The four individuals in the painting were captured during a recent cultural banquet, all dressed up for the occasion."Look!" Toph frowned. "Do you think they look like a family? They weren't smiling, and it seemed like they had something up their sleeves. You can't even tell they're related!"Chris pointed out, "Well, didn't Jodie stand close to Wilfred?""Hmm, they're the only ones who were smiling. Just a little bit, not much." Toph looked at him. "Chris, think about our family dinner. Even though we have irritating relatives, everyone just pretends when we take group pictures, right?"Look at this family. They didn't even bother to pretend! Did you know that Delilah and Wilfred stood far away from each other at first? As if they didn't want to be together!""They've been married for a long time. Perhaps there's no longer love between them."Toph pouted. "My parents aren't like that!" Chris felt helpless. "Your family is something else. Don't always compare your parents with
Maisie glanced at her phone upon leaving the office. A message from Wilfred awaited her. Despite his friendly tone, she sensed his respect. He proposed a meeting in the message, leaving the time and place to her discretion.Contemplating for a prolonged moment, Maisie eventually decided to share this with Daniel."Can I meet with him?" she asked.Daniel was taken aback. He had been assisting her in organizing book and comic drafts, and the request caught him off guard.He raised his gaze, meeting her clear eyes that revealed a certain dependence on him.Initially surprised and pained by this shift, Daniel recalled a time when Maisie relied on him entirely. She used to seek his guidance on every decision, from what to wear to what to eat, and even if she could go out. Careful not to offend, she was meticulous in her dealings with him.Daniel was puzzled by her current demeanor as she approached. "What's wrong, Maisie?"Only then did he snap back to reality."Can I meet with him?
Delilah received a message from Wilfred asking to meet. The reason behind this rendezvous was a scheduled interview with a journalist.To create a facade of trust, they disabled the passcodes on their phones, projecting an image of a devoted couple with no secrets. Even going as far as exchanging glances at each other's phones.However, when Wilfred handed his phone to Delilah, he never anticipated Maisie sending a message, instructing him on where and when to meet. This left Delilah looking distraught.After the journalist departed, Wilfred coldly snatched his phone back, glaring at Delilah."You…" Delilah's voice trembled. "You're meeting with her?""That's none of your business. Don't interfere with my life!" Wilfred snapped.This exchange had been repeated for 20 years, marking a marriage devoid of love and filled with resentment."I'm your wife!" Delilah stared at him intensely. "Of course, I want to know why my husband is meeting with another woman!"She smirked, the sarc
"D-Did you guys fight?" Jodie asked.Wilfred's facial expression changed instantly. His eyes brimmed with love for his daughter, and his voice softened. "Ah, no! I'm discussing work with your mother, and we have a disagreement. She accidentally broke the vase. I-I'm looking for a band-aid for her!"Jodie nodded obediently."Alright, Jojo," Wilfred said with a smile. "I'm going to the office. Can you take care of her?""Sure."As he left, he turned his head to give Delilah a warning glance.The smirk on her face bordered on a scoff.What a touching father-daughter moment!If he discovered that Jojo, whom he had pampered since childhood, was not his biological daughter with that woman, would he lose his mind?Jodie's heart raced as she approached Delilah, concerned about the situation. She asked carefully, "Mom, what did—""Who are you calling mom?!" Delilah slapped her immediately.Jodie hadn't seen it coming, and her head spun from the force of the slap. She staggered, almos
The moment Delilah settled on the couch, Jodie's gaze toward her underwent a transformation. A cold stare replaced the previous warmth.Jodie had been subjected to her cruelty since childhood.Before discovering her true identity, Jodie naively believed her mother harbored no love for her. In pursuit of that elusive affection, she went to great lengths.It wasn't until she crossed paths with Cindy, Owen, and Nicole that the revelation about her true parentage unfolded. Delilah was not her mother.From that point on, Jodie's character took a dark turn. She became willing to do anything to secure Wilfred's love and the coveted status of being the cherished Newhouse heiress.Jodie would go so far as to take a life if Delilah commanded it. She was ready to obey every whim.Her existence felt like a precarious balancing act on a knife's edge. Each step brought agony.To cope, she redirected her frustrations onto Harvey whenever she felt upset. A model child in her parents' presence,
Jodie reminisced about the two decades she had spent living. Each step felt like a precarious tightrope walk, where any misstep could plunge her into a bottomless abyss.Cindy had informed her that her biological father served as the driver for the Ropers. -Back then.Delilah caused a fatal car accident, resulting in Anya's death. Surprisingly, Jodie's biological father took the blame for Delilah.During that time, Jodie was just a baby.Cindy, fueled by a quest for justice, confronted Delilah, who callously remarked, "I've already transferred money to your husband's account. Don't be too greedy!"However, Cindy wasn't easily deceived. She possessed evidence, a recorded conversation with her husband, showcasing Delilah's manipulation and his complicity in covering for her.To pacify Cindy, Delilah suggested adopting Jodie, yet as a sinister act of revenge against Wilfred and Anya, she covertly swapped two children..."This is that woman's daughter!" Delilah handed a girl rou
"W-What did you say?" Cindy's expression stiffened for a moment.Jodie stabbed at the steak on her plate. Her fork froze mid-air, the desire to bring it to her mouth evaporating. Her appetite had vanished. What she craved wasn't the taste of the steak but the satisfaction of sinking her fork into Maisie's flesh, tearing it into pieces, and spitting it onto the ground.Cindy's conscience lingered. "Jojo, taking someone's life... That's not right, is it? Besides, your brother already hurt her once. It's miraculous that she survived. You should...""Are you my mom or hers?" Jodie seethed with anger.Cindy trembled, attempting to placate. "Of course, I'm your mom. You're my dear daughter!""Then help me with this!"Cindy shrugged, hesitant to say more.From their dining spot, they observed the hotel entrance across the street.At that moment, Maisie, Daniel, and Wilfred emerged from the hotel.The trio stood outside, conversing, each adorned with a radiant smile.Maisie was close
"Of course, it's not instant poisoning." Cindy chuckled. "There's a kind of slow-acting poison. I'll give her a bit during meals, and over time, the poison will take effect in her body... They say even forensic experts find it hard to identify this poison!"Jodie nodded without saying more, half skeptical. She didn't care what kind of poison was used. What she wanted was for Maisie to disappear from this world!-After seeing off Wilfred, Maisie gently hooked her arm around Daniel's, giving him a sweet smile.Daniel affectionately pinched her nose. "Someone once said I should learn to grow up, right?"Daniel smiled without saying a word."So why did you follow me again?" Maisie's eyes twinkled."Well..." Daniel said honestly, "I can't rest assured letting you meet an older man alone."Maisie playfully hit him, but the second time, Daniel held her fist. "Of course, I feel like contract details should be my responsibility, too, right?""Then how should I thank you?""You know