Letting an enemy escape would only put oneself at a disadvantage. “We have plenty of supplements.”Belinda said gently, “I know, but this is a token of my sincerity. We haven’t met for decades. Now that I’ve found you, we should keep in touch.“I wanted to verify our relationship early on, but I didn’t have the time. Hence, I took the opportunity of attending Mr. York and Serenity’s wedding to spend some time verifying that you’re my niece,” Belinda spoke affectionately as she stared at Audrey.Audrey, on the other hand, looked indifferent. She could not get excited about meeting an aunt she had not met in decades. “It’s great that Serenity married into the York family.”Belinda continued the conversation as Audrey was silent. “Lisa can finally rest in peace. Her daughters are doing well now. We, as their elders, can rest assured too.”When Belinda attended Zachary’s wedding, she tried to identify similarities between Serenity’s features and Tiara's. However, she realized Se
“You may leave if you have no other business here. I’m going to the hospital to visit my grandchild.”Audrey could not be bothered to continue the conversation. She made it obvious that she wanted Belinda to leave and even stood up to see her off. No matter how shameless Belinda was, she would not stay after being told to leave. She thought Audrey would welcome her with open arms. Audrey probably had some inkling of the crimes Belinda had committed despite not possessing evidence. It was good enough that she did not chase Belinda away immediately.With that thought, Belinda felt relieved. However, she probably could not be as close to Audrey, Serenity, and Liberty as she wanted. Audrey was likely certain that Belinda was the murderer. Belinda stood and said, “I’ll be returning to Jensburg in a few days. Call me when your grandchild is a month old, Drey. I’ll come over for the celebration.”“Goodbye, Madam Fisher.”Audrey did not give a definite answer. Belinda stared at h
“Okay.”Darrell took Belinda’s gifts and threw them into the trash can while Audrey headed next door. It would soon be her daughter’s home too. When Remy and Elisa heard that Audrey had arrived, they went to the front door. They had been monitoring the construction progress in the backyard earlier. “Mom.”“Mrs. Stone.”Elisa and Remy greeted Audrey. Elisa went to her mother’s side and circled her arm with a wide smile. “Mom, you’re finally willing to visit this place.”Audrey poked her daughter’s forehead. “Are you happy now?”After the Johnsons had expressed their sincerity and Julian’s incident, Audrey finally agreed to let Elisa date Remy. They could get married whenever they wished and she would no longer stop them. Remy had two properties in Wiltspoon, and one of them was just right next to the Stones. They would be neighbors. Moreover, he would be working in Wiltspoon long-term. Therefore, Elisa would remain in Wiltspoon most of the time after marriage. It would no
“Will she do anything to us, Mom? You and Dad should refrain from heading out,” Elisa said out of worry. Before Audrey could chime in, Elisa added, “But we shouldn’t be afraid of her. If she dares try anything in Wiltspoon, we can make her pay.”Audrey said, “Don’t worry. She may not try anything openly, but it’ll be a surprise if she doesn’t attempt to do something in secret. I didn’t know her personality well enough because I was young then. Now that I’ve met her again, her character is clear to me.”“What about Grandma’s death?”Elisa looked toward Audrey. “I believe the truth will be revealed one day. You don’t have to worry about this, Elisa. You just have to manage your company and your relationship with Remy well. You two should consider marriage after the renovation is finished.“Both of you aren’t that young anymore,” added Audrey.Despite just welcoming a grandson, Audrey was eager to have another grandchild. She was trying to urge Elisa and Remy to consider getting
