ZeldaThe memory of the forged hospital letter flashed in my mind. Susan Wenger, emboldened by James Ferguson's blind indulgence, was clearly manipulating the situation.Was it her immunity, granted by the unborn child, that fueled her audacity?"Whether you are willing to give it up or not, you won't know until you see it," James Ferguson said, his voice a low rumble.I ceased my resistance. Jian's injuries, and her suspicions about Susan's stomach, they couldn't be ignored. Susan's obsession with protecting her pregnancy, her seemingly reckless rush towards Hellen during the staircase incident... it all pointed towards something hidden.I needed to see what was truly happening.James Ferguson led me to Mrs. Bai's ward. It was no surprise to find Susan Wenger there, diligently massaging Mrs. Bai's shoulders, playing the devoted daughter-in-law.As we entered, Susan's expression shifted, a mask of innocent confusion settling over her features."Mom, Mr Ferguson is here with his new wi
ZeldaSusan Wenger's composure crumbled. She hadn't anticipated James Ferguson's swift and thorough investigation. Her eyes darted around the room, a mix of fear and desperation twisting her features."Mr Ferguson! Mr Cheng and I do know each other, but we are not familiar with each other at all!" she stammered, her voice laced with a desperate attempt at denial.James Ferguson's lips curled into a thin, cruel smile. He swiped his finger across the tablet screen, and a video began to play. He handed the tablet to Mr. Bai.Mr. Bai's face paled as he watched the video, his hands trembling. The screen showed Susan Wenger and Qiyue engaged in intimate acts, a compilation of clips from various locations and time periods, clearly indicating an ongoing affair.The relationship between the two was undeniably exposed. Mr. Bai's hand shook, accidentally pressing the volume button, amplifying the audio."Baby, who is better, me or Bai Luoqi?" Qiyue's voice echoed through the room."Well, don't s
ZeldaSusan Wenger was half-dragged, half-carried out of the ward. I, Zelda Liamson, was too lazy to stay in the ward any longer, so I followed her out. Susan’s face was pale, and she looked weak all over, but her scarlet eyes burned with hatred as she stared at me.“I’m done, don’t be so proud! The wedding was ruined, your husband disappeared on the wedding day to pick up his childhood love, and you... !”Before Susan could finish her words, Leiy covered her mouth tightly.“Madam, please don’t listen to her nonsense. Mr Ferguson urgently dispatched a helicopter to get back in time. He took the risk of taking off despite the flight conditions not allowing it, just to get back in time...”My heart was sealed, and I didn’t want to hear any of this. I interrupted Leiy calmly,“There is no point in saying this anymore.”“Mrs…”The doctor went in to continue the rescue, and James Ferguson also came out of the ward at that moment. His eyes swept over Leiy, who immediately shut up and said,
JamesI stared into Zelda’s eyes, my heart clenching as a bitter sneer escaped my lips."My love is cheap, but how good is your love that it can be controlled so freely?"She pushed me away again, her voice sharp and laced with frustration."Yes, my love is both free and cheap! Mr. Ferguson, go find Bai Luoxing and love her! You’ve been through so many thrilling things together. She’s gone through so many hardships for you, and your love is earth-shattering! You’ve been searching for her for years, regardless of life or death, regardless of everything. Your love is higher than the mountains, deeper than the sea, and truer than diamonds. I’m moved! I sincerely wish you’ll be together forever and love each other forever!"She spat out the words in one breath, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Her panting echoed in the empty hall, filling the silence between us.My face darkened, my jaw tightening as I glared at her.Zelda turned to leave, but before she could take
JianI didn’t answer right away. Instead, I forced an apologetic smile, my voice deliberately weak."Sorry, I’m feeling dizzy and don’t have the strength... Who did you say you were again? Why would Zelda mention you to me?"I wasn’t fooled by Bai Luoxing’s sweet tone. I could hear the hidden meaning in her words, the subtle digs masked by politeness. This woman wasn’t here just to express gratitude—she was here to stir the pot.Bai Luoxing stood there, still holding the bouquet, her smile never faltering."Didn’t Zelda mention me? Then let me introduce myself again. I’m Bai Luoxing. I grew up with James when I was a child. I—"I cut her off before she could continue. I wasn’t about to sit through some exaggerated tale of her and James’s so-called "earth-shattering" childhood love. Not when I knew it would only hurt Zelda. I immediately pressed a hand to my forehead, feigning discomfort."Miss Bai, I’m feeling dizzy and nauseous, and I really can’t handle a long speech right now. If y
ZeldaJames had once told me that Hellen Ferguson treated Bai Luoxing as her daughter. In fact, she would have preferred that the person who came back that year was Bai Luoxing, not me. And now, as I watched Hellen hold Bai Luoxing in her arms, her face filled with care and protectiveness, I could see just how true that was. She cradled Bai Luoxing like she was her own child, her voice soft and soothing.I couldn’t help but think about all the years I’d spent trying to please Hellen, all the effort I’d put into earning her approval. And yet, no matter what I did, I never received a single kind word from her. Now, seeing her dote on Bai Luoxing so effortlessly, I felt a bitter laugh bubble up inside me. It was ridiculous, really. Hellen and I were never compatible as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. I had been fooling myself to think otherwise."I’m just sitting here," I said, my voice sharp. "What can I possibly do to her? She’s almost 30 years old now, not 11 or 12 anymore. Do you
