Dazed and bleeding, Blake noticed Cecilia in a slit dress sitting elegantly on a couch with a glass of red wine in her hand, as if she had been anticipating this moment.Cecilia put down her foot and leaned over with a grace that concealed her malicious intent. She lifted Blake's chin with her red-nailed finger, as Blake struggled to maintain consciousness, her mind reeling."Poor thing, bleeding already? Let me help disinfect that wound," Cecilia said in a sinister tone, her eyes turning cold as she poured the red wine over Blake's bleeding forehead. The stinging pain caused Blake to struggle."Still trying to struggle? Hold her down!" Cecilia commanded.Two burly men stepped forward, pinning Blake's legs down with their feet. In agony, Blake screamed, "Ms. Samford, what are you doing? I haven't wronged you. Why are you doing this?"Cecilia's eyes sparkled with sadistic pleasure. "Blake, are you really that naive, or just pretending? You chose to oppose me instead of following my
After the brutal torture, Blake lay on the ground, barely clinging to life, her eyes closed in exhaustion. She coughed up blood and eventually lost consciousness.As time passed, Cecilia grew impatient after not receiving the response she expected. Standing up, she stepped on Blake's chest and began taking pictures of the injured Blake on the ground.An overweight man commented, "This woman's tough. She didn't beg for mercy even once. But if she dies, we'll be in some legal trouble, ma'am.""Don't worry, she's not dead yet," Cecilia reassured him.At that moment, a skinny man received an urgent message. "We've got a traitor among us. Our location's been leaked to the police, and they're on their way."With the police closing in, the criminals, who were already on the wanted list, began to panic."You guys take her with you," Cecilia ordered, still hoping Kevin wouldn't abandon Blake.In a cold, damp basement, Blake lay unconscious, tasting a bitter flavor in her mouth as she dri
Blake, drifting in and out of consciousness, felt a warm hand holding hers. When she finally opened her eyes, the blurred figure of a man hovered over her, his features indistinct.As Blake was rushed into the emergency room, Olivia stood beside Liam, who appeared visibly pale and concerned. Olivia said, "Don't worry, she'll be okay. Liam, you don't look so good. Are you alright?"Liam, clutching his stomach and leaning against a wall, suddenly collapsed."Liam!" Olivia exclaimed in alarm.In a lawless region of Northern Myanmar, Kevin found himself in a familiar location."Kevin, news from Ventropolis. Blake is safe and has been taken to the hospital," one of his men reported, showing him a photo.Kevin glanced at the photo and, while wiping a cold steel dagger, ordered, "These are no longer needed here. Dispose of them.""Right away." one of Kevin's men responded.The setting sun cast a golden glow over the reed-filled pond and stilt houses, creating a picturesque yet dangero
Eventually, Blake regained consciousness. She had suffered severe internal bleeding, and her condition had been critical. If her injuries had been slightly more severe, she might not have survived. Liam had stayed by her side at the hospital, aiding her recovery. He had not disclosed the full extent of her injuries to her, wanting to shield her from further trauma.The sun shone brightly as Liam wheeled Blake outside to enjoy it. Since waking up, she had not spoken a word, her usually lively and cheerful demeanor replaced by silence, a change that weighed heavily on Liam.Kneeling in front of Blake, who looked pale and haggard, Liam gently rearranged her windblown hair. "Blake, you can talk to me about anything. It would be better if you said something. I'm really worried about you not eating or talking."Blake hadn't eaten the nutritious soup Liam prepared for her, prompting him to resort to feeding her nutrient solutions. Her noticeable weight loss was a source of distress for Lia
After Blake had gone missing as a child, Cecilia focused all her efforts on earning more money to bolster her family's financial background. This had allowed her to hire more people to search for Blake's whereabouts. Over the years, despite no news of her sister, Cecilia never stopped searching, hoping to at least find out whether her sister was alive or dead.In the hospital ward, Blake lay on the bed, muttering weakly, "Close the door, I don't want to see them.""Alright. I'll send them away. You rest here, and we'll eat something later," Liam responded.Blake was in a VIP hospital ward. Outside in the main hall, the bodyguard arranged everything neatly on the dining table.Cecilia waited just outside the door.Liam approached Cecilia and confronted her, "I never thought you of all people would be the one who hurt her like this! How could you do this to her? She may be a bit stubborn, but Blake has never even spoken badly of you!"Cecilia signaled for the bodyguards to leave, t
"Removing him? What does human life mean to you, Ms. Samford? We live in a society governed by law. Do you understand the implications of your words?" Liam challenged.Cecilia remained composed. "Do you think your father is innocent? Ask him what it means to clash with the powerful in this society. He might have more insight than me. Liam, there are countless hands manipulating things above us."Cecilia offered one final piece of advice, "Kevin and Zach are cut from the same cloth. List their crimes, and they'd be imprisoned indefinitely. You'll learn more once you assume your father's position."After a final glance at the closed door, Cecilia declared, "That's all I have to say. Take good care of Blake. I'll visit her tomorrow."At that moment, Blake weakly emerged from the ward, leaning against the wall."Blake..." Liam rushed to her aid, but she avoided him.Blake, with a questioning gaze, turned to Cecilia. "So, your plan all along was to bring down Mr. Jardin and Kevin, the
