It seemed inevitable that Alison would enlist the services of a lawyer to commence the divorce proceedings, a move that would undoubtedly work in her favor. Luna couldn't envision any other hidden intricacies.Meanwhile, Mia stepped aside to oversee the entire banquet setup, ensuring every detail was flawless. Today's birthday theme was her brainchild, tailored especially for children.Perhaps witnessing today's event setup at Aide Castle Hotel would inspire attendees to plan their children's birthday celebrations here, choosing a similarly themed hall.Shortly thereafter, Luna was spotted strolling alongside Raymond, with Asher in tow, a self-satisfied expression gracing her features.Mia believed that today marked the apex of Luna's life, following all the planning and struggles to establish herself.However, for some, the higher they ascend, the more deadly the potential fall.The ache of yearning for the unattainable was one matter, but the torment of losing something once
Jasmine's abrupt remark left Raymond and Luna stunned, their minds grappling with the possibility that they might have misconstrued her words.The sudden shift in Jasmine's demeanor caught them off guard, leaving them feeling uncertain about her intentions.Without delay, Jasmine clapped her hands and signaled to the nearby butler. "Please bring up the gift I've prepared," she instructed.A gift?As the butler slipped out of the room, Luna couldn't help but shoot a suspicious look in Jasmine's direction. "What's really going on here?" she asked, her tone cautious.Luna couldn't fathom why Jasmine, seemingly out of nowhere, had decided to prepare a gift for Asher."Relax, Luna," Jasmine countered. "Today happens to be my little brother's birthday, so naturally, I've arranged a special gift for him. After all, with our impending family ties, it's only fitting that I set a positive example, don't you think?"Luna couldn't suppress a cynical smile at Jasmine's pompous words. "You've
Glancing up at Raymond, Jasmine inquired, "Dad, is everything alright? Aren't you eager to see the gift I've prepared for my nephew?"Spotting the sizable box nearby, Asher's eyes lit up with excitement. Without hesitation, he dashed over and eagerly opened the box. "I want this gift!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm.As the box popped open, it revealed a large, meticulously crafted cake that resembled a work of art.The guests were captivated, some even reaching for their phones to capture the moment.As Raymond's eyes fell upon the cake, a sigh of relief escaped him. With a complex expression, he addressed Jasmine, "I hadn't anticipated you arranging such an elaborate surprise."Aware of Alison's desire for divorce and assuming that Jasmine wouldn't accept Asher, Raymond had prepared himself for an imminent separation.However, Jasmine's unexpected gesture left him pondering—could this be a sign of a potential reconciliation?Meanwhile, Luna's apprehension only grew deeper as she
At that moment, Luna was engulfed by a sense of impending crisis.Struggling to muster a smile, she turned to Raymond and began, "But Dad—""Enough talk. Let's focus on celebrating Asher's birthday for now. Jazzy, why don't you cut the cake and serve it to everyone?" Raymond interjected.Nonetheless, Luna couldn't shake off her unease. "Dad, Asher hardly knows her.""They'll get to know each other in time. After all, they're family now," Raymond replied, attempting to reassure Luna.Jasmine's smile widened. "Absolutely, Dad, I've got everything under control. I'll introduce Asher to everyone shortly."With so many other children here, it'll be fantastic for Asher to make new friends. It'll help him develop his social skills in the long run.""That sounds ideal. If you can handle that, I'll be very pleased," Raymond remarked, his tone radiating approval.Given Raymond's position, assigning him to such tasks might seem beneath him.On the other hand, Luna's status might not be d
Luna's rage surged. The audacity of a mere waitress to trigger her now was beyond belief.In an instant, her hand shot forward, delivering a sharp slap. "Are you blind? Do you have any idea how much this dress costs? Your entire salary wouldn't even begin to cover it!"The waitress rushed to apologize, saying, "I'm sorry, it was an accident. Allow me to help you clean your dress."Luna's expression remained scornful as she fixed her gaze on the waitress. "Do you even recognize the brand of this dress? It's unlikely you can clean it adequately! Hand-washing simply won't suffice."Feeling embarrassed by the situation, the waitress proposed, "I'm terribly sorry. May I cover the dry cleaning costs for you?""Dry cleaning costs? Are you truly unaware or simply feigning ignorance?" Luna shot back, her tone dripping with disdain.Suddenly, she lunged forward and delivered a sharp jab to the waitress's head. "This dress is made from high-quality fabric. Whether it's hand-washed or dry-cl
