As the two conversed, Jarek began his rhetoric."Your Honor, my client Miss Lydia is the internationally renowned designer Amélie, who has won numerous awards in Paris. Given her status, there's no reason for her to plagiarize from an obscure company. Furthermore, I have here a draft of my client's design with a timestamp proving she couldn't have plagiarized."Vanessa stood up, interjecting, "Your Honor, design drafts can be forged. Anyone with artistic skill can replicate a design. This can't serve as evidence.""Your Honor, I also have a joint statement from the studio's staff who can testify for my client," Jarek continued.Vanessa scoffed, "Defense counsel, are you lacking common sense? In a case like this, relevant personnel can't testify. We're dealing with the lead designer from Lydia's studio, but who's to say other designers weren't involved?""You!" Jarek was rendered speechless, and Lydia's face turned pale. The situation looked dire for her.Whispers erupted in the audien
Kevin approached Queena and introduced her to the audience, then began his questioning."Miss Queena, during your tenure at Lydia's studio, did you steal designs belonging to my client, Miss Lydia?"Queena lowered her head. "Yes, I did covertly copy the designs.""Why did you do that? Miss Gilford is known for her generosity towards her employees, and you had a good relationship with her. There was no need for you to steal her designs."Queena, filled with shame, replied, "Yes, Miss Gilford and I had a good relationship, and I deeply regret my actions! But I was misled at the time! They promised me that if I obtained the designs, I would become the chief designer at their studio after resigning, with a salary twice what I was earning. I was tempted and made a mistake. I'm sorry!"The courtroom erupted into murmurs, but the trial continued."Who are 'they' that you mentioned?" Kevin inquired.Queena's resentful gaze landed on the plaintiff's side. "They were employees of Twilight Studi
In the penthouse office of Universal Conglomerate, Lambert set down the document he was about to sign, rubbing his temples wearily.Leaning back in his expansive leather chair, he closed his eyes slightly.Bang!The office door swung open, the sudden noise causing Lambert to furrow his brow.Opening his eyes, he beheld a figure he had longed to see.With one hand on the door frame, she was gasping for breath as if she had run all the way. Sweat glistened on her forehead, strands of hair stuck to her face, cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled brightly, like stars in the night sky.Lambert hesitated for a moment, instinctively wanting to rise, but realizing they were in a standoff, he composed himself and glanced at her with indifferent eyes."Madam, It seems you didn't schedule one for today."Following closely behind her, the front desk secretary, also catching her breath, respectfully explained, "Sir, I'm terribly sorry. This young lady rushed in suddenly, and we couldn't stop her!"
Ten minutes later, Lambert emerged from the bathroom, catching Lydia's gaze.His jet-black, thick hair was tousled and dripping with water, a stark contrast to its usual meticulousness.He was shirtless, revealing a perfectly sculpted physique, despite years spent in an office chair.His wheat-colored skin was adorned with a thin layer of muscle, defined yet not exaggerated, with a sexy V-line extending from his eight-pack abs, partially obscured by the towel wrapped around his waist. Despite this, Lydia could sense tension emanating from him.Glancing downward, she observed his long, powerful legs standing firmly.Lydia shyly lowered her eyes, swallowing nervously.The thought of his sensual body about to embrace her made her heart race uncontrollably, a strange heat rising within her, causing her to awkwardly adjust her neckline.Lambert smirked slightly, taking deliberate steps toward her.Just as he stopped in front of her, preparing to embrace her, Lydia felt a sudden panic in he
Five minutes later, Lambert was already tidied up, standing impeccably in his suit at the entrance, waiting for Lydia.Meanwhile, Lydia was staring blankly at a wardrobe full of clothes.As a fashion designer, she had plenty of options, but today she couldn't decide what to wear. Lambert had left several bright-colored kiss marks on her neck, and annoyingly, not a single item in her wardrobe had a high neckline.She couldn't possibly wear a winter sweater, could she?It was May now, and though there was still a chill in the air at times, wearing a high-neck sweater was out of the question!Lydia was frustrated, wishing she could just go out and bite Lambert back on the neck.Seeing Lydia taking so long to come out, Lambert walked over, only to be met with a glare for no apparent reason."What's wrong?" Lambert asked, puzzled.Lydia pointed to the marks on her neck. "Look at this! It looks like a dog chewed on me. Concealer can't even cover it. How am I supposed to go out like this?"L
In a suburban villa, the sound of shattering glass shattered the morning tranquility, followed by a piercing scream."Get out! Ron, just get out!"In the room, Maggie sat pale-faced on the bed, her long black hair veiling her resentful eyes, resembling a demon straight from hell.The shattered glass and spilled milk on the floor turned the once tidy room into a mess.Ron, with a grim expression and traces of scratched skin around his mouth, didn't utter a word, simply turned and left.In the downstairs living room, Harlan was reading the newspaper while Mildred instructed the maid to set the breakfast table.Seeing Ron coming down, Mildred's expression changed. "Is Maggie throwing another fit?"Ron nodded slightly, sitting silently beside Harlan. Mildred refrained from scolding upon noticing the bloodstains on Ron's lips, instead rising from her seat. "I'll go check on her."Ron lowered his gaze, masking his impatience.Since the miscarriage incident, Maggie's temper had become increa
Lydia had barely stepped out of the company gates with the prosecutors when she was surrounded by a swarm of reporters."Miss Gilford, we heard that you obtained the management rights of the G Group through bribery of high officials. Is it true?""Miss Gilford, you just concluded one lawsuit not long ago, and now you're being reported again. What exactly is the reason? Can you tell us the truth?""Miss Gilford, with your frequent involvement in various lawsuits, is it because of your unethical behavior?"...Throughout the barrage of questions, Lydia remained silent.The lead prosecutor gestured for the reporters to step back and stated impartially, "We're just requesting her cooperation for the investigation. It hasn't been confirmed that she's guilty. Please choose your words carefully."Observing coldly, Lydia understood that this matter was far from simple.Having recently taken over the company, she hadn't offended anyone. So what was the motive behind this report?A thought flas
When Lydia turned to face Gordon, his slightly chubby face showed no sign of embarrassment; instead, he spoke candidly, "Lydia, although I want to support you, just take a look at what has happened since you returned to the country? The company has already undergone restructuring once and can't afford any more turmoil. This is a time when we need to maintain steady growth, yet your actions during this period have disappointed me greatly."Lydia's face paled at his words, but she tightly pursed her lips, though her eyes sparkled unusually bright, seemingly unaffected.Gordon continued, "Lydia, although we didn't discuss this matter with you beforehand, our intention was also for the sake of the company. So, I believe you should understand our decision."Taking a deep breath, Lydia remained calm as she replied, "What exactly is this 'decision' you speak of? As the company's ultimate decision-maker, I have the right to know, don't I?""Ha-ha-ha!" Harlan suddenly laughed, "Ultimate decisi
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