If Esther's mother were still alive, all the storms in the world would not pour on her because her mother would stand in front of her."Esther, if you're worried about these things, you can remain anonymous. Just send me your completed design drafts, and I'll handle the operation. Besides, as designers, mystery is also a kind of charm. How about I try these modified design drafts of yours during my solo exhibition this time?"Esther repeatedly declined. "No, these are your designs.""No, they're our designs," Anna insisted.Anna scanned all the sketches into the computer and saved them as digital files."Esther, you must see with your own eyes how popular your design drafts are in the exhibition..."Esther felt a slight unease in her heart but also a hidden sense of anticipation. She wondered whether she could pursue a career in design if her designs became truly popular."Then I'll give it a try."Just then, Esther's phone rang.Esther glanced at the caller ID and immediately
Upon seeing Esther, who was tall, lean and beautiful, Megan immediately looked down upon her.In Megan's mind, Esther was an unfamiliar face in high society gatherings, suggesting she couldn't be an important figure. Megan even perceived her as someone who was kept as a pet canary by some men."So you're this brat's..."Felix appeared as if he were about to charge at Megan, but Esther held him back. "Felix, remember, don't argue with idiots. You'll lose your grace."Esther settled down on the genuine leather sofa with Felix cradled in her arms. She cast a cold gaze upon Megan and her son.Before arriving, Esther had reviewed the surveillance footage. She had clearly witnessed the entire sequence of events, where Megan's chubby son bullied Felix. Esther felt relieved that despite Felix not having attended school before, he wasn't the type to be bullied without standing up for himself. He fearlessly fought back."Miss, after reviewing the surveillance footage, it was this boy who t
Megan hesitated but ultimately decided to follow her child's words. "My son said it was your son—""Ma'am, the pen is in your son's pocket. We can easily determine the owner through an investigation," Esther replied, holding Felix securely. "If you don't trust me or the kindergarten, we can call the police right now to resolve this matter."Megan retrieved the pen from her son's pocket and realized its value when she saw the string of zeros on the purchase receipt."You claim this pen belongs to you. Where is the evidence?" Esther's face was cold, and she spoke in a firm voice. "Hello, police? I would like to report a crime!"Not wanting to waste any more words, Esther immediately called Bradley after contacting the police."Darling, I'm at the kindergarten. Please send a lawyer."While Esther was on the call, Megan also contacted her husband. "Honey, our son is being bullied at school!"Soon, the police arrived, and Esther explained the situation while the police reviewed the s
Barry was instantly stunned by Bradley's single sentence, causing him to stammer, "M-Mr… Mr… Mr. Warner."Upon seeing Bradley, Felix, who was in Esther's arms, exclaimed ecstatically, "Daddy!"Bradley took a seat beside Esther, exuding a chilling aura.Barry couldn't believe that his son had provoked Bradley's son. Cold sweat covered his chubby forehead. Megan, observing her once-arrogant husband now meek in front of Bradley, had a foreboding feeling.Timothy, unaware of the situation, smugly taunted Felix while being held by Megan, "Scared, huh! My dad is super awesome!"Felix glared at him and retorted, "My dad is the most powerful in the world!""My dad is fat and can beat up ten dads like yours—"Megan quickly covered her son's mouth upon witnessing the menacing expression on Bradley's face. Timothy's voice was muffled as he kicked and struggled in his mother's arms.Barry wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and humbly apologized, "Mr. Warner, I didn't know he was your s
The Marsden family's behavior at the kindergarten had also annoyed the staff. It had all started with Timothy snatching something from Felix. Despite an explanation of the situation, the Marsdens stubbornly defended themselves, relying on their wealth and disregarding others. Little did they know that there were people in this world more formidable than them.Bradley glanced at the police officer and made a request, "Children's lies are harmless chatter, but when parents support them, it becomes slander. I request that you enforce the law in this matter."Megan's face turned pale as she looked at her husband with despair. "Honey..."Barry wore a cold expression and sternly commanded, "Shut up!"The police took Megan away, awaiting the full force of the Warner Group's legal department.As for the mischievous Timothy, he instantly became frightened upon seeing his mother being taken away. He sat silently on the leather sofa, glaring at Felix with resentment.Barry grabbed Timothy,
Barry felt as if he was plunged into an icy abyss upon hearing Bradley's words. A chilling sensation enveloped him as if an invisible hand gripped his throat. Weakness overcame his body, causing him to collapse on the floor. Through tear-blurred eyes, he could only catch a glimpse of the Warners receding into the distance.Only when the Warners were completely out of sight did Barry, drenched in a cold sweat, weakly sit up on the floor. He panted heavily as if narrowly escaping death.As Bradley, Esther, and Felix settled inside the car, Felix obediently positioned himself beside Esther, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Bradley."Are you afraid of me?" Bradley observed Felix's fearful expression and couldn't help but soften his gaze. "Why are you afraid of me?""She said Daddy doesn't like children who misbehave," Felix cautiously replied, his eyes glancing at Bradley with unease."She said?" Bradley caught on, realizing that the "she" Felix was referring to was Liliane."
The principal observed Felix, who sat between Bradley and Esther, with a slight frown. He sought confirmation once again. "Mr. and Mrs. Warner, are you certain that you want him to take the elementary school exam at such a young age?"Bradley replied in a deep voice, "Let him attempt the test papers first.""Very well." The principal placed two first-grade test papers in front of Felix.Felix glanced at them casually and remarked, "I want the ones from third grade."Surprised, the principal kindly warned, "They might be a bit challenging for you.""Mr. Principal, I want to give it a try," Felix said.With no other option, the principal replaced the papers with two third-grade test papers and presented them to Felix.Swiftly, Felix began answering the questions using a pencil.Starting with the math paper, Felix demonstrated his remarkable speed and accuracy. Each of his answers was correct, leaving the principal astonished. While the principal initially had little confidence in
After Felix started attending elementary school, Esther and Bradley became even busier. Esther would help out at Anna's exhibition during the day and then come home to study with Felix in the evening.Felix used to think that the children in kindergarten were childish and boring. It wasn't until he became a fifth-grade elementary school student that he discovered the fascinating ocean of knowledge.His private school was the city's best, with most of his classmates coming from affluent families. The annual tuition fee alone equaled the price of an average person's house. Moreover, there were study trips during winter and summer vacations. Given the wealthy background of the students' families, education was given special emphasis.Felix, who had always considered himself a genius, became more humble and started studying diligently in this environment.Esther would play documentaries in multiple languages to develop Felix's language skills while helping him with his homework.Bradl
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