"Stop the nonsense! Tonight, you personally bring 100 million to me, or your photo will be all over Hovendale tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you tonight!" George barked before ending the call abruptly.Wendy tightened her grip on her phone. Just then, Stanley's voice came from behind her. "Were you talking to George?"She turned around, seeing Stanley had returned to the room.His gaze landed on the box in her hand. His tall figure cast a shadow as he stood before her. "Grandma mentioned that he sent you a photo. What photo is it?"Wendy hesitated. Should she tell him about George? What would his reaction be if she did?She finally said, "This photo is—"Before she could finish, her phone rang again. This time, it was a call from Nathan.Wendy answered, and Nathan's excited voice came through. "Wendy, hurry up and come out. I've got a gift for you!"Wendy furrowed her brow. "Nathan, I can't really talk right now...""I'm right outside the Hawk family mansion. If you don't come
Stanley had seen everything from the balcony earlier. He watched as Nathan gave Wendy the limited-edition Chanel bag, only for her to refuse it.Wendy turned to face him. "Did you tell Nathan that I liked bags?"Stanley raised an eyebrow, his sharp features still carrying that confident air. "Don't you? I remember you liking them."Wendy smirked, her red lips curling into a playful line. "I don't like bags. I like more expensive things, like diamond necklaces. Next time, have Nathan get me one of those."Stanley's expression darkened for a moment, the mood turning tense. The conversation quickly came to an end.He cleared his throat and shifted the topic. "What kind of photo did George send you today?"Wendy had initially planned to tell him about the photo and George, but she changed her mind. She responded calmly, "Just a childhood picture he took of me.""Did George—" Stanley seemed like he was about to ask more, but Wendy cut him off. "Mr. Hawk, are you free? If you have t
Stanley didn't lift his eyes from the papers. "Go ahead.""Ten years ago, George was imprisoned for child molestation, child abuse, and attempted rape."The pen in Stanley's hand suddenly paused, its tip pressing down on the paper. He looked up at Zayn, shocked. "And the victim was Wendy?"Zayn nodded. "Yes, Mr. Hawk. George is a pervert and scum."Stanley's handsome features hardened into a cold, sharp expression. He had suspected there was some dark history between Wendy and George, but he never imagined it would be something like this.Just then, a ringtone echoed through the room, breaking the tension. It was a call.Stanley answered, and Cecelia's frantic voice came through the line. "Mr. Hawk, Wendy's in trouble!"Stanley gripped the phone tightly. "What happened to Wendy?""Wendy took a check to meet that animal, George. I followed her to the nightclub, but by the time I got inside, she was gone. He took her!"What?Stanley quickly stood up, striding out of the study.
George sped down the highway in a white van, frequently glancing into the rearview mirror. Wendy lay unconscious in the backseat, her delicate face pale under the dim interior light. His gaze lingered on her figure, tracing every curve with an unsettling intensity. The mere thought of having her at his mercy made his blood boil with excitement. Still, he knew he couldn't act recklessly. He needed to get far away from Hovendale—someplace where no one knew either of them. Once there, she would have no chance to escape. Then, he could do whatever he pleased.The anticipation made him flush with heat. Just as his mind spiraled into darker thoughts, the car in front of him stopped moving, and he slammed on the brakes. "What the hell?" he muttered, squinting through the windshield. Ahead, the cars had come to a complete stop. Drivers were poking their heads out of their windows, trying to make sense of the standstill. "What's going on up there?" someone shouted. "An accident?"
