"You can leave. I'm going to sleep," Candice said."Sleep?" Jenna suddenly stepped forward, grabbed her hair, and slapped her hard across the face.A red handprint immediately appeared on Candice's cheek.Jenna's eyes burned with rage. "You've been throwing your weight around because of that baby long enough. Did you really think I'd keep putting up with it? From now on, you have nothing to do with the Farrow family!"Candice's expression darkened, but for once, she didn't say a word.Maisie hesitated before speaking, "Mrs. Farrow, Ms. Ashton was the only witness when Ms. Farrow fell down the stairs earlier. Maybe you should ask her about what happened…"Serena was about to leave, but hearing that, she stopped and turned back. "What happened to Mollie?""Ms. Farrow fell down the stairs. I wasn't there when it happened. But when I came back, I saw her lying at the bottom, covered in blood. Ms. Ashton was standing upstairs, looking a little strange…" Maisie said.The dullness in
Serena had no interest in getting tangled up with the Farrow family any further. What happened to Candice would be enough to send them into a frenzy. "Let's go. Just ignore them."Jenna scoffed. "Climbing your way up to the Quade family really made a difference, huh? If I had known you'd turn out to be such an ingrate, I would've raised a dog instead!"Serena stopped in her tracks. Wilson, holding her hand, lowered his gaze as amusement flickered in his eyes. "Say whatever you want. I'll back you up. If you're angry, let it out. Bottling it up isn't good for you. They've already stepped all over you, and you're not gonna snap back?" The warmth of his grip sent a surge of strength through her.Serena suddenly had no patience to hold back anymore. She turned, her gaze sharp as she stared straight at Jenna. "Yeah, I climbed my way up to the Quade family. If I had known the Farrow family was such a mess and that you were such a selfish and twisted woman, I would've done it sooner and st
"I don't need you to tell me!" Justin shot the two of them a resentful glance before turning away, dialing a number as he hurried off. Jenna followed closely behind.Serena frowned. "Candice must have fled because she knows the paternity test results will reveal the baby isn't Justin's. She's terrified of the Farrow family's reaction."Lauren scoffed. "If she really gets away, that'd be letting her off too easy.""Don't worry. She won't get far. Candice has more than one crime on her record," Serena said.Wilson's arm was still wrapped around Serena's waist when he said, "I'll take you home first. Leave the rest to me.""Okay," Serena replied.Wilson suddenly leaned in. "Was it true? About what you said to Justin just now?""About what?" Serena asked."That you like me," Wilson replied.Serena's face stiffened slightly. "Yes…""Say it again." Wilson teased."You already heard me," Serena replied softly."I didn't hear it clearly." Wilson wasn't letting it go. "That moment w
"Was Serena's kidnapping your doing?" Justin asked.Serena, Serena. It was always about Serena! A bitter taste rose in Candice's throat. She stared at Justin without saying a word.Her silence irritated him. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang. He answered, and Zane's voice came through. "Mr. Farrow, Ms. Farrow is awake!""Are you sure?" Justin asked."Yes… She says she remembers everything. And she wants to talk to you," Zane said.There was some shuffling on the other end, followed by a weak voice. "Justin…" Mollie called out."Take your time. Don't rush," Justin replied.As Mollie spoke, her voice was faint and unsteady. Justin's expression grew darker with every sentence. "I understand. Just rest for now. I'll take care of everything else."She handed the phone back to Zane, and Justin gave a few more instructions before ending the call. When he looked up again, his expression was ice-cold.Jenna frowned. "What happened, Justin? Was that Mollie? Is she awake?""
