Kelly felt heavy-hearted as she left Noelle's room. A shadow fell in front of her, and when she looked up, she was surprised to see a man standing there.Ronald gave a slight nod. "Ms. Anderson, Mr. Hoffman would like to see you.""Alright," Kelly replied, then glanced back at the room."Um… Earlier, it seemed like Noelle had a reaction?"Ronald nodded again. "Mr. Hoffman is aware. Please don't worry, Ms. Anderson. There's no immediate danger."Kelly let out a small sigh of relief. "Thank you. Please take me to see Charles."Charles was actually in the room adjacent to Noelle's. Worried about her safety, he had stationed people all around her room and was sitting in the nearby room to monitor the situation himself.Ronald opened the door and gestured for Kelly to enter.Kelly saw Charles seated on a couch, his eyes fixed intently on a monitor. She stepped closer and noticed that the screen displayed a live feed of Noelle's room.Noelle had struggled to lie back down after Kell
"What about Jethro? Do you know him?"Kelly's hand instinctively tightened around the strap of her handbag, her face turning a shade paler."Charles, speak plainly. What exactly do you want from me?"Charles laughed softly. "I'm a businessman. I think you know that about me. I prefer making deals with smart people."As he spoke, he noticed Kelly's confusion. Rising to his feet, he slid his hands into his pockets.Standing with his back to Kelly, Charles looked out of the window, his voice calm but edged with steel. "Yves is a member of the Hoffman family. I don't know why he's targeting Nelly, but whether it's what's happening now or your abduction years ago, his goal is the same—to pressure me.""And so what? Charles, you should also understand—if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been taken by him in the first place!"Kelly was not naïve. She could not fully grasp Charles' intentions, but the fact that he had approached her meant he already had a plan.In the past, she migh
Kelly's fists clenched and loosened repeatedly, the process repeating several times. The silence in the hospital room was so oppressive it seemed to echo in her ears.After a long pause, she finally took a deep breath and said, "It's too late today, but I'll come to the hospital tomorrow morning for the blood tests.""Alright."Charles' expression softened slightly."But you need to promise me one condition."Kelly seemed to have thought deeply about it. After a long pause, she finally said, "Seth is my life.""Alright."Kelly laughed. In the quiet hospital room, her laughter was not loud, but it was enough to make Charles turn and look at her.Kelly looked back at Charles, her lips trembling slightly. "Sometimes, I really envy Noelle. She has a man who loves her so deeply. But Charles, does she know the side of you with blood on your hands?"Charles narrowed his eyes. "She doesn't, and she doesn't need to."Kelly laughed again, lowering her head to hide the loneliness in her
Kelly did not sleep well all night. Her mind felt muddled, as if someone had stuffed it with incomprehensible thoughts.She kept ruminating about her origins and her relationships with Noelle, Harrison, and the others.In her dream, the connections between people were unclear. She did not even know what she was trying to accomplish, yet every face appeared vividly.She saw Noelle, Grant, Harrison, and Shirley. Their images flickered in and out of her dream like fleeting shadows, disappearing as quickly as they had come.She tried desperately to follow in their footsteps, but no matter how fast she ran, they moved too quickly. Watching their figures grow more distant, Kelly felt as though she was trapped in a dense fog, unable to escape.Then, as she ran faster, she saw Seth. He stood shyly in the mist, waving at her and calling out softly, "Mommy."Her heart swelled with joy, and she ran toward him. However, as she drew closer, Seth disappeared, and in his place stood a tall, imp
In her dream, the man had seemed so real. He had called her Kelly in such a tender way.Kelly.She suddenly smiled.Throughout her life, no one had ever called her that name in such a way. People either addressed her as "Ms. Kelly" or simply "Ms. Anderson".Even during her closest moments with Charles, he had only ever called her Kelly in passing. That name, spoken with such familiarity, had only ever come from that man.Kelly raised a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes for a moment.After all these years, she rarely thought about what had happened four years ago, when she had been abducted.She had buried the memories of those months, refusing to revisit the pain and confusion. But ever since her meeting with Noelle the day before, ever since learning the truth about the man's watchful presence in her life, those unresolved emotions had come rushing back, leaving her overwhelmed and disoriented."Mommy!"Seth's small hand tugged at hers as his other hand rubbed his slee
"Of course. You're so adorable. Aunt Noelle will definitely like you," Kelly said, crouching down to Seth's level and gently pinching his nose."When you meet Aunt Noelle, remember to greet her properly, okay?""Okay! If Aunt Noelle likes me, I'll like Aunt Noelle too!""Mischief-maker!" Kelly chuckled. As they arrived at Noelle's hospital room, Kelly hesitated briefly before knocking on the door and pushing it open.Noelle was awake, and she was quietly reading a book. In the corner of the room, Charles sat on the sofa, engrossed in work on his laptop. Though neither spoke, the atmosphere between them felt harmonious.Kelly could not help but feel a pang of envy as she observed the scene. They looked so at ease together.Even while working, Charles seemed relaxed, a stark contrast to the cold and detached demeanor he often displayed around her.Kelly pressed her lips together, holding Seth's hand as they walked inside.Noelle set down her book and looked up, slightly surprised
