Kisa turned around perplexedly. As expected, she saw Blake standing behind, unmoving.The small child stood there silently. Even though he had a calm expression, his dull eyes had disappointment hidden within.Kisa felt a twinge in her heart.She smiled at Blake and said softly, "Don't just stand there? Come along.""Yeah, Blake. Come along.""Come, Blake. Let's go home together."Ada and Andrew both reached out their hands toward him.Blake stared at them fixedly. Suddenly, he broke into a huge smile. His smile seemed to have a hint ofHe walked over briskly. Suddenly, Gilbert reached out to grab his hand, "Stick with us and make sure you don't get separated."Blake nodded furiously and gripped Gilbert's hand tightly.'Daddy's arm is so huge and warm. I wish I could hold his hand like this forever,' he thought.Blake could not help but lift his head to look at Gilbert.When Gilbert felt Blake's gaze on him, he looked down at him out of reflex, "What's the matter?"Blake s
Mia was stunned, "Mr. Kooper is visiting? For what?"Jensen shook his head, "He never tells me any of his plans.""Then again, he's never treated me like I was his son. So why would he tell me about his big plans?" he continued in a self-deprecating tone.Mia pursed her lips. She promptly reached out to grip his cold hand and said lowly, "Don't say that. Mr. Kooper still cares about you a lot."Jensen snorted and retracted his hand. He asked sarcastically, "Since when did you start defending him? Did you forget how he treated you back then?"Mia thought of their past and smiled bitterly, "You can't put the entire blame on Mr. Kooper. After all, I did it voluntarily. I can sacrifice myself as long as it helps you."Jensen tightened his grip on the steering wheel out of reflex. Then, he said coldly, "I'm Jensen Kooper. I haven't fallen to the extent where I need a woman to sacrifice herself in exchange for power and status. In the future, stop doing dumb feel-good things."The smi
Blake lowered his head in embarrassment and said, "Uncle Gilbert has a good eye, mummy. This jacket looks really good." The kid would have been a show-off if someone else had praised him, but he just felt embarrassed when his mother praised him.Gilbert was overjoyed by the little guy's words. He took Blake in his arms and said with a smile, "If only you were my son." Blake was shocked. He lowered his head as the corner of his lips curled into a huge smile.'Daddy, didn't you say before that sons were born to torture their parents? Why do you want another son to torture you now?" Andrew asked.'You're different. You were born to torture me, but Blake is so well-behaved and sensible, it's obvious that he was born to treat his parents well."Andrew snorted and ignored Gilbert. Kisa, on the other hand, was amused. Gilbert stared at how happy she was; his heart overflowed with warmth. All of this was like a dream, a beautiful and happy dream. 'I wish this could last forever.' But dream
Kisa snickered, but tears kept falling. That child was like a taboo. She did not want to be reminded of the incident, but since the man refused to admit it, she had to speak up. "I still remember the feeling of that child being taken out of my stomach to this day. I saw the doctor put the child, whose skin had turned purple, in a white cloth. And there, he lay motionless. T-then... They said that the child was not breathing. I saw it with my own eyes. They covered him with a white cloth. I saw it with my own eyes, Gilbert. How are you going to get out of this?" Kisa broke down in tears with grief.Gilbert just stood there as if he was just struck by lightning. Their children were obviously fine. Andrew and Ada were fine. So who was the child she saw?Back then, Gilbert rushed to the prison when he learned that there was a fire and that Kisa had died in the fire. When he arrived, the prison was burned into ruins. The dean handed him two babies. He said Kisa was about to give birth whe
"No," Gilbert replied as he continued to eat breakfast.Ada did not believe him. She pouted her lips and retorted, "Ma'am was fine yesterday. You must've bullied her. Why else would she not look happy this morning?"Gilbert took a deep breath, and said, "Eat your breakfast. I'll drive you to school once you finish." It was obvious that Gilbert was angry, so Andrew kept quiet obediently.On the other hand, Blake buried his head in his breakfast without a word."Ma'am is going to be my mommy in three years. Stop bullying her, Daddy. If she gets mad and runs away, I won't have a mommy anymore!" Ada warned Gilbert with an angry and serious look on her face.Gilbert grabbed a tissue and casualty wiped his mouth. "Don't worry, she can't run away," he said in an extremely stern tone.After that, Gilbert got up and went to the balcony to smoke. Ada looked at her father angrily, and said to the two older brothers, "Daddy is mean. He must've bullied Ma'am."Andrew nodded hurriedly at her
"Oh my god, today's entertainment section is filled with news about Mr. Kooper's visit to the mall with his new girlfriend. Tsk tsk, he's even more popular than an international superstar," Lea exclaimed.Kisa pursed her lips and said nothing. Part of Gilbert's fame came from being the CEO of GK Pictures. Moreover, he went shopping with a "mysterious woman" yesterday. The media liked to pry into the private lives of public figures, so it was not a surprise that he was all over the entertainment news. But Kisa did not expect that a reporter would secretly photograph them when they went to the mall yesterday.'Thank god I covered myself up yesterday. Otherwise, I'd be in so much trouble right now.'Lea was still shocked by the news. "Mr. Kooper is so famous that the stores he visited are filled with people today. Tsk, look at this mobile phone store. It's so crowded."Kisa shook her head amusedly. 'It's not like he's the reincarnation of some immortal deity or something. Why are peop
Sharon's lips curled in arrogance as she turned around, leaned against the sink, and looked at Kisa with her arms around her chest. "I specifically hired those four men just for you. All of them are relatively strong, so you should have been pretty satisfied. I can hook you up with a few more guys if you feel lonely."Kisa nodded and chuckled, "Yeah, I was satisfied." After Kisa said those words, she raised her hand to slap Sharon across the face.SLAP!The slap sounded crisp. Sharon was stunned. It took her a couple of seconds to react. She held her reddened face and stared at Kisa with bloodshot eyes. "How dare you hit me?!" she yelled."You've made my life hell over and over. Why wouldn't I hit you?" Kisa snorted."You b*tch!" Sharon roared, raising her hand to slap Kisa back. Kisa grabbed her wrist instantly and sneered, "Hit me, and I'm not afraid to kill you." After that, she pushed the woman forcefully. Sharon slipped and hit her lower back on the sink. She screamed and fel
"Concede defeat. What you desire is beyond your reach and what I despise the most. You will never beat me in your lifetime."Sharon's eyes reddened with anger, and she said grimly, "I don't believe you. Five years ago, I could put you in jail, and now I also can kick you out of show business and out of Gilbert's sight.""It was you. It was you who set me up back then.""Heh. So what if it was me? I do not mind telling you that the night you slept with Gilbert was also part of my plan. Otherwise, how could I get rid of both you and Sara? I had a chance only when Gilbert, left with a broken heart, despised you and Sara."Kisa squinted her eyes. "You really covered yourself so well back then." She remembered that Sharon of that year was timid and pitiable, always following behind them, not daring to speak out loud. Never did Kisa expect she had been scheming against her from the beginning.Sharon sneered. "Tell Gilbert all you want and see if he will believe you. So what, even if he
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