Jacob's dark gaze was cold. He didn't clarify that he wasn't Elijah; instead, he reached out to pat Liesel's head. A look of heartache crossed his eyes. "You must be too fatigued. You also have a weak constitution. That's why you fell sick."He covered Liesel's bruised hand with his own. "The needle also moved out of place a few times, so we couldn't keep poking the same hand. At the time, you were deep asleep, lying on your other hand. I didn't want to startle you, so I asked the nursing staff to insert the IV needle into your arm instead. There's still half a bag of drip left to go, so hold on a little longer."At that moment, Liesel looked very faint. Her face was completely devoid of color, and pain was the only thing written on her face.Jacob felt a lump in his throat as he gazed at her with a complicated look. The emotion in his gaze was truly unreadable.Liesel's head was aching badly. She suddenly placed her hand on her belly, realizing that something wasn't right. Her bel
There had been their marriage, the car, the presents, the company, the job… Finally, there was the baby.The final tie between Liesel and Jacob was completely gone.A cold yet wry laugh escaped Liesel's throat. "That wasn't the bond tying me and Elijah together. Jacob, you wouldn't understand.""I don't care about these things!" Jacob gripped her hand tightly while gazing at her fixedly. Right now, he'd completely shredded the calmness and emotional regulation that he prided himself on. He seemed to be struggling to make the final decision. "Liesel, I'm giving you a chance. I'm giving you a chance to return to my side."He thought to himself, "If you make the right choice this time, I'll let you off the hook. You'll live a comfortable life, and you'll marry me and become my wife once again. I can put aside everything that happened between you and Elijah."Return to his side?Liesel's expression suddenly changed. Her face turned ashen, and her lips were even trembling lightly. S
However, Liesel didn't even look at the food. All she felt were chills from the ice running through her body. Even looking at food made her want to throw up."Where's my phone?" she asked quietly. She hung her head without looking at Drew.Right now, she couldn't even tell whom she was angry at.Drew froze for a moment. "It was crushed in the accident."Without saying a word, she got out of bed. However, she was so frail that she immediately crumpled to the floor.Drew tried to help her up, but she stubbornly avoided his touch. Instead, she continued to sit on the cold floor. "Don't touch me."She was so powerless that she couldn't even hold onto anything."I feel sick when I look at you all," she spat icily. She couldn't care less how Drew would feel hearing those words.She looked up, meeting Drew's hurt eyes. "Jacob did this, didn't he?" she asked intensely. Her voice made it sound like this was an interrogation.Earlier, her mind had been a mess. She had been so overcome w
"Should I call Elijah? Can I call him? If he's busy with the Hardin Group's partnership…" Liesel trailed off dazedly.Under these circumstances, she wouldn't call Elijah. She quietly bowed her head and slowly shuffled back to bed.Lying down, she pulled the sheets over her head, shrouding herself in complete darkness. Tears kept streaming down her face and wetting the pillowcase. The damp chill pressed against the side of her face.She couldn't close her eyes. As soon as her eyelids shut, all she could see was the child walking away resolutely. She covered her mouth, not allowing herself to sob out loud. This was humiliating.After some time passed, she could hear hurried footsteps approaching her bed."Elijah, how are you—" Drew exclaimed in shock.At this time, Elijah should be starting the partnership talks with Fruece. Why was he back now?Was he willing to throw away the partnership to be by Liesel's side?That was a several billion-dollar deal. He was truly crazy!Befo
Liesel said nothing. She didn't want to push all the blame on Elijah. After all, Elijah was the most innocent one in this situation."I just can't accept reality. We were so excited to meet our baby. I was even thinking about how we'd make handicrafts and watch his favorite cartoons together. I was looking forward to being by his side as he slowly transitioned to adulthood. I wanted to give him everything, but…"The grief overcame her once again, and she couldn't stop herself from tearing up."Lili, don't try to run from this. You have to accept what happened," Elijah said. His gaze was warm but firm. "We never wanted this to happen. You already did everything you could, but it's not fated to be. It's neither my fault nor yours; it's the fault of the accident."He hasn't arrived in this world yet, so he gets a chance to choose differently. Perhaps he'll be reincarnated into a better family and live a better life."While he was inside your belly, he was always a good boy. Therefore
"Be good and get some rest."Liesel hummed in agreement, but her eyes kept tracking Elijah's movements.Elijah sat down by her bed and squeezed her fingers which were still slightly cold. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here with you."Liesel continued to stare at him without saying a word."I really am not going anywhere. In the future, no matter where I go, I'll make sure to bring you along, Lili."Only then did Liesel close her eyes to rest.Drew, who had never left the room, saw everything. His heart clenched.In public, Liesel always appeared decisive and efficient. When she was with Jacob, she'd been nothing but elegant and considerate.In his mind, she had always been perfect.But today, he finally realized that she actually wasn't perfect. She also got hurt and upset, and she also felt fear. This version of her was actually closer to her true self.The Liesel from the past seemed to be shrouded in a deceptive veil now. The Liesel that he was looking at now was
