“It’s the same taste as the sweet dumpling fermented rice wine your mother used to make!”Fia was stunned for a moment as she lowered her gaze to stare at the bowl of sweet dumpling fermented rice wine Conrad served her, recalling the same dish her mom, Echo, used to make for her.She picked up her spoon and stirred the soup, scooping up half a spoonful and putting it in her mouth.The first mouthful made her eyes redden. Conall was right. It had the same taste.She could not help but look at Conall. It had been so many years but he still actually remembered the taste of her mother’s sweet dumpling fermented rice wine. Had it once been really true love?The meal was considered pleasant for the three of them. The only thing that was bad was the impression of Conall being an old chatterbox, a far cry from his usual cool and taciturn self.After eating, it was time to leave.Conall felt a little reluctant, his eyeballs wishing nothing more than to be stuck on Fia’s face.He carefu
Conrad frowned. “That hasn’t been proven yet.”“After I saw her today, my instinct tells me so. Even if there’s no proof, she’s Esme Manning, not Britney Thomas.”Fia looked at Conrad seriously and asked, “Where were you going to take me?”Conrad gave her a conflicted look. He had lost all the mood to do that now.Fia had known him all her life. She knew what he was thinking. So, she said to him sarcastically, “Don’t tell me you’ve lost the mood after I’ve told you that Britney might be my cousin.”“Fia, why do we have to talk like this?” Regret crept in Conrad’s mind as the hands holding Fia’s shoulders clenched tightly.Fia slapped his hands away. “That hurts.”“Sorry.” Conrad let go of her shoulders and pulled out a chair to sit.“Britney has been fired. She will never show up in the company ever again. Can we not care about who she is or isn’t?”“So, it’s true that you’re hiding something?” Fia smirked. “Hiding something from who? Me?”“…” Conrad looked at her speechlessl
Conrad smirked, “You didn’t know? Or you thought that I am easily fooled?”Fia anxiously responded, “Eileen submitted those designs on my behalf. She said a newly founded foreign company needed designs… I didn’t know it was Argonauts Corp. I didn’t even know Jason has connections to Argonauts Corp…”As she was telling him all these, Fia realized just how weak of an excuse those words sounded. She quickly checked Gentle Stream’s recent designs with her phone. Indeed, those were the designs that Eileen helped her submit when she lost her eyesight. Those designs earned her a lot of money… They even came with high commissions… And Jason’s recent attitude…She let her guard down. Even if it was a newly founded company, or any company at all, it was impossible for them to pay her that much.“Fia, you’ve always doubted me. But what about me?” Conrad glowered at her coldly and continued on slowly, “I’ve always known that you’re helping Jason behind my back. Yet, I never confronted you ab
“…” Eileen tried to clear her throat, yet no words came out from her mouth.She sat there in silence for a while as Fia lost her cool and scolded her. “Eileen, how could you not discuss with me before giving him my designs?!”“I’m sorry, Fia. I just…”Eileen had no excuse for her spur-of-the-moment recklessness back then. She felt like a fool, especially learning about just how well Fia and Conrad got along recently.She should never have given Jason the designs. “Eileen, Conrad got really mad at me today.” Fia covered her face with her hand as tears rolled down.“He has always despised his father. This is why he couldn’t stand Jason. He had known about my designs falling in Jason’s hands. Yet, he never confronted me about it before this. He even tries to soothe me whenever I’m in a bad mood.“He must have kept this in his heart for so long. That’s why he lost his temper with me today.” Fia recalled how furious Conrad was. Even his eyes were bloodshot when he flipped the table.
Conrad could not help but feel alarmed. “What?”“I want to apologize.”“…”“After reaching home, I thought it over. If I were in your shoes, I would definitely lose my temper a long time ago. Yet, you have been keeping it in your heart, tolerating my every whim.”Still fuming with anger, Conrad did not know what to say to her.“Hubby, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Please don’t be angry anymore, okay? If you’re not too busy in the afternoon, let’s go visit Match and Heaven, shall we? Heaven’s already three-months pregnant, right? Didn’t you say we can make her child our kid’s little steed? Then, we should visit her more.”Fia’s feminine, sweet voice was so enticing that it was as though it was caressing his heart, healing the numerous pesky scars that it had been carrying.Conrad had always hated others emotionally blackmailing him. However, this time, he yielded.He had to give it to Fia—her comforting technique was really effective.“Alright. I’ll pick you up later.”The gir
“Hello.” Fia did her best to suppress her overwhelming anxiety as she opened her mouth.The phone number had been cancelled a while ago. Perhaps, it now had a new owner.“Hi, cousie.” A prideful and snobbish woman’s voice could be heard from the phone.Fia immediately thought of Esme Manning. Still, weirdly, she also thought of Britney Thomas.“You’re Britney, aren’t you?”Although she had her suspicions that Britney was actually Esme, hearing this voice made her head spin in confusion.A smirk could be heard from the phone. “Oh, weren’t you the one who’d decided who I am?”“Britney! You’re Esme Manning, aren’t you?!”“Would you believe me if I say I’m not?” the woman taunted.“Oh, yes, that’s right. The last time I returned from overseas, Conrad immediately wanted to divorce you, am I right? Now, let’s play a game, shall we? If he knows I’m still alive, will he ask to divorce you again this time?”Fia shook in anger as she clenched her phone.“After all, men are such despic
Seeing the looks on their faces, Conrad asked anxiously, “She’s not at home? Where did she go?”“She left about ten to twenty minutes ago. Madam drove herself. She said she’s heading to the company to find you,” Mrs. Taylor answered.Conrad was surprised as he heard this, “No, that’s not possible. Tiger was just assisting Silas at the company’s parking area a while ago. He didn’t say anything about Fia arriving at the company!”Conrad quickly turned to get into the car. Suddenly, he felt dizziness take over him before falling to the ground.“Master Maxwell!”“Mr. Maxwell!”Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Whitley shouted worriedly as the bodyguards of the residence rushed forward to help Conrad to his feet.Conrad shook his head and ordered the bodyguards, “Locate where Fia’s phone is. Bring me to her, quickly!”A group of men had stopped his car midway on the road. He almost did not make it home.Thus, he hurried home, to see if Fia was alright! He was worried that danger would befall Fi
While he was deep in his thoughts, Fia’s phone rang.He stared at the phone for a few moments before answering it.Jason’s anxious voice could be heard from the other end. “Fia, why are you only answering now?! Kent just told me that that phone number can be traced from several locations. Don’t go to River Fane! It’s very likely a trap!”“She went to River Fane?” Conrad felt as though his whole body had been frozen solid upon hearing it. Esme had given Fia a call earlier. She must have said something to her!Fia’s emotions were very unstable at the moment. What if she fell into Esme’s trap?!“Jason, what did Fia tell you? Who was the one that called her earlier?!”Jason was stunned. “Conrad?”Conrad pressed on impatiently. “Answer me!”“Fia’s emotions are highly unstable lately. If Esme isn’t dead, then this would mean that you saved her! Conrad, Fia is your wife, not Esme! Yet, you deceived her again and again! Have you lost your good conscience?!”Jason yelled into his phone