"Uncle Oliver," Sadie called out.Oliver responded with a faint hum and casually said, "Go have fun by yourself."He headed straight to his study, turned on his computer, and searched for news related to Bradley and Esther.Oliver made a call. "It's me. Find Jasper Searle's phone number for me."A minute later, Oliver received Jasper's mobile number and dialed it, but Jasper's phone remained unreachable.Oliver made another call. "It's me. Arrange a flight for me immediately."There were numerous news articles and stories about Esther online—some true, some false, and some a mix of both. Oliver also discovered that Faye had entrusted Esther to a man named Billy Anstey. What surprised him was why Faye hadn't sent Esther back to the Quills. Instead, she had entrusted her to a man unrelated to the Quills.Oliver knew he would have to wait until he met Billy to uncover the truth.-Bradley stayed in the area where Esther had jumped into the sea. This was also the spot where Felix
It was quite normal for someone like Jasper to have several phones. As he inserted the SIM card into one of them, the phone suddenly started ringing."Hello, who's this?" Jasper answered.Relieved to hear Jasper's voice, Oliver went straight to the point. "Hello, I'm Oliver Quill. I'd like to talk to you about Esther Quill."Jasper inquired, "What's your relationship with Esther?""I believe she is my older sister's daughter," Oliver replied with a hint of regret. If he hadn't lost track of Esther previously, perhaps the tragedy surrounding her wouldn't have occurred."Mr. Quill, I'm not in the mood to discuss Esther's matters with you at the moment. However, I can arrange for Esther's adoptive father to speak with you about the circumstances of her adoption.""Thank you, Mr. Searle," Oliver expressed his gratitude.Not in a rush to meet Jasper, Oliver made an appointment to meet Billy at a hotel.After ending the call with Oliver, Jasper raised an eyebrow and asked coldly, "Ke
"Mr. Quill, I'm not familiar with Faye." Billy coughed lightly and explained in a gentle tone, "I had a secret crush on her when I was young, but we lost contact after graduating from university. Then one day, she suddenly reached out to me and entrusted Esther to my care.""Please provide all the details of when she entrusted Esther to you," Oliver requested.Billy had assumed that Faye had no other relatives, which was why she had entrusted Esther to him. However, Oliver's presence challenged his previous assumption."After I received her call, I went to the hospital and saw her in the hospital room..."After listening to Billy's account in its entirety, Oliver felt a sense of dissonance in every aspect. If Faye truly wanted to ensure Esther's safety, she could have entrusted her to the Quills. Regardless of Esther's biological father, as long as she returned to the Quills, she could have grown up safe and sound.However, according to Oliver's knowledge, Esther had not been livi
"Mr. Quill, this is Jasper."Oliver calmly requested, "I'd like to see Esther.""Mr. Quill, it's widely known that Esther committed suicide by jumping into the sea," Jasper denied having any knowledge of Esther's situation.Oliver didn't press the issue and replied indifferently, "Then please let Esther know that Faye is my elder sister. It's her choice whether she wants to meet me or not."Oliver had scrolled through all the content on the ThereWithYou account. He saw the innocent infatuation of a young boy and firmly believed that such a person wouldn't just stand by and watch Esther commit suicide in front of him.They had to resort to this method to dispel Bradley's suspicion, fully aware that he might repeat his actions."Mr. Quill, you may have misunderstood. It's widely known that Esther committed suicide by jumping into the sea!" Jasper's voice lacked any emotion, not even a hint of panic.Oliver chuckled lightly. "Esther is lucky to have a friend like you. It's late now
The nurses noticed Liam's madness and quickly rushed to pull him away from Liliane. Instead of intervening, the production staff held their cameras to capture all the chaos for publicity's sake.Suddenly, Liam fell heavily to the floor with a loud 'bang', blood pouring from the back of his head.The fight came to an abrupt end, with Liam injured and Liliane fainting in fright.-Esther sat on a chair on the terrace, enjoying the food the housekeeper brought. She found herself on a deserted island, surrounded by darkness, with only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.The sea breeze brushed through her long hair as if breaking invisible shackles. She inhaled the air of freedom, feeling the gentle sea breeze, and a sense of ease and pleasure enveloped her entire being."Ms. Quill, there's a video call from Mr. Searle," the housekeeper informed, turning on the tablet and placing it in front of Esther.Esther looked at Jasper's face on the screen and asked with concern, "J
This version of Esther captivated Jasper."Even if we do a DNA test and you're not a Quill, you have nothing to lose." Jasper pondered, speaking gently. "In that case, why don't you return to the Quills first? I'll make sure Mr. Oliver keeps your identity confidential. I'll continue preparing for your funeral here."If it turns out you are a Quill, you can attend the funeral openly, and there won't be a need to erase your identity. If you're not a Quill, the funeral will proceed as planned, and I'll arrange a new identity for you to go abroad."Jasper had taken care of every possible arrangement.After thinking it over and confirming there were no other concerns, Esther agreed, saying, "Let's do as you suggested."Jasper glanced at the time and softly said, "For now, I won't video call you. If Bradley notices anything unusual, it could cause more trouble.""Okay."After ending the call with Jasper, Esther used the tablet to search for information on Oliver. Perhaps due to Oliver
"The truth is, Mr. Felix isn't in a vegetative state," the doctor explained earnestly. "He woke up several times during his treatment, although the awakenings were brief. Due to his fever and prolonged time in the sea, he developed pediatric pneumonia. We're treating him, and we expect him to recover soon."Upon seeing Felix, Esther had already prepared herself for the worst. She had thought he was in a coma, but now that he wasn't, what was there to fear? Moreover, finding him now was already a cause for joy and comfort."Thank you, doctor," Esther said."It's my duty," the doctor replied gently.With that, the doctor and the housekeeper quietly left Esther and Felix to reunite, exiting the room.Esther held Felix's small hand inside the room and gently caressed his face, speaking softly. "Felix, it's Mommy. Mommy has found you. You scared Mommy to death."Even though finding Felix was a happy occasion, tears continued to stream down Esther's face. No, to be precise, they were t
Kevin stared blankly at Bradley's cold face, wanting to emphasize that holding Esther's funeral implied acknowledging her death, regardless of Jasper's rights."Speak! How did you help that woman escape!?" Bradley roared.The maid, who was kneeling on the floor, trembled as she looked at Bradley. She had previously been captivated by Bradley's looks and wealth, eager to climb the social ladder, but now she realized the man before her was a demon."Bradley!" Kevin endured it for a moment but couldn't help speaking up. "She has a name. Her name is Esther. She... She's not a woman you should insult."Bradley casually picked up a glass and threw it at Kevin. The glass shattered on the marble floor, shards flying in all directions. One small piece grazed Kevin's face, leaving a bloody cut."Shut up!"Kevin taunted, "Shut up? It's because I've kept quiet for too long that Esther sought death! Bradley, ask yourself. Is Esther someone to be insulted? What has she done to deserve such tre
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