Sandra's sudden display of affection left Faye somewhat bewildered. Instinctively, she took a couple of steps backward, trying to retract her hand and establish some distance from the elderly woman. Surprisingly, despite appearing to be in her 70s or 80s, Sandra demonstrated considerable strength. She gripped Faye's hand firmly as if holding onto a lifeline. "Layla, you're back ..." Sandra exclaimed with excitement, gripping Faye's hand. With her other trembling hand, she attempted to push aside the veil partially covering Faye's eyes."Mrs. Reed ..." Nadia was also taken aback by Sandra's behavior. She was about to interject when Sandra's daughter-in-law, Yvette, rushed forward. Anxiously, Yvette said, "Mom, you've mistaken her for someone else. This isn't Layla."Yvette held Sandra's hand and gently advised, "Mom, calm down. This young lady is in her early 20s. How could she be Layla?""When Layla left, she looked exactly the same ... Exactly the same ..." Sandra insisted. S
"She's a Jeorgian?" Sandra blinked in disbelief. As her gaze met Faye's again, she realized that her overwhelming yearning for her daughter had led to the mistaken identity. Upon closer inspection, Faye seemed more composed than the young Layla. She seemed a bit less naïve, with a hint of grace replacing some of the softness.Back then, despite Layla's martial training since childhood, she exuded the delicate aura of a pampered young lady due to the excessive protection from the Reed family. In contrast, Faye had experienced more in her upbringing, maintaining an air of elegance and determination beneath her seemingly innocent and romantic exterior.Though their faces bore a striking resemblance, especially the eyes hidden behind the veil, reminiscent of her daughter's younger days, Sandra couldn't shake the feeling that they were entirely different.After deeply observing Faye for a moment, Sandra turned to Nadia. "Is it true? Who is this ..."Sandra had a good impression of Nad
Faye was chatting with Taylor when she heard that Sandra had fainted. Reacting swiftly to the news, Taylor took a few hurried steps, then hesitated. He cast a nervous glance back at Faye and said, "Mrs. Shaw, would you mind accompanying me to check on Grandma?"It wasn't a lack of confidence that held Taylor back. Rather, he possessed an intimate understanding of his grandmother's condition. Being part of a family steeped in medical expertise, they were acutely aware of Sandra's fragile health. Taylor recognized that if a cure existed within his capabilities, Sandra wouldn't be in her current state. Sandra's true ailment, however, was more psychological than physical. Mental distress had taken its toll on her body, exacerbated by the effects of aging, resulting in a myriad of health issues. While Sandra acknowledged her health problems, she refrained from confronting or addressing them. Her situation bore a resemblance to Victor's. Both individuals engaged in self-punishment in th
Exiting from the old lady's room, Faye kept her head down and remained silent. Nadia observed Faye picking up a photo frame and noted her attention to the person captured in the image. Faye was lost in her thoughts, and Nadia hesitated, unsure of what to say.They maintained a quiet demeanor for a while. Eventually, the two made their way to the banquet venue—the first floor of the Reed residence.The hall chosen for the banquet exuded a festive aura with its spacious layout and intricate decorations on both floors. Tables draped in dark tablecloths were laden with an array of drinks, fruits, and snacks. The venue buzzed with a considerable crowd, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.Preferring solitude over crowds, Faye and Nadia sought a quiet corner to settle. Breaking the silence, Nadia said, "Are you thinking about Layla, the talented lady of the Reed family?"Faye nodded slightly, her gaze fixed on Nadia. "Are you well-acquainted with her, Nadia?"Nadia nodded in return
Faye and Nadia sat in a corner for a while, but Nadia was soon approached by a few of her good friends for a conversation.Throughout the years, Nadia had led a reclusive life, primarily spent in a sanatorium. She seldom reached out to the external world, let alone interacting with it. Despite this, her amiable nature forged connections, resulting in a circle of friends.Presently, most of these companions had married into prominent families in Jorn City, ascending to the status of affluent wives. In the past, Nadia had been absent from such gatherings, but this time, being present, her friends were determined not to let her slip away.Concerned that Faye might feel uneasy on her own, Nadia contemplated bringing her along. However, Faye waved it off and said, "You go ahead, sister-in-law. I'll manage on my own for a while."Seeing that Nadia was still concerned, Faye smiled and said, "I have a few friends attending the banquet too. I was planning to seek them out for a chat.""Oh,
