It was dark, and there was no one downstairs. Jolina frowned, feeling unease. "I somehow feel this is quiet before the storm."Kisa laughed. "Fear not even if the storm is coming; we're in the safety of the house. They can't break in, can they?"Jolina nodded. "You have a point."Kisa handed her a new set of sleepwear and patted her on the shoulder. "Well, you must be tired after a long day, so go wash up and sleep."At the hospital, Christopher stared wide-eyed at the laboratory test results handed over by the doctor. "How is this possible? You must have made a mistake." On the lab report, it clearly showed two weeks of pregnancy.'But Kisa was not pregnant! She admitted it herself, so why did the blood test show she was pregnant again? The doctor must have made a mistake.'He looked at the doctors. "You must have made a mistake, or there is something wrong with the instrument. I want a new test.""Sir, our instruments are state-of-the-art. The possibility of an error is almost
Christopher's face sank, and he signaled the two reporters not to say anything. However, those two reporters were bent on getting away from him and were not afraid of his threats.One reporter said to Kelvin, "Mr. Case is the one who told us to write about Mrs. Kooper faking her pregnancy."Kelvin's expression changed slightly. "And then what?""He then asked us to add fuel to the fire by writing about Mrs. Kooper's viciousness and her framing Sharon for her miscarriage.""Mr. Hoover, don't you think Mr. Case is putting us in a difficult position? Mrs. Kooper was indeed pregnant, and Sharon did cause her miscarriage. So how can we cover this up?""Besides, the Kooper family are now in grief and anger. If we write a false story, we'd only be asking for trouble. So Mr. Hoover, please help us talk some sense into Mr. Case.""Kisa was not pregnant. She admitted it herself. She set Sharon up," Christopher said indignantly.The two reporters ignored him and shook off his hand. Just th
"No! I can't let Sharon go to jail!"Christopher continued stubbornly, "Sharon was framed. Kisa herself admitted that she wasn't pregnant. Help me, Kelvin. Help me prove it."Kelvin rolled his eyes."She probably said she wasn't pregnant because you'd hurt her; that's why she said such a thing."Christopher was startled, "I had hurt her?"Kelvin glanced at him and sighed, "Mr. Case, let me give you a word of advice: Kisa's your daughter too. Don't take things too far and think of her mother."After hearing Kelvin bring up Kisa's mother, Christopher looked even more perplexed.Suddenly, he covered his face and burst into tears, "I just want to save Sharon; what's wrong with that? I promised her. If I break my promise again, she'll surely look down even more on this father of hers. Besides, even if you helped me falsify the evidence, Kisa would, at most, lose her reputation. On the other hand, Sharon will have to go to jail."The more Kelvin heard Christopher's words, the more sp
Kelvin greeted him with a smile, "Don't leave yet. We'll go for some celebratory drinks later."Davian turned around and glanced at Gilbert. Then, he hurriedly dragged Kelvin out by the arm."Mr. Hoover, Mr. Kooper's in a terrible mood right now. I don't know what's gotten into him recently. He's been in a bad mood, so you better not go in and provoke him. It won't do you any good. Really."Kelvin smiled, "What's the matter? Did you get scolded by him just now?""Yeah. Anyway, he's in a bad mood. Let's leave him alone and go for drinks," Davian said in a hushed voice.Then, he dragged Kelvin toward the stairs.Kelvin plucked Davian's hand away with a smile."What're you scared of? Come on, let's go inside. Watch me cheer him up," he said with a secretive expression.Davian said disdainfully, "You better not mess around. Right now, Mr. Kooper is in a really... Sigh... Mr. Hoover..."Before Davian could finish, Kelvin quickly walked into the study. Davian did not even have the c
"Yeah. He suspected that Kisa wasn't pregnant, so he brought two reporters and forcefully drew a vial of blood from Kisa..."Gilbert narrowed his eyes icily, "Forcefully?""Hey, that's not the point. The point is Christopher thought he was smart to test Kisa's blood, thinking he could prove that her pregnancy was bogus and countersue her for framing Sharon. However, he did not expect Kisa to actually be pregnant. He was dumbfounded."Hearing Kelvin's words, Gilbert felt his heart race. He finally realized that the woman might actually be pregnant.He hurriedly snatched the lab report from Kelvin's hands. Then, he scrutinized the name and results printed on the report."Two weeks pregnant?""Mhm. Two weeks. I suppose even Kisa herself doesn't know that she's pregnant; she said she wasn't pregnant when I was putting on a show with her last night."Then, Kelvin continued with amusement, "Speaking of which, we should thank Christopher. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't even have kn
Kelvin was startled. "Why is that? You should tell her so that she can be more mindful throughout her pregnancy."Gilbert shook his head gloomily and said nothing.Kelvin turned to Davian in confusion.However, Davian shook his head to indicate his puzzlement.'I'm even more confused than you guys. I still haven't even figured out if the madam is pregnant or not,' Davian thought.Kelvin was befuddled as he watched the man's excited expression turn gloomy."Gilbert, aren't you happy that Kisa's pregnant with your child?""I am," Gilbert muttered.'How could I not be happy? I've even dreamed of Kisa bearing another child of mine. This time, I'll be sure to take care of the two of them. But, these are my thoughts. Seeing Kisa taking contraceptives, I could tell she didn't want this child. Moreover, that morning, she thoroughly showed how much she hates me and wants to kill me. That's why this child won't make her happy but only make her feel troubled. For all I know, she might eve
