Colin had suspected this might be the case, but he had never imagined the reality would be this severe.He truly hadn't expected Aspen to be so cunning. She had even managed to manipulate Hector so thoroughly that the latter had left her such a solid escape route."The authenticity of this will—can it be challenged?"Colin let out a cold snort. He still refused to believe Hector had been this foolish. Aspen was scheming and deceitful. There was nothing she wouldn't do. Forging a will wasn't beyond her.Daniel glanced at Colin and responded calmly, "Wills like this typically have third-party witnesses and are recorded with both audio and video. The chances of forgery are nearly zero."That sealed every possible loophole. Colin's face darkened, but he didn't argue further. He simply waved his hand dismissively and said, "Understood."The legal team quickly gathered their materials and exited the room with uneasy expressions. None of them had expected to get such a massive revelatio
"What now, Gwen?" Zac lounged lazily in his seat and continued, "Yeah, Colin might be an empty shell, but he's still better than most men out there. You should hold on to your position as Mrs. Fuller."Even if it was only 20% of the shares, it was still enough for their family to live comfortably for a lifetime.Gwyneth, who was already irritated, snapped at him upon hearing his words. "Shut up! Look at you—you're completely useless! I can't rely on you for anything!""You're the one who failed to judge people correctly. How is that my fault? Besides, if I hadn't been helping you out and giving you advice, would you even be where you are today?" Zac scoffed disdainfully before he rolled his eyes."Don't forget that Colin Fuller is our only way out. If you don't secure your place as Mrs. Fuller, what do you think will happen to our family? You know it better than anyone."This wasn't just advice anymore. It was a threat.Gwyneth was fuming. It was because of her family's burdens t
"Aspen, Colin has never cared about you. No matter what you do, you still won't win even a sliver of his affection. So why put yourself through this?" Gwyneth said, trying to reason with her.Even so, Aspen found her words laughable. "The shares I hold in Fuller Group are worth at least three billion dollars. And you're offering me 30 million? Do you think I can't do math?"Gwyneth, what do you think Colin is worth? Perhaps I might have spared him a few glances for the sake of our daughter before. But now? Sophie is gone. He's nothing to me now! I own 51% of Fuller Group. If I wanted a man, do you think I'd ever run out of options?"Now that she had finally let go of her past, Aspen saw her future in an entirely new light. And it looked promising.Gwyneth was stunned.The once gentle, soft-spoken Aspen had just uttered something so outrageous and unthinkable that Gwyneth could hardly believe her ears.At that moment, she also realized something.The reason she had been able to f
Colin clenched his teeth and glared at Aspen. "Shut up!""Why should I? Who do you think you are to tell me to shut up? Do you think we're still living in the past? Women have been liberated for decades—go to hell!" Aspen scoffed.She picked up the last of her cup of coffee and threw its contents at him, sending the liquid splashing across his expensive suit. Then, she turned and walked away without sparing him another glance. Her actions were smooth and effortless.Just as she stepped out, she caught sight of Aren standing on the other side of the glass window. For some reason, even though she had strode out so boldly just seconds ago, meeting his gaze now made her feel unexpectedly shy.Quickening her pace, she walked up to him. With a frown, she asked, "What are you doing here?""Well, at first, I came to protect you. But it looks like I wasn't needed," Aren said honestly. Without missing a beat, he added, "Plus, you still owe me seafood boil."Aspen narrowed her eyes. Was he
As Gwyneth met Colin's cold gaze, her heart clenched with panic. A wave of unease washed over her as she wondered if he suspected something.She reached out hesitantly, tugging lightly at his sleeve. "Colin, why aren't you saying anything?" "Gwen, you crossed the line." Colin's face remained emotionless, but his voice was as gentle as ever.But the words themselves sent a chill through Gwyneth's spine. Her breath hitched, and more tears spilled down her face.She choked out, "I-I know this is my fault… But I didn't mean to… I was only trying to help you. Ms. Nicholls, she—""This is our matter. I will handle it." Colin cut her off.This time, the false warmth in his voice was gone—what remained was a warning. A final warning.Colin had always loved himself above all else. Gwyneth might have been different from other women in his life, but compared to himself? She was still insignificant.That was also when Gwyneth truly realized it for the first time. She had always believed s
Aren knew Aspen was capable, but he also knew she was inexperienced. She had spent years at home raising a child and wasn't familiar with the intricacies of the business world."We'll deal with whatever comes our way," Aspen said while clenching her fists with a dark expression.She could have let all of this go. After all, she had never cared about the Fuller family's wealth or their company.But Colin was selfish—so selfish that he had watched their daughter die just to protect his own interests. Sophie had died because of him!Aspen couldn't let this go. If she didn't fight back, she didn't deserve to call herself a mother.Since Colin only cared about his power and wealth, then so be it. She would take everything he valued away from him, one by one. She would let everyone see what Colin Fuller amounted to without it.Seeing Aspen's firm resolve, Aren finally felt relieved. He had been worried she would soften at the last moment."Good. Just be careful," he said, glancing at
