Kevin returned to the hospital room with Jasper's test results. Bradley was still unconscious, and Esther sat in a chair, tightly holding his hand."Esther."Esther looked up. Kevin was reluctant to tell her the truth, which was reflected in her reddened eyes.Jasper's liver was not a match for Bradley's transplant, an expected outcome."Jasper's liver isn't suitable either. But don't worry. We'll keep searching."Esther hesitated for a moment and nodded gently. "We'll surely find a suitable one."Kevin had mixed feelings. He thought perhaps things would not be as smooth as they had hoped. After all, it was a liver! Finding a suitable one for transplantation was truly difficult."Don't lose hope. We'll find one as long as we don't give up."Kevin left the room and sat on a bench outside, anxiously pulling at his hair.As a doctor, he had seen death many times and knew there were many situations where they were powerless. It was just that… He took a deep breath and stood up. Ju
A glint of mockery flashed through Mandy's clear eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm not here to donate my liver. I just came to visit Mr. Warner."The joy on Esther's face instantly fell as if a cracking ice."Ms. Pendleton, please..." Esther grabbed Mandy's hand urgently, completely disregarding any decorum. She held Mandy's hand tightly as if she were clutching a lifeline. "Please, please save him! If you can save him, I'm willing to do anything!"Mandy slightly frowned and winced, pulling her hand back from Esther's pleading grip. "Mrs. Warner, you're hurting me."Kevin and Esther could not hear the mocking undertone in Mandy's use of "Mrs. Warner"."I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Esther apologized hoarsely.Kevin helped explain from the side, "Ms. Pendleton, Esther was just anxious. Please understand.""Mrs. Warner, let's talk."Esther was overjoyed that Mandy took the initiative to talk to her. "Okay, let's talk."They went to a nearby café outside the hospital. It was cozy with lush g
Esther looked up with tears on her long, curled eyelashes. Those tears seemed even more pitiful and moving in the cafe's gentle lighting."But..." Esther could not agree to Chadwick's request. She could not possibly marry him.Mandy smirked mockingly. "Esther, didn't you say you'd do anything to save Bradley? It's only marrying my brother, but you refuse? Your love isn't that deep, after all!"Tears welled up in Esther's eyes as she shook her head. "No, it's not like that.""Nevermind. I've shown you a clear path. If you don't want to take it, then don't come begging me. I can't help you!" Mandy picked up her purse and left the cafe.She got into her car, casually tossing her valuable limited-edition handbag inside. Then she leaned on the steering wheel and laughed.It was so amusing!Mandy felt that undergoing plastic surgery to transform from Liliane Anstey into Mandy Pendleton was absolutely worth it! The joy of watching the drama up close was something only she could underst
Esther's gaze flickered slightly. She seemed to be thinking about the same things Jasper had considered.The best way was to bring down the Pendletons, ensuring that there would be no more Pendleton members in Capitus.But... how should they go about it?"So, what should we do?" Esther asked Jasper subconsciously."Esther, I'm not familiar with Capitus, just like you. But we can go to Mr. Quill. He must have a way."Esther mechanically nodded. "Okay."Jasper took the dazed Esther to Oliver.-The ongoing feud between the Quills and Pendletons had left Capitus in a state of hidden turmoil. Despite having the Fosters as an ally, the Quills still found it challenging to gain the upper hand. After all, as long as Chadwick's father remained in his position, no one would be openly siding with Oliver."Esther, Jasper, have a seat."Oliver asked his secretary to serve the two of them tea.He had been so occupied with fighting the Pendletons that there were faint dark circles under h
Oliver's expression slightly tensed, and a dark glint flickered in his cold eyes. He instinctively sat up straight, maintaining an elegant and composed demeanor. "Are you sure, Jasper?"Jasper contemplated before slowly voicing his conjecture. "Mr. Quill, this is what I think. Everyone knows that the head of the Pendletons despises drugs, but often, the reality is quite the opposite."Although I haven't had much contact with Chadwick, from my limited understanding, I believe the Pendletons may be involved in drug activities. Whether this is true or not, it requires further investigation.""I understand what you mean. I'll have this investigated." Oliver's gaze was deep.As everyone knew, the drug trade was an extremely profitable industry. Some people, driven by drugs, were willing to risk everything, including their families' fates.Many things appeared illogical in this ongoing confrontation between the Quills and Pendletons. Despite the Quills and Fosters teaming up and the Loc
"Thank you, Uncle Oliver."Noticing Esther's uneasiness and detachment, Oliver responded with a simple smile. He realized that Esther hadn't fully grasped her newfound connection to the Quills. Nevertheless, he believed she would comprehend the Quills' inherent commitment to safeguard their own. As long as the Quills endured, so would their protection of Esther.After departing from Oliver's office, Jasper drove Esther back to the hospital."Esther, please wait at the hospital. Once I can reach Mandy, I'll come to pick you up for your meeting with her."Understanding Jasper's intentions, Esther asked with concern, "Do you think she'll cooperate with us?""With the right approach, I believe she will. No daughter would let someone exploit her mother as leverage against her. Her mother is her weakness, maybe even her Achilles' heel. If we handle this situation correctly, we can get what we need.""Jasper, I want to accompany you," Esther expressed, hoping to persuade Mandy as soon a
Esther felt as if Bradley's hand was squeezing her throat so tightly it might break. "Bradley, you've got it all wrong!"Her face turned bright red as she desperately tried to defend herself."Wrong?" Bradley leaned in and bit down harshly on Esther's right ear. His teeth cruelly gnashed at her delicate, elf-like ear, drawing a trickle of blood that smeared across his lips."Bradley, nothing is happening between Jasper and me. We're innocent," she said, muffling a pained whimper.Bradley let go of her throat, and Esther coughed. She clutched her sore neck as tears welled up in her eyes, revealing her vulnerability."Innocent?" Bradley took pleasure in her discomfort."We're innocent," Esther repeated, her voice hoarse from coughing. She leaned against the hospital room door, her eyes misty as she explained, "I've never betrayed you. Please, you have to believe me!"Her love had always been for one man only—Bradley.Bradley glanced at Esther, his eyes radiating coldness. He touc
Esther's body shivered uncontrollably from the intense cold."Esther, I'll ask you one last time. Where else did Jasper touch you?" Brad's voice was firm.Tears streamed down her face as Esther replied softly, "Just my hair..."Bradley's anger flared even more upon hearing her evasive answer. He quickly shoved his phone screen before her eyes. "What do you see here?"A curtain of cold water seemed to wash over her as she looked at the image on the screen. It was a photo of her in a cafe, being consoled by Jasper. She had never imagined Bradley would discover such a picture."Brad, let me explain!"Bradley slammed the handheld showerhead onto the floor, causing it to shatter. Cold water sprayed wildly around the small bathroom, intensifying the icy tension in his dark eyes."Explain?" His menacing gaze fixed on Esther's face. In a swift motion, he tore her fine clothing into pieces. "Lies! All lies!"Esther shivered from the cold, but Bradley showed no mercy. He cornered her in
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