"Colin, what… what are you doing?"Gwyneth came running over and quickly stepped between them, blocking Colin from moving forward. She looked at him with a hint of reproach."No matter what, Ms. Nicholls is still a woman. How could you treat her like this?"She turned and bent down, reaching out to help Aspen up from the ground.Sophie's only wish before she had died had been to have Colin stay with her for just a few days. But Gwyneth had monopolized Colin's time instead. Even on the night Sophie had been in the hospital, Gwyneth had pulled Colin away to celebrate their anniversary.Every time Aspen saw Gwyneth, she was reminded of Sophie's sorrow and pain. She was reminded of the night Sophie had died and how 600 thousand dollars' worth of fireworks had lit up the sky just for Gwyneth when that money could have saved Sophie's life!"Don't touch me! You're disgusting!"Aspen flung Gwyneth's hand away and forced herself to her feet, using every ounce of strength she had left.
No matter what, Colin knew he would never allow Sophie to continue living with a woman like Aspen."Sophie is dead! She died while you were whispering sweet nothings to this woman and lit up the entire city with fireworks for her! Our Sophie—your daughter—died because there was no money for her surgery! She's gone! She's dead!"Aspen struggled violently as tears streamed down her face. Every word was filled with accusation, despair, and the helpless rage of a mother.With all her strength, she wrenched herself free from Colin's grip and dropped to her knees, desperately trying to pick up the photograph on the ground. Shards of glass pierced her palms, and blood dripped onto the floor, but she didn't care.She wiped her bleeding hands on her clothes without a second thought and carefully cradled the crumpled photograph, brushing away the dirt with trembling fingers."You…" Colin's heart sank in an instant. A deep, unsettling feeling crept over him, as if something inside him had co
The struggle earlier had drained all of Aspen's strength. No matter how much resentment simmered in her heart, she couldn't fight back anymore.She could only let Riley haul her up from the ground and take her to the car.Aspen didn't resist throughout the entire process; she didn't even show the slightest movement of defiance. The only thing she did was clutch the crumpled photograph in her hands as if it were her last lifeline.Her Sophie, her poor child, had spent such a short time in this world without receiving even a shred of love from her father—not even a single hug.Now that she was gone, they still wouldn't let her rest in peace.Who exactly was unworthy of being called human here?…"Colin, I'm really fine. It's just a small cut. You should go home," Gwyneth urged Colin in the hospital. "I don't think Ms. Nicholls is in a stable state right now. I'm a little concerned about Sophie. A child shouldn't have to suffer for the mistakes of adults. She's your daughter too.
Yet now, seeing Aspen like this, a dull ache pressed against Colin's chest."Ms. Nicholls, don't say that. Colin and I… We're not what you think." Gwyneth's eyes reddened as she instinctively hid behind Colin. "We… we're not disgusting.""I love Gwen. We've always loved each other. You were the one who schemed to sleep with me and tried to use Sophie to tie me down. "Now, not only have you failed at being Mrs. Fuller, but you don't even know how to be a mother. Where's Sophie? Hand her over before I lose my patience."Colin's expression remained cold as he stepped slightly in front of Gwyneth, as if shielding her from any possible harm.That unconscious movement—positioning himself protectively in front of Gwyneth—wasn't an act.Aspen understood that Colin truly loved Gwyneth and that he truly didn't love her. Even Sophie had become an innocent casualty just because he didn't love her."She's dead." Aspen lowered her gaze and stated the truth, appearing chillingly calm.Sophie
"I'm Sophie's mother! No one in this world loved her more than I did! How could I ever curse my own daughter? I would have rather died in her place!" Aspen laughed in fury, her voice tinged with despair. Perhaps this was what true hopelessness looked like. But the raw desperation and madness in her eyes were too real, making Colin hesitate for the first time."That's… How could this be?""How could it not be? What do you even know? Did you ever love Sophie? Did you ever once let her into your heart? She had bone cancer!"Her only wish in her final days was to have her father by her side. But what did you do? You were busy indulging yourself with this woman!"Aspen's eyes burned with hatred as she looked at the two people in front of her. She could accept losing her husband. But why did Gwyneth have to take away Sophie's father in her last moments? Why did they have to strip away her final hope?Sophie had been the best, most well-behaved child in the world. Time and time again
Aspen tilted her head back, desperately trying to hold back her tears. She didn't want them to fall. Finally, she looked at Colin and said in a cold, firm tone, "You still don't believe me, do you? Then come with me. I'll take you there. I want you to see it with your own eyes. Maybe then you'll finally believe me.""Aspen, if you dare lie to me, I won't let you or Joseph off the hook!"Joseph was Aspen's last remaining relative in the world and her only weakness. Colin had always been calculating; he knew exactly how to strike where it hurt most.But he hadn't realized that Aspen had changed. He hadn't noticed that she no longer cared.She couldn't care less if Joseph died right now!Without sparing Colin another glance, Aspen led him to Sophie's preschool, then to Sophie's art studio. After that, they visited Sophie's favorite dessert shop, her favorite amusement park, and finally returned to the park in the mansion's neighborhood.But no matter where they went, there wasn't
