Felicity checked the caller ID and noticed that it was a landline number. She became curious and asked, "He's currently unavailable. Would you like to leave a message?""Are you Mr. Snyder's spouse?""Yeah," Felicity responded casually, considering her role as a girlfriend was equivalent to that of a spouse.The warm voice on the other end continued, "Hello, Mrs. Snyder. We're from Sunfert Hospital. We're expanding our sperm bank, and as an incentive, we're reaching out to healthy men with high sperm quality. Mr. Snyder, being a regular client for annual check-ups, prompted us to contact him first. We're wondering if he'd be interested in making a donation.""Does he even have the capability to donate sperm?" Felicity mumbled to herself."Sorry?""Ahem. Unfortunately, due to his health condition, it would be physically challenging for him to donate," she explained.The woman on the other end inquired, "Is Mr. Snyder not feeling well recently? This isn't urgent. He can come in wh
Vermont barely had a chance to ponder how Felicity had discovered his secret. His brain was already working at full speed, as he attempted to minimize his wrongdoing. He admitted, "...Yes, but the burn was not as severe as I made it out to be."Felicity glared at him. "Are you trying to deceive me again?""I'm not," said Vermont, and his tone softened. "It did hurt at the time, and I didn't expect you to be so concerned. I was just trying to tease you.""Tease me?" Felicity's face darkened. "Am I a fool to you? Do you find it amusing to string me along?""No, that's not what I meant." Vermont tried to get up.But Felicity promptly pushed him back down and warned, "Don't you dare get up, or I'll knock you out!"Vermont complied and laid back down. "Felicity, when did you start liking me?" he asked in a soft voice.Felicity's ears burned, as she angrily responded, "I don't like you, you liar. If I had known that you were faking your illness to deceive me, I would've never gotten i
Felicity had mixed feelings after hearing Vermont's words. "While it may not have been your intention to manipulate my emotions, did it ever occur to you that using a fake illness to garner sympathy meant that my feelings for you were driven by pity and guilt? You say you were just giving me more time to get to know you. But, wasn't it an attempt to sever any potential connection between me and Dr. Steven? Doesn't that fall under the category of deception, Vermont?"Vermont's face turned pale. "Well, it's true I didn't want you to be with Corbin. He's not right for you.""And, you are? You went to great lengths just because you liked me. You allowed me to walk into your trap like a fool willingly. What happens when you stop liking me? Do you treat me the same as how you treated your ex-girlfriends? Are you going to give me a house or a car in hopes that it'll get rid of me?"Vermont's heart ached. He felt as though he had wasted the past half a year pouring his heart and soul into a
Shortly after Vermont's departure, Felicity found herself alone in the empty apartment. She felt an indescribable emptiness in her heart. Her emotions had shifted from anger upon learning the truth to a current state of bewilderment.Seeking solace, she decided to call Stella.Stella had just finished attending a concert with Marshall featuring a well-known orchestra from abroad. Despite Marshall's enthusiastic introduction of the group, Stella could not recall their name.The music was beautiful, and the concert hall's acoustics were impressive. However, Stella struggled to discern anything special beyond that. Marshall noticed her constant nods to the music and realized that something was amiss.In a low voice, he asked, "Do you not like the music?"Stella shook her head. "It's not that I don't like it; I just don't know how to appreciate it like you do."Marshall paused for a moment and whispered, "I'm sorry. I thought you'd like this since you play the piano.""I learned to
Marshall let out a chuckle. "If spending a little money can make you happy, then I think it's worth it."Stella stayed silent. She avoided his gaze and focused on the piano. "I don't really know much piano pieces.""Do you know how to play Lyphard Melody?""I guess so."Marshall quickly searched for the sheet music on his phone and placed it on the stand. "Why don't you give it a go?"Glancing at the moving shadows in the audience, Stella walked around the piano and sat down. After studying the sheet music for a while, she slowly pressed the keys.The ethereal melody instantly filled the hall. Stella's fingers were slow, and the chords barely connected due to her lack of practice. The world-famous piece sounded rather unpleasant when Stella played it.She considered giving up, but before she could stop, a pair of well-defined hands landed on the piano keys next to hers.The person had fair, slender, and elegant-looking fingers. The veins on the back of their hand were subtly vi
Stella remained quiet. Exploiting Marshall for scandals was one thing, but shamelessly manipulating his feelings to secure his cooperation was a moral boundary she refused to cross. She would rather have Marshall know the truth than burden him with this favor, even if it resulted in his hatred and resentment toward her.Marshall picked up the necklace in his palm and said, "Let me put it on for you. This 'token of love' is going to make headlines tomorrow."Stella instinctively tried to back up, but Marshall did not move away. He gently pressed Stella's shoulder, and his deep voice echoed in her ear. "The paparazzi are already taking pictures. If you reject the present, the groundwork we laid won't be believable."Stella immediately froze in place.Holding the necklace in both hands, Marshall put it around her neck and gently fastened it.From the audience's perspective, the two seemed to be intimately involved.Stella turned her face away, avoiding eye contact with Marshall. How
