"They'll be up in a jiffy!" Noelle reassured Brandon, keeping an eye on the unfolding scene outside.Whatever Peter had said seemed to have left Jordan with a sour look as he and Layla made their exit. Both of them had peered into the car before leaving, and at the sight of Brandon, their faces told a tale of mixed emotions.Once Layla and Jordan had disappeared, Tania finally spun around and hopped into the car.Peter shot Tania a meaningful look before he got in too.Tania, catching sight of Brandon in his safety seat, looked momentarily surprised. Noelle was the one to break the silence. "Peter's always thinking ahead. I need to get a safety seat for Brandon too. It's just not safe without one!"Peter's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Lareal always says that babies are only safe in their car seats."Tania's gaze dropped, her mind seemingly full of thoughts.The moment they hit the mall, Brandon turned into an explorer, tugging Noelle along as he dashed from store to store,
Tania's face went from calm to stormy in a heartbeat when she heard those words. She glanced at Noelle, trying to figure out if she was messing with her on purpose. "You're such a tease, Noelle. I'm a married woman. There's no way I'd be a solo parent. My hubby might be super busy, but he’s as dedicated to Brandon as me!"Peter's grip on the steering wheel tightened just a notch when Tania brought up her husband, and his eyes clouded over with something dark and unreadable.Tania knew Peter's moods like the back of her hand because they went way back. The chilly vibe rolling off him was a dead giveaway that he was ticked off.She balled her hands into fists, took a deep breath, and insisted, "Trevon adores Brandon, and he adores me, too."However, before the words had even settled in the air, Peter slammed on the brakes. The tires screamed against the road, and Noelle, clutching Brandon, nearly flew forward.Noelle was ghost-white with shock, her eyes darting to Brandon in her arm
Noelle burst into giggles at the message from Charles."What's so funny?" Tania asked, glancing over with Peter. Both of them were curious."Oh, nothing. Just a joke from your brother," Noelle said, quickly hiding her phone and feigning interest in the scenery around them.Tania snorted. "My brother? Funny? That's the real joke!" She could not picture Charles as the comedic type.Tania did not let the issue bother her for too long. They all made it to Phoenix Tree Residence. With Brandon still sleepy, Tania scooped him up and headed upstairs to sleep.Meanwhile, Noelle was ready to whip up something amazing in the kitchen, which left Peter on his own. He lounged in the living room for a bit before heading upstairs too.In the guest room, Tania gently lulled Brandon to sleep, softly singing, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star… Up above the world so high..."Peter stood there, watching Tania as she slipped off her coat, her figure outlined by the snug knitted sweater. She kept singing
Tania's heart skipped a beat as Peter's grip on her chin sent a jolt of heat through her. That intense warmth from his touch was impossible to ignore.Staring into Peter's eyes, Tania was swamped by feelings she could not quite put into words. Three long years had passed, and they had not been kind to her. Nightmares often woke her up, replaying the worst moments over and over. When she needed him most, Peter was nowhere to be found. That kind of hurt builds up, and her bitterness toward him had only grown. The last blow hit too close to home, and she felt trapped.Peter's brow was knotted with concern as he watched Tania sink into deep grief. He could almost touch her sadness. "Tania?" he murmured her name so gently, but Tania recoiled like a startled deer, shoving Peter away. Her gaze was icy as she regained her composure. "Peter, I've told you before that we're done. We can never patch things up!"Tania turned and ran as if the ground were crumbling behind her. Peter stood there,
"Still be what?""I figured he'd be married with kids by now. H-he used to have someone, you know.""Used to?" Noelle was clearly puzzled. "You've got it all wrong. Peter's been waiting for you. He's been searching for you all these years. I don't know what went down between you two, but Peter would never have a crush on someone else!"Noelle was convinced of what she had seen herself. Peter was obviously hung up on Tania, or he would not have waited all those years.However, Tania seemed to dodge the topic, quickly steering the conversation elsewhere. "What about you and my brother? How'd you guys meet? And the Hoffmans... do they know about you?"Noelle hesitated for a moment. "You know, meeting Charles was like something out of a cheesy drama. He's been amazing to me. We kept our marriage under wraps at first, but now the Hoffmans are in the loop. Though, I guess you get it—I'm not exactly on great terms with the Hoffman family!"Tania burst into laughter. "It’s no big deal. Y
Sean was mid-sentence when he heard the purr of a car pulling up outside. His ears never missed a beat. "Charles is back," he announced.Then came a knock at the door. Sean sauntered over and swung it open. "Charles, man, you should know how to—Mr. Fischer?" His eyes popped in shock at the sight of Steven and the fiery woman at his side. " Little Firecracker?"Steven shot Sean a look. "What's the matter? Shocked to see me?"Feeling the sting of Steven's icy stare, Sean stiffened and quickly shook his head. "No way! Shocked? Ha! Come on in, Mr. Fischer. And, uh... Little Firecracker, you too?"Eloise ignored Sean, stepping past him with Steven.Sean smirked innocently and trailed after Eloise. "Come on, Little Firecracker, give me a little smile. We go way back! Aren't you even a little bit happy to see me?""You're so loud!" Eloise shot back, visibly annoyed. "Only a chatterbox like you could still be single!"Sean's mouth hung open, ready to retort, but her jab left him speechl
Eloise's hands balled into fists. "I'm going to check on the kitchen too!"With Eloise out of the room, Peter's lips quirked up. "You think the Naylors will really accept her?"Steven shot Peter a look. "There's nothing I can't handle," he said confidently."But she's innocent," Peter protested as he rose to his feet, giving Steven's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Mr. Fischer, there's more than one way to skin a cat, you know. It doesn't have to be...""My decisions are final!" Steven cut him off, shrugging off Peter's hand. "You should worry about yourself!" He paused before adding, "Didn't you say your third uncle is about to return? Sir Lennon had always preferred him. They only turned to you when he vanished. Peter, you can't sweat the small stuff when you're playing the long game."Peter's eyes dimmed with a touch of sadness. "I know." He had always known. Those were the years he had nearly walked away from it all, but they would not let him. "How's everything at the company?"
