Albert was touched when Noel told him that Kayla had sent her regards to him, even though she should be worrying over her own injuries. What touched him, even more, was that she still remembered the antic teapot he had mentioned in passing.The small teapot was made from crystal and was transparent. When the old man opened the box, he was moved to tears.Even Noel, his own son, had never been so attentive to his words.Moreover, the crystal teapot was worth a lot of money; and yet, Kayla had given it to him so casually. After receiving the gift, Albert said nothing but went straight to his room and dialed her number."Ms. Kayla," Albert said emotionally once the call connected. "Thank you for your concern, as well as for the teapot. I'm grateful you think so much of me."Then, a hint of anger seeped into his tone as he continued, "Also, I've heard about what happened between you and Mr. Fulcher..."Finally! This was what Kayla had been waiting for!She huffed at the appropriate
Kayla shook her head when she thought about the expression Albert would be wearing right now.This old man...He was Noel's father, but it was clear he was far greedier. Thinking about all the things she had gifted him and how he always acted humble and tried to refuse them made her want to laugh.She would do it all again for Julian's sake.In the end, people would give in to temptation. Without knowing it, Albert had inadvertently been bought over by Kayla."Alright."Seeing that she had successfully entrusted the task to him, Kayla no longer intended to continue exchanging pleasantries with him. "I'll be counting on you for this, Albert. After Diana suffers some bitterness, I'll send you more gifts. I'm sure Julian's heart will return to its rightful place with me once all this is over."There would only be more benefits waiting and no losses once this matter was done.Albert could hear the implied words, and he nodded. "Alright. I'll do as you asked.""Remember," Kayla rem
Actions without deeper intentions were only deliberate attempts to replicate the sweet affection between Diana and Julian in the past, but that wasn't necessary.If their feelings for each other were real, there wasn't a need to purposely try to replicate things. As long as the two of them were connected in their hearts, that would be more than enough.Who cooked or who made drinks for the other... These things didn't matter. The important fact was that the two hearts were together, looking forward to the future and willing to brave the path ahead together.After all, they had both matured from recent experiences.Julian looked at Diana and felt a surge of warmth flow through him. Moving toward her, he leaned against her and dropped his head on her shoulder. Like a puppet with its strings cut, he sagged downward, putting some of his weight on her as he said, "Don't move."The two simply stood in the kitchen doorway; the image of them hugging painted a beautiful picture.Even Albe
Having said that, Diana thought about it for a while before adding, "Also, we have another good news to share with you today."Madam Fulcher lit up at Diana's words. "Oh? What is it?""You'll know after dinner," Diana said cheekily. It was good timing for Madam Fulcher to have come here today. Diana had decided that there was no need to keep her pregnancy a secret anymore. Plus, letting Madam Fulcher know about it would serve as a deterrent to Julian and urge him to deal with Kayla quickly.Julian could already guess what Diana planned to inform Madam Fulcher, and he raised both hands to support what she wanted to do. From his point of view, letting his grandmother know about Diana's pregnancy would improve the bond between him and Diana and might make her feel more secure in their newly repaired relationship.During dinner, Julian and Diana kept exchanging glances. To Madam Fulcher, it seemed like they were constantly flirting. The way they acted was so sickly sweet, she almost
When Madam Fulcher noticed this, she hurriedly released Diana. Diana was comforting Madam Fulcher, and she hadn't expected Julian to come forward to hug her so suddenly. She gave Madam Fulcher an embarrassed smile and poked Julian gently before whispering, "What's wrong?"It took a full minute for Julian to gather himself enough to speak. "That pregnancy test... I should’ve seen it earlier. And back then at the factory, the words I said...I...""It's okay," Diana said softly with a smile. She seemed to understand once she heard his words and the pain in his voice, so she gently patted him on the back as she had done with Madam Fulcher just moments ago. "It's all in the past."Julian shook his head. The words were stuck in his throat.It wasn't so simple to brush it off! He would do everything in his power to make up for all the hurt he had inflicted on her. He would also keep his pain deep in his heart and never forget it. It would serve as a reminder for him to treat Diana and
"No, she isn't," Julian replied, and he couldn't help but smile at the look on his grandmother's face. "As always, you know better."He didn't know how he had fallen for her lies back then. It had been quite a bad one. Perhaps he was simply an idiot in love.Otherwise, he wouldn't have realized it so late.Madam Fulcher could tell that Julian's mood took a plunge when she brought up this matter. Tere must be something in the misunderstanding that she wasn't aware about.In the end, she didn't want to get too involved in their affairs. She only wanted to care for the people who were precious to her, so she didn't continue being petty with Julian and instead said, "Think about how you're going to make it up to her and love her from now on. It's best to be like your grandfather, so that Diana will still think of you as much as I think of your grandfather after you die."Julian was speechless. Was there any other grandmother out in the world who would curse their grandson to die?Mad
