"Do you remember now?" Willow shook her head helplessly. "I just have a vague memory of someone living there before.""It's okay." Theodore held her hand tightly. "It's fine if you don't remember anything. You were very young back then. Not being able to recall memories from that long ago is normal."Willow could hardly remember living there, let alone him. Recalling the fact that they were indeed young back then, Willow turned to Theodore with a strange look. "Be honest with me—did you start longing for me back then? I was just a child."With a straight face, Theodore answered, "I was also a child back then."Willow was speechless. As they talked, Willow's stomach grumbled audibly. She quickly covered her stomach and flashed him an awkward smile.Realizing that she was hungry, Theodore didn't tease her. "Let's see if we can find something to eat inside.""There shouldn't be any food here, right?" Willow caught up to him. "Didn't you say that someone would come to clean the p
"What do you mean you can't find him?"At Godfrey Residence, Hailey was on the balcony making a phone call. "How can someone just disappear in broad daylight? If he's not at the company or Bassett Residence, then could he be at the places he usually goes to? Did you check the basketball court, the pool, and the gym?"She listened to the response from the other end before saying, "Don't give me excuses. Do you plan to just receive the money without doing your job? "That's enough. You must find him before nightfall! Otherwise, you won't get a single penny of the final payment."Hailey then hung up angrily and turned to see her father watching her at the balcony door."Dad…" Hailey gasped as she patted her chest. "You scared me."Edward stepped out. "Who were you talking to?" Hailey remained silent."I'm talking to you. Who were you talking to?""No… No one.""Give me your phone." Hailey immediately took a step back."Give it to me." Edward's expression darkened. "Were you co
Florence furrowed her brows. "They are in a relationship, and Theodore has publicly announced that Willow is his fiancée. It's perfectly normal for them to go anywhere together.""It's not normal." Hailey shook her head. "The private investigator said Theo's assistant went to a jewelry store this morning to pick up a diamond ring."Florence was slightly taken aback. It was clear what a diamond ring meant. No wonder Hailey was so anxious."Are you saying Theodore is going to propose to Willow today?""Whether he proposes or not, Willow will never become Mrs. Bassett." Hailey clenched her fists.She needed to marry Theodore. It was no longer just about liking him. The longer she stayed in Emperia, the more she could see the Bassett family's influence there. Only by marrying Theodore could she and her family reestablish themselves in Emperia."Mom, I want to join the company." Florence didn't say anything in response.The next day, Willow was awakened by the smell of breakfast.Ne
Linda caught on to what Willow was doing immediately. Without saying a word, Linda grabbed Theodore's clothes before heading outside. "I'll put Mr. Bassett's clothes in the car first. Go ahead and have breakfast, Ms. Jett."It wasn't until Linda left that Willow finally breathed a sigh of relief.On the way back to the city, Willow asked, "Why did your boss have to return to the company all of a sudden? Was there an urgent matter?""Ms. Jett, you can always ask Mr. Bassett that directly."Slightly taken aback, Willow awkwardly cleared her throat and turned to look out the window.She was just making conversation to ease the awkward atmosphere in the car and wasn't trying to get any information from Linda. However, Linda's response made it seem like she was trying to gather information behind Theodore's back. Willow could only sigh internally. None of the people around Theodore were easy to deal with.Joey was already waiting for her in the office when she got to the company.
"Uh, this was something unforeseen." Willow didn't know how to explain herself. "Anyway, I was quite surprised.""Stop making excuses. It's surprising enough for anyone to be with Theodore. Now hurry up and explain what's up with the ring."Feeling a bit embarrassed, Willow turned red in a conspicuous way.Though she wasn't young anymore, the thought of yesterday's proposal still felt surreal and unbelievable. There were so many dramatic elements—so much so that she almost thought it was all a dream when she didn't see Theodore that morning."He proposed to me.""Even a fool can see that." Joey gestured toward the diamond ring on Willow's finger. "I'm not blind. Hurry up and tell me the specifics. How did he propose? Where? What did he say?"When Willow told Joey that Theodore proposed in the underground garage of this building, Joey immediately had a look of disbelief. "In the underground garage? It happened right under my nose, yet no one knew about it?""It wasn't a big s
Family dinner? After hanging up the phone, Willow furrowed her brows. Joey was puzzled by her reaction. "Isn't a family dinner a good thing? Doesn't this mean that Madam Sara has already accepted you?""I feel like there's more to it.""Then are you going?""Of course, I'm going. When an elder extends an invitation, it's acceptable to decline once or twice, but I can't keep refusing. Even if she doesn't accept me, I still need to do what I should."Joey sighed. "The hardships you're experiencing are something ordinary people like us can't even imagine. I guess marrying into wealth isn't that easy.""Are you mocking me?""I swear I'm not. I'm just genuinely envious."Willow raised an eyebrow. "How about we switch places? I'll be the single, wealthy elite, and you can be the rich wife in a powerful family.""Please don't. I'd be overwhelmed. Mr. Bassett is not my type at all."After some playful banter, Joey went out with a project proposal in hand, leaving Willow alone in the
"Oh? You've gotten it wrong. Mr. Bassett is only ever this sweet to Ms. Jett." The employees shared the cake and coffee as they praised Theodore to the skies.Willow was flustered from all the teasing. "Oh, shut up and enjoy the food in silence. If you guys would rather gossip than eat, I'm taking the food away!"Then, she looked around and asked Annie, "Where's Joey?""Ms. Lane? I think she's in her office. I asked her to come, but she said she didn't feel like eating."Willow cast a doubtful glance toward Joey's office. She headed straight over and knocked on Joey's door.She heard Joey asking weakly, "Who's there?""It's me." Willow opened the door and hurried over. "Joey, what's wrong?"Joey looked ghastly pale as she curled up on the couch. Lying on a pillow, she shook her head. "Help me close the door."Joey always put on a tough front and never showed weakness to anybody. Willow knew what she was thinking, and quickly went to lock the door. "What happened to you? Are y
"Joey! Joey, why are you bleeding so much?" Willow stared at the blood trailing down between Joey's thighs in horror. She quickly covered Joey with her jacket and shouted toward the outside, "Hey! We need help here! Call an ambulance quickly!"…The sky had turned dark as the streetlights shone brightly. The cars were stuck in traffic during the evening rush hour.The Bassett family members were seated in the private room. Ellie poured Sara a cup of tea casually and asked, "Why did you decide to have dinner outside? It's actually safer to dine at home since we have our own chefs."Sara huffed, "I bet he doesn't want to let her visit our home. He's scared that I'll do something to her."Theodore didn't give them any reaction. He glanced at Ellie and quietly said, "Grandma, I'm sure you won't, but who knows? Someone else might do it.""Have some tea, Mom." Ellie lowered her head sheepishly.Sara grew impatient. "How many cups of tea have I emptied at this point? Why isn't she he
"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