"Keith!”Keith's parents and Jacy rushed to his side. They saw him struggling and quickly pulled him to his feet.Liliana watched, her eyes filled with worry. "Sean, stop fighting. I'm begging you." Keith stood no chance against Sean, and it could end really badly."Keith, stay back. He..." She thought to herself, 'He might actually kill you.'Keith shrugged off his parents' hands and walked toward Sean, full of stubbornness. "Sean, do you even realize what you're doing? Liliana's going to have a baby, and you could hurt her. If you're mad, take it out on me, but leave Liliana alone.""You? You think you're up to it?" Sean glared at Keith. "You think you can take me on?"Keith's hands turned into fists. "I don't know if I can beat you, but I've got to try.""Don't, Keith," Liliana pleaded, shaking her head. She had given up hope. She should have known what Sean was like from the moment she fell for him.She had been too naive, thinking she could just stop loving him and ignore
"Liliana!"Jacy saw the worry on Liliana's face and the young man standing not too far away, giving off a scary vibe. Jacy felt a wave of worry. As Liliana turned to leave, Jacy grabbed her hand. "Liliana, what's going on? Where are you going? You can't just leave without telling me. Do you want to make me worry sick?"Liliana had not been around Jacy much since she was little, and Jacy did not really know what Liliana had been through those past years. Liliana always shared only the good news, never the bad. Jacy did not know much about Liliana's life with the Hoffman family or what had happened between her and Sean. She just knew that the young man seemed to be from a completely different world than theirs.When did Liliana get mixed up with someone like that? Jacy did not know, but she was sure Liliana could not make the same mistake she did long ago. "Liliana, you can't go. You're about to marry Keith, and think of the baby...""Yeah, Liliana, what's going on? You and Keith wer
Sean gripped Liliana's hand tightly, and they walked away.Sean!Jacy suddenly thought of something and ran up quickly. "Sean, Liliana belongs to the Hoffman family. Even if they don't claim her, she's still one of them. If you hurt her, the Hoffmans won't let you get away with it."Jacy was shaking all over.The Hoffman family and the Smith family!She shut her eyes, only then realizing what kind of people the Smiths were.She had been trapped by the Hoffmans years ago. Was her daughter now going to be trapped by the Smiths?Sean stopped and gently squeezed Liliana's hand.Liliana caught a glimpse of the side of Sean's face and the dark flash in his eyes. She quickly pulled him away. "She's my mom, the only family I have. If you hurt her, I'd rather die with you.""You? Dying with me?" Sean sneered, holding Liliana's chin. "You think you're worth that?"Liliana's face froze, and she turned pale.Sean roughly pushed Liliana into the car and then vanished into the crowd.Kei
However, Sean did nothing. He just kept her locked up.The villa was not completely locked down. Liliana could have tried to run away, but she knew that Sean could easily find her if he wanted to, no matter where she hid.Thus, Liliana did not try to escape. Over the last few days, she thought a lot about her childhood, growing up, and her life with Sean, and then about Keith.Keith!The name brought a sharp twinge of pain to her heart.She wondered how he was doing and if he was getting the care he needed.Liliana knew that Sean's harsh treatment must have really hurt Keith. She had always known what kind of person Sean was and regretted not ending the pregnancy when she had the chance. Maybe if she has, Sean would not be acting this way now.She gently caressed her belly, now more than four months along. She could feel the baby inside. The past few months had been too peaceful, and she had nearly forgotten how she had always been the kind of person nobody liked. She had also f
The moment Liliana stopped talking, the room went cold. She felt a chill run down her spine, and then she heard his icy voice behind her. "You wanted to see me?"Liliana spun around and locked eyes with Sean's icy stare. She instinctively shivered, but she still bravely lifted her head to face him."Sir!" Sarah exclaimed with a sigh of relief when she saw Sean. "Ms. Liliana won't eat her meal. I...""Leave us," Sean commanded, and Sarah hurried out. Soon, it was just Liliana and Sean in the room.Liliana watched Sean approach her step by step, her face filled with fear. She instinctively stepped back. Sean moved closer and took hold of her chin firmly. His eyes grew hard. "You wanted to see me, right? I'm here now. What's scaring you?"Pain shot through Liliana's chin. She tried to pull away, but Sean's grip was too strong for her to escape."Talk to me!"Liliana tried to swallow her fear and reached up to push his hand away, but Sean's grip only tightened, and his dark eyes see
Liliana balled her hands into fists. "I don't want your child either, but what else can I do?"Her eyes, red and angry, locked with Sean's. "I know you don't like me or the baby, but he’s an innocent, living being. I'm going to marry Keith, and he'll be the father to this child. Isn't that a good thing? Why did you have to come and ruin everything? Is it because I'm not as important as you, so you think I don't deserve to be happy?""Happiness? Ha!" Sean let out a bitter laugh, his long fingers tilting Liliana's chin up to force her to look at him. "Do you think Keith can make you happy?"It was clear Sean had no respect for Keith."He can. He really can," Liliana said with conviction. "Apart from my mom and Tania, he's the nicest person to me in the whole world. He really can make me happy.""Liliana!"Sean's eyes flared with anger again, his gaze filled with a dangerous threat. He gripped Liliana's neck tightly. "You think you can marry someone else while carrying my child with
