"Don't cry," Emily said.
She hurriedly wiped away Diane's tears. "Since you have to think I'm your mommy, then you can call me mommy. I won't mind."Diane covered her lips and cried out, her voice choked. "Can I hug you?""Sure." Emily reached out and took the little girl into her arms.The nine-year-old Diane, who was already grew up, let out a sob on her shoulder. Not far away, Diane's assistant hurriedly clicked several pictures, and then sighed heavily. He had been working for Diane for three years and had never seen her look so sad.In everyone's eyes, Diane, the talented painter, was a cool girl who never cried or laughed, showing no extra expressions. She would only smile lightly when facing her daddy and her three brothers, but that smile never reached the depths of her eyes. However, he saw her genuinely smile and also saw her cry today...Could it be that this woman was really her mother who had been missing for four yearIn Kinnis.The dawn broke, the sun rose, and a new day began.The Parker family seized the opportunity of Fiona's grandmother's birthday to organize a grand banquet, inviting several dignitaries in Kinnis. The event took place at the city's largest five-star hotel. Additionally, the president of the Scott Group, rumored to be unrivaled in the entire country, was expected to attend, ostensibly to invest in a Kinnis project.At the hotel entrance, a throng of journalists had gathered, each eagerly waiting with a camera in hand. Alongside the reporters, key figures from prominent families in Kinnis were also in attendance."When will Mr. Scott arrive?" inquired a reporter who, after a prolonged wait, had yet to spot the president of the renowned Scott Group."Mr. Scott is occupied with work and unsure of his arrival time. I suggest you proceed with the banquet for now," replied the staff member. Disappointment filled the room as everyone reluctantly returned to
At that moment, Peter sat on the opposite end of the couch, shaking a pocket watch in his hand, a faint ringing sound resonating through the living room. "Emily, please open your eyes," he intoned hypnotically.Peter's mesmerizing voice echoed repeatedly, and eventually, the woman on the couch slowly complied, opening her eyes.Her gaze was vacant, clearly indicating she had succumbed to hypnosis."Emily, do you recall what transpired after you awoke?""I woke up in the hospital; I don't remember anything," she replied.Peter pressed on, "In your mind, is there someone you must see?"The woman, initially staring blankly, suddenly exhibited a hint of sadness in her eyes. Her scarlet lips trembled as she spoke, "My child..."Derek intervened, gesturing for attention. Peter promptly closed his pocket watch, and Emily's eyes shut as she lapsed into unconsciousness once more."Mr. Scott," Peter spoke with a solemn gaze, "she seems to have exp
Emily sat in her room, casually swiping through the news on her cell phone.Derek's involvement with Kinnis had already made local headlines, but the media didn't capture any new images of him; they reused the photo from his attendance at the previous press conference.In the picture, he wore a black suit and a gray bow tie, his eyes cold and sharp, emitting an aura no less intimidating than in real life.She typed "Derek" into the search bar, and the information promptly appeared.Derek, the president of the Scott Group, thirty years old, had ascended to leadership at the age of eighteen. Under his guidance, the Scott Group had reached unprecedented heights, earning him admiration from countless individuals.Emily glanced at Derek's marital status: he had been married for four and a half years, with a scandal involving a third party surfacing just a month after the wedding.She snorted lightly.Suddenly, a
Half a month later, the plane sliced through the clouds and touched down at the airport.Upon reaching the hotel, Emily freshened up and hailed a cab to the Scott Group.She intended to engage in a thorough discussion with the head of the Scott Group regarding the previous project and, furthermore, to explore potential opportunities. After all, she was keen to avoid continuing as Derek's secretary if possible.The car swiftly pulled up in front of the Scott Group, prompting Emily to touch up her makeup before confidently entering.She made her way to the reception desk and inquired in a soft tone, "I'm here to discuss a business contract with Eric.""May I ask if you have an appointment?" The receptionist began, but abruptly halted upon seeing Emily. Why did this woman seem so familiar?Before the receptionist could ponder further, Eric approached and greeted, "Ms. Parker, you're here bright and early.""Early bird catches the worm," Em
The night was growing late. Emily sat on her bed after her shower, working on her laptop."Buzz buzz!"Her cell phone suddenly vibrated. She glanced at the caller ID; it was an unfamiliar number. She frowned but answered the call."It's me," came Derek's voice. Emily's entire body froze. Why was he calling her at this hour? She pressed down her racing heart and responded calmly, "Mr. Scott?""I'm downstairs from you," Derek said.Hearing Derek's words, Emily almost jumped out of bed. She took a deep breath. "Mr. Scott, are you serious?""You'll know if I'm joking if you walk over to the balcony and look out the window," Derek replied.Emily set aside her laptop and got off the bed.Taking one quiet step at a time, she walked over to the balcony and pulled back the curtains slightly, counting.Her room was on the third floor, just high enough for her to see a tall sycamore tree under the apartment building.Derek, dr
