Logan impassively answered, "I believe the most agonizing way to deal with stubborn men like Bradley is to shatter their faith."Esther sneered. "Faith? Does Bradley even have any?" "He does," Logan replied. "You are his faith.""Me?" Esther asked, surprised."Yes, you are Bradley's belief."Esther comprehended instantly. She understood that Bradley regarded her as her younger sister, but she... wasn't her.Esther couldn't fathom why Bradley, who had witnessed her sister's SUV plummeting off a cliff, thought she might still be alive. Was he arrogant enough to believe her sister would accept anything he did and never leave him?"I know what to do," Esther said, feeling less agitated after Logan's reminder.She went to her tablet and started watching a sweet romantic drama to relax. Nearby were her drinks, chips, fried chicken, and fruits."Logan, care to join?" Esther realized she hadn't invited him after starting the drama.Logan shook his head with a shiver upon glimpsing t
Time passed, and Bradley tried to move his stiff wrists. He felt thirsty, and his body was getting tight."Hey," Bradley called out softly.Only the echo of his voice lingered in the vast warehouse, reminiscent of the resonance of a mountain peak's bell ringing in the valley.As time ticked by, Bradley gradually acclimated to the darkness. An anxious feeling crept over him despite observing the warehouse and smelling its medicinal scent.He glanced at his wristwatch and realized it had been a full four hours since he woke up—four hours without water, food, or conversation.Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed in the silent warehouse. It was his hunger pangs.Bradley's once composed demeanor changed. His irritation turned his skin red, and he attempted again to break free from his restraints.Abruptly, the warehouse door creaked open.Logan wheeled Esther into the warehouse, the faint sound of the wheelchair's wheels against the ground catching Bradley's attention."Esther!" Bradl
Bradley exerted all his efforts to search, only to find more differences. The previous Esther never kept long nails or manicured them so colorfully. The previous Esther would never treat him like this."Esther, do you intend to imprison me?" Bradley belatedly asked.Esther chuckled. "Bradley, it's fair to treat someone as they've treated you.""How dare you?!" Bradley retorted sternly.Tears welled up in Esther's eyes as she laughed. "Why wouldn't I dare?"Bradley scoffed. "I'm Bradley Warner. Try imprisoning me, and you'll see!" "Since you think being imprisoned is a humiliation too, then who gave you the right to imprison my sister?"Esther's words echoed like a thunderbolt in Bradley's ears.Almost instinctively, Bradley replied, "Because she didn't listen! I could have broken her legs, but I showed mercy."Esther's killing intent surged like volcanic lava. "Bradley!"Logan placed a hand on Esther's shoulder when he sensed her shift in emotion, whispering, "Stay calm. Don
Esther's slap didn't evoke any guilt in Bradley. Instead, it spurred him to laugh coldly."Isn't this what she brought upon herself?" Bradley's handsome face bore mockery. "She begged me to marry her!"When Logan heard Bradley's unabashed statement, he reminded coldly, "Are you certain she begged you to marry her?""Isn't it so?" Bradley sneered, licking the blood from the corner of his lips, unfazed and even interested."No." As someone well-versed in all the conflicts between Esther and Bradley, Logan couldn't hide the truth. "As far as I know, you said you wanted to marry Esther before she was even born."Bradley instinctively retorted, "That's impossible, how could I—""Do you want to say you didn't know Esther before? How could you want to marry her?"Logan stood behind Esther's wheelchair, so she couldn't see his expression. However, Bradley, who faced Esther, could see Logan's every expression."Warner, are you absolutely certain you really didn't know Esther before?"B
Esther and Logan left without stopping, leaving Bradley alone in the darkness.Bradley looked at the mineral water bottle near his feet, cynically thinking that maybe she really wasn't Esther. The Esther who deeply loved him wouldn't treat him that way.She was not Esther! How absurd of her to demand his repentance! Why should he repent?Hunger and thirst swept over Bradley's nerves. He closed his eyes, recalling Logan's words and expression. It was a look that seemed to comprehend everything yet carried a tinge of pity.What did Logan truly know? Did he actually have some past connection with Esther? What memories did he miss?Bradley lifted his head, his eyes fixed on the solitary lamp above the warehouse. The white light reflected in his deep eyes. He felt a slight headache as if some memory was trying to break free from his mind. He instinctively rubbed his temples, the mechanical wristwatch emitting a ticking sound on his wrist.-Meanwhile, Gavin had lost contact with Brad
Dylan glanced at Logan with an awkward expression, seemingly unsure of how to proceed. "Mr. Foster, Mr. Warner is acting based on his emotions..."Logan replied with a mocking question, "Mr. Searle, do you genuinely believe that?""Mr. Foster, Mr. Warner landed here in plain view and has disappeared from your premises. If you don't release him, we might have to involve the authorities."Logan shrugged casually. "Feel free to involve them. I'll play along."Dylan sighed in frustration, recognizing that Bradley's actions were far from honorable. If things escalated, it could tarnish the Warner Group's positive image. A private resolution was the best course of action.Dylan began anxiously. "Mr. Foster—""Mr. Searle, why waste your time with him?" The head of security interrupted, addressing Logan. "Search!""Can't you all stay calm?!" Dylan exclaimed in exasperation.The head of security glared at Logan. "Mr. Searle, if something happens to Mr. Warner, how will we explain it? Se
Logan tossed the keys to Dylan and reminded coldly, "Take him away. If he shows up uninvited again..."Dylan quickly moved forward and used the keys to unlock the iron chains on Bradley's wrists, revealing red marks already imprinted on his skin.Bradley flexed his wrists before advancing menacingly toward Logan. "You better protect her for life."Logan chuckled. "Seems like you haven't reflected on or realized your mistakes."He genuinely believed that the time Bradley had spent imprisoned was too short. Dealing with someone like Bradley required resorting to violence and revenge—humane methods wouldn't make him acknowledge his wrongdoings."Esther, don't think they can protect you forever or assume I'll give up on you by creating a new identity."I'm telling you, I don't care who you are. I've marked you for life!"Bradley's eyes flickered with determined arrogance.Esther snickered. "Bradley, have you visited a fortune teller before? I suggest you go to one!"Bradley glance
Gavin never expected Bradley to undergo such a dramatic emotional shift in such a short time. He discreetly assessed Bradley, noticing faint traces of blood on his wrists. He surmised that Bradley hadn't gotten his way with Logan. Otherwise, he wouldn't harbor such dangerous thoughts."Mr. Warner, do you really want Logan's life?" Gavin saw Bradley stepping into the trap as his boss had predicted. He pondered whether it was Bradley's foolishness or the boss' exceptional intelligence that had almost foreseen Bradley's every step.As Bradley inched closer to the trap, Gavin thought, 'Thank goodness I don't have an enemy like my boss. Otherwise... my fate would be more miserable than Bradley's.'"What do you mean?" A hint of anger flashed in Bradley's eyes. "You think..."Gavin explained with a smile, "Mr. Warner, don't misunderstand. Given Logan's special status, there will be no turning back once we initiate our plans."Bradley set down his cutlery, leisurely wiped his lips with a
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