Madelyn quickly ended the call and spotted a familiar group of people approaching her. Among them were several individuals she recognized as Fred's henchmen.Without wasting any time, Madelyn swiftly pulled down the storefront shutter, recalling that there was a back door. She knew she had to get out of there.As she made her way to the back exit, she desperately dialed the Arnold family driver's number. But her phone abruptly shut down due to a depleted battery.Madelyn's mind raced with questions. 'Why is Zach here?' she wondered. 'If he's after me, is he planning to silence me?'Madelyn had barely taken a step toward the back door when two chilling figures suddenly appeared before her. In the moonlight, Fred's menacing scar across his eye seemed even more ominous. He spoke sternly, "Ms. Jent, Mr. Jardin is deeply concerned for your safety out here alone, so he has sent us to ensure your protection. Please, come with us."Madelyn's mind raced as she considered her options. She t
Madelyn cautioned Zach. "Don't do anything stupid. I've already called Ethan, and he'll be here soon."Zach countered, "Donna Jolie's return has me thinking. Do you think Ethan still cares about you?"Madelyn wasn't about to let him off the hook. "And what about you? Do you still have feelings for Jadie, brother?" She whispered the last word, her hand gently resting against his chest to stop him from coming any closer. Their close proximity allowed her to catch a faint whiff of tobacco on him. She wondered, 'I thought he didn't like smoking?'Her words left Zach speechless.Madelyn continued, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "When I had feelings for you, it seemed like you didn't care about anything I did. Now that I've moved on and started dating someone else, you keep coming around, Zach..." She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and locked eyes with him. "Have you fallen for me?"Zach's gaze remained enigmatic. He leaned in closer, planting warm kisses along her neck. His
Madelyn had underestimated just how heartless Zach could be. No matter how much she pleaded, he didn't let her go.She was forced to put on those lingerie pieces, one after another. Her face showed no emotion as she sat on his lap while wearing the last set.The thin fabric below was already soaked. Zach showed her his glistening fingers and caressed her breasts. "Want it? Beg me, and I'll give it to you."Madelyn understood that, even if she didn't ask for it, there was no way for her to avoid what was coming today.It had been over half an hour. She shivered, hugging herself tightly. Despite the closed windows, she felt cold, her lips pale.Overwhelmed by his sexual desire for her, Zach rewarded her with orgasm after orgasm that shook her.He then made her adjust her position by pinning her against the wall. Suddenly, she could feel a powerful presence between her thighs. As the final moments unfolded, Madelyn felt like she had reached the heights of pleasure.As soon as Zach
Seeing Madelyn in this state, Zach felt so frustrated. "I told you, this is just the beginning. If it weren't for your so-called sympathy and meddling, maybe none of this would have happened. Since you can't change your fate, can't you just accept it?" He played with her long hair as he spoke."No, I can't accept it! Don't touch me!" Madelyn screamed hysterically.At that moment, Kai knocked on the door. "Arguing with each other won't solve anything. Can you both take a break? Zach, step outside. I need to have a word with you."Zach cast a quick glance at Madelyn before rising from his seat and exiting the room. Once outside, Kai turned a page in Madelyn's medical records and began, "Were you aware that Madelyn had a severe case of depression previously?"Zach asked, "What else?"Kai arched an eyebrow, realizing that Zach was evidently uninformed. "Patients with depression often require medication to regulate their emotions, or else..."Before he could finish his sentence, one
Madelyn's absence from the Math Olympiad had Albert growing increasingly anxious. Mya waited at the school gate, hoping for her arrival.Ethan received news of Madelyn's disappearance through a call from the school. He rushed to the school, understanding the significance of the Math Olympiad to her. Madelyn had dedicated countless sleepless nights to prepare for it.The word of Madelyn's disappearance eventually reached Hayson's ears. Despite distancing himself from his former underground connections, he decided to tap into his old resources when Ethan urgently needed information to locate Madelyn. Surprisingly, within just half an hour, Hayson obtained crucial information about Madelyn's whereabouts from his underground contacts.Upon reading the message on his phone, Hayson frowned and said, "Mr. Arnold, please relax. Madelyn went to Portsmouth Fishing Village for some fun last night and had a minor injury. Zach is with her at the hospital now. She'll be fine."Ethan said, "Hospi
Zach's tone left no room for argument. Jadie had just arrived after finishing the Math Olympiad test. She had learned about Madelyn being hospitalized by asking Kevin. With Zach absent the previous night, Jadie had already formed her own conclusions. Her thoughts raced as she prepared to leave the hospital. Her contemplative gaze lingered on the closed room door.As she moved towards the exit, she accidentally bumped into Kai, causing him to drop several scattered test reports. In her panic, Jadie quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to!"Kai reassured her, "It's alright, I should have been more careful." He knelt to retrieve the scattered papers, including Madelyn's CT scan report.Hayson, too, stood among them. A paper floated to his feet, and as he picked it up, Zach's signature came into view on a consent form for uterine removal.A sudden chill passed over Hayson's face. Kai inquired, "Mr. Jent?"Kai repeated, "Mr. Jent?"Hayson remained silent, his intense g
Ethan had confined Forrest to the basement, initially intending to mete out a minor punishment.The last time Madelyn went missing, Ethan had organized an investigation. Witnesses from neighboring apartments had observed Forrest leaving Madelyn's rented apartment, and there were even reports of heated arguments.Yet, it wasn't as straightforward as Ethan had initially assumed. During the period when Madelyn wasn't residing in that apartment, someone had observed a student wearing a Ventrocloud High School uniform frequently entering and exiting the premises.Ethan was aware that this student was none other than Forrest.He no longer cared about whatever history Madelyn had with Forrest; his tolerance for Forrest had vanished entirely.Outside the hospital room door, Margaret was anxious. She glanced back and saw many well-dressed bodyguards at the entrance, immediately sensing that something was amiss. She took out her phone and made a call.After spending the night with Sylvia,
Tears flowed down Sylvia's gentle face as she clung to the bedframe in her hospital gown. She pleaded, "Ethan, please spare Forrest. He's young and foolish. Try to look past his actions."Forrest's eyes were swollen, and he let out a low, mournful cry. "I told you not to beg him. Can't you hear me?"As Ethan observed this emotional exchange between mother and son, he couldn't help but find it surreal. 'She tore my family apart as the homewrecker; she should have seen this coming. If she had really chosen to leave and move on, why didn't she go farther away? Why did she let Dad find her? She brought this upon herself by stubbornly giving birth to Forrest. As long as I'm here, the Arnold family will never acknowledge him.'In that very moment, Ethan's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and, without hesitation, answered the call.Ethan's demeanor shifted from hostility to something unexpectedly gentle. His once icy aura suddenly turned warm. "What's the matter?"Madelyn was on t
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