《All too late for his love》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Willow clutched her stomach in pain as heavy snow fell. It felt as if a knife had scraped her insides. She had almost fallen to the ground in agony several times. However, she still pounded on the door of Lakecoast Vi stubbornly. "Please, Zayn. Lend me so thousand dors. Aaron''s really your flesh and blood! "He''ll die if he doesn''t undergo surgery soon. I beg you, please save him!" Willow pleaded. The pain had be even more excruciating, causing her to spasm uncontrobly, she tried to keep her back straight, only to curl up in a ball from the pain. The pain fromte-stage stomach cancer was truly unbearable. Gritting het teeth, Willow continued to pound at the tightly closed door. "Please, Zayn. I''ll do anything you ask as long as you''re willing to lend me the money! Please-" Herlifeless eyes lit up when the vi''s door was pushed open with a loud bang. "Is Zayn finally willing to see me?" she asked. Stepping out, the butler, Arthur Wright, hung a signboard on the door expressionlessly. Then, the door was locked forcefully again. Willow staggered when she saw the words on the board. Tears streamed down her face, "Willow Sanford and dogs are not allowed inside. Willow''s sobs tumed intoughter. In Zayn''s eyes, she was more inferior than a dog! He had all but deemed her as a vicious woman. Four years ago, she detested him for being poor. Aborting their child without hesitation, she broke up with him to marry into the elite Mayers family. She had even hired someone to break his legs. That wasn''t the truth, though. However, he didn''t believe her exnations. The snowstorm gradually grew heavier. The harsh wind seeped into Willow''s heart along with the frost. She could no longer discem what was colder-her body, or her heart.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. A few dead leaves were stuck to her tight arm. Willow subconsciously raised her left arm to brush them off, only to realize that she could no longer move it. Her left arm had been disabled during the four years she was imprisoned by Skyler Dawson and Louis Mayer. Zayn could never imagine the things she had experienced in the past four years. At times, even Willow found herself unwilling to recall it. Whenever she did, a that appeared was a bloodstained abyss of hell There was no longer a shred of light lett in her heart. Three dayster, Willow finally saw Zayn. They were husband and wife, yet he had arranged for her to live in a small apartment called Bordello. Bordello, named after the word ''brothel It was such a fitting metaphor. Usually, it was nearly impossible for Willow to find Zayn. He would onlye to the apartment when he wanted to torment her. That way, he could trample onber dignity ruthlessly. Zayn threw her on the floor roughly. Fixing his shirt slightly, his suit remained impable as he exuded an arrogant air. There was only a chilling coldness left in his darkgaze. Looking down upon her disheveled state on the floor, he spoke up, "You''re not skyler, detour!" Willow''s stomach spasmed in pain. Pressing against her stomach, Willow''s lips quivered in pain. However, the pain ofte-stage cancer was nothingpared to the pain in her heart. Skyler Dawson.... Once again, he had mistaken her for Skyler. Zayn once told her that he could onlyy eyes on her when he envisioned her as Skyler. Otherwise, he would feel nauseated. He wasn''t like this before. Back then, she was the woman he adored dearly. bbed his hand tightly. Willow struggled to crawl in front of Zayn when her senses retumed.m er Reaching out, she grabbed "Zayn, cm''t we get along in the future? I know you have a lot of misunderstandings about me. I can exin.. "The reason I broke up with yo you four years ago was because Skyler kidnapped Grandma. Skyler threatened me with Grandma''s life- All of a sudden, Willow felt a pain around her neck. Zayn had grabbed her neck so tightly that the rest of her words were cut off. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 2 Chapter 2 "Who gave you the right to nder skyler? Four years ago, you hired someone to break my legs. "It Skyler hadn''t sold her kidney to raise money for my treatment, I would''ve been a cripple now!" z Zayn.continued.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Skyler sacrificed her Iddney to save me. What about you? What did you do back then, willow? You were with Louis!" he seethed. "I wasn''t" Willow eximed. She shook her head forcefully. "Zayn, there was nothing between Louis and 1. Skyler was the one who framed me! I didn''t hire anyone to break your legs, it was Skyler-" "That''s enough!" he interrupted her coldly. There was a chilling look on his sculpted face. "I don''t believe a single word y you say." Willow didn''t argue. Her exnation would only cause her to make a fool of herself if he didn''t believe her. willow pressed hard against her painful stomach. "Zayn, I brought Aaron for a checkup a few days ago. He''s in a bad condition now. Can you lend me some money? "She struggled to speak up. "Oh, right. I forgot about the money." The corner of his lips curled upward. However, the smile on his face looked particrly cruel and sinister because it didn''t reach his eyes. Letting go of her neck, Zayn took two hundred dors out of his wallet before throwing it on her face. Willow felt as if her heart would shatter into pieces from the sorrow. Picking up the money carefully, she ced it away in her wallet submissively. After all, two hundred dors was still money. Zayn had cut off nearly all of her financial sources to humiliate her. Every penny he gave was the money Aaron needed to save his life. Willow spoke up carefully after putting away the money. "Zayn, can you lend me so thousand dors? I promise I''ll find a way to return it as soon as possible. "Please, Zayn. I beg you, please save Aaron!" she pleaded. "You want me to save that bastard?" Zayn sneered. His gaze was as cold as ice. "After ruthlessly kalling my child, what makes you think the bastard you had with Louis should stay alive? "I can''t wait for him to die as soon as possible. Why would I save him?" he said, sarcasm dripping in his voice. NO, Aaron''s not an illegitimate child! I didn''t abort our child. Aaron''s your flesh and blood- "she eximed. "Shut your mouth!" Zayn had exhausted thest bit of his patience. "I don''t mind sending that bastard on his way if you continue to hold me ountable for him!" He would personally deal with Aaron... All of a sudden, Willow didn''t have the courage to ask Zayn for money anymore. After all, there was no way he would lend it to her. Biting down hard on her lips, she could only throw away her dignity. "Zayn, two hundred dors is too little" she begged. A sinisterughter echoed from his mouth. A deste chill filled their surroundings. "You would throw away your dignity for that bastard?" Zayn threw a thick stack of money on Willow''s face after his words fell. Turning around, he left without hesitation. She couldn''t feel the pain even when the sharp edges of the dors cut her face. Even if two thousand dors weren''t enough for Aaron''s surgery, it was still enough for a blood transfusion. Akron would be able to live for a couple more days. That was all that mattered. As for her face.. How could such vanity matter whenpared to Aston''s life? Willow thought Zayn had a change of heart when she heard footstepsm e the door thinking that he outside had returned, she rushed toward the door in a hurry before opening it. However, Zayn wasn''t the one who stood by the staircase. It was Aaron Aaron''s gaze followed Zayn''s departing figure. His face was filled with longing and sorrow. Gripping a piece of paper tightly in his hand, Aaron''s lips moved silently! willow could tell that he had uttered the word, "Dad." Aaron quieldy hid the paper in his hand behind his back when he saw Willow. He C w.He managed an innocent smile on his pale face. "Mom," he called out. "I''m sorry, Aaron. It''s all my fault. I know you ve always wanted your father, but I "It''s alright, Mom. I don''t need Dad." Aaron hugged Willow''s aan lightly. It was heartbreaking how mature he was. "All I need is you, Mon. You''re the best mom in the world" His body stiffened after his words fell. Just like all the times before, Aaron copsed in Willow''s embrace, motionless. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 3 Chapter 3 As Aaron fell, the paper in his hand fluttered beside Willow''s feet like a withered leat. She could see the three people depicted in the paper. There was Aaron, Willow, and... Zayn?.. Aaron had always wanted a dad. He had only denied it because he was scared that she would be upset. He had even written a few crude words eamestly next Zayn''s drawing. ''My greatest hero", Willow''s tears fell silently. In Aaron''s heart, Zayn was his hero. But to Zayn, Aaron was a bastand that be looked down upon the most. It was such a tragic irony Once again, Willow''s heart was engulfed in throbbing pain. She held Aaron closely in her arms as tears streamed down her face. "I''m sorry, Aaron. I''m so sorry!" she wept Willow dared not allow the slightest dy. Holding Aaron tightly, she drove to the hospital in the old van for a blood transfusion. Aaron had severe thssemia major. Even if he were to undergo surgery this time, the doctor had warned that he still wouldn''t make it past age five. But without the surgery, he wouldn''t even make it past this winter. Aaron was only three and a half years old. He was such an obedient and mature child. Willow couldn''t ept the fact that his precious life would end in this deste winter. "Hang in there, Aaron. I won''t let anything happen to you!" she swore. All of a sudden, a red sports car rushed out at the intersection in front of the hospital before colliding viciously with Willow''s van Willow tumed the steering wheel, but the sports car still crashed into the van. At that deafening moment, Willow clearly saw the vile and twisted look on Skyler''s face. "Aaron!" Willowscreamed. Willow could clearly feel her body bleeding, but she could no longer care. As she carefully picked up Aaron who was covered in blood, Willow rushed toward the hospital. Aaron was sent to the emergency room as soon as they arrived, Willow felt an unprecedented panic as she stared at the light outside of the room. Willow prayed over and over again in her heart. Nothing would happen to Aaron. "Willow!" Hasty footsteps echoed behind her. Zayn had pressed her body against the wall before she regained her senses. "Zayn.." she mattered. Willow''s consciousness was already in a daze. Her face was pale from the loss of blood. Zayn''s heart ached when he saw Willow covered in blood. However, his demeanor quickly changed when he recalled Skyler''s words just a while ago. "How dare you crash into Skyler intentionally? She''s pregnant! Do you want both her and the child dead?" he seethed Skyler was pregnant? Willow''s heart tightened in suffocation. All of a sudden, she remembered the words he said on her eighteenth birthday. "You''re the only person I want in this lifetime. Whether it''s my body or my heart, you''re the only person I''ll give it to. You''re my one and only, Willow," he promised. His vow still existed, but he had gotten someone else pregnant.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The tips of Willow''s fingers trembled in pain. It was as if her lively, beating heart had withered in an instant, She was no longer his one and only. "Speak up!" he snapped. Zayn strangled Willow by the throat ruthlessly. "Even if Skyler wasn''t your O biological sister she bad still addressed you as such for more than 20 years. Why would you harm her?" he questioned. "I didn''t do it, Zaym. It was Skyler! She intentionally crashed into Aaron and L. She wants to Idil him...she exined. "You really won''t change, huh, egard Willow? Why would skyler regard her own child''s life Lightly just to crash into you and that bastard? Zayn''s eyes reddened. Although he had never looked forward to the child, he still felt the urge to tear Willow apart when he thought about her vile deeds. "You''ve killed both my children. You owe me two lives. You''re truly despicable, Willow," he snarled "Zay, I really didn''t do it." she pleaded. The doctor hunted over. "Mr. Carter, Ms. Dawson and Mr. Aaron''s blood types are both Rh-negative. Both of them need an urgent blood theran transfusion. "However, the hospital''s blood bank only has enough blood for one of them..." the doctor spoke out, "Let Skyder love the blood transfusion!" Zayn said. Zayn''s sharp gaze illited past Willow''s face. "As for that bastard, he should''ve been dead a long time ago The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Willow had already experienced Zayn''s headlessness before. But at that very moment, she still felt a chill in her heart as he ruthlessly crushed Aaron''s hope to live. Her teeth-chattered from the coldness. "You can''t do that, Zayn! Aaron''s really your own child! "You were the only man I''ve been with. There''s no way be could be someone else''s child!" she screamed hoarsely. "You''ll regret it if you don''t save him!" Willow swore. "I was the only man you''ve been with?" Zayn asked. There was not a glimmer of light in his dark gaze. There was a cold sarcasm on his face as he raised his eyebrows. "I''ve seen you with Louis with my own eyes. Who gave you the guts to say that I was the only man you had?" he snapped. "I didn''t! Please believe me, Zayn! I''ve never cheated on you with Louis!" she eximed Zayn sneered. The hostility around him surged like tides. "You''re filthy to the core, yet you''re still trying to act innocent in front of me. "Don''t you feel disgusted with yourself, Willow?" he questioned. Did she feel disgusted with herself? His words were hurtful. However, she couldn''t care less. All Willow wanted was for Aaron to live. Turning around, she grabbed the doctor''s hand. "Please give Aaron the blood transfusion, doctor! He''ll die if you don''t! "He''s only three and a half years old. He hasn''t even had the chance to enjoy his life yet. "He can''t die! Please, he can''t die... she begged the doctor. A thought suddenly struck Willow''s mind. "Zayn, Skyler''s falding it She smirked at me after she purposely collided with us. There''s no way she was hurt when she had such a gleeful and arrogant smile! "Zayn, she''s trying to harm Aaron on purpose! You can''t fall for her trick. "Please, don''t take away Aaron''s blood transfusion. His life depends on it!" Willow pleaded to Zayn "Please, anyone. Who can save my child." she cried out. "You''re hopeless, Willow!" Paying no more heed to Willow, he ordered the doctor again, "Save Skyler! I''ll hold all of you ountable if anything happens to her!" "Yes, Mr. Carter." Afraid to offend Zayn, the doctor quickly arranged for Skyler to have the blood transfusion. "No! Doctor, you can''t give it to Skyler! Please, please save Aaron! I beg you, please save him. "Grabbing the doctor by the hand, Willow knelt to the ground, "Please save my child... Please." she begged. *I''m sorry, Ms. Sanford.." the doctor replied as she pried away Willow''s hand.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Letting out a small sigh, the doctor ordered the assistant to send the blood bag to Skyler''s emergency room. The remaining flicker of light extinguished in her eyes. Willow gazed at the doctor hopelessly. Saving Skyler would mean that Aaron would die. A thought shed in Willow''s mind when she looked at Zayn. She grabbed his hand agitatedly. "Zayn, your blood type is Rh-negative too! You can give your blood to Aaron! Please, can you give him a blood transfusion?" she asked. "You want me to give that bastard a blood transfusion?" There was not a hint of wannth on his cold and haughty face. "He''s too dirty."" "Zayn, you can give your blood to Skyler if you''re unwilling to give it to Aaron. Let Aaron use the blood bag from the hospital..." Zayn shook her hand off roughly. His m cold gaze felt as if the Grim Reaper had arrived from the depths of hell to reap lives. "I want that bastard to die, Willow." He wanted Aaron to die.... Willow fell to the ground dejectedly. He had once whispered for her to have their child in her ears. He had been the one who swore that he would make the child the second happiest person in the world. Back then, she was still a na?ve and innocent woman. Smiling withouta care in the world she had asked, "Why wouldn''t they be the happiest person in the world?" He kissed her earlobe gently. "That''s because the happiest person in the world would be you, Willow," She wiped away the tears from theers of her eyes. In the end, she didn''t be the happiest person in the world. Their child was about to lose his life. Where in the world could happiness be? In the end, his oath was all but a joke. Willow stood up stiffly. Her eyes brightened when she saw the drying blood stains on her body. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Willow''s blood type was also Rh-negative! She could also save Aaron Although her blood quality was poor because she hadte-stage stomach cancer, in most cases, the cancer wouldn''t spread through blood. With some additional processes, there would even be a low probability for the cancer cells to survive. She could still give Aaron a blood transfusion! However, the transfusion would hasten her own death. stine even if she died on the spot. It has been a while since such a radiant smile appeared on Willow''s face. As long as Aaron could live, it was Watching as her blood was drawn out of her veins slowly, Willow felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. Aaron could be saved! with her timely blood transfusion, Aaron''s life was brought back from the brink of death. However, Willow''s body was already on the verge of copsing. She finally fainted after donating more than two pints of blood. By the time she woke up, it was already after three days. She could feel someone grabbing onto her hand tightly when she was in a daze. A voice called out her name, again and again. His voice was still as gentle as it used to be. The tinge of pity in his voice made her heart tremble. It was as if they had never experienced all the twists and turns and misunderstandings. As if they were still the couple that had depended on each other through life and death. Willow opened her eyes, thinking that she could see the person she longed for day and night. However, she didn''t expect to see skyler standing by her hospital bed with a sinister smile. It was just as Willow had expected. All that gentleness had only been her dream. Willow and Skyler had an ill-fated rtionship. Skyler was the orphan her parents had adopted. Three years ago, Skyler had found her biological parents, Caroline Shepherd and Xavier DawsDIL With that, she had be the precious daughter of the Dawsons, one of the biggest elite familles in Havenpoint. She had enjoyed endless glory and fame. Skyler then kidnapped Willow''s grandma, and used her grandma''s life as leverage to threaten Willow to leave Zayn. In the end, Willow had relented. However, Skyler still killed her grandma cruelly, Along with her aplice, Louis, the two of them had even locked her up in a dark cage There was a deep-seated hatred within Willow''s heart. "What are you doing here, Skyler?" she asked coldly. "Why, I''m here to tell you some good news, of course."Skyler smiled disdainfully. In an instant, her beautiful face took on a demon-like expression. "You''re pregnant, Willow" H "What?" Willow stroked her belly in disbelief. She had been through a lot when she conceived Aaron. This had caused her body to be severely impaired The doctor once told her that it would be difficult for Willow to get pregnant again. She didn''t think she would still be able to conceive Zayn''s child. It was a pipe dream for a patient with severe thssemia major to recoverpletely. However, she could use the baby''s cord blood so Aaron could undergo a hematopoietic stem cell transntation. That way, they would be able to cure his illness. Aaron would no longer need to be tormented by the illness. Theer of Willow''s lips curled up when she realized that Aaron could have the opportunity to y around like a normal child. However, Skyler''s sinister voice rang out and Willow snapped out of her reverie. "However, Zayn has already aborted the baby." "What did you say? Willow''s eyes widened in fury as she pressed against her stomach tightly. "What happened to my child?" "I said, the bastard in your stomach is already dead! No one can cure Aaron''s illness. He should just wait for his death!" Skyler sneered. "I don''t believe it! I''m going to ask Zayn. There''s no way he would abort our child! Willow eximed.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Willow struggled to get up, Moving quickly and viciously, skyler held her down. "Do you know why he killed your child?" she asked. Smiling coldly, she spoke up before Willow could reply. "It''s because I told selfold him that I was upsex that my child N had died. He couldn''t bear to see me sad, so he decided to kill your baby to apany mine!" In truth, the doctor had told them that Willow had a miscarriage after the excessive blood transfusion, Skyler''s face twisted in hatred when she recalled the pain in Zayn''s eyes upon hearing the news. Before this, Skyler had pretended that the two of them had spent the night together when he was drunic She had even faked a pregnancy. Zayn''s cold gaze had remained indifferent even when Skyler hadn staged a miscarriage. How could Willow manage to pull at his heartstrings, but not her? Myder''s smile became gentler even when hatred had twisted her into a demon. "I have another piece of news to tell you, Willow. "How does the taste ofte stage stomach cancer feel? Do you know how many days you still have lett?" Skyler asked. "How does the taste ofte-stage stomachicanor Chapter 6 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 6 Chapter 6 "You have less than a month left! Skyler jeered. "Do you beat me? The doctor said that you only have less than a month left, Willow. With that crippled and sick body of yours, what else can you use topete against me?" Skyler continued She only had a month left? Willow had already resigned to her early death when she knew she hadte- stage stomach cancer. However, she was still shocked when Skyler said she had less than a month left. In thest checkup, the doctor had told her that she still had half a year to live. She didn''t expect her body to deteriorate so quickly. Skyler finally felt slightly at ease after seeing the unpleasant look on Willow''s face. "The child in your belly was already three months old. It was already fully formed and it had a heartbeat. Say, do you think it could feel the pain when it was crushed to death?" Skyler asked. "There''s no way it wouldn''t hurt, right? It felt painful for me too when I saw your child all crushed and bloodied! "oh, 1 forgot to tell you. We could already determine the baby''s gender. It was a short-lived girl. It''s such a pity that I fed her to the dogs!" she taunted. "I thought Aaron was already a short-lived child. I never expected your daughter to have a shorter life than that sickdy boy! Zayn had personally taken the lives of both of your children!" "He did all these just to make me happy! Willow, I''m the one who caused your children''s death! Watching as the two of them die tragically fills me with so much joy Skyler fed her daughter to the dogs? willow could no longer restrain her fury when she heard skyler''s vile remarks, Leaping from the sickbed with an unknown strength, Willownded a ruthless p on Skyler''s face. Skyler hadn''t expected Willow to hit her. By the time she regained her senses, Willow had already grabbed her by the hair before mming her head against the "you"re mad, Willow! Hurry up and let me gol" Skyler screamed as she struggled to break away. It was as if Willow had experienced a sudden burst of energy. At that moment, Skyler was unable to break away from her unexpected strength. "You''ve killed my daughter, Skyler. You took away Aaron''s only hope to live. I''m going to kill you!" Willow snarled. Right then, Willow hadpletely lost all reason. All that echoed in her brain was the fact that her daughter had been fed to the dogs. Willow''s eyes tumed bloodshot. She would make Skyler pay the price for Idlling her child. "You lunatic! Stop right now!" Skyler yelled, Exerting her strength, Willow managed to press Skyler onto the ground. Straddling Skyler, Willow beat her haphazardly as she mmed Skyler''s head onto the ground. In an instant, a pool of blood appeared on the ground. "You deserve to die, Skyler! Just die!" Willow seethed. Grabbing onto Skyler''s long hair, she managed to tear out arge chunk of it. Willow had never loathed someone so deeply before. She wished she could devour Skyler''s flesh and drink her blood!N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Skyler had mercilessly killed Grandma. Now, Skyler had even destroyed both of her children. She would make sure Skyler paid the price! "Zayn, help me! Please save me!" Skyler screamed. Zayn rushed in as he pulled Willow away from Skyler. Throwing heronto the ground roughly, he asked, "Are you crazy, Willow?" Willow felt a sense of grievance in her heart as she watched him shield Skyler carefully in his arms. In a swirl of thoughts, willow couldn''t help but recall the moment theym realized she was pregnant. Unlike his usual cold and aloof demeanor, he had been so hap back then. Zayn had smiled foolishly as he bugged her. "We''re going to have a daughter, Lolo!" She smiled blissfully. "Why does it have to be a daughter? Maybe it''s a son!" she replied. "No. It has to be a daughter! Sons are too ugly. I want a pretty princess that looks just like my Lolo,¡± he dered with certainty. Now, their princess had finally arrived. However, he had been the one to kill her. Het corpse had even been ted to the dogs! Tears clonded Willow''s vision at that very moment. "Zayn, why did you kill our daughter?" she blurted out. Chapter 7 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Zayn''s chest tightened. Seeing the bruises on Skyler''s face, he recalled Willow''s vicious act of colliding Into Skyler''s car. In an instant, his heart turned cold again. "What, were you expecting the bastard in your stomach to live after you killed the child had with Skyler? in your dreams, Willow!" he sneered. Willowpletely broke down. "She''s not an illegitimate child! Zayn, that''s our daughter! She''s your flesh and blood!" she sobbed. "You''re a vile woman, Willow. You''ve hurt skyler countless times. There''s no way I''ll allow the child in your stomach to live even if it was my own flesh and blood! "The child you conceive is too dirty to be considered my own," he replied. Willow''s heart shattered into a thousand pieces, all of a sudden, she no longer had the strength to continue questioning him. No wonder he was so resolute in killing their child. It was because he found it dirty! "It hurts, Zayn.." skyler touched her small face pitifully. "I wanted to see Lolo after I heard she fainted. I never thought that..." she trailed off. "I won''t allow you to be bullied for nothing, Skyler!" The tender look on Zayn''s face when he looked at Skyler was so gentle that it wrenched Willow''s heart. There was only a chilling coldness left when be gazed at Willow. "Kneel, Willow!" he ordered. "What?" Willow eximed out loud. She never thought that Zayn would make her kneel. "1 said, kneel! Apologize to Skyler!" Zayn demanded. "I won''t kneel!" Willow stubbornly refused. "I didn''t do anything wrong, so why do I need to kneel down to her?" "I''m fine, Zayn. Lolo''s just a little upset after losing her child. That''s why she''s taking it out on me. I''m okay, I''m really okay," skyler spoke up thoughtfully. "Zayn, please don''t get angry at Lolo. The wounds on my body don''t hurt at all." she continued "Kneel, Willow!" Zayn threatened coldly. "Otherwise, I''ll make that bastard leave the hospital immediately!" Willow knew that Zayn wasn''t saying it for show. With his influence, none of the hospitals in Havenpoint would take Aaron in if he interfered deliberately. He was threatening her with Aaron''s life so she would kneel and begin front of Skyler. Willow was unwilling to please Skyler. However, she recalled the sweet smile on Aaron''s pale face even when he was suffering. He had alwaysforted her, telling her that he wasn''t in pain. In the end, Willow bent her knees. She knelt down in front of Skyler. Zayn stiffened. The expression on his cold face became even darker. He didn''t expect her to actually kneel down That''s right. She had always been shameless when it came to that bastard! Skyler almost couldn''t hold in the smile tugging at theers of her lips. She pinched herself forcefully before speaking up weakly. "Don''t make things difficult for Lolo, Zayn. She already knows she''s in the wrong. She''ll take good care of me." Zayn withdrew his gaze from Willow coldly, "You''re right. She''s always loved to act cheap. It just so happens that she can ve off for you. That way, we can save the money needed to hire a caregiver," he said. With that, Willow really became skyler''s personal caregiver. Dragging her painful body, Willow went to the kitchen to cook arge pot of beef stew after Skyler demanded stew. Willow would rather serve a dog than Skyler. However, Zayn had her Achilles'' heel. So, she could only bite her teeth and endure it. Skyler didn''t drink the stew when it was ced on the dining table, m Picking up therge bowl of stew, she poured it over the back of her hand instead. After that, Skyler began to yell hysterically toward the ward''s entrance. "Save me, Zayn! Lolo''s about to scald to death! came Willow was rendered speechless by Skyler''s act of s self-abuse. By the time she came back to her senses, she realized that Skyler had framed her again. Zayn would never spare her! There was no way things would take a turn for the better for Willowter. If hat''s the case, she might as well y the viin until the very end! "Don''t you always like ying the victim, Skyler? Well, this time, I''ll let you have your fill of acting!" Willow sneered. All of a sudden, Willow beldig the pot that still had more than half of the remaining stew, Using all her strength, she poured it mercilessly on Skyler The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Skyler let out an ear-splitting scream. No matter how hard she pressed her hand against her face, the pain only intensified. A fierce pnded on Willow''s face, causing her to turn sideways. Blood trickled down from the corner of her lips, but Willow couldn''t feel any pain. All she felt was a sense of amusement. The man she loved was truly blind. "My face!" Skyler''s face waspletely swollen, looking extremely terrifying. She was in so much pain that her teeth chattered. "It hurts so badly, Zayn! I can''t open my eyes! I think I''ve gone blind..." Skyler whimpered. Zayn vowed, "I''ll make sure to get justice for you, Skyler!" When he reached the doorway, he looked down upon Willow. "You''d best pray that nothing happens to Skyler, Willow. Otherwise, I''ll make sure you suffer a fate worse than death!" he warned, enunciating each word sternly. Willowughed self-deprecatingly. She had lost her baby, and there was no hope left for Aaron. Willow was already suffering a fate worse than death. She''d like to see what else he could do to make her suffer! Fortunately, the stew had already cooled while it was still in the pot. Skyler was not disfigured, nor did she be blind. However, she had still been scalded by the hot stew. Along with the wounds left on her face by Willow, she looked as wretched as she could be.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Caroline Shepherd, also known as Mrs. Dawson, rushed to the hospital without waiting for Xavier after hearing about the incident. Caroline was just about to push open the door when she heard voices talking inside. The ward''s door was slightly ajar. Nudging the door open by a crack, Caroline could clearly see Willow''s mother, Sarah Stewart, crying as she held onto Skyler. "How can I live if anything happens to you, Skyler?" Sarah wept. "Don''t worry about me, Mom. Zayn will protect me. There''s no way he''ll let Willow go this time!" Skyler said. Sarah wiped away her own tears. "Willow''s too much. There''s no way I''ll let that bitch go after what she did to my precious daughter!" she seethed. Caroline was just about to enter when she heard Sarah''s words. She stopped in her tracks. Caroline was also a mother. As a mother, she knew how much she loved her child. She never thought that a mother would call her own daughter a bitch! Instinctively, she realized that something was amiss. Right after that, she heard Sarah ask, "Say, what should we do if your identity was revealed, Skyler?" "Rest assured, Mom. The doctor said that Willow only had a month left to live. When she dies, no one will know that she''s the true heiress of the Dawson family!" There was a look of certainty on Skyler''s face. "Really? She''s really going to die?" Sarah was overjoyed. "She should''ve long been dead." The bag in Caroline''s hand dropped to the ground with a loud thump. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect to uncover such a huge secret today. Skyler wasn''t her biological daughter. It was Willow all along! Hearing the sound, Sarah and Skyler''s gazes turned toward the door. The expressions on their faces changed when they realized it was Caroline. "Mom..." Skyler trailed off. Caroline''s whole body trembled from the overwhelming shock. Pushing the door open, she stepped in and asked, "Skyler, was what you said just now the truth?" Suppressing the panic in her heart, Skyler replied, "What''s true or not, Mom? I have no idea what you''re talking about!" "You''re not my daughter, Skyler. My biological daughter is Willow, right?" Caroline gazed coldly at Sarah. "Why did the two of you lie to me?" she questioned. All of a sudden, Skyler was certain that Caroline had overheard everything. Skyler surveyed her surroundings with a cold gaze. The best thing about the VIP ward was that it was quiet. Zayn had even booked the entire level that she was in. No one would find out even if a person died here. There was a strangely gentle tone in Skyler''s voice as she got up from the bed, "I''m your biological daughter, Mom. How could I ever lie to you? Why don''t you trust your own daughter, Mom?" she questioned. Caroline sensed something was amiss as she watched Skyler approach her step by step. She turned around to leave, only to realize that Sarah had already locked the door beforehand. Caroline was unable to exert strength because her wrists had been hurt before. Easily overpowering Caroline, Skyler mmed her head against the wall. A knife appeared in Skyler''s hand just as Caroline was on herst breath. "All the secrets will be buried underground with you, Mom. Oh, that''s right, remember, Willow''s the one who killed you, not me." With that, Skyler exerted all her strength into stabbing Caroline. Again and again, she plunged the knife in her hand into Caroline''s chest. "I won''t let anything happen to you, Skyler!" Carrying Skyler gently in his arms, Zayn went straight to the office to find the doctor. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Sarah finnly pressed her hand over Caroline''s mouth to prevent her from screaming for help. She could only close her eyes, her heart filled with despair and resignation. After stabbing Caroline three or four times, Skyler finally let go of the knife. Although it wasn''t her first timemitting murder, her hands trembled uncontrobly. After all, she had been addressing Careline as "Mom" for so long. She reached out a shaky hand to check Caroline''s breathing. "Mom, she''s not breathing! You have to find a way to get Willow here, no matter what!" Meanwhile, Willow had just returned to her ward. Her left eye was twitching she couldn''t shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. However, Zayn didn''te looking for her. She had just gotten a call from the hospital informing that they had found a blood stem cell match for Aaron Thssemia major could be cured with a blood stem cell transnt. However, due to Aaron''s rare blood type, finding a match for him was like finding a needle in a haystack. Willow had always felt that the only hope Hes in using the cord blood from her unbomchild to save Aaron She never expected that things would take a turn for the better. Although she had lost her daughter, Aaron was given a second chance at life. However, the surgery would cost one million dors. She had to find a way to secure that amount of money before her time was While she was agonizing over the financial issues, her phone suddenly rang. It was her birth mother, Sarah, on the other end of the line. was up. "Willow, I had acted rashly. I was wrong, I shouldn''t have refused to help Aaron. After all, he''s my grandson. Even if he''s sick, I can''t just abandon him! A few days ago, your father and I discussed it. We were able to sell the house for one million dors, which would be enough to pay for Aaron''s treatment.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. "I''ve already transferred the money into the bank card. I''m in Skyler''s ward right now. You shoulde now and get the bankrard.¡± "Thank you, Mom," willow said sincerely. She was very grateful for her mother''s help. Despite Willow being Sarah''s biological daughter, for some reason, Sarah seemed to favor Skyler more. For instance, at that moment, although they were both hospitalized, Sarah would rather visit Skyler than her own daughter. However, none of that mattered anymore. After all, Sarah was willing to sell the house to pay for Aaron''s treatment. That showed that she did care about her. Willow was content with that It was one million dors! That should be enough to pay for Aaron''s treatment and help him get better! Even if she died, she would die in peace knowing that she had saved Aaron''s life. Willow couldn''t contain her happiness as she got out of bed and headed to Slyler''s ward. Although she couldn''t stand the sight of Skyler, for Aaron''s sake, and for the sake of the one million dors, she was willing to endure it! Willow had just reached Skyler''s ward when Sarah suddenly pulled her inside.. A heavy scent of blood filled the air, and Willow quickly turned her head to the side. She saw Caroline lying motionless in a pool of blood. Although Willow wasn''t fond of Skyler, she trully admired Caroline. After all, Caroline was her all-time favorite female celebrity. When she saw her covered in blood, Willow.couldn''t help but feel tears welling up in her eyes. "Mom, what happened to Aunt Caroline? She''s hurt so badly! Why didn''t you call for the doctor?" "Zayn! Dad! Come over right now! Willow killed Mom!" Willow was startled by Skyler''s voice, and in an instant, countless thoughts shed through her mind. In the end, only one possibility came to her mind. skyler had harmed Caroline and she wanted to push all the me on her! Willow wasn''t about to let herself be framed. She yanked her hand away from Sarah and ran for the door. Sarah was a tough woman. She''d worked on construction sites for many years in her youth and Willow was no match for her. She held Willow in a tight emp, and Willow couldn''t break free no matter how hard she struggled. Eventually, Sarah let go of her. However, the door was violently thrown open by Xavier, and Zayn rushed in right after him. When they saw Caroline lying dead in a pool of blood, Xavier and Zayn''s eyes filled with rage, "Caroline!" "Mind Caroline!"- "Dad, Zayn, thank goodness you''re here! Willow tried to kill me! Whem Mou tried to stop her, Willow ended tried to st up-killing Mom! Since I was injured, I couldn''t move at should be the one who died willow, my mother was such a kind person. What did she ever do to deserve this?" Before Willow could even defend herself, Xavier had already fiercely grabbed her by the throat¡¤ "Why did you hurt Caroline? How could you do this to my darling wate? To going to kill you to avenge Caroline! - The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Xavier, known throughout Havenpoint for his devotion to his wife,pletely lost his rationality when he saw Caroline being harmed. He gripped Willow''s neck with such strength that it almost killed her. "]-it wasn''t moet was...it was Skyler..." Willow gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you out of your mind?" Xavier''s eyes tumed bloodshot with rage. "Skyler is our daughter! How could she possibly hurt Caroline? You...you''re going to pay for this!TM Willow couldn''t figure it out either. Why would Skyler Idll her own mother? just as she felt Xavier''s grip tightening around her neck, Zayn suddenly spoke up." Uncle Xavier, Aunt Caroline is still alive!" "What?"N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Xavier was so shocked by Zayn''s words that he let go of Willow. He picked Caroline up and ran out of the room, yelling for a doctor as he went. Skyler and Sarah were both taken aback. They exchanged nces before regaining theirposure. Even if Caroline was still alive, they had a thousand ways to silence her forever! Willow took a few deep breaths of the fresh air around her. Before she could even calm down, Zayn roughly grabbed her by the chin. "Why did you do that to Aunt Caroline?" Zayn was a cold and ruthless man, but he had a soft spot for Caroline, who had raised him like her own child. As for the one who had caused Caroline so much harm, he wished he could tear her limb from limb. "I already told you it wasn''t me! Skyler is the one who hurt Mrs. Dawson!" Skyler tearfullymented, "It''s all my fault! If it weren''t for me, Mom wouldn''t have suffered like this! I won''t be able to live if anything happens to Mom! Zayn looked at Skyler with pity in his eyes "Skyler, don''t me yourself. Willow is a cruel and evil woman. She deserves to be punished!" Sarah, who had been standing by the side the whole time, suddenly fell to her lees with a thud. "Mr. Carter, please forgive Willow! she didn''t mean to hurt Mrs. Dawson! She was simply acting in the heat of the moment. She wanted to kill skyler, and Mrs. Dawson was trying to protect her, so sheshed out and stabbed Mrs. Dawson instead." Sarah turned around and grabbed Willow''s hand, her face streaked with tears. "Please juste clean with Mr. Carter, Willow! Despite what happened with Mrs. Dawson, Mr. Carter is still your husband, and he''ll definitely help you through thes!" "Mom, what''s gotten into you?" Willow''s eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed at Sarah. "I wasn''t the one who harmed Mrs. Dawson! Also, why are you helping Skyler to set me up? Mom, I''m your daughter!" Sarah wore a mask of disapproval. "Willow, it''s because you''re my daughter that I can''t bear to see you make the same mistakes!" Zayn sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. "Willow, what else do you have to say for yourself?" Willow pleaded, her voice trembling, "Zayn, please! I didn''t do it! She''s making it all up!" Zayn''s voice dripped with sarcasm. "Willow, you can''t be serious! Are you trying to tell me that your mother is lying about all this? She''s your own mother! I don''t believe she would do something like that to her own daughter!" Willow''s shoulders slumped in defeat as she heard what Zayn said. She knew that there was no point in trying to defend herself. Willow''s mind was reeling. She couldn''t believe that her own mother would be the one to personally destroy her! It was amon belief that a mother''s love was unconditional Yet, her own mother wished for her demise! It was truly ridiculous! "Willow, do you have nothing to say? I''ll make sure you rot in jail for what you''ve done to Aunt Caroline!!! Zayn was not one to male empty threats. Since he said he would send Willow to jail, he really did it. Willow still had to gather money for Aaron''s surgery. She didn''t want her final days to be spent behind bars, she tried to reason with Zayn, and even begged him on her knees, but he was unmoved As soon as Willow entered jail, she was viciously assaulted. She was already frail and sieldy, and after the beating, she waspletely incapacitated. Sheid on the ground, like a broken doll, gasping for breath. She truly wished she could just close her eyes and drift into an eternal slumber. However, when she thought of Aaron, who was fighting for his life in the hospital bed, she forced herself to stay conscious. Aaron was still depending on her to gather money to save his life! If she died, Aaron wouldn''t stand a chance either. Therefore, no matter how tough it got, she had to keep on living he had been hoping for a miracle to happen, for Caroline to wake up and prove her innocence, Ske nocence. She had waited for a week yet she didn''t receive auc E news of Caroline regaining conscloneness. She was bustead greeted by shyler''s sudden appearance. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 11 Chapter 11Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. wWillow had just suffered another round of vicious beating when Skyler sauntered over. Willowy on the ground, her skin tom and bloodied, in an unimaginable state of misery. Skyler was very pleased with Willow''s miserable state. She looked down at Willow condescendingly and said, "Willow, are you pleased with the punishment Zayn gave you?" After hearing that, willow''s heart, which had long been dulled by the pain, couldn''t help but throb again. It was Zayn who caused all her suffering! What a joke! [what''s toe There was no response from Willow, and Skyler remained unruffled. She bent down, herughterced with malice. "Zayn said this is just a taste of w for you! You haven''t suffered enough!" As she spoke, Skyler took a knife from the bodyguard beside her. Willow''s eyes widened in astonishment as she nced at the gleaming Weiss Army knife in Skyler''s hand. "skyler, what are you doing?" Asly grin spread across Skyler''s face as she shook her head. "You shouldn''t be asking me what I''ll do, Willow, you should be asking Zayn instead! Zayn''s the on who wants me to chop off your hands!" "Impossible!" Willow scrambled to her feet, her head shaking in disbelief. "Zayn would never do this to me!" Even if Zayn had her Imprisoned and beaten, she still didn''t believe he would really let someone chop off her hands! "Are you still in dental?" Skyler brandished the life in her hand, saying, ¡°Zayn had made it clear that your hands that are stained with blood should be chopped off!" Skyler''s smirk faded as she coldly instructed the bodyguard beside her, "Hold her down formel I''m going to chop off those hands for Zayn!" "Let go of me!" Willow wasn''t about to go down without a fight. She thrashed and kicked, but her efforts were futile against the two seasoned bodyguards. In the blink of an eye, she was viciously pinned to the ground, unable to budge even a fraction of an inch. "Let go of me! Skyler''s the murderer! She''s the one who killed my grandmother and also tried to kill Mrs. Dawson! She''s the one who should be punished, not n What makes you think you have the right to do this to me? Skyler pondered momentarily and said, "It''s obviously because I''m the one Zayn loves!" As she spoke, Skyler gathered all her strength and viciously swung the knife in her hand toward Willow''s hand. All of a sudden, a loud thud resounded in the room. A split second before the gleaming de could make contact with Willow''s delicate skin, Zayn swung the door open with a force that sent the weapon flying. "Zayn!" Skyler''s voice echoed in disbelief. She waspletely bewildered by Zayn''s sudden appearance. Skyler''s eyes brimmed with tears instantly as she regained herposure. "Zayn, please don''t take me for a heartless person, y? I''m just too devastated by thought of my mother remaining in a vegetative state. How could I possibly live on?" "Skyler, I would never think of you that way! I just don''t want you to personally get involved with something like this," Zayn reassured her. He bent down and picked up the knife from the ground, exuding an air of unparalleled elegance and indifference. "I''ll personally chop off her hands! Zayn bellowed. Willow clutched her chest tightly as an excruciating pain coursed through her body. She fixed her gaze on Zayn with her tear-tilled eyes as she reminisced about the past. A flood of memories washed over her, transporting her back to a time when their love was in full bloom. She vividly remembered mending his school uniform she identally pricked her finger with the needle. Zayn had tenderly attended to the mere prick on her finger and repeatedly expressed his concern over it. From that moment onward, he even prohibited her ever going near a sewing kit. She evenughed at him for making a big fuss over nothing. "Zayn, It''s just a minor injury. Don''t worry about it." At that moment, Zayn had a solemn expression as he eximed, never Winever let anyone or anything harm you! Otherwise, they''ll face my wrath!" Naturally, everything changed after all the ups and downs she had experienced in this harsh, cruel world. In the end, the one who hurt her the most was him. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Perhaps she had truly given up at that point, as Willow made no further attempt to fight back. As the cold steel pierced her flesh, she wearily closed her eyes. As the world around her plunged into darkness, she heard a desperate voice calling out her name. Afterward, she heard someone tenderly calling out to her, "Lolo," The voice sounded simr to the aloof youth from her past, the one who had once showered her with affection. He had called her "Lolo" with a voice brimming with love She was well aware that this purported tenderness was merely her own illusion, a product of her longing for her youth and for her beloved Zayn. However, her beloved Zayn, who was once the object of her deepest affections, nowy entombed alongside her broken heart, forever lost to the vast expanse of time. When Willow wok woke up, she realized it was the morning of the next next day, and she was astonished to find herself back in Bordello, with her hands intact. Then, she saw Zayn, with his slender frame and elegant posture, standing before the window, his back turned toward her as he stood by the window. She tentatively called out, "Zayn?" Zayn abruptly turned around, and for a fleeting moment, she caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar emotion in his gaze-an emotion that could only be described as heartache. In an instant, the unfamiliar emotion in Zayn''s eyes vanished, reced once again by the familiar indifference and disdain. "What? Not ying dead anymore?" Zayn sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Before Willow could utter a word, he interjected coldly, "willow, we''re getting a divorce!" "Divorce?" As Zayn''s words echoed through the room, Willow''s heart pounded in her chest. She had always known that their marriage was a twisted game of revenge, a means for him to exact his pain upon her. Yet, despite this knowledge, the mention of divorce still left her with an indescribable ache. Despite the insults and usations burled at her, she still didn''t want to divorce Zayn?. After all, she longed to bear the mantle of his w wife even after her passing. After what felt like an eternity, Willow''s voice finally emerged from the depths of her grief. It was hoarse with a distinct tremble, a testament to the overwhelming sadness that consumed her, "Zayn, you swore you''d never leave me. You said, "Till death do us part!'' You Zayn scoffed as he interrupted Willow. "Are you done ying your disgusting games? Why do you keep putting yourself through the wringer?" At first, Willow had many things she wanted to say to him, but Zayn''s hurtful remarks left her momentarily speechless. At that moment, she could only mutter, Zayn, I won''t divorce you. I''m not leaving you..." Zaynpletely disregarded Willow and forcefully hurled a stack of papers at her face. "Signit!"Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Willow''s heart plummeted as her gaze fell upon the stark words "Divorce Agreement". She was aware that Zayn''s haste to divorce her was fueled by his desire to openly wed Skyler. Although her trail state couldn''t hinder him from doing so, she refused to allow Skyler to relish in her misfortune. She was determined to hold onto the position as Zayn''s wife until the end of her days! In a sudden burst of anger, she tossed the divorce agreement onto the floor and her chin raised in an defiant gesture as she dered, "I will never sign it If Skyler wants to be the next Mrs. Carter, she can only be one over my dead body!" Zayn''s gaze grew ominous as he witnessed Willow''s defiance. His voice became even colder, devoid of any warmth or emotion. "Willow, don''t test my patience. Sign it now or else you''ll leave with nothing!" Willow was initially determined to hold out until the very end, Yet, when he threatened to leave nothing to her, she suddenly changed her mind. She slowly picked up the divorce agreement from the ground. "Zayn, if you want a divorce, you''ll have to pay me a million dors! Otherwise, you can kiss any chance of marrying your sweetheart goodbye!" Willow sneered after saying that. Suddenly, Zayn grabbed Willow''s hand. "Que million dors? You really can''t let go of that bastard, can you? m Unfortunately your scheme is going to fail! That bastard must die!" Ashe spoke, Zayn shoved the pen into Willow''s hand and forcibly guided her to sign the divorce agreement. Chapter 13 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 13 Chapter 13 "I won''t signit! I''ll never sign it unless you give me a million dors!" Although she was adamant about staying married to Zayn, Willow was more determined to secure one million dors from him. It was her only hope to pay for Aaron''s treatment and save him. Therefore, signing the divorce agreement without a fight was unthinkable Despite Willow''s desperate struggles, Zayn''s grip was unyielding. No matter how she struggled, he maintained his grip on her hand and meticulously penned her name on the divorce agreement. Finally, the divorce agreement was signed. As Zayn ced two divorce agreements into a folder, Willow felt her spirit copse, leaving her utterly devoid of energy.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Zayn was the sole object of her devotion, and despite his torment, her love for him remained unwavering She had imagined that a monthter, when she wasid to rest, her tombstone would bear the inscription "His Wife." Yet, at that moment, she had nothing to do with Zayn anymore. Their marriage was over, and they no longer had anything to do with each other! When she copsed onto the edge of the bed, Willow''s face was already streaked with tears as she looked at Zayn. "Zayn, can you please give me that one million dors? I understand your animosity towards me, your desire to see me sutter. However, for the sake of our previous rtionship, can you please lend me that money? "I''ve been diagnosed withte-stage stomach cancer. You''ll soon see me dead, just as you wished. I''m begging you, please, give me that money to save Aaron''s Did she just say cancer? And it was alsote-stage stomach cancer? Zayn couldn''t help but furrow his brow, especially at the mention of death, which sent a sharp pang of pain through his heart. His eyes held a myriad of emotions as he studied the woman beside the bed. Herplexion was ashen, her clothes a mess, herentine demeanor radiating an undeniable frailty. Could it be that she was indeed suffering from a terminal illness? In a sh, he pushed the idea aside. She had always been healthy, so how could she possibly have cancer? She was the embodiment of deception, a pro at ying the victim. How could he fall for her act? "You''re better off dead then!" Zayn''s eyes held a mocking glint, and he had a sardonic smile that could send shivers down anyone''s spine. "Willow, you can just die alongside that bastard son of yours!" Aftersaying that, Zayn didn''t spare another nce as he turned on his heel and left the room. It wasn''t until the door was mmed shut that Willow snapped out of her agonizing stupor. Zayn''s burtful remarks kept echoing in her mind. It turned out that she had been blinded by her infatuation, pouring her heart out for someone who didn''t deserve it. All she had received in return was his callous remark, "You''re better off dead then!" A wave of anguish washed over her, the intensity of her pain surpassing anything she had ever experienced before. It turned out that Zayn didn''t care about her well after all, Despite the rudimentary treatment, Willow''s wounds still inflicted excruciating pain. As the excruciating pains ofte-stage cancer grew more frequent, Willow curled up at the foot of the bed, drenched in cold sweat. Suddenly, her phone''s ringing echoed through the room, as if demanding attention. When she noticed that it was from an unlmown number, she hesitated momentarily before deciding to answer the call, On the other end of the line was the director, Joseph Dunn, from a production where she had done a short stint as an extra. Joseph exined that he was currently worlding on a music video and expressed his belief that hem persona perfectly aligned with the requirements of the female lead role. He also insisted that taking on the role would instantly propel her to stardom. Willow, a woman nearing the end of her life, had never harbored aspirations of stardom. Instead, it was Joseph''s generous offer of 100 thousand dors that piqued her interest. While 100 thousand dors was far from the one million dors she needed, it still offered Aaron a glimmer of hope for survival. Joseph''s invitation to meet at a hotel made willow wary, as she was well aware of the unsavory practices that often permeated the entertainment industry. Nevertheless, Joseph reassured her that the purpose of the meeting was strictly to discuss the My''s storyline and that they would be apanied by several other crew members, including both men and women In light of Joseph''s unequivocal assurances, Willow felt she couldn''t refuse any further without appearing overly cautious or prudish. Willow quickly put on a long-sleeved shirt to conceal the scars on her body. She applied a subtle touch of makeup to improve her overall appearance and counteract liet paleplexion Afterpopping a painkiller, she quickly made her way to the hotel. As she reached the door of the designated room, the door abruptly swung open and a corpulent hand forcefully pulled her inside. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 14 Chapter 14 During her time as an extra, Willow had benefited from Joseph''s kindness, leading her to hold him in high regard. However, during their meeting that evening, she was taken aback by his ulterior motives. In a desperate attempt to thwart his advances, she summoned every ounce of her strength, but his hold remained unshakeable. "Let go of me!" "Aren''t you in desperate need of money? Spend the night with me and you''ll be handsomely rewarded!" Although Willow desperately needed money, she had never thought of selling her body for it! At times, she found it rather absurd. Zayn had gotten Skyler pregnant, yet here she was, considering preserving her chastity for him. Who was she even trying to please? A forceful p sent a resounding echo through the room, momentarily disorienting Joseph. Willow seized this opportunity to break free from his clutches and make a hasty retreat toward the door. The door loomed just a few steps away, yet before she could reach the handle, Joseph grabbed her shoulder and ruthlessly hurled her to the ground. "Get off mel Don''t touch me! Keep your hands off me!" Willow managed to roll onto her side with great difficulty. She was about to get up and rush toward the door when a wave of excruciating pain shot through her abdomen, more precisely, her stomach, A cascade of cold sweat streamed down Willow''s forehead as her body sumbed to a state of limpness, resembling a discarded rag. She was utterly drained, incapable of mustering even a sliver of strength. When he saw Willow''s subdued demeanor, Joseph couldn''t help but gloat, "Why couldn''t you have been this obedient from the start? It would have saved me a lot of trouble!" Suddenly, the door burst open with a resounding bang, and Zayn was seen standing menacingly in the doorway. Due to the suddenmotion, Willow''s disordered emotions gradually regained equilibrium. In a deliberate manner, Joseph tidied up his lower garments. As he recalled Skyler''s instructions, he hastily retrieved several stacks of hundred dor bills from his briefcase and hurled them at Willow. ''We''ll pick this up again tomorrow evening! Afterward, Zayn ruthlessly penched Joseph in the face, causing it to contort. Joseph, visibly shaken by Zayn''s overwhelming presence, quickly retreated from his earlier bravado, "Mr. Carter, I-I really don''t understand what I''ve done to upset you! P-please tell me! I''ll do better! "Mr. Carter, I was just blowing off some steam tonight. I don''t think I did anything to upset you!" Joseph deliberately nced at Willow, who remained limp on the ground, and assumed an expression of sudden enlightenment, "Mr. Carter, could it be that you''ve also taken a liking to this woman as well?" Another forceful blow struck Joseph''s face, and he retreated from the room in a flurry of panicked movements, his tear evident in every step. As he looked at the stacks of hundred dor bills on Willow''s body, Zayn''s gaze tumed roy cold and he scoffed, "Willow, I must say, you''ve truly outdone yoursel this time!¡± Willow desperately wanted to exin to Zayn that she had nothing to do with Joseph. Yet, the excruciating pain in her stomach intensified, causing her m body to convulse uncontrobly. She was so weakened by the agony that she could barely muster the strength to defend herself. Willow''s silence only deepened Zayn''s conviction of her brazeness. He roughly tossed her onto the bed, chee and his once handsome visage e twisted into a sinister gru "willow, sher you''re so desperate for men, I''ll satisfy you!" Chapter 15N?velDrama.Org owns all content. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Willow thought that Zayn was going to assault her after he threw her onto the bed. Unexpectedly, he led her to Velvet Noir instead. There were other people in the private room as well-John Lowe was one of them. Although John was a regr at Velvet Noir who had frequently interacted with numerous women there, he had never encountered someone as exquisitely beautiful as Willow. As his gaze met her naturally alluring face, his eyes immediately shed with a wolf-like, predatory gleam. Willow''s stomach still felt like it was being ravaged by pain, making herpletely uninterested in socializing. She struggled to brace herself against the wall, stumbling and staggering as she made her way out of the room. "Willow, you can go ahead and leave! Once you step out of this room, I assure you that bastard won''t live to see another day! Zayn''s threat sent a shiver down Willow''s spine, paralyzing her legs in ce. He always knew how to exploit her Achilles'' heel, leaving herpletely defenseless. When she settled back into her seat, John eagerly plled Willow with one drink after another. Her stomach was already in a fragile state and highly sensitive to any irritants. She initially didn''t want to drink any of it, but the looming threat of Zayn''s words forced her to down one shot after another. "Mr. Carter, this youngdy.." After three rounds of drinks, John''s actions toward Willow grew increasingly bold. It was evident that he was eager to escort her back to the hotel while she was lost in a drunken stupor. Zayn''s gaze swept over Willow without a trace of emotion. Afterward, a sardonic smile spread across his face, but his eyes remained cold and unforgiving. "She''s just a promiscuous woman, do as you please! A wave of joy surged through John''s heart! When Zayn brought Willow over, he was worried that she was the woman Zayn had his eye on, so he didn''t dare to be too presumptuous. However, now that Zayn had given him the green light, he could finally let loose and follow his instincts. Willow''s face was ashen, drained of all color. Zayn actually told John to do as he pleased. Zayn demonstrated remarkable consideration by taking her to such a wretched ce! She stared nkly at the man before her, who was bing increasingly unfamiliar. Although he still looked as striking as he had been four years ago, she was ovee by a sense of unfamiliarity. She had been in denial for ages, but now, she had to face the facts. He had long ceased to be the Zayn she once knew. The Zayn who had spoiled her rotten, and who had cherished her beyond measure was no longer there, existing only in the faded memories of her eighteen-year-old self. Willow gently turned her head to the side, her gaze drawn to the hand resting on her shoulder. A delicate smile blossomed on her lips, her eyes radiating an enchanting allure, her beauty captivating all who beheld her. It turned out that Zayn thought of her as nothing more than a fickle and promiscuous woman. Backthen, she had risked her life to protect her chastity for him, even fighting to the death against Louis. In return, she had endured four years of living hell. Yet, in his eyes, she was nothing more than a promiscuous woman! She should have seen iting, yet she had clung to the illusion that her beloved Zayn would never treat her with such disregard. Since he imed she was promiscuous, she decided to fully live up to thatbell She delicately held John''s hand and whispered seductively, "Sir, this isn''t quite the ce for this. Shall we get a room instead?" Suddenly, a crisp, crushing sound resounded in the room.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Zayn''s grip tightened around the stem of the wine ss, crushing it in his grasp. ss shards tore into his palm, causing blood to flow from his wounds. Yet, he remainedpletely oblivious to the pain. Although he had intended to humiliate Willow that evening, he didn''t expect her to be in her element, leaving him feeling thoroughly frustrated! As soon as he caught sight of Willow''s breathtaking smile, John was instantly enamored Her daiting gesture of approaching him and initiating such intimate contact sent a surge of excitement through his body, leaving him utterly unaware of Zayn''s peculiar behavior. He stuttered as his plump face trembled with every word, "A-alright! Let''s go right now! My dear, you''re so beautiful,I''ll give you everything you want! I''ll even give you my life!" In a surge of raritement, Joli wrapped his arms around Willow and leaned in for a loss. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Suddenly, the sound of a wine bottle breaking filled the private room as Zayn viciously smashed the bottle onto John''s head Zayn''s inexplicable actions left everyone dumbfounded, but no one dared to question him. All they could do was remain silent and walk on eggshells around him. Zaynpletely disregarded the bloodied and wailing folin, and forcefully pulled Willow away from his embrace amidst the stunned silence of the crowd. As a searing surge of fury possessed him, he made his way toward Bordello. When she was in the prate room moments ago, Willow had acted every ounce of her strength to prevent herself from copsing he was already gued by a dangerously delicate stomach. After having consumed so much alcohol on an empty stomach and being subjected to the violent jolts of the speeding car, she felt an excruciating pain in her stomach-as if he insides were being ripped apart. As soon as they peached Bordello, Zayn threw her coughly onto the bed. Willow was in so much pain that she could barely breathe. She didn''t have the time or energy to deal with his anger. She just wanted to find some painkillers to alleviate the agonizing pain in her stomach. She struggled to feel her way around, eventually locating the medicine bottle on the bedside table, There was only one pill left in the medicine bottle. When she saw it, she felt as if she had clutched thest lifeline that would rescue her from the clutches of pain. She popped the pill out of the bottle and quickly brought it to her mouth. However, Zayn suddenly snatched the pill from her hand before she could swallow it. "Willow! How could you stoop so low!" "Zam, please, it''s just paindlers" Willow beached out her tmbling hand, pleading, ¡°Zayn, please give it to me. My stomach is in so much pain..." "In pain Zayughed decisively, sending shivers down the spine. "You deserve every bit of it!" Zayn''s eyes shed with ley disdain as he unceremoniously hurled the pill towed the window. "Please, Zayn, don''t!!! Willow desperately lunged for the pill, but her attempts were futile.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. In the final stages of cancer, the pain was the most unbearable ordeal. Many patients had not sumbed to physical exhaustion, but rather to the agonizing pain itsell As the excruciating pain intensified, Willow''s lips turned a ghostly shade of purple. She wanted to alleviate the pain on her body, yet the painkiller pill was mercilessly thrown away by Zayn. With no warto ease her suttering, she was left utterly helpless Willow dragged herself to the window, her gaze falling upon the bustling cityscape below. Outside, the city lights twinkled like a sea of stars, each house a beacon of warmth andfort. Yet, not a single one belonged to Willow. She suddenly called aensation she once had with Zayn "Zayn, look at all those liphes!" Willow, wherever the light shines, that''s where our home is." At that moment, Zayn was the one who had whispered sweet nothings to her Yet Zayn was also the one who had destroyed their supposed home. A cruel twisted date had taken their home away, In the end, Willow was left with nothing. Zayn''s usations plented through Willow''s reverie, bringing hit back to the harsh reality. She felt a wave of pain wash over her, simr to a fish struggling for survival out of water. She could only curl up into a fetal position, desperately trying to catch her breath. "Zayn, only have you in my life. Only you.. Zayn sneered with disdain and said, "Willow, you make me sick! Afterward, Wow tumbled off the bed in a disheveled state, her stomach pain causing her to retch uncontrobly. Amidst the aridicbile she regurgitated, traces of blood werdiscemible. A droplet of this blood-tinged vomit dripped onto Zayn''s foot There was unfiltered disgust in his "willow, you''re truly disgusting!" Willow''s consciousness was clouded by the Intern pain, and she could only shake her head in denial "Zayn, I''m not impre, I''m not defiled... I''m sick. I''m really just sick." when he saw willow''s distressed expression, Zayn couldn''t help but feel a twinge of guilt in blis heart. As he recalled her intense vomiting, driven by disgust, his gaze geweven more somber and unreadable. willow found him repulsive, yet felt no such aversion toward Louis. Zayn was such a tool to pine over her for all those year! Another wave of angerwashed over Zayn, and with a sudden burst of force, he dung Willow onto the nearby couch. Ashe was about to torture her again, a mouthful of bloodshed from her mouth. Soon after, she fell to the ground, lying motionless and inespommive. Zan''s eyes were bloodshot and even he was oblivious to the overwhelming panie his volo caried at that moment. Zayn''s eyes were bloodshot and even he was oblivious to the overwhelming panic his voice carried at that moment. the emergency room door swung open, he rushed forward and asked, "How is she, Dr. Smith?" ke''s face was etched with disapproval as she eximed, "She''s already In thete-stage of stomach cancer and still drinking so much alcohol! She''s rinking so putting her life at grave risk! You might as well start nning for her funeral!" Zayn froze in disbelief. It felt as if ages had psed before he are m managed to utter, "Who are you talking about? Who haste-stage stomach cancer? asking me to n a funeral for!" Who are you asking me to n a funeral for! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 17 Chapter 17 It seemed that ke wasn''t aware that the man before her was the esteemed Zayn Carter of Havenpoint. She remained unfazed, devoid of the trepidation and deference exhibited by her colleagues. ke adjusted her sses as she asked with a puzzled tone, "You were unaware that the patient has stomach cancer? Are you sure you''re a rtive of hers?" Before Zayn could utter a word, ke furrowed her brow and remarked, "She''s in such agonizing pain and yet, she still refuses to take any medication! She''s truly taking her own health for granted!" Zayn''s body froze, his mind struggling to grasp the overwhelming emotions that surged through him. He was unaware that Willow hadte-stage stomach cancer. Yet, there was one thing he was well aware of. Willow didn''t refuse to take her medication. Instead, he had thrown away her pill, preventing her from taking it. Zayn''s heart was gripped by an excruciating torment as he recalled Willow''s hopeless expression, futilely reaching for the pill at the window. With a vice-like grip, he clutched his chest, yet the relentless agony persisted, sending uncontroble spasms through his body. Never in his life had be experienced such excruciating pain After he had taken her against her will, she retched violently, her vomit streaked with blood. Instead offorting her, he found her repulsive. She pleaded incessantly, insisting that she wasn''t defiled but merely ill. It turned out that she was indeed sick our rtionship with the patient? Are you a family member? If not, please find her family so that they can be with her before she passes away. "She won''t die!" Zayn suddenly became extremely agitated. With a sudden jerk, he lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot and fixed on ke who was standing before him. Zayn''s re frightened ke so much that it caused her legs to burde, nearly causing her to copse. "I won''t let her die! No one can take her away from me!" ke took a step back, maintaining a sate distance from Zayn, and spoke hesitantly, "Sir, I implore you to ept the reality of the situation. Given her state, a week is the most we can hope for. It''s time for you to prepare for the inevitable." After saying that, ke, fearing that Zayn might have another outburst, stole a quick nce at him and hurried off to the nearby office. It was fortunate that ke was quick on her feel. If she had been any slower, Zayn would have seriously considered breaking her neck to stop her from spouting nonsense. At that moment, Zayn suddenly recalled a conversation he had with Willow. "Zayn, have you ever wondered why weddings put such importance on wedding rings? "It''s because it symbolizes etemity and evesting love! "When we exchange our vows, I want to slip on a wedding ring too-to signify our eternal, evesting love. Zayn, I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Zayn jolted back to reality. Willow had promised to spend the rest of her life with him! She would never leave him! Zayn went into a frenzy, pulling Willow into his arms as soon as she was pushed out of the emergency room. Zayn kept telling himself that as long as Willow could still live a healthy life and was willing to spend the rest of her life with him, he would do anything for her,Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. No matter how she had betrayed their rtionship and regardless of any wrongdoings she had done in the past, he would still love her and treat her as his beloved as long as she was alive. When Willow regained consciousness, it was already the following morning. As she drifted in and out of consciousness, reminiscent of her previous experience, she felt @pair of warm, reassuring hands tightly holding hers. A soothing, adfectionate voice echoed in her ears, softly calling out "Lolo" repeatedly, like a soothing luby. Willow thought she was dreaming again. Yet, when she opened her eyes, she was met with Zayn''s bloodshot gaze. "Zayn?" Willow stated at Zayn in disbelief. Suddenly, she dropped her gaze and let out a self-deprecatingugh. "I OV must be dreaming again. I can''t believe that I dreamed of Zayn returning to my side." Chapter 18 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 18 Chapter 18 "It''s not a dream, Lolo." Zayn''s voice was filled with reassurance as he gently sped Willow''s delicate hand. "I''m here, Lolo, I''m truly your beloved Zayn. H Zayn''s grip was so strong that Willow felt a slight pain, which jolted her back to reality. She realized that she wasn''t dreaming- She was utterly shocked! She was about to ask him why he was acting so strangely when he rasped, "Lolo, why didn''t you tell me you''re sick? Why didn''t you tell me you have cancer!" Willow''s eyelid twitched as she realized that Zayn had found out about herte- stage stomach cancer. "Zayn, I''ve brought this up before, but you refused to believe me." Willow''s statement sent a jolt through Zayn, and he suddenly recalled that she had previously mentioned her cancer when she had approached him for money to help with Aaron''s treatment. What did he say back then? He actually told her that she was better off dead! When he said those words back then, his heart swelled with glee. Now, he felt a gnawing pain, as if his heart was being gouged out and his flesh sliced. Zayn was unable to contain the surging emotions within him any longer. He gathered all his strength and pulled Willow into his embrace, murmuring repeatedly. "I won''t let you die, Lolol We''re going to spend the rest of our lives together!" "Zayn... Willow also held Zayn tightly, never wanting to let go. In the final moments of her life, his willingness to open his heart and embrace her was a surprise she had never dared to hope for. "I''m here, Lolo..." As she was nestled in his embrace, feeling the steady rhythm of his strong heartbeat, Willow''s heart overflowed with an unprecedented sense of contentment. She recognized this as an opportunity to persuade him to wee Aaron into his life as well. "Zayn, I didn''t lie to you. Aaron is really your biological son! Can you please go and do a paternity rest with Aaron? Once you''ve done the test, you''ll know that I didn''t betray you, nor did 1 harm our child" Zayn''s gaze deepened. After all, willow''s rtionship with Louis had always been a thom in his side. However, at that moment, he was willing toply with her. "Alright, I go get a patemity test with that bas-Zayn immediately stopped himself and continued, "I''ll go get a patemnity test with Aaron." Willow was overjoyed when he agreed to it. "Zayn, once you''ve confirmed that Aaron is your son, can you lend me money for his surgery? If Aaron can''t have the surgery, he won''t have much time left. Please save our son!" "Lolo, I promise you, as long as you''ll be alright, I''ll give you anything, even my own life!" Zayn''s lips p gently settled upon Willow''s, moving with a gentleness that spoke of her immense value in his heart. As she recalled Skyler being pregnant with his child, and how he had pressured her into divorcing him for Styler''s sake, Willow''s heart still throbbed with pain However, she already had one foot in the grave, and she didn''t dare to ask for too much. She was just grateful that he could be with her at the end of her life, that he was willing to lend money for Aacon''s surgery, and that he was even willing to raise Aaron after she was gone. verely infected, causing her to develop a high fever and loss of Zayn had initially intended to stay by Willow''s side, but Skyler''s wound had be severely consciousness, severely consciousness Since the situation was urgent, he had to go over and check on her. After instructing the doctor to take good care of Willow, Zayn headed to the hospital where Skyler was staying Skyler''s condition was dire. It took almost five hours of emergency treatment in the ICU before she was out of danger, Zayn, worried about Willow''s condition, absentmindedly tmindedly exchanged a few words with Skyler before he hurriedly made his way back to Willow''s side As he was about to enter Willow''s ward, he heard ke talking on the phone in the corridor. "This parlent is really strangel What''s the point of pretending to have m Late-stage stomach cancer? It''s the first time I''ve dealt with such a peculiar casel Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 19 Chapter 19 What did ke mean by that? Who was pretending to havete-stage stomach cancer? Zayn''s hand, which had been reaching for the doorknob of the ward, stiffened in ce, and he was instantly paralyzed on the spot, ke''s ranting continued, "When I firstid eyes on this patient, I was startled. She was bleeding from her mouth and I thought something serious had happened. It turns out she bit into the blood bag in her mouth "What''s the deal with youngsters nowadays making a big fuss over a rtionship? They should just make up after a fight. Why does she have to pretend to have such a dreadful disease? "Of course, I agreed to help her! When she was in the ER, she acted as if it was the end of the world! if I didn''t agree to lie for her, she said she''d kill herself. How could I possibly refuse to help her?" After venting her frustrations for a while longer, ke finally ended the call. As soon as on as she tum turned around, she spotted Zayn standing in the doorway of the ward. she pretended to be caught off guard as she stammered, "M-Mr. Carter What brings you here?" "Who''s pretending to be in thete stages of stomach cancer?" Zayn''s Lace was a mask of indifference, yet a surge of bloodlust seemed to erupt from his cold, deste eyes, sending shivers down ke''s spine. ke recoiled in fear, her eyes darting around nervously. "Mr. Carter, you''ve got it all wrong. I never said anything like that! Late-stage stomach cancer isn''t something to be taken lightly, so why would anyone pretend to have such a disease?" Zayn took a step forward and tightly gripped ke''s neck.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. While he remained silent, ke gasped for air as she was being strangled by him. "Mr. Carter, I-I''m telling the tru Zayn''s grip suddenly tightened, Immediately silencing ke.. She thought he was going to lose has temper, but to her surprise, he suddenly broke into a wide grin a smile ofndness, but a grimace of When he wasn''t smiling, he exuded an air of menace that sent shivers down spines. Yet, when he did smile, it wasn''t a smile of le destruction! "I''ll ask you onest time! Who is the one pretending to be sick?" Zayn''s waming caused ke''s leg to buckle beneath her. If it weren''t for his tight grip around her neck, she would''ve fallen to the ground. A wave of tremors coursed through her body as his threats echoed in her mind. She felt that if she dared to continue hiding the truth, she would be forever silenced. "It''s Willow Sandord! After she managed to answer him, albeit with much difficulty, her neck was finally released from his grip. She inhaled deeply, desperately inhaling the fresh air around her. After gasping for air for some time, she spoke up again. "Mr. Carter, Ms. Sanford''s the one who faked her illness. She offered me money and even threatened suicide to coerce me into helping her deceive you! "She''s perfectly healthy! She doesn''t havete-stage stomach cancer. She vomited blood because she bit the blood bag in her mouth. I really didn''t mean to deceive you, Mr. Carter! Please forgive me! "I swear on my life, I won''t do it again. I¡ª" "Get out of here!" Zayn roared, cutting ke off mid-sentence. ke''s legs trembled violently, and she stumbled off toward the end of the corridor. After what seemed like an eterity, Zayn let out a low, sinister chuckle. A chilling cold crept in, enveloping the surroundings in an icy embrace. In the end, an eternal, deste silence prevailed. It turned out that Willow actually pretended to havete-stage stomach cancer! Chapter 20 Chapter 19 What did ke mean by that? Who was pretending to havete-stage stomach cancer? Zayn''s hand, which had been reaching for the doorknob of the ward, stiffened in ce, and he was instantly paralyzed on the spot, ke''s ranting continued, "When I firstid eyes on this patient, I was startled. She was bleeding from her mouth and I thought something serious had happened. It turns out she bit into the blood bag in her mouth "What''s the deal with youngsters nowadays making a big fuss over a rtionship? They should just make up after a fight. Why does she have to pretend to have such a dreadful disease? "Of course, I agreed to help her! When she was in the ER, she acted as if it was the end of the world! if I didn''t agree to lie for her, she said she''d kill herself. How could I possibly refuse to help her?" After venting her frustrations for a while longer, ke finally ended the call. As soon as on as she tum turned around, she spotted Zayn standing in the doorway of the ward. she pretended to be caught off guard as she stammered, "M-Mr. Carter What brings you here?" "Who''s pretending to be in thete stages of stomach cancer?" Zayn''s Lace was a mask of indifference, yet a surge of bloodlust seemed to erupt from his cold, deste eyes, sending shivers down ke''s spine. ke recoiled in fear, her eyes darting around nervously. "Mr. Carter, you''ve got it all wrong. I never said anything like that! Late-stage stomach cancer isn''t something to be taken lightly, so why would anyone pretend to have such a disease?" Zayn took a step forward and tightly gripped ke''s neck. While he remained silent, ke gasped for air as she was being strangled by him. "Mr. Carter, I-I''m telling the tru Zayn''s grip suddenly tightened, Immediately silencing ke.. She thought he was going to lose has temper, but to her surprise, he suddenly broke into a wide grin a smile ofndness, but a grimace of When he wasn''t smiling, he exuded an air of menace that sent shivers down spines. Yet, when he did smile, it wasn''t a smile of le destruction! "I''ll ask you onest time! Who is the one pretending to be sick?" Zayn''s waming caused ke''s leg to buckle beneath her. If it weren''t for his tight grip around her neck, she would''ve fallen to the ground. A wave of tremors coursed through her body as his threats echoed in her mind. She felt that if she dared to continue hiding the truth, she would be forever Silenced. "It''s Willow Sandord! After she managed to answer him, albeit with much difficulty, her neck was finally released from his grip. She inhaled deeply, desperately inhaling the fresh air around her. After gasping for air for some time, she spoke up again. "Mr. Carter, Ms. rter, Ms. Sanford''s the one who faked her illness. She offered me money and even threatened suicide to coerce me into helping her deceive you! "She''s perfectly healthy! She doesn''t shin havete-stage stomach cancer She vomited blood because she bit mited blood! the blood bag in her mouth. I really didn''t mean to deceive you, Mr. Carter! Please forgive me! "I swear on my life, I won''t do it again. I¡ª" "Get out of here!" Zayn roared, cutting ke off mid-sentence. ke''s legs trembled violently, and she stumbled off toward the end of the corridor. After what seemed like an eterity, Zayn let out a low, sinister chuckle. A chilling cold crept in, enveloping the surroundings in an icy embrace. In the end, an eternal, deste silence prevailed. It turned out that Willow actually pretended to havete-stage stomach cancer! Chapter 20 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Zayn marveled at Willow''s audacity to deceive him. Unfortunately, she wouldn''t be able to handle the consequences. Willow didn''t go to her ward. Instead, she went to Aaron''s. Alter Zayn and Willow''s rtionship improved, he considerately transferred Aaron to the hospital where Willow was staying. After Aaron scar ident, Willow had encountered too many things and hadn''t had time to visit him. But now that he was in the same hospital, she could be with him every day. Before going to Aaron''s ward, Willow first obtained DNA test results. Normally, DNA test results would take several days, but Zayn requested urgent processing from the hospital. Within four hours, the DNA test results were ready. Looking at the DNA test results showing a 99.99% probability of paternity, along with the hospital''s stamp, Willow couldn''t help but smile. Now, Zayn wouldn''t continue to consider Aaron illegitimate. Even if she died, Aaron''s future would be assured with the care and love of his father. She needed to go tell Aaron this good news. Aaron was severely injured from the car ident but had improved significantly after days of hospital treatment, When Willow arrived, he was holding a piece of paper with a frown, as if lost in thought. Upon seeing Willow, be quickly hid the paper under his nket.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Willow''s eyes were sharp. Although Aaron haid it quicldy, she saw the few words written on the paper. "What to do it Dad hates me?" Her eyes welled with tears. She sat by the bedside, gently caressing Aaron''s increasingly gaunt face. "Aaron, your dad doesn''t hate you." "He does!" A three-year-old child, no matter how smart, couldn''t hide emotions well. His usually happy face now bore a distinct touch of mncholy. "He won''t even let me call him Dad!" "Aaron, he really doesn''t hate you. He won''t let you call him Dad because he has misunderstandings about me. He thinks you''re not his child." Once she was gone, Aaron would need to rely on Zayn for everything. She didn''t want any resentment between the father and son. She showed Aaron the DNA test results. "But everything is fine now. Your DNA test results with your dad are out, and you''re his child. He''ll truly love you from now "Really?" Aaron''s small face showed obvious s surprise, followed by some uneasiness and tension. "Mom, will Dad really love me?" "He will" Willow hugged him tightly. "My Aaron is so adorable. No one could dislike you. Aaron, Dad loves you. From now on, you should love him like you love me." "I don''t want to love him! only love you, u, Mom." Aaron''s face showed clear reluctance, but his eyes sparkled. Willow knew he loved his father very much. A father''s love was what henged for his whole life. Afterfucking Aaron in bed, Willow estimated Zayn would be back soon. She gripped the DNA test results tightly and headed toward her ward, Misunderstandings were being cleared up, and things would get better in the future. As she opened the door to the ward, Zayn stood up sharply from them couch. Before she could react, he pinned her against the wall and firmly grasped her neck. Chapter 21 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 21 Chapter 21 "2-Zayn? Willow was taken aback by Zayn''s sudden change in action. Their rtionship had obviously improved, so she couldn''t fathom why he would do something like this out of the blue. "How dare you lie to me, Willow?" Zayn frowned unhappily. His handsome face now contorted in anger, resembling a bloodthirsty demon. "What do you mean, Zayn?" Willow struggled to speak "I''ve never lied-" "Willow, you don''t have stomach cancer at all, do you?" Zayn coldly Interrupted Willow. "Do you enjoy ying me like a fool?" "Zayn..."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Willow was stunned for a moment before finally grasping what Zayn meant. She cherished the peace between them now and didn''t want any unnecessary misunderstandings. So, even though it hurt to breathe with his grip so tight, she struggled to defend herself. "Zayn, I didn''t lie to you, I really have stomach cancer. "The doctor said that it''ste-stage stomach cancer. I don''t have much time left, Zayn. Can''t we just spend this time together peacefully?" "Doctor? Hah!" Zayn sneered and abruptly pushed Willow away, watching her stumble. #willow, w, you''v I''ve truly surprised me. You actually conspired with the doctor to deceive me. But sorry to disappoint you. I''m not that stupid!" "Zayn, I didn''t. I''m really sick Late- stage stomach cancer is no joke. Why would I say that I''m sick if I''m not? After struggling to get up from the ground, Willow grasped Zayn''s hand and tried to appease him. "Zayn, can you trust me just this once? "Trust you?" Zayn smirked coldly. "You''re not worthy of my trust, Willow!" With those words, Zayn showed no further hesitation as he turned and walked out of the ward. Willow knew that if he left this time, she might never see him again. promise to save Aaron. She was dying anyway. Even if she and Zayn never met again, it wouldn''t matter. But she feared that in his anger, he wouldn''t keep his prom Clutching at his coat desperately, she pleaded, "Zayn, you promised to lend me money to help Aaron get the surgery. The doctor said he could have the surgery i two or three days. Zayn, can you please lend me one million dors? "Willow, you really can do everything to save that bastard. You even thought of falding an illness!" "Aaron isn''t a bastard!" in Recalling something, Willow quiddy took out the DNA test results. "Zayn, look at this. The hospital has stamped it. You and Aaron are biologically rted. Zayn, please. Please save Aaron." Zayn didn''t immediately respond. He lowered his gaze and fixed his eyes on the DNA test results in Willow''s hand. Looking at those bold letters, Zayn felt only irony. "99.99% probability of p patemity?" Willow nodded vigorously. "Yes, Zayn, Aaron is your biological son. Foun years ago, I The app didn''t about our baby. "Bat Willow, I don''t believe a single word on that report," Chapter 22 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Zayn''s voice remained monotonous, yet it exuded a bone-chilling coldness that sent shivers down Willow''s spine. "All I know is that four years ago, you thought I was a poor nobody and aborted our child without hesitation to cozy up with the Mayers. You cruelly threw my baby''s remains in my face! The ss shattered, and I couldn''t tell whose blood was on my face- mine or my baby''s. "All I know is that I was in unbearable pain while you were with Louis! You tried to please him, hiding the fact that you were dating me, and even went as far as hiring someone to kill me. I was left almost disabled in that car ident! All I know is Zayn, it''s not like that! Four years ago, I broke up with you because Skyler- "Willow, don''t tell me you broke up with me because Skyler forced you to. ndering her will only make you look worse, Willow, I don''t trust you. I only trust my own eyes," Zayn cut her off. Before Willow could say anything else, Zaynabruptly snatched the DNA test results from her hands. She thought he had changed his mind, wanting to take a closer look at the report. But the next moment, he heartlessly tore the document into pieces. "Trying to connect that bastard to me? Hah!" Zayn''s captivating eyes, which once entranced Willow, now seemed ruthless and cruel. "Willow, don''t disgust me with your filth here. I''m germaphobic. I don''t like dirty stuff." He mmed the tom DNA test results onto Willow''s face and left without turning back The shattered pieces fluttered down from her face, much like her broken heart that couldn''t be pieced back together. Suddenly, she had no strength left to chase after him. She leaned against theer of the wall and crouched on the floor, wanting to quietly heal herself from the harm she had just suffered. At this moment, the door swung open. Willow thought it was Zayn returning, but to her surprise, it was Aaron. Aaron still had bandages on him. He hobbled as he came in. His small, limping figure looked somewhatical yet incredibly heartbreaking Willow hastily wiped the tears from her eyes, not wanting to expose her vulnerability to him. She managed a smile. "Why are you here, Aaron? "Mom, I don''t want Dada danymore. I don''t want a dad anymore." As he spoke, his gaze stayed fixed on the paper scraps on the floor. Willow could clearly see all the light in his eyes slowly dimming, ultimately fading away. He murmured. "I don''t need a dad. I don''t need a dad."N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Suddenly, he raised his face to look at Willow. In his dark eyes, there was a determination and seriousness beyond his age. "I don''t need a dad. So, Mom, don''t let him bully you anymore. It hurts me when I see you sad." Willow couldn''t hold back anymore. Her tears fell instantly. A three-and-a-half-year-old child understood how to empathize with her, yet Zayn only knew how to make her suffer. She knew how deep Aaron''s longing for a father''s love was. Just as she m was about to say something to beard his voicefort him, vxmething choke with emotion. "Mom, do you really havete-stage stomach cancer?" Chapter 23 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Willow''s heart sank. She never wanted Aaron to Imow about her illness, fearing it might affect his uing surgery. she yfully pinched his cheek. "You heard what I said to Zayn just now, didn''t you?" Seeing Aaron nod, Willow continued with a smile, "Silly, I was just lying to him. You watch dramas too, right? Thedies in dramas nowadays often y the victim. I wanted to try it to change his mind, but I falled " y?" Despite being smart for his age, Aaron was only three and a half years old after all. He didn''t understand theplexities that adults face. "Really?" Willow ruffled his hair. "Of course! Lying makes your nose grow long. I want to stay pretty, so no long noses for me. Don''t worry, Aaron. I''m very healthy. I still want to see you grow into a strong young man." At this moment, the door to the ward swung open. Zayn entered, picked up the car keys left on the table, and left right away As he turned away, he sneered at Willow. His expression showed that he was clearly mocking her. It was obvious that he had heard the lies she told Aaron tofort him. Willow lowered her eyes. But remembering that Aaron was still next to her, she put on a cheerful demeanor. However, Aaron, who had been quietly snuggling against her, suddenly became incredibly agitated. Like an angry little beast, he charged at Zayn and viciously bit his wrist You bullied my mom! You''re a bad guy!" Aaron put all his strength into biting Zayn. In the blink of an eye, Zayn''s wrist began to bleed. Afraid that Zayn might hurt Aaton, Willow hurriedly Intervened to pull Aaron away, but Zayn acted faster. Before she could reach them, he forcefully flung Aaron aside.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Seeing Aaron curled up on the ground, she felt her heart ache intensely, as if it was being stabbed by knives, Zayn''s seyes showed no empathy as he looked down at Aaron. His disdain was evident as he said, "Serves you tight" With that, he left the ward. "Aaron!" Seeing blood seeping through the bandages around Aaron''s leg, Willow forgot about confronting Zayn. She scooped Aaron into her arms, frantically pressing the call button and shouting, "Doctor!" The wound had torn open, and it must really hurt. Beads of sweat formed on Aaron''s forehead, but he clenched his teeth to keep himself from crying out loud. He was afraid his beloved mother would feel sad. "Mom, don''t cry." Aaron extended his bandaged hand, clumsily trying to wipe away the tears from Willow''s eyes. Xit doesn''t hurt at all really. Lying makes your nose grow long. I''m not lying. It doesn''t hurt at all." Willow walled at those words. Aaron continued to wipe her tears away. "Mom, I''m sorry. It''s all my fault.m can''t protect you, and keep causing trouble for your " Willow turned her face away in distress, not wanting Aaron to see her in such a tear-stricken state. How could Aaron be at fault? Aaron was the best son anyone could ever ask for. Even if it meant harming her body, she had to raise one million dors before she died to get Aaron the surgery he needed. On the other hand, Skyler had grown restless from having to feign illness these past few days. Chapter 24 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Skyler had received a significant piece of news from a trusted source. Caroline, who was deemed to be in a vegetative state by doctors, had regained consciousness briefly after several acupuncture sessions by the genius doctor, Wynn Even though she was only awake for less than a minute, as long as she had woken up the first time, she would surely wake up again. Moreover, during Caroline''s brief awakening, she uttered a sentence, "Don''t hurt Willow." Therefore, despite Xavier''s deep hatred for Willow, being the doting husband he was, heplied with Caroline''s words and refrained from sending Willow back to prison The realization that Caroline might wake up again and expose the truth had Skyler feeling g like a cat on a hot tin roof. She was so stressed that her hair started falling out. She knew she had to do something. Xavier hovered by Caroline''s bedside almost constantly, leaving Skyler no opportunity to act. However, a major event was happening at Dawson Residence today, which Xavier had to attend. This presented Skyler with the perfect chance to strike. She felt that even God was on her side. When she arrived, the two caregivers who usually took care of Caroline were absent from the ward, much to Skyler''s pleasant surprise. The doctor had emphasized the importance of protecting the oxygen mask on Caroline''s face. If it were removed, she would undoubtedly die. Skyler swiftly approached Caroline''s bedside. If she removed the oxygen mask, Caroline would die, and those dark secrets could be buried forever. As she reached out and was about to pull off Caroline''s oxygen mask, she noticed something peculiar. There were many surveince cameras in the ward with glowing red dots. skyler''s hand froze, and she cleverly adjusted Caroline''s oxygen mask. Even if she was caught on camera, everyone would think she was just being considerate, making sure her mother''s oxygen mask fit perfectly.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. "Mom, I''m sorry. It''s all my fault. If I hadn''t been so useless, Willow wouldn''t have done this to you. Skyler grabbed Caroline''s hand, pretending to wipe her eyes a few times. "Mom, please wake up. If anything happens to you, I''ll never forgive myself. Mom, please wake up, okay?" As Skyler spoke, she distinctly felt Caroline''s fingers twitch. She was rmed but relieved to see that Caroline didn''t actually open her eyes. She knew Caroline''s awakening was imminent. She had to quickly devise a n to ensure Caroline would never wake up again. Skyler was always cunning, and she soon came up with a n -Willow She knew how desperate Willow was for money. She would do anything for money. As long as Skyler promised willow arge sum, Willow, in her desperation to save Aaron, would have no other choice. Back in het ward, Skyler dialed Willow''s number Her voice dripped with arrogance, as though she was doing Willow a favor. e "Willow Net''s make a deal." "Skyler, what scheme are you up to this time?" "Willow, I know you need money. You want one million dors for Aaron''s surgery, don''t you? Xcan give you one million dors and hire the best experts tiom alumnat. I guarantee fliry can cute Aaronpletely." Heating the silence on the other end of the line, Skyler sew she had piqued Willow''s interest. She mask Willow, this is hisst chance to live. Do you waist Aaron to die, or do you want my mom to die?" pressed on, "I''ll save Aason The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 25 Chapter 25 "Skyler, you''re crazy!" Willow couldn''t be bothered to listen to Skyler''s nonsense anymore. With those words, she abruptly ended the call. After she hung up, her heart continued to pound fiercely. She knew that perhaps if she killed Caroline, Skyler would keep her promise to give her the money she desperately needed to save Aaron. Yet she couldn''t betray her conscience. Willow genuinely liked Caroline. Caroline wasn''t just her idol. She was her guiding light. When Willow was young, she was sickly and was often bullied at school. Once, she was pushed into a muddy pit by several girls, leaving her covered in mud and looking disheveled. Caroline, who was doing charity work at the school, saw her in that state. Without the air of a celebrity, Caroline carefully lifted her out of the mud. Her exper dress was stained with mud, but she didn''t mind. She simply asked Willow if she was hurt. The memory of Caroline''s gentle actions still softened Willow''s heart. She couldn''t fathom why Skyler would want to harm someone as kind as Caroline. They were mother and daughter, after all. Nor could she understand why Xavier suddenly dropped his pursuit of her, despite harboring such intense hatred toward her. Willow wanted to uncover all the truths and clear her own name. However, her time was running short. She could only devote herst days to raising money for Aaron because nothing was more important to her than ensuring survival. Just as Willow was at her wit''s end over the money, her phone suddenly received a news alert. "The Mayer Family''s Eldest Son, Matthew Mayer, Returns as Mayer Group''s New CEO" Matthew Mayer? In disbelief, Willow clicked on the notification. The handsome man in the photo was indeed Matthew, the man in her memories. Matthew was the man whom she had shared life and death with. He had been through thick and thin with her. During the four years she was confined in the dungeon by Skyler and Louis, she wasn''t alone. Inside, there was a man covered in blood-Matthew. At that time, Matthew had been a wreck. She had helped him with massages and obtained medicine to prevent him from bing a cripple. Her left arm had been disabled from her attempt to save Matthew. That day, on a whim, Louis ordered the dungeon guards to cripple Matthew''s legs. She fought desperately to protect him, sacrificing her arm to ensure his safe She only had Zayn in her heart and had no romantic feelings for Matthew. Yet, the life-and-death struggles they faced together were enough to make her willing disregard her life for him. Matthew once said that if they could leave the dungeon alive and see the sun again, he would work hard to earn money and cure Aaron''s illness. Now, he was rich. He would definitely be willing to lend her money to cure Aaron. The thought of Aaron being saved almost drove Willow mad with joy. She didn''t know where Matthew lived now, but she found Mayer Tower''s location online and went there to find him. Willow originally intended to go to his office, but without an appointment, the receptionist wouldn''t let her in. So she could only wait for him in the underground parking lot of Mayer Tower. She began waiting in the morning and finally saw Matthew as evening fell. Seeing him emerge from the elevator, she quickly walked up to him and grabbed his arm tightly. "Matthew, I finally found you! Where did you go after leaving the moten that day? Why didn''t you contact me or Aaron?" Being grabbed like that, Matthew seemed momentarily stunned. In an instant, his demeanor turned icy. Chapter 26 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 "Miss, what are you doing?" Frowning, Matthew coldly shook off Willow''s hand with obvious irritation. Willow couldn''t believe what she was seeing. Matthew, who had been through thick and thin with her, didn''t recognize her? At that moment, she noticed the adorable and charming woman standing beside Matthew. She knew her-she was Skyler''s best friend, Wilhelmina Foster. Wilhelmina gently wrapped her arms around Matthew''s and said, "Matt, do you know Willow? She seems to be familiar with you. I''ll get jealous if there''s another woman by your side." Matthew tightened his grip on Wilhelmina''s hand, and his expression turned gentle. "Wi, I only want you." Wi... Willow''s heart skipped a beat. In the dungeon, Matthew always called her Wi. Now, he didn''t recognize her and was calling another woman Wi. What on earth was going on? Willow instinctively felt that this must be Skyler and Wilhelmina''s doing. When they were in school, the two of them always got up to mischief. Seeing Matthew about to leave with Wilhelmina, Willow hurriedly caught up. "Matthew, I am Wi! What''s happened? How could you forget about Aaron and I? Matthew, Aaron''s condition is getting worse. He-" "Ah!" Before Willow could finish her sentence, Wilhelmina stumbled and fell weakly to the ground.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. When she looked up, her beautiful face was filled with grievance. "Willow, what''s gotten into you today? Why are you bothering my fianc¨¦ and pushing me down?" "Wi!" Matthew carefully embraced Wilhelmina. His eyes were filled with concern and pity. The Matthew before her now slowly ovepped with the gentle young man in Willow''s memory. But when he faced her, all that remained was coldness. "Willow, apologize to Wi now." "I didn''t even touch her! She fell on her own!" Willow noticed the surveince cameras flickering in the underground garage and quickly added, "If you don''t believe me, you can check the surveince footage. Once you see it, you''ll know who should be the one apologizing." "Matt, it hurts..." Wilhelmina''s adorable face showed apparent distress, as if she were truly hurt. Matthew''s gaze sharpened. His words to Willow were filled with warning and impatience. "Apologize!" Willow lifted her head, staring at him as though he were a stranger. Matthew had a softly contoured face. Seeing him, she couldn''t help but think that this/was what a kind gentleman looked like. Yet, in just a few short months, he had transformed from a refined gentleman into an ice sculpture. Remembering how Matthew always protected her unconditionally, even sacrificing his own meal to save a piece of bread for her, Willow felt deep sadness seeing him unable to discem right from wrong, just like Zayn. She was about to speak up in defense of herself when suddenly her knee buckled in pain. Matthew had brutally kicked her knee. Chapter 27 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Matthew''s kick was brutal, instantly sending Willow to her knees. Matthew gently embraced Wilhelmina and said, "Wi, I''ll make her apologize to you! I promised you, I won''t let anyone bully you! "Wi, when we get out of here, I won''t let anyone bully you again!" As Willow watched Matthew leave, she remembered the countless times he had spoken to her in the dungeon, and tears blurred her vision. She found the world quite ridiculous. She had been forced to kneel twice, and the ones forcing her were the man she loved most and her closest friend. The people she cared about the most always seemed to trample on her dignity. Willow''s knees throbbed with pain, and her stomach started to ache. She finally managed to lean against the nearby wall and stand up reluctantly after some time. She wandered through the busy streets like a zombie and suddenly felt like the future looked bleak, with no light ahead. Gathering a million dors before her death was indeed an impossible task. But even if she had to fight against the heavens, she would cure Aaron''s illness and let him live a long, healthy life. After wandering like a ghost on the street for almost half an hour, Willow finally returned to Bordello. She wanted to go back to Bordello to search for anything she could sell to help treat Aaron''s illness. Bordello belonged to Zayn, so she couldn''t sell it. But there were some things inside that she had purchased, which she could exchange for some money at the second-hand market.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. As soon as Willow opened the door, she saw Zayn sitting on the sofa in the living room, the light enveloping him, making it impossible to see any brightness o him, only the engulfing darkness and cruelty. Zayn suddenly looked at Willow with suffocating rage and anger. He then stood up and fiercely mmed a stack of photos in his hand onto her face. "Willow, you really have some nerve!" He roughly grabbed Willow''s neck and continued, "I was with you just yesterday, and you couldn''t wait to go out and find another man. Do you need a man eve single day, or will you die without one?" "Zayn, I don''t know what you''re talking about!" Willow forcefully broke free from Zayn''s grip, feeling quite speechless. Almost every time she saw him, he had to grab her by the neck. Perhaps due to being misunderstood too many times, Willow felt numb this time. Surprisingly, she didn''t feel as upset as before. In fact, she even found it somewhat amusing to think that one day, she would turn into a giraffe from all the neck-grabbing. "You don''t know?" Zayn''s smile was cold. "Are you tired of being yed by Louis, and now trying to hook up with his older brother? Willow, you''re simply shameless!" "I didn''t!" Willow shook her head vigorously. " "Heh." Zayn sneered, clearly not believing Willow''s words. At this moment, Willow also saw the photos on the ground. Those photos were taken when she met Matthew in the underground parking lot earlier that night. There was no intimate contact between her and Matthew tonight, but because of the angles in the photos, it looked like she shamelessly threw herself at Matthew. ¡°Willow, do you have anything else to say?" Chapter 28 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Zayn picked up a photo from the ground. It captured the moment when Matthew kicked Willow''s knee. Whenbined with the previous photos, it looked like she was throwing herself at him and being kicked away with disgust. Zayn''s eyes were filled with distrust, and Willow didn''t feel like defending herself anymore. She forced a smile, and despite feeling so world-weary and helpless, she still looked stunningly beautiful. "Zayn, it seems like you''ve forgotten we''re already divorced. "This means that from now on, I will no longer be your wife, and our marriage and wedding are irrelevant! "So, whether I hook up with a man or a group of men, it has nothing to do with you anymore! Zayn, you''re no longer someone significant to me!" "Willow, how dare you!" Zayn shot back. He suddenly pressed Willow onto the sofa. "Willow, even if I don''t want you anymore, don''t think about shacking up with other men!" Willow knew that he would disregard her wishes and do what he usually did to her next. She didn''t struggle, she simply looked at him tiredly. "Zayn, do you know what I''ve just done outside? I''m someone who''s willing to do anything. Zayn, aren''t you disgusted? I remember you''re a clean freak." Zayn pushed her away and left with a cold remark, "Willow, you''re truly despicable!" Then, he left without looking back. Willow crashed heavily onto the cold floor, and waves of intense pain engulfed her stomach.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. She gripped her stomach tightly, attempting to get up from the ground, but the pain was too much. Despite her efforts, she could only curl up on the ground, writhing in spasms of agony. She didn''t have any painkillers on her, and with the pain intensifying, she felt like she might die from it. Willow crawled on the ground in a pitiful state, hoping to buy some painkillers from the pharmacy to alleviate the pain. However, as soon as she opened the door to her apartment, two burly men rushed in and forcibly stuffed her into a sack. "Let me go! Who are you! Let me go!" Willow struggled inside the sack, but no matter how hard she punched and kicked, the two men showed no intention of releasing her. The pain in her stomach grew worse and worse until, eventually, her consciousness began to blur. In a daze, Willow felt herself being thrown into the trunk of a car. The ck, unlicensed Volkswagen sedan sped off, and soon, she lost consciousness amidst th bumpy ride. When Willow woke up again, she found herself back in the same dungeon where Louis and Skyler had once imprisoned her. Thinking of that dreadful memory, Willow''s entire body trembled uncontrobly. "Let me out!" Willow''s voice was hoarse. She realized that even though she hade out of that sack, her body e was still weak and in pain. "Willow." Wilhelmina''s voice suddenly sounded behind Willow. She turned around Thelming and saw Wilhelmina looking at her with a smirk. ¡°I heard from Skyler that you really like Caroline! Since you like her so much, why not be just like her, disabled!" What did she mean by bing disabled like Caroline... It was well known that Caroline''s left hand was missing a pinky finger. Could it be that Skyler and m Wilhelmina wanted to chop off Willow''s left pinky finger too? The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 No! Willow didn''t want to lose her pinky finger! She was actually afraid of pain. The dungeon door suddenly swung open, and several bodyguards cleared the way as Matthew calmly walked in. Seeing Matthew, Wilhelmina hurriedly approached him, her cute face filled with anxiety. "Matt, please spare Willow, okay? Willow and I are good friends. She wouldn''t do something like that. "It must have been a moment of confusion! Matt, my hand is fine. Please spare her this time, okay?" "Wi, I''ve said before, those who bully you must pay the price!" Matthew looked coldly at Willow. His usually gentle features turned cold, with a hint of terrifying grimness. His lips, slightly thicker than Zayn''s, were once thought to belong to a generous and kind-hearted man. However, after their reunion, Willow realized that a man''s heart could be ruthless once hardened, no matter how gentle his face was. "Willow, tell me, why did you let someone ruin Wi''s hand!" "I didn''t!" Willow''s consciousness slowly returned, and she hastily defended herself. "Matthew, I have no idea what you''re talking about! I went straight home after leaving the underground parking lot. How could I have ruined Wilhelmina''s hand?" She looked at Wilhelmina and asked, "Wilhelmina, I have never harmed you. Why would you frame me like this?" "Willow, don''t misunderstand. I didn''t frame you." Wilhelmina and Skyler were indeed good friends and equally skilled at ying the victim. Wilhelmina desperately grabbed onto Matthew''s sleeve. "Matt, please spare Willow! I believe she didn''t do it on purpose! Matt, please don''t hurt her!" "Not on purpose? She let someone break your hand, and you still say it wasn''t on purpose? Wi, you''re just too kind!" Matthew said. "She''s kind?" Willow almostughed at Matthew''s words. "Matthew, I always thought you were smart, but I didn''t expect you to be so foolish! Wilhelmina has been framing me all along. Which eye of yours sees her as kind?" "Willow, you''re truly incorrigible!" Matthew''s gaze fell sharply on Willow''s face. "The people you hired have confessed. You harbored hatred for what happened in the parking lot, and you hired them to hurt Wi! "Willow, you hurt Wi. You deserve to die!" Matthew bellowed. "Matt, no! Don''t hurt Willow! I''m begging you! No matter what mistakes she''s made, she''s still my friend. Please don''t hurt her!" Tears welled up in Wilhelmina''s eyes, giving her a heartfelt look. Matthew tightened his grip on Wilhelmina''s hand. "Wi, she hurt you. I can''t let her off!" "Matt, please don''t! Spare her life! I''m begging you! Whatever she''s done wrong, she''s still my friend. Please spare her life!" Wilhelmina then knelt on the ground, desperately pleading, "Matt, please give Willow a way out! Yes, my hand was injured because of her. If you hurt her one finger, it''ll be enough revenge for me. Matt, please, just hurt her one finger, okay?" "Wi, get up!" Wilhelmina continued to kneel on the ground stubbornly. "Matt, if you don''t agree, I''ll kneel here forever!" Matthew sighed. He was indulgent yet helpless. "Fine, Wi, I''ll grant your request." With that, hemanded the nearby bodyguards, "Cut off one of her fingers!" "No!" Willow struggled with all her might, but the two burly men held her shoulders firmly. "Matthew, you can''t do this to me! You''ll regret hurting me like-thism memory, you''ll When you regain yourke this regret it!" Matthew''s expression remained unchanged. "Willow, if I regret anything, it''ll be for not torturing you today! Proceed!"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "No!" Willow vigorously shook her head, catching sight of her phone lying nearby. She struggled to grab the phone and dialed Zayn''s number. Willow found it somewhat absurd. Despite Zayn hurting her deeply he was the first person she thought of in En. her most desperate moment. The call was answered immediately, and Willow hurriedly said, "Zayn, save me!" Chapter 30 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 30 Chapter 30 "Willow, it''s me," Skyler''s voice came through, dripping with mockery. "Are you about to have your finger chopped off? I heard from my mom that it''s quite a satisfying feeling. You better enjoy it!" "Skyler, let Zayn answer the phone! I need to talk to Zayn!" "Zayn just finished showering. I''ll have him answer the pher." Zayn was showering, and Skyler was with him... Willow''s heart began to ache again. She had known that Zayn had been intimate with Skyler, but hearing him showering at Skyler''s ce still felt like a dagger to her heart. After a brief pause, Skyler''s voice came through again. "Zayn, Lolo seems to be in trouble. She said she needs you to save her, or she''ll die!" Zayn wasn''t near his phone, but his shouts were loud enough for Willow to hear. "If she dies, it''s her own damn fault!" "Bang!" Willow''s phone fell to the ground, and she suddenly lost all her strength to resist. In her mind, all she could hear was Zayn''s earlier words. "If she dies, it''s her own damn fault." Her hand was forcefully pressed onto the ground, her pinky finger brutally chopped off, and the sight of the crimson blood clouded her vision. The excruciating pain couldn''t alleviate the agony in her heart. "It hurts so much..." Willow pressed her uninjured right hand firmly against her chest, still unable to breathe due to the pain. "Zayn, it hurts so much..." Willow murmured, like a pitiful little girl who had forgotten her way home. In the past, Zayn would brave any obstacle tofort her when she cried out in pain. But now, what was Zayn doing? Willow curled up in misery, stiffening as she turned her face sideways. She noticed her phone screen still disying the ongoing call, and she didn''t want Skyler to hear her helpless cries of pain. She refused to show her most desperate side to Skyler, even if she felt like she was dying. She trembled as her hand reached to hang up the phone, but another voice came from the other end. It was Skyler''s discordant moaning.. It felt like a dagger to Willow''s heart. Zayn was embracing his beloved and having the time of his life. Willow couldn''t control herself any longer, as tears fell onto the screen of her phone. She kept telling herself, "Willow, don''t be so weak."Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. But her tears just wouldn''t stop. Matthew coldly stared at the woman on the ground, covered in blood and in a sorry state. He thought teaching her a lesson and helping Wilhelmina seek revenge would bring him great satisfaction. But for some reason, seeing her helpless on the ground, his heart! suddenly dulled with a numb pain. Afraid of what irrational act he mightmit if he continued to watch, Matthew quickly left. "Ms. Foster, how should we deal with this severed finger?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Wilhelmina didn''t reply immediately. Her gaze slowly swept from Willow''s face, her sweet and lovely face gradually contorting with malice. Sometimes, love and hatee out of nowhere, like her hate for Willow. In truth, Willow had never done anything to harm her. On the contrary, Willow had even helped her. But Wilhelmina still hated her. When Wilhelmina was young, she hated Willow''s mesmerizing face, Now, she hated Willow because she was the true love of Matthew''s life. *Skyler said to..." Wilhelmina dragged out her words, her voice now sounding particrly chilling, "Feed her severed finger to the dogs!" Wilhelmina''s confidant shivered at her words but still replied respectfully, "Yes, Ms. Foster." "As for this woman..." Wilhelmina looked at Willow with disdain and jealousy, "Send her back where she came from!" Thanks to Wilhelmina, Willow was thrown back into the small apartment in Bordello once again. Willow was now covered in blood, lying on the floor of the living room. Perhaps Wilhelmina''s confidant also didn''t want to escte the situation. They performed simple first aid on Willow''s wounds and wrapped them in bandages. However, Willow had lost all sensation by the time they did these things. Her stomach pain,bined with the pain from her wounds, had far exceeded her tolerance. She had passed out from the pain after being taken out of the dungeon. It was the following day when she woke up. If it weren''t for the continued pain from her severed finger, she might have thought that everything fromst night was just a nightmare. She never thought that Matthew, who had promised to protect her and never let her suffer any harm again, would have someone chop off her finger. Those people hadn''t taken her phone away. She held her phone with her right hand, originally intending to call the police. But the influence of the Mayer family in Havenpoint was not to be underestimated, and with Skyler''s family backing them, even if she did call the police, it wouldn''t cause much of a stir. More importantly, even though Matthew had hurt her to this extent, she still couldn''t forget that he had once been a good friend who shared life and death with her. Chapter 31 Willow struggled to rise from the floor. She hadn''t eaten anything since yesterday afternoon and subjecting afternoonanything her stomach to such abuse felt like gambling with her life. Living was really tiring, both physically and mentally, but she still tried to find ways to keep going a bit longer. For every extra day she lived, she had another chance to raise. money for Aaron''s surgery. Just as she had finished making herself a bowl of oatmeal, the doorbell of her apartment rang urgently. Willow feared it might be Matthew''s mening to hassle her again, but to her surprise, it was her best friend, Nic. Nic''s face was covered with a heavyyer of foundation, butitm couldn''t hide the obvious scars. It was clear she had been beaten again.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Nic didn''t want Willow to worry, so she turned her face away as she entered, hiding the bruises. "Willow, here''s 150 thousand dors. I know it''s not enough for Aaron''s surgery but take it for now. I''ll figure out a way to help you raise the rest." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Nic shoved a thick bundle of notes into Willow''s arms, and Willow noticed that the emerald bracelet Nic had always worn on her left wrist was missing.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Nic, where''s your bracelet?" Willow questioned. She grabbed Nic''s left hand. "Did you sell your bracelet?" Nic wasn''t good at lying. She didn''t know how to respond and awkwardly said, "I don''t like wearing jewelry anyway, so keeping that bracelet is useless." You''re spouting nonsense!" Willow knew how much Nic treasured that emerald bracelet. The emerald bracelet was a gift from Ss to Nic as hering of age present. She had never taken it off since she started wearing it on her wrist. It was her most precious possession. How could she just sell it like this? "Willow, calm down." Nic was afraid of affecting Willow''s condition. Seeing Willow so agitated, she couldn''t help but feel anxious, "Willow, that bracelet really isn''t important to me anymore." "I admit, I used to really like Ss, but he has already given me to someone else. If I continue to like him, I''m just being foolish. Willow, I don''t want to be foolish anymore." "Nic..." Thinking of Nic''s ordeal, Willow''s heart ached. She wanted tofort her, but words just felt shallow and weak at that moment. She just hugged Nic tightly instead. Nic was the best girl in the world, and she deserved the best love as well. When she was eight years old, she rescued a little boy named Ss from the ruins after an earthquake. Before parting ways, he gave her an emerald pendant, promising that he would marry her when they grew up. Butter, she lost that emerald pendant and his promise to her. By a twist of fate, she became an orphan and the Burley family adopted her, while Ss had already found love with Sylvia Adams. At Ss'' engagement ceremony with Sylvia a month ago, Nic inexplicably found herself being framed and ended up in his bed. Sylvia had a mental breakdown and attempted suicide by jumping into the sea, breaking both her legs. Ss hated her to the core for causing Sylvia''s injury, so he married her off to a psychologically disturbed paraplegic, Cillian, making her life a living hell. Chapter 32 "Willow, don''t be sad. Actually, I''m doing quite well now. Although Cillian has a bad temper, he''s not that bad. Willow, things will get better for us in the future, so you have to hang in there and get better soon too, "Nicforted Willow. Willow didn''t say anything because she knew she wouldn''t get better. She didn''t want Nic to feel sorry for her. Not wanting to continue with these heavy topics, Willow released Nic from her embrace and intended to tell her a joke to lighten the mood. Before she could speak, Nic nervously grabbed her left hand, "Willow, what happened to your hand?!" The bandaging on Willow''s wound, done hastily by Wilhelmina''s men, was quite rudimentary. Nic could clearly see that her pinky finger on her left hand was missing. "Willow, where''s your pinky finger?" Tears welled up in Nic''s eyes instantly. "What happened? Is this Skyler''s doing? I''ll kill her!" Nic wiped her tears, grabbed arge knife from the kitchen, and dashed outside the apartment. Nic was a gentle girl, but she cared too much about Willow. She could instantly transform from amb into a furious lioness whenever bad things involved Willow. Seeing Nic ready to confront Skyler, Willow quickly pulled her back. "Nic, I''m fine, it''s just a minor injury." Worried that Nic might do something impulsive, Willow paused before speaking honestly, "Matthew was the one responsible, but I don''t want to dwell on it. Nic, I don''t have much time left, I don''t want to waste it on unimportant things." "What do you mean you don''t ave om time!" More tears streamed down Nic''s cheeks "Willow, if you keep NO talking nonsense, I''ll cut ties with you! Your hand is injured, and we''re going to the hospital now!" Before Nic could take Willow outside, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The phone ringing belonged to Nic, and her face turned pale when she saw the caller ID. The caller was her disabled husband, Cillian. Nic''s hand trembled as she grabbed the phone. "Cillian, what do you want?" "Nic, are you fooling around with another man again? Get back here!" Cillian roared. Nic took a deep breath, trying hard to keep her voice calm. "Cillian, can Ie backter? I have something urgent..." "Are you trying to cheat on me? Nic, if you don''t get back here right now, I''ll have Mr. Burley kill that old woman." Nic''s heart skipped a beat when she heard Ss'' name. She softly replied, "Okay, I''lle back now." After hanging up the phone, Nic looked at Willow with deep guilt. "Willow, I''m sorry, I can''t apany you to the hospital. You have to go to the hospital yourself and take care of your wound." Nic was afraid she would start crying if she continued talking to Willow, so she quickly ran toward the door. Even after Nic left, Willow still couldn''t recover from the shock of that phone call. Cillian''s voice was so loud that Willow found it hard not to overhear. She knew that Nic would face another round of beatings and even more unbearable humiliation when she got back. She didn''t want her to return to Cillian, that psychologically twisted demon, but she couldn''t bring herself to say it. She cared about Nic and couldn''t ignore the fate of her grandmother either. After being adopted by the Burley family, Nic found out that her grandmother, who had always been her rock, had survived the earthquake.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. But now, her grandmother had been sent overseas by Ss. It was supposedly for treatment, but really, it was to control Nic. Ss gave Nic to that demon, Cillian, just to let him torture her, and for Sylvia to get her revenge. If Nic didn''t endure the torture obediently, it would be her grandmother who suffered. Nic resisted once, but Cillian immediately called Ss. Her grandmother''s medication was stopped for three days, leaving her in excruciating pain. Since then, Nic has never dared to resist again. Willow felt genuine heartache for Nic, but her own strength wasn''t enough to help Nic. Willow was too weak now to even help herself. She carefully tucked away the 150 thousand dors from Nic. However, Willow didn''t go to the hospital to have her hand checked. She had already spent all her money Chapter 33 on her recent hospitalization and Aaron''s medical expenses. She had to be very careful with her finances. As someone who was on the brink of death, a few wounds on her hand even if infected would only cause some pain. Now, money was more precious to her than her own life. It seemed there was still a glimmer of hope. Willow inadvertently heard some news today while working a om part-time job. A research institution that specifically focused on cancer research was recently established. Due to their need for research, they were willing to pay a high price for bodies, especially those of cancer patients. It was said that well-preserved bodies could fetch nearly a million dors inpensation for the families. Willow was ecstatic upon hearing this. She found out the address of the research institution and signed a body donation agreement with them. They promised to give her a total of 800 thousand dors, paying her 400 thousand upfront and the remaining after her passing. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Willow wanted to be there for Aaron''s Sumery, and after pleading for a long time, the research institution housand finally agreed to advance her 700 dors. Willow couldn''t be happier seeing the additional 700 thousand dors in her bank ount. With the 150 thousand from Nic, she now had 850 hundred thousand. She only needed to raise another 150 thousand before her death to afford Aaron''s surgery. Willow heard that she could earn a good. in the city. a by working at Velvet Noir, a high-end nightclub t of mon If she encountered generous customers, she could potentially earn two to three thousand bucks inmission in one night. Of course, such opportunities were rare, and most people only earned a few hundred in one night. However, even that would be pretty good for Willow. She applied medicine to her injured finger, but the wound was still festering. So, she wore a white glove to cover it, which didn''t affect her appearance much. Her interview at Velvet Noir went exceptionally well. The manager immediately hired her for the night shift. Velvet Noir was one of the most upscale clubs in the city, and even the girls working there wore a uniform. The club had a romantic and retro theme, and Willow''s uniform for the night was a sleeveless red dress with gold trim. One could tell the dress was expensive by just looking at it, which boosted her confidence in making money that night. Soft and soulful music echoed in de the club, apanied by flickering lights that created an ambiance of luxury and indulgence. The wealthy elite of Havenpoint often conducted business or socialized at ces like Blue Note or Velvet Noir. Most men might abstain from engaging with the girls, but they still frequented these establishments, as if being there enhanced their sense of refinement. Willow adjusted her gloves. At first nce, her outfit, a rose-red dress paired with white gloves, seemed a bit out of ce. However, in this society, beauty was paramount. With her striking appearance, she added an air of mystery and elegance to her ensemble. The manager held Willow in high regard. She was assigned to the top-floor diamond VIP suite on her first day. Despite her nerves, Will¨®w reminded herself that her role was solely to promote drinks; she wasn''t there'' to apany clients. r Chapter 34 272 However, she''d heard stories of clients taking advantage of the drink promoters. She hoped that tonight, the patrons she encountered would be respectful and refrain from any inappropriate behavior. "Willow?" Just as Willow reached the top floor, a malicious voice sounded behind her. She couldn''t help but shiver at the sound of this voice-the one that had haunted her nightmares countless times. She turned around and saw Louis standing at the staircase with a smirk. "Willow, it''s really you! Long time no see!" As Louis spoke, he quickly approached and grabbed her wrist. "Louis, let go of me!" Terrifying memories of Louis forcing himself on her four years ago resurfaced, and Willow''s body trembled uncontrobly. She would never allow such a nightmare to rey! "Let go?" Louis''s smirk became even more wicked. "How can we relive the old times then? "Willow, I''ve been dying to see you! If it weren''t for my grandmother m sending the to Afrinia for four years, you would have been mine long ago!" With that, Louis exerted force on her wrist, pressing her against the nearby wall. LContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 35 Chapter 35 As Willow gasped in pain, Louis smirked wickedly and leaned in with his lips. "Louis, get off of me!" Willow felt nauseous, realizing that there would never be anyone as repulsive as Louis. She tried to p him hard, but he suddenly grabbed her injured left hand, gripping it roughly. Intense pain shot through Willow''s body from her broken finger, making it impossible for her to raise her right hand. "Willow, how does it feel? Experiencing pain and pleasure at the same time, isn''t it just so satisfying?" Louis smirked as he saw blood seeping through Willow''s white gloves. He then squeezed her left hand, reveling in her humiliation and suffering. "Get off! Get off me!" Willow''s body stiffened. She wished she could tear him into pieces, but she couldn''t summon the strength to struggle. night "Mr. Mayer is in a good mood tonight!" A cool and indifferent voice rang out, stirring Willow''s fading consciousness back to reality. She felt like she should''ve checked the almanac before leaving today. Not only did she bump into the demon Louis, but she also ran into Zayn. Upon hearing Zayn''s voice, Louis withdrew from Willow''s lips and pulled her into his arms. "Mr. Carter, what a coincidence! I came to find ady at the Velvet Noir, and ended up bumping into you!" Louis yfully pinched Willow''s chin. She tried to dodge, but his grip was too strong. Even if she tried to escape, she couldn''t escape his restraint. He held Willow''s face, facing Zayn. Skyler, who was standing next to Zayn, said meekly, "Zayn..." Her face hadn''t fully recovered. Even though she had applied heavy makeup, traces of swelling could still be seen.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. But fortunately, her features were stunning, and she still looked radiant even with the injury. Zayn gently held Skyler''s hand. "Skyler, rest assured, I''m not interested in thisdy! I find her dirty!" "Zayn, don''t say that about Lolo. Actually, Lolo has reasons for having so many men," Skyler said in a gentle and caring manner. Willow covered her mouth. Just facing Louis earlier had been nauseating enough, but she felt even more repulsed now looking at Skyler''s hypocritical face. Before Willow could speak/Skyler approached and warmly grabbed her e hand as if they were really close sisters. Chapter 35 "Lolo, I know you don''t like me, but I still want to advise you, don''t go m looking for men everywhere in the future, you''re only ruining yourself, okay?" Skyler said with feigned concern. "Hmph!" Willow stared at Skyler calmly and let out a coldugh. Willow''s expression turned icy. "Skyler, you truly are one of a kind Pretending to be innocent and kind in front of men every day, you''re not even disgusted with yourself!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Willow turned her face toward the nearby trash can, unable to control the urge to retch. "Skyler, if you''re not disgusted with yourself, at least spare me from your nauseating behavior!" Willow showed no mercy toward Skyler, causing her face to turn slightly sour. Skyler looked at Zayn with a timid look on her face. "Zayn, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to upset Lolo. She seems to really dislike me. You don''t think I''m particrly bad or hateful, do you?" Zayn pulled Skyler into his arms, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Skyler, I won''t allow you to speak of yourself like that! In my heart, you will always be the purest girl!" The purest girl... Willow retched even more violently. Skyler had slept with Louis countless times. Zayn was truly blind. Skyler felt particrly pleased to have Zayn''s support. But seeing that he showed no signs of leaving, she couldn''t help feeling a bit anxious. She quickly exchanged a nce with Louis, who understood her intention. Louis hugged Willow with a yful smile. "Willow, stop throwing up! I haven''t even gotten you pregnant yet, so what are you throwing up for now? "Willow, don''t be mad that I called you a prostitute earlier. I was just joking with Mr. Carter! You''re so beautiful; how could I bear to let you go to someone else? "Willow, let''s work hard starting tonight. I''ll marry you when you conceive my child again. By then, I''ll openly bring Aaron into the Mayer family, and never let you be wronged again!" "Louis, shut up!" Willow was so angry she felt like tearing Louis'' foul mouth apart Zayn was already unwilling to acknowledge Aaron. Louis'' words would only deepen the misunderstanding between them. Indeed, upon hearing Louis words, Zayn sneered He didn''t say anything, but the mockery in his eyes was apparent. It seemed to say, "Willow, even the biological father of that illegitimate child hase knocking on your door. Yet you still want to pin that illegitimate child on me. Have you no shame?" "Mr. Carter, Willow and I still have some unfinished business. You''re not trying to watch, are you?" Louis Willow''s cheek. "Willow is so beautiful, I can''t bear to let other men look at her." Veins started bulging on the back of Zayn''s hand. He was about to punch Louis'' lips, which was pressed against Willow''s face, when Skyler tightly gripped his hand. "Zayn, let''s not disturb Lolo and Mr. Mayer anymore, okay? My little brother and the others are still waiting for us!" Zayn''s rationality suddenly returned upon hearing Skyler''s voice. He cast a disgusted nce at Willow, then left without looking back.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Willow also wanted to leave, avoiding Louis'' disgusting approach. Just as she was about to walk away, Louis forcefully pulled her into a nearby private room. Her body crashed heavily onto the floor. She had already been in too much pain to muster any strength, and now, being thrown to the ground again, her body felt even weaker. She felt tonight was bound to happen. But as soon as they entered the private room, Louis'' phone rang urgently. After answering the call, Louis'' expression changed drastically. He didn''t spare Willow another nce before rushing out of the room. Willow mme Willow slumped weakly on the ground. The pain from her broken finger grew even more intense. Whether it was from Skyler''s disgusting behavior earlier or for some other reason, her stomach also ached. She curled up her body, changed into a clean pair of gloves, and took m several painkillers. After about half an hour of relief, her body finally regained some strength. She struggled to stand, leaning against the wall for support. She then slowly made her way to the private room arranged for her tonight by the manager. But she instantly froze in ce when she saw Zayn leaning on the sofa inside, cold as ice and emitting an oppressive aura. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 37 Chapter 37 She never expected that tonight''s private room would be where Zayn and Skyler were. Skyler nestled gently beside Zayn. Although he didn''t say much to her or make intimate gestures, Willow found the sight inexplicably ring Willow wanted to flee immediately. After closing the door, she couldn''t help but find it amusing. There was no ce for her in their hearts, so why was she being so sentimental? He bought wine, and she made money; it was a fair trade. Why not enjoy it? With determination in mind, Willow stopped retreating. She opened the door to the private room, forced a smile, and walked in. She tried to appear gracious and dignified, but her body was at its limit. Even though she had taken several painkillers, her legs still trembled uncontrobly as she walked. Zayn noticed it too. His gaze locked onto her trembling legs. His cold eyes deepened, and the chill emanating from him surged into a ferocity that seemed to devour all souls. This woman was simply indiscriminate! "Crack!" The ss in Zayn''s hand shattered, and red wine mixed with fresh blood instantly oozed from his fingers. "Zayn!" Skyler eximed. "Zayn, hold on, I''ll help you with the wound right away"Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. "I''m fine "Zayn discreetly shook off Skyler''s hand, casually cing the injured hand behind his back. Skyler was distraught, but since he didn''t want her to bandage it, she didn''t dare to act rashly. Skyler saw Willow standing at the private room door and instantly understood Zayn''s loss ofposure. She gritted her teeth in hatred, but still had to maintain an elegant appearance. "Zayn, are you deliberately seeking attention from my sister by hurting yourself?" Kenan grabbed Zayn''s hand and inspected it. "Tsk tsk, you really outdid yourself this time!" "Get lost!" Zayn shock off Kenan''s hand with disgust Kenan still wore a yful smile but didn''t dare to touch Zayn again. Willow also witnessed the situation inside the private room. She hadn''t expected that the famous Four Elites of Havenpoint would all gather in this room tonight. Zayn, Ss, Charles, and Kenan. Zayn, Ss, and Charles all had intimidating, icy expressions, striking fear into people. Only Kenan always wore a sunny smile, his charming baby face evoking maternal affection in women. Even though Willow knew he was Skyler''s twin brother, she couldn''t help but feel a bit fond of him. Willow''s main task tonight was to help the guests open wine bottles, pour wine, and encourage them to buy more wine so she could earn some She tried to minimize her presence, quietly approaching the coffee table to pick up a bottle of red wine, intending to open it for them. Willow always thought opening a wine bottle was particrly simple, but she realized it was a bit difficult when she tried it, especially since she couldn''t use her left hand, which severely affected her performance. So, she falled before she even started. The cork remained in ce, but her wine opener fell onto the coffee table, making a crisp sound. The room was unusually quiet, and Willow''s sudden loud noise instantly attracted everyone''s attention. Embarrassed by her poor skills, her face turned red like a cooled shrimp How embarrassing! Chapter 38 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 38 Chapter 38 She had intended to appear graceful in front of Zayn, but why did she always end up embarrassing herself like this? Kenan''s attention was focused on Skyler and Zayn, but he noticed Willow after hearing the sound. Seeing Willow''s checks flushed with embarrassment, Kenan''s lighter slipped from his hand and ttered to the ground. At that moment, he recalled a line of poetry-"Like a lotus flower shy under the cool breeze." He felt as though he might not have to remain single forever. "Sorry, let me try again," Willow said, reaching for the wine opener. Just as her hand touched it, a slightly calloused hand fell on top of hers. Upon contact with Willow''s hand, Kenan froze in ce as if electrified. He forgot to retract his hand because he was so overwhelmed with emotion. "LL. I''ll help you," Kenan, usually eloquent, stuttered for a while before managing to say aplete sentence.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Zayn''s expression grew even more grim at the sight of Kenan''s demeanor. "No need, thanks" Willow quickly withdrew her hand and sessfully opened the wine bottle this time. Kenan''s gaze remained fixed on Willow, oblivious to everything around him. It felt like an eternity before he finally turned around and forcefully nudged Charles, sitting beside him. "Charles, pinch me quick!" "Are you crazy?" Charles nced at him with disdain but still pinched his arm hard. "Cuch! Despite the pain from Charles''s pinch, Kenan didn''t react with his usual outburst of anger. Instead, heughed like a silly child. "It''s not a dream, it''s real! I''m really in love!" Everyone looked at Kenan as if he were mentally challenged, and even Willow couldn''t help but sneak a nce at him. Kenan was even more adorable than she had imagined. How could falling in love be triggered by a pinch? Could it be that Charles sparked a tiny me of love in him with that pinch, transcending gender boundaries? Heh! Willow suppressed herugh. In life, there would still be room for joy amidst hardships if you look closely, just like how she could maintain such a good mood in front of Zayn and Skyler. Seeing Willow smile, Zayn''s expression darkened. Was she this happy to hook a man? His anger surged so much, he felt like he could kill at that moment. Kenan couldn''t help but feel a bit disappointed seeing himself som excited but getting no response. He wanted to seek more attention. He forcefully pushed Zayn and eximed, "Zayn, did you hear me? I''m in love! Without waiting for Zayn''s response, Kenan excitedly grabbed Willow''s hand "Youngdy, I''m in love!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Love was indeed a joyful thing. Willow thought that Kenan would only share his happiness with his friends, but she never expected him to unt his joy in her face. Willow was facing this situation for the first time and wasn''t sure how to react, especially since Kenan was someone who walked to the beat of his own. drum. Willow looked at Kenan, then at Charles. One was lively and cheerful, the other calm and profound. They actuallyplemented each other quite well. "Youngdy, I''m in love!" Seeing Willow''sck of reaction, Kenan repeated his words. Willow had read plenty of gayics during her school days, but she never thought she would encounter it in real life. But Kenan''s face was just too adorable, too radiant. She couldn''t bear to dampen his enthusiasm.. After some consideration, she carefully spoke, "That''s great! You and Mr. Gibson make a great match! Although many people still have biases against same-sex rtionships, being true to oneself is even more precious. "Mr. Dawson, congrattions to you and Mr. Gibson! To celebrate your union, how about I open a bottle of wine for you two?" Kenan and Charles were dumbfounded. Ss, who had been cold and distant, burst intoughter at this moment. "Charles,e on, tell me, when did you and Kenan start dating? Why didn''t I know?" Ss said in betweenughter. "Get lost!" Charles, feeling embarrassed and angry, retorted, "Even if all the women in the world were dead, no, even if all the men were dead, I still wouldn''t date that idiot Kenan!" "Charles, who are you calling an idiot? Your whole family is a bunch of idiots! Kenan retorted, "With your attitude, acting like everyone owes you billions, who would want to date you? "I really don''t understand, your parents have such good personalities, how did they give birth to such a weirdo like you!"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Afraid Willow would misunderstand, Kenan quickly rified, "Youngdy, believe me, 1 don''t like weirdos like Charles!" Willow felt a bit embarrassed. She had misunderstood just now. It seemed like she might have a hard time getting a highermission tonight. "Mr. Dawson, I''m sorry, I misunderstood just now. I apologize to you and Mr. Gibson." "It''s okay, it''s okay! Youngdy, you don''t need to be so polite to me!" Kenan was always carefree. He felt he could express his feelings very straightforwardly when he met a girl he liked. Unexpectedly, when faced with that person, he was actually a little nervous and shy, unable to express himself smoothly, let alone confess confidently. "Youngdy, are you working here as part of a work-study program?" Kenan blushed and adopted another strategy. "Youngdy, what''s your name? How old are you this year? Where do you live? Your family..." Willow was speechless. Was he conducting a census? Charles, who usually chose his words carefully, spoke up, "Kenan, are re you conducting a census? Just tell her if you like her! With your fussiness, even if the girl is great, you''ll scare her away!" "Charles, shut up!" Kenan often embarrassed himself, but embarrassing/himself in front of the girl he liked was too humiliating. He didn''t want to be teased by his friends. He pulled Willow into his arms directly. "Young Lady, I''ll be honest with you. I like you! It was love at first sight! "In my whole life, I''ve only wanted to hug, two women, one is my mom and the other is Aunt Yates. Now, I want to hug you too. Youngdy, can you feel my affection" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Willow was confused. So, Kenan liked her? Willow was never narcissistic. She knew she was attractive, but Kenan¡¯s love at first sight was a bit too exaggerated, As if sensing her doubts, Kenan excitedly spoke up, ¡°Youngdy, don¡¯t think I¡¯m too frivolous. I really like you. I¡¯ve always felt like I¡¯ve lost something imp ¡°Youngdy, will you give me a chance to pursue you? ¡°Kenan, do you even know who she is?¡± Suddenly, Zayn¡¯s cold voice cut through the air. Willow¡¯s heart tightened as if an invisible hand had squeezed her throat tightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know! But I do know one thing. She¡¯s the woman I want to spend my life with. As for the rest, I have plenty of time to figure it out!¡± Kenan¡¯s smile ¡°Spend your life together? Ha!¡± Zayn¡¯s eyes were filled with disdain. ¡°You want to spend your life with a prostitute, and you don¡¯t even feel dirty!¡± He used Willow¡¯s lips turned pale. Zayn always had a way of making her feel awful. He had called her a prostitute multiple times and said she was dirty, but never had she felt as humiliate as she did now. Facing so many people, she wanted to stand tall and proud, to be seen as a person, but he never gave her the chance to rise. Thinking that someone like Kenan, who seemed to have a good impression of her, might look down on her and find her disgusting deeply saddened her. ¡°Zayn, you¡¯ve gone too far! If you speak about her like that again, even if I can¡¯t beat you, I¡¯ll still fight you to death! Kenan barked back. He thenfortingly patted Willow¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Youngdy, don¡¯t be sad. I believe you¡¯re not that kind of person. I have eyes, I can see that you¡¯re a good girl.¡± After hearing his words, tears silently rolled down Willow¡¯s cheeks.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Being despised by the person she loved the most, having her fingers chopped off by her best friend, and being trampled on by Louis time and time again But then, there was this person who called her a good girl. ¡°Hey, youngdy, don¡¯t cry!¡± Kenan suddenly panicked. He hurriedly wiped away the tears from theers of her eyes. ¡°Youngdy, let me sing you a so Willow couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the corny song, but she felt a warm feeling glowing in her heart. Kenan saw Willow smile and sang even more passionately. He didn¡¯t notice that behind him, a massacre was about to unfold. ¡°Bang!¡± All the wine bottles on the coffee table were shattered Kenan heard the sound and was puzzled. He turned around and saw Zayn with an ley re. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Kenan was genuinely afraid of Zayn. Since he could remember, Zayn''s strength had always been able to overpower him. But no matter how scared he was usually, he couldn''t afford to lose his manliness in front of the youngdy he liked. He yelled. "Zayn, are you insane? Didn''t you hear me singing? How can the youngdy hear me sing with all this noise?" Zayn didn''t say a word and rose from the sofa. Skyler feared that he wouldpete with Kenan for Willow, which would disgrace her.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. She tightly held his hand and whispered, "Zayn, do you still care about Lolo? Have you forgotten how our child died? Zayn, I''m really sad about this." "Sorry, Skyler." Zayn sat back down on the sofa, no longer ncing at Willow and Kenan. Seeing Zayn no longer acting out of line, Skyler finally breathed a sigh of relief. But her hatred toward Willow grew stronger. She hadn''t expected Willow to not only make Zayn unable to forget her, but also gain Kenan''s favor. Kenan had always been indifferent even toward his own sister, but with Willow, he was apletely different person. Aren''t siblings supposed to have an unbreakable bond and intuitive connection? No, she would never let Willow gain any support, especially not from her own brother. She gritted her teeth and raised her voice, "Kenan, do you know who caused mom to end up like this?" "Who?" Kenan furrowed his brows. He honestly didn''t know who could have caused his mother to be like that.. He had asked Xavier, but Xavier stayed silent. He was desperate for answers but got none. He hadn''t expected Skyler to know anything. "Skyler, tell me quickly! I want to know who caused mom to end up like this. I''ll make them suffer!" "The one who caused mom to end up like that is my stepmother''s biological daughter, Willow! The same person you''ve been calling a youngdy!" Skyler''s gaze fell sharply on Willow. "Lolo, you''ve already killed my child. Why do you have to ruin my mom too?" "No way..." Kenan murmured. He couldn''t believe it. The first woman he ever fell in love with turned out to be his mortal enemy. "Youngdy..." Kenan corrected himself. "Willow, my mom is gentle and kind. Why would you harm her like this? "I didn''t harm Aunt Caroline!" Willow didn''t want to be misunderstood. She hastily defended herself. "Mr. Dawson, I know that you might not believe me even if I say it, but I still want to tell you that Aunt Caroline''s Injury has nothing to do with me! "Aunt Caroline was already seriously injured the day I went to the hospital room. I don''t know why everyone assumed it was me who harmed her! "I really like Aunt Caroline. I''ve liked her since I was little. When I was bullied by ssmates and covered in mud, it was Aunt Caroline who picked me up. She''s been my idol all my life. Even if I were to harm myself, I could never hurt her "Mr. Dawson, there were no cameras in the hospital room, so I can''t point out the culprit or prove my innocence. If you don''t believe what I''m saying, I won''t force it." Willow didn''t think that Kerian would believe her. If Zayn, whom she had years, years, didn''t loved for for so many beleve her, how could a man she had just met possibly believe her? He would only see her as the culprit who harmed Caroline and seek revenge against her. "Willow, I believe you. After staring into Willow''s eyes for a long while, Kenan spoke slowly, l''I''ve said it before I believe my eyes, and I believe my heart." If Willow had harmed Caroline, Xavier would have already tortured her to death. How could she have lived to this day unharmed? There must be something else which hadn''t been uncovered. "Youngdy, with Aunt Wynn here, my mom will wake up soon. When she wakes up, everything will be clear. We''ll find the real culprit, and I''ll clear your name!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 42 Chapter 42 "Mr. Dawson..." Willow didn''t want to cry in front of so many people. But Kenan had given her too much warmth today, and she couldn''t hold back her Deurs. She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. "Mr. Dawson, thank you!" Willow had so much she wanted to say to Kenan, but in the end, it all boiled down to only two words-Thank you.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. From the bottom of her heart, she thanked him for making her feel like the world wasn''tpletely upside down. At that moment, she thought that the world was truly wonderful. It was her first time meeting Kenan, but she felt an inexplicable attachment to him. There were no romantic feelings, but the closeness felt like family, making her want to be near him. "Silly girl, why are you crying! You''ve cried so much that your face is all swollen and ugly." Kenan grabbed Willow''s hand. "Come on, I''ll take you to wash your face. Crying with snot and tears all over, so unsightly!" Willow wasn''t angry when Kenan called her ugly. On the contrary, her heart warmed as if thousands of flowers were blooming. She didn''te to her senses until Kenan brought her to the bathroom. She hastily pulled her hand away. "Mr. Dawson, I can go to the restroom by myself." "Okay, I''ll wait for you." Kenan also realized that it would be too awkward if he followed her into the women''s restroom. He didn''t want to be seen as a weirdo. As he was about to turn around, he noticed the bloodstains on Willow''s white gloves. He quickly grabbed her hand. "Silly girl, what happened to your hand?" Willow hadn''t expected Kenan to notice the bloodstains on her gloves. She hurriedly hid her hand behind her back. "It''s nothing, I just identally scraped my hand a bit." Kenan clearly didn''t believe her words. Without hesitation, he seized her hand and tore off her glove. The wound where her pinky finger had been severed was already festering, sticking to her glove. When he forcefully pulled it off, it hurt so much that her lips trembled. "Silly girl..." As Kenan saw the scars on Willow''s hand, his eyes turned red. He grabbed her wrist and demanded, "Tell me, who did this?" "It was just an ident," Willow murmured, looking down. It didn''t matter that Skyler and Wilhelmina had been the instigators, it was Matthew who ultimately harmed her. She didn''t want to do anything detrimental to her friends. Kenan didn''t buy it. "How could it be just an ident! We''re going to the hospital!" Willow didn''t want to go to the hospital because it would cost om money. But despite Xenan''s usually good temper, when he became. stubborn, it was like trying to move a mountain. In the end, she could only follow him to the hospital. Kenan had insisted on Willow staying in the hospital, but she refused so many times that he simply relented in the end. However, he demanded that she remain in the hospital for observation overnight Willow was afraid of spending too much money, so she requested to be discharged early the following day. Kenan couldn''t do anything about it, so he could only take her back home. As soon as they reached the building, Willow saw Zayn standing in front of her small apartment with bloodshot E eyes. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Zayn''s eyes were exceptionally red, as if he hadn''t slept all night. Willow took a step back after sensing the sinister aura emanating from him. She instinctively hid her tightly wrapped left hand behind her back. "Zayn, why did youe over here?" "Willow, are you with Kenan? You can''t wait to stick to any man you meet, Willow, how could you be so cheap!" Willow found his words ridiculous. So Zayn came all the way to Bordello early in the morning just to insult her? "Zayn, no, it should be Mr. Carter. "Mr. Carter, I''ve said it before, there''s nothing between us anymore. Who I''m with is none of your concern! Besides, Kenan and I are just friends!" Mr. Carter... Zayn was already furious, and hearing her deliberately distancing herself only fueled his anger. He saw from the window that Kenan escorted her back just now, and the two bid farewell reluctantly. In other words, they had been together all along after leaving the private roomst night. Anything could have happened between them. It was ridiculous that he had been waiting here all night, only to find out she had just cheated on him with another guy. "Mr. Carter, if you don''t have anything important to say, please leave! I can''t open the door if you''re blocking the way." Willow then continued, "Mr. Carter, I know this is your house. Don''t worry, at thetest, within half a month, I will definitely move out from here." After saying this, Willow couldn''t be bothered to pay attention to Zayn anymore, and she took out her keys to open the door. The best way for her to distance herself from Zayn would be to find another ce to live, but every penny was too important to her during this period, and she didn''t want to spend more money. Besides, with her health, holding on for half a month was already a miracle. She just hoped she wouldn''t die in his house by then. "Move out? Are you going to Kenan''s ce, or to Louis''s ce? Willow''s consciousness started to blur. She wasn''t moving in with another man, but into the afterworld! She couldn''t be bothered to exin to Zayn; she just smiled and replied, "Sure! Mr. Carter, whatever you like to say, just say it!"T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Willow, how dare you!" Just as Willow was about to close the door, Zayn forcefully kicked it open. Before she could react, he pressed her against the door panel. "Fine then!" Willow still maintained her smile, but no matter how bright her smile was, there was no hint of joy on her face, only a deep-seated weariness and sadness from the marrow of her bones. "Too bad, Mr. Carter, I''m not willing!" "Willow, say it again!" "Mr. Carter, I said I''m not willing!" "WLlow!" Zayn waspletely enraged by Willow''s words, just like countless times before. Willow''s hands, stomach, and heart were all hurting In the end, she didn''t even know where it hurts most anymore. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Willow belt intense pain all over, t, as if she had fallen into a pile of needles. Every breath was agony, yet she fought to survive, clinging to life amidst the pain. Despite the pain and exhaustion, she couldn''t give up until she raised one million dors and apanied Aaron through his surgery. In the end, she began to hate Zayn. She loved him selflessly, not worrying about the future or her well-being, but her love for him shouldn''t enable him to trample on her at will. Willow thought to herself, "Zayn, we are truly pathetic. Clearly, we loved each other so much, but in the end, we can only hurt each other! Zayn, we never go back" When Zayn finally let her go, she didn''t have the strength to get up from the ground. She didn''t know what was wrong with her hand. Even though it was wrapped in thick bandages, it had turned red. Willow hugged her injured hand and huddled in the corner. Now, her consciousness waspletely muddled She just didn''t want Zayn to see her damaged hand. Willow, are you pretending to be dead again?" Zayn felt extremely agitated. She used to make him happy, but he got mad. When she argued with him, he got mad. Now, seeing her like this, he was even madder. "Willow, get up!" Zayn suddenly grabbed her shoulder. He lifted her face, only to find tear streaks covering her cheeks.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. The thought of her wanting to remain chaste for Louis or Kenan made him even more infuriated. "Willow!" Willow''s eyes flickered. She thought he was going to torture her again. She hurriedly leaned back against the wall. However, Zayn was driven to madness seeing her rejecting him like this. He suddenly exerted force on her shoulder, almost crushing it. Willow couldn''t help but flinch from the pain. She murmured as if in a daze, "Zayn, don''t touch me, don''t touch me... "We''re divorced, we''re not together anymore.... "Mr. Carter, please let me go..." Zayn''s eyes narrowed after hearing her call him Mr. Carter again. He was about to teach her a lesson, to show her who her man truly was, but then he saw the thick bandage on her left hand. There was a ring blood-red stain on the bandage. "Willow, give me your left hand!" Seeing him noticing her hand, Willow quickly hid it in her embrace. Zayn felt another wave of irritation from herck of cooperation. Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand. Remembering the doctor''sment about her faking terminal cancerand biting open the bidoo bag in her mouth, he sneered coldly. "Are you pretending to be in pain again? can "Don''t touch me, don''t touch me..." Willow tried to pull her hand back, but what she actually wanted to say was that Zayn should not touch her hand. However, she was too exhausted and could only murmur half of those words. Zayn had originally intended to let go of her hand, but seeing her rejection of his touch, he changed his mind. He tightly gripped her hand and roughly tore off the bandage on top. He wanted to see how many blood blisters she had wasted this time for this painful The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 45 Chapter 45 "Let... let go of me. Even though Zayn hadpletely abandoned her, Willow still didn''t want him to see her in such a sorry u state. Her left hand couldn''t muster any strength, so she reached out with her right hand, trying to free herself from Zayn''s grip But how could her meager strengthpare to Zayn''s? Plus, her blood had stuck the bandage to her skin, so when Zayn pulled forcefully, the pain was indescribable. She was in too much pain to summon any strength in her body. Seeing Willow desperately trying to get her hand back, Zayn''s smile grew wider. Ha! This hypocritical woman was terrified he would see through her painful trick! Zayn suddenly tore off the bandage from Willow''s hand with a sudden jerk. Willow''s body shook uncontrobly from the intense pain, her heart thumping nonstop. "Willow, now I want to see how you can still pretend..."N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Zayn''s voice abruptly stopped as he stared incredulously at the wound on her hand. He wanted to see how she had faked this bloody appearance. But no matter how hard he stared at Willow''s hand, he couldn''t find her pinky finger. Instead, the wound where her finger had been amputated had reopened, and pus and blood continued to flow. Zayn''s eyes zed with anger, and he squeezed Willow''s wrist harder, nearly crushing it. He suddenly stood up, gripping her shoulders tightly. His voice was fierce yet subtly tender. "Willow, where''s your pinky finger? Where''s your pinky finger? "Tell me, who chopped off your pinky finger! Speak, Willow, talk to me!" Zayn forcefully shook Willow''s body, only to realize that she had passed out from the pain. "Willow!" Zayn immediately lifted her and rushed out of the small apartment. He ran too fast, forgetting to take the elevator and sprinting down the stairs instead. "It hurts..." Willow''s weak voice suddenly sounded, causing Zayn to tighten his arms around her involuntarily. He reassured her, "Willow, it''ll stop hurting soon. Once we get to the hospital, it won''t hurt anymore." "Zayn, it hurts..." Willow seemed not to hear Zayn''s voice, murmuring only to herself, "Zayn, my heart hurts..." Hearing Willow''s cries, Zayn''s heart felt like it was being stabbed. This woman betrayed him and killed their children; she owes him two lives. He wished he could tear her apart with a thousand cuts, crush her bones to dust, y her alive, or draw her tendons, but it should be him doing it. No one else could harm her! Zayn had already called Liam while on the road. Liam was incredibly efficient, and by the time they arrived at the hospital, he had already arranged for the best specialist doctor toe and treat Willow. The moment Zayn saw the specialist in a white coat, he grabbed his cor aggressively. "She''s injured! She''s in pain! I won''t allow her to suffer!" The specialist, trembling, nced discreetly at Willow lying in the hospital room. With such a bloody wound, how could she not be in pain? Nevertheless, he assured Zayn, "Mr. Carter, rest assured, I will do my best to ensure this youngdy''s injuries heal as soon as possible." "I want her to stand before mepletely unharmed! Otherwise, I will not forgive easily!" Zayn bellowed. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 46 Chapter 46 The specialist wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. Willow''s pinky finger was already gone. How could she stand unscathed before Zayn? Zayn''s request was unreasonable. The specialist dared not directly refute Zayn, so he cautiously asked, "Mr. Carter, is the youngdy''s severed finger still avable? If it is, perhaps it can be reattached. It it''s not...". The specialist didn''t say more, but he believed everyone understood the rest A person''s hand was unlike a tiny sapling; breaking a branch might allow it to grow back. If a finger was gone, even if a great sorcerer came, it could only result in a lifetime disability. also "Boss, where is Ms. Sanford''s severed finger? Is it in Bordello? I''ll head over there right now to retrieve the severed finger." Liam''s forehead was als covered in cold sweat as he spoke. As Zayn''s assistant, Liam knew about Zayn''s hidden marriage with Willow. He had been with Zayn since his return from studying abroad andnew all too well about their love-hate rtionship. He knew Zayn had constantly tormented Willow in various ways, but he hadn''t expected Zayn to chop off her finger this time. Liam discreetly stole a nce at Zayn. Previously, he thought they were deeply involved in a twisted rtionship, loving and hating each other. But now, he couldn''t believe that Zayn would physically harm someone. He was simply going too far Liam held onto his phone weakly, feeling immensely conflicted. Should he report to the members of the Carter family? But when he met Zayn''s fierce and sinister gaze, he put his phone down. "No need to go to Bordello," Zayn finally spoke, causing Liam to shudder again.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Could it be that Zayn was now nning to cover up the evidence after chopping off someone''s finger? This was truly going too far. Liam was afraid of Zayn, but he was even more afraid of causing a fatal incident. He didn''t know how to exin this to the members of the Carter family. With cold sweat dripping down his forehead, he reminded, "Boss, I understand that you hate Ms. Sanford, but chopping off her finger is really twisted. It you continue like this, your mental health will be affected, and..." Zayn gave Liam a sharp nce, and he quickly shut his mouth. But in his mind, he silently added, "You''re going too far." Zayn was currently worried about Willow''s injuries, and he couldn''t be bothered to exin to Liam that he wasn''t the one who injured her. The specialist had re-stitched Willow''s wound and assured him that it wouldn''t reopen if she applied the provided medicine on time, and there would be no more inmmation The specialist then exined that too much time had passed since Willow''s finger was severed, so even if they found the finger, the surgery wouldn''t be sessful. But Zayn still wanted to give it a try. He knew Willow cared about her appearance the most. How could a girl who loved beauty so much live with a lifelong disability? Who knows how much she might be secretly crying under the covers? Willow''s current physical condition was terrible. Every time she fell m unconscious, she felt as if she might never wake up again. This time, she almost exhausted all her willpower just to open her eyes in the evening. As she opened her eyes, Zayn''s magnified face came into view. He tightly gripped her wrist, his bloodshot eyes showing even more prominent veins. "Willow, where''s your severed finger?" The severed finger... "It was fed to the dogs, Willow spoke expressionlessly. Fed to the dogs? Zayn''s expression contorted suddenly, showing evident pain. He tightened his grip by Willow''s wrist asked, "Willow, who chopped off your finger?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Willow still felt incredibly weak after waking up and didn''t want to beat around the bush with Zayn. She nced wearily at the darkening night outside the window and spoke softly, "Zayn, if I told you that Skyler was the one who caused this, would you believe me?" The thought of Wilhelmina feeding her finger to a dog made Willow''s self- deprecation even more evident. "My finger was being fed to a dog, all thanks to Skyler!" "willow, what does Skyler have to do with you losing your fingers?" Zayn''s voice instantly turned cold, and thest shred of pity left in his eyes dissipatedpletely.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Willow, Skyler has already suffered so much because of you, yet you still dare to frame her! Willow, if you dare to harm Skyler again in the future, I will make you suffer a thousandfold!" Zayn threatened. Willow turned her face away, staring nkly at the lights outside. She told the truth, yet he didn''t believe her. Why should she bother wasting her breath on him? Zayn once whispered in Willow''s ear that he would trust, cherish, and love her forever. Those words were clearly still within reach, so why does remembering them feel like they belong to another lifetime? Willow remained silent, which only fueled Zayn''s agitation. He roughly grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to look at him. "Willow, speak to me!" Willow slowly came back to her senses. She nced at Zayn, her eyes filled with disdain. "Zayn, if you believe me when I speak, then my words still hold some value. But if you refuse to believe me, no matter how many times I exin, I''m just demeaning myself "Zayn, I don''t want to demean myself anymore!" Every time his name was called, Willow''s heart sank deeper. She still had that numb look, like she had lost her soul. She shook her head gently. "No, you''re not Zayn anymore. My Zayn is gone, dead in my heart. "Mr. Carter, you belong to Skyler. You have nothing to do with me." Did he belong to Skyler? Feeling increasingly irritated by her haste to push him toward Skyler, Zayn''s voice grew colder. "Yes, my heart belongs only to Skyler! "Willow, I will marry Skyler. I will make her the happiest woman in the world! As for you, Willow... "You''re nothing in my heart!" With that said, Zayn violently pushed Willow away and left without looking back. Willowy weakly on the bed. The bed and nket were warm, but they couldn''t warm her body or heart. She was nothing in Zayn''s heart! Great! It was ridiculous that she was still concerned. He would be somewhat sad if she had passed away. Now, it seems he can''t wait for her to die early. She was just being sentimental again. Willow felt incredibly weak. She really didn''t want to get up, but thinking of Aaron in the hospital bed and the one million she still needed to collect, she forced herself out of bed. She was somewhat annoyed by Zayn''s meddling. How much money would she have to pay this time for her time in the hospital? Fortunately, when she went toplete the discharge procedures, she found out that Zayn had already E paid all the hospital fees in advance. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 48 Chapter 48T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Willow went straight to Velvet Noir afterpleting the discharge procedures. She didn''t even ask for leavest night and just left the private room directly. She didn''t know if the manager would be angry at her. She was prepared to be scolded, but when she went to the manager''s office, not only was she not scolded, but the manager also gave her nearly 100 thousand dors Willow was stunned by all the money. She asked the manager for an exnation, and it turned out that Kenan bought twenty bottles of 1992 Lafite Rothschildst night. A bottle of 1992 Lafite Rothschild typically sold for over 50 thousand dors on the market, but at Velvet Noir, it was even more expensive, selling for over 100 thousand dors per bottle. Based on themission, she indeed should have received nearly 100 thousand dors from Kenan buying so many bottles of 1992 Lafite Rothschild. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 49 The manager gave her the money but also dismissed her. Willow wasn''t sad about it. She knew it would be difficult to continue working here since she met Zaynst night. He always found ways to cut off all her financial sources. Even after divorcing him, she couldn''t escape his control. Now, Willow had to find another job. She definitely couldn''t find a job where wages were paid monthly. And even if she could survive, Zayn would never let her work until payday. In the past, even if she found a cleaning job, thepany would still dismiss her the next day, Willow was imprisoned by Skyler and Louis after graduating from high school. So, she couldn''t do any work which involved advanced technology and could only struggle at the bottom of society. She had thought about doing manualbor at construction sites, but with her current condition, she was afraid that she would die on the site before earning any money. She changed her mind after some thought. She had met a very enthusiastic extra named Melissa Taylor while working as an extra for Dreamscape gas Entertainment.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Coincidentally, Melissa called her and mentioned a great y happening the next day that needed extras to y dead bodies, and asked if she had time. For extras, the easiest thing to do was to y dead bodies. This required no acting skills, and usually, the crew will give extras who y dead bodies some additional pay to ward off bad luck Willow calcted that she would easily earn at least 500 dors for a day''s work tomorrow with the additional pay. She agreed without hesitation. Willow thought today''s work would be pleasant and simple, but to her surprise, she discovered that it was the crew Skyler was in. Skyler''s father, Xavier, was one of the top directors locally and internationally before he took over the Dawson Group Skyler had always dreamed of bing a star. After joining the Dawson family, she entered the entertainment industry. With the resources of the Dawson family, it was hard for Skyler not to be famous. Sometimes, the world just seemed so unfair. Some people work hard in entertainment their whole lives but still remain unknown. But others, like Skyler, got resources right away, and quickly rose to fame as a female star in just one year. Willow''s role was to be covered in blood and lie on the ground like a dead body with many extres. Meanwhile, the female lead of the movie, Skyler, would walk through the sea of corpses, portraying a tragic figure Willow didn''t want to conflict with Skyler on set; she just wanted in pet paid an leave. However, Skyler didn''t want her to have it so easy. When she walked past the "mountain of corpses," she deliberately stepped on Willow, and the ce she stepped on happened to be where her left hand''s severed finger was, Willow instantly broke out in a cold sweat fi from the pain. She was about to pull her hand out from under Skyler''s foot when Skyler stomped hard again. pain was so intense that she couldn''t even muster the strength to lift her hand. the p Tius time, "Willow, how does it feel? Does it feel good?" Skyler lowered her voldem v.e spealing maliciously, "Feels good my ass!" Willow cursed internally. Willow was so angry she wanted to swear, but a p echoed in the air shea vixed before she could say anything The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 50 Chapter 50 "I won''t apologize!" Skyler cried even harder. "I didn''t do anything wrong. Director, please be fair. I was just following the script. If I identally stepped on someone, it''s not my fault, right?" The director didn''t dare to offend Skyler and quickdy nodded. "Yes, that''s how it''s set in the script! Mr. Dawson, you see, Skyler didn''t do it on purpose. You''re siblings, so let''s just leave it at that!" Kenan also didn''t want to hold a grudge against Skyler, but thinking about Willow''s bloodied severed finger, he couldn''t bear to see her being bullied. Even if that person was his own sister. "Skyler, apologize to Willow now!" "Willow, I''ve been kind to you. I don''t think I''ve ever done anything to hurt you. Why do you keep pushing me and instigating conflicts between Kenan and I?" Skyler, unable to argue with Kenan, redirected her usations toward Willow. "Willow, every time you harm me, I feel really hurt! Despite our past disagreements, I forgive all the harm you''ve caused me. Can''t we get along in the future?" The director was already influenced by Skyler''s words, and he nodded. "Yes, it would be great if you could get along well in the future!" Seeing the director speaking up for her, Skyler felt even more pleased. She looked at Willow and said, "Willow, can you stop targeting me on purpose in the future? Please, I''m begging you." Willow wanted tough out loud hearing her words. Skyler had a talent for muddling the water between right and wrong and twisting scenarios to work in her favor. Clearly, she was the one who had harmed Willow repeatedly, but now, Willow was portrayed as the viin.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Willow remained silent and calmly took out her phone. She pressed a button on a recording, fast forwarding a bit before Skyler''s sinister voice sounded from her phone. When dealing with scoundrels, you can''t always be lenient. Sometimes, you have to strike when the time is right. "Willow, how does it feel? Is it satisfying?" The voice from the phone wasn''t loud, but both the director and Kenan heard it clearly, as did the surrounding extras, Their gazes toward Skyler suddenly changed. Who could have imagined that the always innocent and kind Skyler, the big star, would turn out to be such a deceitful person? Skyler''s face turned as red as a beetroot. Her eyes brimmed with vicious hatred, as if she wanted to tear Willow apart. Willow seemed to pay no attention to Skyler''s resentment. She lifted her chin slightly, her figure thin as a rail but still exuding an aura of noble dignity. "Skyler, who''s really harming others here?" "Willow, you have no shame! How dare you record me!" Skyler''s m embarrassment turned into anger. Her face twisted with hatred, and all her pretense of kindness vanished. Realizing she lost herposure, she tried to appear as a bullied, m innocent girl. "Willow, truly wanted to treat you well. Why would you scheme against me like this?" Skyler was addicted to acting, but Kenan couldn''t tolerate it anymore with his temper. He sneered, refusing to believe in Skyler''s lies. With no regard to her, he Oher, he roared, "Skyler, that''s enough! If you truly wanted to treat Willow well, would you deliberately step on her injured hand repeatedly? "Skyler, I''ll say this onest time. Apologize to Willow, or face the consequences!" Spin to im Your Surprise Reward The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Skyler didn''t want to apologize to Willow. Admitting her mistake to Willow would mean acknowledging herself as the viin. But Kenan''s expression was too terrifying, and her heart pounded fiercely. Panic surged when she thought of his words, "Face the consequences" Skyler was someone who could adapt when necessary. She gritted her teeth and decided to swallow her pride temporarily. "Willow, I''m sorry. I apologize for what happened just now." After saying this, Skyler turned and ran aside, tearfully calling Zayn on the phone to vi her grievances. Willow knew that Skyler''s apology was insincere, but she had to admit that seeing her back down brought her immense satisfaction. "Willow, are you sure your wound on your hand is okay? No, we must go to the hospital!" Kenan was still worried about Willow''s injury. Initially, he wanted to remove the bandage and inspect it thoroughly but was afraid of identally hurting her, so he decided to leave everything to t doctor. "Mr. Dawson, I really am fine. I know my own body better than anyone else. Mr. Dawson, thank you for today. You''re truly a good person." Kenan, whose face was thick as a brick, blushed for the first time after being praised by Willow. He awkwardly scratched his head. "Willow, you don''t need to thank me. I just can''t stand seeing others bully you." Willow''s heart radiated with warmth. Kenan''s kindness toward her truly made her feel warm from the bottom of her heart. She thought she would try to start a new rtionship if she weren''t ill. But now, she was close to death. She didn''t need to give him hopes. any unnecessary She cleared her throat, intending to rify things with Kenan. However, before she could speak, the director''s assistant rushed over in a panic. "Mr. Johnson, something bad happened! The dancer we had arranged has twisted her ankle. What should we do for today''s key scene?" "What? She twisted her ankle? Why today of all days!" The director was also in a frenzy. "The set and lighting are all prepared, we''re just waiting for her! But now, she twisted her ankle, and we can''t shoot! Does she realize how much money this dy will waste?" The director pulled at the few hairs remaining on his head. "Even if we find a recement dancer, how can we find someone suitable in such a short time?" Willow had heard about this scene during her conversation with Melissa earlier. It was said to be the final scene before thepletion of the drama. The female lead was a spirit who identally entered the mortal world and fell in love with the male lead, a great general who defended the country. The general''s army tell into the enemy''s trap and was surrounded. The spirit braved the sea of corpses and rescued the general, sacrificing her thousand- year cultivation. The general then led his army to victory. Upon his triumphant return to the capital, the spirit dispersed into the ether. Before the spi vanished, she danced gracefully under a peach tree with the general.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ve It was a scene of heartbreakingly beautiful elegance. Even as his hair m turned white, the general couldn''t forget that fleeting moment under the poach tree. Willow was not an actress nor did she consider herself talented in acting. However, when it ca came to dancing, she knew that was her element. Despite not being particrly smart and having dismal academic results, she was a natural dancer: Her dance teacher once praised her for being so Hexible it''s as if she had no bones. Though she might not have had a promising future, she had no trouble ying the role of a dance substitute. Plus, she had heard dance substitutes were paid well. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 52 Chapter 52 "Mr. Johnson, how about I stand in as Skyler''s dance substitute? Willow pondered for a moment before suggesting it to the director. "What? You?" The director was taken aback. Willow nodded firmly. "Mr. Johnson, I''ve studied dance. I should be able to handle being a substitute." The director was skeptical of Willow''s im. After all, someone who danced well, looked beautiful and had connections would have easily entered the entertainment industry already. Why would she choose to be an extra? But the production team was in a tight spot and couldn''t afford to waste any more time. Creating the scene of a peach forest in the dead of winter cost tens of thousands per day, and the production team couldn''t afford such expenses. He patted Willow''s shoulder. "Alright! If you can perform this dance well, I''ll pay you ten thousand bucks!" Willow''s eyes lit up. Ten thousand dors! She had expected two thousand at most. This unexpected windfall was truly a pleasant surprise.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. The director decided to cast Willow for the dance scene and immediately instructed the crew to take her for makeup and costume changes. As Willow passed by, Skyler was still on the phone with Zayn, tears streaming down her face. "Zayn, I''m so upset. I really don''t know what I did to offend Lolo. I always try to do good for her, but she always ends up hurting me. "Even worse, she instigated Kenan to join in on bullying me. Today on set, Kenan even hit me in front of so many people and demanded that I apologize to her. Zayn, I don''t understand why she bullied me like this, I don''t understand..." Skyler''s fake crying made Willow feel nauseous, but fortunately, she was quickly taken to the makeup room and spared from enduring it any longer. Although she was only a dance substitute, this was still a crucial scene, so the makeup artist paid special attention to Willow''s makeup. Looking at the girl with bright eyes and white teeth in the mirror, Willow almost didn''t recognize herself. Her makeup and costume change took a little over an hour. This was a period drama, and characters wore long-sleeved outfits. So, Willow didn''t have to worry about her missing finger affecting her overall appearance. Once ready, she was led to the peach blossom forest set the production tearn hastily arranged overnight. It had been a while since she had danced, and Willow was slightly nervous. But her nerves eased a bit when she saw Kenan cheering her on. She closed her eyes and immersed herself in the touching love story. A charming figure in bright red approached gracefully under the peach blossom tree. As she danced, peach blossoms fell gently. The face hidden behind the long sleeves was even more beautiful than the blossoms. The spirit was a creature condensed from the spiritual essence of heaven and earth. Unlike worldly women, she was not restrained by conventions. Her attire revealed a slender waist, and as she moved gracefully, the silver bells around her waist tinkled crisply. m Zayn saw this scene when he came to pick up Skyler-peach blossoms fluttering, apanied by a dazzling elegance. Yet amidst all the world''s beauty, It paledpared to the woman''s gentle smile. It was as if everything had faded away at that moment, leaving only e the woman''s unparalleled grace. The scene was mesmerizing and captivating, and she captured hearts effortlessly. But after the brief astonishment came an indescribable anger How dare Willow unt herself in front of so many men? Who was she trying to seduce? He turned and saw Kenan with a face full of infatuation, especially noticing the two streams of blood-dripping NO from Kenan''s nose. Zayn''s expression turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. Chapter 53 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Zayn couldn''t tolerate it any longer. Kenan was seemingly entranced by the dance when he felt a kick and saw Zayn standing beside him, his demeanor icy. "Zayn, what''s up with you? I was enjoying watching Willow dance. Why did you kick me?" Zayn narrowed his eyes. Kenan got irritated and said, "Get lost! Zayn, I won''t hold it against you for that kick just now, but if you continue to disrupt me when I''m watching Willow dance, I''ll have a problem with you!"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Zayn''s gaze darkened as he replied coldly, "You''re bleeding from your nose." "What?" Kenan hastily covered his nose and indeed found blood on his hand. He vigorously wiped the blood away with a tissue. never one to feel embarrassed. Instead, he grinned Having a nosebleed while watching someone dance might be embarrassing for most, but Kenan was ne and approached Zayn. "Zayn, don''t you think I have exceptional taste?" Without waiting for Zayn''s response, Kenan continued, "I''m starting to feel like my taste is excellent! Just look at Willow, how beautiful she looks when she dances, like a little falry! "I must marry her quickly. It''ll be troublesome if someone else snatches her away! Zayn narrowed his eyes. Was Kenan still thinking of marrying that slut? Zayn blurted out, "You''re notpatible with her!" "Notpatible?" Kenan looked at Zayn as if he''s a weirdo, sizing him up. "Zayn, you think Willow and I are ipatible, so who do you think I''mpatible with? "Could it be that I''mpatible with you?" Kenan teased. Seeing Zayn''s silence, Kenan''s body trembled. Nheless, he continued to tease, "Zayn, do you really think I''mpatible with you? Let me tell you, I''m not interested in you at all. I''m only interested in Willow! Even if you have a crush on me, don''t expect me to abandon Willow and fall into your arms! "Willow feels sofortable in my arms. I definitely don''t want to hug an old man who''s smelly and stiff! He hugged her, didn''t he? That night, Willow had already betrayed Zayn with Kenan. How could Kenan not have hugged her? Zayn''s gaze turned cold as ice. Seeing Kenan''s hand resting on his shoulder, his agitation grew.even more. Kenan was startled by Zayn''s §á§â§à§Ü§Ö voice and was about to a argue when he noticed Willow had stopped dancing "Get lost!" The dance had ended long ago, and the onlookers were just snapping out of their mesmerized state. The o.m director stared at Willow as if she were a treasure. The director held out his business card, intending to invite Willow to audition for his new y, but Kenan had already pulled Willow into his arms, spinning her around excitedly. "Willow, you danced so well! I never knew you were so good at dancing!" He looked at her affectionately and asked, "Willow, are you tired? Do your The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Kenan then realized something and quickly wrapped his coat around Willow. "Willow, it''s too cold outside; you might catch a cold with your outfit. Let me take you to change your clothes," Without waiting for Willow to reply, Kenan carried her toward the direction of the changing room. Willow wasn''t used to being held like this by another man. She instinctively wanted to break free from Kenan''s embrace, but he smiled warmly and whispered in her ear, "Willow, in the future, will you only dance for me?" Kenan said this just as he passed by Zayn. Zayn''s expression darkened upon hearing those words. Willow''s voice from the past echoed in Zayn''s head. "Zayn, I''ll only dance for you from now on. Zayn''s eyes were as red as blood. She said she would dance only for him, but now, she was doing the same for Kenan.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Would Kenan lose controlpletely, just like he did at the beginning, seeing her dance with her slender waist and long legs? Zayn couldn''t control his rationality anymore. He wanted to snatch her back from Kenan''s embrace. Willow belonged to him. Even if he hated and abandoned her, she could only be his. "Zayn... Skyler sensed Zayn''s intention and tightly hugged his arm. "Zayn, my stomach suddenly hurts... Zayn seemed not to hear her. Skyler gritted her teeth and raised her voice. "Ah! Zayn, my stomach hurts! It''s starting to hurt again, I''m in pain'' "Skyler!" Zayn held onto Skyler, but his gaze continued to follow Willow and Kenan. She feigned an expression of excruciating pain. "Zayn, I feel like my stomach is being tom apart! Zayn, it hurts so much! Zayn, I''m so afraid I might die... "Skyler, I''ll take you to the hospital right away!" Seeing Zayn''s attention finally returning to her, Skyler went on with her act. "Zayn, ever since I miscarried because of Lolo''s ident, my stomach has been hurting frequently, I''m really worried that I might have some incurable disease..." Skyler, don''t say that! Nothing will happen to you! I won''t let anything happen to you!" Zayn''s consciousness gradually returned. That''s right, Willow, that malicious woman, was vain, hypocritical, and ruthless. She had killed his two children She w was his sworn enemy. Whoever she seduced wasn''t his concern. Skyler gently hugged Zayn''s neck. "Zayn, I''m sorry. I know you lovem children. I''ve always wanted to give a child, but I never thought I''d fail to protect our children. "Zayn, you promised to marry me before because I was pregnant. Now that we''ve lost our child, are you unwilling to marry me anymore? "Zayn, if you don''t want to marry me, I won''t me you. It''s my fate. I couldn''t protect our child, and I can''t haye your love. Zayn, I''m sorry. I couldn''t protect our child. I''m sorry for letting you down." "Skyler, losing the child is not your fault!" Zayn held Skyler tendery.m feeling extreme heartache for her and intense hatred for Willow. "So, Zayn, do you still want to marry me?" Skyler asked again. Chapter 55 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Zayn was briefly lost in thought. In that moment of reverie, he felt he had returned to those carefree days of youth. A delicate young girl was nestled in his arms like a soft kitten. "Zayn, I really want to be your wife! Will you marry me?" What did he say back then? He had said yes. "I do! Willow, in this life, I only want you." But s, the person had long since changed beyond recognition. The girl he had longed to marry cruelly killed their child, hired thugs to break his legs and soughtfort in another man''s arms. His vows were nothing but an unwaveringmitment from him alone. Why should he imprison his heart for a woman who had betrayed him so heartlessly? "Zayn, don''t you want to marry me?" Skyler couldn''t help but feel nervous when Zayn left her question unanswered for so long "Zayn, it''s okay. I''ve said before, even if you don''t want to marry me, I won''t me you..." "Skyler, I will marry you!" Zayn interrupted Skyler''s words. "Skyler, next week, let''s get engaged!" Engaged? Skyler''s heart soared with joy. She hugged Zayn tightly around the neck and leaned in for a kiss, Zayn stiffened and subtly avoided her. "Skyler, I''ll go start the car." Skyler felt a twinge of disappointment after being rejected again. But then she remembered that she was about to be Mrs. Carter and wo plenty of time to win him over. A smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. After Willow finished changing in the dressing room, she nned to talk to Kenan. "Willow, it''s almost noon, you must be hungry, right? Let me take you out for lunch." "Mr. Dawson, it''s not necessary," she said politely. She evaded Kenan''s reaching hand. "Mr. Dawson, I need to talk to you about something." "Willow, whatever you have to say, you can tell me over lunch! You''re so thin, you mustn''t skip meals!" With that, Kenan reached for Willow''s hand again. "Mr. Dawson, I''ve been married before." Kenan''s hand froze in ce, and after a brief moment of shock, he forced a smile. "Willow, what are you joking about? How old are you? Have graduated high school? You''re just a student, how could you be married?" "Mr. Dawson, I have a three-and-a-half-year-old child" Willow continued, enunciating each word, "I''m 22 years old this year, long past being a student.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "I know you''ve been kind to me, but I''m not worthy of you. I believe you''ll meet a better girl in the future, someone who will bring you happi fulfillment." Willow felt an indescribable sadness when she saw the pain in Kenan''s eyes, but she still turned away, stepping further from him. She wasn''t particrly maternal by nature, but seeing Kenan upset gave her a suffocating feeling, much like ?. she couldn''t bear to see Aaron unhaj She thought that by revealing she had a child, Kenan would surely want nothing more to do with her. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Unexpectedly, Kenan tightly grasped her hand as soon as she took a step. Willow''s hand was cold while his was warm. When he held her hand in his palm, warmth spread to hers, It was warm, but this warmth shouldn''t belong to her. "Mr. Dawson, I''m sorry. I should have told you earlier. I''ve wasted your time." "Willow, you said you were married before. So, you''re divorced now, right?" Willow hadn''t expected Kenan to ask her such a question. She didn''t know how to respond for a moment. She then nodded faintly after a while. The dullness in Kenan''s eyes gradually dissipated. His eyes lit up, making his face even more radiant. When he smiled, two shallow dimples appeared, exuding a charming aura. When he got closer, Willow noticed that his pupils were not pure ck but a deep blue, bright and profound. "Divorced? That''s great!" Kenan said cheerfully. He regained his lively demeanor. "You''re unmarried, and I''m unmarried. Why can''t I openly pursue you?" Kenan''s words were not wrong, but Willow still found his thought process peculiar. Shouldn''t a wealthy heir from a prestigious family seek a girl with a clean background? Before Willow could voice her doubts, Kenan smiled and said, "Willow, is our baby a boy or a girl?" Willow couldn''t keep up with Kenan''s train of thought. She replied, "Aaron is a boy." "A boy? That''s great!" Kenan''s smile grew even brighter. "I''m a boy, too, so we''ll definitely have things inmon! Hey, Willow, where''s our baby now? I have a feeling that our baby will really like me! Let''s go, I want to bond with him right now!" Willow was dumbfounded When did Aaron be his baby, too? In the moment of bewilderment, Willow was already being led away to the parking lot. The smile on Kenan''s face suddenly faded, reced by a hint of uneasiness. "Willow, how do I look in this outfit? Will Aaron like me dressed like this? "Oh, what toys does he like? Does he prefer Transformers, Ultraman, or Peppa Pig?" "Willow, what does he like to eat? Does he prefer fast food or traditional cuisine? How about a candlelit dinner with Aaron tonight?" "Willow..." Willow was speechless. Which one should she answer first? Kenan didn''t even give her a chance to refuse him. In the end, Kenan bought Transformers, Ultraman, and Peppa Pig toys along with some snacks, and followed Willow to Aaron''s ward. Kenan had always thought Aaron would be in kindergarten for his age, but he didn''t expect him to be in the hospital. Seeing Aaron lying pale-faced on the hospital bed, Kenan felt an indescribable sadness, as if his own son were sick. Thinking about Willow caring for her sick child alone, he felt even more sorry for her. He secretly resolved to treat her better, much better than anyone else.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Before, it was always Willow or Nic who came to the hospital to & see Aaroh Now, he was surprised to see a man visiting him. His bright ck eyes were full of curiosity. "Who are you?" Chapter 57 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 57 Chapter 57 "Hello, Aaron!" Kenan''s face lit up with a big smile. "I want to be your thom''s boyfriend, and I''ll be your dad in the future!" "Dad.." Aaron murmured the term, lost in thought. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed. Kenan thought Aaron didn''t like him, which made him even more nervous.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Aaron, do you not like me? Do you think I''m too direct? I really like Willow, and I hope you can support us being together." Aaron realized Kenan misunderstood him and quickly exined, "I really like you I''d be thrilled if you could be my Aaron suppressed his disappointment and smiled warmly. He could sense that Kenan was a good person. dad." Although Aaron wished his biological dad would like him and Willow, his dad treated her too poorly, so he didn''t want to hope for it anymore. Moreover, he might not be able to stay with Willow for much longer. He hoped someone could care for his wonderful mom if he weren''t around anymore. That way, he could have peace of mind. "Really?" Kenan was delighted. Seeing Aaron nod, he became so excited that he started to stutter. "Then... then... then Aaron, you can call me dad from now on! I feel like we''re destined to be together. I felt like you were my son the moment I saw you!" Willow definitely couldn''t let Aaron call Kenan dad. She was just about to say something when Aaron spoke up, "Dad" Willow felt that today''s misunderstanding was getting more and moreplicated. She exined, "Aaron, Mr. Dawson is just a friend of mine. You should still call him Uncle in the future." "Willow, you shouldn''t say that. Aaron likes me, and he''s willing to call me dad. You can''t force him to change his mind! Children have their own opinions, and you should respect Aaron''s will." Willow was baffled. Why did she feel like Kenan''s twisted reasoning sounded somewhat reasonable? Aaron knew it might be difficult for Kenan to win Willow''s heart, so he decided to y matchmaker for them. Although he had only met Kenan once, he genuinely liked him. Andpared to the man who constantly bullied his mom, he felt that Kenan was much better Being able to have him as his dad would be really nice. "Mam, I like him. I want to call him dad," Aaron said while looking pitifully at Willow. The words Willow was about to say were instantly stuck in her throat. For Willow, Aaron''s request was the hardest thing to refuse in her entire life. Even if she wasn''t happy with him calling Kenan dad, she couldn''t bring herself to reprimand him now. "Willow, did you hear that? Aaron likes me, and he wants to call me dad!" Kenan''s face was bearing with pride. If he had a tail, it would surely be wapging up to the sky. "Mom, can I call him dad? I really want a dad.." Aaron pleaded. Willow was speechless. Well, faced with the relentless efforts of these two, what else could she do besidespromise? Seeing Willow no longer resisting, Kenan felt triumphant He sat by the bedside, gently holding Aaron''s hand. "Don''t worry, Aarom Jare Dad will take good care of you and your mom from now on. I won''t let you suller any grievances." Instead of responding to Kenan, Aaron turned to Willow. "Mom, I''m hungry. I really want the cafeteria''s pork chop." "Mr. Dawson, could you please take care of Aaron for me? I''ll go to the cafeteria to get some food." With that, Willow grabbed her meal card and hurried to the cafeteria, Aaron intentionally separated Willow from them. "Mr. Dawson, could you please take care of Aaron for me? I''ll go to the cafeteria to get some food. "With that, Willow grabbed her meal card and hurried to the cafeteria Aaron intentionally separated Willow from them. He had something to say to Kenan. Chapter 58 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 58 Chapter 58 "Daddy, you really like Mommy, don''t you?" "Of course! I fell in love with Willow at first sight and then fell deeply in love. I''m going to marry her! Kenan put away his carefree demeanor and spoke with utmost sincerity. "Daddy, will you take good care of Mommy for me in the future? "I have a serious illness and need a lot of money to cure it. Mommy works so hard to earn money for my treatment. It''s really tough for her. I don''t want Mommy to suffer so much. If one day I''m not here, you have to be very good to Mornmy." "Aaron..." Kenan''s eyes welled up with tears. He quickly turned his face away, not letting the tears fall He wiped his eyes before speaking firmly, "Aaron, nothing will happen to you! Mommy works hard for money, but Daddy has money! Daddy will definitely cure your illness and make you and Mommy happy in the future." "Daddy, you can''t let Mommy cry in the future. Every time Mommy cries, my heart hurts." Aaron''s sensibility touched Kenan''s heart. Kenan gently ruffled Aaron''s hair. "Aaron, don''t worry! Willow will be my woman in the future! Whoever dares to make her cry or provoke her, I''ll make them cry so hard they can''t shed tears anymore!" "Daddy, you''re a really good person, Aaron said sincerely. Hearing Aaron praise him like that, Kenan couldn''t help but smile broadly. He wished he could open his heart and show Aaron how deeply he felt for Willow. Soon, Willow brought the meal to the table. She made a portion for Kenan as well. Kanan was ustomed to eating exotic delicacies, so the simple dishes tasted unique to him. Kenan thought that goodpany mattered the most when it came to sharing a meal. Even if it were just simple food, eating with Willow would bring him joy. After lunch, Kenan arranged to have dinner with Aaron and Willow that evening, feeling content as he left. Aaron was now able to get out of bed. The doctor said it was okay for him to leave the hospital for a few hours. Kenan nned to take Aaron out for some fresh air in the evening Aaron was at his liveliest at his age, and Kenan didn''t want Aaron to be stuck in the hospital surrounded by the smell of disinfectant all day. When they got into the car, Kenan excitedly hummed a time. After a brief consideration, he picked up his phone and dialed Zayn''s number. "Zayn, I''m treating you guys to dinner tonight!. "Yes, I''ll bring my son along! And you, Charles and the others, don''t forget to prepare gifts! Make sure to give my son the biggest one!" After calling Ss and Charles, Kenan happily put his phone away. Willow wasn''t keen on having dinner with Kenan, but Aaron was looking forward to the gathering in the evening. She didn''t want to disappoint him, so she agreed to let Kenane pick her up, Kenan had helped her a lot, so she nned to treat him to dinner tonight. Initially, she nned to go to an ordinary restaurant, but Ke?an took e her and Aaron to Gourmet Haven.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She hadn''t dined at Gourmet Haven before but had heard of it. It was said that a pot of tea there started at five of six thousand dors, and a meal easily costs tens of thousands. Willow didn''t want to spend so much money there. She was about to suggest that Kenan choose a cheaper ce when she saw Zayn and Skyler approaching. Kenan loopged Aaron and joyfully introduced, "Zayn, you''re here! Let me introduce you, this is my son, Aaron!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Aaron hadn''t expected to rum into Zayn in such a ce. The smile on his face instantly faded, reced by a prickly sense of resentment and vignce. "Aaron, this is my best friend Zayn and my future brother-inw!" Kenan waspletely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere. "Zayn, what are you standing there for? Didn''t I inform you in advance? Hand over the gift! How can I let you guys have a free look at my handsome son!" Zayn stood there motionless. His gaze was firmly fixed on Willow''s face. On the other hand, Skyler reacted quite quickly and handed a gift to Aaron. "Aaron, nice to meet you." Aaron detested Skyler the most. He certainly didn''t want to ept the gift she handed him, but Kenan was q He snatched the gift and stuffed it into Aaron''s arms. quicker than him.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. "Aaron, take it!" Kenan hugged Aaron tightly. "Let''s go, let''s go collect more gifts!" Charles and Ss arrived rtively early. By the time Willow and the others entered the private room, they had already been waiting inside. Kenan had already informed them about the gifts beforehand, so when Aaron entered the private room, he naturally received two more big gifts. With his adorable appearance and likable personality, Aaron quickly won the favor of Ss and Charles. Seeing Aaron being so well-received, Kenan felt a swell of paternal pride. Charles hugged Aaron for a while, then suddenly realized something very serious. He tapped Zayn, sitting next to him and said, "Zayn, haven''t you noticed? Aaron looks a lot like Kenan, doesn''t he? Kenan, could Aaron really be your biological son?" Nobody had noticed the resemnce between Kenan and Aaron until Charles pointed it out. But upon hearing his words, everyone suddenly realized that Adran looked like Kenan. They both had adorable baby faces with simr noses and mouth shapes. Though their eye colors were different, their facial features were strikingly simr. Kenan swiftly took Aaron from Charles''s arms, staring at his face in amazement. He couldn''t contain his joy and burst intoughter. "Hahaha, truly my son! He looks exactly like me!" Kenan was overflowing with excitement. He tightly grasped Willow''s hand, "Willow, I told you, Aaron and I are destined to be together. It''s fate that he should be my son! Kenan had always been generous. He loved Willow for who she was, regardless of her past marriage. Seeing Aaron look so much like him was truly an unexpected delight, a bonus even "Yeah, you and Aaron really do look alike." Willow stared at the strikingly simr faces. Willow felt that the world was us. Aaron sometimes quite miraculous. Aaron didn''t resemble her entirely, nor did he resemble Zayn too much, yet he looked so much like a man with whom he had no blood rtion. No wonder she felt an inexplicable familiarity when she first saw Kenan. It turned out that he resembled Aaron so much. With Willow''s affirmation, Kenan felt even more proud. Seeing Zayn staring at him with inscrutable eyes, he shot him a m defiant re. "Zayn are your jealous? OV Why don''t you try having a son who looks like you too? You can''t have one, can you? Kenan had a tendency to lose his bearings when he got too cocky. He hugged Aaron on one side and m Willow on the other, "Willow is the best. Thanks to her, I feel like the happiest man in the world for having such a son who looks like me. Willow, thank you for making me so happy!¡± The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Willow was speechless. Why did Kenan talk as if Aaron was really his son? She discreetly struggled out of Kenan''s embrace. Originally, she had intended to distance herself from him, but seeing Zayn across from her, she changed her mind. It wasn''t that she wanted to use Kenam to provoke Zayn. Kenan would never give up on her, regardless of whether she rejected him or not. So, whatever she did, it wouldn''t be considered using him. She didn''t want to quickly distance herself from other men in front of Zayn, acting all chaste and virtuous. To Zayn, she was just a promiscuous woman who would go with anyone. Why did she need to express her loyalty to him? Meanwhile, Kenan was still boasting to Zayn, "Zayn, if you envy me, hurry up and have a child with my sister! But with your genes, you two won''t be able to have a cute child like Aaron!" "Bang!" The highball ss in Zayn''s hand shattered on the table. He stared coldly at Kenan, his eyes clouded with anger. "Whose son did you say he was?" Kenan was afraid of Zayn, but even when Kenan spoke politely, Zayn still smashed sses, which made Kenan unhappy as well. He raised his voice involuntarily. "Of course Aaron is my son! Or is he yours? Zayn, I know you''re jealous that I have a son, but let me tell you, there are some things you can''t be jealous of! You couldn''t have such a cute son even if you had a child immediately!" "Heh!" Zayn smirked, but his eyes grew even colder. "You would cherish even a bastard!" Aaron''s smile vanished, and his face instantly turned as pale as a sheet. Initially, he thought that he wouldn''t care about that bad person anymore by deciding not to have a father. But now, he realized that he still felt sad. Willow''s expression also turned sour. She could bear it when Zayn hurt her, but when it involved Aaron, she couldn''t tolerate it. She was about to lose her temper when Kenan mmed the table and stood up. "Zayn, what do you mean by that? Aaron is the beloved son of Willow and L. My most loved treasure. If you ever say such words again, even if you are my best brother, I will have nothing to do with you! Feeling Willow trembling, Kenan tightly grasped her hand and whispered, "Willow, don''t be sad. As long as I''m here, I won''t let anyone bully our Aaron, let alone let anyone bully you! Willow, I like you, and I will treat you well for the rest of my life!" "Like?" Zayn sneered disdainfully, his voice cold. "Kenan, you like a woman who is open to everyone, aren''t you afraid of being filthy yourself?" Open to everyone... Filthy.. Willow''s face instantly drained of all color. She instinctively wrapped her coat tighten around herself, but still felt no warmth. Despite the warmth of the heater in the private room, her teeth couldn''t stop chattering. Zayn''s favorite pastime was trampling on her dignity. This wasn''t the first time he had said such hurtful st words to her, and she had thought she was getting used to it. But hearing it in front of so many people still made her very, very upset. I reality, Willow wasn''tpletely shameless. Chapter 61 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 61 Chapter 61 She didn''t want to be looked down upon by everyone else. She didn''t want to be street vermin that people kicked and spat at However, Zayn just couldn''t bear to see her living happily. He wanted to cruelly steal away all of the light she had in her life. The room fellpletely silent. None of them had spoken yet, but she could already picture the scathing, disdainful gazes that Kenan and the others would direct toward her. She wasn''t brave enough. She didn''t want to have to bear the disdain of so n many people. All she wanted to do now was run away She was about to take Aaron from Kenan and take him away from that humiliating ce when Kenan suddenly smashed a bottle of alcohol against the table. His eyes usually glinted with a smile, but they were now staring coldly at Zayn as he said firmly, "Say sorry to Willow right now." Willow turned and stared at Kenan in shock and disbelief. She thought he would hate her or look down on her. She never expected him to defend her and ask Zayn to apologize to her.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Mr. Dawson..." Willow was at a loss for words. She simply couldn''t describe her feelings. All she could do was stare at Kenan nkly with teary eyes. Kenan ced Aaron on a seat next to him and fiercely pulled Willow into his embrace. He pressed her into his arms determinedly as if he wanted her to fuse with him. fly next to Willow''s ear as if he wanted to announce it to the whole world. "Willow, I told you that I would never let anyone hurt His voice resonated loudly next to you with me around." He turned to Zayn and repeated, "Say sorry to Willow right now!" Willow couldn''t contain herself anymore and cried happy tears. She stared at Kenan appreciatively. He had a cute, likable face and looked younger than his age. Even though they were both 22 years old, she still found it hard to see him as an adult. She kept feeling like he was just a child. Looking at him up close, it finally dawned on her that he was already a grown man. Kenan began to panic when he saw Willow crying. He clumsily wiped her tears away as he consoled her, "Don''t cry, Willow. Please don''t cry. I''ll do anything you want as long as you stop crying. I can give you my heart, even my whole life. Please don''t cry, okay?" Willow felt weak for crying without reason. She forcefully wiped her tears away and wormed out of Kenan''s embrace. "I''m fine, Mr. Dawson, I just feel like you''re too nice to me. I haven''t felt this warm in a long time." "Silly girl. I like you. Who else would I be nice to?" Zayn narrowed his eyes and stared daggers at Kenan''s hand on Willow''s waist. For some reason, it seemed to be mocking him. Almost against his own will, he stood up and wanted to break Kenan''s hand. Skyler was afraid that Zayn would lose control over Willow again She gripped his wrist and pleaded, ¡°Zayn, please..." Her voice seemed to go right over Zayn''s head. He ignored her and quickly walked forward, gripping En? Kenan''s wrist "Let me go, Zayn! You''re crazy!" Kenan had already been pissed off at Zayn after everything that happened that night. Naturally, he didn''t want Zayn to touch himn Krn swiftly lifted his other hand, ready to swing his fist into Zayn''s face. Chapter 62 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Zayn was even quicker than Kenan, and he was precise too. Before Kenan could even touch him, Zayn''s fist had alreadynded against Kenan''s handsome face. Willow felt extremely guilty at the sight of Kenan getting hit because of her. She quickly stood in front of him and said in a panic, "Are you okay, Mr. Dawson? Does it hurt? Let me bring you to the hospital." Zayn''s expression darkened further at the sight of the panic on Willow''s face. His knuckles cracked loudly as his fists clenched even tighter, as if he was ready to start a bloody fight Charles and Ss were both famously aloof, but they couldn''t just step aside and watch as their two best friends fought to the death. Charles nced at Ss before trying to defuse the situation. "Quit messing around, guys. Let''s have some actual fun before the food arrives." He took out a small box of cards and a delicate looking paper box. "Let''s y dare or dare. Whoever loses the game will take a dare from the box. You have to do whatever it says!" After that, he pulled Kenan and Zayn back to their seats without giving them any time to argue Kenan was still furious, but he didn''t want to scare Aaron. He listened to Charles and began the game of cards. He couldn''t help but feel like his luck was pretty bad. He lost the first game of cards terribly However, after getting his dare, he suddenly felt like he was the luckiest man in the room. The dare written on the card was to kiss someone in the room. as There were only two women in the room with them. Skyler was his biological sister, and the rest of them would never make them kiss. Willow was the only possible option. Kenan rubbed his hands together, feeling as if his heart was about to thump out of his chest. Willow kept rejecting him, but wasn''t a kiss the best way to rekindle a spark? A deep, passionate kiss would definitely set the scene for their blossoming romance. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Charles chanted after looking at the card Kenan was holding. He purposely nced at Willow and said, "He can''t possibly kiss himself. Who''s willing to take one for the team? It''s not going to be me, that''s for sure. I have taste!" 11 Ss looked down gently and said, "I have taste, too." The corners of Kenan''s mouth curled upward into a smile. He turned around and looked at Willow shyly. "Willow, none of them want to help me with my dare. What should I do?"T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Before Willow could say anything, Kenan continued excitedly, "Willow, why don''t you help me instead? How does that sound?" "Ms. Sanford, how about you just go along with him? If he doesn''t finish his dare, he''s going to need to go streaking around Havenport tonight! Do you really want to see him embarrass himself in front of the whole poption of Havenport?" Charles asked, raising an eyebrow and waiting for the show to begin. Willow was about to say no, but she couldn''t turn him down after hearing what Charles said. She didn''t want to kiss Kenan, but she also didn''t want to see him m embarrass himself in front of everyone in Havenport. After wrestling with it internally for a while, Willow decided to go along with it anyway. It was just a kiss after all She wasn''t going to get hurt or anything, and in the worst case scenario, she could always just talk things out with him after walking out of their private room. "Okay, Mr. Dawson. I''ll-" Before Willow could finish speaking, Zayn interjected expressionlessly, "I''ll do it." Chapter 63 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Kenan had just swallowed a mouthful of wine in an attempt to calm his nerves before his loss with Willow. However, before he could swallow more wine, Zayn had volunteered, causing him to spit out the mouthful of wine from shock.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. "What did you say, Zayn? My ears are probably fooling me. I think I''m hallucinating! I just heard you say you were willing to kiss me!" Kenan eximed. "You''re not hallucinating Zayn''s expression didn''t change one bit. "I''ll kiss you." Kenan was holding his breath from sheer panic. He chuckled dryly. "Man, your joke really sucks." "It wasn''t a joke." As he spoke, Zayn had already approached Renan. "Let''s begin," he announced. "Begin, my ass!" Kenan almost spat at him. He wanted to kiss Willow, not some dirty man! However, the rules of the game stated that the loser couldn''t deny anyone who volunteered to help them with their dare. Kenan gritted his teeth and practically smashed Zayn''s lips with his. Right after the "kiss'', Kenan stood up and turned his face away as he vomited violently. Kissing a man was simply too disgusting for him to handle. After vomiting, Kenan suddenly froze. He finally realized some important things. Zayn had been acting weird since they were at the studio. He already said that he and Willow didn''t suit each other. However, after seeing Willow and Kenan acting all lovey-dovey at the restaurant, Zayn began to target Willow. To make matters worse, Kenan was supposed to kiss Willow, but Zayn had stolen that chance and kissed him instead. Kenan didn''t understand why Zayn was so against Willow, but he finally made the connection between everything that had happened recently There was only one reason that made sense. Zayn had given up on the limits of gender and fallen in deep, inexplicable love with Kenan! Kenan didn''t know what to feel. He didn''t want to lose Zayn, who had been his best friend since they were kids, but there was no way he would let go of Willow either! Kenan frowned, the stress furrowing his brows. It was truly a pain to be so attractive! Willow was also shocked at the sight of them kissing. She knew Zayn didn''t want Kenan to kiss her, but it wasn''t because Zayn actually cared about her. It was just one of his twisted ways to show his possessiveness. Her throat suddenly began to fill up with a metallic taste. She had begun to cough up blood more frequently as ofte, and she knew she was about to cough up blood again. She didn''t want Aaron to see it and said she needed to use the bathroom, rushing out in a hurry. Kenan wanted to talk to Zayn when Willow wasn''t around, so he grabbed the opportunity now that she had gone to the restroom. "Zayn, I know how you feel about me," Kenan said, looking pained. Zayn''s expression was perfectly calm, but he was extremely confused. Since when did he have any feelings for Kenan? Kenan sighed and said, "Zayn, you need to question your morals. Can you really own up to heving these feelings for me in front of my sister? Zayn, 1 know how handsome, attractive and irresistible I am, but we''re both men!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 64 Chapter 64 "We can never experience the same joy together that we would with a woman, do you understand? We can never be together. Kenan continued to exin sincerely, "To be very honest, Zayn, I only love Willow. I''m not interested in you, and no matter how much you love me, never leave her to be with you. He continued, "You have to get rid of those thoughts! Don''t go targeting Aaron or Willow just because you like me! "If you can control your attraction to me, we can still be best friends. If not, I''ll be forced to stop being friends with you!" Zayn finally understood what Kenan was stressed about. He thought Zayn had a crush on him! Zayn''s expression had already darkened after being forced to kiss Kenan. After hearing that, his expression turned extremely grim. However, Kenan interpreted Zayn''s expression as somethingpletely different. His heart dropped to his stomach at the sight of Zayn''s somber expression. He felt as if his rejection had hurt Zayn and made him angry. Kenan cleared his throat and struggled to get the words out. "Don''t take it too personally, Zayn. I just really don''t think we suit each other." "Fuck off!" "Zayn shot up from his seat and did his best to hold down his violent nausea as he walked out of the room coldly. Kenan sat where he was, looking at Ss and Charles helplessly. "What do I do? I think I really hurt him. He''s not going to do anything silly, right?" he asked. "I only turned him down because I had to! No matter how close we are, I can''t date a man!" He looked at Ss and Charles in a desperate attempt to feel reassured. "Don''t you guys agree? Charles and Ss looked at each other dryly. They both couldn''t be bothered to entertain Kenan, whose intelligence had seemed to devolve to that of a box of crayons. Since he couldn''t get a reply from either of his two friends, Kenan turned to look at Skyler, but waspletely shocked by the look on her face. Skyler''s usually pleasant, gentle expression had been twisted unrecognizably by her hatred. He almost jumped from his shock. Even though he didn''t really like his sister, he knew it was still his fault that he stole Zayn''s heart away and felt the need to console her. "I''m sorry! I didn''t know Zayn had those intentions toward me. Don''t worry, though, I can definitely convince him not to let you down!" "Whatever!" Skyler snapped at him as she stood up and stormed outside in her high heels. Kenan didn''t know what to do. It was a pain to be so handsome. Winning the hearts of both men and women was simply too stressful for him! Willow managed to reach the bathroom right as she coughed up a mouthful of blood. After calming herself down in one of the stalls, she came back out and washed her face thoroughly with some cold water from the tap. She ate a few more pills before finally feeling slightly better. The doctor had told her to only eat one pill at a time and that eating too many would cause her body to deteriorate even faster. However, just one pill no longer had any effect on her. She needed to eat a whole handful at once, She suddenly lost feeling in both her legs and had to lean against the sink for a long time before managing to move them again. A chill crept up her spine at the thought of how a lot of cancer patients in their final stage ended up bing empty husks lying on a hospital bed, awaiting a painful death. She wouldn''t end up beingpletely immobile in her final days, right? The feeling of being stuck on a bed and being unable to do anything sounded like torture. Having to wait for death while being too helpless to even go to the bathroom on her own sounded terrible. She wasn''t afraid of death, but she was afraid of not being able to die. She turned around with a heavy heart and a mind full of thoughts, when she felt her head m against something and realized she had walked right into a man''s chest. She didn''t want to cause any trouble and hurriedly apologized, but before before mouth, the the words could leave her. man grabbed her by the neck roughly. "Willow, tell me who that bastard child belongs to! N?velDrama.Org owns all content. a ma''s chest, She didn''t want to cause any trouble and hurriedly apologized, but before the words could leave her mouth, the man grabbed her by the neck roughly. "Willow, tell me who that bastard child belongs to!" Chapter 65 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Willow smiled bitterly. Choking again? He really wasn''t creative. She closed her eyes tiredly before opening them again slowly. She had no more energy left to entertain Zayn. She didn''t even have an appetite anymore. All she wanted was to bring Aaron back home and knock out on her bed. "Talk to me!" Zayn''s eyes were rimmed red, making him look like a hungry beast. He looked as if he would gobble her up if she didn''t give him an answer he wanted to hear. "Willow, tell me if that bastard belongs to Louis or Kenan!" Zayn''s hands quivered in anger, and the veins on the back of his hands were bulging from the force he was exerting. He looked like the Devil itself. Zayn had always assumed that Aaron was Louis'' kid. But when he heard Kenan talking about how Aaron was his, he couldn''t help but look at their eerily simr faces and wonder whose child Aaron actually was. When he thought about how Willow had not only seduced Louis but had most likely also slept with Kenan and possibly countless other men, he couldn''t help but feel the urge to tear her from limb to limb. Louis? Kenan? Willow felt like his questions were ridiculous. He''d rather believe Aaron was a bastard child than his own flesh and blood. How painfully Ironic! "You''re not willing to own up that Aaron is yours, so why would you care about whose child he is?"N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Willow''s nonchnt expression only made Zayn even angrier, He tightened his grip on her neck. "That bastard looks exactly like Kenan. He''s Kenan''s kid, isn''t he? She remembered how painful it had been when he strangled her the first time. It hurt so much then. But perhaps she had felt it so often that she was now numb to it. Even though she couldn''t even speak because of how firmly he was strangling her, she still didn''t feel any pain. She was simply too exhausted to even twitch. She had no idea why Aaron looked so much like Kenan. Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps it was simply a coincidence. However, she couldn''t be bothered to tell Zayn any of that. She simply looked up at himzily and said, "Mr. Carter, you should mind your own business. We''re divorced. You no longer have the right to care about my business, "You always used to tell me not to humiliate myself, so I''m here to tell you the same thing. "When I loved you, you were my everything. But now that I don''t, you''re nothing to me. I don''t love you anymore, Zayn, which means you''re nothing to me. "I dare you to say that again!" Zayn bellowed. Willow opened her mouth and took in as big of a breath as she could so she wouldn''t suffocate before putting on an empty, self-deprecating expression. Even though she was being choked by Zayn outside of the bathroom, she still carried a sort of reckless abandon and indestructible pride "I said you''re nothing to me, Mr. Carter. Since you''re nothing to me, please leave me alone and stop bothering me from now on. Let''s stop humiliating ourselves in front of each other and go our separate ways." With a loud bang, Zayn kicked open the door to the men''s bathroom next to them. A man shakily pulled ext pants back up and jogged downstairs without aven daring to look up at them. Since the bathroom was now empty, Zayn began to forcefully pull Willow inside, Naturally, Willow didn''t want to go inside, but her strength was ng m match for Zayn''s, By the time she finally came back to her senses, she was already Chapter 66 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 66 Chapter 66 With a ng. Zayn pulled the lock on the bathroom door shut. "Let me out!" Willow felt incredibly unsafe being stuck in such a ce. She tried her best to unlock the door again, but before she could do so, Zayn had already gripped her wrist tightly. It hurt so much that she couldn''t move at all. She instinctively flinched away from him in an attempt to relieve the pain, but her wrist continued to sting She also didn''t know what was happening to her. Even though she had taken a few painkillers earlier, her stomach was hurting again. Her forehead was dripping with cold sweat from the pain, and she could barely register anything that was going on.. All she could do was mumble, "Mr. Carter, 1-let me out. In-need to go find- Aaron was still in the private room, and she had to go get him. However, before she could finish her sentence, her stomach cramped up so painfully she couldn''t even breathe. Zayn, however, saw it as her wanting to go out and look for Kenan, which sent him over the edge. He roughly held her down by her shoulders and said, You''re dreaming if you think I''m going to let you go look for Kenan!" Then he leaned down and ferociously bit her lips. After knowing Zayn for so long, she knew extremely well what he was about to do next. She struggled with all her might, not wanting him to get his way.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. If he really did something like that here, she had no idea how she would go out and face Aaron after that. She didn''t want even her son who she loved so dearly to see her as a filthy woman. "Let me go, Mr. Carter!" She thought of something and quickly said, "We already got a divorce, Mr. Carter. You can''t do that to me! We''re divorced. Yes, we''re divorced..." Zayn frowned. Even though the divorce was his idea, hearing her say it over and over again was grating for some reason. He suppressed the irrational annoyance he felt and said in a cold, disdainful tone, "You''re just a prostitute now." He dug out a wad of bills from his wallet and tossed them at her harshly. "Here''s 2,000 dors, which is honestly by more than you''re worth." The bills fluttered onto the ground. Willow froze, allowing her gaze to wander over the money that was now scattered everywhere. In her eyes, the bills transformed into des that were stabbing her chest one by one, drawing blood and rendering her unrecognizable. The hopeless pain that had been wrecking her body began to engulf Willow once again. She numbly stared at the white bathroom door in front of her as she lost the will to even make an expression. She couldn''t cry orugh anymore. She felt like a walking corpse. After all, Zayn doing that to her in a public space meant he didn''t see her as human anymore. "Willow!" When she heard Kenan calling her name in distress from outside the bathroom, all the life drained out from her eyes. What if Kenan saw Zayn doing that to her in a public bathroom? What it he brought Aaron along with him? "Willow!!! As the knocks on the door grew more and more frantic, Willow closed her eyes and felt a chill taking over her whole body. At that very moment, she felt as if she had already died. Chapter 67 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 67 Chapter 67 "Mr. Carter, please let me go..." Willow''s broken plea trailed off into nothingness as if she was simply talking in her sleep. "Willow!" Kenan fumbled with the doorknob, but the door refused to open He knew that the door had been locked from the inside, so he continued to bang on the door loudly. He even kicked it a couple of times in an attempt to open it. However, the b bathroom door was simply too strong. He used all the strength he had to kick the door, but it remained perfectly intact. Kenan couldn''t help but worry. Zayn had followed Willow after she walked out, which already set off rm bells in his mind. After handing Aaron over to Charles to be watched, he left the private room and called Willow. However, nobody picked up. After that, he asked a waitress to help him check the women''s bathroom, but she wasn''t in there either. The tightly closed door caused him even greater concern, and he began to get the feeling that something terrible had happened He knew how cruel Zayn could be, and because of Kenan, Zayn had constantly been targeting Willow. Who knew what he would do to her in the men''s bathroom? What if Zayn really killed her to get him? Kenan felt more and more panicked as time went by. He felt as if he was truly cursed with his good looks. "Zayn, I know you''re in there!" Kenan said as he banged on the door relentlessly. "Calin down, Zayn! Don''t hurt her! Open up right now!" Kenan banged on the door over and over again, but it remained tightly shut. He no longer had the patience to wait and went to talk to the manager of Gourmet Haven so that he could get the keys to the bathroom. The manager wasn''t carrying the keys with him, so by the time they finally got their hands on them, a whole half hour had already passed. Kenan held tightly onto the keys with his damp, sweaty palms. He was terrified that he would see Willow''s dead body the moment he opened the door. He tightened his grip on the keys and was about to unlock the door when it opened from the inside. Before he could react, Zayn walked out of the men''s bathroom looking perfectly put together. As for Willow, she was curled up and shivering in a corner of the bathroom. "Willow!" Kenan quickly rushed over. Willow''s clothes were more intact than they had been at Bordello, but they still looked as if they had been torn and pulled at. When he saw the red marks on her skin, he immediately guessed what had happened to her even though he had never had a girlfriend before.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. When she heard Kenan''s voice, she looked up at him nurmbly despite her devastated heart. However, at the same time, she felt incredibly grateful that he hadn''t brought Aaron with him. She turned away when she saw Kenan''s eyes, which were red with fury. She didn''t know how she could face him. She really did appreciate him. Sometimes, she couldn''t help but treat him like family When she thought about the disgust and m disdain he would treat her with from now on, her heart began to sting with pain again She had given up all of her dignity back then with Zayn to earn money. But when it came to the people she about like Aaron, actually dared a Nic, Matthew, and Kenan, she still wanted to retain some sense of dignity. "I''m sorry, Willow! I was toote! Chapter 68 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Kenan took his jacket off and carefully covered Willow with it. He gritted his teeth in anger at the thought of what Zayn had done to her and spat, bastard! I''m going to kill him!" After that, he turned around and rushed out of the bathroom angrily. "Mr. Dawson," Willow called out softly. "Please send Aaron back for me. I don''t want him t n to see me like this." Kenan felt his chest sting with pain. He turned around and pulled Willow into a tight hug. It wasn''t a romantic hug, however. It was a heartfelt hug from a family member who was full of worry and concerContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. "I''m so sorry, Willow. I''m so sorry," he mumbled over and over again. He had always been pretty nonchnt about everything, but he was feeling more pain than he had ever felt before. His heart hurt for the woman in his Willow was taken aback. She thought Kenan would shun her and toss her away in disgust. She never expected him to apologize to her and hug her so tenderly. "I''ll arrange for someone to send Aaron back to the hospital," Kenan said as he gently carried Willow in his arms as if she were a fragile porcin doll. I''ll take you home." Willow felt as if she had already troubled him a lot and didn''t want to owe him anymore. But she couldn''t help but agree that it would be easier for him to send her back than for her to get a taxi looking like that. Instead of arguing, she allowed him to bring her to his car. Even though she had a father, she had never truly felt fatherly love before. All of her parents'' love and attention had gone to Skyler. Willow could never understand why her biological parents loved Skyler so much while hating her guts. She always thought she would never feel any sort of fatherly or brotherly love anymore. But as she rxed in Kenan''s embrace, she couldn''t help but feel the love she had been craving since she was a kid. Willow felt horrible after Kenan walked in on her. After getting in his car, she truly didn''t know what to say to him. It felt like nothing she could say would wash away the awkwardness and difort she was feeling. Kenan stayed silent as well. His weing and young features were stuck in a rare stern expression that bled with hatred and solemnity. Just as she was beginning to think they would stay silent the whole time, he suddenly said, "Willow, let''s get married." Willow looked up in shock. She never expected him to suddenly propose to her. She didn''t want to say more than she had to, but at that point, she felt like there were some things she had to be honest about with Kenan. "Mr. Dawson, I can''t be with you. I-" "Don''t tell me that you aren''t a good match for me or that I deserve m someone better! Kenan cut Willow off agitatedly. "I already told you that you''re the best for me. I don''t care if you had a kid, or that you were married, or about anything from your past "To me, you''ll always be the most innocent, purest version of yourself. Please marry me. Let me take care of e you and protect you, please.¡± ¡°Fran''t be with you, Mr. Dawson" She paused before continuing. "Do you know who my ex-husband is? It''s Zayn." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 69 Chapter 69 "What?" Kenan asked with wide eyes. He looked as if he''d heard some terrifying urban legend.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. While Kenan was still processing his shock, Willow told him everything that happened between her and Zayn. Apart from being diagnosed withte-stage cancer, she told him everything that had happened in thest few years. She once thought that she would never bring up those painful, dark, and humiliating memories ever again. But she finally realized that it was easy to open up to someone she trusted. They had already reached Bordello by the time Willow finished talking. She looked at Kenan who was still in shock. "Mr. Dawson, Aaron is actually Zayn''s kid, but he''s so deep in his misunderstanding that he''s unwilling to believe me. "As for Skyler, she''s your biological sister. You can choose whether to believe what I told you or not. If you don''t believe me, just treat it as the ramblings of a crazy woman. "I know how much you''ve done for me, Mr. Dawson, and I''m incredibly grateful. But we can''t be together. Zayn isn''t the only thing standing between us. There''s Skyler, too. We really aren''t cut out for each other." "I believe you, Willow!" Kenan said as he stubbornly pulled her into his embrace. "But we are cut out for each other. No one else matters but you, I would still cross it to be "You''re the one I love, and I want to be with you. Who cares about Zayn and Skyler? Even if there was an ocean separating us, with you. Please don''t turn me down again, Willow. Give me a chance to take care of you" Hot tears filled Willow''s eyes. She never thought that Kenan would like her so much. She looked up at him, her wetshes fluttering delicately. It was incredibly rare to meet a man who actually loved her. She wanted to be with Kenan. She really did. She had wasted the first half of her life loving Zayn like a moth burning itself near a me. It was exhausting. She doubted herself time and time again, and she got hurt time and time again. Even love that ran so deep could be washed away. She wanted to find a man who would trust her and support her unconditionally. Even if she didn''t love him, she was still willing to make it work Time could heal all injuries, and it could also make an ordinary rtionship be one to remember. If she got together with Kenan, she knew she would fall in love with him eventually. He was so good to her. If they had the rest of their lives to spend together, why not use the rest of their time to love freely and wildly? The sad thing was that she didn''t have any time to spend with him. Her life was about toe to an end. She couldn''t let herself waste his time. "Mr. Dawson, I''m-" "Willow, don''t be so quick to reject me, please." Kenan gently caressed her slightly messy hair. "I can wait for you. I''ll wait for you no matter how long it takes, so please don''t reject me so quickly. I''ll wait for you to see all the things I''m willing to do for you! Without giving Willow any time to say no to him, Kenan gently kissed her on her forehead and quickly walked away. Willow watched as he left and murmured to herself, "Mr. Dawson, I''ve always known everything you did for me. I''ve always known." Zayn stood in the shadows where she couldn''t see him. He stared at them with a deep, bloodthirsty gaze. When he thought about the kiss that Kenan had left on Willow''s forehead, he clenched his fist and punched the wall in front of him. He couldn''t even feel the blood running from his knuckles. He had beenpletely out of his mind when he did that to her in the bathroom. He had been kidnapped when he was young, which caused him to have severe trauma. He was mute for a long time, and his personality became twisted and violent. His mental health was not as stable as a healthy person''s was Even though it did improve a little bit under Wynn, his mother, and Tyson''s, his father, care, his condition worsened after being betrayed by Willow. He could act nonchnt and unfazed when it came to everyone else. But when it came to Willow, he couldn''t help but get agitated. He couldn''t get the image of her curled up in the corner out of his mind, so he came to check on her. He never expected to see her acting all lovey-dovey with Kenan outside of her apartment. Kenan had even kissed her, Chapter 70 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Even though he knew that Zayn had screwed her in the bathroom, Kenan decided to kiss her anyway. The corners of Zayn''s mouth lifted in a cold smirk. The worry in his eyes hadpletely dissipated, leaving behind a cold, heartless gaze. He really couldn''t underestimate her when it came to seducing men. Why should he be worried about a woman like that? To him, she was just a cheap, slutty woman. Because of that, she was worth less than nothing. Willow took a shower the moment she got back to her apartment. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, she simply couldn''t get rid of those harrowing, humiliating marks on her body. Since they weren''ting off, she couldn''t be bothered to waste any more energy. She changed into a set of clean clothes and set off to visit Aaron at the hospital. However, the second she picked up her bag and was about to leave, her legs suddenly became weak again. She copsed on the sofa. This time, she needed almost 20 minutes before she could begin to stand up again. When she was younger, her mother, Susan, once brought her to visit a rtive with cancer. She had been so young back then that she could no longer remember what sort of cancer that rtive had. However, she would never forget how deste and pathetic they looked on their bed. Back then, things had been much simpler. No one used anything like adult diapers, and that rtive''s children had cut out a hole in her bed so that she could still go to the bathroom from her bed. They put a big metal bucket under that hole, and it was filled with her waste as well as a lot of blood and blood clots. Susan had told her th that their rtive was in the final stages of cancer, which meant that all of her organs were slowly rotting. The blood and blood clots in the bucket were all pieces of her insides that wereing out with the rest of her bodily waste. Once all of her organs rotted away, she would be dead. Willow knew that those painful, pathetic days were fast bing a reality for her. She pressed down firmly on her stomach and took two more painkillers before leaving. She received a call from Kenan the moment she reached the hospital. He told her there was something urgent in Fronden that he had to settle, and he would only be back a few dayster. Willow let out a sigh of relief on hearing the news of him being overseas. However, she also couldn''t help but feel a little sad. This goodbye could very well be theirst. She swallowed her useless sentiments and walked into Aaron''s ward. He was still awake and was sitting on his bed with a big envelope full of money his bands.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Willow finally remembered that Aaron had gotten a huge gift of money earlier that day. She didn''t give the money back. In fact, all the money added together was just about enough for Aaron''s surgery, which she was immensely grateful to Kenan for She knew she would never be able to repay all the money and! help that Kenan that Kenan had given her. She would let Nic know to give him at least 10,000 dors to repay him once the organization that she was going to sell her corpse to paid them. She would leave the rest of that money to Nic and Aaron. Aaron was rasy to soothe and eventually fell into a deep sleep after e Willow told him some stories. She leaned against the mattress, wanting to take a quick nap. om However, she suddenly felt the back of her neck sting in pain before her consciousness tarded aw. Chapter 71 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Willow wasn''t unconscious for too long. It was still nighttime when she woke up There were no stars in the sky that night. Even the shining LED lights across the road only brought a sense of loneliness and destion. Willow began to massage her aching neck and opened her eyes only toe to a horrifying realization-Aaron was gone. There were three beds in the hospital ward, but the other two beds were empty after those patients were discharged yesterday. Aaron had been the only one left, but the ward was nowpletely empty apart from Willow. "Aaron!" Willow rushed to the bathroom, but he wasn''t there either. A bad feeling began to rise in Willow''s throat like bile. It made her heart burn with worry and anxiety, and she opened her mouth to gasp for air from the pain. She clutched at her chest desperately, trying not to let her tears fall. She kept telling herself not to panic, and that Aaron was probably just taking a walk outside for some fresh air. However, deep down, she knew something bad must have happened to him.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Aaron was a good kid. There was no way he''d go running around outside in the middle of the night when he knew it would worry her. Moreover, she had also passed out just now. Someone had obviously knocked her out so they could take Aaron away! Willow ran up and down the corridor a few times but failed to find any trace of Aaron. She remembered the surveince cameras in the hospital and quickly went to look for the nurses on duty to ask to watch the recordings, However, all she got was the devastating news that the wiring for the surveince cameras was broken. There was no way to view the footage to find the culprit who had kidnapped Aaron. Willow wasn''t stupid. She knew that the cameras had been tampered with so that they could kidnap her beloved Aaron. She just couldn''t understand why anyone would want to hurt Aaron. He was so cute and innocent, and he had never hurt anyone. She had to police! to call t the She fumbled to get her phone out of her pocket. Right as she was about to call the police, her phone began to ring. She saw an unsaved number and picked it up without thinking "Willow," an unfamiliar man''s voice said. It was a rough, deep voice that was clearly up to no good. "You took Aaron from me, didn''t you? Where is he? Bring him back to me!" "Yes, he''s here with me," the person said with an evil chuckle. "However, it''s not going to be that easy to get him back. I worked hard to snatch him you know? How could I let such a juicy piece of meat go without sapping it dry first?" Tup. "What do you want from me?" Willow couldn''t stand the feeling of getting used by anyone, but she had to grit ve her teeth and go through with it to save her son. "Tell me what you want from me! As long as you don''t hurt him, I''ll give you whatever you want!" Since you''re so sure, I won''t beat bush. I want 10,000,000 around the bush. dors! He paused before saying; snidely, "Give me the money in two days before nightfall, or you''re going to get a cold corpse in the mail. Of course, you can call the police. But rest assured, the moment you make that call, I''ll kill your son instantly." Chapter 72 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 72 Chapter 72 10,000,000 dors before nightfall in two days? Willow covered her mouth in an attempt to choke back her sobs. How was she supposed to get so much money in such a short amount of time? The man on the phone cackled as if he could tell how she was feeling. "You''d better get that money as soon as possible, Willow. Theter you give me that money, the less of your son you''re going to get back." "What is that supposed to mean?" Willow asked with a shaky voice, gripping the phone tightly. "Don''t you get it?" the kidnapperughed snidely. "If you get enough money by 8:00 p.m. the day after tomorrow, call me and I''ll tell you the address. "If not, then for every hour that you make me wait, I''ll take something from your son. Ten fingers, ten toes, and two arms and legs. I''ll have just enough for 24 hours worth of fun! "If you still don''t bring me the money, he has two eyes, two ears, a tongue, and a nose. That''s plenty for me to y with!" Willow shivered all over. She didn''t want him to hurt her son, so she hurriedly said, "I''ll get the money! I''ll find a way! Please, please don''t hurt my son!" The kidnapper didn''t answer her. He simply cackled and hung up the phone. Willow lost all of the energy in her body and copsed to the ground uselessly. She stared at her left hand which was missing a pinky. The pain of having a finger cut off was seared into her brain even though it had been a few days. There was no way she could forget it. If even she couldn''t stand that pain, then how could her small, weak son stand it? No! She couldn''t let Aaron go through that sort of pain! She was going to save him no matter what.. Even though it would be near impossible to get 100,000,000 dors in less than two days, she would die trying for her baby boy. Kenan had helped her a lot recently, and even though Willow could barely bear to ask him for more help, she knew very clearly that he was the only one who had enough money and would be willing to help her. She remembered saving his number and quickly scrolled through her phone until she found it. She called him immediately. But no matter how many times she called, she only got a mechanical female voice in return. "We''re sorry, but the number you dialed is unavable." After all, Kenan was overseas for work. He was probably on the ne right now. Even if he had gotten off the flight, he was way too busy for her to be able to contact him. All she could do was go to Zayn for help. She bit her bottom lip and suppressed the bitterness and humiliation she felt before making the call The phone rang for a long time before Zayn finally picked up. He answered in a careless but hateful tone, asking, "What do you want, woman?" "Zayn, Aaron got kidnapped-" "Kidnapped?" Zayn scoffed coldly. "Let me guess, the kidnapper asked for a ransom and you need my En money?" Before Willow could say anything, he said coldly, "You really can make up anything for some cash." "I''m not lying, Zayn. Aaron really did get kidnapped, and the ransom is 100,000,000 dors. If don''t give him the money by 8:00 pm. tomorrow, he''s going to." Zayn heard her sobbing, on the other energy to end. She used all of her finally say, "Every hour that passes without the money is another finger they''ll cut off. Please, Zayn. Please save Aaron!" Chapter 73T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 73 Chapter 73 "Even if that bastard has been kidnapped," Zayn''s voice was icy and merciless, "it''s none of my concern! With that, he hung up the phone. None of his concern... Willow stared numbly at the dark screen before her. Her body trembled, and her legs suddenly went weak. Even though she gripped the hospital bed, she couldn''t stand. Her vision blurred from the tears welling up in her eyes. Willow''s mind grew hazy and confused. In her daze, she thought she heard a voice tenderly whispering in her ear.. It said, "Willow, you and our child are the loves of my life. I will devote my life to loving you both." But now, they were no longer his loves. They were... of no concern to him. Zayn, how cruel you turned out to be! Willow knew that if this broken body of hers faltered, it might never rise again. So even if it meant using all her strength, she would force herself to stand tall. A relentless agony swept through her. The pain, it seemed, prated every inch. Summoning all her strength, she felt as if she were walking on thorns. Each step pierced her flesh like a hail of knives and arrows. She tried calling Zayn again, but he refused to pick up. Gazing nkly out at the bustling traffic, she decided she had to go straight to Lekecoast Vi to find him. Even if it said, "Willow Sanford and dogs are not allowed inside", she had to speak to him tonight! Resolute, Willow wasted no time. Grabbing her bag, she hurried downstairs. Reaching the door, a thought struck her. Quickly, she turned back, snatching up a fruit knife from the bedside table, before rushing out once more. She knew how much Zayn hated her. In his heart, she was his mortal enemy whom he''d dly tear apart. So tonight, she would give him that chance. As long as she could get 10 million to save Aaron, she would leave her life in his hands! She only hoped he would spare her until she could exchange the money for Aaron. Then, she would hand her life over to him! The winters in Havenpoint didn''t usually have much snow. But this was different. It was barely the start of the season, but there was already heavy snowfall A little while ago, there was no snow at the hospital entrance. But by the time she reached Lakecoast Vi, the snow was falling thick and fast. Outside the vi, the twinkling lights made it seem almost like daylight. Thanks to the lights, she could see the sign on the vi''s gate, Willow Sanford and dogs are not allowed inside."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. content is any strength. Well, that was fine. After she died, this sign would be her epitaph. nd weary. She was! She felt weak and barely able to muster a Leaning on the wall, she managed to ring the doorbell. She kept ringing it for over ten minutes, but no one came to open the door. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Willow had nearly epted that the vi''s gates would stay shut tonight. But suddenly, the grand entrance was opened The butler, Arthur, stood at the entrance, his expression impassive. "Come in." "Thank you!" Willow eximed, her joy overflowing as she stumbled inside. However, her smile barelysted two seconds before falling back into a bitter frown "Ms. Sanford, when you see Ms. Skyler, be sure to thank her! Mr. Carter said he wouldn''t allow dogs in because they bite. However, Ms. Skyler pleaded on your behalf, and he relented." Arthur continued, "Ms. Sanford, have some decency. Don''t disturb others in the middle of the night! Mr. Carter said seeing you makes him sick for days, and tonight will be no different!" Willow heard little else Arthur said as her mind was consumed by one thought- Skyler was here. Of course, Zayn had divorced her to marry Skyler. They were so in love, how could they not live together? With Skyler around, borrowing money from Zayn tonight would be even more difficult. Sure enough, as soon as Willow entered the living room, s Skyler. she saw She was dressed in a sheer white silk nightgown. Skyler''s figure was already alluring. The nightgown only entuated her curvaceous form, making her appear all the more tempting Skyler warmly weed Willow and, ying the gracious hostess, asked her to sit. "Lolo, what brings you here at thiste hour?" Skyler nudged the fruit tter closer to Willow. "Lolo, I''m d you''re here to visit me. It''s just... a bit. inconvenient thiste." Skyler coyly covered her mouth, feigning bashfulness. "I heard you were here, so I wanted toe down and see you. And, well, he''s been sulking in his room, refusing to speak to me! "Lolo, what did you need to see Zayn about? Tell me now so I can go back up and coax him out of his mood." Skyler leaned back against the sofa, her movements delicate and fragile. Willow had no time to engage in a melodramatic sisterly act with Skyler. Her sole focus was on obtaining the million dors as quickly as possible. Casting a cold gaze upon Skyler, Willow demanded, "Skyler, I need to see Zayn!" "Lolo, It''s not that I don''t want to help you, but Zayn refuses to see you. You saw the sign on the door. Zayn didn''t even allow you to enter in the first ce. Don''t keep torturing yourself like this! "Lolo, I''m Zayn''s fianc¨¦e. We''re getting married soon. Anything you have to say to him, you can tell me. It''s the same." The chances of Zayn lending Willow money were slim, but Skyler was even less likely to do so. Willow didn''t want to waste any more time. She tilted her chin upwards and shouted upstairs, "Zayn,e out! I need to talk to you! Zayn Carter, out now! "Lolo, stop making a fool of yourself. Zayn won''t see you! L..."Original from N?velDrama.Org. Willow mmed her purse containing the fruit knife onto the om coffee table in front of her. "Zayn, ine out! I know you hate me. But as long as youe out, you can do whatever you want to me!" She paused before continuing with steely resolve, "But if you don''? dome out, Kill Ki Skyler right now!" Willow''s mind raced as she ignored Skyler''s look of shock. Quickly pulling out the fruit life, she pressed it firmly fruitlife, against Skyler''s chest. Chapter 75 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 75 Chapter75 Willow¡¯smovementsweresluggish,andSkylercouldhaveeasilydodgedthem.Butforsomedark,hiddenpurpose,s WillowhadnotintendedtotakeSkylerhostage,butnowitseemedlikethebestwaytogetthemoney. Zayn¡¯sheartwasevencolderthansheimagined.IfhewantedAarontodie,evenifSkylerdiedheretoday,hewo HearingSkyler¡¯scries,Zaynfinallycamedown.Hisalreadycoldfacewasnowfrostedoverwithice. ¡°Willow,letgoofSkyler!¡± ¡°Zayn,Ineedtenmillion.Ifyoudon¡¯tgivemethemoney,I¡¯llkillSkylerrightnow!¡±Willowsaid,exertingmo Skyler¡¯spalefacehadalookoffranticpanic.Butdespitethis,shedidnotgiveupheract.Hereyes,brimmed ¡°IknowyouhatemefortakingZayn,butyouweretheonewhodidn¡¯twanthimfirst!WhatdidIdo wrong?Whydoyoukeephurtingme,eventryingtotakemylife?¡± ¡°Skyler,stoppretending!¡±Skyler¡¯shypocrisydisgusted Willow,Willowcouldnothelpbutsay,¡°Skyler,you¡¯realwayspretendingtobekindandpitiful.Areyounotsic Aftersayingthis,WillowdidnotbotherwithSkyleranymore,WillowlookedupatZayn.Shefoughthardtonotl hertearsfall.¡°Zayn,tenmillionorSkyler¡¯slife.Youcanonlychoose one!¡± Honestly,Willowdidn¡¯twanttothreatenZaynlikethis.Shewantedtotellhim,¡°Zayn,pleasesavedon¡¯tsaveh oourson,Aaron.Heistrulyyourfleshandblood!Ifyou Butdeepdown,sheknewthathewouldn¡¯tbelieveher,soshehadtoresorttothisextrememeasuretogetthemoT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Zayn,ithurtssomuch¡­¡±Skylerpleaded,puttingonadelicateandfragileact. illionorelse ¡°TheknifeinWillow¡¯shandwassuddenlykickedawaywithgreatforce. Zayn¡¯sgazetowardWillowhardenedashmanded,¡°Willow,let goofSkyler!¡± ¡°ItoldyouIwanttenmillion,Astheknifeflewaway,itgrazedWillow¡¯swrist.Thoughthewoundwasn¡¯tveryd motionmode.Seeingthebloodonherwrist,sheletoutabitteugh.Shehadfailed,afterall. . Zayn,howdidweenduplikethis? ¡°Skyler,areyoualright?¡±ZaynenvelopedSkylerinhisarms,holdingherwithatendernessthatWillowhadn¡¯tf ¡°Zayn,I¡¯msoscared!Lolowassoscaryjustnow¡­¡±Skylertrembled,coweringintoZayn¡¯sembrace.¡°Zayn, I¡¯mafraid¡­¡± ¡°Skyler,don¡¯tbeafraid.Itoldyou,Iwon¡¯tletanyonehurtyou!¡±WhenZaynlookedatSkyler,hisgazeheldtenderness. But when he look at Willow Chapter 76 Chapter 76Original from N?velDrama.Org. But she was oblivious to it all. Her movements were stiff as she trudged forward step by step. In the freezing cold, she suddenly had no idea which way to After walking for a while, Willow abruptly crouched down. Unable to hold back any longer, she buried her face in her hands, and finally let out a low, anguished sob. What was she to do to save Aaron? Long after the helpers had dragged Willow out, Zayn''s gaze remained locked on the door of the living room. Willowing to borrow money from him seemned downright ridiculous. Hadn''t she already been cozying up to Kenan? Why would she stille to him for money? This fickle and vain woman used every trick in the book. And she didn''t spare a single man just so she could get her hands on money. Zayn was so lost in his thoughts that he didn''t even notice Skyler''s lips were nearly grazing his face. It wasn''t until she softly murmured his name that he suddenly snapped out of it. "Zayn, can I stay tonight?" Skyler gently wrapped her arms around his neck, her breath sweet. "Zayn, I miss you." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Men desired beautiful women and often yearned for a sweet night with them. Simrly, women were drawn to handsome men, especially those like Zayn. Countless women desired his alluring physique. Skyler was one such woman. She hoped Zayn would look her way, and longed to be his true lover. "Skyler, I''ll have someone take you home!" Zayn smoothly brushed off Skyler and called Arthur, who had just left, to escort Skyler away.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Hearing this, Skyler seethed with rage. Was she doomed to be forever limited to more embraces with Zayn? No! Skyler refused to be such a pitiful woman! With determination, Skyler boldly embraced Zayn from behind. "Zayn, I''m not leaving. I''m your woman, we should be living together, I-" "Skyler, behave!" Zayn cut her off, grabbing a jacket from the sofa to drape over her. "Get some rest." With that said, he turned around and headed upstairs Skyler stomped her foot in frustration, but her delicate demeanor couldn''t falter. Seeing Arthur approaching, she quickly stered on a warm, amiable smile. "It''s sote now. I hate to trouble you to take me home." Willow hadn''t slept all night. She kept thinking of how to get ten million in such a short time. She had even considered going to a loan shark, but ultimately decided not to. living. If the loan sharks came after Aaron, his life would be ruined. If she died, it wouldn''t matter. But Aaron still had to go on living. If only Matthew hadn''t lost his memory. Matthew had been so good to her and Aaron, and now he was so wealthy. If he hadn''t lost his memory, he would easily give her millions. To save Aaron, he wouldn''t even blink an rye at giving her a hundred million. But s, that was a mere pipe dream. Matthew, who had been her constantpanion and shared life and death with her, was no longer the same person he was in the past. Thest time she went to him for a loan, the price was one of her little fingers. Willow instinctively cradled her left hand. The stump where her finger used to be would still asionally throb with pain. How could she let such agony befall her precious Aaron? If his limbs were chopped off, Aaron''s life would be ruined forever! A series of rapid knocks suddenly sounded at the door. Willow numbly walked to It. Through the peephole, she saw Nic. As Nic entered, she pulled a thick wad of cash from her coat and pressed it into Willow''s hands. M "Willow. Here''s 20 thousand dors. You take this first! I''ll keep working hard to earn more. We will seed in getting Aaron the surgery he needs! Willow gripped the money tightly, feeling an overwhelming urge to cry. She wanted to hold Nic and tell her that she already had one million dors, which was enough to pay for Aaron''s surgery. But Aaron had been kidnapped by the bad guys. They demanded ten million dors to save Aaron. If she didn''t pay, they would hurt him and eventually kill him. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 78 Chapter 78 In the end, these words remained unspoken by Willow. Nic''s life wasn''t any easier than hers. If she told Nic the truth, she would no doubt go to Ss desperately seeking money. She feared not only Nic''s failure to borrow the money but also the possibility of Ss trampling Nic''s dignity into the dust. Back on Cillian''s side, Nic would be tormented by that twisted demon and his malicious mother, wishing for death. Willow couldn''t bear for Nic to suffer so much for her sake. "Nic, you don''t need to give me money anymore. I''ve managed to gather enough for Aaron''s surgery. Just take care of yourself." Willow didn''t fuss over returning the 20 thousand dors to Nic because she needed the money. But she didn''t want to burden Nic like this again in the future. Cillian and his mother were leeches, sucking on Nic. They exploited Nic''sbor, forcing her into backbreaking work to fund their expenses. Willow couldn''t bear to Imagine what Nic had been through to earn this 20 thousand dors. "You''ve enough?" Nic grew even more worried after hearing this. Of course, Willow couldn''t tell Nic about donating her body. She thought carefully and spoke, "Nic, I met a very, very good man. He helped me. He has a special connection with Aaron. When he heard that Aaron was sick, he insisted on helping him get treatment." "Really?" Nic was still somewhat skeptical. She was afraid Willow might have done something foolish. Pushing up Nic''s sleeve, she saw that Nic''s arms were covered in horrifying scars. Some seemed to have been carved directly by sharp ceramic shards. The scars were deep enough for Willow to see the bone.Original from N?velDrama.Org. If her arms were in such a state, the rest of her body would be no better. "Nic, what''s this? Did Cillian do this? That bastard!" Nic hastily pulled her sleeve back down, hid her arms behind her back, and avoided Willow''s gaze. "Willow, don''t worry. I''m fine. This was just an ident. I fell and cut myself on some ss. Willow, I have to get back to work now, I''ll be going" After saying her piece, Nic hurriedly headed out of the small apartment. Willow knew there were some things that Nic didn''t want to talk about, no matter how much Willow asked. But Willow truly felt for Nic. She was trapped in the darkness when the light was so close, but just out of reach. As Nic left, Willow followed her downstairs. She wanted to see Nic off as she knew that she may not have the chance to do so again in the future. Life was short. At this moment, she longed for one final glimpse of her best friend, even if it were just her retreating figure. After going downstairs, Willow expected Nic to return to Cillian''s ce as she usually did. But to her surprise, she saw Cillian''s mother, Isabe Peltz, in the lobby, Isabe was brimming with anger. Spotting Nic, she strode up to her and delivered a resounding p across her face. "You slut! I knew you''d sneak out at this hour to cheat on my son! Tell me, ¦¯¦° are you here to see the father of the bastard in your belly?¡± Isabe stood with hands on her hips, looking like a shrew. Suddenly, she grabbed Nic''s arm like a vicious demon, "If you don''t tell me, I''ll kill the bastard in your belly En right now!" Isabe nced around and spotted a thick wooden rod nearby. She snatched and swung it viciously at Nic''s belly. Chapter 79 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Willow was startled by Isabe''s actions. She knew Isabe and Cillian treated Nic badly. But she never expected Isabe to be so violent. Isabe would attack with whatever she could grab. How much had Nic suffered behind Willow''s back? Willow heard what Isabe had just said, but it was toote to pull Isabe away. Fearing for Nic''s unborn child, Willow hurried over and tightly shielded Nic''s belly, taking the blow herself. "Willow, are you okay?" When Nic saw Willow being hit, she felt a pain worse than if it had happened to herself. She anxiously held onto Willow. Willow, does it hurt? Let me take you to the hospital!" "Get lost! I''m teaching my daughter-inw a lesson. Don''t you butt in! If you dare, I''ll hit you too! Isabe stood akimbo, spitting contempt and looking extremely arrogant. "Nic came here tonight to see me! Who gave you the right to throw dirt on her randomly?" Steadying herself, Willow shielded Nic behind her. She rebuked Isabe, "Even if Nic is your daughter-inw, you have no right to treat her this way!" "Bah!" Isabe''s eyes were filled with contempt as she red at Nic. "You''re a slut who would cuckold my son. I''ll treat her however I want! "She won''t let my son touch her, but she''s carrying another man''s child. How is my son supposed to show his face anywhere? Since she has no shame and fools around, she has to pay the price! "Get over here!" Willow subconsciously grabbed Nic''s hand. She did not want her to go to Isabe, but Nic pried Willow''s hand away. Nic shook her head gently at Willow. "You should go back I can''t neglect my grandmother!" Willow didn''t want Nic to go back with Isabe and suffer. She knew the child in Nic''s belly was likely Ss''. She loved Ss so much. Surely she wouldn''t want to lose this child. Isabe was so fierce, malicious, and unreasonable. How could Nic protect this child if she went back with Isabe? But Willow couldn''t selfishly sacrifice Nic''s grandmother either. "Nic..."T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Willow, don''t worry. I''ll take care of myself." Nic swallowed the lump in her throat and whispered to Willow, "You take care of yourself too. We''ll both be okay. The road ahead is still long!" After saying this, Nic walked over to Isabe''s side. Isabe grabbed a fistful of Nic''s hair and stalked off, berating her as she dragged her along. Watching Nic being bullied by this harridan, tears silently slid down Willow''s cheeks. They were like tiny leaves caught in the wind, blown away by forces beyond their control. They were like pitiful ants being tossed about, powerless to stop those who would exploit them in the grand scheme of things. Willow wiped away her tears. She resolved to take control of her destiny, to protect those she cared for, and to make those who had hurt her price. But where could she find such an opportunity in her life? pay the Thinking of Nic and Aaron, Willow''s heart was wracked with grief. She was racking her brain m trying to figure out how to raise to money when she suddenly remembered a crucial piece of information While chatting with people on the film set, Willow had overheard a male extra mention Havenpoint''s OM notorious den of vice, the Rumpus Club. Although the Rumpus Club seened prestigious and refined, its activities were far from it. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 80 Chapter 80 The Rumpus Club auctioned a woman''s first dance, but it was nothing but a farce. Everyone knew it was about wealthy men finding mistresses. No man would spend so much just to dance. There was no such innocent man! The woman who was auctioned would be a long-term mistress. Willow sat at her vanity, gazing silently at the mirror. What a beautiful face! She had looked at it for so many years and each time she was still captivated. Even now, sick and thin, her bare face still held stunning beauty. In some ways, God was fair. Somecked a beautiful countenance but still lived lives of fulfillment and happiness. God gave Willow a face many envied but burdened her with a lifetime of pain. If she could choose, she''d prefer an ordinary face to endure less sorrow. Still, she couldn''t deny its uses, like at the Rumpus Club.Original from N?velDrama.Org. She heard a stage actor mention a woman auctioning her first dance for 80 million. It was a staggering amount. Willow had seen the woman''s photo. Even with careful photoshopping, she couldn''tpare to Willow''s ravishing beauty. Willow had always been reluctant to take that step, even though Zayn didn''t want her. She wanted to leave this world with her dignity intact. But now, she was at her wit''s end. She was forced to depart this life in disgrace. There was an important requirement for the women to auction off their first dance. Rich men sought novelty, preferring pristine mistresses. Willow, having been intimate and a mother, didn''t meet the criteria. But in this modern era, technology offered solutions-the fake could be real. Suppressing humiliation, Willow took some more painkillers and headed to the hospital for restorative surgery. Post-surgery, the doctor cautioned against marital rtions for a month. Willow agreed, but her heart was heavy with destion. She hade for this surgery solely to earn money that night! Willow didn''t know what sleazy, disgusting old man would be the one to buy her tonight. Thinking of being auctioned off to some fat geezer struck her as hrious. But theughter soon turned into the urge to cry. After tonight, all the things Zayn had said about her would be true. She, Willow, was a flighty, promiscuous woman. Willow was truly filthy. Earlier that afternoon, Willow had gone to the Rumpus Club. The manager was concerned about theck of impressive women for auction. But upon seeing Willow, he felt as it his whole world had just lit up. Without dy, he sent her to the styling tear to have her dolled Alt were dressed in an outfit led up and determined to have her captivate the crowd at the As Willow was led upstairs to get her makeup done, she was surprised to content is on see Zayn there! NovelDrama.Org! Read thetest chapter there! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 81 Chapter 81 She only had a fleeting glimpse of him, however, and soon lost sight of the man amongst the sea of people filling the hall. Willow let out a wryugh, realizing that she must have been hallucinating. Zayn must be busy spending a romantic evening with Skyler. There was no way he would be in a ce like this! It was for the best that he didn''te. Even though he hurt her deeply, she still did not want to expose this unsavory side of herself to him. She was quite pathetic, seriously. In total, there were six women whose first dances were up for auction tonight. Willow was among them. Before the bidding, each woman had to dance. The manager er was a typical shallow man. As expected of him, he saved Willow, the most beautiful, forst as the grand finale. Dancing would have been a breeze for Willow in her healthier days. Buttely, her body had deteriorated so much that she was worried she wouldn''t be able to withstand it. So, as the makeup artists worked on her, Willow closed her eyes to rest and conserve her energy. The makeup artists kept marveling at Willow''s beauty. This was the first time they''d ever had the privilege of working on such a gorgeous young woman. But after the excitement wore off, the makeup artists felt a pang of regret. Such a beautiful young woman, serving as t If she was lucky, she might encounter one who wasn''t entirely repulsive. But if luck wasn''t on her side.... She''d be stuck with a revolting old man for the rest of her life. the mistress of a wealthy man. Willow''s forte was ssical dance. So based on her talents, the manager had arranged for her to be dressed in a vintage-style gown Willow took a look at the dress and realized that the manager must have spared no expense. It was a white, flowing chiffon gown with voluminous sleeves. A band of gleaming red rubles cinched the waist, creating a pure, yet alluring, contrast. A ruby- encrusted headdress, ne, and ankletspleted the look. She looked like a goddess. Her captivating beauty wasbined with an air of innocent naivety. With every subtle expression and movement, an effortless seductiveness emanated from her. Pure, yet sensual, she was enough to drive men wild with desire. ne of the By the time it was approaching 10:00 pan., it was finally Willow''s turn to take the stage. Rumor had it that the highest bid for a dance with one previousdies reached five million. However, the foreign client who bought her first dance was over 70 years old, obese, and vulgar in speech. It was unclear whether this was a blessing or a curse.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g As Willow exited the dressing room, she happened to catch sight of him. He was clumsily shuffling about the dance floor, clutching a young woman in his arms. Well, calling it shuffling was too nice. His bulky frame was hardly capable of any agile movements. but Which woman did not dream of a beautiful romance? Yet, only those with no other options woulde to a ce like the Rumpus Club. Entrusting their futures to unpredictable strangers, they became mistresses. Willow''s heart ached for that woman, bound by circumstance, and for herself. To maintain an air of O om mystery, the stylists adorned Willow with a white vell before she took the stage. The veil was sheer and barely concealed the outline of her features beneath. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Willow''s eyes were particrly striking. They were somewhat enigmatic and exquisite. Her eyes spoke volumes, exuding an irresistible charm. One nce into them was enough for any became entranced. man to imagine the beauty hidden beneath her sheer veil. Seeing those tantalizing outlines, countless men "Wow, she''s so beautiful!" Thane, sitting beside Zayn, couldn''t help but exim. He nudged the icy Zayn who was next to him. In rudimentary Marleyan, Thane said in excitement, "Zayn, Marleyan girls are truly exquisite! She''s bewitching!" Zayn gave a vague hum in response, not even bothering to lift his head. He loathed ces like this, for they were filled with debauchery. His friend, Thane, hade to Marley from abroad to visit him. The Rumpus Club was well-known for its reputation. If it weren''t for Thane''s insistence, he would never have set foot in a ce like this.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Thane remained captivated by Willow on stage despite Zayn''s in disinterest. He continued to stare at her, undeterred. The music began. It was a ssical piece tinged with romantic allure. Willow listened to the enthusiastic cheers echoing from the audience below. She felt an overwhelming sense of distaste. But for the sake of earning money, no matter how much she despised this wretched ce, she knew she had to dance. As her flowing sleeves billowed, Willow''s elegance and grace were unmatched. Leaping and twirling, her delicate frame moved with fluidity. Each graceful gesture was exquisitely performed Willow''s petite and delicate mouthplemented her ssical beauty. Dressed in vintage clothing, she exuded an indescribable allure. As her limbs moved in sync with the music, the rubles adorning her ankles entuated her porcin skin. Before the audience''s eyes, she vibrated with an irresistible temptation. Thane couldn''t tear his gaze away from Willow''s slender waist and her wless, ivory feet. Like the other men in the audience, he held his breath, afraid to disrupt the divine vision before them. The silence was unnaturally still. Zayn recalled how the men in the audience had been loud and rowdy during the previous auctions. But the vast club was now eerily quiet. Could it be that the woman on stage was too ugly? She must have scared these superficial men into silence. The more Zayn thought about it, the more convinced he became that this was the reason He scoffed under his breath. Nowadays, people loved spending money to torment themselves! By his side, Thane, was one such masochistic man. He was so eager to dere his determination to bid on the first dance with a Marleyan girl tonight. Zayn wondered if Thane could handle this hideous woman. With that thought in mind, Zayn couldn''t help but nce over at Thane Thane indeed had a stupefied look. But Zayn observed that this dazed expression was not out of fear, but rather entrancement Seeing that the ever-icy Zayn had finally noticed him, thene grew even more exdited. He grabbed Zayn''s arm, pointing at the stage in glee. "Zayn, what''s that Marleyan poemt like. noh, yes. "Graceful as a swan, agile as a soaring phoenix!'' I may have found my Venus! none thak goes something "Zayn, look at her. Oh my God, she''s so beautiful!" Following Thane''s gaze, Zayn looked up toward the stage, his interest Com piqued. That one n left him unable to tear his eyes away. He was so infuriated that he was unable to look away. C The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 83 Chapter 83 The woman on stage turned out to be Willow. First dance? Everyone knew that the Rumpus Club was not auctioning a woman''s first dance. Willow wanted to be a rich man''s mistress? Zayn felt that she truly had no shame. Wasn''t she satisfied hooking up with Louis and Kenan? How could there be such a cheap woman in this world? "Zayn, what do you think? Isn''t my Venus beautiful?" Thane didn''t notice Zayn''s unusual expression at all. He was full of excitement. "I''ve decided. I''m. going to bid for my Venus at any cost Venus is truly stunning. Her beauty is "After I''m done with my business in Marley, I''ll take her home with me. I want her to be myst woman. Oh! My Venus is truly s enough to drive any man crazy." As the dance concluded, Thane excitedly stood up from his seat. The bidding began with a starting price of one million dors, increasing by 100 thousand dors each time. Thane hadn''t even reached for the paddle in front of him when a balding old man in the front row raised his. "Two million dors!" dors, In previous auctions, the bids had mostly been in increments of hundreds of thousands. This time, the first bidder raised it by one million do igniting even more fervor in the room. Thane let out a whistle. "Wow! My Venus is truly charming. "Three million dors!" "Five million dors!" Thane feared that someone might snatch away his Venus. He couldn''t afford to dy and quickly raised the paddle in front of him. "Ten million dors!!! The price suddenly shot up to ten million dors, causing those with only moderate wealth in the room to hesitate in bidding further. However, there were plenty of wealthy people in the room, and Thane''s bid didn''t dampen their enthusiasm. Instead, it intensified thepetition. "11 million dors! "12 million dors! "40 million dors!" Eventually, the bidding skyrocketed to 40 million dors. Thane paid no mind to this sum. He casually whistled away,pletely oblivious to the angry veins buiging on his friend''s hand beside him. "It has reached 40 million dors." Thane nudged Zayn. "Adding one million dors each time is so boring. My Venus is not only worth 40 million dors. She''s priceless to me! "Zayn, I remember when you first returned here, you were in a rtionship. Was that woman prettier than my Venus?" Zayn''s already dark expression turned even more unpleasant at Thane''s question. He didn''t want to say that the shameless woman on stage was the woman he once deeply loved. Thane was highly intelligent, but couldn''t read a room. Hepletely failed to notice the storm brewing on O his friend''s face of the stifling atmosphere. He gazed at Willow with increasing obsession. "Zayn, my Venus must be more beautiful than the woman you once liked because she''s the most beautiful Woman in the world." "43 million dors!" Seeing a portly old man raising the paddle in front, Thane felt that his Venus had been defiled. He couldn''t bear it anymore and raised his paddle decisively. "50m million dors!" After thane''s bid, the previously noisy room fell brietly silent. 50 million dors. That was no small sum. Even though everyone knew Willowme that bidding for Willow meant more than just her first dance, 50 million dors was truly a hefty price. Chapter 84 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!Original from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Upon hearing the voice, Willow couldn''t help but nce in Thane''s direction. She noticed that it was a young and handsome foreign man. Although she didn''t want to give herself to apletely unfamiliar foreign man, she had to admit that this man was much better than those portly old men. Just as Willow was about to avert her gaze from Thane''s face, she saw Zayn sitting next to him. As she locked eyes with Zayn''s icy gaze, her face instantly turned pale. He really came to the Rumpus Club! She bit her lip tightly. In the end, he still witnessed her most embarrassing moment. Seeing Willow looking over, Thane was excited beyond measure. He jumped up from his seat and blew kisses at Willow. "My Venus! Tonight, I''ll be the happiest man in the world if I have you!" Being happy alone was truly lonely, so Thane excitedly shared his joy with Zayn. He forcefully grabbed Zayn''s arm, and his voice trembled with excitement. "Zayn, my Venus is looking at me. She''s interested in me too. "I feel like there''s a connection between us. It''s destiny! We fell in love with each other at first sight." Love at first sight. Zayn''s icy face twisted with anger. He lifted his head and indeed caught Willow''s gaze, seeminglynding on Thane''s face. Was she flirting with Thane? How many men did she want to seduce? "50 million dors, going once!" "50 million dors, going twice!" As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, the stout old man sitting in the front bravely raised his paddle.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "80 million dors!" He directly increased the bid to 80 million dors, Instantly causing the men around him to sensibly put down their paddles. The woman on stage was beautiful, buting up with 80 million dors or more at once was something most men in the room couldn''t do. "80 million dors, going once!" "80 million dors, going twice!" "80 million dors, going thrice!" "Beauty..." The old man at the front was so sure that he would win the bid that he tried to reach out and touch Willow''s body. Although the distance between them wasn''t close enough for him to do so, it was close enough for Willow to hear his voice. Watching his oily mouth and his jaundiced eyes, Willow felt a shiver m down her spine She would end up throwing up if she was handed over to such a disgusting old man. But even so, she had no other way out. Perhaps this was her fate. "What the ?" Seeing the old man daring topete with him for Willow, Thane was so angry that he cursed directly. "He''s so ugly, but he dares to think about having my Venus? He should take a look at himself in the mirror." Thane spat harshly. He raised his paddle, intending to directly increase the bid to 100 million dors to crush that disgusting old man''s thoughts. "One- "100 million dors." Before Thane could finish speaking, a clear and powerful voice pierced the air. Thane turned around sharply, staring at Zayn as if he were looking at Lat an alien. He couldn''t believe that Zayn, un''t seemingly devoid of desires, would spend money on a woman in this kind of ce. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 85 Chapter 85 100 million dors... It was a new ew record. As soon as Zayn said that, the entire auction hall immediately focused on him. The old man up front was clearly upset that the beauty he almost had was taken by someone else. However, when he saw Zayn''s strikingly handsome face, he sadly put his paddle back on the table. While 100 million dors was indeed a significant sum, it was within reach for some. But Zayn was not someone they could afford to offend. As the new CEO of Carter Group, backed by several elite families including the Carters, Griffins, Jaggers, and Dawsons, Zayn had the power to acquire anything he desired. His influence extended beyond Havenpoint to all of Marley. Who would dare topete with him? "Why are you doing this, Zayn?" Thane took quite a while to calm down after being shocked by Zayn''s bid.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "A gentleman doesn''t steal another man''s girl. Venus caught my eye first. You can''tpete with me for her. Zayn, if you consider me a friend, you''ll back off. Don''tpete with me for my Venus." Zayn turned away coldly. His gaze was so calm that it was suffocating. Smirking, he said in an extremely icy tone, "Thane, If you want to fight me, I''m up for it." Thane, who had originally wanted to just vent his grievances, immediately fell silent. He knew that when Zayn got into a fight, he was exceedingly brutal. He didn''t want to end up so badly beaten that he couldn''t take care of himself for the rest of his life. But Thane''s fear of Zayn''s overpowering violence was tempered by his affection for Willow, which bolstered his courage. Clinging to ast glimmer of hope, he nervously asked Zayn, "Zayn, are you bidding Venus to give her to me?" Zayn smiled, but the absence of warmth in his eyes rendered the smile chilling, leaving Thane feeling threatened. "Dream on." Thane pursed his lips. He had ultimately missed out on his Venus. "100 million dors, going once!" "100 million dors, going twice!" "100 million dors, going thrice!" "Sald" Even as the auctioneer''s gavel fell, Willow remained in her daze. She had never imagined that Zayn would participate in the bidding. Even more out of her expectations was that he would be the one to ultimately win her. Willow bit her lip tightly. Only when the taste of blood spread in her mouth did she snap out of her daze. She wouldn''t delude herself into thinking that he bid for her because he had feelings for her. If he truly did, he wouldn''t have refused when she asked him for money to save Aaron. Nor would he let Skyler stay at Lakecoast Vi and sleep with her. He had bid on her only to trample her dignity underfoot. Willow didn''t want to think of herself as merchandise being sold to Zayn. But in this situation, she had no other choice. Upon careful consideration, it didn''t really matter. In his eyes, she was ¦¯¦°¦© already deemed a skameless woman who would do anything for money. What difference would one more act of shamelessness make? As Willow was lost in her thoughts, she was pushed forward by the manager and found herself standing before Zayn. The manager''s eyes were fi filled with obvious envy as she looked at Willow. When she looked at Zayn, there was an indescribable om reverence. Thank you, Mr. Carter. Ms. Sanford''s first dance is yours now. After saying this, the manager gave Willow a wink and quickly stepped aside. Willow took a deep breath and Willow followed the manager''s instructions, stepping forward and taking the initiative to hold Zayn''s hand. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 86 Chapter 86 "This way, Mr. Carter. Ah..." Willow winced as she felt a sudden pain in her wrist. Zayn didn''t dance with her. Instead, he scooped her up and swiftly ascended the stairs to the guest room. "Let''s dance first, Mr. Carter." Realizing Zayn''s intentions, Willow attempted to break free from his grasp. "Dance?" Zayn sneered and looked at Willow coldly. "Willow, don''t pretend to be virtuous in front of me. You went to all this trouble just to seduce mer here. Was it merely for a dance?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "L..." Willow was speechless. She had known all along that she wouldn''t just be dancing with the man who won her tonight. Willow''s silence caused Zayn''s expression to darken further. He quickened his pace, and in the blink of an eye, he had carried her into the upstairs guest room. The manager had already ced the prepared agreement on the desk. Upon entering, Zayn rudely tossed Willow onto the bed and snatched up the document, mming it into her face. "Sign it." Willow''s face stung from the impact, but she couldn''t afford to pay it much attention. Trembling, she reached for the agreement, quickly scanned it, and then signed her name. A woman auctioned off for her first dance had to sign an agreement. This agreement would bind her into bing the lifelong mistress of the man who had purchased her. She would be subject to his every whim and desire. If she breached the contract, she would have to pay ten times her auction price aspensation. Of course, if the buyer grew tired of her, he could terminate the agreement withoutpensation. After signing it, Willow numbly ced the document back on the desk. She found it absurd. People always strive for better, but she went from being Zayn''s rightful wife to his lifelong mistress. After Zayn married Skyler, she would be the mistress that others would poke their fingers at. Fortunately, her life would soone to an end. She wouldn''t have to degrade herself for long. "I''ve signed it, Mr. Carter," Willow said timidly. The simple sentence drained almost all her strength. "On your knees." Willow froze. She hadn''t expected Zayn to suddenly make this demand. Seeing her standing there like a statue and showing no intention of kneeling, Zayn narrowed his eyes. His face was clouded with menace. "Why? Do you want to breach the contract? He was right. The agreement stipted that the merchandise had toply with the buyer''s demands. She hadn''t yet received the money to save Aaron, so she dared not breach the contract. Willow''s eyes welled up with tears. She hastily turned her face away, not om wanting to let Zayn see her weakness. He regarded her as filthy, cheap, and tit only to kneel before him and let him have his way with her. Il she kneeled, all their past promises and pledges would be void. But in truth, there was no turning back time. They couldn''t return to the past Willow had always known that, but she was just foolishly clinging to thest shreds of hope. "Ou your knees!" Chapter 87 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 87 Chapter 87Original from N?velDrama.Org. Bending her legs, she kneeled on the ground. It felt like a dagger was slowly stabbing her heart, drowning out thest glimmer of hope within her with her blood. As the first light of morning filtered through the curtains, Zayn rose from the bed. After putting on his meticulously tailored, ck, high-end suit, stood tall, exuding refinement. he Meanwhile, sheid huddled in bed, utterly disheveled, like an ant crushed underfoot. No matter how hard she struggled, a single step from others would render her helpless Just as Zayn was about to leave, he lowered his gaze and suddenly noticed the ring red stain on the sheets. Seeing the blood, a savage fury shed across his usually refined features. He strode forward, gripping Willow''s neck harshly. "Willow, you''re quite something, aren''t you? You''re willing to do anything just to seduce men," Weary, Willow closed her eyes. She didn''t bother to defend herself because Zayn was speaking the truth. She had indeed undergone surgery yesterday. "Speak!" "What do you want me to say, Mr. Carter?" Willow slowly opened her eyes. Her once captivating gaze was now filled with destion. "Do you want me to tell you where I had the surgery yesterday? Mr. Carter, I have nothing to say to you. You''re right. I''m willing to do anything for money." "Willow Sanford!" Zayn tightened his grip, nearly snapping Willow''s neck. She smirked, a hint of bitter self-mockery in her eyes. "Mr. Carter, don''t forget to transfer the money to the Rumpus Club as soon as possible. I''m still waiting for my money." Her constant mention of money only furled Zayn''s hatred. He red at Willow with bloodshot eyes, as if wanting to kill her. Suddenly, he said, "Willow, did you undergo surgery before your 18th birthday night too? I thought you were so pure back then. Turns out you were just pretending." Already pale, Willow''s face turned ashen at Zayn''s words. The extreme humiliation made her lips tremble uncontrobly. She never expected him to suspect her like this. On her 18th birthday night, she had happily given herself to him, and it was also that night that she fell pregnant with Aaron. She had imagined spending her life with the man she loved most, through thick and thin. She never expected that such sincere and passionate love was just an act of pretense in his eyes. Before she could even properly ease her overwhelming sorrow, she heard Zayn''s emotionless voice once again. "Willow, the most disgusting thing I''ve ever done in my life is sleeping e with you The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Zayn''s words Chapter echoed in Willow''s ears, Zayn had released her neck and left the room decisively, but Willow was still so overwhelmed with sorrow that she could barely breathe. Why did she disgust him so much? But no matter how repulsive she was to him, loving him was the most profound connection in her life. However, she wouldn''t love him anymore. It was specifically because she loved him so deeply that she couldn''t bear to disgust him further. Willow curled up in the corner, holding onto her body tightly. She wasn''t sure if it was due to the pain or the cold, but her body kept trembling incessantly. No matter what she did, she couldn''t find anyfort. She kept telling herself that she just needed to endure a little longer. After this, she would get the money to rescue Aaron from the kidnappers and pay for his surgery. After that, she would retreat from the mundane world, knowing Aaron was healthy and safe. Willow kept wanting to go to sleep, but her strong conviction kept her from copsing She picked up the clothes that had been scattered on the ground, only to find them torn and unfit to wear. Luckily, there was a brand-new casual outfit in the room. Though not perfectly fitting, it would at least cover up the humiliation she had suffered. After dressing herself and tidying up, Willow found that arge sum of money had been transferred to her bank ount. 10 million dors. She only received 10% of her total price. Rumpus Club took too big of a cut, causing her to lose 90 million dors for no reason. Willow was upset, but it was enough to save Aaron. After calling the kidnappers and confirming that they were on the cliff of Mount Embercrest, she wasted no time. She grabbed her bank card and headed toward Mount Embercrest By the time Willow reached Mount Embercrest, it was almost noon. A tall, burly man was waiting for her at the foot of the mountain. As soon as he saw her, he approached aggressively and demanded, "Where''s your bank card? We need to verify it first." Willow naturally didn''t want to hand over the bank card first. She eyed him warily. "I want to see Aaron first. If I''m not sure of his safety, I won''t give you the bank card. "Original from N?velDrama.Org. "What? You want to negotiate with me? the man sneered disdainfully. "Let me tell you. You''re not in the ce to negotiate with me. Hand over the bank card! Otherwise, I''ll get the guys on the mountaintop to kill your son right now!" Willow''s heart pounded wildly. She knew this man wasn''t joking. She clutched the bank card tightly in her hand. Though she didn''t want to lose herst bargaining chip, she couldn''t risk Aaron''s life. "Give it! Don''t do anything stupid, and I''ll make sure the kid stays safe and sound. Otherwise, be ready to see his body." Seeing the man take out his phone to call his aplices, Willow dared not disobey hismand. She quickly handed him the bank card. The man took out a POS machine to verify that Willow wasn''t trying to trick him. At the edge of the cliff, Willow finally saw Aaron. But she never expected the never to-find to find two other familiar faces there-Zayn and Skyler. Chapter 89 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Skyler appeared to have been kidnapped as well, and Zayn stood coldly at the mountaintop. Clearly, he hade over here to rescue Skyler. Both Skyler and Aaron were being pressed against the cliff by two burly men. All it would take was a little force, and they would be pushed down the steep "Aaron!" Willow gazed deeply at Aaron, who was being pressed against the cliff by the two men. Tears uncontrobly streamed down her face. Aaron looked worn out, but thankfully there were no visible injuries on him. He probably had not suffered too much at the hands of the kidnappers. After all, he was just a three-and-a-half-year-old child. No matter how smart or mature he seemed, facing the ruthless kidnappers made him tremble with fear. His little face disyed obvious terror. But when he saw Willow''s tears, all the fear on his face vanished. It was reced by deep concern and anxiety, "Mom, don''t cry!" Aaron smiled slightly, making his little face look particrly cheerful "Mom, I''m fine. I''m not hurt at all. I''m really fine. Please don''t Cry, MomT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "I won''t cry," Willow quickly reassured Aaron. She didn''t want him to worry. Remembering the promises made by the kidnappers, she looked anxiously at them and spoke anxiously. "I''ve given you the money. Please release Aaron. "Mr. Carter, have you made a decision? Who do you want to save? Him or her? The head of the kidnappers, Jett Hale, pointed at Aaron and then at Skyler as he addressed Zayn. Willow''s face turned pale at those words. She yelled desperately at Jett, "Release Aaron now! You can''t go back on your word! You promised that you wouldn''t harm Aaron if I gave you to million dors!" Jett remained unruffled. "That''s right. I promised you that as long as you came up with 10 million dors, I would ensure this kid''s safety. Look at how well he''s doing now. I haven''t harmed him in the slightest. "I''ve merely left his fate in Mr. Carter''s hands. As long as he chooses to let him live, he can live a long and healthy life." Jett then asked, "Mr. Carter, who do you think deserves to die? The kid or the woman?" Jett grinned maliciously, filling Willow with such hatred that she wanted to smash his head. "Release them "Zayn looked at Willow with aplex expression. He hadn''t expected that she truly needed the 10 million dors to save Aaron. She must have truly been desperate. Yet, he trampled on her dignity like that. At this thought, Zayn''s heart ached. But knowing that Willow had degraded herself to such an extent just to save this bastard, he felt an indescribable anger. "Mr. Carter, as I said before, only one of them can live today." "Release them, and I''ll give you 100 million dors. Zayn stared coldly at Jett, emitting a powerful presence that made thetter involuntarily take a stop back But when he recalled what Skyler had instructed, he gritted his teeth and spoke. "Mr. Carter, I''ll count to three. If you can''t choose by then, they''ll both die. One!" "Zayn, save Aaron! Please save Aaron!" Afraid that Zayn might sacrifice Aaron for Skyler, Willow choked up and pleaded. "Zayn, Xdidn''t lie to you. Aaron is really your child. "He really is your son! You can''t let him die! Zayn, please, I''m begging Zayn, please. you. Please save Aaron." Chapter 90 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 90 Chapter 90 In Skyler''s eyes, tears shimmered like crystals as she looked pitifully at Zayn. "Zayn, forget about me! Save Aaron! "Although Lolo has done many bad things to me, she''s still my sister. Even if we''re not blood-rted, we grew up together. This bond cannot be bro She continued, "Zayn, I don''t want Lolo to be so sad, so give up on me. I know you''ve been good to me. But if you choose Aaron over me, you. I really won''t." At this moment, Jett tightened his grip, and the knife pressed against Skyler''s neck cut a deep gash into her skin. I won''t She couldn''t help but cry out in pain. But at the next moment, she smiled tenderly at Zayn. "Zayn, I''m not in pain. Save Aaron, please. He''s still a chi He''s more important than me." Skyler kept urging Zayn to save Aaron, but Willow knew she wasn''t being sincere. Zayn cared about her. The more she said that, the less likely he was abandon her. "Two!" Willow''s heart was in her throat when she heard Jett''s voice. She rushed forward, grabbing Zayn''s clothes. "Zayn, save Aaron! If you don''t save him, they''ll push him off! You can''t abandon him! You can''t abandon our child!"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g "Three!" Jett sneered ominously. "What''s the matter, Mr. Carter? Can''t decide?" Willow couldn''t contain her panic anymore. She dropped heavily to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Zayn, save Aaron! Please save him! Save our Aaron... Skyler continued her act, "Zayn, speak up! Give up on me and choose Aaron! Otherwise, they''ll kill Aaron! Zayn, say something!" "I won''t allow you to harm Skyler! Finally, Zayn spoke up. Upon hearing his words, Skyler smiled uncontrobly. On the other hand, Willow''s heart plummeted to the depths of despair. He wouldn''t allow the kidnappers to harm Skyler, which meant Aaron hich meant would need to die. No! This wasn''t the ending she wanted. "Zayn, save Aaron. I beg you. Save Aaron..." Willow prostrated herself on the ground repeatedly knocking her head against the ground. Crimson blood oozed from her forehead, but she seemed oblivious to it and continued to knock her head against the ground. "Zayn, please save Aaron. Please, I can''t live without him. I can''t lose Aaron... Zayn, please, please..." A mix of blood and tears stained Willow''s face a deep crimson. She clutched Zayn''s wrist desperately as if grasping the only lifeline in a boundless sea "Zayn, please save Aaron. I''ll do anything for you if you save him. I''ll be your servant. I''ll do whatever you want! Zayn, please, save him." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Zayn didn''t reply immediately. His gaze slowly swept from Skyler''s tear-streaked face and ultimately settled on Aaron''s face. The little boy was tense his small shoulders asionally trembled. Zayn knew Aaron was probably terrified of facing death. Whether adult or child, as long as they were alive, the desire to live would prevail. Aaron was just three-and-a-half years old, but he seemed different from most children of his age. Faced with the threat of death, other children would have been hysterical, shouting and crying. Yet, Aaron remained surprisingly calm. He simply stared unwaveringly at Willow, with affection and deep concern in his eyes. Even though Zayn was certain Aaron wasn''t his child, he still felt immense pity for him when he met his gaze. How could there be such a sweet child in this world? He wasn''t afraid of falling off the cliff, but he feared that his mother would be sad. Zayn instinctively reached out, wanting to pull Aaron back from the cliff edge. But just as his hand was raised midair, he realized what he was doing. He withdrew his hand sharply. Now, it wasn''t just a matter of Aaron''s life or death. It also involved Skyler''s fate. He couldn''t afford to let his emotions run wild. "Zayn, I''m begging you. Please save Aaron. I''m not lying to you or trying to scare you. If anything happens to Aaron, you''ll regret it for the rest of your life! Zayn, please, I''m begging you!" Willow continued to knock her head against the ground forcefully. Her face was now covered in blood. Even so, Zayn could still clearly see the pain, despair, and helplessness on her face. His chest tightened. Zayn almost couldn''t control the urge to pull her into his arms. However, remembering how Skyler had sacrificed so much to save. him, he forced himself to remain cold-hearted toward Willow. "Willow, I can''t let anything happen to Skyler." Willow lifted her face, stunned. She even forgot to continue pleading with him. In the end, no matter how she pleaded, Skyler would alwayse first in his heart. Deep down, she knew that But even so, she didn''t want anything to happen to Aaron.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Willow turned her face toward Jett, pleading, "You can take me and kill me, but please spare Aaron! Please, don''t hurt my son!" "Willow, we don''t care about your life. Jett''s voice filled Willow''s broken heart with overwhelming despair. Without looking at Willow, he coldly ordered, "Since Mr. Carter has made his choice, what are you waiting for? Get rid of that brat!" "No!" Willow screamed hysterically. She was desperate to grab her Aaron back, but two burly men held her shoulders tightly, keeping her from reaching him "Mom, don''t cry." Although Aaron''s eyes were red-rimmed, tears never fell. He tried to smile, showing his usual cheerful face. "Mom, don''t cry. I don''t like it when you cry. "Aaron..." "Tears streamed down Willow''s face uncontrobly. How could she not cry in the face of death? "Mom, I like to see you smile and be happy every day." Aaron''s smile grew even brighter. He gazed deeply at Willow, and all the panic in his heart transformed into profound reluctance. "Mom, from now on, you have to smile every day. Only when you stille can I be happy. "I don''t like that bad guy anymore. I don''t need a dad." After a pause, Aaron continued, "Mom, stop loving that bad guy,m okay? He''ll only make you cry and make you sad. I don''t want you to love him anymore." Chapter 92 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 92 Chapter 92 you to be fine!" Willow struggled desperately, "Let me go! Let go of me! I need to go to Aaron! I need to "Aaron, I don''t love him. I only want you! I want yo go to him!" "Mr. Carter." Aaron''s gaze shifted slowly from Willow''s face to Zayn''s. "You don''t deserve to be my dad, and you definitely don''t deserve my mom. I hope you end up lonely and never get what you want. "Mom, I miss Uncle Matthew. If you ever see him again, tell him not to be sad for me. I love you, Mom." T As Aaron finished speaking, the two kidnappers who were holding him cruelly shoved him over the edge. "Aaron!" Willow screamed hysterically. The two men holding her quickly released her and took Syker as a hostage to ensure their safe exit. Free from their grip, Willow madly rushed to the edge of the cliff. "Aaron! Aaron,e back!" She reached out desperately, trying to grab Aaron Yet, beneath the cliff, there was only mist and clouds and no sign of her son Eventually, blood and tears soaked Willow''s eyes, and the mist gradually turned crimson-red around her. Amid the overwhelming crimson, she seemed to see a little boy''s figure, gently chuckling by her ear. Inexplicably, memories of her sweet moments with Zayn during their youth flooded her mind. "Zayn, my dream is to be the greatest perfumer in the world. How about you?" "My dream... My dream is to be the best husband for you.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g "What kind of dream is that? No, Zayn, say another one. "Then my dream... Is to be the best father for your child. Lolo, all my dreams are about you." "Zayn, you''re in my dreams too." Willow raised her head in confusion, wondering what was happening now. Zayn had chosen Skyler over her and Aaron. She lost her husband, and Aaron lost his father. Zayn ultimately betrayed their youthful dreams and became someone else''s man. Pain surged through Willow''s heart like a tidal wave, making it hard for her to breathe. But suddenly, she couldn''t cry anymore. She slowly stood up and stared nkly at the clouds below the cliff. That radiant smile outshone the sun in the sky. But on her beautiful face, there was no trace of life left. She was almost at the edge of the clitt, Wa but she continued to walk forward. "Aaron, I won''t let you be alone. Wait for ane. I''ll be with you now." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 93 Chapter 93 As Willow spoke, she mustered all her strength and was about to jump off the cliff. "Willow!" Zayn darted forward, trapping her in his arms. He couldn''t stop shivering "Let me go, Mr. Carter! I''m going to find Aaron! He said he''s cold down there! I have to find him!" "Willow, I''ll get people to find that bas- Aaron! Don''t do something stupid!" "Stupid?" Willow chuckled, a self-deprecating glint in her eyes. "Living without Aaron is the stupid thing to do." Gritting her teeth, she bolted forward. Despite her strenuous efforts, her attempts to break free from Zayn''s grip were in vain. "Let me go! Let me go!" Willow struggled frantically like a trapped animal Zayn''s eyes turned bloodshot as he scooped her up. "Willow, I won''t let you do something stupid! "Willow, don''t look for Aaron. I know it''s my fault this time, but Skyler saved my life. I can''t let her die. Willow, we can start anew as long as you''re okay. Willow..." She suddenly stilled. He thought she had finally heeded his words. But when he lowered his head, he found that she had lost consciousness. as The wound on her forehead was still bleeding, and blood trickled down from the corners of her lips as well. She was losing so much blood that it looked as if it would never cease. "Willow!" Zayn felt like his heart had just been shattered to pieces. He''dpletely forgotten about Skyler''s existence as he rushed toward his car with Willow in his arms. He initially intended to bring her back to Lakecoast and have his private doctore to treat her. Little did he expect her to wake up when he drove to the foot of the mountain Zayn was worried that she''dmit suicide because of Aaron. To his surprise, she was strangely calm after she woke up. She didn''t mention anything about apanying Aaron anymore.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Her calmness made his heart ache for her. "Willow..." "Mr. Carter, please take me to Bordello," she said with a shuttered expression. She looked as if her soul had been drained out of her. "Willow, Aaron-" Willow interrupted him indifferently, "Mr. Carter, please at least have some conscience. Stop saying Aaron''s name. He loathes it!" Zayn''s heart skipped a beat. He would''ve snapped her neck if she spoke to him like that back then. However, it was his fault this time. He fell silent His Koenigsegg raced back to Bordello. Willow opened the door listlessly when they arrived. She'' finally snapped back to her senses once she realized Zayn was about to enter. She quickly stood in front of the door, blocking his path. Her tone was still as unsettlingly calm as she spoke as if nothing in this world mattered to her anymore. "Mr. Carter, please leave." "Willow..." Without giving him a chance to speak, she continued, "Mr. Carter, I know what you''re concerned about. You''re worried that I''llmit suicide. "Rest assured, I''m still well aware of our agreement. I won''t let your one billion go to waste. W stay alive and do my best as your mistress. So, please The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Having said that, Willow mmed the door shut. She could no longer hold it in. With her back against the door, she copsed to the ground. It was as if all her energy had been drained from her body.. Aaron couldn''t make it. Given his weak physique, he couldn''t survive the fall from such a high cliff. Since she also couldn''t make it down the cliff alive, she couldn''t find his body. Willow hugged her legs close to her chest, choking back her sobs. How could her Aaron, her sweet little Aaron, be gone in a split second? She wasn''t a good mother. Aaron had been living with her in that dungeon ever since his premature birth. She''d never managed to let him spend a day in bliss. Yet, he never med her for that. He even told her she was the best mother in this world. He loved her dearly. Other children would''ve lost their sanity if they had to live in a dungeon every single day. Turning into a lunatic or developing depression wouldn''t be surprising for them. However, Aaron stayed optimistic and cheerful. He seemed to be capable of ridding the world of its gloom. He really was different from other kids. While kids aged four to six remained oblivious to most things, he had been sensible since he was a toddler. He had the sensibility to offer her bread first when he was just one year old. Shemented Aaron''s poor fate. Despite his kindness, optimism, and courage, fate never favored him. Misfortune had swallowed him, and his life withered away before he even had a chance to grow up. Heartbroken, Willow lifted her head. She desperately wanted to bawl her eyes out, but to her dismay, she couldn''t. Though she was awash with grief, her eyes seemed to have dried up. She was unable to shed even a tear. The most she could do was whimper like an injured beast,shing out the sorrow within her. Sometimes, Willow thought fate was ridiculous. It always plummeted one to the depths of hell once they saw a glimmer of hope. She was overjoyed after painstakingly saving up a million. Finally seeing a sliver of hope in her life, she thought she could afford Aaron''s surgery atst. Yet, the kidnappers threatened to kill him if she couldn''t pay the ransom. Shepromised and sold herself off, earning the ransom sum. Trembling with anticipation, she had clutched onto the bank card like it was herst straw, only to be greeted with Aaron''s predicament. Willow could never embrace him again. She sobbed, sping her hands over her mouth. She clutched tightly onto Aaron''s photo, her grip so firm that she nearly embedded the photo into her body. It was as if her breathing depended on the photo.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g After Aaron was pushed off the cliff, Zayn ordered a few helicopters to search for him. His assistant, Liam, brought Skyler back with his men. The kidnappers assumed that they could flee in safety with Skyler as om their hostage. However, they were all arrested by Liam except for their leader. Willow remained curled up in her crib with Aaron''s photo. She might ven died from istion if it weren''t for Nicing to keep herpany. She finally received news about Aaron the next morning from Skyler. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Nic was worried. She initially nned to take some time off to keep Willowpany at Bordello, but Isabe was persistent. She showed up at Bordello early in the morning, yelling at her to go to work went off to work in the end. Nic didn''t want Willow, who was already so upset, to be troubled by Isabe''s actions, so she w Skyler turned up with a box as soon as Nic left. Isabe had dragged Nic away in haste, and she wasn''t so considerate as to bother closing Willow''s door for her. Grief-stricken, Willow naturally couldn''t be bothered about her ajar door, allowing Skyler to enter directly. Bordello was a duplex apartment. Willow wasn''t downstairs, she was in Aaron''s room upstairs instead. Skyler saw a disheveled Willow curled up in the corner once she opened the door. The wound on Willow''s forehead had been treated, but she was still covered in blood. She hadn''t changed her clothes, so she was quite a sight to look at. The corners of Skyler''s lips quirked up. Remembering her purpose foring today, she feigned grievance and tightened her grip around the box she held. Her heels cked as she strutted toward Willow. "Willow, it''s only been a day. How on earth did you turn out like this? Skyler sauntered toward her, her condescending gaze looming over her. "Willow, I know you''re upset about Aaron, but your health still matters. You''ll be ruined for life if your health goes downhill! Zayn and I would be devastated then!" Distressed, Willow couldn''t be bothered about Skyler. She hissed, "Get out! You''re not wee here!" "Aren''t I?" Skyler was unfazed. Her voice mellowed as she continued, "Willow, if you don''t wee me, does that mean you don''t wee Aaron either?"Original from N?velDrama.Org. Willow instinctively understood Skyler''s Innuendo. She was about to question Skyler when she handed the box to her. "Willow, I brought Aaron back to you!" Willow snatched the box from her, only to find that the box was incredibly light. The box wasn''t small, but it simply wasn''t possible for it to be this light if Aaron was inside. It was a trick Skyler saw right through Willow''s thoughts and grinned. "Willow, did you think I tricked you because Aaron won''t fit in the box? "I swear I''m telling the truth! Aaron is inside. However, it''s not his body or his ashes inside. As she spoke, she opened the box. A few shreds of blood- stained fabric were inside. Willow recognized them. They were from the clothes Aaron was wearing when he was thrown off the cliff. Her hand trembled as she reached for the shreds of fabric. She yearned to feel his warmth again, but she didn''t know what was wrong with her. No matter how hard she tried, it seemed impossible for her to pick up those weightless shreds of fabric. Skyler continued, "Willow, do you know why I only brought you his m clothespinstead of his body or his ashes? "The beasts below the cliff devoured Aaron alive, so there''s nothing left of him. Zayn was worried that you couldn''t bear the sight of his remains, so he told me to bring you these clothes." "What did you say?" Willow croaked, her head jerking up. She stared at Skyler in utter disbelief. Chapter 96 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Willow knew Aaron couldn''t survive his fall from the cliff. Knowing it was one thing, but being informed of his death was entirely different. She felt like her heart had been fractured into pieces. "I said..." Skyler recalled how devastated Zayn looked when she arrived at the bottom of the cliff in a helicopter. His eyes were bloodshot red, and he seemed utterly lost. The resentment in her tone grew as she continued, "I said Aaron''s dead! He was eaten alive by the beasts below the cliff. You won''t even see his intact body anymore! "Look, the fabric is stained with his blood. He''s noting back-he never will! "Willow, it must have been unbearable to be devoured by the beasts. Would it hurt for Aaron if he was still alive when the beasts devoured him slowly? "Was it one beast that gobbled him up, or was it a pack of them? Did they start with his hand or his leg? Or did they bite his head off instantly? "Argh!" Willow could no longer bear it. She grabbed a ss from the table next to her and hurled it at Skyler. "Get out of my sight!" The ss didn''t hit her. It fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. Skyler''s grin grew even more sinister. She stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Willow, don''t forget to inform me about when Aaron''s funeral is. I''m still his Aunt Skyler, after all." "Fuck off!" Willow pushed a chair at her.. Skyler didn''t manage to dodge it in time. It hurt a lot when the chair hit her, but she didn''t mind. Having fulfilled her purpose of provoking Willow, she was buzzing with glee. She wouldn''t linger on any longer since her goal was achieved. She withdrew her gaze from the shreds of fabric in the box. She was thrilled at the fact that Aaron was finally dead. Good riddance! Skyler caclded with delight as she took her leave. Willow was overwhelmed with grief. She clutched the box tightly. Mustering up all her strength, she grabbed the few shreds of blood-stained fabric. She felt like Aaron''s warmth still lingered on the fabric. Holding the fabric close to her chest, she cried out, "Aaron... my dear Aaron...T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Willow''s health deteriorated after Aaron''s death. Still, she held a simple funeral for him. She left a space beside Aaron''s grave, intending to be buried next to him after her passing She returned to Bordello after the funeral. She wanted to organize Aaron''s belongings so she could bury them with her when the time came. She discovered an exquisite ck box while she was going through his stuff. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Willow thought there would be toys in the box. To her surprise, there was only a delicate little notebook. All of Aaron''sst words were written in it.Original from N?velDrama.Org. "Mom, I know I''m very sick. I''ll die one day, but I still have lots of things to tell you. So, I wrote down what I wanted to say to you in this notebook. "Mom, the happiest thing in my life is being your son. You''re the best mom in the world. "Mom, I''m sorry that I''m not doing well. I''m always sick. I know how much you suffer because of me. I feel bad for you. "Mom, I''m sorry for being a burden to you. But I still want to be your baby in another life. "I''ll be a healthy child in my next life. I''ll grow up into a really, really strong man, and I''ll protect you." Children at the age of three rarely could read or write. However, Aaron was precocious. Also having an excellent teacher, Matthew, by his side, be recognized simple words at a very early age. He only became more brilliant after he left the dungeon. He even taught himself plenty of new words. Although he sometimes got some of the spelling wrong for certain words, that didn''t alter the fact that he was a brilliant little boy. Aaron wrote a lot in his notebook. He reminded Willow to have her meals on time and care for herself. He wanted her to be happy and not to be sad for him- he behaved like an adult. However, he often emphasized telling Willow not to like that bad guy. She knew he was referring to Zayn. "Mom, feeling sad for that bad guy isn''t worth it. He isn''t even worthy of your tears. "Mom, forget him. You''re the best-you''ll certainly find the best man in the world! "Mom, if you find your true love, remember to bring my new dad to my grave. I have to check him out for you. "Mom, I''ll only rest in peace once you forget about that bad guy and stay happy. "Mom, I want you to be happy! Tears began to pool in Willow''s eyes as she hugged Aaron''s notebook. He had only ever yearned for her to be happy. She didn''t have much time left. However, she wouldn''t disappoint him even if she only had one day left to live. She''d stay happy and paint a smile on her face. That was the least she could do so that she could tell him that she didn''t let him down once they reunited after her death. Aaron wished for her to stop liking Zayn. In fact, her love for him unconsciously faded over time. Willow used to think that Zayn was her only true love. But after being hurt and doubted by him countless times, it finally dawned on her that there was no such thing as true love in this world. Her infatuation with him just wasn''t worth it. She decided to stop loving Zayn. Even if she had only a few days left, she wouldn''t love him anymore, let alone be obsessed with him. Just as Willow was about to close Aaron''s notebook, she suddenlym fowook, she spotted a few lines on its back cover. "Uncle Matthew, I miss you so much. Where are you? Why aren''t you m visiting me and Mom? "Uncle Matthew, I really want you to sing ''Little Star'' to me again." Chapter 98 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 98 Chapter 98 "Can you go to my grave and sing me ''Little Star'' after I die?" Willow put Aaron''s notebook back in the box hastily. Unable to suppress her emotions any longer, she pressed her hands against her lips and sobbed. She had found Matthew, but he was no longer the man who held Aaron gently in his arms and sang "Little Star" to him over and over again to lull him to sleep. song was childish. She Matthew used to c care for Aaron a lot. In fact, his patience for Aaron surpassed hers. Aaron loved "Little Star", but she thought the song wasn''t willing to sing it to him, so Matthew did it in her stead tirelessly. Matthew''s voice was truly melodious. His low, rich baritone voice overshadowed even the best cello piece in the world. His voice hadn''t changed, but it was now capable of speaking the most ruthless words. Willow knew she was going to humiliate herself if she went to Matthew. However, she still wanted to fulfill Aaron''sst will, even if it meant losing another finger. She''d get him to sing "Little Star" to Aaron in front of his grave. She changed her clothes once she made up her mind. Grabbing her bag, she was about to leave for Mayer Tower to find Matthew. She saw Zayn the moment she opened her apartment door. His faint stubble mirrored the weariness he carried, and the dark circles beneath his eyes were a telltale sign of his utter exhaustion. Still, his chiseled features weren''t diminished. He exurled an air of sophistication the moment sheid eyes on him.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Zayn, what are you doing here?" Zayn stepped forward and grabbed Willow''s hand. "Willow, sorry. I" "Ha!" Willow snickered, her smile cold and deste. He continued rambling on, "Willow, I couldn''t just stand by and let Skyler die. I could only choose her in that situation" She nced up at him slowly. The wound on her forehead had stopped bleeding, and it wasn''t obvious underneath her fringe. However, the grief on her face was jarring "You couldn''t stand by and let Skyler die... Does that mean Aaron deserved to die then? Zayn rarely backed down, but he did this time. "I''m sorry, Willow..." Another apology. She thought it was absurd. Aaron fell from the cliff and was devoured by the beasts. He died a slow and painful death. Did Zayn think he could dismiss Aaron''s suffering and despair with just a casual apology? Willow simply couldn''t be bothered. "Fuck off!" Her eyes were bloodshot as she shoved him aside. "Fuck off, Zayn! I don''t want to see you again for the rest of my life!" She used to have many questions for him. Why did he hurt Aaron? Did their child matter less than Skyler? Now, she thought all the questions she had for him were absolutely humiliating. It finally struck her-even a single strand of Skyler''s hair mattered more to Zaynpared to her and Aaron. It step Willow. Awash with guilt, Zayn didn''t stop Willow. He watched her leave ?n''a daze. Without any further harassment from Zayn, Willow arrived at the basement of Mayer Tower swiftly. Coincidentally, she spotted Matthew''s car the she entered the basement. He om happened to be in the car as well. moment Chapter 99 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Matthew!" Willow waved at Matthew with all her might A lump welled up in her throat before she could even tell him that Aaron was gone. She broke out in a sob when she thought of telling him that he would no longer be able to hold Aaron in his arms and sing "Little Star" to him. Her eyes reddened as she darted toward Matthew''s Lamborghini. "Matthew, can you please get out of the car? I have something to tell you." "Get lost!" Matthew''s indifferent gaze swept past her. The gentleness which once filled his eyes was now long gone. Willow choked, suddenly at a loss for words. She sucked in a few deep breaths before continuing, "Matthew, it''s really important. I''m not here for my own sake. It''s for Aaror" She whisked out a photo of Aaron which she cherished a lot from her bag. Her fingers quivered when she held it out to him. Look, this is Aaron, I know you might''ve lost your memories, but you used to love Aaron a lot. I don''t believe you''dpletely forget about him." Willow''s spirits lifted when she saw him slowly winding down his car window. She knew he couldn''t have forgotten everything! Their bond was ingrained in their flesh and blood and had been nurtured over four years of mutual support. How could he simply forget it all? "Matthew, Aaron really wants to meet you." Willow handed him the photo. "He wants to hear you sing ''Little Star'' to him again." A wave of delight washed over her when he took the photo. Yet, she felt like she''d been stabbed in the next instant. Matthew nced over at Aaron''s photo. He sneered and ripped the photo into pieces without a hint of hesitation. He threw it away. The pieces of the photo fell to the ground, circling Willow''s feet. She extended her hand, desperately trying to grab parts of it. A tiny piece of debris, norger than a fingernail, was all that she managed to acquire. Spiraling in turmoil, she fell to her knees. She grabbed the scattered pieces on the floor and picked them up meticulously. H "Aaron, my Aaron..." She stowed all the pieces in her bag after she had fished thest plece up from the ground. She held onto her bag like it was a priceless treasure as if it held more than just a photo. "Matthew, I don''t me you for tearing his photo apart. You forgot us," Willow croaked. Her voice was so hoarse that it sounded like her vocal folds had been run over by a truck. Her vacant eyes flickered with a hint of helplessness.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Can''t you fulfill Aaron''sst wish? Please, Matthew. Aaron''s gone. He''s..." she choked, finding it impossible to find her voice. She sped both hands to her face, forcing herself to regain herposure, She began, "Matthew, Aaron wants you to go to his grave and sing ''Little Star'' to him onest time." Matthew snickered, disgust evident in his eyes. "Willow, what are you ying at now? Cutting off one of your fingers isn''t enough, huh? "Fuck off! I told you I won''t spare you if you ever appear before me again!" "I won''t leave!" Willow straightened herself stubbornly. "Matthew, this is Aaron''sst wish. Please fulfitbit, Will you? Just sing "Little Star¡± to him-just once will do! I''ll do anything as long as you''re willing to fulfill hisst wish, even if it means cutting off all my limbs!" ring at Willow, whose eyes were red, Matthew couldn''t fathom why his -lont??ath heart ached so badly when he saw the despair in her eyes. His frustration peaked when he realized he actually felt a sliver ofpassion for the woman who had clung to him and nearly killed his beloved Wi, Withdrawing his gaze, be hissed before he winded up the car window, "Get lost!" Chapter 100 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 100 Chapter 100 "Matthew, please go visit Aaron, okay?" The car engine was revved up. Apparently, Matthew didn''t intend to stop even if Willow stood in his way. Realizing his intentions, Willow refused to leave and blocked his path. She owed Aaron too much and yearned to fulfill his wish.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Matthew thought Willow was incorrigible. He stepped on the elerator, intending to run over her "Matthew, stop! Let''s talk! You-" Two security guards dragged Willow away in the nick of time. Matthew''s car whizzed past her, and she barely managed a narrow escape from a collision. Scowling at her, the younger security guard shoved her to the ground. "Get lost! Mr. Mayer already has a girlfriend. Yet, you''re still whoring over him! Just how shameless are you?" The older security guard, however, looked at her with pity. "Miss, please get up! That''s just how Mr. Mayer is. Besides Ms. Foster, he won''t spare a nce at any other woman! Stop degrading yourself, and don''t make things difficult for us as well!" The security guard rambled on, but his words didn''t seem to get through Willow. Sheid limp on the ground in a daze, sumbing to the waves of pain washing over her as her body spasmed uncontrobly. She seemed to hear someone singing "Little Star". It reminded her of Aaron and how fare was never in his favor. Willow had no idea how she managed to drag herself back to Bordello. She spat out a mouthful of blood the moment she reached home. She knew her end was nearing, and perhaps the next few days would be herst. Still, she had to fulfill Aaron''s wish before her death came. She knew how daunting it was, but she just had to go all the way to make it work. The security guards is outside the Mayer Tower''s basement probably remembered her. She bet she couldn''t even get in next time. Thus, she had toe out with another way to meet Matthew. As Willow racked her brains to figure out a way to meet him, she suddenly noticed the gold-lined invitation card on her bedside table. It was an invitation to the Winter Charity G in Havenpoint. Her status didn''t earn her the invitation. In fact, it was Kenan who gave it to her back then. He promised to bring her and Aaron to the g to expand Aaron''s horizons. Now, although they had lost the opportunity to do so, the invitation granted her a chance to meet §¬§â§Ö§Ò§Ñ Matthew. He needed to attend a grand event like this. The g took ce at the Chateau. Willow tidied herself, rself up promptly and headed over. It was easy for her to get in with the invitation. She had no interest in engaging in any conversation with the socialites and elites. She was only here for Matthew. There was no sight of him in the banquet hall, so she made her way through the corridors, hoping to locate him. When she passed through a secluded and dimly lit corridor, she was caught off guard by Skyler and another man''s voices. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Skyler''s voice didn''t sound that innocent. Willow knew Skyler''s rtionship with men had never been all that pure even back when they were in school. However, she wasn''t interested to know who Skyler was being intimate with in the hallway. Right now, she just wanted to find Matthew as soon as possible. Still, it was really bold of Skyler to look for a man on such an asion. Wasn''t she afraid of being caught in public as a public figure herself? If that happened, her scandal would spread like wildfire. Willow was just about to turn around when she heard the man''s voice.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Skyler, I''ve lost so many of my men for you. You''d betterpensate me well afterward!" It was the voice of Jett Hale, the head of the kidnappers! Turning around, Willow almost gasped out loud in surprise. Hiding around the corner, she covered her mouth forcefully with her remaining sense of reason Willow wasn''t stupid. She knew there was no way Jett would kidnap Skyler after hearing his words. It was likely that the so-called kidnapping was only a scheme. It was all so Zayn would voluntarily abandon Aaron in front of her This trick of Skyler was truly vile! Willow''s hands trembled as she took her phone out of her bag. She could show Zayn Skyler''s true colors as long as she recorded their conversation! Unfortunately, she discovered that her phone was out of battery after taking it out. Willow had been living in a daze for the past few days. She hadn''t even charged her phone once. It would''ve been unusual if it still had power. "Let me go, Jett! What kind of ce do you think this is? How would I face people in the future if someone sees us?" There was an obvious tinge of anxiousness in Skyler''s voice. "I''llpensate you for your losses this time, Jett. But don''te looking for me again in the future. Things won''t end well for the both of us if Zayn discovers what''s between us!" Skyler eximed. "Do you have no conscience, Skyler?" Jett questioned. "So many of my men are in prison now. Their lives are hanging by a thread, yet you''re going to turn your back on us? How could I have ever been attracted to a heartless woman like you?" he questioned her furiously. All of a sudden, a thought struck Skyler. "Jett, do they know that I was the one who made you kidnap Aaron?" she asked hurriedly. "No, they don''t," Jett paused. "But I promise that F''ll reveal your true colors to Zayn If you still intend to turn your back on us." There was a clear threat in his voice. "How dare you!" Skyler raised her voice in fury. She detested being threatened the most. Jett was not scared in the slightest. "Why don''t you try me, Skyler?" Afraid that Jett would really cause a scene in front of Zayn, Skyler hurriedly softened her tone, "It''s all my fault, Jett. I shouldn''t have made you angry just now. "Won''t you let bygones be bygones and overlook my behavior?" she asked. "Even if I''m by Zayn''s side in the future, I''ll still treat you well. After all, rest you you know how much I like you!" Skyler continued. Jett finally let out a satisfied smirk after hearing her words. He grabbed her by the chin. That''s more like it! Come here, Skyler. I''ll shower you with my love!" he eximed.. "That''s enough! You can''t just go wild regardless of the asion. How can I face anyone if you''re like this? "Go back. I''lle and find you tomorrow night," Skyler said. Jett didn''t notice the unbridled malice in her eyes due to the dim lights. He hugged and kissed her for a while before leaving reluctantly. Afraid of being discovered by the two of them, Willow hurried over to the direction of the hall. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 102 Chapter 102 By the time Willow reached the hall, she realized her arms and legs had gone numb Pressing against her chest, she forced herself to calm down as her heart pounded uncontrobly. She had found the perpetrator who killed Aaron. She would definitely find a way to avenge him! Skyler Dawson any good ideas to avenge Aaron at the moment. An eye for an eye. The loss of Grandma and Aaron''s lives can only be avenged by blood! k of any However, Willow had never been a bright kid since she was young. She couldn''t think Willow set the matter aside when she thought about the main purpose she attended the charity dinner tonight. She began to search for Matthew''s figure among the crowd.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Despite searching for quite a while, Willow still couldn''t find him. However, she saw Zayn and Skyler instead. The men from the Carter family seemed to have a penchant for ck. Willow had seen Zayn''s father, Tyson Carter several times on the news. Each time, he''d always wore a ck suit. There was also Zayn''s elder brother, Theodore Carter, the genius of the cyberworld. He had created thergest Inte corporation in Marley from scratch. Theodore would also wear a ck suit every time he appeared on the cover of financial magazines. Tonight, Zayn had worn a custom-made suit from Fromden. Unlike others who would unbutton a few buttons from their shirts out of habit, the Carters would always button it up until the very top Their suits were immacte. They exuded a reserved bearing despite their elegance. Willow had always known that Zayn was handsome. However, she was still stunned momentarily when she saw him tonight. Many women in the hall gazed at him with clear admiration and adoration in their eyes. At the age of 20, Zayn had taken over Carter Group before leading it to unprecedented heights when he was 24 years old. How could an unparalleled genius like him not be admired by women? However, these women would only discover the cruelty hidden beneath his charming looks when they''ve truly gotten close to him. So, Willow no longer dared to fall in love. Many of them were eager to strike up a conversation with Zayn. However, they gave up on that idea tactfully when they saw Skyler standing beside him. Even now, marriage is all about well-matched families in society. Although most of the women in the hall had a good family background, it was still Iparable to the Dawsons. Zayn and Skyler were truly a perfect match for each other. Skyler nestled against Zayn on his left side. Her face beamed with the happiness of a woman who had fallen in love. Willow only found it ironic when she looked at the beautiful scene before her. Others might not have noticed, but she could see so ome slight wrinkles at the hem of Skyler''s red skirt. It had probably urred while Skyler had been intimate with Jett in the hallway. Howughable. Despite being so dirty and promiscuous, to Zayn, Skyler was still the purest and most e. innocent woman in his heart. Unwilling to see their disy of love, Willow looked away as she continued her search for Matthew. Skyler had also noticed Willow. However, she didn''t want to let Willow go so easily. Holding onto Zayn''s hand, Skyler strutted over to Willow. Taking out a big red invitation from her bag, she handed it over to Willow. ¡°Lolo, this is our engagement Invitation, You have toe on that day!" Skyler said. Chapter 103 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Zayn and Skyler were about to get engaged.... Willow had already decided topletely let go of the impractical love she had. Although Zayn had left her utterly disappointed, she still felt suffocated when she saw the engagement invitation However, this was still far better than before. Before this, Willow would''ve broken down if Skyler had told her that she would be engaged to Zayn. She wouldn''t even have the strength to take the invitation. But now, Willow could even pretend to be unfazed when she took the invitation from Skyler. She even managed to curve her lips into a polite smile. "You''re getting engaged!" Willow smiled brightly. "Do I need to bring a gift to the engagement?" she asked. "I suppose so." Skyler trailed off. She hadn''t expected Willow to bring up the topic of engagement gifts so straightforwardly. Even someone like Skyler who was used to pulling strings found herself replying to Willow somewhat stiffly.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. From the very start, Zayn''s gaze had been fixed on Willow''s face. Initially, his gaze had remained indifferent. However, his expression turned grim when he saw Willow epting the invitation calmly with a bright smile. Had Willow been eagerly looking forward to his engagement with Skyler? All of a sudden, he felt like snapping the infuriating woman''s neck. "An engagement gift!" Willow was still smiling. She still looked breathtaking despite the obvious scar on her forehead. "Instead of giving a scumbag and bitch a gift, it would''ve been much better if I gave it to a dog!" Willow tore apart the invitation in her hands little by little as her words fell. She threw it forcefully on their faces. Skyler''s face took a direct hit. With so many people around, she still had to maintain her image despite feeling irritated. So, Skyler could only put on a kind facade. "Lolo, I''ve invited you out of sincerity. How could you do this to me?" she asked aggrievedly. "What did I do to you?" The smile on Willow''s face was still impable. "I''ve given you my blessings, Skyler!" Willow''s gazended on Zayn slowly. "Mr. Carter, I wish you and Skyler well. A bitch and a bastard-the two of you are a perfect match! I hope your rtionshipsts forever." With that, she turned around and left without looking back. "Willow Sanford and dogs are not allowed inside." Zayn had trampled her dignity below his feet. He dered her to be inferior to a dog. Back then, she had been in love with him. So, she endured it all. However, Willow was no longer in love with Zayn. In her eyes, Zayn was all but a blind and foolish dog! "Willow!" Zayn''s threatening voice echoed behind Willow. She didn''t look back In the past, he had always used Aaron to threaten her. Each time, she had conceded. But now, he had personally removed her Achilles'' heel. Who''s afraid of whom now? "Don''t be angry, Zayn. It''s all my fault." Afraid that Zayn would m abandon her in public to chase after Willow, Skyler grabbed his hand hurriedly. "It''s all on me, Zayn. I identally made Lolo angry. me it on me!" Skyler spoke pitifully. Zayn only regained his senses after hearing Skyler''s words. Slowly hel withdrew his gaze from Willow''s back. "It''s not your fault, Skyler." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 104 Chapter 104 "I''m sorry, Zayn. I just wanted to get Lolo''s blessings. I didn''t expect her to have such a strong reaction after seeing our engagement invitation. "Believe me, Zayn. I don''t have any other intentions. I didn''t mean to make her angry, Skyler said. "I believe you, Skyler," Zayn replied absentmindedly. Skyler leaned against his shoulder after hearing his words. "You''re so good to me, Zayn." Themotion between Zayn, Skyler, and Willow attracted a lot of attention from the people. However, no one dared to approach to listen closely. So, none of them korw what happened between the three of them. Instead, they just assumed that an unknown figure like Willow had offended Zayn and Skyler without knowing any better. Honestly, the world was quite ridiculous sometimes. Willow had once been Zayn''s legitimate wife. However, everyone only saw Zayn and Skyler as a perfect match from heaven. No one knew that she was just a shameless mistress. Wandering across the hall again, Willow felt somewhat dejected when she still couldn''t find Matthew. Perhaps he hadn''t attended the event tonight. Just then, Willow saw the amiable waitress whom she had asked about Matthew walking over. Hurrying over, she asked, "Hello, may I know if Mr. Mayer has arrived?"Original from N?velDrama.Org. "Yes, Mr. Mayer''s just arrived. However, he''s not in the hall-he''s upstairs in the lounge." The waitress pointed to the staircase nearby. "Just go up the staircase. Mr. Mayer''s at the lounge on the far northeast side." "Thank you!" Willow replied. She initially wanted to go upstairs to find Matthew. However, her stomach hurt too badly. On second thought, she decided to eat a few painkillers first before finding him. In fact, taking the painkillers on an empty stomach was bad for Willow''s body. In the past, she didn''t pay much heed to it. But now, she still wanted to avenge Aaro If Willow wanted to live for a few more days, she would have to learn to cherish her body. So, she picked out a few snacks to eat before taking the painkillers with some water. Skyler''s gaze had remained fixed on Willow. After seeing Willow converse with the waitress, she hurried over to their direction after parting ways with Zayn. "Hello, Skyler said. The waitress was ttered when Skyler took the initiative to say hello. "Hello, Ms. Dawson! I''m a fan of yours. Could I get your signatureter?" she asked. "Of co "Of course!" Skyler smiled brightly. "Oh, that''s right. Why did my sister approach you just now?" she asked. "You know, I''m talking about the beautiful woman with a scar on her forehead," she continued. Initially, the waitress didn''t catch who Skyler was referring to. It wasn''t until Skyler mentioned the scar on Willow''s forehead that she came to a realization. "Were you referring to Ms. Sanford? I think she was looking for Mr. Mayer to discuss something important. "So, I told her that Mr. Mayer was resting at the lounge upstairs. She should be heading upstairs in a while," the waitress replied. Skyler didn''t speak. Turning around, she secretly took out a small bottle from her bag before pouring the contents into the red wine on the front desk. Picking up the ss of red wine, she swirled it lightly before cing it in the hands of the waitress. "Mr. Mayer is an old friend of my sister''s. his room? "If he asks, just say that my sister was the one who asked you to bring it over." Skyler stuffed arge stack of dor bills into the waitress'' hands as her words fell. The waitress'' eyes lit up when she saw the huge stack of money in her palins. Naturally, she wouldn''t refuse Skyler''s request. Thanking her profusely, the waitress carried the ss on a tray before hurrying over to the lounge upstairs. Gazing at Willow who was eating snacks nearby, the corner of Skyler''s lips curled up sinisterly. Skyler had originally intended to use Om the bottle on Willow and Jett. ex However, she didn''t expect it toe in handy tonight. Looks like there will be a good show tonight. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Indeed, it was better to take the painkillers after grabbing a bite. Willow''s stomach felt much better when she took her painkillers after eating some pastries and appetizers. Sitting on the bar stool, Willow took a short break. After that, she grabbed her bag and headed upstairs. Although the rooms upstairs were referred to as lounges, they were actually VIP suites. Despite knowing which room Matthew was in, it was still i difficult feat to get in. Matthew detested her. There was no way he would open the door for her. Along the way, Willow mulled over the choices of words she could use for him to open the door. However, she didn''t expect it to be wide open when she reached the doorway. Knocking the door out of courtesy, she stepped inside quietly. "Matthew..." Willow called out lightly. All of a sudden, Willow felt a shadow looming over her. Before she knew it, Matthew had walked in front of her. Willow felt saddened when she met his gaze. It was devoid of any warmth.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. However, this wasn''t the time for her to feel sad. Clearing her throat, she tried her best to pretend to be cheerful. "Matthew, I really have something important to discuss with you today. Can I take a few minutes of your time? Let''s have a good chat," she asked brightly. Matthew didn''t speak. His gaze remained fixed on Willow. Once, there had been light within his clear gaze. But now, only a cold re was left in it. Since he didn''t speak, Willow assumed that he had acquiesced. Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, she carefully took out Aaron''s notebook from her bag. Willow showed Matthew the page that contained Aaron''s wish. "I didn''t lie to you, Matthew. Truly, this is Aaron''sst wish. He hoped that you could sing "Little Star¡± for him again." "I know it might be too much to ask you to sing the song for Aaron at his grave. However, you wouldn''t have thought so if you still remembered Aaron and I. "In the past, you would sing "Little Star" to Aaron every night when we were in the dungeon," Willow said. "I beg you, Matthew. Can''t you sing it for him again? Just once, onest time. I''ll be forever grateful to you for the rest of my life," she pleaded. "Dungeon?" Matthew caught onto the information from Willow''s words. "What dungeon?" "Matthew, we''ve stayed together in a dungeon for four years. Aaron was the child I had with Zayn. I gave birth to him after staying in the dungeon for half a year. "The three of us depended on each other. You were very good to the two of us," Willow exined. "You got along very well with Aaron. You taught him how to count and read in the dungeon. You even sang "Little Star" for him. Matthew, don''t you remember Aaron and I in the slightest?" she asked. He sneered, and his gaze became colder. "You''ve reallye up with all sorts of nonsense just to cling to me, "It''s a pity. You''re barking up the wrong tree. I didn''t lose my memories. However, there are certain things that I can''t remember clearly in the past four years. "But when I was injured and recuperating at the nursing home, Wi was the one who never left my side!" he said confidently. "There was no you, nor was anyone called Aaron there!" Matthew sneered. Willow gazed at Matthew in disbelief. She never thought that he would have a segment of false memorles, Could she have been in the wrong? Instead of losing his memorychad Matthew been hypnotized by someone with ulterior motives? ording to the media reports, Matthew and Louis were a pair of loving brothers. However, Willow NO knew better than anyone the amount of abominable things Louis had done to Matthew. 11 Matthew had really been hypnotized, he would be utterly m defenseless against Louis. Who in the world had hypnotized Matthew? What intentions did they have? Ad Free Readings Chapter 106 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 106 Chapter 106 All of a sudden, Matthew grabbed onto Willow''s shoulders just as she was lost in her thoughts. It was so forceful that she felt as been crushed. s if her shoulders had "I''ve seen plenty of women like you who would use any means possible to scale the socialdder, Unfortunately, shameless women like you aren''t up to my taste. The only woman I want for the rest of my life is Wi!" he eximed. "That''s not it!" she retorted. Seeing that Matthew had misunderstood, Willow hurriedly exined, "I swear, Matthew. I''ve never had any improper thoughts toward you!" "I''ve only seen you as a friend. I admit that I was upset that you''ve forgotten about Aaron and 1, but that''s all!" she emphasized. She continued, "Aaron''s gone, and I don''t have much time left. So, it''s not that important to me anymore even if you''ve forgotten about us." "I just want to fulfill Aaron''sst wish. He... he was." she trailed off. A few days have passed since then. However, Willow still felt suffocated whenever she recalled Aaron being ruthlessly thrown off the cliff. Opening her mouth, she gasped heavily for breath. It was still hard for her to speak out about what happened to her dear son Willow turned her head away. She didn''t want Matthew to see the vulnerability and despair in her eyes. "Aaron died in pain. He was thrown over the cliff by someone. After that, the beasts had..." Willow couldn''t continue anymore at this point. "It''s just that you don''t remember us anymore. How heartbroken would you be by Aaron''s death if you remembered us?" "I suppose it''s better that you don''t remember..." Willow let out a small sigh. At the very least, he wouldn''t be saddened when the two of them left this cruel world Choking back her sobs, she finally regained her voice. "Please believe me, Matthew. I''ve never loved you from the very beginning. "There''s no way I would cling to you. I just wanted you to help me so Aaron can rest in peace." Pressing his lips together, Matthew''s hands tightened involuntarily. He had always been annoyed by the woman who had clung to him shamelessly. However, hearing that she had no feelings for him left him with an inexplicable sense of displeasure. She was definitely spouting nonsense again. Willow had almost gotten Wi killed just to win him over. How could she not have any feelings for him? Matthew''s gaze was filled with fury. Willow hurriedly hid the notebook in her bag. She was afraid that he would rip it apart just like he did with Aaron''s photo. She spoke up carefully, "I''ll work ceaselessly in my next life to repay you as long as you fulfill Aaron''sst with "Why are you still pretending?" he seethed. Mathew was unwilling to waste e any up abnormally. more time with this bothersome woman. He was just about to kick her out of the room when his body began to heat Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Matthew had fallen for the same trick before. Almost immediately, he realized that he had been set up. Recalling that the waitress had sent the ss of red wine on Willow''s behalf, he was even more certain that it was her scheme. Matthew thought that the red wine was sent on behalf of Wi. That was why he had drunk it without hesitation Looks like it had been Willow Instead of Wi. To think she would use such despicable methods just to spend a night with him. She was really something Throwing Willow on the ground, Matthew''s body pressed heavilym against hers at the very next second. "Alright. Muce you''re so shameless, I''ll do as you wish!" he snarled. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Initially, Willow didn''t understand what Matthew meant. Seeing his unusually red eyes, she immediately realized that he had been drugged Someone had done all of this with the intention of framing her.. Willow''s mind raced. Even if she wasn''t particrly bright, she still knew that she couldn''t let Matthew continue.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. If they did, they would''ve fallen right into someone''s trap. Willow pped Matthew across the face forcefully. "Calm down, Matthew!" she eximed. The heavy p caused him to regain consciousness momentarily. However, his detestment for Willow only grew after he regained his senses. Matthew shoved Willow to the side mercilessly as he got up. "What, weren''t you pretending to be Wi?" "You spiked my wine and entered my room. Why are you still pretending to be some innocent woman in front of me? Don''t you feel disgusted with yourself?" he snapped "I didn''t!" Willow eximed. Shaking her head vigorously, she continued, "Matthew, we''ve fallen for someone else''s trap! Do you feel lightheaded? I''ll take you to the hospital!" With that, Willow intended to dial for emergency help. It wasn''t until she ced her hand inside the bag that she realized her phone was out of battery. She knew how severe the drug effects could be if he wasn''t treated. However, there was no way she could spend the night with him. So, Willow hoped that Matthew could go to the hospital. She initially wanted to use his phone to dial for an emergency. However, she changed her mind when his eyes gradually reddened. She had to leave the room immediately! After drugging Matthew, the person would definitely cause a scene to catch the two of them in the act. as There was no way they could clear their names if the two of them had really spent the night together. With that in mind, Willow struggled to get up as she ran toward the doorway. However, she''d just taken a step only for him to grab her back. "ying hard to get?" There was an obvious hint of ridicule in Matthew''s bloodshot eyes. "Your tricks are truly deplorable." Pain filled her body. Once again, she was thrown on the cold wooden floor by Matthew like a sandbag His body pressed against hers again before she could regain her senses. But this time, it felt as if her every pore would tear apart from the pain. She wanted to change the situation, but she no longer had any strength left to exert. All she could do was let the world spin before her eyes.... "Something''s wrong, Zayn!" Skyler rushed over just as Zayn finished his call. "What is it?" Zayn asked nonchntly as he put down his phone. "L... Something''s happened to her!" she eximed. "What?" Zayn''s expression changed. Seeing Zayn in that state filled Skyler with jealousy and resentment m However, she regained herposure when she thought of the good show ahead. "I''ve just heard someone say that Lolo''s gone upstairs. She''s in Mr. Mayer''s room, and the two of them..." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Zayn had dashed off before Skyler could finish her sentence. Skyler gritted her teeth when she saw how quickly he was acting. However, she still followed him closely upstairs in her high heels. She knew that he had never gotten over Willow. However, most men cared greatly about a woman''s chastity, The scene of Willow with Louis four years ago had left him thinking that she had been tainted. However, it had still been a long time since then. It no longer had such a great impact on him. Skyler wanted him to take a good look at Willow''s promiscuity again. She wanted him to utterly despise Willow! Tonight, her ns would kill two birds with one stone. Not only would Zayn utterly despise Willow, but even Matthew would treat her like dirt. From then on, the two most important men in Willow''s life would cast her aside like trash! Zayn kicked the room''s door open with a loud thud only to see Willow and Matthew entangled together. Unable to control himself any longer, hended a hard punch on Matthew''s face. Matthew was under the spell of the drug''s effects. He never expected someone to barge in suddenly, nor did he expect to receive a punch for no reason. Naturally, Matthew wasn''t about to let the matter go easily. Raising his fist, he swung ruthlessly at Zayn. Although Matthew was quite skilled, it was stillckingpared to Zayn. There were several bruises on his face after a few rounds. Matthew''s actions tonight had left Willow feeling miserable. However, he was still a friend she cared for. She didn''t want to see him injured.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Willow straightened her own clothes. Getting up from the ground, she dragged her aching body forward. "Stop it, Mr. Carter! Matthew''s injured!" Zayn had already lost his mind the moment he saw the scene in the room. Seeing Willow protecting Matthew only left him seeing red. He received another punch from Matthew during the brief moment of daze. Matthew''s punchnded right at the corner of his lips. Instantly, blood trickled out from the corners of his mouth. Willow''s heart ached uncontrobly when she saw Zayn bleeding. She instinctively wanted to raise her hand to wipe away the unsightly streak of red. from his lips. Just then, she remembered how he''d ruthlessly cast away Aaron''s life for Skyler''s sake. Once again, Willow''s heart turned cold. She smiled self-deprecatingly. Seeing the smile at the corners of Willow''s lips, Zayn''s expressions froze. Willow was smiling? She had been so restless when he injured Matthew. How could she be smiling so happily when he was hurt? Did she like Matthew to that extent? The thought nearly drove Zayn crazy. Seeing Willow''s disheveled clothes only added fuel to his fire. Zayn couldn''t bear to snap Willow''s delicate neck. So, he was going to kill the other man in the room. Clutching his hands into fists, the bulging veins on Zayn''s hands revealed his anger. Before Willow could regain her senses, he swung fiercely at Matthew again. Unwilling to back down, Matthew took Zayn''s attack head-on. In an instant, the two of them had gotten into a fierce fight. Skyler gritted her teeth in secret. She was still too hasty. But even so, Skyler still had her ways so Willow could never turn the tables again. Hurrying forward, Skyler put on an anxious demeanor. Grabbing onto Zayn''s arm, she spoke out, "Both of eout, you, stop it! Atrald of hurting Skyler, the two of them stopped. Shielding Willow behind her back, Skyler continued her act. "Why are you bullying my s would''ve been. "the trailed off. sister, Mr. Mayer? II Zayn and I were a step toote, Lolo Chapter 109 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 109 Chapter 109 them understood what she had implied.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Skyler didn''t say the rest of her words out loud. However, they were all adults. All of th Just as she expected, theers of Matthew''s lips curled up into a sneer. His sharp gaze swept past Willow''s face. "Me? Bullying her? She was the one who dragged me. Why would I touch her if she hadn''t thrown herself at me willingly? I don''t have such peculiar tastes for women, Matthew retorted. Willow didn''t stand up for herself immediately. There was a dazed expression on her face. She stared nkly at Matthew. If she hadn''t seen it for herself, she would''ve never believed that Matthew could have such a blood-curdling look on his gentle face after their reunion. In fact, that expression didn''t look out of ce on him at all. It was as if he had always treated her with such cruelty. The four years they had spent depended on one another seemed like a mere dream. "Willow!" Zayn bellowed. It wasn''t until she heard his voice ringing out in the air that she regained her senses. She didn''t want to bear the baseless usations. "I didn''t drug Matthew, nor did I throw myself at him! I was framed. I only came here to find him for Aaron''s sake," she said. "Framed?" The sneer on Matthew''s face became even more evident. "Don''t tell me that you''re not Ms. Sanford. Don''t tell me that you didn''te into my room out of your own initiative," he snapped. "Don''t say that you weren''t the one who had shamelessly seduced me repeatedly at Mayer Tower''s underground parking lot. "Don''t tell me that the person who almost killed Wi just to get into my bed wasn''t you!" Matthew snarled. "It wasn''t me!" Willow retorted instinctively. It was true that she had gone to the underground parking twice to find Matthew. However, it wasn''t to seduce him. As for Wi''s injury, it was just an act Wi had orchestrated along with Skyler. "Would it kill you if you didn''t seduce a man for a day?" Zayn seethed. His clenched fists made a cracking sound. Zayn wanted tond a punch on Willow''s infuriating face. But in the end, his fistsnded forcefully on the wall beside her instead. The only purpose of his actions was to make it difficult for Willow to speak up But no matter how difficult it was, some words had to be spoken out. Willow raised her head slightly. Despite being as fragile as a flower, she still stood resolutely. "That''s right, Mr. Carter. I''ll die if I don''t seduce a man every day. But, what does that have to do with you?" Willow "Willow!" Zayn yelled. questioned. The weary smile on Willow''s face only grew wider when she heard Zayn''s roar, "My bram''s working well, Mr. Carter. You don''t need to keep reminding me what my name is." Willow didn''t have a particr fondness for abuse. Reaching out she pried away Zayn''s hand from her with her right hand. Turning her head around, she looked at Matthew. Initially, Willow thought that she could be calm when she spoke about certain things to Matthew. But whenever she looked at him, she would remember the moments when he''d hugged Aaron in the dungeon. Again and again, Matthew would sing "Little Star" for Aaron as he coaxed him gently. Willow''s eyes teared up when she recalled it. It got to the point that she choked up when she spoke. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 110 Chapter 110 "I know you don''t believe me, Matthew. But even if you don''t, I still have to say it. The three times I''ve approached you was all for Aaron''s sake.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g "The first time was to borrow money for Aaron''s surgery. The second time-and even now, I''ve done it to fulfill Aaron''sst wish. "Matthew, I can swear it on Aaron''s soul. I''ve never had any improper thoughts toward you. I swear that I''ll suffer a life filled with misfortune if I ever liked you! "If that''s not enough for you, I can swear an oath to suffer a fate worse than death," she dered. Matthew''s pupils contracted. He detested this shameless woman. But for some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of fear when she raised her chin and swore resolutely. Feeling a sense of loss, it felt as if Matthew had been abandoned. His heart ached inexplicably. The pain was so intense that it even dissipated the heat on his body caused by the drugs. Matthew had always been calm andposed. However, he had no idea what came over him at that moment. Words slipped out from him before it had gone through his head. It was as if he was unwilling to admit that Willow had never liked him. "If you didn''t like me, why would you have someone kidnap Wi? Wasn''t it so you could clear the obstacles before you?" he questioned. Willow''s deep stare pierce through Matthew''s soul. She couldn''t understand-why had someone who used to be so wise been yed for a fool by a woman with ill intentions? Matthew thought Willow was in the wrong when she remained silent. "Why, have you run out of excuses?" he asked. There was a cold look on his face. "You''re right. I''ve nothing left to say. Because none of you would believe me no matter what I say," Willow replied. "But, I''ll still say this even if no one believes me. I, Willow Sanford, have never done anything deplorable, nor have I ever harmed anyone. I have a clear conscience!" she dered. "It''s no longer important even if none of you believe me. I no longer need your trust, nor will I ever need it again in the future." In truth, Matthew and Zayn were quite alike to an extent. Both of them were unable to distinguish right from wrong. They couldn''t tell the good from the bad. So, from now on, she would no longer waste her energy on them. Turning around, she was about to leave the room that had left her humiliated when a voice rang out from the doorway. Though a little childlike, the voice was filled with unwavering conviction. "I believe you!"! Willow raised her head suddenly only to see Kenan standing wearily by the door. There were traces of fatigue on his face. However, the bright smile on his face could melt even the coldest frost. Taking one step after another, he headed toward Willow in the light. Despite being empty-handed, there was still a fragrance of rose around him. Walking toward Willow, Kenan held her hands gently. "I believe you, m Willow." "Mr. Dawson..." Willow''s lips moved. Her eyes teared up in an instant.. She''d once thought that she had been too saddened to shed any more tears. However, she found herself crying like a child when she was faced with the young man who had a heart big enough to tolerate it all. "I''m back, Willow!" Kenan ignored the varying gazes from the rest of the people in then room. With a tug, he''d pulled Willow into a tight embrace. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 111 Chapter 111 "Mr. Dawson..." Willow hugged Kenan tightly like a lost child finally who had just reunited with her family. The grievances in her heart left her with so much to say to Kenan. But when she tried to speak, all she could manage to utter was his name. Willow thought life was strange sometimes. Calling out someone''s name could make one feel the warmth. Zayn narrowed his eyes dangerously as he watched the tightly embraced pair. His expression remained unchanged. However, his gaze turned vicious and menacing for a moment. Matthew''s face also turned ashen. He felt like his emotions had been toyed with How could this shameless woman now be in another man''s arms? Wasn''t she just seducing him a moment ago? Surprised by Kenan''s quick return, Skyler froze briefly. But, adept at managing her expressions, she quickly resumed her gracious facade. She approached with a sisterly act and said warmly, "Kenan, you''re back! I''m sure tonight''s incident was just a misunderstanding. Lolo must have had her reasons for trying to drug Mr. Mayer." Though appearing to defend Willow, her words confirmed that Willow did attempt to drug Matthew. Willow wasn''t fooled, she could tell Skyler''s words had a hidden meaning. She was about to tear off Skyler''s hypocritical mask when Kenan spoke first. "Willow drugged Mr. Mayer?" Kenan chuckled, released Willow, and pped his hands lightly. Someone stepped into the room alone. When Skyler saw the person walking in, her face changed dramatically. It was the waitress who had brought the wine to Matthew''s room. But Kenan had just returned to the country, how did he seek out this waitress? Sensing Skyler''s contusion, Kenan exined, "Skyler, you''re surprised I found Alexis, right? I got off the ne and hurried to find Willow. But she wasn''t at her apartment or the hospital. I was worried, so I had Quintus look for her. That''s when I found out Willow hade to this charity g." "I was eager to see Willow, so of course I came over too. And by chance, I took a call in the hallway and overheard Alexis talking secretly with her friend. "I didn''t mean to eavesdrop. But what I heard makes me think Willow might be in trouble! Something fishy is going on."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Kenan didn''t let Skyler speak. He smiled at Alexis and said, "Alexis, tell us, who told you to bring that Mr. ss of wine to Mr Mayer''s room? Was it Willow, or my dear sister, Skyler?" Skyler''s face turned pale. Before she could intervene, Alexis answered, ¡°It was Ms. Dawson, Skyler Dawson!" "You''re lying!" Skyler shrieked. "I didn''t do anything! Why are you framing me TA Why are. like this? The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 112 ? Chapter 112 Skyler turned around to face Willow, staring at her intensely. "Lolo, why would you do this? If you failed to sleep with Matthew, that''s on you. Why drag me into it and make me the scapegoat?" Alexis was an upright girl, so she was visibly displeased to hear Skyler twisting the truth. "Ms. Dawson, what do you mean by that? You gave me that ss of red wine to deliver to Mr. Mayer, telling me it was from Ms, Sanford. "You were my idol. I liked you and naively thought you were as righteous, passionate, and kind as your public persona. So, I believed you genuinely wanted to help Ms. Sanford reconnect with an old friend by sending that wine. "But I didn''t realize you had spiked the drink. You had me deliver it to hurt Ms. Sanford! "Ms. Dawson, I''m so disappointed in you! I will never admire you again! From today on, I''m no longer a fan! I am your number one anti-fan!" Alexis defiantly pulled out a wad of cash and flung it at Skyler. "I don''t want this dirty money!" Skyler was stunned by the blow. Her perfectly made-up face turned ashen and utterly unsightly. But Skyler rposed herself swiftly. She calmly spoke, "Alexis, right? I have no grudge against you. Why would you frame me like this? I''ve never met you tonight, so how could I have paid you to do anything for me?" "Alexis, I can''t believe you''re doing this," she said. Skyler turned to Willow, her eyes filled with tears. "Lolo, I know Alexis is someone you brought in to hurt me. Lolo, I don''t me you, I really don''t. 1 only request that you never do this to me again, okay? After all, you''re like my sister." Skyler weakly fell into Zayn''s arms. "Zayn, don''t me Lolo, okay? I know she did this because she hates that you chose to save me over Aaron. I had been pregnant before, I know how painful it is to lose a child. I understand Lolo''s pain. So, Zayn, please forgive L,"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Seeing Skyler y the innocent victim so convincingly, Willow almost wanted tough. No matter how malicious her actions were, Skyler had a knack for shifting the me. Even Alexis was impressed by Skyler''s performance. After finding herposure, Alexis said, "Ms. Dawson, you''re an award-winning actress. I''m in awe of your acting skills! "Ms. Dawson, I''ve something to say. But I''m not sure if I should say it or not." Without Skyler''s permission, Alexis continued, "Ms. Dawson, your acting skills are great for your work. It''s what actresses do best. But when you use these skills in real life, it''s deceitful. "You''re always acting whether you''re on or off stage. It''s exhausting just watching you! "Ms. Dawson, I don''t know how you''re so skilled at acting, but I do know there are cameras in the banquet hall. We can check if you paid me to bring that wine "Oh, one more thing, I happened to know you touched that wine ss! We should check for your fingerprints while we''re at it." Alexis smirked innocently, pointing to the ss. ¡°Yes, that''s the one! bet a bag of Cheetos that it has Ms. Dawson''s fingerprints on it!" Chapter 113 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Hearing Alexis words, Skyler''s face drained of color. Her lips trembled, but she couldn''t find her voice Alexis''s lively voice continued, "Ms. Dawson, I''ve made an enemy of you today. With your petty personality, I''m sure you won''t let this slide! "Mark my words! If anything bad happens to me, it''ll be your doing, Ms. Dawson! Even if I fall my exams at school, it''ll be because of you!" Skyler did n to teach Alexis a lessonter. But Alexis was too wise. After this deration, Skyler didn''t dare to mess with her. Besides, Skyler felt wronged. How were Alexis grades her concern? "What now, Skyler? Do I need to check fingerprints and surveince footage before you admit to what you did?" Kenan fiddled with Willow''s hand, the smile fading from his cheruble face as his voice took on a heavy threatening tone. "Skyler, how stubborn can you be? "I... Skyler stumbled, her mind racing. No amount of smooth-talking could save her if they checked the surveince and fingerprints. It was better to admit guilt now and y the victim, at least she would save some dignity. After all, time was on her side. She had no urgency to destroy Willow right away. There would be other opportunities. With this in mind, Skyler quickly conjured up tears. Like a forsaken kitten, she pitifully clung to Zayn''s sleeve. "Zayn, I''m sorry, I lied to you. Alexis is right. I had her deliver the wine to Mr. Mayer." Zayn''s eyes widened in disbelief, as if he didn''t recognize the woman before him. Meeting Zayn''s gaze, Skyler felt utterly embarrassed. But she was always one to bend when needed. For the sake of her long-term ns, she continued, tears streaming down her face. "Zayn, I had Alexis deliver the wine, but it wasn''t to frame Lolo. "I admit, I had ulterior motives. Zayn, even if you refuse to admit it, I can tell you haven''t forgotten Lolo "I''m just a regr woman. The man I love has feelings for another woman, and it hurts. I feel jealous, insecure, and sad. "Zayn, you know, every time you''re with Lolo, I''m so heartbroken. I don''t understand why. For four years I was by your side, risking everything for you Yet you can''t seem to forget her. "I feel insecure. I''m afraid you''ll leave me. That''s why I hope Lolo finds her true love and moves on with someone else.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g "I know Lolo is interested in Mr. Mayer. Tonight, she was asking around about him. On impulse, I thought I''d help her. I assumed if they got together she''d be happy. Then, I wouldn''t have to worry about you two rekindling your old me. It seemed like a good idea at the time! "But then I got scared. I was worried Lolo would me me for interfering. That''s why I called you to stop it all. "I was afraid you''d despise me, thinking how wicked, I can be''ve been top afraid to admit until now that I''m the one who did this." Skyler''s face was wet with tears as she looked at Zayn pitifully. "Zaym am I that evil? I know what I did tonight was awful, but I''m so afraid of losing you "I''ve already lost our child. I can''t lose you too! Zayn, please don''t leave me, okay?" Zayn felt like a fool. Hearing Skyler''s words, he couldn''t help but feel joy in his heart. He was d it wasn''t Willow who drugged Matthew to get into his bed. But that josted only for a moment before his heart sank again. Chapter 114 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Willow entered Matthew''s room of her own ord. If she had no intention of seducing him, why would a woman go to a man''s room sote at night? Zayn''s eyes, like daggers, pierced Willow''s face. His fingers unconsciously tightened, nearly crushing Skyler''s hand until she cried out in pain. Only then did he jolt back to reality, hastily releasing her hand His expression remained calm while his heart raged like stormy seas. Skyler gave him a pitiful, sorrowful look. "Zayn, I know I made a mistake, but I''ll try to make it right. Can you forgive me this time?" "Skyler, it''s not your fault," Zayn said with no emotion as he embraced her. Though speaking to Skyler, he stared pointedly at Willow. It appeared that he wanted to use his stare to shred this fickle woman to pieces. He was not ming Skyler... Hearing Zayn''s words, Willow couldn''t help but let out a shrillugh. What a joke. Whatever she did to Skyler, even the slightest wrong, Zayn would have torn Willow apart. Yet now, with Skyler framing her, Zayn was embracing her tenderly,forting her. Men could be so forgiving toward the woman they loved, and merciless to the ones they didn''t. Willow thought to herself, "But, Zayn, this time, I''m no longer disappointed in you. I knew you were cruel. This is the real you. After hearing Skyler''s words, Matthew''s face darkened. The person who drugged him wasn''t the shameless woman, Willow! She didn''t even want to sleep with him?T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. How could she not want to sleep with him? Matthew felt his beliefs wavering. The thought of Willow not wanting to sleep with him tonight deeply pained him. II He had to keep reassuring himself that Willow was still trying to seduce him, even if she didn''t make a move tonight. That was the only way he could feel a little better. But seeing Willow snuggling close to Kenan irritated him to no end. How could she cozy up with Kenan when she was after him? She m appeared entangled with him. Damn t on this woman! Couldn''t she at least be faithful when she was trying to seduce him? "Hmph! Which man would want an unfaithful woman?" Matthew thought haughtily. Willow came to see Matthew tonight mainly to fulfill Aaron''sst wish Now, she understood that Matthew would never sing "Little Star" for Aaron again. She wanted to leave this stifling room with Kenan. As she was about to grab Kenan''s hand to leave, Skyler, suddenly m dropped to her knees in front of Willow The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Willow never expected Skyler to suddenly act this way and was startled. She knew Skyler was just being dramatic again and didn''t want to y along. Bu Skyler clung tightly to her legs, not letting go. ''Sorry, Lolo. It''s all my fault tonight. Can you forgive me? If you don''t, I''ll kneel here forever and never get up! "I know you''re devastated after losing Aaron. I feel sorry too. I failed you and Aaron. So I wanted to help you find someone to rely on, which led to Tonight. Lolo, I shouldn''t have taken matters into my own hands. I ended up making things worse. Please forgive me this time," Skyler pleaded. "We''re not filming a TV drama here, Skyler." Willow was too drained to engage with Skyler''s antics. "So you don''t need to y the innocent victim in front of me!" she continued. "Lolo, I''m not acting! I sincerely beg for your forgiveness! Why can''t you forgive me?" Skyler sobbed pitifully as if Willow wronged her terribly. "Thinking of Aaron''s tragic death, Willow wanted to kick Skyler''s disgusting, hypocritical face. But she restrained herself. She couldn''t tip her hand. She needed to gather evidence to ruin Skyler''s reputation. This was the only way to truly avenge Aaron. "Lolo, please. Can you forgive me? If you''ll forgive me, I''ll even grovel at your feet," Skyler said. "Skyler, if you want to apologize to Willow, show some sincerity!" Kenan said coldly, smashing a wine ss in front of Skyler. "You wanted to grovel at Willow''s feet, didn''t you? Then do it! Mean what you said!" Skyler rolled her eyes, this wasn''t the right ce to beg forgiveness. "Kenan.." Skyler began, her eyes filled with tears. "Skyler,e on! What are you waiting for?" Kenan looked at her without a hint of pity in his eyes. Skyler was genuinely upset, and tears welling up in her eyes. Since she had already said so, she couldn''t back out. She looked at Zayn pleadingly, seeking his support. Zayn acted swiftly this time. He reached out and pulled Skyler into his arms. It wasn''t out of concern for Skyler, but because he couldn''t stand to see Kenan defending Willow. He red at Kenan coldly. "Mr. Dawson, you''ve gone too far!" "What''s wrong? It''s okay for her to bully Willow, but it''s too much for me to ask her to apologize? Kenan said firmly, not backing down. "I don''t care who Skyler bullies! No one can bully my woman!" After a pause, Zayn added, "Not even you, Mr. Dawson!" "Damn!" Kenan was so angry he almost swore. "Mr. Carter, what do you mean by that? Nobody can bully your woman, e does that mean you can bully mine?" His gaze slowly swept over Matthew and Skyler''s faces, before settling back on Zayn."Willow is my woman. Anyone who bullies her will have m their sworn enemy. "Your woman?"" Zayn smirked. "Too bad her servitude contract is in my hands!" Chapter 116 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!Original from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 "Even if I marry Skyler, Willow will always be my mistress," Zayn said. "Mr. Carter, shut up!" Kenan swung an unceremonious punch which Zayn deftly dodged. "Willow divorced you long ago! There''s nothing between you now!" "Nothing?" Zayn''s voice was sinister. Willow kept telling herself not to care about Zayn, but he always hurt her deeply. Both Matthew and Kenan were her closest friends. One a friend she once depended on for survival. The other, a confidant she considered family. She didn''t want them to know about her dark, sordid past. But Zayn refused to respect her wishes. Indeed, upon hearing Zayn''s words, Kenan couldn''t contain his shock. "Mr. Carter, what are you saying?" Zayn''s eyes bore into Willow''s face with an intensity that made her ufortable. "Willow!" "Mr. Carter, shut up!" Kenan, brandishing his fists, lunged at Zayn''s face in a frenzy. This time, Zayn didn''t dodge. Nonchntly wiping blood from his lip, Zayn''s eyes were full of disdain. "Mr. Dawson, the woman you cherish is so filthy. Don''t you feel disgusted?" With that, Zayn scooped up Skyler and left without a backward nce, mming the door behind him. Even after he mmed the door behind him, Willow''s body still trembled uncontrobly. The room''s air conditioning was blowing on full st. Yet Willow still had goosebumps all over her body. Despite vigorously rubbing her arms, she couldn''t shake off the chill. Willow despised how Zayn trampled on her dignity, but she couldn''t deny the truth in his words. She did sign that shameful contract, sealing her fate. "Hmph!" Matthew sneered in disdain as he left. Seeing everyone leave, Alexis didn''t want to stay either. She gave Willow a worried look before quietly exiting "Willow, is what Mr. Carter said true?"C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Kenan''s question shattered the room''s eerie calm, leaving Willow in a more wretched state than before! She didn''t know how to address such a shameful matter because no matter what, it couldn''t hide her shame. Willow couldn''t even bring herself to tell Nic about her visit to the m Rumpus Club. Now that Kenan knew, how could he not look down on her? In the end, she would lose even Kenan''s warmth. After what felt like forever, Willow finally spoke up, "Yes, everything he the Yes, said is true. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Sadly, she couldn''t save Aaron. Thinking of Aaron, Willow''s throat choked with sobs again. Swallowing her vulnerability, she raised her head. She spoke to Kenan, enunciating each word in caution, "Mr. Dawson, thank you for your kindness, but I''m not as good as you think." Expending all her energy to say so much, Willow stood calmly, as if awaiting Kenan''s final judgment. She stared at the man with tightly pursed lips. A sudden unease washed over her as if her family had caught her in a shameful act She feared Kenan would react like those parents who caught their children misbehaving. She imagined him uttering words of disgrace and pping her across the face If Kenan called her shameless, she would be devastated. Preferring him not to say it first, she took it upon herself. "Mr. Dawson, don''t you think I''m very shameless? I do feel quite ashamed Before she could finish, powerful arms enveloped her. Kenan hugged her tightly, murmuring in her ear, "Willow, I don''t think you''re shameless. I''ve told you, you''re the best in my heart, always." Unable to hold back any longer, Willow''s tears flooded her face uncontrobly. Covering her mouth to muffle her sobs, Willow cried like a lost child. "Aaron is gone..." Willow buried her face in Kenan''s embrace. "I earned 10 million at the Rumpus Club, but I still couldn''t save my Aaron! Those people... they went back on their word and killed him." All her pent-up emotions poured out at that moment. Willow didn''t care about the time or ce. She just wanted to confide her grievances to Kerian, like confiding in a tether or brother. "I called you. I tried to think of other ways, but still, I failed to gather the 10 million the kidnappers demanded. So, I had to go to the Rumpus Club. I know it''s shameful, but I only wanted Aaron to live!" Kenan held Willow tighter, feeling her tears soaking his clothes. His heart ached for her. He didn''t think Willow was shameful. He only felt pain for the girl he loved dearly, He was angry at Zayn who would rather disgrace her than pay the ransom to save his son! And Kenan was angry at himself. Where had he been? If he had stayed by Willow''s side, she wouldn''t have suffered so much humiliation. Maybe Aaron wouldn''t have died. "Willow, I''m sorry. I''m so sorry. It''s my fault. I shouldn''t have left Marley." Kenan gently stroked Willow''s back,forting her. "Willow, I won''t simply leave you anymore. I will be your shelter from the storm." Hearing Kenan''s words, Willow cried even harder. He didn''t me her and even apologized to her. How could he be so good to her? Chapter 118 Willow felt soforted, she was almost reactant to die She thought she wanted to live a long life, staying by his side forever. But, that was just an unrealistic dream. "Willow, you said you came to find Matthew to fulfill Aaron''sst wish. What was Aaron''s wish? Kenan released Willow and asked gently. such a Aaron''s wish was for Matthew to sing "Little Star" for him again. Anything involving Aaron made Willow particrly fragile. So despite it being sur simple sentence, she choked up for a long time, unable to say anything Finally, she could only take out Aaron''s notebook and show Kenan thest page. "Uncle Matthew, I miss you so much. Where did you go? Why don''t youe to see Mom and 1?" "Uncle Matthew, I want to hear you sing "Little Star" again." "When I die, can you go to my grave and sing "Little Star" for me again?" Kenan gently stroked the small notebook, reading the neat yet childish handwriting. He pictured a little boy sitting by the window, clutching a notebook, longing for someone. Kenan''s tears were welling up. Afraid his tears would further upset Willow, he fought back tears and stered on a big smile. "Willow, I can sing "Little Star"" too! Aaron liked me so much, I''m sure he''d be overjoyed if I sang it for him." "Willow, let''s go now and sing "Little Star" for Aaron." That night, Kenan sang "Little Star" for Aaron. He sang from dusk till dawn, until his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse. Still, he stubbornly sang Little Star" for Aaron. That night, no stars shone, but Willow nestled beside Kenan, feeling as if she saw countless twinkling stars in the sky. She murmured to herself, "Kenan, if there is another life, I''ll walk before you healthy and strong. I''ll hold your hand and share a lifetime of joys and sorrows with you.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Determined to make Skyler pay, Willow decided to start with the head of the kidnappers, Jett. Finding his weakness or obtaining evidence of their dealings would shatter Skyler''s facade. She hoped to make him admit his improper rtionship with Skyler. by her, but this involved Skyler''s life and death. As siblings, Willow didn''t want to Willow didn''t share her n with Kenan. Willow knew he would stand by her, put him in such difficult position. Willow had Jett''s phone number. After charging her phone at Bordello, she nned to call him directly. But then she decided to get a different SIM card instead. She bought one from a small shop and immediately called Jett. Willow was quite skilled at disguises too. She deliberately made her voice sound mature and cold so Jett wouldn''t recognize her. "Hello, Mr. Hale. Ms. Dawson asked me to call you." "Skyler? What''s she up to now? Tell her if she dares to betray me, I won''t let her off easy!" "Mr. Hale, please don''t be angry. Ms. Dawson asked me to call you to give you the money. You can''t turn down money, can you? Mr. Hale, please tell your ount number so I can transfer the money to you." This was Jett''s very private number. Last time, he dialed Willow''s number by mistake. Apart from that, he only used this number to contact Skyler. He had blocked Willow''s number, never expecting her call Plus, Jett and Skyler had a falling out recently. So when he received this call, he assumed Skyler was Skyler was trying to buy him off again, fueling his rage. "Tell Skyler if she wants to cut ties with me, she''s dreaming! Tell her to wait, I''ming for her now!" With that, Jett hung up. The call went much smoother than Willow expected. She didn''t waste any time, grabbed her phone, and quickly ran out the door. If she was lucky today, maybe she could capture a video of Jett and Skyler''s entanglement! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Willow felt soforted, she was almost reactant to die She thought she wanted to live a long life, staying by his side forever. But, that was just an unrealistic dream. "Willow, you said you came to find Matthew to fulfill Aaron''sst wish. What was Aaron''s wish? Kenan released Willow and asked gently. such a Aaron''s wish was for Matthew to sing "Little Star" for him again. Anything involving Aaron made Willow particrly fragile. So despite it being sur simple sentence, she choked up for a long time, unable to say anything Finally, she could only take out Aaron''s notebook and show Kenan thest page. "Uncle Matthew, I miss you so much. Where did you go? Why don''t youe to see Mom and 1?" "Uncle Matthew, I want to hear you sing "Little Star" again." "When I die, can you go to my grave and sing "Little Star" for me again?" Kenan gently stroked the small notebook, reading the neat yet childish handwriting. He pictured a little boy sitting by the window, clutching a notebook, longing for someone. Kenan''s tears were welling up. Afraid his tears would further upset Willow, he fought back tears and stered on a big smile. "Willow, I can sing "Little Star"" too! Aaron liked me so much, I''m sure he''d be overjoyed if I sang it for him." "Willow, let''s go now and sing "Little Star" for Aaron." That night, Kenan sang "Little Star" for Aaron. He sang from dusk till dawn, until his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse. Still, he stubbornly sang Little Star" for Aaron. That night, no stars shone, but Willow nestled beside Kenan, feeling as if she saw countless twinkling stars in the sky. She murmured to herself, "Kenan, if there is another life, I''ll walk before you healthy and strong. I''ll hold your hand and share a lifetime of joys and sorrows with you. Determined to make Skyler pay, Willow decided to start with the head of the kidnappers, Jett. Finding his weakness or obtaining evidence of their dealings would shatter Skyler''s facade. She hoped to make him admit his improper rtionship with Skyler. by her, but this involved Skyler''s life and death. As siblings, Willow didn''t want to Willow didn''t share her n with Kenan. Willow knew he would stand by her, put him in such difficult position. Willow had Jett''s phone number. After charging her phone at Bordello, she nned to call him directly. But then she decided to get a different SIM card instead. She bought one from a small shop and immediately called Jett. Willow was quite skilled at disguises too. She deliberately made her voice sound mature and cold so Jett wouldn''t recognize her. "Hello, Mr. Hale. Ms. Dawson asked me to call you." "Skyler? What''s she up to now? Tell her if she dares to betray me, I won''t let her off easy!" "Mr. Hale, please don''t be angry. Ms. Dawson asked me to call you to give you the money. You can''t turn down money, can you? Mr. Hale, please tell can your ount number so I can transfer the money to you." This was Jett''s very private number. Last time, he dialed Willow''s number by mistake. Apart from that, he only E used this number to contact Skyler. He had blocked Willow''s number, never expecting her call Plus, Jett and Skyler had a falling out recently. So when he received this call, he assumed Skyler was trying to buy him off again, fueling his rage. "Tell Skyler if she wants to cut ties with me, she''s dreaming! Tell her to wait, I''ming for her now!" With that, Jett hung up. The call went much smoother than Willow expected. She didn''t waste any time, grabbed her phone, and quickly ran out the door. If she was lucky today, maybe she could capture a vi deo of Jett and Skyler''s entanglement!Original from N?velDrama.Org. me Chapter 119 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Willow hailed a cab and headed straight for Skyler''s vi. Jett arrived before she did. When Willow got there, he was lurking outside Skyler''s vi wearing a cap and mask. Yet, Willow recognized him instantly. She would identify Aaron''s killer even if he were reduced to ashes!C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. At that moment, Jett was sneaking around the vi''s entrance. He pulled out his phone, trying to call Skyler, but she didn''t answer despite several Finally, Skyler answered, likely out of annoyance. Hidden behind a nearby wall, Willow could hear Jett''s irate voice. "Skyler, I warned you if you dare betray me again, I''ll make you pay! "I''m outside your door. Get out here, or I''ll go find Zayn!" Willow didn''t know what Skyler said on the other end, but momentster, the vi''s door opened. Skyler emerged looking nervous. "Who told you toe here? Go back!" Skyler scanned the surroundings anxiously. She began to rx when she saw nobody else around. Willow wanted to record their encounter on video but hesitated at the sight of Jett''s masloed face. How could she film this? Oh well, an audio recording would have to do. "Skyler, now that you''re with Zayn, you want to ditch me, don''t you? Dream on! "Oh, you didn''t know? I have a habit of recording. I''ve kept the footage as mementos. What do you think Zayn would do if he saw them? Would he still want to make you Mrs. Carter?" "You bastard, Jett!" Skyler never expected lett to have this card up his sleeve. Trembling with rage, she yelled, "Delete those videos, Jett! Or I won''t let you off easy!" "Threatening me?" Jett chuckled coldly. "Skyler, between us, who''s supposed to make threats? I have so much dirt on you, just naming a few things would ruin you for life!" "Like Aaron''s death, your grandmother''s death, and..." "Jett, how dare you!" Skyler''s face twisted with unbridled resentment. She took a deep breath, and her contorted expression slowly returned to normal. Trying to sound calm, she said, "Jett, I''ll treat you better from now on. Please don''t make things difficult for me anymore, okay?" This time, Jett wasn''t as easy to cate. He evilly pinched Skyler''s chin. "We''ll see about that!" "I''ll stay with you the night before my engagement." Seeing Jett''s dissatisfaction, she gritted her teeth. Then, she continued, "After I''m engaged, or even married, I''ll spend at least three days a week with you." "That''s more like it!" Jett groped Skyler again before reluctantly releasing her. "Skyler, remember what you promised! If you ever try to pay me off again! I expose your dirty secrets!" With that, Jett strutted away.. The path he took wouldn''t allow him was at to see Willow, but Skyler''s vi was at the innermost part of theplex. If Willow went Willow. went further, she''d hit a wall. To leave, she had to pass by Skyler''s front gate. However, Skyler didn''t go inside. Instead, she stood standing by the gate deep in thought. Willow couldn''t risk leaving now. So she quietly sent the voice recording to herputer for backup. Chapter 120 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 120 Chapter 120 The signal here needed to be better. Willow tried sending the recording for a while but it wouldn''t go through. Giving up, she decided to wait until she returned to Bordello to sort things out.Original from N?velDrama.Org. When she had gathered the ransom earlier, she wisely recorded her call to Jett. With that recording forparison, she could prove to the police that the man''s voice in this new recording was indeed Jett''s. With Skyler so entangled with the head of the kidnappers, even the police wouldn''t be fooled. Skyler would have to pay for her actions! Lost in thought, a ck Koenigsegg pulled up to the vi''s gate. Willow recognized it as Zayn''s car. She figured Zayn had arrived, so Skyler would probably go inside the vi with him. But to her surprise, the car stopped right at the gate. Zayn got out and strode purposefully toward Skyler. "Skyler, my sister is back. Mom asked me to bring you over for dinner together." "Cece is back! She''s been abroad for so long; I''ve missed her!" Skyler was about to cling to Zayn''s arm yfully. Suddenly, a cat pounced on Willow, scratching her hand "Meow... Willow bit her lip to stay silent, but the cat attracted Skyler''s attention. Skyler hurried over to the wall and spotted Willow hiding there. Noticing the phone in Willow''s hand, Skyler''s face changed. Skyler''s mind raced, quickly guessing what Willow might have done and how to handle it. "Lolo, so you''re here!" Skyler rushed over to snatch Willow''s phone. "Lolo, give me that phone now! I told you those photos can''t be posted online!" Zayn noticed themotion and frowned seeing them struggle over the phone. "What''s going on?" "Zayn, help me get Lolo''s phone!" Skyler was nearly in tears with urgency. "Lolo knows the code to my door. When she came over today, I was taking a shower. She barged into the bathroom and started snapping pictures of me. She said she wants to post these photos online to ruin my career and destroy my reputation! "Zayn, please help me. If Lolo posts those photos online my life and ve career will be ruined!" Skyler cried harder. "Lolo, please, give me the phone! I know you hate me, but no matter how much, I still see you as my sister. You can''t destroy me! Lolo, please I''m begging you." Zayn never expected Willow to stoop so low. His handsome face turned ice-cold. "Willow, hand over the phone!" he said sternly, his voiceced with threat. "Mr. Carter, she''s lying to you! I didn''t take any photo of her! I only recorded her meeting with the head of them kidnappers! She''s in cahoots with him! They''re the ones who killed Aaron together! Mr. Carter, if you don''t believe me, you can listen to this recording!" Willow yed the audio clip. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 121 Chapter 121 "Lolo, why won''t you forgive me? I showed my sincerity to beg for your forgiveness. Why won''t you forgive me?" Skyler sobbed incessantly, looking pitiful. When Willow yed the recording, a sh of urgency flickered in her eyes. In a blink of an eye, Skyler regained herposure: She didn''t attempt to snatch Willow''s phone again. She knew Zayn would handle everything for her. At the start of the recording, before Jett spoke, Zayn had already snatched the phone from Willow. The recording was crucial, so of course Willow couldn''t afford any mishaps with her phone. She tried to grab the phone from Zayn, but he was too fast. He smashed her phone against the wall. Willow''s cheap phone shattered into pieces under the force. "My phone!" Willow staggered forward, picking up the fragmented pieces from the ground. Even when reassembled, it was broken beyond repair. Losing a phone wasn''t the issue. The most crucial part of the phone was the recording inside it. The proof that could make Skyler face the consequences. Willow stared nkly at the broken phone, all her strength draining away in an instant. Finally, shecked even the strength to hold the broken pieces.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Everything was ruined. The sliver of hope she had painstakingly obtained was crushed by Aaron''s father! She had exposed herself to Skyler. Now, to find any connection between Skyler and Jett would be impossible. How could she get revenge for Aaron? Zayn thought Willow''s act of capturing those photos of Skyler was despicable. No matter how he treated her, she deserved it. But seeing her slumped lifeless on the ground, his heart couldn''t help but ache. Almost involuntarily, he reached out to pull Willow up from the floor. But before he could touch her, Skyler tightly grasped his hand. "Zayn, I''m so scared! If Lolo posts those photos online, it will be the end of me! Zayn, thank you. Thank you for giving me the strength to live." Hearing Skyler''s words, Zayn suddenly snapped out of it. Yes, this evil woman''s actions aimed to destroy Skyler, He was an idiot to feel pity for her! Tu Chapter 1 Zayn looked down at Willow from where he stood. Any lingering guilt he had towards Willow for Aaron''s death hadpletely disappeared. "Willow!" Willow suddenly looked up, her eyes meeting Zayn. Those eyes held na trace of the previous affection, only E deep seated hatred and resentment. She didn''t know where she found the strength. Her stomach was imm excruciating pain, yet she stood straight and pped Zayn hard. "Mr. Carter, you''re blind! You can''t tell right from wrong, good from evil!" Willow red at Zayn, pointing at Skyler. "Do you believe whatever she says? Zayn, how can you be so blind? "I must have been blind to have ever liked a jerk like you! Zayn, you''re a bastard!" "Willow!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Zayn''s eyes narrowed, his expression visibly enraged. His gaze bore into Willow''s face.. "Willow, say that again!" "Zayn, you''re a jerk! I must be blind to fall in love with a bastard like you!" Zayn violently gripped Willow''s jaw, squeezing so tightly she felt her bones might shatter.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. But she didn''t feel the pain, only a chilling emptiness. Despite her immense heartache, she managed to muster a mocking smile. "Go ahead and kill me Zayn! Aaron is already dead because of you. My life means nothing anymore! Kill me!" "Willow, I won''t kill you. You''ve hurt Skyler time and time again. Killing you would be letting you off too easily. "As for that bastard''s death... "He died because I had forsaken him. Nothing to do with Skyler! If you seek revenge,e after me! But if you dare harm Skyler again, I''ll crush you to dust!" Suddenly, Zayn paused, his voice faltering. "Right, Willow, you''re not afraid of death. Threatening your life won''t work, will it? "But even if that bastard is dead, you still have a soft spot! If you hurt Skyler again, I promise Nic won''t see the light of tomorrow!" Zayn forcefully pushed Willow away. She fell to the ground like a shattered porcin doll. Nic.... Nic was her weakness too. Zayn would do anything for Skyler! Overwhelming destion filled Willow''s heart. Willow knew if she spoke again, she would only invite more insults. But she couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Carter, why do you only believe Skyler? "Skyler and that head of the kidnappers have long been in cahoots! She''s the mastermind behind Aaron''s death! Zayn, Skyler''s made a fool of you. You don''t even care about your son''s life! What a bastard!" Willow struggled to get up from the ground. She couldn''t let Aaron''s killer get away. Without proof to expose Skyler''s crime, she''d have to take matters into her own hands. She''d kill her. Even if she couldn''t kill her, hitting her would be worth it! Seeing a brick nearby, Willow grabbed it, intending to smash Skyler''s head. But before she could throw the brick, Zayn kicked it away. His powerful kick made her hand ache. Before she could recover, his leather shoe stomped on her hand. His foot ground her hand and crushed her heart. He chided, "Willow, be d you didn''t hurt Skyler. If you had ''d use this If you head e brick to smash your head!" After saying this, he carefully pulled Skyler Into his embrace, "Skyler, don''t worry. I won''Net this mad dog bite you!" Mad dog? Willowughed bitterly. Between her and Skyler, who was the mad dog? Before she could recover from the insult, she felt a sting on her facen Several hundred-dor bills were forcefully thrown at her. Chapter 122 "Willow, do me a favor!" 0 Chapter 123 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 123 Chapter 123 As the bills fluttered to the ground, Willow wanted to pick them up and throw them back in Zayn''s face. But he threatened her with Nic''s safety. Willow wasn''t that tough. "Go buy some condoms. Send it to Lakecoast Vi. Skyler''s condition doesn''t allow her to get pregnant." Willow''s eyes widened in disbelief. He wanted her to buy that wretched thing for him and Skyler. How could he humiliate her like this? But then again, what couldn''t he do? He was long used to trampling on her dignity. "What are you waiting for? Are you unwilling to do my bidding?" Zayn''s displeasure was evident as Willow made no move to pick up the scattered money.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. "I paid $100 million for you to do as I say. Are you going to back out? Or do you wish for Nic to go to hell?" Willow trembled with hatred. He always had a way of making her heart sink to the pit of her stomach. She lowered her gaze, slowly picking up the bills. She could onlypromise, but didn''t want to give in easily. "Why would I be unwilling?" Willow forced herself to endure the pain, straightening her spine. She curved her lips into a self- deprecating smile that was still dazzling as ever. "I find it unbelievable. Yes, Mr. Carter is shameless," she mumbled absentmindedly. She continued, "Mr. Carter, to be honest, I find it embarrassing!" What Willow said waspletely nonsense. She had only experienced one man, Zayn. She didn''t know how other men were. But she hated Zayn now. If talking nonsense upset him, she would dly do it! Willow realized that her happiness was very simple. From now on, as long as Zayn and Skyler were unhappy, she would be happy. Willow''s smile grew even more joyful. She looked at Skyler and said, "Skyler, keep him to yourself. I don''t want him!" Ignoring Zayn''s infuriated expression, Willow waved the hundred-dor bills in her hand. Then, she turned around and walked toward the vi area exit. Even after Willow disappeared around the corner, the veins still bulged on Zayn''s forehead. His fist clenched tightly. If Willow had walked a bit slower, he would have smashed Willow''s face. How dare she! He would make her remember what she said today! Chapte 123 Skyler was d Zayn defended her. However, observing how Willow''s emotions easily affected his typically calm demeanor unsettled her. She gently took his hand. "Zayn, didn''t you say Cece is back? Let''s go see her now." "Okay." Zayn came back to his senses, absentmindedly agreeing. He e then subtly withdrew his hand. Feeling her empty palm, Skyler''s heart sank. The next moment, her heart was filled with intense hatred and jealousy. In front of Willow, he would show her warmth. Privately, he wouldn''t even hold her hand a bit longer. She found it difficult to maintain her calm facade. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Skyler had been holding onto some heavy feelings, never finding the courage to voice them to Zayn. But this time, she just couldn''t keep them inside any longer. The moment she got in the car, she couldn''t help but ask, "Zayn, were you being honest with mest night? "Yeah," Zayn responded, his expression unreadable as he focused on driving. Skyler bit her lip tightly, barely managing to suppress her urge to yell. After calming herself down for a while, she spoke up with a sense of resignation, "Zayn, we''re about to get engaged, and we''ll be married soon... Skyler fought back tears as she continued, "You''re making it so hard for me, Zayn. I know you can''t forget about Willow, and I don''t want to force you to let go of anyone. But it really hurts knowing you still have feelings for someone else." "Skyler, you''re going to be my wife." Zayn''s voice turned cold, with a touch of disdain. "As for Willow, she means nothing to me." Hearing the chill and displeasure in Zayn''s voice, Skyler tactfully kept quiet. Yet, inside, her heart was still in turmoil. So, was he basically saying that even if they tied the knot, he wouldn''t let go of Willow? And here Skyler was, holding the title of Mrs. Carter, yet he wouldn''t even touch her. What was the difference between this and being a widow? Skyler didn''t want to live such a miserable life. How she wished Willow would just die. But despite Willow suffering from that dreadful disease, she was still well and alive. Skyler couldn''t bear the wait any longer. She was desperate for Willow to meet her end. When Willow got back to Bordello, she found Kenan waiting by her apartment door. Kenan''s face lit up with relief and joy as soon as he saw her. "Willow, where have you been? I''ve been trying to call you but couldn''t get through." "My phone identally broke. Mr. Dawson, what do you need from me?" "I came to..." Kenan''s words trailed off as he noticed the scratches on Willow''s hand. He nervously grabbed her hand. "Willow, did you hurt yourself? Tell me, did someone give you trouble again?" "No," Willow said lightly, not wanting Kenan to worry. "I just went out to buy some things, and the road was slippery. Estipped fedpery. and bruised my legs and hands a bit. It''s nothing serious." "I think we should go to the hospital, Willow," Kenan persisted.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Willow chuckled softly, "It''s just a little scrape. Upon hearing Willow''s reassurance, Kenan felt a bit embarrassed for overreacting and scratched his head sheepishly. Remembering the purpose behind his visit, he quickly spoke up, "Willow, I''m taking you somewhere." Without giving Willow any chance to refuse, he grabbed her hand and headed for the elevator. Assuming Kenan was simply taking her out for a stroll to rx, Willow was surprised when he led her to En Tyson''s vi in Lakecoast. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 125 Chapter 125 172 Lakecoast epitomized opulence in Havenpoint and was known as one of the most prestigious vi areas. Nestled in the heart of the city, where space was at a premium, countless individuals toiled for generations without ever dreaming of affording such grandeur. The expansive Lakecoast Vi district was exclusively owned by the Carter Group. Zayn''s vi, where he usually resided, boasted nearly five thousand square feet of space, an impressive estate by any measure. Meanwhile, Tyson''s vi dwarfed even that, sprawling over ten thousand square feet. As Kenan navigated his way in, it took him considerable time to reach the living room. Willow couldn''t help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer opulence of the vi. It wasn''t until Kenan guided her inside and she spotted Zayn and Skyler lounging in the living room, alongside Zayn''s parents, Tyson and Wynn, as well as his older brother Theodore and sister Celeste- whom she had previously only seen in magazines-that she realized where she was. Kenan had always been like family to Theodore and Celeste since childhood. Their bond was as tight as any siblings''. So, when Celeste returned home, he naturally felt the urge to visit. Kenan had his own agenda too. He understood that even if Zayn and Skyler tied the knot, Zayn wouldn''t simply let Willow go. Knowing Zayn''s strong emphasis on family, if Kenan''s rtionship with Willow gained eptance from the rest of the Carter family, Zayn would surely be embarrassed to persist in pursuing her. Zayn''s mother, Wynn Yates, was a highly respected figure in the field of medicine, particrly renowned for her extensive research on malignant tumors. Her expertise expanded internationally, solidifying her position as a leading authority in the medicalmunity. When Kenan saw Wynn, he rushed over and grabbed Willow''s right hand. "Aunt Wynn, do you have any effective ointments? Willow''s hurting pretty bad from an injury, and I need to get her some relief fast." Having weathered many storms in her life, Wynn could instantly tell from Kenan''s urgency that the young woman he had brought along meant a lot to him. At that moment, she couldn''t help but sneak a few more nces at Willow. The more she looked at Willow, the more she found herself liking her. There was just something about Willow that made her feel a sense of warmth and familiarity,pelling her to want to get closer to her and know her better. "Sure, I''ll grab it for you upstairs," Wynn replied. In no time, Wynn was back with two bottles of ointment. She passed a white porcin bottle to Kenan, Chapte 125 saying. "This one goes on the back of her hand." Then, she took the emerald green bottle and added, "And use this on her forehead. Just keep applying it regrly, and she won''t have any scarster on." Upon hearing Wynn''s words, Willow instinctively reached up to touch the wound on her forehead. It was such a deep cut that she had assumed it would surely leave a scar, but now she felt hopeful that it might not leave any mark at all. Even though she didn''t have much time left, women always cared about their appearance. Being able to heal the wound on her forehead was an unexpected surprise for her. "Thanks, Aunt Wynn!" Kenan smiled warmly as he took Willow''s hand and carefully applied the ointment. Willow wasn''t used to having someone else apply medicine for her, especially not in front of so many people. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Kenan''s grip was too strong for her to break free. As the cool ointment was applied to her hand, it felt soothing. Yet, there was a sharp, piercing gaze fixated on her hand, as if it someone wanted to puncture holes into it. Willow lifted her eyes and, sure enough, Zayn was staring at her hand with a dark expression. She couldn''t help but find it amusing. Was this possessiveness at y? Was he unable to tolerate seeing someone else treating something he considered his own with care? C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Disregarding Zayn''s twisted thoughts, Willow lowered her gaze and observed as Kenan delicately traced circles on her hand, ensuring the ointment was evenly absorbed. "Willow, is it still hurting?" Kenan asked with genuine concern after finishing the application of the ointment. Willow found it kind of strange. There was always this sense of fatherly affection she felt whenever she was around Kenan, as if he was filling a void in her life. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Willow teared up uncontrobly. She shook her head lightly and said, "It doesn''t hurt anymore." Kenan beamed brightly when he heard that. "That''s great!" When Wynn saw the bright smile on Kenan''s face, she knew that he had fallen head-over-heels in love with Willow. So when she looked at Willow, there was a look of adoration in her eyes, as though she was looking at her daughter-inw. "Kenny, won''t you introduce us to this youngdy?"Original from N?velDrama.Org. "Oh, right. Everyone, this is Willow. I''m currently courting her." He then turned to face Willow and said, "Willow, this is Aunt Wynn. The one beside her is Mr. Carter, and the one sitting there looking like an iceberg is Eggy. The one beside Eggy is Cece." Eggy? Willow was astonished. She never expected Theodore Carter, the genius businessman, to have such a cute nickname! Perceiving her doubt, Kenan whispered into her ear, "Eggy''s name used to be Edward Yates. He might look like a gentleman now, but I''ll have you know, he''s brutal! He used to bully me a lot when we were kids! He''s a mean one, I tell you!" "Kenny Dawson! How dare you bad-mouth my brother? Do you have a death wish?" Celeste couldn''t take anyone saying anything bad about Theodore at all. She warned Kenan in a threatening manner, "Another word from you and I''ll make you regret the day you were born!" Had it been any other day, Kenan would have gotten into an argument with Celeste right there and then. But with Willow there, he had to act all mature. don''t you see m He lowered his voice and said, "Celeste, don''t you see my future wife here? Can''t you cut me some ck?" When she saw Kenan behaving like that, Celeste burst outughing She rose from the couch and approached Willow with a smile. "Hey, youngdy, what''s gotten into you? Why did you agree to go out with a moron like him?" Willow wanted to say that she and Kenan weren''t a couple, but she didn''t want to embarrass Kenan in front of so many people. So she quickly said, "Mr. Dawson''s a nice man." Once again, Celeste failed to stifle herughter. She pinched Willow''s face teasingly and said, "So smooth to the touch! Kenny, you''re not child trafficking, are you?" Had anyone else pinched her face, Willow would have been offended. But when it was Celeste doing it, she didn''t feel offended at all. Instead, she felt like they were now on much closer terms. Seeing Celeste looking at her with a grin, Willow also lifted her gaze and gave her a good look. She often saw Celeste on TV, and Celeste was undoubtedly an international superstar. Both she and Skyler were A-list celebrities. Chapter 126 But even among A-list celebrities, there were several tiers. Skyler was still a long way off from Celeste''s status. Celeste was extraordinarily gorgeous. Her eyes shone like the stars in the sky, and she looked both seductive and pure at the same time. Her every move and expression were tempting, and though she was already 29 years old, she still looked like an Innocent high-schooler. Before Willow could fully process things, the words had already slipped off her tongue, "Cece, you''re the one who looks more like a child." "Hahaha!" Ceceughed so hard that her stomach hurt. "You''re adorable, youngdybl like you! Oh, when are ET. you and Kenny getting married?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Willow felt like Celeste had looked too far into the future. They had been discussing who was more adorable just moments ago, and now she was suddenly asking when they were getting married? Willow blushed. When she turned around, she found that Kenan, who was beside her, had blushed an even brighter shade of red.Original from N?velDrama.Org. Kenan was just about to say that it wasn''t going to be long before that happened when Zayn, who had a dark expression on his face the entire time, spoke up. "Cece, have you decided to change your profession? Are you going to be a matchmaker now?" Cece felt a chill run down her spine. She turned around to face her brother, who looked like the world owed him billions. She couldn''t understand why he was acting so grumpy and sarcastic today. She hadn''t done anything to anger him, had she? "Are you suffering from hormonal imbnce, Zayn? What''s up with the mood swing?" When he heard Celeste''s words, Zayn''s expression darkened even more. And at the thought of how Willow was there, his expression couldn''t get any darker. Wynn really couldn''t take her children''s bickering the moment they met, so she quickly tried to smooth things over. "Dinner''s ready. Now that everyone''s here, let''s eat!" She sat next to Willow and kept piling food on her te. "You''re too thin, Willow. You should eat more. Here, try out these braised spare ribs. I made them myself!" Willow didn''t feel like having any meat. But with Wynn being so enthusiastic, she didn''t want to cast a dampener on her spirits, so she quickly thanked Wynn and picked up the piece of spare rib on her te. She had managed to maintain a slight smile initially. But after biting into it, her face tensed up. It tasted horrible! Where on Earth did Wynn get the courage to step into the kitchen? Willow really couldn''t bring herself to eat it. But in order to not hurt Wynn''s pride, she still took another nibble. Wynn stared at her expectantly. "Willow, the spare rib tastes delicious, doesn''t it? Tyson loves my braised spare ribs! He says that it''s the most delicious thing he''s ever tasted." Upon hearing what Wynn said, Willow couldn''t help ncing at Tyson. He was helping himself to a piece of spare rib and biting into it without batting an eyelid. When he heard Wynn talking about him, he looked up at her and shed her an adoring smile. "Yeah, you make the best food, honey!" Willow gaped at what just unfolded before her. How much must Tyson love Wynn for him to be able to tell such a tant lie? It must be true love! Willow looked at Wynn before ncing at Tyson again. The more she looked at them, the more enylous she was envious of the love and rtionship they shared. Tyson was over 50 years of age, but he didn''t look his age. When he sat with Theodore and Zayn, they looked more like brothers than father and son. In fact, the maturity that he possessed made him look much more charismatic than his two sons.. Wynn looked equally young. Usually, one''s eyes got cloudy with age. But Wynn''s eyes remained clear and bright, as though she''d never experience a day of hardship. She and Celeste shared simr features, so they looked like sisters too. In the past, Willow heard people say that the Carter family produced handsome men. Now that she had a look for herself, it seemed like what they said was true. Tyson''s gic traits were strong. Both Theodore and Zayn looked om exactly like him They looked equally NO tall and regal, and they had the same cold, sharp eyes. Though they looked alike, their temperaments were vastly different. Hence, even with simr features, everyone could tell them apart easily. Tyson wasposed and collected, and he looked poised in his button-up shirt. The noble air he carried with himmanded others to look up at him in admiration. Theodore was much colder, and he rarely spoke at all. He was distant and icy, but he carried with him a certain brightness and charm, making it hard to not be attracted to him. Zayn was the coldest of them all. He looked frosty and ruthless, and he was also the most intense one out of the three of them. Had Aaron still been alive, these would be his grandparents, his uncle, and his aunt. Unfortunately, he was no longer around. He never even got to know that he had such nice rtives. 00 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 128 Chapter 128 The thought of Aaron made Willow tear up again. Kenan, aware of Wynn''s subpar culinary skills, mistook Willow''s reaction as disgust for Wynn''s cooking. He immediately took the piece of rib from Willow and stuffed it into his mouth, not forgetting topliment Wynn, "Aunt Wynn, you''re a great cook!" Without warning, Zayn pped his fork onto the table and red at Kenan, He thought, "How dare Kenan share the rib with Willow? It''s not right for them to be that intimate!" Initially hungry, he lost his appetite after witnessing the scene. Kenan overheard the scoff from Zayn and beamed at thetter. "Zayn, are you full, or are you on a diet?" Willow felt she needed to intervene after feeling Kenan''s eyes on her. Clearing her throat, she chimed in," Yeah, it''s time for Mr. Carter to lose some pounds." Herments sent Zayn bubbling with anger. His expression fell. Kenan seemed oblivious to Zayn''s mood, Instead, he yfully grabbed Willow''s arm and purred, "Willow, unlike Zayn, I don''t need to lose weight because I have a great body! Feed me?" Then, he rested his chin on both fists and blinked expectantly at her. "Willow, I want some shrimp!" On top of that, he slightly gaped, like a dog who was waiting for a snack from its owner. Unable to resist his cuteness, Willow fed him some shrimp from the serving te in front of her.. Kenan grinned in satisfaction after being fed by Willow. After getting his first taste, he asked for more." Willow, the shrimp was great! I want some broli too!" Kenan''s adorable blinking reminded Willow of Aaron, who loved acting cute around her. Her heart melted, and she fed Kenan two pieces of broli. "Eat up, Mr. Dawson!" Celeste was grossed out by Kenan''s shamelessness. She taunted him, "Kenan Dawson, aren''t you ashamed of yourself? A grown man making a youngdy feed you!" n, Wynn shot Celeste a disdainful look. She teased, "Celeste, that''s called flirting. It''s no surprise that you can''t get married if you can''t even tell what that was."Original from N?velDrama.Org. Celeste, desperate to get married but constantly being rejected by various men, went back to eating without teasing Kenan anymore. His smile grew, and he looked at Wynn like an old friend. "Yes, that''s called flirting, Aunt Wynn, you''re so N right! Willow feeds me dinner, and I''ll do anything for her. How lovely is that?" He added, "Willow, can you feed for the rest of qme my life? A ss in front of Zayn shattered into pieces before Willow could reply. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Wynn''s temper finally exploded after Zayn repeatedly stirred trouble over Kenan and Willow''s lovey-dovey. acts. Taking herself as Willow''s future inw, she mmed her fist on the table and glowered at Zayn. Zayn, what''s going on with you?" Tyson, who was always reserved, hated it when Wynn was upset. He coldly, scanned Zayn''s face and spoke in an authoritative tone, "Zayn Carter, are you asking to be punished?" Zayn slowly looked away from Willow and replied tly, "Dad, Mom, sorry. I was clumsy." Among the Carter men, Zayn was the most ruthless one, yet he attached huge importance to rtionships, be it family or romantic bonds. He remained forever grateful to Skyler for donating a kidney to him. Since he cared about his parents, he could set aside his unhappy feelings for them after seeing Kenan and Willow''s loving exchange. After all, Wynn loved Kenan, and thest thing Zayn wanted was to hurt her feelings. lyter tonight!" "Come to my Tyson snapped at Zayn and started piling food on Wynn''s te in an ingratiating manner. "Darling, try this baked fish with creamy lemon sauce. I specially made the cook from Gourmet Haven prepare this for you because you''ve been into sour dishestely "Just set these spare ribs aside. I love your cooking, so save them all for me..."Original from N?velDrama.Org. Willow stared at Tyson and Wynn in envy as she sank into a reverie, thinking, "Aaron, just look at your grandparents. They''re so in love." Tyson was a proud and sessful man who was tender and loving around his beloved woman. That was a realistic and longsting rtionship. She thought, "Zayn, I thought we were destined to be, but in the end, it was just a one-sided love." Meanwhile, Skyler couldn''t hide the scowl on her face when Willow became the center of attention. She regarded herself as the legitimate daughter-inw of the Carters and Willow as merely a shameless bitch. Why did everyone f er Willow, then? Feeling disgruntled, she inhaled sharply and wiped off the snarl on her face. She took a sip of her drink before saying with a faint smile, "Wynn, all you know about Willow is her name. I bet you don''t know her real identity." "Shut up, Skyler Dawson!" Kenan bellowed, knowing that Skyler was about to harp about how Willow had harmed Caroline. His alluring face instantly clouded over, and there was malice in his eves. *Kenan, are you worried that everyone will know what Willow''s true colors are?" Skyler flinched at his threatening and cold eyes, but her resentment for Willow overpowered her fear for him. Turning away, she continued with a smile, "Willow is the daughter of my adoptive nom. She''s also the Kenan smashed his drinking ss by m Skyler''s foot. Holding Willow''s Pot trembling hand, he addressed Skyler Chapter 129 sternly, "Skyler Dawson, keep your mouth shut if you don''t want to make yourself my enemy." "What does that mean, Kenan?" Skyler stopped smiling and put on a pitiful expression. "I''m your sister, yet you''re joining hands with a woman who hurt our mom to dismiss me. Do you have a conscience?" Chapter 130 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Based on Skyler''s words, everyone in the living room deduced that Willow was the reason Caroline ended up in her current state. Willow''s lips instantly paled. She''d genuinely liked the Carters. No matter how lowly Zayn thought of her, she never hoped for Wynn and the others to hate or despise her. "I''m sorry, Mr. Dawson. Please excuse me." She got up in a hurry and rushed out of the living room after grabbing her bag. She didn''t get to leave the room before a warm hand reached out and grabbed hers. At first, she thought it was Kenan. To her surprise, it was Wynn, There wasn''t a shred of disgust or contempt in Wynn''s eyes. Her expression was just as amiable as it was before. "I believe in Kenny''s judgment, Willow." She gently patted the back of Willow''s hand. "Since Caroline asked Xavier not to make things difficult for you when she woke up briefly, there must be something else going on here. I will do my best to help her regain consciousness as soon as possible. Then, I''ll do you justice," Wynn reassured her. Stunned, Willow stared at her. She couldn''t stop her eyes from welling up with tears. After being scarred and wounded by Zayn, she wouldn''t have expected his mother to be holding her hand, telling her with conviction that she''d do her justice. Wynn Yates made her feel extremely warm. As she stared into her gentle yet firm eyes, she felt like there could actually be justice for her in this world. "Thank you, Aunt Wynn," she spoke earnestly. She was grateful to her for making her believe in the world again. Suddenly, Willow wished she was Skyler instead. Not because she could capture Zayn''s heart, but because she would have Wynn as her mother-inw. Ally Miker w "What for, silly girl! You''re the girl that Kenny likes-that my daughter. How could I not trust my own daughter?" Wynn left something out. To be honest, she trusted her own judge of character. Willow''s eyes were bright and resolute. A girl like that couldn''t possibly have done anything shady.Original from N?velDrama.Org. Skyler on the other hand..... She had disappointed her once again. Celestezily lifted her ss up toward Willow. "I believe in you as well, missy! Kenny Dawson might be a bit of a dumbo, but he has quite a decent judge of character!" "Who are you calling dumbo, Celeste? You''re the dumbo here. Your entire family is.... Chaple: 130 202 Dumbo. Kenan immediately covered his mouth upon receiving a handful of deathly res in a split moment. Celeste''s entire family.... He would be going against the entire Carter family all by himself! That wasn''t looking for trouble; that was sending himself straight to the ughterhouse! "What about my entire family, Dumbo?" Celeste asked innocently. "Go on now!"- A radiant smile shed across Kenan''s face. "Your entire family is adorable!" Celeste rolled her eyes in disgust, but didn''t fixate on him any further. M Instead, hengaze fell on Skyler who was seething in anger. She was extremely skilled in dealing with phonies who pretended to be nice when they were actually wicked. Nothing could get past her. The corner of her lips curled upward. She had a bright smile on her face, but the air around her was incredibly tense. "You''ve crossed a line today, Skyler Dawson!" Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 131 Chapter 131 "Even if she was just a regr guest of the Carter family instead of Kenny''s girlfriend, you still shouldn''t. subject her to such treatment!" Celeste reprimanded Skyler. "Cece, 1..." Skyler was already upset. Now that Celeste wasn''t showing her any form of courtesy, her feelings overwhelmed her and she started crying. Upon seeing her tears, the disdain on Celeste''s face became even more apparent. Since the dawn of time, all phony hypocrites like Skyler could do was cry! Would it kill them to not victimize themselves? She continued rolling her eyes. If the girl wasn''t Aunt Caroline''s daughter, she''d have dealt with her personally by now! Zayn was fuming from watching the intimacy between Kenan and Willow. He stared fixedly at their interlocked hands but still pulled Skyler into his embrace. "Cece, Skyler was just looking out for Kenan. She was only worried that he''d be deceived by those with ulterior motives!" Kenan didn''t care about what Zayn had to say about him, but he couldn''t stand any badmouthing that was directed at Willow. He scoffed coldly, "Don''t be so sure that I''m the one being deceived, Zayn! Don''te crying to me in the future when you''ve been yed! After Kenan had finished talking, he couldn''t be bothered to deal with Zayn anymore. He pulled Willow back to their seats enthusiastically. "You fed me earlier, so now it''s my turn to do things for you, Willow! Here, open wide." He picked up a piece of fish and carefully picked out any bones before feeding her a mouthful of delicious fish. Willow wanted to tell him that he didn''t need to, but opening her mouth only made things easier for him. What was she suppo. d to do when the fish was already in her mouth? Spit it out? Zayn stared so fixedly at Kenar''s spoon, he was about to bore a hole into it. If she ate that fish, he ought to.... He hadn''t thought of a fitting punishment through his gritted teeth before Kenan affectionately ced the fish into Willow''s mouth. Zayn couldn''t believe that she actually ate it! Was she not aware that Kenan''s spoon had the man''s saliva on it? They were practically kissing indirectly! Then again, who knew what she did to win over his affection-what was a bit of indirect kissing? At the thought of Willow showering Kenan with love and affection, Zayn clenched his fists so tightly it felt like they were about to crack. He gripped onto an object subconsciously. He didn''t even notice that he was actually gripping the ss in front of Skyler. In fact, the ss had cracked within the palm of his hand. He hadn''t even noticed that he was bleeding. "Zayn, your hand!" He only snapped out of it when Skyler yelled anxiously.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. He didn''t want Wynn to worry and frantically retracted his hand. Then, he hid it behind his back without a trace and put on a stoic front. However, Wynn was too preupied to notice anyway. Her attention was focused on a huge bouquet of roses that a maid had just brought in. The maid respectfully presented the roses to Willow. "You look beautiful today, Ms. Sanford." Willow epted the bouquet with a quizzical expression. Why did m someone send her roses out of the blue? What was going on? She hadn''t figured out what was happening when another maid entered the room with yet another bouquet of roses. Like the previous maid, she presented the roses in hand to Willow. "You''re the best woman in the world, Ms. Sanford." Shortly after, a couple more maids entered with roses. All of them m offered Willow apliment and left after putting down the bouquets. "You deserve the best love in the world, Ms. Sanford." "There''s always a rainbow after the rain, Ms. Sanford. Happiness and bliss will soon belong to you." "Ms. Sanford, your true love will soon descend u The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 132 Chapter 132Original from N?velDrama.Org. Within seconds, the living room was filled with countless bouquets of red roses and it transformed into a crimson sea of flowers. Initially, Willow was confused. Later, when she saw Kenan''s gleaming eyes, she knew that this was an expression of his love. While she was making sense of it, another maid came into the room with a giant bouquet of roses. She grinned ecstatically as she looked at Willow and said, "Ms. Sanford, look outside! It''s even more gorgeous outside!" Listening to her words, Willow couldn''t help but look out. A bunch of children hade onto thewn without her realizing. They had red bows around their neck, and all of them held arge bouquet of roses. However, the smiles on their faces were more radiant than the roses. "Willow, Kenan said he loves you!" "Willow, won''t you be his girlfriend?" "Willow, give him a chance!" "Willow." Willow couldn''t help but walk onto thewn. When she met the children''s expectant smiles, she didn''t have the heart to reject them. If she wasn''t on the brink of death, she believed that she would''ve run into Kenan''s embrace without hesitation. She would say, "Mr. Dawson, let''s live out the rest of our lives together." She would spend the rest of her life trying to fall in love with him. However, there were no ''ifs" in this world. Thus, even if her eyes were blurred by tears, she still couldn''t hug him and tell him what a good man he was. She could only curl up beneath the Ivory tower in her heart and cower from the light. The whirring sound of miniature helicopters could be heard from above. Willow looked up subconsciously and saw a gigantic banner between two helicopters. The banner read, "Willow, I love you." Many balloons trailed behind them. Every two balloons were held together by the same banner. At the same time, the screen on Havenpoint Pearl, the tallest building in Havenpoint, lit up with a gigantic exploding heart. It was followed by a passionate deration, "Willow, I love you." On this day, nearly the entire city knew of a young man''s confession to a girl called Willow. It was an extravagant scene, but it was one filled with passion. The kid at the front passed the rose to Kenan. He took it and walked toward Willow, excited yet nervous. HI, Willow, I like you so much. I fell deeply in love with you th you from them moment firstid eyes on you. Willow, be my girlfriend, won''t you?" Willow wanted to reject him. However, when she saw so many people crowding around them, she didn''t want to embarrass him by being too frank.. Before she could pick a more subtle way of rejecting him, Kenan smiled and said, "Willow, I know you Pask me to give you a little more time to consider this. However, I don''t want to give you time. Life is unpredictable and I want to treasure every second. Willow, let go of your apprehensions. Hand yourself over to me. I won''t let you down." As he spoke, he leaned forward, hoping to end his confession tonight with a passionate kiss. He kissed her for a moment before realizing that something was offn When he opened his eyes; he found out that he had been kissing a man''s hand! It was Zayn''s hand! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Kenan broke down when he thought of how he had kissed such a hand so passionately. He shook Zayn''s hand off and turned away to retch violently. Zayn remained unmoved. He retracted his hand. Other than brief disgust shing across his face at the sight of the saliva on his hand, his expression remained unchanged. "Zayn, what''s wrong with you?" After Kenan finished retching, he pushed Zayn away hard. "If you want to be kissed, go look for Skyler! I''m making a confession to my Willow. Don''t stand here to disgust me!" Skyler r was s scared that Zayn would grab Willow from Kenan. She ran to his side and hugged his arm tightly. She said softly, "Zayn, are you trying to break my heart? It''s alright if I get my heart broken. If Wynn and the rest of your family knew of your rtionship with Willow, they''d be even sadder. Zayn, don''t make the people around you so sad, alright?" Zayn froze. He turned around. He couldn''t be bothered to look at Willow standing in the middle of a sea of flowers. He''d rather not, for his peace of mind. Kenan couldn''t recover from his immense surprise. He had kissed Zayn just now? Why was Zayn so fond of being kissed by men? What a twisted man. There''s no way he was normal! Upon seeing Zayn''s tensed body and barely suppressed anger, Kenan was scared that he would do something crazy to take his love yet again. He grabbed Willow''s hand and ran out of the Lakecoast area. If Kenan loved someone, he had to let the world know. Everyone was now aware of his love for Willow. His goal for today had been achieved. He wanted to spend time alone with her for the rest of the night. Upon seeing Kenan run away with Willow in tow, Zayn couldn''t help but clench his fists. He wanted to follow them, but he controlled himself due to Skyler''s death grip on his arm. The person who had the widest eyes among all of them was Wynn. Her eyeballs were almost falling out. She looked in the direction that Kenan left in and looked toward Zayn, who was standing on thewn. Suddenly, she felt sadness ovee her. She looked up and said sadly, "Tyson, why do you think Zayn blocked Kenan when he was trying to kiss Willow and made Kenan kiss him instead? "You might not have seen it, but I did. During dinner, when Kenan was feeding Willow, Zayn crushed the 22 ss in his hand!! "Perhaps Zayn likes Kenan?" The corners of Tyson''s mouth twitched. His gaze was sharp. Naturally, he''d seen through them tension between the children. However, he hadn''t expected that his wife would think that Zayn liked Kenan. Tyson thought if he told the truth he''d discerned for his wife, she would only be more concerned. Thus, he wisely chose to stay silent. Upon seeing that Zayn was still ring in the direction Kenandeft, Wynn couldn''t stand it. She pped n his head.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. "Zayn, what''s wrong with you? Kenan has finally found a girl he likes. Why are you folling his ns!" "They aren''t suited for each other!" Zayn retorted. When Zayn thought of how they could''ve run somewhere quiet and kissed each other uninhabited, he felt his face tum darker than ink. "That loose woman isn''t good enough for Kenan!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Upon hearing Zayn''s words, Wynn nearly burst into tears. Initially, she wasn''t sure of Zayn''s feelings for Kenan. Now, she was entirely sure that her baby had grown up and had taken the wrong path. When she thought of his dismissive treatment of Skyler, Wynn felt even worse, It turns out that Skyler was just a fluke! She was his beard! His real target was her brother!N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Initially, Wynn didn''t like Skyler much. Now, she pitied Skyler more than ever. Wynn pounded her chest and shouted at Zayn, "Even if Willow and Kenan aren''tpatible, you shouldn''t even think about getting together with Kenan!" Zayn looked at Wynn in confusion. When had he ever said he wanted to get together with Kenan? Seeing his wife so sad, Tyson felt a pang in his heart. He went forward to embrace her and said, "Honey, don''t be angry. If your health suffers as a result, I''ll feel so bad for you. touch me "Don''t Tyson!" Wynn was even angrier at his touch. She shook his hand off and looked at Zayn. In her peripheral vision, she saw Theodore and Celeste watching them in rapt interest and couldn''t breathe. She rambled on, "Look at you, Tyson. What kind of things are you giving birth to? "Zayn went down the wrong path and became gay! Theodore pisses me off as well! He was fine ac a child. Now that he''s grown up, he''s allergic to women! One touch from a woman makes him want to throw up! He''s gay as well! "Celeste as well! All she does is make a mess! She pursued a man for half a lifetime. When she''d finally seeded, she dumped him just to release her frustrations. She''s happy now, isn''t she? No one will want her anymore! "Tyson, tell me. Are you going to let me have grandkids in this life? You''ve given birth to a bunch of weirdos!" Tyson was silent. He wouldn''t be able to give birth to these weird children on his own. Of course, Tyson adored his wife. He didn''t have the guts to tell her that. He could only take a low position to appease her. "Honey, if they''re unwilling to have children, why don''t we have another kid?" Wynn didn''t want to say anything else. She red at these weirdos and ran back to her room angrily after saying "Have children? If you want, go have your own child!" The rest of them nced at each other. Theodore was the first toe to his senses. He looked at Zayn and said, "Zayn, I have something to tell you." Skyler, on the other hand, wanted to draw attention to herself, as she usually did every time she came to time the Carter family. However, the Carter men were too terrifying. "Talk!" Zayn bellowed. "Zayn, although Dad and Mom don''t know about your hidden marriage, I know about it." After hearing Theodore''s words, Zayn couldn''t help but take another nce at him. Not many things could escape his wise brother''s sharp gaze. "Zayn, as your older brother, I would like to impart a wise sentence to you. I''ve told Dad the same thing before. Now, I''ll give you the same sentence." Chapter 135 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Zayn asked, "What do you have to sav Theodore was still as calm as usual. However, concern for his little brother was etched on his face. "It seems like fun for you to torture your wife. However, pursuing her once again will be torturous for you, as though you were sent to be cremated in an oven. Be careful, Zayn," Theodore advised. "Pursuing her?" Zaynughed coldly and continued, "I''d rather she be sent to be cremated, then I would celebrate it like it''s nobody''s business!" Zayn was extremely confident. However, he didn''t know that he would be predicting his future as he uttered those words. In the future not long after, he would be sending Willow off at the crematorium. Kenan dragged Willow to the outside of the Lakecoast vi. Only then did he stop running. That kiss hadn''t affected his mood. He still beamed brightly. "Willow, now there''s no one here to disturb us, we can kiss to seal the deal!" Willow actually wanted to find a quiet ce to talk things out with Kenan. Now that they hade out, she wouldn''t need to worry that her rejection would embarrass him in front of everyone. "Mr. Dawson, I''m sorry. I can''t ept you." The expression on Kenan''s face froze for a second. In the next moment, he smiled warmly and said," Willow, I know that you don''t like me. However, that''s not a problem. When we get together, you can slowly unearth the lovely parts of me and fall in love then."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "Mr: Dawson, I know what a good man you are. You''re the best man I''ve ever met. However, I can''t be together with you, Mr. Dawson. I''m not good enough for you. You''re worth the best girl there is." "Willow, in my heart, you''re the only one good enough for me!" Willow knew that if she only said that she wasn''t enough for him, Kenan wouldn''t give up easily. As a result, she decided to tell the truth. "Mr. Dawson, if I had a healthy body and a life ahead of me, I would ept you without hesitation. Even if I didn''t like you now, I would fall for you slowly. "I don''t have a healthy body. I can''t promise you a lifetime. I don''t want to drag you down, Mr. Dawson." "Willow, what are you talking about?" Kenan held Willow''s small hands and asked hurriedly. "Mr. Dawson, I''m sick. I don''t have much time left. The fact that I met you is one of the most heartwarming things I''ve experienced toward the end of my life. I epted the warmth you provided selfishly. However, I can''t give you anything in return. "Mr. Dawson, I can''t be so selfish anymore. I can''t give you the happiness you want. I can''t continue wasting your time. Forget me and find a better woman. You''re a great man. You''ll live a happy life." Chapter 135 After a while, Kenan asked shakily, "Willow, what illness do you have?" "Late-stage gastric cancer." Willow tried her best to make herself sound calmer. She continued, "Mr. ved "Mr. Dawson, I should''ve told you earlier so you step wasting time on me. However, you gave me too much. warmth. You were like a father and a brother to me. Selfishly, I wanted to enjoy the warmth you brought me for a few more days. "However, you''ve found out now. Stop wasting time on on me. You''lligain nothing but sadness being with a E woman on the brink of death. "Goodbye, Mr. Dawson. I hope you never meet such a hateful and selfish girl like me again in the future." Act Fast, Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Once she finished, Willow pried Kenan''s fingers away and turned around with difficulty. She then walked forward quickly. She had no family left. She treated Kenan as her family. In reality, she hoped that thest moments of her life would be spent with her family. However, she felt too selfish. She kept asking for things from him, but had nothing to give back in return. "Willow!" Kenan grabbed her hand. He eximed, "I don''t believe it!" Without giving Willow the chance to decline, Kenan brought her to the hospital. Willow didn''t want to go to the hospital. She disliked the smell of disinfectant. However, to make him give up, she epted all the examinations she was given. When he obtained the results, Kenan''s hands shook uncontrobly. The reports nearly slipped through his fingers multiple times. A bunch of doctors crowded around him. Kenan grabbed the doctor''s cor and demanded, "What did you say? Say that again!" His body shook. However, the doctor said honestly, "Mr. Dawson, Ms. Sanford haste-stage cancer. She can''t undergo operations anymore. Even if she did chemotherapy or other treatment options, it would only intensify her pain. I suggest we give her conservative treatment. This way, Ms. Sanford will feel better during herst days on earth."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "Herst days? What do you mean thest days!" Kenan roared, "Make it clear!" The doctor pushed the sses on his nose higher. He said, "Ms. Sanford doesn''t have much time left. If her condition is well, she''ll hold on for another two weeks. If not, it''ll be within the next few days." Kenan didn''t want to hear the bullshit these doctors are saying. Initially, he wanted to beat them up. However, in the end, his strength drained out of him. He could only loosen his cor in resignation. He stood in ce. In a moment, it was as though a natural disaster had swept through. The blooming trees had lost their lives. They wilted and rotted. Seeing Kenan''s disappointment, Willow felt her heart pang with disappointment. She had thought of rejecting him outright to make him give up. However, he was too stubborn. Even if she rejected him, he wouldn''t let go. She could only take such extreme measures. She cleared her throat and pretended to say lightly, "Mr. Dawson, I didn''t lie to you, did 1? Forget me and find another woman!" Suddenly, she was locked into an embrace. It was so tight that their souls seemed to be intertwined. Kenan whispered by her ear, "Willow, I won''t let go, I won''t let go! Even if we leave this world in the next second, I want to be with you in this moment! "Right, Let''s look for Wynn. She''s a professional in this area. She''ll definitely have a way to treat you!" Chapter 136 22 Wilson gently pressed Kenan''s hand. She said, "Mr. Dawson, I know my body well. Any treatment will do nothing to help me. In addition, I don''t want to go to the Carter family. Ms. Wynn is very kind. I like them a lot. However, I never want to see them again." The people in the Carter family were too nice. The more she talked to them, the more she couldn''t bear to leave them. She didn''t want that. Kenan didn''t continue to force her. He was a strong man, yet his eyes went red with tears within seconds. His voice softened as he said, "Willow, I''m not going to force you to be together with me. Let''s be friends, friends, alright? Let me stay with you." Kenan had already said that. Willow couldn''t reject him. She was fated to owe him in this lifetime. In the next life, she''d do everything to pay him back. Once she finished the examinations, Kenan and Willow left the hospital together. Who knew there would be a horrible ident in front of the hospital? Willow knew who was involved. Chapter 137 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 137 Chapter 137 He was the leader of the kidnappers, Jett! It was peak hour for going home from the office. There were many people on the road. The ident had obstructed traffic and attracted many people over to watch. When Willow walked past it, she heard people discussing the ident. She didn''t dare to look at the bloody sight, However, she saw Jett''s face in her peripheral vision. The mask on Jett''s face had fallen onto the floor. It was stained with blood. Half his face was bloodied. His mangled body was a horrible sight. Perhaps it was fated for Willow to recognize Jett. His body had been damaged irreversibly. However, his face was surprisingly intact and recognizable. The bystanders were gossiping about it. They described how a ck van had chased him and drove over his body twice before speeding into the distance. Jett was the one who gave instructions to push Aaron into the valley. He deserved to die for his sins. Upon seeing his horrible state, Willow felt not even a hint of empathy for him. She only felt ecstatic. Finally, one of the criminals who''d killed Aaron had gotten their punishment. After the glee passed, chills passed through Willow''s heart. Chased him and rammed into him..... Clearly, this wasn''t an ident. It was a hit-and-run, a murder! Willow could guess instantly that Skyler had intended to kill him to silence him! Once Jett died, thest trace which would lead to uncovering Skyler''s true colors disappeared. Even then, Willow would find a way to make Skyler pay, After Kenan sent her back to Bordello, she kept thinking of what to do to make Skyler feel the consequences of her actions. Before she came up with an idea, she heard someone knocking on the door of her small apartment. Her heart skipped a beat. She pulled out the phone she bought in the afternoon and prepared to call the police. However, the door to her apartment opened before she could make the call. Clearly, someone had opened the lock. They were Matthew''s men. They were the ones who brought her into the basement for Matthew to cut her pinky off. Willow locked the door to her bedroom tightly. She wanted to hold on for a while longer. She called the police quickly. She wanted to call the security. However, no one picked up despite her repeated calls. Chapter 137 Just as she was about to call again, her phone rang again. Kenan was calling. "Mr. Dawson..." Before Willow finished, her bedroom door had been pried open forcefully. Her phone was grabbed from her phone was & hands and smashed onto the floor. Before she could cry for help to Kenan, she had been dragged out. "Let me go. Let me go now!" The memory of getting her pinky chopped off resurfaced in her mind again. It was brutal. Willow never wanted to experience it again.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g She struggled hard and screamed for help. However, none of them paich attention to her struggles: After a moment, she was stuffed into a bag like thest time. "Let me go now. This is against thew!" Willow grabbed the bag tightly. However, the men were too strong, if and the bad was too thick. Even if she used up all her up all her energy, she wouldn''t even be able to tear a tiny crack in the bag. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 138 Chapter 138 She could tell that she had been thrown into the boot of a car. The car was speeding on a bumpy road, which made her feel as though her organs were about to fall out. The fear of the unknown was especially terrifying. She was sure she hadn''t offended Matthew recently. The only possibility was that Wilhelmina hade up with a n to make Matthew take action against her. Just as she had expected, she was brought to the Lakecoast Vi. The second she saw Matthew, he grabbed her cor. "Willow, who let you hire someone to ram into Wi like that? Willow, you deserve to die!" Hired someone to bang into Wi to kill her? Willow thought that Wilhelmina and Skyler were best friends for a reason. Their methods of framing others were carved out of the same mold. Four years ago, Skyler hired someone to cause Zayn''s ident. However, she med Willow for it. They were best friends, thus their methods of framing were simr to each other''s. They were just as malicious as each other. Wilhelmina''s n today probably had something to do with Skyler. Once the bag was taken off her, Willow felt much better. She didn''t want to take responsibility for what she didn''t do. She took a deep breath and exined, "I didn''t hire any hitmen! This is Wilhelmina''s one-woman show! "I don''t know why Wilhelmina keeps targeting me. However, she''s nothing but an unimportant bystander to me. I would never waste my energy to hurt her. "Matthew, let me go! Skyler is framing me. You can''t fall into her trap!" "Wi is framing you?" Matthew''s soft features contorted into disgust as he said, "Wi is still in the operating room. Whether she will live or not is a question. Would she put her life on the line just to frame you? Willow, who do you think you are?" Before Willow could respond, Matthew continued sternly. "The driver of the van who banged into Wi. has admitted it. He took your money and intentionally plunged her life into jeopardy because you told him tol "First, you nearly caused Skyler to be riddled with permanent disability. Now, you''ve almost killed Wi. What has she done for you to harm her time and time again?" "I didn''t!" Willow shook her head desperately. "There''s never been any conflict between us. Why would I keep hurting her? "Matthew, please believe me. I would never do something like this! Wilhelmina is doing this on purpose.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g She''s inciting your pity to make you take action and turn against me! Chapter 138 22 "Matthew, you''ve always seen through these tricks. Why are you getting yed by Wilhelmina?" "So you''re not going to admit it until you see the final evidence?" Matthew questioned. His eyes were devoid of any warmth, as though they had been soaked in akedin poison. He stared a Willow, who had been thrown onto the floor. He dered, "I''ll ensure you''ll be silenced!" As she spoke, Matthew pped a few documents onto Willow''s face. The papers were all printed records of transactions. The recipient was a man called Jonathan. Clearly, that man was the one who ran into Wilhelmina. Willow grabbed one of the papers and stared at the ount number. She remembered it clearly. It was the card in which she''d saved a million inside! She thought that once she handed the card over to Jett at the foot of Mount Embercrest, he retrieve all ave the money using an ATM. Who knew that a portion of money had been left in the card? All of it had been transferred to Jonathan. Turns out Skyler had nned this scheme from the start. It was interlinked with a watertight project. Looking at Willow holding onto the paper silently, Matthew chuckled coldly. He asked, "Willow, what else do you have to say?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 139 Chapter 139 "I can exin!" Willow was unwilling to let the hypocrite win. She took a deep breath and exined, "That card is indeed mine! However, I gave the card to someone else a few days ago. "When Aaron was kidnapped, the kidnappers asked for a million from me. I transferred one million into this card and used it as fansom for him! Those kidnappers are on the same side as Skyler. This time, Skyler and Wilhelmina had banded up to frame me!" "Willow, do you you think your lie is indisputable?" Matthew''s gaze bore into her eyes. No light could be seen in his eyes. He replied. "It''s a pity I don''t believe a word you''re saying!" He continued, "You''ve managed to take her seat. You hurt my Wi time and time again. I will ensure you suffer a lifetime of consequences!" Willow felt hopeless, yet speechless at the same time. Why had Matthew not only be stupid, but also narcissistic since leaving the dungeon? He wasn''t under the idea that she was doing everything to be his woman, was he? Willow said exhaustedly, "Matthew, I''ve never thought of recing her! I don''t feel anything for you. Why would I hurt Wilhelmina?" Matthew chuckled in disbelief. He replied, "I only believe cold hard evidence!" Matthew turned around suddenly. Willow thought he was leaving thewn. However, in the next second, she heard his devilish voice shout, "Willow, it''s time for you to pay!" As Willow was confused about how Matthew was going to make her pay, in the next second, multiple men rushed over and tied her up. They didn''t let her go after tying her up. They tied the other end of the rope to Matthew''s car. When she realized Matthew''s intention, her skin crawled with goosebumps. He wants to drag her around behind his car! "Matthew, ask them to let me go I''ve never hurt anyone! You don''t have the right to treat me like that!" Her stomach swirled with nausea. She spit out a mouthful of blood. Looking at the scarlet blood staining the floor in front of Willow, Matthew frowned. However, when he thought of Wilhelmina barely alive after the ident. There was nothing but coldness in his heart. He strode into the car. He used to be a charismatic and elegant man. Now, it seemed that he was nothing but ruthless.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. A healthy person wouldn''t be able to survive being dragged around by a car. Willow''s broken body couldn''t stand it either. She had been tortured by her sickness for so long. Actually, she wasn''t scared to die. However, she had unfinished ns. She didn''t want to die yet. A desperate need to survive made her try to tear the rope off Chapter 133 herself. However, it was such a thick rope. It was difficult enough to cut through it, let alone for her hands to tear it off. After she tore at it for a few moments, Matthew stepped on the gas. As the car drove out, Willow''s body was yanked forward. Thewn of Matthew''s vi was gigantic. It allowed him to make as many circles as he wanted. The second her body jerked forward, Willow felt that today would be the d¨¢te of her death. Her w winter clothes were thick. However, the friction from being dragged on the ground and the roughness of thewn made her back and legs burn painfully. Willow didn''t want to show her vulnerability in front of so manym le. However the pain triggered people. her tear nds. She couldn''t control her tears. She felt rather sad. She had thought she would die a hopeless death one day. She never expected that she would die by Matthew''s hand. They had supported each other through the darkest parts of their lives. Once he recovered his memories, he would be extremely sad, However, when that happened, she wouldn''t be on earth anymore. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 140 Chapter 140 She didn''t want her friend, with whom she''d gone through life and death, to be so depressed. "Matthew, stop! Stop, alright? You''ll regret it! You''ll regret it for sure!" As time ticked by, everyone could only march onwards. The most terrifying part of being alive was regret. She didn''t want Matthew to regret his actions. However, he wasn''t giving himself the chance to repent. Willow''s voice got softer and softer until pain prevented her from even opening her mouth. Darkness took over and swallowed her whole. Willow thought her life had ended just like that. She hadn''t expected that she was still alive. A bucket of cold water was poured onto her. The cold shocked her and she opened her eyes slowly. Cold water touched the wounds on her back, making it hurt so much it felt as though she''d been burnt. Willow tried to hug herself out of reflex to relieve the pain. However, she was tied tightly by the rope. She couldn''t evenfort herself. "Willow, tell me! Why did you hire someone to kill Wi?" Matthew stood tall. The tense air around him made him seem like a harbinger of death from the depths of hell. Willow felt like she didn''t know him at all.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Indeed, he wasn''t the Matthew that she remembered. If he wasn''t Matthew, who could he be? He... he was the devil. "I didn''t!" Willow shook her head softly and continued, "I didn''t hire anyone to kill her. Wilhelmina is framing me!" Upon seeing that she was still trying to shift the me onto Wilhelmina, Matthew felt the blood in his veins boil. He roared, "Willow, you won''t own up to it even at the brink of death!" Without any hesitation, he turned around and got into the car again. He stepped on the gas and made her tolerate another round of inhuman torture. As she was drifting in and out of consciousness, Matthew''s car finally stopped. Willow thought that this torture hade to an end. He opened the door and walked to her coldly. "Speak! Tell me why you wanted to hurt Wi like that! Willow, I''m giving you yourst chance. If not, today will be the anniversary of your death!" Why would she want to harm Wilhelmina? Chapter 140 She didn''t know herself. What could she say? - Willow didn''t want her death anniversary to be this time next year. However, she couldn''t own up to something she hadn''t done. She could only shake her head and exim, "I didn''t! Wilhelmina is framing me!" Thest shred of Matthew''s patience was gone. He sneered "Since you''re yearning to die, I''ll grant you that wish!" "Cut the rope off!" Upon receiving Matthew''s instructions, his men cut the rope on his car. He got in quickly and turned the car around, before Willow. Realizing Matthew''s intentions, Willow''s expression changed. He wanted to run over her! What a horrible monster time was! They had only said goodbye for a few months. The gentleman who had gone through hell with her, and was as generous as a man could be-had be someone entirely different! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 141 Chapter 141 She couldn''t recognize him anymore. Willow knew that she wouldn''t be able to escape. She closed her eyes hopelessly and waited for death toe. moment, countless memories shed across her mind. She remembered Matthew holding Aaron in the dungeon and talking to him gently. He sang ''Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars'' to him with his mesmerizing voice She remembered Kenan walking toward her and taking her hand. He smiled gently at her. However, all the scenes turned into Zayn''s side profile. The face that was the target of all her love and hatred. Willow found herself hrious. She''d told himself not to care about him anymore. Who knew she''d miss him the most at the brink of death? The pain she''d expected didn''te. Rather, a huge ng of impact rang out. Willow opened her eyes to see a crimson sports car had rammed into Matthew''s Lamborghini from the side. It was Kenan. After stopping Matthew''s car, Kenan got out of his car immediately. He rushed to Willow. When he saw her condition, his eyes were so red it seemed that blood would drip out in the next moment. He wanted to hold Willow tight. However, he didn''t have the courage to do so when he saw the bloody wounds on her back. He was scared that if he exerted too much force, she would shatter in his arms. Kenan could only say her name gently, as though he was scared that he''d scare her away. Willow didn''t want to make him worry. She tolerated the pain and said gently, "Mr. Dawson, I''m fine." Kenan''s eyes turned even redder at Willow''s words. The clothes on her back were torn and the flesh on her back was marred. How could she be fine? "Willow, I''ll take you to the hospital!" Kenan helped Willow up carefully. Just as he was about to take her away, Matthew got down and stood in front of him. "Today, she has to die here!" Kenan punched Matthew''s face hard. He ducked and eluded his attack. His fist punched into the car. Kenan wanted nothing more than to mar Matthew''s face. However, he was worried about Willow''s wounds. He didn''t continue fighting with Matthew. Upon seeing that Matthew still wanted to stop them from leaving, the fury in Kenan''s heart reached a climax. Hectoppled the bodyguard in front of him with a kick and shouted, "Matthew, ask them to off! If not, I''ll stain the floors of your house with a river of blood!" "How arrogant of you, Mr. Dawson!" Matthew seemingly didn''t consider ¦¯¦°¦³ Kenan a threat. He tooka step forward, without any intention to let them go. He said, "She hurt my Wi. If I let her go, would I still be a man?" Kenan spit on his feet. He challenged, "Matthew, I''m telling you, you haven''t been a man for a long time! If you were a man, you wouldn''t bully a woman who can''t fight back at all!" "She deserved it!" Matthew looked at Willow with hatred brimming in his eyes. He said, "She hurt my woman multiple times. She deserves to die for her crimes!" Chapter 142 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 "Bullshit!" Kenan kicked another bodyguard down. He roared, "Matthew, you''re a blind idiot. Stop standing here and disgusting me!" Your woman? Wilhelmina? What is she? My Willow has be a horrible criminal merely based on her word of mouth? Who does she think she is?" "Mr. Dawson, watch your tone!" Upon hearing Kenan talking about Wilhelmina in that way, Matthew frowned. "Willow hired someone to ram into Wilhelmina. The evidence is indisputable. She must pay for it!" "She hired someone to kill Wilhelmina?" Kenanughed incredulously. He said, "Willow spent the whole day with me today. How would she hire a hitman? Also, there has never been any conflict between her and Wilhelmina. Why would she need to hurt a stranger?" Upon hearing Kenan''s words, Matthew looked at Willow mockingly. He said, "Of course it''s because she''s trying to elevate her status!" "Elevate her status?" Kenanughed and continued, "Matthew, don''t tell me she''s trying to do it through you! I confessed to Willow and she wouldn''t even ept me. Why do you think she''d even take a look at you? Matthew, stop thinking of yourself as such an important person!" Kenan was being too straightforward. Matthew was rather embarrassed and his expression darkened. He said, "Ask her. Can she say that she didn''t suck up to me multiple times?" "Matthew, you''re so forgetful!" Willow''s voice was weak, but it rang out clearly. She reiterated, "I''ve said this before. I''m not interested in you at all! If I thought of you in a romantic way, I''ll be impaled by a storm of arrows and die a horrible death!" She swore again!T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Matthew''s expression grew disdainful. This woman swore while trying to get rid of Wilhelmina to rece her. Her actions didn''t match her words! He was about to blow a fuse when Kenan''s angry voice demanded, "Matthew, have you heard it? Willow doesn''t like you. Stop giving yourself so much credit!" When Kenan saw that Matthew maintained his stubbornness, he quickly pulled his phone out to call Quintus. He said, "When are youing? Get over here quickly and p the evidence onto that blind idiot''s face!" "I''ming, I''ming!" Just as Kenan hung up, Quintus rushed over hurriedly. He pulled a tablet out of his bag and stood in front of Matthew. Kenan nced at the tablet in front of him. When he looked up, his eyes sharpened. "Matthew, once I found out that you were the one who chopped her pinky off, I knew that I had to investigate! "Quintus had found out everything that happened. I haven''t had the chance to bring you the evidence. Who knew you and that woman of yours would make such a mess of things! "Today, I''ll let you take a look at the true colors of that woman of yours. What a horrible hypocrite she is and how stupid you are!" Kenan gave Quintus a look and he took the hint. He opened a video on his tablet. In this video, the surveince footage revealed a sneaky woman. It was clearly, Wilhelmina! Usually, Wilhelmina was sweet, pleasant, and generous in front of Matthe disbeliee saw her sneaking around, disbeliet was written. across his eyes. What made Matthew even more incredulous was about toem Wilhelmina must''ve been in a ssy restaurant. She walked into a private room after looking around. The situation inside the room was also recorded. When he saw the men inside the private room, Matthew''s expression changed. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 143 Chapter 143 With his status, he wouldn''t have had any interactions with those men. However, he knew two of them. The tan, skinny man was the driver who rammed into Wilhelmina, Jonathan! Another one was a man with purple hair who wore a tattered leather jacket. He was the one who''d kidnapped Wilhelmina after hurting her palm and arms. He was their leader. After they were caught, all of them said that they operated under Willow''smand to hurt Wilhelmina intentionally. It didn''t look like that was the case now. Wilhelmina sat amongst them and poured them wine multiple times. Sheughed and chatted, clearly extremely familiar They had such a good rtionship. How could they take Willow''s money to harm Wilhelmina? r with them. It looked like Wilhelmina was on their side! Kenan also saw this video. When he saw Wilhelmina raise a ss in Jonathan''s direction, he smiled mockingly. "Why does this man look so familiar?" Kenan pulled Jonathan over, who had been tied up, and stomped on his face. "I asked quintus to investigate what had happenedst time. Who knew that his stalking of Wilhelmina would uncover such a big truth? He even found out what happened at this event!" He kicked Jonathan yet again and demanded, "Tell me! Did Willow hire you to kill Wilhelmina, or did you both band together to frame Willow?" 000 Jonathan''s eyes were shifty. He had been tied up and left aside by Matthew. He didn''t see the video on the tablet. Indeed, he was hoping to get lucky. He rolled his eyes and said hurriedly, "Of course Willow hired me to ram into Wilhelmina. Matthew has already found the evidence of her transactions to me. How could it be fake? After saying that, he turned around and looked at Willow resignedly. He said, "Forgive me, Willow. I took your money and betrayed you. Inparison with gaining money, I''m more desperate to live! You know Matthew''s ability. If I dared to lie, he wouldn''t let me go! "Willow hired you?" Kenan smiled. His baby face was filled with coldness as he said, "Does this mean that you''ve never met Wilhelmina and you only know Willow?" Jonathan replied without thinking, "Of course! I''ve only got to know Wilhelmina after seeing her picture. I''ve never seen her before!" Hey on the ground and looked at Matthew pitifully. He pleaded, "Matthew, I''ve done wrong. I''ll never hurt Wilhelmina to gain money! Have mercy on me, you''re a generous man. I''ll never do it again!" "I think you''re pretty daring!" Kenan''s expression was cold. It was terrifying. He asked yet again, "You don''t know Wilhelmina at all?" Jonathan replied hurriedly, "Of course not. I only know Willow!" Kenan nced at Quintus and he showed the tablet, to Jonathan. He to said, "Take a look at yourself!¡± The video yed. When Jonathan saw the video, his expression changed. He wanted to exin himself. However, he had leapt into Kenan''s trap himself. He could say nothing to nowT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Kenan stared at him. The air of a powerful man enveloped Jonathan as he boomed, "What? Are you going to say you don''t know Wilhelmina? Tell me!" Chapter 144 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Jonathan''s body trembled. It was a cold winter''s day. However, he was covered in sweat. His eyes darted around desperately. However, he couldn''t find a way to exin himself. He could only continuously beg for mercy, "Mr. Mayer, Mr. Dawson, I know I''ve made a mistake! I''ll never do it again! Please, I beg you, let me go!" "Let you go?" Kenan smiled mockingly. He asked, "You want me to give you mercy? Have you ever shown Willow any mercy? "I''m telling you now. I''ll exact revenge on those who wronged her a million times harder." Million... Jonathan''s head was drenched in sweat. He couldn''t help but peek at Willow. Her wounds were terrifying. If Kenan wanted to exact revenge, he would be torn from limb to limb. If he were to be punished by Matthew, he wouldn''t be as scared, because Wilhelmina had promised that he wouldn''t make him suffer anything more than a bit of superficial wounds. When they cooperated, they only suffered slightly, Wilhelmina begged Matthew for mercy and he went home in one piece. However, Kenan was different. If Kenan had taken him, he wouldn''t survive. Jonathan immediately hugged Matthew''s leg and begged, "Mr. Mayer, save me! Please save me!" He pleaded, "You''ve seen the video. Wilhelmina and I are best friends. I''m one of her subordinates. Please don''t hand me over to Mr. Dawson!C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "I''ve got a promise with Wilhelmina. She''ll protect me. If you don''t believe me, ask her! If anything happens to me, she''ll be very sad. Matthew, you have to save me!" Matthew said nothing. His eyes were filled with a mix ofplicated emotions. It was as though he''d never seen this world for what it was. After a long time, he said slowly, as though he was speaking in a dream, "Who did you say you were under?" "I''m under Wilhelmina!" Terrified that Matthew wouldn''t protect her, he continued hastily, "I don''t know Willow at all. How could I do something for her? My employer has always been Wilhelmina from the beginning!" Kenan stared at Matthew''s unreadable expression. He asked, "What do you have to say, Matthew!" Before Matthew could say anything, Kenan said coldly, "Aren''t you embarrassed to have hurt Willow? Matthew, you deserve to die!" Upon seeing that Matthew was still in front of him, Kenan said, " oft. A good dog never blocks the road of his Master! If I weren''t rushing to handle Willow''s wounds, I would''ve made sure you had no tears left to cry, Matthew!" Once he finished, Kenan kicked Matthew yet again to release bism frustrations before helping Willow onto his car carefully If anyone dared to beat or scold him, Matthew would''ve beaten them up until they lost all their bearings. However, at this moment, he was too embarrassed to beat Kenan up. He hadn''t expected that he''d really med Willow wrongfully. Wilhelmina, whom he had protected like a precious treasure, was them mastermind behind 11! As Willow was getting helped onto the car, Matthew saw her broken finger. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 145 Chapter 145 The knuckle where her thumb used to be had already scabbed over. But when he dragged her with his car, her hand had gotten hurt again. The scab had broken open as it rubbed against the ground. It was now a bloody mess, The sight shook Matthew, and it made his heart ache. It hurt so much that he couldn''t do anything, and his chest nearly stilled Willow was innocent. And yet, Matthew himself had caused her to be disabled. There was also what had happened today. Matthew clutched at his chest. His heart felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed. If Kenan hadn''t arrived in the nick of time, Willow would have already died under his car. Even though she survived, she had also sustained grievous injuries. Immediately, Matthew kicked Jonathan away and made a mad dash for the dungeon behind the house. Matthew''s assistant, Damon, was worried when he noticed Matthew''s irrationality. Worried, he chased after his employer Matthew didn''t bother to open the door the usual way. Instead, he kicked it open and rushed inside. Once he was inside, he scrambled around on the ground, searching for something in a frenzy. Damon felt that he should help his employer. He approached Matthew and asked hesitantly. "Mr. Mayer, what are you looking for?" "Her thumb! Willow''s thumb!" Matthew tossed the litter on the ground aside. He remembered that he had ordered his men to cut off Willow''s thumb that day. He also remembered that her thumb had fallen by a certain wooden board. Though the board was in the same spot, Matthew couldn''t find Willow''s severed thumb. Damon had no words. He felt that Matthew had gone crazy. It had been days since Willow''s thumb had been cut off. Even if Matthew did find it, it could no longer be reattached. What was the point of this? Still, Damon didn''t dare to voice his thoughts. All he could do was quietly observe Matthew while he pretended to search for Willow''s severed thumb as well.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. However, they still couldn''t find the thumb at all despite their searching The blood on the ground had long since dried. Meanwhile, that severed thumb had seemingly vanished into thin air. At longst, Damon hesitantly spoke up. "Mr. Mayer, it seems that her thumb is... gone." "Gone?" Matthew was eerily calm, but Damon couldn''t pinpoint why he seemed scarier than usual. "What do you mean, "gone"? Damon promptly kept quiet after that. Instead, he hastily gathered his subordinates and made them search for Willow''s thumb as well Damon had only started working for Matthew recently, but he already had a handle on his personality. If Matthew wanted that severed thumb found, then they must find it at all costs, even if it had already rotted. "L... I think I know where it might be!" one of the guards stuttered as he raised his hand "Out with it!" Matthew barked. a That Ixodyguard shook so hard, even his teeth cked. Atst, he said in ee As, small voice, "it... it got fed to a dog did you say?" Matthew stepped forward and grabbed the bodyguard by the dor. "Say that again!