As soon as Simon finished speaking, he froze. He had repeated what Laura had told him that day, almost exactly.He was a lawyer. Yet, his response was far from professional. Laura's words and actions had crept into his thoughts without him even realizing it. The realization unsettled him, leaving him feeling irritated.Meanwhile, William avoided Simon's gaze, guilt written all over his face. "Why are you bringing this up again? I've already told you. Those people came from some poor countryside. They don't deserve one million dollars."Besides, who in the right mind would complain about having too much money? If I can settle this with 200 thousand dollars, why should I pay a million? Didn't you say you found evidence to clear Brooks Group of most of the responsibility?"Simon had indeed found such evidence. That crucial piece meant Nick's family couldn't demand much compensation. Yet, a tightness gripped his chest, as if something unseen was pressing down on him. For some reaso
A sharp pain pierced Simon's chest. In the next instant, he held Laura tightly, as though trying to shield her from the cold. But still, she trembled uncontrollably. Without hesitation, he rushed to fill the bathtub with warm water and slowly placed her into it.Simon stroked Laura's pale face, then gently instructed, "Stay in the bath for a while. I'll make you some peppermint tea. If you start running a fever later, we might need to go to the hospital."Having said that, he turned to leave the bathroom. But as soon as he closed the door, he heard her crying.Simon froze in his tracks, then turned and rushed back in. He quickly undressed and stepped into the tub before pulling her into his arms. "I'm sorry, Laurie. I'm so sorry I came home so late," he apologized in a hoarse voice. "I-I didn't know they would—""Go away! Don't touch me!"Laura shoved him away with all her strength. Her voice broke as she screamed, "While you were happily spending time with your family, I was
Simon didn't give Laura any chance to react. He took a sip and then lowered his head before capturing her lips.Laura's eyes widened as Simon forced her to swallow the soup. She pounded on his shoulders before Simon let her go.He demanded, "I'll have no choice but to feed you like this if you don't drink the soup and take your medicine."Laura glared at him, her face flushed with both anger and embarrassment. She grabbed the bowl and downed the soup in one go. Then, she took the cold medicine he handed her.Simon finally relaxed and tucked her in. "Sleep."But how could Laura possibly fall asleep? Especially when Simon lay down beside her, pulling her into his embrace. She gritted her teeth. "Can you not touch me? I'm begging you. Don't touch me!"Simon didn't respond. He held her tightly, his warmth radiating through the thin fabric of her pajamas.Later, he noticed Laura was trembling and thought she was cold.When he turned her to face him, he realized her eyes were red, an
Laura understood Simon was technically still single since he wasn't married yet. She could still deceive herself and live in denial. But he would become someone else's husband once he married. Would she want to be his mistress?If it came to that, even she would despise herself.Simon hummed. "You can decide for yourself when that time comes. You can leave if you don't want to stay with me. But my promise will be void. You'd better believe me when I say, only I can save your father."Looking at Simon's emotionless face, Laura suddenly realized how cruel and cold-hearted he truly was. The feelings she thought they shared, the love and devotion she had poured her heart and youth into, were but a transaction in his eyes.Laura nodded. "Then let's set a deadline. I'll give you one year. If, after one year, my father's case remains unchanged, then we'll… cut ties."Simon replied calmly, "Fine, as you wish. Now get some rest."Only then did Laura close her eyes and stop resisting his t
"Madam, it seems Mr. Lance won't be coming home tonight. Perhaps you should rest first?" Martha Zayne kindly spoke upon noticing the still-lit bedroom. A hint of disappointment crossed Jennifer Yale's eyes. Just then, the sound of an engine revving came from the yard. She didn't care to put on her slippers as she rushed to the window to peer outside.Sure enough, it was Maxwell Lance's silver Bentley pulling into the garage.Jennifer took a deep breath, glancing down at her sensual lingerie while her heart pounded like a drum. Despite being married for two years, Maxwell had always slept in the guest room, and he never touched her.She knew their marriage was arranged by Maxwell's grandfather, Robert Lance, and it was not his choice. However, two years had passed. They couldn't possibly continue on like this.Did Maxwell not like her because she was merely an undergraduate with no experience in relationships? Was it because he found her too passive?With these thoughts, Jennifer
Maxwell had completely lost his rationality at this point.Whether it was the food or the drinks at the party earlier, something had gone wrong. Now, driven by desire, he found it difficult to control himself.As he touched the woman on the bed, her soft skin and fragrance aroused him considerably. The innocence in her responses and her helpless sobbing nearly drove him mad!An hour later, the man was finally satisfied and fell asleep. Jennifer felt as though her entire body had been crushed, the pain penetrating deep into her bones.Enduring the soreness in her limbs, she hurriedly got dressed and fled from the pitch-black room. In her haste, she collided with a young woman as she entered the elevator."Sorry."Jennifer's face was deathly pale. She quickly stepped into the elevator and pressed the close button.Rachel Walker immediately looked back after exiting the elevator, staring at Jennifer in disbelief before the doors closed.She recognized Jennifer as Maxwell's wife, t