Madam Fulcher looked up in the sky and said proudly, "I look up to the sky whenever I miss him, then I stop. That old man must think he misses me more than I do him, staring down at me all day."Though Madam Fulcher never mentioned loving him in the sentence, every word she said was filled with her affection for him.Diana listened with envy, feeling a little emotional. She inwardly lamented and wondered if she would have the chance to be like Madam Fulcher in this life; to be so sure and confident in each other's love.Even when life and death separated the old couple, Madam Fulcher still lived in the time of being loved.Diana's nose was sore, and her eyes gradually reddened.Madam Fulcher realized that the mood had gotten heavy. She didn't want the pregnant Diana to be depressed with her, so she quickly changed the topic and placed her hand carefully on Diana's stomach. "I was wondering why your taste was so different than before, and if the reason behind that was that you were
"Julian’s done many wrong things, and I don't know if he'll do it again in the future. I'm old, and it won’t be long until I’m no longer around.""No, that won't happen!" Diana interrupted loudly. "Grandma, that won't happen!"How could Madam Fulcher die?She wouldn't!However, Diana knew that the day would come even if she didn't want to accept it. The mere thought of it was too much for her to bear, and tears flowed down her face.Madam Fulcher also sniffed, clearly affected by Diana's emotions. She took Diana into her arms and hushed Diana, "Don't cry, silly girl. I'm still here."She gently patted Diana's back, as if comforting a child. "Shh, it's okay. I'm here..."However, like a broken dam, Diana's tears flowed without stopping. She cried for everything she hadn't before.Her birth parents wanted to marry her off to an old scum and kept pestering her about her divorce to make her unhappy. In contrast, this old woman, who wasn’t even related to her by blood, was always so
“Life is all about reconciliation.” Decades passed in the blink of an eye. Diana’s children had all grown up.Kate and Isaac had both passed away. Even Diana’s old friends, Fanny and Oliver, had left the world too.Fanny was never able to get pregnant again after that rainy night. She had gradually let go of her desire to get pregnant under Oliver’s persuasion.They stayed relentlessly by each other’s side, albeit childless. Over the years, having experienced all that life had to offer and being each other’s best friend, Oliver died on a peaceful night, never awaking again.Fanny held his hand while sending him off, and closed her eyes forever as well.Diana had seen too many people off in her lifetime.She had grown old herself, too. She could see her life slowly ebbing away.“Julian, I’m so happy to have lived my life with you.” She had transformed from a disgraced young woman to Mrs. Fulcher, respected by all in Richburgh. Julian even took care of her in person when she
He blurted those words instinctively.He had been waiting so long for a pair of daughters, yet when the doctor came over, he saw a pair of sons instead.Diana thought the hospital must have made a mistake and kicked up a fuss, insisting that she had a pair of daughters. She insisted for them to check the footage from the surveillance camera to see if there was a mix-up. The culprit, Julian, could only stand guiltily at a corner and mumble, “Actually…sons are fine too.”As long as it was their children, it didn’t matter whether they were girls or boys. Either way, Diana was the only woman he loved his entire life. Even his love for his only daughter Betty didn’t match up to that.After witnessing Diana giving birth, Julian’s love for Diana went up a notch, to the point of paranoia.For the rest of their lives, he made sure to never let her worry or touch cold water.He took great care of her.Kate finally appeared two years after Diana gave birth.When the mother and daughter
Nina mentioned the Jenningses. “The Jennings family is gone overnight, just like that.”Diana wasn’t shocked.She guessed that Julian had wanted to do that for a while. Not just for her and to seek justice for the Lemmington family, but also for Simon.Although Julian never allowed Simon to call him his brother, he had wanted to annihilate everything that was involved with the Hughes family since Simon’s death.Him making his move on the Jenningses indicated that the time had come.“Congratulations,” Diana said to Nina. “Has Vans come back to you?”“No,” Nina said with a shake of her head. “Lina Jennings isn’t the only thing standing in between us. We have problems of our own to overcome.”Diana sighed. “I think Marcus is pretty good.”She felt relaxed and comfortable around him.Even if Vans came round and worked with Julian to bring down the Jenningses, and had no feelings whatsoever for Lina, Diana wasn’t exactly eager to be with him.As if they had telepathy with each oth
“He doesn’t need to be jailed,” Fanny said, confused. “One word from him, and his lawyers will be able to exonerate him. I just don’t understand why he’d rather go to jail.”“He wants to pay for his father’s sins,” Diana said with a sigh.Fanny didn’t know what to think of that. Was Oliver innocent, or not? He even went to such great lengths to stop her.Yet, the moment she declared that she would never compromise and would rather be under the protection of Diana than to be involved with Oliver, he clearly looked like he was in a daze.Diana noticed that Fanny hardly smiled over the past few days, and rubbed her hand comfortingly. “He just wants a clean start with you.”Fanny’s heart shook. She couldn’t sleep the entire night.The next morning, she told Diana, “Today’s the day of his trial and sentencing. I want to see him.”Diana asked Julian to send a few bodyguards with Fanny on her trip there.When she returned, she looked as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoul
Fanny bet that he wouldn’t dare.That was equivalent to eliminating all chances he stood with Diana.Julian witnessed the scene unfolding before him. Instead of getting frustrated, he stood quietly there, ready to protect Diana, as he watched Fanny and Oliver fight it out with each other.Oliver was confused. “Why not?”He glanced at Diana, and went on, “I did like Diana in the past, but I have since given up on those feelings for her. Fanny Smith, is your heart made of stone? Can’t you tell who the woman I like is after all this time?”Fanny was stunned, feeling suffocated as if something was stuck in her throat. “Don’t tell me it’s me.”Oliver was dumbfounded. Who else could he be talking about? The stars in the sky?Fanny felt indignant under his glare. “If you like me, why did you say that I’m just a child-bearing tool for you?”“If I didn’t say that, would I be able to keep you confined in the villa? Would I be able to dash all your hopes and make you feel hopeless?”
