"You were the one who cheated during the marriage. You already had a new partner lined up and plotted with the lawyer to take half of the Strand family's assets. Yet, my brother is the one bearing all the infamy. How can you be so shameless?" Stephanie accused.Stephanie's voice grew louder as she continued to speak. "Today, I'm taking this opportunity to show everyone your true colors. Let's see who would want to work with someone like you in the future."Standing nearby, Hailey mockingly remarked, "It's normal to get divorced when the relationship sours, but employing such means shows a blatant disregard for your marital relationship, Ms. Jett.""Yeah, how could someone do that?" The crowd started murmuring in agreement."Even someone like that can get so much money? It just goes to show that those with audacity get it all.""They're living together? They must have been together for a long time already.""Does that mean Mr. Bassett ended things with her because he realized her
"Mr. Bassett, haven't you two already broken up? Why are you still defending her?" Stephanie questioned."Who told you that?" Theodore's cold-looking eyes glimmered with a faint chill. "Ms. Strand, have you never been in a relationship? Is there a couple out there that doesn't argue?"Willow's back suddenly stiffened, but it seemed that Theodore noticed, and he held her even tighter.With a hand around her waist and facing everyone, Theodore calmly announced, "Since everyone is here today, I'd like to announce something. The fight between me and Ms. Willow Jett has officially ended, and we are about to get engaged.""What?" Stephanie and Hailey looked utterly incredulous, and the onlookers at the scene were stunned.What was so special that day that everyone could witness such a dramatic reversal at the Bassett family's banquet and hear Theodore personally announce his engagement?At that moment, Willow was in a daze. She could not say a single word nor hear the discussions aroun
Theodore's expression visibly darkened. He suddenly grabbed Willow by the shoulders. "Who gave you the medicine?"Willow was bewildered to feel the strength of his grip. "Wasn't it you?""Look at me. Was I the one who delivered it to you?""But that day, you said…" Willow was extremely confused.That day, Theodore clearly said he had something to deliver to her house, and not long after, the butler of the Bassett family came with that box of medicine.Willow suddenly came to realize something. "If the medicine wasn't from you, then what you wanted to send to me wasn't the medicine?"As Theodore came to understand what this all meant, his expression turned even more frighteningly dark. "Did you take the medicine?"Willow's face turned pale, and she couldn't say a word.After holding her shoulders for a long while, he abruptly embraced her.Without needing her to say anything, he got the gist of what had happened. The person who made Willow believe it was him who sent the medici
The guests flocked to offer congratulations and quickly surrounded Willow and Theodore.Hailey and Stephanie were pushed to the outer edge of the crowd. Stephanie wasn't willing to give up and tried to go up to Theodore. "Mr. Bassett, you've been deceived by her, she's—""Stop it," Hailey interrupted her as she suppressed her jealousy. "Didn't you hear what Theo just said? He told me to keep you in check and stop you from talking nonsense.""How is what I'm saying nonsense? I'm doing this for you, aren't I?"After seeing Hailey's cold expression, which looked as if the former was blaming her, Stephanie frowned. "I just remembered I have other plans, so I'll be leaving now." With that, Stephanie walked away.Left alone outside the crowd, Hailey downed two cocktails in quick succession with clenched fists. She had finally gotten the opportunity to appear alongside Theodore in front of so many people, yet, at such a critical time, Willow had stolen all the limelight again.News of w
"What do you mean?" Willow asked."How will you tell this to your mom and Cedar?" Joey asked before glancing at Willow. "You're engaged. This is huge—you have to tell them, no?""I won't tell them," Willow replied decisively. "You'll help me keep it a secret from them too.""Why?""You know how my mom is, and Cedar knows nothing but school and study. We don't have to tell him about this."Joey asked doubtfully, "Are you gonna break it to them only at the wedding?""The wedding? Let's not get ahead of ourselves.""Oh, come on. Theodore made himself clear today. I just know that he'll marry you for sure. Honestly, I won't even be surprised if you tell me that you've registered your marriage tomorrow.""What?" Willow widened her eyes. "Stop kidding me.""Are you worried?" Joey saw through Willow's act immediately. "You're being extra careful because you were married once. You don't dare to risk it anymore.""I'm not." Willow didn't continue speaking. Instead, she turned to look
Theodore replied, "It's indeed hectic at the company. I think having Aunt Ellie here is more than enough for unnecessary appointments like these.""Unnecessary? How can you say that?" Sara frowned."The Godfrey family are longtime friends with our family, and we have business partnerships with each other. No matter if it's business-wise or on a personal level, you should meet them. How can you call it an appointment?"Besides, Ellie is your father's second wife. She has no right to represent our family."As soon as Sara said that, they heard a maid asking someone on the outside, "Ma'am, why won't you go in?"Sara looked toward the door and saw Ellie standing there. Perhaps she had been standing there for a while. Sara asked, "Why haven't you slept?"She sounded like she couldn't care less even if Ellie had heard what she said about her.Ellie, too, pretended that she heard nothing. She entered the room nonchalantly and smiled warmly. "I was about to, but Theodore came back. I th
Only silence remained in Sara's room after Theodore left. After a while, Sara sighed. "Nevermind. He can decide on his own marriage."Ellie immediately got anxious. "Mom, marriage is a huge thing. We should try to get Theodore to reconsider. That woman has so many tricks, how can we let her join our family?""Theodore's right. He's the one getting married.""Theodore is still an innocent kid at heart. How can he see that woman's true colors?""He's no longer a kid. He's almost 30. Besides, wasn't his father like this too?"Sara's gaze brushed past Ellie. She mocked, "It's easy for you to say all this to stop Theodore now. Why hadn't you tried to stop his father back then?"Ellie paled. Sara said in a deep voice, "I'm tired and going to bed. You may leave.""Sure, Mom," Ellie muttered and went out. She had succeeded in joining the Bassett family and had gained footing here after so many years. However, Sara never acknowledged her. Until now, Sara would take jabs at her by using t
God damn it. Willow and Theodore had just started dating, and she ended up showing her haggard side to him. How could she face him from now on?Theodore waited for half an hour outside her door. When she finally opened the door again, she had changed into a set of comfy clothes. Dressed in a loose-fit white sweater and blue jeans, she looked leisurely and gentle with her long hair flowing down her shoulders.Theodore raised an eyebrow and remarked, "It seems like you didn't mean to open the door for me just now. Now's finally the right moment."Willow blushed in embarrassment. She cleared her throat and said, "The renovation upstairs was too noisy. I meant to head over and check it out."At that moment, the drilling noises began again. Willow frowned and suggested, "I think we should go outside. Oh yeah, what brings you here?""I'm here to help you move.""What?"Theodore looked around. "Don't tell me you plan to keep staying in another man's home?"Willow froze, finally recall
"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