"Aspen, don't be ungrateful!" Colin frowned, and the fleeting guilt he had felt moments ago vanished in an instant.He had always thought of her as a scheming woman, but at least she had been rational. Now, she had completely lost her mind."Who's the one refusing to let go here? We're divorced, yet you're still clinging to me. What exactly do you want?"Did you only realize after losing me that you were actually in love with me all along? And now you want to get back together? Then what about your precious Ms. Sanders? What will you do with her?"Aspen suddenly burst into laughter, and her gaze was filled with disdain. The sharp mockery in her eyes cut straight into Gwyneth's heart."Colin, if you really love her, I can step aside," Gwyneth said softly. "I… I only stayed with you because I love you, not for anything else. If you don't love me anymore, you can just say so."As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She wiped them away quickly, as if s
Gwyneth's heart twisted with jealousy, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she sighed softly."Colin, I'm sorry. I really can't control my emotions. In the end, it's all my fault. If I had loved you a little less, maybe Ms. Nicholls wouldn't be acting this way.""Don't say such nonsense." Colin's gaze softened as he looked at the woman in his arms with concern.Yet even as he held her, he couldn't ignore the faint sense of impatience creeping into his chest. He didn't know where it came from or who it was directed at, so he could only suppress it for now.Taking out his phone, he called one of his assistants, Wyatt Davison."Find out where Sophie is.""Yes, sir."Gwyneth's expression darkened slightly. Sophie was already dead, but it was clear that Colin still refused to believe it. It seemed she needed to make him accept the truth as soon as possible.As long as that little nuisance was out of the picture, there would be no remaining ties between Colin and Aspen. And once tha
Faced with that gaze, Aren couldn't bring himself to refuse. All he could do was nod. "Alright, I promise you!"Aspen finally relaxed upon hearing his words of assurance—only to pass out immediately from the overwhelming pain.Aren's gentle expression vanished as he watched her lose consciousness, replaced by fury and barely contained rage. His fists clenched. He swore to himself he would never let Colin get away with this!He pulled out his phone and called Niall. "We need to accelerate our plan!""You're being too hasty." Niall remained perfectly calm. "Aren, we're both tech people. You know our greatest asset is staying level-headed."Aren leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on Aspen's unconscious form through the glass. He wasn't usually impulsive—except when it came to her.Fortunately, Niall was the type to remain composed no matter the situation. His calmness gradually grounded Aren.Aren gritted his teeth after taking a deep breath. "I'm going to devour Fuller Grou
Aspen covered her ears and screamed, "Get out!"She truly couldn't accept Colin calling Sophie "defective". She couldn't accept that in his eyes, even Sophie, his own flesh and blood, was nothing more than a flawed product!Colin was about to say more when he noticed fresh blood seeping through the bandages on her back. His expression softened slightly, and he sighed in resignation.Reaching out, he brushed a hand over her hair and said, "You'll understand one day that none of this was my fault."With that, he turned and strode out."You bastard!" Aspen shrieked, hurling anything within reach across the room.The crashing sounds made Colin pause mid-step. His brows furrowed as a suffocating frustration tightened in his chest."What an unreasonable woman."In Colin's world, only he mattered. Everyone else was expendable—even his own daughter. It was especially the case for a child he had never wanted in the first place.When Aren returned with food, the chaos and destruction in
Aspen stared blankly at the conflicted Colin standing before her, utterly baffled by his awkward demeanor."I'll find you the best doctors to ensure there's no scarring." Colin finally managed to say.But Aspen found it utterly ridiculous. She sneered coldly. "If this is your idea of an apology, save it.""Aspen, what do you actually want?" Colin frowned at the woman before him.He couldn't understand where the obedient, accommodating woman from before had gone. Why was she covered in thorns now? What happened to her?As he looked at Aspen, Colin began to miss the woman who had once yielded to his every whim, the one who only had eyes for him. "I want to take the inheritance Mr. Fuller Senior left me, divorce you, and disappear forever. Is that so hard to understand?" Aspen laughed bitterly.Truthfully, she had made her demands clear from the start—Colin had simply refused to relinquish it when it wasn't even his to begin with.Colin replied bluntly upon hearing this, "You kno