Kelly felt a bit startled by Charles' sudden attentiveness. Even at the height of their relationship, Charles had never shown such consideration toward her.His polite and gentle demeanor now seemed almost surreal, making her feel like she was seeing a completely different person.However, Kelly quickly realized that this shift was likely due to Noelle. She nodded and replied, "Yes, we've already eaten. What about you and Noelle?"Charles nodded as well. "We've eaten."Yet the atmosphere remained somewhat strained, likely because of his presence. Kelly harbored complicated feelings toward Charles—she no longer loved him, but having once been obsessively infatuated with him, she could not help but feel awkward.Charles, perceptive as ever, glanced at Noelle. She smiled and said, "Charlie, I've been craving something sweet, especially those pumpkin pies from Celia's Bakery. Could you go buy some for me?"Charles looked deeply into her eyes, his expression softening. Feeling a littl
That would mean Charles had met her before she saved him, which explained why he looked so shocked when he woke up that day.Though Charles never said anything, his behavior toward her during that period was exceptionally kind. Whatever Kelly asked for, Charles would agree to it.Kelly stared at Noelle, who appeared just as puzzled. From what she remembered, she had met Charles only after Xavier's betrayal. Before that, Charles did not exist in her world—at least not in her memory.Given how extraordinary Charles was, Noelle did not believe her memory could be so bad as to forget someone like him. She could not fathom not remembering their first meeting.Noelle pressed her lips together, looking troubled.Seeing her expression, Kelly quickly interjected, "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. I was just curious. It's not something I'm fixated on."Noelle shook her head. "There's nothing I can't share; it's just strange. I can't seem to recall when we first met. Accordi
"Sean, stop messing around. Let go of me first," Liliana tugged at Sean's arm, realizing how tightly he was holding her. "You're choking me."Only then did Sean loosen his grip slightly, though he still did not let her go. His forehead rested against hers, and he panted softly. "Liliana, do you remember what you said to me in the fire?"Liliana's face turned red, and she awkwardly turned her head away. "N-No, I don't remember. What did I say? I don't think I—mmph..."Before she could finish, Sean kissed her, swallowing the rest of her words with that one stubborn kiss.Liliana raised her hands and smacked Sean on the shoulder, trying to push him away. "Sea—mmph, what are you doing? Let me go..."She shoved him hard, and Sean stumbled back, clutching his chest. Liliana's face went pale, and she rushed over. "Sean, what's wrong? Are you okay? Did I hurt you somewhere?"Nonetheless, Sean took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her again. That feeling of holding her tightly
Noelle raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say that."Then, she added, "That knot in Liliana's heart can only be undone by Sean."What happened back then had always been a shadow between the two of them. Noelle had noticed it these past few days. Though Liliana stubbornly claimed she no longer cared, she clutched her phone every single day, obviously waiting for a call.Liliana's social circle was small. Noelle and the others knew everyone she knew. Who else could she be waiting for but Sean?Charles furrowed his brows. "If Liliana can't have the best, then she's better off with nothing."Noelle could not help but laugh. "Alright, alright. I know you're still holding a grudge against Hayes and Savannah."Honestly, Noelle shared the sentiment. "Savannah really crossed a line with how she handled everything."Charles reached out and gently pinched Noelle's knuckles. "That's not what I meant."Noelle chuckled, exasperated. "I know."Outside, the sound of a car engine drew their attentio
Sean shoved Hayes away. "Dad, if you're just like Mom and trying to stop me from being with Liliana, then don't even bother. If I can't marry Liliana in this lifetime, I won't marry anyone else."With that, Sean lay down decisively. Hayes frowned. "Sean, this isn't about what we want anymore. It's about Liliana and Charles now."Truthfully, Hayes did not have many opinions about Sean and Liliana's relationship. He was always too busy with the company to pay attention to such things. Even the events from four years ago were only now becoming clearer to him."If you insist on marrying her, I won't stop you. But from what I can see, the problem lies with Liliana and Charles."Sean's gaze sharpened as he clenched his fists. "That's impossible. Liliana already forgave me back when the fire happened. She promised that if we both made it out, she'd marry me."Hayes sighed. "Your mother… She misunderstood Liliana and said some harsh things. Just rest for now. Once you're better, we'll go
