Sienna paused for a moment. To be honest, she hadn't really thought about it."Jessica, I'm in love with Nathan—""Sienna, stop waiting for Nathan," Jessica interrupted. "He's already got an engagement set with Lucille Jenner. The marriage between the Lowe and Jenner families is official, and it's unbreakable. You need to find a new target, fast."Jessica continued, "The Greenwood family is one of the most prestigious in Hovendale. Gilbert is well-born, and his character is excellent. He's the husband the Lincoln family picked out for Bebe. If you can steal him, you'll marry into the Greenwood family!"Jessica was right. Nathan was about to get married. Even though Sienna still had feelings for him, she couldn't waste her youth waiting for someone who was out of reach.Sienna had always been a side branch of the Hawk family, and just earlier, Isabel had humiliated her. She needed to find a good match.Now, Gilbert seemed like the best option.Being chosen by the Lincoln family m
Gilbert turned around and was met with Sienna's fresh and beautiful face. His eyes lit up. "Sienna? Why are you here?"Sienna was dressed in a navy-collared white and blue top, paired with a black skirt that perfectly accentuated her curves. She stood before Gilbert, her legs straight and graceful. With a playful smile, she said, "Gilbert, today you let me ride in your car to escape the rain. Now, I'm holding an umbrella for you. I'd say we're even."Gilbert chuckled."You have a date, right?" Sienna asked. "Here, you can keep the umbrella. I'll head off now."She turned to leave. But after taking a step, she suddenly twisted her ankle and winced in pain.Gilbert immediately stepped forward with concern. "Sienna, are you okay?" Tears welled up in Sienna's eyes from the pain. She looked helpless and fragile. "I twisted my ankle... It hurts so much…""I'll carry you to the infirmary," Gilbert said, reaching out to lift her in his arms.Sienna looked up at his handsome face. "B
Why wasn't Gilbert answering his phone? Had something happened?A sense of unease settled in Halsey's chest as she worried about Gilbert's safety. Clutching the popcorn, she ran through the heavy rain back to Clavendale University.By the time she returned, Halsey was drenched, with the popcorn hidden in her arms. Though she hadn't managed to see the movie, at least she could share the delicious treat with Gilbert.Hurrying to find him, Halsey stopped short when she spotted Gilbert up ahead.Gilbert was there, and beside him was someone she recognized—Sienna.Gilbert had helped Sienna apply some ointment and stayed by her side the entire time. Now that Sienna's foot no longer hurt, they were walking back together.Halsey watched them. Gilbert and Sienna walked side by side, with Sienna shyly saying something as Gilbert wore a warm smile on his handsome face.They were talking and laughing, looking every bit like a couple in love.Halsey stood frozen, unable to comprehend why he
Sienna pulled out her phone and called Jessica. When Jessica heard that Halsey had waited for hours in the theater and came back drenched, she burst into laughter."This is too much! The Lincoln family's darling, who? Who cares if she's from a rich family? She's just an uggo. Sienna, you're amazing! Gilbert's completely smitten by you now."Sienna smirked. "Don't get ahead of yourself. There's more to come tomorrow."Jessica laughed. "That's what she gets for teaming up with Wendy and trying to go against us. This is her lesson. I'm waiting for more good news from you.""Don't worry, Jessica. I've got it all under control."-Wendy didn't return to the dorm until late. The dorm was dark, and the lights were off.Could Halsey still be out on her date? Wendy figured she must be having a great time.Wendy turned on the light and was surprised to see a small, curled-up figure on the bed. Halsey had already come back and was in bed.Wendy found it a little odd. "Halsey, you're back
