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
Mandy had to take off her coat and carry it on her arm as she entered the villa. Inside, the villa followed a typical Southeast Varnusian style.Bradley opened the door and led Mandy downstairs. Her heart raced.The door rattled open, revealing a massive crystal coffin in the basement with someone inside—Esther.Mandy gasped, covering her face and letting out a sharp scream. She pointed at the crystal coffin and asked anxiously, "Is she... Is she dead?"Had Esther died? Did Bradley hate her so much that he had killed her?"She won't dare to die," Bradley replied coldly. He 'held' her daughters' lives hostage, so Esther couldn't die if she wanted to protect them.Bradley walked over to the crystal coffin and tapped the lid lightly.Esther, who hadn't been sleeping well, opened her eyes. She turned to Bradley standing outside the crystal coffin and then focused on Mandy, who stood at a distance.Mandy resisted the urge to flee. Bradley was clearly unhinged, imprisoning Esther in
Bradley casually pulled out a chair and seated himself, crossing his legs. His fingers, slender as they were, tapped on his knee like he was playing a piano."Come here," he beckoned.Mandy was uncertain about what was happening, but she still approached Bradley. He gently touched her neck and asked, "Does it hurt?" His voice carried a gentleness that matched his affectionate gaze.Confused by Bradley's sudden change in demeanor, Mandy replied honestly, "It hurts a little."With tenderness in his eyes, Bradley examined the mark he had caused on her neck and said, "You shouldn't have spoken up for her."Mandy fell silent."Mandy, you donated your liver to save me. You're my savior, and I'll repay and cherish you," Bradley declared.His gaze was devoted, but Mandy couldn't help feeling a chill down her spine. How could Bradley say such unsettling things with such a gentle tone? What did he truly want?She couldn't help but wonder if he intended to confine her in a crystal coffin
The calls didn't connect, making Mandy restless as she paced around the room. She didn't care much about Liora. After all, Liora wasn't her real mother.What truly concerned her was the confrontation with Bradley, who had become dangerously unpredictable. Would he treat her as he did Esther?As she pondered, memories of her past life as Liliane and the unforgivable deeds she had committed crossed her mind.However, she had now transformed into Mandy. She hadn't done anything to harm Bradley, even donating her liver to him. If Bradley had any conscience, he shouldn't harm her, right?But could she really rely on common sense to understand Bradley's current state?Moreover, Mandy couldn't fathom Bradley's motive for bringing her there. Was it to provoke Esther? As she contemplated, she couldn't find any answers.She also couldn't understand why X wanted her to establish a connection with Bradley. Did X intend to create discord between Esther and Bradley despite their already strain
Bradley had Esther's delicate neck in a tight grip as she weakly uttered, "I didn't."Felix was her own flesh and blood. How could she even entertain the thought of using him as leverage against Bradley?"Esther Quill!" The killing intent in Bradley's deep gaze surrounded Esther like an invisible trap. "You better not! Otherwise..."When Bradley applied a bit more pressure, Esther felt her neck might snap. She weakly pounded his arm.Finally, Bradley released her, his gaze icy, while she looked as though she was drowning in despair. "I haven't settled the score for what happened to Felix last time."As Bradley mentioned Felix's accident, Esther was reminded of the Primus Mansion underground garage. Although some time had passed, the memories made her heart race. "Bradley, aren't you afraid Felix will find out how you treat me?"Bradley looked down at the powerless Esther, raising an indifferent eyebrow. "What can he do? He's just a child. What harm could he possibly inflict on me
Why did she have to bear the blame for what Liliane had done? Was her biggest mistake in her life falling in love with Bradley? Did her love for him essentially hand him the weapon to hurt her? Bradley had used that very weapon to hurt her deeply."You think it's just this one thing?" he asked.Esther was stunned. What else had she done?Suddenly, it felt like lightning had pierced the darkness of her mind. She trembled and expressed her suspicions, saying, "Bradley, did you always despise me... because I wanted to marry you?"This was the question she needed answers to.Did he truly loathe her so intensely?Bradley offered no response but forcefully kissed her and pulled her back into the crystal coffin. He remained silent. Despair washed over Esther. Even without words, Bradley had conveyed everything to her.A sharp pain twisted Esther's heart. She had casually mentioned to Clark that Bradley would gain the most from everything that had transpired, but any glimmer of hope s
Bradley endured excruciating heartache as he slowly ascended from the desolate basement to the living room.The moment Mandy heard Bradley's footsteps, she leaped up, her face filled with joy. "Bradley!"Bradley briefly glanced at the servant and instructed, "Bring food to the basement.""Yes, sir."Mandy offered, "Bradley, how about I take the food to Ms. Quill?"Amusement flickered in Bradley's eyes as he considered Mandy's request. She nervously awaited his response."Sure," he said.Taking the tray from the servant, Mandy cautiously headed to the basement. Despite the illumination accompanying each step, an eerie sense of foreboding weighed on her as though a fearsome beast lurked in the shadows.She entered the basement, her gaze filled with pity as she approached the crystal coffin. "Ms. Quill, it's time for dinner."Surveying the sumptuous meal on the tray, Mandy couldn't help but wonder if Esther would have any appetite while confined in the coffin. In her shoes, she p
Liora began crying as soon as she answered the phone. "Mandy, why did it take you so long to call? I'm so scared!"Mandy was surprised by Liora's distress. She quickly asked, "Mom, what's wrong? Who's scaring you?"Liora was crying so hard that her words were barely comprehensible.Mandy was at a loss for words. Was Richard's decision to be with Liora driven by a desire to compensate for his perceived inferiority due to Selene's prestigious family background?Liora's tendency to cry easily and her difficulty expressing herself perplexed people."Please hand the phone to the caregiver," Mandy instructed.The caregiver took Liora's phone and spoke clearly. "Miss, someone came a little while ago, and they're requesting Ms. Liora's cooperation in an investigation.""Did they use force?" Mandy asked."No, their approach was polite. They simply want your mother to cooperate with their investigation... It appears that Mr. Pendleton conducted various activities in your mother's name. E
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