《Meeting The One For Me》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Meeting the One for Me Weblic 4/4 Chapter 1 ¡°Before Ame arrives, | want to ask you onest time, Nathan. Are you sure you won''t regret treating Audrey this way once you regain your memory?¡± The question stopped Audrey Yeoman¡¯s hand just as she was about to push the door open. Nathan Franklin sneered, ¡°Audrey, at best, was a girlfriend of questionable character. It¡¯s not my ce to intervene if you choose to defend her. But for the sake of our brotherhood, please don¡¯t mention her in front of me or Amelia. You''ll make me puke!¡± Hugo Stewart''s voice rose angrily as he listened to Nathan¡¯s derogatory words about Audrey. He bellowed, ¡°You were the one who insisted on registering the marriage with her. On the way back, that car ident-if she hadn''t shielded you... Would she have ended up in aa for two years? ¡°At the very least, she¡¯s your savior and your wife in the eyes of thew! How could you ster intimate photos of her all over Sheysea University and ruin her reputation?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice,zy and indifferent, came through the door. ¡°By that logic, if | hadn¡¯t rescued her from the mountains and taken her in, the Franklin family would have tormented her to death. Doesn¡¯t:aving me in the car ident count as repayment? ¡°What era are we living in that we still y these games of obligation and revenge? She lost all dignity by drugging me and climbing into my bed. Am | wrong to post her nudes as a warning? If Amelia hadn¡¯t defended Audrey, | would have made sure she paid dearly!¡± Audrey could almost picture his deeply furrowed brows and disdainful, irritable expression. Nathan had once protected and loved her fiercely and passionately. Audrey understood that his retaliation methods were rtively restrained, considering the fact that he dared to drug and harm the person he once loved. A twinge of sorrow filled her eyes. Her Nathan, who couldn''t bear to see her frown, who never questioned her character or used photos. to threaten her, had died in that car crash four years ago. Inside the private room, a friend noticed Nathan¡¯s displeasure. He nudged Hugo with his leg, whispering, ¡°Mr. Franklin suppressed this issue quickly. It''ll be forgotten soon and won''t affect Audrey much. It¡¯s Nathan¡¯s birthday. Let''s not bring up Audrey and spoil his mood.¡± Another voiced support for Nathan, ¡°Honestly, Audrey went too far this time! She and Nathan had a rough past, but who doesn¡¯t? Nathan''s heart belongs to Amelia now. If Audrey truly loves him, she should let him go gracefully. Not cling to the past and cause more trouble.¡± ¡°It''s useless! Haven''t we all tried? What did she say? She¡¯s waiting for Nathan to remember the past. Chapter 1 If he still chooses Amelia, then she''ll let go. ¡°Doesn''t she realize she¡¯s not a suitable match for the heir of the Franklin family? Initially, Nathan. chose her against all odds, and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin only consented because Nathan is their only son. But can¡¯t she see how much he loves Amelia now?¡± were all once mutual friends of Audrey and Nathan. But now, they were clearly Ame Doyle¡¯s They friends. Since Audrey¡¯s awakening two years ago, they had tried repeatedly to persuade her to let go and allow Nathan and Amelia to be together. They evenined behind her back, wishing Audrey had never woken up. She had to admit that she was receable to Nathan and her friends. Everything had changed in the two years she was in hera. Taking a deep breath and straightening her spine, she fixed her hair like a warrior heading into battle, then pushed the door open. Nathan¡¯s eyes lifted at her entrance. With an irritated click of his tongue, his disdain for Audrey was unmistakable. ¡°Did you bring her here?¡± he asked Hugo coldly. ¡°Audrey, why did youe ...¡± Hugo called out with concern. He hadn¡¯t expected her to show up. The room fell into a hushed silence. Audrey''s slender figure, draped in an oversized down jacket, made her look even more frail. Her pale, almost sickly face was wrapped in a white, fluffy scarf. Herrge, clear eyes stood out all the more duet to her emaciated body. Audrey fixed her gaze on Nathan. ¡°I¡¯ve already reported to the police that | was drugged at the party and that you spread my photos.¡± The faces in the room showed varied expressions. Aman and a woman seated at the far end exchanged nces. Their eyes betrayed a hint of panic as they clutched their wine sses. The woman quickly put down her ss, stood up, and walked over to Audrey. Taking Audrey¡¯s arm, she pleaded, ¡°Audrey, Nathan only posted those photos in anger. Reporting it to the police is taking it too far. It''ll have a bad impact on Nathan! Besides, Mr. Franklin has already handled the matter of the photos. Let¡¯s not dwell on it.¡± Audrey spoke in a calm voice, ¡°Nathan, | admit | wanted to rekindle our past rtionship, but | would never stoop so low as to drug your drink and force myself on you.Investigating and finding the truth wouldn''t be too difficult with your resources. Yet, he had readily believed she had done it. Even though he knew, because of her childhood Chapter vb experiences, she had profound psychological trauma when it came to intimate rtionships. ¡°| was reluctant to let go before because | feared that if my Nathan ever came back, he would resent me for giving up on our love so easily!¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Gently freeing her arm from the woman, Audrey''s dry, pale fingers ced a divorce agreement on the table. ¡°I tried, but it¡¯s too exhausting. So, Nathan... | don¡¯t want you anymore.¡± Nathan''s gaze shifted from the divorce papers to Audrey¡¯s face, his cold and gloomy eyes showing a flicker of surprise. ¡°Wait for the police to clear my name. Then, after you publicly apologize, we can finalize the divorce.¡± non Giving up on this rtionship was undoubtedly painful for Audrey. It felt like her flesh was being slowly stripped from her bones, a pain worse than death. After all, he had given her all the happiness in her life until now. Letting go of this rtionship was like abandoning all her happiness. She lifted a ss of wine from the table and raised it to Nathan. Her eyes swirled with tears. With a choked voice, she said, ¡°Happy 26th birthday!¡± Under everyone¡¯s astonished gaze, she downed the drink. Without sparing Nathan another nce, she walked away, leaving the empty ss behind. ¡°Audrey.¡± Hugo grabbed his coat and followed her out. As he left, the room buzzed with conversation again. ¡°Did Audrey really agree to get the divorce papers?¡± Someone picked up the divorce agreement and handed it to Nathan. ¡°Look, Nathan, she¡¯s leaving with nothing. She¡¯s even willing to repay the medical expenses from thest two years.¡± ¡°Really? Congrattions, Nathan!¡± ¡°This must be the best birthday present Nathan got today!¡± ¡°Isn''t this just a ploy to win him back?¡± ¡°Definitely! She''ll be clinging to Nathan again in three days!¡± Someone suggested, papers tomorrow! Nathan, you should strike while the iron is hot and get Audrey to sign the Nathan frowned, looking at Audrey¡¯s signature at the bottom of the divorce agreement in the dim light of the room. His lips pressed together tightly. This divorce agreement wasn¡¯t the one he had given her. In his version, he had offered her property and enough money for the rest of her life. But in Audrey¡¯s version, she had asked for nothing. 4/4 Kvww xins she hade between him and Amelia, he had longed for the moment when he could sever all ties with he Yo, for some reason, holding the divorce papers in hand didn¡¯t bring him the joy he had expected. Amidst the chorus of congrattions, Nathan¡¯s phone vibrated. The screen disyed, ¡°Ame*. All his dishssure was forgotten as he answered the call with a smile and headed outside. ¡°Amelia, you''re here! I¡¯ming down to get you!¡± Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 143 ¡°Audrey!¡± Hugo called. He caught up with her at the entrance of the bar. He wanted to grab her arm but hesitated just before touching her down jacket. His long leg stepped forward to block her descent down the steps. ¡°Did you move out of the apartment?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Audrey replied. Her eyes were downcast as half her face was hidden in the fluffy scarf. Now that she had decided to let Nathan go, she naturally wouldn¡¯t stay in an apartment filled with their memories. ¡°Where have you been staying these past few days?¡± he asked her. Hugo didn¡¯t give Audrey a chance to lie. He continued, ¡°I went to Sheysea University yesterday to look for you. Your roommate said your family came to the dorm and made it impossible for you to stay there. You haven¡¯t been around us. either. Have you been staying with the Lambert family? Audrey felt a sting in her heart at the mention of the Lambert family¡¯s. She looked up. Her clear eyes met Hugo''s steadily. ¡°Thank you for your concern and for speaking up for me earlier. But... | know my ce. We never belonged together. We only became friends because of Nathan. Now that I¡¯ve decided not to cling to Nathan, | shouldn''t bother his friends either.¡± Hugo, usually so genteel, felt a sting from Audrey¡¯s sudden coldness. He grabbed her arm to stop her from moving away. His wool coat fell from his hands in the process. Ignoring the fallen coat, he gripped Audrey''s arm tightly. ¡°Do you have to speak like that?¡± ¡°If | hadn¡¯t woken up, it wouldn¡¯t havee to this,¡± Audrey said, looking at Hugo¡¯s astonished. expression. Her voice was calm yet hollow. She continued, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault for waking up from thea and disrupting your lives. I''ll leave Sheysea as soon as | can. That¡¯s what you all want, right?¡± Nathan''s family took her in when she was ten. She had grown up with Hugo and the others. Once, Audrey had truly believed they were also her friends and childhoodpanions. Hugo opened his mouth, but he struggled to speak. His eyes reddened, and his voice was hoarse as he sputtered, ¡°You mean it like that!¡± ¡°Hugo! Audrey...¡± you heard that? No! We didn¡¯t Hearing Amelia¡¯s voice, Audrey pulled her arm free from Hugo. She picked up his coat and handed it Chanter 2 to him as he turned to greet Amelia, Amelia wore a mask. Her long, thick, curly hair fell to her waist. 273 She stepped out of a car. Her thin, beige coat draped over her arm. Even with her face obscured, she radiated beauty. It was the first time Amelia had seen Audrey since the drugging incident. She approached Audrey calmly and said, ¡°I know that, with your character, you couldn''t have been behind the drugging. Have you considered reporting it to the police?¡± Audrey couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. Nathan and her former friends didn¡¯t believe her, but Amelia did. Regardless of the sincerity of Ame¡¯s words, she was the first to say she believed Audrey. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ve reported it already,¡± Audrey thanked her and added with pursed lips, ¡°Ms. Doyle, | wish you and Nathan evesting happiness,¡± Amelia looked startled. She instinctively tightened her grip on the gift bag. ¡°Has Nathan remembered everything?¡± Audrey shook her head in response, then added, ¡°I¡¯m the one giving up. ¡°Amelia!¡± Nathan¡¯s voice, filled with excitement and hurried footsteps, came from above as he quickly descended the stairs towards them. He swiftly pulled Amelia away from Audrey, his heart pounding. He feared Audrey might have said something she shouldn''t have. After the drugging incident, Amelia cried and demanded Nathan take responsibility for Audrey. Nathan, not wanting to lose his beloved, swore nothing had happened between him and Audrey. But the truth was, he couldn''t remember if anything had happened between them. He avoided encounters between the two women these days, fearing Audrey would tell Amelia about that night. Seeing Amelia without her coat, he frowned and scolded her softly. He slipped the thin coat onto her shoulders and pulled her into his arms, eager to go inside. ¡°Let''s go. We should head back in!¡± ¡°I''m not going! | have an event in Valerianth City tomorrow, so I¡¯m heading to the airport now. | won''t be back until tomorrow night.¡± Amelia pulled away from Nathan, looking up at him with a smile. She added, ¡°I came to give you your birthday present and to wish you a happy birthday! Have fun tonight!¡± Nathan didn¡¯t ept the gift Amelia was holding out to him. Instead, he held onto her wrist, his brow furrowed. His usual carefree demeanor was gone, reced by an almost puppy¡ªlike neediness. Audrey knew who he meant by ¡°no one else¡°.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 2 3/ She tugged her scarf over her face and headed down the steps. She buried her hands in the pockets of her down coat. Amelia nced at Audrey''s retreating figure and softly said, ¡°I know what you nned for today. Everyone told me! I¡¯m sorry, Nathan, but I can¡¯t ept it yet. ¡°I''ve said it before. Only if you still choose me after regaining your memory can | be with you with at clear conscience. | don¡¯t want to marry you, then have you resent me when you remember your past with Audrey.¡± Amelia¡¯s friends had hinted that Nathan nned to propose to her today. ¡°Did Audrey fill your head with nonsense?¡± Nathan¡¯s anger surged, a vein throbbing in his forehead. Without waiting for Amelia¡¯s exnation, he quickly caught up with Audrey. With a look of disgust and hatred, he pushed her forcefully. ¡°What lies did you tell Amelia this time, Audrey? How can you be so vile and despicable!¡± ¡°Audrey!¡± Hugo eximed in shock. Nathan''s push was merciless. Audrey¡¯s slender and frail frame staggered and fell into the ornamental pond at the entrance of the bar. The cold winter water engulfed her instantly¡ªa sharp pain shot through her forehead. ¡°Audrey:¡± Amelia and Hugo eximed as they rushed to help her out of the water. ¡°Nathan, what are you doing?¡± Amelia shouted, holding Audrey tightly. Audrey, still in the cold water, was dizzy and disoriented. Blood dripped from her eyshes. lost ¡°Nathan, have you your mind!¡± Hugo barked as he tried to lift Audrey out of the water. ¡°I¡¯m taking her to the hospital!¡± Hugo lifted the dazed Audrey fro the pond. Her expression was nk. She raised her hand to the sticky red liquid on her eyelid, seemingly in shock from the incident. She waspletely numb. While Nathan hadn''t expected his push would result in Audrey being covered in blood, he looked at her with even more disgust. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you die from the fall? If you had died, I¡¯d be given the death sentence, and | wouldn¡¯t have to see your disgusting face again!¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Audrey regained herposure and looked at Nathan steadily. Her eyes grew as cold as her heart. ¡°The thing | regret most is getting you out of that small town the Yeomans family is from! The seed of a rapist... Truly the filthiest and most despicable in the world! No wonder the Lambert family wants nothing to do with you,¡± Nathan spat. Before he could finish his sentence, he was caught off guard by a fierce blow to his head. He staggered back into a tree trunk. Audrey, half her face covered in blood, stood where Nathan had been a second before. Her hand trembled as she clutched a broken half of a brick. Nathan was dazed. He stared at Audrey in disbelief. His vision in his right eye was a blur of red as blood seeped into it. Hugo and Amelia stood in the shallow pool, stunned. They couldn''t believe that Audrey had struck Nathan.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. With a pale face, Audrey forced herself to appear calm. She tossed the broken brick into the pool, then said hoarsely, ¡°Nathan, we''re even now.¡± Nathan''s mind flooded with blurry images. Behind the sunset-tinged school building, a girl in a clean uniform pinned the blushing younger version of him against the wall. She smiled at him. ¡°Nathan, we¡¯re even now!¡± His heart raced, his breath quickened, and his nose filled with the pleasant scent of gardenias emanating from the girl. Climbing roses bloomed on the walls, but they paled inparison to her alluring, smiling face. Nathan clutched his chest and shook his head to clear the vision. Theforting image vanished without a trace. ¡°Are you alright, Nathan?¡± Amelia asked. Nathan came back to reality. He touched his head, and his hand came away bloody. He cursed and looked up at Audrey. ¡°Nathan!¡± Amelia rushed to him, fearing he might retaliate. Hugo rushed to Audrey, pulling her behind him protectively. Weak and drained from her attack, Audrey stumbled backward as Hugo pulled her to him. Suddenly, strong, well-defined hands gripped her shoulders, stabilizing her to prevent another fall. She turned around. Words of thanks caught in her throat as her lips trembled silently. Chapter 3 Nathan, also half¡ªcovered in blood, hesitated. He reluctantly addressed the man, ¡°Mr. Lambert,¡± The man supporting Audrey, Ryan Lambert, was in his early thirties. His features were sharp, and he had a stern expression. He wore gold-rimmed sses and a ck cont over a neatly tailored dark gray suit, which gave him an imposing figure. He was only four years older than Nathan, yet his reserved and mature presence was strikingly different from Nathan''s youthful vigor. He exuded the power of a grown man. The slight resemnce between him and Audrey was obvious. Ryan, examining Audrey¡¯s head wound with pursed lips, swiftly undid his tie and wrapped it around his palm. Then he pressed it to Audrey¡¯s bleeding forehead. His deep eyes swept over Nathan. As he held Audrey, he turned and sald coldly, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital!¡± His assistant hurriedly opened the car door. As Ryan pressed on Audrey¡¯s wound and helped her into the car, Nathan took a few steps after them. He called out, ¡°Mr. Lambert!¡± Ryan nced up as he stepped into the car. His indifferent gaze behind his gold¡ªrimmed sses sent chills down Nathan¡¯s spine. Audrey and Nathan were taken to the emergency room and treated separately for their injuries. As the nurse prepared to clean Audrey¡¯s wounds, she noticed her soaked white scarf and coat stained with blood. She advised, ¡°You should take off your coat and scarf.¡± Audrey paused, then asked politely, ¡°Will it interfere with treating the wound?¡± ¡°It won''t affect the treatment, but aren¡¯t you ufortable in wet clothes?¡± the nurse replied, pulling the treatment cart closer. ¡°You should take them off.¡± Audrey frowned, tugging at her scarf to cover her mouth and nose. She mumbled through the fabric, If it doesn¡¯t affect the treatment, I¡¯m fine like this.¡± Ryan stood in the emergency treatment room with his hands in his pockets, frowning at Audrey. Deep and authoritative, his voice left no room for argument. He ordered, ¡°Take off your scarf and coat.¡± Audrey remained silent momentarily before slowly unzipping her jacket and removing her scarf. As the nurse moved to draw the curtain closed, Amelia and a bandaged Nathan, emerged from behind 1. it. In a fleeting second, Nathan caught sight of the shocking bruises on Audrey''s jaw and neck. He wondered if his push caused such severe injuries. Their eyes met briefly before the light blue curtain obscured their view. Nathan, visibly shaken, turned his gaze to Ryan¡¯s tall and straight silhouette. He felt an inexplicable dread. Chapter 3 Remembering Ryan¡¯s rtionship with Audrey and the look in his eyes when he carried her to the car, Nathan knew he had to exin the day¡¯s events to Ryan. Although Ryan was an adopted son of the Lambert family in Mythravia, he was now the public face of the family¡¯s power. Many of the Franklin family¡¯s projects relled on the Lamberts. Nathan called out softly, ¡°Mr. Lambert...¡± Ryan turned around slowly. The hospital¡¯s bright lights cast sharp lines on his handsome face. Standing at an imposing six feet one inch, every movement exuded the unfathomable depth of someone in a position of power. He was intimidating even in silence. His brow furrowed. Nathan exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for her to hit the decorations.¡± Ryan¡¯s eyes were deep. He responded, ¡°At 16, you were in the hospital to protect Audrey. At 26, are you here because of a fight with someone else over her?¡± Amelia stiffened at his words. Nathan gripped Amelia¡¯s hand tightly and pulled her behind him, taking a protective stance. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. It has nothing to do with anyone else.¡± Amelia had already exined on the way to the hospital that Audrey hadn¡¯t said anything else. Ryan swept his gaze over Amelia and looked down at Nathan¡¯s lowered head, before removing his sses and cleaning them. ¡°Who gave you the courage toy a hand on her?¡± Nathan clenched his teeth in silent humiliation. Noticing Hugo return with clean clothes and shoes for Audrey and Nathan, Ryan chose not to say more. He put his sses back on. Amelia, uneasy in Ryan¡¯s cold presence, hurriedly said to Hugo and Nathan, ¡°I need to catch a flight. Please tell Audrey | had to leave.¡± ¡°I''ll take you,¡± Nathan said, holding Amelia¡¯s hand reluctantly. ¡°You should go back too,¡± Ryan said to Hugo, who hesitated to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t make your sister worry. I¡¯ll take care of Audrey.¡± Thinking of his pregnant sister, Hugo finally nodded and handed the shopping bag to Ryan¡¯s assistant. Audrey received six stitches and had to stay in the hospital overnight, just like Nathan. She emerged from the restroom of the single patient room in her hospital gown, and found Ryan still there. He sat on the sofa, making a phone call. Ferhaps due to the warmth of the hospital room, he had loosened his grey shirt¡¯s buttons and casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearms and a dark coffee¡ªcolored leather wristwatch on Chapter 3 his well-defined wrist. Catching sight of Audrey with a bandage wrapped around her head, Ryan said into the phone, ¡°I''ll be back next Monday,¡± then hung up. His deep gaze fell on the purple bruises on Audrey¡¯s chin. ¡°Come over and sit down.¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Upon hearing Ryan''s words, Audrey pulled up a chair and sat across from him at the coffee table. Unlike his distant demeanor with Nathan and the others, Ryan¡¯s attitude toward Audrey was rtively gentle. ¡°How did you get the wounds on your body?¡± Ryan asked. Audrey responded, ¡°Nathan pushed me, and | collided with a rockery...¡± ¡°I''m not asking about the wound on your head,¡± Ryan interrupted. Nathan, who was about to return to his room after seeing Amelia off, overheard Ryan. He stepped back to peer through the slightly ajar door. Audrey''s expression was indifferent. In an even tone, as if discussing someone else¡¯s affairs, she exined, ¡°The Yeomans family wanted me to buy a house, a car, and pay for Adam¡¯s wedding, so we had a fight outside the school.¡± Audrey wasn¡¯t lying but wasn¡¯t telling the whole story either. The Yeomans family¡¯s visit to Sheysea City wasn¡¯t just to find Audrey; they were also looking for her and Adam¡¯s biological mother, Wanda Lambert. The Yeomans family was furious when they couldn¡¯t find Wanda and found out that Audrey was still attending university instead of working. Wayne Lambert, Audrey''s biological father, made a scene in the principal''s office, demanding the school refund her tuition fees. As Audrey wasn''t earning any money, Wayne thought of taking her back to their small town and selling her for a good price to pay for Adam''s marriage. That was when Audrey stood up against them. Examining Audrey''s jaw and neck bruises, Ryan¡¯s hand moved thoughifully on his knee. Without pressing for more details, he leaned forward. His gaze was serious. ¡°| made an offer eight years ago, and it still stands. If you''re willing to leave Nathan, | can arrange for you to go abroad.¡± Audrey looked up and met his prating gaze. Her hand was on her knee, tensing and slowly rxing. ¡°| know when the Franklin family brought me to Sheysea City, it was to secure investment and long- term support from the Lambert family. ye ¡°When you came to see me eight years ago, it was probably because the Franklin family didn¡¯t want their only son with me but couldn''t interfere. So, they turned to the Lambert family, hoping to send me abroad to break my connection with Nathan.¡± Chapter 4 2/3 Her eyes, clear and puzzled, were framed by furrowed brows. ¡°But now, Nathan has forgotten me and loves another. Sending me abroad doesn¡¯t seem to benefit you.¡± ¡°You''re very smart,¡± Ryan said persuasively, trying to sway Audrey. ¡°Besides the potential benefits, you also share a blood rtion with the Lambert family. The mention of the ¡°Lambert family¡± made Audrey tense up. ¡°I have no rtion with the Lamberts. My existence is proof of living hell on Earth to them. | should never contact them again. ¡°Even in your current situation, alone and beset with troubles, you still refuse the Lambert family¡¯s help?¡± Ryan asked. His smooth, persuasive volce calmed Audrey. She replied, ¡°I''m grateful to the Lambert and Franklin families for allowing me to leave the Yeomans¡¯ small town and pursue an education. Even if it was due to blood rtions, the Lambert family has done enough for me. | don¡¯t want to owe the Lambert family anymore.¡± Ryan remembered when he first met Audrey, her biological grandparents said she was naturally aloof. But he understood her. Her coldness stemmed from her high morals, kindness, and deep love for her birth mother. Suppressing her longing for familial affection, she made herself an orphan to ease the Lambert family¡¯s conscience. She chose to stay with the Franklin family. Audrey was more in line with the Lambert family¡¯s expectations. She truly embodied self¡ªdiscipline and etiquette. Ryan adjusted his sses, then spokeposedly, ¡°The business world is small. Your involvement with Nathan, the young heir of the Sheysea City Franklin family, will inevitably reach the ears of the Lambert family in Mythravia.¡± ¡°| won''t have any connections to Nathan. Once the police clear my name and | get the divorce certificate, I''ll leave Sheysea City,¡± Audrey replied, clutching her clothes tightly. She didn¡¯t intend to tell Ryan where she was going. ¡°Are youpletely cutting ties with Nathan?¡± Ryan¡¯s deep-set eyes, marked by a rugged brow, conveyed skepticism as he leaned back on the sofa. Years ago, you sat across from me just like this. You were adamant that Nathan was more important to you than your own life.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the case anymore,¡± Audrey replied hesitantly. The corners of Ryan¡¯s eyes moved subtly as he discreetly observed theposed woman sitting across from him. His lips curled slightly. Standing at the doorway with his hands in his pockets, Nathan overheard this and tensed up. As he turned to leave, his brows furrowed. Chapter 4 30 Audrey had to be persistent about having no more ties with him. She couldn''t hesitate when the time came to sign the divorce papers. Back in his room, Nathany down, overwhelmed. As he drifted in and out of his dreams, his mind filled with images of walls stained tea¡ªcolored by the setting sun, the pleasant fragrance of gardes, and a radiant face smiling amidst blooming roses. He woke up suddenly, unable to control his racing heart. He clutched at his chest as his forehead broke out in a sweat. He didn¡¯t want to listen to his past with Audrey as she and their friends had chattered about when she first woke up. For him, the past was unimportant; his future with Amelia mattered. He unscrewed a bottle of water and gulped it down, forcing himself to calm down. ¡°Wait for the police to clear my name. Then, after you publicly apologize, we can finalize the divorce, ¡°Nathan recalled Audrey¡¯s words as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn''t wait a moment longer. He wanted no further entanglement with her. The next morning, Nathan prepared to go to the adjacent room to discuss the divorce certificate and public apology with Audrey. However, as he approached the door, the voice of Lucas Gray came from inside the room. ¡°Jen has been your friend since childhood. Can you bear to see her with a criminal record? ¡°Besides, she only drugged Nathan¡¯s drink because she supported the both of you being together. She did it to create an opportunity for you and Nathan! She meant well! Why else would she do something did it to create an opportunity fo that brings her no benefit?¡± Audrey listened to Lucas¡¯s words, feeling skeptical. Her mind was buzzing.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Just because it¡¯s ¡®for my own good¡¯ that allows someone to do such despicable acts? To meddle in my life without telling me, turning it upside down? | want to ask her why she would do such a harmful and self¡ª-damaging thing!¡± Feeling guilty, Lucas replied softly, ¡°She said she was afraid you wouldn¡¯t agree, so she acted on her his birthday, and she was anxious to own. At the time, Nathan had nned to propose to Amelia o help you! ¡°She never expected Nathan would go to such extremes, posting your photos all over the university. Jen was going to exin this to Nathanst night, but nobody expected both of you to end up in the hospital.¡± Lucas¡¯s voice was weary as he continued, ¡°Audrey, what about this? You withdraw from the case, and Jen and | will exin it to Nathan.¡± Charlech Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Lacas and his sister Jen were childhood friends of Nathan. They practically grew up with Audrey. As Lucas mentioned, after Audrey woke up from hera, Jen was among the few who supported her rtionship with Nathan. Audrey closed her eyes, clutching the nket tightly. She suppressed the rising anger inside her. Her pale face was devoid of any color.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she speak to me?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Jen knows she messed up, and she¡¯s too ashamed to meet you,¡± Lucas replied, his lips tightening as he pulled up a chair beside her hospital bed, ¡°I understand your concern. You''re worried that even if Jen exins things to Nathan now, he''ll still think she acted solely to protect you.¡± ¡°Nathan¡¯s opinion... doesn¡¯t matter anymore,¡± Audrey said, her voice cold and detached. ¡°I don¡¯t care about.¡± When Audrey cared about Nathan, his opinion mattered to her. But now, she was indifferent to him. His thoughts about her, whether he considered her despicable or disgusting, meant nothing to her.. Nathan, standing outside the hospital room door, unconsciously clenched his fist. He was unsure whether Audrey¡¯s indifference or her deration of his insignificance irked him more. He stood still with no intention of entering the room any longer. Lucas thought Audrey had reported the incident to clear her name in Nathan¡¯s eyes. He was relieved to hear her say she didn¡¯t care about his opinion. He negotiated, ¡°If you don¡¯t care about Nathan¡¯s opinion, can we drop the case now?¡± ¡°| may not care about Nathan¡¯s opinion, but that doesn¡¯t excuse what Jen did under the guise of helping me. Which university would dare ept me with such a stigma attached to my name? That''s why | need Nathan¡¯s public apology,¡± Audrey exined. Her eyes were still closed, and her voice was weak. She continued, ¡°Lucas, | didn¡¯t die, and I¡¯ve woken up. | need to continue living my life. How can | establish myself in society without a degree? How can | live?¡± The scandal had been so severe that no university would dare to admit her if the police investigation didn¡¯t clear her name, despite being one of the best students in Sheysea City that year. What would Audrey do for work without attending a university degree? She wasn¡¯t rich and didn¡¯t have a family business to inherit. She was just another ordinary person with no parents or close rtives to rely on. She had no one but herself. Lucas understood the logic. Chapter 5 2/3 He had to clean up the trouble his sister had caused. ¡°Let me offer youpensation, Audrey. What do you think?¡± Lucas suggested, ¡°You can work for the Gray family business. You can sign a lifelong employment contract. Germundo, Japoria, anywhere in Eurindel¡ªchoose wherever we have a branch. You set the sry. ¡°That¡¯s my proposal. If you choose to ept the offer or decide to drop the case, jen will rify things with Nathan to avoid misunderstandings. ¡°| don¡¯t care if Nathan misunderstands, nor do | need your help to arrange my life! | will get my degree. All | want is a public apology from Nathan. Once he does that, | can drop the case. Before Audrey could finish, Nathan pushed the door open and entered the room, frowning Audrey turned her head. She appeared frail and slender in her hospital gown, with her hair cascading over her shoulders and pillow. There were no high¡ª cor shirts or scarves to conceal her wounds. Visible injuries marked her forehead, chin, and neck. Herplexion was even worse than the day before as she suppressed her anger. The emotions in Audrey¡¯s eyes cooled when she saw Nathan. Nathan¡¯s anger intensified as he read Audrey''s indifferent expression towards him. ¡°Let''s get the divorce finalized today, and stay as far away from me and Amelia as possible. I''ll arrange for the public apology tomorrow!¡± Nathan dered. ¡°Nathan!¡± Lucas eximed, taken aback that Nathan had sought out Audrey. He stood up in surprise to exin, ¡°I came to exin the drugging incident. Yesterday, on your birthday, Jen was nning to rify that this matter had nothing to do with Audrey, but then...¡± ¡°You and your sister are always putting on a show with Audrey. Aren''t you tired of it?¡± Nathan vented his pent-up fury at Lucas. He continued, ¡°You''re afraid that the police will find out it was Audrey, so you came up with ame excuse to drop the case? Are you saying Jen didn¡¯t serve me drinks that night?¡± Audrey felt as if she had been pped in the face. Although she was aware of Nathan¡¯s distrust in her character, his eagerness to publicly apologize to her revealed his desperation. She loosened her grip on the nket. She had moved on from Nathan, and all she wanted was a public apology so she could enroll in Cloudmill University. The marriage was bound to end. She was willing toply with his wishes. Lucas worried Nathan''s words would provoke Audrey to insist on a thorough police investigation. He hurriedly exined, ¡°This really was Jen¡¯s doing. She is Chapter 5 3/3 ¡°When are we getting the certificate? | can go with you right now,¡± Audrey interrupted with a calm and gentle voice. There was no hint of grievance or reluctance in her tone, not even a trace of bitterness, just calmness in every word. The room fell silent momentarily. No one had expected Audrey would agree so easily. When Nathan didn¡¯t respond, Audrey repeated, ¡°What time for the certificate? I¡¯m avable.¡± Audrey''s indifferent attitude caused an unknown emotion to spread rapidly in Nathan¡¯s heart, making his voice sound incredibly irritable. ¡°Now! Immediately! Right away!¡± ¡°Okay. Give me a few minutes to change,¡± Audrey said, getting out of bed. ¡°Lucas, you can go back. I''ll withdraw the case.¡± Lucas was taken aback by how easily the issue was resolved. He hadn''t even used half of his prepared arguments. ¡°Don''t go. | don¡¯t have a car. You drive Audrey and me to city hall and be our witness,¡± Nathan said to Lucas before he could move. ¡°So she won''t y any tricks.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t say anything. She changed into the clothes Hugo had brought the day before and left the hospital room. ¡°Nathan is getting dressed,¡± Lucas informed Audrey. Audrey wrapped a scarf around her neck, covering her chin and neck injuries. ¡°Before going to city hall, | need to go back to my ce. Tell Nathan we''ll meet at the entrance.¡± Nathan came out of the adjacent room, ncing at Audrey with a cold sneer. ¡°Ah... your tricks are always so creative!¡± He leisurely adjusted his sleeves, then added, ¡°The night is long and full of dreams. Lucas and | will go with you.¡± She nodded. Nathan was surprised to see the kind of ce Audrey lived in. The messy, narrow alley was lined with small vendors, making it impossible for cars to enter. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Melted snow pooled on the uneven cement road, trampled into a messy slush by passing pedestrians. ¡°Wait here. I''ll go in,¡± Audrey said, pushing open the car door. Nathan unfastened his seatbelt in the passenger seat. ¡°I''lle with you to ensure you don¡¯t run away.¡± Nathan and Lucas followed Audrey, carefully avoiding the muddy water collected in the potholes. They frowned as they surveyed the crowded and chaotic shantytown. ¡°Why are you living here?¡± Lucas asked, his gaze shifting away from a pile of garbage on the street, his brow furrowed with concern. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to stay in the dorms, you could''vee to Jen¡¯s. This ce is dirty and unsafe for ady like you. ¡°It''s okay,¡± Audrey responded. She didn¡¯t want to borate. Staying in a hotel was too expensive, and she couldn''t afford to spend her savings from part-time jobs. She hadn''t nned on staying in Sheysea City for long and didn¡¯t want to sign a long-term contract for an apartment. Despite the poor conditions, the ce was the quickest and cheapest short-term rental option she could find after moving out of the apartment two days before. They walked deeper into the secluded area, eventually stopping in front of a wooden door with a lock. Nathan''s frown deepened. Audrey didn¡¯t invite them in. She unlocked the door then quickly retrieved the documents she needed from a drawer. The wooden door seemed flimsy, and the interior was small. It had a bed, a simple wardrobe, a pile of books neatly stacked on a table, a chair, some old kitchenware, and no bathroom. Yet, the bedding was tidy, the old headboard and table were clean, and the floor shone from being freshly mopped. Audrey locked the door and turned to them, ¡°Let''s go.¡± The ride from the neighborhood to city hall was silent. Everyone was lost in their thoughts. At city hall, the staff noticed both Nathan''s and Audrey¡¯s injuries. Before issuing the divorce certificate, they uttered the same advice they gave all couples.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. As he looked at the certificate in his hands, Nathan found the process unbelievably smooth. ¡°We got the divorce certificate. Nathan, can | expect your public apology tomorrow?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Okay,¡± Nathan responded, snapping back to reality. Audrey stood up and said. ¡°After r your apology I''ll leave Shares in immediatel Chander 6 will never see me again.¡± Nathan¡¯s grip on the certificate tightened. The image of Audrey pressing him against the wall of a school building shed through his mind. He stood up, shoving the certificate in his pocket. His expression was dark as he spoke, ¡°The ce u''re staying in isn¡¯t safe. | said you could have the apartment, and | won¡¯t take it back. You ¡°No, thank you. And goodbye,¡± Audrey replied curtly, also putting the divorce certificate into her coat pocket. With the certificate, her final tie to Nathan was severed. She hoped this would never meet again. Seeing Audrey refuse Nathan¡¯s gesture, Lucas offered, ¡°I have a vacant apartment you can use for now. She shook her head. She pulled her scarf over her mouth and nose, leaving only her clear, cold eyes visible. ¡°I''ll withdraw from the case shortly. If there¡¯s nothing else, I''ll be going now.¡± ¡°I''ll take you!¡± Lucas said. Audrey shook her head again, polite but distant. ¡°No need to trouble yourself. It¡¯s out of your way.¡± Nathan pressed his lips together tighter as he watched her swift departure, ¡°| never thought it woulde to this,¡± Lucas remarked. Sitting at the bus stop outside city hall, Audrey gazed at the divorce certificate, lost in thought. She never imagined this was where her journey with Nathan would end. And yet, it seemed neither of them was to me. She vividly recalled Nathan''s wishes on his 22nd birthday: to marry her immediately, to celebrate his 26th birthday with their child, and to grow old together. Only one hade true. Audrey still remembered Nathan¡¯s intention to burn their marriage certificate after the wedding ceremony, proiming that there would only be widowhood between them, not divorce. To Audrey, who had lost two years of her life, it felt like it had happened yesterday. Standing outside city hall, where they had registered their marriage, holding their divorce certificate. felt too ironic. Audrey rubbed her sore and swollen eyes and then ced the certificate into her bag. As she took out her phone to book a flight to Cloudmill for the next evening, a ck sedan pulled up in front of her. The rear passenger window rolled down, revealing Ryan¡¯s sharp, pale features. Audrey nced around before locking her phone and approaching the car. She bent down slightly and rested her hands on the edge of the window. She asked Ityan, seated behind the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°| was visiting the Sheysea City office,¡± he replied, motioning for Audrey to get in the car. Sitting in the front seat, Ryan¡¯s assistant got out and greeted her with a smile. He moved to open the car door for her. But Audrey remained still. Gazing at Ryan¡¯s distinctly defined features, she said cautiously, ¡°Mr. wiser to pretend we don¡¯t know each other in the future. bert, | think it might be ¡°Given your frequent appearances in the media, there¡¯s a risk. If the press spots us together, our simrst names and looks could draw unwanted attention from the Yeomans family, maybe even drag the Lamberts into it. It¡¯s better to avoidplications, don¡¯t you think?¡± She noticed an approaching bus and added, ¡°The bus is almost here, Mr. Lambert.¡± ¡°Get in the car,¡± Ryan said, his voice deep andmanding. Audrey''s fingers curled slightly. The bus driver honked impatiently, urging the sedan to drive ahead. Yet, Ryan remained calm, seemingly content to wait as long as it took. His gaze on Audrey was steady. At thest second, as the bus pulled into the bus stop with its horn ring, Audrey finally conceded and got to the car. Once inside, someone called Ryan about work before Audrey could tell the driver where to drop her off. She noticed that he still had an iplete document on hisp. She turned on silent mode on her phone, trying to stay quiet and not disturb him. But news of her and Nathan getting a divorce had already spread. Her phone buzzed with messages, vibrating continuously. After hanging up the phone, Ryan uncapped a pen from his suit pocket. He turned to Audrey, who was busy deleting contacts on her phone. He asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you at the hospital?¡± Without looking up, Audrey replied, ¡°Nathan is going to make a public apology to me tomorrow, so | came to get the divorce certificate.¡± Ryan¡¯s hand paused. Were they divorced? This was an unexpectedly swift development. He remembered the first time he sensed the budding rtionship between Nathan and Audrey. He had told her that Nathan was suitable as a friend but not fit to be part of her future. Audrey, 17 then, had her hair loosely tied in a high ponytail. She wore a loose, off-white batwing shirt, slim¡ªfit ck jeans, and white sneakers. She carried a backpack on her shoulders. Looking up at him with clear, bright eyes, she resembled a cautious yet stubborn hedgehog Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 After transferring money for the clothes to Hugo and deleting his contact details on WhatsApp, Audrey¡¯s contact list was left with only Anne Hayes, Harper Hayes, Diego Dous, and Ryan. Ryan¡¯s profile picture was taken from under the sea, looking up at the sun. He didn¡¯t have a single post in his Moments. It could have easily been mistaken for an elderly person''s ount.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Her finger hovered over Ryan¡¯s WhatsApp profile... ¡°I''ll transfer the hospital expenses from yesterday to you via PayPal. I''ll include the cost of the tie f dirtied.¡± Audrey turned to Ryan, who was reading a document. The car suddenly swerved to the left to avoid a collision, causing Audrey¡¯s phone to fly out of her hands towards Ryan. Audrey reached out and grasped at nothing but air then crashed into the man¡¯s warm embrace. Just as she was about to grab her phone, Ryan¡¯s strong, slender fingers firmly gripped her wrist. The phonended, quite inconveniently, in hisp. Audrey''s ears burned with embarrassment as she realized the awkwardness of the position. Looking up, she met Ryan¡¯s deep, dark eyes behind his gold-rimmed sses. Her heart raced with difort. The driver, observing the rapidly departing car they had dodged, was sweating profusely. He apologized quickly, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry. That car overtook us suddenly...¡± ¡°It''s okay,¡± Ryan¡¯s voice said from above Audrey. She straightened up and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ryan gave her the phone, then reached down to pick up his scattered documents. ¡°Thank you. The car crossed a speed bump and smoothly entered the gatedmunity of a vi in the city¡¯s second ring. Audrey told the driver, ¡°You can drop me off here.¡± ¡°The ce you''re staying in now is dangerous,¡± Ryan said, closing the file on hisp. He added unequivocally, ¡°Let Howard bring your luggage here.¡± She followed suit without questioning how Ryan knew her current address. She informed him, ¡°I¡¯m leaving Sheysea City tomorrow. It¡¯s just for one night, so moving my luggage back and forth is too much trouble.¡± Ryan gestured for Audrey to enter the vi. ¡°It¡¯s just for one night. Even if you¡¯re eager to cut ties with the Lambert family, it won''t make a difference tonight.¡± Audrey tightened her grip, recognizing the inherent authority in Ryan¡¯s voice. It wasmanding, Chapter 7 and yet, not overly so, She handed the keys to Howard, Instructing him, ¡°Everything | need is in my suitcase. Can you park up the books on the table and the items in the drawer, please?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Howard agreed. Audrey had visited Ryan¡¯s Sheysea City vi before but never stayed overnight. ¡°Mr. Lambert is back,¡± Jess called out from the kitchen when she heard the front door open. Upon seeing Andrey, she greeted warmly, ¡°Ms. Yeomans, you''re here too. I¡¯ve just made some chicken soup. After asking Jess to prepare the quest room on the second floor, Ryan excused himself to attend a meeting in his study. Audrey ate lunch alone, Nathan¡¯s public apology was released sooner than he had promised Audrey. Only three hours after they received their divorce certificate, a handwritten apology by Nathan was posted on the notice board at Sheysea City University. He also posted an apology statement on his personal Facebook ount. Online forums and discussion boards associated with the university also cleared Audrey¡¯s name. They confirmed that Audrey hadn''t drugged Nathan. They had identally consumed the spiked drink, and Audrey¡¯s resilience had prevented a malicious plot from seeding. Upon waking up, Nathan had impulsively photographed and retaliated mindlessly, as he still harbored doubts about Audrey. His actions had tarnished Audrey''s reputation, causing her immense emotional and social distress. He felt deeply guilty and remorseful and was now sincerely apologizing to her. Thements on his Facebook post were a mix of shock and disbelief. Some suspected ulterior motives. Others vehemently criticized Nathan for being a scoundrel who carelessly spread private photos, urging Audrey to sue him. A few, aware of Audrey and Nathan''s past, thought it was Nathan¡¯s way of giving Audrey a way out due to old affections. Some questioned how to address the photos Nathan had spread, noting that many students had already downloaded and even shared them on social media. Fortunately, the incident didn¡¯t escte further, as Nathan had apologized. Audrey hoped the entire matter would settle down quickly. Audrey hadn''t unpacked all her belongings from her suitcase as she nned to leave the next day. She had only taken out her pajamas and toiletries. Chapter 7 374 Unable to shower due to her injuries, she freshened up and went downstairs for water before sleeping. As she descended the stairs, she noticed Ryan on the phone as he stood in front of the refrigerator in the open-n kitchen. Tall and elegant, he stood amidst the Intery of light and shadow. His dark hair was still damp from a shower, and a towel hung around his neck. His navy blue loungewear was unbuttoned, revealing his pale skin, chest, and well-defined abs. His face was strikingly handsome in anguid pose. ¡°I''ve never forgotten the kindness the Lambert family showed me, nor am | unwilling to engage in a marriage alliance with the Sullivan family. It¡¯s just that the Sullivan family isn¡¯t a suitable match, Ryan spoke in a deep voice as he took a drag ona cigarette. ¡°Moreover, rather than handing over Lambert Corporation to an adopted son, it¡¯s better to entrust it to someone of Lambert blood. If you¡¯re open to understanding, you''ll find Audrey exceptional.¡± Whatever the person on the other end of the line said made Ryan furrow his brow. He tapped his cigarette into an ashtray. Suddenly aware he wasn¡¯t alone, he lifted his gaze. His calm and deep eyes met Audrey¡¯s. Audrey felt awkward standing on the staircase. She was uncertain whether to return to her room or get the ss of water like she''d nned. Ryan withdrew his gaze. He didn¡¯t think Audrey was awake at that hour. He extinguished the cigarette and leisurely buttoned up his loungewear as he bnced the phone between his shoulder and cheek After ending the call, Ryan pulled off the towel around his neck. He asked, ¡°Why are you still up?¡± His deep voice was slightly hoarse, perhaps from smoking. ¡°| came down to get some water,¡± Audrey said as she walked to the refrigerator. Ryan casually tossed the towel onto the kitchen counter then retrieved water from the fridge. Audrey quickly took it politely before wishing him goodnight and swiftly heading upstairs. As Audrey¡¯s figure disappeared up the staircase, Ryan finally averted his gaze. He pulled out another cigarette and held it at the corner of his mouth, leaning against the kitchen. counter. The flickering me of the lighter cast his sharply defined features in light and shadow. His face was reflected in the mirrored surface of the refrigerator, blurred by the wisps of smoke, as memories yed in his mind like a film reel. When they first met, he was 15, and Audrey was ten. Outside the rain¡ªdrenched police station, Audrey hid behind a tree as she secretly watched her biological mother being ushered into a luxury car. She refused to live with her mother and the Lambert family. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 When they met again, Nathan was 17, and Audrey was just 12. The girl who had been stabbed twice while saving Nathan sat propped up on the hospital bed. Once again, she rejected the arrangements made by the Lambert family. The frail girl spoke earnestly and calmly, ¡°Those who aren¡¯t expected to achieve much should stay away from the lives of others and focus on bettering themselves. That way, they won¡¯t harbor a unrealistic expectations. Please, I¡¯m asking you and the Lambert family to stay out of my life. any The intense frustration that once weighed heavily on Ryan¡¯s heart seemed to ease gradually with the girl¡¯s serene words. At the time, he secretly went against the Lambert family¡¯s wishes. He misled the Franklin family into believing that if they raised Audrey under the guise of repaying a debt, the Lambert family would support the Franklin family. This was the only time Ryan ever interfered in Audrey''s life. Since then, he started paying close attention to the girl who was determined to ¡°better herself". He watched as the once dirty and frail girl began to shine brightly. In her second year of junior high, she was selected by Sheysea University¡¯s Mathematical Olympiad team. She became the record holder for getting full marks in every test. In her first International Mathematical Olympiad, she won a gold medal. She became Sheysea¡¯s most famous prodigy. He knew about every advancement, achievement, and award she received. He watched every one of her shining moments. That included the passionate and mboyant love between Audrey and Nathan. Ryan lowered his gaze, staring at the faint, flickering glow on his fingertips. His breath misted in the cold air, concealing his expression. Audrey returned to her room with the bottle of water. As she took a sip, she noticed her phone on the bed vibrating urgently. She screwed the cap back on the bottle and picked up the phone. Hugo was calling her. She hadn¡¯t changed her number yet and hesitated to ept the call. The screen went dark. There were four missed calls. Amomentter, the screen lit up again. She answered, cing the phone to her ear, ¡°Hello...¡± Hugo spoke urgently, ¡°Something''s happened, Audrey. Anne pushed Amelia and Nathan down the stairs at the airport. Nathan doesn¡¯t remember Anne and he¡¯s nning to sue her for attempted murder. Anne is already at the Fulford Road police station.¡± Audrey''s mind buzzed. She wondered, ¡°Why is Anne in Sheysea? Even if she is, with her timid nature, why would she push Amelia?¡± ¡°How is ... how is Ame?¡± she asked. ¡°We don¡¯t know the details yet. Nathan has asked my sister to attend to her. They''re still examining her. Stay at home. I''ll pick you up.¡± Audrey''s heart raced. Controlling the tremor in her voice, she said calmly, ¡°There¡¯s no need to get me. I''ll go to the police station to see Aunt Anne first,¡± Hugo disagreed, ¡°I''ll pick you up and we''ll visit Amelia at the hospital. Nathan has lost his memory. It¡¯s best if he doesn¡¯t learn about your connection to Aunt Anne, If he misunderstands, he won''t show her any mercy. I¡¯m calling you, hoping you won''t get involved...¡± Before Hugo could finish, Audrey hung up the phone. She got changed quickly and headed out. No matter what, she had to see Anne first to understand what happened. The news that Anne had pushed Amelia down the stairs at the airport had already hit the trending searches. The airport was surrounded by anti-fans, In the taxi, Audrey scrolled through the video messages. The shaky videos showed Amelia in a scuffle with both fans and anti- fans. Their movements were rough and intense. Following Amelia¡¯smands, several bodyguards tried to pull them apart and diffuse the situation. With a tense expression, Nathan protected Amelia, who was wearing a mask and sunsses. Together, they retreated backward slowly.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. The camera only caught a fleeting glimpse of half of Anne¡¯s face. She was circled in red in the footage for easier identification. Anne, sweating profusely and looking disheveled and frightened, seemed to struggle to move forward. She was calling out Nathan¡¯s name, desperately trying to catch his attention in the crowd. In a fleeting moment when Anne¡¯s entire face was captured on camera, her body suddenly lunged forward. She collided with Nathan, who was protecting Amelia. Amelia stumbled and fell to the ground. Amidst the screams of the crowd, Nathan and Amelia tumbled down the stairs. The viral video ended there. Someone had clearly pushed Anne. Realizing Audrey''s determination to meet Anne, Hugo turned the car around and waited for her outside the police station. As Audrey stepped out of the car, Hugo extinguished his cigarette with the tip of his shoe and stepped forward to stop her. ¡°You and Nathan are already tangled up ko ang wa guardian to you. #tre tiny best || for the persons le UL dl del UAL Anne off easy if he think then, will tu Andrey pushed Hugo¡¯s hand away, the end, ¡°the doors papiers are dispost. Derry would share Amelia? Anne and the fame involved in the bettert were detained Audrey hadn''t seen Anne in almost eis months, the stand up abruptly, heart streaming dieven fier p face as soon as she saw Audrey. ¡°sit down!¡± a police officermanded. Frightened, Anne sat down. Her gaze was fixed on Audrey and cried. After a brief conversation with the police, Audrey approached Anne. She burst into te Audrey, | didn¡¯t hurt anyone! Someone pushed me! | told the police I¡¯m not a bad person Audrey grasped Anne¡¯s handcuffed hands andforted, ¡°I know, I¡¯ve seen the video. Don¡¯t be afraid, Anne. Tell me, what brought you to the airport? * arrived in Sheysea a week ago. The Lambert family came looking for me, asking for your mother¡± contact details for Adam''s marriage. | told them your mother had passed away, so they asked for your aternal grandparents¡¯ contact. They imed Adam was their grandson and they had to give them wedding gift. | refused. ¡°A few days ago, Wayne called, threatening to expose you and Adam on a show if | didn¡¯t give them the contact details. He said he¡¯d ruin your reputation ¡± Anne¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as she continued, ¡°I learned you were in Sheysea. | saw that photo. I''ve been so worried but | was too scared to call. ¡°Then, someone from that show, ¡°Looking For Family¡¯ contacted me. They bombarded me with questions and offered a ticket to Sheysea to be a guest on the show. | thought I could finally stand up for you on air, and maybe even catch a glimpse of you and Nathan.¡± Audrey''s heart skipped a beat at the mention of the show. Wiping away her tears, Anne continued, ¡°I brought photos of you and Nathan spending holidays in the town every year. With Nathan¡¯s memory gone, | thought the photos could help him remember you ¡°When | saw him at the airport, | just wanted to show him the photos. | didn¡¯t mean to harm anyone! | would never hurt anyone! You have to believe me, Audrey!¡± Little did Anne know, although Nathan had lost his memory, she had urged Audrey to hasten their wedding ns. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Recently, Anne¡¯s 14-year-old adopted daughter stumbled upon the news of Nathan openly expressing his love for Amelia. That was how Anne had learned about Nathan¡¯s memory loss, and that his close friends hadn''t mentioned Audrey even once in the two years she was in aa. They had even burned all her photographs. Annecked education. She traveled to Sheysea, hoping to use the photographs she¡¯d brought with her to help Audrey. But she never had any intentions of hurting anyone. ¡°| understand, Aunt Anne,¡± Audrey reassured her softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the police won¡¯t wrongfully use you. I''ll visit the injured at the hospital first, then figure out a way to get you out.¡± ¡°Am | causing you too much trouble, Audrey? I¡¯m sorry. | came to help you, not add to your burdens! I¡¯m afraid of the Lambert family harming you and looking for your mother. | always mess things up,* Anne cried, her voice breaking. ¡°No, you haven''t!¡± A Shook her head emphatically, gripping Anne¡¯s hands firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Anne. I¡¯m here.¡± Hugo only spoke up after they left the police station. ¡°Shouldn''t you inform the Lambert family about the Lambert family nning to go on the show? At the very least, you should tell Ryan.¡± Hugo was referring to Ryan Lambert. Audrey''s silence and her focus on her phone led Hugo to think she was worried about revealing that Ryan was still in contact with his biological rtives to the Lamberts, and possibly causing him trouble. ¡°| know you''re concerned that involving Ryan might affect his future, but once the show airs, your rtionship will likely be exposed! Ryan is now in control of the Lambert Corporation. He¡¯s the only one who can stop the show from being broadcast.¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Looking For Rtives¡± was a highly-rated show and one of Sheysea TV¡¯s gship programs. Its host,n, was a famous stand¡ª upedian and actor with a significant background. Hugo¡¯s influence as a member of the Stewart family probably wasn¡¯t enough to persuaden. But Ryan was different. As Hugo tried to persuade Audrey, the cab they were in arrived at the police station entrance. ¡°Thank you for telling me about this, Hugo. But | can handle it from here.¡± ¡°Audrey!¡± Hugo, visibly frustrated, ced a hand on the car door Audrey was about to open. He protested, ¡°Just because you and Nathan are separated, do you have to cut ties with me too? 2/3 Because I¡¯m friends with him? That¡¯s not fair! You know how happy | was when you got divorced! 1...¡± ¡°So what?¡± Audrey¡¯s calm, clear voice interrupted Hugo¡¯s agitated breaths. He snapped back to reality. He realized he had crossed a line. Setting aside the fact that Audrey harbored no romantic feelings for him, the stark difference in their backgrounds, and the history between the Stewart and Lambert families, meant he couldn''t offer Audrey much. He pondered, ¡°Can | even marry her? No. If we were together, what would she be? A secret lover?¡± Audrey was proud and likely to refuse him, even if she had feelings for him, which she didn¡¯t. ¡°Excuse me,¡± Audrey said as she opened the car door. She stepped out without another word. At the hospital, reporters and fans of Amelia crowded the entrance. Wearing a mask, Audrey slipped through a side door. She sought out Hugo¡¯s sister, Hannah Stewart, to inquire about Amelia and Nathan¡¯s conditions. ¡°It''s okay, don¡¯t worry too much,¡± Hannah said with a gentle smile that matched her delicate features. Her belly showed under her white coat. She continued, ¡°Ms. Doyle was well-protected by Nathan. She dislocated her ankle, which has been put back in ce, and Nathan only suffered some external injuries.¡± Audrey let out a sigh of relief. As long as Amelia and Nathan weren''t seriously injured, Anne could get bailed out quickly. ¡°Dr. Stewart, there¡¯s a call from the emergency department asking for you,¡± a nurse interrupted urgently, peeking out from the elevator. ¡°You go ahead, Hannah.¡± Audrey stepped aside. ¡°Alright,¡± Hannah replied, slipping her stethoscope into herb coat. ¡°Be careful if you¡¯re returningte, and text me when you get home.¡± Audrey nodded. Exiting the hospital building, she sat in the dimly lit hospital garden, her eyes fixed on her phone screen. She hesitated to dial the familiar number. She didn¡¯t want to make the call. As Hugo said, Nathan didn¡¯t know the nature of her rtionship with Anne. Calling him could have easily led to misunderstandings. However, if she didn¡¯t say anything and Nathan discovered her connection to Anne, was her silence going to lead to even more misunderstandings? While Audrey was caught in this dilemma, a familiar voice came from the bamboo grove next to the bench she was on. Chapter 9 3/3 ¡°Are you saying this woman named Anne used to be Audrey¡¯s foster mother?¡± She turned her head. Silhouettes were barely visible through the sparse bamboo. Nathan was standing by a trash can with Amelia¡¯s cousin. They were both smoking. Audrey remembered Amelia¡¯s cousin, Charles Murray. He was the one who had barged into the room and taken photos of her the day she and Nathan had been drugged. Those photos had been stered at Sheysea University. ¡°Yes, Nathan, you might not remember, but Audrey''s biological mother was trafficked to their small town, Sayeno Town. ¡°Anne escaped with her, but Audrey¡¯s mother died from childbirthplications. The Lambert family, hating anything rted to the Yeomans family, didn¡¯t want Audrey. That''s when Anne took Audrey in for two years and changed herst name. Charles continued, ¡°When Anne fell seriously ill and couldn¡¯t care for Audrey, the Lambert family still didn¡¯t want her. Audrey was taken back to Sayeno Town. Coincidentally, she saved you when you were kidnapped. After that, she clung to you and came with you to Sheysea.¡± Nathan leaned against a tree, stretching his legs. His dark eyes brooded as he pursed his lips tightly. ¡°When Audrey was in aa, it was Anne who was constantly by her side in the hospital. Anne, being childless, treated Audrey like her own. It must have been Audrey who instructed Anne to harm my sister! ¡°Nathan, Audrey will definitelye to ask you to spare Anne. But you mustn¡¯t be soft-hearted. You have to avenge my sister!¡± Charles urged. ¡°What do you suggest for revenge?¡± Nathan asked. Charles said convincingly, ¡°Look, Nathan. Audrey drugged you to get into your bed and break up you and my sister. Everyone knows that Lucas and Jen grew up with Audrey. ¡°She pretended to call the police and then yed along with Lucas to drop the charges. If that isn¡¯t guilt, what is? Because of this incident, My sister almost went abroad just to avoid you because of the incident.¡® Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Nathan''s brow furrowed as he listened to Charles¡¯s words. His face was a portrait of impatience as he flicked ash from his cigarette. ¡°It''s only because you stered her photos all over Sheysea University and threatened my sister to leave discreetly that we can even find my sister now.¡± The sparse bamboo shadows swayed with the wind. Strands of hair obscured Audrey¡¯s eyes, masking the emotions swirling in their dark depths. Audrey gripped her phone, feeling a tightness around her eyes. So, that was why Nathan had posted her photos all over Sheysea University. He had used her to threaten Amelia. How absurd. ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± Nathan asked, his voiceced with irritation. Charles extinguished his cigarette and leaned in closer to Nathan. ¡°Even though you swore nothing happened that night with Audrey, it¡¯s still a lingering issue for my sister, right? Deep down, you¡¯re not sure either, are you?¡± The darkness in Nathan¡¯s eyes deepened Charles¡¯ words hit a nerve. He asked, ¡°So, what now?¡± Charles sneered, ¡°I bet Audrey will call Anne soon, begging for mercy. When she does, you should lure Audrey out, and use whatever drug she used on you, on her. Isn¡¯t Hugo fond of Audrey? This could be a perfect setup for him. ¡°As long as Hugo confirms Audrey''s innocence, my sister will have nothing to worry about. Even if something did happen between you and Audrey that night, won¡¯t Hugo owe you one once gets what he wants from Audrey? ¡°By then, even if the divorce was a tactical retreat, Audrey would lose all dignity for being with another man if she approached you again, wouldn¡¯t she? It¡¯s the perfect chance to be rid of her once and for all.¡± Charles smiled as he watched Nathan''s expression. He probed, ¡°Nathan, you don¡¯t still have feelings for Audrey, do you?¡± ¡°Are you done speaking nonsense?¡± Nathan spat, tugging at his cor. ¡°Just listen to me! Look. Thest time you followed my n and posted Audrey¡¯s photos, my sister stayed with you. This time, do as | say, and | guarantee my sister will ept your proposal.¡± At that moment, Nathan''s phone rang. He pulled it out from his pocket and answered it with utmost tenderness as he walked towards the hospital building. He spoke into the phone, ¡°Hey, sweetie, you¡¯re awake? | haven''t left. I¡¯m having a smoke with Charles downstairs. I''ll be right up!¡± Chapter 10 Watching Nathan¡¯s hurried departure, Audrey no longer had the strength to follow him and exm. She deleted the familiar phone number on her screen, and fucked the phone back into her jacket pocket. She sat on the bench quietly, wrapped in het scarf. Achill slowly crept up her legs from her ankles. Her fists, still tucked in her pockets, unclenched slowly. Eventually, she took out her phone again and dialed Nathan¡¯s number. She clung to a sliver of hope in his ¡°What is it...¡± Nathan said coldly in a lowered voice Speaking softly, Audrey began, ¡°I¡¯ve seen Anne. She came to Sheysea because Adam wanted contact details for my maternal grandfather¡¯s family for his wedding gift and house. Anne didn¡¯t know and didn¡¯t want to give it to them. They ended up on that ¡®Looking For Family¡¯ show¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. She continued, ¡°The show invited Aunt Anne to Sheysea. She wanted to speak with you at the airport and got pushed into the crowd, identally bumping into Ame. You can verify this with airport security and the team from the show.¡± ¡°You''re asking for mercy for your former foster mother?¡± Nathan queried. ¡°The incident was purely idental. | hope you...¡± ¡°Getting into bed with me was an ¡®ident¡¯, Pushing Amelia down the stairs was an ¡®ident¡¯. Audrey, your ¡®idents¡¯ seem to ur often!¡± Nathan interrupted coldly. His tone was impatient as he continued, ¡°Tomorrow night, 7:00 pm, Jacinda Hotel. Exin yourself in person, or I''ll ensure your foster mother rots in jail. You know me-I always mean what | say.¡± As the dial tone faded, Audrey was left feeling lost and uncertain. She beg began to doubt whether she truly understood Nathan. She even questioned if Nathan¡¯s invitation to meet at the Jacinda Hotel really was for her to exin or if it was a ploy to drug her. Nathan was infamous in Sheysea for his ways, but he had always been good to her. His kindness and her love for him made her view Nathan through a biased lens, clouding her judgment. Her phone vibrated, pulling her back to the moment. She answered the call. It was Hugo. ¡°Hey Audrey, | talked to my sister. Amelia¡¯s doing fine, so don¡¯t worry too much. As long as she¡¯s okay, | doubt Nathan will be too harsh on Aunt Anne.¡± When Audrey didn¡¯t respond, Hugo asked, ¡°Hello? Audrey?¡± She said, ¡°Thank you. That''s very kind of you.¡± ¡°About what | said at the police station today ... I¡¯m sorry, | didn¡¯t mean it,¡± Hugo apologized. ¡°| know. Will you be Anne¡¯swyer?¡± she asked, her voice heavy with exhaustion. Chapter 10 3/3 ¡°Of course. Aunt Anne looked after me. | would represent her even if you hadn¡¯t asked. Get some rest. Anne will be fine. I''ll talk to Nathan.¡± After the call, Audrey tried to stand up but failed twice. She finally managed to get up, leaning on the cold backrest of the bench. The chill breeze tousled her long hair. She stared at the long cobblestone path of the hospital garden before leaving slowly. The next day, Audrey was woken up 8:30 am by the constant ringing of her phone. She unplugged the charger and answered the phone. It was an unknown number. She was about to put the phone down when it rang again. Noticing Amelia¡¯s name on the screen Audrey became alert. She sat up in bed and answered the call. Amelia said on the other end, ¡°Audrey, Hannah told me you came to the hospitalst night.¡± ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°I''m okay. Hannah says the aunt who pushed me wasn¡¯t a hater but a rtive of yours.¡± ¡°She was my foster mother before | went to live with the Franklin family,¡± Audrey candidly admitted Anne¡¯s rtion to her. She exined, ¡°At the airport, she was only trying to get to Nathan and didn¡¯t mean to push you. Someone pushed her.¡± ¡°| know, I¡¯ve seen the video. Audrey, | didn¡¯t call to me you. | wanted to ask... have you and Nathan really gotten divorced?¡± Amelia spoke slowly. ¡°Yes.¡± After a brief silence, Amelia sighed. She sounded like she wanted to have a heart-to¡ªheart talk. ¡°But Audrey, I¡¯m scared. | love Nathan and want to be with him, but I¡¯m afraid he might remember what you two had someday.¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 ¡°Ms. Doyle, I¡¯m not your boyfriend. | can¡¯t offer you security. But rest assured, once | decide to give up on something, | never look back. Not even in death.¡± ¡°I''m sorry, Audrey. | just don¡¯t know who else to talk to about this,¡± Amelia said, biting her lip. ¡± About your foster mother, I''ll talk to Nathan and ask him to drop the charges. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Then ... should | still go to the Jacinda Hotel today?¡± Audrey asked. Amelia sounded confused. ¡°What ¡°Nathan told me to exin myself in person at the Jacinda Hotel at 7:00 pm tonight, or he¡¯d make sure Anne stays in jail.¡± Audrey knew she had an ulterior motive in revealing this to Ame. She no longer dared to gamble on anyone¡¯s character and hoped Amelia would prevent her from meeting Nathan again. After all, no one wanted their partner to meet with an ex. And Nathan couldn''t refuse Amelia. ¡°| understand. I''ll talk to Nathan about it.¡± Amelia added after a brief pause, ¡°Nathan has always been tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Don¡¯t take it too hard.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Audrey expressed her gratitude. She offered, ¡°I''ll cover all your hospital expenses. | know you don¡¯t need it, but it''s my way of showing | care. Please ept it.¡® Amelia didn¡¯t protest. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have my assistant send you the bill after I¡¯m discharged. The heavy weight in Audrey¡¯s heart seemed to lighten slightly as the call ended. She freshened up quickly. Suddenly, the unknown number that had woken her up called again. It was the team from ¡°Looking For Family*. The show approached Audrey with the same intent they had with Anne, hoping she could provide information about her biological mother. They invited her to appear as a guest on the show. Audrey didn¡¯t immediately agree. She rubbed her fingers together thoughtfully. Appearing on a highly-rated show like ¡°Looking For Family¡± would certainly stir up attention, which contradicted her desire for a quiet, ordinary life. However, the trending news about Amelia¡¯s fall and Nathan''s protective actions dominated online discussions. Anne was being vilified and targeted for harassment. If Audrey¡¯s connection to Anne was revealed, people were sure to misread the situation as they had with Nathan and Amelia¡¯s cousin. They might assume Anne had harmed Amelia for Audrey¡¯s sake. Even if Anne was cleared of wrongdoing, her life would still be impacted. Therefore, Audrey feltpelled to step in before the public linked her to Anne and Nathan¡¯s current situation.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. She needed to rify the truth with the show¡¯s team and release theplete airport video to prove. Chapter 11 that Anne¡¯s encounter with Amelia was an ident Audrey''s influence was limited. If she utilized the show¡¯s tform, she could achieve greater attention and efficiency. If she didn¡¯t appear on the show, her mother could be portrayed in a negative light by the Veomans family. They could even manipte her elderly grandfather, a respected professor, in a moral crusade. The show assistant awaited Audrey''s response. He prompted gently, ¡°Ms. Yeomans?¡± Audrey said calmly, ¡°I''ll be on your show, but | have two conditions. Surprised and pleased by her agreement, the assistant responded eagerly, ¡°Please, go ahead. ¡°First, | want the show to publicly rify on social media that Anne came to Sheysea to participate in the show. You arranged her flight schedule, proving she had no intention of confronting Amelia. ¡°| also want you to work with the airport to release the full video of the incident. | understand this is a hot topic, and rifying this matter would also benefit your show¡¯s ratings.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no problem,¡± the assistant assured quickly. ¡°We''ve discussed it and have agreed to rify. We''ll also contact the airport. And your second condition?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother Professor Lambert,¡± Audrey stated clearly. ¡°Understood. You can count on us,¡± the assistant responded. In fact, the show''s team had contacted Professor Lambert before they called Audrey, but the professor had declined to appear on the show. By 2:00 pm, the Sheysea Police announced that a certain Mr. Hughes had been questioned. At the same time, the official Twitter ount of the ¡°Looking For Family¡± show posted a detailed statement. It outlined the events leading up to the incident, exining why Anne was invited to the show, and that the team had arranged her travel to Sheysea, including the dates and flight details. The show¡¯s team didn¡¯t just make empty ims. They also uploaded a recording of their conversation with Anne. Anne¡¯sck of sophistication in the recording was evident as she left all arrangements to the show¡¯s team and asked detailed questions about the flight process. The post also included theplete video of the incident at the airport. The footage clearly showed Anne being pushed into the crowd as she tried to reach Nathan. A man, who had been cursing and throwing objects at Amelia, forcefully pushed Anne from behind. The push had caused her to stumble into Amelia. The ¡°Looking For Family¡± team knew how to stir up interest in their show, specifically tagging Amelia in their post. They urged her not to allow the real culprit to get away to clear Anne¡¯s name. The detailed post sparked public outrage against those who had initially spread the maliciously edited Chapter 11 video. People anticipated the uing episode that Anne was going to be in. The program¡¯s next episode was guaranteed to have a high viewership. 303 As the full video was shared more widely, more people saw that Anne had been pushed Into Amelia and had even tried to rectify the situation, but It was toote. While some still criticized Anne for pushing into the crowd at her age, public sentiment online shifted more positively. At 4:30 pm, Audrey saw the familiar phone number on her screen and answered. ¡°What did you say to Amelia?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice demanded, tinged with anger. ¡°This morning, Ms. Doyle called to confirm if we were divorced. | told her the truth and assured her | would never look back. ¡°Ms. Doyle seemed insecure, so | asked if she still wanted me to meet you at the Jacinda Hotel this afternoon. That was all we talked about,¡± Audrey exined. Her eyes stared at the constantly refreshingments on herputer screen. Nathan was silent on the other end of the phone-only his heavy, angry breathing could be heard. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¡°Nathan, since we¡¯ve finalized our divorce, it would be best if we avoid meeting or getting involved further. This is essential for Ms. Doyle¡¯s sense of security,¡± Audrey conveyed to Nathan, still harboring a slight hope for his decency. In a gentle tone, she added, ¡°This is what¡¯s best for all of us. You, me, and Ms. Doyle.¡± Nathan hung up without a word. Audrey put down her phone. She felt a vold Inside her. She hoped Anne¡¯s situation woulde to a close Rxing slightly, Audrey ate something and called Hugo to ask if he could pick Anne up. ¡°Audrey, there seems to be some trouble. | don¡¯t know what the man who pushed Anne has told the police, but I¡¯m working on it. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Hugo¡¯s voice was heavy with concern. Audrey''s grip tightened on her cup. ¡°Okay, thank you for your help.¡± When the call ended, her phone vibrated again. Audrey answered quickly, ¡°Hello...¡± ¡°Audrey?¡± The voice was vaguely familiar. She responded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Tonight at seven, Jacinda Hotel. If you don¡¯t show up, be prepared for Anne to face serious jail time!¡± It was Charles, Amelia¡¯s cousin. Audrey gripped her phone tightly, recalling Hugo¡¯s words about the troubling situation. ¡°In a society governed byw, evidence matters. The airport video clearly proves Aunt Anne¡¯s innocence. Nobody can twist the truth to frame her. ¡°Really? You can try. Anne adopted a 14-year-old mute girlst year. If you don¡¯t show up... I''ll have to involve her,¡± Charles sneered.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Audrey''s resolve tightened. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re quite the legal expert, aren¡¯t you? You''re always keen on educating others.¡± He continued with a taunting tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, | won''ty a finger on the girl myself. No evidence, you see.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s in middle school, isn¡¯t she? Bullying can be quite nasty there. There have been a few tragic cases recently... makes you think, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Charles spoke mockingly. Despite the anger surging within her, Audrey remainedposed, though her hand trembled as she gripped the phone. She asked, ¡°Did Nathan ask you to make this call?¡± ¡°Where else would | get your number? 7:00 pm, Jacinda Hotel. Room 3020, Cloudsca Pavilion. You Chapter 12 have less than two hours. It¡¯s rush hour in Sheysea. | hope you make it in time.¡± Charles hung up. Audrey''s throat was dry and sore, and it took her a long time to calm her breathing 2/3 Having suffered violence at school, she couldn''t let Anne¡¯s adopted daughter go through what she had experienced. Audrey gritted her teeth as she remembered the girl¡¯s bright smile. She quickly slipped her jacket on and wrapped her scarf around her neck. She grabbed her phone and belongings, then left for the Jacinda Hotel. Nathan, you shouldn¡¯t hang onto my sister¡¯s every word! I¡¯ve managed to get that special concoction you were after. All we need Is for Audrey to take a sip, and we can capture it on video. It''ll be solid proof of your innocence for my sister.. The door to the private room swung open. Audrey appeared between the double doors. Atall grandfather clock chimed seven times in thevishly decorated, vintage-style room. Nathan looked up, seemingly surprised to see Audrey there. ¡°Ah, Ms. Yeomans, right on time!¡± Charles nudged Nathan with his elbow. He lowered his voice, Nathan, this is the perfect chance to prove your innocence to my sister. Don¡¯t waste the work | did to get this drug for you!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no other reason we''ve invited Ms. Yeomans here today,¡± Charles said, casually running his fingers through his messy hair. He stood up and smiled at Audrey. ¡°Since Ms. Yeomans and my brother-inw are now divorced, let¡¯s have a few drinks before. everyone here. It''ll be a way to confirm that you won''t pursue my brother-inw any longer. It¡¯s a fitting end, don¡¯t you think?¡± Charles nced at Nathan at Nathan and continued, ¡°Regardless of whether Anne intentionally pushed my sister or not, my sister was hurt because of her. If you¡¯re pleading for leniency... you should at least have a few drinks as an apology.¡± ¡°True sincerity is needed when asking for forgiveness!¡± a voice in the room encouraged. ¡°If the hard liquor is too much, surely a few sses of red wine wouldn''t be too difficult, right?¡± Audrey stood at the entrance. Her clear eyes fixed solely on Nathan, who sat in a rxed posture. She took a few steps toward the round table in the room, casually removing the scarf that half- covered her face and draping it over the chair. She picked up a tall crystal ss from the table, ced it in front of her. She grabbed the liquor decanter closest to her and poured the clear liquid into her ss. The bruises on Audrey¡¯s pale skin, now visible without the scarf, made the side of her face, jawline, and neck more rming. Chapter 12 ¡°The day we met when | was 12, 1 had pesticide with me. If | hadn¡¯t saved you, | would have drank it,¡± she said. She lifted the second decanter and continued to fill her ss. ¡°Rather than saying | saved you from that kidnapping, it¡¯s more like you saved me.¡± At the time, when Audrey had taken the de for him, she didn¡¯t want to live. If Nathan hadn¡¯t dragged het back to the Franklin family, she still might have sought death. ¡°Unlike you, who grew up surrounded by warmth and happiness, every moment of warmth and happiness I¡¯ve tried to etch into my life over the past 30 years has been with you. Your forceful entry into my life made me believe that even someone dirty and unwanted like me could be loved and needed.¡± Nathan was the only ray of light in her gloomy life. When the car ident happened, it wasn¡¯t death that terrified her; It was the thought of losing Nathan That¡¯s why she couldn¡¯t let go even after Nathan lost his memory and gave his heart to another. That''s why she was heartbroken when he had looked at her mockingly and used her of being disgusting after getting dressed on the day they were drugged. She had felt like life was worse than. death. Nathan looked astonished. His throat bobbed. ¡°On your 18th birthday, your first wish was to ensure that Audrey Yeomans¡¯ happiness in this life could onlye from Nathan Franklin.¡± She lifted the third decanter on the table. ¡°You didn¡¯t make a second or third wish but imed they would be for me. You wanted to save them. You said that when you did make your wishes, | had to help you fulfill them. ¡°That was my gift to you foring of age. You used your second wish on your 22nd birthday. You asked me to marry you, and | did.¡± Despite the Franklin and Lambert families disapproving of their union, Audrey was willing to stand up to them for him. She filled the tall crystal ss to the brim with liquid from all three decanters. TI She looked up at Nathan, her gaze steady. ¡°You don¡¯t need to use Aunt Anne or her adopted daughter to threaten me. Whatever it is, just ask, and I''ll do it. You still have one wish left. Whatever it is, agree.¡± Audrey thought she would be overwhelmed by tears as sheid bare her wounds and spoke her words. Even though her eyes ached unbearably, she wasn''t. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 12 ¡°Nathan, since we¡¯ve finalized our divorce, it would be best if we avoid meeting or getting involved further. This is essential for Ms. Doyle¡¯s sense of security,¡± Audrey conveyed to Nathan, still harboring a slight hope for his decency. In a gentle tone, she added, ¡°This is what¡¯s best for all of us. You, me, and Ms. Doyle.¡± Nathan hung up without a word. Audrey put down her phone. She felt a vold Inside her. She hoped Anne¡¯s situation woulde to a close Rxing slightly, Audrey ate something and called Hugo to ask if he could pick Anne up. ¡°Audrey, there seems to be some trouble. | don¡¯t know what the man who pushed Anne has told the police, but I¡¯m working on it. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Hugo¡¯s voice was heavy with concern. Audrey''s grip tightened on her cup. ¡°Okay, thank you for your help.¡± When the call ended, her phone vibrated again. Audrey answered quickly, ¡°Hello...¡± ¡°Audrey?¡± The voice was vaguely familiar. She responded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Tonight at seven, Jacinda Hotel. If you don¡¯t show up, be prepared for Anne to face serious jail time!¡± It was Charles, Amelia¡¯s cousin. Audrey gripped her phone tightly, recalling Hugo¡¯s words about the troubling situation. ¡°In a society governed byw, evidence matters. The airport video clearly proves Aunt Anne¡¯s innocence. Nobody can twist the truth to frame her. ¡°Really? You can try. Anne adopted a 14-year-old mute girlst year. If you don¡¯t show up... I''ll have to involve her,¡± Charles sneered. Audrey''s resolve tightened. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re quite the legal expert, aren¡¯t you? You''re always keen on educating others.¡± He continued with a taunting tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, | won''ty a finger on the girl myself. No evidence, you see.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s in middle school, isn¡¯t she? Bullying can be quite nasty there. There have been a few tragic cases recently... makes you think, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Charles spoke mockingly. Despite the anger surging within her, Audrey remainedposed, though her hand trembled as she gripped the phone. She asked, ¡°Did Nathan ask you to make this call?¡± ¡°Where else would | get your number? 7:00 pm, Jacinda Hotel. Room 3020, Cloudsca Pavilion. You Chapter 12 have less than two hours. It¡¯s rush hour in Sheysea. | hope you make it in time.¡± Charles hung up. Audrey''s throat was dry and sore, and it took her a long time to calm her breathing 2/3 Having suffered violence at school, she couldn''t let Anne¡¯s adopted daughter go through what she had experienced. Audrey gritted her teeth as she remembered the girl¡¯s bright smile. She quickly slipped her jacket on and wrapped her scarf around her neck. She grabbed her phone and belongings, then left for the Jacinda Hotel. Nathan, you shouldn¡¯t hang onto my sister¡¯s every word! I¡¯ve managed to get that special concoction you were after. All we need Is for Audrey to take a sip, and we can capture it on video. It''ll be solid proof of your innocence for my sister.. The door to the private room swung open. Audrey appeared between the double doors. Atall grandfather clock chimed seven times in thevishly decorated, vintage-style room. Nathan looked up, seemingly surprised to see Audrey there. ¡°Ah, Ms. Yeomans, right on time!¡± Charles nudged Nathan with his elbow. He lowered his voice, Nathan, this is the perfect chance to prove your innocence to my sister. Don¡¯t waste the work | did to get this drug for you!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no other reason we''ve invited Ms. Yeomans here today,¡± Charles said, casually running his fingers through his messy hair. He stood up and smiled at Audrey.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°Since Ms. Yeomans and my brother-inw are now divorced, let¡¯s have a few drinks before. everyone here. It''ll be a way to confirm that you won''t pursue my brother-inw any longer. It¡¯s a fitting end, don¡¯t you think?¡± Charles nced at Nathan at Nathan and continued, ¡°Regardless of whether Anne intentionally pushed my sister or not, my sister was hurt because of her. If you¡¯re pleading for leniency... you should at least have a few drinks as an apology.¡± ¡°True sincerity is needed when asking for forgiveness!¡± a voice in the room encouraged. ¡°If the hard liquor is too much, surely a few sses of red wine wouldn''t be too difficult, right?¡± Audrey stood at the entrance. Her clear eyes fixed solely on Nathan, who sat in a rxed posture. She took a few steps toward the round table in the room, casually removing the scarf that half- covered her face and draping it over the chair. She picked up a tall crystal ss from the table, ced it in front of her. She grabbed the liquor decanter closest to her and poured the clear liquid into her ss. The bruises on Audrey¡¯s pale skin, now visible without the scarf, made the side of her face, jawline, and neck more rming. Chapter 12 ¡°The day we met when | was 12, 1 had pesticide with me. If | hadn¡¯t saved you, | would have drank it,¡± she said. She lifted the second decanter and continued to fill her ss. ¡°Rather than saying | saved you from that kidnapping, it¡¯s more like you saved me.¡± At the time, when Audrey had taken the de for him, she didn¡¯t want to live. If Nathan hadn¡¯t dragged het back to the Franklin family, she still might have sought death. ¡°Unlike you, who grew up surrounded by warmth and happiness, every moment of warmth and happiness I¡¯ve tried to etch into my life over the past 30 years has been with you. Your forceful entry into my life made me believe that even someone dirty and unwanted like me could be loved and needed.¡± Nathan was the only ray of light in her gloomy life. When the car ident happened, it wasn¡¯t death that terrified her; It was the thought of losing Nathan That¡¯s why she couldn¡¯t let go even after Nathan lost his memory and gave his heart to another. That''s why she was heartbroken when he had looked at her mockingly and used her of being disgusting after getting dressed on the day they were drugged. She had felt like life was worse than. death. Nathan looked astonished. His throat bobbed. ¡°On your 18th birthday, your first wish was to ensure that Audrey Yeomans¡¯ happiness in this life could onlye from Nathan Franklin.¡± She lifted the third decanter on the table. ¡°You didn¡¯t make a second or third wish but imed they would be for me. You wanted to save them. You said that when you did make your wishes, | had to help you fulfill them. ¡°That was my gift to you foring of age. You used your second wish on your 22nd birthday. You asked me to marry you, and | did.¡± Despite the Franklin and Lambert families disapproving of their union, Audrey was willing to stand up to them for him. She filled the tall crystal ss to the brim with liquid from all three decanters. TI She looked up at Nathan, her gaze steady. ¡°You don¡¯t need to use Aunt Anne or her adopted daughter to threaten me. Whatever it is, just ask, and I''ll do it. You still have one wish left. Whatever it is, agree.¡± Audrey thought she would be overwhelmed by tears as sheid bare her wounds and spoke her words. Even though her eyes ached unbearably, she wasn''t. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 ¡°| know the way to the hotel rooms,¡± Audrey slurred, struggling to free herself from Charles¡¯s grip. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Charles almost shoved Audrey out of the private room and towards the elevator. His grip was firm. As the drug started to take effect, Audrey¡¯s head grew heavier and her legs weaker. She fought against Charles''s hold but couldn¡¯t escape his strong ¡°Let me go!¡± she demanded. Near the elevator, people cast side nces at Audrey and Charles. Ill take you Charles tightened his grip on Audrey, who was now limp in his arms. He pretended to be affectionate with her. ¡°You said you could handle your liquor, but look at you. Stop being dramatic back to your room to rest.¡± Charles shed the onlookers an apologetic smile, then freed his grip on Audrey to press the elevator button. He whispered in Audrey''s car, ¡°Nathan¡¯s final wish for hising-of-age celebration was to have someone escort you back. Are you thinking of going back on your word?¡± Audrey''s vision was blurring, but she clearly saw Charles press the button to go up, not down. Hugo hadn¡¯t shown up yet... Nathan and Charles had drugged her, so there was no guarantee they hadn¡¯t done the same to Hugo. She suspected that Hugo, simrly drugged, was probably in a room upstairs. She could fulfill Nathan¡¯s final wish. But why did it have to be with Hugo? ¡°Alright, enough now. You''re drunk. Let¡¯s go back to your room so you can rest,¡± Charles said as he pulled Audrey into the elevator. He pressed the button for the 57th floor. She clutched the key card to the hotel room in her pocket, barely able to stand. The room she had booked was also on the 57th floor. ¡°You still owe me onest wish. Let someone take you home,¡± Nathan''s words echoed in her mind. She tightened her grip on the key card. Her will to resist crumbled from within. This was thest wish she owed Nathan. Perhaps it was an illusion, but in her world¡ªweariness and despair, Audrey saw Ryan¡¯s tall figure walk past the closing elevator doors. ¡°Ryan!¡± Her spirits lifted. She could die with dignity but didn¡¯t want to be a stain on the Lambert family¡¯s reputation. Chapter 14 273 She struggled to control herself. Her voice trembled as she said, ¡°You and Nathan forced me toe to the Jacinda Hotel and drugged mel You''re taking me to the 57th floor. Is Hugo in a room up there? Did you set up cameras in the room?¡± Charles tightened his hold on Audrey, leaning in to take a disturbingly eager sniff of her scented hair. His eyes glinting with greedy, unsettling hunger. ¡°Audrey Yeomans, the famed genius of Sheysen High School, I''ve always wanted a taste of you. Don¡¯t worry about tonight. I''ll give you an experience of a lifetime!¡± Audrey pushed Charles away. Her back hit the elevator wall. She slid to the floor, drained of all strength. She shouted, ¡°Get away from mel¡± The drug''s effects hit her again, overwhelming and Intense. She curled up, biting her lip and letting out a muffled groan. If it was Hugo, Audrey was confident she could protect herself before the ambnce arrived, or even escape. After the incident, as long as she and Hugo coordinated their stories, everything could be resolved. But the situation was entirely different with Charles. He was a dangerous and unpredictable man. She had to think fast. As her room was on the same floor, she needed to make it to room 5716 quickly. Charles hoisted the almost limp Audrey into his arms, gripping her tightly. He caressed her face, whispering, ¡°Is this a crime? How could making you feel good be a crime? Don¡¯t worry... I¡¯ll record everything so you can see for yourself just how much you enjoy it. He swept aside the sweat-dampened hair from her forehead. His tone dripped with vulgarity as he sneered, ¡°You''ll witness your own shame as you plead for me. Audrey clenched her teeth in silence. She fumbled with her phone in her pocket and dialed Ryan. She tried to recall the route to room 5716, which she had checked into half an hour earlier. The elevator door opened. She pushed Charles away and staggered towards room 5716. Charles chuckled softly. He strolled out of the elevator casually with his hands in his pockets. With a repulsive gaze, he watched Audrey flee desperately, like a cat eyeing a mouse it was sure to catch. She clung to the walls for support. ¡°The quicker you ran away now, Audrey Yeomans, the more desperately you''ll be pleading soon. Take time. I¡¯m in no rush,¡± Charles said. your He unbuttoned his shirt as he leisurely trailed behind her, smirking. Audrey''s legs felt alien and started to grow numb. Her vision was getting increasingly blurry. Sweaty Chanter 14Original content from N?velDrama.Org. hands clenched her room key tightly. She was close. ¡°Why can¡¯t you run anymore?¡± Charles mocked, ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Room 5716! Audrey grabbed the door handle and scrabbled with her sweaty room key. Charles¡® expression changed at the beep of the door unlocking. As his prey was about to disappear before his eyes, he hurried forward but was a step toote. The door clicked into ce, shutting him out. Audrey copsed inside the room. ¡°Audrey, open the door! Do you hear me?¡± Charles shouted, pounding on the door. 373 He threatened, ¡°Don¡¯t forget about that little mute. Just open the door, and I¡¯ll let her go. Even if | kill her, my brother-inw Nathan will make sure | won''t get into trouble. Don¡¯t believe me? Just try!¡± When he got no response, Charles sneered. ncing at his watch, his voice was venomous as he spat, ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t care about that little mute¡¯s life. No matter, you won¡¯tst more than ten minutes! In ten minutes, you''ll be begging me to fuck you like a dog!¡± Just as Charles finished speaking, he was kicked away. ¡°Damn you... Charles grimaced in pain and looked up. He was about to spew curses but stopped when he recognized the pale face. He stammered, ¡°Ryan... Mr. Lambert Standing tall in a ck coat, Ryan appeared formidable and stern. He stood at the door of room 5716, phone in hand pressed against his ear. His face was taut and severe as he knocked on the door. ¡°Audrey, open the door! It¡¯s me, Ryan.¡± As Charles attempted to flee, a burly bodyguard stepped forward with a stern face, blocking his path and preventing his escape. In the room, Audreyy huddled on the gray carpet. Every muscle in her body was taut. The drug had taken over her mind, stirring a deep, irrational yearning for malepanionship. rity was slipping away, leaving her in a haze. Tortured by the effects of the drug, Audrey heard the knocking and calling at the door. Trembling, she pulled out her phone. The call was still connected. She pleaded into the phone desperately, ¡°I... I¡¯m in Jacinda Hotel. Room 5716. Someone has drugged me. Please... please call an ambnce!¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Overwhelmed by the drug¡¯s effects, Audrey¡¯s phone slipped from her grasp. She pinched her leg painfully, trying to force rity back into her foggy mind. However, the agonizing pain was no match for the burning desire that engulfed her.: She gritted her teeth in torment. Nathan''s words echoed in her drug¡ªclouded brain, ¡°You still owe mest wish. Let someone take you home.¡± Drenched in sweat, she wrapped her arms around herself. Tears streamed down her cheeks. It was a mix of unbearable physical agony and emotional torment. Heat surged within her likeva boiling in her veins. Cold water could help. Before meeting Nathan, she had requested several buckets of ice and filled the bathtub with cold water. Likest time, she had to endure it until it passed. Forcing herself against the wall, Audrey stumbled into the bathtub filled with ice. Outside the door, Ryan heard the faint sound of water over the phone and nearly crushed it in his grip. He ended the call then instructed his assistant, ¡°Get the hotel manager to open the door. Bring the car to the hotel entrance.¡± The assistant nodded and stepped aside to make a call. Soon, the manager arrived and swiped the key card to unlock the door. Ryan cast a backward nce at Charles, who appeared pale and unsettled. Ryan¡¯s eyes, cold and daunting behind his gold¡ª framed sses, conveyed an unmistakable sense of warning. ¡°Hand him over to the police,¡± Ryan ordered coldly. ¡°Mr. Lambert! I¡¯m Nathan¡¯s brother-inw! It wasn¡¯t my fault. | was just following orders! Nathan is in Room 3020, Cloudsea Pavilion. We were together! You can ask him... ¡°Take him to Nathan. Tell him | want an exnation for this,¡± Ryan snapped impatiently. He strode into the room and headed straight for the bathroom. He found Audrey in her down jacket, soaked in the icy water. Her wet head rested on the edge of the bathtub. The marble floor was flooded with water and ice. Her pale, trembling fingers gripped the tub desperately. Ryan swiftly shed his wool coat and suit and lifted her from the bone-chilling water. The icy water had soaked through Audrey''s down jacket. He peeled off her heavy, waterlogged jacket then carried her out of the bathroom. The ice-cold water had barely kept Audrey¡¯s frantic urges at bay. But now, held close to a source of warmth and enveloped in a masculine scent, her feverish state red. Chapter 15 273 Herst shreds of rationality shattered. As her frigid body met the soft bed, she struggled to open her eyes. Her vision was blurry. She could see Ryan¡¯s sharply defined jaw, the movement of his throat, and the way his wet shirt clung to his body. Everything sent a jolt through her. Ryan pulled aforter over her. Audrey, acting on pure instinct, grabbed his tie and kissed him. Ryan¡¯s hand braced on the bed. His muscles tensed, freezing in ce. Audrey''s kiss was unskilled and driven by desire. The drug had stripped away her consciousness. As she hooked her freezing, pale fingers around his neck to deepen the kiss, she tried to pry open his lips awkwardly. A fierce fire burned within her, yet her body couldn¡¯t stop shivering from the cold. Ryan¡¯s hand firmly pressed against the bed. He tensed in her grip. His entire body was rigid and motionless. Tormented by the fierce battle between ice and fire, Audrey clung to the man¡¯s scorching body like at lifeline. Despite being controlled by a drug that made her yearn for a man, her tears flowed incessantly. Ryan held Audrey¡¯s face as he gently pressed her into the bed.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Unexpectedly, she turned her head and kissed his hand. Her icy hands wound around his arm. Ryan¡¯s hand tensed. A jolt of electricity numbed his right hand, spreading through his entire body. His eyes darkened as he withdrew his arm, pressing her back onto the bed again. ¡°Audrey!¡± he eximed. Her eyes fluttered open. Her gaze was unfocused. The city¡¯s neon lights outside the window illuminated his sharp features, casting a colorful glow on his prominent nose and lips inches away from hers. Audrey spoke with a heavy nasal tone, ¡°Ryan... Mr. Lambert, | feel so terrible...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I''ll take you to the hospital,¡± he assured her. He extracted his tie from Audrey¡¯s hands and bundled her up in theforter. However, his touch, scent, and voice only intensified her desires and feelings of emptiness. Audrey bit her lower lip in agony. Her breathing became erratic. Reaching for Ryan¡¯s hand, she pleaded hoarsely, ¡°Help me, please...¡± Ryan paused, his dark pupils deepening like an abyss. ¡°Audrey, I¡¯m not Nathan. | can¡¯t help you.¡± The mention of Nathan was like a needle piercing the softest part of her heart. It unleashed the restrained torment in her blood, gnawing at her. As Charles had said, the drug¡¯s potency intensified over time. She couldn''t hold on any longer. She Chapter 15 hadpletely lost her sanity. She wanted the man before her eyes! Half of Audrey''s face was buried in theforter, and the other half was obscured by damp hair. Her hoarse voice was full of pain. She whispered, ¡°Ryan, please help me!¡± Her plea, light as a feather, ignited the long¡ªdormant volcano within him, releasing the scorchingva he had kept sealed in his heart. His gaze darkened, his breath growing heavier. Boiling blood thundered in his chest. Ryan¡¯s grip on Audrey¡¯s wrists tightened. The veins on his hand bulged. He brushed away the wet hair on her face. His throat rolled with an intense, smoldering desire. ¡± Audrey, are you sure?¡± ¡°Ryan. Help me, please,¡± she begged, her voice clouded with desire and tears, luring him into a willing descent. Audrey felt enveloped in his searing heat as she sank deeper into the soft bed. Ryan¡¯s lean, defined fingers gently held her chin. His lips coaxed hers apart with a quiet insistence. His tongue pushed into her mouth with a sense of urgency, a passionate and unbridled embrace. Their saliva mingled as their lips moved hungrily. Enveloped in Ryan¡¯s heady, masculine scent, the effects of the drug hit Audrey even harder. The slightest touch sent shivers through her, let alone such an uninhibited kiss. Almost oxygen¡ªdeprived, Audrey¡¯s mind went nk. She surrendered to the overwhelming sensationspletely... The man¡¯s powerful waist and abdomen pressed closely against her. His intense, unfamiliar heat enveloped her icy body, almost scalding her. Audrey didn¡¯t realize when her clothes were pulled off her body. The only thing she could remember was her phone vibrating incessantly on the floor. She remembered Ryan¡¯s deep gaze, mesmerizing and disorienting. During their passionate kiss, a sudden pain made her clench the sheets tightly. She cried out his name before her lips and tongue were entwined in his burning softness. Her fingers, curled in either pain or ecstasy, were pried open by his strong, defined hands as he forcefully intertwined their fingers. She was lost in a sea of desire induced by the drug, tossed about like a small boat on turbulent waters throughout the night. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Audrey woke up to the sound of rushing watering from the bathroom. The hotel room¡¯s ckout curtains made it impossible to tell if it was day or night. She had a headache that felt like a hangover. She tried to press her fingers to her temples, but her armis were too sore to lift. Her entire body ached intensely, especially in her most private areas. The name Ryan Lambert thundered in her mind, causing her to sit up abruptly. Her blood turned to She clutched theforter to her chest. Her gaze fell on the down jacket and scattered clothes on the floor¡ªher jeans, his shirt, and trousers. The events of the previous night shed through her mind like a movie. Audrey¡¯s face drained of color. Ryan was the adopted son of the Lambert family, technically her mother¡¯s brother. Even though she wanted no ties to the Lambert family, she¡¯d had sex with Ryan under the influence of the drug. She recalled snippets from the night before, enough to call out Ryan¡¯s name. The drug had tormented her into a state of near¡ª death delirium. She had kissed Ryan uncontrobly and even begged him to fulfil her desire. Audrey covered her face with her hands, feeling the swollen numbness of her lips. She got out of bed gingerly to pick up her still-damp clothes. Realizing she couldn''t wear the cold clothes in the middle of winter, she wrapped herself in a hotel bathrobe from the closet. Then, she noticed several shopping bags on the sofa. Three of them contained women¡¯s clothing, including a pair of shoes in her size. Presumably, Ryan had instructed his assistant to buy them for her. Audrey looked at the bathroom, still echoing with the sound of water. She dressed quickly, ignoring her difort. She wanted to leave before facing Ryan to avoid the awkwardness. However, considering their unique rtionship, she knew they had to talk. Soon, the water stopped. Audrey gripped her dead phone as she sat on the couch. Her heart pounded like a drum. She vividly remembered Ryan''s deep, soothing voice in the dark, telling her not to rush their first time. She remembered his breath and the shiver his touch had given her. Chapter 16 2/2 As the sound of the hair dryer ceased, Audrey¡¯s heart leapt into her throat. Ryan came out of the bathroom, buttoning his shirt. When he couldn¡¯t find her in the bed, he turned to the couch to see her fully dressed. His hand paused on his shirt buttons as he gazed at Audrey¡¯s pale face. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep a little longer?¡± he asked. His demeanor was calm and ordinary, but Audrey¡¯s heart raced even faster. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Ryan was the adopted son of her biological mother¡¯s family. Although there was no blood rtion, their closeness was widely known. I''m sorry. It¡¯s It took Audrey a moment to find her voice. ¡°Thank you for saving mest night! And... I¡¯m all my fault.¡± She lowered her head and added, ¡°You''re the adopted son of the Lambert family, and everyone thinks I¡¯m a poor rtive from your biological father¡¯s side. We can¡¯t let anyone know about this.¡± If their actions were discovered, she and Ryan would bear the stigma of an illicit rtionship. How could Ryan continue in the business world with such a scandal? Audrey had always known that Ryan wanted to leave the Lambert family and have them take her back instead. Now, she feared he might usest night''s incident to reveal her true identity as the biological daughter of the Lambert family in Mythravia. It would cause another disaster for her birth mother. She couldn''t let that happen. She was drugged. She begged Ryan. This was all on her. ¡°Alright,¡± Ryan responded with a deep, calm voice. He picked up his watch from the bedside table.¡± Do you feel unwell? I''ll have my assistant take you to the hospital for a check-up.¡± Audrey looked up at him, surprised. She had expected him to use the opportunity to persuade her to return to the Lambert family. Instead, he was concerned about her well-being. Noticing her expression, Ryan met her eyes with an unreadable depth. His gaze was so calm it betrayed no emotion. ¡°I know what you''re thinking. I¡¯m not that despicable.¡± Audrey fidgeted ufortably as she felt exposed by Ryan¡¯s insight. ¡°It''s not that | doubt your character. It¡¯s just that...¡± Ryan¡¯s phone vibrated, but he didn¡¯t answer. He picked up his suit jacket. ¡°I''ll handle the hotel surveince. This won''t get out. As for the TV show, don¡¯t worry. The Lambert family prepared your mother¡¯s identity well. All they''ll find is that she died of a hemorrhage in the hospital. You might still get involved...¡± HContent property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Ryan adjusted his cuffs and added, ¡°You really haven''t considered going abroad? There are many universities to choose from.¡± With Audrey¡¯s grades, she could get into any of them if he made a donation.. ¡°| appreciate your help, but everyone has their path to follow,¡± Audrey replied. Ryan received continuous calls. When he was done, he told Audrey, ¡°I have to rush back to Mythravia. Anne is fine now, and you probably have things to handle here. Stay in the vi for security until you leave Sheysea.¡± Chapter 17 272 After Ryan left, Audrey rxed. She finally realized how sore her body was. She stayed in the room for half an hour before going down to the hotel lobby to check out. As she reached the hotel entrance, she saw Ryan¡¯s assistant smiling at her by the car. He greeted, Ms. Yeomans.¡± Audrey was taken aback. ¡°Julian, why are you here? Didn¡¯t Mr. Lambert say he has to rush back to Mythravia?¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert Senior called him back because he missed a blind date with Ms. Sullivan yesterday,¡± the assistant exined. He held the car door open and added, ¡°Mr. Lambert asked me to stay and take you to the hospital for a check-up. Audrey''s palms tensed. So, Ryan was supposed to have a blind date yesterday. ¡°No need to trouble yourself. I¡¯m fine and don¡¯t need to go to the hospital,¡± she replied. Her only desire now was to charge her phone and contact Anne. ¡°Mr. Lambert said, if you don¡¯t want to go to the hospital, | should take you home to rest,¡± Julian continued with a warm smile. ¡°We have fresh milk and buns in the car if you need a snack.¡± Audrey''s realization hit her. Ryan had been scheduled for a blind date the previous night. The thought. unsettled her, yet she knew she needed to focus on her own matters. ¡°That¡¯s kind of you, but I''ll manage on my own,¡± she insisted gently. Her mind was preupied with the night¡¯s events and the urgency to reconnect with Anne. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Audrey thanked Julian and got into the car. She borrowed a charging cable from Julian and finally charged her phone. As soon as it turned on, she saw over 60 missed calls, most from the same number¡ªNathan¡¯s. Clutching her phone tightly, she wondered about his intentions. Was he checking if she had followed his n or been with Hugo? Either way, it couldn¡¯t be out of concern. With a dubious smile, Audrey dialed Anne¡¯s number. ¡°Audrey!¡± Anne sounded relieved. She said hushedly, ¡°The police have cleared everything, and Ms. Doyle isn¡¯t pressing charges. I''m at a hotel arranged that the show¡¯s crew put me up in.¡± ¡°Which hotel? I''lle right over,¡± Audrey offered. ¡®No, don¡¯t! The Yeomans family is here tool Don¡¯t worry about me. I''ll head back once the show is over. But... the photos | brought for Nathan...¡± Anne cautioned. She was worried they might bother Audrey.. Audrey felt a sharp pain in her palm, realizing she had clenched her fist so hard the night before that it was injured. She replied softly, ¡°Anne, throw those photos away. Nathan and | are divorced now. There¡¯s no connection between us anymore.¡± Anne was shocked and then broke out into a low cry, She sobbed, ¡°I should have realized sooner. Ever since you woke up, you never returned with Nathan. You always said he was busy...¡± ¡°It''s over, Anne,¡± Audrey gently cut her off, feeling the weight of her words. Anne sighed, ¡°It¡¯s just... Audrey, you suffered so much for him. Both of you shouldn¡¯t have ended this way.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. The phone buzzed with another call. Audrey excused herself, telling Anne that she had another calling in. She hung up. The iing call was from the ¡°Looking For Family¡± crew, a man named Tom Baker. ¡°Hello, Ms. Yeomans. Can youe for the dress rehearsal this afternoon? We''re recording tomorrow and need to run through the sequence,¡± Tom said. ¡°| can¡¯t make it to the rehearsal. I¡¯m tied up with something else.¡± ¡°Understood! I''ll get in touch with youter. Just call me Tom.¡± As she ended the call, Julian nced at Audrey in the rearview mirror. Chapter 18 ¡°Ms. Yeomans, if you don¡¯t wish to participate In the show, Mr. Lambert can make a call on your behalf. And don¡¯t worry, Mr. Lambert and Professor Lambert have spoken over the phone. Profesent Lambert isn¡¯t affected. The show has its ethics, and the Yeomans family¡¯s greed will backfire¡± Julian''s voice was full of confidence. The mention of Ryan brought back memories ofst night. Audrey smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. | have my reasons for participating.¡± Her phone screen lit up again. It was Nathan. They were already divorced, and the issue with Anne and Amelia had been resolved. If Nathan was calling... was it to confirm if she had fulfilled hisst wish? She stared at the phone until the screen went dark, then decisively blocked his number. Audrey''s mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she processed everything that had happened and braced herself for what was to come. 1/2 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 As Julian dropped Audrey off at the vi, he shared some news. Charles had been arrested and used of drugging and assaulting someone. ¡°Charles got what he deserved. He won''t be harassing you anymore,¡± Julian sald, opening the gate for Audrey. ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied. She understood that this was Ryan¡¯s way of keeping her out of the mess while sending a warning to Charles. No wonder Nathan had called her. He probably wanted to hold her ountable. Outside the dingy neighborhood, an out-of-¡ªce, jet-ck sports car parked in the narrow alley. Inside the car, Nathan¡¯s brows furrowed. He listened to the dial tone, realizing that Audrey had blocked his number. He tossed his phone aside in irritation and Hit a cigarette. On the passenger seaty Audrey¡¯s scarf. She''d left it in the private room the night before. Nathan had learned that the drug Charles gave Audrey wasn¡¯t what it seemed when Ryan¡¯s bodyguards brought Charles to the room. Charles had tricked him, fearing Nathan''s leniency. He¡¯d forced Audrey to drink that concoction, insisting she wait for Charles.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Audrey had insisted on leaving and said she¡¯d rather have stayed in Sayeno Town forever. She had clearly misunderstood his intentions and believed the whole thing was a setup with Charles. Nathan was frustrated beyond words as he thought of Audrey¡¯spliance. Fortunately, Ryan had been there. If it were anyone else, Nathan would worry for Audrey¡¯s safety. But with Ryan... he must have taken her to the hospital soon after. Nathan rolled down the window. He watched the bustle of the urban vige as he took a long drag of his cigarette. His mind filled with images of Audrey fromst night, overwhelming him with annoyance. his All his memories of Audrey were unpleasant. In his mind, she was the third party who intruded between him and Amelia. She was a sticky nuisance he couldn''t shake off. Yet, when he heard that she had inadvertently saved him when she was actually nning to end her life, it had made his heart wrench. Chaster 19 212 He couldn''t reconcile the image of a suicidal person with the vibrant girl who had pressed him against a rose¡ªcovered wall, kissing him under the setting sun This was the first time that Nathan wanted to know about his past with Audrey since his amnesia, Bot frustratingly, he couldn¡¯t remember anything else apart from that scene. The ¡°Looking for Family¡± show was pre-recorded. The actual episode was set to air the next day, In the evening, the production team called Audrey. They walked her through the process, informed her of her scheduled appearance, and allowed her to prepare mentally. Perhaps having heard from the production team that Audrey was participating, her family had managed to get her number. Audrey instinctively started recording the call as soon as she answered it. ¡°Audrey, you shameless bitch, you¡¯ve been so good at hiding! Now that you know we¡¯re on the show, are you scared?¡± Adam gloated triumphantly. H ¡°You should be grateful for being offered to return to Sayeno Town to marry ude Stone. There are so many men in college. With your slutty behavior, you¡¯ve surely been with countless others...¡± Before Adam could finish, his grandmother snatched the phone from him. Her voice as harsh and shrill as she spat, ¡°Audrey, you heartless, worthless wretch. Why don¡¯t you just die! We fed and clothed you, and you got your father imprisoned. ¡°You and your filthy mother are just the same! We brought her into our family and treated her well.. Then, she gave us a burden like you and ran away! She even took my grandson with her to her death! Why didn¡¯t you die with her!¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 As she recorded the call, Audrey controlled her emotions and spoke withposure. She retorted, ¡°How can you be so shameless to utter such words? My birth mother had a happy family before she was taken to your town. You didn¡¯t give her clothes, fed her like a pig once a day, and kept her chained in a cer, beaten and abused. Her legs were broken. ¡°You call that kindness? She was abducted at 16, forced to bear children from the age of 17. Any girl she birthed was killed. After eight children, she died on the operating table with her ninth. Is that your definition of kindness?¡± Audrey''s words enraged Donna, who reflexively tried to destroy Audrey with the most vile and vulgar insults. ¡°You! You dirty, despicable woman! Going to a ce filled where men and women are crammed together into one room under the guise of studying. Behind closed doors, it¡¯s nothing but debauchery and lowly acts. All of you are nothing but loose women in need!¡± Audrey''s eyebrows lifted slightly. She raised her voice, ¡°Shesyea University is a top-tier institution. A sacred ce that has nurtured countless talents for our nation. Don¡¯t tarnish its students with your filthy thoughts!¡± Donna thought she had hit a nerve and intensified her vile assault. ¡°Hmph! A prestigious school? The girls from your school have been tangled up with so many men, they¡¯re nothing but spoiled goods. Who knows if they can even bear children in the future!¡± ¡°Mom, give me the phone!¡± Adam¡¯s aunt, Tia Yeomans, snatched the phone from Donna. As always, she yed the good cop. She said calmly, ¡°Audrey, don¡¯t be mad at your grandma. We''re still family, after all. Bones may break, but the sinew remains connected. ¡°You''re 25, unmarried, and spending money on college. Your dad only asked you to get the tuition back for your own good. That college is just a scam! A young girl should marry early... The better your your contribution to the family, as he¡¯s the marriage is, the more it helps your brother find a wife. It pir of the Yeomans family.¡± Audrey cut her off. ¡°Has the Yeomans family ever paid a penny for my education since | was a child? What right do they have to demand my tuition? | didn¡¯t go to school until | was ten. | faced endless beatings and endless work. At ten, | escaped with Aunt Anne. You tried to kill me, only sparing my life for the 20 thousand dors Aunt Anne lent you.¡± once. | was ina She continued, ¡°Did you visit me once after my ident four years ago? Oh, righta for over a year, and you heard | was ina vegetative state. You went to the hospital to see if | was dead, plotting to pull my oxygen tube and extort money from the hospital. And now you call us Chapter 20 family?¡± ¡°Ah, foolish child...¡± sighed.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you mentioning the 10 thousand dors we spent to bury your mother? You let her escape, causing your father¡¯s imprisonment. The 20 thousand dors to Aunt Anne waspensation!. ¡°If we hadn''t given you away, would you have the life you have now? The money we wanted from the hospital was retirement money for your dad. Besides, you''re fine now, aren¡¯t you?¡± abruptly changed her tone. She shouted suddenly, ¡°Enough, enough! Let¡¯s not talk about this!¡± ¡°Audrey, you and your brother have your grandfather''s blood. He paid for your education. Now that Adam is of age to be married, shouldn¡¯t your grandfather help him too?¡± Chapter at Tia didn¡¯t wait for Audrey to reply. She spoke with a nagging tone, ¡°Audrey, please persuade your grandfather. We really don¡¯t want to ruin his reputation, and yours, by bringing this onto the show. He¡¯s a university professor, isn¡¯t he? Won''t his reputation as an educator be tarnished If this blows up?¡± Audrey''s face darkened, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°| heard professors are given houses by the university. Ask your grandfather to transfer a house to your brother Adam. If not, buy him a vi in Sheysea and a car worth half a million dors. The isn¡¯t our demand. It¡¯s what the bride¡¯s family wants.¡± e car Tia continued, ¡°They''re also asking for a wedding gift of 660 thousand dors. Your mother was your grandfather''s only child. Now that she¡¯s gone, he only has Adam. ¡°Everything your grandfather owns should belong to Adam. If he¡¯s holding onto his wealth so Adam doesn¡¯t inherit what''s rightfully his, your mother would be turning in her grave!¡± she Audrey replied in a calm voice, ¡°You tortured my birth mother to death! If Mr. Lambert helps you, will never rest in peace. ¡°Give me the phone!¡± bellowed Wayne Yeomans, Audrey¡¯s biological father. He couldn¡¯t contain his anger and snatched the phone. He spat insultingly, ¡°Audrey! Am | being too nice to you? Don¡¯t think | can¡¯t see that you¡¯re keeping Mr. Lambert from seeing Adam so you can monopolize the house and money for yourself. That old man¡¯s house and money belong to Adam. If you dare covet them, I''ll kill you!¡± ¡°Bullshit! When she was 12, we received a five thousand dor deposit from Jolin Watson¡¯s family. But your sister couldn¡¯t bring Audrey back, and | had to pay them 600 dors to settle it!¡± Donna interrupted Wayne, ¡°This time, we got 30 thousand dors from ude, promising to bring Audrey back to bear his children. If you kill her, we¡¯ll have topensate him, and he¡¯s not someone to mess with!¡± ¡°Her life is mine to take. If | want her dead, she has no right to live. That¡¯s just how it is!¡± Wayne yelled at Donna. He told Audrey, ¡°Call that old man right now. If he doesn¡¯t transfer the house to Adam, send us the money, and buy him the car, lil kill you. You¡¯re nothing but a shameless, greedy wretch coveting your brother¡¯s inheritance!¡± Wayne''s voice was sinister and nasty. He sounded as vicious as Audrey remembered him being when he beat her and her mother in the cer, a stark contrast to the usual fagade of kindness he showed others. ¡°It seems you haven''t had enough prison food in seven years! Killing me will be your death sentence! If you take 30 thousand dors from ude to sell me, that¡¯s human trafficking. If you seed, there Chapter 21 will be consequences!¡± 272 Having obtained the recording she needed, Audrey decided not to engage with her family further. She hung up the phone. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 1/2 Tia didn¡¯t wait for Audrey to reply. She spoke with a nagging tone, ¡°Audrey, please persuade your grandfather. We really don¡¯t want to ruin his reputation, and yours, by bringing this onto the show. He¡¯s a university professor, isn¡¯t he? Won''t his reputation as an educator be tarnished if this blows up?¡± Audrey''s face darkened, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°| heard professors are given houses by the university. Ask your grandfather to transfer a house to your brother Adam. If not, buy him a vi in Sheysea and a car worth half a million dors. The car isn¡¯t our demand. It¡¯s what the bride¡¯s family wants.¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Tia continued, ¡°They''re also asking for a wedding gift of 660 thousand dors. Your mother was your grandfather''s only child. Now that she¡¯s gone, he only has Adam. ¡°Everything your grandfather owns should belong to Adam. If he¡¯s holding onto his wealth so Adam doesn¡¯t inherit what''s rightfully his, your mother would be turning in her grave!¡± Audrey replied in a calm voice, ¡°You tortured my birth mother to death! If Mr. Lambert helps you, she will never rest in peace.¡± ¡°Give me the phone!¡± bellowed Wayne Yeomans, Audrey''s biological father. He couldn¡¯t contain his anger and snatched the phone. He spat insultingly, ¡°Audrey! Am | being too nice to you? Don¡¯t think | can¡¯t see that you¡¯re keeping Mr. Lambert from seeing Adam so you can monopolize the house and money for yourself. That old man¡¯s house and money belong to Adam. If you dare covet them, I''ll kill you!¡± ¡°Bullshit! When she was 12, we received a five thousand dor deposit from Jolin Watson¡¯s family. But your sister couldn¡¯t bring Audrey back, and | had to pay them 600 dors to settle it!¡± Donna interrupted Wayne, ¡°This time, we got 30 thousand dors from ude, promising to bring Audrey back to bear his children. If you kill her, we¡¯ll have topensate him, and he¡¯s not someone to mess with!¡± ¡°Her life is mine to take. If | want her dead, she has no right to live. That¡¯s just how it is!¡± Wayne yelled at Donna. He told Audrey, ¡°Call that old man right now. If he doesn¡¯t transfer the house to Adam, send us the money, and buy him the car, lil kill you. You¡¯re nothing but a shameless, greedy wretch coveting your brother¡¯s inheritance!¡± Wayne''s voice was sinister and nasty. He sounded as vicious as Audrey remembered him being when he beat her and her mother in the cer, a stark contrast to the usual fagade of kindness he showed others. ¡°It seems you haven''t had enough prison food in seven years! Killing me will be your death sentence! If you take 30 thousand dors from ude to sell me, that¡¯s human trafficking. If you seed, there Chapter 21 will be consequences!¡± 2/2 Having obtained the recording she needed, Audrey decided not to engage with her family further. She hung up the phone. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The Yeomans family was undeterred. They called again. Audrey blocked the number, turning her attention to organizing the various pieces of evidence she had kept as a precaution against the Yeomans family. The Yeomans family huddled together, cursing and fuming in a hotel room. They conspired to align their stories. ¡°That wretch. She¡¯s just like her heartless mother! A shameless dog! She¡¯s just after our Adam¡¯s inheritance!¡± Donna seethed with hatred. She added, ¡°Adam, you need to make a good impression on the show tomorrow. You must connect with your grandfather at all costs. We can¡¯t let Audrey take advantage of you! ¡°She thinks she has grown strong, and dares to threaten me with prison! Well, I¡¯m her real father. | gave her life. We''ll see what laws | break if | kill her!¡± Wayne spat. His face contorted with anger. Wandaflower was the name the Yeomans family used for Audrey¡¯s birth mother, Wayne''s wife. Women abducted to Sayeno Town were sent there to bear children, and no one cared about their real names. Upon learning that her name was ¡°Wanda Lambert¡°, Wayne always called her Wandaflower. ¡°| couldn¡¯t bring Audrey back when she was 12. Now that she¡¯s grown stronger, how could she willingly return with us to Sayeno Town? Wayne, you''ve taken money from ude. If Audrey doesn¡¯t return, exining this to ude won''t be easy ¡°She wouldn''t dare!¡± Wayne shouted, trembling with rage. ¡°Her nude photos were stered everywhere. We''ll spill the beans on the show tomorrow! Then everyone will know she took off her clothes for money at Sheysea University. She''ll have no choice but to return and marry ude.¡± The next day at 12:30 pm, Audrey headed to the Sheysea TV station armed with her evidence. Before the show started, she spoke to Ryan on the phone then met the host,n. At 2:00 pm, the show recording began. The studio was packed with an audience. The show was already popr, and the recent incident involving Amelia and Aunt Anne at the airport. had heightened interest even further.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. As usual, the host,n, started with a brief introduction before inviting the Yeomans family to share their story. Chapter 22 2/2 Wayne,pletely different from his threatening demeanor on the phone with Audrey, sat on the couch on stage. His skeletal body was hunched over, feigning pitiful silence. Adam started talking about how much he missed his birth mother, his miserable childhood, and how he was bullied for being motherless. His tale moved many in the audience to tears. Donna began to cry as she listened to Adam. Shemented her hardships and swore that she had never been a cruel mother¡ª iw. ¡°Adam¡¯s mother was treated like royalty in our house. We never let her do any chores. When she was indisposed, | took care of her, feeding her myself. But she abandoned her child and ran away because we were too poor.¡± Adam¡¯s aunt quickly consoled Donna. Her eyes were red with emotion. Meanwhile, asn had nned, Audrey sat in the makeup room backstage. She was utterly unfazed, watching the family¡¯s performance on screen. ¡°How infuriating! How can a woman be so heartless, abandoning her child just because the family is poor!¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°The threshold to be a parent in this world is too low. It¡¯s too difficult for the children if people choose to give birth but don¡¯t raise the child.¡± The audience sympathized with the ¡°honest and simple¡± Yeomans family, expressing their anger. lan turned to Adam. He asked, ¡°Your mother left when you were only five years old. Don¡¯t you resent her?¡± ¡°| don¡¯t hate my mother because...¡± Adam choked up, ¡°My grandma and dad told me that my mom didn¡¯t marry my dad willingly. My dad borrowed 30 thousand dors to ¡®acquire¡¯ my mom as his wife. ¡°Even though grandma and dad were kind to her, my mom had no feelings for my dad and didn¡¯t want to stay in that ce. | understand her, but it''s been hard growing up without a mom. | really miss her. | want to meet her and ask why she didn¡¯t want me. As expected, a murmur rose from the audience as Adam spoke. ¡°What? They acquired her to be his a wife?¡± ¡°Is this about human trafficking or a marriage arranged by her paternal family?¡± ¡°Could it be an arranged marriage?¡± ¡°Even it was arranged, the child is innocent.¡± Waiting to appear on the other side of the stage, Anne heard the audience¡¯s discussion. She was so infuriated that her eyes reddened. She couldn''t help but burst out, ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell everyone that Wanda was trafficked and sold to your family!¡± Staff members quickly escorted Anne away. The revtion stirred the audience. ¡°What? This young man¡¯s mother was trafficked?¡± ¡°Oh dear. Women who are trafficked often meet tragic fates!¡± ¡°It¡¯s no wonder she ran away! My goodness! Who wouldn''t run in that situation?¡± Achild born to a trafficked woman seeking his mother was the explosive highlight and top wanted for the episode. Reading the audience''s reaction, Adam quickly added, ¡°My dad was imprisoned because of this. He¡¯s realized his mistake over the years in jail. He¡¯s here today to see my mom and apologize to her for his ignorance of thew back then. He¡¯s deeply remorseful.¡± Wayne spoke timidly, ¡°It was my mistake, | admit. I¡¯ve served time in prison as atonement. But the child is innocent! 2/2 ¡°Even if I¡¯m sentenced to prison, | ept it. It¡¯s my fault! But Adam is meless! He just wants to see his mom and grandpa. | only ask for a chance for Adam to meet them and so | can apologize, even if it costs me my life!¡± Wayne got on his knees. He begged, ¡°Please,n. Help Adam!¡± tan hurried to help Wayne up, addressing the audience, ¡°Our team conducted extensive Investigations and found Dr. Harrison, who performed the surgery on Adam¡¯s mother. Dr. Harrison. has retired and lives abroad with his children, but we managed to interview him over the phone.¡± In the studio, the recorded phone conversation with Dr. Harrison began. Dr. Harrison recalled the trafficked woman vividly, ¡°The injuries on her body, both new and old, were heart-wrenching. Her leg was broken, and her mental state was very poor. ¡°She eventually died on the operating table due to excessive bleeding. Her mother begged me on her knees to save her daughter, offering any amount of money. ¡°That couple had been searching for their daughter for nearly 12 years. The patient''s mother suffered from severe depression due to her daughter¡¯s disappearance and even attempted suicide twice!¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Dr. Harrison''s voice was stillden with sighs even now. He sighed and spoke, ¡°The patient''s father got on his knees, begging me to save their daughter at any cost. He feared his wife wouldn¡¯t survive if their daughter didn¡¯t. ¡°Sadly, despite the surgery, the patient didn¡¯t make it. Later, | heard that the patient''s mother also passed not long after her daughter. Truly a tragic tale.¡± The recording stopped there. lan looked at Adam and said, ¡°After our investigation, it appears that your mother has indeed passed away, just as your mother¡¯s friend, Anne, said. Today, we''ve invited her to the show. We ask Anne to share Wanda¡¯s story with us.¡± The crew escorted an emotional Anne to the center of the stage. She sat down and recounted how she and Audrey¡¯s birth mother escaped Sayeno Town with Audrey¡¯s help. She described how they had panicked in front of the police station, which had led to a fall and hospital admission, where Wanda bled to death. The audience murmured with sympathy. ¡°| told them Wanda was gone, but they wouldn¡¯t believe me!¡± Anne said anxiously. Just as she was about to reveal how the Yeomans family had used Audrey to threaten her, she stopped. She was afraid of implicating Audrey. She abruptly shut her mouth. Donna began, ¡°Anne, it¡¯s not that we didn¡¯t believe you. You and Adam¡¯s mom were close back in Sayeno Town, and you left together. You must have her contact details! The child just wants to see his birth mother, sister, and grandfather. ¡°You clearly have Adam¡¯s sister''s and grandfather¡¯s numbers. How could you be so heartless and keep them to us? Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have to air our dirtyundry on this show!¡± Donna held Adam and she cried. She went on about how hard life had been for her, and how Adam was bullied as a child for not having a mother. ¡°Since Adam''s sister left with her mother, we¡¯ve had no contact for years. Look at what kind of woman she¡¯s be. Drugging people, climbing into their beds, her nude photos stered everywhere...¡± Donna became more agitated as she spoke, ¡°We never should have let Audrey go. If she¡¯d listened to me, she would¡¯ve been married and had kids by now. She wouldn''t be causing all this trouble!¡± ¡°You''re lying! Audrey is the best child in the world! She¡¯s a top student at Sheysea University! When you heard Audrey had helped her mom escape, you wanted to kill her!¡± Anne defended. Her emotions ran high as she continued, ¡°You''re the one who said girls are a loss! You said you¡¯d give Audrey to me for 20 thousand dors!¡± 2/3 The normally timid Anne and the Yeomans family started arguing fiercely on stage. The show''s crew loved the intense conflict. They focused the camera on Donna¡¯s face. Donna stood up. She spat vile, twisted words, ¡°Shut the hell up! Audrey left with her mom. We had to give her to her mother! Who took your 20 thousand dors? Show us the proof! ¡°You turned a good girl into a shameless, loose woman who sells herself for money. How will she ever get married now? Why doesn¡¯t God see this!¡± The audience frowned at Donna¡¯s filthy words. They couldn¡¯t believe a grandmother would speak of her granddaughter like that. Anne argued, unable to contain her anger. Donna lunged at her, pulling at her hair. The stage descended into chaos. Two and a half hourster. Holding a tearful Anne, Audrey walked out of the Sheysea TV station building. Behind them, the Yeomans family created a hysterical scene, adamantly protesting the show¡¯s broadcast. ¡°You must be in cahoots with that despicable Audrey!¡± Donna yelled, ¡°If you dare broadcast this, I''ll jump off the building of Sheysea TV Station! Even if | die, | won¡¯t let you bastards off the hook.¡± Anne wiped away her tears and urged, ¡°Audrey, you must go! While the Yeomans family is busy with the TV station, slip away! Don''t let them catch you! Someone from the show will take me back to the hotelter.¡± Audrey gently squeezed Anne¡¯s rough hands, reassuring her, ¡°I¡¯m taking the high-speed train tonight to Cloudmill to meet Professor Dous. Once I''m settled there, I''lle home and celebrate New Year¡¯s Eve with you and Harper.¡± Aunt Anne nodded vigorously and took out a card from her pocket. She pushed it into Audrey¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Take this money. The PIN is your birthday. It¡¯s always good to have money on a journey.¡± Worried Audrey might refuse, she added, ¡°If you don¡¯t use it all, just give it back to me when youe home! | don¡¯t want to hold you back in Cloudmill. It''ll give me peace of mind if you have more money,¡± Audrey took the bank card and smiled at Anne. ¡°Okay, I''ll take it.¡± ¡°Audrey, you¡¯re not at fault here. You''re the kindest and best child in the world! Without you, your mother and I...¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Anne¡¯s voice trailed off as she recalled what Audrey said during the recording, tears streaming down her face. She continued, ¡°You and Harper are the apples of my eye! Don¡¯t listen to the vile nonsense from the Yeomans family. Chapter 24- ¡°I know, Aunt Anne.¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡°Okay, okay, enough talking! Go now! Harper and | will wait for you toe home. When you''re back, I''ll make your favorite chickensagna and egg sd,¡± Anne said, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. As she watched Audrey get into the cab and drive away, Anne clutched the photo of Audrey and Nathan in her pocket. Audrey¡¯s life had been so hard. Anne felt she needed to do something for her. Audrey had already packed her bags before heading to the TV station that morning. She left the vi and took a cab to the train station.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Her Instagram pinged with a follow request. The message read: ¡°Audrey, you''ve got guts! Just your wait!¡± Her brows furrowed as she rejected the request. She closed the app and then pulled up Ryan¡¯s profile on PayPal. She transferred him the money for the hospital and clothes. When she didn¡¯t receive a response from him, she sent him a message on WhatsApp, ¡°Mr. Lambert, I¡¯m leaving for Cloudmill tonight. Thank you for your care.¡± Ryan replied quickly, ¡°Stay safe.¡± ¡°Please ept the money,¡± Audrey typed. The WhatsApp chat was quiet. Audrey thought Ryan was probably busy with work. She locked her phone screen and gazed out the window. She was leaving the city she had lived in for years. She hade to the city because of Nathan. Now, as she left, it was time to let go of everything and start anew. Audrey sent a message to Anne, reminding her to let her know once she got home the next day. The high-speed train from Sheysea to Cloudmill started moving. Audrey looked at the time on her phone and noticed another Instagram follow request had popped up on the screen. The message read, ¡°You left your scarf behind. Do you still want it?¡± The profile picture showed interlocked hands. A man wearing a sports watch with distinct knuckles. and a woman¡¯s slender, fair hand with beautiful nails. They were Nathan and Amelia¡¯s hands, intertwined, symbolizing deep affection. The message was from Nathan. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Audrey was momentarily stunned. Her eyes grew tight and ufortable. She didn¡¯t ept the friend request. Instead, she replied, ¡°I have no need for the scarf. Please throw it away. Thank you.! She locked her phone screen again, and leaned her cheek on her hand as she gazed out the window. The pitter¡ªpatter of raindrops hit the ss, illuminated by the lights outside. They highlighted Audrey''s indifferent features and the bandage around her forehead. In the years since waking up from the ident, she thought she was chasing the love of her youth and all the happiness in her life. But it seemed someone like her was never going to attain happiness in life. She had kept up the promises she¡¯d made for two years and was truly tired now. From this day forward, she had to live for herself. She was grateful to have survived the car ident. Life was short. Beyond Nathan, she had Anne, Harper, her passions, and her beloved studies. The high-speed train began to elerate, carrying Audrey past the blurred lights of Sheysea under the rain. Sheysea, the city that had been her life for several years, held her past loves and all her friends. The rapidly moving train was leaving the city and its inhabitants far behind. Nathan stared at Audrey¡¯s response on his phone, motionless for a long time. Her overly polite and distant reply unsettled him. Frowning, he stared at the screen, lost in thought. ¡°Nathan, | toast to you! If it hadn¡¯t been for your money sorting that woman out, | wouldn¡¯t be free now. Charles raised his ss to Nathan. He downed its contents in one gulp. ¡°I can¡¯t mess with Ryan, but this was too insulting! He¡¯s just a foster son of the Lambert family... Why is he so arrogant?¡± ¡°Even though he¡¯s a foster son, you can¡¯t deny his luck. Everyone in the circle knows he¡¯s the true heir of the Lambert family,¡± someone cautioned Charles. ¡°Forget it. Ryan isn¡¯t someone we can afford to offend.¡± Charles didn¡¯t respond. He took another drink. ¡°You''rete to the scene so you don¡¯t know. Audrey''s birth mother and Ryan are rtives. In the years Ryan wasn¡¯t in Sheysea, he still looked out for Audrey. You drugged Audrey. Do you think Ryan would let you off?¡± Chapter 26 272 Lucas poured Charles more wine and continued, ¡°From now on, stop messing with Audrey. You''ll regret it if you drag Amelia into this.¡± Charles''s eyes darkened with malice. He couldn''t provoke Ryan... couldn¡¯t touch Audrey... Was he really powerless against a mute? He had to vent this frustration somehow.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Nathan found the private room at the club too noisy. He picked up his lighter and cigarettes from the table. ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a smoke.¡± The club was designed in an antique style. Each room had a private courtyard attached. Nathan, wearing a ck turtleneck cashmere sweater without a coat, sat under themplit corridor. His short ck boots rested on the stone pedestal of a stone column. He texted Amelia a reminder to take her medicine and rest. ¡°| heard from a friend that Audrey was spotted at the high-speed train station with her luggage this afternoon. Looks like she¡¯s leaving Sheysea.¡± Nathan looked up. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Lucas passed a cigarette to Nathan and sat down beside him. Nathan epted the cigarette and asked, ¡°What kind of person is Audrey?¡± Lucas turned his head to look at Nathan with a curious expression as he shielded the me of his lighter with one hand. ¡°Ever since Audrey woke up, anyone who mentioned her to you got the cold shoulder. Why the sudden interest? Did you remember something?¡± ¡°I''m just worried she''lle back to cause trouble,¡± Nathan replied, trying to hide his embarrassment. He lit his cigarette and added, ¡°I have no memory of her and don¡¯t understand her character. It¡¯s been bothering me. ¡°You''re worrying unnecessarily,¡± Lucas said calmly, exhaling a cloud of smoke. ¡°Audrey, despite her humble origins, has always been proud and aloof. In my memory, she¡¯d always been someone who sticks to her words, especially when it came to you... ¡°How so?¡± When Nathan pressed him for more, Lucas didn¡¯t immediately answer. He looked at Nathan with aplicated expression. ¡°Nathan, now that you¡¯re divorced from Audrey, as you wanted, stop dwelling on your past with her. If you want to have a good rtionship with Amelia, look forward.¡± He watched as Nathan frowned and smoked in silence. Lucas suddenly straightened his back and asked, ¡°Be honest... did you remember something?¡± ¡°No,¡± Nathan replied. He looked down and flicked the ash off his cigarette. He denied it stubbornly, I¡¯m just concerned she might y tricks. I¡¯m afraid she¡¯lle back and affect me and Amelia.¡± Lucas thought carefully about Audrey¡¯s demeanor and actions when she got her certificate. He confidently replied, ¡°From my understanding of Audrey, shepletely let go the day she went to get the divorce certificate with you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Nathan bit his cigarette, exhaling a thin mist. His gaze dropped to his phone, muttering, That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°| heard from Amelia¡¯s cousin, Charles, that you let slip to the Yeomans family that Audrey was in Sheysea University?¡± Lucas asked, fiddling with his lighter. Nathan remained silent. He had, indeed.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. That happened about a month and a half before he and Audrey were drugged and ended up together. Tired of Audrey¡¯s persistence, and Amelia¡¯s insistence on waiting for him to remember his ¡± thought of the Yeomans family. Initially, all he¡¯d wanted was for the Yeomans to take Audrey away from Sheysea, to trap her in Sayeno Town forever. past, he Unexpectedly, the Yeomans assumed Audrey¡¯s maternal grandfather was funding her education. So, Chapter 27 212 they set their sights on her grandfather¡¯s wealth and contacted the ¡°Looking for Family¡± show. ¡°After the show was recorded, the family caused a scene outside the Sheysea TV station. That old woman even threatened to jump off the building, using the show of bullying them and colluding with Audrey,¡± Lucas recalled with a frown. He continued, ¡°They even did a livestream earlier. They publicly revealed Audrey¡¯s information and orderedizens to attack her online. Luckily, the livestream was shut down. Nathan''s head snapped up upon hearing this. ¡°Actually...¡± Lucas took a long drag of his cigarette, gathering his courage. He continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell Audrey the whole truth that day at the hospital.¡± Nathan¡¯s lips moved slightly. ¡°What truth?¡± ¡°It was Jen who slipped the drug to Hugo. Jen¡¯s feelings for Hugo aren''t a secret, but you and Audrey drank the spiked wine by mistake.¡± Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice filled with guilt. ¡°| told Audrey to drop the case for her sake, but... | think she knows everything. She let Jen off to tell us that our ties have been exhausted, and she won''t have anything to do with us siblings anymore. Nathan looked shocked. He had always refused to believe Audrey hadn¡¯t drugged him. He assumed Lucas and Audrey were putting on a show for him. He had found it too far-fetched that Jen would drug Hugo to help Audrey. But if it was indeed Jen who drugged Hugo. Everything made sense. He really had misunderstood. Audrey. Lucas looked earnestly at Nathan through the drifting smoke. He said, ¡°So, it¡¯s time to let Audrey go.¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¡°Looking for Family¡± was recorded on Wednesdays and broadcast at 8:00 pm on weekends on Sheysea TV and various online tforms. The episode was already highly anticipated a few days prior because a guest had identally pushed Amelia down the stairs. Then, the topic of a child trafficked woman searching for his mother. had sparked immense public interest. to Thements on the episode on three major video websites exceeded all previous episodes Audrey, however, wasn¡¯t concerned about these developments.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. On Friday, she met the gentle and schrly Professor Diego Dous. Diego disclosed the confidential details of the project. After she signed a non-disclosure agreement, he personally guided her around theboratory, introduced her to a few senior colleagues, and even escorted her to the entrance of the building. ¡°Ourb is often tight on time and manpower. We might need to spend weekends here. For now, you familiarize yourself with everything. You''ll officially join us after New Year¡¯s Eve.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Audrey responded. After discussing business, Diego inquired about Audrey¡¯s well-being. ¡°How are you finding Cloudmill?¡± ¡°It''s very nice,¡± she replied, smiling. She thanked Diego. ¡°The day before yesterday, Justin picked me up from the station. Thank you for arranging the single dormitory for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we should do,¡± Diego spoke kindly, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t had that ident and been bedridden for two years, Professor Winston would have already applied for you to pursue a PhD. But no worries, we''ll take it slow. As long as you''re awake, there are endless possibilities.¡± Audrey understood what Diego meant. She nodded gratefully. ¡°In a few days, another student will return from abroad, and our project team will beplete,¡± Diego exined as his phone Tang. He checked it and continued, ¡°Justin mentioned you haven¡¯t added him on WhatsApp. Remember to add himter so he can add you to the group. He¡¯ll help you with life and study matters. If you have any difficulties, go to him.¡± ¡°Okay. | got it, Professor.¡± Diego patted her shoulder earnestly, ¡°Work hard, Audrey! Focus on the project. Your brain was made for scientific research, not to be trapped in romantic affairs.¡± Diego knew about Audrey and Nathan¡¯s past. Everyone had thought the once promising genius had fallen into a vegetative state forever, only for Chapter 28 her to wake up. But instead of rejoicing, she had wasted two years on a man. Diego thought it was a tremendous waste of Audrey¡¯s intellect and talent. ¡°Yes!¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, | was too stubborn before. My mind is clear now.¡± 2/2 Noticing that Audrey could speak calmly and openly about her past, Diego understood she had indeed let go. As someone who had been through simr experiences, he felt relieved. In his years in education, Diego had seen many geniuses but only a fewmentable cases. Audrey was one of them. Fortunately, Audrey had escaped death and was now clear¡ªheaded in love. She was sure to achieve great things. That afternoon, Justin Kirby took Audrey to theb. He assigned her simple data organization tasks so she could familiarize herself with the progress and procedures of their experiment. At 7:30 pm, their colleagues in theb decided to celebrate Audrey joining the team. They took her to a bustling restaurant near the university. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 ¡°The professor is footing the bill tonight to wee our new colleague!¡± Justin announced as he passed menus around with a beaming smile. ¡°Wow, the professor must be thrilled to have Audrey join us! He¡¯s being so generous!¡± Azure Lane, another colleague, handed the menu to Audrey. She urged, ¡°Audrey, go ahead. Take advantage of the professor¡¯s generosity! He¡¯s not usually so generous!¡± ¡°Let''s order the surf and turf tter. Audrey can¡¯t have anything too spicy because of her injury,¡± Azure advised as she studied the menu. The restaurant buzzed with lively chatter, filled with mouth-watering aromas and bustling waiters. As customers entered, they were greeted with a hearty, ¡°Wee!¡± in fluent Cloudmillese. Amidst constantughter, Audrey''s colleagues told her amusing tales of how Professor Diego had been scouting talents over the years.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Surrounded by the lively, everyday bustle, warmth began to fill Audrey¡¯s eyes. As Audrey and her colleagues were enjoying the lively dinner, the ¡°Looking for Family¡± episode aired on satellite TV and major online tforms at 8:00 pm. The episode yed on the television in the restaurant. The number of viewers on the online tforms rose continuously. Audrey''s colleagues nced up at the TV as they ate. When Anne stepped forward to reveal that Adam¡¯s mother was trafficked, the people in the restaurant gasped in shock. ¡°My God, his mother was trafficked!¡± Azure eximed in surprise. She frowned, ¡°If she was trafficked, of course she had to run! That olddy was saying she was nice to her daughter-inw, who left because she despised poverty. But is being trafficked the same as despising poverty?¡± Even Justin couldn''t help but feel indignant, ¡°If they knew his mother was trafficked, why go on the show to look for her?¡± Soon, the hashtag #ShouldAChildBornToATraffickedWomanSearchForTheirMother started trending. Audrey ate quietly as her new colleagues were engrossed in the show. On the show, Donna tearfully portrayed Audrey as a troublemaker, alleging she had failed to marry, had drugged someone due to ack of malepanionship, and was involved in a nude photo scandal. Chapter 29 2/2 Anne and Donna engaged in a heated argument, each adamantly asserting their own views on Audrey¡¯s character. Anne insisted that Audrey was a good person. #SheyseaUniversityDrugScandal rapidly gained traction and soared in poprity online. ¡®Sheysea University?¡± Azure turned to Audrey, her eyes full of curiosity. She asked, ¡°You''re from Shaysea University, aren¡¯t you? Did something like that really happen there?¡± Audrey nodded, responding honestly, ¡°Yes, but it wasn¡¯t an intentional drugging. Both individuals identally drank a spiked drink, and the photos were taken afterward.¡± ¡°Who posted the photos? Was it that guy?¡± Justin asked, furrowing his brow. ¡°Hmm...¡± Audrey mumbled, reaching for a napkin to wipe her mouth. She was prepared for further questioning. She was ready to reveal she was the Audrey in question if they questioned her familiarity with the situation. ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Azure asked, puzzled. ¡°Was it just to show off?¡± ¡°It''s because the boy had feelings for another girl. When his beloved heard about the incident, she was nning to leave the country. So, he posted the photos at someone else¡¯s advice,¡± Audrey exined. When she talked about the incident, it no longer caused her the heartache it once did. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Audrey found itughable that Nathan had posted her photos merely to threaten Amelia into staying. ¡°Ugh, what a jerk!¡± Azure expressed her disdain. ¡°Seriously, these kinds of guys are the worst!¡± ¡°In these situations, it¡¯s usually the women who suffer!¡± Audrey''s colleagues didn¡¯t probe into her identity further. Instead, they started ranting about such despicable men. Audrey looked up at the TV again. In the program, Donna spewed harsh words. The host,n, coughed twice to interrupt Donna. He said, ¡°After our investigation, it appears that your mother has indeed passed away. Beforen could finish, Donna cut him off. ¡°But Adam¡¯s grandfather is still alive!¡± ¡°He only had one daughter, Adam¡¯s mom. Now that she¡¯s gone, he has no rtives left! Audrey is a girl and a shameless one at that! She¡¯s definitely unreliable! ¡°Look at our Adam. He¡¯s a man! Adam should be the one to take care of his grandfather. It¡¯s Anne and Audrey who are eyeing his grandfather¡¯s wealth. They stubbornly refuse to give us his phone number and address. Adam¡¯s poor grandfather is old now, all alone...¡± ¡°You''re speaking nonsense!¡± Anne, visibly upset, pointed at Donna. ¡°Audrey hasn''t been in touch with her grandfather in years. She''s afraid of reopening his old wounds. You''re clearly after Audrey¡¯s grandfather''s house, and you want him to buy a car for Adam!¡± The discussion in the restaurant exploded,N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°They really are after the old man¡¯s wealth!¡± ¡°You can tell from that olddy¡¯s words she¡¯s definitely eyeing it. ¡°It could also be a Lambert rivalry over their grandfather''s estate. On TV,n said, ¡°We''ve also contacted Adam¡¯s maternal grandfather, Mr. Lambert, and had a phone. conversation with him. To protect Mr. Lambert¡¯s privacy, we''ve altered his voice. Let¡¯s listen.¡± ¡°| don¡¯t want to see either of those children.¡± George Lambert¡¯s voice, even altered, sounded very cultured. ¡°Thinking of them reminds me of the torture my daughter endured, and how she died on the operating table. My wife died of grief because of my daughter. ¡°The Yeomans are animals. They''re living evidence of my daughter¡¯s suffering. | wish they would leave me in peace for the rest of my life. When | die, all my property will be donated to a foundation for rescuing trafficked women and children. That''s my decision.¡± The phone call ended there. Chapter 30 272 The audience seemed to understand. In this case, although the children were not at fault, their existence was a testament to the crime. It was only natural that the elderly man didn¡¯t want to see the children born out of his daughter''s tragic circumstances. The family tried to leverage their blood rtion to George to im his property. ¡°What do you mean he¡¯s give the property to others?¡± Wayne yelled with frustration, ¡°That''s Adam¡¯s inheritance!¡± Tia was also shocked and agitated. She protested, ¡°Adam¡¯s grandfather only had my sister for a daughter. Now that she¡¯s gone, Adam should be the one to care for his grandfather in his old age! Adam and his grandfather are blood¡ªrted! ¡°Mr. Turner, please contact his grandfather again, or at least give us his address or phone number. We can find him ourselves!¡± The audience¡¯s perspectives were refreshed. Azure widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Wow! At first, | thought they were after familial affection, but it seems they''re really after the old man¡¯s wealth!¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Filled with righteous anger, Azure eximed, ¡°This is utterly shameless! Kidnapping someone''s daughter, causing her death, and then stealing her family¡¯s wealth!¡± The first part of the show was drawing to a close. Addressing the camera calmly,n told the audience, ¡°Our team also contacted Adam¡¯s sister. She has provided a recording of a phone conversation, hoping it can be yed in the show. Let¡¯s listen to this recording in our next episode and see what insights it brings us.¡± Upon hearing the word ¡°recording*, Adam¡¯s expression visibly shifted to one of immediate alertness. He eximed, ¡°What recording? The focus then switched to Wayne, who stood up agitatedly. He dered, ¡°Audrey is nothing but shameless lowlife. She has slept with all the men in her university. How can anyone believe her!¡± Jan remained unshakable. He addressed the audience, ¡°Dear viewers, we''ll see you in the next episode. 11 ¡°Oh,e on! Why does it have to end now? They could at least hint at what¡¯s in the recording!¡± Azure said impatiently, her curiosity piqued. Justin chuckled. He picked up his spoon and told Azure, ¡°Why are you always in such a hurry? We''ll find out next Friday. Eat up!¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. The 19th episode of ¡°Looking for Family ¡ª Searching for the Escaped Mother¡± ended with Anne¡¯s tearful statement, ¡°How can you nder Audrey like this? Don¡¯t you have a conscience?¡± The hashtag #SonOfTraffickedWomanSeekingMotherOrGrandfather¡¯sWealth also went viral. The audience discussion heated up significantly, especially near the end of the episode.. In the show, Donna described Audrey as a morally depraved and promiscuous woman who was a student at the nation¡¯s top university, Shaysea University. This revtion caused the hashtag #ShayseaUniversityDruggingScandal to skyrocket in poprity. Initially, mostizens believed that a grandmother who would name her granddaughter ¡®Audrey¡¯ must favor sons over daughters. Netizens quickly unearthed the incident where Audrey''s photos were posted at Shaysea University. Someone in thements section online shared Nathan¡¯s apology letter on behalf of the Shaysea family. Even the photos Nathan posted at Shaysea University, both censored and uncensored, made. their way online. Although wrapped in a nket in these photos, Audrey couldn¡¯t conceal the ovepping scars on her shoulders and arms. The inte was flooded with maliciousments. FortuneGuy: ¡°Whoa, this really happened! Drugging the top dog of Shaysea to climb into his bed. This woman¡¯s ambition is huge. LuckyMoney: ¡°Look at those injuries on her body. Has she been living a wild life since childhood? Those are burn marks on her arms, aren''t they? Sounds like BDSM!¡± ShockedMonkey: ¡°How can someone with this character attend Sheysea University? Do they ept just anyone? @SheyseauUniversity, do you invite them over for a vacation? HeyHehe: ¡°She looks pretty. How much for a night? She must have gotten around a lot, right?¡± CabbageLover: ¡°Like father, like daughter. Her father was a rapist and abuser. Now, she¡¯s a schemer who drugs others for her own gain. Repulsive!¡± LittleBun: ¡°So utterly disgusting. Those poor trafficked women and their families were almostpletely devastated. Look at this! The rapist¡¯s children: one a toxic man, the other a repulsive woman. One coveting a lonely elderly man¡¯s wealth, the other drugging men for a shot with them. Isn¡¯t that bitchy?¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Audrey''s social media was flooded with vicious private messages. She was derisively called the spawn of a rapist and the lowly offspring of human traffickers. As Nathan had predicted, the show¡¯s producers, true to form, were set to maximize the buzz and heat in the uing episode. Audrey was about to find herself thrust into the eye of the storm. Forewarned and prepared for this oue, Audrey almost wished for an even more heated discussion. The more attention the next episode garnered, the easier it would be for her to execute her ns. After a calming bath, she was about to turn off the lights and settle into bed when her phone vibrated. It was a call from Anne. ¡°Aunt Anne,¡± she greeted. ¡°Audrey, it¡¯s me.¡± Hugo¡¯s voice came through on the other end of the line, bearing unwee news. Aunt Anne had an ident.¡± Achill ran down Audrey¡¯s spine. Tossing aside the covers, she swiftly turned the lights on and pulled on her clothes. Her voice quivered uncontrobly as she asked, ¡°What... what do you mean Aunt Anne had an ident?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been in a car crash at the hospital my sister is at. H ¡°But wasn¡¯t Aunt Anne supposed to have returned home? Why is she still in Sheysea?¡± Audrey''s voice rose with confusion and concern. Just yesterday afternoon, Anne had called her to say she was home safe. She had even mentioned how well she was doing. The sudden turn of events was baffling. ¡°I''m not sure of the details. You shoulde to the hospital,¡± Hugo advised, unaware that Audrey had already left Sheysea. ¡°I''m on my way! Please take care of Aunt Anne,¡± Audrey said before hanging up.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Her hands trembled as she changed. She tried to remain calm. She knew panic led to mistakes. She rushed to the airport and caught the first flight back to Sheysea. In the Lambert family¡¯s home in the capital, Audrey''s biological grandfather sat in his study. He sported sses, and his silver hair wasbed to perfection. The septuagenarian wore a brown cashmere cardigan over his shirt. His posture radiated refined, subdued elegance. ¡°How was your meeting with the Shaw daughter in Sheyses? You didn¡¯t have time to see her before,¡± George inquired, lifting his ss Ryan, poised and dignified, sipped the brown liquor. His every move radiated an air of haughty grace. ¡°Ms. Shaw is ambitious. She¡¯s a good ally for marriage, but perhaps too strong willed to fit into the Lambert family as a daughter inw,¡± hemented indifferently. ¡°in the end, you''re still wishing for that child to return to the Lambert family,¡± George mused casually. He yed with the ss idly ¡°How is she doing? ¡°She¡¯s gotten a divorce from the Franklin heir,¡± Ryan replied, setting his ss down. ¡°And now she¡± been invited by Professor Dous of Cloudmill University to join his research team.¡± ¡®Drugged and ndered, divorced, and drugged again... the Lambert family going after her she think running away solves everything? Leaving the country¡¯s top university for Cloudmill University?¡± George muttered. He held the crystal ss up to his lips. Ryan didn¡¯t expect George would be so informed about Audrey¡¯s plight. ¡°Sometimes, being too empathetic and moral can lead to suffering,¡± he said slowly. Does ¡°But she¡¯s not indecisive. Although Cloudmill University isn¡¯t as renowned as Sheysea University, Professor Dous is a leading authority in gic biology. He only stayed in Sheysea for histe wife. ¡°If she wants to make strides in gic biology, he¡¯s the best mentor she could have.¡± Ryan¡¯s phone vibrated with an iing call. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Ryan rose with the phone in hand. He walked to the window to answer it. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°sir, there¡¯s news from Sheysea. Two hours ago, Audrey¡¯s foster mother approached the young Frankin heir and was involved in a car ident. She didn¡¯t make it,¡± Julian reported. Ryan¡¯s pupils contracted. He gripped the phone tightly. ¡°Understood,¡± he replied curtly. After ending the call, he picked up his suit jacket draped over the chair. ¡°I need to leave.¡± ¡°Take your time getting to know the third Shaw daughter,¡± George suggested casually, crossing his legsnguidly. He picked up a chess manual from the table beside him and continued, ¡°The Lambert family will eventually be in your hands. With the Shaw family¡¯s backing, you''ll have a more stable position on the board.¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. The subtext was clear. George liked the third Shaw daughter, Cecilia Shaw. Ryan¡¯s feelings were secondary. Ryan knew winning George¡¯s eptance of Audrey was going to be a long journey. Wanda, George¡¯s only daughter, was the apple of the Lambert family¡¯s eye. She had suffered terribly at the hands of the Franklin family, which had led to a mental breakdown and multiple suicide attempts. George saw every member of the Franklin family as an enemy, including Audrey and her brother Adam. If it hadn¡¯t been for Audrey''s daring escape from the Franklins with Wanda, the Lambert family might not have turned a blind eye, which had given Ryan the opportunity to help Audrey. ¡°| understand,¡± Ryan nodded slightly to George. As Ryan was about to leave the study, George added nonchntly, ¡°You''ve felt indebted to Audrey for years because you believe you took her ce. | never stopped you from helping her, but it¡¯s about time. | did. From now on, don''t interfere in Audrey''s matters.¡± Ryan nced back at George, now leisurely perusing the chess manual by themp. He left wordlessly. ¡°Are you leaving already?¡± asked Paige Xenos, the maid at the Lambert Residence. She was carrying two bowls of nutritious soup to the study. Her voice was warm and inviting. ¡°I''ll pack some up for you. The weather has been dry. This is very nourishing.¡± ¡°No, | have other matters to attend to,¡± Ryan declined. Paige started to say something else, but Ryan was already hurrying past her, heading downstairs. ¡°What''s the hurry?¡± Paige murmured to herself, puzzled. She carried the soup into the study and ced it beside George. She lamented, ¡°He¡¯s too busy with thepany, always on the go, even at this hour.¡± 312 George didn¡¯t look up from the chess manual. He chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s probably notpany business. Is my daughter asleep?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Paige replied with a smile. ¡°She asked me to make this for you. She even picked out the ingredients herself.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± George¡¯s eyes lit up affectionately. He set aside the manual and opened the lid of the container. ¡°Looks wonderful!¡± Leaving the Lambert family mansion in the back of the car, Ryan headed straight to the airport. His gaze lowered as he caressed his phone. The neon lights outside his window cast sharp shadows on his face. ¡°| have my own mother, Aunt Anne. | won''t be needing the Lambert family¡¯s card,¡± said 17-year-old Audrey as she returned the credit card to him. After Audrey''s ident, Anne had stayed by her side in the hospital. If Ryan hadn''t insisted on keeping Audrey in the hospital, Anne would have taken her home to care for her as she ran her small business. Ryan never doubted the bond between Anne and Audrey. At ten, Audrey lost her birth mother but gained a loving foster mother. Now, she had lost even her foster mother. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 As soon as Audrey stepped off the ne, she called Hugo. ¡°How¡¯s Aunt Anne?¡± Hugo didn¡¯t dare to reveal the truth. He replied hesitantly, ¡°She¡¯s... still in surgery.¡± After hanging up, Audrey was too anxious to walt in line. She hastily hailed a cab outside the airport. The driver softened upon noticing Audrey''s red¡ªrimmed eyes and her request to send her to the hospital. He offered words offort, ¡°Is a family member in the hospital? Don¡¯t worry. We''ll get there quickly. The roads are clear at this hour.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Audrey responded. Her grip on the phone turned her knuckles white. Hugo waited for her with an umbre at the entrance to the hospital. As he paced back and forth, he rehearsed how to break the news of Anne¡¯s passing. No matter how gently he put it, it wouldn¡¯t ease Audrey¡¯s pain. Before Hugo could find the right words, Audrey¡¯s cab pulled up. When she emerged, Hugo hurried down the steps. He held the umbre over her head. ¡°The surgery isn¡¯t over yet?¡± Audrey asked, panicked. She mmed the car door and rushed towards. the hospital. ¡°Which floor is the operating room on?¡± ¡°Audrey!¡± Hugo¡¯s steps faltered as he reached out to grasp her arm. She turned, her eyes brimming with dread. Her body was tense like a drawn bow. ¡°Which floor?¡± she asked again. Her voice broke.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Hugo swallowed hard. He gripped the umbre handle tighter before speaking, ¡°Audrey, the doctors did everything they could... They couldn¡¯t save her. Anne passed away before younded.¡± Audrey''s mind went nk. paid hea The sound of rain on the umbre was the only thing she could hear. Her legs weakened as if all her strength had been drained from her body. Tears filled her eyes, but she didn¡¯t dare to blink. ¡°Which floor is Aunt Anne on?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been moved to the morgue.¡± Audrey turned and stumbled into the hospital, nearly missing a step. ¡°Audrey!¡± Hugo reacted quickly, steadying her. He led her inside the building. He exined as they walked slowly. ¡®Anne stayed in Sheysea to meet Nathan. She went to Emerald Garden, where he was dining today. On Chapter 24 the way there, a truck swerved to avoid a little girl chasing a balloon and collided with an oing car. The car then lost control and mounted the sidewalk. That¡¯s how the ident happened.¡± Audrey couldn¡¯t even begin to visualize the scene. She numbly followed Hugo into the elevator. When they reached the morgue, she stopped at the door. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her clothes tightly. Her throat was so tight it made breathing difficult. ¡°I... I''ll go in alone,¡± she managed to say in a hoarse whisper. ¡°Okay,¡± Hugo answered, opening the door for her. In the cold stillness of the morgue, Anney under a white cloth. On her wrist, she still wore the bracelet Audrey and her cousin had made the year before. Her body had stiffened. Audrey''s legs felt like they were filled with lead, but she forced herself to move closer. Her throat rolled with emotion. She gently grasped Anne¡¯s cold hand and pulled back the white cloth. Anne¡¯s pale face appeared before her. Audrey bent down. She gripped her hand tightly and gentlyid it against her face. The overwhelming grief almost suffocated her. ¡°Aunt Aunt Anne!¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Audrey sobbed hysterically. Her throat was so sore that she could barely utter a word. ¡°Aunt Anne...¡± Tears streamed down her face. She didn¡¯t hold back any longer. She broke down and lost control. She hugged Anne and cried loudly, ¡°You promised to make me chickensagna and egg sd!¡± She didn¡¯t want Nathan! She really didn¡¯t want him! All she wanted was for Aunt Anne to be alright Hugo stood outside the morgue. His eyes reddened as he listened to Audrey crying uncontrobly. They had grown up together. He hardly ever saw her cry. Even when she woke up in the hospital and found out that Nathan had lost his memory and fallen in love with someone else, she wiped away her tears and said she would bring his memory back. She had never broken down like this before. Hugo thought Audrey was cold and unfeeling, just like others said. She always seemed calm, no matter what. He waited outside the morgue for almost two hours. When the sounds of crying stopped, he walked to the door and gently pushed it open. Inside, Audrey sat slumped next to the table where Anney. Her hair was messy and her eyes were red and swollen.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. She leaned her face close to Anne''s cold and lifeless hand. She looked numb and dazed as if she had lost all feeling. Hugo was about to enter the morgue when he heard Amelia¡¯s voiceing from the direction of the elevator. ¡°Be nice when you see Audrey. Aunt Anne was her foster mother. You shouldn¡¯t have pushed her no matter what...¡± Amelia dragged Nathan out of the elevator, even though his arm was iri a cast. Nathan was getting impatient. He shook his right arm hanging in front of his chest. ¡°My ar arm wouldn''t be broken if | hadn¡¯t tried to save her. | had to push Anne! She was pulling at me. ¡°Nathan!¡± Amelia stopped and red at him. ¡°Anne was hit by a car and died!¡± Nathan¡¯s lips pressed together tightly. In the past, he would have retorted sarcastically, sneering that he hadn¡¯t caused the car to crash onto the sidewalk. Maybe it was the guilt of drugging Audrey that night gnawing at him. Perhaps it was knowing that Audrey might have taken her own life if she hadn¡¯t met him. He now understood why she clung to him so desperately for thest two years. It wasn¡¯t as sordid as he had thought. Chapter 35 He didn¡¯t argue with Amelia. ¡°Alright, alright...¡± Nathan softened his voice when he saw her stern expression. He pinched her check. ¡°I get it. Don¡¯t be mad...¡® ¡°Stop it!¡± H Amelia grabbed Nathan¡¯s left hand and pulled him forward. When she noticed Hugo at the entrance to the morgue, she asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you inside with Audrey?¡± ¡°She wanted to be alone.¡± Hugo closed the door gently. He looked at Nathan, but hesitated to speak.¡± I¡¯ve never seen Audrey so upset before.¡± Nathan stopped in his tracks and frowned deeply. ¡°Nathan, you should go back to your room!¡± Hugo said in a low voice, ¡°If Audrey finds out you pushed Aunt Anne, I¡¯m afraid ¡°You''re being ridiculous, Hugo!¡± Nathan¡¯s face was filled with anger that he couldn''t hide. He scoffed, ¡°Her foster mother kept pulling at me. | didn¡¯t push her under the car. | wasn¡¯t the one who drove the car onto the sidewalk. Why is everyone acting like it¡¯s all my fault?¡± But if you hadn''t pushed her, the car wouldn¡¯t have hit Anne,¡± Amelia raised her voice slightly. She felt annoyed because Nathan didn¡¯t want to own up to what he¡¯d done. Suddenly, the morgue door burst open. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Hugo and Amelia turned around. ¡°Audrey!¡± ¡°AIL ... .. Audrey!¡± In the dimly lit corridor, Audrey¡¯s face was pale. Her bloodshot eyes fixed on Nathan. ¡°Did you push Aunt Anne?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice was hoarse and chillingly cold.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Audrey! It wasn¡¯t intentional. Anne kept trying to show him a photo and pulled at him, so Nathan pushed her away. They were on the sidewalk. Nobody could have predicted that a car would crash into the sidewalk!¡± Amelia quickly exined. She gripped Audrey¡¯s arm and continued, ¡°Nathan saw the caring and tried to pull Anne out of the way. He couldn¡¯t save her and ended up breaking his own arm. He didn¡¯t mean to ...¡± Audrey wasn¡¯t listening to Amelia¡¯s exnation. She was only thinking about her earlier words, ¡°But if you hadn¡¯t pushed her, the car wouldn''t have hit Anne.¡± mes of grief and anger almost burnt her to ashes. Tears streamed down her face as she felt a wrenching pain through her body. She shook off Amelia''s hands and rushed at Nathan. She pped him. The p used all of Audrey¡¯s strength. Nathan¡¯s head snapped to the side by the force of it. His ears were ringing. He was completely dumbfounded. ¡°Nathan Franklin! Give me back Aunt Anne!¡± Audrey screamed as she pushed and hit Nathan repeatedly. She cried hysterically. After using all her strength for the p, her hits were weak and hardly caused Nathan any pain. Audrey broke down and repeated her plea to bring Anne back. She was in so much pain that she thought she was being burned alive. Anne wouldn''t have stayed in Sheysea City if it hadn¡¯t been for her. Anne wouldn¡¯t have gone to see Nathan, and the ident would never have happened. Audrey had never regretted falling in love with Nathan so much. If she hadn''t, none of this would have happened. Hugo wanted to stop her, but Amelia held him back. ¡°Let Audrey vent her anger. It might be good for her!¡± Nathan took a few steps back and let Audrey hit him. He felt his cheeks burning. His temper was on the verge of ring up. Realizing Audrey was almost out of strength and swaying, Amelia quickly stepped in. She grabbed Chapter 36 Audrey, who could cry no more. ¡°Audrey, stop hitting him...¡± Tears streamed down Audrey''s face as she got really mad. She shook off Amelia''s grip. Amelia was wearing high heels. The force of Audrey shaking her off twisted her ankle. Hugo held her to stop her from falling. At the same time, Audrey bumped into the wall. Her hair was a mess. She screamed, ¡°Get out! All of you! Get out!¡± Nathan¡¯s expression darkened. He grabbed Audrey''s arm and lifted her. He said angrily, ¡°Audrey, you cane at me all you want, but don¡¯t touch Amelia!¡± ca Amelia endured the pain and tried to stop Nathan. ¡°Don¡¯t treat Audrey like this! Have you forgotten your promise?¡± ¡°Nathan, let go of her!¡± Hugo reached out to shield Audrey. But before he could reach her, a big hand grabbed Audrey. The hand pushed Nathan away, leaving him looking bewildered. The soft light in the dimly lit corridor outlined Ryan¡¯s defined facial features. His expression was serious as he looked down. His eyes, hidden behind gold-rimmed sses, were deep and dark. He gazed at the girl leaning on him. She could hardly stand up. He said, ¡°Audrey, you¡¯re Harper¡¯s sister. Now that Anne has passed away, you need to stay strong.¡± Thinking about Harper, Audrey was barely able to stand. If she found out that her mother was gone... She would be so scared! Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¡°Get out! Just go!¡± Audrey cried out. Her whole body was trembling. Her eyes were bloodshot, like a demon from hell. She red at Nathan and waved her arms weakly. ¡°Go away!¡± Ryan looked at Nathan. ¡°Do you need Mr. Franklin to ask you to leave?¡± Nathan Nathan nced at Ryan, whose face was cold and stern. Seeing the coldness in Ryan''s eyes, quickly took Amelia¡¯s hand and walked away. Before entering the elevator, he couldn¡¯t help but look back at Audrey. ¡°It''s been a tough day for you. Go home and rest,¡± Ryan said to Hugo. Ryan understood the situation. Hugo had taken care of everything when Anne had the ident. Hugo didn¡¯t want to leave when he saw Audrey copse into Ryan¡¯s arms. Julian gestured to Hugo to leave. ¡°Mr. Stewart... ¡°Please do your best tofort Audrey,¡± he said. After all, Ryan and Audrey were rtives. Audrey would probably listen to Ryan. Hugo walked to the elevator, then turned back to see Ryan gently stroking Audrey''s head. He whispered something to her. Audrey clutched his wool coat tightly and buried her face in his arms, crying uncontrobly. ¡°Call me if anything happens,¡± Hugo told Julian. ¡°Okay.¡± Julian kept the elevator door open, waiting for Hugo to enter. Julian watched as the elevator doors closed. He stood still, waiting in the elevator lobby. The funeral home staff arrived. Although Audrey was exhausted and overwhelmed, she gathered her strength to clean Anne¡¯s face and bodN?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. and changed her clothes. Audrey followed them to carry out the necessary preparations. She cried as she filled out the paperwork for the transfer of the body. When it was done, she sat on a bench under a streetlight. She held the hospital bill and death. certificate in her hands and sobbed hysterically. Ryan stood next to Audrey. He was holding an umbre, shielding her from the drizzling rain mingling with the dim yellow light. After a while, Ryan crouched down. He gently stroked her head and held her in his arms. ¡°| was wrong, | really was... shouldn¡¯t have been with him. | was wrong, | really was... Audrey sobbed and muttered, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have gone back to the Franklin family with Nathan. | ¡°Julian,¡± Ryan called out. Julian ran over to them, and Ryan handed him the umbre. Ryan then carried Audrey into the car. By the time they got back to the vi, it was daytime, Even though Audrey was exhausted and asleep, her tears never stopped. After putting her on the bed, Ryan noticed his shoulder waspletely wet He sat by the bed, watching Audrey as she mumbled in her sleep. He raised bis hand to brush away the hair sticking to her face. But just before his skin touched hers, he stopped himself and clenched his fingers. He then used a tissue to gently wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes. He eventually stood up and closed the curtains. Then, he turned off the bedsidemp and walked out of the bedroom. ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve figured it out.¡± Julian walked over as Ryan exited the room and handed him a tablet. The surveince footage at the entrance of the restaurant showed everything clearly. Nathan had impatiently pushed Anne away as she tried to show him a photo. But when a car suddenly swerved onto the sidewalk, and the crowd started screaming and scattering, Nathan had tried to pull Anne back. Unfortunately, it was toote. ¡°The driver was a novice. He just got his license not long ago. It was an unexpected ident.¡± Julian said in a low voice, ¡°There was no foul y.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Ryan couldn¡¯t sleep all night. He had a tired look on his handsome face, and his eyes were red and bloodshot. ¡°Is Ms. Audrey alright?¡± Julian had worked with Ryan for many years. He knew everything that Ryan knew about Audrey. This was the first time he had seen her so emotionally broken. Ryan didn¡¯t answer. He just handed the tablet back to Julian. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Eat something and get some rest.¡± After calling Diego to exin Audrey''s situation, Ryan carried his clothes into the guest have a shower. bathroom to When Audrey opened her swollen eyes, everything seemed blurry. She grasped her head, feeling like it was about to explode. Everything felt like a dream. A dream where ... Aunt Anne was gone. When she realized she was in the master bedroom of Ryan¡¯s vi in Sheysea City, she finally remembered. Aunt Anne really was gone. She blinked softly, and tears streamed from her swollen eyes. She quickly wiped them away with her hand and got up. She checked under the bed for her shoes. Ryan was right. Harper was too young. If she couldn¡¯t be strong during this difficult time, Harper would be terrified. She was Harper¡¯s older sister. She had to take care of Anne¡¯s funeral arrangements and n for Harper¡¯s future. After searching for a long time, she couldn''t find her shoes. ¡°You''re awake.¡± Ryan had dozed off on the sofa, but woke up to the sounds of Audrey moving around the room. He walked to the bedroom door and handed Audrey the slippers Jess had brought up before bed. Audrey clutched the bedsheet tightly with both hands. She had mixed feelings about the situation. She had told Ryan that she didn¡¯t want them to have any further contact in the future. As Ryan was an adopted son of the Lambert family, she was afraid people would notice and learn about her birth mother¡¯s past. Gossip had the power to drive a person insane. She didn¡¯t want her birth mother to go through that again. But if Ryan hadn¡¯t shown up at her most helpless and distraught moment, she might have considered. a tragic end with Nathan when she learned that he had pushed Anne. ¡°I''m sorry.¡± Audrey sobbed as she apologized to Ryan. She closed her eyes. Her tears fell like broken Chapter 38 strings. ¡°I¡¯m causing you trouble again.¡± ¡°Audrey, you''re a rtive from my original family. It¡¯s only natural for me to step in, and it won¡¯t affect the Lambert family.¡± 2/2 Ryan crouched down and helped Audrey put on her shoes. He then looked up at her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to avoid me.¡± But they had slept together... It was her fault. She had persuaded him to sleep with her when she was drugged. Audrey tightened her grip on the bedsheet. She didn¡¯t have the energy to think about all that now. When she opened her eyes again, she took a deep breath. She wiped away her tears, and seemed to have regained herposure. ¡°| got it. If | encounter something beyond my ability, I''ll ask for your help.¡± Ryan pressed his lips together. He stood up and nced at his watch. ¡°Anne¡¯s body is already on its way to Eastville. Eat something. You can nap on theer.¡± Audrey nodded. She pulled herself together and saw a message from Harper on her phone from the night before. Harper was worried that Anne hadn''t replied to her messages or answered any of her calls. After calming herself down, Audrey called Harper. The phone connected quickly. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 ¡°Harper. The sound of tapping came from the other end of the call. Harper couldn''t speak so they primarilymunicated through messages. When they were on a call, Harper responded by tapping on the microphone. ¡°Aunt Anne... and | will be back tonight.¡± Harper was alone. Audrey wasn¡¯t ready to tell her about Anne¡¯s passing. ¡°Tap, tap. Audrey couldn¡¯t hold back her tears any longer. She told Harper, ¡°I have some things to take care of. I''ll hang up now.¡± ¡°Tap, tap.¡± After hanging up, Audrey forced herself to eat something. At the dining table, Julian told Audrey about the surveince footage. Nathan had pushed Anne, but when he saw a car speeding towards the sidewalk, he had tried to pull her back. He broke his arm trying to save her. Julian initially hadn¡¯t wanted Audrey to watch the video, but she insisted. In the video, Anne had a photo in her hand, and was clearly trying to get close to Nathan. The video had no audio, so Audrey couldn¡¯t hear Anne¡¯s words. From her expressions, Audrey understood that she was pleading with Nathan to look at the photo. With teary eyes, Audrey didn¡¯t watch the video to the end. She looked away when the car drove onto the sidewalk, and Nathan reached out to pull Anne away. She paused the video on the tablet and closed her eyes. She covered her face and couldn''t hold back her tears any longer. Ryan took the tablet away and put a cup of hot milk on the table beside Audrey. He then turned to give i to Julian. ¡°Get Louis Farrel from the legal department of our Sheysea branch to handle this matter. Anne¡¯s daughter is still a minor. Try to get morepensation. ¡°Okay!¡± Julian replied. ¡°I''ve already booked the flight tickets. We leave at 10:30 am and arrive in Jorstton at 12:25 pm. From there, it''s about a 90-minute drive to Eastville.¡± Hearing Julian¡¯s words, Audrey pressed a tissue against her swollen eyes. She said with a nasal voice,¡± I''ll go back to Eastville on my own.¡± Noticing Ryan watching her, she spoke slowly, ¡°Aunt Anne has no rtives other than me and 2/2Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Harper. She was trafficked to Sayeno Town because she was tricked by a friend. So, she didn¡¯t have many friends over the years. It''ll just be me and Harper at her funeral. ¡°As for the car identpensation, | appreciate your help. If we can get more, it will help Harper¡¯s future.¡± Audrey knew Ryan was very busy. Awyer could handle the car identpensation, so there was no need for Ryan to apany her to Eastville. ¡°Okay...¡± Ryan picked up his coffee cup. ¡°Let Julian apany you.¡± ¡°Julian¡¯s skills would be wasted if hees with me. | can go alone. Just have the driver take me to the airport.¡± Audrey seemed to have found a way to interact with Ryan. By turning down his offer and asking smaller favors, she made it difficult for him to refuse. ¡°Alright.¡± Ryan nodded and put his coffee aside. After she had a bite of food, the driver drove Audrey to the airport. Jess noticed she didn¡¯t eat a lot, so she made some sandwiches for Audrey to cat on the way to the airport. Julian spoke to Ryan after Audrey left, ¡°Edward called me earlier. He has reserved seats for tonight''s Concert. The chairman wants you to take Miss Shaw. The concert is at 7:30 pm. We have a flight back. to Mythravia at 12:20 pm. Is that okay?¡± Ryan stood in front of the window of the second-floor study. He watched the car drive away. He told Julian, ¡°Cancel it.¡± Julian, arranging the schedule on his tablet, looked up in surprise. Ryan added dismissively... there¡¯s something urgent at the Sheysea branch.¡± Julian pursed his lips. After a moment, he said, ¡°Sir, although I¡¯m just your assistant, I''ve been with you for many years and think of you as a brother. Speaking from the heart... Sir, | think you shouldn¡¯t refuse the chairman.¡° Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 When he saw Ryan¡¯s deep eyes looking at him, Julian switched off the tablet. Despite the pressure Ryan was putting on him, he continued in a serious tone, ¡°Your status is special. Mr. Lambert Senior didn¡¯t want you to have any further contact with Audrey. But you''ve disobeyed. him many times for her over the years. You even supported the Franklin Group for her. ¡°Mr. Lambert Senior is already very unhappy. If you don¡¯t obey his arrangements regarding your marriage, I¡¯m afraid it''ll be tough for you to take over the Lambert Corporation in the future.¡± Ryan had helped Audrey discreetly despite the pressure from his grandfather, but never said anything about it. If Audrey was the daughter-inw of the Franklin Group, she could help Ryan in the future. But now, Audrey had no idea how much Ryan helped her. Not to mention, if Audrey couldn¡¯t bear Ryan¡¯s kindness any longer, she wouldn''t help him after she got divorced. ¡°Get out,¡± Ryan ordered coldly. Julian pursed his lips. He knew he couldn¡¯t persuade Ryan, so he apologized and left the study. When Audrey arrived at the door of Anne¡¯s small store in Eastville, she found Harper ringing up a customer¡¯s purchase. She was wearing a light-blue down jacket and having her hair tied up in a high ponytail. Harper¡¯s homework also sat on top of the ss cashier¡¯s desk She carefully ced the customer¡¯s snacks in a stic bag and calcted the total amount on a calctor. She epted the ten dor note, then handed the necessary change to the customer with a smile. When Harper saw Audrey, she hurriedly walked out from behind the desk. Even if she noticed that Audrey wasn¡¯t carrying a suitcase, she didn¡¯t question it. Harper took Audrey¡¯s cold hand and walked into the shop. There was a heater behind the desk, and it was warm inside. Harper was tall and thin. She gestured for Audrey to warm herself near the heater. Then, she poured out a mug of hot water and gave it to Audrey. Harper had watched the ¡°Looking For Family¡± program on Friday night and she was very worried about Audrey. In Harper¡¯s eyes, Audrey was the best. The host had teased the recording in next week''s episode, but she had a feeling that there had to be a reversal. Audrey was definitely going to expose the evil Yeomans family. Audrey took the mug and asked, ¡°I thought you had hired someone to work at the store. Why are you Chapter 40 here?¡± Harper had no hearing problems. They took her to the hospital when she was little. 2/2 The doctor said that her vocal chords were fine. They deduced that she¡¯d probably gone through some psychological trauma when she was younger, which rendered her unwilling to talk. However, Harper didn¡¯t want to receive therapy and refused to see the psychologist. Therefore, Anne insisted on sending Harper to a normal school. She wanted Harper to get more contact with other children and hoped that she would speak one day. Harper moved her hands, saying, ¡°It¡¯s 100 dors a day for Mom to hire Aunt Mary to work at the shop. I¡¯m free on the weekends. | can mind the store. Where¡¯s Mom?¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. At the mention of Anne, Audrey gripped the mug tightly and her eyes were sore. She looked down and couldn''t hold back her tears. Harper had a premonition. Her face turned pale instantly. She stood still and clenched her fists. ¡°Harper.¡± Audrey closed her eyes and took a long breath. She looked up at Harper and said, ¡°You''re going to live with me from now on.¡± Harper¡¯s eyes widened then burst into tears. ¡°What happened to Mom?¡± Harper signed. ¡°Aunt Anne was in a car ident and didn¡¯t make it. They¡¯re delivering her body here.¡± Audrey put down the mug and took Harper¡¯s hands. She pulled her into her arms and hugged her tightly. A nose red as she couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Harper! H Harpery on Audrey¡¯sp as her tears fell uncontrobly. She was stricken with grief, but she couldn¡¯t make a sound even if she opened her mouth. She grabbed Audrey¡¯s clothes and shook her. She didn¡¯t understand why a good person like her mother was in a car ident. Anne had a miserable life. She hadn''t waited until Harper and Audrey had be sessful to live at good life. Anne hadn''t heard her speak. Anne hadn''t heard her call her Mom... Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Andrey hugged Harper tightly. Her eyes were closed, and yet she still code thold back jur tears, The next morning, Audrey took Harper to the funeral home to see me for thest age. That was why she had asked for Anne¡¯s body to be delivered from Sheysen Chy, Harper had cried and stayed up all night. Her eyes were so swollen that de cord¡¯s open them. But she was afraid Audrey would be worried about her, so she tried to pull herself wether. When she saw Anne¡¯s body, Harper had an emotional breakdown and wanted to red over to hold Anne. However, the staff stopped her.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The funeral director applied makeup onto Anne¡¯s face. They also dressed her well, which made her look like she was sound asleep. Audrey embraced Harper who could hardly stand still. Harper opened her mouth and tried her best to say ¡°Mom*, but she couldn''t make a sound. Harper struggled but couldn¡¯t say the word, even as Anne was pushed into the cremator While they sat on a bench waiting for the ashes, Harper soaked Audrey¡¯s clothes with tears. Audrey looked calm as the hugged Harper, but her bloodshot eyes couldn''t hide her sorrow They didn¡¯t know how long they had waited when a small urn with Anne¡¯s ashes was delivered to Audrey. ¡°Let''s take Aunt Anne home!¡± Audrey told Harper, whose face was wet with tears. Harper nodded tearfully. Anne and Harper lived above the small store. They ced the urn next to a photo of hers on a shelf in the living room. Then, they sat at the dining table to discuss what would happen next. ¡°The semester is ending in a couple of weeks. You''lle to Cloudmill with me and go to school there next semester,¡± Audrey said slowly, ¡°From now on, you''ll live with me.¡± Harper nodded. ¡°As for the store downstairs, I''ll ask someone to sell it. As for this house, we''ll keep it. It''ll be in your name.¡± Harper quickly gestured, ¡°Mom bought this house before she adopted me. It¡¯s for you! | don¡¯t want it! ¡°Do you know the Yeomans family?¡± Audrey whispered, ¡°I can¡¯t keep the house if it¡¯s in my name. Aunt Anne worked hard for decades to buy this house. She said it was where she belonged. We can¡¯t let it fall into the hands of others.¡± Harper nodded solemnly. Audrey reached her hand out to touch Harper¡¯s head. ¡°You have school tomorrow, and you didn¡¯t sleepst night. Take a nap. I''ll cook and wake you up when it¡¯s ready,¡± Harper pointed at the wound on Audrey¡¯s head and signed, ¡°You get some rest, I''ll cook.¡± Listen to me!¡± Andrey told Harper. Then, she got up and washed her hands to start cooking But a whileter, Harper walked into the kitchen. She rolled up her sleeves to cut the vegetables next to Audrey as she washed them. She didn¡¯t wait for Audrey to drive her out. She gestured, ¡°I only feel at ease when I¡¯m with you.¡± As she signed, her tears fell again. She quieldy wiped them away. Audrey didn¡¯t ask Harper to leave again. She instructed her to heat up some bread rolls. It was only the two of them, so Audrey made some scrambled eggs and a Greek sd, After a few quick bites, Audrey did the dishes. Harper did her homework at the dining table, discreetly wiping away her tears. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 By the time Audrey was done cleaning the kitchen, Harper had fallen asleep at the dining table. Her face was bathed in tears. She patted Harper¡¯s head and covered her with a nket. She noticed bruises on her skin under the cuff. Audrey furrowed her brow. She nced at Harper before carefully pushing up the cuff a little more. Before she could take a better look, Harper twitched. Audrey stopped in her tracks. She made a note to ask her about it when she woke up. Audrey went downstairs and hung a ¡°For Sale¡± sign in the shop window. Her phone rangContent provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Louis asked for 1.3 million dors inpensation. He said if it''s 1.3 million dors, he would need half a year to settle the payment. But if we can ept the amount of 1.1 million dors, he can settle it immediately.¡± Julian continued, ¡°Louis¡¯s personal suggestion is that if you can ept thepensation amount of 1.1 million dors, it''s better to settle it now to prevent any future troubles, After all, it''s more secure when you take the money into your own hands.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you and Louis for your help.¡± Audrey hung up. Nathan was hospitalized. His ward bustled with people visiting him all day. ¡°Nathan has been in constant disasters ever since that Audrey woke up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re always in the hospital.¡± ¡°Now that Audrey is so popr, don¡¯t you want to do something about what they¡¯re saying online? What if Amelia gets implicated?¡± ¡°| remember when Audreyst badgered Nathan, the paparazzi almost exposed his rtionship withAmelia. No one knows how thoseizens found out about Nathan and Audrey''s past, but everyone said Amelia was a mistress and that Nathan was a scumbag.¡± ¡°We''re already suppressing it,¡± Lucas replied, ¡°However, the showrunners of ¡®Looking For Family¡® want some attention, and we''re facing some difficulties.¡± ¡°It''s okay if they found out. Isn¡¯t the woman who pushed Amelia at the airport Audrey''s foster mother? If Amelia gets implicated, we''ll reveal Audrey¡¯s rtionship to that woman. Let¡¯s say that woman pushed Amelia for Audrey¡¯s sake. We''ll see who can throw more mud at the other.¡± Lucas frowned and disagreed. Nathan was looking at the trending topics on his phone. He looked up and asked coldly, ¡°And give the Chapter 42 media workers a chance to make spections? They''ll say that | pushed Audrey¡¯s foster mother and caused her death. They''ll send me to jail,¡± Silence fell in the ward at once ¡°That¡¯s not what | meant.¡± The person who spoke awkwardly rubbed his nose. ¡°I was just talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Alright. Nathan is tired, and | have to go back to work. Let¡¯s leave!¡± Locas looked at his watch told Nathan, ¡°We''ll leave now. You have to take good care of yourself.¡± As the crowd in the ward left, Nathan looked at the photo of Audrey shielding her body with a quilt on his phone screen. The photo Anne had forced him to look at that night came to mind. He had caught a quick nce at it. It was a summer evening. Audrey was wearing a white shirt, a pair of jeans, and white sneakers. She was sitting on one of the stone railings by the river, smiling at the camera. Her long hair fell over her shoulders but fluttered in the evening breeze. He had an arm around Audrey¡¯s shoulders, and the fingers of his other hand was running through her hair. The expression on his face was serious yet gentle. He frowned and swiped at the phone screen with annoyance. Thoseizens were digging up information about Audrey. Nathan had already asked someone to suppress her poprity. Even Amelia''s manager, Ynda Jones, was working on keeping the news to a minimum. She was afraid the entanglement between Amelia, Nathan, and Audrey woulde to light again. After all, when Amelia entered her rtionship with Nathan, he hadn''t divorced Audrey yet. However, the showrunners of ¡°Looking for Family¡± continued boosting the poprity of the show. Moreover, that episode was extremely popr. Especially the recording mentioned at the end of thetest episode made the show even more popr. And yet, no one had linked Audrey to the incident when Amelia had gotten berated online byizens four years before. Even if she had been, it would have been drowned out by otherments too quickly. Nathan thought Ryan might have asked someone to keep the matter out of the spotlight. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 If the matter from four years ago was exposed, it would be hard to convince the public that Audrey¡¯s foster mother had identally pushed Amelia. Anne would be at the center of attention again. Audrey and Ryan wouldn''t want to see that happen. Nathan was even more annoyed as he thought about Audrey. When he discovered that Charles hadn¡¯t given Audrey the truth serum, he had wondered, ¡°Did Audrey and Charles sleep together that night?¡± He didn¡¯t know. He had no impression of it at all. Nathan didn¡¯t know how long it took, but he fell asleep with a mix ofplicated emotions. A gust of cold wind blew into the well-heated room through the open window. The icy breeze gently blew over the tip of Nathan¡¯s nose and his long eyshes as if touching a cold gemstone. In his sleep, Nathan¡¯s fingers moved under the pillow. In his dream, he was gazing at Audrey, She had fallen asleep on top of some pieces of paper. He couldn¡¯t help but reach his hand out to brush away her fringe. He controlled his heavy breathing as he lowered his head slowly to get closer to Audrey¡¯s face. The faint smell of the gardenias made his heart beat violently. He watched Audrey''s long and thick eyshes intently. When the tip of his nose touched the bridge of hers, it was delicate and cold. His cheek grew hot as if it was going to burn. He stared at her full, pink lips. His hand gripped the back of the chair. His Adam''s apple moved up and down. His eyshes fluttered with nervousness. Just as Nathan''s thin lips touched Audrey''s cold lips, she suddenly opened her eyes. The noise of birds chirping outside the window in the summertime and the loud hum of the air conditioner filled the air. They looked at each other. Nathan¡¯s brain turned to mush, and his heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest. He stood up suddenly and couldn''t say a word. He rushed out the door and ran downstairs. The sound of his pounding heartbeat filled his ears. The window was blown open by the icy wind. The windows hit the wall with a loud bang. Nathan''s eyes flew open at once. His violent heartbeat continued from his dream to reality. He breathed heavily as his throat felt dry and tight. He looked at the open window. He wondered if it had been a dream or if that really had happened... Nathan couldn''t lie to himself. He hadn''t felt that way since losing his memories. He sat up and rubbed his throbbing head. He closed his eyes and reyed the dream in his mind. The moment Audrey''s eyes had opened in his dream, they had hit the softest ce in his heart. His phone rang, shocking Nathan back to his senses. When he saw that it was Amelia, Nathan suppressed the strange but strong call for Audreying from his heart. After calming down, he picked up the phone. He asked, ¡°Is your leg better, sweetie?¡±N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. An ankle sprain is normal while wearing high heels. It felt fine after | put some ice on itst night. ¡°How about you? Does it still hurt today?¡± Amelia asked with concern. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 ¡°It still hurts,¡± Nathan said with a smile. He spoke with a childish voice like he always did with Amelia, ¡°It won''t hurt if youe and see me,¡± Amelia was amused andughed. ¡°It seems like you''ve recovered! I''ll visit you when filming ends in a few days.¡± ¡°If you''re noting to see me, I''ll visit you on set!¡± Nathan said gently.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. On the other line, Amelia hesitated before replying, ¡°When I''ve finished filming the show, if you''re still willing to propose to me, then let¡¯s get married.¡± She choked, ¡°Anne¡¯s ident really shocked me. | was terrified when | watched the video. | was afraid that you had been hit by the car!¡± Her whole body shook when she watched the video. She felt lucky that Nathan wasn¡¯t the one who had gotten hit by the car. Nathan felt distressed when he heard Amelia¡¯s voice. ¡°Sweetie...¡± Ameliaposed herself and said, ¡°We never know what tomorrow will bring. So, Nathan... | want to cherish what we have now! Audrey chose to give up and got the divorce, so you''re no longer tied to each other! Like you said before, I¡¯m going to put aside my morals and cherish every moment with you.¡± Amelia spoke from her heart. ¡°Okay!¡± Nathan replied, ¡°I''ll prepare a grand proposal for you, and we''ll make an unforgettable memory together.¡± After hanging up, Amelia looked at the screen thoughtfully. When she talked to Nathan about getting married, his reaction wasn¡¯t what she¡¯d expected. She thought Nathan would be ecstatic and want to see her with a ring immediately. Amelia forced herself not to dwell on it. She said to her assistant, J Rogers, ¡°Bring me the script.¡± J carefully removed Amelia¡¯s wig for the period drama she was filming, and handed her the script. ¡°You''re only 24 years old, and your career is on the rise, Amelia. If you get married, you''ll lose many fans!¡± J said gingerly. ¡°And Ynda may not agree to that.¡± As Amelia¡¯s manager, Ynda had been wholeheartedly supportive of Amelia over the years. ¡°| will speak to Ynda.¡± Amelia pretended she was taking down some notes on the script. Audrey and Nathan were divorced, and it was obvious that Audrey had given up on him. However, Amelia didn¡¯t understand why her sense of crisis had grown stronger. Chapter4s 782 ¡°Amy!¡± Ynda came in through the door, looking like she was in a good mood, ¡°You''re so awesome! Amelia looked up at Ynda in the mirror, confused. Ynda casually threw her bag on the dressing table. She picked up a water bottle and took a few sips. Then, she leaned against the dressing table and exined, ¡°You have no idea how delightful | was today!¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 ¡°Today the second son of EF Group, Matteo Russo, came to thepany in person to discuss the endorsements. Everyone thought he was there for the award-winning actor, Quinton Lewis. But they said they needed a female endorser in Cascadia and mentioned your name! ¡°Rita¡¯s manager promoted Rita. We''re all from the samepany so | didn¡¯t expose the shorings of the celebrities she manages. But she mentioned your secret love affair with Nathan, the son of the Franklin Group!¡± Ynda put her hand on the dressing table and looked at Amelia with bright eyes. ¡°When she was done talking, Mr. Russo said that he was looking for Nathan¡¯s girlfriend. He hopes Nathan¡¯s girlfriend will be EF Group¡¯s endorser in Cascadia! This is like a novel brought to life!¡± Amelia looked surprised. She wondered if Matteo hade for Nathan. That couldn''t be possible. The Franklin family was indeed the top family in Sheysea City, but how could a world-ss luxury brand like EF Group have anything to do with the Franklin family? ¡°Be honest with me. Do you know he was the second son of EF Group when you saved him?¡± Ynda asked. ¡°What?¡± Amelia was confused. ¡°I saved him? | don¡¯t even know the second son of EF Group!¡± As she spoke, she looked like she had remembered something. Her heart started beating faster. An assumption came to Amelia¡¯s mind, but she didn¡¯t want to bring it up. She said, ¡°If he said he¡¯sing to look for Nathan¡¯s girlfriend, he might know Nathan. I¡¯ll call and ask himter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡± Ynda furrowed her brows and continued, ¡°Mr. Russo knows that I¡¯m your manager. He even asked me to thank you. He said you saved him in Itaylio seven years ago but didn¡¯t tell him your name. He saw your boyfriend pull you up to stop you from doing CPR before he passed out, and heard you say his name angrily. ¡°You were wearing a varsity jacket from Sheysea University. However, he didn¡¯t know which university the varsity jacket was from, so he could only investigate based on Nathan¡¯s name. He¡¯s been searching for many years. ¡°Before Mr. Russo left, he said he¡¯d like to have a meal with you in the next few days if you''re avable.¡± Amelia tightened her grip on the script. Nathan and Audrey were in a rtionship seven years ago. If it was in Itaylio seven years ago, it was probably when Audrey had gone there for a contest, and Nathan went with her. Studying the bad look on Amelia¡¯s face, Ynda made a guess. She asked softly, ¡°Did Mr. Russo find the wrong person? Was it Nathan¡¯s ex-girlfriend? The one who woke up from aa?¡± Amelia bit her lips and looked up. ¡°Reject the endorsement, Ynda. Mr. Russo found the wrong person!¡± ¡°Reject the endorsement? My dear Amy! Don¡¯t you know what it means to endorse EF Group? This is a chance for you to rise! Once you be an endorser, you''ll be a top star!¡± Ynda leaned over to hold Amelia¡¯s shoulders. She said, ¡°Amy, even though it¡¯s a bit hical to say... Mr. Russo is looking for Nathan¡¯s girlfriend. You''re Nathan''s girlfriend. You''re also a brilliant student from Sheysea University!¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°But... ¡°That ex-girlfriend of his isn¡¯t in the entertainment industry! She doesn¡¯t need this big break!¡± Ynda put the water bottle down to persuade Amelia. She was afraid that Amelia would be too ethical and reject the endorsement. ¡°Be their endorser. I''ll fill up your work schedule during this period. Mr. Russo won''t be staying in Cascadia for long, and | won''t let him meet you! After we¡¯ve signed the contract and meet Mr. Russo, you can exin you weren¡¯t the one who saved him seven years ago. Is that okay?¡± in Ynda¡¯s eyes, the most important thing was the endorsement. She wasn¡¯t asking Amelia to fool Matteo. She only wanted her to tell him the truthter. After all, Matteo had wishfully thought that Amelia was the one who had saved him. Amelia knitted her brows together and remained silent. There was a conflicted expression on her face. ¡°Amy!¡± Ynda grabbed Amelia¡¯s shoulders hard. ¡°This is a chance to rise! You need this! Once the contract is signed, we''ll tell the truth!¡± Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 In theboratory, Diego took off histex gloves. He announced, ¡°I¡¯ve been invited to a symposium for about half a month in March next year. I''ll have to bring two people with me. Justin will stay to watch over the experiment. Please choose two people amongst yourselves and give me the list of candidates after the Christmas break. ¡°And there¡¯s another thing that | need to tell you Diego told his students that Audrey¡¯s foster mother had passed away. He told them to watch out for her when she returned. That afternoon, Justin, Azure, and Daphne Childers called her. Daphne knew that Audrey and Harper were going to live in Cloudmill, so she offered to help her look for a school for Harper. ¡°My uncle is the principal of Cloudmill Junior High School. It¡¯s close to our university. Let me handle this! Don¡¯t worry!¡± Daphne continued, ¡°Audrey ... You don¡¯t have to care about anything on the inte. Professor Dous told us about what happened at Sheysea University. Everyone in theb believes you¡¯re not who the Yeomans family says you are!¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. The story of the top student from Sheysea University who drugged a man and climbed into the man¡¯s bed had spread like wildfire online. Someone had found out who Audrey was and made the connection to ¡°Autrey¡°, who Donna had mentioned on the show. Diego was worried about what the other students in theboratory would think of Audrey. So he told everyone how Audrey had been in love with Nathan, protected him in the car ident, and had fallen into aa for two years but found Nathan in love with someone else when she woke up. Diego also put his reputation on the line to ensure that Audrey was a virtuous girl and not who they imed she was on the inte. Daphne burst into tears when she heard that. She thought that Audrey had a hard life. ¡°Okay. Thank you, Daphne,¡± Audrey expressed her gratitude. In the evening, Diego sent a message to theboratory''s group chat. He said that even though Cloudmill University would be closed for the holidays, they were to stay on campus because of the experiment¡¯s urgency. He had applied for a fund so they were all going to receive bonuses. The group chat became lively at once. Justin told Audrey that they had gathered some money for her. He was worried that she wouldn''t ept it, so he asked everybody else to send messages in the group chat. Everyone flooded the chat with messages. Audrey thanked them, epted their generous gift, and replied to their messages. Chapter 46 Reading the rxed tone of Audrey''s messages, Daphine couldn''t help but ask a question. CutieDaphne: ¡°I¡¯m curious, Audrey. What recording did you send to the showrunners?¡± AzureSky: ¡°Are you silly, Daphne? Can Audrey spoil it before the show airs?¡± Audrey responded, ¡°It¡¯s a recording of my call with the Yeomans family.¡± AzureSky: ¡°Ignore her, Audrey! She¡¯s going to find out on Friday. Take care of your family matters, and don¡¯t worry about replying to our messages in the group chat. We''re waiting for you toe back. Handsomeduustin: ¡°I¡¯ve asked on your behalf, Audrey. Even though you''re in a single dorm, your sister cane and live with you.¡± LittleDimple: ¡°I wondered why Justin was so quiet for such a long time. Well done, Justin! Everyone please apuse! Justin is amazing!¡± AzureSky: ¡°Justin is amazing indeed!¡± Audrey said, ¡°Thank you, Justin.¡± Seeing her colleagues from theboratory warmheartedly helping her to solve her problems, Audrey''s eyes couldn¡¯t help but fill with tears. She stayed in Eastville for a week. Anne¡¯s shop was sold on Wednesday. She went to the bank on Thursday and deposited all the money into Harper¡¯s bank ount. Audrey went to the supermarket to buy some groceries. When she returned home, she saw Harper¡¯s shoes at the door. They were wet, but it wasn¡¯t raining outside. Audrey put her keys on the cab and looked at her watch. It was only 4:25 pm. Harper should have been at school. She slipped into her shoes and put the groceries in the kitchen. She walked to Harper¡¯s bedroom and knocked on the door. She asked, ¡°Why did youe back so early, Harper?¡± A few knocks sounded on the door. Harper was asking Audrey to wait a moment. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Audrey looked down at the water stains on the floor that led to the bathroom. She frowned and remembered the bruises she saw on Harper¡¯s wrist. Asuffocating idea floated in Audrey¡¯s mind. Was she being bullied at school? Audrey stood at Harper¡¯s door, pressing her lips together. Her mind was in a mess. Eventually, she returned to the kitchen to get started on dinner. Harper got changed and dried her hair, then strolled into the kitchen. When she saw Audrey washing the vegetables, she helped her. She exined in signnguage that she fell while carrying a bucket of water at school and had wet her clothes. So, the teacher had told her to leave early. Harper¡¯s eyes were clear and bright and didn¡¯t look gloomy. Audrey felt relieved. She returned to the vegetables. ¡°I''ve told your teacher that you won''t be at school tomorrow. We''re going to Cloudmill. You''re transferring to Cloudmill Junior High School next semester and there¡¯s an interview tomorrow. If you pass the interview, you''ll need to do a few cement tests. But with your grades, you''ll get into one of the top sses.¡± Although Harper couldn¡¯t speak, her hearing and other traits were good. So, the school still demanded to an interview with Harper to assess her condition. Harper nodded and told Audrey not to worry. Audrey saw the anticipation in her eyes. She smiled and touched Harper¡¯s forehead to hers. She was going to take good care of Harper so Anne wouldn¡¯t have to worry about them. On Friday, Harper went for the interview at Cloudmill Junior High School. While Audrey waited for Harper at a coffee shop near the school, she called and reserved a private room at a restaurant. She nned to treat her colleagues from theboratory to a meal that afternoon. As she sent the invitation in the group chat, a middle-aged man in a business suit stood in front of her. He gave her a name card, and said, ¡°Hi, Ms. Yeomans. Mr. Lambert wants to see you. The name on the name card was ¡°George Lambert, Audrey¡¯s biological grandfather. She was stunned. She looked up at the man in front of her. He had a warm smile on his face. She started, ¡°You are ...¡± ¡°I''m Mr. Lambert¡¯s assistant. My name is Edward Zook.¡± Edward stepped aside so Audrey could walkContent property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ahead. ¡°Please.¡± In her memory, she had only seen George when he left in a car with her biological mother. George hadn''t even looked at her at the time. She wondered if he wanted to see her now because the show had affected her mother. Audrey followed Edward to a car parked on the side of the road. She was filled with doubts and worries. Edward opened the rear passenger door. George was sitting in the backseat. He was wearing a gray woolen coat and his hair wasbed and neat. His legs were crossed and he was wearing a pair of sses. He looked like a gentleman, but his many years in business circles had made him look like an intimidating dignitary. Audrey held her bag tightly and stooped to get into the car. The driver and Edward waited outside the car, leaving the private space to Audrey and George. Audrey didn¡¯t know what she should call him, so she greeted him primly, ¡°Hello.¡± George didn¡¯t even look at her. His expression was solemn. ¡°Have you ever considered going abroad?¡± he asked in a stern, cold voice. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Audrey clenched her fists. ¡°I''m not considering it at the moment.¡± ¡°Rumors are spreading wildly on the Inte. Your current notoriety has affected Ryan in the Industry.*George frowned. ¡°Do you wish to drag the Lambert family into it eventually?¡± ¡°| never thought about it like that... ¡°To protect Wanda, I¡¯ve always imed you''re a rtive from Ryan¡¯s original family.¡± George finally turned to look at Audrey, his deste eyes steely. ¡°If Ryan continues helping you, it will arouse suspicion. Please don¡¯t bother him or contact anyone rted to the Lambert family again.¡± Audrey swallowed her words and agreed, ¡°Okay, | get it. Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Although Ryan helped her of his own will, she had epted his assistance. It was irrefutable. Even if George hadn¡¯te to her, she didn¡¯t dare see Ryan again after what happened that night. Seeing that Audrey understood, George didn¡¯t say more. He didn¡¯t mind that she wasn¡¯t moving ¡®abroad. As a condition for canceling the marriage with the Shaw family, he would send Ryan abroad to settle the cooperation rights for thepany. Thepany¡¯s business would trap him there for a while, leaving him no time to care about Audrey. ¡°The password is six zeros.¡± George handed her a card from his pocket. He continued, ¡°I will settle the matter on the inte for you and suppress the hype.¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert,¡± Audrey interrupted slowly. ¡°I will resolve the issue myself. The rumors should subside after the broadcast of tonight¡¯s program. | promise not to implicate the Lambert family.¡± She pushed the card back to him. ¡°I can¡¯t ept your money. The Lambert family has helped me a lot over the years. I¡¯m grateful. | wish you and your family health and peace. Goodbye!¡± As he was her biological grandfather, Audrey¡¯s well wishes were genuine. She got out of the car and closed the door, then watched the ck car leave. Watching Audrey in the rearview mirror, Edward said to George, ¡°Mr. Lambert, are we really not suppressing the hype on the Inte? Ms. Yeomans is currently the target of public outrage.¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Having worked for George for decades, Edward was well aware of Audrey¡¯s background. ¡°Since she doesn¡¯t want the help, let her handle it herself. As long as Ryan and the Lambert family aren¡¯tinvolved, let her be at the center of it all.¡± George closed his eyes. Despite his callous tone, his gaze wasplex. Audrey''s young features resembled Wanda¡¯s, though their personalities and demeanors were a world apart. George was old when he had be a father to Wanda, so he had always doted on her. His. overprotection had raised a kind and innocent person who was ignorant of the world. She was easily deceived. On the contrary, Audrey¡¯s gaze was gentle yet firm. He found it familiar, like his wife¡¯s in her youth. If Audrey was Wanda¡¯s legitimate daughter, George would have adored and trained her up like he had with Ryan. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t so magnanimous that he would ept a child of the bastard who had humiliated, abused, and harmed his precious daughter. George looked out the window. As long as his precious daughter wasn¡¯t involved, he couldn''t care less about Audrey''s life. Upon arriving at the restaurant at 7:30 pm, Daphne turned to ask the group, ¡°Why don¡¯t we sit in the hall? The second half of ¡®Looking For Family¡¯ will be on tonight!¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Azure hurriedly nudged Daphne, pointing to the fair and obedient Harper beside Audrey. The little girl¡¯s clear eyes were pure and innocent. Daphne immediately realized that Audrey and Harper¡¯s deceased foster mother was a guest in the program. Azure was afraid Harper would feel ufortable watching the show. The tactless Daphne smiled apologetically at Audrey. She cleared her throat and asked, ¡°Which room are we in?¡± Harper tugged at Audrey¡¯s arm and made gestures. ¡°Audrey, | want to watch it. Mom is on the show.¡± Her eyes were red as she smiled. Audrey smiled and patted Harper''s head. ¡°Let''s sit in the ball if there are seats. Harper wants to watch it." Harper nodded, Before their food was served, the program ¡°Looking For Family¡± started. In the restaurant hall, all the diners turned to the TV screen. After the weeklong wait, the anticipation for the program had grown immensely. As soon as it was broadcast at 8:00 pm, viewership numbers soared. People also tuned in on all three major Inte tforms. At the start of the program, the host,n, greeted the audience as the Yeomanses were cursing behind.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Anne stood at the back. Only half her body was visible. Her chest heaved in anger, and her face was grim. Harper stared at her mother intently with damp eyes. The program soon got into it, and the recording was yed. know ¡°Audrey Yeomans, you shameless bitch! Aren¡¯t you good at hiding? Are you scared now that you we¡¯re on the program? Don¡¯t be ungrateful! We''re kind enough to let you return to Sayeno Town to marry that cripple ude .. The smug curses of Adam, Donna, Tia, and Wayne echoed in the studio. The recording fully demonstrated the calctions and viciousness of the Yeomanses. The restaurant hall exploded into an uproar. ¡°Holy shit! That blew my mind!¡± Daphne couldn''t help swearing. The guests at a table behind them gasped in shock. ¡°After being trafficked, she had been pregnant nine times and had given birth to eight children! Oh my God! Not to mention she was underage when she was abducted!¡± Chapter 40 2/2 ¡°What an evil family! Even after killing someone¡¯s daughter, they¡¯re going after her family¡¯s property!¡± On the TV, Anne seethed with anger after watching the Yeomanses¡¯ performance. lan stood up at that moment and looked to the side of the stage. He announced, ¡°Although our production team couldn''t get hold of Adam¡¯s grandfather, we''ve invited Adam''s older sister onto the show. Let¡¯s wee Ms. Yeomans on stage.¡± Apparently, Anne and the Yeomanses hadn''t expected Audrey toe onto the show. The camera zoomed into their expressions. On the show, Anne turned to look at Audrey, her eyes full of surprise and worry. She called out to her, ¡°Audrey!¡± Donna immediately stood up and pointed at Audrey. She cried, ¡°Autrey Yeomans, how dare youe here! Why don¡¯t you go to hell? You''ve disgraced the Yeomans family!¡± ¡°Mom! Don¡¯t be angry!¡± Tia rushed to Donna¡¯s side. Then, she turned to lecture Audrey in amanding tone, ¡°Autrey, look what you¡¯ve done! Not only did you sleep around with men, but the photos of your scandal were posted everywhere! ¡°Are you going to anger your grandma and your dad to death? Get on your knees and apologize to your grandma now!¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Before appearing on the program, the Yeomans family had plotted to disclose Audrey¡¯s name and university, as well as spread sexual rumors about her. That way, she would be despised by everyone and unable to survive in Sheysea City. Only then would she have returned to Sayeno Town with them. Sexual rumors were enough to ruin a woman. With a few nderous words, the victim might spend all her time and effort to prove her innocence to no avail. Even if the truth was revealed, the nderer could probably get by with a weak apology. Not to mention, Nathan had indeed shared Audrey¡¯s photos around Sheysea University. Donna slumped down on the floor, pping herp as she wailed, ¡°Autrey was a good girl when she left home. What happened to her? A Sheysea University student has turned into a shameless bitch! ¡°She sold her body at school, and photos of her sleeping with men were spread everywhere! When we went to Sheysea University to look for her, we heard she had slept with every man in the school! How shameless! ¡°The Yeomans family¡¯s reputation is ruined! | have such a hard life! Why is there such an indecent bitch in our family?¡± Anne turned pale with anger. She defended, ¡°You ... How can a grandmother nder her granddaughter with such vicious words? You''re shameless!¡± ¡°You bitch! I''ll beat you to a pulp!¡± With a ferocious snarl, Wayne stepped on the coffee table and dashed toward Audrey. Alert and agile security guards swiftly held him down. Adam instantly sensed that things were getting out of hand. Without hesitation, he knelt before Audrey. He begged, ¡°Audrey! Since Mom is gone, please let me see Grandpa! He only has one daughter, and that¡¯s Mom. Now that she¡¯s gone, we should take care of Grandpa for her! | promise not to tell him about your scandals in the university!¡± While the stage was in turmoil, the camera panned across to dead silence in the audience. Audrey calmly took the microphone fromn. Her calmposure was out of ce amidst the chaotic screaming on the stage. Audrey''s head was still in a bandage when she appeared on the program. Daphne couldn''t help feeling distressed. She turned to look at Audrey. ¡°You really went on the program?¡± Daphne marvelled at the courage that took. Her heart clenched when she thought about how Audrey had been cyberbullied. Once Andrey revealed her identity, people would stir up trouble with her nude photos. ¡°| had to go.¡± Andrey smiled and appeased Daphine. with the release of the recording, the topic went viral. The headline read, ¡°Shocking recording! Coveting grandfather''s property in the name of looking for mother.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 ¡°Yeomans spread rumors to force abandoned daughter to marry a cripple for a wedding gift of 30 thousand dors.¡± Viewership numbers of the ¡°Looking For Family¡± program had risen quite steadily. Whenn invited Audrey onstage, the ratings skyrocketed. On the screen, Audrey gripped the microphone and spoke slowly, ¡°| heard what the Yeomanses said when | was backstage earlier. Mrs. Yeomans said she had been kind to the so-called daughter-inw she bought for 30 thousand dors. ¡°She imed to have fed my biological mother when she was unwell, but she didn¡¯t mention that Wayne had beaten my mother so badly that she was unable to feed herself.¡± Adam yelled emotionally, ¡°You''re lying! Mom was pampered. She never worked at home, and Dad everid a finger on her! Audrey, you can¡¯t be so unconscionable as to nder Dad!¡± As Adam''s words fell, the hospital¡¯s injury report appeared on the big screen, along with faceless photos of a wretched body covered in scars. Audrey exined, ¡°This is the injury report that Mr. Lambert asked the hospital to issue after my mother escaped from Sayeno Town before she died.¡± Red lines marked the key points of the injury report. ¡°Big and small, new and old injuries were visible. There were 28 fractures around the body, and small pieces of the skull were also missing.¡± Audrey continued, ¡°This picture was taken by the police. This is where my mother was imprisoned by the Yeomans family.¡± She looked up at the big screen.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. The damp and moldy basement had been photographed when the police filed a case years ago. Inside stood a blood-stained bed and iron chains, as well as bloody marks when Wanda had scratched the walls. It was a gruesome sight to behold. Audrey divulged, ¡°My mother was abducted to Sayeno Town when she was 16 years old. She gave birth to me at 17. During her imprisonment, she was continuously forced to conceive and give birth. ¡°Whenever the baby was a girl, the midwife in Sayeno Town would throw her onto the floor or scald her to death with boiling water. She did this before me and my mother every time, without exception. Because of this, my mother lost her mind.¡± ording to the story that the Lambert family had fashioned for Wanda, she had been abducted at the age of 16. But in fact, Wanda had been abducted when she was 15 and had given birth to her first child, Audrey, by 16. ¡°My mother was trapped in a living hell for over ten years until the end of her life.¡± Audrey clutched the microphone tightly. Chapter 51 2/2 ¡°Everyone in the Yeomans family is a devil who tortured my mother in hell. That includes me and Adam, as we''re both evidence of the Yeomanses¡¯ persecution of my mother! ¡°The evidence of sin itself is innocent, but sin is sin. If we still have a conscience, we should never disturb the victim¡¯s father, Mr. Lambert, for the rest of our lives, whatever reason there may be. Unless the so-called family reuniones with ulterior motives, such as coveting Mr. Lambert''s property.¡± Daphne watched as Audrey calmly recounted the past on the screen. She looked at Audrey with disbelief as she spooned food onto her te. ¡°Before the recording of today¡¯s program, Mr. Turner suggested that | hand over the phone recording to the production team without revealing my identity so as not to cause trouble in the future. ¡°But | know if | hadn¡¯t shown up, the Yeomanses would disclose my information and spread false sexual rumors about me after the program is broadcast. ¡°They will use public opinion to force me out of school, then marry me off to ude in exchange for a sumptuous wedding gift for Adam. I''d rather face this head-on.¡± Audrey continued clearly, ¡°I¡¯ve lived in Sayeno Town for ten years. Growing up, I''ve seen 36 abducted women. Nine of them were beaten to death due to disobedience or escape attempts. Five were driven crazy, fourmitted suicide, and seven died in childbirth. ¡°Some of the others have resigned themselves to their fate and blended into life there, while some were tormented like my mother was. They were all subjected to inhuman torture, abuse, and beatings daily. ¡°Ever since | can remember, whenever my mother went intobor, | was taken to the basement of her imprisonment, then beaten and abused. ¡°The Yeomanses believe a daughter''s misery could scare any girl from wanting to be born into the Yeomans family. The burns on my body are from that time.¡± Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Audrey unzipped her jacket, revealing her thin, bony body in a vest. ¡°The only reason | survived was so | could scare other girls who were born.¡± Nobody could imagine that Audrey had so many hideous scars on her body under such a beautiful face. Keyboard warriors, who had seen Audrey''s nude photos and mocked her as a masochist and bitch, fell silent. The photos on the big screen changed again, showing a little girl with a dirty face, brittle hair, and at skinny body full of terrible injuries. However, her eyes were bright. The scars on Audrey''s body and the fresh, bloody wounds on the little girl in the photo created a huge visual impact. ¡°This was me when | escaped Sayeno Town with my mother.¡± Audrey nced at the screen. She continued calmly, ¡°At the time, because my mother had given birth to girls consecutively, the Yeomanses started inserting steel needles into my body when my mother was pregnant for the ninth andst time. ¡°There were a total of 29 steel needles in my body by the time | escaped. The Yeomanses reckoned this was the only way to deter female fetuses.¡± Audrey''s words sent a shiver down the audience¡¯s spine. She calmly zipped up her down jacket. ¡°Ridiculously, although he was a buyer of human trafficking and an abuser of abducted women, Wayne was safe and sound! He went to jail for killing six newborn baby girls but was released after only seven years in prison. ¡°More than ten yearster, the maximum sentence for a buyer in human trafficking today is only three years. For the purchase and sale of protected animals, the buyer and seller are jointly sentenced, starting from ten years, and a maximum life sentence. Even for parrots, the buyer and seller are jointly sentenced! ¡°When ites to human trafficking, buyers and sellers are typical joint offenders. How can a buyer ¡°It''s and the longest-term abuser be let off with such a light sentence?¡± Audrey added loud/y because there¡¯s been a custom of buying and selling people in our country for decades!¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°On today¡¯s program, | hope to call attention to the unreasonable sentences regarding human trafficking.¡± Audrey''s eyes were calm as she finally said what she¡¯d wanted to say most. ¡°To crack down on human trafficking, we must first curb the buyers. The market for sellers thrives because the penalty for buyers is too light! Only by raising the buyer penalty to an intimidating level can human trafficking be reduced! If there is no demand, there won''t be crime!¡± ¡°Well said!¡± Daphne cheered. She stood up with damp eyes, pping vigorously. She turned to look at Audrey, who had a smile on her face. She never knew her colleague was such a Chapter 12 2/2 mentally strong person. So this was why Audrey had to go on the program! The restaurant¡¯s guests also apuded. Azure smiled, her eyes brimming with tears. She stroked Harper¡¯s head and squeezed Audrey¡¯s shoulder. The camera swept across the audience in the studio. Everyone was teary as they apuded thunderously. Audrey lowered her head and smiled at Harper, who was holding her hand tightly. Tears welled up in Harper¡¯s beautiful big eyes. She was aware of Audrey¡¯s past and had always known how brave and strong her older sister was. If she was as brave and strong as Audrey, her mother could rest in peace! Harper wiped her tears with the back of her hand and held Audrey''s arm tightly. ncing at thest image of Anne on the TV screen, she made up her mind to live a good life so Anne wouldn''t worry about her. ¡°Looking For Family¡± was not over yet. ¡°Finally, | want to say to the children of abductees like me... ¡°Audrey''s eyes were red, yet her voice was sonorous. ¡°If your mother is lucky enough to escape alive, please don¡¯t drag them back to the memories of hell!* While she was in thea for two years, Audrey had the same dream. In her dream, she wanted to return to the past to save her mother and take her away from Sayeno Town. Even if that meant she wouldn¡¯t have been born, all she wanted was to save her mother. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 It was because she loved her mother very, very much. Even though my mother has passed away, | want to tell her I¡¯m living a good life now. Although she th me, Aunt Anne takes good care of me and gives me motherly love like a biological mother. I¡¯m content! ¡°| hope my mother can forget me in her afterlife. By forgetting me, she can forget everything in that living hell and remember only the memory of a beautiful world.¡± This was what she wanted to say to her mothe Audrey bowed and wiped off her tears, then handed the microphone back to the staff. ¡°Autrey, you ingrate! | should have smashed you to death when you were born!¡± Donna rushed toward Audrey with a vicious look but was stopped by the staff. With a solemn expression,n held the microphone and spoke in front of the camera, ¡°No demand, no crime! | admire Ms. Yeomans¡¯s courage. ¡°After | received the information and learned the whole story today, | went to meet Ms. Yeomans in the dressing room. ¡°She told me she chose to stand on this stage today because her power alone was too meager. She hoped to call attention to the unreasonable sentences of human trafficking through this program. If the sentencing can be changed, it will certainly greatly reduce the urrence of human trafficking!¡± The Yeomanses who were stopped by the staff struggled and wriggled, trying to fight. Constant swearing rang out. lan stood in the center of the screen, making his statement for this episode. In the restaurant, fellow seniors all turned to look at Audrey and Harper.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The usually emotional Daphine couldn''t hold back her tears. ¡°Audrey, boo¡ªhoo...¡± Before she could utter ¡°What a pitiful experience you had,¡± Justin covered her mouth. He quickly served some meat to Audrey and Harper. ¡°You two sisters should eat more! Look how thin. you are.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, you''re too thin!¡± ¡°This is delicious! Audrey, Harper, here, eat more meat.¡± Everyone picked up their utensils and put dishes on Audrey¡¯s and Harper''s tes. ¡°Thank you.¡± Audrey smiled. By the time Audrey and Harper emerged from the shower back in the dormitory, the trending topics on Twitter had been dominated by this program. Chapter 53 272 ¡°Trafficking reality is scarier than in the movies.¡± ¡°Devils on earth! A 16-year-old abductee was pregnant nine times in 11 years. Six out of seven baby girls were smashed to death.¡± ¡°Sayeno Town favors boys over girls. Killing baby girls leads to ack of women. Relying on abduction to perpetuate evil offspring.¡± ¡°Human trafficking buyer¡¯s sentences.¡± ¡°Trafficking buyers should be given heavier sentences. No demand, no crime!¡± Harper raised the phone in front of Audrey for her to see. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Audrey''s eyes were moist when she saw the topic trending- After all, she had appeared on ¡°Looking For Family¡± just to increase the sentencing of trafficking buyers with the program¡¯s influence. Meanwhile, videos of Audrey¡¯s speech calling attention to human trafficking every time she won an award in recent years surfaced on the Inte.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Someone had also dug out all the news on her donation of every winning prize to the fund for searching for abductees since junior high school. This also proved that she wasn¡¯t putting on a show. Ravioli: ¡°Human trafficking buyer¡¯s sentences.¡± ¡°It¡¯s likely because her mother has been through it that she wants to give a hand to others in the same. boat, no matter how difficult it is!¡± FlowerCat: ¡°Trafficking buyers should be given heavier sentences. No demand, no crime!¡± ¡°| cried my heart out! Thisdy has been working to call attention to human trafficking since she was young!¡± BitterCow: ¡°Human trafficking buyer¡¯s sentences.¡± ¡°This youngdy insists on calling attention to human trafficking, probably because she wishes to save her mother! ¡°Maybe she has thought countless times that if the buyer¡¯s sentences could have been increased back then, her mother might not have been abducted, leaving her family in tears!¡± CloudHeaven: ¡°Trafficking buyers should be given heavier sentences. No demand, no crime!¡± ¡°Everybody, please attach the topic when you forward it. Let¡¯s boost the subject so that more people. can see it!¡± FreeOrangeThousand Postage: ¡°Trafficking buyers should be given heavier sentences. No demand, no crime!¡± ¡°Oh my, her eptance speech for the first gold medal in the Olympic Games was to call attention to human trafficking. What a peerless beauty, pitiful yet strong!¡± The Yeomanses also received tons of criticism. Lyingt: ¡°Shocking recording! Coveting grandfather¡¯s property in the name of looking for mother.¡± ¡°Fuck, what a calcting family! After killing someone else¡¯s daughter, they even covet her family property. How could there be such filthy swine?¡± CrazyYou: ¡°Spread rumors to force abandoned daughter to marry a cripple for a wedding gift of 30 Chart thousand dors.¡± 2/2 ¡°Nowadays the Inte is so developed that one can be angered without even leaving home! What kind of monsters are those in Sayeno Town? Right now, anyone who dared attack Audrey with the scandal at Sheysea University again would soon be silenced byizens who were angry with the Yeomanses. LittleGirlBigLove: ¡°Sheysea University¡¯s Audrey drugged a man to sleep with her.¡± ¡°| don¡¯t believe a youngdy like her would do such a thing as drugging a man to sleep with her! ¡°The man has already issued a letter of apology. Why do so many people still not believe the rumors. and insist on twisting it into a conspiracy? man who gets hurt? ¡°Whenever sexual rumors are spread, or a scandal urs, why is it always the wom Harper hugged Audrey. Seeing tears in Audrey¡¯s eyes, she signed to Audrey. ¡°Mom and your biological mother will be proud of you when they see in heaven that you''ve used this program to draw so many people¡¯s attention to human trafficking!¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°Yes!¡± In the early morning, George sat on the couch in his study at the Lambert Residence, watching the program on his tablet. He stared intently as Audrey called for an increase in the sentencing of trafficking buyers on the program, his lips pursed tightly. Despite turning the tablet¡¯s volume low, he could clearly hear every word Audrey uttered. After a while, George removed his sses and covered his eyes. Although he was unwilling to admit it, he realized Audrey had hyped this program for the sake of saving more women like Wanda! No wonder Ryan said she was clever. To achieve her goals, she could bear humiliation with great resilience. This showed that she was mentally strong, just like the Lamberts. Thud! Thud! Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Hearing the knock on the door, George locked the tablet screen and put on his sses. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert, it¡¯s gettingte. You should rest.¡± Paige opened the study door a crack, reminding quietly, ¡°Tomorrow morning, Dr. Hoffman wille over to do a checkup for you and Ryan.¡± ¡°Okay, | heard you.¡± George turned to tell Paige, ¡°Good night!¡± Nathan was also sleepless tonight. He had been discharged from the hospital and returned to the Franklin Residence. He knew that the second episode of ¡°Looking For Family¡± was broadcasting tonight and that Audrey had gone on the program. During the broadcast of the program, he had been video chatting with Amelia, apanying her to memorize her script. After Amelia switched off the lights and went to bed, Nathan couldn¡¯t help but click on the video. He didn¡¯t expect Audrey to say such words on the second episode of the program. Nathan saw videos of Audrey¡¯s award-winning speeches during school in the trending topics and comments section. In the videos, the young face with a high ponytail in his memory was full of vitality as she called attention to human trafficking and called for an increase in the buyer¡¯s sentence. Both her native and foreign speeches were eloquent. Audrey shone on the podium, sonorous and firm. Nathan finally understood why Audrey had such a big reaction when he had called her ¡°Autrey¡± that day and had said she was a rapist¡¯s child. It turned out to be a wound in her heart that couldn¡¯t be healed in her life. Her biological mother had been trafficked and had died due to trafficking That was why she had been working hard all these years to increase the sentence for buyers of human trafficking. On the screen, with red eyes, Audrey held the microphone and continued, ¡°Even though my mother has passed away, | want to tell her I¡¯m living a good life now. Although she is not with me, Aunt Anne takes good care of me and gives me motherly love like a biological mother.¡± Nathan unconsciously retracted his legs from the coffee table as he stared intently at the screen. Did Anne give her the same love as a... biological mother? He thought of the p Audrey had given him at the morgue that day, which had made his ears ring. So, was he considered... to have indirectly killed Audrey¡¯s other mother? A mother¡¯s significance was different from that of an aunt. 22 Nathan fidgeted with his phone, feeling distressed. His anger over Audrey pping him and pushing Amelia dissipated. Lighting a cigarette, Nathan got up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the over-seven-foot-tall gardenia tree on the right side of the lighted cobblestone path in the yard.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. The faint fragrance of gardenia in his memory seemed to linger at the tip of his nose. The scene of him stealing a kiss from Audrey and being pinned against the school wall by her in the afternoon emerged in his mind uncontrobly, apanied by the fluster of his heart fluttering Biting the cigarette irritably, Nathanzily leaned against the wall. He took out his phone and swiped the screen, moving his finger to Audrey''s contact. Yet thinking of her cold gaze and voice at the courthouse, he locked the phone screen again. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 As far as Nathan could remember, he had never apologized to anyone. Even if Audrey answered the call, what was he supposed to say? Meanwhile, Ryan had already boarded the private jet with the Lambert Corporation¡¯s main executives. He browsed through the program clips and trending topics on the Inte. Seeing the trend turn positive, he was relieved. After handing the tablet to Julian, Ryan nced at his watch. It was time for a briefpany meeting.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Ryan picked up the documents, walking toward the back as he instructed Julian, ¡°Get someone to keep an eye on the Inte and be ready to control the trend at any time.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ve told the secretarial department to keep an eye on the matter before departure.¡± Julian followed Ryan. ¡°They will post the videos of Audrey¡¯s award-winning speech at intervals.¡± Among the eptance speeches, many of thepetitions were not made public in the media. But Julian would send someone to the scene every time and film the whole process for Ryan. Over time, he kept a collection of videos of How¡¯s every ear Julian thought Ryan¡¯s concern for Audrey had exceeded that for an orphaned rtive. As the person who had worked for Ryan for the longest time, he knew well that Ryan was not the over- sympathetic type. He even had the absurd illusion that Ryan¡¯s care for Audrey was more like a man¡¯s for a woman. It almost seemed like Ryan had a crush on Audrey yet dared not confess openly, protecting her quietly and helping her secretly. If Audrey weren¡¯t blood-rted to Ryan, Julian would have asked him about this. On Saturday, Audrey took Harper to Cloudmill Museum and several scenic spots. also un. Her seniors invited Harper to theboratory, iming to cultivate her passion for biology so as to recruit a member for the future biological field. Before Audrey and Harper returned to Eastville on Sunday afternoon, Daphne brought the news that Harper could transfer to Cloudmill Junior High School next semester. With her excellent test scores, Harper qualified for the top ss. Still, considering her special condition, she would be assigned to the ordinary ss for a start. ording to the system of Cloudmill Junior High School, sses would be rearranged based on students¡¯ results after the midterm exam. By then, Harper would be reassigned to a ss. Audrey thought of discussing with Diego about staying with Harper at home during this period and thening to Cloudmill with her when the semester began. The problem was that all the experimental data in her hand was not allowed to be taken out of theboratory Before drying her halt after a shower, Harper sat Audrey down on the bed. She gestured in signnguage. ¡°I saw yourboratory was quite busy. Don¡¯t worry, you can go ahead to do your experiments. ¡°| can go to school and cook meals myself. | used to take care of myself when Mom was not around.¡± Seeing Audrey frown, she signed again. ¡°Didn''t Professor Dous say theboratory''s holiday will start three days before Christmas? You will be back for Christmas in half a month! ¡°During this time, I''ll call and message you every day. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m independent.¡± Harper smiled. Audrey never doubted her ability to live independently. Given Harper¡¯s persuasion, as well as her worries about theboratory¡¯s work, Audrey took some things to visit Eda Hughes, an olddy who lived alone next door. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Audrey gave a thousand dors to Eda, asking her to help take care of Harper for half a month. Eda agreed to help but refused to ept the money. ¡°Harper is a good girl. She always helps things upstairs and also cleans the house for me at Christmas. me carryT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I''m happy to look after her. Please don¡¯t worry about the money. It¡¯s no trouble to cook a meal for two. Besides, with her company, an olddy like ine won''t be lonely!¡± ¡°Mrs. Hughes, | know you are kind, but this is a token of my appreciation.¡± Audrey put the money in Eda¡¯s hand. ¡°Please ept it.¡± In the end, Eda could only ept it. Before leaving for the airport on Tuesday morning, Audrey repeatedly reminded Harper, ¡°Remember to call me every day. Don¡¯t forget to check the gas and door locks before leaving the house and going to bed every day.¡± With a schoolbag on her back, Harper nodded obediently and opened the taxi door for Audrey. ¡°I''m leaving. Ask Mrs. Hughes to call me if you need anything.¡± Harper signed with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± As soon as the nended, Audrey received a text message from Harper. She tirelessly reminded Harper to stay safe and eat well before taking the airport bus back to Cloudmill University. Once she reached the school, Audrey headed straight to theboratory to check the data without even returning to her dormitory. Coming over with a ss of water, Daphne saw Audrey frown at the data on the screen and asked, ¡± What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°| think the data generated by theputer doesn¡¯t match that of our three practical experiments in the past three years.¡± Audrey turned around and said, ¡°I''ll run it again with a quantumputer.¡± ¡°It''s already nine o¡¯clock!¡± Daphne quickly said, ¡°The quantumputer will likely run it until tomorrow morning. Not to mention, you can¡¯t leave once it starts...¡± ¡°It''s okay!¡± Audrey sorted out the experimental data and records at hand with a smile, rising with a heavy pile of files in her arms. ¡°The sooner the dataes out, the earlier we can tackle the problem.¡± Looking at Audrey¡¯s hastily leaving figure, Daphne couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Audrey is so energetic!¡± ¡°It''s not that she¡¯s energetic. It¡¯s because her adoptive mother died suddenly. ¡°When her sister was around before, she acted tough to deal with things at home. Now that she suddenly rxed, she¡¯d dwell on grief if she didn¡¯t find something to do.¡± Chapter 57 2/2 Azure stood in front of the water dispenser. ¡°When my grandmother passed away, | had to keep myself upied. Once | had time off, I¡¯d feel depressed!¡± ¡°Then, after Audrey is done checking the data, let¡¯s find some more work for her lest she be idle!¡± Daphne said. ¡°You should change your name to Devil!¡± A male senior turned around, joking with a grin. ¡°Let''s just not let Audrey be alone. She will be less likely to fall into bad moods when the atmosphere is lively. Justin, you can organize something!¡± Looking down at the microscope, Justin smiled and said, ¡°Our teacher has poached Joseph Gought from abroad. Are you worried that it won''t be lively with him here?¡± ¡°But | heard the old geezer talking on the phone this afternoon. It seems Joseph won''te to theboratory until after Christmas.¡± Daphne curled her lips. ¡°| heard he¡¯s going to help his cousin prepare for a proposal ceremony, as well as celebrate Christmas and visit rtives, and so on. He¡¯s not even taking theboratory seriously. Audrey stayed in theboratory all night without returning to the dormitory. At dawn, she saw Harper¡¯s message with an emoticon, saying she was going to school. Looking at the data printing, Audrey put her phone on the printer and rubbed the back of her neck in tiredness. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Suddenly, several messages popped up in the WhatsApp group chat. Audrey opened her phone and took a look. It was the laboratory group chat. Justin sent good news to the group. ¡°I¡¯m going to be a dad! Don¡¯t sleep! Get up and congratte mel¡± AzureSky responded, ¡°You''re the dad, not us. Don¡¯t go crazy in the group early in the morning!¡± WannaSleep wrote, ¡°Oh, Daphne is pregnant! Congrats to Daphine and Justin! When will the wedding be held? We''re waiting for the banquet!¡± WannaRest sent, ¡°Congrats to Justin and Daphnel¡± HandsomeuJustin answered, ¡°We''ll take half a day off to get a certificate today. I''ll invite you all to the banquet!¡± Audrey wrote, ¡°Congrats to Justin and Daphine!* After replying to the message, she suddenly thought of that night with Ryan in Sheysea City. Her heartbeat was a little fast. Although she was drugged, she clearly remembered every detail of her time with him. They didn¡¯t take contraceptive measures. After sleeping with him, she had been a mess. Due to herck of experience, she didn¡¯t take emergency contraceptive pills. Only the sound of the printer printing sounded in the room. She leaned against the printer and fell into a panic. She believed it shouldn''t be that easy to get pregnant. It wasn¡¯t her menstrual period yet. Once her menstrual period arrived as scheduled, she should be fine. This week, she had been running data and asionally nced at pop-up news. Ryan, the CEO of Lambert Corporation, and his team were discussing chip cooperation ventures overseas. In these years, atomic chips had dominated Cascadia¡¯s technological development. As Cascadia couldn¡¯t make up for this shortage, Ryan led the team to discuss chip cooperation. In the news photos, he was in a slim suit, sitting in the conference room. The Cascadia g and Lambert Corporation¡¯s logo g were before him. He calmly looked at the foreigners opposite while listening carefully to his team executives with a dignified temperament. His facial features and powerful aura made him prominent in the conference room. Chapter 58 2/2 She looked through thements below. Some people analyzed the cooperation¡¯s impact on the country¡¯s development if it seeded, while others were pessimistic. For some people, on the contrary, the focus was on his appearance. DeadDeer: ¡°Oh my god! If it weren''t for the pop¡ªup news, | wouldn¡¯t have known that the CEO of Lambert Corporation was so handsome! It¡¯s a pity he¡¯s not a star!¡± KeepSecret: ¡°Don¡¯t be too ridiculous! Being a CEO or a star, of course he must choose the former!¡± SugarCandies: ¡°Wow! | announce that he¡¯s my new hubby! He¡¯s so handsome!¡± YummyFish: ¡°Oh dear! He fits the suit and those gold-rimmed sses, and his height is well- proportioned! He fits my aesthetic so well!¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Thements below were even more exaggerated. Not only did theyment on Ryan¡¯s appearance and talent, but they also mored to give him a child. She locked her phone screen and pondered. Her menstrual period hadn¡¯te yet. She rubbed her eyebrows and advised herself not to be too nervous. After waking up from the car ident, her menstrual period wasn¡¯t as urate as before. Dys were normal. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 It was New Year''s day in Cloudmill, so Diego gave everyone a holiday. Without Anne, Audrey and Harper spent the time together. After burying Anne''s ashes, they packed up their things and headed to Cloudmill before school started. Audrey put the house un to Harper¡¯s living expenses. rent with an agency. Although the rent was low, it could subsidize part of Harper was happy about transferring to a new school. She wasn¡¯t reluctant to leave her previous school but felt a vague relief. When she sent Harper to the Cloudmill Junior High School dormitory, she felt relieved as Harper roommates were good girls. Remembering that her menstrual period had gotten dyed for almost a month, she bought a pregnancy test kit on the way back to her dormitory. As it was her first time using it, she studied for a long time before finding the correct way. Five minutester, she was startled when she saw the two bars. She turned pale. She was pregnant after a one-night stand! She didn¡¯t believe the fact and bought a few more pregnancy test kits. It was the same result. She stared at the pregnancy test kits in the sink. They were all showing parallel bars. She leaned against the sink while clenching her hands. It seemed Ryan was still overseas. Even if he were in Cascadia, it would still be useless if she told him. She still had to have an abortion. Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Seeing it was Daphne, she picked it up. ¡°Hello, Daphne.¡± ¡°Audrey, a newbie ising to ourb soon! The old geezer asked me to call you so he can introduce him to us!¡± Daphne said. She called Diego old geezer, probably because she had known him since childhood. ¡°Okay, I''ll be right over.¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey threw the pregnancy test kits into the trash can, put on her coat, and went out. Diego was already introducing Joseph to everyone when she arrived at theboratory. Seeing here in, he told Joseph, ¡°She¡¯s Audrey Yeomans.¡± Joseph turned to look at her, feeling that she looked familiar. But he couldn¡¯t remember where he had seen her before. He smiled and reached out. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Joseph Gough. He knew almost everyone else in theboratory as he met them before duringpetitions. He always had meals with the Cascadia team and became familiar with them.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. She greeted him, ¡°Hello,¡± ¡°| seem to have seen you somewhere!¡± He added, ¡°I¡¯m not hitting on you! It¡¯s my first time returning to Cascadia, but | feel you look famil During this period, she was popr on the inte. It was normal if he felt her familiar. So, she didn¡¯t take it seriously and smiled. ¡°But | think you''re hitting on Audrey! You must know she is single!¡± Justin seemed to be very familiar with Joseph and slung an arm around his shoulders. He smiled and told her, ¡°Audrey, he is single too!¡± Joseph blushed when he heard that. He nudged Justin.¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Diego was happy to see everyone getting along well. ¡°Joseph, as you¡¯re new here, you can follow Daphne to familiarize yourself with the data first. | have to go to the province for a meeting. You can continue the experiment with Justin. Call me if you have any questions.¡± Since Daphne was pregnant, she was in charge of organizing data. She was no longer allowed to enter theboratory. After Diego left, she immediately asked Joseph, ¡°I heard you would help your cousin propose in Sheysea City. How big is that proposal? Why does he require a gic genius like you? Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 1/2 ¡°That¡¯s not it. After my parents married overseas, they didn¡¯t have contact with rtives and friends. | went back to Sheysea City to meet some rtives. They were too enthusiastic, so | couldn¡¯te until now.¡± Joseph smiled while scratching his head. ¡°My cousin asked me to help him make a book of genes for his girlfriend.¡± ¡°The handsome guy who drove you here just now is probably not your cousin, right?¡± Azure¡¯s eyes lit 1. up. ¡°Nope. He¡¯s my cousin,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°What a pity!¡± She sighed. ¡°He is handsome. But he has a girlfriend!¡± ¡°Really? He¡¯s handsome?¡± Daphne leaned over curiously. ¡°Does he have anything to do with you? You''re pregnant!¡± Justin rolled his eyes at her. Hearing the word pregnant, Audrey subconsciously stroked her belly, looking pale. ¡°Get in theb! Let''s start work!¡± Justin put on his white coat and saw her pale face, so he asked, ¡°Are you feeling ufortable? You can go back and rest. Don¡¯t force yourself!¡± Everyone knew her well. She wouldn''t say anything when she was ill. She smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine. | sent Harper to school today. | was too busy preparing thingsst night and didn¡¯t rest well. I¡¯ll have a cup of coffeeter.¡± After spending half a day in theboratory, she had no appetite for lunch and sat at the entrance. She had closed her eyes and was thinking about what to do next. Feeling someone sit down beside her, she opened her eyes. Joseph smiled and handed her a bottle of milk. ¡°You have been sitting here without eating. Drink some milk!¡± She took the milk and said, ¡°Thank you. You can head in first. I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡± ¡°That''s fine. I¡¯m waiting for my cousin! | left myptop in his car. He¡¯s bringing it to me.¡± He had fair skin and curly hair, like a handsome man from aic. And he looked good when he smiled. Soon, they heard the sound of tires screech, and a ck SUV stopped at the entrance. The passenger door opened, and ck boots appeared. Nathan got out of the car, his injured arm was hanging in front of his chest. Then, he raised the Chapter 60 laptop. ¡°Joseph!¡± Audrey subconsciously tightened her hands. He also saw her. She was stunned as she never knew that Joseph was his cousin. In all her years at Franklin Residence, she had never seen Joseph. Since Anne¡¯s death, she lost her original love for Nathan and even regretted it. She regretted ever falling in love with him and bringing him to Eastville. After watching the video, she knew he did want to save Anne before the car hit her. But she still couldn''t forgive him. 202 ¡°Over here!¡± Joseph sat upright and waved to him as if he had no intention of getting up and going to get it. Nathan quickly looked away from her, walked up to Joseph as if he didn¡¯t know her, and threw theptop over. ¡°You''re sozy!¡± for your fN?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°| worked hard to write a book of genes wife. You just needed to send me theptop. |¡¯llin to her if you grumble!¡± ¡°I''m going back to theb first.¡± She stood up and said, ¡°Thank you for the milk.¡± At first, she thought that after this ident, she would never meet Nathan again. But at 7:30 pm, when she came out and was going to pick up Harper for dinner, she saw his ck SUV parked outside the laboratory building. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Audrey wrapped her scarf around her and walked down the steps. As soon as she passed the ck SUV, she heard Nathan calling her. ¡°Audrey!¡± She paused, took a breath, and turned around. He was leaning against the SUV, holding a cigarette. Seeing her turn around, he put out his cigarette and walked to her. ¡°| didn¡¯t know Joseph was your cousin. Before | came to theb, | didn¡¯t know he would alsoe.¡± She had done something simr before. She woke up after lying in bed for two years and wanted to jolt his memory. So, she had found ways to get close to him, but not this time. ¡°| know.¡± He stood only one step away from her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Aunt Anne.¡± Her hands tightened. It was the first time he had apologized to her since he lost his memory.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Under the dim street light, he frowned while looking at her calm and indifferent eyes. He suddenly recalled her bright eyes when he secretly kissed her that summer. And he became irritated. He exined stiffly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to push her from the sidewalk. | didn¡¯t expect it would be dangerous. | shouldn¡¯t have said those words that day. It was my fault.¡± ¡°Are you finished speaking?¡± she asked. He didn¡¯t understand what she meant. ¡°Nathan, | have nothing to do with you anymore. We should treat each other as strangers,¡± she said calmly and turned to leave. But he grabbed her arm. ¡°I have something to ask you!¡± She pulled out her arm. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything that night, right?¡± He had been thinking about this issue. Since the drug Charles gave wasn¡¯t a truth-telling drug, he couldn¡¯t confirm whether she told the truth. Especially when he asked, her initial response was if he wished they had actually slept together. ¡°What should | say to make you believe me? Do | have to sleep with someone else to make you rest assured?¡± Her tone was unkind, and she heaved violently with anger. His mouth parted slightly.. 212 ¡°| know what you and Charles discussed. | drank the drugged wine as you wished and left Sheysea City. I¡¯ll never appear in front of you and Ame. What else should | do to stay away from you?¡± He looked at her back when she turned away firmly. He wanted to say something else to stop her but failed. Holding back his anger, he turned around, got in the car, and mmed the door hard. He knew she was here. But he still came when his mother asked him to send Joseph to Cloudmill University. He hated her the most and didn¡¯t want to see her. He always felt annoyed about her pestering him. It must be because of habit. He was used to having her following him before. He felt ufortable without her. He didn¡¯t know if the sudden memories about her had affected him. But he wanted to know about his past with her. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 But Nathan couldn''t ask his friends. If he did so, they would know he had recovered some of his memories. Amelia was already insecure because of his past rtionship with Audrey. He couldn¡¯t add to her uneasiness. Audrey came out of Cloudmill University, calmed her emotions, and went to pick up Harper. She smiled and asked Harper, ¡°How was school today?¡± Harper answered with signnguage, ¡°Very good. | like my ssmates v care of me! | feel a little shy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± She rubbed Harper¡¯s head.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. s very much! They take good Harper nodded, looked at her seriously, and told her, ¡°Audrey, I¡¯m happy to transfer to the new school! Our life will be good.¡± She smiled and held Harper''s hand. ¡°Yes, our life will be better in the future!¡± After sending Harper back to school, she returned to her dormitory. Before entering her room, Azure, who lived beside her, opened the door and stuck out her head full of foam. ¡°Audrey! Can | use your bathroom? The water heater in my room broke. | don¡¯t have hot water! I¡¯m freezing to death!¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead!¡± She opened the door to let Azure in. Instantly, Azure, wrapped in a bathrobe, rushed into the bathroom. When she took off her jacket, she suddenly remembered the pregnancy test kits in the trash can. She walked to the bathroom nervously and knocked on the door. ¡°Azure, can |e in to get something?¡± As soon as the sound of water stopped, Azure asked, ¡°Are you in a hurry? I''ll be done soon!¡± She pursed her lips. The trash can was under the sink, so Azure might not see it. ¡°It''s okay. I¡¯m not in a hurry. Azure quickly washed the foam off her head, came out, and put on her bathrobe again. While wiping her face, she saw the pregnancy test kits and their packaging boxes in the trash can. She was startled. She nced toward the door and squatted to take a closer look. Sure enough, they were pregnancy test kits and packaging boxes. And they had parallel bars! She was dumbfounded for a moment and stood up abruptly. She thought, ¡°Oh my God! How does Audrey get pregnant when she doesn¡¯t even have a boyfriend? Or does she have a boyfriend but didn¡¯t tell us?¡± Chapter 62 2/2 No wonder Audrey wanted toe in to get something just now, probably because she was afraid that Azure would see the pregnancy test kits! With gossip in mind, she quickly left the bathroom and thanked Audrey, ¡°Thank you very much! It¡¯s too cold. I¡¯ll go back first!¡± Audrey pretended to be calm and nodded with a smile. ¡°Okay!¡± She thought Azure hadn''t noticed the pregnancy test kits. When Azure returned to her room, she didn¡¯t even have time to dry her hair. She immediately created a new group chat and added Daphne and Justin, whom she was close to. But she identally added Joseph too. AzureSky asked, ¡°Do you two know who Audrey''s boyfriend is?¡± CutieDaphne replied, ¡°When did Audrey have a boyfriend?¡± AzureSky sent, ¡°Believe me! She has a boyfriend!¡± CutieDaphne responded, ¡°Have you forgotten? The old geezer told us that Audrey¡¯s ex-boyfriend lost his memory in a car ident. She pursued him for two years after waking up from the hospital. But that bastard fell in love with someone else and posted her nude photos!¡± Everyone in theboratory knew about this. If Audrey¡¯s ex-boyfriend hadn''t written a letter of apology, she would probably not be able to transfer to their university due to behavioral issues. AzureSky wrote again, ¡°Hmm... Could it be that bastard?¡± CutieDaphne asked, ¡°What did ¡°What did you mean?¡± AzureSky sent, ¡°Audrey is pregnant! | saw a lot of pregnancy test kits in her bathroom! They were all parallel bars!¡± HandsomeuJustin responded, ¡°Azure, don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 AzureSky replied, ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense! I¡¯m worried about Audrey! Her elder just passed away, and something like this happened to her. She also has to take care of Harper... Oh my God! If it were me, | would go crazy! Think of a solution quickly!¡± Cutie Daphine sent, ¡°If her kid is that bastard¡¯s, she shouldn''t keep it.¡± HandsomeuJustin responded, ¡°It¡¯s up to her! We just need to take more care of her and don¡¯t let her Bet tired.¡± AzureSky responded, ¡°If she wants to take leave, she might be going to abort the child! If she¡¯s unwilling to tell us, we must find a way to let her rest.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Joseph was having ate night snack in Nathan¡¯s hotel room. When he clicked on WhatsApp, he found the messages kept refreshing He flipped through the chat contents, and his eyes widened. He bit the fork and quickly responded to the messages. NoisyJoseph sent, ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Azure, you might have seen wrongly. Or maybe someone borrowed Audrey''s bathroom. Those pregnancy test kits were someone else¡¯s!¡± Azure¡¯s eyes widened when she saw his message. Then, she checked to confirm she hadn¡¯t messaged the wrong group chat. AzureSky asked, ¡°Joseph! Why are you in our group?¡± NoisyJoseph answered, ¡°You added me in. AzureSky replied, ¡°... Don¡¯t spread rumors.¡± NoisyJoseph responded, ¡°I¡¯m not a rumor¡ªmonger. But who''s Audrey¡¯s scumbag ex-boyfriend? What photos are you talking about?¡± When Nathan left the bathroom, he saw Joseph biting a fork and texting on the sofa. The room was full of the smell of food, and he felt so annoyed. ¡°What are you doing? Get out of here after eating!¡± Joseph answered while messaging, ¡°My ssmate in theb is pregnant. It seems to be the child of her scumbag ex-boyfriend, but she hasn''t told everyone yet. My seniors are afraid that she¡¯ll end up aborting the child alone.¡± Nathan''s hand wiping his hair paused. ¡°Pregnant?¡± Joseph said absentmindedly, ¡°Yes! My seniors said that her ex-boyfriend was a scumbag. He lost his memory and posted her photos, which almost made her unable to transfer to Cloudmill University.¡± Nathan was stunned upon hearing that. Chapter 63 2/2 Didn¡¯t Audrey say they didn¡¯t sleep together? How could she be pregnant? He took Joseph¡¯s phone and looked through the messages. Handsomeduustin wrote, ¡°Let¡¯s pretend we don¡¯t know anything and take care of her.¡± CutieDaphne responded, ¡°Hubby, arrange less experimental tasks for Audrey. You worried she would be sad when idle and assigned too many tasks for her before.¡± HandsomedJustin answered, ¡°I got it.¡± His heart pounded. He wondered why Audrey lied and didn¡¯t tell him she was pregnant. He clutched the phone tightly. ¡°Nathan, why did you snatch my phone?¡± Joseph looked at him suspiciously. He immediately returned the phone, changed his clothes, and went out. ¡°Hey! Where are you going?¡± The only response Joseph got was the violent m of the door. He looked confused. ¡°What''s going on? Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Joseph''s mother had lost contact with Cascadia¡¯s rtives for decades after marrying his father. So, he didn¡¯t know anything about Nathan¡¯s memory loss from the car ident. He just thought Nathan was a bit strange. Nathan left the hotel and saw a doorman opening the taxi door for a guest. He pushed that guest away and squeezed into the taxi. Amid the guest''s curses, he threw all his cash at the driver. ¡°To Cloudmill University! Hurry up!¡± When the driver saw his injured arm, gloomy face, and so much cash, he stepped on the elerator and rushed out. Audreyy on the bed tossing and turning after a shower. She didn¡¯t know what to do with the baby in her belly. Thinking of her previous meeting with George in the car, she decided not to let Ryan know about the baby. She also med herself for forgetting to take contraceptive pills. Suddenly, her phone vibrated on the bedside table. She reached out from the quilt, took the phone, and looked at it. It was an unknown number. She was worried that something had happened to Harper at school. So, she sat up and picked up the call. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Audrey, I¡¯m downstairs! Come down!¡± When Nathan¡¯smanding voice sounded, she thought she heard it wrong. Unable to get her response, he looked at the phone and saw the call was continuing. He became irritable. ¡°Audrey, can you hear me?¡± ¡°You have no right to order me!¡± she answered, annoyed. If she had received his call before she decided to give up on him, she would have rushed downstairs. She would seize any opportunity to get along with him to help him recall their past rtionship. But she didn¡¯t want him anymore. She couldn''t hold back her anger. ¡°We''re divorced. | left you and came to Cloudmill. You shouldn¡¯te to me again for any reason! You used to avoid me and even drugged me. Aren¡¯t you trying to stop me from pestering you? But what are you doing now? Are you eager to make me hate you even more?¡± It might be the effect of her pregnancy. Hismanding tone stimted her, and her emotions Chapter 64Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. fluctuated strongly. He clutched the phone tightly and almost said some harsh words but suppressed them. 372 Thinking of her pregnancy, he softened his tone. ¡°I¡¯m calling you with your schoolmate¡¯s phone. I¡¯m downstairs. Come down. | have something to say.¡± ¡°We have nothing to say! If you make harassing phone calls again, | don¡¯t mind informing Ms. Doyle and asking her to take you back!¡± After she finished speaking, she hung up directly. When she put her phone on silent and was about to sleep, a text message popped in. ¡°If you don¡¯t want everyone to know about your pregnancy,e down now!