In front of the bar stood a man in his forties, his bald head catching the light, his rugged face marked by a prominent scar.A long gold chain hung around his neck, giving him the look of a nouveau riche.Surrounding him were men exuding an aura of menace, clearly not people to be trifled with. Few dared to meet their gaze directly.Odelia recognized the bald man. In her past with Jo, she had gained some knowledge about the underworld. In Nova City, aside from the Arliss family, another formidable figure was known as "Knife." He was a force to be reckoned with, holding territory alongside the Arliss family.Odelia had seen Knife once before, from a distance.This time, she intended to approach him directly.She swirled the wine in her glass and downed it in one gulp.Apparently, her bold stare had caught Knife's attention. He looked her way, his eyes showing faint displeasure and warning. A woman daring to look at him so brazenly?She must be tired of living.The men around Knife whi
Odgen and Nydia, having recently been deceived, felt a special fondness and warmth seeing Wythe, who shared their blood. This softened their attitude towards Lydia considerably.Lydia felt a gentle joy in her heart.Although the Halsey parents hadn't fully accepted her, as Lambert had said, as long as they loved each other, the Halsey parents would have to come to terms with it.Moreover, the current way of interacting wasn't bad. After so many trials, if Odgen and Nydia were too enthusiastic, she wouldn't know how to handle it.Overall, the dinner went smoothly, leaving Lydia in a good mood as they left the Halsey house, a smile lingering on her face, catching Lambert's attention."You're that happy?" Lambert asked."Of course! I've always dreamed of a simple, harmonious family life. Isn't this wonderful?" Lydia's eyes sparkled with joy.Lambert smiled and held her hand, "As long as you're happy."Lydia felt incredibly fortunate these days, her whole demeanor radiating happiness. The
Although the events described took only a moment, they left a lasting impression.As people gasped in surprise, Lambert stepped forward, shielding Lydia. With a swift motion, he scooped Wythe up by the waist and, in the next second, Wythe was securely seated on Lambert's arm.The crowd erupted in excitement, especially as Lambert, with a caring smile in his eyes, gently flicked Wythe's forehead. "You little rascal, why are you running around? You almost crashed into your mom!"Wythe stuck out his tongue and peeked over Lambert's shoulder to look at Lydia. "Mom, are you okay?"Lydia smiled wryly, relieved that it was a close call. She had genuinely been frightened for a moment.Lambert, holding Wythe in one arm and Lydia’s hand with the other, presented a picture-perfect family that left everyone envious.Wythe whispered into Lambert's ear, "Dad, I think I should walk on my own. This is so embarrassing!"Finding Wythe's serious little face amusing, Lambert obliged to maintain his son's
"You were amazing, but I'm still sore. Can we stop for today? I’ll make it up to you tomorrow!"Newman narrowed his eyes slightly. "You're not brushing me off, are you?"Odelia's heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile. "How could I dare? I'm counting on you to help me connect with Knife!"Newman spat and slapped Odelia across the face. "Thinking about another man while you're in my bed? If my brother hadn’t turned you down, you wouldn't even be with me!""That's not true! I need to talk to Knife for business, nothing more."Before Odelia could finish her sentence, Newman pressed her down again.Meanwhile, Lambert and Lydia were basking in the limelight. Since revealing their relationship at the celebration party, Lambert often posted photos on his social media account.A new photo he uploaded showed Wythe sitting obediently at the table, a plate of cookies in front of him.With a serious expression, Wythe nibbled on the cookies like a little hamster. Lambert captioned the photo,
She paused for a moment, with a half-smile, "Still calling me 'auntie' after all this time?"Nydia let out a mocking laugh, while Lydia remained silent.Yes, she had her faults too. She never considered Lambert's parents as her own family.To her, they were just her husband's family, not hers. But could she be blamed for that?Relationships are a two-way street. One person's efforts alone aren't enough.In the study on the second floor, Lambert held Wythe's little hand as they stood facing Odgen, who was sitting thoughtfully behind his desk."Dad, is there something you wanted to discuss?" Lambert initiated."Lambert, this matter should have been addressed earlier, but we never had the chance. Wythe is no longer a child. Next month, on the third day, we have our family ancestor worship ceremony. I want to take this opportunity to officially acknowledge Wythe in our family genealogy."Lambert frowned. "What about Lydia? She's my wife and should naturally be accepted together."How coul
Seeing Odelia in such a state, Lydia felt an uneasy sense of foreboding, though she knew this woman could no longer pose a real threat to her.“What are you doing here?” Nydia spoke first, her voice tinged with anger, her gaze filled with loathing as she looked at Odelia.Odelia lowered her head, her long hair casting a shadow over her face, adding an air of fragility and pain. "Auntie, I'm sorry. I came to apologize."“Apologize?” Nydia echoed, her words barely out when Odelia suddenly knelt before her, tears brimming in her delicate, almond-shaped eyes.“Auntie, I know you may never forgive me, but I didn't mean to deceive you. I made mistakes because I thought I loved Lambert. I believed that by staying by his side, staying in the Halsey family, I could win his love. But I never expected to ruin everything.”Tears glistened as they fell from Odelia's eyes onto the floor.“Auntie, I didn’t know about the child at first. I truly believed it was Lambert’s child. Otherwise, why would I
Lydia's eyes reddened immediately, but no tears fell. Wythe looked up at her worriedly, but she took a step forward, standing in front of Nydia, her voice choked with emotion."Auntie, is this the reason you don't like me?"Nydia, seeing Lydia’s reaction, decided to let everything out, come what may. “Yes, so what? Am I wrong? I think you’re nothing but a jinx. You brought death to your father, your mother, and even your stepmother, causing your half-sister to disappear. You’re a walking disaster, and I don’t want you bringing this bad luck to Lambert or the Halsey family. As the matriarch of the Halsey family, it’s my duty to protect my husband and son from trouble and danger. Is that wrong? Everything I did was for Lambert!”Hearing this, Lydia instinctively took two steps back, feeling deeply depressed. She had thought Nydia's hostility was just a temporary reaction to losing her son.After all, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships were historically difficult to manage.