In a rented house, Camryn’s aunts sat on an old sofa while Carrie sat on a chair. A few rotten apples were placed on a wooden coffee table in between them. Brenda told Carrie embarrassedly, “This is how we’re living now, Carrie. Don’t be too picky. I used my connections and got a job as a cleaner in a hotel. It pays better than cleaning in a factory, but it’s only a few thousand dollars per month.“I’m happy that you got an early release, but I won’t be able to aid you financially. Please be understanding.”Amy added, “I adore you a lot, Carrie, but Camryn has caused us to be in this miserable state. We’ve lost our house and have no choice but to rent one. We even have to work as cleaners at this age to make a living. We wish to help you, but we simply can’t.”Next, she badmouthed Camryn, “It’s all that blind girl’s fault. She relied on the Yorks’ influence and oppressed us as revenge. Even if we did her wrong previously, wasn’t she unharmed?”The Joyners and Chandlers had coop
Carrie was stunned upon listening to her aunts. She said, “I did go back, but I couldn’t enter. Camryn replaced all the servants.“Moreover, she’s raising four guard dogs now. They almost bit me when I tried to climb the gates. I ran away.“I didn’t notice anything different about Camryn though. She moves freely in the house, so it’s hard to determine whether she’s still blind or pretending. I asked her to let me in, but she said she couldn’t open the door because of her blindness. I guess she hasn’t recovered her vision yet.”Carrie added, “Aunt Evelyn spent ten years trying to treat Camryn’s eyes, yet every attempt failed. Can Dr. Carden really heal her eyes?“Her being the legendary doctor’s disciple must have been an exaggeration. Even if a miracle healer does exist, he’s still human. Many doctors weren’t able to reverse Camryn’s blindness. She probably won’t be able to regain her sight for the rest of her life.“So what if she’s able to see again? She can’t give birth to a ch
“Your fight against Camryn is a Newman family matter. Serenity won’t go so far as to meddle in a family affair.”Carrie said angrily, “Are we letting her go just like that? Her happiness stems from our misery.”“What can we possibly do to her in our state? You can’t even return to your own home. Tell me—what can you use to go up against a Mrs. York?”Carrie was stunned. She wanted to bring up having found an accomplice, but she recalled Mrs. Clark telling her not to reveal their partnership, so she kept mum about it.She had not even gained Mrs. Clark’s trust yet. Mrs. Clark would decide on whether to join forces with her based on her performance after she returned to the Newman family. “Carrie, we’re not boosting Serenity’s ego at the expense of our dignity. It’s just how it is. You should think of a way to get everything back. Then, we’ll help you to manage the family business and strengthen the family’s influence. It’s not too late to get our revenge after becoming stronge
After a moment of silence, Carrie told her aunts, “Aunt Amy, Aunt Brenda, since I have nowhere to go now, I’ll have dinner here. When my cousins return, I’ll ask them to head to the villa with me and deal with Camryn’s guard dogs. I won’t forget to repay you if I can get in.”“Sure, wait here and they can go with you after their work.”Upon hearing that Carrie would be generous to them, Amy and Brenda hosted Carrie with much enthusiasm. “What do you want to eat tonight, Carrie? Let me know. I’ll get the ingredients and cook for you. Don’t expect too much though. My cooking skills are average at best.”Although the Newmans were not rich initially, they were not that poor either. Amy and Brenda had never experienced hardships or poverty since birth. Even after growing up, they chose husbands with statuses similar to the Newmans. While they were not filthy rich, they lived a comfortable life and owned a few factories, so they were financially well-off compared to ordinary people.
