The glittering lights illuminated the auction stage, creating an aura of luxury and anticipation in the room filled with collectors, businessmen, artists, officials, and other important figures. The auction participants looked enthusiastic, some of them already marking the items they would target tonight.The auction began with an antique porcelain vase from the Chinese dynasty, sparking intense competition among the bidders. Then came antique bowls, paintings by famous artists, and even rare stamps. Each item auctioned had its own story and historical value, attracting interest from various groups.However, the main focus of everyone tonight was on the last item up for auction: a necklace with a stunning sea-blue diamond pendant. This necklace had caught the interest of many diamond collectors, artists, businessmen, officials, and other important people.Jasmine stood in the middle of the stage, the sea-blue diamond necklace gracefully adorning her neck. Every move she made was obser
Seth, who was discussing business with Mr. Locovic, received a message from the bodyguard he assigned to watch over Jasmine. His face immediately tensed, his jaw clenched."Mr. Locovic, can we speed up our conversation?" Seth said firmly, making Mr. Locovic look at him with a questioning gaze."It seems like my sister needs to return to the hotel soon, she's not feeling well," Seth explained, trying to remain calm despite his racing thoughts. Mr. Locovic finally cut short their business discussion, giving Seth time to hurry.Seth headed straight to the hallway where his bodyguard was waiting. "Where is she?" he asked urgently."The last from the CCTV was Miss Jasmine was in this hallway. After we asked Mr. Andrew, he said she wanted to use the bathroom, but it's been more than 30 minutes since she hasn't returned," one of the bodyguards explained, making Seth roughly rub his face."Search every inch of this hallway and keep monitoring the hotel's CCTV. Let me know if this is an urgent
Seth immediately stood up from his seat when a notification came in for the card used by Jasmine."Track her location here," Seth said, tossing his phone towards his men. The notification indicated that Jasmine must still be around. She couldn't have gone far for now, so Seth had to find her immediately.They rushed to the location of the small ATM where the card was last used. On the way, they found the heels Jasmine wore that night, lying on the sidewalk. Seth grunted softly; this was evidence that Jasmine had indeed been around here not long ago.They began to trace Jasmine's steps back, asking several people while showing Jasmine's photo. Until finally, they arrived at a small shop. This was where Jasmine got her shoes last night. However, the elderly woman who owned the shop seemed not to disclose Jasmine's whereabouts. Seth saw signs of kindness from the old woman who might have helped Jasmine.After an hour of fruitless searching, Seth began to feel frustrated. His head started
Seth stared sharply at Jasmine sitting on the bed, ignoring the food and medicine he had prepared. Since their return, Jasmine's condition had deteriorated significantly. Every night she experienced fever, yet she seemed indifferent to her own health."I don't want to force you, mine," Seth said, his voice sounding colder than usual. However, Jasmine remained unmoved, her eyes empty as if not listening to anything."Eat, even just a little. You have to take your medicine," Seth continued, trying to be gentler. Jasmine looked at the tray of food in front of her and reluctantly began to reach out. Only one bite entered her mouth before she felt deep disgust and nausea."I want to rest again," Jasmine said, pushing away her food tray and lying back down, her body weak and exhausted."You have to take your medicine," Seth insisted, his voice filled with tension."I don't need it," Jasmine replied firmly, her eyes challenging.Seth sighed deeply, realizing there was no other way. With trem
Jasmine felt her body burning up and shivering at the same time. Her eyes lacked the strength to open, and the world seemed to fade into darkness. The only thing giving her some comfort was the warmth of someone's body holding her tightly. Seth, she faintly thought, even as her throat felt dry and it was difficult to speak.Meanwhile, Seth woke up immediately feeling Jasmine tossing and turning beside him. Faintly, he heard Jasmine murmur, "Water...," prompting Seth to reach for the glass of water on the nightstand. He tried to help Jasmine drink, but her body still felt feverish despite being given medicine as instructed by Doctor Harris. Her condition hadn't improved, and it frustrated Seth."Mine, can you hear me?" Seth asked, his voice full of concern as he gently stroked Jasmine's flushed face. Jasmine didn't respond, only furrowing her brow, appearing to be in pain."Mine," Seth said again, louder this time. Jasmine suddenly gripped his shoulders tightly, a sign that even though
Seth was silent when he heard the facts revealed by the doctor about Jasmine."Right now, her condition has really deteriorated, not just physically but also mentally. If she doesn't get serious treatment, I'm afraid it will affect her pregnancy," the doctor continued, leaving Seth still silent with a blank mind.He had made a mistake. All this time, he had been very careful in their relationship, but due to the recent emotional turmoil between them, Seth had forgotten one crucial fact: Jasmine could get pregnant. And that was not something he wanted right now."So what should I do, Doc?" Seth asked, his voice trembling."Try taking her to a psychiatrist. It will help a lot besides the medication and treatment from me," the doctor replied."If I don't do that, what will happen to her?" Seth's question made the doctor fall silent, then look at him with a puzzled expression."I just want to anticipate if it might be difficult to meet with a psychiatrist for Jasmine," Seth continued, und
