Jade and Winter were completely terrified, and even Julian realized the gravity of the situation. "Uh… Mr. Hoffman, um… Charlie…"Charles cast a sharp glare in Julian's direction, and Julian immediately fell silent."Heh," Sean interjected as he arrived, glancing at the Shaws before shifting his gaze to Noelle and Charles. "I wasn't even gone for long, Charles, and yet your wife has already been bullied!"Sean's tone carried a hint of mockery, making his comment sting even more. His words were like pouring gasoline on a fire.Jade could practically feel the flames of fury emanating from Charles. She scrambled to her feet, clutching Julian's shirt. "Jule, please explain it to Mr. Hoffman! I didn't… I didn't mean to!""It was clear as day that you did it intentionally!" Sean raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the chaos."Forget that she's Charles' wife now. Let's talk about the fact that she's now Noelle Smith, the Smith family's treasured daughter. Ms. Winter, do you think the Sm
"You…" Jade and Winter were completely caught off guard by the mention of surveillance footage.Their faces turned pale instantly. "I…"Just then, the doors to the operating room opened, and the lead surgeon stepped out, addressing Sean, "Dr. Smith!"Sean nodded. "How's Sir Shaw?""We've managed to save him for now, but Sir Shaw previously suffered a stroke. This time, the surge in blood pressure caused him to have a heart attack. The situation was triggered by extreme emotional stress. Given his age and declining health, the outlook is not optimistic even though we've saved his life.""What do you mean by that, doctor?" Noelle asked, picking up on the doctor's grave tone. Her brows furrowed tightly. "What exactly do you mean?"The doctor glanced at Noelle, then at Sean. Only after Sean gave a slight nod did the doctor continue, "The patient's heart is severely weakened. Although he was resuscitated, the combination of the heart attack and a second stroke means he'll likely be be
Winter and Jade were trembling with rage, but there was absolutely nothing they could do against Noelle.They knew very well that Noelle's boldness came from the Hoffmans and the Smiths backing her. Unfortunately for them, they were no match for either family."Jule, what do we do now?" Jade asked, her voice filled with panic."Do what?" Julian was on the verge of losing his temper with Jade and Winter. These two foolish women! They were so shortsighted.Julian could see clearly that while Charles and Sean were formidable, they did not act recklessly. The key lay with Noelle. As long as it did not involve Noelle, they could turn a blind eye or even offer small benefits. However, they would never let anyone who hurt her go unpunished if it involved Noelle.Originally, the Shaws had the advantage of having raised Noelle. If they had played that card well, they could have ensured the Shaws thrived under the Hoffmans' and the Smiths' protection. Now, however, everything was ruined.C
Outside the private room on the prestigious Golden Floor of The Majestic Lounge, Andrew stood guard. Inside, a woman sat nervously while clutching an item in her hands.Every so often, she glanced toward the door, but as soon as her eyes landed on Andrew's stern face, she recoiled again.Andrew's gaze fixed on Suzy, and he let out a cold snort upon seeing her cautious demeanor.Charles had just stepped out of the car when Ronald approached him immediately. "Mr. Hoffman!"Charles nodded, holding his suit jacket casually in one hand as he strode forward. "Where is she?""She's in the private room. She said she has something to hand to you personally."Charles' eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm."Ronald led the way until they reached the elevator. He then stepped aside, allowing Charles to take the lead."Mr. Hoffman!" Having spotted Charles, Andrew quickly opened the door.The moment Charles stepped inside, Suzy sprang up from the couch. "Mr. Hoffman!"Suzy was deeply intimidated by
Charles' long fingers lifted the edge of the folder as he casually skimmed through the records inside.The contents detailed Winter's past activities, including underhanded dealings in the entertainment industry—tactics used to sabotage others, evidence of her schemes against competitors, and a thorough log of places she had frequented in the past year.It documented every detail, down to what Winter had done in those places.Charles closed the thick stack of documents and shifted his gaze to the DVD resting beside them.Ronald quickly inserted the DVD into the player, and the screen flickered to life. The footage contained extensive material about Winter—videos of her visits to Elysian Swallow Garden, scenes from her personal life, and even a heated confrontation at the Shaw residence.The last segment showed Winter arguing fiercely with Samuel before he collapsed. The video captured Winter's panicked reaction, with Julian and Jade also appearing in the frame.Charles narrowed h
The next day, Winter had an audition during the day, and Suzy informed her that evening she had arranged a meeting with some investors.Initially, Winter did not want to attend, but she realized she had likely already offended Charles. With Royal Star likely cutting her off from resources, Winter could not afford to lose any potential support. Hence, she reluctantly agreed to the evening event.However, once Winter changed into her outfit and got into the car, she realized something was wrong when they arrived at Elysian Swallow Garden. "Suzy, didn't you say this was just a simple dinner? Why are we here?"Elysian Swallow Garden was nothing short of a nightmare for Winter.Suzy glanced at Winter with a troubled expression. "I didn't have a choice. The investors tonight include Mr. Lambert and Mr. Wallace. You know how they are—they love places like this. I also heard they have some… unusual entertainment here, so…""I'm not going in!" Winter's face turned pale. "Do you even reme