¡± When she saw the message, her heart skipped a beat. But soon, she realized the truth. Azure must have seen the pregnancy test kits in her trash can. There were many experiments in theboratory that pregnant women weren''t suitable to participate 1. in. Even if she didn¡¯t mention her pregnancy, Azure would still inform the others in theboratory. They would take care of her, just like what they did to Daphne during this period. Since the people in theboratory knew it, his cousin Joseph would also know it. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Audrey stood up to open the curtains and looked down. Nathan was standing under the streetlight dressed in all ck. Under his leather jacket, he wore a cashmere sweater, ck pants, and ck boots. He was tall and slender, which was attractive enough when he stood under a streetlight. She wore a long jacket over her pajamas, changed her shoes, and went downstairs. Seeing hering out, he walked toward her and pulled her into a remote corner. ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± he asked anxiously. ¡°Did Joseph tell you that?¡± she asked instead. He didn¡¯t answer but asked gloomily, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± She looked at him with doubts. ¡°Why should | tell you?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t keep this child! You have to abort him!¡± Hearing his almanding tone, she stared at him like looking at an idiot. ¡°What does it have to do with you? Are you crazy? I¡¯ve already left Sheysea City. Why do youe looking for me repeatedly? Are you hitting on me? Or do you think that even if we''re divorced, I''ll still stick to you as soon as you show up?¡± ¡°Audrey!¡± ¡°Are you in need of someone to please you? Do you want me to follow you?¡± ¡°Audrey!¡± He grabbed her arm and pulled her forward. Looking at her angry expression, he paused. Then, het gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I''ve sessfully proposed to Amelia. | can¡¯t let this child be born! She has a strong sense of morality and has been anxious to leave me since you woke up! If she knows we have a child, she won¡¯t marry me even if we¡¯re divorced!¡± It turned out that he was so anxious because he thought the child was his. She broke free from him. ¡°Who told you that the child is yours?¡± He pursed his lips, and his eyes turned cold. ¡°Do you want to give birth to the child?¡± ¡°The child isn¡¯t yours,¡± she answered firmly. He didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Then whose child is that?¡± She couldn''t tell him whose child it was. So, she pursed her lips and remained silent. There was way for her to find a random man as her child¡¯s father! The cold breeze blew past them, and the withered yellow leaves rustled to the ground. no Chapter 65 212 The chill creeping up from her soles made her sober. She closed her eyes and gradually calmed down. She tried to control her emotions. ¡°The child isn¡¯t yours. You can rest assured! A qualified ex- husband should be like a dead person, not to mention that you already have a fianc¨¦e. Amelia has no sense of security. What will she think if she knows you came to find me?¡± ¡°You were with me that night...¡± He gulped and couldn¡¯t continue. She clenched her fists. ¡°I¡¯ve said it many times. We didn¡¯t do anything that night! Except that night, you also drugged me once. Have you forgotten?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± He sneered. ¡°Since Ryan went there that day, nothing would have happened to you! Unless the child is his!¡± She didn¡¯t say anything, just looked at him quietly.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. He sighed and spoke slowly, ¡°Lucas told me Jen intended to drug Hugo, but | drank it by mistake. Sorry for misunderstanding you, but the child¡¯s matter isn¡¯t trivial. If you¡¯re willing to abort him, | canpensate you.¡± ¡°Firstly, the child isn¡¯t yours. Secondly, | won''t keep this child because | want to continue my research.¡± She was calm and clear. ¡°Please don¡¯t appear in front of me again.¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Nathan clenched his fists, and his expression darkened. ¡°How did Joseph know | was pregnant?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Yourboratory seniors mentioned that in the group. They said they wanted to take care of you¡± Hearing his answer, she was sure Azure had seen the pregnancy test kits in her trash can ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, wrapping her jacket tightly around herself and leaving Maybe it was because he found out that she was pregnant. He felt guilty, For a moment, he didn¡¯t have any temper and Just stood there watching her leave. As soon as she entered the dormitory, she saw Azure carrying snacks and looking at her with concern. ¡°Audrey, that¡¯s Joseph¡¯s cousin. You...¡± Azure hesitated. Seeing that the lights in Audrey''s room were still on, Azure went downstairs to buy snacks, worrying that Audrey would be hungry. But as soon as she returned, she saw Joseph¡¯s cousin bringing Audrey toward the corner. She was worried about Audrey''s safety and was about to protect Audrey when she heard Audrey¡¯s angry voice. Joseph said that his cousin had proposed to someone. Obviously, his proposal partner wasn¡¯t Audrey. Unexpectedly, Joseph¡¯s handsome cousin was Audrey¡¯s scumbag boyfriend, who lost his memory on the day they married! He was her ex-husband! He was a super scumbag! He divorced his pregnant wife! ¡°He¡¯s my ex,¡± Audrey said lightly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry. ¡°| saw your lights were still on, so | bought you snacks.¡± She showed the midnight snacks to Audrey.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Seeing Nathan standing before the dormitory, she took Audrey¡¯s arm and walked inside. ¡°If you want someone to talk to, we can eat together.¡± Early the next morning, when Joseph came to theboratory, he saw that Audrey had put on protective goggles and a mask and started conducting experiments. He nced at her while sorting out yesterday''s experimental data. Although he didn¡¯t know what her rtionship with Nathan was, Nathan told him to take care of her before he came here. He was curious. After Azure filled Justin and Daphne in on what happenedst night, they found out that Joseph¡¯s Chapter 66 cousin was Audrey¡¯s scumbag ex-husband. Because of that, they even disliked Joseph by extension. He was puzzled by their attitude all morning. At noon, she came out from theboratory and took off her rubber gloves. Her fingers were already turning pale. ¡°Audrey, | brought you food! Come eat at the loungel¡± Daphne invited her. ¡°I''ming!¡± Sitting in the lounge, she sent a message to Harper to remind her to have lunch, only to see a message in her text box. Seeing that it wasn¡¯t an advertisement, she clicked on It. Her pupils suddenly tightened. In the photo, Harper was kneeling on the ground with her hands tied. Someone pulled her hair, forced her to look up, and pped her. They even took off her school uniform, and she was crying. Her eyes were full of fear and panic. Audrey looked at the photo in a rage. As if someone was strangling her, she almost couldn''t breathe. She held the phone and couldn¡¯t help but tremble. It was the uniform of Eastville Junior High School! ¡°Audrey, let¡¯s bat!¡± Daphne opened the lunch box and saw that Audrey was pale. She quickly wiped her hands and walked toward Audrey with concern. ¡°Are you feeling ufortable?¡± She immediately locked the phone screen, her heart beating rapidly. She suddenly recalled the bruises on Harper¡¯s wrists when she was falling asleep on the dining room table at home. But she had checked and found no wounds on Harper, so she thought they were idental injuries! Another day, she found Harper hade home early, and her shoes were wet... Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Harper was full of hope and joy when Audrey took her out for dinner yesterday. She said that she was happy to transfer to a new school and that her life would be good in the future. It turned out that she was happy to leave Eastville Junior High School. Anget and distress lingered in Audrey¡¯s heart, and she couldn''t dispel it. She should have been more careful and discovered earlier that some students had bullied Harper at Eastville Junior High School. ¡°lm fine.¡± She forced a smile and sat down to eat with everyone. Her phone vibrated again. Harper replied, telling her to eat well and adding a cute little emoticon at the end. She was slightly relieved. Fortunately, she transferred Harper to a new school. She was going to talk with Harper this afternoon. If Harper was unwilling to pursue the case, she would apany her out of her trauma in a new environment. But if Harper was strong enough and willing to deal with those bullies, she would protect Harper and apany her to send those bullies to the police station or even jail. But who had sent her the message? She sent a message to find out. Soon, the other end replied, ¡°Add me on WhatsApp. After adding them on WhatsApp, she discovered that it was Charles. Soon, he sent her a video. The photo just now was taken from this video. She stood up abruptly. ¡°Audrey, are you not going to eat more?¡± Daphne looked at her. ¡°lm full. | want to take a walk.¡± She sat on the bench downstairs. After turning down the phone volume, she tried to calm down before she dared to click on the video, In the video, the bullies wrapped a shoe in a towel and pped Harper¡¯s face. She cried in fear, and those demonsughed wildly. They said they would let her ask for help. But she couldn¡¯t speak and could only silently kneel and beg for mercy with her bodynguage. Audrey covered her mouth tightly, tears streaming down her face. Charles asked, ¡°Do you want to see something more exciting?¡± She originally wanted to make a phone call. But she endured her sadness and anger as she had to leave proof. She typed tremblingly. Chapter 67 212 ¡°Did you ask them to do it?¡± ¡°Aren''t you domineering? You have the support of Ryan Lambert. | can¡¯t touch you. But | can deal with a little mute!¡± When she sent another message, he had already blocked her. She took a screenshot of the chat page and organized her thoughts. Her top priority was to protect Harper. Luckily, she had transferred Harper to another school. Thinking about it, she messaged Harper, saying she would take her to have a delicious meal tonight.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Harper replied soon with unbridled joy. She felt relieved and returned to theboratory. At 5:40 pm, Daphne received a call while sorting out data. She was startled, stood up abruptly, and turned to look at Audrey. At this time, Audrey stood before the acrylic glove box. She had turned on the video recorder and was adding the chemical reagents. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 ¡°Okay! | got it!¡± Daphne put down the data, walked to theboratory, and tapped on the transparent ss Audrey poured the reagent in urately and called Joseph to keep an eye on it. Daphne pulled her aside as soon as she came out. ¡®Audrey, someone posted a video at Cloudmill Junior High School! Harper might not have taken it well. She¡¯s gone! But she hasn''t left school grounds... Audrey!¡± Before she could finish speaking, she saw Audrey running out without even taking off her white contBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Azure! Go take a look!¡± She quickly took off her white coat and shouted to Azure, who had just walked in. Audrey''s mind went nk. Did Charles send the video of the bullying to Cloudmill Junior High School? Did the studentsment about Harper? She dialed Harper¡¯s phone as she rushed toward Cloudmill Junior High School. But it was turned off! She sped up. All she heard was the roaring wind and her intense heartbeat. Harper sat on the rooftop, covering his ears. Her bloodshot eyes were full of fear. The scenes of being insulted and bullied repeated in her mind. She cried bitterly, but her voice couldn''te out. Those bullies started bullying her long ago, but she hadn''t dared to tell Anne. After Anne¡¯s death, they became even more unscrupulous. She didn¡¯t dare to let Audrey know about it as well. So, she would always tidy up and adjust her mood before home. She had been afraid that Audrey would discover the bullying, which was why she didn¡¯t want Audrey to return to Eastville. Butter, they took off her clothes, burned her with cigarette butts, and wanted to make her scream... She buried her head in her knees, feeling extremely anguished. She thought she would have a new beginning in a new city and had left hell. But they didn¡¯t let her go! Why did those videos appear at Cloudmill Junior High School? She couldn¡¯t stand the way others looked at her! The ssmates who were so friendly in the morning called her a bitch in the afternoon. They even Chapter 68 273 asked her how much she earned for a one-night stand. The friends who always had meals with her also avoided her. She couldn''t bear it. It seemed like she would never escape hell. After some time, she took out her phone and sent a text message to Audrey in tears. Just as Audrey rushed to the teaching building, she heard a bang and paused. Soon, there was amotion and screaming in the ssrooms. ¡°Someone jumped off the building!¡± ¡°She¡¯s behind the teaching building!¡± She felt like her heart stopped beating. Without hesitation, she turned around and ran toward the back of the teaching building. Azure, who was panting and trying to catch up with her, followed her. Hearing the students upstairs shouting that someone had jumped off the building, she became. anxious and quickly called an ambnce. Behind the teaching building, it was pitch ck. With the help of the streetlight outside the fence, Audrey could see a girl ina school uniform lying in a pool of blood. The shoes that fell aside were the ones she had bought for Harper before school started. She immediately rushed over, squatted, and checked on Harper. Harper was still alive! Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Audrey trembled as she dialed the emergency contact. ¡°Hello, pleasee to Cloudmill Junior High School! A girl fell from the building! Yes, it¡¯s right behind the teaching building! | don¡¯t know where she¡¯s bleeding from, but she¡¯s still bleeding. | know. | won¡¯t move her.¡± She gave the address, then called out, ¡°Harper! Harper!¡± She didn¡¯t know where Harper was bleeding from and didn¡¯t dare to move her. She trembled badly while checking on Harper¡¯s breath, fearing that her weak breath would stop.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Soon, the principal, director, and teachers gathered around. Azure didn¡¯t know how tofort Audrey. Daphne also squeezed out of the crowd and covered her mouth in shock when she saw the scene. Soon, the ambnce and police arrived. It wasn¡¯t until Harper entered the emergency room that Audrey copsed on a hospital bench. Her hands were full of Harper''s blood. ¡°Audrey, here¡¯s your phone.¡± Azure handed her the phone and sat beside her tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. It was from the 9th floor. There¡¯s still hope. Wasn''t there news that a child who fell from the 28th floor was safe? Everything will be fine.¡± She saw an unread message from Harper and clicked on it with her bloody hand. ¡°Audrey, | can¡¯t take it anymore! | can¡¯t escape from hell! Sorry, | want to find Mom! I¡¯m behind the teaching building. There¡¯s no one here. Even if | jump, | won¡¯t hurt anyone. Audrey, please bury me with Mom! Sorry, Audrey, | can¡¯t forget those memories. It hurts. Death is my only relief.¡± Harper sent the text message just before jumping off the building. She typed out whatever came to mind incoherently. After reading the message, Audrey finally couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into tears. Even Azure couldn''t help crying after seeing it. If Harper decided to die, she wouldn''t leave a chance for others to save her. Before she decided to die, she even considered whether she would hurt others by jumping off the building. As a result, she still couldn''t be saved. The doctors said she had no will to live. In less than two months, both Anne and Harper were gone. Audrey had promised Ahne at the grave to take good care of Harper. But Harper was also gone. She stood in despair outside the operating room and cried uncontrobly. ¡°Audrey!¡± Azure held her shoulders and wanted to say something, but she didn¡¯t know how tofort her. ¡°Audrey...¡± Chapter 69 2/2 ¡°Audrey, you must hold those bullies ountable!¡± Daphne trembled after watching the video. She had never seen such vicious students. ¡°We can¡¯t let them go!¡± They abused, beat, and even raped Harper. They were devils! There were boys and girls, and their behavior in the video was vicious, which wasn¡¯t something that ordinary people would do, ¡°They''re already 14 years old. They can bear criminal responsibility!¡± Daphne burst into tears. At the police station, Audrey was determined and wanted to hold all the bullies legally ountable. ¡°And also Charles Murray, the second son of the Sheysea City Murray Group! He instigated them to bully my sister!¡± She couldn''t hold back tears but spoke clearly, ¡°Here is evidence!¡± She provided a recording of Charles''s threat. He said he would find some people to bully Harper when he forced her to go to the Jacinda Hotel. There was also a photo from this morning and screenshots of WhatsApp chats. The female police officer keptforting Audrey, who was shaking, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Thew won''t let them go. Azure apanied her out of the police station. Seeing that she was in a daze, Azure called out to her tentatively, only to see her fall straight down. ¡°Audrey!¡± Nathan rushed out of the car and shouted to the police, ¡°Please help us!¡± Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. In the hospital ward, Joseph sat with Nathan and whispered, ¡°Nathan, is Audrey''s child your illegitimate child?¡± ¡°Don''t talk nonsense!¡± He frowned and said distractedly, ¡°she was pregnant before we divorced!¡± ¡°Divorce?¡± Joseph widened his eyes. ¡°So she was two months pregnant during the marriage but you proposed to your current fianc¨¦e? Nathan, you¡¯re a scumbag!¡± Nathan looked at the fainted Audrey and red at Joseph irritably. ¡°That''s not the case!¡± The phone vibrated in his pocket. He looked at it, frowned, and nced at Audrey. Then, he got up and walked out of the ward to pick up the call. He spoke reluctantly, ¡°Mr. Lambert...¡± ¡°Have you forgotten that you divorced Audrey?*. Ryan¡¯s deep voice was oppressive. Nathan subconsciously looked around. ¡°I''ve asked people to suppress the photo of you hugging Audrey in front of the police station. The trending topic of your sessful proposal to Amelia is still on the inte. | don¡¯t want Audrey involved with you two again. Go back to Sheysea City now. to he Ryan sounded calm, but it frightened Nathan. ¡°Mr. Lambert, my mother asked me to send my cousin to Cloudmill. He¡¯s in the sameboratory as Audrey. | had initially left, but...¡± he said with difficulty, ¡°I found out Audrey is pregnant.¡± 4 Before getting a response, he frowned and continued, ¡®I initially wanted to watch her abort the child, but her sister jumped off the building. | didn¡¯t know what to do.¡± After a while, Ryan said, ¡°You should go back first. I¡¯ll handle this matter.¡± ¡°But...¡± Ryan interrupted, ¡°Or do you want the old story between you and Audrey to resurface?¡± He pursed his lips and said, ¡°But her child is mine.¡± ¡°Her child isn¡¯t yours.¡± Ryan¡¯s tone was impatient. She was drugged that night, but he wasn¡¯t. He was pretty sure it was her first time sleeping with a man. The child was his. ¡°She has nothing to do with you anymore. Understand? Since you''ve chosen Ms. Doyle, don¡¯t get involved with your ex. Don¡¯t make more rumors and cause trouble for everyone!¡± After a long silence, Nathan finally gave up. ¡°Okay, | understand. I''ll return to Sheysea City at dawn. Chapter 70 I''ll leave Audrey¡¯s affairs to you.¡± 2/2 Ryan leaned against the floor to ceiling window, pursed his lips, and looked at the setting sun. His expression was unreadable. The floor-to-ceiling ss window reflected the outline of his face, and he seemed to be thinking of something. Julian knocked on the door, came in, and said while looking at theptop, ¡°Sir, you have an appointment with Mark Watson at 7:30 pm tonight...¡± ¡°Cancel it!¡± He turned around, picked up the coat on the sofa, put it on, and walked out. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 1/2 ¡°Sir, where are we going?¡± ¡°Back to Cascadia.¡± Julian looked stunned, picked up Ryan¡¯sptop and documents, and chased after him. sir. we haven''t settled the chip cooperation. Mr. Lambert Senior Issued an order. Chips are rted to thepany¡¯s survival. We''ve been working on the deal here for over a month and finally made an appointment today.¡± Ryan opened the door and answered calmly, ¡°Do you think the negotiation will seed? Ourpany is still on Meria¡¯s sanctions list. They won''t sell us the chips. Ask Harry to pack up our things. Inform everyone to stop everything and return to Cascadia.¡± Julian was puzzled. ¡°But we¡¯ve been working hard for almost two months. Cascadia also attaches great importance to this cooperation. Maybe after meeting Mr. Watson...¡± He pressed the elevator button, and the mirrored wall reflected his cold expression. ¡°It¡¯s better to fight hard and take the risk instead of begging to survive! Maybe we''ll no longer be controlled by others in the future.¡± As soon as the elevator arrived, he walked in first. Julian didn¡¯t understand what he meant but he knew Ryan wouldn¡¯t change his decision. Julian had followed him for so many years and had never seen him make a wrong decision. It was just that Julian worried Cascadia would report on Lambert Corporation¡¯s failure to close the deal. Moreover, George had asked Ryan toe to Meria to solve the chip problem as a condition for canceling his engagement. On the private jet, apany executive asked, ¡°Mr. Lambert, the chip,matter hasn¡¯t been settled yet. | made an appointment with Raymond Corporation to talk about the chip co-production. Why are we suddenly going back to Cascadia?¡± Before Ryan could speak, someone had already answered, ¡°We don¡¯t need to waste our efforts. Beforeing here, Mr. Lambert knew that Meria wouldn''t sell us chips, let alone cooperate with us to produce chips.¡± The previous executive became even more confused. ¡°They won''t sell us chips? Then why were we wasting so much time here?¡± ¡°We''re just putting on a show for Meria!¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. The executive who knew the inside story, looked at Ryan with a smile and happily told his colleagues, Chapter 71 ¡°My people safely sent two chip experts back to Cascadia two weeks ago. Another young executive added, ¡°Dr. Hurlbutt has also followed the arranged route. He first went to Crendale, then to Hond, and finally from Frenda back to Cascadia. Our people have picked him up from the airport.¡± ¡°Professor Ilyich from Runa of ASML Group in Hond also flew from Runa to Mythravia yesterday.¡± Julian realized the truth after listening to everyone¡¯s discussion. Ryan brought thepany¡¯s top executives to Meria with great fanfare to discuss chip cooperation. In fact, he was secretly transporting experts he had contacted back to Cascadia. ¡°| guess those Merians were confused with our sudden leave!¡± an executive giggled. ¡°Why did | know nothing? Was | the only one anxiously and exhaustingly begging them for cooperation?¡± The executive who first asked the question looked helplessly. ¡°Since we had already nned not to cooperate, wouldn¡¯t it be better to take the people back directly? Why did wee to Meria? We might as well spend the money on research and development!¡± Ryan poured himself a ss of water. ¡°The Mad Airlines incident had sounded the rm for us. There were 154 Cascadia citizens and 60 chip experts on it.¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Ryan walked to the sofa and sat down. ¡°To protect the safety of talents, we must be cautious! We just made a trip for two months and spent some money. But the value of the scientists is higher than the money and our time!¡± After taking a sip of water, he continued, ¡°Since we can¡¯t cooperate with foreign countries on the chip, then we have to fight against the odds and develop it in Cascadia.¡± He put down the ss and leaned forward to look at the executives. ¡°We¡¯re under pressure to develop our research this time. Optimistically, we''ll take at least three to five years on it. If we seed, we''ll surely break the monopoly of the chip industry.¡± After the executive meeting, everyone rxed and fell asleep. He tiredly rubbed his brows and looked out the ne window. From what he knew about Audrey, she wouldn¡¯t keep their child. How should he persuade her? Meanwhile, Audrey had woken up in the hospital. ¡°Audrey, you''re finally awake!¡± Azure walked to the bed and supported her up. She asked hoarsely, ¡°Azure, what time is it?¡± ¡°It''s 3:00 pm.¡± Azure put a pillow behind her back and sat beside the bed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The police have caught all the bullies at Eastville Junior High School!¡± The incident became quite serious as Harper jumped off the building. She had just transferred to Cloudmill Junior High School. Yet, shemitted suicide because of the bullying video at Eastville Junior High School. Cloudmill Junior High School took the lead in speaking out online to avoid being held ountable. After one night, the news of bullying at Eastville Junior High School hit the trending.topics because of the bullies¡¯ egregious behavior. The public was discussing the incident, and the video evidence was conclusive. The bullying was so severe that the police quickly arrested the bullies for justice and made a report on the case. Although the videos of violence were censored, they were still terrifying. The angriest people were undoubtedly the parents. Their children werel students. If someone bullied their children like this, they would kill those bullies! Parents had spoken out, demanding severe punishment for the bullies.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Of course, due to the current strict censorship of online videos, more explicit videos didn¡¯t spread online. However, there were still many people with bad intentions who used insulting words asking Ctr 72 2/2 for the sexual assault video. Some even criticized parents for sending a mute child to a normal school, where she would get bullied. As a pregnant woman, Daphne was trembling with anger. She led her juniors from Cloudmill University to fight online all night against those badmenters. But soon, she discovered countless women were spontaneously reporting the badments and postingments under trending toples. NumberOne: ¡°Reject the leakage of sexual assault videos of underage girls! As a mother and woman, we must protect the innocent victims! Protect the family of the deceased! The bullies should be exposed and punished byw!¡± LittleAutumn: ¡°Respect the dead! Love women! Victims are Innocent! The bullles should be exposed and punished byw!¡± GrumpyToad: ¡°Damn it! I''ll stick to thement section tonight! I''ll report anyone who dares to ask for the video! If | see someone spreading it, I''ll call the police!¡± LittleHorse & Tomato: ¡°Little girl, don¡¯t be afraid! There are no bad people in heaven! We''ll guard the world for you! We''ll never let the video leak out! You¡¯re not wrong! The shameless ones are the bullies!¡± Soon, a massive ¡°Protect Little Girl¡± slogan spread quietly and organically on the inte. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Even many celebrities retweeted it. They imed that the victim was Innocent and not to let the spread of the video be a secondary violence against the victim. More and more people were speaking out online, demanding severe punishment for the bullies and those who spread the video. They appealed for the protection of the victim¡¯s family and resistance to the leakage of the videos. Audrey worried about the spread of Harper¡¯s videos at first. After all, it was the reason which caused Harper tomit suicide. Harper wouldn''t be able to rest in peace if the video of her being humiliated and tortured spread on the inte. Unexpectedly, besides her, countless people on the Inte protected Harper. She bit her lips and sobbed. Azure sat beside the bed and looked at her with tears. ¡°Many people are protecting Harper!¡± She finally couldn¡¯t control herself and cried out loud. As Harper had jumped off the building, Cloudmill Junior High School issued an emergency statement. It became a hot topic on the inte. Charles didn¡¯t expect the matter to be like this. He anxiously browsed through thements on the inte, canceled all his appointments, and dared not go out. Recalling Audrey¡¯s recording with the Yeomanses exposed on the ¡°Looking For Family¡± program, he suspected she might also have a recording of the call with him. t When he forced her to go to the Jacinda Hotel, he used Harper to threaten her on the phone. He wondered if she also recorded it. If she had a recording and exposed it, it would affect the Murray Group. His father would beat him to death. He secretly prayed that she didn¡¯t have a recording. But what about the photos and messages he sent to her? Just as he thought about what to do, he saw the police car parked at the door through the floor¡ªto- ceiling window. His eyes widened, and he became nervous. Hearing the doorbell ringing downstairs, he quickly dialed Nathan¡¯s number. ¡°Nathan!¡± His voice was panicked. ¡°Il may have gotten into trouble! The police have arrived at my house! You must help me! I-I did this for you and Amelia! | only bought the videos from that kid named Max Fraley...¡± The nanny opened the door and saw the police. They showed their police ID and said they would take Chan 72Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. 272 Charles away for investigation. She looked surprised and turned around at a loss. Just as she was about to call someone, she saw that Charles had already put on his coat and came downstairs. ¡°Charles Murray, we''re from the City Police Department. We require you to assist in the investigation. The police showed their police ID again. He nodded. ¡°Okay!¡± Then, he told the nanny, ¡°Maria, | want to eat fried chicken tonight. Prepare it for me!¡± ¡°Oh! Okay!¡± She nodded repeatedly. Nathan was visiting the crew, waiting for Amelia to finish filming. He walked to a remote area sullenly and called Edmond Marshman from the Franklin Group Legal Department to go to the police department. ¡°Contact Max Fraley¡¯s parents. Tell them to stop their kid from talking norisense, or they''ll bear the consequences! | can give them money as long as they don¡¯t mention Charles.¡± Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 After hanging up, Nathan kicked the pir angrily. He was at Cloudmill when Harper jumped off the building! He still hadn¡¯t solved Audrey''s pregnancy problem, and Charles was causing trouble for him. He sat down in the corridor and looked through thements on trending topics. He didn¡¯t know why he felt so flustered. He couldn''t let her know that this matter had something to do with Charles. Anne and Harper, the deaths of people around her were all rted to him. Not only would she hate him to death, but she would also hate Amelia. Thus, he''d better conceal it from the source and not let her find out. The phone vibrated. It was Amelia¡¯s call. He answered, ¡°Sweetie...¡® ¡°Where are you? | finished filming and asked the director for a leave. | can spend the afternoon with you,¡± she sounded cheerful. ¡°lm smoking in the corridor. Come over here.¡± After hanging up, he stood up and suddenly felt dizzy. He held onto the pir beside him, rubbed his forehead, and shook his head. ¡°Nathan, the famous yboy in Sheysea City, is so obedient! From now on, I''ll call you Sweetie in private!¡± Audrey''s cheerful voice echoed in his head. $ ¡°You''re crazy! Don¡¯t call me that!¡± That was his voice with annoyance. But he felt a hint of sweetness. He took a step forward while holding nto the pir. His head hurt so much that he stumbled and fell The sunlight filtered through the branches and stung his eyes, but he seemed to smell the sea breeze. She was sitting on the dike in her school uniform, and the sea breeze ruffled her hair. There was a ring on her index finger, and she faced her hand to the sun. Her bright smile was more dazzling thanN?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. the sun. ¡°Sweetie, do you know that we''re still underage and can¡¯t give rings randomly?¡± ¡°But you smile so happily! What''s wrong with being underage? You''ll be my wife anyway. You can¡¯t escape me in this life.¡± ¡°What if | don¡¯t marry or marry someone else?¡± ¡°Then I''ll break my legs!¡± She tidied her messy halt, revealing her beautiful neck. Her eyes were full of questions. ¡°Yoy and i wrongly. Don¡¯t you mean you''ll break my legs?¡± He poked her head gently, ¡°just think about it. How can | breaks your legs? If you don¡¯t may me, p¡¯l break my legs. You''ll take care of me for the rest of your life! If you marry someone else, dode Fill same and make you feel guilty!! He could barely breathe. Was this a memory of him and Audrey? Amelia, who had a period drama hairstyle, had juste over and saw him falling to the ground in agony. She rushed toward him nervously. ¡°Nathan! What''s wrong with you?¡± She ordered the frightened assistant behind her, ¡°Call an ambnce!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The assistant quickly dialed the ambnce number. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Nathan was on the brink of losing consciousness and stared at the sun with half-opened eyes. Maybe the sun was too dazzling. Tears overflowed from his eyes.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sweetle...¡± It turned out that Audrey used to call him Sweetie! ¡°Nathan! I¡¯m here!¡± Amelia thought he was calling for her, so she grabbed his hand and cried uncontrobly. ¡°I¡¯m here! Nathan, don¡¯t scare me!¡± Seeing him faint, she turned pale. She turned to look at the assistant, trembling with fear. ¡°Call for help! Hurry!¡± Soon, the deputy director brought someone over, carried Nathan to the car, and headed straight to the closest hospital. Not long after Audrey sent away Anne, she had to send away Harper as well, Despite her grief, she forced herself to cheer up. She knew that Anne¡¯s death was different from Harper¡¯s. Harper¡¯s death involved school violence and sexual assault. It was a long process to win awsuit and get a conviction. If those disgusting devils didn¡¯t get the punishment they deserved, she wouldn''t be able to rest in peace. The bullying incident at Eastville Junior High School had a great impact and attracted widespread social attention. Many women stood up to protect Harper¡¯s dignity, boycotted the dissemination of the video, and spontaneously spread the slogan ¡°Protect Little Girl¡¯. Soon, a wave of women¡¯s mutual aid topics started. The relevant departments acted, and the case progressed very quickly. After Audrey came out of the hospital, Edmond came to see her. Following Nathan''s orders, he went to Eastville Junior High School to find the parents of the bullies and asked Max to speak carefully. Max¡¯s parents¡¯ condition was to ask him to be Max''s attorney. If he could make Audrey reconcile with them, they wouldn¡¯t ask for money and would ask Max not to mention Charles. Other parents knew he was a famous attorney, so they entrusted the case to him. When she came down from the dormitory, she was startled when she saw him. He was the chief of the Franklin Group Legal Department. 2/2 She wasn¡¯t too surprised when she thought of Charles. As long as it was rted to Amelia, Nathan would go all out Charles was Amelia¡¯s cousin. Nathan wouldn¡¯t ignore the case. She walked out coldly and wrapped her coat tightly around herself. ¡°Hello, Ms. Yeomans,¡± Edmond smiled at her. ¡°Are you here for Charles?¡± she asked. He adjusted his sses. ¡°I¡¯m now the attorney representing those kids at Eastville Junior High School. When she heard this, she was stunned, then smiled ironically. ¡°Did Nathan ask you to save Charles from the case? You''re the chief of the Franklin Group Legal Department. | didn¡¯t expect you to defend those demons. He said slowly, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to settle the case privately, my clients can paypensation.¡± Her expression darkened, and she asked again, ¡°Did Nathan pay them off?¡± ¡°Ms. Yeomans, your sister has passed away. Rather than making a fuss and dying thewsuit for months or years, it¡¯s better to settle the matter as soon as possible and let her rest in peace. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! No matter how long thiswsuitsts, I''ll fight you even if it takes my whole life!¡± Her pale face couldn¡¯t hide her anger, and she couldn''t help but raise her voice. ¡°If those bullies don¡¯t get their punishment, my sister won''t get peace!¡± ¡°Hey! Mr. Marshman!¡± Louis held aptop and tapped Edmond¡¯s shoulder with a smile. He turned around and saw Louis, the chief of the Lambert Corporation Legal Department. He greeted him, ¡°Hello, Mr. Farrel.¡± Audrey who was heaving in anger, choked back a gasp when she saw Louis. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Audrey promised George not to have any contact with the Lambert family, especially Ryan. So, she hadn¡¯t asked him for help. But Louis still appeared. Considering her rtionship with Ryan, Edmond wasn¡¯t surprised that Louis would appear. He nced at her, then turned to Louis and said, ¡°Mr. Farrel, please advise Ms. Yeomans. Once this matter gets bigger and involves the rtionship between Ms. Yeomans and Mr. Lambert, it won¡¯t be good for him...¡± ¡°You worry too much.¡± Louis smiled. ¡°Mr. Lambert asked me to be Ms. Yeomans¡¯s attorney. He said that if this case can¡¯t bring the bullies to justice, he won''t keep me in Lambert Corporation! | can¡¯t lose my job!¡± Edmond¡¯s expression turned gloomy when he heard this. Louis was better than him in professionalism and eloquence in the industry. ¡°Okay, | understand Ms. Yeomans''¡¯s intention. I''ll tell my clients.¡± He nodded with a smile and left. ¡°Bye!¡± Louis watched him leave, then changed his tone and said to her, ¡°Ms. Yeomans, Mr. Lambert is on his way to Cloudmill. I''ll take charge of this case. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make them pay!¡± She pursed her lips. She didn¡¯t want to trouble Ryan but couldn¡¯t say it out loud. She shouldn¡¯t bother him anymore. But if the other party¡¯swyer was Edmond, she didn¡¯t dare to take risks. She didn¡¯t want to let go of those demons who killed Harper! ¡°Let''s find a ce to discuss this case,¡± Louis suggested. She nodded. ¡°Okay!¡± After she changed her clothes, they went to the cafe opposite Cloudmill University. She passed him the evidence she had. Before he came, he had also asked the team to collect evidence and sort it out for her. After going through everything, he said, ¡°If we fight this case, they''ll only be sentenced to up to ten years. They¡¯re over 14 but under 16. One of the children was a few days before turning 14, when hemitted the violence.¡± Seeing that she couldn¡¯t¡¯help crying, he took a tissue and handed it to her. She took a long breath before speaking, ¡°Mr. Farrel, you know my rtionship with Mr. Lambert, and you''re the chief of Lambert Corporation Legal Department. As Mr. Marshman said, it would be bad to involve Mr. Lambert. If you think this case is stable, | would like to hand it over to another attorney.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 2/2 Bu Bat sngeised but still answered her, ¡°This case has been pushed to the forefront by public Quinn Burgjet cannot speak, so she is considered disabled. The evidence of bullying a disabled porsan is gandusive. And there¡¯s a video they recorded. The judge will give them a severe punishment. The only bargaining chip they can use to reduce the punishment is that they were univocage. ** She astad again, ¡°What about Charles?¡± Se pursed his lips. ¡°He has been released on bail. ording to the evidence he provided to the police and the bestimony groen by Max, it may be difficult to convict him.¡± you be aware?¡± she asked. the shook his head. ¡°Unless we can get evidence that Charles bribed Max''s parents. William from my beam is already investigating it. To be honest, it¡¯s difficult and almost impossible.¡± She sand disappointedly, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Farrel!¡± When she came out of the cafe with him, she saw Ryan getting out of his car. She subconsciously stopped, and her eyes turned red again. bo, T. Lambert!¡± Louis stepped forward to greet Ryan. 1/2 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Ryan, who was in a suit, wasn¡¯t wearing his sses and fully looked the part of a mature. businessman. But he also looked quite tired. ¡°Audrey, get in.¡± He motioned for Audrey to get in the car. She clenched her fists tightly, remembering George telling berto stay away from Ryan and the Lambert family. Seeing this, Louis left first.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. She looked at Ryan for a while and finally got into the car. She wanted to talk things out clearly with him ¡°Where are we going?¡± He hadn''t offered the information, so she took the initiative to ask. ¡°We''ll be there soon,¡± he said. The ck car stopped in front of an apartment building near Cloudmill University. He got out of the car first and walked around to open the door for her. ¡°We''re here.¡± After hearing this, she got out of the car and followed him. He entered his fingerprint to open the apartment door and took the elevator to the top floor. He took a new pair of women¡¯s slippers from the shoe cab for her, took off his coat, and changed his shoes. ¡°Sit down first. I''ll get you some water.¡± She grabbed his sleeves ¡°I¡¯ve met Mr. Lambert Senior.¡± He turned to look at her while holding his coat. ¡°| promised him | would never contact anyone in the Lambert family again.¡± She lowered her head and didn¡¯t dare to look at him. ¡°You''ve helped me a lot over the years. | always remember it gratefully, But for the sake of the Lambert family and your good, | shouldn''t contact you again.¡± He looked at her steadily for a long time before asking, ¡°What will you do with our child?¡± She looked up in surprise, but he just looked at her calmly and quietly. She bit her lips nervously. How did he know that? She subconsciously stroked her belly. ¡°I was inexperienced. | forgot to take contraceptive pills after that night. But I''ll solve it myself. Don¡¯t worry. | won''t give birth to him.¡± He looked at her for a moment. ¡°What if | say | want you to give birth to him?¡± She didn¡¯t expect his answer. ¡°What did you say?¡± Chapter 71 217 ¡°| have no rtives in this world. This child came unexpectedly, but he¡¯s my only family. | hope this childes into the world safely.¡± He saw her disbelief and said softly, ¡°Andrey, | want our child!¡± The soft light at the entrance reflected his affectionate eyes. But she was frightened by what he said. She tightened her fists. ¡°How can you want him? He has the dirty blood of the Yeomanses. Will the Lamberts ept him? He''ll be born illegitimate! You''ll get married and have children in the future. What should he do? What should | do?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get married!¡± He looked attentive and focused. ¡°Bring your documents! We can go get a certificate tomorrow!¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Audrey became anxious. ¡°No! We can¡¯t get married! Outsiders think we¡¯re blood rtives! Do you know what will happen if we marry? What''s this child¡¯s identity? Do you want this child to grow up in gossip?¡± Before Ryan could speak, she became even more emotional. ¡°Or do you want to tell others we are not rted by blood? If they find my biological mother¡¯s identity, what should the Lambert family do? What should she do? No! | can¡¯t agree with you!¡± Moreover, he was the future heir of the Lambert family. George would find him a well¡ª-matched wife. She had absolutely nothing to do with him or the Lambert family. She looked at him with reddened eyes. ¡°The images of my parents always rey in my mind. I¡¯m scared! | didn¡¯t grow up ina normal family and never received my parents¡¯ love. | don¡¯t want my child to suffer my pain.¡± Those were her true thoughts. Once upon a time, she never even thought about having children in the future. Later, it was Nathan who cured her. He had painted her a picture of a happy life after marriage. He told her that if they had a daughter as beautiful as her, he would protect them both; if they had a son as clever as her, both of them would protect her. Butter, he forgot everything and refused to remember their past.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. She had nothing again. When she left Sheysea City, she had nned to live her life alone. ¡°I''m sorry, but | can¡¯t let my but | can¡¯t let my existence may be hild be born into a family without love when his very cause for criticism.¡± He stared at her and suddenly took a step closer. She stepped back nervously. ¡°Even Julian can see that my concern for you has long gone beyond the bounds of family. That night at the Jacinda Hotel, you were drugged, but | still slept with you while | was sane. Are you really unaware of... my feelings for you?¡± She couldn¡¯t even remember how many times he slept with her in that extreme drug-induced madness that night. She only remembered that his lips were hot and he was passionate when he kissed her. When she was in a daze, he protected her head from hitting the bedside. He had also whispered her name in his deep voice, which made her lose strength and feel numb all over. ¡°Stop!¡± Her voice couldn¡¯t help put tremble. She turned around and wanted to run away. But he pressed hard on the security door. Now that he had bared his heart to this extent, he didn¡¯t n to give her a chance to escape. Chapter 78 212 ¡°Audrey, | love you.¡± He confessed his love deeply, making her heart beat faster. She couldn¡¯t open the security door. Sensing his approach, she panicked and bumped into his arms. She was forced to step back by his almost pressing against the security door. pressure Her breathing became erratic, and she didn¡¯t even dare to look him in the eyes. She lowered her head until the most she could see of him was his unbuttoned shirt cor. ¡°It seems | wasn¡¯t obvious enough.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he lifted her face with his fingers and kissed her. ¡°Hmm...¡± she widened her eyes. He kissed her skillfully and forcefully, just like that night. She could barely breathe. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 His kiss made Audrey extremely sensitive, and her mind went nk. She was surrounded by Ryan¡¯s familiar scent and felt so embarrassed. Feeling the heat from his body, she panicked and pushed him hard, but he pressed her onto the security door. He held the back of her head and deepened the kiss. The beast imprisoned in his heart was released. He kissed her fiercely without mercy, trying to devour her. Such an intimate kiss made the scene of that night rey in his mind. He wanted to possess savagely and violently without any restraint, just like that night. her His greed, obsession, and desire he had never expressed seemed to burst out after he confessed his love. He was usually rational and calm. But he always lost control when facing her. He didn¡¯t let go of her lips until she almost suffocated. Panting, she looked at him, feeling as if he was a predator and she was his prey. She trembled and couldn¡¯t move. He looked aggressive without his sses. They didn¡¯t speak, and the atmosphere became tense, with an undercurrent of desire surging. He stroked her swollen lips and asked hoarsely, ¡°Did | express myself clearly enough this time?¡± Before, he suppressed his feelings because she and Nathan were inseparable. She said Nathan was her only one. Later, Nathan lost his memory. Everyone gave up on her when she was in a vegetative state. Only he refused to give up. Later, after waking up, she put down her pride and tried to awaken Nathan¡¯s memory. She had assumed such a humble posture toward Nathan that he felt heartbroken. It wasn¡¯t until Nathan divorced her and she decided to give up on Nathan that he re-examined his. feelings. Soon, he shattered his scrutiny when she was drugged. He confirmed that he liked her. He desired her beyond measure. He, who had always been cold, ascetic, aloof, and unapproachable, was confessing his love to her. She couldn¡¯t imagine such a scene. At this moment, his gaze wasn¡¯t blocked by sses. He was like a ferocious python, tightly strangling her body, which made her nervous. Chapter 79 She never thought that a man who, in her eyes, stood at the pinnacle of the world, would express such frank confession to her. She felt her heart go numb along with her senses. ¡°Don''t be like this...¡± She looked away, pulled her wrist out of his hand, and struggled in panic.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Keep the child! Audrey, he¡¯s our baby.¡± He gently kissed her swollen lips soothingly. ¡°Promise me!¡± Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Audrey couldn¡¯t resist Ryan at all. Her legs went limp, and she slightly trembled as she held onto his shirt. ¡°| can¡¯t think about this now. Please. Don¡¯t do this to me. Aunt Anne is gone, and so is Harper! | have no mood to think about the future.¡± She couldn''t help but burst into tears as she spoke, somewhat incoherently, ¡°I promised Mr. Lambert Senior that | would never get involved with the Lambert family again!¡± He wiped away her tears. ¡°I know you''re hurting! Aunt Anne and Harper are gone. But have you ever thought that your child is also your family? He¡¯s our family!¡± She became emotional again. ¡°But we can¡¯t be together!*. She admitted he was right. The child in her belly was her family. Especially after Anne and Harper were gone, this child was likely to be herst family in this world. But once it came to her biological mother, she was unwilling to do anything when there was the slightest risk of exposing her mother.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Moreover, the Lambert family and George would never ept this child. Even if it was a secret marriage, George might think she wanted to use her pregnancy to join the Lambert family. George had raised Ryan and had helped her. She couldn¡¯t go against George. ¡°How should | face Mr. Lambert Senior after giving birth to this child? What should this child call him? Grandpa? Or...¡± She couldn''t continue. One was George¡¯s adopted son, and the other was his biological granddaughter, whom he felt disgusted and disdainful of ¡°Ryan...¡± she called out to him and asked in a choked voice, ¡°Are you willing to hurt the Lambert family?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that! We can get married in secret. We don¡¯t have to make it public if you don¡¯t want to.¡± He stared into her eyes and held her face firmly to prevent her from looking away. ¡°We can get married in secret overseas. Professor Dous will attend an exchange meeting overseas. You can go with him. No one knows you there. You can carry out your experiments and give birth to the child there! I¡¯ll do my best to protect your privacy and normal life.¡± He looked at her affectionately. ¡°Please don¡¯t refuse me. This child is the closest person to us in this world!¡± Ever since he slept with her that night, his restraint where she was concerned seemed to have Chapter 80 272 snapped. He hoped she wouldn¡¯t refuse. Otherwise, he didn¡¯t know if he would hurt her to keep their child! Because this child is the only connection between them. She trembled. When their eyes met, she had the illusion that he was madly in love with her, a love even stronger than Nathan¡¯s love. ¡°Ryan...¡± she called his name and even forgot to struggle. He rubbed her lips, lowered his head, and slowly approached. Observing her reaction, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed and he whispered, ¡°Promise me, Audrey.¡± Then, he kissed her again. He pressed her against the security door, holding the back of her head and her waist as if he wanted to meld her into his body. Her legs went weak, and her whole body was trembling. She clutched his shirt tightly as if holding on to herst hope. Her breathing was so messy that she couldn''t resist him at all.. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Chapter 81Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Ryan let go of Audrey before he could no longer suppress his terrifying and crazy thoughts. ¡°Keep our child, okay?¡± His voice was hoarse, and his breathing was heavy. Her eyes were red. ¡°I have to think about it.¡± Since she had no ns to abort the child for the time being, he didn¡¯t want to force her. He couldn''t help but kiss her again. She turned her head to avoid it but subconsciously held on to his clothes. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to enter a new rtionship. Please don¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°Okay, | won''t force you.¡± n He let go of her gently, but his eyes were still smoldering. He put his hands in his pockets to hide the state of his body and said calmly, ¡°This ce is close to Cloudmill University. You can live here for the time being. I¡¯ve asked the housekeeper to clean up the room. She usually won¡¯t be around. She''ll clean the house and prepare meals before leaving. Audrey resisted. ¡°I want to go back to the dormitory.¡± ¡°Just stay here. | won''t live here.¡± He took the coat and said, ¡°I have a meeting. Have a good rest. The password is 0920.¡± She clutched the hem of her clothes tightly. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. Mr. Farrel said that the judge in this case would impose a severe punishment. The only bargaining chip the other party can use to reduce the sentence is that the perpetrators are underage. So, | want to hire an attorney myself. After all, Mr. Farrel is the chief of the Lambert Corporation Legal Department. Others may associate this case with the Lambert family.¡± ¡°If that is your decision, I''ll respect it,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you!¡± After Ryan left, Audrey copsed on the sofa. She hugged her knees and burst into tears. The recent events were happening one after another, and she could hardly bear it anymore. She lost Anne and Harper. She closed her eyes and stroked her belly. The child in her belly was her only family in this world. Should she keep him? Ryan was Diego''s former disciple and a genius with a high IQ. She had heard Nathan talk about her ¡± rtive¡± with great jealousy. Ryan had been at the top of the list of perfect husbands among the girls for seven consecutive years. Almost everyone in the school admired him. As an adopted son, the fact that he could be the definite heir of Mythravia Lambert Corporation, Chapter 1 made his capability unfathomable. For her to keep this child, he could easily pretend to be gentle to deceive her. 212 As they had slept together because of a mistake, he could also leave after admitting it was a mistake, apologizing, and asking her to forget about that night. She took a long breath and tidled her hair wet with tears. Then, she looked out the window at Cloudmill University and Cloudmill Junior High School and burst into tears again. In the hospital, Nathan nced at Hugo standing at the end of his hospital bed, waiting for hist answer. Hugo responded expressionlessly, ¡°Yes. Audrey used to call you Sweetle. It was a title exclusive to the both of you. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Nathan felt his heart hurt, and he couldn¡¯t even breathe. He put a hand on his chest, wondering why he was so sad. ¡°Have you remembered the past?¡± Hugo felt relieved to see him gloomily clutching his chest hard. Audrey would have avenged herself if he recalled everything he had done to her in the past two years. He had hurt her, and Anne¡¯s death was rted to him. Now he had rescued Charles, the culprit who killed Harper and was about to send him overseas. Would he regret it after remembering everything? Nathan avoided Hugo¡¯s gaze. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that part.¡± Hugo frowned. ¡°Did you faint because you remembered that?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± he responded with a frown. ¡°So, what are you going to do? Are you going to pretend that nothing has happened and continue to marry Amelia? Or...¡± Hugo didn¡¯t finish his words and looked at Nathan, who pursed his lips tightly. Nathan frowned irritably and said nothing. All he could think about was the child in her belly. Amelia, who wore a mask and sunsses, stood outside with a thermal sk. She was about to open the door but she suddenly lost the courage and no longer dared to listen to the conversation. Nathan had remembered a fragment from the past. She was flustered. She didn¡¯t know if he would break up with her if his memories of the past with Audrey returned. She clutched the thermal sk tightly and leaned against the wall palely. She worried that he would remember everything, but she was also unwilling to stop him from recovering the memories. She hoped he would still choose her after remembering the past. Only in this way could she be with him legitimately and tell everyone that he loved her more than Audrey. Instead of like now, when everyone said he chose her because he lost his memory. It was also why she pretended to be generous before. She made a promise to Audrey that after he regained his memory, whomever he chose to be with, the other party would leave unconditionally. she didn¡¯t even dare to enter the But now that she heard he remembered a part of his memorles ward. So she left the hospital as if she were running away and got into the van. Chapter 82 22 Her assistant was waiting for her in the van, eating snacks and ying on her phone. She was startled when she saw Amelia enter with a thermal sk. ¡°Amelia, didn¡¯t you go to visit Mr. Franklin? Why did youe down so quickly?¡± ¡°He¡¯s asleep. Let¡¯s go to the crew!¡± she said. Sensing her mood was bad, the assistant didn¡¯t ask anything and let the driver drive. Amelia leaned back in her seat tiredly and looked out the window. She knew about Nathan and Audrey a long time ago. She was three years younger than them. When she entered Sheysea Junior High School, the school was full of legends about their love story. She knew every crazy thing he had done for Audrey and knew that he loved Audrey so much that he could risk his life. As a young girl, she also wanted to be noticed and loved by a handsome boy. She found out what they looked like when she saw the school¡¯s outstanding student disy column. Nathan was handsome, and Audrey was pretty and confident. She was so envious that she subconsciously imitated Audrey. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Amelia thought that as long as she was simr enough to Audrey, she could also gain passionate and crazy love. When she entered Sheysca University, they had a car ident. One was in a vegetative state, and the other lost his memory. Like a lowly thief, she stole Nathan¡¯s love. She also experienced his passionate love that was envied byN?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. everyone. She worried everyone would say he fell in love with her because she was simr to Audrey. So, she began to change herself. But his feelings for her grew and didn¡¯t diminish despite her changes. She even felt that he seemed to love her more than Audrey. When he was with Audrey, they quarreled frequently, and he would beg for forgiveness. But when he was with her, he was never willing to quarrel with her. He would always act coquettishly as soon as the quarrel started, and he couldn''t bear to let her feel sad. After Audrey woke up, her fear of losing him decreased when he insulted Audrey repeatedly. She felt distressed and ashamed toward Audrey, but at the same time, she was unavoidably relieved. She told herself that maybe he once loved Audrey deeply, but she was still the one he loved most. He told her countless times that she would still be the one he loved even if he regained his memories. But she still didn¡¯t dare to face it. She became even more afraid after she pretended to be Audrey and took credit for Audrey¡¯s rescue for an endorsement deal. After a long time, she messaged him, saying she couldn''t leave the crew and would visit him tomorrow. He responded quickly and told her to eat on time and rest well. Seeing him reply to her message instantly, she felt a little relieved. The next morning, Audrey found Cloudmill¡¯s most famous attorney to take over the case. As the case was a sure win and popr, the attorney was naturally willing to take it on, even for free. ¡°I''m willing to spend all my savings just to make sure Charles gets punished!¡± she said firmly. After signing themission contract, Lonnie Hancock made an appointment with her that afternoon. He turned theptop to show her. ¡°ording to the evidence and video timeline you provided, as well as the first police station testimony of Eastville Junior High School student Max Fraley, it all shows that Charles Murray is the instigator)* He pointed to the screen ¡°Look, the testimony here can show that those bullies didn¡¯t exceed the requests of the instigator when committing the crime. But Max changed his testimony in the afternoon.¡± He looked at her solemnly. ¡°He said that Charles only bought the humiliation video from him. He falsely used Charles to escape guilt but has realized that his behavior is wrong¡± ¡°Edmond Marshman has intervened in this matter. Either he bribed Max¡¯s parents or threatened Max¡¯s parents!¡± she spoke firmly. So, would you be willing to write them a letter of understanding in exchange for the real testimonies from those bullies¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Audrey clenched her hands tightly. When she thought of those videos and what those demons did to Harper, she wanted them to die! But she didn¡¯t want to let go of Charles, the instigator. She wished he would get punished! She pondered and decided, ¡°If they¡¯re willing to tell the truth, | can write it!¡± Lonnie nodded. ¡°Okay, then I''ll tell their parents.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± After returning from the cafe, she focused on the research at theboratory. She couldn''t take any time off, or her mind would repeat the scenes of Harper getting bullied. Even though she was pregnant, she was busier than everyone else. The people in theboratory knew her situation, so they indulged her. They only gave her tasks that required thinking but didn¡¯t consume energy. When she came out to drink water, she heard Ryan¡¯s name. She paused and looked toward Daphine, who was talking happily.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°When Ryan Lambert negotiated with the foreigners a month ago, he was so charismatic! Now, he returned from overseas and decided to do independent research and development instead, his charisma is off the charts!¡± She showed Justin her phone. He took a sip of water, nced at it, and said, ¡°| heard that he took the top executives to Meria as a facade to bring back many experts in chips and lithography machines safely. ¡± Audrey came to her senses and took a sip of water. In the past few days, the inte had news of Ryan¡¯s sudden withdrawal from foreign chip negotiations. Lambert Corporation held an emergency press conference to announce the failure of chip cooperation negotiations. The R&D funding would increase by 20% to 50%pared tost year. Just yesterday, Meria announced the Lambert Corporation, its subsidiaries, and severalpanies that cooperate with Lambert Corporation were now on a more stringent sanctions list. Immediately afterward, the video of the internal meeting of Lambert Corporation was leaked. Ryan took the lead in uniting Cascadia¡¯s small and medium-sized technology enterprises for joint. research and development, breaking foreign restrictions on Cascadia¡¯s high-tech development and the chip monopoly. Cascadian was excited after watching it. He stood upright on the podium, and his words set off the support for domestic products and local enterprises in Cascadia. ¡°Every generation has its mission. The predecessors sacrificed their lives to fight for the country and keep us from hunger and war. Our battlefield is to rejuvenate the country through s cl technology! We should forge ahead to prevent our descendants from enduring, bumiliation to survive! It was Lambert Corporation¡¯s way of boosting morale after Moria announced stricter sections. Subsequently, thepanies that participated in the development of chips and lithography machines forwarded the video, During these days, she had been immersed in sadness and devoted all her energy to experiments, so she didn¡¯t read the news carefully, After drinking some water, she put down her ss, put on her mask and gloves, and entered theboratory again. Joseph passed by her and wanted to greet her. Seeing that she didn¡¯t look at him, he could only awkwardly turn aside to let her enter. He drank his coffee and looked through his WhatsApp messages. Almost all of them were from Nathan. Now in his view, Nathan was a scumbag who had abandoned his wife and child. He didn¡¯t want to read the messages at first, but he couldn¡¯t help taking a look at the contents. The content was nothing more than asking him to take care of Audrey, asking him how she was doing, and whether she had gone to abort the child. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Chapter 85 ¡°Scumbag!¡± Joseph didn¡¯t reply. He locked the screen and put his phone away. He was strongly dissatisfied with his cousin, whom he had not seen for 20 years. How could Nathan force his recently divorced ex-wife to abort the child? Near noon, Audrey received a call from Ryan. ¡°Are you going back for lunch? Or do you want the housekeeper to send the meal to you?¡± Although he asked, it was a tone that brooked no opposition. She could hear him flipping through papers. She didn¡¯t expect he would take the time to remind her to eat. ¡°I''ll eat at the apartment,¡± she said. She could guess that if she refused him, he would ask the housekeeper to send her the meal. After taking off her white coat, she said goodbye to Daphne and walked to the apartment The housekeeper had already left when she arrived. The aroma of food was tempting, but she had no appetite. 3 She was confused when she saw two sets of tableware. Soon, Ryan came out of the bathroom after washing his hands. It looked like he came directly from thepany as he was well-dressed. He casually ced his cufflinks aside and said, ¡°Wee back. Let''s eat!¡± He took off his tie, unbuttoned the top two buttons on his dress shirt, and walked to the dining table. Then, he served her soup and motioned for her to sit with him. Seeing this, she sat down, watched him put the bowl before her, and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Maybe it was because of her pregnancy. During the meal, he took great care of her. He was usually indifferent, but he would serve her soup again when she finished.it. The dishes he chose were all her favorites, and he was extremely attentive. When he put his hand on the back of her chair, she could vaguely smell the refreshing scent of the shower gel he had used. Such a close distance made her a little uneasy. ¡°You don¡¯t have to take care of me. | can do it myself,¡± she said. He indulged her as always. ¡°Okay.¡± It wasn¡¯t until she finished eating that he put down his fork gracefully, wiped his mouth, and asked, Have you thought about it? Are we going to get the certificate today?¡± She frowned upon hearing that. She had repeatedly broken her promise to George whether it was Chapter 85 epting Ryan¡¯s help, kissing him, or seeing him. ¡°Have you thought about it?¡± he asked. She could feel his gaze on her. She tightened her hands and felt inexplicably flustered. ¡°It''s okay. | was too anxious,¡± he said calmly and gently, ¡°There¡¯s still time.¡± She knew he was referring to the future time when Diego went overseas.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. If she wanted to give birth to this child, she must not be in Cascadia. It was undoubtedly the best choice for her to follow Diego overseas, stay there, and return after giving birth. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 But, could Audrey really keep this child? Keeping this child would bring trouble to the Lambert family, to Mr. Lambert Senior... and even to her biological mother. After losing loved ones one after another, Audrey developed a different kind of attachment to the baby inside her belly. Deep down, she wanted to keep this child. If the child was not Ryan¡¯s, she would not hesitate at all. But now, the child was causing her a lot of concerns. ¡°If Mr. Lambert Senior knew, he would never allow the child to be born. You should know that,¡± Audrey said without looking at Ryan. She was afraid that in Ryan¡¯s usually calm eyes, she would see emotions as fierce as thest time. She wouldn''t be able to handle it. ¡°Audrey, I¡¯m not asking for Mr. Lambert Senior''s opinion,¡± Ryan adjusted his sitting posture, and his cold fingers lifted Audrey¡¯s chin, forcing her to look at him. ¡°I¡¯m asking... for your opinion.¡± As their eyes met, Audrey¡¯s heart suddenly beat faster. Ryan¡¯s eyes were cold and narrow. Without the barrier of sses, she clearly saw the intense and deep emotions in his eyes. It felt like ants were crawling slowly up her spine, making her breathe erratically and even causing her fingers to tremble involuntarily. Audrey gripped Ryan¡¯s strong and powerful wrist. But under his gaze, she lost her strength to pull his hand away. Her little finger touched the metal dial on his wrist. The slight ticking of the watch seemed to collide with the depths of her heart, leaving her dazed and confused. ¡°Forget everything else, let''s just talk about this child, Audrey. Do you want to keep it?¡± Ryan¡¯s voice was enchanting ¡°We can have a secret marriage. | promise to not let Mr. Lambert Senior know about the existence of this child, and | guarantee to protect your and the child¡¯s privacy. Unless you are willing to publicly acknowledge our rtionship.¡± ¡°If, | mean if,¡± Audrey tightly held Ryan¡¯s hand that was sping her chin and said, ¡°If, after the child is born, we get divorced, do I give the child to you, or not let you have any contact with the child? Audrey didn¡¯t want her child to be a love child, so she suggested getting married first and then divorcing Ryan¡¯s pupils contracted. After a while, he spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t you want the child to grow up in a normal Chapter 66 2/2 family?¡± ¡°Our rtionship has doomed this child to never grow up in a normal family.¡± Audrey looked exhausted. ¡°In secret, you are the adopted son of my maternal grandfather. Openly, we are blood- rted rtives.¡± Apart from the fear of her biological mother¡¯s identity being exposed, this was the most agonizing part for Audrey. ¡°I''ll respect all your decisions,¡± Ryan touched Audrey''s delicate cheek, and said without hesitation, After the child is born, whether you choose to continue or divorce, whether you want custody or give it to me, | will respect your wishes and cooperate to the fullest extent to protect our child.¡± Ryan spoke calmly, rationally, and methodically. Audrey had to admit, Ryan¡¯s words further broke down the defenses in her heart. She felt that he was willing to solve all the problems as long as she was willing to give birth to this child. But she didn¡¯t know that Ryan was lying. ¡°| will consider it carefully,¡± Audrey said. Seeing Audrey like this, with her delicate eyebrows lowered, her long eyshes casting a fan-shaped shadow on her overly fair cheeks, she seemed so docile. His Adam¡¯s apple moved, and the suppressed impulse in his body was bing difficult to bear. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Ever since being intimate with Audrey, Hyan always found it difficult to control het in her Remembering that addictive feeding was almost eigh to reuse his selfer to my I Ryan¡¯a gape ronald fed on her, and his fingers pressed against the corner of her lips. ¡°Cm 1 kiss You?¡± Audrey''s lips slightly parted from shock, unable to utter a word. Her heart almost staged beating because of Ryan¡¯s words. She felt her whole body go numb under Ryan¡¯s deep and profound gave. How m straightforward and calm in expressing his desire to kiss her? Any intimate gestures with lyan made Audrey feel a strong sense of betrayal. Especially kissing Ryan. Especially after Ryan forcefully kissed her in this apartmentst time. How their lips and tongues entwined, the sounds made during the kiss, and Ryan¡¯s heavy breathing were vividly ying back in her mind. She couldn¡¯t think about it. Just thinking about it made her ears burn. ¡°4-1 should go,¡± Audrey tried to avoid Ryan¡¯s gaze. ¡°Audrey, should | kiss you or hug you?¡± Ryan¡¯s hand, which was holding her chin, moved to the back of her head. His fair and slender fingers lodged in her hair, waiting for Audrey''s response. ¡°Audrey, | want tofort you, but | don¡¯t know where to start. Won''t you teach me?¡± Every word Ryan said was tempting Audrey to recall theirst kiss, breaking down her defenses ¡°Can 1 refuse?¡± Audrey restrained her pounding heartbeat and asked. Leaving Ryan¡¯s apartment, Audrey walked dizzily toward theboratory. In her mind, there was Ryan¡¯s softughter when she rejected him. Before Audrey could understand what thatughter meant, she had already arrived at theboratory. She shook her head to cast away all theplicated and chaotic emotions and began a busy afternoon. At 7:30 pm, Joseph forcibly pulled Audrey out of theboratory and removed her protective clothing. Joseph poured a ss of milk for Audrey, who was taking off her gloves and leaned against the bar. He asked, ¡°What are your ns for the child in your belly?¡± Without lifting her head, Audrey washed her hands in the sink and replied, ¡°Did Nathan tell you to ask about it?¡± Chapter 82 Audrey found it somewhat ridiculous. Who gave Nathan the confidence to think that the child must be his?N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°Let me emphasize again, the child is not his!¡± Audrey took a plece of tissue paper to wipe her hands. She said, ¡°Tell him to stop being overly concerned with my affairs. Rather than doing this, why doesn¡¯t he care more about his ncdel¡± ¡°It''s not really like that. After all, we¡¯re ssmates. I¡¯m genuinely concerned about you!¡± Joseph awkwardly scratched his head while holding the cup. ¡°l also think Nathan handled this matter poorly. But | don¡¯t know him well. This is the first time I¡¯vee back to the country. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen him, | swear it¡¯s true!¡± Joseph was anxious to distance himself from Nathan. Seeing Audrey¡¯s eyes silently watching him, he continued, ¡°He has been sending me messages, so | asked you about it.¡± ¡°Tell him not to inquire about my affairs anymore. To put it bluntly, he¡¯s being annoying. He once said that | shamelessly clung to him like a ster. But now that I¡¯m deliberately avoiding him, he wants to know what the ster is doing. Does he really need a lapdog constantly following him around to maintain his perpetual charm?¡± Audrey said. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Audrey was in a bad mood, and her words inevitably turned sharp. ¡°| understand!¡± Joseph quickly took out his phone to show Audrey their chat history. ¡°I scolded him too! Don¡¯t worry, he asked if you had aborted the child, and | told him you did. Whether you n to keep the child or not, he will never find out.¡± Audrey nced at the chat history and eventually took the ss of milk that Joseph had brought, epting his kindness. ¡°Thank you. Seeing that Audrey didn¡¯t reject him, Joseph breathed a sigh of relief. On the other end of the phone, Nathan stared nkly at his chat record with Joseph.. Joseph said that Audrey had already aborted the child. So quickly? It must be Ryan¡¯s doing! Given Ryan¡¯s current influence, he wouldn¡¯t allow Audrey¡¯s scandal to be exposed. Due to the Lambert Corporation¡¯s independent research and development of chips and lithography machines, Ryan¡¯s influence in the business world was even greater than before. These days, the most frequent words that Nathan had heard his mother say was that he was not as good as an adopted son of the Lambert family. Isn''t that obvious? If Ryan wasn¡¯t outstanding, how could he be adopted by the Lambert family? Perhaps, those with the surname Lambert were naturally intelligent due to good gics. One Ryan, and one Audrey. Before, Nathan didn¡¯t believe that Audrey was once a famous genius in Sheysea City. It was not until her family participated in the ¡°Looking For Family¡± program, and videos of Audrey participating in variouspetitions were dug up, that Nathan believed it. Audrey had broken records in Sheysea City that still hadn¡¯t been surpassed. It turned out that whether in domestic or internationalpetitions, Audrey always won the gold medal in the first battle, without exception. Even when facing interviews from journals before the departure, she would only say that her teacher asked her to broaden her horizons, but she would alwayse back with a gold medal. So, this person, who he once thought was not from a good background and therefore clung to him desperately, was actually such a talented individual? Nathan began to wonder what kind of person he fell in love with before losing his memory. But he already had Amelia. Chapter 58 Nathan had proposed, and Amelia had agreed. He couldn¡¯t upset Ame. However, the more Nathan suppressed himself from thinking about Audrey, the more those memory fragments rted to her yed in his mind like scenes from a movie. ¡°Nathan...¡± Amelia pushed the door oper Nathan quickly locked his phone screen and looked up with a smulle. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°| took a leave from the director toe see you. How are you feeling today?¡± Amelia ced the thermos on the bedside table and sat at the edge of the bed. ¡°They didn¡¯t find any significant problems. My mom insisted that | stay a day or two for aprehensive check-up,¡± Nathan sat up straight, supporting himself. ¡°I know your crew is busy. You don¡¯t have to trouble yourself to visit me. When I¡¯m discharged, | can go visit your set!¡± Amelia¡¯s hands on the bed tightened. She keenly sensed that Nathan''s recent behavior was quite different from before. Before, Nathan would want to spend every moment of the day with her. When he was hospitalized, he would take advantage of the opportunity to ask her to take leave and apany him in the hospital. Now, he was so considerate, saying she didn¡¯t need toe. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Moreover, Nathan hadn¡¯t called Amelia ¡°sweetie¡± for several days. ¡°Nathan, you haven''t called me ¡®sweetie¡¯ in a while now,¡± Amelia spoke gently. ¡°You haven¡¯t sent any messages either. You¡¯re not acting like yourself...¡± Nathan felt a tightness in his chest, involuntarily recalling the expression on Audrey¡¯s face when she sat on the reef, joyfully looking at the ring on her finger under the sunlight. The sunlight outlined her tousled hair and the graceful lines of her neck. She looked rxed and shined brightly. Before Nathan could respond, Amelia reached out and shook his arm. ¡°Nathan, what are you thinking about?¡± Nathan snapped out of his thoughts. He didn¡¯t know how to tell Amelia that the term ¡°sweetie¡± was actually what Audrey used to call him in private. Nathan knew Amelia didn¡¯t feel secure with him. ¡°You used toin that calling you ¡®sweetie¡¯ was treating you like a child,¡± Nathan smiled and reached out to ruffle Amelia¡¯s hair. 10 ¡°Don¡¯t you know that women are always saying one thing but meaning another?¡± Amelia swatted away Nathan¡¯s hand. ¡°Only you can call me that. | feel that I¡¯m special to you! Besides, you''ve been calling me that for so long. There must be a reason you suddenly stopped!¡± Amelia was smiling, but her hand had tightened. She was afraid that Nathan would tell her that it was because he remembered Audrey. Perhaps the term sweetie was his private nickname for Audrey, and now he didn¡¯t want to use it on her. Amelia also feared that Nathan would remember some things but wouldn''t tell her, nning to gradually distance himself from her. ¡°Sweetie, sweetie, sweetie!¡± Nathan grabbed Amelia¡¯s hand, as gently as ever. ¡°Since you like it so much, I''ll call you sweetie again in the future. Don¡¯t call me childish again, sweetie!¡± Seeing that Nathan looked unaffected, Ameliaforted herself. Even if Nathan remembered Audrey, his normal behavior in front of her meant that he still loved her the most! Amelia visibly brightened and tentatively asked, ¡°Did you meet Audrey when you took Joseph¡¯s cousin to Cloudmill University? How is she doing?¡± ¡°Didn''t | tell you not to mention her in front of me?¡± Nathan lowered his eyes guiltily. ¡°Alright, alright, | won''t bring it up again!¡± Amelia got up to pour soup for Nathan. ¡°I''ll apany you to drink a bowl of soup and then | have to go. The crew is hosting a dinner for the investors tonight, and | need to attend.¡± ¡°Remember to send me the hotel location, and I''lle pick you up,¡± Nathan said. 2/2 The case of Harper Hayes had gained a lot of attention online, with many demanding severe punishment for the bullies. The defensewyer, Edmond, repeatedlymunicated with Audrey¡¯swyer, hoping to get her to issue a letter of forgiveness, giving the few kids a chance to reform. He even brought a few repentance letters written by the kids. Upon receiving a call from Edmond, Audrey expressed that forgiveness letters couldn¡¯t bring back her sister¡¯s life. Her goal was clear¡ªshe wanted them to face the consequences of their actions. After hearing that Edmond would ensure that they receive the appropriate punishment, Audrey went to find Professor Dous. ¡°If you are willing to apany me, that would be great. Then, you and Joseph will being with me!¡± Professor Dous was very happy and handed Audrey the materials for the exchange meeting. ¡°You need to memorize these, and be prepared mentally. It could be as short as one or two months, or as long as who knows when.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°There is one more thing | must confess to you.¡± Audrey informed Professor Dous about her pregnancy. He pondered for a moment and asked, ¡°Will the pregnancy affect your performance?¡± ¡°At least not for now,¡± Audrey replied. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± Professor Dous smiled at Audrey and said, ¡°Back in the day, my wife lost opportunities due to her pregnancy, so | won''t let it happen to you youngsters. As long as you feel physically fine, | believe in your capabilities. After all, there is no dangerous equipment at the exchange meeting. However, If you find it too challenging, Ill send you back immediately.¡± ¡°That¡¯s to be expected!¡± Audrey expressed deep gratitude to Professor Dous. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down! ¡°However, as someone who has been through the same thing, being a single mother is not easy. You''re divorced, are you sure about keeping this child?¡± Professor Dous asked with concern. Sensing that Professor Dous also believed the child was Nathan¡¯s, Audrey didn¡¯t borate much and said, ¡°My adoptive mother and sister are both gone, and their deaths were somewhat rted to me. This time, | don¡¯t want to lose another family member.¡± Professor Dous pursed his lips and patted Audrey¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I understand. Run along now!¡± After leaving Professor Dous''s office, Audrey called Ryan. Decisions were often made from just a moment of courage. Audrey decided to go abroad with Professor Dous and give birth to this child. And as the child¡¯s father, Ryan had the right to know. The call connected. Audrey spoke, ¡°I just talked to Professor Dous. | n to go abroad with him.¡± ¡°Alright, understood.¡± Ryan¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°I''ll be at Cloudmill by 8:30 pm tonight. Let¡¯s discuss the details at home. We need toe up with a detailed n that is eptable to you.¡± Ryan had promised that if Audrey didn¡¯t want to... he would do his best to protect her and the child¡¯s privacy. ¡°| want to keep the child with me.¡± Audrey wasn¡¯t sure if her request was pushing it too far. ¡°Alright, | promise you!¡± Ryan had almost no hesitation. It was as if as long as Audrey was willing to keep the child, he would agree to any request. He spoke as if coaxing a child, ¡°Audrey, | still have some work to do here. Let¡¯s talk more tonight, alright?¡± ¡°okay, let¡¯s talk tonight.¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey felt weirdly nervous. Perhaps it was because the person Audrey had always looked up to and respected had forcibly kissed her in that apartment, and even tried to kiss her again. Chapter 90 2/2 Meeting tonight at that apartment made her inevitably awkward. The news quickly spread in theboratory. Everyone now knew that Professor Dous nned to take Audrey and Joseph, the two junior students, to the exchange meeting Seeing the guilt in Audrey¡¯s eyes, Azure quickly hugged her shoulders and said, ¡°Oh, we''ve also been to exchange meetings with the professor before. To be honest, | don¡¯t really like those meetings. Knowing that the professor won''t let me go this time, I¡¯m really relieved. We as researchers are not good at dealing with people!¡± This statement wasn¡¯t fake. At exchange meetings, the most they did was interact with people, which was quite challenging for their research-focused minds. After all, those who are truly engaged in academic research almost devoted all their energy to experiments and rarely engaged in social activities. Daphne also nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve followed the old geezer before, and honestly, it was quite boring. Just sitting in the back row and watching them argue. That time would be much better spent running experiments! | really don¡¯t understand the old geezer. If he put all that effort into our experiments, we might have achieved results long ago.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 ¡°That¡¯s not true. If it weren¡¯t for Professor Dous engaging with people at the top and making connections, where would the funding for ourboratorye from?¡± Justin smiled while rubbing Daphne¡¯s head. He said looking at Joseph, ¡°We have a social butterfly here. For this exchange meeting, just let Audrey have fun. Leave the rest to him!¡± ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of Audrey!¡± Joseph assured. At 7:30 pm, a light rain began to fall in Cloudmill. Standing on the steps of theboratory building, Audrey tightened her coat. She looked up at the rain and was about to run back to the dormitory to get an umbre when a ck car stopped at the entrance. Ryan, dressed in a suit, got out of the car with an umbre and walked up the steps. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said. With a height of six feet two inches, even standing a step below Audrey, Ryan¡¯s umbre easily covered her head. Audrey adjusted the bag on her shoulder, lowered her head, and walked down the steps. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. ¡°Be careful not to slip.¡± Ryan casually put his arm around Audrey''s shoulder, protecting her under the umbre as they descended the steps. Audrey nervously nced at the arm around her shoulder. The hand wearing a brown leather watch had slender and powerful joints. It was different from the mboyant youthfulness of Nathan, possessing fair and delicate skin full of masculine strength and tension. The familiar yet foreign masculine scent enveloped Audrey, and she instinctively tightened her grip on her bag. It was only when they got into the car that her intense heartbeat finally calmed down. ¡°Have some of this.¡± Ryan opened a thermos and handed it to Audrey. ¡°The temperature is just right.¡± Audrey took a sip, feeling the richness of the hot cocoa on her lips. ¡°Thank you.¡± When the two returned to the apartment, the housekeeper had just left, and the food on the table was still warm. Ryan took off his coat, and his face showed no expression. He only said to Audrey, ¡°Let''s discuss after dinner.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. She nodded. After dinner, Ryan poured a cup of warm water for Audrey and sat on the single couch next to her. He said, ¡°I¡¯ve obtained all the details of Professor Dous¡¯ itinerary and the list of personnel for the Chacter 91 212 exchange meeting. Professor Dous and Professor Ilyich from Saint Pa University have simr research directions and reached a cooperationst year. ¡°After this exchange meeting, both Sides will send their students to each other¡¯sboratories for at least two years. Your ability to speak Runion is an advantage, so you can work there during that time.¡± Ryan handed a tablet to Audrey. ¡°These are a few ces closest to Saint Pa University. You can choose the one you like.¡± While Audrey was checking out the houses, Ryan told her about the arrangements for bodyguards, nannies, assistants, and drivers rted to her trip to Runa. He assured her that they were all reliable people. Audrey looked at Ryan and said, ¡°There are some things | need to rify with you in advance. I¡¯m sorry, but | have to consider the well-being of the Lambert family, so | can¡¯t let anyone know the child is yours,¡± Ryan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he looked at Audrey. ¡°| think if we don¡¯t let others know that the child is yours, then...¡± Audrey lowered her eyes. ¡°In case someone from the Lambert family or Mr. Lambert Senior finds out, you can always say that you helped me out of consideration for the Lambert family. That way, it won''t implicate you.¡± ¡°So, you have no ns of marrying me?¡± Ryan¡¯s Adam''s apple moved slightly. ¡°Do you want our child to be a secret love child?¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 ¡°| just don¡¯t want the child to have any connection with the Lambert family.¡± Audrey tightly gripped the hem of her coat, finally composed herself, and looked up. ¡°The child came unexpectedly. If it hadn¡¯t, | might have chosen to live a lonely life, but it came. It¡¯s my only family in this world! Making the child a love child is my fault, and | will do my best to make amends! But | cannot betray the Lambert family any more than this, because of the debts | owe to them... | won¡¯t be able to make up for it.¡± Ryan locked eyes with her. He lifted his hand and removed his sses. ¡°We can register our marriage in Runa. If you are unwilling to continue our marriage after the child is born, we can get divorced again. If the Lambert family finds out, It can also be an excuse for me to help you for the Lambert family! ¡°Audrey, | canpromise on anything, but making my child a secret love child is the bottom line. | hope you can respect and understand that.¡± The child is Audrey¡¯s and also Ryan¡¯s, and his perspective is understandable. In the end, Audrey nodded. TI She put down the cup, stood up, and headed toward the door. ¡°Well, go back to campus. ¡°The road is slippery due to the rain. Stay here tonight,¡± Ryan said. ¡°It''s not far.¡± Audrey was about to say goodbye to Ryan when suddenly an explosion sounded in the distance. Her foot hit the sofa, and she lost her bnce. ¡°Be careful!¡± Ryan¡¯s strong and powerful arm circled her waist, and she fell into his arms. Their eyes met. Then, the lights in the entire apartment suddenly went out. Outside the window, the entire city of Cloudmill quickly plunged into darkness. It was so dark that you couldn¡¯t see your fingers. Audrey tightly clutched Ryan¡¯s shirt with both hands. She attempted to stand up, but her movement was restrained by Ryan¡¯s large hand. In the darkness, where her vision was deprived, her other senses became exceptionally sensitive. Audrey could smell Ryan¡¯s fresh scent. She could also feel his hot breath. The warmth of Ryan¡¯s body came through his pants and thin shirt, making Audrey restless. ¡°| can get up now,¡± Audrey said. Chapter 92 The darkness was fueling the unspeakable greed inside Ryan. He no longer had to suppress the lust in his eyes. He tentatively touched Audrey''s cheek. ¡°Ry-Ryan...¡± Hearing Audrey¡¯s trembling voice, he took advantage of the darkness and rubbed her lips with his thumb. Audrey''s eyshes trembled, but she didn¡¯t refuse. Ryan¡¯s possessiveness grew. His Adam''s apple moved, and he slowly lowered his head to kiss her. Sensing Ryan''s intention, Audrey grabbed his wrist, but he hugged her tighter. Ryan¡¯s breath came closer, and her heart beat anxiously. Even though he hadn¡¯t kissed her yet, she was already panicking Audrey couldn¡¯t help but recall the day when Ryan kissed her, pressing her against the door and confessing to her in this very apartment. Audrey had always had a strong sense of repulsion toward intimate contact with men, including when she was in love with Nathan. It was because she had witnessed her biological father¡¯s violence against her mother, which left her traumatized.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. This was why even though Audrey had been with Nathan for many years, they had never been able to cross the line. At that time, Nathan loved her so much and was unwilling to force her at all. Even when they kissed, it was just a peck. If she hadn¡¯t drunk the spiked drink at Nathan''s requestst time at Jacinda Hotel, she would never have been intimate with any man while sober. But for some reason, Audrey wasn¡¯t repulsed by Ryan¡¯s proximity. Ryan¡¯s lips touched the corner of Audrey¡¯s mouth, and her breathing stopped. Her mind was ina mess. Just as she was about to reach out to push him, he grabbed her hand. Ryan was like a guide, holding her hand and putting it on his shoulder. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Just as Audrey wanted to withdraw her hand, her lips were pried open.. She was so shocked that she grabbed Ryan¡¯s broad and strong shoulders, and her whole body seemed to be paralyzed. Ryan grabbed the back of her head and deepened the kiss. He forcefully snatched her air, upied her mouth, and kissed her desperately. Audrey''s strength seemed to have been taken away by Ryan, and her whole body melted like a puddle. Her hand, which was grabbing onto Ryan, was shaking so badly that she could barely hold his shoulder and her hand slid to his arm. The sound of eager kissing made her blush. ¡°Ding ding ding-¡± Ryan¡¯s phone suddenly rang in the dark and quiet living room, interrupting their moment. Ryan let go of Audrey¡¯s lips and breathed heavily. The call came at the wrong time, and Ryan was unhappy. However, if the ringtone hadn''t interrupted him, he might have been unable to control himself and devoured Audrey. Audrey''s heart was pounding. Just as she was about to get up from Ryan¡¯sp, she was held down. ¡® It¡¯s too dark, be careful,¡± he said. Ryan supported Audrey and reached for the phone. When he saw that it was Julian, he controlled his breathing and said, ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Sir, the power nt in the southern suburbs exploded. The entire southern suburbs¡® power system is down. We don¡¯t know when the power will be restored. There are fully charged emergency lights in the apartment, located on the second shelf in the utility room on the left after the entrance,¡± Julian reported. ¡°Understood,¡± Ryan replied. After hanging up the phone, Ryan said to Audrey, ¡°There¡¯s been an explosion at the power nt in the southern suburbs, and the entire area is without electricity. If you want to go back to the university dormitory, you''ll have to walk down from the top floor, and there are no street lights on the way back. Stay here tonight, alright?¡± After speaking, Ryan threw his phone aside and picked Audrey up. He headed toward the bedroom. ¡°You... Put me down, | can walk by myself.¡± Audrey nervously grabbed the cor of his shirt. Ryan turned a deaf ear and carried Audrey into the master bedroom. He then ced her on the bed. Chapter 93-Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 2/2 ¡°Rest well here tonight. I''ll send you back to campus early tomorrow morning.¡± Ryan opened the music box that was charging on the bedside table. The rotating starry sky projection lit up the room. Audrey looked up and saw Ryan¡¯s handsome face. He straightened and instructed, ¡°Sit here and don¡¯t move. I''ll go get the emergency light.¡± Audrey nodded. Watching Ryan¡¯s back leave the bedroom, she raised her hand and gently touched her lips that had been kissed fiercely. Her cheeks were burning. Audrey never expected that the outwardly mature and steady Ryan would have such a moment where he lost control. Is this how Ryan expressed his affection? Unabashedly, he expressed his love through passionate kisses. That night in the apartment, perhaps it was because Ryan was in the next room, Audrey didn¡¯t sleep well. So, she overslept the next day. Ryan left a note for Audrey. He had already left for Mythravia. After breakfast, Audrey packed up and returned to campus. After the selection of candidates to apany Professor Dous to the exchange meeting, Justin had already booked tickets for the three of them to depart for Slovomia on the 13th of March. These days, Audrey and Joseph put aside their current experiments and focused on studying the materials provided by Professor Dous. At lunchtime, Audrey lifted her head from a pile of documents, rubbed her sore neck, and checked the time on the phone. Seeing messages in the inbox, she opened them. All three messages were from foreign numbers. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 The messages read, ¡°Even if | let people abuse Harper, | have my brother-inw protecting me. What can you do to me?¡± ¡°| have many videos here that you haven''t seen. How about seeing the pathetic little mute begging?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once I¡¯m abroad, | will definitely make the little mute famous.¡± When Audrey saw the messages, her hand couldn''t stop shaking. She took screenshots of the messages and sent them to Lonnie. The three foreign numbers all had different country codes. Audrey knew that Charles was well- prepared. The numbers couldn¡¯t be traced back to him. He did this deliberately to disgust her. Yet, these three messages still inevitably reminded Audrey of Harper¡¯s extreme fear and pain in the videos, and what kind of inhuman torture Harper went through. Two hourster, Lonnie called. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, I¡¯ve contacted the parents of the students from Eastville Junior High School. They¡¯ve seen the messages sent by Charles and are willing to confess the truth. However, they want to meet you. Are you willing to do so?¡± After delivering the news, Lonnie seemed concerned that Audrey might refuse and added, ¡°This is ourst chance before the trial.¡± ¡°Alright! I''ll return to Eastville this afternoon,¡± Audrey agreed immediately. The Chief Legal Officer of the Franklin Group and the defensewyer for the group of children, Edmond Marshman, quickly received the news that the parents were willing to expose Charles and requested a meeting with Audrey. When Nathan heard this news, Charles happened to be at the Franklin Residence. ¡°Do you know when Audrey will meet with the parents of these children?¡± Nathan asked. ¡°| heard it''s tonight. Ms. Yeomans is already on her way to Eastville,¡± Edmond replied. After Nathan hung up the phone, Charles panicked and said, ¡°Nathan, what should | do?¡± ¡°Didn''t | tell you to behave during this time and not to provoke Audrey?¡± Nathan couldn''t contain his anger. Knowing he was in the wrong, Charles stammered, ¡°I didn¡¯t use my own phone to send those messages. She can¡¯t find any evidence against me.¡± ¡°But you have to understand that those parents are the parents of the children! They only want their children safe. You are the mastermind, and as long as you confess, their punishment will be greatly reduced. Audrey is now asking them to expose you in exchange for her leniency. How do you n to solve this now?¡± Chapter 94 Nathan threw the phone into Charles¡¯s arms, ¡°Nathan! Nathan, you have to save me!¡± Charles hastily got up and pulled Nathan''s arm. ¡°You know that my sister grew up in my house since she was a child. | am my sister¡¯s real brother! If go to jail, it will definitely have a bad impact on my sister! Moreover, with a brother in jail, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin will be even less likely to agree to my sister marrying into your family!¡± Nathan forcefully shook off Charles¡¯s hand, pursed his lips, and thought for a moment before reaching out. ¡°Give me the phonel¡± Charles quickly handed Nathan his phone with both hands. The call was made, and Nathan ordered, ¡°Book the earliest flight to Eastville for me.¡± ¡°Nathan, you''re my savior!¡± Charles wished he could kneel to Nathan.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I''m telling you, everything | do is entirely for Amel¡± Nathan''s face was dark as he warned Charles, pointing at him, ¡°From now on, you better be obedient while waiting to go abroad. Delete all those videos of Harper, and never provoke Audrey again! ¡°If there¡¯s a second time, you''ll go to jail! Even if it''s for Amelia¡¯s sake, | won¡¯t care about you anymore! I''llpletely cut ties between Ame and your family! Do you understand?¡± ¡°| understand! This time, I''ll definitely listen obediently!¡± Charles raised his hand and swore,¡± Otherwise, let me serve my sentence through to the end!¡± Nathan took his coat off the back of the couch, his face grim, and left. ¡°Nathan, let me drive you!¡± Charles quickly followed. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 In order to demonstrate their sincerity and apologize to Audrey, a few parents reserved a private room in the best restaurant in Eastville. When Audrey and Lonnie arrived, the entire restaurant had been cleared out. Confused, Audrey and Lonnie were led by the restaurant''s waiter to the entrance of the private room. When they pushed the door open, they were surprised to find Nathan seated at the main table in the spacious private room. Several bodyguards stood inside the room. The parents of the children sat in their positions, timidly ncing at Audrey and then lowering their heads, afraid to speak. Nathan, with an unlit cigarette in his mouth, yed with a metal lighter in his hand. He stared fixedly at Audrey. Before Audrey and Lonnie could react, the door behind them was already closed. Audrey turned to look at the bodyguard who had pushed her and Lonnie, but before she couldprehend the situation, their handbags were snatched away. ¡°Sir, what you''re doing is illegal!¡± Lonnie said. Nathan sneered and said, ¡°Lawyers should speak with evidence! Do you have any evidence?¡± As soon as Nathan finished speaking, a male and a female bodyguard stepped forward to search them. Audrey stood still as the female bodyguard frisked her and took away her phone. Lonnie¡¯s voice recorder was also confiscated. ¡°So... you¡¯ve used threats to persuade these parents! And now, it¡¯s my turn, right?¡± Audrey met Nathan¡¯s gaze without any fear. ¡°Are you determined to protect Charles at all costs?¡± ¡°Ms. Yeomans, I¡¯m sorry, my child was ignorant!¡± Max Fraley¡¯s father stood up with a pale expression. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for being misleading earlier. | wanted to deceive you into thinking that Mr. Murray instructed my child to ask for your forgiveness. | was wrong! | apologize sincerely!¡± Audrey''s fists clenched at her side. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, I¡¯m sorry too... for making youe all the way here for nothing!¡± Another mother of a child stood up and apologized. After all the parents of the children had apologized, Nathan lit a cigarette, spread his hands, and smiled at Audrey, ¡°You see? This matter itself has nothing to do with Charles.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Nathan, do you think everyone is a fool?¡± Audrey closed her eyes, clenched her fists tightly, and then loosened them. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you used to threaten these parents. But since your goal has been achieved, can Lonnie and | leave?¡± Chapter 95 The moment Nathan appeared before her eyes, Audrey knew that she hade here for nothing ¡°You all can leave!¡± Nathan flicked off the cigarette asli, As soon as he said that, the parents stood up and headed towards the exit. ¡°Don''t forget your promises, or else be prepared to bear the consequences!¡± Nathan watched their hurried departure and said. Audrey turned to leave, but Nathan spoke again, ¡°Audrey, let yourwyer leave first. | have something to discuss with you. Lonnie looked at Audrey worriedly and said, ¡°Ms. Yeomans?¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Chapter 96 ¡°It''s okay, wait for me outside,¡± Audrey reassured Lonnie. After Lonnie left, the door was closed again. Audrey turned to face Nathan, who was approaching her. She said, ¡°I never thought you would resort to such gangster tactics!¡± ¡°| used to deal with things like this. You just never saw this side of me.¡± Nathan stood in front of Audrey. He casually picked up the ashtray on the table and extinguished the cigarette in his hand. Audrey''s pupils trembled slightly, and she stared at him without blinking Seeing Audrey¡¯s expression change, Nathan exined, ¡°Yes, | remember now. Like you calling me¡± sweetie¡¯ in private, like the ring | gave you by the seaside, like the blooming roses behind the school wall... and that kiss.¡± Audrey clenched her fists, and her eyes became teary in an instant. Although Nathan had regained his memory, her heart felt even colder. ¡°But those memories don¡¯t matter to you anymore, do they?¡± Audrey looked at Nathan coldly and said, ¡°Even if you remember, what''s most important to you is still Amelia. Even Charles is more important to you than those memories. You love Amelia more than anything, right?¡± Nathan was irritated by Audrey¡¯s indifference. ¡°Yes!¡± he retorted defiantly. ¡°So, | advise you to stop now. | can send those who bullied your sister, including that minor, to prison. But not Charles!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know he was the mastermind?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice raised. ¡°So what if he was? No one can touch the people | want to protect!¡± Nathan stared at Audrey without any expression. ¡°You should know, that | always fulfill my promises.¡± The current Audrey looked very different from the fragments of memories in his mind. The Audrey in his memories seemed to be rounder and more childish, more outgoing But now, she was thin, almost like a gust of wind could blow her away. However, her eyes were still determined and bright, as if nothing had changed. Seeing Audrey¡¯s red eyes, Nathan felt ufortable in his chest. He frowned, rubbing his hands in his pockets, and threatened ording to the rehearsed lines in his mind, ¡°You better take my words. seriously!¡± ¡°If you''ve remembered the past, then you should also know that once | decide on something, | won¡¯t easily give up,¡± Audrey¡¯s gaze became heavy. Nathan took a half step closer to Audrey. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, ¡°If Charles Chapter 96 2/2N?velDrama.Org owns this text. goes to prison, the whole Yeomans family in your vige will know about your rtionship with Ryan! They will also know where your biological grandfather is, and that pitiful woman who was assaulted nine times. Whether it¡¯s photos or past experiences, everything will be exposed to the public ¡°Smack!¡± Before Nathan could finish his sentence, he was pped so hard that his head turned to the other side. Audrey''s whole body was trembling. After that p, her hand felt numb. Her tears flowed down uncontrobly. As Nathan admitted to regaining his memory, something that had been haunting Audrey and preventing her from letting go of the past suddenly dissipated. Originally, she always thought that it was Nathan losing his memory that made him treat her so badly. She believed that when Nathan eventually regained his memories, he¡¯d return to her side again. They grew up together, from getting to know each other to getting married after 12 years. Nathan knew about everything she had been through. It was with a love so intense it was suffocating, that he healed¡ªAudrey¡¯''s insecurities andck of love. But she never expected that one day... Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Nathan would use these things as a weapon to threaten Audrey. Nathan pushed his tongue against his hot and swollen cheek and turned his gaze towards Audrey. She had a cold expression but couldn''t hold back her tears. ¡°Do you know how the Yeomans family found you and how they ended up on the ¡®Looking For Family ¡® program?¡± Nathan''s voice was low, cold, and cutting like ice. Audrey stared at Nathan with wide eyes. So, it was Nathan... He was the one who led the Yeomans family to find her, and he was the one who made the Yeomans family appear on the program! If it weren¡¯t for the Yeomans family being on the show, how could Aunt Anne have had a car ident in Sheysea! It was all him! ¡°So, Audrey,¡± he spoke slowly, ¡°if you insist on making things difficult for Charles, then let''s see how it goes! ¡°Even if Ryan is powerful, you know the Yeomans family. They won''t hesitate to take action! As long as | provide the money, they could cause a scene in front of the Lambert Corporation''s building, or even at the old residence of the Lambert family in Mythravia! With the media being so developed now, if the Yeomans family goes live again, it will be quite a spectacle.¡± Audrey felt like she was falling into an icy abyss. If the Yeomans family appeared at the old residence of the Lambert family, her biological mother.... She clenched her fists tightly. Her tears streamed down. ¡°Nathan, you''re really despicable! You¡¯re a monster!¡± Audrey''s voice choked with sobs. Her eyes were full of hatred as she said, ¡°One day, you will get what you deserve!¡± ¡°What | deserve? Before | get what | deserve, | will make sure to destroy everything you care about! So, think carefully about what you should do!¡± Nathan said. He took out a bank card from his pocket and handed it to Audrey, ¡°I''ll make sure Charles deletes the video of Harper. As compensation for our past rtionship, there¡¯s three million dors in there.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Audrey lowered her eyes to look at the card, gritted her teeth, and forcefully threw the card at Nathan''s face. ut appeared at the corner of Nathan¡¯s eye as the card scratched him. He raised his hand and wiped the blood with his thumb. ¡°This is thest time. If there¡¯s a next time... Audrey, be prepared. Your rtionship between Ryan, your grandfather''s address, and the photo of your birth mother will be Chapter 97 made public.¡± After saying this, Nathan sneered and pushed Audrey aside as he walked out. The bodyguards followed Nathan out. Descending from the restaurant to the car, Nathan got into the car and kicked the driver''s seat, startling the driver. ¡°What are you looking at! Drive!¡± Nathan snapped impatiently. He turned to look out the window, his breath unable to calm down for a long time. Nathan had clearly pretended to recover his memories just now. The only scenes he could recall were the ones he told Audrey about and the moment he kissed her. Thinking of Audrey¡¯s eyes full of resentment, Nathan tightly clutched at his chest. Why did it feel so ufortable? He knew that at this moment, Audrey must hate him to the core. But, no matter how much they once loved each other, he had chosen Amelia now. As a man, he had to protect his woman. As for others, he didn¡¯t want to care about them. Nathan took out a cigarette from his pocket, bit it at the corner of his lips, tried to light it with a lighter several times, but it wouldn''t ignite. Frustrated, he smashed the lighter and took the cigarette from his lips, rubbing it into a ball. He scolded the driver angrily, ¡°Drive faster! Didn¡¯t you refuel the car?¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 All the bodyguards stationed at the restaurant left with Nathan. Lonnie, who had been standing at the door of the private room, quickly entered to check on Audrey¡¯s condition. Audrey stood there stiffly, fists clenched at her side, eyes closed, tears streaming down her face, ¡°Ms. Yeomans! Are you alright?¡± Lonnie took issues from his own pocket and handed them to Audrey. ¡°I''m fine.¡± Audrey kept her eyes closed without opening them. ¡°Lonnie, | think | need some time alone. You can go back first.¡± It was ridiculous, truly ridiculous. Audrey had actually thought that once Nathan recovered his memories, he would return to her side. Audrey had believed that in Nathan''s world before amnesia, she was the person he loved the most. After all, he was willing to sacrifice everything, not allowing her to suffer even a bit. Her once cherished love, it turned out... in Nathan¡¯s world, It could barelypare with Amelia! Before deciding to give up on Nathan, Audrey had considered him more important than her own life. However, the Nathan who regained his memories had now destroyed her life and deprived her of her loved ones! Ridiculous, too ridiculous... Audrey tightly gripped the back of the chair, her knuckles turning white. She lowered her head andughed softly. Theughter caused her shoulders to tremble. Her eyes reddened, and her gaze turned fierce, looking almost insane. Outside the room, Lonnie heard a ¡°thud¡± sound from inside. He quickly pushed the door open and saw Audrey had fainted and was lying on the floor. He hurriedly helped her up and called 911. It was only at the hospital that he discovered that Audrey was pregnant. Lonnie didn¡¯t know whom to contact for a while. He couldn¡¯t unlock Audrey¡¯s phone because he didn¡¯t know the password. Just as Lonnie was preparing to contact Cloudmill University to get Professor Dous''s contact information, Audrey¡¯s phone Tang. The caller ID disyed ¡°Mr. Lambert*. ¡°I''ve heard the housekeeper say that you didn¡¯t go back for lunch at noon?¡± Asincere and steady voice came from the other end of the phone. Although the tone was mild, Lonnie could still sense the authority of someone in a superior position.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Chapter 98 While on the phone, Lonnie looked at Audrey lying on the hospital bed. ¡°Mr. Lambert, hello, I¡¯m Ms, Yeomans''¡¯swyer...¡± Upon hearing the words ¡°Mr. Lambert ¡°, Audrey who was lying on the bed with a pale face, blinked her eyshes slightly. She seemingly recognized the voice. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, you''re awake!¡± Lonnie eximed in surprise. Audrey looked at the phone held in Lonnie¡¯s hand. Struggling to sit up against the bedhead, she requested, ¡°Please give me the phone.¡± Lonnie handed her the phone. Holding the phone to her ear, Audrey spoke in a calm tone, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Ryan¡¯s tone was serious. ¡°I''m in Eastville with mywyer. | forgot to tell you.¡± Audrey rubbed her hurting forehead. ¡°I''ll be back tonight.¡± ¡°Are you in the hospital now?¡± ¡°| had low blood sugar. Lonnie apanied me to the hospital for a drip. | identally fell asleep.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t tell Ryan about the incident with Nathan. ¡°We''ll be taking the evening flight back to Cloudmill.¡± Audrey knew that if she told Ryan about today¡¯s events, he would definitely help her. But... Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Chapter 99 As Nathan had sald, Audrey knew too well the resilience of the Yeomans family. If they caused amotion at the Lambert Corporation¡¯s headquarters or even at Audrey¡¯s family home, the entire Lambert family would be implicated if her biological mother¡¯s photo was made public. Her blological mother had just escaped that hell. She would once again be dragged into despair and her newfound life would be ruined. ¡°What trouble has your sister¡¯s case encountered? What can | do?¡± Ryan asked. Audrey''s return to Eastville was undoubtedly rted to Harper¡¯s case, and Ryan was well aware of that. ¡°It''s all been handled,¡± Audrey replied, pretending to be nonchnt. ¡°I''ve told the parents of those kids that | won¡¯t write any forgiveness letters.¡± ¡°What time is your flight? I''ll send someone to pick you up.¡± Ryan¡¯s tone was not open for negotiation. ¡°Mr. Lambert, Mr. Lambert Senior called...¡± Julian¡¯s voice came from the phone. Audrey didn¡¯t refuse Ryan¡¯s kind offer and said, ¡°The flight is around 11:30 pm. Thank you.¡± ¡°Send me a message when you arrive,¡± Ryan instructed. ¡°Okay.¡± After returning from Eastville, Audrey didn¡¯t sleep all night. Early the next morning, without saying anything, she locked herself in her dormitory, buried in documents. It wasn¡¯t until a week before Audrey and Professor Dous departed for Slovomia that the case finally reached a verdict. Due to the severity of the situation, the main culprit, Max Fraley, was sentenced to ten years, while the others, except for the one under fourteen exempt from criminal responsibility and undergoingwful correctional education, were sentenced to three years. The mastermind, Charles, escaped legal consequences. After the verdict, Audrey chose to handle things alone and ced Harper¡¯s ashes next to her aunt.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Charles, who had just gone abroad the day before. He was using an unfamiliar foreign number. ¡°How¡¯s that, Audrey? | told you, with my brother-inw protecting me, you can¡¯t do anything to me! You, a lowly nobody from a small mountain vige, may be called a genius, but without my brother¡ªin Chapter 90 w¡¯s protection, you''re just dirt to be trampled on! Someday... you''ll be like Harper in the video, kneeling in front of me and begging mol¡± The text read. The phone vibrated again. He texted, ¡°By the way, during these years I''ll be abroad, you better stay away from my brother-in-w. If | find out you¡¯ve upset my brother¡ªInw and my sister, | guarantee I''ll spread the video of Harper being taken advantage of by a man without blurring any parts! In a foreign country, the Cascadian police won''t be able to catch mel¡± Audrey looked at the two messages on her phone. Contrary to Charles¡® expectations, she didn¡¯t react explosively like he imagined. She silently locked the phone screen and squatted down in front of Harper¡¯s tombstone. The tombstone photo used was the picture from Harper¡¯s student ID. The young girl was dressed in a school uniform, with a high ponytail and delicate and obedient features under her neat bangs. She held onto the tombstone. Despite her falling tears, her voice remained calm as she said, ¡°Harper, those who hurt you will surely pay the price. No one will be exempted. Trust me.¡± On March 13th, Professor Dous, along with Audrey and Joseph, departed from Cloudmill Airport for Slovomia. Julian personally came to Cloudmill to send Audrey off and brought along an assistant named Yvonne Lavi, a lively woman in her twenties who had grown up in Slovomia and studied at Saint Pa University. She was familiar with both locations. She would apany Audrey throughout the entire journey until Audrey settled down at Saint Pa University. ¡°Mr. Lambert is currently under the surveince of Meria, so he is unable to leave the country for at short period. Moreover, the corporation has been very busy recently and can¡¯t find time to send your off!¡± Julian, Ryan¡¯s assistant, exined on behalf of Ryan. Julian didn¡¯t tell Audrey that Ryan had only slept for three to four hours each night for the past week. Since returning from Meria with the top executives of the Lambert Corporation, the announcement of independent research and development of chips and lithography machines had led to various suppressions from all sides against the Lambert Corporation''s overseas projects. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Aweek ago, another subsidiary of the Lambert Corporation, received fines of two hundred million dors from Meria and one hundred million dors from Crendale. As a decision maker in the Lambert Corporation, Ryan decided to withdraw from the markets of Meria and Crendale. Ryan not only had to exin to the board of directors but also had to issue various decisive orders to the entire Lambert Corporation. The Lambert Corporation, from top to bottom, was extremely busy. This time, when Audrey left, Ryan didn¡¯t use a private jet, fearing that Audrey might also be a target. Watching Audrey pass through the security checkpoint, Julian also left the airport to go to the Cloudmill branch. In the waiting room, Yvonne saw Audrey engrossed in reading materials and hesitated to disturb her. She took out her phone and checked the trending topics online. The top trending topic was an interview with the CEO of the EF Group. When the host asked the CEO of the EF Group, ¡°We''ve heard that many female celebrities extended an olive branch to the EF Group, including domestic award-winning actresses and top-tier stars. Why did EF ultimately choose Amelia Doyle? It¡¯s said to be rted to Mr. Russo of the EF Group, is that true?¡± The CEO of EF Corporation adjusted his posture and smiled before answering, ¡°It does have to do with Mr. Russo, but more importantly, we feel that Ms. Doyle¡¯s style aligns well with EF¡¯s brand. Those who know about the founding process of our brand should be aware that our founder, Ms. Erma, was once saved by a gentleman when she fell into the water. However, Ms. Erma didn¡¯t know any information about that gentleman and spent her entire life searching for him.¡± ¡°Ms. Erma¡¯s initial impression of that gentleman was elegance. She always wanted to find that elegant gentleman. Later, this extended to the hope that everyone could find their own elegantdy or gentleman. That¡¯s why the first letter of our brand is E, the second letter is F, signifying ¡®find.¡°¡± ¡°As for Ms Doyle, just like that elegant gentleman, she quietly left after saving Mr. Russo from drowning in Itaylio seven years ago without leaving her name. Mr. Russo, who woke up in the hospital, has been searching for his savior ever since. Finally,st month, he found Ms. Doyle! We believe that there is no one more suitable than Ms. Doyle to be the spokesperson for EF.¡± poste As this story unfolded, people left numerousments below the that Amelia deserves the good things happening to her. Some even stated that Amelia is the chosen spokesperson for EF. Hearing the boarding announcement, Joseph closed the materials in his hands, stood up, and took Audrey¡¯s luggage. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Audrey stood up and followed Professor Dous towards the ne. She gently rested her hand on herBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Chapter 100 abdomen. The next time she came back, she would have a little one with her. Amelia was stunned when she saw the interview with the CEO of EF Group. She discussed with Ynda, ¡°We can¡¯t let people continue misunderstanding like this! | have to rify immediately that I¡¯m not the one who saved hit Having been in the entertainment industry for many years, Amelia knew that fame gained through deception would lead to severe repercussions when the truth was revealed. ¡°But the contract with bothpanies won''t bepleted until this afternoon. The earliest we can sign is tomorrow!¡± Ynda held Amelia back. ¡°Don¡¯t panic yet!¡± ¡°How can | not panic!¡± Amelia¡¯s heartbeat was out of control. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have taken credit for Audrey¡¯s achievements in the first ce! Now EF Group¡¯s interview is on the trending topics. Once Audrey sees it, I¡¯m finished!¡± ¡°Let''s negotiate with Audrey. We can offer her money! All the endorsement fees can be given to her! After all, she¡¯s not from the entertainment industry and doesn¡¯t need this career boost!¡± Ynda suggested, her brows furrowed. ¡°Or, you can call Nathan and tell him!¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 ¡°No!¡± A heated disagreement sounded from Amelia. She massaged her brows tiredly. ¡°Give me some time alone to think about it, Ynda.¡± Ynda nodded while holding her phone. ¡°Okay. I''ll be just by the door.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Before she left the makeup room, Ynda nced at Amelia who was still applying her makeup. The hesitationsted for a moment before Ynda proceeded to reach out to Nathan. ¡°Mr. Franklin...¡± She recounted the endorsement incident and took the me upon herself. ¡°I''m terribly sorry, Mr. Franklin. | swear, | didn¡¯t know that the savior was your ex-wife. Since Mr. Russo only knew your name, | honestly thought that he was looking for Amelia. He had even brought up the varsity jacket from Sheysea University. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve mistook Amelia as the savior. It was only after she watched the interview with EF Group¡¯s CEO that she realized the reason EF Group had chosen her as their spokesperson. ¡°If Amelia released an official statement to clear up the misunderstanding now, there¡¯d definitely be people who''d dig up the issue between the three of you! Considering how viral the endorsement news has be, Amelia would surely receive lots of bacsh for being a homewrecker. ¡°Three years ago, she wasn¡¯t as famous as she is right now, so it would be easy to cover up the news. But this time... ¡°If the public discovers this issue when shees forward to clear up the misunderstanding, her career would be over at once. I''m only calling you now because | have absolutely no idea how to deal with this mess.¡± Nathan fell intoplete silence upon hearing that. He didn¡¯t know that Audrey had once saved Matteo in Itaylio seven years ago. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± asked Nathan. ¡°Could you contact your ex-wife? Since she¡¯s not involved in showbiz, she doesn¡¯t need this endorsement. So, in return for her silence, we''ll give her the endorsement fee. Is that alright?¡± Ynda requested gingerly. Giving up on a chance like this was thest thing on her mind. The main issue wasn¡¯t about whether they could earn more or not. It was that, if Amelia could be the spokesperson of EF Group, it would surely bring her career to further heights. By then, there would be more opportunities for her to rack in money in the future. Nathan recalled what had happened in the hotel, and the way Audrey had looked at him. Closing his eyes, he epted the request. ¡°I''ll try.¡± Chapter 101 2/2 ¡°Thank you, Mr. Franklin!¡± Ynda thanked him profusely. ¡°Thank you in advance. I''ll ask Amelia to stay put for the moment. If this n works out... | canpensate your ex-wife in addition to the endorsement fee. Thank you!¡± After the call, she heaved a sigh of relief. If her memories served her right, Audrey had always been obedient toward Nathan. She was nothing more than a simp who had been pestering him for more than two years. Thus, Ynda believed that things would work out as long as Nathan said the word. ¡°Make a confidentiality agreement,¡± Ynda ordered J. Once Nathan was done with his part, Ynda would send over the confidentiality agreement. Her mind wouldn''t be at ease until Audrey signed the agreement. Then, Ynda knocked on the door and returned to the makeup room to inform Amelia of the matter. Thetter''s eyes widened. ¡°Ynda, why did you contact Nathan without asking me?¡± That question ticked Ynda off. ¡°Mr. Franklin is your boyfriend. Who else should you ask for help if not him? Besides, that woman is his ex-wife!¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Amelia became quiet at that. In the face of Amelia¡¯s wronged expression, Ynda regained herposure before saying, ¡°Do you know how viral your name is right now because of EF Group? If you went over to correct them and said that their savior was Mr. Franklin¡¯s ex-wife, you might risk getting your rtionship with him and Audrey exposed! ¡°Have you forgotten what happened two years ago? Back then, you were at the center of criticism and didn¡¯t even dare to step out of your house. If you clear up the misunderstanding now, the consequences will be more severe than that!¡± Memaries of the past fleeted before Amelia¡¯s eyes as she bit down on her lip. Then, her eyes tinged red. On the other side, Nathan had been calling Audrey several times, but her phone was turned off. The result was the same even after he had used another phone to call her. He contacted Joseph as well, but his phone was turned off too. Right then, Nathan recalled her mother saying that Joseph and Diego traveled to Slovomia for a symposium. Had Audrey gone along as well? Frowning, Nathan contacted Amelia first.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sweetie, don¡¯t worry. Just leave it to me, and I''ll sort things out. | won¡¯t let Audrey say a word about it,¡± he cooed. ¡°Sorry for c¡ªcausing you trouble again, Nathan,¡± Ame choked out. ¡°I''m your fiance. This is my duty.¡± ¡°| feel guilty. If it weren¡¯t for me, you would¡¯ve been with Audrey. Now that I¡¯ve stolen her credits, I... | feel so guilty toward her,¡± she sobbed. ¡°tm yours. Besides, it¡¯s not like you stole her credits on purpose. Ynda¡¯s right. You¡¯re a showbiz figure and need this opportunity, but Audrey doesn¡¯t. So, we can just settle this issue by giving her some money. Don¡¯t worry, I''ll sort out everything in a perfect manner. Don¡¯t cry, sweetie.¡± The call ended and he asked someone to track down Audrey¡¯s whereabouts As expected, she had gone to Slovomia. ¡°Book me the earliest flight ticket to Slovomia,¡± he instructed. As soon as Audrey checked into the hotel, Ryan called and asked. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Chapter 102 2/2 ¡°Yup. I¡¯ve checked into the hotel.¡± She drew the curtains and exposed herself to the view. ¡°Any symptoms of vomiting or whatnot?¡± ¡°Nope. The baby is behaving.¡± Just at the mention of the baby, her tone softened without realization. In fact, Audrey had never shown signs of vomiting after getting pregnant. He smiled. ¡°Great. I''ll go visit you once my work is settled.¡± She disagreed, ¡°Now¡¯s not the time for that. It''d be safer for you to stay in the country. It¡¯s a critical period for Lambert Corporation, and you are the pir of thepany. So, you have to stay safe. I''ll take good care of the baby. ¡°Plus, you¡¯ve prepared everything for me. Yvonne does know the area well and has already contacted the hospitals in Slovomia and Saint Pa for me.¡± ¡°Still, the marriage registration has to be done,¡± he said gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. | know what I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°Alright. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up the call now. | have some documents to sort out.¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 ¡°Audrey...¡± Ryan called out her name. One would be able to notice his heavy heart just from his deep. voice. ¡°Take care of yourself.¡± ¡°You too.¡± She ced her phone down. Audrey opened her luggage to sort out the documents Diego needed for tomorrow¡¯s symposium. Thanks to the heater, the room turned quite warm. She had a hair w holding her hair up, and her oversized sweaterplemented her ck tights. Instead of looking like a pregnant woman in this outfit, she looked more like a studious woman. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Audrey thought that Yvonne had forgotten to bring her room¡¯s key card with her. So, she headed over to open the door with the unsorted documents in hand. As soon as she did, the words got caught at the back of her throat. Both Joseph and Nathan were standing outside, and the former was wearing an apologetic expression. ¡°Nathan flew over because he had something to talk to you about. That¡¯s why I...¡± Nathan told Joseph that he had something important to discuss with her. Thus, Joseph only assumed that this bastard had finallye to his senses and was here to win hi ex-wife''s heart back. If that event came to pass, the baby in Audrey¡¯s womb would have a perfect family. That was the only reason Joseph showed Nathan the way to her room.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 4 ¡°| don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything to talk about between Mr. Franklin and |.¡± Stoicly, she shut the door back. ¡°Wait!¡± Nathan stuck his foot in between the door and the doorframe. ¡°Audrey, don¡¯t make me threaten you.¡± ¡°AS if you haven¡¯t done enough of that already. What are you going to threaten me with this time? Her indifferent tone was teeming with hostility. Joseph grasped Nathan¡¯s shoulder in anger after having heard him. ¡°Nathan, this isn¡¯t what you told me!¡± Nathan only kept his eyes on her. ¡°Let me in before we talk. It won¡¯t be long.¡± However, Audrey didn¡¯t show the slightest intention of letting him in, and so he threatened, ¡°Or do you want me to keep looking for you during the symposium?¡± She raised her head. ¡°Let''s do it here then. | don¡¯t want to have to stay in the same room as you, Mr. Franklin.¡± Chapter 103 Nathanpromised and faced Joseph. ¡°Give us a moment. I''lle to you after speaking to her¡± Joseph''s eyes shifted toward Audrey to seek her opinion. After she nodded, Joseph warned Nathan, ¡°I''ll be nearly, | won¡¯t intervene in the conversation, but you mustn''t stay out of my sight.¡± He shot Nathan a re before striding toward the end of the corridor. ¡°There¡¯s something I''d like to speak to you about. It¡¯s not Important to you, but it¡¯s very important to Amelia. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here ¡°EF Group''s endorsement?¡± She sneered and cut him off. ¡°Let me guess. | saved someone in Itaylio seven years ago, around the time where Ame was unqualified to represent Saint Pa University in thepetition.¡± He didn¡¯t expect her to know the issue already, but it saved him from beating around the bush. You''re not a celebrity, so you don¡¯t need this opportunity. But you must know that It¡¯s a good chance for her. In addition to the endorsement fee, | canpensate you as well. Amelia¡¯s manager will pay a separate amount too. We just need you to keep quiet about the issue.¡± Audrey merely stared at him in silence. Nathan added, ¡°Don¡¯t you want easy money?¡± ¡°How quch will you pay this time, Mr. Franklin? And how much can her manager pay? How much is the endorsement fee?¡± Seeing her question him like this, he took it as an agr¨¦ement from her. ¡°The endorsement fee is 201 million dors. I''ll pay you an extra 500 thousand dors, and her manager will be paying about the same amount.¡± ¡°| can see how much you''re willing to sacrifice for Ms. Doyle.¡± Her eyes spoke of tranquility. ¡°But | don¡¯t need them!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± questioned Nathan. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 ¡°When | saved that person, | wasn¡¯t expecting the other party to repay my favor. Even if he¡¯s Mr. Russo, | won¡¯t change my stance.¡± Audrey smiled faintly. ¡°Il can keep quiet about this issue. ¡°But once | take the money from you, I¡¯d need to step up for an exnation when someone exposes Ms. Doyle for taking the credit to be the spokesperson of EF Group. Besides, you might show the transaction to the public as proof and turn me into a scapegoat to protect her.¡± She hit right at the bullseye, and Nathan wasn¡¯t happy with that. The smile on her lips remained, but it could somehow give one a chill down the spine. ¡°You brought over a confidentiality agreement, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯ve really made the wrong judgment all these years, Nathan Franklin. You make me feel sick. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just stay out of my life after the divorce? Why must you keep contacting your bitchy ex -wife? Is it because the both of you can¡¯t live a day without me?¡± Furious, he huffed, ¡°Audrey Yeomans, do you want to see your family cause a scene at Lambert Corporation?¡± Audrey reciprocated with a sneer, ¡°The same reason can¡¯t be used to threaten me more than once. This is not enough to bargain for Amelia¡¯s protection after you''ve used it to protect Charles as well. When he failed to receive the answer he wished to hear, Nathan gritted his teeth. She provoked him yet again. ¡°Most importantly, there¡¯s nothing else from me that you can take advantage of to protect Ms. Doyle.¡± It was actually a test. a His jaw tensed up. ¡°I can fulfill any of your conditions, so just sign the confidentiality agreement.¡± ¡°| want Charles dead,¡± she proposed indifferently. ¡°Audrey Yeomans!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do it? Then you should return to where you came from.¡± She was closing the door. Then, he held onto the door with all might. ¡°Audrey Yeomans, you can name every other condition you wish for aside from that.¡± ¡°Mr. Franklin, as long as you and Ms. Doyle stay out of my life, | can promise to keep quiet, because- as you said | don¡¯t need this endorsement. Just stop bothering me and dragging me into your business. ¡°However, | will not sign any agreements made. The next time youe and trouble me, | won¡¯t be as courteous anymore. If you get it, then let go of the door. | still have to head in to rest.¡± Audrey was calm until the end. Nathan stared at her with slightly parted lips. He couldn''t believe that this was the only condition she Chapter 104 wanted to fulfill. ¡°Let go of the door, or do you want me to release a statement on Twitter by tagging EF Group?¡± His adam¡¯s apple shifted as he stared at her. In the end, he took a step back. After closing the door, she leaned against the wall with her eyes tinging red. 2/2 Audrey would not tear through Amelia¡¯s mask as of now, because it wasn¡¯t the right time to reveal the truth. It would be better to leave it for now and wait until Amelia''s fame grew big, so that a scandal as such could destroy her name immediately. Magnanimity and forgiveness? Neither of these traits fit Audrey. Since Amelia''s cousin had caused her sister''s death, there was no way Audrey would ever let Amelia get away that easily. After signing the endorsement contract and admitting that she was indeed Matteo¡¯s savior, Amelia¡¯s reputation would soar through the skies. That would be when it would hurt the most when her career plummeted to a downfall.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Needless to say, Amelia could still save her image by ignoring her greed and clearing up the misunderstanding with EF Group. If she let her greed get the best of her... She''d better not me Audrey for what was toe. Audrey was aware that Amelia wasn¡¯t as innocent as she seemed all along, as well as how thetter got together with Nathan. The trigger that angered Nathan on his birthday Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Simr things had happened when Anye passed away. At the mortuary, Amelia seemed to be all righteous by ming Nathan for pushing Anye. But it was actually an act to break up Nathan and Audrey. Audrey was aware of everything, but those tricks were still tolerable. After all, Amelia did them solely because she loved him. Beisdes, Audrey had already made up her mind to forsake him at that time. Everyone in Sheysea City knew how close knitted Ame and Charles were. He had bullied and humiliated Audrey in manifold ways, but she believed that it wasn¡¯t done under Amelia''s orders. Amelia had never helped Charles before, but she had chosen to watch the bully go on all the same. It was Amelia¡¯s silence and condonation that led Charles to drug Audrey and rape Harper. After running away from Sayeno Town, Audrey¡¯s tragedy began when she got involved with both Nathan and Amelia. There was no need to rush through this. Since she had given her word to Harper, she would avenge Harper at all costs. None of them could get away from this. Along sigh escaped her mouth. Then, she stood up and wiped her tears away before she continued sorting the documents. When she asked Nathan if he had any other bargaining chips, it was to test and see whether or not he had recovered his memories. But, just as she had expected, Nathan only remembered some things; not everything, which meant that he didn¡¯t know her true rtionship with the Lamberts. Nathan was simply trying to appear intimidating back at the hotel in Eastville. Even if he did recover his memories, he wouldn¡¯t know who her biological mother was anyway. After all, eight years ago during that Christmas where Ryan talked to her, it was possible that he never overheard the whole conversation. Nathan returned to his room and dialed Ynda¡¯s number, informing her that the issue was settled. ¡°Did Ms. Yeomans sign the confidentiality agreement?