Sean spat out a mouthful of blood. One hand gripped the bedsheet tightly, his gaze turning darker than ever."What do you mean by that? What do you mean she doesn't want to marry me? She promised me. She said that as long as I was willing to walk out of that fire with her, she'd be with me. You're lying to me, aren't you? Tell me you're lying to me."Sean's bloodshot eyes locked on Savannah's. "Tell me."Savannah was momentarily stunned by the sheer force of Sean's gaze. This was the first time she ever felt fear in front of her own son. "Sean, I…""Where's Liliana?" Sean demanded."Sean," Hayes called out as he pushed open the door and stepped in. "That's no way to speak to your mother.""Then how should I speak to her?" Sean's voice turned icy."Did you know it was Joanna who drugged me nine years ago? And while I was under the influence, I forced myself on Liliana? I misunderstood her, and as a result, she had to hide in the countryside for years."Four years ago, it was me
The operating room door swung open, and Liliana spun around. She saw Saxon step out. Not caring about anyone else’s opinions, she grabbed his hand. "Mr. Holt, how's Sean?"Saxon looked down at their hands, noting how soft and warm hers was. He met her eyes and nodded. "The patient is out of danger now. He should wake up by tomorrow."Hearing that, Liliana let out a sigh of relief and then suddenly fainted."Liliana!"Charles rushed over and wrapped Liliana in a tight hug, but his eyes quickly darted to Hayes and Savannah. "Now that Sean is safe, Sean's fate is no longer Liliana's concern, nor ours," he declared, speaking for the Hoffman family.With those words, Charles carried Liliana away. Saxon was tugged along by Linda. "Saxon, you should check on her. The young lady seemed off to me. She's been hiding her pain. Besides the wound on her shoulder, I think she breathed in a lot of smoke."Saxon's eyes shimmered for a moment. "Yeah, I'm aware."Liliana had been pushing through
"Charles, you…""Stop it!" Hayes was taken aback by Savannah suddenly slapping Liliana. He did not particularly like or dislike Liliana, but she was part of the Hoffman family, and their family commanded much respect. Besides, Noelle was still Charles's wife, and they had to be careful about their actions.Hayes turned to Charles. "I'm sorry, my wife acted without thinking. But what in the world happened today?"Hayes had been told that his son was hurt, but he did not know the details. When he arrived and saw Liliana was there and injured too, Hayes and Savannah could not help but think that Liliana must be connected to Sean's injury.Charles gave a sharp look. "It was Joanna's doing.""Joanna? No, that can't be!" Savannah was shocked to hear the name Joanna, and she quickly objected, "Joanna is such a sweet girl, she couldn't possibly...""Oh, sweet indeed!"Liliana, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. She narrowed her eyes and stood up, ignoring the pain from her w
"Liliana!""Get up quickly!" Liliana used all her strength to pull Sean up from the ground. "Can you walk?""Uh-huh!" Sean had been hit by a falling piece of wood on his leg when he tried to push Liliana out earlier. That was why he could not get out in time and could only hear Liliana's loud calls from outside.He had wished so badly for Liliana to leave quickly, but she had come back for him.Sean bit down hard and pushed himself up.Even if it was hard to walk, he had to try because Liliana wanted him to stand.Liliana slung Sean's arm over her shoulder, noticing his injury. Her eyes were red with tears. "Sean, hang in there. If we both make it out today, I'll forgive you. You can ask me to do anything.""Really?" Sean's eyes sparkled, and he smiled. "Liliana, I don't want you to do anything." In his heart, he added, ‘I just want you to marry me.’"The fire is licking at our heels, and you two are still dawdling," came Charles's icy voice from up ahead. In a flash, he was be
"Sean, where are you? Didn't you just say you love me?" she cried out. "How can you leave me like this, saying you love me and then j-j-just giving up? What am I supposed to do now?"Sean, you took our child from me. How could you think I'd just forgive you? If you don't make this right, I swear I'll never forgive you," Liliana yelled outside, her voice filled with madness. Inside, the plant was engulfed in flames. Shaking from head to toe, Liliana's screams slowly turned into a whisper. She clenched her hands tight, staring blankly at the fire. "If you're gone, what's left for me here?""Liliana!"Charles rushed over and saw Liliana moving toward the flames. He grabbed her and pulled her back. "What are you doing?"Liliana looked up, dazed, and saw Charles. She quickly stood up and grabbed his hand. "Charles, please. I'm begging you. Help me save Sean, please!"Charles's brow creased as he looked at the fiery red inferno, his fingers tensing. "Liliana, the fire's too big. Sean mi
Liliana shoved Sean aside and covered him with her body, taking a knife stab from Joanna. "Ugh..."Pain whitened Liliana's face, and blood dripped onto Sean's face. Reacting quickly, Sean rolled over, picked Liliana up in his arms, and seized Joanna's neck, twisting it hard until it cracked. Joanna's eyes bulged in disbelief as she stared at Sean."You..."She had not thought Sean would actually snap her neck. Her eyes were wide open, one hand clutching a knife, and the other holding a lighter.With her last breath, she tossed the lighter.A loud bang followed, and flames started to spread from that spot.Sean's eyes darkened as he carried Liliana and dashed for the exit. However, how could he outrun the swift spread of the fire while burdened with Liliana's weight?Liliana's eyes widened as she saw the flames creeping up behind them. She pushed Sean, urging him, "Go now, or it'll be too late!"However, Sean's eyes turned a deep red with emotion. "Liliana, I won't let go of you