"Willow!" Matthew didn't waste any time. He quickly picked Willow up and put her in the car, heading straight for the hospital.Before leaving, he looked in the rearview mirror and saw Theodore's car behind him."Mr. Bassett, should we follow them?" Clark asked."No," Theodore said. "We're going to the Bassett Residence first."Theodore's face was very serious, and Clark wasn't sure if it was because of Sara taking the child or because of what he had just seen.At the Bassett Residence, everyone in the room was focused on the child. Sara, who was usually distant, smiled warmly. "Oh, this baby is so cute. Look at those chubby cheeks. Her nose is just like Theodore's."Ellie agreed, "Definitely. She's going to be beautiful when she grows up."Sara's smile faded a bit, showing some disappointment. "It's too bad she's a girl.""Mom, why are you worried?" Ellie asked. "We still have another chance, right?"Sara smiled a little. "Yes. If the next baby is a boy, then I'd be okay wi
Matthew's face darkened. "Theodore!"Terence quickly grabbed Matthew's shoulder. "Hey, this is a hospital. Don't start anything here."Matthew took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Where's Yasmine?"Theodore's eyes turned cold. "Where my daughter is isn't your business.""Yasmine is everything to Willow—do you even care about that?" Matthew snapped."You think I don't know?" Theodore shot back."Theodore!" Terence said sharply. "What are you doing?"Theodore grabbed Matthew by the collar, staring him down. "Let me make something clear—both Willow and Yasmine are everything to me too.""This is a hospital!" Terence shouted, grabbing Theodore's hand. "Calm down. Willow is still resting inside."Theodore clenched his jaw but finally let go of Matthew."What are you doing?" Matthew asked, trying to stop Theodore from going into the room. However, Theodore's bodyguards stepped in, blocking Matthew. "Mr. Evans, please wait outside," one of them said firmly.Terence looked wo
After Willow finished her IV drip, she followed Theodore out of the hospital. Matthew ran up to the car and stopped Willow. "Willow, tell me—did he threaten you?""Mr. Evans, if you keep harassing us, I'll have to report you for bothering my wife," Theodore warned."Your wife? You're divorced," Matthew shot back.Theodore, irritated, waved his hand at Matthew. His bodyguards immediately pushed Matthew aside, ignoring the people passing by at the hospital entrance."Let him go!" Willow said urgently.When Theodore didn't budge, Willow, with her frustration mounting, said, "There are too many people here. You don't want to make things worse, do you? I've already agreed to go with you."Upon hearing her words, Theodore's eyes darkened. "If you leave with me, they will naturally release her."Willow's fists were clenched as she reluctantly got into the car."Drive," Theodore said in a cold voice.The car started up and drove out of the hospital. In the rearview mirror, Willow sa
"For the past six months, Mr. Theodore has been very busy, but he's always thought about you. Oh, and by the way," Kathy suddenly added, "Madam Willow, come with me."Willow followed Kathy to the room next to Yasmine's nursery. Then, Kathy opened the door and said, "Look inside."The room was decorated with soft pink walls and pictures of dandelions. The ceiling was painted like a starry light, and there was a big teddy bear in the corner.The most special thing was the bed. It was shaped like an open seashell, with a round mattress in the middle and star-shaped curtains around it, making it look like a room from a fairy tale.Willow was shocked. "When was this done?""It's been worked on over the last six months," Kathy said with a smile. "Mr. Theodore designed it all and even hung up the canopy himself. "We all thought the baby would be a boy, but Mr. Theodore was sure it would be a girl. I've never seen him so determined."Willow looked at the beautifully decorated room, fee
Seeing that Willow looked unsure, Theodore said, "After Iris's baby is born, I'll send them both away, so you won't have to worry about it."Willow seemed surprised and whispered, "That's just lying to yourself."Theodore looked upset and said sharply, "Just drink the soup."The issue with Iris had become a problem between Theodore and Willow. They could get along when it wasn't mentioned, but once it was, everything got complicated.…Late at night, after Theodore finished his shower, he noticed that Willow and the baby weren't in their room. He immediately became worried and rushed out."Kathy!" he called loudly.He saw a bit of light coming from under the guest room door. He went over, opened it, and found Willow and Yasmine asleep in bed, covered with a flowery blanket. They were both sleeping soundly.Theodore felt relieved to see them like this and relaxed his grip on the door handle.In her sleep, Willow felt like someone was carrying her, holding her tightly. It was a
"Pretty much. I think she was just uncomfortable in a new place, so she was fussy and cried a lot."Willow looked at Yasmine in Kathy's arms, trying to picture Theodore calming their baby. The image in her mind was blurry, almost impossible to clearly imagine.…At Bassett Corporation, Theodore went back to his office after the morning meeting. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest for a moment.Clark noticed and asked, "Didn't sleep well last night, Mr. Bassett?"Theodore opened his eyes and saw the file Clark was holding. "What do you need?""The bidding contract.""Give it to me."As soon as he took the file, his phone started buzzing on the desk. Theodore looked at his phone—it was a call from Iris."Hello?""Theodore," Iris said in a soft, sweet voice. "I'm out shopping with Bernice. I'm planning to make meatloaf for dinner tonight.""You don't need to do that," Theodore replied. "Let the maid take care of it.""It's okay. I want to try cooking myself
The lounge door was open, and many guests were gathered around. When Iris walked in, everyone turned to look at her. When she noticed Iris, Kathy looked surprised and annoyed. "What are you doing here?"Iris, flanked by Bernice—the same maid who had been so rude to Willow at the Bassett Residence—shot back, "Why does it matter to you?"Willow quickly handed Yasmine to Kathy. "Kathy, could you hold her for a moment?"Kathy instinctively took the baby and moved to the side. Iris proudly walked in with her big belly, as if she were parading a trophy. Everyone started whispering and gossiping about her. Willow looked tense and worried."I'm here to celebrate Yasmine's one-month milestone. Don't get the wrong idea." Iris spoke sweetly, but her smile seemed forced.Willow replied coolly, "There's no need to misunderstand. Guests are always welcome.""I'm glad to hear that. I brought these bracelets for Yasmine. Let's see if they fit," Iris said with a big smile, pulling out the silve
"Ms. Saville, you're not as important as you think."Willow's expression remained stern. "Today is my daughter's Sip and See party, and you showed up uninvited. "Out of respect for my husband, I won't dwell on your lack of manners. But playing innocent and staging your own little drama? I'm not interested in playing along.""Willow, you've misunderstood me. I didn't mean anything by it.""Didn't mean anything?" Willow's gaze dropped to Iris' pregnant belly. "You arrived here heavily pregnant. Those who know my husband might understand, but what about those who don't? "This could cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Are you planning to explain it to everyone? The Bassett family has a reputation to uphold."Unnecessary misunderstandings? Whispers began to circulate among the guests and the lounge was filled with tension. Did this mean that the child in Iris' stomach wasn't Theodore's?Iris' face instantly went pale. "Theodore," she called out.Willow's eyes remained fixed on Th
"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