"Everyone else, please step back," Albert said.What kind of messed-up order was this?Cole and Phoebe accompanied Mila off the stage.Then, the music started. Yale went up from one end of the corridor while Fenna walked up to the stage. There was no sense of ritual at all.Lillian was furious as she watched the chaotic entrance ceremony on the stage. She was embarrassed. She didn't know whether to start over or wait on stage.Ever since she stepped onto the stage and scolded Albert, her wedding had turned into a joke.With a forced smile, Yale walked onto the stage. He took Lillian's hand and comforted her, "Lillian, it's okay. As long as we're together, it doesn't matter who's the best man or maid of honor."The wedding is not important either. What's more important is you." Hearing his words, Lillian calmed down. She finally smiled.Nathan stood behind the groom, while Fenna stood behind the bride.Fenna was still expecting some other interaction with Nathan, but Albert
This was the most annoying maid of honor in Norvania's history, without a doubt.Nathan couldn't wait to step off the stage. Instead of returning to his seat, he left the banquet hall alone. No one knew where he was going or why he left in such a hurry.Just as everyone was curious, the wedding resumed its original order.The wedding reception followed. The bride and groom shared their love story, cutting the cake and making toast.Yale absentmindedly stared at the white handkerchief in his hand. He took off his ring and removed the needle then tossed it to the ground.He stared at the white handkerchief with a sinister look on his face. After a while, he finally returned to his senses and began to feel nervous. He took out his phone and urgently dialed a number while walking backstage."Yale, where are you going?" Lillian asked. Yale forced a smile and said, "I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, with only the bride and the
Mila entered Cole's car and arrived at the scene of the accident, located on the overpass just over ten minutes away from the wedding venue.Below them flowed a river, its depths concealed from view.The recovery vessel had already hoisted the car from the water. Meanwhile, the divers continued their search for Nathan beneath the surface.Traffic police were busy with their duties, questioning witnesses and examining surveillance footage.Mila stood silently beside the railing, clutching it tightly, her hands sweaty. The pain in her heart dulled her senses, leaving her feeling hollow.It felt as if she had forgotten the very rhythm of her breath, as though time itself had halted in its tracks.Amidst the eerie silence, with no signs of life in sight, her mind echoed with emptiness, her legs quivering and feeble, sustained solely by sheer determination.Despite the turmoil in her heart and the tears welling in her eyes, Mila resisted the urge to cry.As long as Nathan's body had
Despite Phoebe's tearful pleas, Mila remained indifferent to her own needs. With Nathan still missing, she lacked the motivation to wake up.She reclined once more and shut her eyes, softly saying, "Phoebe, I'm okay. I just want to rest a little longer. Wake me up when Nate returns.""Mila…" Phoebe broke into tears, alarmed by Mila's condition. This was a side of Mila she had never witnessed before.Previously, Mila would readily shed tears over the slightest grievances, her heart easily swayed by sadness. But in the face of Nathan's accident, she remained strangely composed.Instead of being consumed by tears and hopelessness, Mila slept soundly, almost as if untouched by the tragedy.Nonetheless, her deep slumber seemed to signify more than mere exhaustion—it hinted at a profound resignation toward life itself.Witnessing this version of Mila filled Phoebe with an even greater sense of dread.As news of Nathan's accident reached Zach, he immediately mobilized search teams to s
At that moment, Cole burst into the room. His face was pale, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he struggled to catch his breath.His voice trembled as he conveyed the news, "Mr… Mr. Hoffis Senior… they've discovered… a body that surfaced… it's in a terrible state. The forensic team needs the Morrisons to come and identify it."Florence's face drained of color at his words, her legs giving way beneath her as she collapsed. Despite the shock and grief, Gary sprang into action, swiftly moving to catch her before she hit the ground.Witnessing the scene, Cole rushed to assist as well.Zach's body trembled slightly as he approached the bedside. Leaning in beside Mila, he gently clasped her cold hand, urging, "Wanda, wake up. Nate's been found."At the mention of Nate, Mila's tired eyes fluttered open, meeting Zach's gaze calmly.His expression was solemn, tears shimmering in his eyes."Grandpa, what's the matter? Why are you crying?" Mila's voice quivered with worry.Touched
Phoebe persisted, her tone urgent as she spoke, "Mila, there's an update from General Morrison. He's reached out personally. You need to wake up right away."Slowly, Mila opened her eyes, blinking wearily. Upon spotting Cole in front of her, she shut them again, muttering to herself, "It's Cole, not Nate."Taking a deep breath, Cole nervously relayed, "Mrs. Morrison, General Morrison sent me a message. He's in danger and is counting on us to rescue him."Mila opened her eyes once more, reaching out to grasp Phoebe's hand. Despite her weakened state, she attempted to sit up. "Phoebe, could you give me a hand?" she murmured.Phoebe's excitement surged as she promptly offered her support, assisting Mila in sitting up.Mila stretched her hand toward Cole, questioning, "Where's Nate's message?"Cole rushed to grab his phone, accessing the messages programmed by the coder, then promptly passed it to Mila.Mila stared at Nathan's number, then shifted her gaze to the message he had sent
A week went by with no sign of Nathan.Despite extensive searches, his body had yet to be found, almost as if he had vanished without a trace from the river.To aid in the investigation, the government discreetly deployed a highly skilled criminal investigation team to locate him.Meanwhile, Mila was relentless in her efforts. Upon regaining her strength, she dedicated herself to an exhaustive search, working tirelessly day and night.While the official search efforts focused on combing the river and surrounding areas, Mila pursued a different strategy.She meticulously analyzed the traffic surveillance footage from the day of Nathan's disappearance.Through her careful examination, she discovered that Nathan's car had been pursued by several suspicious vehicles sporting fake license plates. Although there were instances of speeding, no collisions were reported.In a sudden turn of events, Nathan's car appeared to malfunction, swerving toward the roadside barrier before plunging
"If Yale is in the clear, there's no reason for Nathan to feel anxious about his blood. But if there's a problem with Yale, Nathan would undoubtedly take swift action."Cole's realization hit him like a ton of bricks. "Mrs. Morrison, are you suggesting that General Morrison's true motive isn't to obtain Yale's blood for DNA analysis? Perhaps he's orchestrating this ruse to provoke Yale's suspicion, prompting the man to retaliate against him."Mila nodded. "That's my theory.""But why would General Morrison do that?" Cole asked.Mila, too, struggled to understand Nathan's motive. Confusion clouded her mind.Rubbing her temples, Mila thought for a moment before asking, "Cole, has Nate given you any unusual instructions recently or asked you to place anything in the car?"Cole suddenly recalled and exclaimed, "Yes, he did. General Morrison tasked me with fetching a professional diving pump with oxygen from the arsenal a couple of days ago, along with a specialized hammer for breakin
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