She quickly stood."You scoundrel! Pervert!"Nancy had her dignity, too.She turned around and left, slamming the study door behind her."That's too much! It's really too much!" Nancy muttered angrily as she prepared to return to her room.She felt like Yaacob's condescending attitude made it seem like he was not treating her like his wife.What was up with that wild request? Was she a prostitute?Nancy was feeling incredibly angry when she bumped into Julian in the hallway.She walked to the left, and the man went in the same direction. When she turned to the right, he did, too."Do you have a problem? Don't you know how to just stand in place? Why are you trying to block my way?!"Nancy was furious, even daring to risk offending the Getson scion.However, after she had finished shouting, she did not dare to look Julian in the face. She quickly walked past the man and returned to her room.Nancy did not know when Yaacob returned from the study that night because she was al
Nancy went to a bar near that nightclub, which happened to be doing a masquerade event.Any pretty woman could get a mask at the door, and all the drinks were free.Nancy picked out a mask with black feathers on it. After all, it was free. She went in and downed two bottles of beer immediately.After a moment, the bar manager brought her a cocktail. "Miss, this Iris Mist is a treat from Mr. Getson.""Mr. Getson?" Nancy turned around in tipsily, asking, "Which one?""Look over there."Nancy followed the bar manager's hand and saw Julian at a seat on the second floor with a good vantage point."So it's him?" Nancy pursed her lips. "Who cares about a drink from him? Take it away!""Miss, Mr. Getson is a very important customer of ours. It's quite a prestigious thing to get a drink from him.""Who cares? Do you think I've never been flirted with before? Take it away!" Nancy waved her hand in annoyance. She did not think she would need to meet that icy man when she was just getting
It had been a wild night, and Nancy was tired at her classes the next day.Thankfully, the morning classes were not that important. Nancy sat at the back, propped up her book, and rested her head on the table.Lola seemed quite distracted in class that day. She snuck a few glances at Nancy before she gently poked Nancy's arm. "Nancy?""Yes?""You look like you're not feeling well. What did you do last night?" Lola asked softly."Oh, I went to a bar and got some drinks," Nancy answered casually.Lola pressed, "What about after you got drunk? Do you remember what happened?""I think I danced and ruined someone's show.""Do you remember whose show it was?""Everyone at the bar wore masks, and I was in a daze. How would I know?"Lola let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.It was good that she had not seen!'Ms. Belle' from the night before was actually Lola. In truth, although Lola's family was relatively well off, in a place like Athenapolis where so many affluent people l
Since Nancy had no one to keep her company, she was forced to eat alone after school that day. Afterward, she found a bar to drink in.Of course, she did not go to the same bar as the night before. Nancy was worried she would meet Julian again and that he would recognize her.After all, she had slapped him. She had felt a bit frightened after waking up.This time, Nancy went to the bar just to get drunk. She rejected any man who tried to buy her a drink or pick her up and did not cause any trouble.When she met her goal of getting tipsy, Nancy walked out. However, she had failed to take one thing into account: taxis were not easy to hail in front of this bar.She waited for almost twenty minutes, but not a single taxi drove by.Instead, it was those 'pick-up artists' who were waiting in front of the bar, staring at her hungrily. They were eagerly waiting to see how long that woman who was swaying around would be able to hold on.That was probably the bar's usual atmosphere. No w
Probably because she had not caused trouble at the bar just now, Nancy was starting to go slightly manic now as the alcohol got to her head.She pulled her luggage bag out of the closet and prepared to pack her things and leave.She packed with practiced movements and pulled up the handle before looking at Yaacob. "I'll give you one last chance. If you don't make me pasta, I will leave."Yaacob's lips curled up coldly, and he said nothing.Had Nancy been sober, she might have been scared looking at his expression because it was a sign that he was about to get angry.However, Nancy was spurred on by drunken courage. Since her threat had failed, she pulled her luggage behind her and tried to leave.Yet, for some reason, as she walked past Yaacob, her bag felt a thousand times heavier. No matter how hard she pulled, she could not move it.She turned around to see the man's foot right on it."Let go! Are you not going to?!"Nancy glared at Yaacob. When he did not move, she knelt t
"Why are you so against Uncle Benjamin? He treats me well. There's no reason why I can't be friends with him," Nancy asked, confused."How naive. No one will just suddenly be nice to you for no reason. Do you know how many people are trying to get on Benjamin's good side every day? Why would he suddenly pay attention to a regular girl like you?""That's just your speculation. He seems quite genuine when we interact. Honestly, I don't think I'm just a regular girl at all!" Nancy said emphatically."Could you be daydreaming about being his long-lost daughter? He's still single at this age. If he really thought that you were his daughter, he would have done a blood test with you and accepted you into his family. Why would he just try to get closer to you and make his intentions vague?"What Yaacob was saying did make some sense.However, Nancy was angry. She felt like he was looking down on her.Uncle Benjamin did treat her a bit strangely, and he kept on bringing up his 'daughter.'
