Liliana clenched her fists. "The last thing Samara saw before she died was a livestream of your wedding to the mayor's daughter, Mr. Canfield. Do you really think she'd want her son to be raised by a woman like that?""You…"Yankel's face turned pale. He stumbled a few steps back, clearly not expecting Liliana to say something like that—much less find out that Samara had died in such a way."When Samara died, Bobby was only a month old. He hadn't even had a single drop of her milk," Liliana said, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry if this sounds cruel or low, but I will never hand the child over to you.""Ms. Hoffman, aren't you afraid I might refuse the surgery?" Yankel threatened coldly when he saw how unyielding she was.Liliana's body stiffened, and she trembled.Sean reached out, his large hand covering Liliana's shoulder. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."However, Liliana pushed Sean's hand away. "No. The two of you are no different."Her eyes were icy as she looked at Yankel. "
"Marriage?" Liliana looked at Sean as if she had just heard the world's most absurd joke. Her gaze turned cold. "Mr. Smith, are you joking with me?""No, Liliana," Sean replied, stepping forward. "I've been wanting to say those words to you since four years ago."Liliana frowned and instinctively took a step back. Sean paused, his chest tightening slightly, and then heard Liliana chuckle coldly. "Four years? It's been that long, huh? Impressive."Sean's expression shifted slightly. "Liliana, don't you believe me?"He remembered it clearly. He had finally made up his mind on his business trip that day. If Liliana loved him and he did not want her marrying someone else, then why not marry her himself?That was the day he decided to marry Liliana.He had been eager to return and even ended the meeting early to rush back. But just before he could make it home, he received a call from Jasmine saying Liliana had been taken.He had sped all the way back just to find her and tell her th
Sean's words, as much as Liliana hated to admit it, struck exactly where she was most vulnerable. Right now, Bobby was the most important person in her life—her entire world.Liliana furrowed her brows. Even though she no longer wanted any entanglement with Sean, he was not wrong. His hospital remained the best option for Bobby's condition, at least for now."Liliana, don't worry for now," Sean said before leaving. "As for Bobby's bone marrow, I'll send someone to continue the search. Even if it's not Yankel, I'll find a match for him."He pulled the door open and stepped out. Only then did Liliana exhale softly like a deflated balloon, her body slumping into the chair."Mommy!"Liliana perked up at Bobby's voice and rushed to her feet. "Bobby, you're awake?"She pulled back the blanket and gently picked him up, patting his back softly. "Do you need to go potty?""Yes." Bobby's little arms and legs wrapped around Liliana's body, and he nuzzled against her neck. "Mommy, Bobby jus
"Then Mommy, you and Mr. Smith should make me a little sister!"Bobby suddenly seemed to remember something. His big round eyes blinked rapidly while his chubby cheeks turned red. He looked unbearably cute."Mr. Smith?""Yeah, the man who wears white clothes every day! He comes to see me every day, tells me stories, and even plays games with me," he said, counting all the good things about the man in white on his little fingers.Liliana gently held Bobby's small hand. "Bobby, I can't.""Why not? But I really like Mr. Smith," Bobby pouted. He was still too young to understand adult relationships—he simply knew that the man in white treated him well, so naturally, he wanted him to be with his mommy."You don't even know who he is, and you want me to have a baby with him?" Liliana could not help but laugh at how adorable her son was. "Bobby, listen—only a husband and wife can get married and have a baby. Got it?"Bobby nodded, kind of understanding. "Then Mommy, you should marry Mr
When Bobby heard that, his already soft and fair little face became even more adorable. His eyes sparkled with genuine delight."Yes, yes! Mr. Smith, you're so good-looking, and Mommy is beautiful too, so the baby you have together will definitely be beautiful!"Bobby squeezed his own chubby cheeks with his pudgy little hands, then propped his chin up with one hand and added proudly,"The baby will definitely be as good-looking as I am!""Yes, just as good-looking as you are, Bobby," Sean echoed with a smile in his eyes.He glanced at Liliana with a subtle look, only to find that though she was smiling, there was no warmth in her gaze—just coldness.Liliana held Bobby in her arms, her eyes fixed on Sean."Sorry about that. Bobby is still a child. He doesn't understand the meaning behind what he says. If he said anything that bothered you, I apologize on his behalf."With that, she turned and carried Bobby back into the hospital room.There was a fleeting shadow in Sean's eyes,
"Liliana, I know the damage I caused is already done, and there's no way to take it back. I just wanted to say this while we're still young and while we still have time. I—" Sean continued."Enough!" Liliana's body trembled slightly. "It's too late, Sean. All of this is already too late."She took a deep breath, and her hands clenched into fists. Maybe it was because Bobby was beside her, but Liliana did not lose control of her emotions. Still, there were tears at the corners of her eyes.Tears gathered in her eyes, and soon, they slid silently down her cheeks. She gave a faint smile."Sean, when something's in the past, it's just that—the past. Regres no longer matter, and time doesn't go backward."You say you've loved me all along, but you didn't tell me. You didn't show it. If you had told me that four years ago, I never would've let your mother take me away. I never would've given Joanna the chance to hurt me."You ask about what could've been? I used to wonder that too. If
