The sudden rush of air had Sophie doubling over, coughing so intensely that tears nearly spilled. "Believe it or not, I had no part in your son's disappearance."She hung her head, avoiding Cedric's scrutinizing gaze."You'd better not be involved!" Cedric's imposing figure radiated cold fury. He leered at her before leaving with a chilling warning."Soph, are you okay?" Jeanna rushed to support Sophie, glaring at Cedric's retreating figure. "What a jerk! His child goes missing, and he hassles you instead of calling the police!""I'm fine," Sophie reassured her, taking a moment to compose herself despite the lingering tightness in her chest. She had pieced together the events, sensing a larger, more manipulative plan at play...Still concerned, Jeanna insisted, "You look pale. Let me take you home.""No, it's alright. I'll take a taxi. You enjoy the celebration with the others.""How can we continue celebrating with you in this state?" Jeanna protested.Sophie looked at her rea
The sudden ring of Sophie's phone interrupted her exhausted silence.Recognizing the caller ID, she inhaled deeply to steady her breath before answering. "Hello, Linda."Linda's worried voice came through. "Ms. Luxford, I've just been informed that Cedric was at the office. Are you... okay?"Sophie managed a smile. "He's already been here. I'm fine.""Are you still at the club? It sounds unusually quiet," Linda asked, her voice laced with worry."No, I returned briefly to check on my luggage. Please have the driver pick me up in an hour," Sophie lied, using her pre-packed bags as an excuse to mask her real intentions and not raise any alarms."Alright. I'll arrange for the driver to pick you up in an hour."Ending the call, Sophie headed to the elevator, her fingers trembling slightly as they pressed the call button. She leaned against the cool marble wall, watching the numbers descend to the ground floor.The elevator arrived. As Sophie straightened up to step in, she was sudd
"I'll call now to check," Linda suggested.Jeanna quickly intervened. "No need for that, Linda. I've already tried calling her multiple times, but all I get is a busy signal."Jeanna's anxiety intensified. Under normal circumstances, Sophie would have already been home by this time, especially since she had promised to call upon her arrival. But now, she was nowhere to be found.Acting on impulse, Jeanna paid the taxi driver and exited the vehicle."Ask the driver where he is. I'm on Southgleam Road, he can pick me up here.""Alright, wait a moment."Linda hung up and confirmed the driver's location, only to learn he had already reached the Bohemian Apartment."I rang the bell for a long time, but no one answered." The driver's robust voice made Linda worry, but she quickly regained her composure."Stay at the apartment entrance and keep ringing the bell. I'm on my way."Jeanna crossed the road, anxiously awaiting Linda's call. Just as she began to worry about the delay, her p
"Is it really necessary to panic so much? She's an adult and not kidnapped. Maybe she just stepped out for a walk," Sean remarked, trying to diffuse the tension with a forced smile. He often found that women seemed to overreact to the slightest provocation.However, even without her former status as Mrs. Carlson, Sophie commanded enough respect to be considered fearless."You know nothing, Sean!" Jeanna snapped back fiercely, her glare intense, effectively silencing him."We should wait a bit more. If Ms. Luxford doesn't return soon, we'll call the police," Linda proposed, glancing at her watch.Given the limited time before the flight and Sophie's well-known punctuality and meticulous planning, the possibility that something had gone amiss was high.-As Sophie regained consciousness, she found her head feeling hazy and her body weak. She became aware of a cool, salty breeze starkly contrasting with the muggy climate. Soon, she realized she was close to the edge of a cliff, with
Sophie felt an ironic urge to laugh amidst Vivienne's dramatic act, but her lips remained still. She observed as the rescue team scrambled to reach the weeping child, her heart sinking.Only when Cedric's cold shot toward her did she shift her eyes to meet his icy stare. Upon seeing the indifference in his eyes, her pale lips finally gave way to a bitter smile.'He has completely fallen for Vivienne's manipulations, believing I'd kidnap his son,' she thought bitterly.Vivienne was on the ground, clinging to Tristan and shaking with an exaggerated display of fear. "Tristan, my darling, did she hurt you? Mommy was terrified!""Mommy, I was so scared. The lady said she would feed me to the sharks," Tristan accused.Sophie's eyes widened at the child's fabricated tale. 'Since when did I say such a thing?'Vivienne shielded Tristan behind her with anger on her face. "Sophie, Tristan is only three years old. How could you? If you hate me, come at me. Why hurt an innocent child?"Sophi
Sophie heard her own distorted words play from the recording device. "I really worry about your son. He is adorable but doesn't understand what being a bastard means. He'll grow up under scrutiny and gossip, his innocence pierced early. How pitiful."If you're capable, find a way to take the position of Mrs. Carlson. But I warn you: I won't let you or your son off easily."The thick threat added a chill to the cold wind.Sophie frowned. Although she seemed to have said these words, they had clearly been tampered with, twisting their original meaning."Do you have anything else to say?" Cedric's cold voice cut through the wind as he lifted the recording pen to her face, his eyes icy and piercing.Sophie knew some misunderstandings were futile to explain. He believed Vivienne's lies and her explanations would be useless.Biting her lip, she clenched her hands. "Think what you want. I have nothing to say.""Sophie!" Cedric's gaze bore into her, his eyes defiant and proud. His brows
