Eight years ago, Ventropolis was nothing more than a run-down district. Unruly elements and motley crew filled the streets. There were no eyewitnesses or surveillance footage of the events from that time. However, Zach had never stopped searching for them for the past eight years. Sending Jadie abroad was not only because of her asthma but also to let her leave, allowing her to forget everything and start anew."Ah!" Jadie let out a piercing scream. When Zach entered the ward, he found Jadie holding her head and huddled in a corner, trembling and with a vacant expression."Z-Zach, where are you?" Jadie's voice quivered.Zach crouched ahead of her and gently held her in his arms, saying, "It's okay."Zach's voice provided warmth, stabilizing Jadie's emotions. Smelling the tobacco on his body, her grip around his waist tightened even more. "Z-Zach, I had a terrifying nightmare. I'm so scared. I dreamed that I was covered in blood. It was so painful. I tried to find you, but no matter
Mya handed Madelyn a milk bottle and said, "Madelyn, do your best! After your exam, we'll pick you up. I have a surprise for you tonight."Lem leaned on the car window and waved at her. "Madelyn, no matter how you perform in the exam, Kennedy and I will guarantee that you will become the top scorer in this year's college entrance exam. The mayor will personally award you, so give it your all!" After saying that, he gave her an encouraging gesture.Kennedy did not say much but two words, "Good luck."Madelyn watched them drive away before heading to the exam hall and finding her seat. Upon receiving her drawing paper, she tried to calm herself and started to draw. Madelyn had been painting for two lifetimes, but this was the first time she was officially testing her actual level of proficiency. It would be a lie to say she was not nervous.Madelyn loved drawing since she was a child. However, Hayson never allowed her to do it for some reason. So, she could only draw in secret. After
In the evening, Kennedy booked a seafood barbecue restaurant near the school. There were many late-night stalls here. It happened to be the season for beer and crayfish now.Lem suggested, "How about we sit by the entrance?"Mya agreed, "Sure, I'm fine with that."Madelyn nodded, "It's okay for me too."Madelyn remembered the first time she ate at the street food vendor during last year's holiday. It was Forrest who took her there. After the meal, she had diarrhea that night. In order to avoid spoiling their mood, Madelyn decided to eat as little as possible.It was just right for the four of them to sit at the table. Kennedy and Lem were clearly regulars here. They went to the food area, and each grabbed an iron tray. All four of them picked various items. Madelyn did not take much since she could not eat a lot.They also ordered eight pounds of crayfish. When they returned to their seats, Lem brought over a case of beer. "Girls shouldn't drink. So just leave it to Kennedy and m
The three of them all turned their eyes unanimously to Madelyn. She answered, "He left."Mya asked, "When will he come back?"Mya grumbled in her heart, 'He took my lollipop during the last basketball game, promising to return it. But he still hadn't.'"I'm not sure. Maybe Forrest will come back when his mom recovers from her illness."Lem shrugged. "Once he left, Ken had it tough. Admirers filled his desk with love letters. To avoid them, he rarely goes to class now."They strolled for half an hour. Madelyn's phone in her pocket rang when the time just passed eight o'clock. The mood of their conversation suddenly became quiet.Seeing the caller ID, Madelyn answered the phone. "My gathering is over. Just come to the school gate to pick me up.""...""Yes, I'll wait for you. Be careful on the way." After a few short sentences, Madelyn hung up."I should get going," she said.Lem said, "We'll accompany you to the school. After you leave, we'll send Mya back."Mya quickly waved
Zach had done such gruesome acts in the villa repeatedly. He never hesitated to torture a living person to death before Madelyn.At first, she would be frightened and might even cry out of fear. Over time, Madelyn gradually became numb to it. Zach was originally such a ruthless person. He had blood on his hands from his involvement in numerous violent crimes. If he became the ruler of Ventropolis, it would be at the expense of others.It had been so long ago that Madelyn had forgotten many things. However, this man with the face cover left a deep impression on her. He was one of Zach's subordinates, Fred.'Didn't Zach find Duncan three years later? Why is it happening now? Could it be that everything that was supposed to happen has already been accelerated?' Madelyn was worried and anxious but could not pinpoint the source of these emotions.'Are the events from my previous life going to happen no matter what? Even if the original fate has changed, it still cannot be escaped in the
"Fred, get her back to safety."Fred heard the man say in the earpiece. However, he chose to ignore the command.Madelyn said, "I'm more valuable than her. I'm Hayson Jent's daughter. Leave Mya alone."Mya looked pitiful. She had tears streaming down her face. "Madelyn, I'm... I'm not scared. Don't come closer.""It's you! You're all from the same side," Duncan looked at Madelyn with a hateful gaze. Suddenly, he laughed sinisterly."I had a hard time finding you. Come over here. Don't try anything, or else... You know the consequences."Mya shouted, "No... Madelyn, no!"Madelyn consoled her, "It's fine. I won't let anything happen to you, Mya."Zach shouted, "Fred!"Just as everyone had their attention on Madelyn, Fred said calmly, "If she dies, you won't have any weak points left. I won't let anyone become your weak point.""You know the consequences of defying me!" said Zach.Duncan was one of the men who had sexually assaulted Jadie eight years ago. Back then, Zach did al
In a hidden basement in Hallsmouth, someone forcefully kicked Fred to the ground.Fred did not fight back. Instead, he resisted the excruciating pain in his chest and attempted to stand up with one knee on the ground.However, the man kicked him again before he could even do so. This time, Fred did not stand back up. He lay in the corner and grunted in pain as blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth.Meanwhile, the other men surrounding them hung their heads low and did not dare to step forward.Nobody knew what had happened. Zach had not returned in seven to eight years, yet he threw a fit the moment he came back.Nobody dared to provoke him.Zach stared down at the man beside his feet."There won't be a next time," he said dangerously.Just then, a frail-looking man ran up to Zach."Duncan is dead."Zach frowned in displeasure, "Who killed him?"The man bowed and replied, "Judging from their car, it was someone from the Arnold family. Duncan almost got the young lady
Ethan smiled and nodded, "Mhm. I'll always support you no matter what... Mrs. Arnold to-be!"The two chatted for a while. They talked about what they would eat the next day, the engagement trip they would have after Madelyn's graduation and many other things.By the time Ethan lowered his head to look at her, she had already fallen asleep.However, Madelyn seemed like she was not having a restful sleep. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her long dark hair covered her face.Ethan moved her hair out of her face and kissed her on the lips. Then, he gently carried her upstairs to the master bedroom.For the past few days, the two had practically been staying together and sleeping on the same bed. They did nothing more than hugging and cuddling, but Ethan already felt content just doing so.'She's still young. I've already waited this long, so I can wait a little longer,' he thought.In the middle of the night, Madelyn woke up with her clothes drenched in sweat. Ethan's arm was tightly
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