When Austin reached the door, he stopped and turned to say, “Ms. Isabella, I only care about my future wife. Other young women are simply strangers to me.“I’m polite to other women when I need to be. If they’re unimportant, I’ll ignore them. Even if that woman is my boss, I won’t cross any lines. If I do, there must be a reason behind it.“Get some rest, Ms. Isabella. You might have a headache when you wake up tomorrow. I’ll prepare a warm honey drink for you in the morning.”After speaking, Austin left. Isabella turned to look at where he last stood. What did his words mean?He said he only cared about his future wife.Aside from this lady, he would not step out of line with any other young woman, even if she were his boss. What did he mean by crossing lines?Was it showing concern? Did he mean that if his boss was a young woman but not his fiancée, he would simply do what was required of him without any personal feelings involved? Was that what he meant?If so, was
Isabella was cold sometimes, but that was not her true personality. She was a reasonable person. Austin was not worried that he would be mistreated as a live-in son-in-law. “Ms. Isabella.”Isabella looked toward him and waited for him to speak. He asked, “This may be abrupt, but may I ask what your ideal type is?”Isabella was stunned. Why did the question come to her? What was the type of man she liked?‘Someone like Austin,’ she thought. After a moment of silence, she said, “I like men who are capable, responsible, and have correct values. Even if his family isn’t as financially well-off as mine, I don’t mind so long as he’s honest, competent, and sincere about his feelings for me.“Of course, it’ll be great if we have the same social status. That way, we’ll have similar perspectives and more common topics. If we get married, we’ll be joining forces instead of it being a one-way financial aid.”“Although you can accept someone who isn’t from a similar family backgrou
After a moment of silence, Isabella said, “It’s okay. I know I was forcing it.”There was no point in asking Austin if he did not want to reveal anything. If he wanted to tell her, he would do so without her asking. However, her curiosity spiked with his silence. She was eager to know who his fiancée was. He was already so protective of his fiancée even though he had not met her before. It made Isabella jealous. It was her first time feeling that kind of emotion throughout her life. Although it was not a strong feeling, she still felt it. “You weren’t forcing me to tell you. You were simply curious. Most people have a curious side. It’s only natural for you to be inquisitive as well.”Austin said gently, “It’s not just you. Those who knew that my nana had chosen fiancées for my brothers and me were also curious about who the ladies were.“To be honest, we didn’t even know Nana had been choosing fiancées for us since a few years ago until she handed their pictures to us
“You can drink it now. It’ll turn cold if left aside for longer.”Isabella took the ginger ale and drank it with elegance. She put it down after drinking half of it. “I’m drunk, but only slightly. I can walk, and my brain is still alert. I know what I’m doing and saying.“I’ve had enough ginger ale.”She did not want to consume too much liquid late at night. “Which family is your fiancée from, Austin? Where is she? Do you mind telling me?”Isabella was insistent on getting answers. Austin had never told her when she had asked him about it before. He kept saying he would focus on working and that he was not in a rush to get married. After all, he was only in his twenties; Zachary only got married at thirty years old. If he was unsuccessful in wooing his fiancée that year, he did not mind waiting for a few more years. Isabella suddenly felt jealous of Austin’s fiancée, having had his heart without even doing anything. She wondered what Austin’s fiancée had done to cat
Austin stared into Isabella’s eyes. He could detect some feelings in her gaze, but it was not obvious enough. What she felt for him was still mostly admiration. It was not the right time for him to confess yet. He would continue to wait. “You’re the best and most outstanding lady in my heart, Ms. Isabella. I admire you more.”Austin added gently, “You give off a strict and cold aura sometimes, but you’re always a nice person in my eyes.”Isabella had treated him well ever since he became her private chef. It only got better after she discovered he was a young master of the Yorks. Austin believed her when she said she viewed him as a friend because her actions reflected it as well. However, he was not content with being just friends. He wanted to be her husband. He wanted her to trust him and love him forever. He would also reciprocate her feelings and trust. Isabella smiled. “Even my parents are scared and avoid me when I’m in a serious mode. Louis and Phillip w
Austin responded, “Don’t worry, Ms. Edith. I’ll take good care of Ms. Isabella.”Edith had come in a hurry and left just as quickly. The hidden meaning in her cousin’s words was not lost on Isabella, but she did not comment on it.She allowed Austin to accompany her into the house. The lights were still on inside, but the first floor was empty. Everyone else had already gone to bed.Since Isabella had not returned yet, the housekeeper had left the lights on for her.The house was warm, so once inside, Isabella took off Austin’s coat and handed it back to him.Austin accepted the coat and followed her to the sofa. After she had sat down, he asked gently, “Ms. Isabella, would you like some ginger ale for a hangover remedy?”Isabella rubbed her temples and said, “Yes, please. I don’t want to wake up with a splitting headache tomorrow.”Austin immediately went to prepare it for her.Isabella leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes to rest. After some time, she heard Austin’s
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