Autumn had painted Brookville in shades of gold and crimson when Noelle Shaw stepped off the plane. She grabbed her suitcase and walked out into the crisp air, a familiar sense of home wrapping around her.A whole year had passed since she left to pursue a corporate training program overseas, and now, she was back just in time.Her third anniversary with her boyfriend Xavier Harris was just days away, and she had been working nonstop to make it back early enough to surprise him.She hailed a cab and headed straight for Xavier's office. The moment she walked through the front doors, Alice, the receptionist, gave her a look of total shock. "Ms. Shaw? You’re back? Are you here for the CEO's engagement party?"Noelle's brow creased in confusion. "The CEO's engagement party? What are you talking about, Alice?""It's Mr. Harris's engagement party with your sister!""What?" Noelle's heart skipped a beat, and the happiness drained from her face. "Whose engagement party?"Alice seemed to
Noelle bolted from the hotel, her previously defiant face now streaked with tears.Out of nowhere, a black Cayenne screeched to a halt, its tires screaming against the pavement. Caught off guard, she tumbled to the ground.The driver gulped, his eyes darting to the man in the back seat, "Sir... Sir?"The man in the back, unfazed by the nearby accident, merely glanced at the passenger seat beside him. "Ronald, go see what happened.""Right away, sir." Ronald was out of the car in a flash, checking the front for any damage.About six feet ahead of the car, a woman sat on the ground with her eyes wide open, looking totally freaked out. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, and she had obviously been crying. "Miss? Are you okay? Do you need a ride to the hospital?"Noelle was scared out of her wits. She just gazed at Ronald, lost in shock, until she finally managed to pull herself together and stand up. Without a word, she tried to sidestep him, eager to get away.Ronald was puzzled
"Liliana, I know the damage I caused is already done, and there's no way to take it back. I just wanted to say this while we're still young and while we still have time. I—" Sean continued."Enough!" Liliana's body trembled slightly. "It's too late, Sean. All of this is already too late."She took a deep breath, and her hands clenched into fists. Maybe it was because Bobby was beside her, but Liliana did not lose control of her emotions. Still, there were tears at the corners of her eyes.Tears gathered in her eyes, and soon, they slid silently down her cheeks. She gave a faint smile."Sean, when something's in the past, it's just that—the past. Regres no longer matter, and time doesn't go backward."You say you've loved me all along, but you didn't tell me. You didn't show it. If you had told me that four years ago, I never would've let your mother take me away. I never would've given Joanna the chance to hurt me."You ask about what could've been? I used to wonder that too. If
When Bobby heard that, his already soft and fair little face became even more adorable. His eyes sparkled with genuine delight."Yes, yes! Mr. Smith, you're so good-looking, and Mommy is beautiful too, so the baby you have together will definitely be beautiful!"Bobby squeezed his own chubby cheeks with his pudgy little hands, then propped his chin up with one hand and added proudly,"The baby will definitely be as good-looking as I am!""Yes, just as good-looking as you are, Bobby," Sean echoed with a smile in his eyes.He glanced at Liliana with a subtle look, only to find that though she was smiling, there was no warmth in her gaze—just coldness.Liliana held Bobby in her arms, her eyes fixed on Sean."Sorry about that. Bobby is still a child. He doesn't understand the meaning behind what he says. If he said anything that bothered you, I apologize on his behalf."With that, she turned and carried Bobby back into the hospital room.There was a fleeting shadow in Sean's eyes,
"Then Mommy, you and Mr. Smith should make me a little sister!"Bobby suddenly seemed to remember something. His big round eyes blinked rapidly while his chubby cheeks turned red. He looked unbearably cute."Mr. Smith?""Yeah, the man who wears white clothes every day! He comes to see me every day, tells me stories, and even plays games with me," he said, counting all the good things about the man in white on his little fingers.Liliana gently held Bobby's small hand. "Bobby, I can't.""Why not? But I really like Mr. Smith," Bobby pouted. He was still too young to understand adult relationships—he simply knew that the man in white treated him well, so naturally, he wanted him to be with his mommy."You don't even know who he is, and you want me to have a baby with him?" Liliana could not help but laugh at how adorable her son was. "Bobby, listen—only a husband and wife can get married and have a baby. Got it?"Bobby nodded, kind of understanding. "Then Mommy, you should marry Mr
