Annie could not help but sigh. Although she had her reservations about Winter, she knew that Suzy and Winter were once good friends.She remembered that neither Suzy nor Winter had been entirely friendly toward her in the past. Hence, Annie had assumed that even after such an incident, Suzy's relationship with Winter would not have deteriorated this much.However, seeing Suzy's resolute attitude, Annie decided not to press the matter further.Suzy pleaded, "Annie, please don't think badly of me. I just can't take it anymore. She's upset with Noelle, but why should that affect us?"Annie reassured her, "I understand, Suzy. I won't judge you. To be honest, I was also very resentful toward Winter during that time. I couldn't understand why she treated me that way. But now, I've moved past it. My only focus is to go abroad and get my face fixed.""When are you leaving?" Suzy asked, feeling relieved after getting that weight off her chest. "I'll see you off when the time comes."Annie
The quiet place Winter mentioned was Homestyle Garden House. She had visited it a few times with Emilia and Jade and indeed found the environment pleasant and tranquil.After getting in the car, Winter made a reservation. She then led Suzy to the place.It was Suzy's first time there. She frowned slightly but followed Winter inside. Winter chose the innermost room, which others rarely passed by, ensuring their privacy.Considering the severity of the recent incident, Winter was worried about its impact on Suzy, despite it being censored online. "Suzy, this place is usually free of those people. It's mostly frequented by refined, wealthy ladies… So about that day—""Enough!" Suzy interrupted. "I don't want to discuss it anymore. There's no need to keep bringing it up."She then took a deep breath.Being from a distinguished family, Suzy was adept at brewing tea, a skill her mother had insisted she perfected.As she prepared the tea, Suzy forced herself to remain calm. "I know the
"Does that mean I'm just supposed to just accept being victimized?" Suzy laughed bitterly. "Winter, I'm out of options now. I'm too afraid to go back to my old workplace. My parents still haven't forgiven me. Winter, I..."Winter reassured her, "Don't be upset, Suzy. I'll help you. Are you looking for a job? I can ask Xavier to arrange something for you at Frotconn, or maybe at City Ring Corp? It's my family's company!"Winter felt guilty toward Suzy, but more importantly, she feared Suzy might become distant or cut ties with her after this incident, which could jeopardize her previous actions…"Winter, you're so kind to me!" Suzy hugged Winter tightly. "I won't cause you any trouble, Winter. I don't need Frotconn or City Ring Corp. Do you need someone by your side? Can I work for you instead?""Me?" Winter pointed at herself in surprise. "You mean you want to join me in the entertainment industry? But I don't need anyone. I have a manager and an assistant. Besides, Suzy, you're my
Noelle noticed that Charles' mood seemed off ever since he returned from the Hoffman residence the other day. Although she found it strange, Charles did not say anything in particular, so Noelle could not do much about it.As days passed, she adapted well to her role in the project department. She successfully completed most of the tasks Brian assigned her independently. Brian would still often take Noelle on field trips to inspect the project in West City.Brian reviewed Noelle's project plan and found her ideas quite mature.One day, Noelle accompanied Brian on another outing. When they returned around noon, they spotted a young woman helping an elegant, dignified woman out of a car at the entrance of Colossus Group's building.The woman's demeanor suggested she was someone of high status.Noelle walked behind Brian as they discussed some details about their meeting with the survey team. Suddenly, they heard the young woman say, "Aunt Clary, do you think Charles will be angry if
"Outrageous!" Clarisse was furious at Charles' words. "Is this how you speak to me?"Charles remained silent.Clarisse sighed. "You won't return to the Hoffman residence, so I had no choice but to come find you."Hearing Clarisse's softened tone, Charles smirked with disdain. "Mother, you must be mistaken. I've always been this way. Grandpa and Dad never found any issue with it.""That's them. They don't care about you, so naturally, they don't mind if you return or not. But Charlie, I'm your mother.""Oh, you remember now you're my mother? When I needed your care, you weren't there. Now that I don't need it, you show up." Charles' tone turned cold, his face showing impatience."I'm working. If you have business matters, schedule an appointment with my secretary. For personal matters, wait until after work!""Charles!" Clarisse gritted her teeth. "I didn't come to discuss this. You should know I wouldn't come from Capiton to Brookville if it weren't for you.""Then you should g