At the university awards ceremony, Nancy was seated in the front row. She had paid special attention to her makeup that day and was wearing a short, lacy black dress.She had won many international awards, and this time, she had casually won a speech competition. Naturally, she was not like her inexperienced classmates, trembling anxiously just because they had to go on stage. Nancy was somewhat absent-minded, distractedly playing with the ring on her finger. Yaacob, that big jerk! He had not returned home the past two days. How long was he planning on continuing this fight?Even though she was not confident, Nancy still had some pride. She had promised herself that if he did not make the first move to reconcile with her, she would not budge. She intended to keep that promise.She refused to believe that the man who had taken advantage of her while she was drunk would be able to hold himself back for much longer.In the end, were men not more impatient regarding those things?Na
That night, Nancy stayed up late, but she never saw Yaacob return. She could not help but feel uneasy whenever she imagined other women entering Yaacob's car. She resisted the urge to call him to come home a few times, managing to stop herself before she did.That was because after she seriously thought about it, the possibility of Yaacob asking for a divorce was high.That man knew how to handle her. Every time they quarreled, he never failed to comfort her, no matter how bad it got.Yet, this time, he had let their relationship deteriorate without doing anything. Was that not a sign he wanted to end things?Even though Nancy could not figure out what she had done to make him want to leave her, she knew she needed to do something if she did not want a divorce.The next day, much to her surprise, Lola received an invitation from Yaacob to attend a business banquet with him.The day before, the restaurant Lola had invited Yaacob to had been closed, so they had gone to her apartm
Yaacob stayed in Nancy and Celica's house in Rhea City for a month without leaving.After sending Celica to kindergarten, Yaacob sent Nancy to the company.Nancy always asked him to stop the car two streets away from the company, but that day, Yaacob went a bit further, and she started to get anxious. "Stop the car, quick. Stop going forward. It's the peak hour right now. I can't let anyone see me."Yaacob stopped the car, but he did not unlock the door.He lowered the top of the convertible and asked her, "Is being with me that embarrassing to you?""I'm not with you. This is just a transaction!" Nancy insisted.She could not open the door and noticed that Yaacob had locked it. When she went to unlock it, her hand was pushed down by the man."Don't I make you happy? Is Celica unhappy? Don't you enjoy every night that we're together? You clearly have me in your heart, but why do you keep denying it? Nancy, what happened to your boldness and carefree spirit? Who do you want to im
Nancy had just stopped at Athenapolis to pick up some things she had left with Benson's friends when they had stayed there.She had also wanted to congratulate Rowena and Randall on their marriage and to apologize for not being able to attend their wedding.However, the next day, she could not get up at all.Fearing another intense night like the one before, she decided to book a flight to Rhea City that afternoon.The moment she sat on the plane, Nancy almost collapsed in her seat. Her lower back was aching.When she shut her eyes, her head was inexplicably flooded with certain images.It was like she was under a spell!"Ms., the flight is about to take off. Please switch off your phones," the flight attendant told Nancy.Nancy remembered that she had already turned off her phone.However, she turned around to see Celica looking at her phone unhappily."Sorry."Nancy switched off Celica's phone, but she did not seem happy about it. "Mommy… will Uncle Yaacob call me?""Even
After half a year, Nancy finally returned from America with Celica.Celica held Nancy's hand in one hand and a cat plushie that was almost half her size in another.As soon as they walked out of the VIP channel, Celica's sharp eyes immediately spotted the man who had come to pick them up. She abandoned her plushie as she rushed to him, hands outstretched and waiting to be carried."Uncle Yaacob! Uncle Yaacob!""Celica, don't run so fast!"Nancy could not stop her and could only follow behind, picking up the plushie along with some candy that had dropped from her pocket as she ran.Yaacob hurried forward and immediately scooped Celica up. He smelled the sweet scent of candy."Uncle Yaacob…"Celica hugged Yaacob, nuzzling her head against his. The fine and soft hair that was unique to a child warmed Yaacob's heart.It had been two years, but she had not forgotten him!It seemed like her memory was better than expected. She had probably gotten it from him.Of course, it was als
Randall and Rowena went to the same motel they had the last time.The boss remembered them as the ones who had broken his window, but he did not give them a hard time, warmly welcoming them instead.After all, the money that Randall had given him for it had been enough to replace the windows of the whole building. This time, Randall flexed his financial might again. He pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet and put it on the counter. "Boss, we want an entire floor.""Sir, do you want one room or two?""The whole floor!"Hearing what Randall said, Rowena looked at him in amazement. "Why so many rooms?""Have you forgotten how bad the soundproofing is here?" Randall replied.Rowena was speechless.The hotel owner was a veteran of this. He immediately put the money into the counter drawer and said, "Okay, I'll give you a key to a room on the third floor. I'll go knock on every door to clear the floor out right now. I assure you that you'll have an enjoyable night!"Rowena fel