From that moment, Cecilia vowed to tirelessly accumulate wealth to ensure a better life for Blake. Now with substantial financial resources, Cecilia believed Blake no longer needed to depend on the Dion family. She could provide Blake with a superior life, offering her whatever she desired. Everything she owned would be at Blake's disposal.With the unconscious Blake in tow, Cecilia made her way to her car. Blake lay in the minivan, covered with a blanket, while Cecilia tenderly held her hand, her eyes filled with regret as she observed the wounds on her arm."Drive slowly," Cecilia instructed the driver."Yes, Ms. Samford," the driver responded.Cecilia's residence, valued at eight billion dollars, was the most luxurious villa in the capital. It boasted the highest-class butler service, ten housemaids, and lavish amenities including a garden with bellflowers, towering trees, a swing garden, a pavilion, and a fountain. However, Cecilia rarely spent time there.She had prepared a r
Liam ended the call and turned to gaze out the window into the pitch-black night, dense with darkness. He had simply acted on his conscience. He thought to himself, 'Blake, I just hope you're okay.'The next morning, Blake awoke in an unfamiliar, dreamlike room. The fairy-like curtains and dolls around her bed seemed to fulfill every girl's childhood fantasies. Confused, she realized this was not the Harper residence.Sitting up, Blake tried to grasp her bearings. She wondered, 'Where am I?'A few minutes later, Cecilia entered the room with a bowl of soup. "You're awake? You haven't eaten in days. Have some butternut squash soup first. Liam said he would come to see you soon."Cecilia sat beside the bed, but Blake swatted the bowl away, spilling soup on the imported Italian carpet. Despite that, Cecilia gently brushed Blake's hair aside. "It's okay if you don't like it. The maid has prepared more.""Who said you could bring me here?" Blake demanded coldly.Cecilia replied as she
Liam was standing in the rain, and though it hadn't been long, he was thoroughly drenched.Blake quickly pulled him close, her voice laced with concern. "Are you crazy? It's pouring rain! What if you catch a cold?"Liam's look was subdued, his face showing signs of fatigue. "I'm okay. This is for you; I didn't want you to have to come out in this weather."As Blake took in his forlorn appearance, her heart softened suddenly. 'Am I losing my mind?' she thought."Now you'll have to pay more attention to me, Blake... I was just so scared of losing you. I've put everything I have into getting you to agree to marry me; the idea of you walking away is unbearable."Overwhelmed with emotion, Blake locked eyes with him. "Did she teach you to say that too?" she asked, her hand moving on its own to brush away the raindrops from his hair.A maid nearby, observing the scene, rushed over with a blanket and an umbrella. However, Grace, fully grasping the gravity of the moment, halted her. Ackno
Cecilia said, "It's fine. Let's give them a week. Rearrange the flight and all the plans for the trip. This is Blake's first time getting married and going abroad for honeymoon. I want to make sure she has a good time."Susan nodded. "Okay, Ms. Samford."Not long after Cecilia left, three editors who used to work for Olivia's company entered her office. All of them spoke in panic, "Ms. Blue, what should we do? Ms. Samford already knows everything. If the legal department finds out about it, will we go to jail?"Olivia remained calm as she said, "Don't panic. Just focus on your work.""But we got into this company through you. What if they say we got into this company through the back door and then fired us?"Olivia sat at her desk, supporting her forehead with her hands. She was obviously panicking. "Don't worry, I'll handle this."You guys can leave now."Olivia did not expect this matter to be exposed so soon. She wondered how Cecilia found out about it. 'Could it be that she'
StartReading Literary was the last place Cecilia wanted to be. But she made an exception this time.Olivia had just finalized a cooperative copyright deal with another website company. Several editors from her own company were there at StartReading Literary. As she entered the office, she saw all the editors from StartReading Literary sitting upright, not daring to make a sound.She also saw her office door was wide open. She frowned as she walked into her office and was surprised to see an unexpected gust.Olivia put down the documents in her hand. "Ms. Samford, what brings you here?"With her legs crossed and Susan standing behind her, Cecilia stared at Olivia, who was in front of her.Cecilia sneered and stood up. She ran her fingers along the desk. "StartReading is actually the last place I want to be. I came here because I found out that you enjoy meddling in other people's affairs. Otherwise, you wouldn't even qualify to see me."Olivia instantly looked wary. She remained s
