Since Rhea City lay in the south, its winter was not as cold as Athenapolis, but it could be humid and rainy for most of the days. The weather was the bane for those without an umbrella and even worse for the homeless.Nancy found a place under the overpass to shelter from the rain, but it did not stop the bone-chilling wind, causing her to shiver from the cold.Nancy was still dressed in the hospital gown she was kidnapped in, but one sleeve was torn off during her struggle with the two gigolos. She also cut her calf open when she jumped off the building.Fortunately, the two gigolos were all bark and no bite. Their bodies had long been drained by all the sexual activities they did all day long. Otherwise, Nancy would not have been able to take them down.Nancy managed to free herself from the rope by secretly using the still-burning cigarette butt to 'cut' the rope. After that, she picked up a vase and hit each of them on the head. She then broke open the glass window and jumped
Nancy was on guard, but she did not expect she would kick her injured foot, which made her lose her balance. She gasped and held on to her leg in pain.Spencer, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped and turned his head to look at her strangely. He felt her voice was a bit familiar.'That beggar woman has the same body shape as Nancy! If she were to clean herself up and wear something nice, she might be a beauty too,' thought Spencer.The fact that she was wearing a hospital gown made him wonder which hospital she had escaped from and whether she might be mentally ill. After all, why would she allow herself to run through the streets in a hospital gown unless she was?Spencer was particularly proud of his analysis of the beggar woman. Even though he could not get Nancy, he would always have a place for her in his heart.He even treated going to the room which Nancy had stayed in before as a sort of pilgrimage, thinking he would die happy if he could just catch a whiff of her l
Nancy kept a close eye on Yaacob's expression when he spoke on the phone. After he ended the call with Randall, she asked, "What's the matter? Did something happen?""I'll explain everything to you when we're back in Athenapolis."He had just finally gotten back with her, so he did not want to bring up anything that would make Nancy unhappy.He carefully lifted her uninjured leg and asked her, "Is it sore?""Yes, and it's all your fault," complained Nancy."I'll help you massage it then." Nancy had never really experienced any hardships since she was a child, so her skin was as soft as jelly. It was as if a little force would break here. Yaacob used to think that she was too pampered and lacked the strength to go rough in bed, but when he saw the bruises all over her body, he would rather her stay pampered.'I guess some women are just born to be pampered,' he thought.The next day, Yaacob took Nancy to the hospital to see the homeless man she accidentally injured. The homele
Nancy did not expect she was just on the plane thinking about how to get revenge on Emily a moment ago, and the next she received news of her death. The fact that Emily died in her apartment made the whole thing even weirder because Emily had been staying in the hotel all the time she was in Athenapolis. Why would she be found dead in an apartment? To make matters worse, Yaacob owned the apartment Emily was found dead in.Generally speaking, most wealthy people possess many properties. Sometimes, they would even lose count of the properties they had. Yaacob had never lived in that apartment either.However, the police got their hands on surveillance footage of Yaacob going to look for Emily in her hotel room. A confrontation seemed to have occurred between the two of them, and a hotel staff even acted as a witness, saying that Yaacob looked very upset when he left the hotel room.Emily went missing not long after he left.After staying in Rhea City for three days, Yaacob happened t
When Nancy arrived at the company, she could feel the nervous tension in the air. She happened to meet Taya before getting on the elevator. She quickly grabbed her and asked, "Did something happen?"Taya stopped, glanced at her, then whispered, "Mr. Getson is in some trouble. Don't go to our building yet. It's a disaster over there."Judging from her tone, Taya seemed to know that Nancy had reconciled with Yaacob, so she kindly warned her."Then… is he okay?""I think so. He's handling the matter as we speak. It's just that Mr. Paulsen is so overcome by grief that he'll throw a fit at anyone who goes near him. So it's best not to go see Mr. Getson now," said Taya.Nikolaus Paulsen was Emily's father, so Nancy also agreed that it would be awkward for her to go up to pay her respect since she was the woman who stole Yaacob from his daughter.Taya was really busy. She had to pass an important document to Yaacob, so she said a hasty goodbye to Nancy and went on her way.After Nancy
"Let's eat first," said Julian. He placed a piece of glistening sashimi onto Nancy's plate.Nancy forced herself to pick up the sashimi with her chopstick and slowly raised it up to her mouth.Before she opened her mouth to take a bite, she heard Julian say, "Isn't the real murderer Yaacob?""That's nonsense! There's no way he's Emily's killer," said Nancy loudly."Yaacob was a total deadbeat when he was living abroad. He didn't even realize he was wrapped around his ex-girlfriend's little finger until it was too late. He spent all of his time looking for money to pay off his ex-girlfriend's debt. He joined a shady organization that gets their joy from killing people and breaking the law. I heard the organization's signature killing method is cutting off the few main arteries on a person's body to drain out the blood, and then butchering the body for easier transportation, which happens to be what happened to Emily."After listening to what Julian said, Nancy looked down at the sa
A few days passed, and the heat from Emily's death showed no signs of dying down because of how brutally she was killed. Not to mention, she was a foreigner and also the daughter of the richest man in Europe. It was the talk of the town, and everyone had their own theory about who the murderer was.The police were also placed under great pressure since Nikolaus had been hounding them for an explanation, and the only evidence they had pointed to Yaacob being the murderer. However, they could not simply arrest him due to his status and family background, so the police were stuck in a very awkward situation.To make matters worse, the surveillance footage of Yaacob going to the hotel to find Emily was leaked, and it was revealed that Emily was in a relationship with Yaacob before her death. The two were suspected of having a conflict in their relationship, and Yaacob was once again pushed to the forefront by the public crying out for justice.During that period, Nancy stayed at home be
In the end, Yaacob finally agreed to her request. In fact, Randall had tried to convince him to find out a way to lure out the murderer. After all, it was the best way to solve all of their problems in one fell swoop.It was just that Yaacob did not want to put Nancy's life in danger, but since he had agreed, he thought he would just have to come up with ways to make sure she would be safe in the process.That night, Nancy posted a photo of her and Yaacob sharing a pastry together on her Facebook. Later, someone took a screenshot and reposted it on Twitter, and it quickly became a trending topic and even ranked first.It was obvious that Nancy was still really popular, even though she had retired from the entertainment industry for more than a year. Some people expressed envy; others were jealous. Some even scolded them for their show of affection. They called Nancy shameless. How could she pretend nothing happened when Yaacob was still a suspect, and Emily's killer was still at lar
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