¡± Upon meeting Matthew''s piercing gaze, the bodyguard frantically cally m looked down. Chapter 146 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 146 Chapter 146 "The dog in this backyard, to be exact!" Matthew tossed the bodyguard aside. As he did so, Damon noticed Matthew''s expression. He was taken aback. It seemed that Matthew was heartbroken, even if the man himself didn''t realize it. Damon rushed over in a bid to stop Matthew, but Matthew was even faster. By then, Matthew had already gotten into his car and driven off. In a blink of an eye, he was gone. Matthew made his way to the hospital Wilhelmina was in. As he drove, he received a phone call from her. She told him that she had just gotten out of the emergency room, and that she was in enormous pain due to her severe injuries. Had this been the past, Matthew would have been heartbroken to hear about that. Now, though, it just seemed like mockery. Wilhelmina was the orchestrator for this farce, and she had the gall to whine about her pain. But would that take away Willow''s pain? Willow had lost a finger and was now crippled for life. And today, she got hurt again. How much pain was Willow in now?C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Matthew never thought that he woulde to hate the woman that he loved. When he arrived at the hospital, Wilhelmina had already been warded in a VIP room. She was covered in bandages, making for a pitiful sight. Wilhelmina seemed fragile as Matthew entered her room. She called out to him weakly, "Matt..." Tears rolled down her face before she could finish. "I''m so sad, Matt.." However, she wasn''t enveloped in a warm hug, like she thought she would be. Wilhelmina looked up and nced at Matthew. She used to see love and adoration in his eyes. This time, all she found was indifference. Wilhelmina was shocked, but she made herself look even more hurt and pitiful. "That wasn''t an ident at all, Matt! I darted out of the way, but that driver still deliberately ran over me! He wanted me dead! "Did you find him, Matt? When you do, ask him why he did that. I''ve never crossed paths with him, so why did he want to kill me?" "I met with him, Wilhelmina Foster," Matthew spoke up suddenly, Wilhelmina''s heart stopped at the mention of her full name. He used to call her Wi in the sweetest of tones. So, why did Matthew call her by her full name? Did something happen without her knowledge? "What happened to you? Why are you acting so strangely today?" Wilhelmina teared up. "You don''t sound like you care about me, Matt. Do you not love me anymore? "You''re overthinking it, Wi." Matthew finally returned to using ''Wi". "That driver said that he did it on purpose. Someone ordered him to kill you!" "Then, did he tell you who ordered him to do so?" Wilhelmina asked. "He said it was Willow." Matthew''s expression betrayed no emotion. No one could guess what was on his mind. §ë§à "Really?" Wilhelmina''s heart leaped, and she nearly let her joy show on her face. Realizing that she was about to let her act slip, she quickly to let her act feigned a sad expression. "Why did it have to be her again? I''ve always thought of Willow as my best friend. Why did she have to repeatedly hurt me like this? Just what did I do, Matt?" Matthew didn''t answer her, his expression still unreadable Instead, he asked her, Wi, do you really think of Willow as your best friend?" to Cum Your Surprise Reward Chapter 147 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Wilhelmina had no idea why Matthew would ask this, but she definitely couldn''t say otherwise. So, she nodded. "Of course! Willow and I grew up together, along with Skyler. We''re like sisters. And of course, she''s my best friend!" Wilhelmina wasn''t sure if she was imagining things, but she thought she saw Matthew''s expression turn ever so slightly mocking She was about to speak when Matthew coldly broke the silence. "Since she''s your best friend, why did you keep deliberately hurting her? Wilhelmina instantly paled. She stared at Matthew in disbelief as her lip trembled uncontrobly. At longst, her voice returned to her. "What are you saying? Hurt Willow? What do you mean by that? I don''t get it. I don''t get it at all!" "You disappoint me." Matthew didn''t continue to waste his breath on her. Instead, he ced the tabletputer he was holding in front of her. Wilhelmina saw that a video had been ying on the screen. Instinctively, she pressed the rey button. When she saw its contents, all the remaining color in her face drained away. "You had someone spy on me?" she questioned. "That''s not the point. But I do want to ask why you had to hurt Willow like this?" he asked her. "L... I didn''t do it!" Wilhelmina instinctively denied it. But when she thought about that video, she knew that her denials were worth nothing. They would only make Matthew''s distaste grow, Just as she expected, Matthew had a cold look on his face when she turned to look at him. "You truly disappoint me, Wi!" "L..." Wilhelmina wanted to defend herself. But before she could speak, she teared up. Once, her tears would have definitely moved Matthew. But now, it was like he didn''t even notice she was crying, even when her eyes werepletely reary. "Why did you have to give Willow''s thumb to Skyler? And why did you let her feed it to the dog?" Wilhelmina nearly jumped in fright. When she remembered that she was still supposed to be an invalid, she forced herself to stay still in bed. "I didn''t know!" Wilhelmina shook her head while crying "I did give Willow''s thumb to Skyler, but I didn''t know she would feed it to a dog!" Wilhelmina clenched her teeth as she decided to save herself. She stopped denying her involvement. Instead, she grabbed Matthew''s hand in a pitiful way. "I''ll tell you everything, Matt. Don''t hate me, okay? "I was the one who deliberately hurt Willow thest two times! But I truly never thought of actually harming her physically! Otried to stop you when you wanted to chop off her hand, but you wouldn''t listen to me. I had no choice but to let you take only her finger "I really hadn''t wanted to hurt Willow. I only wanted you to hate herb i''m so scared, Matt!V''m just so scared that you''ll fall in love with her!" Owned by N?velDrama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 148 Chapter 148 "Willow is so pretty. No man could possibly resist her beauty! Skyler and Zayn were originally deeply in love with each other. But ever since Willow stepped in, Zayn hasn''t been the same toward Skyler! He even started paying for Willow''s expenses, going even as far as having an altair with her! "And now, Willow is trying to get close to you! I''m really, really scared. I''m worried that she''d seduce you and you''d end up bewitched, like Zayn. That''s why I nned a few steps ahead, so that you''d think that she''s a cruel woman! And you wouldn''t fall for her!" "You''re the only one in my heart, Wi! How could I ever love Willow?" Matthew''s expression softened as he looked at Wilhelmina''s teary face. "You should trust me!" "I want to trust you too, Matt. But take a good look at yourself and reflect. How can I trust you?" Tears began to roll down Wilhelmina''s face again. "I. I heard from Skyler that when you were drugged at the Chateau that night, you couldn''t control yourself! If she and Zayn hadn''t intervened, you would have already slept with Willow! "Andter on, I found out that someone had plotted against you. I wanted to help you get rid of the poison with my body, but you pushed me away! "I''m just a regr woman, Matt. Heartbreak, jealousy, and sadness are all emotions that I experience! Do you know how upset I was when you wouldn''t touch me, but wanted to sleep with Willow? When you pushed me away that night, I wanted nothing more than to... than to kill myself!" Wilhelmina bit her lip. She looked like she was in a lot of pain as she shook like a leaf. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed helplessly. "I know that I''m in the wrong. I''m the viin for hurting Willow! But at the same time, I can''t help myself. I just can''t stop myself from giving into those irrational thoughts when I imagine you tossing me aside for her! "We''ve been together for four years now, Matt. We''ve gone through so much together, and I''ve given my heart to you. I just hope that I''ll always be the only one that you love! "I''m so sorry that I''ve done all this. I''m not worthy of your feelings! I won''t me you if you refuse to have anything to do with me anymore. These are just the consequences of my actions. I''ll admit that!" "Wi..." Matthew pulled Wilhelmina into a hug. He felt guilty, so he would forgive Wilhelmina, even when she was wrong. It was true that he couldn''t control himself around Willow that night, after all. When he thought back to how he and Wilhelmina had supported each other over thest few years, his heart softened even more. He could no longer bring himself to reprimand her. "I''m sorry, Wi. I''m the one who let you down." "Matt!" Wilhelmina reached out and beat his chest. "Never leave me alone, and never fall in love with Willow. Please, never. Alright?" "I won''t fall in love with anyone else. You''re the only one for me!" Matthew murmured. "You''ve always been by my side thest four years, helping me every step of the way. I won''t ever disappoint you." "I love you, Matt." Wilhelmina''s voice was sweet and lovely, but she had a twisted expression as she buried her face in Matthew''s chest. She wasn''t the one who helped Matthew every step of the way. So, Willow had to go, the one who was actually by Matthew''s side back then! Kenan hadn''t wanted to take Willow to the hospital.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. insisted mewever, Willow had to Bordello. With no other choice, he brought her over. Willow picked up her phone from the ground. Just as she was about to stow it inside her bag, she received a text message. It was from Zayn The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 149 Chapter 149 "Bring the goods over in half an hour!" The goods? Willow stilled, but almost immediately, she understood what Zayn meant. He wanted her to deliver the item to him and Skyler as soon as possible. Willow decided to put Zayn out of her mind when Kenan returned with the ointment. She turned to face him. "Thank you. It''s gettingte. You should go back first. I''ll apply this myself." "But it''s hard for you to reach your own back. Let me do it for you!" Kenan''s eyes were filled with heartbreak. Worried that Willow would get the wrong idea, he quickly added, "There are no ulterior motives here, Willow. I just want your injuries to be treated properly! I can cover my eyes if you''re still worried."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Willow was amused by Kenan''s nervousness. "I''m not worried at all. And I''m not lying either when I say that I''m fine. I can do this myself. I''ve been dancing since I was a young girl. Even though my left arm is out of action, my right arm is flexible enough. So, this won''t be a problem." Kenan still wasn''t reassured. He''d prefer Willow to go to the hospital, but he also didn''t want her to spend the remaining days of her life there. That was why he didn''t force her to go. "I''ve already caused you enough trouble today. You should go back and rest." "I''m going to go mad if you keep this up!" Kenan feigned a look of anger. "This was no trouble at all! I''m willing to help you out, Willow. So, don''t think that you''re imposing on me!" He nced at the damaged door before continuing, "The door''s damaged. It''s not safe. Why don''t you stay with me? It''ll be easier for me to care for you too. Don''t get the wrong idea; I''m saying this because it''ll also be safer for you." "I know." Willow smiled gratefully. "But you really don''t need to do this. I''ll call managementter. They''ll deal with the door. Now that the truth has been revealed, I don''t think Matthew willy a hand on me again either." Kenan didn''t continue to press the matter further after witnessing Willow''s stubbornness. After he instructed her on how to care for her wounds, he reluctantly left. After Kenan left, Willow hastily changed out of her wet clothes. Her back already burned in agony, but it hurt even more when her injuries came in contact with her clothes. Willow dug up an old shirt and cut the back off. She thenyered a loose and baggy jacket over her outfit. That way, her back wouldn''t sting as much. The ointment that Wynn gave her was extraordinarily effective. The backs of her hands had gotten a lot better ever since she applied. the ointment. After she had disinfected her injuries, Willow began to apply the ointment to the rest of her body. Before she could finish treating her wounds, however, she received a few text messages. "Get your ass over here, Willow!" "If you don''t give me what I want in the next 30 minutes, then you better watch out!" Willow could practically imagine the cruelty on Zayn''s face as she read the messages. Mentally, sheughed in exasperation. But she still sent a text message back. "Can I note over today? I''m really om not feeling well. After some thought, Willow sent another text. "Can you get someone else to buy it first? I''ll pay you back tomorrow." "Not feeling well? But you really mean that now''s an inconvenient time for you, no? Chapter 150 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 150 Chapter 150 "You''re currently with Kenan, aren''t you?" "Get over here in the next 30 minutes! Or I''m killing Nic tonight!" Zayn threatened. Willow''s eye twitched as she read Zayn''s most recent message. She thought that he was cruel, but what other choice did she have? He had always been able to strike where it hurt the most. Nic was the one person that Willow cared for the most. If Willow died, she wondered how much pain Nic would be in. Aaron didn''t go through the surgery, so Willow still had around a million dors. She would leave the money to Nic. And even when Willow''s body would be donated, Nic would be the beneficiary of the resultingpensation. Still, Willow knew that Nic would have a hard time even with all the money Willow would be leaving her. After changing into a thicker jacket, Willow grabbed her bag and left her apartment. The cold wind ruffled Willow''s hair into a mess. As she walked, she felt like she was turning into a popsicle. Matthew had hurt her quite badly earlier today. Her back and legs hadrge wounds, and her hand still bled. Even through her gloves, Willow could still clearly sense the blood seeping from where her thumb used to be. Fortunately, her gloves were ck. No one would be able to notice the blood staining it, so they wouldn''t be startled. Willow took a taxi to the supermarket near Lakecoast Vi. She then went inside and bought Zayn''s requested items. Back when they were younger and more reckless, Willow and Nic had wondered about the difference between being alive and being dead. Nic had said that being alive felt like warmth, while everything would feel cold once you were dead. Meanwhile, Willow said that being alive was like being bathed in light, while you would be swallowed in darkness once you were buried six feet under. But now, Willow finally understood the greatest difference between life and death-being alive meant pain, while being dead meant being freed from that pain. She would soon no longer be in pain. That awful sign was still hanging on Zayn''s gate when Willow arrived. She found it to be very mocking, "Dogs and Willow are not allowed", it read. However, Zayn now had a dog, and she was also able to enter the premises. Still, she had to put up with Skyler. Willow pressed the doorbell. Upon noticing her, a butler wordlessly brought her over to Zayn''s door before silently retreating Willow didn''t want to go in. What if he and Skyler were in the middle of bedroom activities? She would end up seeing something she didn''t want to.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. iv gone Willow turned, intending to let the butler deliver the goods insteadm However, he had left at a brisk pace and had already downstairs. She couldn''t chase after him. With no other choice, Willow forced herself to deliver them personally. She prayed that Zayn and Skyler hadn''t started anything yet. But just as she was about to knock, the door was violently pulled open The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Willow was startled by this, and she reflexively took a step back. She looked up, only for her to meet Zayn''s stormy gaze. She thought Zayn was odd. Willow had already delivered the requested goods as promised, and she hadn''t done anything else. She had no idea why he would be so furious. However, Willow wasn''t dumb. She soon figured out that his sour mood was probably because she had gotten in the way of his and Skyler''s night-time activities. She couldn''t help the bitterness that washed over her, but she also didn''t want to start an argument. So, Willow made the first move, humbling herself and apologizing, "My apologies, Mr. Carter. I seem to have arrived at a most inopportune time. I''m sorry for bothering you and Skyler. I''ve brought the requested items. "Enjoy your time together. I shall now take my leave." After shoving the bag into Zayn''s hands, Willow turned and swiftly made her way over to the stairs. In truth, making this delivery had made Willow reach her limit. She was already in so much pain on the way to the Bordello apartment, she could barely stand. All that walking earlier made Willow feel like her body was tearing itself apart. She only managed to stay upright by supporting her weight against the wall. Willow had just taken a few steps when her body exploded in pain. It was then that she realized that Zayn had grabbed her and flung her to the ground in his room. "Heading back?" Zayn''s smile was icy. "In a hurry to go back and Kenan? You''re such a whore, Willow!" Willow wanted to get up, but she was in so much pain. She didn''t have the strength to move. And when she fell, she could feel her back bleed even more, making her jacket stick to her back. Everything hurt so much. Willow thought Zayn was insane when she finally regained her senses, but she also didn''t want to pick a fight with him. "My rtionship with Mr. Dawson is less sordid than you think it is, Mr. Carter. I really am not feeling well, yet I''ve brought over the things that you requested. Skyler is waiting for you. Please, stop hassling me!" she said tiredly. Willow thought that Zayn would drop the matter, considering how cordial she was. And besides, Skyler was still waiting for him. Much to her surprise, Zayn''s expression turned uglier. "Do you really wish for me and Skyler to get together?" Willow thought Zayn was being difficult, but she still didn''t want to argue with him. Instead, she replied, "You and Skyler are a match made in heaven. It only makes sense for you to date her. Can I go back now?C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Willow turned around, hoping that Skyler would say something and call Zayn back. However, she looked up at the bed, only to realize that it was empty. Skyler was not inside the room. Willow scanned her surroundings, but still didn''t see any sign of Skyler. She couldn''t hear anything from the bathroom either. It was evident that she and Zayn were the only ones here. Now, Willow truly thought that Zayn had several screws loose. Skylem wasn''t even here bo why d did Zayn want her toe all the way here for a delivery? "She''s indeed better than you, Willow! Skyler''s not a cheap dirty slut!" Even though she knew Skyler''s character, Willow couldn''t be m bothered to answer Zayn: She just wanted to get out of this sufocating and cold ce Chapter 152 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 152 Chapter 152Owned by N?velDrama.Org. "You''re right, Mr. Carter. Skyler''s a pure woman. And it must be heaven''s will for two pure people to meet! Skyler will be here soon, right? I won''t get in your way, then," Willow said quickly. "Skyler just had a miscarriage. I would end up harming her if I touch her now," With that, Zayn walked over to Willow. Willow paled when she realized his intentions. She knew she shouldn''t have such unrealistic expectations, but Willow still couldn''t stop herself from crying as she reyed Zayn''s words in her head. Skyler may have had a miscarriage, but Willow herself had miscarried recently too. And Zayn was only worried for Skyler. Did he think that Willow was a strong person who could never fall ill or be hurt? To Zayn, Skyler was the apple of his eyes. Willow was worth less than the dirt under his shoe. Willow reflexively curled up as she tried to push down the panic rising within her. "You can''t do this to me, Mr. Carter! I''m not lying to you. I really am sick." "What? Trying to save yourself for Mr. Dawson? In your dreams, Willow!" As Zayn spoke, he roughly ripped Willow''s jacket off. The jacket had already stuck to Willow''s back because of all the blood. So when Zayn tore it off, her skin was ripped off as well. Willow nearly passed out from the sheer agony. Willow bit her lip hard. Only then did she manage to get her trembling under some semnce of control. She knew that she couldn''t refuse him, but she really couldn''t service him tonight. "You''re right, Mr. Carter. I''m a dirty whore, so please, don''t touch me! I''m dirty, sullied. Even I think so myself. Aren''t you worried that you''ll end up tainting yourself if you lower yourself to touch me?" Zayn nearly blew his top when Willow protested. Now that she called herself dirty in a bid to save herself for Kenan, he exploded. He grabbed Willow''s shoulders, hurling her onto the bed before ripping her shirt open. Just as he was about to get on top of her, he realized that she simplyid there, when she had been such a strong woman just earlier. saw the r real Willow''s jacket was ck, so Zayn didn''t notice the blood stains on it when he tore it off her body. It was only now that he saw blooming across his sheets that he realized that she was hurt. He flipped her over, only to see that she had cut the back of her shirtm wounds away. When he saw the wou stretching across her back, Zayn. was shocked. "Willow, speak up. What is the on meaning of this?" Zayn gripped Willow''s shoulders tightly, but no matter how he shook her, she remained unmoving. She still remained as quiet and fragile as ever, as though she had just died. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 153 Chapter 153 "She''s dead." Zayn was startled by this sudden thought. But when he noticed her chest shallowly rising and falling, he gradually calmed down. Zayn had thought that Willow wanted to save herself for Kenan when she said that she was injured and in pain. He hadn''t thought that she was telling the truth. 0 000 000 Gently, he pulled her into an embrace. "Willow, tell me who hurt you? Speak, Willow, speak!" Zayn''s voice was filled with fear, but he didn''t realize how much terror he was in His only answer was the stickiness on his palms. Zayn''s expression darkened as he stared at the blood on his sheets. He was furious that Willow didn''t treasure herself and put him through the wringer with this rollercoaster of emotions. He was so furious that he wanted to toss her out the window. Yet, he also couldn''t bring himself to do it when he looked at her vulnerable expression. Before today, when Willow was awake, she always had her chin tilted up. She was such a strong and independent woman that Zayn wanted to tear her down. Only when she was unconscious did she finally show a vulnerable side. And it was also only now that Zayn could rein in his anger and stop being as cruel toward her. He also knew that Willow''s back couldn''t be the only spot that was injured. Just as he was about to check the rest of her body for injuries, he noticed the splotches of blood on his shirt. Her hand had brushed against those spots.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Zayn reached out for the glove on Willow''s hand. He was about to rip it off, but then he worried that he would hurt her. So, he slid the glove off gently. The glove had already stuck to her wound. Even if Zayn hadn''t wanted to hurt her, he still ended up aggravating her injury anyway. Even Zayn winced when he saw the blood from Willow''s knuckle. But Willow remained still on the bed. Her arms and wounds too. legs had obvious Zayn''s expression froze over when he saw how her previously wless skin was now desecrated. He grabbed his phone and quickly dialed Celeste''s number. "Get your medical kit ande over to my ce!" Worried that Celeste''s dawdling would dy willow''s treatment, he added, "Now!" Celeste had studied under Wynn before. She had no interest in medicine, but she was still a smart but she was and talented woman. Even though her skills couldn''t bepared to Wynn, she was better than the majority of doctors out there. Wynn would still be the best choice, but Zayn was worried about angering int her to know about her. He didn''t want hert Willow, so in the end, he settled for Celeste instead. Celeste would still be using whatever medicine Wynn made anyway. Celeste arrived rather quickly because she thought Zayn was hurt. She hadn''t expected to find him sulking next to his bed, uninjured as he called Liam. On the other hand, there was someone else on Zayn''s bed. She couldn''t see the person''s face om I pee the person3 face because it was turned away, but she could tell that this was a woman. And this woman clearly wasn''t Skyler. Celeste was curious. Just as she was about to take a look at the woman''s face to see who she was, Zayn grabbed her arm. "Don''t touch her!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Celeste rolled her eyes. Don''t touch her? Then, how was Celested supposed to treat this woman? After Zayn stopped Celeste, he continued his conversation with Liam. "You have one hour to find out who hurt her! Or you can forget about your bonus this year!" Liam grumbled. "One hour''s way too little time. Can''t you give me..." "Half an hour, then!" Zayn snapped. "Whoa, hold your horses! One hour''s enough! I promise that I''ll uncover the culprit''s identity and even dig up their entire family tree in just an hour!" Celeste had gone to the bathroom to wash her hands before touching Willow''s wounds. So, she hadn''t heard Zayn''s conversation with Liam When she saw the wounds on Willow''s back, Celeste couldn''t stop herself from sighing "You''ve turned into such a creep over the years, my dear little brother. Just who did this to her? Hm?" Recalling Wynn''s words the other day, Celeste felt sad. "If you really aren''t into women, you can just live the rest of your life with another man! Why did you have to lean into heteronormative values? And you even tortured her! Look at her! Her body''s ruined! She''s someone''s daughter!" Celeste shoved Zayn, who had remained quiet. "Hey, is Mom right? Do you really have a crush on Kenny? I was reading this BL novel the other day, and the main character is just so cool! But you and Kenny will be even cooler! I can just insert you two in ce of the main couple the next time I pick up another BL book!" Another thought struck Celeste, and the worried frown on her forehead deepened. "Don''t tell me that you took your twisted anger out on this poordy because Kenny snubbed you earlier? I think that you and Kenny will be a good match. It''s just unfortunate that he''s into women You just have to ept this sad reality. "Celeste, are you asking for it?" Now Celeste was displeased by Zayn''s attitude. She immediately stood up. "What''s with you, Zayn? Do you know how expensive my consultation fees are? Do you know how much one minute of my time is worth? I''ve wasted a huge amount of time helping you, and this is how you repay me?" Celeste grew angrier as she spoke. She wanted to keep arguing with Zayn, but she couldn''t leave the patient untreated. So, she suppressed her anger down for the time being and focused on treating the woman''s injuries Celeste didn''t have the same level of skill as Wynn, but this patient''s injuries were no challenge for her. She swiftly retrieved the of antiseptic that Wynn herself had made and carefully disinfected the woman''s wounds. Willow''s head was heavy, but the agony from being shifted around jolted her awake, along with the pain radiating from her back. Slowly, she opened her eyes. When she felt someone rubbing something on her back, she reflexively turned her face.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Upon realizing that the patient was Willow, Celeste''s impassive expression transformed into one of shock. "Willow?" Celeste put down the antiseptic before grabbing a pillow and whacking Zayn with it. "Did you torture Kenny''s girlfriend you because he can''t be yours? Are even human? We''re a perfectly normal and upstanding family, so how did you end up being such a twisted little weirdo! "Did you think that you''d end up winning Kenny''s heart after you kill Willow? I''m telling you that you dah forget about getting Kenny if that''s what you think! He''ll hold a grudge against you for all eternity because he lost the love of his life! "This won''t do. I must call Kenny this instant! I will not let you stoopton such underhanded measures just to En tear him and Willow apart! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 155 Chapter 155 "Cece, please don''t call Mr. Dawson anymore!" Willow had already troubled Kenan enough today. It was sote, she didn''t want to bother him again. "But Willow, Zayn left you in this state. If I don''t tell Kenan, I''ll feel uneasy!" "Cece, you misunderstood. My injury has nothing to do with Mr. Carter. I came here tonight to deliver something to Mr. Carter." Despite the pain still lingering, with Celeste here, this was Willow''s best chance to leave. She struggled out of bed, using the nket to cover herself. She picked up the clothes on the floor and put them on. The wound on her back stuck to her coat again. Apanied by stomach cramps, Willow took a sharp breath from the difort. Even so, she kept her spine straight and raised her chin. Her pale, delicate face showed a stubbornness that no storm could break "Mr. Carter, I''ve already delivered the items you asked for. I''vepleted what you wanted me to do. I''ll go back now." "Willow, how dare you!" Zayn tried to grab Willow''s arm, but Celeste pulled him back. "You''re always picking on girls! Zayn, are you even a man?"C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Though Celeste''s tone towards Zayn was harsh, she turned gentle when looking at Willow. "Willow, it''ste, and you''re injured. It''s not safe to go home alone. Let me drive you back." "It''s okay." Willow gently shook her head. "Cece, thank you. Transportation here is convenient. I''ll just take a taxi home." Seeing Willow''s stubbornness, Celeste couldn''t force her. When Zayn tried to grab Willow again, Celeste smacked him on the forehead. "Celeste!" Zayn gritted his teeth, ring at her with anger. But Celestepletely disregarded him. "Zayn, you''ve been acting like a brattely. You think you can get away with anything! Should I call Mom right now and tell her you bullied Kenan''s girlfriend? Just wait and see how she deals with you!" Unwilling to provoke Wynn, Zayn didn''t bother arguing with Celeste further. But Celeste had no intention of letting him off. "Willow said she brought something for you. What did you have her deliver sote at night?" Zayn hadn''t responded. Celeste noticed several boxes of condoms scattered on the floor. Suddenly, it dawned on her. "Zayn, you had Willow deliver these to you! You are seriously sick! You''re indifferent to Skyler the whole time, and there''s no other woman around. Yet you have Willow deliver these things to you. What do you need them for?" "Celeste, get out!" Zayn had had enough and was ready to throw Celeste out. Celeste couldn''t be bothered dealing with her seriously twisted brother. She quickly put on a mask. "Zayn, do you think I want to be here? You''re a twisted weirdo. What an eyesore!" With that said, she stormed out in her high heels. After Celeste left, Zayn''s world finally returned to quiet. But he had not had a few seconds of peace when his phone rang again. Seeing it was Liam calling, he answered. "Boss, I''ve figured it out. Ms. Sanford''s injury was likely due to a setup by Wilhelmina." "Wilhelmina?" Zayn frowned, not recalling such a person. "Yes, Wilhelmina " Liam paused, then continued exining Wilhelmina''s identity to Zayn. "She''s a contracted artist under our Carter Group''s mediapany.m Though she''s currently a B-lister, she''s been gettine some good opportunitiestely. A few days ago, she was cast as the female lead in a sensationaPIP drama." "cklist her. " Zayn calmly said before hanging up the phone. Liam''s heart raced on the other end. Zayn was as ruthless as ever! Chapter 156 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Zayn was the one person you should never oftend. His casual words had put a stop on Wilhelmina''s blooming entertainment career, just like that. Liam''s heart skipped a beat, then he sighed softly. On the surface, Zayn''s hatred for Willow seemed strong. But without profound love, where did such intense hatrede from? Zayn casually ced his phone on the bedside table and paced to the window with a solemn face. Outside, the night deepened, and snowkes began to flutter down. As the snowkes fell, the cityscape became less distinct, gradually shrouded in a thin veil. It was snowing And Willow was so scantily dressed and injured. What if she got buried in the snow? Zayn cursed, grabbed his car keys, and rushed out of the room. He searched along the paths leaving the vi area. He even checked routes Willow couldn''t have taken, but still found no sign of her. Anxious and angry, he drove straight to Bordello.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Coincidentally, as soon as Willow left Zayn''s vi, she came across a taxi sending someone home. Most who stayed in Lakecoast Vi were wealthy elites who usually had drivers. Taxis rarely entered. For Willow to encounter one tonight was incredibly lucky, Willow''s stomach ache worsened and was harder to bear. She rummaged through her bag, only to find she''d forgotten her painkillers. Anxious to return to Bordello to take medicine, she repeatedly urged the driver along the way. The trip that normally took half an hour was sessfully shortened to within half an hour. The property management always liked to drag things out. As she expected, when she returned, the door was still broken. It waste, and she was in so much pain she didn''t want to keep urging the management. She nned to call them tomorrow. "Willow!" Kenan''s face was filled with deep concern. "It''s sote, where did you go? "I had something to do and went out for a bit. Mr. Dawson, why are you here again?" A rare blush of shyness crept onto Kenan''s face. "Willow, you''re injured, and your door is broken again. I couldn''t leave you alone here. Willow understood Kenan''s concern, but she didn''t want to trouble him. Just as she was about to tell him to leave, the s struck her stomach again. She went limp and fell right to the ground "Willow, what''s wrong? "Mr. Dawson, I''m fine. Can you please help me? I need to go take medicine in the bedroom." Kenan knew Willow had stomach pain again. He quickly lifted her and hurried to her bedroom. severe pai pain After taking the medicine, Willow asked him to leave again. But seeing her in such a poor condition, now! could he leave her alone? Later, Willow was so exhausted that she stopped arguing with him. Shey on the bed, falling into a deep sleep. Kenan was also tired. After tucking Willow in, hey down beside her and fell asleep. As soon as Kenan woke up, he easily forgot what day it was and where he I where he was. In a daze, he climbed onto the bed and foundfortabile position. When Zayn came over, he saw Willow and Kenan tightly nestled together on the soft, on the soft,rge bed in the bedroom. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 157 Chapter 156 Zayn was the one person you should never oftend. His casual words had put a stop on Wilhelmina''s blooming entertainment career, just like that. Liam''s heart skipped a beat, then he sighed softly. On the surface, Zayn''s hatred for Willow seemed strong. But without profound love, where did such intense hatrede from? Zayn casually ced his phone on the bedside table and paced to the window with a solemn face. Outside, the night deepened, and snowkes began to flutter down. As the snowkes fell, the cityscape became less distinct, gradually shrouded in a thin veil. It was snowing And Willow was so scantily dressed and injured. What if she got buried in the snow? Zayn cursed, grabbed his car keys, and rushed out of the room. He searched along the paths leaving the vi area. He even checked routes Willow couldn''t have taken, but still found no sign of her. Anxious and angry, he drove straight to Bordello. Coincidentally, as soon as Willow left Zayn''s vi, she came across a taxi sending someone home. Most who stayed in Lakecoast Vi were wealthy elites who usually had drivers. Taxis rarely entered. For Willow to encounter one tonight was incredibly lucky, Willow''s stomach ache worsened and was harder to bear. She rummaged through her bag, only to find she''d forgotten her painkillers. Anxious to return to Bordello to take medicine, she repeatedly urged the driver along the way. The trip that normally took half an hour was sessfully shortened to within half an hour. The property management always liked to drag things out. As she expected, when she returned, the door was still broken. It waste, and she was in so much pain she didn''t want to keep urging the management. She nned to call them tomorrow.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "Willow!" Kenan''s face was filled with deep concern. "It''s sote, where did you go? "I had something to do and went out for a bit. Mr. Dawson, why are you here again?" A rare blush of shyness crept onto Kenan''s face. "Willow, you''re injured, and your door is broken again. I couldn''t leave you alone here. Willow understood Kenan''s concern, but she didn''t want to trouble him. Just as she was about to tell him to leave, the s struck her stomach again. She went limp and fell right to the ground "Willow, what''s wrong? "Mr. Dawson, I''m fine. Can you please help me? I need to go take medicine in the bedroom." Kenan knew Willow had stomach pain again. He quickly lifted her and hurried to her bedroom. severe pai pain After taking the medicine, Willow asked him to leave again. But seeing her in such a poor condition, now! could he leave her alone? Later, Willow was so exhausted that she stopped arguing with him. Shey on the bed, falling into a deep sleep. Kenan was also tired. After tucking Willow in, hey down beside her and fell asleep. As soon as Kenan woke up, he easily forgot what day it was and where he I where he was. In a daze, he climbed onto the bed and foundfortabile position. When Zayn came over, he saw Willow and Kenan tightly nestled together on the soft, on the soft,rge bed in the bedroom. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 158 Chapter 157 A nket covered Willow and Kenan. Zayn stood at the door, unable to see the specifics underneath. But he could easily guess it. Bedmates! And in the bed Zayn shared with Willow! What did they do before falling asleep? Zayn''s eyes were momentarily filled with blood and rage. His fists clenched tightly. Was Willow pretending to be chaste and virtuous in front of him? He felt sorry for her tonight. After she left, he went crazy searching for her! How ridiculous! Zayn was the biggest clown in the world! Zayn wanted to rush over and tear this fickle woman apart. But he didn''t want to see their entwined bodies under the nket. He could only, stiffly, with rage and resentment, turn around and walk away. The cold wind blew, clearing a small patch of snow in front of Zayn. It extinguished thest warmth in his heartpletely.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Kenan and Willow slept particrly soundly, unaware of this little interruption. Speaking of which, even if Kenan climbed onto the bed, there was nothing impure between him and Willow. They only upied separate areas of the bed, each having sweet dreams of their own. Moreover, Kenan had terrible sleeping habits. Although he took up part of the bed, he rolled onto the floorter in the night. He slept on the ground until dawn. When Willow woke up in the morning, she saw Kenan sprawled on the floor. His toes slightly curled up as if he were practicing some incredible martial arts. Willow felt immensely guilty. Kenan had taken care of her all night, yet he ended up on the floor. Although this apartment had floor heating, sleeping on the floor in the winter was still cold. Afraid Kenan would catch a cold, she quickly covered him with a nket. Stirred by Willow''s touch, Kenan woke up. He opened his drowsy eyes. "Willow?" "Mr. Dawson, if you''re still tired, go sleep on the bed. The floor is too cold, you''ll easily catch a cold sleeping there." Only then did Kenan realize he was indeed lying on the floor. However, sleeping on the floor wasn''t that bad. As long as he was with Willow, he felt everything was sweet. "Willow, I''m fine. I''m healthy as a horse. I won''t catch a cold even if I sleep on ice! Ah... Ahchoo!" Willow remained silent. Didn''t he say he wouldn''t catch a cold? Kenan realized he had exaggerated a bit, and felt a tad embarrassed. "Willow, this was an acadent Yes, an ident. Please wait, I''ll wash my face and make you something delicious!" Willow didn''t get to eat the delicious food that Kenan would cook for her. She had just finished washing up ¦¥¦Ð when she received some bad news. Nic was in trouble! Nic hadmitted murder and was now locked up in ckstorm Prison. Hearing the name ckstorm Prison, Willow''s blood ran cold. ckstorm Prison was the darkest ce in all of Havenpoint. No matter how much society preached fairness and justice, sunlight never reached there. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 159 Chapter 158 Willow had been in ckstorm Prison before. She knew how terrifying it was there, and now Nic was pregnant. How could she endure such inhuman torture? Willow urgently wanted to see Nic but could not with her abilities. It was Kenan who used his connections for her to visit Nic at ckstorm Prison Unlike other prisons, ckstorm Prison didn''t have dedicated visiting rooms. Willow and Kenan went to Nic''s cell. In one short night, Nic had been tortured until her skin was peeled off. She was covered in blood, trembling uncontrobly. Tears streamed down Willow''s face uncontrobly as she looked at Nic. She wanted to grasp Nic''s hand but it was wounded everywhere. She was afraid it would hurt. "Nic, what happened? Why did you kill someone?" "Willow, I didn''t kill anyone." A deep sorrow filled Nic''s eyes. She was the same age as Willow, only zz this year. Nic''s once clear and lively eyes were clouded with sadness. "Sylvia identally killed someone. Ss saw Sylvia do it, not me. But he made me take the me without hesitation." It was Ss again! Willow gritted her teeth in resentment. She couldn''tprehend how there could be such an unjust man in the world! No wonder he and Zayn were good friends, birds of a feather do flock together indeed! "Nic, don''t worry. The righteous will stand tall, undeterred by shadows. Since you did nothing wrong, I will find a way to get you out!" "There''s no way out." Nic shook her head numbly, sorrow filling her peerless eyes. "Ss said I''ll be sentenced to 15 years in prison." "15 years?" Willow couldn''t help but exim. 15 years, from 22 to 37 years old, the prime of Nic''s life. How could she spend it hopelessly in prison? "Nic, you didn''t kill anyone. He has no right to do this to you! Evidence! I''ll find evidence to prove your innocence and clear your name!" "There''s no evidence." Nic gave a self-mocking smile. "Even the surveince outside the private room has been destroyed by Ss. He''s the witness, he said I killed someone. I cannot argue against it." "Was there no one else in the box? Fingerprints? Sylvia used a knife, there must be fingerprints!" After asking questions, Willow felt a bit silly. Ss had destroyed all the surveince outside the room. How could he possibly leave obvious fingerprint evidence? fy for you!" Seeing Nic silent, Willow urgently asked again, "Nic, were there others in the room? We can get them to testify Nic looked deeply into Willow''s eyes. After a long silence, she m whispered Willow, there was no one else in the room." Nic lied. There was someone else there-Zayn.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. She knew Zayn would never testify for her. It Willow knew, she woulch surely beg Zayn and the hated her so much, who knows how he would humiliate her! She didn''t want Willow, whom she cared about the most, to suffer for her. "There was no one else. "Willow murmured. That meant Nic would Yould have to serve this unjust 15 years imprisonment! But she couldn''t ept it! Why should they, who were innocent, bear all the filth? "Willow, I want to ask you to do something for me." In her daze, Willow tell Nic lightly grip her hand. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 160 Chapter 160 "Mr. Burley, don''t hurt my child! I didn''t do anything to Sylvia! It was me who saved you during that earthquake! I am Coco!" Nic screamed with all her heart "Mr. Burley, you''ll regret treating me like this for the rest of your life!" "I regret it!" Nic thought Ss had changed his mind and wouldn''t harm the baby in her womb. But upon hearing his next words, thest bit of hope in her heart shatteredpletely. "I regret not killing you sooner, giving you the chance to hurt Sylvia! Nic, you and that bastard in your womb deserve to die!" He spit out his cruel words, "Bah! You are full of sin and filth. How dare you im credit for saving me? Nic, what you''re doing makes me despise you more!" She and her baby deserved to die... Nicy stiff on the operating table, her eyes devoid of any hope for life.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The doctors held her down and forcibly crushed her baby inside her womb, killing it. Her heart, which had died when Ss gave her to Cillian, died once again. She could no longer live. The light before her eyes flickered dimly. Nic gazed nkly at the pale ceiling. It was as if she had returned to the day when the earthquake struck when she was eight years old. A natural disaster had shattered her peaceful and beautiful life Nic lost her parents and parted with her beloved grandmother. She thought her world had lost all light. But when she dug out the boy buried under the rubble, she saw the light again. Crying heart-wrenchingly at the unrecognizable bodies of her parents, Nic said she had no home He tightly held her hand, his eyes determined and devout "Coco, when I grow up, I will give you a home." Later, they had all grown up. He didn''t give her a home, but he shattered all her joys and hopes.... After leaving prison, Willow had a bad premonition She learned from the prison guard that besides the deceased, Sylvia and Ss, Zayn was also in the private room. Kenan had gone to arrange for Nic''s bail. Despite Ss''s obstruction, arranging bail for her was easy with the Dawsons'' connections. Her pregnancy helped as well. Willow decided to find Zayn to ask him to testify for Nic, to clear her name. She not only hoped that Nic could safely give birth but also that she could raise the child. As for the cold and dark ckstorm Prison, she never wanted Nic to set foot there again. Wynn''s concocted healing ointment was effective. After applying it again before bedst night, her wounds hardly hurt anymore. But her stomach pain was getting worse. She had rushed to ckstorm Prison and forgotten her painkillers. She nned to return to Bordello, take some, then go to Lakecoast Vi to find Zayn. Unexpectedly, as she exited the elevator, she saw Zayn standing at her apartment door. Zayn reeked of alcohol, with bloodshot eyes, as if he hadn''t slept all night. He stared unblinkingly at her, resembling a trapped, vicious beast. It seemed as if he wanted to violently tear her apart. Willowd v didn''t know how she had offended him again. Concerned about Nic''s situation, she had no desire to argue Shelonly wanted to persuade him to testify for Nic, to prove her innocence "Willow, did Mr. Dawson make you feel good?" Before Willow couldm speak, Zayn rudely grabbed her neck, His eyes bulged with viciousness like a beast. "Speak!" Chapter 161 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Willow truly felt that Zayn had mental issues, and she had been itching to suggest he seek treatment at a mental hospital. However, she was in a bind and couldn''t risk offending him right off the bat. So, she suppressed her frustration and tried to speak calmly, "Mr. Carter, I''m not sure what you''re talking about!" "Not sure?" Zayn''s hostility grew stronger, "Willow, stop pretending to be innocent in front of me!" "Mr. Carter, please show some respect when you speak!" Despite Willow''s good temper, she hadn''t been able to tolerate Zayn''s unwarranted outburst. "I''ve told you, there''s nothing inappropriate between Mr. Dawson and I!" "Ha! Pretending to be innocent again? Willow, you really disgust me!" Willow realized that people could be immune to certain things. The first time Zayn called her disgusting, it broke her heart. However, after hearing it repeatedly, those hurtful words just lost their sting. She was drained from the argument and couldn''t muster the energy to continue. Exhausted, she closed her eyes and then slowly opened them again, "Mr. Carter, there''s something I need to ask you." "Sylvia identally killed someone, and Ss wanted Nic to take the me. Mr. Carter, I know you were there too, and I hoped you could help prove Nic''s innocence. ckstorm Prison isn''t a ce for anyone. After just one night, Nic was already covered in bruises..." Zayn''s grip tightened around her neck, making it difficult for Willow to speak. Thinking of Nic''s bloody state made her throat tighten even more. After taking a moment topose herself, she continued, "If Nic stays at ckstorm Prison, she won''t survive. Mr. Carter, please, I''m begging you. Could you help Nic clear her name, please?" Zayn coldly released Willow''s neck. The smirk on his lips, mixed with his hostility, sent shivers down her spine. "Willow, is that how you ask for help?"T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Despite feeling miserable, Willow respectfully lowered her head and softly pleaded with Zayn, "Mr. Carter, please save Nic." "Willow, it''s not a problem for me to save Nic," Zayn''s voice drawled slowly. "Just serve me well... and if you can satisfy me, clear her name." Willow''s expression froze. She hadn''t expected him to make such a request after seeing her injuriesst night. 0000 She gently bit her lip. "Mr. Carter, could we talk about a different condition? You saw my injuriesst night. I can''t do what you''re asking. Besides that, I''ll do anything to save Nic." Zayn chuckled with a touch of malice. "You''re injured and can''t cater to my needs, yet you still manage to find ways to please Kenan." "I''ve never did!" Willow instinctively denied. Her rtionship with Kenan was purely tonic, and she couldn''t understand why Zayn always portrayed them in such a derogatory light. Zayn''s disdainful smile only deepened at Willow''s words. Before he could retort, his phone suddenly rang. After answering the call, he stayed silent for a moment. Instead, he stared at Willow as if she were a performing clown. "Willow, are you nning to use Nic''s pregnancy. Yas a reason fol bail her out? But now, I''m afraid your n might fall through." "What do you mean?" Willow''s heart skipped a beat. "Mr. Mr. Carter please rify! What do you mean my n might fall through?" Zayn had no patience for games. He spoke tly, "Ss has killed the child inside Nic. Zayn''s words resonated in her mind. Chapter 162 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 162 Chapter 162Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Willow was so shocked that she nearly copsed to the ground. Even with her hands pressing against the wall in front of her, she still couldn''t quite steady herself. The child inside Nic''s belly was Ss''. She couldn''t understand why these men were so heartless. Zayn was like that, and so was Ss. However, it was conflicting for her because they weren''t truly heartless. It''s just that Ss'' heart belonged to Sylvia, while Zayn''s belonged to Skyler. "Satisfy me, Willow," Zayn''s tone was cold and impatient. "Or else, Nic will rot in prison!" Without waiting for her response, Zayn had already walked into the room. Willow numbly followed him in. The door had been fixed by someone Kenan had sent. She gently touched it, and it was tightly shut. The living room was not small, but standing stiffly in front of Zayn, Willow still felt suffocated. She didn''t want to beg Zayn, and she didn''t want to let him trample on her dignity again. But she also didn''t want Nic to spend 15 years in that sunless hell. Nic had lost her child and her chance for bail. Now, only Zayn''s testimony could save her. Trembling, Willow approached Zayn. Her teeth were chattering uncontrobly, After all, she felt like she was almost a dead person, and she was already covered in filth. It didn''t seem to matter if she buried herself deeper in it. Seeing Willow standing there motionless, Zayn''s face was filled with impatience. His thin lips parted slightly, and hemanded emotionlessly, "Strip!" Upon hearing Zayn''s voice, Willow''s body trembled uncontrobly once again. In the end, she reached out and slowly began to remove her coat. After running around outside for so long, the wounds on her back had reopened, and blood had seeped into the fabric of her coat. As she peeled it off, a searing pain shot through her. Butpared to the pain in her stomach, it was nothing worth mentioning. She fought back the urge to hunch over and cradle her stomach to ease the pain, and continued to painfully remove her clothes. In truth, she wanted to say to Zayn, "Zayn, my stomach really hurts. Can I go take some medicine first?" But she knew he wouldn''t agree, so she didn''t humiliate herself further. As her garments fell away, she stood stiffly in the living room. She felt rooms utterly embarrassed, as if she was going through the walk of shame. Before she could even embrace her own body for warmth, she heard his voice, blood-curdling as if it came from hell itself. "Willow, kneel down! Beg me........ Chapter 163 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Willow''s expression froze for a moment, and her damp eyshes quivered. Her gaze wandered, seeming lost in the distance, as if everyone''s souls had been carried away by the cold wind outside. In the end, she gave in, feeling as low as could be. It hurt like nothing else. Willow couldn''t tell if the pain came from her body or her heart. All she knew was that it hurt, and it felt like it would never end.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. After the pain faded, she found it strangely funny. How could a walking corpse like her feel pain? She smiled bitterly. The pain in her stomach made it hard to stand straight. Even picking up her scattered clothes was tough. ao me!" Before the pain could ease, Zayn''s cold voice cut in again. "Willow, say it! Beg Willow knew she should please Zayn to save Nic, but there were things she didn''t want to say She numbly draped the shattered clothes over her body, leaning against the nearby sofa to steady herself, trying to appear less debased. "Mr. Carter, can you testify for Nic now?" After saying this, Willow stared nkly out the window. Even though there were curtains, she could tell it was nearing evening Although she hadn''t taken thest breath, Willow felt like she was close to it. If she didn''t hurry to take painkillers, she might not even wait for Zayn to testify for Nic before bidding farewell to this world. Before Zayn could respond, Willow''s phone rang urgently. Seeing it was Sylvia calling, she immediately had a bad feeling. She quickly answered the phone. "Sylvia, what''s wrong? What happened to Nic again?" "Willow, I called to kindly inform you of Nic''s death, and you treat me like an enemy?" Willow felt a chill running down her spine as Sylvia''s sweet voice came through. Her hands trembled as she tightly gripped the phone. Her voice quivered as she eximed, "Sylvia, what the hell are you saying? Whose death are you talking about? Nic is totally fine, how could she be dead? Sylvia, who do you think you are to curse Nic like that?" "Nic jumped into the sea tomit suicide about an hour ago. She fell into an area infested with sharks, and the sea turned red with her blood. But I doubt you''ll be able to see her body because she''s been torn apart and swallowed by the sharks!" "Willow, I''m telling you this because we''re cousins. Come to Laguna Coast and say your final goodbye to her!" With that, Sylvia hung up abruptly. Staring at her darkening phone screen, Willow couldn''t shake off the intense pain for a long time. She just met Nic earlier this morning. They had talked, hugged, and Willow could still feel Nic''s warinth. Nic had hoped for Willow to bail her out of jail and wanted to safely give birth to her unborn child. Willow couldn''tprehend how someone as lively and vibrantas c could suddenly be gone forever. Nic had been through a lot, but she was always strong-willed. Someone as resilient as Nic m wouldn''t give up easily. Willow truly wondered what Sylvia and Ss had done to make her lose all hope in the world and take such drastic action to take her own life. Chapter 164 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Willow couldn''t contain her grief any longer, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. "Willow!" Zayn was taken aback by Willow suddenly coughing up blood. Remembering thest time Willow used a simr tactic to spit blood in front of him, his face twisted into a mocking e sneer "Willow, are you trying the same trick again?! Your tactics are so predictable!" Willow didn''t hear what Zayn said. Her mind was filled with only one thought. Nic was dead. Her best friend, closer than family, was gone. She died just like Aaron, in a tragic and desperate manner, with no remains to be found. If only Zayn had agreed earlier, if only she could have cleared Nic''s name sooner, perhaps she wouldn''t have been pushed to the brink Willow turned to Z turned to Zayn with a deep, unprecedented hatred in her eyes.. In that intense hatred, there was also a trace of world-weary self-mockery. This world seemed to enjoy ying jokes on her. It always pushed her into despair when she was full of hope. It was the same with Aaron, and now with Nic. She thought she could bail Nic out, but Ss cruelly killed her unborn child. Since she was unable to bail her out, she tried to find witnesses to clear Nic''s name. She cast aside her dignity, cing herself at Zayn''s feet to be trampled upon. After going through hell and back, all she received was news of her death. Willow cried out in agony as the intense pain in her chest tormented her beyond measure. She shot a re filled with hatred at Zayn, her teeth audibly grinding together. "Nic is dead, are you satisfied now? I hate you, Zayn! I''ll never forgive you for Aaron''s and Nic''s deaths!" Zayn was taken aback upon hearing about Nic''s death. Watching Willow, who seemed almost possessed, Zayn felt a sudden panic rising in his heart. No matter how much he had tormented her, how he had retaliated retaliate against her in the past, he always felt Mer in the he had some control over her. He always felt like he wouldn''t truly lose her. But at that moment, he felt like he had lost herpletely. Zayn found itughable to entertain such thoughts. After all, she was just a vain, fickle, unfaithful woman. What did it matter if he had Iver or not? Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing Willow about to rush out in her naked state, Zayn grabbed her back. "Willow, stop where you are!" Willowughed, her eyes sparkling with charm, but devoid of any joy "Mr. Carter, are you Xrying to threaten me again? Aaron''s gone, Nic''s gone. What else in this world do you think youh The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Willow turned to Zayn and said, "Mr. Carter, I''m afraid it isn''t going to happen. I''m not afraid of anything anymore! "You can take my life if you want to. "Don''t touch me!" Willow shook off Zayn''s hand. She found it incredibly ridiculous.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. It turned out that it was so easy for her to be disgusted with Zayn, whom she once loved so much. Even a single nce at him made her heart turn cold. Zayn, as proud as he was, wouldn''t allow Willow to be so insolent to him. His expression darkened immediately. "Do you think your life is that precious to me?" Willowughed. Herugh was enchanting yet heartbreaking. Actually, she was wrong earlier. Her life was something she couldn''t give to Zayn. She had already signed an organ donation agreement. So even if she were to die, her body would end up in theboratory. Even a simple burial was nothing but a luxurious wish. What Zayn despised most was Willow''s indifferent and cynical smile, as if nothing in the world mattered to her him, who was just an insignificant passerby in her life. not even anymore, not Suddenly, he grasped Willow''s wrist tightly. At the same time, he was afraid that he would hurt her if he exerted any more force. He could only scowl and speak to her in the most vicious and mocking tone, "Do you think you can go out dressed like this? Do you enjoy being stared at by men?" Upon hearing Zayn''s words, Willow realized that her current appearance was indeed inappropriate. She was anxious to know Nic''s current situation, but she didn''t have the audacity to go out half-naked She staggered to the bedroom weakly. Changing clothes should have been a simple task, but it was exceptionally difficult for her when she was extremely exhausted. After changing her clothes, she hastily took several painkillers and rushed out without even drinking water. Zayn''s gaze followed Willow closely. Seeing her struggling to change her clothes, he couldn''t help but frown. He wanted to help her out, but when he nced at the somewhat messy bed in the bedroom, the warmth in his heart vanished. Seeing her randomly taking pills, he frowned even more What kind of morex medicine was she taking? There was nobel on the pill bottle, but thinking back to what they had just done, Zayn ?mm¨¨diately En understood what medicine was inside it. So, she hated the idea of having his child that much? It all made sense to him. She was taking those pills to avoid pregnancy e because she was acting like a slut. The more Zayn thought about it, the angrier he became. After Willow went out, he grabbed the bottle and threw it out. As soon as Willow arrived at the residential area, she ran into Kenan. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Kenan eximed in joy, "Willow, I''ve managed to get your friend released on bail! We can get her out of the prison now!"Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Despite various obstacles from Ss, it wasn''t easy to secure this ball, but Kenan had the support of the Dawsons. If it were someone else, they would have failed Willow stared nkly at the document in Kenan''s hand. Tears began to stream down her face She knew how difficult it was for Kenan to arrange this bail amidst Sis'' interference. Even though they had seeded, it was already Toote. Nic and her child were gone. Noticing Willow''s silence and her tears, Kenan panicked. He gently grabbed her arm and asked, "What''s wrong? Please stop crying! It hurts to see you cry!" "Mr. Dawson, Nic is..." Before she could finish her sentence, Willow felt her heart break. She choked for a while before speaking again, "Nic is dead! She jumped into the sea andmitted suicide at Laguna Coast!" "What?" Kenan''s expression changed instantly after hearing Willow''s words. He hugged her tightly andforted her. "Don''t cry, Willow! Things aren''t as bad as you think. I''ll take you to Laguna Coast now!" With tears in her eyes, Willow nodded. She wished she could teleport to Laguna Coast straight away. But she couldn''t do that. She was was grateful that Kenan''s sports car was fast enough. What would have taken an hour and a half only took them 40 minutes to arrive It was a crimson sunset. Laguna Coast was actually a high seaside cliff. Many people were gathered at the edge of the cliff. Skyler was pushing Sylvia''s wheelchair. Both of them bathed in twilight. Seeing Sylvia in her wheelchair, Willow''s hatred surged again. Blood ties didn''t matter to her anymore. Sylvia was her cousin, but Willow had never liked her because Sylvia was a hypocrite since she was little. Yet, Sylvia was as close as sisters with Nic, who had no blood rtion to her. Before Willow could rush to Sylvia, Skyler had already let go of the wheelchair. She smiled as she walked up to Willow. "Lolo, it''s such a pity that you didn''t get to see Nic onest time. She was torn apart and eaten by the sharks!" "Skyler, what did you, Sylvia, and Ss do to Nic?" Seeing Skyler''s appearance, Willow knew that she must be the mastermind behind Nic''s death. "Lolo, what could we have possibly her w done to Nic? We provided her with om the best medical facilities to recuperate in the hospital! "I just never expected that she would hook up with four men right here at Laguna Coast after her miscarriage. She was probably too lonely. "She had the audacity to seduce men, but right after we caught her om red-handed, she was so ashamed ¦­¦¯ that she jumped into the sea andmitted suicide! It was so filthy of her!" Willow trembled with anger. Nic couldn''t be this shameless. The truth could only be that after her miscarriage, Skyler and Sylvia brought four men to force themselves on her. She didn''t know if those men seeded, but no one could survive being sent to prison by their loved one and losing their child, only to face such humiliation! perhaps, it was a deliberate murder! It was those men who killed Nic! But Nic was gone, and Willow couldn''t uncover the truth behind her was death. But one thinX.CO certain-Skyler, Sylvia, and Ss were the culprits who killed her. Willow couldn''t contain the hatred within her anymore. She lifted her hand and pped Skyler across the face. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 167 Chapter 167 At first, Skyler looked proud and arrogant. But after Willow''s pnded on her face, her expression turned pitiful.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. "Lolo, what did I do wrong to deserve being hit by you like this? It hurts so much!" Willow wasn''t in the mood to y along with Skyler. She just wanted to vent her frustration, preferably by tearing apart her bypocritical yet malicious face! She gathered all her strength and raised her hand, intending to p Skyler again. But before her hand couldnd on Skyler''s face, someone grabbed her wrist rudely. It was Zayn! "Willow! Who gave you the permission to hit Skyler?" Zayn''s eyes were zing with anger when he recalled Willow''s earlier intimacy with Kenan. "I''ve said that if you dare to harm Skyler even a little, I''ll make you pay the price!" Zayn was already strong, and now he applied even more force to Willow''s wrist, almost crushing it. Kenan rushed over after parking the car and saw the scene which just unfolded. He panicked. He quickly pushed Zayn aside. "Zayn, have you lost your mind?" Renan carefully held Willow''s hand to check whether she was injured. Seeing the red marks on her wrist, his heart ached for her. "Willow, does it hurt? It must hurt a lot! When we get hometer, I''ll apply some medicine for you. "Willow, you''re here!" Sylvia noticed the situation and wheeled herself over. "Willow, I know you''re close to Nic, but none of us wanted this to happen today." Seeing Sylvia, just as hypocritical as Skyler, Willow felt an overwhelming hatred surge within her. She stared coldly at Skyler and said slowly, "Sylvia, let me ask you something. Were you and Skyler the ones who brought those men?" "Willow, what do you mean by that? What does Nic''s action have to do with me?" Sylvia put on a pure and innocent appearance. "Those men said it themselves. They found Nic dirty, just after a miscarriage. If she hadn''t seduced them, how would they be willing to touch her?" Sylvia said. She continued, "Nic was really something. She wouldn''t even rest after a miscarriage, and started seducing men. She should have treated her body with respect." Listening to Sylvia''s words, Willow was bursting with anger. Nic was killed by them, and now they were trying tobel her as m promiscuous and shameless? Who gave them the right to do that just because they could twist the truth? The intense hatred hadpletely robbed Willow of her rationality. She didn''t know where she found the strength, but she flipped Sylvia''s wheelchair in front of everyone. Willow had heard from Nic that Sylvia''s so-called disability was all fake. But now, with so many people around, Sylvia couldn''t let anyone see that she could actually walk. She could only fall to the ground with the wheelchair, letting her body hit the rocks. "It hurts! Ss, save me!" Ss, who had been standing by the cliff absent & m spapped back to his senses upon hearing Sylvia''s voice. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Ss quickly walked over to Sylvia and carefully lifted her from the ground. Ss'' eyes were red as if soaked in blood. Willow didn''t know whether his reddened eyes were because of Nic''s death or because Willow had pushed Sylvia downIL. The rocks were sharp, and the back of Sylvia''s hand was badly cut. Sylvia held her hand and frowned in pain. "Ss, it hurts so much! I don''t know what I did wrong. Willow was trying to kill me! But I''m her cousin!"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Willow didn''t bother to defend herself. She didn''t feel the need to justify herself, especially to someone like Ss. He was heartless and couldn''t distinguish right from wrong. Right now, she only wanted to punish these devils who had murdered Nic and mourn for her soul. "Ss, why did you make Nic take the me for Sylvia? You know very well that Nic wasn''t the murderer. It was Sylvia!" Before Ss could respond, Willow questioned him harshly, "How could you be so ruthless and kill Nic''s child! That child is your own flesh and blood! You''re worse than an animal!" "She deserved it!" Ss'' eyes grew even redder. His words seemed directed at Willow but were more like he was trying to convince himself. "A heartless bitch like her deserves to die! She brought disaster to Sylvia! She''s a filthy woman, and she should have died a long time ago. She''s not even worthy of bearing my children!" Willow pped Ss hard across the face. For someone insignificant like her without any background, pping Ss was practically suicidal. But now, she wasn''t afraid at all. The people she cared about were all gone. There was nothing left in this world to hold her back As someone who was already on the brink of death, she had nothing to lose. She wasn''t afraid of anything. She only feared that she wouldn''t be able to avenge Nic and Aaron before she died. She had to make those who hurt her pay the price they deserved. "Willow!" Ss had never been pped on the face before. At that moment, he wanted to crush Willow''s hand badly. Kenan wouldn''t let him hurt her. He quickly stepped in front of her and protected her. "Willow, don''t be afraid. I''m not going to let him hurt you!" Normally, Ss wouldn''t forgive anyone who pped him that easily, even if she was his best friend''s En woman. But at this moment, he couldn''t bring himself to hurt Willow. Nic was really dead. The woman who had always followed him around would never return again. And Willow, she was Nic''s best friend. His once cold heart began to soften. We the pain was unbearable. Ss became conflicted. He couldn''t possibly care about Nic. It was impossible. "Ss, don''t you feel sorry for hurting Nic again and again? You even killed her child and pushed her to her death! Don''t you feel the slightest regret?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Ss wondered if he regretted it. He staggered. His eyes were red. A sense of vulnerability enveloped his heart. Ultimately, he spoke firmly, "She hadmitted so many sins, so she had iting!" Willow couldn''t contain herughter. She looked at the sea before her,ughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. "Nic, can you hear this? He doesn''t regret it! Not one bit! This is the man you devoted half your life to. The man you loved so deeply! Willow stoppedughing. She withdrew her gaze from the surging waves and stared hatefully at Ss. "Ss, I hope you''ll never regret saying such things about Nic today for the rest of your life! You can never turn back the clock. You better not regret it!" Willow wished she could stab Ss to death. But she had no knife, and Willow wasn''t his match anyway. She could only curse him with all her strength. "Ss, I curse you to a life of endless seeking, and you''d have no descendants!" "Willow, you''re being unreasonable! How could you say such things to Ss! He''s your brother-inw, you..."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. "Sylvia, and you too!" Before Sylvia could finish her sentence, Willow interrupted her coldly. "What goes aroundes around! Do you think God will turn a blind eye forever? You''ll pay the price for what you''ve done to Nic one day! "Did you think you''ll be happy after stealing Nic''s emerald bracelet and Ss? You''re dreaming! I wish you a long life filled with hardships and unbearable pain!" Willow no longer bothered about Sylvia, Ss, or Skyler. She stumbled forward. She ran to the edge of the cliff and stopped. Shey on the edge of the cliff and reached out her hand. Even with the roaring waves crashing below, she couldn''t feel a single drop of water. Willow was insignificantpared to this deep sea. No matter how desperate someone was, they would be swallowed up by the waves in an instant Life would vanish in a blink, but the sea would remain the same. The search and rescue teams were still searching for Nic''s body. Everyone said that Nic was dead. She was swallowed whole bya shark. But Ss insisted upon seeing Nic, whether she was dead or alive. After searching for so long, they still hadn''t found anything on Nic''s body. It wasn''t untilte at night that alsearch team had finally retrieved a boot. Willow recognized it at a nce-it was Nic''s boot! The white boot had turned red. How much blood had Nic shed for the boot to turn this red. Willow dung to the damaged boot. She could almost imagine how the shark crushed Nic''s feet. She dared not continue thinking about it. She could only hold onto this boot and sobbed in despair. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 170 Chapter 170 It hurt so much that Willow no longer hadpassion left in her heart.. Kenan feared Willow might do something foolish in her grief, so he stayed close to her. Seeing her in such a state of despair, he felt like his heart was torn apart. Kenan remembered feeling the same way when Caroline cried. "Willow, don''t cry. Everything will be alright." No words could make Willow feel better. Kenan could onlyfort her in such a way. Willow also hoped everything would be alright. But a dead person could nevere back to life. The pain made her teeth chatter. She turned around and threw herself in Kenan''s arms. "Mr. Dawson, Nic is not here anymore! She must be in so much pain!" She knew Nic was in pain, physically and emotionally. "Willow, stay strong. Nic wouldn''t want you to be like this. You have to be strong!" Kenan gently stroked her back. Willow continued to cry. She wanted to be strong. But she found it so hard to stay strong after losing everything. She could only continue to cling to Kenan and cry in his arms. Zayn''s gaze was locked on Kenan and Willow embracing each other. Seeing how intimate they were, he felt as if his heart was pierced. Every breath he took was painful.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He couldn''t withstand Willow trampling on his heart. Zayn was so angry that he didn''t even want to look at them anymore. He turned around and walked toward his car coldly. He didn''t even hear Skyler calling out to him Willow cried for a long time. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep and was still sobbing in her sleep. Kenan had taken off his jacket and wrapped it tightly around Willow. Yet he was still worried that Willow might catch a cold in the strong wind. He decided to take her back to the apartment in Bordello. Kenan was worried about Willow and wanted to stay by her side. But something was going on in the Dawson Residence that required his attention. After tucking Willow into bed, he reluctantly left the apartment. When Willow woke up, it was already noon the next day. Her stomach was hurting again. She wanted to take some painkillers, but she found that the painkillers she had ced on the bedside table were missing. She thought she might have identally thrown them in the trash, but she found nothing after searching through the trash can. Feeling weak, Willow didn''t have the strength to leave the apartment to get medicine. She simply endured the pain andy numbly on the bed. Her mind was foggy, and she almost fell asleep again. It would be too wasteful for her to spend all her time sleepingan thest few days of her life. o, Willow got up. She forced herself to keep herself awake. She was about to go wash up when the doorbell suddenly rang Seeing Skyler standing outside through the peephole, Willow felt annoyed Yet, she still opened the door. "Lolo, aren''t you going to ask why I''m here today?" Before Willow could speak, Skyler smiled and said, "Lolom kefe to tell you the Wuth. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 171 Chapter 171 "What truth?" Willow realized she was asking the obvious. There was no other truth aside from the truth Behind Nic''s death. Sure enough, after Skyler entered uninvited and sat on the couch, she spoke leisurely, "The truth about Nic''s death! "Lolo, I couldn''t speak the truthst night because there were so many people near the cliff. But now, I can tell you everything you want to know." Skyler nced at the coffee table and noticed Willow''s phone was there. Once she confirmed there was no recording, she smiled maliciously and spoke again. "Lolo, to be honest, I brought those men to Nic. In fact, Sylvia and I drove Nic to suicide! When Sylvia and I led Ss there, the scene by the cliff was chaotic. "After what happened, those men told us that Nic hadmitted suicide due to extreme humiliation. Lolo, know how we instructed those men? We asked them to torture her. do you "How could a woman who had just lost her child withstand such humiliation? Oh! The blood on the cliffst night was all Nic''s." "Skyler!" Willow hated her so much that her eyes were about to burst into mes. She gritted her teeth tightly. But Skyler seemed oblivious to her anger. She continued with great pride, "Lolo, do you know why I''m telling you the truth? It''s because I enjoy seeing you suffer in pain. It makes me happy!" "Skyler, for Nic''s and Aaron''s sake, I''m going to kill you!" Willow couldn''t hold back her anger any longer. She rushed forward and wanted to fight Skyler to death. Due to her weak strength, Willow was no match for Skyler. Skyler pushed Willow to the ground with only a little force.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Willow wasn''t going to let Skyler leave like this. However, without taking any painkillers and with such excruciating pain in her stomach, she didn''t even have the strength to get up. Seeing Willow''s painful appearance, Skyler looked satisfied. "Lolo, you''d better not think about avenging anyone in your current state. You''d better die soon and reunite with Nic and your son!" Skyler slowly got up from the sofa. As she walked past Willow, she kicked her in the face. "Lolo, I don''t mind sending you off to hell early!" Skyler mmed the door shut, leaving Willow lying on the ground. Chapter 171 Willow didn''t know if she had bitten her lips in her hatred or if she was simply vomiting blood. Blood continued to flow from the corner of her lips, She was filled with extreme hatred. But she couldn''t even muster the e strength to avenge Nic and Aaron. It embarrassed Willow to know she couldn''t strike against the haughty Skyler. Willow thought for a while and was the key. decided that happor the rest of She would live happily her life. She remembered what Nic had once said. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Nic once said, "We all came empty-handed as the day we''re born. We ought to leave empty-handed. Be faithful to one person, and keep your soul free." Willow covered her mouth. She couldn''t stop sobbing. Nic was cheerful and optimistic. But in some ways, she was also very conservative. She only wanted to give herself to the man she deeply loved. But those disgusting men had vited Nic. Nic must have felt that she was no longer clean. That''s why she was in so much pain. She couldn''t even muster the strength to live. Since Nic was already vited, Willow couldn''t let those usations tarnish Nic further. So, even though she was no longer alive, Willow wanted Zayn to testify in court to clear Nic of any wrongdoing. Trembling, Willow reached for her phone on the coffee table and dialed Zayn''s number. She waited for a while before hearing his indifferent and somewhat impatient voice. "What is it?" "Mr. Carter, you promised to testify for Nic. I hope you can prove her innocence."Owned by N?velDrama.Org. "Willow, you seem to have forgotten something." Willow didn''t understand what Zayn meant by that, but she knew he would exin. So, she didn''t ask further and waited quietly for him to continue. "Willow, I promised to help you prove Nic''s innocence, but only if you satisfy me." Zayn''s voice was tinged with disdain as he continued, "Right now, I''m not satisfied with you!" Willow was so angry that she wanted to curse, but she needed his help. So, she suppressed her anger and spoke, "Mr. Carter, what do I need to do to satisfy you?" She didn''t want to get close to Zayn anymore, but Nic was the best in the world. Willow could not let Nic be known as a murderer after her death. Willow would bear all the me by herself. "Look for Room 2208 at Velvet Noir tonight at 9:00 pm!" Zayn hung up the phone without any hesitation. Willow knew that his invitation would mean nothing good. But to clear Nic''s name and establish Sylvia as the murderer, she decided to meet Zayn. She clearly knew she shouldn''t be doing this. But it would be worth it if Willow could use her broken body to make those people she hated pay a price. Chapter 172 Unable to endure the pain any longer, Willow bought some painkillers. After eating a simple dinner, she put on a coat and hurried to Velvet Noir. She felt unusually cold recently. She still shivered while wearing thick clothes when the air conditioning was on. The cab driver stopped the car on the roadside opposite Velvet Nolr. Velvet Nole As Willow walked this short distance, she felt an immense coldness throughout her body. Her life had almoste to an end. As she suppressed the tremble in her body, Willow walked to the private room mentioned by Zayn. The door was not closed tightly. With a gentle push, the door was already open. She immediately understood why Zayn insisted on n hexing over. It was because Kenan was also there. Chapte The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Zayn was clearly trying to humite her in front of Kenan. It was really despicable of him. Willow''s eyes turned red. Zayn always had a way to make her feel miserable. She couldn''t be bothered less if he was humiliating her in front of someone else. But her feelings for Kenan were somewhat different. She wasn''t trying to act noble in front of him just to impress him. She genuinely regarded him as family. Zayn humiliating her in front of him felt like a blow to her dignity. Willow refused to let Zayn have his way. She wanted to leave. But before she could, Kenan eximed joyfully, "Willow, what brings you here?" Kenan stood up and quickly approached her. He gently sped her hand. "Willow, I was just thinking of looking for you, but I didn''t expect you toe first. Great minds do think alike." "Huh! Think alike?" Zayn sneered and frowned coldly. His presence was as cold as ice. Willow clearly heard the mockery in his tone. Her face instantly turned pale. She was afraid that Zayn would reveal her purpose foring any time. "Venus?" A seemingly excited voice had spoken up in the private room. Willow looked at the source of the voice and was surprised to see the foreign man sitting on the couch. He was the same man she had met with Zaynst time at Rumpus Club. Seeing Willow notice him, Thane became even more excited and waved at her eagerly. Kenan also heard Thane''s voice and tugged Willow over. "Do you know each other?" Willow didn''t know how to respond. Their encounter had been brief, so she couldn''t really tell whether they were acquainted. "We do!" Before Willow could speak, Thane said happily, "To be precise, I know Venus. I''m her fan! Her dancing is really nice!" Thane gave off a clean, enthusiastic, and sincere vibe. Though his gaze toward her was passionate, it didn''t make her ufortable at all. Nor did it contain any hint of any inappropriate intentions. It was just pure admiration, "Willow''s dancing is indeed beautiful! You have good taste!" Kenan was happy that someone praised Willow. Thinking of something, he quickly said, "What do you think of Willow participating in the casting for this ad?" Chapter 173 Once it involved his profession, Thane became serious instantly After all he was an international director He carefully examined Willow. "Venus'' image is certainly not a problem. But even for amercial, I still require acting skills. Whether she would be cast depends on the final oue of the ad. "If you really want her to film this perfume ad, you can lethecaudition tomorrow. I''ll make a fair decision." Willow waspletely baffled. She was clueless about what kind of ad she could shoot with her current state. Before Kenan could speak, Thane suddenly realized something. He nced doubtfully at Zayn. "If I remember correctly, aren''t Venus and Zayn..."T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "So what if Willow had an ex-boyfriend?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Though Kenan said it casually, he rified the rtionship between Willow and Zayn. As an ex-boyfriend, no matter how intimate they were before, they were all in the past. "Oh!" Thane suddenly realized. "Of course! Venus is so pretty. It''s only natural that men pursue her!" Thane lightly patted Zayn, who was beside him. Then, he said, "Zayn, you have no luck! Venus is such a prettydy, and you''ve lost her to Kenan!" Thane picked up his wine ss and finished the wine. "Kenan, congrattions! I wish you and Venus a lifetime of happiness!" Zayn''s face was already dark. But after hearing Thane''s words, his expression became even more grim. He clenched his fists tightly as if one more word from Thane would bring him to shut his mouth. Thane was on a roll, so he didn''t notice Zayn''s expression. He continued adding fuel to the fire. "By the way, Zayn, what''s your current girlfriend''s name? Oh, I remember! It''s Skyler! The award-winning actress. Zayn, I don''t mean to criticize you, but your taste... "Thane, you''re talking too much!" Upon meeting Zayn''s stern gaze, Thane couldn''t help but tremble. He was somewhat afraid of Zayn, who was good at martial arts. He didn''t dare to look down on him anymore. To prevent Zayn from beating him up, he quickly changed the subject. "It seems that Ms. Dawson is alsoing for the audition tomorrow. I wonder who''ll stand out? Will it be Ms. Dawson or Ms. Sanford?" Thane smiled at Willow. "Venus, what do you think?" "Huh?" Willow was stunned. She couldn''t keep up with Thane. One moment ago, the topic was about Skyler. The next moment, Thane was talking about her. She pondered Thane''s words carefully and responded politely, "I''m not sure." Thane became more excited. "Venus, you muste to the audition tomorrow. I''ve been looking forward to your dance again!" Willow didn''t want to participate in any audition, let alone dance for Thane. She was just about to decline his invitation when he poured himself another ss of wine and poured her a ss as well. "I wish you sess in tomorrow''s audition!"N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. With that, he finished the wine in his ss. Since Thane had finished his drink, Willow would be considered rude if e she didn''t drink at least a sip. Chapter 174 However, she couldn''t handle alcohol with her stomach like this. After some thought, she decided to take a small sip of the wine andm excuse herself to the restroom to spit it outter. When her lips touched the ss, Kenan took away the ss in her hand. He smiled warmly and said, "How could I let her drink when I''m here?" Kenan finished the wine in the ss. "Thane, do you think I''minvisible?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Thane looked frustrated, and he suddenly smacked his forehead. "I''m sorry, Kenny. It was my fault! How could I let this beautifuldy drink alcohol?" "I wasn''t considerate enough, beautiful Venus. I''ll take a shot to make up for it!" Kenan stopped fooling around after cing the wine ss in front of him. With an intense gaze, he said, "Willow, you don''t have to do what you don''t like in front of me. That''s because I''ll always have your back." Meanwhile, Zayn red darkly at the wine ss in front of Kenan. They kissed Indirectly again through the wine ss. However, Willow and Kenan had probably kissed each other many times. This indirect kiss probably didn''t mean anything to them. Besides, Kenan had already said that a man couldn''t let the woman he loved drink in his presence. Yet Zayn had forced Willow to drink with a group of old men. Zayn felt ufortable the more he thought about it. He wondered if Kenan did not consider him a real man.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Then, he became infuriated when he saw how moved Willow was because of Kenan''s actions. He wondered how a flirtatious woman like Willow could be deceived so easily. "Zayn? Zayn, what''s wrong with you? Calm down, Zayn!" Zayn only came to his senses when Thane started yelling loudly. The former had instinctively crushed the wine ss in his hands, and his palms were filled with blood. On the other hand, Thane was stunned by his friend''s actions. He hurriedly approached Zayn and grabbed thetter''s hands. Once he saw the deep wounds, Thane shouted, "What''s wrong, Zayn? Why did you take things too hard and cut yourself? "I saw Ss this afternoon! He was drunk and held a broken wine ss in his hands. He didn''t even know that he was bleeding! Do all men from Marley enjoy harming themselves?" Thane boldly nced at Zayn''s palms again. "Zayn, can I ask you a question? Do you feel very excited when you self-harm? Does it feel good?" own was Zayn was already feeling very angry because he lost control of his feelings due to the promiscuous woman. He became angrier since Thane kept talking after that. Then, he gave thetter a ss shard expressionlessly. "You can try it yourself!" Seeing Zayn was about to turn violent again, Thane hurriedly threw the ss shard away. Chapte: 175 "Zayn, you have to stop being like this! If you have a mental illness, you should treat It! Your twisted personality will bring harm to your family! Which woman will want to marry you after this?" Meanwhile, Zayn wasn''t in the mood to continue listening to Thane''s nonsense. He leaned against the couchzily. At the same time, a cold atmosphere filled the room. "Kenan, did you think Willow came here to look for you?" Upon hearing that, Willow''s heart skipped a beat. The situation she feared the most had finally arrived. As expected, Zayn looked at her condescendingly. "Speak up! Willow, why did youe to Velvet Noir?" Willow bit her lower lip ufortably. However, she wasn''t a timid person. So, she forced her sadness down and raised her head. Then, she looked at Zayn and replied, "Mr. Carter, I''m begging you to help me prove Nic''s innocence!" "You''re begging me for help?" Zayn blinked indifferently. "Since that''s a request you''ll have to be more sincere than that! "I told you before to make me satisfied. Otherwise, I won''t help Nic!" Willow bit her lip so hard that she bled. Even though her blood dripped onto the floor, she didn''t feel that pain at all. Instead, she just felt very cold. Charte: 176 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Willow felt really cold. Her entire body was freezing. She had always known how evil Zayn was. However, she didn''t expect thetter to force her to please him in front of Thane and Kenan. Willow sat stiffly on the leather couch, and her eyes zed over. Though she was still in the room, thoughts had already drifted to the past. "Zayn, I really want to eat ice cream. Could you please let me have one bite of it?" "Behave, Willow. You can''t eat ice cream because of your period cramps!" "I don''t care. I just want to eat it! Zayn, I''m begging you!" "Behave, Willow! If ice cream is good for you, you won''t have to beg for it. I''ll do anything for you. However, if it''s bad for you, I won''t give in even if I get hurt." His indifference toward her was extremely painful since he had treated her very well in t Then, Willow hastily turned away and tried to control her tears. in the past. her Back then, both of them were the happiest couple in the world. Yet, they turned into enemies who only harmed one another. She didn''t know what had happened for them to be like this, "Are you unwilling to do that?" Zayn''s cold voice rang out. "This is yourst chance, Willow!" Willow became very upset after hearing that. She looked at him with reddened eyes. She couldn''t understand why he was so cruel. "Zayn, well..." Meanwhile, Thane couldn''t stand the tension in the room andughed awkwardly. He stepped in and tried to smooth things over. "Zayn, you''re too petty! You should man up and let things go! You''ve already broken up with Venus. So, why are you making things difficult for her? You''re too..."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Then, Zayn red at Thane, which made thetter shut up. "You want her to beg for it?" Suddenly, Kenan spoke up. He hurriedly held her hands when he saw Willow trembling "Zayn, please! Please be Nic''s witness and help to prove her innocence!" Then, he knelt on the floor. On the other hand, Willow''s eyes widened in disbelief. Though she knew Kenan treated her well, she didn''t read too much into it. Chapter 176 She didn''t expect such a privileged man to behave so humbly for her. She had done nothing to deserve him. Then, Willow''s eyes filled up with tears. She owed Kenan an immense favor because of that. She wouldn''t be able to repay him for it Meanwhile, Zayn didn''t expect Kenan to do so much for darkened while Stow. So his face at Willow intensely. He wanted to know what that shameless woman did to convince ve the arrogant Kenan to kneel down, now?" "Zayn, you wanted someone to beg you for help. Aren''t I begging you Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is R The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Kenan chuckled loudly. There wasn''t a trace of bitterness in hisughter at all. Even though he was kneeling on the floor, he didn''t look pathetic. Instead, he was still the capable and magnificent Kenan. "Please stand up, Mr. Dawson!" Meanwhile, Willow couldn''t stop herself from rushing forward. She tried to pull him up from the floor. "Mr. Dawson, don''t do this for me. I''m not worth it! Mr. Dawson, don''t beg him for help. Let''s not beg him. for help anymore, alright?" "Willow, you''ll be upset if Nic has a bad reputation." Kenan looked at her gently. "Willow, I can''t bear to let you feel sad." "Mr. Dawson..." When Kenan saw Willow''s eyes fill up with tears, he felt bad for her. So, he wiped away thetter''s tears and smiled brightly. "Willow, you''re a crybaby! You''ll drown me in your tears if you keep crying! Hey, Willow. Please smile instead! "If you keep crying, you''ll be ugly. Once you turn ugly, you''ll cry again! The more you cry, the uglier you will be. What should I do? "Oh, you''re so ugly!" He made a funny face at Willow. After seeing that, Willow couldn''t help but smile. Then, Kenan continued talking to Zayn. "Zayn, please be Nic''s witness! Since we have been friends for so many years, please help me this time! On the other hand, Zayn clenched his fists tightly. His veins bulged from his forehead as he stared at the couple before him. At that moment, he wanted to chop off their tightly held hands. However, Kenan had already mentioned their years of friendship. As Zayn highly valued his friendships, he couldn''t refuse the request. such, heughed coldly and stared at Willow while he spoke. "Okay, I''ll help the both of you! It''s a promise!" "Zayn, you can''t take back your words! You must do as you say! Otherwise, I''ll look down on you for the rest of my life!" Kenan got up from the floor cheerfully and held Willow''s hands. He continued, "Willow, don''t worry. Nic won''t be wrongfully used of being a murderer anymore!" "Thank you, Mr. Dawson, Willow replied sincerely. However, Kenan didn''t like seeing Willow behave politely toward him, so he pretended to be angry. Willow, If you keep being so polite, I''ll get angry!" "Kiss me if you want to thank mel Kenan had lowered his voice as he spoke. Yet, Zayn had a good sense of hearing and had been standing near the couple. Thus, he could hear what his friend was saying. Zayn became more upset, and he looked away coldly. He seemed even more aloof once he saw Willow blush. Thane felt ufortable because of the frosty atmosphere, so he rubbed his goosebumps. "Stop it, Kenan! "Go home if you want to show affection! Don''t do that in front of me. I''m still single! You''re really despicable!" "Alright, I''ll do that at home instead!" Meanwhile, Kenan embraced Willow happily. "Let''s go home, Willow!" Then, he walked out of the room with thetter. He didn''t actually want to be affectionate with Willow at home. m Kenan just wanted to prevent her from interacting with Zayn after that. He was also afraid that the ce would make her upset. In the meantime, Willow had not been close to another man before. Sa, she wiggled out of his embrace when they left the room. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Kenan knew she was unwilling to ept him now, and he didn Pcare about her rejection. He onlyughed. rejectio If he put in enough effort in the future, she would be willing to ept him one day. On the other hand, though their rtionship was innocent, Zayn still felt offended by their actions. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Zayn wondered if Kenan and Willow would be affectionate to each other at home. Zayn couldn''t stay in the room any longer. He seemed almost possessed as he grabbed his car keys. He tailed after Willow and Kenan, who were heading to Bordello. Meanwhile, Kenan knew that Willow had not eaten dinner. As such, he decided to cook some tasty dishes for her at Bordello. After parking the car in the neighborhood, he asked Willow if there were any ingredients in her house. Thetter thought he was hungry and wanted to find some food in the apartment. So, Willow told him truthfully that there were no ingredients at home. It was troublesome to buy the ingredients and cook them. However, Kenan felt that the food from outside was a little unsanitary. Since Willow was in bad health, he wanted her to eat healthier food. In the end, he decided to buy some ingredients at a grocery store near the neighborhood with her. It was a short distance away from Willow''s apartment. So, they didn''t drive and walked there instead. Though Willow had already expressed disinterest in the audition the next day, Kenan kept convincing her to try it. "Willow, just try it. I think the advertisement is creative and good. It suits you." "Mr. Dawson, I don''t know how to act, and I can only dance, so I can''t shoot the advertisement. Besides, I''m not a celebrity, which won''t be suitable for this." "Willow, Legends is a top-tier global brand. So, it doesn''t need celebrities to advertise for them. I hope Legends'' brand ambassador has apatible aura with our perfumes. "Willow, although Legends is Dawson Group''s fragrance brand, I''m inviting you to the audition not because I like you. Instead, I feel you''ll fit our artistic concept well." "Mr. Dawson, thank you for your kindness. I." Actually, Willow wanted to tell him that she was already dying. Hence, there wasn''t a need for her to work so hard. 1 But those words were too negative, and she didn''t want to spread her negativity to him.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. After thinking about it, she said gently, "Mr. Dawson, I don''t like facing the cameras. Nor can I act at all. I''m afraid others will criticize me for myck of acting skills. That would be embarrassing!" "What do you mean, Willow? You''re skilled in acting!" To Kenan, Willow was the best in everything. He wouldn''t allow her to belittle herself. Then, Willow wanted to reject Kenan again, but she saw a ck van speeding in their direction. That van Chapter 178 seemed to be driving toward them on purpose. Willow''s expression changed. She hurriedly pushed Kenan away."Mr. Dawson, please leavel" The van was speeding very fast, and her weak body couldn''t avoid it in ve time. But Kenan could dodge it easily. After hearing that, Kenan noticed the ck van as well. He knew that he would be safe if he moved away. However, Willow would be badly injured. Meanwhile, if he pulled Willow away with him, they wouldn''t be fast enough to avoid the van. As such, he dashed over and shoved Willow away. Kenan was hit by the van,nding on the ground heavily. His blood spurted everywhere. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 179 Chapter 179 "Mr. Dawson!" Willow screamed in pain and dashed toward Kenan wildly. She realized that the van was going to run him over again after the driver noticed that Kenan was still alive. However, a ck Koenigsegg approached them from a nearby alley. The van driver, who was wearing a mask, narrowed his eyes. He didn''t stay there any longer and hurriedly drove away. Willow stared at Kenan dazedly. Thetter was lying in a pool of blood. For a brief moment, she could only see the red blood all around her. The scene reminded her of when Skyler hired a van to run over Jett. Thus, she could recognize easily that the van that hit Kenan was sent by Skyler as well. It wasn''t an ordinary car ident. Instead, it was a nned murder. Willow knew that Skyler hurt her and wanted her to die a terrible death. Yet Kenan was thetter''s biological brother. But Kenan was beside Willow. Willow wondered if Skyler wasn''t worried about identally hitting Kenan. But Skyler had already harmed her brother. Not only did she harm Kenan, but she also tried to murder her own mother, Caroline. Thetter had not woken up since then. Skyler was ruthless for hurting her family members in cold blood. "Mr. Dawson!" Willow rushed over to Kenan. She wanted to hug him but was too afraid to do so. His injuries looked very severe. Willow was afraid that by hugging him, Kenan would hurt even more. Willow wanted to call an ambnce. However, Zayn, who had gotten out of the Koenigsegg, had already called them. So, she didn''t do that. She could only hold on to Kenan''s hand tightly and give him some warmth. "Mr. Dawson, you have to hold on! Nothing bad should happen to you! You can''t be harmed!" Kenan was such a great man. He should have had a peaceful and healthy life instead of encountering such bad luck. "Don''t cry, Willow..." Meanwhile, Kenan tried to raise his hand and wipe away Willow''s tears. Yet, he didn''t have the strength to do so. When Willow realized what he was trying to do, she gently ced his hand on her face. Then, she wiped away her tears with his hand and held his palm against her cheek. "Mr. Dawson, I won''t cry. So long as you''re alright, I won''t cry." Chapter 179 "Willow, please attend the audition. Your dream is to be a great perfumer. Even if you can''t make your own perfumes, at least it''ll be a step to fulfilling that goal. "Willow, I hope you''ll love yourself. You will shine brightly even in thest moments of your life." "I''ll attend the audition!" Though Willow didn''t want to make Kenan sad by crying, her tears couldn''t stop falling.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. "Mr. Dawson, I''ll agree to everything if it means you''ll be alright! I''Hoven myself. You must love yourself too, okay?" "Alright." Kenan forced a smile. Although that smile was slightly stiff, his youthful face still looked cheerful. "Willow, promise me one thing, okay?" After that, Willow hurriedly nodded without any hesitation Mr Dawson, I promise you. V said f''ll agree to En anything, no matter what you say." "Willow, if I survive this ident, let''s be together, alright? Marry me, and be my beautiful bride. "I know that you have a lot of worries. But a healthy person can get into an ident at any time. It''ll be a pity to waste our time worrying about when we''ll die!" Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Willow nodded vigorously.. "I promise you, Mr. Dawson! You have to be alright. I''ll marry you so long as you''re alright! We''ll live in the moment for now!" On the other hand, Zayn felt very sad when he saw his good friend lying in a pool of blood. Yet he couldn''t control the rage in his heart once he heard Willow''s promise. He didn''t understand how his woman could marry another man. Kenan''s breathing turned weaker. His eyelids were closing. After hearing Willow''s voice, he opened his eyes with much difficulty. His voice was very soft, and he kept pausing. "Willow... Can you... Can you kiss me?" "Okay!" Willow nodded and leaned over. Her tears rolled down to her lips as she kissed Kenan''s forehead. That kiss was devoid of lust, but it was full of emotion. This made Zayn clench his fists in jealousy. Just then, Willow realized that Kenan had lost all consciousness. "Mr. Dawson!" Her lips slowly left Kenan''s forehead. She trembled and checked his nose for signs of breathing. However, perhaps she was too nervous, for she couldn''t feel him breathing at all. Then, she raised her head and observed her surroundings anxiously. She didn''t see an ambnce anywhere and only noticed Zayn standing coldly in front of her. "Mr. Carter, please. Please help me check if Mr. Dawson is still breathing or not, I..." Willow was sobbing so hard that she couldn''t speak. After a deep breath, she said, "I can''t feel him breathing. Once he heard that, Zayn''s expression turned serious. He didn''t care about his grudge against her anymore and hurriedly approached Kenan. Then, he stretched out his fingers and ced them near his friend''s nose. Though his breathing was weak, Kenan was still alive. That was a good thing. Zayn was also very anxious to see how badly injured his friend was. He wanted to drive thetter to the hospital immediately. But Kenan was badly injured, and his bones were hurt as well. Since Zayn was afraid that he would harm his friend further, he could only wait for the ambnce to arrive. On the other hand, Willow''s tears rolled down her face. She wiped them away furiously. "Mr. Dawson, let''s Chapter 180 make a pact, okay? "I''ll cherish my body from now on. You''ll have to take care too and be healthy again, alright? "Mr. Dawson, nothing bad should happen to you. I''m still waiting to be your beautiful bride! "Mr. Dawson, I haven''t worn a wedding dress before. I want to wear a wedding veil for you. "Mr. Dawson, if you don''t wake up, I won''t have the opportunity to wear a wedding dress in this life. I''ll be really En. angry then!" Willow kept talking to Kenan. She felt if she continued speaking to him, he would recover from his injuries. So, she didn''t dare to stop. When the ambnce arrived, her voice had turned hoarse. But she still tried to speak.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Though she didn''t love Kenan, she still wanted to talk to him. Willow really wanted to spend the rest of her life with him th him. Even if they couldn''t be together for long, at least they were together before. Yet, she didn''t know if he would give her the chance to do so. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 181 Chapter 181 When the doctor checked on Kenan''s injuries, he kept shaking his head. Willow became really worried. She wanted to ask the doctor how Kenan was. However, she was afraid to disturb them, so she didn''t speak much. After briefly treating Kenan''s injuries, they rushed to the hospital. Then, the doctor pushed him into the emergency room. Meanwhile, Willow felt that she would be filled with despair whenever she stood outside the emergency room. Back when Aaron was being saved, she was filled with despair as well. Her heart was filled with grief and destion. Zayn was also waiting outside the emergency room because he was worried about his friend''s injuries. At the same time, he was also furious with Willow''s promise earlier. Once he saw Willow''s pale face outside the emergency room, he couldn''t control his emotions. He grabbed her shoulder roughly. "Willow, are you really going to marry Kenan?" Willow numbly replied, "Yes! I''m going to marry Mr. Dawson!" Even if she didn''t love the other man, she wanted to treat him well. "Say that again, Willow!" Then, Willow calmed down and raised her head slowly. Her gaze seemed empty and misty. Yet, it seemed to taunt Zayn. "Mr. Carter, is there any use in doing this? No matter how many times you ask me to repeat my words, I''ll still promise to marry Mr. Dawson!" "How dare you, Willow!" "Why won''t I dare to do that? Kenan and I aren''t married to anyone yet. Why wouldn''t I dare to marry him?" Willowughed. Her gaze was emotionless. "Mr. Dawson, though I''m timid, I won''t be scared of you! It''s no use yelling at me. You won''t scare me at all! "I''ll just think that you''re shameless and ridiculous!" "Willow!" Zayn was so angry that he wanted to break her neck. However, he was certain that she wouldn''t change her decision even if he tried to kill her. That realization made him extremely furious. "Don''t forget about your status, Willow!" Chapter 181 "My status?" Willow continuedughing. Earlier, herughter was filled with self- mockery. But it was different now. Zayn made her hate her life, but she wanted to carry on living because of Kenan. "Mr. Carter, are you referring to my status as your mistress? Yes, I signed the contract with you, but so what? "You can use that contract to sue me or get someone to kill me. But don''t care about anything anymore!" She didn''t care anymore. Zayn was extremely upset to hear that. He couldn''tprehend why Willow didn''t care about him. anymore. He missed her and resented her carnoMeanwhile. obsessively every day. Meanwhile she could tell him calmly that she didn''t care about him. He wondered how she could have done that. "Willow!"N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Willow remained unbothered by what Zayn said. As such, thetter could only yell her name loudly. Suddenly, he seemed to realize something. After contemting for a while, he suddenly yelled, "Willow, En you''re my woman!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 182 Chapter 182N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Willow chuckled. "Mr. Carter, you aren''t old yet. But you''re already muddle- headed. I''m just your ex-wife. Skyler is your woman instead! "Mr. Carter, it doesn''t matter how much you have harmed me because I''m grateful to you for one thing. I''m grateful that you didn''t give me a wedding." Zayn felt upset after hearing that. However, Willow continued talking coldly, "You didn''t give me a wedding, and I haven''t worn a wedding dress before. "So, I will wear a wedding dress for the first time because of Mr. Dawson. Even if I''m not a virgin anymore, or I was married to you before, my wedding to Mr. Dawson will be my first to me. "He''ll be my real husband! Zayn, you''re nothing to me. You already were nothing to me a long time ago." "Shut up, Willow!" Then, Willow didn''t seem to realize the pain in her body. Her eyes zed over. She seemed to recall the past "Willow, I''ll give you the wedding of the century. You''ll be the most beautiful bride in the world." "Okay, I''ll be your beautiful bride, Zayn." Now, Willow no longer wanted to be Zayn''s bride. She would rather marry a beggar in her next life than marry him. Willow also would not me Zayn for betraying her. Instead, she med herself for loving the wrong man. Soon after, Skyler received the news and rushed over. Upon seeing Willow, she became very agitated. "What happened, Lolo? Kenan was fine this afternoon. Why did he get into an ident when he was with you? What did you do to him, Lolo?" Meanwhile, Willow felt amused. Skyler was the main culprit, but she was trying to make her the scapegoat instead. Skyler was so shameless. "Lolo, why are youughing? Say something! Kenan is badly injured. How could youugh? You harmed him, right? "Lolo, I really treated you as my older sister, but why do you keep hurting me? I''m fine if you hurt me. But why did you hurt my mother and my brother? Will you finally be happy when I have nothing? "Zayn, I''m so upset! Why isn''t Lolo willing to let me go? I know she hates me for getting together with you, and I''m fine if she hurts me. "I was willing to bear with it when she killed my child, but she can''t hurt my mother and Kenan! "My mother is still unconscious, and I don''t know if Kenan will survive. How can I continue living?" "Skyler, Kenan will be fine!" Zayn gently rubbed Skyler''s back andforted her. After seeing Skyler cry, Willow continuedughing coldly. She didn''t know why Skyler was such a hypocrite. When she thought about the deaths of Nic and Aaron and what Kenan looked like as hey in a pool of as blood, she couldn''t control her anger anymore. The thought made Willow use all her strength to pull Skyler away from Zayn and push her to the ground. She kicked thetter''s face roughly. "You should die, Skyler! I''m going to avenge Nic, Aaron, and Mr. Dawson!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Willow kicked the other side of Skyler''s face with no hesitation. The former didn''t know if it was because of her violent tendencies. But she felt satisfied every time she hit Skyler. "What are you doing, Lolo? What did I do to make you hit me?" Skyler, the hypocrite, was about to act up again. Since she liked acting weak, Willow would help her keep up the facade. The dustbins in the hospital were made of steel. Since Zayn had not helped Skyler yet, Willow grabbed the rubbish bin beside her and mmed it against the other woman''s head. Though the rubbish bin wasn''t very heavy, it could still hurt others badly. Then, Skyler fell to the floor. Her forehead started bleeding... Suddenly, the lid of the bin fell. The rubbish sticking to the lidnded on Skyler''s head. There was rubbish, such as a banana peel, an apple core, toilet paper, and spit inside the bin. The spittle stuck on Skyler''s body. It was disgusting. Besides, it smelled terrible.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. At first, Skyler wanted to pretend to be weak in front of Zayn so he would help her make Willow upset. However, she didn''t expect her sister to behave so crazily and m the rubbish bin on her head. The stench was overwhelming, and the disgusting rubbish was all over her. She almost had a meltdown. She could only yell for help. "Zayn, save me! Lolo wants to kill me! Help!" Meanwhile, Zayn had fallen into a daze earlier and didn''t realize what Willow was doing to Skyler. He only came to his senses when he heard Skyler''s screams. After seeing the scene, he couldn''t help but frown. Then, he realized that Willow was the one who caused that. His face turned gloomier. "How could you treat Skyler like that, Willow? Apologize to her now!" Previously, Willow would have been very upset whenever Zayn forced her to apologize to Skyler without finding the truth behind the situation. Now, she didn''t feel anything. She simply looked at him and smiled faintly. "Apologize? Why don''t I beat her up first?" After that, she grabbed the rubbish bin and mmed it against Skyler''s body. At that moment, her damaged body was filled with strength. Meanwhile, Skyler didn''t expect Willow to continue hitting her after Zayn intervened. She was stunned for Chapter 183 a moment. After that, Willow hit her again with the rubbish bin. All the rubbish that remained in the binnded on her again. Skyler was injured once more. After smelling the stench on her body, Skyler was furious. Since m he chest, she began to Willow hit her chest, feel breathless as well. Skyler couldn''t handle it. ow to the Skyler really wanted to push Willow to the ground and beat her up. for offending her. She wanted thetter to pay the price But she couldn''t go overboard because Zayn was still there. So, she e pretended to be aggrieved and helpless. Chapter 184 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Actually, Skyler felt really aggrieved. As such, her tears fell naturally this time. She rushed toward Zayn sadly. "Zayn, It hurts." Instead of falling into his embrace, Skylernded on the ground. Her head hit the wall heavily. She felt very dizzy and confused. Skyler had moved toward Zayn. She didn''t understand why she fell to the ground instead. Meanwhile, Zayn felt a little guilty upon seeing the aggrieved expression on his wife''s face. Earlier on, he had dodged her instinctively. Skyler was really smelly. But Zayn had mysophobia. As such, he couldn''t hug her tightly andfort her. After that, he slowly looked at Willow. Though he was a germaphobe, he made an exception for her. Four years ago, Willow was angry with him. Thus, she drank too much and puked on him. Yet, he didn''t care about the mess andforted her in his embrace. "I''m sorry, Zayn. I shouldn''t have tried to hug you. I''m dirty! I''m so dirty and smelly." Skyler was a famous celebrity who cared about her public image. But there weren''t many people at the hospital, and her fans wouldn''t recognize her in that state. So, she gave up. "I''m sorry, Skyler." Zayn raised his hand and wanted tofort her, but he couldn''t bear to do it because she was too smelly. On the other hand, Willow didn''t care about the two of them. She only eagerly hoped that the emergency room''s door would open soon. Then, the doctor would tell them that Kenan was alright. After that, Skyler''s aggrieved sobs were heard. "Zayn, I''m not a petty person who quarreled with Lolo intentionally. "But she has gone too far! She harmed my mother and my younger brother. I won''t allow her to go near my brother anymore! Zayn, can you get her to leave?" Zayn said coldly, "Alright!" However, he wanted Willow to leave not because he felt bad for Skyler. Instead, he hated how Willow was getting closer to Kenan. Meanwhile, Willow could put up with Skyler''s rants. But she couldn''t stand getting chased out of the hospital. If Willow couldn''t enter the hospital, she couldn''t stay beside Kenan to wait for him to recover. ''I won''t leave!" Chapter 184 Willow looked at Skyler coldly. "Skyler, you should leave the hospital instead! Are you sure the main culprit isn''t you?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "What are you saying, Lolo? I don''t get it?" After ignoring Skyler, Willowughed bitterly and said, "It wasn''t a om coincidence that Mr. Dawson got into an ident today. It was a premeditated murder attempt! "Mr. Carter, I know you''re too blind to see this. However, I''d like to ask you onest question tonight. Would you believe me if I told you that Skyler hired someone to kill Mr. Dawson? "Do you believe me, Mr. Carter?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 185 Chapter 185 "Willow, Kenan is Skyler''s brother!" "Mr. Carter, Mr. Dawson is Skyler''s brother. But the person she wanted to kill was me! Mr. Dawson was only hit by the van because he was trying to save me! He..." "Willow, enough!" Zayn interrupted Willow coldly. "Skyler could never do such a thing!" Willowughed bitterly. Of course, Skyler would never do such a thing. Hence, it must be Willow who was being shameless and a liar. Suddenly, Willow no longer wanted to talk to Zayn because it was like howling at the moon. It was totally pointless "Lolo, Kenan really ended up like this because of you? Why didn''t you stop Kenan? How could you just watch him die for you!" Skyler became more agitated as she spoke, ''Lolo, you''ve hurt Kenan. I don''t want to see you. I never want to see you again! I think Kenan won''t want to see you either! Please leave!" As soon as Skyler finished speaking, several bodyguards rushed in from the hallway. They grabbed Willow without exnation and started dragging her outside. Willow desperately wanted to see Kenan one more time. She couldn''t let Sky have her way. She struggled with all her might. "Let me go! Skyler, Zayn, you have no right to treat me like this! Let go!" Having exhausted all her strength beating up Skyler earlier, Willow couldn''t muster any strength now. Seeing the operating room door slowly open, Willow was so anxious that tears were about to fall. "Mr. Dawson..." She wanted to go to Kenan, even if it was to see him one more time. But they wouldn''t give her the chance. She couldn''t even hear what the doctors said to Skyler and Zayn. The bodyguards had already dragged her into the elevator. The next moment, she was taken outside the hospital. The bodyguards nced at her coldly. Then, they stood guard at the hospital''s entrance. They guarded the hospital strictly, not giving her any chance to enter. This hospital was the most famous private hospital in Havenpoint. Rumor had it that Zayn''s cousin, Joel Harris, had opened this hospital. It was already difficult to enter this high-end private hospital. With these bodyguards guarding it now, it would be trickier for Willow to get in. "Let me in! Please let me in! I''ll just take a look at Mr. Dawson, okay? I''m really worried about him!" ni Chapter 185 Willow supported herself against the wall as she got up. She was about to rush into the hospital, but she was forcefully pushed to the ground. Bright red blood spurted from her mouth, sshing on her eyshes. The blood on her eyshes blurred her vision, making everything look hazy and unclear. Seeing Willow spit up blood, the bodyguards'' eyes showed no mercy, only their usual coldness. Willow no longer hoped the bodyguards would let her in. Shen thought of another way to enter the hospital to see Kenan. There was an elevator in the underground parking lot that led directly upstairself she could find a way to enter the underground parking lot, she could still see Kenan. Willow was exhausted and could hardly straighten her back. Yet she still supported herself and quickly walked toward the underground parking lot. Everything went smoothly.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. grow Willow sessfully reached the floor where Kenan''s ward was located Before she could enter the ward, she saw Skyler standing at the door. Willow had been struggling outside for half an hour. By now, Skyler had already showered and changed into clean clothes. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Skyler''s long, curly hair wasn''t fully dry. The ends were still dripping water. Her burgundy wavy hair framed her petite face, enhancing her beauty while adding a sense of malice. "Lolo, you''re more troublesome than I thought. I''ve even had bodyguards guarding outside, but I didn''t expect you to still be able toe upstairs!" Willow didn''t have time to talk nonsense with Skyler here. She just wanted to enter the ward and see Kenan. "Skyler, let me in!" But Skyler pressed the door handle, pulling the ward door shut. Then, she locked it. "Lolo, I''ve said it before, I won''t let you get close to my brother again!" "Skyler, you''re sick! If it weren''t for you, Mr. Dawson wouldn''t have ended up like this! You have no right to stop me!" Willow said as she tried to push Skyler aside. Skyler was now on high alert and naturally wouldn''t let Willow have her way. Moreover, before Skyler even made a move, two bodyguards, one on each side, were already standing in front of her. "Lolo, they''re Zayn''s bodyguards." Skyler smiled triumphantly. "Look, Zayn doesn''t want you to harm Kenan anymore!" "I didn''t harm Mr. Dawson! Skyler, the one who has always been hurting people is you!" Willow stared coldly at the two bodyguards. "Get out of my way!" "Throw her out!" Skylermanded the two bodyguards indifferently. She casually swept back her slightly messy curly hair. Skyler had already bribed the two bodyguards. Now that Zayn wasn''t here, they naturally followed Skyler''s everymand. They expressionlessly grabbed Willow''s shoulders, lifted her up, and dragged her toward the staircase. Willow was already in a lot of pain, and she had just been knocked down several times. She couldn''t get up, no matter how hard she tried.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Seeing Willow''s pained expression, Skyler knew Willow''s stomach was starting to hurt again. Skyler waved her hand, signaling the two bodyguards to leave. She stepped forward. With her sharp high heels, she stomped hard on Willow''s stomach. "Willow, doesn''t this feel great?" "Skyler, I want to see Mr. Dawson!" "Willow, forget it! You''ll never see Kenan alive again. Don''t even think about showing up at his funeral!" Chapter 186 Willow''s face turned pale. She red at Skyler with hatred. "Skyler, what are you trying to do?" "Willow, have you ever heard a saying?" Before Willow could respond, Skyler said coldly. "Never give your enemies the chance to fight back." "Kenan trusts youpletely. If he wakes up one day, he will surely believe your words, thinking that I hurt him. "Then, he will be enemies with me. I don''t want such a formidable enemy. Now is the best time for me to eliminate this enemy!" "The doctor said his injuries are severe, and he won''t wake up fort least eight or ten days! Tell me, how En. much can I do in those days?" "Skyler, you''re crazy! Mr. Dawson is your brother! I want to see Mr. Dawson! I won''t let you hurt him!" Willow forcefully propped up her body, trying to get up from the ground. But it was difficult for her to do so in the first ce. Now, with Skyler stepping on her stomach, it was even harder. "I can kill my own mother, so a brother is nothing to me!" Skyler''s I eyes were fullof resentment and En hatred. Then, Skyler continued, "In this life, no one can stand in my way! I''ll kill anyone who tries to stop me!" Skyler''s face suddenly darkened as if she had thought of something) She smiled maliciously at Willow and said, "Willow, let''s make a deal!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 187 Chapter 187 "Skyler, what the hell are you up to?" Skyler''s smile became even more sinister. "Willow, I''m not going to do anything! I only want to get your opinion. "Should I directly inject him with drugs and kill him? Or should I create a medical ident and let him die on the operating table? "Or perhaps I should hire someone to stab him a few times and let him die in a more visually satisfying manner!" After hearing her words, Willow couldn''t help but tremble with hatred. "Skyler, I won''t let you hurt Mr. Dawson! If you hate me, just kill me! Don''t hurt innocent people!" Skyler moved her foot, making it even harder for Willow to breathe. "Willow, it''s no fun to just kill you. I want you to have nothing and die in despair and pain! "You won''t get the people you love, or the people who love you, Willow!" "Skyler, you lunatic! You will suffer a horrible death!" Willow hated herself for being powerless. She wanted to be strong and worked hard to change all of this. But bing strong wasn''t that easy. "Willow, I don''t know how I will die, but one thing I can be sure of is that you won''t be around to see it!" Skyler was about to say something else, but her phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, she frowned but still answered, "What''s going on?" Skyler''s expression became very unpleasant after listening to the person on the other end of the phone. "What? Zayn is back? And he brought Quintus? They''re going to take turns guarding Kenan? Alright, for now, don''t act rashly!" Skyler''s mood turned sour after she received the call, but Willow felt a sense of relief wash over her. Although she was starting to dislike Zayn, she had to admit that Skyler wouldn''t dare do anything to Kenan with Zayn around. Moreover, she had heard Kenan mention that although Quintus was his assistant, he was more like at brother to Kenan. With Quintus around, she felt reassured. From Skyler''s words, Kenan''s injuries were severe but not life-threatening. As long as he could live well, it was enough Even if she couldn''t see him for a while, she would be content as long as he was safe and healthy. Perhaps afraid of being seen by Zayn, Skyler didn''t dare to continue torturing Willow. She hurriedly stopped stomping on Willow and scurried toward Kenan''s ward. Chapter 187 Willow was finally free. She felt the air around her be fresher. She held onto the nearby door and crawled up from the ground, struggling toward the elevator. As the elevator doors opened, she couldn''t help but turn her head, her gaze fixated on the direction of Kenan''s ward. Willow prayed for Kenan''s speedy recovery. She knew he would visit her when he was better. Willow also silently promised to take care of herself when he was not around, She would also not disappoint Kenan by attending the audition. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Both of them had to be well. After all, Willow would never break her promise to Ke to Kenan. When herom he became conscious, she would wear a beautiful dress and be his bride. If she decided not to attend the audition, that would be fine. But since she had made up her mind to go, she would give it her best shot. Most importantly, Skyler would also be there. Willow didn''t want Skyler to be too smug about Mllow''splexion did not look well recently due to her illness, but her skin was still good. Chapter 188 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Willow''s skin was truly exceptional. As people age, it''smon for spots or e scars to appear on their faces. However, Willow''s face had no spots, e scars, or evenrge pores. She put on light makeup and added some blush, and Instantly, herplexion looked great. Her face looked even more delicate and wless. The wound on her forehead hadn''t fully healed. But it was barely noticeable after applying concealer. Furthermore, Wynn''s ointment was very effective. With a few more applications, the scar on her forehead would likely disappearpletely. But the wound on her body still hurt asionally, and she always felt fatigued. She hoped it wouldn''t affect her dance performance. The audition was held on the top floor of the Dawson Group building. When Willow arrived, Skyler, Wilhelmina, and several other actresses were already there. Lately, Zayn had sidelined Wilhelmina. She hadn''t been getting much work recently. In fact, she only managed to score this audition opportunity through Matthew''s connections. Thus, she was determined to win this endorsement. Skyler was even more confident. Among the actresses here, she had the highest fame, and the Dawson Group was her family''spany. If they weren''t going to give the job to her, there was no one else for the job. Skyler didn''t pay attention to the other actresses until Willow walked in. Skyler''s expression changed slightly. She didn''t expect Willow to participate in this audition. But she quickly regained herposure. Willow had a good appearance, but endorsements depended on fame. There was no way an unknown supporting actress like Willow couldpete with Skyler. Zayn and Matthew were also present. Matthew was here to apany Wilhelmina, while Zayn imed to be apanying Skyler. Truthfully, Zayn wouldn''t have bothereding to show off their affection if he hadn''t known Willow would be participating in today''s audition. When Willow came in, the first actress to audition had just taken the stage. This advertisement wasn''t just about shooting a few scenes. It told a poignant and touching story. The shortmercial would be broadcast on various television channels for several seconds. Meanwhile, the story wouldst for a few minutes. It would be disyed on screens around the city and Chapter 188 on the inte. Everyone present would be auditioning for this story. The story was quite simple. It portrayed a once innocent and kind young woman who became the king''s enchanting concubine after experiencing the loss of her family. She gave up love and abandoned herself, Instead, she would seek revenge against those who had harmed her and her loved ones. But after achieving her revenge, her beloved died to protect her from assassins. Holding his gradually cooling corpse, she suddenly realized that revenge was meaningless without him. Love was more important than hatred.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. The most breathtaking part of the story was when the drunk concubine danced among the flowers, sending off her lover. At the end of the dance, she hugged his corpse tightly, and they transformed into a wisp of fragrant mist, symbolizing Legends''test perfume line, Whispers of Love. Willow was thest to audition. Dawson Group provided a mix of vintage and modern style costumes. When Willow went to the changing room to change into the costume, she discovered that the heel of her high heels was broken. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 189 Chapter 189 At first nce, the high heels looked perfectly fine. But upon wearing them, the heel instantly broke. If it had been someone else, they would have definitely fallen. Fortunately, Willow''s body was much more flexible and agile than an average person. She managed to stabilize herself in time, avoiding a sprained ankle. Dawson Group certainly wouldn''t intentionally break the heels. After all, they wanted the actresses to perform well. The broken heel was undoubtedly the work of someone with malicious intent. Willow didn''t care whether it was Wilhelmina or Skyler behind this. Right now, she only wanted to find a way to solve the shoe problem. Each actress had their own set of clothes and shoes. Willow considered wearing the shoes of actresses whose audition was over. But her feet were too small. Even a size 4.5 was too big. The size 5.5 heels Dawson Group had prepared for her were way toorge. The other actresses had feet. no smaller than size 7, so it was impossible for Willow to wear their shoes. Skyler and Wilhelmina had their auditions right before Willow. The audition proceeded quickly. As the actresses took the stage, Thane disdainfully rejected them upon seeing their faces. By now, Skyler and Wilhelmina had already finished their auditions. Now, it was Willow''s turn to take the stage. Willow thought for a moment and directly threw the shoes in her hands to the side. Actually, dancing in high heels would have looked better. But since Willow''s heels were broken, she had no choice but to go on stage barefoot. Now, she was somewhat grateful to Skyler for not ruining her clothes. It was okay to be barefoot, but if she didn''t have any clothes to wear, she really wouldn''t have the courage to go on stage. Skyler and Wilhelmina had performed well earlier. Several judges couldn''t stop praising them, but Thane frowned deeply. From his perspective, Skyler and Wilhelmina''s performances were mediocre. He was looking for an astounding performance. As Willow took the stage, Thane''s impatient gaze suddenly brightened. He had always perceived her as Innocent and noble. Chapter 189 But now, as she transformed into an evil concubine, she exuded an alluring aura. The king could have fallen for her beauty, leading to the downfall of kingdoms. Many modern portrayals of viinous concubines relied on heavy makeup, such as thick eyeliner and dark eyeshadow. It gave the impression that darker colors could make them appear more evil. But Willow''s face bore no excessive adornment. Standing on stage, she was the epitome of an enchanting concubine. Ximed Her delicate beauty hinted at seductive charm, captivating the hearts of countless men. No one said an evil concubine must have a face full of hatred and malice. A woman with only evil and malice could never enchant a king who had seen countless beauties. More often than not, he was attracted by the O ethereal allure of a woman''s innocent yet unintentionally seductive charm.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Often, physical attractiveness became synonymous with the very essence of justice itself. Even the most skilled actress couldn''t portray the unparalleled charm of a concubine with an ordinary face. But with an enchanting face, Willow effortlessly embodied the role, even without acting skills. The concubine''s lover enjoyed watching her dance the most. His greatest dream was to marry her. Thus, the concubine hugged him tightly after his death. Together, they danced gracefully in the flower field where they had pledged their eternal love. The lover of the concubine was represented by a simple prop-arge pillow. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 190 Chapter 190 When Willow first saw the pillow, she found it somewhat amusing. But as she thought about the concubine''s lover, who had died to save her, she felt a sudden, Inexplicable sadness. Kenan was also in aa because he was trying to save her. Willow''s graceful movements seemed to fill the air with an eternal sadness. Despite her enchanting face and seductive gaze, a hint of unspeakable loneliness lingered in her eyes. It was as if she waspletely disconnected from the bustling world around her. Even the king''s power and favor could notpare to the joy of seeing her beloved riding away and ncing back with a brilliant smile.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. When Willow raised her arms, she identally agitated the wound on her back, causing her pain. But remembering Kenan''s words from the night before, she felt an inexhaustible strength rise within her. Willow wanted to hold her head high for him. She did not want to be a lowly bug in the gutter but to shine brilliantly, even if just for once. Her feet were delicate and petite, smaller than an adult''s palm. Her skin was so white and fair that she seemed to have emerged from a ray of light. This captivating sight left the audience spellbound, both men and women alike. Matthew knew Wilhelmina disliked Willow. He shouldn''t have been looking at Willow. But Matthew couldn''t tear his eyes away from her exquisite feet at that moment. He even felt an impulse to cover her feet with his coat, to shield them from other men''s gazes. Wilhelmina and Skyler could have left after their auditions but chose to stay. They were eagerly anticipating that Willow would stumble because of the broken heels. But to their surprise, Willow boldly chose to take the stage barefoot. Her feet were as enchanting as her face. Wilhelmina''s face contorted with hatred as she noticed Matthew''s gaze seemingly glued to Willow''s face. She tried to control her expression, gripping Matthew''s arm tightly. "Matt..." Wilhelmina thought that reminding Matthew would make him realize his inappropriate behavior. But his gaze remained fixated on Willow''s feet as if under a spell. Her desperate voice went unnoticed by Matthew. But Zayn heard her and instinctively nced in Matthew''s direction. That nce made him want to dig out Matthew''s eyes. Zayn didn''t understand how Matthew dared to stare tantly at the flirtatious woman. Chapter 190 Besides, as a promiscuous woman, Willow should have known how seductive she could be. It was shameless of Willow to unt herself in public. Zayn wanted to drag Willow off the stage in a fit of jealousy. He wanted to break her legs and ensure she could never dance and seduce men again. After the concubine finished dancing, she seemed to have exhausted all her energy. Stumbling and swaying in a drunken stupor, she sobbed as she hugged hugged her lover tightly She had poured every ounce of love she had harbored over her entire lifetime into that embrace. marry you! Just wake u Willow''s next line would have been to say, "Roman, I''ll and I''ll marry you!" ording to the script, Willow should have said the same line while holding the pillow. Yet she was already lost in her own grief. As she clung tightly to them pillow, a despairing plea filled her bloodshot eyes. Willow eximed, "Mr. Dawson, I''ll marry you! Just wake up, and i''lm marry your vow to be with you in life. and to follow your soul in death!" The air around Zayn seemed to freeze. He wondered if he had heard her right. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 191 Chapter 191 The atmosphere around Zayn was icy. Yet it couldn''t suppress the thunderous apuse in the room. The judges couldn''t stop praising Willow''s performance. Although some had admired Skyler and Wilhelmina''s auditions, Willow''s performancepletely outshone them both. Wilhelmina''s naturally sweet appearance limited her to adorable roles. Thus, she couldn''t capture the essence of the enchanting concubine. Skyler''s image was marginally fitting. However, her dance moves were stiff and failed to convey the devastatingly charming spirit of a femme fatale. In the end, Willow mispronounced the name. But it didn''t really matter. The error could easily be fixed in post-production, after all. What truly mattered was that she genuinely portrayed the feelings they wanted. Overwhelmed by her performance, Thane excitedly rushed onto the stage. He gave Willow a passionate hug, his voice trembling with excitement. ''Perfect! You''re just like the goddess Venus. You''re incredible! I feel you''ll be a nationwide idol once this advertisement airs! You''ll be the dream lover of all men! "Yes, your alluring presence! This was exactly what I wanted! Venus, you have no idea how seductive you are! It''s simply breathtaking!" Willow didn''t know how to respond when Thane said she was seductive. She wondered if he wasplimenting or mocking her. Whether he wasplimenting or teasing her didn''t matter much to her. She only felt that Thane was hugging her too tightly, and she could barely breathe. As Willow was about to ask Thane to release her, two icy voices echoed at the same time. "Let her go!" Willow was startled beforeing to a realization. She had no idea when Zayn and Matthew had stepped on stage. "Matt..." Wilhelmina''s voice trembled with sorrow. Despite all her efforts, Matthew had been captivated by Willow. Matthew regained his senses upon hearing Wilhelmina''s voice on the verge of tears. He couldn''t believe he had lost control. Seeing Thane embrace Willow made him want to chop off Thane''s hands. Not wanting to reveal his feelings for Willow, he walked off the stage with a cold expression. "Matt, do you like Willow now?" Wilhelmina bit her lip, her sweet face only showing misery. "Matt, I know Willow is great. She''s beautiful and dances gracefully. If you really like her, I''m willing to step aside, even though it pains me to let go of our four- year rtionship." Chapter 191 In a fleeting moment, Matthew seemed to see himself lying on the ground, bleeding heavily and Incapacitated. A pair of soft hands embraced him tightly. She whispered, "I''ll be by your side, and we''ll get through this together." Wilhelmina was the girl who stood by him. She was the girl he could never betray. Forcing himself to look away from Willow, Matthew pulled Wilhelmina into his arms. "Wi, I''ve told you, I only want you in this life! Willow means nothing to me." As if hypnotizing himself, Matthew repeated, "Willow means nothing to me." Matthew had already walked off the stage. When Thane released Willow, all he saw was Zayn standing beside him. Thane quickly released Willow. "You''re right, Zayn! She''s my friend''s wife! I shouldn''t have hugged her so tightly! I must let go of her, even though I only admire her talent!" Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 191 The atmosphere around Zayn was icy. Yet it couldn''t suppress the thunderous apuse in the room. The judges couldn''t stop praising Willow''s performance. Although some had admired Skyler and Wilhelmina''s auditions, Willow''s performancepletely outshone them both. Wilhelmina''s naturally sweet appearance limited her to adorable roles. Thus, she couldn''t capture the essence of the enchanting concubine. Skyler''s image was marginally fitting. However, her dance moves were stiff and failed to convey the devastatingly charming spirit of a femme fatale. In the end, Willow mispronounced the name. But it didn''t really matter. The error could easily be fixed in post-production, after all. What truly mattered was that she genuinely portrayed the feelings they wanted. Overwhelmed by her performance, Thane excitedly rushed onto the stage. He gave Willow a passionate hug, his voice trembling with excitement. "Perfect! You''re just like the goddess Venus. You''re incredible! I feel you''ll be a nationwide idol once. this advertisement airs! You''ll be the dream lover of all men! "Yes, your alluring presence! This was exactly what I wanted! Venus, you have no idea how seductive you are! It''s simply breathtaking!" Willow didn''t know how to respond when Thane said she was seductive. She wondered if he wasplimenting or mocking her. Whether he wasplimenting or teasing her didn''t matter much to her. She only felt that Thane was hugging her too tightly, and she could barely breathe. As Willow was about to ask Thane to release her, two icy voices echoed at the same time. "Let her go!" Willow was startled beforeing to a realization. She had no idea when Zayn and Matthew had stepped on stage. "Matt..." Wilhelmina''s voice trembled with sorrow. Despite all her efforts, Matthew had been captivated by Willow. Matthew regained his senses upon hearing Wilhelmina''s voice on the verge of tears. He couldn''t believe he had lost control. Seeing Thane embrace Willow made him want to chop off Thane''s hands. Not wanting to reveal his feelings for Willow, he walked off the stage with a cold expression. "Matt, do you like Willow now?" Wilhelmina bit her lip, her sweet face only showing misery. "Matt, I know Willow is great. She''s beautiful and dances gracefully if you really like her, I''m willing to step aside, even though it pains me to let go of our four-year rtionship." Chapter 191 In a fleeting moment, Matthew seemed to see himself lying on the ground, bleeding heavily and Incapacitated. A pair of soft hands embraced him tightly. She whispered, "I''ll be by your side, and we''ll get through this together." Wilhelmina was the girl who stood by him. She was the girl he could never betray. Forcing himself to look away from Willow, Matthew pulled Wilhelmina into his arms. life! Willo "Wi, I''ve told you, I only want you in this life! Willow means nothing to me."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. As if hypnotizing himself, Matthew repeated, "Willow means nothing to me." Matthew had already walked off the stage. When Thane released Willow, all he saw was Zayn standing beside him. Thane quickly released Willow. "You''re right, Zayn! She''s my friend''s wife! I shouldn''t have hugged her so tightly! I must let go of her, even though I only admire her talent!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Willow was Thane''s friend''s wife. Zayn''s demeanor grew colder. Zayn knew that when Thane mentioned "friend", he wasn''t referring to Zayn but to Kenan. "Venus, you truly embodied the essence of a seductive concubine in your performance! Yes, you''re a seductress who can spell doom for an entire nation! Only you are worthy to y the evil concubine in my heart!" Willow never wanted to be praised by Thane again upon hearing the word "seductress". He would end up with no friends if he praised anyone in this way. "Venus, let''s sign the contract now, shall we? I''m certain that Kenan will be overjoyed when he hears about your sessful audition! When Kenan awakes, I''ll tell him this good news first!" "Thane, I''d like to tell Mr. Dawson about this myself." Willow looked up and smiled warmly, her heart softening as she thought of Kenan. "It''s because of Mr. Dawson that I came for the audition today." When Zayn heard that Kenan was the reason Willow came to audition, he couldn''t hold back his anger any longer. He stepped forward and roughly grabbed Willow''s wrist. "Willow, do you enjoy flirting in front of men? Will you die if you don''t seduce them for a day? Dream on if you think you''ll be in this advertisement!" Willow found Zayn''s words rather tiresome. But she genuinely wanted this role. She only feared that Zayn might try to sabotage her. "Flirting?" Thane clearly disagreed with Zayn''s words, his handsome face showing dissatisfaction.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Zayn, that''s a bit too harsh! Venus'' performance is art! It''s art, do you understand? I won''t let you tarnish art!" "Having this flirtatious woman perform is a real disgrace to art!" "Zayn, it''s ungentlemanly to speak about your ex-girlfriend like that! Rtionships are about destiny. "Even if it doesn''t work out, people should wish each other well. Zayn, you''re always picking on Venus. It''s not very manly of you!" "Say that again?" Thane felt that men who bully their ex-girlfriends were awful. But he was scared of Zayn''s anger, so he didn''t argue with him. Heughed dryly. "What did ''say? Why can''t I remember anything? Do I have amnesia or something?" "Willow, quit this audition!" Zayn ordered coldly, leaving no room for negotiation. Chapter 192 He really didn''t want Willow to be in the advertisement. Thinking of men holding pictures and having dirty thoughts of Willow made him furious. Thane was afraid of Zayn, but he was even more afraid Willow might give up. After all, finding the perfect enchanting concubine in his heart was very hard. Thane bravely said, "Zayn, Kenan said I have the final say in this audition! You can''t interfere!" say in thhs audition "Venus broke up with you. It''s not a reason to hurt her career! Zayn, an man should be mature, even after a breakup! You''re so twisted because she left you once..." "Thane!" Thane fearfully covered his mouth. "Okay! Okay! I''ll be quiet! I''m mute!" Skyler saw that Zayn didn''t want Willow in the advertisement, so she quickly grabbed his arm. Skyler said, "Zayn, I know you don''t want to see Willow''s face. N''s face. I have a perfect solution that keep''s Willow''s face hidden and makes the advertisement sessful." Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 197 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 193 Chapter 193 "What''s this perfect solution?" Thane asked without thinking. Skyler straightened her shoulders, acting like a top celebrity. "Thane, I think Willow can be my dance double. She''ll dance, but I''ll do the parts that show my facel Skyler didn''t like Willow, but she had to admit her dancing was captivating. It would be hard to scout for someone as talented as her in the whole country.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. She wanted to endorse "Whispers of Love" and make the advertisement sessful. So, the best solution was to have Willow as her dance double. After all, when the face was revealed as hers, any praise for the dancing would automatically go to her. Skyler would effortlessly gain a bunch of new fans. Thane remained silent, looking at Skyler''s face with a pensive expression. Skyler thought he was considering her idea, so she continued, "Thane, though I''m not a top star, I''m still well-known. "My reputation and work speak for themselves. I''m a better fit for a luxury brand than an unknown rookie! "Please consider my suggestion! Endorsing luxury goods with a rookie like Willow is too risky!" Thane kept looking deeply into her face. His gaze held a hint of intense emotion. Seeing his expression, Skyler became confident in her idea. Thane finally spoke, but his words didn''t match Skyler''s expectations. He taunted, "Skyler, why would I choose you over Venus, who has a much more beautiful face? Do you think there''s something wrong with my eyes, or is it your brain?'' Skyler''s face changed dramatically. She never imagined Thane would embarrass her in front of Zayn. She was too shocked and upset to know what to say. Thane continued, "Oh, Skyler, even if there''s something wrong with your brain, there''s nothing wrong with my eyes! With Venus here, I''d never choose someone as in-looking as you!" When Thane called her in-looking, Skyler was so angry her eyes nearly popped out. Everyone who saw her praised her beauty. Thane couldn''t consider her as average. Skyler nced around. Fortunately, the crowd had dispersed, and no one noticed their conversation Otherwise, she would have no dignity. "Thane, you''ve gone too far today!" After receiving a warning look from Zayn, Thane quickly covered his mouth. But after a few seconds, he still muttered, "I''m just telling the truth." Women care most about their image in front of men they love. Thane had embarrassed Skyler in front of Chapter 193 Zayn, upsetting her. With tears in her eyes, her mean face showed a pitiful expression Zayn, am really that ugly?" "Skyler, you''re the most beautiful in my heart," Zayn said, expressionless. Although he spoke to Skyler, his gaze remained fixed on Willow as if m e. dering war on her. Willow kept telling herself she didn''t care, but her heart ached. Chapter 94 Chapter 194 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Love had made Skyler the epitome of beauty. Skyler was beautiful in Zayn''s heart because he loved her so much. "Zayn, thank you." Skyler snuggled contentedly in Zayn''s embrace. Willow didn''t want to see them showing off their affection. After confirming the contract signing and filming schedule with Thane, she turned and left. Actually, Thane wanted to sign the contract with Willow Immediately. But he needed to adjust some contract details as she wasn''t a well-known actress. He could only schedule the contract signing for the next day. Skyler knew she couldn''t win this endorsement by arguing with Thane. Only Zayn could help her, but he showed no interest in intervening further. Since Skyler did not want to appear too opportunistic, she decided to snatch the endorsement herself. A brand emphasizing a positive image would never choose a spokesperson with a tarnished reputation. If the world knew about Willow''s dirty secrets, Thane wouldn''t risk using her. With that thought in mind, a sinister smile tugged at the corners of Skyler''s lips. She wanted Willow to bepletely ruined before she even became famous. Willow was deeply concerned about Kenan''s condition. Although she had interacted with Quintus a few times, she didn''t have his phone number to contact him. She knew Quintus would let her see Kenan in the hospital room. However, the bodyguards were stationed at the hospital entrance and the underground'' parking lot. It made it impossible for her to go directly to the hospital room. After leaving Dawson Group''s building. Willow bought Nic''s favorite daisies and visited her grave. Willow couldn''t find Nic''s body. Hence, she had to bury her bloodstained boots just like she buried Aaron''s clothes Nic had no rtives in Havenpoint except her grandmother, who had been sent abroad by Ss. Thus, her funeral was simple. Today was Nic''s 22nd birthday. They had promised to celebrate each other''s birthdays every year. This year was no exception. Nic''s grave was next to Aaron''s. The plot was meant for Willow herself, but in the end, Nic rested there. Willow bought another plot next to Nic''s, hoping to be close after her death. Their three graves, positioned so close together, would unite them eternally.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Nic''s photo on the gravestone showed her radiant smile, like the most beautiful spring flower. Yet, Chapter 194 such a wonderful girl perished in despair and silence. "Nic, I''m sorry. I still haven''t avenged you. Your murder charge has been cleared, but Sylvia found a E scapegoat. She''s unscathed for now. by Aaron, "Nic, I wish I could live longer to n and avenge you, Aaron, and Grandma. Be happy down there. Don''t shed tears for scumbags anymore. "It''s not worth it. I won''t cry for scumbags anymore." Willow ced the flowers in front of the grave. She reluctantly turned away and walked toward the cemetery exit. The chilly wind made her instinctively pull her clothes tighter around her, trying to ward off the cold. She recognized them immediately. It was them who drove Nic to suicide. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Willow gritted her teeth, wishing she could rush forward and tear those disgusting men into pieces. But she still had her wits about her and knew she couldn''t act recklessly.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. The men blocking her path looked menacing. Willow''s priority was to escape the situation. She had promised Kenan that she would cherish herself and not y games with her life. It seemed she couldn''t pass them, and Willow had no intention of confronting them either. She turned around and headed toward the other fork in the road. She didn''t believe she had run into these men by chance. It was clear they were acting on someone else''s orders. One of the men held a camera. When she looked up earlier, he had waved the camera at her with a sly grin. Willow''s stomach began to ache again. Despite this, she continued to run away desperately. She was almost there. Once she reached the cemetery, there would be people she could turn to for help. She could even call the police and report that these four men were harassing her Last time, Willow had also reported Nic''s incident to the police. But these four men told the police the same story, iming that Nic had led them on. Without any evidence, she couldn''t bring them to justice. This time, if she could hold on until she reached the gate, people would see these four men chasing her. Then, they wouldn''t be able to escape the police. "Hey,dy. Why are you running away? We only want to have some fun with you!" A lewd and sinister voice echoed behind Willow, sending shivers down her spine. It caused her to quicken her pace involuntarily. The cold wind blew, tousling Willow''s hair. She paled further. It made her dizzy, and she nearly copsed. But the thought of ending up like Nic,pletely in the clutches of these men, spurred her on She tightened her grip on her phone, wanting to call for help. But making a call now would waste too much time. By the time the police arrived, she might already have been taken away by these men. Her priority now was to run as far away as she could. "Hey! How are we supposed to take your picture if you run away? came a voice. "Hey, we''ve got cameras ready. We can''t finish the job If you don''t cooperate!" another man yelled. Despite the cold weather, Willow was sweating profusely. Her vision began to blur. She had overestimated herself. When her body finally gave out, she fell to the ground. Even if she didn''t pass out, these men could easily email capture her. toer her before taking her. A rough hand firmly gripped Willow''s shoulder. "Hey, why''d you stop running? Go on, run!" "Let me go! Help!" Another hand grabbed her chin, making Willow feel sick to her stomach She tried to turn away to avoid their touch but couldn''t escape. Willow quietly unlocked her phone. She was about to dial the emergency number when her phone rang. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Willow instinctively answered the phone, and Zayn''s cold voice came through. "Willow, give up the endorsement!" Willow knew that the kidnappers had noticed her intention, and she lost her chance to call the police. She could only take the chance and seek help from Zayn. "Help me!" Willow cried. "Willow, don''t y tricks on me! Not only do you not need my help, I''ll even celebrate if you do die!'' With that, Zayn coldly hung up the phone. Willow had anticipated Zayn''s response. But her blood still ran cold. Sometimes, she found herself quite ridiculous. Zayn had disappointed her countless times. Yet she still clung to hope. He would celebrate if she died. Well, at least her funeral would be a lively one. "You bitch! Were you calling for help? Haha! You failed, didn''t you?" The man with a big mole on his face, Mico Lloyd, violently snatched Willow''s phone and smashed it on the ground. He thought it wasn''t enough, so he lifted his foot and stomped on the phone a few times. Seeing Willow staring nkly at her shattered phone, Mico''s expression became even more smug. "Bitch! Give up! No one''sing to save you! You''d have to cooperate with us even if you scream your lungs out!" "Let me go!" Willow knew that the more frightened and helpless she appeared, the more brazen these men would be. So, she forced herself to calm down. "Someone paid you to hurt me, right? I can pay you too. Il give you double the money if you let me go!" Willow didn''t have much money but she had a way to escape as long as they agreed. "Bitch, are you trying to bribe us? Damn it! Dream on!" Mico spat at Willow. The tall and thin man behind him, Kiran Simmons, felt bad for her. When he saw Mico about to kick Willow, he quickly pulled him aside. "Mico, go easy on her! Ms. Dawson said we needed to take photos of herter. How are we supposed to do that if you hurt her?" Kiran reasoned. Mico agreed and gave Willow a fierce re but didn''t continue to hurt her. As she expected, Skyler was behind this. Skyler was wealthy and had worked with these men several times. She must have offered them a lot of money. Willow knew that her attempt to turn the tables was futile. But even if her death was warranted, she Chapter 196 wanted to know why. "What kind of photos do you want to take of me? What did you do to m Nic? How did she die?!" Willow shouted. "You asked too many questions. Which one do you want us too m answer?" Kiran Squinted his eyes and stared at Willow with a lustful gaze. Her skin was as smooth as butter, and he liked the way it felt under his touch. "This one is as pretty as the one before. I''m so f*cking lucky!" Kiran grinned.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "This bitch does look pretty good! We''ll get some nice photoster Mico was in a daze XKiran, how about you and I take some photos with herter?" Chapter 197 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Though these men didn''t give any details, Willow could tell from their demeanor what photos they wanted to take of her. The thought of those indecent photos spreading made Willow''s heart drop. She didn''t want Kenan to wake up and see a flood of those disgraceful images. "Let me go! What you''re doing is illegal!" Willow knew her words were feeble. But a person would do anything when push came to shove. "illegal?" Mico sneered. "Whatws are we breaking if we said you led us on? When we sell the photos the paparazzi, I guarantee you''ll be famous overnight!" With that, Mico reached out and grabbed Willow. Willow was disgusted and struggled desperately. "Get off me! Don''t touch me!" to She tried to get up, summoning all her strength to escape from these disgusting men. But her stomach hurt too much, and her body was too weak. She didn''t even have the strength to stand up. "Mico, do you really want to do it here?" Kiran pointed to the tombstone. "Although I''m not superstitious, I can''t help but feel a chill down my spine!" After Kiran said this, the chubby man beside him, Finn Lockwood, looked around and furrowed his brows. I don''t feelfortable here either!" Mico was brave, but guilt weighed on his heart. Especially when he remembered how Nic had cursed them when she jumped into the sea. He shivered and quickly lifted Willow onto his shoulder. "Let''s go and find a good ce to take photos of this bitch!" Mico yelled. "Yes! We need to make sure the photose out good! Ms. Dawson said she''ll reward us greatly if we do! Kiran chimed in. ncing at Willow''s pale face, Kiran felt a little sorry for her. "Lady, don''t look so sad! It''s not like you''re going to die! "Truthfully, we''re only here to take photos and have fun. We don''t want your life! Just don''t be stupid like your friend!" Finn echoed, "She can''t die! Ms. Dawson said she wants the girl to admire her photos when they spread all over the inte!" The remaining man, Enan Hall, sighed, "Lady, don''t me us for this. You''re to me for being at odds. with Ms. Dawson. "How could you snatch the endorsement from Ms. Dawson? Prepare to see your reputation ruined when those photos go viral!" Amid their conversation, these men had already stuffed Willow into a sack. Chapter 197 Every time Willow was stuffed into the sack, despair flooded over her, Willow didn''t want to experience the feeling again. But she was too weak. She couldn''t escape from this. The sack was securely tied, and Willow clenched her fists, sweat dripping from her palms. Right now, she hoped that the heavens would give her more time, even if it were just half a year. She would use every means possible to make everyone who had hurt and betrayed her pay! was quite spacious inside. Inside the wooden house was a medium-sized bed. Mico dragged soon as Willow out of the sack. As soon as they entered the house, they threw her onto the hard bed. Chapter 198Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 198 Chapter 198Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. There was nothing on the bed. Willow felt like her waist was breaking from the impact when she fell on the bed. She was already seeing stars, and being thrown made her vision go ck. She couldn''t see any hope now. Seeing a dusty ss on the nearby table, Willow gritted her teeth and grabbed the ss. Then, she smashed it toward Mico''s head. Mico waspletely engrossed with Willow''s beauty and didn''t notice her intention. It was Enan who noticed her movement. He quickly stepped forward and snatched the ss from Willow. With his hot temper, he wanted to smash the ss onto the ungrateful woman. Yet he feared the injury. would affect the photo shootter, so he only hit her body. Enan''s blow happened to hit Willow''s stomach, which was already in severe pain. It caused her to spasm in agony. "You bitch! How dare you attack me?" Mico raised his hand and was about to p Willow again when Enan stopped him. "Don''t hit her face! We still need to take her photos!" he reminded. The photography enthusiast, Finn, had already set up the tripod. He fixed the camera on it, looking like a professional photographer. He rolled his sleeves and pointed the camera at Willow. "Who''s going first?" "Didn''t we agree that Kiran and I would go first?" With that, Mico started to take off his clothes. Kiran didn''t want to let Mico steal his spotlight and swiftly discarded his clothes. Enan didn''t want to wait. But it wasn''t his turn yet. It was freezing cold in the middle of winter. His eyes lit up at Willow''s clothes. "Don''t touch me!" Willow wished she could rip these disgusting men apart, but she had no knife on her. She could only watch in despair as her clothes were gradually taken off. The sound of the shutter suddenly echoed in the air, and Willow''s heart dropped. She couldn''t escape in the end. And this was just the beginning. Willow closed her eyes, then forcefully opened them again. She wanted to bite her tongue and end it all. But there was no difference even if Willow died. These photos would still spread, and she would remain a slut to everyone. And she didn''t know how to face Aaron and Nic in the afterlife. As long as she was still breathing, Willow would live her best life. Willow conjured up her strength and bit down on Mico''s shoulder. She bit so hard that arge chunk of flesh almost fell off his shoulder. Chable 198 Mico screamed hysterically. He wanted to p Willow but didn''t dare Ha move too too Xwas afraid that muche He was Willow would tear the flesh off him if he pulled away. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Chapter 199 "Bitch, let go!" Seeing Mico in pain, Enan had enough and pped Willow. Half of her face had swelled up, but she still didn''t let go. It seemed she wouldn''t release her grip unless the chunk of flesh fell off. "Let me go! Damn bitch! Let go!" Mico roared. He raised his hand, but the intense pain made him lose the ability to strike. Willow wanted to demand the men to delete the photos. But she was afraid Mico would escape if she did. So she didn''t say anything and continued to bite him. Willow had always been against violence. But now, she found it refreshing to punish the people she hated with ferocity. Skyler better wished she was dead. Otherwise, Willow swore she would pay Skyler back tenfold. "Bitch! Have you lost your mind? Let go! Let go of me now!" Mico was in so much pain that he wanted to find something to pry Willow''s mouth open. However, hispanions hadn''t found a suitable object yet. He suddenly felt a release on his shoulder, followed by an even more excruciating pain.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, Mico realized that Willow had torn off that chunk of flesh from his shoulder. Willow was surprised as well. She didn''t possess sharp teeth. But it seemed her hatred was enough to make up for it. "Bitch, I''ll kill you!" Mico screamed in agony. He gritted his teeth and pped Willow hard. Hispanions were shocked by this. But since they hadn''t finished the job, they couldn''t kill Willow yet and had to endure it. Seeing Mico pull out his knife, Enan quickly grabbed the knife from him in fear of ruining the n. "Mico, that''s enough! Have you forgotten what Ms. Dawson told us? Do you still want the remaining two million dors?" Hearing this, Mico instantly calmed down. He couldn''t bear to give up the money. Since he couldn''t kill Willow, he red at her and threatened, "I''ll give you hellter, f*cking bitch!" Willow spat out the flesh and chuckled at this threat. She was going all out now. So, she wasn''t afraid of some low-life thugs. Seeing Willow''s contempt, Mico''s anger began to re again. He threw his clothes on the ground and rushed toward her. "How date youugh? I''ll make sure you cry so hard that your eyes fall out! I''ll give you hell!" "Ouch! It hurts!" Mico didn''t manage to keep his word when his wound throbbed, causing him to tremble Chapter 199 in pain. Since he couldn''t teach Willow a lesson, Mico entrusted the task to his aplices. Mico wrapped his wound with his clothes to slow the bleeding. He then pointed at Willow and said to the others, "Kill her! I want her to die in the most miserable way possible! I want her to regret living!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 200 Chapter 200 "Don''t worry, Mico. I''ll avenge you!" Enan stuffed a plece of cloth into her mouth to prevent Willow from biting again. In truth, Willow didn''t have the strength to bite anyone anymore. She had exhausted all her energy. Now, she could only lie on the bed helplessly. However, she felt relieved. If she hadn''t bitten Mico, she would have been better off dead. Now, even if she couldn''t escape the torture, at least she didn''t go down without a fight. Willow''s face was swollen on one side. Thus, they had to find a good angle to capture the side of her face that wasn''t swollen. The frequency of the shutters became faster, and Willow knew that the photos taken would only be more unbearable to look at. But there were some things that she was powerless to change even if she wanted to. At that moment, she finally understood why Nic sought death that day. She hadn''t even been physically vited by those men yet, and she was already miserable as it was. And ording to Skyler, Nic was... Nic never could have recovered from that. Just when Willow thought her fate was sealed, the locked door was suddenly kicked open. Matthew stomped in with a dark look Willow turned around, staring at the tall man in a daze. For a moment, she felt like the Matthew who had been through thick and thin with her had returned. The same Matthew who had protected and joked around with her. He also promised never to let anyone hurt her. In her daze, Willow couldn''t distinguish between reality and memory. In her confusion, she saw Matthew kicking Kiran off her while Mico tried to stab him. However, before he could get close to Matthew, the knife was kicked away from his hand and fell out the window. Later, she saw Finn and Enan being beaten to a bloody pulp. After realizing they were no match for Matthew, they didn''t even bother to pick up the fallen camera. Instead, they ran out of the house after grabbing their clothes. Willow finally lost consciousness from her exhaustion. She felt like she was still in the dungeon, relying on Matthew and Aaron for survival as Nic waited eagerly for her return. And all of this seemed nothing more than a ridiculous dream. If it wasn''t a dream, Aaron and Nicole wouldn''t have left her alone. They promised to be together forever. They wouldn''t break their promises. And if she wasn''t dreaming, Matthew would have never hurt her multiple times, even though he swore to protect her. They had vowed to protect each other forever, even if they weren''t blood-rted. If this wasn''t a f*cking dream, Zayn would still treat her like a daint flower instead of killing the child inher womb for some stupid bitch. He wouldn''t even have abandoned Aaron. Willow would rather believe that she was caught up in a nightmare. Once she woke up, Aaron, Matthew, Nic, and Zayn would be there. "Willow!" Seeing that the cloth in Willow''s mouth was stained with blood, "m Matthew hurriedly removed it. He N.O took off his coat and covered her exposed body, then tightly hugged her. He knew he should be loyal to Wilhelmina and stay away fromm Willow, who who had wormed her way into his heart. But at that moment, he couldn''t stop himself. Matthew couldn''t stop the way his heart ached for her. He couldn''t wipe away the yearning to have her to himself and be one with her forever. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 At that moment, upon feeling Willow''s warmth, Matthew suddenly felt Incredibly grateful for the wildcat that almost caused an ident on the road. His countryside vi was just in front of this wooden house. Whenever he was down, he liked toe here alone. Today, as he approached the vi, a wildcat had suddenly dashed out of the grass beside the road. He had to m on the brakes to avold hitting it. As Matthew stopped the car, he nced out the window. It was pure coincidence, but he happened to see a lone sneaker lying by the roadside. He clearly remembered that Willow was wearing shoes identical to this one before she changed into her performance outfit for her audition today. He found it amusing that, despite his efforts to rid himself of Willow''s influence, he could still remember exactly what shoes she was wearing. Matthew considered that the shoe lying there could merely be a coincidence. But it was too small-barelyrger than his hand. Few adult women had feet that small. This shoe was definitely Willow''s.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. After glimpsing the unlicensed ck Volkswagen parked nearby and the wooden house not far ahead, Matthew grabbed the shoe and sprinted toward the house. Sure enough, he found Willow there, along with several men. Had he been a few minuteste, Willow wouldn''t have escaped being sexually assaulted. At this thought, Matthew felt a strange tightness in his chest. He unconsciously held her even tighter. Noticing one of Willow''s feet was bare, he nced at the shoe he had tossed aside. Driven by some inexplicable urge, he picked up the shoe and put it on her foot. Her sock had been removed, revealing her smooth foot. Matthew''s Adam''s apple bobbed vigorously, and his eyes darkened significantly. As if possessed, he couldn''t resist brushing his fingertips against Willow''s sole while putting the shoe on her. Willow was incredibly ticklish, especially on her sole. Upon being touched there, she reflexively kicked off the shoe he was trying to put on her. Though she was not fully unconscious, her mind waspletely muddled. Back then, in the dungeon, Matthew and Aaron often tickled her feet. The three of them would y guessing games to pass the time, and the loser would be tickled. She would always lose. The feeling of her foot being tickled made Willow feel like she was transported back to the dungeon. She yfully pouted. "Matthew, stop it!" Hearing Willow''s voice tinged with slight annoyance and an endearing innocence tugged at Matthew''s heartstrings. Unable to restrain his emotions any longer, he forwent the shoe and pulled her fiercely into Chapte: 201 his arms. Willow was already feeling dizzy. The tugging spun her world further off its axis, which made her fall. Matthew not only tickled her foot but also dropped her. It was truly exasperating Grinding her teeth silently, Willow decided to give Matthew a taste of ¦¯¦É his own medicine. IX fact, he was very ticklish, too. Her most ticklish spot was her sole, while Matthew''s was his armpits, Whenever Matthew upset her, she would instruct Aaron to tickle his armpits. She fumbled around but couldn''t find Aaron, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. "Matthew, I''ll make you cry now for bullying me!" she dered as she reached to tickle him. Before she could reach him, her wrist was suddenly caught in his firm grip. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 202 Chapter 202 "What are you trying to do, Willow?" "Tickle you," Willow responded earnestly. Matthew''s eyes darkened even more. He wasn''t some naive youngster. He knew what a woman throwing herself at a man and wanting to tickle him implied. But this time, Matthew really misunderstood. Willow genuinely just wanted to tickle him. Back in the dungeon, they were like family. Tickling each other was an innocent and endearing act. "Willow, hadn''t you given up?" "No!" How could she give up without even tickling him? She had her principles when it came to tickling. Matthew''s heart raced. He thought Willow had given up trying to seduce him after clinging to Kenan, but she hadn''t. He shamefully realized that hearing her say she hadn''t given up brought him an inexplicable joy. When Matthew stopped talking, Willow took it as his tacit approval for her to tickle him. She rubbed her hands together and prepared to continue her mischief.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Seeing Willow''s small hand reaching out again, Matthew couldn''t hold back any longer. He turned and pressed her under him before lowering his lips. "Willow, you brought this on yourself. If you want to be mine so badly, I''ll grant your wish today." At that moment, countless thoughts shed through Matthew''s mind. Eventually, he became certain about one thing: he shouldn''t betray Wilhelmina. He kept telling himself he would give Wilhelmina a proper status, treat her doubly well, and let her stay by his side openly. As for Willow, she would only be his hidden mistress. With her, it was just a transaction for pleasure and nothing serious. Willow was utterly confused. She only wanted to tickle him. Why was she being kissed? Before she could figure out what was happening, Matthew''s stern warning voice spoke in her ear. "I''ll pay you, Willow. It''s just a transaction between us, so don''t you dare expect anything else." Instantly, Matthew''s words in the dungeon shed in her mind. "Wi, when we get out, I''ll work hard to make a lot of money. I won''t let you and Aaron suffer anymore. We''re family for life. I''ll never let you and Aaron be wronged." Willow suddenly opened her eyes. Was this cold-hearted man truly the same Matthew who had helped her through the dungeon? No, not anymore. Time had passed, and their bond formed in the dungeon was just a dream. "Matthew, let me go!" Willow tried to push Matthew away with all herm y with all might. When he lifted his face, it revealed his cold eyes that were tinged with a hint of mockery. Chapter 202 "Willow, you were the one who was throwing yourself at me. Ha! Your coy tricks are really pathetic! You''d better know your ce. No matter what tricks you y, don''t expect more. You''ll only ever be my mistress. With that, he smirked disdainfully and sealed her lips with his own again. Willow certainly didn''t want to be anyone''s mistress. She was about to She rify things with Matthew and p some sense into him when Zayn''s icy voice echoed from the doorway. "Willow!" Chapter 203 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Zaynnded a powerful punch on Matthew''s face. In the next instant, he pressed Matthew against the nearby table. "Who gave you the right to touch her?" Zayn''s eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a wild beast that was encroached upon. He clenched his fists andnded another blow on Matthew''s face. "Answer me! Who gave you the right to touch her?" Matthew''s face remained cold. He casually wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and stood gracefully. "She''s my lover. I''ll touch her if I want. What does it have to do with you, Mr. Carter?" Lover? Zayn''s eyes burned even redder. Such a bright color yet filled with chilling destion. He wondered when Willow had be Matthew''s lover again. Right, she was always fickle. Being Matthew''s lover wasn''t surprising. As Zayn was about to look away from Willow''s face, he noticed a small puddle of blood by the wooden bed. He stared at that small patch of blood, almost trying to bore a hole through it with his gaze. Zayn felt that Willow was utterly shameless. She was dirty and cheap, yet she insisted on pretending to be innocent. How could she be so disgusting? It was absurd that he was so frantic over her. He mobilized all his resources to scour the entire city and even enlisted the help of Theodore just to locate her possibly destroyed phone. He did all that for her, but she wasn''t even in danger. Instead, she was here with her sugar daddy. Zayn knew that this ce was right next to Matthew''s vi. "Disgusting!" he thought. Zayn''s eyes grew redder and redder as if the small patch of blood by the bed had stained his eyes. His gaze shifted slowly from that small patch of blood to Willow''s face. His voice dripped with as he said, "You''re quite something. Willow."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Willow knew Zayn must have misunderstood her rtionship with Matthew again. Indeed, her action with Matthew just now could easily lead to misunderstandings. But she had done nothing wrong, and her conscience was clear. In the past, Willow might have exined to Zayn, but it wasn''t necessary now. She believed that those who had faith in her would trust her implicitly without requiring exnations. However, those who didn''t trust her would doubt her, regardless of how hard she tried to exin. Zayn fell into thetter category, so she didn''t want to waste her time exining to him. Willow grabbed her coat and roughly threw it over herself. Expressionlessly, she said, "Mr. Carter, think whatever you like. It has nothing to do with me." Nothing to do with her? Was she serious? Zayn was already on the verge of exploding. Hearing her clearly m delineate the boundaries between them Chapter 200 only made him want to strangle her even more. He stepped forward and was ready to grab her neck roughly to tell her that there was no way for her to cut ties with him. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Before Zayn could make a move, Matthew had already positioned himself in front of Willow. Matthew''s features were gentle, but when his face turned cold, he seemed to be on par with Zayn. The two men stood together like it was an invisible confrontation. Ignoring the rage burning in Zayn''s eyes, Matthew calmly spoke, "Mr. Carter, you''re meddling in matters that don''t concern you. Whoever my sugar baby is is none of your business." "Sugar baby?" Zayn suddenlyughed. It made him seem even more sinister and Intimidating than his usual stoicism. "Forgive my ignorance. In all my years, I''ve never heard of a woman being a sugar baby for multiple men." "What do you mean by that?" "I was her honored guest at Rumpus Club." Zayn dered his authority with just one sentence. Matthew''s expression changed instantly. He never imagined that Willow would have been to Rumpus Club. She was Zayn''s lover, yet she disyed affection with Kenan and repeatedly tried to seduce him. Matthew couldn''t fathom how there could be such a shameless woman in the world, Perhaps those four men he scared off earlier were also seduced by her. Matthew felt that Willow was truly filthy. Even thedies of Velvet Noir were more noble and purepared to her.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. He kept telling himself that he didn''t want to let go, not because he cared about Willow, but because her face suited being a mistress too well. "Mr. Carter, how much did you spend at the Rumpus Club?" Matthew paused slightly before continuing with determination, "I''ll double for your losses." Zayn''s head throbbed with anger. Willow''s feigned innocence really worked. Matthew was already viewing her as a treasure. Suppressing the urge to crush her, Zayn replied coldly, "You''re overthinking it. Your money is nothing to me." Matthew was about to continue the tug-of-war over Willow when his phone rang. Seeing it was from Wilhelmina, he quickly answered the call. "What''s wrong, Wi?" "Matt, I have a fever, I feel terrible." Matthew''s brow furrowed. "I''ming over right away." After hanging up, Matthew didn''t care about their confrontation anymore. He nced coldly at Willow and quickly left the wooden house. After all, Willow had already shown an inclination toward him. Her bing his mistress was only a matter of time. Willow felt incredibly weak. Even though she was in an embarrassing and miserable situation, she had almost drifted off to sleep again. Chapter 204 In a semi-conscious state, she felt a sudden pain in her chin. When she opened her eyes, she met Zayris furious gaze. His anger gradually turned into chilling sarcasm. "Hal Willow, what''s the use of pretending to be innocent? No matter how innocent you pretend to be, to Matthew, you''re nothing more than a mistress who can''t be seen in public. You''re nothingpared to his Wilhelmina." Willow was too exhausted. She really didn''t want to argue with Zayn. She turned her face away and business." numbly responded, "Mr. Carter, even if I''m nothing, it''s none of your "Willow!" Zayn was so angry that he wanted to destroy everything, but he couldn''t m bear to actually kill Willow. All the ve could d doto vent his anger was to kick the ground fiercely. As he did so, he noticed a ck Canon camera lying beside his foot. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Zayn hesitated for a moment but eventually picked the camera up from the ground. It was still on. probably having been used recently to view its contents. Zayn casually pressed a button, and the small screen lit up again. Upon seeing the indecent photo on the screen, he got so angry that he almost smashed the camera to pieces. Willow noticed Zayn''s actions. She knew how explicit the photos on that camera were. Initially, she didn''t want Zayn to see them. However, remembering that he was no longer hers, she didn''t bother to stop him. Her reputation was already so tainted. A bit more dirt wouldn''t matter. Willow wanted to leave the wooden house and get as far away from Zayn as possible, but her body hurt too much-so much that she couldn''t even move. Unable to leave, she could only close her eyes and brace herself for the impending storm. Zayn had experienced too many bad things in his childhood and had suffered from severe autism. His psyche wasn''t exactly healthy. He was obsessive, violent, and cold, but that didn''t mean he was stupid. His memory was exceptionally good, so even though he hadn''t paid much attention before, he instantly recognized the men in the photos as the ones from the cliff that day. He didn''t know the exact truth of that day, but Willow believed those men were responsible for Nic''s death. She cared deeply about Nic, so she would never get involved with those men voluntarily. These photos couldn''t have been taken with Willow''s consent. They must have forced her. With this realization, Zayn pieced together the events of the day. That phone call was indeed Willow asking for his help, but Matthew had arrived first. He yed the hero, and she offered herself in return. The thought of Willow being coerced and assaulted made Zayn''s heart twist. She had refused to be his lover for 100 million dors but had thrown herself at Matthew to be his hidden mistress. How could she be so cheap? Zayn smashed the camera onto the ground with a loud bang, and Willow''s heart skipped a beat at the sound. His face was filled with uncontroble rage, like a storm about to break, yet his words were cold and controlled. "Willow, do you like Matthew that much?" Willow didn''t bother exining her rtionship with Matthew to Zayn, so she chose to remain silent. Zayn interpreted her silence as an admission. He kicked the camera again, smashing itpletely. When he noticed Willow''s face was still expressionless and numb, his anger red even more intensely. As he looked down at her, he exuded unmatched elegance and chilling ruthlessness. "Willow, your feelings for Kenan must be just as superficial. I truly pity him." And he pitied himself even more, Chapter 205 The only time he fell for a woman ended up in such a mess. This betrayal made him unwilling to trust anyone again.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Mentioning Kenan brought some expression back to Willow''s facen However Zayn had no right to judge. her rtionship with Kenan. "Mr. Carter, how I feel about Mr. Dawson and whom y like ismond of your business. I only hope you will Chapter 206 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Willow continued, "Mr. Carter, you always call me cheap, dirty, and disgusting. But in my eyes, you are no different!" "Willow!" Zayn''s rage exploded, nearly transforming him into a ferocious demon. Suddenly, he thought of something, and his expression gradually became cold and mocking. He nced at the scattered camera pieces on the ground. It was in a sorry state, but the memory card remained intact. As he slowly squatted down, an air of darkness enveloped him. Zayn pinched the small memory card with his fingertips. Then, he smirked at Willow. "Willow, how do you think Kenan will react when he sees the photos on this memory card?" At that, Willow''s face turned as white as a sheet, and her lips trembled with hatred. She thought Skyler was the one driving her into a corner. But in the end, it was Zayn. Biting her lips hard, Willow suppressed the urge to scream. She was already in a miserable state. She didn''t want to give Zayn the satisfaction of seeing her worse off. The old Zayn she once knew was her knight and her redemption. But the current Zayn was a demon dragging her into the depths of hell. He was her lifelong enemy. She gripped the edge of the bed tightly and summoned all her strength to rise and get off the bed. She aimed to snatch the memory card from Zayn, but she missed it. She felt as though her heart had also skipped a beat.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "Zayn, give me the memory card!" Even though Willow felt utterly filthy, she didn''t want everyone to know just how dirty she was. Zayn wasn''t actually so despicable as to show the contents of the memory card to Kenan or anyone else. He was already furious. There was no way he would let anyone else see such photos of her. However, he couldn''t stand seeing Willow care about Kenan or any other man. That was why he behaved. so harshly. "What''s wrong? Afraid you won''t be able to pretend to be a virgin in front of Kenan?" Zayn sneered coldly, like a demon born from blood. Willow felt so embarrassed that she could almost die. But she couldn''t afford to offend Zayn. He might expose the photos. She pushed him hard. Seeing Willow''s fierce demeanor, Zayn suddenly remembered the sweet and gentle girl from four years ago who asionally showed her ws to him. He felt like he had traveled back in time for a moment. In that moment of distraction, Willow had already wrapped her coat around herself and stumbled out of the and stur wooden house. "Zayn, do whatever you want with the contents of the memory card! I don''t care Chapter 206 anymore! I don''t care at all! "I''ve said it before. I won''t be threatened by you anymore! I don''t care if you ruin me or kill me. You won''t be able to threaten me anymore!" As Willow stepped out of the wooden house, she felt a sudden pain in her body. She realized Zayn had pressed her against the door, which he had just closed. His cold eyes burned with a passionate desire, giving him a dangerous allure. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 207 Chapter 207 The look in Zayn''s eyes made it clear to Willow what he might do next. She had promised Kenan that they would be together once he woke up. She was determined not to sleep with Zayn again. She pushed against Zayn with all her might. But before she could fully push him away, his furious voice. echoed in her ears. "Don''t think you can get away, Willow!" Then came the sound of clothes hitting the ground. Willow''s hatred reached its peak. Her teeth were clenched so tightly that they ached, yet she couldn''t escape. Her body trembled like a leaf in the wind. She opened her mouth and wanted to sink her teeth into Zayn''s shoulder, like how she bit the man who had just assaulted her. But even in her hatred, she couldn''t bring herself to truly harm him. Thinking she hadn''t tried to please Matthew, Zayn felt an inexplicable joy in his heart. He gently kissed Willow''s temple. But his touch only made her tremble more violently. She gritted her. teeth. "Zayn, what does it matter to you?" She knew she couldn''t match his strength, but she still tried to break free from him. After another failed attempt, her hatred shook her to the core. "Pull out, Zayn! You''re no different from those men just now! You''re just as disgusting as them!"T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Zayn''s tender gaze turned to ice in an instant. How dare shepare him to those four men? His fury surged once again, washing over his senses. He didn''t know how time passed. Willow knew the more she suffered, the more pleased Zayn would be. She didn''t want to give him that satisfaction. She bit her lip fiercely and gripped the door handle, but she struggled to stand up from the ground. Her legs trembled incessantly as sheboriously picked up the coat that had fallen to the floor. After wrapping it around herself, she straightened up and stiffly made her way out of the house. The sun was setting. The light gradually faded, but Willow paid it no, heed. There was no light left in her heart long ago: Whether the world outside was bright or dark made no difference to her. She just felt guilty toward Kenan. He was the one person she felt she had el wronged the most. She wanted to be with him and treat him well. But this demon, Zayn, wouldn''t let her go. Apart from the coat, all her other clothes had been destroyed by Zayn. It was bitterly cold, and Willow, who was already sensitive to the cold, shivered uncontrobly in just the coat. "Willow,e back here!" Zayn''s anger red even more at the sight of Willow running out in just a e cpat. He even had the urge to kill. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 208 Chapter 208 "Willow, are you seriously running out like this? Do you like men seeing you naked?" Willow froze. She didn''t want to be seen, but she also didn''t want to see Zayn. She hated him so much that she couldn''t bear to look at him. There wouldn''t be anyone around in a ce like this anyway. Besides, her coat was so long that it reached her knees. It was cold, but it was enough to cover up anything inappropriate. "Whatever," she thought. When Zayn saw her continue to walk away, his anger intensified. He strode forward and lifted Willow up without a word before heading briskly toward the Koenigsegg. Willow felt intense resistance toward his embrace. She used all her strength to break free. Suddenly, a spasm in her stomach left her powerless. Even as he ced her in the back seat, she remained too weak to move. The Koenigsegg sped off like a lightning bolt, leaving her feeling even more dazed and disoriented. She numbly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. She wondered when this absurd and painful time would end, Probably soon, when she died, everything would finally be over. She was worried she wouldn''t live long enough to see Kenan wake up.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. A metallic taste filled her throat, but Willow refused to show weakness in front of Zayn. She didn''t want him to think she was ying the victim again, so she forced herself to swallow the blood back down. Zayn didn''t take Willow to Lakecoast but instead returned to Bordello. As soon as they entered the bedroom, Willow lunged at the bottle of painkillers on the bedside table. Without bothering to pour herself some water, she took out several pills and tried to swallow them. But before she could do that, Zayn snatched the pills from her hand and threw the bottle of which he had torn thebel off out the window. "Zayn, you lunatic! Give me back my pills!" "Willow, are you so afraid of having my child?" Willow was taken aback. She didn''t know that Zayn took the painkillers as contraceptive pills. She didn''t bother to exin to him. She just said wearily, "You''re insane, Zayn." "Answer me, Willow! Are you so afraid of having my child?* Willow found his repeated questioning ridiculous. She was willing to have his child. In fact, she had only ever wanted to have children with him. But did it matter? She had given birth to Aaron with great difficulty, only for Zayn to om cruelly abandon him for Skyler. Later, when she became pregnant again, he ordered the doctors to kill the baby in her womb just to please Skyler. Chapter 208 The thought of her two children''s tragic deaths made her eyes turn so red that it seemed they might bleed. She wanted to cry. But in the end, all she could do wasugh bitterly. "Yes, Zayn! I don''t want to have your child! I''d rather have a child with m animals than have a child with you. Zayn Carter!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 209 Chapter 209 "What did you say? Say it again!" Zayn shouted. Ignoring the bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes, Willow smiled radiantly. "I said I''d rather have a child with a pig or a beggar on the street than ever have another child with you, Zayn!" As Zayn stared at her, his eyes were filled with hatred and violence. It was as if there were countless vicious beasts inside, ready to tear Willow to pleces. Yes, she never wanted to have his child. Four years ago, she had killed their child with her own hands. He still couldn''t forget the sight of their child''s blood mixing with his own and dripping from his forehead. All the warmth in his heart seeped out with each drop. Recently, she was pregnant again, but she didn''t care about the child at all. She risked her pregnancy to harm Skyler, which led to her losing the baby.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "Hah!" Just as Willow thought he was going to strangle her, he sneered coldly. "Willow, who do you think you are? You don''t want to have my child? So be it. Do you think I''d force your to? You don''t even deserve to bear my child! If I ever have a child, it will only be with Skyler." Zayn took out a wad of cash from his wallet and threw it at Willow''s face. "Don''t forget to buy emergency contraceptives!" He slowly put his wallet back in his pocket. This was Zayn. Even in his most ruthless moments, he carried an air of superiority. As he stood up, he looked down at Willow with contempt and coldness etched on his perfectly sculpted face. "Don''t think you can y games with me, Willow. If I find out you didn''t take the pill, or if you get pregnant with my child... I promise I''ll kill that child with my own hands!" Without a second nce, Zayn mmed the door and left. "Hah!" Unable to move from the pain, Willow could onlyugh bitterly. Zayn needn''t worry. With her broken body, she couldn''t conceive his child even without emergency contraception. When he cruelly killed her unborn child, he had taken away her ability to ever be a mother again. Dor bills scattered across Willow''s face. She couldn''t be bothered to remove them. e them. She justy stiffly on the bed and let the overwhelming dhandi pain consume her until she fell into darkness. As soon as Zayn exited the small apartment, he took out the memory card from his pocket. Thinking of the photos on it, he tightened his grip and snapped the card in half. Only when the card was irreparably broken did he throw it into the garbage bin downstairs. I He pulled out his phone and called Liam. "I need you to find four people. I want them..., to disappear The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Willow''s stomach was still in pain. She didn''t want to move, but she had to sign the contract. She pushed through the difort and got up. Her phone had been destroyed by those four men yesterday. She feared Kenan might try to reach her once he woke up, so she headed to the mall to buy a new phone and a new SIM card of the same number after a simple meal. As she inserted the SIM card into her new phone, it immediately started ringing. For some reason, as Willow stared at the unfamiliar number shing on her phone screen, a very bad feeling crept into her heart. Her fingertips trembled uncontrobly. She swiped the screen several times before finally answering the call. "Hello, who is this?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "Ms. Sanford. Hi, I''m Mr. Dawson''s assistant, Quintus Lane."Though Willow hadn''t saved Quintus'' number, she had seen him and spoken to him before. It was indeed his voice on the other end. "Yes, Mr. Lane. How is Mr. Dawson''s condition? Has he woken up? There are so many bodyguards outside the hospital. I can''t get in. Could you please arrange for me to see Mr. Dawson?" "Ms. Sanford, Mr. Dawson... Quintus'' voice choked up, and Willow''s sense of dread intensified. She nervously held her breath, afraid of what Quintus might say next. "Mr. Dawson''s condition suddenly worsened early this morning. Despite the doctor''s best efforts, he passed away. "Ms. Sanford, please ept my condolences. Before Mr. Dawson passed away, he woke up once. Hel said he hoped you wouldn''t be sad for him and that he wished you could live a happy life." "What?" Willow''s hand shook so much that she could barely hold the phone. What are you talking about, Mr. Lane? Wasn''t Mr. Dawson out of danger already? How could his condition suddenly worsen?" "I''m sorry, Ms. Sanford, I''ll fulfill Mr. Dawson''s final wish and bring his ashes to you this afternoon." Quintus'' voice choked up. He quickly hung up after saying that, as if afraid he might break down. Even as the screen of her phone turned ck, Willow couldn''t ept the news Quintus had just delivered. How could Kenan, who was smiling at her just moments ago, suddenly be gone? Quintus was Kenan''s closest aide, so he wouldn''t lie to her. Still, she refused to believe that Kenan was really gone. She needed to see it for herself. Kenan must still be lying in the ward. If she went to the hospital, she would see that he was still alive and realize that this was all just a prank. With that thought in mind, Willow wasted no time. She hailed a cab and rushed to the private hospital Chapter 210 where Kenan was staying. If the bodyguards refused to let her in, she would call Quintus toe down and escort her. Arriving at the hospital gates, she noticed that the guards who had been stationed there were nowhere to be seen. Willow''s heart pounded even harder. While she had resented those guards for blocking her from seeing Renah, their absence now filled her with dread. She sprinted toward Kenan''s om. As she reached the door, she saw that even the guards outside his room were gone, leaving only two nurses tidying up the bed. Seeing the empty bed, Willow struggled to breathe. But she still clung to a glimmer of hope. "Excuse me, where''s the patient who was staying in this room? His name is Kenan Dawson. He had a car ident and was staying in this room. "Why isn''t he here anymore? Did he get moved to another om op m transferred to another hospital?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 211 Chapter 211 "Mr. Dawson?" The nurse, who was removing the pillowcase, turned and looked at Willow. "Yes, Mr. Dawson. I heard he was out of danger. Is he doing better now?" "Mr. Dawson has passed away," the other nurse said indifferently, showing little interest in engaging with Willow. Willow''s heart sank. "Passed away? What do you mean?" "Passed away means he''s dead. He''s nevering back." The nurse looked at Willow impatiently before returning to her task. Clearly, she didn''t want to continue the conversation. Dead... Nevering back.. Willow felt her heart plunge into the depths of despair. Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly, falling like pearls slipping off the string of a broken ne. She desperately hoped that Quintus'' call had been a cruel prank. However, the two nurses said that Kenan would nevere back. They couldn''t possibly be joking with her, along with Quintus. Kenan was truly gone. Instantly, all the strength drained from Willow''s body. She helplessly crouched on the ground and hugged herself tightly, but her body continued to shiver uncontrobly from the cold. She had promised him that she would marry him when he woke up. She would be his beautiful bride in her finest dress. But yesterday, Zayn had vited her. Was losing him forever heaven''s way of punishing her for not being faithful to Kenan? But why did Kenan, who was so good and warm, have to be the one to pay the price? They should take her instead since she was the filthy one. With shaking hands, she took out her phone and wanted to call Quintus to find out where Kenan''s body. was. But no matter how many times she dialed, Quintus didn''t answer. Unable to find Kenan, Willow could only leave the hospital like a lifeless shell. The weather was growing colder. The biting wind cut across her face like knives. Normally, she would be freezing, but today, she felt numb to everything. She walked aimlessly down the street, not knowing where to go. Suddenly, her phone rang. She hoped it was Quintus calling her back, but it turned out to be Thane. Thane''s voice was filled with regret. "Venus, I''m sorry, but we can''t sign the contract today. You truly are the perfect ambassador for Whispers of Love in my eyes, but Zayn... "Well, he used my family''s business to threaten me. I really fear his authority, so I''m choosing Skyler. Chapter 211 "I''m so sorry, Venus. I know my actions are unforgivable, but I m sincerely wish you all the best. I believe that with your talent, you will be the brightest star in Marley and beyond." N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Hearing Thane''s words, Willow didn''t know what to feel. Anger? Yes, at Zayn. Resentment? Yes, also at him. Kenan had always hoped she would be the ambassador for m Whispers of Love and shine brightly. She had thought that even with Kenan gone, she could fulfill hisst wish by securing the ambassador role and shining brilliantly for once. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Who would''ve thought that after sessfully auditioning and almost signing the contract, Willow would still disappoint Kenan due to Zayn''s interference? "Venus, are you listening to me? I know you must be devastated by this news, and I feel terribly sorry. I sincerely apologize to you, Venus." "It''s okay," Willow repeated mechanically, as if lost in a daze. "It''s okay." She didn''t me Thane. She knew the extent of Zayn''s influence. If he wanted to thwart something, Thane couldn''t change it. "Venus, I''m sorry." Thane felt even more guilty, knowing that Willow didn''t me him. "I''m so disappointed in myself for not keeping promises! "But Venus, while I can''t decide on the ambassador for Whispers of Love, I can decide on the leading actress for my next movie. You''ll be the female lead in my next film."N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Thane''s voice suddenly became somber as he thought of something. "Venus, I heard about what happened with Kenny. I hope you''re not too upset." So, Thane had heard about Kenan''s death, too. Later, Thane said manyforting words, but Willow didn''t register any of them. Her mind was consumed with the thought that Kenan would never return. Kenan, who gave her the most genuine warmth and treated her like she was the finest woman in the world, was really noting back. Willow didn''t know how she made it back to Bordello. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Quintus standing at the entrance of her apartment. Quintus held a delicate urn in his hands. His expression was filled with grief, as if he had aged a dozen years in an instant. Seeing Willow, he approached her and gently ced the urn in her hands. "Ms. Sanford, Mr. Dawson requested that his father agree to send his ashes to you." Quintus choked up for a moment. When he lifted his face, he tried hard to hold back the tears. He took several deep breaths before finally regaining hisposure. "Ms. Sanford, Mr. Dawson really liked you. He said he wanted to protect you through life and death. Please, take good care of him." With those words, Quintus turned''abruptly and hurried back to the elevator. In the moment he turned away, Willow clearly saw his eyes rapidly redden. Her own eyes welled up with tears. She trembled as she hugged the urn close. Afraid of dropping it, she cradled it protectively against her chest. This was Kenan''s um. A once vibrant and radiant person was reduced to ashes just like that. Opening the door-which was a seemingly simple task took Willow over ten minutes. Chapter 212 With her illness, she thought she would be the first to leave this world. But now, ow, before her own time, the ones she cared about most had left her one after another. She didn''t know if she could find them on the road to the afterlife. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Willow truly didn''t wee Skyler, but in Kenan''s presence, she didn''t want to argue with her. After carefully cing the urn on the coffee table, Willow ignored Skyler as if she were invisible. Even when Willow ignored her, Skyler showed no signs of anger. She elegantly walked up to Willow. "Lolo, Kenan was already out of danger. The doctor said he was about to wake up. His condition had improved, and he wouldn''t be in any danger. So why did he suddenly die?" Upon hearing Skyler''s words, Willow realized something. Her body tensed with instant hatred. "Was it you, Skyler? Did you kill Mr. Dawson? He was your brother! Your brother from the same mother! How could you do such a thing to him?"N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Yes, I did it! I killed my brother!" Skylerughed triumphantly. There was a cruel indifference in the corners of her eyes. "Willow, I''ve said it before. No one can get in my way. I''ll take down anyone who does! I didn''t want to hurt Kenan, but he stood in my way because of you! "Lolo, I didn''t kill Kenan. It was you! You caused a rift between me and Kenan and forced me to turn against him!" "Hah!" Willow found it incredibly ludicrous. Skyler always had the audacity to shift her own guilt onto others. She could harm her own mother and brother yet still pretend to be innocent. Her shamelessness knew no bounds. "Willow, it''s all because of you! If it weren''t for you, my mom wouldn''t be in a vegetative state, and Kenan wouldn''t be gone. You killed them. You''re the one who killed my family!" "Skyler, you''re insane! Don''t tell me every sin''you''vemitted is because of me! Don''t tell me I forced you to ruin my rtionship with Zayn. "Don''t tell me I forced you to kill Grandma! And don''t even tell me I forced you to kill Aaron and Nic! *Skyler, so many people have died because of you! Why don''t you just die, too? You deserve to die, Skyler! If you don''t die on your own, I''ll make sure to kill you!" With that, Willow grabbed a teacup from the table and hurled it viciously toward Skyler''s face. Skyler had been on guard, so she was able to dodge Willow''s attack quickly. She looked down at Willow, who was panting from her exertion, with a smile. "Willow, you think you can kill me with your frail body? Dream on!" Skyler took slow steps forward, then suddenly bent down andnded her hand on the urn on the coffee table. Fearing Skyler might damage Kenan''s urn, Willow quickly stood up to snatch it away. However, Skyler''s movements were quicker than hers. She swiftly grabbed the urn first. Chapter 213 "Give me back the urn, Skyler!" Willow rushed around the coffee table to grab the urn from Skyler''s hand, but Skyler agilely evaded her. After taking a step back, she smiled sweetly at the nervous nervous Willow. m Suddenly, she raised her hand, and the urn she held fell to the ground. "Mr. Dawson!" Willow''s eyes turned red with fury. She rushed forward and frantically grabbed the scattered ashes, fearing something might be missing. "Oh no, how did that happen?" Skyler''s expression was extremely innocent must have slipped." "Get out, Skyler. Get out now." At that moment, Willow had no energy to fight Skyler. She just m wanted to gather the ashes on the ground. and protect that warm-hearted young man. Chapter 214 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Skyler had achieved her goal, so she didn''t linger at Willow''s apartment for long. She hummed a tune triumphantly as she gracefully walked out of the door. Fortunately, the um was made of hardwood, so Skyler''s earlier actions didn''t damage it. Even so, it took a considerable amount of effort for Willow to gather the scattered ashes and put them back into the urn. As she held the urn tightly, tears threatened to spill from Willow''s eyes once again. She hastily took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears. However, despite her efforts to restrain the strong urge to weep, her voice still quivered with emotion. "I''m sorry, Mr. Dawson. I''m so sorry. From now on, I''ll protect you well. You protected me when you were alive. Now, it''s my turn to protect you. I''ll be brave." Willow forced a smile, but it was more grimace than anything else. She had promised Kenan to marry him and be his most beautiful bride. Yet, before he could see her in bridal attire, he had turned into a pile of ashes. The more Willow thought about it, the more deste she felt. But even though he was gone, her promise to him remained unchanged. She would marry him, even in death. Willow had already made up her mind about what to do next. Marriage required a ring. Back then, he had kneeled on one knee and asked her to be his girlfriend amidst the flowers. This time, she would propose to him.. She would buy the ring and wedding dress first. Then, she would seek revenge on Skyler. After that, she would wear her wedding dress and go to find Kenan on the road to the afterlife. With her decision made, Willow grabbed her bank card and headed out to buy a diamond ring and wedding dress. After purchasing the ring and dress, she also nned to buy sulfuric acid. That was for Skyler. If she had any energy left, she would also get a bottle for Sylvia. The cold wind continued to blow relentlessly, but Willow found sce in the chill. At least the cold breeze cleared her mind, making her ns for the future crystal clear. She had one million dors left. It was originally intended for Aaron''s surgery. After his passing, she had nned to leave the money to Nic. But fate had other ns, and Nic was gone, too.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Now, with no no parents, husband, friends, or children left in this world, she saw no reason to hoard the money. So, she would spend the one million dorsvishly on the ring and dress. Willow didn''t like modern-style wedding gowns. She preferred Marleyan traditional wedding dresses. Hence, she went to a branch of Enchanted Moments. Enchanted Moments was a brand founded by Wynn, Caroline, and Harper Vance when they were young. It featured Marleyan-style designs and also had a wedding dress collection. Chapter 214 Willow particrly admired the designs from Enchanted Moments. Wearing their wedding dress for her wedding had been her dream since she was young. Once upon a time, this dream was for Zayn. Now, it was only for Kenan. It seemed fate had a sense of irony. As soon as Willow stepped into the quaint shop she saw Zayn and Skyler. Matthew and Wilhelmina were there, too. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Willow rolled her eyes in her mind andmented forgetting to check her daily horoscope prediction before leaving. Nevertheless, she had no intention of avoiding the situation. She genuinely liked the wedding dresses at Enchanted Moments. And with little time left, there was no need to reschedule just for a few insignificant people. She could simply treat them as if they were invisible. Willow nned to ignore the two couples and headed straight for the wedding dress section after entering the store. The designs of the clothes in Enchanted Moments were undeniably beautiful. Each piece had the power to capture anyone''s gaze. A modified version of the Marleyan traditional wedding dress in vibrant red caught her eye. It was hanging there quietly, like a scene from a romantic tale. Willow Immediately fell in love with the two-piece wedding dress set on the far right. The style of that wedding dress was actually quite simple. Inside, there was a red fitted gown with delicate pleats and golden embroidery around the stic waistband. The gown itself didn''t have any other embellishments. ore two doves On the outside, there was a fiery red, semi-transparent cape. Adorning the cape were two embroidered from gold thread soaring together, apanied by faint floral patterns. It was a minimalist design, yet it struck a chord in Willow''s heart. She wanted to possess it and wear it to walk toward the most important moment of her life under the witness of the gentle breeze and the vast earth. Willow nced at the price tag on the dress. The set was around 180 thousand dors. Such an expensive price tag would have made her hesitate to buy it in the past. But with only a little time. left in her life, she decided to indulge now when she still had some money. With the wedding dress chosen, Willow nned to try it on in th by Zayn and the others to get to the fitting room. fitting room. However, she had to pass Well, she didn''t care anymore. After all, encountering flies or mosquitoes while shopping was nothing out of the ordinary. With that in mind, Willow grabbed the dress and headed straight for the nearest fitting room without looking elsewhere. "Lolo, what a coincidence! Why are you here, too?" Skyler''s voice sounded pleasantly surprised as if she and Willow were very close. As she nced at the dress in Willow''s hand, her expression became even more delighted. "Are you buying a wedding dress? Loto, are you getting married?" Getting married? At those words, Zayn''s and Matthew''s gazes involuntarily fell on the wedding dress in Willow''s hand. Chapter 215Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Annoyed by the interference, Willow didn''t bother to beat around the bush with Skyler. She simply replied," Yes, I''m getting married." "Really?" Skyler''s voice was filled with even more excitement. "When are you getting married? Who are you marrying? Zayn and I will definitely attend your wedding." ar that she would grab a hanger and hit Skyler was really too noisy. Willow frowned in disgust. Out of Skylenan the head if she continued to face her, she forced herself to keep moving forward. Just as she took a step, her wrist was roughly grabbed. When Willow looked up, she met Zayn''s dark eyes. Layers of menace covered the light in his eyes. "Speak, Willow. Who are you marrying?" "It''s none of your business," Willow smirked coldly and tried to shake off Zayn''s hand. However, his grip was as strong as iron, making it impossible to break free. "Let go, Mr. Carter!" "Willow, don''t test my patience." The indoor heating in the store was running full st, providing a warmth akin to spring despite the biting m outside, despite winter outside. But as Zayn uttered those words, the atmosphere in the winter store seemed to transform into deep winter with snow everywhere. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 216 Chapter 216N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Willow knew if she dodged Zayn''s question again today, she could kiss peace goodbye. With a calm gaze, she stated, "Mr. Carter, I''m marrying Mr. Dawson, I made a vow, and I''m sticking to it. Nothing''s tearing us apart,e what may." Thinking of Kenan''s cold ashes and his parting words delivered by Quintus, Willow''s heart throbbed with pain so fierce that it threatened to consume her. There''d never be another man like Kenan in this world. He must''ve been one such a nice guy to wish her well on his deathbed. The intense pain fueled Willow with unwavering resolve, and she shoved Zayn away. She wasn''t lingering a moment longer. Clutching her clothes, she stormed into the fitting room. Zayn retracted his hand rigidly. His gaze cut through the closed fitting room door like a sharpened de. *She wants to marry Kenan! This ungrateful woman actually wants to marry Kenan!" he seethed silently. Kenan''s condition took a sudden turn for the worse,nding him under the care of Zayn''s mother, Wynn, in herb. "Kenan hasn''t even regained consciousness, and she''s already rushing to buy a wedding dress to be his bride. "She must be smitten with Kenan! How could she be so crazy about him? Who gave her the guts?" Zayn couldn''t help but wonder. "Zayn, Zayn..." Skyler''s voice jolted Zayn back to reality. He looked down and realized he had twisted the metal clothes hanger in his hand into a mangled mess. The fitting room door swung open, and Willow stepped out in her wedding dress. A store clerk hurried over to ask about her purchase, but the words died in her throat as she took in the sight of Willow in the vibrant red gown. She was stunning. Willow looked so beautiful that even a woman couldn''t look away. This dress was one of the simplest designs in the store. When the staff first saw it, a few of them gathered around, talking about how in it was and figuring it wouldn''t sell as well as the others. But now, seeing Willow standing proudly in front of the mirror like a blooming flower, they realized just how wrong they had been. At that moment, it was clear: this dress was the most perfect one in the entire store. After Willow got sick, she lost a lot of weight, but none of it seemed toe from where it mattered most. It was as if each pound lost honed in on that slender middle. Her waist was incredibly slim; it wasn''t an exaggeration to say it was barely a handful. Chapter Anyone with a slightly thicker waist would look bulky in that dress. But on Willow, it entuated her curves, transforming her into a captivating siren. The semi-transparent cape draped over her, teasingly concealing and revealing, adding to the allure that. begged to be unraveled just to uncover the truth about her remarkably narrow waist. Was it truly as small as it seemed, capable of driving anyone to madness with desire? Matthew''s face mirrored sheer amazement, tinged with a hint of possessiveness. A sudden impulse O seized him-to keep Willow all to himself, shielded from the prying eyes of other men. But before he could act on this instinct, Wilhelmina''s sweet voice whispered in his ear. "Matt, that wedding dress on Willow ''n is just breathtaking! I''m absolutely smitten with it! Mat could you do me a favor? Get it for me, and imagine me in that dress, bing your most beautiful bride ever. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Matthew stayed stone-faced. But Zayn heard Wilhelmina''s voice. His eyes darted her way and locked onto Matthew''s starry-eyed gaze. Zayn''s face darkened In this world, nobody understood the slim curve of Willow''s waist quite like him. And the sensation of holding her close, locked in desperate intimacy, was a knowledge uniquely his own. The mere notion of Matthew indulging in simr fantasies sparked a smoldering fury within Zayn. If Matthew dared to cast another nce Willow''s way, Zayn swore he''d gouge out those eyes without a second thought. Luckily, Wilhelmina called out to Matthew again, saying, "Matt, did you hear me? I absolutely love Willow''s wedding dress! "Matt, I need that dress. Let''s buy it, alright?" In the Enchanted Moments boutique, every wedding dress was a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. If Wilhelmina wanted this dress, she''d have to talk Willow into giving it up. Matthew slowly came back to reality. He gently sped Wilhelmina''s hand with care. But when his gaze fell upon Willow''s face, it chilled to the bone. "Willow, take it off!" Willow was startled. She hadn''t expected Matthew to suddenly confront her in front of everyone. ncing at her attire, Willow wasn''t one to relish in public nudity. Why would sheply with his order to strip? Willow was particrly fond of her wedding dress. Ignoring Matthew, she calmly addressed the store clerk nearby. "I''ll take this dress. I''ll go and change now. Please pack it up for me." Before the clerk could even respond, Matthew had already approached her and Willow. He stood tall, looking down on Willow with an air of superiority. His gaze was icy as it swept over her -crimson dress. With each word carrying an unmistakablemand, he ordered, "Willow, take off that dress!" Looking all innocent andpliant, Wilhelmina gently wrapped her arms around Matthew''s. "Matt, if Willow isn''tfortable, let''s just drop it. While I do adore this dress, I don''t want to make things harder for her. Matt, can you please ease off on Willow?" "Wi, I''ll make sure you get what you want. Nobody''s gonna steal what you love." Matthew''s grasp on Wilhelmina''s hand tightened. "Willow, this dress is mine!* While Willow did fancy the dress, she wasn''t keen on dragging out a pointless dispute with Matthew. Every minute of her life she had left was precious, and she shouldn''t squander it on trivial matters. Chaberne Yet, she couldn''t help but feel thoroughly annoyed with Wilhelmina. Since childhood, Wilhelmina had a knack for snatching things from her and always trying to outshine her. If Willow wore something nice and receivedpliments from ssmates, the next day Wilhelmina would show up in the exact same outfit, seeking the same praise. People said "twinning outfits wouldn''t be a problem, but whoever looked'' ugly would be the one who felt. embarrassed.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. From childhood to now, Willow had lost count of how many times Wilhelmina had made a fool of ?m herself. Yet here she was, in front of everyone, trying to steal her dress. Well, if she derived such perverse pleasure from making a spectacle of herself, she was wee to continue down that ignominious path. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 218 Chapter 218 "Sure thing. Honestly, this wedding dress isn''t really doing it for me anyway. Since y''all seem to be head over heels for it, feel free to snatch it up." With that, Willow quickly returned to the fitting room and changed back into her own clothes. As Willow casually expressed herck of enthusiasm for the dress, Wilhelmina couldn''t conceal her dismay. However, having already gushed about the dress in front of Matthew and sumbed to his insistence on trying it on, she feltpelled to follow through. Snatching things from Willow had always given Wilhelmina an inexplicable thrill. But at this moment, she felt far from satisfied. There lingered a nagging sense that she was seizing something Willow didn''t truly desire. However, the anticipation of Matthew''s inevitable awe when heid eyes on her in the dress managed to lift her spirits slightly. Hastily slipping into the wedding dress, she was eager to unveil her unparalleled allure to her beloved. As the fitting room door swung open and Wilhelmina emerged with grace, the store clerks couldn''t help but exchange subtle, knowing nces. With Matthew in the picture, everyone knew Wilhelmina was his prized possession, and ttery was the order of the day. But as theyid eyes on Wilhelmina now, the usualpliments seemed to stick in their throats.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. In their minds echoed a damning verdict: what a waste. When Willow donned the dress, it was like watching magic unfold vibrant, captivating, and utterly enchanting. Yet, on Wilhelmina, it lost its luster, fading into ackluster, ill-fitting ensemble. This dress was just too selective, Despite Wilhelmina''s undeniable charm and sweetness, her figure leaned toward the more juvenile side. Her curvescked definition, and instead of graceful contours, there was a hint of bulkiness. The meticulously crafted gown, designed to entuate feminine allure, seemed misced on her. To put it kindly, it was akin to a child ying dress-up in clothes too big for her. To be blunt, it was like squeezing into a tight sack. As for the once-flowing, semi-transparent cape, it draped over her like a raincoat. The store manager was quick to react, gliding over to Wilhelmina with a practiced smile. u two "Ms. Foster, you are absolutely stunning in that wedding dress! Mr. Mayer is one lucky man. When you walk down the aisle, Ms. Foster, you''ll be the most breathtaking bride in the world!" At first, Wilhelmina had doubted if she looked as good in the dress as Willow did earlier. But the store manager''s praise injected her with an instant surge of confidence. With all eyes on her, how could she not feel like a beauty? The store manager''s lips twitched ever so slightly, but her tteringpliments continued unabated. Chapte 218 "Ms. Foster, your curves are simply incredible. Just look at that waist, those legs! My, Ms. Foster, how did you be so stunning? No wonder Mr. Mayer can''t take his eyes off you!" Wilhelmina turned to Matthew, casting him a shy nce. "Matt,"do you think look good in this dress?" "Yeah," Matthew replied absentmindedly, his attention elsewhere. Upon hearing his affirmative answer, Wilhelmina felt ted. When one was extremely confident, they would tend to lose sight of themselves a bit. She continued to ask Matthew, "Matt, who do you think will look better in e this dress, Willow or me?" This time, Wilhelmina didn''t get a She noticed response from Matt way that Willow had made her way upstairs. And Matthew, seemingly spellbound, followed closely behind. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Willow knew Wilhelmina''s wicked nature all too well. She understood that if she continued trying on dresses, Wilhelmina would employ the same tactics to snatch them away. So, she wasn''t about to waste any more energy. Being slim, she could fit into any of the wedding dresses here. Eyeing another one, she decided she''d have the store clerk wrap it up for herter. Just as she was about to reach for the dress, a sudden wave of nausea hit her throat. She fought to hold it back. But this time, the feeling of blood rushing up was too strong, and she couldn''t stop it. She refused to show any vulnerability in front of these people. Clutching her mouth, she bolted for the upstairs bathroom. As she burst into the bathroom, a rush of bright red blood spilled from her mouth. Her stomach twisted with intense pain, and despite her efforts to hold it back, the agony persisted. And the blood just kepting, as if there was no end in sight. She kept retching, the metallic taste lingering in her throat.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. When she finally finished, her legs felt so weak she could barely stand. She remained crouched on the floor for a while before summoning the strength to grasp the door handle and stumble out of the bathroom. She figured that after spending so much time in the bathroom, Zayn, Matthew, and the rest must have left. This time around, stepping out, she wouldn''t have to put up with those annoying pests anymore. But to her surprise, as soon as she stepped out, barely having had a chance to clean up, she spotted Matthew standing there, radiating a chilly aura. Willow couldn''t wrap her head around why Matthew would corner her here. She had already handed over the dress to Wilhelmina, so what more did he want? Too drained to deal with Matthew, Willow decided to blow him off. She acted like she hadn''t seen him and kept on walking. "Willow, have you considered my proposal?" Willow lookedpletely bewildered. She couldn''t recall Matthew ever making any proposal before. "Mr. Mayer, I have no clue what you''re talking about. I''ve got better things to do with my time than you. Move aside, please. I need to get out of here." "Willow, be my mistress." Matthew''s voice dripped with contempt. "Willow, I know you''re aiming to marry into high society. But let''s be real: a woman like you wouldn''t even get a foot in the door with the Dawsons, let alone any other wealthy family! "So, go ahead and let go of that pipe dream of yours for good!" Willow''s eyes brimmed with tears. It was true. The Dawsons would never ept her. But right now, she didn''t need their approval. All she wanted was onest shot at marriage with Kenan, to Chames119 wear her wedding gown and track him down on the other side. Before she could shake off her despair, Matthew''s voice cut through with dripping sarcasm. "How much did Zayn offer you? I''ll double it!" "Matthew, you''re barking up the wrong tree. I''m not interested in you. If I If I won''t marry you straight up, why in the world would I be your mistress? I..." "Ten million!" Matthew cut her off before she could finish. "Ten million a month!" Matthew paused for a moment and then m continued, "Cut ties with Zayn. Tonight, I''ll have someone send you to the vi at Preston Heights!" Before Willow could even think to respond, the sharp sound of Wilhelmina''s voice rang out from the rang staircase. "Matt what the hell did you just Say? Do you actually want to keep Willow as a mistress? Matt, you promised me you''d treat me right for a lifetime! How could you do this to me?" As Wilhelmina spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks. Her expression was the picture of utter despair. It was as if the entire world had let her down. Matthew was caught off guard. He never imagined Wilhelmina would overhear his conversation with Willow. Chaple: 220 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Earlier downstairs, Willow mentioned she was going to marry Kenan, and Matthew was absolutely furious. When heid eyes on her slipping into that alluring wedding dress, the very idea of her walking down the aisle with another man drove him over the edge. In his fury, hepletely forgot about Wilhelmina''s existence. Zayn and Skyler also came up. Zayn smirked coldly. Zayn couldn''t help but notice how Willow, the femme fatale, never missed a beat when it came to turning heads. Now, she could even strike up a sugar daddy deal in the restroom. Zayn''s fists clenched tightly, emitting a faint crackle as he advanced. He was ready to give Willow a harsh reality check about her ce. But just as he neared her, a soft pair of hands grasped him firmly. "Zayn, we haven''t picked out our engagement rings yet. How about we do that now?" Zayn snapped back to reality and shot Willow a cold re. With Wilhelmina in the room, he doubted she''d dare to flirt with Matthew so shamelessly. Assured that Willow and Matthew wouldn''t be causing any more scenes today, Zayn turned and headed downstairs. Skyler followed Zayn''s shadow down the stairs. As she approached Wilhelmina, she paused. "Wi, don''t let yourself get too torn up. I know Matthew''s feelings for you are real. There''s gotta be some kind of misunderstanding here. "You''ve gotta trust your man, Wi, and not let a moment of doubt open the door for someone else. Don''t let this chance slip through your fingers, Wi." With those words, Skyler sauntered downstairs with a subtle sway in her hips, her high heels tapping out a confident rhythm on the steps. Wilhelmina''s mind cleared a bit after Skyler''s words. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Matthew. Her voice was shaky with emotion, "Matt, I know you care about me, I believe in your feelings for me. Like Skyler said, there must be some misunderstanding, right?" Matthew wasn''t one to dodge responsibility, especially now that Wilhelmina had seen everything. He decided it was time toe clean. "Wi, I''ll always treat you right. No matter what happens, you''ll always be the only Mrs. Mayer!" Wilhelmina''s body jerked. She was unable toprehend that Matthew would say such words right in front of her. No matter what happens... Was he admitting he wanted to keep Willow as his mistress? If Matthew took Willow under his wing, even the deepest love, buried deep within, might resurface, defying any attempts to erase it. And if he fell for Willow again, where would that leave Wilhelmina in the Mayer family? "I don''t agreel" Wilhelmina''s voice echoed through the room,ced with desperation. "Matt, I love you. I''ve been loyal to you with every fiber of my being, and I need that same loyalty from you! Matt, I won''t stand by while you get tangled up with Willow!" "Wi, calm down!" Matthew''s voice turned sharp, his Irritation evident. She seethed with rage and was itching to unleash her fury and tear Willow''s alluring face to shreds.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. But Wilhelmina wasn''t foolish. She knew her outburst wouldn''t win m Matthew back; it would only push him. further into Willow''s embrace. With Matthew''s heart still within her grasp, she had to act fast before he e realized his true affectionsy elsewhere. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 221 Chapter 221 "Matt, could you head downstairs and wait for me? I need a moment alone with Willow," Wilhelmina proposed.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Matthew wasn''t entirely certain what Wilhelmina intended to discuss with Willow. But he knew he had so he didn''t protest her request. been in the wrong today "I''ll go wait for you downstairs, Wi. I hope you won''t dwell on this," Matthew replied. As Wilhelmina''s hand trembled, her heart sank even further. To him, her longing formitment seemed nothing more than stubbornness. lifelong It was a bitter pill to swallow: when a man loved you, he would promise you the world. But when his affections strayed, he would be nothing more than a jerk. Clenching her trembling fingers, Wilhelmina watched Matthew go downstairs, then slowly made her way toward Willow. Willow''s stomach was hurting badly, and she was relieved to see Matthew leave. She didn''t want to waste time talking to Wilhelmina. The space wasrge, and there was more than one staircase. With Wilhelmina blocking her path, Willow decided she could take the back stairs to leave. Before Willow could turn away, Wilhelmina grabbed her wrist tightly. "Willow, I need a word with you." "Wilhelmina, let go. There''s no need to waste your breath because I have zero interest in Matthew. Spare me the paranoia. I''ve never tried to steal your man." Willow tried to shake off Wilhelmina''s grip, but the pain in her stomach was too much, sapping her strength. "Willow, you say you''re not trying to steal Matt from me, but your actions are still ruining our rtionship!" Wilhelmina, fearing her hysterics might carry downstairs and tarnish her angelic image in Matthew''s eyes, quickly lowered her voice. "You know what ticks me off about you, Willow? It''s your high-and-mighty attitude! "Who do you think you are? You''re just some discarded refuse from a man''s past. What makes you think you canpete with me for a man? "You couldn''t take Skyler''s man, so don''t even think about mine!" Willow felt Wilhelmina''s behavior was beyond frustrating and responded coldly, "Wilhelmina, I never had any interest in your man. I just hope you can keep him away from me." Wilhelmina seethed with anger. The man Wilhelmina adored like a god had been dismissed by Willowpletely. Yet, Wilhelmina had to keep a wary eye on Willow, as she was afraid that any slip would result in her man fallingpletely under Willow''s spell. But the truth was, Matthew was already enchanted by Willow. Chapter 221 Otherwise, he wouldn''t be causing Wilhelmina such agony and despair. Suddenly, Wilhelmina yanked her hand from Willow''s grasp and sank to her knees. "Willow, I''m over two months pregnant. I''m begging you. Please stop getting involved with Matt. Let my child''s father go!" Caught off guard, Willow was unsure what to make of Wilhelmina''s m theatrics! But theatrics aside, Willow didn''t have time for this nonsense. Her legs wobbled, and the back stairs were too far. With her hand no longer in Wilhelmina''s grip, she could take the nearest stairs. "What are you doing, Willow? Please don''t kill my child!" As Willow reached the staircase, Wilhelmina sprang to her feet, threw herself backward, and tumbled down the steps. Willow hadn''t seen thating. This cheap attempt at framing her was om something she didn''t want to entertain. She reached out to try and catch her, but Wilhelmina fell too fast for her to grab hold of her. Chapter 222 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 222 Chapter 222 As the noise reached his ears, Matthew sprinted to the staircase. Upon arrival, he beheld a horrifying scene: Wilhelminay at the foot of the stairs, drenched in blood, while Willow loomed above, her hand poised in midair. It was crystal clear to Matthew that Willow had sent Wilhelmina tumbling. In a heartbeat, a ferocious anger consumed Matthew. It transformed him into a primal beast, craving vengeance against Willow. But Wilhelmina''s dire state demanded his immediate attention. Pushing his desire for retribution aside, he hurried to Wilhelmina''s side. "Wi!" Matthew cradled Wilhelmina gently in his arms. "Wi, are you alright? Let''s get you to the hospital right away!" "Matt, I''m sorry I didn''t tell you about the pregnancy. I wanted to surprise you when we got engaged, but I couldn''t protect our baby. "Matt, it''s my fault. I shouldn''t have interfered with Willow. If I hadn''t, she wouldn''t have lost control and harmed our child!" "A baby?" Matthew murmured, stunned. He hadn''t realized Wilhelmina was carrying their child. "Matt, I know your memory wasn''t the best before. During your recovery, I was there for you, and that''s when we conceived our baby." Matthew''s eyes zed over, lost in the haze of his past struggles. Though the details were fuzzy, certain memories remained vivid. He couldn''t remember all the details of those years, but he remembered the most important things. Wilhelmina had been his rock during those dark times. His love for her ran deep, and their intimacy during his recovery felt like the most natural thing in the world. "Matt, this is our first child. I was so excited for him toe into this world, but my stupid mistakes have put him in danger. Matt, I hate myself for it. If anything happens to our baby, I don''t know how I''ll go on!" "Wi, I won''t let anything happen to you or our baby! You hear me? You both gotta be okay!" "Matt, it hurts... God, it hurts so much...'' Wilhelmina was in genuine agony A surge of warmth stained her pristine white dress red. Her body trembled violently, and she copsed into Matthew''s arms,pletely limp. "Wi!" Matthew gathered Wilhelmina in his arms and bolted toward the door. Abruptly, he wheeled around, fixing a piercing stare on Willow at the top of the stairs. Willow''s heart clenched at the sight of him. She''d never seen him so menacing, not even during the car Chapte: 222N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. incident. His eyes zed with a fury that seemed to swallow everything in its path. Willow knew that trying to plead her case to Matthew now would be pointless. What mattered most was finding evidence to clear her name. In a store this size, there had to be security cameras. Just as she was about to head downstairs to inquire about the surveince footage, Damon, Matthew''s assistant, intercepted her. He seized her hand firmly. "Ms. Willow, you''reing with mem Without waiting for her response, he escorted her to Matthew''s waiting car. Meanwhile, the store staff carried on with their tasks and acted as if they hadn''t seen a thing. Damon took her to Matthew''s car, where Matthew and Wilhelmina were already in. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Matthew held Wilhelmina close in the backseat. Damon took the wheel while Willow upied the front passenger seat. Through the rearview mirror, Willow caught sight of Matthew''s once gentle features, now hardened with icy anger. She felt a pang of frustration at Matthew''s irrationality. Yet, she couldn''t forget how Matthew had stood by her through four years of trials. She didn''t want such a huge misunderstanding to drive a wedge between them, especially with her uncertain fate looming. She instinctively wanted to exin to Matthew, her lips parting, but she held back. She knew that without evidence, any attempt to exin would only fuel Matthew''s fury further. She turned to Damon, "Mr. Miles, please pull over. I need to go back to the store. Enchanted Moments is a huge store, and there has to be security cameras. "I didn''t push Wilhelmina, and the footage will prove my innocence." "Ms. Sanford, I''m not sure..." Damon hesitated, casting a wary nce at Matthew in the backseat, awaiting his cue. "Innocence?" Matthew''s voice sliced through the tension, sharp and unforgiving. "Willow, I saw you push Wi down those stairs with my own eyes. What innocence could you possibly im?" "Mr. Mayer, I swear it wasn''t me! Wilhelmina fell down those stairs on her own! If you don''t believe me, go check the surveince footage at Enchanted Moments!" Willow''s frustration with Matthew boiled over. How could he use her like this? "Willow, you still want to argue?!" Matthew''s t¨®ne was harsh, his words cutting through the air like a knife." You better pray Wi and her baby are okay, or I''ll make sure you pay dearly!" Willow''s patience with Matthew wore thin. It felt like talking to him was like trying to reason with a brick wall. She decided to shut him out and focus on finding a way to prove her innocence. Enchanted Moments'' downtown branch was conveniently close to the hospital, so they arrived there in no time. Willow had no intention of going to the hospital with them, but Damon kept a close watch on her, blocking any chance of escape. The thought of calling the police crossed Willow''s mind, but she knew that with Matthew''s connections, it would likely backfire on her. She quickly dismissed the idea, Willow''s mind raced, trying to figure out how to prove that she had been set up by Wilhelmina. Even if she returned to the Enchanted Moments branch, she doubted the staff would willingly show her the surveince footage. She needed toe up with a different n. Chapter 223 Enchanted Moments was a venture Wynn had started with a close friend years ago. Willow knew that if she could reach Wynn, she could get ess to the surveince footage. While she didn''t have Wynn''s contact information, she had added Celeste on WhatsApp after meeting her once before: She decided to reach out for help. Willow quicklyposed a message and sent it to Celeste. "Cece, I''ve run into a bit of trouble. I could really use your help." Celeste, the country''s top-tier influencer and hottest female mN?velDrama.Org ? 2024. celebrity, was someone willow knew must be constantly busy. She braced herself for a while before Celeste replied. To her astonishment, Celeste''s response came almost instantly. "Willow, what happened? Tell me, I''m really worried!" Willow''s heart melted at Celeste''s immediate concern. Zayn might be cold and distant, but his family was genuinely caring. "Cece, I need the surveince footage from the second floor of today''sm Enchanted Moment''s branch on Royale Street. I''ve been set up, and I need that footage to clear my name." Chapter 224 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 224 Chapter 224 "Willow, you''ve been framed? Who''s the conniving bitch that did this to you? Tell me, and I''ll make sure she regrets ever being born!!!" Celeste''s message popped up, loaded with exmation points, and Willow could practically feel her friend''s fiery spirit through the screen. She couldn''t help but crack a smile. "Cece, I''m fine. Once we get that surveince footage, no one will be able to frame me." Since Willow didn''t want to name the culprit, Celeste didn''t press further. But it had been a while since she had the chance to take down a two-faced snake, and her fingers were itching for some old-fashioned payback. "Alright, I''ll go get that surveince footage for you. Willow, don''t worry. We''ll stay in touch. Nobody crosses Kenny''s woman and walks away unscathed!" Seeing "Kenny" on her phone screen brought a lump to Willow''s throat. Willow felt a swell of gratitude. In this world, not everyone was as heartless and cold-blooded as Skyler. Some, like herself, held onto memories of Kenan with a deep, abiding affection. Not long after, Celeste sent another message. "Willow, I just called and asked about it. The cameras on the second floor of that shop were all broken, and the manager forgot to get them fixed. I''m so sorry I couldn''t get the surveince footage for you, but I''ll think of something else." Reading Celeste''s reply, Willow''s spirits sank. Despite being grateful for Celeste''s offer to help, Willow knew deep down that without the surveince footage, clearing her name would be tough. "Cece, it''s alright. Appreciate the effort. I''ll find another way to prove I''m innocent." Just as Willow finished her message to Celeste, the emergency room doors burst open. Upon spotting the doctor, Matthew hurried over. "How''s Wi?" The doctor, taken aback by Matthew''s urgency, instinctively took a step back. "Mr. Mayer, Ms. Foster''s condition is stable now, but she lost the baby. And..." "And what?" "Ms. Foster''s miscarriage caused severe bleeding, and her uterus was badly damaged. She... she won''t be able to get pregnant again." "What?" Matthew grabbed the doctor''s cor. "You better say that again!" The doctor, visibly shaken, stuttered, "Ms. Foster... won''t be able to get pregnant again!" Matthew held the doctor in a piercing stare. Just when it seemed like the doctor was about to be pummeled, Matthew abruptly let go. Relieved, the doctor hastily instructed the staff to transfer Wilhelmina to her room for proper care. Chapter 224 In a slow, deliberate motion, Matthew turned around, his gaze piercing Willow with icy contempt. He locked eyes with her, his hatred burning like a fire. "Willow, you m destroyed Wi. You killed my child. How do you n to make this right?" Willow had no taste for being falsely used. With her chin held high, she stood her ground.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Matthew, Wilhelmina intentionally fell down the stairs. She''s the one responsible for your child''s death. If you''re looking for someone to me, it''s her!" "Willow, say that again!" Matthew''s voice thundered with fury. Like a wild animal unleashed, Matthew tightened his grip around Willow''s throat. "Who''s gonna pay for this?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 225 Chapter 225 "Mr. Mayer, you gotta move! Wi''s in trouble. She''s trying to do something drastic!" Skyler''s urgent voice cut through the tension, prompting Matthew to abandon his confrontation with Willow and sprint toward Wilhelmina''s room. Willow couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Skyler''s timely intervention. It seemed Skyler had a knack for inserting herself into every situation. Assuming Matthew had gone to deal with Wilhelmina, Willow thought she could finally make her exit. But to her dismay, Damon remained steadfastly at her side, preventing her from slipping away unnoticed. Before she knew it, a group of bodyguards arrived and escorted her forcibly to Wilhelmina''s room. Wilhelminay on the bed; her face was a pallid mask, and her eyes were vacant. She trembled uncontrobly, the agony evident in every quiver. Before this, Matthew kept his distance and didn''t want to touch her. After her reckless night of drinking, she''d wound up pregnant. The child wasn''t Matthew''s, and she knew the truth woulde out eventually. She never intended to keep the baby. She''d thought framing Willow at Enchanted Moments would solve all her problems: destroying Willow''s reputation and getting rid of the baby she never wanted. While she seeded in smearing Willow''s name, she paid a hefty price. She''d lost her chance at motherhood forever. It was a consequence she hadn''t fully grasped until now. Wilhelmina suddenly covered her face, tears streaming down. She yanked out the needle from her hand and tried to get out of bed. Wilhelmina''s sudden outburst caught Matthew off guard as he walked into the room. He quickly swept her into his arms. "Wi, don''t cry. Everything will be alright. Focus on getting better. I won''t let you do anything to harm yourself," Matthew whispered soothingly. "It won''t be alright!" Wilhelmina cried out. have Wilhelmina''s emotions were running high. "Matt, it''s over! I can''t have children anymore! I''ve lost my chance to be a mother!" she sobbed uncontrobly. "I''ll never be able to have your children. I can''t even call myself aplete woman anymore," Wilhelmina''s voice cracked with despair. "Matt, let me die! Let me die! I lost my baby, and I''ll never have another. What''s the point of living? "Matt, please, let me go. Let me die! I''m begging you..." Wilhelmina''s plea was desperate. "Wi, I''m sorry. I failed to protect you," Matthew''s voice wasced with regret. Matthew held her tighter. "Wi, don''t leave me. Never leave me!" he implored. Chapter 225 "But Matt, I can''t give you kids anymore. Can you handle someone as broken as me? I can''t even handle myself like this! "Matt, I ain''t worthy of you. I ain''t worthy no more!" Wilhelmina cried harder and harder until she was downright sobbing. "Wi! Cut it out with that bullshit! No matter what, you''re always gonna be my number one!" Gently stroking her back, Matthew spoke with deep conviction."Witten let''s get married! I make sure everything is perfect. We''ll get married next month!" "Matt, even with me all messed up like this, you still wanna marry me?" Wilhelmina asked. Her eyes were blurry with tears, and disbeliefced her voice. "Wi, I''ve said it before, and I''ll say it again. You''re the only woman for me in this lifetime," Matthew affirmed. "Matt..." Wilhelmina''s voice quivered as she spoke, "Matt, don''t you dare leave me I''ve lost bor baby. You have to promise you''ll stick with me through thick and thin." "Wi, I ain''t going anywhere. I''ll be rig The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Matthew gently guided Wilhelmina back onto the bed. "Wi, I''ll make that bastard pay for what she did to you and our kid," he promised. After ensuring the nurse readministered Wilhelmina''s IV and soothing her to sleep, Matthew the room. Outside, Willow stood at the doorway. She was held back by two burly bodyguards. Matthew approached her slowly. His every step echoed with a deadly intent. quietly exited "Willow, you took the life of my child. Normally, I''d take yours in return. But your kid''s already gone. So tell me, how do I get justice for my child?" Willow winced, her stomach churning with pain. She didn''t bother to defend herself; she knew Matthew wouldn''t believe a word she said anyway. Her only regret was not having picked out her wedding dress and rings yet before everything went to hell at Matthew''s hands. "Mr. Mayer, Willow''s child might be gone, but that grave ain''t disappearing anytime soon," Skyler sneered from the side. "You and Wi''s baby never even got a chance to see daylight because of her. Why should her kid rest in peace?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "Skyler, shut it!" Willow couldn''t believe Skyler would stoop so low as to mention Aaron''s grave. Her eyes zed as she locked gazes with Matthew. "Matthew, I know you''re blind to reason. It''ll take you forever to see through Wilhelmina''s lies. If you don''t believe me, then take it out on me. Aaron''s gone, and I won''t let you hurt him again!" Matthew remained silent, but the darkness in his eyes intensified. Skyler sensed Matthew''s interest in her proposition. She shot Willow a smug nce and pressed on, "Mr. Mayer, I know where Willow''s kid is buried." With that, she grabbed her car keys and headed toward the elevator. Matthew wasted no time following her. Fearful that Skyler and Matthew might desecrate Aaron''s grave, Willow dashed after them. But the elevator doors had already closed, and she couldn''t stop them. Frustrated, Willow anxiously awaited the next elevator. Despite the VIP status of the ward, today seemed to be an exception, and the wait felt endless. Growing restless, she opted to take the stairs. However, upon reaching the parking garage, Matthew and Skyler''s car was already gone. Perhaps confident she would head to Aaron''s grave, Matthew''s men didn''t bother to follow her this time. Willow quickly caught a taxi outside the hospital and headed straight for the cemetery where Aaron and Chapter 226 Nic were buried. Skyler and Matthew moved incredibly fast. By the time she got there m Matthew''s men had already dug up Aaron''s grave and even disturbed Nic''s next to it. Their coffins were mmed to the ground. Aaron''s blood-stained rags and Nic''s gore-spattered bootsy strewn across the earth Affer a few ve days, the clothes had started to fade, and the bloodstains lost their edge, but these men wouldn''t leave them alone. Matthew''s men stomped on them, tearing the clothes to shreds and obliterating the boots. Willow''s heart was in her throat, her breathsing in ragged gasps. She ignored the pain and charged m forward, grabbing hold of a piece of Aaron''s fabric and a button from Nic''s boot. She couldn''t hold back the tears. She couldn''t protect them in life. And now, even in death, she had to watch them suffer this indignity. She was heartbroken and furious. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 227 Chapter 227 As Willow witnessed a man viciously spit on Aaron''s tom clothes, fury surged through her veins. She sprang to her feet and shoved the man with all her might, sending him stumbling backward. "Back off, all of you! I won''t let you keep trashing Aaron and Nic''s stuff!" Willow went wild, pushing against the men who were desecrating Aaron and Nic''s belongings. But her petite frame stood no chance against the hulking, brutish men. In no time, she found herself roughly shoved back to the ground, her body aching and bruised. The agony churning in her gut paled inparison to the knives twisting in her heart. Every inch of Willow''s skin trembled with pain. She clenched her teeth, fighting toe back up. But before she could muster the strength, Skyler moved in, mming her foot down hard on Willow''s hand. "How''s it feeling, Willow? Enjoying the show?" Skyler''s lips curled into a malicious grin. When she saw Matthew approaching, she reluctantly lifted her foot off Willow''s hand. Skyler jabbed an usatory finger at Willow. "Willow, Wi grew up with us. How could you be so heartless to hurt our best friend like that? "Wi lost her baby, and she''ll never be a mother again! You''ve destroyed her life. Is that what you wanted, Willow? How could I have a sister as monstrous as you?" "Cut the act, Skyler! Don''t pretend you don''t know what Wilhelmina did!" Willow''s eyes zed with fury. "Skyler, I''ll never forgive you! You''ve hurt me and everyone I care about over and over. If I''m going to hell, I''m taking you with me!" e "Willow, you''re truly unrepentant!" Matthew''s face, usually gentle, was now chillingly cold as he watched Willow stand up to Skyler. "Unrepentant? Heh!" Willowughed bitterly. "You all say I''m unrepentant, but what did I do wrong? What should I regret? "Alright, I do regret something! I regret loving the wrong person, and I regret trusting the wrong friends! "Matthew, you''re not the friend I once knew. You''ve be a heartless monster!" "Willow, what the heck did you just say?" Matthew''s eyes narrowed dangerously, his cold stare piercing through her. "Spit it out, Willow. Say it again!" "Matthew, I don''t even recognize you anymore," Willow retorted, her voice wavering with a mix of anger and sadness.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She fought to hold back her tears, refusing to show any weakness in front of the very people who had tormented her relentlessly / But as memories of their time in the dungeon flooded back, Willow felt her resolve weaken. The days of clinging to hope with Matthew and Aaron seemed like a distant dream, shattered by the harsh reality of their current situation. She tried to recall the warmth of Matthew''s smile, the way it used to light up their darkest moments. But now, all she saw was a stranger staring back at her with cold indifference. At that moment, Willow realized that the Matthew she once knew was gone, reced by someone unrecognizable. Matthew''s men continued to vandalize Aaron and Nic''s graves. They ripped Aaron''s clothes to shreds, setting them aze with their lighters, and Nic''s bloodstained boots suffered the same fate. No matter how much rage and defiance filled Willow''s heart, she couldn''t reim Aaron and Nie''s ve possessions. As relics turned to ashes, time stubbornly refused to turn back. How could she possibly preserve their memory? Through tear-blurred eyes, Willow glimpsed the Matthew she once knew from their days in the dungeon. It was when Aaron was just a newborn, crying nonstop. Willow was in agony, feeling overwhelmed by Aaron''s persistent cries. She had no desire to console Aaron, but Matthew stepped in, cradling him in his arms with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with their grim reality. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Matthew tried tofort Aaron repeatedly. He said, "Aaron, you need to grow up quickly and be a strong and upright man. We''ll protect your mom together. "Aaron, your mom and I both love you very much." But the past became a tragedy. Matthew didn''t get to see Aaron grow up, nor did he properly protect Aaron''s mom. He said he loved Aaron. But now, he cruelly ordered Aaron''s grave to be destroyed, denying him peace even in death. "Matthew, you will regret this!" Willow gritted her teeth as she fought to pull herself up from the dirt. Whether it was the searing pain or the burning rage, she couldn''t tell, but her body quivered uncontrobly. Several times, she almost crumpled back to the ground, but sheer willpower kept her standing tall. "Matthew, you said Aaron and I meant more to you than anything in this world. We''re not just family, we''re closer than family. But you destroyed Aaron''s grave and pushed me to the edge time and again! "Matthew, I hate you, but damn if I don''t feel sorry for you. You''ve gone and forgotten all about us. No matter how you treat us now, you might be feeling all high and mighty. "But what about when realityes crashing back? I hope you''ll be just as satisfied then as you are now! Matthew, I''ll never forgive you, and neither will Aaron! "Time ain''t turning back for nobody. If the dayes when you regret your actions, it''ll be too little, toolte!" Because by then, Aaron would be gone, and she... well, she wouldn''t be around either.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Sometimes, she longed for Matthew to remember their past. But now, she secretly hoped he''d stay oblivious for the rest of his life. Even though she despised the demon inhabiting his body, she still cared deeply for Matthew, who had been her rock. She feared the day he''d recall, knowing he''d be faced with a harsh reality where his loved ones were gone. It would tear him apart. "Willow, you wicked woman, what game are you ying now?" Matthew''s eyes zed with disgust as he red at Willow. the "I ain''t got no regrets! The only thing I regret is ever thinking about keeping a snake like you around and giving you a chance to hurt Wi! Willow, if I had known you''d hurt Wi like this, I would''ve killed you moment you came into my sight!" "Willow, you better be thankful!" Skyler''s words always added fuel to the fire. "You killed Wi''s child, and now Mr. Mayer has only destroyed your child''s grave. You should be grateful!" "Skyler, shut your damn mouth!" Chapter 228 Willow''s hatred boiled over, simmering like a pot ready to da explode. If she had a bottle of acid in her grasp, she''d have hurled it at Skyler''s face without a second. thought, unveiling her true, hideous nature for all to see. Skyler didn''t immediately respond. Instead, she shot a cunning nce at Willow''s tightly elenched fist. In Willow''s gripy a piece of Aaron''s bloodstained shirt and a button from Nic''s shoe. Skyler aimed to obliterate everyst shred of Willow''s remaining sce. Skyler turned to Matthew, her tone dripping with feigned kindness. "Mr. Mayer, Willow''s still clinging to NO keepsakes of her son and Nic, Perhaps you should let her hold ontol those, a final token of remembrance." Hearing Skyler''s words, Matthew''s gaze cut to Willow''s hand like a knife. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Willow was keenly aware of Matthew''s intentions. She instinctively tucked her hand behind her back. The piece of cloth and the button, stained with Aaron''s and Nic''s blood, held the memories of their final moments. Willow couldn''t bear the idea of letting go of thesest fragments. "Willow, hand them over!" Matthew''s voice, typically smooth, now carried a chilling edge. "These belong to Aaron and Nic. Why should I give them to you?" Willow''s response was sharp and unwavering. Willow clenched her fist and retreated, but Matthew was faster. He closed the distance in a few swift strides and roughly grabbed her wrist. "Matthew, let go of me!" Willow demanded. Matthew''s grip was unyielding, causing Willow''s eyes to redden with tears. She suppressed a sob and yelled, "Matthew, you''ve already destroyed Nic''s grave! What more do you want?" "You im you''re seeking revenge for Wilhelmina and her unborn child, but I neverid a hand on them! "It''s you who keeps tormenting me-so who am I supposed to seek justice against?" Willow''s voice cracked with emotion.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Even at this moment, Willow''s refusal to admit any wrongdoing only intensified the darkness in Matthew''s expression. He didn''t waste time arguing with her. Instead, he forcefully pried open her fingers and retrieved the items from her grasp with a cold determination. As the button and the blood-stained piece of cloth fell to the ground, Willow felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. Frantically, she reached out to pick them up. But before her fingers could even touch them, Matthew''s foot came down hard, crushing them mercilessly. The wooden button from Nic''s boot, sturdy and substantial, was no match for the force with which Matthew destroyed it. "Matthew, get your foot off! Give me back my things! They''re mine-what gives you the right to stomp on them?" Willow''s voice cracked with desperation. Truly pushed to her breaking point,/Willow lunged at Matthew, exerting all her strength to push him. But he stood firm as a rock, unmoved by her efforts. Finally, he relented and moved his foot. Without hesitation, Willow reached for the items on the ground. To her dismay, Matthew''s men were quicker. They swiftly snatched up the items and tossed them into a nearby fire. In an instant, the mes engulfed the cloth and wood, consuming them until they were nothing but ashes scattered by the wind.. Willow desperately wanted to rush forward and snuff out the dancing mes. But Matthew''s vice-like grip on her shoulders held her back, rendering her powerless. As the fire dwindled, Willow copsed to the ground, utterly spent. This time, Wilhelmina and Skyler had seeded. They had seeded in wrenching away herst semnce of attachment to this world. "Matthew, I will never forgive you. as if in a Never..." Willow murmured as if in a trance. She couldn''t shake the notion ? She couldn''t that if he ever came to his senses, he''d be haunted by self-condemnation, too. Though Matthew believed Willow was the one at fault, her shattered demeanor stirred an unsettling fear within him. It was as if she could crumble into nothingness, fading from existence. This thought made Matthew deeply uneasy. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on her as if only by holding her so tightly could he prevent her from disappearing from his life. "Willow, just shut your mouth!" Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 230 Chapter 230 As Matthew listened to Willow''s fragmented words, his difort grew. "Matthew, I won''t ever forgive you. Never gonna forgive you..." Willow''s voice seemed distant. She was lost in her own turmoil, oblivious to his presence. And she wouldn''t forgive herself either. Because she had falled to protect Aaron and Nic. "Shut your mouth, Willow!" Matthew''s words sliced through the tension as he clutched her throat in a fit of rage. "Matthew, I..." But Willow''s attempt at a response was silenced by the tightening grip, leaving her staring into the abyss, lost like a child in the dark. With nothing left, she knew. Even in death, Aaron and Nic, would never forgive her. It was a bitter irony-bereft of everything, yet unable to seek retribution for Nic, Aaron, Kenan, or her grandmother. Skyler''sughter rang out. It was a haughty, disdainful sound that grated on Willow''s nerves. How could she find amusement in Willow''s suffering? With a surge of adrenaline, Willow pushed aside the fear of Matthew snapping her neck and lunged at Skyler. Spotting a shard of broken wood on the ground, Willow seized it and swung at Skyler''s head. "Are you out of your f*cking mind, Willow?" No one expected Willow to act so boldly, not even with Matthew''s hand tightening around her throat. Skyler took the brunt of the blow. But Willow was weak, and it wasn''t enough to draw blood. Still, she continued to rain down blows on Skyler, determined to make her feel the same pain she endured. "Thunk!" Willow''s attack came to an abrupt halt as Matthew viciously mmed her to the ground. Looking down at her with disdain, he spat, "Willow, have you really turned into a rabid dog?" Willow''sughter was tinged with bitterness and despair. She wished she were a rabid dog. That way, she''d be capable of tearing apart everyone who had ever wronged her. "Mr. Mayer, I reckon Willow''s gone off the deep end. Let''s just leave her be. Wi''s still waiting for you at the hospital," Skyler suggested. She was eager to get Matthew away so she could continue her cruel game with Willow. She figured when Matthew heard Wilhelmina''s name, he''d bolt to the hospital. Instead, he barked orders to his crew, "Get Ms. Dawson back to the damn hospital!" Chapter 30 Then, stepping forward, he yanked Willow up like she was a rag dol Willow was limp and powerless as Matthew grabbed her shoulders and did as he pleased. "Mr. Mayer, Wi..." Matthew didn''t even nce at Skyler. His eyes drilled Into Into Willow with an hatred as sharp as a de. Willow, you still owe me." Skyler had nned to rough up Willow herself. But hearing Matthew''s words, she knew he wouldn''t go easy on her. Matthew''s ways were always brutal. Skyler savored the thought of Willow suffering With Willow''s fate. sealed, Skyler turned and briskly left the cemetery. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "Willow, you killed my child. Now, you owe Wi and I a child in return!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Willow was in agony. It was the kind that blurred the lines between pain and existence. It just ached, a constant, throbbing torment. The agony loft her in a haze, her mind clouded to the point where she couldn''t make out Matthew''s words. All she could register was the intensifying pain. Her body felt weightless, and she was then mmed onto the car seat with brutal force. Before she knew it, the Lamborghini roared away, hurling her into darkness. Willow woke up gasping for air. She felt something tight constricting her neck, making every breath a painful struggle. She thought it might be the Grim Reapering for her soul. But when she opened her eyes, she was met with a pair of bloodshot orbs. It was Matthew. Perhaps she''d seen his icy demeanor too oftentely, for she almost forgot the warmth that once resided in his gaze. "Matthew, please... let me go... Willow struggled to speak through the tight grip around her neck. Aaron and Nic''s gravesy desecrated; she couldn''t bear to see their resting ce dishonored. She had to restore it. "Let go?" Matthew''s sneer was as cold as a winter wind. "Willow, you took the life of my and Wi''s child. Letting you go? Who''s going topensate us with another child?" Compensate them with another child? Taken aback, Willow struggled to grasp the meaning behind Matthew''s words. Her children were already gone-one forsaken by his own father, the other brutally taken by him. She had no more children. How on earth was she supposed to offer Matthew and Wilhelmina a child? Matthew''s lips twisted into a mocking smirk as he noticed the confusion in Willow''s eyes. "Willow, your cruelty has robbed Wi of her chance to be a mother, But Wi dreams of having a child!" "Matthew, Wilhelmina''s inability to conceive is her own doing. It''s got nothing to do with me!" As Willow spoke, the pain in her neck spiked, rendering her momentarily voiceless. "Nothing to do with you? That''s augh! Willow, I used to think you had some decency, but you''ve really shown your true colors this time!N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "I saw you shove Wi down those stairs. Don''t you dare try to deny it! You deserve to pay for what you''ve done! "But I won''t let you off that easily. Not until you give me and Wi a child!" Willow''s body trembled violently. Matthew wanted her to bear a child for him and Wilhelmina. How could she possiblyply with such a demand? Taking in her surroundings, Willow realized she wasn''t in Matthew''s car anymore but in a room that was Chapter 231 both understated and luxurious. Shey sprawled across a vast bed. Realizing what was happening, her face turned pale. With a surge of om adrenaline, she fought to pry line, Matthew''s hand off her neck, desperate for relief from his suffocating grip. Finally, his hold ckened just enough for her to gulp in the air and e. find her voice amidst the chaos. "Matthew, release me! I can''t bear you and Wilhelmina a child!" "You owe me this, Willow!" Matthew''s voice was harsh as he pressed down on her. Willow''s face twisted in horror. She initially assumed Matthew meant surrogacy. But now, trapped beneath him, she realized he intended to father a child with her. She couldn''t deny the sinking The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Matthew''s idea was just in crazy. Wilhelmina despised Willow enough as it was. If she ended up having a kid with Matthew, she''d blow a gasket! "Matthew, let me go! This is not happening! "You want a child with Wilhelmina! How could I ever beat your child with her? Matthew, you''re out of your mind!" But Matthew wasn''t budging. He stared at her with a menacing re. "Willow, once that kid''s here, you''re out. And it''s just gonna be me and Wi raising it." Willow''s eyes bulged in disbelief. She couldn''t wrap her head around his twisted scheme. To make her carry the baby, then off her once it was born. How had the once decent Matthew turned so rotten? "Matthew, let me go! I''m not birthing your child! Release me!" Willow was on the brink of losing it all. Zayn''s relentless assaults had left her feeling unworthy of Kenan. Now, if Matthew got his way, how could she ever face Kenan, even in the afterlife? "Willow, I''ve told you. This is your reckoning! You gotta pay for your sins!" Willow was dumbfounded by Matthew''s twisted logic. She swallowed her bitterness and mustered," Matthew, Wilhelmina can''t have kids anymore, and I can''t get pregnant." Matthew froze at the sound of Willow''s voice. As Willow spoke, her words hit him. "Matthew, not too long ago, I was carrying a child. But someone took that away from me. The doctor said I might never be able to have children again. "So, Matthew, please, just let me go!" Her revtion struck a chord in Matthew, stirring an unsettling sensation in his chest. But in an instant, his heart reverted to its icy demeanor. How could it possibly be such a coincidence? Wi''s child was killed by her, and she was iming her experience mirrored Wi''s. "She''s o gotta be lying!" Matthew mused inwardly. "Do you really think I''m buying into your bullshit, Willow? Well, let me tell you, once that kid pops out, I''ll personally escort you straight to hell!" Willow gasped for air, struggling to suppress the metallic taste rising in her throat. She squeezed her mouth shut, but blood kept oozing through her trembling fingers. "Matthew, you don''t need to worry about sending me to hell. I''m already knocking on death''s door. Even if, by some miracle, I could still get pregnant, there''s no way my body could handle carrying a child. "Matthew, I don''t get why you''re so dead set on ming me for what happened to Wilhelmina, but I''ll say it one more time: I didn''t do it. Chapter 232 "She''s lying. If you don''t belleve me, then fine..." She sighed, resigned to the fact that some things just couldn''t be changed, no matter how hard she tried. "Spitting blood now, Willow? Spare me the theatrics," Matthew snapped. With that, Matthew''s lips crashed. onto hers, oozing with a toxic blend of hatred, anger, and an unsettling undercurrent of fear. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Willow was overwhelmed with despair. Even after revealing she was dying, even after coughing up blood, Matthew still wouldn''t release her. To be imprisoned by Matthew, treated as nothing but a tool form breeding? She couldn''t bear it. Spending herst days in such degradation was unthinkable. She made a decision. It was better to end it all now before she became even more tainted. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 233 Chapter 233 As fate would have it, a fruit knife sat on the nightstand. Willow''s hand shook as she reached for it, gripping it tightly before shing it across her left wrist. She had briefly entertained the idea of turning the knife on Matthew. But despite the hurt and betrayal, four years of shared experiences had forged an unbreakable bond, Even though he had wounded her deeply, she couldn''t find it in herself to inflict harm upon him. Since she couldn''t bring herself to harm him, she resolved to walk her own path to the afterlife. As the blood poured from her wrist, Willow felt an unexpected sense of calm wash over her. Atst, she could escape the final humiliation. It was the right choice. Now, she could reunite with Aaron and Nic. On the journey to the afterlife, she would be adorned in her best attire, prepared to honor her vow to marry Kenan. Matthew couldn''t help but feel a sense of unease as Willow suddenly ceased struggling. But almost immediately, he knew why. This brazen woman loved to y cat-and-mouse games, She might be saying no now, but deep down, she probably craved nothing more than to bear his child. Matthew sneered. As he was ready to tear off her clothes in a fit of rage, the door was forcefully kicked open. A servant quivered behind Zayn, stuttering, "Mr. Mayer, I''m sorry, I couldn''t stop Mr. Carter... The moment Zayn stepped into the room, his eyes were assaulted by the shocking sight of vivid red. And that red was all dripping from Willow''s left wrist.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. In the blink of an eye, his eyes zed as red as the blood pooling on the floor. Zayn''s fist crashed into Matthew''s face, violently wrenching him away and pulling Willow into his arms. "Willow!" Zayn''s voice echoed through the room. But shey still as if life had already abandoned her. Stunned by the unexpected blow, Matthew seethed with frustration. His unfulfilled desire only fueled his anger, Intensifying his ire. His anger grew, his fists clenched, and he aimed a punch at Zayn. "Zayn, let her go!" Matthew demanded. Zayn caught Matthew''s fist. If it weren''t for Willow''s critical condition, he would have torn Matthew apart. Zayn threw Matthew''s hand aside. His lips curled into a derisive smirk. "Dragging a woman to the brink of suicide... Matthew, you''ve really outdone yourself," Zayn taunted, hist words dripping with sarcasm. Matthew''s frustration boiled over at Zayn''s mocking tone. His expression darkened with disapproval. What the hell are you implying, Zayn?" Chapter 230 -2/2 "Willow killed my child. She wanted to give me another. She- Matthew''s voice trailed off as he noticed the blood flowing from m Willow''s wrist. Matthew''s body trembled uncontrobly. His legs felt like they might give out beneath him. When he had forced himself on her, she had fought back. But when she en suddenly stopped struggling, he had mistaken it forpliance. He never imagined she would be so still, so quiet. It wasn''t about giving in to him. She had chosen to end her own life. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Willow would rather slit her wrists than let him touch her. The thought sent waves of fury through Matthew but also stabbed him with an agonizing ache. Before he could even attempt to calm himself, a USB drive was hurled at his face. "Matthew, I might not care much for Willow, but she''s still my woman. And my woman ain''t someone you can just mess with or falsely use," Zayn spat. "Today, you and Wilhelmina hurt her, Mark my words: neither of you are getting away with it." Zayn swiftly scooped up Willow and dashed out of the room. Matthew stood there, stunned, unable to move. His mind was consumed by the image of Zayn carrying Willow away, her wrist still bleeding. Drop by drop, her blood seemed endless, sapping away her life force. "Mr. Mayer..." The servant approached cautiously. But Matthew remained lost in his thoughts and was oblivious to the servant''s presence. After what felt like an eternity, Matthew slowly stooped to pick up the fallen USB drive. Deep down, he knew it held something crucial, perhaps tied to either him or Willow. Quickly booting up hisputer, he inserted the USB drive. Theputer responded with lightning speed. Within moments, he was watching the video stored on the drive. It featured Willow and Wilhelmina, though there was no sound. Still, Matthew could clearly see Wilhelmina suddenly dropping to her knees in front of Willow, catching her off guard. Willow seemed eager to steer clear of Wilhelmina, attempting to move past her and down the stairs. But then, without warning, Wilhelmina hurled herself down the stairs. Willow neverid a hand on her. As Wilhelmina tumbled downward, Willow''s shock was palpable. She reached out instinctively, attempting to grab hold of Wilhelmina, but it was toote. The fall was too swift, and she slipped through Willow''s grasp. After reying the video numerous times, Matthew couldn''t shake off the shock. It was crystal clear: Wilhelmina had orchestrated the entire scene, dragging an unsuspecting Willow into her treacherous plot. The realization hit Matthew like a ton of bricks, shattering his beliefs and leaving him in unbearable anguish. When he saw Wilhelmina fall down the stairs with Willow standing nearby, her hand raised, Matthew Immediately jumped to the conclusion that Willow was at fault. After all, how could he doubt what his own eyes had seen? As the realization dawned on him, Matthew felt the weight of his grave mistakes crush down on him. The first time he falsely used Willow, he cut off her little finger. The second time, he inflicted severe injuries on her. This time, he desecrated the graves of her child and best friend and drove her to the brink Chapter 734Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. of death. The image of blood trickling from Willow''s wrist reyed in his mind like a relentless loop apanied by her chilling words: "Matthew, I don''t need you to send me to hell. I''m about to die anyway." She had said she was about to die, and she hadn''t been beery lying: Cerving. She was truly resigned to her fate. Matthew dashed out of the room in a frenzy. But if she died, what would ve be of him, the executioner who had driven her to this end? The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Matthew''s chest felt heavy, and he suffocated from the intense emotions. He got into his car and stepped on the elerator. However, he soon realized that he had no idea which hospital Zayn brought Willow to. He couldn''tb through the various hospitals in Havenpoint. That would be akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. Instead, he quickly called his assistant Damon. "Look into the hospital that Willow was sent to!" With that, he hung up. The efficient Damon called back with the information not long after Matthew absentmindedly drove around the streets. Willow had been transported to the same hospital as Wilhelmina, and she was currently in the ER. Sick from being worried, Matthew rushed to the hospital in no time. When he arrived, he btedly realized that he had hung up on Damon before Damon could inform him about the location of the ER. It would be difficult for him to check the multiple ERS in the hospital, Just when he was about to call Damon, he overheard a conversation among a few patients who passed him by. One said, "I pity that girl! She bled so much!" "Yeah. She was badly hurt. Poor girl took herst breath before the doctors could save her." "I can''t understand girls these days. Why would she cut her wrist at this young age? Her parents would be devastated." "Kids these days are worrisome." "Say, did she take her life over love troubles? I nced at her when they wheeled her in. Her clothes were in tatters." "Oh, she did not kill herself over love. She must have failed to get over a sexual assault!" Matthew''s ears buzzed. He could not hear what the patients said after that. All he could think of was Willow''s death. Without warning, he charged at them and grabbed the cor of one of the men. "Who died? Where is she now?" The man, shocked by his attack, did not immediately recognize Matthew Mayer as he rarely watched the news. Despite feeling angry at Matthew''s treatment of him, he sympathized with Matthew as he had mistaken the guy for the family of the dead girl. He replied truthfully, "I do not know her name. She was recently transported to the hospital, and she tried to cut her wrist." "She''s dead now. I think she must be at the morgue!" Matthew let go of the man stiffly. At that moment, he seemed to have lost all his energy. His towering build was hunched. Chapter 235 He thought, "Willow is dead... I have forced her to her death..." Clutching his chest, he felt as though a knife was plunging repeatedly into his heart. He could not breathe. due to the intense pain. was Still, he wanted to pay Willow a visit at the morgue. He was confused by his stubbornness. Did it stem from guilt or other emotions? He had no answer. One thing was clear: he had made Willow''s life hell, and in return, he put himself through hell as well. The morgue was in the basement. The girl who died from gutting her wrist had just been wheeled into the En morgue. Matthew charged at the doctor like a madman. "Where''s Willow? Where''s that girl who cut her wrist?" The doctor recognized Matthew. Though he did not manage to catch the name of the girl, he knew that Matthew Matthew was looking for the suicide victim. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 236 Chapter 236 The doctor fearfully pointed at the white sheet draped across a body, saying, "Mr. Mayer, she''s here." Matthew staggered. He released the doctor and slowly dragged himself to the body. He reached out to lift the white sheet over her. Never had he expected it to feel so heavy. He mustered all his energy to lift it. "Mr. M-" Matthew was thrilled when he realized it wasn''t Willow under the sheet. Pressing a hand against his chest, he realized that the fact suggested that Willow was still in the ER-she might have a shot at life! He received a text from Damon after stepping out of the morgue. Damon began, "Mr. Mayer, you hung up before I could tell you the location of Ms. Sanford. She''s being operated on in the ER on the fifth floor." Matthew shoved the phone back into his pocket, feeling surprised yet thankful that it was all a misunderstanding. When he arrived at the fifth floor, he found Zayn anxiously waiting by the doors of the ER. Havinge across Zayn a few times for business, this was the first time Matthew saw the esteemed Mr. Carter in such a perturbed state. Zayn had always been calm in the face of any adversity. Zayn''s feelings were obvious to the people around him. He had repeatedly imed he disliked Willow, yet Matthew found the truth to be the opposite. At that thought, heughed at himself in a self-deprecating way. It seemed he was no different than Zayn. He, too, had imed to despise Willow, but he became an anxious wreck when something bad happened to her. He was not himself at all. When the doors of the ER flung open, Zayn dashed over, asking, "Doctor, how is she doing?" "Mr. Carter, she has unfortunately lost a huge amount of blood. She needs a blood infusion urgently, but she has a rare Rh-negative blood type. "We don''t have enough supply of Rh-negative blood at the blood bank. We''re thinking of another solution." "Take my blood! I''m Rh-negative, too!" Without hesitation, Zayn rolled up his sleeve and motioned at the doctor to draw his blood. The doctor, aware of Zayn''s high social standing, was cautious about drawing his blood. Still, he wouldn''t want to turn down Zayn''s offer after seeing how worried Zayn acted. He made Zayn change into a PPE suit and led him into the ER to donate blood for Willow. For the first time in Matthew''s life, he regretted not being born with Rh-negative blood as he watched Zayn disappear into the ER. He could have donated his blood to Willow if only he were Rh-negative. Despite that, he patiently waited by the entrance, hoping to get the news that she was safe and sound. Before he got any updates on Willow, his phone rang incessantly. He furrowed his brows when he saw Skyler''s name on the screen. Chopte: 236 "Mr. Mayer, where are you? Come here right now! Wi is having am sudden meltdown! She refused to cooperate with the doctor. "She ims that her stomach hurts, but she removes the IV needle from her hand. Check on her now. I''m worried for her health if this keeps going on!" Matthew cast an unreadable look at his phone screen that slowly dimmed. Wilhelmina was warded in the department right behind the ER building, and her room was on the top floor. Matthew walked down a long corridor to reach the inpatient department. The top floor, where the VIP rooms were located, was rather empty as there were only a few patients around. He immediately overheard Wilhelmina''s piercing scream upon descending the stairs. "No! Don''t kill my child! Save me! Don''t kill my child!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Matthew was reluctant to speak ill of his love, whom he had spent four years with. However, he couldn''t help but feel cynical when he heard her clearly faked screams. He marched forward and pushed the door open. As expected, he saw tear stains on Wilhelmina''s face. She wore a vulnerable and helpless expression as though she had been put through great injustice. Skyler immediately urged him, "Mr. Mayer,e here now and soothe Wi! I managed to coax her to sleep, but she woke up and had a meltdown. I guess she had a nightmare." "Wi..." Matthew began. At that moment, he realized he had nothing more to say to the woman he loved the most.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Matt!" Wilhelmina''s tears streamed down her face when she noticed his presence. A sorrowful look was etched on her face as if she was the victim of a cruel world. She continued. "Matt, I''m so sad. I feel like dying whenever I think of my uselessness. I failed to protect our child! Every time I close my eyes, my vision will be filled with the sight of the bright blood-the blood of our child! "Matt, why did Willow do that to me? I always see her as my best friend, so why would she kill my baby?" Matthew replied, "Wilhelmina Foster, you imed that Willow was your best friend when you framed her, too." She looked taken aback, as she had expected Matthew to cautiously coax her and to think up a worse punishment for Willow. Little did she expect the opposite to happen-he had dropped an emotionless remark instead. "Matt..." Wilhelmina, always the actress, put on her pitiful persona. "Matt, I admit that I have wronged Willow before, but I recognized my mistakes! I even asked for her forgiveness. "Matt, I''m willing to change and to make up for my mistake! It is my sin to bear. She should havee at me instead of cruelly hurting the baby I was carrying! "The baby was innocent. It never hurt anyone. How could Willow be so heartless as to harm our baby? I''d rather she take my life instead!" Matthew was ovee with fatigue. "Wilhelmina, aren''t you tired after all the effort you pour into acting? He no longer wanted to watch her act, and he went straight to the point. "Matt, what do you mean?" Her eyes widened in shock, followed by despair from injustice. "Matt, do you think I''m doing this on purpose? "I lost our child-Willow even deprived me of a chance to be a mother again. ce take a How could be putting on an act?" "Wilhelmina, did Willow really shove you down the stairs?" he questioned. Hearing that, Wilhelmina instinctively assumed that Willow musthave said something to his face... She thought, "Willow must have shamelessly seduced him. That''s why he chooses to believe in her." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Wilhelmina gritted her teeth as she seethed within. Her expression turned even more vulnerable.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Matt, of course, Willow shoved me down the stairs! It was just me and her at the scene. Are you saying that I fell down the stairs myself? "Matt, I was pregnant, and I looked forward to this baby more than anyone else. Why would I hurt my baby? "Do you think I killed our child? If that''s how you see me, I have no reason to live anymore! Matt, I always thought you would trust me unconditionally. I would rather die if you lose trust in me!" "Wi.." She felt relieved when she heard him calling her nickname in a loving voice. She thought, "He might have been temporarily seduced by Willow, but deep down, he loves me the most. He will not believe in Willow''s words." She said to him, "Matt, your behavior just now saddens me. For a second, I thought you fell in love with I Willow. You started suspecting me for her!" "Wi, I did not suspect you of anything. But I am sure that Willow did not hurt our child." "Matt, what are you talking about?" Her jaw fell to the floor in surprise. "Wi, I watched the security footage of the second-floor staircase at the Enchanted Moments store." Pausing, he revealed, "The footage proved that Willow did not touch you at all. You stumbled down the stairs yourself." Hearing that, Wilhelmina couldn''t stop herself from shooting Skyler a quizzical nce as if asking, "What is going on?" Skyler merely shook her head softly. She, too, had not expected the turn of events. After getting the news of Wilhelmina falling down the stairs, she immediately went to work. She first called the branch of Enchanted Moments. The store manager, an acquaintance of hers. destroyed the security footage of the second floor without hesitation. Not only that, but the manager also fabricated the security footage glitch issue. Skyler wondered how Matthew watched the original footage after all the careful preparations she had done. Simrly, Wilhelmina did not believe that Matthew had watched the original footage. In a Hail Mary attempt, she wailed, "Matt, I did not frame Willow! Please believe in me, will you?" Matthew refused to prolong the argument upon seeing Wilhelmina''s stubbornness. He said coldly. Wilhelmina, will you only admit to falling down the stairs on your own if I send you the footage?" Wilhelmina''s heart pounded against her chest. Did Matthew have a copy of the footage? "I" She wanted to defend herself, but she was at a loss for words. She resorted to acting pitifully. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Chapte 238 Matthew felt drained at the sight of the crying Wilhelmina. After a long silence, he sighed helplessly. Wi, is itworth killing our child and harming your body all to frame Willow?" Before this, Wilhelmina had been feigning victimhood. However, his om final remark struck a chord, causing her to suffer an emotional breakdown. Tears fell uncontrobly down her face. She realized that she could not hide the truth anymore, and any attempt at denying it would only irritate him. However, he would hate her the same if she admitted to the truth. At that thought, she cried even louder. She forcefully wiped away the tears and stared at him with swollen, Ve red eyes. "Matt, you think I''m a bad woman for framing Willow, and you''re about to break up with me now. Am I right?" Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 239 Chapter 239N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Before Matthew could speak, Wilhelmina sobbed loudly, "Matt, I knew it! I knew you''d break up with me one day. "It was all my fault. I failed to frame Willow, and I even gave myself fertility issues! Matt. I''m no longer aplete woman. I lost my privilege of bing a mother. Since I can''t give you children, I deserve to be broken up with because I''m no longer good enough for you!" "Wi..." Wilhelmina had indeedmitted a grave mistake. However, his love for her had be a habit. Her pitiful behavior evoked his sympathy. She was, after all, the woman who had stayed by his side at his lowest point for four years! "Matt, stop. I know you''ll never marry me anymore." Wilhelmina struggled to catch her breath. Gaping, she waited for her breathing to stabilize before saying, "Matt, am I a despicable, horrible woman in your eyes now? "I know I''m in the wrong, but I''m scared you''d hate me. Matt, I beg of you. Please do not hate me even if we break up." "Wi, you shouldn''t hurt yourself for Willow." She touched his soft spot. He gently clutched her tiny hand. "Wi, even if you seeded in framing Willow, you''d still suffer from long-term health issues. It''s not worth it at all." "No! Matt, you don''t get it!" She shook her head hard. "Matt, I love you. I fell hopelessly in love with you the moment I set my eyes on you. "That''s why I stayed by your side when the whole world turned against you, when you had nothing to your name and struggled to build your life. Matt, I thought you''d love me as much as I love you. But how could you think of taking Willow as your mistress? "I want true love, not just a marriage on paper! How could you think of dating other women when you already have me? I can''t take it! I can''t ept you thinking of another woman! That''s why I''d rather hurt myself to separate you and Willow!" "Wi..." He cast aplicated nce at her. Indeed, she had steadfastly stood by him through the most difficult time of his life. However, he fell for another woman after he reestablished himself. It was his fault for being unloyal to her. Still, he struggled to make sense of Wilhelmina''s actions. He truly believed that it was unwise to sacrifice their child and her health just to frame Willow. Had Zayn not appeared in time, Willow would have been dead. He and Wilhelmina would have made an irreparable mistake. "Matt, I''m sorry. It was my fault. I did you, Willow, and our baby wrong. I''m filled with shame when I''m with you. Let''s break up because I don''t deserve you!" Chapte 239 "Wi, let''s register our marriage tomorrow!" Matthew sped her hands tightly and said with determination. Her misty eyes widened in disbelief and delight. She did not expect her tactic to work and revive her dying rtionship. Skyler was right-as long as she brought up her four years of sacrifice for Matthew, he''d forgive her no matter what she had done. Suppressing the glee, she put on a doubtful expression. "Matt don''t you see me as evil? Even I find myself unreasonable." "Wi, you did not give up on me at my lowest. I have promised not to let your love be in vain, and I''ll throw a wedding of the century for you!" "Matt, you''re so good to me." Wilhelmina leaned against his chest tenderly. He wrapped his arms around her, but his thoughts wandered. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 240 Chapter 240 When Matthew was at his lowest, Wilhelmina stayed by his side. Now that he had bullt his life, he wanted to repay her loyalty. He needed to take responsibility for her infertility after the miscarriage. He would keep his word and marry her, but that was all he could do for her. He had once entertained the idea of making Willow his mistress, but he was riddled with guilt toward Wilhelmina. However, his guilt vanished after he learned of what Wilhelmina had done. Willow enjoyed a sweet dream. In her dream, she was dead. Dressed to the nines, she made her way to the purgatory. Allie, Aaron, Nic, and Kenan were all waiting for her over there. Under Allie and Aaron''s witness, she and Kenan held a romantic wedding. The wedding wasn''t grand, but it was sweet and cozy. Kenan clutched her hands tightly. He said to her, "Willow, we''ll never be apart again." Despite not loving Kenan romantically, Willow felt touched when he sped her hands firmly. It felt like a reunion of a long-lost family. Finally, all of them could stay together forever. "Mr. Dawson, let''s stay together forever," she mumbled. She slowly opened her eyes to take a better look at the bunch of people she cared for the most. Sensing someone grabbing her hand, she instinctively held his hand tighter. "Mr. Dawson..." Zayn, not Kenan, was holding her hand. Aaron, Nic, and Allie, who had surrounded her and were beaming at her, vanished into thin air. She looked around vacantly. No matter how hard she tried, she could not find them, including Kenan. As Zayn''s face loomed in front of her, she slowly regained her consciousness. It turned out that she was still alive. What a tragedy! "Willow, what did you say just now?'' Zayn felt suffocated after she repeatedly mumbled Kenan''s name. He heard from Celeste that Willow might have gotten into trouble. After that, he instantly rushed to the specific branch of Enchanted Moments to get hold of their security footage. The footage had been destroyed. An ordinary person could not have recovered the damaged footage. However, Zayn went to great lengths by stopping hisputer whizz brother, Theodore, from boarding a ne, so that he could recover the footage. Then, he dispatched Liam to track down Willow. After the footage was repaired, he received an update that Willow was at Matthew''s Preston Heights vi.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Having no time to catch a breath, he rushed over to her side. He worried and fussed for her, even donating nearly two pints of blood for her. All he received in return was her tenderly calling the name of another man. He found the situation ironic and maddening. He gave his hear away e for nothing. Chapter 240 Enraged, he tightened his grip on her take a good look at the hand. ¡°Willow, tak?- of man in front of you. It''s Zayn, not Mr. Dawson!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 241 Chapter 241 "Yeah. You''re Zayn, not Mr. Dawson." While speaking, Willow struggled hard to free her hand from Zayn''s grip. She was no match for his strength in her full health, not to mention when she was hospitalized. It was a David and Goliath situation. "Mr. Carter, please let go of me!" She grew anxious after failing to free herself. She might have survived, but she knew that time was running out for her. She still had unfinished business, including interring Aaron and Nic in their graves. Their belongings might have been burned to ashes, but she would never allow their coffins to be carelessly discarded on the ground and trampled on. Besides, she wanted to return to Bordello and visit Kenan. Zayn had wanted to advise her to rest more and stop moving around after she suffered a hemorrhage. However, he could not keep his cool after she triggered him. He growled, "You want me to release you so that you could meet with Kenan, right? Willow Sanford, I''ll tell you what, you can''t find him even if you manage to leave!" Willow could never locate Kenan without Zayn''s help, as Kenan was kept in Wynn''sb. However, she misinterpreted his words, thinking that he meant that she could never meet with Kenan because Kenan was dead. The thought of Kenan''s cold ashes at Bordello caused her to tear up. She insisted, That''s right! I''m looking for Mr. Dawson. I''ll keep searching for him even if I fail. One day, I''ll reunite with him." Feeling weak, she nheless struggled to get up from her bed. Due to her hastiness, she clumsily stumbled all the way to the ground "Willow!" Zayn instinctively wanted to pull her into her hug, only for her to swat at him aggressively to keep him away. "Stay away! You stay away from me. Mr. Carter, please do not show up in front of me again. I''m looking for Mr. Dawson, and no one can stop me! I''ll search for him. He''s still waiting for me..." She supported herself by holding onto the wall. Before she could find her bnce, pain shot through her body. Zayn had tossed her back onto the bed. The bed was plush, yet she felt dizzy after hitting the surface. Enduring the pain in her body, she struggled to get up. This time, she failed. "Willow Sanford, you''re mine. Even if I dumped you one day, you shouldn''t dream of dating another man!" Then, he sealed her lips with a kiss. Painful memories from Matthew''s failed sexual assault surfaced, causing her to nearly bite her tongue off. "Willow, you''re mine! You''re mine!" A long time after, he heard her wispy voice. She dered, "Go ahead and edy force yourself on me, then. If you get En your way, I promise I''ll cut my wrist!" He froze on top of her. His pupils wavered with pain and anger Hen could not believe that she had threatened him with her death just to save herself for Kenan. Right. She had narrowly escaped death once. She must have tried to take her own life at Matthew''s ce just to save her dignity for Kenan''s sake! He seethed at the depth of her love ned his for Kenan, and he strengthened his grip on her wrist. Hatred nearly drove O him to snap her neck, but her pale face and bleeding wrist scared him. He was afraid that she might die for real. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 All Zayn could do was pinch Willow''s chin like a raging beast. "Willow, you shall not love Kenan Dawson! I won''t let you!" A smirk appeared on her lips. Her once charming eyes were dull and listless. "Pardon me, Mr. Carter. You won''t let me? What right do you have? Think you can do that because you''re my ex-husband? "Remember? It was you who forced me to sign the divorce papers. I did everything you asked, and we have no rtionship with each other anymore." "Willow!" Zayn wanted to confess that he hadn''t signed the divorce papers, but his inted ego prevented him from making such a humbling statement. "Mr. Carter, I know I''m Willow. I also know that I''m just your ex-wife." She slowly pried away his fingers on her chin. "Mr. Carter, you''reme. Why would you pester your ex-wife when you already have a fianc¨¦e?" When Zayn was taken aback, she took the opportunity to get out of bed and ran toward the entrance without even putting on a jacket. He wanted to run after her, but he was too angry to do so, and his ego stood in the way, too. He thought, "I will not give up my dignity, clinging onto a woman who thinks of me as an annoying fly!" However, he immediately found an excuse to give up on his dignity. He convinced himself that his action had nothing to do with dignity. He was merely worried that she might freeze to death, and he wouldn''t want to take care of her body if she died. He grabbed her jacket and marched out of the patient room. He caught up with her in no time. "Willow, stand there!" Then, Zayn forcefully draped the jacket onto Willow. His exquisite features remained aloof, but there was a hint of awkwardness. He said to her, "Willow, forget about Kenan. I''ll give you a chance to start anew with me." However, she did not turn around. Instead, she drew her jacket close and departed with a regal air. Her resolute departure set Zayn off. He had put aside his ego and caved in. He thought, "How dare this bold woman refuse to turn around and look at me? She must be madly in love with Kenan!" Still, she''d be delusional to think she could betray him by getting together with Kenan! Willow hailed a cab at the hospital entrance and headed to the cemetery. It started snowing outside after she hopped into the cab. The snowkes fluttered and settled across Nic and Aaron''s graves, adding to the destion of the run-down site. The coffin pieces were scattered all around, Willow shakily picked up the pieces of wood that had been purposely desecrated. Despite trying her best, she could not piece them back to their original state. Still, she carefully carried the pieces of wood and ced them back into the grave sites. She did not call N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 242 for help or use any tools. With her bare hands, she dumped the soil that had been dug out by Matthew''s men back onto the top of the chipped coffins. During the process, tears flowed down her cheeks. Hurting and m grieving badly, she did not notice a figure closing in from behind. Chapter 243 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 243 Chapter 243 "Nic, Aaron, I''m sorry." Willow had so much to say to Nic and Aaron, but she choked up whenever she started to speak.. She stifled her sobs as she didn''t want Aaron and Nic to worry about her in the afterlife. As a result, she held back her words. She could not fill up the grave with all the soil, given her weak stamina. She did not n on doing so either. She thought of getting one of her clothing items and cing it in the grave, which she would consider as her cenotaph. At least she would be buried together with the people she cared about. As Willow had signed up for a body donation, there would be no need for a funeral after her death. Perhaps she had been growing more superstitious when death was nearing. Worried that not having a resting site would prevent her from reaching purgatory and meeting up with her loved ones, she decided to perform a simple ritual for her impending death. She slowly rose and turned around once she was done. She saw Matthew standing behind her. The sight of him evoked terrible memories in her mind. She immediately took a step backward. "Willow." Her fingers trembled when she heard him calling her name in a neutral tone. She feared that he might demand her to pay for the child that he and Wilhelmina lost.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. She continued backing off with a vignt look. "Matthew, please spare me. I''ve died once. Even if I were responsible for Wilhelmina''s miscarriage-which I''m not-we should be even by now. "I didn''t lie to you. I am dying soon, and I''m never going to produce a child." The mention of death caused him to knit his brows. His sixth sense told him that she wasn''t referring to her act of cutting her wrist. What exactly happened to her? Why did she repeatedly insist that she was close to death? Was she lying, or was she really dying? Matthew took a step forward out of concern, but that action only added to her uneasiness. Looking pallid, she stumbled backward. Then, she drew a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "Matthew, I do not owe you and Wilhelmina anything. You don''t have the right to force anything on me!" "Willow, I''m sorry." His unexpected apology took her by surprise. Still, she was traumatized after Matthew forced her to carry his child. His apology did not reduce her fear at all. "What do you mean, Matthew?" "Willow, I looked into the incident. You did not push Wi down them stairs." Chapter 243 Hearing that, she let out a long, relieved sigh. She assumed Matthew wouldn''t force her to produce a child for him now that he had learned about the truth. Great. Once the misunderstanding was cleared, she refused to waste time talking to Matthew. He was no En: longer the old Matthew. Turning away from him, she walked out of the cemetery. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 244 Chapter 244 "Willow!" She stopped in her tracks. "Mr. Mayer, is there anything else?" "You said you were dying soon. What did you mean?" Matthew was hesitant to show concern to Willow, but he was distressed by her words and blurted out his question at the end. Willow would have exined everything to the old Matthew, but she had nothing to say to him now. She shed him a faint grin. "Mr. Mayer, that''s a private matter. Don''t worry about it." Matthew hade to Willow with a heart heavy, full of remorse and tenderness. Yet, he was angered by her eagerness to draw a line between them. His temper was terrible, to begin with, and he struggled to contain his emotions at the moment. He took a step f forward and harshly grabbed her wrist. "Willow Sanford, exin yourself!" He had unknowingly grabbed the wrist that she had slit. Though the wound was stitched and bandaged, she felt ufortable in his forceful grip. She inhaled sharply, and her face paled due to the pain. The color started draining from her slightly rosier lips as they trembled. She reached out to pry away his hand, but she failed. "Mr. Mayer, please let go of me!" Her struggle intensified the pain in her wrist. Matthew finally noticed something was amiss. He hurriedly lowered his gaze and was shocked to find that he had been grasping her injured wrist. After letting go of her wrist awkwardly, he was at a loss for words. Willow had wanted to slip away when he fell into a daze, but she could not endure the great pain in her body. Perhaps she suffered from mobility issues in thest two days of her life withte-stage cancer. She could not even keep herself upright. All she wanted to do was to copse onto the ground and never stand up again. "Willow, I''ll make it up to you for what happened this time," Matthew offered.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. He was about to suggest that she be his mistress in exchange for more material rewards, but she spoke in an airy voice. "Mr. Mayer, sing "Little Star'' for Aaron if you want to make it up to me. We''re even if you do." Kenan had once sung "Little Star by Aaron''s grave through the night, and Willow believed that he made Aaron very happy. Still, Aaron cared more about Matthewpared to Kenan. To Aaron, Matthew was a father figure. Willow believed that her son could only rest in peace if Matthew sang the nursery rhyme for him once more. "Are you seriously making me sing for that kid?" Matthew put on a wild look of disbelief. "Willow, I never sing! And I''ll never sing for someone else!" Chapter 244 Willow did not feel too disappointed, as she had anticipated his refusah After all, she had begged him to sing all she he Aaron "Little Star" to no avail in the past. Why would he agree now? Holding back her tears, she put on a self-deprecating smile. "ME. Mayer, it''s fine if you don''t want to It''s a En tough ask from me anyway. sing. "If possible, Mr. Mayer, could you visit Aaron from time to time after I''m gone? Well, it''s okay if you refuse." "Willow, exin it to me!" He blocked her path as she started walkingm away. "You keep telling me that you''re dying, but why? Willow, what are you hiding from me?" Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Ignoring Matthew, who had blocked her path, she left the cemetery from the side road. He was gripped by panic at the sight of her straight and proud posture. Somehow, he had a sinking feeling that he''d never see her again if he let her go today. Hence, he racked his brains just to keep her around for a little longer. "Willow, I''ll sing it! I''ll sing ''Little Star to that son of yours!" Surprised by his own suggestion, he let out a low, helpless chuckle. Never had he expected to lower his dignity for a woman. He was a man who had repeatedly turned down Wi''s coquettish request for him to sing a song at the private lounge. "What did you just say, Mr. Mayer?" Willow spun around instantly and gave him a look of disbelief. Her voice was trembling from agitation. "I said I''d sing ''Little Star'' for your son!" Matthew wasn''t used to singing. He couldn''t recall ever having sung. Even after agreeing to sing "Little Star" for Aaron, he still felt a little uneasy. If he sang off-key, he would make a joke of himself. Even Matthew Mayer was afraid of embarrassing himself. Still, he would not walk back on his words. He searched for the lyrics to "Little Star" on his phone and awkwardly opened his mouth while staring at the screen. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky..." His familiar voice brought tears to her eyes. Her mind wandered. She felt as though she was looking at the same Matthew who had kept her and Aaronpany in the dungeon. His voice was deep and melodious, like the notes from a cello. His voice could easily turn people on. Aaron loved listening to Matthew sing, especially "Little Star". Once, Aaron fell down when he was fooling around. It was the worst fall he had experienced-he grazed a huge patch of skin on his knee, and he sustained an injury to his head. As cheerful as he was, he cried nonstop from the agonizing pain. Matthew pulled the sobbing three-year- old into a hug and coaxed him by repeating "Little Star tirelessly. Aaron''s howling slowly calmed down after hearing the familiar tune and voice. Finally, he fell asleep with a smile. Willow walked over to Aaron''s tombstone. Wiping away her tears, she forced a smile. She thought, "Hey, Chapte 245 Aaron, did you hear that? Uncle Matthew is singing Little Star for you again!! "He''s granted your final wish. So, could you forgive him for destroying your things? Hedidn''t do it on purpose. He''s just... forgotten about us." "When the zing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon, The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 246 Chapter 246 "Tis your bright and tiny spark, Lights the traveler in the dark..." While clutching his phone and singing, Matthew froze. From what he could remember, this was his first time singing "Little Star'', but he was surprisingly in tune. Besides, he did not recall ever having sung such a childish luby. Why, then, did the song feel familiar to him, as if he had performed it many times before? The song even evoked sadness in him-a sorrow for someone else. In the lights and shadows, he noticed a figure limping toward him and holding onto something. He could not tell if it was a human or a toy. The figure, holding onto the unknown item, repeatedly sang to "Little Star". His voice ovepped with Matthew''s. The happy tune seemed to drop a bomb into his mind, evoking memories buried deep within him. He wanted his memories to resurface amidst a raging headache, but he failed. Finally, he finished singing "Little Star-a simple song that depleted all his energy to sing. When his singing ceased, Willow returned to reality as well. She beamed brightly at him. "Mr. Mayer, thank you! Thank you for granting Aaron''s final wish. He must be really happy now. Thank you..." At that moment, she sensed a strong metallic taste in her throat. She tried her best to cover her mouth, but blood gushed out of her mouth, trickling out of her fingers. The bright red of the blood appeared more horrifying against the backdrop of her paleplexion. Refusing to show her vulnerability in front of Matthew, she turned around and tried harder to cover her mouth. s, the blood wouldn''t stoping up her throat. Despite her best efforts, blood continued flowing out of her mouth. Finally, she groaned and threw up a mouthful of blood. She felt as though she had vomited everything out, yet blood continued to trickle down from the corner of her lips. "Willow!" Matthew dashed to her and hugged her tight. He reached out to wipe away her blood, forgetting that he was a clean freak. Right after he cleaned the corner of her mouth, blood started oozing out from her lips again. The amount. of blood loss made him wonder if she might bleed herself dry.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Trembling violently, he fell into a panic. He had never experienced this level of panic, not even when he found Wilhelmina lying in her pool of blood after she had fallen from the stairs. He hugged Willow''s emaciated, light frame with all his might, yet he could feel her slowly drifting away. She could not possibly lose this much blood from slitting her wrist. He suddenly recalled that she had vomited blood when he forced himself on her. At that time, he was hell-bent on taking revenge. Hence, he didn''t pay much attention to her health issues. Thinking back, he was riddled with heartache. "Willow, I''ll get you to the hospitall" "I don''t want to!" Despite the agonizing pain, Willow remained fully conscious "I want to go home! I want to look for Mr. Dawson. I''m looking for him... Her remark brought him pain and anger. Why would she still obsess over Kenan when she was in poor health? Was that how much she cared for that guy? Matthew forcefully carried her into the car. Then, he stepped on the elerator, and the Lamborghini sped off. "Matthew Mayer, stop the car! I''m getting out!" Of course, Matthew would not pull over. However, when he turned m around to check on Xer, he witnessed her trying to open the door. She seemed prepared to jump out of the car if he refused to pull over. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 247 Chapter 247 "Willow Sanford!" Matthew ground his teeth in a fury. Still, he caved in and stopped the car. This was his first time bowing down to a woman. Once the car rolled to a stop, Willow opened the door wider and hopped off in a great hurry. As her legs felt wobbly, she curved her knees when she jumped, causing her to nearly fall face-down on the ground. She had to grab the door to support herself. Matthew swiftly left the car and rushed over to hold her arm. "Mr. Mayer, don''t touch me!" She stared at him vigntly, even taking a step back. She had wanted to distance herself further, but she could not move as he was grabbing her arm too hard. He examined her sternly. She could be infuriating sometimes, but he still worried for her health. Given her current state, he feared she might not make it home. Hence, he gave in again. "Alright, Willow. I won''t take you to the hospital. I''ll send you home." She quickly looked up with visible shock in her twinkling eyes. She could not believe his kind offer to send her home. If he was being serious, that''d be perfect. It was difficult to get a cab in that alley, and it''d take her forever to walk to Bordello, given her feeble state. "I''ll have to trouble you then, Mr. Mayer." She did not turn down his offer. Instead, she freed himself from her grip and entered his car. He noticed her grimace whenever he sped up. So, he slowed down. As the Lamborghini cruised down the street, Willow looked out of the car window and did not feel dizzy anymore. When they arrived at Bordello, Matthew not only wanted to see her to her ce and even harbored a greedy wish to hang around. However, she was wary of him. Like a defensive animal, she had her defenses up, and he had no way to break through. Feeling disappointed and helpless, he did not force her against her will. He had plenty of time, and he believed he''d get what he wanted one day. There was no need to rush it. The doors of Bordello were tightly shut, looking the same as when she left home. Still, she noticed a difference when she stepped foot in the ce-the urn she carefully ced on the table had been shattered. The urn could not have rolled off the table on its own. Someone must have broken in and shamelessly destroyed Kenan''s urn.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Apart from herself, only Zayn held the keys to the apartment, which wasn''t a surprise because he owned the property. The doors had been destroyed once, but the lock cylinder was intact. She did not change the lock cylinder because she couldn''t be bothered to get new keys. Hence, Zayn could still ess the apartment. Zayn did not have a habit of carrying the keys with him, as he never m considered Bormas considered Bordello his home. She couldn''t believe that his keys were finally put to use for such a despicable purpose. She assumed he had given Skyler his keys, and Skyler broke it??th@ ve m apartment to destroy Kenan''s urn. The premium wood used for the urn was broken into pieces. Ashes scattered all across the floor Staring at the mess, she could easily picture she do the the huge impact sustained by Kenan''s urn when she wasn''t around. Not only that, she found wet spit on the ashes, which disgusted her. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 248 Chapter 248N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Willow''s heart ached at the thought of Kenan''s ashes being rudely stomped on and spat on. The pain was too much to bear. Not only had she falled to protect Nic and Aaron''s belongings, but she also failed to safeguard Kenan''s ashes. Amid the wood shredsid a piece of note stained with spit. She recognized the handwriting as Skyler''s Lolo, I can''t tell what you''d feel when you see this, but I can assure you that it was cathartic for me! It was f*cking cathartic! "Sometimes, happinesses at unexpected times. When I think of you being upset, I can''t help but feel gleeful. This is a gift from me. You don''t have to thank me!" Willow held the note tightly before crumpling it and flung it out. She could not wrap her head around the existence of someone as vile as Skyler. Skyler didn''t seem content despite taking many lives; she wouldn''t even spare Kenan''s ashes! She thought, "Skyler, how cruel and despicable can you be?" Her fingers trembled violently; veins bulged on the back of her hands. She clutched her chest tightly, feeling the intense pain and hatred. She would only rest in peace if she made Skyler suffer the same pain. "Skyler, let''s go to hell together!" Then, she cautiously gathered the ashes from the floor and cleaned up the mess before rushing out of her apartment with only her phone and purse. Knowing Skyler, that woman cared the most about her face, which she had painstakingly taken care of. Therefore, Willow equipped herself with some sulfuric acid and a fruit knife to disfigure Skyler before killing thetter. Willow was aware of her rash actions, but she couldn''t care less about it. She was a dying woman anyway. Even if her mission failed, she had nothing to lose. The neighborhood that Skyler lived in had tight security. It would be difficult to gain entry, but thanks to Willow''s identity as Skyler''s sister and her prior visits to Skyler''s ce, the security did not stop her at all. Willow had no idea if Skyler was in the vi, but she did not bother to track down Skyler''s whereabouts. Since Skyler stayed at the vi often, Willow believed that Skyler would eventually show up if she waited around. Willow opened the bottle of sulfuric acid. To inflict maximum damage on Skyler''s face, she had specifically picked a bottle with a wide mouth. Once she threw the acid in Skyler''s face, she bet that no one would ever recognize Skyler again. In less than half an hour, Willow saw Skyler exiting the vi. She thought, "God must be helping me!" Skyler looked slightly astonished to see Willow at the entrance. "Lolo, what brings you here?" What brought her here? Willow I''m thought, "Well, I''m here to throw acid in your face!" Chapter 248 Willow, for whom time was a luxury, had no time to waste, especially not on putting on the act of a loving sister. All she wanted was to shower Skyler with her "gift". Mustering her energy, she raised her hand and forcefully flung the bottle of e acid in Skyler''s face. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 249 Chapter 249 "What are you doing, Lolo? Zayn, save me!" Skyler''s face fell when she recognized the smell of sulphuric acid in the air. After all her schemings, she still failed to get Kenan killed. Therefore, she forged Kenan''s death to morally crush Willow and drive her crazy. She knew that desecrating the "ashes" would provoke Willow to do something crazy, which would evoke Zayn''s contempt. Never had she anticipated Willow throwing acid at her. Skyler covered her face tightly, nearly wetting her pants from the fear. Thankfully, Zayn rushed to her rescue at the critical moment and wrapped her in a tight hug. The acid that Willow flung at Skyler made contact with Zayn''s back. "Zayn, how are you?" Skyler collected herself and hurriedly checked on Zayn. As the weather was chilly, Zayn wore a fewyers. However, he suffered acid burns as Willow had used highly concentrated acid. The burn looked horrifying. "Zayn..." Tears rolled down Skyler''s cheeks. She felt sorry for the acid burns that Zayn suffered. In the aftershock, she was gripped by lingering fear. If Zayn was badly injured even when he woreyers of clothes, she could not imagine what would happen if she were the victim instead. She might never be able to show up in public! "Zayn, does it hurt?" Sobbing, she held his arm and reached out to touch his back. Yet, she worried that her touch might hurt him more. "Skyler, I''m fine." Zayn quietly pulled away from her. "How about you? Are you hurt?" "Zayn, you''re a fool!" She cried louder upon hearing his concerned question. "Look at you! You''re badly hurt, but you still care about me. That really pains me. I feel so bad for you!" "Skyler, I''m okay as long as you''re safe." Meanwhile, Willow stared at the lovey-dovey scene between the two. She did not anticipate Zayn shielding Skyler from the attack. In fact, she spotted Zayn before she threw the acid. Thinking she could carry out the attack swiftly, she underestimated his concern for Skyler.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The acid attack was a failure. Willow turned her face away stiffly as she repeatedly reminded herself that she was no longer in love with Zayn. Nheless, she felt a heartache when she saw the bloodied burns on his back. Upset that she did not manage to silently grabbed disfigure Skyler, sheer. Before the fruit knife to stab she had the chance to do so, she heard Zayn''s icy voice ringing out. "Willow Sanford, how could you do this to Skyler? If I hadn''t rushed over Chadn in time, she would have been The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 250 Chapter 250 "You''re right! I want to destroy Skyler''s face! Even send her to hell!" Willow intended to exacerbate the situation, so she didn''t hide her resentment for Skyler Skyler used her superb acting skills again, stepping forward and looking at Willow with tearful eyes. "Lolo, have i done something wrong? Why are you doing this to me? "Women are mostly concerned with appearance. If you ruin my face, I''ll be worse than dead! Please let me know if I made a mistake. "I''ll admit it and change it. Could you please stop hurting me? To be honest, I''m not afraid, even if you intend to hurt or kill me. "I''m just afraid that you''ll hurt Zayn again! Lolo, look at his back. You injured him! Zayn, let''s go to the hospital. You look bad." "Skyler, I said I''m fine." Zayn patted the back of Skyler''s hand soothingly. When he looked at her, he appeared tender. Willow, on the other hand, was coldly treated. "Willow, apologize to Skyler! I won''t let you hurt her again!"N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. "Apologize to her?" Willowughed. Her pretty face revealed boundless sadness. "Mr. Carter, did you ask me to apologize to Skyler? Are you kidding me? "She killed my grandmother, Aaron, and Nic! And now she-" Willow choked up and couldn''t continue when she thought of the mess in Aaron and Nic''s graves, as well as the mess inside the small apartment in Bordello. Zayn found her statements to be extremely absurd. "Willow, how is your child''s death rted to Skyler? She''s even less likely to be involved in your grandmother and Nic''s deaths! You must be crazy!" "Yes, I''m crazy! Skyler drove me mad!" Willow struggled to breathe and nearly spat out another mouthful of blood. She tightly covered her mouth to keep the gushing blood from flowing up. She stared at Skyler with reddish eyes like a crazy murderer. "Skyler Dawson, you''ve harmed me repeatedly. As long as I''m alive, I''ll send you to hell one day! "I have nothing now, so I''m not afraid of anything. How about you? You''ve done so many awful things. Won''t you be scared awake if you dream about it at night?" "Willow Sanford!" Zayn''s voice grew colder as Willow''s statements became increasingly inappropriate. "Mr. Carter, you don''t have to remind me of my name repeatedly! Even if I die, I''l never forget who I am!" Willow suddenly burst out with infinite strength. She swiftly stepped forward, grabbed Skyler out from behind Zayn, and shoved her hard against the wall. "How about you, Skyler? What will your name be when you die? Should you be known as a murderer? Or a drama queen? It''s time for you to go to hell! I''ll give you a ride!" Chapter 250 Willow waspletely outraged. She abruptly pulled out a fruit knife and attempted to stab Skyler. the sun. The fruit knife shed through the air and shone in the Skyler stared intently at it. Even if Willow wanted to kill her, she could easily avoid the attack or shovem Willow to the ground. But she didn''t want to run away at this point. She merely moved her body slightly to avoid the fruit knife from piercing her vitals. In the next second, Willow stabbed the gleaming fruit koife hard inton Skyler''s left shoulder. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Skyler screamed in pain. "Help, Zayn! Lolo wants to kill me!" She clutched her injured shoulder, looking panicked. "Help, Zayn! Save me! Lolo, please stop! I''ve gotten along with you for over 20 years! How could you do this to me! Willow regretted her failure to pierce Skyler''s heart. Thetter''s groaning indicated that she was putting on a performance once more. She knew she had fallen into Skyler''s trap again but wouldn''t back down. She never considered stepping back. After all, killing Skyler had be her only wish in life. "Go die, Skyler!" Willow tightened her grasp on the fruit knife, attempting to stab Skyler hard again. But this time, she failed to attack Skyler. Before she could even touch Skyler, she felt a pain in her wrist and uncontrobly dropped her knife to the ground. It was Zayn again, Willow despised him for being nosy. But it wasn''t the time to argue with him. She only wanted to kill Skyler and avenge those she cared about most. She had gone insane, especially after recalling the dirty saliva spat on Kenan''s ashes. She even imagined Aaron being ripped apart by wild beasts and Nic being eaten by sharks in extreme despair. "Willow, stop being crazy!" Zayn''s expression darkened as he realized Willow still wanted to hurt Skyler, who had been stabbed without repentance. But he couldn''t stop Willow. Her hands trembled as if she were dying, and refused to let go of Skyler. She tightly held the fruit knife and fiercely stabbed forward. "Stop it, Willow!" Zayn grasped Willow''s wrist tightly, He felt sorry for her when shemitted suicide by cutting her wrist. However, her outrageous behavior that day turned his sympathy into anger. "Let go of me, Zayn! I must kill Skyler!" Only by killing Skyler could she rest in peace. Then, she could muster the courage tomit suicide to find the ones she cared about the most. "I won''t let you hurt Skyler!"N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "F*ck off! Skyler has done many horrible things and kept hurting me! She has killed many people! She must die!" Willow was insistent that Skyler had to die. Apart from killing her, Willow found no other way tofort the souls of the deceased. "Willow, you''ve really lost your mind! You''re the one who keeps hurting Skyler! Be sober! If you dare to hurt Skyler again, I''ll cut you into pieces!" *Just do what you want! I don''t care how I die as long as I can kill Skyler!" Willow was so anxious at being unable to release herself from Zayn''s grip that she nearly copsed. She couldn''t help raising her voice. "Zayn, you''re no different from Skyler! "You conspired with her! You two are devils! Get out of my way! I must kill Skyler!" Willow grew dizzy as the blood surge increased in intensity. Her courage was her constant source of strength. However, no matter how brave she was, she was in poor health and had lost her strength. She couldn''t make Skyler pay in death. She realized she couldn''t grant her wish anymore. She might soon be unable to stand up. Chapter 251 Skyler screamed in pain. "Help, Zayn! Lolo wants to kill me!" She clutched her injured shoulder, looking panicked. "Help, Zayn! Save me! Lolo, please stop! I''ve gotten along with you for over 20 years! How could you do this to me!" Willow regretted her failure to plerce Skyler''s heart. Thetter''s groaning indicated that she was putting on a performance once more. She knew she had fallen into Skyler''s trap again but wouldn''t back down. She never considered stepping back. After all, killing Skyler had be her only wish in life. "Go die, Skyler!" Willow tightened her grasp on the fruit knife, attempting to stab Skyler hard again. But this time, she failed to attack Skyler. Before she could even touch Skyler, she felt a pain in her wrist and uncontrobly dropped her knife to the ground. It was Zayn again. Willow despised him for being nosy. But it wasn''t the time to argue with him. She only wanted to kill Skyler and avenge those she cared about most. She had gone insane, especially after recalling the dirty saliva spat on Kenan''s ashes. She even imagined Aaron being ripped apart by wild beasts and Nic being eaten by sharks in extreme despair. "Willow, stop being crazy!" Zayn''s expression darkened as he realized Willow still wanted to hurt Skyler, who had been stabbed without repentance. But he couldn''t stop Willow. Her hands trembled as if she were dying, and refused to let go of Skyler. She tightly held the fruit knife and fiercely stabbed forward. "Stop it, Willow!" Zayn grasped Willow''s wrist tightly, He felt sorry for her when shemitted suicide by cutting her wrist. However, her outrageous behavior that day turned his sympathy into anger. "Let go of me, Zayn! I must kill Skyler!" Only by killing Skyler could she rest in peace. "I won''t let you hurt Skyler!" - Chapter 251 "F*ck off! Skyler has done many horrible things and kept hurting me! She has killed many people! She must die!" Willow was insistent that Skyler had to die. Apart from killing her, Willow found no other way tofort the souls of the deceased. "Willow, you''ve really lost your mind! You''re the one who keeps hurting Skyler! Be sober. If you dare to hurt Skyler again, I''ll cut you into pieces!" "Just do what you want! I don''t care how I die as long as I can kill Skyler!" Willow was so anxious at being unable to release herself from Zayn''s grip that she wearly copsed. She couldn''t help raising her voice. "Zayn, you''re no different from Skyler! "You conspired with her! You two are devils! Get out of my way! I must kill Skyler!" Willow grew dizzy as the blood surge increased in intensity. Her courage was her constant source of strength. However, no matter how brave she was, she was in poor health and had lost her strength. She couldn''t make Skyler pay in death. She realized she couldn''t grant her wish anymore. Sh The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 252 Chapter 252 It was Willow''sst chance to kill Skyler. Willow bit her lip and forced herself to escape Zayn''s grasp. He grew enraged when he saw her refusal to repent. Abruptly, he increased the force of his grip, nearly breaking her wrist. She was in excruciating pain. Her wrist soon went limp, and she could no longer apply any force. Her knife then dropped heavily to the ground, sounding like it hit a death knell. Willow lowered her gaze and stared at her hands nkly. She suddenly felt the urge to cry. Herleft Her left wrist was bandaged. It was the scar left by her suicide. She couldn''t use her left hand. Now, she felt like her right wrist was almost broken, as she couldn''t exert any strength. She couldn''t even pick up the knife that had fallen. Without a weapon, how could she avenge those she cared about?Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Despite her powerlessness, she wanted Skyler to pay the price. Wiping away a trace of blood seeping from her mouth, Willow rushed toward Skyler stubbornly and desperately. Her attempt to hurt Skyler failed this time as well. Zayn shoved her away violently, causing her to fall heavily on the ground and be unable to get up. At the sight of Willow falling, he subconsciously wanted to step forward and help her up. But before he could even take a step forward, Skyler''s breathless voice sounded, "Zayn, it hurts... It''s hurting so much... Am I going to die? It hurts..." Zayn came to a halt. He swiftly turned around to hug Skyler tightly. Arge amount of blood flowed down her shoulder and over her clothes. Skyler wore a white down jacket, so her blood was visible, which looked frightening. "Skyler, I won''t let anything happen to you!" Zayn embraced her tightly. "I''ll take you to the hospital!" "Zayn..." She reached out and gently stroked his brows. "I feel awful. I feel like I''m about to die. I''m not terrified of death. I''m just worried that I won''t see you again. Chapter 252 "I like you so much that I''ll happily sacrifice for you. I''ll never forget the wonderful times we shared through thick and thin four years ago. If there is a next life, I''ll still love you unconditionally... "Zayn, I don''t want to hurt Lolo. I believe she''s sick. Can you send colo to a mental hospital. I''m not worried she''ll hurt me. I''m just afraid that she''ll hurt you you... "Please, Zayn. You must send Lolo to a mental hospital for treatment!" Zayn''s mind shifted when Skyler reminded him of their difficulties four years ago. After returning to Marley, he didn''t immediately take over Carter Group. Instead, he started his own business as an ordinary man. Four years ago, Skyler hadn''t yet been recognized by the Dawsons when Zayn was seriously injured in a car ident caused by Willow. If Zayn hadn''t received surgery in time, he would have been permanently disabled even if he had survived. Skyler thought he was poor back then. She was unaware then that''s $he could seek help from the Carters, so she sold a kidney to pay for his surgery. Zayn felt he couldn''t let her down. But now, Willow had harmed Skyler, and thetter had requested him to send Willow to a mental hospital. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Zayn believed he was losing his sanity. Willow had harmed Skyler, but he still wanted to give her another chance. "Willow, apologize to Skyler!" "Why should I apologize to chemu Willow red at Skyler in Zayn''s arms. "I''ll only apologize to my grandmother, Aaron, Nic, and Mr. Dawson! I failed to kill Skyler and avenge them!" "Kenan?" Zayn frowned. "I''ve told you, Kenan''s injury has nothing to do with Skyler!" Willow felt like ayer of fog had appeared before her for no apparent reason, separating her from that couple into two worlds. She could see Zayn''s lips move slightly but couldn''t hear what he said.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. She felt like she was talking to a brick wall but still mumbled in a daze. It seemed that only by speaking continuously could she prove that she was still alive and existed in this world. "Mr. Dawson is dead... Skyler killed him! As she did to Aaron, Nic, and my grandmother! She destroyed Aaron and Nic''s graves and also Mr. Dawson''s ashes... She disturbed their peace even though they''re dead!" Zayn''s frown deepened as he thought, "Kenan is dead? How could he have died? He was fine in the Carters''boratory! Where did his ashese from? He''s alive!" He assumed Willow had gone insane. Skyler''s shoulder was bleeding profusely, and her consciousness became increasingly confused. He didn''t dare to dy any longer, so he called Liam to deal with Willow and dashed toward his Koenigsegg with Skyler in his arms. After they left, Willow could no longer contain herself and vomited arge mouthful of blood. The road already had a thickyer of snow. Her blood spread across the white snow like red flowers blooming atop a snowy mountain. When Liam arrived, he spotted Willow motionless on the ground, with blood flowing down her side. He was stunned by the scene. He had known Zayn for many years and was well aware of the love and hatred that existed between Zayn and Willow. Chapter 253 He was afraid that he would be condemned if something happened to her, so he immediately called Zayn. Zayn''s cold voice came through as soon as Liam connected the call. "Send Willow to the mental hospital and book me a ticket to Fronden!" Afterpleting the urgent tasks at Fronden and returning it would be time for his and Skyler''s engagement. "Boss, Ms. Sanford passed out. She-" Zayn hung up before Liam couldplete his sentence. Liam knew Zayn well. If Zayn didn''t want to pay any attention to Willow, he would only obtain the same result if he phoned back. The mental hospital had doctors who specialized in treating various m diseases Liam figured Willow would be well cared for once he exined her situation to the person in charge. Thus, he sent her to Havenpoint''s mental hospital, which had the best medical facilities. Chapter 254 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 254 Chapter 254 However, Liam never expected that Skyler would secretly transfer Willow to the worst mental hospital in Havenpoint-ckstorm Mental Hospital-when he went overseas with Zayn that night. ckstorm Prison and ckstorm Mental Hospital were both Havenpoint''s darkest existences. Most of the mental patients admitted to this mental hospital had been abandoned by society. This mental hospital had exceedingly inferior medical equipment, as well as low- quality doctors. The hospital''s internal management was chaotic, including the existence of many insane patients. Furthermore, doctors and patients formed various cliques and participated in bullying. If healthy people with no mental problems were ced in such a dangerous ce, they could be tortured to the point of having a schizophrenia-like episode. Willow woke up a dayter. She was no longer dizzy, but she could not exert any strength. Her wrists were numb with pain. She didn''t even have enough strength to lift the quilt on her body. She looked around suspiciously at the unfamiliar surroundings, unable to determine where she was. The room appeared shabby, almost like an industrial dormitory from old movies. There was something moldy in the room that gave off a strong odor. The windows remained open on such a frigid day. A gust of chilly wind blew by, carrying a heavier odor of corruption instead of a fresh air breeze. Willow felt exhausted. She was already dying, but she felt uneasy in this unusual environment. "Hello, is anyone there?" she asked tentatively. No one responded. Soon, someone creaked open the wooden door. Willow subconsciously looked over and found Skyler stepping in with a smile. Skyler was dressed in a red woolen dress and wearing matching lipstick. She appeared radiant, making it Impossible for others to believe she had been severely stabbed in the shoulder the day before. "Skyler? Why are you here? What are you trying to pull again?" Skyler felt even morecent at Willow''s vignce. "Willow, do you know where this ce is?" Before Willow could ask, Skyler/continued eerily, "We''re at ckstorm Mental Hospital." Willow''s expression shifted drastically when she heard that. Despite her calmness, she couldn''t help but get goosebumps when she thought about ckstorm Mental Hospital''s horrific rumors. Havenpoint''s ckstorm Mental Hospital was a more terrifying existence than any other scary story. When a child made a mistake, a parent would threaten, "If you don''t listen to me, I''ll send you to Chapter 254 ckstorm Mental Hospital." This sentence was frequently used to terrify children into good behavior. Willow heard a rumor about it while she was a student. A young woman had identally offended someone and was sent to ckstorm Mental Hospital by her enemies. Three dayster, the woman was discovered on a hilk a hill behind the e m mental hospital. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Her face had been scratched until she was no longer recognizable Her body was covered in scratches and bite marks, with some areaspletely disabled. She was sane when she was admitted, but she was utterly insane afterward. Skyler''s smirk grew wider as she watched the weak Willow turn paler. "Willow, do you know who sent you here? It was Zayn. "He felt awful after you hurt me. He wanted you to pay the heaviest price, so he transferred you to ckstorm ¦¥¦° Mental Hospital. "Zayn has asked me toe here today. Do you know why he did that?" Chapter 255 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Willow couldn''t be bothered to argue with Skyler after she learned about her circumstances. Skyler didn''t get angry at Willow''s silence and continued, "Lolo, do you intend to ruin my face with sulfuric acid?" She gently touched her face. Her expression appeared sweet, but her eyes were terrifyingly malicious. She resembled a demon, having set her sights on her prey and wanting to devour it alive. "Despite your failure, Zayn feels terrible for me and wants to torture you. "He suggested tit for tat. Since you want to ruin my face, I should retaliate in kind! But don''t worry, I won''t destroy your face myself. "We''ve gotten along well as sisters. How can I bear to hurt you? I kindly asked your fellow patients for help!" Skyler swiftly opened her backpack and extracted a syringe filled with liquid. Then, she approached Willow with a creen malice smile. "Lolo, do you know what''s in this syringe? Zayn offered it to you!! "He imed you didn''t listen to him and always intended to hurt me. The easiest way to resolve this issue. is to disable and paralyze you. You''ll never be able to hurt anyone again! "Zayn is so kind to me and treats me sincerely. Lolo, do you envy me? It''s a pity you won''t be able to enjoy his tenderness forever!" Willow''s eyshes couldn''t stop trembling as she heard that. She had assumed that if her revenge failed, Skyler and Zayn would make her pay. Despite her determination, she was nervous when she saw the syringe in Skyler''s hand. Her knee-jerk reaction was enough to reveal that she was still not brave enough. She could muster her courage with determination, but she couldn''t face the fact that she would be disabled, let alone be bitten, injured, or destroyed by a group of mental patients. But no matter how terrified she was, she refused to ask Skyler for mercy. ???. Even if she did, Skyler wouldn''t be merciful and release her. "Lolo, I know you''re in horrible condition and dying. Perhaps you''re not afraid of death. What about being unable to move? You''ll only be able toy on the bed like rotten flesh, waiting to die!" Indeed, Willow couldn''t stand to wait for her death, but she could do nothing. Regardless of Skyler''s actions, Willow would die sooner orter. Skyler would only waste her drug. After all, Willow couldn''t move and was nearly paralyzed regardless.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. "Lolo, I''ll give you the injection right now. Enjoy your time before you die!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Willow subconsciously wanted to push Skyler away, but thetter held her down. Her hopeless struggles had no effect. She could only watch the liquid in the syringe decrease as it was injected into her body. Skyler smiled as she removed the syringe from Willow''s leg. "Lolo, do you feel it? How does it feel?" Willow began to experience burning pain in her legs and feet. She tried her best but couldn''t move her legs. She only felt excruciating anguish, like being on the tip of a dagger or being struck by countless knives. Skyler smiled broader as she saw the sweat on Willow''s forehead. "Lolo, even if you don''t thank me, I know you must be enjoying it!" Skyler threw the syringe into the trash can. Then, she zipped up her backpack and walked toward the door. Before she left, she thought of something and promptly returned. "Lolo, I''ve forgotten to tell you something. I''m always kind. I won''t let you die oblivious. Even if you die, you should die after knowing the truth. "You must be wondering why I stabbed my biological mother, Caroline Shepherd. Would you like to know why I also want to kill my biological brother, Kenan?" Willow regained her focus when Skyler brought up Kenan. She looked at Skyler with hatred and asked coldly, "Why?" "Because..." Skyler drawled maliciously. Her resentment was so great that her voice sounded strangely distorted. "Because Caroline and Kenan aren''t my biological family! I have no blood ties to them!" "What did you say?" Willow appeared to guess the truth.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Skyler continued before Willow could think further, "You must have guessed it! The Dawsons" long-lost daughter is in the Sanford family! If I''m not the Dawsons'' biological daughter, then their daughter can only be you, my dear sister! *Remember how the gangster guarding you yanked your hair in the dungeon? Do you know why he did that? Because I wanted to use strands of your hair to run a paternity test against Xavier Dawson! "I used my identity but with your hair for the test! That''s why I''m confident you''re the Dawsons'' real daughter! Chapter 256 Oh, as for Caroline, I attacked her because she overheard my conversation with my mother She knew the truth. Even if I don''t have the Dawsons'' blood, I''m meant to be an heiress! I''ll never let anyone destroy my wealth, glory, and bright future! "Just wait here to die, Lolo! Maybe it won''t be long until your blological mother, Caroline, goes to hell to reunite with you!" Willow couldn''t help but be agitated when she heard that Skyler was still unwilling to let Caroline go. "Skyler, I won''t let you hurt Aunt Caroline again! You''re full of sinsh You''ll face a terrible end! You''d better kill me right now. If I''m alive, I''ll make you lose everything!" "I won''t do that! It won''t be fun if I kill you right now. I prefer to torture you slowly and det you die in the worst way possible. "As for Caroline, you can''t save her! Bye, Willow. We''ll never meet again! I wish you a good death!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Skyler then turned gracefully and strode out of the ward in high heels, firmly closing the door. Willow''s intense difort persisted. She couldn''t believe that she was Caroline and Xavier''s biological daughter. It was no wonder that when she first saw Caroline on TV as a child, she felt an inexplicable sense of Intimacy. Aside from that, she felt a simr sense of warmth toward Kenan as if she were facing her brother. It was also unsurprising that the Sanfords always preferred Skyler. Willow once believed she was unlovable, even her biological parents preferred an outsider. She was relieved to have finally learned the truth. It turned out that they favored Skyler only because she was their real daughter. Family ties connected by blood couldn''t fool anyone. Willow didn''t me them for being nice to Skyler. She just couldn''t understand why the Sanfords were so cruel to her. They should have developed some feelings for her. After all, she had addressed Sarah as her mother for over 20 years, but Sarah still drove her to despair for Skyler''s sake. Perhaps the Sanfords had always treated her as less than dirt. Willow figured that she''d refused to care about them anymore since they didn''t care about her. Willow took out her phone tremblingly. Lightly tapping the web browser app, she entered Caroline''s name. Soon, many images appeared. Caroline appeared stunning and unparalleled in every photo. Willow gently touched her phone screen in tears. Even though she wasn''t used to it, she still called out urgently, "Mom..." That was her mother, Caroline was almost in her 50s, but her face showed no signs of aging.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Despite her distant temperament, Willow was aware that she was kind. Skyler had boasted to her many times that Caroline was the perfect mother. Willow wanted to call Caroline "Mom" in front of her, but she would never get such a chance again in this life. "Mom..." Suddenly, she remembered something Kenan had said earlier-Caroline awoke briefly after suffering major injuries. It was at that point that Caroline told Xavier not to hurt Willow. Willow cried even more bitterly to realize that Caroline recognized and loved her. She wasn''t an unpleasant or unloved child. Her mother had genuinely loved her. "Mom, I love you too. I love you very much." Willow''s tears blurred the phone screen, obscuring Caroline''s face in the photo. She hastily wiped the phone screen while continuing to look at her mother. She intended to inform Xavier that Skyler wasn''t his biological daughter. But she couldn''t reach him. Still, even if she revealed the truth before Xavier, he wouldn''t believe Willow was his biological daughter. He had already determined that Skyler was his daughter. He would never could have hurt his beloved wife. trust a suspicious person who Willow was concerned for her mother''s safety. She was worried that Skyler might go insane and harm Caroline. She desperately wanted to reveal Skyler''s actual identity. It would be ideal if Kenan were still alive, as he would believe her. Willow couldn''t stop crying as she 1. She hadn''t gotten the thought of him. She chance to tell him that she was his real sister. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Kenan had already left Willow forever before she could hear him say, "My dear sister, nice to know you." Her eyes then sparkled as she remembered she had Quintus'' contact information. She hurriedly located his phone number, dialed it, and anxiously awaited his response. But she failed to reach him. After she called more than a dozen times, he still didn''t answer. Holding the phone nkly, Willow had no idea who she should call for help to inform Xavier of the truth. She had to expose Skyler''s ugly nature. Suddenly, her phone rang. Seeing that it was Zayn, she hesitated for a moment before answering it. The Dawsons and Carters got along well. Xavier and Caroline treated Zayn as their son. If he believed her, he could easily exin everything to Xavier. "Willow, have you gained rity?" Willow immediately heard Zayn''s impatient voice. "Gain rity?" she muttered. She wasn''t sure what he meant. She was unaware of what she needed to think clearly about. "Admit your mistakes and apologize to Skyler!" Zayn was typically calm before others but not with Willow, He was usually irritated with her. "I can''t think clearly," Willow mumbled. "I''ll never be able to think clearly in this life." She could apologize to everyone except Skyler, who wrecked all of her attachments. "Willow Sanford!" Willow still had something important to tell Zayn and didn''t want to argue with him. She tried to calm her emotions before addressing him in an intimate way she had almost forgotten, Zayn. Zayn was stunned. How long had it been since she called him like that? It felt like a lifetime ago. He gradually eased his irritability and subconsciously softened his voice. "Willow, I''ll give you another chance if you admit your mistakes." "Zayn, please do me a favor. Tell the Dawsons that Skyler isn''t their biological daughter. She''s fake. I-" Willow wanted to im that she was the Dawsons'' real daughter. However, she chose to swallow her following words when she thought about how she was on the brink of death..N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Chapter 758 Despite her desire for family affection, she didn''t dare to acknowledge them. She was afraid that they would be separated again soon after they were reunited. All she had to do was merely expose Skyler''s true identity. "You said Skyler isn''t Uncle Xavier and Aunt Caroline''s daughter?" Zayn''s rare warmth froze slightly. "They''ve conducted paternity tests. How could Skyler not be their daughter? "What tricks do you n to use to injure Skyler again? Are you trying to tell me that you''re the real daughter of the Dawsons? Don''t kid me!" That was indeed the case, but Willow didn''t say it because she knew ?ayn wouldn''t believe it. She didn''t. have to tell him the truth. "You''re really crazy!" After saying that, Zayn abruptly hung up the call. Willow became more distressed as the phone screen turned ck. She then considered her sess rate if she asked the media folks to m expose Skyler''s true identity. However, someone busted open the wooden door. Several people with sickly smiles entered the ward in bizarre postures. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 259 Chapter 259 As the patients rushed in, Willow''s mind filled with dreadful rumors about ckstorm Mental Hospital Patients there enjoyed fighting, biting, and injuring others. If she could defeat them, they would obey her from then on. But if she couldn''t, they would bully her every day. Countless bloody scenes shed across Willow''s mind. She subconsciously shrank under the quilt, but the patients grew closer to her. Scaryughter erupted, giving her goosebumps all over. "Look! It''s her! She stole our boss'' face!" As one of the patients finished speaking, a middle-aged woman in colorful, shabby clothes pushed the others aside and approached Willow.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Her face was covered with crisscrossing scars. She was clearly the boss referred to by the previous patient. "Don''t worry, boss! We''ll take your face back!" "Bad woman! How dare you steal our boss'' face! Give it back!" "Return it!" Amidst themotion, several of them extended their smelly hands toward Willow''s face. Willow knew well that those patients couldn''t rece the disfigured woman''s face with hers. Their real purpose was to destroy her face. Naturally, she didn''t want her face scratched. She tried to get out of bed and away from those horrible people. But she couldn''t even move her legs. She had no way out of this hellish ce. Willow could only cover her face tightly to prevent those people from destroying it. Although she knew she would die, she couldn''t deny that every woman loved beauty. Even if she died, she wished to die looking pristine and beautiful rather than with a damaged face and scars all over her body. "Give it back to me! Give me back my face!" The leading woman couldn''t help but be enraged at the sight of Willow shielding her face. The woman grabbed Willow''s long hair, flung her to the ground, and beat her. Willow experienced agony. Her stomach and legs hurt, and her entire body was in excruciating pain. She couldn''t even defeat a child in her current state. Faced with numerous strong patients, she had no choice but to let them harm her. Fortunately, she kept her face well protected. Even though her body was in excruciating anguish that she was almost suffocating, there wasn''t a single scratch on her face from their attacks. Chapter 259 "She''s the devil! She has only four fingers on her left hand! She''s a monster!" When someone mentioned it, the others grabbed Willow''s left hand tightly. "We must destroy this monster today!" "Agree!" Sometimeter, Willow could no longer make out what they weren saying. All she knew was that the pain in her body was intensifying. Moreover, she was still bleeding. Eventually, she couldn''t even protect her face. In a trance, Willow noticed the scarred woman holdinga rusty Khife, waving it and preparing to sh at her face. Realizing she couldn''t escape the cmity, she closed her eyes in m e despair the content is on NovelDrama.Org! Read thetest chapter there! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Willow thought she would receive a scarred face like that woman. Unexpectedly, someone snapped the woman''s wrist as the knife was about to reach her face. It flew out of the woman''s hands uncontrobly. "Who is is it? How dare you mess with our boss! You''re seeking death!" The arrogant patient who spoke failed to stand up for her leader. Instead, she let out a horrible shriek. Willow be believed she was in a dream or that she had died. It was because she saw Kenan, who was in casual clothes. Kenan was always a handsome young man with a gentle appearance. But he appeared very violent when fighting with those patients, He resembled a hero who drove away the demons and monsters who attempted to harm Willow without mercy. Those patients were only bullies who targeted the weak. Seeing that some of them had been pummeled to the ground and were unable to move, those who had received minor injuries didn''t dare to attack Kenan again. He had no time to pay attention to them either. He only wanted to check on Willow. He stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "Willow..." "Mr. Dawson, Is it really you? Are you here to take me away?" "It''s me! I''m sorry I''mte! I''ll take you to the hospital!" Willow subconsciously rejected the hospital and struggled to get out of Kenan''s arms.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. "I won''t go there! I want to go home!" The hospital always smelled of cold machinery and disinfectant. In contrast, her cozy apartment had Aaron and Nic''s photos and Kenan''s supposed ashes. She wanted to go home. "Okay, I''ll take you home!" Kenan knew Willow disliked going to the hospital, so he didn''t force her. He also figured having her wounds treated by a private doctor rather than going to the hospital was more convenient. "Go home..." Willow reached out, wanting to touch Kenan''s face. The man before her was her biological brother. They had the same blood flowing in their veins, which was Chapter 260 why she felt such an attachment to him. She wanted to address him by his first name instead of "Mr. Dawson". She said inwardly, "Kenan, I''m your biological sister." It was a pity that she didn''t have the strength to speak. She could only let herself be utterly consumed by the endless darkness. Willow had been in aa for three days. Throughout this period, Kenan had stayed by her side regardless of his injuries. He arrived at the mental hospital in the nick of time that day. Despite the numerous scars on her body. she hadn''t sustained particrly significant injuries. The doctor had treated her external wounds, but he found it difficult to cure her inner ones. Willow hadn''t woken up when Zayn and Skyler got engaged on a perfect day. Kenan was aware that Skyler was the one who sent Willow to ckstorm Mental Hospital. After taking Willow back that day, he reprimanded Skyler. Kenan would have taught Skyler an unforgettable lesson if Xavier hadn''t interjected and beaten him. He refused to attend Skyler and Zayn''s engagement ceremony, m However, Xavier cautioned him that if he dared to be absent, Willow would disappear. Kenan was well familiar with his father''s means. He worried that m Xavier would do soixething awful to Willow, so he intended to attend the engagement ceremony and return shortly. He assumed he could protect his precious woman adequately from then on. Unexpectedly, Willow was no longer in this world when he returned. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Not long after Kenan left the small apartment, Willow struggled to open her heavy eyelids. It was an eventful day. As soon as she opened her eyes, she heard a firecracker outside. Havenpoint had officially forbade the use of fireworks and firecrackers in the city. So, she didn''t expect someone tomit a crime in broad daylight. Willow didn''t pay heed to anything that happened outside. She merely wanted to know if she had died.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. When she felt her stomach and legs ache and throb severely, she realized she was alive. Her thoughts wandered to Kenan. Willow observed her surroundings and found herself in Bordello. She figured someone had brought her home. In other words, what she witnessed in ckstorm Mental Hospital that day wasn''t a dream. Kenan was indeed alive. Still, Quintus was the person Kenan trusted the most. He shouldn''t have intentionally lied to her. She wondered about what exactly was going on. Willow felt that her thinking ability had slowed significantly after waking up. Whenever she used her brain, her head hurt terribly. Since she couldn''t figure it out, she stopped torturing herself from overthinking. All that mattered was that Kenan was still alive and well. She found that to be the best surprise. She had to inform him that she was his biological sister. Furthermore, Quintus must have betrayed Kenan because he had deceived her. She had to remind Kenan to watch out for Quintus. Willow grabbed the phone and was about to call Kenan when she noticed some message notifications. Zayn and Skyler were engaged. Willow shook and almost dropped the phone in her hand. She had known for a long time that Zayn and Skyler would be engaged. Not only would they get engaged, but they would also get married. Despite knowing, she still felt an unbearable pain. She clutched her chest tightly, attempting to relieve the pain, but the heart- wrenching pain continued unabated. Willow didn''t want to see the media praise Skyler and Zayn, so she shifted her phone view to the address book. She wanted to get in touch with Kenan. As soon as she clicked on the button to call him, she detected a distinct odor of smoke. Willow coughed violently and looked toward the door in confusion. She wondered why she could smell smoke in the room. It seemed like there was a fire in her ce. Chupter 261 The odor of smoke grew stronger. She knew she couldn''t sit still if a fire broke out, so she had to escape quickly. She couldn''t move her legs, so she braced her arms on the side of the bed and attempted to climb out.. She struggled and eventually got out of bed by rolling off it. The billowing smoke appeared to have rushed to the door of her room. Willow rolled several times, attempting to open the door and check out the situation outside. However, the door had been locked from the outside. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to open it. The fire grew hotter and thicker. Smoke was alsoing in from the balcony of her room. Willow knew there must be a fire on the balcony, too. Her room would m eventually be engulfed in mes. She would be so horribly burnt that nobody would be able to recognize her. It didn''t matter that she died, but the fire was getting bigger impacted. She was still ratherpassionate and didn''t want innocent people to be affected by it. After rolling and crawling on the floor, Willow eventually found her phone, which had fallen beneath the bed. She intended to contact the fire department but misdialed Zayn''s number instead. It was a mistake she often made as she saved his contact as "AA-Zayn" In her address book. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Zayn''s name was always at the top of her address book. Willow felt a throbbing pain as she looked at the name on the phone screen and decided to hang up. However, he had picked it up before she did so. "Willow? What''s the matter?" Willow felt even more saddened as she listened to Zayn''s voice. She was going to die soon. Her ce would most likely be in ruins when the firefighters arrived. Even if she didn''t burn alive, the dense smoke would suffocate her to death. She wanted to call the police simply because she didn''t want to involve the nearby residents. "Zayn, I''m about to die." Willow had loved and hated him. But as she approached death, her feelings seemed less significant. She simply wanted to bid Zayn a proper goodbye.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She didn''t like holding grudges. Despite her hatred for him, she hoped he would be fine for the rest of his life after she died. "Willow, what tricks are you trying to y? Skyler and I have gotten engaged today. Are you trying to ruin our engagement? "I''ll marry Skyler and make her the happiest woman in the world! Don''t even consider ruining our engagement and wedding!" "I never wanted to ruin it," Willow stated bluntly. She was initially alert but soon became unfocused from all the smoke that was choking her. She murmured, "Zayn, I just want to say goodbye to you." She wished to end her lifelong love affair with a simple farewell. From then on, she would never be able to meet him again. "Zayn, I''m going to die. Goodbye." Willow thought Zayn might speak gently to her after she said that, but it was merely her fond fantasy. She only heard him respond coldly, "Go ahead and die, Willow. May you rest in peace!" Tearspletely blurred Willow''s vision. She thought that was enough. At the very least, she received Zayn''s "blessing" before her death. Zayn expected her to quarrel with him after he spoke so harshly. But she remained silent, which made him inexplicably uneasy. However, his uneasiness instantly turned to indifference because he believed she was the best at maniption. "Still not hanging up?" Zayn sneered. "Did you expect me to pray for your soul?" "No, Mr. Carter. Thank you for your kindness." Willow then hung up the call with all of her strength. Thest words Zayn said to her were harsh, but she was already satisfied. Willow worried she wouldn''tst much longer and wanted to saym wanted to saym goodbye to Kenan. But she couldn''t reach him after calling him several times. She wanted to text him and inform him that Skyler was an imposter. But before she could grasp her phone'' again, a piece of the wooden ornament fell from the ceiling, taking mes with it as it fell. It severely damaged the phone in front of her. Her right hand would have been destroyed if she hadn''t retracted it in time. The mes on the balcony were approaching. Willow soon w soon experienced violent dizziness. Before she lost consciousness, sheughed at herself. It turned out that her life ended with being buried in the fire. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 263 Chapter 263 The engagement ceremony of the Carters'' youngest son and the Dawsons'' eldest daughter was a grand event in Havenpoint. Many distinguished guests attended the engagement banquet, which was so extravagant that even the ordinary wealthy person''s wedding ceremony couldn''tpare with it. Skyler was wearing a bright red dress. Her dress didn''t have many Intricate embellishments, only embroidered patterns in gold thread. Its tailoring was decent, making her appear more aristocratic, elegant, and graceful. She walked into the banquet hall, holding Zayn''s arm and smiling brightly. She exuded unconceble joy. On the other hand, Zayn appeared solemn and indifferent, as if he were attending a funeral. Despite attending their engagement banquet, Kenan didn''t bother to congratte Zayn. Even though Skyler was his biological sister, he believed Zayn was blind to fall in love with her. He didn''t need to congratte an oblivious man on marrying a woman with wicked intentions. Xavier adored Caroline. So, he naturally loved the precious daughter she had birthed for him. He felt ufortable seeing Kenan''s unpleasant expression during his lovely daughter''s engagement. He soon dragged Kenan into the lounge upstairs and reprimanded him. Kenan might seem carefree, but he was most afraid of his father. When Xavier scolded him, he didn''t even dare to refute and muted his phone in advance. After being beaten and lectured thoroughly by Xavier, he could finally escape his harsh father. As soon as he reached downstairs, Kenan took out his phone to check the time. Unexpectedly, the phone showed him six missed calls from Willow. Kenan''s gloom faded and was reced by excitement as he realized she had finally woken up. He swiftly called Willow back. "Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unavable..." Kenan called her several times in session, only to receive a robotic female voice in return. He suddenly had a dreadful foreboding as if he had realized something horrible. He could no longer stay at Zayn and Willow''s engagement banquet. He hurried up the stairs to search for his car keys, abandoning any concerns about getting beaten by Xavier again. When he was beaten by Xavier earlier, he seemed to have left his car keys upstairs but couldn''t find them after searching around the lounge. Coincidentally, he ran into Zayn, a protagonist of that day, in the corridor outside. Kenan was in a hurry to find Willow. He put aside his unpleasantness toward Zayn. Chapter 263N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. He swiftly grabbed Zayn''s arm and urged, "Zayn, lend me your car keys!" "Where are you going?" Zayn''s intuition told him Kenan wanted to borrow his car keys to look for Willow. He subconsciously wanted to reject it, so he asked further. "I''m going to find Willow!" Kenan was very anxious. "I couldn''t get through to her on the phone. I''m worried!" Zayn couldn''t help but feel nervous when he heard that. Willow had called him about half an hour ago. She was still fine at that e time. He wondered why Kenan couldn''t reach her, He contemted if she was performing a trick again. "I just came from Bordello! Holy crap, there''s a unit on fire upstairs! The firefighters have been there for allong time but haven''t put out the fire! I heard there was a woman inside. She had been calling for help in the apartment. s, she was severely burned!" A voice abruptly sounded at the top of the stairs. Zayn subconsciously looked over when he heard the E mention of Bordello. The person who spoke was Nelson Danes, the president of Weblight Holdings. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 264 Chapter 264 The man with Nelson was Otis Cooper, the president of Freemont Holdings. Intrigued by Nelson''s story, Otis pressed, "And then what happened to the woman? Did the firemen get her out in time?" A heavy sigh escaped Nelson. "The firemen hadn''t gotten to her when I passed by. I heard she could have escaped if her bedroom door hadn''t been locked." Otis was about to say something when his phone rang. He hurriedly put the call through and demanded, "Alfred! How are things at Bordello? I''ve been following the news. Has the woman been rescued? "What? She wasn''t? She died in the fire? Oh, dear. I figured it was unlikely that she would make it out alive. He sighed. "Burned to a crisp, you say? How horrible!" Overhearing Otis'' phone conversation, Zayn couldn''t help thinking about his call with Willow earlier. She had told him she was going to die. She even bade him farewell. Willow''s abrupt goodbye and the fire that broke out in an apartment in Bordello, where she lived, were too coincidental forfort. Zayn didn''t want to believe that Willow might have been a victim of the fire, but his heart tightened so much that breathing became difficult. He took out his phone and called Willow, but all his attempts were met by the mechanical female voice that told him to leave a message after the beep. "The person you called is unavable. Please leave a message after the beep," the monotonous female voice said again. "Nelson, did that woman really die in the fire?" Otis demanded incredulously. Nelson nodded. "Yes! Alfred just told me the details. She was practically burned to a crisp! What a horrible death. *Then again, she was trapped in the burning building for a long time. It''s no surprise she was burned beyond recognition." Nelson and Otis were still talking. At that point, Zayn''s panic had gotten the better of him.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 264 He marched up to the two men and grabbed Nelson by the cor, growling, "Where did you say the fire broke out? Tell me!" Nelson had been partaking in the festivities of Zayn''s engagement ceremony, and he did not appreciate being suddenly manhandled by the host himself. Although upset at the rough treatment, Nelson''s fear of Zayn kept his temper in check as he replied cautiously, "Mr. Carter, the fire broke out at... Bordello." "Which apartment unit?" Zayn seethed. "I think... it was an apartment in the eighth block," Nelson said hesitantly. Zayn staggered backward as his eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he looked like he might copse. He asked shakily, "What''s the apartment number?" Kenan thought Zayn was behaving oddly at first, but when he heard the questions thetter asked Nelson, the bad feeling in his gut somehow worsened. Willow lived in Bordello and hadn''t been picking up any of Kenan''s calls. When Nelson did not answer, Kenan roared, "Which unit caught fire? Answer me!" Nelson had no idea why he was being hounded on by two big shats like Nelson and Renan. He became so scared that his mind went nk. It took him a while to find his voice again. "I don''t know which unit it was. All I know is that... the fire broke out on the sixth floor!" Zayn felt his heart drop to his stomach before''it shattered into a million pieces, He was sure no one and nothing could ever put it back together again. Willow''s apartment was on the sixth floor. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 265 Chapter 265 "The sixth floor... Willow!" Kenan dashed down the stairs like a madman. Willow stayed on the sixth floor of the eighth block. While it might not be her apartment unit that caught fire, it was still concerning that she did not pick up any of his calls. Zayn couldn''t keep hisposure, either. He released Nelson and ran downstairs after Kenan but bumped into Skyler on the first floor. Skyler beamed at Zayn and said, "I can''t believe we''re celebrating our engagement, Zayn! It feels like a dream." Zayn didn''t bother stopping to muse over that day''s festivities with Skyler. He charged past her as if she weren''t there at all. Skyler sensed that something was wrong when she noticed how frantic he was. She hurried after him and clutched his arm tightly. "Where are you going. Zayn? The ceremony''s about to start! You can''t leave now." "Skyler, I have to go!" Zayn said as he pried her hands off him. "No, Zayn. You can''t!" Skyler insisted, tightening her grip. "We''re getting engaged today, and many guests are waiting for us. If you run away now, what will they think of me? "You can''t do this to me, Zayn. You can''t be so cruel as to embarrass me like this!" Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said this. Just like how he hadpromised with her countless times in the past, she thought Zayn might stay after seeing her waterworks. However, Skyler was surprised that her crying did not affect him at all. He looked like he hadn''t even seen her tears as he continued running out the door like a madman. "Zayn!" she shrieked after him in disbelief. At that point, Zayn had already bolted through the doors. He and Kenan made their way to the parking lot in silence. Zayn''s Koenigsegg zipped down the road like lightning, but even then, Zayn found it too slow, The fear was eating away at him. He could step on his gas pedal to the maximum, but there was no way he could immediately transport himself to Bordello. The car sped past the buildings so fast that it was a blur. A good ten minutes had passed before Zayn and Kenan arrived at Bordello. A crowd had gathered outside the neighborhood to watch themotion, though a small part of them Chapin 265 were mourning over the loss of a life. Zayn did not make his way up the apartment building immediately. He stood on the ground floor and stared nkly at thest bit of smoke trailing from the window of one of the units. He counted the floors. The first, the second, the third... He counted the units from left to right. The smoke wasing out from the window of the apartment he and Willow called home. Zayn staggered backward. He would have copsed to the ground if he weren''t still holding onto the car door. Kenan''s face was ashen. A grim look passed over his youthful features as he trudged forward, his movements stiff and his shoulders hunched like his bones had been turned into lead. He couldn''t help the sense of loathing that filled him. He should never have left Willow all by herself in the apartment. All the foolish thoughts he''d had before leaving the apartment haunted him now. He thought he would only be gone for two hours, at the most, and make it O back to the apartment before she woke up. He''d told himself that N nothing wrong could happen to her then. And yet, something terrible did happen to Willow. Zayn and Kenan moved on autopilot. They weren''t sure how they reached the sixth floor.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. As they stopped outside the apartment and stared at the swaying front door that had been nearly burned step in. off its hinges, they couldn''t muster the strength or courage They couldn''t lift their feet and move past the threshold without some superhuman effort. The apartment had been barricaded by police tape. The firemen weren putting out smoke in various ces to keep the wind from fanning the mes and causing another fire. The body, which had been burned to a crisp,y in the center of the living room. When the firemen broke through the apartment, the upant no longer showed any signslor vitality. All they did wasy a piece of fireproof cloth over the body as a show of respect to the dead. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 266 Chapter 266 The firemen who put out thest of the fire in the apartment didn''t know who Zayn and Kenan were. When Zayn and Kenan went past the police tape to enter the apartment, the firemen shooed them out. "No civilians allowed beyond the police tape! You have to leave now!" one of the firemen ordered. Zayn and Kenan ignored the fireman''s orders and headed straight for the living room. When the firemen noticed the pained expressions on Zayn''s and Kenan''s faces, they understood immediately-they were most likely the victim''s family. After that, the firemen collectively sighed in sympathy and did not chase Zayn and Kenan out of the apartment. Now that the fire had been put out, the firemen were no longer needed. As such, they pulled out of the scene and left the victim''s family to handle her postmortem affairs. The small living room felt oddly empty after the firemen left. Zayn and Kenan stood like statues before the corpse on the floor. The closer they drew toward it, the more uneasy they felt. Neither of them dared to lift the fireproof cloth to peek at the body beneath. "No, this can''t be Willow. It just can''t," Kenan muttered derisively, shaking his head. "She was fine when I left home today. She even called me just now. I didn''t pick up because my phone. was in silent mode. "Yes, Willow must be fine. She''s perfectly all right somewhere. This corpse can''t be hers!" As the words tumbled out of Kenan''s mouth, he grabbed a corner of the white cloth and lifted it to reveal the corpse underneath. The moment Kenan saw the corpse, tears streamed down his cheeks uncontrobly. Even Zayn''s eyes turned red and misty as he stared at the corpse before him. The body was burned beyond recognition. Where there should have been hair and a face were now nothing more than charred flesh. It was like looking at a pile of human-shaped charcoal. A dead human. There was no sign of life at all/The clothes had been burned away save for a few flimsy pieces of fabric that clung to what was left of the woman''s flesh, which made for a gut-wrenching sight. The charred and ckened mess that the fire made of the woman''s skin was akin to a rotisserie chicken that had been left on the spit for too long. Zayn stared at the corpse with a hollow gaze, refusing to believe that this was the woman whose one talent was to grate on his nerves. "This isn''t Willow! This cannot be her!" He repeated this line with certain madness as if to convince himself. Desperation had him believing that if he kept saying this line religiously, Willow might turn out to be alive somewhere instead of sprawled across the floor as a burned corpse. s, no matter how much he tried to tell himself otherwise, he knew deep down that the corpse before him was Willow''s. She was dead. "I''m going to die, Zayn," Willow had told him over the phone. What had he said to her then? Something along the lines of "Gan ahead and die, Willow. May you rest in peace!" He had even added sarcastically, "What, did you expect me to pray for your soul?" Zayn had been satisfied when he said those hurtful things. But now looking at the charred corpse before him, he did not feel a trace of satisfaction at all. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. His heart twisted painfully, and it felt like it was bleeding a river. Zayn had never been so devastated. Chapte 257 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 267 Chapter 267 "Wake up, Willow! You''re not Willow!" It was as if Zayn had suddenly gone mad as he clung to the corpse tightly. A thought crossed his mind as he lifted the corpse''s left hand. "That''s right! Willow doesn''t have a left pinky! You can''t be Willow. You''re not Willow!"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The corpse had no left pinky, nor did it have any of its left fingers. Even half its palm was gone, probably crushed by some heavy object that had toppled down from the beam during the fire. "Zayn, let go of Willow! Let go of her right now!" Kenan screamed, lunging forward to pull the corpse out of Zayn''s arms. However, Zayn''s arms were wound so tight around the corpse that Kenan couldn''t pry them away. Kenan wanted to try and take the corpse away from Zayn but couldn''t bring himself to do it when he saw. how devastated Zayn was. Kenan knew Willow had tried to be nice to him and ept him, but the person she loved had always been Zayn. Perhaps dying in Zayn''s arms was what she might have wanted. At the thought of this, Kenan quickly looked away from the disfigured corpse. If he stared at it any longer. he might want to die, too. Willow would have wanted him to live and be happy. "Willow! Open your eyes! I don''t care what games you''re ying, Willow! Open your eyes right now!" Zayn yelled hysterically, but there was no response from anyone. He lowered his head stiffly and gazed at the badly disfigured corpse in his arms. He couldn''t tell the features apart anymore but gently rubbed where the eyes and brows should have been. Willow had cared about looking her best. Zayn would have to wait for ages before she was ready to go on their dates because she wanted to doll up. He had once told her that she was pretty in her own right and still found her stunning without makeup. She had pouted at him then. "What do you know about dolling up, Zayn? I''m dressing up for myself and take pride in looking my when I''m with you. "I want to look pretty every day, Zayn. I hope that for the rest of your life, you''ll only ever see me at my most beautiful." Zayn felt like someone had sawed his heart into miserable pieces. Willow, who spent hours looking her best each day, was now a corpse that had been burned beyond recognition. best Chapter 267 Willow had a remarkably low pain threshold, too. There was a time when she and Zayn had been newly in love when she insisted on cutting an apple for him. Clumsy as she was, she had identally nicked her finger with the tip of the sharp de. If a small cut like that had made her wince and grouse, Zayn couldn''t imagine how much pain she had been in while she was burned to a crisp. He had heard thementary of the crowd gathered outside the Qm neighborhood, Someone said they heard a woman screaming and crying for help inside the apartment for a long time. In other words, the pain Willow had felt while being burned alive hadsted more than a few seconds. Zayn couldn''t even picture how much agony she had been in when she was trapped in the fire and licked all over by mes. Willow had called him, too, at some point. Zayn figured out from the time of the call that the apartment must have! already been engulfed by mes. She had probably called him for help. Even in thest moments of her life, Willow had been thinking of Zayn. Chapte 268 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 268 Chapter 268 What had Zayn done in Willow''sst moments? He had eviscerated any hope she had in him by telling her to die and rest in peace. In truth, he hadn''t wanted Willow to die or to rest in peace. Love or hate aside, he only wanted her to live the rest of her life somewhere he could see her. "Willow, wake up..." For a moment, Zayn thought he might have died himself. He felt hollow inside out, but even so, the pain in his heart was indescribable. "Excuse me, are you both Ms. Sanford''s family?" Zayn and Kenan were still grieving when two young men opened the creaking front door and entered the apartment. "If you''re both family, we request that you let us take Ms. Sanford''s body. She signed the organ donation agreement with us before her death," one of the young men said. Zayn looked up and glowered at the two men with bloodshot eyes. His feral snarl and his baleful gaze were like those of a struggling beast in itsst moments. The two men backed away when they saw this. However, at the thought of the 700 thousand dors their organ procurement center had paid Willow in advance, they stood firm and exined to Zayn, "Ms. Sanford has agreed to donate her organs to our center. *As she was in desperate need of money to pay for her son''s surgical procedure, we made an exception for her out of pity and paid her arge portion of the sum in advance. "It was stated in our agreement that her corpse must be in good condition at the time of her death. "We''re afraid that with her corpse so badly damaged, you and the rest of her family won''t be entitled to the remaining proceeds." The braver of the two men stepped forward and handed Zayn the organ donation agreement Willow had signed to show that they were indeed entitled to collect her corpse.. A red mist descended upon Zayn when he saw the agreement. He reached out and snatched the agreement from the man before tearing it to shreds. Tightening his arms around the corpse, he roared, "She''s mine! Don''t any of you dare take her away from. mel Don''t even think about it!" "I think... he''s Zayn Carter." One of the men recognized Zayn and gently nudged hispanion. As dismayed as they were about the 700 thousand dors they had paid out to Willow in advance, what Chapte 260 they needed more was for her corpse to be in good condition. There was no way they could recoup the 700 thousand dors now that Willow''s corpse wax so badly! OV Burned, but their loss would be more significant if they couldn''t take the corpse back to the center at all. That being said, their fear of Zayn outweighed their fear of making a huge business loss. Given Zayn''s influence in Havenpoint, he could easily turn their organ procurement center into a pig farm if they crossed him. In hopes of avoiding having their business turned into a pig farm, the two men decided not to provoke Zayn any further. Just as they were leaving, Zayn shaky, frigid asked in a somewhat How much did you pay manner Wilmer Willow? I''ll have the money wired to your ount, plus interest." "Uh... 700 thousand dors," one of the men answered. The two men were so intimidated by Zayn that they dared not keep quiet. Zayn couldn''t helpughing at the amount they quoted, though he wore a grimace, and hisughter sounded hollow and forlorn.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Willow had sold her corpse for 700 thousand dors. It was almost like she had wanted to die She hadm borrowed money from Zayn before, saying she needed a million dors for Aaron''s surgery. At the time, Zayn thought she wanted the money to splurge on fancy things for herself. He never imagined she was actually in desperate need of a million dors, so much so that she had signed an organ donation agreement for it. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 269 Chapter 269 A million dors. There were times when Zayn threw a party, and a million dors wouldn''t be enough to cover his tab. Yet, the love of his life had signed her corpse away for it. Sea burials were all the rage in Havenpoint. The deceased would be cremated and have their ashes scattered across the sea. The topic hade up while Zayn and Willow were still in their honeymoon phase. He had told her that a sea burial, where one''s remains became one with the sea and drifted freely across the world, had its appeal. She had shaken her head vehemently, frowning and pouting as disagreement colored her face. e were not She didn''t like the idea of sea burials and preferred conventional burials, iming that if one tethered to thend after death, their souls might get lost on the way to the great beyond. "You know that being lost terrifies me," Willow had told Zayn, She was slightly superstitious, to be frank. While Zayn did not believe in an afterlife, much less in the theory of souls transcending through lifetimes, Willow was different. Willow stubbornly believed in both the afterlife and that souls were eternal. She didn''t want to get lost on her way to the great beyond, thus the appeal of a ground burial. And yet, she had signed away those beliefs along with her corpse to an organ procurement center just to raise money for Aaron''s surgery. Donating one''s corpse meant one could never have a ground burial, and one might get lost on the way to the great beyond. Willow wouldn''t have agreed to donate her corpse unless she was truly desperate. How hopeless did she have to be to sign an agreement like that? In the end, it was all for naught. Aaron hadn''t gotten the surgical procedure, for he fell into a beast- infested abyss and became food for wild predators. "Mr. Carter.. The two men from the organ procurement center were frightened by Zayn''s ferocious re and the violence that rippled off him. They didn''t bother asking Zayn How much he would repay them. They exchanged a brief look and bolted from the apartment. "Lolo!" Zayn cried, his voice breaking as he caressed Willow''s charred face like he was in a trance. "Don''t worry, Lolo! I won''t let anyone take you away! "I''ll give you a proper burial like you wanted! I won''t let you get lost. How else will you find your way to me Chupter 259. when it''s my turn to go to the great beyond? "Lolo... My Lolo..." Investigations revealed that the fire was caused by arson, but the surveince cameras along Bordello. were found to have been intentionally destroyed. Whoever was behind this had taken precautions andmitted a seamless crime, turning this into an unsolved case. The fire became headline news, but incidents like this were happening too often in modern society. Within the blink of an eye, the fire at Bordello and Willow''s death became old news. A beautiful but tragic tale made its rounds through Havenpoint three dayster. Rumor had it that Zayn was in love with someone else. His heart did not belong to Skyler but some unnamed mystery woman. Rumor also had it that something terrible happened to the mystery woman during Zayn and Skyler''s engagement ceremony. After that, Zayn abandoned Skyler at the party so he could rush to his true love''s aid. Unfortunately, Zayn''s desperation could only do so much, for his true love had taken her own life by the time he reached her. ording to sources, his true love had ended her own life because she couldn''te to terms with Zayn and Skyler''s engagement, which left her to settle for being a mistress he had to hide away forever. Rumor had it that while the mystery no C woman was still alive, Zayn had mo ns to make an honest woman out of her and intended to keep her as a mistress forever. However, he only realized his feelings for her after her death. He had loved her for a long time, but it was toote. She was gone, and no amount of regret on his part could bring her back to life. All Zayn could do was hold onto over it. hor corpse and cry Rumor had it that the mystery woman was so stunning that Zayn''s heart was not the only one she had captured, but Kenan''s and Matthew''s as well. Chapter 270N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 270 Chapter 270 On the day of Zayn''s mystery lover''s burial, rain poured down from the wintry sky over Havenpoint. Zayn personally carried the urn filled with his mystery lover''s ashes through the drizzle and set it down in the casket. He had ced a pearlb inside her casket. Word had it that he''dbed her wig with it before she was cremated, muttering, "You look beautiful, sweetheart. I''m lucky to be your husband." On that day, Zayn buried her as her husband while Kenan and Matthew were the pallbearers. All the reporters in Havenpoint flocked to the burial site to learn about the woman''s identity and name, but the security at the funeral was airtight. The reporters hovered around the vicinity, but they could not even pinpoint the exact location of the mystery woman''s burial plot In the end, such rumors of a tragic tale were never confirmed. Skyler had-held several press conferences to stop those rumors, insisting each time that the stories of that mystery woman were ridiculous and untrue. She further exined that her engagement to Zayn had suddenly been canceled because she had fallen ill, and Zayn was worried about her health. She insisted the cancetion had nothing to do with some mystery woman who was Zayn''s alleged true love. Skyler added that no engagement ceremony would make up for thest one. She and Zayn would have a wedding instead. She wrapped up her statement by insisting that no one hade between her and Zayn and that they were a true love match. §ë§Ö Skyler sounded so convincing at every press conference that her fans believed her every word. After all, Skyler and Wilhelmina were the epitome of perfection. How could an unnamed woman possibly charm and steal their men? Only fools would believe such an absurd story. However, a small part of the public believed that the mystery woman truly existed. Her identity was simply too well-kept a secret. A monthter, Liam was scrolling through his phone at Carter Group when he stumbled upon something that left him in a stupor. Liam was a dedicated assistant who took his job seriously. He hadn''t meant to scroll through the day''s news during work hours, but he clicked on his browser app earlier out of boredom and was immediately greeted by a news article about Willow. Chiale 270 He felt like his mind had just imploded. Even more shockingly, the news article was posted merely minutes ago.. A month ago, they had confirmed that the woman who tragically died in the fire at Bordello was Willow. And yet, Willow was smiling up at Liam through the phone screen. She was pictured wearing a vintage- looking white dress and holding a perfume bottle. Liam''s hand trembled. He might have believed evil spirits were ying tricks on him by hacking it if it weren''t daytime. He clicked on the news link and was redirected to a page with more pictures of Willow. In each frame, Willow was holding a bottle of perfume. She looked son ethereal in eal in the white dress that she might as well have been a fairy in an enchanted forest. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Liam''s eyes widened when he read the headline. Willow had be an overnight sensation after pictures of her m holding a bottle of perfume started trending online. She was now regaled as " Liam clutched his phone as a chill ran down his spine. He was trying to reconcile the news with the events fromst month. Zayn''s ex-wife had not died in a fire and had instead be an om overnight sensation who was deemed Liam debated telling Zayn, whose grief made himsh out at his subordinates, about this shocking development. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 271 Chapter 271 After much contemtion, Liam decided to tell Zayn about Willow''s situation. Zayn had grown even more intimidating since Willow''s apparent death. His frighteningly icy expression and brooding demeanor were enough to loosen the dders of any high-level executive who dared approach him. The top floor of the Carter Group building had been crackling with a dark, menacing energy these days. Everyone in thepany dared not so much as make a pip when they were on the top floor lest they angered Zayn and get themselves thrown from the rooftop.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The day before, the head of the finance department had made a minor mistake- so minor it was practically negligible-when he was reporting his work progress to Zayn. Zayn was strict with work. In the past, he would have given the head of the finance department a dark look if thetter made the same mistake. However, during the meeting the previous day, the head of the finance department had been met with a look so frigid that Zayn might as well have been hurling ice blocks at him, The words that came out of Zayn''s mouth were even more menacing, and the entire office had felt the chilling threat in his voice. They always looked like they were on the verge of tears whenever they finished their coffee run. As for the secretaries who had always vied for Zayn''s attention in the past, they had grown less eager and more terrified about bringing Zayn his coffee. Even Liam hade close to tears on his recent encounters with Zayn, Liam patted his chest and mustered his courage before carefully knocking on Zayn''s office door. "Hey, boss?" "Enter!" came Zayn''s harsh bark that made Liam shudder. He gently pushed open the office door and walked over to Zayn''s desk, his steps quick and his body tense with nerves. "Boss, there''s something "Spit it out!" Zayn glowered at Liam and snapped, his impatient tone implied that Liam might be thrown. from the rooftop if he did not cut to the chase. Liam''s skin pebbled when a cold breeze came through the open window. He thought about what it might feel like to have the air rush past him if he were to be thrown out of the window. His well-toned body trembled at the idea of free-falling from such a great height. Liam set his phone down on Zayn''s desk and informed, "Boss, I came across this news just now." He could have gone mute from having Zayn''s sharp and warning gaze scan his features. Zayn looked like he was inclined to tear Liam to pieces and send him to meet his maker. Biting his tongue, Liam forced his wits to stay with him and tried to look as unfazed as possible. He closed his eyes and summoned all his courage as his following words tumbled out of him in one breath. "I was reading the news not because I was cking, boss! It was purely coincidental, I swear! "Ms. Sanford is on the news. Yes, your ex-wife-Willow Sanford-is still alive and has now be an overnight sensation after pictures of her holding a bottle of perfume gained traction online. "Not only that, she''s won over millions of boys and has been regaled as The Nation''s First Love! "Thest I checked, Ms. Sanford''s name has topped the list of trending topics. She''s the most popr inte celebrity right now!" It had been a month since the fire at Bordello, but Zayn''s heart still bled whenever he heard Willow''s name. He tried not to think of her or of anything that had to do with her, but his grief and pain only worsened over time. There were days when Zayn believed he had died alongside Willow and that his heart had burned into. ashes just as her corpse had. It was as if his heart, which so rarely beat for anyone or anything, had stopped beating altogether and was now buried six feet under. At that moment, Zayn was no better than a walking corpse, a machine that functioned solely for work and nothing else. He buried himself in work every day and handled thepany affairs robotically. It was the only way for him to keep that hollow cavity within him, where his heart should have been, from aching. Upon seeing how disinterested and nk Zayn looked, Liam panicked! He cleared his throat and raised his voice before speaking again. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 272 Chapter 272 "Boss, Ms. Sanford is still alive!" Only then did Zayn pause whatever work he was in the middle of, the pen he gripped in his left hand hovering above the paperwork. A self-deprecating scoff escaped him next as Liam''s words sank in. There they were again, the delusions that had been mocking him since Willow''s death. He''d just imagined Liam, who had never been a wisecrack and took his job seriously, telling him Willow was still alive. How could Willow possibly be alive when Zayn himself had applied makeup on her reconstructed face andbed through her wig before she was cremated? He had even personally carried the urn containing her ashes, which was all that was left of her. Willow was noting back. "What did you just say, Liam?" Zayn''s icy voice was quiet, but it seemed to draw the air out of the room and leave Liam breathless. Liam had to take a deep breath to feel the air pressure in the room return to normal. Gathering his courage again, he pointed at his phone on Zayn''s desk and said, "Boss, Ms. Sanford is alive and has be an inte sensation. She''s now The Nation''s First Love!" Zayn finally cast his gaze on Liam''s phone screen when he heard this. On the screen, Willow was indeed pictured smiling as she held up a bottle of colorless perfume. She looked breathtaking in a vintage-looking white dress. She wore the barest makeup that entuated her naturally beautiful features. With a face like that, she could put other women to shame even without makeup. In truth, Willow''s presence had always been a sensuous one. She was a born temptress. She smiled so brightly in the pictures and looked so angelic in her white dress that it was hard to imagine her as anything but demure. She looked enchanting, like an ethereal fairy. Zayn couldn''t help rubbing the phone screen with the t side of his thumb as though caressing Willow''s face-the face that upied his thoughts day and night. He felt his heart strum back to life in his chest. Willow was alive. For a moment, everything felt right and wonderful. However, Zayn''s happinesssted only a second before he was filled with violent anger. Chapter 272 Willow was still alive, and yet everyone in the world had heard of Zayn losing himself in grief over the death of a mystery woman. He had lived like a robot, a functioning corpse, for a month since Willow''s supposed death. And yet, she couldn''t even bother telling him she was alive and breathing. He wondered if she simply enjoyed watching his mind unravel with grief. Zayn let out a humorless chuckle as he contemted Willow''s newfound title, "The Nation''s First Love". It was bad enough that she had won over Kenan and Matthew, but to seduce all the men in the world? Zayn wondered where she got the audacity. As Zayn threw a violent fit, Liam''s phone became coteral damage. Liam trepiditiously picked up his phone, the screen cracked from Zayn''s aggressive smashing. He was about to leave Zayn before thetter threw another tantrum when a news update popped up on his phone. It read, "The Nation''s First Love, Willow Sanford, epted an invite to audition as an ambassador for Arena of Glory." Liam froze when he read this. Disbelief colored his face as he thought about ago about how determined Skyler about the news he read days was to be Arena of Glory''s ambassador. "Boss," Liam began warily, lifting his phone. "There''s more news on Ms. Sanford." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 "Spit it out, then!" Zayn barked. Liam gulped. "ording to thetest news, Ms. Sanford will be trying out for Arena of Glory''s ambassador role. She''ll be going up against Ms. Daws for the role." Arena of Glory gained poprity in recent years in the gaming world. It was currently the most-yed video game in Marley. The game did not have an ambassador all this while because there wasn''t a need for one. The game''s poprity was entirely self-made. The game producers were now on a nationwide search for the perfect female celebrity to endorse their game. The endorsement fees had to be astronomical, given how the game''s backer, Nightingale Corporation, was a behemoth in the business industry. Even if being the ambassador of Arena of Glory did not pay a single cent, the game was still popr enough that female celebrities would kill to secure the endorsement deal.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. A deal like that meant reaching out to at least half the poption in Marley. Every time a gamer logged into the game, they would first be greeted by pictures of the ambassador. In other words, even the most invisible of female celebrities couldunch themselves into stardom by bing the ambassador of Arena of Glory. While Skyler was doing well in the entertainment industry, certain constraints kept her from achieving household-name status. Her goal was to be an A-lister like Celeste and Caroline. Naturally, she would not pass up the chance to be the ambassador of Arena of Glory. Liam had only just told Zayn about thetest update on Willow when Zayn''s phone buzzed on the desk. Zayn saw Skyler''s name sh on the screen. He frowned but epted the call anyway. Skyler''s coquettish, earnest tone immediately filled his ear. "Zayn, I''ll be auditioning for Arena of Glory''s ambassadorship this afternoon. I was wondering if you could apany me?" Skyler had already done her research on the audition. She had procured the list of female celebrities who would audition that afternoon and felt she was the most outstanding one. She had a good chance of scoring the deal, but she would be in a league of her own if she showed up. with Zayn to the audition, Chapte 273 Nightingale Corporation would be persuaded to name her as the game''s ambassador if they wanted to maintain good rtions with Zayn, the man behind Carter Group. However, Skyler had been anxious when she called Zayn. After all, he hadn''t spared a nce at her since. the fire at Bordello. Convincing him to go to the audition with her might be the biggest challenge of her life. Unexpectedly, she heard Zayn say, after a brief pause, ¡°Sure." Skyler felt like she had just been blessed by the high heavens. "I love you, Zayn! You''re the best. Thanks for wanting to go to the audition with me!" She kissed her phone screen several times before reluctantly hanging up. Zayn''s expressionless face belied the tempest brewing in his heart. The audition was where he would see Willow and make her pay for putting him through a whole month''s worth of emotional torment. Willow was alive, and so was Aaron, After falling off the cliff, Aaron was rescued by Moses Quayle, medical extraordinaire and Wynn''s mentor. Moses had been the one to remove and discard Aaron''s bloodstained clothes after stumbling upon him under the cliff so that he could treat Aaron''s wounds. Being the medical extraordinaire Moses was, he had saved Aaron from certain death. He even performed surgery on Aaron and cured thetter''s thssemia major. However, with Aaron''s fragile state, too many surgeries might not work out in his favor. Moses thought Aaron should regain some strength before undergoing e Follow-up surgeries. He couldn''t guarantee that the future surgeries would be sessful, either. Moses felt as though destiny had tied so he m him and Aaron totter in as a decided to take the disciple. He wanted to train Aaron as the heir to his legacy. Aaron was unconscious for days after suffering the brutal fall, and he was unconscious for a while after the initial surgery as well. When he came to, he wouldn''t stop talking about Willow and asked Moses to take him to see her. He wanted her to know he was still alive. It was by sheer coincidence that the m day Moses followed Aaron''s instruction and showed up outside NO Willow''s apartment building at Bordello happened to be the day when the fire broke out. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Moses was pushing 70. But being an excellent martial artist with a strict health regime, he possessed a stronger build than men far younger than him. Naturally, it wasn''t difficult for him to rescue Willow from the burning apartment. Willow was already passed out by the time he had reached her. If he had arrived a few minutester, he might not have been able to revive her, no matter how skillful he was as a doctor. There was another woman in Willow''s living room when Moses rushed in to save Willow. The woman was the arsonist. She had left after starting the fire but returned to the apartment to swipe some valuable items. She had been rummaging through drawers and cabs when the hanging lights in the living room fell on her. It pinned her to the ground, and the fire spreading through the unit cut off any means of escape. The woman''s clothes had caught fire when Moses saw her. He wanted to save her, but he knew that doing so would put a strain on him. If he wanted to save the woman, he might also end up trapped in the burning apartment. As such, Moses chose only to save Willow. Willow''s condition was so critical that not even a medical extraordinaire like Moses could cure her. The only thing he could do was to extend her lifespan. A monthter, Willow''s condition improved significantly. Moses promised she could live up to a year if she took good care of herself and avoided emotional outbursts, smoking, drinking, and spicy foods. Willow was happy enough with the one year she had left. In the past, she hated her failing body for not giving her the time she needed to take revenge on Skyler and the others who had tortured her.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. But now, she had a year to make them pay in blood. Skyler and the others had walked all over her in the past, but Willow would not tolerate that anymore. She would stomp on them like pests. Looking back, Willow had stooped to amateur levels of revenge by sshing acid on Skyler and stabbing her. Murdering someone outright was not as satisfying as making them beg for death, and this time, Willow was determined to make Skyler beg Willow would destroy everything Skyler loved and cared about. She would make Skyler live like a street rat, scorned and abandoned. She wanted Skyler to lose everything. The pictures of Willow that were trending on the inte had been taken by a photography enthusiast, but the effects far exceeded Willow''s expectations. She was even more surprised to be invited to audition as Arena of Glory''s ambassador. Willow was an Inte celebrity at most. Most A-list celebrities would kill to audition for a huge endorsement deal like this, and Willow never thought a micro-influencer like her would be invited. When Willow showed up for the audition, she learned from the staff that Skyler was one of the contenders. The staff also told Willow that there was a high chance the endorsement would go to Skyler. A corner of Willow''s mouth curled at the mention of Skyler''s name. Skyler had stolen the Whispers of Love endorsement deal from Willow thest time. Now, it was Willow''s turn to give Skyler a taste of her own medicine. Willow would make Skyler pay for everything she had taken from her. She wanted to have front-row seats. to Skyler''s spectacr fall from grace. She would like to know which of them would be scorned by the public. Willow was ready to take on Skyler in this long battle. She was determined to win. After going through the script provided by the audition staff, Willow was on her way to the dressing room her way to the performance attire when to try on the she saw Skyler and Zayning her way. Skyler clung onto Zayn''s arm and beamed like a woman in love. Not wanting to spare the sickening couple another nce, Willow kept walking She had only just brushed past them when Zayn suddenly grabbed her wrist. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 275 Chapter 275 "Watch yourself, Mr. Carter!" Willow hissed as she tried to shrug off Zayn''s vise-like grip. However, it only made him grip her wrist tighter. "Willow," he breathed, the rage in his voice a culmination of the grief and pain he had experienced in the past month. As emotions flooded him, he added shakily, "You''re still alive." Willow couldn''t care less about the emotions she saw flickering in his eyes. A small and distant smile curled on her lips as she drawled, "Yes, I''m still alive. You can save your prayer for someone else. Sorry to disappoint you!" "Willow!" Zayn saw Willow through a red mist. He looked at her ferociously like he was debating on cutting open her chest to see if she had a heart at all. Willow was still smiling. She stopped trying to pull away from him. He was gripping her left wrist, and while her injury had recovered, her nerves were damaged. She couldn''t exert the same strength anymore and decided that Zayn was not worth the effort of struggling. Even as her smile widened and grew dazzling, the look in her eyes turned icy.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. "Are you holding my wrist so you can drag me to hell yourself, Mr. Carter? "Sorry, but I have no ns to go to the afterlife right now, so don''t bother." Zayn was already furious about Willow''s fake death, but to hear her take shots at him like this pushed him over the edge. Forgetting that Skyler was still with him, he stepped forward and pinned Willow to the wall. "Don''t tter yourself, Willow. I wouldn''t soil my hands by dragging you to hell." Willow sneered as if she had already expected his insult. The old Willow had been burned to death in that fire, and the new Willow had risen from the ashes. She was bulletproof now, and it would take more than words for Zayn to hurt her. "But you won''t mind dirtying your hands by touching me like this, Mr. Carter? You must be a masochist," Willow said. "Willow!" Zayn growled warningly, letting go of her hand and pinching her jaw roughly. She always had a knack for getting under his skin. He had nearly lost himself to grief when he thought she''d died, but it seemed she was not going to give him peace of mind even when she was alive and well, either. However, Zayn would be lying if he said he hadn''t hoped she was alive. Willow was starting to find this back-and-forth with Zayn rather tiresome. He had be predictable. He would pinch her jaw, strangle her, or roar her name whenever she pissed him off. Bored with his show of violence, she raised a brow at him and smirked. The look of contempt suited her. With such stunning features, she looked even more like a temptress, albeit an arrogant one. Willow''s lips were slightly parted from the pressure of Zayn''s grip on her jaw Her red lips looked like rose ''N'' petals trembling in the breeze, and for a moment, Zayn was entranced. He missed her. As though acting on instinct, Zayn leaned forward until his lips were mere inches away from Willow''s. Skyler''s face reddened when she saw this. She dug her nails into her palms to keep herself from falling apart and shrieking like a mad woman. "Zayn!" she cried, the hatred swirling in her eyes when she saw how close Zayn''s lips were to brushing against Willow''s. She quickly clung onto Zayn''s arm and tried to snap him back to his senses. Zayn snapped out of his daze when he heard Skyler''s screeching. When he saw how close Willow''s lips were to his, he couldn''t help cursing. He vowed not to be ensnared by Willow''s temptress wiles again. She was more scheming than he thought, and he refused to give her the satisfaction of tricking him. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 276 Chapter 276 "Zayn, the audition''s about to start. Could youe with me to get changed?" Skyler asked softly.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Zayn didn''t hear her at all. He couldn''t tear his gaze away from Willow as if under a spell. He didn''t snap back to his senses until Skyler asked again, "Please, Zayn?" "Fine," Zayn muttered, finally pulled out of his daze. Willow felt like the air had finally cleared after Zayn and Skyler disappeared down the corridor. As she watched them leave, her fists clenched at her sides. Aaron might have survived the fall from the cliff, but he had sustained severe injuries. She''d watched him get his dressings changed and undergo surgeries, which left him feeling as if his bones were picked apart. Willow would make Skyler pay for putting Aaron through such turmoil, just as she would make Skyler pay for Nic''s and Allie''s deaths. She wouldn''t forget about the fire that broke out in Bordello, either. Willow had no idea why Skyler picked the day of her engagement ceremony to set the former''s apartment on fire, but Willow didn''t need to be a genius to know Skyler was behind the arson. Skyler was Willow''s sworn nemesis. Only one of them could be left standing. Willow wanted to protect the people she loved from Skyler, and the only way to do that was to ruin Skyler for life. At that thought, Willow reached into her purse and grazed her phone with her fingertips. She wanted to call Kenan and tell him the truth, but she couldn''t contact him. ording to Moses, Kenan believed Willow was dead and left for Afrinia after her burial. It was a form of self-exile, and not even his father, Xavier, could reach him. Still, even if Willow couldn''t reach Kenan through his phone, she was determined to find a way to expose Skyler as a false heiress so that the Dawsons would cast her out. Not wanting to risk another run-in with Zayn, Willow waited until Skyler finished her wardrobe change before heading to the dressing room. Applicants for the audition were put through another elimination round before the official audition that afternoon. As such, only 15 candidates, including Willow, were left to contend for the role of Arena of Glory''s ambassador. Skyler was the secondst candidate to audition. Willow, on the other hand, was ted to be thest audition purely because she was thest person to be added to the list of contenders. Willow nced through the script she would deliver for the auditionter. She couldn''t help but wonder if the ywright was sick in the head. Why did she have to sit on a swing barefoot? Were all the contenders meant topete against each other''s feet qualities? Auditions for TV shows and movies typically required candidates to go in for the recording individually. However, acting skills weren''t a priority in casting the ambassador role, so it was an open audition. In other words, candidates could enter the audition room together and observe thepetition. Thest thing Willow wanted was to go into a room that probably smelled like feet, but it would seem rude for her to stay ou outside the room while the other candidates filed in to watch thepetition. With much resignation, she clutched the script and sat in the back row. Willow had only just sat down when a man in an impable tailor-made ck suit walked into the hall. She was so busy going over the couldn''t be script that she couldn''t be bothered to give the main more than a nonchnt nce. Little did Willow know that this man woulde to leave a mark on her life. The man was none other thann Nightingale. Chapter 2.7 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Tim Selwood, the game director in charge of the audition, followedn around like a sycophantic ghost.. Tim pointed at the barefoot starlet perched atop the swing and said dutifully, "Mr. Nightingale, that''s Rowena Levinsky, one of the Four Flowerbuds of showbiz..." "Her feet are too wide,"n said curtly, cutting Tim off mid-sentence. "All right, then..." Tim replied slowly and crossed Rowena''s name from his head. The female celebrities that went up after Rowena had tried their best to showcase their beauty, at least by Tim''s standards. However,n frowned through their performances and did not show any approval for any of them at all. Tim wiped the beads of cold sweat on his forehead and mentally crossed out the names of the starlets who did not make the cut. His face, slick with sweat, finally brightened when it was Skyler''s turn to audition. Skyler had the most potential among the candidates, and Tim hade to an agreement of sorts with her that would end with hernding the endorsement deal. He was confident thatn would approve of Skyler. Skyler''s performance that day was indeed ster, though it had more to do with her graceful nature than her acting skills. She could transition from elegant to bright and intelligent effortlessly. The muslin dress she wore for the audition had a pale green bodice. The top half of the skirt was a matching shade of green and faded into white toward the hem, which cut off at Skyler''s ankles before pooling into a train at the back. Skyler resembled a nymph. With Nightingale Corporation''s impressive funding, even the stage design for a simple audition like this wasplex and surreal. White mist unfurled across the stage, which was decorated with all manners of flora. Skyler might as well have been swinging above an enchantedke from a fairytale. The swing was entwined with vines and blossoms. There was an ethereal beauty to the handiwork. As Skyler perched atop it, her stunning looks seemed to bring the entire setting to life. She had dyed her long hair a deep, ebony shade for the audition. She had half of her hair twisted into a simple up-do and left the rest cascading past her shoulders. Her hair lifted in the invisible breeze as she swung back and forth. A few locks of it curled at her chest. As her bare feet kicked off against the flowerbed and she swung gently through the air, a lock of her hair Chapter 277 fell past her face.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. With her side profile partially obscured, she looked like a woond princess- beautiful and demure. Tim couldn''t take his eyes off Skyler. He nearly drooled at the thought of what she promised him in exchange for the endorsement deal. He swallowed and decided he must have Skyler as the ambassador of Arena of Glory so that he could savor every bit of her beauty. Tim turned ton and said, "Mr. Nightingale, the woman on stage is the famous actress Skyler Dawson. She''s the Dawson family heiress and Zayn Carter''s fianc¨¦e. "Her status in the entertainment industry makes her the perfect m ambassador for Arena of Glory, to say nothing of her impressive background. What do you say, Mr. Nightingale?" Tim broke into another bout of cold sweat after saying this. He couldn''t help feeling as though all the air had as been drawn out of his lungs whenever he was inn''s imposing presence. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 278 Chapter 278 He stared at Skyler for a few seconds. Tim thought he was captivated by her stunning looks. However,n surprised Tim when he said Icily, "Her feet are too big!" "Too big?" Tim nced toward the stage and focused in on Skyler''s feet. If he were frank, he didn''t think her feet were the most delicate work of art. Skyler was nearly five feet six inches tall, and her feet size looked to be about nine and a half. That being said, her big feet did not distract from her beauty. Tim wondered who would care about the size of her feet when she had the face of a goddess. More importantly, her feet weren''t unattractive. Despite their size, they looked clean and slender. Any man would be happy to rub her feet for her and cherish them. Tim gulped Emboldened by his desire to appoint Skyler as the ambassador for the game, he said ton, "Mr. Nightingale, I think Skyler is a strong contender. "Her graceful nature is perfect for Arena of Glory, and-Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Tim wiped the sweat from his brows. He puzzled overn''s remark about revolting feet. He couldn''t help thinkingn was being too harsh with thementary, but he dared not point it out. ''Boss, these are all the celebrities who showed up for audition today. The only one left is an influencer. We can go now," Ian''s assistant, Eric Pearson, said respectfully. He added, "You also have three live conferences and two video conferences to attend. You''ll also need to attend a contract signing this evening." Eric couldn''t stand seeingn, whose schedule was packed as it was, wasting time on something as trivial as an audition for some video game ambassador. After all, video game production was an insignificant enterprise under Nightingale Corporation''s umbre. Moreover, Eric had a vague idea of what Influencers were. An influencer could never beat out a female celebrity in terms of beauty. Where a female celebrity stood out like a rose amongmoners, an influencer might find her beautycking in front of the cameras. Chapter 278 Eric thought it was rather generous of the public to call a woman who probably used high-grade beauty filters on camera "The Nation''s First Love". He was confident the woman in question might look like the stuff of nightmares once the makeup and beauty filters came off. Eric was merely looking out forn''s best interests. As such, he wanted to getn out of the audition hall before the influencer took to the stage. "Very well,"n said as he nced at his expensive watch. He had indeed wasted too much time on a trivial audition such as this one. "Mr. Nightingale, what about the matter of appointing an ambassador?" Tim asked cautiously, a corner of his lips twitching. Eric thought Tim was somewhat oblivious. Sparingn from having to answer such a redundant question, he shot an icy look at Tim and said, "You''ll at have to select new candidates to try out for the role, of course! "Isn''t it obvious that Mr. Nightingale doesn''t approve of any of these candidates?" Tim''s sweat was trickling down his temples like rivulets at this point. He doubted a new pobl of candidates could win over someone as persnickety and entric asn. Eric had as good as left the decision to Tim. As such, Tim figured that he was better off casting Skyler the om endorsement deal instead of wasting time on selecting a new list of candidates. His mind was made up. Meanwhile,n had only just turned around to leave when Willow took to the stage and settled upon the swing. Through his periphery vision,n caught a glimpse of a pair of slender feet. From that moment on, he could not look away. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 279 Chapter 279 All he could focus on were Willow''s delicate feet-small and smooth, they stirred intense emotions within him. His heart, usually steady, began to race wildly. He was sure he didn''t have any strange interests, absolutely certain that it wasn''t anything like a foot fetish. Yet, Willow''s feet had a powerful effect on him, leaving him rooted to the spot. Her slim ankles were adorned with slightly long silver anklets that hung gracefully. As she gently swung on the swing, the rhythmic movement of the anklets made her ankles seem even more delicate and tempting, makingn want to hold them for a lifetime. Willow''s long, graceful legs peeked out from above her ankles but were mainly hidden by her flowing sheer skirt. This element of mystery only made her more alluring, stirringn''s infatuation to a fever pitch. "Boss, I''ll get the car!" Eric announced.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Still, he noticedn hadn''t budged. Usually the epitome of grace and poise,n stood frozen as if under a spell. His dark eyes gleamed with an unfamiliar intensity, leaving Eric to wonder wh was unfurling inn''s mind. Suddenly, Eric''s heart leaped in his chest. He quietly covered his face with his hands, realizing instantly thatn must have been shocked by the sheer hideousness of the influencer on stage. Givenn''s remarkableposure in reigning in his emotions, the fact that he looked bewildered made Eric think that the influencer on stage must be seriously ugly. Curiosity tugged at Eric, yet he hesitated to steal a nce at the person on stage, fearing he''d be haunted by the sight for eternity. "Boss, are you alright?" Eric called out cautiously. However,n remained as still as a statue. He reached out to nudgen, only to halt mid-air, rememberingn''s aversion to even the slightest touch. Reluctantly retracting his hand, Eric muttered, "Boss, that influencer on stage, the one who goes by Willow Sanford, must be straight out of a nightmare! Fear not, I''ll make a call right now to ensure she''s cklisted. I swear she won''t get another chance to assault your delicate senses!" Eric pulled out his phone, intending to instruct his men to ensure that Willow, whom he disdainfully referred to as "The Nation''s Nightmare"-formerly known as "The Nation''s First Love''-would be banned from future events to spare others from her visual assault. Cheete 279 As he began to dial, his curiosity gnawed at him and he couldn''t resist ncing toward the stage, only to find himself struck dumb by what he saw. Standing there was a figure that seemed to have descended from the m heavens-an angel or, erhaps, an fairyal End couldn''t quite discern her nature, but one thing was undeniable-she was stunningly, disarmingly beautiful. Willow''s expression was impassive, giving off an exceptional air of om detachment. Yet, such aloofness only enhanced her beauty, adding ayer of mystery to her allure that made her even more captivating. Eric wondered what kind of influencer she was. He thought it was a waste for her just to be an influencer with such striking features. He figured she should be a celebrity. her demeanor. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 280 Chapter 280 As Eric closely watchedn, he had a good sense of whatn had decided. With a smile, Eric turned ton and eximed, "Boss, that Influencer, Willow, she''s incredible! Our Arena of Glory could really use someone like her as a brand ambassador Boss-" "I''m not feeling well, Eric,"n interrupted. His unexpected words stunned Eric. Eric stared atn, who maintained his usual poise, and asked cautiously, "Boss, where do you feel unwell? Don''t worry. I''ll call the doctor right away!" "My heart, Eric. It''s pounding like never before,"n said, causing Eric to nearly choke on his own saliva as he rushed to dial the private doctor. Eric hated tough in front ofn, who was more intimidating than the Grim Reaper, but he couldn''t contain himself this time. He chuckled uncontrobly. "Boss, um... you might be lovestruck," Eric said honestly. "No, no, Boss. You''re just experiencing the first stirrings of love!" Meanwhile, Zayn seethed as he watched Willow gracefully leave the stage with a downward gaze. How dare she unt her flirtatious charms and hold the audience spellbound, all while barefoot once again. Zayn wondered if she was oblivious to the maic allure of her bare feet. Zayn remained unmoved earlier as Skyler attempted to ooze seduction on stage. Yet, the mere thought that every man had beheld Willow''s delicately fair feet, the graceful sway of her legs beneath her flowing skirt, and nurtured impure fantasies about her was just too much for him to bear. His anger skyrocketed when the gamingpany suddenly crowned Willow as the new brand ambassador of Arena of Glory. Was she addicted to unting herself under the spotlight? Wasn''t it enough to strut her stuff in front of a small crowd? Now she even almed to showcase herself in front of the entire nation. Zayn spun around, determined to nab Willow for her brazen antics, when Wilhelmina''s anxious voice echoed through the hall. "Matt, my bracelet is missing! Has anyone seen it? If any of you catch sight of it, could you please let me know? It''s very important to me." N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Noticing tears threatened to spill from Wilhelmina''s eyes, Matthew couldn''t help but ask, "Wi, which bracelet are you talking about?" "Matt, it''s the one your grandmother gave me when we first met! She said every daughter-inw in the Mayer family receives one. Grandma will be upset if I lose it! "I really cherish it, Matt. Earlier, I switched from the emerald bracelet m to the silver one for the audition and carefully kept the emerald one in my bag. I never imagined it would just vanish." Wilhelmina turned, her captivating face marked by sincere desperation. "The one I''ve lost is an emerald bracelet. Could everyone please help me search for it?" Chapter 281 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Since Wilhelmina herself mentioned it, everyone feltpelled to join the search for her missing bracelet. This was partly to help her and to dispel any suspicions against themselves. every The hall was air-conditioned, allowing to remainfortable in shirts. This made it difficult for anyone to hide the stolen bracelet on their person. Only Zayn, Matthew, andn wore smart suits. Yet, given their high status, they seemed unlikely to be involved in stealing Wilhelmina''s bracelet. As a result, everyone''s suspicion turned toward the women in the hall with handbags. To prove their innocence, they willingly searched through their bags and opened them for Wilhelmina to inspect, showing they hadn''t taken the bracelet. Willow reflexively tightened her grip on her handbag. Although she didn''t look inside, Wilhelmina''s determined expression told her that the supposedly missing emerald bracelet was indeed in her bag.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. The setup was clich¨¦d, yet Willow couldn''t deny the ruthless effectiveness of Wilhelmina''s strategy. Having been recently appointed as the brand ambassador for Arena of Glory, Willow knew the consequences of beingbeled a thief would be disastrous. Such a scandal would undoubtedly prompt the gamepany to sever ties with her to avoid associating with an influencer marred by moral failings. Willow maintained a cool, unreadable expression as she looked up at Wilhelmina, who was weeping. She understood Wilhelmina''s motives weren''t just about supporting Skyler. There were also selfish reasons behind her actions. Skyler and Wilhelmina had previously served as brand ambassadors for Whispers of Love. Although Wilhelmina''s role had been minor, the opportunity to endorse such a prestigious brand had been a significant honor for her. Willow suspected that Skyler probably told Wilhelmina that if she helped secure the endorsement this time, she''d get something out of it, too. This exined why Wilhelmina was so set on undermining Willow and helping Skyler win the endorsement. After all, Skyler would have already secured it if Willow hadn''t appeared out of nowhere. "Could you all please help me find my bracelet?" Wilhelmina pleaded, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I''d be so grateful if anyone could find it!" "Everyone, please help Wi find her bracelet! It means a lot to her. Thank you!" Skyler added, looking around at the crowd with sincerity. "A bracelet doesn''t just sprout wings and fly away!" eximed a female celebrity, a close friend of Wilhelmina. "It must''ve been stolen!" Chapter 281 Turning to Willow, she exaggerated a look of shock. "Ms. Influencer, perhaps you could show us the inside of your bag? We''ve all checked ours, except you. Could you please help Wi in her search? "The bracelet was a gift from her fianc¨¦''s grandmother when they first met. It''s not right to steal something so significant!" All eyes in the hall turned to Willow. Murmurs spread like wildfire among the onlookers. "Yeah, we''ve all checked our bags except for her. There must be something wrong!" "How dare she steal the gift? This influencer must be really desperate for money!" "The main issue is how wrong it is. Stealing? I can''t believe someone would do that a among us!" "Wrong? It''s downright disgraceful! Anyone who resorts to theft is vile. And she''s supposed to represent a game? Who would trust a game promoted by someone so deceitful?" "Exactly! Glory!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Willow''splexion turned a shade paler. The female celebrities animosity toward influencers was clear Their usatory tone made it apparent-they believed Willow had stolen Wilhelmina''s bracelet But how could they? Willow hadn''t taken anything. It was unjust to be med for a crime she didn''tmit. She had fought hard to survive, not to be unfairly used, but to confront and punish those who had wronged her. Willow lifted her head defiantly. Her petite frame made her seem even tinler than these celebrities, who embodied an extreme standard of thinness. Yet, as she gazed up, the fierce determination in her eyes overshadowed her rivals superficial charm Standing tall andposed, Willow resembled a sturdy tree weathering a brutal snowstorm "I didn''t steal anything, and 1 wont step down as the brand ambassador of Arena of Glory. My conscience is clear, and I am innocent." Wilhelmina gave Willow a pitiful look. "Willow, I didn''t mean to use you of stealing. But what if what if someone identally ced my bracelet in your bag? Willow, the bracelet is incredibly important to me. Could you please check your bag? "Don''t worry, Willow. Even if I find my bracelet in your bag. I wouldn''t assume you stole it!" Internally, Willow scoffed at Wilhelmina''s words. She knew that if the bracelet were found in her bag. everyone would immediately use her of theft, and her reputation would be irreparably damaged Meanwhile, Wilhelmina gritted her teeth when she noticed Matthew staring at Willow. She grasped his hand, seeking to win his favor. "Matt, please don''t get the wrong idea. I''m not using Willow of stealing. "I just hope she can help me find the bracelet. You know how much it means to me! I care a lot about it." "Lolo, why not check your bag? Look how worried Wi is!" Skyler chimed in Although she looked concerned, the spite gleaming in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. Murmurs began swirling among the crowd, their growing volume seemed like needles stabbing into Willow''s ears "Yeah, it''s outrageous! She stole but won''t admit it. How shameless!" "A thief like her shouldn''t just be banned from the entertainment industry, but from the inte, too! The Nation''s First Love? Is she trying to teach everyone how to steal?" "I can''t believe I auditioned alongside such a shameless thief today! It''s humiliating!" "She''s such a nasty person! Why doesn''t someone like her just end her life?" J Roscher was a celebrity known for having integrity. Sitting beside Willow, J was infuriated at Chapter 292 Willow''s refusal to admit her wrongdoing. Unable to frustration J snatched Willow''s Jangontain her bag and stormed onto the stage. She emptied Willow''s bag onto the stage floor, revealing a phone, tissues, wet wipes, keys, and an item meticulously wrapped in severalyers of tissue paper. As J tore away the tissueyers in a swift move, she uncovered the emerald bracelet. However, what truly caught the audience''s attention wasn''t the M ve bracelet but a stack of folded papers. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 283 Chapter 283 J, a celebrity known for having integrity, was worried that the stacks of papers might contain some. other stolen goods. She instinctively started rifling through them. Her eyebrows drew together in a frown as she read the bold headline aloud. "Sugar Baby Agreement?" As J''s voice reached everyone''s ears, every gaze shifted to the documents in her hands. Relishing. the spotlight, she eagerly captured more attention. She shook the stack of papers, her face twisting with contempt beneath her wless makeup. After clearing her throat, J resumed reading the agreement out loud. "Mr. Duncan Whitman agrees to provide Ms. Willow Sanford a monthly allowance of 100 thousand dors, along with amodations and transportation. "If Ms. Sanford''s performance is deemed exceptionally satisfactory, Mr. Whitman may increase this financial support. Ms. Sanford has to follow the conditions below. First, she must remainpletely loyal to Mr. Whitman. "Second, she mustply with all of Mr. Whitman''s requests." The celebrities, who had always carried themselves with an air of arrogance, now looked at Willow with even greater contempt. A few discreetly spit to the side, highlighting their disgust and affirming their moral superiority. They wanted nothing to do with someone they deemed so disgraceful, Willow''s gaze remained locked on the "Sugar Baby Agreement" in J''s hands. She had expected to find the emerald bracelet in her bag, but not this scandalous document as well. Wilhelmina and Skyler were obviously out to ruin Willow''s life that day, but Willow was resolute in not letting them seed. Meanwhile, J continued, "Third, in light of Mr. Whitman''s generous financial support, Ms. Sanford must personally prepare certain things." J looked disgusted and could no longer continue reading. She forcefully hurled the agreement onto the stage. "This is vile! I can''t believe she''s a thief and someone depending on a sugar daddy! This is f*cking disgusting!" Then, holding out the emerald bracelet, J walked over to Wilhelmina and said," Wi, take this. You should thoroughly disinfect this." Wilhelmina epted the bracelet with care and gingerly ced it in her bag. "Thanks for helping me find my bracelet, J. But please, go easy on Willow. She''s genuinely a good person, I can''t see her stealing. There must be some misunderstanding." "Misunderstanding?" J scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "We caught her red-handed! The bracelet was in her bag. How''s that a misunderstanding? You''re too forgiving, Wi! "What does a gold-digger know about honesty or decency? All she cares about is money. She''d do anything for it! Wi, you shouldn''t let this slide. Theft is a crime. You should call the police and have her arrested to stop her from buzzing around like a fly and annoying everyone!" Enjoying her role as the victim in this scenario, Wilhelmina spoke with a gentle and endearing voice, Please, J, enough. I''ve known Willow since childhood and I trust herpletely. She''s my friend. I don''t believe she would steal from me!" "Wi, are you a fool? How can you befriend someone who relies on an oler old geezer for money? woman like N her is willing to sell herself just for money. could get you in trouble one day!"N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. J''s voice dripped with frustration. Wilhelmina lowered her eyes, looking helpless and disappointed. "Regardless, I don''t believe Willow om would betray me like this.¡± The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 284 Chapter 284 The female celebrities, who already had a low opinion of influencers, were outraged when they saw Willow''s shameless behavior. "I''ve heard of sugar babies but never seen one like her. Today has been truly eye-opening!" *100 thousand dors a month? That''s over a million a year! And she''s avable whenever? What a bitch!" "Is there anything a bitch wouldn''t do for money? Who knows what she does to satisfy her sugar daddy!" "Wi must be regretting her choice of friends! Who knows what valuable things Willow has stolen from her!" "I''ve been sitting beside her all day. I need to get a thorough check-up when I get home!" Willow felt a surge of defiance as the insults grew more extreme. She couldn''t afford to let their malicious gossip ruin her chance to remain the gamepany''s brand ambassador. She stepped up and was about to speak up in her defense when Matthew''s cold, angry voice pierced through the air. "Willow, apologize to Wi!" Matthew''s veins on his forehead were pulsing with anger. The stolen bracelet wasn''t the reason that fueled his fury. Instead, it stemmed from Willow''s preference for epting 100 thousand dors of financial support from someone else over his generous offer. With a sneer, Matthew figured that the man supporting Willow must be some sort of twisted sugar daddy. As soon as Duncan''s name was mentioned, Matthew couldn''t help but feel repulsed, imagining the guy as a disgusting old geezer. He wondered if Willow''s choice meant she deemed Matthew to be even worse than that. The overwhelming joy of seeing her alive quickly gave way to a seething, indescribable rage. Matthew''s gaze bore into Willow''s fair, smooth face with such intensity that it seemed as though he was trying to burn a hole through it with the power of his stare. "Apologize? Mr. Mayer, you do have a penchant for jests!" A faint smile crossed Willow''s face. It was tinged with indifference but mostly mockery. "This is the first I''ve heard of a victim of a setup needing to apologize to the one orchestrating it! If anyone should offer an apology, it''s Wilhelminal" Willow eximed. Willow''s shimmering eyes slowly morphed into a sharp glint. "Wilhelmina, you slipped that agreement and bracelet into my bag while I was changing, all to tarnish my reputation. You owe me an apology!" Chapter 284 I..." Wilhelmina''s tears flowed down her cheeks in distress. "Willow, what are you saying? How could I possibly set you up like that? I Set your You didn''t even know you were alive before entering this hall. "Willow, you''ve got it all wrong. I had no idea you were alive, let alone have any intention to harm you! Fwon''t tention hold it against you even if you took my bracelet. I know you might be in a tough situation as you rely on financial support. "I understand you and I''m here to help. Please, Willow, just stop going against me, alright?" As Wilhelmina finished speaking, the hall''s entrance burst open. A balding middle-aged men with a beer belly, appearing to be in his 50s, squinted as he entered. "Willow, are you done with your audition? I''m here to take you home." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Willow froze as sheid eyes on the sleazy and disgusting man standing before her. She couldn''t remember ever encountering someone quite like him. It all clicked into ces when she recalled the "Sugar Baby Agreement" that J had extracted from her bag. The unsavory man before her must be the Duncan Whitman mentioned in the agreement. Skyler and Wilhelmina''s scheme to frame Willow was unfolding meticulously, each step seamlessly leading into the next "Willow, are you feeling tired today? If you are, I could give you a nice massage when we get back," Duncan said, reaching out to grab her arm. Willow swiftly moved away to avoid his inappropriate touch. "What''s the matter, Willow?" Duncan looked confused. "You weren''t like this before! We''ve spent every day together this month. Why are you so distant now?" "Zayn, I have to speak up. Lolo shouldn''t be with an old geezer like that! She''s demeaning herself!" Skyler said, feigning concern for Willow. "I need to talk some sense into her. I can''t stand by and watch her debase herself like this!" Zayn''s expression darkened further with displeasure after hearing Skyler''s words. Although the air conditioning in the hall was already on full st, those nearby could feel the temperature drop several degrees. "Willow, you''re really something!"N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Zayn''s voice rang out, chilling and deste, echoing like the winds across a barren wastnd. "Just how many sugar daddies do you have?" Willow refused to argue with Zayn amidst the crowd. Without making eye contact with Zayn, she politely but firmly addressed Duncan, "I don''t know you, sir!" "What do you mean, Willow?" Duncan questioned, looking incredulous. "How can you just turn on me in the blink of an eye?" "Sir, I really don''t know you, and I would never call you my darling," Willow stated expressionlessly. "You can''t do this to me, Willow!" Duncan tried to grab her hand again, but she dodged, turning his embarrassment into rage. He straightened his posture, his oily face now twisted into one of arrogant fury. "Willow, you need to exin yourself today! I''m giving you 100 thousand dors a month, providing everything you need, yet you''re dissatisfied? You were the one who approached me first, the one who signed the agreement saying you''d be at my beck and call. "Do you think you can simply dump me now that you''ve be an influencer and gained poprity? If it weren''t for me spending money to promote you, if I hadn''t found resources for you, you''d be nothing more than a bitch at my feet, begging for scraps!" Skyler looked utterly shocked. Glo After regaining herposure, she gently clung to Zayn''s arm and softly O pleaded, "Zayn, let''s help Loto, okay? Even if she did something shameful, she''s still our Lolo. How will she live with herself if this scandal spreads? "Zayn, please help Lolo get rid of this man. I''m afraid he''llpletely ruin her reputation!" Zayn didn''t respond to Skyler. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Willow. His lips remained tightly sealed, but Willow could feel the pressure in his eyes-a silent but unmistakable demand for her to beg for his help. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Willow sneered inwardly at the thought of begging Zayn'' to bail her out of the situation. Hadn''t she already humiliated herself enough in front of him? Enough was enough. She was done being treated like a fool. She calmly shifted her gaze away from Zayn, Ignoring the scornful whispers filling the room. Lifting her chin, she turned to Duncan and emphasized each word as she spoke, "Sir, you''re overthinking. I never intended to dump you." Hope flickered in Duncan''s eyes. "Willow, does this mean you''re consideringing back to me-" Before he could finish his words, Willow interrupted him sharply. "Sir, we were never together in the first ce, so the question of who ended things shouldn''t even exist!" "Willow, are you really set on burning bridges today? Let me remind you that you have been my pet from the moment you signed the agreement. How can you think a pet can leave its owner? Keep dreaming, Willow!" "Mr. Whitman, is it?" Willow didn''t wait for Duncan to reply. She simply gave him a faint smile. It was like all the colors in the world came together in that smile, but it carried an unmistakable chill. "Mr. Whitman, here''s a piece of advice. Take a good look in the mirror before you speak next time. Do you think I''d be your sugar baby with your looks? Please, my taste in men isn''t as twisted as that! "I''d go through anything for the man I love, money or not! But I wouldn''t give someone I despise a second nce, not for 100 thousand, a million, or even ten million a month!" Willow''s words stung, causing Duncan''s expression to sour. But the person feeling the worst in the room wasn''t Duncan-it was Matthew. He believed he was the one Willow wouldn''t even look at twice, even if he offered her ten million a month. Matthew was in a foul mood and seemed eager to cause trouble. He sneered, his ordinarily warm eyes now frosty and vacant. "Willow, you signed the Sugar Baby Agreement. How can you be acting innocent now? Who would believe that? I don''t care who''s paying your bills, but you stole Wi''s bracelet. You need to apologize to her!" His look toward Willow hardened/further. "Otherwise, I''ll ensure you''re left to rot in jail!" Willow quietly repeated hisst words to herself. It would be untrue to say she wasn''t hurt by the mistrust from someone with whom she had once faced life and death with. Bitterness and irony slowly tainted her smile.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Yeah. It seems that none of you are willing to trust me! But even if no one here believes me, I want to Chapter 256. make it crystal clear-I haven''t stolen or robbed anyone, and my om conscience.is clear. It doesn''t matter if you doubt me. Willow felt even more disheartened after saying those words. I those words. Despite! being able to prove her innocence, the readiness of so many in the hall to brand her as guilty without m knowing the truth deepened her sorrow over the coldness of human hearts. Just as she braced for more mockery and ridicule from the crowd, a deep, melodious voice cut through the air. "I believe you!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Willow suddenly turned, her eyes widening in disbelief asn confidently approached the stage. She had never imagined that the person who would believe her unconditionally would be neither the man she had loved for years nor her trusted friend with whom she had experienced life-and-death situations, but rather a stranger. Perhaps it was because she had endured plenty of skepticism and betrayal, and now, faced with someone who showed such firm belief in her, Willow felt an overwhelming urge to cry. She was the kind of person who was touched more by kindness than by sternness, and even the slightest show of support could touch her profoundly. Fighting back the urge to cry, Willow managed a broad smile and said ton, "Sir, thank you! Thank you for believing in me. I''m truly grateful to meet you!" Willow extended her hand towardn, seeking nothing more than a polite handshake from the stranger who had deeply moved her. Standing besiden, Eric looked utterly shocked. Ian was known for his aversion to women. He couldn''t bear having them in close proximity to him. While Willow was undeniably attractive, her gesture-reaching out to shaken''s hand-was akin to provoking a tiger. It seemed like a sure way to invite disaster. Eric was concerned thatn might react aggressively, possibly sending Willow flying with a kick. However, to his utter astonishment,n, who usually avoided women as if they were the gue, took Willow''s hand. He wondered what on earth had gotten inton that day. "Boss, are you okay?" Eric asked, his eyes filled with concern as he watchedn. He recalled an incident involving ady from a prestigious family who had a crush onn. One night, the typically reserveddy suddenly huggedn. He then forcefully pushed her away and almost retched in response. Eric worried thatn might experience nausea again. However,n didn''t even spare a nce at him.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. He unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand, squeezing so hard that it caused her pain. Willow instinctively let out a soft cry. Her cry joltedn out of his trance. He quickly loosened his hold and looked at her with an unreadable expression. "Willow Sanford, wee to your new role as the brand ambassador of Arena of Glory!" Willow was caught off guard. She never imagined that the imposing man standing before her was Chapter 287 connected to the gamingpany. It was a pleasant shook to learn that they had faith in he in her: She felt a surge of joy, knowing that Skyler and Wilhelmina couldn''t steal this endorsement from her anymore. Yet, she couldn''t shake off the feeling of someone ring at her hand as if it could bore a hole right through it. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Willow nced over and saw Zayn giving her an icy re, just as she had expected. His expression resembled that of a man betrayed and deeply humiliated by his wife. She subtly mouthed the words to him, "You''re insane!" Zayn was enraged. He seemed on the verge of exploding. "What? Willow is still the brand ambassador of Arena of Glory?" J''s disbelief was evident in her tone. She shouted furiously, "What were you thinking? You''ve selected an influencer who stole from Wi and has such questionable ethics as your brand ambassador. Aren''t you worried about bing aughingstock online?" J''s boldness beforen caused Eric''s expression to cloud with displeasure. He was on the brink of confronting her when Duncan swiftly moved to Willow''s side. "Willow, you''re not allowed to be the brand ambassador of Arena of Glory! Our agreement explicitly states that you must seek my approval for any job you take! What if you gain fame and then decide to terminate our agreement? "I''ve invested a lot of money in you, Willow. I won''t allow you to breach our agreement. Come back with me immediately! I need you right now, and you must return and fulfill yourmitments to me!" After Duncan finished speaking, he reached for Willow''s arm. But before his hand could make contact,n swiftly intervened, tossing him aside as if he weighed no more than a sandbag Duncan was always mindful of his image, especially around women. Humiliated by this public rebuke before the many attractive women in the hall, he quickly regained his footing and unleashed a string of curses atn. "Who do you think you are, brat? Do you even know who I am? You''d be terrified if you did!" Eager to show his loyalty ton, Tim pped away Duncan''s hand and countered, "How dare you raise your voice to the scion of the Nightingale family? Are you looking for trouble?" The scion of the Nightingale family... Only one person in the world held the title-n Nightingale, the sole. scion of Nightingale Corporation in Eldoria. J hurriedly reapplied her lip gloss. She switched to her most charming and gentle look before fluttering her eyshes atn without pause. Recalling her earlier rudeness/before the esteemed scion of the Nightingale family, she was filled with such regret that she nearly bit her tongue in half. She desperately hoped her current charm could undo the damage she had caused to her reputation. The other female celebrities in the hall had all heard ofn but had never met him in person. They discreetly touched up their makeup, hoping to leave a memorable impression. "Mr. Nightingale..." Duncan was visibly shaken. He copsed to the floor, trying to muster the words to make up for his earlier conduct. However,n paid him no attention. He reluctantly released Willow''s hand before turning to Zayn, seated in the front row. "Zayn, it''s been a long time." "Mr. Nightingale, good to see you," Zayn responded, though his focus remained on Willow. J put away herpact mirror after perfecting her makeup. She lifted her chin at a poised angle and addressedn with the most stunning stance and the softest voice she could muster. "Mr. Nightingale, my earlierments were sincerely meant to protect your interests. "Willow has been entangled in several scandals, and her reputation is far from ster. I''m worried she might tarnish the image of Arena of Glory! It would be a shame for such an outstanding game to be ruined by someone who''s both a sugar baby and a thief. "Mr. Nightingale, would you please reconsider the choice of Arena of ve Glory''s brand ambassador?" N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 289 Chapter 289 After speaking. J shot a flirtatious nce atn, who finally met her gaze. Generally known for her strict and direct manner, J now gazed down bashfully like a teenage girl. "Mr. Nightingale," she murmured. J looked atn, pleasantly surprised. Everything she had done that day was to gain favor with Wilhelmina and Skyler. She never expected such an opportunity to arise. Yet, she couldn''t express her desire to be the brand ambassador for Arena of Glory outright. Instead, she responded shyly, "Mr. Nightingale, you''re making me blush." J seemed oblivious to his feelings of disgust. She batted her eyshes at him, her expression brimming with flirtatious charm. "If I could earn your favor, Mr. Nightingale, I assure you won''t regret it." The hall had thick carpets lining its floor. Everyone had gone barefoot earlier for the audition, leaving their shoes in the wardrobe. Thus, J remained barefoot even after the audition was over. J''s excitement surged when she noticedn''s gaze on her feet, and her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. She subtly shifted her feet, hoping to seducen with her bodynguage. She thought his unwavering gaze was a sign of him being captivated by her looks. Just as J considered feigning a stumble to create an intimate moment and capture his interest further,n''s ruthless and mocking voice reached her. "A brand ambassador of Arena of Glory should unt bare feet, not ones resembling smoked pig trotters!" Smoked pig trotters? J nced down at her feet, her face flushing with embarrassment. She wondered when her feet resembled, "smoked pig trotters". She admitted that they were slightly tanned, but she felt theparison seemed harsh. Yet, J didn''t dare to speak her thoughts aloud. She endured the mockingughter of the other celebrities and returned to her seat awkwardly. 0 Meanwhile, Wilhelmina mentally berated J for her foolishness She realized she couldn''t rely on NO J to bring Willow down anymore and would have to take matters into her own hands. Wilhelmina rose gracefully and addressedn, "Mr. Nightingale, please don''t get the wrong idea.m Willow is a good person. I''m sure she didn''t take my emerald bracelet intentionally. I trust her, so please don''t disqualify her as the brand ambassador! Chapter 289 "As for the rumors about Willow being a sugar baby, I''m sure she has her reasons. She truly is a good person at heart." Unable to endure Wilhelmina''s performance any longer, Willowm looked at her and questioned, Wilhelmina, do you actually enjoy setting me up like this?" N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Chapter 290 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 290 Chapter 290 "Willow, why would you think I''m trying to set you up? I''m just worried that Mr. Nightingale might remove you as the brand ambassador. I really do care about you," Wilhelmina said, her eyes filled with hurt. "Even if you stole my bracelet, Willow, I wouldn''t hold it against you. I just hope you don''t misunderstand my intentions again. Willow, I really hope things look up for you. You''ll always be my best friend." "Best friend..." Willow''s voice lingered on the words. "Wilhelmina, if being a ''best friend'' means slipping a ridiculous Sugar Baby Agreement and your bracelet Into my bag to make me look like a sugar baby and a thief, then I definitely don''t need a ''best friend'' like you!"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Willow, what are you talking about?" Tears trembled on Wilhelmina''s eyshes, making her look even more distraught. "How could you think so poorly of me? I don''t even know what a Sugar Baby Agreement is, let alone slip it into your bag! "And the bracelet is a gift from Matt''s grandmother. It means the world to me. Why would I use it to set anyone up? Willow, I thought we were friends. You can''t just use me without any proof!" "Wilhelmina, are you finished with your act?" Willow''s patience had worn thin. She checked the time on her phone. She needed to pick Aaron up from kindergarten soon, and time was running out. *Besides, if I were involved in something like a Sugar Baby Agreement, I wouldn''t be silly enough to carry the agreement in my bag everywhere." "Willow- Refusing to give Wilhelmina any room to continue her charade, Willow cut her off. "Wilhelmina, I knew having you and Skyler at the brand ambassador audition would spell trouble. You two never give me a moment''s peace! "Why would I give you the chance to set me up when I knew you''d never let up? If I hadn''t been sure about I the surveince cameras in the wardrobe room, I wouldn''t have left my bag there while I changed, just for you two to set me up! *Wilhelmina, there are no surveince cameras in the changing rooms, but plenty in the wardrobe room. Go check the footage if you don''t believe me!" Wilhelmina''s expression underwent a dramatic shift at Willow''s words. She had always believed the wardrobe room was private. She never imagined it was being watched. All her carefullyid ns would fall apart if that footage leaked. Hers and Skyler''s chance at bing Chapter 290. the brand ambassadors for Arena of Glory would be ruined if it got out. Yet, Wilhelmina was convinced that if they could somehow stop the footage from being leaked, Willow''s innocence wouldn''t matter to most people. With the items found in Willow''s bag, everyone would still see her as a thief, and her reputation would be ruined. "Enough, Willow!" Matthew exploded with anger. He couldn''t shake off his difort from her earlierment about not caring for someone she despised, even if they paid her millions. Seeing her defiance now only made him angrier and almost pushed him to violence. "Willow, no matter how hard you try to pretend, the fact that you''re filthy remains unchanged!" Matthew snapped. Dressed sharply in a suit,n slowly approached Matthew. "Mr. Mayer, I''ve heard great things about you. Some have called you a young genius. But seeing you now, I must say you''re quite ordinary!" The hall fell silent as the two imposing men seemed to engage in an unspoken confrontation. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Matthew snorted, his once gentle countenance now etched with severity. "Mr. Nightingale, can someone who relied on financial support from others truly be Innocent? "Listen, Mr. Nightingale, the most deceptive feature of a woman is her appearance. Don''t let a seemingly pure and innocent face fool you. I don''t believe Willow is Innocent. But if she proves me wrong, I''ll let her have her way with me!". "Eric, pull up the footage!"n instructed. He had been anticipating those words from Matthew. His trust in her was like a puzzle that even his highly regarded intellect couldn''t solve. Yet, he found pleasure in this enigma. Renowned for his efficiency, Eric swiftly retrieved the footage from the wardrobe room and uploaded it to the video yer connected to therge LCD screen in the hall. As the yer turned on, the scene from the wardrobe room was disyed on the screen.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The footage showed Willow entering the changing room to switch outfits. She had hung her handbag on a rack just outside the changing room. Wilhelmina''s handbag sat on a nearby table. Willow was thest person to step into the changing room. By then, almost everyone had left for the hall, leaving the wardrobe room deserted. Just as it seemed Willow might use this opportunity to steal the bracelet from Wilhelmina''s bag, the door to the wardrobe room, which was ajar, suddenly swung open wide. J slipped in, looking extremely suspicious. J''s expression shifted dramatically when she saw herself on the LCD screen. Forgetting to maintain her elegance, she shouted anxiously, "Turn it off! Turn it off, now!" Yet, no one paid any attention. As the video continued, J grew more and more panicked. She stood up, ready to rush over and stop the yer. Yet, Eric politely and firmly stood in her way, stopping her from reaching the LCD screen. The rest of the people in the hall quickly understood the events, as J''s actions only made them more suspicious. They focused even more on the screen to confirm their suspicions. After ensuring the wardrobe room was deserted, J tiptoed inside. She quickly retrieved the emerald bracelet from Wilhelmina''s bag and ced it into Willow''s bag. In the footage, everyone saw J slip the bracelet into Willow''s bag and fold a stack of papers before tucking them in. She then carefully zipped up Willow''s bag. Chapte Willow''s bag was quiterge, so the added items didn''t make it look unusual. When Willow emerged from the changing room, she was unaware of the extra contents In her bag. She casually took her bag and left the wardrobe room. The footage on the screen cut off, but J''s anxious voice was still audible. "It''s not what it looks like! That''s not what happened!" tare The video had just finished ying, but the female celebrities in the hall continued to stare at the now-dark screen with disbelief written all over their faces. After a brief, stunned silence, the hall erupted into furious grumbles. "How could this happen? We''ve all been so harsh on Willow, calling her shameless, but the real culprit was someone else!" "This is unbelievable. She acted so righteous, yet she was secretly m setting someone else up. Yuck, this is quite an eye-opener!" "I think the person who should be banned isn''t Willow, but J that shameless schemer. She was sitting right next to me. How disgusting!" n. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 292 Chapter 292 "Exactly! Her behavior is disgusting! She depicted Willow as someone relying on some twisted sugar daddy for money and wrongly used her of theft. She''s trying to ruin a person''s life." "And she even presents herself as someone having integrity! It''s all just a sham!" "No! It''s not what you think!" J eximed, shaking her head vehemently. She felt utterly powerless on her own as she had acted under Wilhelmina''s orders. She could only turn to Wilhelmina for help. Fearing that J might expose her involvement, Wilhelmina shot her a warning nce and took action preemptively. "J, you''ve truly let me down! How could you do this to Willow? Do you realize that your actions could devastate Willow''s life?" Wilhelmina pretended to be indignant as she added, "You''ve gone too far this time, J!" "..." J began, eager to defend herself. However, she opted for silence upon noticing the caution in Wilhelmina''s gaze. If J maintained Wilhelmina''s secret, there might still be hope for J to fix the situation with Matthew''s support for Wilhelmina. However, revealing Wilhelmina''s involvement wouldn''t help J from clearing her own name as she was already recorded framing Willow. Additionally, it would deeply offend Wilhelmina, ruining any chance of rectifying the situation. J was determined to turn things around. Thus, she was willing to shoulder the me for Wilhelmina temporarily. "Willow, I''m sorry. I was jealous of your beauty and saw you as my biggestpetitor. That''s why I hoped you would fail your audition," J apologized, her head bowed in sincere remorse. "Please, Willow. I''m begging for your forgiveness. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me, just this once?" Willow wasn''t surprised when she noticed the footage didn''t reveal Wilhelmina or Skyler cing those items in her bag. They were far too crafty to engage in such tricks themselves. Although a bit disheartened, Willow remained confident that she would eventually bring Wilhelmina and Skyler down and ensure they would never recover from their downfall. Skyler and the others would never leave Aaron in peace as long as he was alive. To ensure Aaron''s future safety and peace, Willow needed to ensure they had no further opportunities to cause harm. Meanwhile, Duncan had intended to stir up trouble. Yet, after watching the LCD screen, he quickly ducked Chapte: 292 under a nearby table with his tail between his legs. He feared facingn''s severe confrontation. However,n was too upied to confront Duncan. He was confident that Eric would deal with Duncanter. He tore his gaze away from the LCD screen, his brows knit together in a deep frown. "Mr. Mayer, isn''t it time you fulfilled your promise and apologized to Willow?" he demanded. Matthew''s expression grew grim, but he wasn''t one to avoid owning up to his actions. He arched an eyebrow, his gaze locked onto Willow. As he looked upon her naturally captivating features, memories of the excruciating pain he had felt a month ago upon hearing of Willow''s supposed death came rushing back. He realized how foolish he had been at the sight of her standing before him at that moment. Willow couldn''t care less about him. Matthew''s lips parted slightly, and his tone turned unwittingly icy cold. "Willow, I''m sorry," he stated, though his apology dripped with insincerity and a hint of disdain. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Willow felt deeply grateful ton. Without his help, she wouldn''t have been able to ess the surveince footage from the wardrobe room effortlessly, despite her knowledge of its existence. Moreover,n had always shown her respect even given bis lofty status. His actions deeply moved her. Ignoring Matthew, Willow turned ton and said sincerely, "Thank you, Mr. Nightingale!" "Do you truly want to thank me?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Aftern finished speaking, both he and his assistant, Eric, were taken aback. Eric stared atn as though he were seeing an alien. Eric was petrified by his own thoughts. Willow was equally surprised. She hadn''t expectedn to be so blunt. Her "thank you" had been more courteous than genuine. However, when confronted with his direct question, Willow couldn''t simply admit that her gratitude had been insincere. She pondered her following words carefully before saying, "Of course." "If you want to thank me, how about treating me to dinner tomorrow..."n''s words trailed off. He suddenly remembered his grandfather had arranged a blind date for him the following night. After a pause, he continued, "Let''s n for the night after tomorrow to meet and sign the contract." "Sure thing."Willow agreed readily. Breathing a sigh of relief, Willow was d he hadn''t suggested dinner for the next night because Moses had forced her into a blind date with his grandson. Even though Willow knew she had at least another year to live, she wasn''t keen on starting any new rtionships. She was conscious that her fragile health could pose a burden on others if she entered into §à§á§Ö. However, as a doctor, Moses believed in encouraging his patients to embrace life fully. He never approached Willow with pity but rather enthusiasm, always eager to introduce her to potential partners and push her toward a new rtionship. This time, he had gone as far as setting up a blind date for Willow with his own grandson. Although Willow had no interest in blind dates, she feltpelled to honor Moses'' goodwill. She agreed to dinner with his grandson the following night, intending to express her thoughts politely yet firmly. Willow headed out of the hall once she finalized her ns withn. That day marked Aaron''s first day at kindergarten, so she needed to pick him up earlier. Even after Willow left, Eric remained stunned, struggling to regain hisposure from the shook. He gently picked his ear while questioning his own hearing. He wondered if he had genuinely heartn, who typically detested women, boldly ask one to buy him dinner. "Boss, isn''t your time too valuable? Maybe Tim should handle the contract signing with Ms. Sanford," Eric suggested. Chapter 293 "Clear my schedule for the night after tomorrow. She''s buying me dinner, and we''ll sign the contract,"n ordered. Eric''s jaw dropped open so wide that one could almost fit a ball in. He had indeed heardn correctly. The m usually reserved and distantn was actually looking forward to having dinner with a woman. To him, women were the most intimidating beings on the. Eric wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a sense of relief. At least now he didn''t have to worry aboutn posgidn''t possibly being interested in men or making advances toward him. While everyone in the hall was preupied with their own thoughts, no one noticed Zayn seated in the front row, silently crushing his cup in his hand. Skyler left the venue a bit earlier than Zayn to rush to her next gig. Meanwhile, J was thest celebrity to leave. As she exited the hall, she noticed Zayn standing outside. "What''s your name?" Zayn asked, his tone indifferent. His expression was inscrutable as he looked at J. A wave of excitement washed over J. She had never imagined that someone as one as renowned as Zayn would take an interest in her, especially after the embarrassment she had faced earlier that day. After all, Zayn was celebrated not just for his breathtaking, once-in-a-lifetime looks but also for hailing from a family as distinguished asn''s. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 294 Chapter 294 J decided to winn''s favor earlier because she knew Zayn was already deeply in love with Skyler She thought her chances of winning Zayn''s affection were low. However, that day presented an unexpected opportunity. Despite his rtionship with Skyler, Zayn seemed quite taken with J''s allure. With Zayn being such an impressive figure, J believed that even if she couldn''t be his official girlfriend, settling to be his mistress could still afford her a life of luxury.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Lowering her gaze, J said coyly, "Mr. Carter, I''m J Roscher, Please, just call me J." "J Roscher..." Zayn repeated her name, his expression unreadable. "Alright, I''ll remember that." ted, J decided to redirect the staged fall she had initially nned forn toward Zayn instead. She made herself appear fragile by twisting her waist subtly before letting herself topple toward Zayn. She had it all envisioned perfectly, convinced that any physical contact would ignite a night of passion. However, her n went awry. Instead of catching her, Zayn coldly stepped aside, and she crashed heavily onto the floor. Her face met the ground first. J was still reeling from the pain on her face when she heard Zayn''s ruthlessmand. "Get lost!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at him in disbelief. Zayn, who had seemed interested in her and even asked for her name, was now utterly indifferent to her. "Mr. Carter..." Zayn ignored Jpletely, pulling out his phone and dialing Liam''s number. "Boss, what''s up?" asked Liam. "cklist someone for me." Just as Zayn was about to continue, he remembered J''s cutting remarks about Willow earlier in the hall. She had described Willow as an annoying fly, always buzzing around. Those harsh words had deeply unsettled Zayn. "Boss, who do you want to cklist? Liam''s voice quivered with anxiousness on the other end of the phone. "J Roscher," Zayn replied, casting a disdainful nce at J, who looked disheveled the floor. It was rare to hear Zayn, usually so reserved, speak so much. He added, "cklist her! That way, she''ll stop buzzing around like a fly, annoying everyone!" Chapter 294 J''s cheeks, already red from her tumble, deepened to a rich crimson when she heard Zayn''s words. Weren''t those the same insults she had hurled at Willow? How couldn back at Zayn throw her words back at her, word for word? She wondered if Zayn was really taking Willow''s side. Panicking about the possibility of being cklisted, J quickly. m scrambled to her feet and rushed to O.V plead for leniency. But Zayn was already nowhere in sight when she looked down the hallway. Meanwhile, Willow was consumed with worry about Aaron''s ability to adjust to kindergarten, given his delicate health and limp... The traffic was horrendous, and the bus made frequent stops, adding to the dy. By the time Willow finally reached Aaron''s kindergarten, it had already been out for a while. After getting off the bus, Willow was rummaging through her handbag for Aaron''s youth pass when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her wrist. Before she could grasp the events, she was forcefully dragged into a nearby ck car. Almost instantly, a tall, muscr figure pinned her down with great force. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 295 Chapter 295 "Let me go!" Willow eximed, looking up to find herself mere Inches from Zayn''s furious, handsome face. The absurdity of the situation brought a sense of amusement to her. She had been forcefully pulled into the car and pinned down. Logically, she should have been the one seething with anger. Instead, Zayn looked inexplicably livid. "Willow, do you find it amusing to toy with me?'' Zayn snapped. "Mr. Carter, I honestly have no clue what you''re talking about!" Willow protested, pushing against him with all her might. But he remained unmoved, as solid as a statue. "Willow, it wasn''t you who died a month ago!" Anger flickered in Zayn''s eyes like mes.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Does pretending to be dead just to deceive me bring you joy? Do you enjoy making a fool of me?" "Mr. Carter, you''re beingpletely unreasonable!" Willow retorted, too frustrated to continue the conversation. She struggled against his hold, attempting to break free, but Zayn tightened his grip, pinning her wrists and immobilizing her. "You faked your death, tormenting me with thoughts of you, all while you were flirting with Mr. Nightingale. How can you be so ''impressive, Willow?" Willow had never flirted withn, nor did she want to. But having to justify herself to Zayn felt draining. With a cold yet strikingly alluring smile, she stated, "Mr. Carter, who do you think you are? Who I flirt with is none of your business! Let me go! I want nothing to do with you from this moment forward-neither in life nor death!" Her words instantly transported Zayn back to a haunting memory from just a month ago when he had believed she perished in a fire. He was engulfed by excruciating heartache as he cradled the charred remains. That moment had shattered his already fragile hold on sanity. Zayn stared at Willow''s trembling lips with bloodshot eyes. A whirlwind of emotions-longing, pain, hatred, jealousy-stormed through him. "Mr. Carter, keep yourself in check!" Willow eximed. Her face turned ghostly white when she sensed Zayn spiraling into madness. They were outside the kindergarten-a ce bustling with activity as people came and went. Aaron had been brought to the school gate by his teacher, waiting for his parents to pick him up. Willow worried about the humiliation she would face if anyone saw how Zayn treated her in the car. Fortunately, Zayn''s car windows were heavily tinted. While they could see everything outside just fine, no Chapte 245 one outside could observe them inside. Still, Willow couldn''t shake the feeling that people stared at her as they passed. "Mr. Carter, Aaron ising out! Get your hands off me!" Zayn froze at the mention of Aaron. Instinctively, he turned his gaze toward the kindergarten gate He saw a group of children, escorted by their teachers, energetically filing out in a neat line. However, while the other children bounced with energy, Aaron was limping. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Zayn''s chest constricted, a sharp pain shooting through him as he watched Aaron hobble closer. Aaron''s face was etched with deep scratches. Although Aaron remained alive, he was now crippled. Zayn was sure that Aaron''s injuries stemmed from the fall off a cliff due to Zayn''s decision to leave him for Skyler. The weight of guilt crushed Zayn, plunging his mind into turmoil. He was uncertain about how he could face Aaron or even Willow. Seizing the opportunity while Zayn was lost in thought, Willow forcefully pushed him away. She quickly straightened her clothes, flung open the car door, and hurried toward the kindergarten. The moment she exited the car, a sharp sting welled in her eyes, threatening to cascade into tears. She hadn''t expected that reuniting with Zayn would almost result in another unwanted advance. She gazed up at the sky, struggling to hold back her tears. However, Willow had transformed. Before, she had been deeply in love with Zayn, which made it easy for him to manipte her feelings. But now, she had locked away those romantic fantasies deep within her heart, making herself invulnerable. It wasn''t until she faced near death that she recognized her love for Zayn as her greatest vulnerability, leaving her weak in every facet of her life. Now, she severed her vulnerability by trying hard to extinguish her love for Zayn. However, being invulnerable wasn''t a trait any woman truly desired. It was merely a fa?ade of strength built uponyers of scars from past wounds. Willow took a deep breath and put on her brightest smile as she opened her arms wide, ready to hug Aaron as he ran toward her. Yet, her smile froze when she saw the ring scratches on his face. "What happened to your face, Aaron?" Willow asked, her voice tinged with worry as she reached for his hands. Aaron winced in pain, prompting Willow to nce down at his hands. His left hand bore a deep scratch, its severity causing her heart to ache at the mere sight of it. His right hand showed the unmistakable marks of a severe bite, with fresh blood oozing continuously from the wound. It was indeed a ghastly sight. Willow noticed faint bruises on Aaron''s wrist and Immediately rolled up his sleeve. His arm was covered in purplish bruises. Someone had clearly pinched him ruthlessly. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she could no longer hold back her distress. "Aaron, what happened? Tell me, who bullied you?" she demanded. Aaron had looked troubled even since he emerged from kindergarten. It had obviously been a rough day for him. Yet, he tried to smile brightly when he saw Willow even though scratches marred his face as he didn''t want to worry her. Chapte 296 "Mom, no one bullied me. I really like school," Aaron said. "No one bullied you?" Willow echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Aaron, these don''t look like the kind of injuries you get from just a fall!" "Mom-Aaron began, trying to downy the severity of the day''s events, but he was interrupted by a sharp female voice slicing through the air.. "Are you Aaron Sanford''s mother? Your son bulChapter 296 Zayn''s chest constricted, a sharp pain shooting through him as he watched Aaron hobble closer. Aaron''s face was etched with deep scratches. Although Aaron remained alive, he was now crippled, Zayn was sure that Aaron''s injuries stemmed from the fall off a cliff due to Zayn''s decision to leave him for Skyler. The weight of guilt crushed Zayn, plunging his mind into turmoil. He was uncertain about how he could face Aaron or even Willow. Seizing the opportunity while Zayn was lost in thought, Willow forcefully pushed him away. She quickly straightened her clothes, flung open the car door, and hurried toward the kindergarten. The moment she exited the car, a sharp sting welled in her eyes, threatening to cascade into tears. She hadn''t expected that reuniting with Zayn would almost result in another unwanted advance. She gazed up at the sky, struggling to hold back her tears. However, Willow had transformed. Before, she had been deeply in love with Zayn, which made it easy for him to manipte her feelings. But now, she had locked away those romantic fantasies deep within her heart, making herself invulnerable. It wasn''t until she faced near death that she recognized her love for Zayn as her greatest vulnerability, leaving her weak in every facet of her life. Now, she severed her vulnerability by trying hard to extinguish her love for Zayn. However, being invulnerable wasn''t a trait any woman truly desired. It was merely a fa?ade of strength built uponyers of scars from past wounds. Willow took a deep breath and put on her brightest smile as she opened her arms wide, ready to hug Aaron as he ran toward her. Yet, her smile froze when she saw the ring scratches on his face. "What happened to your face, Aaron?" Willow asked, her voice tinged with worry as she reached for his hands. Aaron winced in pain, prompting Willow to nce down at his hands. His left hand bore a deep scratch, its severity causing her heart to ache at the mere sight of it. His right hand showed the unmistakable marks of a severe bite, with fresh blood obzing continuously from the wound. It was indeed a ghastly sight. Willow noticed faint bruises on Aaron''s wrist and immediately rolled up his sleeve. His arm was covered in purplish bruises. Someone had clearly pinched him ruthlessly. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she could no longer hold back her distress. "Aaron, wh what happened? Tell me, who bullied you?" she demanded. Aaron had looked troubled even since he emerged from kindergarten. It had him. obviously been a rough day for a Yet, he tried to smile brightly when he saw Willow even though scratches marred his face as he didn''t want to worry her. "Mom, no one bullied me. I really like school," Aaron said. "No one bullied you?" Willow echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Aaron, these don''t look like the kind of injuries you get from just a fall!" "Mom-" Aaron began, trying to downy the sharp female voice slicing through the air.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. y of the day''s events, but he was interrupted by a "Are you Aaron Sanford''s mother? Your son bullied my son terribly dust look at the state my son is in! You thes must make that cripple apologize to my son!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Willow questioned if she had indeed heard that woman call her son a "cripple". Ever since Aaron had injured his leg, thest thing Willow wanted to hear was someone using that derogatory term to describe him. She whipped her head around and fixed a cold stare on the young woman standing before her, d in designer attire and adorned with sparkling jewels. The woman was Mandy Fisher. Mandy''s appearance was passable, but her thin lips and prominent cheekbones lent her a sharp, unfriendly demeanor. She clearly wasn''t someone who made friends easily. Next to her was a young boy, about four years old, named Han Selwood. His face bore a faint scratch and was streaked with dried tears. Pointing at Aaron, he sobbed, "Mom, it was him! The cripple! He hit me! See this scratch? He did it! Mom, it really hurt. You must do something about him!" "Oh, my darling, don''t cry! It breaks my heart to see you upset!" Mandy eximed, gently cupping Han''s face. "Don''t worry, darling. I''ll make sure the cripple learns his lesson! Let''s see if he ever thinks about bullying you again!" "You damn cripple, how dare you fight me! My mom is the best. You''re going to regret this!" Han wiped his nose and taunted Aaron with a bold arrogance. Willow knew Han was undoubtedly the one who caused Aaron''s injuries. The irony was palpable-the minor scratch on Han''s face was almost imperceptible, whereas Aaron had been seriously hurt. It was evident that Han owed Aaron an apology, not the other way around. "Did you hear me? Apologize to my son right now!" Mandy demanded, pulling Han forward and looking down at Willow with a haughty air. "I won''t ask again. Apologize!" "Apologize?" Willow tightened her grip on Aaron''s hand. "Are you joking? If anyone should be apologizing, it''s your son to Aaron!" "What did you just say?" Mandy''s face contorted with fury upon hearing Willow''s words. She pointed at Han''s face. "Look at my son''s face-all scratched up by this cripple! How dare you demand him to apologize to this cripple?" "Aaron is not what you called him! His leg will heal!" Willow retorted firmly, her expression resolute. "Both you and your son owe Aaron an apology!" "Mom, I won''t apologize to this cripple!" Han shouted back, pointing at Aaron. "You damn cripple, you walk so weird, and your mom is shameless. No wonder your dad left you! A cripple like you who struggles to walk will never have a dad, even in your next life!" Willow froze. She was shocked by the cruelty of such wordsing from a young child. Before Aaron had started school, m there had been a parent-teacher meeting at his kindergarten. During this meeting, the teacher had asked the parents toplete a card with their basic information. Aaron''s card had been left empty on the subject of his father. Typically, children that young wouldn''t notice such details unless pointed out by their parents. It was clear that a child. raised by such unreasonable and mean-spirited parents would struggle with respect for others. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Han continued to pull mocking faces at Aaron. "You''re shameless, you damn cripple! You have a shameless mom but no dad to love you! Shame, on you! You waddle like a penguin, you cripple-" Aaron usually shrugged off personal insults, but he couldn''t tolerate m disrespect toward his beloved mother, Willow. He lifted his head, his eyes zing with anger at Harlen. "Don''t talk about my mom like that! She''s the best mom in the world! Apologize to her now!