"Sean, stop being so self-righteous. Other than this child in my belly being yours, do you really think I still love you? How could I love someone as cold and heartless as you?"That was right—Liliana did not love Sean anymore. She had stopped loving him long ago.Ever since he hurt her so cruelly and tried to force her to get rid of the baby, she had made up her mind never to love him again.Sean's expression turned cold. "You don't love me? Then who do you love? Keith? Liliana, even if you don't love me, you're not allowed to love anyone else." He grabbed her hand tightly."Once you've been marked as mine, do you still think you can be with someone else? Keep dreaming."He leaned down and pressed her body into the mattress, biting into her neck without warning.Liliana gasped in pain and tried to push him away, but Sean pinned her down with a knee.His lips stained a deep red, and he ran his tongue over her bitten skin. "Liliana, even if I don't love you, you can't belong to a
When Liliana looked up again, Sean was no longer there.She collapsed back onto the bed in despair and closed her eyes. She was exhausted. Dealing with Sean drained her completely.He was no longer the boy from her memories—the one who had once stood up for her when she was being bullied.Maybe no one else was to blame. Maybe it was all her fault. She never should have clung to his tenderness. She never should have fallen in love with him."Ms. Hoffman, time to eat."Jasmine entered again. When she saw Liliana lying on the bed with tears still on her face, she felt a pang of sympathy. However, she was being paid, and naturally, she had to do her job. Sean had paid her, so she had to follow Sean's instructions."Ms. Hoffman, Mr. Smith is actually a good man. Please don't fight him. He just…"Liliana sat up, wiped her tears, and let out a cold laugh. "A good man? Jasmine, I've known him long enough to see right through him. I know exactly what kind of person he is—better than you
"Yeah. Bobby is Yankel's son, so he has to go back to the Canfield family eventually," Liliana said. As she looked up, her eyes caught a glimpse of the person in the driver's seat ahead, and she gasped. "It's you—""Liliana?" Noelle heard a voice crackling through the phone, then nothing but silence."Liliana?"Noelle jumped to her feet and tried calling Liliana back, but no one answered. She dashed downstairs, only to be stopped by Charles. "What's the matter? You look so worried.""It's Liliana. Something's happened to her," Noelle explained, clutching her phone. "I was just talking to her. It sounded like she met someone or something happened. All I heard was Liliana saying, ‘It's you,' some choppy bits of conversation, and then nothing. When I called back, nobody picked up."Noelle was not just being paranoid. She had been through enough to have a keen sense for these things.Charles's brow furrowed as he tried calling Liliana but got no response."Where was Liliana when she
Yankel was taken aback by Liliana's words. He looked at her, his face full of wonder and questions. Liliana did not know what to say, so she just coughed a little and asked, "You don't think I'm being unreasonable, do you, Mr. Canfield?"Yankel shook his head. He had never thought that. He knew Liliana loved Bobby a lot and thought it would be hard for her to give him up. That was why he was so surprised when she offered to let Bobby go back to him. "I didn't mean it like that," he said."Actually..." Liliana paused, then shared the story of how she first met Samara and how they ended up depending on each other. "You could tell that even after Samara had to leave, she still loved you a lot. She even risked her life to have your baby. I know she loved you because she asked me to take care of Bobby when she was very sick. She even worried that Bobby might be too much for me and told me to find you, so you could raise him."Liliana let out a sigh. "I guess I've been selfish. I treated
Casey sat in the front seat, watching Liliana and Bobby together. Surprise flickered in his eyes, but it was mostly happiness. "Ms. Liliana, it looks like the little guy is really fond of you."Liliana did not say yes or no, but Bobby chimed in, "I love Mommy the most! I love Mommy the most!"Casey could not help but smile. "Yep, the little guy loves you the most, Ms. Liliana." He glanced at Liliana, trying to read her face. "Ms. Liliana, have you ever thought that since you and the little guy are so close, maybe you and...""Casey, I don't see Mr. Canfield that way," Liliana said calmly.Casey blushed a little, realizing he had stepped out of line. "Sorry, I spoke out of turn." He stayed quiet for the rest of the drive.When they reached the Canfield house, Liliana stepped out with Bobby in her arms, and Casey led the way. "Ms. Liliana, it's just Mr. Canfield at home today." He meant to tell her not to worry. Even if the Canfield family did not like Bobby, they would not do anyth
