One day, as Odgen was sitting on the sofa sipping coffee, he suddenly received a call from Ben."Ben, what a surprise to hear from you today! Are you calling to invite me for a round of golf?" Odgen was genuinely pleased. His life had become rather lonely lately.Ben and Odgen had known each other since the founding of Universal Conglomerate (UC), and their relationship had always been good. Ben was one of Odgen's few remaining friends."Odgen, I'm not calling to catch up today—I'm calling because I need your help! I know you haven't had much energy to manage the company since your wife's passing, but if you don't step in now, us old-timers might all get kicked out!"Ben's tone was full of sorrow and desperation, as if he had been terribly wronged.Odgen sat up straight, surprised. "What's going on, Ben? Take your time and explain."Ben proceeded to recount, tearfully and in detail, the actions Lambert had been taking. By the time he finished, Odgen was so angry that his blood pressur
Just as Odgen was about to say more, Lambert cut him off. "If there's nothing else, then we're done here."Without waiting for a response or caring about Odgen's feelings, Lambert hung up the phone.Odgen was livid, but there was nothing he could do. His son seemed to have long slipped out of his control. As much as he hated to admit it, this was the truth."What an ungrateful son! But no matter how difficult he is, he's still my son. I can't turn my back on him and help an outsider instead, can I?" Odgen sneered, realizing that the strained relationship between him and Lambert was no secret.Meanwhile, Ben was completely unaware of Odgen's thoughts. Years of smooth sailing had made him forget that Universal Conglomerate was not his family's business. Odgen quickly put Ben out of his mind, while Lambert didn't spare him a thought either. In Lambert's view, spending time on Ben was a waste; he had more important things to do.In recent days, Lydia's workload had been as heavy as ever.
Lydia stood by, both anxious and angry. Seeing the two men getting hurt only added to her guilt. She wanted to step in and stop the fight, but each time she tried, she was pushed aside by them.Her vision darkened, and the tension around her heart made it hard for her to breathe. Hearing the commotion coming from the boss's office, Ivan rushed in, only to be stunned by the sight his boss and an unknown man were in a brawl, while Lydia stood pale and helpless by the side."What's going on?" Ivan asked, but before he finished his sentence, he saw Lydia stagger and fall forward.Ivan quickly stepped in to catch her, but she had already lost consciousness."Lydia! Lydia!"Ivan, alarmed, turned to the two men still locked in combat. "Stop it! Lydia has fainted!"Both Lambert and Andrew halted immediately, their faces filled with worry as they rushed over. Just as Andrew was about to take Lydia from Ivan's arms, Lambert quickly stepped in and took her first."We need to get her to the hospi
After Lambert left, Lydia lay there, her eyes unfocused, a mix of sadness and pain in her heart. So, Lambert really didn't trust her. What kind of woman did he think she was? Did he believe she could so easily be with someone else? The disappointment was overwhelming.Andrew, with his bruised and swollen face, walked over, his expression complicated."Andrew, I'm sorry... for getting you involved," Lydia said, feeling both sad and guilty. Seeing Andrew so badly hurt because of her made her heart ache with remorse.Andrew shook his head, a bitter feeling washing over him. He knew better than anyone whose child it really was, but the tragic part was that he still couldn't let go of this woman. Even knowing she didn't love him, even knowing she was carrying another man's child, he still loved her.Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. "Lydia, there's no need to apologize. I'm doing this willingly. If you're open to it, I'd like to be the father of this child and take care of both of y
As soon as the HR manager left, Ivan, who had been somewhat composed, grew increasingly anxious. Today was truly cursed—first, the boss had a fight in the office with a stranger, and then Lydia fainted.After finally cleaning up the mess of scattered documents in the office, the HR manager came back with more bad news. Over thirty key personnel from a dozen departments had simultaneously submitted their resignations, and they were adamant about leaving!Such a thing was unheard of at UC!Universal Conglomerate had always attracted a large number of employees with its high salaries, excellent benefits, and a positive work environment. The issues Lydia faced with some individuals were exceptions, not the norm!For so many people to resign at once, regardless of the varied reasons, there was undoubtedly something fishy going on, and Ivan was certain that Ben was involved.But at such a critical time, where was the boss?Ivan took a deep breath and dialed Odgen's number.When Odgen receiv
Andrew's tone grew serious. "Absolutely not! How can you think like that? The doctor said you need to rest properly. Plus, didn't you hear the doctor earlier? Your nutrition is lacking; you need to eat well!""Andrew...""Enough, it's settled. I'll find a place to make some nourishing soup. We'll go home later, but for today, you need to stay here for observation."Lydia sighed in resignation. "Alright, Andrew, I understand. Don't worry."After giving her a few more careful reminders, Andrew finally felt reassured enough to leave the room. As soon as he left, the pregnant woman in the next bed couldn't help but chuckle."Your husband is really good to you. Is this his first time becoming a father?"Lydia froze for a moment, feeling a bit awkward. She mumbled softly, "No, it's not...""Not the first? Then you're really lucky! If he's still this attentive for the second one, your husband must truly love you!" The pregnant woman's face was filled with envy.Lydia didn't know how to expla
"It's unlikely," Andrew muttered to himself. Lambert had already left, and after doubting whether the child in Lydia's womb was his, he probably wouldn't call. So, who could have called and affected Lydia's mood so drastically?Andrew suddenly recalled the call he received earlier from Ivan. There was something off about it, as if Ivan hadn't fully disclosed everything. Ivan wouldn't have called for no reason; could it be related to Lambert, causing Lydia to be so unsettled?Lambert again! The man was like a haunting shadow, always lingering around Lydia. Andrew was reaching the limits of his patience. But what could Lambert have done this time?While Andrew was lost in thought, Lydia was in the restroom, dialing a number."Thera, it's me. I need a favor..."When Lydia emerged from the restroom, she seemed more relaxed. With Thera's help, she believed they would soon find Lambert.Meanwhile, Lambert was on a mountaintop, drenched and heavily intoxicated, spending the night alone in th
Lambert's heart had long since turned to ash. He had spent the entire night sitting in the rain, thinking deeply. It was clear to him now—there was no future for him and Lydia.Odgen, on the other hand, was more than pleased with this outcome."I'm glad you've come to your senses. I've heard about what happened—she's just a woman, after all. If she belongs to someone else now, it only means that your time together was meant to end. There's no point in dragging it out any further.""I understand, Father. You don't need to say any more!""Alright then, I won't. As long as you know what you're doing. Look at the state you're in—go home and clean yourself up. Then get to the office as soon as you can. There's trouble at the company that needs your attention."Lambert nodded in acknowledgment. Bob followed Lambert as they made their way back in silence. Lambert kept his eyes closed the entire time, as if resting, but Bob couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing in his boss, as
"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