"As a matter of fact, I think the two of you should be seeking penance!" I snapped. "You should live out the rest of your lives in a chapel—praying for Juianne and repenting for your sins. Only then will both of you be able to make it up to her!"I looked at them, lifting an eyebrow. "So hurry up, get your savings and assets in order, and transfer them over to Julianne. Then, go spend the rest of your lives in penance!" I finished coolly.Mom and Henry both stared at me in disbelief. It was as though I had said something absurd.A long silence followed before Mom finally snapped out of her shock."Are you out of your mind?" she yelled.Her reaction didn't surprise me. After all, if she transferred all her money and assets to Julianne, she would have trouble getting by. Where would she get money to spend? It was one thing to depend on close relatives for money, let alone an adopted daughter. Regardless, she would still prefer to rely on herself.I furrowed my brow in feigned con
"I said that's enough, Emilia!" Jeremy shouted, standing up in anger.I sneered as I looked at him. "You're so unwilling to spare Julianne some money, yet you had the nerve to ask me to trade my life for hers?""Who said you would need to trade your life?" Jeremy retorted irritatedly. "All you had to do was follow Irvin's plan—" He abruptly stopped. He didn't finish because he knew Irvin's plan had gone wrong. In fact, they all knew this. If I hadn't acted first and taken down Ms. Plume, I would likely be dead right now.They kept telling me I shouldn't have escaped and should have just gone along with the exchange. Yet here they were, unwilling to give Julianne their money. They were supposed to be closest to her and loved her the most, so what right did they have to ask me to give up my life for her?They were in the wrong, yet they still had the audacity to blame me. But now that I had turned the moral argument against them, they didn't know how to continue. Just moments ago
Julianne seemed genuinely worried about losing Irvin. Her pleas sounded convincing, and she had even gotten on her knees.Mom and Jeremy were completely unaware of Irvin's condition. They had been caring for Julianne ever since they heard what had happened to her. And once she started to feel better, they immediately came after me.Because of that, they were just now learning that Irvin had gotten injured trying to save me. His injuries weren't severe, but apparently, he was growing weaker because he had lost the will to live. So, when they heard Julianne say he might die, they were shell-shocked.Their heads snapped toward me. It was obvious they wanted me to pay Irvin a visit.I ignored them. Why should I? I wasn't a doctor.None of them thought I would be so heartless toward him. I used to love him so much that I would wish to take on his pain despite my aversion toward it. It didn't matter how severely injured he was, I would gladly take it on for him.Yet now, I was refusi
Julianne stood up and said, "I wouldn't have to threaten you like this if you weren't being so cold-hearted and unfeeling."Those words were probably to maintain her image as an innocent and angelic girl in front of Henry, Mom, and Jeremy. Personally, I felt it was completely unnecessary.Initially, they were dumbfounded to hear that Julianne would be inheriting Irvin's new company should he die. But once they overcame their shock, their goal had clearly shifted.When I had first gotten together with Irvin, Mom and Henry were against our relationship. They disliked Irvin then because he had just been kicked out of his home.At the time, Phillip had wanted one of his illegitimate children to succeed him and take over Sawyer Corporation. Having lost his position as a potential heir, Irvin was seen as nothing in the eyes of others.On top of that, Irvin had a rocky adolescence. He was a spoiled child and had lived a pampered life, which made him flamboyant, arrogant, and reckless. Pl
As for my family, it didn't matter how shocked they initially were. I was sure they had already started plotting how to insert themselves into Julianne's soon-to-be company. I chuckled humorlessly. "Did you just say Irvin's new company is registered under your name? Oh please. You're just the legal representative, aren't you?"Julianne froze, having just started to straighten herself. My words had also shattered my family's wonderful daydreams about their future.There was a huge difference between owning a company and being its legal representative.If she owned the company, it meant she was its largest shareholder and beneficiary. But as a legal representative, it meant the company was only registered under her name and personal details. She wouldn't have to be its largest beneficiary to be its legal representative, but it did mean she would be legally responsible for the company."According to Irvin's notarized will, all of his assets will go to me should something happen to
Still, I hoped God would take away Irvin's life soon. That way, I would become a rich widow overnight. However, I didn't get what I hoped for. It seemed God favored Irvin because I didn't get to see that scoundrel leave this earth.The doctor had said Irvin would remain in a coma forever if he didn't wake up within the next 24 hours. Not only did he wake up, but he did so without any complications. And to top it off, he had even lost his memory.It seemed Irvin's memories had regressed to four years ago when his love for me was the strongest. He had even forgotten all the cruel things he had done to me. Instead, he only remembered how much he loved me and how well he treated me.In his mind, we had just graduated from college. We had collected our graduation certificates and marriage certificate on the same day.It was also around then that the rebellious and free-spirited Irvin decided to launch his startup. He had decided to give his all and work hard. After all, he wanted to p