Halsey was in shock, unable to comprehend what Gilbert was saying.So, he only got close to her because of family pressure. He had complimented her, said she was beautiful, and even agreed to marry her. But in his eyes, she was just an "uggo"!So this was his true feeling all along.Her face turned pale."Halsey, I don't want to see Sienna hurt again. You should just kill yourself!"Gilbert threw the cruel words at her, then turned and walked away.Halsey stumbled back several steps, her eyes welling up with tears. She quickly covered her mouth and ran out of the dorm.The rain still fell, mirroring the storm in her heart. Halsey ran out of Clavendale University and hailed a taxi at the entrance."You're just so ugly. You're nothing more than an uggo! You should just kill yourself!"Gilbert's cold, heartless words echoed in her ears, and the tears came flooding down. Halsey's sobs grew louder as she cried uncontrollably."Where to, miss?""Take me to the Lincolns' residence
Stanley's long fingers paused for a moment."Drive. We need to find Halsey as soon as possible."Stanley glanced at Wendy through the rearview mirror. She sat in the back seat, her eyes glued to her phone. Her face was pale, and the cold, ethereal beauty of her features seemed even more delicate in her anxious state. Her mind was entirely focused on Halsey, and she hadn't even looked at him. The distance between them, once so close, felt like a vast chasm now, strange and distant.Stanley turned his gaze back to the road and stepped on the accelerator. "Alright."-Halsey had been crying nonstop. She was heartbroken, yet as the tears fell, something didn't feel right. She realized that the road outside the car window wasn't the way home, and the path was growing more desolate and isolated with each passing mile.Halsey looked toward the driver. "This isn't Palm Street. Where are you taking me?"The driver removed his cap, revealing a scarred face. He grinned maliciously. "
The one who appeared before her was a young man, dressed in a black T-shirt and pants. Halsey immediately recognized him—Dwight Garner.Dwight, along with Gilbert, was one of the two most popular guys at Clavendale University. While Gilbert was the cheerful and handsome rich heir, admired by many girls, Dwight was cold and solitary. The girls were too intimidated to approach him, yet the girls' dormitory buzzed with rumors about him every night.Halsey watched as Dwight stepped forward, yanking the Stormborn Devil away with a powerful motion. The Stormborn Devil quickly regained his composure and snarled, his face twisting in rage. "You brat! How dare you ruin my fun!"With that, the Stormborn Devil swung a punch at Dwight.Dwight, agile and quick, effortlessly dodged the blow and retaliated with a punch to the Stormborn Devil's stomach. With a loud bang, the Stormborn Devil crashed into the side of the car, spitting out a mouthful of blood.Dwight had a buzz cut, his features s
He gave the address, his voice cold as he spoke into the phone. "The guy's out cold… Quit wasting time. Just transfer the money to my card."Halsey had no idea who he was calling. In a daze, she quickly slipped on his jacket, covering her exposed skin.She supported herself against the side of the cab, trying to stand up. She wanted to thank Dwight, but before she could, a familiar, clear voice rang out from the distance. "Halsey! Halsey, where are you?"Wendy had arrived.By the time Halsey turned around, Dwight had already disappeared. How had he left so quickly?She hadn't even had the chance to thank him in person.-Stanley and Wendy had arrived, and Stanley had noticed the skid marks on the road. Understanding what had happened, he and Wendy had gotten out of the car to search.Wendy rushed over when she saw Halsey. "Halsey, are you okay? What are you doing out here? You scared me to death!"Stanley looked down at the unconscious driver lying on the ground, already p
