《A Journey from Bitterness to Truth》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Rachel Archer was dead. Matilda Thompson sat numbly on the edge of her bed; the divorce papers Yvan Boyd had flung at her lay crumpled by her trembling fingers. The room felt as chilly as a tomb. Just an hour ago, Yvan had his hands around her throat, his voice low and dangerous. ¡°Did you push Rachel down those stairs?¡± An hourter, he was standing over her with awyer at his side, dropping the draft of a divorce agreement in herp like a gauntlet. ¡°Matilda Thompson, you owe her not one but two lives!¡± That¡¯s right, two, Rachel was pregnant with Yvan¡¯s child. Who was Matilda in this twisted y? Yvan¡¯swful wife, a mere punchline in a cruel joke. Tears reddened her eyes as she faced Yvan, her whole body shaking uncontrobly. ¡°I didn¡¯t push her. How many times do I have to tell you that?¡± Yvan didn¡¯t listen. He just stared at her, his gaze cold and mocking. ¡°Do you really think exnations matter now?¡± They didn¡¯t. It was toote. In Yvan¡¯s mind, she was guilty. No amount of pleading could outweigh the word of a woman no longer alive to speak for herself. A bitterugh escaped Matilda as she stood abruptly, snatching up the pen to sign her name on the dotted line. Divorce, he wanted? Fine. ¡°Yvan, I loved you for a decade,¡± she said with a forced smile, her voice dripping with pride despite the tears she fought back. ¡°Let¡¯s consider those years a joke. From now on, we go our separate ways!¡± Love for him, her heart for her to keep. She signed the papers with a flourish. Yvan watched her, his sneer deepening. ¡°You don¡¯t really think it ends with¡¯signing these papers, do you?¡± Matilda paled. ¡°What else do you want?¡± ¡°I want your Thompson family to pay for Rachel¡¯s funeral!¡± His deration was merciless. ¡°Starting tomorrow, the Thompsons will descend into hell!¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Matilda copsed back on the bed, quivering. She looked at the man before her, whose handsome features she had once adored, now seeming like a stranger. After five years of silent longing and five years of marriage, she had left deep imprints in his life. Yet now, for a baseless usation, he was ready to cast her into the abyss. Chapter 1 ¡°Isn¡¯t my downfall enough?¡± she asked, her eyes brimming with hurt. ¡°Why go after the Thompson family? My parents treated you like their own son. What have they ever done to deserve this?¡± ¡°Rachel¡¯s death,¡± Yvan spat, gripping Matilda¡¯s chin with a force that made her wince, ¡°is the greatest betrayal your family could havemitted against me.¡± Like a demon straight out of hell, he smiled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t enough to force me to marry you, was it? Now, you had to take her life, too. Matilda, you¡¯re more heartless than I could¡¯ve ever imagined!¡± The shock of his words was like being drenched in ice water. Matilda trembled. ¡°Is this how you see me?¡± ¡°And why should I see you any differently?¡± Yvan¡¯s voice wasced with scorn as he released her, stepping back. ¡°From today on, you will pay for Rachel¡¯s death.¡± As if on cue, rain began to batter the windows outside, echoing the tumult inside Matilda¡¯s soul. She spoke through the pain, her voice barely a whisper, ¡°Yvan, if therees a day when you realize you¡¯ve wronged me¡­¡± A pang of something unrecognizable flickered across Yvan¡¯s face, quickly masked by his icy exterior. ¡°Wronged you? Matilda, in this life, it¡¯s you who has wronged me.¡± A thunderp split the sky, reverberating through the room and shaking Matilda to her core. Suddenly devoid of strength, she stumbled back, tears blending with the sound of the intensifying rain. Yvan grabbed the signed papers and mmed the door behind him, sealing her fate. The closing of door marked the separation of their worlds as she knew it. From that moment on, Matilda¡¯s life was shattered beyond repair. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The past few days had been a dreary parade of rain, and Rachel¡¯s funeral was no exception. A light drizzle hung in the air as a procession of mourners followed her to her final resting ce, Yvan was adamant, driven by some deep¨Cseated conviction that Matilda should kneet in the soggy earth before Rachel¡¯s grave¨Cas if he wanted her to kneel there until she joined the dead herself. Matilda struggled against the weight of expectation and grief, but the sharp crack of a p from a man¡¯s hand echoed. ¡°Don¡¯t y the innocent with me; you¡¯re thest person who has the right to!¡± She winced in pain, but then, almost inexplicably, she began tough. The sound of herughter, thin and despairing, cut through the rain. Yvan, heedless of anything else, lunged forward and kicked her squarely in the mouth. Matilda tumbled backward, coughing up blood. Yvan¡¯s polished shoe stepped into her line of sight. Looking up at him, an odd sense of detachment settled within her. How cruel, she thought, to have ever loved such a man¡­ Her mistake was loving him! Through clenched teeth, Matilda spat, ¡°Don¡¯t think for a second I¡¯ll kneel before her!¡± ¡°The sins you¡¯vemitted, kneeling is the least you could do,¡± Yvan bellowed as he yanked her up, only to throw her back down again. But Matilda didn¡¯t cry out in pain this time. Sheughed again, her voiceced with bitterness, ¡°I turned a blind eye to your affairs, to the scandals stered across the newspapers as if I didn¡¯t know. I¡¯ve been as loyal as a dog, and what do I get? Do you even have a shred of decency? You think I wanted Rachel dead? What was shepared to me¨CMatilda Thompson of the Thompson family? In terms of family, education, social standing, she couldn¡¯t match even a fingernail of mine!¡± ¡°So, you finally show your true colors¡­¡± Yvan prodded her face with the tip of his shoe. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared a little surprise for you today: I wonder if you¡¯ll like it¡­¡± As he spoke, a line of police appeared at the doorway. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Before Matilda could react, they swarmed her, pinned her down, and snapped handcuffs around her wrists with practiced ease. As she saw the cuffs on her wrists, Matilda began to struggle wildly, ¡°Let me go; by what right are you arresting me?¡± ¡°Murderer! Murderer!¡± ¡°Ptooey! And to think she¡¯s from the Thompson family!¡± 1200 Chapter ¡°Heartless monster! The depths of human depravity!¡± ¡°Poor Mr. Boyd, to be saddled with such a wife!¡± Reporters and cameras converged on her, capturing every moment of her panic. Matilda¡¯s face was ashen, her soul seemingly lost. ¡°Who ordered my arrest? Who?¡± ¡°Really? Do you think in thisnd ofw and order, they would wrongfully use you without solid evidence?¡± Yvan¡¯s voice came from behind her, and as she turned, he stood there holding an urn, dressed in a bespoke suit, looking every bit the emperor returning to her world. Tears welled in Matilda¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yvan, you had me arrested?¡± A smirk yed on Yvan¡¯s lips. ¡°I merely sought justice for Rachel. The police and I watched the surveince footage.¡± ¡°Justice?¡± Matilda¡¯sugh was bitter and shrill, and it echoed through the crowd. The livestream captured her manic state for millions to see, her image etched into the eyes of the masses like some malevolent spirit. The handcuffs clinked as she strained against them, yelling at Yvan, ¡°Yvan! Do you have no conscience at all? After five years of marriage, even a dog wouldn¡¯t be treated with such humiliation!¡± ¡°Humiliation?¡± Yvan stepped closer, his grip tight on Matilda¡¯s chin, ¡°It¡¯s the consequence of your own actions. How can you call it humiliation?¡± ¡°I told you I didn¡¯t do it. On what grounds are you arresting me?¡± Matilda¡¯s hollowugh was her final act of defiance, but it changed nothing. In his eyes, her reflection was nothing but a farce. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 With a p that echoed through the hushed room, familiar pain shot across Matilda¡¯s cheek as tears welled up in her eyes. In a sudden surge of defiance, she snatched the urn from Yvan¡¯s grasp and hurled it to the ground, shattering it before the stunned onlookers. ¡°Yvan, let me make this crystal clear,¡± Matilda spat, her voice thick with emotion, ¡°I would never stoop so low! You can choose not to believe me, but I¡¯ll be damned if I let some dead woman lord over me. You¡¯ll get what¡¯sing to you, just you wait!¡°¨C Yvan¡¯s roar was like that of a wounded animal as he grasped Matilda by the throat. ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°Go ahead, kill me!¡± Matilda sneered, a hollowugh escaping her lips. ¡°You trust her so blindly. yet you disregard my innocence. What¡¯s stopping you? You think I haven¡¯t noticed how you take advantage of my love? You want to crush my heart? Do it, Yvan! It¡¯s already in tatters; what¡¯s one more stab to me?¡± The police stepped in, yanking Matilda away and dragging her toward the squad car. The crowd could only watch this tragic spectacle, the sight of Yvan¡¯s twisted, handsome face filling them with dread. Yvan¡¯s gaze followed Matilda¡¯s retreating figure like a curse. ¡°You¡¯ll never be able to atone for this, Matilda!¡± Matilda¡¯sughter was bitter as tears forced their way down her cheeks. ¡°Oh, Yvan, you¡¯ll regret this! For all you know, Rachel¡¯s baby might not even be yours. If you ever realize how wrong you¡¯ve been today¡­ if you ever realize¡­¡± As if the heavens themselves were moved by the scene, rain began to pour down, each cold drop echoing the heaviness in everyone¡¯s hearts. It came down harder and harder, a celestial fury unleashed. Lain seemed to cleave through Matilda¡¯s very being as she was shoved into the The torrential rain car, her maniacalughter still piercing the air, a haunting echo in the ears of all who witnessed this grave affair. ¡°Yvan, if I live, I hope never to see your face again. If I die, then that¡¯s the luckiest I¡¯ll ever be!¡± Love? Affection? They meant nothing! It dawned on her, painfully clear atst. Yvan had left her no way out. Divorced and now bound for jail, she was paying the price for her foolishness with her life. Matilda¡¯sughter turned to coughs of blood, and as the window of the police car rolled down, the shing cameras caught her deranged expression. Yet she didn¡¯t care; her gaze locked on Yvan with a ferocity that belied her unraveling. 12:04 Chapter 3 ¡°I¡¯ve made a mistake,¡± she admitted, her voice suddenly devoid of fight. ¡°Yvan, I¡¯ve realized how terribly I¡¯ve erred¡­¡± Yvan stepped forward, words on the brink of his lips, but the woman before him lifted her head with a hollow gaze that turned the world to ruins in her eyes. ¡°Yvan, the biggest mistake I ever made was falling in love with you¡­¡± Five years of marriage, five years of love, shattered in an instant. He had never truly trusted her, and so he condemned her without mercy, turning all her sacrifices into an utter farce. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Yvan, in this life, you owe me so much!¡± She yelled inwardly. The police car drove off into the storm, Matilda¡¯s sigh quickly lost in the rain, as ephemeral and numb as herst nce, as an old soul resigned to its fate. Yvan should have felt triumphant, avenging Rachel¡­ But when the moment actually arrived, he stumbled backward. A cold wind howled behind him, the icy rain seeping into his bones, chilling his heart. Why, when it came down to it, did his heart feel hollow, as if missing a piece, at the sound of her murmuring voice, as painful as a needle prick? Chapter 4 Chapter 4 At twelve, Matilda jokingly told Yvan she¡¯d marry him someday, and at twenty¨Ctwo, she did. However, that same year, Rachel swept into Yvan¡¯s life as if she owned the ce, and Matilda¡¯s heart shattered as she realized she had always been nothing but a ceholder. Rachel was his muse, his love.- And Matilda? She was just a shadow in their light. On their wedding night, Yvan jetted off overseas to vacation with Rachel, leaving Matilda light crept in. Sitting in quiet torment until dawn¡¯s At that moment, she finally understood that some people just don¡¯te back, no matter how long you wait. She endured five long years of solitary matrimony, learning the hard way that hitting rock bottom hurts more than any fable could capture. ¡°Yvan, I could wait for an eternity, ignoring time and pride, but you¡¯ve caged me in a five¨Cyear marriage that¡¯s felt like a prison. How can you repay this shattered life. Yvan? How?¡± Matilda awoke from the nightmare, chest heaving as she fought for breath. The past haunted her every unguarded moment, forcing her to relive the pain anew. ¡°Mom, did you have a nightmare again?¡± Logan Thompson had warmed a ss of milk for her and held it out with a story offer, the wisdom in his eyes belying his years. ¡°Should I tell you a bedtime story?¡± He was wa way too wise and obedient for his age, and Matilda¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but ache. She stroked Logan¡¯s cheek gently. ¡°How about I tell you a story? What would you like to hear?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need a story, but if you want one, I¡¯ve got plenty Uncle shared with me,¡± Logan replied, referring to Matilda¡¯s elder brother, who had done everything he could to rescue Logan from the prison where Matilda gave birth. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not being there for you, sweetheart. Uncle¡¯s been amazing, hasn¡¯t he?¡± After finishing her milk, Matilda suggested, ¡°How about we join Uncle tomorrow and head to the amusement park?¡± Logan¡¯s face was a youthful echo of Yvan¡¯s, but his eyes were different¨Cbeautiful and full of a warmth that Yvan¡¯s cold gaze never held. of life that even some adults At his age, the ways hadn¡¯t learned were already deeply ingrained in his heart. That wisdom came with a price, and Matilda knew it all too well not to feel Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. guilt¨Cridden. The prospect of the amusement park thrilled Logan, and Matilda held him close, breathing in his youthful exuberance. 1204 apler The night was long, and dawn, elusive. The next day, Matilda dressed Logan like a dapper little gentleman, taking pride in his charming appearance. ¡°There can¡¯t be a girl in the world who wouldn¡¯t adore our Logan!¡± ¡°I agree!¡± Logan preened, touching his chin yfully. ¡°It¡¯s all because my mom is beautiful; she made me this handsome.¡± ¡°Such a charmer! Let¡¯s go find Uncle.¡± Matilda buckled Logan into the car and set off toward the highway. Gideon Thompson, Matilda¡¯s elder brother, had set up a sessful independent design studio and was buried in a big project, even sleeping there to meet deadlines. After Matilda¡¯s release, Gideon had taken her in. Together, they supported each other while searching for news about their parents. Matilda had once been a rising star, her youthful talent impressing Noble Blue Brand abroad, securing her a spot designing their spring haute couture line. Her future had sparkled brightly before the fall. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Encountering Yvan must have been her personal trial by fire. Matilda, once so fiercely proud, had be a pitiful joke, all for him. Five years in a gilded cage was just a hard reset. She¡¯d be damned if anyone thought they could break her spirit. She took on a stage name, started a studio with her brother, and now things were looking up. They weren¡¯t rolling in dough, but keeping her son Logan fed and happy was a breeze. Matilda was grateful she wasn¡¯t some spoiled brat with more money than sense. She was resourceful and talented, ready to bounce back at a moment¡¯s notice. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Yvan had wrecked five years of her life. She wouldn¡¯t let him take a second more. As she drove, Matilda flicked on the car radio. Logan, who was fiddling with the dial,nded on a news report about Yvan. ¡°Insiders reveal that Yvan Boyd of the influential Boyd family is set to arrive in Sapphire City by month¡¯s end to ink a deal with Yeager Group. Bothpanies went public five years ago and are now flush with capital¡­¡± Before she could hear more, Logan switched the station. Matilda blinked in surprise. ¡°Oh¡­ you don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Logan said without hesitation. ¡°That Yvan, he¡¯s my dad, isn¡¯t he?¡± How do you handle a kid who¡¯s too bright for his own good? Maybe a light scolding would do the trick? Urgent advice needed! Matilda chuckled nervously. ¡°How did you¡­¡± ¡°How did I know?¡± Logan pointed to himself. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve seen his face on TV, and then there¡¯s mine.¡± It seemed the father¨Cson resemnce was so obvious that even a five¨Cyear¨Cold could suss it out. Matilda nced at Logan. ¡°To keep Yvan from whisking you away one day, I¡¯ve decided to take you abroad for a¡­ make¨Cover this holiday season.¡± Logan said, ¡°Won¡¯t work. If the Boyd heir wants to find me, he¡¯ll check the DNA, too.¡± Damn it! Why did her son have to be a genius? Matildaughed awkwardly. ¡°Haha, you¡¯re so clever.¡± Chapter 5 After a moment, Logan said solemnly, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t have to worry, I won¡¯t go with him.¡± Matilda nearly mmed on the brakes, trembling as she turned to look at him. ¡°Why bring this up all of a sudden?¡± Logan looked earnestly at Matilda. ¡°I just want to be with you, Mom. I don¡¯t need anyone else, not even if it¡¯s my dad.¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes welled up. ¡°You little rascal, who taught you that?¡± Logan was quick to tattle, ¡°Uncle said it would cheer you up, and I might even score some extra treats.¡± Matilda honked the horn in frustration. That damn brother of hers, giving her false moments of tenderness! Twenty minutester, the trio regrouped at the amusement park entrance. Gideon took Logan to get tickets, leaving Matilda alone, smiling at their retreating figures. However, a ck Maybach cruised past them- Yvan¡¯s gaze lingered, then he ordered the driver, ¡°Stop the car!¡± Caught off guard, the driver hit the brakes. ¡°Mr. Boyd, what¡¯s the matter¡­¡± When Yvan looked again, the wide road was empty. Had he been seeing things? Why did that silhouette seem so familiar? With a sigh, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath,manding, ¡°Drive on.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± The driver restarted the car, and Yvan leaned back, his gaze fragmented and lost. Five years had passed. Why did her silhouette still haunt him? Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Logan was having the time of his life at the amusement park today, a stark contrast to his usual somber demeanor that was almost heartbreaking. Now, he was all giggles and grins. carefree, as if he didn¡¯t have a single trouble in the world. After a day filled with thrills, the trio made their way back to the parking lot. Matilda stood at the exit, cradling Logan in her arms as she waited for her brother to bring the car around. Her tall, slender silhouette caught the attention of a Maserati driver who honked a few times and called out, ¡°Hey beautiful, need a lift?¡± Matilda offered the driver a polite smile, but before she could respond, Logan piped up from her arms, ¡°No need, my mom¡¯s got a ride!¡± Damn, this cheeky kid! Chase Johnson was about toment how such a gorgeous woman was already hitched and a mother when he caught a look at Logan¡¯s face. His jaw dropped. He leaned out of his window, staring down the boy, ¡°What did you just say, you little rascal?¡± ¡°This kid¡­ he¡¯s the spitting image of¡­ of Yvan! No way, had Yvan left a little surprise from his wild days?¡± He wondered. Chase¡¯s gaze shifted to Matilda, and that¡¯s when it all clicked. Five years before he¡¯d settled in Sea City, he¡¯d heard about a scandal. Sea City¡¯s golden boy, Yvan, had turned his back on his own family, sending his wife to prison. And who was his wife? None other than the pride of the Thompson family, the talented and aloof Matilda! Lost in thought, Chase was brought back to reality by Gideon honking impatiently from behind. look. He couldn¡¯t be As Chase finally snapped out of it, he gave Logan onest piercing patiently from behind. mistaken; the resemnce was uncanny. If this kid weren¡¯t Yvan¡¯s, Chase would eat his hat. Quickly snapping a photo, Chase hurried off, catching a glimpse of Matilda getting into a car following his. He made a mental note of the license te and sent off a message to his buddy with one hand. Chase: [Yvan! Have you been sowing your wild oats out there?] Yvan: [Are you drunk?] Without hesitation, Chase sent the photo of Matilda holding Logan on the sidewalk. Her lithe figure was set against the evening breeze, lifting her hair, her silhouette framed by the setting sun. She was laughing while holding the child, her features still delicate and serene, a picture of tranquility. Within seconds, his phone rang. Yvan¡¯s voice boomed from the other end, ¡°Where did you see them?¡± 12:04. ¡°Joy Valley!¡± Chase rattled off the license te number, helping Yvan track it downter. ¡°I tell ya, I was shocked! It hit meter. That kid, he¡¯s the freaking double of you; he¡¯s gotta be your son!¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Yvan hung up abruptly and set out to locate the car. Clutching his phone, it was hard to tell if he was excited or enraged, his expression turning dark and ominous. ¡°Matilda! How dare you secretly have my child!¡± Five years, and he was none the wiser. He and Matilda had a child together! All this time, all he¡¯d wanted was the child he had with Rachel, but that baby was gone¡­ along with Rachel¡­ When exactly had Matilda given birth to this child? In prison? The thought of the prison darkened Yvan¡¯s eyes further. Five years, Matilda had been locked away for five long years. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 After dropping off his sister and little nephew at their cozy suburban home, Gideon was all set to head back to his studio to power through some deadlines. Slipping behind the wheel of his car, he gave a half¨Chearted wave before driving away into the evening. Matilda, ever the caring sister, grabbed a Tupperware of homemadesagna from the fridge and handed it to him. ¡°Don¡¯t work yourself to a frazzle, you hear?