Thaddeus walked over with a cold expression. In those brief seconds, Jessamine made a hundred different plans in her mind.If he had really heard her conversation with Shane and knew about her pregnancy, then she would call Amy over and make things clear.He would have to choose between two pregnant ladies.Even though the odds were not in her favor, Jessamine wouldn't allow him to do anything that could harm her babies. She must bring her babies into this world.If Thaddeus refused, she would die with her babies.Perhaps she could bring Amy and her baby along. This could leave Thaddeus to grow old alone.Silently, Jessamine watched him approach as if waiting for a verdict.She was mentally prepared for anything. In her mind, she was reassuring her unborn twins."Don't be scared. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you. If Dad doesn't want you, it's not because you're not good enough. He's just not worthy!" Jessamine thought.Every second felt like mental torture. Jessamine h
"Why did you come to a couple's restaurant with him?" Thaddeus finally questioned.Jessamine's waist was knocked against the car door, causing her pain. Subconsciously, she protected her abdomen with her hand, but she felt a sense of relief inside.He hadn't mentioned the baby, which meant he hadn't heard her conversation with Shane. Her secret pregnancy was still safe."Didn't you also come with Amy? Why can't I?" she retorted."Are you so free? Drinking coffee at work and dating a man after work. Is it because Grandpa is protecting you? You can't find your Malcolm, so you've started settling for anyone?" Thaddeus questioned endlessly.They were currently on different channels, arguing as though they came from different planets.Although Jessamine felt insulted by his words, she chuckled as if she had heard the joke of the century."Thaddeus, you might love trash, but don't assume others share your taste. You know Shane. There's nothing between us. How can you slander me like t
Jessamine's words angered Thaddeus. Amy seemed like a thorn between them, causing pain for both of them.He had been waiting for the day of their divorce for three years. But now that the day was really here, he realized he wasn't as eager as he thought.He expected Jessamine to at least cause a scene. Yet she nonchalantly signed the divorce papers and rushed to get the divorce certificate.What did she take him for? A plaything in times of loneliness? Or a passing fling in high school?He gripped her chin with one hand and kissed her forcefully, biting down harshly on her lips. A metallic taste spread between their mouths."I'm your husband, Jessamine. As long as you don't have the divorce certificate, you're still Mrs. Holt. Please be mindful of your status before doing anything or making friends. You'll tarnish the reputation of the Holt family," he reprimanded.Jessamine wiped her lips, leaving a smear of bright red on the back of her hand. She didn't know if it was lipstick
Jessamine seemed to have poor learning ability, as she showed no improvement in her kissing skills after three years.Thaddeus even had the impulse to throw her into the car and get intimate with her then and there.For a moment, he was startled by his thoughts.People had impulses, but the difference between humans and animals was that humans could control their actions.But at that moment, he didn't want to act like a human. He just wanted to follow his heart.In the distance, Amy stood under a streetlamp. The light on top of her made her shadow on the ground seem small. It was so small that even if her high heels made noise, Thaddeus could not be able to hear her.At this moment, his eyes were only on Jessamine. He was already under a spell.Amy trembled with anger as she watched Thaddeus and Jessamine passionately kiss in front of her. In fact, the woman who was absorbed in the kiss glanced at Amy mockingly.That look shattered Amy's fierce determination.She had worked so
Jessamine thought she might have to give herself to Thaddeus in his car.Given his character, he never compromised with anyone. If he wanted to have sex with her, he would do it right away.When he said, "Let's go home", it gave her a moment of relief.The two of them lay close together in an intimate position on the seat, surrounded by silence.The sounds of heavy breathing in the car intermingled, creating a romantic atmosphere.Once the passion calmed down, awkwardness spread infinitely."Jessie … My car has a lot of space," Thaddeus stated.Thaddeus' meaning was clear. This place wouldn't affect his performance at all. On the contrary, changing the battlefield would be even more exciting.Jessamine bit her lip hard, trying to stay calm and not be tempted by him. Men always said whatever sounded good at the moment. If she followed his lead, she would fall into his trap.Of course, she knew his car was spacious enough. It was a limited edition Bentley, priced in the millions
