She wanted to see how much this so-called true love would be worth when Lydia was ruined and reviled by everyone. The thought of that scene excited Odelia immensely.Two days later, a well-known website posted several photos with a bold red headline followed by exclamation marks:“The Truth Behind Mrs. Halsey’s Murder Revealed! The Culprit Is Her!!!”In the photos, Lydia was holding a gun, pointing it at Nydia, who looked terrified and disheveled.The pictures only showed Lydia, while Odelia, who should have been standing behind her, was nowhere to be seen.The photos caused an uproar on the internet, with major websites quickly reposting this explosive news.Nydia's death had already become widely known among high society and the general public, especially after Ogden and his son solemnly left the hospital.However, the Halsey family had remained silent about the cause of Nydia's death.The Halsey family's unusual silence had already sparked much speculation.Given Mrs. Halsey's stat
Lydia was bewildered, though she noticed that those surrounding her seemed to be reporters."Miss Lydia, what is your opinion on Nydia's murder?""Lydia, is it true? Did you really kill your lover's mother? Is that why you didn't appear with your lover?""Lydia, what exactly happened with Nydia's death? Why did you shoot her?""Lydia..."Questions about Nydia's death bombarded Lydia's ears. Her face turned pale, and she had no idea how to respond.Seeing this, Andrew quickly pulled her behind him. "Sorry, everyone, but Lydia is recovering from a serious illness. Please save your questions for later.""Who are you, sir? What is your relationship with Lydia?""Could it be that you are Lydia's lover? Is Nydia's death related to you?" A reporter speculated.This question was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up wild thoughts. Yes, if Lydia truly loved Lambert, how could she kill his mother? Maybe she had an affair, and Nydia discovered it, so she silenced her.With this thoug
Lydia was so angry that her chest hurt.Thera and Andrew kept trying to comfort her.At the same time, some influencers began to smear Lydia's reputation, saying she was overly ambitious, aiming to marry into a wealthy family but was exposed by Nydia.Others accused her of having a chaotic personal life, alleging numerous secret relationships, and some even claimed her designer title was acquired through plagiarism and bribery.Suddenly, Lydia's name became a byword for scorn and hatred, with almost everyone despising her, creating a "kick someone when they're down" atmosphere.Lydia found the situation headache-inducing.She didn't care too much about the rumors themselves, as people would always talk, but the negative publicity was starting to seriously affect her life.Thera wanted to use the Arliss family's influence to help Lydia, but Lydia refused.Firstly, she felt that involving the Arliss family would only worsen the rumors.Secondly, she already felt indebted to them and did
Wythe nodded in agreement with his mother's advice.Allowing others to continue spreading rumors unchecked was too infuriating for him.That night, he decided to take matters into his own hands.Using his familiar methods, he launched attacks that crippled every website circulating negative videos about Lydia.Only when the screens were clear of any negative coverage did Wythe finally find some peace of mind."Wythe, dinner's ready!" Lydia called out, pulling him from his room. It was then that Wythe noticed someone else besides them—Andrew, arranging the table and chairs."Wythe, feeling better now? How about we go out for a bit after dinner?" Andrew asked warmly.Wythe hesitated, feeling a bit strange.But knowing Andrew had been caring for his mother during this time, he suppressed his reservations. "Okay, Uncle."During dinner, Andrew naturally sat next to Lydia, attentively helping her with food and showing equal concern for Wythe sitting across from them.Wythe felt uneasy, focu
Almost everyone seemed to be downcast, like wilting eggplants struck by frost."Prima, come with me!"Having not been around for several days, Lydia was somewhat unclear about the current situation.She immediately called her trusted assistant into the office to get a better understanding.Prima hesitated for a moment, then followed Lydia into the office. After closing the door, Lydia urgently asked, "What's going on, Prima? Did something happen while I was away?""Ma'am, actually, during this period, more designers have been preparing to leave, especially..."Prima paused, seeing Lydia's relatively calm expression, before continuing, "especially after the news about you was exposed online a few days ago."Lydia clenched her fists. "And? Apart from those wanting to leave, is everyone else just not working? They all seem very idle!""That's because there's no work to do now!" Prima muttered discontentedly."What do you mean?""The remaining designers are worried that because of your si
What Lydia didn't know was that after Steven left, he quickly dialed a number. "Chairman!""How did it go?""Rest assured, Chairman, everything is taken care of. The clients I assigned to Lydia are the most difficult ones; they shouldn't be easy to please.""Well done. I'll make sure your year-end bonus is doubled this year!""Thank you for your kindness, Chairman! This is all part of my job." Steven's eyes crinkled with delight as he smiled."And make sure Lambert doesn't find out about this.""Don't worry, Chairman. The boss has been preoccupied with the new development project and won't have time to deal with this."Odgen hung up the phone with satisfaction. Lydia, I've given you a chance. Whether you can seize it depends on your ability! How dare you hope for a successful career after harming Nydia? You're dreaming!At this moment, Lydia was unaware that she had fallen into a trap. No matter how hard she worked, it would all be in vain.Back in her office, Lydia dialed one of the
Lydia extended her hand, her demeanor poised and unyielding. Her bright eyes remained clear even in such an unsavory environment.Before Wright could respond, Zavier sidled up and grabbed her hand with both of his, saying, “So you’re Lydia, nice to meet you!”As he spoke, his large, clammy fingers brushed over the back of Lydia’s hand. His lecherous eyes greedily took in her entire figure.Lydia's heart skipped a beat, feeling goosebumps rise all over her body, but she managed to pull her hand back calmly. “Hello.”Wright nodded, “Lydia, please sit.This is Zavier from Xinhua Real Estate, and this is Andrew from Hengsheng Group. They’re all friends, so no need to be formal.”Lydia felt something was off but still greeted them politely, “Hello, Zavier. Hello, Andrew.”Andrew, who had his head buried in a woman's chest, only waved his hand dismissively. Lydia pretended not to see and glanced around the room.Spotting a small armchair opposite the coffee table, she decided to sit there.
