"Got any more questions?""Did Shirley only have one daughter, Kelly?" "I'm not sure about that." Henry shook his head. "You'll have to check with your dad if you want the full scoop." "Got it," Charles said, momentarily lost in thought. "Uncle Henry, do you know anything about Shirley's past?" "What's there to know?" Henry replied, then suddenly looked up, a realization dawning on him. "Wait, do you think Shirley and Noelle are connected?" Henry could not figure out why Noelle popped into his head, but as the images of Shirley, Kelly, and Noelle flashed through his mind, he instinctively sensed a connection. "Noelle and the Shaw family?" "Noelle isn't Julian and Jade's real daughter!" Charles's fingers played with his cufflink, a slight crease forming between his brows. "I've been digging into Shirley's past, and it's weird, but there's nothing out there. It's like she's a ghost or something. I couldn’t find any starting points for a search." "So, you're asking me for h
Noelle was wide-eyed as she looked around the room. "I never pictured your room looking like this!""What do you mean?" Charles glanced around. It was pretty much how he remembered it. Ever since he came home and started at Colossus Group, he had not spent many nights at the Hoffmans', so he had not realized they had kept the room's old charm.Noelle let go of Charles's hand and dashed to the bookshelf, taking a quick look. "Whoa, you've got the whole Game of Thrones series here! Were you into it? ‘The Tales of Robin Hood', ' Anglo-Saxon Chronicle', some random essays, 'A Brief History of Time'... Charles, you've got a ton of books!"Charles gave the shelf a quick glance and narrowed his eyes a bit. "It’s just for show," he said nonchalantly."For show?" Noelle's eyes popped in disbelief."Yep!" Charles chuckled and waved Noelle over. "Come here!"Noelle made a face. "I'm not buying it! Grandpa said you’re a genius and were way ahead of other kids even when you were in school.
By the third day of living in the Hoffman Residence, Henry had his guys drop off a file on Shirley to Charles. It was not like the file was bursting at the seams, but it had information on Shirley's escapades in showbiz—what movies she starred in and the buzz around her. It was enough to sketch out a picture of who she was.Charles gave the dossier a once-over, especially focused on the bits about Shirley's social life, or the lack thereof. It turned out that Shirley was quite the loner in the glitzy world of celebs. Other than her film crew, she did not mingle much. Her days were like a broken record: all she would do was shoot for movies. Glittery parties and red carpets were not her scene.There was not much else about her, and it seemed like someone was purposely covering up. However, buried in the scant details was a gem—a snapshot of Shirley with a lady who just so happened to be Sebastian's daughter… Jade.The photo was a blast from the past, and young Shirley could have been
"Do all of Royal Star's artists make a habit of moonlighting?" Charles threw out a question that seemed to come from left field.Ronald hesitated, then replied, "Well, company policy is against moonlighting. However, with so many artists under Royal Star, resource allocation isn't always fair, so some artists take side gigs. It's an open secret, really—as long as it doesn't breach any contracts, it's pretty much the norm. Why? Is there trouble with Winter?"Ronald had not gotten a call from the big boss lately, so he was clueless about the trouble Winter had gotten into. With the way Charles was talking, Ronald got a sinking feeling. Was he about to be out of a job?"Give me a moment, Mr. Hoffman. I'll fix it in no time!""Forget it," Charles dismissed with a wave of his hand. "It's no big deal. Just take care of things here. I've got someone else on it.""Understood!"Once Ronald was gone, Charles lounged on the couch, lost in thought for a long stretch before he finally hit up
Nurses occasionally strolled by, casting curious glances at Sean. They whispered among themselves, "Who was that woman who just stormed off? Why does she always speak to the dean like that?""Beats me! Didn't you notice how she's always on the dean's case, yet he just takes it?""Right? Do you think she's the one the dean's been waiting for all this time?"Their voices trailed off into the distance. Only then did Sean let his tense shoulders drop. He looked down to find his phone still in his hand, the call still connected.Sean's lips barely moved. "Anything else?"Charles was silent for a long stretch on the other end before finally saying, "You picked this path, so now you've got to deal with the fallout."A wry smile flickered across Sean's face. "It sounds like you're enjoying this.""Liliana's not cold-hearted or disloyal.""I know!" Sean's eyes lifted, heavy with fatigue. "I've hurt her too much. It's only now that I realize how brave she was, dealing with my constant re
Margaret forced a smile and shook her head lightly. "No way. You must be kidding!" It was not fear that made Margaret tense around Sean. She just always felt uncomfortable around him. "So, what did you want from me?"Sean was not the type to show up without a reason. The last time he had dropped by her clinic was when Noelle was expecting. Today's unexpected visit meant he needed something from her.Sean chuckled. "I've got something I need your help with!""What is it, Mr. Smith?" Margaret was not used to Sean being so formal. "Is this about work?""Kind of." Sean gave a slight nod, taking a moment to think. "You've heard of Winter, haven't you?"Margaret was taken aback, the image of Winter flashing in her mind. She did not follow celebrities, but Winter had left a lasting impression. It would be hard to forget her even if she tried. Margaret nodded. "A bit. Do you know her well, Mr. Smith?""Know her? We're..." Sean trailed off. "She came by the hospital for a check-up with yo