JamesThe sting in my shoulder was sharp, a constant reminder of the billboard's steel frame biting into my flesh. The doctor had done his job—bandaged the wound, left the ointment, and hurried off to his next patient. Typical. He didn’t even give Zelda a chance to respond before he was out the door, leaving us alone in the quiet clinic.I glanced at her. She stood there, holding the tube of ointment, her expression unreadable. But she didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward, her movements deliberate, and came around behind me. I could feel her presence, the warmth of her even before her fingers touched my skin.When she unscrewed the cap and applied the ointment, I tensed. Her touch was light, almost tentative, but it sent a jolt through me. My body stiffened instinctively, and she paused."Does it hurt? Didn’t you apply medicine before?" Her voice was soft, but there was an edge to it like she was trying to keep her emotions in check.I relaxed slightly, though my shoulders still felt
ZeldaI chuckled softly, turning around and shoving the bank card and property certificates into Jian’s arms."Okay! Just take it all! If money’s being handed to you on a silver platter, wouldn’t you be stupid to push it away?"Jian hesitated, clutching the card and certificates like they might disappear if she loosened her grip."Can I really take it? But didn’t you work so hard to pay back James Ferguson’s 30 million?"I cut her off before she could finish. "I was stupid before, but it’s different now. You saved people and got seriously injured in the process. You *deserve* this. Why wouldn’t you take it? If you’re feeling uneasy, I have a favour to ask of you."I had made up my mind to leave, and I knew I couldn’t take Michael with me this time. Jian had accepted the money, and once I was gone, I needed someone to look after my brother if James decided to take his anger out on him. I explained this to Jian, and her eyes widened in shock."Of course, I have no problem taking care of
ZeldaAs the door shut, James exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His body was tense, his fists clenched at his sides.James stood motionless, staring at the door, his jaw clenched so tightly that I thought he might break.Mr Ferguson was the first to speak, his voice firm but not unkind.“James, I know you’re angry, but she’s still your mother.”James let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Still my mother?” His voice wavered. “What kind of mother does this to her child? What kind of mother lets him suffer for years and then—then when the truth comes out, she refuses to even acknowledge it?”His father sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “She’s scared, James. Scared of losing everything she’s built, scared of what the truth means.”James turned on him, pained.“And what about me? Does she care how scared I was? How much I lost? How I spent years believing I was the mistake, that everything that went wrong was somehow my fault?”Helen’s voice trembled from the doorw
ZeldaI sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the divorce papers I had once been so ready to sign. My hands rest over my stomach, where our child—my child—grows.I told myself I wouldn't cry over James Ferguson again. But here I am, my heart still aching in ways I wish it wouldn't.He had always been my saviour. When I was just a scared thirteen-year-old girl, lost and alone, James had taken me in. I admired him, idolized him. But then admiration turned into something else. Love. The kind that consumed me, that I could never shake off, no matter how hard I tried.But James had never seen me that way.First, it was Susan Wenger... I watched as he gave everything to Susan, how he smiled at her the way I had always wished he would look at me. And when Susan was gone, I thought—maybe—just maybe, James would see me.But then came Luoxing.And that had been the final proof I needed to know the truth. I was never going to be James's first choice.That was why I decided to leave. I refused t
JamesThe Bai estate was as grand as ever, standing as a symbol of power, wealth, and the history that bound our families together.Or so I thought.I stepped inside without hesitation. No one stopped me. They never would. For years, I had been welcomed here like a son.I had thought I was.But tonight, the weight of betrayal clung to me like a second skin, suffocating, inescapable and true.As I entered the main hall, I found them all gathered—Mr. Bai, Mrs. Bai, and their daughter, Bai Luoxing.The moment they saw me, Luoxing was the first to react. She stood up, her eyes filled with something between relief and hesitation."James!"I lifted a hand to my head, stopping her in her tracks.She hesitated, then slowly sat back down, casting a quick glance toward her mother.Mrs Bai, ever composed, sat calmly at the head of the table, an air of relaxed control around her. She didn’t look surprised to see me.She probably didn’t know that I knew everything.Mr. Bai, on the other hand, was
