In his younger, more arrogant days, Billy never foresaw that Esther's presence would cause pain for Leah. He never thought that Esther and Liliane, two sisters not related by blood, would fall for the same man and later become enemies because of him.Bradley was indifferent, stating, "Whether Esther is biologically related to you or not doesn't matter. As long as we're still married, she is my wife. I won't tolerate anyone interfering with her life."Billy opened his mouth, feeling helpless. He wanted to see Esther, to beg her, and plead with her. He wanted to remind her he had treated her well all these years. He hoped she would willingly leave Bradley and make Liliane's love come true."Mr. Warner, I beg you, let me go see her," Billy pleaded."No!" Bradley coldly retorted."I'll go see her, and I'll tell her... about her birth—""No." Bradley's eyes gleamed with fierce killing intent. "She's sick, and you cannot go and upset her.""She's sick?" Billy asked with concern, "What
After hanging up, Bradley glanced at Billy and swiftly walked out of the winter garden.Billy caught up with Bradley and pleaded, filled with sorrow, "Mr. Warner, I beg you! Please, don't hurt my daughter. Her biggest dream is to marry you! I—"Bradley stared at him and said, "The women who want to marry me can form a line stretching from Earth to the moon."Billy fell silent.-While Bradley and Billy rushed to the hospital, Leah carefully adjusted the blanket covering Liliane, who lay on the hospital bed. Sorrow welled up in her eyes.Liliane's condition had deteriorated once more, but Leah remained unwavering in her determination to protect her daughter. Liliane's fervent desire was to marry Bradley, and Leah was determined to make it a reality, no matter the obstacles and intrigues that lay ahead. And then there was Esther's heart.'If... Just if…' she thought.If Esther's heart was a compatible match for Liliane, Leah was prepared to go to any lengths, even if it meant e
Naturally, Bradley did not suspect that the doctor would joke about such a serious condition. "Prepare a copy of her medical records for me," he said.Leah looked at Wilson worriedly. Wilson calmly exchanged a reassuring look with her and said gently, "Alright."The three of them left the doctor's office, and Bradley went straight to Liliane's hospital room.Liliane looked at Bradley with a mix of genuine and feigned emotions. "Brad, can I be discharged? I still want to meet the wedding dress designer, Anna.""You don't need to worry about the wedding dress," replied Bradley.Bradley's expression showed no hint of pity or concern. If Clark and the psychologist, Xara, were there, they would quickly notice Bradley's differing attitudes towards Esther and Liliane's situations.Liliane's heart sank as a heavy feeling washed over her. She couldn't help but wonder why Bradley had stood her up earlier that day. Why were he and Felix with Esther?But all her thoughts condensed into one
Billy had never seen Bradley like this before. He seemed like a bloodthirsty demon crawling out of hell, his eyes shining with horrifying crimson."Mr. Warner!"Bradley's eyes were ruthless. He released his grip on Billy's collar, causing the latter to involuntarily lose strength in his legs and almost collapse on the floor."Get lost!"Billy could not understand Bradley's emotions. Why the sudden change? However, he did not dare to be in the same elevator with a Bradley like that either. Thus, he hastily fled and returned to the hospital ward."Why? Why did you lie to him?" Billy was extremely fearful. He had done nothing, yet Bradley was already so terrifying.If Bradley found out they had lied to him about Liliane's condition, would he spare them?To the massive Warner Group, Billy's company was nothing more than a tiny boat in the financial market. With a flick of Bradley's fingers, his company would go bankrupt!Leah walked up to Billy and slapped him hard. "Are you awake
'A b*stard like Esther should die like that wh*re Faye! No! She should give her heart to Liliane before that!' Leah snarled inwardly.-Bradley took Liliane's heart report and went to see Scott at the hospital under the Warner Group."Mr. Warner," greeted Scott.Bradley shoved Liliane's medical record to him and asked calmly, "Take a look at this medical record. Can it be treated?""Let me take a look." Scott carefully examined the case file and replied, "Based solely on this medical record, I believe a heart transplant is the best and most direct treatment option. However, it's widely known that the chances of a successful heart transplant are very low because not all hearts are compatible. Each person only has one heart.""Study the report. I'll arrange an appointment for you to meet the patient," said Bradley.Scott glanced at the signature on the medical report and said warmly, "Mr. Warner, Dr. Birch mentioned here is my senior. I'll contact him.""Is Dr. Birch the one who
Bradley gazed deeply into Esther's eyes, which sparkled like a vast, starry sky, completely captivating him."I..." Bradley hesitated upon hearing Esther's question. After a moment, he responded slowly, "I will stay here too.""Really? Really? Really?" The adorable Felix couldn't believe it and repeated the question three times like a parrot when he heard his father would also be staying."Of course, it's true," Esther assured, holding Felix's little hand. "Daddy never lies.""That's fantastic!" Felix bounced joyfully around Esther and Bradley like a woodland elf. "So, can we sleep together tonight? I really, really, really want to sleep between Daddy and Mommy!"He had seen children on TV sleeping with their parents, and his father would also read him lovely bedtime stories. He couldn't have been happier."Mommy! Mommy!" Felix happily bounced in front of Esther, tilted his small face, and asked cutely, "Do you see bubbles on my head?""Huh?" Esther was momentarily puzzled by Fe
