Liberty chimed in after Jasmine, “Seren vomited after breakfast. Zachary was so worried. Aside from getting Serenity’s body checked at the hospital, he’s also going to ask the doctor for ways to ease her morning sickness.”Liberty smiled and said, “I think he’s so anxious that he’d rather be the one vomiting instead of Seren.”She was relieved to see her brother-in-law fussing over her sister. Serenity was definitely more fortunate than she was. Liberty and Hank used to be classmates. They dated for a long period before getting married and she got pregnant right after. The time Hank spent with her lessened because his career was taking off at that point. He always went out early in the morning and returned late at night. He did not even accompany her to prenatal checkups, let alone feel worried for her. He always told Serenity to attend those appointments with her. Liberty shook her head. She no longer wanted to recall her failed marriage with Hank. Jasmine said with a grin
Throughout her pregnancy thus far, Jasmine felt as if she was in prison because she did not have much freedom. She wondered how the York family would treat Serenity. Would Serenity also be restricted to only looking after the bookstore like her? “You’re past your first trimester, right? The pregnancy should be stable. You can go out and get some fresh air as long as it’s not a dangerous place. Don’t tire yourself out though. When you’re in your late stages of pregnancy, it’s best to avoid traveling far.”Jasmine got even more jealous upon hearing Grandma May’s words. She was not jealous of the old lady but of her friend. Grandma May’s words made Jasmine realize that Serenity would not be restricted to just being in Wiltspoon like her. The three of them chatted for a while before Jasmine took her leave. She did not go home. Instead, she had her bodyguards send her to York Corporation. When Jasmine arrived at the company, there was still half an hour before the employees’
Josh said, “The security guards remember the car you and Serenity usually use. They informed me after seeing that you’d arrived but didn’t enter.“I thought I had done something wrong because you didn’t visit me inside despite coming over. I was so scared that I ditched my work. I even rolled and crawled to leave my office.”Jasmine burst into laughter. Even the bodyguards could not hold their laughter in. However, they dared not laugh out loud like their missus. They simply turned their heads and stifled their chuckles. “You make me sound evil. Did you roll and crawl? I saw you running but not rolling or crawling. Since you said so, do you want to get down and perform how you rolled and crawled just now?”Josh said, “Since my wife wishes to see me rolling and crawling, I shall get out of the car and show you.”As he spoke, he was ready to exit the car. Jasmine pulled him back and complained, “Are you really doing it? I was just teasing you.”Josh chuckled and said, “I’ve said
Jasmine was a Wiltspoonian. Her family had become rich because they were relocated to make way for development in the past. “I don’t want to eat in a hotel, but heading home is a bit of a distance. I’m hungry.”Josh asked, “Isn’t the car stocked with your favorite snacks? Haven’t I told you to keep some snacks you like in the car? You can grab a bite whenever you’re out and not let yourself go hungry.”“I don’t leave the house much lately aside from going to the bookstore, so I didn’t prepare any snacks.”“We can pop by a supermarket later and buy some food for you. Let’s have lunch at your house. It’s nearby.”The Buchams’ house was quite a distance from York Corporation. However, the Soxes’ home was pretty nearby. “Okay,” Jasmine replied happily. She preferred returning to her house to have her mother’s home-cooked food, rather than the exotic, expensive food she had been having for every meal in her in-laws’ house.She found it utterly delicious and delightful, even if
Josh admitted that his parents and even uncles were obsessed with the baby in Jasmine’s womb since they discovered she was pregnant. They restricted her from doing many things and specified that she had to eat her three meals according to a dietician’s recommendations. They also did not allow her to go outside frequently for fear of her getting hurt. The elders of the Bucham family wanted Jasmine to stay home and rest for the fetus’s sake. Even if she wanted to go shopping, they would dissuade her from it and tell her to make a list of things she wanted to buy to be passed to the butler. Then, the butler would make the purchase.Even Serenity was traumatized by Jasmine being overprotected. Therefore, Serenity laid out rules with Zachary right after knowing she was pregnant. Having a comparison made things worse for Jasmine. Before Serenity got pregnant, Jasmine could not make any comments because Josh had been nice to her. When Serenity got pregnant, the York family and Zach
Josh did not like hearing his wife describe herself as ungrateful. She was the opposite of ungrateful. Jasmine simply wanted to spread her wings with her friends. He would not tie her down and would support whatever she wished to do. Jasmine raised her head while in his embrace. Josh lowered his head and pecked her lips. His eyes were filled with affection. He could not help himself from whispering something in her ears, which earned him a playful pinch and a push. Jasmine sat up with a blush painted on her face. Josh chuckled. However, since one of the bodyguards was driving, he could not do anything to the tempting woman by his side. “Stop by the pharmacy later. I want to buy some supplements for my in-laws,” Josh instructed the bodyguard. He and Jasmine had decided to return to her house spontaneously. Therefore, he did not prepare any gifts. Jasmine said, “We’re just going to my parents’ house. There’s no need to buy so many things. You always have plenty of bag
Mr. and Mrs. Sox had no idea that Josh and Jasmine were coming home for lunch. When they heard the car honking, Camila even told her husband, “Did I mishear? Why does it sound like it’s coming from our gate?”Jasmine’s parents were the only ones having lunch. The youngsters had to work and did not have time to eat at home while their parents were also out visiting relatives. Carlson said, “The dog didn’t bark. The honk’s probably not coming from outside our home. Maybe our neighbor’s son brought his girlfriend back again.”“When can our son bring his girlfriend back?”Camila sighed. Their daughter had gotten married, but their son still had no girlfriend. “Why are you anxious when our son isn’t even worried? He’s still young.”Next, the sound of the gate opening could be heard and the couple exchanged glances.Camila put down her cutleries and got up. She walked out of the house. She saw their dog facing the main gate and wagging its tail. “Jasmine’s back, Carlson.”