Mia's mind raced with questions as she observed the unexpected arrival of Jasmine's grandparents. Why were they here? Hadn't Jasmine informed her family about the event beforehand?These thoughts stirred a sense of unease in Mia.Raymond's reaction mirrored Mia's concern.With a glance at Jasmine, he noted, "Your grandparents have arrived."His words carried an unspoken request for Jasmine to shed light on Ernest and Irene's unexpected presence at the event.With the party already in full swing and proceeding smoothly, Raymond hoped to avoid any disruptions their presence might bring, especially at such a late stage.Jasmine's expression tightened as she explained, "Dad, I'm not sure why Grandpa Ernest and Grandma Irene decided to come to today's gathering, but I'll ensure to handle this situation appropriately. You can count on me."With Jasmine's assurance, Raymond breathed a sigh of relief.Approaching Ernest and Irene, he inquired, "Mom, Dad, what prompted your sudden visit
As Luna wrestled with her thoughts, apprehension churned within her.Glancing at her, Raymond suggested, "Why don't you come over and say hello to your two elders? And later, make sure to bring Asher over to greet them as well."With a heavy heart, Luna complied. But before she could approach, Irene's voice cut through the air like ice. "There's no need to bring the kid over. Our family doesn't have any such child, and I refuse to acknowledge his identity."A glint of surprise flickered in Luna's eyes at Irene's words. Could it be that Jasmine hadn't convinced her grandparents, but had deceived them instead?This realization brought some comfort to Luna.Without hesitation, she turned to Raymond, feigning concern as she asked, "Dad, how do you think we should handle this situation?"Meanwhile, Jasmine cautiously approached, addressing Ernest and Irene, "Grandpa, Grandma, could we please return home for now? I promise to explain everything later.""Jazzy, you've deeply disappoint
Raymond was initially surprised by Ernest and Irene's change of heart, but he quickly composed himself, saying, "Please, share any conditions you have. I'm committed to accommodating them to the best of my ability."The news of Ernest and Irene's willingness to accept Asher's presence came as a great relief to Raymond.Not only would it ease a significant burden, but it would also preempt any concerns about potential adversaries exploiting the situation in the future.Meanwhile, Luna couldn't shake off a sense of unease. She found herself pondering what sort of conditions these two elders might propose.Maintaining her composure, Irene directed her attention toward Luna. "I have just one condition," she stated calmly, "and that is for this woman to sever ties with the Shelbert family entirely, ensuring she never comes into contact with Asher again. Only then will I consider accepting Asher."Upon hearing Irene's ultimatum, Luna felt the blood drain from her face, and she struggled
None of the major shareholders was a fool.After that, Mia was busy handling Barrett Group affairs and barely had time to rest.With an exhausted look, she returned to the hospital.Mia looked at Timothy and said, "I'll run away if you don't wake up soon.""No… Please don't go…" Timothy grabbed her hand. His gaze was deep.Mia's eyes reddened as she gazed at the man who had just regained consciousness. Timothy finally came out of his coma.After that, everything was back to normal. Those who caused trouble quieted down.Sharon visited Timothy and told him that she was going to settle down overseas and would not come back anymore.Timothy bought her a property and gave her a huge sum of money before sending her away from Bern City.As for Maya, it was discovered that she was not the granddaughter of the Prime Minister of Yellow Island but merely his caregiver. Yet, she had been deceiving people outside.After Maya was exposed, she ran away dejectedly. Nobody knew where she was
Sage stood beside Timothy in silence.Soon, news that Timothy was hospitalized spread, and Barrett Group's stock plunged.The relatives of the Barrett family requested to hold a board meeting to elect another CEO.On the day of the board meeting, Mia brought her two children to Barrett Group.They managed to keep everyone on a leash as Sage bore a striking resemblance to Timothy.Mia marched into the meeting room, sat in Timothy's chair, and glanced at everyone present. "Let's begin. Didn't you all want to have a meeting?"One of the middle-aged men said, "Ms. Lane, this is the Barrett Group board meeting. It's not appropriate for you to be here.""That's right. Though the kids are Mr. Barrett's children, they're still young and do not have any shares. You all shouldn't be here."Mia flung a document onto the table. "This is an agreement signed by Grandma Laura to authorize me to manage Timothy's shares.""Anyway, we still need to elect a CEO to handle our company affairs.""
