When Carrie was proudly showing the photos and everyone was mocking Anthony, Kisa suddenly said, "My, my, Mrs. Mullen. You took pictures? Isn't that too obvious? Are you afraid that people wouldn't know that you've been trying to harm your brother-in-law?" Kisa had roughly sorted out who they were as she watched everything unfold. 'That old lady must be Mrs. Mullen Sr., and everyone is afraid of her. Carrie must be her second daughter-in-law, the wife of her second son.' Kisa even wondered if Mrs. Mullen Sr.'s second son was her own, judging by how she treated his wife. 'As for Jane, she should be Anthony's mother. The dynamic between the Mullen family members feels chaotic,' she thought.Carrie's face suddenly changed when she heard what Kisa had said. "That's outrageous. It just so happened that I took the photo. It wasn't intentional.""The photo you 'unintentionally' took looks somewhat intentional, though. Look, everything in the photo is blurry except for Anthony and my friend.
Mrs. Mullen. Sr. opened the letter and met Kisa's well-mannered gaze. However, there was still a hint of contempt. She closed the invitation and returned it to her as she said, "That old man did invite you. It looks like you aren't just some artist."Kisa smiled at her politely and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Mullen Sr. I came here from Athadale to celebrate Mr. Mullen Sr.'s birthday. I brought my friend here to enjoy the banquet, but I did not expect to be treated like this by the Mullen family.""Hah. Ms. Reyes is not from our family. Don't put the blame on us if she's the one who offended you and your friend. The Mullen family is the most respected family in Athadale.""What about her?" Kisa pointed at Carrie and asked. "She was the one who didn't want to let my friend go.""It's all just a misunderstanding, isn't it? She thought your friend was a bar girl. Now that I think about it, that's impossible. I mean, how could a big star like you befriend a bar girl?" There was a hint of sa
"Well, just now. I found my necklace in her purse. She's a thief!" Karen impatiently said."That means you didn't see her steal from you, right?" Kisa replied."I told you. My necklace was found in her purse. Isn't that enough to show that she is a thief?"Kisa nodded with a smile and answered, "So, according to you, whoever has the necklace in their bag is a thief?""Isn't that how it works?" Karen snorted coldly. Kisa smiled and looked at the floor. There were two bags on the ground. Looking at the material and color of the purses, it was immediately recognizable that the bright red bag belonged to Karen. On the other hand, Lea's bag was in a simple and plain white design.Kisa picked up the red purse, and Karen instantly frowned. She rushed over and said, "What are you doing?"When Karen came to snatch her bag away, Kisa secretly unclasped her bracelet and slipped it into Karen's purse while no one was paying attention. Karen patted her purse in distaste as if her bag had beco
As soon as she finished speaking, Kisa pulled out a shiny diamond bracelet from Karen's purse. Suddenly, Karen's expression changed. "Impossible. That's impossible.""Impossible, you say? Everyone saw me pull it out from your bag," Kisa sneered and threw the purse back to her.It was as if Karen had thought of something when she said, "Y-You must have deliberately planted it in my bag when you picked it up earlier.""What proof do you have?" Kisa looked at her and sneered, "You're the one who said that whoever has it in their bag is a thief, remember?""You're framing me!""Ha-ha. How could I ever dare to frame the dignified daughter of the Reyes family? I'm just trying to prove to everyone that if my friend's a thief, then so are you.""You!" Karen's face was contorted with anger. Carrie then took the opportunity and said, "You are clearly framing Ms. Reyes. Everyone knows how reputable the Reyes family is in Athadale. She has such a good family background. How could she be a th
Anthony narrowed his eyes instantly, and there was a frightening gloomy look in his eyes. Slap! At that moment, a crisp sound of a slap sounded. Kisa was startled. She quickly pulled Lea away and shouted, "What are you doing?! How dare you hit her in front of all these people?!"Karen glared at Lea like she was going crazy. Kisa was baffled. 'I didn't expect her to do anything to Lea again after she had calmed down, especially right in front of Mrs. Mullen Sr. I was paying attention to Carrie and Anthony when she suddenly slapped Lea across the face. Maybe she was thinking of something that angered her, which caused the fire in her heart to burn."Karen pointed her finger at Lea and cursed, "I want this b*tch dead! What qualifications does she have to take a photo with Anthony?! How could a cheap and lowly woman like her participate in such a grand event with the Mullen family? I lost face because of her. I want her dead!"Karen roared frantically and rushed toward Lea. Kisa was abo
With a little effort from the mysterious arms around her waist, Kisa's body avoided the fall. Before she could react, her whole being fell into a firm and familiar embrace. She quickly turned her head and saw that it was Gilbert.After Karen had pushed Kisa away, she continued to sit on Lea's body and hit her. Kisa hurriedly grabbed Gilbert's arm and said, "Save Lea. Help me save Lea."Gilbert's eyes darkened. He rushed over in a few steps, lifted Karen up, and tossed her out without any mercy. Everyone was stunned when they saw that. Mrs. Mullen Sr. frowned and stared at Gilbert. Her gaze was full of questions.Karen fell to the ground in embarrassment. She got up and yelled, "Who the hell are you?! Is the Mullen residence a supermarket where everyone can just come and go?""Are you blind? Do you not recognize the CEO of GK Pictures, Mr. Kooper?" Davian ran to Mrs. Mullen Sr. and gave her a cold sneer. Karen was stunned. She looked at Gilbert in shock and said, "Y-You're Mr. Koope
'Although Karen was arrogant and domineering, the Reyes family was well-known in Athadale. If Anthony marries her, it will be a great help to his future. His status in the Mullen family would also be much more stable,' Jane thought. She then put on a smile and tried to flatter Gilbert by saying, "Forget it. It was just a minor argument. Ms. Reyes knows that she is in the wrong. Please forgive her, Mr. Kooper."As soon as Jane stood up for Karen, Kisa's heart surged with anger. She held Lea, who was covered in bruises, in her arms and sneered, "A minor argument? If I hadn't rushed over in time, my friend would've been dead in the hands of that evil woman. I don't care what happened; I want her to kneel before my friend and apologize!""How dare... you." Karen instantly yelled at Kisa angrily. However, her tone became much softer when she saw Gilbert's gloomy face. Jane pulled her back. She smiled at Kisa and said, "It's all just a misunderstanding. She thought your friend was a thief.
Karen was not happy. "Aunty..."The old lady's face darkened. "What? Do you want him to bring your family down? You probably don't know it yet, but the Kooper family is extremely powerful. Trust me; you'll regret it if you don't apologize this instant."Karen had never apologized to anyone before in her life. She put her hands together and looked at Anthony as if she was asking for help. But, he ignored her. Jane then whispered, "It's okay, Karen. Just apologize to them. It's just two words.""Aunty Jane...""Be good. Go and apologize. Otherwise, things would be difficult for you and Anthony if you don't make peace with them.""Okay," Karen nodded and walked up to Kisa and Lea. "I'm Sorry," she snorted at Kisa.Kisa pursed her lips and sneered, "That's what you call an apology? Also, apologize to my friend, not me."Karen glared at her coldly and looked at Lea. Her eyes were full of contempt as she reluctantly said, "I'm sorry.""Louder!" Kisa snorted.Karen gritted her teeth
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