ZeldaIt took me a while to fully grasp what had happened after being questioned at the police station. Piece by piece, I unravelled the chain of events—one more unbelievable than the last.Apparently, right after I left the hospital, Jian had gotten into an argument with Susan Wenger. Typical Jian, I thought, always diving headfirst into chaos. But this time, her recklessness had turned into an unexpected advantage.Jian had called the police on the spot, accusing Susan of bullying, online slander, and orchestrating a plan to incite trouble and blackmail at the hospital. And as if that wasn’t bold enough, she waved the phone of the tall man who had been live-streaming in Susan’s face.I could almost see the scene in my mind: Susan's face shifted from smugness to panic as Jian cornered her. Jian, of course, had been prepared. It seemed Susan had panicked so badly that she sent someone to steal the phone back.The guy she sent? He walked right into Jian’s trap.The police had arrived i
JamesI stood there watching Zelda's car disappear into the distance. My gaze lingered longer than I intended, and for a moment, I felt the weight of what was left unsaid. With a sigh, I turned and walked back to my own car.The driver had already helped Susan Wenger in the back seat. He opened the door for me, waiting for instructions. But I didn’t step in. My eyes fell on her pale figure, sprawled weakly against the seat.“Send her back to the Wenger family,” I said coldly, my voice devoid of emotion. “Tell Mr Wenger to figure out how to secure the investment money later.”“Yes, Mr. Ferguson,” the driver replied, nodding.Just as the door was about to close, Susan stirred. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and she forced herself to sit up, clutching the seat for support.“James,” she said weakly, her voice trembling. “I just heard you say… the investment funds are being withdrawn. Did I hear that wrong?”I stared at her, unimpressed by her theatrics. “You’re not going to keep pretend
That night, I lay in bed, the soft hum of prenatal education music playing from my phone on the bedside table. I shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position when the familiar chime of a massage broke the stillness.Reaching for my phone, I smiled faintly when I saw the sender: Xander Ferguson.It had been a while since I last visited Xander, but we kept in touch through daily messages."What is this kid doing up so late?" I murmured, tapping on the notification to open the message.It was a video.Curious, I clicked on it, but the smile on my face disappeared as I watched the content. My chest tightened, and my eyes widened in disbelief. Without thinking, I replayed the clip, needing to make sure I hadn’t imagined it.Xavier had secretly recorded James standing in their small living room, his expression cold and authoritative. Mrs. Chen, Mrs. Little, and Hellen Ferguson’s game friends—stood there, pale-faced and visibly shaken as James berated them. Moments later, they hur
JamesI stood there, my expression cold as I grabbed Xander Ferguson by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. The boy wriggled, glaring up at me as I said impatiently,"Like or dislike?"I studied the child, my tone more commanding than questioning. I thought to myself, Do they think emotions are this simple? Do they really think these things can be resolved with a single word—like or dislike?The entanglement between Zelda Liamson and me was too deep, too tangled in memories, pain, and choices. It was far more complicated than anything a child-like Xander could comprehend.Xander, however, was not one to be cowed. He buried his head in my waist, gave a loud snort, and pushed away from me.“Brother, you’re hopeless!” he declared, and with that, he darted toward Zelda, who stood not far off.“Sister!” Xander called out, throwing himself into her arms. “You should get a divorce and love someone else. Loving one person is too tiring. You should love seventy or eighty people instead!”I t
ZeldaOnce you say something, you can’t take it back—no matter how much you might want to. I sighed, suppressing my frustration, and returned to my room. I grabbed a quilt and marched back to the living room, tossing it onto the sofa where James Ferguson sat with that maddeningly calm expression.“There,” I said curtly, turning on my heel to leave before I could say or do anything else I’d regret.But just as I reached the doorway, a strange sound broke through the quiet.My stomach growled. Loudly.I froze, horrified, as James’s gaze snapped to me. For a moment, we just stared at each other in stunned silence, and then it happened again—a long, drawn-out growl that left no room for denial.My face burned. This was beyond embarrassing. I’d been trying so hard to keep my cool, to maintain some dignity, and now… this?I instinctively covered my stomach, ready to bolt, but James moved faster.He reached out, and before I could react, his warm hand rested on my stomach.“Wh-what are you d
ZeldaI didn't sleep well at all. Every time I closed my eyes, I worried about Xander. In the middle of the night, I even woke up just to check his forehead. He seemed fine then, so I finally let myself drift off again.But when I opened my eyes to the bright sunlight streaming into the room, something felt wrong.I turned my head and saw Xander lying next to me, bundled tightly in the quilt with his back to me. He wasn't moving."Xander," I said, reaching out to ruffle his messy hair. "The sun's already shining on your butt. Time for you lazy bums to get up!"No response."Come on, stop pretending. Get up so we can eat, and I'll take you home after breakfast..."I stopped mid-sentence, my voice catching in my throat. His little face was burning—scorching hot.Panic surged through me as I turned him over and froze. A large patch of blood stained the pillow beneath him, and his nose was still bleeding."Xander!" I shook him gently, but he didn’t stir."James! James!" I screamed, my voi
