Vicky smiled. "Don't worry, Noah. I'm alone this time, and Tyler isn't around."Noah sighed a long breath of relief. "Good... I was so scared.""Noah, why are you so scared of Tyler?"For someone from such a powerful family, it seemed odd for Noah to be so afraid of Tyler even when there was a gap between their statuses.Sebastian and Harvey never showed any fear toward Tyler, and Alex even dared to curse Tyler in his face."He's just sick in the head," Noah said bitterly.Vicky was interested in the past and suggested, "You helped me out twice now, Noah. I haven't gotten the chance to thank you. Why don't I treat you to a meal?"Noah had a rough idea as to what Vicky wanted to know and wanted to tell her the truth to avoid any misunderstanding, so he nodded. "Sure."The two walked into a restaurant, and after placing the order, Vicky looked at Noah and asked, "Noah, Tyler said that you were my ex-boyfriend. Is that true?""It's the truth in his eyes, but not the whole truth."
"Gloria…is my substitute? That's impossible," Vicky denied instinctively.Noah lifted an eyebrow. "Why not? If you think it's possible for you to be a substitute for Gloria, why is it impossible for it to be the other way around? Vicky, you underestimate yourself."She shook her head. "It's not that I underestimate myself, but...judging from my previous interaction with Tyler, he doesn't look like he loves me at all. There was a time when we were doing alright, but even then, I can tell that he struggled to feel attached." Reminded of something, she asked, "Why did I break up with Tyler?""I don't know about that," Noah said. "I've asked you a couple of times, but you'd dodge the question every time. I think even Tyler is clueless about that."Vicky lifted an eyebrow. "What makes you say so?""When you were cheating..." Noah paused and cleared his throat. "When Tyler thought that you were cheating on him, he asked you repeatedly why you insisted on breaking up with him, but you'd
'Again?' Vicky thought in displeasure but suppressed her annoyance, considering how the divorce would be imminent."I ran into Noah in a restaurant. Since he's helped me out a few times, I invited him to dine with me.""How convenient," Tyler said pointedly."Even if we didn't run into each other and actually set up a time to hang up, that's normal, isn't it?" Vicky frowned. "Everyone has a few friends of the opposite sex. Don't you?""Me?""Don't Gloria and Sheila count?"After a few moments of silence, he said, "Do they bother you?"'What's the point of asking that question now?' Vicky thought before saying, "Did you call to tell me something?"After a long pause, the man said, "We caught the person who stole your bag.""Really?" Vicky was overjoyed as not only would she recover her documents, she could prove to Tyler she was innocent."Yeah," Tyler said coldly. "It's good timing. Why don't you bring Noah along?""Why him?""He is your witness, right?""But he didn't exa
The noon sunlight shone into the office through the window, and Tyler sat back lazily on his chair, seemingly taking a break.He opened his eyes when Vicky and Noah stepped through the door. "Take a seat."Vicky glanced around and did not see anyone else, so she asked, "Where's the robber?"He shot her a look and said, "Am I supposed to keep that 'thing' here in my office to breathe the same air as I do?"Tyler was a clean freak both physically and mentally, so Vicky did not say another word as she took a seat on the couch.She turned around and saw Noah standing frozen in place. "Noah, why don't you come and sit?""Oh, sure."Tyler glanced at Noah coldly before making an internal call. "Bring him in."A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door, and Harry walked in with a creepy-looking man. "Mister Hart, he's here."Tyler turned his attention from Noah to the man. "Are you the one who stole her bag?"The man glanced at Vicky and nodded. "That's right.""When and where
Tyler did not raise his voice, but his tone was nonetheless threatening. "The money in her wallet might not even be as worthy as her bag itself. Are you sure that you've just tossed something that valuable away?"The man swallowed hard and started to sweat. "I—I didn't throw it away. I…I sold it.""Oh? So why did you say you threw it away?""I... I just don't want any trouble and thought it'd be best to say that I threw it away.""Where did you sell it to?"The man took another glance at Vicky again, much to her confusion. "Why do you keep looking at me?"The man wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, "No... No reason.""You know who I am, right?" Tyler asked abruptly.The man forced a smile. "Of course, Mister Hart...""I can look into every claim you make, and even if you threw the bag into a trashcan, I'll find it."The man paled."Do you know what it means to lie to me?" Tyler continued.Panicking, the man kneeled before Vicky and whimpered, "Miss Shaw, help me!"V
Vicky had never been in such a situation before and panted heavily in rage. She somehow managed to hold onto her composure and said, "You accuse me of hiring you. Why don't you tell them where I found you, and where's the money I paid you? How did we contact each other?"The man did not panic at all in response to her questions."You hired me near the southern outskirts, and we dealt with cash to avoid suspicion. You gave me a part of the payment on the day, and the money in your bag is the remainder of my payment. You said that no one would suspect a thing if we do that. As for the contact method... You said you didn't want to be traced, so we arranged to meet up on that day. You told me to wait near the Civil Administration office. As soon as you get out of the cafe, I am to grab your bag. Also..."The man continued confidently, "You didn't want others to find me, so you hired someone else to destroy the surveillance cameras around that area."Vicky opened her mouth to speak, but
'Vicky, you still fail to see how terrifying this man is, and you still try to test his limits...' Noah thought.Tyler narrowed his eyes coldly. "So you can stage another car accident and lose your memories again?"Vicky widened her eyes. "Are you saying I staged the car accident?""We would've been divorced by now if it wasn't for that car accident."Vicky clenched her fists and instinctively wanted to argue, but she recalled the fact that she lost all memories, and there was a possibility that she was doing it to save her marriage."Regardless, right now, I—""Right now?" he interjected her curtly. "Just because it's in the past, that means it never happened?"She met his eyes calmly. "Since it's happened, there's no erasing it from the past, but people move forward. Dwelling over the past will only cause you and the people around you more pain. Since that's the case, why not try to let go?"Tyler maintained eye contact and said, "Are you saying that you've let go?"She froz
...In the hospital ward, the scent of sanitizer filled the air, and as Tyler slowly opened his eyes, he spotted a blurred figure before him. He narrowed his eyes before finally realizing who the woman was."Miss Shaw?" he said weakly."Are you awake?" Vicky reached out to test his temperature before murmuring, "You're still burning up." She sat next to him and explained, "Mister Hart, your temperature reached thirty-nine Celsius, so you were unconscious for three days.""Why are you here, Miss Shaw?" he asked."I was the one who spotted you and sent you to the hospital." She studied the pale look on his face. "Mister Hart, as important as work may be, your health is crucial. The doctor said that you have an extremely fragile stomach and that you probably haven't been resting properly, which led to your cold worsening."His lashes fluttered as he studied her. "How did you know that I was sick, and how did you find me?"Vicky chuckled. "You called and said you wanted me to play t
[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