Liam stood up. He watched as Blake, who looked weary, walked away. "Blake, what do you want me to do so you'll like me?"Blake did not stop walking. Instead, she took even bigger steps and left.She went to the Harper residence, which surprised everyone.Grace asked, "Blake? Why did you come back here? Where's Liam? Why didn't he come back with you?"Blake stuttered, unable to find the words. She just made up an excuse, saying, "It's nothing. I just wanted to come back."After Hannah and Yael left the wedding last night, they went back to the research institute.As for Simon, he went to the farm to manage the business.After Blake went to her room, Grace became worried. She followed her and saw her sitting with a blank expression in the room, not knowing what to do.When Blake saw Grace, she quickly adjusted her mood. "Grace, why are you here?""I came to check on you. Blake, what's wrong? Did you have a fight with Liam? You just had your wedding yesterday, and you're already
The pregnancy test report came out fifteen minutes after Blake did the test. She was indeed pregnant. She was even seven weeks pregnant.Blake had indeed been involved with Kevin while in Northern Myanmar over a month ago.She held the medical report while standing bewildered in the cold hospital corridor. Lights shone through the floor-to-ceiling window onto her body, but all Blake felt was the cold, which made her hands and feet numb.She was lost in her thoughts. 'I'm really pregnant. What should I do with this baby? I want it to be born more than anyone else. But now, everything has changed. This child shouldn't come into this world.'She wandered in the corridor. Suddenly, she saw someone coming out of another gynecological room.She thought, 'Some things are just destined by fate. When I long to see him, even catching a glimpse of him in a dream feels like a luxury, an unattainable wish. But now, when I don't want to see him, it seems he appears everywhere I go.'Kevin supp
Blake wondered, 'I'm now pregnant with Kevin's child. What should I do?'She woke up groggily when she felt someone carry her. She opened her heavy eyelids and asked, "What time is it now?"Liam responded, "It's four-thirty in the morning. It's still early; go back to sleep for a while more."Blake said in a hoarse voice, "I've made an appointment for an abortion at eight o'clock. Regardless of whether I'm really pregnant or not, I don't want to keep this child."She had thought about it all night and believed this was the best decision.Kevin was going to get engaged. Blake believed he would get married and Audrey would give birth to his children. There was simply no need for her to complicate things further.She thought, 'If I choose to be selfish and decide to keep this baby, and if people find out about it, my child will be treated as an illegitimate child. I don't even dare to imagine how badly the child will be treated.'If giving birth to the baby will bring it a lifetime
Blake continued, "What about you, Liam? Do you mind?"If you do, you can choose to divorce me. After all, I've wronged you. No one wants to marry a woman who's carrying someone else's child."Liam stepped forward on the shattered cup and hugged her tightly. "I don't mind. Blake, I love you, including everything about you. I don't mind your past. I just want to start over with you. I didn't tell you about the pregnancy because I was selfish; I wanted to keep you by my side."Blake, your child is my child. I want to raise the baby with you."Don't leave me, okay?"Blake did not know why, but she was not surprised by her pregnancy. However, she felt that there were still some things that she could not let go of, though she was unsure what those were.She was not as calm as she had imagined.She thought about her past events. Then, she indifferently said, "Liam, I don't want this child. Since I'm prepared to be with you, I won't keep this child. It wouldn't be fair to you."Liam di
On this romantic night, the moon was obscured by the clouds.Breathing heavily, Blake felt some pain in her abdomen. She asked to stop. "Liam, my stomach hurts. I think I'm going to have my period soon."Liam sobered up instantly. "I'll go get you some medicine."She peeked out from under the blanket as the bedside lamp turned on. She could clearly see Liam's naked upper body. Her face flushed as she averted her gaze. "It's fine. Just help me call the front desk and ask them to bring up a pack of sanitary pads. I'll go to the bathroom to deal with it."Liam replied, "Let's go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up."Blake picked up her clothes from the floor and went to the bathroom. "It's okay. It's probably just my period."However, judging by the blood flowing out, it did not seem like menstrual blood to Blake. It looked like something else.Blake's voice came from the bathroom again. "I think we should go to the hospital."She sat on the toilet and watched the tall, slende
Blake had no bridesmaids, so she returned to the hotel room alone. As she stepped out of the elevator and was ready to use the room key card in her hand to swipe and enter the room, she suddenly saw a figure appear from the corner of her eye.She stopped her action and looked at the person who had left the wedding earlier.At that moment, Blake felt her breath catch, but it was only fleeting. She then quickly regained her composure and averted her gaze. She asked, "Didn't you leave? Why are you still here?"Kevin replied, "Congratulations."Upon hearing his congratulations, Blake felt a mix of amusement and discomfort. "There's nothing to congratulate. If anything, I should congratulate you. You're soon to be the mayor's son-in-law. In the future, we won't belong in the same social class anymore."I'm tired and came back to rest. You should leave now before Liam comes up and sees you here."Don't look for me again. I don't want him to misunderstand."Kevin responded, "Audrey and