Esther watched with concern as Bradley turned to leave, and she couldn't help but ask, "Is everything okay? Take care of yourself."Bradley replied with a cold smile, "There's something at the company I need to attend to. I'll be back later."Esther stood under the orange lights, her eyes filled with worry that flickered like shining stars.After Bradley entered the elevator, Esther washed her hands with Melinda's help and sat at the dining table with Felix. They enjoyed a sumptuous dinner prepared by Melinda."Felix, it's just Mommy now. Can you tell me secretly if you're happy at kindergarten?"Esther had watched a surveillance video where Felix seemed out of place among the other children. He appeared reluctant to join in their games and interactions. Although the teacher had tried to encourage him, he would become isolated as soon as the teacher looked away.Felix insisted, "Mommy, I'm really, really super happy."Esther looked at her son, sensing his hesitation to express h
At the hospital.Scott placed Liliane in a private ward, which eased Leah's worries. Initially, Leah was worried that Scott would find out that Liliane had a congenital heart condition, as some things but the condition of one's health could barely be concealed.Hiding the condition could lead to Scott making a misdiagnosis and potentially have serious and unpredictable consequences.Leah had two reasons for transferring Liliane to this hospital. Firstly, Scott, like Wilson, was a cardiac specialist. Secondly, it was a private hospital under the Warner Group, ensuring better confidentiality and minimizing disruptions to Liliane's recovery."Dr. Holden, regarding my daughter's condition..." Leah began, her concern evident.Scott maintained a professional demeanor as he spoke. "Based on Ms. Anstey's current condition, a heart transplant is the best treatment option."Leah was well aware that a heart transplant was the optimal choice for Liliane. However, the challenge lay in finding
Leah grasped Liliane's hand firmly and spoke solemnly. "Liliane, don't concern yourself with someone who is no longer alive. Right now, the most important thing is for you to focus on your health and become a beautiful bride.""But Mom, Bradley and Esther are back together. Will he still marry me?""He will." Leah's gaze turned fierce, her voice suddenly cold. "He will marry you."She had publicly announced Bradley and Liliane's impending wedding, so there was no turning back now.Bradley arrived at the door of the ward and lightly tapped on it.Thinking it was a nurse, Leah said, "Come in."Bradley, composed and dignified, entered as he pushed the door open.Worry flashed in Leah and Liliane's eyes upon seeing Bradley's sudden appearance. They were unsure if he had overheard their earlier conversation."Brad," Liliane sweetly called out.Bradley's indifferent gaze fell upon Liliane's pale face, revealing the signs of her illness that he had never noticed before. She had alway
Leah's voice turned cold as she interrupted Liliane's proposal, "No, I will never allow Esther to tarnish your wedding.""Mom," Liliane sweetly coaxed.Leah's tone remained cold as she continued. "There's no room for discussion on this matter."Bradley smirked, his gaze filled with mockery. He spoke with icy words. "Liliane, if that's your wish, I will allow Esther to be present at the wedding."Liliane's joy was evident as her smile bloomed. "That's great!"She wanted Esther to be there at her wedding with Bradley. She wanted Esther to know that no matter what schemes or plots she used, Bradley would always belong to her—Liliane.Bradley looked at Liliane for a moment and then turned to Leah. "Regardless of your awareness of Dr. Birch's case, you are still involved. I suggest you stay at the hospital and let the wedding planning company handle the rest.""Okay," Liliane readily agreed but hesitated when she thought of the wedding dress. She voiced her concerns. "But don't I nee
Liliane's heart brimmed with satisfaction as she envisioned her wedding with Bradley as the ultimate solution to rid herself of the bothersome presence of Esther and Felix. Her life would be smooth sailing with their departure, victorious in every aspect.Bradley addressed Leah in a cold tone that lacked the humility expected of a son-in-law toward his mother-in-law. "Please take care of Liliane, Mrs. Anstey."He carried himself with an air of superiority, emitting a strange contradiction.The seamless progression of events made Leah's temples throb uncontrollably. Suddenly, an important question struck her mind—had Esther and Bradley already divorced?"Mr. Warner, your divorce certificate..."A sinister glint blossomed in Bradley's eyes as he gazed at Leah, calmly stating, "Esther has signed the divorce papers, and the lawyers are handling the proceedings."Liliane was also aware of Esther signing the divorce papers. She held Leah's hand and coquettishly remarked, "Mom, Brad doe
Bradley had entrusted all the wedding arrangements to the wedding planning company. Initially, the company had been worried about the possibility of receiving a lawyer's letter from the legal department of the Warner Group due to the leaked wedding details.However, now that they had received Bradley's delegation, they breathed a sigh of relief and guaranteed that no similar leaks would occur.Upon Bradley's return to Primus Mansion from the hospital, he found Felix already bathed and reading a picture book with Esther."Daddy!" Felix exclaimed as he spotted Bradley. He rushed toward him with outstretched arms, wanting to be carried.Reluctantly, Bradley lifted Felix up, his demeanor distant as he addressed Esther, "Since your foot is injured, you should sleep alone tonight. I'll take Felix to rest."Felix pouted and used his sweet voice to plead, "Daddy, I want to sleep with you and Mommy tonight too.""No," Bradley flatly refused.Felix looked at Esther with a huff and softly
Inside the hall was the fashion designer Anna Vanderbilt's personal exhibition, showcasing her decades of work. The exhibition featured a wide range of designs, including seasonal wear, casual wear, fashion pieces, high-end custom creations, and wedding dresses. It encompassed clothing for women from childhood to adulthood."Anna, Mr. and Mrs. Warner have arrived!" announced the assistant.Spotting Anna standing at the show's focal point, Esther observed her elegant black fitted dress, radiating a soft shimmer. Anna's hair was styled in an intricate updo, revealing a graceful neck and flawless makeup. She wore a valuable jade bangle on her wrist.Esther couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity as she gazed at Anna, who seemed to feel the same way."Mrs. Warner, have we met before?" Anna inquired.Esther shook her head, responding crisply. "If I had the pleasure of meeting someone as remarkable as you, Anna, I certainly wouldn't forget."Anna's expression momentarily froze, b
Esther observed Anna carefully as she helped her with the wedding dress in the mirror. After a while, she shook her head gently. "We've never met before."If Esther had encountered such a graceful artist like Anna, there was no way she would have forgotten it."Perhaps it's just my imagination." Anna glanced once again at the butterfly birthmark on Esther's right shoulder. She smiled faintly and said, "You look stunning in this wedding dress, Mrs. Warner."As a designer, Anna had strict requirements for her creations. Every piece of fabric, thread, and diamond had been meticulously examined countless times.This wedding dress represented all of Anna's hard work. After designing and making it, she had been unable to find a suitable model. However, when Esther put on this intricate and magnificent dress, Anna was instantly amazed.It seemed as if the dress had been tailor-made for Esther, fitting perfectly in terms of bust, waist, and hips. It was neither too loose nor too tight, fl
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