"What the fuck!"Aspen couldn't hold it in anymore. She immediately cursed out loud. She had never imagined that someone could be this shameless. Colin spoke so brazenly, without the slightest sense of guilt. It was beyond disgraceful now—it was downright disgusting.In the past, Aspen would have swallowed her anger and endured it in silence. But not anymore. Now, she was fighting back—literally.She slapped Colin across the face with all her strength—even her palm stung from the force. Grabbing him by the collar, she yanked him forward, dragging him to stand before Sophie's photo."Look at her! Look at Sophie! Do you have the audacity to look at her face and repeat what you just said?" she roared.Colin hadn't expected Aspen to be this strong. But even as he looked at Sophie's bright, innocent smile in the framed photo, he remained indifferent."Even if we had gotten her treated, it would only have prolonged her life. It wouldn't have cured her. She would have suffered either
Aspen continued, "I won't meddle in Fuller Group's affairs. I won't clean up your mess online. And as for that ridiculous public statement? It has nothing to do with me. You made your bed, now lie in it! You sure as hell should suffer for your so-called love and indulgence."Aspen's voice was sharp, firm, and completely devoid of emotion. She had lost all hope in Colin. No, it was more than that—she despised him.Once upon a time, she had bent over backward to save Colin's reputation. She had played the role of a loving wife, clinging to an illusion that had never existed.Looking back now, she had never felt more disgusted with herself."Aspen, you better not regret this." Colin stood there, his arrogance still intact. In his mind, Aspen was still hopelessly in love with him. Everything she was doing now was just an elaborate attempt to win him back."If you cooperate, we can hold off on discussing the divorce."He took a step forward, but his words indicated a retreat. Still, A
As soon as Gwyneth stepped out of the car, she leaned heavily into Colin, making sure everyone could see how close they were. Colin wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her toward the entrance. There, they ran into Aspen, who was just about to step inside. When he met Aspen's knowing, half-smiling gaze, he felt a sharp pang of discomfort, as if his hand holding Gwyneth's suddenly burned."Ms. Nicholls, please don't be mad. I've never been to an event like this before, so I begged Colin to bring me," Gwyneth said, her voice trembling. "I was so bored in the hospital, and I just wanted to get out for a bit. I-I didn't know you'd be here." Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.In the past, Aspen would have made a scene, but now she simply smiled faintly and replied, "Ms. Sanders, you've had a tough time recovering in the hospital. Since you're here, make sure to enjoy yourself. Colin, take good care of her. If she sees anything she likes, make sure to buy it for her." H
What was supposed to be an urgent matter suddenly didn't feel so urgent to Colin. Puzzled, he stood there, glancing at Aspen and wondering why she wasn't making a scene like she used to. Sensing his confusion, Aspen looked back at him with the same questioning expression before finally waving him off. "Take your time. Don't let me keep you.""Wait for me," Colin said firmly before turning and striding away. Aspen watched him go, letting out a scoff of disdain. Then, she turned to Riley, who was still standing there, and snapped, "What are you staring at? Get the car ready. We can't be late.""But Mr. Fuller told you to wait for him," Riley replied, clearly confused. When had Aspen become so decisive?Aspen gave him a look that was both amused and exasperated. "You've worked for him for years, and you still don't know him? Do you really think he's coming back?" It wasn't like this had never happened before. The only difference was that back then, the empty promises had been mad
Facing the cameras, Aspen carried herself with confidence and grace, showing no sign of embarrassment despite the personal nature of the questions. It was as if none of this had anything to do with her. Colin had always wanted to see this composed and professional side of her. Yet, when he met her cold, emotionless gaze, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of irritation. He had hated how she focused all her attention on him in the past, but now that she seemed completely indifferent, he found it even harder to accept. "Mrs. Fuller, what exactly is the relationship between Ms. Sanders and Mr. Fuller?" a reporter asked."Ms. Sanders is just Ms. Sanders, and I am Mrs. Fuller. Colin is right here beside me—isn't that answer enough?" Aspen replied with a soft smile. She took Colin's hand, interlacing their fingers in front of the cameras and proudly displaying their wedding rings. In reality, Aspen's original ring had been discarded long ago, and the one she wore now was a ch