¡± Gideon tossed back a grin. ¡°Keeping you fed is a full¨Ctime job. And talk about exhausting¨Cl don¡¯t even have a ring on my finger yet.¡± With a yful shove, Matilda locked her brother out, turning to find Logan, her little rascal, giggling on the couch. ¡°Uncle Gideon, the eternal bachelor!¡± She joined in theughter. ¡°Did you have fun today, champ?¡± Logan nodded vigorously. ¡°Super fun!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. And remember, when we get back¡­¡± ¡°I know, I know ¨C thank Uncle Gideon.¡± Logan¡¯s eyes sparkled with a wisdom beyond his years. ¡°Got it, Mommy.¡± Matilda couldn¡¯t help but feel like she¡¯d hit the jackpot with such a bright kid¨Cbetter than winning the lottery! Just as she was about to call it a night, the doorbell chimed. Matilda, still mopping the floor, called out to Logan to answer the door. He hopped down from the sofa and scampered over. ¡°Maybe Uncle Gideon forgot something¡­¡± But when Logan swung the door open and saw the face on the other side, his expression shifted in an instant. Yvan hadn¡¯t expected his son Logan to greet him. He had yed out many reunion scenarios in his head: Matilda could have been cold, indifferent, or even still harboring resentment after five long years. But never did he imagine his son would be the one to open the door. Logan¡¯s heart tightened at the sight of Yvan. In the next heartbeat, he mmed the door shut. Damn! Yvan¡¯s very first house visit, and he gets the door mmed in his face¨Cby a kid, no less! But deep down, a part of Yvan took pride in his son¡¯s spirit, which seemed to mirror his own. He knocked again, this time with determination. From inside, Logan called out, ¡°Mom, there¡¯s no one there. Must be some neighbor¡¯s prank!¡± Yvan¡¯s patience wore thin. That little rascal, where did he learn to lie so boldly? Chapter 7 So, Yvan decided to kick the door, startling Logan, who braced against it and looked back at Matilda. ¡°Mommy¡­ there¡¯s a bad man at the door¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Matilda rushed over, scooping Logan into her arms. His frightened expression made her think of all the dangers that lurked for a single mother and her son. She stepped back, holdingExclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Logan close. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t be scared; it¡¯s the Boyd family¡¯s eldest.¡± Matilda¡¯s heart plummeted! Why was Yvan here? How did he find her and Logan? Was he here to take her son away? Fear and determination mixed in her eyes as she clenched her teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey. Mommy will never hand you over to a bad man.¡± Hearing that, Logan let go and bravely opened the door. Yvan was about to kick again when the door swung open, revealing a mini¨Cversion of himself, ring up at him skeptically. ¡°Can I help you with something?¡± Ah, straight to the point! The kid seemed to know the score. Yvan sneered back. ¡°What, not going to invite your dad in?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a dad.¡± Logan¡¯s retort was swift and sharp. ¡°For the past five years, it¡¯s just been my mom and me. I don¡¯t have a dad. And I don¡¯t need one.¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes welled up at her son¡¯s words. Such a sensible boy! Yvan stood at the threshold, locking eyes with Logan. ¡°You don¡¯t need a dad?¡± ¡°Mr. Boyd,¡± Logan said, echoing the formal address he¡¯d heard from others, ¡°my mom and I have been doing just fine. We haven¡¯t caused any trouble. If you have business with us, please state it and then leave.¡± The title ¡°Mr. Boyd¡± rang awkwardly in Yvan¡¯s ears, a stark reminder of the chasm between him and his son. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Was this kid coached by Matilda? Teaching him to y two¨Cfaced games like this. Yvan, seething with anger, stormed into the living room and caught sight of Matilda standing there. All the emotions from their five¨Cyear separation surged to his heart in an instant. Matilda¡¯s eyes held a deep¨Crooted fear and pain that made Yvan involuntarily clench his fists. ¡°It¡¯s been a while,¡± he said tersely. Matilda didn¡¯t respond. Logan, unable to stop Yvan, ran to his mother¡¯s side, took her hand, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy. Let¡¯s go to bed.¡± Mother and son turned to leave, intending to ignore Yvanpletely. ¡°Stop right there!¡± The angry voice from behind made Matilda shiver, and even Logan could feel her hand. trembling. Yvan, his anger turning into a bitterugh, said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin this kid to me?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to exin?¡± Matilda¡¯s voice shook as she faced Yvan. ¡°I¡¯ve served five years. Why can¡¯t you just let me be?¡± Five years. Five years that had demolished all her love and hope for him. Yvan narrowed his eyes, dissatisfied with her reaction. ¡°You got what you deserved. Why y the victim?¡± Tears welled in Matilda¡¯s eyes as she turned away and said bitterly. ¡°Right? So what are you doing here, throwing yourself at a woman with a record like mine? Am I really worth entering your grand home?¡± ¡°You? Worth it? Hardly.¡± Yvan reached out and grabbed Logan¡¯s hand. ¡°But he is!¡± Matilda fought back tears, but Logan was unexpectedly calm. He looked straight at Yvan and said softly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, please let go.¡± That polite ¡°please¡± and ¡°Mr. Boyd¡± were like needles to Yvan¡¯s heart. ¡°Call me Dad,¡± he demanded. ¡°I don¡¯t have a dad.¡± Logan looked up, a smile ying on his lips. ¡°I just have a mom who spent five years in jail.¡± In that moment, Yvan had to admit he was bested by a child. Matilda hadn¡¯t said a word, but Logan¡¯s single sentence pierced him with a thousand arrows. 12:05: Chapter B Five years in jail for what? For destroying his child and his love! How dare she now wear the face of a victim? Suddenly, Yvan remembered what Matilda had said as she was taken away five years ago. If you ever realize how wrong you¡¯ve been today¡­ A tightness gripped Yvan¡¯s chest, and he looked at Logan, asking a stupid question, ¡°When were you born, kid?¡± ¡°Do you need to ask? In prison, of course.¡± Matildaughed through her tears, ¡°You only had eyes for Rachel. How could you care if I was pregnant? Maybe Logan isn¡¯t even yours. In your eyes, what am I but a woman of easy virtue!¡± Furious, Yvan let go of Logan and grabbed Matilda by the throat. ¡°Even after five years, you¡¯re still so vile!¡± As Matilda pushed Yvan away with her left hand, he was shocked to see calluses. Matilda was always right¨Chanded. Why¡­ Realization dawned on him, and Yvan reached for her right hand. Matilda screamed, her emotions erupting. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Logan¡¯s eyes also turned red, ¡°Let go of my mommy!¡± A sleeve was pushed up, revealing a frail wrist that seemed like it would snap with the slightest pressure. Those hands, once Matilda¡¯s pride, had sparkled with the world¡¯s admiration when she drew her design blueprints. But now¡­ The crisscrossed scars on her wrist seared into Yvan¡¯s eyes, and he couldn¡¯t contain his shock. His pupils shrank in a violent reaction.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ncing upward, the sight that met his gaze was a stark and jarring one: Matilda¡¯s right hand was marred by the absence of a part of her little finger ¨C a shocking imperfectionid bare before his eyes, In that instant, the strikingly handsome man could no longer contain his voice, which erupted in an anguished cry. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± Matilda¡¯sughter was wild and unrestrained, as if she had been possessed by madness, her eyes reflecting Yvan¡¯s stunned expression. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the very gift you gave to me? Yvan, I¡¯ve had my fill of the bitterness you¡¯ve doled out in my life. Please, just let me gol¡± she begged. Yvan stumbled backward, his grip on her hand ckening as disbelief lifted his gaze to meet hers. In her fractured eyes, there was no love left, only a deep¨Cseated loathing that seemed to burn within her very marrow. Pain spread through him unguarded, like reaching out to grasp something fiercely only to find it. shattering into pieces the next moment. The unexpected sting began to prickle and spread throughout his body. He had wanted to lock her away, to make her rue her life choices, but how had ite to this? Who had vited her in prison, who had stripped her of her dignity? As Yvan looked at Matilda, a sudden intense fear gripped him; he was terrified that he could no longer understand the woman before him. Despite five years of marriage, why did she feel like such a stranger? Of course, Yvan couldn¡¯tprehend the madness, the idiocy, and the loss of reason that Matilda had endured for over five years. That despair had killed her countless times, turning her into aplete and utter joke. When she looked up again, her eyes were filled with nothing but vehement hatred. Yvan fled Matilda¡¯s ce as if escaping, mming the door behind him. He stood outside, hunched over, clutching at his cor as if suffocating. Why had Matilda changed so? What had happened to her in those five years¡­ This was something he should have been pleased to witness, but why¡­ On the other side of the door, Matilda¡¯s body slid down, copsing against Logan in silent agony. After a long while, a suppressed roar escaped her as if trying to pierce through her very soul. 12:05 Chapter 9 All the turmoil hidden beneath a seemingly calm surface was now rushing at her with greater fury. The days shrouded in darkness seemed to be moring to drag her back down. Matilda trembled, but Logan, whom she leaned on, kept his back rigidly straight. ¡°Mummy¡­ do you want some milk?¡± he offered gently. Matilda closed her eyes as tears fell. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. After a night of turmoil, Matilda had thought that Yvan would no longer intrude upon their lives. But the very next afternoon, something wholly unexpected happened. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Gideon¡¯s call came as a lightning bolt from the blue, his voice tense as he exined he hadn¡¯t picked up Logan from preschool. The principal had seen someone take him ¨C and it was undoubtedly Yvan. Matilda rolled out of bed in a panic, her movements erratic as she yanked open the drawer and shoved the pills, long neglected, down her throat. She gagged, forcing the bitter tablets down her dry throat, then wiped away the tears that had stained her cheeks and stood up with a new resolve. Her eyes, tinged with red from crying, zed with unmistakable hatred. Her hands trembled as she clutched the fabric over her heart. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t be scared. Yvan, you¡¯ve taken everything from me, and now I¡¯ll fight you with everything I¡¯ve got!¡± She told herself. Logan had been whisked away by Yvan at three o¡¯clock, taken directly to the grand Boyd estate. Violet, Yvan¡¯s mother, was taken aback the moment sheid eyes on Logan. The old woman murmured through her tears. ¡°Are you¡­ are you a Boyd?¡± Logan remained silent. Violet¡¯s sadness seemed genuine, but he had no desire to engage. ¡°Who are your parents?¡± ¡°My mother¡¯s identity is of no consequence to you.¡± Logan¡¯s smile held a precocious edge. ¡°Who my father is doesn¡¯t matter to me either.¡± Yvan, having just parked his car, overheard Logan and kicked the door in frustration. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Logan replied simply, ¡°Exactly what I said.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Violet could sense the boy¡¯s deep resentment, especially towards ¡®the Boyds, and didn¡¯t dare to embrace him. She just watched him, asking, ¡°Is your mother¡­ doing well?¡± Logan¡¯s smile was sharine. ¡°Well, she¡¯s been dining courtesy of the government, so she¡¯s got no worries about food and clothing.¡± Yvan, upon hearing this, flew into a rage, grabbing Logan and lifting him. ¡°Where did you learn to speak with such spite?¡± He sneered. ¡°Did Matilda teach you to talk like that, huh?¡± Logan, fearless, retorted, ¡°Who taught me? Everyone around me says the same thing. That my mom¡¯s been to jail, that she¡¯s a murderer. You said as much yourself in front of her just yesterday.¡± 12:05 Chapter 10 Yvan felt a pang in his chest and set Louan down roughly, his words seething through clenched teeth. ¡°Did you learn from your mother how to be a thorn in my side?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like me, send me back.¡± Louan looked straight at him. ¡°You may want to use me to threaten my mother, but all it does is make us hate you more,¡± That word¨Chate¨Chung in the air, an admission that their loathing had seeped into their very bones, bing habitual. Whenever Yvan was around. Matilda was a nervous wreck, desperate to flee. That¡¯s why she moved from Sea City to Sapphire City five years ago just to escape him! Yvan, not understanding why he was so infuriated, smashed things around the room. Violet followed, begging, ¡°Yvan, please stop breaking things¡­¡± Yvan just snorted and stormed upstairs. Logan remained seated on the couch, his expression stolc. Father and son, both angry, mirrored each other perfectly. Violet called the staff to clean up and sat next to Logan, her voice filled with concern, ¡°Did that scare you?¡± Logan shook his head. ¡°No.¡± But his reddened eyes betrayed his shock. ¡°What¡¯s your name, dear?¡± Violet felt drawn to the boy and wanted to know more about him. ¡°Thompson,¡± he said, looking at her, ¡°Logan Thompson, like my mother.¡± Violet dared not ask about Matilda¡¯s well¨Cbeing, but since Logan brought it up, she continued cautiously. ¡°Your mother¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about my mother, Madam.¡± At just five years old, Logan spoke with a wisdom and distance far beyond his years. It seemed. unlikely that warmth would ever grow between them. Violet tried to find the right words. ¡°Logan, about your parents¡­¡± ¡°No need to tell me. I know,¡± Logan cut her off. ¡°People say my mother got what she deserved, that she¡¯s a killer. I understand. We got what we deserved.¡± Those words, damning himself to hell, caused even Violet¡¯s heart to ache. This child had learned to hate them.. Logan didn¡¯t care that his words had hurt the old woman. He turned to gaze out the window. The night was heavy, the dawn invisible. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 When Matilda awoke the next day, she readied herself for a visit to Yvan¡¯s corporate fortress. She applied a touch of makeup, donned a lightweight trench coat, and stepped into her heels before heading out. As she stepped outside, her phone buzzed with a call from Gideon. ¡°Is Logan really with him? Sis, are you sure you¡¯re okay on your own?¡± Taking a deep breath as the breeze tousled her hair, Matilda reassured him, ¡°I¡¯m fine, bro. Don¡¯t worry¨C I¡¯ll call you if anythinges up. Focus on your business trip.¡± After a litany of brotherly cautions, Gideon finally hung up. ir gazet N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Matilda lifted the bustling street, determination etched in her eyes, and hailed a cab to the Boyd Group. Once there, she paid the fare and stepped out into the throng of morningmuters. Her arrival didn¡¯t go unnoticed; heads turned to take in her slender figure swathed in the billowing trench coat, which caught the morning light and framed her with a golden aura. The woman who strode through the front doors had a striking face, especially her eyes¨Csharp as tempered steel, fierce and cold. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her pale face carried a mix of tension and chill as she quickly approached the reception. The receptionist was stammer, ¡°Can I helpmentarily stunned by themanding presence but managed to stammer, ¡°Can I help you? Who are you here to see?¡± ¡°Yvan.¡± Matilda didn¡¯t hesitate to say the name that everyone else referred to with such reverence. The receptionist blinked. ¡°But ma¡¯am, to see Mr. Boyd, you¡¯ll need an appointment¡­¡± Their exchange had already sparked whispers behind Matilda. ¡°Is she here for Mr. Boyd?¡± ¡°Shh, keep it down. The way she¡¯s walking¨Cshe¡¯s got to have connections!¡± ¡°Absolutely! Maybe she¡¯s Mr. Boyd¡¯s secret me.¡± ¡°Mr. Boyd¡¯s secret me? But isn¡¯t Rachel Archer the apple of his eye?¡± The mention of Rachel Archer cut through Matilda like a knife, but she managed a smile so jarring it could haunt a ghost. ¡°Just o him my name. Yvan will see me.¡± Before the receptionist could inquire further about the confident visitor, a familiar voice came from behind. ¡°Hey, what are you doing here?¡± Matilda turned to see Chase, the one who had greeted her from his Maserati days ago, 12:05 Chapter 11 sauntering in with a knowing smile and eyes that shimmered with mischief. *Looking for Yvan, huh?¡± he said, greeting her. Seeing that even Mr. Chase Johnson from the neighboring city knew thisdy, the receptionist quickly waved her through. The onlookers were astounded. Who was this woman that even Mr. Johnson recognized? Inside the elevator, Matilda offered Chase a terse ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°No need to thank me,¡± Chase replied with a grin, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°I¡¯m also here to see him about some business, but you go ahead. Besides, the Thomson family has shares here; stepping into your ownpany isn¡¯t crossing any lines.¡± ¡°You seem to have done your homework on me,¡± Matilda said, voiceced with sarcasm, though it was unclear whether it was directed at Chase or herself. ¡°Too bad it¡¯s not mine anymore. Chase nced at Matilda and ventured, ¡°Five years ago when you went to prison¡­ was it really Yvan who put you behind bars?¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond, offering only a faint smile in return. And yet, that smile was a painful one, like someone who has fallen into an abyss and can¡¯t see even a sliver of hope. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chase decided not to pry further. As the elevator reached the 20th floor and the doors slid open, both of them stepped out into the hallway, drawing curious nces from passersby. Yvan was waiting in his office for Chase, lounging in his high¨Cbacked leather chair with the air of a king in his court. When Chase walked in with someone trailing behind, Yvan couldn¡¯t resist a jibe. ¡°Hell, Chase, since when do you bring a date to a business meeting?¡± But his smirk faded the moment he caught sight of the person behind Chase. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± ¡°The Thompson family has invested in the Boyd Group. Why can¡¯t I be here?¡± came Matilda¡¯s retort. Matilda¡¯s shoulders trembled, but she fought to keep herposure, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she locked gazes with Yvan. The man was sinfully handsome, with features so chiseled and striking that he would stand out in any crowd, let alone the entertainment industry, where he¡¯d be a rarity. To the average Jane, he was nothing short of extraordinary. e was one of Countless women in the city dreamed of sharing his bed. Matilda once thought she the lucky ones, having been his wife¨Cat least until she realized that was her most sorrowful chapter. To hold onto a man who would never truly be hers was a kind of pain she hadn¡¯t known before. Sensing the tension, Chase quickly excused himself with an awkward chuckle. ¡°Heh¡­ If you guys have unfinished business¡­ I¡¯ll just step out and¡­¡± Before finishing his sentence, he slipped out the door, winking at the secretary outside, ¡°Sweetheart, how about joining me for brunch? Your boss won¡¯t need you for a while.¡± The secretary giggled as she was whisked away, oblivious to the storm brewing behind the closed doors of the executive office. Inside the office, insted from the world by the solid wood door and the opulent decor, the atmosphere turned icy. After a long pause, Matilda finally raised her head to confront Yvan. ¡°Surprised to see me?¡± Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed, his eyebrows arching provocatively. ¡°I thought you¡¯d never show your face here.¡± ¡°Yeah, I thought so too.¡± A bitterugh escaped Matilda, beautiful yet heartbreaking. ¡°All my life, I¡¯ve wanted to run far from you, to never see you again. And now, here I am, looking for you. Seems I¡¯m not as cruel as you, Yvan.¡± His response wasced with scorn. ¡°That just proves one thing, Matilda¨Cyou¡¯re pathetic.¡± 12:06 Pathetic. The word stung. She clenched her teeth, facing Yvan with resolve. ¡°I¡¯m here for my son.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my son too.¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s mine and mine alone!¡± Her voice rose sharply, filled with years of pent¨Cup emotion. ¡°I¡¯ve raised him for five years! From when I was in prison until now!¡± Those five years had been an abyss of despair. If it weren¡¯t for the thought of her adorable son, she might have withered away in that cell. Logan was her life, her vulnerability¨Csomething she¡¯d never yield, not even to Yvan. At the sight of Matilda¡¯s fierce determination, Yvan¡¯s smile grew even more delighted. ¡°But your can¡¯t change the fact that Logan has my blood too!¡± ¡°Really¡­¡± Matilda¡¯sughter was tinged with tears. ¡°You actually want to acknowledge your son now? Mr. Boyd, are you out of your mind? Didn¡¯t you despise me with a vengeance back then? Didn¡¯t you want only Rachel to bear your children? What now, you want to take away the son of a convict?¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Hearing the words ¡°son of a convict¡°, Yvan felt a sharp contraction in his chest, his voice breaking as he shot back, ¡°I dare you to say that again!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t speak, but her eyes bore into him with an intensity that reflected how much love had turned to hate. ¡°You put me behind bars for five years, Yvan. Five. Long. Years. And you know what? Whether I was innocent or not doesn¡¯t even matter. What matters is that you never had a shred of trust in me,¡± she said, her voice cold and swift as if Yvan were now nothing more than an inconsequential stranger. It was as if she was using every ounce of her strength to wound him deeply. A sarcastic smile yed on Matilda¡¯s lips. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve just realized that our old me isn¡¯t quite extinguished?¡± A crack appeared in Yvan¡¯s rage¨Cfilled eyes as he stood up abruptly and clutched Matilda¡¯s throat. His handsome features were oveid with a sheen of frost as he looked at her andughed. cruelly, ¡°Who taught you to talk like that, huh? Thinking you¡¯ve grown wings since you got out of the mmer?¡± As the cold surrounded her and his grip tightened, cutting off her air, Matilda¡¯s breaths came in short gasps. ¡°Yvan, I learned from the best. From you!¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Yvan shuddered, feeling as if his blood was flowing backward. Matildaughed weakly under his grasp. ¡°Rest easy, Yvan. Just give me back my son, and I promise you won¡¯t see me again for as long as I live. Not even news of my death will reach your ears.¡± Yvan looked at her in disbelief, managing to choke out, ¡°What did you say?¡± With a sudden fierce struggle, Matilda broke free from his grasp and stumbled, her knees hitting the hardwood floor with a dull thud. She didn¡¯t make a sound, then shakily got to her feet in front of Yvan. ¡°All the love I had for you, Yvan, you¡¯ve strangled it. What more could you possibly want from me? You¡¯ve already picked the Thompson family clean. For once, Yvan, can¡¯t you show me a little mercy?¡± Can¡¯t you show me a little mercy? The plea cut through him like a de, bringing back the acute pain he felt when he saw her taken away in a police car five years ago. Yvan¡¯s pupils contracted, his voice hoarse. ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my line.¡± Matilda retorted, her gaze fragmented with emotion. She never imagined that 19.06 Chapter 13 even after five years, she couldn¡¯t escape Yvan¡¯s shadow. ¡°I loved you, and I paid with five years in a cage. Yvan, please, let me go.¡± She begged silently. Yvan felt a lump in his throat upon seeing the expression on Matilda¡¯s face. Frustrated, he tugged at his cor, deliberately avoiding her gaze. In a low voice, he said, ¡°You want your son back? Fine. Meet me at Mago tonight and help entertain a client over drinks.¡± Matilda looked up in disbelief, her eyes widening with anger. ¡°Yvan, you¡¯re pimping me out for drinks?¡± Yvan sneered at her, ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Isn¡¯t getting your son back worth that much to you?¡± Matilda stepped back, shaking her head in denial. ¡°I guess I¡¯m just not as cruel as you¡­¡± But then, suddenly, sheughed again, tears still clinging to her eyes. Facing Yvan, she managed a smile, ¡°Alright, Mr. Boyd, if that¡¯s what you want, who am I to refuse? Just a dinner to get my son back? I¡¯d face death itself for that!¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 ¡°Just remember¡­¡± Matilda¡¯s voice, a yful whisper, tickled Yvan¡¯s ear with a sly chuckle. ¡°You better not regret this?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Yvan tett a flicker of emotion dart through his heart, elusive and fleeting, before it faded into the ether. Gazing at Matilda, he found himselt slightly dazed. Why¡­ why did their reunion have to be like a scene straight out of a High Noon standoff? Five years had ground down all the love to nothing, leaving only desperate, cornered hatred. If that were to ignite, how shockingly would the mes leap? He should hate her. She had caused Rachel¡¯s death and the death of Rachel¡¯s unborn child. But why did Matilda look at him with that same intensity? ¡°Matilda, you murderer, what right do you have?¡± He yelled inwardly. A dull pain throbbed in Yvan¡¯s chest as he stepped forward and grabbed Matilda¡¯s cor fiercely. ¡°A woman like you ¨C I wouldn¡¯t bat an eyelid even if you were handed over to another¡¯s bed.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Matildaughed, a hollow sound. ¡°I experienced your cruelty five years ago. These things don¡¯t touch me anymore.¡± With those words, she opened her eyes and looked at Yvan with a gaze that was tired and numb. How much more could her battered soul take of love and hate, of all these human passions? ¡°Yvan, I¡¯m already broken in this life, so I wouldn¡¯t mind if everything shatters even more,¡± she thought. Yvan¡¯s deep gaze hid emotions she couldn¡¯t decipher, and she didn¡¯t want to try. His eyes were like those of an alpha wolf, pinning her down. Matilda felt like she had died countless times under that stare. She straightened her back, though her shoulders were still shaking, and stormed out of the office. Outside, heads turned as a beautiful woman, disheveled and with reddened eyes, strode out of the CEO¡¯s office, leaving behind a faint trail of perfume as she passed them, her slender shadow receding into the distance. Whispers and spections about her identity filled the air. ¡°That silhouette looks so familiar¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, feels like we¡¯ve seen her somewhere before.¡± ¡°Given how she stormed out¡­ could she be the boss¡¯s new fling?¡± ¡°Tsk, her expression, though, looks like she just fought with the boss.¡± Chapter 14 ¡°Probably just another D¨Clist influencer who thought she could y her cards with the boss.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on it: Mr. Boyd¡¯s heart still belongs to Ms. Archer. Matilda hurried into the elevator, effectively shutting out the background noise of scattered conversations. When the elevator reached the ground floor, and the doors slid open, she saw Chase grinning as he wrapped an arm around Yvan¡¯s executive secretary. ¡°Mr. Johnson,¡± Matilda said politely. ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± Chase asked, releasing the secretary and smiling at Matilda. ¡°Do you think I was there to tell Yvan bedtime stories?¡± There was a breezy, almost fragile quality to Matilda¡¯s response as if the words could be blown away by a mere puff of air. As she turned to leave. Chase reached out and caught her wrist. ¡°What do you want?¡± Matilda turned to see Chase hop out of the elevator, leaving the secretary behind, bewildered. As the doors closed, Chase winked at the secretary, his smile blooming like a cheeky flower. ¡°See you next time, gorgeous, ta¨Cta!¡± No sooner had Chase bid farewell to the secretary than he turned to Matilda. ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind. I was supposed to see Yvan, but it seems I¡¯d rather deal with you directly.¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chase was adamant about having a heart¨Cto¨Cheart with Matilda, and despite her reluctance, she agreed. He took her to a diner, which was their usual hangout spot. As they entered, a man seated at the counter chuckled and said, ¡°Damn, Chase, leave with one girl ande back with another. You trying to wear yourself out?¡± ¡°Watch it, Mason Farrell, or I¡¯ll have to schedule you an eye exam,¡± Chase replied with an eye roll. ¡°Do you know thisdy?¡± Mason squinted at Matilda, drawing out his words, ¡°She looks kinda familiar¡­¡± Chase pulled Matilda to a booth and got straight to the point, ¡°Yvan¡¯s ex¨Cwife.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± Mason Farrell almost spit out his coffee, choked it down, and then turned to Matilda, ¡°Ms. Thompson?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me,¡± Matilda responded coolly, her voice indifferent yetmanding respect. ¡°You alright?¡± The shocking turn of events five years ago had taken all their friends by surprise when Matilda was sent to prison as a murderer, courtesy of Yvan, without a chance for redemption. But now, looking at Matilda sitting across from him, Mason squinted slightly. She seemed different yet the same. The unchanged aspect was her cool, noble demeanor; even after five years behind bars, she was still the dazzling heiress of the Thompson family. But her eyes had changed. They were lifeless and deste as if she had no hope left for the world.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Mason could understand ¨C wounded so deeply, how could she still love the world? After a moment of silence, he tried to break the ice. ¡°So¡­ Chase, what¡¯s the deal with bringing her here?¡± Chase nced at Matilda, treading carefully, ¡°I¡­ did some digging on you. Is Dawn your stage name. Matilda?¡± ¡°Dawn?¡± Mason¡¯s voice pitched up. ¡°The entric designer Dawn? Matilda, is that you?¡± Matilda gave them a guarded look, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. ¡°Sorry, no.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Chase¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°But my research showed it was you¡­¡± ¡°Must¡¯ve been a mistake,¡± Matilda tilted her head down slightly, revealing a glimpse of her delicate skin. ¡°I¡¯m not Dawn. Are you looking for her?¡± Mason bit his lip and didn¡¯t speak for a while before slowly responding. ¡°Our firm¡¯s got a project we wanted her to design¡­¡± Matilda said tly, ¡°I can give you her contact details.¡± ¡°For real?¡± Chase was still skeptical, but if Matilda was offering contact information, it meant + 12:06 Chapter 15 she wasn¡¯t Dawn. Was the information wrong? Mason reluctantly continued, ¡°That¡¯d be great, thanks. You can reach me at the number on my business card.¡± After saying that, he pulled out a card and handed it to Matilda, who epted it gracefully. Then, she stood up, ¡°Nothing else, right?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s it. Need a ride?¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± Matilda lowered her gaze, hands in the pockets or with long, elegant strides. trench coat, and walked out of the diner ¡°Damn¡­¡± Chase murmured as he watched her leave. ¡°Still so icy, even after time in the can.¡± Mason took a thoughtful sip of his coffee, eyes narrowing slightly as he mused, ¡°Rachel¡¯s nothing compared to her.¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡°What did you just say? Rachel?¡± Chase looked as if he¡¯d heard something utterly bizarre, furrowing his brows at Mason. ¡°Yvan¡¯s girl?¡± With a smirk dancing on his lips, Mason lit up a cigarette and took a drag before replying. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the one¡­¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Matilda. That was as in as day. Back in the day, Matilda was unmatched in beauty and brains. Whether it was family heritage, academic achievements, or social standing, Rachel fell short on all ountspared to Matilda. The only advantage Rachel might have had was her innocent, girl¨Cnext¨Cdoor look. But Matilda was too proud. She was always the untouchable heiress, never showing that kind of transparent, earnest gaze. In contrast, Rachel had a certain vulnerability that stirred a protective instinct in men. That might just be the only battle Rachel ever won over Matilda¡­ As Mason watched Matilda¡¯s retreating figure, he slowly squinted his eyes. Logan had been particrly well¨Cbehaved at home today, helping the housekeepers tidy up the living room and even polish the vases. The staff was visibly on edge, addressing him as ¡®young master¡® this and ¡®young master¡® that, anxious not to displease him. ¡°You guys don¡¯t need to call me ¡®young master¡®,¡± Logan said, ¡°I might not even stick around here.¡± Ruby looked at him with affection, ¡°What are you talking about, Young Master? This is your home.¡± ¡°No,¡± Logan replied with finality, ¡°This is not my home.¡± It never was. When Violet and her circle of high¨Csociety friends returned from their outing, they saw Logan standing neatly dressed at the doorstep and assumed he was waiting for her. But as she approached, the expression on Logan¡¯s face turned indifferent. He had hoped it was Matilda coming to fetch him. It wasn¡¯t. ¡°Mommy¡­ when will youe take me home?¡± He wondered. ¡°Logan, why are you standing out here?¡± Violet approached with a look of pleasant surprise. telling him, ¡°Your dad will be a little while longer at work. Come inside.¡± Without a word, Logan followed Violet into the Boyd residence, where the housekeepers praised his sensibility to her, marveling at how a child so young could be so helpful and well¨Cbehaved. 12:07 Chapter 16 But no one realized that it wasn¡¯t about being well¨Cbehaved; he was waiting, waiting for Matilda to take him away. He couldn¡¯t stand to be in this ce a moment longer¡­ When Yvan got home, Logan was in the study watching cartoons. Violet fussed over Yvan, who barely responded, only asking. ¡°Where is he?¡± He meant Logan, Violet replied, ¡°Logan¡¯s been such a good boy today. He¡¯s In the study watching cartoons. Don¡¯t be grumpy now: he¡¯s your child¡­¡± Just look at that ¨C in no time at all, this little brat had everyone in his house wrapped around his finger! Good boy? Ha, Yvan let out a coldugh. This little rascal was all thorns when he was around him! Yvan ascended to the second¨Cfloor study, pushed open the door, and saw Logan sitting there. Hearing the noise, Logan swiftly switched off the screen. Yvan approached, resting his hand on Logan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°What were you watching?¡± Logan popped up the minimized window, revealing Ultraman on screen. ¡°Just watching Ultraman¡­¡± Ah, still a kid, after all, engrossed in such mindless entertainment¡­ Yvan frowned slightly, but upon seeing Logan¡¯s face, so simr to his own, his usually stern expression softened a bit. He said to Logan, ¡°From today on, you¡¯re my responsibility. We¡¯ll find time to change your name; you¡¯ll take myst name.¡± 1 This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Hearing this, Logan looked up at Yvan with a calm gaze and said, ¡°Mr. Boyd, have you done the paperwork? To take care of me, you¡¯d have to go through a legal battle with my mom.¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Hearing Logan¡¯s words, Yvan couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Yvan stared intently at his face, ¡°You are my son, through and through. Do I need a paternity test to prove it? Do I need paperwork to take care of my flesh and blood?¡± Logan met Yvan¡¯s gaze; the resemnce between father and son was uncanny, like a copy¨Cand¨Cpaste job. However, Yvan¡¯s features were more chiseled and refined, while Logan had a softer demeanor, much like that of Matilda. He spoke softly. ¡°Mr. Boyd, if I recall correctly, you and Mom split up five years ago. And I was born after that divorce, so naturally, Mom¡¯s got custody. If you want a shot at raising me, well, you¡¯ll have to work that out with her.¡± Yvan¡¯s pupils shrank as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing, and he repeated, ¡°What did you say?¡± Why was this five¨Cyear¨Cold so unnervingly precocious? Logan just looked at Yvan, seemingly indifferent to his astonishment. His voice softened as he said, ¡°Mr. Boyd, if I weren¡¯t your son¡­ if I were just some kid Mom had with another man, would you still treat me the same?¡± Yvan felt a tightness in his chest, an irritation sweeping over him. Would he have gone to such lengths to bring this boy home if he wasn¡¯t his son? But the mere thought of Matilda having another man¡¯s child sent him into a rage. It was as if, in his mind, Matilda was forever his, only ever meant to bear his children. The mere idea of another man touching her was unthinkable! Logan watched Yvan¡¯s expression and suddenly let out augh, a sound pure and bell¨Clike yetced with a stinging mockery. ¡°Mr. Boyd, you¡¯ll never understand the life we¡¯ve lived these past five years, so I can¡¯t possibly feel close to you.¡± Looking up, Logan¡¯s eyes seemed to pierce through Yvan, who felt as if he¡¯d been shot through the heart. A five¨Cyear¨Cold with such power to wound. He stated, ¡°Mr. Boyd, I am the sole reason my mom keeps fighting in this world. Without me, she¡¯d die.¡± Without Logan, Matilda would die. Matilda got herself ready at eight in the evening and headed to the address Yvan had given her, 12:07. Chapter 17 the grand entrance of club Mago. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The host greeted her promptly, ¡°Good evening, miss.¡± Matilda had styled her hair, redone her makeup, spritzed on her favorite perfume, and slipped. into a tailored dress with modest heels, exuding a casual yet sophisticated charm. She stood there, her hair half¨Ctousled, a delicate vicle ne adorning her neck¨Cthe handcrafted work of Gideon, one of a kind in the world. Just standing there, shemanded the space, her aura too noble, like that of an aristocratic heiress. With a slight downturn of her face, the longshes, glossy lips, and the refined curve of her profile, she seemed vaguely familiar to everyone. But no one could quite ce her. Perhaps there were too many noblewomen and socialites in this city that never sleeps, so she only seemed familiar, yet no one remembered where they had seen her. Such an exquisitely beautiful face would definitely leave asting impression the next time. No one knew she was once the renowned Ms. Thompson, who, after five years in prison with a mutted hand and a shattered pride, had risen from the ashes. Yvan parked his car in the Mago lot and walked up, only to be greeted by this scene. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 The guy next to Ivan, who¡¯d had one too many, staggered by, his head wobbling as he walked. ¡°Damn, you see that babe by the door? She¡¯s top¨Cnotch! That ss, that look, wow!¡± His buddy chimed in, ¡°Dream on, man. You think you¡¯ve got a shot with a woman like that? Maybe as her chauffeur, if you¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°Ha, I¡¯d be her chauffeur in a heartbeat! For free!¡± Yvan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, and when he looked up again, there was Matilda standing before him, radiating a cool aura. Her Indifferent gaze and stunning features were etched with aloofness and detachment. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes when she saw him. Yvan just stood there, frozen. He was wearing a creatively tailored white shirt and sharp dress. pants that outlined his straight legs, with a pair of Balenciaga sneakers on his feet. One hand was pinching car keys, the other casually holding a jacket. His face was rakishly handsome, and twin ck diamond studs in his left ear twinkled in harmony with his obsidian eyes. He stood at the entrance, tall andmanding, turning heads as people passed by. He had that kind of presence, innate, that made everyone take notice. With devilishly good looks and a deep, steady demeanor, he was the kind of man women lusted after, the kind they wanted to throw themselves at. uke 2 They said Yvan was the dream lover of every woman in the city. So when he married Matilda five years ago, it was as if the city¡¯s women collectively had their hear They waited for the spectacle, and five yearster, Matilda was sent to prison by his own hand. Who knows how many whistles were blown in secret celebration? In every sense, Yvan was perfect¨Chis background, his wealth, his power. But when it came to love, he had never spared a single shred for Matilda. Matilda felt pathetic. This man was never hers, though she thought her steadfastness might move him. She had yed the fool for five long years, carrying a burden of guilt¨Cten years in total¨Cand finally understood that she and Yvan were never meant to be. The cost of that realization was herplete and utter ruin. Yvan and Matilda stood at the threshold, their eyes locking through the crowd as if traversing the sea of unfamiliar faces to a time long past, an eternity in a nce. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org He was still the one she cherished in her heart, and she remained the girl in his eyes. Time flew, and their situation had deteriorated beyond recognition. Who was the unseen hand. that had pushed them to this? Matilda shook off her wandering thoughts and looked up as Yvan approached her, his presence shining like a star, dwarfing everyone around until he stood before her. As his perfect face drew near, Matilda realized with sadness that her heart no longer skipped a 15:27 Chapter 18 beat. ¡°Yvan, do you know that I¡¯ve loved you for fifteen years, from my youth until now, bearing the brunt of life¡¯s hardships?¡± She thought but said nothing. She nced at Yvan and then looked away. Yvan spoke quietly beside her, ¡°How long have you been waiting?¡± ¡°Not long, about ten minutes.¡± Matilda smiled, a smile so graceful and wless, and yet it was this very expression that made Yvan feel estranged. She used to be warm and generous, her eyes brimming with affection. Now, those eyes were like barren ck holes, where the pride of her youth had once soared before plummeting inside, swallowed up, turning into nothingness. Yvan felt a tremor at the core of his heart, but he managed to say, ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs,e with me.¡± He reached out and pressed the elevator button. When the doors opened, no one else dared to follow them inside. 2/2 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Five years ago, being alone with Yvan would set Matilda¡¯s heart racing. She¡¯d be careful, cautious, a bundle of nerves. But now, half a decadeter, as the elevator ascended with a gentle hum, the once palpable tension had faded into a dull numbness within her. Yvan watched her profile, his own face a masterpiece of male beauty. His intense gaze scorched her skin, and Matilda felt the weight of his stare like a predator fixated on its prey. leaving her feeling trapped with no escape. The ding of the elevator brought them back to reality, and Matilda stepped out with a briskness. that belied her inner turmoil. Yvan followed, his long strides silent behind her until they reached the door of VIP Room V2, where Matilda finally paused. Yvan shed her a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°Not going in?¡± Matilda clenched her jaw and pushed the door open. The moment she entered, a whistle cut through the cacophony ofughter and chatter, the air thick with the scent of liquor and cigarette smoke. She didn¡¯t let her distaste show, just a slight furrowing of her brow. Someone from the couch shouted, ¡°Now that¡¯s a looker! Who brought her?¡± Yvan¡¯s voice came from behind her,ced with amusement. ¡°Oh, Bet, you interested?¡± As Matilda looked around, she saw Chase among the group lounging on the couch, surrounded by women dressed in glitzy miniskirts, their bare shoulders shimmering under the lights. Amid this scene, Matilda stood out like a sore thumb. Bet Fuller, holding a drink, nodded at Matilda. ¡°Is this Yvan¡¯s guest? Hey there, miss. Care for a drink?