Olivia got up from the couch and looked at Holly from afar. She tried to squeeze out a smile but to no avail.Holly went over to her and hugged her silently. After a while, she said, "Grandma, you have leg pain. Remember to eat your calcium supplements every day. You have to get more sunlight in the winter. "Don't stay under the air conditioner or overeat watermelon in the summer. Your stomach's weak. You shouldn't eat too many cold foods."Olivia suddenly understood everything after hearing what Holly said. Tears began streaming down her face.She wrapped her arms around Holly tightly. "Holly, oh, Holly, please stay. Please stay here, okay?"Holly was saddened. She sobbed and said, "Grandma, I… I've made up my mind."Olivia started to cry inconsolably. She hugged Holly even tighter. "Holly, our family has let you down. We've let you down. I don't want you to leave!"Holly felt as if she had been stabbed in the chest. "Thanks for everything you've done for me in the past thre
Holly felt a pang in her heart. It was like someone had punched her in the chest. It was a horrible feeling. She had the urge to tell him, "Let's not get a divorce. I've changed my mind."But when she thought about what Arthur said, she felt insignificant. He told her that she was chosen to be Bryce's wife because Samantha was abroad at the time, and she happened to look like her. Bryce's wife could've been anyone else who looked like Samantha, not just her. Even if it were another woman who had spent three years with him, he would miss that woman, too.Like someone who had a pet. If that pet went missing, the owner would feel sad. But they would forget about the pet after a while. Even if they remember the pet, it would just be a fleeting thought.Holly tried her best to hold back her tears. She touched his chin gently and said with a smile, "It's getting late. You should head back."Bryce held her hand. "I'll walk you to your building."Holly didn't turn him down. Th
Holly suddenly raised her hand and slapped Samantha.In the two years she spent taking care of Bryce, she did a lot of physical labor, so she became quite strong over time. Samantha's strength was incomparable to hers. Her face became swollen immediately. The impact caused her to take a few steps back, and she had to hold on to a tree to regain her balance. She held her face with her hand and started to cry. Her eyes suddenly gleamed as she was crying. She yelled toward Holly's direction, "Bryce, she hit me!"Holly turned around and saw Bryce, the tall and handsome man that he was, walk toward them. He was carrying a large takeout box from a restaurant in his left hand. Holly started to feel anxious. He might not have seen Samantha hitting her, but he definitely saw her hitting Samantha. She was afraid that he would yell at her. What she feared most was seeing him defend Samantha. That would humiliate and sadden her. But she didn't say anything. She stood there quietly and
While Holly did slap Samantha the day before, she only slapped one side of her face. It wasn't so swollen, either.Clearly, someone else hit her after their meeting. Holly called Nina. She asked, "Nina, how's Samantha's face?"Nina burst out in laughter. She laughed for quite a while before she said, "She went to a bar to drink last night. She drank until midnight. Then, she was stopped midway when she was heading home."The people got out of their car, knocked her out, and gave her a beating. She had a bodyguard with her, but he was knocked out, too. It's really too funny. I can't help but laugh."After another round of laughter, Holly asked, "Was the police called?""Yes. The police went to check the cameras, but the ones on that street weren't working. They can't find the culprits."Holly sighed in relief. She didn't care who attacked Samantha. The enemy of her enemy was her friend.She paused for a moment before asking, "Did you visit her?"He actually wanted to ask if Br
Holly had only taken a look at the painting. The men were captured before she could restore it.She was confused. "It's been so long. Why hasn't this painting been restored yet?"Annie sighed. "There are procedures for stolen art. It had to be repossessed by the national treasury before the museum could have it. "After it's been sent to the hospital, some experts have to examine it and do some research on it. Then, professional restorers have to come up with a proposal."This entire procedure took a few months. We're inviting you to restore this painting with some other restorers because you were the one who uncovered it. Naturally, it's also what Hayden wants."Holly understood that Hayden was looking out for her. The work done privately by a civilian wouldn't be as formal as work done by government officials. This restoration would put more prestige on her name, even if she didn't really need it. …When she arrived at the restoration room of the Cultural Relic Preservation
Bryce and Holly got to the parking lot and got into the car. Holly wore her seatbelt before asking curiously, "Why did you go to the museum?"Bryce started the car and said casually, "I went overseas on a business trip. I also bought some cultural relics at an auction. I came to donate said relics to the museum."Holly sat up straight. "I thank you on behalf of the country and the people."Bryce glanced at her expressionlessly. "We've only been apart for a few days, and you're starting to talk to me so formally? "Don't think too highly of me. I'm donating the relics because it's good publicity. Also, there are tax benefits."Holly paused for a moment as she stared at his face. She smiled. "You're acting more like an upright businessman."He smiled. "Are you saying I'm very money-minded?"Holly smiled. "I would never.""Where do you want to eat?""Anywhere is fine."Bryce drove her to a building by the river. The name of the place was written on an ancient plaque—The Pala