Upon meeting Lydia, Wright found himself admiring this poised and charming woman, regardless of whether she was truly guilty of the accusations against her.Despite his usual preferences, he couldn't help but acknowledge her allure.Wright even entertained a fleeting thought that if not for his unique orientation, he wouldn't mind being with such a woman.Seeing Wright's silence, Lydia wasn't disheartened; she merely smiled slightly and said, “If this is too difficult for you, let's pretend I never came.”She stood as if to leave, but Zavier quickly grabbed her arm. “Lydia, don’t rush off. Wright is just considering it, he didn’t say he wouldn’t sign, right?”Wright, witnessing Lydia’s poise, felt a shift in his perspective.The company was his, and even though Universal Conglomerate collaborated with them, UC wouldn’t sever ties over him choosing Lydia as a designer.Moreover, Steven had only suggested giving Lydia a hard time, which Wright had already done. Lydia had navigated the s
"Lambert, at this rate, you could almost switch careers to become a nanny!" Horace teased, noticing how expertly Lambert cradled the baby.Unfazed by his friend's jest, Lambert beamed with happiness. "You wouldn't understand if you don't have kids. Once you get married, you'll know. This is my legacy, and I didn't get to care for Wythe when he was a baby, so I'm determined to be hands-on with Candice."No one could truly grasp this sense of compensation!Horace rolled his eyes, clearly at a loss for words. It was pointless to engage with someone so enamored with fatherhood.While the men gathered to chat, Thera leaned closer to Lydia and whispered, "So, Lydia, are you really back together with Lambert?"Lydia nodded. "Yeah. After everything that happened, I realized I need to cherish every single day. And Lambert is sincere—I can feel it.""That's great!" Thera sighed in relief, finally putting her worries to rest."What about you, Thera? I see you and Andrew getting along quite well!
At this moment, Lambert felt completely at ease. It seemed that Lydia's earlier words were not just talk; she was genuinely ready to give them a chance!A smile crept onto Lambert's lips, but there was no time to think of anything else; he needed to take care of their baby, Wythe. Thanks to the maternal training classes he had attended with Lydia, he had learned a lot about caring for newborns. Gently, he picked up his daughter and quickly checked her diaper, only to find that she had wet it.With nimble hands, he changed her diaper, and the little one fell back asleep. Looking at her innocent face, Lambert's heart melted. This was his child, the result of his and Lydia's love.The baby slept soundly, and Wythe had been temporarily taken away by Bob, who had come to deliver some items. Now, only Lambert and Lydia remained in the room, but Lydia, having slept quite a bit earlier, was no longer drowsy."Are you still feeling unwell?" Seeing Lydia frown slightly, Lambert asked with conce
Lambert glanced at his son's disapproving expression and was momentarily at a loss. "Wythe, you might've looked even more wrinkled than her when you were born, yet look at you now—a handsome young man," he teased, smiling at his daughter. Though wrinkly, he found her to be the most beautiful and precious little girl.Wythe huffed proudly, his lips in a slight pout. "I wasn't this ugly! Besides, you didn't see me when I was a baby." A hint of sadness crossed his face; he hadn't been as lucky as his sister—he hadn't had his dad by his side when he was born.Hearing the touch of bitterness in his son's voice, Lambert immediately understood. Wythe was jealous, understandably so. For all his maturity, Wythe was still just a child. For his first five or six years, he had only his mother and no father. He often envied kids with both parents, and when Lydia finally returned home, her on-again, off-again relationship with Lambert had left Wythe hurt and forced him to grow up faster than other
Lambert paced restlessly in the hallway, nearly losing his mind. Every moment was agonizing, with Lydia's screams from the delivery room piercing his heart. He prided himself on being strong, yet in that instant, he felt an overwhelming urge to flee, especially as her cries of pain echoed through. Angry at himself, he slapped his own face—Lydia was suffering because of him, and he'd never realized how terrifying childbirth could be."Calm down. This is what childbirth is like," a woman nearby said kindly. She was the mother of a little girl, and both she and her husband couldn't help but notice how visibly nervous Lambert was. "You've been through this once before, so you should be able to handle it," she added."Why isn't it over yet? Is she in danger?" Lambert's mind was in turmoil, fighting the urge to rush inside and see Lydia himself.The little girl's father stepped in, attempting to reassure him. "You and your family will be just fine," he said. The man recalled his own frantic