¡± ¡°Easy, Bet, don¡¯t push it,¡± warned Chase, though Bet seemed too buzzed to heed the caution as he pulled Matilda down to sit beside him. Then, winking at Yvan, he said, ¡°Man, Yvan, you¡¯re like a warm nket on a cold night. How did you know she¡¯s just my type?¡± Yvan¡¯s expression was unreadable as Bet continued to drink and yfully fed Matilda a piece of watermelon, which she eventually epted after a moment¡¯s hesitation. Cheers erupted from the crowd. ¡°Bet¡¯s got no shame, feeding her like that!¡± ¡°She ate it, didn¡¯t she? Looks like Bet¡¯s got a chance tonight!¡± Bet¡¯s arm around Matilda, he leaned her head against his shoulder. ¡°Wanna y a game, 15:28 Chapter 19 sweetheart?¡± Yvan watched, his grip on his ss tightening subconsciously. Chase whispered. ¡°Yvan, should I talk to Bet?¡± ¡°No need,¡± came Yvan¡¯s chilly response. It was just a woman¨Cwhy should he care so much? Matilda smiled at Bet. ¡°Are you the one here to talk business with Yvan?¡± ¡°Whoa, no business talk when we¡¯re partying,¡± Bet replied with a disappointed frown, then turned to Yvan. ¡°Did you tell her something? She¡¯s all about business, such a buzzkill.¡± Now certain, Matilda raised her ss. Since Yvan brought her here to drink with his business partner, she would do just that to entertain Bet. Thus, she smiled at everyone. ¡°Sorry for beingte. I¡¯ll drink this as a punishment. What games are we yingter? Go easy on me, okay?¡± A bright smile appeared on Bet¡¯s face. He wrapped his arms around her waist, gesturing her to sit down, saying. ¡°You¡¯re so cute, you know?¡± Matilda curled herself in his arms and smiled at him, her lips crimson from the wine, ¡°Really?! think you¡¯re really cute too. Mr. Fuller.¡± Bet¡¯s name was not unfamiliar to Matilda. Before her fall from grace, she was a well known heiress, and Bet was a prominent figure in social circles. Though he was from the neighboring city, his family possessed mass fortune, and many local businessmen were eager to befriend him. Yvan watched Matilda¡¯s radiant smile towards another man, and a surge of unnamed anger rose within him. He had brought her to humiliate her, but now he was the one agitated. Chase eyed Yvan nervously. ¡°You okay, Yvan?¡± Even for an ex¨Chusband, it was unthinkable to let his former wife entertain another man. It seemed Yvan genuinely had no feelings left for Matilda. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Yvan bit back his anger, his gaze sharp as a de upon Matilda, yet he said, ¡°I don¡¯t care. Let her be.¡± That¡¯s right. As long as she could help him secure a deal with Bet, what would it matter if she drank with him or even ended up in his bed? His thoughts were interrupted by a round of apuse; they looked up to see Bet and Matilda¡¯s lips part from a brief kiss, and the room erupted. ¡°Talk aboutmitment! Respect!¡± ¡°A good sport! Love that boldness!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ur for another round?¡± Chapter 19 Seeing the terrifying fury in Yvan¡¯s eyes, Chase quickly intervened, shouting, ¡°What game are you ying over there?¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 ¡°Truth or Dare,¡± chuckled someone in the background, ¡°if you can¡¯t speak the truth or do the dare, you gotta nt a kiss on someone. Anyone up for a game?¡± Kiss someone? Yvan¡¯s gaze snapped to Matilda. Her lips, slightly parted, were a vivid shade of temptation, and she was draped over Bet like a siren, her alluring figure drawing the eyes of every man in the room. A ze of fury ignited within Yvan, uncontainable and fierce. He didn¡¯t pause to question his reaction: his mind was overrun with wild thoughts¨Cof taking Matilda home, of keeping her locked away, ensuring she¡¯d never be touched by another man. She was his possession, and anyone who dared cross that line deserved to die! When he looked at Matilda, her smile was dazzling, capable of making the world pale inparison. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Matilda was stunning, and Yvan had known that for five years. But back then, he had despised her, never even acknowledging her presence. He thought such a sultry woman would be nothing more than a trophy wife, fussy and pretentious, not at all like Rachel. Yes¡­ nothing like Rachel. Why should this woman¡­ why should she¡­ Yvan realized he couldn¡¯t control his rage. Seeing her kiss Bet, he wanted to throttle her¨Cthis wretched woman, how dare she let another man kiss her? Bet seemed oblivious to Yvan¡¯s expression, still holding Matilda close. As she tilted her chin, revealing the graceful curve of her neck adorned with a delicate ne, the sight was both enticing and pitiable. She was so slender; she must feel so light in one¡¯s arms. Bet did just that, pulling Matilda onto hisp. She gasped, a flush of embarrassment spreading across her beautiful face. Bet wrapped his arms around her waist and murmured, ¡°Care toe home with me tonight?¡± Matilda, feigning nonchnce, tucked her hair behind her ear and yed coy. ¡°Mr. Fuller, are you teasing me?¡± Bet buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. ¡°Teasing? I wouldn¡¯t dare. How about you tell me your name?¡± Her name¡­ Matilda stiffened, suddenly at a loss for words. 1/2 15:28 Chapter 20 ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing her turn pale, Bet joked. ¡°You¡¯re not some terrifying person are you? Don¡¯t scare me, miss.¡± Matilda quickly masked her smile and stood up shakily. I¡¯m feeling a bit dizzy. I just head to thedies¡® room and be right back to tell you.¡± Bet whistled. ¡°Needpany?¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t get impatient now. We¡¯ve got plenty of time.¡± Matida¡¯s firtatious smile returned. ¡°Just wait for me here. Mr. Fuller.¡± The onlookers teased, ¡°Oh man, lucky Mr. Fuller tonight! ¡°She¡¯s got a way with words, that beauty!¡± Inside the restroom, Matilda steadied herself at the sink, taking deep breaths. The alcohol was hitting her hard, her face flushed from the intoxication Bet had asked for her name. what should she say? I¡¯m Matilda Thompson? In Ashton City, there was only one Matilda¨Cthe heiress of the Thompson family from five years ago. How could she face everyone outside? What would their looks say? After five years. the Thompson heiress had fallen to toasting and flinth for mens ravoraughable idea, all her pretense of pride and strength turning into a joke. As Matilda was lost in thought, Yvan approached unnoticed. In a swift move he pulled her inc thest stall of the restroom and mmed the door, Matilde falling into his arms. When she looked up. Yvan¡¯s face held its usual sneer. ¡°You lure a man but can¡¯t tell him who you are?¡± Matilda forced a pale smile. ¡°Mr. Boyd, this is thedies room.¡± Yvan, unfazed, locked the stall door andered her against the wall His hand swect across her lips, smearing her lipstick in a crimson streak. His voice was cold. ¡°You kissed Bernen? She lowered her gaze. ¡°It¡¯s the rules of the game. I had no choice.¡± *Just a game, and you¡¯re all over him?¡± Yvan lifted her chin fiercely. ¡°Watida, five years, and you¡¯ve really outdone yourself!¡± Herughter was absurd, tears welling up. ¡°Why do you care? Yuan, you¡¯re the one who brought me here! You wanted me to entertain, didn¡¯t you? And look, I did His hand tightened on her neck. ¡°What if I told you to sleep with him?¡± ¡°Then I would. After all I¡¯m just a toy in your eyes, am I not?¡± Wanica¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. ¡°You don¡¯t care that, so why should I?¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 ¡°Matilda, I never pegged you for a whore!¡± Yvan¡¯s temper was ring as he pinned her against the restroom wall, his breathing in heavy bursts, his eyes a tempest of rage¨Che was livid. ¡°You lure me out for drinks, never considering I might get hassled?¡± Matilda¡¯sugh was sly, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your wish to see me humiliated? Annoyed that you missed the show?¡± Yvan pressed her harder against the wall, closing in on her, his gaze, dark and intense, locked onto hers. After a moment, his lips crashed onto hers in a feverish kiss. Matilda struggled violently. Just then, someone entered the restroom. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Yvan chuckled lowly, ¡°Scream. Let everyone outside witness this spectacle!¡± Bastard! Matilda red at Yvan, her eyes brimming with tears, ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± Yvan remained silent, leaning in to kiss her savagely once more. Her taste was surprisingly intoxicating. When she was his wife five years ago, sleeping with her was just part of the routine. Though he didn¡¯t care for her, Matilda¡¯s figure was appealing, so Yvanever found her dull. But he hadn¡¯t expected her to get pregnant, to bear his child. Memories surged, and a question pierced his thoughts. Five years ago, when Rachel died, had Matilda been pregnant too? She hadn¡¯t said a word, so he never knew. He¡¯d kicked her at Rachel¡¯s grave site, sent her to prison, driven her to insanity¡­ Yvan shivered violently. That the child had survived was nothing short of miraculous. Back then, Matilda must have lost all will to live, pregnant and hopeless in her cell. Matilda shoved him away. The crowd outside had dispersed, unaware of the two inside thest stall. With reddened eyes, she choked out, ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± ¡°Why treat me like a toy, to be taken up or insulted at your whim? Yvan, wasn¡¯t your betrayal five years ago enough? I¡¯ve already paid a terrible price; why can¡¯t I escape your grasp?¡± She yelled inwardly. Yvan just tightened his jaw, his pupils constricting upon seeing her pain, sensing her anguish. Matilda pushed him off, her shoulders trembling. She straightened her clothes and fiercely wiped her lips¨Cher lipstick had vanished during the forceful kiss, but as her hand rubbed, a Chapter 1 fresh redness bloomed. Yvan felt he must be mad, certainly drunk, to find himself drawn to Matilda after all these years. Matilda covered her face as she left the restroom, and Yvan thought he heard her sobbing. breaths as she departed. He stood alone in thedies¡® room for a long while before leaving with a troubled expression. Stepping out, he bumped into a group of women entering. ¡°Damn, this is thedies¡® room, right?¡± The tipsy women nced back at the sign, then at Yvan emerging. ¡°Holy smokes, what a hunk! But why¡¯s heing out of the women¡¯s bathroom?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not go there; he could be one of those creeps¡­¡± ¡°Seriously, looks so clean¨Ccut, who¡¯d have thought he¡¯d sneak into thedies¡® room.¡± The women gave Yvan a few extra nces, but his enigmatic presence kept theirments subdued. When Matilda returned. Bet seemed to have been waiting for a while He greeted her with a smile and pulled her close with practiced ease as if they were old nne Yvan, arrivingter, narrowed his eyes discreetly at the sight. What was happening? The instant he saw something that belonged to him being touched by another man, an uncontroble irritation surged within him. Suppressing his turmoil, Yvan rejoined the group, appearingposed. Meanwhile. Bet was already beaming with Matilda leaning on his shoulder, the very picture of contentment. Leaning in, Bet inquired about her name, whispering with a chuckle, ¡°You and Yvan seem quite close?¡± Matilda shivered. How did he guess? But she didn¡¯t admit it, quickly adopting a smile, ¡°How could that be. Mr. Fuller? What makes you think so?¡± ¡°Because I saw you leave, and then Yvan followed right after¡­¡± That keen observation! It seemed everyone wasn¡¯t so easily fooled. Following Yvan around, their consecutive trips to the restroom must¡¯ve sparked Bet¡¯s suspicion. Without saying much more, Matilda cast her gaze downward, and after a long pause, she asked, ¡°Mr. Fuller, do you really want to know who I am?¡± Chapter 21 Bet, taken aback by her solemn expression, replied, ¡°Uh¡­ what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Matilda smiled, a smile that could turn the world on its axis. Five years ago, the dream girl of every man in Ashton City was her, with her astonishingly beautiful eyes and an air of proud refinement. Now, five yearster, this pearl had fallen to the dust, bing a thorn in the side of all men! Matilda whispered seductively in his ear, ¡°Mr. Fuller, my name is Matilda Thompson.¡± In Ashton City, there was only one Matilda¨Cthe heiress of the Thompson family! Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Bet¡¯s face went ashen as if he couldn¡¯t believe what was unfolding before him. His eyes widened in shock, the disbelief etched across his handsome features. He stared at Matilda as if trying to peer into her very soul. Sadly for him, Matilda had long since been devoid of hers. With augh, she leaned against his shoulder. ¡°Can¡¯t believe it, huh? Yes, it¡¯s me, Matilda, the very same Ms. Thompson who was branded a murderer five years ago¡­ Yvan¡¯s ex¨Cwife.¡± The truth hit Bet like a freight train. His hands trembled as he held her. ¡°You¡­ are you joking with me?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to joke about?¡± Matilda¡¯s warmth faded swiftly as she stepped back and poured herself a ss of wine, herugh now a seductive purr. ¡°Don¡¯t recognize me? Surely you haven¡¯t forgotten this face, Mr. Fuller. My name was quite the buzz in our circles five years ago.¡± Bet¡¯s breathing quickened. Usually, he wouldn¡¯t give a second look to a woman with a history like hers ¨C divorced and a jailbird? Who would want such a woman But this was Matilda, the high society belle whose scandal rocked the elit He gazed at her, his throat suddenly parched, unsure of why. ¡°Why would Yvan send you to keep me company?¡± If it was true, then Matilda was Yvan¡¯s ex. Why would Yvan send his former me to¡­ do this? Matilda gave him a mischievous wink. ¡°Since we¡¯re divorced, you don¡¯t have to think of me as anyone¡¯s anything.¡± Right, she was never Yvan¡¯s anything, not five years ago, not now. She never had a ce in Yvan¡¯s heart. Their conversation was abruptly cut off as Yvan strode forward and, to the gasps of those around, hoisted Matilda onto his shoulder. Startled by his sudden action, Matilda shivered, then began to pound on his back. ¡°What are you doing? Put me down!¡± Yvan sneered. ¡°Put you down? To let you flirt with others?¡± The room was stunned by Yvan¡¯s behavior. Bet, rooted to his spot on the couch, stammered, ¡°C¨Ccan we talk this out?¡± ¡°Sorry, Mr. Fuller, she¡¯s with me tonight. Let¡¯s catch up some other time!¡± Bet clutched his drink and howled, ¡°Yvan, you¡¯re a beast! You bring me ady only to hoard her for yourself!¡± Matilda¡¯s cheeks flushed with humiliation. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, it felt like a 1/2 public shaming. She fought back tears, ¡°Yvan, let me go!¡± ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°You¡¯re drunk!¡± ¡°Yes, I am!¡± Ignoring the audience¡¯s entertained stares, Yvan marched out with Matilda still on his shoulder. She was dizzy with anger. ¡°Let go of me! Jerk! Scumbag! To hell with you!¡± ¡°Nice words, you¡¯ve got quite the talent. A degree from Evergreen University does give one a rich vocabry.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°You wanted me to drink with others, and now you¡¯re backing out!¡± Matilda yelled, ¡°Have the guts to let someone else take me! Loser! I did five years for you. What more do you fucking want from me?¡± Her outburst changed the atmosphere. Her deration of serving time pierced everyone¡¯s ears, halting their movements as they finally remembered who she was. The beautiful and intelligent daughter of the Thompson family, Matilda Thompson! The murderer who spent five years locked away! Matilda suddenly chuckled to herself, then burst into tears, her vision a blur. She didn¡¯t want to cry, but she couldn¡¯t help it. Fate was cruel, striking just when she thought she¡¯d escaped. reminding her that she could never outrun her past. Yvan set her down only to pull her close again, pinning her against the wall. With everyone watching, he gripped her chin. ¡°Feeling aggrieved, huh?¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits as she spat out her words with venomous resolve. ¡°Aggrieved? I got what I deserved; I earned this!¡± Yvan couldn¡¯t stand her tone. Grasping her neck tightly, someone screamed from behind, ¡°Mr. Boyd¡­ please, don¡¯t be violent!¡± Bet was shaken by the sudden turn, shouting, ¡°Yvan! Calm down!¡± Chase was already on the phone, calling for backup. ¡°Yvan¡¯s lost it.¡± As Yvan¡¯s grip tightened, the air in Matilda¡¯s lungs dwindled, and her eyes closed as she fainted in his grasp. ¡°Oh my God! She¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s dead!¡± Yvan¡¯s hand trembled violently, withdrawing his hold. Impossible, he couldn¡¯t have killed her. He was just infuriated, not intending to murder her in front of everyone. As she slipped into unconsciousness, Matilda heard the chaotic screams fading away, and everything¡­ everything drifted away from her. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 In the silence of the hospital room, Matilda¡¯s eyes flickered open, greeted by a blur of dim light that gradually cleared into a coherent world. She took in her surroundings until the door creaked open, and a figure walked in, snapping her back to reality. Yvan stood at the threshold, his expression a twisted tapestry of emotions that flickered across his face before dying in the depths of his dark eyes. Matilda stared numbly at him, wordless. She had imagined countless scenarios for a reunion with an old me¨Cthe world was cruelly small, and those you¡¯ve loved deeply had a way of resurfacing. But never had she envisioned Yvan standing before her like this. In a manner so brutally final, he thrust her back into the abyss of despair. Sensing her silence meant she had no desire to speak, Yvan cleared his throat awkwardly from the doorway. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Matilda gave him a frosty nce, remaining silent. He stepped forward, lifting her chin with a firm grip, and as he met her sc unexpected pang of pain twisted in his chest. ¡°ying the silent game with me?¡± he sneered, a cold smile ying on his lips. ¡°Matida, I should¡¯ve ended you five years ago. The fact that you¡¯re still breathing is a stroke of luck on your part.¡± Herughter rang out, sharp and clear, in response to his words. ¡°Oh, how generous of you to spare this wretched life of mine!¡± ¡°You feel wronged?¡± Yvan¡¯s mocking tone matched hers. ¡°Wronged about what?¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes narrowed, her frailty masked by the lethal sharpness in her gaze, brilliant even now. Under her piercing stare, Yvan felt a crushing inability to breathe. Matilda¡¯s smile was radiant, a fleeting beauty that seemed to strip color from the world. ¡°Yan shouldn¡¯t I be thanking you? You shattered my life five years ago, and now you¡¯re after my life again! I must have committed some grave sin in a past life to be so thoroughly ruined by your Yvan¡¯s grip tightened as she spoke, ¡°What excuse are you trying to scrape together for yourself? Rachel¡¯s death¡ª¡± ¡°What if Rachel¡¯s death had nothing to do with me? Herughter was maniacal a sign of someone with nothing left to lose, backed into aer. She shouted at him. ¡°Ivan, just answer me this¨Cif Rachel¡¯s death had nothing to do with me, will you ever be able to settle the debt you owe me in this lifetime?¡± The question seemed to strike Yvan like a physical blow as his grip loosened, and he stumbled back incredulous. ¡°What did you say?¡± Matilda¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper as it her earlier defiance had exhausted her ¡°Yvan i don¡¯t hate you anymore. I think you¡¯re pitiful enough that it doesn¡¯t matter whether I hate you or not When she looked up, the love that once filled her eyes for him was reced by a void, consumed by the hatred of tive years past.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Yvanughed bitterly in response, his rage making him all the more striking a man with the kind of looks that could drive a city of women mad. Five years ago, she had been one of them, recklessly throwing herself towards his me only to be destroyed and not even receiving a sliver of sympathy in return. Matilda shook her head, a self¨Cmocking gesture. ¡°I have no regrets, no hatred, Just five years in jail. Now that I¡¯m out, I¡¯m still alive and kicking. Without you, I still breathe¡± ¡°Go ahead, dig up the past, Yvan,¡± she challenged him. As she lifted her head, the tierceness in her eyes reminded him of the proud heiress of the Thompson family she once was¨Cher family may have fallen, but her pride was unscathed. Matilda¡¯s lips curled into a defiant smile as she addressed Yvan, ¡°Let me zou, I don¡¯t scored knocking over Rachel¡¯s urn in front of everyone. She brought ruin to my family, pinned a upon me, and for a dead person, I endured torture and humiliation in prison for five long years! Lucky she was dead, for smashing her urn was nothing! If she were alive, I¡¯d scatter her ashes to the winds!¡± ¡°You dare!¡± Yvan exploded, his hand whipping out to strike Matilda¡¯s cheek, his voice trembling, ¡°Matilda! You dare! How can you even utter such words?¡± The p forced no tears from her, but instead, a brighter, more terrifying smile spread across her face like a stunning poppy in full bloom. ¡°Yes! I dare! A dead person has made my life unbearable. Yvan, had you ever considered my perspective for even a moment, you wouldn¡¯t have let me be what I am now! I tell you, I have no regrets about what I did to her, and I just fear the day you learn the truth¨Cthat Rachel¡¯s death had nothing to do with me¨Cyou¡¯ll hate yourself!¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Yvan¡¯s heart quaked as Matilda¡¯s words struck him, but he had been there when Rachel was pushed. How could he have possibly mistaken the person? It was Matilda who had done it ¡°Cut the act, Matilda. If you had something to say, you should ve socken up five years ago! ¡°Did you ever give me a chance to speak?¡± Finally, Matilda¡¯sughter wasced with tears. ¡°Of that¡¯s right, you never believed a word I said. I¡¯ve been your wife for five years, no better than a dog at your feet, and you¡¯ve never spared me a nce, not even onel Yvan, you don¡¯t love me. so why on earth did you marry me? How could you do this to me, to Rachel?