"Are you….” Camila was shocked. "Taking drugs?" Owen appeared indifferent, lounging on the couch in a relaxed manner. However, he looked significantly better. He retrieved a beer bottle from beneath the messy table and cracked it open, releasing white foam."Yes." He took a sip and smiled at her. "Hey… Would you like to try it? It's amazing!"Despite the chaos, she maintained a bottom line, understanding what she should and shouldn't engage with.Terror and rage consumed her as she stared at him and took steps backward."How dare you… take drugs?!""My life is ruined anyway. Is there anything that I won't dare do?!" He suddenly stood up, his bloodshot eyes making him look terrifying."I was sick for a long time. I thought I was dying, so I started using to make myself feel better… Ha! Never had I thought my sister would meet a fool like Daniel. Not only did I manage to live, but I could continue taking drugs!"Sigh… I live as if life is a dream. I just enjoy my life one day at
Daniel's face wore a grim expression, his demeanor exuding an overbearing intensity. He resembled a demon emerging from hell, fixing a cold, sharp gaze upon Camila and Owen. In his eyes, there lurked a lethal blade.“D-Daniel,” she stammered. "D-Don’t misunderstand, I—”"So, it's you," he enunciated sharply. "I knew it. Everything is your doing!"Camila turned pale.Over the past two days, he had conducted a discreet investigation, delving into the individuals responsible for Maisie's past suffering. The results were unsatisfactory, with numerous inexplicable details.Daniel had been meticulously analyzing and reexamining the facts.This lingering mystery had been plaguing him for years. He yearned to identify his daughter's true killer from that fateful day.Starting with a lead suggesting a hooligan's death from drug addiction, he connected the dots to Owen.The subsequent investigations revealed the shocking truth: Owen and Camila were the architects of Maisie's torment."T
"She wants to tell the world…" Even Rachael found it ridiculous. "Wouldn't the Quimbys be humiliated?"Lily sighed. She had stayed with the Quimbys before. Although they were only a nominal couple, she knew the dynamics of the family quite well.Back then, criticisms from the board of directors were abundant when Daniel kept Maisie by his side. Now that Maisie was revealing their past to the world, those individuals would seize the opportunity to make things difficult for him.Perhaps she didn't realize how terrible things could turn out.However, with the potential butterfly effect, a storm might be stirred when it reached Daniel."I'll talk to her," Lily said."What about the PR promo…""It'll proceed as usual," Lily insisted, realizing she couldn't back off now. "She has signed the contract. How can we go back on our promise with the distributor? But keep an eye on her at events. Advise her on what to say and what not to say beforehand, got it?""Okay!"-Soon, Maisie beca
"Absolutely!" Lily affirmed with a nod. "Take my place, for example. It's a bit disorderly because I tend to be scatterbrained. Things are strewn about, creating a semblance of chaos, yet I can pinpoint the location of each item with precision."Then there's Daniel. He leans toward being a neat freak, always eager to showcase his refined taste. He insists on an Eropah-style interior even for his office—talk about going the extra mile."Lily halted suddenly.Maisie smiled but remained silent.Lily swiftly presented a contract, breaking the awkward silence. "I'm here today to present you with this."Maisie flipped it open and discovered it was a contract renewal. Without hesitation, she signed on the last page."Maisie..." Lily appeared touched. "This contract is quite extensive. At least ensure you've perused it before signing. And those profit shares—have you genuinely calculated them?"Maisie looked up at her, smiling sincerely. "Between us, we don't need these things.""Perha
"Lily..."Lily flashed Maisie a gentle smile that conveyed everything without needing to be said."If you require assistance, just let me know. I'll do everything I can!""Thank you," Maisie replied, meeting Lily's sincere gaze."Why thank me? We get along well, and I'm happy to help!"The two shared smiles.Maisie poured a cup of coffee for Lily, and they settled by the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly admiring the distant scenery.Spring had arrived in the city. The mountains in the distance had regained their lush greenery. Cherry blossoms along the streets resembled clusters of pale pink mist and swallows flitted through the willow branches joyfully.Despite the arrival of spring, the frost in Maisie's heart proved resistant to thawing.Lily turned to her, softly asking, "Maisie, are you truly never going to forgive him?"Maisie fell silent, unsure how to respond to such a complex question.Rather than recalling past times with Daniel or the love and hate they shared, wh
Maisie was taken aback. She didn't have the opportunity to respond before another journalist from a different media outlet stood up."We've heard that you had a relationship with Mr. Daniel Quimby. Do you still maintain contact to this day?""There have been sightings of you and Mr. Quimby entering and leaving a hotel. Can you confirm if this is true?"Maisie's heart pounded as she clenched her fists. She glanced at Rachael, who nodded, giving her an affirming look. Lily had anticipated these questions.Before the event, the PR team had prepared the best answers for each question, delicately skirting around the issues and redirecting the conversation toward her next book.Maisie had memorized every word perfectly, but now, she didn't want to say a single word. The official responses weren't what she wanted.Facing these journalists reminded her—were these the same faces from the boardroom pressuring Daniel to resign? Perhaps Daniel's situation was a thousand times more brutal tha
The journalists collectively froze. They exchanged glances, hesitant to utter another word. They had assumed Maisie to be soft and easily intimidated, unaware of her underlying determination.After a few seconds of tense silence, voices suddenly erupted from the crowd of book fans."Yeah! This is her private life! You journalists are prying too much!""Regardless of what Maisie does, we'll support her!""Her words are comforting and powerful. Even if those events were her personal experiences, as fans, we'd only empathize with her!""Exactly! Journalists should stop asking these boring questions!""Organizers! Anyone there? How did you let these kinds of journalists in? We demand they leave!"A commotion ensued in the audience, with journalists wearing uneasy expressions and event organizers struggling to maintain order.Fortunately, it didn't escalate into a major uproar, and the event concluded in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.Maisie left the venue, waiting by the roadsi
"Maisie...""I should indeed forgive myself," Maisie uttered, her gaze averted as if looking at something beyond. "And to do so, I must confront the past."She enunciated each word deliberately. "Daniel, I did love you. It was a love that gave everything, even risking my life."I initially stayed with you because of money... I constantly reminded myself that I didn't mean anything to you and that you would leave me sooner or later. But I couldn't control falling for you."After recalling those things from the past, I also hated you. But I seem to understand something these days—I hated you because I still loved you. Yet, the opposite of love isn't hate. It's forgetting. So... I genuinely intend to forgive myself."Daniel stood in silence.A breeze swept by, causing cherry blossom petals from the tree behind Maisie to drift, landing gently on her hair and shoulders.Although she stood right in front of him, he felt as though they were worlds apart.In the chilly spring, he reali