Zelda"Xander is sick. I brought him here."I stood there, uncertain how to face Yassir Hammer.Sensing my tension, he didn’t try to step closer. His voice remained calm, steady.“I tried to contact you these past two days to discuss your brother’s transfer to another hospital, but I couldn’t get through to you.”I pressed my lips together before answering, “Brother, I’m worried that my eldest brother won’t be able to handle the turbulence of the plane and the foreign environment. So I decided to leave him here.”Yassir was startled. “Didn’t we agree before? The research laboratory I told you about is ready to receive patients—”I shook my head firmly, cutting him off. “I won’t trouble you anymore, Senior Brother. I’ve made up my mind. Sorry.”I turned to leave, unwilling to continue this conversation any longer. But before I could take another step, Yassir’s voice—tense, uncertain—reached me from behind."Zelda, do you know something?"I hesitated. Since he brought it up, I might as
JamesI stood there, my gaze narrowing as Hammer spoke, trying to hide the fury bubbling inside me. His cold eyes, always so calm behind those damn white lenses, did nothing to cool the fire in me. He was talking about Zelda as if he had any right to as if she were his to concern himself with.“Zelda didn’t know about the marriage proposal earlier, and she didn’t know about it later,” he said, his voice clipped and unfeeling.And that’s when my anger finally broke through.I didn’t even try to hide it anymore.“Of course, it was intentional,” I snapped back. “I haven’t come to you to settle the score for what happened four years ago, but you'd better stay the hell away from her.”Hammer’s expression hardened, and I saw his anger flicker, barely contained. Good. He should know where he stood with me.“The Yassir family proposed marriage openly. Why not?&rdquo
ZeldaLilian Wenger's red eyes and embarrassed flush were hard to ignore. She’s a dancer of some renown, and those in the arts often possess a certain nobility. But the comfortable life she was accustomed to was clearly weighing on her, the thought of losing it all outweighing any sense of shame.I never expected Susan to still be lying to her parents, still clinging to the fiction that James is her child’s father. My brow furrowed.“Please?” I prompted.“James has stopped investing in the Wenger family. It was agreed upon, but he’s cut us off without warning. Our funding has dried up…” This was news to me.James hadn’t breathed a word of it.“Zee, for your grandmother’s sake, you can’t just stand by and watch the Wenger family crumble. Grandma and Grandpa built that business.”Grandmother Wenger passed away when I was five. My memories are hazy, but I remember her warmth and her adoration. It’s undeniable that my adoption by the Fergusons was tied to my connection to the Wenger famil
ZeldaI woke up in the big bed at the Mansion, disoriented. The last thing I remembered was being in the car with James, the argument hanging heavy in the air. I looked down. My clothes had been changed. They were clean and fresh. Aunt Jiang, no doubt.My lips felt strange, a little sore, with a faint medicinal scent, like antiseptic. Someone had been… cleaning them? The thought made me uneasy.Aunt Jiang bustled in.“Madam, you’re finally awake! I’ve been to check on you twice. Breakfast is ready. Please eat quickly, so you can take it to your husband.”“How did I get home last night?” I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.“Mr. Ferguson carried you back himself, Madam. He took care of you all night before returning to the hospital. He wouldn’t let me help. I don’t know if his wound reopened. He looked so worried. His face was so pale when he left…”My brow furrowed. Guilt, sharp and unexpected, pierced through me. Aunt Jiang’s words painted a picture of James, concerned and carin
ZeldaA prickling sensation crawled up my spine. Something was wrong. As the man reached for me, I reacted instinctively, swinging my bag and hitting him squarely in the face.“Someone, help! Help!” I yelled, my voice ringing out across the crowded club.The commotion drew attention, but the two men were quick. One grabbed the woman in the red dress, while the other wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close.“Baby, stop making trouble,” he said loudly, his voice dripping with false concern. “Let’s not quarrel, okay? It’s all my fault! Sorry, my wife drank too much…”He was trying to drag me away, to make it look like a lovers’ spat.Panic clawed at me. I saw, out of the corner of my eye, that the people I’d hoped would notice were buying his act, turning back to their dancing.“I’m gay!” I shouted, desperation giving my voice an edge. “Let me and my wife go! We’re a couple! We don’t even know you!”I struggled against his grip, trying to reach the woman in the red dress. “Let
