At that moment, Lea did not feel like struggling anymore. She wanted Anthony to just choke her to death.However, she changed her mind after remembering the baby inside her.She lifted her hand in pain and beat Anthony's arm.Her face was starting to turn purple because she could not breathe.Lea's felt like her heart sank to the bottom of freezing water when she saw the horrible look on that furious man's face.The man suddenly yelled and loosened his grip on Lea's neck when Lea thought that she was going to die in his hands.Lea immediately lie on the ground and started coughing violently while gasping for air.She coughed so hard, that her eyes became teary, and her stomach hurt.Anthony dragged her and threw her on the bed before she could even catch a break.She looked at the man, and Anthony was unbuttoning his shirt slowly.Lea was terrified and distressed as a flood of tears gushed down her cheeks.Then, she spoke in a brittle voice that sounded fearful and deary. At
That figure appeared in front of Kisa again and stood in her way.She backed off in fear. Then, she turned around and found out that the figure had not moved at all.The chilly atmosphere gradually surrounded Kisa and her scalp tingled.She stared at the two figures that looked exactly the same anxiously and asked in a shaky voice, "W-Who are you?"Neither of the figures responded to her.Instead, they started to get closer.The figures approached her from both sides.An identical figure would appear in front of her no matter which direction she ran in.In the end, she was surrounded by several figures.The longer Kisa looked at those women's' long hair and unearthly appearances, the more creeped out she felt.She folded her arms tightly around her body nervously. She turned around and shook her head desperately, begging them, "Don't come near me. Who are you? Get away from me..."The figures seemed like spirits looking for revenge as they approached her slowly.Suddenly, a
'Did this woman lose her memory or has she forgotten everything that happened since she's too tired?'Kisa was the one who had hugged him as if he was a bolster as soon as he came back and slept on the bed last night.Besides, she even opened her eyes drowsily and said, "You're back. I don't have to be scared now."However, Gilbert could not figure out why Kisa asked him such a question.'Did she experience a blackout, or did she mistake me for somebody else?'Ugh!' He suddenly felt angry at the thought.Gilbert pursed his lips and walked toward her.His face was stone-cold and his shirt was fully buttoned. It made him look harsh and indifferent."I came back around two last night and I woke up at seven this morning.""Oh..." Kisa nodded. She could not help but shiver after reminding herself of that nightmare she just had.She would have nightmares occasionally, but the one she just had was just too spine-chilling.Besides, she felt like something was pinning her down too. T
Gilbert looked at the mirror subconsciously and found out that there was a huge "DIE" written in red on the mirror.At first glance, it looked like it had been written in blood.Kisa was so scared, that her face turned pale.She took off her clothes and went to take a shower as soon as she got inside just now and did not notice what was on the mirror at all.Her scalp tingled after she noticed it.'Turns out I wasn't imagining things when I struggled and heard somebody laughing creepily beside me.'It was real that somebody came into my room and wrote that on the mirror in the bathroom.'Who is that person?What have I done to them?Why are they doing this?'Gilbert patted her back reassuringly and said in a low voice, "Wait outside. I'll have a look at it."Kisa nodded uneasily. Then, she turned around and left the bathroom.She had not yet gotten over the nightmare she just had, yet she saw the horrifying word in the mirror. Her limbs felt cold from fear.She went back t
Gilbert did not feel like explaining himself any further after seeing Kisa's emotionless face.'Whatever. I can't control what she thinks. It's not the first time she's acted like this anyway.'He did not wipe the word off the mirror because he wanted the Mullens to see it.All the Mullens gathered at the living during noontime.The sons of Mr. Mullen Sr. and their wives stood at different sides.Arthur and Jane stood behind Mr. and Mrs. Mullen Sr.All of their faces looked very serious, and the atmosphere felt extremely tense.Carrie was the one who spoke first as she smiled at Kisa pretentiously. "Mrs. Kooper, did you offend somebody recently, so they're coming after you?"Gilbert sat on the sofa while hugging Kisa.He looked relaxed as he spoke in a scornful manner, "Are you saying that even though the Mullen residence is huge, the security system here is crappy? Any person could get in here in broad daylight, and I can't even imagine what would happen at night. I guess som
"No... Don't say that. It's impossible for Anthony to do that. He just came back this morning, and how would he have the time to do it?"Kisa stared at Anthony.'Is it true that he only came back this morning? I have no idea if spent the night with Lea. What did he do to her?'"Heh heh. Jane, you should just stop defending him. I'm sure Mrs. Kooper looked at him because she thinks that he's the one who did it." Carrie smiled coldly.Lydia said, "It's got to be him. After all, none of us have a problem with Mrs. Kooper. There's no reason for us to do that."Kisa looked away from him and said flatly, "It's not him."Everybody was shocked by what Kisa said.Anthony looked at her confusedly.Kisa did not say that because she was trying to get Anthony out of trouble, but she really thought that he wasn't the culprit.Anthony was a ruthless person, and he would never pull such a harmless prank on her if he had really wanted to hurt her.And it just could not be the other people in
"You spent the entire night yesterday outside because of that cheap woman. Didn't you remember that it was my birthday?"Mr. Mullen Sr. was clearly mad.Anthony bowed his head down. He stood there without saying anything.Jane quickly tried to defend him, "You're misunderstanding him. He wasn't with any cheap woman at all last night. He had something important to take care of."Mr. Mullen Sr. scoffed and ignored Jane as he stared at Anthony with his sharp eyes.Anthony clenched his fists tightly. Then, he looked at Mr. Mullen Sr. and said, "Dad, why would I even want to be with a woman like that? I have no idea why all of you are so worried. I'm just playing with her."Kisa squinted angrily.'I knew that Lea fell in love with the wrong man.'However, Lea just can't leave this man no matter what. I don't even know what I can do anymore to convince that silly woman.'"David, where are you?! David..."Kisa heard somebody yelling loudly from the yard when she was still thinking t
The looks on Mr. and Mrs. Mullen Sr.'s faces were stone-cold. Vivian had utterly quieted down, and Mrs. Mullen Sr. asked for someone to send her to the guest house in the backyard.Seeing the elderly couple sitting on the sofa, Kisa hurriedly pulled Gilbert over. 'I can't ask Vivian about David since she's a little cuckoo. So, I have to get something out of these two. Though, I can't be too blunt; I'll just have Gilbert do it. I mean, it makes sense for him to ask since David is his uncle... But, I still have to find a way to bring up the topic,' Kisa thought."Mr. Mullen Sr., is the David that Ms. Mullen mentioned...""Yes. She's talking about the eldest son of the Kooper family, David Kooper," Mrs. Mullen said coldly before Kisa finished her question while looking at Gilbert with a hostile gaze.Gilbert instantly frowned when he heard that. "What kind of vendetta does Ms. Mullen have with my uncle? As far as I know, my uncle had always been in Calthon or abroad. He never lingered
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