Esther tumbled into Bradley's arms as though she had dropped from the sky. His scent, crisp as pine, wrapped around her like an unyielding net.Bradley clasped her slender waist, effortlessly drawing her into his world, from which escape seemed impossible."Mr... Mr. Warner…" Jolene clutched her stomach and impatiently asked Bradley, who stood in the wardrobe. "What you promised me...""I won't break my word," Bradley assured, then vanished into the wardrobe.Jolene gently closed the wardrobe door, leaning against the wall before returning to the couch.As she settled on the couch, regret washed over her. She realized her mistake. She shouldn't have used herself as bait to lure Esther to the motel. She knew better than anyone that she had nothing left, and Esther had come to see her out of concern. Nonetheless, she had ultimately betrayed Esther's trust.Jolene held her phone, trying to convince herself not to be soft-hearted. She told herself she had done nothing wrong. What had
"Esther's father, just like yours, was a DEA agent. She wanted to help you," Jasper mentioned, catching Jolene's attention.Jolene's voice turned hoarse as she muttered, "Her father was also..."Jasper scoffed. "Why else would she bother about you? Do you think she's got nothing better to do? Maybe you've spent too much time with that scumbag Chadwick to the point where you've lost all sense of normal human emotions!"Jolene hesitated and explained, "Mr. Warner took her away."Jasper's restraint snapped, and he slapped Jolene. "I've always thought that men who hit women are scumbags. But you're not a woman—you're a b*tch!"Do you not know Esther's relationship with Bradley? And you sent Esther to him?! Your actions are no different from murdering her with your own hands!"Jolene held her slapped cheek, trying to explain herself, "Mr. Warner said he could help me get revenge.""Your revenge is something you should handle yourself. Why involve Esther's life in it?" Jasper barked.
"Jasper, are we really leaving like this?" Kevin stared at Jasper in disbelief. Esther was now in Bradley's hands. Would she survive? Or, more accurately, would the ruthless Bradley spare Esther?"What else can we do? Do you think you can find Esther if you search the place? Or do you plan to kneel in front of Bradley and beg him to spare her?" Jasper's words sounded like a defeated plea to Kevin."We can use detection devices to search every corner of Warner Manor. As long as we don't give up..."Jasper raised his head slightly, his tone filled with helplessness. "Then you go."Kevin rolled up his sleeves. "I will."Jasper left in his car, creating a cloud of dust as he drove away.Kevin turned back toward Warner Manor.Mandy was on her way to her room when she bumped into Kevin. She looked surprised and asked, "Dr. Slade, do you have something else to discuss?"Kevin asked, "Where is Bradley?""He went upstairs to rest. Do you need me to call him for you?" she asked.Kevin
Bradley picked up his razor and began to shave his stubble.Suddenly, he halted and casually tossed the razor into the trash bin. Upon inspecting his reflection in the mirror, he discovered an unexplained cut on his otherwise flawless skin, with a thread of blood seeping from it.Did he love Esther? Had Kevin lost his mind due to excessive reading?It was inconceivable that Bradley had fallen in love with Esther!He turned his attention back to the concealed room housing the crystal coffin.Esther had already awakened inside the crystal coffin. Unlike her initial panic upon first finding herself trapped within it, she now felt certain that Bradley was responsible as she opened her eyes and saw the crystal confines."You're awake?" Bradley asked.Esther heard Bradley's voice and slowly turned to look at him."Kevin made a joke earlier." Bradley didn't anticipate a response from Esther as he nonchalantly stroked the coffin's lid. He asked, "Interested in hearing the joke?"Est
Suddenly, a sharp pain radiated from Bradley's heart. He instinctively clutched the edge of the crystal coffin, his keen eyes locking onto Esther's emotionless face."Esther!"Esther's eyes were cold, lacking the human warmth one would expect. "Is there anything else you wish to command?"Without warning, Bradley seized her by the neck.Esther displayed no signs of pain or relief. A sense of defeat washed over Bradley, and he staggered back, gazing at Esther.Esther was seemingly oblivious to Bradley's turmoil and smiled gracefully at him."Bradley!"Bradley!"Mandy's voice pierced the air, causing Bradley to exit the secret chamber decisively."Is there something you need?" he asked.Mandy handed him a neatly arranged fruit platter, speaking gently. "I've prepared this fruit platter for you.""Set it down and leave," he commanded.Mandy obediently placed the fruit platter on the table and left the room.Once Mandy departed, Bradley returned to the secret chamber with the
"No," Bradley said coldly as he walked away. "Starting today, inform the kitchen to prepare an extra serving of food."Mandy gasped and nervously asked, her lips trembling, "Bradley, you didn't really... Esther..."Bradley remained silent and walked away.Mandy turned and opened the refrigerator, pouring herself a glass of fine wine she fetched from the cellar. She lamented her past foolishness as Liliane. Why had she acted like a virtuous woman in front of Bradley? A man like Bradley didn't deserve that!Mandy took a sip, thinking she might as well head to the home theater to sing since she couldn't sleep anyway.She had initially considered seeking revenge against Esther, but now, she didn't need to lift a finger.Bradley had already tormented Esther to the point of despair. She wondered how the late Thomas would feel, watching his beloved great-grandson lose his ability to speak and his approved granddaughter-in-law being imprisoned by Bradley. She was sure he would be furious
Bradley couldn't muster the patience to read every line of Jasper's messages. To him, those messages felt like a silent taunt, as if they were telling Bradley that Jasper loved and cared for Esther more. Every word hit Bradley's sensitive nerves.In a decisive move, Bradley blocked Jasper. After doing so, he reopened the chat box and carefully reviewed the messages. When he saw the allergens Jasper had mentioned, he jumped from his chair in shock.He clutched his phone and dashed into the secret chamber like a whirlwind. There, he found Esther in the crystal coffin, covered in hives due to an allergy. Her lips had turned a faint shade of purple, and her eyes were shut as if in death."Esther!" Bradley called out, but she remained motionless. He scooped her from the crystal coffin in a hurry, ignoring everything else, and rushed her out of the bedroom. As he reached the garage, he spotted Mandy in the garden, seemingly slightly tipsy. She looked at the unconscious Esther in Bradley
Mandy hesitated and said, "I didn't see anything tonight. Can I go to sleep now?""Get lost!" Bradley curtly replied.Mandy remained unfazed by Bradley's anger. Lately, she had been immersed in novels about power struggles, where female protagonists sought revenge and rose to power, fueled by the feminist wave.She contemplated the idea of manipulating Bradley into marrying her and then orchestrating his downfall, eventually taking control of the Warner Group.Although she had received help from X, she was determined not to be indebted to anyone, even her benefactor.Mandy considered that sharing her plan with X might gain their support, making her a valuable ally and allowing her to leverage Bradley.-Bradley held Esther in his arms, her delicate form resembling a fragile porcelain doll. He gently carried her back to the bedroom and placed her on the large bed. The hives on her body were visibly fading, bringing him immense relief.Quietly, he sat by her bedside, his gaze fix
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