When he came out again, he had a small bowl of soup in his hand. He put the soup in front of Kisa and said with a natural expression, "This is the miso soup I cooked for you. Drink it before you eat breakfast. Otherwise, your stomach will get upset, and your head will hurt."Kisa looked at the muddy soup in front of her and was a little creeped out."D-Did you say this is miso soup?" she swallowed and frowned as she pushed the soup back to him. 'It is muddy, like poison. Who dares to drink it?'Gilbert saw her disgusted look and was not too happy. Despite having never cooked soup for anyone in his entire life, he purposely followed the video tutorial to make such a bowl of miso soup because he was afraid she would wake up with a hangover. But she did not like it. Gilbert brought the bowl of soup in front of her again and said, "I cooked this for you myself. It is not hot. Drink it."Kisa frowned, not able to hide the disgust on her face. "I appreciate your kindness. Didn't you also
Kisa subconsciously went to open the door and was stunned to see Davian standing outside with a case of wine in his arms. "What are you doing?" she asked.Davian came in past her and put the wine on the table. "Have you forgotten that Mr. Kooper has asked me to send a case of wine over? Here you go. Where is Mr. Kooper?"Kisa could not believe that Gilbert really asked Davian to bring a case of red wine over. She felt more and more that Gilbert was a bit childish.Davian took the wine out, set it up for her, and asked, "Where is Mr. Kooper?""Well, you take the wine back. Didn't I tell you Mr. Kooper was joking with you?""Please, Mrs. Kooper. This wine is so rare that I had to go to many places before I managed to buy a case. I don't want to lose my job to someone else."Kisa pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "All right, but you have to answer a few questions."Davian was puzzled. "Sure, Mrs. Kooper.""What was Gilbert doing five years ago when the prison fire started?
"Well, Mrs. Kooper, I really have to go." Davian fled as if he was afraid of accidentally saying something he should not say.Kisa furrowed her brow. 'Davian hasn't told the whole truth about the identity of Andrew's and Ada's mother. He knows who the mother is. But just why did he refuse to tell me?' She wrung her hands as the bold speculation kept lingering on her mind. She did not dare to think about it, fearing that it was just an unrealistic hope of hers. 'When the shooting of the drama is over, I'm going to verify it if there is a chance. No matter the outcome, I could at least stop thinking about it.'..."Mr. Kooper, Mrs. Kooper suddenly asked me who Andrew and Ada's mother was.""How did you answer?" Gilbert flickered the ashes off the cigarette in his hand."Of course, I told her I didn't know. I wouldn't dare to say anything without your permission." Davian then pursed his lips in hesitation. "To be honest, Mrs. Kooper treats Andrew and Ada very well, and they also like
"It is Goddess of My Adoration," Lea said, holding the tablet in front of her. "Look, although the two dramas were released on different platforms, both of which are major ones. Goddess of My Adoration has just garnered over ten million views, while yours has as high as two hundred million."Kisa was somewhat relieved. At first, she thought The Legend of Luna was performing poorly."And your rating was 8.6, to begin with, while Goddess of My Adoration was 3.4, and all the people down there were cursing Sharon and her drama. Tsk..." Lea said. "I pity other actors who have worked so hard. I just don't understand; Sharon's reputation has gone to the dogs, yet Mr. Kooper hasn't put her on the bench. Instead, he let her finish the drama and released it on the same day as yours. Isn't he inviting trouble?" Lea had many questions in mind.But Kisa just smiled. She did not think Gilbert was a fool. She knew men like Gilbert would not make such a mistake in the business world. He probably ha
Sharon was secretly pleased. Even if she could not get Gilbert to love her, she would not let Kisa have it.Kisa could now enjoy a rare moment of freedom, even after the drama was wrapped up. She and Lea stayed at home and watched dramas every day. She watched her drama with extra seriousness and was always thinking about improving her acting skills.One day, Lea saw something funny and laughed out loud. She came up to Kisa. "Look at the comments for the Goddess of My Adoration today. I'm laughing my head off."Seeing Lea's hilarity, Kisa could not help but be curious. She paused the video she was watching and leaned over to look at Lea's tablet.[The female lead's acting skill is garbage. Her face must have had plastic surgery to look that creepy.][Ahh! I think her face job must have gone horribly wrong; her chin looks like a hoe."][The female lead is disgusting. I heard she peed in their pants when abducted. Tsk, goddess, my foot! She is sickening.]The third comment had rec
Kisa's eyes were downcast, and she was silent. 'Madalyn is really up to no good; I could tell by the tone of her voice. It is as if she is facing an enemy.'"You think you are so good now that you're a superstar? How dare you be so arrogant toward me?" Madalyn's voice turned harsher the longer she spoke.Kisa pursed her lips before she asked, "What do you want to talk about, Mrs. Kooper Sr.?""Humph!" Madalyn snorted. "Meet me alone at the teahouse on West Avenue in half an hour," Madalyn said in a stern, commanding tone of voice that allowed no one to retort before hanging up.Lea saw Kisa's expression and was worried. "What is wrong with you?"Kisa shook her head and stared at the dimmed phone screen. Something bad happened every time Madalyn contacted her. She wondered if there was a secret plot against her again. She was hesitant to go when Madalyn suddenly sent her another message.[I wanted to talk to you about the prison fire five years ago. Come if you are interested.]K
"Did you always wonder if Gilbert was behind the prison fire?"Kisa did not answer but asked instead, "Did Gilbert tell you that?""You don't need to know who told me. I asked you to come here today just to tell you that Gilbert was behind the prison fire." Kisa's eyes widened in shock as Madalyn sneered, "I'm Gilbert's grandma, and he cares most about me. It was you who caused me to fall into a coma, so Gilbert's hatred for you was obvious. He had been compassionate toward you by setting you on fire.""You know very well that it wasn't me who caused you to fall into a coma.""So what? As long as Gilbert thinks it was you." Madalyn laughed.Kisa felt a chill running up her spine. 'Judging by Madalyn's tone of voice, she apparently knows who exactly injured her, but she deliberately keeps it to herself and makes everyone think I have done it. She really hates me so much. But why?'"The other day, Gilbert told me he had someone set fire to burn you alive in prison to avenge me, but
"What else do you want to hear if not this?" Madalyn said.Kisa shook her head and let out a half smile. "Thank you for telling me this. At first, I only suspected Gilbert. But now I'm dead sure that it was him after hearing what you said. Tell Gilbert I will take revenge, and I want an eye for an eye.""What a big mouth you have here. I will not let you hurt Gilbert even a bit. Also, Gilbert could have killed you back then, yet you are still playing this kind of relationship game with him. Don't you feel disgusted? If you are capable, fight him squarely instead of playing this false relationship game."Kisa did not respond.Madalyn hissed and got to her feet. She held her cane and said in disgust, "You should have died in your mother's womb and saved others the trouble."Kisa subconsciously clenched her hands. The scene of her mother kneeling in the rain, yelling at her, came to mind. 'Why do you have to exist in this world? How much better it would be if you didn't exist!''Eve
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