An hour later, the meeting was over, and Yosef headed back to his office.Samwell Roft rushed in with an update. "Mr. Webb, Ms. Benett's dad is in surgery right now. It's not over yet, but if anything comes up, the hospital will let me know right away."Yosef's brows were knitted together. He said, "Go find out what's going on with Zara."Samwell hesitated and then nodded. "Okay."...Zara headed straight to Fleent after she left the police station.Her brother-in-law had acted quickly during the crisis, taking Sharon to a safe place so that she would not see the upsetting scene as things could possibly get worse.As soon as Zara walked in, her elder sister, Cheryl, rushed up to her. "Zara, how's dad?""He's been detained."Cheryl sank into a chair, her voice trembling. "Does that mean he might... end up in jail?"Zara nodded. "We can't be sure."Cheryl bit her lip and hit her knee hard, blaming herself. "This is all my fault! I should've been more careful, knowing how quick
Zara took a deep breath and reached out to a few friends, asking if they knew any good law firms in Starville. She had always been good at making friends. Luckily, some were ready to lend a hand. One friend suggested Stellar Legal Firm. [Shelby Lambert is an amazing lawyer. She's tough and wins almost all of her cases, whether they're about crimes or other legal issues. [Just last week, she got a really light sentence for someone who got into a big mess at a hospital.]Zara texted back: [Thanks a bunch. I'll visit her tomorrow.] That night, Zara stayed at her parents' house and slept in the bed she used to when she was younger. Next to her bed was a picture of her whole family. It was all five of them together. Now, it was just her and her mom, who was very sick. Zara tossed and turned all night. The next day, Cheryl came to look after Sharon."Please keep a close eye on Mom," Zara told her sister. "She talked about wanting to hurt herself yesterday, and I'm really worried
"Ms. Lowry?" Harper's eyebrow shot up. He thought Zara was there because Yosef was causing her trouble at work and she wanted to sue. He chuckled."This isn't a big deal," he said. "Couples fight and make up all the time. Just apologize to Yosef and it'll all blow over. Why make a fuss?"Zara did not want to hear about Yosef right now. She said bye to Shelby and left.Shelby turned away, not looking back.Harper caught Shelby's hand with a cool smirk. "You fought with your husband, didn't you?"Shelby stopped for a second at the mention of 'husband' but quickly replied, "I've got work, and someone's waiting for me."Harper let go and said lazily, "Okay, you're busy. We'll catch up later."When Shelby was done with her client, she saw Harper still at the front desk, chatting away. The woman he was talking to was blushing bright red.Shelby whispered, "Harper, come on in."Harper peeked at her and replied, "Okay, Shelby."He walked in behind her.Those outside had no idea that
After leaving Stellar Legal Firm, Harper hopped into his sports car and dialed Yosef's number."Yosef, you'll never guess who I bumped into at Shelby's.""Who?""Ms. Lowry." Harper chuckled to himself. "I don't know what she consulted Shelby for. Maybe she's so desperate that she's thinking about suing you for stopping her from getting a job. You know, like how even a sweet bunny will bite if it's backed into a corner."Yosef lounged back in his chair and rested his forehead on his hand. His eyes were half-closed.Harper went on, "If she'd gone to any other lawyer, it wouldn't be a big deal. But Shelby? She's a tough cookie."Yosef just responded with a simple hum.Harper grinned and said, "But hey, we're brothers, right? No matter how tough it gets, I've got your back."Yosef changed the subject. "So, when's the big day for your wedding?""My mom's worried about waiting too long. She thinks it might jinx things, so she's set it for the fifth of next month. I wanted you to b
Stanley looked away and crouched down to gather the scattered fruit into the basket.Zara helped too, neatly arranging the fruit basket. She left it by the hospital ward door and told the nurse there it was for Jane.Whether Jane took it or not was up to her. Offering it was the right thing for Zara to do.Leaving the ward area together, Stanley glanced at Zara in the elevator and said, "Don't be mad."Zara smiled. "I'm not mad. She lashed out at me because my dad hurt her daughter. She's just looking out for her child, I get that. My parents would do the same for me."That was why Zara could not just forget about her dad.Stanley said gently, "I think you shouldn't go see them right now.""I have to," Zara insisted. "I need their forgiveness to help my dad get a lighter sentence." They stepped out of the elevator together.Zara whispered, "I know it won't be easy. Everyone has feelings. If I keep visiting and show how honest and heartfelt I am, I might be able to make them les
Zara declined, saying, "I don't need it."Beatrice insisted and handed her the umbrella, saying, "Take it. You'll catch a cold easily in this weather."Zara wondered what her angle was.Beatrice said earnestly, "Ms. Lowry, don't underestimate a cold. Sometimes, what seems like a little sickness can turn into something much worse. It happened to my dad."He thought it was just a regular cold, but it turned into something that almost cost him his life."I'm so relieved Dad had the heart transplant. If he hadn't, he might not be around anymore."Zara's ears perked up at the mention of something serious. "What heart transplant?"Beatrice whispered, "Don't you know about the surgery? A heart transplant is when someone with a sick heart gets a new, healthy one. My dad had his operation just yesterday. "It was a really big deal. Without Mr. Webb bringing in the best surgeon to do it, I would've been super worried."The patient the doctor talked about yesterday, the one with only a w