"There's only one way for you to get Felton. For now, it might be your best option." A determined voice resonated from the narrow trail outside."Felton has been bedridden for years, and his body has yet to fully recover. This makes him vulnerable. Employing this strategy against him is currently the most efficient approach."Another woman drew in a deep breath. She nodded and said, "Alright, I'll trust you. Lead the way.""Let me be clear, Blake. I'm confiding in you and bringing you here because I value our friendship. If anyone asks about this, you must not reveal that I brought you."Blake said, "Don't worry, I'll claim I stumbled upon it during a casual walk. Your secret is safe with me.""When we return, I'll assist you in obtaining what you desire. A mix of pride and satisfaction appeared on Blake's face, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor around Felton.The other woman nodded. "The banquet is about to start. Let's go inside."With a key, she unlocked the tightly
"What are you looking at?" Cedric arrived fashionably late and discovered Faye standing alone on the balcony, peering below. Approaching quietly from behind, he embraced her, his voice casting a magnetic spell.Faye nestled into Cedric's arms and said leisurely, "Just intrigued by my dear friend's activities down there."From the balcony, Cedric spotted a figure in a white suit, bowing and conversing with a man in a gray shirt. From Cedric's position, he could not see the man in pink."Your friend is quite skillful," Cedric remarked with a smile.Faye nodded knowingly. "And who's the hero coming to her rescue?""The second son of the Garcia family, ranked third among Jorn City's four major families. He's Lukas's elder brother.""Ah, that clarifies it," she thought. Faye rubbed her chin and contemplated whether to inquire about the man in pink from Cedric. However, he vanished from view.Recalling the earlier encounter on the Reed family's mountain, she couldn't help but wonder
Faye had foreseen that Felton might encounter difficulties sooner or later. However, with Cedric's arrival, she momentarily overlooked checking on Felton. When she noticed Karston guiding her toward a lounge beside the hall, she sensed something significant had occurred.Sure enough, Karston led Faye to a quiet room where Felton lay unconscious on the bed. Without uttering a word, Faye approached Felton and checked his condition, her expression quickly darkening."When did he lose consciousness?" Faye asked Karston."It happened about half an hour ago. He sent me a message asking me to find him in the back lounge," Karston explained. "I had some business to attend to and reported to Roy. When I saw the message, I hurried over."The numerous lounges made it challenging for Karston to pinpoint Felton's location. Attempts to call him were fruitless as his phone was turned off. Karston had to search room by room until he discovered Felton, eyes closed in a deep slumber.Initially, Kar
Official Hart was well aware that if he indeed went to Pembrook, he couldn't successfully assume the role of the leader without the support of the security team. It wasn't that he underestimated himself, but Pembrook was a peculiar city. Ordinary officials who went there could only be puppets. Even those who thought they had some capabilities, like the previous mayor who attempted to overthrow the security team, faced a tremendously tragic fate. His attempt to gain full control over Pembrook doomed his political career and might even cost him his life. Official Hart didn't want to be a puppet, and he certainly didn't want to lose his life. Going to Pembrook was about enhancing his qualifications to open up more opportunities. In simpler terms, it was about building his portfolio.To go to Pembrook, he must have a good relationship with the security team. Now that the captain of the Pembrook Security team had actively approached him, he had nothing to lose. However, Official
Faye had made arrangements for Jeorgia, while Cedric started an investigation into what the Anderson and Garcia families were doing. Faye knew that this was a trap and that nothing happened by coincidence. However, she didn't know what the culprit's motive was. She didn't have to wait for long because she received a phone call from Tracy later that afternoon. "Faye, you could've come at me if you were upset. Why did you target Grandma? She treated you well, yet you killed her over such trivial matters. Are you even human?"Faye smirked. "Since when do you care about her, Tracy?""What are you talking about? That's our grandmother. You did this, didn't you?""Would you believe me if I said I didn't do it?" Faye sneered. "Don't think that you can do anything you want just because you married someone rich. Faye, don't even dream of getting your murderer of a mother out! I won't let you. You better come back to Jeorgia, or this won't ever be over."With that, Tracy hung up.