The back of Emily's head throbbed slightly, the image of the child replaying in her mind incessantly.She rubbed her temples, then rose to start her morning routine, washing up and applying makeup.After that, she glanced at the time: eleven-thirty in the morning. Emily adjusted her purse and headed out the door, intending to hail a cab, but a sleek black car pulled up elegantly in front of her.Derek parked and gracefully opened his door. He wore a dark black suit adorned with subtle golden lines on the cuffs, exuding an air of elegance and perhaps a hint of arrogance. He gestured toward the passenger seat, saying, "Emily, please, get in."Emily obliged, sitting down and reaching for her seatbelt, but before she could fasten it, Derek leaned over, carefully securing it for her. Emily held her breath, feeling a flutter of nerves.Derek suppressed a chuckle at her adorable apprehension, returning to the driver's seat and then started the car
"Mr. Scott?" Emily called out softly.Derek snapped back to reality and replied faintly, "I'll go grab your clothes from the bathroom." He rose, fetched the clothes, and placed them beside the bed. He pursed his lips and added, "Once you've changed, I'll take you to the hospital for a check-up."Emily met his gaze. "No need, it's an old issue.""It's better to get it checked, for peace of mind," Derek insisted, his voice warm and elegant, tinged with concern and affection.Emily hesitated, momentarily caught off guard. It hadn't occurred to her that Derek's concern might be genuine. Yet, they hadn't known each other for long. Could someone truly fall in love so quickly?"Why do I think he loves me? I must be crazy!" she thought.Quickly dressing, Emily found the dress fitting her perfectly, as if tailored for her. She slipped on her shoes and quietly exited the room, catching a glimpse of Derek at the dining table with the four children, the housekeeper
Emily closed her laptop slowly as she walked over to the window, releasing a deep breath before reaching for her cell phone to make a call. "I want to return to Kinnis tonight," she stated firmly.As her words left her lips, a car abruptly screeched to a stop downstairs, its brakes emitting a sharp, harsh sound.Emily, standing by the window sill, turned her head to see a man stepping out of the driver's seat, clad in a conspicuous black suit that stood out against the afternoon sun. The light seemed to favor him, casting all attention upon him, rendering it impossible to look away.Mixed emotions surged within Emily at that moment.Before she could process further, her cell phone buzzed.Glancing at the caller ID, she promptly ended the call.Her gaze then fell upon the man downstairs, and her eyes locked with Derek's dark, stern stare. In those eyes, she sensed an intense, unspoken emotion, one she dared not inquire about.Returning to her room, Emily settled onto the living room co
Time flied, and before everyone realized it, a year had gone by.During this time, Charlotte's life abroad appeared calm and routine. She woke up early every day for classes, diligently completed assignments, engaged in academic discussions with her classmates, and participated in various club activities. In the eyes of her friends, she was a positive and energetic girl.Only she knew deep down that she had been waiting, waiting for the one she loved so dearly, the prince who had promised to come back for her.Late at night, Charlotte often found herself sitting alone at her small dormitory desk, gazing out the window at the starry sky, feeling a lingering sense of loss and loneliness in her heart. She had asked herself more than once where Kingsley was and why he never wrote or called.On this sunny day, Charlotte went to the school library as usual, ready to work on an important paper. She sat by the window, her desk piled high with various referenc
Kingsley knew deep down that Charlotte wasn't that kind of person, but the beast suppressed within him was roaring uncontrollably, and the malice rooted in the marrow of his bones surged through him, causing even his blood to boil.His eyes turned cold and gloomy as he glanced towards Charlotte's siblings, emotions spiraling out of control within him.If without them...If...Kingsley suddenly felt a weight on his shoulders.He turned to see Freya's hand resting there, her expression hardened, eyes gazing up at him with concern.Charlotte pushed past Aaron and edged forward.Seeing Kingsley's obviously troubled eyes, her heart raced, her voice becoming raspy and hard to hear. "Wait... for me..."At the sound of her voice, Kingsley visibly froze, then the darkness in his eyes lifted abruptly as he stared into hers, his tone somewhat uncertain. "Charlotte? What's with your voice?"Charlotte's eyes reddened, but she bit her
On this day, Charlotte's siblings took her to the hospital to visit Kingsley at Derek and Emily's insistence.At the hospital entrance, Freya and Chris chatted as they walked toward Kingsley's room. Charlotte's footsteps behind them were eager, and Diana held her back, squeezing her hand to calm her.Charlotte glanced at her sister, understanding the concern in Diana's eyes, biting her lip to suppress the impatience in her heart.She couldn't be blamed for being eager; since witnessing Kingsley jump from the school building rooftop, she hadn't exchanged a word with him.Their closeness was stark, yet they were almost separated by life and death. The image of Kingsley jumping from the building was like a nightmare etched in her mind.Thinking about it brought back that choking feeling, making her breath quicken. She forced herself to endure it, following her siblings into the exclusive elevator that took them straight to Kingsley's floor.&nb
