But deep down, Jennifer knew she had to stop. Otherwise, she'd end up ruining herself.Suddenly, Maxwell chuckled. Though he smiled, his expression remained as frosty as ever. He stepped closer to Jennifer, bent down, and asked, "Tell me, if Nathan found out we'd been intimate, would he still want you?""You!" Jennifer, enraged, raised her hand to strike Maxwell. However, he grabbed her wrist before she could.His gaze was sharp as he uttered each word deliberately, "You've gotten used to hitting me, haven't you? Jennifer Yale, you think you can walk all over me because you know I still care about you and can't forget you, huh?"Jennifer's heart sank. Why did Maxwell's voice and expression seem so eerily familiar? It was as if she'd encountered him in her fragmented dreams. But they'd only known each other for a month. A dull ache pulsed in her head as disjointed memories flashed before her eyes. Yet, they were like shooting stars, too fleeting to hold onto. Dazed, Jennifer f
Maxwell's eyes reflected a mix of reluctance and sorrow as he spat, "All Nathan has taught you is how to be ruthless. Since that's the case, I won't bother you anymore. Take care of yourself."Having said his piece, Maxwell cast them one last glance before walking away decisively.Jennifer's eyes welled up with emotion as she reminisced about her time with Maxwell. Despite that, she fought back the urge to cry, forced a smile, and tried to sound nonchalant."He's just a peculiar man. We weren't even acquainted before, so let's not worry about him," she said.Even though Rachel had revealed the harsh truth, Nathan chose to trust Jennifer. He gazed at her with a tender expression and replied, "Jennifer, I'm so glad you chose me."Jennifer struggled to keep her sadness at bay, reminding herself that Nathan was the one who truly loved her. She realized that if she didn't appreciate his feelings and betrayed him, she would be no different from Maxwell. With a firm resolve, she declar
"I wish Cas and Cal were here," Jennifer remarked wistfully.Nathan froze momentarily before saying, "I've already made arrangements for the kids this time. Besides, we can adjust our shifts to take turns visiting them."He feared that Jennifer might propose bringing Cassidy and Caleb over. If Maxwell discovered that Jennifer had his children, he would surely tell her everything. Nathan wasn't sure if Jennifer would ever forgive him for the five years of deceit, even though he believed his lies were well-intentioned.Jennifer hesitated, then asked, "Won't that be too hard on you? Why don't we bring them here instead?""Not at all. Doing things for the person I love is never a burden. The kids have adjusted to their life overseas. A sudden move might be too tough on them."Without waiting for Jennifer's response, Nathan took her to a clothing store. "Since we're out today, let's relax and enjoy ourselves. Don't worry about it for now, okay?"You always love this brand, so choose
If that was true, Jennifer would have to face the fact she had been terribly wrong about Maxwell.A myriad of emotions flickered in Nathan's eyes as he sighed and answered, "Yesterday, a plane bound for Gregan crashed, killing all on board. Clement Watkins was among the victims, as his name was on the passenger list."Jennifer was utterly shocked to learn that. She instinctively asked, "If he's dead, doesn't that mean there's no way to prove the truth?""You could put it that way. But don't worry. I'll find the real culprit, no matter what," Nathan replied with a steely look.Jennifer asked in confusion, "Isn't Clement the main culprit? Do you still think Maxwell might be involved?""You always get so nervous whenever Maxwell's name comes up," Nathan remarked as he cast her a meaningful glance.Realizing her unease had shown, Jennifer awkwardly explained, "I'm not anxious. I just want to know the truth."Despite his strong bias against Maxwell, Nathan stated objectively, "It's p
The days passed by in a blur. Before Jennifer knew it, the weekend had arrived. With a visit to the Lowes scheduled for the next day, she decided to leave work an hour early to get a more elegant hairstyle.The hospital was still bustling with people despite it being a Friday. The elevators were also packed and barely moving. After checking several elevators, Jennifer noticed that the one near the obstetrics and gynecology department was relatively empty. Thus, she headed toward it.Not far away, Laura sat in a chair with a blank stare, appearing deep in thought as she waited for her number to be called. Suddenly, her phone rang. The moment she saw the caller ID, she felt a surge of nervousness. Yet, she still answered the call. From the other end of the line came Simon's cold voice. "Have you gotten the contraceptive injection?"Throughout their five years together, Laura had taken birth control pills after their encounters. However, the frequent use of these pills had upset
Laura took a deep breath and replied, "So it's really you. Jennifer, don't you recognize me? What about Maxwell? Do you remember him? Have you looked for him since you returned?"A flicker of shock crossed Jennifer's eyes as she pressed, "You know Maxwell?""Of course I do! I'd never forget that scoundrel, no matter what! If it hadn't been for his endless affair with Rachel and their child, you wouldn't have had to run away like that," Laura answered through clenched teeth.After saying that, she looked at Jennifer incredulously and asked, "But what happened to you? You really don't remember any of it?"Jennifer's mind was in turmoil, the shock nearly devastating. How could Nathan's version of events be so different from what this woman was saying? In utter disbelief, she sought confirmation again. "W-Were we really best friends?" Realization dawned on Laura as she forced herself to accept the truth. "Are you saying you've lost your memory? Jennifer, you need to tell me what ha
Jennifer trembled with shock. Everything she had just learned was the complete opposite of what Nathan had told her. It felt as though she had stumbled into a parallel universe, one that was overwhelmingly devastating. Was Maxwell the father of her children? No, she refused to believe it.Jennifer asked in a subdued tone, "So… What exactly was my relationship with Maxwell?""You're his ex-wife," Laura replied, frustrated. She hadn't expected Jennifer to have forgotten about this too. Laura proceeded to explain, "You divorced him because of that bitch, Rachel. But later, you couldn't bear to do it and kept going back and forth with him for quite a while. I guess you left without a word back then because of her too."Jennifer had a sudden realization. Finally, all the reactions of those around her made sense. She understood why Maxwell had gone to such extremes to save her and why he seemed to care so much. It also explained Rachel's intense hostility and why Nathan didn't want
"Oh crap!" Laura quickly grabbed her bag and said to Jennifer, "I need to leave now. I have some matters to attend to. Let's exchange numbers. I'll get in touch with you in a few days."After all, they had so much more to talk about. Seeing Laura in such a hurry, Jennifer knew there was no time for further questions. So, they hurriedly exchanged contact information. Jennifer's eyes were filled with gratitude as she gazed at Laura. "Thank you." If it weren't for Laura, she'd still be in the dark, being played for a fool by everyone.Laura waved dismissively. "What's there to thank me for? You're my best friend!"…At the Golden Sands Hotel, Simon's mother, Fiona Graham, couldn't hide her delight. She had assumed that Simon would never show up to one of these blind dates, but to her surprise, he actually did.Sitting across from Simon, Hailey Brooks was brimming with excitement. Their parents had already agreed on the marriage, and she was infatuated with him from the moment t