Felicity murmured, "I don't want to live so close to him."Stella figured that something had probably happened between Felicity and Vermont. However, since Felicity refused to talk about it, Stella did not ask any further."Okay, then. I'll go look for a house with you tomorrow."Felicity replied with a "Mhmm" and then thought of the topic she had argued with Vermont earlier. "Stella, what's happening between you and Marshall? Everyone is saying that you two are together. Is that true?" Felicity asked softly.Stella turned to look at Marshall, who was talking to the management staff not far away. Marshall seemed to sense her gaze, lifted his head, and met her eyes with a gentle look.Suddenly, Stella said out of the blue, "Can dissociative disorder really harm people?""What?""Nothing," Stella looked away, as she continued flatly, "I just want Keegan to come back, no matter what it takes."Before Felicity could figure out what Stella meant by that, she said goodbye and ended t
Frederick was sitting in a wheelchair. Although he had become very skinny, his eyes still radiated authority.He stirred his tea, as he said flatly, "Parents have always been the ones arranging marriages for their children since forever. When did they have the right to make their own decisions? Wenham, you spoil the children too much."Wenham smiled and said, "Stella is twenty-six this year, and she only returned to our family a few months ago. I haven't raised her at all, so how could I have the right to interfere with her marriage? If my late wife knew, she'd probably prefer that Stella never return to us."I'd rather she chose a son-in-law I don't like than to have her hate me because I interfered with her decision."Frederick's gaze darkened.Clearly, he did not appreciate what Wenham said at all.He was too used to controlling everything in the Moore family and being self-centered. Especially with the Moore family's political background, he looked down on families like the S
Keegan moved from initial resistance to reluctantly listening, and eventually to questioning."Why do these novels portray men as so stupid and brainless, yelling at the female lead as if they have intermittent explosive disorder?""Is the male lead sick? Forcing the female lead to donate a kidney, is he out of his mind?""How many years would they get for calling the police in their world?""Why is he so dumb? The supporting actress claims the female lead pushed her into the water and he believes it? Is checking surveillance footage illegal?""Stella, are you making fun of me?""I can't learn this. It all feels so neurotic. What does the female lead see in him?"Stella retorted, "Who cares if it's neurotic? Just mimic that stupidity, that's how these innocent women like men who protect them like that."Keegan was very reluctant, but his brain was more compliant than his body. Without needing to study deliberately, everything he heard stuck in his mind.So when Keegan mentione
Keegan's expression darkened with anger. "You're being completely unreasonable!"Stella crossed her arms, wearing an expression that seemed challenging. "You let her take it. Let's see if I dare."Jaylene hadn't actually wanted those junk items in the first place; she was deliberately trying to stir up discord between them. Now that her goal was achieved, she put on a sympathetic look."Keegan, I don't want it anymore. Don't be angry. Your health is more important. Didn't the doctor say to keep your emotions stable?"Turning her head, she reproached Stella. "Stella, are you here to help Keegan recover his memory or just to provoke him?""Shut up, you brat! Do you even have a say here?"Acting under the guise of a drama, playing the role of someone lacking in manners, was incredibly satisfying.She’d wanted to curse this brat for a long time!Jaylene's lips twitched, but she held back, tearfully saying, "Stella, if you don't like me, I'll leave. There's no need to humiliate me l
Jaylene understood the situation perfectly. Even though she didn't particularly like these cold, mechanical devices, she put on a pretense of surprise, saying, "Really, Keegan?"Keegan nodded. "Choose one you like.""Keegan!" Before Stella could finish her sentence, she couldn't hold back her sharp voice, "With your pile of junk that I can't even touch normally, she takes a look and now you want to give it to her? What's the meaning of this?!"Keegan frowned, apparently not comprehending her current anger at all. "Jaylene gave me a gift, and I'm giving her one in return. What's the problem?""What problem?" Stella's eyes started to redden. "I can't touch them, so why should she be able to? Have you forgotten, or do you have inappropriate feelings for her?"Keegan's expression darkened. "This makes no sense!"Jaylene secretly delighted in this, hypocritically trying to calm things down, "Forget it, Keegan. Since Stella minds so much, I don't want it anymore. You've strained your r
