Joey leisurely took a sip of her coffee. "No problem. Would you like something to drink?""No, I need to head back shortly.""Busy with work?" Joey pulled a thick stack of cash from her bag and pushed it toward the man. "Here's 30 thousand dollars. Count it?"The man only peeled back a corner of one of the bundles. Upon the green bills inside, he relaxed and stowed the cash in his briefcase, which bulged noticeably."No need to count it, thanks.""I should be thanking you." Joey smiled slightly, but her smile was tinged with darkness. "Just remember what I asked you to do—keep your mouth shut.""Don't worry, I'll be leaving Emperia tonight. Not a word will escape my lips.""Great."Joey finished the last sip of her coffee as she watched the man leave, Half a month ago, after learning that Matthew was planning to do a paternity test, she had managed to contact the doctor who would be handling it. She had gathered some leverage over him to coerce and entice him into compliance.
At the women's prison, Willow saw Ruby for the first time since Yasmine was kidnapped. "Do you remember me?"Willow's voice was dull and filled with hatred. She couldn't help but loathe this woman, even knowing that if it weren't for Ruby, other people would have been sent to her home. Just one oversight could have led to Yasmine being taken away.Ruby's hand trembled as she held the microphone. "I remember.""Who instructed you to take Yasmine?" Willow got straight to the point without any small talk."I've already told you everything," Ruby pleaded desperately. "Mr. Arden came by. I've told him all I can. I just beg you not to disturb my son.""It was a woman, right?" Willow pressed further.Ruby hesitated for a moment. "Yes.""Give me more details. The sound of her voice, her appearance, her clothing—tell me everything you remember.""I really…""Students at the Police Academy can't have parents with criminal backgrounds. Do you want your son to be expelled from school?"
Clark held a paternity test result issued by an agency, showing that Theodore and Lottie were confirmed as father and daughter."She's Yasmine. Iris wasn't lying. The person who took Yasmine all those years ago was Joey," Theodore murmured.Clark looked unusually excited as he said, "Mr. Bassett, I'll take people to bring Yasmine back right now.""No." Theodore suppressed his rising joy and maintained his usual calm demeanor. "Going in directly might make Joey angry. Continue the investigation and secretly ensure Yasmine's safety. If an opportunity arises, take her immediately.""Understood. I'll get right on it.""And find out why Joey did this."Theodore clenched the paternity report tightly and spoke each word deliberately. "Start from the fire four years ago.""Yes."After Clark left, Theodore dialed Matthew's number."Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later."In the city, at Evans Residence, Joey was using a damp cloth to wipe
"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
"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.
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
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
Autumn had come to Emperia, the capital city. The air was slightly chilly.Willow Jett leaned against the door of the toilet cubicle as she stared at a photo on her phone. It was of a man's side profile. The man was her husband, Quentin Strand.There was a woman beside him, but her face had been blurred out. All that was visible was a tattoo of a rose behind her shoulder.Just then, she heard the sound of someone turning on the tap outside. The lowered voices of some employees followed this as they gossiped."Look at how Ms. Jett's always working and doesn't bother dressing up. Isn't she worried about Mr. Strand doing things behind her back?""I know, right? I think they've been married for almost three years, yet they still don't have any kids.""I heard it's because Ms. Jett can't have kids …"They soon left, and silence descended upon the restroom once again.Willow pushed the door of her cubicle open, looking pale. She looked at herself in the mirror—there stood a woman dre