"How absurd!"Randall's words were not meant to demean her. He just felt that it was too dangerous for the child to be there.Rowena, however, felt like she was being blamed for no reason."Why are you in a restaurant with this girl in the middle of the night?" Rowena asked Randall.Randall did not answer. He walked forward to help secure Dorothy before he took the dangerous weapon off her hands."Rowena, you should bring Sandy back for now."Rowena did not move."It's too dangerous for the both of you to be here. Listen to me!" Randall told her.Rowena did not respond. Instead, it was Dorothy who spoke: "Mr. Smith, why do you think she can just come and go as she pleases? I already told my subordinates that not even a fly is allowed out."Even though Rowena had been captured, she knew that they would not be able to walk free if anything happened to her so the man would not touch her so easily."Mrs. Browning, you just wanted to talk with me."Dorothy really liked talking to
Dorothy and Randall found themselves in a standoff. Suddenly, a hushed report from her subordinate reached Dorothy's ears. "Someone's outside, claiming to have information on Mr. Randall.""Who? Could it be that Yaacob has returned earlier than expected?" Dorothy, determined to prevail over Randall that night, insisted, "Don't let him in; I can't believe he would just barge in!""It's not Mr. Randall. It's a woman, accompanied by a child." The subordinate hesitated before providing more details.Rowena, who had given birth just four months ago, had swiftly regained her pre-pregnancy figure. She wore a navy blue striped shirt knotted at the waist, paired with snug jeans, showing no signs of her previous pregnancy. From behind, she looked slender and youthful, resembling a young girl. Yet, in front, she cradled a baby.The infant, only three or four months old, sported a hat with a few wisps of hair peeking out and a pacifier. The child's intelligent eyes darted around, exploring the
Four months later, the impending presidential election heightened the tension in Athenapolis. Harrison, eyeing reelection, aspired to forge an alliance with the Browning family and assimilate the Getson Group.Simultaneously, at this critical juncture, Yaacob had already partnered with Tom. He opted to collaborate with Yaacob after his unsuccessful bid to become part of the Browning family. Both were cunning strategists with centuries of experience, making their alliance arguably the most formidable.Tom, with backing from overseas financial giants, had a complex and mysterious identity. However, his requirements from Yaacob were surprisingly straightforward. He sought to use Yaacob to advance his political standing.On the flip side, Yaacob needed Tom's support to solidify his position within the Getson family, ensuring it remained stable. The previous presidential transition in Athenapolis had resulted in bloodshed and political turmoil, claiming Xander's life.This time, Randall
Lola pondered her predicament, finding her situation undesirable. She was infertile and struggling to establish stability despite numerous relationships. Her benefactor stood idly by as the original wife attacked her, too hesitant to intervene. After that day, Athenapolis no longer offered a solid ground for Lola.Dorothy sternly cautioned Lola, vowing to teach her a lesson whenever they crossed paths. Leaving Mr. Randall did not lead to greener pastures for Lola. She remained destitute. Rowena, the source of her misfortune, was to blame.Life with Randall had been tolerable. He never mistreated her, though love was absent. However, everything changed when Rowena reappeared. Witnessing Rowena's pregnancy with Randall intensified Lola's resentment, fueling an intense hatred. She harbored a fervent wish for Rowena and the unborn child to die!Lola understood that only Rowena's demise could rekindle hope for her. Unfortunately, Lola was uncertain about the vast power imbalance be
Having finally brought Rowena home, Randall became an aspiring intern dad. Opting against hiring a nanny, he naturally assumed the responsibility of caring for his pregnant wife.He would juggle the demands of running the company and handling household matters. Randall appeared fatigued, yet those with keen observation could discern a tired but content expression on his face. Lately, a newfound joy, previously unseen, frequently illuminated his features—the anticipation of becoming a father.During a visit to the hospital, a woman seated beside Rowena observed her pregnant belly and initiated a conversation, "Your belly is quite prominent. When are you due?""In about a month," Rowena replied."That's wonderful! Congratulations! I saw you during one of my check-ups. Is the man accompanying you each time your husband?" Others looked on with envy, expressing, "My husband isn't as involved. No matter how many times I ask, he never joins me for the appointment."Rowena remained silent