"Drive … slower," Jessamine said weakly.Thaddeus turned around at a red light. Jessamine was sitting in the back seat, her face devoid of color."Are you not feeling well? Should I take you to the hospital?" he questioned.For a rare moment, he showed a hint of concern instead of wanting to immediately take her home for sex.Jessamine fought the nausea, trying not to reveal any sign of sickness that might arouse his suspicion."I feel carsick. Drive slower," she responded.When the traffic light turned green, Thaddeus slowly started the car. He tried to maintain a steady speed."You didn't used to get carsick. Why do you suddenly get carsick so often now?" he asked again."It's because of your poor driving skills," taunted Jessamine.Thaddeus smiled, and the smile he showed was an extremely attractive one."Mrs. Holt, perhaps you can tell me which part of my skills is poor. I can make improvements," he suggested.Feeling intensely sick, Jessamine covered her chest. But she
Thaddeus frowned at Jessamine's words."Didn't we agree that you'd call me 'hubby?' Did you forget?" he inquired."We're getting a divorce. Does it really matter what I call you?" Jessamine restored."It matters," Thaddeus said, squinting his eyes.Jessamine didn't want to argue about this childish topic any longer."Can you have Lana prepare the food first? I'm hungry," she said.Thaddeus finally retracted his hand and took a step back. Both of them emerged from the bathroom together.Lana had been waiting outside for quite some time. As it was time to prepare dinner, she needed to consult the couple for their opinions.Thaddeus' lips were stained with lipstick, and he was oblivious to it.After sizing them up, Lana wore a knowing expression on her face as she asked, "Mr. Holt, Mrs. Holt, I've cooked ceviche, soup, and two light side dishes. What else would you like to eat tonight?"Jessamine remained silent, while Thaddeus gazed at her as he replied to Lana, "Jessie doesn't
Over at the Jardin Estate, Thaddeus sneezed a few times."Are you done eating? If you're done, then let's watch the movie," Thaddeus suggested.Jessamine put down her cutlery and looked at the leftover dishes on the table with some discomfort. She had a little OCD. This was the evaluation the CEO of Swan had given her.This OCD extended not only to her work but also to her life. She couldn't leave anything in disorder."Let's clean the table up first," Jessamine insisted.Jessamine cast a somewhat blaming glance at him, as it was his idea to send Lana back to her room. Now, they could only clean up on their own.Thaddeus was unable to refuse and came over to help. Together, they poured the remaining food into the food waste bin and loaded the plates and utensils into the dishwasher."Mrs. Holt, this is my first time doing chores. My goodness, I've given you many important first times," Thaddeus teased.His words were suggestive. Though he was doing chores, he could still engage
Thaddeus was dumbfounded. Why hadn't he considered using blood types to eliminate the possibility first?"My dad has type O blood."Jessamine's stroked his Adam's apple softly and deliberately. "My mom has type B blood, and I have type AB blood. Do you think it's possible that we could be long-lost siblings?"Thaddeus thought for some time and couldn't help but burst out in hearty laughter. It was impossible for someone with type B blood and someone with type O blood to have a child with AB type blood. What was he worrying about?At that moment, he couldn't believe how foolish he'd been. Biology was his best subject in school, yet he didn't think about this until Jessamine reminded him. His biology teacher would be furious if they knew."Why didn't you say so earlier, Jessie?" He regretted not talking to her about it sooner and ended up suffering in prolonged silence by himself.After Jessamine got bored touching his Adam's apple, she started playing with his rough chin. "I just
Jessamine lay still for a long time, aware that Thaddeus was also awake, battling insomnia just like her.This visit to Zenville to solve one mystery ended up bringing her an even bigger one.The gathering took place years ago in the restaurant owned by Benji's family. She had even asked Benji about it. The surveillance footage from over 20 years ago wouldn't be around now, and even the staff had changed several times. The restaurant's manager from back then had left the job many years ago.It wasn't easy to uncover the truth from back then unless they found the people who were directly involved. The closer they got to the truth, the more pressure she felt.By investigating this matter now, she was essentially peeling back the layers that had been hiding a much deeper issue. As she confronted the dark side of human nature, the ultimate victim ended up being her beloved mother.If Jessamine didn't look into this matter, she felt like she would be letting Elizabeth down. She wanted
Thaddeus frowned immensely at his request. "Don't be ridiculous!""I'm serious. You could help me rent one too. You know, the kind that charges by the day. I'll fool my dad first. We'll deal with everything else once he gets better," Benji said.Thaddeus cursed inwardly, "Dude, don't drag me into this, especially with my wife watching. It sounds like you're implying I have ways to get or rent women."Thaddeus glanced back at Jessamine and said, "I don't know about this. You should ask someone else. If you're at your wits end, go ask one of the assistants in your company to help you out."Benji seemed to come to a realization. He said, "It's getting late. You all should go back and rest. There are doctors here. I'll stay and keep watch."Jessamine asked, "Can you handle this on your own, Mr. Moore?""Sure, thank you… all of you," Benji replied.After saying a few more words of comfort, Jessamine and Thaddeus went downstairs to the car. Thaddeus' phone started ringing again."Mr.
