It felt utterly absurd that Nathan could be drugged simply by having a meal at home.Mila grew increasingly concerned about Nathan, who remained locked in his room.Knocking on the door, she called out, "Nate, it's Wanda. Sally has been taken away by Cole and the others. Can you please open the door?"Nathan's voice came from within, "I'm okay, you don't have to worry about me."Feeling unsettled, Mila persisted, "Please, open the door. If you're feeling unwell, I can take you to the hospital.""I'm fine.""Then just unlock the door so I can see you.""There's no need for that."Mila's voice softened as she gently pleaded, "Nate, please, just open the door."Nathan's impatience was evident as he sharply inquired, "Wanda, are you that oblivious?"It was the first time Mila had heard Nathan speak so harshly to her, let alone call her oblivious."Why are you scolding me?" Mila muttered, looking hurt. "I'm concerned for you. I genuinely care. How could you accuse me of being obl
Mila's face turned red, and she averted her gaze, unable to meet Nathan's eyes, her breath quickening. "I-I'll take you to the hospital," she stammered.Nathan spoke softly, "Are you concerned about the media not having enough material?"Mila shook her head vigorously. "That's not what I meant."Nathan's gaze intensified as he stared at her blushing face, his Adam's apple bobbing as he licked his dry lips.He breathed in the delicate aroma emanating from her, his heart racing, consumed by desire. The passion he had recently suppressed with a cold shower was now rekindled.His hand clenched tightly before he released it, stepping back as he instructed, "Leave."Mila was caught off guard. "What?""Stay at Sudvilla. Don't venture elsewhere," Nathan advised sternly."But what about your health? Are you truly alright?" Mila inquired, concern evident in her eyes.Nathan found himself drawn to her rosy lips as she spoke, each syllable holding him captive like a mesmerizing poppy flow
As the passion subsided, Mila gradually returned to her senses, her gaze shifting to the ceiling as she slowly released her arms from around Nathan's neck, feeling a whirlwind of emotions.Nathan tenderly caressed her hair and softly kissed her earlobe, his voice husky, almost pleading, "Wanda, I'll give you everything you desire. I'll ensure a bright future for us. I'll devote myself entirely to loving you. Will you marry me?"A sharp pang shot through Mila's heart, tears welling up in her eyes, turning them red. She tightly clenched her fists, struggling to contain her emotions.If she was still suffering from amnesia and heard these words, she'd undoubtedly be moved, eagerly nodding in agreement.But she wasn't Wanda; she was Mila. She couldn't afford to become entangled with the leader of the Norvanian military."I'm sorry, Nate." Mila's voice quivered, tears blurring her sight. "I can't accept your proposal."Nathan's eyes closed in anguish as he pressed his face against her
Mila remained unfazed, her gaze fixed on the pages of her book. "She won't be able to tie the knot."Phoebe replied, "She won't be marrying Mr. Morrison. Knowing she can't win him over, she's turning to money to influence her connections in Sunterland to acquire your ID card and household registration. She plans to marry using your identity."Mila stared at Phoebe in shock.Phoebe's expression darkened as she hurriedly took a seat beside Mila. "Your grandmother is already arranging the wedding. Do you know who the groom is?""I don't care who he is. How could Grandpa allow this?" Mila voiced her unease.Phoebe sighed, "Your grandfather naturally objected, but he couldn't dissuade Sally's stubbornness, nor your unreasonable grandmother."Mila clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth. "Sally will go to any lengths to inherit the Hoffis family's fortune.""What can we do?" Phoebe grasped her hand. "Mila, if she marries into Norvania's elite using your identity, it will lead t
"I wasn't expecting you here." A familiar but sarcastic voice echoed.Mila looked over and found Nathan's aunt, Lindsey. She greeted her politely, "Hi, Lindsey."Lindsey, dressed luxuriously, sneered, "You're not married to Nathan anymore. I must ask you to address me formally."Mila wasn't bothered. "I'm sorry, Ms. Morrison.""Today's guests are all bigwigs. And what are you, then? Who invited you here?"Mila ignored her question. Phoebe gritted her teeth and was ready to retort, but Mila held her hand and signaled for her to keep quiet.Slowly, the Morrisons approached and seemed surprised when they saw Mila. Although she was no longer married to Nathan, Mila greeted them all. Gary, Florence, Taylor, and Wendy all greeted her warmly, while Tobias and Cheryl remained stoic and seemed displeased to see her.Like Lindsey, Duke and Layla looked disgusted at the sight of Mila. It seemed that having her around made the party less impressive."How can anyone be so shameless? The w
