Wendy had been standing there for who knew how long, her clear, bright eyes silently observing Lilian's panic and embarrassment.Lilian froze on the spot.Ted quickly hurried over to Wendy, bending at the waist with a servile smile. "Ms. Crone."Wendy pulled out a pen and casually tossed it into the outdoor pool. "Dr. Whalen, I dropped my pen.""Ms. Crone, I'll retrieve it for you immediately!"Ted dashed outside, not caring about the chilly late-autumn water. Without hesitation, he jumped straight into the pool.Lilian walked over, staring at the scene in disbelief.Moments later, Ted surfaced, dripping wet, holding the pen in his hand like a prized treasure. He looked at Wendy with an ingratiating smile. "Ms. Crone, I've got your pen!"Lilian watched Wendy as if looking at something otherworldly.Wendy smirked. "What's wrong? Don't recognize me?"Lilian struggled to process what was happening. She couldn't understand what Wendy had done to Ted to make him so obedient—like a
Jessica and Lilian's expressions instantly changed.Wendy turned to Jessica, feigning surprise. "Oh, no! Don't tell me Mr. Hawk didn't mention he kissed me last night?"She pretended to recall thoughtfully. "Last night, when Mr. Hawk kissed me, it was so clumsy and rushed, completely lacking any skill. Honestly, I started to doubt if he even knew how to kiss."Jessica looked at Stanley in shock. Had he kissed Wendy?Stanley's handsome face turned ice-cold in an instant. It was unclear whether it was because Wendy had deliberately told Jessica about their kiss, or because she publicly criticized his kissing skills. Either way, his sharp eyes darkened and fixed on Wendy with a chilling intensity."Wendy!" he called her name, displeased.Wendy sneered. 'Oh?' Was he upset just because she said something about Jessica?Her clear, piercing eyes landed on Stanley's face. "Why are you yelling? With kissing skills that bad, I don't even want to spend another minute with you. Let's get
Sienna, Stanley's cousin, was particularly close to Jessica. When she spotted Wendy, her face immediately darkened with disdain. "Wendy, Stanley doesn't like you, and yet here you are cozying up to Grandma again? Honestly, in our family, only Grandma cares about you! Do you even know your worth? A country bumpkin who stood in as a replacement bride when Jessica wasn't around, and now you actually think you're the young madam of the Hawk family? You're not worthy of Stanley! Just hurry up and divorce him already!" she snarled. Wendy had grown used to it. Stanley's family members, much like his friends, had always looked down on her.Without sparing Sienna a glance, Wendy walked straight into the estate.Glinda, with her silver hair neatly combed, lit up with joy as soon as she saw Wendy. She reached out and clasped Wendy's hand. "Wendy, why haven't you come to visit me for so long? Don't you miss me?"This was the only warmth Wendy had ever received in the Hawk family. Glinda gen
'A blind date?'Stanley's aura turned icy in an instant. He raised a hand to undo the top button of his shirt, his jaw tightening.Ding, ding, ding!Cecelia had sent several consecutive WhatsApp messages, accompanied by voice notes that began playing automatically. Her voice filled the room."Wendy, check out this guy—eight-pack abs, a gym enthusiast. Do you like him? You could rest your head on his abs at night!"And this one—adorable, obedient, and shy. He looks like he'd be so much fun!"Oh, and this one, the gold-rimmed-glasses business elite—cold and aloof, a total dreamboat! Should we ask him to get on his knees and sing a song for you?"Wendy, all these men are your personal harem. Pick whoever you like!"Stanley's lips pressed into a thin, grim line. He truly hadn't realized that Wendy had an entire lineup of potential suitors vying for her attention.Wendy picked up her phone and casually sent a voice message back. "Got it, I'll be there soon."When she turned around
Stanley froze for a moment.Wendy lay beneath him, her silky black hair cascading over the crimson bedspread—a shade specifically chosen by Glinda for their wedding room. The red accentuated the creamy fairness of her skin, making her appear luminous, almost ethereal. There was an air of sensuality about the scene, but the thought of her lying like this beneath another man...Stanley's fists clenched involuntarily.He had intended to clarify that the 'delivery' last night was medicine, not a man. But as the words reached his lips, they refused to come out.Wendy's cold gaze met his. "Move."She had ordered him to move.Stanley didn't budge.Frustrated, Wendy began to struggle. The memory of him bringing Jessica into his private wing last night flashed through her mind, and it made her recoil from even the slightest physical contact with him."Stanley, get off me! After spending the night with Jessica, did you even bother to clean yourself?"Stanley stiffened in silence.In
Stanley pinched the bridge of his nose, realizing that he had forgotten.Nathan Lowe had returned to the country.The Hawk and Lowe families had long been the top aristocratic families in Hovendale, and they were also close friends. He and Nathan had grown up together and were good friends.Nathan was back in the country today, and now Jessica, Benny, and Sienna were all at 1996 Bar.Sienna's cheerful voice rang out, "Stanley, hurry up and come!"Sienna liked Nathan. Her dream was to marry him, but Nathan was very selective, and it was hard for any woman to catch his eye."I'll be there soon," Stanley said, standing.Honestly, Wendy going out to find a man had nothing to do with him. Why should he be angry?A small-town girl, who had nothing else to do besides playing with men, was indeed shallow. She couldn't compare to Jessica.Let her play. It didn't matter who she played with!-That night, a Ferrari sports car roared as it sped down the road.Cecelia, who sat in the pa
