Sharon strutted over, arms crossed, and demanded Kisa answer her mother's question."Hey, my mom is talking to you. Answer her already! You've been kicked out by Gilbert, so now you're trying to kiss up to my mom? Give me a break. Gilbert might have loved and protected you before, but now GK is about to go belly up. He's like a stray dog, and he won't have time for you anymore. My parents are the only ones worth impressing now, so you'd better answer my mom's question."Carolyn sat nearby, admiring her freshly painted nails with an air of superiority.Kisa sneered at Sharon and retorted, "You've been doing all the talking, so how am I supposed to answer? If you want an answer so badly, then shut your mouth.""You trash!" Sharon cursed and raised her hand to slap Kisa's face. At Carolyn and Adrien's wedding, it seemed like the mother and daughter duo were fearless and had no regard for anything or anyone.As Kisa instinctively dodged Sharon's slap, a large hand suddenly grabbed Sha
People were screaming, hollering, and cussing up a storm.Kisa furrowed her brow in confusion. "What's going on?"Gilbert's eyes darkened. He let go of Kisa and stormed off toward the banquet hall. She hurriedly trailed behind, trying to reach Adrien on her phone, but he was not picking up. When they arrived at the banquet hall, Kisa glanced up at the wall and her stomach churned.There was a huge electronic screen hanging on the wall. It had been showing Carolyn's gorgeous artistic and wedding photos, but now it displayed her getting down and dirty with different guys. The video was shot using infrared cameras, and despite the darkness of the room, the scenes and characters were clear as day. The men were all scruffy, grotesque, and downright nasty.Suddenly, Kisa remembered all the sketchy beggars that had been coming and going from Adrien's club recently.'Could it be...'The thought made her shudder in revulsion.'What kind of vendetta does Adrien have against Carolyn? How c
'There's no way things could be so simple, or else why would he invite Gilbert here in the first place?' Kisa thought to herself.While everyone's focus was on Carolyn and Sharon, the huge electronic screen lit up again, revealing a new set of characters. There was this fifty-something-year-old lady and a bodyguard-looking guy. Judging by the video quality and their clothing, it was an old video.Kisa furrowed her brow as she stared at the woman, feeling like she had seen her somewhere before. She then looked up at Gilbert and whispered, "Is that your grandma?"But Gilbert did not utter a word. His eyes were glued to the screen, his body taut with tension. Meanwhile, everyone else was also staring at the screen with curiosity, gossiping away like a bunch of chatty Karens. The older guests quickly identified the woman as Madalyn from back in the day, and their chatter only grew louder.The characters in the video were heard talking:"Madam, isn't this harming David a bit too much?"
Suddenly, Sharon charged at Kisa with a look of pure hatred and screamed, "You filthy b*tch! You and Adrien planned all of this, didn't you? You wanted to watch me and my mother suffer, you sick twisted wh*re!"With a crazed expression on her face, Sharon picked up a broken wine glass and lunged at Kisa, intent on causing her harm. It looked as if she had lost all control of herself, consumed by her rage and bitterness.Just as the jagged glass was about to impale Kisa, Carolyn appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Sharon, struggling to keep her at bay."What? Are you serious? You're saying that Adrien was behind all of this?"Carolyn was absolutely flabbergasted, her voice trembling as she struggled to get the words out.Sharon could not believe her eyes as she watched her mother's sheer innocence on display, leaving her to stare at her like she had lost her mind."Please wake up and be alert. If it wasn't his doing, why didn't he show up when things went horribly wrong? If he did
Gilbert was driving at breakneck speed. Kisa tried to soothe him. "Don't worry. David may hate your grandmother, but he wouldn't dare do anything to her. And he still has some feelings for her, right?"After a long silence, he spoke up. "I never knew that David was kicked out of Calthon like that."Kisa was at a loss for words.After a brief moment of silence, Gilbert asked again, "Is this all a part of David's plan? Does he want to get back at everyone he hates?"She stared out the window, deep in thought. She had a nagging feeling that things were far from simple. David had mentioned a fatal blow to Gilbert, but she could not figure out what it could be.'Is it Madalyn? If David wants to hurt Gilbert, he'll go for what is most important to him. If this fatal blow means Madalyn, she's in serious trouble.'But judging by David's heart-wrenching laughter, she felt that he did not really want Madalyn's life. He wanted justice.Just then, the phone rang. It was George. His panicked
As soon as George's voice trailed off, Gilbert's hands latched onto Shaun's collar, and he pulled him close. With bloodthirsty eyes and a menacing tone, Gilbert growled, "You guys... did you hide my grandma?"Shaun fought to free himself from Gilbert's grip, looking totally clueless. "What the hell are you talking about, man? Why would we hide some old lady?" But Gilbert was not buying it and was about to punch him in the face. Shaun screamed, "You better not touch me, man! You're not a CEO anymore. If you hit me, I'm calling the cops!"Ignoring Shaun's warning, Gilbert threw a punch toward his face. Kisa reacted quickly and grabbed Gilbert's arm. This was not like the old days when he held all the power. Kisa knew that if he started a fight now, things would only get worse."Gilbert, you need to calm down. Let's go look for your grandma first," Kisa said,Gilbert flung Kisa's arm away from him in disgust. "Get the hell off me!" he yelled. "It's your fault my grandma is missing. If
Gilbert's eyes narrowed as he looked at the unfamiliar number flashing on his phone. He answered the call and heard a woman's voice, which sounded vaguely familiar."Hey, Gilbert. Your grandma is with me, and she's safe. Can you come see me alone?" The woman hung up the phone after speaking and immediately sent an address to Gilbert.Gilbert quickly checked the address and headed toward his car. Kisa's heart was heavy with worry, and she was about to follow Gilbert. But he turned around suddenly and gave her a cold, hard stare. "Don't follow me!" he barked. And with that, the car sped away, leaving her standing there feeling devastated and alone.Meanwhile, Shaun was feeling smug as he leaned against the gate of the mansion. "Listen, if you guys beg me or Mr. Tanner nicely, maybe Mr. Tanner will let you stay here," he said with a sneer.But George was not having it. "We only follow Mrs. Kooper Sr. and Mr. Kooper, and now that they are gone, we have no reason to stay," he retorted a
Kisa slowly squatted down, with Davian's last words ringing in her ears. "If I were Mr. Kooper, I would never forgive you for the rest of my life."'Of course, after what happened, Gilbert would never forgive me,' she said in her mind.Footsteps approached her from behind, and she mechanically turned her head. Mia stood in front of her, still as stunningly beautiful as ever, but with no trace of the seductive smile from before. Time had changed everyone, but in the end, Kisa still could not understand her. She did not even know why Mia had betrayed her. A faint pain throbbed in her belly, and she struggled to stand up, leaning on her knees. She looked at Mia calmly, without a word.Mia smiled, apologetic and indifferent at the same time, with a hint of inexplicable emotion. "You must hate me now, don't you?" she said.Kisa shook her head. She did not hate Mia; she was just disappointed.'I thought friends could confide in each other, but apparently not. Lea could betray me for lov
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