Samantha scoffed. "So what if you can keep your composure? Everything is futile because you don't have a powerful father. I'm born into privilege, and that makes me better than you. I won against you since birth!"Holly could only chuckle in exasperation."I used to envy you, but now I see how pitiful you are. Apart from having an influential father, you're worthless."Those words gravely insulted Samantha, who considered herself better than everyone.Samantha, who was already boiling with rage, suddenly blew her top. She then lifted her foot to kick Holly's leg.Holly quickly dodged backward when she heard a rush of footsteps. In the blink of an eye, she was pulled into the embrace of a tall figure.Samantha, whose kick missed Holly, was left dumbfounded as she stared at the man who appeared out of nowhere.Holly caught the familiar refreshing and warm tobacco-laced scent of a man. Looking up, she saw that it was Bryce.Quietly sighing in relief, she clutched her pounding ches
"Samantha!" Abraham shouted, then coldly glanced at Holly before hurrying after Samantha.The yard became tranquil again.Holly reached out and silently embraced Bryce. Her heart was in turmoil, and it felt like something was stuck in her throat.As she buried her face in his chest, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.At this moment, all she felt was reluctance to leave or divorce him.She held onto his waist tightly, feeling powerless despite the strength of her embrace.Bryce lifted her delicate chin when he felt the moisture on his shirt."Are you crying?" he asked.Holly didn't respond. With her eyes red, she pressed her face against Bryce's face again."Don't cry. Your eyes will get all swollen if you keep crying," Bryce coaxed softly, his voice patient.Holly's throat tightened. "Why do you treat me so well?"Bryce raised an eyebrow slightly, a teasing smile playing on his lips."Just because of this one sentence? How are you so easily satisfied, Holls?"Hol
Sitting by Bryce's bed, Holly softly held his slender fingers as if such a move would keep him safe.She must have been exhausted or emotionally spent, as she soon fell asleep by the bed. She then suffered a nightmare, in which Bryce stood in front of her, covered in blood from head to toe. Forcing a smile, he said to her, "Holly, I can't stay by your side anymore. You need to take care of yourself and be strong."After that, he turned into wisps of smoke and vanished right in front of her eyes. She frantically reached out to hold him, but she was clawing at the air.She waved her hands madly to take hold of him and run after him. Her voice was hoarse from all the yelling. "Bryce! Bryce Gabelman!"Her shouting was futile. Jolting awake, she gasped for air. Her forehead was drenched in sweat, and her eyes were wet from crying.She noticed that she was lying in the caregiver's bed. Someone—perhaps Bryce—had carried her to the bed.Bryce managed to get out of bed and lay by her
"You're injured. Don't stay on the floor—it's cold. Get up now!" Holly cautiously pulled Bryce up from the ground.He was speechless at her response. Any other woman would have happily accepted the ring and put it on.Perhaps, the woman he loved was different from the others.Going on one knee, Bryce refused to get up. He tenderly stared at Holly. "I'll get up after you agree to remarry me.""Get up now, and I'll agree to it."Defeated, he stood up, held her hand, and tried to put the ring on her finger when he was overwhelmed by a wave of dizziness. He lost his balance and collapsed forward onto her.Holly quickly held him and asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"Bryce's lips parted. He wanted to reassure her that he was fine, but he couldn't utter a word. Soon after, his fingers that grasped the ring went numb. The large diamond ring dropped to the ground, spinning and clattering until it came to a stop.Panicking, Holly patted his cheek. "What's going on?"However, Bryce didn't
Looking at the man in Holly's embrace, Abelin turned his attention back to his phone. He asked inquisitively, "Who are you?"The person on the other end of the line was filled with anger. "I'm Bryce. I called her phone, but it was switched off."Abelin replied honestly, "She lost her phone.""Where is she right now?" Bryce questioned indifferently.After Abelin told him the villa's address, Bryce hung up.Abelin once again glanced at his phone before looking toward the dazed-looking Holly. "Holly, I think this man might not be Bryce."Holly shook her head. "You don't need to comfort me.""I just got a call from Bryce. He's on his way here."Holly thought he was lying and refused to believe him. When Abelin wanted to pull her away from the corpse, Holly got triggered and pushed him away. "Don't touch him! He'll be in pain!"Seeing Holly in such a dazed and abnormal state, Abelin felt a sense of pity for her.A tall figure emerged from the door about 45 minutes later. He was we