¡± ¡°I only loved Rachel. I married you because you found your way into my bed!¡± Yvan couldn¡¯t contain his anger any longer, his voice raising in usation, it was you who climbed into my bed!¡± ¡°Is that what you think of me? Have you really forgotten everything? Matilda¡¯sugh broke, her body shaking. ¡°There¡¯s a saying that couldn¡¯t be more true¨CLove and affection mean nothing!¡± ¡°Yvan, let¡¯s just say everything I ever did for you was a joke. If I had a second chance, I would never choose to meet you! Yvan, I only hope that one day you will realize your mistake,¡± She cursed inwardly, her regret overwhelming! ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of how you treat me; I¡¯m afraid that one day you¡¯ll regresit yourself.¡± With that, Matilda pointed at the door of the hospital room and shouted at Yvan, ¡°Get out!¡± The hatred in her eyes was evident. She imed to be over it, imed it didn¡¯t matter, but the truth was, her hate ran so deep that forgiving or not forgiving seemed inconsequential¨Cshe had strangled all her love and hope for him the moment he had sent her to jail five years ago. ¡°Yvan, I don¡¯t seek redemption. I only wish to curse you; may you never find love in this life!¡± She prayed silently. Herughter rang out, attracting a nurse who rushed in, only to be thrown to the floor by a trembling Matilda. The nurse¡¯s scream brought a crowd running, some even shouting. ¡°Sedatives! Get the sedatives! ¡°Patient in room V02 is having an episode!¡± ¡°Hurry! We need medical staff and security up here!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Get out! All of you!¡± Matilda flung anything she could get her hands on at anyone who approached¨Ccups, vases, chairs¨C anything to hurt others, to protect herself. She cried andughed at the same time, ¡°Get out! All of you, get out!¡± Chapter 24 Yvan yelled, ¡°Matilda! You¡¯ve lost your mind!¡± His words stabbed her like a sword, pain radiating from her chest to every corner of her body and every strand of hair, suffocating her breath In her madness, her eyes bloodshot, she suddenly knelt before Yvan, her forehead hitting the floor hard. ¡°Yvan, please let me go. I¡¯m begging you¡­ please! I¡¯ve been locked up for five years; i¡¯m nothing now! Look at me, Yvan, just look at what I¡¯ve be! A wave of indescribable pain spread from his heart, and Yvan trembled, staring at the woman before him. Five years ago, she was the proud and arrogant heiress of the Thompson family now, she was a deranged ex¨Cconvict. He shivered, his handsome face twisted in soul¨Cdeep agony. ¡°Matica, what what¡¯s happened to you?¡± He thought of the scars crisscrossing Matilda¡¯s right hand¨Chow desperate must a person be to mutte their most precious hand? Matilda was a designer who cherished her hands, above all else, her pra and her dignn But this same woman had chosen to destroy her most important hand¨Cwhat kind of overwhere despair must she have gone through to end up like this? Everyone was shocked. Why had Matilda be like this¨Cso fragile, so sensitive, so mad? What had she endured in prison? Five years, who had reduced her to this state? Yvan suddenly didn¡¯t dare to seek the answer. He feared it was himself. Was he the monster¡¯s creator? No, it couldn¡¯t be. Matilda loved herself too much; how could she¡­N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Professional medical staff rushed in, restraining Matilda as security maintained order. Injured staff were helped up, and the room was a cacophony of noise and gawking faces. Yvan was pushed aside as he watched Matilda being pinned to the bed, a sedative needle piercing her arm. Her eyes dted, her lids closed, and she slipped into unconsciousness again. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 When Yvan walked into the hospital the next day, Matilda¡¯s medical team had changed shifts. The attending physician caught sight of him and called out, passing him some reports with a heavy sigh. ¡°Mr. Boyd, your wife¡¯s condition is quite serious¡­¡± Yvan didn¡¯t correct the doctor about his rtionship with Matilda, allowing him to continue. ¡°She¡¯s suffering from severe depression and appears to have been through a significant trauma. Mr. Boyd, has anything¡­ happened between you and your wife in the past?¡± Clutching the paper, Yvan¡¯s fingers ached from the thin report¡¯s edge. His throat felt clogged with cotton, and after a long pause, he managed to mutter, ¡°No¡­ nothing.¡± ¡°I see.¡± said the doctor, removing his sses to clean them. ¡°Medication alone won¡¯t cure this. We¡¯ve checked her records; she¡¯s been treated before but never followed a consistent regimen. She only takes medication when she feels an episodeing on. That¡¯s not enough for a full recovery, and she seems unwilling to engage in therapy. Mr. Boyd, this may take some time. Do you know what your wife enjoys? What makes her happy?¡± Thatst question stumped Yvan. What did Matilda enjoy? He realized he had no idea. Finding it impossible to continue the conversation, Yvan mumbled an excuse and left, the doctor¡¯s words echoing in his mind. ¡°Your wife must have endured some harsh experiences. Mr. Boyd. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re keeping from us, please share. It will help us tailor a better treatment n. Her condition is quite severe. You know, the scars on her wrists¨Cthey¡¯re not from just one incident. They¡¯reyers of new and old wounds. The most recent one from two weeks ago.¡± Two weeks ago felt scarily recent. How many times had she harmed herself? Matilda had been resorting to self¨Charm when the pressure became unbearable, alone at night with a de against her wrist. Beneath her facade of pride and aloofness, the Matilda he once knew, thedy of stature from five years back, was long gone. Her spirit was shattered, leaving behind only fragments of obsession. Yvan couldn¡¯t bear to think further. He returned to Matilda¡¯s hospital room and lingered at the door, contemting escape for the first time. He was afraid¡­ afraid to face this woman, his former wife¨Csentenced to prison by his own hands for murder. Matilda had killed Rachel and now she lived like this. Yvan felt he should be pleased. But seeing her, he couldn¡¯t find joy. He felt like the real executioner, the one who had led her to ? Chapter 25 this state. Yvan stood at the door, pale and hesitant, ultimately unable to enter. He turned and walked down the corridor, taking out his phone. ¡°It¡¯s me. Yvan.¡± The tall, imposing silhouette of Yvan stood out even in the hospital, drawing covert nces from the nurses, who whispered spections about his identity. ¡°Look into what happened to Matilda during her five years in prison.¡± It was a painful admission, but Yvan had to confirm a suspicion, ¡°I believe¡­someone may have¡­ abused her using my name.¡± Logan was picked up from preschool by Yvan that afternoon. As soon as he got into the car, he let out a sigh and said. ¡°Mr. Boyd, you don¡¯t have to keep me cooped up. I won¡¯t run off. At most. I¡¯d go back to Mommy. If you really cared, just visiting me once a month would mean a lot to me.¡± Yvan was so angered he nearly drove into the flower bed. What kind of insolent talk was this from the kid? Did he have no regard for his own father? Was this really his own son? If it weren¡¯t for the DNA test confirming their paternity, he¡¯d suspect Logan was someone else¡¯s child. Holding back the urge to floor the elerator, Yvan drove onto the freeway towards the hospital. ¡°Kid, is that any way to talk to your dad?¡± Logan sighed again; whether for himself or Yvan. It was unclear. ¡°Mr. Boyd¡­¡± ¡°Call me Dad!¡± ¡°Mr. Boyd, just hear me out¡­¡± ¡°Dad!¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Da¡­ Dad¡­¡± Logan stuttered over the title, clearly ufortable, his cheeks flushed, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­. don¡¯t force me to call you that.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it if you say it more.¡± Yvan felt a surge of satisfaction upon hearing ¡®Dad¡® from the boy¡¯s lips, his own frustration easing. ¡°I am your dad. What¡¯s wrong with calling me that?¡± Logan retorted, ¡°But for the first five years of my life, you never cared about me.¡± Chapter 25 Yvan took a deep breath and said, ¡°Your mom hid you well. I only recently found out about you.¡± ¡°And when Mommy was pregnant?¡± Logan shot back quickly. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t event know about Mommy¡¯s pregnancy.¡± Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Yvan gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. A question from a five¨Cyear¨Cold kid, and he found himself at a loss for words. If he had known¡­ If he had known that Matilda was pregnant, maybe¡­ he wouldn¡¯t have locked her up¡­ A whirlwind of emotions flickered across Yvan¡¯s eyes, but he didn¡¯t let them show. In a blink. they were gone, and he was once again the ruthless heir to the Boyd empire, decisive and bold as if nothing in his life had ever given him cause for regret. In the back seat, Logan sat obediently, watching thendscape fly by. Then, suddenly, he said. ¡°This isn¡¯t the way we usually go¡­¡± Yvan silentlymended the boy¡¯s sharp mind. The kid had only been on this route a few times but already had it memorized. Clearing his throat, Yvan spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital¡® ¡°The hospital?¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Logan, though young, was quick on the uptake. With a cautious tone, he asked, ¡°Did something happen to Mommy?¡± ¡°Damn, the little rascal is too smart for his own good. Being a dad sure is tough!¡± Yvan couldn¡¯t help but comin inwardly. But then he thought about it and couldn¡¯t help feeling proud. It was his genes that made his son so smart. He couldn¡¯t help thinking his boy was a little genius. When they arrived at the hospital, Yvan crouched down to straighten Logan¡¯s T¨Cshirt. It was only at times like this that Logan felt Yvan was his father, but even then, it seemed it was all for show. As Yvan leaned in, Logan couldn¡¯t help but steal a few more nces at him. After all for a five¨Cyear¨C old, there¡¯s always a sweetness in seeing one¡¯s biological father. But¡­ his father was such a disappointment. Maybe if Yvan behaved well, he could help Yvan win Mommy back. Yvan said, ¡°Your mom, she¡¯s got depression. Did you know that?¡± He hadn¡¯t wanted to bring up such heavy topics in front of Logan, but considering the boy¡¯s mature understanding, he decided toy it out straight, ¡°She¡¯s not in a good ce right now. and I hope¡­ you can¡­ give her somefort.¡± ¡°Did you upset Mommy?¡± Logan looked up, his eyes not at all surprised. It seemed he knew about his mom¡¯s depression. To be so young and yet able to ept such a harsh reality.. ¡°No¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to upset¡­¡± 15:30 F Chapter 26 Facing Logan always made Yvan feel powerless. The boy had eyes that seemed to see through everything, so clear and pure they made Yvan feel like he couldn¡¯t look him in the eye with his own sullied adult conscience. ¡°I get it¡­¡± Logan seemed to sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t me you. Mommy¡¯s depression is pretty bad. She¡¯s okay most of the time, but when ites to anything rted to you, it gets like this.¡± Anything rted to you. A sharp pain struck Yvan¡¯s heart. Had he be such a monster in Matilda¡¯s eyes that she was terrified of anything associated with him? Logan handed his little backpack to Yvan. ¡°Daddy, can you hold this for me? I want to go see Mommy.¡± When he switched to calling Yvan ¡®Daddy¡°. Yvan felt a tiny bit offort. Maybe, just maybe, Logan woulde to ept him in time¡­ Before, Yvan never imagined having so much patience and tolerance for a child, especially when the child¡¯s mother was someone he despised, a convicted murderer. Yet he found himself able to embrace their child. The sins of the parents should not be borne by the child. Logan¡¯s eyes were too innocent, too earnest for Yvan to bear causing any harm. Yvan escorted him to Matilda¡¯s hospital room door, and then the father and son, with faces strikingly simr, exchanged a nod. They were united in their purpose¨CLogan pushed the door open to see Matilda propped up in bed, her face pale and sickly but lighting up with an astonishing glow the moment she saw Logan. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± He ¡°Logan! How called out tentatively, and Matilda turned to him, her eyes welling with tears. did you get here?¡± Logan¡¯s voice was choked, ¡°Mom, are you unhappy again?¡± ¡®Unhappy¡® was the euphemism for her depressive episodes. Matilda forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Did I scare you again?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Logan climbed onto the bed, slipping into her embrace. His mother was thin, but she held him with hands that tried to convey warmth. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again, Logan. It¡¯s good you¡¯re back¡­ That¡¯s all that matters.¡± ¡°Mommy, Daddy brought me here. Did you guys fight?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Matilda¡¯s voice trembled as she clutched Logan¡¯s hand, almost desperately saying. ¡°No¡­ He¡¯s not your daddy¡­ He¡¯s not¡­¡± It was like she was on the verge of tears, trying to convince herself of something she couldn¡¯t Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Yvan couldn¡¯t fathom how Matilda had managed these past few years. Seeing her sobbing into Logan¡¯s shoulder, a peculiar pang of difort twisted in his gut. Drying his mother¡¯s tears with a tissue, Logan gently said, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go home, okay? Please don¡¯t be sad anymore.¡± Hugging him tightly, Matilda trembled. ¡°With you, I can make it through. With you, Mommy can survive¡­¡± Looking up at his fragile mother and then at Yvan standing in the doorway, Logan sighed. ¡°Mom, I told you before. Dad came to pick me up today. I know you hate him, but he is¡­ my dad.¡± His young voice carried an undeniable resolve. ¡°Even though I¡¯m not fond of him, having a daddy feels¡­ safe. But if you don¡¯t want to go back to him, Mom, I won¡¯t interfere. Your choice is my choice.¡± The tears welled up in Matilda¡¯s eyes once more. ¡°Logan, Mommy¡¯s not afraid anymore. How about we go back and live a good life with Uncle? The words. ¡°Let¡¯s pretend you never met Yvan and you never had a father went unsaid. After putting Matilda to bed, Logan stepped out of the hospital room, his m Yvan¡¯s anxious one. ¡°How is she?¡± Yvan asked. ¡°She¡¯s calmer now¡­ not as agitated as before.¡± gaze meeting Logan stood there, hip features bearing a striking resemnce to Yvan¡¯s. It was evident to any discerning eye that they were father and son. Sometimes, fate has a twisted sense of humor. The woman Yvan detested had given him such a precocious son. But was such early maturity a blessing or a curse? ¡°Hey, Dad, it Mom gets better, I have one condition, Logan announced, standing on his tiptoes. ¡°You have to let us reunite with our family.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Yvan frowned. ¡°You want me to send you back to that so¨Ccalled home? What, you want to keep wandering around?¡± He couldn¡¯t stand the thought of his son suffering out in the world! Logan¡¯s eyes dimmed. ¡°Dad, would you care about Mom if I didn¡¯t exist?¡± The question hit Yvan hard, leaving him speechless and motionless. ¡°You see, even if you live together without love, it¡¯s still unhappiness. Taking a deep breath. Logan continued, ¡°So, it¡¯s fine for me to live with Mom. You can visit whenever you want. I¡¯ll talk to her about it. I promise we won¡¯t cause any trouble at your house. Mom and I are doing 1/0 Quapter 27 just fine on our own.¡± He didn¡¯t want to go back to Yvan¡¯s ce. Yvan looked at Logan¡¯s face and felt a dull ache in his chest. How could a five¨Cyear¨Cold have such insight¡­ It was heart¨Cwrenching. But Yvan couldn¡¯t let go of his son. After all, a Boyd should be raised by the Boyds! During Matida¡¯s recovery at the hospital Yvan brought Logan to visit her every day after preschool. She soon emerged from her gloom, though she still red at Yvan with clear hatred. Yven thought to himself that at least hatred was better than madness. When Matida was discharged Logan walked hand¨Cin¨Chand with her. She looked fragile and slender, even thinner after her stay in the hospital. As they moved through the busy hospital. tobby, she seemed like she might copse at any moment. Yvan resisted the urge to help her, wondering what it was about this woman that drew his repeated attention. After all she was the one responsible for Rachel¡¯s deathl Watching Logan hacoily skipping alongside her, Yvan followed them to he There & handsome and dashing Gideon arrived to pick them up, his closeness to Logan making it seem as though they were the real family. 10 Yven scoffed silency, then returned to his car with his bodyguards. atica signed in relief as she sensed Yvan¡¯s watchful gaze disappear. Gideon, just back from a business trip, was full of concern. ¡°Everything alright?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Matida reassured him. Gideon¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Mat tell me the truth. Have you been skipping your medication?¡± Burying her face in her hands. Matilda¡¯s body shook slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not sick. And if I was. I¡¯m cured non. Logan, feeling sorry for her, suggested. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s finish the treatments, and you¡¯ll bepletely wel Matida looked up, her eyes moist, and smiled at Logan, whose face bore a strong resemnce to Yvan¡¯s. ¡°Okay. Mommy will try to be strong,¡± she promised, touching his face. Later, Logan and Matilda curled up together to watch TV while Gideon found a bottle of pills in her drawer. Seeing that it was almost full he knew she hadn¡¯t been taking them seriously for Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¡°You can¡¯t just pop one every time you feel a little down, Matilda. This isn¡¯t amon cold you¡¯re dealing with. Plus, even a cold might take a few days of medication and rest to get over.¡± Gideon said, sitting beside her with a concerned frown. Matilda pouted at her brother. ¡°Gideon, look at me. I¡¯m fine now, and I¡¯m usually¡­ fine.¡± ¡°What about when you run into Yvan again?¡± Gideon asked bluntly, causing Matilda¡¯s heart to skip a beat. The mere thought of Yvan sent her into a panic, her emotions a mess, leaving her helpless. That man had hurt her deeply, and she had fallen into a shadow from which she couldn¡¯t escape. Taking a deep breath, Matilda replied, ¡°Gideon, there are some things no medicine can cure. I have to rely on myself.¡± The fear and hatred for Yvan were embedded deep within her heart. Anytime anything rted to Yvan came up, she would lose her sense of reason. No medication could ever cure her. The only cure was either her or Yvan¡¯s death. To truly survive, she had to be stronger, to no longer be wounded by Unis man. Matilda lifted her gaze, a startling determination in her eyes. ¡°Gideon¡­ I don¡¯t want to live in Yvan¡¯s shadow anymore. I need a fresh start, a new life. Even though I¡¯m ill, I¡¯ll fight to ovee my fears¡­ Gideon gripped her hand tightly. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for not being able to protect you.¡± ¡°No, Gideon, it¡¯s not your fault. I¡¯m the one to me,¡± Matilda said with a bitterugh. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t blindly trusted him five years ago, our Thompson family wouldn¡¯t be in this mess.¡± She had paid dearly for her blind love, causing a disaster beyond forgiveness. She was a sinner beyond redemption. The next morning, it was Matilda¡¯s turn to drop Logan off at preschool. His face beamed with pride as he entered the ssroom, ¡°Today, my mom dropped me off!¡± ¡°Wow, Logan, you weren¡¯t kidding!¡± ¡°Your mom is so pretty.¡± ¡°Prettydy, can you be my mom too?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my mom!¡± A bunch of kids surrounded Matilda, and Yvan, pouting, shooed them away, ¡°No one¡¯s allowed to take her!¡± ¡°Hmph, stingy! Prettydy, I really want to be your daughter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Logan¡¯s mom; she¡¯s so beautiful. I¡¯m jealous.¡± Matilda crouched down, smiling as she gently tousled the kids¡® hair. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Logan¡¯s mom. Is Logan a bit of a handful here at school? I hope you¡¯ll all take good care of him, okay?¡± ¡°The prettydy says so; we¡¯ll definitely be friends with Logan!¡± ¡°Logan¡¯s already our friend!¡± ¡°Yeah, Logan¡¯s even the deputy ss leader! The teacher likes him a lot!¡± Seeing that Logan was doing well socially at preschool eased Matilda¡¯s mind. It was a rare asion for her to drop off her son, as Gideon usually handled it. If he was away on business, Logan would go to school all by himself. Sometimes, she felt her child was almost too mature for his age. Logan reluctantly let go of Matilda¡¯s hand, whispering, ¡°Mommy, remember to pick me up tonight, okay?¡± Her heart ached at his words, but she managed a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. M guys take you away again.¡± Logan smiled back at her. I¡¯ll always be with Mommy!¡± ¡°Bye, Mommy!¡± won¡¯t let the bad As Logan waved goodbye, Matilda left the preschool feeling reassured. Not far away, a man in a sleek ck Maybach watched her leave. With sunsses perched on his nose and a devilish smirk, he exuded an aura of danger and allure. Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he watched Matilda walk away. Today, Matilda had a mission to aplish. An international jewelry designpany had approached their studio to coborate on a limited¨Cedition ring, and she had to get back to help her brother finish the sketches before the deadline. As she drove to the studio, little did she know that the Maybach was also starting to follow her. Yvan slightly lowered his sunsses and whistled. In the back seat, a handsome man named Mason watched Yvan¡¯s almost obsessive behavior and chuckled, ¡°Stalking your ex¨Cwife, are we?¡± ¡°Watch your mouth,¡± Yvan cursed with augh. ¡°Keep it up, and I¡¯ll toss you out on the street.