A panic look flashed across Howard's face.He stared at the ripples forming on the water. Yet, he had no intention to go over and save Kisa.After staring at it for a while, he burst into laughter, "Well done! Haha, well done! All of you deserve to die!"Then, he quickly got on his motorcycle and rode off like a scaredy cat.At the Kooper residence--Sharon was kneeling outside at the yard, crying her lungs out."Gilbert, please let me explain. I did not do anything to harm you and GK. Why would I destroy something which we've built together?"Don't be fooled by Kisa. She has always been cunning. She must have forged that video to frame me."Gilbert…"Gilbert stood at the windowpane and looked at her coldly. His face was expressionless.After the press conference, the newspapers were distributed quickly.Davian brought over the latest paper."Mr. Kooper, this is great! The media has stopped talking about you and GK. In fact, they're condemning Howard and Sharon. Anthony's r
Sharon held a wide smile on her face after crying for a while. But all of a sudden, she began shouting, "Kisa, what happened to you? Why are you soaking wet?"As Sharon was speaking, she hurried over to help Kisa.Kisa swept off her hand in disgust and questioned Gilbert, "She planned all these things and committed a huge sin. And yet, you're going to forgive her just like that?""So what? Didn't you make a huge mistake last time? I did not do anything to you either."'Did not do anything?'Kisa was laughing internally, but her eyes were brimming in tears.It was not that he did not do anything bad to her. She could survive till this day because of her luck.She dragged her wretched body and walked up to him step by step."Because of this news, you argued with me. Every second you were finding fault with me. Now that the truth is out, you could forgive her easily and did not even scold her once. Gilbert—"Kisa stared at him with tears rolling down. With trembling lips, she ask
After Kisa read through all the reports in the newspaper, she began to frown and worry.Although the media had stopped discussing about Gilbert and GK, Howard's reputation has been destroyed entirely. As for Sharon, she was not impacted at all.According to the news, Howard was ill-intended, so he was permanently banned from the entertainment industry. Even in public, strangers would tell him off frequently.Sharon was forgiven after she made a public apology. Therefore, she still maintained her status and fame.The huge difference drove Howard crazy.The media had also reported that Howard hurt Sharon in public as he held a grudge toward her on this matter. He became a wanted criminal after he was on the run.Kisa began to worry.Even the worm will turn. Now that Howard has lost everything, he would most definitely take his revenge on her.Kisa felt uneasy whenever she thought of the other day when Howard acted like a psychopath.Luckily for her, she knew how to swim. She hel
Initially, Kelvin was shocked when she asked that question. He stared at her while looking confused, "Are you planning to play some tricks?""If I was planning a trick, do you think I'd ask you over?"Kelvin tried to believe her since she was serious about it."Of course, I know the actual situation about Madalyn's injury. But how are we going to dig out the truth?""I already have a suspect in mind, I need your help to put on a show tomorrow."Kelvin scratched his head, "You're not trying to frame me, right? Why else would you ask me for help instead of Gilbert?"Kisa scoffed, "Do you think he'd want to help me? He will only be generous and kind to others. He despises me. If I were to ask him, I'd be digging my own grave."He pursed his lips, "Okay then. But if you lied to me, I'll definitely bring you down."Kisa's heart dropped and she pitied herself.'Do these people really think that lowly of me to always assume that I'm lying to them?'The next afternoon, Gilbert rushed
Everyone except Kisa started eating. Suddenly, Sharon made a dejected expression, "Why aren't you eating, Kisa? Do you not like my cooking? If you don't like these dishes, I could make you something else.""It's fine, " Kisa responded coolly.Then, Kisa started eating the dishes that Sharon had eaten.'Even if Sharon did something to the dishes today, I should be fine as long as I only eat the ones she's already eaten,' Kisa thought.She proceeded to take more of the dishes that Sharon had eaten.Out of nowhere, Sharon took out a bottle of red wine."Gilbert, Mrs. Kooper Sr. regaining consciousness is good news. Shall we have a drink to celebrate?""Whatever you like," said Gilbert.It was hard for Kisa to tell if the reason he gave such a response was that he felt happy, or that he liked Sharon.Kisa watched as Gilbert went along with Sharon's wishes throughout the entire meal; she felt suffocated and awful. She also had to pick at her food carefully for the entirety of the
Sharon smiled, "No, I should be thanking you for accepting my drink."Then, she downed the entire glass.After seeing how she boldly downed the glass, Kisa was certain Sharon's own drink was fine.Kisa took a few sips of her drink to avoid Sharon's suspicion. Then, she waited until everyone was busy talking and went to the washroom.When Kisa got to the washroom, she spat the liquid she had kept under her tongue into the basin. She proceeded to turn on the faucet and kept the water running. Kisa waited until no trace of the drink could be seen; then, she left the washroom. The moment she walked out of the washroom, she ran into Sharon.'How attentive,' Kisa thought sarcastically.Just as they walked past each other, Sharon turned to Kisa and smiled, "I can't wait for Mrs. Kooper Sr. to regain consciousness. How about you, Kisa?""Same," Kisa said coolly. Then, she returned to her seat.Kelvin was a foodie, so he did not care if Sharon had done anything to their meal and
Kelvin wiped away the water on his face.He turned to her, startled, "How did I fall asleep? And how was I sleeping so deeply?""What else? Sharon put something in the dishes earlier," Kisa said.Then, she hurriedly dragged him out of bed.'I wonder what Sharon is doing in Mrs. Kooper Sr.'s room. Even though Davian is hiding in there, I'm still feeling anxious. I need to access the security footage as soon as possible,' she thought."Why do you seem fine?""That's because I didn't swallow my drink. I quietly went to the washroom to spit it out."Kelvin was doubtful.'While I did agree to cooperate with Kisa to test Sharon tonight, I won't trust her until the truth is revealed,' he thought.Since the two were worried that they would alert Sharon, they quietly went to the study."Why didn't you wake Gilbert up?"Kelvin asked why switching on the computer.Kisa sneered, "He wouldn't believe me. Even if he did, he would never cooperate with me to test Sharon. Waking him up woul
Davian was laying in the cupboard, unconscious.Kisa was stunned.'Did Sharon know about Davian from the very start? Was Sharon alone strong enough to knock out Davian? Moreover, Sharon's goal is to murder Mrs. Kooper Sr. and frame me. If Sharon did knock Davian out, then she wouldn't be able to frame me because it would make her a suspect for hurting Mrs. Kooper Sr. So if it wasn't her, who knocked out Davian? Does Sharon have an accomplice hiding here in the villa?' she wondered.At this thought, Kisa felt a chill run down her spine."Oh! Davian... Why's Davian unconscious in the cupboard? What's going on?" Sharon cried out.She stood at the corner of the room, trembling.Her acting skills were convincing and simply unparalleled.Kisa scoffed icily, "You're really good at feigning innocence. You, Davian, and Mrs. Kooper Sr. were the only people in this room. If you weren't the one who knocked out Davian, was it Mrs. Kooper Sr., then?""It really wasn't me!" Sharon shrieked as
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