After some hesitation, Benson decided to open the door for Yaacob.Benson was ever the polite gentleman. Despite the animosity between them, he greeted Yaacob with a warm smile, "Hello, Mr. Getson."However, Yaacob did not plan to go easy on him. He came for one purpose only."What do you want? Money or resources?" asked Yaacob as he walked into the house.Benson was dumbfounded."I'll give you whatever you want, as long as you agree to divorce Nancy. Just name your price."Yes, Yaacob came to make a deal with Benson.Since Nancy refused to get a divorce, Yaacob decided to go for Benson instead."Mr. Getson, I don't need anything. I will never leave Nancy and Celica. Honestly, Celica and Nancy mean the whole world to me. Money and resources are nothing compared to them. I'm sure there are many more meaningful things in this world for you, Mr. Getson. After all, you're an important figure, whereas I'm just an average person," answered Benson firmly.'This guy has been quiet lik
Yaacob leaned next to the same Christmas tree from yesterday with a cigarette in his hand, watching the snowfall in the unfamiliar country. He did not go far, staying close to Nancy's home.He did not even bother getting a hotel room, preferring to stand guard. He was worried that Nancy would disappear with Celica if he so much as blinked.Yaacob stood guard the whole day. Nancy instructed the servants to reinforce all the entrances in the home to prevent him from sneaking into her room at night. She and Benson stayed in the whole day.After Yaacob left, Nancy and Benson continued to sit in silence, lost in their own thoughts.'He wants to fight me for Celica's custody, but I had her after we divorced. He has not done a thing for her in the past three years, and now he wants to steal her away from me? How can he be so cocky?' thought Nancy.However, she knew Yaacob indeed had the resources and capabilities to get Celica's custody.Nancy tried to suppress her growing anxiety. She
Yaacob did not stay in Paris for long. After all, that was not his home. However, he was not going to give up that easily either.Not long after Yaacob returned to Olumphia, Nancy received a letter from the court. He was serious about fighting her for Celica's custody. He skipped right through private mediation to get Nancy back.Due to the legal procedures, Nancy and Benson were forced to bring Celica back to Athenapolis. It looked like they were really going through a legal battle against Yaacob. The lawyer Nancy hired was Harvey Blanc.Harvey took the initiative to look for Nancy when he heard she was back in the city. He was the lawyer with whom Andrew was trying to set her up previously.It had been quite a while since Nancy talked with Harvey since there was no reason to after she settled the matter of the will and sold her shares in Lawson Corporation. She heard he was still single.However, Harvey did not say anything when he saw Benson with Nancy; he simply asked her for
Yaacob brought Nancy to the house in Amethyst Coast. Nancy was so hurried to see Celica that she immediately got out of the car and entered the passcode.Yaacob stood behind her and smiled faintly when he saw how she was acting. Even though the smile was not obvious, it was the best he had felt in a long time.He had done so much just waiting for the day when Nancy took the initiative to come to him. He even got an unexpected bonus that Nancy still clearly remembered their first wedding date."Celica!" Nancy rushed in.Celica sat on the floor, playing building blocks with a professional nanny and early childhood education teacher. Yaacob hired them to take care of her.When he worked, Yaacob did not want to let her stay cooped up in the office with him. However, he would personally take care of her after work. He tried to spend as much time as possible with her by doing everything for her.Celica turned her head in surprise when she heard Nancy's voice. She then got up and ran to
Yaacob carried Nancy from the bathroom to the bed. He hugged her tightly through the blanket, engulfing her in his embrace.The only yellow light cast a warm and soothing color over them. Even so, Yaacob could only feel the coldness from Nancy's body. Afraid she would catch a cold, he hugged her tighter. He would have sewn her under his skin if he could."Nancy, I thought you're a smart woman who knows how to work things to your advantage? Ask yourself, who will take care of Celica if you get sick? What if you pass on the cold to me, and then to Celica? Do you want all of us to die together?""No.""No? Because it sure seems like it. Don't tell me Benson is the only person in your life now? Even our daughter is not as important as him! Are you planning to use your death as proof of your honor now that you don't have Benson to protect you?"Nancy was not thinking any of that at all; it was Yaacob who had misunderstood her. She was just trying to calm her racing mind. However, Yaaco
"You mean you drove Nancy to depression?" asked Randall."No! Her depression came back.""Is there any difference? Her situation back then was caused by you as well."Yaacob was speechless. He had not expected to be rendered speechless by Randall one day. He took a long drag from his cigarette irritably and fell into silence.Randall, however, had no intention to stop talking when he had already opened the can of worms. As the oldest in the group and seeing from Nancy's perspective, he could not help but scold Yaacob, "You're indeed being very unethical for trying to steal Celica's custody from Nancy.""Then tell me what I should do?"Yaacob's situation with Nancy was different from Randall's situation with Rowena. Nancy was already married to Benson, so there was no chance for Yaacob to court her. Nancy probably would not even give him the time of day unless he took some drastic action.As expected, Randall could not come up with a good idea. They would be in a deadlock unless
When Yaacob returned to the hospital, he heard a man's voice coming from the ward. Benson had arrived, and he was peeling apples for Nancy and Celica.Nancy was already awake. Yaacob opened the door and went in just in time to see her smiling. However, her expression darkened when she saw him.Nancy and Benson were obviously not happy at Yaacob's intrusion, except for Celica, who did not understand anything. Everyone present felt more or less awkward.Yaacob walked straight over and picked up Celica, who was sitting on the hospital bed. Celica glanced at him blankly and stretched out her hand to grab Nancy. "Mommy...""Celica, your Mommy is tired. Let her rest. It's time for us to head back."Nancy's expression changed again when she heard Yaacob would take Celica away.Celica did not want to be separated from Nancy either. "I want to stay with Mommy…""Your Mommy can't go back today. She has to stay in the hospital. It was her own fault for catching a cold."Yaacob became angr
Yaacob went to the next room, but he was still worried about Nancy. He called Randall and asked him if he was with Rowena. If she was, would she mind coming over to check on Nancy?Rowena was giving Randall the cold shoulder because he lied about his injury. Thus, he thought he would use this opportunity to make up with her. He immediately drove over to her house and did not even kick up a fuss with Yaacob for exposing him in the afternoon.Afterward, Randall, Rowena, and Yvonne arrived together. Yaacob called Randall and Rowena over. Nancy probably called Yvonne over.Yaacob decided not to question it. He closed the door after Rowena and Yvonne went into the bedroom Nancy was in.Randall glanced at Yaacob, sitting at the junction of the stairs between the second and third floors, and asked, "Do you need to go to the hospital?"He asked because Yaacob's face was really ashen. He had always been in good health. Except for the time when he was infected with the virus, Randall had ne
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