Sean left the room and headed straight for his office. He flipped through Winter's medical file, tsking and shaking his head in disbelief. Picking up the phone, he dialed Charles. "Winter is one tough cookie, you know that?"Charles squinted, all business. "Cut to the chase.""Alright, I've got the goods. Want me to drop it off later?""Just send me a picture!"Sean snapped a photo of the document and sent it over to Charles, then said, "If you're planning to spill the beans, do it with style. I've still got a hospital to run here!""Got it." Charles looked over the case report on his computer, rubbing his temples. It was just as Noelle had said—Winter was a handful. She did not need to look for trouble, it just found her. "I'm not going to make a move just yet. You can relax.""I appreciate it," Charles replied, pausing for a moment. "About Yankel's situation, it's confirmed that Samara's gone and that kid is definitely hers and Yankel's. Liliana was just looking after him becau
"Forget it!" Charles dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Let them have their fun!" He found their squabbles entertaining, and as long as he could keep things under his thumb, he was not about to stop their wild antics.Ronald got the picture and could not help but feel a newfound respect for Charles. He had always pegged Charles as a tough guy with a moral compass, but he was starting to see just how cutthroat he could be when he wanted to. Ronald seemed to have forgotten that Charles had shown no mercy before, not even when Winter and Suzy were out to get Noelle.Charles did not do anything out of the ordinary. He simply set up a pool game with a few big shots from the business world. Those guys had been itching to rub elbows with Charles for ages, but the chance had never come up. Imagine their surprise when Charles himself extended the invite—of course, they jumped at the opportunity.Charles strolled in last, and the crowd rushed to welcome him with eager smiles. "Mr. Smith!" th
The woman with Joanna gushed, "You're so lucky! Your boyfriend Sean is so handsome and rich, and your future mother-in-law adores you too!""Please, you're making me blush. Sean and I aren't even official yet." Joanna laughed off the compliment."It's only a matter of time. Everyone at the hospital knows you two are an item. And your future mother-in-law is so generous, showering you with gifts. You wouldn't believe how many people are green with envy!""You're making it sound too good to be true!"As Liliana overheard Joanna and the woman's conversation about Sean, she felt like a creep for eavesdropping.Yes, Sean had been with Joanna for a while. Where did that leave Liliana?She had been with Sean, which explained why he was so cold that day. He must have really disliked her, or else it would not have made sense.Liliana squeezed her hands together, trying hard not to eavesdrop on Joanna and the other woman's chat. However, their words floated to her ears, every single one c
Adalee had braced herself for tough negotiations, but to her surprise, they were ready to shake hands on the deal he moment she stepped into the other company's office. The previous unreasonable demands were gone. They were going to work together just like they had before.Even though Adalee thought it was odd, she was just glad there were no hiccups in the partnership. She signed the contract and decided to give Liliana some time off, hoping it would help her shake off the blues from that unhappy evening.Ever since Liliana came back from Cascade City, she had been quiet. Her life was work, work, and nothing but work. She did not go out, not even when Tania tried to coax her into hanging out.Tania could tell something was off with Liliana, but Liliana clammed up whenever she asked, saying she was swamped with work and had no spare time.Liliana had even forgotten about the date with Keith she had planned to arrange after her business trip.Her routine was simple: she would work
Adalee had just stepped out of her room when she ran into Sean. Sean's face was stormy as he walked past, not even noticing Adalee."Mister..." Adalee called, but Sean did not even look back.Adalee's brows knitted together in worry. She rushed to Liliana's door and called, "Liliana? Liliana?"Adalee did not hear Liliana answer, so she knocked again. "Liliana, are you in there?"After Sean left, Liliana could not stop the tears from coming. However, she did not let herself cry loudly. It was just a quiet, steady sob.When she heard the knock at the door, Liliana quickly stopped crying.She bit her lip, hurried to put on her clothes, and dried her eyes.Adalee waited outside, not leaving before she heard from Liliana. Liliana had no choice but to open the door.As soon as Adalee saw her, she noticed her red, puffy eyes and the marks on her face and neck. "Liliana, what's wrong?"Remembering the drink Liliana had taken for her sake the previous night, Adalee gasped and grabbed h
