Already seething due to Lucas Anderson's absence, Andrea's frustration heightened. "Thank you, Win. I'll handle this," she stated tersely before hastening to Pete's room.Without a courtesy knock, Andrea barged in. The room was bathed in light, revealing Pete in a peaceful slumber on the bed. Nearby, a canvas held an unfinished painting, while an array of inks and brushes were neatly arranged on a table.Andrea's eyes landed on the portrait, and her heart sank—it was Lucas Anderson who graced the incomplete artwork.As she stepped towards Pete, intending to wake him, his sleep-filled murmurs arrested her advance. "Don't leave daddy. I'll be good. Please don't go," Pete pleaded in his dreams.Andrea stood motionless, her resolve faltering. The heaviness in her chest grew as her eyelids drooped. She could not disturb him. Silently, she retreated to her own room.Confronted by photographs of happier times with Lucas and Pete, Andrea's emotions threatened to spill over. With a heavy heart
Pete had become gaunt, his eyes hollow and almost lifeless—the vibrancy that once animated his features was nowhere to be found. He appeared so malnourished that Andrea could scarcely believe the frail boy standing before her was her own son."Mrs. Singers, I don't wish to overstep, but your son is very ill," the headmaster said with concern. "For the past week, he hasn't uttered a single word to anyone at school. He’s been ignoring his teachers and classmates, isolating himself. I'm not sure what he's been through, but continuing to send him to school in this state could be detrimental to his well-being, both psychologically and physically."Andrea was struck by her own negligence regarding Pete's condition. She hadn't really seen him for days; their schedules were such that he was off to school before she awoke, and by the time she returned home from work, late and exhausted, she'd hardly had the energy to check on him before sleep claimed her. This cycle had persisted for some time
Andrea's frown deepened as she watched the doctor exit the corridor, trailed by a small entourage of nurses. The air was thick with tension, and she was lost in thought when one of the bodyguards at the door spoke up."You can go in," he said, pushing the door to the ward open.Tony moved first, stepping through the doorway with a sense of urgency, and Andrea followed close behind, the two bodyguards at their heels.As Andrea's gaze settled on the patient lying in the bed, she couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity with the stranger's face. It was not Valentine Anderson, yet something about the man seemed known to her.She reached out tentatively to check his chest, but before her fingers could touch the fabric of the hospital gown, one of the bodyguards interrupted with a frosty tone. "What do you think you are doing?"Andrea replied with a disarming smile, "Nothing harmful. I wouldn't try anything with you both watching, would I?"The bodyguard considered her for a moment before
Andrea's complexion turned ghostly pale as she processed Housekeeper Win's words."Hello, Ma'am Andrea, are you there?" the urgent tone of Housekeeper Win pierced through the speaker of the phone.Snapping back to reality, Andrea responded with a sense of urgency, "Text me the hospital's name. I'm on my way."Tony, who had been quietly observing the exchange, noticed tears welling up in Andrea's eyes. Concern etched on his face, he questioned, "Andrea, what's wrong with Pete?""I don't know, Tony. We need to get to the hospital, now," Andrea said, her voice trembling with impatience. They hurried into her car that had been waiting for them at the airport. The forty-five-minute drive to the hospital felt like an eternity to Andrea.Throughout the journey, Andrea was restless, constantly imploring the driver to go faster, "Andrea, please breathe and try to stay calm. Pete will be okay," Tony attempted to reassure her.But self-reproach was eating away at her. "I'm a terrible mother, Ton
After ending the call, Andrea exited the mansion and made her way to her car, driving with purpose towards the airport. As she parked, her phone buzzed with a new text message, providing her with Lucas Anderson's whereabouts.She was just processing this information when her phone started to ring again, and she saw Tony’s name flash on the screen. With a tap, she answered."Where are you?" Tony's voice was tense with worry."I'm at the airport, Tony. I'm going to find Lucas and bring him back," Andrea said with a determination that belied her inner turmoil.Tony went silent for a moment, absorbing her words. Andrea could imagine his concern, given his reaction to her earlier declaration at the hospital, but she hadn't expected him to be quite so taken aback."Andrea, please, consider the consequences. If Valentine Anderson is out there, recovering in secret, how do you think he'll react to you swapping him with his brother? Don't rush into a decision you might regret," he implored, hi
Andrea swiftly departed from the hotel, her chauffeur drove the car through the streets until they reached the bar where Lucas Anderson worked as a bartender. She remained in the car for a short while before finally stepping out.The bar exuded a welcoming atmosphere, popular among the local community. The patrons were well-dressed, and Andrea noted that the women were tastefully attired, not overly revealing.Straining to hear over the lively sounds emanating from inside, Andrea entered the bar to find a band performing energetically, and a couple dancing exuberantly on the floor. The infectious laughter and cheerful ambiance gradually lifted Andrea's spirits, dispelling her earlier gloom as she found herself smiling.Approaching her, a man offered, "Hello Miss, would you like a drink?"Andrea examined his face and frowned, sensing his ulterior motives without needing further investigation."No, I'm not here for a drink," Andrea replied, surprising the man with her response.Puzzled,