ZeldaMy heart plummeted. James… he’d lied. Deliberately.The thought echoed in my mind, a cold, sharp shard of ice. He’d manufactured this whole injury, just to manipulate me, just for the baby. The same way Hellen Ferguson only cared about the child, not about… me.The realization stung, leaving me feeling foolish and betrayed.My legs had gone numb. I hadn’t even noticed the bodyguards leaving. I sank to the floor, hugging my knees, trying to contain the rising panic. After what felt like an eternity, I forced myself to stand. I clutched the incubator, a fragile shield against the truth, and walked to his ward. I needed to hear it from him. I needed to understand.But as I cracked open the door, their voices drifted out, stopping me cold.“Brother has succeeded in wooing his wife? Didn’t little Zelda Liamson cry and make a fuss before, insisting on getting a divorce and going abroad?” Miguel’s voice was laced with that familiar, subtle mockery.Then Yuell Qing’s laughter was sharp
ZeldaI blinked, realizing just how cunning James really was. He hadn't explicitly said anything about cancelling the divorce, but he’d subtly manoeuvred me into this position. Unbelievable.I puffed out my cheeks."You wish! I can't even count the ways you've made me unhappy. I'm only staying temporarily because of Little One, and because your injury is partly my fault! Don't think you've won me over that easily. You're just an…apprentice husband at best!""Apprentice husband?" James raised an eyebrow.I nodded firmly. "Don't you understand? Like the interns at Ferguson's. You're on probation. Less than a month. If your performance is satisfactory, I'll consider things. But if it's not…Mr. Ferguson should be very clear on the process, right?"He was silent for a moment, then I narrowed my eyes."Do you have any objections?“He clicked his tongue, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Then perhaps Mrs. Ferguson could enlighten me on the criteria for this…internship? What requirements must
Zelda"What paternity test?" I asked, my brow furrowed. I took the phone from James, staring at the report on the screen.It wasn't a paternity test at all. It was a kinship test. And the result…grandfather-granddaughter? My confusion deepened."Whose grandchild is this?"I scrolled back, finally taking in the names of the individuals involved in the assessment. My eyes widened in surprise."It's…Bai Luoqi's child?"Luoqi! It all clicked into place. He’d passed away, which explained why James was so invested in this child. Luoqi had been busy with the Bai family’s overseas business these past few years, just like Susan.They’d both been out of the Country. And then, the timing…Susan had returned with James and the Bai's. The media had assumed they were Susan’s parents, making all sorts of incorrect assumptions. No wonder they’d all come back together."So," I said slowly, piecing it together, "the Bai family's IPO is at a critical stage. Luoqi's death is a huge blow, and you’re trying
ZeldaMy mind was a whirlwind. Tissues, where were the tissues? Liamson, Zelda Liamson, that's me, and right now I was trying desperately to stop James's nosebleed. It was all so embarrassing!And then there was James, throwing that cup of water. At Xavier! His brother. I felt a surge of mortification."I told you to stop messing around!" I scolded, my cheeks burning. "This whole ward is a mess!"James, bless his heart, just looked gloomy."It's inconvenient," he mumbled, "Let's just get discharged tomorrow.""Discharged?" I exclaimed, aghast. "How can we? Your injuries aren't nearly healed! And…and I need to see Xavier. James, why did you hit him?"I turned to go out, but James grabbed my wrist, his grip surprisingly tight. It startled me."What's wrong?" I asked, looking at him.He seemed to realize he'd been too rough and loosened his hold a little."I think…I think my wound might have opened again. It hurts," he said, his brow furrowed.My worry instantly eclipsed everything else.
I was stunned. My head snapped back, and a jolt of disbelief running through me.“How could you even think that?!” I exclaimed, my voice rising in disbelief. “There’s nothing between me and my Hammer. I don’t… I don’t like him! How could you even imagine such a thing?”James’s expression was a mixture of anger and something else… hurt? He sneered a harsh, bitter sound.“He coveted you back then. He even dared to come to the Ferguson family to propose! And in the past two years, he abandoned his life as the heir to the Yassir family to work at the Ferguson hospital… just to be near you. You kissed in the car. You hid your pregnancy. You talked about divorce. You were going to go abroad with him! And just now… you were snuggled in his arms! What am I supposed to think, Zelda? What?”His words hit me like a physical blow. He loosened his grip on my chin, but the damage was done. My neck felt strained, stretched to its limit. I stared at him, his eyes burning with a cold fury, and a wave
ZeldaHis hand, James’s hand, was a vice around my waist. His fingers pressed right on the bruise, a throbbing reminder of his unfounded anger. The scene in the ward replayed in my mind, fueling my own simmering frustration. He’d stormed out, furious, without even knowing what had happened.Then, his accusation about Hammer. I glanced at Hammer’s cheek, the fading bruise a testament to James’s… overreaction. Something snapped. I shoved him away, my brow furrowed.“James, have you said enough?!” I retorted, my voice trembling slightly. “I just fell asleep. Brother was worried I’d catch a cold and put his coat on me. Is that so terrible? I asked him for help at the airport. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Why involve him?”A wave of hurt washed over me. If James hadn’t forgotten I was waiting outside, would I have fallen asleep on that bench? And he had hugged Susan in front of me, without a word of explanation, but my innocent interaction with Hammer was enough to ignite his ra