She hadn't seen her mother for a very long time. She remembered the last time she came to the hospital; she was only four months pregnant, wearing loose clothes that barely showed her baby bump, which allowed her to keep her pregnancy a secret from her mother. As her pregnancy progressed and her belly grew larger, she didn't dare to visit her mother anymore.Throughout the year of her pregnancy and childbirth, she had been telling her mother that she was studying abroad. To this day, Eleanor was unaware of Isabella's breakup with James and even less aware that she had a child with a stranger.If she found out, it would likely cause Eleanor's heart condition to worsen, maybe even necessitating life-saving measures."Silly girl, why are you crying? Mom is perfectly fine," Eleanor reached out her hand to her, and Isabella quickly grasped her mother's thin and cold arm."Mom still wants to see you marry James and have your children," Eleanor spoke with a sense of longing.Isabella, howeve
Andrew and the video conference with the UK branch lasted until 7 p.m.Exiting the meeting room, Beta Ryan was still discussing business matters."Alpha, the head of the UK branch was promoted by your older brother. He spent the whole afternoon playing mind games with us, clearly looking for trouble," Ryan expressed his dissatisfaction.Andrew's handsome face remained cool, his emotions consistently subdued, making it difficult to read his thoughts. "The project in the UK has just started. Don't interfere for now; I know what's going on."After speaking, he raised his arm and glanced at the semi-old steel watch on his wrist.Ryan's gaze also fell on the watch, and he casually remarked, "You still wear this watch."In Andrew's private wardrobe, there were millions worth of luxury watches, but he often wore this semi-old steel watch.It was said to be a gift from his grandfather, a British-made watch that served as a war trophy from the battles of the last century, symbolizing victory a
James stood on the side, holding a fruit basket, feeling somewhat awkward."Emily said you're sick, and both Mom and I are worried about you," he awkwardly began."I'm not seriously ill, thank you for your and Mrs. Brown's concern," she politely replied, but her tone was too distant and unfamiliar.James felt guilty and didn't dare to expect Isabella to be more welcoming.He placed the fruit basket on the coffee table and then sat by the bedside, opening his briefcase and taking out a jewelry box."I've had the necklace repaired. You can hardly see the cracks if you don't look closely."She squinted her eyes, clear gaze mixed with a hint of coldness. "Are you sure you're giving me back the necklace and not the one you gave to Emily?"Her words made James feel ashamed. Because of the necklace, he had already been scolded harshly by his mother.James also didn't expect that this necklace was originally a wedding gift from his mother to Isabella's mother.James harbored some resentment t
"Have you not been following the news these past few days? One male artist from the company has been exposed for drug use and possession. It has angered the fans, and the projects he was involved in have been suspended, causing significant losses for the company. To prevent similar incidents, Robert has ordered all signed artists to undergo testing," Olivia explained succinctly.Isabella was familiar with that male artist; his history of drug use wasn't a big secret in the industry. However, the company had turned a blind eye to it due to his popularity.Now that this incident was suddenly exposed, she couldn't believe it was just a coincidence.Since the poisoning incident initiated by Charlotte, it had been a carefully planned conspiracy. However, Robert had truly spared no expense to get rid of her. That male artist was a money-making tree for the company, and it was a pity to see him cut down just like that."Olivia, my body hasn't fully recovered. The doctor said I need to stay i
The filming stopped, and she also saw him, walking towards him.With a cigarette between his fingers, he exhaled a faint smoke through his firm lips, and his slightly hoarse voice sounded, "Amelia asked me to bring this to you."He handed a thermos to Isabella.She hugged the thermos, unscrewed the lid, and a fragrant hot steam emerged from it."Old duck soup! It smells so good," Isabella's eyes lit up.Since the last time she had dinner at the apartment, she had a soft spot for the old duck soup Amelia made. Amelia promised to make it for her again next time, but she didn't expect it to be delivered to the set.Holding the thermos, she shivered while drinking the hot soup."Feeling cold?" he raised an eyebrow, asking.She stuck her tongue out from being scalded by the hot soup, and the steam from the thermos surrounded her. "Yes, in the sea water below freezing for half an hour."After hearing this, he slightly pursed his firm lips, his deep and calm gaze settling on her. The blue an
A half-month later, James invited Isabella and Emily to his birthday party.Isabella casually browsed a nearby mall and picked a present that was somewhat presentable for James. After all, it was impolite to go empty-handed to someone's birthday.Once she chose the gift, she had it wrapped by the store's staff, paid, and then took a taxi to James's house.The car stopped in front of his villa, and she paid before getting out. Standing in front of the courtyard, she could faintly hear the noise coming from inside.This place was extremely familiar to her. When she was a child, her mother often brought her here to visit. Later, when she and James were engaged, it became a frequent visit. Mrs. Brown treated her as a prospective daughter-in-law, and even their servants regarded her as James's future wife.And now, she stood in front of the Brown family's gate again. Although everything here hadn't changed, there was a feeling of time having passed.Her appearance surprised many. After all
In the Brown family, Mrs. Brown held great authority, and James rarely defied his mother.Emily, looking reluctant, went into the inner room to change her clothes. She picked up her bag to leave but was stopped by Mrs. Brown."Aunt, do you have any more orders?" Emily asked.However, Mrs. Brown threw a pillbox at her. "Don't forget to take your pills. After all, you and James are not married yet. We, the Brown family, are respectable people. We don't want any scandal with an illegitimate child."Holding the box of birth control pills, Emily, with red eyes, ran out."Emily!" James instinctively put on his clothes to chase after her but was stopped by Mrs. Brown."You stay right there!""Mom! You're going too far!" James's handsome face was full of helplessness. He found himself caught between his mother and his fiancée, who weren't getting along."I don't think I've gone too far. James, I told you before, this woman has character issues. Anyway, I won't agree to you marrying her," Mrs.
