The CEO of Arnold Corporation seldom made public appearances. Private cars with chauffeurs for pick-up and drop-off were a common sight at the school entrance. The unique markings on the license plate indicated that the car belonged to the Arnold family. When they saw it, everyone made their way, even in the congestion.Madelyn got out of the car, and the people around were surprised when they saw her. Everyone in Ventrocloud High School knew she was close friends with Forrest Arnold, the illegitimate son of the Arnold family. However, they did not know that she also had connections with the heir of the Arnold family. Now, the CEO of Arnold Corporation sent Madelyn to school personally. It implied that she was already part of the Arnold family. Just by this alone, no one would dare to offend her.Facing the gazes from the crowd, Madelyn felt uncomfortable all over. "I'm going to class now."Ethan nodded, "All right, I'll pick you up after school.""Okay." Madelyn still had evening
When Madelyn returned to the classroom, everything seemed as usual. There were no noticeable differences, except for Jadie taking over her spot in the Math Olympiad team. It was also something that gave her a headache. After putting in so much effort, it all came to naught eventually.Class One's curriculum was progressing rapidly. The teachers had covered all the textbooks' content, and now everyone was in the revision phase. After being absent from school for so many days, Madelyn needed to catch up on what she had fallen behind. However, what bothered her the most was Forrest.Jadie had been in Class One for a few days now. The class's learning pace was so fast that there was hardly any time to spare. As the last morning class ended, Jadie took an opportunity and approached Madelyn during lunch break. "Madelyn, let's have lunch together!"Madelyn looked at her, "I still have something to do. You go ahead."Jadie tilted her head and noticed what she was busy about. "Study plan? W
Forrest showed up as well. As expected, this was something that caught his attention. He slammed down his backpack, nearly causing it to slide off the table. Madelyn intercepted it and set it down on the chair beside her. "Now that you're here. Let's begin."Forrest straddled the chair and crossed his legs casually.Madelyn asked, "Should we start with the tutoring or have a chat?""Can't you tell?"Madelyn smiled. She knew if she did not tell him, he probably would not be in the mood to study. There was no one in the library now. So, Madelyn took an art book from her backpack and pushed it toward him. "You're the first to see this art book besides me."Forrest flipped through the pages one by one. They were all landscapes sketched with pencil lines, and Madelyn labeled each with a location."Is it nice?" Madelyn asked."Not bad.""Besides that, what do you think is missing?""What exactly do you want to say?" Forrest asked."These are real places I want to visit. That's why
Ethan's voice was calm as he spoke, "I've mentioned before that I respect your decision. That's between him and me. It has nothing to do with you."Madelyn would not take sides or develop feelings for either of them. No matter if it was Forrest or Ethan. She belonged to herself alone."Thanks!" said Madelyn.Ethan looked down at her, "Thanks for what?"Madelyn met his gaze. "You know what I mean."Ethan smiled, "Let's go back!""Sure." Getting into the car, the heating function of the air conditioning inside quickly dispelled the cold from her body."I asked George to prepare some supper. What do you want to eat?" Ethan asked."Just have the gnocchi that Rosario made. Being frozen for too long might affect their taste.""Sure. Anything else?"Madelyn said, "That's enough. Eating a lot at night will make me gain weight."Ethan nodded with a gentle smile in his eyes. However, the smile didn't quite reach his gaze. "I'll listen to you."In the blink of an eye, Madelyn had been
Madelyn followed behind Zach. Just as they left the school gate, she received a call from Ethan. Glancing at Zach's back, Madelyn hesitated before answering, "Hello?""You have a long break starting today, right? How about I ask Leyton to pick you up and have lunch together?" asked Ethan.Madelyn said, "I... need to go to Zach's place. Rosario is ill. I want to check on her.""I see. Well, be careful on your way. You can stay a bit longer, and I'll come to pick you up in the evening.""Okay."After ending the call, Madelyn approached the car. As she was about to open the door for the back seat, Zach's cold voice came through, "Sit up front."Reluctantly, Madelyn put down her hand and settled into the front passenger seat. Suddenly, Zach, who was in the driver's seat, leaned over and fastened her seatbelt. Madelyn felt nervous and was unable to breathe. She had an ingrained fear of him. It intensified after learning about Julia's death. The car started moving slowly, and neither o
Madelyn replied, "I haven't been treated badly there. Ethan is really nice to me. He gives me rides to and from school every day.""That's great," Rosario replied, squeezing Madelyn's hand and giving it a little pat."Did Mr. Jardin come back with you?""Yes.""Are you hungry? I can make something for you."Right as Rosario was about to get up, Madelyn gave her a gentle push, settling her back down. "I've got this. I cook whenever I've got free time at the Arnold residence," Madelyn said."You're from the Jent family. You shouldn't be cooking for a servant like me.""At the Jent residence, I'm a daughter of the Jent family. But here, I'm just Madelyn. Don't worry. It won't take long."Madelyn left Rosario's room and closed the door behind her.She headed to the kitchen, where she found an apron hanging nearby. She put it on and took some ingredients from the fridge.Since it was getting late, she decided to make a simple meal. She chopped up some garlic, broccoli, and chicken
After waiting for a whole hour, Rosario finally got her meal when Zach brought it to her.When Zach returned to his room, he saw Madelyn trembling on the bed. Her school uniform was all crumpled and messy. He realized he had been too rough – her shirt was missing a few buttons, and the faint red marks below her neck were a lingering reminder of his actions.Tears streaked her face, making her appear pitiful.Upon seeing him, Madelyn hurled a pillow at him. "Zach Jardin, you monster!"Zach caught the pillow with a smirk. "But you didn't mind that, did you?""Just how many times I have to repeat myself. Listen, Zach Jardin, I DON'T LIKE YOU ANYMORE!" Madelyn cried out in a hoarse voice."That isn't your decision to make. Don't think that just because you're at the Arnold residence, I can't do anything to you!"Zach walked up to her, reaching to brush aside a few strands of hair stuck together by her tears. "Do you really think you can stay at the Arnold residence forever? Don't fo
Madelyn sat on the bed with empty eyes like a broken doll.Zach pulled out a black shirt from the closet and tossed it onto the bed. "Take off your clothes and give them a wash. Change the dirty sheets and bed covers together."He walked to the doorway, picked up her pair of long white socks from the floor, and hung them on the back of a chair before leaving the room.Madelyn didn't stay in his room for long. She dashed into the room she had shared with Jadie. She removed her school uniform and put it in the trash bin. In the shower, she scrubbed herself vigorously, trying to wash away the feeling of his touch from her skin. Her thoughts were haunted by the disturbing scene of what he had subjected her to.Tears welled up in Madelyn's eyes as memories of that moment replayed in her thoughts. Though their physical intimacy fell short of intercourse, Zach's actions had left an everlasting mark—a terrifying experience from which she believed she would never recover.'If he had done i
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