Deep in thought, Lucas Anderson reflected on his life as a bartender, finding solace in the time spent with Andrea and Pete, particularly the cherished moments with Pete that filled his heart with joy.Pete's smile had a magical effect on Lucas, making him forget the traumas he endured in his past with the organization. Sleeping next to Andrea brought him peace, banishing the nightmares that haunted him from his days in the dark basement."I am more than willing to agree if you are comfortable with it," Lucas nodded, his words carrying a sense of sincerity and readiness.Upon hearing his acceptance, Andrea visibly relaxed, a wave of relief washing over her as she had feared rejection. A radiant smile spread across her face, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she sat on the bench, swinging her legs joyfully and placing her arms on either side.Seeing Andrea's elated reaction left Lucas speechless, intrigued by the source of her joy. Though he didn't inquire further, he gazed at her i
Mrs. Willow had anticipated Valentine Anderson's outburst and, with composed steps, she approached him. "I am your wife, Margret. Don't you remember me?" she said gently.Valentine stared back at Margret Willow, his confusion deepening with each passing moment. He strained to find a thread of memory that connected him to this woman, but the effort only brought a sharp pain to his head.Clutching at his temples, Valentine cried out in distress, "I don't know you! You're not my wife; you're not Andrea Singers!"Noticing his agitation, Mrs. Willow exchanged a knowing look with Doctor James, who promptly advanced with a syringe in hand. "Your head is still hurting. Rest now, and when you wake, all will become clear," Doctor James assured him soothingly.As Valentine noticed the syringe, his confusion turned to terror. "Don't touch me!" he yelled, but his protest was in vain. With swift professionalism, Doctor James administered the injection into Valentine's left arm. Tension drained from
When Andrea and Valentine Anderson saw Pete holding hands with Agatha as they walked into the church, Andrea was pleasantly surprised, while Valentine Anderson was shocked.The guests whispered among themselves, trying to understand what was happening.Valentine was shocked because he knew how many men he had stationed where he had hidden Pete.Valentine's gaze fell on Lucas Anderson, whose clothes were ripped, trousers dirty, and head messy, his entire body almost covered in dust. Valentine realized who had rescued Pete, and his eyes burned with anger."Pete!" Andrea cried out in surprise and joy, tears rolling down her cheeks. She took a step forward, trying to climb down from the altar, but Valentine Anderson stretched out his arm and grabbed her, forcefully pulling her to himself. He took out a gun, holding Andrea hostage."Don't move, or she will die!" Valentine Anderson roared in rage, his eyes bloodshot. Why is it so hard to complete their wedding vows again? he thought in dism
Seeing this, Andrea was shocked and deeply disappointed. Her heart shattered into a million pieces as tears streamed down her face. Her lips trembled as she asked in disbelief, "Val, you—"She didn't know what to say, feeling suffocated as the air in the room seemed to press down on her. She shut her eyes in pain, tears continuing to roll down her cheeks."Andrea, if you want Pete to stay alive, marry me tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting for you at the church. If you fail to show up, don’t blame me for being ruthless." With that, Valentine Anderson turned on his heel and strode out of the room.Andrea collapsed to the floor, bursting into tears. She couldn't believe that Valentine doubted her. After years of marriage and knowing him, his lack of trust broke her heart.The door creaked open, and Agatha walked in to see Andrea on the floor. She immediately rushed over. "Andrea, get up. We will definitely find Pete and bring him back to you."Andrea shook her head, sobbing dejectedly. "I
Lucas frowned; he hadn't expected Tony to scold him so furiously."Has he been knocked silly by the kick just now?" Lucas pondered.While mulling it over, he retorted coldly, "You've gone insane."After speaking, he turned to re-enter the house, but Tony stubbornly said, "I won't leave until you explain how you are Pete's father."Lucas was irritated by Tony's words, his eyebrows furrowing with impatience. He glared coldly and replied, "I'm not in the mood to talk nonsense with you. You’re probably drunk or drugged; that's why you're spouting this nonsense."Lucas didn't take Tony's accusation to heart at all. To him, it was utterly nonsensical and unreasonable.Gritting his teeth with clenched fists, Tony took a step forward, but he didn't rush to attack. He wasn't a masochist and feared another vicious kick from Lucas, whose martial arts skills were too good for him to compete with.Sneering, Tony cursed unhappily, "I'm not drunk. It's you and your family who are drunk and on drugs.