Some people said men always behaved childishly in front of the women they loved. I supposed this saying was somewhat true when it came to the old Irvin.Prior to knowing about the fake drugging video, Irvin would act like a child when he was home. It didn't matter how imposing he seemed in public. The moment he stepped through the front door, he would instantly become clingy and childish.Unlike most men, Irvin also didn't have trouble expressing his love for me. Be it verbally or through his actions, he would passionately and sincerely make it known. Most importantly, he only had eyes for me.At the time, I was someone who was starved of affection and desperately yearned for it. Hence, his intense and earnest displays of love made me forget my personal goals. I gave up everything and resolutely decided I would do anything to stay with him.Irvin's devotion made me believe he would love me for life and that we would be happy forever. So, who would have thought his so-called profoun
However, I knew Irvin didn't actually want me to stab him. He just wanted to make me feel that sense of reluctance to hurt him. He was hoping I would regain the love I had for him through his.It was one of his oldest tactics. He always pulled the same stunt whenever he made me angry.First, he would act pitiful and ask me to hit him. Then, he would somehow get hurt in the process, and I would end up feeling sorry for him. Lastly, I would ultimately forget what I had done wrong because I was reluctant to lose him.He might be the same person he always had been, but I wasn't.I scoffed at him, then took a few steps back.Once I had put enough distance between us, I said, "Stab you? Isn't that a crime? Can you stop being so appalling? If you truly think you're at fault, then how about you be a man about it? Stop pretending to have amnesia and enough with these cheap tricks! Let's divvy our assets and quickly get divorced!"The words "pretending to have amnesia" seemed to strike a c
"I agree," Grace said. "Which is why I suspect you hadn't given birth to fraternal twins but rather identical twin boys back then. One of them must have been switched at birth."She knew there needed to be an explanation for why Irvin and Timothy looked so much alike. Thus, she might as well reveal they were identical twins. However, no one aside from the Hardwells could know the truth behind why both boys hadn't grown up together.So, the only other believable story was that one of them had been switched at birth. Most importantly, the twin that died was Irvin, and the remaining one was the Hardwell heir, Timothy.It was true that in this world, two people couldn't look exactly the same unless they were blood relatives. I had mistaken Timothy for Irvin when we first met. That was why I had suspected they were identical twins. I wasn't surprised by what Grace had said. Even so, I felt one of the twins couldn't possibly have been switched at birth.As I said before, Claudeville an
Sure enough, there was a burn scar and a recent bullet-sized scar near his heart.Unexpectedly, I started crying when I saw them. I couldn't control my tears. My emotions hit me so suddenly and intensely that I was overwhelmed and defenseless.Timothy reflexively reached out to wipe away my tears when he saw this.He didn't understand what was happening to him. He obviously had a wife and memories with her, but he couldn't accept her touch. Yet, he had the urge to get closer to me.When I brought up treating his leg, Timothy had instinctively wanted to go with me despite the late hour. Then, when I told him to remove his shirt, he had done so without hesitation. Everything about this was unreasonable, yet he wanted to do everything I asked.He was about to ask me why I was crying when men dressed in black barged into my studio.Once they had taken their places, an imposing-looking lady and Mrs. Hardwell entered. The lady immediately scowled when she saw Timothy shirtless and reac
Irvin had a burn scar on his back from when he had saved me during the lab fire in our sophomore year. He had gotten it by shielding me from a falling, burning beam. There should also be a bullet scar, from when he had taken a shot for me on the cruise ship.As I recalled those memories and how Irvin had risked his life to save mine, I found it even harder to be distant toward him the way I had been when I had lost my memory.I had given him everything in the past and had treated him better than I treated myself. But back then, he had also reciprocated it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have loved him so strongly.William and Timothy were taken aback by my eagerness.Then, almost in unison, they spoke."Yes.""No!"Timothy had agreed, and William had been against it.I wasn't surprised by Timothy's response. Based on his earlier reaction, I sensed he felt something toward me instinctually despite his amnesia.What caught me off guard was William's objection. While we had known each oth
