Watching the little girl dance with excitement, Luca breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had guessed correctly this time; the gift was a hit. But…
"The gift can't be taken for free, okay? Can you help me with a little task?" Luca squatted down to look at the little one.
Immediately, Isla became alert. "What do you want me to help with? I need to think about it."
"Hehe," Luca couldn't help but chuckle. "Don’t worry; it won’t be too difficult. You just need to keep an eye on your mommy. If any other man tries to approach her, tell me right away, okay?"
Isla hesitated at this. Wouldn’t that be a betrayal to Mommy?
Seeing her uncertainty, Luca shook the toy Gundam in her hands. "If you agree to help me with this, I promise I’ll buy you the latest model when it comes out. How about that?"
In the end, Isla couldn't resist the temp
"Alright, I understand. Let’s not make this public for now."After hanging up the phone, Luca rubbed his temples.Isla, rubbing her eyes, came out of her room and saw Luca standing alone. She asked curiously, "Where’s Mommy? Why is she still in bed?"Luca wasn’t sure how to explain to Isla, so he vaguely said, "Isla, Mommy has something to take care of. Uncle will take you to kindergarten later, okay?"Isla pouted, a little unhappy, but didn’t refuse.After finishing breakfast, Luca first dropped Isla off at kindergarten before heading to the police station.Since it hadn’t been 24 hours yet, they couldn’t file a report. Luca could only describe Vanessa’s appearance to the police and ask them to keep an eye out for her.One of the officers on duty paused as he overheard their convers
Upon hearing this, Luca nodded, but he still had his doubts. After Beatriz left, he instructed his assistant to investigate the matter thoroughly.Meanwhile, Vanessa was starting to regain her senses as the effects of the drug wore off. She woke up to find everything around her pitch black.The sounds around her were chaotic. Vanessa strained to identify where she was and realized she was in a moving vehicle, swaying back and forth."Ahem," Vanessa cleared her throat and tentatively tried to communicate with the driver. "Mr. Land, I don’t know who sent you or what promises were made to you, but if you let me go, I can give you what she can—no, I’ll give you double.""Shut up! If you keep yelling, I’ll gag you," one of the men beside him said, clearly irritated.Undeterred, Vanessa pressed on, "Or just tell me what you want.""Shut up,
Bang!The door swung open as Grandpa Kensington stormed in, visibly furious. "Luca, what did you just say? Who were you talking to on the phone?"Seeing his grandfather had overheard, Luca decided to be straightforward."Grandpa, please calm down and let me explain.""What’s left to explain? Ezra is your son! How could you be so heartless as a father?!" Grandpa's anger shook his voice, and he coughed in frustration.Luca quickly helped him sit down and poured him a cup of water. Once Grandpa settled, Luca began to explain, "Grandpa, I’ve located Ezra. He’s safe; this kidnapper is just trying to extort us.""What?" Grandpa's eyes widened in surprise.It was a relief to know Ezra was unharmed, but the idea that someone dared to toy with The Kensingtons sent his temper flaring again."Do you know who&rs
Luca felt an overwhelming sense of unease as he drove along the route he remembered. To ensure his safety, he activated real-time location sharing and sent it to his assistant.His instincts were correct. The people who had kidnapped Vanessa were no ordinary criminals; they had a certain level of counter-surveillance skills. The moment he arrived at the location where Vanessa was last seen, he was surrounded.Facing a group of men holding various weapons, Luca understood their intentions and calmly got out of the car. He looked directly at the leader and asked, “Where is Vanessa?”“Heh, who the hell do you think you are?” the leader sneered, spitting out his cigarette. “You want to see her? I’ll gladly take you to her right now.”Before Luca could react, the men moved in to search him.As the sole heir of The Kensingtons and president of
When Luca opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a hospital bed. Vanessa was dozing off at his bedside, while a little one sat nearby, engrossed in her mechanical toy.Isla? Vanessa even brought Isla here?*Seeing them there, a faint smile tugged at his lips, his heart inexplicably at ease. He reached out to gently stroke Vanessa’s face, and as the sunlight from the window brushed her features, the fine hairs on her skin seemed to glisten.It had been a long time since he'd seen her so peaceful, and he couldn’t look away.That was until a sharp-eyed little observer broke the silence, her voice piping up, “Uncle Luca, you’re awake!”“Shhh…” Luca quickly gestured for Isla to keep quiet, worried that she’d wake up Vanessa. But it was too late. Vanessa stirred, blinking blearily before her eyes widened in surprise at se
However, mentioning Leonardo seemed to have become a taboo for Mariah. As long as no one brought him up, everything was fine; but as soon as his name was mentioned, Mariah would revert to her silent, withdrawn state.Vanessa wasn’t sure if Leonardo had reached out to Mariah afterward, nor did she ask about their situation, especially since Luca still needed her care.In truth, Mariah didn’t want to hear Leonardo’s name anymore; whenever she did, it always brought back unpleasant memories.But then, something strange happened.For several days in a row, Mariah received mysterious gifts.Almost every day, the receptionist would look at her with a teasing smile. “Miss Hutchson, your boyfriend is so thoughtful. Even though you’re just on a business trip, he keeps sending you gifts.”Seeing the receptionist’s envious expre
When Mariah returned from her business trip, she was informed that Leonardo had been abroad the entire time and hadn’t returned.For some reason, she felt a pang of disappointment upon hearing this news. Before leaving, she had resolved not to let Leonardo’s actions affect her, but now… she hadn’t even seen him.Determined not to dwell in this uncertain emotional state, Mariah shifted her focus to work, immersing herself in tasks to keep her mind occupied.Meanwhile, under Vanessa’s care, Luca’s health gradually improved.His relationship with Isla grew closer, too.Sometimes, Vanessa would watch the two of them whispering to each other and couldn’t help but marvel at the bond of blood. Despite years of separation, they seemed to become familiar with each other almost instantly, even sharing little secrets behind her back.
