"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
"I might not be able to find it, but Kelvin can definitely get to the bottom of this," Gilbert said.Kisa's heart raced, and she pulled out her phone to call Kelvin.Kelvin was a big shot in the medical world, and sure enough, the investigation results were in the very next afternoon.'No way! Mrs. Webb Sr. didn't have twins at all. She only had one kid. So why on earth did Thomas tell me he and Peter were twins? Or maybe Thomas was bamboozled too? And this con has been going on for thirty years! What the heck was the goal of the person who cooked up this scheme?'As Kisa pored over the info, Gilbert suddenly piped up, "So, your visit to Oceanville wasn't just to see my uncle, was it? You're also on the hunt for your brother, and you think he might be one of the Webb brothers, am I right?""Yep, they have got the same birthmark as my mom," Kisa confirmed."Speaking of that birthmark, doesn't it strike you as kind of fishy?" Gilbert chuckled."What do you mean?" Kisa eyed him sus
In the Webb family's study, Mr. Webb Sr. gazed at a bracelet on his desk, his lips pursed in silence.Thomas looked at him, his face full of self-deprecation. "I've never understood why you treat me and Peter so differently. I used to comfort myself that maybe it was because I'm the eldest son, so you were overly strict with me. But now I understand that you hate me, you're incredibly harsh on me not to toughen me up, but because I'm not one of the Webb family's children."Mr. Webb Sr. puffed on his cigar, looking at him. "Who has been filling your head with this nonsense?""No one has been filling my head with anything." Thomas replied, his emotions rising. "Kisa has been searching for her brother who has a blood-red birthmark on his chest and a bracelet. So please explain, what's the deal with the birthmark on my chest and this bracelet?"Mr. Webb Sr. exhaled a smoke ring slowly. "Don't forget that Peter also has a birthmark on his chest and a bracelet like this.""But Peter cou
Mr. Webb Sr. tightly gripped his son's arm and urgently said, "It's not like that. I'm just helping Peter because of a debt I owe. In my heart, you're the only son I have, my own flesh and blood."Outside, the snowflakes were gently falling, covering the Oceanville landscape in a blanket of white. Peter silently chuckled to himself and turned, his long shadow following him as he walked down the corridor. Suddenly, he felt like he was a joke, an outcast, an unworthy fool.Meanwhile, Kisa could not sleep and decided to look out the window. Instead, she saw Peter standing alone in the snow. Ever since the first day she met the Webb family, she had sensed that there was something off about Peter.Seeing him stand there motionless, Kisa furrowed her brow and grabbed her coat from the chair. But just as she was about to leave, Gilbert's cold voice stopped her in her tracks."What are you doing up at this hour?" Gilbert snapped."You go back to sleep. I'm going downstairs for a bit. I'll
As she thought about it, she remembered the day the servant had prepared two identical meals for Peter. A sudden suspicion crept up on her.'Could there be someone else in Peter's room?'Her eyes narrowed as she walked up to the door and tried to turn the knob, but it would not budge.She pursed her lips and then whispered into the room, "Jolina, is that you?"But there was no answer. She wondered if she was being too suspicious. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the sound of breaking dishes coming from inside the room. Her heart sank.'Could Jolina really be locked up in there?'Kisa's eyes darted toward the lock, and then she spun around and bolted down the stairs. She burst into the room to find Gilbert coolly smoking by the window. She did not waste any time explaining the situation to him and started rummaging through her things for wire or anything that could help her pick the lock."I suspect Jolina is locked upstairs. I'm going up to pick the lock and see. You ge
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