Jasmine slowly opened her eyes as the sharp scent of medicine assaulted her senses. The white room with bright lights made her eyes sting. She felt the IV line in her hand and heard the beeping of medical equipment around her."You're awake?" asked someone, their voice gentle but full of concern. Jasmine turned toward the man who had been silently waiting for her to wake up."Alex," Jasmine murmured, her voice barely a whisper. Alex nodded, his face a mix of relief and worry."Do you need anything?" Alex asked again, his voice full of care. Jasmine shook her head, feeling something was missing, something absent since she had opened her eyes."Where am I?" she asked, trying to understand her surroundings."You're in the hospital," Alex replied. Jasmine fell silent, her memory slowly returning. That night, she had tried to swallow all the pills she could find, hoping to end it all. Her body now felt sore and weak, a stark reminder of her desperate action."I thought I was gone," Jasmine
Jasmine sat with her rounded belly, occasionally smiling when she felt the tiny movements inside. She set aside the flowers and scissors in her hands, then gently caressed her belly. Each stroke was answered by a soft kick from within, making Jasmine feel like a thousand butterflies were tickling her stomach."Do you want to talk to your mother?" Jasmine asked as she leaned back in her chair. She then gazed out the window, seeing the quiet street, the cool air, and the warm sunshine. For the past few months, a peaceful life accompanied by the baby growing inside her had become Jasmine's daily routine.Seth's smile always came to mind when Jasmine felt the warmth of the morning sun because it reminded her of his smile, which she hadn't seen in so long. A small kick from her baby brought her back to the present, her thoughts drifting once again to memories of Seth."Don't you want me to think about him?" Jasmine asked softly, falling silent again. There was always a painful void when sh
Jasmine gazed at Lily, who was now sleeping soundly in her bassinet. The quiet night was accompanied by the gentle ticking of the wall clock. Moonlight streamed through the window, providing just enough dim light to see her daughter's tiny face. Jasmine slowly reached out her hand, caressing the soft, rosy cheek as gently as a cloud. Her touch was so delicate, as if she feared disturbing the sweet dreams that might be filling Lily's mind."My child," she whispered softly, barely audible. "You mean everything to me."Since Lily's arrival, Jasmine felt that happiness had finally found its way to her. A feeling that once seemed so foreign now blossomed in her heart. The pain she had once endured seemed repaid in full by Lily's presence. A small smile formed on her lips as she remembered the long nights filled with tears, now replaced by the baby's small laughs and giggles.Yet, behind all this happiness, there was a shadow of fear that constantly haunted Jasmine. Sometimes, she feared th
Seth walked quickly towards the nursery, cold sweat running down his temples. Panic gripped him after realizing the fatal mistake he had just made. "How could I forget that bag?" he thought, frantically. His briefcase contained important documents that should never fall into Jasmine’s hands. He needed to retrieve them before Jasmine opened it.However, as the nursery door opened, he saw his worst fear realized. Jasmine stood there, holding the document he wanted to keep from her. Her eyes widened as she read its contents, then she looked at Seth with a gaze full of questions and disappointment."Seth, what does this mean?" Jasmine's voice trembled, reflecting the turmoil in her heart. She held up the document, pointing it at Seth. "It says that I'm not Mommy's child. How is that possible?"Seth stood stunned in the doorway, feeling as if the world was collapsing around him. He knew this moment would come, the moment he had feared for so long. "Jasmine, let me explain," he said, trying
Jasmine glanced at the clock on the wall, which showed ten in the morning. Time seemed to move at a snail's pace, slow and torturous. Her impatience waiting for their baby’s birth often left Jasmine confused about how to spend her days.Today, she decided to organize the baby items she had just bought with Seth. With a smile on her face, Jasmine pulled out tiny socks from the shopping bag, a blue and white combination that looked adorable in her hands. She then moved on to the clothes, hats, and shoes, feeling her heart swell with joy as she imagined the little angel who would soon be in their midst.In the middle of tidying up, Jasmine suddenly remembered something. "The cute sweater we bought, where did I put it?" she thought, furrowing her brow. With her already large belly, she slowly rummaged through the shopping bags around her. However, the sweater was nowhere to be found."Ah, where did I put it?" Jasmine grew more anxious. She decided to search in another room, trying to reca
