Realizing he had driven someone who did not plan to pay, the driver cursed loudly through the open window, "What the fuck?! Don't fucking take a taxi if you're fucking broke!"Eventually, he could only accept his luck and drive away.Mrs. Carrie stood at the school gate, holding a large bag and constantly checking the electronic clock in the security room nearby. 'Ms. Cherry's about to finish school.'As the school bell rang, Cherry came out bouncing soon after, her face beaming with sweetness. "Mrs. Carrie, make something delicious for dinner tonight. It's a day worth celebrating."'The bad woman is going to prison today, and Mommy won't have to be unhappy because of her anymore.'"Sure thing," Mrs. Carrie indulgently replied, held her hand lovingly, and got into the car parked nearby.The car started, but suddenly, someone yanked open the door.Before Mrs. Carrie could react, she was struck hard on the back of her head with a solid object, causing her to lose consciousness ins
"Vivienne has kidnapped Cherry!" Sophie said, her voice trembling as fear clutched her heart. Vivienne had indeed kidnapped Cherry!"What?! That woman deserves to die!" Jeanna exclaimed, pulling out her phone to call the police.However, Linda intervened, "Wait a moment.""What are we waiting for? That woman is a lunatic now! Who knows what she could do to Cherry!" Jeanna’s voice trembled with urgency. She wanted to stay calm, but the thought of Cherry being taken away by Vivienne made it impossible.Linda appeared worried yet restrained, sensing that Sophie had a reason for not immediately calling the police. "Ms. Luxford?"Sophie seemed not to hear them, her gaze locked intensely on the phone clutched in her hand.Vivienne had bided her time for a week, choosing the moment when Sophie's defenses were lowest to strike. It wasn't merely about inflicting pain on Cherry to unsettle Sophie.Her eyes were bloodshot, and each passing second felt like an eternity of agony.At that
Cedric's expression darkened as he received the documents from Evander, his concentration shattered by his ringing phone. He glanced at the caller ID, his expression turning sharp as he answered, not waiting for the other party to speak before urgently asking, "What's happened?""Mr. Carlson, Vivienne... Vivienne has escaped and taken Ms. Luxford's daughter. They're at the coastal cliffs," came the trembling response, chilling Cedric to the core."Turn around immediately!" Cedric commanded Evander."But the meeting—" Evander began, but Cedric's icy demeanor silenced him. Whatever had caused Cedric's face to harden must mean that Sophie and Cherry were in trouble.Fortunately, they were near a highway toll booth.Evander swiftly took the next exit to loop back onto the bridge, but the chill on Cedric’s face seemed to deepen, becoming frighteningly intense."Mr. Carlson."Remaining on the call, Cedric listened intently as the police officer continued to report. Frustrated, he wa
"Heh, Tristan? He hates me! My own son hates me!" Vivienne's emotions suddenly surged violently.With a roar, she suddenly yanked Cherry closer. "Sophie, if not for you, Tristan wouldn't despise me, and Cedric wouldn't treat me this way. It's all because of you. Five years ago, you should have died in the sea. You shouldn't have survived and certainly shouldn't have returned!"Hearing Vivienne's accusations, Sophie felt a crushing weight on her heart, especially as Vivienne nudged Cherry dangerously close to the cliff's edge.Losing composure, Sophie cried out, "Don't!""I won't give you time to wait for the police. Want to save your daughter? If you jump, I'll release her." Vivienne gripped Cherry’s arm while pointing toward the raging sea below. It was high tide, and a single wave could render a person unconscious, unable to struggle before sinking."Mommy, don't listen to her!" Cherry cried, shaking with fear. She was afraid of the sea but feared losing her mother more."Shut
From a distance, Cedric watched in terror as the scene unfolded at the cliff's edge. He understood Vivienne's deadly intentions and Sophie's grave decision.Anxious, he stretched his arm out of the car window, honking the horn forcefully while shouting, "Sophie, don’t jump!"Hearing the horn, Sophie turned to see Cedric's car. A final bit of unease settled in her heart. Knowing he was there, Cherry should no longer be in danger."Jump, or I’ll throw her over!" Vivienne was caught off guard by Cedric's swift arrival and shoved Cherry toward the cliff’s edge.Cherry's legs dangled in the air as she cried out, "Mommy!"Sophie's heart pounded fiercely. "I’ll jump! Cherry, Mommy loves you."Resigned yet determined, she smiled faintly, ready to face her darkest fear to save her daughter."Mommy!""Sophie!"The sound of the water impact mingled with Cherry and Cedric’s cries as Sophie vanished beneath the waves.Vivienne leaned forward, watching as the dark sea enveloped Sophie's bo
Sophie could not tell if it was the lack of oxygen or Cedric's presence that made her heart, nearly stilled by fear, pound uncontrollably. She felt a sudden rush of strength.Cedric smiled and pulled her into his embrace. His almost purple lips pressed against hers, transferring the last bit of oxygen from his mouth into hers without a word.'Cedric!' Sophie's eyes widened in panic. 'What is he trying to do?'"This time, I've finally caught you," Cedric managed to mouth as the sea invaded his lungs. His grip weakened, but he held her waist tightly, using his fading strength to push her toward the surface.'No!'Sophie realized his intention, and her heart sank with dread, mirroring the fear she felt five years ago when she first faced death. Propelled by his push, her body moved toward the surface, but her spirit felt anchored in despair.'Die? I never wanted him to die! Not even in my most resentful state!'In a desperate move, she kicked hard, managing to twist her body in the
Two faint coughs cut through the cold wind, chilling Sophie to the bone. She shivered violently but was too frightened to look down, fearing the sounds were mere figments of her shocked state.It was only when the coughing resumed, accompanied by nearby gasps of shock, that she pinched her palm hard enough to draw blood. The sharp pain forced a grimace, but she stifled her cry.'He's alive! Thank goodness!'"Soph..." Cedric's voice was a soft murmur, almost like a whisper next to her ear.Sophie turned away to wipe her tears before facing him again.His vulnerability was raw, his usual strength gone, his voice garbled with water still caught in his throat.Unable to speak, Sophie watched as Cedric, despite his agony, reached out to touch her cheek tenderly with his bloodied hand. His breath was shaky as he said, "I’m sorry… Forgive my late realization… Soph, I’ve promised... in this lifetime... and even in death... I’ll never let you go."His words trailed off as the hand on her
The impact of the third slap left Sophie's arms numb and trembling. Silently, she stared at Vivienne with an icy gaze, condemning her actions.Sophie and Cedric had made mistakes five years ago, but Vivienne’s actions were unforgivable today.Those three slaps were too lenient for her!"Mrs. Carlson?" The police officers looked troubled. Although they had not felt the physical slaps, it was their oversight that had allowed Vivienne to escape and cause today’s events."If you can’t keep a better eye on her, prepare to serve your own time in prison," Sophie said coldly, her voice carrying a commanding tone.She turned away, leading Cherry to the car without a backward glance.Once inside the car, Sophie struggled to start the engine, her hands shaking.Sensing her mother's distressed state, Cherry immediately clung to her. "Mommy."Upon seeing Cherry's warmth, Sophie's composure broke, and tears streamed down her face. Today had brought her close to losing everything, her daughte
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.