Countless thoughts raced through her mind, finally settling on Nydia's delicate yet disdainful face.Is she truly a jinx? Reflecting now, perhaps Nydia wasn’t wrong. Ever since her mother passed away, everything seemed to change. After she returned to her homeland, every event seemed tied to her - her father's death, her stepmother's death, Maggie's disappearance, and even Lambert’s recent car accident.Anyone connected to her, Lydia, seemed to suffer in some way.Lydia's expression darkened as she gave a self-deprecating smile. Maybe she really was a jinx, bringing misfortune to those around her. But did that mean she had to surrender to fate?She refused to give in!Coming back to reality, she met Wythe’s wide, blinking eyes and Lambert's occasional deep gaze. Her heart found solace as she rested her head on Lambert’s shoulder without saying a word. Lambert focused on driving, offering no further comfort.From the backseat, Wythe sighed in relief. Seeing Lydia lean on Lambert meant
Since the disastrous end to the previous banquet, Lambert had resigned from his role as the head of Universal Conglomerate. Left with no other choice, Odgen had to step in personally to manage the company. But after so many years away, he found it difficult to command respect from the senior executives, most of whom Lambert had appointed. They weren't openly against Odgen, but their support was lukewarm, lacking the dedication they had shown Lambert.Moreover, Odgen's business acumen and skill in handling people didn't come close to Lambert's, causing a slow drift among the staff. Coupled with the recent financial turbulence affecting a significant portion of the company's assets, Universal Conglomerate was suddenly facing a serious liquidity crisis.Odgen had initially sought Lambert out for help, but he was informed that his son had been absent for over six months, reportedly off chasing his ex-wife. The news only deepened Odgen's frustration. Lambert's ex-wife was Lydia, and despit
Lydia couldn't shake a vague sense of melancholy, especially whenever she saw families of three dining together, strolling hand-in-hand, or playing in the park. Lambert's presence lingered in her mind; his every smile, every expression was etched clearly in her heart.It was only now that Lydia realized just how irreplaceable he had become. Lambert had cared for her meticulously, ensuring she always had a glass of water at just the right temperature or a delicious meal whenever she felt hungry. Whenever she felt tired or sleepy, he was there with his warm, gentle hands, ready to take care of everything.Unknowingly, he had become an inseparable part of her life, like air or clear water—unremarkable but indispensable.Lydia bit her lip, suddenly overcome with a longing to hear Lambert's voice. Almost instinctively, she took out her phone and dialed his number.At that moment, Lambert was in the middle of a meeting with the SA branch team. He had rushed to Nova City and gathered the com
Lydia, half-asleep, leaned into Lambert's embrace, finding a comfortable spot before drifting off completely. All her guardedness and sharpness faded away, leaving her looking as peaceful and innocent as a child. Lambert's gaze softened as he carefully carried her to the bedroom, gently lying down with her still in his arms.Lambert watched Lydia with fascination, his fingers tenderly brushing stray hairs from her forehead. He placed a gentle kiss on her brow, his eyes filled with warmth. The atmosphere in the room was peaceful, and Lambert continued to gaze at her, content just to be by her side, even if she hadn't forgiven him yet.As Lydia was in the late stages of her pregnancy, the baby inside her had become more active, often disturbing her sleep. Yet, lying in Lambert's arms, she felt an inexplicable sense of security. When she stirred uncomfortably in her sleep, Lambert immediately reached over to rub her lower back. Noticing their baby's restlessness, he softly placed his han
Lydia looked at the foot basin, her cheeks reddening slightly. This had become a routine for Lambert, who had read somewhere that foot soaks and massages could ease swelling for pregnant women. So, he made it his mission to prepare a foot bath for her every day at the same time.At first, Lydia was quite resistant, but with Lambert's persistence and Wythe's innocent pleas, she eventually gave in.Now, Lambert was crouched down, without concern for his appearance, gently removing her shoes. Seeing Lydia's noticeably swollen feet filled him with worry. Was this foot bath helping at all? Why was her swelling still so bad?It was Lambert's first time caring for a pregnant woman. He had heard of all the challenges women face during pregnancy, but witnessing it firsthand, especially with someone he loved deeply, stirred a strong, indescribable tenderness within him. He felt an overwhelming desire to protect Lydia from any pain, to the point of wishing he could bear it all himself.Lambert c
