Mila handed Phoebe something that looked like a gun and said, "Here, take it.""A gun? Isn't that risky?" Phoebe was startled. She knew that it was against the law to own a gun in Norvania, and using one to hurt someone could result in the death penalty.Mila gave Phoebe a special mask and explained, "No bullets are in this gun. It's a chemical weapon I made and it's filled with ether, an anesthetic used on patients. It won't hurt anyone when it hits."The ether would spread through the air as soon as it was fired. Breathing even a little can make someone pass out."Phoebe looked at the weapon, then at Mila in awe. "Mila, you're amazing."Mila put on her mask and warned, "Be careful using it. After firing, hold your breath for 20 seconds so you don't breathe it in.""Got it," Phoebe said as she watched the men approach.Phoebe and Mila got out of the car at the same time. Phoebe pointed the gun at the men who were approaching them. All of them froze when they saw the gun.Mila
Nathan felt lost. Meanwhile, Mila crawled out of the car in a different direction. She brushed off the dust as she got to her feet.Phoebe ran over to help her and asked, "Mila, are you okay?""I'm fine," Mila replied. She scanned her surroundings. Beside the men who had collapsed from inhaling the ether earlier, there were a few others wearing gas masks, with bullet wounds on their thighs. They were lying on the ground, too afraid to move.Mila realized more men had been brought in and finally understood why Phoebe couldn't handle the situation alone.Nathan examined Mila from head to toe. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was okay.Mila and Phoebe's car had been badly damaged and they couldn't drive it anymore. "The police will handle the scene. You can get in my car," Nathan offered."Thanks," Mila said. She made her way to his car and got into the passenger seat. Phoebe and Cole stared at Nathan with a blank expression. Nathan gazed at Mila for quite a w
Nathan was willing to explain. His only fear was that Mila would misunderstand him even more if he did.Just when he wasn't sure if he should speak, Phoebe suddenly blinked at him and asked, "General Morrison, are you really avoiding Mila's calls and even turning off your phone?"Suddenly nervous, Nathan blurted out, "My jacket was with Fenna's and my phone was in my jacket pocket."Mila's face grew sour. She didn't expect him to care so much about Fenna. She pressed her lips together, breathed deeply, and looked gloomily out the window.Phoebe paused briefly before she asked, "Did Fenna turn off the phone on purpose?""I asked her, but she denied it," Nathan replied."Do you believe Fenna?""Believe her or not, I have no proof she did it.""Still, this is really out of line," Phoebe muttered unhappily.Nathan looked at Mila nervously. His eyes were filled with deep regret. The atmosphere in the car fell into silence again. Suddenly, Mila turned around with a steely look and
With his eyes closed, Nathan asked sharply, "Do you want to be investigated as well?""I'm sorry, General Morrison," Cole apologized quickly. "I'm deeply loyal to the country and you. I don't see the need for an investigation."Nathan had never considered investigating Cole. He usually trusted the people he surrounded himself and wouldn't be involved with those he doubted. Unfortunately, his excessive trust had allowed Lucas to betray him and Fenna to deceive him brazenly."Drive on," muttered Nathan.…When Mila walked into the Morrison residence, she heard Layla sarcastically remark, "It's unbelievable there're still some women who can be so jealous nowadays. "They don't support, understand, or help their husbands at work and can't even handle having a female assistant."Mila turned around to see Layla sitting on the couch in the living room. Phoebe was seething and wanted to confront Layla, but Mila grabbed her hand just in time to stop her. Phoebe was merely an assistant.
Mila was surprised by how quickly and ruthlessly Nathan had acted. Back in the room, she sat in the wicker chair on the balcony. She gazed absentmindedly at the landscape before her. Countless thoughts poured into her mind.She pulled out her phone and opened Nathan's chat. As she scrolled through, she looked at all the voice messages he had sent, none of which she had bothered to listen to. She only spared a glance at the text messages he sent.Yet, curiosity led her to click on a voice message from a month earlier."Wanda, I'm truly sorry for what I did to you and our baby. I know I messed up. You don't have to forgive me, but please don't shut me out, okay?""The nurse told me you're struggling with breast engorgement, and I wish I knew how to help. I'm worried and outside your room, can I come in?""Wanda, are you feeling better? Can I come with you tomorrow to see our son?""Wanda, I made a mistake and I really want to make it up to you. Can you please tell me how I can ma
Mila usually went to bed at 11:00 pm, but she couldn't sleep that night for some reason. She felt empty inside as if she was expecting something. Suddenly, she heard someone enter the room. Tensing up, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.Nathan didn't switch on the lights. He went quietly to Mila's side, rested his hands on the bed, and kissed her forehead. Mila sensed a slight smell of alcohol mixed with his familiar and pleasant scent. His warm breath brushed against her cheeks.After kissing her, Nathan quietly went to the bathroom to freshen up. He didn't turn on the light to avoid disturbing Mila's sleep.Mila felt instantly reassured and gradually fell asleep after Nathan's return. As she slept, she felt Nathan gently cradled her head and turned her over to face him.Even though it was still cold outside, Mila slept peacefully in Nathan's warm embrace.…The first rays of the morning sun streamed into the room. Mila felt something touch her abdomen while sti
The curtains blocked out the light well. The room went dark when Nathan closed them. Mila seemed to be uncomfortable as he got into the bed. She moved away and turned her back on him.It made Nathan sad to see her like that. His eyes wandered silently over her long, flowing hair. He didn't think about crossing any boundaries even though he wanted her.Nathan knew they shouldn't sleep together too soon because Mila had just given birth. He always respected how she felt and didn't want to force her to sleep with him.Yet, he had longed for that intense pleasure ever since they had made love, and now it was harder for him to resist the urge. He found himself feeling restless and tortured.Nathan leaned closer to Mila with his eyes closed, finding solace in the subtle scent of her hair shampoo. Mila lay still. Only then did she realize Nathan had refrained from touching her while awake. He only kissed her and held her discreetly while she slept.Lost in thought, Mila eventually drif
"I didn't force him to come back. He had a choice," Mila grumbled.Phoebe grinned and whispered in Mila's ear, "For General Morrison, home is wherever you are. It's normal for him to come home after work. He insisted on coming home daily, even when he couldn't see you before."Mila looked at Phoebe suspiciously and asked, "Did he bribe you? Why are you praising him so highly?"Phoebe shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "That's just how I see it. It's okay if you don't want to hear it."Mila patted her shoulder and said, "Let's go for lunch. And then you can come with me to buy a gown.""What gown?" Phoebe asked."I got invited by Lillian Kimmel this morning, so I have to go to her banquet tonight," Mila said with a long face."The President's daughter invited you?" Phoebe was surprised."Yes, we've never met before." Mila sighed. "But she's the President's daughter. It's hard to say no considering my status.""Why did she invite you?""I have no idea.""Should we tell General M
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