She raised her tear-stained face and looked at Mac, expressing her doubts.“Why? Why else? She's not unaware of Mr. Martinez's status as the Fourth Prince of Dairkth or how distinguished and noble he is. Furthermore, Mr. Martinez saved her life. After waiting so long for this great opportunity, of course she would seize the chance to offer herself to him!”“How could she allow a woman uglier than her to appear by the side of the person who saved her life and is blocking her path to becoming the Fourth Princess?”Penny finally understood the situation completely. “No wonder she kept asking me when Mr. Martinez would come and even asked me to ask him several times.”She now realized that any things she hadn't taken seriously before were traps. She had been stepping in them all along, not realizing it and even pouring her heart out to Linelle relentlessly.Penny felt like the dumbest fool in the world. She wiped away her tears, got up, and rushed toward the nanny's house.When Har
“They talk too much, just ignore them.”The woman had a large birthmark on her face, stretching from her forehead to below her right eye, and she gave a friendly smile to Harmonia. Harmonia smiled back and nodded.She hadn't intended to argue nor did she plan to. It was best to keep a low profile here, and conflicts with the villagers were to be avoided at all costs.“They have gossiped about me since I was little, and they've said all sorts of nasty things, but I've gotten used to it. However, none of their husbands are as good-looking as yours. Your husband's appearance surpasses them all, so you're the winner!”Harmonia nodded, “Thank you for comforting me.”“There’s no need to thank me, I’m just speaking my mind.”Harmonia and the woman had a simple chat, and after finishing hanging all the clothes to dry, she was about to leave, but the woman suddenly stopped her.“Oh, by the way, what's your relationship with my aunt?”“Your aunt?” Harmonia was taken aback. She didn't kno
Penny suddenly sat up straight. This sudden movement also caught Hector, who was handing her a piece of tissue, off guard.What was happening? “Do you have a way?” Penny asked as she spoke into her phone.“Seventy percent certainty.”For Penny right now, the most important thing was to retrieve her mother's belongings. Even if it was a long shot, she would agree to it.Now, with a seventy percent certainty, it was not an insignificant percentage. “Okay!” Penny agreed immediately. “I'll open the door now!”She then gestured to Hector in front of her to enter a room on the side and hide.Hector wrote on a piece of paper: ‘Do I need to hide?’Penny nodded vigorously, pressing her phone tightly to prevent any sound from leaking out.‘Will you stop crying if I hide?’ Hector continued writing on the paper.Penny nodded vigorously again. Hector nodded and walked toward the room with pen and paper. After taking a few steps, he turned back to look at Penny, thinking that someone mu
“Keep an eye on it,” Harmonia spoke toward the other end of the line.“Okay!” Penny hurriedly responded.About half an hour later, a seemingly ordinary woman carrying a backpack entered the pawnshop. She handed a ring to the pawnshop owner, asking how much she could get for it. However, before the owner could reply, the door on one side opened, and Penny walked out.“Madam Han?” The woman, upon seeing Penny, was so startled that she turned around to run! But just then, Harmonia entered the pawnshop and closed the door in front of her.She had nowhere to escape now. She was desperate and immediately tried to attack Harmonia. However, to her surprise, Harmonia effortlessly pinned her against the door, immobilizing her completely.For a few seconds, Penny was dumbfounded at the scene before her. “Blossom, are you a bodyguard turned girlfriend?” Penny felt that Harmonia's sharp movements and determined gaze just now were incredibly cool.Harmonia was dumbfounded. She then glanc
Harmonia chuckled and held Penny's hands, then asked her to hold her own ears. “Repeat after me, ‘I'm not listening, I'm not listening, it’s a bastard reciting scriptures.’”Penny listened, giggled, and then loudly recited, “I'm not listening, I'm not listening, it’s a bastard reciting scriptures!”Snowflakes fluttered in the wind. Snow covered her head but couldn't conceal the laughter.Damon and Simon, who were standing behind, gave Harmonia a thumbs-up.Miss Mandel really knew how to handle things. She was truly amazing!Madam Han, who was about to get into the police car, was furious and revealed her true colors, “Penny, you despicable slut! You deserve to die! How could my brother sacrifice his life to save such an ungrateful wretch like you?!”Harmonia suddenly looked toward Madam Han's direction through the swirling snow, and the look in her eyes was particularly cold, and the chilling chill was palpable.Madam Han was intimidated and swallowed nervously.She was taken
He was wearing a long coat and had a slender figure. The night was deep, and they were the only two people on the quiet street.Harmonia wanted to cross the road, but he stopped her. He looked at her, shook his head, and mouthed to her, “Wait for me where you are.”Harmonia understood, so she didn't move and just watched him through the falling snow.He then stepped forward with long strides, determinedly walking toward her.“Why are you here?” She asked.“To take my young lady home.”Before Harmonia could react, he had already opened his coat and pulled her into his arms. Warmth enveloped her, dispelling the cold. Snow fell on their heads...Their figures, one tall and one short, were stretched by the light from the streetlamp.Harmonia's eyelashes trembled slightly as she blushed. The long night should have been cold, and the streets should have been lonely, but at this moment, it was bright and warm.-Back in the small broken house, snow had piled up.Harmonia went to
