Camila pushed open the courtyard gate, and the house did seem like it had been vacant for a long time. However, the yard was clean, indicating that regular maintenance had been taking place.Yet, as Maisie stepped inside, she suddenly felt a chill. She shivered and stopped in her tracks."What's wrong?" Camila turned to look at her, smiling. "Oh, this place happens to be a wind tunnel. There's a mountain breeze here. Let's go inside and it'll be fine!"Maisie nodded, but the further she went, the more familiar these surroundings seemed...The Eropah-style pastoral courtyard was adorned with beautiful orchids. Behind the house was a mountain, and the quietness allowed the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves to be heard.The furniture in the house had a vintage feel to it and exuded luxury.Breathing became difficult for Maisie, and her temples throbbed. She recalled that strange dream more vividly now.It felt increasingly like she had stepped into that dream..."Ah—"
Daniel narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening."Daniel, I'm really sorry..." Camila cried. "I shouldn't have taken her out without your permission today. But... I just wanted to discuss the final draft with her and help her relax. I never expected her health to be this bad."It's all my fault. I shouldn't have bothered her with work at this time."Daniel remained silent, exuding a chilling aura.Camila had shouldered all the blame, but was she really so well-meaning? Was she innocent?He clenched his fists, watching the weakened Maisie and feeling a pang of pain in his heart."You should leave," he said, gesturing for Camila to go."Daniel...""Leave!"Daniel's low growl made Camila tremble. She looked at his towering figure, then hurriedly left."No... No!" Maisie's cries echoed from the room.Daniel rushed over, carefully embracing her. Beads of sweat slid down her pale cheeks, making him feel distressed and helpless."Don't... My child..." Maisie's words were incohe
She also wanted to tell him that she was happy to have a child, thinking it would be a testament to their love. With him in her life and a child on the way, she felt content. She also wanted to ask him what name they should give to the child.However, his stern gaze pierced her like an arrow, shattering the words she wanted to say."Abort it."Maisie froze, a chill crawling up her spine.Without further explanation, Daniel left the room after saying those two words. Maisie stared at the tightly-closed door, as if it was the door to his heart that had never opened for her.After that, she tried for many days—crying, pleading, even kneeling in front of him without dignity. "Consider this child mine, okay? It can take my surname. I promise not to use it to threaten you. Once it's born, I'll make sure both of us disappear from your life. We won't disturb you again. Is that not acceptable?"Daniel remained unmoved.At the time, he had been facing turbulence within the company. Desp
Daniel pondered this for a moment, then picked up his phone and dialed his cousin, Spencer Quimby."Daniel?" Spencer sounded surprised. His side of the family was not heavily involved in the affairs of the group or the family. Spencer enjoyed a carefree life, knowing that the family would support them, and didn't bother paying attention to power struggles.However, Daniel's call today made him feel uneasy."Daniel... Is something wrong?"Without beating around the bush, Daniel asked directly, "Where's your car?""Oh..." Spencer was puzzled but answered truthfully, "A few cars have been sent for maintenance. I haven't gotten mine back yet... Sigh, the worker in charge of maintenance is really clumsy. I've urged him several times, but he keeps saying the spare parts haven’t arrived. Fortunately, I don't miss that particular car, so I didn't bother arguing with him!"Daniel's gaze dimmed slightly.He hung up, instructed the doctor to take good care of Maisie, and went alone to the
Both of them had done things for someone, but who was that person? Was this related to Maisie?Just then, he received a call from the hotel, informing him that Maisie had already regained consciousness. Daniel suppressed his thoughts and immediately rushed back to the hotel.Although Maisie had awakened, she still looked pale and weak. When she saw Daniel, she smiled. As he sat by her bedside and embraced her, she took a deep breath and said softly, "I'm so tired..."Daniel gently stroked her head, feeling his heart ache."I feel like I've walked a long way," Maisie murmured, as if in a dream. "The path never seemed to end, and you were always ahead. I kept shouting for you, but it seemed like you couldn't hear me. You were just ignoring me...""Silly girl." Daniel comforted her softly. "You've been under a lot of stress lately because of your writing. Sometimes I feel that the decision to bring you to Cumulus City was... perhaps a mistake."Maisie, how about we go back to Centro
"Rest a bit more." Daniel gently assisted her in lying down, stealing one last glance before finally departing.Throughout the night, Maisie tossed and turned, her head throbbing at times, and the image of the small villa in the woods appeared whenever she closed her eyes. The place Camila had taken her and the one in her dream inexplicably merged.Her heart raced, and she broke into a cold sweat. When she abruptly opened her eyes, dawn had already arrived.Reluctantly rising, she poured herself a glass of water, and at that moment, an unfamiliar number flashed on her phone.After a brief hesitation, she answered, recognizing a somewhat familiar voice."Ms. Squire, it's me.""You...""You saved me on the street the other day, and I've been looking for you."Maisie recalled the pregnant woman and nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I remember you. How are you now? Are you still in the hospital? Are you feeling better?"A moment of silence followed before a soft voice spoke. "Ms. Squire
"The person manipulating my husband and me aims to use this child to create a story and harm you...""What?" Maisie drew in a cold breath. "Harm me? Why...""The day you encountered me on the street, my fetus was unstable, and there was bleeding." Yvette touched her belly and continued. "That person orchestrated everything... I was one of the actors. The people around me gossiping about me being a third party were also part of it! Even at the hospital, the things I said to you were prearranged to provoke you!"Maisie stared at her, her mind completely empty."Miraculously, however, my child was saved at the hospital." Yvette's smile was somewhat weak. "The doctor conducted a detailed examination and said there's a high probability that this child can be born safely."Ms. Squire, I feel that you brought me good luck! So, I can't let you be kept in the dark. Your kindness should be rewarded, and my conscience can also be at ease..."Maisie's mind was in chaos. She took a few steps
"But why would she treat me like this?" Maisie was stunned for some time before she dryly asked, unable to comprehend Camila's actions.The puzzlement lingered. Maisie had no grudges or conflicts with Camila, so why would she repeatedly set her up and drag others down with her?Yvette's gaze held a hint of sympathy as she looked at Maisie."I actually don't understand it either," she said in a low voice. "My husband and I were just following Camila's orders, especially my husband. To keep his job with the Quimbys, he had to do some things that went against his conscience. However... I did hear something from Camila once."Maisie snapped her eyes up at her.Yvette pursed her lips and whispered, "Camila said that all the secrets that could provoke you are in a house near the suburban area."Maisie's heart jolted.That day with Camila hadn't been a casual stroll. There was a hidden agenda.Camila had deliberately taken her to the vicinity of that house, intentionally made her go i