Cecil dropped the bombshell out of nowhere!Cecil let it all out before Zara could stop her. "Cecil!"Yosef had turned to leave when he stopped and stared at Zara. His dark eyes were filled with a brewing storm.Stanley had just gotten out of his car and caught the tail end of the conversation. He stopped in his tracks and looked at Zara with a mix of surprise and concern.Yosef let go of Beatrice. She looked away, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "The child... The child...""Did we lose a child?" Yosef asked Zara, his voice steady without showing any sign of emotion. "When did it happen?"Zara could not find the words to speak. It felt as if she had a lump in her throat.Yosef thought back over the last few months and could not believe it. "Everyone has their limits when it comes to lying. How did I not know you were pregnant and then had a miscarriage?"Zara gave a bitter laugh. "If you think I'm lying, then sure, I'm lying."She grabbed Cecil's hand, ready to walk awa
Cecil came out of her room looking ghostly white and stuttered, "I... I had put that note in a notebook, but now I can't find the notebook anywhere." Her words only added to the ridiculousness of the situation. Stanley furrowed his brows and glanced at Zara, who barely managed a weak smile. Yosef's face remained blank. Desperate to show that the notebook was real and not made up, Cecil said, "Zara, you've seen my blue notebook, the one with my name on it. You even laughed at me for writing my name on it just like we did in school. Remember?"Zara did remember the notebook.They each had separate rooms, and she rarely went into Cecil's room. She had no idea where the notebook could be.Beatrice, standing behind Yosef and gently touching the bandage on her face, whispered, "Does that mean there's no proof?"With those words, the already chilly atmosphere in the tiny apartment seemed to grow even colder.Cecil was still trying to prove she had not lied, while Zara had stopped pay
Harper's kisses were always teasing, intentionally awakening her senses.Their tongues tangled, taking her breath away. When she felt like she could not breathe and instinctively grabbed at his shirt, Harper let go and kissed his way down to her chin, neck, and chest.She could not resist him.Shelby was torn. She did not have to hold back her body's needs and reactions, especially since they could not end their marriage just yet. He was her husband, after all, so why should she deny herself? She decided to make the most of it.Men could easily separate love from physical desire, and women could too. Shelby did not think that accepting Harper's touches meant she liked him. It was just about meeting a need.She would just get that over with.Shelby's fingers gripped the sheets tightly as Harper kissed her growing belly. She was six months along, and her belly was a little bigger. The thought of their child made his heart melt, and he kissed her several more times before suddenly s
Shelby made a sound of agreement, her back sore from sitting too long. She leaned back against Harper without much thought. She was busy with her work and not in the mood for conversation.Harper quickly got the gist of the case file. In short, it was a classic example of someone facing the consequences of their own actions.In the western part of Starville, there was a middle school and a vocational school. The two schools were just a street apart. Not all, but at least 80% of the vocational school students were troublemakers.One of those students, Yered, often rounded up his gang to shake down the middle school kids for their money.Since last year, the bullies had been targeting Steven Scott, a middle schooler. They would often demand money from him. Steven was shy and scared, so he never stood up to them and just handed over the cash.However, this time, as he was walking with a girl from his class, the bullies blocked their path again. They started to pick on the girl becaus
Samantha was really happy. She lifted her finger elegantly and said softly, "One step at a time. First, we'll make sure the child is gone. Then, we'll push them to divorce, and in the end, when she's weak from losing the baby, we'll take care of her." If Shelby died as Harper's wife, then Harper would get everything, and that would be bad. The two women agreed. While reclining on their bamboo chairs, they started dreaming about their perfect future—one with the Young family and the other with all the money. Since the foot masseuse could not hear or speak, they talked freely, not worried about anyone overhearing them. After the massage, they even went to eat together. The masseuse quietly cleaned up and tidied the room. Then, she headed straight for the lookout point. The resort was in the mountains, with lots of trees and streams. The lookout was up high, with a great view of all the little mountains. It was a beautiful spot that every guest at the hotel made sure to visit.