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 298 Chapter 298 "Mom, he''s bullying me again!" Han cried as he threw himself into Mandy''s arms, bursting into tears. Mandy instantly seethed with anger as she saw Han reduced to tears again. Holding Han close, she red menacingly at Willow and Aaron, "Listen, you two. Don''t test my patience! Do you know who my husband is? Cross me, and I''ll make sure you regret it here in Havenpoint!" Willow was reluctant to escte the situation, but Mandy''s aggressive behavior was overbearing. Backing down andpromising would definitely affect Aaron''s view of her profoundly. She needed to stand firm, showing Aaron she was a mother who wouldn''t be intimidated. Willow was about to argue with Mandy when Mandy shouted happily, "Honey! Honey,e here quickly! A cripple and a shameless woman are picking on our precious darling! You have to stand up for us today, Honey!"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Willow looked in the direction Mandy was looking and saw Tim, the game director of Arena of Glory, approaching. Tim was surprised to learn that Willow was the person Mandy wanted him to confront. Looking at Willow''s naturally captivating face, he was reminded of Skyler. He remembered bitterly that Willow''s appointment as the brand ambassador had cost him a romantic night with Skyler. Seeing Tim staring at Willow in a daze instead of teaching her a lesson, Mandy was convinced Willow''s beauty entranced him. She flew into a rage. She pped Tim sharply, then turned her fury on Willow, yelling, "You brazen hussy! How dare you try to seduce my husband right in front of me? Screw you! No wonder your husband left you and your cripple son! You make me sick!" Tim regained his senses. Even though Tim still felt attracted to Skyler, he knew he needed to show his loyalty to Mandy at that moment. "Sweetheart, you''re the only one for me! A woman like her is nothing but trouble! Even if she threw herself at me, I wouldn''t touch her!" he dered. He straightened and cleared his throat before continuing, "Ms. Sanford, I believe in fairness. Your son bullied my son, so I think an apology is necessary. How about we settle this simply? "Where exactly did your son hit mine? I suggest we allow my son to hit your son in the same spot, and then we can move past this incident." Willow snorted, a mix of anger and amusement bubbling up at his words. "Mr. Selwood, following your own reasoning, shouldn''t your son faceparable consequence. considering the severity of the injuries to Aaron?" Tim was surprised by Willow''s audacity in talking back to him, m especially considering she was just an influencer. His gaze darkened, and his tone became icy. Chopte: 298 "Ms. Sanford, I''m telling you this for your own sake, so don''t mistake my kindness for weakness. You should realize who you''re dealing with! Cross me, and forget about being the brand ambassador for Arena of Glory. You''ll also find yourself banned from Havenpoint entirely!" Zayn stood by his car when Tim''s haughty remarks reached his ears. His eyes, as frigid as a winter pond, narrowed dangerously. He was about to confront Tim and ensure he learned a valuable lesson when a sleek ck Rolls-Royce glided to a stop in front of Willow. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Zayn''s eyes suddenly darkened like a cloud skimming across a pond. With a mocking chuckle, he lit a cigarette and began to smoke. Tim was surprised to seen. Ian''s arrogant expression had yet to fade. It remained frozen in a way that made him look utterly ridiculous. "Mr. N-Nightin-" "What are you mumbling about?" Mandy expected Tim to scold Willow sharply, but his sudden meekness infuriated her.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. She jabbed a finger toward Willow and yelled, "You brazen hussy, and you fatherless cripple! How dare you cross my precious son? This is yourst chance. Kneel and apologize to my son, or you''ll deeply regret it!" As more parents arrived to pick up their children, many of them, driven by a sense of justice, found the arrogance disyed by Mandy and Tim hard to tolerate. Even though they were indignant, actually confronting Mandy and Tim seemed daunting. The duo''s attire. signaled their wealth, dissuading anyone from risking offense. "Who do you think you''re telling to kneel?" Mandy looked up atn. She was quick to notice his air of high status. Confident that neither Willow nor Aaron could know someone of his stature, she felt emboldened. Her voice rose dramatically as she yelled, "Obviously, I''m telling the hussy who temps men and the cripple to kneel! So what if she''s attractive? She can''t even maintain her own marriage after having a dumb child who waddles like a penguin!" "Yeah, you dumb, fatherless cripple!" With Mandy backing him up, Han puffed himself up, taunting Aaron with a stick-out tongue. "You''re a burden, you poor thing! Your mother is disgraceful, and you deserve to be left all alone! It''s pitiful how you''re unloved and fatherless. You really should be ashamed of yourself, you cripple-" "Who are you calling fatherless ?n cut in sharply, hismanding tone silencing Han and making the boy cower back into Mandy''s arms in fear. As Tim thought about the possibility of tarnishingn''s impression of Willow, thereby shifting the Arena of Glory''s ambassador role to Skyler and reaping the benefits thetter had promised him, he felt a surge of Chapter 299 excitement. He took a deep breath and bravely metn''s gaze. "Mr. Nightingale, Han is speaking about Willow''s son! You may not be aware but Willow''s personal life. is quite chaotic. "We can''t even be sure who the father of her child is. Our brand, Arena of Glory, can''t afford to associate with someone so mired in scandal as a brand ambassador! "And this cripple boy... clearly, he''s not been raised right! He wouldn''t have behaved so poorly toward Han if he had any manners. It''s no wonder his own father abandoned him." Tim''s words cut deep, and though Willow knew Aaron''s biological father had left them, it didn''t change her view of her son. She still considered Aaron the most precious child in the world. "Darling, go on. Hit him back! This fatherless cripple dared to strike you. Give it back to him twice as hard! * barked, standing with her hands on her hips, her demeanor as fierce as ever. Mand Willow positioned herself in front of Aaron, preparing to defend him once again interrupted the escting argument. further, butn''s clear and crisp voice The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 300 Chapter 300 "He has a father,"n dered. "Mr. Nightingale, I''m well aware that the cripple boy didn''t simply appear out of nowhere," said Tim. "But given how he behaves, even if he does have a father, I doubt the father is anything to be proud of" "I am his father!"n interjected sharply. Tim''s words stuck in his throat. His eyes widened in shock. As the gravity of his statement sank in, a look of terror shed across his face. He had just insulted Aaron''s father, andn had just revealed he was Aaron''s father. Tim''s legs buckled under him. He weakly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice uncontrobly. trembling "M-Mr. Nightingale, w-what did you just say? D-Did you say you''re the cripple boy''s father? A-Are y joking?" "Do I look like I''m joking?"n responded with a stern question. Hearing this, Tim copsed to the ground with a heavy thud.. you Initially, Mandy had thought Tim was being overly cowardly, but as she heard him repeatedly addressn as "Mr. Nightingale", she suddenly realized his true identity. The name "Mr. Nightingale" was widely known yet shrouded in mystery since no media had ever published his photo. People knew his name but not his face. Reflecting on how she had yelled at Aaron and even forced him to kneel, Mandy felt her legs gave way a little. "Mr. Nightingale, you..." Willow''s voice faltered as she looked weakly atn. She hadn''t expected him to go to such lengths for her. She was wary of bing too indebted to him.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. However, after his deration, he realized he wasn''t entirely averse to the idea of bing a father figure, especially for Willow''s sake. His usually aloof and indifferent demeanor had softened ever since he met her. "Mr. Nightingale, I was wrong! I didn''t recognize your son!" Tim apologized fearfully. "I had no intention of disrespecting you or your son! "Your son, even if he''s a cripple, he''s still quite something-ng, scratch that, he''s absolutely remarkable He En takes after his father!" Chapter 300 "Dad, what''s gotten into you?" Han asked, his arrogance evident as He eyed Tim with confusion. "Why are you praising that cripple boy? What''s so great about him? He''s just a dumb cripple!" Terrified, Tim lunged to muffle Han''s mouth, his smile now strained and twitching. "Mr. Nightingale, please disregard Your son is truly Han''s ramblings! Your son exceptional, My son is sometimes just a bit ignorant, but don''t mind him!" With a chilling re, hemanded, "Apologize to Willow!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 301 Chapter 301 I''m sorry, Ms. Sanford, Mr. Aaron. Please forgive us just this once." Tim trembled as he pped his own face repeatedly as he begged Willow for forgiveness. Mandy looked equally distressed. "Ms. Sanford, Mr. Aaron, I was just joking earlier. We didn''t mean any harm. Please don''t hold it against us." "Dad, Mom, why are you apologizing to this woman and that stupid cripple? You said you''d make them beg on their knees. You-" Tim raised his hand as if to p Han but couldn''t bring himself to do it. He could only continue covering Han''s mouth. "Ms. Sanford, Mr. Aaron, please don''t mind Han. He''s just talking nonsense "He didn''t mean it! How dare he bully Mr. Aaron? I promise I''ll discipline him severely when we get back," Time said solemnly. Willow disliked using her status to intimidate others, but Tim and his family had gone too far. She needed to speak up. Her gaze shifted over the family, finally resting on Han. "Han, Aaron''s leg is indeed injured, but he is not less than other children. He''s smart, optimistic, and kind. "He''s the best child in the world. So, you can''t mock him or bully him because of his physical condition." Han looked at Willow, confused. "But he walks funny." "If peopleughed at you for the way you walk, would it make you sad?" Han thought for a while, then said, "I guess so." Willow continued, "When youughed at Aaron, it made him sad, too, so you should apologize to him." Han looked reluctant, but after some thought, he realized his mistake. Pouting, he walked up to Aaron. and awkwardly said, "Aaron, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to bully you. Can we be friends? I won''tugh at your leg anymore. He added, "Your mom is a good mom, too. I shouldn''t have said bad things about her. I''m sorry." Aaron was not a petty child. He graciously took Han''s outstretched hand. "I ept your apology, Han." Seeing Aaron''s scratches and bites broke Willow''s heart, but Han was only four years old. She couldn''t let Aaron retate. The best oue was for the children to reconcile and get along. No child was born inherently bad. Han wasn''t evil by nature. His parents were just too arrogant, and their influence made him develop a spoiled attitude. If Tim and Mandy continued to spoil him, he would worsen. However, if they taught him properly, he could still be a good child. "I''ll take you home, Willow,n offered. "It''s okay, Mr. Nightingale. I''ve already troubled you..." After ncing at Aaron standing beside Willow,n decisively picked him up and ced him in the back seat of his car. Willow was rendered speechless. Well, she couldn''t leave Aaron alone na stranger''s car, so she opened the car door and sat next to Aaron. She assumedn would sit in the passenger seat, but to her surprise, Opened the back door and sat next to her. Willow suddenly felt the air around her grow thin. Tim clung desperately to the car door. "Mr. Nightingale I''m reallym sorry. I was stupid and blind. Please forgive me just this once." "Say goodbye to your bonus this year." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 302 Chapter 302 If it were any other day,n would have tossed the person who made him angry into the ocean without a second thought. But he was in a good mood. He also didn''t want to make an enemy out of Willow, so he decided to show some mercy. "What?" Tim looked atn incredulously. When he finally processed whatn said, he was so happy that he almost jumped for joy. Just losing his bonus meant he wouldn''t be fired or severely punished. What a relief! Tim profusely expressed his gratitude to Willow andn before walking back to Mandy and gently pulling her into his arms. After gaining some wealth, he had indeed be arrogant. He indulged in a life of pleasure and forgot to spend time with his loved ones. He even neglected Han''s education. Though the allure of the outside world was strong, he realized that family was what truly mattered. Han needed a proper upbringing. Otherwise, his arrogance could offend someone powerful and cause a disaster. Held tenderly by Tim, Mandy couldn''t help but tear up. She hadn''t always been a harsh person. Tim''s coldness, Han''s mischief, and the burden of various stresses had made her adopt a domineering facade. Gradually, she lost touch with the kind and simple person she once was. Today, she felt grateful to Willow for the lesson. People often get lost at the top. Sometimes, a fall into the mud would help them see clearly. Meanwhile, Zayn stood by his car, holding a cigarette. His eyes were fixed onn as he imed to be Aaron''s father and walked away with Willow and Aaron. The burning cigarette eventually scorched his fingers, jolting him back to reality. Like a crazed stalker, he got into his car and followedn''s Rolls-Royce all the way to Willow''s neighborhood. Aftern went upstairs with Willow, Zayn waited like a fool for an hour, then two.n still had note down.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. The thought of what could happen between a man and a woman at that time drove him nearly insane. A month ago, Willow had Aaron call/Kenan "dad". Now, she was lettingn take on the role of a father, How many fathers did she want Aaron to have before she was satisfied? Zayn punched the wall in frustration. Blood seeped from his knuckles, but he didn''t feel the pain. Unable to contain his rage, he called Theodore. "Theo, I don''t care how you do it, but getn over to your ce now." He hung up right away after saying, that. Theodore was speechless, He realized how tough being an older brother was. He was always at Zayn''s beck and call. Chapter 302 Aftern left the neighborhood, Zayn stubbed out his cigarette and headed inside. Liam had already found Willow''s apartment number, making it easy for Zayn to locate her. Whenn left earlier, he forgot his coat at Willow''s apartment. When m she heard the doorbellshed N it was him returning to retrieve it. So she opened the door without checking through the peephole. To her surprise, Zayn stood there. As soon as Willow opened the door, Zayn saw the table full of dishes in the living room. Thinking of how she used to stay away from chores when they were together, he was enraged to see her now cooking soup to please another man. His eyes burned with rage. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 303 Chapter 303 "Willow, who gave you the right to cook forn? You can sacrifice your dignity just to please a man?" "Mr. Carter, who I cook for and how I choose to please them is none of your concern." Willow didn''t want to waste time arguing with Zayn. She tried to close the door, but Zayn''s strength was greater. He pushed his way in and mmed her against the door. "Willow, I won''t allow you to cook forn!" He wouldn''t allow her to let Aaron casually call someone else his father, either. "You''re overstepping, Mr. Carter. I don''t need your permission for anything I do." In truth, Willow hadn''t specifically cooked forn. Aaron had taken a liking to him, and when they arrived downstairs, Aaron warmly invited him to dinner. Before Willow could stop him,n had already agreed. Since he had already epted, she couldn''t possibly say, "Sorry, Mr. Nightingale, I don''t wee you to join us for dinner." Besides, she was going to cook for Aaron anyway, so what harm was there in having one more person join them?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Moreover,n really only entered her apartment just for dinner. Throughout the whole time, he didn''t say a word to her. He was so reserved that it was hard for her to even thank him. However, Willow wouldn''t bother exining any of this to Zayn. He was no longer a part of her life, and trying to reason with him would be a waste of breath. "Willow, did you learn to cook to seduce men? Hah! You even let your son calln ''dad''. How many men do you want that bastard to call dad before you''re satisfied?" Bastard. Willow hadn''t heard that word in a long time. Hearing it again after so long made her feel angry but also amused. The one who kept calling Aaron a bastard wasn''t anyone else but his biological father. However, Zayn had long since proven himself unworthy of being Aaron''s father. The moment he abandoned Aaron for Skyler, Aaron no longer had a father. "First, it was Louis, then Kenan. And now,n!" Meeting Zayn''s fiery gaze, Willow suddenly smiled. Her smile was enchanting and captivating. "Mr. Carter, Aaron is not a bastard, He is the most precious treasure of my life. Whoever his father may be is none of your concern. But no matter who his father is, it will never be you, Zayn!" "Willow Sanford!" Zayn gripped Willow''s throat tightly. He didn''t know what hade over him. Before, when she stubbornly imed Aaron was his son, he was angry Now, when she was eager to disassociate Aaron from him, he was even more furious. Willow continued to smile radiantly. "You''re still the same after all this time. Besides choking me, your only other move is reminding me of my name. How dull!" Chapter 303. "Dull?" The crimson hue in Zayn''s eyes intensified as he smirked coldly. "Are you saying that bore you butn intrigues you? You cooked to please him and threw yourself at him. Willow, how can you be so cheap?¡± "Yes, I''m cheap." Willow''s smile didn''t falter for a moment. But no matter how brilliantly she smiled in front of Zayn, there was no hint of sincerity, only a chilly indifference. "You still pester me even though you know I''m cheap. How noble of you, Mr. Carter!" ''Willow Sanford!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Just as Zayn was about to explode, Willow spoke in a casual tone. "Mr. Carter, you said it before. You wished for me to rest in peace." Her voice was exceptionally calm, as if she were stating the most ordinary thing. But even in its calmness, Zayn couldn''t shake off a sense of unease. He couldn''t help but recall how desperate he had felt when he thought she perished in that fire. He feared losing her, yet his heart was too heavy with resentment to truly love her. "Mr. Carter, are you upset because you couldn''t kill me personally? Is that why you''re pestering me and making trouble for me?" Zayn stared at Willow with inscrutable eyes. He wanted to say he didn''t mean that and that he never truly wanted her dead.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. But as the words were on the tip of his tongue, they twisted into something else. "Yes, I''m upset! Willow, I truly wish it had been you who died in that fire!" "Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Carter," Willow gently pried Zayn''s hand away from her neck. "But your wish wille true sooner orter." Zayn''s pupils constricted. What did she mean by that? Did she want to fake her death again? At that moment, all Zayn could think of was Willow feigning her death. But muchter, he would realize that Willow''s demise was real and irreversible. "But for now, while there''s still breath in me, I''ll live well. I''ll love who I love, chase my dreams, and make the most of this precious time. But, Mr. Carter, my life has nothing to do with you anymore Nothing to do with him... Zayn took a step forward and roughly grabbed her shoulder as if he were a trapped animal making a final struggle. *You said you loved me, Willow!" Willow didn''t expect Zayn to say this. She paused for a moment, then let out a faint, rueful smile. "Mr. Carter, that was during my previous life." Her voice carried destion mixed with a hint of resignation. The fire had consumed all her feelings for him. Having survived, she sought a fresh start, a and Zayn had no ce in this n for a new life. However, Zaynpletely misunderstood Willow''s meaning. He smirked coldly. "You finally admitted it, Willow. You never truly loved me "That''s why you didn''t hesitate to kill our child to marry Louis and evenn hired a hitman to silence me, fearing I''d expose your past. Yes, I nearly forgot how evil you are. "But Willow, even if you''re evil, my 100 million dors at Rumpus club can''t go to waste. Strip, Willow!" When he saw Willow stubbornly biting her lip and showing no intention ofplying, his smile turned crueler. "Don''t want to? Oh, I almost forgot. You''re too good for a regr o m arrangement Fine, Willow, I''ll fulfill your wish." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Zayn had always been despicable toward Willow. No matter how innocent she was, she was unforgivable in his eyes. "Let go of me, Zayn!" Willow mustered all her strength. She was about to push him away when Aaron''s angry voice pierced through the air. "Bad guy, I won''t let you bully my mom!" Aaron''s sudden appearance caught Willow off guard. Her heart was filled with boundless distress. Thankfully, she was wearing plenty of clothes, so even if her cor was torn, there wouldn''t be any exposure. Clearly, Zayn hadn''t expected Aaron to show up either. His expression was slightly stunned. Willow took advantage of the moment and pushed him away before quickly running to Aaron''s side. "Mom, are you okay? Did the bad guy hurt you?" Despite his intelligence, Aaron was still just a three-and-a-half-year-old child. He had yet to understand theplex affairs between men and women. He only felt that Zayn must have caused Willow a lot of pain. "Aaron, I''m fine." Willowfortingly rubbed Aaron''s head. "I can protect myself. I''m not that easy to bully. With that said, Willow lifted her head and addressed Zayn firmly. "Mr. Carter, I''ll repay the money I owe you, but we''re done."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Remembering something, Willow dug out a stack of cash from her bag and threw it forcefully at Zayn. Mr. Carter, I''ll pay ten thousand dors here. From now on, make sure you note down every cent i repay you. I don''t want you to swindle me." "Willow!" Zayn grabbed the wad of bills tightly as his eyes burned holes into Willow''s. He looked like he wanted to devour her whole. Despite herck of strength, for some reason, when Willow threw the money at his chest, it hurt him badly. Since he was in pain, he wanted Willow to suffer, too. "Hah! Ten thousand dors?" Zayn sneered, holding up the stack of bills contemptuously. "Don''t tell me you think you can offset the 100 million dors I''ve spent on you with just this." "Mr. Carter, you must be hard of hearing. I never said I''m using ten thousand dors to offset 100 million dors. I simply said I''ll pay you back slowly." Willow actually had several hundred thousand dors more, but she couldn''t donate her body now. She had to pay off the debt to the research institution first. Right now, she couldn''t produce too much money. for Zayn at once. But this year, she nned to work hard to earn money. Even if she couldn''t earn 100 million dors, she would try to repay Zayn as much as possible. Even if she died, she didn''t want to leave a mountain of debt behind that would burden Aaron. Upon seeing the terrifying glint in Zayn''s eyes, Aaron was afraid he would bully Willow again, so he quickly. shielded her. "Bad guy, if you have any guts,e at me! What kind of man are you to bully a woman?" Undisguised hatred danced In Aaron''s bright eyes, "Get out, bad guy! Neither my mom nor I want you here! With that, Aaron let go of Willow and limped over to the door, wanting Zayn to leave. Zayn clenched his fists. He really wanted to crush this ungrateful bastard, but seeing him hobble away, he felt guilty. He couldn''t bring himself to hurt him. He found it all incrediblyughable. A bastard like Aaron deserved to die, He was just crippled anyway. Zayn felt that there was nothing he should feel guilty about. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 306 Chapter 306 Zayn smirked disdainfully. His handsome face was now filled with maliciousness. "Willow, you have a month to pay off the money. Otherwise, I make sure the whole world knows just how filthy you are." He turned away ruthlessly. Then, as if remembering something, he slowly turned back. He looked down the limping Aaron like he was looking at a despicable worm. "And this cripple... Willow, you better control him. If he annoys me, I won''t hesitate to make him die again." With those words, Zayn left without a trace of remorse and mmed the door of Willow''s apartment shut. Willow''s face turned extremely ugly. Hearing others call Aaron a cripple didn''t bother her as much. But Zayn was Aaron''s biological father. How could he call their son a cripple? A sharp pain engulfed her heart, causing her stomach, which hadn''t hurt in days, to convulse uncontrobly. Seeing Aaron''s pale face, Willow forgot about her own pain and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Aaron..." "Mom... Aaron''s voice trembled. "I know I''m a cripple, but it still hurts so much when he says it." "Aaron..." Willow wanted tofort him, but at that moment, she couldn''t find the right words to ease his pain. Being called a cripple by his biological father was a pain she couldn''t imagine. What could she do to ease his suffering? "Mom, is he really my dad?" After a long time, Aaron''s voice, tinged with obvious trembling, echoed in the air. "No, he''s not my dad. I don''t have a dad. My dad died a long time ago. He died in my heart when I fell off the cliff." "Aaron." Willow couldn''t contain the pain in her heart any longer. She used all her strength to hug Aaron tightly. "Aaron, we don''t need him. We don''t need him at all. I''ll take good care of you. We''ll only be better."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. "Yeah, I just need you." Aaron''s face lit up with a bright smile. "Actually, God is fair. Although I don''t have a dad, I have the best mom in the world. I''m so d." Willow''s tears fell even more fiercely at those words. However, she didn''t want Aaron to see her weakness, so she quickly turned her face away. Aaron loved her. He thought she was the best mother in the world. But she knew she wasn''t good. She couldn''t even apany him as he grew up. She wasn''t a good mother. Aaron was an optimistic child. He didn''t want to be tainted by any pessimistic emotions, so he tried to make himself smile brightly. Chapter 306 "Mom, you promised me earlier that you''d take me to buy toys after dinner. Can we go now?" "Sure." Willow quickly changed into a different outfit. Smiling brightly, She said, "Let''s go, Aaron.¡± Willow wanted to buy Aaron some clothes as well, so she took himm directly to a malt in the city center. As she held Aaron''s hand, they entered a children''s clothing store. She saw a cute on. But when she turned around, she had E little suit and was about to pick it up for him to realized that Aaren, who been standing quietly beside her, was nowhere to be seen. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 307 Chapter 307Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. "Aaron!" No one answered Willow. Her face turned pale as she frantically searched the children''s clothing store. However, she still couldn''t find Aaron anywhere. Aaron had always been a sensible child. Whenever she took him out shopping, he would always obediently follow her and stay close while she picked out items. She never expected that this time, just a few seconds of releasing his hand while reaching for clothes would lead to him suddenly disappearing. Aaron had a phone with him. After a brief panic, Willow quickly dialed Aaron''s number. Luckily, Aaron answered the phone quickly. "Aaron, where are you?" "Mom, I''m at..." Aaron nced around before continuing softly, "I think it''s the underground parking lot." "Stay there and wait for me. Don''t run around. I''ll be right there." Willow didn''t have time to ask him why he had run off to the underground parking lot alone. She just wanted to see him as soon as possible. In fact, Aaron didn''t run away on purpose. He left the store quietly because he saw Matthew. Aaron had lived with Matthew since he was born. In his heart, Matthew was as important as Willow, even more important than his biological father. After escaping from the dungeon, he had been waiting for news about Matthew every day. But even after so long, the man who had raised him didn''t appear in front of him nor give him a warm hug again. Now, when he finally saw Matthew, Aaron didn''t want to let him disappear from his sight like this. Even with his limp, he tried his best to move forward, but he still remained a considerable distance behind Matthew. It wasn''t until they reached the underground parking lot that the distance between them shortened a little. "Uncle Matthew!" The underground parking lot was rtively quiet. When Aaron shouted, Matthew finally heard his voice. Standing beside Matthew, Wilhelmina gently pushed him. "Matt, that child seems to be calling you. Do you know him?" When Matthew turned around and looked at Aaron, his face showed obvious impatience. "No." After saying that, Matthew opened the car door and was about to get in. "Uncle Matthew!" Afraid that Matthew would drive away, Aaron away, Aaron quickly ran forward, but his Timp was too severe. As he tried to run, he ended up falling awkwardly to the ground. "Uncle Matthew!" Aaron shouted. He couldn''t understand why his beloved Uncle Matthew, who was so kind to him, would say he didn''t know him and look at him with such cold eyes. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 308 Chapter 308 No matter how mischievous Aaron was, Matthew always had endless patience for him. He sang "Little Star" to him, taught him to read and count, and even named him. To Aaron, Matthew was like a teacher and a father. He was the most important person in his world. If Aaron identally fell, his Uncle Matthew would surely be worried about him. But now, when he fell, Matthew showed no concern in his eyes. There was only cold indifference. Looking at Matthew like this, Aaron suddenly felt like crying. But Matthew had said that Aaron was a man, and men were brave and strong. He had to protect Willow with him so he couldn''t cry Aaron propped himself up from the ground and tried his best to stand. He continued to hobble forward as he looked at Matthew''s retreating figure pitifully. "Uncle Matthew, I''m Aaron. I''m your baby, Aaron. Why did you say you don''t know me? Uncle Matthew, I missed you so much..." Aaron wanted to put on a bright smile and give Matthew a big hug, but before he could even lift theers of his mouth, tears were already falling from his eyes. He really missed Matthew too much. "Aaron?" Seeing Aaron crying non-stop, Matthew felt somewhat upset, but he was absolutely certain that there was no memory of this child in his mind. "I don''t know you." Looking at Matthew, Aaron widened his eyes in disbelief, then shook his head vigorously. "No way, Uncle Matthew! You can''t not know me!" Aaron stepped forward, wanting to throw himself into Matthew''s arms. He wanted to take a good look at what had happened to him and why he had be so strange. But before he could touch Matthew, thetter pushed him away. With tears in his eyes, Aaron stood motionlessly. Although Matthew behaved so coldly, Aaron still couldn''t bear to miss this chance. Suddenly remembering something, he quickly said to Matthew, "Uncle Matthew, I''m Aaron! My mom is Willow. "Since I can remember, the three of us have been living together. Uncle Matthew, are you sick? Why did you forget about me?" Willow? The annoying feeling in Matthew''s heart became even stronger. He spoke with a stem face.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. "Did Willow send you here?" "Matt, of course, Willow sent him. What would a child know?" Matthew didn''t remember Aaron, but Wilhelmina did. She stepped forward. Her sweet face looked gentle and friendly. Chapter "Aaron, Matt really doesn''t know you. I don''t understand why you pretend to be so familiar with him when you have no connection. "Matt is really busy today. Don''t bother him anymore. Go back to find your mom, okay?" "I''m not pretending! He is my Uncle Matthew!" The children were really sensitive. Although Wilhelmina smiled innocently, Aaron didn''t like her at all. He looked at her warily. "What''s wrong with Uncle Matthew? He said we were his closest people. Why doesn''t he recognize me and my mom anymore?" "Aaron, Matt shouldn''t have known you in the first ce." After a pause, Wilhelmina continued, "He knows your mom, but they aren''t close, and your mom has done many bad things to us. "I don''t know why your mom asked you toe here and say these things on Washurpose, but what she did was wrong. No matter what her purpose is, she shouldn''t teach you to lie." "I won''t let you talk about my mom like that! And I didn''t lie!" Aaron was so anxious that his face turned red. He didn''t want to bother with Wilhelmina anymore. He continued to shout at Matthew, who was already at sitting in the car, "Uncle Matthew, I didn''t lie to you! "You really are my Uncle Matthew! We''re the closest people! I''m Aaron!" "Wi, get in the car." Matthew rolled down the window and spoke calmly to Wilhelmina. Wi... Hearing Matthew call Wilhelmina "Wi", Aaron became more anxious. "Uncle Matthew, she''s not Wi! My mom is Wi! "You always called my mom Wi during the years we spent together! She''s a liar! She must be a liar!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Willow''s name had two sybles. Most people familiar with her called her Lolo, but Matthew always called her Wi. A few days before leaving the dungeon, Matthew had told Aaron that he liked to call Willow Wi because she was his will to live in this messed-up life. Although Aaron was young and didn''t fully understand what Matthew said, he knew that in Matthew''s heart, Willow was the one and only Wi. Matthew couldn''t just casually call someone else Wi. Now that he was doing that, he must have been deceived. The more Aaron thought about it, the more anxious he became. "Uncle Matthew, she must be a bad person! If you don''t believe me, you can ask Mom. She''s Wi!" "Stop, Aaron. Matt will get angry if you keep saying that." Wilhelmina pretended to be a caringdy. Gently holding Aaron''s hand, she lowered her head and whispered in a voice that only Aaron could hear, ¡°Aaron, Matt hates you and Willow. "Do you know why he hates her? Because she''s despicable and shameless. Looking at her makes Matt feel sick. "Bad woman!" Aaron couldn''t stand others saying bad things about Willow. He tried to shake off Wilhelmina''s hand but couldn''t. In his panic, he grabbed her hand and bit it hard. "Ah!" Wilhelmina''s piercing scream echoed in the air. Hearing the sound, Matthew hurriedly got out of the car, but he was toote. Wilhelmina twisted her high heel and fell heavily to the ground, hitting her head hard on a nearby pir. She exerted all her strength to hit her head. Blood instantly seeped from the back of her head. The pain made her question everything. This was the scene Willow saw when she arrived. Wilhelminay weakly on the ground while Matthew rushed over frantically and held her tightly in his arms. Aaron stared nkly at his hand. He had indeed bitten Wilhelmina''s hand in his anxiety, but he didn''t push her. He had no idea how she suddenly fell against the pir. "Wi, are you okay?" Matthew looked at Wilhelmina''s face with concern. "Does it hurt a lot?"? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. "Matt, it hurts so much..." Wilhelmina couldn''t even open her eyes because of the pain, but even in this state, she didn''t forget to act.. "Matt, I was just worried that he would cause trouble here and make you angry, so I persuaded him to go back and find his mom. I didn''t expect him to suddenly go crazy. "I shouldn''t have worn high heels today. If I hadn''t, I wouldn''t have been pushed down by a child so easily. It took Wilhelmina quite a while to recover before she could finally open her eyes again. But when she did, she was horrified to find that everything was pitch ck in front of her. She couldn''t see anything. Chapter 309Wen "Matt, did the lights in the parking lot go out? Why is it suddenly so dark?" Matthew was taken aback, but he truthfully replied, "Will the lights are still on the content is on NovelDrama.Org! Read thetest chapter there! Initially, Wilhelmina could deceive herself by thinking that there was a m power outage, but shepletely broke down but s down at Matthew''s words. She frantically rubbed her eyes, but everything remained dark, as if she were staring into a ck hole. She had only wanted to frame Aaron and make Matthew take action, like ve action, like how he cut off Willow''s pinky finger. She just wanted to punish Aaron a little. She never expected that she would fall and end up being blind. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 310 Chapter 310 "Matt, I can''t see! I can''t see anything! I''ve gone blind! What should I do? Matt, I don''t want to be blind. 1 really don''t!" "Wi." Matthew waved his hand in front of Wilhelmina''s face. She didn''t even blink. Wilhelmina was really blind. Willow held Aaron tightly in her arms. She knew Aaron''s character very well. He would never push Wilhelmina without reason. Moreover, Aaron''s body was much weaker than that of ordinary children. He didn''t have the strength to push down an adult. Willow believed that Wilhelmina''s blindness was her own doing. However, she was worried that Matthew might hurt Aaron because of Wilhelmina.. She had experienced Matthew''s cruelty firsthand. Just because of one word from Wilhelmina, he had cut off her pinky finger. Now that Wilhelmina was genuinely blind, what kind of torment would he inflict on Aaron? Willow held Aaron even tighter. She would never allow Matthew to hurt Aaron. "Matt, it hurts. It hurts so much..." After a brief breakdown, Wilhelmina slowly calmed down. Blindness wasn''t an incurable condition. Perhaps this incident was an opportunity topletely eliminate Willow and Aaron. "Don''t worry, Wi. I won''t let anything happen to you. I promise you''ll be fine." Matthew''s tone was gentle and patient whenforting Wilhelmina, but when he turned to look at Willow and Aaron, his eyes were filled with cold cruelty. His sharp gaze swept over Aaron''s face and finallynded on Willow. "Willow, is this your ''dead'' child?" Before Willow could respond, Matthew spoke each word with deliberate precision. "Right, he should have died a long time ago. "Willow, I don''t know why you''re pretending to be virtuous while trying to get close to me. I don''t have the time to investigate your reasons. But know this: If anything happens to Wi, I''ll make sure your child dies again. "Rest assured. This time, I''ll ensure he diespletely. There will be no mistakes like allowing him toe back to life." With that, Matthew carefully lifted Wilhelmina and started walking toward his Lamborghini. Wilhelmina continued to cry helplessly. "Matt, it hurts so much. I take you to the hospital now, Wi. I''ll find the best doctors for you. I won''t let you suffer any harm "Matt, can I ask you for a favor? Wilhelmina clutched Matthew''s sleeve phifuly. Please don''t hurt Abro Chapter 310 "After all, I did wrong before, and I owe Willow. Let''s just chalk this up to e my bad luck. Please don''t hurt Aaron and Willow."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. "Wi, you''re my woman. If you hurt others, I''ll protect you. But if anyone dares to harm you, I''ll make them regret ever being born." "Uncle Matthew, she''s framing me. I didn''t push her!" Aaron''s usually happy face was now unusually serious. He pressed his lips together tightly and met Matthew''s icy gaze. "Uncle Matthew, I recorded it. I recorded what she whispered to me. She''s a bad woman she said bad things about my mom! She tried to frame me on purpose!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Aaron''s words hit Wilhelmina hard. Her smug expression turned pale instantly. The things she whispered to Aaron were vicious. If Matthew heard them, he would undoubtedly think Aaron was justified in shoving her out of anger, Worse, her harsh words wouldpletely shatter the angelic image Matthew had of her. Grinding her teeth in frustration, Wilhelmina thought about how the Carters'' children were all born prodigies. Theodore and Celeste were the geniuses of their circle. Although Zayn was autistic, he was exceptionally talented and astoundingly intelligent. Even if 7 if Zayn refused to acknowledge Aaron as his son, Aaron still carried the Carter bloodline, which was marked by extraordinary talent. "Matt, you heard what I said. I didn''t mean to speak ill of Willow. I really don''t understand why he would frame me like this!" Wilhelmina put on an award-worthy performance. "Matt, I don''t understand how such a young child could have such a twisted mind. I''m so upset." "Stop pretending!" Aaron unlocked his phone and searched for the recording he had made earlier. "Uncle Matthew, once you hear this recording, you''ll see her true colors. She''s a bad person! She wants to hurt me and my mom! You can''t fall for her lies!" Aaron acted quickly. He scrolled through the screen and found the recording. There was a brief silence at the beginning before Wilhelmina''s voice started. Just as her voice was about to y, Aaron felt a sharp pain in his hand. It turned out that Matthew had kicked the phone out of Aaron''s hand. Matthew was strong. When he kicked the phone out of Aaron''s hand, he also hit Aaron''s hand. The base. of Aaron''s right thumb throbbed painfully, and his dark eyes were filled with tears. He stared in disbelief at Matthew, who looked like a demon. For a moment, he truly felt he would never find his Uncle Matthew again. He bent down to pick up his fallen phone. But before he could reach it, Matthew''s shoe came down on it, crushing it. "Move your foot, Matthew!" Willow didn''t want Matthew to misunderstand Aaron, so she gave Matthew at hard shove. The moment his foot moved, she quickly reached for Aaron''s phone. But she couldn''t retract her hand because Matthew''s foot came down hard on the back of her hand. "Uncle Matthew, what are you doing? You can''t hurt Mom!" Children''s minds were really simple. Aaron couldn''t understand whym he would protect him and Willow, would bully her over a bad woman. Matthew, who always said m By Chapte: all? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. With tears in his eyes, Aaron tried to push Matthew away. But his body was weak, and he had alimp. He couldn''t even overpower an ordinary four-year-old, let alone move the six-foot-two Matthew. "Willow, I don''t know what kind of trick you''re trying to pull, but you om brought today''s suffering upon today''s sufefing upon yourself, Matthew said as he looked down at Willow with hatred, anger, and disdain. With those words, he pressed his foot down harder. Willow could almost hear the bones in her hand breaking. The pain was excruciating. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 312 Chapter 312 "Mom!" Aaron''s tears rolled down his cheeks as he frantically pounded on Matthew, He wanted to bite him, but no matter how cruel Matthew was, he was still the man who had raised him like a father. He couldn''t bring himself to bite Matthew. "Let my mom go, Uncle Matthew! You said you''d never let anyone hurt her, so why are you hurting her now? You''re a liar!" Aaron screamed at Matthew, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Matthew was truly enraged with Willow. She despised him but still schemed to stay connected to him. This hypocritical woman had made him suffer deeply after her staged death. Aaron''s death must have been staged as well. No wonder there were no ashes in the grave. Matthew felt ridiculous, singing "Little Star" at that empty grave. Matthew felt like aplete fool, manipted by her. He was, without a doubt, the biggest joke in the world. The fury made Matthew press down harder with his foot. Willow''s body arched in pain, but the agony only increased. Finally, Matthew stopped and coldly withdrew his foot. He had been stepping on Willow''s left hand. The bloody hand, with the permanently missing pinky finger, looked both horrifying and pitiful. Matthew''s chest tightened. The pain made it hard to breathe. He almost couldn''t restrain himself from picking up her hand to see how badly she was hurt, but he forced himself to suppress that urge. He just coldly spat out, "Willow, this isn''t over." He then opened the car door and carried Wilhelmina into the car. The Lamborghini sped away, leaving a cloud of dust that blurred Willow''s vision, Matthew''s face in her memories seemed to blur as well. "Mom..." Aaron clung to Willow while weeping. He was a brave little boy, but even the strongest hearts could break. "Mom, I''m sorry. This is all my fault. If it weren''t for me, your hand wouldn''t be hurt. "I''m not a good boy. Mom, are you in a lot of pain? You''re bleeding so much. It must hurt terribly!" Willow couldn''t stand seeing Aaron so upset. She lifted her uninjured hand and gently pinched his cheek. I''m okay, Aaron. "Today wasn''t your fault. I know you missed Uncle Matthew. And you were amazing for recording what Wilhelmina said. Even if Uncle Matthew doe want to listen to it now, we have proof of our innocence." "I''m so sorry, Mom..." Aaron''s heart ached as he looked at Willow''s hand. "Mom, let''s go to Mr. Quayle''s. He''ll make sure you stop bleeding." "Aaron, I''m fine." Willow didn''t want to trouble Moses sote at night. "We have the ointment he gave us at home. I can apply it myself when we get back." Chapter 312 Besides, Willow needed to do one more thing. The underground parking lot of the mall had surveince cameras. She had to find a way to get hold of the footage from earlier. "Mom, will I ever find my Uncle Matthew him4gain? It feels like I''ve lost him Aaron said aN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. as he clutched Willow''s sleeve. Willow''s chest tightened. She, too, felt like she had lost Matthew, whom ¦¯ ¦°¦© she once went through thick and thin with she wa was about to say something tofort Aaron when a silver sports car screeched to a halt. before her. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Willow hadn''t expected the owner of this unfamiliar luxury car to be Zayn. But in families like the Carter family, changing cars was nothing unusual. "Willow, what are you doing here?" Willow ignored Zayn and focused intently on inspecting Aaron''s damaged phone. Both its screen and body were severely damaged. She tried to manipte it for a while but couldn''t piece it back together. She wasn''t sure if it could be repaired. "Answer me, Willow!" Zayn mmed the car door shut. Just as his temper was about to re, he noticed Willow''s bloody left hand. He grabbed her hand and asked with reddened eyes, "What happened to your hand?" "It''s none of your business, Mr. Carter." Willow tried to pull her hand away from Zayn''s grip, but she couldn''t. Aaron didn''t want to see Zayn holding Willow like this. He red at Zayn fiercely. "Bad guy, I won''t let you touch my mom!" Zayn''s gaze swept over Aaron''s face like a chilling de. Despite his intense anger, Aaron felt a sudden diminishment of his presence under Zayn''s re. Uninterested in arguing with a child, Zayn tightened his grip on Willow''s wrist. "We''re going to the hospital." "I don''t need your help." Willow tried to step on Zayn so she could escape, but his cold voice cut through the air. "Liam, pull up the surveince footage from the underground parking lot." This mall belonged to Carter Group. Getting ess to the surveince footage would be impossible for Willow, but for Zayn, it was a piece of cake. And she needed that footage. Noticing that Willow had stopped struggling, Zayn knew she needed the footage. He was now even more certain that someone had intentionally harmed her. A raging fire consumed Zayn''s mind. How dare anyone bully his woman, even if he hated her to the bone? He wouldn''t allow that. "Give me the phone, Zaynmanded as he stared at the phone in Willow''s hand. Before Willow could react, he snatched the phone from her and handed it to Liam, who hadn''t left yet.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Have Theo recover the data.", As Liam was about to turn around, Zaynmanded sternly, "And have a doctor go to the upstairs lounge." Liam swallowed nervously. He wondered why Zayn couldn''t say everything at once. But he dared not Chapter 313 voice his thoughts. He just respectfully replied, "Yes, boss. Right away." Once Liam left, Zayn grabbed Willow''s hand again and headed toward the elevator. Willow didn''t want Zayn to hold her like this. "Let go of me, Mr. Carter." "What now? You want me to carry you?" Willow didn''t know what to say. It seemed that being dragged along was a better option. Puffing out his cheeks, Aaron kept a wary eye on Zayn. He was ready to Le was fight at any moment. But because he tany also wanted to see the surveince footage, he didn''t insist on leaving. After Zayn brought Willow and Aaron to the lounge, it didn''t take long for Liam to order his men to extract the footage Zayn wanted. In the lounge, there was a smart LCD er plugging TV for entertainment. After in the USB drive the footage. from the underground parking lot appeared on the screen. The camera angle was perfect. It captured, in clear detail, the moment when Wilhelmina faked her fall. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 314 Chapter 314 From the video, anyone with eyes could see that Aaron never pushed Wilhelmina. Instead, she suddenly fell to the ground and even deliberately banged her head against a pir. Even through the screen, the impact looked painful. She was really ruthless to herself, Watching Wilhelmina''s exaggerated and melodramatic performance in the video, Zayn narrowed his eyes. Since she wanted to be blind, she could actually lose her eyes. When Zayn saw Matthew rudely stepping on Willow''s hand, his veins bulged so much that they seemed ready to burst out of his skin, as if they wanted to smash the image of Matthew on the screen. "Great, this blind man again," he thought. Zayn was determined to make Matthew regret ever opening his eyes. Liam was nearly suffocating from the pressure in the lounge. He timidly spoke up to Zayn, "Boss, Dr. Regina Kidd is here. Should I let her-" "Let her in!" Liam weakly shut his mouth and silently ushered Regina in to tend to Willow''s wound. Willow''s hand looked awful, but fortunately, there was no irreversible damage to the bones. Regina was usually good at treating wounds, but Zayn''s oppressive presence made her nervous. Moreover, his icy gaze made her tremble uncontrobly. Several times, she identally applied the ointment to the wrong ces. Zayn couldn''t stand to see Regina''s clumsy attempts anymore. He spoke up with disdain, "I''ll do it." Regina wiped the cold sweat from her forehead silently. Finally, she was relieved. If she continued to be stared at by Zayn like that, she would probably lose 20 years of her life. Zayn''s experience in tending to wounds was limited, so his movements were clumsy beyond description. But even with his clumsy hands, he felt that Regina''s treatment made Willow suffer too much. Even though he maintained a grim expression, he wouldn''t let her suffer that much. Willow hadn''t expected Zayn to voluntarily tend to her wound. She instinctively wanted to pull her hand away, but Zayn held onto her wrist firmly, so she could only let him do as he pleased. In a daze, she couldn''t help but recall a time when they were deeply in love, and she identally scraped her knee. Even though it was just a small wound, he insisted that the doctor treat her. He even thought the doctor was clumsy and forcefully took the ointment from him to apply it himself. In reality, his action was much clumsier than the doctor''s, but it made her feel warm inside. Willow didn''t know if it was the sweetness of the past or a moment of madness, but she found the image of Zayn tending her wound, ovepping with memories from before. Surprisingly, she felt his actions were somewhat gentle. Chapter 314 12 After applying the ointment, she suddenly snapped out of it. The so-called gentleness was just an illusion because Zayn was staring at her with a cold and disdainful gaze. "Willow, don''t think I helped you today because I care about you. I just can''t stand seeing a woman 1 bought being bullied by a bunch of pests. No one dares to bully even my dog." Willow lowered her eyes and replied coldly, "I know." She had known about it for a long time. "Willow Sanford and dogs are not allowed inside."Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. He had always equated her with a dog, so she would never again hope for anything from him. She just E wished she could forget about him. Soon, Theodore recovered the recording and sent it to Zayn. With the recording and video copied from Zayn, Willow took Aaron back to her apartment. She had originally wanted to quickly give these things to Matthew, but she didn''t have his contact information. She couldn''t find him, so she could only ask around tomorrow and then give him the evidence. However, as soon as they arrived at the gate of the neighborhood m Matthew led a group of people to surround her and Aaron. "Dig out this cripple''s eyes!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 315 Chapter 315 "Are you out of your mind, Matthew?" Willow shouted. She feared Matthew might actually harm Aaron, so she hurriedly pulled Aaron into her arms. "Matthew, Aaron did nothing wrong today. Wilhelmina framed him. You can''t me Aaron without knowing the whole story." "Framed?" Layers of ferocity surged in Matthew''s clear eyes. "Willow, Wi still can''t see anything now. You let this cripple you gave birth to harm Wi like this, and you have the nerve to say Wi is framing him?" The mention of "cripple" was really grating. Willow could clearly feel Aaron''s small body tensing up like a stone. She knew how much this scene was hurting him. Even though Aaron deluded himself into thinking he had lost his Uncle Matthew, in reality, he still treated the man in front of him as his beloved Uncle Matthew. "I have evidence." Willow pulled out a USB drive from her bag. "I''ve extracted the surveince footage from the underground parking lot. "Wilhelmina fell on her own. Aaron didn''t push her at all. "Matthew, once you watch this video, you''ll see that Aaron is innocent and just how hypocritical Wilhelmina is." "Willow, I''m not blind." Matthew''s face remained stern as he fixed his gaze on Willow''s face. His face was truly chiseled.. However, the warmth of it had now been reced by ayer of icy coldness. "I saw with my own eyes that this cripple pushed Wi. I only believe what I saw." Staring deeply into Matthew''s increasingly cold face, Willow felt her heart grow cold, too. "Yes, Matthew, you''re not blind, but your heart is." A blind heart couldn''t perceive the truth behind what the eyes saw. "Say it again to my face!" Matthew stepped forward and rudely gripped Willow''s chin. His cold eyes carried a heavy warning. "Who did you say is blind?" "You, Matthew! Your heart is blind!" Willow spoke defiantly with her chin held high, but the pain from her jaw made her frown. Yet she still calmly and proudly raised the USB drive in her hand. "Matthew, the truth is on this USB drive. If you don''t want to remain blind, then watch what''s inside it." "Uncle Matthew, let go of my mom!" Seeing Matthew holding onto Willow, Aaron couldn''t help but panic. He rushed forward and tried to push Matthew with force. But as soon as he touched Matthew''s leg, he was mercilessly kicked away. "Aaron!"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Willow was frantic. She wanted to lift Aaron from the ground, but Matthew''s grip was too strong. She couldn''t move, let alone reach Aaron. All she could do was watch as Aaron struggled awkwardly to his feet. With red Trimmed eyes, he limped forward. His small face disyed a stubbornness simr to Willow''s. He O gently grabbed Matthew''s sleeve and said, "Uncle Matthew, you weren''t like this before. Why did you be like this? "Uncle Matthew, a man''s word is his bond. You promised to profect my mom. e Why are your Give me back my Uncle Matthew!" her? Chapter 316 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 316 Chapter 316 In a surge of emotion, Aaron shoved Matthew once more. This time, Matthew didn''t shove him back; instead, his men pinned Aaron forcefully to the ground, "Matthew, tell them to let Aaron gol" Willow was on the edge, contemting dialing 911, but she knew better than to underestimate Matthew. If he had the guts to show up, he had a n, and she wouldn''t get a chance to call for help. As the night sky grew darker, theplex stood deserted, with no sign of life outside. Even the security guard had vanished into a nearby shack, deep in the throes of a snooze. "Matthew, you can head to my apartment. There''s aputer there, and I''ve left the USB drive on it. That''s where you''ll find the truth!" Willow had been soaking in medicinal baths at Moses''s ce practically every day for a month. Moses swore that after a month of his treatments, her stomach would hold up, even without popping pills. But perhaps due to all the emotional upheaval, her stomach was acting up again. It spasmed like crazy. Willow gripped her stomach, drawing in a deep breath before speaking again. "Matthew, Aaron couldn''t have shoved Wilhelmina! "You''ve seen Aaron. He''s weak and barely has any strength left in him. He couldn''t even knock over a kid, let alone Wilhelmina! "Matthew, you can''t just take Wilhelmina''s word as gospel. Remember all the times she''s tried to sabotage me? It isn''t me who''s in the wrong here, Matthew. It''s Wilhelmina!" "Willow, yeah, Wi messed up before, but she''s different now. She''s got bite marks from that cripple on her hand! "Wi was only trying to help him, and he bit her. Why wouldn''t he push her?" Matthew shot Aaron a contemptuous look before speaking. ''This cripple just foolishly tried to shove me! "He pushed me, and he got what he deserved. But Wi was wearing heels today! She was already off-bnce, and then this cripple pushed her and bit her. It''s no wonder she got hurt!" "Matthew, you don''t have solid evidence. You can''t just throw usations at Aaron like that! But I do have proof. Matthew, please! Just take a look at what''s on this USB drive!" Matthew didn''t say a word. Instead, he released Willow''s chin and took the USB drive from her hand. Willow thought he was on board to check out the contents. But she had misjudged Matthew''s cruelty and arrogance. He smirked, then coldly hurled the USB drive away. "Matthew, you''re a lost cause!" Willow was boiling with rage, but her main focus was on getting the drive back. Before she could even take a step, Matthew shoved her hard against the nearby wall. With a nod from Chapter 316 Matthew, his men hoisted Aaron up and held a glinting knife to his eye.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Matthew''s eyes held a chilling contempt as he looked at Willow, as if she were the lowest of the low. "Willow, you have two choices," Matthew said coldly "Either Igauge out this gripple''s eye, or you be En. my woman." "Matthew, you''re crazy! I won''t let you hurt Aaron!" Willow snapped back. Matthew''s gaze turned even colder, making the air feel heavy. "You don''t want me to take his eye? Fine, then you belong tome. Willow, you better start pleasing me," he The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Willow was at her wit''s end with Matthew. She ground her teeth in frustration. "Matthew, I will never agree to that! Aaron is innocent. Even murderers get a chance to prove their Innocence Why can''t you give us a chance to show Aaron did nothing wrong?" "Innocence?" Matthewughed, and Willow couldn''t believe how such a gentle face could turn so demonic. "Innocence is a luxury you don''t deserve, Willow. I gave you a chance to save this cripple, but you refused." Matthew''s dark eyes turned frigid, like ck ice in a forgotten tundra. The sheer defiance of Willow''s refusal to yield, even after his gruesome threat, ignited a fierce hatred within him. With a swift pivot, his gaze became void of any humanity.. "Take out this cripple''s eye!" hemanded. "No!" Willow screamed, putting all her strength into shoving Matthew away to save Aaron. She fought to shove Matthew away, but he callously threw her to the ground, wrenching her ankle in the process. Shey there, unable to rise. "Aaron! The glint of the knife in Matthew''s henchman''s hand pierced Willow''s eyes. Ignoring her own pain, she gritted her teeth and struggled to stand. But she was too far from Aaron. Even if she managed to get up, she couldn''t stop Matthew''s men in time. Willow''s heart ached with helplessness. Aaron had fought to survive for a better life, not to be condemned to eternal darkness as a blind man. Aaron''s demeanor was eerilyposed, though Willow sensed the fear pulsing beneath the surface. A kid his age had every reason to be scared of a knife pointing at his eye. Yet, despite his trembling, he didn''t break down or scream. Instead, he locked eyes with Matthew, as if probing for something hidden within him. "Uncle Matthew..." Aaron''s tears trickled silently down his cheeks, his voice barely audible. "Uncle Matthew, I don''t hold it against you. Mommy says you just forgot about us," Aaron murmured, hisshes fluttering as he shut his eyes. Matthew couldn''t shake the sense that gouging out this defiant cripple''s eye would be a just punishment. Yet, Aaron''s forgiveness cut through him. like an iron w tearing at his heart. The knife gleamed as it rose, casting a harsh light on the wielder''s face. he wielder''s face! Willow braced herself for Aaron''s eye to be taken, but the knife unexpectedly ttered to the ground. Chapter 317 It wasn. Willow gaped at the tall, imposing figure before her. She never expectedn to return. Chapte 318N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 318 Chapter 318 "Mr. Nightingale..." Aaron blinked in disbelief, shocked that he still had his sight. "Aaron!" Willow staggered toward Aaron and enveloped him in a tight embrace, her voice trembling with emotion. "Aaron, my sweet boy..." "Mom, I''m okay. Please don''t cry," Aaron reassured her, gently wiping away her tears. "It hurts me to see you like this." Willow held onto Aaron, whispering his name over and over, her voice filled with relief and gratitude. Her mature and gentle Aaron was always being ruthlessly hurt. As she felt the warmth of the little one nestled in her arms, Willow''s resolve to ensure that Wilhelmina and Skyler never caused them trouble again only strengthened. The influence of the Dawsons, the Carters, and the Mayers was too vast. Even if she and Aaron went into hiding, it wouldn''t be long before Skyler''swork found out Aaron was alive. They wouldn''t stop until they had Aaron. If she wanted Aaron to live without fear, she knew she had to eliminate all obstacles in their path while she still had the chance. "Mr. Nightingale?" Matthew''s surprise was evident asn appeared unexpectedly. His face darkened. "Mr. Nightingale, if you don''t want to be on my bad side, stay out of tonight''s business!" "Mr. Mayer, I can''t just stand by tonight,"n responded calmly, his voice steady butmanding. Despite hisposed demeanor, there was an undeniable air of authority about him. "Mr. Nightingale, are you really going to stick up for this shameless woman and this cripple?" Matthew''s gaze swept over Willow with clear disdain. "Mr. Nightingale, favoring a woman like her is a serious misjudgment on your part!" Matthew''s words dripped with disdain. The intense humiliation and shame caused Willow''s spine to stiffen involuntarily. She hadn''t expected Matthew to stoop so low as to openly mention her past with Zayn in front ofn. She had no romantic feelings forn and had never sought to manipte or tter him. But he had shown her kindness and helped her, and she didn''t want to tarnish the image of someone who had been a rare source of warmth in her life. More importantly, Aaron was here. Ian''s distinguished brow furrowed slightly. "Mr. Mayer, I don''t need your judgment. But you, Mr. Mayer, are targeting this woman repeatedly-now that''s an interesting stance." "Me? Targeting her?" Matthew chuckled bitterly. "If she and that cripple hadn''t repeatedly hurt Wi, would I even be in this position?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Mr. Nightingale, let me be clear: tonight, no one is going to save this cripple! He hurt Wi, and he''s going Chapter 310 to pay the pricel" "Mr. Mayer, you really do think you''re thew, huh?" tan drawled, lifting his eyelidszily, his gaze piercing. "Let me make this clear: If anyone even thinks about harming Willow or Aaron tonight, they''ll have me to answer to." Matthewughed bitterly atn''s words, his anger palpable. Willown always yed the Innocent victim in front of him, which only fueled his resentment. The surge of anger twisted Matthew''s hatred further, distorting his features Into a mask of Icy disdain. "Mr. Nightingale, let me give you some friendly advice," he sneered. "Get Involved with her, and you might just end up regretting it." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 319 Chapter 319 As Matthew said this, Willow was leading Aaron to find the USB drive he had thrown away. His words. drained the color from her face, leaving her pale and shaken Matthew always had a knack for humiliating her to the point where she could hardly breathe. With her gaze lowered, Willow picked up the USB drive from the edge of the greenery and grasped Aaron''s hand, heading towardn She had never crossed paths withn before. But rumors about this privileged man had reached her ears. ording to gossip, he suffered from severe germophobia and shared Theodore''s peculiar allergy to women. As she approachedn, she maintained a cautious distance, mindful of the rumors she had heard. Despite her clear conscience, Matthew''s words were too cruel. She worried they might repulsen, who was already known for avoiding femalepany. Willow''s oversized wool coat did little to hide her frailty. It made her look even more delicate, like a leaf trembling in the wind, ready to be crushed into dust with the slightest force. Gazing at her pallid face, a heavy emotion settled in his chest. Acting on instinct, he stepped forward and gently sped her hand. "Willow, you''re not dirty. I trust my own eyes, and I believe you have the est cord in the world." Willow''s eyes widened in disbelief. She never expected this lofty man to look past the nderous words. and see her without a hint of disdain. Instead, he dered her soul the purest. "Mr. Nightingale, thank you." Willow''s heart fluttered, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for believing in me." Remembering hown had used hisptop to send files during their ride back, she hesitantly asked, "Mr. Nightingale, myputer is upstairs, and it would be a hassle to get it. Could I borrow yourptop to show a video?" "Of course,"n responded calmly. He turned to give a subtle nod to his chief assistant, Eric, who swiftly fetched hisptop from the Rolls Royce.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Willow realizedn was still holding her hand. She instinctively tried to pull away. Feeling Willow''s attempt to withdraw,n inexplicably hesitated to let go of her soft, cool hand. He involuntarily tightened his grip, experiencing a flutter of emotion he couldn''t quite understand. When Willow kept trying to pull her hand free, he realized his mistake. Rarely showing such vulnerability, Chapter 319 Willow had always been careful to maintain a respectful distance fromn, avoiding both undue ttery and provocation. But in Matthew''s eyes, their interaction seemed like a calcted attempt by Willow to seducen, full ofcby maneuvers and false resistance. Layers of scorn filled Matthew''s eyes. "Boss, here''s theptop!" Eric eagerly presented theptop tojan, but m Willow politely declined. "Thank you, Mr. Pearson. I''ll handle it myself." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 320 Chapter 320 Willow plugged the USB drive into theptop and opened the video she had copied to the desktop. "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull now, Willow?" Matthew red at her calm face, his voice tight with anger. "Mr. Mayer, I''m not pulling any stunts. I just want to prove Aaron''s Innocence." Willow swiveled theptop around so the screen faced Matthew. "Mr. Mayer, when someone makes a mistake, they should admit it. If Aaron is innocent, you owe him an apology." "Willow!" Matthew started to step forward, ready to throttle the defiant woman, but then he saw Wilhelmina in the video. Wilhelmina leaned in close to Aaron, whispering something in his ear. The video had no sound, but it was clear she was saying something to him. Wilhelmina''s words clearly enraged Aaron. The next moment, he bit her hand fiercely, like an angry little beast. The video was zoomed in, capturing every detail of Aaron''s and Wilhelmina''s faces. Matthew could see Wilhelmina suddenly pulling her hand away, dramatically throwing herself backward. As she fell, she made sure to hit the back of her head on a nearby stone pir. Aaron didn''t push her. In fact, he didn''t move his hands at all. Matthew stared at the screen in disbelief. From his vantage point in the underground garage, he had only seen Wilhelmina''s back and missed many details.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He saw Aaron bite Wilhelmina, and when she suddenly fell against the pir, he naturally assumed Aaron had pushed her. But now, he realized it was all a setup orchestrated by Wilhelmina. Matthew felt a mix of anger and betrayal. He had married Wilhelmina, and as his wife, he believed she -deserved his unconditional trust. Yet, she had betrayed that trust so brutally. Matthew was still reeling from the intense shock when Willow''s voice, tinged with a hint of sarcastic resignation, broke the silence. "Matthew, you must be curious about what Wilhelmina whispered to Aaron." With that, Willow yed an audio recording. "Aaron, Matt hates you, and he hates your mom, Willow, even more. Do you know why he hates your mom so much? It''s because Willow is cheap and shameless. "She''ll sleep with anyone. Just the sight of her makes Matt sick!" Wilhelmina''s voice dripped with malice. Matthew felt as if his world had been m turned upside down. He couldn''t believe that the woman he had loved the and protected, who had stood by him through thick and thin, could speak with such venom. Chapter 320 But it was unmistakably Wilhelmina''s voice. The video clearly showed her deliberately hitting her head against the pir, fabricating the whole incident. Before Matthew could fully process the shock, Willow''s voice, now icy andmanding, cut through hist thoughts. Matthew, you falsely used Aaron. You owe him an apology!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 321 Chapter 321 "Willow!" Matthew''s head jerked up. His eyes zed with a terrifying red-an unsettling mix of anger, hatred, and maybe even regret. Willow, unfazed by his almost predatory fury, repeated her demand, "Matthew, apologize to Aaron!" Matthew, too proud to ever consider apologizing to someone he deemed insignificant, hesitated. But then his eyes dropped to Willow''s left hand. Her hand was wrapped in thick bandages, yet even through theyers, blood had seeped through, staining her skin. The bandages mostly covered the back of her hand. But as he looked closer, he noticed she was missing a finger. Even though the scab where her pinky had once been had healed, the scar couldn''t hide the pain she''d endured. And all of this-every bit of her suffering-was his doing. All at once, Matthew felt a wave of weakness wash over him, his legs trembling beneath the weight of his doubts. He had been so certain, so adamant in his belief that Willow was a tainted woman. But now, faced with the truth, he realized she had always been innocent and unjustly used. "Mr. Mayer, apologize to Aaron!"n''s voice boomed with authority. His anger was fueled by the damning evidence of Matthew''s intentions to harm Aaron. Asn watched the video, his fury grew. He was unable toprehend how someone could be so easily manipted by a woman with such malicious intent.. Matthew''s guilt weighed heavy on him, but seeing Willow seemingly manipten into defending her ignited a fit of fierce anger. His remorse transformed into a burning fury. "Willow, you think I''m gonna apologize to this cripple?" Matthew''s sneer dripped with cruelty. "In your dreams!"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. "Wi''s the woman I love most. Even if she set you and this cripple up, you had iting!" "Yeah, we had iting!" Willow''s voice dripped with sarcasm. Matthew''s blind loyalty to Wi shook her to the core, but she wasn''t about to back down now. Many might think an apology was just a formality, not worth the hassle, but Willow knew how crucial Matthew was to Aaron. His misunderstandings and hurtful words were like daggers to Aaron''s heart. Only a genuine apology from Matthew could begin to mend those wounds and ease Aaron''s suffering. "Mr. Mayer, you''re standing by your woman. She framed us, and you even wanted to gouge my son''s eyes out. ording to you, we deserved it." Willow''s voice remained steady, though tension crackled in the air. "I won''t argue with you on that point. But here''s something else you should know. "If you don''t apologize to Aaron, I''ll post this video online. Let''s see how your beloved Wilhelmina, who treasures her image so dearly, likes being exposed as a hypocrite and a malicious woman." "Willow, you wouldn''t dare!" Matthew''s voice was a snarl as he reached for the USB drive on theptop But Willow remained unfazed by his threat, her chin held high with m unwavering pride. "Mr. Mayer, I''m not easily scared. "You can try me. Oh, and by the way, you can destroy this USB if you want. I have backups." ming''s Matthew seethed with rage, but he couldn''t let Wilhelmina''s reputation be tarnished. She had been hist rock during his darkest times. After shooting Willow a venomous re, Matthew''s gaze settledom Aaron. Hey drip-Aaron, I apologize. I wrongfully used you this time." Even in his apology, Matthew''s arrogance persisted. But for now, those words would have to suffice. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Aaron''s eyes welled up with tears, but he didn''t respond to Matthew. Instead, he gently tugged at Willow''s sleeve. "Mom, let''s go home." Deep down, he yearned for his Uncle Matthew to hold him once more, but the man standing before him was no longer the warm, caring figure he remembered. He didn''t want his mom to worry any longer. "Alright, Aaron, let''s go home." Willow felt grateful and handed theptop back to Eric before turning ton. "Mr. Nightingale, thanks for theptop. Your jacket''s still at my ce. I''ll bring it downter." "No need,"n replied, though he wanted to offer to go up himself. He paused briefly before adding. Willow, I''ll swing by another day to grab it. Take care." Feeling genuinely exhausted and in considerable pain from her ankle, Willow was relieved not to have to climb back up to delivern''s jacket. She nodded politely to him before taking Aaron''s hand and slowly making their way back into the apartmentplex. As they crossed through the gates of theplex, Aaron abruptly stopped and turned around. Biting his lip as if wrestling with a weighty decision, he fixed his gaze on Matthew. "You''re not my Uncle Matthew anymore. My Uncle Matthew was the best person in the world. He loved me and my mom. He just forgot how to find us. "Even if he neveres back, he''ll always be important to me, irreceable. Mr. Mayer, you''re not him. You''re just Mr. Mayer. With those words, Aaron tightly gripped Willow''s arm and marched forward without a backward nce. Matthew stood motionless, observing their departure. He instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, feeling an unexpected pang. He had convinced himself he didn''t care about the kid, but now he felt a sense of abandonment. It was as if the world around him had turned frigid and deste, leaving him isted and unable to find any semnce of warmth. After slipping into the car,n felt the urge to call his grandfather, Moses, and let him know he wouldn''t be making it to the arranged date tomorrow. Meeting Willow had made the whole blind date seem pointless. Moses, being a night owl, hadn''t hit the hay yet and picked up the phone right away. n, what is it?" "Grandpa, I won''t be going to that blind date tomorrow night,"n said, keeping his words brief and to the point. It was a habit even when speaking to his cherished grandfather. "What did you say?! I''ve already booked the private room, and now you''re telling me you''re not going? Chapter 322 n, I''m telling you, you must go tomorrow night! If you don''t, then... you''re no longer my grandson!" With that, Moses hung up abruptly Asn stared at the darkened phone screen, his expression grew increasingly grimn. He loathed maniptive women. Many had tried to ingratiate themselves with Moses in the past, resorting to desperate measures like drugging him. None seeded, and all met miserable ends. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. This woman had Moses wrapped around her finger, and disgusted him seeingn''s dark expression, Eric instantly grasped his thoughts. He cautiously said, "Boss, that woman really doesn''t know her ce." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Upon hearingn''s words, Eric couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat for the woman who thought she could climb the socialdder by charming Moses. When his superior made a move, it would always be lethal. Yet, deep down, he knew she had iting. He hadn''t probed too deeply. But the word on the street from Moses''s Inner circle painted a bleak picture: a woman with no background, and to top it off, she had a child. A woman with no pedigree and a kid working her way into Moses''s good graces? She must''ve pulled some serious strings to deceive the old man. Such gold-diggers, who would stop at nothing to marry into wealth, deserved a harsh lesson! Eric didn''t want to dwell on that revolting woman any longer and decided to report the information he had gathered about Willow to his superior. "Boss, Ms. Sanford is 22 years old and has been married once before," Eric reported.n didn''t bat an eye at Eric''s words. With Willow already having a kid, a previous marriage wasn''t too shocking. "Hmm, go on,"n replied, his demeanor calm and collected. Eric figuredn would shun Willow once he learned about her past marriage. After all, the superior''s aversion to anything remotely tainted was legendary, both physically and emotionally. How could he possibly tolerate a woman with a marital history and a kid to boot? Butn surprised him by letting him continue. So, Eric reluctantly soldiered on. "Boss, from what I''ve dug up. Ms. Sanford''s ex is Mr. Carter. Their divorce was finalized just a month ago, right when Mr. Carter tied the knot with Skyler." * Eric''s nod was firm. "Yeah, that''s him, Mr. Carter! And, there''s more I uncovered." Taking note ofn''s reaction, Eric proceeded with caution. "If my sources are urate, that elusive woman Havenpoint was gossiping about, the one Mr. Carter gave a husband-and-wife farewell to, is none other than Ms. Sanford!" Mustering his courage, he ventured, "Boss, truth be told, Ms. Sanford''s past seems a bit tangled. With your germophobia and all, she might not exactly be your cup of tea." Eric wasn''t judging women who had been married and had children. It was just that his superior was on a whole different level. Even when a princess from another country came knocking, he didn''t give her the time of day. With someone as high and mighty asn, how could he possibly entertain the idea of being with a woman with such aplicated past? Chapter 323 Even Eric, who had already prepared to rece the spokesperson for Arena of Glory, was caught off guard byn''sposed yet decisive words. "I don''t mind." "Don''t mind?" Eric''s jaw nearly dropped in astonishment. The shock was so overwhelming that he blurted out without thinking, "Boss, are you saying you''re okay with stepping into a father role?" "What''s the harm in that?" the atmosphere turned Eric was left speechless byn''s straightforward response. Inside the Rolls-Royce ominously tense. Eric dared not even breathe heavily as he weakly gripped the steering wheel. He assumed his superior, known for m his concise speech, wouldn''t say! more. But to his surprise,n broke? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. the silence. "She''s a good woman. I trust her The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 324 Chapter 324 "I regret not being part of her past, but I''ll be with her every step of the way in her future." Eric was so startled he almost hit the gas instead of the brake, nearly sending the car into a ditch. He stole a nce in the rearview mirror at his usually aloof and dignified boss. It looked liken had truly fallen head over heels. "A guy in love is a scary thing." Eric thought. When Matthew returned to the hospital, Wilhelmina had already been transferred out of the emergency room. The doctor assured him that her visual cortex had only sustained temporary damage and her sight would soon return. Absently nodding to the doctor, Matthew pushed open the door and entered Wilhelmina''s room. Before he stepped in, shey still on the bed. The moment he stepped in, she became extremely agitated and clutched her face in despair. "Matt, I can''t see a damn thing! I''m really blind! Matt, I''m so scared! "Matt, I don''t want to live in darkness for the rest of my life. What''s the point of living if I can''t see?" "Wi, you''re not going blind. The doctor said it''s just temporary. Your sight wille back soon," Matthew said wearily. "Really? I''m not going blind? Thank God!" Wilhelmina had already heard the doctor''s prognosis, but it didn''t stop her from putting on a show. Her face then filled with an almost theatrical sadness. "Matt, I''m d I won''t be blind forever. But thinking about what happened in the garage still makes me sad. "I admit I''ve done wrong by Willow in the past, but I''ve tried to make amends. I didn''t expect her to manipte that child to do something like this to me. "Matt, I''m not pointing fingers at Willow. I just believe a child''s innocence should be protected. Even if Willow had her own motives, she shouldn''t have dragged a kid into this mess. "Matt, please don''t hold it against Willow or the kid, alright? I might be hurting, but it''s not as bad as it seems," Despite Wilhelmina''s seemingly forgiving words toward Willow, each sentence subtly indicted her. She silently hoped Matthew had already dealt with Willow and Aaron. "Matt, did you go see Willow and Aaron? Did youy a hand on them? Please don''t hurt them. I''m begging you, Matt. Matthew''s gaze was intens¨¦, locking onto Wilhelmina''s face. After what felt like an eternity, he spoke, Wi, aren''t you tired?" Wilhelmina was taken aback. Despite considering herself sharp, she couldn''t fathom why Matthew would Chapter 324 suddenly ask such a question.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Before she could voice her confusion, Matthew continued in an indifferent tone, "Wi, I did go see Willow and that cripple. I almost gouged that cripple''s eyes out." Wilhelmina''s heart soared with joy. She wished Matthew had actually blinded Aaron and even Willow. Yet, she maintained her pitiful facade. "Matt, no matter what Aaron did, he''s just a kid. Please spare him this time," she pleaded. "Wi, I didn''t gouge out the boy''s eyes, Matthew said, his gazem deepening with emotions that she couldn''t decipher. "Because I learned the truth." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Wilhelmina''s heart skipped a beat. She fought to maintain herposure. "Matt, what''s that supposed to mean? Isn''t it obvious that Willow is using that kid to get to you and turn him against me?" "Wi, did that kid actually push you?" Matthew''s e bore into her, his voice cold and probing. Wilhelmina, normally unapologetic for her actions, felt an unsettling wave of apprehension wash over her at Matthew''s icy Interrogation. "Of course! If Aaron hadn''t pushed me, how else would I have fallen? "But Matt, please, don''t me him. No matter what Willow might have influenced him to do, he''s just a kid!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Matthew''s memory was razor-sharp. He had only heard the recording once, yet he could repeat it word for word. "Aaron, Matt hates you, and he hates your mom, Willow, even more. "Do you know why he hates your mom so much? Because Willow is cheap and shameless. She''ll sleep with anyone. Just the sight of her makes Matt sick!" As Wilhelmina listened to Matthew''s monotonous delivery, her face drained of color. She tried to speak up in her defense. But before she could, Matthew''s voice pierced the air again, cold and unwavering. "Wi, I saw the video. You tripped on your own." Wilhelmina''s face was drained of color. She hadn''t counted on Matthew''s parking spot being under surveince. Frantically, she tried to clear her name. "Matt, it''s not what you think! It''s not like that at all! You''ve got it all wrong! "The heels of my shoes were too high, and I identally twisted my ankle. I thought Aaron had pushed me! Matt, please, listen to me! "I didn''t mean to set up Aaron and Willow! I genuinely didn''t realize he hadn''t pushed me! I was in so much pain when I fell. I was disoriented!" Matthew sneered, his tired eyes veiled with darkness. If only Wilhelmina had admitted to her actions, perhaps he wouldn''t feel so repulsed. But her desperate denial only deepened his disgust. He had often imed that Willow was filthy, that she made him sick. Yet, deep down, Willow never truly disgusted him. Instead, he found himself inexplicably drawn to her time and time again. He thought it was almostughable that the one who truly disgusted him was the woman he had loved for so many years-Wi, the one he had imagined spending his life with. Despite Wilhelmina''s sordid history of framing Willow, he had always chosen to believe her. It wasn''t out of gullibility but out of sheer love and a desire to trust her. But now, his trust had be the most ludicrous of jokes. Chapter 325 "Matt, can''t you just believe me? I''ve seen the error of my ways. I''ve m suffered, I''ve paid the price, and I genuinely want to make things right with Willow." As he gazed upon Wilhelmina''s tear-streaked face, Matthew felt an overwhelming sense of weariness. wash over him. He couldn''t even muster the desire to offer aforting embrace to the girl he''d once loved with all his heart. "Wi, you''re my wife. I''ll make sure you have everything you need: a life offort and luxury. But beyond that, I can''t make any promises." With a cool detachment, Matthew gently freed himself from Wilhelmina''s grasp and turned away, not bothering to look back. "Matt!" Wilhelmina scrambled to stop him, but her frantic movements only ments, only resulted in a tumble to the floor. She fell, heavily to the ground, hitting her head on the nightstand in a chaotic flurry of desperation. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Wilhelmina thought that with such a severe fall, Matthew would at leaste back tofort her. But he didn''t. Feeling the sharp pain in her forehead and surrounded by endless darkness, Wilhelmina''s face twisted in fury. "Willow, you think ruining my reputation with Matt will give you a shot at stealing him away? Not a chance! "In this game between us, I will have thestugh. And you, you''ll be left to rot in the depths of despair, never to rise again!" Wilhelmina seethed inwardly. Tonight, Willow had a blind date lined up. After fetching Aaron from kindergarten, she dropped him off at Moses''s ce. Moses lived just across the street from the small apartment Willow rented. He was eager to teach Aaron medicine and suggested that she drop Aaron off after school or let him send someone to pick Aaron up. Aaron showed a keen interest in medicine, and while Willow didn''t want him to get too tired, she couldn''t ignore his passion for learning. She decided to wholeheartedly support him. With Aaron studying medicine at Moses''s, Willow found herself with more time to focus on her work and hustle for extra ie. As Willow collected Aaron from kindergarten, the teachers couldn''t apologize enough. With only three of them to wrangle almost 30 kids, it was no surprise things asionally slipped past them. Aaron stood out from the crowd; while most kids would wall at the slightest injury, he remained quiet, even concealing his bruises. Despite noticing the scratches on his face, the teachers didn''t delve deeper. Willow didn''t feel inclined to push the issue with the teachers. Their pledge to give Aaron extra attention was all she needed to hear. Willow had no intentions of pursuing a rtionship with Moses''s grandson, so she didn''t bother dressing up for the asion. She simply wanted to have a straightforward conversation. Moses was a stand-up guy, and she figured his grandson would be decent, too. It was better toy everything out now to avoid any future awkwardness. She slipped into a casual white dress and threw on a beige coat. Even without makeup, her natural beauty radiated like a work of art. Moses had arranged a private room at Gourmet Haven for them. When Willow arrived, his grandson hadn''t shown up yet.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The only thing on the table was a pot of lukewarm water. Thirsty, she poured herself a ss and casually scrolled through the news, patiently awaiting Moses'' grandson, The VIP room at Gourmet Haven was exquisite, blending ssical elegance with modem luxury. Chapter 326 It was just her and the pot of tea, enveloped in tranquility, Willow m waited for nearly half an hour, but Moses''s grandson still hadn''t arrived. She was about to call Moses to check when the door suddenly 6.m opened. To her disbelief, standing in the doorway was Duncan, the man responsible for orchestrating that scandalous affair. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Duncan being Moses''s grandson? Well, that was just downright imusible. Moses hadn''t even hit 70 yet, and Duncan had to be pushing 50. There was just no way Moses could have a grandson that old. Besides, Moses said his grandson grew up with him. Now, Moses was a real gentleman. No chance he could have raised someone as offbeat as Duncan. "Duncan, what in tamation are you doing here?" Willow demanded, eyeing Duncan with suspicion. She rose from her seat, intending to leave the private room. But Duncan swiftly locked the door from the inside. Seeing Duncan''s actions, Willow''s nerves instantly went on high alert. Honestly, Willow would''ve preferred a casual diner for a blind date. But Moses had insisted on Gourmet Haven, a fancy joint with nothing but private rooms Trusting Moses, she hadn''t thought much of it. But she sure as heck didn''t expect Duncan to show up. "Willow, I''m here for our date, sweetheart!" Duncan''s voice oozed with desire as he closed in on Willow. his arms outstretched. "Willow, I never figured we''d cross paths again. But here we are, sharing this moment on a blind date." "Duncan, I''m not going on a date with you!" Willow bolted toward the door, her hand gripping the handle tightly. But Duncan was a step ahead. He snatched her wrist and forcefully pushed her aside, blocking her escape. "Willow, feeling a bit toasty, aren''t you?" Duncan''s narrowed eyes held a sinister gleam as he addressed her. Willow braced herself against the wall, realizing only now the heat creeping up on her. Despite the room''s cool air and her light clothing, sweat trickled down her brow.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. It hit her like a ton of bricks: the water she''d sipped had been tampered with. Fury boiled inside Willow. She couldn''t believe Duncan would stoop so low. Who would''ve thought that a simple drink at a fancy restaurant could be spiked? "Duncan, get the hell away from me!" Seeing Duncan reach for her arm, Willow forcefully shoved him away and continued toward the door. But Duncan calmly stood in her path. "Willow, besides feeling hot, are you noticing anything else?" Willow balled her fists, feeling a wave of weakness crashing over her. "Duncan, you scumbag!" She pushed with all her might, determined to break free. She had to ve get out, dr this night would be a total disaster. "Scumbag? Willow, you''re calling me bad! Chapter 327 Yeah right! Willow fought the urge to gag. Into him? Should she be into his receding hairline or his beer gut? Or maybe that greasy smirk of his? Those were enough to give her nightmares! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Willow cringed away from Duncan''s mmy, fishy-smelling hand. But her body felt as limp as a rag doll. She was incapable of breaking free. As Duncan''s face drew nearer, Willow was hit with a wave of revulsion. She turned and gagged uncontrobly. "What are you puking for, Willow? I haven''t even made a move yet. Are you pregnant already or what?" "Duncan, let me go!" With her right hand ensnared, Willow reached for her phone with her injured hand, aiming to dial the police. ing to snap a selfie? "What''s the phone for, Willow?" Duncan''s greasy face glinted with amusement. "nning to "Don''t worry, I''ll give you plenty of chances to take all the pictures you want!" Before Duncan could utter another word, his phone rang abruptly Seeing it was Skyler calling, he quickly answered, "Yeah, I''m here. Ms. Dawson, don''t worry. I''ll start the live stream soon!" The sound of Duncan conversing with Skyler made Willow''s blood boil. Live streaming this? They had to be kidding! If Duncan dared to assault her on live broadcast, her life would be over. Despite the drugs clouding her mind, Willow managed to connect a few dots. Duncan''s unexpected appearance, likely orchestrated by Skyler and possibly involving Moses'' grandson, felt like a deliberate ploy to humiliate her. It seemed Moses'' grandsoncked the courage to face her himself and instead sent Duncan as his proxy. And Duncan, eager to curry favor with Skyler, probably spilled the beans, leading to their joint scheme to make her suffer. Willow couldn''t help but feel a pang of sadness. If Moses'' grandson wasn''t interested in her, he could have just declined the date. She wasn''t exactly thrilled about it either and was only agreeing out of politeness. But she never expected such cruelty. Nevertheless, no matter how heartless they were, she refused to let them win. With her mind growing foggier, Willow bit her lip hard to stay awake.. She opened her mouth and shouted, "Help!" But the room''s soundproofing was too good. No one outside could hear e her. Chapter 320 "Willow, stop yelling. Even if you scream your lungs out, no ene wille to save you. Don''t waste your En energy!" Duncan sneered. He turned and shoved Willow onto the leather seat. "Duncan, get the fuck away from me!" Duncanughed wickedly. cing his m phone on a stand, he opened a streaming app and started a live broadcast. "Willow, now you can put on a real show!" he taunted.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 329 Chapter 329 "Get away from me! Fuck off Willow''s mind was swimming in a thick fog. She had lost track of time and could only instinctively cover her face to keep it out of the camera''s view. Duncan made her feel endlessly disgusted. She had no idea what he were terrifyingly strong. Her body wouldn''t respond to her at all. had drugged her with, but its effects Willow knew that if she lost control, stripped off her clothes, and threw herself at Duncan on a live stream, her life would bepletely ruined. Before, Skyler had tried to tear her down with photos and videos, but those four guys had botched it. But this time, Skyler had resorted to this vile tactic of live streaming. Willow gritted her teeth; she wasn''t about to roll over for Skyler. With a grunt, she hoisted her hand, putting every ounce of her strength into smashing the ss on the table. Gripping a jagged shard, she sliced a deep gash into the back of her hand. The searing pain jolted Willow''s mind back into focus, giving her a brief surge of adrenaline. She snatched the teapot off the table and mmed it down on Duncan''s skull. Though Willow put some muscle into it, her weakened state spared Duncan from a bloody mess. Still, his face twisted into an ugly grimace. Knowing that the live stream rolled on, he swallowed his rage and shed a sickening smile. "Willow, quit it. We''ve got an audience waiting for us." "Scram!" Willow wanted tond another blow on Duncan, but her muscles wouldn''t cooperate. the tim He sensed the timing was perfect. With a smirk stretching his pudgy face, Duncan said, "Willow, don''t be mad! Come on, I''ll keep youpany." With that, Duncan pounced on Willow, Furious to the point of nearly grinding her teeth to dust, Willow''s feeble body and the need to shield her face left her helpless. She could only watch in despair as Duncan''s repulsive face loomed closer. Suddenly, the door to the private room was violently kicked open. Zayn stormed in, his presence crackling with fury. "Willow, who the hell told you it was okay to go on a date with another guy? You think I''m dead, Willow? Damn it... "Help!" Willow''s plea echoed in the tense air. She didn''t want to see Zayn, but he was herst hope. Duncan was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. He scrambled to shut down the live stream and turned to face Zayn, his smile now forced and uneasy.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Chapte 329 "Mr. Carter, Willow and I are on a date tonight. Willow couldn''t even wait until after dinner. She..." Duncan''s words trailed off, the unspoken usation hanging thick in the tense atmosphere. ly at th news of Willow''s rendezvous Zayn''s expression morphed swiftly. His anger simmered with another man, and his fists clenched with a desire to throttle her for her perceived betrayal. But amidst his fury, Zayn wasn''t foolish. Despite Willow''s questionable taste, she wouldn''t willingly consort with someone like Duncan. And from her demeanor, it was evident she had been oerced into We this situation by someone else. She was calling out for him to save her. "Mr. Carter, could you A sharp smack interrupted Duncan''s words. ce step outside for a moment... Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Zayn''s fistnded square on Duncan''s face, knocking a tooth right out of his mouth and sending it skidding across the floor. Duncan clutched his bleeding mouth, his chubby cheeks twisting in agony. Before he could even think about recovering, Zayn''s foot mmed into his chest, stealing the air from his lungs. Struggling to breathe, Duncan finally managed to choke out, "Mr. Carter, I... I quit..." With a thunderous crash, Zayn mmed Duncan to the ground and then delivered a vicious kick to his most sensitive area.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The pain was too much, and Duncan passed out. As consciousness slipped away, Duncan, the aging yboy, couldn''t shake the feeling that this might just be the end of the line for him. Zayn took Willow straight back to his vi. Even though he had beaten up Duncan, the mere notion of Willow eagerly entertaining another man on a date ignited a firestorm of rage within him. He was itching to teach this clueless woman a lesson. Yet, as he witnessed the blood still oozing from the wound on her hand, his heart wavered with conflicting emotions. In the end, he begrudgingly fetched some ointment and carefully tended to her injury. "Willow, from now on, you''re not allowed to go on dates with other men anymore!" his voice rang out with a firmness that brooked no argument. After applying the ointment, Zayn turned around and noticed that the buttons on her coat were undone. Her porcin-like face was flushed an unnatural shade of red. With her naturally alluring features enhanced by the enticing flush on her cheeks and the misty allure in her eyes, she exuded the aura of a seductive enchantress. The thought of Duncan, that repulsive old man, catching sight of Willow''s captivating appearance if he had arrived anyter fueled Zayn''s already zing temper. "Willow, if you ever dare to go on another date with another man, I''ll break your legs!" His words carried a menacing undertone. Willow''s consciousness waspletely muddled, so she shrugged off the heavy coat. Even the light, white dress beneath it was too constricting. "Willow!" He pulled her into his arms and kissed her urgently. Willow''s butterfly-like eyshes fluttered gently as she slowly opened her eyes. Her mind was still foggy, her reactions sluggish. Seeing the handsome face in front of her, she felt like she was dreaming. She was seething with anger. Despite her efforts to convince herself she couldn''t love Zayn anymore, still invaded her dreams. She couldn''t afford to dream of him, let alone entertain the idea of loving him. again. he Chapter 330 She closed her eyes and repeated to herself like a mantra, "Zayn, I don''t I don''t love you anymore..." He had hurt her too many times, and loving him had be the cruelest ve jake. She refused to be the punchline. "Willow, what did you say? Say it again!" Zayn''s intense gaze bore into Willow''s enchanting face, his words slicing through the tension. "Willow, who do you love?!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 331 Chapter 331 "Who does she love?" Willow wondered. She feltpletely lost. It seemed like Zayn was the only person she had ever truly loved. But Zayn had abandoned their son, Aaron, killed the baby she was carrying and even tried to end her life. Now, she had no idea who she loved anymore. All she knew was that she no longer loved Zayn. She couldn''t love him, didn''t dare to love him, and didn''t want to love him. "Zayn, I don''t love you anymore. I don''t love you anymore..." Willow repeated as if she were lost in a trance. Zayn could sense something was wrong. A feeling was gnawing at him, telling him she wasn''t herself. He couldn''t bring himself to take advantage of her vulnerability. But her repeated deration pierced through him like a knife, awakening a fury inside him that he could barely contain. Each utterance of her rejection stoked the mes of his anger. "Willow, I forbid you to stop loving me!" he eximed. Zayn grabbed Willow''s shoulders tightly. His eyes quickly turned a terrifying shade of red, reflecting the most violent of emotions. Yet, Willow was oblivious to his anger and continued murmuring, "Zayn, I don''t love you anymore..." "Willow, how dare you!" With his anger boiling over, Zayn could no longer contain the tempest of emotions swirling within him. "Boss, Duncan took care of it," Eric reported ton about the situation with the shameless woman. "Alright,"n responded calmly while elegantly flipping through the documents in front of him. Despite his curiosity about how badly Duncan had treated the woman, Eric knew better than to indulge in gossip withn, who detested such idle chatter. Still, he couldn''t hold back his curiosity and wanted to check on the situation. Just as he was about to dial Duncan''s number,n''s phone began ringing urgently. ncing at the caller ID,n saw it was his grandfather, Moses. He hesitated briefly. He wasn''t eager to take the call, but out of respect for his grandfather, he reluctantly answered. "Grandpa, what is it?" n, have you arrived yet? Don''t keep the youngdy waiting for your first meeting! You''ve met her by now, right? I wasn''t lying: Ms. Sanford is a rare gem!" Despite the abundance of Sanfords in the world,n had never linked this shameless Ms. Sanford with Willow. He was on the verge of telling Moses he wouldn''t entertain the blind date and cautioning him about the woman''s true intentions when a child''s innocent voice broke through the line. "Mr. Quayle, Mommy''s going on a date? Who''s she meeting? C''m so ve curious! Willow''s son. Aaron''s mom... Sanford... Could it be that Moses was setting him up with Willow?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 332 Chapter 332 "Aaron, you''ll find out soon. If they hit it off, they''ll be over here together in no time!" Moses reassured. Aaron with a grin. Turning ton, Moses''s smile remained. n, when you''re with ady, be a gentleman. And if I hear you''ve scared Ms. Sanford off with that cold demeanor of yours, you''ll have me to answer to!" Thoughn was nearly certain the blind date was with Willow, he grasped onto a faint hope and inquired, Grandpa, what''s the name of the woman I''m supposed to meet?" Previously indifferent to her identity,n now felt an urgent need to know. "It''s Willow Sanford! Ms. Sanford is practically the nation''s sweetheart right now. With your ice-cold demeanor and aversion to women, you''re hardly a match for her. "If I hadn''t practically begged Ms. Sanford to meet you, she wouldn''t have agreed to this date!" So it really was Willow. Ian couldn''t hear anything else Moses said. All he could think about was getting to Gourmet Haven as fast as possible to tell Willow he was willing to go on this blind date. *To Gourmet Haven!"nmanded coldly as soon as he hung up the phone. Eric was taken aback by the sudden order, but he quickly pieced it together. Knowing how much the boss despised that shameless, conniving woman, and if she was being tormented by Duncan, Ian would definitely want to witness it firsthand. Understanding his boss''s intentions, Eric was eager to impress him. He thrust his phone towardn, saying, "Boss, Duncan is a real piece of work! Sending him over tonight was spot-on. Look, I didn''t even notice earlier, but he actually sent me a message an hour ago. "He''s been at Gourmet Haven early, spiking the teapot with God-knows-what. Bet he''s already sealed the deal with that woman.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "That conniving broad tried to cozy up to you, boss, but ended up in bed with some sleazy old geezer. Ha, bet shell be gagging once it''s all said and done!" Eric figured his boss, the icy, unppablen, would just grunt in response. Instead,n''s face went white as a sheet. He practically shouted, "What the hell did you just say?" Eric couldn''t believe it. The man standing before him, usually as emotionless as a brick wall, now wore an expression of pure panic and dread. Was this really the same guy who never batted an eysh in the face of danger? Eric''s sharp mind couldn''t wrap itself aroundn''s sudden change in demeanor. He managed to stammer, "Boss, that woman''s getting what''sing to her tonight, for sure." Butn, regal and unmatched, had already snatched his car keys and stormed out of the office like a bat out of hell before Eric could utter another word. Chapter 332 Bewildered, Eric followed suit, trailing after his boss on the frigid winter night. As the biting wind cut throughn''s chest, he rolled down the car window, letting the icy air wash over him. Amidst the suffocating pain in his heart, the chill offered a brief respite. He refused to let Eric take the wheel, opting to drive himself and pedal to the metal. What should''ve been an hour-long drive was cut in half. Eric, unustomed to such speeds, clung dearly to the door handle. He was afraid he''d be ejected if he let go. When he finally snapped back to reality,n was already in theo m elevator Eric stumbled after him, determined to stick by his side. Moses had booked a private room on the second floor. "Boss, are you sure about this? Heard Duncan''s left a few women crippled before. It''s gonna be a bloodbath in there. Let me check it out first," Eric urged as they reached the door. Inside, the room was eerily vacant, But the pool of crimson on the floor searedn''s eyes with its brutal truth. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Taking in the mess inside the room, Eric was caught off guard. After a beat, he couldn''t help but remark, "Duncan''s still as messed up as ever. Boss, you can breathe easy now. That shameless woman must''ve been put through hell. Bet she''s too shattered to even shed a tear..." Eric''s voice trailed off when he noticed the look inn''s eyes. His usuallyposed and stoic boss had eyes zing with a deep, crimson fury-born from heart-wrenching pain. Eric ovedn with concern. "Boss, what''s wrong? You look... rough." "The woman tonight... was Willow,"n''s voice quivered as if it came from afar. Eric''s eyes widened in disbelief. Willow? That meant the person who suffered so horribly was Willow! No wondern was acting so strangely. Eric wanted to speak up, butn''s menacing presence rendered him speechless. He quietly exited the room to find out about Willow''s well-being. Zayn''s unexpected appearance at Gourmet Haven had raised eyebrows among the staff, making it easy for Eric to uncover the truth. Returning cautiously to the room, Eric foundn still frozen in ce. Taking a deep breath, he broke the silence, saying, "Boss, I''ve got word on Ms. Sanford''s location." "Speak!"n barked, sending Eric stumbling back a few paces. Eric''s lips trembled before he cautiously responded, "Boss, I couldn''t confirm if Duncan got what he wanted tonight. But right before we arrived, Mr. Carter came and took Ms. Sanford away. "As they left, a staffer saw them and said... said she was bleeding. Bad." She was bleeding...n felt a sharp pang in his chest, nearly suffocating. He clutched at his heart, but the pain was only escting.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. So much time had passed, and with Duncan being so twisted, the chances of her getting out unscathed were slim to none. She was probably already... He had hurt her. And in the end, he wasn''t the one to swoop in and save her. Tonight, no matter what went down, she still meant the world to him. He''d spend his days making up for the mess he unwittingly caused. For her, he''d face any challenge and brave any danger. As Willow stirred awake, dawn''s light already filled the room. onfusion Bt to She blinked, her gaze fixated on the ceiling. Her mind was foggy with confusion. But soon, that confusion Chapter 333 morphed into a searing humiliation. Despite being drugged into a haze the night before, she could she could still recall what followed. She had slept with Zayn again. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Once again, she''d slept with the very person she swore to cut out of her life. Willow felt filthy, even to herself. Zayn, an early riser, had already left the vi. Willow stiffly picked up her clothes from the floor, hastily put them on, and headed out. Her inner garments were torn beyond recognition. But fortunately, her thick wool coat had proven too resilient for Zayn''s attempts to rip it apart. And with the coat trailing down to her ankles, after squeezing into her inneryers, she wrapped it tightly around herself, managing to hide most of her disheveled state. As winter crept in deeper and the icy wind bit harder, Willow was numb to the cold. All she wanted was to hustle back to her small apartment and wash away the filth. She knew that by now, Moses would have arranged for Aaron to be taken to school, but she still felt the urge to call and make sure. As fate would have it, just as she pulled out her phone, Moses called. Thinking back tost night stirred up a whirlwind of emotions in Willow, leaving her unsure of what to say to Moses. But before she could gather her thoughts, Moses burst in with unbridled enthusiasm, "Ms. Sanford, what''s your take on my grandson? I hope I didn''t oversell him. Isn''t myn just drop- dead gorgeous?" n?" Willow''s mind raced as she tried to ce something together. It felt familiar, yet distant, like a forgotten dream. "Yeah,n. You remember him, right? Didn''t he introduce himself?" Moses'' voice crackled with amusement. "That sly kid! Ms. Sanford,n''s full name ish Nightingale. He''s got quite the reputation. I figured since you weren''t exactly thrilled about the blind date, I''d keep his identity under wraps. Can''t me a guy for trying, can you?" "Ms. Sanford, I just calledn. He''s smitten with you, Ms. Sanford. Can you believe it? I thought that guy was into men, but it turns out he''s got eyes for you! So, spill it, Ms. Sanford. Are you inton?" Listening to Moses''s warm and kind voice, Willow couldn''t quite decipher her own feelings. Moses''s grandson turned out to be none other than the renowned Mr. Nightingale. Butst night, Duncan showed up in the private room,n went so far as to involve Duncan, a downright despicable character, just to avoid meeting her or, more likely, to publicly shame her. Ironically, from their previous encounters, she had believedn was different from those arrogant, aloof men, thinking he possessed a genuine warmth. Yet, once again, she found herself underestimating the cruel depths of human nature. "Why aren''t you saying anything, Ms. Sanford? What do you really think ofn?" Willow wasn''t about to mix up her moralpass. She knew that no matter how awfuln had been to Chapter 334N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. her, Moses had nothing but genuine concern for her. Not wanting to cause him any more worry, she softly responded, "He''s okay." No further interaction would be the best oue. It was best to leave it at that. Satisfied with her response, Moses hung up the phone contentedly. Willow slid her phone back into her pocket, mustering a stiff smile that bordered on self-mockery. Moving forward like a specter, she pressed on. She yearned to rise above, to grow stronger. That was why she om cherished the opportunity to endorse Arena of Glory. But now, it seemed that chance was slipping through her fingers. Yet no matter how many tried to trample her, Willow was determined to thrive as long as she had breath In her lungs. In her lifetime, she pledged to provide the best protection for Aaron. Walking the streets like a zombie, Willow didn''t even realize how she made it back to her small apartment. As she reached for her keys, ready to unlock the door, she looked up and spottedn standing outside the apartment. Chapter 335 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 335 Chapter 335N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Willow couldn''t help but tear up when she recalled hown had instructed Duncan to torture and assault herst night. What happened to his trust in her and his remark about her having the purest soul in the world? Taking a step back, she tried to address him calmly, "Mr. Nightingale, are you here to retrieve your jacket?" Yet, Willow left a strong impression on him after he took a glimpse of her. He could never forget about her in this life, and he wouldn''t want to either. Her face was extremely pale. Ayer of frost lined her wind-caressed cheeks. Her pale and tiny face made her appear more vulnerable, as if she''d fall apart if he held her. His gaze traveled from her face to her neck. The obvious red marks on her neck were proof of violent strangtion. He furrowed his brows at the jarring sight of the scary red marks. His frown deepened when he noticed the deep scratch-about the length of a thumb-on the back of her right hand. He had wanted to reach out to examine the injury on the back of her hand when his attention was drawn to her bandaged left hand. Blood continued seeping out of the gauze, and to his astonishment, he noticed. the missing pinky finger on her left hand. Eyes wavering, he approached her for a better look at her left hand, only for her to back off. "Mr. Nightingale, could you please step aside?" Staring at her feet, she struggled to conceal her embarrassment. *Please make way so I can open the door and get you your jacket." After he stepped aside, Willow clutched the key and limped to the door. Last night, she twisted her ankle when Matthew shoved her. Despite the pain, she stood straight and tall. Knowing thatn looked down on her, she knew she''d only disgust him by acting deferential. She wanted to defend her dignity and refused to be perceived as inferior and filthy. Due to the agonizing pain, she struggled to open the door. After clumsily opening the door, she m headed to the couch. She had Le wanted to grabn''s suit and jacket from him, but she refrained from doing so since he had entered the room with her. Her hands were slightly dirty, and she wouldn''t want to soil his jacket. Han did not take his jacket. Instead, his eyes were glued to Willow''s face, never once looking away. She softly reminded him, "Mr. Nightingale, your jacket is on the couch." Sincen refused to move, she wiped down her less-injured righthand with a wet napkin and carefully The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 336 Chapter 336N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Mr. Nightingale, here''s your jacket," Willow spoke, pullingn back to reality. He stiffly epted the jacket with intense emotions in his deep eyes. She could not make sense of the emotions in his eyes, and she had no desire to. Since he refused to leave, Willow had to politely ask him to leave. "Mr. Nightingale, I''ve returned your jacket. Please leave. To ensure that he''dply, she added, "I need to take a shower." He couldn''t possibly hang around her tiny apartment when she took a shower, could he? Hearing that, he finally noticed the bruises on her neck, apart from the red strangtion marks. He was averse to women and shied from physical contact, but he knew what had happened to cause the bruises on her neck. Frozen on the spot, he nced at her vacantly. He was a tacit man, but he knew very well that she wanted to take a shower to wash away the filth on her body fromst night-no thanks to him. "Willow..." She mistakenly thought he wanted to remind her to keep the incident a secret from Moses. Chuckling in a self-deprecating manner, she said softly, "Mr. Nightingale, don''t worry. I will not tell Mr. Quayle aboutst night. He won''t hear about your refusal to attend a blind date with me. "Just now, Mr. Quayle called me, but I did notin about you with him." "Willow, that wasn''t what I meant,n argued. He had always been clear-minded and straight to the point, yet he was at a loss for words when he addressed Willow. The cynical expression on her face deepened. "Mr. Nightingale, you didn''t have to resort to great lengthsst night, you know." Her tone softened. "You really didn''t have to." Then, she remarked, "I know you didn''t want to attend the blind date with me. To be honest, I did not want to show up to the date, but I found it hard to turn down Mr. Quayle''s request-he''s such a nice and enthusiastic old man. "Mr. Nightingale, don''t you worry. I have no interest in you, and I will not cause you any trouble. You don''t have to get jerks like Duncan Whitman to humiliate me. "Sure, I wanted a better life for Aaron, but I never intended to social climb. Mr. Nightingale, you are overthinking. "Please go home now. Don''t worry. We''ll never cross paths again. I will not show up in front of you and make it unpleasant for you." She thoughtn would leave after she gave him her promise. To her dismay, he remained rooted in the middle of her living room. Undecipherable emotions surged in his eyes. Purple veins stretched across the white of his eyes. His usually cold nowCom and distant eyes were now Q. bloodshot, giving him a more human appearance. He resembled a fallen angel who had sumbed to human desires and emotions. Willow slowly looked away from him. It was then she noticed the closed door, which pieced together the puzzle. A man as haughty asn would hate to open the door for himself. She thought, "Fine. I''ll open the door for him and send him on his way." The pain in her ankle intensified. Leaning against the wall, she am struggled to make her way to the door Opening the door, she said to him, "Mr. Nightingale, I''ve opened the door for you. Please leave now." He moved toward her in great strides. At first, she thought he would finally leave To her surprise, he went over to her and pulled her into a hug. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Willow''s eyes widened. She was utterly shocked byn''s bizarre behavior. He had first gained her trust, warming her heart, only to instruct Duncan Whitman to humite her after everything. Now, he hugged her for no reason. She suspected that he might be schizophrenic. Willow had nothing against patients with mental illness-some could be gentle and friendly. Still, she could not shake off the trauma and fear from her time at ckstorm Mental Hospital. She feared thatn might be an outlier-one of those violent patients. Judging from his treatment of her fromst night, he must be struggling with some serious issues. Although she was resentful of Zayn, she had to thank him for saving her from Duncan. Else, she would be ruined for life. Duncan must have spiked her drink with some potent drugs, as shepletely forgot about her identity when she was brought back to Zayn''s vi. Had she remained with Duncanst night, she feared that the livestream audience would have to witness the shameful scenes of Duncan assaulting her. "Mr. Nightingale, please calm down!" Casting a wary look at him, she then noticed his jacket falling onto the ground. Picking it up, she stuffed it into his arms. "Here''s your jacket. Y-You must be a busy man. Please leave now!" Her vignce distressed him. However, he believed he totally deserved to be hated after seeing the injuries on her hand. He exined, "Willow, I didn''t know you were the woman at the blind datest night. Born into a high social status,n was prideful and never bothered to exin himself. However, he suddenly humbled himself in front of Willow in the hope of getting the chance to be closer to her. "Hm?" Willow did not expect him to exin himself. Before she could recover from the shock, he continued, "Willow, I never wanted to hurt you. I would never have asked Duncan to demean you if I had known you were the woman from the blind date."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. It was the first timen had spoken at such length, and he was surprised to find that exining himself to Willow didn''t feel terrible at all. *There were cases of women trying to curry favor with my grandpa to approach me. Some of them even spiked my drinks for a chance to date me. "Their behavior disgusted me. When my grandpa called me about the blind date, I thought you were one of those women. Willow, I misunderstood you and hurt you. For that, I apologize." Chapter 337 She was shell-shocked. Having heard rumors aboutn''s ruthless and arrogant nature, she couldn''t believe he''d apologize.. Though she was surprised by his action, she was by no means touched. Had she been assaulted by Duncanst night, no amount of apology from a high-born man liken could make up for it. Even if she narrowly escaped being sexually assaulted by Duncan, she ended up sleeping with Zayn. "Mr. Nightingale, I''m sure you were aware of the consequences when om you decided to send Dun send Duncan Whitman after me. Did you ever consider how my life would be ruined? Call me difficult or stubborn, but I refuse to ept your apology." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Willow urged, "Mr. Nightingale, I really need to take a shower. Please leave. "It''s good to be upfront with each other. We are not from the same world, and we''re not a good match, Goodbye, Mr. Nightingale!" The door was wide open. Sincen remained unresponsive, she repeated her action of holding the door, hinting at him to leave. However,n seemed to have nted himself firmly on the floor. He did not budge at all. Concerned, Willow knew she was too weak to forcefully remove him. She turned around furiously and retreated to her bedroom so that she did not have to engage in a staring war with him even if he refused to leave. "Willow!"n grabbed her wrist. His tone was filled with concern and pain, which was unfamiliar to her. You''re injured!" "Mr. Nightingale, I''m totally fine. I''ll take care of the injuries." She tried to remove her hand, but he did not n to let her go. Forcing her to take a seat on the couch, he offered, "I''ll dress your wounds." After that,n made a call to Eric. Eric was highly efficient. Within ten minutes, he delivered a tube of medicinal cream, along with the antiseptic solution, cotton swabs, gauze, medicated ointment, and more. Asn grew up under Moses''s care, he knew a thing or two about applying treatment. Dressing Willow''s wounds was a piece of cake for him. First, he worked on the wound on the back of her right hand. Zayn had applied some ointment to the wound earlier, but it still looked terrifying. Frowning,n carefully dabbed the cotton swab in the medicated ointment before applying it to her wound. Willow did not wantn''s help, but she was too exhausted to fight back against his stubbornness. She let him be. Meanwhile, Eric''s jaw dropped to the fall. He stared in shock atn, feeling his perception ofn shifting. Ian, who was gently tending to a woman''s wound, resembled nothing like the ruthless leader he used to be. How interesting! Eric stood hesitantly in the living room, debating between leaving or staying. In the end, he broke out in cold sweat, shifting ufortably at the unusual behavior of his boss. Aftern was done dressing the wound on Willow''s right hand, he reached out for her left hand. The bandage on her left hand, soaked in blood, should be discarded. He knew removing the bandage would hurt because the cloth clung to their skin from the blood. Despite that, she did not utter a word when he removed the bandage, but she turned pale from the pain. just an ordinary woman who must NO haye been afraid of pain. How many challenges had she suffered through to develop such a high Chapter 238 tolerance for pain? Besides, the injury on her left hand om was worse than what he had, imagined. Her skin was a bloodied mess, resembling nothing like what it looked like before. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The already-healed stump of her pinky finger started bleeding again. Knowing the touch sensitivity of human fingers, he could only imagine how much pain she was in. For the first time in his life,n teared up for a woman. He tightened his grip on her wrist. "Willow, how did you lose your pinky finger?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Willow wasn''t only hurt in her hand. Ian noticed the uneven patches of skin and scabs on her wrist- evidence of her failed attempt at slitting her wrist.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. How much despair had she experienced to drive her to take her own life?n''s regrets deepened. He regretted not meeting her earlier in life and protecting her from the vicissitudes of life. Willow stared down at the stump where her pinky finger used to be. She replied nonchntly. "It''s all in the past." Then, she said, "Mr. Nightingale, thanks for tending to my wounds. My hands are certainly not in the best shape to do it myself." She andn were not close, not to mention there were grudges between them. She wasn''t ready to share her inner thoughts with him. Since the injury on her left hand had been tended to, she thought it was time forn to leave. However, he grabbed her ankle this time. She couldn''t find her socks in Zayn''s bedroom that morning and went around barefooted. Willow felt uneasy when a grown man held her by the ankle. "Mr. Nightingale, please let go of me!" At the same time, Eric covered his face in embarrassment, thinking, "Boss, you''re shameless! It''s one thing to dress her wounds. Why would you grab her by the ankle? That''s so kinky and twisted! How lustful of you!" "Willow, you have a sprained ankle,n exined. Despite that, she didn''t want his help to treat her ankle. She mustered all her energy to withdraw her foot, but he gripped her ankle tightly. "Mr. Nightingale, my ankle is fine. Thanks for dressing my wounds. I''m feeling much better now. Please go home." "Willow, I''ll massage your ankle for you," he insisted in a gentle yet charmingly assertive tone. Since Willow did not seem cooperative, he added in a rare move, "Willow, just see me as your doctor for now." She froze. If she were at a doctor''s office, the doctor-male or female-would do the same, massaging her ankle and applying medicine Not wanting to seem petty, she decided not to argue againstn''s reasoning. Once she relented,n unbottled the medicinal ointment and applied it to her ankle, massaging it like a professional. observing Moses massaging his patients. He replicated Moses'' methods skillfully. Eric watched, baffled and surprised. He couldn''t reconcile the gentleman Willow''s ankle with his hirsty boss. At this moment,n was just an irresistible womanizer. Feeling conflicted, Eric realized he might need to gain Willow''s favor for his own benefit Who knew if she might one day be Mrs. Nightingale? Initially, Willow felt ufortable withn massaging her ankle, m However, his professionalism soon put her at ease, and she gradually perceived him as a doctor.. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 340 Chapter 340 After some massaging, the pain in Willow''s ankle seemed to have lessened. The cooling sensation of the medicinal ointment feltfortable. The physical contact with the opposite sex did not temptn. It wasn''t that Willow was unattractive to him. On the contrary, she was the only woman he ever felt attracted to. However, his desire for her was eclipsed by the anguish he felt. His heart ached upon seeing the injuries across her body, and his soul was thrust into deep pain. Her calm demeanor brought to mind a fortune teller''s prophecy from his childhood. He had been told he would lead a life of boundless wealth. Only after meeting Willow did he realize that, despite his arrogance from his privileged background, he would one day willingly sacrifice everything for a woman. He reluctantly released her ankle and asked her in a low voice, "Willow, how are you feeling?" "I''m feeling much better. Thank you, Mr. Nightingale." She stood up, steadying herself on the couch. "I''m orry for taking up so much of your time. Let''s forget about what happenedst night. We have to move on somehow." "As for the blind date... Please inform Mr. Quayle that we are, unfortunately, not a good match. Mr. Nightingale, to be honest with you, I have no ns to date. I think I''m fine living with Aaron, "I hope you meet the woman of your dreams soon."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. However, he refrained from confessing his feelings upon seeing her dead eyes and her polite smile. Willow started off with a good impression of him, but he messed it up. He single- handedly ruined her perception of him. He''d only scare her away if he insisted on pursuing her. "Willow, have a good rest. He reached out to pat her on the shoulder, but he eventually withdrew his hand, as he believed the move to be too intimate for their current rtionship and might disgust her. She silently let out a sigh of relief. The troublemaker was finally going to leave her apartment. "For tonight."n began. His words reminded her of her promise to buy him dinner from the auditionst night. She cut him off." Mr. Nightingale, I''m sorry. I''m feeling unwell, so I will not treat you to dinner tonight." "Okay." Feeling disappointed, he did not insist on a dinner nheless. "Eric will contact you this afternoon to get the contract signed." With that,n turned around and left her apartment. Eric followed closely behind him. Certain details about the contract did not requiren''s approval, but Eric thought it was necessary to consultn, given the importance of Willow ton. "Boss, regarding Ms. Sanford''s endorsement fee... Chapter 340 "Well, the contract stipted an annual endorsement fee of 10 million dors-the rate for A-listers. But Ms. Sanford isn''t even a D-lister. Based on the industry rules, we can only offer her a tenth of the rate for an A-lister, or even lower." "Willow Sanford will be an A-lister one day!"n insisted withn determination. Eric immediately got the hint that there was no need to change the e endorsement fee in the contract. Zayn had just parked his car by the street when he sawn emerging from Willow''s neighborhood. Zayn wasn''t in the best mood that day, and his expression crumpled even more at the thought ofn leaving Willow''s apartment. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 341 Chapter 341 "That easy woman is really something!" thought Zayn as he was ovee with a murderous feeling. He left his car with a sour face and the urge to smash the food container in his hand. On second thought, he brushed off the idea and picked it up instead. As he had visited Willow''s apartment before, it didn''t take him long to find his way there. Willow was about to remove her clothes and take a shower aftern left, but she was interrupted by the ringing doorbell. It was highly unlikely forn to return. Instead of answering the door, she peered out of the peephole with a frown. She found a furious Zayn standing by the door. It was such an incredulous situation. She should have been the one to be angry at him. What made him think he could throw a fit at her? "Willow Sanford!" he bellowed. Willow had no ns to open the door for him. She turned around and headed to her bedroom. Suddenly, she received a call on her phone. She answered the call without checking the caller ID. Zayn''s voice rang in her ear. "Willow Sanford, open the door!" Her ear hurt from his yelling. Pulling the phone farther from her ear, she retorted tly, "Zayn Carter, you''re sick in the head!" "Willow Sanford, you may refuse to open the door for me, but I''m warning you now-you can''t afford the consequences!" The heating in the apartment made it feel like a warm spring day, especially in her cozy bedroom. However, Zayn''s voice brought her back into the dreary winter.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "Willow Sanford, you''d better not challenge my patience!" He raised his voice. "Do you want me to break your door?" Trembling in rage, she knew that Zayn was capable of carrying out his threats. She''d rather open the door for him than have a broken door at the end of the day. She thought, "Oh, well. Count myself unlucky." She limped to the door and opened the door with a furious look. Then, she growled at him, "Zayn Carter, is this fun? I told you that I''d return the money. Please don''t show up in front of me ever again! Instead of replying to her, he glowered at her as if he wanted to make her heartless behavior toward him. He thought he was pathetic. Last night, he had a fit because she imed she wasn''t in love with him anymore. However, she was the first thing that crossed his mind in the morning. Instead ofing up with a punishment for her, he found himself worrying about her stomach issues. She had a weak stomach and always woke up hungry. If she did not eat breakfast in time, she''d suffer from gastric problems. Worried, he quickly washed up and made breakfast in the kitchen. He thought their rtionship might Chapter 34T improve if they had breakfast together. He despised her, yethen missed kertoo. He found himself yearning for peace between them. He went to her bedroom to wake her up for breakfast, only to find that she had left. Knowing she must have returned to her apartment, he traveled all the way to the ce with the food containers because he didn''t want her to starve. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 342 Chapter 342 To Zayn''s fury, he witnessedn leaving Willow''s ce. He fumed, thinking, "I never cooked for anyone- not even my mom!" Sadly, Willow never cared about him. She only had her eyes on a different man. Blinded by rage, he spun around and pinned her against the wall. He snarled, "Willow, how could you be so shameless?" "Zayn Carter, what is wrong with you?" Her body shook in anger. Zayn had always been unreasonable, but his insults still stung her every single time. "Willow, you''re not in love with me anymore. Ian is your new love, isn''t he? Are you thinking of dating him? Dream on!" Despite not being in love withn, Willow did not deny the usation to spite Zayn. "Zayn Carter, whoever I choose to date is none of your business. Tell you what-I''d rather die than date you!" "Say that again?" Zayn nearly exploded in anger. How could she insult him in that way? "You can ask me to repeat myself, and I''d still say the same. I''m no longer in love with you from a long time ago. You''re nothing to me!" "Nothing to you?" He waspletely provoked by her words. He could taste blood. His hostility grew. So, am I nothing to you whilen Nightingale is your one and only love?" Suppressing her anger, she put on a cynical expression. "Zayn Carter, you''re filthy!" "Willow Sanford!" Zayn so wished he could crush the woman in front of her. He couldn''t wrap his head around his reaction to Willow. He wanted to get along with her, but every time he was around her, he''d lose his temper. "Willow Sanford, you''re mine. Even if you fell in love with another man, you can only belong to me in this life!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Willow gathered all her energy to shove him away. Knowing him well, she knew her attempts to fight back would only provoke him further. She stood still like a pole by the wall and let him be. As expected, he released her fairly soon after she gave up fighting. Once she was free, she grabbed a wet wipe from the coffee table and wiped her lips. She mumbled, "Ugh, it''s filthy!" After cleaning her lips, she tossed the wet wipe into the trash can with all her might. She realized that no matter how hard she tried to clean herself, she could not shake off the feeling of disgust. Perhaps her mind and soul were irrevocably contaminated. "Willow Sanford!" Zayn fixed his eyes on the wet wipe she tossed away. Pain, anger, and various emotions filled his eyes until there was nothing left inside.n had taken off his Chapter 342 clothes in her apartment, and she looked disheveled. He assumed that she must have slept withn. Otherwise, how would a small time influencer get the endorsement for Arena of Glory? Zayn found a woman who traded her body for what she wanted to bem disgusting He chided himself for failing to get over an easy woman like Willow. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Willow thought she was being ridiculous for suffering heartache fromn''s hurtful remarks after trying hard to fall out of love with him. Refusing to disy her vulnerability in front of him, she shed a heartless, aloof smile at him. "Yeah, it''s pretty fun. Mr. Carter, want to give it a try?" "Willow Sanford!" Zayn gripped her shoulders tightly, thinking, "Willow, you should havee to me if you wanted fame! Who made you sleep with fuckingn Nightingale?" "Mr. Carter, you''re forgetful. Didn''t I tell you that you disgust me?" "Hah!" He chuckled. He seemed unfeeling when he wasn''t smiling. But when he smiled, he came across as intimidating, inducing fear in others. "How dare a slut like you call me filthy? Willow, you''re brazen! You like being a slut, right? How about! make your wishe true?" "Let go of me, Mr. Carter!" Willow grew worried when she realized Zayn was losing it. "I might be a slut, but I have a say in who I take as a client. You don''t deserve to be my client." "I see! I can''t sleep with a slut for free, can I?" He feigned a look of realization before grabbing two hundred-dor bills from his wallet and tossing them in her face. "This is forst night and today. Keep them well!" Willow was close to biting her tongue off under his muscr body. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a teapot on the coffee table. She clutched the teapot firmly before attempting to smash it on the back of his head. Previously, she had unhesitatingly smashed items into the heads of the men who tried to force themselves on her. Sadly, she realized she did not have the heart to do the same to Zayn. No matter how much she hated him and wished to stay away from him, she could not bring herself to hurt him. When she came to that realization, she let go of the teapot, sending it crashing onto the ground loudly. The sound of the teapot shattering attracted his attention. He spun around and stared at the broken teapot with an unreadable expression. "Woah, Willow Sanford, did you try to hit me?" He sniggered, his handsome features contorting into a devilish smirk. "Is that how much you wish to save yourself forn Nightingale? Hah, how dare a whore like you dream of doing that for your client? How ''virtuous'' of you! "Willow Sanford, you can''t have your cake and eat it too. I spent money on you, which means you have to pleasure me without question if I want you to!" Pleasure him without question... Willow hated herself for not smashing the teapot into the back of his Chapter 343 head. She was curious as to what was going on in his mind. The pain in her body intensified when she was pinned underneath him, especially her ankle Hen eyes would redden Whenever she was in pain. Refusing to show her vulnerability, she turned her face away to hide her reddened eyes. Unfortunately, he mistook her action. as contempt, thinking she only had eyes forn and couldn''t bother to on take a look at him. wanted to tear her into pieces, but at the end of the day, he couldn''ty a finger on her.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. All he could do was ravage her body to remind her that she belonged to him. Right as he was about to plow her, he suddenly noticed blood seeping from the back of her right hand. He remembered treating her wound the previous night and was acutely aware of the severity of her injuries on both hands. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 344 Chapter 344? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Willow''s wound had been tended to, and the bleeding had stopped. However, Zayn unknowingly caused her wound to bleed again during the wrestle. He thought spitefully, "Serves her right for sleeping around like the whore she is! She deserves to bleed to death!" Grinding his teeth in rage, he nheless could not watch as she bled. Despite his disgust, resentment, and disdain toward her, his heart ached at her suffering. "Willow, you-" Angered by her frequent injuries, he had tried to threaten her, but he was soft toward her at the end of the day. His feelings of concern and empathy trumped everything else. Getting up angrily, he tried to find some medication to treat her wound with. It was then he noticed the huge shopping bag by the couch. The bag was filled with all sorts of medication, and the pack of gauze had been opened. Zayn instinctively nced at her left hand-it was recently bandaged. Assuming it wasn who helped her, he realized thatn could not have slept with her. It wasn''t that long since Willow left his ce for her apartment. Moreover, it would taken some time to dress her wounds. The two couldn''t possibly have time for sex. In a fit of anger, Zayn momentarily forgot about Eric''s presence. Even if Willow andn were shameless, they couldn''t have gone at it in front of Eric. The realization that Willow hadn''t slept withn filled Zayn with tion. However, he immediately felt frustration when he imaginedn gently applying the ointment to her wound. He had the urge to pin her in his arms and threaten her not to get her wounds dressed by other men. He wanted to have the sole privilege of doing that to her. On n second thought, he realized that was a dumb statement, as medical professionals should be allowed to tend to her injuries as well. Knowing Willow''s character, she would heartlessly taunt andugh at him for his immature remarks. He was not going to give her that opportunity. Once Zayn released Willow, she sat up and tried to leave the couch to distance herself from him. He was about to get some ointment for her wound, but his expression fell when she tried to get up. He warned her, "You aren''t allowed to move around! Just stay still!'' She shot him an incredulous look. Did he really ask her to stay put? Of course, she wasn''t going to linger around and give him a chance to force himself on her. That wasn''t her kink. "Mr. Carter, I assume you''re done with your tantrums. You''re not wee here, and you may leave now." Standing straight and tall, she made her stance clear. He paused in the middle of reaching out for the medicine bottle, thinking, "This ungrateful woman is trying to throw me out again! What for? "Is it so that she could wee another man? If so, she''s delusional!" He barked at her, "Willow Sanford,e here!" He nearly acted on his rage when he saw her getting off the couch and heading to her bedroom. He wondered why she held him in such contempt, avoiding him like the gue yet eagerly throwing herself at other men! She dered, "Mr. Carter, I''ll repeat myself once more. I''ll return them money to you Now, please get out of my sight forever!" Did she order him to get lost forever? Frowning, he rose from the couch and approached her to apply then medicine to her wound. However, she frantically stumbled backward as she thought he might go nuts again. While retreating, she identally twisted her already sprained ankle. She fell onto the ground after losing her bnce. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 345 Chapter 345 "Willow!" Zayn hadn''t expected Willow to copse to the ground. He hurried over and carried her in his arms. It was at that moment he noticed the awful swelling on her ankle. Despite her best attempts at enduring the pain, her eyes reddened from the agony. Zayn, who had treated her coldly, finally caved in at the sight of her reddened eyes, swollen ankle, and the horrific wound on the back of her hand. She might be vile, selfish, and shameless. But at that moment, she was just a patient. He repeatedly convinced himself that he only lent her a hand because he couldn''t stand the sight of an injured, pitiful-looking woman. And it was not because he truly cared for her. "Mr. Carter, let go of me!" She immediately tried to free herself. She made a terrible mistakest night, and she would never carelessly sleep with him again. "Willow, I will teach you a lesson if you keep getting yourself injured!" he threatened. She thought he was about to force himself on her when he tossed her onto the couch. To her surprise, he grabbed some lodine solution from the shopping bag to disinfect her wound. After that, he found some medicine to stop her bleeding, which he carefully applied to her wound with a cotton swab.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Mr. Carter, you don''t have to do this. I can deal with the wound myself," she said to him coldly, refusing to ept his help. "Do you think you could dress your wound with that badly injured left hand of yours?" He took her hand and continued applying the medicine to her wound. After dressing her wound, he did not seem ready to leave. Just as she was about to make him leave, he suddenly said in an awkward manner, "Willow, you haven''t had breakfast, have you?" She was momentarily caught off guard by the jump in his logic. Why would he ask that question? Was he trying to have breakfast with her? Hell not His expression soured when he did not get a reply. Still, considering she was injured, he asked, "Willow, you''re hungry, aren''t you?" "I''m not!" After some pause, she added, "Mr. Carter, please go out for breakfast if you''re hungry. I''m not going to make breakfast for you "Willow Sanford, you''re hungry." Staring squarely at Willow, Zayn suddenly said to her, "Well, it''s time to eat." She finally saw the wooden food container in his hand. The juxtaposition of the handsome, aloof man and the tiny wooden food container appeared oddly funny. She could not figure out his intentions. Whatever it was, she couldn''t care less about it. "I thought I made myself very clear. I''m not hungry. You''re not wee here, so please leave!" While speaking, she arrogantly lifted her chin. Unfortunately, her stomach growled uncooperatively. Chapter 345 shattering her proud persona. She felt embarrassed by the familiar growling sounds. Meanwhile, Zayn''s tense lips softened into a smile. He made no remark, but he was clearly gleeful to have caught her in a lie-she was indeed hungry! Willow wanted to dig a hole and hide out of shame. Zayn opened the food container andid out the food on the coffee table in her living room. He made a soup and four different dishes-baked fish with creamy lemon sauce, stir-fried cucumber, and buffalo wings-her favorite foods from the honeymoon phase of their rtionship. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 346 Chapter 346 The feast on the table made Willow tear up once more. Back when she was passionately in love with Zayn, she used to wake up hungry. She''d be famished after washing up. Later, Zayn always made breakfast before she got up so that she could have someforting, warm soup when she woke up. Zayn hadn''t started off as a good cook. The first time he tried to cook, he nearly burned the kitchen to the ground. Still, he was willing to get to work for Willow.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. After a few tries, his cooking skills improved. As he was smart and a fast learner, he gradually became as skilled as the hotel chefs. At present, Willow stared at Zayn through tears. She wondered if he was offering her a carrot after giving her the stick. Too bad she would not ept that. She''d never forget how cruel he had been to Aaron and Nic. Besides, people would change all the time. The dishes in front of her might have been her favorites. However, after four years in the dungeon, these dishes had be a nightmare for her. "Have some food, Willow." Zayn ced the fish on her te. He felt somehow uneasy and furious at the sight of her emaciated frame. He waspelled to pile more food on her te. Soon, her te was filled to the brim with food. She stared vacantly at the deboned fish on her te as terrible memories resurfaced. Skyler forced her to eat fish when she was held prisoner in the dungeon. She remembered Skyler saying, Lolo, you love fish, don''t you? And you always get Zayn to cook it for you. Fine, then. I''ll let you have fish today!" The fish in question was raw. Skyler forced the raw fish down Willow''s throat. Her men pinned her down and stuffed her mouth with the raw fish. Willow hated the stench, and her throat was in so much pain. Still, they did not go easy on her. The bones or the gills must have scratched her throat. In great pain, she couldn''t speak for a while. It was after that traumatic incident that she stopped eating fish. The sight of the baked fish reminded her of the disgusting taste of raw fish and the despair and helplessness during her time in the dungeon. Besides fish, she had since stopped eating stir-fried cucumbers. The people at the dungeon had force-fed her some rotten cucumbers. When she refused to swallow the rotten food, they shoved a stick into her mouth and pushed the food down her throat. In the end, she did not manage to swallow the rotten cucumbers. She did, however, cough up a huge mouthful of blood from the injuries in her mouth and throat. When Zayn ced a piece of buffalo wings on her te, she turned to the trashcan and puked her guts out. The worst experience by far was that time when her captors force-fed her some spoiled buffalo wings. that reeked of rotten flesh. She could neither swallow the rotten wings nor spit them out. Chapter 346 through again. Zayn, unaware of her trauma, was angered by her disgust at the sgust at the m breakfast he had kindly prepared for her-he even went so far as to debone the fish for her! He thought, "No matter how I try to please her, she seems to find the revolting." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Zayn was furious at Willow''s disrespect. His expression clouded as a storm raged within. The light in his eyes went out while he put down his utensils. "Willow Sanford, do I disgust you?"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Willow wanted to exin that she was triggered by the nightmarish memories from the dungeon and that she wasn''t disgusted by him. s, she was too nauseated to speak. She had a weak stomach to begin with. She hadn''t taken any food sincest night, and her stomach suffered as a result. However, she only managed to vomit out some bile mixed with strands of blood. "Willow, answer me!" Zayn shot up from his seat, ready to teach her a good lesson, when he spotted specks of blood on the corner of her lips. His eyes wavered in shock. "Willow, why did you cough up blood? Do you feel unwell?" He then approached her and pulled her into a tight hug. A look of heartache shed across his eyes as he stared at her pale face. Earlier, she had coughed up blood when she had te-stage stomach cancer," which he assumed was a ruse to gain his sympathy. However, she couldn''t have possibly put on an act. She spent most of the time fighting him off, and she wouldn''t have had the time to stuff a blood bag into her mouth. "Mr. Carter, please release me. I''m just feeling a little sick." Willow brought up her stomach cancer to Zayn multiple times, but he refused to believe in her. Hence, she gave up talking about it. He did not let go of Willow. Instead, he red at the corner of her lips, which were stained with blood. Thankfully, she did not cough up much blood. That must have happened because of an empty and weak stomach or because she suffered a scratch in her throat or mouth. Despite feeling sorry for her, he soon felt a surge of anger. She''d rather starve than eat the breakfast he prepared, which he took as a sign of her disgust toward him. "Willow, you difficult woman! Eat up, now!" he demanded, nearly force-feeding her in his rage. However, he reconsidered that idea, not wanting to embarrass himself by feeding someone who found him repugnant. His pride wouldn''t allow it. In the end, he brought her a bowl of soup. Since she did not have any trauma rted to soup and wanted to avoid any stomach issues, she finally took small sips of the soup. Her stomach felt much better after consuming the soup. Soon, she finished the bowl of corn soup. Still hungry, she helped herself to a second serving, which she ate slowly. Zayn''s hostility gradually dissipated as he watched her obediently drink the soup. He didn''t notice the softening of his demeanor, marked by the grin on his lips. Though he wasn''t fond of sweet soup, he made it because it was Willow''s favorite. Watching her Chapter 347 enjoy it, he decided to get himself a bowl as well. The corn soup didn''t bother him as much today, perhaps because hen happy. He even considered was rekindling their rtionship if Willow could behave like she did today. He might have harbored longtime grudges against her, but he wouldn''t mind sweeping them under the rug in exchange for moments of fleeting sweetness like this. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 348 Chapter 348 As Zayn was a busy man, he immediately left Willow''s tiny apartment after breakfast. Peace and calm were restored after his departure. Willow took a bath, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t wash off the feeling of filth that clung to her body. Once her soul was corrupted, no amount of bathwater and high-end shower gel could cleanse her body.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Willow got a call from Eric in the afternoon, notifying her that the contract was finalized. He was waiting for her in the apartment lobby to sign the contract. She was surprised that Eric showed up with the contract without any fuss because she thought she''d lose the endorsement deal for Arena of Glory after the conflict between her andn. After carefully poring through the contract and making sure there wasn''t any unreasonable use, she finally signed it. She thought a million dors would be a fair endorsement fee, but she anticipated a lower offer from Arena of Glory due to its poprity and herck thereof. To her shock, the contract stated an endorsement fee of 10 million dors! She was overjoyed at the endorsement fee, as she could finally repay much of her debts to Zayn. Honestly speaking, she disliked the corrupted entertainment industry. Yet, she had put a foot in the industry, and she resolved to make a name for herself despite her negative feelings about the industry. She could only increase her earnings by gaining fame. Then, she could clear her debts to Zayn and offer Aaron a better quality of life. Only by being sessful could she deal a blow to Skyler, Wilhelmina, Sylvia, and the others who had wronged her. The Nightingale Corporation was indeed generous and agreeable. From what she heard, celebrities usually received their endorsement fee in installments. However, the 10 million dors immediately appeared in her bank ount on the same night. The Nightingale Corporation even took care of the taxes on the endorsement fee on her behalf. She delightedly counted the eight-digit figure in her bank ount a few times, vowing to perform well to repay Nightingale Corporation''s investment in her career. She decided to get Zayn''s bank ountter to transfer some money to him. Without the burden of debt, she could rest in peace when death knocked on her door. Moses'' men fetched Aaron from school and sent him to the Quayle Manor. Willow felt indebted to Moses for sharing her childcare burden, So, she decided to buy some quality ingredients and cook up a feast at the Quayle Manor for everyone. Before she left her apartment,'' she received a call from the private detective she hired. She hurriedly answered the call. The detective reported to her, "Ms. Sanford, we got some updates from tailing Skyler Dawson and Louis Mayer per your request. Chapter 348 "They showed up at Splendid Paradise tonight. I know you hired us, but all we could do is provide you with their whereabouts, as we cannot afford to get on the bad side of the Dawsons and the Mayers. We hope for your understanding." Willow did not expect anything more from the private detective. After all, she''d only feel reassured by taking certain matters into her own hands. She took out a pinhole camera she had bought earlier from the drawer and casually tossed it into her handbag. Years a ago, Willow had been aware of the licentious rtionship between Skyler and o''m and Louis Since Skyter repeatedly attempted to record sex tapes to ruin Willow''s reputation, Willow decided to give her a taste of her own medicine. She thought, "Let''s see if Skyler will ever recover from the scandal!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 349 Chapter 349 Willow did not want to expose others'' private affairs, but Skyler and Louis disgusted her to the point that she wouldn''t feel any quilt for wronging them. She couldn''t help but marvel at Skyler, Despite professing her deep love for Zayn, Skyler still slept around without any inhibition. Poor Zayn-he treated Skyler like a treasure, mistaking her for a prim and proper youngdy! After Skyler''s debut, she established a fresh and innocent persona in the industry. Her fairytale-like rtionship with Zayn helped her gain a bunch of new fans. Since Skyler was addicted to acting all pure and innocent, Willow was interested in the fallout after Skyler and Louis'' sex tape was leaked to the public. Splendid Paradise, owned by the Mayer family, was a high-end lounge simr to Velvet Noir. However, it was more exclusive and sophisticated than Velvet Noir. Since a lot of socialities and film stars loved frequenting Splendid Paradise, the lounge had tight security to keep out the paparazzi. Skyler, careful in protecting her reputation, would never openly wander into the lounge hand-in-hand with Louis. She''d show up with her manager Evangeline and drank a little before sneaking into Louis'' room for their rendezvous when no one was watching. Before leaving, Willow put on exquisite makeup. Already blessed with alluring beauty, she now looked like an angel with her cat-eye makeup and ming red lips. She could seduce the most celibate man on earth with her looks. The security at the entrance of Splendid Paradise gaped at Willow. They assumed she might be a famous. star, judging from her ravishing beauty. Hence, they did not bother checking her bag before granting her entry. The private detective had shared Louis and Skyler''s room number with Willow. She quickly scanned her surroundings before making her way to the penthouse. Willow was in luck because Skyler and Louis hadn''t turned up yet. The door of the penthouse was left ajar. All it took was a push to enter the room. The two pinhole cameras she prepared were disguised as a lighter and a button, respectively. She ced the "lighter" on the headboard and the "button" on the window sill, which would clearly capture all the action that was bound to happenter. Never in their wildest dreams did Skyler and Louis think their affair would be filmed. Since the couple might show up at any time, Willow hurriedly set things up and left the penthouse without further ado, To her dismay, someone entered through the door when she was about to leave. Jumping in shock, she thought Skyler and Louis showed up earlier than expected. However, it was Matthew who had dropped by. "Willow Sanford? Why are you here?" Matthew looked taken aback. He then approached her and aggressively grabbed her wrist. "Tell me, bitch! What are you up to this time around?" Chapter 340 Willow was speechless at Matthew. The hopeless dude fell for Wilhelmina''s lie every single time Wilhelmina tried to frame her. She thought, "How dare he use me of being up to no good? He''s being ridiculous!" In a hurry to leave, she did not want to waste time arguing with him. She struggled to free herself from his grasp. "Matthew Mayer, let me go!" She nearly bit him in the hand from the anxiety, but she worried that he might refuse to release her if she physically attacked him. In the end, she could do nothing but glower at him. "Willow, are you at Louis'' penthouse to meet him?" A shadow passed over his eyes. "Louis told me you tried to seduce him. Are you still flirting with him now?" What? Willow thought, "I''d never seduce a man as twisted as Louis Mayer!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 350 Chapter 350 "Don''t get me wrong, Matthew. I never had anything to do with Louis. We only have a blood feud!" Recalling those terrible days in the dungeon, Willow couldn''t help but tremble with hatred. She wanted to convince Matthew that her hatred for Louis was more intense than his. But she knew Matthew wouldn''t believe her, so she didn''t bother exining Matthew sneered sarcastically. His indifferent face was attractive, but she couldn''t see his good side. "Willow Sanford, you''re still lying as always. I don''t believe what you said!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "Skyler, why didn''t you contact me recently? I haven''t seen you for a long time. I miss you so much!" Louis" voice sounded unexpectedly outside the door. Willow realized he and Skyler had arrived at the door when she heard footsteps approaching. If they saw her, her ns would be ruined. She instantly put the issue of dealing with Matthew aside. Now, she had only one thought-she must not let that adulterous couple see her! Seeing the bathroom nearby, Willow rushed over without hesitation. Matthew still clutched her hand. When he saw her dash to the bathroom, he couldn''t help but frown. Still, he didn''t stop her and hid inside with her instead. As soon as he entered the bathroom, he pushed Willow against the wall. His eyes zed withplex emotions-anger, hatred, contempt, disgust, and an uncontroble obsession. Willow''s heart beat wildly to the extreme. When she sessfully installed the pinhole camera in the private room, she thought her n was on track. Only after hearing Louis and Skyler''s footsteps outside and seeing Matthew approaching did she realize she was unlucky tonight. "Willow, did youe here just to eavesdrop?" Matthew dropped his voice and sneered into her ear. "Or do you want to film something to ruin Skyler''s reputation?" Willow''s expression shifted dramatically. She didn''t expect him to be so perceptive about her intentions. She subconsciously took a step back, but her ankle still throbbed horribly. She retreated too quickly and almost fell to the ground. Matthew held Willow firmly and pressed her tighter against the wall. "I guessed it right, didn''t I? "What happened tonight surprised me. I didn''t expect Louis and Skyler to still be together, let alone that you''d be interested in recording them! "Do you want to use the video to threaten Louis into abandoning m Skyler and choosing you? Or do you want to use this opportunity to get closer to Zayn?" Chapter 350 Before Willow could respond, Matthew''s low but chilling voicem sounded again, wonder, if I throw you but now, how Skyler and Louis will react when they see you?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 351 Chapter 351 "Matthew!" Willow let out a low growl, her body shaking even more as her anger surged. If she were a match for Matthew, she would have to stuff him in the toilet and flush him down so he wouldn''t continue to harm her with his wicked thoughts! "Are you scared?" He smiled more wantonly, his expression full of malice and evil. "I look forward to them being surprised when they see you!" Willow gritted her teeth in rage. She truly wanted to yell at this unreasonable man, but she was afraid that Louis and Skyler would notice her presence. So, she swallowed her curses.