Austin watched the scene in silence, his expression unreadable. Though he remained indifferent, his fists clenched ever so tightly.Angela walked over, closing the transparent umbrella. "Austin, let's go."Her fingers tightened around the handle, her knuckles pale, and her lips had lost all color. It was an undeniable sign of exhaustion and weakness. "Let's go." Austin reached out to take the umbrella, but she didn't hand it over. Instead, she silently brushed past him and headed toward the airport. A faint pain stirred in his chest as he watched her stubborn figure disappear into the distance. Only now did he truly realize that she was no longer the same person she used to be.After an eight-hour flight, they landed in Yedren. Another exhausting ten-plus hours by car brought them to a remote, almost isolated town on Yedren's border. Unlike Yedren's bustling cities, this place offered beautiful natural landscapes, with mountains on one side and the sea on the other.The to
Elias and Austin clearly had a good relationship. He was extremely dedicated and responsible.As they reached the upper floor, a loud, furious roar came from the south-facing bedroom. "Get out, all of you! Who are you? Stop staying in my room!"Hearing that voice, Angela couldn't hold back any longer. She started crying again. It was Genevieve's familiar, slightly aged voice.At that moment, two maids rushed out in a panic. A loud thud followed from inside the room as if something had been thrown to the floor.Upon seeing Austin, the maids turned pale with fear, momentarily at a loss for words. After all, they knew that Austin cared deeply for Genevieve and wouldn't allow anyone to mistreat her."You can go now," Austin instructed, waving the two maids away calmly. Then, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.Angela followed closely behind. The moment she entered, her eyes fell on a middle-aged woman crouched in the corner, trembling with fear. She was thin, her hair strea
Angela couldn't help but feel a bit nervous and uncertain. The last time she had painted was months ago during a livestream session. Though she still remembered what Genevieve and Austin had taught her, she worried that her rusty hands would fail her, earning her a scolding. "Ms. Lawson, what should I paint?" Angela asked as she spread out the canvas and carefully arranged the paints. Genevieve took a small sip of tea, sighing with gentle exasperation. "Why are you still so indecisive? Just paint whatever you feel like. As long as it makes you happy, that's all that matters." Angela shook her head with a wry smile. After that, she began sketching. She was capturing this very moment, with Genevieve sitting by the bed, gazing at her lovingly.Time passed slowly as Angela painted in silence, while Genevieve quietly admired her. She was calm and gentle.On the surveillance feed, Austin watched the scene with a complex expression, feeling conflicted.Elias stared intently at th
At night, Genevieve took a sleep-aid medication and fell into a deep slumber. Meanwhile, Austin wandered around the manor with Angela.The courtyard, featuring a garden, lawn, lake, forest, and horse stable, was illuminated by the peaceful light of the stars and moon, creating a dreamy atmosphere. To her surprise, behind the small forest near the horse stable, there was a secluded wooden cabin filled with various painting tools and art supplies.Angela couldn't help but recall the countless times she had casually mentioned that if she ever became wealthy, she would buy a vast manor. Then, she would fill the estate with trees and build a small wooden cabin among the trees, decorating it just the way she had always dreamed. Back then, Angela had still been a somewhat naive woman, indulging in romantic fantasies. However, after going through a difficult marriage and the stress that followed, she had long forgotten her past dreams."Do you like it?" Austin asked.Angela was briefl
Angela never expected this to happen. Genevieve, her beloved teacher, had now changed beyond recognition overnight. It was as if her soul had been drained away, leaving behind only a mere shell of her old self.Austin rushed over, joining everyone in an attempt to calm Genevieve down. After exhausting all efforts, they eventually called her doctor, Oswald Reid, over to give her a tranquilizer. In the following days, Genevieve's condition was still the same. She drifted in and out of consciousness, and her lucid moments grew shorter with each passing day. However, she regained an unusual surge of clarity on the fourth day. After calling Angela and Austin over, she declared her intention to transfer all shares of Horizon, the brand she had founded during her younger days, to Angela and appoint her as the company's president. Hearing her words, Angela went numb. She rushed to dissuade Genevieve, convinced that she was still in a state of confusion, but Austin stopped her just befor
Knitting her brows, Angela lowered her head in silence."Angie, I know you're afraid of Austin. He just appears cold on the outside, but when it comes to you, he…" Genevieve suddenly trailed off, as if she had second thoughts.Summoning her courage, Angela piped up, "Ms. Lawson, Dexter has been very good to me lately. We had already decided to start over. I feel—""You've been completely fooled by him. You can't even tell who's truly good to you and who isn't. Don't think I don't know what kind of life you've been living these past few years. If I hadn't found out that you eventually pulled yourself together, I wouldn't have bothered with you anymore!"Genevieve's voice suddenly rose, her tone sharp and filled with agitation.Angela felt a heavy jolt in her heart, and she was bewildered."You were so talented back then. If you had stayed with me and worked diligently under my guidance, your achievements would have rivaled, if not surpassed, Austin's. Do you realize how foolish it