Adalee was doubtful. "Is it really that serious? Our husband doesn't like that dowdy wife or the eldest son. Even if he's started to favor Harper more because of his marriage to the Lambert family, that still won't affect our children.""Our husband used to leave the company matters to our sons, but now he's handing them over to Harper. Who knows what the future holds?" Samantha said with a hint of malice. "We can't take that risk. We can't let Harper get too much leverage. We can't let him and his child have too great a chance to win."Adalee could see Samantha was desperate and asked anxiously, "What are you thinking of doing? She's a lawyer. She knows the law, and she's the sole heir to the Lambert family."Samantha's eyes suddenly became slits. "That's right, she's the only one who will inherit the Lambert family's fortune. With that kind of money, there are loads of people who want to trick her or get their hands on it. "She's a lawyer, not a superhero. Just wait. I'll make
It was Shelby's first visit to the Youngs' place, and by chance, she walked in on his father's so-called second and third wives being snide to Harper. His dad had not lifted a finger to help. It seemed like this was not a one-off occurrence.Was that the way they always treated him?Harper, taken aback by her blunt question, nearly slammed on the brakes. What?"Me, being pushed around in the family? That's just because I can't be bothered..." Who would waste their time arguing with a bunch of women or stoop so low as to fight with their dad's other women? That would be so embarrassing, right?However, he stopped himself mid-sentence.Because he suddenly realized that by saying that, he was making it sound like he felt bad for being 'picked on' at home.Harper slowed the car down and glanced at Shelby. Her eyebrows were knitted together, and she looked really serious. She was definitely not happy.He almost smiled, but he pushed it back down. He swallowed hard and changed his voi
She faced Samantha, not bothering to argue about inheritance rights. "You still haven't answered my earlier question. What does 'stepmother' mean?"Caught off guard by the sudden shift back to the topic, Samantha was momentarily speechless.Shelby did not wait for her to catch up. She pulled out her phone and quickly tapped the screen."Ah, I see," Shelby remarked, glancing at her phone. "According to this, 'stepmother' used to refer to a concubine in ancient times. That's similar to a servant, isn't it? So, in modern terms, it's like a maid. "Got it now. Would you mind getting me some salad? Thanks."The nerve of her, treating Samantha like a common maid! She had never been so insulted. "You!"Shelby set her phone down and met her gaze. "Since you're so curious, I'll fill you in. In the Lambert family, my word is law. If you're ever curious about me again, just ask me directly. No need to rely on rumors."Samantha bit her lip and looked to Gilbert for support, but he just sat
It was Shelby.Pregnant and in flats, she stood firm with not a hint of weakness about her.Her steady gaze fell on the two women who fancied themselves important, leaving them at a loss for words.Harper paused for just a moment, then quickly got to his feet and hurried over. "Dear!"The Young family's house was bright and airy. Harper's eyes sparkled with the unexpected joy of seeing Shelby, who had said she would not come. His face lit up with a smile.Shelby watched him, amused. She thought he was like their excited Shiba Inu, dashing over at the sight of its owner.Harper reached her side, calling out again, "Dear."Shelby gave a small nod. "Yeah."The guests at the dining table snapped out of their surprise, and Wrenley beamed. "Shelby, you're here."Shelby greeted her parents-in-law, "Mom, Dad."Wrenley hurried over to help her, her actions showing just how much she cherished her daughter-in-law.That was Shelby's first visit to the Young family since her wedding. She
Harper waited until Wrenley had said enough, andthen he spoke up."I just don't get you. Your family's loaded, my grandparents are laidback, and Dad doesn't even like you. Why stick to him? Just divorce him, take half his stuff, go home, and hang out with some young models. "That'd be way better than sticking to a lost cause. You've got no ambition."If it were Shelby, she would have left by then if he had not trapped her by getting her pregnant and holding something over her head. Why couldn't his mom be more like his wife?"In your dreams!"Wrenley, with tears in her eyes, scoffed. "The Young family wasn't always so fancy. I married him, and he promised me the moon. 'A good wife helps me reach my dreams, and I'll pay her back in gold.' And then what? "Once the Young family made it big, he just kept bringing in more women and their kids. How can I accept that? I'll fight him to the end, even if it kills me!"Harper sighed. "You want to fight him, I don't. Shelby and her baby
"An old friend?" Zara questioned. "If an old friend wanted to see me, they should be visiting the cemetery, not here."Only a very few people knew she was still alive.Shawn asked, "Is it a man or a woman?""A young man. He also said something else...""What did he say?"The butler hesitated, then relayed, "He said... The miss tricked him, and now she owes him for it."Zara was speechless.The garden fell silent for a moment, with only the whisper of the summer wind rustling through the flowers.Seconds later, Shawn set aside his tablet and smiled slightly. "Really? That sounds fun. Get him to come in. I'd like to meet him too."Zara had thought it was just a joke, but when the butler led the visitor in, she stood up in astonishment.It was him!...In Parnova, the sun shone brightly.However, in Starville, the weather was turning.The sky had been clear when Harper left home in the morning. However, when he reached the Youngs' place at noon, he saw the sun hidden behind