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
When Odelia returned, Flora's face immediately darkened. "Where have you been messing around again? Look at the state you're in!"Already frustrated by her futile job search earlier that day, Flora's scolding only exacerbated Odelia's irritation.However, knowing she was staying under their roof, she had to swallow her anger.Her uncle glanced at her nonchalantly, then turned to Flora. "Alright, alright, Odelia’s old enough to know what she's doing. Since she's back, let’s have dinner."Mayor Zigler set down his newspaper and joined Flora at the table, instructing the servants to serve dinner. Odelia’s expression softened slightly.To be fair, her uncle treated her well; he waited for her to come home before eating, unlike Flora, who was already seated at the table.Flora huffed but didn’t say anything more.During dinner, Mayor Zigler suddenly asked, "Odelia, I heard you’ve been job hunting lately."Swallowing her food, Odelia replied, "Yes, I can’t just stay home doing nothing.""Th
"Knife, someone's disrespected our sister-in-law. Should we...?"Before Odelia could finish, a subordinate eagerly chimed in, trying to please her. Knife stroked his bald head thoughtfully."Brothers, let's stay out of this for now. I trust Odelia. Once she's settled with her job, I'll handle those who offended her.""Knife is wise!" Odelia beamed. "Thank you, Knife, and thank you, brothers. I, Odelia, toast to all of you.""But Boss, why can't we cause trouble now?" a subordinate named Saxon asked, confused.Knife smacked him on the head. "Are you stupid? If we cause trouble now, it’ll be even harder for Odelia to find a job!"Odelia laughed. "The boss is considerate. Don't worry about my job, brothers. I contacted an old friend today. She said she’d help me. If it doesn't work out, I’ll go back to my old place and give everyone a new look makeover. How does that sound?""Great! I'll definitely come support you then!" Knife replied with a smile.After a night of drinking and laughter
“Chairman, we’ve rechecked all the food meticulously, and we didn’t find anything that could cause food poisoning. So, I suspect those food poisoning cases might be fake!”“……”The managers were all talking at once, sharing their opinions. Ogden felt a headache coming on and impatiently knocked on the table. “Enough! I just want to know your action plan and investigation results. Since we’ve established it was deliberate, we should have found the culprits by now, right?”The managers exchanged glances and then lowered their heads in shame.Ogden roared in anger, “You haven’t found anyone yet?”One of the managers stammered, “Actually… we did catch some suspicious people.”“Then why are you stammering? Are they people we can’t afford to offend?”“No, no, it’s just that those people are street thugs, and we can’t get much out of them.”“Thugs?” Ogden questioned. “Are you sure you got the right people? How could thugs dare to cause trouble?”The speaking manager wiped sweat from his fore
Hiram, after a brief contemplation, decided that despite the pretense of reluctance, they had to help. After all, they had been friends for many years.He coughed slightly and gave Thera and Ronald a warning look before addressing Ogden, “Since your uncle has come all this way, we should help him.”With Hiram’s words, Thera and Ronald had no choice but to sit back and listen to the rest of the story.After learning the details, Solomon agreed to help and talk to Knife.Although Knife was a notable figure in the underworld, he was no match for the Arliss family.Ogden left in high spirits, confident that Solomon’s intervention would resolve the issue.Once Ogden left, Hiram turned to his grandchildren, “What’s going on, Thera? Why were you so antagonistic towards the Halsey family? And Ronald, why were you getting involved?”Ronald stuck out his tongue playfully, “Grandpa, I wasn’t just meddling. I was standing up for my god-sister!”“When did you get a god-sister that I don’t know abo
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