Charles left without looking back, leaving Clarisse standing pale-faced at his office door. "Charlie, is this really how you treat your mother?" Unfortunately, Charles did not answer.The security guards felt confused, but since Charles was Collosus Group's big boss, his words were like law. They were paid to do their job, so they naturally followed Charles' orders. "Ma'am, please leave with this young lady. This is a company, and we can't let outsiders in freely.""Am I an outsider? I'm Mr. Hoffman's mother!""But you're not a Collosus Group employee!"Janet felt utterly humiliated. When had she ever not been the center of attention? In Capiton, which rich young man did not treat her kindly? The Baker family members all adored her like a treasure.This was the first time Janet felt so embarrassed, especially since the person humiliating her was the man she liked so much.Janet's eyes quickly reddened as she grabbed Clarisse's hand. "Aunt Clary, what should I do? Charles seem
Having gained no advantage from her visit to Charles, Clarisse returned directly to the Hoffman residence. Janet supported Clarisse the whole way, her expression no better than Clarisse's.Although Janet was very dissatisfied with Charles' attitude toward her, she did not dare say anything to his face. She could only follow Clarisse, as she was now the only one supporting Janet's relationship with Charles.Clarisse easily saw through Janet's thoughts. Noticing her low spirits, she patted Janet's hand. "Janet, you must be tired too. Why don't you go upstairs and rest? I have some things to discuss with your uncle."After sending Janet away, Clarisse immediately called for the butler. "Where's Mateo?"James had served Maxwell for a long time and held a high position in the Hoffman household.He was even a few years older than Mateo and Henry. He had never quite liked Mateo's wife, especially given Clarisse's early departure from the Hoffman family. It was something he had always cri
Clarisse's expression darkened as she set her teacup down forcefully. "Mateo, I don't want to discuss these things with you. I don't know what your mindset is in saying all this. I came to you today for just one thing.""Go ahead," Mateo said, his lips twitching. He knew she must have had a reason to approach him so voluntarily. "What do you need from me?""Regarding Charlie and Janet's marriage, it's been delayed for so many years now. When do you think we should arrange their wedding?" Clarisse asked politely, suppressing her usual haughty demeanor.Mateo's brows furrowed upon hearing this. He looked at Clarisse, his eyes filled with complexity. "You know Charlie won't agree to this. Why are you so persistent? Janet could have anyone. Why does it have to be Charlie?"Clarisse grew impatient. "Mateo, just give me a straight answer. Do you agree or not? What's wrong with Janet? I think she's far better than that Kelly!"Mateo felt helpless. "This has nothing to do with Kelly. We'r
The kid shivered when he saw Peter's piercing eyes. "I don't know where he is!""You're lying!" Peter said, spinning a scalpel in his hand with a smile that did not reach his cold eyes. "If you don't take me, let's see if you can run faster than my knife can fly!"Peter pretended to throw the knife at the kid, who shook with fear and quickly gave in. "I'll take you!"Peter raised an eyebrow and put the knife away. "Move it!"The kid did not know who Peter was, but after seeing what he could do, he did not dare say no. "Not just anyone can meet Mr. Holt!""Oh, really?""Yes!""Where are you from, sir?" the kid asked Peter in Spanyric."Zyphonia!" Peter answered, then looked at the kid and said, "You've been hiding behind that mask for a long time. Isn't it time to take it off?"Surprised, the kid did not react fast enough, and Peter quickly pulled off the mask, revealing a young and innocent face underneath.She had a soft and detailed face, like that of a girl around fifteen
Peter covered his mouth with a handkerchief, crouched down, and with his trusty military knife, he flipped over a body to take a closer look. To his surprise, he found some strange marks on the body, like a secret code.He squinted his eyes and checked the other bodies. They all had the same mysterious marks.With a chill in his gaze, Peter stood up, cleaned off his knife, and hopped into his car. He followed the path the kid had taken just moments before.Bodies were everywhere, and only a few people were still alive. Most were in shock, and some were rescue workers.However, Peter's sharp eyes quickly spotted a group of people and zeroed in on the kid. Something told Peter that the kid was in trouble. He got out of the car fast and followed the kid's tracks.That kid was no regular Joe. He knew he was being followed after just a few hundred feet and started dodging through the town littered with bodies.Peter's smile grew. He was getting more and more curious about that little
"I know, but Noelle, I had no other way. He put a virus in you. Do you understand what that means?" Charles's piercing eyes softened a bit. "You know I couldn't just do nothing. I couldn't stand to see you in pain!""But my sister is innocent too!" Noelle inhaled deeply. "What if that man didn't care about my sister? Isn't doing this like throwing her into a fire?" Noelle could barely imagine what had become of Kelly then.Noelle had seen that man before, and she knew just how harsh and mean he could be. They had only talked for a little bit, and she did not really get to know him, but she could tell he was the type of person who would do anything to get what he wanted.He was the kind of guy who would put a virus in people like Tania and Bran, and even in women and kids like her. Noelle was scared to think about what he might do to her sister, Kelly."Noelle, you've got to believe me!" Charles pleaded.However, Noelle shook her head. "It's not that I don't believe you. It's just.
