Bradley had spent the past six months searching for Esther without success. Instead, he stumbled upon Felix. To his surprise, Steffan and Xara were the ones raising Felix.Bradley's sudden arrival caught everyone by surprise.Gabriel had contacted Esther only to ask her to come to him upon learning of Bradley's visit to the Sandersons.Although it was common knowledge that Esther would eventually meet Bradley, there was an unspoken agreement among them to delay this meeting for as long as possible.Bradley entered the Sandersons with an aggressive demeanor."Sir, may I see your invitation?" the doorman requested.Bradley's expression remained icy, with the night breeze tousling his silver hair."Please inform Steffan that I am Felix's biological father," he stated.The doorman humbly said, "Sir, please wait."He conveyed Bradley's arrival to Steffan, causing Xara to nervously scan the room."Why is he here? What if he finds Esther..." Xara fretted.Steffan reassured her, emb
Bradley didn't waste any time and went straight to the point, "Mr. Sanderson, give my son back to me."Upon hearing that, Steffan smiled and calmly said, "Mr. Warner, it's my son's 10th birthday today. If you've come to congratulate him as a guest, you're welcome to do so."Bradley looked at Steffan fiercely, gnashing his teeth to contain his anger. "Mr. Sanderson, I would extend my congratulations considering the time you've spent raising my son.""Please."Steffan wasn't intimidated by Bradley. This was the Sandersons' estate, and if Bradley caused any trouble in front of the guests, Steffan would make sure he understood the consequences.The Sandersons' castle had a long history and had been meticulously maintained over the years. The guests at the birthday party were all influential business leaders. The world's most prestigious orchestra was performing live, and top chefs from a renowned restaurant were preparing exquisite dishes nearby.Steffan guided Bradley to a table whe
Xara's pregnancy came as a big surprise to Steffan, and he never expected to receive such a special gift on Jacob's birthday. The moment he learned about Xara's pregnancy, she became a cherished treasure to him.Steffan and Jacob carefully protected Xara in the middle.This scene appeared very unsettling to Bradley. He felt like needles had pricked him for some reason.From the moment Bradley sat next to Felix, the latter ignored him, and they sat in silence.Breaking the silence, Bradley cleared his throat and asked, "Felix, will you come back with me?"Sunshine spoke up for Felix. "He won't go with you."Bradley's gaze turned icy as he looked at Sunshine's face, but his tone softened involuntarily. "I'm asking Felix.""I'm answering for Felix," Sunshine said, placing a hand on Felix's shoulder. "You're not a good dad. Felix won't go with you!"Bradley furrowed his brow, and his tone suddenly grew colder. He looked at Felix in the distance with a dark gaze. "Felix, answer me!"
"Do you dream of her when you sleep at night?"With her disdain for you, she probably wouldn't want to enter your dreams!"No! It was not like that!Bradley's dreams were filled with Esther. Whenever he closed his eyes, she occupied his thoughts.At times, she appeared strikingly beautiful—at other moments, she stood amidst a raging fire, her silence conveying deep discontent.He longed to dream of her, yet he struggled to confront her in his dreams."If Esther is no more, your attitude should have changed!"Agatha paused, then let out a cold laugh. She turned her gaze toward Felix and spoke slowly. "Consider yourself fortunate. You and Esther have Felix as your son. We're not showing kindness—we aim to spare Felix from further hurt."Bradley, Felix is your safeguard now."With those words, she entered the castle.Felix sat silently in his chair, peering through the window at Bradley in the distance."Grandma Foster, is Felix's dad here to take him away?" Sunshine asked, her
Agatha watched Felix as he typed on his tablet, holding both Felix and Sunshine's hands gently. She gazed at Felix with a serious look, attempting to reassure him."Felix, you don't have to dwell on this. Just ask yourself if you want to live with him."Felix shook his head. He didn't want to. His dad used to be less intimidating. He didn't like his dad now. He was a small man and wanted to protect his mom."But..." Sunshine tilted her head and asked, "What if Felix's dad insists on taking him?"Sunshine's concerns mirrored Felix's. They were just kids and couldn't stand up to him."You're both kids, and you don't need to worry so much. With us adults here, you can make any decision you want."Despite Agatha's reassurance, Felix and Sunshine remained unhappy.It wasn't until Jacob's birthday cake arrived that Felix and Sunshine, led by Agatha, joined the guests. Sunshine sang the birthday song in her adorable voice while Felix mouthed the words.The birthday party concluded per
Steffan had finally understood that it was better to resolve misunderstandings than let them persist indefinitely.The most important thing for Steffan and Xara was their child. Xara could overcome her fears and return to his side for Jacob. Steffan was also willing to set aside his pride for Jacob."Mr. Sanderson, I'm not here to listen to your lengthy nonsense..."Steffan paused and smiled wryly. It seemed that Bradley had to navigate the same mistake himself. Even if Steffan had kindly reminded him not to go down such paths, it would be of no use."Felix is here." Xara held Felix's hand and walked over to them.Steffan extended his hand. Felix obediently walked up to Steffan, who pulled him into his embrace and asked, "Felix, your dad has come to take you. Do you want to leave with him?"Felix shook his head. He didn't want to go with Bradley.Bradley had never expected that he would come all this way, only to have Felix unwilling to leave with him. "Felix!"Felix shivered i
Esther drove to the location provided by Gabriel and parked her car at the bustling motel's entrance. She walked in, feeling quite familiar with the place.She stood in front of a room at the end of the corridor and gently knocked on the door. Gabriel opened it, and Esther entered."Grandpa Gabriel," she greeted.Gabriel slightly raised his chin and nodded toward a young, handsome man looking into the distance through binoculars."Logan Foster, International Criminal Police."Logan, who stood at 1.8 meters tall, was dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans. Despite the loose-fitting T-shirt, Esther could still see his well-defined eight-pack abs and an attractive V-shaped line on his lower abdomen. Most importantly, Logan had a superb physique, clearly someone who had been working out regularly."Logan, this is Esther, my choice for your partner," Gabriel introduced.Logan looked at Esther disdainfully as she was dressed to impress and remarked, "She seems too delicate."Before Es
Logan said indifferently, "Nothing worth watching."Chadwick's information had only led them this far. Keeping watch tested anyone's patience, but Logan was always patient. He worried that Esther might not share the same level of patience."Fine, you watch."Esther took a seat. She wasn't in a hurry, believing that Logan would soon brief her on the case details.Not long after Esther sat down, Logan suddenly grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her out of the room. "We're heading out!"They headed to the garage and saw a few men with tattoos getting into cars, joking around."Car key."Esther tossed the car key into Logan's hands, and they got into the car.Logan started the car and followed the BMW in front."I've been watching them for a week. They've been staying in the room the whole time, ordering takeout. Today is the first time they've left," Logan briefly explained the situation.Esther quickly understood and asked, "Are they heading to a meeting?""It's possible."W
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