Scarface gave Stanley the address and abruptly hung up the phone.Lilian immediately spoke up, "Mr. Hawk, you have to save Jessica1 Her heart isn't strong; she can't handle the stress!"Samuel glanced at Stanley, concern etched on his face. "Wendy's in their hands too. You have to bring her back."Stanley didn't respond, his expression hardening as he turned and walked out without another word.-Inside the warehouse, Scarface looked at Wendy and Jessica with a smug smile. "Tsk, tsk," he murmured. "You can question the character of the rich, but you can't question their taste. Mr. Hawk's ex-wife and girlfriend—you're both beauties. It's enough to make anyone jealous."One of the men in black chuckled, "Boss, we still have time. Why don't you have a little fun with them?"Scarface rolled up his sleeves and moved toward Wendy, grabbing her delicate chin. "Why don't I start with the ex-wife? I'll see what a woman Mr. Hawk's been with is like."With that, Scarface reached for Wend
Stanley pressed the button to answer the call, and a gruff male voice came through. "Hello, Mr. Hawk."Stanley's expression remained unchanged as he gripped the phone. "Who are you?""You don't need to know who I am. All you need to know is that the one you're looking for is in my hands," the voice replied.Lilian, panic in her voice, spoke up, "He's the one who took Jessica! Mr. Hawk, you have to save her!"Stanley's tone was cold as he asked, "Is Jessica with you?""That's right," the voice said. "Now, let me have her say a few words to you."Moments later, Jessica's frantic voice came through the phone. "Stanley, help me! Please, I'm so scared!"Stanley's lips twisted into a sharp, emotionless line. "What do you want?""I want money," the voice responded harshly. "Prepare 100 million, and I want it now."Stanley let out a humorless laugh. "You kidnapped someone, and you're trying to extort 100 million from me? That's enough to put you in prison for the rest of your life."
With that, Jessica turned and walked away.Before she left, she cast a quick glance at Lilian, and the two exchanged a silent, knowing look.Stanley and Samuel stood together, and Samuel glanced at his watch. "Mr. Hawk, Dr. Ceylan will be making her appearance soon."Stanley turned to Samuel. "How do you know Dr. Ceylan?"Samuel didn't answer directly. Instead, he said, "You know her too."Stanley's brow furrowed. Wendy had said the same thing to him before—that he knew Dr. Ceylan. Now, Samuel was saying the same thing. What was going on here?What did Samuel and Wendy mean by this?Could it be that Dr. Ceylan was someone Stanley knew after all? Had Dr. Ceylan always been right under his nose?Just then, the host spoke up. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight. The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here. Let's welcome Dr. Ceylan!"Everyone's attention shifted upstairs, their breaths held in anticipation for Dr. Ceylan's arrival.Stanley looked up.
Seeing that Wendy had arrived, Jessica froze for a moment. "Why is she here?"Stanley's gaze shifted to Wendy, watching her intently.As Wendy approached them, Samuel wrapped his arm around her waist. "There you are."Edith, Jessica, Trish, and Lilian quickly gathered around, all eyes on Wendy, who looked as radiant as ever. Edith spoke up first. "Wendy, what are you doing here? Are you here to see Dr. Ceylan too? The doctor is truly a wonder whom everyone seems to adore. Even someone like you, a mere housewife, knows the doctor's name!"Wendy raised an eyebrow. "That's right. I'm here to see Dr. Ceylan."Trish scoffed. "Wendy, even if you do meet Dr. Ceylan, the doctor won't waste any time talking to someone like you."Wendy turned her gaze toward Trish. "And you think Dr. Ceylan will talk to you?""Of course!" Trish replied proudly. "I'm studying medicine, after all.""Wendy, today is a huge day—the real Dr. Ceylan is here in Hovendale," Lilian interjected. "This isn't the t
Wendy wasn't the least bit angry. "Is that so? Well, we'll see about that!"With that, she turned and walked away.Just then, Stanley's tall figure blocked her path. Wendy glared at him. "And you—we'll see about you, too!"Without another word, Wendy walked off.Stanley stood there, momentarily speechless. "Mr. Hawk, Wendy's completely lost her mind! Did you hear how she was talking to you? Has she gone mad?" Edith roared.Stanley watched Wendy's retreating figure, his lips curving into a slight smile. He suddenly felt that Wendy was...different. But what had changed, he couldn't quite put his finger on.Ever since the divorce, Wendy had been evolving, becoming deeper, more unpredictable.-Soon, evening fell, and the banquet began.Everyone put aside their tensions with Wendy for the night, dressing in their finest for the event.The grand hall was filled with prominent figures, wealthy elites, and powerful individuals, all gathered for a glimpse of Dr. Ceylan.Jessica a
