"Besides this, you owe me an apology," Willow declared."Apologize to you?" Quentin's face grew stormy. Catching Theodore out of the corner of his eye, he taunted, "Have you become so toughened by your rise?"Willow sneered. "Did you really think I hadn't anticipated your intrusion into my office?"Suddenly, the blinds of the private office behind her snapped open, revealing a figure clutching a phone. Annie Osmond had already recorded footage of Quentin and his men causing a disturbance just moments earlier."Annie." Everyone gasped in disbelief.Annie was Willow's recently hired assistant. It explained why she hadn't been spotted since the company's opening ceremony."Mr. Strand, do you seriously think you can talk your way out of this if we decide to call the police?" Willow questioned.Quentin's expression shifted from fury to a stark paleness."I don't need anyone to stand up for me. I stand firmly on my own," Willow stated."Willow, you're remarkably shrewd. How did I ov
"I have some pressing matters to attend to here, so I'll have to excuse myself from entertaining you," Willow said before calling Annie over. "Please show Mr. Bassett out."Still finding her feet in the situation, Annie offered a polite smile to Theodore. "Mr. Bassett, right this way to the exit."Theodore sensed a pulsing ache in his temples.Watching from nearby, Clark interjected urgently, "Ms. Jett, what's happening? Mr. Bassett has been swamped for the past three days—so much so that he hasn't even had time to grab a drink of water. He's been flying non-stop, with just one day on the ground to handle business."He's not done with his business but rushed back when he heard your news. He's worried about potential hiccups at your company's opening ceremony."Willow walked into the office, ignoring everything behind her as if she hadn't heard a word.Annie stood awkwardly, unsure of her next move. She wondered whether she should show the guest out or if there was something else
The office was eerily quiet, punctuated only by Theodore's labored breaths. His demeanor hinted at a brewing storm of anger, on the verge of erupting. His intense presence sent chills through the room.However, Willow stayed composed as she calmly watched Theodore before her. Her mindset had been unwavering since childhood and she was never one to crumble under pressure.The door shut with a resounding bang as Theodore left. Joey hurried inside at the commotion, finding Willow seated calmly on the couch as if the disruption hadn't occurred."What's going on?" Joey questioned."Nothing," Willow replied nonchalantly, pouring herself a coffee. "Would you like some?"Joey looked at where Theodore had gone, confused. "Did you two argue?"Willow remained silent, sipping her coffee with her head down. She knew many unspoken understandings existed among adults, especially in matters of the hearts.Often, the first to commit found themselves in a vulnerable position. If she got hurt and
Willow worked late into the night at the office, the lights gradually dimming in the building. Suddenly, there came a knock at her door."Come in," Willow said."Aren't you heading out? It's almost 11:00 pm."Willow glanced up and found Joey casually leaning against the door with her bag slung over her shoulder."I'll leave once I finish reviewing these last papers. You should head home," Willow responded."No worries, I'll stick around for a bit," Joey said, stepping inside and setting down her bag. "It's getting late, and I'd rather not leave you to go home alone."Willow chuckled. "What? Are you worried my ex might come after me?""You find this funny? How many times has it been now? This is the third time since you fell out with him and talk of divorce began. Quentin might not have much going for him, but he's all about his ego. A guy like him would resort to anything when pushed.""That's why I haven't pushed him too far," Willow replied.Joey looked confused. "What do yo
The chime of the doorbell jolted Willow from her reverie."Is this Ms. Willow Jett?" the delivery person asked."Yes, that's me," Willow replied.The delivery person handed her a package. "Here's your delivery. Could you please sign for it?""Thank you," Willow said as she signed the form."I'm sorry for the delay," the delivery person apologized. "We've had a problem with our delivery personnel, which caused a delay of over two weeks. I hope it didn't cause too much inconvenience.""No worries," Willow replied casually.With packages arriving so often, a few items slipping through now and then wouldn't catch her attention or be bothered. But a package from over two weeks ago? She couldn't even remember what she had ordered.Suddenly, a charred smell drifted through the house. Willow recalled boiling pasta on the stove. She hastily placed the package down and dashed into the kitchen.As she entered, a mist of white smoke greeted her, making her cough from the irritation in her
Nathan parked the car in Bassett Corporation's underground garage.Clark instructed, "Tell Madam Sara that Mr. Bassett has an important dinner tonight and won't be able to make it. Be tactful so she doesn't get upset.""Got it," Nathan replied.Upon Theodore's return to the office, he immediately called a meeting with the marketing department.Binding the meeting materials together next to the printer, Dinah muttered, "I'm beginning to think Mr. Bassett might be a robot. He hasn't taken a break in over half a month, constantly traveling for meetings. He returned today and didn't even rest before jumping into another meeting.""That's why Mr. Bassett is the president. No one else can manage his workload," Linda replied calmly."I don't think so. Haven't you noticed Mr. Bassett's been acting odd lately? And it's been forever since we've seen Ms. Jett. Linda, do you have any insider info?" Dinah asked."Cut back on the gossip and stay focused on work. Hurry up and deliver those pri
"Didn't you call ahead to inform him? Mr. Rupert Whalen from the marketing department isn't around today," said the receptionist at Bassett Corporation to Willow, who was waiting in the lobby."He obviously doesn't want to meet with us," Joey said.Willow frowned. "The results aren't in yet. We shouldn't make assumptions." "Annie's been here three times already and hasn't managed to meet him. Are you sure we should wait for the results? Maybe you should go straight to Theodore," Joey urged."No, I can't," Willow responded."Why are you being so stubborn? There's clearly a quicker route, but you won't take it. Set aside your pride with Theodore, and we'd have this project in the bag, wouldn't we?""I'd rather keep it professional. And I've already made my position clear to him. We've done all we can, so let's see how it plays out. If we don't get the project, there's not much else to do," Willow said."Shall we head back now?" Joey asked resignedly.As they were about to leave,
In the custom dress boutique at Cosmo Plaza, Willow and Joey tried on various ready-to-wear dresses."Just pick something casual. There's no need to go overboard," Willow said, twirling in front of the mirror. "I think this one will do. Help me get it wrapped up."The sales assistant was ready to ring it up for Willow."Wait, what do you mean by 'will do?'" Joey grabbed Willow's arm. "This one is too plain. You're going to a dinner, not a funeral. Why dress all in black? Let's find something else. This isn't quite right.""We've tried so many already. Are you sure you want to keep going?" Willow sighed, pointing at the pile of clothes she had already tried on. She looked tired. "Just try it on your own if you want.""No way, our company needs your look to impress clients. I don't have that kind of face," Joey replied cheerfully, taking the dress from the sales assistant and holding it up to Willow. "This one's nice. Give it a shot.""We're going for business, not a blind date," W
"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