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Skyler and Louis hadn''t seen each other for a long time and were both impatient. After entering the room, they stopped speaking and hurriedly climbed onto the bed. Matthew didn''t close the bathroom door tightly, leaving a small crack. Willow could see what was happening outside. She was often shy. So, she felt her cheeks heat up as she watched the scene outside. Not to mention, Matthew was still in the bathroom. He also heard the sounds outside. His expression darkened, and his eyes zed with fury. She didn''t want to be so near him, so she gritted her teeth and pushed him away, but he stood still. Matthew stared at Willow with an increasingly emotional gaze. Just as he was about to say something, Skyler''s flirty voice came from outside. "Louis, don''t let anything go wrong this time! Willow must die!" Louis held Skyler in his arms and gently kissed her lips. "Don''t worry, Skyler. You can believe me. I''ll do it well. Since Willow makes you unhappy, I''ll make her die horribly!" "How can I trust you? When we set fire to Bordello, you also said I could rest assured and leave it to yourckey! But she burned to death instead of Willow! She even affected my engagement banquet! If you find me such a fool again, we don''t have to meet again!" "Don''t be angry, Skyler. I''ll never make the same mistake again!" Louis kept his head down and spoke to Skyler tteringly. Things could be odd sometimes. Louis was so cunning and insidious that he could attack even his closest rtives. But his crush on Skyler was his weakness. He fell so deeply in love with her that he became obsessed and lost himself in it. He would go through anything for her, including death. "Skyler, my dear Skyler, please don''t be angry with me. I feel bad to see you m unhappy" Louis held Skyler''s hand and coaxed her gently. Chapter 351 She still appeared dignified and cool. "I''ll only forgive you this time! But you must handle the next n properly! Willow and her bastard son must die!" "I promise you. I''ll torture them to death!" Louis smiled as he ve maintained his obedience to her. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 352 Chapter 352 "That shameless Willow keeps seducing Zayn! She deserves to die for grabbing my man!" Skyler''s hatred for Willow became stronger as she thought of it. She couldn''t help but reveal a bit of resentment in her voice. "My dear Skyler, I know you regard me as a backup and only have Zayn in your heart. But we rarely have dates. Could you please stop mentioning Zayn? That makes me sad." Louis hugged Skyler tightly. He usually looked sinister and cunning, but now he appeared pitiful. "Okay, I won''t mention Zayn again." She hugged him too. "As long as you do a good job, I''lle to you more often." After she said that, they continued to do intimate things in bed. Matthew frowned deeply and gloomily. When Willow reappeared, he assumed she had purposefully faked her death over a month before. But after listening to Skyler and Louis'' conversation, he realized she didn''t orchestrate the fire. She also didn''t pretend to have died in the fire. The culprits were Skyler and Louis, who wanted to harm her. Previously, Matthew had no negative impression of Skyler because she was Wilhelmina''s best friend. He couldn''t help but express his disgust as he recalled her previous harshments and heard the sounds outside. Everyone at Havenpoint knew Skyler was passionately in love with Zayn. But it turned out that her so-called love was nothing more than cheating and getting into another man''s bed! Matthew initially didn''t want Willow to do anything bad to them because Louis was his younger brother. But now, he thought they deserved to suffer the consequences of their actions even if Willow took their video and exposed it. "Please let go of me, Mr. Mayer!" Willow eximed. She felt embarrassed enough because of the sounds and sights outside. When Matthew got closer to her, she felt extremely awkward. He didn''t respond. Instead, he turned sideways and grabbed the bathroom door handle. Willow tensed. She suspected he intended to open the door and shove her out. Unexpectedly, Matthew closed the door rather than opening it. Because the bathroom door was of high quality, he was able to close it quietly with a little trick. He lowered his head and stared at Willow''s face with an intense gaze. He had never seen her wear heavy makeup before because she rarely used makeup. He thought she was already gorgeous without makeup. She was like a flower emerging from the water.. Chapter 352 However, she looked more attractive after applying makeup. Her bright red lips made her skin'' appear fair, like crystal. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Regardless of how indifferent he was, his mood fluctuated slightly as he ve noticed her nervousness. He wanted to kiss and hold her! "Be my woman, Willow! Otherwise, I''ll hand you over to them right now?? Your efforts would be in vain!" he said, The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Not only would her efforts be in vain, but Skyler and Louis were both vicious. They would never let Willow leave the private room alive if they found out she had witnessed their secret romance. "Willow, I don''t have much patience. I''ll only give you a few seconds to think about it! If you keep being stubborn, you''ll never change your fate!" Matthew understood how despicable it was to threaten a defenseless woman with such demands. Although he had never been kind, he despised threatening a woman in such unsavory ways. But he had no other choice. He wanted Willow so much that his heart ached. She was like a spell that lingered in his mind, showing up in his dreams constantly. Matthew had always been proud of his remarkable self-control. So, he was upset and furious at himself for having such an insaneck of control. He was confident that he wouldn''t fall in love with Willow. He expected to be less enthusiastic after sleeping with her. And he wouldn''t be any less like himself. "Don''t touch me, Mr. Mayer!" Willow didn''t want to alert Skyler and Louis outside, but she didn''t want Matthew to seed either. She then trod on his foot without hesitation. Taking advantage of his stunned moment, she quickly got out of his grasp. The bathroom was too small. She had nowhere to escape from him. She wanted to rush out and stay far away from him. But Skyler and Louis were outside. If she went out, her situation would be even more dangerous. "Willow Sanford, do you want to do it the hard way?" Without giving Willow any chance to escape, Matthew pressed her to the ground with force. "Let go of me! If Louis finds you here, you won''t be able to leave unscathed!" She took a deep breath and tried to keep herself calm. "Oh, is that so?" Matthew didn''t take Willow''s warning seriously. "Do you think I''m afraid of him?" Indeed, he no longer had to be cautious of Louis. After Matthew returned to the Mayers, he appeared to have done something, seizing all of the Mayers'' wealth and power. Louis, on the other hand, merely had the title of the Mayers'' second scion, but he was without any real authority. Matthew could crush Louis effortlessly. "Willow, you''re nothing but a dirty bitch!" Matthew''s eyes zed with fury, and his expression was terrifying. Willow wanted to p him. But she A Chapter 353 worried that she would make too much noise, alerting Louis and Skyler. So, she could only grit her teeth and retract her hand. He realized what she wanted to do and sneered. "Don''t act like a victim to protect your ''chastity''! If it wasn''t for your slightly pretty face. I would never want to touch you even if you threw yourself into my arms!" Willow took a deep breath and attempted to stay calm, but her voice ¦¯¦° still trembled as she said, "I''ve told you many times. If I like a man, I''m willing to give myself to him even if he doesn''t give me anything. "I''m willing to live and die with him without leaving him. Simrly, I won''t pay attention to the man I dislike even if he pays me. "You''re so pointless to force a woman to like you when she clearly despises you!¡± "Willow!" Because Matthew was enraged, he couldn''t help but raise his voice. It was fortunate that he had shut the door tightly. Skyler and Louis didn''t hear him. "Do you dare to repeat it?" "I said I despise you! Please stop humiliating yourself!" Willow said Matthew''s expression darkened as he became increasingly irritated. Chapter 354Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Willow had once again made it clear that she loathed him. Matthew didn''t understand why he was inferior to Zayn and Kenan. She was willing to do everything nasty to please other men. But when it came to him, she pretended to be a woman who valued her dignity! He found her disgusting. As wickedness formed in his heart, his remarks grew colder and meaner. "Do you think I have a crush on you, Willow?" "I just hope that you won''t shamelessly pester me anymore after we have a deal!" Willow sweated profusely as she saw Matthew go insane again. Skyler and Louis had no intention of leaving the room. Willow had no way of defending herself against Matthew''s threat when she couldn''t go out. But she didn''t want to be his woman! Even when they went through thick and thin in the dungeon, Willow never thought that she would be Matthew''s woman one day. "Matthew, you may continue if you want to force me to death again!" she said. Matthew stiffened. He stared at Willow, his increasingly cold eyes filled with uncontroble rage for a moment. He gritted his teeth and wanted to say, "Go die if you dare to! A dirty bitch like you deserves to die miserably!" But he couldn''t say that. Because he was afraid she would die. She would truly kill herself. When he forced herst time, she tried tomit suicide by slitting her wrist. He would never forget the sight of her blood that day. Matthew tightened his fist and swung it down hard. Willow thought he was going to hit her and subconsciously closed her eyes. Surprisingly, he only hit the ground near her. "Willow!" Matthew raised his face to stare at her, and at that moment he looked like a beast falling into an abyss with no way out. He muttered, "Why? Why..."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Willow hadn''t expected Matthew to ask such a question. She was perplexed. How could she know what he wanted to say if he didn''t finish his sentence? "Why do you like others but hate me? Why!" he asked. By the end of his sentence, Matthew''s voice had be hoarse, as if someone had choked his throat. Chapter 214 He groaned in desperation. Willow didn''t respond right away but lowered her eyes and stared at her left hand. The bandage on her left hand was soaked with blood again. It was time for her to change it. Thinking of that, she slowly untied the thick bandage, She winced in pain when she removed the innermostyer of the bandage, which was stuck together with pus and blood. She couldn''t help but frown slightly, Willow raised her hand and said, her voice tinged with mockery, "Mr. m Mayer, I don''t have masochistic M e tendencies. Try to imagine it. Would you have a crush on me if I kept torturing you for no reason and chopped off one of your fingers?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 355 Chapter 355 "You wouldn''t! Unless you''re crazy!" Willow said. Matthew narrowed his eyes. He wanted to curse Willow again. But when he saw her left hand, which was bloody and missing her little finger, he swallowed those curses. She was right. A normal person wouldn''t have masochistic tendencies. How could she have a crush on a man who repeatedly bullied and mistreated her? Unless she was insane. Matthew no longer wanted to force Willow. He stood up from the ground in embarrassment, wanting to rush outside to calm himself down. But thinking that Skyler and Louis were still outside, he came to a halt at the door. After he let her go, she let out a long sigh of relief. But she didn''t dare to put down her guard. She stood up and swiftly moved to the corner, keeping a safe distance from him. Seeing her treating him like a ferocious beast, he couldn''t help but smile self- mockingly. He stared at her with aplicated gaze. But in the end, he helplessly realized that no matter how much she hated or rejected him and wanted to stay away from him, he still wanted her. Matthew felt panicked when he got such a thought. Some emotions were hidden in his heart, and he couldn''t sense them clearly. But vaguely, he could feel that there was something more about her that drew him in. He wondered what exactly it was. He was unable to express his emotions clearly since the feelings between people were too abstract and hazy. As if a century had passed, he slowly withdrew his gaze from Willow''s hand and spoke piously, "I''m sorry, Willow." She was stunned. It wasn''t the first time Matthew apologized to her, but it was the first time he did it with such sincerity. He was like family to her, so she never regarded him as a real enemy. Even if he had harmed her, she couldn''t hate him after hearing his sincere apology. With a hint of fatigue, Willow sighed slightly and responded calmly, "What''s past is past, Mr. Mayer." Whether it was four years of hardships together or his harsh treatment, everything had passed. From now on, they were only strangers. After Willow said that, they fell into an awkward silence. She was a little worried that Skyler and Louis mighte to take a shower after they had sex. She had been focusing on the situation outside in anxiety and was no longer paying attention to Matthew. Suddenly, Skyler received a call. She seemed to have an important matter and needed to leave immediately. Chapter 355 She didn''t even have time to take a shower. Hastily, she put on her m other clothes, touched up her makeup briefly, and left the private room. Louis only focused his attention on Skyler. Since she had already left, he naturally wasn''t in the mood stay alone in the empty room. Hezily put on his clothes and waited for her to go out for a while before leaving. After they both left, Willow didn''t go out right away because she was om worried they would return. So, she stayed in the bathroom for a few more minutes before opening the door and walking out. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Matthew didn''t intend to stay any longer too. ncing at the filthy bed, he felt disgusted and quickly walked out of the private room. Willow didn''t dare to dy either. She hurriedly took back the two pinhole cameras, kept them in her handbag, and dashed downstairs. Splendid Paradise was in a convenient location, with taxis avable even at night. When Willow arrived at the entrance, she noticed a taxi and promptly stopped it. She was eager to get back to her small apartment to export the video and upload it to the inte. She was ratherpassionate. She didn''t want to contaminate the public''s eyes with this dirty video. So, she pixted the roughly two-minute video she edited. Even if she blurred the video, everyone could see how disgusting Skyler and Louis'' rtionship was once they watched it. After posting the video, Willow got into bed in a good mood, waiting for the public to criticize Skyler. Still, she was aware that Skyler had always been cunning and scheming. Even if she released the video, she might not be able to bring Skyler downpletely. Willow would do her best to continue to deal with Skyler. Skyler left Splendid Paradise in a hurry because her friend who worked as a host had offered her a role, to be a substitute at an award ceremony tonight. Celeste, a super A-lister, was originally invited to present the awards. However, she had an important matter and had to rush abroad, so the organizer had no choice but to look for another celebrity to rece her. Caroline was the only female celebrity in Marley who shared Celeste''s status. The organizer, however, couldn''t invite Caroline because she was still unconscious. In the end, they could only invite A-lister Skyler, whose status was significantly lower than Celeste''s. Skyler had hoped to steal the show at this award ceremony, but she didn''t dare topete with Celeste and could only envy thetter. Unexpectedly, luck favored her. She was eventually chosen to present the awards. ording to the arrangement, Celeste was supposed to present the final grand award and only appear on stage at the end of the award ceremony. So, Skyler still had plenty of time to dress up and make herself look more stunning.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Evangeline''s work efficiency was particrly high. After receiving a call from the organizer, she had already prepared a Marleyan-style red gown for Skyler, which had recently been released by Enchanted Chapter 356 Moments. The gown was well-tailored and looked gorgeous. The hem was embroidered with several rings of rubies, making it appear particrly elegant and dignified. The one-shoulder design added ¨¤ touch of vividness to this graceful and luxurious gown, making Skyler appear fairer and prettier. She was aware that she was going to be an attraction tonight. Skyler was right. As soon as she took the stage, she became the center of attention. Listening to the fans'' excited shouts, she proudly raised her chin. She always considered herself the most noble queen. Whatever then circumstance, she was the definition of beauty as long as she was present. "Skyler, you''re the prettiest!" "Skyler! You''re our goddess!" "Skyler is the most beautiful woman in the entire universe!" Skyler was so immersed in everyone''spliments that she didn''t notice a discordant voice from the audience. "Hmm? What is this... Holy crap! This naked woman in the video looks so much like my goddess Skyler!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 357 Chapter 357 The person who spoke was a male college student. He was Skyler''s hardcore fan. Upon hearing that she would be the award presenter of the final grand award, he canceled his date with his girlfriend to y Arena of Glory and rushed over to support her. When he took out his phone to record the glorious moment of his goddess, he received a notification. Curiously, he clicked it and a video of two people in an intimate act popped up. The female lead in the video was Skyler, whom he had always regarded as a wless goddess! Although they followed and supported Skyler, they wouldn''t force her to remain unmarried and childless for the rest of her life. They were aware of her and Zayn''s deep love and bestowed genuine blessings on her. But the male lead in the video wasn''t Zayn! "What video?" The boy next to him heard that and quickly looked over. Seeing the video, he jumped out of his seat in disbelief. "Holy shit! Is there something wrong with my eyes? How is the woman in this video my goddess? No! That''s impossible! She has a fianc¨¦! She is devoted to Mr. Carter! There is no way she would sleep with another man!" The male college student holding the phone was already stiff. "I don''t think it''s possible either! Skyler is the most pure celebrity in the entertainment circle! "She is different from that scandalous Celeste! Skyler wouldn''t seduce other men!" "Hey, who are you talking about?" The majority of the audience was Celeste''s hardcore fans. Even if the unreliable Celeste broke the appointment and was unable to attend the ceremony, they wouldn''t tolerate anyone insulting their goddess. Celeste''s fans were the strongest and most cohesive group in the entertainment circle. As soon as a fan spoke up, the fans around him became agitated. "Yeah, what are you talking about? You spoke too brutally! Those male celebs are eager to spread scandals with Cece because she is charming!" "That''s right! Nobody can resist Cece''s charm!" "We don''t mind if you guys praise and support Skyler. But you went too far in praising Skyler by criticizing Cece!" "The most pure female celebrity? Everyone knows that many celebrities set their own hashtags! Only Cece reveals her true self!" When confronted with Celeste''s fans'' verbal attacks, Skyler''s fans could contradict a few words at first, but the other party''s eloquence was intimidating. In the end, Skyler''s fans were almost crushed by Chapter 357 Celeste''s fans. Although Celeste''s fans had won, they were nevertheless upset that their idol had been insulted. It happened that a fan saw Skyler''s video and immediately rushed to the center of the dispute with his phone. "Holy shit! Guys, look at your ''pure goddess'' Skyler here! You guys 1 guys m belittled Cece just now But does §å§Ò§Ú§ä your pure goddess'' always behave this way? She broadened my horizons!" "Let me see... Damn, it''s really that ''pure goddess! A celeb really can''t pretend to be pure. A fake pure Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. goddess easily loses her reputation!" Skyler''s fans certainly didn''t tolerate their goddess being ndered and insisted on defending her. "Get lost, you anti-fans! You guys nder her because you''re jealous of her!" "Skyler is the porest! Skyler is the most stunning! You guys are just envious of her!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 358 Chapter 358 "Yeah, Skyler is the purest girl in the world! Otherwise, Mr. Carter wouldn''t have a crush on her!" Celeste''s fans scoffed. "Skyler is the purest? The most stunning you say? "Has she ever looked at herself in the mirror? She''s so shameless to use her mean look topare with Cece''s beauty! I sincerely suggest that she take a good look in the mirror! Don''t overestimate her appearance!" Skyler''s fans were so outraged that they were almost impulsive. Just when they tried to argue for their idol, many fans on their side began to speak hesitantly. "The woman in the video seems to be Skyler!" The more they gazed at the woman on the video, the more she resembled their purest goddess, Skyler. They then decided not to continue debating with Celeste''s fans. Many fans took out their phones and attentively watched the video, trying to find any clue to prove that the woman in the video wasn''t Skyler. However, they found no such clues. Instead, they became increasingly convinced that the woman in the video was the same as the dazzling Skyler on the stage!Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. They even wore the same ruby watches! Following the award ceremony, there was an interview with the award winners and presenters. Tyson, Theodore, and Zayn weren''t celebrities, yet they had as many fans as the A-listers. Reporters knew that the public wanted to know more about Zayn, so when they interviewed Skyler, they asked her about him. "Ms. Dawson, I heard you and Mr. Carter are set to marry. Is that true?" "Ms. Dawson, you have been with Mr. Carter for many years. Has he ever proposed to you?" "Ms. Dawson, what''s the most romantic thing Mr. Carter has ever done for you?" "Ms. Dawson, what do you think Mr. Carter finds most attractive about you? Is it your purity that he values the most?" "Ms. Dawson, I''d like to ask a more personal question. Have you ever had any boyfriends other than Mr. Carter?" Skyler took the microphone from the host and grinned, appearing even more charming. Her voice was soft, with the unique shyness of a feminine woman. She gave a slight touch of coquettishness, instantly closing the distance between her and the reporters. "I''ve been asked a lot of questions at once. Which one of you would like me to answer first?" Chapter 358 She continued, "Well, I''ll answer your questions one by one! I''m indeed m getting married to Zayn soon. He''s nning to propose to me. He has t done many things for me. Everything he does for me is the most romantic. "What does Zayn find most attractive about me? Well, you should ask him yourself. As for boyfriends, Zayn is the first andst man in my life. I only love him!" After Skyler responded, there was a loud apuse. The reporters were about to ask her more questions to gather more information for the news. But suddenly, a man in his early 30s rushed to the stage agitatedly, holding up a phone. "Skyler! Are you the woman in this video?" Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Security guards were present at the ceremony to prevent some crazed fans from causing harm to the celebrities on stage. When that man raced onto the stage, the security guards rushed up to take him down. Skyler''s fans had always described her as friendly, gentle, and approachable. She couldn''t break her image. So, she definitely couldn''t let the security guards throw her hardcore fan off the stage in front of everyone. She passed through the reporters blocking her and approached the male fan with a sweet smile. "Hello, nice to meet you." "Skyler, the woman in the video isn''t you, right? Someone framed you!" he eximed. "What video?" Skyler maintained an elegant smile. "Could you please make it clearer? I can answer your questions." "Here is the video!" The male fan clicked on the video again agitatedly. "They all imed you slept with another man behind Mr. Carter''s back! I don''t believe you''re the woman in the video!" Skyler assumed the video was a prank and didn''t take it seriously. She continued to smile generously and softly. "I only have Zayn in my heart. Whether it''s my body or soul, I belong to him and him only!" She wanted to speak more to express her great love for Zayn. But when she saw the video, she was stunned. It was her and Louis. They were always cautious when dating. How could someone record them having sex and post it online?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Skyler''s mind went nk. She was used to pretending, but she was so shocked that she forgot to respond. Seeing her reaction, the male fan instantly realized something. Deep love could result in deep hatred. His love for Skyler had evolved into a crazed obsession, well beyond what most fans had for idols. Realizing that the goddess he had adored for so long had a dark side, he immediately changed from being a hardcore fan to an anti-fan, "You disappoint me, Skyler! I always thought you were pure and different from other celebs who followed unspoken rules! I thought you were wless, but you''re actually filthy! "You''ve been showing affection to Mr. Carter in front of the media, expressing your loyalty to him. But you''ve slept with another man! Don''t you feel disgusted? "You''re so disgusting! I''ll never follow a two-faced and dirty woman like you again!" Chapter 359 Skyler stared nkly at the video. She still couldn''t believe what she and Louis did today would be posted online. "Apologize to me, Skyler!" hard. "You deceived us! You should apologize to your fans! Apologize!" Seeing that he dared to attack Skyler, the security guards rushed over and pulled him away. The male fan felt heartbroken when the security guards held him back He could no longer push Skyler. But when he saw that she wore the same ruby watch as in the video, he struggled and kicked her wrist hard. Men were stronger, and that male fan had gone mad. His kick made Skyler''s wrist numb. She was badly hurt. One of the sides of her gown split after that male fan pushed her to the ground, and her high heels fell off. She appeared inexplicably embarrassed at this point. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 360 Chapter 360 The host quickly came to Skyler''s rescue.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. He came on stage and helped Skyler up. "The fan just now was too agitated. Skyler, are you alright?" Skyler was only concerned about how to ovee the influence of the video and replied numbly. "I''m fine." Many reporters also spotted the video on the male fan''s phone. They went online andpared the woman''s face in the video to Skyler''s. After making theparison, they couldn''t help but identify her as the woman in the video. A young female reporter was a fan who fancied Zayn''s appearance. Skyler''s betrayal of Zayn angered her. So, she grabbed her microphone and asked Skyler angrily, "Ms. Dawson, you keep saying you love Mr. Carter! Is this the way you love him?" Other reporters were concerned that they might miss out on the trending topic, so they rushed to ask, Ms. Dawson, the man in the video is Louis Mayer, right? How long have you been with him?" "Does Mr. Carter know what happened between you and Mr. Mayer?" "Ms. Dawson, do you really love Mr. Carter?" "Ms. Dawson, do you have any other men besides Mr. Mayer?" "Ms. Dawson, you''ve been exposed by such a scandal. Do you still have the nerve to ept Mr. Carter''s proposal?" "I..." Skyler backed away in panic. The reporters'' questions were so sharp that she could hardly react. She was also aware that after the video was posted online, the public had already assumed she had sex with another man behind Zayn''s back. But she was unwilling to give up her efforts after so many years of hard work. She was even more unwilling to lose her original noble and elegant image and be a public enemy, despised by everyone. Even if she was in a desperate situation, she had to make aeback! Skyler then staggered and sobbed, "You all misunderstood me! I''m not the woman in the video! I don''t know who posted such a video online, but that''s not me! "I''m not familiar with Mr. Mayer at all. I only have Zayn. I won''t do anything to betray him! Please believe me. Someone framed me on purpose!" Skyler had always considered her tears as her most effective weapon. She believed that if she cried sincerely, her fans would feel sorry and speak up for her. Unexpectedly, when her fans saw her crying, they became even angrier. "Skyler, why do you always resort to crying when you encounter problems? You should prove to us that Chapter 360 Chapter 360 The host quickly came to Skyler''s rescue. He came on stage and helped Skyler up. "The fan just now was too agitated. Skyler, are you alright?" Skyler was only concerned about how to ovee the influence of the video and replied numbly, "I''m fine." Many reporters also spotted the video on the male fan''s phone. They went online andpared the woman''s face in the video to Skyler''s. After making theparison, they couldn''t help but identify her as the woman in the video. A young female reporter was a fan who fancied Zayn''s appearance. Skyler''s betrayal of Zayn angered her. So, she grabbed her microphone and asked Skyler angrily, "Ms. Dawson, you keep saying you love Mr. Carter! Is this the way you love him?" Other reporters were concerned that they might miss out on the trending topic, so they rushed to ask, Ms. Dawson, the man in the video is Louis Mayer, right? How long have you been with him?" "Does Mr. Carter know what happened between you and Mr. Mayer?" "Ms. Dawson, do you really love Mr. Carter?" "Ms. Dawson, do you have any other men besides Mr. Mayer?" "Ms. Dawson, you''ve been exposed by such a scandal. Do you still have the nerve to ept Mr. Carter''s proposal?" "I..." Skyler backed away in panic. The reporters'' questions were so sharp that she could hardly react. She was also aware that after the video was posted online, the public had already assumed she had sex with another man behind Zayn''s back. O But she was unwilling to give up her efforts after so many years of hard work. She was even more unwilling to lose her original noble and elegant image and be a public enemy, despised by everyone. Even if she was in a desperate situation, she had to make aeback! Skyler then staggered and sobbed "You all misunderstood me! I''m not the woman in the video! I don''t know who posted such a video online, but that''s not me! "I''m not familiar with Mr. Mayer at all. I only have Zayn. I won''t do anything to betray him! Please believe me. Someone framed me on purpose!" Skyler had always considered her tears as her most effective weapon. She believed that if she cried m sincerely her fans would feel sorry and speak up for her. Unexpectedly, when her fans saw her crying, they became even angrier. "Skyler, why do you always resort to crying when you encounter problems? You should prove to us that Shunt 360 you''re not the woman in the video!" "But you can''t! We only noticed that you looked exactly like the woman in the video! You both wear the same limited edition watch!" "I..." Skyler stared at the audience in disbelief. She never thought herm hardcore fans, who praised her as a goddess, would criticize her with such contempt and disgust. It was as if they weren''t her hardcore fans, but outright anti-fans! "Skyler, you pretend to be pure, but you''ve deceived us! You''re even more disgusting than shit!" Abruptly, Skyler''s fans in the tagend audience surged onto the stage. They threw anything in their hands toward her, including fruit peels, toilet paper, paper cups, and other garbage. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Skyler tightened her grip on the microphone and bit her lip. She wanted to defend herself, but her enraged fans appeared scary as they rushed toward her. She feared they would beat her to death. When a half-filled mineral water bottle struck her head hard, she nearly fainted from the intense pain. Evangeline soon approached themotion with the security guards. She grabbed Skyler''s hand and dashed backstage. Skyler didn''t dare to stop running. She didn''t even have time to put on her high heels. She just hid backstage in embarrassment. Evangeline stood tremblingly in front of Skyler, who had dirt all over her body. "Don''t worry, Skyler. I''ll clear up your rumorster!" "No need!" Skyler clenched her fists tightly. Her panicked eyes gradually grew firm. "I''ll go back to the vi in the suburbs tonight. Find a way to bring Anson Brentwood to me!" The inte was in an uproar. In only half an hour, the video of Skyler and Louis had gone viral. Later, she used the Dawsons'' power to remove the video, but the bacsh against her grew stronger online. "I''ve always despised this kind of seductive bitch who pretends to be pure! I felt disgusted when I watched her in the video. Her fake innocence on stage makes me disgusted!" "Not only is it disgusting, I even threw up after watching it!" "Have you noticed that we can no longer find the video on the inte? She must have acted out of guilt and paid someone to remove the video!" "Skyler is the most disgusting celeb I''ve ever seen! I bet I''ll throw up every time I see her!" "Poor Mr. Carter. Despite his handsome look, he still got cheated by a bitch! I want tofort him!" "Comfort Mr. Carter +1." "Comfort Mr. Carter +2." Of course, Skyler''s moron fans hadmented to defend their goddess. It was simply that what she did was too disgusting, and the influence of anti-fans was too great. Fans who came out to speak up for her were immediately attacked. In the end, mostizens sted Skyler as a shameless woman, wishing her to leave the entertainment circle or die. Soon, her issue was a trending topic. Willow calmly turned off theputer. She had expected theizens to criticize Skyler. Skyler wouldunch a counterattack. Still, even if she found a way to fight back, manyizens would Chapter 361 continue to believe she and Louis had a secret romance. Her image of a pure goddess had been crushed. After returning to her warm bed, Willow was thinking about how to ensure her and Aaron''s safety. In the private room that night, she overheard a lot of information from Skyler and Louis'' conversation. They wanted her and Aaron to die. Even if she didn''t take the initiative to attack Skyler, they wouldn''t let her go. She was now struggling to take action. She wanted to be extremely powerful all of a sudden, but that was only her wishful thinking.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She could only work harder to make herself stronger and never give Skyler any chance to hurt her and Aaron. The night was cold and windy. After thest video conference, Zayn opened the window. The chilly wind struck his face, making his consciousness clearer. He got along nicely with Willow in the morning and enjoyed that very much. When Zayn lit a cigarette, he remembered that Willow hated the smell of cigarettes the most. So, he immediately put out the cigarette. He was still brooding over her cruel betrayal four years ago, but he m suddenly wanted to show mercy and give her another chance. Zayn felt unbelievably thrilled after making his decision. Just as he was about to call Arthur to prepare more ingredients for the meals, someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 362 Chapter 362 Liam entered the CEO''s office with his phone and nervously approached Zayn. "Boss, something happened to Ms. Dawson!" When he said that, he secretly observed Zayn''s expression. The worst thing that could happen to a man was being betrayed by his woman. If the proud Zayn discovered that his fianc¨¦e had cheated on him, he would make things very difficult for others. The first person to suffer the brunt of it must be the poor personal assistant, Liam. Despite his nervousness, he had to tell his boss the truth as a qualified special assistant. "Who''s in trouble?" Zayn was stunned. He was a little distracted just now and didn''t hear clearly who Liam was talking about. "Is it Willow?" "It''s not Ms. Sanford, but Ms. Dawson." Zayn subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it would be fine if it weren''t Willow. She had been having troubles recently, which made him a little nervous. "Boss, someone posted a video of Ms. Dawson and Mr. Mayer in bed online! Now everyone knows Ms. Dawson cheated on you!" Zayn was dumbfounded. He hadn''t expected Skyler to be linked to Louis, so he asked instinctively, "Skyler and Louis?" Liam couldn''t figure out what Zayn was thinking and didn''t know how to exin. After thinking about it, he respectfully handed over the phone.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. It would be better to let Zayn watch it by himself. Swiping the phone screen, Zayn saw the scene of Skyler and Louis having sex. He found it funny. Skyler was the woman he wanted to marry. But when he discovered her sleeping with another man, he didn''t have much reaction. Liam, on the other hand, was so frightened that he didn''t dare to speak and nervously observed Zayn. Unexpectedly, Zayn remained expressionless. Zayn was always expressionless, yet that contained all of his emotions. It was difficult for Liam to guess what he was thinking about. Liam''s heart skipped a beat as he noticed Zayn''s frown. Zayn''s expressionless face might indicate anger, so his frown would mean something much worse. Liam believed Zayn must have been furious. That was normal. Zayn''s fianc¨¦e betrayed him, making him the most famous cuckold in Havenpoint. How could he not be angry? Chapter 362 "Boss... don''t feel bad. I believe there must be some misunderstanding. Ms. Dawson loves you so much. She wouldn''t betray you. She must have a reason." Zayn was indeed upset, but not because of Skyler. He was angry at Willow. Looking at the joyful Louis in the video, he couldn''t help but recall the e scene from four years ago. "Louis Mayer!" Liam grew frightened after hearing Zayn''s angry tone. Just as he was about tofort his poor boss, Zayn''s phone rang. It was Evangeline who called him. As soon as he picked it up, her panicked voice came through "Help, Mr. Garter Skylermitted suicide! §± The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 363 Chapter 363 Chapter 363 Skyler couldn''t bear the humiliation andmitted suicide by taking sleeping pills. After confirming the destination, Zayn hung up the phone, took the car keys, and rushed to the hospital. His eldest cousin Joel''s newly opened private hospital was of high quality and maintained strict confidentiality, so no paparazzi surrounded the hospital entrance. When Zayn arrived, Skyler was still in the emergency room. Looking at the red light outside the emergency room, he realized he wasn''t particrly nervous. But he wanted Skyler to live. After all, she was his savior and lost a kidney for him. Although he didn''t love her, he hoped to live up to her deep love for him and give her a happy ending. He waited outside the emergency room for nearly two hours until the door slowly opened. When the doctor spotted Zayn, he hurriedly went over and said, "Mr. Carter, we performed a gastricvage on Ms. Dawson. She''s now out of danger, but she''s rtively weak." Zayn stepped forward and looked at Skyler, who was lying motionless on the hospital bed. She looked pale as she frowned in pain. He couldn''t help but recall her sickly pale appearance when he awoke from the vehicle ident. At that time, she sold a kidney to pay for his surgery fees, to save him from bing disabled. Before him. she could take a good rest, she dragged her frail body to take care of him. CD Zayn''s heart softened when he recalled that. After Skyler was pushed into the ward, he reached out and gently held her hand. C "Don''t do stupid things, Skyler! No matter who you choose to be with, I want you to be happy and healthy." As if sensing Zayn''s presence, Skyler slowly opened her eyes. Her sickness wasn''t fake. She was indeed ufortable. She had nned tomit suicide by slicing her wrist to present the scenario well, but deceiving others in this way proved to be difficult. If she sliced it shallowly, it would appear fake; if she cut deeply.. Holding the knife, Skyler thought she couldn''t be so cruel to herself. After much thought, she decided to take the risk and take sleeping pills. She felt that taking sleeping pills was simr to sleeping. Even if the doctor rescued her, she was unlikely to feel the pain. Unexpectedly, despite the small amount of sleeping pills she took, she still needed gastricvage. Skyler awoke when the doctor did the gastricvage on her. That feeling was so horrible that she would never take sleeping pills again in her life. Chapter 363 2/2 After the gastricvage, she still felt like a tube was violently entering her throat, which was excruciatingly painful. "Zayn..." Skyler called out weakly with reddish eyes. "Take good care of yourself, Skyler. Don''t harm yourself again! "Zayn, I wanna die!" She cried as she said that. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Skyler shrieked, "Why did you save me, Zayn? I''d rather be dead right now!" "Skyler, stop saying such things!" Zayn clutched Skyler''s hand tightly, worried that she might go over the edge and hurt herself. She implored miserably, "Zayn, I''ve lost everything-my reputation, my dignity! I might as well die! I don''t want to live anymore.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. "Just let me die. Please, Zayn! That woman in the video was not me. I was set up, and now, everyone thinks I''ve done those outrageous things with Louis! "Everyone thinks I''m some filthy harlot and treats me no better than a sewerage rat! You know I''ve always wanted to live with my head held high. I have too much pride to live like this!" Zayn stared at her and vowed solemnly, "Skyler, I promise I''ll take care of that video, but you have to promise me you''ll live, and live well." He couldn''t care less who she had slept with. By putting out the scandal caused by that video, he was simply returning her the favor he owed her years ago. "Do you think I was the woman in that video too, Zayn?" Skyler shook her head belligerently as she buried her face in her hands, sobbing. "It wasn''t me! Zayn, I swear that woman wasn''t me! "You have to believe me, Zayn! You''re the only man I''ve ever been with, I swear this on my life! How could I have done something so filthy with Louis? "Someone set me up! Someone''s out to get me! Please don''t fall for their trick, Zayn. Please don''t think of me as a tramp who gets in bed with anyone!" O "Skyler, I''ve never thought of you that way," Zayn said patiently. "I promise I''ll look into this and clear your name for you." "You don''t believe me, Zayn!" Skyler''s tears streamed down her cheeks like rivulets, and her voice cracked as she added, "I can tell you''re justforting me. You don''t think I''m innocent at all!" She sat up and drew her knees to her chest, looking small and vulnerable. "What do I have to do to make you believe me, Zayn? Do you even know how disgusted I am with myself? "I was presenting an award at the award ceremony this evening. All my fans who imed to love me before went crazy and started throwing trash at me! They sttered me with garbage! "I can''t help feeling like I''ve been/covered in filth since then! I know I haven''t betrayed you, but I felt like I was covered in sewage. "I went home and scrubbed myself raw, but I still feel filthy. I''m disgusting and repulsive. That''s how I will feel for the rest of my life!" Zayn pulled her into his arms and murmured, "You''re not filthy, Skyler. You''re a proper youngdy!" Skyler sobbed, her tears falling harder. Suddenly, she looked up and stared at Zayn with a fanatical gleam Chapter 364 in her eyes. "Zayn... My darling Zayn, did you mean what you said? "You can''t turn around and think I''m repulsive after this! I will not allow it! If you do I won''t have any reason to live! 2/2 "Don''t leave me, Zayn. Stay with me forever, I beg you. I don''t love Louis or any other man besides you!" Zayn patted Skyler''s back soothingly as he reassured her, "I promise I won''t leave you." After he made the promise, Skyler wiped her tears as steely resolven glimmered in her eyes. She bit her NO lower lip and said slowly, "Zayn, I actually have an idea on how I can clear my name." With that, she slithered out of Zayn''s embrace and quickly stripped off her clothes baring every inch of her skin to him. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Zayn did not expect Skyler to pull a move like that. He gawked at her in surprise. It wasn''t like he could have averted his gaze when she was standing buck naked in front of him. The irony of the moment was not wasted on him. Skyler was his fianc¨¦e, the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with, yet he did not feel even the slightest bit of desire for her even as she bared her skin at him. Zayn reckoned he would feel the same way about a pig hung up at the butcher''s storefront. In all fairness, Skyler''s figure was as stunning as her face. Zayn simply was not attracted to her at all. It was different with Willow. For some reason, the control Zayn prided himself on having would always slip whenever he was around Willow. She could have bundled herself up inyers of clothing and he would still want to tear those fabrics away so he could get a glimpse of her skin. "Skyler..." Zayn began patiently as he bent over to pick up the jacket Skyler had discarded on the floor. He stepped forward and draped it over her chivalrously. However, Skyler shrugged off the jacket and pressed a hand to the skin above her right hip, bitterness shing in her misty eyes. She took a step back and let her hand drop. "Zayn, look at me! Take a good, long look at me! I am not the woman from the video! "I had a kidney taken out, and I have the scar to prove it. There''s no way for me to remove this scar even if I wanted to. "I''ve seen that video, Zayn. The woman in that video didn''t have a scar at all! She couldn''t have been me! She couldn''t! "You have to believe me, Zayn! I''m innocent! Someone set me up!" At the mention of this, Zayn''s gaze flickered to the long scar that ran along the skin above Skyler''s right hip. The long scar was hard to miss. While Zayn had not paid much attention to the video, he had seen enough to notice that the woman in the video had wless skin, unlike Skyler. Even if the woman in the video bore a strong resemnce to Skyler, there was no way they were the same person. Chapter 365 2/2 That being said, Zayn wasn''t particrly ted or relieved to learn that the woman in the video was not Skyler. He didn''t particrly care if she had slept with another man, either. But seeing the scar that ran along her abdomen reminded Zayn of how she had stuck by him during his hardest times. He owed her for that, and he would return the favor. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "Don''t worry, Skyler. I won''t let anyone get away with ruining your reputation!" Zayn threw the jacket over her and covered her modesty, adding firmly, "Anyone whoys a finger on you will have me to answer to!" "Zayn..." Skyler''s tears streamed past her cheeks, seemingly moved by Zayn''s promise even as sadness filled her eyes. She sniffed and feigned a nervous look as she pointed out, "I believe the only way I can clear my name is for everyone to see this scar on me. "I''ve been too proud to bare my skin to the public and show them my scar, which was why I''d rather die as a harlot than clear my name. "But now that I''ve been saved, I want to keep living. Zayn, I want to lear my name. hold a press conference tomorrow and show them my scar. "Don''t worry, Zayn. I won''t strip naked before the press. I''ll show them the scar and nothing else. "But do you think that''s too bold of me? Will you think I''m some filthy woman who''s so thick-skinned that she''d strip for anyone?" Zayn said gravely, "I told you, Skyler. You''ll always be the purest youngdy I''ve ever met!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Skyler was so happy to hear Zayn''s solemn promise that her heart might fly out of her chest. She also secretly praised herself foring up with such a brilliant n. In truth, Skyler had never sold her kidney to save Zayn. As such, her abdomen had never been scarred from surgery. The scar she had shown Zayn was stage makeup that had been painted on a few hours ago. Anson Brentwood was the best makeup artist abroad. The scars he painted on his subjects looked so much like the real thing, they could have fooled anyone. Considering the favor Anson owed Skyler previously, he was happy to help when she asked him to draw a scar on her abdomen. Presently, Skyler gently grazed the puckered lines of the fake scar that ran along her skin. She figured she should get a real scar, just to be safe.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. "Skyler, get some rest. I''lle by to see you tomorrow," Zayn said. "Zayn!" Before Zayn could reach the door, Skyler caught up to him and clutched his arm tightly. The jacket he had draped over her slipped from her frame, revealing every inch of her skin. Right now, they were separated only by Zayn''s clothes. Skyler''s soft hands tightened their grip on his shirt as she pleaded, "Zayn, can''t you stay with me tonight? I don''t want to be alone. I''m scared. "What if you think differently of me once you step out that door? Please don''t think of me as a filthy tramp, Zayn. If you do, my life will lose all meaning." Zayn was not ustomed to having someone intrude upon his personal space like this. He instinctively pushed Skyler away as he said, "Skyler, I told you, I''ll never think of you as filthy." He closed his eyes slowly before opening them again. What was this feeling swirling in his chest? Whatever it was, it bordered on disgust. Zayn felt as if a b of raw meat had been thrown at him and clung to his clothes. It was a strange sensation. He knew he shouldn''tpare Skyler, who had risked it all to save his life, to a b of raw meat, but his disgust overwhelmed his voice of reason. "Zayn, I can tell you''re disgusted by me!" Skyler''s tears, which had stopped not too long ago, began to fall again. "You may not want to admit it, but I know you''re disgusted by me! "I know you''ve been seeing Lolo again! You can''t let go of her, and because of that, you refuse to touch me! Chapter 366 2/2 "Don''t you know how that breaks my heart? I''m not saying Lolo''s bad for you. "I just don''t understand why I''ve gone through so much and saved myself for you, only for you to love Lolo in the end! She''ll only hurt you. "This is not fair, Zayn. It''s not fair to me!" Zayn said softly, "Skyler..." Indeed, he owed Skyler far too much. "Zayn, please, I''m begging you. Even if you can''t let go of Lolo, please don''t cast me aside all the time," Skyler pleaded, tightening her arms around Zayn like he was her only beacon of hope and faith. Before he could say anything, she added, "Could you please let me have a child with you, Zayn?" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 367 Chapter 367 Zayn knew Skyler''s request was not unreasonable, but he simply couldn''t fulfill it. "Skyler, you''re not well right now. You need to rest," Zayn said gently but firmly as he pried Skyler''s arms off him and quickly opened the door. He left the hospital room in long, swift strides, making a beeline to the elevators. Skyler stood by the door like a statue, her hands gripping thin air. She was in such a daze that she forgot to put on the clothes she had discarded on the floor.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. It wasn''t until Evangeline came through the door that Skyler returned to her senses. With a maniacal rage, Skyler began putting on her clothes. She gritted her teeth so hard that she could grind them into dust, and the hatred in her eyes made her look like some creature from hell. "Willow!" she snarled, her voice dripping with menace and sending chills down Evangeline''s spine. Evangeline asked bracingly, "Is there anything you need me to do, Skyler?" Skyler seethed, "I''ll hold a press conference tomorrow to clear my name! And I want to destroy Willow''s reputation entirely! "Even if she had nothing to do with the video this time, I''ll find a way to pin it on her. I want her dead! I want her soul ripped into pieces!" "Don''t worry, Skyler. Leave the press conference to me," Evangeline said. She was Skyler''s most loyal subordinate, but even she was frightened by Skyler''s feral and menacing expression. Evangeline then excused herself to call the press and bolted out of Skyler''s sight with her phone in hand. After snapping at Evangeline, Skyler turned to throw her pillow on the ground. When that did little to quell the rage boiling in her, she grabbed her phone and dialed Louis'' number. Louis picked up almost immediately. "Baby, now that everyone knows about us, why don''t we just make things official and tell the world about it?" "Make things official, my ass!" Skyler was so angry that she swore. "If you tell anyone about us, we''re over! "Okay, okay! I won''t say a word. I''ll do anything you ask of me as long as it makes you happy, my darling Skyler," Louis crooned on the other line. Skyler snapped, "I want Willow dead! I can''t wait around any longer. I want her dead right now! Help me end her existence, Louis!" Louis couldn''t bear to hear or see Skyler so upset, so he quicklyforted her, "I promise, Skyler, I''ll get rid of Willow by tomorrow evening! "You can skin me alive if I don''t kill her this time." Chapter 367 2/2 Louis'' promise appeased Skyler. She would turn the tables in her favor and celebrate Willow''s death. Tomorrow will be a day tomemorate! Meanwhile, Willow didn''t feel like making breakfast that morning. Her left arm was as good as disabled during the four years Skyler-andm Louis had imprisoned and tortured her. It was only thanks to Moses'' treatment that Willowregained some use of her left arm, albeit just a little. However, the pain that shot through her arm thanks to Matthew''s m trampling prevented her from moving it. As such, Willow washed up and headed to the diner just around the neighborhood for breakfast. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 368 Chapter 368 1/2 Willow had been following the news surrounding Skyler''s recent video scandal. While waiting for her breakfast order, she scrolled through thetest entertainment updates. The scandal had been left stewing for a night, and the bacsh Skyler received had only worsened. The waiter set Willow''s food down. Willow was just about to put her phone aside and indulge in breakfast when she identally clicked on a video. It was a live broadcast of the press conference Skyler had scheduled this morning. Willow was admittedly impressed with Skyler''s resilience. For someone who had a melodramatic breakdown and attempted to take her own life by consuming sleeping pills the night before, Skyler looked surprisingly well-rested, to her makeup artist''s credit. Skyler donned a white dress for the press conference this morning. She had always been good at ying up her innocence, and her ivory visage made her look pure and untainted. The video scandal had be groundbreaking news overnight, and the city''s press were vying to get the most exclusive scoop of the day. The moment Skyler showed up before the cameras, the reporters swarmed around her and pelted her with questions. "Ms. Dawson, by holding a press conference today, are you admitting that you are the woman in that video?" "Ms. Dawson, what does Mr. Carter make of the scandal? Have you two broken up?" "Ms. Dawson, do you have any ns on going out officially with Mr. Mayer?" "Ms. Dawson, looking back on the time you were beloved by all and regaled as the industry''s purest woman, do you find this situation ironic?" Skyler did not falter at the reporters'' endless stream of questions. She looked wounded, her wlessly made-up face conveying her heartache as if the world had forsaken her. Skyler leaned forward slightly and said into the microphone, "I will never break up with Zayn, nor will I ever go out with Mr. Mayer, because I am not the woman in that video! "While I''ve never imed myself to be the purest woman in the industry, I would never do anything so unconscionable!" Upon hearing this, one of the few reporters who were buzzing with questions demanded, Unconscionable? Ms. Dawson, you slept with another man behind Mr. Carter''s back! How is that not unconscionable?"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "That''s right, Ms. Dawson! You can''t expect us to believe you! Do you have any proof that you aren''t the woman in that video?" Chapter 368 2/2 Skyler met the reporters'' contemptuous gaze as she enunciated, "I do have proof." Without another word, she reached a hand toward Evangeline. Evangeline understood the gesture and immediately ced a pair of scissors in Skyler''s hand. Turning back to the microphone, Skyler said, "I''ve been in showbiz for long enough to have my fair share of bacsh, but I have been praised as well. "But no matter how others have hurt me, I have never med any of you because I know you didn''t do it on purpose! "What I don''t understand is why I am painted as the viin time and time again even when I''ve done nothing wrong!" As she said this, she flicked the scissors and cut the bodice of her dress. The reporters had no idea what Skyler was doing. Stumped by her actions, they stayed quiet and waited to see what she would do next. Skyler continued cutting the bodice until her midriff was bared. She stood tall and straight like a proud martyr who would stand for no insult. Surveying the crowd of reporters, she said, "I am not the woman in the video, and the proof you seek is this scar that runs along the side of my abdomen! "The woman in the video did not have a scar like this, but I do because of an old injury!" Skyler thought the reporters would be convinced once she showed them e the scar but she was wrong. A young female reporter snorted and remarked, "A scar, huh? Stage makeup has been getting more advanced these days. "A proper makeup artist could paint ten scars, that look like the real thing if they wanted to! Ms. Dawson, if this dto! seam is real, surely you wouldn''t mind. getting a doctor to verify it and support your im." Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Willow stared at her phone screen and silently praised the female reporter for her clever questioning. She knew for a fact that Skyler did not have a scar running along her abdomen, which made her heroic tale of selling a kidney for Zayn aplete joke. That being said, Willow also knew Skyler was cunning and would not falter so easily. In the broadcast, Skyler appeared stunned for a moment as something like fear flickered in her eyes. However, Skyler knew there was no backtracking. She had gotten this far with her lie, and so she would continue it. She replied to the reporter congenially, "That''s a brilliant idea. With a doctor''s confirmation that this scar is real, I can finally clear my name." Skyler was the heiress of the Dawson family and Zayn''s fianc¨¦e. Not wanting to cross Skyler, the female reporter decided to back off with the questions and said, "I was only kidding, Ms. Dawson. The scar looks too real for it to be stage makeup. "I am curious, though, as to how you got that scar in the first ce. Female celebrities such as yourself are usually particr about their appearances. "I..." Skyler bit her lip hesitantly as if gued by a serious dilemma. Just then, Evangeline rushed out to shield Skyler, like she couldn''t stand to see Skyler so torn. "Please stop with your questions! Don''t you guys have your answers already? "What more do you want from Skyler? Isn''t it bad enough that she tried to take her own lifest night by swallowing sleeping pills? "If you have any more questions, let me answer them for you! If it''s the story behind this scar you want, then so be it. "Skyler only has one kidney at the moment! There''s your story!" Shock registered on the reporters'' faces. "What? She only has one? Was she terribly ill before?" e kidney? What happened to the other "Yeah, how would a youngdy like her lose a kidney? Besides, she looks healthy to me!" Skyler was flustered as she tugged on Evangeline''s arm, hoping to stop thetter from spilling any more details. "Evangeline, stop! I don''t want them to know ab this." Evangeline shrugged off Skyler''s vise-like grip. "I know you don''t want to use Mr. Carter as a tool for publicity stunt, Skyler, but I need to tell everyone the truth. "I can''t stand hearing everyone me you for something you didn''t do!" Evangeline then turned to address the reporters, "Four years ago, Skyler sold one of her kidneys to save Chapter 369 Mr. Carter''s life. 2/2 "At the time, Mr. Carter returned to the country penniless to start his business. He got into a terrible car crash and required immediate surgery, without which he would be permanently disabled. "Skyler had no idea of Mr. Carter''s identity, and she didn''t have the money to help him. To get the money. for his surgery, she sold one of her kidneys!" Willow snorted at the shock and other unreadable emotions flickering past the reporters'' faces. As expected of the manager of the queen of the silver screen, Evangeline had such talent for acting that it was a shame she was not a celebrity. E Growing bored with Skyler''s strategic performance and Evangeline''s mplimentary act, Willow exited the broadcast and returned to scrolling through the news. She had expected Skyler to find a way to get through the reporters''n questions, so she wasn''t the least bit disappointed in how the press conference had turned out. The live broadcast of Skyler''s press conference began to gain traction on the inte. Having seen the broadcast, the fans who had been disappointed in Skyler after the intense bacsh yesterday were starting to feel sorry for her. Their loyalty to Skyler was fortified by their sympathy for her.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "See, I knew Skyler was an angel! How could someone as wonderful as her betray Mr. Carter?" "Skyler''s dedication to Mr. Carter is so moving! Gosh, I''m crying over their love story. She sacrificed her health to help the man she loves get back on his feet. This love will stand the test of time!" Chapter 370 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Skyler''s fans rallied to support her. "Those who condemned Skyler should apologize! A goddess like her doesn''t deserve to be besmirched like this!" "I pledge my loyalty to Skyler for life! I will always root for her!" "Skyler, you''re the best! We''ll always stand by you!" Skyler''s fans defended and praised her so much that it became annoying. Willow was getting heartburn just from looking at thements, so she didn''t bother scrolling through the rest of them. Willow had expected Skyler to rebuild her reputation and gain her fans'' support through the press conference today. However, some fans were still skeptical and level-headed enough to question Skyler''s side of the story. A viewermented, "Don''t spin the whole video was wearing the same limited-editioney-selling incident out of the blue! The woman in the watch as Skyler!Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "As far as I can recall, only three of those watches exist in the world. One was gifted to Wynn by Mr. Carter, another was bought by the princess of Fernhallow, and the third is the one Skyler uses. "So where did the woman in the video get her limited-edition watch?" Another usatoryment popped up. "Skyler can hold all the press conferences she wants and feign her innocence, but I still think she''s the woman in the video. "It''s not like she went to get a doctor''s confirmation on whether the scar is real." "Am I the only one who noticed that the woman in the video had huge feet? If I remember correctly, Skyler is known in the industry for her big feet! Haha! "I bet she''s the woman in the video! Only her fans are stupid enough to believe otherwise!" Willow sputtered at theizens''me As amusing as thements were, they were true. Skyler did have big and wide feet. Sometimes, wearing size nine-and-a-half shoes pinched her toes. Still, Willow had to admit Skyler''seback was perfectly executed. By ying the victim in front of the press and spinning a sob story, Skyler had propelled her reputation in the entertainment industry to new heights. That being said, Willow was still pleased with how the video scandal had turned out. Someizens were already skeptical of Skyler''s statements and found her pretentious. If another scandal hit her, it would be much harder for her to clear her name and regain control of the narrative. Willow happily finished her breakfast and headed to Dreamscape Entertainment''s shooting set. Chapter 370 2/2 She would take costume photos and film a short promotional video for Arena of Glory today. Her hands were not as swollen anymore, but the wounds were still jarring. Thankfully, her gown for the promotional video came with long, flowing sleeves that hid her wounds. Willow would be portraying the role of Nephelle, one of the characters from Arena of Glory. In the initial script, Nephelle was meant to swing barefoot in a floweryndscape. At nightfall, when the moon was high, Nephelle would flutter down from the swing and dance in the silvery moonlight for her beloved. However, the ywright must have been inspired at thest minute to make Nephelle wear shoes instead of En swinging barefoot. Willow wasn''tining. After all, she thought it would berathen m strange to be barefoot while filming the scene. Eric told her to show up at the set before 9:00 am in the morning. She arrived ten minutes ahead. She had only just walked onto the set when she noticed Zayn, Skylen m Matthew and Wilhelmina entering from the other side. Willow cursed her timing and wondered why she was so unlucky as to run into these jerks on set. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 371 Chapter 371 1/2 Chapter 371 Willow had no ns on ruining her day, so she looked away from the four eyesores and headed straight for the studio. The studio was thergest in Havenpoint, with different sets and boothsid out. Wilhelmina and Skyler had shown up at the studio today for photoshoots and to film promotional videos too. Skyler was miffed to lose out on the endorsement for Arena of Glory, but she worked hard and scored an endorsement deal for another game.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Wilhelmina, on the other hand, snagged the supporting role for the endorsement deal courtesy of Skyler. Zayn hadn''t intended toe to the studio with Skyler today. He wouldn''t have wasted his time if Liam hadn''t told him Willow would be at the studio too. While Willow avoided Wilhelmina and Skyler like the gue, they did not return her favor. Although Wilhelmina had recovered from her temporary blindness, she couldn''t help feeling as if her response time was slower since she took a hit to the back of her head. She walked up to Willow elegantly, her eight-inch heels clicking against the floor, and said crisply, "Lolo! Fancy running into you here. I''m sorry about what happened in the cer the other day. "It was wrong of me to do that, and I''m truly sorry for it. Will you forgive me?" Willow was too bright to fall for Wilhelmina''s tricks. "What do you hope to achieve by putting on this goody -two-shoes act in front of me, Wilhelmina? Would you forgive me if I had someone chop off your fingers and leave scars all over your body? "I doubt it. So do me a favor and stop irritating me with your false contrition. People have gone to hell for less!" "Willow, you little-" Wilhelmina flushed angrily as she red at Willow with hatred in her eyes. Remembering Matthew was with her, Wilhelmina concealed her malice and continued piteously, "I didn''t mean for you to get hurt, Lolo. I promise I''ll make it up to you!" Willow was getting sick of Wilhelmina''s pretenses, She shot Wilhelmina a cold look as she said, "If I caused you to be permanently disabled and live the rest of your life in agony, would you forgive me if I said I didn''t mean to do it? "Cut the act, Wilhelmina. Only idiots beyond saving would believe a two-faced liar like you!" "Willow!" Matthew growled. He hadn''t missed Willow''s pointed remark that hinted at him being the idiot beyond saving. "Oh, are you reminding me of my name again, Mr. Mayer? Thank you, but I''m not so stupid as to not know what my name is!" Willow snapped. Chapter 371 2/2 With that, she turned on her heels and strode toward the booth designated for her photoshoot and filming today. Her ankle still hurt, but she could move effortlessly thanks to the ointment Moses had given her, which worked wonders. Matthew was left fuming after Willow stormed off, the vein near his temple throbbing. Zayn, on the other hand, couldn''t help the smile that curled on the corner of his mouth. For some reason, it gave him a rush to hear Willow put Matthew in his ce. Matthew, the idiot beyond saving, was so tense with anger thatcher did not soften even as Wilhelmina clutched his arm. She said, "Matt, the director for our shoot today won''t be here for another hour due to personal reasons. "Why don''t we drop by Lolo''s booth and see how her shoot goes instead of waiting around here? I could find a chance to tell her how sorry I am about the other day." Matthew had not looked away from Willow since he saw her in the studio, so he was more than happy to ept Wilhelmina''s suggestion. Meanwhile, Skyler was not inclined to let Zayn go with Matthew and m Wilhelmina, She was worried he might lose control of himself around Willow. Skyler thought it was rather foolish of Wilhelmina to want to parade m Matthew in front of willow, especially since Wilhelmina was afraid that Willow might steal her man. Honestly, how did Wilhelmina expect to keep a tight leash on Matthew at this rate? The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 372 Chapter 372 "Zayn, why don''t we take a stroll outside?" Skyler asked. However, her suggestion fell on deaf ears, as Zayn had already lifted his foot and fallen in step behind Matthew as they made their way to Willow''s booth. Skyler clenched her jaw, but she couldn''t throw Zayn out of the studio, so she followed him begrudgingly. Nightingale Corporation had deep pockets, and it showed.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. They hired one of the top directors in the country, Harvey Chastain, for the promotional video. As for the photo shoot, Nightingale Corporation had the international award- winning photographer, Cole Gnis, at the helm. Over ten costumes had been tailor-made by world-famous designers for the character of Nephelle alone. Skyler and Wilhelmina knew of Nightingale Corporation''s wealth, but they were still surprised to see the costumes they had prepared for Willow. It wasmon for costumes to be subpar in video game promotional shoots, as per the industry''s standards. More often than not, small-time video gamepanies would rent costumes and essories from costume studios. The costumes would look like a cheap rendering of what the characters wore in the games, and the rough workmanship usually showed on camera. However, there was nothing rough or cheap about the costumes Nightingale Corporation provided for Willow. Every piece was bespoke and luxurious, handmade with an attention to detail. The costume that caught Wilhelmina''s eye was a bright red gown with a plunging neckline, modified to suit the game character''s design. She had seen the gown in a fashion magazine spread. It happened to be a collector''s piece designed by Harper, the CEO of Enchanted Moments. Because the dress was tailor-made, it was the only one of its kind in the world. No woman could resist beautiful clothes. Wilhelmina had wanted the gown sinceing across it in the magazine. Unfortunately, Enchanted Moments did not make the gown for sale. She hadn''t expected Nightingale Corporation to be the one to buy it, or for it to be used for Willow''s photoshoot. As for Skyler, she was immediately drawn to a winter outfit that could very well be regarded as vogue. It featured a vintage-looking dress with blue fur trim and a quilted jacket patterned with cherry-pink blossoms. Chapter 372 2/2 Skyler would never have known how well blue and pinkplimented each other had she note across this outfit. The dress was elegant, edgy, and utterly unique. "Matt, this gown is gorgeous!" Wilhelmina pointed to the red gown and said enviously, "It''s a collector''s piece made by Harper, the genius behind Enchanted Moments! "I would be over the moon if I could wear a gown this beautiful for my video game shoot," Willow was rendered speechless by Wilhelmina''s statement, She couldn''t believe Wilhelmina was pulling this old trick again. Willow hadn''t forgotten how Wilhelmina had snatched the wedding gown she was eyeing at Enchanted Moment''s branch. This stunt was getting tiresome. Unfortunately, people like Wilhelmina spent their entire lives without even a hint of self-awareness. Matthew followed Wilhelmina''s gaze and took in the red gown with the plunging neckline hung up on the rack. He nched at the thought of Willow shooting her promotional video and popping up on the screens of countless male gamers in a dress like that. Just as Matthew was about to take the dress for Wilhelmina so thatm Willow wouldn''t get the chance to wear it, a low voice rang through the air. "Let her wear it!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 373 Chapter 373 The man who spoke wasn. Willow froze. She hadn''t expectedn, whose schedule was so tight that it was nned down to the minute, would show up to oversee the video game promotional shoot.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Wilhelmina was ted when she heard whatn said. Perhaps Wilhelmina might prove herself worthy of the endorsement deal for Arena of Glory if she performed well today. Straightening up and shingn a sweet smile, Wilhelmina said brightly, "Thank you for giving me the gown, Mr. Nightingale!" Eric felt his heart bleed as he looked at the gown. It cost nearly as much as Willow''s endorsement fee, and he couldn''t believen was just going to hand it over to someone else. However, Eric did not try to understand the inner workings ofn''s mind as he quietly took the gown off the rack and handed it to Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina beamed as if she had just won the lottery and clutched the gown in her arms. Judging by the sewn-in pearls and the heavy fabric, Wilhelmina could tell the gown had to havee at an astronomical price. Excited to unt the gown, Wilhelmina stuck her tongue out yfully at Matthew and said, "Matt, I''m going to try this on. If it fits, I''ll wear it for the shootter!" She carried the gown in her arms and practically sashayed into the fitting room. She came out a momentter wearing the gown. The gown-from its silhouette to its delicate embroidery -was wless. However, Wilhelmina could not bring out the luxurious beauty of the gown. It hung oddly from her frame and hugged her in all the wrong ces. She looked far from elegant, and her waist filled out the dress so much that the seams were close to bursting. She hadn''t even noticed that she had ripped the fabric on the back of the dress. Wilhelmina seemingly sensed that she did not look as good in the gown as she had envisioned. But there was an old saying that the clothes made the man, and she refused to believe she did not look beautiful in a stunning piece like this. The thought gave Wilhelmina''s ego a boost. She smiled sweetly atn and yed up her charms. "Thank Chapter 373 2/2 you for giving me this gorgeous gown, Mr. Nightingale. She turned and walked slowly toward Matthew, sying her arms as she asked, "What do you think, Matt? Do I look pretty in this gown?" Matthew did not respond at all. He was in a daze as he watched m Wilhelmina approach him; but he couldn''t help pieturing Willow in the gown., The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 374 Chapter 374 Willow''s figure was wholly different from Wilhelmina''s. Wilhelmina''s build was petite and slender, but her waist did not dip where it should and she had no curves to speak of. From the side, she looked like a washboard. Willow, on the other hand, had doll-like proportions that would have done the red gown justice. The gown would have hugged her curves in all the right ces, and her slender waist wouldn''t have ripped the seams. More importantly, Willow would not look as ridiculous as Wilhelmina. Matthew narrowed his eyes as he stared at Wilhelmina as her silhouette gradually took on Willow''s likeness and shape. "Matt, say something! Do I look good in this gown or not?" Wilhelmina prompted again when Matthew did not answer her.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Wilhelmina looked up and met Matthew''s intense gaze. That was all the answer she needed from him. If the scorching look in his eyes were any indication, she must look splendid in the gown. In all the years she had been together with Matthew, this was the first time he had regarded her with such a ravenous gaze. Wilhelmina praised herself for making the right call in stealing Willow''s gown this time. She made up her mind to put more effort into snatching Willow''s wardrobe in the future. "Matt, stop looking at me like that," Wilhelmina said, feigning girlish embarrassment as she averted her gaze. "You''re making me blush!" She was just about to say something else when Matthew closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. The next second, she felt the hard nt of his lips press against hers. He kissed her deeply with the passion of a burning wildfire, unbridled and endless. "Matt..." Wilhelmina whispered against his lips, melting into the kiss as her eyes fluttered close. She was about to wrap her arms around his neck and dangle her rtionship in front of Willow when Matthew suddenly said in a firm, domineering voice, "You''re mine, Willow!" All color drained from Wilhelmina''s face as she stared at Matthew in disbelief. Thest thing Wilhelmina expected from Matthew was for him to call out Willow''s name while kissing her, much less imagine her as Willow in front of everyone. How would she recover from this humiliation? Zayn snorted at this as he eyed Matthew coldly, wondering if thentter had truly been so bold as to pleture Willow''s face while kissing another woman. Matthew snapped back to his senses when he heard Zayn''s snicker. When he realized that the woman in his arm''s was not Willow, he instinctively shoved her away. Wilhelmina staggered and crashed to the ground. "Ow! Matt, that hurt!" Wilhelmina whined as she looked up at Matthew resentfully her eyes growing misty. "Are you unwell, Matthew? Why are you treating me like this?" Chapter 375 Chapter 375 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 375 Chapter 375 Matthew''s brows furrowed. "Wi?" AND 1/1 He hadn''t meant to hurt Wilhelmina while he was in a daze. He hurried forward and pulled Wilhelmina into his arms. "I''m sorry, Wi. I was just..." What was he supposed to say? That he had imagined the love of his life as some other woman? It was unforgivable of him to do that, and it woulde out wrong no matter how hard he tried to exin himself. Wilhelmina''s heart tightened. She was afraid to hear Matthew speak the truth- that he had pictured her as Willow and lost control of himself. Wilhelmina wouldn''t know how to live with the shame. She threw herself into Matthew''s arms and said sorrowfully, "It''s okay, Matt. You don''t have to say anything. I believe you, and I have faith in our rtionship. "We''ve stuck by each other''s side for four years. We promised we would face the world together. You wouldn''t betray me after all we''ve been through. "If you did, then there truly would be no good men left in this world. I know your love for me is true, and you''ll always have my trust." Wilhelmina hade to the booth today to give Willow a hard time, yet despite her effort, she only seeded in humiliating herself. Willow, in contrast, was unscathed. Wilhelmina was too embarrassed to linger around. She gripped Matthew''s hand tightly and pleaded, "I''m not feeling too well, Matt. Can we go home?" Wilhelmina''s embarrassment gave way to delight and relief when she heardn''s voice. She couldn''t help feeling like she had just seen the light at the end of the tunnel. She reckonedn had stopped her from leaving because he wanted to offer her an endorsement deal after seeing how beautiful she looked in the gown. "Mr. Nightingale, is there something I can help you with?" Wilhelmina asked. She wouldn''t ask for an endorsement deal outright, so she settled for shing a demure and polite smile atn. For some reason,n''s stomach churned every time he looked at Wilhelmina. He had to keep himself from retching as he pointed out impassively, "Ms. Foster, I believe we should discusspensation after you ripped the gown." "What?" Wilhelmina demanded loudly, her surprise evident in her voice. She had to take a few deep breaths before she found her voice again. "Mr. Nightingale, I thought... you gave me this gown as a gift." Wilhelmina was rendered speechless by his retort. Now that she thought about it, he was right. He had allowed her to try on the gown, but he hadn''t explicitly said it was a gift. In any case, Wilhelmina had misconstrued his intention.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She looked down and appraised every detail of the gown she was wearing. The delicate embroidery, threaded with gold and depicting subtle patterns, was a work of art. The mother-of-pearl sewn into the bodice and pleats looked fine and expensive. The Fosters ran their own business, but it wasn''t faring well and the family didn''te from money. Dorothy, Matthew''s grandmother, had pulled a calcted move by secretly having Wilhelmina sign a prenuptial agreement before Wilhelmina married Matthew. Wilhelmina''s career in the entertainment industry wasn''t exactly flourishing, either. She couldn''t bring herself to ask Matthew for the money for the gown, for out butpensating for it out of her own pocket would cost her an arm and a leg. Not wanting to pay a cent in damages, Wilhelmina mustered her m courage to reason with an "Mr. uson Nightingale, I would never have tried on the gown if you hadn''t asked me to. "So I can''t be held liable even if I ripped the gown." Wilhelmina nched atn''s sharp remark. Meanwhile, Eric couldn''t resist apudingn''s retort and sounding his agreement. At first, Eric thoughtn was insane for letting Wilhelmina try on the gown. He had questionedn''s judgment and wondered ifn had a thing for unavable women who were vapid, washboard lookalikes. He was relieved when he realizedn had only done so to make fools out of Willow''s The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 376 Chapter 376 Eric secretly cheered forn''s suaveeback. Wilhelmina had been getting on Zayn''s nerves for a while now. He couldn''t help but smirk when he sawn put her in her ce. However, his smile slipped when he remembered thatn had humiliated Wilhelmina to get on Willow''s good side. "Harper is an old friend of my grandfather''s and only agreed to loan me the gown because of it,"n pointed out. "Seeing as you''ve ruined the gown, I suggest you see Harper personally and discuss the matter ofpensation." As if recalling something, he added with mock kindness, "Oh, someone once offered ten million dors for the gown. But Harper couldn''t bear to part with the gown and turned down the offer." Ten million dors. Wilhelmina''s knees went weak when she heard the amount and she copsed to the floor once more. The dress hadn''t been torn during her previous fall, but her movements this time ripped the seams at her waist and back wide open. There was no saving the gown now. Panicking, Wilhelmina tried but failed to pull the seams at her sides together. The rips were far too wide for her to do anything about them. Zayn couldn''t stand the idea ofn stealing the spotlight in front of Willow.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. As such, he chimed in suitably, as if to remind Willow of his presence, "Wilhelmina, trying to squeeze into a dress that''s too small for you is by far the dumbest thing you''ve done. You sure you''ve got a brain up in that head of yours?" "You''re..." Wilhelmina wanted to snap at Zayn and tell him he was the dumb one, but she didn''t dare insult him. Matthew thought it was stupid of Wilhelmina to squeeze into the gown too. But she was hiswfully wedded wife, and any humiliation on her part tranted to his as well. Pulling Wilhelmina behind him protectively and pinningn with a warning look, he said begrudgingly, "20 million dors aspensation for the gown. I''ll wire the money to your bank ount, Mr. Nightingale. "As for the gown, my woman can shred it or burn it for all I care. As long as I''m around to indulge in her whims, she can do whatever she wants." With that, Matthew grabbed Wilhelmina by the wrist and led her out of the booth expressionlessly. "Zayn, should we leave too? I want to make sure Wilhelmina''s okay. I''m worried about her." Skyler finally broke her silence. Zayn did not budge. "Why worry about an idiot?" "I..." Skyler wisely kept her argument to herself. She would be no better than an idiot if she insisted on going after Wilhelmina. After the shenanigans in the dressing room, the promotional shoot began. The promotional video would normally be shot after the photoshoot, but Harvey operated on a different wavelength. He insisted on filming the video first before anything else. The script for the promotional video had been tweaked in some ces, and Willow couldn''t help but cringe at the dialogue. After leaping down gracefully from the swing, Nephelle-Willow''s character-would fall into Aither''s arms and say coyly, "Great Hero, if you would be so gracious, allow me to dance for you..." For some reason, Willow found it hard to address someone, even if it were a fictional character, as "Great Hero". However, as an influencer dedicated to her art and career, she had no choice but to follow the script. Nephelle was the main character in the promotional video and only m Aither''s side profile would make it into the final shot. It was decided that the young and handsome Harvey would personally y the role of Aither for the video. The script included a kissing scene between the damsel and her great hero. Willow. Shoving the script into Eric''s arms,n snapped and said, "I''ll be Aither!" X y The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 377 Chapter 377 Everyone on set was shocked to hear thatn, the elusive scion and head of the Nightingale family, had volunteered to star in a promotional video. Naturally, Harvey was more than happy to letn y the role of Aither. Even if onlyn''s side profile would make it into the final shot, his elegant silhouette and charisma would have millions of female yers squealing in front of their screens. "Very well, Mr. Nightingale! Let''s prepare for another take, guys!" Harvey announced to the crew. He then ordered the stylists to pull an outfit together forn and lead him to the makeup booth. Harvey''s wardrobe as Aither consisted of an indigo tunic worn over a white shirt. He would have taken the outfit off and letn change into it, but he reckoned the silver armor in the dressing room suitedn more. As such,n was ted to y Aither as a dashing general in shining armor. Most A-list actors required makeup to bring out the shape of their brows and entuate their features, lest they did not look as defined or handsome on camera. However,n''s brows were dark, thick, and defined all on their own, with no sparse areas that needed to be filled in. Nowadays, most actors used eyeliner to widen their eyes or to add more dimension, butn needed no such refinements. His eyes were like the starry night sky, so dark they were almost onyx and flecked with purple. His gaze was fathomless and capable of pulling anyone into a thrall. Using an eyeliner on him was redundant at this point. The stylists made quick work of securing the wig onn''s head and helping him into his wardrobe. When the stylists were done with him,n emerged from the dressing room a brief momentter in dark silver armor and shoulder-length hair pulled back with a leather band. He looked gant, a handsome rendering of a fairytale hero. Zayn grew sullen at the sight ofn appearing in Aither''s get-up. Even as a man, he had to admitn was handsome. Still, he couldn''t help his bitter jealousy when he saw how goodn and Willow looked together.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Harvey was blown away byn''s final look. He had expectedn to pull off the fantasy, medieval hero visage, but he didn''t thinkn would look so stunning. The Carter men were known for being extremely good-looking, yetn''s face was just as exquisite as En Zayn''s, Harvey couldn''t resist sneaking a look at Zayn. He found himself picturing Zayn, Theodore, and Tyson in medieval wear. He could have drooled over the thought of how dashing they would look. "Mr. Nightingale, the armor suits you!" Harvey praised wholeheartedly. Indeed,n didn''t just look like a war-savvy general in this get-up. He looked like a king, a powerfulmander and warrio who@dul''d lead an army to victory on the battlefield. "Zayn, don''t you think Mr. Nightingale looks good in medieval wear? Lolo looks good in her costume too!" Skyler said. " A match made in heaven? Zayn was so angry that it was a miracle smoke wasn''ting out of his ears. He shrugged off Skyler''s hand and stewed in frustration. Skyler gritted her teeth, furious that Zayn had forgotten all about her after surrendering his attention to Willow. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 378 Chapter 378 Skyler hated that Zayn was ignoring her because of Willow. Desperate to remind Zayn of her presence, Skyler reached out to grab his hand and said, "Zayn, Mr. Nightingale is a private person and never agrees to interviews. I can''t believe he''s volunteering to go on camera for Lolo! "I think he must really like her. I''m sure she''s touched by his kind gesture and affection. I hope she and Mr. Nightingale will have their happily ever after. Lolo deserves it!" Zayn was so furious that he almost swore. He shrugged off Skyler''s hand once more and stood stiffly in ce, his jealousy practically rolling off his skin. "Mr. Nightingale, Ms. Sanford, are you ready for the scene? We''ll start filming once you are," Harvey said, raising his hand to signal the crew to get in their ces. Everyone was on edge as the camera rolled. Willow wore a canary yellow gown with long sleeves and a matching shawl. The sash that cinched her waist was a deeper shade of yellow, entuating her slender frame and the delicate re of her hips. The gown did not reveal much of Willow''s skin, and the high neckline concealed her chiseled corbone, leaving only the graceful curve of her nape visible. The canary yellow fabric contrasted against Willow''s fair skin. Anyone tanner might not have been able to pull off the shade, but on Willow, the colorplemented her brightplexion. She had skin like a porcin doll. The gown brought out her delicate beauty, and she seemed to glow as she smiled. Willow looked like she was basking in silvery moonlight. There were no blemishes on her exposed skin. As she craned her slender neck, it seemed to glimmer under the lights. The stylists had secured part of Willow''s hair with ab and matching yellow silk ribbons, which cascaded down her back with the rest of her dark locks. At that moment, Willow looked ethereal.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Her dark hair draped over her shoulders and reached her waist, strands of hair gently moving as she swung. She was like a moving piece of artwork, dainty and priceless. ording to the script, Nephelle was meant to swing over the full blooms in the garden until she noticed the armored Aither who had just returned from the battlefield. Her face was supposed to light up with joy, and she would gently leap from the swing beforending softly in Aither''s arms. Reveling in their reunion, they would wordlessly indulge in a passionate kiss that would set the world around them on fire. After the kiss, Nephelle would look deep into Aither''s eyes and smile as she said, "Great Hero, if you would be so gracious, allow me to dance for you to celebrate your triumphant return." Willow perched on her swing for a while, and when she sawn''s figure crossing the blossoms toward her, she knew it was time for her to leap down. She gauged the distance between them. For a heartbeat, she grewm worried that he might not catch her, and she would fall on her face. However, Willow shoved her fears aside in the name of professionalism and beamed at her great hero. With the impatience of a youngdy who had been kept from her love for too long, she leaped from the swing. Thankfully,n caught her. She felt his arms tighten around her waist and she had to admit, it was quite romantic. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 379 Chapter 379 Willow felt no embarrassment from their kiss, since it was a cheat cut. A cheat- cut kiss meant that they weren''t actually kissing, but merely giving off the impression that they were. She had decided to enter the entertainment circle and film in the future. She wouldn''t take scenes that were too extreme, but she would be deemed too fussy if she refused to do a kissing scene. Since she aspired to be an actress, she should treat the profession with respect. Willow had no feelings about the cheat-cut kiss. From the angle of the shot,n appeared to be kissing her. His lips slipped away, but his cheek rested lightly against hers. This kind of touching was less intimate than cheek-kissing in some foreign countries. Willow had no interest inn, so she remained calm, but his feelings were different from hers.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. When he held her tightly in his arms, he felt his heart, which had been empty for more than 20 years, instantly fill up. He wanted to hold her like this forever. Holding Willow''s waist,n noticed she was surprisingly slim. His lips rested on her ear, and his cheek lightly touched hers. Her smooth skin instantly warmed his heart and made him excited. His heartbeat became rapid as well. "Cut!" Just whenn was immersed and unable to escape from his strong feelings, Harvey''s loud voice shattered the ambiguous atmosphere. Zayn''s gloom gradually dissipated when he heard Harvey stop the actors'' action. He was aware that their kiss was a cheat cut. But even so, he couldn''t stand Willow andn being in such close proximity. If Harvey hadn''t stopped the scene, Zayn would have rushed forward and pulled them apart violently. "Mr. Chastain, is there any problem?" It was Willow''s first time filming a video as the lead. She was nervous and worried Harvey had stopped the scene because of her poor acting, so she asked cautiously. He could see her anxiety and quickly exined, "Don''t get me wrong, Ms. Sanford! You and Mr. Nightingale performed very well! It''s just that... I''m a bit picky and always want better results. "How should I say this... You two are consistent with the characters in appearance and temperament. But Nephelle and Aither love each other deeply. They have the feeling of beingmitted to each other and never leaving. "I know this is only a game promotional video. Perhaps it''s a bit too much to ask you two to perform like that. But even if it''s only a promotional video, I hope to make it the best!" Beingmitted to each other and never leaving... Willow looked atn. Facing him, she found it difficult to immerse herself in that emotion. She didn''t want to make things tough for Harvey. So, after thinking about it, she spoke softly. "Witry to figure it out, Mr. Chastain. I''ll perform wellter." "Ms. Sanford, I think..." Harvey looked atn, then at Willow, as if unsure how to express his thoughts. Eric realized something and asked, "Mr. Chastain, do you think the scene wasn''t that perfect because of the cheat cut?" Harvey seemed to have discovered someone who understood him, looking at Eric with excitement. "That''s right! I was a little confused just now. But I finally realized then problem after you pointed it out! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 380 Chapter 380 "It is indeed a mere act, which is why we shot the kiss scene using a cheat cut! But what I want is for the actors to feel the characters'' emotions! If the kiss is unreal, it won''t look touching and soulful! So we shouldn''t shoot this scene with a cheat cut!" Harvey spoke passionately. But when he caughtn''s gaze, he became extremely nervous. He knewn was allergic to women and suffered from germaphobia. Holding a woman in his arms was already a difficult task. Harvey didn''t dare to askn to kiss Willow. As a director, Harvey''s acting skills and appearance were no less than those of male celebrities in the entertainment circle. However, if he shot this scene himself and asked for a real kiss with Willow, he would appear to be taking advantage of her. He couldn''t do such a thing. Suddenly, Harvey''s eyes lit up as he noticed the handsome Eric standing at the corner. "To be honest, Mr. Pearson pointed out my real thoughts. But Mr. Nightingale is allergic to women..." He turned to look at Eric and asked, "Mr. Pearson, how about you shoot this scene with Ms. Sanford?" "Me?" Eric covered his mouth tightly, believing that Harvey was trying to frame him. Sensingn''s sharp gaze, he trembled violently. Willow was probablyn''s future wife. If Eric kissed her, he would probably be doomed. "Are you kidding me, Mr. Chastain? I''ve had a mouth allergy recently. It may be contagious. How could I shoot a kissing scene with Ms. Sanford?" Eric covered his mouth tighter as if he had a fatal infectious disease. Upon hearing that, Harvey couldn''t help but feel things turn difficult. It was toote for him to find a temporary recement actor. It seemed that he had to do the real kiss scene himself. "Forget it. Perhaps I¡ª" Before he could finish speaking, Eric abruptly pulled him aside. He looked perplexed when he saw Eric''s wink. Eric couldn''t help but feel anxious when he saw Harvey''s confused expression. He lowered his voice and offered Harvey some advice as a favor. "Mr. Chastain, my boss dislikes touching women the most. But, take a guess as to why he suddenly offered to cooperate with Ms. Sanford." Harvey wasn''t stupid. His eyes lit up as he heard what Eric said. He then looked atn pleadingly. "Mr. Nightingale, I think the cheat cut in the kissing scene will seriously affect the oue of the video. Could you take a real kiss scene with Ms. Sanford?" "I..." Willow was stunned. She still preferred cheat cuts. "I have no objection. We should aim for the best video effect,"n stated inly. Harvey couldn''t help but look at Eric gratefully as he gotn''s approval of his suggestion. He then turned to face Willow with a friendly smile. "Ms. Sanford, what do you think of my proposal?" N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "..." Zayn stared at Willow. He appeared to be ready to teach hera lesson if she dared to agree to have a real kiss withn. "I have no objection as well." Willow didn''t want to kissn, but Harvey om imed he wanted the best video effect. If she rejected them, she would seem too unprofessional and fussy. Moreover, it was only work. As an actress, she should have the most basic quality to respect her profession. Harvey beamed instantly. Zayn, on the other hand, was outraged after hearing Willow''s response. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 381 Chapter 381 Zayn wondered if Willow was eager to kissn. He thought she became better after she returned, but he was surprised to find her as flirty as ever!? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She couldn''t wait to get close to another man and could barely hold herself back. However, she always pretended to be innocent in front of him! Shooting resumed. Willow sat on the swing and kept swinging. She originally looked a little lonely. But when she spotted her armored lover dismounting from his horse and walking quickly toward her, she instantly smiled. She jumped off the swing andnded inn''s arms. He looked at her intensely, fill of longing and joy at sering her again after a long separation, as well as an unbreakable profound love. He held her in his arms and spun her around. As a calm and steady man, he showed a rare hint of youthful vigor and eagemess. Suddenly, Tan leaned down and kissed Willow''s lips deeply. When he leaned down, she couldn''t help but blush. She wasn''t used to being so close to other men, so she subconsciously wanted to push him away. But considering that it was her job, she had to be professional. So, she lowered her eyes and let him kiss her lips. Seeingn truly kissing Willow, Zayn felt extremely ufortable.. "Willow Sanford" Willow was a little far away from him. Even if his voice sounded terrifying, she couldn''t hear it. Zayn couldn''t endure it any longer when he sawn still holding Willow and rushed toward the shooting area. "Zayn..." Skyler turned pale. Everyone knew she and Zayn were a loving couple, What would they think if he rushed forward and stoppedn and Willow from kissing? She would be the one that felt most embarrassed! "Zayn, my shooting is about to begin. Can you apany me there?" Skyler shook his am pitifully. "Please, I want you to stay with me." Zayn didn''t respond at all. But in the end, he didn''t rush over becausen and Willow had stopped lossing. Willow looked extremely shy. Despite the acting, she was truly a bit embarrassed. After all, it was awkward to kiss a man she shouldn''t interact with. She worried that if she didn''t perform well, Harvey would stop the scene and ask her to do it over. To avoid endless kissing, it would be better if they could seed with just one take Su, she used all her best acting skills in the kiss scene just now. willow took a few steps back. She lowered her eyes slightly and tried to recall the lines from the script. "Great Hero, if you would be so gracious, allow me to dance for you to celebrate your triumphant retum." As she spoke, she gently raised her sleeves and danced gracefully amid the flowers. She couldn''t do intense exercise because of her wounded ankle, but she didn''t have to perform incredible dances in this promotional video. So, she only danced casually amid the flowers. Another promotional video that needed her to dance more professionally was scheduled to be shot in a few days. Although it was only a few simple dance moves, Willow appeared light low appear and slim. She still appeared stunning. This kind of beauty seemed to only exist in the howeTIS. It wasn''t until she finished those moves that the stunned Harvey returned to his senses. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 382 Chapter 382 Harvey was ustomed to big, action-packed scenes, but he was still shocked after watching the kiss scene and Willow''s dancing. Everyone knewn was indifferent, steady, self-possessed, and regarded women as a disaster. But Harvey noticedn''s uncontroble obsession with Willow. Eric desperately covered his face hard in awkwardness Jan remained immersed in the kiss even after the shooting had ended. He lost control again in front of Willow. Just now, he almost couldn''t let go of her. Even if he wanted to, he didn''t want to do anything extreme. His actions might lead people to believe she got the endorsement because of unspoken rules, which would affect her reputation "Mr. Nightingale, it''s my honor to cooperate with you. Thank you," Willow stated politely after the shooting- Harvey promptly echoed, "Yes, Mr. Nightingale Thank you so much for your help! With your full support, I believe our video will gain poprity before it''s broadcast!" "Ah?" She looked confused. She didn''t expect him to say such a thing all of a sudden. Lan didn''t feel embarrassed to ask for a meal from her. "You said you would treat me to a meal." Eric covered his Lace again and felt shameless, thinking, "Boss, can you have a sense of shame? You''re the heir of the Nightingale Corporation! You''re wealthy! Why do you appear to be so poor that you can''t even afford a meal? Skyler hugged Zayn''s arm tightly, not forgetting to irritate him further. "Mr. Nightingale is acting rather unusual in front of Lolo. I never imagined the indifferent Mr. Nightingale would pursue a woman like this. "He seems to like Lolo sincerely. She seems to have a crush on him as well, or she wouldn''t kiss him shyly. She even offered him a meal." Shy? Willow was indeed shy just now. Especially when she addressed Jan as a great hero! Zayn couldn''t bear it anymore Forgetting that Skyler was beside him, he abruptly stepped forward. Skyler lost her bnce and fell to the ground in disgrace. He was unaware of what had urred to Skyler and grabbed Willow''s wrist aggressively. "Willow Sanford! Don''t you feel ashamed? Great hero? Do you callingn that? Willow felt immense pain when Zym gripped her wrist. She thought he was unreasonable. Those were the lines in the script. Why did he take it so seriously and humitate her? Willow was outraged and found it amusing. Staring at him, she was no longer as cowardly as she had been, showing only sarcasm and calmness. "Do you want to try it? It''s a pity that Mr. Nightingale isn''t interested in you!" "Willow Sanford!" Zayn tightened his grip. He was so enraged that hem wished he could transform into a bomb and blow up this annoying woman. "Zayn, let go of her!"n couldn''t help but frown when he saw Willow''s pained expression. "It''s none of your business,n! Do you like my woman that much?" y Chapter 393 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 383 Chapter 383 As soon as Zayn said that, the on-site staff instantly showed subtle expressions. They shifted their attitude toward Willow, from envy to contempt. Nobody was an idiot. They could tell fan was interested in Willow from the fact that he was willing to shoot a video with her. They expected Willow to be ten''s future wife, but they had no idea she would have an affair with Zayn! A wealthy family like the Nightingales would never let their heir marry an indecent woman! After hearing Zayn''s words, Willow''s face instantly turned pale. She felt even more disgraced when she sensed the disdainful gases from the surrounding staff. She wasn''t yet capable of being detached from the world and not caring about other people''s opinions. She felt sad when everyone looked at her with disdain. Ever since Willow returned, she worked hard to live a better life, but Zayn always wanted to disgrace her! "Inever expected her to be this kind of person! She appears to be pure, but.. Indeed, we shouldn''t judge a person by appearance!" "That''s right! I thought she and Mr. Nightingale were a perfect match, but I didn''t expect her to be so disgusting!" "Everyone knows Mr. Carter and Ms. Dawson are deeply in love, yet she went to seduce him! She''s so shameless to be a mistress!"Property ? N?velDrama.Org. "She might have seduced many other men besides Mr. Carter! What a dirty bitch! Willow shivered violently as she listened to the whispers of the staff around her. Just as she was about to copse from theirments and insults,n abruptly said, "Zayn?, you''re not worthy of Willow!" He gazed at Willow with warmth and sincerity rather than contempt. "Willow, no matter what you''ve encountered before, you''ll always be the best woman in my heart!" Willow appeared slightly dazed and stared atn nkly. Despite her many ups and downs, only two people thought she was the best One was her biological brother, Kenan, and the other wasn. They werepletely different people, but they made her feel the same warmth. Her scarred heart was warmed, and she was no longer embarrassed. She spoke ton sincerely, "Thank you, Mr. Nightingale!" Zayn regretted what he said to Willow. After he made breakfast for her, their rtionship breakfast became ecame less tense, but he ruined that bit of warmth He didn''t know what he should do. He couldn''t stand watching her get close to other men. When he saw her showing her attractiveness to other men and kissing them, he couldn''t endure his anger. Zayn didn''t back down. He retorted, "The best woman in the world? tan, you have poor taste in women. "You said I''m not worthy of Willow? 1 feel sick whenever I look at her! She''s not even worthy of being matched with me!" 000 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 384 Chapter 384 "Let go of her, Zayn!" Lan''s expression darkened as he noticed Willow''s wrist bing redder. Hestepped forward, intending to separate Zayn and Willow. Zayn didn''t noticen''s movements. He only noticed that Willow''s wrist had turned red from his grip. Feeling anxious, he hurriedly let go of her hand, La wottied Zayn w would hurt Willow again, so be swiftly protected her behind him. "Zayn, are you really a man? Zayn narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" "Whether Willow is your ex-girlfriend or ex-wife, you should be a gentleman after the divorce! Is it fun to pester your ex-wife all day? tan said. "Ex-wife?" Zayn smiled sarcastically. His expression tumed unfriendly and cold. "My rtionship with Willow isn''t as simple as that!" he eximed Willow stiftened. She thought Zam was going to mention he had bid on her at Rumpus Club''s auction. Unexpectedly, he stated, "Willow, you owe me!" She found it funny. He did everything unfairly and mistreated her for Skyler, never seeking the truth. They even harmed Aaron and caused him to be a cripple! They were the ones who and her! Before Willow could respond,n said angrily, "Willow never owed you anything! You''re the one who owes her! "I don''t know what issues you both had before you married. But even after you married her, you still got entangled with Skyler and let her get pregnant! You were unfaithful in your marriage! "You cheated on Willow! You owe her affection in your marriage! The on-site staff exchanged nces. They never thought that they would hear such shocking news today. Willow didn''t shamelessly seduce Zayn. Instead, she had once married him! And Skyler was pregnant during their marriage! The "pure goddess" Skyler turned out to be Zayn''s mistress back then! They originally thought Willow was shameless. It appeared that skyler was the most shameless bitch! The on-site staff were all shocked by this scandal and had their views subverted. Nheless, they wouldn''t dare to spout nonsense and spread this even after knowing such a big secret. They might spread rumors about other people''s scandals. But if they dared to spout rubbish about the big shots, they''d be doomed! They could only silently give Willow a look of guilt and sympathy. After hearing whatn said, Zayn realized he couldn''t refuten. Looking at Willow with aplicated gaze, he suddenly wanted to ask if she thought he was a cheating scumbag All this time, he merely wanted to exact revenge on her for her betrayal. But no one for her one ever told him that his behavior amounted to cheating and betrayal What he had done was even more hateful than Willow''s actions back then, Skyler was undoubtedly the gloomiest person there. The staff''s scornful gazes almost caused her to copse She gritted her teeth and spoke ton, "Mr. Nightingale, you protect holo wholeheartedly while iming Zayn owes her. But do you know what she did to me? The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there!Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 385 Chapter 385Property ? N?velDrama.Org. "She cruelly killed the child in my belly!" Skyder eximed. Skyler thought an would despise Willow after she told him Willow was a vicious woman. To her surprise, his expression was still full of affection and sympathy when he looked at Willow. On the other hand, he became increasingly sarcastic and scornful toward skyler. "You were only a mistress back then! Have you intended to give birth to a child for Willow''s husband at that time?" Lan smiled sarcastically, and his indifferent expression looked increasingly unreadable, "Not to mention, even if Willow was the one who killed your child, you deserved it "You-"Skyler''s face became pale She was so annoyed that she wanted to yell at an without regard for her image, but she didn''t dare to do so due to his cruel means. She could only look at him pitifully and said, "You misunderstood me, Mr. Nightingale, I wasn''t a mistress. Zayn and I truly love each other. Lolo- "Hah!" tan scoffed. "You and a married man love each other? You''re not only stupid, but also shameless!" Eric couldn''t help but chuckle. His boss was usually noble and cool and was not a man of many words, yet he could always leave everyone speechless with his sharp words. H "Skyler has given me a fresh perspective! Mr. Carter was married at that time. She''s so shameless to im they''re truly in love!" "I thought Skyler was elegant. But it turned out she was a mistress! She''s even shameless enough to address herself as a pure goddess!!! "That''s right! Poor Ms. Sanford. A hitch ruined her good marriage!!! "But I believe Ms. Sanford is lucky. Look at how devoted Mr. Nightingale is to her! Teny her so much! Her new and old lovers are all beyond our reach!" Mistress, bitch.... Skyler''s face flushed with wrath after hearing everyone''sments. Before she could say anything to turn the situation in her favor,n''s cold voice sounded again, "Theard from Eggy that Zayn was extremely drunk that night. Skyler, I''m a little curious. How did a drunk man get you pregnant?" After that, he didn''t say anything else but grasped Willow''s wrist domineeringly before walking toward the shooting area. "Willow, don''t forget to treat me to dinner tonight!" Lan had too many things to deal with and couldn''t apany Willow on shootings all the time. After briefly exining to Harvey, he returned to thepany. Willow''s worldo ad remained tough even after shooting that short promotional video. She had to take several sets of photos for the role of Nephelle She must match every hairstyle and makeup to each clothing. She went ¦¯¦É to the dressing room and let the NO i stylist tixher hair while ignoring Skyler and Zayn. Skyler''s shame persisted even after Willow andn had left. When Zayn angrily shook her hand and stormed our of the photo studio, she pitifully raced after him. "Zayn, please don''t listen to Mr. Nightingale''s nonsense! You''re the only man I''ve ever the child in my belly you could someone else''s? Please believe me!! In fact, Zayn didn''t care whose child Skyler had carried back then. Nheless, he feltpelled to trust her after recalling the scar on her body. Chapter 386 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 386 Chapter 386 He responded distractedly, "I believe you, Skyler!! "Zayn, what Mr. Nightingale said made me ufortable. H-he said I was a mistress! Do you also think I was your mistress back then? Skyler said pitifully. Zayn didn''t answer her right away because he was unsure whether his previous violent and childish revenge on Willow was right. Noticing he was distracted again, Skyder realized he was thinking about Willow again. She instantly revealed a hideous expression of hatred. Just as she was about to remind him of her presence, her phone rang. After answering it, Skyler gradually became happy, but she held back her real emotions. Regardless of how dirty her thinking was, she could maintain the most innocent and pathetic expression. "Zam, Evangeline found out who framed me with that video!" she teared up as she gazed at Zayn. She acted as if everyone had forsaken her. He was still distracted and subconsciously asked, "who is it?" Skyler couldn''t hold back her tears anymore. "Evangeline asked several media folks who had good connections with her. They all said Lolo sent them the video! "Zaym, have I done anything wrong? Why did Lolo want to frame nie? If I hadn''t sold my kidney and lelt a scar, that video would have ruined me! "She''s my sister! I had gotten along with her for over 20 years. Why did she want to destroy me? Zayn, I''m so heartbroken! I never expected Lolo to do that to me!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Zam''s expression froze. He didn''t expert Willow to be the one who harmed Sleder. But he wouldn''t immediately assume Willow was the culprit based solely on Skyler''s words, He then picked up his phone and called Liam, asking him to find out who posted the video. Soon, he discovered that the original IP address that uploaded the video was the same as theputer in Willow''s small apartment! It turned out Willow was the one who attempted to destroy Skyler in such an unsavory way! Nheless, he found that even if Willowmitted such an outrageous act to Skyler again, he was unwilling to expose her evil deeds. He even called and ordered am not to let anyone cause a scene and create an issue about the video''s creator. Even though Zayn didn''t allow others to criticize Willow, he wanted tom teach her a lesson after she did such a Vicious thing In other words, he was looking for an excuse to see her. After dealing with the matters, Zam took the car keys and went straight in Willow''s small apartment: He rang the doorbell for a long time, but nobody came to the door. Only then did he remember that Willow and Tan had made an appointment to have dinner together tonight His lingering warmth was instantly reced by coldness. He''d like to see how she could have a have a romantic dinner with another man behind his back! The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 387 Chapter 387Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Willow had no intention of having dinner withn. The game organizer had prepared too many styles for Nephelle. She spent a long time wearing and changing eight different costumes. It was already evening when shepleted the photoshoot Originally, Willow''s ankle no longer hurt that much. However, after working for a whole day, she felt her and begin to hurt again She didn''t want to do anything but return to her apartment, take a good bath, and sleep. But as soon as she walked out of the studio, she noticed tan waiting outside. She did owe him a meal. Considering he was Moses'' biological grandchild, she didn''t want their rtionship to be tense because they would be meeting frequently in the future. So, she decided to treat him to the meal first She assumed someone like Tan would always dine at a ce like Gourmet Haven. But she had already been traumatized by the incident with Duncan and no longer wanted to go there Seemingly sensing her rejection of Gourmet Haven,n didn''t suggest going there but took her to an ordinary restaurant instead. Willow appeared dazed as she sat in a familiar position They were in a local restaurant on the food street behind her high school It could be said to be the ce she and Zayn had their dates back then. When the two of them had some money, they woulde here to eat. This small restaurant looked inconspicuous, yet the seafood stew here was delicious, Whenever she came here with Zayn, they always ordered arge bowl of seafood stew. Willow didn''t expect the aloofn to know about this kind of ce. "Willow, have you visited here before? Sensing her nostalgia, tan put down the menu and asked meaningfully. "Yes," she responded softly as she returned to her senses Jan was not a man of many words. Willow believed the atmosphere would be awkward if she didn''t say anything. So, she cleared her throat and decided to have a casual chat with him Although he had done bad things to her, it was unintentional after all. She could try to treat him as an ordinary friend. "I studied in the high school around here and often came over for dinner with my friends." Willow took up the menu from the table. "Mr. Nightingale, the seafood stew here is delicious. Let''s order it." "As you wish, Willow. It''s your treat today." She originally wantedn to order a few dishes himself. Since he said so, she ordered it ording to her preference, She and Zayn had frequently visited here before. In addition to seafood stew, they also ordered a te of stir-fried cucumber. But she had En already experienced psychological trauma from cucumber, so she didn''t order the cucumber dish, but ordered a few other side dishes instead. In fact, she also felt a little ufortable when she saw m seafood stew. But that was the signature dish here. She should letn try it. The restaurant owners were an enthusiastic old couple. Because of Willow and Zayn''s frequent visits, the restaurant owners were quite familiar with them. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 388 Chapter 388 Even after all these years, one of the owners, Nadia Glover, recognized willow right away. She set down the te and came over to greet Willow, "Ms. Sanford, you haven''t changed at all after many years! By the way, you and Mr. Carter-" Only then did Nadia notice that the person sitting opposite Willow wasn''t Zayn, but another handsome man She had seen many things in life and had vast life experience. Looking at the scene, she naturally guessed that Willow and Zayn had broken up long ago. Perhaps the man in front of her was Willow''s new boyfriend. Of course, Nadia felt awkward to bring up Willow''s ex-boyfriend in front ofn. So, she smiled politely and asked, "Ms. Sanford, why don''t you introduce your boyfriend to me?" "Ms. Glover, he''s not " Before Willow could finish speaking, Nadia interrupted with a smile, "Ms. Sanford, you must have taken preservatives to look so young! Look at my wrinkles. I''m getting old. But you still look like a high school student atter many years!" Nadia assumed Willow and Zayn were a good match back then. She expected this young couple tost forever, so she was surprised to know they had split up. She sighed at their bad ending. But then, she smiled enthusiastically and turned to look atn. "Young man, you''re so lucky to have Ms. Sanford as your girlfriend! She was the most beautiful and well-behaved girl in high school here!" "Yes, I''m indeed lucky," an echoed. His indifferent expression revealed a rare touch of warmth, making him radiate an aura of gentleness. Willow almost choked. He echoed Nadia as if admitting he was her boyfriend. But there was no rtionship between them! "You''re so lucky!" Nadia eximed again. When she raised her head, she noticed Zayn standing at the restaurant''s entrance. He always looked attractive. When he stood at the door, half obscured by hazy light, he resembled a deity It was just that this deity seemed cold and hostile, which made her nervous. Nadia was startled and nced at an opposite Willow, then at Zayn. It appeared that Zayn was going to cause trouble. For a moment, she couldn''t figure out what was going on. Just as she was about to tell Willow that Zayn arrived, her husband called her over to help him, so she hurried to the kitchen. Willow andn didn''t notice Zayn''s arrival. Her mind was filled withn''sment about how lucky he was.. The more she thought about that sentence, the more embarrassed she felt. She didn''t like ambiguities, but it seemed too strange to ask fan what he meant. She thought for a moment CO before speaking spilly, MF. a softly, Mr. Come Nightingale, ourst blind date is over. "We don''t have a crush on each other. Let''s just get along as ordinary friends from now on. Don''t feel embarrassed. It''s normal for blind dates to fail anyway! "I don''t like blind dates, but I still hope you find sess on a blind datem soon. Mr Quayle will be reassured then." "Willow, our blind date didn''t tall I''llnever go on another blind date!"n eximed What did he mean by that? Willow looked at fan in astonishment. Before she could ask for rification, he stared at her with beaming eyes. toProperty ? N?velDrama.Org. "Willow, I''m pursuing you!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 389 Chapter 389 Willow had courage, but Tan''s words still scared her. She was touched byn''s trust in her, but being pursued by someone like him was truly terrifying. She didn''t want to be the enemy of countless women. Besides, she had no intention of starting a new rtionship. "Mr. Nightingale, we are not suitable for each other," Willow said. She despised leading people on when she couldn''t give them a definite oue. She preferred to cut things off quickly and without hassle when things weren''t working out. "Mr. Nightingale, to be honest, I have no ns to start dating again. Right now, I only want to focus on my work and give Aaron a better life." Thest blind date had happened because Moses had been too persistent. She didn''t want to burden anyone else with her current state.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "Willow, Aaron needs a father," tan said, staring intently at Willow. His eyes seemed so profound, almost capable of drawing in one''s soul. He continued, "And I am the best choice. Willow, 1 Imow we haven''t known each other for long. You may not ept meso soon, but I am willing to give you time." Willow lowered her gaze and took a sip of water. She admittedm was right. Aaron did need a father, and even if she were gone, tan would protect Aaron well. She could then leave without worry. But she couldn''t be so selfish. "Mr. Nightingale, thank you for your love. But we are notpatible." Fortunately, the piping-hot dishes soon arrived, providing a perfect distraction from the conversation. Willow enthusiastically served an a spoonful of stew. "Mr. Nightingale, you must try this! The seafood stew here is delicious! It''s spicy and vorful, leaving you wanting more! The memory of being forced to swallow live fish by Skyler was too horrifying. Willow didn''t dare eat fish, but the aroma of this seafood stew still made her mouth water. Every time she had seafood stew, she looked forward to drinking the broth The broth at this restaurant was particrly delicious, and she could drink a whole pot! While she used to crave spicy food, her now delicate stomach couldn''t handle it anymore So, she could only savor the aroma and swallow hard. Willow''s rejection was within fan''s expectations, so he wasn''t very disappointed. Seeing her adorable manner of salvating over the stew, he couldn''t help butugh. "Do you want to try some?" As he spoke,n had already picked out a piece of fish for Willow, thoughtfully removing the bones. Noticing she didn''t seem to want to eat it, he couldn''t help but ask, "Why aren''t you eating? Can''t bear to eat it yet?* "No, I dare not eat spicy food," Willow said. She swallowed and picked a plece of stir-fried lettuce, it helped distract her and rase her craving. fan frowned. She had said that this ce''s seafood serw was tasty.m spicy, and vorful. It was clear that she had eaten it before How could someone who loved spicy food suddenly be afraid to eat it? "Mr. Nightingale, how is it? isn''t this seafood stew particrly delicious?" Willow looked an expectantly as she asked. She swallowed hard, looking at the dish longingly but not daring to eat it. tan''s hearte pounded suddenly Her public image had always been cold and aloot. Yet here she was, showing a childish side. This genuine, vulnerable side of her was endearing, The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 390 Chapter 390 "n''s delicious." In swallowed a mouthful of seafood stew and spoke truthfully. Hearing his affirmative response, Willow looked satisfied. It was as if she had eaten a pot of Lan stared at her, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst from his chest. He instinctively pressed his hand against his chest. At that moment, he knew he could never let her go for the rest of his life. She had rejected him, as he had expected, but he didn''t feel disappointed. It only made him more determined "Willow, is your high school near here? Seeing her nod,n continued, "Take me for a tourter." willow didn''t want to get too close ton. Her ankle was hurting. She wouldn''t take him for a tour.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "Mr. Nightingale, I''m afraid I can''t apany you. My ankle is sore, and I''d Eke to rest early." tan put down his chopsticks and stared sympathetically at Willow''s swollen ankle. She had been on her feet all day, so it was no wonder her ankle hurt! Today, Willow was wearing socks, but her ankle was so swollen that even with the socks, it was obvious, The moren looked at her puffy ankle, the deeper his frown grew. Inexplicably, he bent down and gently grasped her ankle. Willow never expected him to grab her ankle in public. She was stupefied by the situation. It was the holiday season and there were no other customers in the restaurant. But his action still made her feel incredibly embarrassed. "Mr. Nightingale, please let go of my." "Willow, let me massage it for you," Jan said firmly. He gave Willow no chance to refuse. His calloused fingertips pressed rhythmically against her ankle through her cotton socks. Willow felt mortified and instinctively tried to pull her ankle away. But before she could, Zam''s furious voice erupted behind her. "What are you doing?" Willow reflexively tumed her head and met Zayn''s piercing state Zayn was livid. Liam had found out that Willow had broughtn to this little restaurant. This was where Zayn and Willow had shared so many special moments. Knowing that, Zayn was already fuming When he arrived and saw her sitting with tan in their usual spot, he was even angrier. Rage bolled inside him. Nheless, he continued to restrain himself. She even shamelessly served tan fish and attended to him solicitously! In the past, when they dined together, she never served him food! It was always him whodled soup and picked out fish for her, pampering her like a treasure! Even worse, she couldn''t even control herself from flirting with an in public! Jan took the bait and grabbed her foot. His hand slipped in, what else did he intend to touch? Were they nning to engage in shameless acts in public? What an eyesore! Zayn couldn''t stand Willow knew Zayn had misunderstood, but she no longer d but shenolonge cared whether he did or not. She withdrew her foot fromn''s hand and said tly, "M5 Carterm whatever we''re doing is none of your business!" "Willow!" Zayn mmed his fist onto the table in front of him. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 391 Chapter 391 "Willow, have you abandoned your sense of propriety, integrity, and honor? Are you throwing away your dignity? Zayn''s words grew more offensive. Willow could no longer tolerate it. "Zayn, you''re sick! "There is nothing between Mr. Nightingale and L. We are innocent. Even if there was something between us, it''s still none of your business!" "Willow, you are my woman!" Zayn sounded like a beast backed into aer. His rage was tinged with panicked possessiveness. "Your woman?" Willow sneered. "Huh! Mr. Carter, are you joking? "What gives you the right to say that? Is it because you''re my ex-boyfriend or my ex-husband? Or because you''re Skyler''s man, the father of her deceased child? "Mr. Carter, I am not your woman. I don''t know how many times I have to say it for you to understand. There is nothing between us anymore! "Marriage is for life and death, and in sickness and death. You and I have nothing like that with each other anymore!" What right did Zayn have? Hearing Willow''s blunt and decisive words, Zayn suddenly lost his strength. He could no longer remain enraged.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Willow had no desire to continue arguing with him there. She left money to pay the bill, turned around, and staggered out of the restaurant The biting wind gnawed at her face, and Willow instinctively wiped her face. She found it ironic. The wind should have dried her face, but instead, it had moistened it. She didn''t want to admit it, but the truth was, she had been crying She felt disgusted by her weakness but tears were hard to control Once they started, it was like a floodgate had opened, impossible to be stopped. Maybe she felt vulnerable tonight. Because this ce held too many beautiful memories of her and Zayn. The memory of him was too perfect, while in reality, Zayn was too cruel, His sudden appearance hadpletely overwhelmed her. Blinding headlights shed in her face, and Willow instinctively shielded her eyes. The car suddenly elerated, heading straight for her. As the Audi A8 closed in, Willow saw the face of the driver-it was Wilhelmina Zayn rushed forward, grabbing Willow and rolling out of the way. They managed to dodge it, but the speeding Audi A8 st hit him. His quick reflexes meant he wasn''t badly hurt though his arm throbbed in pain. Willow remainedpletely unharmed in his embrace. Wilhelmina had been in a foul mood and was driving aimlessly. She unexpectedly encountered Willow, whom she despised. A surge of hatred made her want to run over Willow, to erase her from existence. She never anticipated Zayn to barge out and save Willow. Running into Willow tonight was an ident, and Wilhelmina hadn''t om prepared any disguise. She wasn''t dany sure if Zayn had seen her face, but she knew if she stayed, she wouldn''t escape tonight. Wilhelmina wasted no time, flooring the gas pedal as the Audi A8 sped around the corner. Zayn''s expression was dark and grim. He had seen Wilhelmina''s face. She had repeatedly harmed Willow before and he had already wanted to severely punish her. Now, she had attempted to take Willow''s life this was unforgivable! Jan came out a bitter than Zayn. He saw the speeding Audi A8 and his om'' expression turned equally grimis memorized the license te, He nning to exact a harsh revenge on the car''s owner Chapter 392 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 392 Chapter 392 "Willow, are you hurt? Zayn''s fury hadn''t dissipated, but he was more concerned about Willow''s well-being now. He decided it wasn''t worth arguing with a woman and set aside his grievances. "I''m fine. Thank you, Mr. Carter, Willow said coldly. She extricated herself from Zayn''s embrace. She was somewhat worried about Zayn. She had noticed that he had taken a solid hit earlier. But their rtionship was too strained for her to voice her concern.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "Mr. Nightingale, I apologize for tonight I''m sorry it turned out to be such an unpleasant evening. I''m heading back now. You should get some rest too." "Willow, let me send you home! san grabbed Willow''s hand, speaking firmly "Willow, don''t you dare!" Zayn refused to back down, grabbing her other hand. "I''ll send you!" Willow smiled coldly and broke free from their grip. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, Mr. Carter, why don''t both of you go back together? I won''t be joining you!" Just then, a taxi came by. Willow quickly gged it down and got in The air conditioning made the taxi stuffy, but sitting inside, Willow felt a rare sense of calmness. Dealing with men was draining Willow truly hoped her life would be free of endless conflicts with men from now on. The chatty tad driver rambled on about everything under the sam. His constant talking almost lulled Willow to sleep. After getting out of the taxi, Willow stretched. She decided to skip the shower and soak her feet before bed. Willow blissfully anticipated her foot soak. But as soon as she reached the entrance of her small apartment, she saw Zayn standing there like a doorman. Willow hadn''t expected Zayn to active so quickly. Seeing him in front of her startled her, "Mr. Carter, don''t block my door! Please move, you''re in my way!" "Willow! Zayn''s eyes were still bloodshot. He stepped forward and pinned her against the door. "Willow, why did you have to hurt skyler like that?! he bellowed. Willow smiled, realizing he had rushed here to demand an exnation at her door. "Mr. Carter, sorry. I don''t understand what you mean. "Willow, don''t y dumb with me! You were the one who sent out the video that harmed Skyler! How could you be so vicious, determined to destroy Skyler?* Willow''s heart trembled slightly, but she quickly regained herposure. She hadn''t been discreet enough about that incident. It was no surprise that Zayn had figured it out, given his capabilities. She wasn''t nning to deny it either. Her smile remained perfectly wless. "Yes, Mr. Carter, I do want to destroy Skyler! You know me. Indeed, I''m vicious, cruel, and ruthless, I dream of putting an end to Skyler, that bitch! "Willow! Thinking of Willow''s evil deeds, Zayn wished he could y her alive. To his m dismay, he realized that no matter how irredeemably evil she became, he couldn''t push her away He hated her but loved her even more Willow thought that Zayn''s furious roaring meant he was about to torment her. She had no time to indulge lus madness. She pushed him away forcefully and turned to leave. But the next second, Zayn tightly embraced her from behind. He didn''t choke her or roar in inger. Instead, he spoke in a slightly pitiful, pleading voice, "Willow, I got injured. My a hurts a lot." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 393 Chapter 393 Willow''s expression froze. Her mind went nk for a moment. She was used to being at odds with Zayn Suddenly, she didn''t know how to react when he spoke to her in a voice tinged with grievance and a hint of pleading. It had been so, so long since they had a proper conversation. After a brief pause, Willow responded tly, "Mr. Carter, you should go to the hospital if you''re injured. What''s the use in telling me?N?velDrama.Org owns this text. "Willow, I''m in too much pain to drive to the hospital" Willow was about to say he could take a cab or have Liam pick him up. But before she could get the words out, Zayn spoke again in that pitiful and aggrieved tone. "Willow, I got hurt rescuing you. You can''t leave me like this!" This attitude of iming a debt of gratitude left her speechless. Willow didn''t want to deal with Zayn, but his tone sounded pathetic. He did save her life. When Wilhelmina drove the car toward her, her ankle hurt so much that she couldn''t n Zayn helped her dodge that cmity far. She could have been seriously hit Even though she hated and resented him, a favor was a favor. Tonight, he helped her, so she should give him some medicine for his injuries. That would be enough to repay the debt for tonight. "Mr. Carter, let me go. I can''t open the door with you holding me like this!" Seeing Willow''s attitude soften, Zayn promptly released her. Willow quickly took out her keys from her bag and tried to open the door. After all that fuss, the door still didn''t open. To her immense embarrassment, Willow realized that she had been using the wrong key all along. The keys for each door in this small apartment looked different. She had never made this mistake before. Tonight, Zayn''s actions had thrown her off, leading her tomit this silly error. Zayn watched Willow''s actions, unable to suppress his joy. She was nervous. The fact that she still got nervous around him proved that deep down she still cared about him. This realization lifted Zayn''s spirits, purting him in a great mood. It even made him want to give Willow a chance to exin what happened four years ago. She had exined countless times before, and he hadn''t believed her. But now, he was willing to give her onest chance, and himself as well. That fire made him realize his fear of losing her. He stubbornly remained entrenched in his defenses, unwilling to admit his vulnerability. But deep down, he knew he cared about her. Finally opening the door, Willow ignored Zayn and walked straight into the small apartment. The various ointments Eric had brought over still had plenty leftm Willow took the dange shopping bag from the cab and tossed it to Zayn. "Mr. Carter, I''m giving you all these medicines. Please ept them as a sign of my gratitude for saving me tonight." With that debt repaid, they could go their separate ways from now on Willow didn''t want to care about Zayn''s well-being. But seeing him standing there, painfully clutching his alm she couldn''t help herself. "If your arm hurts that much, Mr. Carter, I suggest you go to the hospital." Zayn didn''t say anything Instead, he forcefully removed his suit jacket and tossed it aside. Chapter 394 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 394 Chapter 394 Willow''s brow knitted in frustration as she watched Zayn begin to take off his clothes. She had only suggested he go to the hospital out of concern, but he seemed intent on proving her wrong. Regret stabbed her as she realized her mistake in allowing him inside in the first ce. "Mr. Carter, I think it''s best if you leave," she said, pointing to his suit jacket To her surprise, Zayn didn''t react with his usual aggression. Instead, there was a vulnerability in his eyes as he awkwardly lifted his left arm, almost as if pleading for understanding. "willow, didn''t you give me the medicine so I could apply it?" Willow was left speechless. His question caught her off guard. The way he framed it, it sounded like she was the one with ulterior motives, doubting his intentions. Feeling a surge of frustration, Willow turned her face away, dismissing Zayn as if he were nothing more than air. Since he wanted to apply the medicine, fine He could do it and then hit the road. As for his clothes, he could strip down if he pleased. It wasn''t like she hadn''t seen it before, and there wasn''t anything worth seeing anyway. With that realization, a wave of calm washed over Willow. If she could handle the sight of street packid out in the open, she could certainly tolerate Zayn standing there half-naked It was no big deal. Since what stood before her was merely a b of meat, Willow saw no need to look away. She unabashedly let her eyes roam over Zayn''s exposed form. But then she noticed something-his left arm was badly injured. There was a nasty, bloody gash running several inches along his left arm. Clearly, he had lost quite a bit of blood, but she hadn''t noticed earlier because his suit jacket was ck. A pang of unease settled in Willow''s chest, but she pushed it aside, maintaining a cool, detached tone. "Mr. Carter, if you''re going to apply that medicine, do it quickly. Then you need to leave. It''ste, and I need to rest." willow, help me with the medicine. Zayn thrust his injured arm forward deliberately. "I''m hurt, I need your help." "Mr. Carter, you''ve got hands, don''t you? Apply the medicine yourself! Willow''s resolve hardened as she maintained her cold demeanor.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Willow, my right arm''s busted too. I can''t Et it," Zayn countered. With effort, Zayn moved his right arm, revealing scrapes and significant swelling, despite the minimal bleeding. Willow''s gaze lingered on Zayn''s injured arm, momentarily distracted in a sh, he pulled her into his embrace. His hold was firmaround her waist. Willow seethed with a mix of fury and embarrassment. Zayn had just imed he couldn''t lift his right arm, yet now he held them §á§à§ê§å tightly, Was this his idea of being unable to lift his arm? Her anger surged even more. Despite her resolve to cut ties with him, seeing him hurt still ached her heart. "Mr. Carter, let go of me!" Willow''s voice was firm as she pushed against him with all her strength. In a swift move, he spun around, pinning her down on the living room couch. His lips came down on hers,den with restrained desire and profound affection "Willow, I''m giving you a chance to exin. Let''s start ove start over Zayn''s Voice was thick with desperation. There was a rough edge to Zayn''s voice, a mix of fear and hope. "Willow, whatever went down four years ago, if you''re ready to open up, I''m all ears. "Willow, I''m ready to put my trust in you onest time." The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 395 Chapter 395 Amit suddenly de Pillon Het rosy lips quivered, but she couldn''t find the words to speak Instead, she whispered softly in het heart. "It''s toote, Zayn. It''s really toote." he had said those words before Aaron''s incident, she would have broken down, seeking confort in his arms, She would have poured out all her pain and sorrow, revealing just how difficult the past four years had been and how desperately she had yeaned for films in that dark, diste ce But Aaron''s ident had changed everything. At the cliff''s edge, he abandoned Azren without a second thought, all for Skyler. And then there was Nic. it he hadn''t intentionally made things hard for her, it he had testified on her behalf, maybe her death wouldn''t have been so gruesome. Anton was let crippled, and Nic was lost at sea. Too much hade between them, and there was no turning back Furthermore, he always boasted about trusting her, although he never actually did. But when it came to Skyler, he never hesitated to take her side. Even if she were to im that she broke up with him because Skyler pressured her, be still wouldn''t buy it. Willow let out a bitterugh, pushing aside her tangled thoughts as she spoke with a nk expression, "Mr. Carter, let me help you apply the medicine." Once the medicine was applied, they would part ways. No one belonged to anyone anymore. Zav believed he had made a major concession today. Despite her using that video to hurt Skyler, he didn''t hold it against her and even offered her a chance to exin what happened four years ago. Yet, she showed no gratitude. How ungrateful other! A surge of intense anger i shed in his eyes. But just as he was about to explode, he managed to hold it back. Since he couldn''t bear to let her go, even if she didn''t appreciate it, he would have to endure it for now.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Willow, exin yourself to me!" Zayn''s gaze burned into Willow. His voice wasmanding as he looked down at her. Upon hearing his demand. Willow''sughter bubbled up unexpectedly. Herughter was enchanting, with a hint of allure reminiscent of countless peach blossoms in fall bloom. But beneath the facade of beauty, there was no warmth of spring, only a cold, cynical undertone. "Mr. Carter, what exactly do you want me to exin? Willow''s voice carried a touch of sarcasm. "That four years ago, Skyler forced me by threatening my grandmother''s life?" "Willow! You''re still as unrepentant as ever! I gave you a chance, and you just used it to smear Skyler''s name! Willow, you are... "Heh," Willow interjected with a coldugh. "Mr. Carter, you still think I''m smearing Skyler? See, you don''t believe me at all. "If you don''t trust me, demanding an exnation from me is just ridiculous, Mr. Carter. You''re being ridiculous! "Mr. Carter, I don''t know what''s gotten into you. All I know is that Aaron and I don''t need you anymore. "Once, Aaron really wanted you as his father. He craved your care and affection, but you never gave it to you neve him, you even drove him to despair! Thanks to you, Aaron says he doesn''t have a father anymore. His father died long ago, in his heart" "Willow! Zayn''s grip tightened around Willow''s shoulders. But when he looked into her eyes and saw the haunting emptiness, his angry voice wavered with a tremor. "Willow, is that bastard.. is Aaron really my son? You didn''t kill our child? Willow abruptly turned her face away, struggling to contain the rising sob in her throat, "Mr. Carter, you''re mistaken. I''ve already told you. Aaron''s father is gone. Aaron doesn''t have a father En. anymore!" Chapter 396 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 396 Chapter 396 Zayn turrowed his brows. He couldn''t help but feel like aplete idiot Back when Willow had begged him to believe that Aaron was his son, he had refused. But now, as she imed Aaron had no father, he found himself entertaining the possibility that Aaron might truly be his son. If Aaron was indeed his... Zayn, usually so tough andposed, couldn''t help the tremble that ran through his body. If Aaron was truly his son, it meant Willow hadn''t aborted their child four years ago. It meant she had a legitimate reason for breaking things off with him. And yet, he had ruthlessly sought revenge against her, even forsaking his own flesh and blood at the cliff''s edge. Zayn''s fists tightened abruptly, though his fingers still trembled violently. Aaron ended up crippled. It was his fault that his own son was now disabled. Furthermore, Aaron was lucky to have survived the fall. From such a height, the more probable oue would have been a broken body, and death without aplete corpse. "Willow, I.." Zayn wanted to pour his heart out to Willow, but he found himself at a loss for words. "Mr. Carter, please, don''t ever mention Aaron again. You''ve already caused him.. caused him to be crippled. If you have any decency left, just leave him out of this." Willow''s voi was firmas she took a deep breath. "Mr. Carter, it''s time for you to go. You''re really not wee here." Zayn didn''t want to leave, but the thought that Aaron might be his son lett him feeling more vulnerable than ever. For the first time, when Willow asked him to leave, he didn''t respond with aggression. Instead, he grabbed his clothes and left in a hurry. Standing in the hallway, he quickly threw on his shirt. His tall, rugged frame and striding good looks could still barn heads. But now, his face showed none of life''s usual emotions. There was only deep- seated loneliness. With a sigh, he lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke. Yet, after a few puffs, he remembered Willow''s aversion to men who smoked. Grimacing, he crushed the cigarette. After a long pause, he finally reached for his phone and dialed Liam''s number.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. "Boss, what''s going on?" Liam''s rxed evening with friends abruptly shifted as he answered Zayn''s call. He instantly snapped into alert mode. "I need a paternity test." Upon hearing this, Liam almost choked on his own saliva. He knew better than to pry into Zayn''s personal life, but the request caught him off guard. Liam hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "Boss, do you have an illegitimate child you didn''t know about?" The words "illegitimate child" made Zayn inexplicably irritated. "I need a paternity test with Aaron Sanford. I want the results by m Xesults tomorrow morning. Zayn''s voice was firm, leaving Liam momentarily speechless. With that, he hung up, Liam was so shocked he jumped out of his seat "Tomorrow morning? That''s a tight deadline!" Lam''s mind raced. Getting Aaron''s hair and running the test in such a short time was practically impossible. Even though it was a tough task, as a dedicated senior assistant, Liam had to tackle it head-on... Moses was Wynn''s mentor, and Liam had connections with people around him, Getting a sample of Aaron''s hair En. wouldn''t be too difficult That night, Liam pulled out all the stops and finally managed to get Aaron''s hair. Before dawn, the M e paternity test results were ready. Yowning, m dialed Zayn''s number. "Boss, the patemity test results are in!" The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 397 Chapter 397 Lian had dialed Zayn''s number with little hope of reaching him. It was early, and he assumed Zayn would still be lost in slumber. Tet, to his surprise, Zayn picked up almost instantly. He wondered if Zayn had actually stayed up all night waiting for this result Liam stood tall, bracing himself for whatever was toe. "What''s the result? Zayn''s voice had a hint of raspiness, tinged with either nerves or excitement. Liam couldn''t quite discern which. "Boss, you and Mr. Aaron Sanford.no, scratch that, Mr. Aaron Carter.. you two.. you''re blood, father and son!" Liam knew Zayn''s disdain for Aaron all too well, so he hurriedly added, "Boss, if you''re skeptical, I''ll bring that paternity test report over to Lakecoast right this minute!Property ? N?velDrama.Org. "And boss, I swear on everything holy, that the paternity test is as legit as theye! I''ve been camped out at the hospital, so there''ll be no chance for any monkey business. So believe me when I say, you and Mr. Aaron, you''re blood through and through!" Later, Liar prattled on about something, but Zayn couldn''t make out the words. All that reverberated in his mind was Liam''s solemn promation that he and Aaron were blood, father and son Zam gripped his head in torment. Willow hadn''t deceived him. Aaron was indeed his own flesh and blood. Yet, he had spat venom, branding Aaron a despicable bastard, and Willow, a whore He had turned a blind eye to Aaron''s medical needs, forcing Willow to strike a deal with a dubious organization just to scrape together the cash for Aaron''s surgery. When Aaron was kidnapped, he remained aloot. To save him, Willow had to sell herself at the Rumpus Club. In that moment, she suffered humtion and despair, while he callously stomped on her dignity with the Rumpes Club scandal After all her hardship, she finally scraped together enough to rescue Aaron. But he had heartlessly sent Aaron plummeting into the abyss. If Aaron was truly theirs, then she hadn''t deceived him, and she hadn''t aborted the child all those years ago, She must''ve split from him under duress, maybe coerced by Louis or other circumstances. It couldn''t have been what she wanted. And as for her and Louis getting together... He''d seen Louis pinning her down, but maybe it wasn''t consensual. If Louis had been tormenting her all this time, how had she managed to make it through alone with a child? ayn was itching to see Wallow, but this inner turmoil held him back. Now, he couldn''t summon the courage to face her. Zayn He was too ashamed. "Boss, Mr. and Mrs. Carter have been yearning for a grandson. With Aaron''s identity confirmed, should I share the good news with them?" "No, not yet," Zayn said, his voice quivering. "I''ll break the news to them personallyter. Zayn had always envisioned a future where he reconciled with Willow and Aaron, bringing the back to the Carter residence, to his beloved parents. Little did he know, his momentarypse of judgment would lead to unforgivable mistakes. He could only watch helplessly as Willow suffered while being consumed by his own regret. But those were stories for another time. Wynn was Moses'' most prized t student. After Moses settled in Havenpoint, Wynn often apanied him in solving medical enigmas. Zam knew this much. It could be said that Moses practically watched Zayn grow up Chapter 398 The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 398 Chapter 398 These days, Zayn was swamped with work, so his visits to Moses ce had be less frequent. But he still knew the way like the back of his hand. After having Liam prepare some gifts, Zayn hopped into his car and headed to Moses" neighborhood Moses'' neighborhood was a mix of architectural styles, with towering apartment buildings and sprawling vis. Moses himself lived in a secluded courtyard. It was perfect for bending to his collection of medicinal herbs. When Zayn pulled up, it was already past 9:00 am.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Today, being Sunday, the kids were out of school. Thus, they could be seen frolicking in the small square at the neighborhood entrance. Every day at this hour, Aaron''s nanny would take him for a walk in the square. Aaron''s health was fragile, and despite his limp, he needed the exercise. The more he moved, the better for his legs The square''s facilities were all safety-certified, so parents could rx while their kids yed freely. It was a time for families to mingle, catching up with neighbors as the childrenughed and yed together. The nanny tending to Aaron was chatting away with the other nannies from neighboring families. The air was filled with their lively banter. Surrounded by a few elderlydies keeping watch over the children, Zayn paid them no mind. His gaze was fixed solely on Aaron, who was moving about the small square with a noticeable Emp. Aaron had undeniably shed a significant amount of weight since his fall from the clift Once sporting chubby cheeks reminiscent of Kenan''s baby face, Aaron''s features had now slimmed down. Upon closer inspection, t profile At first, Aaron wandered around by himself. But soon enough, a group of kids, about four or five years old, scampered over to him. there re was a faint resemnce to Zayn in his Zayn figured they were Aaron''s buddies, but to his dismay, after watching Aaron stroll for a bit, the kids erupted into exaggeratedughter. Achubby kid named Tommy pointed at Aaron''s Jeg, snickering, "Hey, check it out! Look at him walking. He''s just like a duck, right? Bursting withughter, Tommy hriously imitated Aaron''s limp, adding a touch of mockery to his imitation. Witnessing Tommy''s antics, another boy named Jack joined in. He stuck out his rear end and dramatically hunched over, wadding about. "Like this? How''s my impersonation? Jack enthusiastically mimicked Aaron''s limp, then brazenly guaded him, "Hey, limp boy, who''s got the better strut, me or you?" Aaron winced at Jack''s mockery, clenching his fists tightly. Clearly, he was feeling ufortable. But he didn''t want to stir up trouble or cause his mom any worry. With a subdued nod, he continued practicing his walk. He knew from a young age that he was different from the other loda, While they enjoyed school and ytime, he spent his days confined to a hospital bed, battling a serious illhess. When he finally recovered, he was left with a limp. Walking with a limp wasn''t easy on the eyes. It weighed heavily on his heart. But he had to keep a cheerful facade. If he showed too much sadness, it would only add to his mom''s worries. He couldn''t bear to see his beloved mom suffer. "Okay,ut it out, all of you!" The tallest boy, Timmy, dered with his chin held high "Do you all want to end up like him? My mom says cripples can''t find wives. I sure don''t want to be in his shoes!" With a scornful nce, he turned to the girl holding a doll beside him. "Jenny, would you marry a cripple when you grow up? The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 399 Chapter 399 "Nope Jenny, a proud little princess, refused to entertain the idea of being associated with a cripple She vigorously shook her head, fearing that even a slight nod might doom her to marry a cripple when she grew up. To solidify her stance against marrying a cripple, Jenny pouted and cast a disdainful nce at Aaron "I''d never marry a cripple! My mom says it''s like being cursed for eight lifetimes! I want to marry a prince!" "Marrying a cripple is like being cursed for eight lifetimes! Hahaha! Tammy couldn''t help but burst into exaggeratedughter at jenny''s deration. He continued, "Cripples can''tnd a wife! They''re like street beggars, destined for a detime of bachelorhood!" As Timmy''sughter filled the air, Jack and Tommy joined in, theirughter echoing Timmy''s. While they didn''t want to end up spouseless, they found Aaron''s walking style tooical to resist. So, when Timmy wasn''t watching, they mimicked his limp for a few steps. With mischievous grins, Jack and Tommy quickly grew tired of imitating Aaron''s walk. However, they couldn''t resist teasing him a bit more. While Aaron was off guard, Tommy sneakily extended his foot and tripped him hard. Aaron took a brutal fall. Despite his resiliencepared to other kids his age, he couldn''t hold back the tears of pain. "Look, the cripple''s crying!" Tommy remained oblivious to his wrongdoing, taking pride instead. Standing v with his round belly, he jeered at Aaron, "Are you crying because you''re scared you won''t find a wife when you grow up, cripple?" "Hahaha, stupid cripple, can''t find a wife, stupid cripple, crying, hahaha. Tommy''sughter resonated with cruel mockery. Despite their innocence andck of a strong sense of right and wrong, the children imitated Aaron''s walk and teasingly called him a cripple, tinding amusement in it without malicious intent However, they were oblivious to the profound impact their actions had on others. Being mocked and made fan of could inflict deep emotional wounds, leavingsting scars. As Zayn listened to the children''s exaggeratedughter and witnessed Aaron''s silent tears, his heart broke. His son endured ridicule and bullying, and he bore the guilt of having put him in such a painful situation. Honestly, Aaron was a standoutpared to the other kids around him. With Zayn and Willow''s genes, it didn''t matter whose traits Aaron inherited, he was head and shoulders above the rest. But because of his legs, everyone seemed to overlook his perfect little tace. They only focused on his imperfections and struggles. Taking cautious steps, Zayn approached Aaron. He crouched down and extended his hand to help Aaron up But before he could touch Aaron''s hand, Aaron recoiled as it spooked and quickly withdrew his own hand. Since bing crippled, Aaron had grown ustomed to others'' mockery. But seeing Zayn, the little boy felt an indescribable embarrassment. He hated his own weakness. He had reminded himself repeatedly that he no longer had a father and shouldn''t care about Zayn anymore. Yet, he still didn''t want Zayn to see him in such a humiliating state. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. He wished he could find a hole to crawl into. But there were no holes around, and what was worse, he was in pain from the fall and couldn''t get up. After Aaron fell, the nanny also noticed themotion. She quickly can over and lifted Aaron up from the ground. "Aaron, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? Aaron''s legs were trembling from the pain. But when he saw Zayn looking at him, he forced himself to shake his head Aaron didn''t want to spend another minute in this ce. He wanted to find somewhere to hide. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! Chapter 400 Chapter 400 Aaron squirmed out from the nanny''s grasp and bolted forward. But with his leg already crippled and throbbing with agony, he stumbled and crashed back down to the This time, the impact was even harsher. His face smacked against the ground. The tears he fought to hold back now flowed silently down his cheeks as hey there. Watching Aaron take another fall, Tommy couldn''t help but burst intoughter. He copsed onto the ground with amusement. He turned toward Jenny. "Hey, cripple! Always tripping over yourself! Girls shouldn''t hitch themselves to cripples! It''s bad luck!" "Only fools would tie the knot with a cripple! I''m no foul" Jenny shot back, tossing her head with disdain and pointedly turning away, showing her contempt for the disal In truth, even at such a tender age, kids already grasp gender roles. At that age, they might not understand love and such, but instinctively, they care more about how the opposite sex would view them than how their peers do. Jenny''s rejection only reinforced Aaron''s belief that he was a hopeless cripple, doomed to remain unwed. Aaron stubbornly sniffed and was about to fight to get up when Zayn scooped him into his arms. "Let me go!" Aaron bit his lip hard. He wanted to call Zayn a jerk, but the words wouldn''te out. It was the first time Zayn had ever hugged him, Despite his faults, his embrace felt oddly warm andforting. His dad was holding him. Aaron squirmed awkwardly in Zayn''s arms but ultimately didn''t manage to wriggle free. "What''s one plus one?" Zayn held Aaron firmly, casually addressing Tommy nearby. Tommy, who had been swaggering just moments before, suddenly felt uneasy in the presence of the poised Zayn. Despite being four and a half years old, his expertisey primarily in eating, and the concept of addition eluded him. Feeling a bit embarrassed as the self-proimed little tough guy, Tommy scratched his head. "I don''t know." Seemingly itching to prove he wasn''t dumb, he quickly pointed at Aaron and said, "That idiot cripple probably doesn''t have a clue either! "Hey,me-o, you know what one plus one is?Such a brain teaser, a cripple like you wouldn''t stand a chancel" Aaron wasn''t one to seek the spotlight, but under Zayn''s encouraging look, he reluctantly replied, "One plus one equals two." Zayn smiled with satisfaction, unknowingly wearing the genuine pride of a father. "What''s 15 plus 100?" Zayn kept quizzing Tommy, "What''s 50 plus 108? "What''s 600 plus 909?" As expected, chubby Tommy came up empty-handed, while Aaron answered each question correctly. By the end, Zayn was somewhat surprised. He hadn''t anticipated that Aaron, at such a tender age, was capable of handling slightly moreplex math. He couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride. Indeed, Aaron was his son. Listening to Aaron''s confident responses, Jenny couldn''t help but admire him she handed her handkerchief to Aaron. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Aaron, you''re incredible! You''re the most amazing boy I''ve ever met! This handkerchief is for you!" "Jenny, didn''t you say you hate cripples the most? Are you nning on marving one when you grow up? Tommy remained defiant as he spoke. The content is on noveldrama.org! Read thetest chapter there! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!