"Liesel, are you crazy?" Drew asked. His voice was laced with anger.Liesel regarded him calmly. "This is my business. It has nothing to do with you."With that, she wiped the blood off her arm.With the door shut, the hospital room was pin-drop silent. She could hear the faint rush of the blood in her ears. It felt like the blood was about to surge through her skin and destroy her.Leaning against the wall for support, she shakily got to her feet. Her head swam.Even though she couldn't even stand without swaying, she still pushed Drew's hand away. She opened the door slightly, hoping to hear what was being discussed outside.Elijah had flown abroad for a partnership project for the financial summit, but as soon as he landed, he'd caught the next flight home because of what happened to Liesel. The potential business partner had most likely never even seen him.Foreigners placed high importance on keeping promises. No matter what happened, one had to hold up their end of a promi
Elijah was quiet for a moment. Finally, he signed and handed the phone to Liesel.Liesel dialed Alyssa's number. Alyssa's assistant, John Welkin, picked up instead. Clearly, Alyssa had no interest in talking to Elijah anymore.John had planned to brush Elijah off with a few perfunctory words, but when he realized it was Liesel, he was stunned."It's Ms Sharp!"With just that one sentence, John managed to summon Alyssa over."Ms. Sharp? Oh my God, is it really you? Why are you calling me with Mr. Hardin's phone?" Alyssa grabbed the phone back in surprise. "Ms. Sharp, why do you sound so worn out? Did something happen? Do you need me to send a doctor? You don't sound well."In stark contrast to the cold and mocking attitude she gave Elijah, Alyssa showed Liesel nothing but warmth and gentleness.It wasn't just because Liesel's face was a sight for sore eyes, but her Shifter Corporation had also raked in a lot of profits for Alyssa. Basically, any partnership with Liesel was bound
"You know how it is. It's always hard to strike a deal between two smart people."Charles laughed.He knew that when Liesel suggested a partnership with Ford Corporation to manufacture anti-cancer drugs, it was actually a huge trap.Liesel and Howard were both researchers. Who could say for sure that after they gave Ford Corporation the drug formula, they wouldn't refine the drug further and make something even more effective?Considering Liesel's and Howard's intelligence, there would undoubtedly be a more potent version of the drug. However, Liesel would never choose to continue working together with Ford Corporation. Therefore, he had decided to ask for a mile. He had asked to collaborate on the artificial intelligence project.It wasn't that he was being greedy.It was because Ford Corporation wasn't the same as it had been a year ago. He had to tread very carefully to avoid falling for someone's scheme again.Without Liesel and Drew, there were many tasks that only he and
"Do you not want to hug?" Liesel cocked her head at him. "Don't think I don't know you. I bet you already wanted to kiss me and hold me the moment you spotted Jacob. Otherwise, you wouldn't have tightened your arms around me."Hadn't Elijah done that to send Jacob a message that Liesel belonged to him?Having been together for so long, there wasn't anything that she didn't understand about him."In that case, thank you for giving me a chance and playing along." Since he couldn't think of an excuse, he just came clean. There was even a look of amusement on his face.He pulled her into his arms affectionately. She also hugged him back, like she was a child staking her territory."Should we add some more spice and kiss?"This was really becoming more and more provocative.Why not?A smile appeared on Elijah's face, as if he was saying to her, "Bring it on."And she did. She peppered Elijah's face with continuous pecks. Then, she yanked on his collar, like she was claiming him as
From a short distance away, Jacob could see Elijah's arm curled around Liesel's tiny waist. She seemed very dependent on him as she lay in his arms listlessly. It was a stark contrast to the way she behaved in public with other people.Whether it was with reporters or business partners, she always seemed like a steady pillar of strength. She was graceful and calm, but there was a hidden sharpness within her.Anyone who interacted with her could feel the hidden threat that was lurking inside of her.Yet, the Liesel now seemed to have shed all the sharp spikes on her body, revealing only the soft insides. She appeared gentle and submissive… Or rather, she only showed this side of her to her lover.He should have been the one to get all of this.He should have been her lover.He was the one who'd thrown all of this away. All he could do was watch as Elijah purposely pissed him off.He was a man too. Of course, he knew that Elijah was doing it on purpose.Of course, he resented Eli
