Sheila smiled. "There's another person in Tyler's heart. Maybe I'm just a shadow of that person. To be honest, I don't know if he ever liked me, even as we speak."She then looked at Vicky. "He can be very good to me—so good that people think that I'm his first love, his true love, and regret because he couldn't have me. Only I know deep down in my heart, I know it's two different things between being good to me and loving me."Miss Shaw, maybe you think I'm trying to brag to you by telling you this, but he doesn't have a place for me in his heart, so why should I be pleased about it? What is there for me to brag about? I see no difference between when he's nice to you and when he is nice to me. At least, you're his wife and you can legally enjoy it. I'm nothing to him."'There is no difference between when he was nice to you and when he is nice to me…' Vicky repeated this sentence mentally.Vicky's eyes wavered. "What you're trying to tell me is that Tyler doesn't love me, right?"
This day was an example. Sheila only told her two things, yet those two things stunned her to the core.Bee, beep! A text message notification went off.Vicky picked up her phone and opened the message.[Miss Shaw, you're not forgetting you are returning my shirt to me today, right?]It was a message from Mister Kirby.Yesterday, Vicky reminded herself of this, but she totally forgot about it after a night. Nevertheless, it was fine because she had set a reminder with her phone. It would ring during the afternoon to remind her.Vicky replied, [No. I was going to contact you after I finish with my work.]Mister Kirby replied, [I thought you'd forget about it if I didn't remind you.][What time are you free today? Where should I meet you?] replied Vicky.Mister Kirby texted back instantly. [I'll share the location with you later.]Vicky replied, [Ok.]A few seconds later, Mister Kirby shared a location with Vicky. Before she clicked open to see the shared location, she tapped
"Vicky, over here."The man's voice was deep and melodious, much like the sound of a cello. Instantly, Vicky recognized that voice. It was Mister Kirby.Vicky walked to the corner where he sat…and he looked rather suspicious.The light in the room was not very bright. Mister Kirby was leaning on the sofa in a very elegant posture with a hint of laziness.Vicky then said, "Mister Kir—"Suddenly, the man reached out and pulled her to his side, much to her shock. Before she could struggle and protest, his husky voice rang next to her ear. "Miss Shaw, please do me a favor."He tried to talk softly and lightly. Although he was very close to her, he still maintained a distance that would not bring discomfort to Vicky. "Can you pretend to be my girlfriend?"Vicky realized something was not right. "Did you call me here today at this time just because of this?"He said in a low voice, "Miss Shaw, do you see those women over there?"Vicky glanced and noticed a few beautiful women with g
One could tell what kind of a person another man was by observing what sort of people he made friends with. In this case, Cece thought Mister Kirby was not bad.While Vicky debated on helping Mister Kirby, Cece already started to talk to him.Cece was outgoing and lively, and she enjoyed talking to people. Mister Kirby, on the other hand, had a high EQ, hence how they both got into a good conversation.Vicky was speechless.Mister Kirby noticed Vicky was looking at them. He smiled and asked, "Miss Shaw, what's your answer?"Although Vicky had compensated him and sewed the button back on the shirt, the fact remained that she still did damage. Regardless of the compensation, it could hardly compensate, especially since the shirt was very important to Mister Kirby. Moreover, he did not look like he was a person who needed money.Vicky thought for a while and whispered, "I can help you, but you don't owe me anything. As for the shirt… Let's just say we don't owe each other anything a
Mister Kirby's smile froze. "It's not funny."Vicky deadpanned. "I'm not joking. I'm serious."He looked helpless. "Although I hit it off with Cece right away, there is nothing else for us except being friends. There's no spark between us. If you don't believe me, you can ask her."They were talking very softly. From another angle, it looked like they were whispering intimately. Vicky did think Cece and Mister Kirby matched perfectly. However, they only knew each other for a short time and they still did not know each other that well.Besides, today was not a good time to discuss this either. Thus, Vicky said nothing else.About an hour or so later, Vicky said she needed to leave. Mister Kirby looked at the time and nodded, not wanting to force her to stay. "Alright, I'll send you two off."After that, he informed his friends and said goodbye to them.His friends did not trouble him. They smiled and bid goodbye to Vicky."Bye, Vicky!""Come play with us again next time!"Vick
Glancing at Vicky, the pieces of information clicked in Mister Kirby's mind, and it was visible how it looked like a light bulb lit up in his head."Are you afraid your husband might misunderstand us?" He smiled gently. "Fine. Call your husband and ask him to come to pick you up. Neither of us has to worry."Vicky remained silent for a few seconds. "It's not necessary. I can go back by myself. He's busy, and he's probably still working.""No matter how busy his work is, it isn't as important as the safety of his wife." He put his hands into his pocket. A shadow of his body was reflected on the ground. "Miss Shaw, you have two options now. Either you call your husband and ask him to pick you up, or I'll send you back home."Vicky was unable to reason with the man and felt rather helpless. She had no idea why this man was so responsible. After giving it a thought, she decided to call Tyler.Beep, beep, beep!No one answered the phone. After the call got disconnected automatically,
Seeing Vicky staring at him, a smile graced Mister Kirby's handsome face, twinkling with mischief. "Fine. I'll head out now."He thus started the car's engine and drove away, all while Vicky watched on.Vicky took out her phone, hoping to check should there be any update, but there was no response from Tyler at all. She tried calling him again, but alas, it was for naught.She remained in the same spot for a while before deciding to take the lift to go to Tyler's office. 'Since I'm here, I might as well go up and take a look,' she thought. She assumed Tyler was busy with work and was too busy to look at his phone.After all, he had spent the whole night at the hospital where Sheila was, and Vicky did leave her a little…warning this morning. Sheila was no fool, either, and she ought to know it was fine to fuss a little sometimes. However, if she did it every day, it would only make Tyler disgust her more.Since Tyler had not slept last night, Vicky doubted Sheila would trouble him
"The number you have dialed is unavailable. Please try again."The call was terminated; that was what this meant. The automated voice would have stated something else if the call was not answered at all. It would have said, "The number you have dialed cannot be reached. Please call again or try later."Plus, the dial tone only rang five or six times.At that moment, the driver realized something. He looked up and used the rearview mirror to look at the backseat. His face changed when he saw Vicky was awake, and he realized Vicky's phone, which was in her hand, was lit up. He asked angrily, "What are you doing?"Vicky panicked, but she tried hard not to show it on her face and remained calm. "I should be the one asking this question."While she was talking, she tried to call Tyler again. "This is not where I want to go. Where are you taking me?"Since Vicky knew what was happening, the driver sneered, "A place where you should be!"She attempted another call, but it was hung up a
[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