Disgust—that was it.She remembered a similar desperate moment from years ago. However, Sean had not given her a chance to explain back then.He was disappointed and disgusted with her."Sean, only you and I know about today. If we keep it to ourselves, no one else will find out. I know I was wrong… but I was set up. I'm truly sorry."I promise I won't bother you again. I'm not the same as I was before. I used to have feelings for you, but now I really just see you as a brother. I wouldn't fall for my own brother."And I have a boyfriend whom I really love… I wouldn't ever ruin your happiness, Sean. I promise you that."Liliana was trying to explain, but her words were all jumbled up. She did not even understand what she was saying herself. All she knew was that she did not want to see that look of disgust in Sean's eyes, so she kept explaining, hoping Sean would not hate her.Liliana was so busy trying to clarify things that she did not notice the icy look in Sean's eyes when s
Liliana woke up feeling utterly spent, as if she had been run over.For a moment, her mind was totally blank. She could not remember a thing. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling for what felt like forever. Slowly, her senses started to come back.The warm breath and steady breathing from beside her made her eyes pop open wide.The moment she saw Sean lying next to her and shirtless, she could not stay calm any longer. "Ahh!"Her scream woke Sean up.He cracked his eyes open, still groggy, but then suddenly, his eyes snapped wide open, and his piercing gaze landed on Liliana.Her mind was a whirlwind, the memories of last night rushing back. She remembered being drugged, Sean bringing her home, and then, despite trying so hard to hold back, she ended up crossing a line with Sean.The thought made her heart ache, almost drowning her as she met Sean's icy stare.She wrapped her arms around herself, clutching the blanket tightly. She was shaking all over, and her eyes wer
Liliana was crying so hard that she could not think of anything else. All she knew was that she felt awful, and Sean was the man she loved more than anyone else in her life. She hugged Sean tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Liliana, please stop," Sean said gently. He tried to move her hands away, but she held on even tighter. "Sean, I feel so sad… I really like you, Sean," she said through her tears. Sean pried Liliana's hands off him, but she clung to him again. "Sean, I feel awful… I… I like you, Sean."She bit his lips, her hands desperately roaming over his body.Sean was a man, after all. The moment Liliana started touching him so recklessly, his body responded.However, he had always been a man of strong self-control. He pushed her away countless times, but Liliana crawled back each time, whimpering as she restlessly clung to him.Sean's expression darkened. It was not because of Liliana—it was because of himself.He could not believe it. He was actually having
Liliana's mind was a whirlwind. She found her key card fast, but just as she was about to shut the door, a big hand stopped it.She was not strong enough to close the door against Sean, who pushed it open.Liliana took a shaky step back, looking at Sean with a bit of fear. "Sean, it's late. I need to sleep."Sean just kept looking at her. "Liliana, what... what's wrong with your mouth?" he asked as he reached out, his fingers lightly touching the corner of Liliana's mouth. Liliana felt a rush of heat through her body, making her shake all over.In a swift motion, she knocked Sean's hand away. "Leave me alone."With his inscrutable eyes, Sean noticed the blood on his thumb and Liliana's unusual red cheeks. A flicker of surprise showed in his eyes. "Liliana, did..."However, Liliana was already clenching her fists, all pretense gone. She was shaking and crouching on the ground, her tears filling her eyes. "Sean, please. I'm begging you, just go, okay?"Sean's brow furrowed. His
Liliana could not make out what Sean was saying anymore. She felt awful and shut her eyes tight, not wanting Sean to notice.Sean thought Liliana had dozed off from drinking too much and had a headache, so he stopped talking.The car pulled up to Liliana's hotel, and Sean gently shook her. "Liliana, time to wake up. We're here."Liliana slowly opened her eyes and saw Sean's face close to hers. Her heart, which was already fluttering, started racing.She turned her head away, swallowing hard. "Are we here already?"Once she saw they were outside the hotel, Liliana quickly got out of the car and opened the back door to help Adalee. "Ms. Cobb, can you walk?"Adalee nodded. "Yes, I can."With a sigh of relief, Liliana told Sean, "Sean, we've made it. Ms. Cobb and I will head up now."Liliana rushed off, scared that any delay might make her lose her composure. She could not let herself fall apart in front of Sean again—not after what happened years ago.Sean noticed Liliana rushing
The moment everyone in the private room saw Bob, they were scared out of their wits.It was Andy, the favorite son of the Jones family in Cascade City! Even though he was the second child, he was the one everyone knew would run the company one day.Everyone felt a wave of relief, glad they had not messed with Liliana earlier. They knew that if they had, they would not just be outcasts in Cascade City, but probably everywhere else too.Sean gently put Adalee in the back seat of the car and then helped Liliana into the front seat. Noticing Liliana's pale face, he asked, "Did you have too much to drink?"When Sean touched her forehead, Liliana felt a wave of heat rush through her, like she was on fire. Sean's hand was cool, and the moment it touched her, she could not help but sigh in relief."Maybe," she said.Sean shook his head. "Where's your hangover pill? Take it now. Where do you live?"After Liliana told him the address, she saw that Adalee was already fast asleep.Sean tur