"Because to me, you're my family too," Timothy said.When Sharon heard the word 'family', her eyes turned red. Then, she turned around and left the ward.Mia walked out and asked Peyton to send Sharon to the hospital for a checkup.Looking at Sharon's back, Mia said, "I hope you don't let him down since he regards you as his family. He's the only one you can depend on now."Sharon did not turn her head around. Mia did not know if Sharon would listen to her advice.Mia immediately called her brother. "Dominic, I met Maya."She then told him everything about Maya.Dominic frowned. "I never thought she would go to Yellow Island.""Do you think she's really the granddaughter of the Prime Minister of Yellow Island?""Don't you know how good she is at lying?" Dominic said.Mia nodded. "Yeah, you're right. But I still don't know whether she's related to Yellow Island.""Don't worry, I'll find out."When Mia returned to the ward after ending the call, she saw a doctor bustling arou
Mia went straight to the hospital to ask Timothy about the matter.But when she arrived, someone had reached there earlier than her."Timothy, what do you mean? All I did was pull a few strings, but you want to humiliate me publicly. How am I going to maintain my standing in the company?" Sharon said.Mia went in with a frown. "This is funny. It's not just about pulling a few strings, but it's aimed at me. Mrs. Barrett, your actions have leaked confidential commercial information.""Stop trying to scare me. It's my son who opened doors for you. It's the Yellow Islanders who wanted to collaborate with us, and they are much better than you," Sharon retorted. Mia said with a half-hearted smile, "At first, I didn't want to pursue this matter. But since you put it this way, wait for my lawyer's letter then.""Such big talk, huh?" A mysterious-looking woman wearing a hat and a mask walked in from outside.Mia felt that the woman looked somewhat familiar. "Are you the rumored granddau
Mia glanced at the person on the screen. Without answering the woman, she turned off the laptop.After all, there was no need for Mia to explain anything.After Mia turned off the laptop assertively, she turned around and looked at Timothy. He did not say a word but started eating.Soon, Heath received a call. He left the ward and said to the woman on the other side of the phone, "She's Mr. Barrett's ex-wife. You'd better not mess with her."While Timothy was eating, Mia finished reading the proposal in her hand.She had to admit that the document was very valuable.Mia was about to leave the ward when Timothy almost finished eating, but his voice sounded behind her. "What did you say when you met her at the cafe earlier?""Did you follow me?""I followed her, to be exact. After all, the Hopkins are not good people."Mia totally agreed with that.She paused briefly before she said, "Grandma Laura asked me to talk to her because she doesn't agree with you about giving her all
"You don't know anything," Sharon said.Mia retorted, "I might not know everything, but Timothy is innocent. Before he knew the truth, he always regarded you as his mother. Even after he found out the truth, he has never mistreated you."Besides, when you said you wanted the Barrett family's wealth, he agreed. Tell me, who else could do what he did?"Mia felt that Timothy might have been hurt by Sharon's words.He seemed impressive on the outside, but his identity was a dark secret.Therefore, his relationship with Sharon became awkward.Sharon's eyes reddened. "But I also treat him like my biological son.""You're also his foster mother. Now everyone related to him is dead, and you're the only one he has. What are you afraid of?"Sharon wiped off her tears. "I'm not afraid of anything. It's just that I felt that I can't trust anyone.""Timothy is a man of his word. However, Grandma Laura said that if you remain stubborn, making the will public is her only option," Mia said.
Mia noticed Sharon's expression changing slightly when she mentioned Laura.Sharon took her cup of coffee and said, "What? Does Mrs. Barrett Senior still want to lecture me even when she's on her deathbed? She must have known Timothy's identity all along, but she conspired with her son to keep the truth from me. "She and the Barretts are birds of a feather. What else does she have to say?"Mia was not surprised by her words. She had expected that Sharon would certainly think this way.Fortunately, she managed to stop Laura when she said she wanted to meet Sharon.Sharon was emotionally unstable now. What if Laura said something unpleasant and Sharon retorted? Her words might upset Laura.Mia took a kraft envelope out of her handbag and placed it in front of Sharon. "I hope you won't regret saying those words after reading this.""What's this?""This is the will that your husband left behind, as well as the divorce agreement."Hearing that, Sharon quickly took the document out
Mia hesitated to risk exposing Laura to Sharon's potential agitation.Due to Sharon's emotional vulnerability, she often spoke impulsively. With Laura's delicate health in mind, any disruption was simply out of the question.As Laura recounted past events, Mia remained silent, absorbing her words.Upon hearing Laura's story, Mia was taken aback. She hadn't expected there to be hidden aspects to Timothy's family history.Taking a moment, she asked, "Does Timothy have any knowledge of this?""He doesn't. Some things are best kept from him," Laura replied calmly.Mia harbored some lingering questions in her mind. Unable to suppress them any longer, she asked, "Considering your knowledge of Timothy's background, what is your opinion of him?""Tim is a commendable young man, and he has never let our family down. He has achieved remarkably well for himself. To be honest, I feel indebted to him as well."At first, I only kept him around for the sake of preserving the Barrett family li
Despite her initial reluctance, Mia eventually found herself making her way to Timothy's ward.As she entered, she couldn't help but notice Timothy's expressionless demeanor as he lay there.Carrying a tray of food, Mia approached him. "The doctor pointed out your extreme fatigue. It's crucial that you increase your food intake and prioritize proper rest to reduce the risk of sudden complications."Upon hearing Mia's voice, Timothy lifted his gaze to find her seated beside him. His lips moved slightly as he asked, "What did you tell Luna?""Not much," Mia responded. "Just a sprinkle of salt on the wound and a dash of psychological pressure to make sure Luna doesn't have it easy in prison."Placing the tray of food in front of him, Mia urged, "Please, just a few bites.""I'll eat later. By the way, the kids have been here at the hospital for quite a while. You should take them home," Timothy suggested.Frowning, Mia insisted, "You should eat something first."As her words faded,