It was exactly what Aspen wanted. There was no way Gwyneth could just move on and live a peaceful life now—not after what she had done to them. She had made their lives a living hell, so it was only fair for her to finally experience what it felt like to lose sleep over it.When the reporters bombarded her with questions, Aspen handled it with grace and poise, earning plenty of praise. She took this opportunity not only to officially acknowledge her identity but also to send a clear message—she was exceptional. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and she was determined to make sure the whole world knew her name—she was Aspen Nicholls, not some pathetic caged canary or Mrs. Fuller.Watching her effortlessly take control of the situation, Colin found himself seeing her in a new light. He had always assumed she was just a woman who only cared about grocery store prices, but clearly, he had underestimated her.It almost felt like Aspen was a completely different person. The old As
"Is that so? This is the same gown a top international model just wore on the runway. How is it tasteless? Some people just can't let go of outdated ideas," Aspen shot back, rolling her eyes. It was the first time she had ever pushed back against Colin's criticism. In the past, no matter how harshly he judged her, she would stay silent, even questioning herself. But now, she knew better. She hadn't done anything wrong—it was Colin who was the problem.Even Howard had praised her look, but Colin, as usual, had nothing positive to say. His lack of taste and constant negativity were exhausting.Colin hadn't expected that his single comment would spark such a sharp response. His eyebrows furrowed as he glared at her. "Aspen, is this your new strategy? Are you trying to get my attention by acting out? Pathetic.""And yet, who exactly is the one obsessed with this?? Are we going or not?" Aspen snapped, losing patience. If she hadn't spent so much time perfecting her look, she might ha
With just a light touch of makeup, Aspen's features became even more refined and striking. Howard admired his work with deep satisfaction.Stylists like him prided themselves on their skills, but the truth was that working with a naturally beautiful canvas was far more enjoyable than doing a full transformation. Enhancing beauty was far easier than creating it from scratch, and the results were always breathtaking.The best makeup wasn't the kind that looked obvious. It was the kind that made people wonder if any had been applied at all.Aspen stared at her reflection in the mirror, finding the whole situation incredibly ironic. She used to love wearing bold, eye-catching colors like this, but after marrying Colin, she had gradually abandoned her own tastes, simply because he found them tacky.Over time, she had tried to match his so-called refined aesthetic, wearing muted, outdated tones to please him. Looking at herself now, she couldn't believe how far she had strayed from who
Standing by the door, Aspen listened to Gwyneth's tortured screams from inside the room. The sound sent a rush of satisfaction through her, but even that didn't feel like enough. Colin deserved to experience this kind of suffering too.When Aspen returned to her own hospital room, she found four stylists already waiting for her. They all stood respectfully, their postures formal.The lead stylist stepped forward with a polished smile. "Mrs. Fuller, I'm Howard Lewis. I'm here to do your styling for today."Then, he gestured toward the collections behind him, adding, "These are the latest designer gowns and accessories—you're free to choose anything you like."The dresses were all high-end couture, and the jewelry was nothing short of exquisite—each piece more extravagant than the last.One glance at the collection told Aspen that today's press conference and evening gala were of great significance. Otherwise, Colin wouldn't have invested this much. At his core, he was nothing more
After Colin left, Aspen grabbed the bouquet of hyacinths from the table and threw it into the trash, feeling a wave of disgust. She wasn't done, though. If there was one thing she excelled at, it was making people just as miserable as she felt. Aspen immediately headed upstairs to Gwyneth's room. Since Aren had already arranged everyone around Gwyneth, Aspen had no trouble making her way to Gwyneth's room. She walked in, her arms crossed, and sat down in a chair, smirking at Gwyneth. "So, this is what it's like to be Colin's true love? Seems exhausting."Gwyneth's face twisted with rage the moment she saw Aspen. Her voice was filled with venom as she screamed, "You bitch! You scheming, evil bitch!"Aspen would have stayed silent in the past, enduring the insults without a word. Then again, she was no longer that Aspen anymore. She strode forward and slapped Gwyneth across the face, hissing, "Who's the real bitch here? You knew he had a wife and a child, yet you still threw yo
Hearing Aspen's words, Aren quietly withdrew his hand and gave her a gentle smile. "Alright, I'll wait for you," he said softly, his voice warm and reassuring.This was the difference between Aren and Colin. Colin only cared about himself and never considered others. However, Aren chose to respect Aspen and give her space. Watching him, Aspen felt her resolve waver, and her heart stirred with emotions she had tried to suppress. To force herself to stay rational, she said something she didn't truly mean. "Aren, you should go. I can handle the rest on my own."Aren didn't push back. He simply nodded, gently brushing her cheek with his hand before standing up and walking out. As she watched his retreating figure, Aspen hugged herself tightly, taking a deep breath. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks....The next morning, Colin arrived with another bouquet of hyacinths. His face lit up with a warm smile. "How are you feeling today?"He was so gentle, acting as though Aspen was