Elijah seized Liesel's wrists while chuckling coldly. "So what if you're someone's wife? If I wanted you, all I'd have to do is tell him. Then, he'd definitely have someone clean you up nicely and send you straight into my bed."He lifted her chin with his finger. "Do you think that your husband is a decent man? Do you think that he'd disobey me for you?"Liesel swallowed. She was enraptured by the look in Elijah's eyes right now.He nibbled on her ear while patting her panicked and pale face. "If you're obedient, I'll treat you well. If you're unwilling to play along and make me happy, I'll kill your husband and lock you up in my home. You'll never see the light of day again."Stripping off her clothes, Liesel bit his earlobe and whispered, "It's such a waste that you didn't go into the acting industry with Chelsea."Elijah chuckled quietly, letting her hands roam all over him. They left a trail of fire in their wake. When he was all riled up and ready to go, Liesel suddenly hugg
Liesel left.Charles gazed at the still-warm cup of tea on the table. There was a chilling look in his eyes.This was one of the times he'd made the wrong move.After walking out of Charles' office, Liesel wasn't surprised to see Jacob. However, she didn't even stop and simply walked out.He trailed after her leisurely until she was nearly out of Ford Corporation. Just as he was about to call out to her, he heard a cheerful, gentle voice calling her name."Lili, I'm here to pick you up." Jacob's eyes darkened. When he looked up, he saw Elijah sitting in a wheelchair and smiling at Liesel.Liesel didn't mind at all that he was a cripple. With a grin on her face, she crouched down next to him. Then, she grabbed his hand and placed it against her cheek.Jacob's chest clenched when he saw that. It felt like arrows piercing his heart.Liesel could still feel Jacob's eyes on her, but she didn't care. She even pecked Elijah lightly on the lips in front of Jacob. Then, while pushing
"Charles, even though we worked together for three years, you still don't understand me at all."Liesel tapped her fingers against the desk. While it was quiet, it also sounded indescribably threatening."Have you not seen what happened to Dash?"If someone tries to snatch something from me, not only will I make their wishes come true, but I'll also make them pay the price."You can only take what I give you. If you insist on snatching what I'm unwilling to give… then you will find out the price you'll have to pay."She grinned, but it carried an obvious iciness.Dash was indeed the best example.He had tried to snatch collaboration opportunities from her, so she squashed him. And that wasn't all. She also bought his land and assets from him for dirt cheap.Dash tried to steal her data and establish his own vehicle manufacturing plant in Draskia, so she simply chased him and all his businesses out of Draskia.Anyone who tried to plot against her and steal from her suffered hor
"If you have something that even Jacob doesn't, you must be very loyal to him.""Thanks for the compliment." Charles chuckled quietly. "Of course, I am loyal to Mr. Ford. It's because I'm loyal to Mr. Ford that I kept the evidence just in case."If Matthew decided to betray Mr. Ford one day, then I could use this to retaliate against him. After all, you also know that Matthew is far from a nice person."Jacob placed a lot of importance on Matthew because his parents had passed away early, so he'd been raised by Matthew and Vincent since he was younger. He ended up viewing Matthew as somewhat of a father figure. His love for his family had ended up blinding him, making him unwilling to bring harm to Matthew.However, Charles was different. He didn't have any significant feelings toward Matthew. He only cared about protecting Jacob's interests.Matthew was a selfish person who only cared about his own interests. This was why Charles had gone against Jacob's orders and kept the evi
If it had been Elijah who'd done this, what would Liesel have done?Could she still be so righteous?However, Jacob's words only made her stifle a laugh. Without even turning around, she said sardonically, "If Elijah was this kind of person, then I would never have gotten together with him."Whether it comes to family or lovers, first of all, they should have the right principles. They should know what they should or shouldn't do."Even a child can tell what's right from wrong, but an adult like Matthew doesn't know where to draw the line. Jacob, one day he will pay the price for everything that he's done."In the end, Jacob didn't stop her from leaving.He couldn't help but clench his fists. His eyes darkened.Liesel had always been strongly opposed to evil. Making things worse, Drew was the scapegoat for Matthew's misdeeds this time.Over the years, Jacob had already gotten Matthew out of trouble countless times. He was getting tired of it.He really wanted to call out to Li
Natalie wanted to destroy Ford Corporation as soon as possible.Once there was a new leader in Ford Corporation, would Jacob still be so arrogant?Natalie laughed coldly. Then, she remembered the words she heard in the hospital, and her expression frosted over.She thought that since she was already in the same boat as Edward, and that Edward might become the future leader of Ford Corporation, she could go for him instead.After all, Edward was tall and handsome. In her eyes, he wasn't inferior to Jacob at all.However, she never thought… that Edward already had a lover, and that it was his sister, Ophelia, of all people.Till today, she still remembered how that bitch, Ophelia, had once insulted her because of her background. To defend Liesel, Ophelia had mocked her for being a bastard child.How come Ophelia deserved to be with Edward? They were siblings! Even if they weren't related by blood, they had still grown up as brother and sister. Weren't they afraid of getting expose