Even though Esther was the one who had assisted him, he had considered her an enemy and joined Bradley in mistreating and hurting her. Had he known from the start that Esther was the one who had persuaded Bradley to save him, he would have unhesitantly stood by her, protecting her without hesitation during the incident.If he had believed Esther, staunchly defended her, and insisted on a DNA test from Bradley, many tragedies might have been averted.His mistake made him Bradley's accomplice. Now armed with the truth, he wouldn't harm Esther in the slightest."Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about you," Kevin assured, resolving not to hurt her anymore, regardless of her identity."It's fine if you tell Bradley." A terrifying crimson glinted beneath Esther's teary eyes.If she weren't on a mission, she would seek revenge against Bradley on her sister's behalf. Not necessarily through physical harm, as that would be too easy. Instead, she wished for Bradley to endure the same pain s
The nurse entered Room 606 carrying a bouquet of flowers. "Ms. Quill, these flowers were sent by a gentleman," she announced.Assuming it was Kevin who had sent them, Esther said casually, "Just leave them there. Thank you.""No problem," the nurse replied, placing the flowers and heading back to the nurse station. Seizing the moment when no one was in sight, she opened the box and discovered a gold necklace nestled inside.Her eyes widened in surprise as she covered her mouth. The dazzling necklace held an unexpected allure, and she couldn't resist trying it on. The realization that she had received such a precious gift merely for delivering flowers felt like an extraordinary stroke of luck, almost too good to be true.Little did the nurse know that human greed could surface in an instant, and desires could intensify with greed.-At Capitus International Airport.Bradley approached the arrivals area, where a well-dressed man respectfully greeted him."Hello, Mr. Warner. I'm D
Bradley meandered through the streets of Capitus without a clear destination until a captivating scent reached him—a fusion of various spices blending harmoniously. Intrigued, he approached a barbecue stall and settled into a plastic chair.The stall owner observed Bradley, noting his discreet wealth despite the absence of logo-covered attire."Dear, we've got a customer," the stall owner announced.The stall owner's wife promptly removed her plastic gloves, retrieving paper and a pen from her apron. She handed Bradley a laminated menu with a warm smile."Sir, this is our menu. Take a look at what you'd like to eat."Bradley's upbringing seldom exposed him to this kind of food. He might not have taken a seat if the roadside barbecue stall hadn't appeared clean and hygienic."I'm alone. Just serve me what you see fit.""Do you have any dietary restrictions?" she asked."None."With a basket for picking, the wife selected various skewers from a nearby freezer and put them on a p
Kevin was correct—he lacked the ability to cherish Esther, and he was undeserving of her love.Bradley forced a bitter smile, downing his beer."Another bottle, please," he requested."Sure thing." The wife brought another beer for Bradley, noting a wedding ring on his left finger. She kindly advised, "Sir, maybe you should drink a little less. Your family at home might worry about you.""My wife might worry about me?" Bradley chuckled wryly and murmured affectionately, "If only she would worry.""She will definitely worry about you," the wife affirmed.Yeah. She would worry.Once, Esther's world revolved around him. At that time, even a furrowed brow or a cough of his would make her concerned and anxious. It was just that he was arrogant and ignorant of love back then.Now, only now, did he understand what he had missed."My wife passed away." Bradley dropped this sentence lightly.The wife apologized awkwardly, "I'm sorry. I didn't know..."Bradley continued drinking the b
"It's 26 dollars," said the wife.Bradley had an excellent memory. He had seen the menu and knew the dishes she had served amounted to 30 dollars."Isn't it 30 dollars?""The beer is on the house for you.""No need."Bradley paid the original price.Just a few steps away, his stomach started feeling uncomfortable. Suddenly, everything went black, and he collapsed.The stall owners abandoned their cooking and rushed to him. One called 911, while the other supported Bradley.Soon, an ambulance took Bradley to the hospital. After an examination, the doctor learned that Bradley had a bad stomach, aggravated by beer and stimulating food tonight.Even though Bradley had his phone, it couldn't be unlocked, so the stall owners had to pay for his medical expenses.Only after the doctor took over Bradley's care did the stall owners leave the hospital.Bradley woke up in the hospital amidst the scent of disinfectant. He opened his eyes, looking at the bright light above. The events jus
The name "Esther Quill" resounded in Bradley's ears like a thunderclap, instantly jolting him awake and intensifying his alertness."Who did you say Logan is getting engaged to?"Although Dylan had recently joined Bradley's team, he had conducted some pre-research. Familiar with Bradley and Esther's history, he anticipated Bradley's reaction to this call. Nevertheless, he responded in a somber tone, "Ms. Esther Quill?""Someone with the exact same name as my wife Esther Quill? Or is it her?"Bradley had never accepted that Esther was dead. Dylan's words sparked a glimmer of hope within him.It was akin to a flower blossoming from the ruins, the hope Bradley had yearned for."Mr. Warner, based on my investigation, Logan and his fiancee are currently in the hospital. I couldn't find more detailed information about his fiancee, so I won't be able to provide any updates quickly. Please give me half a day. I'll go and investigate—""No need," Bradley refused. "Which hospital are they
In an instant, a myriad of emotions surged through Bradley. His desire was to bring Esther back to his side, ensuring her reliance solely on him, with no one else to turn to.However, for Esther to depend solely on him meant severing ties with all those who had assisted her. This idea sprouted in Bradley's mind like mushrooms after rain while his rational side battled hard to restrain these fervent thoughts.'Bradley, are you going mad? If you do this, not only Felix won't forgive you, but Esther won't either! If you truly wish to regain Esther's love, you can't resort to such forceful means.'"I'll wait here," Bradley said, settling into a chair near the elevator.He glanced at Kevin's number on his phone but hesitated before calling him. Kevin couldn't be trusted—perhaps he and Jasper had hidden the news of Esther being alive from him.Seeing Bradley not causing a scene, the nurse turned away. She reached the door of Room 606 and lightly knocked."Come in," came the response.
Logan smirked, earnestly asking, "What's wrong with being single?"Esther looked at him and hesitated before asking, "Have you never been in a relationship or had feelings for anyone until now?""Is there a problem?" Logan countered.Esther tilted her head, curiously studying Logan. He was incredibly handsome and surpassed even the celebrities in the entertainment industry. His prestigious background made it impossible for no girl to like him."You couldn't possibly have never received a love letter before?"Logan recollected the love letters he had received during his school days. "I have.""And then?""I threw them in the trash."Esther looked at Logan in disbelief, thinking he was truly a loggerhead.Since Esther had finished washing up, Logan grabbed a hoodie and pushed her in her wheelchair to the hospital rooftop.The sunrise was still some time away, leaving the sky pitch black."What's there to see in the sunrise?" Esther wrapped herself in a thin blanket, gazing rel
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