Jennifer looked at him in a panic, choking out, "Hear me out. Yesterday I—""Enough," Maxwell cut her off, his gaze falling on the hickeys on her neckline. It was unmistakably the aftermath of a liaison.His tone remained calm and indifferent as he continued, "It's partly my fault for ignoring you these two years. I don't blame you for what you did. But, Jennifer, the Lance family can't accept a tainted woman as the lady of the house."Jennifer's mind went blank. All her explanations now seemed futile. Anyway, why would he listen to her when the truth was right before his eyes?Besides, even if she could prove that she had been framed by Bridget and Jocelyn, it was still a fact that she was tainted.Jennifer smiled bitterly. "So, are you asking for a divorce?"Maxwell nodded. "I hope you will make it clear to Grandpa that you're the one asking for a divorce. I can offer you a bit of dignity by keeping him in the dark about your infidelity."Jennifer felt her eyes sting with tear
Maxwell arrived home well past 11:00 pm. The villa was eerily quiet, with only a night light switched on in the living room. Jennifer sat on the couch, seemingly waiting for him.As Maxwell took off his coat and loosened his tie, he spoke impatiently, "Didn't we agree on the divorce? I won't shortchange you when it comes to assets. You can rest assured about that."He thought she wanted a larger share of the assets.Jennifer's voice was hoarse when she asked, "Maxwell, did you want a divorce because of that woman?"Maxwell's expression faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He didn't want to hide anything from her, nor did he care to."Yes. I owe it to her. That's something I must do," he admitted frankly.Jennifer chuckled bitterly. "I only discovered today how hypocritical you are. You played the victim, making me feel guilty and pushing me to get a divorce. I bet you were secretly pleased, weren't you? You finally caught me making a blunder, and you're now f
Laura understood Simon was technically still single since he wasn't married yet. She could still deceive herself and live in denial. But he would become someone else's husband once he married. Would she want to be his mistress?If it came to that, even she would despise herself.Simon hummed. "You can decide for yourself when that time comes. You can leave if you don't want to stay with me. But my promise will be void. You'd better believe me when I say, only I can save your father."Looking at Simon's emotionless face, Laura suddenly realized how cruel and cold-hearted he truly was. The feelings she thought they shared, the love and devotion she had poured her heart and youth into, were but a transaction in his eyes.Laura nodded. "Then let's set a deadline. I'll give you one year. If, after one year, my father's case remains unchanged, then we'll… cut ties."Simon replied calmly, "Fine, as you wish. Now get some rest."Only then did Laura close her eyes and stop resisting his t
Simon didn't give Laura any chance to react. He took a sip and then lowered his head before capturing her lips.Laura's eyes widened as Simon forced her to swallow the soup. She pounded on his shoulders before Simon let her go.He demanded, "I'll have no choice but to feed you like this if you don't drink the soup and take your medicine."Laura glared at him, her face flushed with both anger and embarrassment. She grabbed the bowl and downed the soup in one go. Then, she took the cold medicine he handed her.Simon finally relaxed and tucked her in. "Sleep."But how could Laura possibly fall asleep? Especially when Simon lay down beside her, pulling her into his embrace. She gritted her teeth. "Can you not touch me? I'm begging you. Don't touch me!"Simon didn't respond. He held her tightly, his warmth radiating through the thin fabric of her pajamas.Later, he noticed Laura was trembling and thought she was cold.When he turned her to face him, he realized her eyes were red, an
A sharp pain pierced Simon's chest. In the next instant, he held Laura tightly, as though trying to shield her from the cold. But still, she trembled uncontrollably. Without hesitation, he rushed to fill the bathtub with warm water and slowly placed her into it.Simon stroked Laura's pale face, then gently instructed, "Stay in the bath for a while. I'll make you some peppermint tea. If you start running a fever later, we might need to go to the hospital."Having said that, he turned to leave the bathroom. But as soon as he closed the door, he heard her crying.Simon froze in his tracks, then turned and rushed back in. He quickly undressed and stepped into the tub before pulling her into his arms. "I'm sorry, Laurie. I'm so sorry I came home so late," he apologized in a hoarse voice. "I-I didn't know they would—""Go away! Don't touch me!"Laura shoved him away with all her strength. Her voice broke as she screamed, "While you were happily spending time with your family, I was
