Willow's words left Joey stunned for a while. "Don't you like it too? Besides, it looks better on you than on me," Joey said."Who said that?" Willow asked as she shot Joey a glance. "There are plenty of actors and models who look better in clothes than I do, but does that mean I can't wear those clothes?""Alright, aren't you busy? Hurry up and go," Willow urged.Willow patted Joey's hand and added, "If you go on a date, remember to wear this dress. It'll definitely amaze him.""What do you mean by date? There's no such thing. I'm just going to work overtime.""I mean in the future. What are you so nervous about?" Willow winked at Joey.Joey's gaze flickered as she said, "Thanks, Willow.""We're besties. Nothing is more important than our friendship.""Yeah."After watching Joey leave, Willow sat back down. Looking at the bags around her, she sighed quietly.She regretted buying so many things. With Joey gone, she didn't feel like eating alone. Just as she felt a bit downhea
"I said that this has nothing to do with you, Mr. Bassett. Don't you understand?" Matthew retorted angrily."You're hurting her."Upon hearing his words, Matthew snapped back to reality. As he noticed Willow's pained expression, he quickly let go of her hand. He said, "I'm sorry, Willow. I didn't mean to.""It's okay," Willow said.Willow forced a smile and deliberately moved closer to Theodore, wrapping her arm around his. She said, "Matthew, Theodore and I already have dinner plans. Do you have something important to discuss? You can join us if you want. Theodore isn't a stranger."Hearing her say Theodore's name seemed to hit Matthew hard. His face suddenly turned pale."Matthew, what's wrong?" Willow asked.Willow's voice brought Matthew back to his senses. He looked lost as he stuttered, "N-Nothing. We can talk next time."After saying this, Matthew gave Theodore a long look before getting into his car.As the sound of the engine faded, Matthew's car disappeared down the
Theodore immediately noticed Willow's concern. He said calmly, "Don't overthink it. It's just a meal. My family is small, so I'm taking you to liven things up a bit."Only then did Willow feel at ease. "Alright then. By the way, what does your grandmother like?""You don't need to bring anything. She doesn't need anything."Willow was slightly stunned. As she watched Theodore slowly cut his steak, she realized he wasn't just being polite.Sara, the matriarch of the Bassett family, certainly lacked nothing. Still, she felt that it was inappropriate to show up empty-handed.After dinner, Theodore sent Willow home."I'll walk you up.""It's okay. I can manage."Willow had bought a lot of stuff, which was placed in the trunk of Theodore's car."You can't carry all those things. There's too much."Without giving her a chance to refuse, Theodore took all the bags and headed straight for the building.Willow stood there stunned for a few seconds before hurrying to catch up.The dr
"Some people have started to feel uneasy," Theodore remarked casually.Clark seemed to have understood what Theodore implied. "Do you mean…"Glancing out the window, Theodore said calmly with his eyes looking cold and deep, "We need to accelerate the process."Clark was slightly taken aback.…It was late at night. At the outskirts of Emperia, a private restaurant named Sasinhos was closing for the night.A woman sat in a booth by the window. She wore a burgundy dress that complemented the elegant restaurant ambiance, giving her an air of sophistication and grace. She looked gentle and hopeful."Miss, I'm sorry. We're closing soon. Has your friend arrived yet?"The woman wasn't upset. Instead, she replied gently, "They might be delayed. You can go ahead and serve the food. I'll wait a bit longer."The waiter nodded politely and said, "Alright."She tried calling someone. "Sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."The woman frowned
In the bedroom, Willow touched Joey's forehead. "Why is it so hot?" she muttered.She frowned with concern as she fetched an ice pack, placing it gently on Joey's forehead.The ice pack made Joey squirm uncomfortably."Don't move. Do you know that you're having a fever right now?" Willow asked as she pressed her shoulder. "Here's some fever medicine. Take it, and you'll feel better afterward."Then, she helped Joey sit up.Joey's lips were dry and cracked. She said with a faint voice, "The water is too hot.""Is it? Wait a moment, I'll get a bottle of mineral water."Once Willow left, Joey struggled to reach the bedside table. She wrapped the pills in tissue and threw them in the trash.When Willow returned, she saw the medicine was gone and Joey was back in bed."Joey, did you take the medicine?""Yes."Willow put down the mineral water and said, "You'll feel better after taking the medicine. If the fever doesn't go down by tomorrow, you need to go to the hospital with me.
