The mineral water bottle missed Esther but hit Bradley's back, causing the liquid inside to splash on his clothes and release a white smoke.The bodyguards guarding Esther and Bradley quickly reacted, restraining the girl who threw the bottle."Call the police," Bradley said, removing his coat with a dark expression.The young girl glared at Esther, her eyes filled with malice. "How can someone as wretched as you have such good luck?""Are you a fan of Lee?" Esther asked, observing the girl's almost frantic appearance without any sympathy.The girl seemed well-educated for her age, yet she resorted to such extreme actions. Bradley had happened to shield Esther, preventing her face from being ruined by the unexpected attack."Who's Lee?" Bradley asked."He's a singer-dancer who recently returned from Rokea. He's currently in the hospital recording a program with Liliane, who is also hospitalized," Kevin explained."This is a hospital, not a marketplace," Bradley said sternly to
"Are you proud of yourself?" Bradley asked, his voice dripping with darkness.Esther scoffed, retorting, "I wouldn't dare step out of line in front of you, Mr. Warner. After all, I'm merely a confined tool to bear your child."For some reason, Bradley felt a sudden pang in his heart as he looked at Esther in her current state. He couldn't comprehend why Esther resisted so strongly when all he wanted was for Felix to return to his side."Give me the concert tickets," Bradley demanded.Confused, Xara handed the tickets to Bradley. He glanced at the program and the performing orchestra listed on them and asked, "Dr. Sadler, who gave you these two tickets?""Anna, the fashion designer," Xara replied.A mocking expression appeared on Bradley's handsome face. "Are you sure it was her and not Jasper?"Kevin leaned in closer, curiosity piqued as he examined the contents of the concert tickets. With excitement, he exclaimed, "Bradley, this is the renowned symphony orchestra from abroad.
Esther's body bore numerous old and new crisscrossing scars. These scars marred her perfection but also added a touch of destructive beauty."Mrs. Warner, there's a new scar removal technology available now. Would you like to try it?" the salon consultant suggested. "No need," Esther coldly rejected, gazing at her scars in the mirror.Esther wanted these scars to remain on her body. Every time she looked in the mirror, they served as a reminder not to be so foolish. That man had left scars on her body and in her heart that could never be erased.While cosmetic procedures could potentially remove the physical scars, the wounds in her heart would remain forever, unable to be wiped away.The salon consultant looked regretfully at the scars on Esther's body, acknowledging that life was fair. Esther had been bestowed with utmost beauty, but it came with a tragic past.After a complete styling, the salon consultant led Esther to Bradley. "Mr. Warner, Mrs. Warner's styling is complete.
They were simply not in the prime seating spots because they lacked special access.Just three minutes after sitting down, Esther stood up again. Bradley grabbed her hand and asked, "Where are you going?""The restroom. Are you coming with me?" Esther sneered.Bradley stood up gracefully and replied nonchalantly, "I'll accompany you.""Suit yourself."Bradley accompanied Esther to the entrance of the women's restroom.Standing at the entrance, Esther looked at Bradley with a mocking smile and asked playfully, "Mr. Warner, would you like to go in first to check if my informant is inside?""I'll wait for you at the entrance." Bradley stood not far away, keeping his eyes on the restroom door.A girl in a princess-style dress approached, surrounded by a group of people.When Twinkle reached Bradley, she stopped and looked up with her cute and innocent face, asking in a slightly aloof yet sweet voice, "Mister, are you a pervert?"Bradley glanced at the girl who was adored by every
Upon hearing Twinkle's words, Esther gently kissed her adorable little face, holding her face with both hands.Twinkle asked in a soft and tender voice, "Aunt Esther, why are you so beautiful?"Dressed up for the evening, Esther exuded an irresistible charm with her face, figure, and posture."Twinkle, it's time for your performance. You need to get ready," reminded the bodyguard standing nearby.Reluctantly, Twinkle glanced at Esther and asked, "Should we take another photo together?""Sure!"Esther held Twinkle in her arms and instructed Bradley, who was nearby, "Bradley, take a photo of me and Twinkle."Bradley took out his phone and apathetically snapped a photo of them."Bye-bye, Aunt Esther…"The foreign female bodyguard took Twinkle from Esther's arms, and Twinkle waved her hand at Esther adorably.Even after the bodyguards took away Twinkle, Esther continued to gaze in the direction she had left. The warmth of Twinkle seemed to linger in her arms, a familiar and comfo
Bradley said, "Only if you behave and listen to me, Felix and Tinkerbell will come back."Upon hearing Bradley's almost insane words, Esther pushed him away, a touch of disgust in her gaze. "Bradley, it's you who needs to see a psychiatrist."He was severely sick.But it didn't matter. With the help of the maid, Esther would soon escape from this madman. A lunatic like Bradley didn't deserve her sacrifice—her dignity, her love—for him."Esther, I told you to behave. Don't you understand?" Bradley pressed Esther against the cold wall, his long legs blocking her way out.His eyes, filled with resentment, stared at Esther's beautiful face."Bradley, don't interrupt my enjoyment of the concert."Bradley frowned and asked softly, "You want to watch the concert?""Yes."He held Esther's chin and mockingly raised an eyebrow. "Then kiss me! Kiss me until I let you go!""Bradley, are you insane?" Esther was shocked.Staff members walked by the corridor from time to time, their heads
Liam shook his head and answered softly, "No, it won't."He had so many fans. How could he be responsible for the actions of each fan?Besides, it was the fan's own decision to throw the bottle at Esther. It had nothing to do with him. He had not instructed the fan to do such a thing, but... he darkly thought to himself that he wished the bottle had hit Esther right in the face.A heartless woman like Esther deserved to be disfigured. Once she was disfigured, she would experience the pain that Liliane had suffered."Enjoy the concert."Liliane put away her phone and watched the symphony orchestra on stage attentively. However, she could not help but think about the nurse who had attacked Esther.She had accidentally discovered that the extreme nurse was a fan of Liam. Because Liam treated her well, that fan had deliberately made things difficult for her too.Liliane understood what was going through that fan's mind. She was probably what they called a girlfriend fan, someone who
Esther struggled to break free from Bradley's grip, but her efforts were in vain."Esther, what do you want to do? Do you want to go backstage to see Twinkle?" Bradley asked."Yes, I want to see her." Esther glared at Bradley. "If you're worried I'll run away, come with me. There's no need for—""Esther, calm down. She's not your daughter. Stop directing your overflowing motherly love at everyone—"Ignoring the crowd at the concert hall's exit, Esther slapped Bradley."Shut up!"Observing that Esther and Bradley weren't as harmonious as she had imagined, Liliane felt a surge of pleasure. Since she had lost everything, why should Esther be so happy?Liliane chimed in. "Esther, causing a scene in public is embarrassing!"Esther glared at Liliane with resentment and scoffed, "Mind your own business!"Liliane felt even more delighted when she saw Esther getting angry. She casually rubbed salt in the wound and pretended to ask, "Did seeing Twinkle perform on stage remind you of you
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