At that moment came a melodious ringtone, signaling an incoming call. It was from Stanley.Nathan guessed that Stanley was probably urging him to come to 1996 Bar.Nathan turned his car around. Hovendale was Stanley's turf, and once he got to 1996 Bar, all he needed was for Stanley to help him find out who owned the Ferrari.-Wendy drove into the alley, and Cecelia said cheerfully, "Wendy, you shook him off!"Just as the words left her mouth, there was a loud collision, and the Ferrari crashed into the wall.Bang!Wendy's legs went weak. It had been three years since she last raced, and today, encountering such a tough opponent in a high-speed race made her heart pound.Wendy and Cecelia got out of the car. The front of the Ferrari had been dented."Wendy, what should we do now?" Cecelia said, her legs shaking.Wendy steadied herself. "It's fine. I'll call Stanley's secretary and have him handle it."She dialed Zayn's number.-Nathan arrived at 1996 Bar and entered a lux
Stanley lowered his gaze to the photo, and his deep, cold eyes narrowed sharply. He recognized this Ferrari.Looking at Nathan, Stanley asked, "Was the woman driving this car?"Nathan nodded. "Yeah, she even shook me off. She's quite interesting."Stanley, if he recalled correctly, had given Wendy this Ferrari. In addition to a huge check, he had also given her some cars and houses. At that time, Zayn had told him that she had only chosen a Ferrari. He had found it strange—why would she drive a sports car?Stanley knew about Nathan's driving skills. In fact, they occasionally raced cars together. But Wendy was from the countryside—how could she have driven a sports car and even shaken off Nathan?Just then, Zayn walked over. "Sir."Stanley stood up. "I'll step out for a moment."Stanley left the luxurious booth and stood in a dim corner. Zayn whispered, "Sir, Mrs. Hawk called earlier. She went out tonight in the Ferrari. It seems like she raced someone on the road, and the car c
Luna couldn't wait any longer. She texted Stanley, [Mr. Hawk, have you arrived?]Stanley's eyes darkened, turning as deep and cold as an abyss. He replied with one simple word. [Yes.]-At the birthday party, Luna's heart soared when she saw his reply. Stanley was here!What a shame that Wendy wasn't around to see this. Luna wanted Wendy to witness this moment so badly!Luna grinned widely and turned to the crowd. "Everyone, the birthday party can officially begin! The special guest I've been waiting for has arrived.""Luna, who's this special guest?""Ms. Fisher, stop teasing us! Please bring out this VIP guest. We can't wait to see!"Luna smiled mischievously. "Alright, let's welcome him now!"The doors to the banquet hall swung open, and all eyes turned toward them.Then, someone walked in.Luna eagerly rushed forward, ready to greet the guest. "Mr…."But before she could say "Mr. Hawk", she froze in her tracks.The person who entered wasn't Stanley. It was her boyfrien
Luna's eyes shone with pride—she couldn't wait to flaunt her happiness in front of Wendy.Wendy's gaze remained cold, and she didn't respond.Luna placed her hand on her small belly, a smug smile curling her lips. "Wendy, you're not jealous of me, are you? Some people have to take the morning-after pill after a night and even faint from the allergies, while I get pregnant and am showered with love. Life sure isn't fair, is it?""Hey!" Halsey and Cecelia both moved as if to say something, but Wendy raised a hand to stop them."Let's go," she said softly, her voice level.With that, Wendy turned on her heel and walked away.Halsey and Cecelia quickly followed. "Wendy, why didn't you let us put her in her place?"Wendy gave a bitter, almost self-deprecating smile. "Why bother? She's just telling the truth."She took the morning-after pill and fainted from an allergic reaction. Meanwhile, Luna got pregnant and became a huge star.It was painfully obvious who Stanley loved and didn
"Wendy, are you okay? What did Mr. Hawk bring you here for?"Halsey and Cecelia quickly grabbed Wendy as she stood there, trying to process everything.Wendy furrowed her brows, still confused about what Stanley was doing. He had brought her to Imperial Garden and then said "sorry" twice—it was very out of character for him. But then she remembered Luna's pregnancy, and her frustration toward Stanley faded. She didn't want to waste any more time on him. "Let's just go," she said, her voice flat."Alright," Halsey and Cecelia agreed.The three of them left, and Stanley remained on the couch, his expression darkening as he masked the lust that flickered in his eyes.Just then, Zayn entered and reported in a low voice, "Mr. Hawk, I've found something."Stanley looked up. "Go on.""It turns out Luna has a boyfriend in the countryside. He loves her very much, and he works the dirtiest and hardest jobs on a construction site to earn money so she can go to college. They've been sle
