"Do you know a man named David?" Kisa asked."David?""He used to be the eldest son of the Kooper family, Gilbert's uncle. Gilbert's dying to meet him, and I found out that he came to your house over twenty years ago. So, do you know him?" Kisa explained eagerly.Thomas' smile was warm and genuine, his expression lacking any trace of pretense. "Sorry, I don't have any impression of that name. I've lived here my whole life without ever seeing a man named David come to our house."Just then, Gilbert walked in. Thomas welcomed him, saying, "You've just gotten off the plane. Get some rest and let me know if you want to go anywhere tomorrow."As Thomas left, Gilbert closed the door and said nonchalantly, "If you could figure things that out that easily, then my uncle's whereabouts wouldn't remain such a mystery."Gilbert sauntered over to the desk, his gaze lingering on the steaming dessert. He then picked it up and took a sip, and Kisa was surprised. "I thought you didn't like that k
"Adrien, you know him, right?" Kisa asked.Thomas' eyes sparkled with recognition. "Uncle Adrien, of course I know him. The Tanner family and ours go way back. My dad would take me and Peter to visit him all the time.""Really? Well, he is my godfather."Thomas was taken aback. "What a coincidence! But you know what, Uncle Adrien never agrees to be a godfather. When my dad asked him to be ours, he refused. He must be pretty special to you.""Maybe he just loves daughters," Kisa said nonchalantly. "So, what do you say we pay the Tanner family a visit today?""The Tanner family?" Thomas hesitated. "Uncle Adrien isn't in Oceanville right now, and the only person at home is Mrs. Tanner Sr. She's 80 years old and doesn't even recognize her own shadow. It might be a waste of time.""Come on, let's just go and visit her. I came all this way, and I want to see my godfather's home."Thomas shrugged. "Alright then."The Tanner residence was just a short half-hour drive away from the Webb
As Adrien walked away to answer his phone, Mrs. Tanner Sr. grabbed Kisa's hand and said urgently, "Molly, don't leave Adrien. His sudden change of character must be due to some sort of trauma. Please don't blame him."Kisa's eyes sparkled as she responded in a low voice, "He's becoming someone I don't even recognize anymore. It's like he's a completely different person.""Yes, I know. But he truly loves you. He's just afraid of being looked down upon by your family, so he works hard to make a name for himself, sometimes neglecting you in the process. Don't blame him. He is just so in love with you and wants to make something of himself. He is not only distant with you, but with me as well. He used to be so close to me, so filial, but now it is like he is a stranger. He must be under a lot of work pressure. Molly, please don't blame him, okay?"Kisa nodded. "I won't blame him, Mrs. Tanner Sr. Don't worry, I won't blame him."Mrs. Tanner Sr. had said too much, and her spirits seemed
"Where are you?" Gilbert asked."I'm with Thomas at the moment—" Before Kisa could finish her sentence, a flurry of urgent footsteps interrupted her. Startled, she quickly hung up the phone and darted behind a nearby tree trunk. Suddenly, Harry and a few bodyguards came running in her direction. Harry looked around frantically before fixing his gaze on a particular spot on the ground."You cry every damn day for years, never giving it a rest, as if you're afraid people will forget you exist, right?" Harry snarled, stomping on the ground and barking orders to his men. "Get her some food later so she doesn't keep making a fuss.""Yes, Harry," they replied obediently.Once the men left, Kisa carefully inspected the spot where Harry had stomped and discovered a hidden lock within the grass. The grass around the lock seemed to be slightly loosened, so she lifted it, revealing a hidden iron door beneath it. The sobbing sound from earlier had come from behind that door.'Who's trapped in
"Did he really just fall out of love?" she wondered, but her gut told her something else."Mrs. Tanner Sr. said he changed completely after he struck it rich, but my father says otherwise." Thomas shook his head in response."Maybe his feelings just changed," Kisa mused, though she still had her doubts about Adrien.'It's not impossible for a man to ditch his girlfriend once he becomes wealthy. But even his own mother says he has changed, and that's odd. What if he isn't even Adrien to begin with?'The thought made her shudder, and she hugged herself tightly. It felt like she was on the brink of a significant discovery, but the more she thought, the more her mind spun.As Kisa returned to the Webb residence, she sensed a tense atmosphere in the living room. Before she could get a closer look, Mr. Webb Sr. approached her. "Mrs. Kooper, you're finally back. Mr. Kooper was worried sick."Just then, Kisa saw Gilbert sitting on the couch. His face had darkened, his aura was menacing.
Kisa frantically dug through her bag and pulled out her phone, only to find a barrage of missed calls. She had silenced it earlier and forgot to turn the ringer back on."Kisa, haven't I told you to give me a heads up before gallivanting off? If you weren't carrying my child, I wouldn't care about your well-being. You want to be a loose cannon, go ahead. Once the baby is born, you can go wherever you please and do whatever you damn well want. I won't bat an eyelash!" Gilbert barked."That's not what happened." Gilbert was livid, and Kisa could not figure out why. She quickly took hold of his arm and explained, "I didn't go anywhere today except for Adrien's house. Thomas was super nice to me and made sure I was okay the whole time. You really don't need to worry.""But this is Oceanville, not Calthon. You're off doing God knows what, ignoring my calls. How can I guarantee the safety of my child? Kisa, if something happens to my child, you'll be the one held accountable."Gilbert's
It was dinner time, but Thomas was nowhere to be found. Kisa headed to the kitchen to arrange some grub for him, only to find that the servants had already prepared two portions of food.Kisa flashed a smile at one of the servants and said, "I will take one of them to Thomas."The servant looked at her awkwardly and said, "These are for Peter."Kisa was confused. "Hold up! Isn't this two servings? Is he seriously about to eat two identical meals all by himself?""There's more to it than just Peter," the servant said eagerly, but the older servant cut her off with a quick nudge to the arm."Mrs. Kooper, Peter has been eating like a horse lately. He can finish two servings of food no problem!" exclaimed the older servant."Are you thinking of sending some food over to Thomas? I can cook it up for you right now."With a quick nod to the other servant, she motioned for her to take the dishes away.Kisa furrowed her brows, deep in thought. 'Has Peter been eating well recently? If th
Thomas was taken aback for a moment.Kisa quickly explained, "Don't get me wrong, Peter just said... he said that you both have an identical birthmark on your chest. So, I was curious." Her voice grew softer and softer toward the end of the sentence.Seeing Thomas remain skeptical, she said, "Actually, my mother also has a birthmark in the same spot. And I have an older brother who has never been seen. When I saw Peter's birthmark, I thought he might be my long-lost brother. But he said you have the same birthmark, so I wanted to take a look."After a moment of hesitation, Thomas smiled and said, "Oh, I see. No problem, let me show you."He unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the blood-red birthmark on his chest. It was identical to Peter's and just like the one Kisa remembered on her mother.'But how could this be? Does the birthmark really mean nothing?' she wondered.Thomas stared at Kisa's stunned expression for a moment before chuckling and asking, "Mrs. Kooper, are you looking f
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