"I'm transferring to Class One," Madelyn casually announced, standing up and heading over to the water cooler to fill a cup and take her medicine.The classroom immediately erupted into noisy chatter at her words, with some of the remarks bordering on mockery."Is that for real? If she can get into Class One through cheating, how long can she stay? The workload in Class One is heavy. I bet she'll crawl back here in three days.""Exactly! It's not easy to cheat your way into a new class!""I'd rather be dead than do what she did."Hearing these comments, Serena defended Madelyn, "Who says Madelyn cheated? Did any of you see it? Don't forget, you all saw Madelyn's math paper—it was all correct. Blaming others for your own poor grades, it's you who should be ashamed. You can't stand it when others succeed."'My math paper?' Madelyn's gaze shifted to Jadie, who sat in front of Forrest, giving her an innocent and guilty look. Madelyn said nothing and returned to her seat. She was alre
Madelyn stepped onto the tiled floor where the melted snow had just been. A gust of cold wind blew, and she started coughing again.She walked into the library, taking a seat in her usual spot. 'My only chance now is to get into Ventropolis University and qualify for the student exchange program. Perhaps if Hayson sees my effort, he'll change his mind. A daughter doesn't need to be a marriage tool; I can support the Jent family too.'Outside the large window, the snow began to fall heavily. Madelyn's studious reflection, with her long hair cascading down, was mirrored on the glass. After completing a few tests, she felt hungry. Realizing it was indeed lunchtime, she was about to have her lunch when suddenly, a message popped up.Ethan: [Madelyn, I've prepared a gift for you. I hope you'll like it.]Remembering Zach's advice, Madelyn did not reply to Ethan's message and deleted all their previous conversations.'If I hadn't gone through all that, maybe we'd be good friends now. I s
After making it through the day, Madelyn's cold had significantly improved by 5:30 p.m., except for some dizziness and a stuffy nose. The one thing she was thankful for was that Hayson did not interfere with her school affairs.Around 6:00 p.m., Madelyn finally left the school gate. There, she ran into Jadie and Kevin. Kevin had said something to Jadie, after which Jadie got into the car. Kevin looked a bit impatient, glancing at his wristwatch from time to time, until he saw Madelyn. He walked over briskly, and Madelyn also walked over to him."Kevin, is something up?" Madelyn asked. Kevin was a loyal follower of Zach. In her previous life, it was Kevin who had handed her the divorce agreement."Jordan isn't here, so Mr. Jardin ordered me to pick up Ms. White, and also give you a ride, Ms. Jent. I remember that you're in the same class as Ms. White." Kevin paused, then asked, "Why are you leaving school so late?"After so many years with Zach, Kevin was unflappable and always kept
Madelyn walked ahead, with George close behind. He spoke earnestly, "Miss Jent, being a Jent means standing strong. Otherwise, people might try to take advantage of you."George was perceptive. Madelyn agreed with a smile, "You're right.""We just wanna make sure you're safe," he added.George's words struck her. She wondered, 'What did he mean? Do they know everything?'Jadie saw Madelyn get into a fancy Cayenne—a car not everyone in Ventropolis could afford—through the rearview mirror. She asked, "Madelyn ain't comin' back with us?""She has got some stuff to take care of. I'll drop you off at home first," Kevin said, buckling his seatbelt."Thank you, Kevin.""You're welcome." Kevin's mind wandered, 'If Madelyn had Jadie's maturity and didn't cause so many problems, Mr. Jardin wouldn't need to worry as much.'The Cayenne had been driving for almost twenty minutes. It was getting close to six-thirty, and the sky had grown dark. Streetlights were casting a soft glow on the roa
Madelyn's attention was drawn to an open-air restaurant, where a familiar face caught her eye. Bathed in the soft glow of the lights, the person sat gracefully before a piano, coaxing forth a soothing, rhythmic melody.She could see the tattoos on his hands and the ones that were underneath his collar. His features were gentle, and his posture exuded poised elegance. Every motion he made embodied a noble elegance that distinguished him from everyone around.A waiter approached Madelyn and said, "You must be Mr. Arnold's guest. We have a table reserved for you. Please follow me."Madelyn held the bundle of roses. Her eyes were drawn to a small, glass-enclosed space set aside for private dining. The transparent walls allowed diners to enjoy the scenery outside. It would be a perfect spot to watch the snow falling, if it ever did."Please wait a moment. Mr. Arnold will be with you shortly.""Madelyn." A clear and deep voice sounded from behind her. Madelyn turned around slowly to fin
After dinner, Ethan and Madelyn went for a walk. They watched lovey-dovey couples stroll by, but between Madelyn and Ethan, there was an unusual silence, a strange atmosphere.Finally, she couldn't hold back and blurted out, "What happened to your legs?"Ethan lowered his gaze as his expression slightly changed. "It was a car accident," he replied, brief and to the point.Madelyn nodded and said, "Well, be careful when driving in the future." Her words filled with genuine concern."Alright."Madelyn's maternal instincts kicked in again. "You've walked with me for so long. Aren't your legs tired? How about we find a place to sit? If you're uncomfortable, you must tell me."Ethan smiled. "Alright."Madelyn bit her lip as she thought to herself, 'You basically say "alright" to everything!'She dared not meet his gaze anymore, so she turned and pointed to a spot, her expression stiff, "I want to have that."With Christmas approaching, the glace fruit seller dressed up as Santa Cla
"But..." Madelyn hesitated, her eyes fixed on Ethan who was pulling out a small black velvet box from his pocket. With a careful touch, he unveiled a pendant in the shape of a crescent moon – its translucent whiteness seemed to emit an otherworldly glow. The silver chain it hung from sparkled like distant stars.Drawing closer, Ethan's hopeful expression met resistance as Madelyn gently pushed him away. "It's too precious," she murmured.Ethan looked disappointed as he said, "I designed this necklace for you. Today marks not only your birthday but also our first official meeting. Could you not turn a friend down?"The necklace was undeniably flawlessly crafted, so intricate that no one could resist its charm.Ethan's gaze was intense. Despite her reservations, Madelyn found herself unable to refuse. Finally, she relented, her voice softening, "I just... I don't have anything to give you in return.""Having you here today is gift enough for me."Tightening her grip on her dress, M
Madelyn mused, 'Zach's willingness to go to any lengths to achieve his goals is almost frightening.'However, a glimmer of optimism surfaced as she considered, "Yet, with Ethan's support... Maybe I can study overseas after high school. It seems like a better plan. I won't have to wait for Ventropolis' annual foreign exchange program.""Ethan..." Madelyn's uncertainty grew as she grappled with how to broach this topic. Her rapport with Ethan was still developing, and she wasn't sure if she could rely on him for help.Ethan raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?"Madelyn's words stumbled out hesitantly, "I... um..."Just as Madelyn was about to voice her thoughts, a blinding light suddenly engulfed them."Look out, Mr. Arnold!" Leyton swiftly turned the steering wheel, and George held tight to the handle above the passenger seat.Madelyn saw it too – a huge truck, heavy as anything, barreling straight at them.Right before the crash, Madelyn prepared for the worst, squeezing her eyes shut, un
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