In the beginning, as Thomas set up their new home, he intentionally prepared two children's rooms next to the master bedroom.One room was decorated in calming blue, like an underwater world, while the other had a princess castle theme with pink shades.This was Thomas' heartfelt wish: for Esther and Bradley to live in harmony, raise their children, and enjoy a happy life together.As Bradley walked past the room with the pink princess castle, meant for a little girl, he instinctively peeked inside. Thoughts of Tinkerbell's DNA paternity test crossed his mind, causing a dull ache.Tinkerbell was gone, but Pixie was still around. Someday, the right owner would claim this pink princess castle.Primus Mansion welcomed its young owner for the first time after renovation. Felix, the young owner, pushed open the bedroom door and exclaimed, "Wow! Mommy, Daddy, is this my room? I love it!"Felix was like a joyful elf exploring his room.Tilting his head, Felix gazed at the sparkling sta
Felix was startled and bit Bradley's arm hard.Bradley quickly came to his senses. He let go of Esther's delicate neck as if he had been shocked and avoided her teary eyes. "I didn't mean to," he said hoarsely.Felix looked at the red mark on Esther's fragile neck caused by Bradley's grip. Tears welled up in his clear eyes, and his heart ached. "Mommy, does it hurt?"Esther felt the throbbing pain in her neck, but she softly reassured Felix, "Mommy is not hurt.""You're lying!" Felix looked at the red mark on her fair skin and couldn't help but shed tears. "It clearly hurts a lot. Daddy is a bad guy!"Esther hugged Felix and gently explained, "Daddy was lost in thought. When Mommy suddenly appeared, Daddy thought she was a bad person, so he defended himself."Tears rolled down Felix's little face. "Daddy, is that true?"Bradley looked at the affectionate scene between Felix and Esther and nodded gently. "Yes.""Daddy, you can't treat Mommy like that anymore. Mommy is Mommy. She
Bradley's brazen words made Gabriel raise an eyebrow, and his scrutinizing gaze on Bradley intensified.Unfazed by Gabriel, Bradley calmly stated, "Mr. Sinclair, when I visited Shane recently, he handed me some video footage. It showed Esther being assaulted and abused in prison, with the perpetrators claiming it was my order. I've always dared to own up to my actions. What I've done, I won't shirk from. What I haven't done, I won't admit."Gabriel had seen the videos online. Even though Bradley had obscured the protagonist's face in the footage, he knew it was Esther. He had believed entrusting Esther to Thomas would ensure her safety, only to discover how fate twisted things."Bradley, I'll assume your words are true," Gabriel began. "Then tell me, if those people who assaulted Esther in prison weren't influenced by someone else, who put her in prison? Have you forgotten how you, in your irrational madness, expected a woman carrying your children to pay the price? Or do you believ
When Bradley brought up his grandfather again, he felt utterly unfilial as a grandson."Your grandfather's greatest wish before he passed was for you and Esther to live peacefully and happily. Sadly, all he witnessed was discord and enmity between you as a couple."Gabriel understood better than anyone that Bradley, in his youthful arrogance, felt that everything and everyone should conform to his desires. When Thomas compelled Bradley to marry Esther, almost like an arranged marriage, his rebellious nature surfaced."I've failed my grandfather's hopes," Bradley admitted with a bitter taste in his mouth.During quiet, solitary nights, he revisited memories of the past repeatedly.He hadn't desired that marriage back then. However, since he had promised his grandfather to marry Esther, he should have genuinely treated her as a wife.Despite the subsequent events not aligning with his wishes, he was painfully aware that if he hadn't been arrogant and unwilling to listen to Esther's
Esther wasn't pleasant toward Bradley. If she had evidence, she would gladly send him to prison to experience the joy of life behind bars.Bradley gazed blankly at Esther's stunning face, a hint of indescribable sorrow in his eyes. Those deep eyes resembled a chilly cold spring."Not only do you want to chop off my hand, but you also want my life, right?"Esther gestured a slice across her neck at Bradley with her hand, then turned away to tell Logan, "Let's go. Don't waste time on this.""Okay."With languid steps, Esther walked into the elevator. Once they were inside, the elevator doors shut.Outside the elevator, Bradley watched Esther and Logan like they were two puzzle pieces that matched perfectly. Instantly, he felt an unbearable heartache, as if his heart was being torn apart.He instinctively reached out to steady himself against the wall, observing the numbers on the elevator panel decrease until it stopped at the ground floor.It took a while before Bradley recovere
