Derek's heart was torn with anxiety, but he didn't tell Emily immediately.He would only take action when he was fully confident in what he was doing.If Emily was not Aaron and Ian's mother, Derek wished to be the only one disappointed and did not want Emily to bear it."Find a way to get Emily's DNA sample."Derek flipped through the paternity test report, and his thoughts were not reflected on his face.Eric lowered his head immediately after glancing at Derek's expression."Do you want...""Check if there are blood ties between Aaron, Ian, and Emily."Derek crossed his hands beneath his chin and blocked his lips.Emily was also looking through the paternity test report."So, I was right about it."Emily had been skeptical about Rose's background. When the test report confirmed it, she was mad since it was outrageous.Andrew was both shocked and angry. He had been by Bennett's side for many years and had long considere
Emily was so busy that she forgot to ask about Derek's strange behavior on Aaron and Ian's birthday. Meanwhile, Derek was eagerly waiting for the result.Time slipped away quickly in their busy days.One day, Emily and Andrew finally found the location of the RAM.Because Andrew was framed, he was unable to continue paying the fees. The garage where he deposited the items was later auctioned.To avoid alarming Laura and Ash, Emily and Andrew spent a lot of effort finding the whereabouts of those things.Today, they made an appointment to meet the buyer. The buyer happened to be on vacation in another city, making it easier for them to take action.Emily and Andrew even invited a partner out in the city to ensure that everything was safe."Buy all the other things together. They should mean something to you."Emily thought so too. The more things they bought, the easier it was to confuse the enemy."We settled the price, and the partner wo
As Derek's most capable assistant, Eric was quick in action. Plus, solving problems for Derek was part of his job.To support the Hopkinson Group, the Scott Group offered discounts during cooperation. Besides, it also helped the Hopkinson Group reach out to suppliers and partners.Eric spent the whole day digging up all those projects. Then he called the partners one by one, and they all sided with the Scott Group.Without Bennett, the Hopkinson Group was no match for the Scott Group.So picking sides was quite easy."Eric, go contact the reporters. I want the public to know that I'll break off my engagement to Rose."Eric thought, 'How I wish I had superpowers! Damn you, Rose! How dare you do so many evil deeds? I'm so tied up that I don't even have time to pee.'Right now, Rose was shopping.Lately, she had been unlucky, and nothing was going her way. Only shopping could cheer her up.When her phone rang, she had just signed a check.
"Anything else?" Derek had a playful look on his face, but Emily didn't notice it at all."You have to announce that Rose isn't Aaron and Ian's biological mother. She must not exploit the Scott family for her own benefit.""OK. I'll talk to her about breaking off the engagement now," Derek immediately took out his phone to call Rose.Though Emily was the one who brought it up, she didn't expect Derek to act so quickly. She thought, 'Doesn't he need any preparation?I figure that as the head of a family, he would weigh his interests and be fully prepped before making the next move.'Rose, who was facing Laura and Ash's questioning, received Derek's call.She interrupted, "Stop talking. It's Derek. He wants to talk to me."She couldn't help but think, 'It's been a while since he last contacted me. I guess he's calling to tell me not to be fooled by the media's irresponsible reports.'She clutched her phone with both hands.In a calm tone th
Angered by Derek's ruthlessness, Rose decided not to delude herself. She asked, "Why are you breaking off the engagement? I'm the mother of your kids. Shouldn't you marry me?"Derek's face was terrifyingly gloomy. "Stop playing dumb. If you cooperate, I'll only tell the public that we break off our engagement and that you are not my kids' biological mother. But if you keep pestering me, the Hopkinson Group'll lose more than several projects. What you and Laura have done will also be dug up."Rose paled at his words."No way," she murmured, refusing to believe that Derek had founded out the truth.Derek checked the time and thought, 'Emily should've already arrived at the Scott's by now. Yet I still needa deal with this damn woman who kept me and Emily apart.'"Think about what you're gonna do. I don't wanna hear anyone gossiping about our relationship ever again. Get it?"Derek wasn't letting Rose off. He just thought it'd be better for Emily to revenge
Unlike the warmth in the Scott's, the atmosphere in the Hopkinson's was thick with tension.The servants had been kicked out, and the hall was a mess. The floor was covered with shards, and there were signs of violence everywhere."You good-for-nothings!" Ash puffed for breath. He had been indulging himself all these years. So he could barely stand still after venting his anger.Laura's well-preserved face became haggard. Her face mirrored the quality of her life. Now she looked older than her age."We haven't lost yet. I don't think that we can't take charge of the Hopkinson Group without the Scott Group. After all these years, the shareholders are in our control. Plus, we've got the will. How's anyone gonna compete with us?"Laura was the first to pull herself together, and her words stopped Ash and Rose from feeling down."Bennett could make the Hopkinson Group better, so can I." Ash always considered himself better than Bennett. It was because of th
Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for Emily and Derek's wedding.Surveying the bustling attendants and the increasing number of guests, Emily couldn't help but feel a bit nervous."Hey, Emily, you look stunning today."At that moment, Louise's voice suddenly came from behind. She was adorned in a simple black evening dress, smiling at Emily.Emily hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She then furrowed her brow and nodded gently."Emily, today is a day of celebration. Don't look like that; you need to be happy, like this."Noticing Emily's unease, Louise approached her with concern, making a funny face to lighten the mood. Truth be told, Louise did manage to ease Emily's tension."Thank you, Louise.""Oh my, why are you still here? The ceremony is about to start!"Just then, an officiant hurriedly approached, grabbing Emily's hand and rushing her to the entrance of the venue."And now, we presen
Emily and Derek's wedding was like a grand firework, slowly settling down as people marveled at the spectacle. Although the pace of Emily and Derek's lives remained unchanged, it was perhaps the so-called spirit of commitment that bound them even more closely after the ceremony.So, when Derek showed up at the diner to sit side by side with Emily, there were moments when she felt like they had been together for decades."Emily, could you pass the ketchup for me?" Derek smiled, casting a doting look at Emily that momentarily left her feeling a bit woozy."Okay, sure." Emily, a little flustered, handed the ketchup to Derek."Why do I feel like you're in need of more exercise..." Derek teased, his eyes lingering on Emily as he took a bite of his croissant.Emily, fully aware of his implication, blushed and pretended not to hear him, hastily turning on the TV to divert attention."The latest news from this station: Serena, the eldest daughter of The Sanchez family, returned home today. He
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.