Almost instantly, Bradley noticed that the woman in the black SUV bore a striking resemblance to Esther."Turn around! Follow that black SUV!" he commanded.The driver, nearly on the verge of tears upon hearing Bradley's command, said, "Mr. Warner, we can't make a U-turn at this intersection! We can only drive ahead and make a U-turn..."Bradley's sinister gaze fell on the back of the driver's head as he coldly ordered, "Then drive ahead and make a U-turn!""Mr. Warner, it's a red light."Furious and annoyed, Bradley pushed open the car door and peered behind. The road was empty. The black SUV from a moment ago seemed like a hallucination to Bradley.He opened the car door and sat inside, sternly commanding, "Park the car on the side of the road."Puzzled, the driver took advantage of the changing traffic lights and parked the car by the side of the road. Bradley pulled the driver out and checked the car's dashcam. Despite attempting to enhance the blurry footage, the image rema
Esther navigated to the address Gabriel had provided. She exited her car and approached the sign-in desk, which was bustling with people awaiting the upcoming assessment.At that moment, a subtle sense of intense competition washed over her.Despite the pressure, Esther remained composed, holding steadfast to the belief that she would distinguish herself during the assessment.After securing her seat, Esther noticed Logan entering, now clad as an instructor. He casually positioned the roster on the lectern and commenced, "Hello, everyone. I'm Logan Foster, your instructor for this assessment."This evaluation encompasses written tests, combat, marksmanship, and a free-choice segment."Three admission spots are up for grabs. The top three examinees in overall scores will secure immediate admission."No cheating is tolerated. If discovered, your qualification will be revoked. Best of luck to all."With a nod from Logan, the staff distributed the test papers.Esther received her p
The next assessment was marksmanship, Esther's strong suit. Whether it was shooting a fixed target or a moving one, it posed no challenge for her. She completed the task with ease, hitting vital points with every shot. She showcased fast, precise, and spectacular marksmanship.The chief examiner retrieved Esther's personal information from the tablet, took a keen look, and thought that she was quite impressive. He awarded her a very high score.Esther moved on to the next stage—the free-choice assessment—and she chose the memory test. This memory test was unique. Esther entered a room where many people were engaged in various activities. After spending a minute inside, she came out.Logan asked, "There's a woman in a red sweater in the room. What is she doing?""Using her phone," Esther replied.Logan continued. "What's on the phone screen?""A novel," Esther answered.Logan handed Esther a sketchbook and said, "There's a man in the room playing chess. Draw him."Esther was p
"Why? Did you think the first case you would handle would be related to your father's?" Logan asked.Esther remained silent. She had agreed to participate in this assessment with the personal goal of capturing the enemy who had killed her father."Don't be hasty. Impatience doesn't solve anything. Rushing often leads to failure," Logan stated."So, how do I cooperate with you?" Esther asked.Logan smiled. "You might have to play the role of my fiancee. My fiancee has a severe kidney disease and needs a transplant."Esther instantly understood. "I can do that."Logan checked the time on his wristwatch and said, "Let's depart back to the country now.""Now?" Esther asked.Logan asked, "Do you have something else to attend to?""I need to return the car I drove out," she replied.Even though the Sandersons had numerous luxury cars akin to an auto show, she had driven the car there and couldn't possibly not return it.Logan said, "I'll arrange for someone to return the car to th
Agatha grasped the necessity of Logan's work, so she agreed without probing too deeply."And you?"Logan clarified, "Esther and I will pretend to be engaged for a while.""Understood."Agatha refrained from questioning whether Logan knew Esther's true identity. For her, Esther was the best choice. No law prohibited her from remarrying after divorcing Bradley.Additionally, Logan was someone she had seen growing up. She would be delighted if Logan and Esther ended up together. However, if Esther opted to remain unmarried, Agatha wouldn't object. Esther's happiness was paramount, whether in marriage or otherwise."So, when do we depart?""Now."Logan assisted Esther and Agatha in loading the luggage into the car.Before arriving at Agatha's place, Logan and Esther roughly coordinated their background story—Logan had been captivated by Esther at first sight during his visit to Agatha. Guided by Agatha's matchmaking, they attempted to get along.Both Logan and Esther, being highl
Bradley had witnessed Esther being pushed into the incinerator. What more did he expect?Xara didn't disturb Bradley. Instead, she went to check on the three children.Jacob exuded a big brother vibe, and Sunshine and Felix were sensible. They had teachers for studies and a butler for daily life.Now pregnant again, Xara couldn't afford excessive worry due to her health. Moreover, she had to attend prenatal classes regularly.As Xara prepared to leave, Bradley blocked her way, asking, "Dr. Sadler, can I see Felix?""Felix is your son. If he wants to see you, I have no objections."Choked, Bradley didn't know what to say."I'll ask him," she said.After consulting Felix, Xara arranged for him to meet Bradley. Father and son sat face to face.Felix sat upright, displaying an unusual maturity for his age mirrored in Bradley's face."Felix," Bradley began.Felix looked up at Bradley. The latter's eyes were gentle, and his tone soft as he said, "I'm going back to the country. I k
Logan, Agatha, and Esther arrived at Capitus International Airport. To heighten the authenticity of their plan, Esther had been in a wheelchair since disembarking the plane."Grandma Agatha, don't you think I look too healthy?" Esther questioned, glancing at herself on her phone.Even without makeup, her complexion was radiant, far from that of a sick person."We'll take you to the hospital right away," Agatha said, reaching out to touch Esther's face with an indulgent look. "Once we're there, I'll take care of the rest.""Okay."-At the hospital.Agatha managed everything on the medical front.Half an hour later, Esther found herself on a hospital bed, engrossed in her phone. "Logan, do you think this is okay?"Logan replied gently, "Looks good.""Really?" Esther doubted him. She switched to selfie mode on her phone and asked, "How about ordering some foundation online?""Vain much? You want to put on makeup?" Logan teased.Esther clarified, "No, I just want to give mysel
Logan stepped out with his phone. After just a few strides, he spotted his parents approaching from the opposite direction."Logan!""Dad, Mom," Logan greeted them.Upon receiving Logan's message, his parents hurried to the hospital. For years, Logan had been engrossed in work, avoiding romantic entanglements. His parents had resigned themselves to the idea that he might remain a dedicated workaholic destined for a single life.However, Logan surprised them tonight by revealing that he had a fiancee. Excitement surged through his parents, prompting them to abandon their tasks and rush to the hospital to meet his partner."What's the situation with your fiancee?" they asked.Logan solemnly replied, "Dad, Mom, have a seat. Let me talk to you first. Don't startle her."-In the garden.Logan's parents sat, and he brought two cups of coffee from the vending machine."Dad, Mom, my fiancee is Esther Quill," he said.Logan's parents, perplexed, asked, "Oliver's niece? Bradley's ex-
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