Oliver would never let her go. “Fanny Smith, don’t even think about leaving me in this life!”That was when Diana and Julian hurriedly made their way.Sean located Oliver very accurately. Diana saw the scene unfolding before her, and couldn’t help but recall everything that happened in Jacroaof. She hurriedly told Noel to take Sean outside and wait. She couldn’t afford to gamble on Sean’s safety. She didn’t want Sean exposed to any form of danger right under her nose.Her actions made Oliver tense. “Diana, do you think I’ve gone mad?” He grabbed Fanny’s hand, as if he was holding onto the most precious treasure in the world.Diana didn’t answer him, but she threw her bag that Julian was helping her carry toward Fanny.She was exerting so much force for a pregnant lady, looking as if she wanted to fight with Fanny.Even Julian didn’t know what Diana was trying to do, not to mention Fanny herself.By the time he snapped back to attention and wanted to stop Diana from doing s
However, Fanny must let go of her hatred and past grudges first.The mention of children made Fanny waver. The hatred in her eyes grew even more intense. “Oliver Channing! The cheek of you to mention children!” What gave him the right to say that?!“We agreed,” Oliver said. He didn’t find anything wrong with that. “Fanny, if you want to leave that villa and be free once more, you must give birth to a child of ours.”“What about the child I lost just a few days ago?” Fanny demanded. She found him unreasonable. “Over the past few days, have you ever thought of him, or felt like you let him down? We haven’t even resolved the issues between us, and you want me to get pregnant again. Are you really ready to be a father?!”“I want you to get pregnant again?” Oliver said as he drew closer to her. His eyes were dark, looking as if he wanted to crush Fanny and put her in his pocket. “Weren’t you the one who tried to seduce me by wearing a revealing dress in my house? Fanny Smith, do
Julian stopped talking to the butler, but he was already making plans in his heart.He returned to the study, and told Diana, “Fanny and Oliver have been fighting for a long time, and it might be over something that might potentially destroy their relationship.”In fact… “Fanny might no longer love Oliver right now.”However, the fact that Oliver faked her death and confined her was enough to show that he still cared for her.If he realized that Fanny no longer loved him, he might do something even crazier.“Let’s hurry up and save her, then!” Diana said.“Wait,” Julian said calmly, “I’m not done with my prediction.”“What?”“Oliver really doesn’t like you now.” Julian’s mood lifted as he arrived at his final conclusion. “We can step in to help Fanny.”Diana was dumbfounded.She had thought that Julian went to such great lengths to analyze the situation for the sake of saving another. To think that his possessiveness took over, and he prioritized figuring out Oliver’s feeli
The three of them entered the study.None of them expected to see a portrait of Diana right in the middle of the study.The portrait was most likely drawn by copying a photo. In the portrait, Diana was eating something with a smile. It looked like the day when Diana encountered a pervert on the train and Oliver stepped in to help her and treated her to a meal.Did she smile so tenderly at him at that time?“You couldn’t have smiled so happily at that time when we were fighting over Kayla.”It was a portrait, not a photo. It was likely that the owner of this portrait added his own interpretation and features when he commissioned this portrait.“He still has feelings for you,” Julian said coldly.He no longer wanted to interfere with the affairs of the Channings.However, Diana disagreed. “If he really had feelings for me, he wouldn’t hang my portrait up so boldly right here.”The fact that Oliver could display the portrait for all to see proved that his feelings for Diana were