Wythe's small body blended into the darkness as he quickly made his way to Odgen's room. The door was ajar, and the room remained shrouded in darkness. After a moment, Odgen came hurrying toward the room.Wythe's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly hid in a corner, taking advantage of the shadows. He was extremely nervous but also felt a strange thrill, as if he was about to uncover some wrongdoing and expose it himself.In his haste, Odgen failed to notice Wythe hiding in the corner and walked straight into the room. Moments later, voices started to come from inside."Odgen, is it done? When should I go over?" a delicate female voice reached Wythe's ears."Don't be in a hurry. I've already given him the drug. I'll check on him later, and when the effects kick in, I'll have someone notify you. But I won't be coming back. Let me remind you one more time, once the child is born, you take the money and leave. There will be no further contact with our family
"Miss, the master sent me to inform you that the young master is ready for you. You can head over now—it's the second room on the left on this floor. Make sure you don’t go to the wrong room! Also, the master ordered that you’re not allowed to turn on the lights.""I understand!"Heloise adjusted her robe before opening the door and heading toward the room she was instructed to enter. As soon as she pushed the door open, she was enveloped in darkness. However, with the faint moonlight streaming through the window, she quickly adjusted to the dimness. In the distance, she could make out the figure of someone lying on a large European-style bed. Though she couldn’t see the person's face clearly, she noticed that they were in visible discomfort, tossing and turning on the bed.Heloise sneered to herself. It seemed Mr. Halsey was particularly harsh on his son, drugging him so heavily. But this was none of her concern—her task was simply
After Lambert finished speaking, he took Wythe's hand and led him downstairs. A moment later, he heard Wythe giggle.“Ha ha ha, Daddy, Grandpa’s expression just now was so funny!”Lambert reached out to pat Wythe’s head, still maintaining his stoic expression. His feelings were complicated; his father’s actions had deeply hurt him, and right now, facing his father was the last thing he wanted to do.Twenty minutes later, in the villa’s living room, Lambert and Wythe were seated on the sofa, with Odgen sitting across from them. Odgen had tidied himself up and still carried himself with that insincere dignity.Heloise had already been dismissed by Odgen. After all, since the seeds had been sown in the wrong place, there was no point in sticking around.Lambert’s cold gaze swept across Odgen’s face. “Father, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”“What do I need to exp
“That’s a good idea. Alright, just be careful,” Andrew said.Lydia smiled, “I’m not a child, you know!”Andrew’s mood brightened at her smile. These days, he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Lydia. Their relationship had settled into a comfortable familiarity, much like a long-married couple. It wasn’t a passionate love, but the warmth of their connection had quietly woven itself into their daily lives. Andrew thought that even if Lydia never agreed to marry him, having her by his side like this might be enough.Unbeknownst to him, Lydia was clear about their relationship. She constantly reminded herself that she was merely playing a role—she had only agreed to this arrangement to ensure Clara's surgery went smoothly. One day, she would leave, and she knew she had to find the right opportunity to do so.For now, though, both Andrew and Lydia maintained the status quo, each keeping their thoughts t
As a fashion designer, Lydia never confines herself to past achievements. Even though she has gained significant recognition abroad, she sees herself as a sponge, always eager to absorb new knowledge. The more she learns, the more perfect her designs can become.Lydia and Thera strolled through the exhibition hall, admiring the various outfits, some of which were bizarre, others creative. Lydia was particularly captivated by some of the new materials used in the designs.“I never thought there were so many alternatives to traditional fabrics. This is really an eye-opener for me,” Thera said, her voice filled with wonder. “Look at that dress on the model—it’s made of balloons! How many balloons did they use? The flowers on it look so realistic!”Lydia smiled, “Yes, it’s an excellent example of creative design. This designer not only has a unique perspective on fashion but is also highly skilled in balloon art.”As Lydia explained the details, she was also amazed by the level of creativ
Especially the woman beside Lydia—who exactly is she, and how could she be so arrogant?Verna, though not as well-connected as the Arliss family, had grown up in luxury and had never suffered such humiliation. She immediately tugged at Lambert's arm, "Lambert, who is this person? They say a good dog doesn’t block the way, even dogs know that. How come some people don’t get it? The world is truly going downhill!"Lambert was left speechless. He had intended to keep the peace, but this girl was only adding fuel to the fire.Upon hearing Verna's words, Thera’s pretty face instantly turned cold. “Some people must’ve been raised on crap, or maybe they forgot to brush their teeth before stepping out. Such filthy language—what excellent upbringing!”“Hmph, my upbringing might not be perfect, but it’s certainly better than blocking someone’s way. Ma’am, at your age, you should stay home and relax, lest menopause hits, and you start biting people randomly!”“Seems like Lambert’s taste is getti
Lydia suddenly calmed down. She closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, they were clear, but the sparkle had vanished, leaving only compromise and emptiness. “Whatever you say. We’re not involved anymore, right? Surely, the esteemed CEO of Universal Conglomerate wouldn’t dwell on past mistakes?”Lambert, hearing her acknowledgment, felt as if a gaping hole had been torn in his chest, leaving him with an unbearable emptiness. Hatred spread from deep within him—she had really admitted it!Just as Lambert, burning with rage, took a step towards Lydia, not knowing what he might do to her, a sharp voice rang out, “Lambert! Stop it! Are you even a man? How dare you raise a hand against a woman!”Immediately after, a high heel flew straight towards Lambert’s face!Lambert tilted his head and dodged it, his gaze as sharp as ice as he looked over. Thera was limping toward him, her beautiful eyes ablaze with anger.Apparently, while Thera and Verna were arguing, they suddenly realized that
The room fell silent, the heated discussions among the executives coming to an abrupt halt. Lydia's headache intensified."Director, I have a suggestion," one manager spoke up. "Regardless of why our competitors are suppressing us, we need to showcase superior work. There's an upcoming high-fashion design competition. I believe this is an opportunity. If our company can place well, those who canceled contracts with us will regret it."Lydia's eyes brightened. Strength speaks louder than words; if they could prove their capability, why worry about others' schemes?She shot an approving look at the design manager. "Good. I'll leave this to you. Contact the organizers and select some talented designers to represent us."The design manager beamed with pride. "Rest assured, Director. I will handle it well."Not wanting to be outdone, the business manager chimed in, "Director, I'd like another chance. Allow me to visit the companies that canceled contracts and try to win them back."With bo
"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