“Of course it’s true.” Ivan looked at Sotiria gently from across the hospital bed. “Tiria, you should also know that I’m not a conservative old man. I don’t care no matter how unbearable your past is, as long as Gary really loves you. What I care about is that you’ll be loyal and dedicated to Gary after you’ve married him. But what you’ve done with Mr. Connor at your wedding...”Ivan did not continue to speak but looked up at Zachary.Sotiria’s cheeks blushed.Ivan skipped over that topic and continued. “Because of that incident, I mistakenly thought that you’re an unreliable woman. However, Lory has told me the truth. It turned out that someone had set you up that day. Sigh! My wine was also spiked once when I was young, and I know very well that even a strong-willed person will eventually become delirious and lose their self-control when they get drugged. Therefore, Tiria! You’re innocent. It’s me who wronged you the other day!”Endless warmth was surging in Sotiria’s heart.‘Iv
After saying so, Sotiria closed the box carefully and inserted it in her pocket.Looking at her reaction, Ivan smiled knowingly. “Tiria, don’t call me Uncle Larson from now on. You should call me Dad.”“Yeah.” Sotiria, who was overjoyed after getting her hands on the heirloom, completely lost her restraint and shouted crisply, “Dad!”Ivan responded to her immediately.As early as the moment Sotiria accepted the heirloom of the Larsons with a smile on her face, a void appeared and occupied an area in Zachary’s heart with nothingness. It was indescribably empty, hollow, and sour... These feelings intensified when he heard Sotiria calling Ivan ‘Dad’...He could not bear to witness the scene anymore, so he spoke calmly. “You guys can have the room.”He then walked away.However, he heard Ivan’s voice all of a sudden after taking two steps forward. “Mr. Connor, wait. I have a few words to say to you.”Zachary’s eyes had always been on Sotiria before this. But ever since she accepted
“Okay!”Sotiria had decided on making Zachary give up on her. She rose to her feet, lifted her pretty yet delicate face, and stared steadily at Zachary’s tall figure. “I swear to God that I will be loyal to Garrison for the rest of my life. I will never betray Garrison, no matter how much you harass me, Mr. Connor. If you refuse to give up, it will simply mean that you’re bringing contempt and humiliation upon yourself.”Zachary, who had refused to turn around and look at Sotiria, suddenly rose to his feet.Sotiria couldn’t avoid it. Just as she locked eyes with him, she clearly saw a hint of pain in his inky, dark eyes.That pain only appeared in his eyes for a fleeting moment before he buried it in the depths of his gaze… However, she suddenly felt as if a sharp knife had gone through her heart. A heart-rending agony overwhelmed her like a frenzy…“Heh.” Zachary, who was used to hiding his emotions, switched his expression to an indifferent and icy facade.“Your father-in-law
Zachary walked past the corridor and entered an empty elevator.As soon as the elevator doors closed, he removed his cold and distant facade. The sadness that suddenly appeared in his dazzling eyes was so intense that it was suffocating. Ivan’s words echoed in his ears like a curse.‘I’m a harbinger of misfortune! My bad luck put a deadly curse upon my little girl, whom I’ve been longing for! Sotiria Green… A woman who’s managed to stir up emotions in my heart, similar to the little girl… If I continue to harass her, she’ll die too…’Ding!The elevator doors opened. The young woman who had been waiting for the elevator outside saw Zachary, who was in the elevator. She stared at his stunning face for at least five seconds, then blushed as she said, “Sir, the elevator has arrived at the lowest floor. Why aren’t you getting out?”Only then did Zachary return to his senses. He didn’t look at the woman. Instead, he absentmindedly said, “Thanks.”Less than half an hour ago, he had br
Someone in the crowd let out a cry. “Watch out! Behind you!”Only then did Zachary realize that he was in danger and quickly tried to dodge it.However, it was too late. He couldn’t avoid the attack. The sharp knife pierced through his shoulder, tearing through his shirt and piercing into his firm muscles.This was a trained assassin. He did not give Zachary any time for recovery. He immediately pulled out his knife and aimed it at Zachary’s back once again.The fearful onlookers had scattered far away.Only a woman in a pearl-white dress, whose figure resembled a white lily, dashed forward, ignored her own safety, and threw her arms around the assassin’s arm.Shrrk!The assassin’s arm fell sharply when she wrapped her arms around it and drove his knife deep into the woman’s stomach.“Oh my God! Look! That woman tried to save that man and was stabbed by that knife!” A scream was heard from the crowd.Then, someone cried, “Poor thing! She’s such a pretty girl, and she has such
Sotiria’s eyes filled with emotional tears. She felt as if a piece of sponge had been stuffed down her throat. Besides, she couldn’t say anything more.‘See! That’s just how Garrison is! Let’s put aside the fact that he’s gotten himself hurt just to save me. The first thing he thought of when he woke up wasn’t how badly injured he was, but to ask if I was hurt… That’s true love! Zachary may have said that he likes me, but he’s never mentioned “love” to me at all. However, I know that Charlotte Simmons is the only woman he could ever love. He would never love me. Only Garrison’s love for me is pure and flawless! And only Garrison deserves my effort to really let go and show him my love!’“Dad, what are you doing here too?”After showing Sotiria concern, Garrison finally noticed Ivan’s presence. His eyes filled with nervousness as soon as he looked at Ivan. “Don’t say anything yet, dad. I have something to say first. If you’re here to tear Tiria and me apart, I don’t want to hear an
Zachary was always as cold as a mountain of ice. He rarely showed any sign of emotion.However, at that moment, Sotiria could see a clear hint of concern in his inky, blank eyes…Lorraine was Zachary’s fiancée. She was hurt because she had taken a knife for him. It was perfectly logical for him to be concerned for Lorraine.‘But why did my heart feel this inexplicable sense of jealousy when I saw that look in his eyes?’“Even though Lory will be alright, she saved your life. At this point, you owe her twice for saving your life now.” A clear voice drew closer and closer toward them.Sotiria was shocked because that voice sounded exactly like Zachary’s.She followed the sound of that voice and saw a face that looked exactly like Zachary’s. She was even more shocked. Her hands and legs turned ice-cold, and her entire body trembled.Was it really possible for two people to look that much alike in this world?At that point, Zachary replied in a cold, indifferent tone, “I draw a cle
Zachary did not answer but instead cast his gaze on Sotiria abruptly.Sotiria, who had been looking up at him before this, exchanged gaze with him all of a sudden. She felt like she had been electrocuted, and her heart was throbbing like the thunder of a storm.She lowered her head in an instant.“What do you think?” Zachary’s voice pierced through her like a piercing cold blizzard.Sotiria looked dumbfounded. She raised her head cautiously and felt even more so when she saw that Zachary was still staring at her. “Are you talking to me?”Zachary, whose face looked as cold as a glacier, responded, “Yes.”“I don’t understand...” Sotiria’s eyebrows twitched, and the corners of her mouth trembled slightly. “This is a matter between you, Lory, and this gentleman who looks a lot like you. It’s also a major life event for you, so does it have anything to do with me? You should make your own decision, right? Why are you asking me for my opinion?”She took a peep at Jebediah as he was gi