Vicky's eyes widened as she quickly turned on the bedside lamp. As the light illuminated the room, she also caught a strong scent of alcohol.Once she saw who barged into her room, Vicky's face turned pale with anger."Tyler, how did you get in?!" she exclaimed.She locked the door before going to sleep, yet he somehow managed to enter her room.'He hasn't changed one bit. He still treats me with disregard and bullied me, just like before,' she growled mentally."How did I get in, you ask?" The man pocketed the key he held in his hand. "Naturally...I walked in."He seemed to have consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, and with his approach, the scent of alcohol in the air grew stronger.The dim bedside lamp reflected off his unfocused eyes. His voice remained cold, but there was lethargy to it that was not usually present.Tyler quickly approached her bedside, his tall and sturdy body pressing down heavily on her, before leaning in and starting to kiss her. After a while, h
Vicky chuckled lightly, her gaze icy and condescending. "After Cece and Jennifer left Zendonia, you realized there was nothing left to threaten me with, so you joined forces with the Harrisons to put up a whole act to toy with my feelings. They won me over, and you proceeded to use the Harrisons to manipulate and control me..."Tyler's gaze flickered, and he fell silent. Vicky knew she was right. She had no weakness left, but he could create one for her. If it were not for the security guard assuming she was late that day and letting her in without informing anyone, no one knew how much longer she would have been deceived.The guilt she felt for being involved with the Harrisons seemed laughable at this point, especially after she went to the lengths to agree to Tyler's demands for the sake of the Harrisons.Had she remained in the dark, Tyler would continue to use the Harrisons to pressure her, forcing her to comply with unreasonable requests."Tyler, your world consists of nothin
Tyler refused to let go of the past yet also refused to release her and begin a new life, so Vicky could not help but wonder if he enjoyed the torture.Tyler's gaze flickered slightly, and he remained silent for a long time.Just when Vicky thought he did not even know what he wanted, Tyler finally spoke. "Let's...give it another try.""Why? So that you can dump me again once you get tired of it?""That won't happen this time."Vicky laughed, but there was no trace of amusement in her eyes. "I won't trust you again, and I don't want to be with you anymore.""Is it because of Lincoln?""Tyler, whenever something doesn't turn out the way you want it to, you always think it's someone else's fault and never consider your mistakes. Just look at what you're saying now... Is there even a moment when you feel like you've done wrong?" Vicky asked, her tone affirmative as she knew Tyler too well.For Tyler, as long as it was something he wanted to do, even if it meant resorting to any me
Vicky was stunned in disbelief at the fact that Tyler actually compromised and wondered if he would return to her room in a while.The door to her bedroom closed, and silence loomed over the space once again.Vicky remained seated on the bed for a long while after that, but there were no other noises, indicating that Tyler was truly gone....The next day, after finishing her morning routine, Vicky went to Lincoln's room.Lincoln was already awake and smiled as she entered. "Vicky, did you rest well yesterday?"Vicky absentmindedly nodded. "I'm fine."In truth, she did not sleep too well.After Tyler left last night, she could not fall asleep, worrying that he might come into her room under the influence of alcohol. However, her worries were unfounded as the night remained peaceful.Naturally, Vicky did not mention any of this to Lincoln and asked, "Since you're injured, it's best to eat something light. Do you have any dietary restrictions? I'll inform the kitchen."Lincoln
Vicky sneered. "Well, it's all thanks to you that I have the chance to flirt around and strengthen my bond with Lincoln, won't you say?""..." Tyler was instantly rendered speechless.Vicky looked away and started preparing the meal. Tyler, on the other hand, stood quietly behind her, his gaze piercing. She could feel his gaze on her without turning around.Vicky trembled slightly. Tyler had traumatized her so much that she felt overwhelmed by anxiety whenever he looked at her.She forced her composure and continued to wash the ingredients."Vicky," a deep, melodious voice suddenly sounded after what felt like an eternity. "Go rest. I'll take care of it."Vicky's eyebrows twitched. "What did you say?""Didn't you say you were preparing breakfast for Lincoln? I'll handle it," Tyler replied.Vicky repeated in a daze, "You'll handle it?"Tyler pushed her aside. "I'm the one who injured him, so I'll take responsibility for it."The fact that he even acknowledged that he injured s
With that, Lincoln picked up the spoon and scooped a spoonful of soup into his mouth.Vicky stared intently at Lincoln's expression. "How does it taste? Do you feel any discomfort?"Lincoln gave Vicky a curious look. "It's delicious, and I feel fine."Vicky's worry remained. "Really? You're not lying to me, are you?""Of course not," Lincoln replied, puzzled. "Vicky, what's wrong with you?""It's nothing." Vicky's gaze flickered. "I was just worried...that it might not suit your taste."Vicky did not quite believe that Tyler would be so kind and tasted the soup before serving it to Lincoln.She did not notice anything unusual but was still worried that Tyler might have added something that Lincoln could be allergic to. The truth, however, proved that she was overly suspicious."It's delicious." Lincoln's voice was warm. "This is the best breakfast I've ever had."As Vicky looked at Lincoln's face glittered with bruises, she ultimately chose not to reveal the truth, knowing tha