Jasmine had spent the entire day in silence, her mind in turmoil. Monica's words kept replaying in her head, making her restless. Jasmine wasn't sure what Monica intended by mentioning those things, especially since she had never intended to discuss her pregnancy, neither publicly nor with her family.She felt like nobody cared about her, so she assumed people wouldn't be too interested in her latest news, including her mother, Evelyn. However, Monica's words made Jasmine reconsider. Should she inform her mother and Lucas about this happy news? What if they got angry and disapproved, especially if they found out it was Seth's child?Jasmine didn't know what steps to take. Monica had left a puzzle about what Seth knew about Evelyn's news. Jasmine started to wonder if Seth was keeping a secret from her."Mine," Seth said, now sitting beside Jasmine. Jasmine was startled, not even realizing Seth had come home."Seth, you're back? When did you come in?" Jasmine asked again, making Seth lo
Monica sat in the backseat of her luxurious car, her black sunglasses framing her graceful face. Her sharp gaze was fixed on a modest house not far from where her car was parked by the roadside. Nearly ten minutes had passed, and she remained patiently waiting, counting each passing second."Are you sure this is their house?" Monica broke the silence with a low yet firm tone, her eyes still glued to the door of the house.The bespectacled man sitting next to the driver turned to Monica. "Yes, Miss. Miss Jasmine used to live here first, and Mr. Seth joined her just a few weeks ago," he explained calmly.Monica nodded slowly, but her patience was wearing thin. "Should I find out more, Charles?" offered Charles, Monica's personal secretary, in a polite yet attentive manner.Monica shook her head. "No need, let's just wait. I have plenty of time today." Her voice exuded confidence, though a hint of impatience flickered across her face.Time crawled by, but Monica's patience was finally re
Seth looked over at Jasmine, who was busy with the flower arrangement in front of her. The room was filled with the fresh fragrance of flowers, creating a calm and warm atmosphere. Seeing his wife engrossed in her work, Seth smiled. He walked over, carrying a glass of Jasmine's favorite juice."Beautiful flowers," Seth said softly, enough to make Jasmine look up. She greeted her husband's smile with a sweet smile of her own."Thank you," Jasmine replied, gently taking the juice from Seth's hand. "You always know how to make me feel better.""Drink it slowly. I need to call Fito first," Seth said, gently touching Jasmine's shoulder. Jasmine nodded slowly, understanding that Seth always had many things to take care of.Seth walked away with his phone in hand, but his eyes occasionally glanced at Jasmine, who was once again focused on her flowers. With her growing belly, Jasmine looked so beautiful and graceful. She always found peace in arranging those flowers.While waiting for the cal
Seth woke up to the gentle movement beside him. He immediately sat up, his eyes scanning the darkness as he saw Jasmine trying to get out of bed."Mine, where are you going?" he asked, his voice hoarse from just waking up."I just need to go to the bathroom," Jasmine replied, her voice soft but clear.Seth glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was still early morning, and he realized it was probably the umpteenth time Jasmine had gone to the bathroom that night."Are you okay? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" he asked, wanting to make sure Jasmine was alright.Jasmine smiled softly and nodded. "I'm fine. I talked to the doctor, and this is normal for someone as far along as I am in my pregnancy."Seth sighed, then without a word, he got out of bed and lifted Jasmine into his arms. Jasmine let out a small squeal."Seth, put me down. You should get some sleep. I can go to the bathroom by myself," Jasmine protested, but Seth didn't listen. He gently set her down near the bathroom
The sun was already setting when Jasmine stepped out of the hospital. The cool evening air greeted her, bringing new hope after days filled with anxiety and pain. Seth was beside her, vigilant as always. He carefully watched Jasmine's steps, ensuring her every move was safe."Today, we finally get to go home," Jasmine murmured with a relieved tone. "Thank you for always being by my side."Seth just nodded, his smile warm and loving. The journey home felt shorter than usual. Perhaps it was because this time, they were no longer burdened by uncertainty. The modest house where Jasmine had been staying for the past few months now felt warmer and more inviting.Upon reaching the front door, Seth gently guided Jasmine inside. He ensured her every step was steady, leading her with great care. Jasmine looked around the interior of the house with sparkling eyes. This was the place that had given her a sense of security, and now, with Seth by her side, it felt even more complete."Do you need a
Monica followed Seth’s firm and brisk steps. They moved through the quiet hospital corridors until they finally arrived at a small garden at the back of the building. The garden was peaceful, with only the sound of trickling water from a small fountain in the corner. Seth stopped and turned, staring at Monica with a sharp gaze.“How far will you take me?” asked Monica, her voice slightly trembling despite her effort to appear calm. She felt her heart beating faster than usual.Seth took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before speaking. “Tell me why you are here?” he asked, repeating the question he had asked several times along the way.Monica shrugged, displaying the indifference that often served as her shield. “I’ve told you, I’m just meeting an old friend. I’m not lying, I swear,” she replied casually. However, Seth was not easily convinced. He stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them, and stared at Monica with a look full of suspicion.“Don’t mess with me and Jasm