Gloria glanced through the drafts and was in awe, not expecting Vicky's designs to be so refreshing and unique.She only hired Vicky's service because she was recommended by a friend; she never imagined that Vicky was excelling as a fashion designer.She suggested a few points for improvement, but not much was to be changed. The discussion ended an hour later.As they walked out of the cafe, Gloria said, "I have something scheduled after this, so I'll get going now.""Sure." Vicky nodded.The two were about to go their separate ways when a black car with no license plate stopped before them.Before they had the time to react, a few men darted out of the car and covered their noses with white handkerchiefs.Without any chance to resist, they instantly lost consciousness....The sea breeze blew past Vicky's body.She felt cold and since she was still recovering from her cold, she started coughing."Ugh! Ack!" She coughed, and someone immediately placed a warm jacket on her sh
Alex smiled and said, "It's good that you're here, though. Seeing how things unfold with your eyes will definitely feel way better than seeing it on videos."Contrary to Tyler's quiet restrained character, Harvey's playfulness, and Sebastian's gentleness, Alex seemed more straightforward.After seeing him in her dream before, Vicky did not see him as a stranger."Better?" She frowned. "What are you going to do?"He smirked coldly as he looked at Vicky. "Vicky, I'm going to make Gloria and Tyler pay for the pain they've caused you. I'll let Tyler know that I'm not the same man as I was four years ago.""Are you...plotting revenge against him?""That comes second. My top priority is to make things right for you."She recalled the time when Alex had his legs broken and twitched. "Alex, calm down," she said. "Tyler isn't as easily fooled as you think he is. You—""I know that I can't hold a candle to his wit and slyness, but..." he interrupted, sneering. "Everyone has a weakness, a
It did not seem to be an appropriate question for Vicky to ask as Tyler broke Alex's legs because of her.Asking about it seemed like rubbing salt in Alex's wound, but not asking about it would make her seem heartless…and she truly did want to know if he had recovered.Alex smiled casually. "With modern technology, I've recovered a lot of time ago."In truth, he had just recently recovered because Tyler had beaten his legs with such brute force that he came close to being bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.His family had traveled all around the world in search of skilled doctors and finally managed to cure him some time ago. He would have never waited so long before coming back to rescue Vicky.Vicky stared at him. "Really?""Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"She relaxed. "Where is Gloria? I want to see her."Since Tyler had already been informed, Vicky realized that she would need to think of something else."Come on, then. I'll take you to her," said Ale
Alex scowled. "So soon?" He then turned to look at Vicky. "Vicky, Tyler is here. I'll need to go meet him."Vicky's heart sank at the mention of Tyler's name, and she blurted out, "Take me with you."He hesitated. "But...""Take me."Alex could never decline Vicky. "Alright, but don't interfere. This is between me and him, so just leave it to me."She nodded with a dark look on her face."Vicky Shaw!" Seeing that Vicky was leaving, Gloria raised her voice. "Just let me go, and we can all pretend that this never happened."Vicky stilled and turned to look at Gloria hesitantly.Sensing that she was wavering, Gloria continued, "I know that you're upset about what happened that day, Vicky, but that's just how confidential contracts work... In any case, I am to blame for you getting sick, so I can understand that you want to vent your anger." She stared into Vicky's eyes. "You've had your fun, Vicky. If this isn't enough, you can slap me in the face and we'll let this pass, okay? Yo
"Both Vicky and Gloria are here with me. Not only are you not nervous, but you have the gut to mock me? Do you truly think I won't do anything to your sweetheart?" teased Alex."I think so.""Oh? I expected you not to care about Vicky, but...not even Gloria?"Tyler stared at Alex. "You grew up with Vicky and would rather have your legs broken than leave her behind back then, so you wouldn't hurt her. Gloria, on the other hand, is your bargaining chip. If something happens to her here, how are you going to get out of Stoneford City unscathed?"Alex clenched his fists.Tyler always seemed as though he was above everything and nothing could ever bother him. He never panicked and always remained unreadable.Alex knew that playing mind games with Tyler would never work and the longer he waited, the more of a disadvantage he would be in."Tyler, since you're here, it means that you still care about Gloria. I don't want to waste my time with you, so it's simple if you want to get Glori
Tyler knew how close Alex and Vicky were and that it was impossible for Alex to harm Vicky or allow her to be harmed, so there was no chance for Alex to pretend like he was going to hurt Vicky."I won't sign the divorce agreement. Now, get Vicky here," Tyler said.Alex was unsurprised by Tyler's reaction. After all, he noticed four years ago that Tyler seemed to have a sick, perverted sense of possessiveness over Vicky.If he wanted Tyler to let Vicky go, he would have to corner Tyler.Alex glanced at his men and said, "Bring her in."A few minutes later, Gloria—whose eyes lit up when she saw Tyler—was taken into the room."Mmph! Mph!" She struggled to speak but could only make a few muffled sounds when a tape was over her mouth.The look in Tyler's eyes darkened when he saw Gloria in her state.Tears gathered in Gloria’s eyes when she looked at the handsome man before her. He would always come at the right moment to rescue her from danger.Alex sneered when he saw the two sta
"Behave? That depends on who we're dealing with," Alex said cruelly. "The kind of wh*re that knows no better than to get between couples and pretend to be weak so that men would fawn over her... Well, this is what she deserves."Alex glanced at Gloria and turned his attention back to Tyler. "If you don't want your sweetheart to suffer, you'll sign the agreement right now, Tyler, or..." He narrowed his eyes ruthlessly. "Things are going to get worse for her."He shot his man a glance, and the man immediately stomped his foot onto Gloria's hand."Ahh!" Gloria wailed in pain.Tyler's expression darkened. "That's enough, Alex Torres!""Why? Do you feel bad for her?" Alex chuckled as he studied the look on Tyler's face. "Were you acting like you don't have a care in the world just a few moments ago?"It was rare for Alex to see such an expression on Tyler's face, and he felt accomplished. "You wanted to pick Vicky, right? Go ahead, then. Or are you struggling to keep up the act?" He s
Gloria started sweating from the pain. "I didn't force you to swear that you'd never play the piano. You were the one who felt guilty and didn't want the truth to get out, so you offered to never play the piano again. If you don't believe me, ask Tyler—see if I'm telling the truth!"Vicky sensed that there was more to the story from Gloria's words and asked, "So you're saying that I've known Tyler...all along?"Ever since Vicky lost her memories, all the things she knew were stories she heard from others. They mocked her for seducing and stealing men from others, and laughed at her for how low she was willing to sink.She knew that she could not believe everything that was said in rumors, but she found answers after a while and learned that she had indeed found her way to marry Tyler with immoral means.Everyone said that she tore Tyler and Sheila apart, but she already knew Tyler before Sheila got to know him.She was Harvey's fiance then, and Harvey took off during his engagemen
[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