If Esther didn't return on time, the children would get worried.Bradley scoffed. "Esther, did you ever consider Felix when you agreed to marry Chadwick?"Esther's smile turned bitter, her voice distant. "If it weren't for you, would I have been forced to marry him?"Bradley snorted. "So?""If it weren't for me, you'd be dead now!" she cried.Why couldn't Bradley see that her actions were for his sake? She just hoped he would survive."Well, then I should thank you for putting this noose around my neck personally!" he quipped.Esther's heart turned to ashes as she thought of how meticulously Bradley had treated Mandy and realized she had given birth to his children yet received none of his affection.She didn't want to see Bradley anymore, so she closed her eyes and lay down.Maybe this was her fate.Seeing Esther ignore him, Bradley noticed her pride and instructed his servant, "Get lunch ready.""Yes, Mr. Warner."Bradley picked a movie and enjoyed his meal while watching
Bradley's unexpected remark took Esther aback. Suddenly, she erupted into scornful laughter dripping with sarcasm. Tears streamed down her face as she gazed at Bradley's savage expression, which was uncomfortably close."Bradley, can a wedding night still be 'consummated' like this?" she quipped.Bradley detected the mockery in Esther's words. He firmly grasped her jaw and pronounced each word deliberately. "Then, allow me to fulfill the groom's duties on behalf of Mr. Pendleton!"The mere thought of Esther marrying Chadwick haunted Bradley. It stirred tumultuous emotions within him.Bradley would never permit other men to lay hands on the women he had once possessed, even if he eventually discarded them. In the case of defiant women like Esther, he intended to make her face the consequences of "betraying" him through his actions."Bradley—"Bradley didn't wait for Esther to finish speaking and forcefully pulled off her bridal veil.Even though Esther and Chadwick's wedding had
Esther tried to please Bradley with her kisses. Bradley's eyes flashed with mockery. His large hand firmly held her slender waist.Before Esther could react, Bradley pressed scorching kisses against her lips. His kisses were possessive, as if he were a conqueror taking everything from her—her freedom, her breath, her love, her sweetness.Bradley relentlessly demanded more. If Esther showed any resistance, he would forcefully pin her down, exerting control like an iron clamp.After reaching the peak of pleasure, despair followed. Esther watched Bradley step away from her, tears streaming down her cheeks as she curled into a fetal position.Bradley stood outside the crystal coffin, his eyes filled with burning desire. He poured a glass of water and approached Esther. "Drink."Esther trembled upon hearing Bradley's voice."Esther, don't make me repeat myself." Seeing her lack of response, Bradley firmly held her cheeks and made her drink the water. "From now on, you belong to me! Do
Esther kept losing consciousness, each time awakened by Bradley's biting. Like a ruthless predator, he sank his sharp teeth into her delicate skin, causing crimson blood to ooze. Then, he'd move to another spot, continuing his brutal assault.Bradley's ghostly voice echoed in Esther's ears, asking, "Still planning to escape?"Esther froze in terror."If you try to run again…" Bradley warned, "I'll personally break your legs, leaving you in a wheelchair for life."Esther trembled when she met Bradley's icy gaze. She did not doubt the seriousness of his threat.She believed a madman like Bradley was capable of anything.In an attempt to lower his guard, she feigned resignation. "I won't run anymore," she hoarsely said.Bradley offered a glimmer of hope, saying, "If you behave, I'll let you video call your daughters."Esther nodded gently, pretending to be obedient. "I'll cooperate."Bradley tossed a thin blanket at her, asserting his dominance. "This coffin is your living space.
Liora suggested, "Mandy, let's go and ask Selene. She has a wide network..."Mandy was confused by Liora's proposal. Ask Selene for help?"Why do you think she would want to help us?" Mandy asked.Liora mumbled, "Your father is her husband! Chadwick is her son!""Mom, think! My father and you gave birth to Chadwick, and she raised him as her own son for so many years! Now that the truth is out, the only reason she didn't kill them is that she doesn't want to be a murderer! Why would she save Chadwick?"Mandy thought that if she were Selene and discovered her husband's betrayal and that her son wasn't biologically hers, she might want to kill them. Why save them? She might as well celebrate!"She raised Chadwick all these years. Can she watch him go to prison?" Liora continued.Mandy thought Liora's reasoning was flawed. She couldn't communicate normally with her."If you want to beg her, go ahead, but I won't," Mandy said.Liora hugged Mandy in tears. "Mandy, you can't just no
When Bradley received Mandy's call, he nonchalantly tossed his sandwich into the crystal coffin where Esther was located.Esther immediately called out, "Bradley, can you stay?"Bradley casually walked over to Esther, grasped her hair, and sneered. "You don't want me to leave?"Esther responded with a hum.Bradley chuckled. "You have no right to question my business! Remember your place. You're nothing more than my captive!"With that, he released Esther's hair.Esther slumped against the bottom of the crystal coffin. Bradley pressed a remote control, and the lid of the coffin closed.Esther could only lower her head and watch Bradley vanish into the blinding light from an extremely uncomfortable position.The large doors slowly shut, and all the lights around her dimmed once more.Esther huddled in fear, unsure how long it had been since Bradley had taken her away. She didn't know if Felix, Sunshine, Agatha, and the others would be concerned about her.She feared that Bradle
A wave of disgust washed over Mandy."Mrs. Pendleton, you and Richard played a cruel trick on me, using your child to impersonate mine," she accused.Liora turned pale with fear.Selene said, "Have you been secretly mocking me over these years for having the title of Mrs. Pendleton and nothing else?"I've been reluctant to find fault with you, not out of fear but because I found speaking to someone like you pointless."But since you've approached me, let me clarify. Chadwick is your son, and I was deceived into treating my enemy's child as my own. Now that the truth is revealed, you expect me to save him? That's impossible!"She then stated firmly, "Richard owes me, and so does Chadwick. I will collect what's due from both of them."Selene looked at Liora ruthlessly and warned, "Starting now, you better pray daily that my child remains safe and healthy. Otherwise, your son will endure the same suffering mine has."Liora paled and stammered, "Chadwick has been calling you Mom al
Mandy held the cup, her heart filled with rage.Why wasn't the teacup filled with sulfuric acid?Then, she could have just thrown it at Bradley and destroyed his face!He had left her alone at the wedding and now wanted her to offer herself to him? Did he think she was to be treated as he pleased?"Your heart belongs to someone else, I wouldn't—"Before Mandy could finish her sentence, Bradley interrupted her domineeringly, "Mandy, if you're willing to offer yourself to me, I might consider it.""Isn't the person you love... Esther?" Mandy tentatively asked.Bradley held his cup as he asked in a mocking tone, "I love Esther?""Don't you?"Mandy thought about it. Bradley had taken Esther away from the wedding. Didn't that prove anything?Oh, right!On top of that, he had signed the divorce papers the other day. Yet, when Esther fainted, Bradley didn't even pretend to be disabled. He just carried Esther away. Wasn't that love?If that wasn't love, then what was?!"Mandy, 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