Shelby's brows were furrowed together. "What?"Chase grabbed her wrist and yanked her from the car, causing Cecil to cry out in alarm, "Shelby!""It's okay, I'll just talk to him," Shelby said, trying to soothe Cecil. However, before she knew it, Chase had yanked her aside and pinned her against a utility pole. "Tell me, you didn't want a baby at first, right? The baby was a surprise, wasn't it?"Shelby felt uneasy about how close Chase was and did not like the way he spoke to her. She was about to reply when Chase let out a cold laugh."You have no idea, do you? Harper switched your birth control pills. You've been taking pills to help you get pregnant, not prevent it. He planned this whole thing!"Shelby's heart skipped a beat!For a moment, her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion. She could not believe it. Harper might be a bit wild, but he was not that cruel. She shot back, "Stop it, Chase. I know Harper better than you do, and he wouldn't do something like that!"Chase j
The maid was clearly in a panic. Yosef raised his eyes. "What's got you so scared?"The maid was stumbling over her words. "I'm worried about the police seeing the young mistress...""And where should the young mistress be if not here?"The maid quickly nodded in agreement.Zara said icily, "Not everyone can ignore the rules like you do, and not everyone is as brave as you. Ordinary people like us respect the police and the law.""What's that got to do with the police and the law? Isn't it normal for a wife and husband to live together?" Yosef pulled her to sit. "It must be Ms. Lambert who called them. You acted so strangely at the hospital, so she must've misunderstood something. We'll just explain it to them."Misunderstood?Zara scoffed. "I'm not going to play along with your lies."Yosef gently placed a fried egg on her plate. "But if we don't clear up this misunderstanding and I get taken away, who will look after your mom?"Zara could not help but notice how quickly th
Cecil spoke up quickly, "That's not right! Zara and he haven't finished their marriage paperwork. They're not really married!"Yosef set his fork aside and wiped his hands with a warm towel. His long, pale fingers caught the morning light."Cecil is her best friend, so she thinks no one is good enough for her. But wifey, why don't you ever say anything nice about me to your best friend?"Zara's face showed no emotion. "How can I make up something that isn't true?"The officer sensed something strange and turned to her. "Ms. Lowry, your friend called the police, saying you're being held against your will. Is that true?""No."Zara could not admit it was true.If she did, even if the police could take her away today, she could not save her mother. In that case, what would be the point of going back to Yosef?However, Cecil thought Zara was scared into silence by Yosef. "Zara, we're all here, and so are the police. You don't have to be afraid. Just tell us the truth!"She then co
They settled into a coffee shop, and Cecil blurted out, "Zara, are you really pregnant?"Charvi was right behind Zara, who was at a loss for words.Shelby, quick to pick up on Zara's discomfort, flagged down a waiter."Could you bring a cappuccino to that table over there? Ms. Holland, why don't you sit at that table? My treat."It was a clever way to give them some space.Charvi glanced at the table that was not too far away. She got the hint and moved to the table. She was still within earshot but far enough to give them a moment of privacy.Even with Charvi keeping an eye on her, Zara felt a bit more at ease with some space between them. She could finally ask Shelby about the one thing that was on her mind, "Shelby, what pregnancy symptoms are you experiencing?""Why do you want to know?"Shelby paused to think. "I never liked sour stuff before, but now that I'm pregnant, I can't get enough of it. I always have sour candy with me. I crave weird things too. I also get tired a
The doorbell chimed. It was the second visitor to East Coast today.It was Wilder, with a stack of papers in hand. "Yosef!"Yosef came downstairs. He had not gone to work today and was dressed simply in a black long-sleeve shirt and dress pants. His neck looked lean and defined.Wilder threw the papers on the coffee table and plopped down on the couch. He looked around and asked, "Ms. Lowry isn't here?""Her friends stopped by and took her out for a walk. It's good for her to get out. If she stays in all the time, it'll seem like I'm keeping her prisoner," Yosef said calmly as he picked up the papers and sat on the other couch to read.Wilder stretched out his legs and rested his arms on his knees. He nodded toward the papers in Yosef's hands. "Yosef, I thought we were done with this. Why do I have to find information on Lukas and his gang again?"Yosef was looking at the files about the kidnappers who had taken Zara."Zara told me about what happened that night, and something d
Wilder was caught off guard and stumbled in as Zara pulled him!Zara quickly pressed the button to close the elevator doors, and they shut firmly behind him. Wilder was left looking stunned.With a curious heart and no time for him to think, Zara stepped closer. She narrowed the space between them.Zara's hair fluttered in the air as if dancing when they suddenly got close. Wilder, for the first time ever, felt a rush of panic and quickly stepped back until he bumped into the elevator wall. He looked down at her, and she gazed up at him. She was stunning, with soft eyebrows and light lips. Her bare skin was so clear and bright. Her features were not perfect, but together, they were just right. Her eyes were the best part—sharp and clear, oh-so captivating. It was April in Starville, and the days were getting warmer. Zara was wearing a simple white sweater that showed off her graceful neck. Her skin was so delicate that you could see the blue veins, almost as if they would brea
Zara had expected Yosef to procrastinate when it came to taking her to the hospital to help her mother with bathing and changing clothes. She had mentally prepared herself to argue with him if necessary.However, the next morning during breakfast, Yosef surprised her by suggesting that they go to the hospital after work in the evening. That unexpected prompt left Zara's rehearsed lines stuck in her throat.She managed only a hesitant hum.Yosef could clearly sense Zara's thoughts and chuckled. "I'm not as unreliable as you think."To that, Zara replied, "Truly noble individuals don't constantly emphasize their nobility. It's those who lack something who feel the need to overemphasize their qualities."Yosef glanced up at her.He said slowly, "You used to only snap back at me when you were sick and not feeling well. Now, you snap back no matter what I say. Wow, you've really gotten more temperamental."Suddenly, Zara remembered Shelby mentioning that after becoming pregnant, many
A nurse came with water and a towel, offering to help. Zara thanked her but said, "I can manage on my own."The nurse glanced at Yosef for approval. He nodded, and the nurse stepped out.While unfastening the buttons on Sharon's gown, Zara spoke without emotion, "Mr. Webb, please look away."Yosef hesitated briefly before stepping outside. No sooner had he left than his phone rang. It was Wilder."Hey, Yosef. I visited Lukas at the detention center today to talk about that matter."Yosef glanced back at Zara, who was busy helping Sharon clean up. He then moved to the hallway window. "Yeah, and?"As Yosef moved away, Zara quickly stopped tending to Sharon and dashed to the door, trying to figure out the lock code.She tried everything she could think of that mattered to Yosef—his birthday, her birthday, even the anniversary of Azure Cloud Group. However, the door would not budge.Not knowing how much time she had before Yosef returned, Zara kept trying. Luckily, the door did not
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