Sean's words, as much as Liliana hated to admit it, struck exactly where she was most vulnerable. Right now, Bobby was the most important person in her life—her entire world.Liliana furrowed her brows. Even though she no longer wanted any entanglement with Sean, he was not wrong. His hospital remained the best option for Bobby's condition, at least for now."Liliana, don't worry for now," Sean said before leaving. "As for Bobby's bone marrow, I'll send someone to continue the search. Even if it's not Yankel, I'll find a match for him."He pulled the door open and stepped out. Only then did Liliana exhale softly like a deflated balloon, her body slumping into the chair."Mommy!"Liliana perked up at Bobby's voice and rushed to her feet. "Bobby, you're awake?"She pulled back the blanket and gently picked him up, patting his back softly. "Do you need to go potty?""Yes." Bobby's little arms and legs wrapped around Liliana's body, and he nuzzled against her neck. "Mommy, Bobby jus
"Marriage?" Liliana looked at Sean as if she had just heard the world's most absurd joke. Her gaze turned cold. "Mr. Smith, are you joking with me?""No, Liliana," Sean replied, stepping forward. "I've been wanting to say those words to you since four years ago."Liliana frowned and instinctively took a step back. Sean paused, his chest tightening slightly, and then heard Liliana chuckle coldly. "Four years? It's been that long, huh? Impressive."Sean's expression shifted slightly. "Liliana, don't you believe me?"He remembered it clearly. He had finally made up his mind on his business trip that day. If Liliana loved him and he did not want her marrying someone else, then why not marry her himself?That was the day he decided to marry Liliana.He had been eager to return and even ended the meeting early to rush back. But just before he could make it home, he received a call from Jasmine saying Liliana had been taken.He had sped all the way back just to find her and tell her th
Liliana clenched her fists. "The last thing Samara saw before she died was a livestream of your wedding to the mayor's daughter, Mr. Canfield. Do you really think she'd want her son to be raised by a woman like that?""You…"Yankel's face turned pale. He stumbled a few steps back, clearly not expecting Liliana to say something like that—much less find out that Samara had died in such a way."When Samara died, Bobby was only a month old. He hadn't even had a single drop of her milk," Liliana said, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry if this sounds cruel or low, but I will never hand the child over to you.""Ms. Hoffman, aren't you afraid I might refuse the surgery?" Yankel threatened coldly when he saw how unyielding she was.Liliana's body stiffened, and she trembled.Sean reached out, his large hand covering Liliana's shoulder. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."However, Liliana pushed Sean's hand away. "No. The two of you are no different."Her eyes were icy as she looked at Yankel. "
"Mr. Canfield, I hope you understand that I'm Bobby's legal mother. I've cared for him for three years," Liliana said, her gaze fixed firmly on Yankel. "I'm sorry, but I won't agree to this.""Ms. Hoffman." Yankel's expression grew colder. "I hope you understand too that Bobby is Samara's and my child. He's our biological son. That's a fact you can't change. Besides, Ms. Hoffman, you're still single. If this goes to court, do you think the judge will side with you? Who can provide Bobby with a complete and happy family?"Liliana's face turned pale. "I…""Ms. Hoffman, I'm not trying to make this difficult, but I hope you see where I'm coming from. I've already missed the first three years of his life. I don't want to miss the rest."Liliana's grip on her coffee cup tightened. She bit her lip. "But can you guarantee Bobby will be happy with you? You've been married to the mayor's daughter for years. You have children of your own. Are you sure Bobby will feel truly loved in that unfam
That afternoon, Yankel showed up as scheduled. Bobby was fast asleep at the time, and Liliana sat quietly by his side reading a book. When she saw how peacefully he slept, a warm smile spread across her face.A knock came at the door. Liliana looked up and spotted Yankel standing at the entrance. She quickly set down her book and stepped out. "Mr. Canfield."Yankel glanced at her, his gaze settling on her calmly. "Thank you for taking care of Bobby during this time, Ms. Hoffman. Is he…""He's asleep," Liliana replied before he could finish. "He was waiting for you earlier, but it looks like you're a little late."She motioned to her wristwatch. "Bobby always naps around this time."Yankel nodded. "Sorry, there were some things at the company I had to finish dealing with…"Liliana nodded in understanding. "Would you like to go in and see him now, Mr. Canfield? Or…""I'll wait until he wakes up," Yankel said, not wanting to disturb Bobby's rest. He then looked at her. "Ms. Hoffman
Four years had passed."Mommy, Mommy."Bobby tugged at Liliana's sleeve, noticing she was zoning out again. He reached up with his tiny arms and legs, trying to climb onto her.Before he could get far, a large hand gently grabbed him. Bobby's little hands waved in the air as he called out, "Uncle Charles, Uncle…"Charles chuckled softly, scooping Bobby up in one arm.Noelle walked over just then, and the moment Bobby saw her, he reached out eagerly, ready to leap into her arms. "Aunt Noelle! Aunt Noelle!"Liliana snapped out of her thoughts and looked up in surprise when she saw Charles and Noelle. "Charles, Noelle… What are you two doing here?""We should be asking you that," Noelle replied with a smile, her eyes settling on Liliana's face. "Why didn't you tell us about Bobby's surgery?"Liliana gave a faint smile. "I only got Yankel's call today. He said he's willing to donate his bone marrow to Bobby. But they're still running tests, and I'm worried…"Even though Yankel w