Ellie quickly put on a fawning smile and said, "I'm not just badmouthing her without reason. You saw the news the other day."She got divorced but was still entangled with her ex-husband. Also, I've heard that she has a lot of men around her."Sara interrupted, "That's baseless gossip.""Mom, look at this. Is this baseless?"Ellie turned on her phone to show Sara a photo. She said, "I saw this while shopping yesterday. She's having physical contact with a man in public. Is that appropriate?"In the photo, Willow was being pulled by a man and talking to him on the street.Sara frowned. She asked, "Who is this man?""He's her lawyer. He helped her with the divorce case and is somewhat famous in Emperia. I heard he's been friends with Willow since high school and they're quite close."Sara's expression suddenly turned somber. With a loud bang, she slammed the scissors down.Ellie's face lit up with a satisfied smile as she watched Sara leave. She picked up the scissors near the f
Willow carried a bag of fruits in her hand.Despite Theodore's earlier insistence that she needn't bring anything, she felt it was inappropriate to arrive empty-handed, so she had bought some fruits in advance.Before Willow could speak, Theodore asked, "Where is Grandma?"Ellie felt embarrassed because no one answered her question, but she seemed accustomed to Theodore's mannerisms.She quickly regained her composure and said, "Grandma is in the side hall's greenhouse. She said to visit her as soon as you returned because she has something to discuss with you."Theodore frowned at the mention.Willow held his hand and said, "Go ahead.""I'll be back shortly. You just wait here.""Okay."After Theodore left, David came over to help Willow with her things. He said, "Ms. Jett, let me take those for you.""Thanks." Willow then handed the bag of fruits to David."Let me have a look," Ellie said as she gestured for him to bring it over.David hesitated for a few seconds before h
"Madam Sara, did you just say that I took money from the Strand family after the divorce?" Willow asked."Isn't it true?""It is true," Willow replied calmly. "It's what I deserved."Sara remarked coldly, "What you deserved? Legally, the money might be yours. You experienced the benefits and now believe that marrying a rich man and divorcing him will boost your wealth every time. Indeed, you can make a profit without any investment.""Madam Sara, are you implying that marriage is just a business?"Ellie glared and reprimanded, "Do you have no manners? How dare you talk to the elders like that?"Sara raised her hand and said, "Let her speak."Willow continued, "The Strand family was on the verge of bankruptcy, and I supported it for three years. Although I took half of the money that I deserved, this has nothing to do with marrying into the Strand family.""If you hadn't married into the Strand family, would you have what you have today?""I don't think anyone gets married thin
"What choice do you think I need to make?" Theodore stepped closer. His tone was filled with displeasure. "What are my choices?"Willow hesitated for a moment but maintained her composure as she voiced her concerns. "We need to face reality, Theodore. I will take Yasmine back to Portumville, and you're tied to the Bassett family. Who knows what will happen in the future?""So, you're giving me a heads-up so I can find someone else sooner?""I—""Should I be thanking you then?" Theodore's anger flared. "Willow, this is what's on your mind after everything we've been through? What do you take me for? What do you take yourself for?""I…" Willow found herself speechless."Are you doing this on purpose?""No, I'm not." Willow tried to explain herself, but for once, her words failed her.Theodore's eyes burned with frustration. Seeing her struggling to justify herself only fueled his anger more. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.Willow let out a startled muffle, but it was
Willow noticed something odd and asked, "When did you two get so close? Cedar, you even know what game Jessica likes?"Cedar casually replied, "She posted about it on Instagram."Willow's expression changed to one of realization. "Oh, right. I remember now."After saying that, she looked at Jessica with a raised eyebrow and proudly said, "See how thoughtful Cedar is? He remembered such details and even brought the game you wanted. I wonder which lucky girl will end up with him."Jessica forced a smile and awkwardly shoved the game console under the pillow as if it were something unpleasant to touch.Yasmine raised her head. "End up with him? What does that mean?"Willow patiently explained, "It means who will marry Uncle Cedar.""It must be Ms. Sweeney!" Yasmine pointed to the bed next to her and blurted out, "Uncle Cedar saved her. She said she'll marry him to repay the favor."Willow's face was filled with shock while Jessica quickly waved her hand. "No! I never said that. Wh
At the City Hospital, since both Willow and Jessica needed to stay in the hospital, Terence decided to use a bit of his authority to arrange for them to share a room."So what are your plans? Are you not going back to Portumville?" Jessica asked."I still have to go back. The company headquarters is there. Have you ever seen a president of a public company who never goes to the office? Joywell is still growing. I can't leave," Willow explained."So when are you planning to go back?"Willow hesitated. "I'm still thinking."Balancing a career and family was tough. One had to give way to the other."There's nothing to think about. You wouldn't want to give up Joywell's prime opportunity, and you wouldn't want to keep flying back and forth to see Yasmine. Just have Theodore go with you to Portumville then."Jessica, with her independent mindset, often focused on herself and didn't always consider the practicalities of others' situations.Just then, a knock came at the door. "Come i
As Theodore closed the door behind him, Terence turned to him with a concerned look. "Aren't you going to stay with her?""Let her be alone for a while," Theodore replied.Through the glass on the door, Theodore could see the frail figure lying on the hospital bed, and his heart ached for her."By the way, how's Jessica?"Terence responded, "She's fine. Cedar's with her. Thankfully, he noticed in time, and the sleeping pills weren't of a lethal dose."Joey had drugged Jessica with an overdose of sleeping pills. Then, she was left unconscious and tied up in a small storage room at an apartment in Marldosa Gardens.Following that, Joey hired someone from the black market to drive Jessica's car to Portumville, which caused the car's GPS to show up constantly on the highway.Terence couldn't help but ask, "Are Cedar and Jessica…""I don't know," Theodore replied flatly, "but it's not a bad thing.""Not necessarily," Terence said, crossing his arms. "It's fine for the heiress of Re
At the hospital, Willow's neck wound had been stitched up with four sutures. She had to stay in the hospital for observation.Terence was still in the operating room with Matthew. Over an hour had passed with no news. Yet, Matthew's family couldn't be reached at the moment.Theodore sat by her bedside. "Be careful.""I'm fine," Willow replied, leaning against the headboard. "How did you find out that Joey and I were at the riverbank?""Matthew called me." Theodore's voice was rough. He covered Willow with a blanket and began to explain the recent events."I had a DNA test done with Yasmine and confirmed Iris' claims. At least it proved that Joey was the one who took Yasmine back then. After that, I had Clark start investigating Joey."The first thing Clark did was track down the doctor who did the DNA test for Matthew and Yasmine, and sure enough, Joey was there meeting him."When Clark arrived, the doctor was already dead. His body was hidden in the garage at Marldosa Gardens.
