Vicky was at a loss for words and could only reply, [I guess... I will start over.]Lincoln, who rarely asked so many questions, acted strangely and continued. [How will you start over?]Vicky considered for a moment and typed. [I haven't been able to relax in the past few years, so I think I'll travel around for a while and open a new fashion studio.][Where would you like to go traveling?]Vicky scowled at the sight of this message. After all, she was hardly in the mood to think when it was not certain if she could leave.[I haven't thought of that.] She replied.[Think about it, and I will take you wherever you want to go.] He typed.As Vicky looked at the text on her phone, she trembled slightly and wondered if she understood him. [You mean...you can take me away from here?] She responded.[Yes.][When can I leave, then?][When you have decided where you want to go.]'So I guess Lincoln is asking me these things again to confirm if I still want to leave,' she thought. 'T
Smack! The woman's heavy slap knocked the young lady in front of her to the ground.The young woman, pampered and held in high regard since childhood, had never been struck before. She was stunned for a few seconds before bursting into anger.She covered her swollen cheek and shouted, "How dare you hit me? Do you have a death wish?! Do you know who I am? I can make your life hell here in Zendonia!"This young lady was from the Sackfield family, a family of jewelry merchants with considerable influence and wealth that rivaled that of the Shaws before their downfall.However, Miss Sackfield was far less attractive and talented than Vicky and Gloria, so she had far fewer pursuers compared to them. As long as two Shaw ladies were around, other women paled in comparison.Despite their popularity, both Vicky and Gloria unequivocally rejected all their pursuers, which only fuelled the hatred of many affluent young ladies toward them.When the Shaws had gone bankrupt and fallen into ruin
However, before she could even get any closer to Vicky, the woman beside her stopped her and kicked her calf, which sent Miss Sackfield instantly collapsing onto the ground."Now, apologize to Ms. Shaw," the woman said.Unable to accept she could not torture Vicky and even had to apologize for it, Miss Sackfield glared at the two and hissed, "The two of you are going to die for this!"The woman sneered contemptuously. "You won't apologize, huh? Well, just remember that you brought this on yourself." The woman seemed to be trained in martial arts, and all of Miss Sackfield's struggles were nothing but a joke. She swiftly kicked Miss Sackfield down to the ground once again.In the minute that followed, Vicky witnessed what a true beating was. Miss Sackfield, who was severely beaten, finally caved."Vicky, I'm sorry..."The other young ladies shivered and apologized as well.After everything was over, the woman smiled at Vicky and turned to leave.Vicky called out, "Miss, please
The woman was convincing, and Vicky eventually accepted the business card with the mysterious man's number on it.Despite that, she did not call him, nor had he reached out to her demanding anything.With that, Vicky managed to live a rather peaceful life for some time until one day, she met Tyler and his rumored fiance, Sheila.At the time, Gloria left Zendonia because of what happened between Vicky and Tyler.With the Shaws' fall and Harvey sent to prison, everything seemed to have ended.It had been some time since she last saw Tyler, but rumors about him never ceased.She heard that Tyler met a talented pianist and fell in love. The magazines would publish photos of them seen together in different restaurants every other day.Sheila was a celebrity, and with the boost of rumors and the support of Tyler's resources, she became even more popular.Vicky knew deep down that what happened some time ago was just a game played by Tyler to retaliate against Harvey, with her as noth
Vicky looked away and took a deep breath. "My manager didn't inform me about this... Do you mind if I call her to double-check?"Sheila smiled. "Of course."Vicky went to the kitchen with her phone, and the new female manager quickly answered her."Vicky, what's wrong?""Chelsea, I've reached the client's house, and upon confirming some details with her, she mentioned that she ordered another set of clothes for a male customer as well, but none of the documents I have indicate this..."Chelsea swiftly interrupted her and said, "The client did order two sets of clothes, one for a woman, and another for a man... Did Yuna not tell you this?" Chelsea sighed. "She's so forgetful. Miss Young is supposed to be Yuna's client, but she suddenly has a fever..." She paused and continued, "Vicky, Miss Young is a really important client, and I can't just send anyone over. I trust you, and that's why I handed this job to you. I know you're not good with designing clothes for men, so you only nee
"If you don't want to see me, I can leave now," Vicky declared.As Tyler's dark eyes reflected her panicked face, he sneered. "Vicky, you're becoming quite skilled at playing hard to get, aren't you?"As his handsome face drew closer, Vicky grew even more flustered.'How can he do this in his new girlfriend's home? Isn't he afraid Sheila will see us?' Vicky thought."Tyler Hart, let go of me." Vicky lowered her voice, trying to look level-headed. "If you don't release me, I'll call for help.""Call for help?" Tyler laughed at her threat. "Go ahead. Let's see if Sheila will believe you or me."Vicky's eyes widened in shock. "Tyler Hart, you have no shame!"Tyler remained indifferent. "And I am capable of even more. Do you want to find out?"A sense of unease arose in Vicky's heart; she instantly lost all reservation and shouted, "Miss Youn—mph!"Before she could finish her sentence, Vicky was abruptly silenced by a kiss.She instantly froze, but she regained her senses and rai
Sheila frowned. "Tyler is always busy, and his schedule is often packed. He only managed to free up today, and I don't know when he'll be free again." She looked at Vicky and said, "I don't think the costume can be made in time for the party if we wait. Ms. Shaw, this is my first gift for Tyler, so please bear with me." She paused for a moment and added, "I will pay you double for this.""..." Vicky fell into silence, knowing she would be rude to insist on leaving.After all, the shop did accept the order, and Vicky was supposed to fulfill her duty even if Sheila did not offer to pay double.This was her job, and Vicky knew she could not act on impulse.Half an hour later, Tyler stepped downstairs elegantly and Sheila stood up to approach him with a smile. "Are you done with work, Tyler?""Yeah.""If that's the case, let Ms. Shaw here take your measurement. She's been waiting here for some time."Tyler glanced coldly at Vicky as if she was merely a stranger. "Let's get started t
Considering Tyler's looks and status, Sheila should be wary of any woman approaching him…yet she showed no sign of concern.'Is she that confident about herself?' Vicky thought in confusion but heeded Sheila's wishes to confirm Tyler's measurement once again.Once the measurements were taken and confirmed, Vicky said to Sheila, "Do you have any other requests, Miss Young?"Sheila shook her head smilingly. "Not for now. I'll contact you if I need anything.""Sure."With that, Vicky left....Upon returning to the company, Vicky handed over the documents to Chelsea. "Chelsea, these are Miss Young's requirements and measurements. You can give them to Yuna to handle."Chelsea, an intellectual woman in her forties, took the documents from Vicky and glanced at them. Adjusting her glasses, Chelsea spoke gently, "Miss Young called me just now and expressed her satisfaction with your attitude. She wants you to handle this order."Vicky froze, and she instinctively refused, "But I'm rel
[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