Wilson was ready to carry Serena inside the hospital but was rejected by her. "I can walk by myself, Mr. Quade."Despite her disheveled appearance, her tone was extremely calm—a total contrast to the fragile and frightened woman in the car. Wilson paused. "Your clothes aren't in the best shape. Let me carry you."He didn't give her a chance to turn him down. After taking her to a VIP ward, he made a phone call. Before long, Willow arrived."I'll step out for now and have Willow accompany you. Call me if you need anything," said Wilson.Serena's peaceful voice echoed in the ward. "Thank you, Mr. Quade.""Recovering is the best way you can thank me now." With that, he turned and left.As soon as the door closed, he massaged his temples.Serena was strong, perhaps a little too strong to the point where it concerned him. He wished she would open up and be vulnerable with him, yet she closed herself off like a clam, concealing her weakest side.Of course, she had shown her deepe
With the report in hand, Willow was ready to seek Wilson when she saw him approaching from the opposite direction with a shopping bag.He immediately asked, "How's she?""This is the result. You can take a look. Luckily, she didn't suffer any bone fractures. Otherwise, it will be a tedious process."Wilson took the report and perused it, slowly relaxing his heavy heart.Noticing the shopping bag, Willow asked, "What did you buy, Will? Women's clothes?""Yeah.""Wow. I can't believe you've picked out clothes for a woman." She teased, "Hey, we've known each other for quite some time. Why have you never bought me clothes?"Wilson cast her a sidelong glance. "Why would I do that for you?""Okay! As if I'd be into your fashion taste!" She stuck her tongue out at him.Just as she prepared to leave, a nurse frantically called out for her. "Dr. Quade, a patient just came in. Car accident and leg injury. Please come and take a look!"Willow worked in the Orthopedics Department, so she
You said your thigh is injured."In the office, Willow sat in her chair; her captivating eyes appeared skeptical as they focused on the handsome man before her.Arthur adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. Despite his blood-stained pants, it didn't affect his air of elegance and nobleness."Yeah, my thigh hurts; it should be a serious injury. My ankle also hurts, and there's slight discomfort in my chest. But other than that, there doesn't seem to be anything else."Joseph stood beside him, looking apologetic. "It's all my fault, Arthur. Had I not acted rashly and engaged in a road rage, we wouldn't have been here now…"Arthur had drunk quite a bit that night, and Joseph didn't let the chauffeur drive. Instead, he wanted to drive Arthur's Range Rover to send him home.On the way, he encountered a road rage incident. He and the other driver chased each other, putting on a show of speed and passion. As a result, they got into a car accident.He was safe from injuries, but because Arth
"You don't believe me?" Willow pinched Arthur's ankle and continued the examination. "You're good. It's swollen because you twisted it, but your bone is fine."She stood up, extended her hand, pried open his shirt, and touched his chest. "Does it hurt?""Not really."What was she touching him for?"No major issues. Just get an X-ray. If there's nothing serious, the director of the Surgical Department will take care of you." She jotted down the diagnosis and handed it to him.Arthur hinted at her. "Am I leaving in this state?"His thigh was still exposed."Got it." Willow removed her white coat and put it over his thigh. "The nurse will change you into a loose hospital gown. You'll probably receive stitches on your cut. I suggest you be hospitalized for a day.""Thanks, Dr. Quade," he thanked her politely, then wheeled himself out. He had just turned to leave when he cocked his head at her again.She was confused. "What's wrong?""Are you single, Dr. Quade?"Willow's eyes nar
Willow's words hit Ronald's sore spot. He was William's younger brother, and with William's health steadily declining, his sons had proven to be no competition for Ronald. As a result, the entire family had once treated him with the utmost deference. The family was slowly slipping under his control—until William decided to reconnect with Wilson, William's illegitimate son.Wilson wasn't a saint, either. After becoming the head of the family, he outright seized Quade Group from Ronald, undoing all of his years of hard work.Everything he had invested in was in vain, and that was the pain he would carry for the rest of his life."Silence!" Ronald delivered a harsh slap to Willow's face. She was struck so hard that her head jerked to the side.Carmen stepped forward, her expression filled with panic. "Lo, how could you speak to your father like that? Apologize to him now! Let me make a new arrangement for you to meet up with Leonard."Mrs. Jones has been telling me how happy she'd
The bruises on Serena's face made Lauren feel saddened yet angered. "That scumbag did that to your beautiful face? Knife—I need a knife. I'm going to chop his wiener off!""It's fine. He suffered way more injuries than me." Serena was surprised. "Also, how did you know I'm here?""I have Wilson's assistant's number. His name was… Sebastian… or something. Anyway, I couldn't reach you all morning, so I called him. Then, I found out you got abducted by Shawn!"Her eyes reddened. "Thank goodness you're okay, Rina. Otherwise, I'd be plagued with guilt for the rest of my life. I should've stuck with you last night!"Aaron chimed in, "She went crazy as soon as she heard about you this morning. While we were on the way here, she cursed Shawn about a million times."Serena chuckled. "None of us could've foreseen it. Things might not have been that different even if you were there, Laurie. Don't blame yourself for that."Lauren, full of concern, asked, "Are you getting discharged now? Are