Willaim and I were stunned, and so was Timothy.Timothy had no idea why he had blurted out those words. They had just slipped out.William cocked an eyebrow at him once he came back to his senses. It was just as he had said—hypnosis was unreliable.Without realizing it, I walked toward Timothy and called out, "Irvin…"Timothy's gaze immediately darkened.I faltered when I met his cold and unfamiliar eyes. My steps instinctively came to a halt.I had been forced to deal with a dire scandal soon after learning Irvin might still be alive. As such, I hadn't had the time to think about anything else. But now, I suddenly saw him again.I felt a sharp pain in my chest when I met his unfamiliar gaze.I didn't know how to describe my feelings in this moment. My emotions were so complicated that I couldn't decipher what I truly wanted.Irvin and I had fallen in love when we were young. We were each other's first love. I had shared the purest and most beautiful moments of my life with hi
William frowned at Grace's idea. He was intrinsically against doing something like that to me.However, Grace added, "I miscarried because I had saved your life, Mr. Ashford. I had to lie in a hospital bed for more than a month before I was strong enough to move."I'm not asking you to do anything except stay out of it—please don't interfere with my plans to deal with Emilia Quill. Rest assured, I won't harm her."William studied her quietly as he mulled over her words. He had felt conflicted when she brought up her miscarriage.He was still semiconscious when he had been rescued from the sea. Thus, he could feel how much effort it had taken for his rescuer to get him back to shore.William was a ruthless and disloyal person by nature. Despite this, he had been unexpectedly moved by his rescuer's strenuous efforts to save him.This was especially so when she had performed CPR on him, and her warmth and scent had enveloped him. So much so that William had even wanted to pursue her
Before William could respond, Grace immediately added, "I don't mean to leverage my saving your life against you, but you did say you would grant me one request in return."William fiddled with the lighter in his hand. "Yes, I did say that. But I'm not a man of integrity, so I can always go back on my word."Grace was stumped.She hadn't expected him to say that. How could he make such a promise to her and then void it just like that? Shouldn't his word be binding, given someone of his status? It made her question if there was any point in her efforts to become his savior.Aside from Julianne and I, Grace was also present when I had saved Mr. Ashford on Daiti Island.She had just happened to be vacationing on the island at the time and had witnessed me save William. Then, she had also watched as Julianne emerged and carted him away when I left to get help.Initially, Grace had clicked her tongue upon seeing this and had planned on leaving. However, she changed her mind upon rec
The response from the Hardwells only deepened my suspicions that Timothy was actually Irvin. This only made me even more eager to see him again so I could confirm it for myself.However, I couldn't force a meeting if they didn't allow it. I might be wealthy now, but I was nowhere near comparable to the Hardwell family. For the time being, I could only have someone else look into it.After tending to company matters I had at hand, I put on my coat and headed out to meet a physics professor from Quantov University. It was thanks to him that I was able to invite the science research authority figures to help me clear my name.Just as I was about to enter a private dining room, I spotted a familiar figure. I paused and saw Mr. Ashford being led by the restaurant's manager toward a different private room.I thought of greeting him, but then I recalled how our last meeting had ended somewhat unpleasantly. I was also worried he might ask me to date Noah again, so I decided against it.Be
Timothy quickly pressed his blanket down."I thrash around in my sleep," he said. "You're pregnant—what if I hurt you?"He had gained many memories of Mrs. Hardwell upon regaining consciousness. Despite this, he still felt something was amiss. As such, he didn't want to be too close to her.Plus, his body rejected being physically intimate with her even though she was his wife. For some reason, Timothy's heart told him he shouldn't allow Mrs. Hardwell to touch him—he would be sullied if he did.Still smiling, Mrs. Hardwell replied, "You won't."She was about to pull on the blanket again when Timothy yelled, "Get out!"Tears welled up in her eyes. She had never been treated so coldly before."I just want to take care of you at night, Tim. We're husband and wife, aren't we?"Timothy knew she was right. They were married, so there was no reason they shouldn't sleep in the same bed. That being said, he just couldn't bring himself to accept it."I'm sorry, but I'm not used to shari
With the public eager to know the truth, hundreds of millions of viewers tuned in to the summit's live stream.People believed there were three things in this world that could never be taken away from a person—the food one had ingested, one's hopes and dreams, and lastly, one's mind.The third thing referred to intelligence, knowledge, and the ability to reason and think—which was what my battle plan relied upon.Lyle had all the experiment data. Thus, he could claim he was the reason our research had a breakthrough. However, he didn't know the reasoning and considerations behind the experiment's progression.It was similar to solving a math problem. Those who didn't know how to solve it could copy the answer, but they would never be able to explain the steps involved.Hence, I intended to use this principle to prove I was the one who led the research team while he was just a poser.To do so, I had arranged for Lyle and I to be questioned on our research and experiment.The summ