There was a sudden knock on the door.Adrien looked alarmed. "Come in."As the door opened, it was one of the Mullen family's maids standing in the doorway. "Mr. Tanner, may I ask if Mrs. Kooper is with you?"Adrien looked over at Kisa, who asked the maid, "Is there something I can do for you?""Miss Mullen would like to see you."Kisa was surprised that Vivian still wanted to see her, and that it was so soon. She nodded her head. "Okay, I'll be right over. You can go now.""Yes, Mrs. Kooper."After the maid left, Adrien smiled at her. "You seem to care about Vivian.""I can't help it. Both of were hurt by our beloved and are suffering miserably. We are in the same boat." Kisa chuckled. "It would be great if Kelvin could heal her. It would be worth it for the Mullen family to show me their hospitality.""By the way, Kisa, may I ask, why are you thinking of staying at the Mullen residence for a while?"Kisa pursed her lips, thinking, 'It seems that he has already begun to susp
The maid bowed her head slightly and said respectfully, "After Miss Mullen had a fight with you yesterday, she was afraid that you'd be angry and unwilling to see her, so she asked me to make sure you go over."Kisa nodded. "I'll go with you now." On the way downstairs, Kisa asked the maid casually, "How'd you know I was with Mr. Tanner?""Mr. Kooper told me," the maid replied.Kisa's heart skipped a beat. 'How did Gilbert know I was in Adrien's room? Had he overheard the conversation I had just had with Adrien?' she thought to herself, feeling a chill running up her spine. She felt helpless and had mixed emotions. 'Screw it. We will eventually come to this. When I'm done with Adrien, I will explain to him,' she said in her mind.Little did she know, however, that when the truth surfaced later, she would realize that she was the one who owed Gilbert the most in this world. At that time, all her explanations and confessions would be meaningless.In the room, Adrien puffed on his ci
Kisa pursed her lips, thinking that Kelvin was careless, not knowing that this full cup of tea differed from his half cup of tea. "You're still the best." She smiled at him.Kelvin was getting smug again. "Of course I am."She shot him an amused look, then looked over at Vivian, who was trying to lift her leg. The last time Kisa was here, Vivian had not been able to, but this time she managed to raise it a little, moving her feet slightly away from the wheelchair. The treatment had been very effective, and Vivian seemed to be ecstatic about it. Kisa looked at her excited face and was genuinely happy for her.After finishing his tea, Kelvin looked at his phone with a goofy smile on his face. Kisa could right away tell that he was talking to Gracie. She said to him, "Wait for me here. We'll go back to the main building together later, as I have something to tell you."Kelvin was puzzled. "What is it about?""I'll talk to you later. It's not a good time to talk right now."Seeing Ki
"At that time, his eyes were profound and resolute, like a bottomless sea I couldn't help but be lost in and addicted to. I've always been a soft-hearted person, so not only did I agree to his request, but I even begged my family not to tell anyone about his whereabouts. My father gave the order, and no one dared to disclose his whereabouts. Do you know for whom this small garden was first built?"Kisa was quietly shocked. 'It was for David, wasn't it? It seems the Mullen family treated him well.'Vivian seemed to have read her mind and laughed at herself. "It was for him. But at the time, I didn't know that his appearance in front of my car that night had actually been a long-planned plot. There's no denying that he really is charming. He appeared simple, but often subtly flirtatious. Any woman who spends some time with him will mostly fall in love with him."After his injury healed, he started to subtly show affection for me. I was already in love with him, so in less than six mon
"Of course," Vivian said with certainty. "For a while, I suspected that he was behind the rapid rise of the Tanner family. After all, I was one of the people in charge of The Mullen Group, and the shares and assets I transferred to him were enough for him to support a modest-sized family. But I went to the Tanner family and didn't see him. Instead, a young man politely told me he didn't know David, and that the reason for the Tanner family's rise was a successful venture with the Webb family, allowing them to grow so rapidly. Now that I think about it, wasn't that young man Adrien, Mr. Tanner?"Kisa frowned as a thought snapped through her mind. "When you saw Adrien, how long had it been since David left you?" she asked in a deep voice,"Two months."'Two months?' At this moment, Kisa could rule out Adrien having had plastic surgery, because even the most advanced plastic surgery technology could not make a person change a face in just two months. Besides, Kelvin had also confirmed
"Really? That would be great."Since she was sure that Adrien could not be David, she did not keep testing him. "Uncle Adrien, go check on Vivian. I'm going back now."Adrien nodded. "If you have any problems, talk to me. Don't act rashly next time. Okay?" He was talking about her attempt to kill Gilbert.Kisa nodded vigorously; her eyes determined. "I know, Uncle Adrien.""Go now and take care of yourself."Kisa nodded and turned to leave the garden. Adrien watched her go before turning his gaze.Seeing Kisa leave without saying telling him, Kelvin hurried after her. "Kisa! Kisa!" He trotted to catch up with her. "Didn't you just say that you wanted me to wait for you and we go back together, and that you had something to tell me?"Kisa did not respond but hurried toward the main building. Kelvin looked at her serious face and spontaneously quickened his pace to catch up.After passing the restricted zone, the main building would be visible up ahead. Kisa looked around to make
"Okay, I understand everything. You don't have to explain it to me for him."Kelvin got desperate. "You really misunderstood him. Be it the prison fire or the Jensen thing, you misunderstood him."Kisa nodded. "I know he didn't do any of those."Kelvin was stunned. "You know?"Kisa nodded. "That's why you don't have to say all that. I really understand everything."Kelvin glanced at her calm face skeptically. "If you understand, then why are you still so cold to him?"Kisa thought for a second and suddenly laughed. "We had a fight, just like you thought."Kelvin looked at her in bewilderment, somewhat confused by what she said.Kisa felt sleepy, so she drove him out. "'Don't be afraid if you have a nightmare at night. Just tell yourself in your mind that 'it is just a dream, just a dream'."Kelvin rolled his eyes, as there was no way he was not afraid. He was still anxious when he thought of that ghastly nightmare.Davian and Felicity were both drunk in Club Enigma, and the m
Kisa gasped for air, her vision clearing. She saw light coming in through the window. It was faint, not bright enough, barely illuminating the corner of the bed. She vaguely saw a man sitting in front of a low table. Her heart fluttered with joy, but when she looked closer, there was no one there. Gilbert had not returned for the night.She sat on her bed, hugging her knees, haunted by the nightmare she had just had. In the dream, a voice kept saying to her, "Kisa, you are going to get him killed eventually. You will get him killed." Then she saw Gilbert lying on the floor, covered in blood. She was shocked and jolted out of it. The moment she woke up, she was incredibly glad it was just a dream.She hugged her knees tightly, her eyes steady and steadfast. 'No matter what, I won't let Gilbert get hurt. Definitely not!'In a hotel, a woman helped Gilbert to the bed. He closed his eyes and frowned, as if he were uncomfortable. The woman was on top of him, stroking his face over and ov
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