Kisa kept silent with her lips pursed. She felt she had indeed hurt Gilbert badly this time. Now, she just hoped that he would listen to her explanation later."Kisa, what's in the restricted zone?" Kelvin suddenly asked her, his eyes full of impatient curiosity."We'll find out tomorrow when we go there. Go to sleep now. It will be tomorrow after a good night's sleep," Kisa said calmly.Kelvin looked up at the sky and sighed. "I really want to go to the restricted zone now. I bet everyone in the Mullen family will be sleepless tonight."Kisa rolled her eyes. "I think the only one who'll be sleepless is you. Go back to sleep quickly. I have to sleep too."Kelvin pouted. "I'm bored. It'd be nice if Gilbert was here." He walked out while talking.Kisa's mood dampened after hearing those words.'Yeah, how nice it would be if Gilbert was here.'She did not sleep well during the night. Perhaps because she had a fight with Gilbert and felt depressed, she had been having bad dreams fo
"What's the deal with you asking this? Weren't you the one who noticed there was something wrong with the tea and kept asking me to switch it with you? I don't dare to take a single sip of that tea at Vivian's place.""Nothing," Kisa shook her head, lost in thought. 'The person who's been trying to harm me is hiding in the shadows. Should I pretend to have those symptoms so I can fool them?'Kelvin eagerly waited for Mr. Mullen Sr. to take them to visit the restricted zone all morning, but Mr. Mullen Sr. never showed up. The other members of the Mullen family waited, going from being excited to bored.Kelvin leaned back in his chair, constantly yawning. Kisa glanced at him. "Why don't you go take a nap? When Mr. Mullen Sr. shows up and is ready to take us to visit, I'll wake you up."Kelvin shook his head, thinking, 'I already stayed up all night. What's waiting a little bit longer?'Seeing he was so tired but still determined, Kisa said nothing more and continued to look at her p
Mr. Mullen Sr. was leading the pack, with the rest of the Mullen family following behind. Kisa was bringing up the rear.Arthur slowed his pace on purpose to walk alongside Kisa. "Miss, I was right! Gramps just wants you to see the restricted zone. We're just tagging along because of you," he said with a cheeky grin.Kisa shot him a side-eye. "How do you know that?"Arthur nodded seriously. "I heard Gramps ask the maids where you were when he just got back. That's how I figured it out."Kisa frowned. "Really?" she whispered."Yep, for real. So, I think Gramps invited you for a special visit. But why would he do that for a stranger like you?" Arthur scratched his head in confusion.Kisa's mind was racing. 'Why would Mr. Mullen Sr. be so keen on showing me the restricted zone? Is he setting a trap for me? And if so, could he be the one behind the tea poisoning?'She tried calling Kelvin a few more times, but he still did not pick up. Kisa scowled as she looked toward the restricte
Back at Mr. Mullen Sr.'s birthday celebration, Kisa had caught a glimpse of a woman who looked exactly like Sara from the back. Despite Gilbert's insistence that the woman was just a friend of Vivian, Kisa knew Vivian did not have any friends. So, she suspected that the woman could be hiding in this restricted zone.While Kisa was deep in thought, Mr. Mullen Sr. chuckled and said, "What's with all the fuss? This land is vast, and the real special place is still ahead." He then turned to Mrs. Mullen Sr. and added, "No matter what my treasure is, your status as the lady of the Mullen family will never be shaken."Mrs. Mullen Sr. huffed and said nothing, while Mr. Mullen Sr. continued to lead the group forward, ignoring her."Wow, how beautiful!" someone suddenly cried out.Kisa looked up in surprise and gasped. Before her was an endless garden, exactly like the one in her nightmare. Chills ran down her spine.The Mullen family were all excitedly running into the garden, where they w
'Who was the woman with the cold, sinister laughter haunting me by the bedside, putting me into a hypnotic trance? It was Sara, wasn't it? If it is Mr. Mullen Sr., he has no reason to harm me. But if Sara is working with him, then who knows what's really going on? Maybe Sara asked Mr. Mullen Sr. to poison me with the tea, and to bring me to this creepy, restricted zone. And now, it seems like there are traps everywhere, all set up to get me.'As she thought about it more, fear began to grip her. She could not help but steal a glance at Mr. Mullen Sr., but his expression was as serious as ever. A shiver ran down her spine. Suddenly, she clutched her head and pretended to go mad, running wildly toward the garden."Aah... aah, a ghost! There's a ghost!"Because of her scream, the Mullen family were all stunned, staring at her with confusion. Only Mr. Mullen Sr. remained calm, steadily observing her. This only solidified Kisa's suspicion that the tea was Mr. Mullen Sr.'s doing, so she h
Carrie, taken aback by Kisa's intense gaze, yelled out in anger, "What the hell is with the creepy stare? Are you trying to give me a heart attack or something?""Shh, she's right behind you... long hair, no face, she is... right there... behind you," Kisa's eyes widened with fear, her expression so genuine it was almost as if she had actually seen a ghost.Carrie shuddered in fear, her scalp tingled with terror. "Aah..." she cried out, quickly scurrying behind Leon, pointing at Kisa and shouting, "You scared the crap out of me! What's wrong with you? This is the Mullen family, a respected household. We don't tolerate such childish pranks!""I'm not lying. I really saw her," Kisa replied, her voice sincere. Suddenly, she pointed at the sky. "Look, it is the moon! The cold, icy moon." Everyone looked up, but instead of the moon, they saw the setting sun.Mrs. Mullen Sr. quickly looked to Mr. Mullen Sr. "What do we do now?"Mr. Mullen Sr. remained cool and collected, offering a reas
If Kisa wanted to unravel the mysteries within this restricted zone. This was her one and only shot, so she could not afford to back down. 'The entire Mullen family is here, and Mr. Mullen Sr. wouldn't dare to take my life, would he? If I were to meet my end at the hands of the Mullen residence, they wouldn't be able to escape the consequences. Surely, Mr. Mullen Sr. isn't that foolish.'While she was in thoughts, Leon and Isaac appeared out of nowhere and clamped down on her arms, one on the left and one on the right.Kisa pretended to struggle frantically. "No, don't touch me... Oh my, that woman is here! She is here! Let go of me, quick!"Leon flustered and called out to Mr. Mullen Sr., "Dad, I think she is possessed. Let's call a doctor to take a look!"Mr. Mullen Sr. leaned on his cane, his expression calm. "From the looks of her, she hasn't even left this place yet, and she is already going crazy. This land is vast, and the terrain is complex. If she were to run away, I would
In the basement, the Mullen family was all shocked. 'This isn't just any basement, it's a palace!' they all thought."What a waste that such a beautiful place isn't used for living in," Carrie said regretfully.Mr. Mullen Sr. chuckled. "Who says no one lives here? I stay here occasionally."Carrie opened her mouth to voice her thoughts, but she hesitated. She wanted to say that as members of the Mullen family, they should all live in such a wonderful place together, instead of Mr. Mullen Sr. living here alone, only occasionally, wasting all this space. She glanced at the other members of the Mullen family, who were all gazing in amazement and regret, but no one dared to speak up about wanting to live here.While Mr. Mullen Sr. was not looking, Kisa quickly surveyed the area.The basement was huge. From the staircase, there was a massive hall, decorated in luxurious European style, with complete sets of furniture. The walls were adorned with famous paintings from around the world.
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