"Ms. Nicholls, Jefferson Corp is our competitor now. Isn't it inappropriate for you to be so close with our rival?" Gwyneth looked at Aspen with feigned concern, putting on her usual act of pretending to care.Watching her performance, Aspen chuckled softly and tugged at Aren's sleeve. "Then don't you think it's inappropriate for you to be so close to my husband?"Hearing the words "my husband", Aren instinctively glanced at Aspen. His eyes were clearly tinged with grievance. Aspen, however, playfully winked at him, signaling him to stay quiet."Aren, is using a woman like this really fun for you?"Colin sneered at Aren before turning his glare to Aspen. He scoffed. "Don't tell me you actually think he's interested in you? If you weren't my wife, do you really believe he'd spare you a second glance?""I watched her every day long before she was your wife. I could never get enough of looking at her." Aren immediately countered, slapping Colin's words right back at him.After all,
Guilt, anxiety, and self-blame now flooded Aren's heart. He was terrified that something irreversible might happen to Aspen.Aspen gently wrapped her arms around Aren's waist, feeling him trembling. Her heart ached violently, overwhelmed by a surge of long-suppressed grievances.Aspen could choose to be strong when facing pain and danger alone because she had to be strong. But now, with someone here to care for her and hold her, all that carefully restrained vulnerability came rushing back. The contrast was unbearable.This emotional whiplash left her both confused and resigned. Clinging to Aren, she finally understood her own heart.The truth was, she had stopped loving and expecting anything from Colin the day Sophie passed away. Now, she realized something fundamental hadn't changed with the man she had loved in her youth, who was standing before her again. She still loved him helplessly and couldn't control her heart."Don't cry." Aren's heart shattered further. He tenderly wi
If Colin had spoken to her like this in the past, Aspen would have been overjoyed for days. But now, his false tenderness only made her nauseous. She gave a soft laugh, then raised her arms to wrap them around Colin's neck.Colin mistook the gesture for surrender. A smug smile curved his lips as he murmured, "Aspen, you really are smart. You know when to fold."The next second, Aspen sank her teeth into his neck with every ounce of strength she possessed. The metallic tang of blood immediately flooded her mouth.Colin roared in pain and shoved her away violently. Aspen's back slammed into the tech department's glass door—shattering it on impact. She collapsed onto the broken shards, and her back was instantly drenched in blood."Ms. Nicholls!" Zephyr rushed forward, horrified at the sight of Aspen lying in a pool of blood."Are you okay? Mr. Fuller, what the hell?"The rest of the tech team swarmed over, and someone was already calling an ambulance. When Aspen pushed herself up f
Aspen regarded the furious Colin with cold composure. "You were the one who sent me to the tech department. Now you're making a scene here. Aren't you embarrassed? Do you really want to settle our personal matters in the office?""Ms. Nicholls, how can you be so defiant after what you've done?" Gwyneth interjected with faux concern, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "Colin isn't unreasonable. Just apologize, and he'll forgive you. Right, Colin?"Aspen couldn't fathom where this woman found the audacity to speak right now. Her expression darkened as she turned to Gwyneth. "You're the last person here who has any right to speak.""You…" Gwyneth gasped, stunned that Aspen would dare confront her so directly in front of Colin.Realizing she wouldn't win this argument, Gwyneth quickly tugged at Colin's sleeve and whispered, "I'll leave you two to talk. Don't be too rash, Colin. Ms. Nicholls is just throwing a tantrum. Work it out slowly, okay?"With that, she sighed and cast a
"What are you doing?"Aspen's expression darkened instantly. She gritted her teeth, glaring at him with barely contained fury."Aspen, you're still Mrs. Fuller, yet you parade around flirting shamelessly. Have you no dignity?" Colin's accusation rang out harshly.Seeing his angry outburst, Zephyr immediately stepped in to explain, "Mr. Fuller, it's not like that! This was a surprise we planned for Ms. Nicholls. She had no idea at all.""Shut up!" Colin snarled, his gaze so venomous that it silenced Zephyr on the spot. The latter could only watch Aspen helplessly."Are you insane?" Aspen wrenched her wrist free, her eyes icy with disdain."This is normal workplace camaraderie. There's no 'flirting,' and definitely no 'shamelessness.'"Aspen truly didn't want to make a scene in a professional setting. She had no intention of humiliating herself.But today, Colin seemed determined to scorch every shred of decorum. He gritted his teeth and looked at her fiercely. "Aspen, you really
With matters in Ertonfield mostly wrapped up, Aspen had plenty of other work pending. She booked her return flight without waiting a second to hear Colin's opinions.Meanwhile, Colin received a set of photos. They were images of Aspen and Aren entering the hotel together, followed by Aspen seeing Aren out. His grip tightened, fingers crushing the photos as his jaw clenched.Though Colin had never valued Aspen or even barely acknowledged her, she was still legally his wife. This behavior was unacceptable. It was a direct slap to his face!"Colin, what's wrong?" Gwyneth approached worriedly, gently tugging his sleeve. "Shouldn't we start packing to go back?"When she noticed the photos in his hand, her eyes widened in shock. "Is… Isn't this Ms. Nicholls and Mr. Jefferson? How could this be? Why would they go to a hotel together?""Shut up!" Colin swiftly gathered all the photos, shooting Gwyneth a cold glare.This was an unbearable humiliation to him, one he refused to let anyone d