The standoff lasted for over twenty minutes before Keegan grabbed a book and knocked the beetle off Jaylene's neck. The beetle fluttered twice and suddenly flew up, landing on Jaylene's face.Jaylene screamed, rolled her eyes, and fainted.As she collapsed, the bug flew off again."Jaylene?"Keegan called out to her.He looked up at Stella and said, "You go start the car, I'll carry her to the hospital."As he spoke, he signaled to Stella.She understood and coldly grunted, "So troublesome."Walking over to Jaylene, she squatted down beside her and slapped her face twice.Jaylene immediately opened her eyes and reached out to push her away. "What are you doing!"Stella was prepared and had already moved back before she could be pushed.She shook her tingling hand and innocently said, "Jaylene, you fainted because of the bug. I was just saving you. Don't believe me? Ask Keegan."Jaylene nearly ground her teeth. Did she think she hadn't heard? She was intentionally exposing h
Her fingertips trembled with a mix of horror and excitement. Just as the teapot was about to slip from her grasp, Keegan suddenly said, "Jaylene, don't move."Jaylene froze, instinctively thinking Keegan had regained his memory. She had barely twitched when Keegan loudly stopped her again, "Don't move, absolutely don't move."Jaylene wanted to say something, but then felt an itching sensation on her neck, as if something was crawling slowly. Goosebumps erupted all over her body.By now, Stella had turned around and saw Jaylene standing stiffly with the teapot in hand. Her eyes quickly assessed the situation and then she noticed the beetle crawling on Jaylene's neck.It was an unknown species, not overly tentacled but as long as a little finger, its mouthparts slightly twitching, genuinely alarming in appearance.Stella murmured, "It's so big."Jaylene couldn't see what was on her neck, unsure if it would bite or if it was venomous. She stood frozen in place, her voice trembling,
Seeing him, Stella even lowered her eyes and softly praised, "Mr. Kane, you acted very well."Keegan glared at her, his voice low and intense. "If you keep watching like this, Coco will cut ties with me tomorrow."Stella replied confidently, "No, she won't. After accepting the red envelope, she can tolerate you a little longer."Keegan asked sharply, "Did you teach her to ask for red envelopes like this?""Don't falsely accuse me; I didn't teach her.""You may not have taught her directly, but you set an example. Have you forgotten how you always make me buy things for you?"Stella was speechless. Whenever she wanted Keegan to buy her something, she would often say, "Gifts are only surprises when given voluntarily. If reminded, it shows they don’t like me that much."It had to be said, Coco had learned the essence of it.Stella also felt a bit awkward, thinking that in the future, she needed to avoid such flirtatious conversations between spouses in front of the children. They
Could she figure all this out?Keegan frowned, casting a disappointed look at Coco. "Are you not listening to me now?"Coco raised her gaze defiantly and stated, "Aunt Stella taught me that if I don't want something someone gives me, I can say no. I don't want this hairpin.""Didn't she teach you that even if you don't like something, you should still say thank you?"Coco fell silent for a moment, then reluctantly said to Jaylene, "Thank you, Aunt Jaylene, but I don't want it."Jaylene hesitated with her hand extended, unsure whether to retract it or leave it there, managing a strained smile. "Then what do you like? Next time, I will get you something you do like."Coco asked, "Do you want me to do something for you?"Jaylene was taken aback. "What?"Coco replied seriously, "Aunt Stella says offering help without reason is either deceitful or thieving. Since you don't like me, why else would you give me something? You want me to do something for you, right?"Jaylene forced a s
Leighton's incident did indeed revive their suspicions.Jaylene was gullible, but Darcie might see through this scheme. "Keegan, why didn't you go to work today?" Jaylene chose to ask directly at first.Keegan remained composed. "I've been busy with the press conference lately and haven't had much rest. Now that things have slowed down, I thought I'd take a break and relax."Jaylene spoke gently, "You should rest well. Since you came back, you've been busy, and you've been postponing Dr. Stone's follow-up appointments. Keegan, I'm really worried about your health. Since you're resting these days, I'll arrange for Dr. Stone to give you another check-up. Stella has been living here to assist your recovery for so long. We need the doctor to give a clear assessment of whether there's been any improvement. Otherwise, it's not good for Stella's reputation to stay here so long, unmarried and under one roof."Keegan nodded. "Okay, please arrange it. Thank you."His response was decisive,
Stella had just descended the stairs when she heard that remark, causing her eyelids to twitch as she thought to herself, “Damn it! He really knows how to come up with excuses!”Upon hearing this, Jaylene's eyes briefly flashed with disdain, but she ultimately accepted the shoe covers Keegan handed her. As Keegan led Jaylene into the house, her eyes continued to scrutinize every corner.There were a couple of pillows on the sofa, couple mugs on the table, wedding photos of Keegan and Stella on the walls, and even headbands and hair ties scattered on the table. The house exuded an unmistakable feminine touch.Jaylene's expression darkened, but when Keegan turned to ask if she preferred tea or coffee, she adopted a gentle, harmless demeanor. "Tea would be perfect."Keegan invited her to take a seat and called for Maria to prepare tea. Jaylene spoke softly, "Keegan, I heard from Stella that you brew Dragon Well tea better than anyone else. Is there a special technique?"Stella paused