Shelby hung up the call with Yosef and stood still for a second. Then, she turned to look into the living room, where Zara had been all along.Yes, Zara was actually with Shelby.When Yosef called, Zara quickly put her finger to her lips, telling Shelby to keep quiet about her being there.Shelby was puzzled. "Why not tell Mr. Webb the truth?"Zara cradled a steaming cup in her hands, her fingertips reddening from the heat while her lips stayed pale. "I need your help with something, but you're pregnant..." She bit her lip. "I just don't know who else to turn to."Shelby shrugged it off. "What's up? I'm pregnant, not helpless."Cecil piped up too, "Don't forget about me. I'm here to help as well."Zara looked up. "My mom passed out on New Year's Eve and was taken to the hospital. You know that. My dad went with her, but then he vanished. I didn't hear anything until the police called at midnight, saying my dad was drunk and making a scene on the street."Shelby nodded. "And the
Zara noticed the shadow in his eyes, hesitated, and then softly asked, "What's wrong?""Why didn't you pick up when I called?" Yosef asked."I was asleep. I didn't hear it."Ophite chuckled. "Yosef came home and couldn't find you. He was so worried he started sweating, even in the cold."Zara could not stop herself from looking at Yosef again. He was staring at her with intense eyes, not blinking at all. "Well, it's good that it was just a scare," Ophite said, checking the time. It was way past midnight. He gave Yosef a pat on the shoulder. "I'm off, Yosef." Zara said politely, "Goodbye, Mr. Moore." After Ophite left, only Zara and Yosef were left outside the tiny apartment. Zara sighed. "You're overreacting. I just visited my mom. I was so tired and sleepy because I didn't sleep well last night. The apartment was closer, so I came here. What's the rush..." She did not get to finish her sentence because Yosef suddenly lifted her and stepped into the apartment, closing the d
The room was quiet, and Zara was alone on the bed.Zara sat up with a heavy head, still feeling lost from a night filled with jumbled dreams. She felt like she had not quite woken up yet.After sitting there for a moment, she heard some noise outside. She got out of bed, opened the door, and saw Yosef at the dining table. He was taking out several boxes of food from an insulated bag.Zara caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She turned to see Yosef, who looked a bit lost. His whole demeanor was soft. He smiled gently. "You're up? Go freshen up, then come have breakfast."She did not need to ask. She knew he must have had Charvi or Samwell bring the meal. Zara nodded, went back to the bathroom to wash up, and then came out to eat.Yosef had sent not just breakfast, but clothes too.He wore the black shirt he usually wore, but today, he had on a slim black tie. It made him look younger and more stylish than usual. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, showing off his mu
Zara stopped for a second, then turned around.It was a gloomy day, with thick clouds hiding the spring sunshine and making the whole city look dull. It seemed like it was raining somewhere far off. The air was damp, carrying the fresh scent of grass that drifted into her nose.The man stood a few steps away, tall and hard to miss. He had a presence that drew Zara in. Once she caught sight of him, she could not look away.He was wearing a brown suit that looked comfy and easygoing, not too stiff or formal. It had just one button at the waist, which he had done up. It showed off his slim torso and made his broad shoulders stand out even more.The white shirt he wore was not like any Zara had seen before. It wrapped around him in a unique way, with one side tucked under the other. It had a collar but no buttons, and it was open just enough to show a glimpse of his neck and collarbone.His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, reminding Zara of Yosef from earlier that day. However,
Zara was fuming, but her mind was racing. Her words were off. "What do you know?" No, she should be asking, "Do you know everything?"Shawn just gave a slight smile, as if to say she was smart. However, he stayed quiet.His eyes were perfectly shaped, and when he smiled, they crinkled at the edges. His eyelids were thin, making his eyes look deep and intense. However, his gaze was calm and still. He seemed cold but caring at the same time.Those were eyes that could feel deeply.Zara looked away from him and said coldly, "Instead of having someone tail me, just tell me everything. I need to know what's going on to protect myself."Shawn's voice was soft and serious. "If it were easy to tell you everything, I never would've walked away from you."Did that mean his leaving for another country long ago had something to do with her past?Zara's eyebrows knitted together in worry.He had told her last night about Trevor seeing two people on New Year's Eve, two people who were the re
Zara was aware that Sadie was tailing her, but she ignored her.She might look serene, but her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.She had a mountain of questions to sort through.The first and foremost question was, who was she, really?Cheryl blurted out that she was not the Lowry family's real daughter, and then Shawn said that Trevor had jumped off a building because of her secret past. It all came down to her mysterious identity.The only person who could solve that mystery was Sharon.When she walked into the hospital ward, Cheryl stopped feeding Sharon her soup and stood up from her chair. She faced Zara with a serious expression. "Didn't I tell you that yesterday was the last time you'd see my mom? Why are you back?"Zara answered calmly, "I've called her 'Mom' for more than 20 years. It's not up to you to decide if I can keep doing that."She glanced at Sharon lying in the bed, her voice gentler. "If Mom doesn't want to see me anymore, she can just tell me. I'll leave ri
"You were just two months old. You could sleep for hours on end, from ten to a whole 20 in a day. However, then, one day, you just stopped. "You wouldn't sleep. You just kept crying and crying. We were worried sick, thinking you were ill. But when we checked the calendar, we realized it was the day they... they executed your real dad."What?!Zara's eyes widened in shock. "Executed? What do you mean?""Your real dad, Mr. Gibson, or Xever as he was called, had a company. It did really great, but then it all fell apart. The company failed, and he got caught up in some serious trouble with the law. "The police took him away. I'm not sure what exactly he did, but it was bad enough that they gave him the death penalty."Zara was speechless. She could not believe that was her story.Xever? The name seemed familiar, like she had heard it before. However, she could not place it. She did not dwell on it and instead asked, "And my real mom?"Sharon looked sad as she shook her head. "Yo
"Mr. Webb, Ms. Lambert is asking about that villa," she whispered. Shelby? A glint of ice flashed in Yosef's eyes. Why was she digging into that villa all of a sudden... Did Zara put her up to it?He could tell something was up with Zara's mood.Did she figure out the whole story or just bits and pieces?Yosef had just walked into the banquet venue. There was no turning back then. He caught Charvi's eye, and she got the hint. She nodded and backed off.He kept his cool and kept on walking in.That year's big Starwart Convention had the theme 'Flowers Galore'.The fancy lights in the room looked like carved flowers, and the big rugs on the floor had flower patterns all over them. Even the flowers in the corners were special ones flown in from far away. Everywhere, it was all about being fancy and rich.It was like stepping into a whole new world, all shiny and full of life. There were guys in sharp suits and shiny shoes and ladies in pretty dresses with their hair all done up.
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