¡± she asked carefully. ¡°No, she didn¡¯t, and she didn¡¯t want the money.¡± He massaged his brows. ¡°Let¡¯s call an end to this. Chapter 105 2/2 ¡°We can¡¯t do that. The loose ends won''t be tied up until she signs the agreement. It¡¯s a ticking time bomb that could ruin Amelia¡¯s career at any moment!¡± Ynda wished that Audrey would ept the money. As long as she took the money, she could be used as the scapegoat when the truth was revealed. ¡°Based on Audrey''s character, | know that she won''t say anything after she gave us her word.¡± Amelia, who was right next to Ynda, noticed the irritation overflowing in his voice. She took over the phone and said gently, ¡°Thank you, Nathan. Sorry for causing you a big trouble. Don¡¯t listen to Ynda. | trust Audrey. Besides, I¡¯ve nned to meet Mr. Russo to clear up the misunderstanding. | can¡¯t steal her credits like this.¡± His heart softened at that. ¡°I know you''ve always been the kind one, but it is better to exin it to EF Group to root out the problem.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°| understand. Come back early if you can. My shoot should be ending by next week. Could you apany me to the wedding dress designer then?¡± she asked sweetly. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Nathan answered gently, ¡°Okay.¡± After she hung up the call, Amelia faced a frustrated Ynda with a smile. ¡°Ynda, help me contact EF Group. Nathan¡¯s right. As long as the loose ends aren¡¯t tied up yet, the underlying danger still exists. Since the contract is now clinched, it¡¯s time to exin it to Mr. Russo.¡± Ynda frowned in disapproval. ¡°Rx. We can trust Audrey. If she says that she''ll keep her lips tight, she will. Besides, Ms. Erma did acknowledge that I¡¯m fit for their image in the interview. That¡¯s why they signed me. ¡°When | speak to them, I''ll tell them that I¡¯ve reached apromise with Audrey. I''ll let them know that she¡¯s kind enough to keep quiet about it since we¡¯ve signed the contract. ¡°I''ll put sincerity in my words. Whether to terminate the contract or to lower the endorsement fee, I''ll agree to their conditions. But | don¡¯t think that they''ll terminate the contract, since they have a reputation to take care of.¡± Amelia tried to convince Ynda while looking at the bright side. ¡°How naive of you!¡± Ynda clenched her teeth with her arms crossed. ¡°Do you think that they''ll buy it when there¡¯s no proof nor evidence? They might release an official statement about the contract termination to avoid any potential hazards. Then, they''ll reveal the reason you became an imposter. When that happens, your career is done for. People will dig up your rtionship with Nathan and Audrey. ¡°Ynda, didn¡¯t you say that | could clear up the misunderstanding after signing the contract?¡± said Amelia with widened eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t expect that | actually wanted to tell the truth, did you?¡± Ynda pressed her lips into a thin line, and her silence served as an answer. Amelia shut her eyes. ¡°Based on the termination condition in the contract, it¡¯s not like they''ll terminate it because I¡¯m not Mr. Russo''s savior.¡± Ynda disagreed, ¡°Still, they may be willing to pay thepensation. If you want to take the money and retire to be Mrs. Franklin, | have nothing to say as long as he can fork up for thepensation. But if you want a future for your career, the contract mustn''t be terminated.¡± Amelia bit her lip. ¡°Your career took a hit when you were a rising star because of the mistress scandal. You''ve just secured your footing! You have a bright future-¡± ¡°Stop it, Ynda! I¡¯ve made up my mind!¡± Amelia interrupted.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Frankly speaking, Amelia, | don¡¯t want you to reveal the truth. We''ve worked together since the very beginning, and there¡¯s a potential in you to hit it big. ¡°EF Group will shore you up, and you''ll be a huge star! Since I¡¯ve told you to steal Audrey¡¯s credit, | thought of something to get rid of the potential hazard. There¡¯s a personal reason why | want Chapter 106 Audrey to sign the confidentiality agreement. 212 ¡°If she signs the confidentiality agreement and takes our money aspensation, we have a backup. solution when someone exposes this issue. We can im that you went up to Audrey to exin your stance, but she demanded money. We can get you out of trouble with this, | Before she could finish, her phone rang- Ynda looked at her phone and took a moment to regain herposure. Then, she answered the call, ¡°Hello?¡± The person on the other side of the line said something that caused her to brighten up. ¡°Okay, sure. I''ll bring Amelia over there!¡± Terminating the call, she turned to convey the good news. ¡°Amelia, Director Ethan White''s assistant just called me. You''re going to be the female lead for Post Apocalypse 3!¡± Amelia was stunned by the news. Ynda grabbed Amelia¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You know why this is happening, Amelia? Because you''re bing the spokesperson of EF Group! If the contract is terminated, you''ll be left with nothing. ¡°Think about it. The Post Apocalypse movie series is the highest box-office gross series worldwide. Besides, this is Director Ethan''s movie we''re talking about! Your idol!¡± Torn by the choices, Amelia bit her lip. On the other side, the symposium ended smoothly. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Asmile smeared across her lips and she locked her phone screen to focus on the symposium. Previously, Joseph had heard of her achievements and nickname as a prodigy, but he didn¡¯t know how capable she was. Now, he finally realized how formidable of a person she was. Diego was absent due to a severe cold and fever, so Audrey was representing him on the frontline. Even without the documents in hand, she could speak to the big shots with ease. While Joseph had yet to peruse the whole document, Audrey had the information etched in her head. In addition to that, she voiced out her two cents and shared her data based on the experiments she had conducted before they departed to Slovomia. Professor Ilyich couldn¡¯t help expressing his series of exmations. He even proposed to Diego about recruiting her into his research team. Needless to say, Professor Ilyich was willing to have his mentee stay in Diego''s research team at the same time. The symposium came to an end, and Audrey was standing while clearing up her stuff at her seat. She almost knocked the microphone over, but she managed to catch it before it fell. Right then, she received a call from Ryan. ¡°Has the symposium ended?¡± he asked. 4 ¡°Yeah.¡± she left the room with her arms hugging her stuff. ¡°I''m outside the building. Take your time,¡± he assured her. The call ended. She wore her coat and slid her hands into the gloves. Following that, she scurried her way out with a bag over her shoulder. The professors wanted to speak to her, but she kept the conversation short and excused herself. Toward the end of March, the hottest the Slovomia weather could get was only as high as 35¡ãF. It was cold. Once Audrey left the conference room, a warmly dressed Yvonne took the bag from her. ¡°Julian said Mr. Lambert is here.¡± ¡°| know.¡± Despite the distance, Audrey noticed Ryan standing next to Slovomia¡¯s national g pole. Ayellow sheen of light cast down on him as the snowkes danced in the background. Chapter 107N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 2/2 His good looks were enough to make it a breathtaking picture to behold. He broke into a smile as soon as he caught sight of her. His smile was contagious, so much so that she couldn¡¯t help but raise of the corner of her lips. She walked up to him. ¡°Are you done with the preparations for thepany?¡± asked Audrey, who raised her head. She had finally gained some weightpared to the past. Like an innocent Daisy that was blooming, she was getting prettier by the day. The snowkes melted over her eyshes and she looked adorable. ¡°Yup, everything is prepared.¡± He removed one of his gloves to dust off the snow on her head before holding her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± she followed him down the fleet of stairs. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Chapter 108 ¡°Let''s grab something first,¡± Ryan suggested. Meanwhile, Joseph squeezed out of the crowd. His initial n was to leave with Audrey, but unfortunately, Ryan had taken her away. He frowned and murmured, ¡°Who''s that guy?¡± After dinner, Ryan invited Audrey over to the hotel he checked in together. He reasoned, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have you match ording to my time Just because my schedule is tight. We''re going to register our marriage tomorrow, so let¡¯s prepare the documents needed for it. We can hit the road first thing in the morning tomorrow.¡± His justification was reasonable, so she couldn¡¯t turn the suggestion down. Yvonne volunteered to return to the hotel by cab to get Audrey¡¯s necessities. The hotel Ryan checked in was close to the restaurant. Outside the restaurant, Audrey stretched her arms out to catch the snowkes. It elicited a smile from him. ¡°The way back to the hotel isn¡¯t piled with snow. Would you like to take a walk back?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± her eyes turned into crescents.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Ryan took the umbre from Julian, then he took the stairs down alongside Audrey with his arm across her shoulders. Her hands balled into fists -a sign which showed that she was still not used to his intimate touches. ¡°Are you going to return to the country after the registration?¡± A question from her, as well as an attempt to alleviate the awkwardness lingering in the air. ¡°Yeah, but I''lle over to visit you some other time,¡± he answered gently. The fluttering snowke induced a grin from her. ¡°It must be warm back in the country.¡± As soon as she finished, she noticed Nathan standing nearby with a bouquet. A crease formed between his brows as he stared in their direction. Audrey''s smile gradually faded, but she kept walking side-by-side with Ryan. Nathan¡¯s gaze fell onto Ryan¡¯s arm over her shoulders. This intimacy of theirs very much irritated him. But Nathan simply assumed that Ryan was taking care of her as a family member. He approached the duo to greet them. ¡°Mr. Lambert.¡± Nathan behaved in front of Ryan. Chapter 108 Ryan hummed in acknowledgment before asking monotonously, ¡°What are you doing here in Slovo?¡± ¡°lm apanying Amelia. She¡¯s here to meet Director White.¡± Nathan spared Audrey a nce in the meantime. What are the odds? Who could''ve known that he would run into Ryan and Audrey here? Ryan nodded. Noticing that she was gazing at the fresh flowers in Nathan¡¯s arms, he asked, ¡°You like! em?¡± His question pulled her wandering mind back. ¡°No.¡± Why did Nathan buy sunflowers for Amelia when she hated them the most? Even Audrey knew that white roses were Amelia¡¯s favorite. Ryan shed a faint smile at Nathan. ¡°You must be busy. Go ahead.¡± Then, Ryan held Audrey¡¯s hand and led her to a florist. He asked the owner to arrange a bouquet of sunflowers for Audrey. When Ryan fished out his wallet, Audrey squeezed his arm. ¡°I really don¡¯t need ¡®em. ¡°| remember sunflowers are your favorite.¡± Ryan smiled. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Audrey''s lips slightly parted in surprise. How did Ryan know that? It didn¡¯t take long for the florist owner to arrange a bouquet of sunflowers with swift movements. before passing it to Audrey. The owner spoke in Runion, ¡°Your boyfriend is very handsome! You look good together.¡± Hugging the sunflower, Audrey wanted to give an exnation. But she swallowed those words at the tip of her tongue when she thought of their itinerary tomorrow. They were going to register their marriage. In the end, she offered a gentle smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± Nathan froze while watching Audrey, who was in the florist, as though someone had pressed the pause button on him. Suddenly, his head hurt, and he hugged his head while his eyes remained fixated on the sunflowers. When the florist owner asked what kind of flowers he wanted, why did he answer that it was sunflowers without much thought? White roses were Amelia¡¯s favorite though! With furrowed brows, he discarded the flowers into the trash bin. He then took a nce at Audrey again before leaving. After taking a few steps forward, he suddenly stopped. The more he thought about it, the stranger it was. Something was off between Ryan and Audrey; their intimacy didn¡¯t make sense to Nathan. Meanwhile, Ynda happened to notice Ryan and Audrey leaving with a bouquet of sunflowers from the other side of the road. Hurriedly, she took pictures of them and turned to call Amelia. ¡°Amy, guess what | saw while | was buying coffee outside? I''ll send the pictures.¡± She then hung up the call to share the pictures. But her finger paused before she clicked the send button.. In one of the pictures, Nathan was holding a bouquet of sunflowers in front of Audrey and Ryan. As for the other one, Audrey was wreathed in smiles with sunflowers in her arms while walking away with Ryan. It somehow urged Ynda to proceed with her n of getting Audrey to sign the confidentiality Chapter 109 agreement. In the end, she only sent those two pictures to Amelia followed by a voice message. ¡°Amy, | saw Mr. Franklin. | think he¡¯s here to pick you up, so | bought two cups of coffee. When | came out to invite him toe along together, | saw Audrey walking away with those flowers! ¡°I''m not suspecting Mr. Franklin because there¡¯s another man next to her. But do you still remember how Mr. Franklin told you to believe him that Audrey wouldn¡¯t expose the truth? and ¡°It''s just a guess, but did he sacrifice something in return for that promise? He might''ve kept it a secret from you considering how much he loves you. So, | think we should give her the money make her sign the confidentiality agreement. What do you say?¡± After that, Ynda revisited the cafe to buy another cup of coffee for the sake of the show. Previously, Ynda had tried to convince Amelia to deal with Audrey in private by giving Audrey the money and making her sign the confidentiality agreement. But Amelia was firm with her stance and wouldn''t agree to do that. Although Ynda had given in, she couldn''t bring herself to just let the loose ends be left untied. As long as the confidentiality agreement was left unsigned, and Audrey didn¡¯t take the money, uneasiness would keep weighing down on Ynda¡¯s chest. the Based on Ynda¡¯s guess, the amount of money wasn¡¯t huge enough to entice Audrey. Audrey turned down the offer simply because she didn¡¯t want to show her greedy side to Nathan. Once Amelia saw those pictures, based on how much she liked Nathan, she wouldn¡¯t be lenient toward Audrey anymore. On the other hand, Anfelia came out of the private lounge to pick up the call from Ynda. The moment she saw the pictures, her face fell, and she kept swiping between the two pictures.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Her breathing picked up its pace. Sunflowers... Those were Audrey''s favorite! Did Nathan remember something again? Was he going to choose Audrey? Matteo came out of the private lounge because Amelia had been away for a while. There, he saw Amelia zooming in and out of the pictures with trembling fingers. With a smile, he strode up to her side. Then, he saw the picture of Nathan holding sunflowers in front of Audrey and Ryan. ¡°Isn''t that your fiance?¡± Matteo asked with a smile. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Audrey quickly locked her phone screen and snapped her head up with a pale expression. She wished she could return Matteo a smile, but she couldn''t fight back her tears. Dipping her head down, she wiped her tears off and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He was stunned for a second before he handed her a handkerchief. ¡°This mighte across as inappropriate, but... Are you fighting with him?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m just being unprofessional. Director White is waiting. Let¡¯s head inside.¡± She didn¡¯t want to say much about it. As the gentleman he was, he nodded instead of forcing her to answer. ¡°Do | look good?¡± Amelia forced a smile as her glistening eyes stared at him. ¡°You look very beautiful; as innocent as a lost deer in the woods,¡±plimented Matteo from the bottom of his heart. He opened the door for her and followed her into the private lounge from behind. Just then, a strange feeling began to stir in his chest. Indeed, Amelia was a beauty. His type was someone who could provoke his sense of protectiveness. However, the feelings that Amelia had given him were different from the ones when he met his savior. But it could be because his memories of the savior were blurry. After all, it had been years since that incident happened in Itaylio. The only thing that ensured Matteo that Amelia was his savior was Nathan¡¯s strong sense of possessiveness over her. The next day, Ryan and Audrey finished registering their marriage. They had lunch together before he drove her back to the symposium. Along the journey, Ryan was reading the prenatal checkup report that Yvonne had handed over. His brows knitted together. ¡°The stats are normal, but why is your belly not bulging? Is it because the twins absorb too much nutrients that it''s affecting your health?¡± Julian, in the passenger seat, smiled and responded, ¡°You do things with ease, but you don¡¯t know a single thing about babies, Mr. Lambert. It¡¯s because Ms. Yeomans was born skinny. ¡°That¡¯s why it doesn¡¯t show that she¡¯s already months into her pregnancy. It was the same for my elder sister. We could only tell that she was pregnant when she was in the 24th week. Still, she could easily cover her belly with oversized clothes.¡± Then, Ryan nodded, finally at ease. When they arrived at the symposium, Ryan said, ¡°I¡¯m going to return to the country thi I¡¯ll text you once |nd.¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°Safe travels.¡± 20 minutes before the symposiummenced, Audrey carried a stack of documents to the conference room. Professor Ilyich, who in the middle of a conversation with Matteo, beckoned her over. ¡°Audrey, here!¡± d in a suit, Matteo looked back at Audrey, who was dressed in a studious and demure style.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. His eyes lit up as soon as he caught sight of her. ¡°Allow me to introduce, this is Matteo Russo.¡± Professor Ilyich ced his hand closely behind her back. ¡°This is the Cascadian student | mentioned. As for the gic problem you were asking about, she knows it better than | do. She even cleared my doubts!¡± His captivating and warm eyes stared at her as he offered a handshake. ¡°Hi, Ms. Yeomans. I¡¯m Matteo. She recognized him-it was the man whom she saved in Itaylio. With a smile, she reciprocated the handshake. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Audrey Yeomans.¡± His eyes slightly widened as he released her hand. Her mellifluous voice somehow sounded familiar to him. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Chapter 111 1/2T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I''m sorry, but have we met before? Your voice sounds really familiar to me. It might sound like I¡¯m flirting, but trust me, I¡¯m really not,¡± asked Matteo politely. Audrey managed a decent smile. ¡°Maybe. Who knows? Just so you know, I had a car ident. | regained consciousness after spending two years in aa, so | can¡¯t really remember my past. If we¡¯ve met before, | guess this is fate then.¡± His eyes turned into crescents as her tonfidence and honesty made her more likable. In fact, she was surprised to meet Matteo here. Still, she didn¡¯t n on exposing Amelia right now. It would be better for him to realize that he was deceived himself. ¡°There are still 20 minutes left before the symposium starts. I''ll be d to answer your questions,¡± Audrey offered. ¡°Thank you so much!¡± As a biology geek, Matteo was interested in the brain¡ªmachine interface. He had invested a lot of time in this project. This time, he attended the symposium in hopes that he could invite Professor Illyich to assist inpleting their experiment. Matteo possessed broad knowledge of this topic. Many of his questions were professional, but Audrey managed to give him the answers. If it was a question she couldn''t solve, she professionally imed that an answer could only be found after a few experiments were done. They had yet to go through all of his questions when the symposium started. The unsatisfied Matteo couldn¡¯t help but invite Audrey for dinner, and she epted the invitation. Theories of the brain¡ªmachine interface had existed since a long time ago, and she had an interest in 1. it. Sadiq Lowry, anotherpany for the dinner, was a specialist in this field. Since she had agreed to have dinner with Matteo, Audrey returned to the hotel to get changed after the symposium. As soon as she came out of the hotel, he opened the car door for her like a gentleman. Pictures of the trio having a fun time at dinner were soon shared with Amelia, who had just gotten back to the hotel after dinner with Nathan. The pictures rmed her, and she toppled over a ss of cleansing water. Chapter 111 2/2 Ynda, who was putting on a mask, was taken by surprise. Quickly, she pulled Ame away in case thetter was cut by the ss. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Ynda asked. With a pale face, Amelia handed her phone over to Ynda. Her voice was shaking and tears were threatening to fall down her cheeks. ¡°Audrey... She met Matteo! Ynda removed her mask and took the phone. Her expression didn¡¯t look good. ¡°Does he know that Audrey is his savior?¡± Amelia¡¯s imagination was running wild. Ynda gritted her teeth. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that she¡¯s dependable? She promised us that she wouldn¡¯t tell Mr. Russo, so why is she eating with him?¡± Amelia grasped the hem of her shirt. ¡°I should¡¯ve exined everything to Matteo when we met. Now, even if | exin it to him, he''ll simply think that I¡¯m a calcting woman!¡± ¡°Calm down. Mr. Franklin said that he had everything settled. I''ll call him right away.¡± Ynda fished out her phone and shared the pictures with her contact number. ¡°It may be a simple hangout, and we''re just being paranoid. Let¡¯s figure out what''s going on first.¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Chapter 112 1/2 Ynda first sent the photos to Nathan before calling him. ¡°Hello, Mr. Franklin. I''ve received news of Audrey having a meal with Mr. Russo. Do you know if she¡¯s told him the truth? I¡¯m worried because she didn¡¯t sign the confidentiality agreement. I¡¯ve sent you the photos. Take a look at ¡®em.¡± After terminating the call, he scrolled through the pictures Audrey wore a champagne dress, and her tress was fixed with a hair w. The ambiance in the restaurant was soothing as the yellow lighting cast down on her defined features. In the picture, she was speaking to Matteo with a dazzling smile. Sitting opposite her was Matteo in a suit, looking like a royal from the mid-century. It was a heart-fluttering picture indeed. Nathan¡¯s fingers tightened arbund his phone without him realizing. He scooped up his coat from the couch and stormed out of his ce. On the other hand, Ynda gave it a thought before speaking to Amelia, ¡°Amelia, I¡¯m not suspecting Mr. Franklin, but | think you guys trust Audrey too much. You can¡¯t take her words at face value like that. ¡°Tomorrow, we must return to the country to meet Audrey. We must find out if Mr. Russo knows the truth no matter what. If he still doesn¡¯t know, then we''re safe. Afterward, we''ll force her to sign the confidentiality agreement to save ourselves from potential hazard.¡± Amelia, who was in deep waters, bit her lip. There were no words of disagreementing from her this time. Matteo drove Audrey to the hotel and opened the car door for her. He then offered her his hand when she got out of the car. Wrapping her coat tightly around her, she watched him drive away before heading inside.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Before she could pass through the door, a man in a suit stopped her. ¡°Hi, Ms. Yeomans, I¡¯m Ms. Cecilia¡¯s bodyguard. She''d like to invite you for a cup of coffee. She¡¯s just on the opposite of the road. | hope you cane along.¡± Her fingers tightened as she nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Inside the cafe opposite the hotel, Audrey saw Cecilia. The fiancee George had selected for Ryan. Cecilia was d in a suit, with her coat draping on the armrest of the couch. The air around her spoke volumes about how outstanding her career was. Chapter 112 Noticing Audrey¡¯s arrival, Cecilia hung up a call. She stood up and waved at Audrey with a smile. ¡°Hi, Ms. Yeomans. I¡¯m Cecilia Shaw,¡± Cecilia introduced herself openly. Her utmost decorum was definitely that of a richdy¡¯s. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Audrey shook her hand. After they had seated themselves, Cecilia said, ¡°Sorry, I''ll be flying back to the country tomorrow morning. | don¡¯t have much time to spare, hence the sudden invitation. In order not to waste both our time, | shall go straight to the topic. | hope you can understand. ¡°Although Ryan doesn¡¯t want this to happen, | am the chosen bride for him. If you don¡¯t believe this, you can confirm this information with him personally. | know that you guys have registered your marriage in Runa. ¡°But you were born in Sayeno Town. | know that. Mr. Lambert Senior will never approve of you because of this. About Ryan... He is the sessor of Lambert Corporation, but he¡¯s a mere adoptive child. ¡°| don¡¯t know why you decided to be with him, but if you want money, just name a price and | can pay you. If you want him, | can ept your rtionship with him. ¡°But there¡¯s one thing that you have to understand¡ª-Ryan and | must get married. If Mr. Lambert Senior finds out that you¡¯ve registered your marriage, I¡¯m afraid things won''t be good for the both of you.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t expect Cecilia to know of their marriage. On top of that, having George find out about it was definitely thest thing on her mind. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Audrey''s fingers tightened into fists, but her eyes didn¡¯t leave Cecilia. ¡°Ms. Cecilia, you ran a background check on me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Only a smile was received in return. In actuality, Cecilia happened to run into the couple when they were at the city hall. Cecilia merely knew a few things about Audrey because she didn¡¯t have the time to look into Audrey¡¯s background. Moreover, Audrey was someone of a different world to Cecilia. Spending time to look into Audrey was deemed unworthy of the effort. All Cecilia had to do was to drive Audrey away.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°If you look into my background, you''ll find out that I¡¯m in fact a rtive of his biological family. I¡¯m his only family,¡± said Audrey. Her n was to divorce Ryan after the delivery and take the baby with her. Thus, she deemed that it would be better for her to resolve any trouble she caused him. Cecilia lost her smile while Audrey continued calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand me. Mr. Lambert and | aren¡¯t really married. As you know, Mr. Lambert Senior doesn¡¯t wish for Mr. Lambert to have anything to do with his biological family. ¡°Mr. Lambert has been secretly helping me out these years. He agreed to marry me simply just to help. me out. | want to keep the baby, but | don¡¯t want to fight for custody rights with the baby¡¯s father. That¡¯s why.¡± t ¡°So you didn¡¯t abort the baby!¡± Hearing that, both Audrey and Cecilia turned their heads only to see Nathan, who was there out of nowhere. His expression was dark. As soon as he headed inside the cafe, he overheard Audrey iming that she wanted to keep the baby. He walked up to her, and his eyes zeroed in on her. ¡°You told Joseph to lie and tell me that the baby was aborted because you want to give birth to the baby in secret?¡± Cecilia¡¯s gaze alternated between the two. Almost instantly, she understood what happened between Audrey and Nathan. Then, she jumped to the conclusion that Nathan was the father of the baby in Audrey¡¯s belly. ¡°Nathan, we''ve divorced. Why can¡¯t you just get out of my life? What do you want?¡± Nathan yanked Audrey up from her seat. ¡°What are you nning to do with that baby? Why do you want to keep it!¡± ¡°The baby is mine! How many times do | have to tell you that it has nothing to do with you!¡± Anger got the best of her. Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t want to exin too much in front of Cecilia. Cecilia motioned for the bodyguard to separate the two from each other. ¡°Sir, this is not how a gentleman treats ady.¡± Cecilia smiled. ¡°This is our business. You''re just an outsider.¡± Nathan was fuming, unable to control his temper. ¡°Excuse me, but Ms. Yeomans is my guest. | can never let anything happen to her when I¡¯m here. Cecilia took her coat before urging Audrey, ¡°Let''s go, Ms. Yeomans. I''ll take you home.¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Considering that Audrey was Ryan¡¯s family, whom he''d help even if it meant going against George, Cecilia had to protect her. Besides, she might be able to earn some brownie points¡ªAudrey might put in a good word for her when speaking to Ryan. The bodyguard stopped Nathan froming close, so all he could do was watch thedies leave. At the hotel entrance, Audrey thanked Cecilia, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Shaw.¡± ¡°It''s only natural for me to protect you since you''re Ryan¡¯s family. If you really want to do something to repay me, could you ry a message to Ryan? Tell him that the marriage is nothing more than a coboration. | believe that he¡¯ll make the best partner.¡± Ryan no longer answered Cecilia''s call, so she had no choice but to request Audrey to pass a message. Right now, she needed Ryan to be her husband so that she could secure her footing within Lambert Corporation. As the ambitious woman she was, she wanted to surpass her sister to be the owner of Shaw Corporation. Therefore, she needed to marry Ryan, the heir of the Lambert family. He could be her trump card. Since he was such a family man and was willing to help Audrey out, Cecilia figured that he would listen to Audrey. It was a plus to be a family man, because that meant that he would care a lot for their kids in the future. $ Audrey looked at Cecilia. ¡°Do you... not like Mr. Lambert?¡± Sincerity reached Cecilia¡¯s eyes when she heard that question. ¡°Marriage is a mere tool to achieve our goals. | believe that Mr. Lambert doesn¡¯t wish for me to have feelings for him either. She met Ryan several times, but it was enough for her to understand his character. As aman with a heart of steel, he weighed everything in terms of pros and cons. If one told him that they had feelings for him after meeting barely a few times, he would never believe that. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, you and Mr. Lambert registered your marriage in Runa so that Mr. Franklin wouldn''t take the baby away from you. | hope you''ll keep it a secret so that Mr. Lambert Senior and people won¡¯t misunderstand Mr. Lambert,¡± Cecilia requested. Ryan was her future husband after all. Even though it was a loveless marriage, she didn¡¯t want the fake marriage to be the reason for others. Chapter 114 to make fun of Ryan or be the blot of her marriage life. ¡°Don''t worry, | know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Audrey reassured. ¡°See you next time then, Ms. Yeomans.¡± Cecilia shed a smile and got into the car. The engine started, and she told John Carrott in the passenger seat, ¡°Run a background check on Audrey... and her ex¡ª husband.¡± That was her bodyguard, as well as her assistant. ¡°Understood, Ms. Cecilia.¡± Back at the hotel, Audrey texted Ryan about her encounter with Cecilia. Just then, a stranger¡¯s number called in.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Judging from how the incessant ringing didn¡¯t stop, she bet that it was Nathan calling. Her phone was still ringing. At longst, she answered the call. ¡°Enough, Nathan Franklin. ¡°Who''s your husband? Mr. Russo? Did you snitch on Amelia?¡± His voice sounded pretty hoarse- probably from smoking. 2/2 ¡°My marriage doesn¡¯t concern you. If you call me again, | will definitely tell him the truth the next time | meet him.¡± She then hung up the call. She sorted out the records for today¡¯s symposium and intended to deliver them to Professor Ilyich. However, when she opened the door, she saw Nathan was standing there, about to ring the doorbell. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Chapter 115 ¡°How persistent, Nathan Franklin.¡± Audrey scowled. Nathan gritted his teeth. ¡°Well, | can see how close you are with Matteo Russo. I¡¯m warning you- stay away from him! He¡¯s out of your league, and someone like you can never get him! Also, abort the baby!¡± She smirked. ¡°Why do you keep intervening in my life and telling me what to do? When | still cared for you, your words did matter. But you''re nothing to me now because | don¡¯t have any feelings left for you!¡± Nathan yanked her over by her wrist, causing the documents to fall from her arms. ¡°The baby is mine, so | have a say in whether to keep it or not!¡± The moment he finished, the doors of the three opposite rooms opened. The robust bodyguards surrounded the duo. ¡°Mr. Franklin, please let her go.¡± Audrey knew the bodyguards. They were here to protect Audrey under Ryan¡¯s orders. ¡°Who are these people?¡± Nathan¡¯s grasp tightened around her wrist as he interrogated, ¡°Do they work for your husband? Who is he?¡± ¡°Didn''t you regain your memories? Don¡¯t you remember who¡¯s helping me?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. He huffed, ¡°Come with me. You cannot keep that baby!¡± Dragging Audrey, he red at the bodyguards. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± ¡°Let go of me, Nathan Franklin!¡± She struggled. The leading bodyguard said, ¡°No one can take Ms. Yeomans away without her consent.¡± Nathan was going to leave, but the bodyguard stopped him again. ¡°Mr. Franklin, please stop before things get physical. | don¡¯t mind going to the cops with you.¡± ¡°Who do you work for? Ryan or Matteo Russo? How much did he pay you? | can double¡ªno-I can pay you ten times more than that!¡± Nathan¡¯s features were distorted in a fury. ¡°I am the father of the baby, so | can decide whether or not it can stay. Scram!¡± ¡°The father of the baby is... you?¡± Hearing Amelia¡¯s voice, he turned his head. Amelia, who covered herself with a mask and a cap, stared at him. Her eyes were red, and they were teeming with sorrow and disbelief. ¡°A-Amelia.¡± He curled his hands into fists beside him. His lips parted, but he didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°How could you do this to me?¡± She sounded extremely broken. She gazed at him deeply and then turned around to walk away. Chapter 3 ¡°Amelia!¡± Nathan wanted to chase hey while draggling Audrey, but the bodyguard Gropped hun ¡°Get out of my way?¡± ¡°You''re the one whs should let me go first!¡± Audrey couldn¡¯t break free from his Fury veshed in, her vens. ¡°Are you going to chase her while dragging me along/ Ex? you use your brain to think? Ignoring her words, Nathan flung a punch at the bodyguards. One of them grabbet his fist and he kicked in their direction. Audrey seized the chance to break free from his grasp. In the meantime, She slipped and hit her back against the doorknob. Her face went pale due to the pain and spasms of pain began to sting from her Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 The fear of losing her loved ones engulfed Audrey once again. She bit her lip. ¡°Take me to the hospital! Nathan turned to see Audrey sitting by the door as she covered her stomach. Before he could react, the bodyguard picked Audrey up and rushed her to the hospital. Nathan¡¯s heart sank. Just as he was about to follow her, he was stopped by the bodyguard. The bodyguard then made a phone call to the police in fluent Runion. ¡°Mr. Franklin, you are not allowed to go anywhere until the police arrive!¡± The bodyguard said in all seriousness. Ryan had justnded when he heard of the news from Runa. His face turned as dark as ink. ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Lambert, we weren''t able to protect Ms. Yeomans. Fortunately, both Ms. Yeomans and the baby are fine. The doctor says that she''ll stay in the hospital tonight for observation, and that she¡¯ll be discharged tomorrow.¡± After hanging up the phone, Ryan turned to Julian. ¡°Reschedule a few meetings. | need to go to Slovomia after the meeting. Julian was startled to hear that, but he quickly responded, ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Ryan had been working continuously ever since he got on the ne from Slovomia. He didn¡¯t even rest after getting off the ne, but now he had to fly back to Slovomia again. It seemed that he really cared about Audrey. Diego found out that night that Audrey was hospitalized after getting hit. That morning, Joseph sat in Audrey¡¯s seat. It was only during the afternoon session of the conference that Audrey arrived. Meanwhile, Joseph was busy examining the data they had brought from theboratory. When she took Joseph¡¯s seat, she quickly took off her coat and calmly reported sixteen sets of precise data into the microphone. Joseph looked up to see Audrey taking off her coat and narrating the data in a calm manner. He thenpared the data with the materials in his hand and found no errors. ¡°The above are sixteen sets of experimental data from ourboratory.¡± The conference then entered into a new round of discussions. Two hourster, after the conference ended. Both Diego and Joseph approached Audrey to inquire about her condition. Audrey smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. It was just a minor collision, but | almost missed the conference Chapter 116 today.¡± 2/2 ¡°The conference is almost over. I¡¯ve discussed with Professor Ilyich that after it¡¯s over, I''d take his beloved disciple back and that you''d go with Professor flyleh! Remember to learn all of the old man¡¯s skills! With your sharp mind, you should be able to learn everything he teaches you!¡± Diego lowered his voice and urged Audrey with a smile on his face. Audrey smiled in response, ¡°Alright! Don¡¯t worry!¡± After both Diego and Joseph had left, she tidied up the materials and left the venue. Just as she was about to take a step down the stairs to the nearby hotel, she was grabbed by Nathan and pressed against a pir. ¡°Nathan! Are you crazy? Let me go!¡± Audrey¡¯s bag and documents fell to the ground as she struggled to pry Nathan¡¯s hand off her neck. Nathan''s bloodshot eyes gazed grimly at Audrey with hatred. ¡°Why did you keep the child? If it weren¡¯t for you keeping the child, Amelia wouldn''t have seen usst night! | wouldn¡¯t have been stopped by those bodyguards from leaving, and Amelia wouldn¡¯t have had a life-threatening ident!¡± Audrey was almost out of breath from being choked. She desperately.tried to push Nathan''s arm away. Nathan was crazed by Amelia¡¯s ident. He didn¡¯t loosen his grip on Audrey even when her face has turned purple.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Audrey tried her best to save herself and raised her leg to kick at Nathan¡¯s weak spot. Nathan stepped back in pain while she nearly fell to the ground. Audrey gasped for air. She stared at Nathan with fear and kept backing away from him. Suddenly, she felt nothing under her feet. In a whirlwind of chaos, she tumbled down the stairs amid screams. Audrey''s ears were filled with amplified sounds, and she felt her abdomen throbbing so intensely that she almost passed out. She covered her stomach and felt a wave of warmth rushing through her body. She seemed to feel something slipping away from her. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 She wished that someone would save her child. The child was thest thing she had left in the world! ¡°Audrey!¡± In her trance, Audrey seemed to catch a glimpse of Ryan, who had pushed through the crowd and rushed toward her.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Ryan...¡± Audrey wanted to reach out and beg Ryan to save their child. However, her consciousness was consumed by darkness. Then, her outstretched hand dropped heavily. ¡°Audrey, we''ll go to the hospital!¡± Ryan got down on one knee and took off his jacket to wrap Audrey in it. Outside the hospital operating room, Julian had just hung up the phone. He then approached Ryan with a grave expression. ¡°Mr. Lambert, I¡¯ve checked. The video shows Audrey falling down the stairs while backing away from something.¡± ¡°What was she trying to avoid?¡± Ryan asked with a tense face. ¡°It''s a blind spot that the surveince didn¡¯t pick up. We''ll probably have to wait until Audrey wakes up from the surgery to find out,¡± Julian said calmly. ¡°What about the people protecting Audrey?¡± Julian¡¯s expression darkened at the question. ¡°Audrey had them waiting outside the venue of the conference at the time. They merely saw someone yank Audrey away. By the time they rushed over, Audrey had already fallen down.¡± ¡°Worthless! Keep investigating! Find out where Nathan wasst night!¡± Ryan¡¯s pent-up anger had already made him lose his usualposure. For some reason, Ryan had a strong intuition that this incident was connected to Nathan. Soon, Audrey¡¯s surgery was over. The doctor regretfully informed Ryan, ¡°We did our best, but we couldn''t save the child.¡± ¡°As long as my wife is safe, that¡¯s all that matters! Thank you!¡± Ryan said sincerely. ¡°It''s our duty as medical professionals. Mrs. Lambert will be out of observation in two hours.¡± The doctor nced at Ryan before leaving. He then returned to his office and made a phone call. ¡°I¡¯ve informed them that the child didn¡¯t make it. Will | receive the promised payment?¡± Ryan had been by Audrey''s side ever since she came out of the observation room. She had lost her stepmother and her sister. Unlike his selfish motives, Audrey had kept the child because she genuinely cared about the only loved one she had in the world. Chanter 2/2 Would she break down emotionally when she woke up and found out that she had lost the child? Ryan held onto Audrey¡¯s hand tightly and gently kissed her palm. How should hefort Audrey when she woke up? Audrey had been unconscious for three days straight. When she opened her eyes again, she felt as if all her bones had been broken. ¡°You''re awake.¡± When Audrey heard George¡¯s voice, she got nervous and turned her head to look toward the window. She remembered being choked by Nathan, and just as she was suffocating, she fell down the stairs from the conference stage. The child! Audrey hurriedly covered her stomach. George closed the book in his hand. He took off his sses and nced at Audrey. ¡°Ryan has been by your side for three days and three nights. He couldn¡¯t hold on anymore and went to the hotel to freshen up and change his clothes.¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Audrey was puzzled by George¡¯s sudden appearance and didn¡¯t understand what he meant. She only looked at him nkly. George ced his sses and book on the small table beside him, then picked up the report. ¡°Of course, Ryan doesn¡¯t know that I''m here in Slovo. If | can keep it from him, | don¡¯t intend to let Ryan know that we¡¯ve met. My daughter needs a kidney transnt, and the doctors say that there¡¯s lesser chance of rejection with a kidney from a family member. I¡¯m too old to be a suitable donor, but your kidney is a perfect match for her. Would you be willing to donate it to her?¡± Even though George was asking Audrey for help, he still refused to acknowledge her as his granddaughter. Audrey, with her fragile arms, propped herself up against the bedhead while enduring the pain. Her teary eyes were filled with worry. ¡°What...Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. happened to her?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know the specifics. If you don¡¯t want to do it, | can find a suitable kidney for Wanda. You don¡¯t need to worry about that. You''re free to choose,¡± George exined. Audrey''s hand rested on her stomach. ¡°As long as it¡¯s for her, I¡¯m willing to do it. But could we wait until after | give birth?¡± She noticed George pursing his lips in silence, then she asked, ¡°Is my child still alive?¡± ¡°Wouldn''t it be better if the child were gone? You''ve divorced Nathan already. If you have his child, you''ll inevitably be tied to him. | don''t like owing favours. Since you''re willing to donate a kidney for Wanda, I''ll take care of your life for the next five years.¡± George put down the report upon hearing the choke in Audrey''s voice. It was clear that he didn¡¯t want to dwell too much on the child¡¯s matter with Audrey. Following that, George stood up with his cane. Audrey gripped tightly onto the fabric of the clothing over her stomach. She didn¡¯t exin anything to George. As George walked out, he said, ¡°The Lambert family has always been tough. We repay the kindness. and avenge wrongs! | can provide you with all the resources you need for the next five years, but how far you grow depends on yourself. Don¡¯t spare those who have wronged you. George left the ward after that. Edward closed the door and followed behind George. ¡°Mr. Lambert, everything has been arranged. Ms. Yeomans will be transferred before Mr. Ryan arrives from the hotel. But how do we exin this to him?¡± George¡¯s face tensed up. ¡°Ryan is a grateful person. Over the years, he¡¯s felt indebted to Audrey because | didn¡¯t bother to take care of her. Thus, he consciously looks out for her. This time, he¡¯s even nning to register his marriage with Audrey in Runa for the sake of the child in her belly! | know Chapter 118 2/2 everything! But now, the group is in a critical moment. He should focus all his thoughts on the group. Tell him that I''ll take over Audrey''s matter from there!¡± Edward followed George into the elevator. ¡°But didn¡¯t you just say you¡¯re only responsible for Ms. Yeomans '' life for five years?¡± George tightly gripped onto his cane. ¡°If she can¡¯t stand up and step on those who once looked down on her in five years, she¡¯s not worthy of the blood of the Lambert family. Does she even belong in the Lambert family, then?¡± George¡¯s feelings toward Audrey were contradictory. He had always appreciated Audrey, for she had once risked her life to save Wanda. Still, that wouldn¡¯t change the fact that Audrey was part of the Yeomans family. He wanted her to live like the other members of the Yeomans family-forever stuck at the bottom of society and living a life inferior to ants, with no hope of redemption. When George learned about Audrey winning variouspetitions, he would think of his once- shining daughter. He would feel that Audrey was worthy of being Wanda¡¯s child. However, at the same time, he hated Wayne for ruining Wanda¡¯s life and would once again resent Audrey. But ever since George witnessed Audrey''s call on the program to crack down on buyers and sellers involved in trafficking, he seemed to have let go of his resentment toward Audrey. This was because he could feel that Audrey was now doing her best to save her biological mother, whom she had once been unable to save. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Chapter 119 172 George could sense that if Audrey had the chance to trade her life to turn back time and prevent Wanda from being abducted, she would have agreed to it. Therefore, George had let go of his resentment for Audrey. His so-called offer to donate a kidney to Wanda was just a test for Audrey. If Wanda really needed a kidney with lesser chance of rejection, he could easily have Adam donate one. George hade to the hospital with the intention of epting Audrey as his granddaughter. He told Audrey about what kind of people the Lambert family were. George wanted Audrey to take revenge on those who had bullied her! Letting Audrey take revenge with her own strength in five years was George¡¯s final test to ept her into the Lambert family. Ryan quickly showered and changed his clothes at the hotel before rushing back to the hospital. However, when he entered the ward, he didn¡¯t see Audrey lying in the bed. Instead, he saw Edward, who was supposed to be next to George. Edward bowed politely to Ryan with a smile. ¡°Mr. Ryan, Ms. Audrey has been transferred to another hospital. Mr. Lambert asked me to wait for you here.¡± Ryan¡¯s gaze darkened. Edward''s address for Audrey had changed. He changed from calling her Ms. Yeomans to now calling her Ms. Audrey. ¡°Has father decided to bring Audrey back home?¡± Ryan asked. Edward nodded with a faint smile. ¡°Not exactly. Mr. Lambert still has one final test for Ms. Audrey. If Ms. Audrey can meet Mr. Lambert''s expectations, then he will bring her back to the Lambert family.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Ryan stared at Edward intently. ¡°So?¡± Edward stepped closer and whispered to Ryan, ¡°So, Mr. Ryan, please focus all your energy on the group from now on and refrain from intervening in Ms. Audrey¡¯s affairs or her future. Mr. Ryan, | know you''ve been trying to persuade Mr. Lambert to ept Ms. Audrey back into the Lambert family. But this time, it was only after Mr. Lambert saw the video of Ms. Audrey calling for harsher penalties for buyers on the program that he reluctantly agreed to give her another chance!¡± ¡°Father has seen Audrey, hasn¡¯t he? Where is he now?¡± Ryan asked. Ryan guessed right, and Edward didn¡¯t hide it from him. ¡°Mr. Lambert is already on his way to the airport.¡± Ryan turned and walked away without saying another word. Fiinally, he caught up with George at the Chapter 119 airport. As soon as George got out of the car, he stood with his cane and looked at Ryan, who was panting before him. ¡°Since you''re here, let¡¯s go back together.¡± ¡°What about Audrey?¡± Ryan asked. George frowned. ¡°If you want her to return to the Lambert family with dignity, then don¡¯t ask too many questions. Even if out of guilt, your care for her over these years has been enough! 2/2 ¡°If she¡¯s truly as outstanding and worthy of being a Lambert family member as you im, then she should return to the Lambert family based on her own abilities. Your task now is to keep thepany going for the next three to five years! ¡°Otherwise, even if you finally get your wish to have her return to the Lambert family and take Lambert Corporation, the Lambert family will copse.¡± Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Edward, who was following closely behind Ryan, stepped forward and said, ¡°Mr. Lambert, the ne is ready to take off.¡± George gave Ryan a look. ¡°Also, make sure to quickly settle the matter of your marriage registration with her in Runa for the sake of her child. ¡°The outside world sees you both as blood rtives. How could you guys get married? | don¡¯t want this matter to be a stain on the Lambert family. The both of you better not disappoint me.¡± Edward watched as George entered the airport. He said in a lowered voice, ¡°Over these years, Mr. Lambert hasn¡¯t been completely indifferent to Ms. Audrey. After all, Ms. Audrey has Mr. Lambert¡¯s blood. To Mr. Lambert, there¡¯s still a difference between Ms. Audrey and Adam! ¡°Since Mr. Lambert wants Ms. Audrey to return to the Lambert family, he will surely take good care of her life. You don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡± ¡°Where is Audrey now? Can''t you tell me?¡± Ryan asked.. ¡°Yes. Mr. Lambert knows that you''ve been overseeing everything rted to Ms. Audrey all these years. Therefore, not only does he forbid me from telling anything about her, but he also forbids you from meddling in anything rted to her from now on. By anything, | mean nothing! Starting from this moment!¡± Edward emphasized the phrase ¡°nothing*. Then he continued, ¡°Mr. Lambert has told Ms. Audrey the same. Five years. If Audrey can impress Mr. Lambert without needing anyone¡¯s help within these five years, then she can return to the Lambert family! So, please, for the sake of Ms. Audrey, stop asking about her.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Ryan clenched his fists. ¡°She just miscarried and hasn''t recovered yet.¡± Edward nodded sympathetically. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. | have arranged for someone to take care of Ms. Audrey. | assure you! Mr. Ryan, | have a lot of faith in Ms. Audrey! If you truly want to help Ms. Audrey, why not focus on safeguarding Lambert Corporation for her?¡± Audrey''s excellence was beyond doubt. However, Ryan didn¡¯t believe that Audrey would strive to return to the Lambert family. Audrey was afraid of harming her biological mother because of herself. She wished to stay away from the Lambert family and anyone rted to them. Thus, why would she willingly return to the Lambert family? ¡°| want to call Audrey! | need to make sure that she¡¯s safe,¡± Ryan said firmly. He also needed to ensure that Audrey wasn¡¯t being coerced. Edward gestured for Ryan to follow him. ¡°Alright! I''ll arrange it immediately. Please, go back with Mr. Lambert now. Your current identity isn¡¯t suitable for staying abroad.¡± Ryan pursed his lips tightly and turned to walk toward the airport. Chapter 120 2/2 When the nended in Sheysea City, Edward handed Ryan a phone and said, ¡°It¡¯s Audrey on the line.¡± Ryan took the phone and put it to his car. Then, he walked toward the secluded area behind the private jet. ¡°Audrey.¡± ¡°It''s me. Thank you for everything you¡¯ve done for me. Now that the child is gone, | will have Edward pass the divorce agreement to you. I¡¯m sorry for making you go through all this trouble.¡± Audrey''s voice was as clear and pure as ever. ¡°Do you want to return to the Lambert family? Is it your choice?¡± Ryan asked. ¡°| don¡¯t want to return to the Lambert family, but yes, it¡¯s my choice. In fact, I¡¯ve never wanted much. I¡¯ve beencking love and security since | was young. Therefore, Nathan''s suffocating love, as perceived by others, saved me from self¡ªpity and self- loathing in the gutter. ¡°After Nathan lost his memory, | even endured his abuse for two years but was unwilling to give up.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t hide anything from Ryan, but her voice was calm, which made him feel uneasy. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Chapter 121 At this moment, strong emotions were welling up in Ryan''s heart. He should have told her earlier about his suppressed fear, and of the intense possessiveness and longing he had for Audrey! Audrey chuckled softly. ¡°I admit that when | decided to give up on Nathan, | had thoughts of rebellion. Thus, | drank that spiked drink. | wanted to fulfil his wish and sleep with someone else! But in the end, | couldn''t do it! | still have Anne and Harper. Although Anne isn¡¯t my biological mother, she still did her best to raise me. She just didn¡¯t know how to approach me, so she could only stand cautiously at a distance with Harper and wait for me toe closer! Therefore, | considered Nathan to be the first love in my life!¡± Finally, Ryan heard the fluctuating emotions in Audrey''s tone. Audrey paused for a moment, and her tone turned chilly as she went on to say, ¡°I was wrong! My persistence in Nathan¡¯s love killed Anne, Harper, me, and my child! But I¡¯m not the only one at fault! | want everyone who caused their deaths to pay the price! | want to take revenge with my own hands! But I¡¯m still too weak now. | need the Lambert family to lend me their strength.¡± ¡°| understand you, Audrey, but since I¡¯ve already registered our marriage, | haven''t thought about divorce. I¡¯m sorry, but | lied to you. | didn¡¯t marry you for your child. What I¡¯ve wanted from the beginning to the end is only you!¡± Ryan¡¯s voice lowered as he called out her name. He removed his sses and pinched the bridge of his nose. On the other end of the phone, there was a long silence from Audrey. For over a decade, Ryan had loved her silently from a corner where Audrey couldn''t see. He had even helped Franklin Group because of his love for Audrey. In the end, he suppressed his desires, which had turned into something dark because of his love for Audrey. He wished only for her happiness. ¡°| didn¡¯t marry you out of guilt, Audrey, but because over these years, I¡¯ve loved the smart, wise, timid, yet resilient you. I¡¯m infatuated with your smile, your tears, and every expression of yours. I¡¯m not good at expressing emotions, but | need you to know that | love you. ¡°Audrey, your life isn¡¯t just about hatred. It also has me, who has always loved you.¡± Ryan grabbed onto the curtain that was blocking his view. Audrey remained silent on the other end of the phone and hung up afterward. When Ryan heard the sound of the call ending, he closed his eyes for a moment. Then, he put his sses back on and moved the curtain away before stepping out of the private area of the ne. He handed the phone back to Edward, who was waiting in front of the door. Edward ced the phone back in his suit. He followed behind Ryan and said, ¡°Mr. Lambert has already left. Ms. Cecilia wille to pick you up today. Mr. Lambert wanted you to return to the Chapter 121 Lambert Residence with Ms. Cecilia.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Ryan looked up and saw Cecilia smiling and waving at him in front of the ck car. 2/2 Meanwhile, Audrey sat by the bedside while gripping tightly onto her phone. She wiped her tears with a tissue. When she expressed her determination to take revenge on Nathan, she didn¡¯t cry. But she couldn¡¯t hold back her tears when she heard Ryan confess his love for her. She knew Ryan didn¡¯t want her to be immersed only in pain. But did she still have the ability to love someone? She and Nathan had been childhood sweethearts, and she had given all her love and devotion to Nathan. However, that love disappeared along with his lost memories. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Chapter 122 She could no longer love another person, because her heart was filled only with hatred. ¡°Do you hate them?¡± Avoice came from the doorway. Audrey turned to see an elderly gentleman, roughly George¡¯s age, standing at the door with a kind smile. He held a tray with a bowl of chicken soup. She recognised him as the retired old butler of the Lambert family. Julian, who worked alongside Ryan, mentioned that this retired old butler, Stephen Smith, had been retired for many years. He had been managing the farm on the outskirts on behalf of George. ¡°What?¡± Audrey looked at Stephen with a puzzled expression. Stephen walked over to Audrey with a smile and ced the small table on the bed before cing the bowl of chicken soup in front of her. ¡°Ms. Audrey, what I¡¯m trying to say is that, you need to hold onto your feelings of anger to confront challenges with determination! Avoiding trouble and enduring difficulties is not the way of the Lambert family! We believe in seeking revenge. Forgiveness is something only God does!¡± Audrey didn¡¯t understand. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why haven''t the Lambert family retaliated against the Yeomans family?¡± ¡°Haven''t they? Otherwise, why would the people of Sayeno Town be struggling in poverty? Allowing them to witness the prosperity of the world while they remain trapped at the bottom, despite their efforts to break free. Isn¡¯t that more intriguing than simply ending their lives?¡± Realisation suddenly dawned on Audrey. So, the Lambert family had actually spared her. In recent years, Sayeno Town had be poorer, and it seemed that there were no more students. there going to college. Stephen smiled faintly. ¡°Ms. Audrey, from now on, | will be responsible for you and your child¡¯s life.¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Audrey widened her eyes and ced her hand over her stomach. ¡°Didn''t you guys need my kidney?¡± ¡°Ms. Audrey, that was just Mr. Lambert¡¯s test for you. Ms. Wanda only has some mental issues and doesn¡¯t need a kidney transnt.¡± During the ride back to the Lambert Residence, Cecilia nced at Julian, who was driving in the front row. Then, she turned to Ryan, who had his eyes closed and said, ¡°I met Ms. Yeomans in Runa.¡± Ryan turned his head to Cecilia and gazed at her with glum eyes. Cecilia smiled. ¡°I heard that Ms. Yeomans got into trouble. | thought you might not know what | told Chapter 122 her to pass on to you yet! Mr. Lambert, let¡¯s work together! 212 ¡°You need the identity of a Shaw family son-inw to stand firm in Lambert Corporation, and | need an heir of the Lambert family as a husband topete with my eldest sister and second sister for Shaw Corporation. We can both get what we need! Fake marriage doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Ryan looked at Cecilia¡¯s smiling face without saying a word. She continued, ¡°I am not someone trapped in familial emotions. Mr. Lambert, you should be aware of the situation in the Shaw family. My father only has three daughters and no sons, and the heir will definitely emerge among us three sisters! ¡°My eldest sister has the support of my uncle¡¯s family, and my second sister has my mother¡¯s support. Only | find it difficult to obtain the inheritance of the Shaw family! Therefore, | can only get the support of a strong family like the Lambert family.¡± Ryan¡¯s tone was calm as he replied, ¡°I am not interested in supporting the Shaw family, and | am not interested in getting involved in the property dispute within the Shaw family. ¡°The Lambert family is influential in Mythravia, so | don¡¯t need the identity of a Shaw family son-in-w to stand firm in Lambert Corporation!¡± Cecilia wasn¡¯t angered at all. ¡°I¡¯m just suggesting. Mr. Lambert, you can consider it! You will always have a need for the Shaw family, and | can sign a contract with you to ensure that our properties are held separately. ¡°Once you find someone you want to marry, | can divorce immediately! Or if you and Ms. Yeomans are not divorced yet, we can temporarily announce to the public that we are engaged.¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Ryan¡¯s eyes narrowed deeply, but they showed no hint of emotion. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Me? Mr. Lambert, how could I? Whether you''re willing to cooperate with me or not, | won''t disclose this matter to anyone else. You can trust my integrity.¡± Meanwhile, Nathan, dressed in sterile clothing, held Amelia¡¯s hand tightly. His eyes were red with pain as he whispered to her, ¡°The baby is gone! Sweetie, can you wake up now? | made a mistake, but only this once. Please don¡¯t torture me like this! Once you wake up, we''ll get married right away! While | do remember some fragments of my memory, you are still the one whom | love the most! Please.¡± As Nathan felt Amelia''s fingers move, he suddenly stood up. ¡°Amelia! Sweetie!¡± Amelia¡¯s eyshes trembled for a long time before she slowly opened her eyes. She murmured something, but it was barely audible through the oxygen mask. Nathan hurriedly released Amelia¡¯s hand. He turned around and shouted, ¡°Doctor! Doctor! She¡¯s awake! She¡¯s awake!¡± Amelia, who was lying in the hospital bed, struggled to raise her hand and grabbed Nathan¡¯s hand. Tears streamed down her face. ¡°Nathan, don¡¯t leave me!¡± Four yearster at the airport arrival lounge, Amelia¡¯s multitude of fans crowded the exit. They were ready to greet her as she arrived. After three years of preparation and filming, ¡°Post Apocalypse 3¡± was finally released at the end of the previous year and became a blockbuster, grossing 2.5 billion dors. This propelled Amelia to international stardom, with countless endorsements and fan followings. Amelia¡¯s posters could be seen everywhere in the airport. Nathan leaned against the railing and watched as Amelia¡¯s excited fans eagerly awaited her arrival. They were all tiptoeing to get a glimpse inside. Then, he impatiently sent a message to Amelia. ¡°I''ll be waiting for you in the underground parking lot to avoid the crowd.¡± After sending the message, Nathan locked his phone and walked away. However, just as Nathan walked a few steps further, his attention was drawn to a woman with long. wavy hair. She wore a mask, a ck sports jacket, a pair of ck leggings, and white shoes. She effortlessly pulled a suitcase behind her with one hand while her other hand carried a child dressed in matching outfits. The little girl, who nestled against the woman¡¯s shoulder, also wore a mask. Her petite frame stood straight while her round eyes darted around, as if she was searching for someone. Chapter 123 2/2 Audrey, standing five feet and six inches tall, exuded elegance with her slender frame and fairplexion. She stood out even in a simple ck outfit, and her mask entuated her captivating eyes, leaving onlookers to ponder her beauty. Pushing up the sleeve of her hoodie, Audrey revealed her delicate wrist adorned with an expensive red watch. It was shimmering against her fair skin. After ending the call, Audrey put her phone back into her pocket and adjusted the hat on the child¡¯s head. Soon after, she briskly pulled the suitcase and strided forward with confidence. The little girl tilted her head back to make the hat uncover her eyes a little. Her little head swiveled around while looking in all directions.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Wow! Is she a single mom? She¡¯s so cool.¡± ¡°This mom is amazing. She¡¯s so slim, yet she can carry a child with one hand and drag such a big suitcase with the other!¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Chapter 124 ¡°Her figure clearly indicates that she works out regrly!¡± The young fans who came to pick Amelia up were very much into charming looks. They couldn''t help but take out their phones to take pictures of Audrey and her daughter. Nathan''s feet seemed to be glued to the spot. It wasn¡¯t until the figure was about to disappear from his sight that he snapped out of it. He pushed past the people blocking his way and hastily caught up. As Audrey got out of the elevator, her phone continued to ring nonstop. Audrey took Lily to a nearby cafe and ordered a cup of hot milk and a cake before removing her mask. ¡°Lily, sweetheart, sit here for a moment. | need to take a call.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lily obediently held the cup of milk and took a few sips. Ayer of cream was stained around her lip, and it made her look as if she had a little mustache. Audrey grabbed a tissue and wiped Lily¡¯s mouth as she listened to the person on the other end of the call. The person in the phone sounded anxious. ¡°We need the founder of Evergreen Biotech to attend the hearing over here in Meria. Otherwise, they''ll take measures against all our projects, and it''ll affect our rtionship with the Meria government. Boss, are you still going to refuse them?¡± Audrey chuckled coldly. ¡°After all these years, they still haven¡¯te up with anything new! Sending you there is already giving them face. We''ve cooperated with plenty of hospitals and universities in Meria over the years. They clearly want to snatch our technology but are holding a hearing to appear fair. Ha!¡± ¡°| heard rumors saying that their intelligencework has found out your identity. Boss, you better. be careful these days.¡± Audrey lifted her coffee cup. ¡°If they really found out my identity, they would contact me directly and not just talk to you. We¡¯ve long since gotten tired of the bluffing trick! At the hearing on the 29th, tell them that if they continue to harass us and use the same tactics they used to suppress other techpanies against Evergreen Biotech, we will terminate all cooperation with Meria¡¯s hospitals. and schools, as well as withdraw from the Meria market!¡± The person on the other end of the call chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s another thing that''s quite interesting. Franklin Group from Sheysea City wants to cooperate with us. Boss, what do you think?¡± Audrey frowned. ¡°Hold off on that and don¡¯t reply to them yet. Has Lambert Corporation responded?¡± ¡°Not yet. I''ll have someone contact Lambert Corporation again.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you!¡± After hanging up the call, Audrey looked at Lily, who was almost finished with her cake. She reached Chapter 124 out and pinched the little girl''s cheek. ¡°Wait here for a moment. We''ll head out after | go to the restroom.¡± Lily nodded obediently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mommy! I¡¯ll be good!¡± 212 Audrey took out her tablet and yed cartoons for Lily. Feeling uneasy, she left some money for the staff and asked them to keep an eye on Lily before heading to the restroom. Lily sat in her chair and watched cartoons with her ss of milk while swaying her legs. Suddenly, she nced up and spotted Ryan walking outside the cafe. He was surrounded by a crowd and talking on the phone. Shetmmediately jumped off her chair and ran after Ryan. ¡°Daddy!¡± Ryan, who was on the phone, was suddenly embraced by the little girl that came out of nowhere. He. then looked down. ¡°Daddy!¡± Lily looked up at Ryan as he called out to him. Lily had two little braids, and she hung on Ryan¡¯s legs like a pendant. She had a pair of eyes that were remarkably simr to both Audrey''s and Ryan''s. Lily''s eyes were dark and bright, like grapes, and her skin was fair and soft. She stood on her tiptoes and raised her chubby little hands in eagerness for a hug. ¡°Whose child is this?¡± Julian and the other Lambert Corporation executives looked around, but not parents seemed to be chasing after her. Ryan said to the person on the phone, ¡°If | can¡¯t make it back for this afternoon¡¯s press conference, have Gary go in my ce. Also, let the press release go as it is, with not a single word changed.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Chapter 125 After hanging up the call, Ryan picked up Lily, who seemed small but felt heavy in his arms. ¡°Are you lost, little one? Where are your parents?¡± Ryan asked. Lily hugged Ryan¡¯s neck tightly. ¡°My mommy went to the restroom! | saw you as soon as | looked up! Daddy, am | smart? Actually, mommy didn¡¯t want me toe back with her. | insisted oning to find you, Daddy! Mommy said | don¡¯t have a daddy. She¡¯s lying. I¡¯m no stone!¡± Lily was barely four years old, and she spoke without a clear point, jumping from one topic to another. Though her wordscked coherence, Ryan sensed that the child had never seen her father before. ¡°Lily!¡± Hearing Audrey¡¯s call, Lily turned to wave at Audrey while she was still clinging onto Ryan. ¡°Mommy! Their eyes met. Ryan froze, and Audrey was equally stunned. Four years had passed, and Ryan seemed unchanged, yet somehow different. His cheeks were thinner, and his features were more deeply defined. There was a sharpness in him that wasn¡¯t there four years ago. ¡°Ms. Audrey?¡± Julian nced at Audrey, who had arrived breathlessly, and then at Ryan, who was holding Lily with a bright smile. His eyes widened. Before returning home, Audrey had thought about meeting Ryan. But she hadn''t expected it to happen so soon, and certainly not like this. Audrey hadn''t forgotten Ryan¡¯s confession over the phone four years ago. Nor had she forgotten George¡¯s hope that Ryan would marry one of the Shaw family¡¯s daughters. Ryan¡¯s fiancee was known as Cecilia to the outside world, and Audrey didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble for Ryan. The cafe servant chased after Audrey with her suitcase and apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss. The child ran out when | was delivering coffee to another table! I¡¯m really sorry!¡± Audrey regained herposure and took the suitcase. She then approached Ryan with a smile. ¡°Long time no see.¡± Ryan stared at Audrey, and the corner of his lips quirked up as well. ¡°Long time indeed.¡± ¡°Lily, let me hold you. Don¡¯t trouble...¡± Audrey struggled with what to call Ryan. Putting aside Lily''s rtionship with Ryan, Audrey was actually considered Ryan¡¯s junior ording Chapter 125 to their external seniority. Shouldn''t Lily call Ryan grandpa then? But Audrey found it difficult to address him as that. ¡°Don¡¯t trouble Mr. Lambert!¡± Lily had always been a good child. Apart from stubbornly wanting to find her father, she was very obedient. Although she was upset after hearing Audrey say that, she obediently reached out her hands to Audrey, regardless. 2/2 ¡°I''ll hold her.¡± Ryan then turned to the gossipy-faced Lambert Company executives. ¡°You can all ahead. I''ll join you shortly.¡± go ¡°Sir, should | have the driver wait?¡± Julian asked. Audrey smiled at Ryan. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We have a car waiting for us in the parking lot. You just came back as well, right? Take some rest. We''ll meet next time.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 126 ¡°Tell the driver to go back and wait for my call,¡± Ryan said and effortlessly took Audrey¡¯s suitcase from her hands. With one arm holding the child and the other pulling the suitcase, he looked at Audrey and said, ¡°Lead the way!¡± Lily carefully observed Audrey¡¯s expression while her tiny hands tightly gripped the back of Ryan¡¯s coat. Audrey had no choice but to follow Ryan to the parking lot. Audrey and Ryan had outstanding looks, and the little one in Ryan¡¯s arms exuded irresistible charm. Despite the fact that Ryan exuded a down-to-earth demeanor in his suit, he held the child and carried Audrey¡¯s luggage as if attentively caring for his wife. Together, the trio drew countless nces wherever they walked. After Ryan, Audrey, and the child left, the executives of Lambert Corporation couldn¡¯t help but inquire of Julian. ¡°What''s going on? Wasn¡¯t Mr. Lambert engaged to the Shaw family? Howe his child is so big already?¡± ¡°Yeah! | didn¡¯t hear anything about Mr. Lambert getting married! Who''s that beautiful woman?¡± ¡°What beautiful woman? They even have a child together! That''s the boss''s wife! They look so perfect together.¡± Gossip was human nature, even for these high-ranking executives of Lambert Corporation. ¡°This is Mr. Lambert''s private matter, and I¡¯m not very clear about it! If you¡¯re interested, you can wait for Mr. Lambert toe back and ask him yourself,¡± Julian said with a smile.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. As they walked out, a few executives remarked, ¡°Oh well! I''d rather not! Thest time | asked Mr. Lambert when he and M Cecilia were going to get engaged so we could share the joy, he sent me to Affina for two months. | almost couldn¡¯t make it back!¡± Nathan stood still as he watched Ryan and Audrey leave with the child. His breathing became rapid, and he leaned against the wall while almost losing his bnce. Considering the child¡¯s age, did Audrey manage to save the child when she fell back then? No, he had gone to the hospital and asked, and the doctor said the child hadn¡¯t made it. For some reason, Nathan felt a sense of relief. For years, Nathan had been tormented almost daily by the memory of Audrey losing the child. Especially as time passed and more memories of Audrey came flooding back. Yes, after four years, Nathan recalled many fragments of his time with Audrey, but they were just fragments, not aplete picture of their life together. Chapter 126 2/2 Like the summer when he and Audrey returned to Eastville and stayed at Anne¡¯s house. He recalled memories of Anne that day he knelt by her grave. He could barely stand up from crying. He remembered Anne¡¯s scrambled eggs, the ice-cold soda she handed him, and how, when he argued with Audrey, Anne would rub his head and call him the most handsome young man. After Nathan retrieved those memories, he regretted every moment. He regretted why he had pushed Anne away back then. He had promised Audrey that he would treat Anne as his own mother. However, he pushed Anne away and caused her death. Nathan apologized countless times to Anne''s cold grave, but there was no one to gently pat his head and tell him not to worry anymore. He wanted to apologize to Audrey, but because of the child, he didn¡¯t even dare to see her. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Though it was just a tiny fragment in Nathan¡¯s memory of over twenty years, it was enough to fill him with overwhelming regret. He even prayed to the heavens, begging not to recall the past, not to restore any memories. He feared remembering the moments Audrey had constantly brought up in front of him. He feared that he had truly loved Audrey, loved her to the extent of forsaking everything. If he remembered everything, then what he had done for her after she woke up wouldn''t count for anything! Audrey took the car keys from the driver at the airport parking lot while Ryan had already secured Lily in her car seat and fastened her seatbelt. With her long eyshes, Lily blinked her eyes and whispered to Ryan, ¡°Daddy, why does mommy make me call you Mr. Lambert? Did you make her angry? Mommy is easy to coax. My big brother taught me that if mommy gets mad, | should...¡± Lily grabbed Ryan¡¯s index finger and pinky, then rubbed her chubby face toward them. ¡°This way, mommy won''t be mad,¡± Lily whispered to Ryan.. Ryan¡¯s eyes welled up at how obedient and gentle Lily was. He controlled his emotions and stroked the little one¡¯s head. ¡°Okay, | understand!¡± Knowing that Ryan had taken her words to heart, Lily yawned and rubbed her eyes. No one told Ryan that his and Audrey''s child was still alive. He thought his child was gone. When he first met Lily, he assumed she was Audrey¡¯s adopted child due to not being able to handle the pain of losing theirs. Now he was certain she was their child. Ryan pinched Lily¡¯s chubby cheeks with his long, slender fingers. ¡°Are you tired? Take a nap.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°I''ll drive,¡± Audrey said to Ryan. After closing the car door, Ryan took the keys from Audrey¡¯s hand. ¡°I''ll drive. You rest first. There are many things | need to ask you.¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert,¡± Audrey murmured as she nced into the car. She saw Lily press her chubby face against the car window, as her eyes blinked. She looked at her now and then at Ryan. Audrey smiled at Lily and then turned to Ryan. ¡°We''ll drop you off first.¡± ¡°Audrey, we need to talk. For the sake of the child.¡± Ryan¡¯s breathing turned slightly heavier. He leaned closer to Audrey. Audrey''s throat tightened. She nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± The car pulled out of the airport parking lot. Audrey nced at Lily in her seat, who had fallen asleep Chapter 127 2/2 with her head cocked and her eyes closed. The child''s chubby cheeks were pressed against the seat. Her dark, dense eyshes were long and curved. Audrey turned back to Ryan, who was steering with one hand. Trying to break the silence, she said, I¡¯m sorry | didn¡¯t tell you about the child back then. | only found outter that | didn¡¯t lose both of our children.¡± ¡°Who''s taking care of our son overseas?¡± Ryan asked upon hearing that. After a moment of thought, Audrey answered truthfully, ¡°Our son is named Das, and Stephen is taking care of him. It was arranged by Mr. Lambert Senior. Mr. Lambert Senior has been taking Mrs. Lambert Senior to visit both children recently. Both the children really like them.¡± Since Audrey had never told the two children about her rtionship with George and Wanda, they also referred to George as Mr. Lambert Senior. As for Wanda, both children called her Wandflower. Perhaps due to their blood ties, Wanda really liked Lily and Das. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Unlike Das, Lily wasn¡¯t as reserved. The little girl was sweet-mouthed, talkative, and exceptionally adorable. Every year, George would bring Wanda overseas to visit the two children. Whenever the children were around, Wanda¡¯s smile would be more frequent than usual. Soter on, George often arranged for Stephen to take Lily and Das to live with him and Wanda in cities with pleasant climates for some time. Although Lily didn¡¯t know about Audrey¡¯s rtionship with George and Wanda, Das was sensitive enough to guess that they were family. Feeling George and Wanda¡¯s unconditional affection, the two children naturally grew fond of them. But Audrey dared not appear in front of Wanda. Each time, she would only watch Wanda and Lily y from a distance with content. Realization finally dawned on Ryan. Over the years, Wanda¡¯s mental state had fluctuated. George, following the advice of a psychologist, started letting Wanda care for some small animals. Later on, he often took Wanda abroad, iming it was to unwind in favorable climates. It turned out that he was actually taking Wanda to meet his two children. Audrey gently tugged on the hem of her shirt. ¡°Mr. Lambert Senior has always believed that the child. is Nathan¡¯s, and | didn¡¯t exin it either. Mr. Lambert Senior hasn''t been well these years, and I¡¯m worried he wouldn''t be able to handle knowing that the two children are yours.¡± George held the Lambert family¡¯s honor in high regard. Audrey had only sensed this after spending more time with him. Ryan subconsciously tightened his grip on the steering wheel. His lips were pressed together.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. He could tell what Audrey said meant something else. ¡°Are you responding to my confession from four years ago, or do you want a divorce?¡± Ryan pierced through Audrey¡¯s veiled words. ¡°Your fiancee is Ms. Cecilia. I¡¯m concerned that our marital situation not being resolved quickly will affect you.¡± This was also one of Audrey''s purposes for returning. However, she hadn''t expected to meet Ryan with their child at the airport. Exiting the highway, Ryan signaled and parked the car on the side of the road. He rested one hand on the steering wheel and turned to look at Audrey. ¡°The engagement with the Shaw family was merely a verbal agreement between the elders. We didn¡¯t even have an engagement ceremony. The reason | Chapter 128 212. 212. didn¡¯t deny this was simply to maintain a cooperative rtionship with Cecilia!¡± He calmly exined to Audrey. Then, he took off his sses, cupped the back of Audrey''s head tenderly yet assertively, and pulled her toward him. His cold, reserved features seemed to harbor aggressive and blunt attack. Audrey''s heart raced suddenly. ¡°Ryan!¡± Ryan kissed her hard. Audrey tried to push him away but was held by the wrist. He parted her lips with his tongue and intensified the kiss. Cars passed by their vehicle from time to time and headlights would sh through the car windows. Audrey stared at Ryan¡¯s face and his gaze in the dim light, which seemed fiery and wild. His intense possessiveness bordered on devouring her. The kiss overwhelmed her. It made her scalp tingle and her mind go nk. It wasn¡¯t until Audrey almost suffocated and her tongue ached that Ryan released her lips. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Audrey panted heavily. The confined space of the car seemingly filled only with her breathing and heartbeat. Her palms were sweaty. He kneaded the back of Audrey¡¯s neck and kissed her swollen lips again lightly. ¡°Audrey, my desire for you goes beyond your imagination, even more so than Nathan¡¯s initially! I¡¯ve been restraining myself. | don¡¯t want to intrude on your life, and | especially don¡¯t want to frighten you! But ever since that night, it¡¯s like I¡¯ve broken through some kind of barrier, and my desire can no longer be restrained, it¡¯s even getting wilder and wilder. Therefore, | can¡¯t let you go.¡± The intense heartbeat left Audrey numb. She stared at the man in front of her, with his tall nose and sharp features. The man who had always been cold and quiet with little to say was now using the most straightforward way to tell her about his uncontroble desires. It was hard for her not to panic. ¡°|... |came back for Aunt Anne and Harper.¡± Audrey''s voice trembled slightly. Ryan responded, ¡°I know. | support everything you do, and I''ve never intervened in the past four years, but don¡¯t push me away! Don¡¯t leave my sight again.¡± Audrey held onto Ryan¡¯s sturdy wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s go back first. Lily is asleep. It¡¯s not safe to stay by the roadside.¡± Ryan looked back at Lily, who was asleep in the child seat. He reached out to touch Lily¡¯s slightly cold little feet, then took off his suit jacket and covered her legs with it before restarting the car. When the car stopped under thendmark t building in Mythravia¡¯s downtown area, Audrey was a bit surprised. ¡°Where are we?¡± Ryan unbuckled Audrey¡¯s seatbelt. ¡°I don¡¯t usually stay here. You and the child can stay here temporarily. It¡¯s more suitable for you to stay here than in a hotel. You''ll have a housekeeper to take care of your meals, and I''ll feel more at ease.¡± Audrey grabbed his wrist. ¡°Ryan, after | finish a few things in Mythravia, I''ll take the child to Sheysea City. We won''t stay here for long. Wouldn¡¯t it be too much trouble?¡± ¡°If you''re not staying here for long, what¡¯s the trouble?¡± Ryan asked in return. Following that, Audrey watched as Ryan carefully wrapped Lily, who was sleeping soundly, in his suit jacket. Then, he picked up the little one, and pulled the suitcase. She had no choice but to follow him upstairs. Afterying Lily on the soft big bed and covering her with a nket, Ryan came out of the bedroom and saw Audrey on the balcony outside the windows while making a call. He went to the kitchen to pour her a ss of water. It was George on the other end of the phone.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Chapter 129 212 ¡°| bumped into Mr. Lambert when | came out of the airport. I¡¯m at Mr. Lambert''s ce now,¡± Audrey honestly told George. After a moment of silence on the other end of the line, George spoke in a calm tone, ¡°That¡¯s fine. You''ll be joining Lambert Corporation after you¡¯ve taken care of Sheysca City. There¡¯s still plenty of room for you and Ryan to work together. Besides, he¡¯s also your uncle. When Wanda and | are gone, we''ll need the two of you to support each other.¡± Audrey clutched her cell phone tightly. She was too guilty to respond. ¡°Send Lily here tomorrow. Don¡¯t take the child to Sheysea City,¡± George said. He missed Lily. ¡°Okay!¡± Audrey replied. George paused for a moment before continuing to say, ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together tomorrow.¡± This was the first time in many years that George had invited Audrey to dinner. She felt nervous. Audrey frowned. ¡°But I¡¯m worried it might upset her. I''ll just drop the child off at the door and leave.¡± ¡°Give it a try. If Wanda doesn¡¯t react right when she sees you, can leave immediately.¡± George said. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Audrey''s breath quickened. She responded softly, ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up the phone, a smile couldn''t help but creep onto her face as she came in from the balcony. Her tone still carried the remnants of nervousness from her conversation with George as she said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Lambert Senior said | could have dinner with him tomorrow.¡± Audrey had just finished speaking when Ryan¡¯s phone rang. He answered it. It was a call from Lambert Residence, and Paige informed him that George wanted him toe back the next day for dinner. ¡°Okay. | got it. I''ll be back on time tomorrow.¡± After hanging up the call, Ryan gestured for Audrey to sit down. ¡°I''ll be going back to the Lambert residence for dinner tomorrow too!¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Audrey paused. She walked over slowly. ¡°I''ll remind Lily not to address you improperly.¡± ¡°And what do you n to have my child call me?¡± Ryan countered. ¡°I''ll have her call you Mr. Lambert, is that okay?¡± Audrey regretted after saying that and bit her lip. All these years, Audrey could face everyone with ease, except for Ryan. Perhaps it was because she had two children with Ryan after being drugged and she always felt guilty. Especially having the child call him Mr. Lambert. ¡°That''s fine!¡± Audrey didn¡¯t expect Ryan to agree so readily. ¡°Thank you,¡± Audrey said gratefully. Ryan walked up to Audrey and leaned against the back of the sofa. When Audrey tried to move back, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer. He caressed her delicate wrist. His deep gaze met Audrey¡¯s eyes. ¡°I know you haven''t figured out how to handle the rtionship between us yet. | know your conditions for returning to the Lambert family. You go to Sheysea City first and take care of your business. As for the Lambert family, I''ll announce my departure from them after Lambert Corporation stabilizes.¡± Audrey widened her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Ryan said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve always been wanted to do this for many years, but because Mr. Lambert Senior didn¡¯t relent and let you return to the Lambert family, it didn¡¯t happen. It¡¯s not a good thing to say, but | had originally nned to bring you back to the Lambert family after Mr. Lambert Senior passed away. Now that he¡¯s epted you back, | should separate from the Lambert family. However, Lambert Corporation has been coordinating with domestic semiconductorpanies for the past Chapter 130 four years. Thepany had just managed to ovee lithography and chip technology. | can¡¯t leave Lambert Corporationf just yet. 2/2 Audrey grabbed Ryan¡¯s arm and said in an urgent tone, ¡°Of course you can¡¯t leave Lambert Corporation! Although the domestic sector has just ovee lithography and chip technology, this is just the beginning, and we can¡¯t rule out the possibility that Meria will bring chips into our country. The influence of Lambert Corporation is crucial for you. You should use the current resources of thepany and the government to expand chip production capacity as soon as possible and prevent Meria from smuggling chips into our country to make money. Secondly, you need to upgrade domestic lithography and chip technology within six months to a year before Meria reacts, so that we can break through Meria¡¯s semiconductor blockade strategy. You can¡¯t leave if you want to aplish these tasks!¡± Ryan gently pulled Audrey toward him. ¡°Have you been concerned about Lambert Corporation and me in these years?¡± he asked. Audrey remained silent. ¡°Audrey, you still have feelings for me,¡± Ryan said with conviction. Lily woke up inside the bedroom. She rubbed her eyes, and didn¡¯t see Audrey in bed. Thus, she climbed down and tiptoed to open the bedroom door. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Chapter 131 1/2 ¡°Mommy.¡± Lily¡¯s sleepy voice called out. The living room was too bright and it caused Lily to squint. She reached out toward Audrey and asked to be held. Audrey snapped back to reality and quickly walked over to Lily. She scooped her up in her arms. You''re awake. Are you hungry?¡± Ryan followed suit and approached them. He gently stroked Lily¡¯s little head before naturally wrapping his arm around Audrey¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Lily, what would you like to eat?¡± The little one wriggled in Audrey¡±s arms and reached out to Ryan. Her eyes sparkled like a sunflower seeking sunlight. ¡°Daddy! | want a hug!¡± Ryan took Lily from Audrey¡¯s arms and the little one wrapped her arms around his neck. She showed no intention of letting go. He stroked Lily''s back gently and then carried her toward the kitchen. ¡°Would you like some milk first?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lily chirped. Ryan, still wearing his vest, skillfully heated up some milk with one hand while holding the soft, white bundle of joy in the other. The contrast was stark, but the scene exuded warmth and tenderness.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Audrey stood by the open kitchen counter with her eyes slightly red. She couldn¡¯t even understand how Lily knew Ryan was her father. Was it because of their blood rtion? After heating the milk, Ryan poured it into arge cup and carried it out of the kitchen. 4 Lily didn¡¯t hesitate to praise him and gave him two thumbs up. Then, she sweetly offered to massage Ryan¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Daddy, you''re great! Let me massage you!¡± Lily hadpletely different personalities from Audrey, and Ryan. She was like a little sun, full of energy, sweetness, and easily endeared herself to everyone. Ryan couldn''t even bear to put Lily down. He let her sit on hisp while she sipped on her milk. ¡°Isn¡¯t Lambert Corporation having a press conference today? I''ll take care of Lily. If you¡¯re busy, you can go first,¡± Audrey said. ¡°I''m not busy. I¡¯ll stay with you and Lily today.¡± Ryan had his gaze fixed on the little one who seemed ready to dive into her milk cup. She drank it without any fuss. She seemed very obedient and easy to care for. ¡°You can spend time with Lily. | saw some ingredients in the fridge. Should | cook something for us to eat together?¡± Audrey suggested. Chapter 131 2/2 ¡°Till do it!¡± Ryan smiled.. Audrey watched as Lily satfortably in Audrey watched as Lily satfortably in Ryan¡¯s arms and showed no sign of wanting to leave. She smiled and said, ¡°You stay with Lily.¡± After washing her hands, she went to the kitchen. Lily, who had finished her milk in the dining room, put down her cup and licked the milk off her lips. Then, she pulled Ryan toward the luggage that was taller than her. She wanted to arrange the stuff in the luggate together with him. Ryan squatted down and opened the luggage. Lily sat beside him while flipping through the stuff until she found a photo of her, Das, and Audrey together. She handed it to Ryan and pointed at the little boy with the fair and tender face in the photo. ¡°This is Das!¡± The little boy in the photo looked exactly like Lily. His eyes resembled Ryan¡¯s and Audrey''s. His long and curly eyshes were captivating, and his bright and clear eyes resembled gems. However, unlike Lily¡¯s carefree smile, Das had a calm and dignified demeanor. He seemed mature beyond his years. The photo was taken in the afternoon. Audrey was sitting cross¡ªlegged on the lush greenwn while holding a child on each side. The dazzling warm light of the setting sun outlined the delicate and beautiful smiles of the two children and her. Even the fuzz on their faces was clearly visible in the sunlight. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Chapter 132 In front of the three of themy a Labrador retriever, sticking its tongue out at the camera with a carefree expression. Next to Audrey, there was a ck blob painted with watercolor pens. Before Ryan could ask, Lily pointed at the blob and said, ¡°That¡¯s you, daddy!¡± Ryan turned to see Lily¡¯s bright eyes. She seemed to be waiting for his praise. He was momentarily speechless but eventually smiled and said, ¡°Um, you did a great job!¡± The little girl''s smile grew even wider. She turned to Ryan and said, ¡°I knew it! Even Das said | did a great job, but he said I shouldn¡¯t draw anymore next time! Das also won''t let me ask anything about you. He said it¡¯ll make mommy sad. Daddy, did you make mommy angry? Is that why Das won''t let me ask anything about you?¡± Ryan didn¡¯t know how to exin to Lily. He squeezed her little hand. ¡°Maybe a little!¡± ¡°Mommy is very soft-hearted. Daddy, as long as you act cute to her, she will hug and kiss you! Daddy, will you live with me and Das in the future?¡± Lily looked at Ryan earnestly and asked. Ryan smiled and asked, ¡°Of course!. Lily, did you miss me a lot before?¡± The little girl nodded heavily. ¡°When mommy spanks me, | miss you the most!¡± ¡°Is it because you want me to protect you?¡± Lily nodded heavily again. ¡°I have a neighbor named Elsa who lives next door. Every time her mommy spanks her, her dad will hold her and call her a little angel, then take her to buy lots of snacks. | envy her. But it¡¯s okay! | found my daddy!¡± # ¡°Lily, how did you know | am your dad at the airport?¡± Ryan asked. Lily was easily drawn into conversation by Ryan. ¡°Das told me! Das is very clever. Everyone says Das is a child prodigy who can surpass even William Sidis, the famous genius. After Das found mommy¡¯s marriage registration information, we knew who our dad was! Das showed me your photos, and | secretly searched for your news online. | look at them every day, so I know my dad is very amazing!¡± The little girl exposed Audrey and Das¡¯s conscious efforts while praising her dad. She revealed everything to Ryan, even Audrey''s phone number.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Das told me that mommy is even more amazing than you. She¡¯is the founder of Evergreen Biotech!¡± Ryan was stunned. Three years ago, a biotechpany called Evergreen Biotech came out of nowhere and made breakthroughs in cutting-edge biotechnology such as gene delivery stem cell culture technology, tissue regeneration technology, in vivo remodeling CAR-T technology, molecr switches, and other Chapter 132 cutting-edge biological technologies. Thepany had cooperated with dozens of renowned hospitals both locally and abroad in applying these technologies in the medical field. Because of the advanced gic technology, it gained worldwide fame for a time. Six months ago, Evergreen Biotech even applied Al in gic therapy, cell therapy, and cancer treatment. Thepany was attempting to promote these technologies in high-end hospitals worldwide to better save patients¡¯ lives. Recently, Evergreen Biotech announced its annual n to invest heavily in living robot research, hoping this technology could solve birth defects, cancer treatment, aging, and other problems. However, this also put Evergreen Biotech in the spotlight of ethical risks and technological controbility. Naturally, this non¡ªMeria¡ªowned Evergreen Biotech was inevitably targeted by Meria. 2/2 Starting from two years ago, Meria¡¯s top brass gave Evergreen Biotech two choices and that was to either sell thepany to Meria or face sanctions. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Evergreen Biotech hade so far that external pressures were mounting. This time, the research on living robots gave Meria a major leverage to demand that Evergreen Biotech hand over its technology in terms of the technical feasibility and ethical risks of the endeavor. On the 29th of this month, Evergreen Biotech would attend the Meria hearing. The news which was released a few days ago caused a stir internationally. Although Evergreen Biotech was registered in Runa, the fact that the founder and actual controlling person was a local was no secret. However, no one knew who the founder of Evergreen Biotech really was. It turned out it was Audrey. Ryan pushed his sses and chuckled softly, as if it was within his expectations. Audrey was never ordinary. She was a rare genius in biology. Moreover, she had the support of the Lambert family for the past four years. The sudden emergence of Evergreen Biotech, followed by Meria adding it to the list of sanctionedpanies, was not surprising. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready,¡± Audrey called out. Ryan walked into the dining room with Lily in his arms and saw Audrey had cooked egg noodles, with enticing sesame oil aroma. Lily''s te already had the vegetables finely chopped.¡± Ryan set Lily down and brought the noodles from the kitchen to the table. As he did, he saw Lily prop herself up on the chair and climb onto the stool with effort. The chubby little girl looked at the egg noodles in front of her and then pointed at Audrey who was in the kitchen with a thumbs¡ª up. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re amazing!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Ryan couldn''t help but chuckle. He asked Audrey, ¡°Is Lily always so lively?¡± Audrey smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, her personality ispletely different from Das¡¯s and doesn¡¯t resemble ours much either.¡± As Audrey finished speaking, her voice trailed off. She looked at Ryan, but he was already sitting next to Lily with his cutlery. She, too, walked out of the dining room and sat down on the other side of Lily. After dinner, Lily took out her story books and wanted Ryan to tell her stories. Simultaneously, Lambert Corporation press conference drew to a close. the The news of Lambert Corporation and its affiliatedpanies in the domestic semiconductor field oveing the challenges of lithography and chips had exploded across international media, dominating headlines and discussions. Just as Ryan had initially decided to abandon cooperation with foreign countries and instead invest heavily in domestic independent research and development, Lambert Corporation would be facing Chapter 133 enormous challenges for the next three to five years. For the past four years, countries led by Meria had imposed the harshest sanctions on Lambert Corporation and the consortiums involved in joint research on lithography machines and chips. 212 Several consortiums had supported each other and finally broke through the technology blockade. This achievement had undoubtedly brought great excitement to the people of the country. Several countries in the Middle East announced major orders with Lambert Corporation immediately after the press conference ended. This development made Eurindel restless. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Lily had barely seen Ryan before she started clinging to him. She insisted on Ryan putting her to bed at night. Audrey sat on the couch while browsing through the news online. Not only mainstream media but also social media were discussing the news of the domestic breakthrough in chip and lithography machine technology. As she read, a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips. Indeed, keeping control of technology in one¡¯s own hands was crucial. It was already past ten o¡¯clock when Audrey pushed open the bedroom door and saw that Ryan was already asleep with Lily in his arms. She quietly covered them both with a nket before slipping out of the master bedroom. The next morning, Audrey woke up to find Ryan had already gone to the office. He left a note for Lily, saying they were to meet at Lambert Residence in the afternoon. After finishing her morning exercise and catching up on international news, Audrey locked her phone screen and went to the master bedroom. She pulled back the curtains and leaned over to kiss Lily¡¯s soft and warm face. Brushing aside Lily''s stray hair, Audrey whispered, ¡°Lily, wake up. It¡¯s time.¡± The little one rubbed her eyes and sat up. She was not fully awake yet. Still, she reached out for a hug.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Audrey held Lily in her arms and felt the warmth of her little body against hers. Lily wrapped her arms around Audrey''s neck tightly and said in a sweet voice, ¡°Good morning, Mommy.¡± 4 Audrey gently stroked Lily¡¯s back. ¡°Good morning! Time to get up, wash up, and have breakfast. We¡¯re going to Lambert Residence today.¡± Lily straightened her back and rubbed her eyes. ¡°Will | meet Wandflower and Mr. Lambert Senior?¡± The name Wandflower she mentioned was Audrey¡¯s birth mother, Wanda. Audrey unbuttoned Lily''s pajamas and whispered, ¡°Yes, you will! But Lily, remember, besides me taking you to see Mr. Lambert Senior and Wandflower, you have to pretend you don¡¯t know them if you see them outside, okay? Also, when you meet your dad later at Lambert Residence, don¡¯t call him daddy.¡± Lily nodded obediently. ¡°I know. Daddy told me everythingst night! Mr. Lambert Senior likes the both of you and he loves me and Das even more. But for some reason, Mr. Lambert Senior can¡¯t allow both of you to be together. Until the two of you solve that reason, | have to keep the fact that I¡¯m daddy¡¯s child a secret so the both of you can solve that reason as soon as possible and avoid trouble!¡± Audrey was surprised to find that while she was still worrying about how to exin things to Lily, Ryan had already taught Lily everything the previous night. Chapter 134 2/2 She pinched Lily¡¯s cheek. ¡°Right! Lily, you¡¯re so smart!¡± Lily''s chubby cheeks squished against Audrey¡¯s arms. ¡°Of course! You, Das, and daddy are all so amazing, so | can¡¯t be any less! Since I¡¯m so smart, can you give me back my phone watch?¡± Audrey agreed with augh. ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s get up, wash up, and have breakfast now. Then you can help me pick a gift for Wandflower.¡± Audrey hadn''t expected to meet Wanda so soon, and she felt a bit nervous. She didn¡¯t know what kind of gift to prepare for her birth mother. ¡°I''ve brought the drawing Das and | did together for Wandflower and Mr. Lambert Senior! Mommy, what are you going to give Wandflower?¡± Lily pondered as she sat obediently while allowing Audrey to dress her. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Chapter 135 1/2 Audrey smoothed the little girl¡¯s hair out of her cor. Lily''s eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°I¡¯ve got it, mommy! Back when Grandpa Stephen took me and Das to stay with Mr. Lambert Senior and Wandflower, | noticed that Wandflower really likes flowers! Mommy, can we buy beautiful flowers for Wandflower?¡± Audrey recalled that George had mentioned Wanda¡¯s love for flowers. ¡°Sounds good! Then let''s hurry up and get ready. After breakfast, we''ll head out.¡± Audrey stroked Lily''s head gently.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Okay!¡± Lily hopped off the bed. She took the step stool Ryan had given her the night before, then brushed her teeth and washed her face before sitting down at the breakfast table to eat. As Audrey made a phone call on the balcony, Lily seized the opportunity to video call Das using her smartwatch. The video call quickly connected, and a face identical to Lily''s appeared on the small screen. However, the boy on the other end wore a serious expression as he tapped away at aptop keyboard. When he noticed Lily, he coolly said, ¡°Speak!¡± Lily nced at Audrey on the balcony and then whispered, ¡°Das, | saw daddy yesterday. He was the one who tucked me in and told me bedtime stories...¡± In the brief interval while Audrey was on the phone, Lily had already shared everything from the previous night with Das. With a face full of happiness, Lily continued, ¡°Das, daddy''s hug is really different from mommy''s! His arms are strong! Das, | don¡¯t think he¡¯s a bad person!¡± Das kept his serious expression and replied, ¡°As the saying goes, know people by face, not by heart. You need to protect mommy well. If anything happens, contact me immediately!¡± ¡°| know, Das. We''re going to pick out flowers for Wandflowerter! | have to go! I''ll drink my milk and get ready. Next time | see you, I''ll be as tall as you!¡± After ending the video call, Lily quickly finished her milk, rinsed her mouth while standing on the step stool, then smoothly slipped into her pumpkin hoodie. She even remembered to pack her pumpkin backpack and sun hat before sitting obediently on the couch while patiently waiting for Audrey. Lily saw Audrey pacing around with a light smile as she talked on the phone. She took a picture of Audrey with her smartwatch. Following the instructions Ryan had taught her the previous night, she added his WhatsApp contact using his phone number. Observing Lily''s efficient preparations and her bright, innocent face, along with her packed water bottle, Audrey exaggeratedly eximed, ¡°Wow, Lily, are you all ready by yourself? Even your water bottle is prepared!¡± Chapter 135 212 Lily jumped off the couch. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m your cutest daughter! Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Let''s go!¡± Audrey patted Lily''s head. Audrey wasn¡¯t very familiar with Mythravia. She only knew that there was a flower market in the southern suburbs of Mythravia. Due to its remote location, few people visited. However, George had mentioned that he and Wanda had once found rare orchids at this market. She decided to take Lily there and try their luck. Perhaps due to having apanied Wanda in tending to nts, Lily, barely four years old, wandered among the flowers while carefully selecting one. ¡°Mommy,e and look! This flower is so beautiful!¡± Lily eximed in excitement. An old man sitting in a rocking chair nearby set aside his newspaper and chuckled at Lily¡¯s lively demeanor. ¡°Oh, what a sharp eye for such a little girl!¡± + Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Chapter 136 1/2 Audrey also walked over and rubbed Lily''s head. With her small hand holding o Audrey''s Index finger, Lily pointed to the peony flowers on the high table and smiled, ¡°Mommy, if Wandflower saw such beautiful flowers, she would be very happy! ¡°Sir, is this pot of flowers for sale?¡± Audrey asked with a light smile. The old man, Phillip, nced at Audrey and smiled gently, ¡°Are you familiar with this flower? Or are you just buying it for your child to y with? This flower is not easy to take care of.¡± ¡°| only know that this flower is a peony,¡± Audrey answered honestly, ¡°and it¡¯s not for the child to y with. It¡¯s for someone... my family. The elders in my family love flowers, so today | came with my daughter to pick a flower as a gift for them.¡± ¡°This flower is indeed a peony, but it has a very nice name, called Silver Thread. There is no pot of Silver Thread in the whole country that is more beautiful than mine!¡± Phillip smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve raised it with great effort.¡± ¡°| wonder if you are willing to part with it?¡± Audrey asked politely. ¡°Sir, this pot of flowers must be your treasure, so you''re here apanying it, right? Our Wandflower will take care of the flowers, so you can be rest assured!¡± Lily puffed up her little chest and showed Phillip her phone watch. ¡°I will often take photos of the flowers and send them to you!¡± Phillip was amused by this less than four-year-old little girl and said to her, ¡°Is that so? Then this flower is a bit expensive, can your mom afford it?¡± Lily tugged on Audrey''s hand and asked, ¡°Mommy, do you have enough money?¡± Audrey smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± ¡°Sir, may | ask how much it costs?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°If you have money, donate twenty thousand to charity. If not, donate as much as you can! I''ll give you the flower!¡± Phillip stood up and took a handkerchief to wipe the flower pot... ¡°Sir, this isn¡¯t appropriate,¡± Audrey said puzzledly. Phillip smiled and said, ¡°The doctor said | won''t live for another two months. | don¡¯t have children or grandchildren. Hearing what your little girl said about your family taking good care of flowers and nts, | feel relieved to entrust this pot of flowers to you.¡± Lily looked confused, blinking her big ck eyes, not understanding what it meant to not live for another two months. ¡°Little girl, we agreed that you will take photos for me, right?¡± Phillip bent down and smiled at Lily. Lily nodded and said, ¡°Okay sir! Don¡¯t worry.¡± Chapter 136 2/2 Saying that, Lily opened her phone watch and said, ¡°Sir, give me your phone number!¡± Audrey donated fifty thousand dors via mobile phone in front of Phillip. Phillip nced at Audrey with some surprise, and the smile in the corners of his eyes deepened, ¡°It seems... | didn¡¯t choose the wrong person for it.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Nathan, Ynda¡¯s photo is this ce alright!¡± Amelia, wearing a mask and sunsses, looked at the photo on her phone and compared it with the storefront. She then held Carol¡¯s hand and entered the door. She asked, ¡°Is the boss here? We want to buy flowers.¡± Audrey held the heavy flower pot with one hand and held Lily¡¯s hand with the other. She turned around and bumped into Amelia, Carol and Nathan who were following behind them. Carol was first surprised to see Audrey, then she was surprised again when she saw the less than four- year-old next to Audrey. When Nathan saw Audrey turning around with the flower, he pulled out his hand from his pocket, and his gaze fell on the face of the little girl who had round and big eyes and looked very simr to Audrey. His breathing became rapid. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 1/2 The sunsses concealed Amelia¡¯s anxious expression, especially when she saw the child, her grip tightened subconsciously, inadvertently causing pain to Carol, who then regained her senses. Encountering each other unexpectedly here, Audrey didn¡¯t avoid it either. Regardless of why the Franklin family allowed her to stay with them back then, they did take her in after all. Although Nathan¡¯s parents were often busy with business and rarely at home, she always received a gift from them whenever they returned during the holidays. Later, their estrangement was also because of Nathan. Herst memory of meeting Carol was not very pleasant. At that time, Carol hysterically used Audrey of not letting go of her son anymore, saying that her son had lost his memory, and begged Audrey not to disturb Nathan¡¯s life anymore. She also felt that Amelia¡¯s identity was not worthy of her son and ordered Audrey to find a way to make Amelia leave Nathan, as a repayment for the years of sheltering her. At that time, Carol probably took out all her resentment of Audrey because Nathan was out of her control. Audrey led Lily forward, smiling and greeting, ¡°Hello, Aunt Carol.¡± Lily looked up at Carol and bowed seriously. She said sweetly, ¡°Hello, Grandma!¡± Something came to Carol''s mind as she suddenly widened her eyes. She tightened her grip on Amelia¡¯s hand and looked up at Audrey in shock. ¡°This child...¡± Nathan spoke first, his throat rolling, ¡°is yours? Did you give birth to her?¡± Upon hearing this, Lily became a little upset and said, ¡°Of course, | was born mommy. Otherwise, can daddy give birth to children?¡± Amelia was surprised and asked, ¡°Amelia, are you married?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Audrey smiled gracefully, holding Lily¡¯s hand, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, then we won''t disturb you anymore.¡± As they passed by, Amelia saw the flowers in Audrey''s arms. ¡°Wait!¡°Amelia stopped Audrey, ¡°Sorry, Audrey, Aunt Carol has been looking for this Silver Thread for a long time. We came here today specifically to buy this flower. Can you please let it go? We''re really sorry... Aunt Carol came all the way from Sheysea City... Audrey looked at Amelia with a smile that was not quite a smile and said, ¡°You seem to really like snatching things from me, huh!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Hearing the hidden meaning in Audrey¡¯s words, Nathan stepped forward tofort Amelia, go, we''ll find another one! Firste first serve, and we camete.¡± ¡°Let it Chapter 137 After speaking, Nathan¡¯s gaze involuntarily fell on the chubby-face child under the sun hat. The child¡¯s big eyes looked at Audrey, then at him, then at Amelia. ¡°Sorry, Audrey, | just feel like Aunt Carol likes it too much.¡± Amelia apologized quietly to Audrey, ¡°I know you''re still upset with me about what happened back then!¡± Audrey didn¡¯t wait for Amelia to finish speaking and had already walked out with her child. Carol felt a bit unstable, so she held onto the nearby flower rack and spoke with difficulty, ¡°Nathan... that little girl, she looks about three or almost four years old, judging by her age... Is she? Is she from before your divorce with Audrey? Is it from that time...¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Nathan interrupted Carol¡¯s words, gently supporting her. yours Amelia¡¯s eyes turned red, turning to look at the backs of Audrey and her daughter, feeling immense fear and unease in her heart. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Chapter 138 This unease was stronger than when Amelia first learned that Nathan had regained some of his memories. ¡°Audrey is already married. Maybe the little girl is just tall for her age,¡± Amelia restrained her rapid breathing, stabilized her emotions, and supported Carol on the other side. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aunt Carol, we came a step toote and couldn''t buy the Silver Thread you liked. | will continue to look for a seller who is willing to sell it.¡± Carol didn¡¯t have the heart to care about flowers now. Her mind was full of the little girl who had been with Audrey just now. That little girl looked so much like Audrey when she was young! If that little girl is really Nathan¡¯s child, then... how could she let her granddaughter wander outside? Audrey drove to the entrance of the Lambert family¡¯s old mansion with Lily, turned around to look at the well-behaved Lily sitting in the safety seat. Lily immediately raised both hands above her head joyfully and made a heart shape to Audrey, saying, ¡°Mommy, love you!¡± Amused by her daughter, Audrey gathered courage and lightly stepped on the gas pedal. She drove the car to the door, lowering the window and pressing the doorbell. The inte connected. ¡°Hello, who is it?¡± ¡°Hello, I¡¯m... Audrey. | made an appointment with Mr. Lambert Senior to visit him with my daughter today.¡± ¡°Okay, please wait, I¡¯ll open the door for you.¡± Soon, two extremely beautiful iron gates slowly opened.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. At the end of the road was a building that looked like a castle. ¡°Wow... Mr. Lambert Senior really didn¡¯t lie. Their family really has a big castle!¡± Lily eximed in admiration. Audrey drove into the Lambert Residence at a slow speed, her hands on the steering wheel covered in sweat. After more than a decade, she was about to face her birth mother again. She didn¡¯t know if Wanda would recognize her. In reality, Audrey was conflicted. She didn¡¯t really want Wanda to recognize her. Chapter 138 2/2 She would rather Wanda just think of her as Lily¡¯s mother, so she wouldn¡¯t recall the painful past at Sayeno Town. George was dressed very casually in home clothes, leaning on a cane, and being assisted by Paige as he led Wanda out of the inner residence, reading to geet Lily and Audrey. Just now, George had instructed Paige that if Wanda didn¡¯t seem well after Audrey got out of the car, she should help Wanda back inside. Actually, letting Audrey meet Wanda was a bit risky. After all, Wanda¡¯s mental state had only just stabilized in the past two years. However, George saw Audrey¡¯s excellence and effort, and he also saw her affection for Wanda. He was old now and would eventually pass away soon... So, since he had decided to let Audrey Yeomans be Audrey Lambert, it was better for her to have contact with Wanda as soon as possible. However, George did not see Audrey¡¯s caring in. He only saw the security guard¡¯s electric car at the gate, carrying Lily and her luggage, slowly approaching. George turned his head to ask, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Chapter 139 ¡°Sir, Ms. Yeomans¡¯ on the phone...¡°The servant handed the phone to George. ¡°Aren''t you supposed toe over for dinner?¡± George asked. ¡°Mr. Lambert Senior, thank you for giving me this opportunity,¡± Audrey''s voice choked with emotion. ¡°When | saw the two iron gates at the entrance of the Lambert Residence open, | knew... you have opened the way for me to reunite with my mother. | truly, truly love her! | also yearn to be by her side, but... I¡¯m taking a risk! | don¡¯t want to remind her of the hellish life in Sayeno Town again! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Audrey''s car was stopped on the roadside. There were tears streaming down her face as she held the phone. In reality, she was already very happy when she saw those two gates open. George pursed his lips and turned to see Wanda smiling as she took Lily down from the electric car. The little girl hugged Wanda¡¯s legs tightly, looking up with an affectionate expression on her chubby face, rubbing against Wanda, expressing her longing. Lily also pointed to the Silver Thread pot and showed it to Wanda, saying that she knew Wanda liked flowers. She had specially picked it with her mom in the morning and thought Wanda would like it. She eagerly sought Wanda¡¯s praise. The servants apanying them outside all smiled along. ¡°It''sforting to see you think so much for Wanda,¡± George said solemnly, ¡°but it''s not your fault! | was the one who lost my daughter first, giving the bad guys an opportunity. If it weren¡¯t for you.. Wanda wouldn''t have been able to escape from that ce. She might not even be alive now.¡± These words came straight from George¡¯s heart, even though he had never told anyone before. In Sayeno Town, they treated his daughter like a breeding animal, and it was impossible to take her for prenatal checkups. He could never forget the conjoined twins in his daughter''s belly. If she had given birth naturally in that dungeon, she might have lost her life long ago. ¡°You go and handle the matters in Sheysea City. I''ll take care of Lily. After you finish,e back. We''ll have a good family meal together!¡± George spoke gently, without the sternness he had towards Audrey before. Audrey bit her lip and replied, ¡°Okay!¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and started the car. thauchte of the little girl who had heen 1/2 12 Chapter 139 with Audrey. She couldn''t help but mention Audrey during the dinner with Nathan. At the dinner table, Carol looked anxious. 2/2Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°You tell me honestly, was it that time when you misunderstood that you were drugged by Audrey, and did you two have rtions?¡± Carol held Nathan''s hand tightly and said, ¡°If the child is really conceived at that time, then... that little girl is one of our Franklin family¡¯s! We can¡¯t let our own flesh and blood wander outside! Seeing Nathan tightly pursing his lips and not speaking, Carol knew there was indeed something going on. ¡°That little girl, she¡¯s really yours!¡± Carol stood up. ¡°No! Our family¡¯s child cannot be left outside.¡± The thought of that soft and adorable little girl standing in front of her, politely saying ¡°hello, Grandma,¡± made Carol¡¯s heart melt. It turned out that such a lovely little girl was her own granddaughter. ¡°Mom, when Audrey fell down the stairs back then, | went to the hospital to ask and had people check Audrey¡¯s medical records. Audrey was pregnant with twins, but the children didn¡¯t make it!¡± Nathan finally spoke out the truth. ¡°I think that little girl might have been adopted by Audrey due to the blow of losing her children.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Can¡¯t you see how much that child looks like Audrey?¡± Carol clenched her fists tightly, pacing back and forth in the dining room. ¡°We''ll know once we do a paternity test! You contact Audrey now, and I''ll talk to her!¡± Although she and Audrey didn¡¯t end theirst meeting gracefully, but... for her granddaughter, she was willing to apologize to Audrey. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Audrey was just one woman, taking care of Lily all by herself. Who knew how much suffering her granddaughter might face. ¡°| don¡¯t have Audrey¡¯s contact information,¡± Nathan said, standing up as well and looking at his mother. ¡°Mom, whether this child is adopted by Audrey or is her biological child, for Audrey, this child is her only family in this world. | won''t steal her child away!¡± ¡°Are you doing this for Amelia?¡± Carol grabbed Nathan¡¯s arm. ¡°Are you worried that Amelia won¡¯t ept this child? Nathan, 1 never liked Amelia. It¡¯s only because you insisted on her that | agreed to let you be together. If she can¡¯t ept this child...¡± ¡°It''s not about Amelia, Mom, can¡¯t you stop making everything about Amelia!¡± Nathan was getting annoyed by his mother¡¯s words. ¡°Isn¡¯t Amelia good to you?¡± ¡°Good to me? Then marry her and give me a grandson soon! That''s real goodness!¡± Carol sat angrily on the chair. ¡°You said you couldn''t live without her, so your father and | had no choice but to agree. So, when are you going to get married and have children? If you can¡¯t get married and have children, what''s the point of your rtionship?¡± In Carol''s heart, Amelia was not as good as Audrey back then. Although Audrey didn¡¯t have a great background, as long as Wanda was the heir to the Lambert Corporation, Wanda would help the Franklin family.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. As for Amelia, apart from having no parents, the Murray family always caused trouble, and she had to ask Nathan to clean up after them. ¡°Mom, this is a decision made by Amelia and me together. Don¡¯t always me everything on Amelia! Nathan stood up. ¡°I came to Mythravia this time to discuss cooperation with the person in charge from Evergreen Biotech¡¯s Cascadia region. Let''s put other things aside for now. After the cooperation is settled, then | will be in the mood to deal with other things!¡± After speaking, Nathan walked out. ¡°Nathan!¡± Carol couldn''t stop her son. Feeling frustrated, she asked the maid to remove all the dishes. and went upstairs to her bedroom alone, feeling sulky. Nathan stepped on the gas pedal and drove the car out. Feeling irritated, he stopped by the roadside, got out of the car, and lita cigarette in front of the car. Until the ground was littered with cigarette butts, Nathan dialed a phone number he hadn''t dialed in four years with hesitation. ¡°Sorry, the phone number you dialed is invalid, please verify...¡± Nathan then called Joseph¡¯s phone. On the other end of the phone, Joseph seemed to be eating, his voice muffled, ¡°You didn¡¯t call me just Chapter 140 to ask for Audrey¡¯s contact information, right?¡± Nathan was stunned. ¡°Did my mom call you?¡± 2/2 ¡°| just hung up on her!¡± Joseph sighed. ¡°I really don¡¯t have Audrey¡¯s contact information! Besides, you''re divorced, can¡¯t you stop bothering her?¡± ¡°Today | saw Audrey, and my mom also met her!¡± Nathan frowned. ¡°There was a little girl with Audrey. Joseph was surprised. ¡°Didn¡¯t Audrey lose her child when she was in the hospital?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what | thought too, but that child seems to be the right age...¡± Nathan hesitated, ¡°I want to know if the child is mine! If Audrey has been in contact with people from yourb, please help me find out!¡± After hanging up the phone, Nathan stubbed out the cigarette and got back into the car. He wasn¡¯t sure either. If he found out that the child was his, how should he handle his rtionship with Audrey? Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Chapter 141 ¡°Yes, I''lle to Cloudmill to visit you tomorrow before returning to Sheysea City,¡± Audrey said with a smile as she talked to Diego on the phone. ¡®I''ll go directly to theb!¡± ¡°Great!¡± Diego chuckled. ¡°I won''t tell them in advance, so you can surprise them. Tomorrow is the Cloudmill University Alumni Exchange, and many schrs who graduated from Cloudmill University wille back. I''ll introduce you to them. They might be able to help you in the future!¡± Thinking of her seniors such as Justin, Daphne, and Azure, warmth began to fill Audrey''s eyes as she smiled. ¡°It''s all thanks to you and Professor Ilyich that we have sess today at Evergreen Biotech. Professor Dous... thank you,¡± Audrey sincerely thanked Diego. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. We did our part, but you also gave us generous rewards!¡± Diego chuckled. ¡°The anonymous donations to our labs in recent years were all from you, weren''t they? As well as the research schrships unique to the Biology Department of Cloudmill University. Were they also provided by you?¡± Over the years, besides these, Audrey has also sponsored many children from the poor mountain areas who wanted to study. They had hoped to leave the mountains, study hard, and be useful individuals. ¡°It''s what | should do.¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore... Come early tomorrow! I''ll be waiting for you in theb,¡± Diego chuckled. After hanging up the phone, Audrey''s phone vibrated. Audrey answered, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Ms. Yeomans, I¡¯m Julian Sullivan. It¡¯s like this... because the press conference was very sessful, the executives were happy and had a few extra drinks. Mr. Lambert drank too much, but I¡¯m taking care of my mom at the hospital. Could you please head over and pick up Mr. Lambert?¡± Julian asked cautiously. ¡°Where is it?¡± Audrey put down the ss of water in her hand and walked toward the hallway to change her shoes. She thought for a moment before going back to get a coat for Ryan. ¡°| sent the location to your phone. It''s in VIP Room 8948. Thank you so much!¡± Julian said. After getting into the car, Audrey received the location sent by Julian. It was a thirteen¡ªminute drive from her residence. At the entrance of Nightfall Club, Audrey said that she was going to VIP Room 8918 to pick someone up. The waiter personally led her inside. Just as they pressed the elevator button, they saw Nathan ying with his phone against the elevator wall as he came up from the underground garage. Chapter 141 ¡°Please...¡± The waiter¡¯s arm blocked the elevator, asking Audrey to enter first. He didn¡¯t expect the two of them to meet here. Nathan locked his phone screen and moved slightly to the right. He then greeted with feigned casualness, ¡°Coming to pick your husband up?¡± Audrey responded perfunctorily and walked into the elevator.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. When they reached the third floor, Nathan watched as the waiter led Audrey toward the VIP room. He tightened his fists before turning to another room. Although Nathan really wanted to know who Audrey¡¯s husband was... Today was not the day. The Franklin family wanted to cooperate with Evergreen Biotech, so he had to first negotiate with the person in charge of the Cascadia region. Since Nathan didn¡¯t have an appointment with the person in charge today, he could only invite the secretary of the person in charge to the Nightfall Club in the evening, hoping to gather some useful information. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Audrey walked directly into the resting lounge of Room 8919 through the side door and found that only Ryan was inside. Ryan had his head resting against the couch with his eyes closed in exhaustion. His sses were ced on the coffee table in front of him alongside a steaming cup of hot tea. There was only a ss door separating the lounge from the adjacent room, where thepany executives that she had met at the airport were still celebrating in. She withdrew her gaze from them and approached Ryan without saying a word. However, Ryan had already opened his eyes could speak. before she ¡°Why are you here?¡± Ryan adjusted his position and massaged his temples. He then picked up his frameless sses and put them on. ¡°Julian had some urgent family matters to attend to, so he asked me toe pick you up,¡± Audrey said, leaning forward to offer Ryan the cup of tea. ¡°Are you okay? Do you want me to buy some hangover medicine for you?¡± ¡°I''m fine. It''s just a bad headache.¡± Ryan took the tea cup. ¡°Sorry, | couldn¡¯t make it back to the old house to have dinner with you all today.¡± ¡°It''s okay. | left after dropping Lily off today.¡± Audrey sat down on the couch beside Ryan. ¡°Hmm?¡± Ryan''s deep gaze turned toward Audrey in confusion. ¡°| still... don¡¯t have the courage to face her. I¡¯m afraid of triggering the memories of her past.¡± Audrey pretended to smile with resignation. ¡®I''ll wait a little longer.¡± Ryan nodded slightly and blew the hot tea. He then took a sip and massaged his temples again before cing the cup back on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s go back then.¡± Audrey draped her coat over Ryan¡¯s shoulders and helped him up. He nced at Audrey''s hand holding his arm and leaned his body toward Audrey. He pretended to be drunk and rested the weight of his body on Audrey. ¡°Sorry,¡± Ryan apologized. But just as he was about to stand up straight, Audrey supported him even. more. ¡°It''s okay, I''ll help you. Do you want to say goodbye to your coworkers?¡± she asked. ¡°No need. They¡¯re having fun, so there¡¯s no need to bother them.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go!¡± Ryan lowered his eyes and looked at Audrey, who was much shorter than him. She was struggling to support him and to push the door open to walk out. He couldn¡¯t hide the amusement in his dark and deep eyes. Chapter 142 Audrey helped him into the car and saw Ryan closing his eyes in difort, so she carefully fastened his seat belt for him. On the way back, Audrey pulled over when she passed by a drug store and shed her lights. When she went to buy medicine for Ryan, he turned his head to look at Audrey walking into the drug store quickly. The corners of his lips raised as he ced his hands on Lily¡¯s safety seat. He obviously felt very happy. Then, the phone in his pocket vibrated, and he answered it. ¡°Mr. Lambert, where did you go?¡± ¡°| have a headache and don¡¯t feel well, so my family came to pick me up. Since you are all having good time, | didn¡¯t want to disturb you. Seeing Audrey hurrying out of the drug store with a stic bag, Ryan said to the person on the phone, ¡°Alright then, let''s leave it at that. I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± After getting in the car, Audrey turned to look at Ryan, who had his eyes closed. She casually ced the medicine on the passenger seat and drove him home. It was quite challenging for Audrey to help Ryan out of the elevator. As soon as they entered, she supported Ryan with one hand and closed the door with the other. ¡°Ryan?¡± Audrey supported Ryan as he bent over and rested his head on her shoulder. ¡°Are you able to stand up straight? Let me switch on the lights...¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Audrey felt a heavy pressure on her lips. She was kissed by Ryan. Audrey''s eyes widened. She held onto Ryan¡¯s wrist tightly and her whole body tensed up.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. In the huge t, the shoe cab¡¯s sensor lights were turned off, and the bright and bustling lights of Mythravia outside the windows were reflected on the ss, bing the sole light source inside the t. Her mind went nk for a moment, and the familiar yet unfamiliar scent of the man in front of her enveloped her. There was also a faint smell of alcohol. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Chapter 143 The kiss wasn¡¯t deep, but Audrey felt like she was suffocating. Just as Audrey was lost in thought, Ryan released her lips and pressed his forehead against hers. ¡°May 1?¡± Ryan¡¯s mellow and deep voice sounded in the cramped space of the entrance, making her cars warm. ¡°What... What?¡± When Audrey opened her mouth to speak, she realized that her voice was trembling. Ryan raised his hand to caress her delicate face and rubbed her lips with his thumb. ¡°Can | kiss you?¡± Without waiting for Audrey to answer, Ryan¡¯s sexy thin lips pressed down again. The smell of alcohol filled her lungs, making her lose her mind. Her whole face was on fire, and she pushed him in a panic, turning her head to avoid it. ¡°You''re drunk!¡± and As soon as Audrey pushed Ryan away, he held her thin wrists behind her with one hand, proceeded to seal her lips. The arm that held her wrists pressed her thin waist toward him. He pried her mouth open, and the kiss was getting deeper and harder. The car keys and the stic bag containing hangover medicine slipped from Audrey''s hands. The sound was very clear in the quiet entrance, making Audrey panic. She wanted to end the kiss, so she struggled out of Ryan¡¯s strong grip by pushing her hand against his chest. But Ryan''s hot body pushed her against the door with great force, leaving her no room to retreat. Audrey clutched onto Ryan¡¯s suit tightly as goosebumps appeared on her skin. Her spine trembled uncontrobly, and her legs became so weak that she could hardly stand. She didn¡¯t know if it was. due tock of oxygen, but she couldn¡¯t even push hard enough. She was unable to whine. She actually felt something because of this kiss, and the shame almost suffocated her. Feeling Ryan¡¯s change, Audrey''s heart almost jumped out of her throat, and her breathing became rapid. Ryan suddenly picked Audrey up. She was limp, like a puddle, and a child. Audrey eximed as she hugged Ryan¡¯s neck tightly, looking down at Ryan who was breathing heavily. Without waiting for her to react, she was ced on the shoe cab at the entrance hall. ¡°Ryan...¡± She opened and closed her lips, which were red from being kissed. Softly, she called out Ryan¡¯s name, but it sounded slightly seductive. Ryan took off his sses and threw them aside. He then kissed her again and wrapped her slender Chapter 143 legs around his waist. 272 Audrey was frightened, and her legs had nowhere to rest for a moment. But Ryan forcefully held her waist down and pressed her closer to hit ¡°| want you!¡± Ryan grabbed the back of Audrey''s head and kissed her lips again after speaking, ¡°Can you give yourself to me?¡± Audrey sped onto Ryan¡¯s shoulders tightly with her hands. Her mind was in a mess ¡°You.... You''re drunk...¡± Before Audrey could finish speaking, Ryan kissed her again. It wasn¡¯t until Audrey¡¯s phone vibrated that the two of them came to their senses. Audrey pushed Ryan away and moved away from the shoe cab, clutching onto her phone and walking to theN?velDrama.Org owns this text. balcony. The cold wind blew against her face there and reduced the heat on Audrey''s face. Though slightly calmed, her heartbeat was still fierce and rapid. She picked up the call and put the phone to her ear, saying, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Boss, we just got a message from Simon saying that the Franklin family invited his secretary to hang out and leaked some information. They said that if we¡¯re willing to cooperate with them, they can increase our share by an additional 0.3 percentage points. Simon was a little tempted, but he wanted to ask for your opinion first.¡± Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Audrey raised her hand to tuck the messy strands of hair behind her ears and cleared her throat, saying, ¡°Is the Franklin family in such a hurry?¡± ¡°They are indeed quite urgent!¡± ¡°Although they are in a hurry, let¡¯s not rush them. We, at Evergreen Biotech, have always offered domestic partners prices tens of times lower than those for foreign partners. This is to benefit our own country with our technology. | don¡¯t want a repeat of what happened to the coboration with Yellowfield Corporationst time, so... If they don¡¯t agree to our conditions, we''ll just keep pressing them.¡± Audrey said. Previously, when coborating with Yellowfield Corporation in Cascadia, they raised the price even higher than the foreign medical centers. If Audrey wasn¡¯t facing difficulties in the domestic coboration process and dyed putting it into use, she would have definitely let Evergreen handle the negotiations with hospitals. ¡°But Simon said that, in business, the goal is to make money... for ¡°It''s not that we didn¡¯t leave room for profit for the Franklin family; we just didn¡¯t leave room profit for ourselves. If they can¡¯t ept it, then so be it! Tell Simon that this is what | said, and no one can go against it. It doesn¡¯t matter who tries to plead as well.¡± Seeing Audrey¡¯s firm tone, the other person didn¡¯t say anything more and only responded, ¡°Alright, | understand! You focus on your work. Rest assured, we''ll handle the rest.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey clutched onto her mobile phone and looked toward the dazzling lights of Mythravia in the distance. She then made a call to Lily. ¡°Mommy!