Whenever her family butchered a chicken, she only ate the thighs and wingettes, and would not eat the other parts. “Young mothers these days rarely experience nutrient deficiencies after giving birth. In the past, I could only eat a few chickens in the month after I gave birth. I wasn’t as fortunate as you are right now. “You bought so many things back again too. I’ve said not to buy anything. It’s a waste of money, and your dad and I can’t finish them.”Camila scolded her daughter for buying gifts again. Despite saying so, she still took the bags from her daughter’s hand. She was worried it would tire her daughter out. After entering the house, Carlson went into the kitchen and brought out extra sets of plates and cutleries. The two bodyguards had their lunch there too. They knew the Soxes never put on airs and were not particular about rules. If they did not sit and have lunch together, Mr. Bucham’s father-in-law would get angry too. “Is there bread, Mom? I want to have
Isabella’s bodyguard had only called out to her, not daring to touch her, so she had not woken up. However, when Austin gently patted her face and called her, she woke up almost immediately. When she opened her eyes and saw Austin’s handsome face, Isabella was momentarily dazed, thinking she was dreaming about him.She had actually dreamed about Austin. Had she developed feelings for him? If she had not, why would she dream about him? In all her life, this was the first time she had dreamed about a man. Isabella wanted to touch Austin’s face, but as she raised her hand, she realized she was not dreaming.Austin was real. She could smell the fresh scent on him because they were so close.He had showered.Isabella quietly lowered her hand, hoping Austin had not noticed her earlier intention, lest he misunderstood.“Ms. Isabella,” Austin’s warm and pleasant voice reached her ears, making her want to close her eyes and go back to sleep. With him around, she felt safe and secure.
Hunter had neither money nor power. What could he possibly use to save his sons?“Dad, go home. When the trial starts, we’ll send someone to pick you up so you can attend and observe.”Hunter stood up angrily and stormed off.After he left, Ellie asked Ava, “Are we really not going to do anything? My child is still young. Having a father in prison will always be a stain on their life.”“What can we do? Even if we wanted to save them, we don’t have the means. We know what Caroline is like. She’s not going to let this go lightly this time,” Ava replied. “Anyway, think about last year, when they were caught cheating. How did they treat us then?”Remembering the events from last year, Ellie said, “Let them serve a few years in prison, then. Ava, Caroline is in the hospital. Should we go visit her?”“We should. Let’s go tomorrow. We’ll call Emma and visit Caroline together. The Fisher family is full of terrible people, but Caroline still has some conscience. She’s always been kind t
Hunter was momentarily speechless. He did not have much money. When Belinda was alive, he never had more than five hundred dollars on him. After his children grew up, he secretly asked them for money. During that time, he had money to spend freely, living a lavish life outside.However, all that money had been spent. He had no savings, mainly because he was used to spending extravagantly.He had been unable to save money. He did not own any shops or properties either; Belinda had kept him on a tight leash.The house in their hometown had been built with Belinda’s money, but it was not under his name. It was under his three sons’ names.After Belinda’s death, his sons supported him. Each son gave him over a hundred thousand dollars a month for living expenses.Combined, that was several hundred thousand dollars a month, allowing him to live comfortably in Ashford. He had managed to save a little, but not much, just over a million dollars in total. Hiring the best lawyers for h
Despite this, lying in bed and enduring the pain, Caroline could not help but start to cry, feeling deeply wronged.When Darren came in and saw her crying, he walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently wiped her tears with a tissue.“They’re not worth your tears,” he said, his heart aching for her.Caroline sat up and buried herself in his arms. “Darren, you’re all I have now.”Darren held her tightly, his voice filled with tenderness. “I’ll always be by your side, no matter what happens, Ms. Caroline. Even if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you.“If you’re really hurting and need to cry, then cry. Let it all out.”It would also help her sever ties with the past and the family bonds that had caused her so much pain.Caroline did cry—a long, cathartic cry. It would be the last time. From now on, she and the Clarks would go their separate ways.Meanwhile, Hunter went to Justin’s house and called Jason’s wife, Ellie, over. He said to his two daughters-in-law, “By no
