Suddenly, Kisa heard anxious, intermittent cries amidst the sound of rain. They did not sound real, instead sounding like a hallucination. She closed her eyes and plunged herself into endless darkness."Kisa... Kisa... Kisa..."The screams got closer and louder. She opened her eyes slightly, looking at the dark sky above.'It's not a dream. He's here to look for me. But what for? Is he trying to continue deceiving me with flattering words? Luring me into deep waters with tenderness and consideration? And then using me to deal with Jensen? What an evil plan. To hurt someone, you must first break their heart.'"Where are you, Kisa? Can you please come out already? Wherever you are, please come out. Kisa..."The man's voice pierced through the sound of rain.Kisa suddenly sneered when she listened to how anxious the voice sounded. 'He's so anxious. Is he worried that something would happen to me, or is he eager to explain everything?''I would really like to know what kind of expla
"Ms. Becker? Why are you—" Before Jolina could finish her words, Kisa's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.When Gilbert went to see his grandma, he had already changed into some clean clothes and dried his hair. He did not have a weird expression on his face that indicated that he had been gone for a while. It was as if he had never left the room."I didn't see you when I woke up. Where did you go?" Madalyn took his hand and asked. "There was an emergency at the company, so I went to the study to deal with it," Gilbert replied. "Oh. You should focus more on your health and refrain from working overtime.""Alright," Gilbert responded softly without saying anything else. Madalyn could see the tiredness in between his brows. She felt terrible for him and said, "You haven't slept all night. You should go to bed. You don't have to accompany me.""That's okay, grandma. I'm not sleepy. I'll just stay in here with you.""Silly child, I'm already awake. It's nothing serious.""Then you ha
The afterglow of the setting sun shined through the window. The place was no longer dark and gloomy from the rainstorm. Kisa looked around the room, and the slightly unfamiliar environment stunned her. It took her a while before she remembered that she was at Jolina's place.Kisa furrowed her brows and suddenly recalled the scene in which she fainted. She had wandered outside for almost the whole night last night. She was exhausted, and she was lucky that she bumped into Jolina.Kisa then sat up, pushing through her sore body, and vaguely heard a few noises outside. She got out of bed slowly and went outside. The small living room had an unobstructed view of the balcony and the kitchen, which were connected. The apartment was small.Kisa took a few steps forward and saw Jolina busy in the kitchen. She was wearing an apron, looking very gentle and peaceful. At the same time, Jolina noticed Kisa in the room and said, "Just wait right there; dinner is almost ready."Kisa gave her a we
"I don't want to let anyone know that I'm here. Can you please help me keep this secret?" Kisa asked. Jolina was stunned for a while, but she nodded."Okay. Don't worry, I haven't told anyone about this yet.""Thanks." Kisa stayed silent for a while. "I will be taking leave from the set. Can I stay here with you for a few days?" She continued."Sure," Jolina agreed without hesitation. "After all, it's just me in here. Also, I'm going to the barbeque restaurant to work later, and I won't be back until four in the morning."Kisa was a little surprised when she heard that since Jolina was still very young. "You work all night? Isn't it tiring?""No. Mainly because this job doesn't clash with my acting job. Plus, I still have some time during the day for a few classes at school," Jolina lowered her gaze and said as if there was an unspeakable reason behind all this.Kisa looked at her for a while and replied, "If you're in need—""No, I'm alright," Jolina hurriedly shook her head an
Kelvin was taken aback at Gilbert's words. "What do you mean we don't have to look for her anymore? Don't you want to explain yourself to her? The misunderstanding will only get worse as more time passes by."Gilbert stood up and walked to the window. He looked at the sky outside, which was dark, and said in a low voice, "She's clearly hiding from me. What's the use if I find her? She doesn't believe in me anymore. That means she won't listen to my explanation." Gilbert's tone was filled with unprecedented helplessness and sadness.It made Kelvin think of when he and Gracie were about to die.'Fortunately for us, we're both fine now. But what about Gilbert and Kisa? Their problem seems more serious than the one I had with Gracie. If Mrs. Kooper Sr. does not compromise, Gilbert and Kisa will never resolve their problems.'Gilbert leaned against the window and looked at Davian. "How's the investigation regarding the warden going?""I-I still haven't found his whereabouts yet, sir. J
She stammered and did not answer.Adrien glanced at her and smiled absently. "Perhaps you were young and blinded by love back then.""Of course not. I wasn't in love with that loser." Carolyn grunted. "It was just that the man I was in love with suddenly disappeared. Besides, Christopher's wife used to be my good friend, who, since marrying into the Case family, had become haughty, and she started to ignore me. Anger blinded me, and I stole Christopher from her," Carolyn said with a smug look on her face. "She was not as attractive as I was, after all. You know what, when that woman was kicked out of the Case family, she was penniless, so down and out."Adrien listened quietly, and his mind drifted away."Of course, I'm willing to wait for you, and our child is waiting for us. So quickly do whatever you have to do, then come back and marry me and tell everyone the existence of our child," that woman had once told him. "Don't worry. I will marry no one except you in this life."Her
Only then did Adrien look him in the eye, and he smiled sarcastically. "Gilbert is going crazy looking for that woman. I didn't know you were not any better.""Now that you have had your revenge, they—""I have had my revenge?" Adrien burst out laughing as if he had heard something funny. Rising to his feet and walking up to Jensen, he looked into his dark eyes and laughed like a madman. "You think I have had my revenge after creating a misunderstanding between them? Jensen, you think too kindly of me.""What do you mean?" Jensen's expression slightly changed, his eyes turning cold."Meaning that it is not enough, not by a long shot.""W-What else do you want?""I want GK Pictures, the Kooper family's property, and everyone in their family to be in misery." Adrien took a drag and chuckled. "This revenge is nothing compared to the pain I endured back then."Jensen stared with grave eyes at the intense hatred on his face, and after a long while, he said faintly, "I just want Kisa
She was going to make another trip to Hillsby. If the two jailers also admitted that Gilbert had threatened them, then she would never make excuses for him again. She considered this trip as a second chance for herself and Gilbert.She still felt that the warden and the two guards would not conspire to frame Gilbert. If all of them said that Gilbert was behind the fire and their words matched, she would stop doubting and accept the truth. But if the two jailers said that Gilbert had never threatened them, then she would have to rethink whatever the warden said.As the thought crossed her mind, there was a sudden sound of the door opening in the living room. She subconsciously looked at the time and saw that it was just after 1 am. Jolina told her earlier that she would only be back at 4 am. So she wondered if Jolina got off work early today. She didn't move but quietly listened. But the more she listened, the more she felt something was wrong. Although she had not spent much time wit
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