodded indifferently. She let Austin help her to the bed and tuck her in.Austin shut the curtains and switched off the lights when he left.The room was once again in the dark. Everly's eyes were open. She was in a daze. Austin's words were still ringing in her ears.What did she want?Everly shut her eyes. She did not know.…At the Baxter Group.There was supposed to be an important international meeting. At that moment, everyone was seated in the meeting room, except for Carson.Time has passed by more than a few minutes, but Carson is sti
Everly wondered, 'Why does he look so pitiful? Is he going to ask me to be with me as he did before?'Meanwhile, Carson moved his eyes from her to the sunset on the horizon and said, "It's late."She looked across at the sea and the sky. The glorious declining sun gilded the sky.The salty sea wind swept over them.They gazed at the sunset until the fish suddenly struggled and startled Everly.It had been quietly staying in her hand for a while. She had forgotten that she was holding the fish. Thus, she subconsciously let go of the fish and shook Carson's hands off.The fish flopped back into the water and waved its tail to flee away."Oh, no. The fish has escaped. Dad, hurry up and catch it!" Oliver yelled. He had been squatting on the side so as not to disturb his parents. Carson and Oliver then chased after the fish.Everly slowly got up and stood there. The father and the son in white T-shirts were surrounding the big puddle. Everly felt strange while watching them.She wa
She was a little embarrassed. After all, they hadn't been so close to each other for a long time. She felt a bit uncomfortable.So, she found a random topic. "Oliver still hasn't come back?""Maybe he couldn't find the bucket," he said, his chest vibrating. Not knowing how to pick up the conversation, she just looked at him. "Put the fish down," he said again after about three seconds. "But it will slip away," she blurted out. He paused, nodded, and hummed.Actually, she could place it somewhere dry rather than in the water... Then it couldn't slip away...She found herself so stupid. But she couldn't take back her words...She wondered, bit the bullet, and awkwardly held the fish. Should she say anything to defuse the awkward situation?She thought for a moment and asked, "What's your plan? I mean your career.""I haven't laid it out yet," he replied frankly. "I've been working for too long, and it's time to take a break. In the past, I didn't have time to hang
Everly immediately put the crab into the small bucket.At this time, the bucket was filled with many crabs. Oliver looked inside and wore a bright smile."Wow! We got a lot of crabs today! My bucket is almost full!" Oliver said and looked back. When he saw the bucket in his dad's hand, Oliver took it and dumped all the crabs inside his own bucket into it. He then pushed it to Everly and said, "Wow. Aunt Violet caught so many crabs today. You are awesome!"Everly froze. She looked at Oliver's smiling face and understood what he meant.Oliver wanted her to take all the credit for catching those crabs."Oliver...""Aunt Violet! Look over there. There are bubbles coming out of that small hole. Let's go over there. There must be something in there!" As he said, Oliver carried his bucket and a small shovel and trotted over in his slippers. He ran to the hole and exclaimed, "Aunt Violet, come on! It is a big fish!""Go ahead. He likes playing with you," Carson said to Everly when she w
"How do you know if they have contact in private?" The man asked as their car was waiting for a green light. The man's consecutive retorts annoyed Lisa. She looked in the rearview mirror at the man with chill eyes. "What do you mean? Are you trying to deliberately piss me off?" "No." The man replied. Then he paused for a few seconds and changed the subject. "So what are you going to do next?" 'Let Everly crash down to the hell!' During these days all their tactics were covert. They only took some subtle moves to test Carson, to see what was in Carson's mind. Now that Lisa had learned about it, then the next step she was up to was to put Everly through hell! "What's going on with Violet's studio now?" Lisa asked. "According to the information we got, it won't be long before Violet Studio and Baxter Group's collaboration on 'The Angel' is finished." The man replied. Before Lisa was about to respond, suddenly, her phone vibrated. Buzz--Lisa picked up her phone to check t
Everly, Carson, and Oliver were playing on the beach. Meanwhile, Lisa came out of her villa to a car and talked to someone on the phone.She got into the passenger seat, smiled at the man in the driver's seat, and said, "I've just heard that the opposition faction of the Baxter Group changed their minds. They want to get Carson back."The man started the car without speaking. Lisa made up her face, smiled contentedly while looking into the mirror at her delicate figures, and continued, "I knew that the Baxter Group couldn't do well without Carson and that they would give in!"The car's tires squealed.The man suddenly braked."What are you doing?" Lisa growled at the man with a frown, hurriedly grabbing something to steady herself."Lisa, what the hell do you want?" the man said resignedly, "didn't you say that you just wanted to help your family out of trouble? I don't understand what you're thinking. Do you love Carson? Are you proud of him?""What's the problem with this?"