As soon as Simon finished speaking, he froze. He had repeated what Laura had told him that day, almost exactly.He was a lawyer. Yet, his response was far from professional. Laura's words and actions had crept into his thoughts without him even realizing it. The realization unsettled him, leaving him feeling irritated.Meanwhile, William avoided Simon's gaze, guilt written all over his face. "Why are you bringing this up again? I've already told you. Those people came from some poor countryside. They don't deserve one million dollars."Besides, who in the right mind would complain about having too much money? If I can settle this with 200 thousand dollars, why should I pay a million? Didn't you say you found evidence to clear Brooks Group of most of the responsibility?"Simon had indeed found such evidence. That crucial piece meant Nick's family couldn't demand much compensation. Yet, a tightness gripped his chest, as if something unseen was pressing down on him. For some reaso
Fiona fixed her gaze on Simon, then replied, "Tell me honestly. Do you really only see Laura as the daughter of our enemy? If so, why do you keep putting off your engagement to Hailey?"Is there something else on your mind? Let me warn you. If you've developed any sympathy for that bitch, I'll end my life right in front of you!"Simon's heart sank as he heard that. He could clearly see the unwavering determination in her eyes. He would never doubt Fiona's words. After all, it was Harry who had caused Anthony's death, and that had shattered her life completely.The humiliation and torment Fiona had once endured flooded Simon's mind. He clenched his fists, unwilling to dwell on it any longer.He knew that Fiona would never accept Laura. The incident was something Fiona could never get over. Suddenly, she became agitated and grabbed Simon's arm tightly. Her voice was desperate as she demanded, "Tell me now. Do you have feelings for that bitch? Answer me!""Mom, calm down. I promi
Meanwhile, Fiona had taken Hailey to Valor Law Firm, and they waited for Simon to finish work. Both of them knew that as long as he didn't return home, Laura would be left out in the storm.Even so, that wasn't enough to quell the hatred burning inside them.Simon had no intention of dining with Hailey, so he snapped, "How could you bring my mom out in this weather? The rain is pouring down. You're a doctor. Surely you know she can't be exposed to the cold with her condition?"Fiona quickly stepped in to mediate. "What's wrong with you? Why blame Hailey?" She scolded him gently."It's been a while since I last visited you at work. That's why I asked her to come with me. Besides, a friend gave me some premium truffles. Since you two are always so busy, tonight's the perfect chance for both of you to enjoy a good meal."Simon wasn't about to argue with his mother. Hence, he reluctantly agreed. "Fine. Let me wrap things up, and we'll head back."…Half an hour later, all three re
As she spoke, Hailey strode toward the balcony to check. She was sure she had seen a figure reflected in the glass door between the living room and the balcony. Laura had to be hiding there.Just as she was about to yank the door open and drag Laura out, Fiona stepped forward and locked it from inside. Then, she turned to Hailey and said with a smile, "Why are you so jumpy today? It's about to rain. The wind rattling things outside is perfectly normal, isn't it?"Fiona's actions made Hailey abandon her suspicion. After all, a thunderstorm was expected that night.With the door now locked, Laura was trapped on the balcony with no way back in. Hailey couldn't help but pray for the lightning to finish Laura off.The thought sent a wave of satisfaction through Hailey. "Alright, I trust you, Mom. Shall we head to Simon's law firm and then return to the Moore residence together?" she asked. "Sure! Having you two around makes me so happy," Fiona replied, patting Hailey's hand affectio
Violet hissed through gritted teeth, "Oh, it gets worse! That bitch Laura has moved into Simon's place! A friend at the police station told me Jonah caught them coming out of Simon's garage together. That was how he had those photos."Hailey clenched her jaw, her anger bubbling over. She had only been to Simon's house once, and even then, he had thrown her out. She couldn't believe that Laura had the audacity to move in. "I won't let that bitch get away with this! I'm holding back for now, but once I'm Mrs. Moore, I'll deal with her," Hailey declared.…Meanwhile, Laura returned to Simon's place after work. Without wasting time, she started packing her things.Now that Jonah had been arrested, the stalking nightmare was finally over. Hence, there was no reason to stay here any longer.Although moving back to her rented apartment wouldn't free her from Simon's control, at least it was her own place.When she finished packing, Laura glanced outside. The sky darkened as thick cl
Miguel sighed, cursing himself inwardly for his stupidity. How had it taken him this long to piece it all together? The last name "Moore" wasn't common to begin with. When Simon started appearing in his life again after all these years, he should have connected the dots sooner.If he had, Simon's obsession with his refusal to take Harry's case would have been obvious.Simon's piercing, oppressive gaze bore into Miguel as he closed the distance between them. "What do you know about my father's death? How much do you know? Tell me!" he demanded. His voice was low, but it carried a dangerous edge. For a split second, Miguel's mind went blank. But a moment later, he yelled, "I don't know! Stop asking! Simon, don't forget. I'm your mentor. No matter how successful you are now, this isn't how you talk to me!"But Miguel's reaction gave Simon all the confirmation he needed. Clearly, the former knew something about Anthony's death. Yet, infuriatingly, he still wouldn't talk.Simon le