George's grip tightened. With a tearing sound, Wendy's collar was ripped open, exposing her delicate, pale skin to the cold air.A wave of memories hit Wendy, taking her back to years ago, in a similar cave, where she had been pinned beneath George. The foul stench of his body pressed down on her, and helplessness and fear engulfed her like a tidal wave. She felt as though she was suffocating, as though she was about to die. That young version of Wendy had been so close to death.She thought of Big Brother. Why wasn't he here?Suddenly, Wendy felt a weight press down on her again—George had leaned over her. She closed her eyes, bitterly realizing that even after all these years, when she found herself in a similar situation, her first thought was still of Stanley.She had grown up in some ways, but in other ways, she hadn't. She still longed for Stanley to come for her.Deep down, she knew he would never come.Wendy reached for her waist...But before she could do anything, a
Wendy was gently lifted into the back of Stanley's Rolls-Royce Phantom, her delicate frame placed carefully in the passenger seat. Stanley slid into the driver's seat, his large hand gripping the steering wheel with ease. He pressed down on the accelerator, and the luxury car smoothly sped down the road.Wrapped in his coat, Wendy felt the warmth of his body and the crisp, clean scent surrounding her. She could feel his heat seep into her chilled skin, and her small nose flushed a soft pink. A strange, fluttering feeling stirred in her chest. She never imagined he would show up.Years ago, he hadn't come.But now, he had.Wendy turned her head to glance at his chiseled, handsome profile. "Thank you," she said softly.Stanley's long fingers gave the steering wheel a slight tug as he pursed his lips, his voice firm. "Why didn't you tell me?"Wendy hesitated, not sure how to respond."I asked you so many times. Why didn't you say anything?" His tone grew colder. "Do you know wh
Stanley nodded and led Wendy toward the room.Wendy furrowed her brow slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What did she say comes with extra charges?"Stanley glanced at her, her innocent eyes wide with question, as if she was eager to know. He turned away, offering no response.They entered Room 503. It was clean, but there was only one bed.Wendy couldn't help but feel uneasy. How were they going to manage with just one bed tonight?"Wendy." Stanley called her name from behind.This was the second time he had said her name.Wendy turned to face him. "What's wrong?"She suddenly remembered their unfinished conversation. "You wanted to ask me something in the car earlier. What was it?""Did you—"Before Stanley could continue, his phone pinged, the sound cutting through the moment. It was a message from Jessica, along with a photo. Stanley opened the photo to find one from Jessica's childhood. As he looked at it, he noticed something: Jessica's childhood face
Stanley had already come out of the bathroom. He had heard the entire voice message.Wendy stood frozen, her mind blank. She jumped up in a panic. "Wait, let me explain…"In her frantic state, her phone slipped from her hands and landed on the bed.Cecelia's voice message played right after, "Stanley's in great shape—he must have a six-pack! And I've heard that men with long fingers are amazing in bed. Wendy, go for it and sleep with Stanley tonight!"Wendy, who had been trying to explain, froze. She felt like jumping off the building. Oh, my god! What was this mess? She had started out having a serious conversation with Cecelia, but things took a wild turn, getting more inappropriate by the second. The atmosphere had become unbearably awkward. Wendy glanced at the man by the bathroom door, letting out a dry laugh. "So you heard all that. Just remember that those were Cecelia's words, not mine."She figured it was best to throw her friend under the bus.Stanley, freshly s
Stanley stared at the information in his hands, his eyes lingering on the empty space under the "Sponsor" section."Who sponsored Wendy?" Zayn shook his head. "We haven't been able to identify the sponsor yet." Stanley pursed his lips, a hint of frustration in his gaze. "What did Wendy do after she graduated at 16?" For someone like her, a rising star, graduation should've marked the beginning of her career, just like his own path. Back when he was at Harfield, Stanley had already dipped his toes into the financial and business world. By the time he graduated, he had already launched his first company on the Copper Valley stock exchange. But Wendy? She seemed to have no job, no clear path. That was something Stanley found puzzling. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hawk. We couldn't find any details. After Ms. Wendy graduated at 16, she disappeared for 2 whole years." Those two years of her life were a complete mystery. No one knew what she had been doing. "Until two years lat
Stanley hadn't expected Lucas to show up. As a man himself, he could already sense Lucas's growing interest in Wendy. Lucas was very into Wendy. Wendy glanced at Stanley, then turned to Lucas. "We'll go with you, Lucas." She chose Lucas without any hesitation. Stanley's sharp features tightened in an instant. Lucas was thrilled. With a gentleman's smile, he opened the car door. "Ladies." Wendy and Halsey climbed into the car. Halsey threw a glance at Stanley, her expression a mix of sympathy and a little bit of schadenfreude. That was what he deserved for treating Wendy poorly—now, Wendy wanted nothing to do with him. Stanley stepped forward, but just as he did, his arm was suddenly caught. It was Jessica. She clung to his arm, forcing a sweet smile. "Stanley, were you waiting for me?" Stanley looked up at Wendy. The luxury car Lucas had been driving was already pulling out of the garage, heading off with Wendy. Wendy had left. Stanley tore his ga
The staff immediately stepped in. "Ladies, please leave immediately." "Wendy, you can't treat us like this…!" With a swift motion of the hand, a group of security guards appeared and escorted Edith, Jessica, Trish, Lilian, and Natalie out of the venue without hesitation. As they were forced out, Edith almost stumbled, but Jessica and Trish caught her on either side. "Grandma, are you alright?" Edith quickly shook off their support and shot them a cold glare. "Did you see that? Wendy is the prodigy!" Edith had always considered Jessica and Trish the Crone family's shining jewels. She had never spoken harshly to them, but now, her frustration poured out. "Look at the effort I've put into you two! You had private tutors, every path paved with money, and yet you only managed to make it into Ivy League schools and the top schools in the state. And Wendy? She was sent to the countryside as a child, and now she's a genius who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Hawk! Wh
A strange feeling stirred in Stanley's chest. He wanted to say something, but before he could, his palm was suddenly empty—Wendy had already withdrawn her hand. She was quickly surrounded by a group of young elites, all bright minds of their generation. Among them was a man named Lucas Norris, a fellow Harfield graduate who had now made a name for himself as a rising star in the tech industry, the young CEO of a publicly traded company. Lucas looked at Wendy's breathtakingly beautiful face and smiled. "Wendy, I'm curious—what's your relationship status?" Stanley's gaze remained fixed on Wendy as he watched her raise a delicate brow. Then, she answered in just three simple words. "Single and available." Single and available. Those words made Lucas' eyes light up. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone. "Wendy, since we're alumni, why don't we add each other as friends on Facebook?" Wendy nodded. "Sure, Lucas." And just like that, they exchanged contacts.
