Madelyn rinsed and shook her hands, "I might need to rest; I'm feeling seasick.""Okay." Hugue noticed Madelyn hesitating, so he decided to leave with the waiter.With her chin in one hand, Alice waved a fork toward Zach, "Try this. It's Venturian food. You've had it before, right?"Zach gave no reaction but turned his attention to a tall, burly man in a white chef's uniform.The waiter announced, "The chef is here, Miss Girard."Alice raised her eyebrows, "I was expecting someone from Venturia."Hugue said, "A lady from Venturia taught me the walnut cake. She's sick and says she's sorry she couldn't come."Spotting Zach starting to move away, Alice asked, "Where are you headed, Zach?"At the beginning of the cruise, Madelyn felt perfectly fine. But as the ship started to rock more heavily, she became sick and rushed to the restroom. When she emerged, looking drained, she walked down a dimly lit hallway. There, she noticed a woman in a fancy dress and a fallen hat nearby. As Ma
"I need to head back."As Lila grabbed her arm, she said, "Hugue got a tip from a guest. This part's for you."Madelyn was not listening to anything else being said; her only thought was 'escape.' She nodded, "Thanks. And please let him know I'm grateful."Lila frowned, "We've got a problem. A heavy storm hit, causing the ship to lose control. It won't be repaired until tomorrow, so everyone's staying on board tonight."Madelyn's eyes widened, "Seriously?"Lila nodded seriously, "That's why the banquet ended early. Everyone, guests and crew alike, have to bunk here."Madelyn struggled to grasp her emotions, baffled as to why Zach would be on this ship. Together with Lila, she made her way to the crew area. The two were assigned a small, tight crew cabin. Looking out, she saw waves crashing against the ship, punctuated by deafening thunder and bright lightning flashes. Their beds? Nothing more than hard wooden planks in a room that felt damp. While the day's exhaustion took its to
The atmosphere in the room grew sensual and even the sea breeze that blew in added to the passionate scene.Madelyn lost track of time before it finally ended. Her senses were numb as she drifted in and out of consciousness.Everything only ended after the sunlight appeared outside the window. Madelyn was so drained that she did not even have the energy to move a finger. She fell into a deep and heavy sleep.Zach came out of the bathroom with Madelyn, who he had just showered with, in his arms. His body exuded a misty warmth, and his snow-white skin seemed to have bruises everywhere.Zach gently laid her on the bed, opened the bedside drawer, and took out a bottle of ointment. He squeezed some out and applied it evenly between Madelyn's legs, where there was some redness and even slight bleeding... However, the tearing was not too bad. Madelyn, whose eyes were still closed, hummed softly and frowned as if she was in pain, so Zach became even more gentle with his movement.After an
"I'll take you there in half an hour.""I don't need you to."Zach let her go, leaving Madelyn somewhat surprised. 'Why'd he let me go so easily? Is he actually being reasonable for once?'Madelyn immediately lifted the sheets and got out of bed. She looked at her legs and found out that her smooth and fair legs were now covered in marks left by the man. She could not help but grit her teeth and curse inwardly. 'What an animal!'As soon as her feet touched the ground, Madelyn felt weak and collapsed onto the floor. Then, she heard the man on the bed letting out a satisfied and light laugh.The room's lights were turned on. Zach was wearing a robe that was hung loosely open. revealing his well-toned and tanned chest. He sat leisurely on the bed and lit up a cigarette before taking a drag and exhaling a puff of smoke as he looked at her lazily. "Do you need any help, my darling?"Madelyn ignored him. She placed her hand on the bed and stood up from the ground while enduring the pai
The waiter served the final dish."Nothing here that suits your taste?" Zach took a sip of water and looked at her.Madelyn's bag was placed on the chair right beside her. She had the strong urge to just grab her bag and leave. However, she could never do that with the bodyguard around her. Even if she did manage to escape, she would have no idea where to go."I don't want to stay here. I have my own things to do.""What things? Tell me about them," Zach asked.Madelyn tightened her grip on her fork and knife. "I'm going to Dreamy Bay in North Sands next week. I have a lot of preparations to make. If you keep me here, I won't be able to get anything done."Zach listened to her quietly before muttering one word, "No."Madelyn could not figure out what right he had to interfere with her decision every time she wanted to do something. After all, she was not a student anymore."This is my business, and you don't have the right to stop me from doing anything, even with the relations
Then, Madelyn went to a shopping mall on the iconic street of Boulevard Haussmann of France. She had previously worked there as a saleswoman, although only for a few days.The hotel got them a car, and a driver took Madelyn and the bodyguards there.Inside the mall, Madelyn pretended to take a few pieces of clothes. The bodyguards took photos of her, and she figured that they were probably reporting her whereabouts to Zach.After that, Madelyn went into a lingerie store and made several purchases.While sitting in the car, Zach felt his phone vibrating. He took it out and saw a notification of a deduction from his account balance. Then, he casually turned off the screen and put it back into his pocket. Madelyn had just spent several hundred thousand dollars in one go with his card, yet he did not seem to care at all.Kevin reported to him, "Ms. Samford will arrive at the airport around nine-thirty at night.""Hm," Zach responded nonchalantly."Are we still going to bring Ms. Sam
A group of bodyguards dressed in black barged into their apartment as Lila screamed. Madelyn heard the commotion from her room and immediately locked the door.Then, she pushed the wardrobe and table to barricade the door, intending to stop those people from entering.She hurriedly grabbed her phone and called the police.The bodyguards warned her from outside, "Ms. Jent, things won't end well if you keep resisting.""We'll have to break in if you don't come out now."Zach's men would do just anything. Her room door was not particularly secure or reinforced, and if they really were to force their way in, Madelyn would not be able to hold them back. She had no idea how Zach's men had managed to find her here.The door was pounded on repeatedly with loud thuds as Madelyn pressed her back against the table.After about twenty minutes, the noise outside subsided.Lila knocked on the door and said, "Madelyn, the police are here. They need us to go to the police station to make a sta
Zach handed Lila a black business card with gold embossing, and Lila exaggeratedly covered her mouth. "Thank you, thank you!" she said repeatedly.Madelyn noticed the conspicuous words on the name card, "Jardin Corporation."When Madelyn lifted her head and was about to look away, her gaze met with Zach's.Her heart skipped a beat...'Zach's company, Jardin Corporation. Is he really back?' she wondered to herself.She was then forced into a Bugatti, while Lila was taken away by her family.It was only then Madelyn realized that Zach was actually driving a million-dollar car.She sat inside like a startled kitten without moving at all."You're all grown up and know how to call the police now, huh? Why do you have to make me worry everywhere you go? Hm?" Zach reached out to touch Madelyn, but she immediately flinched away to keep a distance from him.Madelyn tensed up all over, "Zach, are you back?" She asked him cautiously.Seeing how nervous she was, Zach narrowed his cold ga
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