¡± Lily¡¯s cheerful voice came through, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m ying with mud with Wandflower! Wandflower said that the small cup | made can be used to drink water after being fired. | also made. cups for mommy, Das, and daddy! | also drew all of you on them! Wandflower praised my drawing as very beautiful!¡± A faint smile appeared on Audrey¡¯s lips. ¡°Okay, then you have a good time with Wandflower and Mr. Lambert Senior.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy! | will take good care of Mr. Lambert Senior and Wandflower!¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey called Das. The little one might still be upset and did not answer her calls, so she called Stephen, who told her that Das was fine, putting her mind at ease. When Audrey¡¯s emotions had calmed down enough, she returned from the balcony. There was no sign of Ryan in the living room. She noticed the hangover medicine and car keys that Ryan had ced on the dining table. She thought for a moment before pouring a ss of warm water and taking out the hangover medicine to Chapter 144 ce them on the coffee table. She pushed open the door and saw Ryan wrapped in a bath towel,ing out of the bathroom. Audrey froze and quickly closed the door. She then bit her lip and blushed as if she was on fire. ¡°I thought you were in the master bedroom.¡± Last night, Ryan took Lily to sleep in the master bathroom. After Audrey fell asleep in the living room, she defaulted to staying in the guest room. Ryan probably wanted to leave the master bedroom to her, so he showered in the guest bedroom. Ryan changed into casual clothes and came out, with his wet ink¡ªck short hair still sticking messily to his forehead. Ryan, without his sses, appeared with much sharper features. ¡°You sleep in the master bedroom,¡± Ryan said. ¡°I''ve poured some water for you. Take the hangover medicine and rest early,¡± Audrey closed herptop and said as she stood up, ¡°I''m going to Sheysea City tomorrow. I''lle back after handling things.¡± ¡°Okay, I''ll wait for you! During this period, | will often go back to the Lambert¡¯s old house to apany Lily. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± Ryan¡¯s gaze fell on the corner of Audrey¡¯s lips, which had been bitten, ¡°Wait a moment and sit down first.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Audrey was puzzled. Ryan took out a medical kit from under the TV cab and pointed to the corner of Audrey''s lips. ¡± Here... it¡¯s broken.¡± Audrey winced when her finger lightly touched it. Ryan pressed Audrey to sit down. He opened a bottle of distilled water and dampened a with it before wiping away the bloodstains. cotton ball The two were very close-so close that Audrey could see Ryan¡¯s extraordinarily long eyshes. Her breathing became irregr again, and her gaze shifted to the side. Chapter 144 Audrey raised her hand to tuck the messy strands of hair behind her ears and cleared her throat, saying, ¡°Is the Franklin family in such a hurry?¡± ¡°They are indeed quite urgent!¡± ¡°Although they are in a hurry, let¡¯s not rush them. We, at Evergreen Biotech, have always offered domestic partners prices tens of times lower than those for foreign partners. This is to benefit our own country with our technology. | don¡¯t want a repeat of what happened to the coboration with Yellowfield Corporationst time, so... If they don¡¯t agree to our conditions, we''ll just keep pressing them.¡± Audrey said. Previously, when coborating with Yellowfield Corporation in Cascadia, they raised the price even higher than the foreign medical centers. If Audrey wasn¡¯t facing difficulties in the domestic coboration process and dyed putting it into use, she would have definitely let Evergreen handle the negotiations with hospitals. ¡°But Sim Simon said that, in business, the goal is to make money...¡± ¡°It''s not that we didn¡¯t leave room for profit for the Franklin family; we just didn¡¯t leave room for profit for ourselves. If they can¡¯t ept it, then so be it! Tell Simon that this is what | said, and no one can go against it. It doesn¡¯t matter who tries to plead as well.¡± Seeing Audrey¡¯s firm tone, the other person didn¡¯t say anything more and only responded, ¡°Alright, | understand! You focus on your work. Rest assured, we''ll handle the rest.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey clutched onto her mobile phone and looked toward the dazzling lights of Mythravia in the distance. She then made a call to Lily. ¡°Mommy!¡± Lily¡¯s cheerful voice came through, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m ying with mud with Wandflower! Wandflower said that the small cup | made can be used to drink water after being fired. | also made cups for mommy, Das, and daddy! | also drew all of you on them! Wandflower praised my drawing as very beautiful!¡± A faint smile appeared on Audrey¡¯s lips. ¡°Okay, then you have a good time with Wandflower and Mr. Lambert Senior.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy! | will take good care of Mr. Lambert Senior and Wandflower!¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey called Das. The little one might still be upset and did not answer her calls, so she called Stephen, who told her that Das was fine, putting her mind at ease. When Audrey¡¯s emotions had calmed down enough, she returned from the balcony. There was no sign of Ryan in the living room. She noticed the hangover medicine and car keys that Ryan had ced on the dining table. She thought for a moment before pouring a ss of warm water and taking out the hangover medicine to Chapter 144 2/2 ce them on the coffee table. She pushed open the door and saw Ryan wrapped in a bath towel,ing out of the bathroom. Audrey froze and quickly closed the door. She then bit her lip and blushed as if she was on fire. ¡°I thought you were in the master bedroom.¡± Last night, Ryan took Lily to sleep in the master bathroom. After Audrey fell asleep in the living room, she defaulted to staying in the guest room. Ryan probably wanted to leave the master bedroom to her, so he showered in the guest bedroom. Ryan changed into casual clothes and came out, with his wet ink-ck short hair still sticking messily to his forehead. Ryan, without his sses, appeared with much sharper features. ¡°You sleep in the master bedroom,¡± Ryan said.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°I''ve poured some water for you. Take the hangover medicine and rest early,¡± Audrey closed herptop and said as she stood up, ¡°I''m going to Sheysea City tomorrow. I''lle back after handling things.¡± ¡°Okay, I''ll wait for you! During this period, | will often go back to the Lambert¡¯s old house to apany Lily. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± Ryan¡¯s gaze fell on the corner of Audrey¡¯s lips, which had been bitten, ¡°Wait a moment and sit down first.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Audrey was puzzled. Ryan took out a medical kit from under the TV cab and pointed to the corner of Audrey''s lips.¡± Here... it''s broken.¡± Audrey winced when her finger lightly touched it. Ryan pressed Audrey to sit down. He opened a bottle of distilled water and dampened a cotton ball with it before wiping away the bloodstains. The two were very close-so close that Audrey could see Ryan¡¯s extraordinarily long eyshes. Her breathing became irregr again, and her gaze shifted to the side. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Chapter 145 ¡°Thank you. ¡°Sorry!¡± Both of their voices sounded simultaneously. Ryan looked at Audrey''s expression and couldn¡¯t help but move closer.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Audrey, holding herptop in her arms, quickly dodged backward and said, ¡°My... My lips are broken. ¡°Mmm, 1 know.¡± Ryan¡¯s deep stare locked fixedly onto hers. He then leaned in again to lightly kiss her lips, lingeringly to caress the corner of her lips, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡± Audrey then stood up with herptop in her arms, bid goodnight, and hurriedly returned to the master bedroom, as if she was escaping. Even though she had to return to Cloudmill early the next morning, Audrey had a restless night. Every time she closed her eyes, the scene where she was kissing Ryan reyed itself, and she reached up to touch her swollen lips. Her body seemed to instantly recall the feeling of Ryan kissing her, and a shiver ran through her body. She couldn¡¯t help but curl up and bury half her face in the quilt. Standing in front of the Cloudmill University¡¯sboratory building once again, Audrey couldn''t help but tug up the corner of her lips. It felt like nothing had changed. She walked up the steps with coffee for everyone in theboratory, only to see Joseph wearing a suit and carrying a bag of milk in his mouth. He was exiting theboratory while talking on the phone. ¡°Long time no see!¡± Audrey smiled at Joseph. Joseph widened his eyes and quickly hung up the phone. He stepped forward to help Audrey with the coffee and mumbled with the milk in his mouth, ¡°Why are you here all of a sudden?¡± ¡°| just returned to the country and came to see you guys.¡± Audrey smiled and walked into the experimental building with Joseph. Audrey''s sudden appearance made Daphne scream like a chicken. She rushed out from behind theputer desk and hugged Audrey. ¡°Ah! Audrey! You''re finally back!¡± Daphne turned her head and shouted inside, ¡°Hubby! Azure! Audrey is back!¡± ¡°Here¡¯s coffee for everyone, courtesy of Audrey!¡± Joseph put the coffee on theputer desk. Soon, Azure and Justin also came out of theb and hugged Audrey one by one, introducing her to the new juniors. Chapter 145 ¡°What''s the matter with you! You didn¡¯t contact us for so many years after going abroad!¡± Azure lightly pinched Audrey¡¯s arm. ¡°Every time | asked Professor Dous, he said you were conducting. confidential experiments and couldn¡¯t contact the outside world!¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°Yes, one project after another. Actually, some project data came from ourb, so it¡¯s not like | didn¡¯t stay in touch!¡± ¡°That old geezer is so mean! He didn¡¯t tell us!¡± Daphne grumbled discontentedly and turned to Justin, ¡°Shouldn''t we tell the old geezer? Let¡¯s skip the school reunion eventter and go out to eat with Audrey instead. We can talk about the experience during those few years!¡± Justin rubbed his nose. ¡°Maybe not. The professor said that all of us need to go today.¡± ¡°It''s okay, the professor asked me toe today too. After it¡¯s over, we can gather in the evening.¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°Alright! Let''s go to my ce!¡± Justin smiled. ¡°I''ll call the housekeeper to buy more food. We''ll have hot pot tonight-Audrey¡¯s favorite!¡± ¡°Thank you for remembering, Justin!¡± Audrey gave a sincere smile. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Chapter 146 The usually carefree Daphine thought of her child at home. She tugged at Justin¡¯s sleeve and spoke softly, ¡°Could you have the housekeeper bring the child to my mom¡¯s ce? | got pregnant around the same time as Audrey, but her child didn¡¯t make it. | don¡¯t want Audrey to feel sad when she sees the child.¡± ¡°My wife is truly wise!¡± Justin praised Daphne. Meanwhile, Audrey was chatting with her seniors when she got a call from Diego. He had asked both her and Joseph to go to the auditorium. After hanging up, Audrey said, ¡°I''ll go ahead.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Sure! You and Joseph go first. We''ll join you after we change!¡± Daphine replied. Joseph was originally heading to the venue but ran into Audrey, which dyed him. ¡°Okay!¡± Audrey nodded. As they walked along the tree-lined path on campus, Joseph hesitated before asking her, ¡°My cousin mentioned seeing you in Mythravia, and you were with a girl.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t mind Joseph''s inquiry and smiled at him. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Joseph scratched his head. ¡°Sorry, Audrey, I¡¯m just a bit curious. | admit my cousin asked me to ask, but | won''t tell him! It¡¯s just...¡± ¡°It''s okay.¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°The child isn¡¯t his! I¡¯ve always said that the child isn¡¯t Nathan¡¯s.¡± Joseph nodded. ¡°Okay, | won¡¯t say anything.¡± The wind rustled through the leaves, creating a soothing sound. Joseph and Audrey walked side by side, feeling the silence bing too awkward. Joseph scratched his head as he tried to find something to say. ¡°Oh, by the way, the Sheysea Graduate School swimming team ising topete with our swimming team this afternoon. Do you want to go and watch?¡± ¡°I''m not going. I¡¯m heading back to Sheysea this afternoon.¡± Joseph nodded, unsure of what else to say to Audrey. He lowered his head and didn¡¯t notice the basketball flying from the yground. ¡°Be carefull¡¯ There was a shout from the yground. Audrey quickly reached out to block the basketball, and it hit her elbow hard before bouncing off. Joseph was a bit stunned. Chapter 146 2/2 The boys ying basketball ran over, picking up the basketball and apologizing. ¡°Sorry...¡± One of the boys saw Audrey and suddenly pointed at her. ¡°Are you Audrey?¡± Audrey hadn''t seen the boy before. ¡°And you are?¡± Seeing Audrey confirm her identity, the boy smirked and nced at hispanions before looking back at Audrey. ¡°I''m from Sheysea University. It¡¯s unexpected to see you here at Cloudmill University.¡± Audrey''s expression darkened, and she said to Joseph, ¡°Let''s go...¡± ¡°Where are you going? Are you afraid that your secrets from Sheysea University will be exposed?¡± The boy pped the basketball in his hand and smirked at Joseph. ¡°Let me tell you... Don¡¯t be fooled by Audrey''s pretty face. She''s quite wild at Sheysea University. Who knows how many people she¡¯s slept with! ¡°She even drugged by the heir of the Franklin family, leaving her naked photos stered everywhere. If you''re interested, you can ask her how much she charges for a night. Just sleep with her but don¡¯t get attached...¡± Before Audrey could speak, Joseph punched the boy in the face. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Joseph pinned the boy down and started throwing punches. The students ying basketball nearby noticed themotion and rushed over. ¡°Stop it!¡± Audrey tried to pull Joseph away but was pushed back by his burning rage. Seeing the Sheysea University students pinning Joseph down, students from Cloudmill University immediately jumped in to defend their peer. ¡°Damn it! We came to Cloudmill University for a match, not to get beaten up by your people!¡± Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Chapter 147 ¡°Who gave you the guts to bully our people in our University?¡± The students from both sides shed together. Then, Audrey shouted several times, ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯ll call the police!¡± Only then, did everyone gradually cease their actions. The prospect of police involvement could escte the situation, and possibly resulting in disciplinary actions. The security guards intervened and separated the students from both sides. Joseph spat out a mouthful of blood. He wiped the corners of his mouth with his sleeve and red at the students from Sheysea University. Soon, the leader from Sheysea University and the teachers coordinating thepetition arrived hurriedly. ¡°What''s going on here? You came to another school for a friendly match, and instead, you ended up fighting at their school?¡± The leader from Sheysea University scolded, The coordinating teacher from Cloudmill University also scolded their students, ¡°What are you doing! Sheysea University came as guests, butyou threw punches at the guests? Do you want to be disciplined?¡± ¡°They insulted our students first!¡± Joseph protested as he pointed across. ¡°You''re the ones who started it!¡± the students from Sheysea University pointed back. Both sides were aggressive, as if they were ready to engage in another altercation at any moment. Audrey then exined the situation to the teachers from both sides and took out her phone to y the recording from earlier. The boy who hade to retrieve the ball earlier hadn¡¯t expected Audrey to have recorded it. His face turned pale. reserve the right to pursue legal action,¡± Audrey said as she pocketed her phone. Then, she turned to the boy who had retrieved the ball. ¡°Which department are you from at Sheysea University? What''s your name?¡± The boy clenched his fists and remained silent. ¡°Which department at Sheysea University? What¡¯s your name?¡± Audrey asked again. ¡°Biological Sciences, Jacob Thompson.¡± Jacob gritted his teeth. Jacob? Well... Chapter 147 2/2All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The third¡ªranked student from the Biological Sciences Department at Sheysea University? Scheduled to intern at Evergreen Biotech this year?¡± Audrey asked again. Jacob didn¡¯t expect Audrey to know this and looked somewhat astonished. you know?¡± ¡°How did you In the recent years, Audrey had provided additional schrships to several universities¡¯ biology departments, hoping to foster the development of biology in Cascadia. Jacob was one of the beneficiaries. He was also one of the students internally selected to intern at Evergreen Biotech this year. Audrey nced at Jacob without saying anything. She told the coordinating teacher from Cloudmill University, ¡°There¡¯s a homing exchange event at school today. Professor Dous asked for Joseph to attend, so I''ll head over with Joseph first.¡± Joseph was a prominent figure at Cloudmill University. He had looks reminiscent of aic character and was a young genius in gics who had gained fame early on. He had also been single for years. Moreover, he was Diego¡¯s favorite, making him extremely well-known among Cloudmill University¡¯s faculty. The coordinating teacher from Cloudmill University nodded and gestured toward Joseph. ¡°Then go ahead! I''ll handle things here!¡± As Jacob watched Audrey and Joseph walk away, he heard the murmurs of the two school teachers discussing something, but his mind was elsewhere. What did Audrey mean just now? How did she know he ranked third in the Biology Department and was going to intern at Evergreen Biotech? ¡°I''m asking you something, did you hear me?¡± the leader from Sheysea University knocked on Jacob¡¯s head lightly. ¡°Yes, | did!¡± Jacob replied. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Joseph¡¯s suit and shirt were all dirty. Audrey bought some medicine and band¡ªaids when he returned to the dormitory to change. When Joseph came downstairs, Audrey pulled him to sit on a bench and treated his wounds. Joseph spoke up, ¡°That person was just talking nonsense; don¡¯t take it to heart. | don¡¯t believe you¡¯d drug someone and take advantage of them! But... did Nathan really post your picture?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Audrey replied and focused on treating the wound. Joseph clenched his fists. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°It''s not your fault.¡± Audrey chuckled softly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel sorry.¡± ¡°Actually... What¡¯s the situation between you and Nathan?¡± Joseph widened his eyes and looked at Audrey. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. | grew up abroad and only reconnected with Nathan¡¯s family five years ago, so I¡¯m not familiar with your situation. What I¡¯ve heard from others is just a mess.¡± ¡°It''s nothing much.¡± Audrey used a cotton swab dipped in iodine to clean the wounds on Joseph''s lip and chin. ¡°When | was a child, | identally saved Nathan, who was kidnapped. He then took me back to the Franklin family, andter, we got together. ¡°Then... on his 22nd birthday, he took me to register our marriage. But just after we registered, he had an ident and lost his memory while | became a vegetable! After Nathan lost his memory, he fell in love with someone else. ¡°When | woke up, | tried to make him remember our past, but he thought | had drugged him and posted my picture. Then, | came to Cloudmill University, and you know the rest...¡± ¡°So...¡± Joseph grabbed Audrey¡¯s wrist. ¡°Is the child really Nathan¡¯s? You didn¡¯t have an abortion back then?¡± Seeing Audrey¡¯s gaze fall on his hand, Joseph quickly let her go. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°The child isn¡¯t Nathan¡¯s, just mine...¡± Audrey took out a band-aid and helped Joseph put it on. ¡°Audrey... if, | mean if, Nathan remembers and regrets his actions, will you forgive him and reconcile with him?¡± Joseph sounded anxious. ¡°| feel like Nathan might be starting to regain his memory! | can sense it! His feelings for you... They''re different! Even if he hasn¡¯t remembered the past yet.¡± ¡°If you were me, and Nathan had killed your foster mother and covered up for the culprit who drove would you you, my sister to jump off the building, and then he regained his memory and came to find. Chapter 148 be with him?¡± Audrey looked at Joseph with a faint smile. Joseph pursed his lips. ¡°So... Do you regret being with him now?¡± 2/2 ¡°Nathan was redemption for the old me. He turned me from a person wallowing in self-pity in the gutter into a resilient one,¡± Audrey replied.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Audrey uttered these words that seemed both affirming and negating. However, it was precisely this person who ruthlessly pushed her back into the gutter, trampled on her dignity, tormented her spirit, and hurt her loved ones. He used his hands that once pulled her into the light to push her deeper into the abyss. How could she not regret it? How could she not hate him? Audrey packed everything into a stic bag. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Professor Dous is still waiting for us in the auditorium.¡± Diego was chatting andughing with several school leaders and some scientific elites in the auditorium. He waved eagerly as soon as he saw Audrey and Joseph. ¡°Audrey, Joseph,e over here!¡± When Diego noticed the band-aid on Joseph¡¯s face, he paused briefly. ¡°| identally bumped into something while walking just now, but Audrey helped me take care of it.¡± Joseph smiled. ¡°This is the Joseph you asked about just now!¡± Diego introduced him to the scientific elites. ¡°He¡¯s the genius in gics | struggled so hard to bring back from abroad a few years ago! It really wasn¡¯t easy! Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Joseph smiled and shook hands with the others. Diego remembered Audrey¡¯s request not to reveal her identity as the founder of Evergreen Biotech, he simply said, ¡°This is Audrey. She¡¯s currently working at Evergreen Biotech.¡± ¡°Audrey, I''ve heard so much about you! You made a big impression at the exchange meeting in Slovomia four years ago!¡± An older biologist shook hands with Audrey. ¡°It''s a pity | couldn''t attend that time. My colleague said you were very admirable. | haven¡¯t heard much about you since then. Is it because of your work at Evergreen Biotech?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°Many experiments involve confidentiality, you see. But | do enjoy the feeling of being immersed in myb work.¡± The group chatted happily. Since Audrey imed to be solely focused on her experiments, she brushed off any attempts to inquire about the founder of Evergreen Biotech, saying she hadn¡¯t met them and wasn''t interested anyway. Audrey joined her formerb seniors for dinner at Justin and Daphne¡¯s home that evening. The housekeeper had prepared everything and took the children to Daphne¡¯s mother¡¯s house. The group gathered around the table. They ate and shared stories from theirb days¡ªmost of which were jokes by Daphne-¡ªleaving Audreyughing heartily. Joseph''s phone had been vibrating in his pocket the whole time. He nced at Audrey, then walked to the balcony to answer the call. ¡°Nathan, please don¡¯t call me anymore,¡± Joseph said. ¡°I won''t tell you anything about Audrey! | won¡¯t ry messages for you or tell you that the child is yours!¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Joseph realized he had let something slip and quickly covered his mouth. There was dead silence on the other end of the phone. After a while, Joseph spoke again, ¡°Nathan, please stop interfering with Audrey¡¯s life! Just marry Amelia properly! Spare yourself... and spare Audrey!¡± He hung up the phone and returned to the table, joining Audrey in lively conversation. On the other end of the phone, Carol urged, ¡°How did it go? What did Joseph say?¡± Nathan was in utter shock. In other words, that sweet little girl was really his daughter! Chapter 140 2/2 Carol became even more auxious seeing Nathan¡¯s ashen face and rapid breathing. She grabbed Nathan''s arm. ¡°Is the child really from our family?¡± Nathan snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Carol nkly. He knew that if he told Carol the truth, she would definitely find a way to take the child back. ¡°Joseph doesn¡¯t know,¡± Nathan said. ¡°Then ask him again!¡± Carol persisted. ¡°This morning, when | was on the phone with Joseph, | heard Audrey''s voice, and Joseph suddenly hung up. He must''ve been with Audrey! Ask Joseph if the child is with Audrey! Ask if Audrey is taking good care of the child!¡± ¡°That child doesn¡¯t resemble me at all. Audrey probably adopted her. Don¡¯t worry so much,¡± Nathan said, getting up to leave. Carol followed after him. ¡°If you had married and given me a grandchild earlier, would | be this worried? You insisted on Amelia, right? Then hurry up, get married, and have a child! | won¡¯t stop worrying otherwise.¡± Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Nathan stormed out and mmed the door behind him. Carol furrowed her brows in annoyance and grabbed her coat before heading to her room. Nathan couldn¡¯t get Carol''s words out of his head. ¡°I heard Audrey''s volce when | was on the phone with Joseph this morning,¡± she''d said. He drove with one hand on the wheel. Some things became clearer in Nathan¡¯s mind. In high school, during the joint military training, someone confessed to Audrey¡ªand he punched them without hesitation. Audrey took him to the infirmary to tend to his split lip. Audrey wore two braids in his memory, and sunlight streamed through the window, outlining her delicate features. She carefully tended to his wound with a cotton swab, gently blowing on it. Nathan was caught up in the moment and kissed Audrey softly. The soft and fragrant sensation of her lips jolted him back to reality. Reeling from the shock of what he¡¯d just done, he hastily grabbed his camouge uniform and fled the infirmary. He also remembered how Audrey consistently ranked first in school in every exam while he always hovered near the bottom few. Standing in front of the grade announcement board, Audrey, with her high ponytail, would first search for his name on the list. She would calmly ept congrattions from others, but upon seeing his improvement, her face would light up instantly. ¡°You¡¯ve made progress this time. Keep up the good work!¡± He remembered Hugo sighing and saying to them, ¡°Audrey scored 300 in theprehensive exam because the paper was only worth 300 points! We''re just not the same...¡± Nathan furrowed his brows and touched his lips. The sensation of Audrey¡¯s lips and his racing heart made it impossible for him to control himself. He could even recall his slight sense of inferiority back then¡ªconstantly feeling like he couldn¡¯t match up to Audrey¡¯s brilliance. She excelled at everything she did; and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t catch up to her. He mmed the brakes and stopped the car on the side of the road. He clutched his chest tightly, Chapter 150 feeling like he was suffocating from the pain. In his mind, he pictured the day he bumped into Audrey in the elevator.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. She was holding a man¡¯s coat and said she was going to pick her husband up. The pain in his chest intensified, making it impossible to breathe. Nathan clutched his shirt tightly over his chest. 212 His forehead was covered in a fineyer of sweat, his veins bulging at the surface. It was as if Audrey¡¯s countless voices were drilling into his mind, the fresh memory of their conversations resurfacing. ¡°Audrey, let¡¯s go to the amusement park this weekend!¡± ¡°I''ll go if you score 90 on the math exam this time!¡± ¡°Nathan, do you like me?¡± ¡°What''s there to like? Your vanity? Your aloofness? Or your skinny body?¡± ¡°Then why did you secretly kiss me?¡± ¡°Nathan, we¡¯re even now!¡± These were Audrey¡¯s yful voices. ¡°Nathan, we¡¯re even now!¡± This was Audrey¡¯s hoarse voice. ¡°I''ve tried, but it¡¯s too exhausting. Nathan... | don¡¯t want you anymore.¡± This was Audrey''s tearful voice. Nathan lifted his head, and his eyes were bloodshot. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Chapter 151 ¡°| heard Audrey¡¯s voice when | was on the phone with Joseph this morning. Joseph suddenly hung up. He must''ve been with Audrey!¡± Nathan felt a strong urge as he recalled Carol''s words today. Although Nathan didn¡¯t know why he wanted to see Audrey so badly or what he would say to her when he saw her, he still drove to the airport without hesitation. He wanted to go to Cloudmill. He had never felt such a strong urge before.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Early the next morning, Joseph hurried toward theboratory building with a bag strapped across his chest, messy hair, and breakfast in hand. Surprisingly, he saw Nathan sitting on a bench outside the building. Joseph¡¯s steps faltered as he stared at Nathan. ¡°Nathan?¡± Nathan exuded a cold air¡ªas if he had just spent the night here. He stood up and looked at Joseph warily. ¡°Where¡¯s Audrey? ¡°She leftst night.¡± Nathan pressed further. ¡°Left? Where did she go?¡± Joseph pursed his lips. ¡°Nathan, is it because of the child? The child is not yours! Since you¡¯re already engaged to Amelia now, please don¡¯t provoke Audrey anymore, okay?¡± Nathan didn¡¯t say anything and walked down the steps to leave. ¡°Nathan! | asked Audrey if she regrets being with you!¡± Nathan looked back at him, his fists clenched. ¡°She said... you were her redemption; you transformed her from a pitiful person wallowing in self- pity into a resilient person. ¡°But you... you killed her foster mother and shielded the murderer who killed her sister. She could never be with you again. Your repeated intrusions into her life only bring her pain.¡± ¡°Is that what she said to you?¡± Nathan asked. ¡°Thetter... thetter part is what | wanted to say!¡± Joseph frowned at Nathan. ¡°Stop bothering her. Nathan nced at him, then walked away. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Chapter 151 2/2 Joseph pursed his lips but ultimately said nothing. He angrily turned back toward theboratory. ¡°Says it¡¯s none of my business but keepsing to me and for what Audrey sat on the sofa in the caf¨¦, flipping through the photos the private detective handed her. ¡°When Charles was abroad, he indulged in all sorts of vices. Even after returning from overseas, his behavior hasn¡¯t improved. ¡°He always brags about his sister Amelia being an international superstar and the savior of Matteo.¡± The private detective handed Audrey another stack of photos. ¡°But Charles is generous with his money. Most of the women he harassed ended up epting settlement money. If you want to deal with Charles... you can start from other aspects, like gambling.¡± Audrey looked at the photo of Charles at a gambling table, her eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°And what about the Murray Group? Did your people find anything?¡± Audrey put down the photos. and picked up her coffee cup. ¡°Last year, as per your instructions, we had Murray Group employees report the tax evasion and fraudmitted by the group under their real names. It dealt a heavy blow to the Murray Group, but... The private detective smiled and handed a folder to Audrey. ¡°The Franklin Group bailed the Murray Group out, covering all the fines, and the corrupted. executives resigned in disgrace. Amelia, in the name of the Murray Group, donated 20 million to the Hope Project, which helped the Murray Group get through the crisis.¡± Audrey flipped through the folder and smiled faintly. ¡°Not surprising at all. When ites to Amelia, Nathan¡ªas her admirer¡ªwill do his utmost to help her.¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Chapter 152 ¡°Oh, right!¡± The private detective pulled a medical record from his bag and ced it on the table. ¡°This is Nathan¡¯s medical record. You should find it interesting. Consider this folder aplimentary gift from me. Thank you, Ms. Yeomans, for your support of our detective agency over the years.¡± After scanning the Murray Group¡¯s donation certificate, Audrey opened Nathan''s medical record. It stated that Nathan¡¯s memory was gradually returning. The private detective expected Audrey to react emotionally, but he couldn¡¯t discern any emotions from her face. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, your reaction is quite different from what | expected.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Audrey ced the medical record on the coffee table. ¡°In the future, don¡¯t meddle in things | haven¡¯t asked you to do.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± The private detective made an OK gesture with his hand and added, ¡°By the way... | did a little digging into your past with Mr. Franklin-the passionate love affair you had when you were young. If Mr. Franklin regains his memories, he might help you deal with the Murray Group.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°I can handle things on my own. After all, | intend to seek revenge on Nathan as well.¡± Audrey then grabbed her bag to leave as she said, ¡°This coffee is on you!¡± Audrey exited the caf¨¦ and bumped into Jacob, who hade to the caf¨¦ with ssmates. Jacob saw Audrey, and his expression shifted. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Audrey. Just a few days ago, you were flirting with the students at Cloudmill University, and today you''re here at the entrance of Sheysea University? ¡°Did you get tired of the students at Cloudmill University and came here to make money again?¡± Audrey was initially going to walk away, but she paused and asked, ¡°We seem to have no connection whatsoever, but since we met at Cloudmill University yesterday, you seem to have a strong animosity toward me.¡± One of Jacob¡¯s friends spoke up just then. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that Jacob is Mr. Nathan¡¯s cousin? You drugged his cousin, so of course he hates you.¡± ¡°Cousin?¡± Audrey raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why don¡¯t you name your price? While what Jacob can offer isn¡¯t as substantial as Mr. Nathan, you won¡¯t be shortchanged either!¡± Jacob''s friend, leaning on him, looked Audrey up and down. Chapter 152 212 ¡°Even though so many men have yed with you, your looks make up for it. How about two thousand, Jacob?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Jacob crossed his arms. ¡°Two thousand is nothing. It¡¯s just the cost of one meal out.¡± ¡°| grew up with Nathan, but I¡¯ve never seen you before,¡± Audrey remarked. Just yesterday, Audrey had a phone conversation with the president of Sheysea University. It''s not that she intended to cancel Jacob¡¯s schrship. After all, he earned the schrship using his own abilities. However, Jacob was also among the financially needy students whom Audrey supported. Audrey provided Sheysea University with an additional subsidy program for financially disadvantaged students. Its purpose was to alleviate the financial burden on needy students, allowing them to focus entirely on their studies without sacrificing their time for work. The Franklin family would certainly provide support if he were Nathan''s cousin like Joseph. How could he ept the subsidy if he was rich to begin with? Furthermore, during all the years that Audrey and Nathan had grown up together, she had never heard of any rtives with the last name Thompson in the Franklin family. Audrey didn¡¯t want to investigate why Jacob was pretending to be Nathan¡¯s cousin. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Seeing Jacob unting his designer clothes and casually mentioning spending two thousand on a meal, Audrey weighed the two options: either Jacob masqueraded as a rich kid using Nathan¡¯s identity, or there were ws in overseeing financial aid for needy students at Sheysea University. Jacob felt guilty under her scrutinizing gaze and tried to appear calm. ¡°Who are you, anyway? Everyone knows that my cousin¡¯s true love is Ame. You¡¯re just a lowly person living under the Franklin family¡¯s roof. What do you know?¡± ¡°At the very least, | know that one shouldn''t be superficial and ought to remember where theye from.¡± ¡°What the hell do you mean?¡± Jacob was both embarrassed and angry. He reached out to hit Audrey. But before his hand couldnd, it was firmly caught by someone. Jacob''s friends immediately turned pale. ¡°Na... Mr. Nathan!¡± Jacob''s face also turned pale. ¡°Nathan.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Nathan pulled Audrey behind him. With a stern face, he kicked Jacob hard in the abdomen, causing him to fall to his knees. However, Nathan didn¡¯t stop there; he delivered another kick to Jacob¡¯s face. Jacob copsed to the ground, looking up at Nathan with a terrified expression. He raised his hands instinctively to block his face. ¡°Nathan... I... Nathan kept his hands in his pockets, his cold and indifferent expression showing signs of irritation. He pressed down on Jacob¡¯s head with his foot and stretched his neck out. Audrey tightly clenched her bag behind Nathan. The silhouette of Nathan, fighting for her when he was 16 or 17 years old, dressed in a school uniform, ovepped with the one fighting for her now, dressed in a suit. Their actions were the same. Both involved stepping on another¡¯s head with a nonchnt yet irritated neck movement. Back then, Audrey would walk over to the person being beaten and throw down some money for medical treatment. She would then issue a threat before leaving with Nathan. Now, Audrey simply stood there in shock. The Sheysea University students with Jacob saw his bloodied face and quickly pleaded, ¡°Mr. Nathan! Jacob is your cousin! Please show mercy!¡± Chapter 153 22 ¡°Yeah, Mr. Nathan! Jacob did this for you!¡± ¡°Mr. Nathan! Even though it''s been a few years, Jacob is just standing up for you.¡± ¡°| don¡¯t fucking know when | got a piece of shit like you for a cousin!¡± Nathan¡¯s expression remained indifferent as he pressed his foot on Jacob¡¯s head. Jacob screamed and grabbed Nathan¡¯s foot with both hands. He was too afraid to fight back. ¡°Mr. Nathan! Mr. Nathan! We''ve met before... Last time you came to Sheysea University, | took you to the director¡¯s office in the new building! ¡°S¡ªSo they thought | was rted to you... they thought you were my cousin! It¡¯s all their fault! | just..... just didn¡¯t exin it! Please spare me!¡± ¡°Are you supposed to be apologizing to me?¡± Nathan pressed harder with his foot, ring down at Jacob. Jacob realized his mistake and quickly reached out to Audrey, ¡°Ms. Audrey! I¡¯m sorry! It¡¯s all my fault! Ms. Audrey, please save me... The Sheysea University students with Jacob heard this and began to retreat with widened eyes filled with fear. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Chapter 154Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Since they knew about the incident where Audrey drugged Nathan, they naturally also knew about Nathan¡¯s madness toward Audrey before he lost his memory. Nathan had almost killed someone for Audrey before. It was said that Nathan almost threw a student from the Sheysea High School rooftop once. That student would have long been dead without Audrey''s intervention. Could it be that Nathan has recovered his memory? Seeing Audrey remain silent, Nathan continued pressing down with his feet. ¡°Not sincere enough!¡± ¡°Ms. Audrey, I¡¯m a despicable scoundrel! | pretended to be Mr. Nathan¡¯s cousin, but I¡¯m just a nobody! Please ask Mr. Nathan to spare me. | won''t do this again in the future! If you''re still unsatisfied, you can kick me a few more times before letting me go! Please!¡± Jacob had heard that Nathan would fight to kill whenever he got into a scuffle, and no one could persuade him otherwise. However, when Audrey chimed in with just one sentence, ¡°Nathan, let¡¯s go home¡°, Nathan would obediently return with her. Thus, Jacob desperately pleaded with Audrey as if clutching at a lifeline. ¡°Louder! Can¡¯t hear you!¡± Nathan showed no mercy. Jacob felt like his head was about to explode under Nathan¡¯s brute force. ¡°Ms. Audrey! I¡¯m sorry! Please save me! | know | was wrong! | won¡¯t ever do this again! Never again!¡± Jacob shouted hoarsely. Audrey looked at Nathan¡¯s from behind, feeling somewhat dazed. She couldn''t help but wonder... What was he doing? Was he forcing Jacob to apologize, or was he forcing her to speak up? During their arguments in the past, he always liked forcing her to speak first. While she was conflicted, Jacob continued screaming in terror. ¡°Nathan, that¡¯s enough!¡± Audrey finally spoke up. Audrey''s cold and indifferent voice came through, and Nathan clenched his fists. Eventually, he moved his foot away from Jacob¡¯s head. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Nathan! Thank you, Ms. Audrey!¡± Jacob scrambled and fled with hispanions feeling like he had been granted a new lease on life. Chapter 154 272 Audrey gazed at Nathan indifferently as she watched him turn around, Their eyes met. Looking at Audrey¡¯s face, simr to the one in his memories, Nathan¡¯s breathing became uneven. His eyes were sunken and bloodshot from days of insufficient rest. She nced at Nathan for a while but ultimately said nothing. She then turned around and headed toward the traffic light at the intersection. Nathan took a few steps forward to chase after her but stopped in his tracks. 6 What could he possibly say to Audrey now even if he did catch up to her? He hadn''t forgotten what he had done to Audrey when she looked for him after waking up hospital. in the But thinking about the girl who had been with Audrey that day, Nathan gritted his teeth and chased after her. ¡°Audrey!¡± Nathan called out to her as she was about to cross the road. She turned back, looking confused. Nathan walked up to her. ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± Audrey looked at him for a moment, then smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything left to talk about between you and me.¡± ¡°The child!¡± Nathan felt a little guilty. ¡°If that girl from that day is my child, | have the right to know. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Chapter 155 ¡°The child is not yours. I¡¯ve told you that before,¡± Audrey replied bluntly. ¡°I¡¯ve admitted it to you at least twice before. ¡°Nothing happened between us on the night you were drugged. That incident happened years ago, so stop harping on it! The only thing you should feel guilty about is almost killing the child in my belly years ago.¡± ¡°Audrey, let¡¯s not argue about the child. I¡¯m really sorry for losing control of my emotions and almost harming the child because of Amelia!¡± Nathan''s tone carried a hint of coaxing. ¡°But considering the child¡¯s age, it can¡¯t be anyone else but me...¡± Audrey hesitated for a moment, then smiled. ¡°Did you forget the time you drugged me at Jacinda Hotel? My child was conceived then. You prepared the drink | had. You should know better than anyone else the consequences that medicine would bring. ¡°Didn''t you hope | would sleep with someone else at that time? Do you think... | would remain pure for you even when drugged?¡± He remembered how he gave Audrey the alleged ¡°truth¡ªtelling drug¡± at the time. He¡¯d forced her to admit in front of so many people that they didn¡¯t have intercourse that night.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. He remembered how he strangled Audrey because of Amelia back then. Nathan felt his heart tightening. ¡°Audrey, please don¡¯t speak so harshly.¡± Nathan reached out to grab Audrey. She dodged Nathan¡¯s hand, turning to the side. ¡°My child was indeed conceived on the night at Jacinda Hotel. If you don¡¯t believe me, | can cooperate with you for a paternity test. | just hope you won''t appear in front of me after that. It''s disgusting.¡± Disgusting. Like a sharp dagger, the word pierced Nathan¡¯s heart. Nathan once said these words to Audrey, as well. It was when Audrey had just emerged from a vegetative state, trying her best to make him remember their past, trying to take him to Sheysea High School... He pushed Audrey away and said, ¡°I can go to Sheysea High School with you, but this will be thest time! | hope you won''t appear in front of me after that. It''s disgusting.¡± He watched Audrey''s receding figure get swallowed up by the flow of people crossing the street. Nathan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he clenched his teeth. It wasn¡¯t until his phone rang multiple times that he refocused his attention. Chapter 155 2/2 He took out his phone and saw it was a call from Amelia. He wasn¡¯t in the mood to answer, so he muted the phone and put it back in his pocket. He then turned back to the car. Just as Nathan was about to rev the engine and leave, Audrey''s words from earlier suddenly appeared in his mind. ¡°My child was indeed conceived on the night at Jacinda Hotel. If you don¡¯t believe me, | can cooperate with you for a paternity test.¡± The child was conceived on the night at Jacinda Hotel? No, impossible. Joseph said the child was his! But if Audrey really did have rtions with someone else that night... Then, it was he who sent Audrey to another man¡¯s bed. Nathan realized this btedly, and his entire body stiffened. ¡°You prepared the drink | had. You should know better than anyone else the consequences that medicine would bring.¡± What exactly was that medicine? Nathan took out his phone and dialed Charles¡® number. Soon, Charles answered the call. Agirl¡¯s voice coquettishly chimed in on the other end. ¡°Hello, Nathan!¡± Then came Charles¡® voice, sounding cheerful. ¡°What''s up?¡± ¡°A few years ago at Jacinda Hotel, the medicine you prepared for Audrey... You said it was switched to an aphrodisiac. Was that medicine... very potent?¡± Nathan asked, gripping the phone tightly. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Chapter 156 ¡°Why? Nathan, is your friend in need of that medicine?¡± Charles seemed to have moved to a quieter ce. ¡°That medicine is indeed very potent. It can turn a virtuous woman into a lustful one. It takes effect in as little as ten minutes. ¡°My friend used it to seduce his long¡ªdesired goddess. It really gives women something to cry and beg for! There wasn¡¯t even time to take her to the hospital! But that medicine is hard toe by now since it¡¯s heavily regted.¡± Back then, Audrey had waited for the effects to kick in before leaving, and Ryan¡¯s people had sent Charles back. Could Ryan have stood by and watched Audrey sleep with someone else? Nathan hung up the phone, breathing heavily as he clutched his phone tightly. He felt like his heart was about to explode. He loosened his tie, his throat burning. Clutching onto thest shred of hope, he dialed Ryan¡¯s number. He didn¡¯t answer the first time, so Nathan dialed again... and again and again. He lost count of how many times he called before Ryan finally answered. ¡°Speak quickly,¡± Ryan¡¯s deep andmanding voice came from the other end. when Audra was dr ¡°Mr. Lambert...¡± Nathan¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Back at Jacinda Hotel, did you take her to the hospital?¡± ¡°| didn¡¯t have time.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Nathan was stunned by these words. He clumsily hung up the phone. Hecked even the courage to ask Ryan about the man Audrey had been with. That night, he had forced Audrey to drink that medicine. He had then sent Audrey to another man¡¯s bed. At the time, Nathan knew that Audrey loved him.... He had stopped her from leaving, insisting that Hugo take her back! He even said it was hisst wish. No wonder Audrey had looked at him with such eyes back then, as if the world was copsing around her. He even thought Audrey was just being melodramatic. But how much pain must Audrey have been in at that time? She said she heard his conversation with Charles at the hospital. Chapter 156 272 Did she believe that he intended for Audrey to sleep with Hugo so that she would be too ashamed to confront him again? Nathan closed his eyes, recalling Audrey¡¯s smile after he had someone take her back home as hisst wish. That smile was so heartbreaking, the destion evident in her clear eyes. ¡°If only by doing this will you believe that | won¡¯t bother you anymore, then I''ll do as you wish.¡± That¡¯s what she had said at that time. Thus, she fulfilled his wish. Nathan mmed his hand on the steering wheel, causing a sharp noise from the car¡ªstartling pedestrians and making them hurry to the side. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, and his chest heaved violently. After a moment, Nathan started the car again and raced in the direction where Audrey had just left. As Nathan''s car was about to catch up to Audrey, he saw her entering Sheysea University. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Nathan immediately turned on his turn signal and followed her into the school. However, he couldn¡¯t find Audrey anywhere once he drove in. He parked the car and tried calling Joseph to ask for Audrey¡¯s whereabouts, but Joseph didn¡¯t answer. Nathan continued dialing as he searched through the university. Meanwhile, Audrey had already entered the office belonging to the university dean, Harold Wilson. ¡°I''ve been trying to get you toe back over the years, but you¡¯ve always refused. | thought you still cared about what happened back then.¡± Harold ced a ss of water before Audrey and awkwardly pushed up his sses. ¡°It was Nathan¡¯s fault, not yours. Back then, you did your best to protect me, including contacting Professor Dous. | know everything. I¡¯m really grateful to you from the bottom of my heart.¡± After exchanging pleasantries with Harold, Audrey got straight to the point. She told him about Jacob, who received financial aid for needy students but was dressed in branded clothing. ¡°I''m wondering if there might be some oversight in the finance division?¡± Audrey¡¯s tone was gentle, without any intention of causing trouble or suggesting the discontinuation of financial aid. ¡°| hope the financial aid is given to those who truly need it; otherwise, there¡¯d be no meaning to it.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. When Audrey arranged for Evergreen Biotech to provide this donation, she specifically instructed that the list be kept confidential to protect the dignity of the needy students. Still, it was inevitable that some people would try to take advantage of it. ¡°You''re right!¡± Harold frowned and nodded. ¡°Wait a moment, I''ll have the Deputy Dean, Mr. Erneste over to discuss the situation. He¡¯s more familiar with information about the aid than | am!¡± Harold made a phone call, and Clifford soon arrived. After some initial pleasantries, Clifford began discussing the issue with Jacob. ¡°As for Jacob, his family situation is indeed quite troubling. His father died in a car ident when he was in junior high school, and his mother left him shortly afterwards. Now it¡¯s just him and his grandmother, making a living by running a scrapyard.¡± Clifford handed Jacob''s file to Audrey. ¡°Here¡¯s the information on Jacob.¡± Audrey browsed through the file, her brows furrowing. ¡°| ran into Jacob at the caf¨¦ today. He imed to be Nathan¡¯s cousin, wearing branded clothing. He also told me he spends two thousand on just one meal.¡± Chapter 157 2/2 Audrey carefully examined Jacob''s photo and handed the file back to Clifford. ¡°I hope you can verify the situation with him.¡± ¡°The school will thoroughly investigate Jacob. If Jacob is indeed squandering the subsidies, the school will revoke his aid,¡± came Clifford¡¯s response. As he finished speaking, a broadcast came over the campus. at our old spot. If you hear ¡°Audrey, it¡¯s Nathan. | have something to tell you. I''ll be waiting for you at our old this, pleasee!¡± Audrey was startled. Harold looked puzzled. ¡°Is that... Nathan¡¯s voice?¡± Nathan''s voice came through again in the broadcast. ¡°Audrey, it¡¯s Nathan. I''ll be waiting for you at our old spot. If you hear this, pleasee!¡± ¡°Is that really Nathan?¡± Harold looked at Audrey. ¡°Has Nathan regained his memory?¡± Audrey frowned. ¡°Audrey, | owe you an apology! | hope you''ll give me a chance to speak. I''ll keep waiting for you until youe!¡± Harold was rendered speechless for a moment. It was widely known that Audrey and Nathan''s love story had been vibrant from high school to university. However, Nathan then lost his memory and fell in love with someone else. That said, he¡¯s been acting strangely, stering Audrey''s photos everywhere and now with the broadcast. ¡°Well, this is indeed Nathan¡¯s style.¡± Harold chuckled, seeing that Audrey wasn¡¯t responding. Yes, this was Nathan¡¯s style. During their most serious arguments back then, Audrey would ignore Nathan for several days. He would go to the broadcasting room during lunch breaks, publicly apologizing to Audrey and singing love songs into the speaker. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Back then, Audrey was touched by Nathan¡¯s actions. Now, however, she remained impassive.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. After so many years, Nathan had made no progress at all. He was still as immature as ever. Audrey had no intention of seeing him. She told Harold, ¡°The main purpose of today¡¯s visit is because Evergreen Biotech mentioned they would provide Sheysea University with a batch of advancedboratory equipment. ¡°They have already coordinated with the overseas team, and the equipment will likely be shipped back after the hearing. | wonder if the newboratory building is ready for instation works?¡± ¡°Excellent. That¡¯s fantastic news! The newboratory building is all set, and the equipment can be installed anytime.¡± Harold nodded with a smile: ¡°Audrey, please convey my gratitude to the founder of Evergreen Biotech for me. We''ve invited them. several times, but the group¡¯s founder has always been reluctant toe to our school to give a speech. They¡¯re really low profile.¡± ¡°Theboratories are quite busy recently, so they can¡¯t spare the time. Audrey did not disclose her identity to Harold. She simply smiled and stood up. ¡°I''d like to visit theboratory building. Is that possible?¡± ¡°Absolutely! Let me apany you there!¡± Clifford said with a smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± Audrey expressed her gratitude. After visiting the new biologyboratory with Clifford, she left Sheysea University. She still had no intention of going to the ¡°old spot¡± Nathan mentioned. Clifford stood at the school gate, watching Audrey leave. He muttered, ¡°The love lives of young people are trulyplicated. First, he married Audrey, then lost his memory and had Amelia. Now he¡¯s engaged to Amelia and has regained his memory, yet he¡¯se back to find Audrey again. | really don¡¯t understand...¡± ¡°Boss, the Franklin Group is really persistent! | was informed that their side has lowered the offer by another 0.1%!¡± On the other end of the line, Audrey stood by the kitchen sink, waiting for the coffee machine to finish brewing her drink. She tapped her fingers on the countertop and replied, ¡°Since the Franklin Group is so eager to cooperate with us, let''s not push them too hard on the contract. Tell them we don¡¯t need them to Chapter 158 lower it by another 0.1%.¡± ¡°Really, Boss?¡± The voice on the phone sounded incredulous. 2/2 ¡°There¡¯s just one condition before signing the contract: we won¡¯t provide financial support for the first batch of drugs. They must produce high-quality medications within one month and prove to Evergreen Biotech that their production capacity and financial chain are sound. ¡°As long as they can deliver on time and meet the standards with this first batch, we''ll trust them with therge orders toe.¡± Audrey picked up her coffee and walked toward the living room. ¡°Remember to specify in the contract that a breach of agreement will result in a hefty penalty. Oh and draft a separate confidentiality agreement for the form,¡± she added. ¡°Got it!¡± After hanging up, Audrey stood by the window, watching the rain pour over Sheysea City. She silently sipped her coffee. Audrey was well aware of Franklin Group''s production capacity; it was simply impossible for them toplete the first batch of drugs within a month. Naturally, they would need the help of the Murray Group. Asmirk yed on Audrey¡¯s lips. Charles and the Murray Group. She wondered what Nathan would do if Charles caused trouble again this time. Would Nathan risk the entire Franklin Group for Amelia by protecting Charles once more? The ss window-stained with rainwater streaks¡ªreflected Audrey¡¯s delicate features and faint smile. The rain intensified. Nathan stood under the eaves of the top floor of the Sheysea Universityboratory building. His pants were soaked below the knees, but he still couldn¡¯t see the person he was waiting for. He clenched his fists tightly. Even with the memory fragments of Audrey in his mind, he understood. Audrey wasn¡¯ting. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Chapter 159 The phone inside Nathan''s suit jacket continued ringing. His hands, cold and tingling, picked up the phone to nce at the caller |D-Ame. Finally, he answered, ¡°Hello-¡± ¡°Nathan, where are you? I¡¯ve been calling you all day.¡± Amelia bit her lips, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°| was hit by a prop while filming an advertisement, so the director allowed me to take half a month off to let my foot heal. | was thinking... maybe we could use this time to n our wedding?¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Nathan remained silent on the other end. Amelia had a bad feeling butposed herself and continued, ¡°You know, Mrs. Franklin has always hoped we''d get married soon. We''re not getting any younger, and it¡¯s about time we have a child.¡± ¡°Will your agency allow it?¡± Nathan asked, watching the downpour of rain. ¡°I''ll coordinate with Ynda and thepany. In the worst-case scenario, I''ll quit the entertainment industry and be a housewife! Nathan, you know you¡¯re the most important to me. Nathan felt a mix of emotions. If Amelia had said this back then, he would have immediately bought a ring and gone to find her ready to propose as soon as possible. But now... ¡°What''s wrong, Nathan?¡± Amelia couldn¡¯t hear Nathan¡¯s enthusiastic voice, and she panicked. ¡°Do... Do you not want me anymore?¡± ¡°It''s not that, you''re overthinking it.¡± Nathan sighed. ¡°But...¡± Tears welled up in Amelia¡¯s eyes. ¡°But | just told you | got hit by a prop and hurt my foot, yet you still haven¡¯t asked me how my foot is.¡± ¡°I''m sorry. Because the contract with Evergreen Biotech hasn''t been finalized yet, | haven''t slept well for a long time,¡± Nathan lied to Amelia. ¡°Where are you now? Have you returned to the hotel?¡± ¡°lm at Mythravia Hospital right now. Although the injury isn¡¯t severe, Ynda is worried...¡± Amelia added, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. | shouldn''t have been suspicious of you, Nathan. You take care and rest well! Thepany¡¯s matters are important, and my foot¡¯s not badly injured anyway!¡± ¡°You take care too.¡± ¡°Nathan!¡± Just before hanging up, Amelia urgently told Nathan, ¡°I miss you so much! | love you, and Chapter 193 rest well!¡± After ending the call, Nathan nced at his watch. It was almost 11:00 PM. Audrey wouldn''t being. 2/2 At this moment, Nathan¡¯s guilt and regret peaked. He had already wronged Audrey, and now he was treating Amelia like this. Amelia hadn''t done anything wrong. She simply loved him with all her heart. Nathan pursed his lips, dragging his weary legs downstairs. He called the driver. ¡°Come pick me up at Sheysea University. We''re going to Mythravia.¡± Before Nathan even reached the bottom of the stairs, he received a call from the manager of the Franklin Group. ¡°Hello, Mr. Franklin. Evergreen Biotech has relented, but they want to modify the contract. They don¡¯t want us to reduce the offer by 0.1%, but they want us to prove that the Franklin Group¡¯s production capacity and finances are sound. ¡°They''ll provide the form for the first batch of drugs without financial support, and they need us to produce them within a month, and they must all be high¡ªquality!¡± The manager continued excitedly, ¡°As long as this batch of drugs is fine, not only will we get the orders for Alzheimer¡¯s drugs, but also anti-cancer drugs!¡± Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Chapter 160 The manager¡¯s voice betrayed his excitement. This was indeed a great opportunity, Nathan leaned against the staircase railing, his stepsing to a halt. ¡°Can we meet the deadline with our current production capacity at Franklin Group?¡± Nathan asked. What concerned him even more was whether the Franklin Group¡¯s cash flow would be sufficient for raw material procurement if Evergreen Biotech didn¡¯t provide financial support. ¡°With our current production capacity and funds, it¡¯s impossible to meet the deadline within a month, but... opportunity seldom knocks twice!¡± The manager hesitated for a moment. ¡°We can exploit loopholes in the contract. I''ve looked at the new contract, and it doesn¡¯t explicitly prohibit outsourcing! We can partially outsource... That is, share some of the profits. ¡°Although it seems like we''re giving away some of the profits with the first batch of drugs, as long as we secure the future orders, we''ll still make a profit!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°In that case, send me and the legal department a copy of the contract first. We''ll review it before making a decision.¡± Nathan remained cautious. ¡°Alright!¡± The manager replied. Audrey sat in the casino¡¯s private room, watching news about the contract signing between Evergreen Biotech and Franklin Group. On the TV screen, Nathan, dressed immactely, sat at the long table and signed the contract with a smile, shaking hands with the head of Evergreen Biotech¡¯s Cascadia region. Audrey looked through the window, watching Charles win at a gambling table on the ground floor. Asmirk appeared on her lips. She looked forward to seeing how far Nathan would go to protect Charles for Amelia¡¯s sake. Inside the casino, Charles won again. The woman clinging to his right arm kissed his cheek, cheering happily. This caused the long-haired woman on his left arm to feel unhappy, so she picked up her bag and left. Charles waspletely absorbed in the game and didn¡¯t even notice when the long-haired woman left. The woman nced at the private room where Audrey was sitting before finally walking away. Chapter 160 212 Charles lost in the next round. ¡°It''s okay, it¡¯s okay! Mr. Murray has been winning this whole time. It¡¯s normal to lose once in a while! ¡°The woman beside Charles comforted him. ¡°That¡¯s right! Just one round! Let¡¯s go again!¡± Charles rallied. In the next round, Charles lost yet again. He won the third round, but his joy was short-lived. He kept losing from the fourth round all the way to the tenth. The chips he had won earlier in the day were quickly dwindling, but Charles became increasingly addicted to gambling. After Charles lost all his chips following the consecutive losses, the woman beside him whispered, ¡± Mr. Murray, I¡¯ve noticed that you always start winning after losing a few rounds in a row. ¡°Look, you''ve lost four in a row this time. Maybe the next round will be your chance to turn things around! Do you want me to help you get some more chips?¡± Charles thought it made sense and decided to buy more chips. But when he handed his card to the staff, they returned it with an embarrassed smile. ¡°Mr. Murray, it appears that your card doesn¡¯t have sufficient funds.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Charles snatched the card back and swapped it for another. ¡°Try this one!¡± After trying the new card, the staff awkwardly smiled and said, ¡°Sorry, this card also has insufficient funds.¡± Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Charles''s expression grew darker. ¡°Then... try 100 thousand!¡± ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Murray. You still don¡¯t have enough.¡± ¡°Not even 100 thousand?!¡± Charles¡¯s expression contorted into an ugly frown. ¡°What about 50 thousand? No, try ten thousand.¡± After another attempt by the staff, they shook their heads and smiled. ¡°Mr. Murray, you¡¯ve been at the casino for a long time today. Why don¡¯t youe back another day?¡± Lindsay, who had apanied Charles all along, retorted to the staff, ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you saying Mr. Murray has no money? ¡°Who do you think you''re talking to? Open your eyes; this is Mr. Murray from the Murray Group. How could he have no money?¡± Lindsay pulled Charles aside and whispered, ¡°Mr. Murray, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s just something wrong with your card! | heard a guy here at the casino specializes in lending money to gamblers. ¡°You''ve just lost so much, and it appeared like you just started a winning streak. It would be a pity to leave now and miss the chance to win big.¡± Seeing Charles hesitate, Lindsay grabbed his arm and smiled. ¡°Mr. Murray, I¡¯m counting on you to win more so you can tip me. | believe in your luck.¡± Charles smirked and said, ¡°If | win back my losses, |¡¯ll buy you a handbag!¡± ¡°You''re so kind, Mr. Murray! I''ll follow your lead and bet on you.¡± Having been persuaded by Lindsay, Charles went to borrow money from the casino¡¯s loan shark, Shawn Lyon. Charles originally intended to borrow 100 thousand. Shawn smiled and said, ¡°Sorry Mr. Murray, but our minimum loan here is one millian.¡± ¡°One million!¡± Charles was surprised. He had already lost 500 thousand today. Lindsay nced at Shawn, then smiled and took Charles¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Murray, your luck is finally turning around. What''s a million to you now? Just win it backter and pay it all off!¡± Hearing Lindsay¡¯s words, Charles finally signed the paperwork and borrowed one million before re- entering the casino. But this time, Charles lost the entire one million. Lindsay, who had ced her bet on him, also lost all her money. As they left the casino, Lindsayforted Charles, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mr. Murray. Although | lost 100 thousand following you, | believe you''ll win it back! What could be the reason-¡± Chapter 161 2/2 Charles was filled with anger, and he was ready tosh out. However, he suppressed his rage when he heard that Lindsay had also lost 100 thousand betting on him. ¡°| remember now! Mr. Murray, it seems like you started losing after Lucy left!¡± Lindsay eximed as if she had just realized something. ¡°Mr. Murray, think about it! You didn¡¯t lose when Lucy was by your side.¡± Charles paused, recalling the events at the casino that night. It was true. Charles hurriedly asked, ¡°Do you have Lucy¡¯s contact information?¡± Lindsay shook her head. ¡°But | can help you find her!¡± ¡°If you find her for me, I''ll give you 100 thousand!¡± Charles grabbed Lindsay¡¯s shoulder, emphasizing his words. ¡°Alright Mr. Murray, you can count on me!¡± After Charles left, Lindsay got into her car and dialed Lucy¡¯s number. ¡°Hey Lucy, | followed your instructions and lost 100 thousand with Charles, just like you told me to. Now, Charles definitely thinks you''re his lucky star. 1 Lindsay let out augh. ¡°You''re sure to secure your position as his wife, so...¡± Lindsay smiled. ¡± Shouldn''t you settle the final payment you promised me?¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Chapter 162 ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll transfer the money to you as soon as | hang up!¡± Lucy said. Lindsay smiled. ¡°Alright! If you ever need help with this kind of quick¡ªcash job again, just let me know!¡± On the other end, Lucy hung up and immediately transferred the money to Lindsay. She then looked at Audrey. ¡°Audrey, what''s next?¡± Lucy sat on the sofa, watching Audrey make coffee in the kitchen. ¡°Let Charles wait for a bit.¡± Audrey put the coffee pot down. She carried two cups over and handed one to Lucy. ¡°Charles is already addicted to gambling. He''ll continue to gamble while looking for you. When he can¡¯t win anymore, he''ll be even crazier in his search for you.¡± Lucy nodded, gripping the coffee cup tightly in her hand. ¡°No matter what, I¡¯ll make Charles pay!¡± Audrey took a sip of coffee. ¡°He will. He¡¯ll experience everything you and your sister have been through.¡± Now that the Franklin Group had assigned part of its orders to the Murray Group, this would be thergest deal for the Murray Group in recent years.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. How could the Murray Group, with its limited cash flow,pare to the Franklin Group? Things would get interesting if Charles touched Murray Group¡¯s assets or stole the form. Charles owed Harper his life. Audrey would watch Charles suffer and beg Harper for forgiveness in the afterlife. As Audrey anticipated, Charles couldn''t resist gambling before he even found Lucy. He had to borrow more money from Shawn because he was broke. Shawn didn¡¯t say much; he just handed the contract to Charles. Charles signed his name on thest page without even looking at the terms. Shawn smiled and lent the money to Charles, casually mentioning that the previous loan hadn¡¯t been repaid yet. Charles only replied that he would repay the previous loan once he won the money this time. ¡°Alright! Let''s hope Mr. Murray can repay the previous debt as soon as possible today!¡± Shawn smiled at his subordinates and said, ¡°Escort Mr. Murray out.¡± Chapter 162 2/12 However, as expected, Charles lost all the money he had borrowed again. As he was about to leave the casino, Shawn and his men intercepted him and took him to a secluded alley behind the casino. ¡°Mr. Murray, we agreed that you¡¯d pay for the previous debt today, no?¡± Shawn said with a smile. Charles''s expression slightly changed as he looked at the group of people behind Shawn, his brows furrowing. ¡°I''ve lost all my money today, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not someone who owes money. Once | find my lucky star, winning it all back will be a piece of cake!¡± ¡°But Mr. Murray, including the interest from your previous loans, you''ve already borrowed over five million from us.¡± Shawn reached out and epted the document his subordinate handed to him. ¡°Take a look. | trusted you enough to lend you so much, but now I can¡¯t exin it to my superiors. Regardless, you need to pay the interest from the initial one million you borrowed, it¡¯s about¡ªlet¡¯s see, 250 thousand now.¡± Charles gritted his teeth. ¡°You know my brother-inw is Nathan, the chairman of the Franklin group, right? Do you really think I''d owe you guys money? When | borrow money from you, I¡¯m doing you a favor!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! The Franklin Group is a big corporation. It¡¯s precisely because you''re Mr. Nathan¡¯s brother- inw that | dared to lend you so much money! But look Mr. Murray, you¡¯ve borrowed so much, you can¡¯t just not repay a single cent, right? ¡°To save us both the trouble, let¡¯s start with repaying the 250 thousand in interest. It¡¯s just a small amount for Mr. Murray, isn¡¯t it?¡± Shawn was smiling, but the tough henchmen behind him looked fierce and menacing. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Chapter 163 ¡°Alright!¡± Charles finally relented, gritting his teeth as he pulled out his phone. ¡°It¡¯s just 250 thousand, right?¡± Charles scrolled through his contacts and dialed Amelia''s number. ¡°Hey, why¡¯re you calling me at this hour?¡± Amelia answered Charles¡® call happily. Charles whispered, ¡°Amelia, I¡¯ve run into a bit of trouble. Can you lend me 250 thousand? | need it urgently.¡± Amelia frowned, asking hurriedly, ¡°A week ago, you said we needed funds for a big project with the Franklin Group, so | gave you over 50 million. Do you need money now because there''s a problem with the project?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Charles grabbed onto the convenient excuse. ¡°Didn¡¯t Nathan just sign a contract with Evergreen Biotech? | heard they even signed a hefty penalty use. | don¡¯t want to dy his affairs!¡± ¡°Alright, I''ll transfer it to you right away.¡± Amelia reminded him. ¡°Nathan is trusting in our family this time. You must handle things properly and not cause trouble for him. Otherwise, | won¡¯t be able to exin to Mrs. Franklin.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Amelia.¡± Charles¡® eyes lit up, and he added, ¡°Amelia, if you have any extra money, can you transfer it to me too? I''ll pay you back once this project is over!¡± ¡°Okay. Work hard!¡± ¡°Don''t worry!¡± After ending the call, Charles received a transfer of 500 thousand from Amelia. He smiled and transferred 250 thousand to Shawn, then sneered at him. ¡°From now on, | won¡¯t borrow money from you anymore. You have no trust in your clients!¡± As Charles reentered the casino, Shawn spat on the ground and returned to the casino with his men. Audrey looked at the photos sent by the private investigator, finding it intriguing that Charles had be a gambler. On the other end of the phone, the private investigator continued, ¡°During this time, Mr. Murray hasn¡¯t even been chasing women; he¡¯s entirely focused on gambling. ¡°From what | know, he now owes the casino at least four million, and there¡¯s a contract stating that if he can¡¯t repay the debt within a month, the interest will increase tenfold.¡± Audrey was already aware of this matter. ¡°| understand,¡± Audrey said. ¡°By the way, | heard that Mr. Murray is urgently looking for a girl named Lucy. Many models named 771 Chapter 163 Lucy have met with Mr. Murray, and some even apanied him to the casino.¡± Audrey understood just how desperate Charles had be upon hearing this.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 2/2 After the call with the private investigator ended, Audrey immediately called Lucy. ¡°It¡¯s about time to meet Charles¡ªperhaps tonight?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lucy responded and went to prepare. Audrey nced at the photo of Anne, Harper, and herself on the table beside her with a faint smile. ¡°Soon, Charles will face the consequences ande to apologize to you.¡± Soon enough. That same evening, Charles regained his confidence after finding his lucky star. He started his winning streak at the casino. Feeling confident, Charles was generous with his bets. However, when Lucy mentioned needing to use the restroom and left, Charles immediately started losing. He mmed his cards on the table. He was now even more convinced Lucy was his lucky star. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Charles kept looking over his shoulder to see if Lucy had returned. When he refocused on the game, he saw Audrey sitting across from him at the gambling table. Charles was briefly taken aback but soon shed a smile. ¡°Hey, if it isn¡¯t Audrey! Long time no see.¡® Audrey smiled faintly, ying with her chips. ¡°It has been a while, Mr. Murray. Would you like to gamble a few rounds with me?¡± ¡°Who is this pretty girl? Why have | never seen her before?¡± Lucy came back and sat beside Charles with a smile, nudging him yfully. She then looked at Audrey, smirking. ¡°Is this your way of getting Mr. Murray¡¯s attention?¡± ¡°Yeah, Audrey, are you trying to get my attention?¡± Charles hugged Lucy,ughing. ¡°You¡¯ve grown quite sensible over the years. If you had been like this earlier, that little mute wouldn¡¯t have gone through so much, don¡¯t you think?¡± Audrey didn¡¯t seem bothered. She continued smiling as she said, ¡°| came here today to make sure you lose everything.¡± Lucyughed. ¡°Are you kidding? Everyone in this casino knows that Mr. Murray has the best luck. As long as he sits at this table, he won''t lose.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then, Mr. Murray, are you going to gamble?¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Yeomans came here personally, so why wouldn¡¯t | gamble with her?¡± Charles kissed Lucy on the cheek. ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± The dealer began to deal the cards. Audrey looked at her hand, tapped lightly, and then looked at Charles. The man was smiling broadly as he arranged his cards. She chose to fold. They yed nine rounds, during which Audrey consistently lost-to Charles¡® evident delight. Seeing Audrey¡¯s displeasure, Charles became even more excited. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted me to lose everything?¡± Audrey let out a coldugh, her expression darkening as she looked at Charles. ¡°How about we make this more interesting?¡± Charles chuckled at Lucy. ¡°Look, someone''s in a hurry!¡± ¡°Let''s go all in; winner takes all. How about that?¡± Audrey''s eyes gleamed. While Charles hesitated, Lucy smiled and caressed his chest. ¡°Why would Mr. Murray be afraid of you? Have you ever won against him once? Stop talking big here, | advise you to take your remaining Chapter 164 2/2 chips and leave, so you won''t lose everything!¡± Charlesughed. ¡°Exactly, and you don¡¯t even have as many chips as | do. Why should | agree to an all -in deal with you?¡± ¡°Then I''ll wager myself. How about that?¡± Audrey ced her hands on the table, as if daring Charles. Charles¡® eyes lit up. He had been thinking about Audrey for quite some time. He sought revenge on Harper because he couldn''t get Audrey, Charles released Lucy and rested his elbows on the gambling table. ¡°Alright! But Ms. Yeomans, don¡¯t go back on your word when you lose!¡± ¡°Do you need me to sign anything?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Of course, that would be best!¡± Charles waved the casino staff over. Such agreements weremon in a casino, so there were established procedures in ce. With the casino staff as witness, Audrey and Charles soon signed an agreement and sat down at the gambling table once again. This time, it was an unlimited betting table. As the dealer dealt the cards, Charles and Lucy smiled upon seeing his hand. Lucy looked smugly at Audrey. ¡°You''re definitely going to lose this time, Ms. Yeomans!¡± Lucy leaned into Charles''s embrace. ¡°Mr. Murray, even if Ms. Yeomans loses, you can¡¯t abandon me!¡± ¡°Of course not, you¡¯re my lucky star! | won¡¯t abandon you for anyone!¡± Charles yfully patted Lucy''s face. Texas Hold¡¯em. Fivemunity cards, two hole cards. Themunity cards were a four of spades, a five of spades, and a seven of diamonds. It was a one-shot deal. Charles pushed all his remaining chips into the pot while Audrey went allin with her own-including the wager on herself. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Charles smiled. ¡°You''re going to lose!¡± He had a two and a five, forming three of a kind plus a pair! He refused to believe that Audrey could have a better hand! Charles revealed his cards, and apuse erupted from the crowd. ¡°What a great hand!¡± ¡°There couldn''t possibly be a better hand than this one!¡± ¡°Mr. Murray''s luck is really something!¡± Listening to the discussions around him, Charles couldn¡¯t help but give Lucy¡¯s cheek another kiss. Someone from the crowd yelled, ¡°The winner has not been decided yet!¡± Audrey then turned over her cards. Asix and an eight, forming a straight plus a pair. It was the highest-rankingbination possible with these cards. Charles suddenly stood up, staring wide-eyed at Audrey. His cards were so good; how could Audrey have a six and an eight? ¡°Wow! This is the best possible hand with these cards!¡± ¡°What luck! To get the highest-ranking hand! Unbelievable!¡± The crowd marveled at Audrey''s luck. t ¡°ept defeat, Mr. Murray.¡± Audrey signaled for the dealer to collect her chips. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Charles pressed his hands on the table and said, ¡°Let''s have another round!¡± Audrey chuckled lightly. ¡°But Mr. Murray doesn¡¯t have any chips left. ¡°I''ll wager myself!¡± Charles mmed his fists on the table. ¡°Don''t joke around, Mr. Murray. I¡¯m not interested in you.¡± Audrey chuckled. Gritting his teeth, Charles suddenly thought of Shawn. He straightened up abruptly. ¡°Wait for me, I''ll be right back!¡± ¡°| have over five million in chips right now. Is Mr. Murray still willing to bet with me?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°How long do you need?¡± Audrey toyed with her chips, smiling. Vaan An AUA Chapter 165 on Ms. Yeomans!¡± Lucy nodded. ¡°Alright, you can count on me!¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Charles rushed to Shawn¡¯s office. ¡°Shawn, | need to borrow money! Quickly, lend me five million!¡± Shawn smiled and took out several loan documents from his desk drawer. 2/2 ¡°Mr. Murray, take a look. You haven''t repaid the money you borrowed before. With the interest and principalbined, it¡¯s already over eight million. ¡°You haven''t repaid anything yet, and now you want to borrow another five million?¡± Charles urged ¡°I can repay the entire amount-principal and interest-to you tonight! Please give me the money quickly!¡± ¡°Mr. Murray has always been lucky, so of course | believe in you.¡± Shawn smiled as he toyed with the walnuts in his hand. ¡°But you see, my belief isn¡¯t enough. Thepany has regtions, and I¡¯m just an employee working for the boss.¡± He tossed a walnut into the air, skillfully catching it with his other hand. ¡°Tell me! What do | need to do to borrow five million from you tonight?¡± Charles was anxious as time was running out. ¡°Do | need to double the interest, or are there any other conditions? Just name it! I''ll agree to anything!¡± Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Shawn fell silent fora moment. ¡°Then there¡¯s only one way left.¡± ¡°What it is?¡± ¡°Well, isn¡¯t there a method in the casino where you can gamble with your own body? Mr. Murray, you can gamble with yourself!¡± Shawn chuckled. ¡°But the other party doesn¡¯t want that!¡± Charles frowned, watching as time was about to run out. ¡°How about this: I''ll sign a contract using my body as coteral with you guys. After all, you must believe that I¡¯ll repay you. ¡°The Murray Group¡¯s a big deal. Why would we owe you anything? Plus, my brother-inw is Nathan, the president of the Franklin Group!¡± ¡°Mr. Murray, it¡¯s not that | don¡¯t believe you. It¡¯s just that our department has never signed such a contract.¡± Shawn smiled. ¡°How about you discuss it with someone else?¡± ¡°| don¡¯t care! No matter what method you use today, | must borrow this money!¡± Charles threatened. ¡°Don¡¯t me me for being rough with you otherwise!¡± Shawn thought momentarily and said, ¡°Okay, let''s do this. We''ve been cooperating for so long; I''ll personally guarantee it this time. Let Mr. Murray sign the contract using his own body as coteral.¡± He continued, ¡°But Mr. Murray... once this contract is signed, you''ll have to face the consequences if you don¡¯t repay it today. When that happens, even | won''t be able to save you.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Charles agreed. Charles sat back down at the gambling table with a new stack of chips. Once again, the dealer dealt the cards. He could barely conceal his joy upon receiving his hand. Charles chuckled. ¡°I refuse to believe that your luck is always this good. You can¡¯t always get the best hand every time!¡± The onlookers nodded in agreement. Indeed, getting the best hand in a deck of cards was a rare urrence. Just because Audrey got the best hand the first time didn¡¯t necessarily mean she would have the same luck this time. ¡°Is that so?¡± Audrey smiled as she revealed her cards. She had the best hand in the deck again! ¡°Oh my God, she did it again!¡± Chapter 166 22/2 ¡°Her luck is too good!¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s impossible!¡± Charles stood up as if he was about to flip the table. His eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at Audrey, ¡°You''re cheating!¡± ¡°This casino has hundreds of surveince cameras. Do you think | can cheat under their watchful eye? Are you questioning the integrity of the casino?¡± Audrey asked with a smile.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Cocking her head to the side, she said with feigned innocence, ¡°Or perhaps, Mr. Murray, you just can¡¯t handle losing?¡± ¡°| don¡¯t believe it! You must be cheating!¡± Charles was infuriated and was about to charge at Audrey. However, before Charles could step onto the table, he was restrained by the casino¡¯s security personnel. They pinned him down on the table, chips scattering all over the floor. Audrey fixed her sleeves, gazing indifferently at Charles. She smiled as she got up and instructed the casino staff to tidy her chips before leaving. ¡°Audrey! | want to gamble with you again! Do you dare gamble with me one more time!¡± Charles struggled. Audrey just smiled faintly, not even looking back. Charles would definitely suffer this time. Soon, Charles was taken to Shawn¡¯s office. ¡°Shawn, lend me another million, no¡ª50 thousand, just 50 thousand and | can turn the tables!¡± Charles was agitated, trying to get up from the sofa, but the guards held him down. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Chapter 167 ¡°Mr. Murray, we made it very clear that if you don¡¯t repay all the money today, you''ll have to face the consequences.¡± Shawn emerged from behind his desk, smiling as he waved the contract in front of Charles.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Charles widened his eyes as he looked at Shawn. ¡°W-what do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Well, what if we send someone over to the Murray Residence with this contract and find your old man- ¡°No! If you take that to my dad, he''ll kill me!¡± Charles looked terrified. ¡°Well then, we''ll have to ask Mr. Murray to repay the debt with his organs!¡± Shawn smiled. ¡°You! What you''re doing is illegal!¡± Charles eximed. ¡°Mr. Murray, you worry too much. In such arge casino like ours, we always encounter those who don¡¯t repay their debts. We can¡¯t just let that money go uncollected, or our casino will go bankrupt!¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Charles¡® stomach was churning, finally feeling the fear. ¡°I''ll repay the money!¡± ¡°Can you repay it today?¡± Shawn asked. ¡°Could you give me a few more days?¡± Charles¡® voice trembled. ¡°Two weeks! I''ll definitely have it by then!¡± ¡°I''m afraid that won''t do. If you can¡¯t settle the debt today, you won''t be leaving here anytime soon.¡® Shawn sighed theatrically. ¡°Mr. Murray, | don¡¯t mean to cause you trouble, but I¡¯m just an employee followingpany protocol. I''m sure you understand.¡± ¡°| can pay the interest! Give me half a month... Ten days! Ten days will do!¡± Charles panicked. Shawn rubbed his chin. ¡°Well, | have onest option to propose to Mr. Murray. | don¡¯t know if you''ll be willing to consider it.¡± ¡°Tell me!¡± Charles grasped at the lifeline. ¡°You see, there¡¯s a time limit for repayment at the casino. So, you could transfer ten million from the Murray Group¡¯s ount to us first. Then when you win at the casinoter, you can just refill that gap. What do you say?¡± ¡°No, that won¡¯t work!¡± Charles refused firmly. His father would definitely kill him if he touched thepany¡¯s funds. ¡°Then there¡¯s only onest resort left! Hasn¡¯t the Murray Group received a pharmaceutical order from the Franklin Group? We want the form for that medicine. As long as Mr. Murray can provide us with the form, this debt will be wiped clean.¡± Shawn''s smile was chilling. ¡°This is the only thing | can do to help Mr. Murray.¡± 1] Chapter 167 2/2 Charles fell silent. Shawn saw Charles weighing his options and continued, ¡°You see, I¡¯m trying to find a solution for you, Mr. Murray. We only want that form for the casino because it¡¯s worth some money. ¡°Plus, that form is something you can easily steal with just a photo¡ªno one will ever find out. Even if there are problemster, no one will suspect you, right?¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Charles agreed. ¡°Good. We need to see the form before tomorrow night. Once we have it, the previous debt will be wiped clean!¡± ¡°It''s that urgent?¡± Charles felt a bit flustered. Ashadow crossed Shawn¡¯s features. ¡°I¡¯m already giving you a lifeline here. You wouldn''t be able to leave the casino today without it.¡± Shawn added, ¡°Of course, your family is influential, so we¡¯re not afraid of you running away. After all, we can still use these contracts to find your father, right?¡± Charles stumbled out of the casino. Dawn was already breaking. His eyes were bloodshot after a sleepless night. But with his debt weighing heavily on his mind, he clenched his jaw and headed straight to the company. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Charles handed the form over to Shawn at noon. After confirming the form was legitimate, Shawn dly burned all the documents Charles had signed. Charles finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Will Mr. Murray take out another loan to reim his ce at the gambling table?¡± Shawn asked with asmile. After hesitating briefly, Charles said, ¡°Let¡¯s start with one million this time!¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°| like doing business with straightforward people like Mr. Murray.¡± Shawn printed out another loan contract and handed it to Charles. Charles reentered the casino and lost the one million again before the sun set. He stormed into ? Shawn''s office, borrowed another million, and entered the casino once more. By the time Audrey received the news, Charles had already been at the casino for seven days straight. Audrey asked, ¡°Did you save the video of Charles stealing the form and handing it over to you?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Ms. Yeomans. I''ll send it to you shortly.¡± Shawn replied. ¡°It''s about time.¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°I hope you captured the video properly.¡± ¡°Of course, you can trust me!¡± After ending the call, Audrey picked up Harper¡¯s photo on the table. She smirked. ¡°Soon, the pain that Charles inflicted on you will be repaid a thousandfold! Don¡¯t worry. 1 Suddenly, Audrey¡¯s phone rang-it was Stephen. Audrey answered, her voice tense. ¡°Hello, Stephen.¡± ¡°Ms. Yeomans, Mr. Das is missing!¡± Stephen''s voice was urgent. ¡°He wasn¡¯t feeling well, and after the family doctor checked on him and gave him medicine, | instructed the household staff not to disturb him so he could rest. ¡°But when | checked three hourster, Mr. Das was gone! There was just a note saying he¡¯s gone back to the country to find you. | tried to intercept him at the airport but couldn¡¯t stop him. ¡°Later, | received a message from Mr. Das with his flight details. ording to the info, he should arrive in Mythravia in an hour!¡± ¡°Mythravia?!¡± Audrey¡¯s heart began to race. With only an hour left, she wouldn¡¯t make it back to Mythravia in time, even if she rushed. Chapter 168 2/2 ¡°I''m sorry, Ms. Yeomans, it¡¯s my fault for not keeping an eye on Mr. Das!¡± Stephen¡¯s voice was filled with guilt. ¡°It''s not your fault, Stephen. Das has always been like this. If he wants to do something, there¡¯s nothing that can stop him.¡± Audrey frowned. ¡°I''ll send someone to pick Das up. I''ll call you once | see him. Don¡¯t worry too much and send me the flight information first.¡± After ending the call, Audrey realized it was toote to disturb George, so she dialed Ryan¡¯s number instead. ¡°Audrey?¡± Ryan had just left thepany when he received Audrey¡¯s call. He sounded a bit surprised but was unable to hide the joy in his voice. ¡°Das went back to Mythravia without telling Stephen. ording to the flight information, he''ll arrive in an hour. I¡¯m still in Sheysea, so-¡± Audrey quickly exined. ¡°Give me the flight information. I''ll go pick him up,¡± Ryan interrupted before Audrey could finish. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± ¡°Audrey, Das is my child too. It¡¯s something | should do. No need to be so formal with me,¡± ke said gently. ¡°Okay, I''ll remember that.¡± Audrey sent Das¡® flight information to Ryan, along with a few photos. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Chapter 169 She sent Ryan a WhatsApp voice message. ¡°Das looks exactly like Lily, so you should recognize him at first sight.¡± Soon, she received a reply from Ryan. ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t worry, I''ll send you a video once | pick the child up. 1 Ryan looked at the child¡¯s face in the photo, his fingers caressing the image briefly. A smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. While driving to the airport, Ryan called Julian. ¡°Buy some daily necessities for a four¡ªyear¡ªold boy, as well as some snacks and toys. Have them delivered to the house quickly!¡± ¡°A boy?¡± Julian was puzzled but agreed nheless. ¡°Alright, I''ll take care of it right away.¡± ¡°Also, prepare a child¡¯s toilet seat, a child¡¯s shower head, and that little stool for brushing teeth at the sink. Make sure everything is ready.¡± Ryan remembered Lily mentioning that they didn¡¯t have these items at home. ¡°Understood! You can count on me.¡± Julian responded. Ryan arrived at the airport in just 50 minutes. He followed the instructions and waited at the arrival gate for Das. Soon, Ryan spotted a child wearing white sneakers, a pair of jeans, and a ck hoodie, dragging his small suitcase. The little guy pulled his hoodie hood over his head, wore a backpack, and had a chubby face-just like in the photo. He had one hand in his pocket, the other pulling the suitcase, looking cool as he came into view. Ayoung girl at the airport couldn¡¯t help but squeal at the sight of Das. ¡°Whose child is this? He¡¯s so adorable!¡± Upon hearing the remark, Das didn¡¯t show the same friendly smile as Lily. He maintained his cool demeanor as he walked ahead. He spotted Ryan almost immediately. Their eyes met, and Das approached Ryan. He Looked up at Ryan and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s my mom?¡± Ryan crouched down, looking at the little boy with an impassive expression. ¡°Your mom is still in Sneysea. She asked me to come and pick you up.¡± Ryan then lifted Das, holding him with one arm while pulling his small suitcase with the other. Ryan¡¯s sharp facial features and tall stature already made him stand out. He was even dressed in a Chapter 169 suit and exuded an air of superiority. 2/2 Now with a child in one arm¡ªdragging a cartoon suitcase that seemed out of ce-the contrast he created left a striking visual impact. ¡°Ah! So handsome! | didn¡¯t expect such an elite man to be a dad!¡± ¡°Oh my! No wonder the little one is so cute; he has such a handsome dad!¡± Das¡® arms wrapped around Ryan¡¯s neck, looking slightly unhappy. ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because of this, I''ll be as silly as Lily and ept you!¡± Ryan chuckled softly. ¡°Hmm, | understand¡ªbut Lily isn¡¯t silly. It¡¯s because she has a good mommy and a great big brother like you that she¡¯s grown into the world¡¯s most adorable little sunshine!¡± Das¡® hold around Ryan''s neck tightened slightly, and his ears turned red. ¡°Don''t think that by saying that, I¡¯ll be happy!¡± Das warned Ryan again. ¡°Anyway, I''ll be keeping an eye on you. If | think you¡¯re not up to par, | won''t let Mommy be with you, and | won¡¯t let that silly Lily call you Daddy!¡± ¡°Alright. Then starting today, you''ll stay with me. We''ll see if I¡¯m suitable to be your and Lily¡¯s dad.¡± Ryan arrived at the underground parking lot with a child in tow. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Chapter 170 As the car door swung open, Das spotted a pink child seat inside and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Pink?¡± Ityan replied, ¡°You came back so suddenly. This safety seat is for Lily. You can sit here for now, and we can go buy one in your favorite color tomorrow.¡± Das had Ryan all figured out. He knew it was Ryan¡¯s car just by checking the license te. The fact that Ryan had a child seat in the car for Lily made Das happy. He nodded with a slight pout. After securing Das with the seatbelt, Ryan got in the car and video-called Audrey. Audrey picked up quickly, Seeing Das sitting in the safety seat with arms crossed, Audrey scolded, ¡°You¡¯re bing more and more stubborn! How could you just leave a note and fly back home by yourself? Do you realize you''re only four years old? What if you encounter bad people on the way?¡± ¡°Not even four yet... Too young to understand...¡± Das turned his head away, muttering as he sulked at Audrey. ¡°Encounter bad people... they¡¯d probablyin that I¡¯m not running away fast enough.¡± Audrey understood that Das was still holding a grudge from her previous scolding. She took a deep breath and softened her tone, ¡°Okay Das, don¡¯t be upset with Mommy anymore. Let¡¯s video call Grandpa Stephenter. He¡¯s been really worried. Last time, Mommy spoke too hastily. I''m sorry, Mommy was wrong. Das is the smartest and most talented little kid. A real genius.¡± Das¡® cars reddened, but he stubbornly refused to face the phone camera head-on. Seeing Das¡® ears turn red, Audrey knew he was calming down. ¡°Mr. Ryan, I''ll need to trouble you tomorrow morning to take Das to Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s ce,¡± Audrey said to Ryan. Ryan turned the camera toward himself and replied, ¡°It¡¯s up to Das. He wants to assess me, so I''ll take care of him during this time.¡± Audrey was slightly surprised. ¡°Do you have experience taking care of children?¡± ¡°| can learn without experience, right? Das is so smart; he¡¯ll teach me, won''t you, looked at Das. Das¡® cars turned even redder, and he reluctantly nodded. ¡°Hmm!¡± Audrey was surprised by Das¡¯ cooperation. Das?¡± Ryan She didn¡¯t force Das to go to the Lambert Residence and instead said to Ryan, ¡°Alright, let Das stay with you temporarily. If you''re busy, you can take him to Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s ce. He also misses Das a lot.¡± Chapter 170 212 ¡°Okay.¡± Ryan nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s alreadyte; you should rest early. Deal with the matters in Sheysea as soon as possible ande back. Let me know if there¡¯s anything | can help with.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Mm, alright.¡± Audrey chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m almost done here.¡± Even though Audrey agreed, she didn¡¯t actually need Ryan¡¯s help. She had to avenge Harper herself. ¡°Alright, get some rest,¡± Ryan said before hanging up the phone. He then turned to Das and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Das still had a pout on his face, trying to look cool as he replied, ¡°Hmm!¡± When Ryan arrived, he turned around to see Das tapping on the tablet. He only put the tablet back into his backpack when the car stopped. ¡°It''s not good for your eyes to use the tablet in the car,¡± Ryan said as he opened the back door. He unbuckled Das¡¯ seatbelt and carried him with one arm while grabbing Das¡® suitcase from the trunk with the other. Das tentatively pinched Ryan¡¯s arm. He thought to himself that Lily had been right. This man¡¯s arm was indeed strong. Das surveyed Ryan¡¯s residence and found it somewhat satisfactory. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 ¡°Mr. Lambert.¡± Julian had just finished arranging the daily necessities for the child when he saw Ryan holding Das at the entrance. He greeted Das with a smile. ¡°Good evening, Lily!¡± Das raised an eyebrow, maintaining that adorably stubborn face as he said, ¡°I¡¯m Das! Lily is my sister.¡± Julian was taken aback, his eyes widening in disbelief. Brother and sister! Das, Lily-twins! This meant that Audrey¡¯s child was never in any danger. When Julian saw Audrey at the airport with a little girl, he suspected it was a child Audrey had adopted. Now, seeing Lily¡¯s twin brother, Julian immediately understood that these two children were Audrey and Ryan¡¯s. Seeing Julian¡¯s expression, Das tugged on Ryan¡¯s sleeve and said with disdain, ¡°Is this assistant of yours a bit slow?¡± When Das looked up Ryan¡¯s information earlier, he often saw Julian following Ryan around, so he knew who Julian was. ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Das! | was just so surprised.¡± Julian had a young nephew at home, so he was good atforting children. He squatted down and reached out to shake Das¡® hand. ¡°Actually, we¡¯ve known each other for a long time! It was before you were even born.¡± Das gave Julian a haughty look and shook his hand. Ryan watched Das put on the indoor cartoon slippers that Julian bought. He smiled and said to Julian, ¡°Thank you for your hard work. You can go back now.¡± ¡°Alright, you and Mr. Das should rest early.¡± As soon as Julian left, Das pushed his suitcase into Ryan¡¯s house and opened it in the living room. ¡°Which room do | stay in?¡± Das brought out his toiletries and arge towel, looking like a little adult. ¡°I want to take a bath!¡± Ryan hung his coat on the back of a chair and removed his wristwatch. He smiled and asked, ¡°Would a child under four bathe alone?¡± Chouter 175 212Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Heh!¡± Das let out a contemptuousugh. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m one of those useless kids? Which room am | staying in?¡± ¡°Stay with me in the master bedroom.¡± Ryan pointed to the location of the master bedroom. He continued without giving Das a chance to argue, ¡°Since you want to make sure I¡¯m qualified, it wouldn¡¯t count if you don¡¯t keep watch at all times.¡± ¡°Fair enough!¡± Das replied before entering the master bedroom. Das pushed the bathroom door open and saw a child¡¯s stepping stool beside the bathtub and a child¡¯s toilet seat with adder beside the toilet. He could also see a child''s shower head behind the cubicle¡¯s ss door. A faint smile yed at the corners of his lips. Standing on his tiptoes, he put his fresh clothes on the bathtub¡¯s edge and entered the shower cubicle. His smile deepened when he saw children¡¯s body wash and shampoo on the shelf inside. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it off swiftly, cleanly stripping himself down. Just then, Ryan knocked on the door. ¡°Das, do you want me toe in and help you scrub your back?¡± Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Chapter 172 ¡°No need.¡± Das turned on the tap. Ryan waited anxiously at the door. It wasn¡¯t until the water stopped running that Ryan heard Das moving the stool. He knocked on the door again. ¡°Can |e in?¡± ¡°Pleasee in.¡± Ryan opened the door and saw the little boy dripping wet, wrapped in a bear-themed towel. He looked as cute as a baby bear himself with the bear hat on his head, but his face still had a touch of coolness. ¡°Is there anything you need?¡± Das asked. ¡°It¡¯s a little dangerous for children to use a hairdryer. Let me help you dry your hair.¡± Ryan plugged in the hairdryer and removed Das¡® hat to blow dry his hair. He nced up into the mirror, observing Ryan as he blow¡ªdried his hair, the older man¡¯s hands delicately tousling his locks. It felt...fortable. After drying his hair and brushing his teeth, Das headed out with his pajamas in hand. ¡°I''ll go change. You hurry up and take a shower!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ryan smiled as he watched Das¡¯ retreating figure. By the time Ryan finished showering and came out, Das had already fallen asleep. Das looked exactly like Lily when he was asleep, except Das¡¯ eyebrows were slightly thicker. Although both kids were as delicate as dolls, you could still tell that Das was a little boy. Ryan kissed Das¡® chubby cheek and tucked him in. He theny beside him, carefully embracing him as he did with Lily.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. In Ryan¡¯s eyes, Das and Lily were his treasures. On the 29th, the Evergreen Biotech hearing took ce in Meria. This was led by Derek Cooper, who oversaw thepany¡¯s operations in Eurindel and Meria. The hearing was broadcast worldwide. Audrey stood before her juicer, watching Derek on the TV screen. She sipped the fruit and vegetable juice, not paying too much attention to the hearing. However, the news in Meria had already exploded. Chapter 122 2/2 People spontaneously organized demonstrations outside the Meria Congress building, rallying to support Evergreen Biotech. The reason was simple: Evergreen Biotech¡¯s technology had saved many lives. Audrey had been slowly releasing news half a month ago. News outlets published that if Evergreen Biotech did not receive a fair trial in Meria, they wouldpletely withdraw from the local market, terminating all coborations with major universities and hospitals¡ªeven at the cost of paying hefty breach¡ªof¡ª contract penalties. This matter concerned everyone¡¯s life, so the public wouldn''t sit idly by. After all, who could guarantee that they wouldn¡¯t suffer from a terminal illness in their lifetime? Currently, only Evergreen Biotech had drug forms to treat cancer and Alzheimer¡¯s disease. Even drugs that could control ALS were in clinical trials. If Evergreen Biotech left the Meria market, what would happen if people got sick and didn¡¯t have medicine? Perhaps they would eventually develop new drugs, but who could guarantee they wouldn¡¯t fall ill before the new drugs were developed? These people supported Evergreen Biotech not just to show solidarity, but also to give themselves some hope. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Audrey finished the juice in her cup and nced at her ringing phone.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. She muted the TV and answered the call. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, Charles has repaid the money he owes, but he has taken another loan,¡± Shawn¡¯s voice came through the phone. Audrey wasn¡¯t surprised. This time, Charles should have embezzled the money intended for producing that batch of drugs. After all, she had instructed Shawn to remind Charles to secretly take that money, win it back at the gambling table, and return it without anyone noticing. Charles didn¡¯t have the courage, so he chose to steal the form. Audrey kept silent, intending to lull Charles into a false sense of security while he gambled, leading him to believe that everything was under control. He would then ultimately plunge back into a desperate situation. As long as Charles was in dire straits, he would be tempted to embezzle that money again-with the delusion that he could win it back at the gambling table and quietly return it without consequences. This was typical gambler psychology. Audrey took advantage of Charles¡® mindset to push him and the Murray Group into a corner, dragging Nathan and the Franklin Group down. When Nathan saved Charles back then, she felt so angry and helpless. Audrey wanted them to experience the same pain. She smiled. ¡°I understand. Thank you for your help, Shawn.¡± ¡°Ms. Yeomans, I¡¯m just doing as | should. | messed up before, but thanks to you speaking to Mr. Davis, he let me off the hook. | won''t forget your kindness,¡± Shawn replied. After hanging up, Audrey waited for Nathan to discover that Charles had embezzled the Murray Group¡¯s money. She wanted to see how Nathan would fill this hole in the Murray Group¡¯s funds, especially since the Franklin Group was also tight on funds. Oh, and there was also Amelia. Audrey wondered if Amelia would help her cousin''s family. And as Audrey anticipated, it didn¡¯t take long for the Murray Group to discover that a significant amount of money in their ount was missing. Moreover, Charles transferred the money out multiple times. Chapter 173 202 When Charles¡® father, Norman, caught him, they discovered that Charles had squandered nearly 100 million at the casino. Norman fainted on the spot upon hearing this news and was rushed to the hospital. Amelia hurriedly took leave from the filming and rushed back to Sheysea. When she arrived at the hospital, Charles knelt before her and pleaded, ¡°Amelia! You have to save me this time! | just... | thought | could win back the money at the casino, so | embezzled public funds recklessly. ¡°My dad... My dad said he''ll send me to prison because he doesn¡¯t know how to make things right with Nathan! Amelia, you have to save me!¡± Amelia had already learned about the situation on her way back and was trembling with anger. ¡°How could you gamble? When you called me before asking for money, was it for gambling?¡± Charles hesitated and nodded. ¡°Yes...¡± ¡°Charles!¡± Amelia pressed a hand to her chest. ¡°Are you out of your mind? 100 million! How could you do this? You know perfectly well that this time, the Franklin Group asked the Murray Group to manage this deal so we could share the profits! ¡°Nathan already signed a contract with Evergreen Biotech. If we can¡¯t deliver this batch of drugs on time, we''ll be hit with a massive penalty!¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Chapter 174 ¡°Amelia! Amelia!¡± Charles¡® mother, Michelle, grabbed Amelia¡¯s hand. ¡°Listen, your uncle is still in surgery and hasn¡¯te out yet, Charles really screwed up this time, but we need the money. Maybe you should call Mr. Franklin and figure out how we can fix this.¡± Amelia bit her lip. She had hoped to use this situation to help the Franklin Group see the Murray family differently. After all, Carol had never approved of her and the Murray family, thinking they always caused trouble for Nathan. But unexpectedly, they had still messed things up. If Carol found out about this, she would look down on her even more. ¡°Amelia, only you can solve this by calling your husband. Please! | swear I¡¯ll never gamble again! | swear!¡± Charles continued pleading, ¡°Amelia, please save our family!¡± Amelia couldn¡¯t refuse Charles, so she finally nodded. ¡°I... I''ll first see how much money | can gather, then I''ll call Nathan.¡± Nathan needed to know about this, after all. Since the situation had already urred, it was most important to see how they could remedy it. Amelia first checked her ounts and then asked Ynda if she could receive her endorsement, film, and television earnings in advance. Ynda was infuriated when she heard Amelia was about to give money to the Murray family again. ¡°Seriously Amy, can¡¯t you be more sensible! The Murray family aren''t your real parents; why are you so concerned? You already gave them all your savingsst time!¡± ¡°I''ve been part of the Murray family since | was a kid; it''s only fair,¡± Amelia pleaded softly. ¡°This will tarnish your reputation! What if word gets out that you¡¯re short on money? What will the crew and the brand think of you? They''ll start wondering if you''re in trouble, have been gambling, or if someone''s got dirt on you! ¡°Right now, what the brand and the crew fear the most is actors with a bad reputation! They''ll rece you in a heartbeat!¡± Ynda warned. ¡°You''re ying with your future here.¡± After receiving a negative response, Amelia sold off a few of her stocks, but they only amounted to less than ten million. With no other option, she clenched her teeth and called Nathan, informing him about Charles¡® misuse of public funds for gambling. Nathan¡¯s anger red, but he forced himself to calm down. Chapter 124 212 He walked to the window, resting his hand against the ss, and asked with closed eyes, Murray family have enough liquid assets to speed up the delivery of this batch of medicine?¡± ¡°Does the Amelia''s eyes filled with tears of guilt. ¡°I''ve already checked, but it¡¯s not enough. I¡¯ve just sold off all my stocks, and I¡¯m trying to figure out how to attend more events. ¡°At most, | can gather fifteen million within a week. I¡¯m sorry, Nathan. | didn¡¯t expect Charles to cause you so much trouble this time...¡± Nathan stood straight, his lips tightly pursed, unable to contain his anger. ¡°Doesn''t Charles realize that our twopanies have signed a contract? If they fail to deliver the medicine on time, the Murray family could face bankruptcy!¡± ¡°I''m sorry, Nathan!¡± Amelia cried out, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. No matter what happens to the Murray family, I¡¯m just afraid of causing you trouble and failing to fulfill the terms for Evergreen Biotech.¡± ¡°Nathan... It¡¯s only been ten days since the contract with the Franklin family and Evergreen Biotech was signed. Can you... try to find a way to inject capital into the Murray family?¡± Nathan was burning with anger. He ended the call and urgently called for a meeting with the group¡¯s top executives. At the conference table, Nathan sat at the forefront, his face dark and silent. The top executives argued incessantly. Chapter 124 912 He walked to the window, resting his hand against the ss, and asked with closed eyes, ¡°Does the Murray family have enough liquid assets to speed up the delivery of this batch of medicine?¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Amelia''s eyes filled with tears of guilt. ¡°I''ve already checked, but it¡¯s not enough. I¡¯ve just sold off all my stocks, and I¡¯m trying to figure out how to attend more events. ¡°At most, | can gather fifteen million within a week. I¡¯m sorry, Nathan. | didn¡¯t expect Charles to cause you so much trouble this time...¡± Nathan stood straight, his lips tightly pursed, unable to contain his anger. ¡°Doesn''t Charles realize that our twopanies have signed a contract? If they fail to deliver the medicine on time, the Murray family could face bankruptcy!¡± ¡°I''m sorry, Nathan!¡± Amelia cried out, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. No matter what happens to the Murray family, I¡¯m just afraid of causing you trouble and failing to fulfill the terms for Evergreen Biotech.¡± ¡°Nathan... It¡¯s only been ten days since the contract with the Franklin family and Evergreen Biotech was signed. Can you... try to find a way to inject capital into the Murray family?¡± Nathan was burning with anger. He ended the call and urgently called for a meeting with the group¡¯s top executives. At the conference table, Nathan sat at the forefront, his face dark and silent. The top executives argued incessantly. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Chapter 175 ¡°| warned you all that ourpany was short on funds. We shouldn¡¯t have coveted Evergreen Biotech¡¯s cancer treatment drugs and other medications. We shouldn¡¯t have signed this contract in the first ce. And now-¡± ¡°What''s the use of saying this now? The deed is done! Right now, we should use whatever time we have left to quickly see if there¡¯s anyone else who can take on this order!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time for anyone else to take this order. All the equipment needs to be purchased anew...¡± ¡°They can use the Murray Group¡¯s equipment. After all, Murrays Group¡¯s funding chain is broken. They breached the contract first! Can they even afford to pay the penalty?¡± ¡°ording to the contract, we can¡¯t afford topensate Evergreen Biotech either! So why not negotiate with Murray Group to waive the hefty penalty, and use the equipment to offset the debt?¡± ¡°The Murray Group might disagree! This batch of equipment is the most advanced equipment that Evergreen Biotech acquired!¡± ¡°Mr. Franklin, what do you think?¡± The executives turned to Nathan, who had been silent, deep in thought. ¡°Contact Zenith Pharmaceuticals and see if they¡¯re interested in cooperating,¡± Nathan said. ¡°Isn''t Zenith Pharmaceuticals ourpetitor?¡± One executive looked at Nathan. ¡°Zenith Pharmaceuticals might be hoping for our downfall!¡± ¡°I''m aware!¡± Nathan frowned. ¡°That¡¯s why we can only offer a portion of the benefits to Zenith Pharmaceuticals, as long as we can ensure the smoothpletion of this transaction.¡± ¡°That seems to be the only solution for now,¡± another executive chimed in. ¡°I''ll go talk to Zenith Pharmaceuticals, but we also need to consider what to do if they refuse.¡± ¡°You go ahead and contact Zenith Pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, we''ll brainstorm other solutions,¡± Nathan said. Nathan exited the conference room. He felt the onught of a headache when he thought of the problems he was now facing. Audrey knew about Norman being hospitalized and the fact that the Murray Group¡¯s liquid capital had been gambled away. She didn¡¯t care how Nathan would handle it. After all, a mere form leak could bankrupt the Franklin Group. Right now, she only wanted to know if Nathan would continue to help Charles.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter Meanwhile, the hearing was nearing its end. Derek was saying: ¡°You ask me why Evergreen Biotech, iming to be apany benefiting humanity, offers such low prices to other countries while charging such high prices in Meria. Our country has also paid high prices for patents from your country before, though they were cheap to local manufacturers. ¡°This is the dividend of knowledge. We didn¡¯t possess such knowledge back then, so paying high fees was only natural! Why do you feel that it''s unfair now that the roles are reversed? ¡°Speaking of benefiting humanity as you mentioned, haven''t the achievements of our Evergreen Biotech projects benefited humanity? Haven''t they saved many lives?¡± Derek''s speech was powerful and confident. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Chapter 176 He wasn''t afraid because theirboratory and experimental data were not in Meria. ¡°We could just withdraw from the Meria market if necessary¡± were Audrey¡¯s exact words. Audrey turned the TV off and looked at the photos Lily had sent her over the past few days. Lily had been with Wanda and George recently. After the three of them yed at an amusement park together, George decided to build an amusement park for Lily because she liked it so much. Audrey sighed. She intended to persuade him out of it, but George¡¯s insistence and Wanda¡¯s agreement left her speechless. The unconditional love that elderly folks had for the younger generation was something Audrey didn¡¯t quite grasp¡ªperhaps because she hadn''t reached that age yet. However, she couldn¡¯t argue against it, so she could only watch helplessly as George prepared to build the amusement park. Just then, the doorbell rang and Audrey got up to answer it. She was surprised to see Carol standing outside but still greeted her politely. ¡°Mrs. Franklin.¡± Carol pushed past Audrey and walked inside. ¡°Where''s the child? Where are you hiding the child?¡± Audrey immediately called Nathan after seeing Carol pacing around her house in high heels, looking for the child. Nathan, who was anxiously dealing with the mess caused by the Murray Group, saw the unfamiliar number and didn¡¯t even answer the call. After searching through room after room without finding the child, Carol approached Audrey angrily and demanded, ¡°Where are you hiding the child?¡± ¡°The child is with my husband''s family.¡± Audrey remained calm. ¡°Mrs. Franklin, how did you find my address?¡± Carol looked serious. ¡°You''re in Sheysea. There¡¯s nothing | don¡¯t know here! Audrey, the child should be Nathan''s, right?¡± ¡°Mrs. Franklin, I¡¯ve already told youst time that the child is not Nathan''s. | can cooperate with Nathan for a paternity test if necessary!¡± Audrey¡¯s expression remainedposed. ¡°Nathan and | have never been intimate, so how could he have a child with me?¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Impossible. Anyone can tell the child¡¯s age! Due to the abuse your birth mother suffered in Sayeno Town, you''ve always avoided contact with males! Even when you were in love with Nathan, you two didn¡¯t progress further because of your psychological trauma!¡± Carol knew Audrey and Nathan¡¯s past very well. ¡°Moreover, you loved Nathan so much back then. Except for the time when you were drugged along with Nathan, who else could you have a child with?¡± ¡°Mrs. Franklin, nothing happened between me and Nathan at that time. You¡¯ve watched me grow up; you should know my character well. The reason | chose to divorce Nathan after that incident is because when he was drugged and clinging to me, he called out Amelia¡¯s name.¡± Audrey''s voice remained calm. ¡°You''re right, | did love him at that time, but with my psychological trauma, | would never willingly engage with another man. Carol nodded. ¡°However, Nathan drugged me again.¡± Audrey chuckled softly. ¡°This time, it was to make me sleep with another man, so | would be too ashamed to cling to him. You can ask Nathan or Charles, they''re both aware. The child is from that time when | was with someone else.¡± Carol looked incredulous. ¡°Would you like a cup of tea?¡± Audrey offered calmly. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Carol was unable to stay calm. She gritted her teeth and asked, ¡°Are you saying this because you''re afraid our family will fight for custody of the child?¡± ¡°Mrs. Franklin, as | said before, I¡¯m willing to do a paternity test.¡± Audrey calcted the time. ¡°The child is currently with my husband¡¯s family. If we need to do a paternity test, it''ll probably be in about 20 days. You can contact me anytime.¡± Hopefully, Carol would still be in the mood to discuss paternity testing with her 20 dayster. With Audrey''s firm stance, Carol couldn¡¯t make up her mind. She let out a long sigh and looked at Audrey. ¡°Audrey, since the child isn¡¯t Nathan¡¯s, you should just leave! Don¡¯te back to the country! It¡¯s better for everyone!¡± ¡°Mrs. Franklin, | have my own ns in life.¡± 11 Carol couldn¡¯t contain her anger, her voice rising as shemanded, ¡°Then change your life ns!¡± Audrey chuckled softly. ¡°That''s not for you to say.¡± ¡°You!¡± Carol¡¯s chest heaved dramatically. ¡°Our family has raised a backstabber!¡± ¡°Mrs. Franklin, | am grateful for the support the Franklin family provided me in those years, wasn¡¯t without reason. If the Franklin family hadn¡¯t taken me in back then, would the Lambert Corporation have assisted the Franklin Group? Would the Franklin Group have reached its current scale?¡± but it Audrey remained calm, but there was a hint of sadness in her cold eyes. ¡°I''m grateful you and Mr. Franklin woulde back after every holiday and bring me a gift, even if... it was just for show to Mr. Lambert. At least then, it gave me some rare moments of warmth.¡± Carol didn¡¯t expect Audrey to be so forthright about this matter. She became angry and sneered at Audrey. ¡°Things have indeed changed. With Mr. Lambert from the Lambert Corporation backing you up, you''ve learned to talk back.¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert has been supporting me for a long time.¡± Audrey stepped aside. ¡°If Mrs. Franklin doesn¡¯t want tea, then please leave.¡± Carol approached Audrey and whispered, ¡°Without Ryan, you¡¯re nothing! Even then, he¡¯s just an adopted son of the Lambert family. Without the Lambert family, Ryan would also be nothing.¡± Audrey smiled and nodded. ¡°Do you want me to pass on that message to Mr. Lambert?¡± Carol hadn''t changed at all. She still had a quick temper and often said things she shouldn¡¯t-leaving Chapter 177 212 herself vulnerable. Carol''s temper was precisely why she lost the battle against the mistress three years ago. Even though Carol and Nathan''s father hadn¡¯t divorced yet, he hadn¡¯t been home for a year. Carol''s expression changed. She grabbed her bag and left. Carol only calmed down after mming the car door shut. She regretted her outburst, realizing she shouldn''t have said that about Ryan. She had previously instructed her private investigator to find Audrey¡¯s whereabouts and discovered that Audrey had been frequenting casinos, which made her worry about her grandchild¡¯s well-beingContent provided by N?velDrama.Org. at home. How could she tolerate Audrey abandoning her granddaughter to gamble with others all night? She was furious and couldn¡¯t think of anything else. ¡°Drive!¡± She vented her anger at the driver. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Chapter 178 As Carol returned home, she found Amelia sitting in the living room, and she redirected her anger toward Amelia. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Amelia quickly put her ss down and stood up to greet her. ¡°Mrs. Franklin.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Thinking that Carol¡¯s displeasure was due to the Murray family¡¯s situation, Amelia exined, ¡°I went to thepany, but Nathan wasn¡¯t there. So | came here to wait for him. ¡°| wanted to ask him if he could still help the Murray family. After all, it was Charles who caused the trouble. I''m worried it might affect Nathan and Evergreen Biotech¡¯s contract.¡± Carol''s expression stiffened. ¡°Charles caused trouble again?!¡± Amelia looked puzzled at Carol. She hesitated and said, ¡°It¡¯s just... it''s just that... there have been some issues with the Murray Group¡¯s funds.¡± Although Carol no longer involved herself inpany affairs, it didn¡¯t mean she was unaware. This time, when the Franklin Group signed a contract with Evergreen Biotech, they coborated with the Murray Group due to insufficient funds¡ªsharing some of the profits with them. Initially, Carol was not entirely in favor of this decision. Nathan exined that he exploited a loophole in the contract to seek assistance, which required keeping the form confidential. He trusted the Murray Group, leading Carol to agree to the coboration. Unexpectedly, the Murray Group had messed up again! ¡°Tell Nathan toe back this instant!¡± Carol shouted at the household staff. ¡°Mrs. Franklin, Mr. Nathan is back!¡± the household staff reported. Carol hurried out and saw a tired-looking Nathan entering the house. She immediately questioned him, ¡°I disagreed with you giving the Murray Group a share from the start, and now the Murray Group has made a mistake!¡± Nathan looked up and saw Amelia standing behind Carol. She had tears in her eyes, her lips tightly sealed. ¡°Now¡¯s the time to fix the problem, not point fingers. With the Franklin Group under my control, you don¡¯t need to worry anymore.¡± Nathan¡¯s tone was unpleasant as he looked at Carol. He decided not to enter the house. ¡°Amelia,e with me.¡± Chapter 178 2/2 Carol clutched her chest. ¡°Fine! You all just won''t let me rest easy. Fine, go on, get out of here! | don¡¯t care how far you go! But you better hurry up and get that paternity test with Audrey¡¯s kid! ¡°If that child isn¡¯t from our family, then fine! But if she is, | won¡¯t stand for a kid whose mom is always at the dang casino!¡± After speaking, Carol was about to go upstairs. Nathan questioned, ¡°What casino? Why would Audrey be going to a casino?¡± Carol retrieved the photos her private detective had taken, showing Audrey leaving a casino. She handed the photos to Nathan. ¡°See for yourself!¡± As Nathan looked through the photos, Amelia also approached. Her mind was in turmoil. This was the same casino Charles frequented. Suddenly, she had a bold idea. Could Charles¡® gambling addiction be rted to Audrey? ¡°Mom, do you know where she is now?¡± Nathan asked Carol. Nathan knew that once someone got hooked on gambling, they were in big trouble. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Nathan had to find out why Audrey was frequenting a casino. Could she perhaps be passing by, short on money and indulging in a small gamble, or did she also be addicted to gambling? Carol gave Nathan the address of Audrey¡¯s current residence and reminded him, ¡°Do the paternity test as soon as possible¡ª that¡¯s what matters!¡± Seeing Nathan head out, Amelia hurriedly went after him. Just as Nathan reached for the car door, Amelia grabbed his arm. ¡°Nathan!¡± Nathan reassured Amelia. ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything else; I¡¯m just worried that Audrey might end up like Charles and get addicted to gambling.¡± Amelia hesitated. ¡°Nathan, Charles gambled at the same casino. Do you think Audrey caused this to retaliate against me for taking you away from her-¡± ¡°Audrey is not that kind of person!¡± Nathan interrupted. Amelia bit her lip, her throat tightening. She slowly let go of Nathan¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Nathan, do you regret it? Do you regret choosing me over Audrey?¡± ¡°Sweetie, | don¡¯t mean that!¡± Nathan didn¡¯t know how to exin to Amelia. ¡°Even as a friend, | don¡¯t want Audrey to follow in Charles¡® footsteps and be addicted to gambling.¡± ¡°Then can¡¯t we have Hugo go and talk to Audrey?¡± Amelia asked. Seeing Nathan¡¯s silence, she finally relented. ¡°If you insist on going, I''ll go with you!¡± Nathan opened his car door. ¡°Get in.¡± Amelia swiftly opened the passenger door and got into the car. On the way to Audrey¡¯s house, Amelia gripped the seatbelt and asked softly, ¡°Nathan, have you found a solution to Charles¡® trouble?¡± ¡°I''ve contacted Zenith Pharmaceuticals, but it seems we''ll have to share profits with them in the long term,¡± Nathan said with a frown. Amelia¡¯s grip on the seatbelt tightened. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to say the words Michelle had told her. ¡°This has nothing to do with you. Don¡¯t worry about whatever my mom said,¡± Nathan assured Amelia. ¡°Nathan... What about Mr. Norman¡¯s family? Will they be okay?¡± Amelia bit her lip. ¡°Will they have to pay a huge penalty for breach of contract?¡± Chapter 179 2/2 ¡°| hope you won''t get involved in this matter,¡± Nathan told Amelia. ¡°There¡¯s a difference between personal feelings and business.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s still my uncle! Mr. Norman knows that you entrusted this matter to the Murray Group because you trusted them. He really wants to do well! This time it was Charles who caused trouble, so Mr. Norman-¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Nathan¡¯s tone turned impatient. ¡°For this project, Murray Group took out a bank loan to buy those machines from Franklin Group. It was a huge expense that left Murray Group short on cash flow. And with Charles misappropriating funds, the entire Murray Group is now stuck.¡± Tears welled up in Amelia¡¯s eyes. ¡°But if Franklin Group doesn¡¯t give up on Murray Group first... If they could inject capital into Murray Group, they could stillProperty ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. survive! Mr. Norman won''t make it otherwise! Nathan, I''ve never asked you for anything regarding Murray Group all these years. This time, can you¡ª 11 ¡°If Franklin Group had enough funds, | wouldn¡¯t even consider sharing profits with Murray Group,¡± Nathan interrupted. ¡°With the problems Murray Group has caused me, I¡¯m already overwhelmed. Where do you expect me to find capital to help Murray Group?¡± This was the first time Nathan had spoken such harsh words to Amelia since they got together. Amelia¡¯s tears were now pooling in her eyes. Nathan flicked on the turn signal and pulled the car over to the side of the road. With one hand on the steering wheel, he looked at Amelia. ¡°If we can¡¯t deliver on the agreement with Evergreen Biotech this month, I''ll lose everything¡ªeven if | were to put the entire Franklin Group on the line! ¡°At a time like this... how can | help Mr. Norman? Should | throw Franklin Group under the bus for Murray Group?¡± Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Chapter 180 ¡°| didn¡¯t mean it that way. | didn¡¯t know...¡± Amelia exined in a panic. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it was so serious!¡± ¡°Don''t get involved in this matter, and don¡¯t ask about it again. If Franklin Group safely passes this hurdle, I''ll let Murray Group off easy. ¡°But if Franklin Group can¡¯t make it through-if we can¡¯t deliver to Evergreen Biotech on time, then nobody can save Murray Group.¡± Nathan was about to restart the car when his phone rang. He answered the call. After listening for a moment, Nathan¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I''ll handle this. Don¡¯t worry. Alright. After hanging up, Nathan called Julian. ¡°Contact the Murray family and tell them that Zenith Pharmaceuticals will be on-site this afternoon, as | instructed. Otherwise, we''ll pursue legal action for breach of contract.¡± Amelia''s started to race. After Nathan ended the call, she hesitated to speak. ¡°Nathan, what''s happened? Do you need my help? 1 Before Nathan could reply, Amelia herself received a call from Michelle. Amelia nced at Nathan and answered the call. ¡°Mrs. Murray.¡± ¡°Amelia, did you talk to Nathan about this? Howe people from Franklin Group want us to hand over our factory to Zenith Pharmaceuticals? They say Zenith Pharmaceuticals will pay us for using and leasing the factory.¡± Michelle was extremely anxious. ¡°Does this mean our family has no say in the cooperation with Evergreen Biotech this time? Norman hasn¡¯t woken up yet. How can they do this?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Hearing the voice, Nathan took the phone from Amelia and spoke into it, ¡°Does the Murray family have any working capital? Right now, the priority is to deliver the first batch to Evergreen Biotech on time! ¡°As long as the goods are delivered on time, I''ll let Charles go for causing Murray Group¡¯s breach of contract. But if you obstruct Zenith Pharmaceuticals from entering the site and dy the delivery, | will definitely pursue your legal responsibility ording to the contract!¡± Nathan would have had the machines dismantled and taken away directly If it weren''t for the fact that dismantling and installing the equipment would require alerting people from Evergreen Biotech. ¡°Nathan, we''re still Amelia¡¯s maternal family! It was Charles who caused trouble this time. Can¡¯t you 212 help the Murray family again? Help Charles one more time!¡± Michelle pleaded, ¡°The scale this time is toorge, and time is short, | can¡¯t help you. Whether it''s Franklin Group¡¯s legal department holding you responsible or allowing Zenith Pharmaceuticals to enter now, it¡¯s up to you to decide,¡± Nathan said calmly. There was silence on the other end of the phone. just as Nathan thought Michelle had nothing more to say and was going to hang up, she spoke again. ¡°Frankdin Group and Evergreen Biotech signed a contract to deliver goods within a month and ensure the quality, otherwise they''ll have to pay a hefty penalty. The contract between our Murray family and Frankdin Group is the same. We have a month¡ª it''s not time yet!¡± Nathan''s eyes darkened. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Nathan, we became family after you and Amelia got married. | don¡¯t want it toe to this. This is thest time. Help the Murray family. As long as you inject capital, we''ll both win. ¡°It''s all or nothing! We won''t allow Zenith Pharmaceuticals to enter the site. ording to the contract, we can even drag you until the end of the month. If we go bankrupt, so will Franklin Group! Think about it yourself.¡± Michelle then ended the call. Nathan¡¯s eyes were filled with anger and disbelief. He never expected that after helping the Murray family for so many years, all he got in return was betrayal. ¡°Nathan, what did Mrs. Murray say?¡± Amelia asked cautiously. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Chapter 181 ¡°Sweetic.¡± Nathan adjusted his mood, not intending to me Amelia. ¡°You shouldn''t stay in Sheysea for now. Go to the film set first.¡± ¡°But Mr. Norman is still in the hospital and hasn¡¯t woken up yet. | grew up in his house from a young age. | can¡¯t ignore the Murray family¡¯s affairs.¡± Amelia¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°I''ll try to raise money in the next few days, but I¡¯m worried that my pace will be too slow and will dy the progress of Franklin Group. Even if the Murray family borrows from the bank, we may not make it in time! ¡°Nathan, can Franklin Group lend some money to the Murray family first? After getting through this difficult period, | will definitely repay the money.¡± Nathan was frustrated due to the Murray family¡¯sck of cooperation. Audrey then received news. She didn¡¯t react much after learning Michelle¡¯s firm stance on not allowing Zenith Pharmaceuticals to intervene. She just lowered her head to pack her things. ¡°Zenith Pharmaceuticals has always been very interested in Evergreen Biotech¡¯s project. If Franklin Group persuaded Zenith Pharmaceuticals to participate, they must have promised something significant and are bound to invest heavily.¡± Audrey spoke calmly. As for Murray Group, how could they possibly give up on such a valuable opportunity? The Murray family had be ustomed to relying on Nathan whenever they encountered problems, expecting him to resolve their issues without repercussions. The Murray family members wouldn''t care even if Nathan encountered major trouble. Elsewhere, Taylor, the head of Evergreen Biotech¡¯s Cascadia region, chuckled over the phone. ¡°| haven''t been able to find out about this. | can send someone to investigate if you need it, boss.¡± ¡°It''s okay, let¡¯s see how Nathan handles it first. If Franklin Group can deliver the goods on time, we can still expose the form leakageter. Franklin Group won''t be able to escape no matter what,¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Audrey said to Taylor. Just as Audrey finished speaking, another call came through. It was from Ryan. Audrey quickly said goodbye to Taylor and answered his call. ¡°Hello, Mr. Lambert.¡± ¡°Das wants to see you,¡± Ryan said without allowing Audrey to speak. ¡°I haven¡¯t taken any vacation days these past few years, and internal arrangements in the group are proceeding smoothly. | can take a few days off. If you''re still busy there, I''ll apany Das while you''re at work.¡± Chapter 161 2/2 ¡°I''m already packing up and nning to return to Mythravia. | should be able to get what | want tomorrow or the day after,¡± Audrey said, looking at the items already packed in her suitcase. ¡°Then | n to make a trip back to Eastville.¡± ¡°Would it be convenient for Das and | to apany you?¡± Ryan asked again. Audrey remained silent, thinking it might be good for Das to visit Anne¡¯s and Harper¡¯s graves. ¡°Alright, please bring Das over then. Once I''ve confirmed the timing, I''lle pick you both up,¡± Audrey said. ¡°No need, just send me the address-¡ªI''ll bring Das to you. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Ryan replied. While Audrey was waiting for Ryan and Das to arrive that afternoon, Shawn sent her a message saying they had captured Charles. It was said that Nathan had personally gone to Murray Group. Nathan refused to help the family, and Charles couldn''t pay his gambling debts. Charles was afraid the casino would detain him and tried to escape overnight by sea. Unexpectedly, he was caught by the casino¡¯s people and was tied up on arge yacht. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Chapter 182All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Audrey replied to Shawn¡¯s message. ¡°Follow Lucy¡¯s instructions and treat Mr. Murray well. | hope he''ll be satisfied when he returns,¡± Just as Audrey sent the message, the doorbell rang. She quickly put down her phone and opened the door, Standing at the door were Ryan and Das, Das stood silently before arge suitcase, still pouting. Ryan gently patted Das¡® head and said to Audrey, ¡°Das misses you; and coincidentally, | have nothing else to do these days.¡± Audrey quickly squatted down to pick Das up and reached out to pull the suitcase. ¡°Till do it,¡± Ryan said. She stepped aside to let Ryan in, not even paying attention to the teary-eyed Das in her arms. She asked Ryan, ¡°Have you arranged everything in the group?¡± ¡°Don''t worry, everything¡¯s been arranged. | haven''t taken a vacation in years, so this time I''ll take a break. If there¡¯s an emergency, Julian will contact me.¡± Ryan took off his coat and went to check the refrigerator. ¡°I''ll take Das to the supermarketter and buy some things for dinner. You can do your own thing.¡¯ Ryan¡¯s first visit felt strangely familiar, as if he were returning to his own home. ¡°Das hasn''t caused you any trouble these past few days, has he?¡± Audrey patted the little one in her arms and smiled at Ryan. ¡°No, Das is very independent. He can do things on his own.