"Trying the same old trick of climbing into my bed again?" The voice that came abruptly startled Kisa, who almost dropped her phone on the floor. She panicked and looked toward the sound and found a flickering spot of fire at the window. Gilbert was not sleeping but smoking in the darkness of the night. Since he was not sleeping, Kisa went straight to turn on the light. As the light came on, she saw his cold and despicable handsome face.He looked like he had God's favor; he not only was rich and powerful but also had a face that made women jealous. It was a pity that his unfeeling expression ruined the good-looking face.Gilbert exhaled a smoke ring and chuckled. "You are really desperate for Howard, eh? Unfortunately, even if you stand in front of me naked, I will not feel a thing. So, save your breath." He had just calmed his anger down earlier, and now this woman came in to piss him off again.Kisa ignored his cynicism and asked calmly, "Do you have an extra quilt?"Gilbert w
"Hah. You're so keen to die just so that Howard would have his role back?"Gilbert sneered while walking toward Kisa.Just as she was about to respond, he spoke again."Let me tell you something: even if you actually die, I still won't give him the role."Hearing this, Kisa gave up on explaining to him. 'He's so awful; he never keeps his words,' she thought.In a fit of rage, Gilbert barged over and pushed her back several steps."If you want to die, go ahead. Just stop giving me any more trouble.""I'm giving you trouble? " Kisa slammed the door angrily. "Ask yourself this: who's the one causing trouble here at Athadale?" she continued shouting."You!" Gilbert retorted."Me?" Kisa asked."If you hadn't followed me to Athadale for Howard, you wouldn't have been spotted by Anthony. I also wouldn't be held back right now for trying to protect you. You're a burden.""Me... A burden?" Kisa was furious. "I wasn't following you! I was spotted by Anthony because of you! What'
Kisa peered at Gilbert's face while holding her breath. She had a feeling that something had gone wrong.After Gilbert hung up the phone, Kisa could not help but ask, "What's the matter?"Gilbert had a grim expression."Stay here, and don't go out.""How about you..."Gilbert made a beeline for the door, "I've got something urgent to do. I'll be back soon."When he got to the door, he turned to Kisa once more."Remember, don't go out," he said coldly."Okay..." Kisa responded. Then, Gilbert rushed out the door.Kisa stared at the shut door, wondering what caused him to be so worried.She proceeded to open the lunch box on the table. When Kisa saw the lunch box filled to the brim with steak, she could not help but frown.'Gilbert must think I've never had the chance to eat steak. He brought me such a huge box of it!' she thought.The steak looked and smelled delicious. However, Kisa was not able to stomach it for now. She pushed the steak aside and started eating the s
"Something has happened to Mr. Kooper."Kisa noticed the blood stain on Davian's shoulder while he was speaking."You're hurt?" she asked, alarmed.Davian glanced at his shoulder hastily and said, "It's just a small injury. Come with me, ma'am.""To... To where? What happened to Gilbert?"'Since Davian is Gilbert's personal assistant, something terrible must have happened for him to be in so much panic. But he's the Gilbert Kooper; who'd dare to lay a finger on him?' she wondered."Let's leave the questions for later, ma'am. Come with me and leave for Calthon right this instant, " Davian said with worry."How about Gilbert?"She thought of Gilbert's warning before he left.Then, she said hesitantly, "I think I'll wait till Gilbert gets back.""Mr. Kooper has already returned to Calthon.""What?"Kisa instantly felt an inexplicable sense of dreadfulness and unjust.'If Davian didn't come to me, I would've been waiting for Gilbert here like an idiot,' she thought.Davian tu
"Hohoho..."Anthony emerged from the crowd. His eyes glinted with excitement as he stared at Kisa, "Just as I thought, Gilbert had you hidden away. It seems like you're receiving out-of-the-ordinary treatment from him."Kisa instantly put on a sad face," Mr. Mullen, you must be mistaken; I have nothing to do with Gilbert.""If there's nothing between you two, why did he have you hidden away? Take them away!"Within moments, Kisa and Davian were tied up and shoved into a van.Davian teared up. He turned to Kisa with guilt, "I'm sorry, ma'am. You're being kidnapped because of my foolishness. When Mr. Kooper left, he specifically told me to take good care of you. I should've realized something was wrong when those guys said Mr. Kooper needed help."Kisa sighed, "It's not your fault; you were just worried for Gilbert. Besides, who would've thought that was a mole among your men?" "That darn traitor! I'll skin him alive once I return," Davian said through gritted teeth.Then, Kisa
"Rather than using me to probe Gilbert, why not work with me to take him down?"For a moment, Anthony was stunned. Then, he peered at her amusingly, "What do you mean?""Gilbert's your enemy, but he's also an enemy of mine," Kisa replied with a vengeful and ruthless expression.The hatred in her eyes grew stronger when she thought of her child who died in her womb. It seemed so genuine that it was hard for people to think that she was putting on an act.Anthony sat down and continued to stare at her with great interest, "You're truly willing to join hands with me and take him down?" "Of course. I hate him for sending me to jail and killing my child." Anthony shook his head and laughed sardonically, "I've never seen such a peculiar pair of husband and wife before.""We are no longer husband and wife.""Ah. Tell me, then, how will you help me take Gilbert Kooper down? Just a heads up, if your plan doesn't work, I'll still gouge out your eyeballs and cut your limbs off.""I can
The moment the call was connected, Gilbert's grumpy voice came."If you want to kill that woman, go ahead.""It's me."Just as Gilbert was about to hang up, Kisa suddenly let out a gentle snigger.Silent fell on the other end of the phone, with only bursts of short breath.Kisa sneered. "You want to know where Sara is? If you do, come and look for me alone."As she said that, she hung up the call and tossed the phone to Anthony. "Send the address to him."Anthony let out a playful smile. "Are you sure he'll come over?""I'm sure of it. Because... Sara is the apple of his eye."For Gilbert, Sara was a jewel, while she was nothing more than trash. A normal person would fight tooth and nail for a jewel. Who would do the same for a piece of trash?She then turned around and sat in the corner as she silently waited for Gilbert's arrival.'As long as he comes, my chances of escaping will be fifty percent more.'There was no one she could rely on now, and she could only save herse
In the face of his cold, bloodthirsty glare, Kisa only calmly said, "How are you that foolish? Do you think I'll tell you where Sara is just because I said so?"He clearly knew this was a trap, and as a testament to how much he cared for Sara, he still came without any hesitation.Gilbert's eyes narrowed as he let out a terrifying presence. "I shouldn't have allowed you to live."Kisa let out a gentle smile. "It's a little too late to regret that now."As she said that, she looked at Anthony, who was enjoying the show, "I've brought him here. Do as you see fit to him then."Davian immediately exploded, "You heartless wench! Mr. Kooper had been covering for you, and you set a trap for him to save yourself?"Davian's hands and legs were tied. He struggled and rolled to Gilbert's side as he said, "Mr. Kooper, this woman is in league with Anthony Mullen. Both of them are after your neck. Run, sir! Leave me be, and don't bother about Sara anymore!"Anthony snorted. "Since you're alre
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