JamesA slow, numbing realization crept over me, drowning out everything else.The Bai family hadn’t just manipulated me.They had shaped my entire life."They couldn’t just bring Luoxing back," Dom continued, his voice low. "Not when the whole world was looking for her. Not when they hadn't gotten anything from their attempt. So they kept her hidden, cared for her, made sure no one found her."I barely heard him. My mind was already racing ahead, connecting pieces I had never thought to question before."But the Ferguson family—" My voice caught. "We never stopped searching for her.""And that’s exactly what they wanted."I snapped my gaze to him."Think about it, James." Dom leaned forward, the dim light casting sharp shadows on his face."Your parents. Your grandmother. You. You were all drowning in guilt, haunted by the loss of a little girl you thought you failed to protect. You clung to Madame Bai and saw her as a second mother because she was grieving too. She played her role p
JamesThe air in the car was filled with tension, Zelda's rigid posture and clenched phone screaming her silent fury at me. I deserved it—every bit of her anger, every cold shoulder. But damn if it didn't carve a hollow ache in my chest.Then my phone buzzed, slicing through the suffocating quiet.I answered, and within seconds, the tension in my shoulders eased."We found Dom."The words sent a rush of grim satisfaction through me. Finally. After all the hunting, all the dead ends—we had him.My grip tightened on the phone. "Alive?""Barely. He's talking."Good.I glanced at Zelda, still stubbornly turned away from me, her reflection faint in the window. This changed everything. With Dom's testimony, the Bai family's carefully constructed lies would crumble.But first—"Keep him secure. I'll be there soon."Hanging up, I studied Zelda's profile. She thought this was about the divorce. About me stalling.She had no idea the storm that was coming.And for once, I'd be the one to shield
JamesMadam Bai’s fingers combed through Bai Luoxing’s hair with practised tenderness, her voice saccharine."Don’t cry. Mom knows your heart is too soft—you would have stopped me if you knew."Then she lifted her chin, her blind eyes fixed in my direction with eerie precision."James, I only helped your wife leave because she wanted to. I didn’t want you two to become bitter enemies. You may not understand my intentions, but the truth is, this all started with her desire to run. Luoxing is innocent."Innocent.The word tasted like ash."So sending men to hunt her down—was that also a favour?" My voice was lethally quiet.Madam Bai’s wrinkled face twisted in feigned confusion."Hunt her? James, I only sent people to find her after she disappeared! For her safety! And my nephew—where is Dom? Did you see him?"Zelda stiffened beside me. I could almost hear the furious drum of her heartbeat.I stared at the woman who had once been like a second mother to me.Even now, faced with the trut
JamesMy lashes lowered, hiding the smug satisfaction in my gaze as I buried my face against her again. Good. She didn’t push me away this time.Then— Thump.Something struck the side of my face.I froze.Before I could process it, another hit—this time square on the bridge of my nose. Not painful, but sharp, like a tiny jolt of electricity.My head snapped up, eyes wide."Was that… Littleton?"Zelda’s lips curled, amusement flickering in her gaze before she pressed them flat again."Littleton’s here to teach you some manners," she said dryly.Of course, it was Littleton.Even in the womb, my kid couldn’t stand watching their shameless father grovelling like this and decided to intervene.A stunned laugh caught in my throat.I stared at the slight swell of her belly, then slowly raised my hand, pressing my fingers where I’d been kicked. The impact had been soft, muted by layers of flesh and fluid, but it sent a current straight through my chest.My heart hammered—not from fever, but s
JamesThe pain in my chest was sharp, unrelenting, as I watched her smile—so effortless, so free. As if I meant nothing.If it were up to me, I’d never let her go.Especially not now, with those men hovering around her like vultures, waiting for their chance. But I couldn’t do anything. Not anymore.I didn’t dare to force her, didn’t dare to manipulate things behind her back like I used to. One wrong move, and she’d slip even further from my grasp.And then there was Dom. Until he was dealt with, she wasn’t safe here."Don’t worry," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "I’ll fulfil your wish this time. Consider it… compensation for the wedding."That damned wedding. My fault. All of it.Maybe ending this marriage was the only way to truly start over. She looked at me then, her eyes searching mine, and for the first time, she saw it—my resolve. No tricks, no games. This was real.Her lashes fluttered, her grip on my collar loosening as she whispered,"So after we land…
ZeldaOf course I couldn't bear it.I never wanted to compete with Bai Luoxing for anything. She was the one who forced her way into my marriage. Even then, I retreated—step by step, until I'd put an ocean between us.Yet the Bai family still wouldn't let me go. They wanted me dead. How vicious could they be?But Leiy hadn't said much earlier. Even I was only guessing. Did James... already know it was them?My eyes widened in shock. "You knew? Bai Luoxing helped me leave the country, and the Bai family has been hunting me since I landed—"His face darkened at the mention of my escape. "How else do you think I found you?"I pressed my lips together, then let out a cold laugh."Well, color me surprised. I thought even if I accused the Bai family, you'd assume I was just smearing their name out of spite."The pain that flashed across his face was sharp enough to almost make me regret my words. Almost.His chest heaved, and before I could react, his hand shot out, gripping the back of my