Tyler sneered. "Once the Yeagers get here, arrange for them to stay with Old Mister Hart. Also...""Do you need anything else?" Harry asked."Prepare some relaxant for me."Harry was taken aback and asked, "Are you suffering from insomnia again, Mister Hart?""It's not for me," replied Tyler casually. "Also, find me some sort of toxin that's hard to detect. It'll be ideal if it can cause inflammation on someone's face that can't be healed. I need it to destroy someone's face, if possible."Harry took a moment to digest what had been said. His voice trembled as he asked, "Mister Hart, are you planning to use these things...on Miss Shaw?"'If that's the case, it'd truly be insane and cruel,' Harry added inwardly.Tyler's gaze flickered, and he met Harry's terrified gaze.Originally, he prepared these things to be used on Lincoln, but he was inspired by Harry's question.Even if he did not have to compete with Lincoln over Vicky, Harvey, Alex, and many other men were out there. H
The caregiver was professional, so Vicky did not suspect her explanation.Due to the rest Lincoln had been getting, his wounds began to heal rapidly.One day, Vicky saw Angela going down the stairs to cook lunch and realized that Lincoln was probably awake, so she decided to check on him.In recent times, Lincoln would often be in deep sleep whenever she went to see him, so she had not been able to speak with him.Vicky knocked on the door and went inside with Lincoln's permission."Vicky." Lincoln beamed when he saw Vicky. "You're here."Vicky nodded and was about to say something when Lincoln's phone rang.He glanced at the screen of his phone and his expression darkened.With another glance at Vicky, Lincoln answered the call. "Mother."On the other end of the phone, Valencia's worried voice came through. "Lincoln, where have you been all these days? You didn't come home, and you didn't answer the phone. I was so worried that I thought something happened to you. I even cons
[Alright.]Aurora sighed in relief. "Vicky, we've been out for quite a while. Shall we head back?"Vicky glanced at Aurora. "Can we finally go back now?""Yes, we can go back... Huh?" Aurora sensed something was amiss. "Vicky, do you...know something?"Vicky smiled. "Every time I go out with friends, Tyler always bombards me with questions about when I'll be back and insists on picking me up. Strangely, he didn't ask me anything today. Also... I remember that it's my birthday today."Aurora was left speechless as she realized Vicky saw right through her act....By the time they got home, it was starting to get dark outside. Inside the mansion, it was quiet and pitch-black. Suddenly, a warm, yellow candlelight gradually illuminated the darkness, revealing a handsome face."Happy birthday, Vicky," Tyler said.Vicky gazed at the flickering candles, feeling a bit dazed.It was then she remembered that during the early days of their relationship, he had prepared a birthday surpri
Tyler showed great disdain when his wish of getting a daughter was let down. What irritated him most was that this son looked remarkably like him.After recovering from childbirth, Vicky accompanied a newly pregnant Aurora on a shopping trip for baby supplies.Upon hearing Vicky's story, Aurora could not help but ask, "Men are usually happy when they have sons, so why does Tyler prefer daughters?"Vicky sighed. "Tyler says that a family is never really balanced and happy unless they have one son and one daughter."Aurora nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Now that you have a son, having a daughter would be perfect. Vicky, have you and Tyler considered responding to the national call and having a third child?"Vicky shook her head. "The last time I gave birth, Tyler wasn't around, so he doesn't know what it was like. This time, he was scared out of his wits and had no intention of having more children. A few days ago, he even underwent a vasectomy."Aurora chuckled. "Daughters may be s
However, everything spiraled out of control.Tyler knew his behavior was despicable, but he could not control his emotions.When he loved, every cell within him longed for her. Every time he came to see her, he told himself it would be the last time. However, he found himself appearing at her house more and more frequently.Tyler knew he was in trouble, and it would not be long before he returned to his former self.Vicky was like a drug to him. Even though he knew that contact with her was toxic, he could not bring himself to let go.He knew she was pregnant with his child, and his most primal desires began to surge, making it impossible for him to resist the urge to make her stay.Vicky listened quietly to his confession, and her heart ached.She could not fight off the urge to hold him; her touch was firm and comforting.He only mentioned a few words about the time he regained consciousness, but Vicky knew he had endured a lot of pain. The fact that he was alive was a miracl