"Wait up!" Charles was on the phone with Ronald, instructing him to scope out who had been around Phoenix Tree Residence that night and to upgrade their security system pronto. Once he hung up, he caught sight of the syringe clutched in Peter's hand, and the look in his eyes was nothing short of predatory."Looks like... it's about to go down!"Peter was looking pretty rough, and Steven gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "The guy who just took action is Quill Sect's top hitman, Shane Quill. He's the same dude who went after Charles before..."Charles scrunched his brow in concern. "I'm gonna fetch Sean to figure out what's in this syringe. Brandon..." Peter did not wait for him to finish. He rushed to check on Brandon, but the kid was out like a light, not showing any signs of trouble.Peter peeled back Brandon's blanket and inspected his arm, spotting the telltale puncture mark. A fierce glint flashed in Peter's eyes, and he scooped up Brandon, ready to bolt. However, Stev
Charles furrowed his brows tightly at Noelle's words. "Nelly, Kelly will be fine. You have to trust me."He reached out to gently rub her back, soothing her until she finally calmed down. However, once Noelle was settled, his expression darkened completely.Peter's people had been searching for three days, but there was still no sign of Kelly. The tracking chip Charles had implanted in her had long been removed by Yves, leaving them with no way to trace her location.Charles sat by Noelle's bedside, watching as she fell into a deep sleep under Linda's acupuncture treatment, yet his heart remained unsettled.Linda looked at Noelle and sighed helplessly. "Mr. Hoffman, while Noelle's condition is stable for now and the virus hasn't flared up, she's still pregnant. Any stress or anxiety could be dangerous for her. No matter how skilled I am, I won't be able to help if she keeps worrying like this."She handed Charles another prescription. He took it, and his brows were tightly knitted
"Ms. Anderson, you should worry about yourself instead! Even if Mr. Yves remembers you in the future, I'm afraid your situation will be far worse than this. I told you before—I won't let you die so easily. So, Ms. Anderson, just stay here and make yourself comfortable!" Elon spat."Elon, once Yves finds out, he'll kill you. He will."The only response Kelly received was the heavy clang of the cell door slamming shut.She used every ounce of strength to scream, but after Elon left, all that remained was pain—unbearable, all-consuming pain.She trembled violently, shivering as if she had been thrown into an ice cellar, yet moments later, it felt as if she were being scorched alive.Kelly writhed on the floor, the torment so excruciating that she nearly passed out.Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes as she closed them.She suddenly recalled the first time she had met Yves. She had infuriated him, and she had blurted out in a fit of defiance, "Only by falling in love with yo
Kelly let out a cold chuckle. "Is that so? Then why hasn't Yves killed me yet? Shouldn't he have killed me the moment I tore off his mask and discovered his identity?"She struggled to her feet, but the iron chains around her ankles were secured to the floor. She barely took a few steps before the chains yanked her back, causing her to fall heavily onto the ground.Pain radiated through her body, and a sharp sting shot through her palms as they scraped against the rough surface. She winced, sucking in a breath.Her ankle, caught in the unforgiving grip of the iron shackle, twisted painfully.Forcing herself up, Kelly looked at Elon. "Locking me up here… Is that truly Yves' decision?"Elon remained silent. He knelt before her, gripping her jaw forcefully before she could react. In one swift motion, he shoved a small pill into her mouth.Kelly clamped her lips shut, struggling against him. However, Elon's grip was ruthless. He squeezed her cheeks hard to force her mouth open and pu
Peter's men immediately sprang into action. Since Kelly had disappeared from the villa, they started their search from there.While they were looking for Kelly, Elon had already moved her to another location. Kelly had no idea where she was.She only remembered that after Yves left, the man who had always been by his side appeared, striking her across the face. She blacked out instantly.When she woke up again, she found herself lying on an icy, damp surface. The air was cold, and she had no clue where she was.She struggled to sit up, only to realize that heavy iron chains shackled her wrists and ankles. The room was pitch-black without a single trace of light.Kelly groped around in the darkness, but she could not make out anything. In such a void, her hearing became especially sensitive. She caught the sound of approaching footsteps.Moments later, the door creaked open, allowing a sliver of light to pierce through the darkness. The sudden brightness momentarily blinded her. W
