The caregiver left.Mandy watched as Liora cried without pause. She briefly glanced at Jasper and Bradley in the garden before taking a deep breath and hurrying to check the bedroom.All the valuable items had seals on them. Mandy didn't want to end up broke, nor did she wish to spend too much time contemplating every purchase.She began by taking a shower and changing her clothes before packing her belongings. Meanwhile, Liora was still in tears as she approached her. "Mandy, what's going to happen to your father? And your brother? Can Mr. Warner help them?"Mandy let go of the scarf she was holding and met Liora's gaze. In a hushed voice, she replied, "Mom, the caregiver is gone, and our possessions are sealed. I understand your concern for them, but shouldn't you worry about us? Will we end up homeless?"Upon hearing that, Liora calmly replied, "Mandy, I have money and a house. We won't end up on the streets.""Mom, this house is in my name, and it's sealed. Why do you think
Jasper found Bradley's arrogance and self-assured demeanor remarkably ironic. "Can you lock her up for life? Do you believe that by keeping her captive, she'll fall in love with you again?"Bradley's grip tightened slightly.Jasper displayed no fear but instead continued to provoke, "Bradley, if you have the courage, end me today. If not, I'll persist! Someday, I'll find her whereabouts."Bradley hadn't anticipated Jasper daring to taunt him like this in person. He clutched Jasper's collar even tighter.Jasper remained unfazed, only escalating the provocation.Mandy interjected, coldly reminding him while placing her hand on Bradley's arm, "Bradley, surveillance cameras cover this place. If you harm Mr. Searle, you won't escape unscathed either."Bradley instantly released his grip. "Jasper, I'm warning you for the last time. Esther is my wife."Jasper focused on Bradley's now snow-dusted shoes and grinned eerily. "She isn't."Jasper lifted his head, locking eyes with Bradley's
X's robotic voice echoed in Mandy's ears, making her wonder why X knew her whereabouts so well."Bradley has her imprisoned in a crystal coffin on a small island in Southeast Varnusia," Mandy replied.Upon hearing that, X asked, "Can you rescue her?""I can't," Mandy explained. "I didn't see any boats near the island, and there's no way to communicate with the outside world.""Focus on Esther's safety. No need to intentionally worsen the situation between Bradley and her," X said.Hesitating, Mandy asked, "So... what should I do?"X scoffed. "Do I need to spell it out for you?""Boss, I suspect Bradley wants the Pendletons' covert forces...""Give them to him," X replied.Mandy asked in shock, "Give them to him?"Why should she give them away? Wouldn't it be better to keep them for herself?"You want them?" X asked.Mandy remained silent.X sneered. "The Quills, Fosters, and Lockwoods are all after the Pendletons. Do you think you can retain control over the Pendletons' co
Esther's eyes widened in surprise. It appeared she hadn't heard clearly. She asked in a trembling voice, "What did you say?"Bradley gently nibbled on Esther's ear, his voice intimate, like a lover's. "Esther, should it be an accident? Or..."An accident? For some reason, when Esther heard the word "accident," the first thing that came to her mind was Thomas' accident."Bradley! What do you want exactly?" Esther asked, feeling helpless.Bradley's smile turned wickedly sardonic. "Esther, tell me, what can I do to ensure that a man who desires my woman will never think of coveting her again?""Bradley! We're divorced!"Esther knew she shouldn't provoke Bradley at a time like this, but she couldn't control herself. She turned around in the confined space of the crystal coffin, locking eyes with Bradley's intense gaze."The court has already finalized our divorce."A murderous glint appeared in Bradley's eyes. "Esther, I told you, this game you started will end with me."Tears of
"Mandy."When Mandy awoke, she found Liora standing at the foot of her bed, holding a few outfits and gazing at her."What's the matter?" Mandy asked."Didn't you mention that we're visiting your father today? Which outfit do you think is better?" Liora asked.Mandy casually pointed at one of the outfits. "The one on the far right."Liora smiled with enthusiasm. "Your father always appreciated me dressing up elegantly..."Mandy didn't really want to engage in conversation with Liora. She simply said, "Mom, if you don't hurry and change, I won't be able to take you with me later.""Alright, alright, I'll change right away."Unlike Liora's meticulous dressing, Mandy chose a casual outfit. She wondered why Bradley hadn't arrived yet and thought resentfully, 'Could it be that Bradley has met with an accident, maybe even been struck by lightning and killed?'She prepared herself and made a simple breakfast. Liora finally came downstairs, and simultaneously, Bradley arrived."Get i
"You?" Richard retorted with a sneer.Bradley knew Richard wouldn't trust him so easily. He raised an indifferent eyebrow and said, "Mr. Pendleton, you might believe you're still the same person, but leaving this place again won't be easy in your current situation. Your daughter can manage to some extent, but what about your partner?"Richard sensed the clear threat in Bradley's words. He understood that Liora had become so dependent over the years. Now that he was locked up, he was more worried about her than Mandy.He had once believed he could protect her for a lifetime, but now he realized he couldn't."Mr. Pendleton, think carefully about whether you want to strike a deal with me or someone else."Richard studied Bradley closely. He recognized this man possessed a sharp business acumen, remaining unfazed despite Oliver's suppression. He could secure her and Liora's future if he handed Mandy over to Bradley.However, Richard had trust issues with men. He knew that in this wor
Bradley got into the car and took out his phone to check on Esther's condition. As soon as he did that, he noticed a suspicious figure on the basement surveillance footage."What are you doing?" Sally Napier, a maid, grabbed the man and sternly reprimanded him, "Get out of here quickly. There are security cameras here, and Mr. Warner will see it!"The man, Mike Salter, pushed Sally away and cursed, "Shut your trap!"He had heard rumors about a wealthy heir who had imprisoned a young and beautiful woman in the basement. He was curious about what kind of woman would be kept captive by such a wealthy person."Don't mess around!" Sally rushed forward and held onto Mike's thigh, pleading desperately, "This job pays so well. If you mess it up..." Mike kicked her aside and sneered. "I've been tired of an old hag like you for years. You're just getting in my way!"The more Sally stopped him, the more excited he became. Mike approached the crystal coffin reeking of alcohol. He peered thr
"M-Mr. Warner, I was wrong!"Mike, who had started as very arrogant, now trembled in fear without any hint of intoxication. Bradley coldly pulled the trigger, and Mike turned pale, his forehead drenched in cold sweat. Another gunshot rang out, hitting Mike's other leg. "Mr. Warner..." Sally was terrified and pale as she rushed over, humbly begging. Bradley pointed the rifle at Sally's forehead and spoke coldly. "Leave." Sally tremblingly closed her eyes, expecting a bullet, but it struck Mike's arm instead. Bradley's eyes were ruthlessly.Mike was in agonizing pain, nearly passing out. Bradley watched his struggles and aimed the rifle at his other arm, firing it four times. Mike eventually lost consciousness. "Clean the floor properly," Bradley ordered. Sally nodded frantically. "Yes, sir." With the rifle in hand, Bradley stepped on the bloody floor and slowly approached the crystal coffin. He pressed a button on the remote, and its lid rose. "Esther."Esther t
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