Liliana did not have any special feelings for Yankel. It was all about Bobby. She could tell Yankel really cared for Bobby. "He's Bobby's real dad. I can't keep them apart."Noelle chuckled. "Okay, okay, I was just teasing. Look at you, getting all worked up over nothing!"Noelle leaned in closer, her gaze making Liliana a little uncomfortable. "Noelle, what are you...""Liliana, what are you going to do now?" Noelle asked, her eyes full of concern. "I know Sean is my brother, but I really don't mind, especially after everything that happened..." She trailed off. She was not sure of all the details, but she knew Liliana had loved Sean with all her heart. Sean, however, had been as unfeeling as a log and had even hurt Liliana deeply.After leaving with a heart full of hurt, it was no surprise that Liliana could not forgive Sean, let alone get back together with him. Noelle felt the same. She would not get back with Sean if she were in Liliana's shoes.Noelle knew she should suppo
Charles dropped Liliana off at Phoenix Tree Residence and headed straight back to the office. On the way, he called Sean, "I've made sure she's safe and sound."Sean massaged his forehead and replied, "Hmm."Charles could not resist a little joke. "Haven't figured it out yet?""Liliana just can’t forget what happened years ago." Sean wore a sad smile. "It's my fault too. If only I had gotten there sooner back then, or if I had understood my own feelings earlier, none of this would have happened." He thought his child might have been older than Peter's by now.However, Sean kept those words to himself. He knew that child was a secret he could not talk about, a pain too deep for words to convey.The two were quiet for a moment until Charles broke the silence. "Liliana's giving all the love she had for that child to Bobby now. You've noticed, haven't you?""Yeah." How could he not? That was why Sean felt so bad about it and why he wanted to do right by Bobby to make up for the baby
Yankel and Xenia got divorced. On the day Yankel left the hospital, Liliana watched as Xenia desperately clung to Yankel's hand, but Yankel would not even give her a second look.Xenia was also holding onto Lawrence's hand, begging Yankel over and over to look at Lawrence, but Yankel just would not. Finally, Xenia started hitting Lawrence's face like crazy. Yankel finally stopped walking.Yankel grabbed Xenia's hand, his face showing no emotion. "Are you out of your mind? Lawrence is just a kid." He was just a little younger than Bobby.Xenia burst into laughter at that, but then she broke down crying. "So what if he's a kid? He still can't make you stay? Yankel, you know how I've treated you all these years, don't you?"Yankel, where's your heart?"Yankel stared indifferently at Xenia, then took Lawrence away and handed him to an assistant. "Take Lawrence to Elvis.""Yankel, you'll get what's coming to you! Yankel, Lawrence is your son, not Elvis's! You..."Yankel ordered some
Liliana's cheeks turned pink as she nodded, even though she was not really cold. "Uh-huh!"Sean finished tending to the wound, put the medicine box away, and looked over to see Liliana sitting up straight like an elementary school student. A warm feeling washed over him."Do you want to stay here with Bobby, or should I take you home?""No way. I'll stay with Bobby!" After everything that happened tonight, Liliana was too worried to leave Bobby alone in the hospital room. Who knew what could happen during the night?Sean's expression darkened a bit. "Don't worry. Nothing like this will happen again." After all, Bobby was in his hospital, and he was responsible for the boy's safety.Liliana shook her head. "No. It's not your fault."Xenia was out to hurt someone, and she would take any chance she got, no matter where Bobby was. You could never be too careful, and who would have guessed Xenia would go after a child?Liliana had no idea what might have happened if Liliana had not n
Liliana gave Sean a stern look. "It's time for Bobby to go to bed.""But Mom, I'm not tired yet!" Bobby said, tilting his head and blinking his big, adorable eyes, which almost made Liliana melt."It's bedtime, no matter what. It's really late," Liliana insisted. She tucked Bobby into bed. After he fell asleep, she turned around to find Sean still there. She frowned. "Why are you still here?"Sean's smile faded as he walked over with big steps and grabbed Liliana's wrist. Ignoring her wishes, he started to lead her outside.Liliana was upset by Sean's actions and tried to pull away, but Sean held on tight. He even warned her, "If you want to wake everyone up, go ahead and yell."Feeling trapped, Liliana glared at Sean and whispered angrily, "What do you want?"Sean did not answer. He just kept walking and pulling her along.Liliana had no choice but to follow. At least Sean was considerate enough to slow down for her shorter steps.Sean took Liliana to his office, opened the do
Liliana blushed and rolled her eyes at Bobby.Sean chuckled. "That's because I'm a grown-up.""I'm a grown-up too!" Bobby declared, standing tall and puffing out his chest with pride. "Right, Mr. Smith?""Sure, you’re a big boy now," Sean agreed, playfully tapping Bobby's nose.Liliana's brow furrowed with concern. "Mr. Smith, it's getting late. Bobby needs to go to bed."She reached to take Bobby from Sean, but Sean was quicker and gently held her hand. His eyes briefly showed some worry as he noticed the scratches on her hand. "I should have done more than just kick her."Liliana's cheeks warmed as she pulled her hand away, a bit flustered. "I'm okay, and you did kick her, remember? She even coughed up a lot of blood!"Liliana thought the kick must have been super strong. Although she was not the one who was kicked, the pain looked so bad that she winced.Sean saw her reaction and let out a small laugh. "Don't worry. I never hit women, and I definitely would never hit you."