Willow glanced around, her hesitation palpable as she extended her hand. "Get up first."Matthew slid the diamond ring onto her ring finger amid the swell of applause.…Night had long fallen. Through the vast floor-to-ceiling windows of the five-star hotel overlooking Portumville River, cruise ships drifted along the water. The bustling scene outside resembled a dream came to life.Terence lounged on the couch, his legs casually crossed and propped up on the coffee table as he scrolled through his phone. "Do you really think forcing Willow into this collaboration is going to make her happy? You shouldn't make things worse than they already are.""Can it get any worse compared to now?" Theodore's deep voice resonated from where he stood by the window. He glanced at Terence, his dark, cold eyes seeming to hold an endless depth."Damn…" Terence suddenly sat up straight, his eyes widening in shock. "It really has gotten worse.""What happened?" Theodore asked."Check this out."
Willow stood in the elevator. A wave of guilt washed over her as she reflected on the recent proposal.Throughout her life, many had sought her affection, and envy from others was a constant companion. But only she knew how little she desired all those admirations as she could never return those feelings. She was one of a kind in the world and was determined to remain true to her heart.The elevator doors slid open with a gentle chime. Willow snapped back to reality, tightened her grip on the bag strap slung over her shoulder, and stepped out.Once she got home, she slipped off her high heels and padded barefoot into the kitchen for a glass of water. As she walked, she unclasped her bra, slipped it out from beneath her clothes, and casually tossed it onto the couch.Just as Willow settled onto the couch, a sudden whoosh of flushing water echoed from the bathroom. Her face went pale. Had someone broken into her home?She glanced around the room and grabbed a golf club before caut
"What's the matter?" Willow taunted. "Three years have passed, and suddenly, you've turned into such a saint. "It seems like Iris really knows how to whip things into shape better than I ever could. I always thought you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks, but I guess the right trainer can work miracles, huh?"Theodore was stunned—had she just compared him to a dog? The temperature in the room plummeted, and the air between them became charged with tension.Willow's eyes flicked toward the bathroom and saw the watch still sat on the sink. She went to grab it and held it out to Theodore, letting it dangle from her index finger. "Take your stuff and get out."A tense silence hung between them before Theodore grudgingly reached out and took the watch.Suddenly, a buzz echoed from the floor. Willow's phone, which had slipped unnoticed during their argument, lit up with an incoming call. The name "Matthew Evans" flashed across the screen. His call was like pouring gasoline on an
"Willow Jett!"Locked in the bedroom, Theodore pounded on the door. Alas, all he heard was the sound of footsteps fading away, confirming the fact that Willow had no intention of letting him out.A throbbing pain struck the back of his head, and when he touched it, the sight of blood on his palm shocked him. She had really hit him hard!The truth was that he was so furious he lost his mind for a moment and just wanted to scare her. If he really wanted to do something, wouldn't last night have been much easier than now?Right then, the sound of vibration came from the pocket of his suit pants."Where are you? Are you okay? Don't do anything reckless." It was a message from Terence, and his words were filled with concern for Theodore.Theodore replied after thinking for a moment, "I'm fine."After replying to the message, he looked up and carefully examined Willow's room.Since he had been here once last night, he was already familiar with the layout of the room. Yet, he still co
As far as Willow knew, Theodore didn't like drinking much. Even when he went out for social events, he drank very little, with most of the alcohol being handled by his assistants or secretaries.Moreover, people in the industry were aware of his temperament and never pressured him to drink. So, how could he have stomach ulcers?Terence glanced at Willow with a complicated expression. "After you left, there was a period when he drank a lot, to the point of causing gastrointestinal bleeding."No one could persuade him to stop. That was until Ms. Whalley returned and admonished him back to his senses. But the damage was already done by then."Willow was slightly taken aback. She felt a stabbing pain in her heart, but she soon snapped out of it and clenched her fists.The pain from her nails digging into her palm reminded her of how deeply Theodore had hurt her.After the three-hour surgery, Theodore was transferred to a VIP hospital room."He can only have liquid foods after the su
"Don't worry. I know my own body well."As Theodore was speaking, Willow returned with bags full of items.When she opened the door and saw Theodore sitting up in bed, she was momentarily stunned but quickly regained her composure. "You're awake?""Yeah."Terence immediately said, "Well, I won't disturb you two any longer. I'll take my leave now.""Hey, Dr. Roth, hold on a minute," Willow called out to Terence. "Since he's awake, I'll be heading home now.""I really do have something to take care of, so I can't stay to look after him. You'll have to manage for now," Terence replied as he quickly made his exit.Soon, only Willow and Theodore were left in the room. With a slight frown, Willow put down the bags she was carrying. "Where's the caregiver?""I don't know.""They should be back soon. Since you're fine now, I'm leaving.""Hold your horses. The reason I'm in the hospital is because of you. You're going to leave just like that?"Willow's frown deepened. "You're in th
Theodore's chiseled jaw brushed against Willow's forehead lightly, causing a warm sensation to slowly spread between them. Though there was no further physical contact, it was enough to make both of them recall their intimate past—the moments that once made them both feel happy and content.Then, Theodore reached out to her."What are you doing?" Willow reacted as if she'd just been burned. After taking a step back, she almost bumped into the sink, her expression wary.Theodore's hand touched nothing, and he slowly dropped it. "I heard you didn't accept Matthew's proposal. Why?""You sure got the information quick." Willow sneered. "If I agreed, you'd ask why. If I didn't agree, you still ask why. Does everything in this world require your approval to proceed?"Instead of getting angry, Theodore commented earnestly, "Not agreeing to it was the right decision."Willow rolled her eyes at him. "Move aside."Just before leaving, she couldn't help but ask, "Theodore, do you know wh
Willow's inability to cook was a fact that Theodore had always been aware of. However, making soup didn't actually require much skill. Anyone could do it as long as all the ingredients were prepared properly and put in the pot in order.The following day, Willow personally made a pot of mushroom soup and brought it to the hospital. She arrived at noon, just in time for lunch."Here's the soup you wanted." Willow adjusted the hospital overbed table and placed the thermos on it. "Drink up. I used my secret recipe to make this mushroom soup and definitely didn't let anyone else touch it."She simply added a bit of extra flavor to it.As she twisted off the lid of the thermos, a strong, peppery smell wafted out. The smell made Willow feel a pang of anxiety as she knew she had added a bit too much.She cleared her throat and said, "Uh, I added too much pepper I think. You don't mind, do you?""It's fine." Theodore picked up a spoon and brought a spoonful of the soup to his mouth.Wil
"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