Holding two cups of water, Blake approached Kevin and asked, "Mr. Harrison, did Mr. Jardin assign us a new task? I overheard Mya's name just now. She's my cousin, you know? Given that I'm your apprentice, could you maybe share just a tiny bit of what's going on? It'll help me shoulder some of the burden, and be part of the solution."Kevin took his cup of water with his face turned icy. He said, "Mind your own business, Blake. Focus on your work."As Kevin walked away, Blake rolled her eyes and mimicked Kevin. "Mind your own business, he says."Kevin had seen Blake's mockingly exaggerated expressions reflected in the fire extinguisher's glass casing. He caught everything in his gaze.Having ended his call, Zach went upstairs to pacify Madelyn who was brooding in silence.Madelyn sought refuge in her art studio, where she drowned her frustrations in swathes of color on canvas. Next to her palette was a vase with a freshly cut flower. Zach came in and crouched down beside her, takin
"Would you like me to bring it up for you?" asked the maid.Madelyn was cradling the freshly bathed Dalton and paid no mind to the maid. They prepared to catch a few winks as Dalton was already drowsy. They snuggled into bed, hands positioned in their usual comforting spot, and soon slipped into a peaceful slumber.Meanwhile, at the Sovereign Luxe Resort & Spa, Fred looked the woman ardently at work between his legs. Cecilia wiped the corner of her mouth, looked up at him with seductive eyes, and asked, "You seem off today. Already had a fling outside, haven't you?"Thirty minutes later, Cecilia's doing was no fruition. Her lips tingled from exhaustion.Fred lifted Cecilia's chin, his eyes lingering on her inviting lips. He said, "Ten more minutes. If you still can't satisfy me, I'll have my men teach you how to please a man."Cecilia's face soured for a split second, but she quickly regained composure. She knew Fred well enough to take his words seriously. Fred had a penchant for
Feeling a bit down, Mya walked across the crosswalk with a bunch of people when the traffic light turned green. She had a stylish purse with pearls on it, and she seemed lost in her thoughts, thinking hard. 'What would I do if I'm really pregnant?'On the same street not far from her, a car was also waiting for the traffic light. Fred's deputy spotted Mya in the crowd and nudged Fred. "Sir, look, it's Ms. Harper."Fred quickly located Mya in the crowd. She was small and slim, not especially standing out—easy to miss in a sea of regular folks. He had never paid much attention to regular-looking ladies before, but there was something about Mya that intrigued him.Mya was the only one brave enough to toss his clothes out the window. Even though Fred usually didn't like that kind of bold behavior, Mya's rebellious side was kind of interesting. To Fred, Mya was not like the women he usually fooled around with. She was special—like a pet he wanted to keep. A bit of teasing wouldn't do any
Mya got a bit scared when she saw Fred looking all serious. She tried to act like she didn't hear him, hoping he would drop the whole thing if she stayed quiet. But Fred wasn't planning to let her off easy.Curled up in the corner, Mya looked a bit silly. Fred lifted her shirt and saw the soft parts spilling over her pants. He'd seen different kinds of people before, some thin and some with curves, but Mya was a bit plumper than the others."Your family feeds you well, huh?" Fred remarked, eyeing her figure. Mya showed no signs of illness.Mya proudly puffed out her chest. "Of course! I have like five servings of Mediterranean rice every day. These curves are all thanks to the amazing cooking at Madelyn's house. Too bad Madelyn's husband, the big jerk, doesn't let me eat there anymore. He says I eat too much."Fred could not believe how oblivious Mya was. She didn't catch the hint about her weight or the subtle digs at her smarts. At first, he thought she might have some secret age
Mya kept her head down and didn't dare to speak again. Fred put the money on her lap and said, "This is what I owe you. I don't like owing people.""I'll take it, just please don't hurt me," Mya replied, feeling flustered, and she quickly stuffed the money into her bag.Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind, and a voice echoed, "Since you like eating so much, finish this spoiled meal. If not, I'll keep you locked up here like a dog. If you disobey, I'll have someone beat you to death."A buried memory rushed back, giving Mya a sharp pain in her head. For the rest of the car ride, Mya stayed quiet and timid.Fred noticed Mya's change in behavior and gradually lost interest as the car became quiet. He ordered, "Stop the car."When the car halted, Fred, growing impatient, lit a cigar. "Get out and grab a cab home."With a brief command, the car doors unlocked, and Mya, shaking a bit, quickly got out. Before she left, Fred's keen eyes spotted the money, untouched on the car seat.M
The server looked troubled. She asked, "What do you—"But before she could finish her question, Mya quickly put thirty dollars on the table and rushed out the door. Tears streamed down her face as she left The Deli.The server wanted to follow Mya, calling out, "Ms. Harper!"But Mya had already left.The server hurriedly told the woman who was making fun, "Don't you know who she is? That's Mya Harper, the heiress to the Harper Nutritional Enterprise. She's also friends with Madelyn Jent, who is close with Zach Jardin. Several dishes here are actually Ms. Jent's own recipes, specially made for Ms. Harper."The group that was laughing couldn't find anything funny anymore after hearing that. The news hit them hard because all four had just gotten jobs as models for Harper Nutritional Enterprises. They had signed the contract but hadn't started the photo shoots yet."Can we... say sorry to her now? Did we mess things up?" one worried."It's your fault for talking so mean. Now we ups
"You're always so carefree, Mya. You get bullied, and then you just forget about it, not holding a grudge at all. I wonder who you take after," Grace said, kinda scolding but feeling sad about how Mya had been treated.Mya said, "Mom, go ask Dad to come down for dinner.""Your father's still caught up in a meeting; he won't be back until late," replied Grace.Ever since the company was severely depleted by Luke, it was in a weakened state. Only when Madelyn extended a helping hand under the name of Jardin Corporation during the crisis that the Harper Nutritional Enterprise was saved from ruin.Mya's parents had thought Luke was an honest man and believed that Mya's marriage to him would help the company. However, they didn't expect his greed. Not only did he and his family swindle a lot of company money, but they also tried to take over the company entirely.Now, as Mya's parents were getting older and the company was struggling, they worried about what would happen to Mya after t
"Not long ago, Mya was bullied at The Deli, and the bullies were models that had just signed contracts with us. Just when I was gonna do something about it, those four models just vanished. I ended their contracts," shared Simon."What? Mya was being bullied? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" asked Grace. Her main concern was Mya.Simon replied, "I didn't want you to get all stressed out. It's alright, go get some rest. I've got a meeting tomorrow."Grace was frustrated, but she kept it to herself. She told Simon, "I've set up your bath. Take a soak and hit the hay soon.""You're busy?" Simon asked Grace.Grace yawned and said, "I still have to get Mya's medicine ready. The doctors said she has to keep taking them."Simon interrupted, "You can let the maid handle it."Grace disagreed, saying, "The medicine is for Mya. I can't trust just anyone with it. You never know if someone has sneaky plans in the house. Don't worry about me. Go get some sleep. I'll be done soon."At three 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