"Lambert, long time no see!"
"Sir, I heard you were planning to discuss a deal with my father, but since he's getting on in years, I'm afraid you'll have to deal with me now."
"It doesn't matter who I talk to. What matters is your answer. I've already given your father a choice before. I wonder if you're aware of that?"
"Well, it seems my father's age has caused him to leave some things unsaid. That's why I believe it's better if we discuss this in person. How about this—tonight, I'll host dinner. What do you think?"
"Where?"
"Of course, it'll be at JH Club, the most famous entertainment venue in Nova City. Naturally, it also has the best security, making it the perfect place for a business discussion. I'm sure you wouldn't want me to pick a spot where anyone could see us, would you?"
Rein caught onto Lambert's sarcasm but didn't take it too seriously. To him, these verbal games were meaningless. In fact, when Lambert mocked him, it on
"Well, look who's here!" Rein raised his glass with a smile. Odgen glanced around the room, his face tense. "Rein, where is Heloise? You didn't bring her with you?" "You must be joking. We haven't even discussed the deal yet. Why would I bring her along? What if you took her and left? I'd have nothing to gain." Odgen's face turned livid with anger. "Rein, you despicable coward! If you have any guts, deal with us directly! What kind of man uses a woman as leverage?" "Oh, come on, Odgen. You know as well as I do, all's fair in war. Are we really bound by rules of honor?" Odgen's anger erupted at that. His gaze shifted to Ben, unable to contain his fury. "Ben, I've treated you well all these years, and this is how you repay me? You traitor! After everything I've done for you, even a dog would be loyal!" Ben, unbothered, took a sip of his wine. "You're really worked up. Maybe you should calm down, but I'
Rein suddenly stood up, teeth clenched, and exclaimed, "Lambert! How dare you play me for a fool?"Lambert scoffed, "I've told you before, I hate being threatened. If you truly want to negotiate, how about we do so on equal terms?"Everyone present was stunned. What did that mean? They didn't understand at all.Rein fumed, "Equal terms? What gives you the right to talk about equality? Don't forget, Odgen's lover is still in my hands!"Lambert remained calm, indifferent as he replied, "So what? Do you think I'd be here negotiating with you if I didn't have any cards to play?"Odgen was already dumbfounded by the situation before him. He had no idea what cards Lambert had up his sleeve or how he intended to confront Rein. He seemed to have underestimated his son!Seeing Lambert so confident, Rein was taken aback. "Oh? Why don't you enlighten me about the cards you hold?"Lambert snapped his fingers, and the door was pushed open from the outside. A tall bodyguard entered, forcefully esco
Rein's expression improved considerably. "That's more like it. Sometimes, compromise doesn't mean you've lost, right? As long as you make the right decisions, you can still be the winner in life!"As he turned to leave, Ben quickly called out, "What about my daughter...?""Once you manage to bring back the child you mentioned, we can discuss the hostage exchange!"Rein adjusted his suit and left the club. Lambert had given him quite a shock today, and he would remember it!The next day, Odgen, unable to sleep all night, went to find Lambert early in the morning. He couldn't afford to delay any longer; every time he closed his eyes, Heloise's face filled his mind.In contrast, Lambert remained calm. He had already anticipated Odgen's visit and had Ivan stall him to prevent his father from ruining his plans.Odgen paced around the office with a coffee cup in hand. "Ivan, did you actually call Lambert? Why isn't he here yet? I've been waiting for over an hour!""I did call, but there's t
"Boss, there's trouble. The chairman just asked me to prepare the company's stock transfer documents. I overheard him on the phone with Rein, and it sounds like they've reached some sort of agreement. They're supposed to meet at 2 PM.""Got it. Prepare things on your end, but I have other matters to deal with now. We'll discuss this later."Lambert sat in the car, phone in hand, his expression grim. He barked orders at Bob, "Drive faster!"Bob understood. Just five minutes ago, Lambert had received a phone call—one that shook him to his core. It was from Lydia. Although her words were vague, the message was clear enough Wythe was missing!Given the current situation, Wythe's disappearance couldn't help but trigger Lambert's suspicions. However, he also worried that he might be overreacting. Regardless, he swiftly decided to set aside the company matters concerning Odgen and head straight to Lydia's place to get the full picture.A 20-minute drive was condensed into just 12 under Lambe
Andrew grabbed Lydia's hand, shaking it in frustration. "Lydia, why? Why would you choose to go back with Lambert instead of coming with me? My place is much safer!""I'm sorry, Andrew," Lydia replied calmly. "But I've already said, I want to be with Wythe as soon as possible. Being with Lambert is the best option for that.""But Rein is clearly targeting the Halsey family! It's far too dangerous," Thera added, equally displeased.Lydia remained composed. "The most dangerous place is often the safest. Don't worry, Thera. I'll take good care of myself. Besides, it's only for a few days."Seeing how firm Lydia was, Thera swallowed the words she was about to say. She realized there was no point in arguing. If this was Lydia's choice, there was nothing more to be done. However, she couldn't help but glance at Andrew, whose hurt was painfully evident in his eyes.Lambert, on the other hand, hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Were it not for Wythe's uncertain whereabouts, he would ha
On the other side, Rein, determined to prevent Wythe and Heloise from exchanging any information, decided to imprison them separately. Moreover, he brought Heloise along for his meeting with Odgen to ensure control over the situation.Knowing that Odgen was about to rescue her, Heloise finally let out a sigh of relief. She even felt touched—she hadn't expected Odgen to be willing to exchange his shares in Universal Conglomerate for her freedom.At 2 p.m., in the private room of the JH Club, Rein had arrived early as usual. Never one to trust others, he always familiarized himself with the surroundings beforehand.Odgen appeared right on time. After a brief glance at each other, they got straight to business."Where's Heloise?" Odgen cut straight to the point, having no interest in playing games."Don't worry. She's here, just as you asked. Now, where's my part of the deal?"Odgen chuckled coldly, "You can relax as well. I've got everything prepared. All that's left is for you to sign.
