"I heard from Jane that you haven't been going to the studio?"Madelyn pursed her lips. She felt some come up behind her and wrap their arms around her waist. She pinched Zach's hand to signal him to stop moving."Sorry, Prof. Monet. I've been feeling unwell, so I was at the hospital. I forgot to inform Jane about it.""What are you down with?""Just a mild fever. I'll be discharged tomorrow," she replied."It's been raining a lot recently. Stay warm and take care of your health.""I will, sir."Madelyn waited for Leonardo to hang up before she put her phone away. She wanted to push Zach away, but her struggle was to no avail. In the end, she gave up. "How much longer will you hold me? There are other people in the room.""They won't look," he replied.Madelyn retorted, "You're making me uncomfortable. Let go."Zach scrutinized her face. The swelling had almost gone away. Other than the unknown marks on her face, she had almost recovered.'She's gone through so much and been
Zach picked up the photo that had fallen out of Madelyn's book. He looked at the photo and narrowed his eyes."Why'd you come to the hospital without asking me first?" he asked Cecilia in a cold tone.Zach stood up and looked at her.His presence was intimidating, but Cecilia wasn't scared. She smirked, "Why? Scared I'd hurt her? I'm here for you, not her.""Don't forget what you promised me! I'm going to be your wife. You'd be lost without me," she added."Just stay out of my business," Zach replied."Listen, Zach! If you go to her, I can take away my shares in the company. Don't forget who helped you get where you are," Cecilia shouted as he walked away.But Zach just kept going.Cecilia felt stressed. 'Things are so different now. Jadie's still alive, Madelyn isn't with Zach, and I hate making threats, but I had no choice. Zach was never someone who feared threats. In fact... He'd get rid of those who threatened him,' she thought.She began to doubt if this was the same Zac
Madelyn forcefully wiped away the traces he had left on her. She did not know if he did it on purpose.Before work, she stopped at the restroom and saw a small cut on her lip in the mirror.She touched it lightly and thought, 'Is he a dog?'She had hidden a mark on her neck with makeup before getting to work.The sound of someone flushing echoed in the washroom. The door opened, and Jane emerged from within the stall. She glanced indifferently at Madelyn and walked to the sink next to hers. Then, she washed her hands and walked away without even greeting.Madelyn had always noticed the unexplainable hostility Jane had toward her. While the two of them were from the same studio, they hardly talked. Madelyn only spoke to Jane when she had to.Madelyn quickly freshened up and returned to the studio.She opened the door and saw Clement holding a stack of documents."Madelyn? Aren't you sick and on leave? Why'd you come back so quickly?"Madelyn smiled and said, "Mhm. I was dischar
After finishing the line drawing, Madelyn photographed it and sent it to the client for confirmation. Taking advantage of the break, she massaged her shoulders and went to the water cooler for a drink.She checked her phone. It was almost seven in the evening. She saw many messages from Zach. She wondered how he got her number. She turned her phone off.Soon, the client emailed her back. They liked her drawing. Madelyn was about to color it when someone bumped into her. She looked up. Jane said, "Watch where you're going."Madelyn said, "Sorry."By eight-thirty, the studio was empty except for her. At ten-thirty, she dozed off. Suddenly, she felt someone picking her up. Waking up, she saw Zach. She was startled. "What are you doing? Put me down!""Planning to sleep here if I hadn't shown up?" Zach glanced at her."I'm not done with my work," Madelyn replied."You can finish it tomorrow. Let's head back for the night.""Just let me get my stuff."Zach put her down. Madelyn went
The elevator doors slid open, and Zach stepped out, tugging Madelyn along toward the emergency stairs. The lights in the stairwell blinked as they sensed the two of them. He quickly pushed her against the wall.Panting slightly, he leaned in so close to hers that their noses were almost touching. "How about we do it here?"The dim yellow light accentuated Zach's chisel face. Madelyn's heart raced, filled with anxiety and a touch of fear. His eyes looked softer than usual. She tried to hold back her anger. "Zach, don't do anything stupid. Someone could see us.".Zach lightly touched his lips to hers. "Just one, okay?"Madelyn glanced at the staircase, her chest trembling. "You promised not to force me," she said, her voice shaky and on the verge of tears.Zach leaned over her ear, exhaling warm breath on her neck. A tingling sensation shot through her entire body. He leaned against the wall with his other hand, and a sense of flirtation filled the place immediately.Madelyn though
Madelyn felt her back go numb and could barely hold on. When they reached the 85th floor, the door suddenly opened. "Sir, Miss, you can take the elevator."Madelyn's face turned bright red, not expecting someone to appear. Zach, seeing her flushed face, said with a playful tone, "She prefers it this way."The person who had opened the door was oblivious to the situation beneath Madelyn's dress."So, still resisting?" Zach said, giving her a playful shake.Madelyn yelped in surprise and leaned into him, feeling uneasy. Zach's manhood was bulging, he was at his limits.Suddenly, Madelyn had an idea and decided to change her approach. She leaned fully against his shoulder, a move that seemed to please him. It was uncommon for her to initiate such closeness. She let go with her legs that were tightly wrapped around his waist. What began as an embrace transitioned to him hoisting her over his shoulder."You're smarter now." Zach patted her hip.Seizing her chance, Madelyn quickly got
The night in France looked a lot like Venturia. The city lights shone like diamonds.Zach gazed at the view from the eighty-eighth floor, his eyes all icy. He had a cigarette hanging from his lips, and he had to block the wind with his hand to light it.A puff of smoke drifted away from Zach, and Cecilia Samford moved closer, sounding kinda irritated as she asked, "Zach, I've given in to you twice already. What more do you want? You know you can't be with Madelyn."Cecilia, just like Madelyn, had been reborn. She had thought that by getting involved early, she could get a bigger share of Jardin Corporation after helping Zach start it up, so she could control him. But now, everything seemed to be going all wrong.Cecilia realized that Zach's connection with Madelyn was tangled and tricky. Even though Cecilia and Zach had been tight in a previous life, now she sensed she was just a piece in his quest for power.Zach glanced at Cecilia. He noticed that she bore a strong resemblance t
Zach continued, "Even if we set aside the college fee, for you, it's an astronomical figure. Even if you have a scholarship, just the cost of living would be overwhelming. And if you come to Ventropolis, what about your disabled mother? So, in your past life, a university in Silverbrook was your only option. Am I right?"Cecilia was suddenly taken aback.Zach smirked and went on, "And you coming to Ventropolis implies that your mother passed away in less than three years, and that's when you decided to come to Ventropolis.He continued, "Ventropolis always has an abundance of talent, and your qualifications aren't exceptional there. So, looking at the entire Ventropolis and the way Azure Corporation is growing, Azure does seem like a good choice for you."I guess the reason we had met that time is that you had joined Azure as an employee, am I right?" he addedZach's gaze made Cecilia all jittery because he was spot-on. No matter how hard she tried to act cool, he could see right
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