Maya also knelt by the bed and started crying."Dad, don't speak for now. Please be okay."Benji zoned out. Seeing Carmen and Maya crying, his mind was in a mess. He realized that he couldn't continue to live aimlessly—his family needed him now."A girlfriend, a girlfriend..." he mumbled, not even sure of what he was saying.The doctor hurried to the room upon hearing the call, checked on Jonathan again, and then sent the family away."The patient needs rest and should avoid additional emotional stress. You all can wait outside for now. There's no need for everyone to be here, one would be enough. The room can be stuffy if there's too many people here, too."They then left the room. Benji was holding the X-ray images of Jonathan's brain, but he couldn't make any sense of it. He felt completely lost.Shane quietly slipped away from the crowd after watching from afar. He went to an empty hallway and called his father. "Dad, are you free to analyze some X-ray images? It's for a fri
Benji had always lived a smooth and pleasant life. It hit him hard after hearing what the doctor said, leaving him in a state of shock and bewilderment."Mom, hasn't Dad always been in good health? How did he suddenly..."Carmen's eyes were red and swollen from crying."He mentioned feeling dizzy a few times recently and said he'd go for a check-up but actually never did. Plus, he's been swamped with work lately and hasn't got any time. Today, he suddenly fainted at the office. His assistant called an ambulance right away and brought him to the hospital. By the time I got the call, he was already being examined inside."Benji's face turned pale. With Jonathan down, the burden of supporting his family fell on him. He had been free from responsibility for the past 20 years, and now, suddenly having to shoulder this heavy load, he felt completely lost.His father had been asking him to get familiar with the company's operations a long time ago. However, he was too lazy to bother abou
Benji never had any grand ambitions. From the day he was born, people always told him that he didn't need to worry about anything since most problems in this world could be solved with money, and his family had plenty of it. He just wanted to drift through life."I don't need to surpass him. As long as I can cover my daily expenses and not have to ask him for money, that's enough," Benji replied.As they were talking, Shane had prepared a table full of dishes. He set out four sets of plates and cutleries before calling everyone over to eat. "It's time to eat."The four of them hadn't seen each other in a long time, so they had to have a drink.Jessamine looked at the beautifully prepared dishes on the table and couldn't help but offer a compliment. "Shane, your cooking skills have gotten so good."Shane opened a bottle of red wine and poured some for everyone. "What can I do? There's a glutton at home."Benji was not happy with Shane's comment. What did he mean by saying there wa
"It's great that you came by today, Jessie. I'll pay you back the money. Friends who are willing to lend money these days are rare, so I want to thank you again," Benji said.He hadn't repaid the money he borrowed last time yet. Coincidentally, he received some money today, so he decided to settle the debt in person. With that, he picked up his phone to make the transfer.Jessamine's phone chimed, indicating that a payment had been received. The amount was a bit more than what she had lent out."Mr. Moore, I'm not here to ask you to settle your debt. You can keep it for now. I won't need the money for the time being," Jessamine said."If one borrows and returns promptly, borrowing again won't be difficult. You're much easier to talk to than Thaddeus. Despite knowing him for so many years, borrowing money from him is such a hassle. You saw it last time yourself. That scoundrel's attitude was terrible!" Benji complained.At this point in the conversation, Thaddeus happened to arrive
Thaddeus tightened his grip on Jessamine's slender waist. "What am I going to do with you, Jessie?"He thought to himself that if things really were just that coincidental, he would rather play the fool and pretend to know nothing at all. He just couldn't leave her.Jessamine asked softly, "How about you ask your dad?"Thaddeus paused for a moment and took out his phone to call Corey. He couldn't calm his mind at all.After a few seconds of hearing the dial tone, the call was answered."Dad," Thaddeus said.On the other end of the phone, Corey was about to go to sleep. He had been adjusting his routine lately, aiming to go to bed early and wake up early."What’s up?" Corey asked."Do you remember the gathering over 20 years ago with Mr. Hardy, Jacob Langston, Leon Lincoln, Paxton Loomis, and a few others?"After that, Thaddeus added, "That night, a beautiful woman came over. She drank some alcohol and was drugged."There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the ph
On the other side, Jessamine and Thaddeus got into the car.Jessamine and Beatrice were quite familiar with each other. However, it was Jessamine's first time meeting Sabastian. Surprisingly, she had a pretty good impression of him."Do the Hardy and Holt families have business dealings with each other?"Thaddeus drove as he answered her question, "We don't have much interaction. We would occasionally invest in small projects and conduct some charity work in Zenville together."Mr. Hardy is an upright and trustworthy person. He has a good relationship with Grandpa. Hayden would often come to my house with him when I was young."Jessamine paused for a moment and asked, "Does he have a wife?""Hayden's mother passed away from an amniotic fluid embolism during childbirth. Since then, Mr. Hardy has remained single and never remarried."Jessamine was deeply moved. In this era, who would remain loyal for a lifetime to their deceased wives? Most men like Sabastian, who had both power a