Clark's words only enraged Flora. Eleanor abused Faye when she was a child, which led to Faye getting sick repeatedly. She even allowed Lizzie to go into their home to poison Faye while Flora was at work. Faye suffered through so much hardship at the time and came close to dying. She was already poisoned when she was pregnant with Faye, which meant Faye was born with poison in her body. Though Flora tried her best to counter the poison, Faye was still more frail than ordinary children. Eleanor knew that Faye wasn't Clint's child, so she had always been displeased with her. "Had I known that she's the kind of person who can harm a child, I would never leave Faye with her." Rage filled Flora's eyes. Just as she was about to leave, Eleanor started coughing on the bed. Clark shouted and ran outside to get the doctor. Until the doctor arrived, there were two minutes when Flora was alone with Eleanor. It wasn't until the doctor arrived that Flora found out Clark didn't even
Lizzie and Clint were momentarily stunned, confused by Tracy's words. "I just received a call from Uncle. He said that Grandma passed away and we need to go home."Clint jolted and collapsed onto the ground. "What?"Tracy smirked. "They can't reach you or Mom, so he called me instead. We need to go home right now.""Ha! So what if she's dead? She doesn't see us as family, so why should we go back?" Lizzie scoffed in contempt. Eleanor disliked her right from the start. If Eleanor didn't stop her from marrying Clint at the very beginning, Flora would have never gotten married to Clint. Though Eleanor helped get rid of Flora in the end, she continued to mistreat Lizzie when she finally married Clint. Eleanor resented Flora for being too strong-willed and disrespectful. However, she looked down on Lizzie for not being as talented as Flora and incapable of bringing more profit to the Brown family. She kept comparing Lizzie to Flora and bossed her around. Lizzie remained patie
"Damn it! Damn it! It has to be Faye! This has to be her doing. Damn it!" Tracy pushed everything on the table to the ground. Her face twisted viciously with anger. Over the past few days, scandals about her have circulated on the internet. Even information about her age when she started sleeping around and the number of men she slept with for money was released. Evidence of her plotting to steal Anthon away and bring down the Lynch family was released as well. On top of that, there was also information about her working with her mother to chase Flora out and claim Brown Corporation as their own. Every misdeed Tracy had ever committed was exposed before the public's eyes. She became the target of all condemnation. There would be different people gathering near their apartment. As soon as they stepped out of the apartment, they would get beaten. The horrible things that Clint and Lizzie did were later released onto the internet as well. The family of three couldn't even get
Monica suffered from severe depression ever since she married Ethan. She was a strong-willed woman who refused to show any weakness. Even when she was hurt, she would suffer alone and kept giving, not asking for anything in return. Ethan married her but didn't love her. On top of that, he picked on her at every turn and gave her the cold shoulder. She began to get depressed a year after marrying him. With her friend's help, she started treatment. However, the treatment process was painful. Throughout the three years she was married to Ethan, she endured his humiliation without rest, which made recovering much harder. One day, she went to the beach and came close to getting washed away. It was Brody who saved her. Brody went there to look for inspiration for his paintings. When he saw Monica, he was sitting afar and drawing. This painting won Brody countless awards. Just as he was about to leave, there was a high tide, and Monica came close to getting washed away.
Ethan sent the photos and returned to his apartment to wait while drinking. Due to the interview that took place at noon, Ethan's divorce stirred up a storm on Facebook. At the moment, he didn't need to pay to obtain attention. After Tracy declared her innocence, everyone considered Ethan a jerk who heartlessly searched for an excuse to divorce Monica. Ethan waited an hour before releasing the photos. Everyone switched from cursing at him to cursing at him and Tracy. This was not what he expected. He gritted his teeth. Just as he contemplated how to deal with this, he received a bunch of photos. Apart from the intimate photos between him and Tracy, there were ones of Tracy with other men as well. There was even proof that Tracy got an abortion when she was still a teenager. Going through everything, he finally realized how wrong he had been. He misjudged Tracy and recklessly divorced Monica. He didn't love Monica and resented her for forcing him to marry her. Howeve
"You look alright. Who would have thought you are the kind of man who would cheat on your wife?" Eleanor didn't mince her words and immediately kept her distance. Mandy smiled. "Tracy, look at what you've done to your boyfriend.""She stole Faye's boyfriend and sent Anthon's family to prison. Now, she's here destroying Mr. Garcia's family. He lost everything because of her. How interesting," Clark chimed in. He still remembered how Tracy insulted him when he tried to ask Ethan for money. He held a grudge. Tracy's expression darkened. She wanted to run, but the reporters had directed their microphones at her. "Miss, why did you choose to be a homewrecker?""Did you know that Mr. Garcia got a divorce because of you?""Do you know how he got to where he is now? It's because of the alliance he formed with the Dalding family through marriage. Without the Dalding family's help, he may have nothing. Will you still love him even if that's the case?"These questions were confrontati
Faye learned about the Brown family being taken to the police station the following morning. Just as she got up, she received a call from the police station informing her that her relatives had been detained due to a brawl. She was urged to head over to mediate the fight. Faye smiled. "I'm sorry, but they are not my relatives. Please handle it according to the law." After hanging up, she looked at Cedric, who was waiting for breakfast. She hugged him from behind and said with a smile, "Guess what interesting scene I witnessed last night?"Cedric turned his head to study the triumphant look on her face. He smiled. "Why don't you tell me?""Ethan and Tracy were caught in bed together. Didn't you know?""I knew." He pinched her face. "I was the one who asked Monica to go over."Faye rolled her eyes and pouted, losing her interest in the matter. "Why are you asking me if you already knew everything?""You saw it with your own eyes, and I'm just guessing. I prefer to hear it from