"Does it sound good?" she broke the silence. "Yes," Andrew responded. "Play it again," he said, with a commanding tone. However, Isabella directly closed the piano lid, intentionally going against him. "No, I reject you. " He probably had never been refused before. Subconsciously frowning, when she stood up to leave, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her delicate wrist. She couldn't resist his strong force, and he pressed her against the piano. In front of her was the enlarged handsome face of a man. She passively stared into his eyes, his deep blue eyes resembling an unfathomable sea. Intimidating yet full of mystery and allure. Andrew, likewise, looked at her. His deep eyes slightly narrowed, the powerful gaze moved from her delicate cheeks down to her chest. Isabella wore his shirt, without even an inner garment, as her underwear had also been soaked by Asher's urine and was now hanging on the balcony. Due to the recent struggle, one of the buttons on her chest had come u
Isabella chuckled softly at his words. Then, she got out of bed, tidied her clothes, and opened the door.As soon as the door opened, Asher lunged in, diving straight into his mother's soft embrace."Mommy's precious baby is back," Isabella planted a kiss on Asher's cheek."Amelia took Asher to ride the slide, and then we're coming down!" Asher exclaimed excitedly.Isabella nodded with a smile and asked, "Asher, Do you like to play on the slide?""Yes! I like it." Asher nodded vigorously and said, "I want to eat marshmallows. Mommy, you will buy marshmallows for me, right?"Amelia thought that too many sweets were bad for Asher's teeth, so she rarely let him have candy. Asher was clever; whenever he couldn't get what he wanted from Amelia, he would turn to Isabella and act cute.Isabella smiled and nodded, "Alright, next time Mommy will take Asher to the park to buy marshmallows.""Asher loves Mommy the most!" Asher hugged Isabella's neck and giggled.Isabella carried the child downst
Isabella sat in the passenger seat of Andrew's car, holding a thick stack of documents, still finding it hard to believe.In her impression, Robert had always been deeply secretive, shrewd, and ruthless, having run Moonlit Art Inc. for many years, firmly entrenched in his position.She had constantly been troubled by how to deal with him, yet Robert handed Moonlit Art Inc. back to her and even planned her way forward.She couldn't help but wonder if everything that had just happened was an illusion."Andrew, let me pinch you," Isabella said."Why?" Andrew asked, holding the steering wheel with one hand, puzzled."I want to see if I'm dreaming," Isabella replied."Shouldn't you pinch yourself then?""Are you silly? Pinching myself hurts. Pinching you is the same," Isabella answered seriously.Andrew: "..."He'd be foolish to let her pinch him."Andrew, do you think Robert might be possessed? He just handed the company back to me so easily. Moonlit Art Inc. is worth billions," Isabella
Robert stood at the café entrance, watching as the black Benz disappeared from view. Only then did he step down the stairs and walk towards his car. Holding the electronic key in his hand, he unlocked the car just as his phone vibrated in his jacket pocket.Glancing at the caller ID, he saw Alice's name and habitually frowned.When he answered, Alice's cool voice came through, "Robert, I'm planning to sell the house. While packing today, I found some of your things. Come get them today, or I'll throw them out with the trash."Robert and Alice's marriage had been a heavy loss. Alice would never have agreed to the divorce willingly. Robert had left her all the property and cash in his name before she agreed to the divorce.After hanging up, Robert drove to their former home.The electronic lock had long since been changed by Alice, so he could only knock on the door.Alice answered, her attitude indifferent. Now divorced, they were like strangers."Your things are in the kitchen. Take a
When Isabella received Robert's call, she was at the spa with Oliver. The beautician handed Isabella her phone, and she answered the call directly.Hearing Robert's voice surprised Isabella. After hanging up, she removed her face mask and sat up.“Isabella, what’s wrong?” Oliver asked, puzzled.“Robert wants to meet. Not sure what he’s up to this time,” Isabella replied.“He’s Charlotte’s family. He can’t mean any good. Maybe you shouldn’t go,” Oliver said, worried.“Moonlit Art Inc. is still in Robert’s hands.” Isabella sighed, jumped off the bed, and slipped on her high heels. “You go home; I’ll go meet him.”Isabella quickly washed her face, dressed, and drove to the meeting place. Robert had arranged to meet at a café, and for safety, Isabella sent the café's location to Andrew.After sending the message, she tossed her phone back into her bag. Her red Maserati parked steadily outside the café.Isabella stepped out, carrying her bag and walking into the café in her high heels.Wea