Rein's heart sank at Lambert's words. Without hesitation, he dialed the number to the villa, but no matter how many times he tried, there was no answer. His expression grew increasingly grim. Turning to his men, he ordered, "Go and find out what's happening."The bodyguards quickly exited to make contact with the people at the villa. Two minutes later, they returned, hesitating as they whispered something to Rein. His face turned as white as a sheet, and he staggered back, collapsing into the sofa in defeat.His eyes were vacant, utterly disoriented by the turn of events.Odgen glanced at his son with a questioning look. Lambert, fully aware, explained, "You thought you were clever kidnapping Wythe, but unfortunately, he's already been rescued. So, now you have no cards left to play.""Do you still think you have any means to defeat me?" Lambert's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Your grand ambitions clearly don't belong in Nova City."Rein's face flushed with anger, his hand clutching hi
Kristin felt a sense of relief when she saw Rein's relatively positive attitude. Initially, when she learned that Rein had kidnapped someone for business purposes, anger had nearly overwhelmed her, almost causing her to faint from the shock.Rein's mother came from a prominent family and had always valued her reputation highly. Rein had been careful not to let her know about his previous questionable actions. If it weren't for Lambert inviting her over this time, Rein would never have disclosed what he had done.Under Kristin's watchful eye, Rein sent Lambert a formal request for a meeting the very next morning, intending to apologize in person. Lambert graciously accepted the gesture, offering Rein a way to make amends.Without delving into the details of how Rein apologized to Lambert, he swiftly purchased return tickets on the same day at his mother's urging, and both he and Kristin left promptly. His actions were quick and decisive, without a moment's hesitation.The tension that
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
Lambert knelt down, meeting Wythe's eyes, and asked gently, "Wythe, are you sure this is what you want? Staying here while we're away—won't you feel lonely?"Though Wythe didn't want to be separated from his father, he wanted even more for his dad to focus fully on finding his mom, so they could all be together again. There's a saying about temporary separation being for a longer reunion—something like that."If I miss you, I can always call or video chat! Don't worry, Dad, I'm all grown up now—I won't embarrass you!"Lambert ruffled Wythe's hair, pride swelling in his chest. "You'll always be my best son! Both your mom and I are so proud of you."Wythe blushed a little. "Dad, don't praise me in front of everyone like this, I might actually get too proud!"Thera, standing nearby, burst into laughter at his bashful expression and swooped in to pick him up, giving him a playful kiss on the cheek. "Don't worry, Lambert. I've got Wythe covered. He'll be just fine with me."Andrew chimed i
Lambert carefully tucked Wythe into bed before solemnly opening the letter Lydia had left behind."...Lambert, by the time you read this letter, I'll probably already be in another city. I'm not sure if we'll ever see each other again.Sometimes, I wonder how we ended up like this. We once loved each other so deeply, but now, we've only caused each other endless pain.There's nothing going on between Andrew and me. I don't know if you'll believe me when I say this, but when I first found out I was pregnant again, I wanted to tell you the truth. Sadly, it seemed like you weren't willing to listen.I tried, again and again, to get back together with you, but no matter how hard I tried, it felt like we were two parallel lines—never to intersect again.Lambert, I don't know if I'm making the right decision, or even why I'm doing this. I just know that if I stayed in Nova City, I would lose my mind. So I've decided to leave. I need to find a place where no one knows me, and I don't know an