The doctor's words echoed in her ears, but she did not absorb them in the slightest. She muttered to herself, "But I took contraceptives. I took them every time.""Contraceptive pills are not 100% effective," the doctor kindly reminded her as he observed her expression. "About the child, it's no doubt a significant decision, and it's important that you consider all your options. If you decide not to continue with the pregnancy, we can arrange for hospitalization and schedule an abortion as soon as possible. Just remember that time is of the essence as you may not be able to terminate the pregnancy later on.""I don't know...""Take your time to think about it."In a daze, Chloe walked out of the hospital. She absentmindedly raised her hand and gently touched her still-flat belly, her mind engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions. Instead of hailing a cab, she opted to slowly walk back home. She began to ponder her situation, ‘Being one month pregnant means that it isn’t from the time at
"Hehe, you've figured it out." Emily playfully twirled a strand of her hair before adopting a serious tone. "Actually, you can look at this matter from a multifaceted perspective. For example, you own a small company now. While you may not be filthy rich, you don’t have to worry about your basic needs and you can afford to hire help and provide for your children. But now, imagine an ordinary working woman from an average family background, education, and job skills, who’s in the midst of building her career. For her, being a single mother presents a tremendous challenge. Besides, don't you find nurturing a baby into an adult incredibly rewarding?"Chloe's heart softened as she listened, and her eyes gleamed. "It's not just about finding fulfillment. It's about finding redemption."With Emily's support, Chloe suddenly saw things in a new light. Since she could not bear to let go, then she would stay. After all, she had the means to provide for the child. Joseph was Joseph, and she was
Chloe grew flustered, her face alternating between shades of red and white. "No, it's not.""There can't be anyone else but him." Noah shook his head determinately. "You don't have feelings for Icarus."Being with Icarus was an act of gratitude and appreciation, but it was not love. He would not have resorted to such despicable means to hold onto her if she truly had feelings for him."How did you know?""So I was right." Noah concealed his emotions, burying them deep within his eyes. Taking on the role of an observer, curiosity tinged with heartache seeped into his voice. "You and Joseph were already divorced a month ago. Did he force himself on you?"Chloe's body tensed. "Please don't ask. I don't want to talk about it.""I'm sorry. I shouldn't interfere with your personal affairs. Some of the things I'm about to say may not be pleasant to hear, but as a friend, I don't want you to be trapped in this situation. I must say my piece," Noah said sincerely."Xavia has been taken t
Joseph's anger transformed into a mocking smile, his lips curling with derision. "Yes, of course. I'm your senior."Noah's expression stiffened, and he remained silent."What’s the relationship between Ava and Calvin?" Joseph asked, his eyes seemingly capable of peering into the depths of all things.Noah found this amusing and said, "If you want to know, why don't you ask Calvin directly? What does it have to do with me?""Whether it's Calvin, Ava, or even you, or perhaps the Sullivans, there must be a definite connection," Joseph said, his tone brimming with certainty.Setting his jaw tightly, Noah replied, "Then go ahead and investigate."Joseph's smile turned enigmatic, and a glimmer of confidence flickered across his handsome face. "I will."He realized that Noah was hiding something and that this situation was more complex than it seemed. It was crucial to conduct an investigation and warn Chloe. After all, a polished facade could be misleading, and he suspected that Noah
Chloe's eyelid twitched as she helplessly watched him storm out and slam the door behind him. The force of the door closing was tremendous, causing the frame to shake and appear on the verge of collapsing. She felt a mixture of anger and amusement.She could not help but wonder, 'What the hell is wrong with him? Just because I spoke the truth, he couldn't handle it anymore? What a strange guy.'After Joseph left, Chloe got the maintenance department staff to fix the door frame, which was on the brink of falling apart. Then, she settled down and busied herself with work. She kept herself occupied until evening. Although she had initially planned to work overtime, she remembered the doctor's advice and decided to go home on time to rest. After all, rest was important during the first three months of pregnancy.Chloe grabbed dinner at a restaurant downstairs of the office building and returned home to wash up and sleep. In the middle of the night, she heard a commotion as if a dog was
Chloe's heart raced as if she had grasped a lifeline. She urgently pleaded with Joseph, "Quick! Take Toto to the vet hospital now!"Witnessing the scene before him, Joseph's face turned pale, and he immediately contacted the veterinarian. The knife was still embedded in Toto's body, and they could not simply move it around.Pointing at the fruit knife on Toto's belly, Xavia asked, her voice laced with disbelief, "Chloe, isn't this fruit knife from your home?"Chloe’s scalp tingled and a chilling thought took hold of her as she looked closely. It was indeed her own fruit knife. Someone had intruded into her house in the middle of the night and harmed Toto without her knowledge. But what if the intruder's real target was herself? Would she have met the same fate as Toto? Or perhaps, without Toto, the person lying in a pool of blood would be her..."How could you commit such a heinous act?! If you hate me, that's one thing, but Toto is innocent!" Xavia shouted angrily, her eyes turnin
With a cold expression on his face, Joseph was about to say something when the veterinarian arrived on the scene. He and the vet carefully moved Toto onto a gurney before leaving.Standing rooted to the spot, Chloe felt a wave of bitterness and discomfort wash over her. Despite this, she could not contain her concern for Toto and sent a text to Lucas in the afternoon, inquiring about its condition. Lucas told her that Toto was still in a critical condition and it remained to be seen if it would make it through the night.Upon receiving this news, a suffocating sensation gripped her chest throughout the day. However, there was another pressing matter that needed her attention. She had to move out of her current place as soon as possible. She felt unsafe there as if she were being watched. If she did not leave soon, something bad might happen.She contacted a real estate agency that same day, and they recommended Oceanic Residence. It was conveniently close to her workplace, with supe
The driver left Ava at the farmhouse and returned to Docwood. "Mr. Noah, I've done as you instructed," he said."Okay," Noah replied nonchalantly. He had gotten Ava out of sight, and the next target was Calvin. The person to unveil Chloe's identity had to be him. Not even Joseph stood a chance. After brief contemplation, he made a video call to Calvin.The man in question was berating his managers when he saw the incoming call and waved them away. Moving his mouse, he clicked to answer.The face of a young man appeared on the screen, smiling as he looked at Calvin. "I have something to tell you."Calvin was curious. "What is it?"He knew Noah had something up his sleeve, and he was curious to know what he had to say."It's about Aunt Luciana's daughter.""You found her?!" Calvin could not hide his excitement and sat up straight."No." Noah shook his head. "The current issue is that Aunt Luciana's jewelry has appeared on the market. There’s a possibility that it might be exp