After a brief moment of calm, a fresh wave of agitation arose within Heather. She then queried, "Are you really choosing her over me? Do you not want your mother anymore?"Thaddeus looked extremely impatient. His face was expressionless as he said, "I'm not taking sides. I'm just stating the facts. If you're not happy with this, you can distance yourself. Play your cards, go shopping—you don't lack spending money. So, don't make trouble for others."He clearly did not show his mother any respect.Heather cared a lot about her reputation. As the mother of the CEO of Holt Jewelry, she had been respectfully addressed as "Mrs. Holt Senior" over the years. If word about the incident that day got out, how would she be able to maintain her reputation in her group of wealthy friends?Heather glanced at the office, and she clenched her fists tightly . Jessamine had not said a single word. She had a mocking smile on her face as she watched Heather lose her temper.Comment by Caitlyn Chin: B
As the conversation continued, the security guard arrived and asked, "Excuse me, may I know what's happening here?"The employees of Kama Jewelry looked at each other, none of them daring to speak. They all returned to their desks, pretending to be busy with work. Although they were eager to hear the gossip about the CEO of Holt Jewelry, they knew it was better to not get involved. The more they knew, the worse off they could be. Thaddeus had a history of suing people into bankruptcy. Therefore, no one had the courage to speak a word about the incident today, ensuring it would remain a secret.Heather glanced into the room. Jessamine was still leaning against the desk, slowly sipping a cup of coffee. It became clear to Heather that she had no intention of dealing with her directly. She just wanted the security guard to handle the situation.Heather snorted and thought, "Who does that vixen think she is to rush me away?"She then said to the security guard, "There's no need for yo
"Jessie, I'm sorry, please disregard my mother's words as insignificant. I will arrange for her to go overseas immediately. Rest assured, I am committed to sending her away!" Jessamine didn't respond, giving him the cold shoulder.Thaddeus was most afraid of his partner ignoring him completely. As long as she was communicative, he could find ways to make her happy. However, if she stayed silent, it would become very difficult for him. "Jessie, why don't we head to Reverie Delights tonight? They just got a new shipment of fresh seafood this afternoon, so it's the best time to go. What kind of taste are you in the mood for? I'll ask the chef to make it."Jessamine locked the documents in the drawer and picked up the phone charger from the table. Thaddeus had already handed her her purse, and his courteous gesture eased some of her annoyance.However, she couldn't simply let this slide. Being blocked and scolded at work for no reason was ultimately due to his mother's influence.
Thaddeus chose the biggest piece of jackfruit, but he rejected the salesperson's offer to peel it for him. After he bought it, he made sure to put it in three bags for extra protection. His usual aversion to the scent of jackfruit was set aside to make his future wife happy. He went straight to the parking space and unlocked the car door for Jessamine to enter before joining her in the back seat. "Let me help you peel that, Jessie." Thaddeus adorned a set of disposable gloves and meticulously divided the jackfruit along its crease, unveiling its juicy, enticing golden meat. The car was instantly enveloped in the scent of jackfruit. Jessamine swallowed while recalling the time when she purchased a jackfruit crepe cake from Jardin Estate, but Thaddeus had found it unpleasant. He had insisted on making her eat it on the balcony and instantly cleaned up everything after she finished. The individual who had previously shown contempt for the jackfruit was now peeling jac
Thaddeus persistently shook his head and said, "Enjoy your meal. It's all for you." He struggled to come to terms with the flavor. He had already reached his limit for tolerating it without opening the windows or car doors. Getting him to eat it would be almost impossible.Jessamine let out a resigned sigh."Fine, but you're passing up something truly delicious."After she finished talking, she glanced over his right leg and observed some holes on the knee of his suit pants, as if they were caused by a sharp object piercing through. She then asked,"Does it hurt?"Thaddeus took a moment to realize that she was inquiring about his knee."It doesn't hurt."Following his response, he felt a sense of warmth within his heart.Thaddeus found himself inexplicably transforming into a lovesick young fool, resembling Jordan more and more with each passing day. Just a small gesture of concern from her would fill him with joy, causing him to savor the feeling for an extended period. "C
Thaddeus moved with speed, efficiently getting the beef brisket ready. After immersing it in cold water and blanching it, he then cooked it with the tomatoes in the stew pot. The way he cooked showed expertise and ease, as if he had made this dish numerous times. In the kitchen, he was occupied with various tasks, donning an apron, as Jessamine casually observed him from the countertop. After preparing the mash potatoes and prepping the greens, Thaddeus was ready for the beef brisket to finish cooking so he could stir-fry the vegetables and serve the meal. Once he washed his hands, he realized that Jessamine had been watching him attentively. "Jessie, are you hungry now?"Jessamine answered honestly,"I am not really hungry, but watching you cook is quite a pleasure."Thaddeus put his hands on his hips, looked at the apron he had on, and jokingly asked, "Interesting hobby you have there—a fascination with uniforms maybe?"Jessamine blushed slightly as he listened to his
"Have you checked and confirmed that it's a reputable and safe tour group?"Jordan assured confidently. "Mr. Holt, you can rest assured. This is a legitimate group. I found it through a trusted contact, so it's reliable.""When is the departure?""The day after tomorrow.""Handle the payment and paperwork. I'll send you the money.""Alright."It was now settled. Thaddeus believed it would be good for Heather to venture out and explore the world, enjoy the scenery, and capture some pictures. It would be preferable to prevent her from becoming irritable and causing problems at home due to her menopausal mood swings. The main reason was that he realized it was essential to help his sister change her perspective on the world. However, with the presence of Heather, all efforts would be fruitless.Jessamine grabbed a glass of water and settled next to Thaddeus on the couch. "Are you really planning to ask her to travel abroad?"Thaddeus smiled. "It may seem like I am being a cold-
However, what preoccupied Thaddeus' mind was that Jordan's wedding would be held in Zenville. He would have to go back if he wanted to attend it.Everyone finally had time off during the National Day holiday. He wanted to spend time with Jessamine and the kids. So, it would have been quite a dilemma if he couldn't be with her. Jessamine raised an eyebrow and inquired, "You were born and raised in Zenville. Even your home is in Zenville as well. Why can't you go back alone?"Thaddeus looked aggrieved. "The same goes for you. Why don't we go back together? We can stay at Jardin Estate." Jessamine snorted with laughter. "Mr. Holt, you're a bit clingy."Thaddeus didn't deny what she said. Now, he wanted to cling to Jessamine so that no one could drive him away from her.He pressed his forehead against hers and asked again, "Would you like to go back with me?"It was an event more than a month later. Jessamine didn't dare to guarantee she would have time for it now. After all, she
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