"I actually wasn't certain of his identity either. It was just my own speculation." Simon sat back down, stretching his legs lazily."He's been making some big moves in the York family lately, which isn't like him at all. My people reported that he's been frequently appearing at that villa. I got bored and decided to check it out, and just like that, I stumbled upon a massive secret."He spoke nonchalantly as if it were no big deal. "I'm not particularly interested in the Hoffmans' old grudges, but this document you handed me, Mr. Hoffman… I find it interesting."Charles smirked. "Here's to a successful collaboration."Simon raised an eyebrow. "As long as it doesn't involve me getting my hands dirty, I don't really care."He casually flipped through the documents Charles had given him. "How did you figure this out?""With enough effort, anything can be uncovered. I've always thought that someone like you shouldn't be limited to playing such a minor role.""Mr. Hoffman, flattery
Charles remained silent, and his unreadable gaze was fixed on Simon.After a long pause, Simon was the first to break the silence with a chuckle. "No wonder he's so cautious, carefully planning for years just to counter you. Charles, you truly are a formidable opponent."He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Should I be grateful that we're not on opposing sides? Otherwise, you'd probably scheme against me as well, wouldn't you?"Charles stood up, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I'll be waiting for your good news.""Charles!" Simon stood up as well. "How can you be so sure I'll cooperate? What if I refuse?""You won't."Their gazes locked in mid-air, and Charles' eyes were filled with unwavering certainty.Simon shrugged. "Alright then.""So, you knew about his identity all along?" Simon asked, genuinely curious about Charles' endgame.Charles' dark eyes glimmered faintly. "I found out not long ago."Had he not been cautious, he might still be unaware of the true motives be
Simon raised an eyebrow and nodded, but his gaze remained on Noelle. She noticed him as well and gave him a slight nod. "Mr. York, it's been a while."Simon's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hint of mischief. "Indeed, it has."Sensing a sudden shift in the atmosphere, Simon arched an eyebrow and shot Charles a sidelong glance before chuckling."Come on, Charles. I'm your invited guest, aren't I? The way you're looking at me is making me nervous."Charles merely let out a cold snort. "Mr. York, let's talk privately."With that, the two of them moved to the hospital room next door. Simon quickly realized that the room had been converted into a personal office—or rather, a surveillance hub.He had noticed something off about the hospital's atmosphere the moment he arrived. There were very few patients, and while the place seemed quiet, the entire area was heavily guarded. Charles had his men stationed everywhere, making it nearly impossible for anyone without serious skil
Simon could not help but chuckle at Linda's words.It was only then that Linda seemed to notice his presence. She frowned at this uninvited guest and snapped. "What are you laughing at? Careful, or I'll gouge your eyeballs out!""Tsk, tsk, for someone so young, why are you already so vicious?" Simon shook his head in feigned helplessness, his tone filled with mockery. He even gave Linda a look of exaggerated disdain.Linda had always appreciated good-looking people and admired all things aesthetically pleasing. However, when she saw Simon's overly charming face, something strange happened. She did not swoon like she usually would. Instead, she found him rather annoying.She rested her chin on her hand, scrutinizing Simon with an expression far too mature for her age.Simon also found this young lady amusing. Judging by her actions, she was likely skilled in medicine—probably quite skilled.Otherwise, with how cautious Charles was, he would never have entrusted Noelle's life to a
Elon clenched his fists tightly at Yves' command.This woman was nothing but trouble—Yves' greatest weakness. Elon regretted not killing her years ago when he had the chance.If she had been eliminated back then, none of this would be happening now. Her presence was creating cracks in what had once been a flawless plan.Due to this woman, Yves was now willingly stepping into danger, even engaging with Charles and Steven ahead of schedule. She could not be allowed to stay."Yes, I'll ensure Ms. Anderson's safety," Elon replied.Yves cast him a cold glance before finally leaving the villa.…Meanwhile, after leaving the villa, Simon had the distinct feeling that someone was following him. However, Simon was not just anyone. He might seem carefree on the surface, but in reality, he was the most discreet and unpredictable of the York family's three sons.To outsiders, he appeared to be the least accomplished among the York siblings, but it was precisely this harmless facade that ma