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
Before Lydia could say anything, Verna grabbed her arm. "Of course I know her! Lydia's designs are amazing—you have no idea! I love them!"Zebulon found his daughter's enthusiasm a bit strange but dismissed it, thinking she must really like Lydia to act so warmly."Is that so? That's wonderful. Verna, I'll leave Thera and Lydia in your hands. Make sure to take good care of them for me."Verna stuck out her tongue playfully. "I know, I know, I'm not a little kid!"Zebulon affectionately patted her head with a doting smile. "Alright, alright, you'll always be a child in my eyes. You all chat; I'll take Winston to meet some old friends."After all, he had to pave the way for the next generation. For his daughter's sake, even if he didn't think much of Winston, he still had to bring him along.Winston gave them a nod and then followed Zebulon out. As soon as they left, Verna threw her arm around Lydia's shoulders like they were old friends and whispered into her ear, "Lydia, come with me.
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
Using their son as a shield might seem a bit embarrassing, but it was undeniably effective. Sure enough, upon hearing Wythe's name, Lydia paused her resistance to Lambert. She struggled to move her legs and began to make her way toward her home.What should have been a short ten-minute walk turned into a half-hour ordeal due to Lydia's difficulty in moving. During this time, she even awkwardly made a trip to the restroom. As she entered the later stages of her pregnancy, not only had her legs swollen, but her trips to the bathroom had also increased significantly. Just moments ago, she had finished a latte, which made the situation even more awkward—suddenly needing to find a restroom while walking.Lambert, while unaware of the many inconveniences pregnancy could bring, couldn't help but feel like a negligent husband and father as he watched Lydia struggle. He realized he knew nothing about what she was going through. Seeing her in such discomfort made his heart
Lambert closed his eyes, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart. He had truly found Lydia!"Sorry, Lydia, I think I got a bit carried away!"Could this be a dream? If it is, he hoped he'd never wake up.Lydia was at a loss for words. This wasn't just being a bit excited; he was clearly overwhelmed!She decided to change the subject. "Lambert, how's Wythe doing?" Her son was the person she cared about most, and the one she felt she owed the most to."He's fine, but he really misses you. I didn't expect that after all this time, you wouldn't even call once."Hearing this, Lydia lowered her head, guilt washing over her. In some ways, she knew she hadn't been a very good mother. She had neglected her son for her own feelings."I'm sorry..."Lambert sighed softly, a mix of emotions swirling within him. "You don't need to apologize, Lydia. It's all my fault. If I hadn't misunderstood you, you wouldn't have felt the need to leave Nov
Debby felt a sudden jolt, her ears turning bright red. Being caught doing something wrong and exposed in public was a uniquely uncomfortable experience."Uh, I..."Lambert's heart raced. Could it be that he finally found the right place? Was Lydia really at this kindergarten?Fearing he might startle her, he spoke gently, his tone patient. "Debby, there's been a misunderstanding between Lydia and me. I care about her deeply, and I can't lose her. I don't know how you've interpreted our situation, but as her friend, I assume you want her to be happy too?"Debby hesitated at his words. Was this man truly a scoundrel? Upon reflection, Lydia had only mentioned that she had divorced her partner and left Nova City due to some circumstances. She had never spoken ill of her ex-husband, so perhaps she had misjudged him?Debby's expression shifted, yet she still seemed unsure. Lambert seized the moment to ask, "Debby, Lydia hasn't left, has she?""How
Lydia could hardly believe her ears, but Debby wouldn't lie to her. So, Lambert had really come looking for her.Her emotions were a whirlwind. It had been nearly five months since she left. During this time, she had come to Y City alone, found a job at a kindergarten, and gradually found some peace.Being away from the chaos allowed Lydia to reflect on herself, and she realized that the situation with Lambert wasn't entirely his fault. While he sometimes acted presumptuously, his intentions were good—he always acted out of concern for himself. Each argument only chipped away at their relationship.No bond can withstand constant fighting.Lost in thought, Lydia absentmindedly traced her fingers over her phone screen. Should she reach out to Lambert? According to Debby, he was probably headed to Rong City.She lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes casting shadows over her troubled eyes. When she first heard that Lambert was looking for her, her
As Lambert stepped out of the apartment, a lost look lingered in his eyes. For the past few months, he had been caught in a cycle of hope and disappointment almost every single day.He should have been used to it by now, but each time he felt let down, hurt, and increasingly restless. The longer the search went on, the more he worried about whether he would ever find Lydia."Hey, don't be too downcast. Finding someone is like this; as long as you persevere, you will eventually locate them!"Lambert nodded at her comforting words, knowing well that now wasn't the time to give up."Lambert, since you haven't found her yet, what's your next move?"He frowned slightly. "I think I'll stay here for a while. According to the information my friend gave me, there might be another Lydia in City Y."She sighed. "You really have it tough. How long do you think it will take to find her? It's like searching for a needle in a haystack!""It's okay;
Upon seeing the information, Lambert felt as though he'd been tirelessly searching, only to stumble upon the answer effortlessly.Watching him hold the household registry, his hands trembling, the elderly woman knew that this young man truly loved his wife. She couldn't help but sigh. Why couldn't people just talk things out calmly instead of storming off? When this Lambert finally found his wife, she made a mental note to have a good talk with her. After all, finding someone who genuinely loves you these days isn't easy, especially someone as handsome and devoted as him.As she shared more advice, Lambert listened attentively. A couple of hours later, there he was, standing outside apartment 803 of Building 6, disguised in a delivery uniform, complete with a sunhat and a package in hand.*Ding dong, ding dong...*Lambert stood at the door, feeling anxious. He feared the person inside wouldn't be Lydia, but also worried they wouldn't answer at all.
The intense longing Lambert felt was like ants gnawing at his heart—an unbearable pain that consumed him. Yet, this separation made him realize even more clearly how deeply Lydia had become a part of his life. Without her, he felt utterly lost, as though she had completely permeated his existence without him even noticing.After a brief rest, Lambert began his search for information. He quietly arrived at the neighborhood where one of the pregnant women named Lydia was living and started asking around about her."You seem unfamiliar. You're not from around here, are you?" An elderly woman approached him, curiosity in her eyes.Lambert's heart leaped at the question. He had been wondering how to start the conversation, and now someone had given him the perfect opportunity. "You've got a sharp eye, ma'am. I'm new here.""I thought so! We don't usually see such a handsome young man in our neighborhood," the woman commented."Are you here for work, or are you planning to settle down? You