After ending the call with Esther, Xara looked at Steffan's medical records. She could not fathom how the once energetic Steffan had become the way he was now. Could it be that a certain thing had deteriorated after being unused for a long time?Xara couldn't help but smile ironically at the thought. It seemed highly improbable.Many women wished to be with Steffan. Who wouldn't want to reach the top? Perhaps it was these women who had, in their pursuit of securing their future, contributed to Steffan's present condition.With a deep breath, Xara steeled herself. Even if it was for Jacob's sake, she needed to set aside her pride and ask Steffan to have another child with her.-After a quick shower, Xara changed into feminine lingerie and donned a floral tea dress. She checked her appearance in the mirror, applied a touch of perfume behind her ears and on her wrists, and took another deep breath.Holding a bowl of soup, she gently rapped on the door to Steffan's study.Xara's he
Bradley and Kevin spent the entire night in the records room of the welfare institution. It had been so long that they struggled to confirm whether the twins in question were Bradley and Esther's daughters from the existing documents.To be cautious, Bradley and Kevin made copies of all the documents and planned to study them carefully.When Kevin left the welfare institution, he felt dizzy and drowsy."Kevin, since you work in the medical field, can you find out what happened to Esther in prison back then?" Bradley asked.Bradley hadn't slept all night and had bloodshot eyes.Kevin felt grateful to Esther and Bradley for their help, so he couldn't refuse. "I don't mind, but investigating something from five years ago won't be easy. I can't promise results."Bradley gazed at the vibrant sunrise on the horizon with a serious expression. "There must be some traces left. What happened five years ago must have left clues.""Alright," Kevin agreed, not wanting to argue. "Bradley, tak
"Even if your wife isn't the best, she still bore your children. Never mind that you can't be grateful for that, but you imprisoned her? Get lost! I'm not driving you anymore."Bradley got out of the car.The driver did not even take the fare and just left without a word. He even shared the news of Bradley's intention to appeal the divorce on the taxi drivers' radio channel.Bradley had never been angered like this before. How dare a mere driver mock him like that?He sat at the bus stop, watching the bustling morning crowd.A couple selling breakfast was busy behind the bus stop. Whenever they had a break, the man made sure the woman sat down to rest.Across the street, a young couple held hands with their young daughter.Suddenly, Bradley remembered that he and Esther had done the same thing with Felix. His gaze involuntarily softened as he watched the family of three disappear around the corner."Mister." A little girl with two braids approached Bradley. Her eyes were like t
Esther stayed awake the entire night, her mind filled with thoughts of her future. She had diligently jotted down her plans in a notebook. Now that she had custody of Felix, she was determined to provide a good upbringing for him alongside his adorable sisters, Sunshine and Twinkle.People on the Internet often claimed that children were financial burdens. Esther was about to embark on raising three children—no, four. She absently caressed her abdomen, where a new life had taken residence.She picked up the test report Jasper had given her, her eyes fixed on the HCG value. She took a deep breath, deciding to wait until her divorce from Bradley was officially processed before seeking prenatal care.Her phone rang on the table, and she glanced at the caller ID before cheerfully answering Tanya's call."Good morning, Ms. Hill."Tanya remained silent momentarily and then spoke with a serious tone. "Esther, I've just received word that Mr. Warner's legal team is preparing to file an ap
"Ms. Hill, I want this child."Although Tanya didn't fully agree with Esther's decision, she respected it."In that case, leave the divorce case to me. Take care of yourself and Felix. Could you delay the prenatal checkup? Remember, Mr. Searle told you about the pregnancy. If it becomes a point of contention in court, we can claim ignorance…""I can't do that. I can't let Jasper commit perjury for me."Esther couldn't accept Jasper's confession and couldn't let him face perjury charges for her. Using his affection to hurt him was out of the question."I think Mr. Searle would be willing to help..." Tanya suggested.Esther shook her head, resolute. "Ms. Hill, I know Jasper would be willing, but I'm not. I want to win fairly and honestly.""Alright," Tanya replied seriously. "I'll do my best. You also need to take good care of yourself and Felix.""Mommy…" Felix walked over to Esther while rubbing his sleepy eyes and grabbed her slightly cool fingertips with his chubby little han
Felix heard Kevin's voice and asked childishly, "Uncle Kevin, what did you just say? I didn't hear it clearly."Kevin did not anticipate that Felix would answer Esther's call. "Felix, can you give the phone to Mommy?"Felix patted his chest and replied cutely, "Uncle Kevin, you can talk to me. Mommy's not feeling well..."Kevin asked with concern, "What's wrong with your mom?""My mommy's throwing up. Poor Mommy..."From the bathroom, Esther heard Felix talking on the phone. Despite her discomfort, she walked out of the bathroom."Uncle Kevin, Mommy's here."After taking a deep breath, she took the phone from Felix and asked, "What's the matter?""Esther, Felix said you were throwing up? Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?"Esther was afraid that Kevin might guess she was pregnant and was convinced he would definitely inform Bradley. She could not let Bradley know about her pregnancy for now."Just feeling a bit sick after arriving at Capitus since I haven't adapted fully t
Even if Bradley needed her heart, liver, or kidney, she would readily donate them without hesitation.Five years of imprisonment…Five years of separation from her own flesh and blood…All of it should have wiped away any trace of Esther's former love for Bradley. She did not love him anymore. She would not love him again. From now on, she would love herself and her children.As for Bradley, she would consider him, along with her first love, sealed away in the river of time.-When Esther returned to the hospital room, Agatha was already there with breakfast."Good morning, Grandma Foster."Agatha asked, "Felix said you're not feeling well? You've been vomiting?""I'll tell you later."Esther stroked Felix's head as he ate earnestly, his soft and fluffy hair endearing. "Felix, enjoy your breakfast. Mommy has something to discuss with Grandma Foster.""Okay, Mommy!" Felix responded sweetly.A sense of contentment colored Esther's face. Perhaps she should still be thankful to
"Then terminate it," Agatha said coldly, her attitude meticulous and cruel. "A child who isn't fit to be kept in every way... Even if you manage to preserve it, it can lead to problems. However, before the prenatal checkup, your worries are just that—worries.""Grandma Foster, I'm also worried that Bradley will find out about my pregnancy," Esther confessed.Esther wondered whether they could still successfully divorce if Bradley discovered her pregnancy."Esther, before you worry about a successful divorce, consider whether your body can safely support your labor," Agatha advised. She knew people would go to great lengths to save their child, but a mother's safety should always take precedence over the fetus.While movies and TV often depicted dilemmas between a mother's life and a child's, in real life, this rarely occurred because doctors prioritized the mother's safety.The doctors in the operating room would do everything to save the mother. Only when the mother survived woul
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