Serena halted her footsteps. Meanwhile, Lauren inched closer to her ear, sounding excited. "Oh, my gosh. Your Prince Charming is waiting for you right there!"Serena was speechless. Wilson was neither her Princess Charming nor waiting for her. She strode toward him and asked, "Mr. Quade, why are you here?""To see you." Wilson stood in place, his gaze falling onto her. "Not bad. You've recovered faster than I imagined.""I can resume work in two days—""Don't worry about work. Sebastian has found your temporary replacement. Your recovery is the priority here." He then hinted at her. "Do you want me to give you a ride?"Being the perceptive assistant, Sebastian quickly pulled open the door to the Lincoln limousine.Before Serena could say anything, Lauren, visibly amazed by the vehicle, quickly affirmed, "Of course! Thank you for the offer, Mr. Quade!"She slipped in like a loach, smooth and agile, her action baffling both Wilson and Serena."Well, that's Laurie for you. Please
Willow was displeased."Wilson, we're family, and you've never given me such an expensive gift," she complained.Wilson narrowed his eyes slightly. "You've never asked me for one," he replied calmly.Willow said, "Well, I'm asking now! Give me something valuable too, will you? Wilson, the way you spend money is so dashing. From today onward, you're officially my favorite person in the family!"Wilson's expression remained nonchalant. "Your flattery is too fake. It's sycophantic."Willow was speechless. His standards were ridiculously high.Lauren grinned and leaned closer, throwing an arm around Willow's shoulders. "You won't make it. You've been a pampered girl for too long. You'll never master my level of bootlicking. Don't worry, though. I'll teach you my tricks someday."Wilson's gaze shifted to Serena. "What about you, Ms. Judd?" he asked.Serena lifted her beautiful eyes. "Hm?" she murmured."Aren't you going to ask me for something?" he questioned."No need," Serena an
"You."Serena blinked, confused. However, before she could ask anything, Wilson pulled her straight back into the heat of it all.They went at it for over an hour until the bathwater had long gone cold. Only then did Wilson lift her out and carry her to the bed. Even then, he didn't let her go. Midway through, her phone started ringing unexpectedly. As she reached to see who it was, Wilson intercepted her, smoothly answering the call and placing the phone to her ear.She shot him a glare. This was the worst possible timing for a call. He was doing this on purpose, she was sure of it.Willow's voice came through the speaker. "Serena, Arthur and I picked a wedding date. Will you be my bridesmaid?""That soon?" Serena asked, trying to sound completely out of breath. "We already registered. Might as well hold the ceremony before my dad realizes what hit him. I'm also hoping to squeeze a little something out of him while he's still in a daze.""I see…" Serena murmured.Willow pau
After working up a sweat at the stables, Wilson brought Serena to one of the VIP suites nearby.She slipped off her jacket, revealing the thin layer underneath. The white shirt clung to her damp skin, outlining every graceful curve—her waist, her chest, the slope of her shoulders.Wilson had always known she had a stunning figure—slim in public, secretly soft and full in all the right places. But this view? This angle? It hit differently.Serena noticed the look in his eyes. "What are you staring at?""You," he said, unapologetically. "You're beautiful.""Okay." She was used to his flirtation by now. Without giving him more than a glance, she tied her hair up and disappeared into the bathroom.It wasn't until she sank into the warm bath that she realized that she'd forgotten to bring clothes.She hesitated for a moment before calling out to Wilson. Strangely, there was no response.Frowning slightly, she stood up, wrapped a towel around her chest, and padded barefoot to the doo
But if Gary was dead set on getting rich fast, his only option was something illegal. Gary hesitated for a second. Ever since the last kidnapping fiasco, things had been under heavy scrutiny. He had already told his men to lie low. Jumping back into the game now would be a risky move. But that hesitation didn't last long, for fortune favored the bold. And if he waited any longer, the board would eat him alive.…Back in Nocturna, Wilson leaned casually against the stable fence, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone.Trevor's voice crackled through the line.Wilson let out a cold chuckle. "You kept poking Gary. Of course he's losing it.""That's the point. If he doesn't panic, how will he slip up?" Trevor replied."This is your mess. I'm staying out of the family drama. But when it's time to drag him in, I'll help you tighten the net."Wilson's gaze drifted across the paddock and softened the instant it landed on a figure in white. He quickly added, "Anyway, tal
A heavy snowfall rolled over Silverthorn City and covered the city in snow. At the same time, terms such as "Desiree Stone bullying case, Stone family," and "Desiree and Gwen" became popular searches and dominated various platforms.Crumbling under the pressure, the Stone family asked Desiree to make a public apology in person. In front of the journalists' cameras, Desiree wore a black jacket and pale makeup.Tears fell as she apologized to Gwen, but the effects were insignificant. More and more, victims and people who knew about it came forward to reveal details online and expose Desiree's past deeds.All of a sudden, her reputation fell into the pits, and the share price of Stone Enterprise fell to a record low. The shareholders had stormy expressions during the shareholder meeting, while Gary looked somber."The considerable fall in our company's shares is on me, but this is only temporary. I'm working on getting the media to salvage Desiree's reputation. It won't take long un
Meanwhile, Desiree forced herself to remain calm. When she looked at Serena, something came into her mind. "I got it. It's you… You're the mastermind behind all of these. Serena Judd, you sent this madwoman to tarnish my reputation. It's you!"She lunged and wanted to strangle Serena. But Serena flinched and raised her hand, slapping Desiree across her face.Desiree fell with a plop from the slap. "Bitch… How dare you slap me!"Scrambling to her feet like a rabid animal, she wanted to throw Serena off, but someone stopped her.Soon, the police arrived, and Desiree whimpered in a trembling voice, "You came at the perfect timing, officers. A crazy woman came to my studio to throw a fit, and I believe Serena Judd is the mastermind. You—""Ms. Stone, we received a complaint that you're involved with bullying and kidnapping. Please come with us."Desiree was struck with disbelief. "What nonsense is that?"The police officer ignored her and gestured to the others. "Take her away."