Vivienne watched Cedric hurl himself into the sea in disbelief, her scheme unraveling into dread. Her facade of concern melted into a mix of frustration and panic.Cedric plunged into the salty water. It stung his eyes, making it difficult to keep them open, but he could not care less about the discomfort. Desperately swimming, he searched for Sophie's figure."Sophie! Where the hell are you!" he shouted, the waves threatening to engulf him.Swallowed by a huge wave, Cedric coughed violently, fighting against the sea's grasp. His thoughts were solely on Sophie, the desperation fueling his weakening body. His chest exploded with pain as he slowly inhaled the salty seawater."Mr. Carlson!""Cedric!"As his consciousness began to fade, he heard voices called from the shore. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around his neck, pulling his heavy body upward."Save her!" He tried to speak, but more water rushed in. Cedric coughed violently, pushed away the helping hand, and sank back into the de
The cold sea breeze grew chillier as Cedric stood motionless at the cliff's edge, his tall figure swaying in the wind."Mr. Carlson, let me take you to the hospital," Evander suggested, noticing Cedric's drenched clothes.Cedric had inhaled water earlier, and standing soaked could lead to illness."No," Cedric flatly refused."Cedric... please listen to Evander and go for a check-up," Vivienne urged, her voice filled with concern.Cedric’s gaze shifted from the sea to her, revealing bloodshot eyes full of ferocity."Evander, take her and Tristan away," he commanded."Yes, Mr. Carlson." Familiar with Cedric's temperament, Evander knew he was on the edge of fury. After all these years, he knew when Cedric was close to his breaking point.Seeing Cedric's terrifying demeanor for the first time, Vivienne held her tongue and left with Tristan and Evander.When the irritating voices left, Cedric turned back, his blood-red eyes fixated on the unfathomable depths of the sea.'Sophie,
Tristan looked up in surprise. As if struck by a sudden thought, he glanced at Cherry, who was writhing in pain, and timidly asked, "Can I go to the hospital to help?""You need to stay home and help Cherry get a leave from school tomorrow. Be good and stay here. Trust Daddy. Cherry will be fine." Cedric's words seemed to soothe Tristan's anxiety.Avoiding Cedric’s gaze, Tristan obediently nodded. 'Cherry will surely be fine.'-The Bentley sped along the road and soon arrived at the hospital.Cedric held Cherry the entire time, while Sophie handled the paperwork. Their seamless cooperation made them seem like a perfectly ordinary married couple."Mr. Carlson, Mrs. Carlson, the child has gastritis and needs to be hospitalized for treatment," the emergency physician explained after examining Cherry, jotting down the diagnosis in the medical record.Sophie's face turned pale. 'Gastritis? How could it be so severe?'"Can she recover?" Cedric asked with a frown, his sudden intimida
In Imperium, hardly anyone else would dare yell at Cedric like this. Cedric's eyes narrowed dangerously, his shoulders radiating a cold aura. However, traces of helplessness and doting affection softened his expression. Despite his reluctance, he eventually turned aside cooperatively.Sophie couldn't help but smile. 'It's no wonder some people believe that daughters are their fathers' lovers from a previous life. If it were anyone else, Cedric would have likely thrown them out the window by now.'She lifted Cherry's clothes to reveal her round belly and gently massaged it in circles with her fingers. Taking the opportunity, she also gave Cherry a gentle reminder, "How many times has Mommy told you not to eat so much? But you never listen. Now you know how it feels when you overeat, huh?""Mommy, could you not rub salt in my wounds?" Cherry's face was scrunched up in pain. Her pitiful and aggrieved expression instantly silenced Sophie, who decided to save the scolding for when Cherry
Cedric kissed Sophie’s rosy cheeks, preparing to take things to the next level, when a knock on the door interrupted them at a crucial moment.His expression darkened immediately. No man liked being interrupted at such a time, and it had happened repeatedly."Who is it?" Sophie grabbed the blanket beside her to cover her exposed chest, her hoarse voice betraying her recent passion."Ms. Luxford... It's me." Tristan's low voice came from the other side of the door.'Tristan?' Sophie looked at the man beside her, surprised. She had assumed it was Cherry again, but unexpectedly...Gathering her scattered clothes from the floor, Sophie dressed quickly. Ensuring there was nothing inappropriate between her and Cedric, she got out of bed and walked toward the door.Tristan stood there, head down, fingers fidgeting, indicating urgency. As soon as the door opened, he looked up anxiously and said, "Ms. Luxford, could you go check on Cherry? She seems unwell.""Cherry is unwell?" The flush