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the cracks in the curtains, spilling onto the carpet.Charlotte opened her eyes just in time to see Emily changing the water at her bedside. Emily was surprised when she noticed Charlotte waking up. "Charlotte, you're awake!"Charlotte nodded silently.There was a faint sound coming from outside the door. Charlotte glanced over, her expression puzzled. Emily explained beside her, "Ian and Diana are both back, and your father is outside interrogating them."Charlotte's expression shifted slightly at that news. She looked somewhat anxious.This matter was clearly her own problem, yet it seemed her father was pursuing it as if her brothers and sister were solely responsible, which felt unfair to them. The guilt inside her intensified as she thought about it.Seeing Charlotte attempting to get up, Emily quickly intervened, "Hey, Charlotte, don't move! Your injuries haven't healed yet!"As if sensi
The Scott family manor was brightly lit.After more than three years, the Scott family once again activated the first level of defense. The black-clothed bodyguards, who were early at the Scott family manor, stood firmly on guard, while the Scott family servants gathered in the hall and garden, heads lowered, waiting strictly.Vehicles neatly lined up and entered the gates of the Scott family, bypassing the open-air fountain and proceeding towards the main house.Chris's face was vaguely pale; he had learned from a phone call with Diana on the way that their parents had returned. Emily and Derek were already aware of everything that had happened.Judging by their current demeanor, one could see that Emily and Derek were genuinely angry. After all, they had kept the truth from Emily and Derek for so long, and now it was revealed after such a significant accident.Beside them, Charlotte remained silent and withdrawn. Her once clear and bright
It was hard for her to believe that the clean, even a little shy Kingsley she knew and the bloodthirsty, horrible person in front of her were the same person.She had always known that Kingsley's condition was serious, but it was only when she was confronted head-on for the first time that she realized just how horrible it was. Kingsley didn't even look like a normal person at this point."Kingsley!" Freya's expression changed; she became nervous and cautious as she slowly stepped forward. "Drop the knife and come here, let me see your wound."At this point, Theo's death was completely unimportant. If Kingsley is allowed to see more bloodshed or even directly kill Theo, I'm afraid his condition will worsen, and he won't be able to regain his sanity at all.In the face of Freya's coaxing, Kingsley did not react at all. Holding the knife in one hand, he pressed his other hand against Theo's neck harder and harder."Kingsley!" Freya was anxious, but she d
Outside the school, Charlotte was escorted to a waiting car. The vehicle was equipped with special materials, bulletproof and resistant to various thermal weapons. Even though the school's premises had been cleared of bombs, Theo had come prepared, and no one knew if he had any other plans lurking in the shadows. Chris wasn't about to let his sister take such a risk.The people at the school had no idea what kind of life-and-death disaster they had just narrowly avoided. They all emerged from the school, unaware of the danger they had faced. They got into various luxury cars and departed one after another. Originally, Carl wanted to wait at the door, but with too many acquaintances coming and going, he had no choice but to hide in the Scott family's car.Chris voiced his concern, "Are you sure Theo will keep his word?""Not entirely," Carl replied, taking off his gold-rimmed glasses and impatiently rubbing his brow. "But Kingsley had to take a gamble on whether Theo still had it in
When these words were spoken, all the bodyguards present were shocked. Theo was filled with disbelief."What did you say? You're going to declare war on me in the manner of the Livingston family?" Theo almost laughed out loud. "Do you know what you're talking about?"Carl's face hardened for a moment as well. "Kingsley, calm down!"Kingsley, however, paid no attention to him. He stared into Theo's eyes, showing no hint of hesitation or fear. He said, "I know exactly what I'm doing, so don't you dare underestimate me."This declaration made Theo's face darken, his expression obscure, filled with deep thoughts.Charlotte looked at Chris somewhat helplessly. She didn't understand what was happening. Was this a big gamble by Kingsley?Chris composed himself, looked towards Kingsley and Theo's confrontation, and softly explained, "The Livingston family has rules. Members can challenge each other when there are disputes or unavoidable conflicts. They fight one-on-one in a life-and-death due
Ben held Charlotte at gunpoint, then glanced at Theo, who sat calmly and inquired, "What do you want?""I know you plan to use her against Kingsley and the Livingston family. My request is simple: ten million dollars and a getaway car," Ben stated viciously."Oh? You're not seeking vengeance for your family?" Theo remained composed."I'm not naive! I know how to negotiate with someone like you for maximum gain. You never intended to aid in avenging my family, did you?"Theo chuckled softly. "Looks like you're still somewhat sharp, but... still an idiot!"At Theo's words, two black-clad bodyguards suddenly emerged, advancing toward Ben."Aren't you worried I'll kill her? Then you'd have nothing to hold over Kingsley!" Ben exclaimed in panic."Foolish! My aim was always to destabilize Kingsley mentally. If you did kill Charlotte, I'd owe you gratitude."Hearing this, panic flashed in Ben's eyes, and in his haste, he aimed his pistol at Theo.