Esther gazed closely at Bradley's face, and her heart suddenly softened.His kiss held a possessive dominance, claiming every bit of Esther's sweetness as if he wanted to mark her as his own.He released his hand from Esther's neck, and she stumbled, her legs weak.Bradley seized Esther and tossed her onto the hospital bed. He yanked her hair and asked through gritted teeth, "Esther, do you wish for my death?"Esther shook her head. "No."Bradley harshly bit her lip and menacingly said, "If I die, you'll go down with me!"He wouldn't allow Esther to be happy with another man.Bradley would eliminate Jasper before his own death to prevent him from making a move.Esther gazed at Bradley's furious face, took a deep breath, and tried to console him as if soothing a child. "Bradley, you'll be okay, I promise. You, me, Felix, and our daughter will all live happily as a family."She held Bradley tightly, seeking to reassure him with her actions and convey her unwavering support."Do
When Esther heard from Jasper that she was pregnant, her initial instinct wasn't to end the pregnancy but to keep the child. Despite her deep resentment toward Bradley, the idea of getting rid of their child had never crossed her mind.Esther remembered firmly declaring once that she wanted nothing more to do with Bradley. That's how intense her hatred was, contrasting with her profound love for him. Within that intense hatred, a hidden devotion existed."No," Bradley dismissed Esther's words nonchalantly, saying, "What woman can't have children?""I can't," Esther replied while gently touching her flat and slightly aching abdomen."Have you forgotten? Our child has become bones and blood—"Bradley suddenly grabbed Esther's chin, silencing her as he concealed the harsh reality. "Esther, consider this my final warning. You and I will have another child. The child you owe me will come back to us sooner or later!"Esther looked at Bradley with tearful eyes, her voice cold. "Bradley,
Mandy tore the check after counting the zeros, making it worthless."Mr. Warner, I'm not short of money," she stated.That was indeed true. Despite being the illegitimate daughter of the Pendletons, Mandy was not lacking in wealth. The Pendletons had never deprived her financially."If you want to strike a deal with me, show your sincerity, or... there's no deal," she asserted.Mandy casually picked up her coffee cup and took a sip. She was genuinely curious whether Bradley valued his life more than Esther's. She wanted to see if he would be willing to sacrifice Esther for his own survival."Ms. Pendleton, I don't absolutely need your liver," Bradley remarked.Mandy smiled calmly. "Yes, you're wealthy, Mr. Warner. Finding liver donors for you isn't a challenge. But currently, I'm the only one with a compatible liver. We were strangers before this. Why would I risk potential side effects to donate my liver to you when I don't even know you? "My mother isn't like typical mothers,
"Did you accept it?" Chadwick asked sinisterly.Mandy replied coldly, "The Pendletons don't mistreat me when it comes to money. Why would I accept his check?"Chadwick was pleased with Mandy's response. He immediately transferred some money to her. "Take this and treat yourself to a handbag!"A mere Warner Group meant nothing before the Pendletons. There was no need to show off to them."I told Bradley that if he wants my support, he should make Esther marry you and marry me. If he can't make that happen, there's no deal!"Chadwick chuckled and clapped his hands. "Well done! Come, let me introduce you to my friends."Mandy looked at the group of men with Chadwick and concealed her displeasure. She sweetly greeted them."Guys, meet my sister. Look out for her!""Of course!"Mandy felt disgusted by these men's presence. Nevertheless, she put on a facade and raised her glass to toast with them. In her mind, she couldn't wait for the Pendletons' downfall.Suddenly, her phone rang
"Daddy, do you want oranges?" Felix peeled a small orange and approached Bradley. He noticed the crystal casket on Bradley's tablet and curiously asked, "Daddy, what's this?""Artwork."Felix asked innocently, "Daddy, why are you buying this kind of artwork?""It's for your mommy."Felix was quiet."Keep it a secret for Daddy," Bradley said.Although Felix did not know the purpose of the crystal casket, he earnestly nodded upon hearing Bradley's words. "Alright!"Esther watched Bradley and Felix whispering to each other and asked, "What are you guys talking about?"Felix quickly replied, "Mommy, it's a secret between us men."Esther was rendered speechless.-Clark brought Felix's belongings to the hospital, where Felix, Esther, and Bradley were going to spend the night together in one room.After a bath and a specially prepared children's meal, Felix relished the rare joy of sleeping between his parents. Even though Felix was smart and talented, he had outgrown children'
Esther eventually drifted into slumber while cradling Felix in her arms.Tormented by pain, Bradley couldn't find a moment of rest. While glancing at his wife and child beside him, his thoughts turned to his missing twin daughters.Where could they be now? The answer remained a mystery, haunting him as much as Esther.Cole had handled everything concerning Esther in the past. But ever since his disappearance in the river, the odds of his survival had grown exceedingly slim. Esther had pressed Bradley for answers repeatedly, but he shouldered the burden alone, intent on sparing her the heartache.Bradley's forehead glistened with cold sweat from the pain. He softly lifted the covers and slipped into the bathroom. As he neared the bathroom door, he coughed a mouthful of blood and staggered, eventually collapsing within.Esther somehow summoned the strength to reach Bradley. She embraced him tightly and guided him to the toilet."Bradley..."Bradley cautioned, "Quiet!"Esther squa
Jasper reached out to Chadwick and headed with Esther to the upscale club where Chadwick was.When Mandy was with Chadwick earlier, he was still sober. At present, however, he was in a carefree mood. He was clad in a bathrobe and reclined on the sofa, surrounded by a dozen attractive young women."Esther, have you made your decision?" he asked.Esther took a deep breath, striving to conceal her revulsion and anger. She replied with evident difficulty, "I promise, but you—"Chadwick playfully grasped the chin of a young woman, offering her a drink."Esther, you're the one in need of a favor from me!" Chadwick taunted Esther, his demeanor arrogant. "If you're seeking someone's assistance, you ought to do it correctly."To secure Bradley's well-being, Esther suppressed her vexation and reluctance. She knelt before Chadwick and humbly implored, "Please... Please help Bradley."Chadwick sneered. "Well, that's more like begging now! I'll arrange for Mandy to donate her liver to Bradle
Upon hearing Jasper's words, surprise and confusion appeared on Esther's face."Now?" Esther asked.Jasper patiently explained, "Yes, now. Do you think Bradley would agree to the surgery if he knew Mandy's liver was offered as a condition for saving you?"Esther realized the gravity of Jasper's words."So, we need to do the surgery while Bradley is still unconscious?" she asked."Yes," Jasper confirmed.Esther said, "I'll leave it to you, Jasper.""Don't worry, Esther. I'll take care of Bradley. As for Chadwick, you don't need to worry about him either. When the time is right, we'll..."Jasper didn't finish his sentence, but Esther understood. "Alright."With Esther present, Jasper called Kevin and explained Bradley's situation over the phone, withholding no information.After listening to Jasper's explanation, Kevin panicked and shouted, "Jasper! Are you out of your mind? You actually agreed to Chadwick's threat."A hint of anger crossed Jasper's face. "Kevin, if you have a
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