Tyler's lips quivered as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he fell silent.What was there to say? It was not like he could apologize. The deed had been done, and his apology would not mean anything. Besides, he had no regrets whatsoever.Vicky stared at him. "You tampered with the surveillance, didn't you?""Yes.""And the servants and nannies. They're all under your control, right?"Tyler lowered his gaze. "Yes."Since all of this was real and not a dream, she must have been unconscious when Tyler returned. No matter how soundly she slept, she should have felt something. Since she had to take care of Lufian, she came home every day for meals, so she guessed that something was added to her food.For the past few days, she pretended to eat at home while secretly disposing of her meals. As it turned out, her suspicions were correct.Vicky repeated the question she asked before. "Why didn't you come to me?"Tyler remained silent once again."Did you come here just t
"Are you planning to leave just like that?"The man's body tensed.Click! The desk lamp was turned on, its warm, amber light illuminating the darkness."Why won't you look at me? Are you brave enough to do it but not to admit it?" echoed Vicky's gentle voice.Tyler snapped out of it and instinctively pulled his hand away from hers, ready to escape, only for Vicky's next words to pin him in place."If you leave now, I'll get rid of the baby in me tomorrow."He swiftly froze in place and turned back to her. "What did you just say?"Even though she prepared herself mentally, seeing the shock on his face made Vicky's eyes widen in shock. In an instant, her eyes welled up with tears. "You..."As Tyler met the shock in her eyes, he came to a sudden realization and turned his face away, looking anywhere but at her.When she learned about her pregnancy and knew she had not been dreaming, Vicky had a hunch about who it was that came and went freely into her home. The only one capable o
Vicky began to feel increasingly uneasy. She was pregnant without even knowing who the father was. That had to be one of the most absurd jokes in the world.Aurora, Noah, and the others were bewildered.They knew Vicky's character well, and she was not the type to casually sleep around. Besides, she still had feelings for Tyler, so she would never sleep with another man.Getting drunk was even more out of the question. After all, she was either working or taking care of her child. She had neither the time nor the inclination to go out drinking.Even Vicky herself was bewildered, and her thoughts were in disarray. "I... I don't know."The others exchanged glances, all noticing that Vicky's first instinct was not to terminate the pregnancy."Vicky, go home and think it over carefully. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call us," Aurora said gently.Vicky nodded absently.Back at home, Vicky reviewed the surveillance footage once more.She had watched it numerous times, but
Just then, a dish that Vicky usually enjoyed was brought to the table by the waiter.The aroma filled the air, but Vicky paled instantly. Before anyone could react, she retched and rushed to the bathroom.Everyone exchanged puzzled glances.Cece blinked. "What's wrong with Vicky?"Jennifer furrowed her brow. "Vicky doesn't look well. Is she ill?"The concerned Aurora chimed in, "Ever since Tyler's disappearance, Vicky hasn't been in the best mood. She even suffered from postpartum depression. Let's take her to the hospital after dinner. We can't afford for her to fall ill again."Everyone assumed that something was physically wrong with Vicky, but Noah, who remained silent, spoke up."I remember when Vicky was pregnant last time... She seemed to be very sensitive to certain smells."All eyes turned to Noah.Jennifer's eyes widened. "What are you trying to say, Noah?! You don't mean to suggest that...Vicky might be pregnant, do you?"Under the curious gazes of everyone, Noah c
As Anthony and Jennifer grew up in Lovian, and their families had deep roots there, they had to stay at Lovian as well. However, whenever they had free time, Jennifer often returned to Stoneford City to meet her friends for gatherings and meals.Vicky's birthday was approaching in a few days, and Jennifer came back early for the occasion.Lufian, on the other hand, became the darling of the group, and everyone loved him. Thus, one of the highlights of visiting Zendonia was to see Lufian.On this day, Vicky had some free time and decided to go to the airport to fetch Jennifer.Harvey held Lufian and walked out of Vicky's mansion.He had also come back early to celebrate Vicky's birthday. Like everyone else, he adored Lufian. His priority the moment he returned was to see Lufian, even though Lufian resembled Tyler most uncannily.Harvey carried Lufian and settled into the back seat, preparing to bond with him during the ride. Vicky sat in the driver's seat.Just as they were about
"Lufian is usually very well-behaved. He doesn't cause a fuss and is easy to handle.""Is his name Lufian?""That's right. Lufian Hart."Gloria's gaze flickered briefly but quickly returned to normal. "Have you given him a nickname?""Not yet," Vicky replied.Gloria did not say anything further.After playing with the child for a while, she carefully placed the necklace she had prepared around Lufian's neck.The baby played for a while and soon fell asleep.Gloria then gently returned Lufian to his stroller.Leaving the nursery, Vicky and Gloria engaged in casual conversation. They had no deep-seated grudges, and over time, their past love and hatred gradually faded away.Vicky smiled and remarked, "You seem to really like children. How about having one yourself? A kid would make a good companion for Lufian.""I'd like to, but I haven't found the right person," Gloria lamented.Gloria had been single for years. It was not because she could not forget Tyler or was waiting fo