Austin let out a deep sigh, saying nothing more.For the next few days, Genevieve showed no signs of improvement. She remained bedridden, drifting in and out of consciousness. She occasionally murmured in her sleep, making it even more painful for those around her to watch.Angela stayed by her side for two whole days and nights without eating or drinking. She poured all her energy into guilt and self-reproach, unable to understand why she had been so insistent that day.Regret was the only thing left."You should come out and eat something. I'll take over," Austin's deep voice came from outside the room.Angela snapped out of her daze and turned around, locking eyes with his dark gaze.Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "Am I bad?"Austin paused for a moment before a faint smile tugged at his lips. "This isn't your fault. You only did what your heart told you to do."Angela's thoughts were a mess. One moment, she thought of Dexter, and the next, Genevieve. They sto
It felt as if a pair of deadly hands had tightened around Angela's throat, forcing her to confront the deepest and most inescapable fear buried within her heart.Angela kept trying to convince herself that Dexter had changed. He was no longer the same person he used to be. He treated her well now. He had even risked his life for her.She couldn't let her inner demons control her. She had to live in the present instead of allowing herself to be tormented by the shame of the past over and over again."Do you really think he has changed? A person's nature is impossible to change, you fool."A voice echoed in the void, like a mirage of a mountain. Light as a feather yet crushing with the weight of a thousand boulders. It pressed down on Angela's heart, making her tremble."Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaking."I am you," the voice sneered. "A fragment of your consciousness. Your thoughts. Your mind."Angela took two shaky steps back, almost collapsing to the ground. Was she
Angela felt her throat tighten, and a rush of a sweet, metallic taste surged up from it.Genevieve… Her mentor…She had already abandoned Genevieve once, leaving her in despair and on the brink of collapse. Was she now going to let Genevieve pass away with regrets?"You're so selfish." The voice suddenly turned ice-cold. "Genevieve poured her heart and soul into you, gave you everything she had, and even wanted to entrust her life's work—her company—to you."And this is how you repay her? You've pushed her to the brink of death with your own two hands! How powerful and capable are you really?"Shaking her head repeatedly, Angela stepped back in denial. No… She didn't do anything…"You didn't? Where is Ms. Lawson now? How many days does she have left? If it weren't for what you said, would she be like this?"How could you be so selfish? You knew Ms. Lawson wanted you to leave Dexter, but you insisted on staying with him. Are neither Ms. Lawson nor Austin as important to you as th
It felt as if a pair of deadly hands had tightened around Angela's throat, forcing her to confront the deepest and most inescapable fear buried within her heart.Angela kept trying to convince herself that Dexter had changed. He was no longer the same person he used to be. He treated her well now. He had even risked his life for her.She couldn't let her inner demons control her. She had to live in the present instead of allowing herself to be tormented by the shame of the past over and over again."Do you really think he has changed? A person's nature is impossible to change, you fool."A voice echoed in the void, like a mirage of a mountain. Light as a feather yet crushing with the weight of a thousand boulders. It pressed down on Angela's heart, making her tremble."Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaking."I am you," the voice sneered. "A fragment of your consciousness. Your thoughts. Your mind."Angela took two shaky steps back, almost collapsing to the ground. Was she
Austin let out a deep sigh, saying nothing more.For the next few days, Genevieve showed no signs of improvement. She remained bedridden, drifting in and out of consciousness. She occasionally murmured in her sleep, making it even more painful for those around her to watch.Angela stayed by her side for two whole days and nights without eating or drinking. She poured all her energy into guilt and self-reproach, unable to understand why she had been so insistent that day.Regret was the only thing left."You should come out and eat something. I'll take over," Austin's deep voice came from outside the room.Angela snapped out of her daze and turned around, locking eyes with his dark gaze.Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "Am I bad?"Austin paused for a moment before a faint smile tugged at his lips. "This isn't your fault. You only did what your heart told you to do."Angela's thoughts were a mess. One moment, she thought of Dexter, and the next, Genevieve. They sto
