Randall never expected to meet Lola while visiting Rowena's parents.Lola looked to be feeling a bit awkward herself and explained, "I stay nearby."It was a rich area, but not as high-end as Amethyst Coast. Lola's family ran a business, so it was not surprising that she lived there.After what had happened that night, Randall had looked into her.She was a student of the School of Journalism and Communication of Athenapolis. Her results were very good, and her classmates and teachers had good things to say about her. Lola's father was a second-tier business owner and had been rather profitable due to favorable business conditions, but he had begun to struggle starting last year.Lola's mother had passed away when she was in primary school, and her father had remarried less than a year later. She had a stepsister a year younger than her. However, it was not really a blended family. Her stepmother's daughter was related to her father by blood, which meant that her father had been u
Nancy had a dream. It was a dream wherein Julian was abusing her with basketballs.Then, she fell and bled on the ground alone.Right after that, she found herself on an operating table. There were a lot of people around her, and there was a white light above that hurt her eyes. Her lower body was in a lot of pain…Nancy realized it was not a dream when she woke up. She lay on the hospital bed, and Julian was standing next to her."You're up?"The man raised an eyebrow when he saw her opening her eyes.Nancy could not be bothered to respond as she turned away. "Why are you still here?""I brought you to the hospital; what do you think?""Didn't you cause this? You should have sent me to the hospital…" She would not let him play the good guy.Nancy suddenly felt tired after saying so much. She did not know why, but she was exhausted. So, she did not continue speaking, not wanting to argue with Julian."You don't need to be here. You just need to call Yaacob to pick me up. I'll
The temperature in the car was rising, and Nancy could feel Yaacob's reaction.When he was about to put his hand under her clothes, she pushed it away."Yaacob, I'm not feeling well."Yaacob had been in the mood and had not expected her to say that.However, he saw that she really was not feeling well and did not force her. He stopped himself and just snuggled against Nancy's body. After that, he bit her earlobe in mild anger. "Are you trying to torture me?"After cuddling a while, Yaacob finally sat back in the driver's seat and started driving."Did you catch a cold? I can get you some medicine when we pass the hospital later," Yaacob said."No need. I'm just very tired. I want to go back home and sleep."Nancy was so tired that she could not keep her eyes open. She was still finding it hard to accept what had happened today.She did not know if she was more sad or shocked. Her mind was a mess, and she was incredibly tired. Before anything else, she just wanted to sleep.
It was not the first time Julian had used the idea that being by Yaacob's side would be dangerous to scare Nancy.Was she scared?In the past, she had felt nothing, because she had never really been harmed.However, this time, she was deeply wounded. A little life had been taken. It was hard to say that she was not afraid.Nancy's hand was shaking. She curled it into a tight fist to hide her fear and anger.Why did people resort to such awful methods?However, Nancy would never leave Yaacob out of fear.She had just remarried Yaacob not too long ago. Even if she had originally married him because she was desperate for money, she had remarried him out of love.Leave him? Only if she stopped loving him!So, Nancy ignored Julian's words, not even turning around as she left the restaurant.This time, Julian did not stop her. He merely gently tapped his plate with his spoon, counting her footsteps. Once he reached the number he was waiting for, a look of amusement came upon his fac
Nancy turned around and saw Lucy.Lucy stood just two steps away from her and stared at her emotionlessly for a long time.Nancy felt herself shiver as she asked, "When did you come in?"Lucy had probably slipped into their room after Yaacob had gone to pour the water away, forgetting to lock the door behind him.Why did she walk so silently?Someone appearing behind her without a sound in the middle of the night, especially after Nancy had been targeted by a murderer, was terrifying. The murderer was still on the loose. With Emily's father also having a target on her back, how could she not be afraid?"Do you need something?" Nancy asked.Lucy had woken up at the hospital a few days ago and was already back in the household.Nancy never really interacted with her. Even if they bumped into each other at home, they would not greet each other.She thought the best thing for them was to remain strangers, so she did not know why Lucy had suddenly barged into her room."Yes. I cam
"Sorry. Butterfingers."Nancy picked up the phone and handed it to Ain.The latter smiled and typed another sentence. "It's okay. Ms. Lawson, you have such nice skin. It feels smooth and tender to the touch. You must spend a lot of time maintaining it, right?"For some reason, Nancy was not happy to hear a woman praise her skin condition.She found Ain's smile disconcerting, especially since her hand had seemed to linger a little too long on hers. Nancy felt the urge to wash her hands and scrub them clean.However, Nancy did not want to seem impolite. "That's not true. I was just born with it.""No wonder Yaacob likes you so much."Nancy did not like to talk about Yaacob with Ain. After all, it was sort of awkward.However, Ain did not seem to care at all. She talked about Yaacob as if she was talking about a good friend.Nancy did not think she could be friends with Ain. She did not know her well at all.To be honest, she had never let her guard down in front of Ain.Althou
How had Nancy found out that Randall was cheating?It was a coincidence. When she and Yvonne went shopping and grabbed a cup of coffee, she ran into Randall and a woman at the mall.She caught up with them to say hello and wanted to ask them what the occasion was for their little shopping trip. Was there any progress in their relationship lately?However, Nancy turned around to find that the woman beside Randall was not Rowena.It was Lola.That was when things got awkward.Later, Nancy went home to verify the situation with Yaacob, only to find out that Randall and Lola had slept together after the banquet.How could these two people, who seemingly did not know each other, become entangled with each other in this manner?"Then what is Randall's plan now? Lola drugged him. He knows that, right?" Nancy asked."He should know. I reminded him that I thought he had solved it with money, but I did not expect things to come to this."Yaacob had been very busy recently, and the memb
Nancy and Rowena sat in a remote corner of a coffee shop, and the latter took out a copy of the information from her bag.After Nancy had finished reading through it, she asked in surprise, "Do you want to sign up to volunteer in Africa?""The medical conditions over there are terrible, and doctors are needed. The results have been announced, and I am now going through the procedure.""The medical assistance plan written above lasts for one year. Do you plan to stay there for the next year and come back to divorce Randall when the time comes?" Nancy saw through Rowena's true plan at a glance, and she asked, "Randall agreed?""He won't agree." Rowena had lived with Randall for four years and knew enough about his temper.So, she had told him nothing and secretly made all the preparations herself."What do you want me to do for you?""Randall isn't powerful and influential in Africa. I can handle things by myself when I go there. The problem now is how do I seize the opportunity t
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