After a moment of silence, Hunter repeated the same line. “But you didn’t die, did you? You only got a little hurt, and it’s not even serious.”Caroline almost laughed in anger at this.Sure, she had not died. She had only been injured. Did that erase the fact that her brothers had tried to kill her, though?She retorted, “Dad, if I had tried to kill your three sons, but they didn’t die and only got a little hurt, would you say the same thing to them? Would you tell them it’s just a family dispute, ask them to forgive me, not to sue me, and not to send me to jail?”Hunter instinctively replied, "If you had the intent to kill, how could I let you continue down that path? Of course, I’d have to let you serve a few years in prison…“Carol, I’m old, really old. I only have the boys to rely on in my old age. Are you trying to leave me with no one to depend on in my later years?”Caroline said coldly, “I’ll provide for your living expenses. I’ll make sure you don’t starve. You can even
Darren did not let go even after being struck.Seeing Darren get hit, Caroline’s expression darkened. She coldly said to her father, “Dad, if you really want to kneel, go kneel at the hospital entrance and shout at the top of your lungs that your daughter is unfilial.“Tell everyone that your sons tried to kill your daughter, and your daughter refuses to forgive them, so you’re kneeling there to force her to forgive your sons.“Let’s see if I give in.”Hunter stopped struggling. After slapping Darren, he felt a pang of fear. He was afraid Caroline might retaliate by slapping him to avenge Darren. Fortunately, while Caroline was furious, she did not lay a hand on him.He began to cry. “Carol…” He wept bitterly.Darren released him, and Hunter sat on the sofa, sobbing, “Carol, I’m old. I have no income, my parents are long gone, and your mother is no longer here. I only have your three brothers to rely on.“If you send all three of them to prison, what will happen to me? Who w
Caroline hummed. “I do plan to visit Wiltspoon to see her sometime soon. I just don’t know if I’ll be kicked out when I get there.”“And I should visit Mr. Foster too. How is he, by the way?" Patrick was the longest-living person she had ever met. Back when she lived with her adoptive family in the countryside, the oldest people in town usually lived into their eighties, and few made it to ninety. Patrick was nearly a hundred years old. What was more, he could walk without support and even travel long distances with his old friends.Liberty replied, “He’s doing quite well. Aunt Audrey accompanies him on walks every day. When they don’t go out, he sits by the cradle and watches baby Elias for hours on end.”The bond between generations was strong. When Patrick looked at Clive’s son, Elias, he felt like he was looking at his great-grandson. As Tiara’s great-grandson, Elias was naturally like his own great-grandson, too.“Dr. Carden comes by periodically to check on him and adjus
Liberty had already called Audrey to inform her about what had happened and also mentioned it to Serenity.Knowing the Clark brothers had all been captured, Serenity felt thoroughly relieved and stopped worrying that her sister would run into trouble in Jensburg.She told Zachary that Caroline never let people down.Zachary did not comment.Caroline’s fever had completely subsided, but her coughing had worsened. The doctor had changed her prescription, but the effects were not immediate.When Liberty entered, Caroline was out of bed and walking around, supported by Darren.“Caroline, why are you out of bed?”Liberty scolded her, “Get back in bed and lie down. You’re injured. If you don’t rest properly and keep moving around, you’ll aggravate your wounds, and you’ll regret it.”She did not blame Darren, though. She knew Caroline always came first to him. He always followed her lead and was unable to influence her decisions.“I’ve been lying down all day. My back is sore, and I’m
The housekeeper replied, “Yes, sir.”They did not have much work in the first place, so they did not need to slack off. Once they were done with their work, they had tons of time to entertain themselves.Hunter rushed out the door with his car keys. Despite being over seventy years old, his driving skills were still quite good. Not needing to hire a driver, he drove himself straight to Jensburg.Upon arriving at the city, Hunter did not immediately go looking for Caroline. He was unaware that she had been injured.Instead, he went to meet his old friends to ask them to help him find out if anything had happened in relation to the Fisher family last night.After he finished speaking, one of his friends said, “We were about to ask you the same thing. Your three sons attacked your daughter with knives and even kidnapped her, intending to chop her up and feed her to the fish.“Luckily, that Mr. Fletcher, who works for your daughter, arrived with the police and rescued her, but she wa