Bradley loosened his grip on Kevin's collar and took a seat on a bench across from the operating room. He sat still as a statue.Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked across the night sky, casting its eerie glow on Bradley's somber face through the window.Kevin stayed motionless. Despite the room's warmth, an icy chill seemed to seep into his bones.After what felt like an eternity, Jasper, soaked from head to toe, rushed down the corridor. He went straight to Kevin, panting heavily, and asked, "How is she?""They've declared her condition critical."Jasper staggered, steadying himself against the wall. "So serious?"Kevin's voice trembled as he replied, "When she arrived, she looked no different from a lifeless body. Jasper, whether she survives this is left to fate."Jasper muttered in disbelief, "How could this happen?"Kevin fell silent.Bradley had no intention of asking Kevin why Jasper was present.Jasper glanced at Bradley and calmly asked, "Warner, are you satisfie
Bradley glanced up and asked, "What do you mean?""That question should be directed back at you. What do you mean?" Kevin pressed a photo on the camera and presented it to Bradley. "Is this your doing? Didn't women always repel you? Didn't you have a psychological disorder? Treating Esther this way proves that she's the exception you mentioned before, doesn't it?""Who gave you permission to take her photos?" When Bradley saw the photos, he immediately felt furious, as if someone had invaded his privacy."Bradley, answer me. Is Esther an exception to you?" Kevin suddenly understood why Bradley had kept Esther close despite not loving her.The main reason was that only Esther could make Bradley feel like a real man."Kevin, delete them!"Kevin firmly held onto the camera. "Is this why you mistreat Esther?""Give me the camera!" Bradley snatched it from Kevin and quickly deleted all the photos without even looking at them. He wouldn't allow anyone, not even the doctors, to see Est
The priest's face lit up with a smile as he gazed at the cross in the main hall."I can't say," he replied.Jasper didn't follow the priest's gaze. Instead, he looked up at the dark, cloudy sky above."I'm an atheist," Jasper declared. "If she can survive, I'm willing to believe in God."The priest said, "Sincerity can move mountains."-Several hours later, a private plane cut through the stormy clouds and touched down at the airport in this brutal weather.Agatha, accompanied by Jacob, Sunshine, and Felix, arrived at the hospital from the airport.Kevin felt a wave of relief wash over him when he heard Agatha's footsteps. "Dr. Foster."Agatha paid no heed to Kevin and walked directly to Bradley. "Do you want her to live or die?"Baffled by Agatha's actions, Kevin nervously asked, "Dr. Foster, let's discuss this later. Esther's condition is worse than we expected. Why don't you check on her first?""Kevin," Agatha called.Kevin promptly cleared his throat and asked, "Dr. F
"I want Esther to live," Bradley whispered, suppressing his inner restlessness. "I want her to live."Looking at Bradley's sullen face, Agatha said coldly, "I don't sense your sincerity."Without hesitation, Bradley knelt before her.Witnessing this, Felix and Sunshine also knelt before Agatha.Agatha said tauntingly, "If you genuinely wish for her survival, then kneel here until she emerges from the operating room."Kevin remained silent and guided Agatha into the operating room. As the elder brother, Jacob approached Felix and Sunshine, extending his authority over the two. "Felix and Sunshine, sit and wait," he said.Jacob's commanding presence convinced them to obediently take their seats beside him.Bradley continued kneeling outside the operating room, creating a solemn and quiet atmosphere in the corridor as if time had decelerated. They collectively hoped for a life-saving miracle and silently prayed for the Grim Reaper to relent.The once arrogant and unchallenged
Agatha continued to study Esther. Her eyes welled with tears when she saw the scars on Esther's body.Kevin couldn't let Agatha continue, so he swiftly retrieved Esther's medical report."Dr. Foster, please check Esther's medical report," Kevin said.Agatha sat down and examined the report. To her surprise, Esther's condition was worse than expected.Esther had recently improved at her clinic, so why had her condition suddenly deteriorated?Kevin didn't dare interrupt Agatha's thoughts. He hoped Bradley would realize the seriousness of the situation and stop mistreating Esther.Esther was pitiful. She was an orphan with no one to care for her.After Bradley had hidden Esther, the Quills were too busy with the Pendleton matter to search for her. Cleaning up the Pendleton aftermath left them unable to look for her.Most importantly, no one expected Bradley to treat his wife this way."Kevin, let me test your knowledge. Given Esther's deteriorating condition, how long can she liv
"Jacob, is Mommy going to die?" Felix asked.Jacob took a deep breath and reassured, "No, she won't." "Really?" Tears welled up in Felix's young eyes. He seemed both uncertain about Jacob's words and hopeful for his support. He was scared, anxious, and trembling all at once. "Of course, it's true." Sunshine walked over to Felix from Jacob's side. "Felix, Mommy will be alright." Hearing Sunshine's words, Felix cried even louder. Sunshine gently wiped away the tears on Felix's face with her small hands. Her own eyes were also brimming with tears as she said, "Felix, don't cry..." Felix sobbed. "Sunshine, I don't want to be an orphan! I want Mommy!" Sunshine thought about how she had finally found a loving mother. Even though Esther wasn't her biological mother, she loved her. She dressed her in pretty clothes, styled her hair nicely, and even cooked delicious food with her. Esther had fulfilled all of her mother fantasies. "Wah! I don't want Mommy to die." Sunshine's a
Xara and Steffan heard Sunshine crying in the distance. Worried, Xara disregarded her high heels as she hurried over to Bradley. "What are you doing to my daughter?!"Upon hearing that Sunshine was Xara's daughter, Bradley released his grip on her. "She's your daughter?"Sunshine rushed into Xara's arms. "Mommy, he's a bad guy."Xara tenderly held Sunshine, patting her trembling back. She asked, "Would she be yours otherwise?"Steffan approached, placing a hand on Xara's shoulder. He berated Bradley sternly, "As a man, you shouldn't bully children.""I didn't bully her." Bradley calmly met Steffan's gaze. "They were acting violently toward me.""That's because you're bad! You bullied Mommy!" Sunshine shouted defiantly from Xara's embrace.For a moment, Bradley thought Sunshine resembled Esther. Knowing Esther's situation, he considered it a coincidence."Jacob," Steffan called."I'm here."Steffan glanced at Bradley and told Jacob, his tone chilling, "As the big brother, you
"Felix, your mom won't leave you alone," Xara assured."That's right." Felix's tears welled up further. "Mommy still needs to find my sister!""Steffan, take the kids away for a moment. I want to speak with Bradley in private," Xara said.When Steffan learned that Xara would be alone with another man, a possessive look flashed in his eyes. "It's about Esther."Steffan eventually agreed and left with Jacob, holding Felix and Sunshine.Bradley continued to kneel as Agatha had requested in the corridor outside the operating room."Do you love Esther?" Xara wasn't sure if Bradley loved Esther, but she knew Esther loved him. Otherwise, she wouldn't have secretly donated her liver or been threatened by Chadwick.Men and women were different. Men could love many women, but when a woman fell for someone, she wouldn't easily change her feelings."It's not your business," Bradley replied coldly.Xara sat on a bench, gazing at Bradley from a distance. "Esther has a history of depression,
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