¡± Ryan¡¯s words came from the heart. For a child under four years old, Das was indeed very independent. Das raised his eyebrows and showed a proud expression. Audrey chuckled and pinched Das¡® cheek. ¡°Das is the most independent!¡± When the three of them went to the supermarket, Ryan put Das in the shopping cart Chapter 182 and pushed him while Audrey walked ahead to grab a carton of milk. Das gripped the cart¡¯s handle and struggled to grab a box of strawberry milk. Before Das could get it, Ryan had already put two boxes in the cart. Das looked up at Ryan, who was reaching out to give him a cheese stick, his ears turning red again. The young boy couldn''t contain his smile. When the three returned from the supermarket, Ryan and Audrey unpacked in the kitchen while Das sat in the living room, snacking and watching TV. He couldn''t help but take a photo with his tablet and send it to Lily. Soon, a video call from Lily popped up, and Das hugged his tablet as he entered his room to answer it. ¡°You''re so sneaky! Hanging out with Mom and Dad!¡± Lily pouted. Though slightly jealous, she still asked with concern, ¡°So, any signs that Mom and Dad might get back together?¡± ¡°| think our previous spection might be wrong.¡± Das pondered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like Mommy and that man are fighting. | think Mr. Lambert Senior just doesn¡¯t approve of Mom being with him. Keep it quiet for now and discreetly gather more information.¡± ¡°Got it. Leave it to me!¡± Lily made an OK gesture and asked quietly, ¡°Das, what do you think of Daddy?¡± Das pursed his lips and didn¡¯t say anything. Lily giggled. ¡°Dad¡¯s pretty good, isn¡¯t he? He tells bedtime stories at night to help me sleep, and he¡¯s really strong!¡± ¡°You be good and stay with Mr. Lambert Senior and Mrs. Lambert Senior. Remember to call me if anything happens.¡± Das reminded Lily. Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Chapter 183 ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Lambert Senior is powerful and mighty. How could anything happen to me by his side.¡± Lily seemed to be doing well these days, her face looking rounder. ¡°Lily...¡± George¡¯s voice came from the video. Seeing Lily on the video call, George, dressed casually, also leaned in. Lily quickly turned off the video, afraid George would be unhappy if he discovered that Das was with Audrey and Ryan. That night, when Audrey put Das to sleep, she received a WhatsApp notification. She nced at Das, who was already asleep. She then muted her phone and unlocked it. Aside from a video, there was also a message from Shawn. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, Charles is even more cowardly than we thought. In less than half a day, he¡¯s already begging for mercy.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t open the video. She just replied and told Shawn to handle it ording to Lucy¡¯s instructions. After sending the message to Shawn, Audrey also sent a message to Lucy. She warned Lucy to be careful not to cause any casualties. Someone like Charles should face public scrutiny and suffer psychologically. Afterward, they should be handed over to thew for punishment. Lucy¡¯s hatred for Charles was no less than Audrey''s. Lucy¡¯s sister, her pir of support, met her demise at the hands of Charles. Charles loved to control naive young girls with videos, torment them excessively, and then deliver the final blow by releasing the video. Lucy¡¯s sister was destroyed by Charles in this way and suffered from severe depression. Originally, Charles could have been convicted, but Lucy¡¯s sister¡ªfeeling sorry about Lucy¡¯s hardships¡ªchose to settle the issue with money. However, when Lucy left Sheysea with her sister to start a new life in Mythravia, Charles sent insulting messages and videos that were supposed to be deleted to Lucy¡¯s sister. She was unable to bear it and died in the bathtub. How could Lucy not hate him? If the person Audrey sent to watch Charles two years ago hadn''t found Lucy hiding in the garage with a knife¡ªnning to end her life with Charles¡ªLucy would have surely fought him to the death. However, Audrey said it wasn¡¯t worth sacrificing Lucy¡¯s future for someone like Charles. Thus, Audrey funded Lucy''s education and let her wait quietly for the opportunity for revenge. This time, Audrey fulfilled her promise¡ªbut she hoped that Lucy could live her life peacefully after she had her revenge. Sacrificing Lucy for a scoundrel like Charles wasn¡¯t worth it. The standoff between the Murray family and Nathan continued. Amelia nced at Norman, still unconscious on his sick bed. She couldn''t hold back any longer and said to Michelle, ¡°Mrs. Murray, what we need to do now is save the Murray Group, not cling to those petty interests anymore! ¡°Think about it-if you continue to prevent Zenith Pharmaceuticals from entering now, and the Franklin Group copses a month later, do you think the Murray Group will be safe then? Don¡¯t you know how powerful the Franklin Group is?¡± }Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Michelle clenched her fists, looking at the unconscious Norman. She turned to Amelia and said, ¡°If this matter is so important to the Franklin Group, why can¡¯t Nathan help the Murray Group? ¡°Over the years, Nathan has always cleaned up Charles¡® mess. Why is it different this time?¡± ¡°Mrs. Murray, this time is different! If we can¡¯t find a solution, even the Franklin Group will be in jeopardy!¡± Amelia hurriedly replied. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Chapter 184 ¡°| don¡¯t care! Right now, Charles¡® mess is tied to Nathan! If Nathan had put a stop to Charles¡® nonsense when he first started causing trouble, maybe he wouldn¡¯t have screwed up so badly this time! ¡°Nathan spoiled Charles into what he is now. Now that Charles has caused a major disaster, Nathan wants to abandoned our family. This is uneptable!¡± Amelia was stunned by Michelle¡¯s twisted logic. ¡°Nathan has always helped Charles out of consideration for me. How could he be in the wrong for helping Charles?¡± Seeing Amelia getting angry, Michelle quickly held her hand. ¡°Amelia, talk to Nathan again. Norman still hasn¡¯t woken up. If he wakes and realizes that the partnership with Evergreen Biotech no longer involves the Murray Group, and that Zenith Pharmaceuticals is utilizing our factory and the expensive machinery we purchased, won''t he be livid?¡± Amelia refused to budge. ¡°Mrs. Murray, let Zenith Pharmaceuticals into the factory. There¡¯s still time! If the Franklin Group copses, the Murray family will go bankrupt too. It''ll be toote then!¡± Amelia felt helpless. Ultimately, the Murray Group belonged to Norman¡¯s family. Amelia could only make suggestions but not decisions beyond Michelle¡¯s authority. Before Michelle could say anything, Amelia¡¯s phone rang. Seeing it was a call from Nathan, Amelia answered it outside the ward. ¡°Hello, Nathan. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m still trying to persuade Mrs. Murray.¡± Amelia¡¯s tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Sweetie, I''ve done my best for Murray Group over the years.¡± Nathan¡¯s voice sounded weary. ¡°You don¡¯t need to persuade Mrs. Murray anymore. I''ll talk to Zenith Pharmaceuticals again. We won¡¯t use Murray Group¡¯s machinery and premises. ¡°But Sweetie, if Murray Group can¡¯t deliver the goods by the end of the month, | will have to act ording to the contract. | hope you won¡¯t me me then.¡± Amelia clenched her fists tightly. ¡°rm sorry,Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Nathan. It¡¯s all Charles¡® fault! | know you''ve done everything you could to assist the Murray family despite their greed. | won''t hold you responsible. Do what you need to do.¡± After hanging up the phone, Amelia leaned against the wall and wiped away her tears. Michelle came out from the ward, her eyes fixed on Amelia. ¡°How did it go? Did Nathan agree to inject capital into the Murray Group?¡± Amelia looked up at her aunt, who was looking at her anxiously. ¡°Franklin Group hase up with another solution. If Murray Group can¡¯t deliver the goods by the end of the month, Nathan will act ording to the contract.¡± ¡°H-how could this be!¡± Michelle¡¯s legs went weak as she leaned against the door frame. ¡°He could help solve the problem for the Murray Group as long as he injects capital! Why is Nathan so unwilling!¡± ¡°Mrs. Murray, please. If Franklin Group had enough liquidity to begin with, why would they let Murray Group have a share when cooperating with Evergreen Biotech?¡± Amelia felt a heavy weight in her chest. ¡°Initially, by letting Zenith Pharmaceuticals enter, even if we couldn¡¯t get a share, at least Nathan wouldn''t be too hard on the Murray Group for my sake! ¡°But you insist on holding onto your pride, and it¡¯s hurting Nathan. Do you think he''ll let the Murray Group off?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think Franklin Group might just be bluffing us?¡± Michelle seemed to have an idea, looking determined. ¡°Just like you said, if Franklin Group could handle the order from Evergreen Biotech, why would they give the Murray Group a share? Nathan is trying to scare me into loosening up and agreeing to let Zenith Pharmaceuticals enter!¡± ¡°Mrs. Murray!¡± Amelia was on the verge of crying. ¡°Call Nathan and plead with him¡ªeven cry if you have to. You need to convince Nathan to inject capital quickly!¡± Michelle grabbed her hand. Amelia pushed away Michelle¡¯s hand. ¡°Mrs. Murray, | won¡¯t plead with Nathan anymore. If you believe Nathan is simply trying Chapter 184 to intimidate you, then stand firm on not allowing Zenith Pharmaceuticals to enter. ¡°I''ll cover all of Mr. Murray¡¯s medical expenses, but beyond that... I¡¯ve already done everything | can for the Murray family.¡± With that, Amelia walked away. 3/3 Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Chapter 185 ¡°Amelia! Amelia!¡± Michelle called out from behind but couldn''t stop her. She gritted her teeth. ¡°You ungrateful bitch!¡± At this moment, Michelle still didn¡¯t know that Nathan had abandoned the Murray Group. Nathan would never resort to scare tactics like this. He gave the Murray Group an opportunity to rectify their mistakes; and since they declined, Nathan had no obligation to help them. Zenith Pharmaceuticals cooperated with Franklin Group by investing capital, allowing Franklin Group to work overtime and pay higher wages to workers. It increased their costs but freed them from dependency on others. Furthermore, Franklin Group would sever ties with the Murray Group and redirect all the benefits originally intended for them to Zenith Pharmaceuticals. This would be the case for all future coborations with Evergreen Biotech, ensuring smooth delivery thereafter. Audrey smirked coldly upon receiving the news. ¡°I thought Nathan would hang onto the Murray Group for Amelia¡¯s sake, but it appears he gave up on them rather quickly.¡± Initially, Nathan protected Charles at all costs simply because Charles hadn''t threatened his interests. Indeed, one doesn¡¯t truly understand pain until they feel the knife plunged into their own flesh. It''s unclear what Nathan and Amelia were feeling right now. ¡°But Nathan is quite something. | heard he personally went to Franklin Group¡¯s factory. He not only tripled the workers¡® wages but also promised them bonuses once this matter is safely resolved, effectively boosting their morale,¡± Taylor said with a smile. Audrey said, ¡°Compared to exorbitant penalties, this is the best solution for now- especially since the Murray Group is unwilling to cooperate.¡± There was still one card left: The form leakage footage. Seeing Das rubbing his eyes as he came out of the master bedroom, Audrey told Taylor, ¡°Das is awake, let¡¯s not talk about it for now.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 155 2/2 Das didn¡¯t see Ryan in the living room and nced around. ¡°Mr. Lambert went to buy breakfast. You said you wanted to eat peach pastriesst night. Audrey smiled, picking Das up. ¡°You woke up and went straight to find Mr. Lambert. You didn¡¯t even look for Mommy.¡± ¡°Only little kids like Lily would look for Mommy,¡± Das said stubbornly, wrapping his arms around Audrey''s neck and nuzzling his face against her neck. ¡°Are we going to see Grandma Anne and Aunt Harper today?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Audrey ced Das on the couch and went to heat some milk for him. ¡°Mommy''s work in Sheysea is almost done, so we''ll go back to Mythravia. Then you can go to Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s house just like Lily.¡± ¡°What about Mommy?¡± Das ran into the open kitchen in his slippers. He climbed onto a stool with his hands on the seat and stared at Audrey intently as she heated the milk for him. ¡°Mommy is going to join the Lambert Corporation,¡± Audrey said with a faint smile. Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Chapter 186 ¡°Did Mr. Lambert Senior ask Mommy to join the Lambert Corporation?¡± Das knew Audrey always heeded George¡¯s advice. ¡°But Mommy''s favorite ce is theb. Are you not going to theb anymore?¡± Audrey pinched Das¡® cheek. ¡°Mommy can handle both; you don¡¯t need to worry about it,¡± The doorbell rang just then.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Audrey thought it was Ryan returning, so she opened the door with Das in her arms. Nathan stood outside the door, observing Audrey cradling Das in his pajamas, his gaze lingering on the child. He remained silent for a moment. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Audrey asked. Nathan snapped out of it. ¡°I heard that you- He avoided talking about the casino, mindful of the child¡¯s presence. He pursed his lips. ¡°Let''s talk separately, away from the child.¡± Audrey put Das down. ¡°The milk is done. Go sit on the couch and wait for Mommy.¡± Das looked at Nathan with a condescending gaze. He then nodded and walked toward the couch. ¡°| can provide you with the child¡¯s hair for a paternity test,¡± Audrey said. ¡°I''m not here for that.¡± Nathan handed a credit card to Audrey. ¡°I heard you went to the casino. If you¡¯re short on money, you can tell me.¡± Looking at the card Nathan handed over, Audrey chuckled but didn¡¯t take it. ¡°I heard that the Franklin Group is having a hard time now, yet Mr. Franklin still has spare money to give me?¡± ¡°You''re raising a child alone now, you probably need money for a lot of things- ¡°I''m not short of money.¡± ¡°Audrey! Can you stop being stubborn? How can a woman raise a child alone and not need money? What are your ns? You transferred from Sheysea University to Cloudmill 2/2 University, but you haven¡¯t graduated yet!¡± do you Nathan couldn¡¯t contain his anger. ¡°Just because someone called you a genius, really think you''re a genius? How do you n to support yourself and the child? Are going to let the child suffer with you?¡± Audrey raised her eyebrows, looking at Nathan as if he were a fool. She smiled faintly, not deigning to argue with an idiot. She simply said, ¡°If you¡¯re not here for the paternity test, then please leave. The best thing you can do to help is not disrupt our lives.¡± you At the same time, Ryan, dressed casually and carrying a thermos bag, stepped out of the elevator. Ryan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed when he saw Nathan, revealing his evident displeasure. ¡°How did you find out about this ce?¡± Ryan asked. Nathan tightly clenched the card, reluctantly greeting, ¡°Mr. Lambert.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯re engaged to Amelia, don¡¯t get involved with Audrey anymore. There are already so many paparazzi watching you and Amelia, don¡¯t drag Audrey into the news again.¡± Ryan''s calm tone carried a sense of authority. ¡°| understand,¡± Nathan responded, then turned to Audrey. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to see me, but | owe you more than just an apology. | still want to make it up to you if there¡¯s a chance. Just give me a call if you need anything. Please take this.¡± Nathan handed the card to Audrey again. ¡°Take this inside first.¡± Ryan handed the thermos bag to Audrey, then turned to Nathan as he entered through the door. ¡°Audrey doesn¡¯t need money; what you¡¯re doing is just trying to alleviate your own guilt ¡ªit¡¯s unnecessary.¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert, it¡¯s my fault for letting Audrey down, it¡¯s only right for you to me me.¡± Nathan ced the card on the shoe cab outside. ¡°I''ll leave the card here, consider it a token of my sincerity.¡± Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Chapter 187 ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Ryan stopped Nathan. Ryan nced back at Audrey and Das, then spoke softly, ¡°Audrey isn¡¯t just called a genius¡ª-she is a genius herself. Nathan, even though you haven''t fully regained your memories, you can thoroughly investigate Audrey''s past. ¡°At 13, she could have been admitted to Mythravia University for her PhD. You need to grasp how truly talented she is. She chose to be with you, to support you in your development, sacrificing the opportunity for a direct PhD. admission.¡± ¡°Nathan, you''re hindering the progress of a genius.¡± After saying this, Ryan didn¡¯t even look at the card and closed the door. Audrey''s talent was first discovered at the age of 13. Even the dean of Mythravia University felt regretful upon seeing Audrey at the time. She might have already achieved something significant by age 13 if she had been discovered and nurtured earlier. When Ryan first heard about Audrey, he believed she was too young to grasp the significance of being admitted directly to Mythravia University for her PhD. However, when Ryan saw Audrey¡¯s clear and calm eyes, she knew Nathan was hindering the progress of a genius. This was also one of the reasons why Ryan had never liked Nathan. Outside the door, Nathan was speechless. He had no idea that Audrey had been admitted directly to Mythravia University for her PhD at 13. ¡°Who''s that?¡± Das asked Audrey. ¡°That¡¯s your Mommy¡¯s former ssmate,¡± Ryan exined as he removed his coat. Das didn¡¯t seem satisfied with this exnation. After drinking his milk, he ran into the bedroom. The child then connected hisptop to the surveince camera at the entrance and took screenshots to investigate Nathan. That afternoon, Audrey and Ryan went to the cemetery with Das. Das wore a little ck suit and ced flowers before Anne¡¯s and Harper''s tombstones. After wiping the tombstone clean with a cloth, Audrey squat down and gazed at Anne and Harper, who were smiling in the photo. ¡°Aunt Anne, Harper, don¡¯t worry. Charles is about to learn what hell truly means very soon!¡± That evening, news spread that several entertainment venues in Sheysea, including those Charles frequented, had received a shocking video of Charles being stripped naked. Some parts of the video were pixted, but Charles¡¯ face was as clear as day. His pleading expression as he begged those people to spare him was captured vividly. But what awaited Charles was only torture. Charles became famous in a way that nobody could have imagined. Conversations about Charles were happening everywhere. ¡°Wow, | didn¡¯t expect Mr. Murray to be so flexible!¡± ¡°| didn¡¯t expect Mr. Murray to spend money like this!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°| didn¡¯t expect him to like men!¡± ¡°Is Mr. Murray venturing into the adult industry? Why would he film such a video!¡± Michelle, who was still in the hospital with Norman, saw the video and fainted on the spot. When she woke up, Michelle wailed andmented, unable to reach Charles no matter how many times she called. At this moment, Charles was already back home, trembling under a nket, hiding from the world. Charles dared not recall the three days of inhuman torture. Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Chapter 188 All of this was voluntary on Charles¡® part because he didn¡¯t want his organs to be harvested as repayment, On the way home, Charles saw his video being yed on the huge screen outside the nightclub¡¯s main entrance. Upon the sight, hepletely broke down. People were filming the electronic screen with their phones ceaselessly,menting on his voice and his body¡¯s flexibility. Even though it was pixted, the world knew he had been with men! He wasn¡¯t gay! Charles felt his stomach churn, rushing to the restroom and vomiting uncontrobly. The whole world had seen him fawning over men. He could no longer face anyone and couldn''t go on living. He could even imagine the looks of ridicule and scorn he''d receive. Charles huddled into a corner, pulling his hair back and trying to hide himself in the crevice between the sink and the toilet bowl. Charles never imagined that the things he would do to control and bully other women woulde back to haunt him. He had be a trending topic overnight. ¡°Amelia¡¯s cousin enters the adult industry.¡± ¡°Video of Amelia''s cousin¡¯s inappropriate behavior.¡± ¡°One-night stand with seven men.¡± Those were the headlines that drowned out all other news that day. Amelia nearly dropped her phone when she saw the video. Amelia could not reach Charles on the phone, so she called his home and learned that he was hiding in the bathroom, refusing toe out. Despite Ynda¡¯s efforts to prevent Amelia from contacting Charles, Amelia still went to Murray Residence. She knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°Charles, don¡¯t be afraid. Nathan has already sent someone to delete the video. Come out first, let¡¯s figure things out together. Were you coerced into making those videos? We can go to the police.¡± ¡°No!¡± Charles¡® voice was filled with fear. ¡°We can¡¯t go to the police!¡± Those people had even more damning videos in their hands. They would release those videos if Charles went to the police, and he would have no way of living. ¡°Okay, okay. Let¡¯s not go to the police for now. Juste out first.¡± Amelia spoke gently, trying to soothe him. Not long after, the sound of footsteps echoed from the bathroom. Charles opened the door. He was wrapped in a bathrobe, his body covered in injuries, and his eyes red from crying. ¡°Amelia, | can¡¯t face anyone anymore!¡± Amelia embraced Charles. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I''ll help you.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It''s no use. They have more videos in their hands. Unless | pay them back, they won¡¯t give me the videos! | still owe them.¡± Charles choked up. ¡°Is it the people from the casino?¡± Amelia squeezed Charles¡¯ arm tightly. Tears streamed down his face as he remained silent. ¡°How much money do you owe the casino?¡± ¡°| don¡¯t know.¡± Charles shook his head. ¡°The interest rates went up too fast.¡± ¡°| think in this kind of situation, we should still go to the police first. After all- ¡°No, we can¡¯t go to the police!¡± Charles panicked, turning back to the bathroom. ¡°I won''t admit it! | won¡¯t say anything to the police!¡± Amelia burst into tears at the sight of Charles¡® distressed state. Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Thinking about the photos taken by Carol, Amelia recalled Audrey¡¯s foster sister, who had been filmed jumping off a building. With Charles¡® dire situation, it was hard for Amelia not to see this as Audrey¡¯s retaliation. ¡°Charles...¡± Amelia followed him into the bathroom. She crouched down to look at him wedged between the toilet and the sink. She asked softly, ¡°Did you encounter Audrey at the casino?¡± Charles looked at Amelia with tears welling up in his eyes. ¡°Did you encounter Audrey or not?¡± Amelia¡¯s tone was firm. ¡°It''s that bitch! It was Audrey!¡± Charles suddenly remembered the gambling incident. with Audrey. ¡°I was winning just fine! But as soon as she showed up, | started losing! | kept losing!¡± Amelia held Charles¡® hand and said, ¡°You should stay at home for a few days. Don¡¯t use your phone and don¡¯t watch the news. Wait for this storm to pass. Everything will be fine. We''ll go abroad if we need to.¡± ¡°Yes, abroad! Amelia, please send me abroad! | can¡¯t stay in Cascadia for another minute! Charles burst into tears. Michelle rushed upstairs after hearing themotion and started hitting Charles.. ¡°You little rascal! Your father and | have you as our only child, and we''ve given you everything! Out of all the things you could have done, you chose to do this with so many men. You''vepletely disgraced us!¡± Amelia hurriedly intervened. ¡°Mrs. Murray, please stop!¡± ¡°It''s all because of you!¡± Michelle pointed at Amelia. ¡°It¡¯s because you insisted on bing a star! Would Charles¡¯ situation have been made public if it weren''t for you? If it weren''t for you, no one would even know who Charles is! ¡°How did | raise a backstabber? You refused to assist the Murray Group, and our family business is on the verge of being taken over by Nathan. And now, she¡¯s trying to kill my son!¡± ¡°Mrs. Murray...¡± Amelia was hurt by these words.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. didn¡¯t listen. It was understandable that the Franklin Group wanted to hold the Murray Group ountable. As for Charles, Amelia could only plead with Audrey to spare him if she was indeed responsible. Audrey had already left by the time Amelia found her residence in Sheysea. Nathan had been busy recently, so Amelia didn¡¯t ask for his help. Instead, she kept spending money to have Ynda buy scandals about other celebrities, attempting to divert public attention. She hoped that with time, people would forget about Charles. Returning to Mythravia, Audrey and Das finally arrived at the entrance of George¡¯s mansion. This time, Audrey had mentally prepared herself. She slowly calmed down with Ryan¡¯s soothing voice. Wanda was holding Lily¡¯s little hands at the gate of the Lambert Residence. Audrey took a deep breath and got out of the passenger seat, her gaze fixed on Wanda. Wanda wore a pink knitted sweater and jeans, topped with a cloak. Despite appearing to be in her forties, her smiling face made her look as youthful as someone in their thirties. As their eyes met, Wanda, with her hair tied back in a low ponytail, radiated a gentle demeanor as she greeted Audrey with a friendly smile. Paige noticed Audrey¡¯s hesitation. She had watched Audrey grow up. Despite the mother-daughter pair not sharing the same facial features except for their eyes, Audrey reminded Paige of Wanda as soon as she stepped out of the car. ¡°Mommy!¡± Lily let go of Wanda¡¯s hand and ran toward Audrey, hugging Audrey¡¯s leg. However, when she looked up, she saw Audrey staring at Wanda. Lily held Audrey¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t you miss Lily?¡± Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Ryan also got out of the car with Das in his arms. ¡°Das!¡± Wanda¡¯s gaze was drawn to Das. She smiled and opened her arms toward Das. The usually aloof Das behaved like a cheerful puppy,ughing as he leaped into Wanda¡¯s embrace. George stood by with his cane. Seeing nothing unusual with Wanda, he rxed and smiled at Audrey. ¡°Let¡¯s go and talk inside.¡± Audrey lifted Lily and followed Wanda inside, sitting down on the couch. She handed a box to Wanda. ¡°I brought you a bracelet. | hope you like it.¡± Wanda looked slightly surprised as she epted it with both hands. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Try it on.¡± George smiled. Wanda put the bracelet on her wrist, where faint scars could still be seen. She looked delighted. Lily pped her hands. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful! Wandflower looks beautiful no matter what she wears!¡± Audrey pinched Lily¡¯s little face. Wanda spoke up, ¡®I really like Lily and Das. | don¡¯t know why, but | felt a very familiar feeling the first time | saw them-just like when | saw you.¡± Audrey''s heart skipped a beat. She hadn¡¯t expected Wanda to say that. Her eyes. immediately turned red. She carried the blood of the Yeomans family, after all. Before sitting down with Wanda, Audrey worried that Wanda would be triggered and recall unpleasant memories upon seeing her. Back then, every time Wanda saw her in Lambert Residence, it seemed like she wanted to kill her because she was also a member of the Yeomans family. Ryan smiled and looked at Audrey. ¡°It¡¯s probably fate.¡± Anyone would think Wanda¡¯s spirits were fine if no one had said anything. After sitting with Audrey for a while, Wanda took Lily and Das to the garden to water the flowers. George noticed Audrey¡¯s gaze following Wanda. He picked his teacup up as he said, ¡°I¡¯m having my birthday banquet next month. Will you have time toe?¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°I will definitelye to your birthday banquet.¡± ¡°Someonee quick! Ms. Wanda has fainted!¡± Paige¡¯s panicked voice came from the distance. George stood up in shock as Audrey and Ryan rushed over. George followed with his cane, spotting the bodyguard carrying Wanda out. Paige¡¯s face was pale as she held onto the two children behind her, his voice rising. What¡¯s happening? What''s going on?¡± Ryan took the frail Wanda from the bodyguard¡¯s back and walked into the house, instructing, ¡°Get Dr. Brooks here. Quickly!¡± ¡°Someone forgot to remove the rope when delivering the seedlings to the garden. Ms. Wanda screamed when she saw it and fainted!¡± Paige tightly held the hands of the two children. ¡°Ms. Wanda¡¯s head would have hit the flowerpot if it weren¡¯t for Das holding onto her!¡± Das and Lily quickly approached Audrey, each wrapping their arms around her, looking frightened. Audrey followed behind Ryan with the two children, but George stopped them after just a few steps. ¡°Audrey, why don¡¯t you take the two children back first? If Wanda wakes up and sees you, it might not be good for her condition if she remembers anything,¡± George said.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Okay.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t hesitate at all. She held the hands of the two children tightly. ¡°If she wakes up, please ask Mr. Ryan to give me a call.¡± George looked at Audrey¡¯s concerned expression and nodded. He then instructed the driver to take Audrey and the two children back. Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Audrey received a call from Ryan before reaching home. Wanda had woken up. Perhaps she had been shocked earlier, so her mental state was a little unstable. She wouldn''t let anyone near her now, huddling in a corner and repeatedly yelling not to hit her. Tears welled up in Audrey¡¯s eyes. The damage inflicted on Wanda by the Sayeno Town was too great. ¡°Mommy...¡± Lily nudged Audrey¡¯s arm and snuggled against her. ¡°Was Wandflower bitten by a snake before? Why is she so scared of ropes?¡± Why was Wanda so afraid of ropes? Because ropes were Wanda¡¯s nightmare. She had been tied up with ropes ever since being abducted to Sayeno Town-even during childbirth. Audrey held the two children tightly in her arms. ¡°Everyone has their own fears, and of course, Wandflower does too. So in the future, should we protect Wandflower?¡± ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll definitely protect Wandflower!¡± Lily said. ¡°I''ll protect Wandflower too!¡± Das chimed in. Back home, Das and Lily dragged their suitcases to their rooms to tidy up. Das looked at the information about Nathan on theputer screen. He also dug up some stories about Nathan and Audrey¡¯s past rtionship.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Audrey had even rejected the direct PhD invitation from Mythravia University for Nathan¡¯s sake. Yet that day, Nathan shamelessly told Audrey not to let others call her a genius, as if she shouldn''t think of herself as one. He even asked her how she would support Das and Lily by herself. Didn¡¯t Nathan know that Audrey was the founder of Evergreen Biotech? It seemed Audrey¡¯s judgment wasn¡¯t that great in the past to fall for such a guy. This man was even worse than Ryan. In the afternoon, the doorbell rang. Audrey opened the door and saw George¡¯s assistant, Edward, standing there. She asked, ¡°How is she?¡± Edward replied, ¡°After taking a sedative, Ms. Wanda slept for a while and is feeling much better now. She¡¯s looking for Lily and Das. Mr. George asked me toe pick the two children up. Is that okay?¡± Audrey nced at the two children ying in the living room, then let Edward into the doorway. ¡°Pleasee in and have a seat. I''ll pack up their things.¡± Audrey handed their suitcases to Edward after briefly exining the situation to the two children. She then crouched down to kiss the two little ones. ¡°You two be good and stay with Wandflower.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy!¡± Lily hugged Audrey. ¡°I''ll definitely take good care of Wandflower!¡± Audrey let out a long sigh as she watched the two children leave. Did Wanda¡¯s sudden breakdown today have something to do with her? Wanda had been safe and sound over the years, but the moment Audrey appeared... Audrey wiped away her tears, hoping thepany of the two children would cheer Wanda up. ording to the contract between the Franklin Group and Evergreen Biotech, tomorrow would be the deadline for Franklin Group to deliver the goods. Nathan invited Taylor and his assistant, Kevin, to the clubhouse for entertainment. However, Taylor didn¡¯t show up in the evening. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Chapter 192 ¡°Sorry, the founder of ourpany has returned to Mythravia, so Mr. Campbell canceled at thest minute. | hope you don¡¯t mind, Mr. Franklin,¡± Kevin said with a smile as he took off his suit jacket and sat down next to Nathan. ¡°The founder of Evergreen Biotech?¡± Nathan handed Kevin a ss of wine. ¡°The founder came back for this coboration?¡± Kevin shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Mr. Campbell didn¡¯t say. It¡¯s possible, | suppose.¡± Nathan asked with a smile, ¡°I wonder if it would be possible to invite the founder of Evergreen Biotech to dinner together?¡± ¡°Till try to talk to Mr. Campbell about it. However, ording to Mr. Campbell, the founder has always been devoted to the laboratory. ¡°Mr. Campbell and the General Manager of the Eurindel region usually handle thepany¡¯s affairs. | don¡¯t know if the dinner will happen,¡± Kevin replied. Nathan was surprised and nodded. He clinked sses with Kevin, but just as he took a sip of wine, Kevin''s phone rang. Kevin quickly answered the call. ¡°Hello, Mr. Campbell. Yes, Mr. Franklin from the Franklin Group is with me.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Nathan looked at Kevin upon hearing his name. ¡°Okay. What? Alright, alright. I''ll tell Mr. Franklin,¡± Kevin said into the phone. After Kevin hung up, Nathan asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Mr. Franklin, is yourpany cooperating with the Murray Group?¡± Kevin inquired. ¡°Yes, we were tight on time for the Evergreen Biotech order, and there didn¡¯t seem to be any restrictions on cooperating with the Murray Group in the contract.¡± Nathan put down his ss. ¡°However, there were some mistakes on the Murray Group¡¯s part, and the order waspleted by Franklin Group in the end.¡± ¡°Do you know Mr. Charles sold Evergreen Biotech¡¯s form?¡± Kevin asked. Nathan¡¯s hand clenched on his knee, his gaze darkening. ¡°Mr. Hall, you can¡¯t say such things so casually.¡± Kevin opened WhatsApp and handed his phone to Nathan. In the video, Charles was seen handing over the form to Shawn. Nathan clenched his phone tightly and suddenly stood up. Kevin followed suit. ¡°Mr. Franklin, you and Evergreen Biotech have signed a confidentiality agreement for very the form. Now that the form has leaked, we must report it to the police. It¡¯s ver likely that our founder has already reported it.¡± ¡°| will get to the bottom of this!¡± Nathan returned Kevin''s phone, grabbed his suit jacket, and rushed out. Once in the car, Nathan immediately dialed Charles¡® number¡ªbut there was no answer. His hands trembled as he proceeded to dial Amelia''s number. Amelia answered the call promptly. ¡°Hello, Nathan. How did you know | finished filming? Are you calling me because you miss me?¡± ¡°Where is Charles?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice was grim. Amelia hesitated. ¡°Nathan, did Charles cause trouble again?¡± Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Chapter 193 ¡°Do you know that Charles used the Evergreen Biotech form to pay off his debts at the casino?¡± Nathan''s tone grew louder. ¡°Franklin Group and Evergreen Biotech have signed a confidentiality agreement! Does Charles even realize that his actions could ruin us?¡± Amelia was also shocked to hear this. ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice was filled with hostility. Amelia clenched her phone tightly. ¡°He... he¡¯s in my apartment in Mythravia.¡± ¡°Evergreen Biotech has already made a police report. Charles can expect to spend a long time behind bars this time!¡± Nathan ended the call. He mmed his fist on the steering wheel, and the sharp sound of the horn echoed in the parking lot. Nathan gripped the steering wheel and tugged at his tie to force himself to calm down. He then called the head of Franklin Group¡¯s legal department, Edmond. ¡°Mr. Marshman, the Evergreen Biotech form we possessed has been leaked. Take a look at the contract and see how we should respond.¡± Nathan threw his phone aside as soon as he was done speaking. He stepped on the gas pedal and drove toward Amelia¡¯s apartment in Mythravia.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. The entire legal department of Franklin Group was summoned back to thepany, working overnight to study the contract and come up with countermeasures. The legal department was on the verge of insanity. Initially, the contract with Evergreen Biotech stated that if this coboration were sessful, Franklin Group would be able to work on the next cancer drug. At the time, the legal department was still rejoicing, thinking that Franklin Group wast about to rise. They never expected Charles to create such a huge mess behind their backs. They would all lose their jobs if this matter couldn¡¯t be resolved properly. They had often been tasked with cleaning up Charles¡® mess over the years. But this time, he had leaked the form of Evergreen Biotech! Chapter 193 They had signed a confidentiality agreement, and the astronomicalpensation of over 30 billion would bankrupt the Franklin Group. Nathan arrived at Amelia¡¯s apartment and entered with the passcode. He saw Charles sitting on the couch, clearly drunk. Charles staggered to his feet. ¡°Nathan...¡± Nathan walked up to Charles and kicked him to the ground. ¡°Nathan?!¡± Charles grabbed onto the couch for support. He was shocked as he looked up at Nathan. ¡°What the hell have you done? How dare you steal the Evergreen Biotech form!¡± Nathan¡¯s voice was filled with fury. Charles suddenly sobered up, his face turning pale. He knelt before Nathan. ¡°Nathan, | was forced by the people from the casino! They would have harvested my organs if | didn¡¯t steal the form! | had no choice- Nathan delivered another kick, causing Charles to stagger backward and knock over the tablemp on the corner table.. Ceramic shards pierced into Charles¡® arm. Charles screamed in pain, but he gritted his teeth and managed to crawl to his knees. ¡°Nathan! It¡¯s all because of Audrey! She¡¯s the one who got me into trouble! She made me gamble with her. She must have colluded with the casino!¡°Charles pleaded, his voice filled with agony. Nathan grabbed Charles by the hair, forcing him to tilt his head back. ¡°Audrey forced you to steal the form? Or did she force you to gamble? ¡°Charles, do you think that by ming everything on Audrey, | would spare you? Evergreen Biotech has already reported us to the police. This time, I''ll make sure you rot in jail if this matter can¡¯t be resolved!¡± ¡°Nathan!¡± Charles reached out to grasp Nathan¡¯s leg. ¡°Nathan, | know | was wrong! I''ve already been punished for it! Nathan, please save me.¡± Suddenly, Amelia burst into the room. She was frightened beyond belief when she saw Charles covered in blood. Chapter 193 ¡°Nathan!¡± Amelia hugged Nathan from behind. ¡°Nathan, please spare Charles! It¡¯s all my fault. 1 spoiled Charles! I''ll find a way to handle the situation! ¡°I''ll ask Mr. Russo for help! | won''t let anything happen to Franklin Group. Please don¡¯t hurt Charles anymore!¡± Nathan released Charles¡¯ hair and closed his eyes. He then gently removed Amelia¡¯s hands and turned to face her. Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Chapter 194 ¡°Nathan...¡± Amelia was in tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I''ll find a way to fix this.¡± ¡°Fix this? What do you have in mind?¡± Nathan¡¯s anger red. ¡°The confidentiality agreement was signed by the Franklin Group. Thepensation of over 30 billion must also be shouldered by us!¡± ¡°Nathan, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Amelia grabbed Nathan¡¯s arm. ¡°Please calm down first, let¡¯s find a solution together.¡± Nathan suddenly let out a lightugh. It was all karma. He treated Audrey like that four years ago, and karma has returned to haunt him. Nathan looked at Charles and gritted his teeth. ¡°Back then, | should have let you rot in jail. When Audrey was determined to have Charles legally sanctioned, he shouldn¡¯t have used Audrey''s rtionship with her grandfather and Ryan to threaten Audrey-¡ªall to protect Charles. The leakage incident wouldn¡¯t have happened if Charles had been imprisoned back then.. ¡°Nathan...¡± Amelia was in tears. She reached out to hold Nathan, but Nathan pushed her away.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Nathan!¡± Amelia called out, but Nathan didn¡¯t turn back. She took a few steps to follow Nathan, but she heard Charles calling her from behind. She tearfully turned back and helped Charles up. ¡°Charles, how are you?¡± ¡°Amelia! It hurts... My arm hurts!¡± Half of his arm was stained red with blood. ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll take you to the hospital. Let¡¯s go.¡± Amelia supported Charles as they walked out. As Nathan drove away, he remained on the phone with Edmond. Edmond said, ¡°We''ve already reviewed the contract. If Evergreen Biotech really wants to pursue this, we have no way out. We exploited the contract loopholes and partnered with Chapter 154 the Murray Group. It was also us who signed the confidentiality agreement with Evergreen Biotech for the form.¡± ¡°We can only go after the Murray Group if they sue us.¡± Nathan gripped the steering wheel tightly. ¡°What¡¯s your suggestion?¡± 1/2 ¡°It''s best to talk to Evergreen Biotech. We''d better resolve this matter privately without escting the situation in court. ¡°After all, the copse of the Franklin Group is not beneficial to Evergreen Biotech either. | n to go to Mythravia tonight and meet with Evergreen Biotech¡¯s legal team tomorrow.¡± Nathan calmed down, and his mind cleared. ¡°Right now, have our people go to the casino and find Shawn. ¡°No matter how much it costs, we must buy back the form and find out who else Shawn has sold it to. Try to buy back all the copies! We need to control the losses quickly.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Edmond replied promptly. ¡°I''ll make arrangements right away. Nathan stopped at the red light ahead, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°lll also contact Mr. Campbell. | heard that the founder of Evergreen Biotech is also in Mythravia now. I''ll try to see if | can meet with them.¡± ¡°That sounds good,¡± Edmond reassured Nathan. ¡°Let''s talk tomorrow. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After ending the call, Nathan rolled down the window and nced to the side. He saw Audrey helping a drunken man out of the restaurant. Nathan tensed up, his gaze locked in that direction. He watched as the man stumbled under Audrey¡¯s support, then hugged her. Heughed and extended a finger, seemingly saying something to Audrey with a joyful smile. Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Taylor? Nathan widened his eyes. How could Audrey be with Taylor, the person in charge of Evergreen Biotech in the Cascadia region? Ahonking horn from behind snapped Nathan back to reality. He quickly parked the car on the side of the road and walked toward Audrey and Taylor. ¡°Taylor! Walk properly!¡± Audrey struggled to support Taylor down the steps. ¡°Boss, | don¡¯t look too bad, right? | had endless pursuers back in university. Why doesn¡¯t she like me? I¡¯ve never messed around with rtionships. | only like this one person! Just this one person!¡± Taylor extended a finger, an arm ck around Audrey¡¯s neck. ¡°Boss, do you think all talented women are arrogant?¡± ¡°Taylor, if you don¡¯t walk properly, I''ll film you like this and show Jessica,¡± Audrey warned in a soft voice. ¡°Jessica already thinks you''re not manly enough. If she sees you acting crazy drinking, won¡¯t she dislike you even more?¡± after ¡°Mr. Campbell!¡± Nathan nced at Audrey, reaching out to support Taylor. ¡°Mr. Campbell, why are you alone? Didn¡¯t you say you were having dinner with the founder of Evergreen Biotech today?¡± ¡°It''s you!¡± Taylor saw Nathan and nodded in a daze. ¡°Yes, | was having dinner with our boss...¡± Taylor smiled and pointed at Audrey. ¡°Let me introduce you-¡± ¡°No need for introductions, Mr. Campbell. We''ve met.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t want Nathan to know that she was the founder of Evergreen Biotech. She pinched Taylor¡¯s waist and continued, ¡°This is Mr. Franklin, my ex-husband.¡± Nathan grabbed Taylor and pulled him toward himself, not wanting Taylor to take advantage of Audrey. Taylor understood Audrey¡¯s intention. He pretended to be clueless and smiled. ¡°Ms. Chaple Yeomans, why didn¡¯t you mention earlier that the gentleman is your ex-husband?¡± ¡°Mr. Campbell, do you need help calling your driver?¡± Before Hallian could finish, Taylor¡¯s driver parked the car and hurried over in Taylor¡¯s direction: ¡°Mr. Campbell, the car is here.¡± The driver reached out to assist Taylor, Taylor winked at Audrey, then boldly embraced her. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, why don¡¯t you apany me home? Let¡¯s have a good time!¡± ¡°Mr. Campbell, your car is over there.¡± Nathan couldn¡¯t offend Taylor, so although he smiled, he secretly exerted force to pull Taylor back. ¡°Let me help you over.¡± However, Taylor firmly held onto Andrey, embracing her. Nathan grabbed Audrey''s shoulders and pulled her away from Taylor''s embrace, almost causing her to fall. ¡°Be careful!¡± Nathan looked at Audrey as if he were scolding her. He then smiled and escorted Taylor to the car, pushing him inside and closing the door. After Taylor''s car drove away, Nathan saw Audrey preparing to leave aftering down from the steps. He frowned and blocked her path.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°Mr. Franklin?¡± Audrey raised her eyebrows. ¡°Taylor seems like a gentleman, but he kept trying to take advantage of you when drunk. Can''t you tell?¡± Nathan was frustrated. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Chapter 196 ¡°Mr. Franklin, | heard from Mr. Campbell that the Franklin Group leaked Evergreen Blotech¡¯s form. Oh, and Charles was the one to do it.¡± Audrey smiled faintly. ¡°| wonder how Mr. Franklin ns to protect Charles this time? No, perhaps what Mr. Franklin cares about more now is whether the Franklin Group can afford the 30 billion breach of contract penalty.¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Nathan stared at Audrey. ¡°Did Taylor tell you?¡± Audrey chuckled coldly, stepping closer and whispering, ¡°I wonder how far Mr. Franklin is willing to go for Ms. Doyle? Will he sacrifice the entire Franklin Group to help Ms. Doyle save her cousin? I¡¯m quite curious, you see. With that, Audrey brushed past Nathan with a smile. ¡°You''ve been drinking.¡± Nathan grabbed Audrey¡¯s arm. ¡°Let me take you home.¡± ¡°Mr. Franklin seems to have time to escort his ex-wife home. Why not hurry up and figure out how to save the Franklin Group instead?¡± Audrey pulled her arm away.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Nathan watched as Audrey hailed a cab and got in. He clenched his fists with closed eyes. Audrey received a call from Taylor when she got into the car. ¡°Boss! Is Mr. Franklin still interested in you? He seems quite protective of you!¡± Taylor¡¯s slightly drunken voice came through. ¡°Do you want me to tell Jessica about this?¡± Audrey¡¯s tone was indifferent. ¡°Please don''t! | just wanted to know if your ex-husband is the biological father of Lily and Das,¡± Taylor said. ¡°No.¡± Audrey answered truthfully, then added, ¡°You''ve had a bit too much to drink today. Go back, take some sobering medicine, and rest well. Nathan will definitelye to you to discuss resolving things privately tomorrow.¡± ¡°Then should | not tell Nathan that you''re the founder of Evergreen Biotech?¡± Audrey remembered how Nathan threatened her at the hotel in Eastville with the incident involving the Yeomans family fight at George¡¯s residence. Audrey wanted revelige, slightest. ¡°No need to tell anyone,¡± Audrey said firmly. ¡°Never tell anyone.¡± Taylor was somewhat stunned. ¡°But boss, wouldn''t it be such a badass moment to tell him you''re the founder of Evergreen Biotech after the Franklin Group goes bankrupt?¡± ¡°You shouldy off those novels.¡± Audrey chuckled and hung up the phone. The cab¡¯s rear window was open, allowing a cool breeze to rush in, adding to Audrey''s slight tipsiness. She rested her head against the edge of the window, gazing at the bustling and vibrant lights of Mythravia. Audrey remembered how Harper once said she wanted to bring Anne to Mythravia when she grew up. Now, Audrey was in Mythravia¡ªbut Anne and Harper were no longer by her side. As Audrey was about to doze off, the driver arrived at Audrey¡¯s home. ¡°We''re here, miss!¡± The driver announced, turning his head. Audrey stepped out of the car and noticed Ryan¡¯s car stopping behind the cab. She knocked on the front passenger window, and it rolled down. ¡°Over here.¡± Ryan¡¯s voice was tinged with amusement. Audrey bent over and asked, ¡°Why are you here? Lily and Das are at George''s ce.¡± Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Julian got out of the driver¡¯s seat, smiling. ¡°Mr. Lambert happened to see you dining with Mr. Campbell from Evergreen Biotech. Seeing Ms. Yeomans had a bit to drink, he followed to make sure everything was okay.¡± ¡°Well, | didn¡¯t drink much. | just felt a little light-headed from the breeze.¡± Audrey smiled, then said to Ryan, ¡°I¡¯ve arrived home safely. You should also go back and rest early.¡± As Audrey tried to walk away, she could not move her feet. She realized her heel was stuck in a manhole cover. Ryan noticed it, and as he approached from the other side of the car, Audrey had already taken off her shoe.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. With one hand holding onto the car, she bent down to reach for her shoe, revealing her delicate ankles with wounds from the high heels. Just as Audrey pulled her shoe out of the manhole, she was suddenly lifted up. She eximed and wrapped her arms around Ryan¡¯s neck. ¡°Mr. Lambert ¡°Your foot is injured. I''ll take you upstairs.¡± Ryan carried Audrey up the steps, asking,¡± Do you have a first aid kit at home? If not, I''ll have Julian go buy one.¡± ¡°Yes, we do.¡± Audrey replied quickly, then added, ¡°But | can walk up by myself. It¡¯s okay, we¡¯re already here anyway.¡± Julian swiftly opened the door for them and pressed the elevator button, waiting downstairs. Inside the elevator, Audrey felt her heart pounding nervously. She dared not even look at Ryan¡¯s handsome profile, feeling like she had now sobered up. However, she still felt a little dizzy. The mirrored walls of the elevator reflected their images. Ryan was dressed in formal attire, outlining his tall and slender figure. He looked impable, showing no signs of strain from carrying her. Audrey nced at Ryan''s reflection in the elevator walls, meeting his eyes beneath his gold¡ªrimmed sses. Chapter 197 2/2 Her ears turned red, and she tightened her grip on her high heels. Audrey suddenly understood why so many socialites and top-tier celebrities had mentioned that Ryan fulfilled their fantasies of an ideal partner. It wasn¡¯t just because of Ryan¡¯s looks and wealth but also his mature demeanor, which provided a strong sense of security. Audrey spoke again as the elevator reached their floor, ¡°Please, let me down now. We¡¯re at the entrance.¡± Ryan carried Audrey to the door and asked, ¡°Passcode?¡± ¡°The birthdays of the two kids,¡± Audrey replied. Ryan entered the password, carried Audrey inside, and closed the door with his foot. He then sat her on the couch and tossed his suit jacket to the side. He asked as he removed his cufflinks and watch, ¡°Where¡¯s the first aid kit?¡± ¡°Under the TV cab,¡± Audrey said, her ears burning red. As Ryan sat back down with the first aid kit, Audrey quickly withdrew her feet. ¡°I... | can take care of it myself!¡± Ryan nced at her as he unwrapped the cotton swab, dipped it in iodine, and lifted her foot back up to gently clean the wound. Despite her protests, her foot was held firmly in his warm hand. Audrey tightly gripped the sofa cushion, her neck flushing red. ¡°You seem quite close to Mr. Campbell from Evergreen Biotech,¡± Ryan said as he tore open a bandage and began to apply it to Audrey''s wound. ¡°I heard him call you ¡®boss*.¡± ¡°Yeah, we met duringpetitions abroad,¡± Audrey exined softly, her gaze lowered. He helped me a lot during those years overseas. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Chapter 198 ¡°Did he help you a lot?¡± Ryan ced Audrey¡¯s feet on the carpet, tidying up the medicine. box. ¡°Is he pursuing you?¡± ¡°Where are you going with that thought? Taylor likes-¡± Audrey stopped herself, smiling. ¡°He likes someone | know. | drank a bit too much today because of her too.¡± Ryan retrieved Audrey¡¯s indoor slippers from the shoe cab and ced them at her feet. ¡°Thank you!¡± Audrey put her shoes on and stood up. ¡°Um.... Do you want water or-¡± she tried to ask him. ¡°There¡¯s some hangover tea in the upper left kitchen cab. I¡¯m feeling a little ufortable after drinking today.¡± ¡°Okay, I''ll make you some tea.¡± Audrey trotted to the kitchen. She opened the cupboard and reached for the box of hangover tea. Surprised, she nced back at Ryan in the living room. She muttered under her breath, There really is hangover tea in the cab; he knows my house better than | do.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. After washing her hands and shaking her slightly dizzy head, Audrey prepared the tea and brought it out. At the same time, Ryan emerged from the bathroom. She ced the tea on the coffee table. ¡°Here¡¯s your tea.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Ryan wiped his hands with a tissue and noticed Audrey''s flushed face. He touched Audrey''s forehead. ¡°Still feeling dizzy?¡± ¡°It''s better maybe | had a bit too much to drink.¡± Audrey avoided Ryan¡¯s hand, now touching her own forehead instead. She sat on the couch, trying to find something to say to Ryan. ¡°I heard from Lily and Das that you¡¯ve been spending time with them these days. Thank you.¡± ¡°Isn''t it my duty as their father?¡± Ryan took off his sses to wipe them clean. ¡°Besides, you''ve been raising them abroad all these years by yourself. ¡°| haven''t fulfilled my duties as a father to the two children¡ªand to you. | feel guilty Chapter 198 about that.¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with you. | know you wanted to take care of me and the children. It was my decision to leave.¡± Maybe it was the alcohol from tonight, but some of the words Audrey had been keeping inside didn¡¯t feel so hard to say anymore. ¡°You''ve always been there for me, and | owe you a lot. I¡¯ve thought about it; we weren¡¯t divorced yet when | left.¡± ¡°Since you say you owe me, perhaps you should think about how to make it up to me.¡± Ryan looked at Audrey, her pale skin and features wless under the warm light, Her elongated eyes were cold and dark, her pupils like a pool of thick ck ink. Audrey yed with the pillow. Her fingers briefly entangled, and soon her thoughts became jumbled too. She had openly expressed her feelings to the cold and aloof Ryan on multiple asions. It was hard not to be moved by the attention of a man like Ryan. Audrey could feel her heart fluttering. But considering who they were, were they suitable for each other? In terms of age, Ryan was old enough to be her uncle. Audrey felt a strong sense of guilt every time she was moved, rendering her afraid to respond. Seeing Audrey¡¯s hesitation, Ryan put on his sses and pulled Audrey into his arms. Their eyes met, and Audrey¡¯s heart beat violently. She was certain this wasn¡¯t fear but a sensation that left her breathless and her whole body tingling. She sat restlessly on Ryan¡¯s sturdy legs. Audrey wanted to get up, but Ryan held her down. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Chapter 199 All Audrey could hear was the sound of her racing heart. Ryan gazed at Audrey''s features¡ªthe delicate nose, the moist lips. His eyes finally settled on her trembling pupils. He brushed against the corner of Audrey¡¯s lips. Audrey held onto Ryan¡¯s wrist, her eyshes fluttering intensely. ¡°Matthew Kingston...¡± Ryan slowly approached Audrey, his nose touching hers, causing Audrey¡¯s breath to hitch in her throat. ¡°My real name...¡± Ryan¡¯s Adam''s apple bobbed as he spoke, his voice carrying a seductive. allure. ¡°It¡¯s Matthew.¡± Audrey''s heart felt like it was about to burst. She tightly grabbed the back of Ryan¡¯s vest, trying to pull away, but the man held onto the back of her head. As Ryan¡¯s lips descended, goosebumps erupted all over her body. Audrey curled up in Ryan¡¯s embrace, her mind in turmoil. Just as her teeth were pried apart, Audrey clenched Ryan¡¯s shirt tightly and pushed him away forcefully. ¡°Ryan, don''t... don¡¯t do this...¡± Ryan¡¯s fingertips caressed his lips as he removed his sses. He then undid the buttons of his vest, and his lips pressed against hers once again- pinning Audrey down on the couch. Audrey''s hands pushed against Ryan¡¯s shoulders, but she couldn¡¯t move him no matter how hard she tried. Ryan¡¯s familiar breath invaded her lungs, aggressively assaulting her lips like a hunter trying to devour her whole. The intimate intertwining of their tongues and the merging of their saliva left Audrey powerless to resist. Her whole body melted into a puddle, and her spine taut with tremors. Chapter 199 2/2 It wasn¡¯t until Audrey¡¯s phone rang that Ryan¡¯s movements faltered slightly. Audrey suddenly came to her senses and pushed Ryan away in a panic. She hastily straightened her clothes and avoided Ryan¡¯s gaze as she picked up her phone. It was a video call from Lily. Audrey quickly tidied her hair and answered the call, suppressing her pounding heart. ¡°Mommy!¡± Lily¡¯s joyful face and a teddy bear appeared on the phone screen. ¡°Mommy, look! This is the prize Wandflower and Das won for me! Isn¡¯t it super cute?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Audrey''s gaze softened and smiled. ¡°Yes, super cute! But not as cute as you!¡± ¡°Mommy, why is your face so red? Are you sick?¡± Das¡¯ head also squeezed into view, furrowing his brows with concern. Audrey quickly touched her flushed face, smiling as she replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m not sick. | had dinner with Mr. Campbell today and drank a little bit of alcohol. Maybe | had a bit too much, but I''ll be fine in a while.¡± On the other end, Das frowned as he noticed the shadow moving behind Audrey and the faint glimpse of a suit jacket. ¡°Mommy, are you feeling ufortable? Do you feel like throwing up? Did you take any hangover medicine?¡± Lily put down the teddy bear in her hands. ¡°Mommy is fine! | don¡¯t feel like throwing up. You both know Mr. Campbell¡¯s tolerance for alcohol.¡± While Audrey was talking to Lily, Das sneaked into the bathroom and called Ryan¡¯s phone. As expected, the phone rang on Audrey''s end of the video call. Ryan looked at his phone and saw it was Das calling. He nced at Audrey, then walked to the balcony to answer the call. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Chapter 200 ¡°Are you with my mom?¡± Das¡® voice came through the phone. Ryan nced back at Audrey and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare bully my mom! | haven¡¯t epted you as our dad yet!¡± ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry. | won¡¯t bully your mom.¡± Ryan smiled faintly. On Audrey¡¯s phone screen, Lily waved to Audrey. ¡°Mommy, you should rest early! We''ll video chat with you tomorrow. Where¡¯s Das... Huh? Das?¡± Lily called out, ¡°Das, do you want to say goodbye to Mommy?¡± ¡°It''s okay, Das is probably out. Behave yourselves! Mommy will hang up now.¡± Audrey''s voice was gentle. ¡°Okay! Goodbye, Mommy.¡± After ending the call, Audrey clenched her phone tightly and looked up to meet Ryan¡¯s. smiling eyes. ¡°Das called me to say | should take care of you.¡± ¡°No wonder he wasn¡¯t around.¡± Audrey stood up, still holding her phone. ¡°I''ll sleep in the guest room tonight-is that okay?¡± Ryan asked. ¡°I''m fine, you don¡¯t have to stay to take care of me.¡± Ryan draped his vest over his arm, not giving Audrey a chance to refuse. ¡°I feel a little. dizzy from all the drinking. Are my clothes in the guest room?¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re still there.¡± ¡°Then I''ll go take a shower first,¡± Ryan said as he headed toward the guest room.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Audrey pursed her lips, feeling a tingling sensation. Only then did she realize that her lips were swollen from Ryan¡¯s kiss. She couldn''t deceive herself. When Ryan was holding and kissing her, the intense sensation left Audrey feeling confused and infatuated. Chapter 200 No, perhaps every time Ryan kissed her, she couldn¡¯t resist. His masculine scent and the heat of his strong body would make her tremble uncontrobly. Audrey recalled their first night together. The image of Ryan¡¯s prominent hands gripping the pillow, the bulging veins as he pressed her against the door and kissed her passionately in the darkness. Audrey''s whole body was burning up. She rushed back to the master bedroom in her slippers and took a cool shower. When she finished showering, she received a video call request from Jessica. ¡°Audrey, even with the same dosage, the experimental data we¡¯ve collected differs from what the quantumputer generated.¡± Jessica¡¯s voice sounded somewhat impatient. ¡°I don¡¯t know where the problem lies.¡± ¡°Let me take a look. Don¡¯t worry for now,¡± Audrey said, observing the dark circles under Jessica¡¯s eyes. ¡°You haven''t had any rest for a long time, right? Go get some sleep. I''ll review the experimental video. You can work on it again once we find the cause.¡± Jessica took off her sses and rubbed her forehead. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take a nap for a while. Let me know when you find out.¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°Yeah, thank you for your hard work when I¡¯m not around.¡± After ending the video call, Audrey logged into theboratory monitoring system and began reviewing the experimental surveince videos. After watching for over an hour, Audrey was ready to make coffee before continuing. She walked into the living room and saw Ryan making a phone call on the balcony. Ryan¡¯s hair was still wet and messy, falling over his eyes. He wore an unbuttoned shirt and leaned against the balcony railing with his long legs. crossed. He then took out a cigarette, holding the phone in one hand and lighting the cigarette with a lighter in the other. Seeing Audrey watch him from the living room, Ryan put the lighter in his pocket and exhaled white smoke from the corner of his lips. He then moved the cigarette away and said to the person on the phone, ¡°Send it over as soon as possible.¡± Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Ryan started to button up his shirt after the call ended. His facial features held a pair of deep eyes, high nose bridge, and defining jaw while a cigarette hung from the corner of his mouth. All of these,bined with the actions of his slender fingers that were buttoning his shirt, were abination strong enough to make one¡¯s heart flutter. Audrey''s heart began to pound rapidly yet again. Clearing her throat, she turned and headed to the open kitchen to brew a cup of coffee for herself. When he disposed of the cigarette and walked over from the balcony, she offered, ¡°I¡¯m making coffee. Want some?¡± ¡°Coffee at thiste hour?¡± He ced his phone on the dining table before making his way to the counter. ¡°The results obtained from several experiments were incorrect, but we couldn¡¯t figure out what the cause was yet. I¡¯m going to burn the midnight oil to watch the experiment recordings tonight,¡± she exined. With her hands on the coffee machine, she recalled Ryan talking over the phone. ¡°Did something happen within thepany?¡± ¡°No. | left my pajamas in my bedroom. | thought you were resting, so | called Julian to bring me a set of pajamas.¡± The newly changed shirt and cks on him reminded her of something. ¡°It¡¯ste, though. You don¡¯t have to trouble him to get ¡®em. | can take ¡®em for you.¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Just as she was about to walk past him, he suddenly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Hmm?¡± She looked back at him with a questioning look. Ryan stared at her hair and reached out to touch them. ¡°You didn¡¯t dry your hair?¡± ¡°| received a call from a colleague as soon as | finished bathing, so | got busy watching the recordings...¡± TShe smiled as she touched her half¡ªdried hair. ¡°I''ll go take the pajamas for you first. Then¡ªRyan!¡± She shrieked as he lifted her onto the counter. Chapter 201 ¡°There¡¯s nothing to rush for that. Let¡¯s dry your hair first. Stay here.¡± He rolled up his sleeves. He then took out a hair dryer from the cab by the sink familiarly, as if he had been staying here for a long time. Then, he dried her hair for her. With Audrey sitting on the counter, it made it just the right height for him to dry her hair. His fingers ruffled through her hair gently until her hair was dry. This left a lingering scent of the aromatic coffee mixed with Audrey¡¯s hair shampoo in the kitchen. She jumped off the counter with one hand. ¡°I''ll take the pajamas for you.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Like amb running away from a wolf, she ran out of the open kitchen. By the time she took out his pajamas from the wardrobe in the bedroom, Ryan was already standing by the door. Her fingers tightened subconsciously as she held onto his clothes before handing them over to him. ¡°Here.¡± They had already done the most intimate deed in the world, and yet, just his gaze alone could make her heart race. He reached out to yank her into his embrace by her wrist and dug his fingers into her hair. ¡°Ryan...¡± Audrey¡¯s voice trembled.. ¡°| told you my name.¡± His voice was deep. ¡°I was adopted, and not a real descendent of the Lambert family.¡± ¡°M-Matthew?¡± She called with uncertainty. ¡°Yes, Audrey.¡± He dipped his head to kiss her. The pajamas fell onto the ground and her grasp tightened around his toned arms as he gained ess through her teeth. As he led her into the bedroom, her clumsy steps followed his. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Ryan hooked the bedroom door with his leg and pinned Audrey against the wall. His burning body pinned against hers and caged her so that she couldn¡¯t escape. He turned off the lights, and while the room turned dark, her senses heightened. His heavy breathing rang in her ears and her heart beat against her chest fiercely. She felt the veins bulging along his arms underneath the clothes. As much as his body temperature could send her burning, his tongue was arousingly scorching. He was like a beast pounding on his prey. Ryan¡¯s rough kiss was too much for Audrey to take in. She was getting lightheaded due to theck of oxygen, losing the reason and the strength to shove him away. While her head was pumped by the massive adrenaline rush because of the kiss, he carried her and threw her onto the bed. The loss of gravity knocked some senses into her. Propping herself with her elbows, she looked at the man kneeling on one knee on the bed while undoing his buttons.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. She grabbed onto the bedsheet as she breathed heavily. ¡°Ryan, we should stop here. We shouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again.¡± He hovered over her, with one of his arms nted on the bed to support his weight. Again, he leaned in and kissed her, silencing her as he smoothly removed his shirt. Her body was shaking and she couldn¡¯t keep up with the kiss, giving out as shey on the bed. With little to no strength in her to push him away, she was forced to wee the fierce kiss. As though on fire, she lost both her reasoning and morality to lust, sumbing to her primal instincts. Chapter 202 Ryan wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Audrey, can we do it?¡± His lips were brushing her ears. His ragged breathing was burning her skin and it made her toes curl. ¡°B-¡ªBut this is not right. W¡ªWe-¡± ¡°This is okay. We''re legally married.¡± Ryan cupped her cheeks and began devouring her with kisses again. The doorbell rang, pulling Audrey''s senses back to her. Embarrassment washed over her in a heartbeat, and she frantically pushed him away. ¡°G -Get the door!¡± He was frowning and his lips pressed into a thin line. He had forgotten to tell Julian not toe. In fact, Ryan couldn¡¯t care less about opening the door at all. ¡°It must be Julian. He brought you your pajamas.¡± Her heart was still palpitating, and she pushed him again. ¡°Hurry, get the door!¡± He got up reluctantly. While he picked his shirt up, she scurried to the door and tidied herself up before opening the door for Julian. ¡°Ms. Yeomans.¡± He handed the paper bag to her. ¡°Here¡¯s Mr. Lambert''s pajamas.¡± ¡°Thank you. Sorry for making you run an errand thiste into the night.¡± She shed him a smile. ¡°Don''t sweat about it. This is my duty.¡± He lifted his gaze and happened to see Ryaning out of the bedroom as he buttoned his shirt. The displeasure in Ryan¡¯s eyes sent a chill down Julian¡¯s spine. Thetter returned his attention to Audrey again, whose lips were slightly swollen. The redness on her cheeks and ears had yet to subside either. Then, something struck him-he hade at a bad time. The thought of staying any second longer feared him. He smiled while saying, ¡°I should get going now. Mom¡¯s waiting at home. Bye, Mr. Lambert and Ms. Yeomans. Chapter Hastily, he rushed to press the elevator button before closing his eyes. He hated his stupidity so much. He should¡¯ve known better to leave the paper bag by the door and send a text message to Ryan. Just why did he have to ring the doorbell! Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Julian hoped that Ryan wouldn¡¯t deduct his bonus out of anger. After closing the door, Audrey ced the pajamas on the couch and avoided Ryan¡¯s gaze. ¡°I have to watch the experiment recordings, so you should rest up,¡± she prompted softly. ¡°Audrey.¡± He held a cigarette between his lips and lit it. ¡°How about straightening things out between us first?¡± She clutched the hem of her clothes. Ryan had always been straightforward about his feelings for her, but what about her? Did she like him? She did. However, George wouldn¡¯t like the idea of them getting together. She mustered enough courage to look at him. ¡°We can secure a date for a divorce.¡± That didn¡¯t anger him. He sat on the restarm of the couch and pulled her in front of him with the same hand that was pinching the cigarette. ¡°Ask yourself. Do you really dislike my kisses and having sex with me?¡± He asked slowly. ¡°I can feel that... you yearn for me. It means that you at least like me, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°| admit it.¡± Clenching her fists, she raised her head to meet his eyes. ¡°I like you.¡± Even if it was a subtle brush by the skin, a mere eye-to-eye contact, or his hand around her wrist, they made her heart beat wildly all the same. Not even Nathan had given her such feelings in the past. Her yearnings for him seemed to only grow over time. His gazes, actions, and scent were too much for her to rein her urges in. Such a feeling was unfamiliar yet thrilling to her. Was it love? She wasn¡¯t sure about that, but she did know that she liked him. In fact, her feelings for him were more like desire. It was embarrassing for Audrey, who had only dated once, to admit that, but that was the truth. Chapter 203 ¡°But our rtionship is tooplicated. Will Mr. Lambert Senior let us be together? If we get together, how will the outsiders see the Lambert family? 1 care about this more than anything, more than my life.¡± Her eyes were welling up with tears. ¡°| won''t be one of the Lambert family soon. After all these years, Lambert Corporation will be able to stand on its footing. This is my way of thanking them for raising me up.¡± He lowered his gaze as his finger caressed her wrist. ¡°When you can officially take over the Lambert family, I''ll be able to return to my family.¡± ¡°Your family? | thought you didn¡¯t have anyone.¡± Audrey was baffled. Squeezing her wrist, Ryan pulled her into his arms and wrapped his arm over her waist.¡± Didn''t | tell you my real name?¡± ¡°You have a family? Does Mr. Lambert Senior know about this?¡± He inhaled the cigarette. Noticing her frown, he pulled the ashtray on the table to discard his cigarette. Chuckling lightly, he revealed, ¡°I have a family. You, Lily, and Das are my family.¡± ¡°| mean your real family.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. He hummed in response. ¡°My real family is dead, and I¡¯m the only one. That is exactly the reason why | have to return. So, there¡¯s no need to be bothered by our current rtionship. Just ask yourself. ¡°Are you willing to be with me? Do you like me? It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s simply because... ¡°Ryan brushed her hair to the back of her ear. ¡°... you like having kisses and sex with me. Her balled fists became mmy at his blunt remarks. Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Audrey noticed that Ryan was acting out of character today. Teetering between nervousness and embarrassment, she raised her head to look him in the eyes. ¡°Are you going to leave the Lambert family soon? Is that why you''re asking this? Hearing that, he let out a low chuckle. ¡°As | said, you¡¯re smart.¡± ¡°Where will you go?¡± The question was asked before she knew it. He embraced her closer to him. ¡°Why? You can¡¯t let go of me?¡± She ced her hand on his chest, creating a space between them. She asked concernedly, ¡°When will you leave? Does Mr. Lambert Senior know about this? Did you talk to him?¡± ¡°There will be an announcement at his birthday party this month. | will leave after the party ends, and yes, he knows.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t leave!¡± She grabbed his shirt. ¡°Lambert Corporation still needs you. A-And you''re closer to him than | am. | can tell that he cares for you dearly!¡± Memories from four years ago suddenly struck Audrey. It was when Ryan brought her back to the vi in Sheysea City. When she headed downstairs to get water, Ryan was speaking to George over the phone. Ryan had revealed to George that she was the true member of the Lambert family. ¡°Are you doing this because of me? Are you trying to return my family to me because | share the same blood as them? I¡¯ve never desired Lambert Corporation. Not even once!¡± She exined anxiously.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. In the face of her anxiety, he couldn¡¯t help but nt a peck on her lips. He said in a whisper, ¡°It¡¯s the other way around. | want to return your family and Lambert Corporation to you because | want to leave.¡± Before this, George disagreed with the idea of Audrey¡ªone of the Lamberts¡ªreturning to the Yeomans family. Now, Audrey wasn¡¯t the only family George had. He also had Das and Lily. Ryan could finally leave with peace of mind. ¡°What happens after that? Will you still keep in touch with the Lambert family and Mr. Lambert Senior?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°| won''t cut ties with the Lambert family after | leave. Your stance is important in this.¡± Ryan wore a meaningful smile. ¡°What happens after this depends on how you''re going to deal with our rtionship.¡± She dropped her gaze downward, unable to look at him. Her heart was pounding fast. ¡°| love you, Audrey...¡± His thumb caressed the nape of her neck and he kissed her again, lightly this time. Resting his forehead against hers, he confessed softly, ¡°You have all the time to consider this before the birthday party. If you decide to break up, we can divorce. If you''re willing to be with me...¡± Unable to hold himself in, he locked her lips with his again and hugged her tightly. The rest remained unsaid. He secured her head by holding the back of her head and kissed her until her tongue went numb. If Audrey¡¯s feelings gave her enough reasons to stay with him forever, he wouldn''t hide his overflowing love and admiration for her. ¡°R-Ryan.¡± She did her best to mask her quivering voice and wore aposed expression. But that didn¡¯t do a thing to scare him.. ¡°You want it?¡± He pushed a strand of hair away from the corner of her lips. Again, he captured her rosy lips. ¡°Do you want to have sex with me?¡± His voice was hoarse. Audrey''s heart was threatening to jump out of her chest. She was on the verge of losing her mind and her breathing was ragged. It didn¡¯t take long before her primal instincts prevailed over her rationality, Wrapping her arms around Ryan¡¯s neck, she initiated a kiss herself this time. ¡°Yes...¡± That one word freed the beast in him from the cage. He reciprocated the kiss with more passion as though he was trying to crush her into him. He swept her up off her feet and headed to the bedroom. The door mmed shut and the lights remained turned on in the living room. The water tap wasn¡¯t turned off tightly, leaving the water dripping all night long. Chapter 204 The next day, Audrey woke up in waves of soreness. Even lifting her arms were made impossible. The curtains were drawn. She checked the time on her phone. It was almost 11:00 am, calls. and she missed dozens of Ryan left a note on the bedside table, which read, ¡®I turned on the silence mode on your phone. Get a good rest. Breakfast is in the kitchen. I¡¯m off to work and wille back to have dinner together.¡± Audrey grabbed a robe and put it on, sliding her feet into the slippers. As soon as she stood up, her knees gave out, and she flopped back on the bed. Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Audrey had a shback of the wild memories from the night before. Ryan had carried her to the shower to clean themselves up, yet... They ended up doing it again. It wasn¡¯t until she almost fainted that they finally stopped. She covered her face as soon as she discovered how wild she could be. Her phone vibrated, and she took a glimpse at it. It was a call from Ryan. Biting her swollen lip, she answered the phone, ¡°Hello-¡± As soon as she said that word, she covered her mouth. She didn¡¯t expect her voice toe off this hoarsely! Ryan¡¯s gentle voice resounded from the other side of the line. ¡°You''re up. Taken your breakfast yet?¡± Audrey cleared her throat. ¡°No...¡± It didn¡¯t sound any better. Dipping her head to her hands, she couldn¡¯t help but think about the previous night. She tried her best to stop herself from reminiscing about the shbacks. But his voice kept reminding her of it. Her brain was going frenzy. ¡°| bought lozenges for you this morning. They¡¯re on the dining table. What¡¯s your n for today?¡± The question seemed intentional for some reason. Initially, she wanted to say that she would buy a gift for George. But she changed her mind because of her voice. ¡°Stay at home.¡± ¡°Watching experiment recordings?¡± She hummed as an acknowledgment. ¡°Okay, remember to have breakfast and... the lozenges,¡± Ryan reminded. Again, she hummed in response. 212 After ending the call, she flopped onto the bed and pulled the nket over her face. If only she could bury herself in a hole... Still embarrassed, she remembered the time when they had sex at the hotel. That was how she got pregnant with Das and Lily. Then, she recalled that they didn¡¯t use protection because there was no condom at home. Hurriedly, she got up to order a fast delivery of birth control pills.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. After breakfast, she contacted Taylor. Taylor said in a whisper, ¡°Thank goodness you finally called back. Franklin Group is going to deliver the goods this afternoon. Should | straight-up reject the reception because they leaked the form? Or should | receive the goods and sue them?¡± ¡°Franklin Group is more passive than we are, so things are worse for them too. First, dy the reception. | bet they won¡¯t have an opinion about it. We''ll cut off their cash inflow and they''lle to you to settle the issue about the leaked form. ¡°You can hear them out andter im that you¡¯re not the decision-maker. Say that you have to refer to the founder before making a call,¡± Audrey informed. ¡°Got it.¡± The call with Taylor ended, and Audrey used another phone to call Shawn back. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, Franklin Group wants to buy the form from me, and | avoided them as you told me to. Who would¡¯ve known that they dug up information about me overnight? They''re now at my doorstep!¡± He imed. Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Today was the delivery day. Nathan should be on hot bricks. ¡°It''s alright. You can meet them. Name a high figure. If they keep asking who you sold the form to, just say that you gave it to your boss and that you''ll find out for them. ¡°Since they¡¯re in a rush, you can demand amission. You can demand however much you want. The money is yours.¡± Her tone was a tad yful. The mention of getting amission made Shawn smile. ¡°Okay. I''ll do as you say.¡± A favor could only be done with a reward in return, and Audrey was very well aware of that. ¡°I''ll send you a name list a whileter. You can buy some time before giving it to them. Tell them that your boss had sold the form to thepanies on the list,¡± she instructed. ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Yeomans.¡± After terminating the call, she sent a name list to him and took a birth control pill. Considering how her legs still felt like soft and weak, she figured that going outdoors was impossible today. She sat on the mat in the living room and watched all the experiment recordings. Whenever it came to work, she would be engrossed in it. Even when Ryan returned home at 6:00 pm, Audrey still remained in that sitting posture. He wore slippers and took his coat off. Walking toward the couch, he stroked her head. That surprised her. ¡°Since when were you back home?¡± The word ¡°home¡±ing from her elicited a smile from him. He seated himself on the couch and nted a kiss on her forehead. ¡°You didn¡¯t take the lozenges?¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°I forgot.¡± ¡°What about lunch?¡± He asked again. ¡°| forgot about that too...¡± Chapter 206 He looked at the recording for a brief moment. Based on the logo of theboratory, theboratory belonged to Evergreen Biotech. No questions were asked, and he simply unbuttoned the cuffs and took his watch off.¡± You can continue your work for a while before we have dinner.¡± ¡°Dine out?¡± He shed a smile and stood up. ¡°Nope. We''ll eat at home.¡± Ryan washed his hands and wore the apron in the kitchen. Seeing this, Audrey couldn¡¯t help the smile on her face. She refocused her attention to the recordings to observe how Jessica executed the experiment. Until she smelled something nice, Audrey got up on her feet. Due to the long hours of sitting with her legs crossed, her legs were paralyzed by a little numbness. She took a moment for herself before striding to the dining room. Ryan made four dishes including soup. When Audrey was going to scoop rice for themselves, he already came out from the kitchen with two tes of rice. ¡°Wash your hands,¡± he prompted.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. After dinner, she volunteered to clear up the table. By the time she came out of the kitchen, he was talking over the phone on the balcony. She sat on the mat in the living room to have a video call with Das and Lily. ¡°Mommy, Mr. Lambert Senior seems to be very angry today,¡± whispered Lily. Baffled, Audrey asked, ¡°Did something happen?¡± This was the first time she heard that George was livid from the kids. ¡°He was talking over the phone. The person said something and then he smashed the teacups and chess board angrily,¡± Das recounted. ¡°I think | heard him saying that someone isn¡¯t allowed to leave the Lambert family.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! Even Wandflower was surprised. | have never seen him so angry before.¡± Lily kept her voice down. Audrey''s stomach clenched as she turned to look in Ryan¡¯s direction-the balcony. Chhoter 206 Did he tell George about his n to leave the Lambert family? Was that why George was all riled up? ¡°How¡¯s Wandflower doing?¡± she asked. Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Das narrated clearly, ¡°Wandflower was worried that we might get scared, so she took us out for ice cream. ¡°Paige has worked here for so many years, but this is her first time seeing him this angry. Of course, aside from when Wandflower got into trouble.¡± Das leaned closely to the phone. ¡°He skipped dinner too, and only drank some porridge when Wandflower and | brought it to him. Audrey''s grip tightened around her phone. Uneasiness was shrouding around her like a cloak. She reminded the kids, ¡°Better behave these days. Don¡¯t anger Mr. Lambert Senior, okay? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy. I''ll be a good girl!¡± Lily promised. ¡°Alright, you guys should go to bed now. Good night!¡± The video call ended, and Audrey looked at Ryan with pursed lips. He was still on the phone. It took him a while before he noticed her gaze. He cast his gaze in her direction and wrapped up the call immediately. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Ryan slid the door close. ¡°Did you tell Mr. Lambert Senior that you¡¯re going to leave the family today?¡± Audrey questioned. He sat behind her. Propping his elbow on his knees, he leaned toward her. ¡°I¡¯d have to tell him sooner orter, but | haven¡¯t told him about us. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°He''s... very livid.¡± ¡°Yeah. After his birthday party, I¡¯ll announce my departure from the family and thepany,¡± he responded. She spun around and met his eyes. Her head was a mess and she felt uneasy. ¡°Are you... going to Mythravia?¡± He caressed her cheek gently. ¡°I will be away for some time, to return to my actual home. Chapter 207 There¡¯s something | have to deal with.¡± ¡°What about Lambert Corporation?¡± 2/2All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. His smile reached his eyes. ¡°I will make sure everything is well-prepared. Plus, I''ll make Evergreen Biotech a formidable existence to Meria. | have faith in you. You''ll be able to manage Lambert Corporation well.¡± His finger traced its way to the corner of her lips as the silence sinked it. ¡°As for our rtionship, | need an answer before his birthday party.¡± ¡°Are you not going toe back if | choose to divorce?¡± Her hunch kept telling her that this question was closely rted to his future ns, which George was infuriated about. Ryan¡¯s deep eyes didn¡¯t leave her for a second, and it was stirred with obsession. His piercing gaze sent a chill down her spine. A dangerous air seemed to be looming over him when he wasn¡¯t wearing sses. Like the top predator, he was ready to hunt her down at any moment. His fingers dug into her hair and his other hand squeezed her arm. With one pull from him, the kneeling Audrey fell into his embrace. She pressed Ryan¡¯s legs for support as she looked at him. Her heart rate went wild. ¡°Do you wish for me to return? Or, like what Mr. Lambert Senior wants, to stay out of your lives for once and for all after leaving?¡± His voice was deep. The expressionless man didn¡¯t like sumbing to his lustful desires. But when it came to Audrey, the beast in him had its eyes only on her, so obsessive that its character was twisted to some point. As though cast by magic, he had a strong sense of possession over her. After the frenzy point. He desperately wished to chain her by his side forever, devouring her all day and night. However, he was aware that she didn¡¯t like him back then. There was a long way for him to go. Furthermore, before they slept together, he had gotten in touch with his biological father¡¯s former subordinate. Ryan didn¡¯t want to expose Audrey to danger. four- After George sent Audrey away ago, it took everything in Ryan to keep his rationality intact. He rebuilt a wall in his heart and restrained himself from looking for her. Last night, when she wrapped her arms around his neck and confessed that she wanted more of him, he almost lost his mind. No matter how much she cried and begged, he didn¡¯t let her go. Like a greedy python from the profound depths of a forest, he devoured her and wanted more and more from her. He couldn''t bring himself to let her go anymore. Thus, he was offering thisst chance to her. Returning to the Kingston family meant being exposed to more danger, and Ryan knew that. If Audrey wanted a divorce, he would do anything in his power to rein in the beast in him. There''d be necessary arrangements to ensure Audrey¡¯s and the kids¡® future well-being before he cut ties with them. Next, he would return to the world he belonged to, disappearing from their lives. If Audrey was willing to stay with him, he wouldn''t give her the chance to leave his side ever again. What if it meant dragging her into an abyss? He wouldn¡¯t let her go either. Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Chapter 208 After the intimate night they shared four years ago, Ryan''s desire for Audrey peaked at a frenzy point. He desperately wished to chain her by his side forever, devouring her all day and night. However, he was aware that she didn¡¯t like him back then. There was a long way for him to go. Furthermore, before they slept together, he had gotten in touch with his biological father¡¯s former subordinate. Ryan didn¡¯t want to expose Audrey to danger. After George sent Audrey away four years ago, it took everything in Ryan to keep his rationality intact. He rebuilt a wall in his heart and restrained himself from looking for her. Last night, when she wrapped her arms around his neck and confessed that she wanted more of him, he almost lost his mind. No matter how much she cried and begged, he didn¡¯t let her go. Like a greedy python from the profound depths of a forest, he devoured her and wanted more and more from her. He couldn''t bring himself to let her go anymore. Thus, he was offering thisst chance to her. Returning to the Kingston family meant being exposed to more danger, and Ryan knew that. If Audrey wanted a divorce, he would do anything in his power to rein in the beast in him. There''d be necessary arrangements to ensure Audrey¡¯s and the kids¡® future well-being before he cut ties with them. Next, he would return to the world he belonged to, disappearing from their lives. If Audrey was willing to stay with him, he wouldn''t give her the chance to leave his side ever again. What if it meant dragging her into an abyss? He wouldn¡¯t let her go either. Chapter 208Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Never. Back to the present, Ryan¡¯s shrewd eyes were so forceful that she began to tear up. ¡°lm scared... I''m scared that it''ll hurt Mr. Lambert Senior and her.¡± It broke his heart to see her cry. His Adam¡¯s apple rolled as he lowered his head, drawing closer to her. Noticing his intention, she held her breath. ¡°Do you like me?¡± His lips brushed across hers, giving her ayer of goosebumps. She reached out to shove him away, but he grabbed her hands and coiled them around him. Her body inclined backward to avoid his advances, but he held her shoulders to cage her in his arms. His lips crashed hers, sucking them. ¡°Do you like how | kiss you?¡± Before she could answer, his tongue slid through her teeth into her mouth. Holding the back of her head, he deepened the kiss. Audrey thought that she was losing her soul to those fierce smooches. Ryan¡¯s lustful desire for her was never a whim. It was always there, driving him insane all the time. Something in him screamed to cover her innocent eyes with his necktie. He her to see how crazy he was for her. He also wanted to tie her hands so that she couldn''t resist. didn¡¯t want He didn¡¯t miss the sight of her taking in his advances with her eyes shut. Lecherous imaginations filled his head to the brim. Forcefully, he pushed her onto himself. Veins across his arms, neck, and forehead popped over his skin. Apitless abyss was stirring in his eyes¡ªa sign of him slowly losing his mind. Before she was out of breath, Ryan finally spared her. He was panting heavily from the kiss. Audrey, nestling in his arms, held his shoulders while taking deep breaths for air. Chapter 208 Dizziness swirled In her head as she heard his heavy breathing. H eyelids fluttered like a butterfly. Somehow, she felt that the man in front of him was apletely different person from the gentleman she knew. His gaze was everything she needed to tell that he wanted to swallow her whole. The intensity in those eyes would only grow stronger over time, and he was like a wolf in sheep''s clothing. She had all the reasons to believe that she¡¯d die in bed if she confessed to him right now. Finally regaining herposure, she responded, ¡°I''ll think about it and give you an answer at the birthday party.¡± His lustful eyes stared at her for a moment before he kissed her again while holding the back of her head. Unable to hold herself back, she craned her neck to take it in. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck on their own ord. Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Audrey suddenly lost the pull of gravity. Ryan lifted and settled her onto hisp, pushing her closer to himself. Their lips didn¡¯t leave each other for even a second. Something began to bulge against her butt. Feeling uneasy, she held his shoulders so that she could support herself instead of saddling on hisp. She dodged his lips. Her cheeks were flushed red and she couldn''t calm down her heart. Avoiding his gaze, she cleared her throat. ¡°I-I still have work.¡± He didn¡¯t respond to that. His adam¡¯s apple rolled and he tucked her hair strands behind her burning ears. He nted a kiss over her ear, an attempt to break through her resistance. In fact, no one knew how uneasy Ryan was. Something in him believed that Audrey would choose to divorce in the end. If that was the case, he wouldn¡¯t want to miss any opportunity to quench his desire now. That was why he didn¡¯t give a fig about anything else other than stering himself to her. ¡°Ryan...¡± Her fingers curled as they clung onto his shirt.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Her eyes were pooling with tears, and her choking voice tickled his chest. ¡°I¡¯m kinda scared of you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± His throat felt rough, as if they were sandpaper. With her heart sprinting, she tried to ignore the embarrassment. ¡°You''re too fierce. | think... I''ll die tonight.¡± That was enough to make the walls of his rationality crumble. Again, he kissed her deeply and hugged her tightly. ¡°I''ll be very gentle,¡± he murmured against her lips. Chapter 209 Hands lifting her butt, he cradled her to the bedroom without stopping the storm of kisses. The door mmed shut and there began another sleepless night for the couple, Audrey woke up at noon the next day again. Ryan wanted to sleep with her in his arms, but there were far too many things to settle because he was going to leave Lambert Corporation after the birthday party. Last night, she did experience a gentle ministration from him for the first time. However, the gentleness was way too grinding and became a torture for her. She touched her hurting lips and got up from bed. Noticing a memo from Ryan atop the bedside table, she reached out to take it. ¡®| might be backte today. Remember to have your meals and don¡¯t stay upte tonight.¡± Audrey fetched her phone to check the messages from Shawn.. ording to Shawn, Nathan had promised to purchase all the forms. He was hoping to pay a lesserpensation by mitigating the leakage of information. She locked her phone screen and put on a robe, standing still for a moment to get used to her wobbly legs. Following that, she headed to the open kitchen to drink water. She leaned against the counter while texting Jessica, informing her to change all the apparatuses every time an experiment was done. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Audrey reyed the experiment recordings again and again. Jessica¡¯s hands were steady. She could carry out the experiments almost exactly the same as her previous attempts. However, there were still problems with the data. Thus, Audrey had reasons to suspect that it had something to do with the apparatuses. Audrey was determined to go outdoors today no matter what. There was only a week left before George¡¯s birthday party, and getting him a present was quite an urgent matter. Since he had all kinds of mystical collections, sincerity mattered the most. A few days ago, she was on the phone with Jerry March, a prominent potter. He was going to release a new work these few days. George loved pottery, so she decided to drop by Jerry''s pottery studio to try her luck and see if his new collection was out or not. As soon as she got changed, the doorbell rang. Audrey went to check the surveince footage. To her surprise, it was George and Edward! Instinctively, she looked back to check the living room. It would be bad if Ryan had left his belongings there. Her eyes scanned every corner. After making sure that there was nothing that belonged to him, she primped her hair and opened the door. ¡°Hi, Mr. Lambert Senior.¡± She turned sideways to make way for George. Yet, he stood at the doorstep, not intending to enter the house. ¡°Sorry for stopping by without a call beforehand. Are you busy?¡± ¡°No. Don''t be sorry. It¡¯s fine.¡± Audrey grinned. ¡°Come on in.¡± ¡°I''ll stay and wait for you here, sir.¡± Edward smiled. She nodded and grabbed a pair of new male slippers for George. When he took a seat on the couch, she asked, ¡°Anything you''d like for a drink? | don¡¯t have your favorite peppermint tea, though. How about ginger tea?¡± Thautes 210 U He seemed surprised that she still remembered his favorite. A smile beamed on his face.¡± Sure. Thank you.¡± As he watched her head to the kitchen to make tea for him, the fury in him slowly subsided. He was actually still angry at Ryan, but George cast his attention to Audrey¡¯s house. It wasn¡¯t a huge ce, but it was clean and tidy. It was enough for her to live alone. His gazended on a button beside the desk and he paused momentarily.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Holding his cane, he headed over to pick it up. A button from a male¡¯s shirt. George gazed at Audrey, who was busy in the kitchen. ¡°Is she dating someone?¡± he wondered. He ced it on the table with both his hands ced on top of the cane. A crease deepened between his brows. Actually, he was here to tell her that he was going to introduce a potential spouse to her. If Audrey had a boyfriend... Before George could think further about it, she served the tea on the table. ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. Once she sat on the single-seater couch, he nudged his chin at the button. ¡°Are you seeing someone?¡± Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Chapter 210 Audrey reyed the experiment recordings again and again. Jessica¡¯s hands were steady. She could carry out the experiments almost exactly the same as her previous attempts. However, there were still problems with the data. Thus, Audrey had reasons to suspect that it had something to do with the apparatuses. Audrey was determined to go outdoors today no matter what. There was only a week left before George¡¯s birthday party, and getting him a present was quite an urgent matter. Since he had all kinds of mystical collections, sincerity mattered the most. A few days ago, she was on the phone with Jerry March, a prominent potter. He was going to release a new work these few days. George loved pottery, so she decided to drop by Jerry''s pottery studio to try her luck and see if his new collection was out or not. As soon as she got changed, the doorbell rang. Audrey went to check the surveince footage. To her surprise, it was George and Edward! Instinctively, she looked back to check the living room. It would be bad if Ryan had left his belongings there. Her eyes scanned every corner. After making sure that there was nothing that belonged to him, she primped her hair and opened the door. ¡°Hi, Mr. Lambert Senior.¡± She turned sideways to make way for George. Yet, he stood at the doorstep, not intending to enter the house. ¡°Sorry for stopping by without a call beforehand. Are you busy?¡± ¡°No. Don''t be sorry. It¡¯s fine.¡± Audrey grinned. ¡°Come on in.¡± ¡°I''ll stay and wait for you here, sir.¡± Edward smiled. She nodded and grabbed a pair of new male slippers for George. When he took a seat on the couch, she asked, ¡°Anything you''d like for a drink? | don¡¯t have your favorite peppermint tea, though. How about ginger tea?¡± Thautes 210 U He seemed surprised that she still remembered his favorite. A smile beamed on his face.¡± Sure. Thank you.¡± As he watched her head to the kitchen to make tea for him, the fury in him slowly subsided. He was actually still angry at Ryan, but George cast his attention to Audrey¡¯s house. It wasn¡¯t a huge ce, but it was clean and tidy. It was enough for her to live alone. His gazended on a button beside the desk and he paused momentarily. Holding his cane, he headed over to pick it up. A button from a male¡¯s shirt. George gazed at Audrey, who was busy in the kitchen. ¡°Is she dating someone?¡± he wondered. He ced it on the table with both his hands ced on top of the cane. A crease deepened between his brows. Actually, he was here to tell her that he was going to introduce a potential spouse to her.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. If Audrey had a boyfriend... Before George could think further about it, she served the tea on the table. ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. Once she sat on the single-seater couch, he nudged his chin at the button. ¡°Are you seeing someone?¡± Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Audrey''s and Ryan''s marriage registration in Runa didn¡¯t matter because there was no record of it in the country, ¡°This is the reason why I¡¯m here. To give up a heads-up so that you can be mentally prepared.¡± Holding his cane, George stood up, Audrey hurriedly supported him. Although he seemed healthy, fatigue was a natural part of aging. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hold me. I¡¯m okay.¡± He patted the back of her hands and walked outside himself. She walked him to the doorstep. Edward quickly handed her a stack of documents. ¡°Aside from Mr. Samuel''s details, here are thetest information on the BODs and top management of Lambert Corporation. Please memorize them before the party.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± She took the documents. ¡°| should get going now. You don¡¯t have to worry about Wanda. She¡¯s been in a good mood thanks to the kids. The kids are doing fine too. ¡°Right now, you should focus on Lambert Corporation,¡± George reminded her. ¡°After the birthday party, you can move to Lambert Residence if you want to, though it¡¯s kinda far from thepany.¡± Audrey nodded. George and Edward entered the elevator. The former gave it a thought before questioning, ¡°Two years ago, Ryan gave Wanda a condominium in Autumnvale for her birthday, didn¡¯t he? If | remember correctly, it¡¯s closer to thepany.¡± Edward bobbed his head. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s on the top floor. Mr. Samuel is staying there too.¡± ¡°Ask someone to renovate the ce. If Audrey thinks that Lambert Residence is too far from thepany, she can move in there. This ce is too small.¡± No matter how he thought about it, George figured that Audrey''s current ce was too small. ¡°Okay. I''ll ask someone to get the job der.¡± Edward noticed George¡¯s bad mood. ¡± Actually, Ms. Audrey is as capable as Mr. Ryan. Evergreen Biotech managed to secure its Chapter 212 footing within three years. Even Meria sees it as a formidable existence. Her achievement is solid.¡± ¡°Had Nathan not caught up with her, she would¡¯ve been able to study her Ph.D. starting from the age of 13 and achieve something better.¡± George held grudges when it came to this. Back then, this was the reason that he grew less fond of her. Fortunately, she hase back to her senses now, Still, he couldn¡¯t shake off the possibility of her getting deceived by men again, It worried him. ¡°Find out who her boyfriend is. | don¡¯t want her to be deceived again.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Edward replied. After sending George off, Audrey flipped through the documents from Edward in the living room. The file about Samuel was ced aside. She leafed through the documents regarding the BODs and top management of Lambert Corporation. She encountered some of the people from the top management with Ryan before. Her phone vibrated and she cast a glimpse at the phone screen. It was Taylor. She answered the call. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Matteo is in the country. He invited me for dinner. Wannae along?¡± He asked. Taylor and Matteo were alumni and they got along well. This was something Audrey knewter on.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What brings him to the country?¡± Her fingers flipped the pages. ¡°| think it¡¯s for hispany¡¯s spokesperson, the celebrity that saved him in Itaylio.¡± He giggled mischievously. ¡°Your ex¡ª husband''s fianc¨¦e.¡± Her brow arched subconsciously whilst her hand stopped flipping through the documents. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Was Amelia trying to ask a favor from Matteo to help Nathan? Taylor spected, ¡°I think Amelia is going to ask Matteo to help Nathan avert the crisis. I¡¯m going to try to dig up some information tonight, so you wanna help me out? ¡°Matteo admires you so much without knowing that you¡¯re the founder of Evergreen Biotech. If he finds out that you''re the founder, he might start to pursue you. He''ll make the perfect stepfather for Das and Lily,¡± ¡°Do you want me to snitch to Jessica?¡± Audrey counterattacked. ¡°Please don''t! I''m sorry! | was wrong!¡± He surrendered. ¡°So, are youing tonight?¡± ¡°Count me in. But let¡¯s keep the fact that I¡¯m the founder a secret.¡± ¡°Okay, | got your back. He''ll be ted to know that you¡¯reing tonight.¡± She hung up the call and looked at her wristwatch. It was time to go to Jerry¡¯s studio. Audrey parked her car in front of his studio located in the suburbs. To her surprise, Amelia and Ynda were there too. Comment by samantha tay: RAW says that she got changed. but she actually got changed before George and Edward came, so | omit yaa ¡°Audrey!¡± Amelia was surprised to see Audrey there. Amelia¡¯s hands balled into fists subconsciously when she recalled what Charles and Audrey had bet in the casino. Turning her head, Amelia spoke to Ynda. ¡°Ynda, wait for me. Amelia stepped forward, getting in Audrey¡¯s way. ¡°Audrey, did you make a bet with Charles in the casino on purpose because of what happened to your sister?¡± Amelia¡¯s eyes were teary. Audrey chuckled lightly. ¡°Bingo! But, so what if he loses? Doesn''t Nathan like cleaning up Charles¡® mess?¡± Amelia chewed on her lips. ¡°About the forms, do you have something to do with it?¡± ¡°Forms?¡± Audrey feigned confusion, which caused Amelia to doubt her suspicions. Perhaps, Nathan was right about her overthinking about it. Audrey''s biggest supporter was merely Ryan, an adoptive child of the Lambert family. That was it. On top of that, Ryan didn¡¯t dare to help Audrey overtly, Considering how he was busy at the moment because of Lambert Corporation, he might not be in the state of mind to help her with unnecessary revenge. Joining hands with an illicit casino to go against Charles? Amelia believed that Audrey would never do that. ¡°Sorry, Audrey, | was just being paranoid. Franklin Group and Nathan are in huge trouble, so...¡± Amelia apologized. Politely, Audrey said, ¡°If that¡¯s it, could you make wayAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Audrey, there¡¯s one more thing!¡± Amelia tightly grasped the hem of her shirt. ¡°Could you be honest with me? C¡ªCould you tell me if your kids belonged to Nathan? | lost my parents when | was young, so...¡± Amelia¡¯s voice was choked as she spoke. Audrey chuckled. ¡°Interesting. You guys keep asking me the same question. Just how desperate are you guys wishing for that to be true? As | said many times before this Nathan''s not the father. ¡°If you still feel uneasy after marrying Nathan, you can ask for a paternity test. | can give you their hair strands or something. Now, could you make way please?¡± Shifting her body sideways, Amelia made way for Audrey. Ynda, crossing her arms while standing next to Amelia, nced at Audrey¡¯s car and bag. ¡°What is she doing here? Buy pottery? Can she afford something made by Mr. March?¡± Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Chapter 214 ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Ynda! You might not know this, but Audrey... She¡¯s a capable woman. A very capable woman,¡± Amelia blurted from the bottom of her heart. As someone who once followed Audrey¡¯s footsteps, Amelia was aware of Audrey¡¯s capability. ¡°How could you be so naive? You''re basically exaggerating her achievements while disparaging yourself. You¡¯re a capable woman yourself too! You''re a global star!¡± Ynda flicked Amelia''s forehead. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s go.¡± Jerry was enjoying coffee in his rocking chair. He noticed Audrey as soon as she walked into the pottery studio. ¡°Audrey!¡± He approached her with a smile, still wearing an apron. ¡°Jerry, how have you been?¡± She held his arms, grinning. ¡°Am never as good as | can be right now! It¡¯s all thanks to you. You talked me into taking a medical checkup. If it wasn¡¯t for you, | wouldn''t have been able to be where | am right now.¡± He pulled her to a seat. ¡°Come, sit.¡± Audrey sat down on a stool and dly took the nuts from him. ¡°You told me that you¡¯re going to release a new collection, so I¡¯m checking to see if it¡¯s out yet. ¡°Someone elderly in my family is going to have his birthday soon. He loves your work, so I¡¯d hope to get something made by his favorite potter.¡± Jerry''s disciple, Nick Moore, served a cup of coffee on the wooden table. ¡°You came just at the right time, Ms. Audrey! He made it this morning. He called it ¡®The New Disciple Jerry stood up and beckoned her over. ¡°Forget about the coffee. Come. Let me show you. | kept it and didn¡¯t put it on disy.¡± As soon as the duo breezed away, one of the employees asked Nick, ¡°Mr. Moore, Amelia- the big star¡ªis at the exhibition hall. She wants to purchase Mr. March¡¯s work. Could you be at her service?¡± He removed his apron. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m on my way.¡± Amelia and Ynda appreciated the works ced in the exhibition hall. Ynda scanned the area with furrowed brows. ¡°Didn¡¯t we see Audrey? | don¡¯t see her anywhere.¡± Nick slid through the door and stered a polite smile on his face. ¡°Hi. May | know what kind of work you¡¯re looking for? Is it for a gift or for a personal collection? | can give rmendations.¡± Ynda glimpsed over Nick¡¯s shoulder before smiling back. ¡°Is there another customer today?¡± ¡°You are the only ones in the exhibition hall for now,¡± he answered. Amelia gave Ynda a look and hinted at her to stop. Amelia took over the conversation. ¡°My foreign friend is interested in our local culture. Mr. March¡¯s work is known for high demand in the market. | came here to buy his work, but | don¡¯t see any here.¡± ¡°Sorry, but Mr. March hasn''t been feeling well these years. It also has been a while since he retired.¡± He began to introduce other works on disy, ¡°These are made by my seniors. It''ll be a nice gift for foreigners.¡± ¡°We want something from the famous Mr. March. Take a closer look at the person in front of you. This is Amelia Doyle¡ªa global star who doesn¡¯tck money,¡± Ynda said. ¡°This is not about money. Mr. March rarely makes anything nowadays because of health issues.¡± He was patient. ¡°Rarely? Means he did make something.¡± Her tone was pushy although she was smiling. ¡°Ynda.¡± Amelia nudged at Ynda before apologizing, ¡°Sorry, it''s kinda urgent so my friend¡¯s getting impatient. The thing is, I¡¯d like to give it to Mr. Russo. It¡¯s an opportunity to carry our culture beyond the borders, so we¡¯d like to purchase Mr. March''s work.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°Could you speak to him about it? See if there¡¯s anything that we can give to Mr. Russo as a present? Please.¡± Amelia appeared to be the good guypared to Ynda¡¯s attitude. Besides that, Amelia was the spokesperson of EF Group. The fact that it would be a gift for Mr. Russo wavered Nick. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Nick nodded. ¡°Give me a moment. | shall seek his opinion.¡± He strode away. Ynda spun to look at the man who first escorted them. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there ady that came at the same time as we did? Where is she?¡± ¡°Oh, she¡¯s Mr. March¡¯s old friend. They¡¯re having coffee together.¡± He smiled. Ynda froze momentarily before frowning at Amelia. ¡°What¡¯s with Audrey? Why is everyone acquainted with her?¡± The revtion caught Amelia off guard as well. ¡°Say, do you think... that there¡¯s something between Audrey and Mr. March?¡± Taking the dirtiest angle to judge others became Ynda¡¯s habit after having witnessed the filthy depths of showbiz. Brows knitting together, Amelia hushed, ¡°Cut it out! Mr. March is old enough to be her grandfather.¡± Ynda wound her arm over Amelia¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Which exins his kink for young and prettydies. He could be generous with his money. ¡°Aren''t you worried about Nathan having lingering feelings for hertely? If you tell him this... Say, do you think he''ll like someone filthy?¡± ¡°Stop, Ynda! Don¡¯t see her the way you see people in the showbiz. I¡¯ve owed her way too much already!¡± Amelia scowled. Meanwhile, Audrey was marveling at Jerry¡¯s newly made porcin te. She didn¡¯t dare to touch it. The flowers on it seemed so real¡ªvibrant in a rainbow of colors. ¡°The New Disciple¡¯... The name fits it so well.¡± She beamed at him. ¡°It''s for you!¡± He announced. ¡°How can | possibly get it for free? People out there are dying to get your work.¡± She insisted on paying.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If it weren''t for you, | would''ve died. Let alone making pottery. Take it or I¡¯ll feel indebted.¡± He stood firm on his decision. Nick knocked on the door and came up to them, informing Jerry about Amelia''s request. Audrey let out a light chuckde, Amelia was going to give Matteo Jerry''s pottery? Was it an act for Nathan or the Murray family? Jerry noticed. ¡°You know her?¡± Audrey gave film a nod. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s my ex¡ªhusband¡¯s fiance.¡± That answer riveted him for a moment before he told Nick, ¡°Tell that celebrity that | have nothing to offer. She should leave.¡± ¡°Jerry, you don¡¯t have to get your personal feelings involved. This is business,¡± she persuaded. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not the entire reason. It is true that | don¡¯t have the energy to make something new. I¡¯m not epting this order.¡± Jerry patted her hand. ¡°Nick, wrap ¡°The New Disciple¡® for Audrey.¡± Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Chapter 216 ¡°Okay!¡± Smiling, Nick wore a pair of gloves to ce the te into a packaging. ¡°I''ll walk you out,¡± Jerry offered. ¡°Thanks.¡± Audrey took the packaging from Nick and headed outside the studio with Jerry. Jerry said, ¡°Since you''re back in Mythravia, remember to visit me when you''re free. Let¡¯s y chess together. You tricked me into the hospital with a game of chess, which is exactly the reason why I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°It''s mainly because you were willing to trust me.¡± Jerry walked her to the parking lot before leaving. She ced the packaging in the trunk with care. The moment the trunk was shut, a furious Ynda bulldozed her way to Audrey. Amelia was chasing behind Ynda. ¡°Ynda, stop!¡± Ynda raised her hand, ready to p Audrey. Audrey raised an eyebrow, grabbed her wrist and flung a p over her cheek in return. Taking another kick in the stomach, Ynda fell onto the ground. ¡°This is bully, Audrey Yeomans!¡± Wiping her hands with a napkin, Audrey shot a scornful look at Ynda. ¡°Bully? Funny. | was just standing here and you suddenly came up to me to hit me.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Ynda!¡± Amelia helped Ynda up. Ynda¡¯s finger pointed at Audrey. ¡°Did you stop Mr. March from doing business with us? Did you sleep with him? Oh, | bet you did. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have listened to you! Amelia was like a flustered bunny. ¡°Stop rambling nonsense, Ynda! I¡¯m so sorry, Audrey. | apologize on her behalf.¡± Audrey shed a smirk at Ynda before shifting her gaze onto Amelia. Then, Audrey got into her car and started the engine. The jumpy Ynda kept barking like a mad dog and Amelia tried to calm her down. Chapter 216 212 Audrey wound down the car window. ¡°You want to buy Jerry¡¯s pottery as a gift got Mr. Russo, right? Amelia, are you doing this for Nathan or for the Murray family?¡± Audrey dropped the question. Amelia''s face lost its color. Hearing Matteo¡¯s name from Audrey was like holding Ame at gunpoint. Amelia¡¯s reaction amused Audrey as she grinned. Wearing her sunsses, she maneuvered the wheel and drove away. ¡°What is that bitch talking about? How does she know that Mr. Russo is in the country?¡± Fear slowly crept into Ynda. ¡°This is bad. Audrey must be very livid. She''s going to tell Mr. Russo that she¡¯s the savior, not me! If that happens, how am | going to help Nathan and Frankin Group?¡± Amelia¡¯s eyes lost their focus. Ynda grabbed Amelia¡¯s hands and held the back of her head. ¡°Calm down. | will help you. Trust me.¡± Chewing her lip, Ynda looked in the direction Audrey left. If Audrey dared to bully Amelia and hit her, she would return the favor for sure! ¡°Let''s go. We have to pick a gift for Mr. Russo.¡± Ynda helped the crying Amelia to the car. After sending Ame home, Ynda dialed a number outside the building. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Chapter 217 ¡°Hello? Do me a favor and I''ll pay you 50 thousand dors. Once it¡¯s done, I''ll pay two times more of that.¡± Ynda held her stinging red cheek, her eyes fierce. Her showbiz career had been smooth sailing these years. No one had the nerve to hit her. As the manager who wrapped her global star around her fingers, she was held in high regard in the industry. Getting pped by a country bumpkin was not something she could condone. On her way back from Jerry¡¯s studio, Audrey received a message from Taylor. Taylor shared the diner location for today¡¯s hangout followed by a voice message. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare stand us up!¡± After cing Jerry¡¯s work at home, she texted Ryan about her hangout because she didn¡¯t want to interrupt his work. Although he said he would bete home, she might returnter than him. The night painted the sky ck. Audrey put on simple makeup and wore a piece of tailored champagne dress. Letting her slightly curly hair rest over her shoulders added a luster of grace to her look. Her wristwatch was the only essory worn, but itplemented very well with her clutch bag. Sophisticated and graceful, she was a beauty to behold. Before she left the house, Taylor called to hurry her up. ¡°I''m leaving the house.¡± Audrey chuckled. ¡°It''s not like | want to hurry you up, but Matteo said that he¡¯d like to see you soon. You left a deep impression on him in Slovomia a few years ago. He enjoyed talking to you. Show some courtesy. You¡¯re beingte.¡± A mischievous giggle came from him. He continued, ¡°All this time, thedy is usually the one to hurry him up. This is my first time seeing how much he cares for someone. What do you think of him? | can be the matchmaker.¡± Chapter 217 ¡°Do you want me to call Jessica after the dinner?¡± Audrey breezed out of the elevator and noticed a car at the entrance. From the wound¡ªdown window, she could see a man in the passenger seat watching her before looking down at a picture. Acut mark on his face. A cigarette bitten between his lips. Danger. Holding her phone tightly, she pushed the entrance door and continued speaking to Taylor over the phone. Adriver was waiting for her there, in the car. She spared the driver a nce and hopped on. Taylor begged for mercy, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for our precious Das and Lily! If you don¡¯t want a partner, fine. | won''t bring this up again. I¡¯m hanging up. I¡¯m going to arrive there soon. You better hurry-¡± ¡°| spoke to Jessica over the phone yesterday...¡± She observed the driver, nothing off about him. Next, she looked in the rearview mirror only to realize that the scarred man was following closely behind her car. Calmly, she said, ¡°What did you say to her? She doesn¡¯t even want to hear your name, though.¡± ¡°What else could it be? | was rejected. What a miserable life I¡¯m living.¡± Taylor sighed. ¡°| called a cab. I¡¯m on my way now. Could you pick me up at Peace Street? We can go to the restaurant together,¡± she asked. Something wasn¡¯t right. ¡°Did something happen?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yeah. How long do you need?¡± she confirmed. ¡°Five minutes. I''ll drive back right away! What''s the license te?¡± His tone was solemn. ¡°A ck Audi A8...¡± she told him the license te. Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Chapter 218 ¡°Don''t hang up the call. Talk to me. Anything will do.¡± ¡°Since you care for me so much, let me tell you a secret. Actually, Jessica has feelings for you, but she can¡¯t ept that you''re younger than her by six years. That¡¯s why she chose to avoid you. Step up your games. Be more shameless. As long as you don¡¯t disturb her when she¡¯s working, you might stand a chance,¡± Audrey hinted. ¡°You still have the mood to care about my love life at this moment? Thank you, man.¡± ¡°Jessica''s kinda awkward sometimes. She says things she doesn¡¯t mean. You have to read between the lines and determine which are lies and which are her truthful words.¡± ¡°Boss, why are you still giving me lessons on how to win Jessica¡¯s heart? You''re in danger. I¡¯ve reached the junction between Peace Street and Rainbow Street.¡± ¡°I''m worried that you''ll end up single forever,¡± Audrey joked. Her eyes kept staring at the car behind. The moment the driver made a turn, she saw Taylor. Parking his car at the junction, he shed the headlights without a care of the world. He noticed the ck car and hurriedly marched forward. ¡°| can see you.¡± She hadn¡¯t terminated the call. She instructed the driver, ¡°Please let me off by the road.¡± Taylor personally opened the door for her. When she got into the car, he asked, * Something wrong with the driver?¡± The ck Passat behind them could be seen through the rearview mirror. ¡°Someone¡¯s following me from my ce.¡± Taylor buckled up his seatbelt while scanning behind. ¡°That ck Passat?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Let''s see if it really is them.¡± He started the engine. Later, he drove around Mythravia with the ck Passat hot on their heels. ¡°They are after you!¡± Taylor smirked. ¡°| don¡¯t think it''ll go away any time soon. Let¡¯s go eat first. We can investigate who¡¯s Chapter 18 after thister.¡± Audrey appeared all calm. ¡°Okay. I''ll call someone toe overter.¡± They led the ck Passat circle a few rounds in the city, so they werete. Matteo, who was sitting in the best seat, kept checking the time. He took a sip of lemon water and looked at the entrance. Finally, an escort was ushering the duo to the seat.. Her dress swirled under the dim light along her steps. Despite her simple outfit, her fair skin and defined features captured all eyes as soon as she showed up. Grinning, Matteo pulled out the chair for her. ¡°Long time no sec.¡± Hernguid presence and confidence became more captivating than before. There was also adylike elegance in the air around her, something shecked in the past. She also appeared gentle with her hair let loose.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Long time no see.¡± She dly imed the seat with a smile. Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Chapter 219 ¡°After the Slovomia symposium, | had a lot of questions. | often asked Professor Ilyich about you, but he said that you were injured. And | didn¡¯t hear any news of you thereafter. ¡°Matteo nced in Taylor¡¯s direction. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to go to Evergreen Biotech.¡± Taylor nodded with a proud smile. Matteo¡¯s jaw would surely fall to the ground once he found out that Audrey was the founder of Evergreen Biotech. ¡°Yup.¡± She looked at Taylor. ¡°Mr. Campbell''s offer was too enticing for me to turn it down.¡± Matteoughed. ¡°What about now? I''m still hoping for you toe to my team. Professor Ilyich said that you are our best shot. We need someone professional in both biological genes and cranial nerves. | will propose the best offer to you.¡± All these years, Matteo hadn¡¯t given up on the brain¡ªmachine interface yet. However, the deeper the research went, the more hurdles they faced. He desperately needed Audrey¡¯s help. That was why he was anxious to meet her today. The ze in his eyes red. Taylormented, ¡°You can never take her away.¡± He thought that Matteo was being all impatient to pursue her, but it turned out that Matteo wanted to steal talents! ¡°If you''re interested in it, you can go through the information.¡± Matteo came fully prepared as he handed her his tablet. She took it and tucked her hair behind her ears to peruse the information. Annoyed, Taylor knocked on the table. ¡°Can we eat first?¡± ¡°Order something for me. | want to read ¡®em.¡± Audrey seemed to be interested. Matteo arched his eyebrow at Taylor and drank water. What would an adventurous schr and experimentist love? Matteo knew the answer challenges. Money could never affect them. Chapter 219 Taylor rolled his eyes at his friend and drank water too. It was funny considering how Taylor was actually working for her. Matteo was basically asking the founder of Evergreen Biotech to abandon herpany to join his team. Was that even usible? Suddenly, Audrey¡¯s finger stopped scrolling on the tablet screen. Her head snapped upward, she looked at Matteo. ¡°Is it okay for you to show me this confidential information?¡± Smiling, he switched their tes of steak. He already cut his into pieces while she didn¡¯t have the time to do it. ¡°This is my way to show how sincere | am about the offer.¡± She locked the screen to return him the tablet. ¡°I can¡¯t read the rest. Although | haven¡¯t decided whether to join your team, | can act as an advisor. You can look for me if you have questions.¡± ¡°But | still hope that you can give it a thought. This technology can bring benefit the whole society.¡± Pictures of Audrey and Mattoe having dinner together were shared with George.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. George made his way to the deskmp with his phone. In the picture, Matteo was giving the te of sliced steak to Audrey. George began to question if Matteo was Audrey''s boyfriend. ¡°This is Mr. Matteo Russo from EF Group.¡± Edward gave George details of Matteo. George leafed through the pages. Instead of mingling around with celebrities and young models, Matteo devoted most of his time to his career. He had been indulging in experiments on the brain¡ªmachine interface in recent years. Amelia¡ªNathan¡¯s fianc¨¦e¡ªwas the only celebrity he interacted with. George¡¯s brows knitted. ¡°Why is it Nathan again? What? His fianc¨¦e is Mr. Russo''s savior? George took his sses on and new te uvum ¡°| think Audrey should distance herself from Nathan. Nothinges good whenever he¡¯s involved.¡± He held his teacup. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush things. As you said, Ms. Audrey didn¡¯t admit that she has a boyfriend. In other words, they¡¯re still at the stage of getting to know each other. Maybe, she''ll be interested in Mr. Samuel once she meets him at the birthday party.¡± George nodded in agreement. ¡°So... do | have to look deeper into her rtionship?¡± asked Edward. George said, ¡°No. Audrey might not like it when she finds out about it.¡± He remembered how Ryan was upset about having someone following him. It was a lesson learned. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Audrey, Taylor and Matteo walked out of the restaurant after dinner. It was cold outside. Gentlemanly, Matteo removed and draped his coat over her shoulders. Warmth was overflowing from his eyes. ¡°Jeez!¡± Taylor tucked his hands into his pockets, arching an eyebrow. ¡°No wonder you''re still single,¡± she teased. The annoyed man became speechless. ¡°| hope you''ll consider my offer again,¡± reminded Matteo sincerely. Noticing the ck Passat by the road, she gave Taylor a meaningful look, to which he nodded. ¡°lll return your coat to you at ater date.¡± She might not have time to return the coat to Matteo a whileter, hence the heads¡ª up. While Matteo walked her to the cab, Taylor bit a cigarette at the corner of his lips. When he was lighting it up, he turned his head to face the ck Passet. The cloud of ¡°| think Audrey should distance herself from Nathan. Nothinges good whenever he¡¯s involved.¡± He held his teacup. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush things. As you said, Ms. Audrey didn¡¯t admit that she has a boyfriend. In other words, they¡¯re still at the stage of getting to know each other. Maybe, she''ll be interested in Mr. Samuel once she meets him at the birthday party.¡± George nodded in agreement. ¡°So... do | have to look deeper into her rtionship?¡± asked Edward. George said, ¡°No. Audrey might not like it when she finds out about it.¡± He remembered how Ryan was upset about having someone following him. It was a lesson learned. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Audrey, Taylor and Matteo walked out of the restaurant after dinner. It was cold outside. Gentlemanly, Matteo removed and draped his coat over her shoulders. Warmth was overflowing from his eyes. ¡°Jeez!¡± Taylor tucked his hands into his pockets, arching an eyebrow. ¡°No wonder you''re still single,¡± she teased. The annoyed man became speechless. ¡°| hope you''ll consider my offer again,¡± reminded Matteo sincerely. Noticing the ck Passat by the road, she gave Taylor a meaningful look, to which he nodded. ¡°lll return your coat to you at ater date.¡± She might not have time to return the coat to Matteo a whileter, hence the heads¡ª up. While Matteo walked her to the cab, Taylor bit a cigarette at the corner of his lips. When he was lighting it up, he turned his head to face the ck Passet. The cloud of Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 George took his sses off and threw the documents aside without reading all of them. ¡°| think Audrey should distance herself from Nathan. Nothinges good whenever he¡¯s involved.¡± He held his teacup. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush things. As you said, Ms. Audrey didn¡¯t admit that she has a boyfriend. In other words, they¡¯re still at the stage of getting to know each other. Maybe, she''ll be interested in Mr. Samuel once she meets him at the birthday party.¡± George nodded in agreement. ¡°So... do | have to look deeper into her rtionship?¡± asked Edward. George said, ¡°No. Audrey might not like it when she finds out about it.¡± He remembered how Ryan was upset about having someone following him. It was a lesson learned. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Audrey, Taylor and Matteo walked out of the restaurant after dinner. It was cold outside. Gentlemanly, Matteo removed and draped his coat over her shoulders. Warmth was overflowing from his eyes. ¡°Jeez!¡± Taylor tucked his hands into his pockets, arching an eyebrow. ¡°No wonder you''re still single,¡± she teased. The annoyed man became speechless. ¡°| hope you''ll consider my offer again,¡± reminded Matteo sincerely. Noticing the ck Passat by the road, she gave Taylor a meaningful look, to which he nodded. ¡°lll return your coat to you at ater date.¡± She might not have time to return the coat to Matteo a whileter, hence the heads¡ª up... While Matteo walked her to the cab, Taylor bit a cigarette at the corner of his lips.. When he was lighting it up, he turned his head to face the ck Passet. The cloud of Chapter 220 smoke masked the emotions in his eyes. Matteo pulled the car door open for her. After she entered the car, he held the roof with one hand and grabbed the door with the other. ¡°Audrey, | hope we can work together someday. Really.¡± ¡°I''ll give it a thought.¡± She shed him a smile. The cab drove away, followed by the ck Passat. Taylor bid Matteo goodbye before following them. Once Taylor¡¯s car left, a fewmercial cars, which had been there the entire time, quickly caught up with them. In the car, the driver kept glimpsing at her through the rearview mirror. Her fingers didn¡¯t stop typing messages. When the car was driven out of the urban area, she sent Taylor a message.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Next, she locked her phone screen to smile at the driver. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± As soon as she finished, Taylor¡¯s car elerated all of a sudden to force the cab to stop. The driver became frantic. He quickly turned around to grab her, but she secured his arm and twisted it against the back of his seat. He yelped at his dislocated arm. Taylor got out of his car, loosening his tie before dragging the driver out of the vehicle. The person in the ck Passat noticed the change of situation and made a detour to run away. Suddenly, lights began shing in front of them. To their dismay, the road was blocked off by the sixmercial cars which were perfectly in line. Before the Passat could reverse backward, anothermercial car charged at its trunk from behind out of nowhere. Anxious, the driver in the Passat looked at the man in the passenger seat. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s no way out!¡± The scarred man grabbed a bat and opened the door. ¡°No way out? We''ll make a way out! Get ¡®em!¡± Five men got out of the Passat. The cab driver was thrown in their direction. Chapter 220 Taylor and Audrey stood in front of the illuminating headlights. By the time she buttoned up Matteo¡¯s coat, Taylor''s men had the enemies surrounded. ¡°Boss, what should we do to them?¡± inquired Taylor. She walked into the circle, grinning at the anxious men. ¡°What were you trying to do bringing me all the way here?¡± Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Taylor¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°Don¡¯t waste the chance I¡¯m giving you to talk!¡± The six people huddled back to back while holding sticks in their hands without saying at word. Audrey sighed while Taylor gestured with a stern face. Soon, the six people were beaten to a bloody pulp, and they all screamed in agony. Twenty minutester. Audrey walked up to the six people lying on the ground who were barely breathing. She took out a photo from Andrew¡¯s shirt pocket and looked down at them, asking, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance to talk. Who sent you to deal with me?¡± Before Andrew could respond, his phone, which was lying nearby, rang. Just as Andrew reached for his phone, Audrey¡¯s high¨Cheelsnded on the back of his hand, and it caused him to scream in Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. pain. Audrey bent down to pick up the phone and looked at Andrew, whose mouth was gagged, then answered the call. ¡°How¡¯s it going? Is it done?¡± Ynda¡¯s voice came through the phone. Audrey raised an eyebrow. She nced at Andrew, whose mouth was gagged. ¡°Are you Amelia¡¯s manager?¡± Upon hearing Audrey¡¯s voice, Ynda immediately hung up the phone. Audrey chuckled lightly as she looked at the hung¨Cup phone. Then, she opened Andrew¡¯s WhatsApp and saw a screenshot of a payment from Ynda. Audrey looked at Andrew and asked, ¡°Why did Amelia¡¯s manager give you 500,000 dors? What were you supposed to do with it? If you don¡¯t talk now, you won¡¯t have another chance after I leave.¡± Andrew looked at Audrey, whose smile had a deeper meaning. Then, he nced at the thugs around him. Fear crept into his heart, and finally, he nodded. After the rag stuffed in Andrew¡¯s mouth was removed, he said, ¡°It was Ynda who gave us 500,000 dors to film a video of you and¡­ and cut your face. There¡¯s a record of the Chapter 221 conversation in the phone call. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can listen to it.¡± Audrey raised an eyebrow. Amelia¡¯s manager was indeed ruthless. Of course, Audrey knew what kind of video he was talking about. Her despicable methods were the same as Charles¡®. Taylor clenched her fists tightly. She kicked Andrew in the face. ¡°You bastard!¡± She found the folder in the phone where the call recordings were stored. Then, she yed Ynda¡¯s call recording. 2/2 ¡°Bring more people. Make sure to capture her enjoying it on video. Get a clear shot of her face! If the video isn¡¯t usable, I won¡¯t pay for the final installment. After she¡¯s done, cut her face, got it?¡± ¡°Film her video? Won¡¯t we be on camera too? What if you use the video to threaten us? We¡¯ll end up in jail if you report us for rape!¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that stupid? I¡¯ll use the video to threaten Audrey, that bitch! What do Bhave that¡¯s worth threatening? you Upon hearing this, Audrey paused the phone call recording. This evidence alone was enough. Audrey handed the phone to Taylor, who was grinding his teeth in anger. ¡°What should we do next?¡± Taylor asked. Audrey nced at Andrew. ¡°Asw¨Cabiding citizens like us, we should naturally hand him over to the police station. You should know what to say when you meet the police! If I find out you¡¯ve said anything untrue, I don¡¯t think you¡¯d like to see the consequences.¡± Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Andrew nodded repeatedly. ¡°I understand. Since I¡¯ve been deceived by that bitc,h Ynda, she shouldn¡¯t have it easy either!¡± If Ynda had truthfully told him how powerful Audrey was and that she had someone backing her, he would have demanded an extra 500,000 dors to be fully prepared! Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t done anything to this woman yet. Judging by her appearance, she had some power backing her. She was not to be trifled with. Audrey got into Taylor¡¯s car and headed back. Taylor was furious. ¡°How can Matteo¡¯s savior turn out to be such a despicable person! How dare she make her manager do such a thing? I won¡¯t let her off easily!¡± Audrey looked out of the pitch¨Cck window indifferently. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, Amelia is likely unaware of this. Amelia has always been a pure little flower!¡± Even if it was just a pretense. Taylor frowned. ¡°You¡¯re Nathan¡¯s ex¨Cwife while Amelia is his current fiancee! If it wasn¡¯t Amelia, who else could have done this? Don¡¯t think too highly of people! If it weren¡¯t for your alertness, who knows what could have happened?