While waving at her, Oliver murmured and walked in with Carson.Everly nodded with a smile. With the clothes in her hand, she got into the car and changed her clothes.The clothes were very simple, which were just a big white T-shirt and a pair of casual shorts. Looking at the clothes, she couldn't help wondering what Carson and Oliver would wear.She walked out, with her mind wandering. She saw Carson and Oliver not far away, both of whom were wearing a white vest and a pair of shorts to their knees. The color and style of their clothes were the same, except for the size.They two seemed to be talking about something, with buckets in their hands. Carson held a big bucket while Oliver held a small one. There was another bucket on the ground, obviously prepared for Everly.Noticing her coming, Oliver turned around and looked at her. "Aunt Violet!"Carson also looked up at her.Her heart was thumping faster inexplicably.‘He seems to be closer to me these days.’Maybe it was bec
The shopkeeper felt embarrassed. He looked at Oliver and replied, "What? I couldn’t do that. Don’t talk nonsense."Oliver pouted and didn’t say anything. Carson patted his head and then looked at the shopkeeper.The shopkeeper already understood his meaning. So then he handed three sets of clothes to Everly and Carson, "You can rinse over there.""Thank you." Everly nodded, then they went there together.After lifting the curtain of the outdoor shower, Carson and Oliver both frowned slightly and looked at her at the same time.Everly was a little confused, so she asked, "What’s wrong?""You can change the clothes in the car." Carson opened his mouth.Oliver nodded and explained, "Right, Aunt Violet. This place has some leaks. It’s okay for me and dad, but it's not okay for you, and there’s no mud on you. It's just me falling into the mud puddle."Everly looked at him and then at Oliver, understanding what they meant.She nodded and pinched Oliver's face with a smile, "Okay,
She immediately quickened her pace to rush over and snatched Oliver from Carson's hand."Hmm..."Before Oliver jumped into her arms and complained to her, Carson's cold voice sounded, "Stop. You're covered in mud."Oliver stopped immediately, looking down at himself, then he glared at Carson. Just a few seconds later, he sat down on a small rock and pointed to the big mud puddle beside him. "Aunt Violet, I just fell into it."Everly glanced in the direction that Oliver pointed to. There was indeed a mud puddle and a human shape was still there. Oliver's father just wiped his face. Otherwise, he could not be recognized.Looking at him sitting on that small rock and his aggrieved look, Everly thought he was so cute and couldn’t help laughing out loud, "Puff..."Hearing her laugh, Oliver turned his head. Everly immediately tried to hold back her laughter, but she failed."Ah! Aunt Violet, you laughed!” Oliver directly came down from the rock, sat in the mud, and childishly showed
Yet the meeting room was quiet. No one spoke.If there had been a way to settle the matter, they would have dealt with it many days ago.And if they gave advice but failed in the end, they might have to take the blame."Why do you all keep silent? Didn't you have a lot of ideas at the very beginning?" the leader roared, slapping the table.However, no one answered.After a minute, someone trembled and said, "Then ... shall we find Carson and make him the president again?""What are you talking about?" The leader was even angrier.But another person said, "I think he's right. The share price is falling. We have less and less money. If it goes on like this, none of us can stand it. We'd better get Carson back... When he managed the company, the share price was rising.""You're looking down on yourself and flattering Carson!" the leader growled, "and the share price is falling. Their losses must be bigger than ours. They should be the most anxious!""But..." the person who had be