'Tyler's right. What am I trying to convey? Whether it was consensual or not, the deed has been done. If I truly found it unacceptable, I can just report it to the authorities. Why go through the trouble of explaining myself to someone who could be considered a perpetrator?' she thought. 'Do I still harbor some unrealistic fantasy about him?'At that moment, the abrupt ringing of a phone shattered the silence.Tyler picked up the phone and glanced at it. His gaze deepened before he answered. "Avery."Hearing Avery's name, Vicky's blood ran cold."Tyler, what were you doing last night? Why didn't you answer my calls?" came Avery's sweet, teasing voice from the other end of the phone."I was at a banquet last night and had a bit too much to drink." Tyler's voice remained slow and melodious."You scared me. I thought something happened to you.""I'm fine. There's no need to worry.""Tyler, I've booked a flight for this afternoon. I'll be in Stoneford City tomorrow to be with you."
Vicky stilled. "Is there something else you need, Mister Hart?"He handed her a check. "This is for last night."She chuckled at the check. "Do you take me for a common wrench?""Are you not one?"She clenched her fists. Instead of sorrow, she felt overwhelmed by helplessness and confusion."It's fine," she refused expressionlessly. "Don't worry. I won't bother you or appear before you again."She then strode off, but Tyler reached out to grab her wrist, to which she responded by jolting away from his touch."Hands off me!"As she looked at the woman's icy expression, a subtle lift graced the corners of Tyler's eyebrows. "I've touched every part of you. Isn't it a bit too late to be saying that now?"No matter how she tried to frame it, Vicky could not have anticipated that the man who showed unwavering loyalty to his fiancee in public just a few days ago would not only have unashamedly slept with another woman but also dare to utter such shameless words."Tyler, let go of me
The temperature in the room seemed to have dropped in an instant. Vicky instinctively looked up at Tyler and found him staring at her with a devilish sneer."Very well," said Tyler. "I clearly didn't satisfy you." Despite the smile he wore, his gaze was cold. "If that's the case, I'll keep trying until you are satisfied."With that said, he dragged her back into the bedroom.Vicky paled. "Tyler Hart, have you gone insane? Let me go!""Stop playing hard-to-get." He sneered. "Don't worry. I will satisfy you this time."...The urgent chime of the telephone shattered the silence of the room, which jolted Vicky awake.Shortly after, the low, hoarse voice of a man resonated beside her. "Avery.""Tyler, I've already landed. Where are you now?" Avery asked sweetly.Instantly, Vicky sobered."I'm still at the hotel," Tyler said. "Wait for me at the airport. I'll be there shortly.""Alright." Avery's voice carried a note of excitement. "Tyler, I'll be waiting for you at the cafe near
Vicky lowered her gaze, her embarrassment palpable. She wondered if Tyler intentionally sent clothes with such a wide neckline, making it impossible to conceal the marks. Thankfully, her hair was long enough to cover most of the traces when she let her hair down.Aurora paused for only a moment, then composed herself. After all, they were adults, and such things were only natural."Are all men a beast deep down?" Aurora muttered under her breath. "Harvey, too? Can't he show a bit of compassion and respect for women?"Judging from the state Vicky was in, Aurora felt that Harvey had been too rough. Vicky and Harvey had left together and had not returned for a whole day and night, so she naturally assumed they were together.Sitting next to Vicky, Aurora smiled and said, "Vicky, you've finally seen the light. I thought you'd keep Harvey waiting forever! I didn't expect him to be so faithful and wait for you all this time... This is great news! You two have finally become a couple. Thi
Years ago, Vicky had no option but to give up on Tyler.Tyler had the right to be with another woman, but it was wrong of him to sleep with Vicky while he was with another woman."Vicky, what on earth happened? What did that jerk do to you?"After a few moments of silence, Vicky recounted the events of the night before."It's my fault." She massaged her temples and whispered, "I couldn't help but care for him... But from his perspective, I am no different from those women who tried to seduce him. Coincidentally, his fiancee cheats on him, so it's understandable that he wants revenge." Vicky closed her eyes and continued, her voice weak, "Just forget that this ever happened. I've already told him that we'll never see each other again."Upon hearing this, Aurora sighed. It was hard to pinpoint who was right or wrong in this situation. As Vicky's friend, her heart naturally leaned toward Vicky, who had been mistreated by Tyler, but could only swallow her pride."Vicky, would you lik
"Tyler?" Harvey's gaze darkened. "Could it be..."Aurora looked at Harvey, her gaze intent. "On the day you brought Vicky to the banquet, did you meet Tyler?"Harvey was a smart man, and he instantly caught what Aurora tried to imply. "Yes.""Since you were with Vicky, why didn't you watch over her?"Aurora did not really want to blame Harvey but could not help the confrontational tone in her voice."I got drunk that night." Harvey did not attempt to offer any excuses. "I'm sorry."Aurora knew this incident could not be entirely blamed on Harvey. After all, Tyler had amnesia and had what appeared to be a good relationship with his fiancee. They were even getting married. No one could have predicted that Vicky and Tyler would find each other again."Did Tyler..." Aurora furrowed her brow, troubled.Anticipating her question, Harvey responded, "He did come over to greet us that day, but there didn't seem to be anything particularly unusual about him. He didn't recognize Vicky eit
One day, just as Vicky was about to leave work, Aurora called and invited her to dinner.The two of them often had dinner together, so Vicky did not think much of it and headed to the designated restaurant.The restaurant was the hottest upscale Western restaurant in Stoneford City, and it was always fully booked, requiring reservations several days in advance to secure a spot. Vicky had been there a few times before, and the food was indeed excellent. Nonetheless, getting a reservation was quite the feat.As she entered the restaurant, Aurora, sitting by the window, waved at her. "Vicky, over here!"Vicky walked over and noticed that a young, handsome man was seated with Aurora. He looked somewhat familiar, but Vicky could not recall where she might have seen him before."Aurora, who is this?" Vicky began."Gilbert Dyer, my senior back in acting school." Aurora introduced them. "Gilbert, this is my good friend, Vicky."As Gilbert's eyes landed on Vicky, they brightened for a mo
The world of entertainment had transformed over the years, no longer fixated on garnering attention through fabricated news and stunts.The newer generation of audiences focused more on idols' work rather than sensationalism. The mindless fandom-driven star-chasing had given way to a more rational fan culture.Fans had become more sensible, and the public was more accepting of celebrities dating. As long as their work quality was good, they were considered dedicated professionals, and their personal character was held up. Fans were supportive even when stars got married and started families.Vicky realized that this dinner was probably a blind date setup. She did not say much and instead engaged in light-hearted conversation with Gilbert as if they were friends.At this moment, Aurora interjected, "Vicky, isn't your studio looking for a male celebrity to endorse men's clothing recently? What do you think of Gilbert?"Vicky's studio had evolved from its early days of focusing solel
[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