Knitting her brows, Angela lowered her head in silence."Angie, I know you're afraid of Austin. He just appears cold on the outside, but when it comes to you, he…" Genevieve suddenly trailed off, as if she had second thoughts.Summoning her courage, Angela piped up, "Ms. Lawson, Dexter has been very good to me lately. We had already decided to start over. I feel—""You've been completely fooled by him. You can't even tell who's truly good to you and who isn't. Don't think I don't know what kind of life you've been living these past few years. If I hadn't found out that you eventually pulled yourself together, I wouldn't have bothered with you anymore!"Genevieve's voice suddenly rose, her tone sharp and filled with agitation.Angela felt a heavy jolt in her heart, and she was bewildered."You were so talented back then. If you had stayed with me and worked diligently under my guidance, your achievements would have rivaled, if not surpassed, Austin's. Do you realize how foolish it
Angela never expected this to happen. Genevieve, her beloved teacher, had now changed beyond recognition overnight. It was as if her soul had been drained away, leaving behind only a mere shell of her old self.Austin rushed over, joining everyone in an attempt to calm Genevieve down. After exhausting all efforts, they eventually called her doctor, Oswald Reid, over to give her a tranquilizer. In the following days, Genevieve's condition was still the same. She drifted in and out of consciousness, and her lucid moments grew shorter with each passing day. However, she regained an unusual surge of clarity on the fourth day. After calling Angela and Austin over, she declared her intention to transfer all shares of Horizon, the brand she had founded during her younger days, to Angela and appoint her as the company's president. Hearing her words, Angela went numb. She rushed to dissuade Genevieve, convinced that she was still in a state of confusion, but Austin stopped her just befor
At night, Genevieve took a sleep-aid medication and fell into a deep slumber. Meanwhile, Austin wandered around the manor with Angela.The courtyard, featuring a garden, lawn, lake, forest, and horse stable, was illuminated by the peaceful light of the stars and moon, creating a dreamy atmosphere. To her surprise, behind the small forest near the horse stable, there was a secluded wooden cabin filled with various painting tools and art supplies.Angela couldn't help but recall the countless times she had casually mentioned that if she ever became wealthy, she would buy a vast manor. Then, she would fill the estate with trees and build a small wooden cabin among the trees, decorating it just the way she had always dreamed. Back then, Angela had still been a somewhat naive woman, indulging in romantic fantasies. However, after going through a difficult marriage and the stress that followed, she had long forgotten her past dreams."Do you like it?" Austin asked.Angela was briefl
Angela couldn't help but feel a bit nervous and uncertain. The last time she had painted was months ago during a livestream session. Though she still remembered what Genevieve and Austin had taught her, she worried that her rusty hands would fail her, earning her a scolding. "Ms. Lawson, what should I paint?" Angela asked as she spread out the canvas and carefully arranged the paints. Genevieve took a small sip of tea, sighing with gentle exasperation. "Why are you still so indecisive? Just paint whatever you feel like. As long as it makes you happy, that's all that matters." Angela shook her head with a wry smile. After that, she began sketching. She was capturing this very moment, with Genevieve sitting by the bed, gazing at her lovingly.Time passed slowly as Angela painted in silence, while Genevieve quietly admired her. She was calm and gentle.On the surveillance feed, Austin watched the scene with a complex expression, feeling conflicted.Elias stared intently at th
Elias and Austin clearly had a good relationship. He was extremely dedicated and responsible.As they reached the upper floor, a loud, furious roar came from the south-facing bedroom. "Get out, all of you! Who are you? Stop staying in my room!"Hearing that voice, Angela couldn't hold back any longer. She started crying again. It was Genevieve's familiar, slightly aged voice.At that moment, two maids rushed out in a panic. A loud thud followed from inside the room as if something had been thrown to the floor.Upon seeing Austin, the maids turned pale with fear, momentarily at a loss for words. After all, they knew that Austin cared deeply for Genevieve and wouldn't allow anyone to mistreat her."You can go now," Austin instructed, waving the two maids away calmly. Then, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.Angela followed closely behind. The moment she entered, her eyes fell on a middle-aged woman crouched in the corner, trembling with fear. She was thin, her hair strea
Austin watched the scene in silence, his expression unreadable. Though he remained indifferent, his fists clenched ever so tightly.Angela walked over, closing the transparent umbrella. "Austin, let's go."Her fingers tightened around the handle, her knuckles pale, and her lips had lost all color. It was an undeniable sign of exhaustion and weakness. "Let's go." Austin reached out to take the umbrella, but she didn't hand it over. Instead, she silently brushed past him and headed toward the airport. A faint pain stirred in his chest as he watched her stubborn figure disappear into the distance. Only now did he truly realize that she was no longer the same person she used to be.After an eight-hour flight, they landed in Yedren. Another exhausting ten-plus hours by car brought them to a remote, almost isolated town on Yedren's border. Unlike Yedren's bustling cities, this place offered beautiful natural landscapes, with mountains on one side and the sea on the other.The to