"You drove Serena away for me, and now you're putting on this pathetic show of belated affection. If anyone here is disgusting, it's you!" Candice's scathing words cut deep. Justin couldn't argue—because she was right. His expression darkened while Candice kept going. She didn't care anymore since she was as good as dead. If she was going down, she wasn't going to make things easy for them either.Justin took a deep breath. "You can continue to act crazy, Candice. But you better pray that Mollie makes it. Otherwise…" He gave her a final, chilling look, then walked away. Jenna followed. "You're just going to let her live?""What can I do? Kill her here in the hospital? Unless you want the entire Farrow family dragged into a scandal, I suggest you stop talking nonsense." Justin lit a cigarette. "Take her back first. We'll deal with her once we know how Mollie is doing. If she makes it, Candice goes straight to the police. It'll be the death penalty, no doubt.""That's too easy for
"Now your turn, Serena. Pick one," Wilson said."I think…" Serena hesitated."How about this white Mercedes-Benz?" Lauren suggested enthusiastically. "It's understated yet elegant, not too flashy but still classy. Totally suits your vibe." She knew Serena too well. Even though she and Wilson were officially together now, she still struggled to accept his gifts without hesitation.Serena glanced at the car and nodded with satisfaction. "That works.""Then it's settled." Wilson pulled out his card and swiped it without a second thought.With the car bought, he was ready to drive them home, but Lauren shook her head. "I'm not following. I just rented a new place. It's time for you two to enjoy your couple bubble—no third wheels!" She laughed mischievously.If not for that teasing tone, Serena might've actually believed she was being sincere.Wilson raised an eyebrow. "Where's your new place?"Before she could answer, a flashy red Ferrari sped toward them, coming to a sharp stop ne
"Oh? What do you want to eat?" Wilson's voice carried a teasing edge as he leaned in close. "Say it. Let me hear if it's what I'm thinking.""Shut up." Serena's face burned. She buried her head against his shoulder and bit him lightly.That only made him kiss her more fiercely. They went from the doorway to the couch, then from the couch to the bed.Serena wasn't sure how much more Wilson could take, but she sure couldn't handle it anymore. If this kept going, she might just drown. "Hey, stop kissing…"Wilson pulled himself back from the haze of desire and glanced down at her. After all that, her lips were swollen, her clothes were a mess, and her black hair spilled across the sheets, making her already delicate face look even more enticing. She looked pure yet desirable.He had planned to hold back. However, now with his arms braced against the bed, veins taut, he felt like his blood was boiling. How the hell was he supposed to resist?He lowered his head and kissed her again. "
Those three words were "I am sorry".Wilson picked up the phone, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he typed a quick reply. "This is Wilson."On the other end, Justin hadn't expected a response. He was sure Serena wouldn't reply to him. However, when the notification came so quickly, he opened it with a flicker of hope, only for all the blood in his body to run cold the moment he saw the message was from Wilson.At this hour, why was he with Serena? Justin's chest rose and fell sharply, but he no longer had the nerve to demand answers.Wilson waited a few seconds, but when there was no reply, he lost interest. The crazy man wasn't losing his mind today? That was new.Serena walked out of the bathroom, her expression back to normal. "What's wrong?""Someone texted you, and I replied on your behalf," Wilson said.She frowned and grabbed her phone. "Why are you messing with my phone?" Seeing the two lines of conversation on the screen, she was momentarily speechless.Wilson
Serena remembered now. Marcus was born out of David's second marriage.Marcus wheeled the birthday cake toward David. He stopped beside David and grinned. "Happy birthday, Dad! May you have a long and healthy life ahead of you!""Looks like you've pulled yourself together, Marcus," David praised, smiling. He'd never smiled like that when Jacob was around.David paid no mind to Jacob's darkened expression as he pulled Marcus closer and launched into introductions. "Everyone, this is Marcus. He's been majoring in finance abroad and flew home especially for my birthday today!"A few guests at the table recognized Marcus. "Goodness, it's Marcus! I haven't seen him in years! He sure looks different now.""Yes, he looks a lot like a younger Mr. David."Jacob lifted his gaze. "Dad, why didn't you tell me Marcus was coming home today?"David's smile slipped. "You should have known he was coming home, Jacob. You're the older brother, so don't go blaming me for not keeping you up to date
A loud cough suddenly sounded behind Jacob and the others. David was making his way down the stairs with Natasha's help."Mr. Smith," Wilson greeted.A shadow fell over David's face. "Wilson, I wasn't expecting you to come.""It's your birthday today, Mr. Smith. It's only right that I come over and celebrate with you out of respect, wouldn't you say?" Wilson said congenially. He snaked an arm around Serena's shoulders as he approached David. "Mr. Smith, allow me to introduce my girlfriend, Serena Judd."David made a noise of approval. "She's got a decent face and build, that much I'll say. You got lucky, Wilson.""Oh, my luck with the ladies is nothing compared to yours, Mr. Smith." Wilson grinned.Beside David, Natasha looked a little uneasy. She clutched David's arm and asked, "Would you like to sit, Mr. Smith?""Bring me to the couch so I may catch my breath."Natasha did as she was told and helped David to the couch, whereupon they sat.Jacob and Wilson sauntered to one si
Serena wished she could sew Wilson's mouth shut. He helped her put on her clothes and said, "We're going to the Smith residence tonight. It's Jacob's father's birthday."Serena considered her plans for the day. The patisserie was doing all right recently, and she had nothing urgent to take care of. As such, she agreed to be Wilson's plus-one.…Serena and Wilson arrived downstairs to find that Elsa had already prepared a meal for them. Under Elsa's curious and meaningful gaze, Serena finished her food and headed out with Wilson.They dropped by an upscale women's boutique. Serena was about to leave after picking out a dress when Wilson grabbed her wrist. "You may as well pick out a few more outfits now that we're here. With that killer figure of yours, you'll look good in anything."It was still early, so Serena decided to stay and shop a little while longer. It would have been foolish of her to decline Wilson's generous offer of new clothes. She tried on a dozen outfits, and Wils
Waking up late the next day, Serena's eyes slowly blinked open, her thoughts still hazy and unfocused. She stared at the blackout curtains that had been drawn over the window, and the memories from last night flashed through her mind.As the hand on her side gently shifted, a voice rumbled, "Are you up?"Serena hummed in response, her throat a little dry. Last night had been wild; she'd behaved nothing like her usual self. She blushed slightly at the thought.Wilson gently pinched the soft flesh of her waist and kissed her. "Lie in for a bit."With that, he lifted the blanket and got out of bed. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the room a second later, and he handed Serena a glass of water. "To quench your thirst."Wilson's tone was warm and mild, but the way his alluring eyes fixed on Serena turned his sentence into a double entendre. Diffident, she took the glass from him and had a few gulps of water.Wilson then set the glass down and began putting on his clothes.