Being a "God of Sleep" was a lie.The lack of education was a lie, too.It turned out Wendy was a prodigy!It turned out the mysterious genius freshman was Wendy!"I never expected this genius freshman to be so beautiful! She looks like an angel! Truly, she's both talented and stunning.""Oh, I think my heart just skipped a beat!"Jessica's hands clenched into fists by her side, her grip tight. She couldn't accept this reality. The Wendy she had always looked down on—this same Wendy—was the genius freshman who had made her so jealous it drove her crazy.Lilian was also in disbelief. She couldn't understand how Wendy ended up on the podium. Hadn't she sent Wendy away to the countryside?At that moment, someone behind them impatiently urged, "Can you two sit down? You're blocking our view of the genius freshman.""If you don't sit down, we'll have to call security and have you escorted out!"Lilian, embarrassed, quickly sat down. She tugged at Jessica's sleeve. "Jessica, sit do
The Summit Academic Forum officially began, and the room erupted into a wave of applause.The host smiled and said, "The most anticipated event of today's Summit Academic Forum is the debut of Mr. Hawk and the genius freshman. I'm sure everyone is eager to see this talented young woman take the stage!"All eyes quickly turned to Stanley and the empty seat beside him. Someone in the crowd could hardly contain their excitement and called out, "We can't wait any longer! Let's see the prodigy!"The host laughed. "Alright, let's welcome her to give the opening speech for our Summit Academic Forum!"The genius freshman was about to make her entrance!The previously noisy hall fell silent in an instant, everyone holding their breath in anticipation.Sienna and the students around her were visibly excited. "She's coming, she's coming! It's finally happening!"Edith, Trish, and Lilian had been searching for Wendy the entire time after they entered, but they couldn't find her.They decid
"Not only that, but it seems the high-level managers of this Summit Academic Forum were the ones who welcomed Wendy just now," Edith said in surprise.Lilian, equally shocked, exchanged glances with her. Sienna then spoke up, her tone dismissive, "Wendy dropped out of school at sixteen. She's always up to something shady. We shouldn't let her intimidate us.""Exactly!" Jessica chimed in, agreeing. "Wendy must be pulling some sort of trick. We should call her out. Grandma, Mom, let's go inside and see what she's really up to!"Edith let out a cold snort. "Good thing I foresaw this and cut ties with her in advance. Whatever mess she causes inside won't be our problem."-Stanley entered the main hall, scanning the area. He looked around, but couldn't spot Wendy anywhere.He had rushed in earlier, trying to follow her, but he had still lost her. Where could she have gone?He turned to one of the staff members nearby. "Who uses the VIP entrance?"The staff member responded respec
Benny froze for a moment. "Wendy, how do you know my dream girl doesn't like red roses?" Edith quickly cut in, "Don't listen to Wendy's nonsense. I think she's just jealous of the genius girl who's catching your attention, and she's trying to cause trouble." Benny, his patience wearing thin, threatened, "Wendy, you'd better not ruin this for me. I'm going to officially pursue my dream girl!" Wendy found it all rather amusing. With a smirk, she replied, "Well, good luck, Benny." Benny snorted in response. Jessica wasn't about to let the focus stay on the genius girl for too long. She continued to mock Wendy. "Stanley, Wendy's here at the Summit Academic Forum, but she doesn't even have an invitation." Stanley turned to Wendy and quietly asked, "You don't have an invitation?" Wendy shook her head. "Nope." Stanley smirked, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Looks like your 'impressive' boyfriend isn't all that great after all—he couldn't even get you an in
Harry was Jessica's father, but the truth was that he had simply brought Jessica back from the Capital. Jessica wasn't even his biological daughter. Her real father...was someone of immense wealth and status. Jessica came from a family of extraordinary background. Of course, this was the biggest secret hidden deep within Edith and Harry's hearts, and they wouldn't dare reveal it at this moment. Edith looked at Wendy, her face cold. "Wendy, you should stop calling me 'Grandma'. I have no granddaughter like you!" Halsey was taken aback by Edith's lack of remorse. She couldn't believe the words she was hearing. Enraged, she stormed, "What?!" Just then, a small, soft hand gently rested on her arm. Wendy stepped forward, looking straight at Edith. "Grandma, are you really cutting ties with me?" Edith stood her ground, unflinching. "Yes, I am!" Wendy turned her gaze toward Lilian. "Mom, is that what you think too?" The same sentence echoed in Lilian's mind—"I'm