Hearing the sound of keys jingling outside the door, Luca and Isla instantly switched from their playful banter to a more serious demeanor.The two had already agreed that to avoid raising Vanessa's suspicions, they needed to maintain their act once she returned.“Uncle Luca, you should take your medicine. Even if you don’t eat, you can’t skip your meds,” Isla urged, pushing the glass of water and the pills toward Luca.“I won’t take it. I’m not eating until your mommy comes back,” Luca stubbornly turned his head away, his tone defiant.When Vanessa walked in, she was met with this scene.“Why aren’t you taking your medicine?” Vanessa frowned, glancing at the table where the medicine lay.“Oh, you’re back!” Luca exclaimed, standing up with surprise upon seeing her.&nbs
Upon entering the dining room, she was stunned by the lavish spread before her—an extravagant feast fit for royalty. Her lips twitched—rich people’s world was something she would never understand. This was considered a ‘simple meal’?!She casually picked a seat and was just about to sit down when a maid beside her immediately spoke up in alarm, “Miss Skye, you can’t sit there…”“Oh? I can’t?” Zara looked up at Magnus, blinking innocently. “Then where should I sit?”“Step back,” Magnus cast a cold glance at the maid before his lips curved into a gentle smile. “That seat is meant for you. No one else is qualified to sit there.”“What’s so special about this seat?” Zara raised an eyebrow as she sat down.“You’re hungry, so just eat.” Magnus didn’t answer her question. Instead, he picked up the cutlery and handed them to her before using the serving spoon to place a portion of crab roe into her plate.“I can do it myself. Don’t serve me food. I
Seeing the man in the wheelchair, still exuding an undeniable aura of dominance, Zara paused for a moment before smiling. "Mr. Voss, I must say, I'm truly flattered."Magnus maneuvered his wheelchair closer, his deep, piercing black eyes locked onto her face, as radiant as the moon surrounded by stars. "You look very much like my ex-wife. When I see you, it's as if I'm seeing her again. I want you to stay by my side. I can give you anything you desire."Zara's expression darkened slightly as she arched a brow, her tone turning cold. "And what do you take me for? A mere substitute to fill your emptiness?"The bodyguard beside him spoke emotionlessly, issuing a veiled warning. "Miss Skye, you work in this industry—you should know our boss’s influence. He decides who rises and who gets blacklisted with just a snap of his fingers.""Magnus Voss, do you really think you can control everything?" Zara shot him a sharp, defiant glance. "
The moment to reveal the Best Actress award had finally arrived. Before the host could even announce the name, the audience erupted into chants of "Zara," growing louder with each passing second.Astrid gripped the arms of her chair in anticipation. The moment the name was announced, she would stand up immediately—there was no way Zara, a mere newcomer with just one film, could overshadow her.This prestigious award, presented once every three years, was hers to claim. More importantly, it was being handed out by Magnus himself—an unprecedented honor. She was determined to seize it.The host glanced at the name in the envelope, his eyes lighting up before he declared loudly, “The Best Actress award goes to Zara Skye!”The audience erupted into thunderous applause and cheers, chanting Zara’s name over and over.Astrid felt as if she had been slapped across the face. Her cheeks burned as she shook her head in disbelief. “Impossible! How
Astrid nervously watched the doctor, silently praying. Magnus must be okay—if something happened to him, everything she had done would be for nothing.The doctor’s expression was grave as he said, “Mr. Voss’ injuries are severe. We’ve done everything we can; the rest is up to fate.”The old master was struck as if by lightning. His cane fell to the ground with a loud thud. His body trembled violently, and the color drained from his face.“Master!” The butler quickly supported him, his voice anxious. “Young Master will be fine, please don’t worry too much.”The doctor glanced at the old master hesitantly before saying, “There’s… one more thing.”The butler shot him a warning look and quickly intervened. “Whatever it is, it can wait.” Couldn’t he see that the old master had already suffered enough?“Let him speak. I can handle it.” The old master’s voice was firm.The doctor sighed and said apologetically, “Mr. Vo