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your business partner, and you treat me with such cruelty.¡± Mason said, his smile sharp. ¡°You¡¯ve been quite interested in hertely, haven¡¯t you?¡± Mason added, his tone meaningful Yvan¡¯s long fingers rested on the steering wheel ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°Well you¡¯re following her like a crazed fan of some pop star,¡± Mason said, implying more than 15:00 L he let on. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°Have you finally developed feelings for your ex¨Cwife?¡± ¡°Feelings? Not really¡­¡± Yvan drew out his words. ¡°Just a bunch of issuestely, and we¡¯ve been at odds over the kid.¡± Mason teased, ¡°You two have been at odds since the wedding.¡± Damn it. van was annoyed but amused, ¡°Mason, one more word, and I swear I¡¯ll leave you on the oadside.¡± Chapter 29 Chapter 29 ¡°Stalking someone to their studio, huh¡­¡± Mason chuckled as he watched Yvan pull up in his car, a mischievous glint in his eye. ¡°You know, if you need a hand, I can help you.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Yvan shot Mason a look in the rear¨Cview mirror, those devilish, flirtatious eyes sparkling with mischief. When he wasn¡¯t smiling, he was the epitome of cool, seductive charm, but with a smile, he was irresistible. It was no wonder Ashton City¡¯sdies were drawn to him like moths to a me¨CYvan was a catch if there ever was one. Seeing Yvan¡¯s grin, Mason smirked back. ¡°You know exactly what I mean. ¡°She¡¯s probably not going to ept it.¡± Yvan mulled it over as he watched Matilda disappear into her studio. Then, he parked the car by the curb. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Mason in the backseat before saying, ¡°I need a good reason¡­ something solid to make her warm up to the idea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± Mason¡¯s voice carried a hint of intrigue. ¡°Just let me take the lead.¡± Yvan shot him a wary look. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you, man.¡± Masonughed heartily. ¡°And why not? I¡¯ve always been¡­¡± ¡°Been what?¡± Yvan red at him fiercely. ¡°If you even think about messing with Matilda, you¡¯re dead meat.¡± ¡°Oh,e on.¡± Mason chuckled as if Yvan had just told the funniest joke. ¡°There you go. clinging on even after the divorce. But hey, what if she falls for me? I can¡¯t help that.¡± Yvan gritted his teeth, ¡°She¡¯s off¨Climits to everyone else, even after the divorce. Get that through your head!¡± Both men smoked in silence, tossing their cigarette butts into the car¡¯s trash can before taking a deep breath. Mason straightened his cor and announced, ¡°Well, I¡¯m off then.¡± ¡°Just be careful,¡± Yvan called after him. Mason narrowed his eyes knowingly. ¡°Always am.¡± When Mason stepped into Matilda¡¯s studio, both Gideon and Matilda were taken aback. Matilda was hunched over her drafting table, wearing a pair of sses that made her look. studious and gentle. Her hair fell softly around her face as she worked. Mason couldn¡¯t help but wonder: Could someone as peaceful as her really be capable of something as violent as murder? The incident five years ago¡­ Did someone frame her? 1/4 1531 Chapter Gideon recognized Mason immediately and greeted him. ¡°Mr. Farrell, what brings you here today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to see you guys.¡± Mason¡¯s voice was calm and collected as he smiled at a surprised Matilda. ¡°Ms. Thompson, we meet again.¡± ¡°Mr. Farrell.¡± Matilda tidied up her drafts and poured him a cup of coffee. ¡°The studio¡¯s humble. but make yourself at home.¡± ¡°No, the d¨¦cor is quite nice, actually.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Mason tasted the coffee and immediately appreciated the drip brew method, a sign of someone who enjoyed taking their time with things. He surveyed the studio, noting its creative ir and beautiful spatial design. Matilda¡¯s workstation was an impressive semicircle that curved into a tri¨Cscreenputer setup, surrounded by stacks of ongoing projects. Settling into a round couch, Mason crossed his legs and smiled at Matilda. Ms. Thompson, you weren¡¯t entirely truthfulst time, were you?¡± Matilda tensed up but feigned ignorance. ¡°Mr. Farrell, what exactly brings you here today?¡± ¡°We need your help, Dawn.¡± Mason set his cup down gently on the coffee table and turned to Gideon, who still seemed puzzled. ¡°Last time, you denied that Dawn was your stage name. I get why you did it, but Me Thompson, we really want you involved in our new line¡¯s design. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here today. hoping you¡¯ll give us the chance to coborate.¡± His words were firm but fair. Matilda pressed her lips together, and Gideon finally regained hisposure. ¡°You want my sister to be part of the design team?¡± Mason nodded. ¡°Thepany isunching a new bridal collection next scring.¡± Matilda¡¯s fingers twitched involuntarily as Gideon responded, ¡°We¡¯re ttered. Mr. Farrell, but I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve made the trip for nothing. My sister¡­ she¡¯s done designing wedding dresses Mason looked taken aback, not expecting such a response. ¡°Why?¡± he asked impulsively. Matilda lifted her gaze, her eyes deep pools, reflecting a storm of emotions before she socke ¡°I¡¯ve lost all faith in love, so wedding dresses¡­ I just can¡¯t design them anymore.¡± The kind of wedding dresses that once symbolized happiness, that bore witness to love¡¯s blossoming¨C those were now shattered pieces in her heart, beyond recair. A brutal, failed romance had robbed her of the ability to feel joy. Mason was visibly shocked, his mouth opening as if to protest, but he swallowed his words.. Chapter 29 After a long silence, he said softly. ¡°I understand. But Ms. Thompson, I still hope you¡¯ll consider it. Even if you¡¯ve been hurt in the past, you should let some sunlight in on those wounds. Your talent is yours alone, and nobody can destroy that. I believe in you.¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Matilda shuddered, her disbelief lifting her gaze to meet Mason¡¯s indifferent eyes. After his words settled, he rose, nodding slightly at them. ¡°Well, I should get going. If you change your mind, give me a call anytime. Our design team at the firm is really looking forward to having you on board. And thanks for the coffee; it was great. He pushed open the door and left, a business card of his tucked beneath the coffee mug. Matilda¡¯s heart raced, and it took her a while to collect her thoughts. When Mason climbed into Yvan¡¯s sleek car, Yvan immediately turned to him and asked, ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± Mason just shook his head. ¡°No dice.¡± ¡°I figured as much¡­¡± Yvan muttered to himself before starting the engine and smoothly pulling away from the studio. As they merged onto the freeway. Mason finally broke the silence. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just help her yourself? Why go through me?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Yvan¡¯s grip tightened on the steering wheel ¡°Me? She¡¯d probably rather diet ept my help.¡± ¡°That figures.¡± Mason chuckled carelessly. ¡°She¡¯d wee me more than you.¡± Yvan, irritated, honked the horn aggressively. ¡°You have a death wish?¡± ¡°Hey, hey, I¡¯m helping your ex make some dough, and now you want me dead?¡± Mason shook his head and then prodded further. ¡°But seriously, if you care about her so much, why did you send her to jail five years ago?¡± Indeed, she was the woman he hated most, so why did he go to such lengths to help her? Yvan¡¯s gaze was fixed on the road ahead, and after a long pause, he said, ¡°Because she was responsible for Rachel and her baby¡¯s death.¡± ¡°But look, she was pregnant too at that time, and you had no idea,¡± Mason implied that Yvan had imprisoned his own wife, heavy with child, for a mistress. Mason, sitting in the backseat watching thendscape whiz by, felt the car elerate. ¡°What, hit a nerve?¡± Yvan ground his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve been too soft on you. I¡¯m going to tell your old man about your escapades with those models.¡± ¡°Shit!¡± Mason finally eximed, ¡°Yvan, don¡¯t be a fucking dick, man! That¡¯s no way to treat a brother!¡± Chapter 38 ¡°Who the hell considers you a brother? Get the hell out of my car!¡± After dropping Mason off at his ce, Yvan headed back home. His phone rang with an unfamiliar number. He picked up, curious, and a crisp voice said, ¡°Daddy, it¡¯s me.¡± Oh boy, his son! Hearing that voice, Yvan softened. ¡°Logan, what¡¯s up, kiddo?¡± Logan sounded mature beyond his years. ¡°Daddy, did you go see Mommy today?¡± How could the kid be so sharp? Yvan walked back to his room as he spoke, ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°Mommy told me someone recognized her as Dawn and wanted to offer her a deal.¡± Logan sighed deeply. ¡°Daddy, you sent them, didn¡¯t you?¡± Yvan felt like he¡¯d hit the jackpot having such a bright son. Of course, the apple didn¡¯t fall far from the tree! Yvan easily admitted without a second thought. ¡°Yes, I want to help your mor my. ¡°Why now?¡± Logan¡¯s voice felt like it was whispering right next to his ear. ¡°ay, if you feel sorry about what happened five years ago, Mommy and I will ept your gesture. But if it¡¯s just pity, we don¡¯t need it.¡± Yvan felt a chill, clutching the phone. ¡°Did your mom teach you to say that?¡± Sigh¡­ Why was Daddy always assuming? Logan shook his head where Yvan couldn¡¯t see and said. ¡°These are my words, Daddy. Mommy doesn¡¯t know I called you. In fact, I got your number from a business card I found in your car Yvan had to hold back and take a deep breath. ¡°Logan, you weren¡¯t there five years ago; you didn¡¯t go through it, so you can¡¯t understand what I felt. But now, if I¡¯m offering help, why not ept it? I only want to make your life a bit better.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need a better life.¡± Logan¡¯s voice dropped. ¡°Daddy, I can¡¯t understand what you did to Mommy, and you can¡¯t understand how we feel. If you really don¡¯t care about Mommy, then please don¡¯t bother us anymore. Thanks for your concern.¡± With that, the kid hung up, and Yvan stared at the phone screen, lost in a daze, unable to snap back to reality. He had the unsettling feeling that Matilda was slipping through his fingers. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 The next day, Matilda asked Gideon to drop her son off at school before sitting alone in her studio, lost in thought. She sipped her coffee, finding its bitterness oddlyforting. Setting down her mug, she sighed deeply. Upon returning, Gideon noticed his sister¡¯s mncholic air and gently stroked her hair, his fingers weaving through the soft strands. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± he asked. Matilda looked up at her brother and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m considering whether we should take up Mr. Farrell¡¯s offer for coboration.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Gideon paused, leaning in, ¡°Mat, if you¡¯re notfortable, there¡¯s no need to push yourself¡­¡± Shaking her head, Matilda replied to Gideon, ¡°No¡­ I think Mr. Farrell is right. Some scars do need to be exposed to sunlight.¡± ¡°Yvan¡­ the raw wounds you left me with might not even hurt anymore,¡± she thought to herself. That afternoon, Matilda called Mason to set up a meeting. After finalizing the details with him, she told Gideon, ¡°Could you pick up Logan from schoolter? I need to meet with Mason on my way.¡± ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± Gideon asked from behind her. Without turning back, Matilda¡¯s slender silhouette pushed open the studio¡¯s door and stepped out. Once Mason hung up on Matilda¡¯s call, he dialed Yvan, ¡°Your ex¨Cwife has had a change of heart.¡± Yvan, who was in the middle of signing documents, scoffed. ¡°Oh.¡± Mason chuckled. ¡°Why the cool act now?¡± Yvan remained silent as he listened to Mason ry an address, then took a deep breath and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± ¡°Be prepared for a scalding wee,¡± Mason teased, whistling. ¡°Mr. Boyd; are you getting soft on your ex¨Cwife?¡± A pang hit Yvan¡¯s chest, prompting a reflexive sneer. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with such pointless questions. They make you sound foolish.¡± After the call, Yvan summoned his secretary to take the documents and straightened his attire before calling the front desk. ¡°Reserve a table for two at the Hof at eight tonight. Yes, somewhere private, not the main hall.¡± He closed his eyes momentarily as if taking a deep breath, and when they reopened, they flickered with an intense, frosty glint. Chapter 31 ¡°Matilda, I¡¯m curious to see how long you can keep up this act of righteousness!¡± Matilda arrived at the entrance of Hof at 7:40 PM, just after Gideon had brought Logan home and dropped her off on his way. Logan rolled down the window from the back seat to look at her, ¡°Mommy,e back soon, okay?¡± Matilda touched his face gently. ¡°Mommy will be home after the meeting. Go home with your uncle tonight.¡± The well¨Cbehaved child waved at her, ¡°Bye, Mommy!¡± After watching the car disappear into the distance, Matilda took a deep breath and turned to enter Hof. A staff member spotted her and approached respectfully. ¡°Ms. Thompson, I presume?¡± Taken aback at being expected, Matilda followed as they led her down a hallway to a private room. The restaurant¡¯s decor was exquisite, reminiscent of an old European aristocrat¡¯s mansion, with even the corridors shining splendidly. The attendant stopped before a door and, turning to her, said politely, ¡°Ms. Thompson, pleasee in.¡± Matilda quickly murmured her thanks and pushed the door open. But the moment she saw who was seated inside, she froze in her tracks. 23 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Yvan sat there, ramrod straight, his lean figure casting a striking profile with half his face. turned away, exuding an allure that was both enchanting and devilish. He upied the luxuriously appointed private room like a European nobleman from a bygone era, commanding the space with an air of undeniable presence. His features were as finely crafted as a Renaissance painting. Matilda¡¯s breath hitched the moment she realized it was Yvan. ¡°How can it be you?¡± che eximed in disbelief. ¡°Mason was just doing me a favor by reaching out to you,¡± Yvan said, his voice even. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and talk about this, shall we?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ve got nothing to say to you.¡± Matilda replied, her astonishment quickly reced by a cold indifference as she turned to leave. But Yvan¡¯s mockingugh stopped her in her tracks. ¡°Matilda, are you really that afraid of me now? Are you still the brilliant designer you used to be?¡± his voice taunted. Matilda froze. He was challenging her pride, forcing her to stay. Clenching her teeth, she spunt around to face Yvan, her eyes zing with a vivid hatred and took a seat opposite him. The waiter, sensing the tension, discreetly closed the door behind them, leaving them alone in the confined space. After a long silence, Matilda finally spoke. ¡°What do you really want?¡± Yvan lit a cigarette, blowing smoke rings into the air, his eyes half¨Cclosed as he studied Matilda. It was their first calm encounter in five years, and he noted how she seemed unchanged yet entirely different. Matilda a was no longer the lovestruck woman she once was, and he was no longer the Yvan he had been. Time had altered them both. They sat there, strangers with familiar faces, exchanging formalities devoid of any real emotion. A sharp pain stabbed at Yvan¡¯s heart before he spoke again. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal.¡± Matilda¡¯s fists tightened instinctively. ¡°What kind of deal?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll throw business your way, help your studio get on its feet. In return, Logan will be taken care of by the Boyd family. You can see him whenever you want, but his upbringing will be our responsibility.¡± Matilda didn¡¯t hesitate to refuse. ¡°Mr. Boyd, that¡¯s unnecessary. My brother and I can of him just fine.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. take care Chapter 32 ¡°Really?¡± Yvan¡¯s smile narrowed his eyes into slits, his demeanor turning cruel with no trace of past affection. ¡°With one phone call, I can make you and your brother beggars. Do you really want to go head¨Cto¨Chead with me?¡± ¡°Yvan, don¡¯t you dare push me too far!¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, her gaze filled with usation. Yvan detested seeing that look in her eyes. Five years ago, her love for him was boundless: now, she saw him as a monster to be feared. ¡°Push you too far?¡± Heughed coldly. ¡°You secretly bore my son and made him live like this. Do you think you¡¯ve done right by him?¡± ¡°We have everything we need; Logan isn¡¯t suffering!¡± ¡°Everything you need?¡± Yvan¡¯sughter grew louder as if he had heard a great joke. ¡°Your ¡®everything¡® is but a fraction of my generosity. If you want to fight me, Logan will end up sleeping on the streets with you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re using our son to ckmail me?¡± Matilda¡¯s heart bled with these words. ¡°He¡¯s your son too. How can you use him against me? Yvan, do you have no conscience?¡± ¡°Logan living with the Boyd family will have a life thousands of times better than with you. I refuse to let my son endure the life you¡¯re giving him.¡± Yvan clicked his tongue dismissively, his disdain palpable. ¡°Matilda, you¡¯re overestimating yourself. I¡¯m not ckmailing you; I¡¯m simply reiming my son in the most peaceful way possible. If I wanted to take him by force, are you sure you could stop me?¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Matilda stared at Yvan in disbelief, her whole body trembling with shock. She hadn¡¯t expected Yvan to actually go through with his threat¡­. Using their son to hold sway over her, to take away everything she held dear. ¡°Yvan, you¡¯re heartless! Have you ever considered that he¡¯s my son too?¡± Matilda¡¯s voice was a murmur of pain and defiance. Why was it that he could just take whatever he wanted while she was left to endure his plunder? Meeting Matilda¡¯s reddened eyes, a shiver ran through Yvan¡¯s body, an odd sensation flickering across his conscience. Ever since Matilda had returned, this feeling had be more and more frequent. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Yvan squinted. This was a bad sign¡­ as if his defenses were being breached. By Matilda? Yvan let out a cold chuckle, hardening his heart further. ¡°Talking about fairness, Matilda? Don¡¯t you find itughable? The Boyd family bloodline was never yours to make decisions about.¡± Matilda offered a wretched smile. ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ve raised him for five years without you paying any price!¡± At that, Yvan suddenlyughed. So that was her angle! With a nonchnt curve of his lips, he said, ¡°Five million dors, how about that? Consider it payment for raising Logan. If you wanted money, you could¡¯ve just asked. Matilda, why the pretense of dignity?¡± His tone was full of contempt as if she was nothing more than a woman trading her son for her own gain. Matilda remained silent, fixing him with a steady gaze. After a moment, sheughed¨Caugh that seemed to darken the skies. ¡°If you¡¯re so eager topensate me, I¡¯ll assume you feel guilty. Five million by tomorrow, then. Who am I to turn down money delivered to my doorstep?¡± She stood up, her smile suddenly chilling, her eyes as sharp as des. If looks could kill, Yvan would have been sliced to ribbons. She spoke, her red lips temptingly parted, ¡°But honestly, five million is a bit meager. I thought a man like the great Mr. Boyd would spare no expense for his son. I was prepared to demand hundreds of millions, and you offer me mere millions.¡± She tsk¨Ctsked, shaking her head and watching as Yvan¡¯s face twisted in anger, standing up to 10:46 Chapter 33 confront her, ¡°Matilda¡­ you¡¯re such a¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a woman. Mr. Boyd. Don¡¯t take it to heart!¡± Matilda¡¯sugh was cold, the pain in her heart sharp but familiar. She had endured a far deeper agony five years ago. ¡°Yvan, if that¡¯s how you see me, then I¡¯ll fulfill your expectations. From today, there are only old grudges between us, no past affection!¡± She thought. ¡°Make sure the money¡¯s transferred promptly. Then, I might consider whether or not to hand Logan over to you. Otherwise, I doubt you can afford to keep my precious son¡­¡± Herughter was seductive as she caught a glimpse of Yvan¡¯s furious face, making her smile even broader. ¡°Yvan, after all these years, you¡¯re still the same¨Carrogant and enchanting. But it¡¯s a shame that your heart, like five years ago, hasn¡¯t softened in the slightest,¡± she said inwardly. ¡°You¡¯re truly cruel, Yvan.¡± With those words lingering in the air, Matilda turned and walked away, leaving Yvan standing. there, stunned. Her retreating figure was slender and upright as if she had walked straight out of the darkness of the last five years, alone the entire time. She hadn¡¯t relied on a man; Yvan knew that. Matildal had her pride; she wouldn¡¯t let her impressive talents be overshadowed by depending on a man for her sess. But how hard it must have been for her, walking that path alone after getting out of prison? Chapter 34 Chapter 34 After leaving that evening, Matilda couldn¡¯t shake the unease that settled in her stomach. She grabbed her phone and typed out a message to Mason, expressing her regret that their coboration might be off the table. She also hinted, with a touch of subtlety, that he should stop using Yvan¡¯s name as a means to reach out to her. The next day, Mason read her message, a wry smile spreading across his face as he dialed Yvan¡¯s number. ¡°Your ex is telling me to mind my own beeswax. What¡¯s our y?¡± On the other end. Yvan¡¯s grip on his phone tightened, his chuckle cold as ice. What was their y? There was only one thing to do. If Matilda wanted to y hardball, he¡¯d just have to see how long she could hold her ground! After hanging up, Yvan got his people moving. Soon, a knock came at his office door, and a figure walked in, deferential as ever. ¡°Mr. Boyd, the funds have been transferred to Ms. Thompson¡¯s ount¡­¡± ¡°Have you spread the word?