'Just as I thought...' Kisa's heart was a tangled mess as she cast her eyes downward.David sneered. "You know Gilbert's been hurting you all along, right? Meanwhile, my son risked his life to save you, but you still chose Gilbert. And then there is the old bat. Just because Gilbert likes you, she crushed my son's dreams and kicked him out of the country. Even now, that old bat is still selfish as hell."Suddenly, David bent down and glared at her. "If you had to choose again, who would you pick?"Without a moment's hesitation, Kisa looked up and replied, "Gilbert. I would still choose Gilbert."David stood up straight, laughing bitterly. "Damn, you are heartless, just like your mom.""Favor and feelings are two different things. Jensen saved my life, and I would do the same for him. But emotions can't be forced.""Right, you can't force it. She only stayed with me because she felt obligated. That was why she was able to move on so easily with Christopher. But she always loved Da
"Let me go. Gilbert would never trade me for his grandma. In his heart, she is his queen bee."David lit a cigarette and spoke in a slow, menacing tone, "I'll let you go when I find Mrs. Kooper Sr.""Why the hell do you even care? Let bygones be bygones," she replied."But I can't." David chuckled. "I've been in hiding for too damn long, scheming for years, all for this moment. I can't stop now. Mrs. Kooper Sr., Gilbert, and you all have to pay the price.""You resent Mrs. Kooper Sr. for booting you out of the Kooper family, huh? But let's be real, as a mother, she is bound to play favorites with her own flesh and blood. Plus, she treated you like royalty every other day and even wept when mentioning you to me. She has still got a soft spot for you, doesn't she?"David stayed silent, the smoke from his cigarette coiling around his fingers and enshrouding his face.Kisa let out a breath and continued. "And my mom, she didn't betray you. She had a diary—""There is no damn diary,"
Kisa asked, "What did David tell you when you confronted him?"Thomas helped her put on her coat and replied, "Not a damn thing. And he didn't breathe a word about our mom either. Come on, Kisa. He's asleep now, so we got to go. We can talk outside.""But there are guards all over the damn place. How the hell are we supposed to escape?" Kisa asked, feeling worried."We can. I dug a hole in the backyard ahead of time. We'll slip out that way." Thomas sighed, "Maybe my biological father feels guilty about me. That's probably why he let me stay here and didn't even bother to put a tail on me. Lucky for me, otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to get you out." Thomas spoke with conviction, and Kisa did not dwell on it further.Once they made it to the ground floor, they made a beeline for the backyard. "What the hell? There were guards posted outside my door. How come they are not here today?" Kisa wondered."Oh, I just made up some excuse to get them out of our way. We need to ma
"Since it is just a meaningless call, just hang up..."The line went dead.Kisa sat on the ground, stunned.'Gilbert didn't even bother saving my number. How much does he loathe me to treat me like a complete stranger? And that woman, what the is she doing with Gilbert? They seem too close!'Countless speculations raced through her mind, making her heart ache. But she took a deep breath and forced herself not to overthink. The urgent task was to get out of here.Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared in the distance. she gritted her teeth against the pain in her belly and squinted in its direction. With a streetlamp close by, she eventually saw that the person was Thomas. He had escaped, but he was hurt.Without hesitation, Kisa ran over to him and asked, "Are you okay?"Thomas froze for a second before blurting out, "What the hell are you still doing here? You need to get out of here, now!"Kisa did not reply. Instead, she pulled him to a nearby spot to sit down. Thomas had injur
Thomas was holed up in the hotel. He was injured and his legs were practically useless. To make matters worse, his wound was starting to get infected, and he could not manage on his own without proper care.Meanwhile, Kisa was weak. When she tried to get up, she moved too quickly, causing her to stumble and fall clumsily to the ground as soon as her feet hit the floor.Gilbert was standing there, watching her with piercing eyes. His voice was colder than the icy winter winds. "What the hell were you doing in that alley? Are you and David scheming something again?"Kisa shook her head, struggling to get back up from the ground. She looked at Gilbert and asked, "Is your grandma okay?"Gilbert's eyes scanned her up and down as he spoke with a frigid tone, "You look like a hot mess. Are you playing the distressed damsel to help David extract information about Grandma?"As Kisa listened to Gilbert's baseless accusations, a sharp pain pierced her heart. She took a deep breath and said n
Gilbert just could not bring himself to be cruel to the woman before him. Despite everything, he took her to his place—a decrepit courtyard tucked away deep in the alleyways of the old city district.Kelvin had been taking care of his grandmother's illness here. With Kelvin around, Kisa did not have to worry about Thomas' injury. But Kelvin was not exactly thrilled to see her. As soon as he laid eyes on her, his face darkened, and he grabbed Gilbert's arm, saying in a harsh tone, "Why the hell did you bring her here? What if she rats us out to David and puts your grandma in danger?"Kisa was quick to defend herself, blurting out, "I won't tell David. I just escaped from him."Kelvin sneered, "Yeah, right. You're full of sh*t. Who knows if you and David cooked up this little scheme to mess with us.""I didn't—""Enough!" Gilbert cut her off coldly, turning to Kelvin. "Check out Thomas' injury first."Kelvin scowled. "Are you kidding me? Not only are you not kicking her out, but no
Before Kisa could finish her sentence, the creaky wooden door was suddenly pushed open, and Gilbert stood coldly at the entrance. "If you've got something to say, just say it. No need to stir up trouble here." His eyes filled with disgust.Kisa's heart sank. She averted his gaze and said, "I just want you guys to watch out for Sara. She's very likely working with David. She was responsible for the collapse in the basement of the Mullen residence."Gilbert leaned against the doorway and lit a cigarette. "She's more honest than you are," he said, his voice tinged with fatigue.Kisa felt a sudden pang. "So you don't believe me?" she asked.Kelvin suddenly let out a cold laugh. "You just said it yourself. Sara confessed to us that she was helping David, including the incident at the Mullen residence. She overheard David plotting to hurt Mrs. Kooper Sr. and risked her own life to save her. If it wasn't for her, Mrs. Kooper Sr. would probably be in David's hands right now.""No..." Kisa
"Tomorrow, you take Thomas and get out of here." Gilbert's eyes were especially cold, sending a shiver down Kisa's spine.She clenched her hands tightly and spoke in a low voice, "She spilled the soup on purpose and poured it onto her own hand."He closed his eyes slightly, his face filled with endless impatience and disappointment.He restrained his temper and growled, "Can you stop with the excuses already? Bringing you two back was a colossal mistake. Tomorrow, I want you both out of here and gone for good!"The man seemed to have returned to his initial callousness.'It was I who had wrongly accused him, hated him. And it was because of me that he ended up in this mess. How could he not despise me?' she thought in her mind.Gilbert did not seem to want to look at her. He turned to Sara and said, "I'll take care of the rest. You go have Kelvin look at your hand." Then he turned and went to cook.Sara gave Kisa a smug smile before wiping her shoulder and walking out.Kisa wat
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