The man put his arms around her waist and sneered, "Is the story about Jensen falling into the river so interesting that it is worth watching it over and over again?"Lea was holding her phone with a trembling hand. "W-Why is this happening?""Who knows? I guess Jensen just has bad luck. By the looks of things, he is just a short-lived git." Anthony snorted carelessly. Seeing Lea's face pale as a ghost, her body trembling as if unable to accept this fact, Anthony frowned with a flash of suspicion and viciousness on his face."Aaaaah!" Lea suddenly cried out, the phone in her hand dropping off onto the carpet beside the bed.The man pulled at her hair, forcing her to look up. "You seem to be very heartbroken after Jensen fell into the river. Have you taken a liking to him after just being Kisa's assistant for a while?"Lea shook her head but instantly gasped in pain as her hair was being pulled at. Her trembling voice was laden with sobs. "I-I didn't. I didn't take a liking to him.
Anthony's action halted, his ghastly eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What do you mean?"Lea said nothing, just cried in misery, her pale face full of guilt.Anthony had no patience. He grasped her neck and asked, "You better tell me clearly what you did behind my back again.""I-I just told Gilbert that Jensen was going to hide that warden at the south side of the mountain. I didn't know this would happen. It is my fault for whatever happened to Jensen and Gilbert. I shouldn't have talked too much. It is all my fault."A flash of fury crept up on Anthony's face as he heard this. "How dare you f*cking spoil our plan? Did I treat you too well all this time that you dare to betray me?" He growled, tightening his grasp on her neck.Lea sobbed uncontrollably. She did not struggle, just cried with guilt. "I was wrong. Kisa must hate me. What should I do? How could this happen? I just thought it would resolve the misunderstanding between Gilbert and Kisa when Gilbert found the warden. But
She trudged to the window, then took out her cigarette pack and lighter with trembling hands. It was late at night, and no one would care that she was smoking in the hospital. She lit a cigarette and had just taken a drag when Peter, dressed in a protective suit, came out of the emergency room.Kisa hurriedly went up to him. "How's it going?"Peter shook his head. "They are still trying to revive him. Everyone looks so serious. I don't know how the situation is."Mia leaned against the wall and was somewhat feeble. She held the cigarette tightly and said nothing.Kisa was worried about Peter's condition as he had just donated blood, so she helped him to sit on a chair so he could rest for a while, but Peter frowned and shook off her hand. "What are you doing?" As he said that, he glanced at Jolina, but Jolina did not look at him at all."You have just had a blood transfusion, so go rest for a while," Kisa said."No, I didn't have a blood transfusion," Peter said and hurriedly exp
"Mr. Kooper!" Jolina shouted subconsciously, looking anxiously at Kisa.However, Kisa remained indifferent and abhorrent. In her eyes, whatever Gilbert was doing at the moment was all a show, and he was so good at acting that he could fool everyone. Now she told herself she would not and would never fall for it again.Peter could not help but say to Kisa, " You have actually misunderstood him. As much as he didn't want me to talk about it, I couldn't keep quiet anymore."Kisa said nothing, her face remaining taut and sullen."I wanted to donate blood to Jensen, but Gilbert kept asking Kelvin to draw his blood like a madman. Kelvin said that he had reached his limit and would be detrimental to his body if he continued to do this. Kelvin was supposed to have me donate blood to Jensen, but Gilbert wouldn't let him take my blood and said I could replace him when no more blood could be drawn from him. He was like a man possessed," Peter said."So what?" Kisa asked indifferently, "What
Madalyn pursed her lips and then said, "It was Davian who brought you back." A flash of anger crept up on her face. "You wanted to kill yourself, didn't you? The doctor said you lost too much blood. If you don't take care of yourself now, you will get yourself killed.""But Jensen isn't out of danger yet. No matter how much blood he needs, I'm willing to donate it to him." Gilbert murmured, his bleary eyes staring vacantly at the ceiling. 'Kisa hates me for a reason. The other things aside, it was my pursuit that caused Jensen's accident. If I hadn't been chasing, he wouldn't have fallen into the river.' He felt powerless at the thought of this indisputable fact, feeling his explanation weak and empty. He rubbed his forehead in dismay, questioning himself. 'Why wasn't I the one who met with such an accident? Would Kisa be anxious, instead of hating me so much as she does now if this happens to me?'Seeing his expression, Madalyn quickly asked, "What's wrong? You feel unwell?" Gilbert
Davian spoke indignantly before realizing that he had talked inappropriately. He glanced at Gilbert, only to see Gilbert staring blankly at the ceiling with no expression on his face. Davian was relieved. He thought his speaking out of turn had upset Gilbert."Mr. Kooper, you...""Leave me alone." Gilbert suddenly said with little emotion in his voice. He sounded rather calm and somewhat eerie.Davian asked worriedly, "Are you all right, Mr. Kooper?""Get out and leave me alone."Davian pursed his lips and headed outside.After Davian left, Gilbert closed his eyes, and tears instantly trickled down from the corners of his eyes. 'All she has left of me now is disgust and hatred and even a wish for my death. Now that the warden is dead and Jensen is in a coma, how else can I explain to her?' The sense of powerlessness left him with a deep sense of despair. It was a feeling that was worse than dying. How he wished he was the one, not Jensen, lying unconscious in the hospital now..
Adrien leaned against the wall at the far end of the hallway and smoked.Lea walked over to him apprehensively. She knew Adrien was a powerful man whom Sharon and Anthony were both sucking up to. So she knew she could not afford to offend him. But he was responsible for Kisa and Gilbert's fallout. Whenever she saw Kisa's grief-stricken face, she had wanted to tell the truth but did not dare. She was still too timid and cowardly."Mr. Tanner.""Anthony dotes on you, doesn't he?" Adrien asked an entirely unrelated question. Lea was transfixed for a moment, not saying anything. He exhaled a ring of smoke and smiled absently. "I wanted to kill you a few times, but Anthony stopped me."Lea was wide-eyed, not fearing his killing intent but in shock that Anthony would protect her."You and Anthony are pretty close, too, aren't you?" Adrien looked at her. He had a gentle smile on his face, but the look in his eyes was intimidating. "Frankly speaking, Anthony is just a stooge of the Mullen
Adrien suddenly sighed, sounding self-recriminating."It is not your fault. It is my fault; I was the one who caused this to happen to Jensen," Kisa said, her eyes narrowing grimly. "So, I will avenge him." Not only Jensen's revenge but also hers. She would seek revenge against Gilbert. 'Heh, you played with my feelings, didn't you? Gilbert, do you think I am the best person in the world to fool and manipulate? This time, I will give as good as I take.'The rain poured down. Gilbert was standing in the courtyard, letting the rain beat down on him.Madalyn stood at the doorway and called out anxiously, but Gilbert did not seem to hear her. She tugged urgently at Kelvin. "Come on, Kelvin, pull him in. He is still weak. He can't stand in the rain like this. Come on!""Just let him be. Maybe he will feel better this way." Kelvin looked at Gilbert in the rain and spoke with distress. 'Emotional wounds are much more difficult to heal than physical ones. It is not a bad idea for Gilbert t
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