Dylan's hands were tucked into his pockets, looking indifferent. He shrugged and glanced admiringly at Mila. Mila didn't engage him any further. She walked away with Phoebe on her heels. They met Sienna at the other end of the room.It was Sienna's first time at such a lavish party among the upper crust, and she was nervous because she didn't know anyone there. Mila walked over to her and greeted, "Sienna."Sienna quickly took Mila's hands and said, "I finally get to see you." Mila gave her a gentle smile. She could feel the sweat in Sienna's palms."Don't be nervous. Everything will be okay." Mila tried to calm Sienna, who nodded in response."I've no idea where your mom has gone to. She was just right here," Sienna looked around."Sienna, after today, Betty's no longer my mom, and I'm no longer Suzanne," Mila said."What's your name, then?""Wanda Hoffis," Mila whispered into Sienna's ears.Sienna smiled. "What a beautiful name. Wanda, your parents gave you such a lovely na
Phoebe turned to Dylan. "Mr. Scott, aren't you curious to know if your fiancée is a fraud?"Dylan's father, Oswin Scott, stepped forward and bellowed, "Unless you have proof that what you're saying is true, you're going to spend the rest of your life in jail!"Sally grabbed Dylan's arm nervously and whispered, "Get rid of her fast. She'll ruin our engagement."Dylan reassured Sally, "You don't have to worry about false accusations if you're innocent. I'll deal with her if she's lying. Let's hear her out."From Dylan's words, Phoebe was certain that he had no idea that the woman he was about to marry was both a fraud and a spy for Nightshade. She pressed another button on the remote.A picture of the Hoffis family appeared, including Sally, her grandparents, her parents, and Oliver. The picture was taken ten years ago. Sally was just 14 years old, and it was before she went abroad.Loretta walked shakily to the stage. She was burning with anger. She wanted to help Sally, but Zach
"You can fake videos and DNA test results, but not memories," Mila said calmly and turned to face everyone. Her eyes finally landed on Nathan. She felt a sense of security and courage in Nathan's warm gaze. No matter if she succeeded or failed today, she would be fearless as long as Nathan was with her.Mila cleared her throat and continued, "My name is Wanda Hoffis. I'm 25 this year and I'm from Sunterland. My name at birth was Sally Hoffis and I was born in Norvania. Also, I'm Zach's granddaughter. The people in the video are my parents but they are currently missing."Taking advantage of Zach's distraction, Loretta broke free of his grip and rushed to the stage. She bellowed, "You're lying! How can a plastic surgery freak like you be my granddaughter?"Mila gazed helplessly at Loretta and explained, "Grandma, I'm Wanda. When I was ten, you took me abroad because you were obsessed with a celebrity. You even bought that celebrity a five-million-dollar car."Loretta was stunned t
Jasper became concerned as Imogen placed her hand over her heart. He asked, "Are you experiencing any chest pains? Have you consulted a doctor? I can take you for a check-up."Imogen reassured him, gently holding his arm. "Jasper, I'm fine. I'm just trying to figure out how to balance my future family and career."Jasper smiled knowingly, gently patting her head before pulling her into an embrace. He recognized her uniqueness—her drive to pursue her career and showcase her skills and talents. The thought of being a stay-at-home mother or merely a trophy wife held no appeal for her whatsoever.Holding her close, Jasper murmured, "Imogen, have you forgotten about your husband's financial prowess?"Imogen couldn't suppress a chuckle.Jasper reassured her of his commitment, "As long as you're on board, I can arrange a driver to drive you to work, an assistant to handle all your tasks, and you won't have to worry about anything. When you return home, there will be maids and me to ens
After returning from her journey across the globe, Imogen headed straight to the hospital. During her travels, she started noticing subtle changes in her body—nausea, fatigue, and a stronger need for rest. Her hunch was confirmed when tests revealed she was pregnant.She felt a blend of anticipation and apprehension. The idea of being pregnant raised thoughts of focusing on family life and raising children. Yet, she valued her career and was steadily demonstrating her skills. She wasn't ready to give it up just yet.When Imogen arrived home and stepped through the front door, she found Gregory and Carol were there. They had just returned from their trip as well, bringing back gifts. "Hi, Mom, Dad," Imogen greeted them.Still excited about their travels, Gregory and Carol eagerly recounted their adventures to Jasper.When Jasper heard Imogen's voice, he quickly stood and walked over to her, taking her hand. "Imogen, I woke up early and didn't see you around. Where did you go?"
