After the shower, Vicky changed into a fresh change of clothes and went downstairs for dinner.It was eight at night after they finished dinner, and Tyler finally spoke of what Vicky had been waiting for. "I will accept hypnosis."His compromise did not surprise Vicky as it was a result she achieved by threatening to take her life."When can we start?" she asked."It's up to you."She glanced at the time. "Today, then."He frowned. "Why the hurry?"She chuckled. "I don't want you changing your mind again if we wait any longer."He fell into silence for a long while before saying, "Alright."She stood up. "I will make a few phone calls to arrange it."Tyler did not stop her.Caught between divorce and hypnosis, he chose the second option despite knowing there was not much difference between the two. Still, being with her for an extra day, even an extra second, was all that mattered.After about 10 minutes, Vicky approached. "The hypnotist will be here in half an hour.""Her
Vicky closed her eyes and listened to the clock ticking in the quiet living room.It was so quiet around her that she could hear her heartbeat. Her mind drifted as she sat still, dazed and numb.Sometime later, someone stood before her, and she snapped out of her daydream.She slowly looked up and met a familiar face.Tyler stared at her intently. "If you don't truly want me to forget everything, why would you insist on leaving me?"She sobered. "Y—You didn't forget?""No.""But you went in for hypnosis, right? Why are you out so soon?" Vicky questioned.Tyler gazed at her intently. "Three hours have passed; is that considered soon?"Vicky glanced at the time and indeed realized that three hours had passed. At this moment, three doctors emerged from the hypnosis room, and they looked exhausted."What happened?" Vicky asked.Seemingly worn out, Samantha's voice sounded weak. "It didn't work.""Why?"Samantha looked at Tyler and let out a sigh. "Mister Hart has a strong will
Tyler's expression remained as cold and distant as ever. A faint trace of weariness filled his face, and he did not immediately come to her as he did after the previous session. He did not even spare her a second glance as he passed by her side.Vicky could not help but stand up. "Tyler."Tyler's footsteps faltered, and he slowly turned to look at her. His gaze seemed aloof, and the gaze he fixed upon her held no trace of gentleness or affection."Who are you?"Vicky was taken aback. "You...don't remember me?"Tyler's brow furrowed, and he scanned her. "Do we know each other?"Upon hearing his words, Vicky's voice failed her.As she stared at him blankly in silence, Tyler seemed to grow impatient."Do we know each other?" He repeated, his tone icy and devoid of emotion.At that moment, Vicky suddenly recalled Tyler's words.'Vicky, do you want me to forget you that badly? We'd be strangers if I forgot all about you.'Indeed, they had become strangers.The gaze he fixed on h
"You're severing ties to protect your individual futures, right?" Saul smiled.Vicky's expression was aloof, and she remained silent."Old Mister Hart and I go back a long way," Saul remarked casually as he sipped his water. "I've been retired for many years now. I wouldn't have come if that wasn't the case."Vicky was not particularly surprised by that.Saul continued, "This time, it took a significant price to persuade me... We made an agreement back then. After I conducted one hypnosis session for him, we'll never have any contact again.""For him?" Vicky finally regained her focus. "Old Mister Hart also underwent hypnosis?"Saul did not answer the question directly. Lost in reminiscence, a hint of melancholy emerged in his eyes. "In his younger days, he had a childhood friend he grew up with... Everyone thought they'd get married, and even he himself wished for that. That's when the temptation of inheriting the Hart family hit him. You can't have the best of both worlds. At t
"And what did you say to him?""I told him that this was a marriage of convenience. You never met, and the wedding photos were all edited. Now that the contract has ended, it's time to get a divorce.""He believed that?""Of course."Vicky fell silent for a few moments and said, "When is he leaving?""Tomorrow."'Tomorrow?' she thought. 'That soon?'She knew Old Mister Hart must have had everything arranged, including the 'contract for the marriage of convenience'. On top of that, he must have erased all traces of their relationship.She felt empty. It felt like she had lost something important.Old Mister Hart stared at her intently. "Ms. Shaw, I trust you'll handle your friends, so I will stay out of that. I do not want Tyler to come to me one day, asking who you were to him."Her heart dropped at the realization it was a warning. "I know. I chose this, so I won't regret it."Old Mister Hart smiled. "I'll get going, then."Vicky did not respond, and Old Mister Hart simply
Vicky did not know what happened between Jennifer and Anthony, but she assumed Lily must have had something to do with it.Since Anthony came with a gift, Vicky could not chase him out. Thus, she invited him in.The restaurant was reserved, and everyone was chatting and laughing in the hall.As soon as he entered, Anthony walked over to Jennifer. "Jennifer."Jennifer was about to play with the cat Noah was holding when she heard Anthony's voice."Do you like cats? How about I buy you one?"Jennifer turned around, and her expression hardened. "It's fine. I like Noah's cat."Anthony shot Noah a sidelong glance upon hearing her words.Noah felt a chill run down his spine. It was a familiar yet dangerous sensation that enveloped him.He had not forgotten how Anthony tarnished his reputation when he posed as Jennifer's boyfriend.'Good god. Just as Tyler left, here came Anthony. Fate is truly cruel to me!' he whined inwardly.Noah did not want to fall victim to Anthony's schemes,
'Avery Yeager?! Tyler is engaged to Avery Yeager?'"It is reported that Avery is the only daughter of the Yeager family. Credible sources say the coming-together of the two families will be the business alliance of the century…"The newscaster praised Tyler and Avery, using words such as 'match made in heaven', 'power couple', 'manifestation of perfection', and so on.It was all too much, so Vicky stopped listening to it.…Time flew, and three years had passed since Tyler and Avery got engaged. There was no longer any news of Tyler or Hart Corporation. To the Hart family, Hart Corporation was just a springboard for expansion since their real sphere of influence was still in Molivia.Over the years, Vicky's studio had grown bigger and became one of the top fashion studios in Zendonia. Her previously empty studio was filled to the brim with employees. Both Jennifer and Cece, who after all the experience they had gained, had become C-suite managers.After Tyler got engaged, Vicky
'Chris is right; Tyler and I are over. I shouldn't get so hung up on who he's marrying…' thought Vicky.After that, she never asked about Tyler anymore.The people around her tacitly agreed to never bring him up ever again. It was like Tyler never existed.…The plane slowly landed at Molivia's airport. Vicky and Jennifer walked out of the plane while chatting."It's a pity Cece still has to work. She could've come to the fashion expo with us!"Vicky smiled. "She's been acting very weird lately. Do you think it's 'cause she got a boyfriend?""I'm not sure. But if she did, good for her! My family's been driving me crazy by kicking up a fuss of how I should be married by my age, all that nonsense," said Jennifer, massaging her temples and sighing helplessly.The past four years left no mark on the two women. Compared to before, Jennifer carried herself more confidently like a fully bloomed rose. She was in the best years of her life.Vicky, too, only became even more beautiful w