Throughout the entire night, neither Esther nor Logan had shut their eyes.Feeling their eyes strain, they applied eye drops. It wasn't until Esther noticed someone who shouldn't have been there on the surveillance footage."Logan, take a look at this."Perplexed, Logan asked, "What's going on?""Do you think this person looks like Shirley?"Esther was particularly sharp in discerning a woman's physique. She could immediately tell that the woman being supported by a man due to her intoxication bore a striking resemblance to Shirley."Let me see."Logan zoomed in on the surveillance footage, carefully comparing it with the footage containing Shirley. Physically, the two women indeed looked very similar.There was just one question... How would they confirm if she was Shirley?"Esther, stay here and keep watching the surveillance. I'll retrieve other surveillance footage.""Okay."Logan and Esther divided their tasks. Suspecting that the intoxicated woman might be Shirley, Est
Logan and Esther exchanged a glance. They fixed their intense gazes on Jason's face, unable to discern if he was smirking or provoking them."Mr. Taft, the evidence you seek will come."Jason scoffed. He seemed to transform into a different person as he put his glasses back on."Even if Shirley deceived me, I never wished harm upon her, let alone her death."I can consider your suspicions toward me as part of the investigation, but I hope that once everything is revealed, you can restore my innocence."I've said my piece. As long as Shirley hasn't divorced me, she remains my wife. I am obliged to cooperate in the investigation, and I hope you find her soon."Logan and Esther sensed something amiss with the first confrontation. They didn't say anything untoward until they exited the elevator and looked up at Jason's balcony outside.Jason stood on the balcony, looking at Logan and Esther and waving toward them.Logan and Esther looked at Jason before they turned and got into the
"She blocked me on all forms of contact at that time. I even tried contacting her through my colleagues' phones but found out she had blocked them, too. I thought she might be angry, so we should both calm down."Logan didn't speak and just listened quietly as Jason recounted the events of the case."I was angry that she blocked me. At my age, what's wrong with wanting a child? My parents were pushing for it, and I wondered if this marriage was what I wanted."Shirley is very beautiful. My friends and classmates say I'm lucky to have married her, but they don't know that beauty comes at a price."While my colleagues were buying properties, my wife kept changing bags. Her clothes, skincare products, shoes—everything was designer. To support her lifestyle, I work diligently, even taking extra freelance jobs to afford it."I thought I was a good husband and just wanted a child. What did I do wrong? If she had said that she didn't want a child after marriage in the first place, it wou
Gabriel took a long look at Esther, realizing more than anyone that Esther seemed to be heading toward a different extreme now. He wasn't certain if this shift in Esther's demeanor was good or bad.However, one thing was clear to him—the intersection of Esther and Bradley's lives resembled two lines crossing. After intersecting, they would drift further apart."Esther, you can investigate Bradley's criminal evidence. I won't object to that," Gabriel said with a stern face, emphasizing, "But ensure you complete your tasks on time and with quality.""Grandpa Gabriel, rest assured, I won't neglect my work."Gabriel nodded. "Go on then.""Alright." Esther stepped out of the office and approached Logan. "We can set off now.""Okay."Logan didn't inquire about Esther's conversation with Gabriel. Although they pretended to be engaged, Logan maintained a respectful distance from Esther. He wouldn't interfere much in her matters. However, he was aware that if she needed his help, he woul
Gabriel stated, "According to her husband, they argued before she went missing. He assumed she had returned to her parents' home and didn't inquire further since they often had cold spells for ten days to half a month. Their relatives and friends can testify to this."However, the cold spell extended to a month this time, which alarmed him. When he called her parents, they told him his wife never went home."Esther knew that the husband was often the first suspect when the wife went missing in cases like this."The wife bought a high-speed train ticket to her parents' home but didn't take the train back. The police traced her taking a ride-hailing car, and the driver claimed to have dropped her off on the street. The dashcam recording is proof. However, after that point, there's a blind spot in the surveillance footage. Usually, surveillance is kept for a certain period and gets overwritten after that."Logan asked, "What about the investigation on the missing woman's husband?""T
Esther rose, fixating on the distant scenery with clear eyes. "As long as he commits a crime, he'll leave traces."Logan was on the verge of speaking but was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone."Hello, Mr. Sinclair."Gabriel's voice sounded grave. "There's a new lead.""Alright, we'll be right there."Logan stood up, turning to Esther. "We'll meet at the locker room entrance in ten minutes.""Is there a new development?""Yes."For most girls, ten minutes might not suffice even for basic grooming. For Esther, it was just right. The only issue was her long hair. Time was too short, and she lacked the opportunity to blow-dry it. Her damp hair draped over her shoulders, slightly soaking her T-shirt.Logan kept his eyes on the road. "I'll drive. You can use a towel to dry your hair.""Okay."As Logan drove, Esther sat in the car, patting her hair dry with a towel. Her hair was thick, posing a challenge to dry with just a towel.Nevertheless, Esther refrained from openi