"Lambert, what should we do now? You have to save your mom. She's been through hours of this torment, and I'm worried her health won't hold up much longer," Odelia said urgently.
Lambert clenched his lips tightly, feeling helpless for the first time. If it had only been his mother, he might have found a way, but now he had to comply with Odelia's demands.
Odelia was exhilarated; she had never imagined that controlling others' fates could be so thrilling and empowering. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face contorted with a terrifying expression.
"Lambert, how about I give you a chance?" Odelia said, her voice tinged with a sinister edge.
Lambert's gaze turned cold as he awaited Odelia's next words, knowing they wouldn't be good.
Odelia walked over to where Nydia and Lydia were bound. "You can only take one of these women with you. The other one will pay with her life for my child. How does that sound for a deal?"
Lambert bit his lip, a hint of b
Only Lydia understood how terrible this feeling was.Fear inexplicably filled her body, and her limbs, stiff from being bound for so long, could only obey Odelia's commands.Lydia shook her head desperately. "No! I don't hate her!""Really? You must hate her. Let me help you. Just kill her, and it will all be over! No one will force you to leave Lambert. Isn't that good?" Odelia's voice was loud and mocking.Lydia trembled all over. Her hands and feet refused to obey her, but to Odgen and Nydia, Lydia clearly seemed under Odelia's spell."Lydia, what are you doing? Lower your gun! Do you even know who you're aiming at?""I'm sorry, I don't want to, but I can't control my body..."Odelia laughed triumphantly. "Yes, that's right! Just like I said. Pull the trigger, and you won't have to endure the Halsey family's scorn anymore. You won't have to separate from Lambert because of their objections. Isn't that great?"Nydia looked at
Odgen's heart-wrenching cry echoed through the air, causing Lambert to shut his eyes in agony. He embraced his father tightly, pleading, "Dad, please don't do this... Mom is still waiting for us..."As Odgen's emotions began to subside, tears blurred his vision. He looked suddenly aged, stumbling into the emergency room.Lambert, equally distraught, didn't even glance at Lydia standing nearby. He followed his father inside, his heart heavy.Tears streamed down his face; this was his mother, who despite opposing his marriage and orchestrating his future, had always loved him.Nydia, pallid and weak, her gaze unfocused, lips drained of color, knew her time was near. She summoned all her strength to catch Lambert's eye.Lambert dropped to his knees beside her bed, bowing his head deeply. "Mom, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"Regret consumed Lambert. If only he hadn't been so headstrong, or if he had temporarily accepted Odelia's conditions, perhap
Frustrated, Wythe had no choice but to turn to Thera for help. Perhaps as an adult herself, she could comfort his mom properly.Thera arrived shortly after receiving the call. Just minutes ago, Lambert had called her asking to take good care of Lydia.As she pondered over what was going on with this family, Wythe called again, making Thera realize something serious had happened.Arriving at the villa past nine in the morning, Thera brought breakfast, knocking on the door.Wythe answered; the mature child's eyes welled up as he choked out, "Godmother, Mom came back and went straight into her room. She looks like she's been hurt..."Thera hugged Wythe and ruffled his hair. "I understand, Wythe. Go have your breakfast. I'll take care of your mom."Wythe nodded obediently, while Thera knocked on Lydia's bedroom door.Inside, Lydia sat motionless by the door, eyes vacant, tear streaks dried on her face. She curled up, consumed by profound
"Alright, silly girl, you need to understand. His mother just passed away, and everyone's emotions are raw. I heard his father still hasn't woken up! Lambert might have been acting impulsively. You can't let that define you, okay?" Thera said, trying to console Lydia.Lydia nodded, clutching Thera's sleeve like a lost child. "Thera, tell me what to do. I'll do whatever you say."Sighing softly, Thera replied, "Okay, first, let's get you something to eat. Then you can rest a bit. In the afternoon, we'll go to the hospital together to see Lambert, alright?"Lydia eagerly agreed, "Okay! I'll go eat right now."Relieved that Lydia was cooperative, Thera thought to herself.It's good she's still willing to listen. If she retreats into herself completely, I won't know what to do.After lunch, Thera accompanied Lydia to the hospital where Ogden was in a VIP room.Lambert was just returning with lunch for his father when they arrived. His exp
"Lambert, do you really hate me that much? Even if I told you that what happened with your mother was unintentional, you still won't believe me?"As the elevator was about to reach the ground floor, Lydia suddenly blocked the door and quickly pressed the button to go back up.At the very least, this would give her a few more moments with Lambert.Since the incident, Lydia had been in a daze.She couldn't believe she had actually shot Nydia, couldn't believe the event had made headlines, and couldn't believe that because of Nydia's death, Lambert seemed like a completely different person.The warmth and passion of the past were gone, and his attitude towards her was even colder and more ruthless than when he had initially lost his memory.Facing Lydia's questioning, Lambert pressed his lips tightly together. It wasn't until the taste of blood filled his mouth from biting himself that he came back to his senses.God knows how much he wa
Andrew felt frustrated. Maybe he shouldn't have distanced himself from Lydia's affairs to avoid his own feelings.He loved this woman deeply, and even though this love seemed humble and foolish, he couldn't ignore her.Seeing the guilt in Andrew's eyes, Thera sighed inwardly. Fate was indeed cruel.If Lydia had fallen in love with this gentle man in front of her, perhaps there wouldn't have been so many uncontrollable events. But love is something that no one can control.After Andrew assured them he would take good care of Lydia, Thera left with Wythe.Andrew stayed quietly by Lydia's side, his eyes never leaving her face.Lydia's sleep was restless.Her brows were furrowed in pain, and her eyes were tightly shut, with long lashes casting a faint shadow under her eyes, adding a touch of fragility to her appearance."Lambert... Lambert... Don't, don't leave me..."Suddenly, Lydia mumbled in her sleep, tears rolling down
Lambert was also scared. He feared losing control of his heart. Watching her suffer made him hate himself immensely.If he had saved his mother in time, none of the subsequent tragedies would have occurred.They would still be a happy family. But now...Lambert opened his eyes, looking at his father, who seemed to have aged several years.Recalling his mother's dying wishes, he felt life was unbearably torturous for the first time."What's wrong?"Noticing Lambert's gaze, Ogden glanced at him. Lambert lowered his eyes. "Dad, you need to take care of yourself.""Don't worry. I promised your mother I would keep a close watch on you. Besides, if I join her now, no one will remember our past anymore."Ogden's words made Lambert feel a deep sadness. Sometimes he envied his parents' love story.From meeting to falling in love, their journey was almost seamless. But when it came to him and Lydia, it was filled with obstacles.
Nydia's death left Hiram sighing deeply. It was especially shocking that they were brought down by a young woman.When Odgen arrived, Hiram welcomed him courteously. However, he seemed to anticipate their purpose and thus called Solomon back.The transaction proceeded smoothly. The two families had always been on good terms, and Hiram was genuinely sorrowful over Nydia's death.He instructed his grandson not to take undue advantage. However, the Arliss family wasn't running a charity; after negotiation, they accepted 6% of the shares, neither more nor less.This way, the bond between the families remained intact, and new cooperation was established, making the arrangement beneficial for both sides.After the deal was sealed, Thera returned and, seeing Lambert at her home, couldn't hide her displeasure. She hadn't forgotten that Lydia was still in the hospital.Thera walked straight up to Lambert. "Can we talk?"Before Lambert could re
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