What did he just say?Wendy's eyes widened in shock. He had gotten Luna pregnant, and was still saying things like that to her?Shame and fury swelled inside her, and she spat at him, "You're despicable!"Stanley looked down at her with those sharp, striking eyes. Wendy's long, silky black hair was messily spread out on the couch, her delicate face framed by eyes that were as clear as day, staring at him with a mix of anger and hurt. The sight was almost identical to the one in his dreams.At that moment, all his memories came rushing back.Stanley's lips curled into a faint smile. "Why call me that? What exactly makes me despicable? Tell me."Though she had sharp words, Wendy was still awkward when it came to insults. Her voice, soft and weak, could only manage a few words like "annoying" or "despicable"—it was almost childlike.Wendy glared at him. "What do you want from me? If you ever try to find me again, I'll tell Luna. She's carrying your child, and she can't handle stres
Luna's face was flushed with a playful shyness. "Mr. Hawk, tomorrow is my birthday, and I'm planning to have a party. Would you consider coming to celebrate with me?"Luna was now a hotshot celebrity, her every move followed by the media and fans. If Stanley, the powerful business tycoon and the wealthiest man in Hovendale, attended her birthday party, it would secure her fame and fortune for a lifetime.Wendy's clear eyes settled on Stanley, who simply nodded in response. "Alright."He had agreed to attend Luna's party.Luna's heart soared with joy. "Thank you, Mr. Hawk!""Since you're pregnant, you should take good care of yourself. You should go home and rest," Stanley said, his words of concern making Luna even happier. She placed her hand gently over her abdomen."I'll head home, then. Don't worry! I'll take good care of our baby. I'll see you tomorrow."Luna shot a challenging glance at Wendy before walking away, her assistant following behind, a look of triumph on her fac
It was her!It was Wendy!Yet, he had mistaken her for someone else.As Stanley recalled the way he had treated Wendy—his coldness, his humiliating words—he could have slapped himself. That day in the nurse's office, he had pinned her down on the bed, and she had tearfully told him how much she hated him. She was so innocent, so vulnerable.He cursed at himself over and over.His muscles tensed as the anger built inside him. He scowled, his handsome face twisted in frustration—but soon, a small smile curved on his lips.-Cecelia had a good night's sleep after she got back to the apartment. The next day, Wendy and Halsey took her out shopping.The three of them walked through the mall, entering a boutique that sold accessories. Wendy's eyes lit up when she saw a collection of cute hairpins.The pins were in candy-colored shades, with designs of pink strawberries, green watermelons, and yellow lemons…all very playful and vibrant."Wendy, these hairpins are perfect for you! W
Jessica was so furious that she dug her nails deep into her palms, but she barely felt the pain as the fury coursed through her.Lilian's face was as dark as a storm cloud. She glanced at Luna, still kneeling before her. "Is this all you've got? If you can't even deal with Wendy, then you have no use here."Luna panicked, her voice shaky. "I can handle it. I've come up with a new plan to deal with her!"Lilian snorted coldly. "We'll see how you perform. Now, get out of here."Luna hurriedly scrambled to her feet and fled."Mom, why did you let her go?" Jessica demanded, frustration evident in her voice.Lilian gave a strange, almost wicked smile. "Mr. Hawk still doesn't know the woman from that night was Wendy. We can take advantage of the fact that he hasn't figured it out yet and use Luna to handle Wendy. All we need to do is sit back and let the chaos unfold before we reap the benefits."Jessica took a deep breath, calming herself. Lilian was right. Stanley still had no idea
Stanley didn't say a word. Luna couldn't figure out what this man was thinking or what was going through his mind."Mr. Hawk, it was me that night. I gave you my virginity—" Before she could continue, Stanley pressed the accelerator, and the luxury car sped off."Mr. Hawk!" Luna stood frozen in place, her anxiety mounting. She was terrified—what if Stanley had discovered the truth?At that moment, two bodyguards dressed in black suddenly appeared. They grabbed Luna by the arms and began dragging her away.Luna screamed, panic rising in her chest, "Who are you? Let go of me!""Get in! Ms. Crone wants to see you."The two guards were forceful, shoving Luna into a sleek, black luxury car.Luna looked up and saw Jessica inside, her delicate face set in a cold expression as she stared at her.Luna's heart sank. She had heard of Jessica—everyone in Hovendale knew that Jessica was Stanley's beloved. Wendy, on the other hand, was just an unimportant wife, and Luna wasn't afraid of he
Wendy wrapped Cecelia in a big hug. "Cecelia, I'm sorry you had to go through all that these past couple of days."Cecelia looked perfectly fine, her spirits high. "I had it easy in there—good food, good sleep. Everything was just fine."The three of them shared a laugh.Just then, Luna approached and shot Wendy a venomous glare. Originally, she had planned to use Cecelia to annoy Wendy, but instead, Wendy had turned the tables on her. She couldn't accept that, and it stung. Luna knew Stanley had feelings for Wendy, especially after that night. The woman who had slept with Stanley was Wendy. That was why, when she saw that text from Wendy, Luna had panicked. She sent people to find out more, and sure enough, Wendy had gone to Hawk Group to meet Stanley. Not long after that, Stanley had taken her away in his luxury car.Luna had been terrified. The only thing left for her to do was go to the police station and rescind her statement, getting Cecelia released.Her sweet, innocent