"Charlotte, Emily, please have a seat," Robert said calmly.Charlotte, who had been kept waiting for several hours, was seething with anger but had no outlet for it. After all, they were there to ask for help, and when asking for help, one must have the right attitude. She led Emily to the sofa in the reception area and sat down.Robert finished his work and then sat down on the single-seater sofa opposite them, instructing the secretary to bring over some coffee."No need. We’ve had enough coffee to be full," Charlotte replied sarcastically.However, the secretary still brought a cup of coffee and placed it on the coffee table in front of Robert.Robert took a sip of the coffee and spoke in a light tone, "I was thinking of finding time to talk to you, cousin. Since you’re here, there's no need to schedule a time.""Robert, what is it?" Charlotte asked."Not long ago, Alice and I finalized our divorce," Robert said."What?" Charlotte’s eyes widened in surprise. "Something as major as
News of David being taken into police custody was suppressed by Andrew, preventing any public impact. However, high society circles are always well-informed, making it impossible to keep the matter entirely under wraps.Mr. Jacob specifically called Andrew to inquire about the situation, his tone laced with sarcasm. Andrew offered no explanation, but after hanging up, he instructed Ryan to send evidence of Thomas's money laundering and bribery to Mr. Jacob, nearly giving the latter a heart attack.Subsequently, the Clark family also received the news. They was not as easygoing.Mrs. Clark directly ordered the servants to throw out all of Emily's belongings, declaring that Stellan should divorce her.Emily ran back home in tears, immediately throwing herself into Charlotte's arms upon entering."Emily, why are you crying like this? What happened?" Charlotte asked with a sigh.Recently, with Victoria and David both imprisoned, Charlotte had aged significantly."Mom, Stellan wants to div
Meanwhile, inside the CEO's office, Isabella was sitting in the boss's chair behind the large desk, sipping freshly brewed coffee and playing games on Andrew's computer. Andrew's computer was top-notch, and there wasn't a hint of lag while gaming.Isabella was thoroughly enjoying herself, unaware of how much time had passed until the office door opened from the outside and Andrew walked in with a file in hand. Seeing Isabella in his chair softened his otherwise stern expression."You're done with the meeting," Isabella remarked upon seeing him. She closed the game and rested her arm on the desk, propping her chin up to look at him. "Andrew, your computer is great for gaming."Andrew shook his head with a smile, feeling a bit helpless. The information on his computer was valuable enough to buy half of Ithaca town, yet only Isabella dared to use it for gaming."If you like it, I'll have Nathan buy one just like it for you.""Great!" Isabella nodded with a smile, standing up and sidling
“If Andrew would divorce me because the Harris family falls from grace, it would only prove he's not worth trusting. Victoria, do you understand what love is? I love Andrew, and I believe he loves me too.”"Love?" Victoria sneered disdainfully. "Isabella, you're truly ridiculous.""It's not me who's ridiculous, it's you, Victoria. Your whole life has been like a joke." Isabella slowly stood up, her eyes narrowing as she looked down at her."In fact, I've considered many ways to end you, but upon reflection, the best method is to bring you to justice. Victoria, you must live well in prison, reflect on what you've done and the lives you've ruined. I'll make time to visit you."After saying this, Isabella arrogantly turned and walked away, her high heels clicking with each step as she left the hospital room.Behind her, Victoria suddenly erupted into hysterical screams and roars, "I don't want to go to prison! Let me go, let me go!"Hearing the commotion, two guards outside rushed in and
At night, Isabella and Andrew had just finished an intense sex. They lay naked under the covers, chatting. Just as they were kissing passionately, the phone vibrated, interrupting them.Andrew, slightly annoyed, answered the call. Whatever the other person said made him glance at Isabella subconsciously."Andrew, what happened?" Isabella asked after he hung up."Victoria was injured and admitted to the hospital," Andrew replied."Is it easy to get injured in custody?" Isabella asked, puzzled."She was courting death; no one could stop her," Andrew said coldly. "Victoria requested to see Charlotte multiple times but was denied. She must have resorted to self-harm as a last-ditch effort. Once admitted to the hospital, she can see family according to regulations.""Victoria is still hoping David will get her out," Isabella said with a cold laugh. "She wants to see family, right? I'm also her family. Tomorrow, I'll go see her at the hospital."The next day, Isabella got up unusually early