Willow's words crushed Joey completely.Possessiveness? To others, her years of admiration and waiting were nothing more than laughable possessiveness."They're over there!" A voice suddenly rang out. Following that, the chaotic sound of footsteps echoed from the other side of the rocks.Willow looked up to see a tall, familiar figure rushing toward her. Without needing to guess, she knew how anxious the man must have been. Her nose tingled, and tears suddenly began to fall.As Joey glanced at the approaching police, she tightened her grip on Willow and dragged her backward. "Don't come any closer! Stay back!" she shouted.Theodore, who was more frightened than he had ever been, also roared, "Don't go any further! Let her go, Joey.""Let her go?" Joey laughed bitterly. "And let her reunite with your family? Dream on!""Joey." Willow managed to squeeze out the words through her pain. "Stop it, Joey."Even at this moment, she hoped Joey would have a change of heart and turn awa
Willow lay on the rocks as her neck bled and stained the collar of her white shirt. The scene was shocking. But compared to the pool of blood beneath Matthew, her injuries were nothing. Even though she desperately tried to escape, the distance she crawled was far from enough to save her life.Footsteps approached from behind; Joey had released Matthew and was walking toward Willow."Do you know what he just told me?" Joey's voice came from behind as Willow continued to crawl away.Joey didn't stop her, and she merely paced alongside Willow. For every step Willow took, Joey mirrored her, patiently recounting her conversation with Matthew."I asked him if he ever loved me. Do you know what he said?""He told me to let you go."In the wind of the river, Joey's laughter sounded particularly eerie. "Even at this moment, he only thinks of you. His loyalty to you is absolute, isn't it? I want to ask you a question."Suddenly, Joey squatted down and yanked Willow's hair, forcing her
"Leave right now?" Joey asked incredulously. She then burst into tears. "If only you had said this three years ago!""It's not too late now.""It is too late," Joey said as she shook her head. Willow felt herself being choked. She struggled for breath as the immense force pressed against her neck and pulled her toward the edge of the rocky outcrop with the raging river below."Joey!" Matthew staggered closer."Don't come any closer!"Willow felt a sharp pain in her neck as the knife's blade dug deeper into her flesh."Joey." She gritted her teeth against the agony and asked, "So Yasmine really was stolen by you, wasn't she?""You're still asking such questions at this point? Willow, you really are stupid.""Where's Yasmine?""Ha! What do you think?" Joey's laughter was manic.The rhetorical question sent Willow plummeting into despair as if reliving the anguish from three years ago. It felt like her heart and lungs shook violently, and every nerve of hers screamed in pain.
"We've known each other for so many years, and now, suddenly, I plan to leave Emperia. It's hard not to feel a bit reluctant," Joey said with a hint of nostalgia, her expression darkening as she turned to look at Willow.As the river breeze blew, Willow felt something unfamiliar about the woman in front of her, as if she had never known her at all."What's wrong?"Joey noticed the strange look in Willow's eyes.Willow steadied herself, hiding her immense shock and confusion behind her clenched fist, and casually asked, "When do you plan to leave? Have you decided where to go?""We're thinking of heading to Westwood first. Do you still remember we made a promise in college to go to Westwood for our graduation trip?""I remember.""But you suddenly decided to get married at that time and got busy with matters at Strand Real Estate.""Actually, you didn't have to worry about me. You could have gone without me.""Didn't you know? Matthew liked you, so when he heard you weren't goi