Jasper thought the idea was brilliant and agreed, "Let's plan our route and leave next week."Imogen gently pushed him back, her hands on his chest. "Sure, but let me get up first. We'll map out our journey, set a schedule, and go on a trip for our wedding."Jasper took her wrists and lifted them above the pillow. "Let's discuss this tomorrow. I have some pressing matters to attend to at the moment."Imogen was about to respond when Jasper leaned in and kissed her deeply. Their lips intertwined with passion.…A week later, Imogen received another call from Yulia's lawyer, who conveyed Yulia's apologies and expressed her desire for Imogen's forgiveness. Yulia also requested Imogen to intervene with Nathan on her behalf.Imogen decided to ignore the request. She believed in the fairness of the law. It reminded her of Zoey, who had fraudulently claimed her degree and ended up in prison at Jasper's behest.As for Yulia, she had orchestrated attacks on Gregory, caused Carol to lose
Imogen's heart raced as she slowly hugged Jasper, her voice bashful yet resolute. "Jasper, you'll always have a place in my heart."Jasper tensed slightly, his senses on high alert. He met her eyes. A glint of anticipation sparked in his gaze as he eagerly murmured, "Say it one more time. Say it—""I love you, Jasper," Imogen said gently.Jasper's eyes immediately filled with tears as he held Imogen tightly, his body shaking. Overwhelmed by emotion, he could only whisper her name into her ear. "Imogen… Imogen…""Do you love me?" Imogen asked, her voice tinged with shyness.Jasper frowned. "I do love you. Haven't you always known?""I still want to hear it," Imogen said."I love you. I love you with all my heart," Jasper declared, gazing at her with intense passion and unwavering resolve.Feeling a bit stiff from his tight hug, Imogen gently pushed him away. "I love you, too, but I must get up and go to work.""Not today," Jasper responded, scooping and carrying her back to bed
"If it's a gift, why not accept it?" Mila whispered.Gregory quickly took the check, looking unsure of his next move.Once his money was accepted, Oakley assumed the issue was settled. He took Yulia's hand and began to leave the ward, saying, "Well, I'll leave with Yulia for now."Still feeling resentful, Yulia glanced back and shot Imogen a glare as they departed.The ward fell silent. Feeling uneasy, Gregory and Carol exchanged anxious glances."Nate, we can't go easy on them," Mila whispered.Nathan smiled knowingly. He took Mila's hand, gently caressed it, and said quietly, "Don't worry. I'll ensure our in-laws get the justice they deserve."Mila nodded, feeling reassured. Gregory and Carol, who were listening nearby, felt deeply moved and grateful.Since Gregory was injured and confined to bed, the meeting between Jasper's and Imogen's parents ended earlier than expected. After saying goodbye to their parents, Jasper and Imogen headed home. On their way home, Jasper felt
Yulia was renowned for her boldness and strong-willed nature. Aware of Oakley's wealth, influence, and dual reputation in legal and illicit circles, she feared no one and held a contemptuous attitude toward others, including senior military figures."You need to apologize to Ms. Imogen immediately," Oakley whispered urgently.Pointing at Imogen, Yulia muttered irritably, "Her? Oh, please! If anyone owes an apology, it's her to me."Oakley wiped his forehead nervously, trembling with anxiety. Everyone's expressions around them darkened visibly. Jasper suppressed his anger; his hands clenched into fists.Before he could speak, Yulia grumbled, "Jay, you blocked me before understanding everything, and then you terminated our contract. That's just too much."Mila couldn't shake her worry for Jasper. If he couldn't manage his relationship with Yulia appropriately, it could severely impact his marriage. Concerned that he might not handle it well, Mila intervened. "Ms. Gibson, please resp
Carol no longer believed the portrayal of wealthy women on television.Jasper took Imogen's hand, and they sat down on the couch together, feeling anxious. It was their parents' first meeting, and the hospital setting added to the tension. If things went wrong and their relationship soured, their future would look bleak.Imogen was particularly anxious. Her palms were growing clammy. Jasper pulled out a tissue and gently wiped her palms before reassuringly saying, "There's no need to be nervous. My parents are easygoing."Offering an awkward smile, Imogen teased him, whispering, "You seem more nervous than I am, don't you think?"Jasper chuckled but offered no reply. Dealing with Gregory and Carol was sure to be a bit daunting.Typically reserved around strangers, Nathan found it difficult to start a conversation at that moment. Meanwhile, Gregory and Carol felt apprehensive and cautious, worried that any misstep could upset the Morrisons and cause problems for Imogen.Sensing th
Mila approached them with a bouquet, smiling. "Yes, we're in the right place. We've come to visit you, our in-laws."The term "in-laws" caught Gregory off guard as he lay in the bed. Despite his injuries, he quickly propped himself up, struggling to sit upright. Carol, equally surprised, cautiously accepted the gift from Nathan's outstretched hands.Jasper and Imogen took the next elevator, so they hadn't reached the ward yet.Nathan quickly set his things down and hurried over, gently placing a reassuring hand on Gregory's shoulder. "You're injured. Don't get up. Just lie down and rest.""General Morrison, I…" Gregory's voice faltered in distress.Carol's hands trembled uncontrollably as she glanced nervously at Mila, worried that Mila and Nathan had overheard her argument with Gregory.Nathan spoke in a gentle tone, "Please, don't call me General Morrison. It sounds too formal. You both are older than me. Just call me Nathan, and I'll call you two by name in return."Mila came
In the hospital ward, Gregory had been asleep for over an hour when the nurse woke him to change his medication.After the change, Carol peeled an orange for him to eat. They shared the segments, chatting idly."Imogen really picked a good husband. Even these oranges he bought are unusually sweet," Carol said, marveling at the oranges. Gregory glanced at the orange and said, "They must be expensive.""Yes, they're sold by the piece in big supermarkets. Also, they're more expensive than beef and lamb," Carol said before eating another sweet segment.Gregory pondered for a moment. Then he curiously asked, "Someone ruined our house's floor. Do you think Jasper would help us repair it?"Carol shot him a look and replied, "Listen, don't burden Imogen with this. Don't even bring it up.""Why would it burden Imogen? With Jasper's wealth, this is nothing.""Enough," Carol snapped. "That's his business. No matter how poor we are, we shouldn't ask for what isn't ours." "You're too stu