Madalyn reached for her phone hurriedly and showed it to Gilbert as she spoke.Kisa looked at her silently, and she felt embarrassed for her. She was just talking with Shaun, yet Madalyn made it look like she caught Kisa cheating on Gilbert.Madalyn searched for the photos in her phone before she handed them to Gilbert. "Look, she was plotting something with that man early in the morning. You've got to beware of her. I'm sure that she's up to something by getting back together with you this time."Gilbert looked at the photos without saying anything. He saw Kisa talking with a man in the photos, and he could remember that man being Jensen's assistant, Shaun.He put Madalyn's phone away and said to her with a smile on his face, "Grandma, you misunderstood Kisa. That man is just an employee.""Quit defending her. Why didn't that man look for you instead if he's really from your company? He even came here early just to talk to her." Madalyn glared at Kisa disgustedly as she said that
Gilbert spoke very seriously, yet his eyes looked gentle and affectionate.Kisa was stunned as she stared into his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat.She looked away anxiously before trying to catch her breath, smiling faintly at him. "I was just joking with you. I didn't expect your joke to be even better than mine!"Gilbert was about to say something, but Kisa already opened the door and got out of the car. She bent down and smiled cheekily at the man sitting inside the car. "Remember to pick me up later."She walked into the set while carrying her bag after saying that. Gilbert stared at her slim back as a sarcastic smile appeared on his face.'Is my credibility really this terrible now? I genuinely meant what I said, yet she thought that it was a joke!'Gilbert shook his head in resignation. He needed to stop thinking too deeply about it, or it would upset him again. He only made a U-turn and drove in his office's direction after Kisa disappeared from his sight.Kisa hid at the
Jolina ignored Peter and continued looking at Kisa worriedly.Kisa patted her hand. Then, she smiled and said reassuringly, "It'll be fine. You can go back first; he won't do anything to me."However, Jolina was still worried.'This man is vile and shameless; I witnessed it firsthand. He must've lost interest in me and has shifted his target onto Kisa,' she thought.When she thought of this, she felt even more panicked. She turned to Peter and warned him icily, "Kisa is one of Mr. Kooper's people, so you better not mess around with her. Otherwise, Mr. Kooper won't spare you!"Peter felt jealousy swimming in his chest when he heard her describe Gilbert's greatness.He glared at Jolina and snorted icily, "You think I'm afraid of Gilbert Kooper? I'd still dare to hit on his woman even if he were around!""Then you can give it a try!"Right after Peter spoke, a cold voice came from the door.Kisa froze and quickly turned around. Then, she saw Gilbert walking toward them.His dark
The man promptly shoved Kisa angrily before she could finish her sentence.Kisa stumbled a few steps back in a panic. Just as she found her balance, she saw the man angrily growl at her, "If you want to have dinner with him, then go. I won't stop you!"Then, the man turned around and exited the set in a fit of rage.Peter smirked and chimed in. "Don't blame others when you can't satisfy your woman! Why throw a tantrum?""Shut your mouth!" Kisa roared at Peter in annoyance.When she turned around, Gilbert was no longer at the set's exit.Kisa stared at the dark sky outside in a daze. She felt an inexplicable sense of guilt; it was a sense of guilt toward the man.She quickly dismissed the strange emotion she felt.'How funny. Gilbert is always the one hurting and lying to me. He has done so many things that let me down and even murdered my child, so why would I feel guilty toward him? Did him being nice to me for a few days heal my wounds and forget about the pain?' she wondered
"Stop flattering yourself. I'm not even one bit interested in you. I only spoke to you because I wanted to piss Gilbert off and test Jolina."Kisa figured that out long ago.She leaned into her chair and smiled slightly at him. "What a coincidence. You shouldn't flatter yourself either because I'm not interested in you."Peter immediately snorted sardonically. His face brimmed with disdain."You're in denial. Why would you ditch Gilbert to dinner with me if you weren't interested in me?"He continued, "And, you were touching my pecs yesterday as if you were spellbound...""Ahem..." Kisa quickly cut him off awkwardly. Then, she said bluntly, "To be honest, Gilbert's pecs look much better than yours. They feel better, too. Rather than touching yours, I'd rather touch his.""You!" the man's expression instantly darkened.Peter was suddenly reminded of Jolina praising Gilbert. He grew even more furious and felt a hint of jealousy."You women are blind. What's so good about Gilbert
The man left after he finished his sentence. Meanwhile, Kisa froze.'What? If that birthmark is so common that everyone has it and even has it at the exact same spot, doesn't this mean that I can't use this characteristic to find the child mother gave birth to?' she wondered.Kisa propped her arms on the table and hugged her head in annoyance.'What's going on? I can't believe how coincidental this is. Three people have a birthmark on the same place. What's more, their birthmarks all look the same. But, there's no reason for Peter to lie to me, so it looks like I still need to visit the Webb residence,' she thought again.When Kisa thought of Peter's outburst earlier, she suddenly felt a little regretful.'If I had known that Peter hated people bringing up his mother, then I wouldn't have worded it that way,' she thought.Kisa leaned against the chair restlessly. She looked at the table full of dishes but was no longer in the mood to eat.However, Peter was generous. Even though
Kisa strolled about for a long time before finally hailing a cab home.When she arrived at the Kooper residence, it was already ten o'clock at night.Madalyn and the children had gone to sleep long ago.Kisa stood in the courtyard and looked around. The house was pitch black, so she was unsure if they had locked the gate in the courtyard.'If the courtyard's gate is locked, I'll go back to my own place,' she thought.She reached out and pushed the gate, and it actually opened with a single push.It turned out the gate in the courtyard was ajar.She quietly walked into the courtyard and scanned the area.'Gilbert's cars are all here, so he must be home,' she thought.Kisa turned around and locked the door. Then, she started walking toward the door.The door was also ajar as if someone had left it open for her on purpose.Kisa did not think much about it and tip-toed into the house.It was pitch black inside, so Kisa switched on the flashlight on her phone. Then, she looked a
The box went in a circle on the ground and bounced open as an expensive, refined men's watch dropped out of it. Kisa stared at the gift in astonishment. She pursed her lips and stayed quiet. She had picked a watch that suited Gilbert's noble temperament. But, he just threw it to the ground as if it was nothing, which reminded Kisa of the past where he dismissed her kindness every time, mercilessly throwing it to the ground. She used to feel sad about it, but there was nothing to feel sad about since she was no longer as sincere as she was before.Instead, a smile appeared on her face. "Look at you. I bought a gift just to coax you, and you're still mad. You're so hard to please!"Gilbert stared at her deeply. "Did I say I want a gift? How dare you leave me like that in public and have dinner with another man! Don't I deserve an explanation?"'An explanation? Hah. He never believed me every time I tried to explain myself in the past. So, I didn't think there was a need to explain mys
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