In the face of Gilbert's icy confrontation, Christopher could not say a word.Christopher was reminded of the shabbily-dressed girl that stood in front of his house on a snowy day many years ago.'She had frostbite on her hands and feet while her face and nose had turned red from the cold. She cried out, "dad," and told me her mom was gone. Back then, I did feel bad for her. Since when did that change? Was it when Carolyn called her a b*stard child and said that her mother was an adulteress? She's said plenty of such things. That's why I subconsciously thought of her as an unclean b*stard child. My contempt toward her did not change despite the DNA test. Now that I think about it, she didn't do anything wrong. I just didn't like her. From the start, I had only thought of Sharon as my child,' he thought.Gilbert said to him in a cool manner, "Please leave. Even though you're Kisa's father, I won't forgive you for forcefully drawing her blood.""And Sharon...""You can continue talk
"Mrs. Kooper Sr., there's a letter for you."Madalyn stopped walking, then she turned to the bodyguard in confusion. "A letter? What letter?"George also looked confused. "Who writes letters these days?"Then, he turned to the bodyguard and said, "Where did the letter come from?""I don't know. An hour ago, somebody slid it into my house. I saw that the letter was addressed to Mrs. Kooper Sr., so I quickly sent it over.""Someone slid it into your house?" George grew even more skeptical. "That means the person knows you're a bodyguard of the Kooper family. Who could that person be?""Let me take a look at the letter first."Just as Madalyn was about to take the envelope, Gilbert promptly reached out and took it instead."For safety purposes, I'll look at it first."'There's something weird about this. It might be a trap,' he thought.Madalyn immediately looked at Gilbert anxiously, "Be careful then. Throw it away the moment something doesn't feel right."Gilbert burst out la
In a small town in the South, a gentle breeze caressed the cheeks of passersby, creating a pleasant and serene atmosphere. This town, known for its tourism, was adorned with flowers even in its narrow alleys. The surrounding houses were all quaint inns, exuding a poetic and picturesque charm.Beneath an arching bridge, Kisa set up an easel to display and sell her paintings. She had always loved painting since childhood. Although she had not achieved great success in this field, her vivid and evocative paintings were very popular with tourists. She would sell most of her paintings every day.On weekends, Blake would join her at the stall, but today was Wednesday, and she was alone. After arranging her paintings, she had barely sat down when people began to gather around. Some admired her art, while others immediately offered to buy. Her paintings were reasonably priced, which attracted many customers."Miss, I'd like that painting of the snow-covered rose garden at night.""Alright,
In the backyard, Kohen looked at his older brother's calm expression, a hint of worry in his voice. "Bro, are you alright?""I'm fine," Hayes said, adjusting the blanket on his lap. "Tomorrow, take me to meet those medical geniuses you found.""Oh, sure..." Kohen nodded in agreement, but after a moment, he could not help but ask, "Bro, what did that woman say to you that made you change your mind so suddenly?"Hayes gazed at the stars in the sky, his voice cool and distant. "She told me she's doing well, very happy. Then she pointed out how pitiful and miserable I am right now. She asked me if I don't feel envious, knowing how well she is doing compared to me."Kohen grimaced, realizing that the woman had provoked his brother into action.Hayes lowered his eyes, a faint smile on his face. "That's right. How could I not be envious? So, I want to heal my legs, live a good life, and show her that I can do better than her."Kohen felt a pang of sympathy for his brother. From Hayes's
Mentioning Hayes, Eylul's expression became complex. "Hayes is reclusive and doesn't like to see people. Only a single old servant has been taking care of him all these years. I only met him once, back when I married Kohen."Mia's heart ached, recalling the enigmatic yet deeply emotional man. She could not help but feel a lump in her throat. "How's his health?" Mia asked.Eylul replied, "His health is fine, but his legs have remained the same. Kohen has found top orthopedic experts for him and even sought out Kelvin Hoover from Calthon, but he refuses treatment. For so many years, he hasn't even stepped outside the backyard.""You mean he's been living in the backyard all this time?" Jensen asked gravely.Eylul nodded. "Yes, Kohen wanted him to live in the main house, but he refused. He only likes staying in the backyard. Moreover, the room he stays in used to be..." Eylul glanced at Mia. She had heard that Mia used to live in that room.With a complicated expression, Mia pursed h