The spectators' stares were like sharp blades to Gwen, tearing her apart bit by bit.She had worked so hard to finish university and become a better person. She wanted to start afresh, but she couldn't escape from Desiree's evil clutches.Like an intricate nightmare, Desiree enveloped her in layers upon layers, so tight that there was nowhere to run.The look in Desiree's eyes changed. "Ms. Beckham, I'm sorry about your plight, but you can't blame this on me—""What about this, then?" Gwen whipped out her cellphone and played a voice recording.Desiree's voice was cold and filled with tyranny. "Tsk, did the ugly duckling from the past become another person? I almost didn't recognize you."I think you're not bad. You have an eye for detail and perform tasks well. From now on, you'll be working for me. The price to pay will be very high if you disobey."Even if you look like an educated woman now, you're still that dirty bitch once your clothes are off. Gwen Beckham, you're foreve
"Gwen should be punished for her mistakes, but I feel sorry about her situation." Serena felt a mix of emotions.Suddenly, her cellphone beeped; it was a text from Gwen. "Serena, thank you. I lied to you. My mother already passed away a month ago, and I have no other concerns anymore. If it were possible, I wish I had known you earlier."Serena's heart pounded, and a bad premonition rose in her. She called Gwen's number, but nobody picked up. "Wilson, I think something is wrong."Wilson read the text message and made a call. The other end of the line said something, and Wilson replied curtly."Gwen went to Desiree's studio.""Let's go and look for her!"…Desiree had just closed a big deal with a client, walking the client out with all smiles. Dressed in a white business suit, she wore an elegant smile that made her look like a well-brought-up socialite.Even her client couldn't help but praise, "That's what I'd expect of a top socialite, Ms. Stone. Not only are you beautiful
Gwen thought that Serena would be mad and disappointed at her. However, Serena was composed, and there weren't any signs of resentment on her face at all.Instead, she said calmly, "Were you forced to do it?"Serena swept her composed gaze over Gwen. "Gwen, why are you working for Desiree?""Does it matter?""It does." Serena looked at her. "I want to help you.""Are you crazy, Serena Judd? I wanted to harm you before this! I wanted to kill you!" Gwen lost her composure, and tears stumbled out of her reddened eyes. "I'm sorry…" "I know that the Stones aren't as decent as they appear to be. If you know anything, you can tell us. Will you trust us?"Wilson's brows shot up slightly at Serena's words. This was the first time he saw someone talking to an enemy so kindly.It seemed that Serena was concerned about Gwen, so he decided to let her do as she wanted. Whatever happened afterward, he'd be there to take care of it.Wiping away her tears, Gwen smiled weakly. "It's useless.
Two days later, a light snowfall dusted over Nocturna and froze the city overnight. Dressed in a thick fleece jacket, Gwen arrived at Quade Group early in the morning. Today would be her last day of work handover, and she would leave the company once it was completed.On the way, she received several calls. Although the number wasn't saved, she knew who was calling her, so she silenced her cellphone.At the CEO's office, she was about to finish with the remaining handover when Elena said, "Ms. Beckham, Mr. Quade is waiting for you inside.""Alright."Gwen knocked on the door and entered after receiving Wilson's approval.There was no one else in the spacious office. In the middle of the room was a dark-colored leather couch, and Wilson was lounging on it, wearing a black button-down shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, and the collar buttons were undone, revealing his collarbones.Gwen stood still. "Did you ask for me, Mr. Quade?" "I did." Lowering his head, Wilson lit a cigare