"This birthday brings me a lot of happiness."Sophie grasped the deeper implications of his words. The blush on her cheeks faded slightly, and the initial flutter of excitement mingled with a touch of sadness. No one could predict what Jeff's condition would be like by her next birthday.Cedric shifted the topic, pouring the already decanted red wine into a tall glass and handing it to her. "Just one glass. This is for your private birthday celebration. Happy birthday."The intoxicating aroma of the wine was irresistible. She stopped resisting and held her glass up to gently clink against his, producing a clear, melodious sound that resonated beautifully in the quiet room.The rich wine slid down her throat, soothing her tense nerves. Her tightly held shoulders relaxed, and her racing heart found a semblance of peace. She had once believed she would never fall for Cedric again, but looking back, she realized that all her hatred had been rooted in love.He had transformed love into
Cedric seemed to know exactly what Sophie was nervous about. He raised his eyebrows suggestively, causing her to blush and quickly look away.What had happened between them lingered in the air, irrevocable.Jeff squinted, watching their subtle gestures with satisfaction. Smiling contentedly, he struggled to his feet with the help of his cane. These two had already reached a natural conclusion, and there was no need for him to exaggerate his illness any longer."Mommy, I still have homework to do. I'm heading to my room," Cherry announced, her bright eyes glancing at Tristan. She couldn't beat him at Taekwondo, but she was determined to outshine him in the midterm exams!"I’m going upstairs too," Tristan added, surprised by her sudden focus. He hesitated for a moment before quickly following her up the stairs.Melissa had long lost her patience. Without a word, she dragged Matthew upstairs, letting out a disdainful snort as they left.What had been a lively living room now left So
"Okay."Understanding Cherry’s impatience, Sophie smiled and gently pulled away from Cedric’s embrace. She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and made a wish.She hoped for her family's safety, health, and happiness. She wished that her parents and sister were living comfortably in another world. And she wished that she and Cedric would have a happy ending, free from past mistakes.After silently making her wishes, she blew out the flickering candles in one breath.The room filled with the faint scent of melted wax."We can eat the cake now!" Cherry beamed with joy, eagerly carrying the cake to the dining table.Her impatience made Jeff laugh heartily, his eyes crinkling with delight as he stroked his beard. "Alright, let’s start eating before this little girl drools all over the table."Sophie took her seat, glancing at Cedric, who still held her hand tightly. Her smile widened as she playfully scolded him, "Why didn’t you tell me on the way here?""If I told you, ho
Although Sophie's mind was brimming with questions, she couldn’t help but smile at Cedric's words. She looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling the warmth of his palm. Whether it was a perfect match or a union made in heaven, it all required two hearts in love. With love, even amidst turbulence, they would find the courage to move forward together.Before long, the Bentley smoothly pulled into the Carlson residence.Jeff immediately smiled and waved upon their arrival. "Soph, come over here."Sophie approached, noticing that Mrs. Carrie had prepared a table full of dishes. She couldn’t help but feel puzzled. "Grandpa, what has made you so happy? Why did you ask Mrs. Carrie to make so much delicious food?""Silly girl, did you forget what day it is today?"Jeff's loving yet mischievous smile left her momentarily bewildered. Then her eyes widened in surprise. With everything going on with Linda, she had completely forgotten her own birthday!"Happy birthday." Cedric had quie
Fearing that staying any longer would only worsen the situation, Linda quickly opened the door and walked out.Fenix stood there, confusion gradually replacing the determination in his eyes."What’s wrong with marrying me?" he asked Sophie, genuinely puzzled.'I’m the CEO of Cheshire Group. I’m not unattractive, and marrying me would make her legally protected as Mrs. Cheshire. Why am I being rejected?'Sophie coughed awkwardly, gaining a deeper understanding of Fenix. Sean had navigated the world of romance with ease, but Fenix seemed as naive in matters of the heart as a child."Am I really that bad?"Seeing that Fenix was still fixated on why he was rejected, Sophie shook her head. "Feelings are different from business. It’s not about racing against time or weighing benefits. You can’t apply business tactics to relationships. Spending a lifetime together requires a foundation of love.""Foundation of love? You and Cedric grew up together. You had a good foundation, but it was
Sophie's suspicion was right. Fenix was not one to easily abandon his target. After Linda ignored countless calls, he took the initiative to find her."Mr. Cheshire, Linda really isn't in the office right now," the secretary tried to block him, but it was futile against a determined man, especially one exuding an intimidating chill."Then I’ll find Sophie.""But Ms. Luxford, she—" Before the secretary could finish, Fenix's long legs had already taken him to Sophie's office door.He knocked twice before pushing it open. The secretary looked like she was about to cry. "Ms. Luxford, I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop Mr. Cheshire.""It’s fine. Go make Mr. Cheshire a cup of coffee," Sophie said.Seeing Fenix barge in, she raised an eyebrow, smiled, and glanced at Linda, who was hiding in her office. "Have a seat and let's talk.""No need. I have to catch a flight soon." Fenix cut straight to the point, his determined eyes fixed on Linda as he said firmly, "I need an answer from you.""Mr.