¡± Audrey¡¯s lips curled up, just like they did with Charles. ¡°From what I know of Amelia, she would at most turn a blind eye to this happening. She would never have ordered it. But since Ynda is Amelia¡¯s manager, let¡¯s put Amelia on the hot search as well!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Ynda hung up the phone, feeling anxious. She wondered how Andrew managed things so poorly. Audrey had answered the call with a calm voice, so Andrew probably hadn¡¯t seeded in the n and had been caught instead. Amelia came out after showering and saw Ynda pacing anxiously by the tall window. ¡°Ynda? What¡¯s wrong?¡± As soon as Amelia finished speaking, the doorbell rang and the housekeeper opened the door. A police officer stood at the door and shed his badge. ¡°Ms. Jones, pleasee with us to assist with the investigation!¡± Chapter 222 Ynda¡¯s face turned pale instantly. As Taylor¡¯s car stopped downstairs at Audrey¡¯s house, photos and videos of Ynda being taken away by the police had already made it to the hot search, though they were currently at the bottom. By the time Audrey said goodbye to Taylor and went upstairs to her door, the hot search had climbed up to the third spot. However, she didn¡¯t notice that along with it, a search term about Matteo¡¯s alleged rtionship had also risen. After Audrey opened the door, she saw Ryan standing by the coffee table. He was looking through Samuel¡¯s files with an angry tone on the phone. ¡°Yes, take it down! Remove them even if they¡¯re censored!¡± Ryan seemed to have just returned. His suit hadn¡¯t been taken off yet, and he still looked as meticulous as when he went to the office. Ryan nced over as he heard the door opening. He threw the files on the coffee table and hung up the phone while unbuttoning his suit jacket. Then, his gaze fell on Audrey¡¯s oversized suit jacket. ¡°Is it over?¡± Ryan draped the suit jacket over the back of the armchair. Audrey had already told Ryan about her dinner with Taylor and Matteo that day. Audrey changed her shoes and came in. She didn¡¯t intend to tell Ryan about Ynda having someone follow her to avoid worrying him. She simply said, ¡°Yes. Mr. Lambert Senior came today.¡± Chapter 223 Chapter 223 When Ryan saw the files on the table, he already knew that George had been here. Ryan loosened his tie and sat on the armrest of the single couch as he watched Audrey approach him. After unbuttoning the top button of his shirt, he grabbed Audrey¡¯s wrist and pulled her closer to him. He then unbuttoned her suit, which belonged to Matteo and threw it aside with disgust. ¡°Do you know that pictures of you and Matteo have gone viral?¡± Ryan asked. Audrey looked puzzled and reached for her phone, but Ryan stopped her. ¡°I¡¯ve already had the trending topic taken down.¡± The image of Matteo cutting steak for Audrey and then escorting her to the car after they left the fancy restaurant irritated Ryan. Ryan¡¯s voice was gentle as he asked, ¡°He cut steak for you and even helped you put on your coat. Even if you¡¯re friends, isn¡¯t that crossing the line?¡± ¡°These past few years, Matteo has been researching brain interfaces, hasn¡¯t he? He asked me about it during an exchange meeting in Slovomia a few years ago. This time, he was so attentive during dinner because he wanted to invite me to join his team.¡± Audrey looked at Ryan and realized that he was jealous. Still, she hid her smile and didn¡¯t call him out on it. ¡°So, is that why you allowed him to cross the line or do you have some other intentions with him? If you¡¯re considering a future with him, I wouldn¡¯t rmend it. ¡°You might as well go with Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s rmendation for Samuel.¡± Ryan¡¯s dark eyes behind his sses made it hard to discern his expression. Audrey was taken aback. ¡°Do you want me to choose Samuel?¡± Ryan held the back of her head with one hand and wrapped the other around her waist. He then pulled her into his arms, and his tone was possessive as he said, ¡°I want you to choose me.¡± Audrey¡¯s handbag dropped as she ced her hands on Ryan¡¯s chest. Her heart raced uncontrobly once again. Her gaze involuntarily fell on Ryan¡¯s lips, which were dangerously close. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Just as she was about to speak, she was tenderly kissed by Ryan¡¯s scorching lips. Chaker 223 He kissed Audrey as he stood up. ¡°Mmm¡­ ¡°Audrey moaned. Her steps faltered as Ryan¡¯s kiss made her retreat. Soon, she was pushed back against the dining table behind her. Her long skirt was pushed up, and Ryan gripped her legs, pulling her toward him. Their bodies were pressed tightly together. Despite Ryan kissing her more gently than ever, Audrey couldn¡¯t help but tremble. As Audrey wrapped her arms around Ryan¡¯s neck and responded to the kiss, Ryan, who had always been calm, grabbed the back of her head and kissed her almost frantically. His kisses grew deeper and more forceful as he pressed her slender, soft waist against him. It wasn¡¯t until Audrey was about to suffocate that Ryan finally released her lips. His breathing was heavy as he gently brushed his fingertips over her lipstick¨Cstained lips. His voice was hoarse as he said, ¡°There are only a few days left until Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s banquet. I¡¯ll patiently await your answer. Ryan took off his tie from the stiff cor of his shirt and wound it around his palm. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± As Audrey watched Ryan¡¯s back as he picked up his suit and headed to the guest room, she struggled to calm her racing heart as she got off the dining table. She felt embarrassed and bit her lip. She came to feel because of Ryan¡¯s kiss, only to realize that he had no intention of continuing. It was so embarrassing! How did she be so lustful and unrestrained? Back when she and Nathan were together, Nathan had asked to have sexual intimacy with her countless times, but she couldn¡¯t get past the obstacles in her mind. But now, she was easily seduced by Ryan. Their first time together had been because of the effects of drugs. But what about the many times after that? Chapter 224 Chapter 224 She was ignited so easily by Ryan. She even found herself anticipating what might happen next. Had her psychological trauma unknowingly healed over time, or was it Ryan¡¯s dominant nature that had healed her? Blushing, Audrey tucked her hair behind her ear and picked up her handbag and Matteo¡¯s suit from the floor. She recalled Ryan¡¯s dark expression when he was on the phone just now. She was unsure if he was jealous. If she were to be with Ryan, they would undoubtedly face significant troubles and pressures in the future. After all, Ryan was the adopted son of the Lambert family. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Even if Ryan were to leave the Lambert family, there was no denying the fact. Audrey liked Ryan. However, she didn¡¯t know if she had the courage to face future troubles and pressures. She also didn¡¯t know if she had the courage to resist George. Unable to sleep after taking a shower, Audrey tossed and turned in bed. She wondered if Ryan nned to sleep in the guest room. As she was about to get out of bed to go to the kitchen for water, she was startled to see Ryan standing outside with a towel around his neck and wet hair. ¡°Was Amelia¡¯s manager trying to harm you?¡± Ryan¡¯s phone was still lit up. It seemed he had just hung up. Audrey nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to tell you to worry you.¡± ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Ryan pulled Audrey out of the dim bedroom into the living room and sat her down on the couch to check her. Audrey responded to Ryan¡¯s examination while saying, ¡°I¡¯m fine. They didn¡¯ty a finger on me. As soon as I went downstairs, I noticed someone was tailing me. So, I had Taylor call some people to beat them up and send them to the police station. It also caused Amelia¡¯s manager to trend on social media,¡± As Ryan examined and confirmed that Audrey was fine, he sat on the coffee table with a frown. His stern and narrow eyes looked at Audrey, silent, as if lost in thought. If Audrey were to be with him, they might still face such situations. Are you scared?¡± Ryan asked. Audrey shook her head. With a hint of a smile in her tone, she said, ¡°I have nothing to be afraid of, I thought her methods were too low¨Clevel, and she even left such a big evidence. As long as I don¡¯t agree to settle, I can get her at least three years in prison.¡± Hiring someone to harm others was indeed a low¨Clevel tactic. If one ever wanted to deal with someone, never use methods that would leave evidence. Just like Audrey, if she wanted to deal with Charles, she wouldn¡¯t simply hire someone to do it. As long as she led him astray and set traps for him in advance, he would dig his own grave. Ryan¡¯s expression turned cold. His eyes behind the lenses were calm and they showed no signs of emotion. After a while, he said, ¡°You should go to bed.¡± Andrey looked at Ryan¡¯s still damp hair and nodded. ¡°Remember to dry your hair before sleeping.¡± the She went to the kitchen to pour herself a cup of hot water. She saw Ryan still sitting on coffee table and poured another cup for him as well. She walked over and handed him the cup of hot water. Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Ryan took the ss of water, and he instructed her, ¡°You should sleep early.¡± As Audrey heard the closing door of her bedroom, Ryan lowered his gaze and took a sip of the hot water she had given him. He the clenched the ss and walked to the guest room. The veins on the back of his hand bulged, and his jawline tensed. He dialed a number on his phone and spoke in a cold, stern tone. ¡°I don¡¯t want those people, including Amelia¡¯s manager, who were involved in today¡¯s incident toe out unscathed. Understand?¡± When Audrey woke up at seven in the morning and went to brush her teeth, her hand froze upon checking her phone and seeing the top trending news. Amelia¡¯s manager, Ynda, who was detained for attempted crime, was beaten unconscious in the detention center and urgently sent to the hospital. After rinsing her mouth, Audrey leaned against the sink and scrolled through the photos on her phone. Audrey raised her eyebrows and dialed Taylor¡¯s number. ¡°What¡¯s this tactic? Medical parole? Did Amelia¡¯s manager get medical parole?¡± Taylor couldn¡¯t hide his gloatingughter as he spoke. ¡°No. I just got off the phone with thewyer, and she really got beaten up in jail! I heard that Ynda was beaten unconscious by the people detained with her. They found out that Ynda ordered someone to film indecent videos of another girl, so they beat her half to death! Isn¡¯t this a case of the wicked reaping what they sow?¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Audrey responded. Then she heard the beep of another iing call on the line. Seeing it was an unknown number, she said to Taylor, ¡°I forgot to ask you yesterday. How long did you give Nathan?¡± ¡°I gave him a week.¡± ¡°We can send Charles to jail now.¡± Audrey heard the beep of another iing call again. It was the same number as before. She said through the phone, ¡°I have to hang up now. There¡¯s another call.¡± ¡°Alright! Charles won¡¯t escape for stealing trade secrets! As for the vicious act the of your ex¨C husband¡¯s fiancee did, don¡¯t worry, I will make sure to get her the harshest. punishment through legal means,¡± Taylor said. manager After hanging up, Audrey answered the other call and pushed open the bathroom door to Chapter 225 walk out. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± 2/2 Amelia¡¯s voice came through the call and her tone was faintly tinged with cries. ¡°Audrey! I¡¯ve heard about what happened to Ynda. I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault. Ynda wanted to hurt you because of me! Audrey, I know it¡¯s too much to ask now, but can you forgive Ynda?¡°¡± Audrey held the ss of water and walked out of the bedroom. She said into the phone, ¡°I thought you should be more concerned about Nathan. I didn¡¯t expect you to have time to worry about your manager.¡± In fact, when Audrey received Amelia¡¯s call, she though Amelia had seen the trending news from the night before and wanted to ask if she had already told Matteo that Amelia wasn¡¯t the one who saved him years ago in Itaylio. She didn¡¯t expect Amelia to call to plead for her manager. Amelia sobbed. ¡°I do want to help with Nathan¡¯s situation, but didn¡¯t you meet with Matteost night? I have no way out now. Ynda has been helping me since I debuted! All I can do for Ynda now is to come to you for help! Please, Audrey. After all, nothing happened to you. Ynda is bleeding in her brain now. She just had surgery and is still in danger.¡± Audrey calmly added water to her ss. ¡°Amelia, have you ever thought about what would have happenedst night if I hadn¡¯t been lucky enough to discover someone following me? Maybe now your manager would be threatening me with the video of my attack while I¡¯m lying in the hospital bed! I was lucky to find out early and avoid any harm! Your manager was determined to spend money to harm me! Instead of pleading with me, you¡¯d better find a goodwyer for your manager. I will definitely sue her for the harshest punishment.¡± With that, Audrey hung up the phone and blocked Amelia¡¯s number. She picked up the ss of water, drank it all, and nced toward the guest room. She wondered if Ryan had woken. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. up yet. Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Audrey walked to the guest room door and knocked, intending to ask Ryan if he wanted breakfast, but there was no response. She pushed the door open. The room was neatly arranged and showed no signs of anyone sleeping there. The bathroom was empty too. He couldn¡¯t have gone to work so early, could he? Audrey tightened her nightgown. Just as she was about to take out her phone, hesitating whether to call Ryan and ask, she received a message, and it was from Ryan. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Ryan¡¯s message read, ¡°I won¡¯te over these days. I¡¯ll pick you up on the day of Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s birthday banquet.¡± Audrey returned to the living room and sat down on the couch. She held her phone. absentmindedly. In fact, Audrey had felt something was off with Ryan since the previous night. She was sure that he had come to have feelings for her at the dining hall, but he had stopped just in time, unlike the previous days when he had been relentlessly pursuing her with aggressive dominance. She had clearly felt Ryan¡¯s mad possessiveness toward her before. But now, was he deliberately being cold to her? But why? Was it because he saw Samuel¡¯s profile? Was it because he was jealous and upset when she wore Matteo¡¯s suit? Or was he tired of her? It wasn¡¯t until she heard the sound of rain tapping on the windows outside that Audrey snapped out of her thoughts. She got up and walked to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, looking out at the pouring rain in Mythravia. She didn¡¯t know when she had started feeling anxious about Ryan. Perhaps it was because a man as calm andposed as Ryan had shown her extreme and intense affection in private, and his sudden withdrawal left her at a loss. Aside from Nathan, Audrey had little experience with romantic rtionships. She was arguably nk in that regard. Chapter 226 Her Initial rtionship with Nathan had been natural. She had been attracted to Nathan¡¯s persistent and somewhat obsessive love for her. This was because she was abandoned by her family and needed such love to fill the void in her heart. To Audrey, Ryan had always been more rational than emotional. Audrey would have found it hard to imagine that she would one day harbor illicit thoughts about Ryan, who was always in suit. Pushing aside her jumbled thoughts, Audrey warmed up a ss of milk and sat down on the carpet near the couch. She flipped through the files of the board members and senior executives of Lambert Corporation that Edward had sent over. Once she got into work mode, Audrey quickly pushed aside her distractions, After finishing reviewing the documents, Audrey called Edward. ¡°Edward, could you please provide me with the information on the families of the board members and senior executives of the group as well? It would be best if there are photos to prevent me from not recognizing them when I meet them in the future.¡± ¡°Have you finished reviewing the documents?¡± Edward asked. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve finished reviewing them all. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve remembered everything,¡± Audrey replied. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll organize it and send it to your email before tonight.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey stretchedzily. It was already past four in the afternoon. She had only drunk a ss of milk since she woke up this morning, and now, after finishing reviewing all the documents, she started to feel hungry. Audrey¡¯s phone vibrated, and she turned around to pick it up from the couch. It was a call from Daphne. She answered, ¡°Daphne!¡± ¡°Audrey, Azure, Joseph, and I came to Mythravia University for an exchange and it¡¯s just finished now. We¡¯re going back to Cloudmill tomorrow. Do you have time tonight? Let¡¯s have dinner together!¡± Daphne sounded cheerful. ¡°Why did you only tell me now?¡± Audrey was also pleasantly surprised. ¡°Oh! That old geezer said you¡¯re busy now and told us not to disturb you while we¡¯re in Mythravia. But since we¡¯re leaving tomorrow, I couldn¡¯t resist calling you!¡± Daphne Chapter 227 Chapter 227 ¡°Are you guys at Mythravia University now? Let me pick you up from there and take you to the restaurant!¡± Audrey nced at her watch. It was almost time. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Mythravia is so jammed! We¡¯ve already booked a restaurant, I¡¯ll send you the address. Leave a bit earlier so you won¡¯t get stuck in traffic! After dinner, Joseph wants to take us to a fun ce!¡± After hanging up, Daphne quickly sent the restaurant address. Audrey changed her clothes and grabbed her bag. Just as she was about to head out the door, she was startled to see someone standing outside. ¡°Ms. Yeomans,¡± a tall, slender young man, around twenty¨Csix years old, greeted Audrey with a nod. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m your bodyguard. Julian arranged for me toe here. If you¡¯re going out, I have to apany you to ensure your safety. You can call me Peter.¡± Peter Peak sounded somewhat inexperienced. ¡°How long have you been waiting outside?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°My working hours are from seven in the morning to ten at night. If you continue to stay outside after that, it counts as overtime for me,¡± Peter replied earnestly. Audrey noticed there were no takeout utensils outside, so she asked, ¡°Have. you e eaten anything since this morning?¡± ¡°I had an energy bar.¡± Audrey was speechless. Just as she was about to call Ryan, she hesitated, worried that he might be busy. Thus, she dialed Julian¡¯s number instead. Soon, Julian answered the call. ¡°Ms. Audrey.¡± ¡°Did you arrange the bodyguard for me?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Lambert is concerned about your safety, so he asked me to arrange a bodyguard for you. Since it was a bit rushed this morning, I only picked one person. There will be a new bodyguard for you tomorrow morning. They¡¯ll be working in shifts to ensure your safety.¡± Chapter 227 2/2 Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Audrey closed the door behind her. As she walked toward the elevator, Peter had already pressed the down button. She nodded in thanks. ¡°This is a bit exaggerated, Julian. Over these years, I¡¯ve also practiced some self¨Cdefense. I¡¯m notpletely defenseless.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Maybe you can discuss it with Mr. Lambertter.¡± Julian chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Is he busy these days?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Yes, Mr. Lambert will probably be workingte tonight.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand. Make sure you all have your meals.¡± Peter dropped Audrey off at the restaurant¡¯s entrance, where Daphne, Azure, and Joseph were already waiting. Daphne rushed forward and hugged Audrey enthusiastically. ¡°Audrey, we¡¯ve won!¡± Audrey congratted her with a smile. She then turned to Peter and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and grab something to eat too? I¡¯ll be fine with my friends. If I leaveter, I¡¯ll call you.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Peter nodded. Daphne nudged Audrey¡¯s arm with her elbow. ¡°Wow, what¡¯s going on? Is this your boyfriend? He looks pretty young! What a pup!¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that look in your eyes?¡± Azure nced at Daphne with disdain before gossiping with Audrey. ¡°Are you taking a bodyguard with you everywhere now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go in! It¡¯s our turn on the waiting list!¡± Joseph checked his phone and urged them. The trio and Audrey had simr tastes. They all enjoyed the hotpot. Fortunately, Joseph had reserved a spot for them online ahead of time, allowing them to get seated as soon as they arrived. During dinner, Joseph received a call from Nathan. He identally let it slip that he was eating with Audrey. After hanging up, he apologized to Audrey, ¡°Sorry, Audrey, I didn¡¯t mean to let it slip!¡± Chapter 228 Chapter 228 ¡°Joseph¡¯s mouth is like a leaky sieve. Tell him something, and it¡¯s guaranteed to leak out within an hour!¡± Azureined. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°I heard that the coboration between the Franklin Group and Evergreen Blotech ran into trouble. Speaking of which, it¡¯s karma for Audrey¡¯s sc*mbag ex¨Chusband! Still, Joseph¡¯s family wants to help him.¡± Daphine fumed. She took a bite of snacks while ring at Joseph. Joseph hurriedly exined himself. ¡°This has nothing to do with me! It¡¯s not me who wants to help him! Besides, even if I wanted to help I wouldn¡¯t be able to! Audrey smiled and sipped her drink without saying a word. It turned out Nathan sought help from the Gough family overseas! No wonder he had the confidence to negotiate with Taylor forpensation. ¡°Never mind. Never mind. Let¡¯s forget about it. Joseph said he¡¯s treating us to a night at the Night Pce. Let¡¯s take advantage of it and squeeze him for all he¡¯s worth!¡± Azure suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the Night Pce in Mythravia. They say just the membership fees there are over 200,000 dors a year, and the average spending per person inside starts at 20,000 dors! Their servers are either ripped guys with eight¨Cpack abs or hot women! We¡¯ll gain insights! You¡¯d better keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, I¡¯ll tell my husband that you¡¯re the one who insisted on dragging me to see male models!¡± Daphne grinned mischievously, then quickly turned to look at Joseph. Joseph made a motion of zipping his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll keep it a secret this time! Just after finishing dinner, Audrey was escorted out of the hot pot restaurant by Daphne and Azure on either side of her. Peter put down his burger and hurried over from the car. Audrey said to Peter, ¡°You can go back now! I¡¯m going out with friends. We¡¯ll go back togetherter! I¡¯m not alone. You go back and rest early!¡± Earlier, Audrey and Azure had already made a n. After all, Ryan wasn¡¯ting over these days anyway. ¡°But Julian said¡­¡± Audrey smiled at Peter, who seemed young. ¡°Julian listens to me too! It¡¯s inconvenient for you to follow us. Why don¡¯t you take a cab back. I¡¯ll reimburse you for the fare tomorrow. Peter nodded at the suggestion. He picked up his clothes and burger, then handed the car keys to Audrey. ¡°Alright, Ms. Yeomans, see you tomorrow!¡± ¡°See you tomorrow!¡± Audrey nodded as she took the car keys. Azure watched Peter walk away and nudged Audrey with her elbow. ¡°Your bodyguard looks pretty good! Who¡¯s the julian guy he mentioned?¡± ¡°Why do you have so many questions! Let¡¯s hurry up and go to the Night Pce! I can¡¯t wait to see those guys with eight¨Cpack abs!¡± Daphne said eagerly while looking at Joseph with a red face. Joseph, fearing Audrey¡¯s suspicion, didn¡¯t dare to mention that his membership card was a gift from Nathan. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s go! We¡¯re off!¡± As Daphne anticipated, the servers at the Night Pce were all tall men over six feet with impressive physiques, while the women were all stunning. Daphne dragged Audrey out of the private room and joined the others at the railing on the second floor, where they leaned over to watch the bustling dance floor below. Daphne saw the male and female bartenders delivering drinks and nced at the handsome men and beautiful women dancing on stage. She excitedly nudged Audrey¡¯s shoulder with her fist. ¡°Wow! There are so many guys with abs here! Why are they all so handsome!¡± Audrey covered her arm and couldn¡¯t help but tease Daphne. ¡°Does Justin knows about this?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t have an eight¨Cpack! Look! Look! How can there be such high¨Cquality men here? ¡°Daphne confidently pointed out a bartender in the distance. Audrey followed Daphne¡¯s gesture but her gaze went past the bar to Ryan, who entered through a side door surrounded by a group of strangers. Audrey could barely see Daphne¡¯s face in the dimly lit and dazzling environment of the Night Pce. Still, she managed to spot her. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. The blue and purple lights, along with flickering white lights, flowed over Ryan¡¯s sharply defined facial features, yet they failed to leave any trace of the festive atmosphere on his cold and stern face. Ryan was impably dressed in a shirt, tie, waistcoat, and suit. His trousers were crisply pressed. His expression remained stoic as he walked toward the elevator with a few people respectfully surrounding him. His appearance stood in stark contrast to the men and women in the environment around him. Audrey held onto the railing and took a few steps in the direction of the elevator, but she could only see Ryan¡¯s tall silhouette rising inside the ascending elevator. Didn¡¯t Julian say that Ryan would be workingte? How did he end up here? Daphne caught up with Audrey. Curious, she peered at the elevator ascending. ¡°Audrey, what¡¯s going on? What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m going to make a phone call.¡± Audrey took out her phone after that. Audrey walked to a quieter spot. She had intended to call Ryan, but as she was about to dial, she hesitated. If the call went through, who would she be to ask him where he was? Still, Ryan was here with those people, and Julian wasn¡¯t with him. Audrey couldn¡¯t help but worry that Ryan might be in danger. She decided to call Julian instead. She dialed four times before Julian answered. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Audrey. I was taking a shower.¡± Julian was home? Audrey gripped her phone tightly. ¡°Sorry to bother you. I just wanted to ask if you¡¯re with Mr. Lambert.¡± ¡°No, about an hour and a half ago, Mr. Lambert said it was gettingte and asked us to go home. He should be home by now. Perhaps he still has work tonight, so he went back to his ce,¡± Julian said. So they weren¡¯t together. ¡°Okay, I understand. Thank you.¡± After hanging up the phone, Audrey felt uneasy. She caught the attention of a passing waiter who was about to deliver drinks to a private room. Chapter 229 2/2 With a harmless smile, Audrey asked, ¡°Hello, may I ask what¡¯s on the fourth floor that elevator over there leads to? I¡¯m a little curious and want to take pictures down on the elevator. Can I go up and take a look?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s our boss¡¯s private elevator, and it¡¯s not essible to others. The fourth floor is our boss¡¯s office, and it¡¯s off¨Climits,¡± the waiter exined. So that was the boss¡¯s office up there. No wonder there was someone guarding the elevator. Audrey watched the waiter leave and eventually decided to call Ryan again. It rang three times, but there was no answer. Audrey sent him a message instead. ¡°I need to talk to you about something. Please call me back when you see this message. If it¡¯s not convenient, you can just reply with a text.¡® She gave Ryan half an hour. If he didn¡¯t respond within that time, she would figure out a way to go 11 and check. She¡¯d be ready to call the police if necessary. Audrey clenched her phone tightly as she looked at the elevator on the fourth floor and then returned to their private room. Daphne was very interested in the waiter with abs. She stood at the door of the private room and happily captured the scene below with her phone. Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Audrey looked around the private room and then turned to Daphne who was in extreme excitement. ¡°Where are Azure and Joseph?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Azure¡¯s first time here at Night Pce. She got excited and dragged Joseph downstairs to have fun,¡± Daphne replied while pointing to Azure sitting at the bar downstairs. She was busy capturing photos of the bartenders mixing drinks. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you down there? Don¡¯t you like men with abs?¡± Audrey teased Daphne. ¡°Sigh! I¡¯m already a married woman! It¡¯s more than enough to be able to watch them. If Justin finds out I went down there, I¡¯ll be in trouble!¡± Daphne pouted. Audrey absentmindedly nced at her phone and there was still no message from Ryan. When she looked up again, she saw Nathan downstairs next to Joseph. Nathan had his hands in his pockets, frowning as he talked to Joseph. He looked up as if he had sensed something and met Audrey¡¯s eyes. Joseph also nced upstairs. In the glimmering and decadent lights, Nathan turned to head upstairs, but Azure blocked his path. She looked angry and said something. Nathan impatiently pushed Azure aside, but Joseph quickly caught her and called out to him. from behind. He and Azure followed Nathan upstairs. A faint smile yed on Audrey¡¯s lips. Was Nathan here to confront her? True, Amelia had a good rtionship with her manager, but Audrey had gotten her thrown in jail. Amelia¡¯s cousin, Charles, had also been sent to prison by her. Anytime Amelia cried in front of Nathan, he was surely going to get anxious. Daphne, who was busy admiring the handsome men¡¯s abs, saw Nathan approaching and immediately pulled Audrey behind her. She grumbled, ¡°Isn¡¯t that your ex¨Chusband? Howe he doesn¡¯t have the decency to act like an ex¨Chusband? A qualified ex¨Chusband should be as dead as a doornail. Does he still want to talk to you?¡± Nathan ignored Daphne, who was petite and blocking him. He looked at Audrey and said, Audrey. Can we talk?¡± The music around them was deafening. Just as Daphne was about to speak, Audrey gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her side. ¡°Nathan!¡± Joseph and Azure caught up with them. Andrey smiled at Joseph and Asure, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m also curious about what Mr. Frankin wants to talk to me about.¡± Audrey and Nathan stepped out of the noisy Night Pce and stood under the dim street lights outside. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Nathan noticed that Audrey was lightly dressed so he took off his suit jacket and tried to put it on her. However, she dodged him. ¡°It¡¯s a bit cold,¡± Nathan said. ¡°Thank you, but no.¡± Nathan looked at Andrey, who smiled with indifferent eyes. His hand, which was holding the suit jacket, dropped. Concerned, he asked, ¡°I heard that Amelia¡¯s manager tried to harm you. Are you okay?¡± Chapter 231 Chapter 231 ¡°So, are you here to plead mercy for Amelia¡¯s manager or to threaten me?¡± Audrey couldn¡¯t help but smile at the memory of Nathan threatening her with the Yeomans family¡¯s power for Amelia¡¯s cousin, Charles. ¡°Audrey, I used to be quite a jerk to you, and I apologize for that. I won¡¯t use the Yeomans family to threaten you anymore. You can rest assured! ¡°I¡¯m only here today to see what kind ofpensation you need to give Ynda a chance to start over. She¡¯s merely afraid that you¡¯ll find Mr. Russo and tell him about what happened in the past. She¡¯s doing everything to protect Amelia,¡± Nathan with a gentle tone with a hint of plea. Audrey¡¯s smile slowly faded. ¡°Mr. Franklin, you¡¯re quite amusing. It¡¯s not Amelia who¡¯s going to jail, so why the hurry? The Franklin Group is in chaos, yet you still have time to waste on someone irrelevant! ¡°Do you think having the Gough family¡¯s backing will solve everything? Shouldn¡¯t you be more concerned about buying the form from Evergreen Biotech?¡± Nathan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Did Taylor tell you all this? What¡¯s your rtionship with Taylor? Was the reason Taylor sent Charles to jail because of you?¡± ¡°Is that any of your business?¡± Nathan stepped closer to Audrey. ¡°Neither Mr. Russo nor Taylor will marry a divorced woman with a child! They¡¯re just being nice to you to get you into bed. You¡­¡± Audrey pped Nathan across the face. Then she grabbed his tie and pulled him closer. Her eyes were icy and nothing like Nathan remembered. Audrey spoke slowly and deliberately, ¡°Not everyone thinks about romance all the time like you do! Just focus on Amelia. ¡°You should put your efforts into managing the Franklin Group and dealing with Evergreen Biotech. Otherwise, the Franklin Group will go bankrupt under your leadership.¡± Following that, Audrey released Nathan¡¯s tie and even tidied his suit for him. She seemed to be in a good mood. Nathan¡¯s breath was heavy. ¡°Audrey¡­¡± Audrey smiled and leaned closer to Nathan. She whispered, ¡°Are you trying to threaten me with the Yeomans family again? Do you want me to persuade Taylor to let Charles go and Chapter 231 also let Amelia¡¯s manager and the Gough family go? ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, a leverage can only be used to threaten me once. You used it to save Charles before, but that¡¯s not enough to continue threatening me.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Just as Audrey turned to leave, Nathan grabbed her wrist. His voice was tinged with frustration as he said, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to threaten you, Audrey. Can¡¯t we just talk? Do we have to be at odds with each other?¡± She turned to look at Nathan, who was holding her wrist. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who drew the sword against me first?¡± As Nathan recalled what he had done to Audrey after his memory loss, his heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand. He let go of Audrey¡¯s wrist as if it had been burned. ¡°Audrey, I¡­¡± ¡°Nathan, don¡¯t appear in front of me again unless you¡¯ve decided to dere war on me for the sake of Amelia¡¯s manager.¡± T After giving Nathan a final nce, Audrey turned and walked toward Night Pce. Under the streetlights, Nathan stood for a moment before pushing open the back door of Night Pce and walking inside. On the fourth floor, Ryan stood by the window with one hand in his pocket. He picked up a ss from the long table beside him and downed its contents in one gulp. He then picked up another ss and did the same. His expression remained indifferent as he stared at the spot where Nathan and Audrey had left, but beneath the surface, his eyes smoldered with intense anger. Looking up from downstairs, one could see the man¡¯s rugged facial features and casual yet elegant posture illuminated by the dim light. His slender fingers, adorned with a wristwatch, lifted the ss to his lips as he downed its contents. The line from his jaw to his neck was entuated by the cor of his shirt, adding to his enigmatic allure. Behind Ryan, the screams were masked by the ear¨Csplitting music from downstairs. Chapter 232 Chapter 232 ¡°Mr. Ramirez! Mr. Ramirez! I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Ramirez! I¡¯ll make sure to discipline my subordinates from now on! Please forgive me!¡± Daniel panted heavily from hitting the man with a golf club. He dropped the blood¨Cstained club from his hand and kicked the man lying motionless in a pool of blood beside him. Then, he gestured for his subordinates to drag the person out and rolled down his sleeves before walking over to Ryan¨Conly to find all the sses on the long table empty. Daniel opened a bottle of wine, poured himself a drink, gulped it down, and then refilled both Ryan¡¯s and his own sses. Leaning against the long table, he asked, ¡°I heard you transferred Peter to protect that woman, right? Is she the one those ipetent underlings went to trouble for? I¡¯m curious as to what kind of woman is so important to you that you¡¯d go to such lengths?¡± Ryan put down his ss and poured himself another drink. After that, he set the ss aside and buttoned his suit jacket before heading out. ¡°Don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t. Make sure the arrangements for the car ident are in ce. Keep it clean and don¡¯t involve the Lambert family!¡± ¡°I understood! After all, the Lambert family has been kind to you! I¡¯ve found the driver who drove for your father back then. We¡¯ll be able to bring him back from Meria without anyone noticing in a few days. Do you want to interrogate him yourself?¡± Daniel still maintained his carefree demeanor. He propped himself up against the long table with one hand, smirked, and raised his ss to Ryan¡¯s back. Audrey had juste up from the first floor when she saw Joseph fighting with someone at the door of a private room. Daphne and Azure were screaming as they were dragged into the private room next door. Her pupils shrank. As she watched Joseph being dragged into the neighboring room, stopped a nearby waiter and said, ¡°There¡¯s trouble in room 8923!¡± she The waiter immediately pressed the earpiece on his chest. ¡°Trouble in room 8923. Security team! Security team, please respond quickly!¡± Audrey hurried toward that room. The fat¨Cheaded man in the adjacent room had already set his sights on Daphne, who had 2/2 been taking photos by the armrest all along. Those who could enter here were either rich or powerful. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t easily cause trouble at Night Pce. However, Daphne¡¯s excitement clearly revealed that it was her first time here. Observing her attire, it was obvious she was a student even more so from a well¨Coff family. Hence, she became a target. After Audrey and Nathan left, the man came over with a ss of wine to offer Daphne at drink. Despite Daphne¡¯s repeated refusals, he persisted. When Azure intervened and identally spilled the wine on the man, his bodyguards intervened. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Both Daphne and Azure were women. Thus, how could they match professional bodyguards? Joseph, who spent most of his time in theb andcked exercise, was no match for them either. Audrey pushed open the door to room 8923 and saw Joseph being forced to kneel on the ground, while Daphne and Azure were held on the sofa. ¡°Hey, another beauty has arrived!¡± The fat¨Cheaded man held Daphne, who was struggling in his arms and gazed lustfully at Audrey. ¡°Audrey, run! Call the police!¡± Azure shouted to Audrey. ¡°Drag her in!¡± The fat¨Cheaded middle¨Caged man instructed his bodyguards. Nathan had caught up. Seeing one of the bodyguards reaching for Audrey, he grabbed her and pulled her out of the room. He kicked the bodyguard in the abdomen and then went in to join the fight after loosening his tie. ¡°Nathan!¡± Joseph watched helplessly as Nathan fought with the bodyguard in the room. He endured the pain in his mouth and joined the fray by pushing away the bodyguard pinning him down. Seeing the situation, Daphne fiercely bit the man¡¯s arm and took the opportunity to break free and run outside. Azure was just pushing away the person beside her when her wrist was grabbed. Audrey had rushed in too. She grabbed Azure¡¯s other hand and kicked the middle¨Caged man who was holding Azure, knocking him down. She pulled Azure and headed out. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Before they reached the door, the middle¨Caged man who had been bitten by Daphne picked up the ashtray and swung it toward Audrey¡¯s head. ¡°Audrey!¡± Nathan kicked away the security guard blocking his path and then shielded Audrey in his arins. The ashtray smashed hard on Nathan¡¯s head. His brain buzzed as if someone had forcefully pressed the shutdown button. His vision darkened, and blood flowed down his forehead. Audrey turned back and saw Nathan, who had covered her, suddenly copse weakly from behind. Instinctively, she reached out to grab him. The middle¨Caged man who had wielded the ashtray viciously raised it again and swung it toward Audrey. ¡°Audrey! Watch out!¡± Daphne, who had already fled to the door, was dragged away just as she screamed. Audrey heard Daphne¡¯s scream and looked up. The bloodied ashtray was only twenty centimeters away from her. She was suddenly pulled backward and mmed into a warm arms. A familiar scent enveloped Audrey. Before she could react, she saw arge hand wearing a steel chain watch grab the hand of the middle¨Caged man holding the ashtray. Ryan. Audrey¡¯s pupils trembled as she looked up at Ryan¡¯s cold and stern face. He was really here. ¡°Audrey!¡± Azure hurriedly pulled Audrey to the door. In the dim and noisy environment, the middle¨Caged man looked at the unexpected neer with a surprised expression. ¡°You¡­ you are¡­ Before the middle¨Caged man could finish his sentence, Ryan¡¯s expression remained indifferent as he grabbed the man¡¯s head and mmed it toward the ss coffee table. The table shattered, and Ryan grabbed the man¡¯s cor and lifted him up. Ryan, nearly two meters tall, exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure just by standing there. The middle¨Caged man couldn¡¯t even stand on tiptoe. ¡°Mr¡­ Mr. Lambert¡­ I was wrong¡­¡± The middle¨Caged man¡¯s consciousness blurred, and he could barely speak. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Ryan¡¯s eyes were cold and indifferent, as if he were looking at a dead man. Chapter 233 2/2 He delivered two punches to the middle¨Caged man¡¯s face without holding back. The man lost consciousness without even struggling, and his body went limp as if he were trash, tossed aside by Ryan. The Night Pce staff, apanied by security personnel, rushed in and controlled the situation. Ryan nced at his injured, bloodied hand. He seemed unconcerned about it, and shook off the ss shards. ¡°Who dares to cause trouble at the Night Pce?¡± the head of security shouted. Noticing Ryan¡¯s narrow and stern gaze, the head of security tensed up. He didn¡¯t say anything but quietly instructed to have the troublemakers taken away. Ryan turned around. His eyes dark and brooding, still filled with hostility, stared at Audrey. Ryan, who seemed aggressive and vicious before her, stirred up an indescribable emotion in Audrey, as if she were meeting Ryan for the first time. This was the first time she had seen Ryan fight, as if he didn¡¯t care about the other person¡¯s life or death. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 The Ryan before her, unlike the one seen on television, sophisticated andposed, was also different from the one who openly dered his desires for her in private ¡°Nathan! Nathan, don¡¯t scare me! Wake up!¡± Joseph held Nathan, who had copsed to the ground. Joseph¡¯s cries brought Audrey¡¯s attention back. She looked down at Nathan, who was lying on the ground after taking the blow meant for her, and quickly dialed 911 on her phone. Audrey had just finished reporting the address on the phone when her arm was grabbed by Ryan, who had a grim look on his face. He pulled her out of Room 8923 and toward the exit of the Night Pce. Ryan, tall and with long strides, walked extremely fast, while Audrey had to jog to keep up with him. ¡°Ryan, slow down!¡± Audrey¡¯s voice was drowned out by the intense music, just like the screams from Room 8923 had been earlier. ¡°Ryan!¡± Ryan dragged Audrey out of the Night Pce through a side door and straight to the parking lot. He walked to the car, opened the passenger door, and tried to push Audrey inside. ¡°Ryan.¡± Audrey braced herself against the car. She was unwilling to get in. Ryan looked at Audrey and chuckled before releasing his grip on her arm. ¡°Are you nning to leave with Nathan?¡± He mmed the passenger door shut with his bloody hand. ¡°Fine, go ahead.¡± His handsome features showed no hint of anger, and he even wore a faint smile. However, Audrey could sense that Ryan was fumed with rage. ¡°No, I¡¯m not going with him. He has nothing to do with me! Your hand is injured. Give me the car keys. I¡¯ll drive you to the hospital.¡± Audrey stared at Ryan¡¯s still bleeding fingertips. She breathed heavily as she reached out to him. Ryan saw the deep concern in her eyes and he gulped. He held a stern look while suddenly started to breathe heavily and rapidly. Audrey felt a strange tingling sensation at the soles of her feet for being stared by Ryan. Chapter 234 She shook her outstretched hand to Ryan. ¡°Give it to me!! He tugged at his tle, muttered a curse under his breath, then grabbed Audrey¡¯s hand with one hand and the back of her head with the other. He pressed her against the car and kissed her. He forcibly pried open her lips, entwining his tongue with hers and kissed her savagely. No matter what situation he faced, Ryan always handled it calmly. His loss of control was all because of Audrey. ¡°Mr¡­ Mm¡­. Audrey¡¯s words were swallowed by Ryan¡¯s kiss. The more she resisted and tried to pull away, the more frantic Ryan¡¯s kiss became. He seemed like a madman on the verge of losing control, which made it hard for Audrey to resist. She wanted to push him away, but one of her hands was pinned by Ryan to the car roof, and the other was firmly held between them, struggling in vain. Audrey¡¯s brain began to feel dizzy fromck of oxygen, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. She recalled what Ryan told her earlier, telling her to leave with Nathan. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. She recalled about her and Nathan being in the same room, fighting with others, and being caught by Ryan! She recalled Ryan¡¯s loss of control. Audrey¡¯s heart beat faster and faster. She understood why Ryan was angry. Ryan had always been bluntly telling her that he liked her! Chapter 235 Chapter 235 However, Ryan also needed Audrey¡¯s affection. Although she seemed to have been drained of all her strength by Ryan¡¯s kiss which left her defenseless, she still tried to respond to him. Audrey sensed a momentary pause from Ryan. Leaning against his neck, she took the initiative. Audrey recalled Ryan¡¯s indifferent expression as he beat up the middle¨Caged man earlier. She tightened her arm around his neck and stood on tiptoe. Her inexperienced and eager response soothed Ryan¡¯s boiling emotions, but his greed and illicit desire for her grew infinitely. He was reluctant to part their lips and tongues. He pulled Audrey into his arms with his bloodied hand, forcefully opened the back seat door and stuffed her inside while she was still dizzy. The door closed. Audrey braced herself and moved backward. She saw Ryan take off his sses and throw them into the front seat. He then quickly grabbed her ankle and pulled her down beneath him as his fingers caressed her face. In his cold, sharp, pitch¨Cck eyes, there was a frightening greed and obsession. The bright red blood on Audrey¡¯s pale face was ringly obvious. She was oxygen¨Cdeprived and still feeling dizzy. Her eyes were filled with tears. She clung tightly to Ryan¡¯s suit and panted. ¡°Your hand needs to be cleaned and bandaged at the hospital. Let me drive.¡± Audrey¡¯s sobbing voice made Ryan lose his wits. He pinched her cheek and kissed her again. He used brute force to pry open her lips and teeth, and their tongues intertwined once again. His rough actions were filled with abnormal fervor. A passing vehicle illuminated them with its headlights. Audrey was startled. She grabbed onto her pants, which were about to be removed by Ryan. She blocked her legs with her hands and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital!¡± Ryan gasped violently in the darkness. It was a close call but was interrupted. His tone was not very nice as he asked, ¡°Are you that concerned about my hand?¡± ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s get your wound cleaned and bandaged. Then, we¡¯ll continue at home, okay?¡± Audrey replied while trembling. Her voice had softened. Chapter 235 Audrey couldn¡¯t see the lustful desire in Ryan¡¯s eyes. All she could feel was his feverish breath against her ear. ¡°Okay?¡± She pleaded softly.¡± What Audrey didn¡¯t know was that her voice was a great indulgence for Ryan¡¯s out¨Cof- control emotions. This only inted his dirty and terrifying desire for her to horrifying extend. 2/2 In the emergency room, a nurse cleaned the ss shards from Ryan¡¯s hand before the doctor came to suture and bandage it. Audrey¡¯s blush hadn¡¯t faded from her ears. She held onto Ryan¡¯s suit jacket and asked the nurse, ¡°He¡¯s been drinking. Can he have anesthesia when getting stitches?¡± Ryan looked down at his hand, which had been washed with hydrogen peroxide, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. The nurse wearing a mask replied, ¡°No, he can¡¯t. He¡¯ll have to endure it.¡± Ryan received three stitches on his hand. As the doctor bandaged Ryan¡¯s wound, Audrey stepped out of the emergency room and called Daphne. Standing in the corner, Audrey felt embarrassed. ¡°Daphne, sorry I didn¡¯t call you back earlier. I was busy. I¡¯ve sent you my location. You and Azure could head over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t worry about us. Azure and I have already checked into the hotel! Joseph has taken your ex¨Chusband to the hospital. I called to ask just now. He¡¯s currently suffering from a concussion and briefly passed out midway. They¡¯re keeping him in the hospital for observation, fearing he might have a brain hemorrhage! Joseph will stay with Nathan at the hospital tonight.¡± Daphne recounted what happened after Audrey left. Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Daphne had witnessed Nathan taking a hit for Audrey. She guessed that Audrey must be concerned about Nathan¡¯s condition out of guilt. Thus, she briefly informed Audrey about Nathan¡¯s situation. ¡°Is that Audrey?¡± Azure¡¯s voice came through the phone. Upon receiving Daphne¡¯s confirmation, Azure took the phone and bombarded Audrey with questions. ¡°Who was the guy that took you away today? Oh my god! The way he smashed the table with that old pervert¡¯s head was so cool! He knocked the old pervert out with just a few punches. Who is this handsome suit¨Cwearing thug? He must be at least six feet tall, right? Is he? His legs must be two meters long, and his presence fills an entire room! His long legs and slender figure exude power! I could sense his handsomeness even in the dim light! Audrey, spill the beans! Is he your new crush? Is he?¡± Audrey absentmindedly touched her burning ear upon hearing Azure¡¯s exaggerated excitement. She awkwardly changed the subject and said, ¡°I was in a hurry earlier. Are you and Daphne hurt?¡± ¡°Daphne leaned closer to the phone and said, ¡°Audrey! Don¡¯t change the subject! Even if Azure didn¡¯t ask, I would have asked too! Who was that man who took you away? He was so handsome!¡± Just as Azure said, the lighting was too dim for them to see clearly. Thus, they could only rely on their intuition to sense that the man was handsome. Still, they didn¡¯t recognize him as Ryan. Audrey saw Ryaning out with his wounds bandaged. She stood up straight and said through the phone. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter! I have to hang up now! Bye.¡± After hanging up, Audrey walked up to Ryan. Seeing Ryan¡¯s injured hand wrapped in gauze and blood staining his shirt cuff, she asked, ¡°How often do you need to change the dressing? ¡°Every three days.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head back now!¡± Audrey worried that Ryan might attract unwanted attention. She pulled out a mask she had requested from the nurse¡¯s desk and handed it to Ryan before grabbing his wrist and leading him to the elevator lobby. As the elevator doors opened, Amelia, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, with red¨Crimmed eyes, was standing inside. ¡°When Amelia looked up and saw Audrey, her pupils shrank. She nced at the tall man beside Audrey, who wore a mask, and whispered, ¡°Audrey.¡± Audrey ignored Amelia. Just as she hesitated whether to enter the elevator or not, Ryan took her shoulder and walked into the elevator. Amelia, too, was heading down to the underground garage. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Amelia and her assistant moved inside the elevator. They looked up at Ryan, then turned to Audrey. Amelia had rushed over upon hearing that Nathan had been taken to the hospital after a fight at Night Pce. Nathan was awake, but for some reason, he had kicked everyone out of the ward, including her. She had gone to knock on his door, but Nathan had told her to get lost! This had never happened before. At first, she thought Nathan had mistaken her voice for that of a nurse or someone else. However, when her assistant knocked on the door and said it was her, Nathan grabbed something and mmed the door. He even told them to stay away. Nathan had said he would find a way to save Ynda earlier that day. However, now he behaved strangely toward her. Amelia looked at Audrey. Seeing Audrey with this tall, injured man by her side made her heart tighten suddenly. Could it be that Nathan had fought with the man beside Audrey? Had Nathan gone to find Audrey? Did Audrey say something to Nathan? Or did Nathan remember something? Amelia¡¯s mind was in chaos. ¡°Ding¡± As the elevator reached the ground floor, Ryan led Audrey out while holding her hand. Amelia¡¯s assistant was a little displeased. ¡°What¡¯s with her attitude? Amelia, you offered to greet her but she didn¡¯t even bother.¡± Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Ryan walked over to the car and opened the passenger door. He gestured for Audrey to get in. However, Audrey walked over to the driver¡¯s seat and opened the door instead. ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking, and you¡¯re injured! Let me drive.¡± ¡°Go to my ce,¡± Ryan said after getting into the car. Audrey drove the car out of the hospital¡¯s underground parking lot. As she nced at Ryan,, who had taken off his mask and closed his eyes to rest in the passenger seat, she felt the need to exin what had just happened. ¡°Today, two seniors and a junior of mine from Cloudmill University came to Mythravia. They¡¯re leaving tomorrow, so we had dinner together. The junior was Joseph, who is also Nathan¡¯s cousin. ¡°After dinner, Joseph invited us to Night Pce, but I didn¡¯t expect to run into Nathan there. Nathan sought me out, and we had a private conversation. He said he wanted me to let go of Amelia¡¯s manager, but I refused!¡± Ryan recalled the image of Audrey gripping Nathan¡¯s tie and standing close to him in the dimly lit street near the entrance of Night Pce. The outline of his jaw bite grew deeper. ¡°Where was Peter?¡± Ryan¡¯s voice was low. ¡°After we finished dinner at the hotpot restaurant, I felt sorry for him waiting alone in the ar, so I let him go home to rest. I didn¡¯t expect any trouble to happen at Night Pce. Don¡¯t me Peter. It was my decision to let him go.¡± ¡°You¡¯re good at looking out for others.¡± Ryan spoke indifferently, and Audrey couldn¡¯t discern his tone. She focused on driving in silence. ¡°Why were you at Night Pce today? Were you there for business?¡± Audrey tried to probe with a casual question. ¡°Yeah.¡± Ryan seemed inclined to talk. Audrey raised the temperature of the air conditioning and drove in silence. What Audrey didn¡¯t realize was that Ryan was only trying to stop absurd thoughts by closing his eyes and not looking at her. Chapter 237 2/2 After witnessing Audrey pulling Nathan¡¯s tie and closing the distance between them, he regretted giving her time until George¡¯s banquet. He wished he could use all sorts of shameless means to force her to stay by his side and to force her to fall in love with him. Ryan lifted his hand to loosen his tie and unbutton the top two buttons of his shirt. He admitted he was jealous. He also admitted that he lost control because of his jealousy. But since he had promised to give her time, he had to keep his promise. After all, this decision affected their future together. ¡°Feeling hot?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Mm,¡± Ryan mumbled. Audrey adjusted the temperature again. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. The car drove into the prestigious vi area. Audrey parked the car in the parking space of a detached vi, and the garage door slowly closed behind them. She nced sideways and noticed that Ryan seemed to be asleep. Carefully and cautiously, she approached him, unfastened his seatbelt, and gently guided it back into ce. Before Audrey could fully release Ryan¡¯s seatbelt, he grabbed her and pulled her onto hisp from the driver¡¯s seat. The seatbelt buckle clicked against the wall of the car. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 The garage shutter hadpletely lowered, and it was terrifyingly dark inside the car. Audrey couldn¡¯t see Ryan¡¯s aggressively prating gaze and could only hear both their breathing. Ryan¡¯s jaw was tightly clenched, and he closed his eyes to steady his breath. Pushing open the car door, he lifted Audrey out. The motion sensor lights in the garage illuminated. He set Audrey down steadily on the ground, then grabbed the suit jacket from the passenger seat, closed the car door, and entered the security code of the vi before heading inside.¡± I¡¯ll have the driver take you back.¡± Audrey hesitated for a moment, but still quickened her steps to follow him into the elevator and up to the house. She watched as Ryan dialed the driver¡¯s number to have the car brought to the front gate. Meanwhile, her hands clenched behind her back. She felt a slight sense of disappointment, though she didn¡¯t quite understand why. Perhaps it was because, despite Ryan¡¯s urgency at Night Pce, he was now sending her back as soon as they arrived at the vi. Was it because she hadn¡¯t exined herself properly, or did her refusal anger Ryan? Or had Ryan grown tired of her? Before Audrey could dwell on her thoughts, her phone rang. ncing at the suit jacket tossed on the couch and the tie tak off by Ryan as he went to the kitchen for water, retrieved her phone. It was Nathan calling. Audrey frowned and blocked Nathan¡¯s number. When she looked up, she found a ss of water ced in front of her. she She nced up at Ryan, whose expression remained unchanged, and took the water. ¡°Thank you.¡± The headlights outside illuminated the view from the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows. Ryan said, The car¡¯s here. It¡¯s gettingte. You should head back.¡± Audrey held the ss of water and nodded. ¡°Be careful not to touch water with your injured Chapter 2001 hand. Take care.¡± Ryan watched as Audrey left. He then ced the ss of water on the side table, unbuttoned his shirt, and went upstairs. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Standing in front of the liquor cab, he poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp. Sitting in the back seat of the car, Audrey leaned her head against the window while watching the bustling streets of Mythravia. She couldn¡¯t quite understand what was going on with Ryan. Perhaps it was because she had so little experience with rtionships. Her past rtionship with Nathan was straightforward. He had always been clear about his intentions, and Audrey never had to guess what he was thinking. But this was Ryan, and Audrey found him difficult to understand. To Audrey, Ryan was always so superior. He seemed to be in control of whatever was going on, and he also had an extraordinary intellect and determination, as well as absolute control over his emotions. She had never imagined that someone like Ryan would lose control and resort to violence. It just didn¡¯t seem like him. Despite his cold and aloof demeanor, Ryan could make Audrey feel overwhelmed by his straightforwardness when they were together alone. It¡¯d cause her heart to race. His possessiveness and powerful desire almost engulfed her. On one asion, he seemed almost ravenous with desire, devouring her with his kisses the night before as well as a moment ago. Yet, not only did he refrain from touching her the night before, but he even said that he wouldn¡¯t go to her ce before the banquet! And just now, he had only handed her a ss of water before sending her away. Audrey¡¯s mind was in turmoil. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 In the hospital, the doctor gave Nathan a sedative to help him fall asleep. Joseph also had injuries on his face, but he sat by Nathan¡¯s bedside and watched as Nathaan frowned and slept. Then, he gazed at his injured arm and sighed. Nathan had acted like a madman just a moment ago. He drove his fiancee, Amelia, away and insisted on leaving the hospital to find Audrey. Joseph suspected that Nathan might have regained his memory. He took out his phone and hesitated about whether to call Audrey and inform her. However, he remembered the man who had just protected Audrey and taken her away. He was worried that she was now with him. What if calling Audrey led to misunderstandings between them? Now that Nathan had a fiancee, and Audrey had someone protecting her, perhaps it was best if Nathan and Audrey had no further contact. When Edmond heard that Nathan was hospitalized, his face turned pale. This was a matter of life and death for the Franklin Group, and Nathan couldn¡¯t afford to let anything happen to him. ¡°Audrey¡­¡± Nathan suddenly clenched the bedsheet beneath him. He murmured Audrey¡¯s name. His forehead and neck were covered in sweat. It was as if he were trapped in a bottomless nightmare. He saw Audrey wearing her middle school uniform while sitting with him on the rooftop and offering him a lollipop. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t go to Mythravia University for my PhD. I¡¯ll grow with you just as I promised.¡± In the sunset, Audrey¡¯s delicate features remained expressionless. Even as the evening breeze tousled her hair, her clear eyes were warm like the setting sun. The scene shifted again, showing Audrey struggling to walk after just recovering from a vegetative state. Nathan had pushed her to the ground. Frustrated, he crushed the lollipop beneath his foot and squatted down while looking at Audrey with tears streaming down her face. ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t want to remember, and I don¡¯t want to try. ¡°Why are you so despicable? I love candy, but I only eat the candy given to me by my sweetle. During military training in high school, several schools went to the mountains together. He had secretly hidden a phone and intended to call Audrey, who had missed training due to an externalpetition. But when the instructors checked the dormitories at night, they found the phone. Inside were all the photos he had secretly taken of Audrey, and the dormitory erupted into chaos. Everyone asked him who the beautiful girl in the photos was, and he proudly dered that she was his wife.. The next morning, he was punished to stand under the national g. Audrey, who had arrivedte due to thepetition, attracted the attention of all the boys in the field as soon as she got out of the car. Nathan had wished that he could find a hole to hide in. He turned his face away in fear that Audrey would recognize him. Audrey ended up taking his cell phone back from the instructor and handing it to him bright and early when he went to the cafeteria for lunch that day. He held Audrey in surprise. ¡°How did you get the phone back for me?¡± Sindy Gray, who was linking arms with Audrey, squealed with excitement and teased him. You have no idea how amazing Audrey was today! She went straight to themander and won back your phone by participating in the shootingpetition! ¡°And then, it got even better! Audrey challenged all the instructors to give you the right to bring your cell phone! Ding ding ding¡­ She won! Our genius goddess strikes again!¡± Audrey smiled as she allowed Nathan to hold her. He whispered, ¡°I won¡¯t let anyone bully you either.¡± The scene shifted again. Hugo brought him and Audrey to the shooting range on a snowy day and told them the story of the military training. But then, he pushed Audrey into the snow, took off his gloves, and pointed the gun at her.¡± If it weren¡¯t for my sweetie, I¡¯d shoot you dead!¡± Audrey broke down emotionally. ¡°Stop calling her sweetie!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Nathan remembered how he climbed over the wall alongside Audrey to skip ss, and how they were caught by the head of the disciplinary office. He also remembered how Audrey had promised to improve his grades by 50 ces in the next exam before they were released from the teacher¡¯s office unscathed. He had taken Audrey to the horse farmter on and intended to show off his riding skills to her. However, he ended up falling off a spirited horse. In the end, he could only watch as Audrey, dressed in riding gear, effortlessly tamed the fiery horse with one hand on the reins. At that moment, Audrey shone brighter than the sun, and he remembered feeling as if his heart was about to burst from his chest. He remembered how he beat up the person who confessed to Audrey. He had panicked when he saw that Audrey noticed him, but she simply grabbed his hand and used a disinfectant wipe to clean his wound. She had also told him not to act so recklessly in the future. Since then, Nathan knew clearly that Audrey only had eyes for him. Her debate team members and clubmates were less important to Audrey than he was. He remembered how he would sneak out during ss to buy Audrey delicious snacks. When they were supposed to have different sses, he would threaten Audrey¡¯s deskmates and drive them away just to switch seats with them. He would sit beside Audrey, observe her in ss, and secretly feed her snacks when the teacher wasn¡¯t looking. Seeing Audrey with her cheeks puffed up, he felt happy. But he ended up getting kicked out by the English teacher of the ss. Later, Audrey came to Nathan¡¯s ss with her books and made his deskmate give up his seat. She had sat right next to him to make sure that he didn¡¯t skip ss. That was when he found out that Audrey had approached the principal and requested to be transferred to the regr ss. He knew that Audrey did it for him, and he was so happy that he couldn¡¯t sleep for days. Some people were jealous of Audrey¡¯s consistent top performance in exams, so they criticized her behind her back and said that she was bing too proud and arrogant. Chapter 240 2/3 They had said that if Nathan married Audrey in the future, he would have to do all the housework and take care of the children. Nathan beat those guys up and said, ¡°She will be my wife. Only I can marry her!¡± Then, he also remembered how he climbed the trees to knock on Audrey¡¯s dormitory window, only to be chased away by the dormitory manager with a broom.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. He recalled Audrey bringing him to that tree and telling him about the incident while pointing at the branches. Yet, he had someone cut down that treeter on. He watched as Audrey struggled to hold back her emotions¨Cshe was stunned and devastated. He had mockingly whistled at her. ¡°Tsk¡­ The tree¡¯s gone.¡± These ovepping images kept shing in Nathan¡¯s mind. They showed him how kind Audrey had been to him in the past, and they made him realize how much he had loved Audrey. He was willing to give up his life for Audrey. He couldn¡¯t control his jealousy if Audrey took a nce at someone else. He would end up beating them up. He recalled how he forced Audrey to register their marriage on his birthday that year. He had threatened to die if she didn¡¯tply. He remembered Audrey¡¯s firm and resolute gaze as she threw herself on him during the ident to shield him from harm. Nathan then recalled how he pushed the emaciated Audrey, who was wearing the same dress she wore on the day they registered for marriage, into the swimming pool. At that time, he had held Amelia tightly and didn¡¯t allow anyone to rescue Audrey. He saw how Audrey¡¯s friends, who had befriended Amelia, stood up for Audrey after she woke up. They had urged her to give up on Nathan and let him be with Amelia. Like a bystander, he could only watch on as Audrey¡¯s so¨Ccalled friends surrounded her and grumbled. Theyined about why Audrey had to wake up and told her that Nathan loved Amelia more than he had loved Audrey Back then, Nathan and Audrey used to argue all the time, but with Amelia, Nathan turned into a clingy puppy and never argued with her. Nathan wanted to tell Audrey that it wasn¡¯t the truth, but he couldn¡¯t utter a single word. He had wanted to hug the wet and lonely Audrey, who stood alone by the pool, yet he couldn¡¯t reach her. He had watched as Audrey straightened her back and stood against all her friends, insisting Chapter 240 on making him remember the past. ara Then, after everyone had left, he saw her huddled under the stairs in the storeroom, crying in pain as she clutched onto her knees. He saw himself deliberately kissing Amelia before Audrey, getting drunk, and taking Amelia to the room he had prepared for Audrey. Of course, nothing had happened between him and Amelia in the master bedroom. He had remembered how he saw Audrey sitting in the living room, trembling as she held a ss of wine. He then watched as she swallowed the sleeping pills. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Nathan had even mocked Audrey when she woke up in the hospital. He said that she should just slit her wrists for a quicker end if she wanted to die. Then, he and Amelia could be free. For two years, he tortured Audrey using every means possible, until the day he drank the drugged alcohol and called her disgusting. He looked at Audrey on the ground, hooked her chin with his finger, and said to Charles, Since she¡¯s so eager, why don¡¯t you bring a few people over to satisfy her!¡± He vividly remembered Audrey¡¯s shocked expression followed by a light chuckle. Her voice was extremely soft, and her eyes were deste. She had asked him, ¡°Nathan, if you regain your memories one day and realize that you¡¯ve treated me like this, would you regret it?¡± And he had answered, ¡°If I ever regain my memories, I¡¯d wish I¡¯d never met you. You should just rot in Sayeno Town.¡± If it weren¡¯t for Hugo taking Audrey away, he would have asked Charles to bring some guys over. He knew he would do that! Later, Audrey threw the divorce agreement at Nathan. Her eyes were indifferent and devoid of the passionate love she once had for him. She had said, ¡°I was reluctant to let you go before this because I was afraid that one day, you would come back and me me for giving up our rtionship too easily! I tried my best, but it was too exhausting! So, Nathan¡­. I¡¯m giving up on you now.¡± No¡­ No way! How could Audrey give up on him? He was a scumbag! How could he hurt Audrey, whom he had loved so dearly? Who could tell him what had happened to him? Was he possessed, or had he gone mad? Nathan remembered how Audrey was covered in blood from his push. He watched as she turned hysterical over Anne¡¯s death. He watched as Audrey drowned in pain and despair from him threatening her using the Yeomans family. He saw how he had pushed the pregnant Audrey down the stairs. He also recalled her smiling as she told him the child was conceived the night he drugged her, and that someone else got her pregnant. Nathan suddenly woke up. He jolted up with tears streaming down his face. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°Nathan! You¡¯re awake!¡± Joseph, who had been sleeping by the bedside, woke up and rubbed his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been crying ever since you fell asleep.¡± Nathan¡¯s pupils trembled as he grabbed Joseph and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Audrey? Where is she?¡± ¡°I think her boyfriend took her away yesterday,¡± Joseph replied. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Nathan¡¯s¡® pupils trembled. ¡°Yeah! I talked to Azure over the phone, and Azure said that he¡¯s Audrey¡¯s boyfriend,¡± Joseph answered truthfully. Judging by Nathan¡¯s reaction, he knew that Nathan might have regained his memory. So, he continued, ¡°Audrey is living a happy life now. You don¡¯t need to feel guilty anymore!¡± Chapter 242 Chapter 242 As he spoke, Joseph remembered what Edmond had exined to him the night before. He quickly took his phone out and gave Edmond a call, saying, ¡°Edmond, Nathan has woken up! ¡°Boyfriend¡­¡± Nathan¡¯s throat churned, and his eyes were bloodshot. Was he the biological father of Audrey¡¯s child? Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Did he send Audrey into someone else¡¯s bed with his own hands? Audrey, whom he had been holding back from touching throughout all these years, was also the same Audrey whom he had personally drugged and sent to another man¡¯s bed. It was him who personally caused Audrey¡¯s trauma of the rtionships between men and Women. Gritting his teeth, Nathan threw off the covers and rushed out. Joseph was on the phone when Nathan bumped into him. As he stumbled, he turned around to see Nathan leave after mming the door shut. He quickly hung up the phone and chased after him. ¡°Nathan!¡± He shouted. When he caught up with Nathan at the hospital¡¯s entrance, he grabbed Nathan and demanded, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? The doctor hasn¡¯t discharged you yet!¡± Nathan shook off Joseph¡¯s hand but to no avail no matter how hard he tried. He hysterically repeated, ¡°I¡¯m going to see Audrey! I¡¯m going to see Audrey!¡± Joseph ended up falling on the steps after being pushed. He then looked at Nathan with a frown. As he thought, Nathan had regained his memory! Joseph quickly got up and grabbed the fleeing Nathan. ¡°Where are you going to find Audrey? Do you know where she is?¡± He asked. Upon hearing that, Nathan paused, as though he had just awakened from a dream. He soon searched Joseph for his phone, urging, ¡°Your phone! Give me your phone!¡± Chapter 242 2/3 ¡°Nathan!¡± Joseph pushed Nathan¡¯s hands away and reimed his phone. ¡°Audrey doesn¡¯t want to see you right now! Do you have any idea how much she despises you? If you use my phone to call her, you¡¯d better believe Audrey will immediately block both you and I!¡± Hearing Joseph¡¯s angry tone, Nathan calmed down. Nathan admitted thst Joseph was right. He¡­ was well aware of Audrey¡¯s hatred toward him. When Audrey pped himst night, the yful smirk as she grabbed his tie, and the icy look in her eyes were the same as when she used to re at those vermin who bullied her in middle and high school. To Audrey, Nathan was probably worse than trash. ¡°Where is Audrey?¡± Choked up, Nathan pleadingly looked into Joseph¡¯s eyes. He could barely speak as he held his knees and sobbed uncontrobly. ¡°Please, ask Audrey where she is.¡± Upon hearing that, Joseph licked his lips and finally gave in. He held onto Nathan¡¯s arm and advised, ¡°Go back to the hospital and have your check¨Cup first. I can help you to talk to Audrey first, but you can only go to her if she¡¯s willing to see you.¡± Nathan looked up at Joseph with hopeful eyes. He then gripped onto Joseph¡¯s hand tightly, as if Joseph was his lifeline. ¡°Will she still want to see me?¡± he asked with his throat tight. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Joseph couldn¡¯t promise him anything. ¡°But I¡¯ll try my best.¡± When Edmond arrived at the ward, Nathan was staring at Joseph making the call to Audrey. Joseph, on the other hand, held onto his phone and instructed Nathan, ¡°I¡¯ll make the call, but you¡¯ll have to stay quiet. I don¡¯t want Audrey to block me because of you!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Nathan nodded. With that, Joseph dialed Audrey¡¯s number and put the phone on speaker. Audrey answered the call in no time. ¡°Yes?¡± The moment Audrey¡¯s cold voice came through the phone, Nathan couldn¡¯t hold back his tears anymore. Chapter 242 Leaning against the couch, he covered his eyes as tears streamed continuously down his cheeks. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Nathan felt too ashamed to face Audrey the moment he heard her voice. Joseph nced at Nathan before replying to Audrey. ¡°Audrey, I was so focused on Nathan yesterday that I didn¡¯t pay attention to you. Did you get hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. How about you? Daphne said that you were also hit yesterday. Did you get your injury treated?¡± ¡°Yeah, everything¡¯s taken care of.¡± Joseph¡¯s eyes darted in Nathan¡¯s direction. ¡°Nathan stayed in the hospital for observationst night. If his check¨Cup today goes well, he should be able to leave.¡± ¡°Are you going to go back to Cloudmill at ater time, then?¡± Audrey asked. She showed no interest in talking about Nathan despite Joseph¡¯s deliberate mention of him. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll head back the day after tomorrow. A lot is going on at theb, so I can¡¯t just leave everything to Justin.¡± ¡°Got it. Call me if you need me. I have something to attend to, so I¡¯ll hang up first.¡± Upon hearing Audrey say that she was going to end the call, Nathan straightened up. HE wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t help ncing at Joseph. ¡°Alright, bye.¡± Joseph avoided Nathan¡¯s gaze and hung up the phone. Then, he said to Nathan with a frown, ¡°You heard that? Audrey doesn¡¯t want to hear about you. Just forget it, Nathan. You have a fiancee now. What¡¯s the point of bothering Audrey again?¡± Edmond, who was standing at the door, knocked before informing, ¡°Mr. Franklin, Mr. Campbell knows about your hospitalization and asks if we can retrieve all the forme on time.¡± ¡°Edmond.¡± At the sound of his name, Edmond turned around and saw the fully equipped Amelia behind him with a thermos. ¡°Ms. Doyle! You¡¯re here to see Mr. Franklin,¡± Edmond mentioned with a smile while stepping aside to let Amelia enter first. When Nathan heard Amelia¡¯s name, he turned his head and looked toward the door. His eyes were red and swollen. Chapter 243 2/3 ¡°Nathan, you¡¯re awake!¡± Amelia walked in briskly before cing the thermos on the coffee table. She then sat down beside Nathan. However, as she reached out to hold Nathan¡¯s hand, he avoided her touch. Nathan¡¯s pupils trembled as he lifted his hand to his aching head. His memories with Amelia were vividly reying in his mind. It was the time when he held Amelia from behind and softly called her ¡°Sweetie¡± in her ear as they watched the fireworks go off. If Nathan remembered correctly, he was captivated by the demeanor Amelia exuded while debating in the debate team when he first met her. Nathan remembered that it was a kind of demeanor that made his heart skip a beat. What kind of demeanor was it again? Nathan remembered it as the same kind of calm andposed demeanor that Audrey had disyed. It was of Audrey with her lips curved into a smile as she confidently shut down her opponents when she debated in high school. Amelia used to wear skinny jeans and white ts, paired with oversized hoodies, and always carried books under one arm. Perhaps it was the way she gave off an air of casual nonconformity that Nathan felt like he had known Amelia for many years. It made him feel like they were kindred spirits. As time went by, Nathan epted it all, even as Amelia slowly changed. ¡°Did you intentionally imitate Audrey when we first met?¡± Nathan asked with his hand pressed against his throbbing head. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked up at Amelia. At his words, Amelia suddenly stood up and hit her knee against the coffee table. She ended up screaming when she knocked over the thermos and spilled the scalding hot soup onto her legs. Joseph quickly pulled Amelia away, instructing, ¡°Quick, get the doctor!¡± Amelia¡¯s face was devoid of color under her mask. Her gaze wavered as she looked at Nathan. Completely ignoring the pain in her legs, she tried to exin herself as her heart raced. ¡°N- Nathan, what are you saying? Have you regained your memory? Have you remembered everything?¡± Chapter 243 ¡°Yes, Nathan has regained his memory,¡± Joseph answered for Nathan. Amelia clenched her fists tightly as her beautiful nails dug into her palms. ¡°Nathan, do you feel like feel like you still love Audrey more? Is that why you deliberately said that? Because you want to break off our engagement? ¡°A¨CAre you trying to me everything on me? I didn¡¯t imitate Audrey. I¡¯ve always been that way even before¡­ I met you. You can check!¡± Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Indeed, Amelia had started imitating Audrey even before she formally showed up in front of Nathan. Envious of the legendary love between Audrey and Nathan, she thought that she could also have the kind of love Audrey had if she could be like Audrey. At Sheysea Junior High School, not only Amelia had such thoughts, but almost all the younger girls admired Audrey the same way. After Audrey and Nathan entered Sheysea University, a wave of emtion of them swept through Sheysea Junior High School. The boys,cking Nathan¡¯s background, imitated his deep affection for his girlfriend and his carefree attitude. While the girls,cking Audrey¡¯s genius intellect, imitated herposure and calmness. Tears continued to cascade down Amelia¡¯s cheeks. She had always feared of the day Nathan would choose Audrey over her when he regained his memory. She had rehearsed countless times in her mind what she would do if Nathan had chosen Audrey after regaining his memory. She had decided that she would offer her blessings and then gracefully leave. But even after countless mental rehearsals, Amelia still felt a pang of heartache when Nathan asked her if she had been imitating Audrey. Perhaps, deep down, she had always known that it was because she had imitated Audrey that she had stolen Nathan¡¯s love from Audrey. Yet, she still clung to a glimmer of hope. She had believed that, as she gradually returned to being herself, Nathan¡¯s love for her would only grow stronger. In the end, Nathan would still have fallen in love with Amelia! Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Amelia noticed that Nathan never showed a hint of temper to her after they dated even though Nathan and Audrey used to argue back then. At that time, Amelia didn¡¯t realize that Nathan¡¯sck of temper toward her was only because he subconsciously projected his guilt toward Audrey onto her. ¡°Nathan! What does that have anything to do with Ms. Doyle? You¡¯re the one who lost your memories and fell in love with her. You can¡¯t push your mistakes on someone else!¡± Joseph eximed. Chapter 244 Having witnessed Nathan¡¯s affection for Amelia, Joseph couldn¡¯t help but defend her when Nathan questioned her after regaining his memory. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Nathan held his head in his hands. ¡°My mind is a mess. Edmond¡­ Please take her to get her burns treated.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll go myself.¡± Amelia¡¯s voice trembled as she hastily wiped away her tears. She persistently asked, ¡°Nathan, have you decided to break off our engagement? If¡­ If you¡¯re going to do it, I need to notify thepany in advance and prepare a PR statement. Amelia still held hope for Nathan. If Nathan had ever truly loved her, even just a little bit, he would still choose her even after realizing that he could no longer have a rtionship with Audrey. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Amelia. My head¡­ It¡¯s filled with thoughts of Audrey.¡± Nathan looked at Amelia. His voice was filled with guilt, and his eyes were remorseful but sincere. ¡°I love Audrey.¡± I love Audrey¡­ This sentencepletely shattered Amelia. ¡°Did our time together mean anything at all?¡± Amelia took off her hat and hurled it onto the couch. She hysterically demanded, ¡°What about our eight years together? You treated me so well. You loved me! You would do anything for me! Have you forgotten everything?¡± Amelia cried as she grabbed onto Nathan¡¯s cor. ¡°Tell me now! Tell me you only love Audrey! Tell me that all the kindness and love you showed me were fake! ¡°How could you be so cruel? You gave me the best love in the world, so how could I ever love someone else again?¡± She pounded on his chest as she sobbed. Nathan could only sit there motionless. His eyes were also red as he watched Amelia copse to the ground in exhaustion. Chapter 245 Chapter 245 ¡°Nathan!¡± Amelia was done crying. Suddenly, she cheered herself up and pulled Nathan¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s give each other another chance! Let¡¯s give each other a chance for two months. We need to give our rtionship an answer. ¡°After two months, if you still want to break off the engagement, I won¡¯t be clingy! But you need to cooperate with me during these two months!¡± Seeing that Nathan was silent, she continued, ¡°Back then, when Audrey woke up and asked you to cooperate, you agreed! Nathan¡­ I¡¯m not asking for a lot of time. It isn¡¯t two years but two months! You owe me this much!¡± To Nathan, two months and two years were the same. As his memory gradually recovered, his love for Audrey only grew. The more he remembered, the more he couldn¡¯t give up on her. Ever since Nathan met Audrey, during the ten¨Codd years, every minute and second was about Audrey. It was as he had previously said. She was more important than his life. She was his everything! ¡°Sure!¡± Nathan answered. Audrey had been going through the information of the board of directors and executives¡® families for the entire day. She only received Daphne¡¯s call at night, stating that she and Azure had returned to Cloudmill. Daphne liked to gossip, so she couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Audrey, be honest with me. About the person who took you away in the Night Pce, how far have you gone with him?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. At the mention of Ryan, Audrey couldn¡¯t help but think about the previous night, when he asked his driver to send her back home. She put down the stylus in her hand and took the cup of water next to her hand. After a sip, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± ¡°Come and tell me all about it! I¡¯ll analyze it for you! I¡¯m a love expert!¡± Daphne was exhausted from the trip, but her eyes immediately lit up. She craved the gossip. ¡°Sometimes, we are intimate with each other. And other times, we are distanced.¡± There were a lot of things Audrey couldn¡¯t bring herself to say. Chapter 245 So, she roughly exined, ¡°I went to the hospital to get my wound bandaged. After I came out of the hospital, he seemed to have pushed me away. But at the same time, he still cares about me.¡± ¡°Have you guys made your rtionship official?¡± Daphne asked. Did marriage count as an official rtionship? But¡­ Ryan had mentioned that he would give Audrey some time, and that the deadline was on George¡¯s birthday banquet. However, she didn¡¯t think that they were in an official rtionship. After a moment¡¯s silence, she answered, ¡°We haven¡¯t made our rtionship official! He said that he would give me a few days to consider.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Daphne pped her thigh excitedly. ¡°Let me tell you. He¡¯s a thug in a suit!¡± ¡°A thug in a suit?¡± Audrey thought that the term didn¡¯t suit Ryan. Ryan should be noble. He was calm and mature; nothing like a thug. ¡°Oh, right! It¡¯s a nickname Azure gave to your unofficial boyfriend!¡± After Daphne exined about it, she continued, ¡°Listen to me! Did he give you a time limit and tell you to give him an answer by a date? If you decide to be together, the rtionship will be official. If you don¡¯t want to be together, he won¡¯t contact you again. Am I right?¡± Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Daphne was right! Her analysis was correct, and Audrey straightened her back subconsciously. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Let me ask you another question!¡± Daphne asked anxiously, ¡°Did he treat you extremely well previously and like to be by your side at all times?¡± Audrey thought back on the times she spent with Ryan alone. When his warm lips touched hers, and when he wrapped his tongue around hers, it was as if he wanted to swallow her. He was fierce and possessive, and his possessiveness almost made him lose control as he would go wild. Audrey¡¯s ears reddened. ¡°I¨CIt¡¯s something like that!¡± ¡°I got it!¡± Daphne was certain. ¡°He¡¯s ying hard to get! He doesn¡¯t know your thoughts, so he invades your life and makes you get used to being with him. ¡°Then, he lets you feel how it is to live without him! He wants you to know his good! He wants you to know that you have feelings for him! He¡¯s a professional!¡± She sighed. ¡°Huh?¡± Audrey clenched her cup. ¡°Is that so? But I feel like it¡¯s because he finds me boring after spending time with me. So¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s only a few days left until the deadline you guys agreed on, right?¡± Daphne interrupted her. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yeah!¡± Daphne smiled. In an iprehensible and certain voice, she said, ¡°You can try it if you don¡¯t believe me. From today onward until the date you both agreed on, he won¡¯t meet you! He won¡¯t call you often either! If it¡¯s like this, you should know that he¡¯s a master!¡± Audrey was silent. She thought that Daphne¡¯s words were right, but at the same time, they were wrong. In private, Ryan wouldn¡¯t hide his desire for her. He was straightforward. ¡°Be honest with me. Do you like him?¡± Without waiting for Audrey to answer, Daphne said, You like him! You definitely like him! You could tell that he was close with you at times and distant at times. If you don¡¯t like him, you wouldn¡¯t care about that! ¡°You should take him down! Just by looking at his long legs, you should take him down! When I saw him beating people up yesterday in your house, he seemed to have high fertility! You must believe me. I heard that men who hold back in a pure veg private! Ahhh! I¡¯m a married woman, but I¡¯m about to go crazy! ¡°For your happiness for the rest of your life, go and get your man!¡± Her words made Audreyugh. Thetter¡¯s ears were extremely red, and she used the back of her hands to cool herself down. She thought that Ryan seemed to actually have high fertility! He got her pregnant the first time, and she was pregnant with twins. Audrey couldn¡¯t help but remember the times when she slept with Ryan. She thought about his uncontroble kisses and popped¨Cup veins on his arms. Stop it! She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, but her ears were red. ¡°Are you listening to me?¡± Daphne was worried that Audrey was still immersed in the rtionship with her previous husband. She advised, ¡°Although your ex¨Chusband got his head hit to protect you, you can¡¯t soften your heart for him. The harm he has done to you is real! We have to look forward, not backward!¡± ¡°I got it, Daphne. I won¡¯t look back,¡± said Audrey. She would never look back, even if Nathan had taken a hit for her. ¡°Besides¡­ Now that I think about it, I regret marrying my first love! I¡¯m so beautiful I should have dated a few more men! So, you shouldn¡¯t hang yourself on one man. ¡°Try dating Ryan. If it doesn¡¯t work out, you can find another man! The next one will be better!¡± Audrey nodded with her face flushed. ¡°Got it, Daphne. You should go back home early and rest up!¡± ¡°If you have any rtionship issues, you can call me. Even though I have only dated Justin, I know the rtionship theories!¡± ¡°Alright, Daphne.¡± After hanging up the call, Audrey turned to look out the window. The sky of Mythravia was entirely dark, and it was when the lights shone the brightest. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Audrey scrolled through her phone, and it was just as Daphne said. Ryan had stopped contacting Audrey, and there were no calls or messages from him. Was he really ying hard to get? Wasn¡¯t it because he was tired of her? N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Audrey thought that she should avert her focus and got up to change her clothes. Pulling the door open, she saw Peter standing outside. She asked, ¡°Have you eaten dinner?¡± Peter was confused and shook his head. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go out and have dinner then!¡® Peter walked to the elevator hurriedly and pressed the button to go down. He asked, ¡°Where would you like to eat?¡± ¡°Do you have any rmendations? I¡¯m not familiar with Mythravia,¡± responded Audrey. Peter felt embarrassed. ¡°You won¡¯t get used to the ces I usually go to.¡± ¡°Food trucks?¡± When Audrey entered the elevator, she was smiling. ¡°I like them. You can take me there.¡± Peter brought her to a secluded food truck. Although the environment wasn¡¯t nice as there were water puddles on the road, a lot of luxury cars stopped there. ¡°The food here is delicious!¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Since Peter needed to drive, he only ordered a can of carbonated drink for himself. Then, he ordered beer and a few dishes he found tasty for Audrey. He handed the corndog over to Audrey after he wiped the end of the stick clean with a disinfection wipe. As the night wind blew, Audrey tucked her hair, which had been ruffled up by the wind, behind her ears. After taking a bite of the corndog, she realized that it was far more delicious than any other restaurant¡¯s she had been to. ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± She smiled at Peter. ¡°It is. My girlfriend likes it a lot.¡± Peter smiled as he mentioned his girlfriend. Chapter 247 ¡°How old is your girlfriend?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°She¡¯s still in university.¡± From the tone of Peter¡¯s voice, he was proud. ¡°She¡¯s studying journalism at Mythravia University! ¡°We grew up together from a young age, and she¡¯s a good woman! We promised each other to get married after she graduates from university and sessfully applies for a master¡¯s degree.¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°I think you should change your career by then. I¡¯m not saying that it¡¯s bad to be a bodyguard, but you will face dangers.¡± Peter was confused. He had never thought about changing careers. After having dinner, Peter was adamant about paying the bill. ¡°Because I left early, you were in danger last night. Even though you and Julian didn¡¯t me me for it, I feel guilty. Please let me treat you to this meal!¡± As he went to pay the bill, Audrey stood by the road with her bag to wait for him. After drinking beer, she was a little drunk. She didn¡¯t notice that, in a ck Wrangler on the other side of the road, was Nathan. With the windows shut, he stared at her. Was that guy her new boyfriend? From what Joseph said, she was taken away by her new boyfriendst night. A cab sped past, and the wheels ran over the water puddles. ¡°Watch out!¡± When Peter returned from paying the bill, he grabbed Audrey¡¯s shoulders and blocked her. The dirty water sshed onto his back, and his clothes were drenched. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 ¡°I¡¯m not made out of ss. Nothing will happen even if I were to be sshed.¡± Audrey pulled Peter¡¯s arm and made him turn around. She checked his back. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so nervous. Through the window, Nathan saw Audrey pull Peter¡¯s arm and check his back. He held onto the cigarette tightly. When he reached out to open the door, he stopped himself. He had done so many evil things to Audrey in the past. So how could he face her? She was a kind person, but she didn¡¯t even contact him after he took a hit for her. It meant that she hated him! Besides, Peter had promised Amelia not to meet Audrey for two months. Even though he wanted to chop off Peter¡¯s arms, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to get out of the car to face Audrey. He had done too many bad things. If he wanted to pursue her again, he needed to break off the engagement first. Only then, could he stand before her properly. If he didn¡¯t end things with Amelia properly before pursuing Audrey, other people would im that Audrey was a mistress! Nathan couldn¡¯t let Audrey suffer from such rumors. Peter took off his coat and exined apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Yeomans. I shouldn¡¯t have brought you here. The potholes have existed for a long time, but no one repaired them. ¡°Overtime, they became bigger and deeper, so the rainwater couldn¡¯t subside¡­ My girlfriend has been sshed before!¡± Looking at the water stain on her legs, Audrey smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go back! If I finish work early, we can go to the gym. I want to check out your skills. ¡°If you¡¯re good, you can teach me. Then, you can have an additional sry.¡± She could tell that Peter loved his girlfriend. Just at the mention of his girlfriend, his eyes would light up. If he could receive another sry, he could end his career as a bodyguard earlier. Then, he could give his girlfriend a peaceful life. Nathan watched as the car Audrey got into left. He followed after it. Chapter 248 2/2 On the way back home, Peter noticed that a car was following them. He stayed calm and didn¡¯t rm anyone. After three streets, he got rid of Nathan. He then sent Audrey home safely without her noticing anything. He watched her enter her home. ¡°Ms. Yeomans, rest up. Before Ie to work in the morning tomorrow, don¡¯t open the door for strangers.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After Audrey took a shower and changed her clothes upon arriving home, it was already 11: 00 pm. There were still no calls nor messages from Ryan. There was only a missed video call and a few voice messages from Lily because Audrey was in the shower. ¡°Mom, Dad¡­ I mean, Mr. Lambert came over today. He lost his temper again!¡± ¡°Before he left, he kissed and hugged me. He gave me a beautiful dress and told me to wear it during Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s birthday banquet! He gave Das a suit too. Although he said he didn¡¯t like it, he kept looking at it.¡± ¡°Mom, I saw Wandflower¡¯s old picture. She looks just like me! She also looked like she was young, too!¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. you when ¡°Good night, Mom. I¡¯m going to bed! Otherwise, Das will get angry at me for ying with my smart watch!¡± ¡°By the way, Das hacked the website of Franklin Group today. Don¡¯t tell him that I told you this! Good night!¡± As Audrey listened to Lily¡¯s cute voice and her mood improved. Ryan went back to Lambert Residence that day. Did he have an argument with George again? When George came over that day, Audrey could tell that he had permitted Ryan to leave the Lambert family and Lambert Corporation. Chapter 249 Chapter 249 However, George didn¡¯t call Audrey to question her. Therefore, the argument shouldn¡¯t be about her and Peter. Besides, Ryan said that he would give her time to consider their rtionship. He wouldn¡¯t tell George about it before the deadline. Since that was the case, why was George angry this time? Lying on the bed, Audrey picked up her tablet and went through the information on the executives¡® families before going to bed. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. A whileter, however, she still couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Her mind was in chaos. Ryan had kept his word; After he instructed the driver to send her back home, he stopped contacting her altogether. Aside from Peter standing outside her door every day and the three other bodyguards who would take over his shift, it felt as if Ryan had disappeared from her life. Aside from going through the information on Lambert Corporation and the board of directors, Audrey needed to prepare a speech. She was extremely busy these past few days. Edward, who was George¡¯s assistant, would bring documents to thepany every day for Audrey to approve and review. Then, he would take the documents to George for him to check. This was to see if she was capable of managing Lambert Corporation. And following Audrey¡¯s instruction, Taylor asked Shawn to give Nathan the list of Franklin Group¡¯s clients. He went to purchase the forms one by one and made the other parties sign a confidentiality agreement. Although he spent a lot, it was a lot less than what Evergreen Biotech had to fork out. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Nathan to be so good; Hepleted the task in four days.¡± Taylor thought that it was a pity. ¡°He promised that he¡¯d go after Murray Group. Why don¡¯t we let Franklin Group off the hook?¡± ¡°Why should we?¡± Audrey flipped through the documents Edward sent. ¡°I told you to make him gather all the forms four days to squeeze out thest cash flow from his hands. I omitted two ces from the list given to him. Now, he can¡¯t pay Evergreen Chapter 249 Blotech back and can only file for bankruptcy.¡± Audrey spoke casually. She had nned everything. She wouldn¡¯t go easy on Nathan and give up her revenge. After all, he caused Anne and Harper to die. He would only feel the pain if he was stabbed by the knife himself. Audrey wanted to see if Nathan would protect the Franklin Group or Amelia¡¯s cousin, Charles. It was now clear that he chose Franklin Group. ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± Taylor responded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t pity him. I asked you about this r because I was afraid that you would feel sorry for him. After all, he¡¯s Lucy and Das¡® father.¡± ¡°Who told you that Nathan is their father?¡± Audreyughed. ¡°He isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± When Taylor was about to ask further, Audrey ended the call. George¡¯s birthday banquet was in two days. She had to prepare herself. ording to Edward, George would bring her to meet the board of directors the next day. One week after the birthday banquet, he would find a chance to have her enter Lambert Corporation¨C taking over the vice president position. She would be ced under Ryan for two months to get used to thepany¡¯s operation. Chapter 250 Chapter 250 George would publicly announce his interim takeover following Ryan¡¯s departure, with the intent to transition Audrey into Ryan¡¯s current position once she achieved notable results. By then, George would truly delegate all authority and spend quality time with Wanda and the two children. However, Ryan said he wanted an answer from Audrey before the banquet. As she contemted, her phone vibrated again; it was Taylor calling. Audrey answered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± ¡°Boss, Amelia¡¯s manager is probably doomed this time!¡± Taylor¡¯s voice betrayed his excitement. ¡°Remember the scar¨Cfaced guy named Andrew we intercepted that day? He and his five brothers got into a fight this time, and they¡¯re all heavily beaten up! ¡°Out of anger, Andrew spilled all the dirty deeds that Ms. Jones had them do over the years! Some celebrities are already holding them ountable!¡± Audrey was surprised. Taylor burst intoughter as he added, ¡°It¡¯s karma. Andrew and his brothers had previously made other female stars shoot some questionable videos, and now they¡¯re all facing the consequences!¡± He remembered hearing Ynda instruct Andrew and his brothers to beat up his boss while filming the assault. Audrey tapped her fingers on the coffee table as she fell into thought. Ynda entered the hospital while Andrew and his brothers were now disabled. Although it was retribution, why did it sound a bit too coincidental? Ryan¡¯s expression was cold that night. The way he smashed the middle¨Caged man¡¯s head against the coffee table, the condescending posture, and the sinister turmoil in his eyes all shed in Audrey¡¯s mind. Audrey¡¯s fingers clenched at the suspicion. Was it Ryan? But this didn¡¯t match Ryan¡¯s noble image. In everyone¡¯s eyes, Ryan was always positive,posed, and dignified. He didn¡¯t seem like a Chapter 250 2/2 This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. man who would harm others. But Nathan, Amelia, and Ryan were the only ones apart from Taylor who knew about what happened that night. Amelia¡¯s manager, Ynda, was also severely beaten. Conversely, Nathan was pleading for mercy at Night Pce that night, so it couldn¡¯t possibly be him. Taylor had only just heard the news¨Cleaving only Ryan. It had to be him. Audrey¡¯s heart began to race as she suddenly came to the realization. So it wasn¡¯t her imagination earlier. Ryan seemed to be different from what everyone else knew. Was there another side to him beneath Ryan¡¯s dignified and noble appearance? Audrey was unsure. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Outside the Hexagon Highway in Mythravia, there was a vi on South Lake Avenue that had over 50 acres ofnd. In the basement, Daniel looked at the middle¨Caged man kneeling on the ground with a sinister smile. His hands were bound and trembling, but he tightly pursed his lips¨Crefusing to say anything. Daniel casually walked around the man with his hands in his pockets. ¡°I remember Mr. Kingston had always been good to you. He even covered the medical expenses for your wife¡¯s hospitalization. Why betray him?¡± Daniel bent down, staring at the middle¨Caged man. ¡°Was it for money?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t betrayed Mr. Kingston!¡± The middle¨Caged man trembled as he spoke. ¡°If you insist on making these ims, release my wife and daughter. Only then will I be willing to wife and daughter. Only then will I be willing to exin to Mr. Kingston myself.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Daniel straightened his back, smiling. ¡°You don¡¯t have to trouble yourself by exining to Mr. Kingston. Someone wille to listen to your exnation shortly.¡± The middle¨Caged man was puzzled, but then he heard the sound of the basement door opening. He looked up and saw a pair of shiny leather shoesing down the metal staircase, followed by an immacte suit. The figure¡¯s face slowly appeared before the middle¨Caged man¡¯s eyes. His eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°R¨CRyan?¡± The middle¨Caged man couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. Ryan, the head of the Lambert Corporation. Who wouldn¡¯t know who he was? Leading a group and directly confronting Meria, he united domestic enterprisesrge and small to break through the lithography machines and chips market. His achievements were not onlymercial but also carried other aspects of glory. Daniel smiled at Ryan. ¡°I didn¡¯ty a finger on Jim like you said. He¡¯s all yours for questioning!¡± At that moment, there was finally fear in Jim¡¯s eyes. His body involuntarily recoiled Chapter 251 backward, and he stared fixedly at Ryan. The intense sense of oppression brought by that indifferent gaze made him recall something unpleasant from 20 years ago¨Ca person of the past. ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡± Jim¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°You can call me Ryan.¡± Ryan draped his suit jacket over the basement couch. He casually opened a bottle of wine and poured himself a ss. ¡°Or you can call me¡­ Matthew.¡± ¡°No! No, it¡¯s impossible!¡± Jim visibly panicked. ¡°Matthew died. I watched his body get cremated! You¡¯re not Matthew. You¡¯re bluffing!¡± After finishing his drink, Ryan took off his vest and walked up to the terrified Jim. He crouched down to tidy up Jim¡¯s messy cor. He asked calmly, ¡°Why, Uncle Jim? I suspected everyone¨Cexcept for the honest and loyal hmm?¡± you, of course! Let¡¯s see, you sold the lives of our family for a mere three million, Jim¡¯s pupils trembled incessantly, his face turning pale. Before he could speak, Ryan grabbed him by the cor and violently threw him into the pool that was already mixed with blood. The pool wasn¡¯t deep, only about 1.5 feet. With his hands tied, Jim struggled to hold onto the edge and knelt upright, panting heavily. However, he was once again pushed back into the water by Ryan. The cold water, mixed with the smell of blood, rushed into Jim¡¯s nostrils and mouth. He fought with all his might, his bound hands scratching at Ryan¡¯srge hand, trying to free himself from the grip pressing on his head. Daniel saw Ryan sitting on the edge of the shallow pool, not even looking at Jim as he struggled frantically in the water. Ryan tugged at his bandaged hand, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned two shirt buttons with his free hand. After several attempts, Jim was exhausted from the struggle and lost all his strength. Only then did Ryan grab his hair and lift him above the surface, forcing him to look at himself. Jim gasped heavily as soon as he came out of the water, feeling dizzy from theck of oxygen. Chapter 251 But when Jim locked eyes with Ryan, fear washed over him again¨Cevident in his gaze. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Do you know what it felt like for our family of three to be in the water after that car was knocked off the bridge?¡± Ryan spoke calmly. ¡°You know all our habits. You even know that whenever we were in the back seat, my would always ensure that my father and I fasten our seat belts. mother ¡°So you tampered with the safety buckle, making it impossible to release the seatbelt even as the car sank into the river. Water flooded into our mouths and noses, squeezing the air out of our lungs until we lost consciousness.¡± Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Jim struggled to speak, and his breath was thin. ¡°I didn¡¯t harm Mr. Kingston. What do you want me to say? I beg you to release my wife and daughter! Matthew¡­ I beg you!¡± Ryan¡¯s expression darkened upon hearing this, and he pressed Jim¡¯s head underwater again. Daniel saw water sshing onto Ryan¡¯s arm as Jim struggled. He walked up to Ryan with a cigarette in his mouth and handed one to Ryan. ¡°I still prefer using golf clubs. Every swing draws blood,¡± he said casually. ¡°I don¡¯t like the sight of blood,¡± Ryan said. He took the cigarette with his bandaged hand and held it between his fingers without lighting it. It wasn¡¯t until Jim stopped struggling that he pulled him out and tossed him to the ground with one hand. Jim coughed up water, gasping heavily and curling up on the floor. He tried to kneel, but his body had lost all strength, and he copsed again on the slippery floor. ¡°I know¡­ I know I won¡¯t be spared! Matthew!¡± Jim crawled toward Ryan. He then grabbed onto the cuff of Ryan¡¯s pants and looked up at him. ¡°Matthew, I really didn¡¯t harm Mr. Kingston. I beg you to release my wife and daughter! ¡°You¡¯ve eatensagna made by my wife before, and you held Mandy when she was a child. You used to treat her like a sister!¡± Jim still had some wit left. Now that he learned Matthew had assumed Ryan¡¯s identity, there was no way Matthew would let him continue living. Ryan Lambert would face relentless retaliation if it were exposed that he was the son of Robert Kingston, the man who had cooperated with the police to dismantle international criminal organizations in the past. The criminal organizations were so vengeful that even the police officers who sacrificed themselves couldn¡¯t have their photos released until three generations had passed. Chapter 252 2/2 As the CEO of the Lambert Corporation, Ryan was a prime target for revenge. Jim remembered Matthew as the most gentle and softhearted person he knew. He now had to find a way to convince Ryan to spare his family. He had to swear that he hadn¡¯t harmed Mr. Kingston, or his wife and daughter would truly have no way out. ¡°Bring his wife and daughter here,¡± Ryan said. Jim tensed up instantly, showing immense fear. ¡°Matthew! Matthew, I beg of you. They don¡¯t know anything!¡± With one hand in his pocket, Ryan brought the cigarette to his lips and lit it with a metal lighter. ¡°I gave you the chance.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Daniel leaned against the staircase, appearing bored. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if Jim doesn¡¯t speak. As long as we go after the beneficiaries behind the deaths of your entire family, what¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Seeing Daniel¡¯s men heading up the stairs, Jim finally became frantic and cried out, ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk! Please don¡¯t harm them! It¡¯s the illegitimate son, Henry! Henry kidnapped Mandy and threatened me! ¡°Matthew, I had no choice. I didn¡¯t want to harm Mr. and Mrs. Kingston! They¡¯ve been nothing but kind to me! I didn¡¯t want to harm them but Henry kidnapped Mandy! And I also know that Tyler Young is behind Henry. They¡¯re working together!¡± Henry was the illegitimate son of Ryan¡¯s grandfather. Daniel clicked his tongue. ¡°Should have said that earlier.¡± ¡°Matthew, please let Mandy and her mother go! It¡¯s my fault, you can kill me!¡± Jim pleaded, looking up at Ryan. ¡°Kill me to avenge your parents. Mandy and her mother don¡¯t know anything!¡± Ryan stared at Jim, his eyes cold. ¡°Do you know what the biggest difference between me, Tyler, and Henry is?¡± Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Jim nodded eagerly, looking at Ryan with hope in his eyes. ¡°I do know! You¡¯re kind. Matthew, you¡¯ve always been a kind and gentle kid.¡± Ryan¡¯s indifferent expression remained unchanged, and he looked at Jim as if he were looking at an inanimate object. ¡°The biggest difference between me and them is that I don¡¯t leave future trouble behind. Daniel, who had been watching from the side, smirked and made a throat¨Cslitting gesture to his men. ¡°Send them all on their way.¡± ¡°No bloodshed,¡± Ryan said indifferently. Daniel¡¯s men dragged Jim and his family toward the pool. ¡°No! No! Matthew! Spare Mandy! Spare Mandy!¡± Jim kicked and thrashed with his feet wildly. ¡°Don¡¯t harm my wife and daughter! Even the underworld adheres to this rule! Matthew, you can¡¯t be so heartless!¡± Ryan turned his back to Jim, putting on his vest and suit jacket. ¡°Damn it!¡± Daniel kicked Jim in the face. ¡°When you harmed Mr. Kingston¡¯s family, why didn¡¯t you think about sparing innocent lives?¡± ¡°Matthew! I beg you! Please, spare Mandy! Consider the time when she yed with you as a child, spare her!¡± Jim didn¡¯t know what to do, his voice hoarse as he cried and pleaded until he saw his wife and daughter being brought over. Jim then cursed angrily, ¡°Matthew! You will have a miserable end! If you have grudges, kill me! It¡¯s me who caused the death of your parents. Kill me!¡± ¡°Matthew?¡± Mandy, who was being pushed down the stairs, widened her eyes and looked toward Jim. She could only see Ryan¡¯s silhouette as he buttoned his suit. Tears streamed down her face. Matthew, you¡¯re still alive? Is that really you, Matthew?¡± Jim¡¯s wife trembled in fear, calling out to Jim continuously. Daniel forcefully pushed Mandy and Jim¡¯s wife into the pool. ¡°Today is the anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Kingston¡¯s death. Let¡¯s send your family after Chapter 253 them to atone for your sins in the afterworld.¡± Daniel¡¯s expression was grim. Jim watched in horror as his wife and daughter were pushed into the pool. ¡°I have evidence! I¡¯ll give you the evidence, Matthew! I¡¯ll give it to you, so please spare them! I beg you! I¡¯m begging you!¡± Jim knelt, crying and pleading. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the evidence! Only I know where it¡¯s hidden! Please spare my wife and daughter!¡± 2/2 Upon hearing this, Ryan paused for a moment. He didn¡¯t say anything and then walked up the stairs. Daniel¡¯s cold, pale face carried a sinister look as he squatted by the pool. He grabbed Jim¡¯s cor and patted his face. ¡°I hope your evidence can save your sorry excuse of a family,¡± Daniel released him and spoke up, ¡°Let them soak in this pool until we get the evidence.¡± Daniel emerged from the basement and saw Ryaning out of the washroom upstairs. He said, ¡°Once we have the evidence, I¡¯ll finish them off.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t dirty your hands.¡± Daniel was somewhat puzzled. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. He was unsure whether Ryan meant not to get his hands dirty while killing Jim or to just let his men do the killing instead. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Ryan threw the paper towel into the trash and headed for the vi. Daniel gritted his teeth and followed him out. He called out to Ryan, who was about to get into his car, ¡°Ryan!¡± Ryan leaned against the car, looking at Daniel questioningly. Daniel walked to the passenger side and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who the woman you¡¯ve asked Peter to protect is, but I hope you understand you can¡¯t afford to have vulnerabilities. Having vulnerabilities will make you like Jim¨Ceasily manipted.¡± Ryan nced meaningfully at Daniel, then drove away. Daniel stood with his hands in his pockets. He frowned, watching the taillights of Ryan¡¯s car. Peter¡¯s mouth was just too tight, refusing to tell him who Ryan had him protect. Otherwise, he would have preemptively dealt with this potential vulnerability for Ryan. Ryan drove to the building where Audrey lived, but he didn¡¯t go up. He leaned against the hood of the car, looking up to see the lights on in Audrey¡¯s living room. He could imagine Audrey sitting on the plush white carpet in the living room, studying her documents. Ryan understood everything Daniel had said earlier. But what Daniel didn¡¯t understand was that Audrey was Ryan¡¯s safe harbor. He watched Audrey break free from her cocoon and rescue herself. Witnessing her shining on her stage made him feel like he had also found redemption. Initially, he could have just continued watching from afar, but she was the one who first provoked him four years ago. He never considered himself a good person, nor did he think that cutting ties with Audrey in the face of danger was truly loving her. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. He just wanted Audrey. He wanted to possess her. Although he allowed Audrey to choose, he was unwilling to suppress his increasingly intense possessiveness toward her. He even resorted to despicable means to hide his other side, only allowing Audrey to see the Chapter 254 Ryan he wanted her to see. He schemed and used seduction as a means to make Audrey choose him. Even if she didn¡¯t like him as a person, as long as he tempted her with the pleasures of love, he could at least make her feel something for him. When Audrey grabbed his pants in the car and said, ¡°Bandage the wound well and go home¡°, Ryan knew Audrey might already be caught in his trap. George¡¯s birthday banquet was in two days, so he would have an answer from Audrey tomorrow. If she chose him, even if the road ahead was a path of quicksand, he¡¯d do everything to protect her as long as she was with him. If she refused to choose him for the sake of George and Wanda¡­ Ryan¡¯s facial features were outlined by the warm light of the streetmp, showing little expression. He pulled out a cigarette, put it between his lips, and lit it. His eyes were cold. Tomorrow would be George¡¯s birthday banquet, and Edward brought Audrey to try on the modified dress. They went to finalize her outfit early in the morning. Audrey¡¯s long hair fell over her shoulders. She was wearing a ck strapless fishtail gown paired with a multi¨Cmillion¨Cdor emerald ne and matching earrings. She stood in thin high heels before the mirror, looking at herself. Audrey¡¯s scars from four years ago had faded significantly, almost to the point of being invisible unless examined closely. Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Audrey¡¯s scars had faded due to her experimentation with damaged fibrous tissue in herboratory. Edward couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°Ms. Yeomans, this outfit is stunning and elegant. You¡¯ll surely be the most dazzlingdy at the banquet tomorrow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s settled then!¡± Audrey was also delighted. The stylist removed the jewelry from Audrey and ced it in a handbag, With one hand holding the hem of her dress, she closed the dressing room curtain, ready to change out of. the gown. She raised her foot to unstrap her high heels. She then swept her long hair to the front, reaching behind to grasp the zipper of her dress. However, she was startled when her hand met with arge hand that had already grasped the zipper. Audrey was surprised but rxed when she saw it was Ryan. ¡°You¡­ What are you doing here? ?? She was worried that Edward was still waiting outside. ¡°Granpa asked me to help you with the dress. I waste because of the meeting.¡± Ryan calmly held Audrey¡¯s shoulder and turned her around, unzipping the dress down to her waist. ¡°Thank you, but you can wait for me outside!¡± Audrey nervously held the dress in front of her chest. Ryan, on the other hand, showed no intention of leaving. He leaned against the back of the dressing room couch and asked, ¡°Have you thought about the question I asked youst time? N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Audrey turned to look at Ryan, pressing her hand against her chest. His gaze was calm and deep, while her lips were tightly pursed. She had struggled with this answerst night, tossing and turning in bed as she thought about it. Ryan was someone who surpassed all outstanding men in both achievement and character, making it difficult for her not to be moved. Chapter 255 2/2 However, besides the fact that being with Ryan might mean going against George, she kept thinking about her interactions with Ryan¨Cespecially the things that had happened recently. She always felt that Ryan seemed to deviate slightly from her expectations. Audrey was very cautious with her emotions after her experience with Nathan. She was uncertain about Ryan¡¯s authenticity. She felt that she didn¡¯t understand Ryan enough to make a decision. ¡°Are you behind the beating of Ynda and the others in the detention center?¡± Audrey asked, not beating around the bush. Ryan didn¡¯t expect Audrey to ask this, but she must have already made her guesses. Thus, Ryan didn¡¯t hide the truth. He gazed at Audrey briefly, still maintaining his polite demeanor as he nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Audrey¡¯s heart started to race. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Ryan yed with the tassels on the couch pillow, his eyes smiling faintly. Audrey shook her head. She wasn¡¯t a saint, so why should she sympathize with someone who once wanted to harm her? She replied, ¡°I¡¯m just surprised. You don¡¯t seem like the kind of person who would do such things. It was surprising to run into you at Night Pce, and even more surprising to see you getting into a fight.¡± In Audrey¡¯s eyes, Ryan was an extremely rational person. His attacking someone who intended to harm her seemed more like something Nathan would do. ¡°Is that your reason for rejecting me?¡± Ryan smiled gently. ¡°No.¡± Audrey lowered her eyes. Her breath quickening, her chest rising and falling. It seemed as if she had summoned the courage to say, ¡°I always saw you as calm, mature, and righteous. You appeared reserved, distant, and unapproachable¨Chandling everything with ease and control. ¡°With your good looks, refined charm, and mature demeanor, it¡¯s difficult not to be drawn to someone so perfect. What I¡¯m trying to say is¡­ I like you- Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Before she could finish her sentence, Ryan grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her toward him. Audrey stumbled forward. Her chin was gently raised by Ryan, who suddenly pressed his warm lips against hers. Audrey¡¯s mind went nk for a moment. She heard someone pushing a rolling clothes rack outside the dressing room. She widened her eyes and pushed against Ryan¡¯s scorching body. She stumbled backward clumsily until she collided with the table behind her. Ryan then gripped the back of her head as he aggressively kissed her while his other hand held her waist tightly. His palm pressed against her naked back, its warmth causing goosebumps to rise on Audrey¡¯s body. Audrey was forced to support herself against the table behind her with one hand. She tilted her head back, enduring Ryan¡¯s increasingly intense kiss. The sounds of their tongues mingling were intense, and the passionate kiss continued for a long time behind the dressing room curtain. It made Ryan¡¯s whole body tense as his heart pounded, his mind seemingly frozen by the feverish noise. Audrey¡¯s lips and tongue went numb, and her face flushed red. Ryan was on the brink of losing control, wishing he could devour Audrey alive. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Audrey found herself in a difficult situation, unable to step back or push away the man pressing tightly against her body. She felt the air being sucked out of her lungs, leaving her disoriented due tock of oxygen. Tears blurred her vision, making it nearly impossible to see Ryan¡¯s intense gaze. Her hands, too weak to push him away, were pinned behind her on the table. Audrey¡¯s entire body trembled uncontrobly. Chapter 256 2/3 She was worried about her dress slipping off due to the unzipped zipper and panicked at the thought of being discovered kissing Ryan in the dressing room. Just as Audrey was about to copse fromck of oxygen, her phone rang. Ryan held her hand, which was reaching for the phone on the table, and quickly silenced it. He whispered as he gasped for breath, ¡°If I¡¯m not the refined and righteous man you imagine me to be, would you still like me?¡± Audrey, now as pliant as water, rested her head on Ryan¡¯s shoulder, breathing heavily. As he spoke, his lips brushed against her earlobe, and the cold frame of his sses grazed her cheek. Audrey could feel Ryan¡¯s warm breath on her neck, sending shivers down her spine and making her legs feel even weaker. She clutched Ryan¡¯s suit jacket with one hand while pressing the other against her chest to keep the dress from falling. Audrey suppressed her anxious heartbeats and said, ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ talk outside. It¡¯s not safe here; Edward or someone else might see us.¡± ¡°Edward has already gone back after he saw me, and I kept the others away.¡± Ryan couldn¡¯t resist kissing Audrey¡¯s flushed ear as he felt her tense up. He pushed aside the dresses piled on the long table and lifted Audrey onto it. He stared at her with heavy breaths. ¡°It¡¯s just the two of us here now. Tell me. Since you like do you want me?¡± me, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Audrey¡¯s mind was in turmoil, her words barely forming as she spoke. ¡°I feel like I understand you, and yet I don¡¯t. You say you like me, but I¡¯m not sure if you like me as a person or if you like me warming your bed. ¡°I only feel that you like me when we kiss and when we¡¯re together.¡± She tightened her grip on Ryan¡¯s suit jacket, avoiding his gaze. His gaze was too hot and intense, his overwhelming presence almost devouring what little rationality he had left. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re only fascinated with my body. And there will be younger and fresher girls appearing. I¡¯m already someone whocks security, having experienced a failed rtionship once. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to invest my emotions this easily. Moreover, you seem different from the Ryan I know. I feel like I don¡¯t understand the real you. Chapter 256 N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. 3/3 ¡°You indeed don¡¯t understand the real me. I¡¯m neither righteous nor unattainable,¡± Ryan enunciated clearly, his maic voice stirring up her emotions. He traced his fingertips over Audrey¡¯s lips, and his lips were close to her reddened ear. ¡°You don¡¯t know how strong my dangerous possessiveness and filthy lust for you is. And there are even more absurd and terrifying fantasies¨Clike forcing you to tilt your head back when we kiss, or forcing you to fall in love with me.¡± Audrey¡¯s scalp tingled at Ryan¡¯s crude words. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 1/2 ¡°Ryan, you-¡± Audrey¡¯s breathing became erratic, and she felt her heart pounding. ¡°This isn¡¯t like you,¡± she finally managed to say. ¡°Even before you were with Nathan, I had already fallen in love with you¨Cor more like, became obsessed with you,¡± Ryan confessed. Audrey was taken aback; she had not noticed at all. For a moment, Audrey wasn¡¯t sure if Ryan had concealed his feelings well or if his love at that time wasn¡¯t as intense as it seemed. ¡°This is who I am.¡± Ryan¡¯s gaze was wild, his aggression overwhelming. ¡°Do you still want to be with me? If you say no, I willpletely withdraw from your life. No questions asked.¡® Audrey would know Ryan was lying if she could see his eyes then. He would never withdraw from Audrey¡¯s life. Feeling Audrey grip his suit tighter, Ryan gently kissed Audrey¡¯s ear, sensing her uncontroble shivers. He took off his sses and kissed Audrey¡¯s lips again. He then pulled her into his embrace, tangling his tongue with hers, eagerly consuming her with ferocity. Audrey couldn¡¯t help but curl her legs and kick her heels off. Audrey thought she might be going crazy. A normal person would probably want to escape if they were confessed to with such fervent words. But why was her heart beating so fast? Worse yet, why was she willing to fall into this trap? Ryan hadn¡¯t contacted her for the past few days, and Audrey¡¯s emotions seemed to be in a mess¨Cfilled with anxiety and uncertainty. If it hadn¡¯t been for Julian having the bodyguards take turns guarding her door and following her everywhere, she would have thought those crazy scenes with Ryan were just her imagination. She undoubtedly liked Ryan before his confession. But after today, Audrey suspected she might like Ryan more than she thought. She didn¡¯t want Ryan to exit her life. In fact, she liked Ryan¡¯s intense possessiveness as well as his fantasies and profane desire toward her. This realization scared her. Chapter 257 Audrey¡¯s heart started beating out of her chest. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Her trembling arm propped up on the long table. The other reached for Ryan¡¯s shoulder, then instinctively looped around his neck. Chapter 258 Chapter 258 When Audrey felt like she was on the brink of suffocation, Ryan finally released her lips. He carefully observed Audrey, who was panting heavily, tears clinging to hershes. Her eyes couldn¡¯t focus due to theck of oxygen, giving her a somewhat dazed but cute appearance. Ryan¡¯s breathing was even heavier now than when he had just let go of Audrey. His voice was hoarse when he asked, ¡°Does this count as agreeing to continue our marriage?¡± Audrey had drained all her strength just by kissing. She nodded faintly. ¡°But I don¡¯t want anyone else to know yet. I¡¯m afraid Mr. Lambert Senior might notice; I haven¡¯t figured out how to tell him and the others yet. Can we keep it between us for now?¡± Ryan leaving the Lambert family had already angered George; he might just explode in rage if he found out she was with Ryan. was even Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Audrey more afraid that George would connect the two incidents and end up despising her. Despite being rted by blood, Audrey understood that George¡¯s care for Ryan ran deeper than his care for her. After all, Ryan had always been groomed to be his sessor. Now that her rtionship with George and Wanda had finally progressed, she didn¡¯t want to ruin this hard¨Cearned bond. How could Ryan not understand Audrey¡¯s concerns? He knew her so well, and he understood her desire for a family. Plus, in order to take care of Audrey properly, he had previously imed blood rtions between Audrey¡¯s birth mother and his own family, making him appear as Audrey¡¯s distant rtive in the eyes of outsiders. Once their rtionship was made public, Audrey, Lily, and Das would have to endure relentless gossip from the outside world. She feared the potential psychological harm to the two children and worried about the impact of public opinion. Ryan gently kissed Audrey¡¯s swollen lips and happily agreed. ¡°I¡¯m fine with that.¡± Just as Audrey was about to push Ryan out, he ced his hands on her waist, bent down to Chapter 258 her level, and stared at her intently. 2/2 ¡°But, I¡¯m possessive. I don¡¯t like you touching other men, epting steaks cut by others, epting others¡® jackets, or even smiling at others¨Cincluding women.¡± Audrey gazed into Ryan¡¯s eyes, noticing the intensity of his emotions, which caused her heart to race even more.. The words ¡°including women¡± brought a profound sensation to Audrey that was as stimting as the intense kiss just moments ago. She tightly gripped her dress, her breathing bing erratic once again. Indeed, as Audrey had said, Ryan was extremely adept at controlling his emotions. Yet he couldn¡¯t shake off feelings of hostility toward the men around Audrey. He even found her. femalepanions¡® intimate gestures toward her irritating. ¡°I just want to bind you to me forcibly, so only I can see you, hold you, kiss you, and possess you day and night.¡± Ryan kissed Audrey¡¯s lips, his maic voice sending shivers down her spine. He didn¡¯t know if this level of honesty today would scare Audrey away, but he needed to be sure. Such a suffocating intensity of emotion could make one want to escape. This was the beast that Ryan suppressed deep in his heart. Chapter 259 Chapter 259 At this moment, Ryan was opening up his heart to Audrey. ¡°Does that also apply to Lily and Das?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. Perhaps she was still recovering from theck of oxygen moments ago, but her breathing was in disarray. Thinking of the two adorable little ones¨Cof Lily¡¯s bright smile, and Das¡® tense expression when looking at him, Ryan replied, ¡°I¡¯m not that crazy to feel jealous of my own children. ¡°I see.¡± Audrey smiled and pushed Ryan gently. ¡°You go out first. I¡¯ll change ande out.¡°¡± Ryan embraced Audrey once more and kissed her before picking up his sses and reluctantly leaving the dressing room. He pushed open the door leading to the dressing room balcony and stood outside. He then put on his sses and lit a cigarette. He needed something in his mouth to prevent him from wanting to kiss Audrey again. His phone vibrated in his pocket¨Cit was Daniel calling. The boiling desire in his eyes gradually subsided. He frowned and answered, ¡°Speak.¡± Still feeling her heart racing, Audrey finished changing and picked up her phone to check the time when she noticed George¡¯s calling in. The exhrating buzz that lingered in her mind quickly subsided. She cleared her throat and answered the phone, ¡°Hello, Mr. Lambert- ¡°Call me Grandpa from now on,¡± George interrupted. ¡°Tomorrow, we will announce to the public that you are Wanda¡¯s adopted daughter.¡± Audrey¡¯s palms tightened, a warmth spreading through her heart. ¡°Okay. I understand, Grandpa.¡± Audrey gently called out, unable to suppress the smile on her lips. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have Ryan pick you up, and you¡¯ll go to the hotel together.¡± George¡¯s tone softened. Chapter 259 2/2 ¡°Wanda and the two children will stay at home. Outsiders know that Wanda hasn¡¯t been well these years and has been focusing on her health in a sterile environment. So, her absence won¡¯t be surprising. ¡°As for not letting the two children go¨Cfirstly, we need them to keep Wandapany. And secondly, there will be journalists present tomorrow; I don¡¯t want the Franklin family to get any ideas when they see the children.¡± Until now, George still believed that Das and Lily were Nathan¡¯s children. Although Audrey wasn¡¯t worried about the Franklin family having any ill intentions toward the children, she still wanted them to apany Wanda, so she agreed: ¡°Okay, I understand. ¡°I know you¡¯ve participated in many conferences andpetitions and always performed well, but I still want to remind you not to be nervous. ¡°You¡¯re my granddaughter, Audrey¨Cthe founder of Evergreen Biotech, the future sessor of the Lambert Corporation, and you should stand above everyone else.¡± Audrey saw Ryan smoking on the balcony when she came out of the dressing room. She slung her bag over her shoulder and said to George, ¡°I understand, Grandpa.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. After hanging up the phone, Audrey looked at Ryan, who had put out his cigarette and approached her. She told him, ¡°Grandpa said tomorrow he¡¯ll have you send me to the hotel where the banquet will be held.¡± George¡¯s birthday banquet would take ce at Jacinda Hotel, a five¨Cstar hotel under the Lambert Corporation, not far from Audrey¡¯s ce. ¡°Grandpa?¡± Ryan caught on. ¡°Did Mr. Lambert Senior ask you to change how you address him?¡± Audrey¡¯s eyes sparkled as she nodded. Ryan tucked Audrey¡¯s long hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯ll send you back first. I have some things to attend to, so I won¡¯t be able to have lunch with you. I¡¯lle over to your ce tonight.¡± Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Audrey was flustered and simply replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Audrey and Ryan seemed to be on cloud nine as he drove her back home, possibly due to their newly confirmed rtionship. 1/3 Ryan tightly held Audrey¡¯s hand, and whenever they stopped at a red light, he would cup back of her head and passionately kiss her. the Only when the light turned green would Ryan reluctantly release the nearly suffocated Audrey. Seeing her breathing heavily, he kissed her hand. When they reached Audrey¡¯s ce, her lips were red, as if they could drip blood at any N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. moment. The bodyguard, who was following behind Audrey¡¯s car, had already opened the door for her. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Ryan. ¡°Remember to have lunch when Will you join me for dinner?¡± you can. ¡°I¡¯ll call you before 5:00 pm.¡± Ryan¡¯s gaze was glued to Audrey, unwilling to move away even for a moment. ¡°Drive safely!¡± After Audrey closed the car door, she waved to Ryan before walking toward the apartment. Ryan finally drove away after watching Audrey¡¯s figure disappear into the elevator. Back at home, Audrey tossed her bag and herself onto the couch, her hands covering her burning face. She only realized she had agreed to be together with him after snapping back from their intense exchange. She must have been dazzled by lust and lost her mind. Audrey touched her swollen and sore lips, recalling the ferocious expression on Ryan¡¯s face when he kissed her. It was a stark contrast to his usual gentlemanly demeanor. She bit down on her thumb. Chapter 260 7/3 But she didn¡¯t regret it. No, she couldn¡¯t think about it anymore. Audrey sat up, changed into her loungewear, and sat on the living room carpet to continue reading the unfinished documents. She finally managed to shake off the constant thoughts of Ryan temporarily as she focused on her work. Just then, the doorbell rang. Audrey nced at the darkening sky outside before getting up. She saw that the bodyguard hade to change shifts from the surveince feed. She opened the door. The bodyguard informed, ¡°Julian said that Mr. Lambert Senior asked Mr. Ryan toe back to his ce for dinner tonight, so Mr. Ryan won¡¯t be able toe over for dinner tonight. ¡°He couldn¡¯t reach you by phone and was worried something was wrong.¡± Audrey suddenly remembered that Ryan had probably silenced her phone in the dressing room earlier. She nodded. ¡°Okay, got it.