Abelin wanted to follow through with the protocol, but Holly refused.Realizing they weren't locals, the police decided to let them be. Thus, Abelin sent Holly and the corpse back to a villa their family seldom stayed in.Upon arriving at the villa, Holly did nothing but hold onto the bloodied man dazedly. Her heart felt heavy and chaotic. She was filled with regret and self-blame.Did she regret breaking up with him? The answer was no. Instead, she regretted not being firm enough with her decision. If she had been more resolute and didn't give him any hope of reconciling, he wouldn't have flown to Calria to find her. Correspondingly, he wouldn't have gotten into a car accident and died.Death was such a dreadful word. Bryce was gone, forever disappearing from this world. Holly would never hear his voice or see his smile and face. It was all gone.She would never see him again. She would rather he had lived, no matter who he ended up with in the future. She just wanted him to
The driver pressed the pedal, made a U-turn, and accelerated. When Holly arrived at the address Tobin sent, she saw two deformed cars at the crash scene. However, she didn't find anyone there.Holly's heart skipped a beat. She could only call Tobin repeatedly. However, the call didn't go through.Bryce and the others didn't own a car, only renting one after they got off the plane. Thus, Holly didn't know which car belonged to them.The driver continued driving a bit further until they came upon a collision between a car and a truck. The car's front end was completely obliterated. The driver was cut in half at the waist, and the person in the back seat was so badly mangled that his face was unrecognizable.A loud roar echoed in Holly's mind as it went blank. Her gaze fell on the man's blood-soaked suit. This was the deep-colored suit that Bryce always wore. The man had long legs. The wrist that was hanging out of the car wore a Patek Philippe Celestial watch.Holly remembered the
The moment Bryce reached Calria and got off the plane, he received a call from an unknown number. He took the call with furrowed eyebrows. "Hello. Who are you?"Zenia fumed. "I'm Zenia. Holly and Abelin's wedding is today. Your woman snatched away the man I loved!" She hung up the call after that.Bryce didn't believe her. He tapped into his messages, and several wedding photos came into view. Although the images were not high resolution, one could at least make out the newlywed's features.The groom wearing a suit had striking facial features, and Bryce recognized him as Abelin. Meanwhile, the woman was dressed in a fitted floor-length gown and wore a white veil. Under the thin veil, Bryce could make out her defined features. The woman was none other than Holly.Bryce felt like he had been struck by lightning. His mind went blank, and the hand holding the phone turned cold.He could feel his heart sinking and his blood going cold. Instantly, he felt he got toyed and betrayed
Michelle was gravely ill, with her vision and hearing failing. Thus, they should be able to deceive her.While Abelin let out a sigh of relief, Merope threw daggers at him. She couldn't believe he was stupid enough to let go of such a good opportunity. She wondered why someone as smart as her would have such a dumb son.As it was almost time for the wedding ceremony, Merope wheeled the sickly Michelle out. Michelle's complexion seemed better than a few days back, perhaps due to the joyful event or the effects of terminal lucidity. Her dull eyes were shining when she saw Abelin and the fake bride on the red carpet.Michelle pursed her lips and asked Merope, "Is he really getting married to Holly?"Merope replied unwillingly, "Yes.""Bring me over to have a look," Michelle ordered. When Merope wheeled her over to the fake bride, Michelle took her reading glasses from her pocket with trembling hands.Abelin held his breath as Michelle eyed the fake bride up and down. He was fear
Merope pleaded earnestly, "Abel, your grandmother is on her last breath. Please try to fulfill her last wish for her."Abelin didn't seem to reject this plan as much as before. "Wedding arrangements are already in place, and I've notified a couple of cousins. I'll try to make the entire wedding as genuine as possible."Merope was overjoyed. "Why did you suddenly change your mind? Is Holly the bride?""No. I found a woman who looks quite similar to her. Grandma is old and has blurry eyesight. I doubt she'll recognize her."Merope rebuked, "Your grandma isn't blind!""Well, that's all." Abelin then hung up the call.…Three days later, many relatives gathered at the Gabelman residence. The brightly decorated courtyard was filled with people. Abelin hired a professional wedding team in advance, making sure the officiant, red carpet, circular arch, fresh flowers, and bridal bouquet were all in place. A professional violin team was also playing the wedding march.Although it was a
Abelin called Priscilla's bodyguards, and they arrived at the Calria police station together.The bodies were stored in the morgue. Since they weren't Calrians, the police couldn't find any information on them or confirm their identities.However, they were sure that the two bodies had something to do with Priscilla because one of the bodyguards left a long scratch mark on one of the culprit's arms. At that moment, the mark was rotten due to being submerged in the water. The skin was peeling, and it was a horrifying sight.Clearly, the person behind the culprits was worried they might get caught and expose their employer's identity. So, someone was sent to silence them right away. It was easy for someone like them to kill a person.After giving a statement, the police told Abelin that they were going to do an autopsy on the bodies. Once they had news, they would call him again.After coming out of the police station, Abelin got into his car and called Bryce. "The two guys who hu