Wendy was saying Stanley had met Dr. Ceylan.Stanley hadn't known this. A deep, probing look crossed his face as he studied Wendy. He couldn't shake the feeling that Wendy was hiding something from him.Right now, Wendy's eyes sparkled, glowing with an almost irresistible brightness. Stanley couldn't help but feel a strange stir in his chest as he gazed at her.Just then, Edith and Lilian emerged from the room, and Edith called out, "Wendy."Wendy turned to look at Edith. "Did you need something?"Edith's gaze was serious. "Did you take your father's ashes back and get everything settled?"At the mention of her father, Wendy let out a cold laugh. "Are you really pretending to care about my dad's ashes?""How can you talk like that? Jerry was my first son. I'm his mother!" Edith retorted, a hint of anger creeping into her voice.Wendy scoffed, her voice laced with bitterness. "My dad's gone. Who are you trying to fool with that? He wasn't even your biological son. You adopted him
At that moment, Edith, Lilian, and Trish all arrived, walking into the hospital room with expressions of surprise and excitement.Edith's eyes sparkled. "The real Dr. Ceylan has really arrived in Hovendale?"Stanley nodded. "Yes, Dr. Ceylan will be attending the dinner tonight."Goodness!The Crone family was buzzing with excitement.Trish, looking starstruck, exclaimed, "The real Dr. Ceylan has finally arrived! The doctor is my idol, my goal—the person I want to be. I can't believe I'm finally going to meet Dr. Ceylan!"Edith added, "Dr. Ceylan is so mysterious, always appearing and disappearing. We've been fooled by the fake Dr. Ceylan before, but now, we'll finally see the doctor's true face."Lilian, too, was curious. "Do you think Dr. Ceylan is a man or a woman?"Jessica shook her head. "I don't know either. We'll have the answer tonight."Edith turned to Stanley with a hopeful look. "Mr. Hawk, can we come with you to the dinner tonight? We all want to meet Dr. Ceylan."S
Wendy felt that it was time for her to finally show herself. The Crone family had been responsible for her father's death, and it was time to settle those scores once and for all. And then, there was Stanley. He had always wanted to know who Dr. Ceylan really was. Well, now she was ready to tell him.-At the CEO's office in Hawk Group, Stanley sat behind his desk, reviewing documents. His hand moved swiftly with a pen as he signed his name in the bottom corner of each page with a sharp, decisive stroke.Just then, the door opened, and Zayn entered quietly. "Mr. Hawk, we've received news about Dr. Ceylan."Stanley paused, the pen hovering in midair. His dark eyes shifted up to meet Zayn's. "Go on.""We've just received word from Dr. Ceylan that the doctor will be attending the dinner tonight. The real Dr. Ceylan has arrived in Hovendale and has arranged to meet with you there."Stanley's expression deepened, his gaze growing darker. He had been searching for Dr. Ceylan for wha
"It's getting late. You should go home and get some rest," Wendy said, her voice calm but firm.Stanley glanced at her, with no intention of moving. "You're right. It's late. Goodnight."Wendy froze.Was he staying here tonight?"Mr. Hawk, hasn't Zayn brought the key yet?" Wendy asked, trying to keep her voice steady."He won't bring it until tomorrow. So tonight, I'll be staying here," Stanley replied smoothly."No," Wendy protested, her voice trembling slightly.Stanley turned to her, his gaze sharp. "I'm informing you, not asking for your permission."Wendy opened her mouth to say something else, but before she could, the world around her seemed to darken. Stanley kissed her again, silencing her with a force that left her breathless.-In the hospital room, Jessica had been dialing Stanley's number relentlessly, but there was no answer.She tried Wendy's number next, but still, no one picked up.What were they doing?Thinking back to the images she had seen during the vi