The art exhibition ended at three o'clock in the afternoon. Jadie noticed the familiar car parked outside of the international exhibition hall.Soon after, she opened the car door and got into the passenger seat."Zach... When did you get here? Why didn't you call me? I would've come outside earlier if you had told me you were here. You wouldn't have to wait so long."Kevin had a copy of Jadie's schedule, so he knew she was out of school today to see an art exhibition.Zach had just gotten off the plane and happened to pass by, so he picked Jadie up on the way."It's nothing, " said Zach.Jadie asked, "How's your project going, Zach?""They signed the contract," he replied."Congratulations! You've been toiling away for the project for over a week. Now you can finally have some rest."The car started moving."Jadie, your seatbelt."Jadie was momentarily startled. Then, she replied obediently, "Oh! I forgot."She quickly fastened her seatbelt. In the past, Zach would have fa
In the face of danger, Madelyn found herself thinking, 'Did he hire these people? But why? Is he getting rid of me ahead of time... Has his revenge plan begun? At least we made it to marriage in our past life, but now... Zach has no intentions of letting me live at all.'She thought of the incident at Portsmouth Fishing Village and wondered if he had also hired them.'But if he were the one who had hired them, why did he take revenge on them for me? Who's he putting on a show for right now? Does he plan on personally watching me die after these people take advantage of me?'If this is the case, why didn't he just let me die in the ocean?! Why did he save me? Zach Jardin, what the hell did Hayson Jent do to you? Why are you directing all your hate for him on me? I didn't do anything!'The men started tearing at Madelyn's clothes, and her white fur coat got taken off. Her strength was no match for the men."Tsk! We're watching an explicit live action. Don't you feel a thing, Zach
It was nightfall, and the dark clouds kept the moonlight obscure.Madelyn could not breathe and felt suffocated. She felt like a stray stranded on the streets and did not know where to go.'The world is a big place, but I never knew where I belonged.'Zach walked out from the darkness. Madelyn did not hear him respond and only heard the sound of the wind from the other end of the line.Then, she heard loud and steady footsteps. She turned toward the sound and looked at the figure through her tears. Everything seemed somewhat surreal.Madelyn's phone, which was by her ear, weakly slid out of her hand as Zach approached.Her arm continued to bleed profusely, and her face turned pale from excessive blood loss. She was in complete despair. Madelyn grabbed Zach's pants and said a little breathlessly, "Why? What did I do, Zach Jardin? Why are you doing this to me?"She silently lamented, ''I love you so much, but why do you hurt me and break my heart time and time again?'"Madelyn, s
Just as Zach picked up Madelyn, a snowflake fell onto his nose. It was cold and quickly melted upon contact with his body temperature.He lifted his head and saw that it was starting to snow heavily. The snowflakes fell and remained on the ground before they melted shortly after.Memories flooded Zach's mind.When he joined the Jent family, Madelyn was eight."Look, Zach! It's snowing!"Madelyn was eleven."Zach, can we go build a snowman outside? I like doing that the most!"He thought of eighteen-year-old Madelyn."Zach, if it snows in Ventropolis again this year, I'll confess my feelings for you. Then you'll be my boyfriend, okay?" she said.'You did nothing wrong, Madelyn! But... It was wrong for you to be born into the Jent family. What you've gone through is only the beginning,' he said to himself....Madelyn wandered in the dark for a long time.She felt like a soulless and mindless puppet that was being controlled. When a light appeared in front of her, she walked
"It's such a huge gash... What would we do if Mr. Jent hadn't gone to pick you up because he was worried something had happened to you?"Madelyn laughed, "I fell by accident.""What? How'd you fall? This is such a huge gash!""When I was practicing dancing. I wasn't careful and cut myself."Rosario frowned and immediately said, "No. I must tell Mr. Jardin to get you another teacher. This teacher is too irresponsible. How could she not do a thing when you got hurt?! What kind of teacher is she?"Madelyn felt warm inside.'Rosario always cares about me when I get hurt,' she thought."I really am fine, Rosario. Please call Jordan and ask him to come pick me up!""Madelyn, it's really late now. Why don't you stay overnight and go back tomorrow?" said Jadie.She continued, "Zach and I are worried about you being alone this late at night."Madelyn had already drunk half a bowl of soup and felt much better."That's right! You're always coming home late and skipping dinner. You must
Madelyn used to be an arrogant and willful person, but not anymore. Time had softened her rough edges.What she was going through now was nothing compared to how she bullied and tormented Jadie in her past life. So, she had to bear it all, no matter what was happening to her.It was the law of karma, the cycle of consequences.Madelyn closed the window and decided that she would never look at the snow again, nor would she ever like it. She hugged herself and curled up on the small couch, staring blankly at the corner of the wardrobe.When it was midnight, she received a text message. It was from Ethan: [Happy birthday, little princess.]That was her first time receiving a text message. She was shocked and had no idea how Ethan knew it was her birthday today.Only a few people knew when her birthday was. She did not even tell Zach about it. The date of birth on her ID was incorrect; her true birthday was on December 26.A ray of light immediately brightened up Madelyn's gloomy mo
"Mr. Jardin, was it Madelyn who went outside?"Madelyn closed the door and heard Rosario's voice.Not many people were in the apartment building at this hour, so she quickly took the elevator down. She worried that Rosario would come after her and persuade her to return.Madelyn became a very soft-hearted person, and she could never bear to refuse Rosario if that happened. She knew very well that she would return to where Zach was once Rosario spoke to her again.Zach finally revealed his true colors to her that night. He sought revenge against the Jent family until they completely fell apart. That was when he finally felt satisfied...Taking everything away from the Jent family was never the only thing he wanted to do.Looking back, Madelyn realized that she had never truly understood Zach. He was like a black hole that would devour and destroy anything that went near him... And she was like a vine that depended only on him to live.The cold wind blew as Madelyn stood outside t
Then, they left the apartment compound together.Madelyn stared out of the car window without speaking to him. She did not know if Zach kept the window half-open on purpose, but the weather made her feel like she was in an ice cellar. However, she refused to say a word and insisted on not speaking to Zach.She was just stubborn like that. She knew very well that Zach married her because he had other intentions, but she said yes anyway. It was just like the way back home. Although she knew she was walking in the opposite direction, she just would not turn back.Zach was not very comfortable in the car either, as half of his coat got wet too. They did not speak a word throughout the twenty-minute journey. Madelyn was freezing.When they arrived at the main entrance of the Southern Haven Villas, Madelyn got out of the car. She noticed a light coming from the gap in the partially drawn curtains in the living room.She could faintly see a fair hand pressing against the curtain, reveali
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