Gilbert looked at the pentagram without a flicker of emotion, his expression revealing a hint of apathy and disdain. Davian did not know what he meant and just asked, "Mr. Kooper, do you want to see it? I can open it for you."Gilbert remained silent, only taking out a cigarette and lighting it, his chilling gaze fixed on the pentagram. Davian felt uneasy, thinking that Gilbert did not want to see the thing, and said, "If you don't want to see it, I'll just throw it away. If it was an urgent matter, she'd surely call you instead of leaving a note.""Give it to me."Just as he was about to throw the pentagram into the trash can, Gilbert suddenly let out a low, soft hum. Davian was startled and quickly handed the pentagram to him.Gilbert looked at the pentagram, with a sneer on his lips. With his slender fingers, he quickly opened the pentagram, revealing the elegant handwriting that caught his eye.[It's getting cold. Remember to wear more clothes. Come back to the Kooper residenc
As she was falling to the ground, a strong arm quickly lifted her up. Kisa looked up and met Gilbert's cold and indifferent face and unchanging eyes. She quickly forced a smile and said, "Thank you."Gilbert let go of her and stepped back, straightening his sleeves, his voice chilly. "If you drop my child; I'll make you pay for it."Kisa just smiled at him and said, "Are you staying home today?"Gilbert gave her a sideways glance and ignored her, walking back into the house. Soon, the voices of Andrew and Ada came from inside."Daddy, didn't you say you were going out to find mommy? Why did you come back?"Kisa smiled and followed them, surprised that Gilbert was planning to come and find her.That night, in the study, Gilbert stared at the safe in the cabinet, a sneer appearing on his lips.'She wants GK so badly? Fine, if she asks for it, I'll give it to her. Is she doing it secretly because she's afraid I'd be reluctant to let go?' He opened his eyes, which had regained their
As Kisa reached for the tie on Gilbert's sleeping robe, he instantly grabbed her delicate wrist with an iron grip. Perplexed, Kisa looked up and met his cold, sneering gaze. "Isn't this what you wanted?" she asked, confused."I do want it, but I don't like coercion. Your pathetic attempt at forcing it makes me sick," Gilbert retorted.Kisa's body tensed up, a sharp pain stabbing at her heart. She bit her lip and remained silent, fearing that speaking up would cause her emotions to spill over.Gilbert broke away from her grasp and strode toward the window, throwing it open and lighting a cigarette with a sharp inhale. He seemed to be releasing some pent-up frustration through his smoking.Meanwhile, Kisa buried herself under the covers, fighting against her swirling thoughts. 'Once Adrien's affairs are settled, he'll understand my true intentions.'After smoking three cigarettes at the window, Gilbert finally returned to bed. Perhaps because of the wind, the smell of cigarette smok
Gilbert was propped up in bed, stirring awake with a cigarette in hand. His profile was as cold and forbidding as an icy cliff, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who dared to look at him. Kisa tried to steady herself and flashed him a smile. "What brings you to the land of the living?" she asked. Thank goodness she had stowed away the copies in the car, or else she would be in hot water.Gilbert shot her a quick glance and asked, "Why are you up at this hour?""Nothing much, just parched. I had to quench my thirst with some water," Kisa replied, but Gilbert remained expressionless. He blew smoke rings and focused his gaze on the fluttering curtains, lost in thought.Kisa marched up to him, snuffed out his smoke, and huffed, "You smoke like a chimney day and night. You're killing your lungs."Gilbert suddenly turned his intense gaze on her, his eyes piercing and icy. "Do you want GK?" he whispered, sounding almost tender.Kisa's heart skipped a beat. She crawled under the co
The two of them burst out laughing as they walked out together.Kisa's expression was neutral as she sat down next to Adrien. "Hey, Uncle Adrien, is there something you need from me?""I just wanted to check in and see if you've managed to get your hands on any information about GK. That way, I can help you come up with a revenge plan against Gilbert."Adrien handed her a cocktail, but Kisa pushed it away with a smile."Sorry, it's that time of the month. Can you get me a glass of water instead, godfather?"The term "godfather" melted Adrien's heart, and he quickly obliged.Kisa leaned back on the couch and got down to business. "I stole a ton of confidential files from GK."Adrien raised an eyebrow. "Where are they?""I gave them to Risen Enterprise. They are GK's sworn enemies, so it makes sense to let them take care of business. Gilbert won't suspect us, and I won't drag you down either. Plus, if Risen Enterprise can take over GK, it will be a sweet victory for Jensen, who c
Gilbert stared at her, his face dark and brooding. "Looks like you never listened to a word I said, or maybe what I say just never mattered to you," he said with a scowl.Kisa blinked innocently, as Madalyn looked on with a smug smirk.As Gilbert finished his breakfast, he wiped his mouth and spoke slowly, "Since you don't want to go to Oceanville—""Oh, I remember now! You're taking me to Oceanville today!" Kisa suddenly exclaimed, realizing her mistake. She quickly turned and rushed upstairs to pack her things.Madalyn's face turned red with anger. "Slow down, if you hurt my precious great-grandchild, I'll make sure you regret it," she snarled at Kisa, who ignored her and hurried up the stairs.Turning to Gilbert, Madalyn sneered. "I don't know what you were thinking, bringing that deadweight with you on your business trip.""Grandma, have you heard any news about Uncle David?" Gilbert asked, looking in the direction of the stairs.Madalyn was taken aback. "Why are you asking
Kelvin shrunk his neck and shut up obediently.Gilbert took the suitcase from Davian's hand and said to Kisa in a flat voice, "It's time to board. Let's go."Without waiting for her response, he dragged the suitcase and walked away.Kisa glanced at his back and turned to Kelvin. "Take good care of Gracie. I'll go check on her when I come back.""Mhm, have fun in Oceanville." Kelvin watched the retreating figures and suddenly exclaimed, "Thinking back now, Kisa had it rough. We were biased against her after all.""Hiss! Mr. Hoover, what are you doing? Are you getting sentimental since you're about to become a dad?""Get lost, you don't even have a girlfriend. You don't understand anything.""I have a girlfriend. I have Felicity, even though she hasn't talked to me in days. She's definitely just busy."Kelvin was speechless.Kisa almost ran to catch up with Gilbert. He walked too fast with his long legs and the distance between them widened again before she could catch her breat
'Could it be for me?' That thought vanished without a trace as soon as she recalled the icy, mocking expression on his face just now. 'He has deep resentment toward me now, so how could it possibly be for me?'Davian hung up the phone, feeling frustrated. "Lately, I don't know what's been going on in Mr. Kooper's head, but it seems like he doesn't want GK anymore."Kelvin raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?""Risen Enterprise has been stealing all our business lately, and they're even getting their hands on GK's confidential information. They're always one step ahead of us, and they even swooped in and stole that land we were eyeing. And to top it off, our data systems got hacked. It's obvious someone's out to get us, but Mr. Kooper insists on going to Oceanville instead of staying and fixing the mess here."Kelvin furrowed his brow and took a drag of his cigarette. "Could it be because of Kisa? After all, she has always wanted to go to Oceanville.""I have no idea, but Mr. Koope
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