¡± Remembering how Lily had mentioned that Ryan¡¯s previous visits to George¡¯s ce hadn¡¯t been pleasant, Audrey wondered if there would be another argument this time. Audrey realized it should have been Petering for the shift change as she closed the door. She casually asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be Petering over at this time?¡± ¡°It was supposed to be,¡± the bodyguard confirmed. ¡°But when Peter was having lunch with his girlfriend this afternoon, they encountered some trouble and ended up at the police station.¡± Audrey was surprised. Based on her understanding of Peter during this period, she was certain that he wasn¡¯t someone who would cause trouble. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I heard someone inexplicably beat him up. He fought back to defend his girlfriend, and now the other party¡¯swyer is saying they want Peter to spend some time in jail. Chapter 260 ¡°Thewyer is apparently quite famous, iming to be the chief legal counsel of some group.¡± For some reason, Audrey suddenly thought of Edmond, the chief legal counsel of the Franklin Group. Chapter 261 Chapter 261 ¡°Does Julian know about this?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Julian is very busy, and it¡¯s not appropriate to bother him for such trivial matters,¡± the bodyguard replied. She nodded and smiled. ¡°If you need anything, just knock on the door, and I¡¯ll bring it out for you.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you, Ms. Yeomans.¡± Audrey returned to the couch in her slippers and saw an iing call. She picked up the phone and saw that it was from Peter. She answered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hello, is this Ms. Yeomans? I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m Peter¡¯s girlfriend. Today, when we we were having dinner, a Mr. Franklin suddenly came out and started a fight with Peter. ¡°It seems that Mr. Franklin misunderstood the rtionship between you and Peter and said he wanted to make Peter spend some time in jail. I don¡¯t know what to do, but I thought Mr. Franklin might know you. So I was wondering, could you please exin the situation to him? Audrey was taken aback. Mr. Franklin? ¡°Is the person called Nathan?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Peter¡¯s girlfriend eximed, ¡°Theirwyer said they want to make Peter spend time in jail. I begged him to stop, but he wouldn¡¯t listen. I really don¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand. Which police station are you at? I¡¯lle over now. ¡°At the Northern Liberty Police Department.¡± It wasn¡¯t far from Audrey¡¯s ce. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in about 15 to 20 minutes.¡± Audrey changed her clothes and had the bodyguard take her to the police station. As Audrey reached the police station, she immediately recognized the girl spinning anxiously with a backpack¨Cit was Peter¡¯s girlfriend. Audrey got out of the car with her handbag and approached the girl. Their eyes met, and the girl quickly descended the steps when she saw the bodyguard apanying Audrey. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Peter¡¯s girlfriend, Evelyn. Are you Ms. Yeomans?¡± the girl asked nervously. Audrey nodded. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Tears started streaming down Evelyn¡¯s face before she could speak. ¡°Peter and I were having dinner, and Mr. Franklin suddenly came out and attacked Peter. ¡®He kept asking if Peter had done something to upset you. Peter didn¡¯t fight back at first because he knew it was a misunderstanding. It was only when that man started insulting me that Peter fought back!¡± As Evelyn spoke, Edmond and Nathan emerged from the police station. as the Edmond followed closely behind Nathan, chattering walked out. ¡°My dear Mr. Franklin, the most important thing now is Evergreen Biotech. How could you get into a fight because of Ms. Yeomans¡¯s bodyguard? ¡°He¡¯s just a bodyguard! If this makes it to the news, people might think you¡¯re fighting a bodyguard over a woman!¡± Nathan¡¯s hand was in his pocket, his expression impatient as he rubbed his chapped lip with his thumb. ¨C He was about to light a cigarette between his lips when he looked up and saw Audrey. His steps halted as he stared in astonishment. The soft orange glow of the streemp outlined Audrey¡¯s slender figure. She was dressed in a ck camisoleyered with a white long¨Csleeved shirt, ck trousers, and white sneakers. Her slightly curled long hair cascaded over her shoulders. She was handing a tissue to the girl who was sobbing, her lips moving as if offering words of Content ? N?velDrama.Org. As he saw Audrey, his heartbeat quickened abruptly. It was as if nothing else existed around them. In Nathan¡¯s eyes, there was only Audrey under the streemp. He lowered his hand, his breath uneven, and his eyes suddenly reddened. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 She was the same as Nathan remembered, yet somehow different¨Cwith a touch more femininity. ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Yeomans.¡± Edmond looked at the stiffened Nathan. ¡°Mr. Franklin?¡± Edmond knew that Nathan had regained his memories. As the chief legal counsel of the Franklin Group, he was aware it was Audrey who had shielded him during the ident on Nathan¡¯s birthday, ultimately saving his life. Such deep love was unmistakable, even to someone as oblivious as Edmond. This was especially true considering Nathan¡¯s first action upon regaining his memory was to annul his engagement to Amelia, whom he had.cherished for so many years. It was evident how deeply Nathan loved Audrey. Peter then stepped out of the police station, clutching his coat. Seeing Evelyn standing with Audrey, he immediately realized that Evelyn had called her. Evelyn and Audrey nced toward the steps of the police station as if sensing something. At that moment, Nathan¡¯s breath seemed toe to a halt. Audrey waved her hand in his direction, reminiscent of their school days when she¡¯d signal him during basketball halftime toe over for water. As Nathan instinctively stepped forward, Peter quickly strode past him and hurried down the steps to where Audrey and Evelyn stood. Nathan¡¯s steps stopped abruptly. ¡°Peter! You scared me to death!¡± Evelyn hugged Peter¡¯s arm. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Sorry for troubling you again, Ms. Yeomans. Everything¡¯s been exined on my end. Mr. Franklin knows that I¡¯m your bodyguard and has apologized. It¡¯s just that Evelyn was too anxious.¡± Peter expressed his remorse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing you trouble.¡± Evelyn chimed in, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for bothering you, Ms. Yeomans. ¡°This whole thing started because of me, so it¡¯s only right that Ie.¡± Audrey felt guilty seeing the bruises on Peter¡¯s face. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Chapter 262 2/2 Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No need, it¡¯s just a minor injury. I¡¯m used to it from training, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Peter reassured, touching the swelling on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll just apply some ice when I get back.¡± Although Peter was unaware of Nathan and Audrey¡¯s rtionship, the fact that Nathan had mistakenly attacked him over Audrey made him believe that they must be very close friends. Therefore, Peter didn¡¯t want to pursue the matter further. ¡°Alright, if you feel ufortable at any time, just give me a call,¡± Audrey said. She then added, ¡°Take these few days to rest properly at home.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine; I¡¯ll be back at work as usual tomorrow!¡± Peter shed a bright smile, holding Evelyn¡¯s hand. ¡°Well, we should get going now.¡± ¡°Take a taxi back, and I¡¯ll reimburse you tomorrow.¡± Audrey lightly patted Evelyn¡¯s arm and said to Peter, ¡°You two go ahead. I need to have a word with Mr. Franklin.¡± ¡°Protect Ms. Yeomans,¡± Peter instructed his colleague before leaving with Evelyn. The ck car parked across from the police station had its rear window rolled down. Daniel¡¯s chin rested on his hand. He watched as Peter and Evelyn got into the car, then shifted his gaze to settle on Audrey with evident interest. Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Chapter 263 ¡°So she¡¯s the one Ryan instructed Peter to protect!¡± Daniel¡¯s lips curved into a sinister smile. ¡°No wonder Ryan was moved. She truly is a rare beauty. Her temperament and appearance are impable!¡± Daniel raised the car window and turned to his subordinate sitting in the passenger seat.¡± money to Evelyn. Thank her for helping me bring Ms. Yeomans out!¡± Alright, transfer the After watching Peter and Evelyn get into the car, Audrey looked toward Nathan on the tform. With one hand in her pocket, she adjusted her shoulder bag and walked toward Nathan. Daniel nced in Audrey¡¯s direction again before starting to leave. But seeing Audrey approach Nathan, he quickly said to the driver, ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Nathan saw Audrey approaching him, and he felt his breath quicken. He hurried down the steps, not wanting to pause for even a moment¨Crushing toward Audrey. However, when he was four or five steps away from Audrey, he noticed the cigarette still between his fingers. He stomped it out with his foot, and he looked up to see Audrey already standing before him. Nathan¡¯s eyes were red, his breath erratic, and his movements clumsy like a child. He looked like the boy who had once madly loved Audrey. His tightly clenched hand couldn¡¯t help but tremble slightly, his throat choked up¨Cunable to even utter Audrey¡¯s name. In his youth, he had imagined countless times what they would be like after graduation, picturing scenes of picking Audrey up from theb after work¨Calmost like the present moment. But it was different; they shouldn¡¯t be at the police station, and Audrey shouldn¡¯t be walking toward him. Watching Audrey standing before him, her long hair tousled by the breeze, Nathan¡¯s lips quivered. He wanted to force a smile, but tears fell first. He quickly lowered his head to hide them, wiping them away with his thumb. He then licked his lips before smiling at Audrey. Daniel lowered the car window and took a photo with his phone, his brows raised. Chapter 263 2/2 After examining the photo carefully, Daniel smiled sinisterly again. He passed the phone to his subordinate in the passenger seat. ¡°Run a check on this guy!¡± Daniel nced in Audrey and Nathan¡¯s direction before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Nathan.¡± Audrey¡¯s tone was calm and indifferent, colder than when speaking to a stranger. ¡°Can you please stay out of my life?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Nathan felt a stab in his heart and exined anxiously, ¡°No, I really didn¡¯t know he was your bodyguard. I thought he was flirting with female students while dating you. I was just really upset.¡± ¡°Does this concern you?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice was icy as she tucked her hair behind her ear. She crossed her arms as she looked at him. ¡°What right do you have to interfere in my affairs?¡± Nathan¡¯s breath hitched hearing this, tears falling uncontrobly as his eyes and nose. turned red. He lowered his gaze and wiped away the tears with the back of his hand. His voice was thick and nasally when he said, ¡°I know I have no right, but even if we¡¯re just friends, I-¡± ¡°What kind of friends are we?¡± Audrey countered. ¡°Have you forgotten everything you¡¯ve done to me? How much I despise you? Does none of that register in your mind?¡± Nathan looked at Audrey, trying to speak but finding it difficult. Tears filled his eyes, and he clenched his fists, turning his head away. The things he had done to Audrey in the past caused him immense pain, something he couldn¡¯t even bear to think about. He wished he could turn back time and erase the person he used to be. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 1/2 Even if he were to kneel and apologize now, it wouldn¡¯t be enough. He didn¡¯t know what he could do for Audrey, or how he could make her future better. Nathan only dared to look up and gaze at Audrey when he heard her footsteps recede. ¡°Aud¡­¡± Nathan choked up, unable to produce a sound. When he saw Audrey walk up to the bodyguard, he suppressed his emotions and cried out, Audrey! What do I need to do to make you stop hating me?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice was thick with tears. Audrey paused briefly and then turned her head calmly to look at Nathan. ¡°Never appear in my life again.¡± Nathan stood frozen, feeling like the whole world had copsed around him. Watching Audrey enter the car, Nathan could no longer hold back and rushed toward her. Audrey said to the bodyguard as soon as the car door closed, ¡°Drive.¡± Nathan rushed toward the car door and pounded on the window, crying, ¡°Audrey, you can¡¯t leave me! You promised you wouldn¡¯t leave me! You promised you¡¯d grow old with me. ¡°Punish me! Audrey, I was wrong! Hit me! Please don¡¯t leave me! Audrey, I can¡¯t live without you. You can¡¯t break your promise. All I wish for is you¨Cus! It¡¯s our future. You promised you¡¯d make ite true for me.¡± Nathan chased after the car like a madman, crying out, ¡°Audrey! Audrey, I was wrong! Audrey, please don¡¯t leave me! Audrey¡­¡± The bodyguard saw Nathan relentlessly chasing the car and said, ¡°Ms. Yeomans, the person behind is still chasing us.¡± ¡°No need to worry,¡± Audrey replied. Perhaps Nathan had regained his memory. Audrey could tell from Nathan¡¯s reactions and gestures today. But what difference did it make? The damage had already been done. Anne was dead, and Harper was gone too. Nathan was her whole world when she loved him. But nour that cha didn¡¯tw him Chapter 264 anymore, he was nothing. 2/2 When childhood sweethearts first begin to drift apart, it truly felt like being torn apart¨Clike having your skin peeled and your limbs severed. Audrey had once thought that when Nathan regained his memory and regretted his actions, she would feel a sense of liberation¨Cmaybe even burst intoughter. Then she would tell Nathan she would never take him back. The more he broke down, the happier she would be. But now, it seemed that there was nothing else left besides annoyance at the trouble he brought. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. It wasn¡¯t that she no longer hated him. It was that her current status had surpassed Nathan¡¯s. Now, she could easily trample on Nathan and the Franklin Group¨Cmaking him lose everything. Since she returned to the country, Nathan couldn¡¯t shield Charles anymore, and the Franklin Group wasn¡¯t there to support him either. Nathan¡¯s voice grew hoarse as he chased after them until he copsed from exhaustion. Edmond drove up to him, turned on the hazard lights, and used the car to block the road. This prevented Nathan from being hit by oing traffic. He then quickly got out of the car and helped Nathan sit up. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Edmond struggled to lift Nathan, noticing cyclists turning their heads to look at them. ¡°Mr. Franklin, can we stop causing a scene?¡± Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Nathan was drenched in sweat. He lifted his drooping head and looked at Edmond with bloodshot eyes like a lost child. ¡°Audrey doesn¡¯t want me anymore. She hates me! I lost Audrey!¡± Nathan didn¡¯t know what to do. Audrey had once asked him if he would regret it when he regained his memory. He now had an answer. He regretted it so much he wished he could kill himself. Audrey was his entire youth, his entire world! But he had destroyed his world with his own two hands. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I the one in thea after the ident all those years ago? How could I-¡± Nathan¡¯s emotionspletely copsed. He pulled at his hair. ¡°How could I forget about Audrey? How could I treat her like that!¡± Edmond had never seen Nathan like this before. He firmly grasped Nathan¡¯s shoulder, picking up the broken phone from the ground. He helped Nathan up and guided him toward the car. ¡°Just look at yourself. If you want to win Ms. Yeomans back, you have to have some dignity first! If you keep acting like this, not just Ms. Yeomans, I¡¯m afraid no woman will want to be with you!¡± Edmond opened the car¡¯s rear door and pushed Nathan inside. Just as he was about to drive away, he noticed the broken phone in his hand. Seeing it was a call from Hugo, he cleared his throat and answered, ¡°Hello, Mr. Stewart.¡± ¡°Hello? Edmond? Where¡¯s Nathan?¡± Edmond nced at Nathan, sitting in the back seat with his eyes closed and tears streaming down his face. ¡°Mr. Franklin has regained his memory. He just saw Ms. Yeomans. ¡°Ms. Yeomans refused to acknowledge Mr. Franklin, and Mr. Franklin chased after her car. His emotions are not very stable right now.¡± ¡°Regained his memory?¡± Hugo was stunned. Since Audrey emerged from her vegetative state, Hugo had witnessed the mess between Nathan and Audrey. He also knew about Nathan¡¯s animosity toward Audrey. He had hoped that Nathan would regain his memory so he could fully understand the consequences of his actions. Chapter 265 2/25 But there had been no signs of Nathan regaining his memory after so many years. Hugo had thought that Nathan would never recover his memory. ¡°He regained his memory so suddenly?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t sudden¡­¡± Edmond sighed. ¡°One night, Mr. Franklin went to the nightclub and saw his cousin, Joseph, being bullied. He intervened but ended up getting hit on the head with an ashtray. ¡°After that, he regained his memory and even went to call off the engagement with Ms. Doyle!¡± Hugo hadn¡¯t expected so much to happen in between. ¡°Is Audrey in Mythravia now?¡± Hugo asked. ¡°Yes!¡± Hugo wanted to ask for Audrey¡¯s contact information but hesitated, thinking that Nathan might not have it either, given their rtionship. Instead, he said, ¡°I¡¯m in Mythravia right now. Where are you? I¡¯ll go find Nathan.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°I¡¯m currently taking Mr. Franklin back to the Mythravia vi. You cane see him,¡± came Edmond¡¯s reply. ¡°Alright!¡± After ending the call, Edmond drove Nathan home. Audrey received a call from Ryan just as she was about to arrive downstairs. She exined the situation and asked why her phone had been on silent the whole day. ¡°Yeah, I know. I put it on silent for you in the dressing room today, and you probably forgot to turn it back on.¡± The bodyguard following Audrey hurriedly pressed the elevator button to go up. Audrey nodded in thanks and said into the phone, ¡°You¡¯re heading back to Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s ce later? He probably has something to instruct you. Mr. Lambert Senior is getting older, so please be more considerate toward him.¡± Chapter 266 Chapter 266 ¡°Did Lily and Dasin to you?¡± Ryan chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m aware. Mr. Lambert Senior did have something to remind me, but we¡¯ve already spoken. I¡¯ve already left his ce.¡± Audrey noticed that Ryan no longer referred to George as ¡°dad¡± in front of her, but as ¡°Mr. Lambert Senior¡± instead. ¡°Okay.¡± Audrey responded, then reminded Ryan, ¡°You should rest early tonight. I¡¯m getting into the elevator.¡± Audrey told the bodyguard as he escorted her to the door, ¡°I won¡¯t be going out again. You should go back and rest early; there¡¯s no need to wait here.¡± ¡°Alright, Ms. Yeomans. You should rest early.¡± The doorbell rang when Audrey had just entered the door. Thinking it was the bodyguard, she opened the door, only to find Ryan standing outside. She looked surprised. ¡°How did you- Before Audrey could finish her sentence, Ryan had already entered the walkway. He tossed his sses onto the shoe cab, then cupped the back of her head and kissed her passionately. He closed the door with his foot. Audrey was enveloped in the familiar masculine scent, and the forceful kiss caught her off guard. She kept retreating, responding passively while feeling bewildered.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Her steps were unsteady, causing her shoulder bag and unbuttoned shirt to slip down. Ryan casually threw them at the entrance. Audrey was lost in the moment, her heart racing, eyes tightly shut. Her hands helplessly climbed up Ryan¡¯s shoulders as he removed his suit jacket. Her legs went weak; she might have copsed if it weren¡¯t for Ryan¡¯s strong arms wrapping around her waist, pressing her tightly against his scorching hot body. The kiss came too fast and too intense. Audrey was caught off guard, her heart racing and her breath in disarray. Her entire body buzzed with excitement. Ryan said he would apany her for dinner but then said he couldn¡¯t make it. In truth, Audrey felt a profound sense of disappointment deep down. Chapter 266 2/2 But as she stepped inside, the person she had just been talking to on the phone suddenly appeared outside her door and kissed her unexpectedly. Ryan¡¯s heavy breathing made her face flush. And despite the chilly air, her exposed skin broke out in goosebumps. Ryan held the woman, now as pliant as water, and kissed her as they fell on the bed. While Ryan loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt, Audrey struggled to prop herself up with her elbow. The colorful neon lights of the city shone through the uncovered window, casting alternating shadows and light on half his face. His sharp features and intense gaze sent Audrey¡¯s heart racing and her body tingling with excitement. ¡°You-¡± She barely uttered a word before Ryan kissed her again. His growing desire for control and possession was bing overwhelmingly suffocating. He tangled his tongue with hers, deepening the kiss by grasping the back of her head- leaving her with no escape. She endured Ryan¡¯s increasingly frenzied kisses, her body tingling and trembling. Her mind was lost in confusion and desire. Her hands, pressed against Ryan¡¯s chest, couldn¡¯t help but wrap around his neck. In the darkness of the night, overwhelming emotions filled her. The sensation sent her body tingling as if cursed, and she could no longer think straight- longing to give in. Audrey¡¯s phone partially slipped out of her bag, its screen lighting up repeatedly while the motion sensor light in the entrance flickered on and off. On the other end of the phone, Lily furrowed her brows and asked her usually astute. brother, ¡°Is Mommy not answering because she¡¯s asleep?¡± Das sat cross¨Clegged beside her, his expression serious. ¡°I think Ryan must have gone to find Mom!¡± Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Lily was taken aback. She then cautiously lowered her voice and asked Das, ¡°If Mommy and Daddy are together, does that mean we¡¯re going to have a little brother or sister soon? Does that mean I¡¯ll finally get to be a big sister too?¡± Lily was born the younger of two, so she had a unique interest in bing an older sister. Das red at Lily, then got up and left. Hugo looked at Nathan, who sat weakly on the couch. His emotions were hidden beneath a towel, his throat burning with suppressed feelings. Hugo asked uncertainly, ¡°Did he remember everything? Or just some parts?¡± Edmond drank half a bottle of water before speaking, ¡°It seems like he¡¯s remembered everything.¡± Although he didn¡¯t know about the past between Audrey and Nathan, Edmond knew how much Nathan loved Amelia. But despite his deep love for Amelia, Nathan¡¯s first act after regaining his memories was to break off his engagement with her and pursue Audrey. Why would he treat Amelia like this if he hadn¡¯t remembered everything? ¡°Hugo, Edmond¡­¡± Carol was awakened by themotion. She wrapped herself in a shawl and stood at the top of the stairs. Seeing Hugo and Nathan on the couch, she thought Nathan had too much to drink, and they had brought him back. She smiled and walked downstairs. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Edmond put down the water bottle and straightened his tie. ¡°Mrs. Franklin.¡± Hugo hurriedly pulled his hands out of his pockets and greeted, ¡°Aunt Carol.¡± ¡°Howe you¡¯re here in Mythravia, Hugo? When did you arrive? Nathan didn¡¯t tell me anything about this,¡± Carol said with a smile. ¡°I just arrived. Tomorrow is the birthday banquet of Mr. Lambert Senior. Mr. Ryan also sent our family an invitation because my sister and he were college ssmates.¡± Hugo didn¡¯t Chapter 267 hide anything. Although Carol maintained her smile, her hands wrapped in the shawl involuntarily tightened. Ryan didn¡¯t even send an invitation to the Franklin family. 2/2 Their family had helped raise Audrey for Ryan. Even during those years when their family was caring for Audrey, Ryan never invited them to George¡¯s birthday banquet. Looking at Nathan on the couch, Carol asked, ¡°Had too much to drink?¡± ¡°No, he met Audrey today,¡± Hugo deliberately said this, feeling somewhat relieved in his heart. ¡°Nathan has regained his memory.¡± The smile on Carol¡¯s face instantly faded. Her hand tightened its grip as she watched her son continuously swallow and tightly purse his lips. She had witnessed her son¡¯s love for Audrey in the past. If her son had regained his memory¡­ Carol didn¡¯t dare to think about what her son might do for Audrey. She pretended to be calm as she said to Hugo and Edmond, ¡°Thank you for bringing Nathan back. It¡¯s late now, so I won¡¯t keep you. ¡°When we¡¯ve signed the mediation agreement with Evergreen Biotech after a couple of days, I¡¯ll invite you to our house for dinner. I¡¯ll even cook myself.¡± Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Hugo nodded. ¡°Alright, then Edmond and I will take our leave.¡± After Hugo and Edmond left, Carol sat down beside Nathan. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much of your memory has returned, but it¡¯s impossible for you and Audrey now. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Forget all the things you did before to pressure Audrey into divorcing you. Even now, everyone knows about your engagement to Amelia.¡± Nathan sat still on the sofa, silent. Carol grabbed his hand. ¡°Nathan, even though I didn¡¯t like Amelia before¡­ Compared to Audrey, at least Amelia is now an international superstar. She¡¯s still the lifesaver of Mr. Russo. ¡°Amelia loves you. Now that you¡¯ve separated from her, there¡¯s no guarantee that she won¡¯t cause trouble for you behind your back!¡± ¡°Can you please stop talking!¡± Nathan¡¯s voice was hoarse, and he didn¡¯t want to hear another word. In his mind, all he could see were images of Audrey telling him never to appear in front of her again. The memory of her indifferent gaze pierced him. The Audrey of the past had always looked at him with those loving, bright eyes. ¡°Though it may not sound pleasant, I¡¯m your mother, and there are some things I must say! Carol gritted her teeth and continued, ¡°Audrey is only rted to the Lambert family through adoption! Ryan definitely wouldn¡¯t dare to let Mr. Lambert Senior know that he secretly cared for rtives from his previous family behind his back. ¡°Otherwise, we would¡¯ve received an invitation to Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s birthday banquet. when we were raising Audrey! To Ryan, Audrey is not as impressive as his college alumni!¡± ¡°Can you please stop talking! I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± Nathan stood up abruptly, throwing the towel onto the coffee table. ¡°Nathan! Is this how you talk to your mother?¡± Carol also stood up, unable to contain her anger. ¡°Your father is like this, and now you! Are you trying to drive me crazy?¡± Nathan didn¡¯t reply. He loosened his tie and headed upstairs. ¡°Nathan! You¡¯re an adult now, not the spoiled little boy from before! You¡¯ve taken over the Chapter 268 Franklin Group and are now responsible for it!¡± Carol watched her son¡¯s back as he walked upstairs. She followed him up a few steps and said, ¡°I don¡¯t like Audrey or Amelia! But Audrey is just a vige girl from Sayeno Town! And her biological father is a rapist! Being with her will only bring ridicule upon you!¡± Nathan covered his ears, feeling annoyed. Seeing Nathan like this, Carol became even more furious. Raising her voice, she yelled, ¡°If that child of Audrey¡¯s is yours, we¡¯ll take her back no matter what! But I won¡¯t even consider having Audrey as our family¡¯s daughter¨Cinw again!¡± Nathan¡¯s response was the loud m of a door. ¡°You! Nathan, why don¡¯t you just kill me and let your father bring that wild woman back to be your mother!¡± Carol sat on the couch, her eyes filled with tears and swirling with emotion. Neither her husband nor her son gave her any peace of mind. Thinking back to how her son was fascinated with Audrey in the past, Carol became even more furious. There was no way Audrey would have be a part of the Franklin family if it weren¡¯t for Nathan¡¯s insistence and his impulsive decision to marry her. Later on, Audrey had an ident on the day they got married. Nathan then lost his memory, while Audrey fell into aa. Carol felt blessed upon hearing the news. At that time, after their family paid for Audrey¡¯s medical expenses out of moral obligation, they left her at the hospital without further care. After all, Nathan had forgotten about Audrey, and no one could be med for her ident. Later, Carol thought that Audrey¡¯s life would be over after hearing that Ryan had arranged for Audrey to be transferred under Hannah¡¯s care. She never expected that Audrey would wake up! Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Thankfully, Nathan had forgotten about Audrey and insisted on being with Amelia. Even though Audrey persistently pursued Nathan, he never relented. Finally, their family was on the brink of freeing themselves from Audrey, whose father was a rapist and whose mother was a kidnapped woman. Somehow, her son had now regained his memory. Was this some kind of prank? No! No matter what, Carol couldn¡¯t allow Audrey to have any connection with Nathan again. She had to find a way to expedite the marriage between Amelia and Nathan. Tomorrow was George¡¯s birthday banquet. She wondered if she could leverage Hugo¡¯s connections to attend together. It would show sincerity and respect toward George while garnering Ryan¡¯s assistance with the Franklin Group. After all, the ordeal with Evergreen Biotech caused considerable losses for the Franklin Group because of Charles. If Lambert Corporation could aid the Franklin Group, perhaps they could bounce back in a few years. Carol made a firm decision and quickly went upstairs to call Hugo and Amelia. When Audrey woke up, there was an arm draped across her waist. Her back was pressed against a warm wall, and her head rested on a strong, sturdy arm. Her hand was firmly held by slender fingers. She turned and saw Ryan¡¯s handsome face before her. Her heartbeat suddenly quickened when she recalledst night. She closed her eyes,manding herself to calm down. The more she tried, the morest night¡¯s scenes reyed in her mind. She remembered Ryan¡¯s consuming desire for control, his fervent gaze as he tied her hands with a tie, and the sound of her own pleading voice. She only hoped that there were no marks left on her body fromst night, especially since she had to attend George¡¯s birthday banquet today. Chapter 269 2/2 Just as Audrey was about to move the arm around her waist, the man¡¯s arm tightened around her, pulling her even closer. Their bodies fitted snugly together. ¡°You¡¯re awake¡­¡± Audrey didn¡¯t dare to look back at Ryan. ¡°The makeup artist will be here soon, we can¡¯t sleep anymore. It wouldn¡¯t look good if someone saw us like this.¡± It would be difficult to conceal their rtionship if others caught them. Audrey didn¡¯t want anyone else to know about them before she figured out how to confess their rtionship to George. Ryan held Audrey for a while before letting her go to freshen up. She checked herself in the mirror and was relieved to find no marks on her body. When Audrey finished freshening up, Julian also brought the suit Ryan would wear today. Audrey¡¯s makeup artist arrived after Ryan was properly dressed and ready. Seeing Ryan and Julian, the makeup artist and the others assumed that Ryan hade early to pick Audrey up. They swiftly began preparing Audrey ording to the makeup n they¡¯d agreed upon yesterday. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Ryan sat patiently on the couch for over three hours while Audrey was attended to, showing no signs of impatience. Buried in paperwork, he asionally nced up in Audrey¡¯s direction. His eyes were full of predatory intent concealed behind his sses. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 George¡¯s birthday banquet could be described as exceptionally lively. Dignitaries from the political and business realms, along with top celebrities, flocked to celebrate. Jacinda Hotel was surrounded by groups of bodyguards¨Cboth inside and out¨Censuring tight security everywhere. Journalists were kept at bay outside the hotel, but the staff thoughtfully provided them with refreshments. Some reporters questioned why they were not permitted entry this year despite being allowed to discreetly snap a few photos the years prior. Following Edward¡¯s arrangements, the staff exined that this year¡¯s celebration was slightly different. They assured the reporters that five photos and news releases would be providedter. Inside Ryan¡¯s car, Audrey looked at the continuous shes from photographers as the car pulled into Jacinda Hotel. ¡°Are we a littlete?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°We¡¯re right on time,¡± Ryan replied, finishing a message before tucking his phone into his suit pocket. He exited the car first. He buttoned his suit jacket as he walked around to the other side, opened the door, and took. Audrey¡¯s hand to help her out of the car. In the distance, journalists snapped pictures frantically in the direction of Ryan and Audrey. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s Mr. Lambert! Mr. Lambert is with apanion!¡± A journalist eximed, adjusting their lens. ¡°But she doesn¡¯t seem to be Ms. Cecilia!¡± ¡°What? It¡¯s not Ms. Cecilia?¡± The nearby journalists became excited. ¡°Hurry! Hurry! Mr. Lambert¡¯s with apanion who isn¡¯t Ms. Cecilia from the Shaw family!¡± ¡°No wonder they¡¯re not letting us in this time. Mr. Lambert is of age, yet he hasn¡¯t married Ms. Cecilia. Now, with a newpanion apanying him, could it be that he¡¯s breaking off the engagement only to get engaged again?¡± ¡°Unbelievable! This is huge news! Quick, focus on Mr. Lambert¡¯spanion! We need to be Chapter 270 2/2 the first to uncover her identity in our magazine!¡± The journalists scrambled, snapping wildly in the direction of Audrey and Ryan. However, Ryan skillfully shielded Audrey. Despite their fervent efforts, the journalists could only capture Audrey¡¯s slender figure being protected by Ryan as she gracefully ascended the steps into the hotel. Her hand linked with his, her gown trailing behind her. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. George was in the banquet hall, shaking hands with familiar faces. When he saw Ryan and Audrey enter, he smiled and waved to them. ¡°Ryan, Audrey.¡± Audrey¡¯s grip on Ryan¡¯s arm tightened. George was going to introduce her as his granddaughter, so she was beginning to feel nervous. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. Just treat it like when Professor Dous introduced you to other schrs at the symposium,¡± Ryan whispered. Ryan approached George and shook hands with Chester from the board of directors. ¡°Mr. Langley, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Ryan, it has indeed been a while!¡± Chester replied with a smile before turning his attention. to Audrey. ¡°So, this is Wanda¡¯s adopted daughter! She looks so much like Wanda when she was young! Ah, and she also resembles Ryan quite a bit!¡± Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Audrey smiled and extended her hand. ¡°Hello, Mr. Langley.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the formalities? George and I are peers; just call me Grandpa Chester!¡± Chester couldn¡¯t hide his amusement as he spoke. ¡°I heard from your grandfather that you¡¯re the founder of Evergreen Biotech. ¡°Mr. Campbell also mentioned that you concealed your identity because you were concerned. about entering and exiting Meria freely. You¡¯re truly outstanding. You¡¯re not inferior to Ryan at all!¡± Audrey smiled faintly and nced toward Taylor, who was chatting with other celebrities. Taylor noticed Audrey¡¯s gaze and proudly raised an eyebrow. Taylor knew Audrey was returning to the Lambert family to enter the Lambert Corporation. He understood the significance of being the founder of Evergreen Biotech and how much weight it added to Audrey¡¯s status. However, Taylor also had tact; he wouldn¡¯t blurt out Audrey¡¯s identity as the founder of Evergreen Biotech to everyone he met. Chester had a close rtionship with George, so Taylor was willing to speak up. He even requested Chester not to tell others, fearing it might cause trouble for Audrey. With affirmation from Taylor, the head of Evergreen Biotech in Cascadia, Chester had no reason to doubt Audrey¡¯s identity. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Campbell also said that Evergreen Biotech is currently researching the most advanced single¨Ccell arrest technology for cancer resistance.¡± Chester expressed keen interest in this project. Audrey became even moreposed when her expertise was brought up. She exined the principles in simple terms so Chester could understand. Chester sighed after listening. ¡°Such excellent technology, we shouldn¡¯t let outsiders benefit from it! You¡¯re about to enter the Lambert Corporation soon, so we should prioritize our interests!¡± ¡°Evergreen Biotech has already expressed its intention to cooperate with the Lambert Corporation. We just haven¡¯t received a response from them yet, and I didn¡¯t want to use my grandfather¡¯s influence to push for it,¡± Audrey said with a smile. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®using influence¡®?¡± Chester quickly interjected. ¡°The future¡¯s most Chapter 271 profitable trends lie in health and medicine! Evergreen Biotech¡¯s path is undoubtedly correct. ¡°If the Lambert Corporation can participate, it will greatly benefit us. 2/2 Ryan had already discreetly revealed to several trusted directors that Audrey was the founder of Evergreen Biotech before the banquet. However, Audrey was modest and didn¡¯t want more people to know, fearing unnecessary trouble. These directors naturally had no objections to Audrey entering the Lambert Corporation. Seeing Chester and George smiling happily with Ryan and a stunning young woman beside them, Leroy realized she was the granddaughter George would announce tonight. When Hugo arrived, he was surprised to see Audrey standing next to Ryan, chatting andughing with the directors of the Lambert Corporation. He hesitated to greet Audrey when he saw the industry elites surrounding her. Wasn¡¯t Ryan worried that George might think their original family had connections, which led him to ce Audrey with the Franklin family? If so, why did Ryan suddenly bring Audrey to meet George? Hugo couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her from the moment he saw Audrey. He saw George summon Samuel to Audrey¡¯s side, introducing them. Hugo lifted his ss, absentmindedly looking toward the direction of Audrey and Samuel. Chapter 272 Chapter 272 It was unclear if Samuel spoke less to Audrey than he did with Ryan because she had her back to Hugo. Hugo spected that there was some cooperation between the Lambert family and the Logan family¨C perhaps requiring a marriage alliance¨Cwhich was why George had Ryan bring Audrey over. Hugo frowned, contemting whether or not to call Nathan and advise him to avoid causing any trouble. Audrey quickly noticed Hugo¡¯s frequent nces toward her. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. She smiled and said to the group, ¡°I see a friend over there. I¡¯ll go say hello and be back in a bit.¡± Ryan also noticed Hugo and nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡± As Audrey left, Samuel spoke to Ryan with a smile. ¡°I heard she¡¯s a rtive from your original family. Grandpa wasn¡¯t initially pleased, but considering you¡¯re the future heir of the Lambert Corporation and she¡¯s the founder of Evergreen Biotech, he agreed.¡± ¡°You two aren¡¯tpatible,¡± Ryan remarked without hesitation. Samuel was surprised. ¡°Lambert Corporation is going to coborate with the Logan Group soon. I thought the reason the Lambert family took her in as an adopted daughter and had you bring her here was for a marriage alliance. I didn¡¯t expect you to be protective of her.¡± ¡°The Lambert family does want Audrey to marry into your family, but the condition is Audrey has to be interested in you. However, Audrey obviously isn¡¯t interested.¡± Ryan¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°And you¡¯re not worthy of her.¡± Ryan was satisfied by Audrey¡¯s clear and distant attitude toward Samuel just now. ¡°Even if she¡¯s your rtive, you shouldn¡¯t be so protective of her!¡± Samuel was somewhat irritated. ¡°I¡¯m a widower, and she has two children. How am I not worthy? I don¡¯t even have children. yet! Or do you think our family can¡¯tpare to Evergreen Biotech?¡± ¡°The glory of the Logan family lies in the past and present, while the glory of Evergreen Biotech lies in the future¡­¡± Ryan¡¯s voice trailed off. Samuel didn¡¯t immediately argue with Ryan. Instead, he looked at Audrey, lost in thought. Chapter 272 The future, huh? ¡°It¡¯s been a while!¡± Audrey greeted Hugo with a smile, her demeanor calm andposed. ¡°It certainly has!¡± Hugo quickly put down his ss. His ears turned slightly red as he sincerely replied, ¡°It¡¯s been a few years, and you¡¯ve be even more radiant.¡± ¡°I heard that you ultimately didn¡¯t join the family business, and yourw firm has now expanded nationwide,¡± Audrey remarked, showing that she was aware of Hugo¡¯s situation. ¡°Mm.¡± Hugo nodded with a smile. ¡°My parents are quite worried. My sister refuses to leave the hospital to inherit the family business, and I refuse to go back despite running aw firm. It¡¯s tough on my dad, who¡¯s getting on in years and still has to worry about the Stewart Group.¡± ¡°Doing what you love and achieving sess at the same time, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart will be proud of you,¡± Audrey said with a smile. Hugo nced at Ryan and Samuel in the distance, then leaned closer to Audrey. He whispered, ¡°Audrey, be careful. Over the years, the Lambert family hasn¡¯t allowed Ryan to have any contact with you. ¡®Suddenly letting Ryan bring you to the banquet and introducing you to Samuel¨CI feel it might be rted to the imminent cooperation between Logan Group and Lambert ¨C Corporation. They might want you to enter a marriage alliance.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°Grandpa told me about it, but he didn¡¯t pressure me. He¡¯s just concerned about my lifelong affairs. This time, he also specifically invited you here. He said if I¡¯m not satisfied with Samuel, perhaps I can consider you¨Cconsidering we grew up together.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t seem to interpret George¡¯s intentions as negatively as Hugo did. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Hugo suddenly felt lost, his throat tightening. ¡°Audrey¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we were once friends. I won¡¯t have any Improper thoughts toward you. I just don¡¯t want Grandpa to worry about my lifelong affairs.¡± Audrey smiled faintly. ¡°Besides, if there were anything between us, the father of my child probably wouldn¡¯t be too happy,¡± Ryan¡¯s possessiveness was almost out of control. She felt it keenly every time they were together. ¡°The father of your child?¡± Hugo was momentarily bewildered but then quickly understood. ¡°I thought the father was-¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Nathan?¡± Audrey shook her head with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s not him.¡± ¡°Well, congrattions!¡± Hugo was relieved. ¡°Although I almost offered myself for consideration just now, I¡¯m willing to give my blessings if you¡¯re happy.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Audrey raised her ss. She was indeed happy now, feeling like everything was a dream. George had already sat down at the head of the table with his cane. Edward then came to Audrey¡¯s side, nodding to Hugo in greeting. He smiled at Audrey and said, ¡°Ms. Audrey, Mr. Lambert Senior would like you toe over. He will formally introduce you to everyone in a little while.¡± Audrey set her ss down and said to Hugo, ¡°I¡¯ll go over first.¡± Hugo nodded, watching Audrey walk over to George¡¯s side. After that, he immediately left the banquet hall to make a call, intending to stop Carol froming over. But before he could, Carol¡¯s call came in. ¡°Hello Hugo, we¡¯ve already arrived at the entrance. Where are you?¡± Carol asked cheerfully. Hugo hadn¡¯t expected Nathan and Carol to arrive so quickly. He had promised Carol to bring them over today, so he could only end the call and go out to greet them. As a legal professional, Hugo naturally knew about the affairs between the Franklin family and Evergreen Biotech. Chapter 273 Everyone thought the Franklin Group had gotten a great deal at that time, but unexpectedly, Charles had stolen the form from Evergreen Biotech behind their backs. ording to the contract, Franklin Group had topensate Evergreen Blotech an amount of over 30 billion. The Franklin Group promised to repurchase all forms with financial support from the Gough family, which resolved thepensation Issue¨Cbarely managing to save the Franklin Group. However, the Franklin Group still suffered heavy losses. If they could receive support, from! the Lambert Corporation to revitalize their electronics business, the group could potentially recover in a few years. Hugo agreed to help because of the longstanding friendship between the two families and his upbringing alongside Nathan. But circumstances have changed now that Audrey was here. Moreover, Edward had a respectful attitude toward Audrey just now. He wasn¡¯t sure if Nathan, who had regained his memory, would cause trouble. Hugo stepped out of the hotel and saw Carol and Nathan, who had reluctant expressions. He spoke up once he approached, ¡°Audrey is also here, Nathan. When you go inter, try not to cause trouble, and don¡¯t get too close to Audrey. ¡°If something goes wrong and George¡¯s birthday banquet is disrupted, it might not be good for the Franklin Group.¡± Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Nathan¡¯s hand trembled slightly after hearing that Audrey was also present. Carol¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Audrey to have such skill. She somehow managed to get Ryan to bring her to Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s birthday banquet.¡± ¡°It seems that Mr. Lambert Senior had someone bring Audrey here.¡± Hugo furrowed his brows, countering Carol. ¡°And Mr. Lambert Senior seems to really like Audrey.¡± Carol was taken aback, tightening her grip on her handbag and gritting her teeth. ¡°She¡¯s already managed to get close to Mr. Lambert Senior? She¡¯s quite something!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Nathan¡¯s anger red. ¡°Audrey is not that kind of person! I don¡¯t like you talking about Audrey like this. If you say one more word-¡± ¡°Nathan!¡± Hugo saw a security guard ncing their way and quickly pulled Nathan back. ¡°Mrs. Franklin, you should watch what you say. This ce is filled with people from the Lambert family. If Mr. Lambert Senior finds out, he might not easily forgive your family.¡± Carol adjusted her shawl. ¡°Both of you, what¡¯s going on in your heads? When I said has some skills, I didn¡¯t say anything about her making Mr. Lambert Senior like her!¡± Hugo ignored her and turned to face Nathan. ¡°Nathan, when you go inside, control yourself and don¡¯t go looking for Audrey. If things go wrong, I won¡¯t be able to exin things to my father when I return,¡± he cautioned. Nathan¡¯s hands clenched tightly at his side. He wanted to see Audrey so much that it drove him insane. All he could think of when he closed his eyes was Audrey. He wished he could kneel before her, hold onto her legs, and beg for her forgiveness. He knew Audrey was the kindest to him. He recalled a time when he¡¯d been hurt in a fight, and Audrey got mad at him. He hid his tears while lying on his desk; and when Audrey noticed, she still apologized first and even bought him his favorite cake. However, Nathan also understood that he made a huge mistake this time that seemed impossible to redeem. Still, he wanted to give it a try. Chapter 274 2/2 ¡°I know! At least for now, I¡¯m still officially Amelia¡¯s fianc¨¦. I won¡¯t drag Audrey into any scandals with so many reporters here today. I don¡¯t want her to be hurt again.¡± As Nathan said this, tears were already welling up in his eyes. He wiped his tears, then patted Hugo¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He had already done too much to hurt Audrey. Before Amelia¡¯s deadline, he would remind himself to stay away from Audrey to protect her from public opinion. Carol couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Nathan¡¯s unwavering loyalty to Audrey. She smiled and said, ¡°Hugo, let¡¯s o in!¡± Hugo nodded, leading Nathan and Carol into the banquet hall. George was already delivering his speech on stage by the time they entered. As they took their seats toward the back, they noticed Audrey sitting at the main table, engaged in conversation with the directors of the Lambert Corporation. Nathan¡¯s throat tightened, feeling a wave of emotions as he looked at the scene before him. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. For some reason, it reminded him of their school¡¯s graduation ceremony years ago. Back then, the principal had Audrey sit at the main table. Unexpectedly, after Audrey finished her speech on stage, she came to sit beside him, saying, ¡°On such an important day, we should be there for each other.¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Nathan quickly frowned and looked away. George¡¯s voice was loud. ¡°The main purpose of today¡¯s banquet is not just to celebrate my old age, it¡¯s to introduce my granddaughter, Audrey Lambert, to everyone. ¡°I won¡¯t ramble on about Audrey¡¯s excellence here. She had been overseas until recently, working hard to make a name for herself. Now, it¡¯s time for her toe back and join Ryan in taking over the family business.¡± Yes, Audrey Lambert. George had already moved Audrey¡¯s household registration to the Lambert family and changed herst name to Lambert. The board directors and the elders from other families below the stage apuded with smiles. It was evident that George was genuinely pleased. ¡°I¡¯m also thrilled that my daughter has such a kind and intelligent stepdaughter like Audrey. Even if I kick the bucket in the future, I won¡¯t have to worry about Wanda! ¡°Of course, my granddaughter, Audrey is exceptional on her own! I¡¯m delighted to introduce my granddaughter to everyone on this auspicious day. I hope that in the future, my old friends will take good care of her. Audrey,e.¡± Carol saw Audrey gracefully lifting the hem of her dress, smiling as she stood up from the main table and walked toward the stage. Carol¡¯s expression turned extremely unpleasant. How did Audrey be George¡¯s granddaughter? Did this imply that Audrey would also have the qualifications to inherit the Lambert family? Carol grabbed Nathan¡¯s hand tightly, her heart pounding wildly. Even if half the assets went to Ryan, the adopted son, the other half still belonged to George¡¯s biological daughter, Wanda. Plus, George may even favor his weak and sickly daughter. Wanda had no children, so the property would ultimately belong to Audrey in the future. In this case, Audrey wouldn¡¯t just be a vige girl from Sayeno Town. Chapter 275 The Lambert family was different from the Franklin family. The Lambert family has always been wealthy since generations prior, even without their sessful businesses. If the wealth umted by the Lambert family¡¯s ancestors was handed down to Audrey, it could support the Franklin Group a hundred times over. Carol then turned to look at Ryan sitting in the main seat, smiling and apuding. Ryan was beyond capable. He not only became an adopted son of the Lambert family but also arranged for his rtive to enter the Lambert family to control the other half of their wealth. When Nathan felt his mother¡¯s grip on his hand, he knew exactly what she meant. With a disgusted expression, he pulled his hand back and downed his drink in one gulp. He genuinely wished for Audrey¡¯s well¨Cbeing. Audrey was so outstanding; it was fortunate for the Lambert family to have a granddaughter like her. Moreover, Audrey was so loyal and devoted to her family. She would definitely take good. care of Wanda. Audrey held the microphone, her voice clear and pleasant, like a refreshing breeze. ¡°Hello, everyone. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my Grandpa¡¯s birthday banquet.¡± Audrey took the stage and stood beside George. She was dressed in a fishtail gown with her long hair cascading down, revealing her slender neck and fair arms. There was no trace of the scars she once had. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Audrey¡¯s smile was radiant, shining even brighter than when she previously epted. Jassling anough to moura nan¡¯s hearts Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Nathan¡¯s breath quickened. His grip on the ss tightened, and tears glistened in his eyes. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. George stood beside Audrey, filled with pride and joy. After finishing their speeches, he walked down from the stage with Audrey¡¯s support and took his seat at the main table. Carol¡¯s gaze followed George and Audrey closely. She turned to Nathan and asked, ¡°Is Audrey¡¯s child truly not yours? Haven¡¯t you recovered your memories?¡± Nathan¡¯s chest tightened at the sound of Carol¡¯s voice. He remembered drugging Audrey and wanting her to conceive a child with someone else. He now wished he could kill himself for it. He tugged at his tie. ¡°You used to look down on Audrey for being a vige girl from Sayeno Town. Now seeing that half of the Lambert family¡¯s assets might belong to Audrey in the future, do you regret forcing us to divorce?¡± Carol felt a pang in her chest at Nathan¡¯s usation. Who was she doing all this for? Wasn¡¯t it for her son? Carol sneered. ¡°Nathan, it wasn¡¯t me who made you divorce Audrey. You got into a car ident the day you got your marriage certificate. And it was you who kept pressuring Audrey to divorce you after she woke up. I had nothing to do with it.¡± Nathan¡¯s heart sank. Indeed, it was he who had insisted on divorcing Audrey. He was the one who pressured Audrey to marry him, and he was also the one who pressured her into divorcing him. Nathan could hardly restrain his emotions. He tightly closed his eyes, clenched his fists for a moment, and then left the banquet hall. In this situation, Nathan couldn¡¯t bring himself to discuss future coboration ns with Ryan. ¡°Nathan!¡± Hugo called out but didn¡¯t go after him. He hade to George¡¯s birthday banquet towork with the people in Mythravia. Chapter 276 2/2 Carol looked toward Audrey and George, her mind starting to wander. Even though Audrey divorced Nathan, the Franklin family had raised Audrey for many years. Since the Lambert family suddenly gained an adult adopted daughter. Shouldn¡¯t theypensate the Franklin family in return? Carol made up her mind and looked at Ryan, who was pulling out a chair for Audrey. She tightened her grip on her handbag, preparing to find a moment to talk to Ryan. Soon after, she saw Ryan heading to the restroom and hurriedly followed him out of the banquet hall. Seizing the opportunity, she called out to him, ¡°Mr. Lambert!¡± Ryan turned around, still maintaining his reserved demeanor. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ryan knew that George only allowed Edward to send the invitation to the Stewart family. Carol flinched under his watchful gaze. For some reason, even though Ryan was much younger than her, she always felt overwhelming pressure whenever she faced him. ¡°I came here with Hugo.¡± Carol stood before Ryan, getting straight to the point. ¡°Now that Audrey has be Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s granddaughter, you haven¡¯t forgotten that she grew up in our family, right? ¡°She¡¯s so remarkable and still closely tied to our family. The Franklin Group is currently in a difficult situation because of Evergreen Biotech. Maybe the Lambert Corporation can help us get through it, considering Audrey¡¯s connection.¡± Ryan didn¡¯t react much to Carol¡¯s words. He raised his eyebrows slightly and put his hands in his pockets, smiling ambiguously. ¡°When Audrey lived with your family, the Lambert family covered all her expenses. Back then, didn¡¯t the Lambert Corporation support the Franklin Group to ensure Audrey was well taken care of? ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Lambert Corporation, would the Franklin Group be where it is today?¡± Chapter 277 Chapter 277 ¡°But Before Carol could say anything, Ryan spoke again, ¡°And on the day Nathan and Audrey got their marriage certificate, they had a car ident. After the Franklin family paid for the surgery expenses and learned that Audrey was likely to be a vegetable, you abandoned her, wanting her to fend for herself. ¡°Now that Audrey has be a part of the Lambert family, you dare toe begging the Lambert Corporation for help?¡± Carol¡¯s face turned extremely sour, unable to deny the truth in Ryan¡¯s words. ¡°If Audrey had lost her life back then, the Franklin Group would have ceased to exist.¡± Ryan waved to the security guards patrolling in the distance, signaling them toe over. The head security guard hurriedly approached. ¡°Mr. Lambert.¡± ¡°Thisdy is not a guest. Please escort her out with some courtesy,¡± Ryan said indifferently. ¡°Ryan! Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll expose your rtionship with Audrey? You¡¯ll be used of trying to swallow the Lambert family¡¯s fortune by scheming to make Audrey a part of the Lambert family! ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Mr. Lambert Senior start to doubt you when he hears these rumors?¡± Carol¡¯s face was extremely unpleasant. Ryan chuckled lightly. ¡°No wonder the Franklin Group hase to this signaled to the head security guard. ¡°Escort her out.¡± ¡± tran ¡°Mr. Lambert! Mr. Lambert! I just wanted us to keep cooperating with the Lambert Corporation like before. Why did it have to turn into us being rivals?¡± Carol¡¯s eyes were panicked. ¡°Rivals? The Franklin Group doesn¡¯t even have the qualifications to rival the Lambert Corporation. Don¡¯t overestimate yourself. Drag her out. If she refuses to leave from the back door, then throw her out from the main entrance, where all the reporters are,¡± Ryan said before turning and leaving. ¡°Ryan! Ryan!¡± Ryan paid no heed to Carol¡¯s cries. The security guards surrounded Carol, forcing her to retreat. Chapter 277 2/2 Just as she left through the back door of the banquet hall, she saw Audrey exiting as well. She hurriedly called out, ¡°Audrey!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Audrey nced back at Carol¨Cwho was being escorted out by the security guards¨Cbefore ignoring her and heading toward the restroom. Carol gritted her teeth. She cursed Audrey inwardly, feeling she had be arrogant. Audrey was washing her hands in the restroom when she saw Cecilia enter to touch up her makeup. After epting the towel handed to her by the attendant, she smiled and nodded at Cecilia. ¡°Congrattions!¡± Cecilia approached Audrey as she took out herpact powder. Cecilia was dressed in a short aqua¨Cblue cocktail dress with a white fitted zer, looking just as sharp andpetent as she did a few years ago. ¡°You already congratted me in the banquet hall just now.¡± Audrey smiled. ¡°That¡¯s different. At the banquet hall, it was the third daughter of the Shaw Family congratting you. I¡¯m now personally congratting you.¡± Cecilia put thepact powder back in her handbag and stared at Audrey. ¡°Can we talk?¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Chapter 278 Chapter 278 The two arrived at the tea room meant for guests to rest. Audrey sat across from Cecilia and brewed tea for her, her movements graceful and elegant. ¡°Ms. Cecilia, are you here to talk to me as Ryan¡¯s fianc¨¦e or as the third daughter of the Shaw family?¡± Audrey pushed the teacup toward her. ¡°I¡¯m here to talk to you as the Vice Chairman of Shaw Corporation¨Cand as myself.¡± Cecilia smiled, picking up the teacup and taking a sip. ¡°I know that after Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s birthday banquet, you will enter the Lambert Corporation and be its Vice Chairman. Cecilia had been watching Audrey closely at the banquet hall, following after her when she left to go to the restroom. For a long time, Cecilia had been covertlypeting for inheritance rights with her older sisters. Without the support of her uncle¡¯s family, her mother, or the board of directors, Cecilia had been relying solely on her own efforts to make a name for herself all these years. She climbed to her current position in the Shaw Corporation on her own. ¡°You know, my engagement with Ryan was merely verbally agreed upon by our elders. There hasn¡¯t been a formal engagement banquet, and while Ryan hasn¡¯t denied it publicly, he hasn¡¯t confirmed it either. ¡°However, this has already provided me with significant leverage in establishing myself within the Shaw Corporation,¡± Cecilia said, smiling as she set down her teacup. ¡°I imagine that once you enter the Lambert Corporation, you may find yourself in a simr awkward situation.¡± ¡°And?¡± Audrey asked, smiling back at Cecilia. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Audrey hadn¡¯t interacted with Cecilia much, but she knew she wasn¡¯t one to waste time on idle chatter. ¡°I can offer you assistance. In return, I hope that when I need it, you¡¯ll be willing to help me too,¡± Cecilia said, opening her phone and handing it to Audrey. Audrey epted the phone and nced at it, seeing construction ns to build thergestmercial district in Mythravia, proposed by the Shaw Corporation. Chapter 2787 Cecilia¡¯s willingness to share this information with Audrey was indeed a sincere gesture. ¡°It seems like the location is a bit off. Does the Shaw Corporation have information on the government¡¯s future development ns?¡± Audrey looked up at Cecilia. Cecilia¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement; she enjoyed conversing with intelligent people. ¡°Indeed. If you were to join the Lambert Corporation and secure a coborative project with the Shaw Corporation, do you think the Lambert board of directors would have any objections? ¡°Plus, my sincerity goes far beyond just this!¡± Cecilia extended her arm to swipe the phone in Audrey¡¯s hands. ¡°This plot ofnd is currently under my control. I can sell it to you at the auction price, or I could sell it to the Vice Chairman of the Lambert Corporation once you enter.¡± Audrey gazed steadily at Cecilia. Cecilia had even disclosed information about her other ventures, showing considerable sincerity. ¡°Ms. Cecilia has shown such great sincerity.¡± Audrey didn¡¯t continue reading and handed the phone back to Cecilia. After all, it involved Shaw Corporation¡¯s confidential information. ¡°I wonder what you hope to gain from me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to allocate a share of Shaw Corporation¡¯s projects to Lambert Corporation. I hope to obtain the opportunity to coborate with Evergreen Biotech in return,¡± Cecilia said with a smile. Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Although George had instructed not to disclose that Audrey was the founder of Evergreen Biotech, secrets couldn¡¯t be kept forever. ¡°Selling you that plot ofnd is a way to ask for your help in persuading Ryan to marry me as soon as possible,¡± Cecilia added. Seeing Audrey fall silent, Cecilia continued, ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. While it may you once you enter the Lambert Corporation, you¡¯ll have to seem like Ryan will traipete with him in the future. ¡°I believe Mr. Lambert Senior cing you under Ryan¡¯s supervision is also intended to let you both compete for power to see who will ultimately be the best sessor! You¡¯re worried that if I marry Ryan, we¡¯ll be enemies.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about that,¡± came Audrey¡¯s reply. Audrey was well aware that Ryan didn¡¯t want the Lambert Corporation at all. Plus, if it weren¡¯t for George, Audrey wouldn¡¯t have entered the Lambert Corporation herself. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Evergreen Biotech was more than enough for her. But Cecilia¨Cwho didn¡¯t know the truth¨Cdidn¡¯t think so. She was just specting about the rtionship between Audrey and Ryan. ¡°Yes, you and Ryan are rtives, and Ryan has indeed been very good to you. ¡°When you becameatose, your ex¨Chusband¡¯s family abandoned you and left you in the hospital without a word. It was Ryan who didn¡¯t give up on you and transferred you to a friend¡¯s hospital. He even covered all your medical expenses and visited you at the hospital every week.¡± She added, ¡°For you, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to call Ryan your adoptive parent. I understand how you feel!¡± Cecilia had investigated Audrey four years ago, so she knew this information. There were even some bits that Audrey herself didn¡¯t know. Hearing Cecilia¡¯s words, Audrey restrained her surprise and gazed steadily at Cecilia. ¡°But people change, Audrey¨Cespecially when there¡¯s significant benefit at stake! Back then, you and Ryan were rtives, and there wasn¡¯t conflict of interest, so Ryan did everything he could to take care of you. ¡°But now you¡¯re Ryan¡¯spetitor! He¡¯ll use your gratitude against you, and he¡¯ll also be wary of you. Thus, you must quickly build your power within the Lambert Corporation. As someone with experience, I hope you¡¯ll take my advice to heart. Cecilia was once saved by her eldest sister when she was young, and she was grateful to her. In fact, Cecillia¡¯s decision to enter the Shaw Corporation was initially to help her eldest sister ovee her second sister and secure her inheritance rights. But what happenedter? Cecilia gradually gained her father¡¯s affection, which made her eldest sister uneasy, leading her to repeatedly plot against Cecilia. What good were blood ties and family affection when it came down to self interests? ¡°Thank you for your advice, but I don¡¯t need it,¡± Audrey spoke calmly. ¡°In regard to future coborations with Evergreen Biotech, I will cooperate with the Lambert Corporation. ¡°As for whether the Lambert Corporation will join the Shaw Corporation¡¯smercial district project in Mythravia, that will depend on the directors and senior management¡¯s decision after they have discussed it in a meeting.¡± Audrey¡¯s response was unexpected to Cecilia, yet it made sense. Cecilia felt that Audrey had not yet experienced the harsh realities of life and still regarded Ryan as her savior, which was why she was unwilling to vie for his power. Cecilia sighed and did not continue persuading. Perhaps only after Audrey gained more experience would she understand her current position. Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Cecilia smiled as she lifted her teacup. ¡°Even though we haven¡¯t reached a consensus, I view you favorably and approve of your abilities. I would be very happy to be friends with you.¡± Audrey also raised her teacup. ¡°Being friends with Ms. Cecilia would be my honor.¡± The two exchanged smiles and drank their tea. After a while, Cecilia stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll return to the banquet first to avoid being seen by my sisters. Oh, and I reckon my dear sisters wille to you to discuss cooperation once you enter the Lambert Corporation.¡± Audrey realized that though Cecilia and Ryan seemed to be on the same side outwardly, Cecilia appeared to regard herself as Ryan¡¯spetitor. Therefore, it was natural for her to be at odds with both Ryan and Cecilia¡¯s adversaries, as well as those seeking cooperation. ¡°Now that we¡¯re friends, remember to let me know if you decide to cooperate with my two sisters!¡± Cecilia said with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s have tea together another day.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Audrey nodded. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. As Cecilia exited the room, she was startled to see Ryan standing at the door. She tightened her grip on her handbag, unsure how much of her conversation with Audrey he had overheard. Although she could be used of inciting discord between Audrey and Ryan in the conversation, Cecilia r¨¨mained greeted Ryan. ¡°Mr. Lambert.¡± ¡°Ms. Cecilia.¡± Ryan nodded lightly. in as sin Cecilia walked past Ryan toward the banquet hall, sweat already forming on her palms. When she saw Ryan entering the tea room, she could only hope that Audrey wouldn¡¯t be swayed by familial ties and would remain clear¨Cheaded. Audrey saw Ryane in and instinctively closed the door behind him. Her clear, innocent eyes widened, revealing a hint of innocence. ¡°How did you get in here?¡± Audrey quickly got up to approach Ryan. ¡°What if someone sees Us?¡± Before she could finish speaking, her lips were sealed by Ryan¡¯s. Audrey tightly grasped Ryan¡¯s shoulders, her gaze drifting toward the door incessantly, wanting to push Ryan away. Ryan held Audrey tightly in his arms, kissing her gently as if afraid of smudging her makeup. ¡°Ms. Cecilia wants to join forces with you to vie for power?¡± Ryan asked softly. ¡°Mmm.¡± Audrey gasped slightly. ¡°But I didn¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°As long as you want it, I¡¯ll bring it to you. There¡¯s no need to fight.¡± Ryan¡¯s fervent lips descended upon hers again. Audrey tilted her head back, wrapping her arms around his neck, reluctantly responding. Audrey¡¯s arm tightened their hold as their lips parted and their tongues entwined. The sound of her high heels was in disarray as she subconsciously sought support behind her. Ryan¡¯s forceful kiss pushed her back until her hips collided with the tea table. Audrey could only support herself against the tea table with one hand to withstand Ryan¡¯s kiss, albeit just barely. Ryan¡¯s familiar and thrilling presence overwhelmed her, causing her legs to weaken. Audrey recalled what Cecilia had just said that after she becameatose, Ryan arranged for her transfer and would visit her every week. Audrey couldn¡¯t help but be moved by Ryan¡¯s actions. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Just as Audrey was lost In Infatuation, Ryan suddenly released her lips. He then lifted her onto the tea table, removed his sses, and kissed her even more forcefully. His fingers tangled in Audrey¡¯s long hair. His palm firmly held the back of her head, and he deepened their kiss. The kiss became increasingly Intense and increasingly dangerous as if he wanted to devour Audrey alive. His movements gradually lost control and became rough. Audrey pressed against Ryan¡¯s chest. She desperately turned her head aside, her chest heaving heavily. ¡°Today is Grandpa¡¯s banquet, we can¡¯t have people catch us!¡± It would be a huge scandal If anyone found out the two were together, and they would undoubtedly face criticism. The fear made Audrey¡¯s heart beat anxiously. She was feeling extremely uneasy. Ryan also breathed heavily, using his fingers to wipe away the lipstick smudge from the corner of Audrey¡¯s lips. He whispered, ¡°Edward said Mr. Lambert Senior has prepared a gift for you. Let me take you to see it tonight.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Audrey replied, reaching out to straighten Ryan¡¯s crumpled suit. ¡°You go back to the hall first, I¡¯ll cometer.¡± Ryan nted a kiss on Audrey¡¯s forehead before leaving. Ryan couldn¡¯t help but want to kiss Audrey when he saw her standing on stage, radiant as she spoke confidently into the microphone. Or perhaps, it was after confirming his rtionship with Audrey that Ryan wanted to kiss. her every moment. He longed to hold her slender and soft body, to taste her tender lips and tongue¨Cnever wanting to part. ¡°Remember to fix your lipstick.¡± Ryan tucked her messy hair behind her ear, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and reluctantly left the tea room. Audrey blushed deeply on the tea table. Her lips were swollen and vivid red¡ªeven without the use of lipstick. After struggling to calm herself, she finally got off the tea table. She fixed her makeup, tidied herself, and returned to the banquet hall. Noah, the son of Chester Langley who had followed Audrey out, took a photo of her exiting the room. Later, he looked through the photos he had taken, including those of Cecilia and Ryan leaving the tea room one after the other. ¡°Look at her, she¡¯s not simple at all! She¡¯s already connected with Ms. Cecilia before even entering the Lambert Corporation. And what about Ryan?¡± Noah stroked his chin, pondering. ¡°Are Ryan and Audrey in apetitive rtionship or a cooperative one? Could they perhaps be working together to control the Lambert family?¡± With this in mind, Noah sent these three photos to a few friends, including Lyra, George¡¯s niece, whom he had sent abroad and prohibited from returning. As he walked, Noah sent a voice message to Lyra. ¡°Now, besides Ryan, you have anotherpetitor. This Audrey has be your uncle¡¯s granddaughter! She¡¯s Wanda¡¯s adopted daughter, so she¡¯s entitled to at least half of the Lambert family fortune.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. After sending the message, Noah pocketed his phone and strode toward the banquet hall. Back in the banquet hall, Noah¡¯s gaze followed Audrey, who was happily chatting with Ryan and George. Chester noticed his gaze and nudged him with his elbow. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about going after Audrey. You aren¡¯t worthy of her!¡± Noah immediately felt displeased. ¡°What¡¯s unworthy about me? She¡¯s from Sayeno Town!¡± Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Chester hadn¡¯t yet revealed to Noah that Audrey was the founder of Evergreen Biotech. Seeing his son¡¯s arrogant demeanor, Chester sighed. ¡°Son, I don¡¯t have much expectations of you. Just live well. As long as you can hold onto our family¡¯s shares in the Lambert Corporation, you¡¯ll never have to worry about food or drink for the rest of your life. ¡°Don¡¯t cause trouble when there¡¯s none, you hear me? You¡¯re my only son. Would I say this if it wasn¡¯t beneficial for you?¡± Chester had a very clear understanding of his family¡¯s position. Chester knew his limitations and had always listened to George over the years. Now that he was old and suffering from infertility, he finally had a son in his old age. With Noah as his only child, he doted on him but also knew his son¡¯s capabilities. Chester didn¡¯t harbor grand ambitions for him, feeling that a simple and ordinary life was also a blessing. Noah picked up his ss of wine and took a sip, silently criticizing his old man for being too loyal to George. Nevertheless, whether it was Ryan or Audrey, neither was rted to George by blood. Noah still felt that Lyra, who was far away in a foreign country, had a greater chance of sess. That was why he chose to coborate with Lyra. Noah¡¯s phone chimed with a message notification. He nced down and opened the message. It was from Lyra. ¡°Justnded with my dad.¡± Seeing Lyra¡¯s reply, a smirk formed on his lips as he nced in Audrey and Ryan¡¯s direction. George started to show signs of exhaustion after introducing Audrey as the granddaughter of the Lambert family to influential figures in the Mythravia circle. Chapter 252 2/2 He appeared weary after seeing off several important people. After helping George into the car, Audrey and Ryan heard him say to Audrey, ¡°Today marks your official return to the Lambert family. I have a gift for you; I¡¯ll have Ryan take you to see itter.¡± Audrey nodded. ¡°Okay. Thank you, Grandpa!¡± Then, Audrey turned to Edward and said, ¡°Edward, thank you for escorting Grandpa All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. back. Make sure he takes his medicine and gets some rest.¡± ¡°Ms. Audrey, rest assured.¡± Edward nodded with a smile. Watching George depart, Audrey felt a warmth on her shoulder and then saw Ryan draping his suit jacket over her. ¡°I¡¯m not cold,¡± Audrey said. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Ryan opened the car door for her, shielding Audrey¡¯s head as she entered the car. ¡°You¡¯re too beautiful; I don¡¯t want anyone else to see you like this.¡± Audrey blushed and pulled Ryan¡¯s suit closer around her as she got into the car. Nathan stood behind a nearby pir, his eyes fixed on Audrey as if she would disappear he looked away. if His eyes were red, and tears streamed down uncontrobly. Only when the car carrying Audrey vanished from his blurry vision did Nathan finally feel limp. Leaning against the pir, his heart twisted with pain. Standing beside Nathan, Hugo watched him for a while before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see a boyfriend with Audrey.¡± Nathan¡¯s throat tightened, looking at Hugo with hopeful eyes. ¡°The person she was having dinner with that day was her bodyguard. Do you think Audrey was lying to me? Maybe she doesn¡¯t have a boyfriend at all, and that child-¡± Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Thinking about the child and remembering Audrey¡¯s yful gaze, Nathan trusted that she wouldn¡¯t lie to him about the child. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Hugo patted Nathan¡¯s arm, turning to leave first. Ryan brought Audrey to the top floor of Autumnvale. The top floor was over 4000 square feet, not including the outdoor rooftop pool. The furniture and decor had been rearranged ording to Audrey¡¯s original home style, showing that Edward had put in much effort. ¡°After George visited the apartment you were living in before, he thought it was too small. He said this ce is barely spacious enough. ¡°Originally, it was under your mother¡¯s name, but now it¡¯s been transferred to yours. It¡¯s closer to the Lambert Corporation building, which will be convenient for you in the future.¡± Ryan led Audrey to the windows, pointing to the towering Lambert Corporation building N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. across the street. Audrey¡¯s eyes welled up, not because she particrly liked this apartment. She simply felt moved, knowing that George had arranged this for her. ¡°Edward has already arranged for a housekeeper toe. At 6:00 am, imported groceries will be delivered to your doorstep. The housekeeper will prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for you. ¡°After each meal is prepared, the housekeeper will leave and not disturb you. The cleaningdy will come at 2:00 pm.¡± Ryan pushed open the door to another room as he continued speaking. It was a boy¡¯s room prepared for Das. ¡°This ¡°This way, you can ensure that you¡¯ll have three meals a day on time. Oh, if you have to work overtime in the evening, the housekeeper will also deliver your to the meals Wanda¡¯s stomach condition was caused by the overwhelming hunger she often Chapter 293 experienced in Sayeno Town, so George always paid extra attention to the meal arrangements for Ryan and Audrey. ¡°Seasonal clothes will be brought to the house by the mall manager downstairs along with various brands for you to choose from, saving you the time to go to the mall,¡± Ryan continued his exnation. ¡°The new seasonal clothes have already been put into your wardrobe. You can change into a new outfit later.¡± Audrey felt that her life had be quite incredible since George arranged for Stephen to take care of her and the child¡¯s daily life. Little did she know, even more amazing things were waiting for her ahead. Perhaps poverty had limited Audrey¡¯s imagination. After touring the four rooms, Ryan removed the suit jacket and hugged Audrey from behind. Before he could speak, Audrey¡¯s phone rang. Audrey quickly pulled away from Ryan¡¯s embrace. She smiled apologetically and picked up her phone to answer it. ¡°Hello, Edward.¡± Just as her call connected, Ryan¡¯s phone also rang. ncing at Audrey, he answered, Hello, Paige.¡± Edward¡¯s voice carried a hint of urgency. ¡°Audrey, could you please return to Lambert Residence? Mr. Lambert¡¯s brother, whom he had expelled overseas, has returned and is causing a scene. I¡¯m worried about Mr. Lambert¡¯s health.¡± Audrey was already aware of Wilfred, George¡¯s young brother. Wilfred was an illegitimate child and bad for public appearances, so George disliked him. Later, Wilfred got involved in drug abuse and embezzlement. Although George didn¡¯t pursue legal actions out of respect for his deceased father, he broke Wilfred¡¯s legs and sent him abroad¨Cforbidding him from returning to the country. Perhaps with George getting older, Wilfred believed he could provoke George and thus returned. Chapter 284 Chapter 284 On the other end, Paige also told Ryan, ¡°That illegitimate child, Wilfred, hase back with his daughter. I¡¯m afraid Mr. Lambert will be infuriated and endanger his health. Why don¡¯t youe back and take a look?¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯m with Audrey right now, I¡¯ll return immediately.¡± Ryan hung up the phone and met Audrey¡¯s gaze. He put on his suit jacket. ¡°You go change your clothes. We¡¯ll go back to Lambert Residence together. This is a good opportunity to get rid of Wilfred.¡± L George had publicly announced Audrey as his granddaughter, and Ryan would soon leave the family. But he would be sure to remove all obstacles for Audrey before leaving. On the way, Audrey heard from Ryan that Wilfred had caused trouble with his daughter, Lyra, once before Ryan was adopted. George then blocked him by cutting off his living expenses. This time, Wilfred must have learned about George adopting Audrey and wanted to fight for his inheritance rights by bringing his daughter back to cause trouble. Inside Lambert Residence, Wilfred¡¯s hands trembled as he pointed at George sitting silently on the couch. ¡°George! I know you look down on me, but Lyra is still part of our family bloodline. She can take care of Wanda just as well! ¡°If you¡¯re worried, Wanda can adopt Lyra after she gets married and has children of her own. Just look at that Audrey¡¯s background¨Cshe¡¯s 16 years younger than Wanda! Them masquerading as mother and daughter is a joke!¡± George clenched his cane tightly, his eyes dark and somber as he stared at the illegitimate brother before him. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Das and Lily crouched at the top of the stairs, both holding onto the railing and looking down. Lily looked at the woman in the navy blue suit sitting on the couch, then shifted her gaze to Wilfred, who was limping on one leg. She whispered to her brother, ¡°Das, I don¡¯t like those two people. Who are they?¡± Chapter 284 212 Das replied coldly, ¡°That man is Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s illegitimate brother, who is 22 years younger than him and is now 50 years old. The woman in the blue suit is his daughter, who is 31 years old.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Lily nodded. ¡°Wow, that illegitimate son got his wife pregnant when he was only 18!¡± Das nodded in agreement. ¡°George, Ryan and Audrey are rtives themselves. Haven¡¯t you ever considered that Ryan might have deliberately persuaded you to adopt Audrey as your granddaughter to take control of the Lambert family? ¡°Look, Ryan is your adopted son, and you will definitely leave half of your fortune to Wanda. If Audrey bes Wanda¡¯s adopted daughter, then won¡¯t the Lambert family be controlled by Ryan alone?¡± Wilfred and Lyra were unaware that Audrey was Wanda¡¯s biological daughter. They wanted to discredit Ryan in any way they could. But the more they spoke, the colder George felt toward them. Before George could speak, Paige hurriedly entered, announcing, ¡°Ryan and Audrey are back.¡± Wilfred immediately became excited. ¡°You see! George, we¡¯ve only been together briefly, but those two have already returned. ¡°They¡¯re afraid that I, who share blood ties with you, as well as Lyra, will expose something to you. Not only have they already gained control of the Lambert family, but now they even want to control you!¡± Lyra took out her phone and showed George the photo Noah had sent her today, She handed the phone to George. Chapter 285 Chapter 285 ¡°Uncle George, look at these three photos!¡± Lyra flipped through the three pictures and showed them to George. ¡°These were taken at your birthday banquet. Ryan and his fianc¨¦e, Ms. Cecilia, secretly met with Audrey. ¡°Who knows what they were plotting! Uncle George, they have no blood ties with you, so you have to be cautious!¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting thing to say,¡± Ryan said sarcastically as he and Audrey entered. George¡¯s frowning brows rxed when he saw Ryan and Audrey. He then nced at Edward. Edward smiled and handed George a cup of hot tea, whispering, ¡°It¡¯s time to let the younger generation fend for you.¡± George smiled without saying a word as if agreeing with Edward¡¯s words. Wilfred froze when he saw Audrey enter. Although he had seen pictures of Audrey during his investigation, he never expected Audrey to look so much like Wanda. At first, George adopted Ryan because he couldn¡¯t find his daughter. He decided to adopt Ryan when he noticed that Ryan¡¯s eyes were exactly like his daughter¡¯s. Wilfred never expected that a rtive from Ryan¡¯s family could resemble Wanda to such an extent. No wonder George allowed Audrey to be Wanda¡¯s adopted daughter. Lyra also nced at Audrey with narrowed eyes. She had seen Wanda before, and Audrey was indeed remarkably simr to her so that Lyra couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Audrey had undergone stic surgery. There was no discernible difference between Audrey and the photos of her. ¨C so much Yet for some reason, Audrey, who stood before her, bore a striking resemnce to Wanda¨Cboth in temperament and demeanor. ¡°Grandpa,¡± Audrey greeted George. ¡°Have a seat.¡± Audrey nodded and took her seat, looking up to see the two children upstairs waving at her. Chapter 785 She smiled and epted the tea offered by Paige, thanking her thereafter. Ryan stood by the coffee table and handed a document folder to Edward. ¡°Who should we be cautious of in this family? I believe everyone will know the answer to that once you¡¯ve seen this,¡± Ryan spoke up. Edward opened the document folder and handed the contents to George. Taking advantage of George¡¯s momentary distraction as he looked through the documents, Wilfred stood up excitedly. He pointed his finger at Ryan and shouted, ¡°Who should we be cautious of? It¡¯s you! Not only did you get George to adopt you as a foster son, but you also brought in your rtives! Ryan, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. This Audrey is a rtive of your original family. ¡°You¡¯ve been using our Lambert Corporation¡¯s projects to support the Franklin family, all because they¡¯ve been helping you take care of this rtive! Did you think I wouldn¡¯t know?¡± Wilfred became increasingly agitated as he spoke, hobbling on his cane toward Ryan. However, when he looked up at the towering Ryan, his confidence seemed to diminish. Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Wilfred distanced himself from Ryan by a few steps, shouting, ¡°You brought this rtive of yours into our family, and now she has be Wanda¡¯s daughter. What are you up to? Are you eyeing all of the Lambert family¡¯s assets? You¡¯re getting half and still not satisfied?¡± ¡°Mr. Wilfred, please refrain from repeatedly mentioning ¡®our family¡®. You and Grandpa cut ties 20 years ago. The Lambert family has no connection to you anymore,¡± Audrey said, setting down her teacup. ¡°You have no right to speak here!¡± Wilfred raised his cane as if to strike Audrey, but Edward intercepted him. ¡°Edward, are you also turning against us? George has been fooled by outsiders. You¡¯re going to fall for it too?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Before Wilfred could finish his outburst, George threw the documents in his face. ¡°George?¡± Wilfred was stunned. George rose with the support of his cane. His face was as dark as a demon¡¯s, his pupils trembling incessantly. Even when Wilfred¡¯s leg was broken years ago, George remained calm. He sat on the couch and watched the bodyguards act on his behalf. Wilfred had never seen George like this. ¡°It¡¯s you! You¡¯re the one who took Wanda away and lost her!¡± George gritted his teeth. Who would have thought that Wanda, George¡¯s only daughter, would be abducted back. then? After all, Wanda always had a driver to apany her wherever she went. Her school was a top¨Ctier private school in Mythravia, filled with children from wealthy families. The school required parents to sign security agreements before enrollment to ensure the students¡® safety. People carried her bags wherever she went, and she always used VIP routes whenever she went to the mall. Whether dining or having a midday snack, she would do so in the VIP room. 17acter 256 It was nearly impossible for strangers to get within 15 feet of Wanda, so how could she have been abducted to that godforsaken ce, Sayeno Town? George had been puzzled by Wanda¡¯s disappearance for years. Now seeing the information Ryan had obtained, he finally understood that it was all done. by Wilfred. Ryan had intended to show these documents to George before leaving the Lambert family. But since Wilfred had returned, Ryan didn¡¯t mind dealing with him immediately. Upon hearing this, Wilfred¡¯s expression changed drastically. The hand gripping his cane trembled. ¡°George, what are you saying?¡± Lyra hurriedly picked up the documents from the ground. When she saw the contents, her eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Impossible! Uncle George, my father is Wanda¡¯s uncle. We¡¯re family by blood. How could my father harm Wanda?¡± ¡°The reason is simple,¡± Ryan spoke calmly. ¡°Wilfred saw the strong bond between Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. He also knew Mrs. Lambert couldn¡¯t have more children after Ms. Wanda due to health issues. ¡°He thought if Ms. Wanda died, the Lambert family fortune would be yours. Even if you couldn¡¯t inherit it directly, your father could get Mr. Lambert to adopt you, ensuring you¡¯d inherit the Lambert family assets.¡± Chapter 287 Chapter 287 At that time, George and his wife, Edith, insisted on adopting Ryan. Thus, Wilfred had no choice but to give in. He thought that Ryan was just an adopted son, and there would be plenty of ways to drive him out of the Lambert Corporation in the future. After all, Wilfred was blood¨Crted to the Lambert family. At the very least, he could have his child adopted by George, ensuring that he would inherit half of the Lambert family¡¯s fortune. George was eager to marry Ryan and Cecilia to keep Wilfred out. He wanted to find a powerful family for Ryan, ensuring Ryan could maintain control of the Lambert Corporation after his passing. A few days ago, Wilfred heard that George intended to adopt a foster daughter for Wanda, and that girl happened to be Ryan¡¯s rtive. Wilfred couldn¡¯t sit still. ¡°You¡¯re spouting nonsense! These documents must have been forged!¡± Lyra held the documents and looked at George. ¡°Uncle George, do you trust an outsider more than your own blood rtive?¡± Wilfred suddenly spoke up, ¡°Yes! George! You can¡¯t trust this outsider, Ryan! He¡¯s only after our family¡¯s fortune!¡± ¡°You guys are beating a dead horse.¡± Ryan nced at his watch. ¡°In another ten minutes, the hired killer you paid to kill Ms. Wanda all those years ago will be brought here in custody.¡± Wilfred widened his eyes and instinctively nced at George. He almost lost his footing after seeing George¡¯s dark and stern face. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Wilfred raised his voice. Audrey helped George sit down. ¡°Grandpa, if the evidence is clear, although the statute of limitations has passed, the judicial authorities can seek approval from the district attorney¡¯s office to initiate prosecution if they deem it necessary. ¡°For suspects evading investigation or trial, there is no time limit for prosecution, ¡°Furthermore, 13 years ago, when the prosecution period was still valid, Wilfred bribed the household staff to drug you, intending tomit both theft and murder for the Lambert family¡¯s assets. ¡°Although Paige discovered you in time, your health has never been the same since. We can send Mr. Wilfred to prison for all of this.¡± Ryan unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down on the couch. ¡°Once we¡¯ve straightened things out, we¡¯ll call the police. They will decide if I¡¯m speaking the truth.¡± Wilfred had approached Wanda as her uncle, and he had taken her away when she was least on guard. At that time, when he handed her over to the killer, the intention was indeed for them to end Wanda¡¯s life.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. However, what Wilfred didn¡¯t expect was that despite paying the killer, Wanda was not killed. In fact, he had no idea where she had been taken. Even more surprising was the discovery of Wanda over a decadeter. Although Wanda survived, Wilfred was relieved that she became mentally unstable. When she was first found, Wilfred had tried every means to contact the killer but couldn¡¯t reach him, and the matter was left unresolved. Unexpectedly, Ryan imed to have found the killer from back then. Lyra grasped her father¡¯s hand firmly, her expression resolute. ¡°My father never did what you¡¯re using him of. Are you trying to frame him by just bringing anyone over?¡± Lyra turned to George, who had remained silent. ¡°Uncle George, say something! Ryan and Audrey are trying to eliminate all your loved ones!¡± George almost blurted out Audrey¡¯s true identity. No one was closer to him than Audrey when it came to blood rtions. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 However, once people learned that Audrey was Wanda¡¯s biological daughter, It would reveal to everyone that Wanda was imprisoned by the Yeomans family. Worst yet, she was kept in their underground dungeon as a breeding machine, and that Adam was also her offspring. George had refrained from killing the people of Sayeno Town and the entire Yeomans family just to watch them suffer for the rest of their lives, enduring their agony for generations. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. It wasn¡¯t to allow that family toe back and continue tormenting him and his daughter. ¡°Who¡¯s trying to exterminate their loved ones?¡± Georgeughed. ¡°No, you¡¯re not considered my loved ones. As Audrey said, we cut ties 20 years ago. ¡°The current Lambert family has no rtion to you anymore. No one knows about our rtionship, and I won¡¯t acknowledge a disgusting illegitimate child as my brother.¡± George!¡± Wilfred¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you really going to treat your only family like this?¡± ¡°My only family is Wanda! It¡¯s Audrey and Ryan!¡± George banged his cane forcefully, his voice hoarse. ¡°You, a bastard, dare to call yourself my family? Just knowing that you bear the Lambert name makes me sick.¡± George refrained from saying more out loud¨Cconsidering Audrey¡¯s presence¨Cbut he thought the bastard child of a woman from the lower ss was downright despicable. Initially, George¡¯s reluctance to ept Audrey¨Ceven after she helped Wanda escape from Sayeno Town¨Cwas also rted to Wilfred. Although they shared a father, George was repulsed by Wilfred¡¯s actions. He believed some traits brought about by gics couldn¡¯t be erased. At the time, George preferred to entrust the Lambert Corporation and Wanda¡¯s well- being to Ryan, rather than acknowledge Audrey. ¡°Uncle George¡­¡± Lyra¡¯s tears welled up instantly. ¡°No matter what, my father is still Grandpa¡¯s child! He only cares about you as his brother. How could you say such things?¡± Chapter 26 Just then, Julian entered the room. He announced, ¡°Mr. Lambert, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Audrey, the person has been brought in,¡± Wilfred¡¯s pupils trembled as he tightly gripped Lyra¡¯s hand. If the person Ryan brought In was indeed the killer from years ago, then his attempt to kill Wanda would be expont. Lyra was unaware of the events from years ago. She held Wilfred¡¯s hand, her heartbeat racing. Based on her understanding of her father, there was a possibility that Wilfred had truly ordered Wanda¡¯s murder. ¡°You can¡¯t just bring anyone in and frame my father!¡± Lyra pretended to be calm, squeezing Wilfred¡¯s hand. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. You haven¡¯t done anything wrong, and Uncle George won¡¯t falsely use you.¡± Wilfred gained confidence, raising his voice. ¡°Exactly! I won¡¯t admit to something I didn¡¯t do!¡± Surveince was scarce at that time, and there was no evidence proving that he had taken Wanda away or that he had paid the killer. As long as he didn¡¯t confess, who could do anything to him? Chapter 289 Chapter 289 To everyone¡¯s surprise, Julian brought in a few other people besides the aged killer.. There was also a store manager who used to serve VIP clients at the mall, the driver who used to chauffeur Wanda, and a young man whom Wilfred had never seen before. Wilfred felt like he was about to copse. He gaped at Ryan, shocked to see that even the former store manager had been brought in. Wilfred indeed paid both the driver and the manager. The only person he didn¡¯t recognize was the young man. The young man glimpsed at Ryan before looking nervously at George. He approached hesitantly and ced an old diary on the coffee table. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°My mother was a maid who served Ms. Wanda back then. This is her diary. At the time, I was diagnosed with leukemia and urgently needed money. So my mother, ignoring her conscience, epted the bribe and allowed someone to take Ms. Wanda away.¡± The young man pressed his lips into a thin line. ¡°My mother has lived with guilt all her life. Before she passed away, she asked me to find a way to give her diary to Mr. Lambert Senior. However, I¡¯m a nobody¨Cjust a screw in the lower echelons of society. I never had the chance to meet Mr. Lambert Senior, but I¡¯ve kept the diary all this time.¡± Edward picked the notebook up and handed it to George. George was visibly trembling; he opened the diary and flipped to the day when Wanda went missing. He learned how the store manager who served Wanda had interacted with Wilfred. ¡°It¡¯s fake! It must be fake!¡± Wilfred shouted. ¡°The household staff Wilfred bribed to poison you back then has also been brought here. If you want to see her, we can arrange it for tomorrow morning,¡± Edward added. George closed the diary and handed it back to Edward. ¡°There¡¯s no need to bring the household staff here. Take her and the diary to the police. Contact the district attorney¡¯s office. I want to get to the bottom of this!¡± Before Lyra could say anything, Wilfred knelt down, overwhelmed with fear. NETGUPAN CH ¡°Georgel Please spare me this time for the sake of our family! I¡¯ll leave the country Immediately and nevere backd¡± ¡°Get out!¡± George suddenly lost control of his emotions. ¡°Keep all the evidence and witness testimonies. If you daree back to this country, I¡¯ll make sure you rot in prison! Get out!¡± Wilfred quickly helped himself up, grabbed his daughter, and hurried out. Lyra took a few steps outside and saw two children squatting by the railing upstairs, peering down. She frowned, then followed Wilfred to the door. ¡°Dad! You go ahead, I have to stay. I can¡¯t let Ryan and Audrey take over what rightfully belongs to us!¡± ¡°What can you do by staying alone?¡± Wilfred tightly gripped his daughter¡¯s hand, refusing to let go. ¡°What your uncle remembers what happened when Wanda was abducted? What if he does something to you? Forget it. Let¡¯s go! We¡¯lle back after your uncle dies!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use ofing back then? By that time, Ryan will still have the diary and those witnesses in his hands!¡± Lyra looked at Wilfred with disdain. ¡°We can¡¯t let. outsiders take our assets. Just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t!¡± With that, Lyra pushed her father into the car and mmed the door shut. Having gotten rid of him, she then looked at the household staff beside her. She took out her wallet, withdrew all the cash, and handed them over. ¡°Who are those two children inside?¡± The household staff quickly pocketed the money and replied, ¡°They are Ms. Audrey¡¯s two children. Mr. Lambert Senior and Ms. Audrey are very fond of them. They spend all day ying with them.¡± Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Lyra clenched her teeth, realizing that Audrey was using her children to appease George and Wanda. Returning to the residence, she saw George leaning on a cane, standing with Audrey¡¯s. support. Lyra immediately knelt as soon as she entered. ¡°Uncle George! I didn¡¯t know that my father had hurt Wanda so badly. Although you spared my father due to family ties, I can¡¯t reconcile with my conscience. ¡°I beg you to let me stay in the country to make amends. I¡¯m a somewhat renowned psychologist abroad, and I want to take care of Wanda!¡± Lyra spoke earnestly, her eyes brimming with tears. Audrey looked at Lyra kneeling in front of the coffee table, her gaze icy. ¡°Because of your father¡¯s greed, my mother has been adrift for years, left in a fragile mental state. What do you think you can do to make up for it? You just want an excuse to stay in the Lambert family.¡± Audrey despised Wilfred, the one who locked Wanda in the Yeomans¡® basement, subjecting her to a neverending hell. Even if George spared Wilfred, Audrey wouldn¡¯t. ¡°Uncle George, don¡¯t listen to this outsider¡¯s nonsense! She and Ryan are eyeing the Lambert family¡¯s fortune! Even if you don¡¯t believe your own niece, you should think about Wanda. ¡°Let me stay to restrain her and Ryan! If one day you pass away and leave the family to outsiders, aren¡¯t you afraid they¡¯ll mistreat Wanda and send her to a mental, asylum?¡± ¡°Get her out of here!¡± George angrily ordered Paige. Paige stood by Lyra with a cold expression. ¡°Miss, please leave.¡± Lyra was seething inside but still pretended to look pitiful. ¡°Uncle George, no matter what you think, I truly feel guilty toward you and Wanda. ¡°I understand if you want me to leave, but I¡¯ll stay in the country. Whether you like it or not, I¡¯ll stay and keep an eye on Ryan and Audrey. You can call me anytime if you need me. With that, Lyra finally stood up and left under Paige¡¯s close watch. As soon as Lyra left, the two little ones who had been silently watching called for their mother and rushed downstairs. The anger on George¡¯s face dissipated when seeing the children. He patted Audrey¡¯s hand and sighed. ¡°Rest assured, I will ensure these two troublemakers are dealt with before I pass away.¡± George¡¯s eyes indicated a strong protective stance toward Audrey. ¡°Grandpa, you should rest. Let me handle this,¡± Audrey said. ¡°No, you can¡¯t intervene. To the outside world, you are just like Ryan¨Can adopted daughter of the Lambert family. Although Wilfred and his daughter were never publicly acknowledged, many of the company¡¯s veteran employees know they are part of the Lambert family. ¡°If you take action, everyone will think you¡¯re doing it for the family¡¯s wealth. I¡¯ll be the one to handle them.¡± George then nced at Edward. Edward understood George¡¯s intentions and nodded. He turned to walk out of the residence. George smiled, patting Lily and Das¡® heads. Only then did his gaze soften, overflowing with love and tenderness. ¡°Great Grandpa will arrange a carefree future for both of you, Das and Lily!¡± George looked at his two little great¨Cgrandchildren. ¡°So you both can grow up happily.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 George only had one daughter, Wanda. As such, he had extremely high expectations for her. He had arranged many courses for her when she was very young, giving her all his love but also cing significant pressure on her. Wanda wouldn¡¯t have been misled by Wilfred otherwise. The young girl believed her uncle who offered her an excuse to rx. George wouldn¡¯t treat his two little great¨Cgrandchildren the same way he did with Wanda; he only hoped they could grow up happily, safely, and peacefully. After escorting George upstairs, Audrey heard from Paige that Wanda had taken sleeping pills and gone to bed early today. She quietly went upstairs and pushed open Wanda¡¯s door to take a peek inside. The nightmp outlined Wanda¡¯s sleeping profile. Audrey¡¯s eyes became moist, and she gently closed the door again. Unbeknownst to Audrey, Paige was silently standing behind her. Seeing Audrey¡¯s expression, Paige smiled. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be here. Don¡¯t worry. Wanda has been doing welltely. Now with Das, Lily, and you by her side, Wanda will be even better in the future.¡± Paige raised Wanda when she was still very young. Looking at Audrey now was like looking at a young Wanda. How could Paige not feel affection? Paige was holding the pajamas she had prepared for Audrey. She smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared the bathwater for you. Wanda personally chose these pajamas a while back ¡°They¡¯ve been washed and are ready to wear. Your toiletries and everyday clothes were chosen by Wanda, Das, and Lily together.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Audrey expressed her gratitude. Seeing Audrey¡¯s appreciative expression, Paige¡¯s smile broadened. ¡°Although George doesn¡¯t say it outright, I know that he actually hoped you¡¯d live here. ¡°The incident where Wanda was frightened by the rope was simply an ident. Wanda really likes you. Blood ties are a mysterious force; just seeing each other makes you feel fond.¡± Audrey tightly grasped the pajamas, feeling uncertain. Her situation with Wanda was very special. She wasn¡¯t born to Wanda in the usual way, in the excitement of a typical marriage Although it happened when she was young, Audrey clearly remembered the hateful look in Wanda¡¯s eyes. If Wanda remembered the past, she might want Audrey to disappear from this world. ¡°I¡¯ve watched your programs, Audrey, as well as your speeches in variouspetitions.¡± Paige¡¯s eyes also reddened as she spoke. ¡°I watched your speech when you stood on the podium at the Olympic Games at 13. It was like seeing Wanda at 13, shining brightly! ¡®You¡¯re definitely Wanda¡¯s child. You¡¯re so much like her not at all like the Yeomans family! You are a part of the Lambert family. Never doubt that.¡± After Paige finished speaking, she smiled and patted Audrey¡¯s shoulder. She then turned and wiped away her tears before heading downstairs. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Audrey¡¯s room in the residence was next to Ryan¡¯s. The two little ones had already washed up and changed into clean pajamas, sitting on the carpet in Audrey¡¯s bedroom, ying card games with Ryan. Ryan¡¯s phone vibrated just then¨Cit was a call from Daniel. He set down the cards in his hands and walked to the window. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Ryan, the evidence has been found.¡± Daniel¡¯s voice was heavy. ¡°Jim wasn¡¯t lying, but the evidence is iplete. What should we do now? Should we hand the evidence over to the police, or keep it in our hands for now?¡± Ryan replied, ¡°Keep the evidence for now.¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 ¡°When are you leaving the Lambert family anding back? My dad¡¯s side is ready. As soon as you come back, we can take Henry down anytime!¡± Daniel added, ¡°My side is also prepared. The car ident can be arranged immediately as long as you give us a date.¡± Ryan nced at the two children still ying, his brows slightly furrowed. ¡°Let¡¯s walt until after I finish the handover at the Lambert Corporation. I¡¯ve waited for so many years, I can wait a little longer.¡± Just as he finished speaking with Daniel, Audrey opened the door and entered. ¡°I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± Ryan ended the call and saw Audrey holding the pajamas. ¡°Paige prepared them?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Audrey smiled and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s alreadyte, you should rest early too.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t Daddy sleep with us?¡± Lily looked up, and her shiny ck eyes blinked in confusion. ¡°I want to sleep with Das and Daddy in the middle!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± Das poked Lily¡¯s face with disdain. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you have to call him Mr. Lambert in this house!¡± Lily felt a bit aggrieved, rubbing her chubby face. ¡°Okay¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve seen the two children, you should rest early with them.¡± Ryan put his phone back in his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the study to check on Mr. Lambert Senior.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing Ryan leave, Lily immediately hugged Audrey¡¯s leg. ¡°Mommy! Can you help me and Das with something?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°What is it?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°We want to make pasta for Mr. Lambert Senior. The dough was already prepared today, and we rolled out a long strand with Wandflower. Initially, Wandflower promised to cook the noodles with us, but she hasn¡¯t been feeling well since this afternoon, so she took medicine to sleep early. The dough is still in the refrigerator,¡± Das said. Even though it was already thiste, this was the children¡¯s heartfelt intention. Audrey set down the pajamas in her hands and hugged the two children. ¡°Alright! Mommy will help you!¡± Ryan sat on the single couch in the study, watching George as he silently looked out the window. ¡°When you decided to adopt a child, you immediately chose me. The police convinced Professor Lambert to admit that I was his nephew and allowed you to adopt me. You did this to protect me¨Cthe Kingston family bloodline¨Cfrom retaliation. ¡°So, a monthter, I will arrange a car ident to make Ryan quietly disappear from this world, without implicating the Lambert family.¡± ¡°Ryan, I¡¯ve watched you grow up. As long as you don¡¯t reveal your rtionship with the Kingston family, who would know you¡¯re part of their bloodline? You can still be my adopted son.¡± He continued, ¡°All these years, you¡¯ve taken good care of Audrey, and I¡¯ve seen it all. Why are you unwilling to stay in the Lambert Corporation to help her now?¡± George sat at his desk and pulled a document from the drawer. ¡°This is my will. My shares, assets, and some properties both local and abroad, are and into three parts. One for Wanda, one for you, and one for Audrey. ¡°The antiques, calligraphy, and paintings I own will also be divided into three parts: for you, Audrey, and the two children.¡± ¡°Give the portion that was originally meant for me to Audrey and the two children,¡± Ryan said without hesitation. Seeing Ryan¡¯s determination to leave, George closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°Is it really inevitable?¡± Ryan rested his elbows on his knees, sping his hands tightly. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly with his head bowed, ¡°I can¡¯t forget the scene of my parents dying in front of me. My mother was trapped by the seatbelt, but she tried her hardest to undo mine. The harder she pulled, the tighter the seatbelt became.¡± Even now, whenever Ryan closed his eyes, he saw his parents desperately trying to save Chapter 293 Chapter 293 ¡°I understand.¡± George sighed again. ¡°But Ryan, as a father myself¡­ My greatest hope is for my children to live well, not to be burdened by hatred.¡± Previously, George had been unaware of why Ryan insisted on leaving the Lambert family. Ryan then confessed his identity to George, exining the hatred he carried. Only then did George understand Ryan¡¯s determination. Ryan intended to seek revenge, but he didn¡¯t want to involve the Lambert family. That was why he nned to make Ryan disappear from this world through a car ident, returning the Lambert Corporation intact to the Lambert family. ¡°I¡¯m doing it this way because I don¡¯t want to implicate the Lambert family. And only when Ryan completely disappears can Audrey fully control the Lambert Corporation. The Lambert Corporation might split into factions otherwise.¡± George leaned on the desk. He hung his head low, sighing and unsure where to begin. advising. Just then, George looked up after hearing a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Audrey came in with a fresh te of pasta. Seeing Jerry¡¯s artwork that she had gifted George in the most prominent position on the antique shelf, her eyes filled with even more warmth. Das and Lily said they made this pasta with Mom today, and it was waiting to be cooked for you. But Mom got tired, so the dough ended up in the fridge. The two kids just finished cooking this with me, but they fell asleep right after.¡± The heavenly aroma of tomatoes and rosemary filled the air. ¡°You¡¯re all so thoughtful!¡± George felt a warmth spread in his heart. He nced at Ryan, still sitting on the couch. ¡°Are you nning to tell Audrey?¡± Ryan sat up straight and said, ¡°She knows.¡± George was surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Audrey to know even before he did. ¡°You knew that Ryan isn¡¯t the nephew of your fake grandfather?¡± Audrey nced at Ryan and nodded. She had known ever since Ryan told her his real Chapter 293 name was Matthew. ¡°Alright. Since you already know, familiarize yourself with the operations of the Lambert Corporation as soon as possible. My stamina is not as good as it used to be, so you¡¯ll have to prepare yourself,¡± George said, sighing again. Anyone would feel heavy¨Chearted to lose such an outstanding son. ¡°I will help Audrey take over as soon as possible,¡± Ryan said. George looked at Audrey. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you and Audrey to thepany to get familiarized immediately. Any questions?¡± Audrey was already prepared and nodded. ¡°None.¡±This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Ryan and Audrey walked out of George¡¯s study together. Audrey then asked, ¡°How long before you leave the Lambert family?¡± ¡°At most a month.¡± He walked with Audrey to the bedroom. ¡°So during this time, we¡¯ll be spending more time together, and there will be a lot of things to hand over. After I leave, Julian will be under you.¡± Chapter 294 Chapter 294 After escorting Audrey to the bedroom door, Ryan¡¯s gaze lingered on the corner of her lips. His Adam¡¯s apple rolled slightly. Mindful of being in the family residence, he refrained from kissing her and simply said, Rest well. We¡¯ll be busy starting tomorrow.¡± Audrey nodded and stepped inside. ¡°Okay then, goodnight. You should rest early too.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Ryan suddenly pushed her inside and joined her in the room. He seized the back of Audrey¡¯s head, kissing her. The door was open, and they were in Lambert Residence. Audrey¡¯s eyes widened in panic, attempting to push him away. The kiss was brief. He lowered his head to look at Audrey, whose ears were now bright red, and murmured, Goodnight.¡± ¡°There¡¯s surveince in the hallway!¡± Audrey¡¯s heart raced, fearing being discovered by George. Since getting Wanda back, surveince cameras had been installed throughout the corridors. This was partly because George feared Wanda might disappear again. It was also out of concern for Wanda¡¯s mental state in case anything happened. ¡°The surveince cameras on the second floor encountered a problem this afternoon. The technician won¡¯t be able to fix it until tomorrow.¡± Ryan then stepped out of the bedroom. ¡°See you tomorrow morning.¡°. Audrey held onto the door tightly, nodding. ¡°See you tomorrow morning.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Closing the door behind her, Audrey saw the two sleeping children on the bed. She kissed each of them on the cheek before taking her pajamas and heading to the bathroom to freshen up. Then shey down, embracing the two children. Chapter 294 2/2 The next day, Audrey changed into professional attire. She wore a white blouse with a ck cor under a knee¨Clength ck fitted dress. Around her neck was a simple diamond ne. On her wrist, she wore a leather strap diamond watch, exudingpetence and elegance. With her slender figure, Audrey particrly stood out in high heels, emanating a strong sense of authority. When Audrey and Ryan appeared together at the entrance of the Lambert Corporation building, it stirred discussions among the employees arriving for work. Watching the two of them enter the CEO¡¯s private elevator, followed by Julian, Yvonne, and Peter, some nosy employees cautiously snapped photos with their phones and shared them in the work group chat. ¡°Oh my God, who¡¯s that next to Mr. Lambert? Did Julian get fired? Did Mr. Lambert get a new assistant?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if you guys saw the news yesterday. It said that Mr. Lambert Senior announced his granddaughter¡¯s return at the banquet. It might be his granddaughter!¡± ¡°But many media outlets also reported that Mr. Lambert brought a woman who¡¯s not his fianc¨¦e to the banquet yesterday. Maybe that¡¯s her.¡± ¡°It might be the same person!¡± Countless work groups at the Lambert Corporation exploded with excitement because of the photo showing Ryan and Audrey together. ¡°Latest news! The technical equipment for the Vice Chairman¡¯s office, which Julian had arranged, has already been installed. Theputers are being tested as well. The staff for the Vice Chairman¡¯s secretariat are also in ce. The Vice Chairman ising!¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s granddaughter!¡± Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Noal walked into the building with a cup of coffee and nced at the work group chat. His eyebrows raised slightly. He casually took a screenshot and sent it to Lyra before heading toward the elevator. Meanwhile, Lyra was sitting opposite Nathan. She ced her phone on the table after seeing the screenshot of the group chat. ¡°Back when you divorced Audrey, you probably didn¡¯t even know she had two children! Audrey, a cunning woman who drugged you and slept with you. Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s hiding the children to compete for the family fortune with you and Ms. Doyle¡¯s children? ¡°Not to mention, since she¡¯s your ex¨Cwife, her two children technically aren¡¯t illegitimate. Mr. Franklin, you probably don¡¯t want to cause trouble for Ms. Doyle, do you?¡± Nathan¡¯s expression remained cold as he stared at Lyra. ¡°So, what do you want me to do with you?¡± ¡°Those two children must not stay in the Lambert family no matter what. I can help lure them out and hand them over to you. They are your children; you can do whatever you want with them. ¡°But those two children can never return to the Lambert family.¡± Lyra smiled. ¡°After all, you¡¯re the father of the children. Even if you take them away, no one can say anything about it!¡± Lyra heard that those two children had George and Wanda wrapped around their little. fingers. This was especially the case for Wanda, who couldn¡¯t bear to be separated for N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. even a moment. She specifically inquired with George¡¯swyer¡¯s assistant and learned that he had included provisions for those two children in his will, which made Lyra incredibly jealous. She was George¡¯s blood¨Crted niece, and she got nothing, while the illegitimate children Audrey had given birth to could inherit the Lambert family¡¯s wealth. George had instructed Wilfred to leave the country, only for Wilfred to be arrested by the police in a hotel shortly afterward. Lyra didn¡¯t know if this was George¡¯s intention or if Ryan was behind it. Regardless of Chapter 78 2/2 Wilfred¡¯s fate, she had to do everything in her power to reim what rightfully belonged. to her. Nathan was about to respond to Lyra when his phone rang. Seeing that it was a call from Edmond, Nathan answered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Mr. Franklin, something terrible has happened! Someone from Evergreen Biotech called to question why two otherpanies are producing drugs for Alzheimer¡¯s disease. using Evergreen Biotech¡¯s form! ¡°I checked, and when we retrieved the form, the twopanies were missing from the list!¡± Edmond¡¯s voice trembled as he spoke. ¡°ording to the guarantee we signed during the settlement with Evergreen Biotech a few days ago, we¡¯ll have topensate over three million for failing to fully retrieve the leaked form!¡± Nathan stood up abruptly. ¡°Have you contacted Mr. Campbell?¡± ¡°Mr. Campbell is furious right now and refuses to take any calls. I asked his assistant, and I heard that Mr. Campbell was in a panic, trying to exin to the founder. ¡°The founder originally didn¡¯t want to cooperate with Franklin Corporation, but because Mr. Campbell was willing to give us a chance, they reluctantly agreed to it. Now that we¡¯ve made a mistake, Mr. Campbell is afraid of losing his job.¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading to Evergreen Biotech now. Let¡¯s meet in front of the Evergreen Biotech building.¡± Lyra raised an eyebrow at the mention of Evergreen Biotech. After ending the call, Nathan looked at Lyra with contempt. He feared that if he outright refused her, this crazy woman might do something to the two children. He said, ¡°I have something urgent to attend to right now. We¡¯ll talk about thister. Until then, don¡¯t you dare do anything to the two children. Trust me, you¡¯ll regret it if you do.¡® Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Lyra nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to care so much about those two children.¡± ¡°Of course, they¡¯re my children!¡± Nathan replied, grabbing his phone and preparing to leave. ¡°Is there another problem with Evergreen Biotech? I know the person in charge of Evergreen Biotech¡¯s Cascadia region, Taylor, and also¡­¡± Lyra paused here, and she picked up her coffee cup. ¡°I¡¯m quite familiar with the founder of Evergreen Biotech. I can assist if you need any help. You should know that Taylor was also invited to my uncle¡¯s birthday banquet.¡± Hearing Lyra mention her rtionship with the founder of Evergreen Biotech, Nathan¡¯s grip on his phone tightened. But considering the woman before him had malicious intentions, he said, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it if necessary.¡± Lyra watched Nathan¡¯s departing figure with a cold smirk. Anyone would naturally feel close to those who shared their blood¨Cexcept for George, who was simply confused and couldn¡¯t distinguish between family and outsiders. Lyra picked up her bag and headed outside, dialing Noah¡¯s number. ¡°Have you arranged the mid¨Cyear report meeting for the board of directors at 10:00 am? ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Noah replied nonchntly. ¡°You¡¯ve spent so much money buying shares from us, totaling exactly ten percent. You can attend! But we agreed, once you secure the position of Chief Financial Officer at Lambert Corporation, you¡¯ll give me five percent of shares.¡± Lyra smirked. ¡°Are you still worried I¡¯ll break our written agreement?¡± At 9:00 am, Ryan introduced Audrey during the weekly morning meeting. Audrey quickly transitioned into work mode. After briefly standing up to introduce: herself as Audrey Lambert, she got down to business. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the market analysis and sales strategies presented by the Electronics Department and the Sales Departmentst week. There¡¯s a point I¡¯d like to address.¡± Sitting to Ryan¡¯s right, Audrey spoke at a moderate pace, enunciating clearly. Based on the analysis from the Marketing Department and thetest research reports, she refuted the sales strategies proposed by the Sales Department. Audrey proposed a higher budget and requested that the Sales Department coborate with the Marketing Department to revise the strategy. She emphasized using emotional appeal as the main focus¨Calong with local coboration¨Ctounch a Domestic Brands Cultural Festival. She insisted that all brands under the Lambert Corporation participate and, if possible, involve other domestic brands as well. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The current enthusiasm for domestic brands is not yet high, but it¡¯s steadily increasing. Leading this wave of joint efforts among domestic brands is the most appropriate for Lambert Corporation. We can create a national trend.¡± The Director of the Marketing Department responded quickly, ¡°We can have the proposal ready within three days, and our department will contact other traditional domestic brands right after the meeting.¡± me to my office. After the meeting adjourned, Ryan stood up and gestured to Audrey. ¡°Come to ¡°Okay,¡± Audrey replied, handing her belongings to her assistant. As the Marketing and Sales directors exited the meeting room, theymented, ¡°Ms. Lambert¡¯s market insight is impressive! Ever since she returned from Meria and sessfully developed her own product, I knew she would lead the trend of domestic manufacturing and brands. ¡°I mentioned utilizing this trend over dinner before, but you didn¡¯t believe me.¡± The Sales Director frowned. ¡°I actually quite liked the product¨Cproposed by our Electronics Department. The required budget isn¡¯t too high, but Ms. Lambert just wants to make a big ssh as a neer! Her enthusiasm is directed mostly at our two departments.¡± Once inside the office, Audrey watched as Ryan instructed Julian, ¡°Make sure no one ¡°Understood!¡± Julian responded. As soon as Julian closed the door, Audrey was pulled into Ryan¡¯s embrace as he stood. leaning against the edge of therge desk. Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Audrey could see the intense emotions in Ryan¡¯s eyes; emotions he couldn¡¯t express verbally despite his stern and serious demeanor. With her hands resting on Ryan¡¯s chest, Audrey felt her ears flush under his intense gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. Ryan tucked Audrey¡¯s stray hair behind her ear, his voice carrying a strong and dangerously possessive tone. ¡°I¡¯m struggling to restrain myself.¡± ¡°What?¡± Audrey was a bit confused. ¡°I can tolerate others admiring you, but I don¡¯t like it when they covet you or challenge you with their gaze.¡± He could tolerate it before Audrey expressed her feelings for him. However, after Audrey agreed to continue their marital rtionship, and he explicitly told Audrey how possessive and intense his feelings for her were, Audrey did not reject him. Instead, her eyes seemed bright and even joyful. Ryan was aware that his protective, possessive, and controlling instincts toward Audrey seemed to grow more with each day, especially with Audrey¡¯s indulgence. The wild beast inside him was evolving into an uncontroble monster. During the morning meeting just now, the gazes of Lambert Corporation¡¯s executives toward Audrey irritated Ryan. Especially when he saw someone faking respect with a hint of malice in their eyes, he wanted to smash that person¡¯s head into the meeting table, making everyone in the conference room unable to disrespect her. He had even entertained the idea of confining Audrey and possessing herpletely. He would have done it if Audrey had rejected him. He had admitted to Audrey that he harbored an intense and dangerously possessive desire toward her, along with filthy and sacrilegious fantasies. He had even entertained absurd and terrifying thoughts, such as trapping Audrey so she could only see and hear him¨Cforcing her to love him. Audrey¡¯s clear¨Ceyed gaze met Ryan¡¯s, then her arms wrapped around his waist. Chapter 297 212 This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. She looked up at Ryan with an innocent smile. ¡°But you can¡¯t just lock me away and keep me from seeing anyone, can you?¡± Ryan remained silent, his eyes deeply fixed on Audrey as his fingers ran through her long hair. Yes, he did have such thoughts. But he knew he couldn¡¯t act on them. He knew that Audrey should shine brightly like a dazzling pearl, not be trapped by his filthy desires. Loving someone meant being selfless and disregarding irrational possessiveness. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Though Ryan struggled to control his emotions, he was willing to suppress them as much as possible. Earlier, Ryan truly wished to eliminate all those who showed interest in Audrey during the meeting. Their eyes locked. Their proximity was so close that their breaths entwined. His finger grazed her lips. He slowly lowered his head, intending to kiss her. Sensing Ryan¡¯s intention, Audrey¡¯s breath quickened. As he drew closer, her scalp tingled. And the instant his nose touched hers, her breath seemed to halt. Her eyshes trembled incessantly as if electric currents were passing through her. Ryan lightly kissed Audrey¡¯s lips, observing the expression on her fair and lovely face. Between breaths, a faint scent lingered around Audrey, intoxicating and sweet. He parted Audrey¡¯s lips, deepening the kiss, his breath bing heavier. Audrey struggled to respond to his passionate kiss with her head tilted back, her eyes misty and the corners reddening from the kiss. Her lips were swollen red and alluring. Ryan swallowed hard, unable to resist any longer. He lifted Audrey and sat her on therge desk. He removed his sses and kissed her roughly, almost losing control as he plundered all her breath, sucking her tongue until it ached. Audrey¡¯s slender arms trembled as she leaned back, exposing her pulsating neck. Her only anchor was Ryan¡¯s hand wrapped around her neck, lest she be overwhelmed andnd on her back. She couldn¡¯t quite describe it, but she enjoyed being intimate with Ryan¨Cto the point of being somewhat addicted. Even during meetings, her heart would race involuntarily when their eyes met. She longed to grasp his strong hand, embrace him, and kiss him. This was probably just physical attraction. Chapter 208 It was as if she was driven by a pure desire to be close to Ryan; her heart had an indescribable flutter. So when Ryan asked her toe to the office, she eagerly followed. Ryan¡¯s intense and undisguised possessiveness made Audrey feel a dizzying, paralyzing sensation. It sent a shiver down her spine. Even though she knew they were in the office and worried that Julian might enter at any moment, she couldn¡¯t resist the temptation to kiss Ryan. The sense of danger and urgency made her senses even more acute. And because of Ryan¡¯s fervent, almost savage kisses, her heart raced incessantly, plunging her into uncontroble excitement. Though she was already struggling to cope, she still wanted more and tried even harder to please Ryan. Just before Audrey was about to lose all strength, Ryan finally released her lips. Audrey¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t focus, and she was gaspingrge breaths of air. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Ryan¡¯s throat rolled, trying his best to fight the urge. Although he now wished he could devour Audrey whole, they were still in the office. He wiped away the saliva from the corner of Audrey¡¯s lips, and his breath was also heavy. anto He whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t go back to Mr. Lambert Senior¡¯s ce tonight. Let¡¯s go to Autumnvale.¡± Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Audrey could not resist Ryan¡¯s persuasion and nodded absentmindedly. It wasn¡¯t until Ryan helped her tidy up her clothes and Julian knocked on the door that Audrey realized what she had just agreed to. ¡°Mr. Lambert, Ms. Lambert, the mid¨Cyear reporting meeting is about to start. It¡¯s also been reported that Ms. Lyra has arrived.¡± Julian¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. ¡°She was brought in by Mr. Noah, iming to attend the board meeting.¡± Audrey¡¯s current identity was Audrey Lambert, George¡¯s granddaughter ¡°There¡¯s another matter.¡± Julian spread out the folder on therge desk. ¡°Mr. Wilfred has already transferred all his shares to Ms. Lyra, and she has obtained ten percent of the shares by targeting other directors and their children. She¡¯s fully qualified to participate in today¡¯s mid¨Cyear reporting meeting.¡± Ryan nced briefly at the documents and handed them to Audrey. After Audrey finished reading, she asked, ¡°Has Wilfred been taken to the police station?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already there. The household staff he bribed to poison Mr. Lambert Senior has provided evidence to the police. The Legal Department has also confirmed that the attempted murder case can be pursued. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to investigate whom Ms. Lyra has been in contact with among the other directors privately. Still, we couldn¡¯t get it done before this mid¨Cyear reporting meeting.¡± ¡°No need. Since Lyra is here herself, she must have some n. We¡¯ll see which directors support her later, then we¡¯ll know who among them have connections with her.¡± Audrey ced the documents on therge desk and looked at Ryan. ¡°With Grandpa and Mom¡¯s sharesbined, they hold more than 57 percent. She won¡¯t be able to stir up much trouble.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Taylor¡¯s call came through. Audrey answered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°As you expected, Nathan came in person. It seems the twopanies weren¡¯t on the list given by the casino, but it was their own negligence that caused this. They hope to resolve it privately.¡± Taylor¡¯s voice carried a nonchnt tone. ¡°Should I y with him a bits ¡°No need. There¡¯s no point wasting time on irrelevant people. Let¡¯s go through the legal procedures directly and have the Legal Department apply for asset preservation.¡± Audrey¡¯s voice remained calm. ¡°Prepare the contract for cooperation with the Lambert Corporation.¡± As long as they applied for asset preservation, freezing and seizing Franklin Group¡¯s liquid assets, they could effectively force Franklin Group into bankruptcy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve already contacted the people from the Lambert Corporation. Evergreen Biotech is currently reviewing the cooperation project proposal you sent. ¡°I¡¯ll be going to the Lambert Corporation this afternoon to speak with their people. But remember, boss, we agreed that each of us would do our own part. Although you¡¯re our founder, you¡¯re currently working at the Lambert Corporation. ¡°I have to take responsibility for Evergreen Biotech, and I won¡¯t let Lambert Corporation take advantage of us.¡± Had the Lambert Corporation¡¯s people already contacted Evergreen Biotech? Audrey remembered that Ryan had suppressed Evergreen Biotech¡¯s intention to cooperate, wanting exclusive rights for coboration with Evergreen Biotech for the next few years. Audrey had temporarily put it on hold because she intended to use the Alzheimer¡¯s drug form to deal with the Franklin Group. Why did the Lambert Corporation suddenly contact Evergreen Biotech again? Audrey didn¡¯t say much else over the phone. She simply replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let¡¯s follow the normal procedures.¡± After ending the call, Julian reminded her, ¡°It¡¯s almost time.¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Audrey said with a gentle smile. At George¡¯s birthday banquet yesterday, he introduced Audrey to the other directors, and they all promised to take good care of her. It remained to be seen which directors would stand by Audrey and who would side with Lyra. Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Ryan¡¯s fingers tapped on the document folder that Julian had given him. Chester indulged his ipetent son, Noah because he was his only son, Would Chester still indulge him if he knew that this temperamental and incapable Noah was illegitimate? Inside the conference room, Lyra, who arrived first, greeted the prominent directors under the identity of George¡¯s niece. The directors previously didn¡¯t pay much attention to Wilfred, let alone his daughter, but Lyra¡¯s possession of ten percent of the shares was a different matter. Chester was currently reprimanding his son, Noah, on the side. ¡°What gave you the guts to sell two percent of your shares to Lyra?¡± ¡°Dad, how can you say that? Lyra is a true member of the Lambert family, unlike those two outsiders, Ryan and Audrey. What if Lyra ends up being the heir of the Lambert family in the end?¡± Noah shrugged with his hands in his pockets, looking like he had everything under control. ¡°You can support those two fake Lambert family members all you want, but I support the real one. No matter who ascends to the throne in the end, our family will benefit greatly from it.¡± Before Chester could say anything else, Noah saw Ryan and Audreying out of the elevator. He hurriedly said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m going back first! I¡¯m not qualified to attend your executive directors¡® mid¨Cyear reporting meeting.¡± ¡°Come back for dinner tonight!¡± Chester frowned and shouted after him. ¡°Got it.¡± Noah made an OK gesture and hurriedly took the elevator down from the other side of the floor. Seeing Ryan and Audrey entering the conference room, Lyra raised her eyebrows, wearing a confident smile. She appeared nonchnt as she sat at the far end of the long table. Since George hadn¡¯t yet arrived, the central seat was left vacant, and Audrey and Ryan sat on the left side. Chapter 300 Lyra deliberately nced provocatively in the direction of Ryan and Audrey as if she wanted them to ask her why she was there. However, Julian was already standing before therge screen, starting the year¡¯s mid- year reporting. Ryan and Audrey didn¡¯t show any intention of questioning Lyra¡¯s presence. ¡°Now, let¡¯s begin with this year¡¯s mid¨Cyear reporting. Over the past six months, with Lambert Corporation¡¯s breakthroughs in chips and lithography machines, the annual business revenue of each subsidiary of Lambert Corporation has increased by over 300%pared tost year.¡± Julian stepped aside to reveal the projection screen, which disyed the annual growth of each subsidiary of the Lambert Corporation. ¡°Among them, the growth rate of the Sheysea subsidiary reached 368%.¡± Audrey and the other directors lowered their heads to examine the detailed information in their hands. Julian systematically went through the situation of each subsidiary over the past six months, as well as the tasks and goals for the second half of the year. He then started to narrate the situation of each subsidiary. Although the Lambert Corporation primarily focused on high¨Cend technology such as drones, satellite communications, chips, lithography machines, and electronic products, its subsidiaries were involved in various industries. Whether it was the pharmaceutical or cultural and film industry, the presence of the Lambert Corporation could be seen everywhere. Even with Julian¡¯s concise overview, it still took over two hours to go through all the subsidiaries¡® data. ¡°While it¡¯s true that the medical and pharmaceutical sectors have achieved good results in the past six months, considering the overall environment in recent years, the sales performance in this sector seems somewhat inadequate. ¡°Perhaps, it¡¯s time to consider recing the person in charge of the medical and pharmaceutical sector,¡± a director spoke up. Audrey looked up at the director who spoke. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. This director¡¯s name was Wace Harrington. Audrey had seen his information but didn¡¯t recall seeing him at George¡¯s birthday banquet. Another director chimed in, setting the stage for Wace. ¡°It seems Mr. Harrington already has some ideas?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. 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