Tony suggested, "Andrea, why don't we go to the hospital and get the results? That might be better."After thinking it over, Andrea agreed. They left the Presidential Hotel and drove to the hospital. When they arrived, Andrea's doctor, Doctor Kone, was already in his office waiting for them."Mrs. Singers, I thought you might not need the DNA test results, but just in case, I kept them safe. Here they are," Doctor Kone said, extending an envelope towards her.With trembling hands, Andrea took it. Nervous, she forgot to thank Doctor Kone and immediately pulled the DNA test slip from the envelope.As she read the paper, her pupils dilated in disbelief. She looked at Doctor Kone, stunned. "Doctor Kone, does this mean they have a father-son relationship?"While Andrea was knowledgeable about the data, nothing seemed to make sense to her.Doctor Kone, who had supervised the test, was aware of the final result. Without hesitation, he confirmed, "Yes, they are father and son."Tony, sitting
Agatha fell silent, pondering over Andrea's words. After a moment of consideration, she asked tentatively, "Andrea, do you want to marry him?"Andrea remained silent for a full minute, seriously contemplating the question. Finally, she shook her head resolutely. "I don't want to."Agatha nodded seriously and began to advise, "If you don't—"Just then, Andrea's secretary opened the door, interrupting their conversation. Both women turned their heads toward her.Realizing her mistake, the secretary quickly spoke up. "Ma'am Andrea, your husband is here to see you, and he sounded very urgent."Andrea was surprised to hear that Valentine had come to the company, as Lucas had never visited while they were living together as husband and wife.Agatha urged Andrea, "Go ahead, I'll finalize what we discussed."Andrea nodded, stood up, and followed her secretary. She saw Valentine sitting in the waiting lounge, his palms covered in bandages. When he saw her, he sprang to his feet, smiling sweetl
Housekeeper Win was taken aback by Tony's sudden anger towards Valentine Anderson, whom he had been promoting. Curious, she asked, "What did Sir Anderson say that made you so angry?"Tony roughly let go of his grip on Valentine, causing him to lose his footing and struggle to stand."Mrs. Win, I will be on my way," Tony replied unhappily, turning around and walking away without looking back.Valentine struggled to his feet. Despite his vision playing tricks on him, he managed to stand and slowly began climbing the staircase. Although Housekeeper Win wanted to help, she was worried about upsetting Valentine further, so she watched helplessly as it took him thirty minutes to climb the staircase.As Valentine staggered towards the bedroom, she sighed ruefully and shook her head in pity, convinced that Andrea had made a poor choice in Valentine.Valentine barged into the bedroom, surprising Andrea, who was sitting on the bed, shocked by his appearance. They had known each other since chil
Valentine Anderson drove directly to the hospital, having already called his personal doctor. Arriving, Doctor Steve was taken aback to see that the man who had just spoken to him on the phone looked different from the Valentine Anderson he remembered."It's me, Steve. I need your help," Valentine said as he noticed Doctor Steve staring at him in silence.Though Doctor Steve was quiet, his mind was racing. He knew Valentine had been a bomb victim, and recent news reports had mentioned him, though Steve had dismissed them as baseless rumors. Now, seeing Valentine looking exactly like the deceased Pascal Willow, he couldn't deny the reality anymore."Let's go to my office," Doctor Steve finally said, snapping out of his thoughts and quickly making a decision.They walked into the office together and sat down, facing each other. "I need you to do a DNA test," Valentine said immediately, impatience clear in his voice. He had no time for small talk or reminiscing; he needed answers about
Since it was revealed that the man who had been posing as Pascal Willow was actually Valentine Anderson from Vegas City. Following this revelation, members of the Willow family have been causing disturbances at the mansion. In response, Margaret Willow has significantly bolstered the security measures.Now, more than twenty checkpoints are set up at the gate, each manned by over fifty armed personnel. The imposing security setup even managed to intimidate Valentine Anderson, who was visibly furious.Valentine Anderson took a deep breath, clenched his fists tightly, and nervously strode forward. To his surprise, he wasn't stopped as he walked into the mansion. He entered through the gate and proceeded straight to the house without being questioned or halted midway.The Willow family's butler was already at the door to welcome him. The middle-aged man smiled kindly at Valentine and said warmly, "Sir Pascal, madam has been expecting you. She is in her study room waiting for you."Valenti
The more Valentine Anderson stared intently at his phone screen, the tighter his grip on the device became. The DNA test analysis at the end revealed he shared only 25% of his DNA with Pete, indicating that he was Pete's uncle rather than his father."Impossible!" he bellowed, startling Housekeeper Win, whose pen slipped and drew a line across the paper she was writing on.Smoke seemed to billow from Valentine's ears as the vein on his forehead bulged with anger. He shoved the phone into his pocket, yanked off his apron, and stormed out of the kitchen, his expression dark.Housekeeper Win was so frightened that she opened her mouth several times to ask what was wrong but couldn't utter a word. Anxious and afraid he might head to Pete or Andrea's room to hurt one of them, she quickly followed him.But her fears were unfounded. Valentine Anderson walked out of the house, got into his car, and drove away from the Singer Mansion into the dark night.Relieved but curious, Housekeeper Win t