¡± Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Anyone who dares to work with Matilda is signing their own death warrant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± The secretary, the same one from five years back, Carl, hesitated. Despite Yvan having sent money to Matilda, Carl couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of conscience. He had seen the couple¡¯s rise and fall, and now, when they were finally crossing paths again, it was a showdown. Choosing his words carefully, he ventured, ¡°Mr. Boyd¡­ this approach with thedy¡­¡± ¡°Lady?¡± Yvan scoffed. ¡°Watch your words. Matilda is nody of mine.¡± Carl stood silently, head bowed, yet not humiliated. Yvan¡¯s gaze turned murky. ¡°Carl, how long have you been my assistant?¡± ¡°Five years,¡± Carl responded with neither subservience nor defiance. His position by yvan¡¯s side, his trust and esteem, had alle on Matilda¡¯s rmendation. Without her, he¡¯d ce nowhere. ¡°I know you¡¯re grateful to Matilda, but Carl, you work for me now, and she¡­ she¡¯s just an ex¨Cwife.¡± Yvan arched an eyebrow, his presence alone exerting pressure. ¡°Some thoughts are better left unentertained.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Carl bowed his head again, his fists clenching the fabric of his pants. How long would it take to witness a happy ending between Matilda and Yvan? Perhaps it was not meant to be in this lifetime. What a fine person Ms. Thompson was¡­ 1/2 All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Chapter 34 After Carl left. Yvan watched the door close, his heart still in turmoil. He couldn¡¯t stand to see Carl¡¯s pitying nces toward Matilda. Even knowing that Carl wouldn¡¯t dare make a move on her, those looks still stung. Carl¡¯s efficiency and top¨Ctier skill set made him indispensable, and he had indeed be Yvan¡¯s most trusted aide. Yvan had to admit that Matilda had done him a favor back then. So, out of respect for Matilda, Carl remained unwaveringly loyal to Yvan. He knew that during the years Matilda was behind bars, Carl had spoken up for her, likely out of a sense of injustice. But why? Why should his subordinates revolve around this woman? Was it solely due to some old debt of gratitude? Yvan¡¯s fingers curled into a fist unconsciously. He moved to stand by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows of his office, gazing down over the cityscape. From this vantage point, the city felt. both unchanging and ever¨Cevolving. He had to admit, in the five years Matilda had been gone, life had been dull, tedious, and desperately lonely. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Matilda jerked awake from a nightmare in the middle of the night, her breath ragged and her heart racing. Logan, ever the thoughtful son, fetched her some medicine with the same care and concern that belied his young age. He might not have understood theplex words on the pill bottle, but he knew these were the magic beans that would soothe his mom¡¯s troubled mind. Her hands trembling, Matilda took the pill from him. Logan, attuned to her needs, hopped out of bed to pour her a ss of water. With the pill swallowed down with the tepid water, she caressed Logan¡¯s head, her touch gentle. and loving. The little guy seemed to bask i the reliance his mother ced on him, cuddling up to her. ¡°Momma, don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m here, and so is Uncle.¡± The hand resting atop his head quivered, and Matilda¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears. ¡°Logan, I¡¯ll always be here for you, too.¡± Looking up at her with clear, innocent eyes, Logan¡¯s gaze brought back a flood of memories for Matilda. She remembered the first time she met Yvan, the rebellious heartthrob on campus, wearing his school uniform like a badge of defiance, loose and carefree. The whistle he blew upon seeing her had been yful and full of youthful arrogance. Back then, Yvan¡¯s face was striking, his eyes sparkling like diamonds when heughed¨Cfree from the shadows of deep thoughts, theplexities of life, as clear and transparent as a mountain spring, brimming with the boldness and vigor of youth. Lost in the reflection of those memories in Logan¡¯s eyes, Matilda zoned out. ¡°Mommy,¡± Logan asked in a soft voice, ¡°did Daddy¡­ did something happen again between you two?¡± Her son¡¯s precocious sensitivity weighed heavily on Matilda. She hated that Logan, at his tender age, was burdened with such adult worries. It was cruelty he shouldn¡¯t have to endure. She opened her mouth to speak, deciding on the truth. ¡°Your daddy wants to take you back to live with him.¡± Logan didn¡¯t seem surprised by her answer, giving her aforting smile. ¡°I guess you said no, right, Mommy?¡± Matilda forced a smile though her heart was heavy. ¡°Yeah¡­ Your dad offered us a lot of money.¡± The transfer hade through that afternoon. Five million, not a cent less. 10-461 Chapter 35 When Matilda saw the notification, she stared at the screen, tears spilling down her cheeks. Her lost love, her shattered life, and her precious son¨Call of it was reduced to an insult by Yvan with five million dors. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t be upset. Money¡¯s good, right? Logan tried to cheer her up. ¡°With the money, we can go on a trip with Uncle!¡± Matilda nodded, not revealing her true feelings. Yvan would probably not let go. Next, he might y hardball in the business world. This five million was just the beginning of an endless stream of insults. She hugged Logan tightly, whispering into the night, unsure if she wasforting him or herself, ¡°Logan, Mommy won¡¯t let anyone take you away¡­¡± Even if pushed to the brink, she would never hand over her son to anyone. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. If Yvan wanted to take Logan away, he¡¯d have to take her life first. In the darkness, Logany with his eyes wide open¨Cclear and deep, as if he didn¡¯t understand or perhaps he understood all too well. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 As the first light of dawn crept through the curtains, Matilda was already stirring. Today, she was due at the studio, but no sooner had she stepped inside than she was met with Gideon¡¯s furrowed brow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with concern. Her brother rarely looked so troubled. ¡°The partnership¡¯s been axed.¡± Gideon was staring intently at her face, his words heavy with disappointment. ¡°It¡¯s not just the deal we had in ce; next month¡¯s prospects¡­ they¡¯ve all been severed out of the blue.¡± A jolt shot through Matilda, and by the time she regained herposure, she was eximing in disbelief, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. We¡¯ve stepped on someone¡¯s toes.¡± Gideon articted each word as if it took all his strength. ¡°Someone¡¯s got the clout to make every manufacturer in Ashton City too scared to work with us. Even some firms overseas have retracted their interest, spooked by the warnings¡­¡± Listening to Gideon¡¯s analysis, a thought crystallized in Matilda¡¯s mind.. It was Yvan, it had to be Yvan¡­ He was using his influence to show them that all these years, it had been Yvan who let them be, and if he wanted to crush Matilda, it wouldn¡¯t take more than a breath! ¡°I¡¯ll confront him!¡± Gideon was shaking with rage. ¡°What does he want after all? Five years ago, he brought our family to ruin, and now, five yearster, he¡¯s still hounding us!¡± Matilda sank into the studio¡¯s couch, feeling as if all her strength had been sapped in an instant. After a long silence, she lifted her head, her eyes brimming with destion. ¡°He want Logan.¡± Gideon visibly shuddered. ¡°He¡¯s forcing my hand, making me send Logan to him through these tactics.¡± Matilda¡¯s fingers clenched involuntarily. ¡°But I¡­¡± She didn¡¯t want to yield, to hand her son over to that scoundrel! ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll keep looking. Maybe someone will lend us a hand,¡± Gideon reassured her, standing by her side. ¡°Matilda, you¡¯re Dawn. How could you be ckballed? Someone¡¯s bound to recognize your talent!¡± Matilda nodded, her eyes red, and moved to theputer. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s keep searching. Maybe some private independent studios will take our orders.¡± 1/2 Chapter 36 Gideon watched her rigid back, heaving a deep sigh in his heart. His sister was too strong, always acting as if she could hold up the sky. Often, he felt powerless. Powerless to protect Matilda, powerless to protect Logan. When would this situation change? Meanwhile, Yvan was seated in his executive office as Carl presented him with the neatly organized reports. With respectful deference, Carl spoke, ¡°Sir, we have confirmed that threepanies have already canceled their contracts with Ms. Thompson¡¯s firm¡­¡± Yvan sat there, seemingly indifferent, but casually inquired, ¡°And Matilda¡¯s reaction?¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t reacted.¡± Carl hesitated before continuing. ¡°After the contracts were terminated, it seems Ms. Thompson and her team didn¡¯t seek to defend their interests. The termination was technically a breach by the other party, but they¡¯ve made no move to argue on their behalf.¡± Matilda¡¯s inaction had clearly irked Yvan. He widened his eyes in disbelief and repeated, ¡°How is that possible?¡± To have business stolen and partnerships halted would spell disaster for any studio, akin to being cklisted. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Yet, why were they so calm? Was Matilda gearing up for an all¨Cout war with him? Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Yvan thought to himself, his expression turning frosty as he said to Carl. ¡°She likes ying chicken with me: well she¡¯s got it. I want to see how long she can hold out!¡± Two dayster, when Matilda found out all her design work had been pulled from the inte, Gideon was shaking with rage. ¡°I¡¯m going to give him a piece of my mind!¡± Yvan wasn¡¯t just targeting them anymore: he was cutting off their lifeline! Tears welled up in Matilda¡¯s eyes. ¡°Bro, don¡¯t be rash. You¡¯ll only be ying right into Yvan¡¯s hands!¡± ¡°How can he do this to U?¡± Gideon swept everything off the table in a fit of anger. ¡°You bore his child, went through hell and back, and this is how he repays you?¡± Matilda¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°No¡­ Bro, there¡¯s still hope¡­¡± They couldn¡¯t give up. They couldn¡¯t let Logan fall into his hands! C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The next day, as Yvan settled into his office routine, Carl walked in, a frown creasing her forehead. ¡°Mr. Boyd¡­ there¡¯s someone here to see you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Just¡­ a kid.¡± At that moment. Logan stood at the office door, locked in a verbal standoff with the secretary outside. ¡°I told you, I need to see my dad!¡± ¡°How do I know you¡¯re not just some random kid?¡± The secretary looked down her nose at him. ¡°I¡¯ve seen plenty of women iming to be Mr. Boyd¡¯s, and now herees a kid. Who put you up to this, huh? Your mom trying to snag Mr. Boyd?¡± ¡°My mom couldn¡¯t care less about any Mr. Boyd!¡± Logan retorted, his face flushed with anger. ¡°But I really am Yvan¡¯s son!¡± ¡°You bear a slight resemnce, but that¡¯s a bold scam for a kid your age¡­¡± The secretary honed him away. ¡°I don¡¯ty hands on children, but you, little brat, you¡¯re asking for it.¡± ¡°Who are you calling a brat?¡± A chilling voice from behind made the secretary jump. When she turned, she saw Yvan standing there, his face an icy mask, while Carl looked on with detached indifference. Sweat beaded on the secretary¡¯s forehead. ¡°Mr. Boyd¡­ the child was lying, saying he¡¯s your son. L¡­ Chapter 37 ¡°He is my son. Is there a problem?¡± Yvan sneered. ¡°It seems my secretary is quite capable, daring to insult my son. What¡¯s next, stepping over me?¡± ¡°Mr. Boyd! I wouldn¡¯t darel¡± The secretary trembled, her face ashen. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­ Mr. Boyd, please be merciful¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it twice. Now, go and collect your paycheck.¡± With a scoff, Yvan turned away from the secretary and went to open the door for Logan, squatting down in front of him, his demeanor softening, ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been looking for me?¡± Logan gazed at Yvan¡¯s face, his father¡¯s face, and thought how strikingly simr they were. It was like the Creator had fashioned them from the same mold; such was the power of blood ties. Standing together, no one could doubt Logan¡¯s identity. His resemnce to Yvan was proof enough. ¡°Yeah, I need to talk to you.¡± Logan pursed his lips, speaking lightly. ¡°It¡¯s about Mommy.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 About Matilda? ncing around. Yvan decided to simply scoop up Logan. The little guy was cradled in his arms as he strode into the executive office. He plopped Logan down on the desk, arched an eyebrow, and shed a half¨Csmile at him. ¡°What¡¯s up, kiddo? You need something from your old man?¡± Logan met his gaze squarely, cutting to the chase. ¡°Did you, by any chance, order the squeeze on my mom that¡¯s got her cornered?¡± Yvan¡¯s face froze, caught off guard by the usatory tone of his own son. A sting of pain. surged in his chest, deepening his voice involuntarily. ¡°Are you here to read me the riot act?¡± ¡°No.¡± Logan murmured lowly, ¡°just to get some justice for my mom.¡± ¡°Justice?¡± Yvan¡¯sugh wasced with sarcasm. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as justice in this world, kid. Power and status are everything.¡± ¡°Dad, I really don¡¯t agree with what you¡¯re doing.¡± Logan¡¯s voice quivered, his eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Mommy and Uncle are working their butts off to get by. Why are you pushing them around? If it¡¯s just for me, please stop this silly game!¡± Silly game? Oh, the irony. His own flesh and blood calling his actions silly! ¡°Did Matilda put you up to this, huh?¡± Yvan sneered. ¡°Did she send you here to talk to me?¡± In Yvan¡¯s mind, it was already a foregone conclusion that Matilda was behind Logan¡¯s visit. Was such a woman truly fit to be a mother? Logan stared back at Yvan for a long moment before a knowing smile cracked his youthful face. For a five¨Cyear¨Cold, it was a remarkably sardonic grin. After a pause, he said, ¡°Mr. Boyd. you want me, right? I¡¯lle back to the Boyd family, but in return, you leave Mommy alone. Yvan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as Logan shifted back to that formal address, dropping the endearing ¡®dad¡® for the blunt ¡®Mr. Boyd.¡® ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate. I¡¯ll go with you. In exchange, you stay out of Mommy¡¯s life!¡± The words from the child¡¯s mouth were like daggers, piercing Yvan¡¯s heart. Yvan had to admit that Matilda could not hurt him, but little Logan was enough to leave him bleeding. The disappointment in his eyes was ring as if Yvan himself had failed as a father. After pursing his lips, Yvan asked quietly. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Chapter 38 The little boy looked up, his dark eyes vast and lonesome as a gxy. ¡°Yes, from today on.¡± After work, Logan climbed into the family car on his own ord. As they drove away from the company. Yvan asked, ¡°Did you say goodbye to your mommy?¡± Logan turned away, his voice indifferent. ¡°No.¡± Yvan clicked his tongue. ¡°At least give your mom a heads¨Cup; otherwise, she¡¯ll think I¡¯ve kidnapped you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want my mom to know it was a trade¨Coff,¡± Logan said, looking down. ¡°You tell her so she won¡¯t be heartbroken.¡± Yvan took a longer look at Logan, impressed by the kid¡¯s astute mind, and then he sighed and dialed Matilda¡¯s number. Matilda knew Yvan¡¯s number all too well; it was ingrained in her memory, even in the darkest times of the past five years.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Chapter 39 Chapter 39 When the string of numbers shed across her phone screen again, Matilda¡¯s heart started to race frantically. Her fingertips tingled with anxiety as she debated whether to answer the call. Eventually, she steeled herself against the fear and tapped the answer button. At that moment, Yvan¡¯s icy voice pierced through the receiver like the grim reaper announcing a cruel fate. ¡°I¡¯ve taken Logan. From today on, he¡¯s the youngest son of the Boyd family.¡± Upon hearing these words, Matilda roared with rage, ¡°Yvan, who gave you the right to take him?¡± Yvan¡¯sugh came through the phone, cold and unfeeling. ¡°Why can¡¯t I take my own son?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my son too!¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes were red¨Crimmed with fury. ¡°And my life¡­ my everything.. ¡°Let me hear his voice!¡± Matilda¡¯s voice broke with desperation. ¡°Let Logan speak to me!¡± Yvan couldn¡¯t stand her tone, feeling a stab of difort with every word she uttered. Reluctantly, he handed the phone to Logan, who obediently called out. ¡°Mommy.¡± ¡°Logan!¡± Matilda was visibly shaken. ¡°Did Yvan take you?¡± Logan, too, was upset but tried tofort her, ¡°Mommy, you cane and see me. It¡¯ll be like All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. we¡¯re not even apart.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve decided to join the Boyd family for their wealth and glory, huh?¡± Tears rimmed Logan¡¯s eyes. ¡°No, Mommy, I just don¡¯t want to see you get hurt. Their conversation made it sound as if Yvan was some monstrous viin who had forcefully separated mother and son. Eventually, Matilda understood Logan¡¯s intentions and let tears fall for her child decision. ¡°It¡¯s Mommy¡¯s fault; I wasn¡¯t strong enough¡­ that¡¯s why¡­¡± ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t be sad.¡± Logan¡¯s voice wavered from the other end. ¡°You cane the Boyd estate. Mr. Boyd hasn¡¯t forbidden you from visiting.¡± 2 me at ¡°I understand. As soon as you settle in with the Boyds, Mommy wille knocking.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear the separation and had to ept the situation. Matilda quickly ended the call, rose to her feet, and Gideon called out to her thinning silhouette. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Fighting back tears, she replied, ¡°To the Boyd estate.¡± ¡°Yvan, what do I have to do for you to let me go, to let my child go? I can¡¯t stand being controlled by you any longer,¡± she said inwardly. It was twenty minutester when Logan arrived at the Boyd estate. When Violet saw him, her heart ached, and she greeted him. ¡°Logan.¡± Approaching her, Logan respectfully said, ¡°Good evening. Mrs. Boyd.¡± He stubbornly refused to address her any other way as if to cling to thest shreds of his resolve. Yvan had prepared a room and led Logan to the doorway, saying, ¡°From today, this is your room.¡± Logan responded with a faint acknowledgment before they overheard the nanny downstairs, ¡°Young master, there¡¯s a woman at the door for you¡­¡± The nannies blocked Matilda at the entrance, judging this beautiful woman who demanded her child upon arrival as delusional. They had seen too many like her! Matilda, standing at the door, called out past the blockading nannies to Yvan inside, ¡°Yvan, if you have an issue, take it up with me! Why threaten me using our child?¡± Chapter 40 ¡°You think you¡¯re worthy of my threats?¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Yvan made his way down the grand staircase of the opulent manor, a mocking smirk ying on his lips as he faced Matilda. ¡°Matilda, you sure have a high opinion of yourself.¡± The servants had all dispersed, leaving only Matilda and Yvan at the entrance, locked in a standoff. Just a few days ago, Yvan had burst through her doors, and now, Matilda was the one stepping C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org into his house uninvited. Violet, upon seeing her, wore a mask ofplex and profound emotions¨Cpity, hatred, and sympathy. To Matilda, the five years she had spent behind bars paled inparison to the heart¨Cwrenching days since her release that she had to face Yvan. ¡°So, you¡¯ve set your heart on fighting me for our son?¡± Tears welled up in Matilda¡¯s eyes, her voice a intive cry. ¡°Let¡¯s take this to court! You haven¡¯t shown a shred of care for him in five years¨CI refuse to believe yourwyer can make you the victor!¡± ¡°Go to court?¡± Yvanughed as if she¡¯d told the funniest joke. ¡°Chase is the sharpestwyer in all of Ashton City, and you want to talk about a court battle, Matilda? Aren¡¯t you being a tad naive?¡± A sharp pain knifed through Matilda¡¯s chest at Yvan¡¯s merciless words. Some lessons in life¨Clike Yvan¡¯s cold¨Cblooded cruelty¨Chad to be learned the hard way, even if she had already experienced them firsthand five years ago. Why did she still find herself utterly defeated after all this time? But this time, for Logan, she would not back down. ¡°Then I¡¯ll see you in court!¡± Matilda forced a tearful smile, ¡°Yvan, I won¡¯t give an ich when ites to my son, not even if it kills me.¡± At the mention of death, Yvan¡¯s pupils involuntarily shrank. Regaining hisposure, he sneered at Matilda. ¡°You think you can die? I thought people like you preferred clinging to life like trash.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, your son was born to this piece of trash.¡± Matilda retorted through her tears. She called upstairs with thest of her strength, ¡°Logan!¡± Logan, hearing her voice, dashed out of his room and flung himself into Matilda¡¯s arms, sobbing. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± ¡°Mommy will take you home in a few days. Just stay here and be good for now.¡± Matilda stroked Logan¡¯s hair, her heart softening yet aching unbearably. Chapter 40 Yvan could not stand such disys of affection that cast him as the viin. After Matilda had left, Violet tentatively suggested having someone escort her, but Matilda declined, turning away just as she had five years ago when she left the Boyd family. Her silhouette was unchanged from that time. Yvan watched her disappear into the distance, his expression unreadable. The next day. Yvan took Logan to preschool, where a chorus of curious children surrounded them. ¡°Is that your dad? He looks so cool.