Wilson brought Serena back to his villa.Serena was greeted by the feast on the table when she entered the door and noted her favorite dishes among the food. Wilson explained, "When I came home earlier, I told Elsa to make dinner. We'll be eating here tonight."Serena nodded. She took a seat at the table, only to see Elsa Rosenburg bustling around to tend to her needs. She served Serena soup, brought her a wine glass, and even warmly asked Serena if she could have cold drinks.Wilson narrowed his eyes from across the table. "Elsa, if you'd like to take a look at my girlfriend, you may do so openly without buzzing around her like a bee."An awkward chuckle escaped Elsa. Oh, well, so much for being subtle. But could Wilson blame her? He'd only ever brought men home, and this was the first time he'd brought a woman over—and she was his girlfriend, no less!It was a rare sight for Elsa, indeed. Before this, she thought Wilson and Jacob were dating.Elsa stared at Serena for a moment,
Damian's eyes darkened. He strode over to Wilson. "Mr. Quade."Wilson appraised him from head to toe. "What is your purpose of getting close to Serena?"Damian looked baffled. "I've known Serena for years, and we've always been on good terms. What do you mean by that question, Mr. Quade?""The next time you act dumb and naïve, try to be more convincing. Who are you trying to fool when you can't even keep the scheming look out of your eyes?" Wilson drawled.Damian froze, then flashed Wilson a smile. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Quade. Serena may be your girlfriend, but she has the freedom to be friends with whomever she wants."Wilson took a drag of his cigarette. "You sabotaged the security camera at Serena's place previously, didn't you?"Damian's smile vanished.Contempt gleamed in Wilson's narrowed eyes as he added, "Stay in line if you don't want Serena to find out just how despicable you are. I don't want to see you anywhere near Serena after this."With a
Wilson leaned into his seat and waved at Jillian through the screen as he said, "How is that you look younger since the last time we met, Madam Gallagher? And you look so fabulous and festive in that jacket, too. How will anyone tell you and an 18-year-old young woman apart?""You and your nonsense." Jillian laughed at the compliments. She gave him a meaningful look. "Do you know who got me this jacket?""Your old sweetheart?""Piss off!" Jillian snapped. "Serena got me the jacket."Surprise flickered in Wilson's eyes. He chuckled and said, "My mistake. So, it was my sweetheart who got you the jacket. How nice and generous of her; she is far better than your granddaughter. Did you reward her?""Reward her all you like when you get home." Jillian held up her phone and scoffed. "You should know you're lucky to have tricked a lovely young lady like her into falling for you."Trevor was confused. "Wait, are you familiar with Serena, too?""Yes. Our paths crossed somehow, and we beca
"Did you come to talk to me about the shop?" Jillian waved her hand dismissively. "I already told you, you get to call the shots when it comes to the patisserie. You don't have to report back to me on every little thing. Just give me my share of the profits every year."Serena said warmly, "I didn't come to talk to you about work. I just wanted to see you."Jillian went still. "What's there to see? I'm just a little old lady, and we aren't even close.""You did me a huge favor, Madam Gallagher. Visiting you is part for the course." Serena produced the gift bag and said, "I went shopping today and saw this. I thought it'd suit you and took the liberty of getting it for you. Try it on."Jillian glanced at the item in the gift bag. The style and color were to her liking, indeed. "I appreciate the gift. Leave it there.""Perhaps you should try it on first," Serena suggested, taking out the jacket and holding it up. She gently tugged on Jillian's arm and prompted, "Come on, Madam Galla
Jenna narrowed her eyes at Willow. "Your last name is Quade? What's your relationship with Wilson Quade?""He's my older cousin," Willow answered.Jenna's expression turned stormy when she heard this. She despised the Quade family.At that moment, Serena returned with the retail assistant. She had paid for Jillian's present and was ready to leave when Willow clutched her arm. "Help me pick something out."Serena nodded and began looking around the boutique with Willow.Jenna stared daggers at the two young ladies, her mood growing fouler by the second. She said scathingly, "They say birds of a feather flock together. I bet Willow is just as bad as Serena. Did you smell the smoke on her when she walked past us earlier? She must have been smoking outside before she entered the boutique!"Kelly looked offended. "Smoking doesn't mean anything. I was a smoker when I was young, too." She used to be a photographer and picked up smoking due to the stressful nature of her job. She only qu