Esther was surprised as she asked, "You...""I've been more religious lately," Jasper replied, avoiding the mention of his church visit."It seems like you've changed," she remarked.Jasper cryptically said, "No one stays the same forever. People always change. Why did you call me?""I need your help to investigate my childbirth at the prison hospital," Esther said.Jasper handed her an envelope and said, "When the DNA test confirmed Pixie wasn't your daughter, I had someone look into the events back then."Shane confessed it was Cole who took Bradley and your daughters to the welfare institution five years ago. Cole did send these twin girls to the welfare institution, but I'm not sure why Pixie wasn't your daughter. Cole is the only person who knows your daughters' whereabouts now, but sadly, he had an accident."Esther examined the investigation materials Jasper gave her. They included surveillance footage of Cole leaving the prison hospital with the children and related proc
Bradley was suddenly overwhelmed by panic. He sternly looked at Jasper and asked, "Jasper, what did you tell her?"Jasper replied calmly, "I just informed Esther that her children are not in your hands."Bradley's fists clenched, and his icy eyes held a mocking smirk. "Esther, do you trust him, or do you trust me?"Esther had Jasper's investigative documents in her lap. She smiled bitterly and retorted, "Bradley, the moment you used our children to manipulate me, you lost any claim to being their father.""Esther, I'll count to three. You'd better comply, or else… I'll show you firsthand how your daughters meet their end!" Bradley's words remained cold and ruthless.Jasper sneered. "Bradley, have you ever looked in the mirror? Do you not find your life pathetic? Are you using your own daughters just to keep Esther?""I'm not trying to keep her." Bradley remained proud and unyielding, refusing to bow before his rival.Jasper smirked. "Then I don't understand. If you don't want to
Bradley knew Esther had a soft heart. Without Jasper by her side, she couldn't endure it any longer.Jasper said coldly, "Warner, isn't cutting off the hands right before us a better option? Are you just trying to scare Esther? Words won't suffice. If you're going to do it, do it for real."Upon hearing about Bradley and Esther's situation from a nurse, Kevin dismissed his intention to ignore Bradley and rushed to Esther, breathless. "Esther, don't let Bradley deceive you. He doesn't know where your daughters are."Seeing Kevin's arrival, Jasper discreetly pulled back his hand."Kevin!" Bradley growled.Kevin showed no fear and said firmly, "Esther, don't trust him."In a hoarse voice, Esther asked in disbelief, "Kevin, are you saying he's been lying to me?""It's because you're trusting and easily fooled, Esther!"Kevin hadn't expected Bradley to use their children to manipulate Esther. Those children were not only Esther's but also Bradley's. How could a father be so heartles
Felix grew weary from crying and eventually dozed off in Esther's comforting arms. She observed her son's peaceful slumber, pondering Bradley's actions.Why had he used their daughters to threaten her? What fueled his intense hatred for her?"Esther, have some water," Jasper kindly offered her a glass.Esther, teary-eyed, accepted and turned to Jasper with a raspy voice, asking, "Jasper, why does Bradley despise me so much?""I can't say," Jasper replied, shifting the focus to Kevin."I'm in the dark as well," Kevin quickly said."You've done many things for Bradley, and you don't know?" Jasper asked mockingly.Kevin distanced himself from Bradley and admitted, "I honestly don't.""If you don't, then who does?" Jasper retorted sarcastically. "If you had told Esther earlier that Bradley didn't know where her daughters were, would she have been threatened by him?"Kevin stood speechless, seething with frustration."No! I never expected Bradley to stoop so low as to use his daug
After discovering that even Bradley, who had been in the dark about the children, still used them as a threat against Esther, everyone's attitude toward him turned overwhelmingly negative.To ensure Esther's safety, Oliver hired retired mercenaries as her bodyguards. Each of these mercenaries possessed remarkable skills, making it impossible for Bradley, despite his proficiency, to gain an advantage against these battle-hardened individuals.Ever since Oliver learned about Esther's situation from Agatha, he put every effort into restoring her health. He spared no expense in finding valuable medicine that could aid in her recovery."Esther."Esther gazed at Oliver with slightly teary eyes and softly called, "Uncle Oliver."Oliver handed a photo to Esther and spoke gently. "Take a look at this picture."Bewildered, Esther took the photograph and asked, "Uncle Oliver, what's in this picture?""It's your mother and father." Oliver sincerely apologized, "Esther, I'm sorry for not pro
Oliver eased into his seat, locking eyes with Esther as he gently spoke. "It's tough to convey everything over the phone. Just come to the hospital to meet me."Esther, her anxiety evident, wasted no time after he hung up. "Uncle Oliver, any news about my mom?""Yes," Oliver replied. "Don't fret. We'll know more when he arrives."Esther glanced at Felix, peacefully dozing beside her, and nodded softly. "I'll trust your judgment.""Take some rest. It'll be a while before they get here.""Okay."As Oliver left the ward, he left Faye's picture behind.Throughout her time with the Ansteys, Esther had never possessed a photo of Faye. No one, other than herself, seemed to care about Faye. Leah and Billy barely acknowledged her. Whenever she felt wronged, the graveyard was her sole confidant.Esther had always assumed Faye was no longer alive. For the first time, a glimmer of hope flickered within her today.Where was her mother? Did Faye know of her struggles? Did she know she was m
Esther's friends and family, who cared deeply for her, repeatedly prevented her from falling into despair. They firmly believed in the power of love.With the support of Agatha and others, Esther and Felix made a remarkable recovery. To an onlooker, Esther appeared as if she had never endured any injustice, looking both beautiful and pure. Her fair skin gradually healed, but the emotional wounds within her remained unhealed.Meanwhile, a video of Jasper kneeling in church went viral online. In this age of ever-present cameras and a dense online presence, Jasper risked his life to visit the church on a stormy day during a typhoon. He was already a well-known Internet sensation, a man countless women dreamed of marrying. The video quickly gained immense popularity online.People who knew the truth revealed that Esther's life had hung in the balance that day. The netizens also noticed that Jasper had been wearing a rosary on his left wrist since that fateful day, which keen-eyed observ
Jasper let go of Bradley's hand and coldly taunted, "What's wrong? Don't you know?"Bradley had no idea about Esther's actual condition. "Stop talking nonsense! How could Esther possibly die?"How could she dare to die without his permission?"Don't ask me," Jasper said, pouring himself a cup of tea elegantly, and then told Bradley, "You can ask Kevin.""Jasper, I'm warning you to stay away from Esther!"Bradley's words provoked a mocking chuckle from Jasper as he took a sip of his tea."Warner, is Esther yours?"She belongs to herself."If you want some tea, feel free to have some."If you're not interested in tea, I won't see you off."Jasper sipped his tea and glanced at Bradley coldly.-Bradley returned to the hospital and thundered, "Kevin!"Kevin looked up at Bradley and asked gently, "Yes?""Jasper claims that Esther is on the brink of death. How could that be?"Bradley couldn't fathom the idea of Esther passing away. It was inconceivable.Kevin turned off the 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