The next morning, when Wythe woke up, he found his mother looking at him with gentle eyes. Unable to resist, he leaned in and kissed Lydia, then nuzzled against her shoulder, seeking comfort.Lydia felt a warm flutter in her heart; her child had missed her. A wave of guilt washed over her as she stroked Wythe's little head. "Wythe, I'm sorry for not saying anything before and leaving you behind."Wythe, despite his previous frustration, had come to understand that his mother had no choice. "It's okay, Mom. I've grown up and can understand your decisions. Just promise that wherever you go, you'll take me with you.""Of course!"As they chatted warmly in the living room, Lambert stood in the kitchen, facing a daunting array of ingredients. He had done some research beforehand and learned that pregnant women needed balanced nutrition, preferably from home-cooked meals, since who knew about the hygiene of outside food?Determined to prepare a meal for Lydia, Lambert decided to cook. After
Once Lydia calmed down, she realized Lambert had already come in. Given Wythe's presence, it was obviously unrealistic to ask him to leave.Seizing the moment, Wythe turned to Lydia and said, "Mom, can I stay with you tonight?"Lydia nodded without hesitation. "Of course you can! Where else would you stay?"As she spoke, she shot a glance at Lambert, her eyes clearly indicating that she wanted him to leave as soon as possible. He was just too much to deal with.Unfortunately, Lambert didn't take the hint and instead asked, "Lydia, you only have a small bed here. Wythe won't fit; I think he should stay at my place."Although it was just next door, Lambert's place was vastly different—a spacious two-hundred-square-meter apartment with three bedrooms and two living areas, while Lydia's was only about ninety. As soon as he moved in, Lambert had redecorated one of the rooms specifically for Lydia.Before Lydia could respond, Wythe looked at
No matter how upset Lydia felt, Lambert followed her like a shadow. However, he managed to avoid any more foolish actions after their earlier confrontation, even going so far as to apologize.He was humble, hoping to cheer her up, but she remained as cold as ice, leaving him in despair."Dad, I've arrived at Y City Airport! Come pick me up!"When Lambert received Wythe's call, he felt like a savior had arrived. Ever since their argument over Lydia's job, she hadn't spoken to him at all. Initially, she wouldn't let him in, and now she didn't even open the door. If she saw it was him through the peephole, she would resolutely stay inside!With that attitude, even Lambert's best efforts were useless.Wythe's arrival was the perfect catalyst to break the deadlock. Delighted, Lambert headed straight to the airport after dropping off Lydia's meal, as usual.Meanwhile, Lydia was fuming at the sight of meals consistently hanging on her door. She cou
Lambert presented himself as refined, but his underlying dominance was unmistakable. "That's not the case, Principal. I'm just worried about Lydia's health. She's pregnant, and she's caring for a class full of four- and five-year-olds. If something were to happen, it could be very dangerous for her."The principal furrowed her brow, eyeing him curiously. His concern seemed more like that of a family member than a parent. "While your point is valid, we've already considered this. Surely, you wouldn't expect her to be dismissed? After all, maternity leave is an option now...""Maternity leave is limited," Lambert replied firmly. "Besides, you must know that Lydia can't stay here forever."The principal felt uneasy. Lambert's demeanor and attire suggested he was no ordinary individual; why would he want his family working in such a small place? Something felt off."On what grounds are you so sure?" she asked.Lambert responded with unwavering confiden
Meanwhile, Lydia was feeling quite emotional in her room. The impact of seeing Lambert, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, was overwhelming. He had lost quite a bit of weight, and from his words, it seemed he had been eager to find her ever since he left.It would be a lie to say she wasn't touched; he truly cared about her. She had always held onto him in her heart and never let go. However, the idea of going back because of this was unlikely; after all, she was a stubborn person, and once she made a decision, it wasn't easy to change her mind.Lydia hoped that Lambert would take the hint and leave soon so her life could return to normal. Otherwise, her heart would be in turmoil!As Lambert, whom Lydia hoped would leave, was knocking on the door next door, an elderly man in his sixties opened it, eyeing Lambert suspiciously.Lambert straightened his clothes and spoke with a gentle tone, "Hello, I'm Lambert. The thing is..."Lydia, completely obl