"Let's forget everything that just happened,' Mia said.Jensen looked up at her. In the moonlight, his eyes were deep and complex, profound and unfathomable.Mia tried to muster a smile. "You don't have to feel burdened. In a way, I forced you. And you must have always disliked me. Actually, I didn't come to you for money; I just wanted to see you. Now that I have, I should go. Jensen, from now on... take care."With that, she walked away, fearing that if she lingered any longer, she would not be able to leave. But after only a few steps, she was embraced from behind.Jensen's voice was low and hoarse. "Stay with me."Mia trembled at his words. Jensen continued. "But I still have so many things to do and someone in my heart I can't let go of. I don't know... when I will be able to give you a satisfactory answer. If you don't want to stay with me without any promises or guarantees, you can—""I'm willing," Mia blurted out, "as long as I can be with you, I don't care about anything
Mia's face changed instantly. " You... you know I like Jensen, why would you...""Heh, if you like Jensen, shouldn't you be willing to do anything for him? If you can't even do this, how can you claim to love him?""I won't do it! Doing this would be betraying Jensen. I would risk my life for him, but I can't do this."Adrien stared at her flushed face and gently chuckled, his words loaded with meaning. "Aren't you feeling all hot and bothered yet?"Mia frowned. Her body was indeed getting hotter and more agitated. 'Why would Adrien ask this? Could it be the drink...?'As the thought crossed her mind, her heart sank. Seeing Adrien's cold expression and the man's playful smile, Mia turned and ran. But before she could take more than a few steps, she was dragged back. Weakened by the drink, her desperate struggles were futile. As the man pressed her down, playing with her like a toy, she closed her eyes in despair. She thought she could never face Jensen again. With a bitter laugh,
Adrien Tanner, Jensen's father, stood before Mia with a warm smile. "My son is truly awkward when it comes to matters of the heart. He's even willing to refuse such a beautiful young woman like you."Mia stared at him, her tears suddenly streaming down her face. "I only wanted to see him, even if it was to face rejection. Wouldn't it better to say it clearly to my face?""Yes, it would." Adrien agreed. "But standing here stubbornly won't help, because he left on a business trip a couple of days ago."Mia's heart ached even more, realizing that Jensen had avoided using the front door just to evade her.Adrien continued. "I have a way to make him come to you willingly, but it depends on whether you're willing to cooperate."Mia nodded. "What do I have to do?"Adrien motioned to his bodyguard, who handed him a glass of wine. "Drink this," he said.Mia furrowed her brow, hesitant.Adrien gently patted her shoulder, like a father would."Don't be afraid. I won't harm you. From the
Filled with guilt, Mia stepped forward, but Kohen suddenly pulled out a handgun and aimed it at her."Get out!"Jensen pulled Mia back. He looked at the cold man before him. It was this man who had taken him in years ago. At that time, Kohen was young, a carefree and privileged young man. Now, he seemed to have grown up all at once, his eyes colder and more distant.Jensen said with a troubled expression, "If you ever need me in the future, don't hesitate to find me."Kohen sneered coldly; pain etched in his brow. He mocked himself. "I never should have taken you in back then. In the end, it was I who harmed my own brother."Jensen pursed his lips, not knowing what to say, only feeling an unbearable pain in his heart. It was the first time he felt he owed someone. That sense of indebtedness suffocated him."Get out, and don't let me see you two ever again."On that night, Jensen and Mia left the McCray family. As a result of Hayes's ordeal, the McCray family underwent tremendous
"What on earth happened?"Jensen did not speak. Mia choked out. "The collaboration between the Burton family and the McCray family was a trap. We were ambushed by the Burton family, and Hayes... he was hit by a car trying to save us.""Damn it!" Kohen cursed under his breath, abruptly pulling a knife from a nearby bodyguard and pointing it at them. "What are your lives worth? Why would my brother save you? Why?"Mia bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. 'It's my fault. I wanted to save Jensen, but I should have gone alone. I shouldn't have dragged Hayes into this. He seemed cold-blooded and heartless, and I never thought that he would risk his life for me. Why was he so good to me?'"Kohen..."Suddenly, a weak cry rang out. Hayes had awakened.Kohen hurriedly moved closer, gripping Hayes's hand. "Bro!"Hayes's face was deathly pale. He did not look at Kohen, but instead turned his gaze to Mia. His eyes were calm. He saw Mia's red-rimmed eyes and the tears lingering there,
Hayes was sent flying by the car, his body crashing into a wall before bouncing back.Mia's entire body felt ice-cold as she trembled, yelling, "Hayes!""Kill them all!" A hoarse, aged voice suddenly rang out from the entrance. It was Curtis. He looked at Kendall's lifeless body on the ground, his eyes filled with rage, shouting, "Run them over! I want them to join my grandson in death!""Ah!" Jensen roared, disregarding the guards' swinging knives, and like a madman, charged at Curtis. Curtis's face changed, desperately pulling a nearby guard in front of him as a shield. But it was useless. Jensen, like a crazed beast, attacked anyone in his path. Soon, his knife was held against Curtis's throat.Curtis trembled all over. "Wh-What do you want?"Jensen, covered in blood with splatters on his face, looked like a demon that had emerged from a battleground. He grabbed Curtis and held him hostage in front of him. "Let us go!""Don't even think about it!" Curtis retorted angrily. "You