Unrequited love is always the most painful. No matter what it takes, Chad was determined to keep Lydia by his side, willing to try anything."I won't accept this! I'll make you pay! I'll beat you to death, and then I'll feel satisfied!"Still furious, Chad grabbed a nearby golf club and was about to swing it at Andrew when Clara hurriedly stepped in to stop him."Enough! Andrew is already in so much pain. Don't hit him anymore!""You're always spoiling him! If this keeps up, he's going to think he can do whatever he wants! Just listen to the nonsense he's spouting, trying to force that poor girl into marriage. How is he any different from those bandits and bullies of the past?"Chad had always been the kind of man who played by the rules. Now, being forced to deceive someone went against everything he believed in, and he just couldn't reconcile it within himself.Clara, on the other hand, couldn't bear to see their son suffer any longer. Sin
"Lydia, just keep walking straight! Your happiness awaits at the end of the red carpet!"Lydia froze, suddenly feeling confused. Was she overthinking things? There seemed to be something more to what Thera was implying. Weren't they supposed to be filming for a magazine feature? Why couldn't she see Quentin or anyone else from the shoot?With growing doubts, Lydia followed Thera's instructions and walked forward. The manor was bordered by a lake on one side, and the scene before her reminded Lydia of her wedding with Lambert. Except, while the setting here had a more classic, old-world charm, everything else felt like a real wedding!Wait a minute. A real wedding?A flash of realization crossed Lydia's mind, and she furrowed her brows tightly. No, that's impossible. Who would do such a thing? Was she just being paranoid?As the "ceremony" continued, Lydia kept walking. The wind lifted the white veil on her head, and as it fluttered, she saw the per
Andrew's eyes were filled with desperation, and Lydia couldn't help but feel a bit cruel. Still, she knew very well that now was not the time for her to show any mercy.Hesitation only brings more agony!After a moment's thought, Lydia's expression became serious."Andrew!"The sound of her calling him like that made Andrew's heart skip a beat. He felt a vague sense of unease, as Lydia rarely spoke to him in such a distant, cold tone."Lydia... as long as you don't leave me, I'll agree to anything," Andrew pleaded. By now, he had cast aside all dignity, lowering himself into the dust with nothing but his love for her.But Lydia shook her head. "Andrew, I'm really angry right now. But I also know that emotions can't be controlled. However, using those emotions to hurt others—that's what I truly cannot accept.""I never wanted to hurt you, and I never will," Andrew replied."I'm not talking about me. Do you think planning t
Colin had no idea that it wasn't the Boss thinking about him, but rather the Boss's wife!Lydia hung up the phone, feeling oddly disoriented. She sat alone in the living room, dazed for quite some time before remembering she needed to find something to eat. After all the turmoil of the morning, she was already hungry. But no matter how many times she tried, Lambert's phone remained unreachable, and asking Ivan didn't yield any answers either. Sighing in self-mockery, Lydia shook her head. Since when had she become so fragile? It was just a wedding that never happened—why should she feel so shaken?Before Lydia could collect herself, she heard an urgent knock on the door. "Mom! Mom, are you home?"It was Wythe's voice!Lydia quickly opened the door and found Wythe standing there, out of breath, his face flushed. He had clearly run all the way back, sweat dampening his hair, and his little face was red but unusually serious. His wide, wet eyes were br
"Beep beep beep..."A sudden ringing disrupted the silence. Lambert paused in his steps, instinctively pulling out his phone. As he glanced down, a rare softness flickered in his gaze."Wythe, what's going on?"Andy and Colin exchanged bewildered glances. What was happening? Had the boss suddenly cheered up?"Dad, did you know that Mom's getting married today?" It was a message from Wythe.On the screen were several missed calls—from Thera, Ivan, and surprisingly, even Lydia.Lambert remained silent for a moment before typing out a reply "Yes, I know.""Then why didn't you bring Mom back? What are you doing traveling at a time like this?" Wythe was anxious. What was his father thinking? Shouldn't he be stopping the wedding? His wife was about to run off with someone else!"Wythe, this is your mom's choice, and I've decided to respect it."On the other end, both mother and son were momentarily stunned by this message.Lydia's expression turned cold as she snatched the phone from Wythe'
Lydia was both surprised and understanding. Knowing Thera's personality, how could she stand by and watch Andrew marry someone else without taking action? It turns out that helping Andrew came with conditions—this was exactly the kind of move Lydia expected from her."Thera, the real reason I came today was to return this wedding dress to you. It just doesn't feel right wearing something that isn't mine.""It's just a dress, Lydia. You can keep it as a memento if you like."Lydia shook her head. "If it were any other outfit, maybe, but this is a wedding dress. Keeping it with me doesn't feel right, especially since... well, I hope you don't mind that I wore it.""What are you saying? Do you think I'm that kind of person?"Women's friendships can be strange. After just a few words, the tension that had been lingering between them seemed to dissolve. Lydia sighed in relief. She had been worried, terrified even, that she might have ruined her relationship with Thera. That was the last th
Lydia took a step forward and hugged Thera. "Thank you, Thera. Honestly, meeting you has been the luckiest thing for me since I came back.""It's just a shame you're still not willing to stay," Thera replied, her heart filled with reluctance and sadness.She truly cared for this friend, and even though the man she loved was more concerned about Lydia, she didn't mind.Lydia smiled, though her expression was heavy. With a lingering glance at the closed window on the second floor, she silently whispered, *Wythe, I'm sorry. Please, let Mommy be selfish just this once.*After that, she climbed into the car and instructed the driver to head to the station.In the early morning light, Thera watched Lydia's figure disappear and let out a long sigh."Mom!" Wythe suddenly woke up from a dream, his forehead covered in cold sweat. At that moment, his bedroom door opened, and Thera walked in, full of concern."Wythe, what's wrong? Did you have a bad dream?"Wythe blinked, still feeling like he ha
Hearing Wythe's sobs was too much, even for someone as strong as Lambert. The bond between father and son tugged at his heart, and he wished he could fly back immediately and hold his child in his arms. But knowing that wasn't possible, he softened his voice over the phone, gently comforting Wythe."Wythe, be good. Don't cry. Can you tell me what's going on with your mom? Did she leave you because she married Andrew?" Lambert asked, though deep down, he knew this wasn't likely. Lydia loved Wythe too much to abandon him, even if she had a child with Andrew."Mama didn't marry Uncle Fraine at all. It's all just a misunderstanding," Wythe sniffled, sounding pitiful.Lambert's heart soared upon hearing Lydia hadn't married Andrew, but then a wave of confusion hit him. If they weren't married, what was going on? Regardless, he knew he had to return home immediately."Wythe, where are you now?" Lambert asked urgently."I'm at home. Aunt Thera is taking care of me. Mama asked her to," Wythe
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