“Hmm?”He raised an eyebrow, his cold and handsome features softening because of her, and he no longer looked harsh. He took a step forward, holding her cold hands and tucking them inside his coat, pressing them tightly against his waist.He bent down, and his handsome face came closer to hers, his nose touching hers.Harmonia instinctively wanted to step back, but his hand suddenly tightened, pulling her into his embrace.Her cheek hit his sturdy chest, and she listened to his strong heartbeat.Thump, thump, thump—Each beat was knocking on the door of her heart.“I don't understand. Monia, can you explain?” He pretended not to understand, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.She bit her lip, her fair cheeks blushing red.Her eyelashes fluttered, and snowflakes fell.That sweet voice, tender and not cloying, echoed in the silent observation deck. “The snowflakes everywhere are love letters I wrote to you.”Her answer was obvious.In his deep eyes, there was only her fi
She had clearly prepared herself mentally, but those few words just couldn't come out of her mouth.“Grow old together,” He said softly, uttering those four words.Harmonia suddenly looked up and met his gaze.“You saw it?” She asked. The words ‘Snow falls, and we will grow old together’ were carved on the boulder. “The snow isn't thick enough, so I saw it,” He explained.“The scarf isn't big enough, so I saw it too,” She retorted.He looked at her and smiled as he said, “Do you have to be so shy in front of your boyfriend?”“Dimas Martinez!” Harmonia huffed, playfully hitting his chest.He caught her hand, afraid that her punch would hurt herself.“Monia.”“Hm?”“Isn't it inappropriate to call your boyfriend by his full name?”The term ‘boyfriend’ was still new to Harmonia, and she felt unsure for a moment.She blinked, wide-eyed.However, she quickly recovered, suppressing a smile, and immediately replied...“Can't I call you by your full name? What should I call yo
Quinn was startled. “W-what?”“I wasn't locked up here because I ruined your father's business and he is seeking revenge on me.”“Why are you locked up here, then?”Absalom frowned and replied, “It's complicated. It's not something that can be explained in a short time, but if I'm rescued, it means that there will be one more piece of evidence against your father.”Quinn bit her lower lip. She understood.If he were rescued, her father's actions of injuring him and imprisoning him would no longer be a secret.“You're his daughter, and once he falls, you might not be safe either.”Quinn hadn't thought about it deeply before, but now, Absalom's words weighed heavily on her heart.Even though her father had never cared about her and was always distant and cold toward her, and even though her sister bullied her since childhood, every word and action showing contempt toward her, they were her family, and that was something she couldn't change.Moonlight shone into the cellar throug
Absalom froze in place while holding the snacks at the sound of those words. “She… She answered the call?” His heart felt a sharp pain that hurt a million times more than the wounds on his body.That one word ‘aunt’ was something he didn't want to hear but couldn't deny. They were together, weren't they?Quinn continued to disinfect his wounds, not noticing his expression as she went on and said, “Yes. I've already told her about you. Don't worry, they'll definitely come to rescue you!”“I'm familiar with the paths at home. If conditions permit, I'll guide you when the time comes.”He snapped back to reality, rejecting her without a second thought. “No need. You've done enough for me already by saving my life.”Quinn looked at him and said, “No. I have to see you alive and rescued before I can feel at ease.”“Why?” He asked.She was puzzled. “What do you mean why?”“No one cares about my life,” His eyes dimmed with sorrow.He even wondered if it would have been better if he
Castell looked at her. His gaze was devoid of warmth but rather, it was as indifferent as cold water.“Tomorrow is your sister's assessment day, and I've been invited to Snow Manor.”Quinn nodded softly and asked obediently, “Is Nara confident that she will win?”Upon hearing this, Castell snorted with great dissatisfaction, “There's no such thing as losing among the Kenwoods! She will definitely be the winner!”Quinn shrank back in fear when she saw the ferocity in his eyes, and she did not dare to say another word. She simply nodded, forced a smile, and said, “In that case, I’ll stay at home and wait for Dad and Nara to come back victorious.”Only then did Castell nod begrudgingly.“Okay, go to sleep now.”Quinn waved to him and then turned to leave.The helicopter slowly ascended, gradually disappearing into the night.After Castell left, Quinn entered the room under Mrs. Clint's watchful eyes.After about an hour, Mrs. Clint entered the bedroom, made sure Quinn was asleep