After Suzy's relentless persuasion, Winter decided she could not care anymore. She had waited so long for this film opportunity, and now that there was some promise, she did not want to let it slip away."I've already spoken to Mr. Lambert. There will be others there tonight. You're just going to accompany them for drinks. You know how to drink, don't you?" Suzy patted Winter's arm reassuringly. "I'll be there with you.""Alright!" Winter took a deep breath, as if making a monumental decision.Seeing her resolve, Suzy smirked coldly to herself but said nothing as she led Winter upstairs.Elysian Swallow Garden was a place exclusively for the entertainment of high-ranking officials and wealthy individuals with peculiar tastes.Those brought here were often carefully selected, including prominent celebrities or lesser-known stars who wanted to climb the social ladder. The only way to do so was by entertaining these affluent patrons.Winter had initially come here out of curiosity,
The next day, news of the scandal surrounding Winter's chaotic private life dominated the front pages of major newspapers and media outlets.Explicit photos of Winter flooded various social media platforms, even appearing on websites notorious for adult content. Rumors spread that Winter had been discovered in the company of multiple men and women, in a scene described as shockingly scandalous.However, no one knew Winter's exact whereabouts.…Winter sat in a chair in a private clinic, her body wrapped tightly in layers of clothing. Across from her was a woman with a stern expression."Ms. Shaw, please remove your pants," the female doctor said firmly.Winter's bloodshot eyes stared at the doctor, but she refused to comply.The doctor removed her mask, her gaze devoid of emotion. "Ms. Shaw, you came to me for an examination. If you're unwilling, you can leave right now.""Do it! We'll do it!" Jade burst into the room, grabbing the doctor's hand. "Please examine my daughter. Sh
In the past, Liliana would have scampered after Sean the moment he spoke, but the Liliana of today was different. She gave Sean a small smile. "My legs aren't long, so I don't walk fast. Also, I'm expecting now, so my husband wants me to slow down.""Husband?" Sean's teeth were practically grinding, his brows were so furrowed they could have been tied in a knot, and his face was clouded over. "When did you get married? Why didn't I know?"Liliana kept her smile. "It's Keith. He popped the question, and we're going to get our marriage license soon.""Oh, so you're not actually married yet?" Sean's laugh was distant. "You're already calling him 'husband' so eagerly. Liliana, you really haven't changed at all."Liliana's face fell, a shadow passing over it.She could easily pick up on the jab in Sean's words—it was just a way to put her down.Liliana took a deep breath, reminding herself not to lose her temper and stay calm for her baby's sake."It won't be long now, and I'll be su
The apartment was not big, and both the interior and exterior were pretty old. How could it even compare to the Hoffman family's grand home?She was a Hoffman too, but the difference between her and her sisters, Chloe and Layla, was like night and day.Liliana glanced at Sean, her brow furrowing. "Mr. Smith?"Sean's gaze softened. "Liliana, we're friends, right? Won't you invite me in to sit for a while?" He put extra emphasis on the word ‘friends’.Liliana's frown deepened. "I don't see why that's necessary, Mr. Smith. You're used to fancy high-rises and grand mansions. Our old apartment probably isn't to your taste." Holding Keith's hand, she led him to the living room. "I'll be back soon. I'm just stepping out for a moment.""But Liliana..." Keith hesitated, wanting to suggest they could talk at home instead of going out. He also wanted to offer to handle the matter himself if she preferred to avoid Sean.Seeing Liliana's resolute look, he nodded. "Alright, go ahead."Liliana
"You think you can go to work feeling like this?" Keith did not think it was a good idea, but Liliana did not see the problem. "You really don't have to worry. I had some trouble before because I didn't know what I was doing and wasn't ready to be a mom, but I've learned a lot since then. Anyway, you can't even tell I'm pregnant yet. You don't expect me to stop working now, do you?"Liliana joked, "If I don't work, how will I make money? How will I take care of our baby?""I'm here for you, Liliana," Keith sighed. "Haven't I told you? I'll look after you from now on.""But I can't just do nothing," Liliana reassured him. "Don't worry, Keith. If it ever gets to the point where I can't do anything, I promise I'll stop and just stay at home, waiting for you to take care of us."Liliana was in a very good mood and started teasing Keith. Keith gave her a look and said, "Okay, but if you're not feeling well or anything, just take it easy. We're not rich, but I've got enough to take care