The road was a chaotic scene as a world-class luxury car sped recklessly, weaving through traffic at a breakneck pace. Other vehicles swerved desperately to avoid a collision, honking frantically in alarm.Magnus's chiseled face was shrouded in grief, his deep-set eyes drowning in sorrow. His heart felt hollow, as if someone had carved it out, leaving behind only emptiness. His slender fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, while his foot pressed mercilessly against the accelerator, pushing it to the limit.The car was practically flying.Dark clouds gathered, obscuring the sky, and a fierce wind howled through the streets. Pedestrians hurried along, shielding themselves from the incoming storm.A discarded newspaper was suddenly lifted by the wind, slamming against the windshield, momentarily blinding him. A sharp honk blared ahead—a massive truck was making a turn.By the time he reacted, it was too late. His speed was
“What did you just say?” The emotions Magnus had been suppressing finally erupted. He suddenly reached out and grabbed the doctor by the throat, his chiseled yet icy face filled with murderous intent as he roared furiously, “You’re lying! She won’t die! Who allowed this?!”“Ugh…” The doctor, exhausted from hours of surgery, struggled as his throat was constricted. He gasped for air, his eyes rolling back.What a terrifying man! Everyone around was stunned, quickly rushing forward to rescue the doctor.“Mr. Voss, let go!” Edric, who had just arrived, pushed through the crowd and grabbed Magnus’s arm, trying to pry his fingers open.But Magnus, unwilling to accept reality, possessed an inhuman strength. No one could move him an inch. His bloodshot eyes burned with fury, as if they could set the world on fire.“Mr. Voss, stop!” Seeing that the doctor was on the verge of suffocation, Edric spotted a chair in the corner, grabbed it, and slammed it hard
In his office, Magnus had just picked up his coffee when a sharp, searing pain tore through his chest. His hand trembled, and with a loud crash, the cup slipped from his grasp, shattering on the floor. Coffee splattered onto his shoes."Sir are you alright?" Edric, the stern-faced assistant with cold eyes, quickly stepped forward, took out a tissue, crouched beside him, and meticulously wiped the coffee stain off his shoe."I'm fine. Step back." Magnus withdrew his foot, his sharp brows furrowing. Why did his chest suddenly ache? The unease clawed at his heart like a ferocious beast, making him restless. He paused for a moment before ordering, "Prepare the car. We're going to the prison district."Edric's eyes flickered as he hesitated. "Sir the last time you visited Miss Thorne, the Old Master was already displeased.""Enough nonsense. Hurry up!" Magnus’s chiseled face darkened, his tone commanding.Edric cast him a wary glance
Hearing the commotion, a nurse rushed in. When she saw Senna struggling violently, her wrists bloody, she immediately shouted, "Senna, calm down! If you keep this up, you'll have a miscarriage!"Senna froze. Her bloodshot eyes widened as she stared at the nurse. Her voice, hoarse like an old man at death’s door, trembled. "What... did you just say?""You were unconscious when you were admitted. The doctors discovered you’re already four weeks pregnant," the nurse said with sympathy. "Given your current situation, many would choose to terminate the pregnancy."Senna looked down at her still-flat stomach, unable to process the news.Astrid's eyes darkened as she clenched her fists. Then she sneered. "Senna, you really couldn’t stay lonely, huh? It’s been less than three months since you broke up with Magnus, and you’ve already gotten knocked up by another man. How shameless. When Magnus finds out, he’ll be so glad he left
No matter how much Senna denied the charges, she was ultimately convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.She shared a cell with seven other female inmates. The moment she stepped inside, she could feel the hostility thick in the air. As the cell door slammed shut behind her, a woman with a hideous scar on her face led the others toward her, their eyes filled with malice, their lips curling into sinister smirks.Senna gripped the washbasin in her hands tightly, her expression unshaken by fear. She stood tall, her spine straight, exuding defiance.“So, you’re Senna Thorne. Someone paid us to give you a warm welcome.” The scarred woman sneered before turning to the others. “Ladies, we’ve got ourselves a new toy. Don’t hold back—beat her!”Senna had braced herself for this before she even walked in, but she hadn’t expected Magnus’s hatred to run so deep. Sending her to prison wasn’t en