Vicky fell quiet for a while before blurting out, "Was that the excuse you used to make me break up with Tyler?"Old Mister Hart was taken by surprise at first but soon started chucking. "Made you? I guess you've truly lost your memories, Ms. Shaw. No one made you. You chose this path on your own.""I don't believe you.""That's the truth. You were the one who came to me, begging for help." Old Mister Hart smiled. "This is a big family, and Tyler isn't exactly a necessary addition. When I said that I wanted to bring him back into the family, over half of the family members protested, including..." He sighed. "Including Tyler's biological parents. Regardless, I don't think the blood of the Harts should stray out there, so I took Tyler back despite all the voices telling me against it."Old Mister Hart was one of the most influential people in the world when he was young but was old and plagued by conservative beliefs and thoughts, so he valued blood above all."I've allowed Tyler t
"If I'm not mistaken," Old Mister Hart said, "Orion and Valencia are probably responsible for it. Valencia loves Lincoln to death, and Orion feels guilty for what happened to his wife when he was unconscious... He knew that Valencia would fall apart if Lincoln returned to his actual parents."Old Mister Hart's words left Vicky frustrated.If Tyler had indeed gone to the wrong family as a result of a scheme, he was the biggest victim.Lincoln grew up being loved by his parents, and his adoptive mother treasured him with everything she had even after learning that he was not her biological son.Tyler, on the other hand, did not have a good relationship with his adoptive parents, and they did not even bother calling when he fell ill. More precisely, they probably did not even know he had fallen sick.Tyler's background played a great part in constructing his personality.Though Old Mister Hart said he did not want his blood relative to stray outside, he did not truly care about Tyle
"Has the poison...been removed?""He wouldn't be alive now if it hadn't been removed."Vicky bowed her head and whispered, "I didn't poison him. I don't really know what...happened, but he didn't believe me..."No one would believe her, and up until this very moment, she had no idea what actually happened."I believe you," Old Mister Hart said.She gaped at him in disbelief. "Y—You do?"He smiled. "Apart from your birth and status, I do admire you, Ms. Shaw. You're smart, decisive, and composed. You're made for greatness. You've come begging me for help for Tyler's sake, so why would you turn and poison him?"Vicky stared at Old Mister Hart with a conflicted look, and for a man as sharp as Old Mister Hart, he instantly guessed what she was thinking.He lifted an eyebrow. "Why? Did you think that I called you here to break you and Tyler up?""Yes."He chuckled. "I like how honest you are."Old Mister Hart's behavior had completely taken Vicky by surprise as she thought that h
Old Mister Hart stared at Tyler and said, "Ms. Shaw, Tyler's parents will be here in Stoneford City soon, so be prepared. They aren't as easy-going as I am."Vicky scowled at the mention of Tyler's biological parents. "If they didn't want me to marry Tyler, why didn't they stop him back then and come here now instead?"Old Mister Hart narrowed his eyes. "They had been occupied trying to cure Lincoln, so they didn't have time to come here. Now that Lincoln is cured, they finally have time to check on Tyler.""Cure him?" Vicky asked. "What's wrong with him?"Before Old Mister Hart could respond, Tyler had already arrived before them.Tyler ignored Old Mister Hart completely and scanned Vicky up and down sternly, relaxing when he noticed that she was unharmed.He then turned to face Old Mister Hart. "Old Mister Hart, is there a reason for you to abduct Vicky and bring her here?"He was not rude but was hardly respectful. His tone was distant as though he was not talking to his gran
'Aria?' Vicky thought.She had no memories of this name and instinctively turned to look at Tyler.The look in Tyler's eyes darkened, and she could feel her blood running cold at the sight."Don’t blame your parents, Tyler. They only agreed to the engagement to save your life," Old Mister Hart said seriously. "Yet you broke the promise as soon as the poison in you was removed and married another woman. Who do you take the Everlys for? If you don't give them a proper explanation, they won't let this slide.""Explanation?" A contemptuous look appeared on Tyler's face as he wrapped his arm around Vicky's waist and said, "This is my explanation."Old Mister Hart had hinted that Tyler only married Vicky to upset his family, and Vicky did not believe him then. However, after seeing the contempt and mockery on Tyler's face, she started to believe what Old Mister Hart said.'After all the pain you've caused Tyler, do you really think that he'd marry you for love?' Old Mister Hart's words
"About your birth."Tyler scanned her expression and asked, "What else?""That's all.""Are you sure?""What exactly are you implying?" Vicky frowned. "Is there some kind of secret you don't want Old Mister Hart to tell me?"Tyler shot her a half-smile. "Secrets? I figured...that you know just as much as I do."She felt chills down her spine at the thought that he might have noticed that she had regained her memories. "What do you mean?"He stared at her unblinkingly. "You've met Gloria, haven't you?"Vicky relaxed slightly but tensed again in the next moment. "... No.""She's been rescued just now."On their way home, Tyler answered a phone call that lasted only for a few moments. He said a simple 'alright' before hanging up.'Was that a phone call informing him that Gloria was taken away?' she thought."I thought you said that she went away to be alone. Why would I see her anywhere?" Vicky asked calmly."Don't think that no one would know what happened so long as you cut
Tyler pulled Vicky to him roughly and stared into her eyes. "Are you women all born to be so heartless?"His grip was so strong that her wrist began to hurt. She frowned and said, "It hurts... Let go...""Sure. Tell me who helped you.""I already told you that it was Harvey..."Before she could finish, the sound of fabric tearing echoed in the room, and her shirt was torn apart.She was stunned for a moment before she snapped out of it and covered her exposed chest. "Have you gone mad, Tyler?!"He stared down at her with a ruthless look in his eyes as he uttered cruelly, "Who was it?""I don't know...""So you plan on protecting him no matter what, huh?" he scoffed and tore his necktie off.Vicky did not know what he was going to do, but the anxiety that overwhelmed her urged her to back away.Tyler reached to grab Vicky and tossed her onto the bed roughly before tying her wrists skilfully with his necktie and tying the other end to the bed.With that, he got up and left, on
When Vicky woke up, she felt as though she had traveled back in time. It was not until her phone on the nightstand started vibrating that she sobered and answered the call."Vicky," greeted Cece energetically. "I've already arrived at the event hall. When will you arrive?"'Event hall?' Vicky thought before remembering that there was a large fashion show in Stoneford City, and as a fashion designer, she could not afford to miss it."I'm on my way," Vicky blurted out and ended the call.She leaped out of bed to head to the bathroom, only to lose balance and dropped to the ground.She struggled to get up and noticed the bruise on her wrists.Vicky froze at the realization that what happened the night before was not a dream.She did not want to recall what happened, and the truth was that she could not, even if she tried. All she remembered was Tyler asking over and over again who helped her.However, it was a question that she did not have an answer to.At one point, she fainted