Madam Judd's tone was gentle yet firm.Nara was stunned.“That’s impossible! How could I get it wrong?! You must have made a mistake!”She gritted her teeth at the last sentence.Madam Judd chuckled and said, “All three of these are fake.”Nara had an incredulous expression as she shone the flashlight on them again.“The jade has been soaked in strong acid, impurities washed away, then injected with glue. The methods of counterfeiting are becoming more sophisticated, reaching a point where it's hard to tell real from fake. To discern the authenticity of jade, one needs keen eyesight and extensive experience to make judgments. Just because you've seen more and possess more jade doesn't mean you understand more. Do you understand now?”The proud Nara was embarrassed by Madam Judd and couldn't find a way to save herself from embarrassment for a moment. “Understood,” Harmonia nodded.Nara had to reluctantly say, “Understood.”Madam Judd then immediately began the lesson.Though
She had an uncontrollable nosebleed as blood kept dripping from her nose. She hurriedly bent over, and the drops of blood fell into the sink. Despite the flow of water, it was still extremely alarming.Harmonia did not know what was wrong with her, but after about a minute, she managed to stop the bleeding. She frowned, suspecting that it might be due to heatiness. With about fifteen minutes until nine o'clock, she quickly changed her clothes and hurried toward the appraisal room.Even before the training began, Jenell had already made arrangements for preparations at Snow Manor in advance. The tools in the appraisal room were already prepared.Harmonia and Nara arrived successively.At nine o'clock, Jenell appeared.However, the person who appeared with Jenell shocked Harmonia! It was actually her!Jenell introduced, “This is the jade appraisal expert, Madam Judd.”Harmonia and Nara greeted her. “Madam Judd.”Madam Judd nodded, pretending not to recognize Harmonia.“Let
Both Jasper and Nancy were dumbfounded. Dimas simply stood there with a strong, calm, and intimidating aura, which made people tremble with fear even without him losing his temper. Jasper and Nancy obediently admitted their mistakes. One was in his early twenties, and the other was about to become an adult, but here they were, behaving like kindergarten kids, loudly promising to be model siblings in the future.Harris laughed heartily, his face showing an expression of ‘even these two rascals have their days’.Coincidentally, Mac walked out.“What’s going on?”Harris immediately explained, “The siblings were quarreling, but their father isn't here right now, so the elder brother stepped in as a father figure to educate them properly!”Mac burst into laughter, “I don’t want to say too much, but you should quarrel less with Nancy. She's not in good health, so you should be more considerate toward her.”After Jasper calmed down, he also realized his mistake deeply. He was born w
“Two people, two favors.” Two was two and could not be less. Harris failed to play dumb. “You’re really good at calculating!”However, he had no other choice. After all, he could not handle these two people on his own! His head would ache whenever they argued. “Okay, two favors it is, then!” Harris agreed. Dealing with those troublemakers really gave him a headache.“Tell me, what two things do you want me to do for you, then?” Dimas said calmly, “I’ll leave Monia’s safety in your hands in ten days.”Harris was taken aback. “Huh? Isn't that girl at Snow Manor? With your mother there, her safety should be absolutely guaranteed.”“I’m still worried.”“Why don't you take care of her safety yourself, then?”As he spoke, Harris counted his fingers. He suddenly came to a realization.“In ten days? Wouldn’t that be the day when Harmonia and Nara will be taking their assessment together?”Dimas nodded.“You're leaving the base?” Harris understood and asked.“Yes.”“Where are you
‘You’re really killing me.’Harmonia whispered goodnight to him again, then stuffed her cell phone under the pillow as she prepared to have a good sleep.Dimas, who was at the base, also put down his cell phone at the moment. He looked at the simple layout diagram carved on the bottom of the box and turned on his laptop immediately to reconstruct it. At the same time, he called Mac to investigate Castell's second daughter.At first, Mac thought Dimas was joking. Everyone knew Castell only had one daughter, Nara. How could there suddenly be another daughter? Dimas then told Mac about the content of the phone call Monia had received. Mac immediately realized the seriousness of the matter. Before confirming whether Absalom was really in the wine cellar in Kenwood Mansion, he needed to confirm whether Castell really had a second daughter.After hanging up the phone, he acted quickly. Since she was a living person, there was no way she could not be traced.Mac's efficiency was
The air seemed to freeze at this moment.The phone clearly displayed the ‘call in progress’ message, but it was as if it was affected by signal interference, and nothing could be heard until his cold voice broke the icy silence.“I will.”Harmonia heaved a sigh of relief, feeling worried as she said, “But rescuing someone from Kenwood Mansion won't be easy, right? That place is definitely a dangerous spot. How do you plan on rescuing him? Furthermore, we can't guarantee that this isn't a scheme orchestrated by Castell.”Having finally received news of Absalom, of course, it couldn't be given up on, but the authenticity of the news also needed to be confirmed.Dimas simply smiled without answering Harmonia's question but instead changed the topic and asked, “Monia, what did you have for dinner tonight?”Just as Harmonia was about to answer, a knock sounded at the door. Her heart jumped, and she acted swiftly and quickly tucked the phone under the blanket.She then pretended to be