Kelly was gone. The day after she vanished, little Seth cried his heart out because he could not see her. Tania and Nancy tried everything to calm him down, but nothing worked. They had no choice but to tell Charles about the situation.Noelle and Kelly could have been twins. They were so alike. That was why everyone thought it would be a good idea for Seth to meet Noelle. However, Charles was dead set against it, and nobody had ever seen him so stubborn.Nancy and Clarisse were in the dark about the whole thing, but Tania knew the score. There had not been a peep from Peter lately, and Tania was getting worried that something bad had happened.That day, Tania and Bran headed to the hospital. Charles had moved all his work there, and Ronald was dealing with everything, big and small, right in the hospital.Charles kept Noelle out of the loop, though. She figured she was just there because they had not gotten her sickness under control yet. She knew she had a virus, so she went alon
"What's the matter? Is looking at me enough to fill you up?"Yves turned to Kelly, pulling out a chair and sitting beside her. His long fingers picked up the silverware and served her the meal. "Eat up. Isn't this your favorite?"Her favorite?Kelly stared back at Yves, her gaze frosty. "Do you even know what I like?"Yves put his hands down and gazed at Kelly. "What's wrong? Don't you like the food?" Without waiting for her answer, he quickly summoned the two servants from earlier. "Madam doesn't like the food. You know I don't keep anything around that isn't useful.""Please, madam, have mercy! Sir, have mercy!" The servants' faces turned ghostly white as they stood stiffly on the marble floor, apologizing repeatedly. Kelly's heart raced with fear. "Stop, please. I'll eat, okay? Isn't that enough?"She bowed her head and started gobbling up the food, scared that Yves, who she thought was crazy, might do something unpredictable if he got upset.Kelly could not see the slight
Kelly felt a chill run through her. "Yves, you're just too scary."Kelly did not know much about the Lennon family, but she remembered how Peter had single-handedly brought down Lennon Group six months ago. What if they had not fallen? What about Peter's uncle..."Scary? What I've done is nothing compared to the Hoffman family. They're the real filth. Once you get involved with them, you're tainted too. Don't you think so?" Yves's eyes burned with undisguised hatred as he mentioned the Hoffman family."It's getting late, and you must be hungry by now!"Yves ignored Kelly's protests, bent down, and scooped her up in his arms.Kelly tried to wriggle free, but Yves held her tight. "Unless you fancy going hungry!"Realizing she was getting nowhere, Kelly stopped struggling. She had used up a lot of energy arguing and messing around with Yves, and then she felt drained.Once Kelly was calm, Yves carried her down to the restaurant on the ground floor.Several people stood guard in th
"What did you say?"Just a second ago, Yves might have looked totally calm and unbothered, but then he was like a scary fighter from the darkest night. He grabbed Kelly's hand, his frosty stare locking onto her. When he squeezed just a little, Kelly was trapped, unable to move at all.It hurt so much, like her heart was being drilled into.Kelly's face went white as she looked at Yves, whose face was hidden behind a mask.Somehow, even though she could not see his face, she could tell from his icy, sharp eyes that he was surprised, shocked, and hurting.He held onto Kelly's wrist so tight. His eyes looked like they could eat her up. "Say that again!" he said through clenched teeth, like he was so mad he could gobble her up.Kelly had never seen Yves look so ruthless and fierce, like a messenger from the underworld. She shivered, totally scared, but Yves kept his gaze right on her. "How could you, how dare you!"Was this woman out of her mind? She actually dared to inject herself
Yves just laughed when he heard her. "You've lost respect for me?" He towered over Kelly, who was sitting on the bed. He reached out and gently lifted her chin with his finger, gazing intently into her eyes. "There's no such thing as an innocent person in this world, right?""Let me go!" Kelly jerked her head away. "That's just your dark heart talking. Noelle never hurt you, and neither did Tania or Bran. I can't figure out why you're after them. Sure, you have issues with Charles and the Hoffmans, but go after them, not innocent people!"Yves squinted, then let go of her chin and looked at his finger. "Going after the Hoffmans, huh? Just wait and see what happens.""Yves, are you out of your mind? What did the Hoffmans ever do to you? Aren't you a Hoffman too?"Kelly was confused about Yves's motives, so she tried to get him to spill the beans. However, Yves took her words the wrong way, thinking she meant something else."Do you feel bad for Charles?" "I don't know what you're
Kelly trembled from head to toe when she heard Yves's words. She tried to push him away, but Yves was too strong, and she could not get free. "Let me go, Yves! You're crazy, a creep, let me go!" Kelly kept struggling. She tried to slap him, but Yves caught her other hand.Yves pulled Kelly close, and his chilly breath wrapped around her. She shivered, but Yves just hugged her tighter. "After all these years, you haven't changed a bit!"Kelly felt a chill all over her body. She wanted to push him away, but she could not muster the strength.Yves held Kelly in his arms. His firm chin was visible outside his mask, and his cool lips brushed against Kelly's cheek as he softly laughed. "Kelly, I've missed you too!"Kelly suddenly looked up, her surprised eyes meeting Yves's deep ones.His eyes were different from Charles's. Charles's gaze was icy and emotionless, like chunks of ice.However, Yves's eyes were different. They were just as deep but had a touch of warmth. His eyes were lik