With those thoughts, Liliana felt more determined than ever.She held onto Keith's hand tightly, her lips trembling a little. "Does it really not matter to you that I don't like you right now?""It does matter," Keith replied earnestly. "Liliana, I want you to give me your whole heart in the future." He confessed, "I'm actually quite selfish. I like you a lot, and I want you to like me back.""Alright!" Liliana nodded firmly. "I'll work hard to like you more."Keith smiled at her promise, gently squeezing her cheek. "You've been eating too little these days. You need to eat more and get a bit healthier for our baby's sake. It's better for the little one." He opened the lunch box, but the smell made Liliana's throat uneasy, and her stomach turned.Keith noticed her discomfort right away and came closer, full of concern. "Liliana, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"After a moment of queasiness, Liliana grabbed Keith's hand to steady herself. "I'm okay. I just felt a little sick
"Sean has always seen me as a sister. My last name is Hoffman, but I'm not really part of the family. I'm just a Hoffman by name, and the Hoffmans... Well, they're not really my family."When I was little, kids made fun of me because of where I came from. They bullied me at school. But Sean was my hero and stood up for me. It's kind of funny, isn't it? He was just trying to help, and I went and fell head over heels for him. I knew he thought of me as a sister, but I couldn't help wishing for more."Sean's mom never liked me. I figured that out pretty quick. I kept telling myself to stop liking Sean, but you can't always choose how you feel."When I was sixteen, a big mix-up led to Sean and me... Well, we got really close. After that, things got awkward between us. We only started to patch things up recently, but then..." Liliana's mind flashed back to that day in Cascade City, and she balled her hands into fists. "Keith, am I a bad person?""Don't talk like that, Liliana!"Keith
Savannah's face was twisted with displeasure. She stared at the young man who had appeared out of nowhere and saw how gently he cared for Liliana. His words had just metaphorically slapped her in the face.Savannah came from a respected family of scholars and was always admired. She could not believe someone would talk to her like that, especially not with the Smith family's reputation in Brookville.However, this young man was standing up to her for Liliana's sake. Savannah's chest rose and fell with her breath, a clear sign of her anger.Watching Savannah's reaction, Liliana knew Keith had made her mad. However, Savannah was too proud to lose her cool in public.Being stuck in bed was not helping anyone, so Liliana decided to get up. However, as soon as she threw off her blankets, Keith gently pushed her back down. "You're still not well. Stay put," he said with concern.Liliana gave Keith a grateful look. She knew he was just worried about her. Turning to Savannah, she said, "I
"How dare you!"Savannah was caught off guard. She never expected Liliana, who always seemed so sweet and frail, to speak up so boldly. It left her not knowing what to do next.She was not sure if the baby Liliana was carrying was Sean's. However, after hearing rumors about Liliana and Sean, Savannah had rushed to the hospital to dig up Liliana's medical records, and there it was—Liliana's report.Sean was so worried when Liliana had her accident. That was why Savannah was convinced there was something between them.She was determined to stop whatever was going on between Liliana and Sean. If Liliana would just listen, Savannah was willing to let bygones be bygones and have her end the pregnancy. However, if Liliana would not play along, Savannah knew she would have to find another way to keep her away from Sean.Savannah had run through every possible scenario in her mind on her way over, but she had not expected Liliana to stand her ground so fiercely, especially not when it cam
"Ma'am, what brings you here?"Liliana had a hunch that Savannah's visit was not coincidental. Central City Hospital was not the kind of place Savannah frequented.If she was ill, she could have visited Sean's hospital or asked Sean to come and see her. There was no reason for her to come to this hospital that was out of her way.Savannah had come straight to her ward, which made Liliana suspect something. Still, she kept her cool.After a few days in the hospital, Liliana was feeling much better. She could not take medicine, so she had been healing by eating healthy foods, and it showed.Keith was working all day and looking after her at night, which was wearing him out. Liliana had just told him to take a break when, by chance, Savannah showed up.Savannah kept a watchful eye on Liliana. It had been ages since she last saw her, and back then, Liliana was just a kid. She had grown up, but her face still held onto that kid-like innocence. Today, though, something about her seemed
"Ms. Savannah, do you know Liliana?" Joanna could tell from Savannah's reaction that she must know Liliana. Her eyes grew more intense. "It looks like Sean really is Liliana's boyfriend."Savannah always frowned when she talked about Liliana. "She's not right for Sean," she would say with a huff. It was not that Liliana was mean or anything. Actually, it was the opposite—she was too nice. However, Savannah had never liked her, right from the start.When Sean was just a little kid, Savannah met Liliana. She was quiet and kept to herself, not really liking to be around people much. However, she always listened to Sean and stuck close to him.Savannah did not have a big problem with Liliana. She just did not like her and thought she was not the right girl for Sean.Liliana was part of the Hoffman family, but even after all these years, they never really accepted her. Even though Charles from the family was kind to her, she was still seen as someone who should not be talked about, like