At that moment, Lydia was on the verge of total collapse, as if her entire world had crumbled in an instant, and sorrow overwhelmed her.What had she done? What had she been doing these past days?She had been recklessly indulging in Lambert's affection, without any sense of gratitude or restraint. Now, she regretted her actions deeply. If only she had known this day would come, she would never have argued with Lambert or dismissed his love and efforts out of a misguided sense of pride.All she wanted was for him to be safe, to live happily with her and their children, never to be apart.Lydia's vision blurred as she stood in shock, unable to step closer to the crowd to confirm what had happened. But through a gap, she caught sight of a blood-red stain spreading across the ground. The sight was so jarring that it felt as though her heart had been ripped out of her chest."Mom, are you okay?"Wythe ran over, panting, to see Lydia sitting dazed on the ground, staring at the red stain in
Lambert's words made Wythe roll his eyes, secretly exasperated. What was going on with his dad? Wasn't everything decided? Why was he suddenly backing out at the last moment?Men! Their thoughts are just impossible to figure out!Lambert had indeed changed his mind unexpectedly. He didn't want to deceive Lydia, even if it was just a harmless joke. Something about it felt wrong. Even if it was to bring them closer, lying to her didn't seem right.Wythe's plan had been simple he wanted Lambert to stage an accident, making it seem like he'd been hit by a car. He was certain his mom would show her true feelings; if she still cared for him, there was no way she'd just stand by. It was a good plan, but now that the moment had come, Lambert didn't want to test Lydia this way.People's feelings shouldn't be tested.Wythe grew increasingly anxious. They'd prepared everything, but now his dad was retreating? That wasn't like him at all! Taking advantage of n
Half a month had passed since Lydia's last check-up. Lambert continued caring for Lydia with the same attentiveness, unbothered by her cold attitude towards him. Although her indifference saddened him, he was undeterred; his determination grew in the face of difficulty, a testament to his personality.But little Wythe had had enough. He felt it was time to give his parents a nudge towards reconciliation. Yes, it was his turn to step up!So, one morning, when Lambert went out early to buy groceries as usual, Wythe found an excuse to tag along. Lydia didn't think much of it; over time, she had noticed Lambert's earnest efforts and couldn't deny feeling somewhat touched, even if her heart remained conflicted. Deep down, she feared reopening herself to love, only to be hurt again.After all, "Once bitten, twice shy," as they say. Lydia never saw herself as particularly brave—in fact, in love, she was timid and afraid. She longed for a peaceful, uncomplicated l
Once, Lydia believed she and Lambert would grow old together, inseparable and loyal. But her genuine love had only brought repeated hurt and disappointment. That's why she had fled Nova City, leaving behind everyone she knew, so this time, she refused to open her heart again.Lambert sighed, his tone gentle. He knew Lydia wouldn't easily open up to him again, but he didn't mind; he was willing to wait. Determined, he led her to the prenatal clinic, aware of the many tests ahead—ultrasounds, blood tests, monitoring the baby's heartbeat—a series of over ten examinations. Each department was exceptionally busy, requiring an immense amount of patience.Throughout, Lambert remained unwaveringly attentive, showing no sign of impatience. He stayed by Lydia's side with the eager anticipation of any expectant father, his heart fully in it.Before the ultrasound, Lydia needed to drink water, but Lambert, inexperienced in these matters, hadn't prepared any. She didn't feel inclined to remind him
Happiness, it seems, makes people wish the same for those around them. Like the husband in the next hospital bed—he had the sense to keep quiet the moment he sensed the tension between Lydia and Lambert.Lambert didn't seem to mind Lydia's sudden outburst. He simply took off his suit jacket, now stained with soup, and said regretfully, "The soup spilled, Lydia. I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer. I'll have someone bring a new one right away! Why not have a piece of cake to tide you over?"Lambert's calm demeanor only made Lydia feel as if her anger was landing on nothing but soft cotton, frustrating her even more. What was Lambert up to? Was he mocking her on purpose?It was infuriating!Lydia knew her emotions were out of sorts lately. Ever since Lambert left, she hadn't had much of an appetite. When she found out his trip was delayed, everything around her began to irritate her. It was as though a cloud of anger clogged her heart, but she couldn't find a way to let it ou