"Mr. Ben, we suspect that Miss Sibyl has been imprisoned, but we haven't found any concrete evidence yet, so..."
"Enough, I understand. Here's what you'll do secretly investigate Sibyl's whereabouts and gather evidence of Lambert imprisoning her. I'll personally handle the rest!" Ben ordered, though his expression remained stern. Sibyl had unknowingly offended Lambert at some point. This could either be a minor issue or a major one, but given the current situation, it was clear that for some unknown reason, Lambert had aligned Sibyl with his faction. Perhaps Lambert had captured her to extract information about Ben?
Ben couldn't help but think in conspiracies, and the more he pondered, the more anxious he became. Sibyl could not stay with Lambert any longer, or else he would certainly find something incriminating!
Ben's suspicions were correct. After discovering that Ben had secretly incited company employees to resign and quietly transferred the subsidiary he m
Sibyl's face turned deathly pale. Thinking about the hellish days she'd endured, she dared not say anything more. At the very least, she never wanted to be sold to the black market again, locked up like livestock in a cage, and subjected to all kinds of torturous training daily."Don't worry, Lambert. I won't say a word. I promise I won't tell anyone!""And if Ben asks about it?""I'll say I went on a road trip with friends and forgot to get in touch."Lambert was satisfied with her response and nodded. At least Sibyl had some sense. With that, he turned to Bob and ordered, "Take Miss Sibyl back. Be discreet—don't let anyone notice."Hearing those words, Sibyl's heart soared with relief. She was finally leaving this nightmare behind.Bob leaned in close to Lambert and whispered, "Boss, are we really just letting this woman go? What if she comes back for revenge?""She's nothing more than a small fry. Hardly worth worrying about,
Sure enough, an hour later, an interview ignited a wildfire of debate among netizens.The headline was striking "Universal Conglomerate CEO Imprisons Employee!"During the live interview, Janet tearfully recounted how her daughter, Sibyl, had been missing for days. After conducting an investigation, they discovered that Sibyl had offended Lambert, which led to her being detained.With tears streaming down her face, Janet pleaded in front of the media, begging Lambert to release her daughter.The hastily gathered reporters had not anticipated such a bombshell of a story. However, some expressed doubts—Lambert was a media darling, known for his impeccable reputation and character.Yet, as skepticism arose, Ben suddenly stepped forward, also looking distraught. His heartfelt plea won over a lot of sympathy. At the same time, chaos erupted on Universal Conglomerate's social media accounts."People must be crazy for fame. Is this the kind of stunt they pull now?""What if it's true? Who wo
"No way!" Andrew firmly rejected. Seeing Lydia's expression change, he quickly softened his tone. "Lydia, now is not the right time. There's clearly something wrong within Universal Conglomerate. If you go to find Lambert now, won't that just cause more trouble for him?"After hearing Andrew's words, Lydia felt she might have been a bit unreasonable. Meanwhile, Andrew grew more certain of his plan. He needed to secure the studio shares as soon as possible, reducing Lydia's interactions with Lambert.Following the broadcast of the interview, Ben was feeling triumphant. Several employees from Universal Conglomerate had privately reached out to him, some to probe for the truth of the matter, others seeking job opportunities.By now, nearly everyone knew that Ben was planning to go solo!The disappearance of Sibyl had become the catalyst for Ben's rebellion against UC. Uninformed members of the public, swayed by Ben's interview, began to harbor an inexplicable disdain towards Universal Co
"My boss has finally been vindicated! I knew Ben didn't seem like a good guy from the start!""Ben really went all out to betray Universal Conglomerate. He's desperate!""This Ben is the real hypocrite! An old man trying to compete with my boss—what a joke!""A lot of people were against my boss before. Now, how do they feel? Serves them right!"...In the car, Ben was so furious he almost smashed the laptop Marvin was holding. He never expected that at the critical moment, it would be Sibyl who stabbed him in the back!"What should we do now? I don't think we can control public opinion anymore.""Are the online trolls we hired still available? We need to push the narrative down as soon as possible! I'm not paying them to sit around and do nothing!""Understood. This situation will definitely affect the company. Is there anything we should do now?"Ben sighed, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. "Let's just go back for now. Don't do anything at the company. We're already under scrutiny, a
"There's no use getting angry. Sibyl was probably set up by someone. Wipe those tears away; is this how you want to present yourself?"Seeing that Ben's attitude had softened, Janet secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately played coy. "Why don't you wipe them for me?"Looking at the woman who had followed him for years without any official status, Ben couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Without thinking, he raised his hand.Just as his fingers touched Janet's face, Adela's cold voice pierced through the room, "What are you two doing?"Adela wondered if she had seen it wrong—Ben was actually touching Janet's face! And her instincts told her something was off between them.Janet's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively took a step back. Ben, on the other hand, spoke nonchalantly, "What do you mean, 'doing'? Something got into your sister-in-law's eye."Adela thought that was a lousy excuse! But seeing the calmness in Ben's expression, and remembering how he'd always t
Ben couldn't figure out how the secret he had hidden for so many years was suddenly exposed.As soon as he got through the swarm of reporters and into the car, the first thing he did was call his assistant, Marvin. Marvin, on the other end, was hesitant and stammering, but his message was clear enough—he told Ben to check the internet himself.Ben unlocked his phone and discovered that an indecent video of him and Janet had become the top trending topic. Simultaneously, the paternity test results between him and Sibyl were also prominently posted online.Every major website was reporting on the scandal.Ben's eyes reddened from reading the reports over and over again. The scandal had completely engulfed him, catching him off guard!Because Ben had previously maintained such a successful image as a good man, the sudden exposure of such a scandal—especially with his lover being his sister-in-law—disgusted the public.Ben was ruined.The company he had just founded couldn't operate due t
The day of the meeting finally arrived. Early in the morning, Lydia was already up. When Wythe emerged from his small room, fully dressed, he was surprised to see his mother preparing breakfast.Recently, Lydia had been sleeping a lot and rarely woke up before a certain time. Wythe had learned from Andrew that his mother was pregnant, and naturally assumed that the baby, whether it would be a brother or sister, was Uncle Fraine's child. Because of this, Wythe had somewhat given up on the idea of his parents getting back together—especially after he called Lambert, and Lambert hadn't answered. Wythe felt deeply hurt by this."Mom, why are you up so early today?" Wythe asked."Oh, I'm going out with your Uncle Fraine later. Eat your breakfast and head to school, okay?" Lydia responded, her voice gentle.Wythe nodded obediently. Not long after, Andrew came out of his room, his expression a little serious. Seeing Lydia busy in the kitchen, his worry deepened."Lydia, didn't I tell you not
"Boss, here's the contract from earlier. Is there anything you'd like me to note? If not, I'll go ahead and file it," Ivan's voice came from behind Lambert.Lambert remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Do you think I made a mistake?"Ivan was caught off guard, unsure how to respond. Just as he was contemplating an answer, Lambert cut him off. "File the documents," he said.Ivan nodded, taking the papers and leaving the office. For some reason, as he glanced back at Lambert's figure, a deep sense of loneliness seemed to linger in the air.Lambert took a deep breath. From this point forward, he and Lydia were officially done.Meanwhile, Lydia had just gotten into the car after leaving Universal Conglomerate, her expression dazed. Andrew, on the other hand, seemed quite happy. "Lydia, now that you've gotten the shares back, why don't we go celebrate? We can pick up Mom, Dad, and Wythe on the way.""You decide. I'm fine with anything," Lydia forced a smile. After all, she had ac
"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