¡± ¡°He¡¯s so handsome. Logan, your mom and dad are both so good¨Clooking. I¡¯m so jealous.¡± ¡°Sir, could you be my dad too?¡± Yvan, uncharacteristically patient, smiled gently and answered each child¡¯s questions before telling Logan, ¡°Be good and wait for me to pick you up tonight.¡± Logan nodded and watched him leave; a sigh lost in the breeze as Yvan nced upward¨Cthe sky hinted at an approaching winter chill. Meanwhile, Matilda, draped in a thin trench coat, walked the city streets searching for awyer. She had already been turned away by three¨Ceach one refusing to take on a case against the prestigious Boyd family. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Matilda wasn¡¯t ready to throw in the towel just yet. She had to keep searching, stubbornly holding onto the slim hope that someone out there could lend her a hand. She couldn¡¯t admit defeat here, not now. It wasn¡¯t until dusk, after yet anotherw office had shown her the door that she began to ept that some endings might be inevitable from the start. If it was Yvan she was up against, she was destined to lose. Matilda sat on the curb, her eyes rimmed with red. She pulled out her cell phone, intending to call Yvan¨Cnot to speak with him, but to hear Logan¡¯s voice one more time. But as she held her phone, she hesitated, then reluctantly put it away. Sniffling. Matilda stood up. It¡¯s okay. No luck today, but there¡¯s always tomorrow! Mason was driving by the mall when he spotted Matilda sitting on the sidewalk. Raising an eyebrow in surprise, he found a spot to park and walked over to her. Only when his Shadow fell beside her did Matilda look up and see Mason. She instinctively moved away before steadying herself and said coolly, ¡°Mr. Farrell.¡± ¡°That afraid of me?¡± Mason chuckled, ¡°Come on,st time I really just wanted to help you and Yvan¡­ Help her and Yvan? As if they needed anyone¡¯s help. Their battles had always been to the bitter end. ¡°You haven¡¯t had the best five years, have you?¡± Mason tried to make conversation, but Matilda¡¯s indifference was clear¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to hear it. Mason could only apologize. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m sorry forst time. I lied to you about ourpany wanting to coborate. Truth is, I was helping Yvan find you. I¡¯m sorry. Can you forgive me?¡± Matilda finally cracked a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mr. Farrell. Is there something you wanted from me?¡± Damn, tough nut to crack! C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Mason narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. ¡°You look down and out. Ran into some trouble?¡± Matilda didn¡¯t answer right away. After a long pause, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and said coolly, ¡°Looking for awyer.¡± ¡°Awyer?¡± Mason was taken aback, ¡°What do you need awyer for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about my child. I have to go to court against Yvan.¡± Matilda clenched her teeth. ¡°He took our child back to the Boyd family on his own. But that¡¯s my Chapter 41 child, too!¡± Mason hadn¡¯t expected such a situation between Yvan and Matilda. He grew contemtive for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s tough, I won¡¯t sugarcoat it. In Sea City, even in the whole of Ashton City, winning a case against Yvan is like climbing Everest.¡± Matilda had braced herself, but Mason¡¯s words still made her heart quiver, ¡°But as the child¡¯s mother, I have all the advantages on my side.¡± ¡°No matter your advantage, going against Yvan in court¡­¡± Mason shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t count on winning. The light in Matilda¡¯s eyes dimmed, and after a long silence, she whispered, ¡°Is that so? But¡­ I can¡¯t give up on my son. He¡¯s my life.¡± Mason¡¯s expression softened with sympathy, and he sighed. ¡°Look on the bright side. The child is with Yvan, his own flesh and blood. Yvan won¡¯t mistreat him. The Boyd family has better resources, the kid won¡¯t suffer. You¡¯re young, don¡¯t waste your life on Yvan. There¡¯s still time for new beginnings.¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Mason couldn¡¯t fathom why he was always the one trying to get Matilda to see sense and move on from Yvan. But Matilda¡¯s eyes inevitably welled up with tears. ¡°For me, having my child close is all that matters. Without him, what good is all the money in the world?¡± Mason looked deep into Matilda¡¯s eyes, ¡°I didn¡¯t say you have to abandon your child, Matilda. You can visit him at the Boyd residence and y with him, but you need to break free from the shackles his presence has on you. You know what I mean, right?¡± Matilda¡¯s face registered shock, and as Mason watched her expression shift, he cracked a smile, ¡°There¡¯s the proud Thompson heiress I remember.¡± The words ¡®Thompson heiress¡® stung Matilda as if a needle had pricked her heart, spreading a fine pain deep inside. She looked at Mason with tearful eyes, and it took her a while to mutter, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Farrell. You always bring me insights that clear the fog.¡± He was the one who had said before that some wounds need to be exposed to sunlight. In a gesture of gratitude, Matilda offered to take Mason out for a meal, to which he readily agreed, ¡°Can I pick somewhere fancy?¡± Matilda blinked. ¡°Yvan gave me five million. Treating you to dinner won¡¯t be an issue.¡± ¡°Well, looks like you¡¯re starting to see the bright side and enjoy life,¡± Mason chuckled. He casually pointed to a steakhouse in the mall, and they walked in together, overhearing whispers nearby. ¡°Did you see that guy? He¡¯s so handsome¡­¡± ¡°Both of them look familiar, probably rich kids. Seen them somewhere before.¡± Matilda, in her light trench coat and heels, seemed a bit underdressed for the chilly season, exuding a cool elegance. Her long, quick strides hinted at a once¨Cdominant demeanor. When they entered, the hostess was taken aback by their presence and, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, asked, ¡°Do you have a reservation?¡± Matilda shook her head. ¡°No, any table for two will do.¡± But the hostess, sensing their stature, led them straight to a private room. After setting them up with silverware and pouring water, she presented the menu. Mason flipped through the menu, remarking with a smile, ¡°I have a soft spot for steakhouses.¡± Matilda, mixing her horseradish and steak sauce, chuckled, ¡°Who doesn¡¯t? I remember once, five years ago, I demolished twenty¨Ctwo prawn cocktails¡­¡± Mason¡¯s hand froze on the menu, his eyes widening, ¡°Twenty¨Ctwo?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 42 Herughter grew as she nodded, ¡°Each with six prawns.¡± Incredible! She didn¡¯t look like she could pack away that much food! So when it came time to order, Matilda went all out, requesting ten portions of salmon carpio and ten prawn cocktails. Her eyes sparkled as the dishes were served. Indeed, there¡¯s nothing like good food to heal a weary soul! Watching Matilda tuck in, Mason couldn¡¯t help but smile and searched for a casual topic, ¡°Who were you with when you set that recordst time?¡± Matilda stiffened at the question, taking a moment before she replied softly, ¡°With¡­ Yvan.¡± As the memories of those routine days with him surged back, a tremor ran through her body. She once had so many sweet moments with that man, only to realize in the end it was all just her own wishful thinking.. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 At that moment, Yvan was dining in an upscale sushi restaurant atop this bustling downtown mall with a woman sitting across from him, her smile gentle and inviting. As they ate, she would asionally lift her gaze to steal a nce at him. Yvan clicked his tongue in irritation, frowning. ¡°I¡¯m here to eat, not to be ogled at.¡± ¡°But Yvan, you¡¯re quite handsome, you know.¡± The woman across, Willow Simpson, blushed with a coy smile, eliciting a wave of goosebumps across Yvan¡¯s body. ¡°Can you act normal for once?¡± ¡°Are you not happy?¡± Willow pouted, ¡°Is hanging out with me really such a hassle? If it weren¡¯t for my granddad asking you out, would you even bother to show up?¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Yvan paused mid bite, looking up at her, ¡°To be perfectly honest, if your granddad hadn¡¯t arranged this, I wouldn¡¯t give you the time of day.¡± Willow¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and she spoke with a touch of grievance, ¡°How can you be so cruel to me. I like you so much¡­¡± With azy, detached demeanor, Yvan watched her, signaling for her to continue. ¡°I like you so much; can¡¯t you give me some sort of response?¡± Willow murmured. Images of Matilda from five years ago flooded Yvan¡¯s mind¨Cher high¨Csociety grace, her patience, and tenderness at home, her eyes always filled with hope, longing for his acknowledgment. Tightening his grip, Yvan then said, ¡°Ms. Simpson, what kind of response do you expect?¡± ¡°Just be with me, please?¡± Willow asked straightforwardly. ¡°Allying with my Simpson family can only help you; there¡¯s no downside.¡± Yvan scoffed. ¡°You think I need a woman to seed?¡± ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s not that!¡± Willow flustered. ¡°I heard Matilda was released from prison, and I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll come after you again. I can be your shield if that helps; just be with me, will you?¡± Yvan¡¯s lips curled into a smile that would be considered perfect if not for the unfathomable depths in his eyes¨Ca pool so deep no one could see whaty beneath After a moment, he simply stated, ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Willow exploded, her privileged temper ring, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m not good enough? How can I, five years improved, not surpass Matilda from back then? Yvan¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m done here. I¡¯ll take care of the check. If you want to order more, feel free to put it on my tab.¡± Yvan stood up, ¡°I should be going. Don¡¯t use your grandfather to set up meetings in the Chapter 43 future. He holds some esteem in my eyes; don¡¯t wear it thin because of you.¡± Willow turned pale, seemingly in disbelief that she, a woman of her stature, was being rejected by Yvan. She had thought she could secure him with this outing. In a huff, she threw down her fork and stood up to follow him. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll give you a ride home!¡± ¡°No need,¡± Yvan nced at her with detached disinterest, ¡°I can drive myself.¡± Willow joined him in the elevator, and then in the parking lot, she brazenly slipped into Yvan¡¯s car. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just keep youpany on the way!¡± Yvan sighed as he sat in the driver¡¯s seat, ncing back at the persistent Willow, ¡°I won¡¯t be taking you home, so drop any ideas of using this for publicity.¡± Damn, he saw right through her! Willow gritted her teeth. ¡°Then I¡¯ll follow you home and catch a taxi from there!¡± ¡°Suit yourself,¡± he shrugged indifferently, seemingly uninterested in further entanglement. His cold, impassive attitude filled Willow with a sense of defeat. What kind of man could refuse her? Only Yvan! Chapter 44 Chapter 44 So there she was, plopped down in the backseat of the car, and as they pulled away, who should be strolling out from a diner but Matilda and Mason, walking off a hearty meal. They brushed past without a moment¡¯s recognition, but Willow murmured from within her moving cocoon, ¡°That person¡­ She looks a lot like Matilda. Yvan mmed on the brakes and spun around to ask, ¡°What did you say?¡± Willow shook her head, dismissing the possibility. ¡°I thought I saw someone who looked a lot like Matilda on the sidewalk¡­ with Mason Farrell,¡± Matilda, with Mason? Yvan¡¯s mind darkened with thoughts he didn¡¯t voice. He kept driving home. When they arrived, true to his word, he didn¡¯t bother to walk Willow to her door. He strode right inside his house, only to find Willow had the gall to follow him as if she intended to make herself at home. Yvan was at his wit¡¯s end. Just as he was about to turn around and tell her to get lost, Willow cried out, pointing to the small figure on the couch, ¡°Is¡­ is that your kid?¡± Logan looked up, his eyes meeting Willow¡¯s. She let out a shrill, ¡°He looks just like you!¡± Yvan was doubly troubled, blocking the doorway to keep her out. ¡°You can go back and report to your grandfather now.¡± ¡°But Yvan¡­¡± Willow stood her ground, starting to call out, ¡°Violet, are you there? Violet! It¡¯s Willow, I¡¯ve come to visit!¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Yvan¡¯s forehead was practically throbbing; this woman was so unsettling! Matilda had never been this much of a nuisance! As Violet was upstairs arranging flowers, Willow¡¯s screeching summons went unanswered. Instead, Logan hopped off the couch and approached her, asking. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m your daddy¡¯s new girlfriend.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense in front of the kid!¡± Yvan finally erupted. ¡°Willow, can¡¯t¡¯you have a shred of dignity?¡± Willow¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°Are you saying I have no dignity?¡± Yvan scoffed, ¡°What do you think?¡± Matilda of five years ago was leagues above her! Logan nced at Willow and then said to Yvan, ¡°Mr. Boyd, your taste has really gone downhill.¡± Yvan¡¯s face was a study of resignation. ¡°She¡¯s really not¡­¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take your word for it.¡± Logan smiled sweetly, then turned to Willow, ¡°Olddy, what Chapter 44 exactly are you nning to do, standing at our doorstep like this? Trying to force your way into someone¡¯s home?¡± Yvan couldn¡¯t help butugh! Listening to his son¡¯s choice of words, his phrases were priceless! Willow was at a loss for words and stammered for a while, ¡°I¡­ was invited in by your daddy.¡± Yvan crossed his arms, and Logan gave her a haughty look.. The father and son pair, one big and one small, both wore expressions that read, ¡°Keep talking: we can¡¯t wait to hear more of your story.¡± -Even Willow¡¯s stubbornness had its limits; her face couldn¡¯t hide her embarrassment. Eyes. welling up, she shouted at Yvan, ¡°I won¡¯t give up! You¡¯ll regret this one day!¡± With that, she turned and fled from Yvan¡¯s mansion, covering her face while Logan watched from inside, utterly bemused. ¡°If that were my mom, she¡¯d never be so udylike.¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Hearing Logan¡¯s words, a sardonic chuckle escaped Yvan¡¯s lips involuntarily. Five years ago, Matilda was the belle of Sea City, a stunning vision of grace and beauty. naturally proud and aloof. The idea that she would stoop to throwing herself at someone was unthinkable. Perhaps her only slip was for Yvan, and he hadn¡¯t cherished her at all. Now, after five years, the past had returned, but everything had changed. Yvan wondered if those five lost years hadn¡¯te between them, would they now be standing on the brink of another sh? But life doesn¡¯t always offer a path for regrets. Yvan thought to himself that giving Rachel a clear name and the truth might let her rest in peace. As for Matilda, she had paid her dues. Logan watched Willow¡¯s retreating figure, then suddenly turned to Yvan and asked in a soft voice, ¡°Mr. Boyd, have you been with any other women during these five years?¡± The kid¡¯s tone was almost usatory, and Yvan frowned, not bothering to answer. Logan fell silent, studying Yvan¡¯s handsome profile. The young boy bottled up all his thoughts. If one day, his mom and Mr. Boyd got back together¡­ it would likely be a repeat disaster. Logan didn¡¯t approve of this father figure yet. Despite Yvan¡¯s wless public image, wealth, and social standing, was a man who had been indifferent to his own mother really worth her walking back into the mes? No, it wasn¡¯t. Logan¡¯s gaze darkened as he nced out the window. The night deepened, as did the chill in his heart. Three dayster, Matilda showed up at the door, her eyes red from obvious distress, yet she was meticulously dressed in boots and a jacket that made her look years younger. The nannies were stunned. Wasn¡¯t this the frenzied woman who had caused a scene just days ago? How had she transformed so completely? Yvan was at home helping Logan with his homework when Matilda arrived. At her call, the child dropped his crayons and rushed into her arms, his face lit with joy, ¡°Mommy, have youe to take me home?¡± Matilda, with a pained heart, shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Logan. You might need to give Mommy a little more time.¡± Chapter 45 Logan remained silent, still clutching her. With Matilda there, he felt at peace. Yvan, on the other hand, saw this disy of maternal affection and let out a derisiveugh. ¡°Don¡¯t bother struggling in vain. Matilda, no amount of time will find you awyer brave enough to take me on in court.¡± His words struck Matilda, her eyes brimming with tears, ¡°Yvan, how can you be so heartless?¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Heartless?¡± Yvanughed as if he¡¯d heard a joke, ¡°You only deserve this from me!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond, just fixed him with a gaze so intense Yvan felt almost breathless. Matilda¡¯s eyes had always held a proud and lofty gaze, never bowing down for anyone. Yet five years ago, she¡¯d cast aside her pride for Yvan. Now, all that remained in her eyes was a startlingly bright hatred. Yvanughed again, silently but cruelly. ¡°Matilda, why do you never learn?¡± ¡°Indeed, I never learn.¡± Matilda held Logan close; her voice trembled. ¡°What do you want from me? I¡¯ve served five years and carried the shame and the me. Why are you still so obsessed with me?¡± Chapter 46 Chapter 46 ¡°Obsessed, you say?¡± Yvan shot back at her with an incredulous look. ¡°Seems to me you¡¯re the one knocking on my door. How does that turn into me being obsessed? Matilda, you really shouldn¡¯t have barged into my life. But here you are, dragging our son into this mess, forcing me to question what you¡¯re really after¡­¡± ¡°Yvan, are you even human?¡± Matilda¡¯s voice broke through the air, raw with emotion. ¡°Logan is my son, your son too! Any decent person wouldn¡¯t doubt their own flesh and blood! How can you be so cruel? Don¡¯t you care if Logan gets hurt?¡± Yvan stiffened, his gaze drifting to the little boy in Matilda¡¯s arms. As Logan looked up, his eyes brimming with disappointment, he asked softly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, do you really think Mommy is using me to get your attention?¡± Speechless, Yvan could only stare at him with those deep, prating eyes. It took a moment before he could muster a reply. ¡°Logan, there are things between adults you just wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess I don¡¯t.¡± Logan, steadying his trembling mother, stepped forward to meet Yvan¡¯s gaze. ¡°What do you see my mom as, Mr. Boyd? If she wanted attention, she could¡¯ve used me as leverage against you five years ago when I was born. But instead, she hid me away from you. Can¡¯t you see what that means?¡± See what? That deep down Matilda loathed him so much she¡¯d rather be worlds apart? Yvan couldn¡¯t bear to face that truth, twisting her intentions to suit his narrative instead.. Matilda smoothed Logan¡¯s hair and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Logan. Mommy¡¯s fine.¡± Her voice was shaky, her eyes on the verge of tears, yet she insisted she was alright. The proud Matilda from five years ago would never show such despair. This was all thanks to Yvan! The man¡¯s pupils contracted imperceptibly, his mask of inscrutability barely faltering as he offered a cold, harshugh. Matilda should have realized long ago that this man was heartless. Had she understood sooner, she would never have fallen for such a cold¨Cblooded man, no matter how perfect he seemed. She wouldn¡¯t dare let herself be caught in his trap again. Some lessonse toote, the price paid far too dear. Once bitten, twice shy, and when it came to Yvan, Matilda treated him like the gue. With a calm, dismissive smile, she pushed Logan gently into Yvan¡¯s arms. Taken aback, Yvan looked up at her, only to find her eyes zing with a fury that seemed to peak; her tone, however, was nonchnt to the extreme. ¡°Fine, you win. I¡¯ll vanish from your life; how about that?¡± 1/2 Chapter 46 Yvan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, words failing him as Matilda turned and walked away. He had always given her his back, and now she repaid him in kind. As Logan watched Matilda leave, his eyes reddened, his lips quivering before he managed to whisper, ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Matilda flinched but did not turn back. Against the light, her resolute silhouette split Yvan¡¯s vision. At that moment, a sharp pain pierced his chest. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Wasn¡¯t this the oue he wanted? He got his son and shook off her chains. Shouldn¡¯t he be¡­ content? Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Matilda had vanished, just like Yvan had predicted. For a whole week, she didn¡¯t show up at his doorstep, and her studio remained silent and closed. Yvan had lingered outside the studio multiple times, only to be greeted by locked doors and unanswered calls when he tried reaching out to Matilda. It wasn¡¯t until a weekter, at Myst Lounge, that Yvan¡¯s blood boiled with rage. There was Matilda, laughing and perched flirtatiously on another man¡¯sp. Without a second thought. Yvan stormed over and yanked her out of the scene! Matilda, tipsy from the drinks, stumbled into Yvan¡¯s arms, her nose hitting his chest painfully, snapping her back to sobriety. She looked up at the man before her ¨C handsome and with an almost devilish charisma. Taking a closer look, she recognized him. ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t Yvan, the scumbag!¡± Her smile was seductive. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Yvan gritted his teeth. ¡°Where the hell have you been this past week?¡± Matilda shrugged nonchntly. ¡°You gave me five million, remember? Why bother with the studio when I can just enjoy life?¡± Seeing her draped over another man had set Yvan off. He spat out coldly. ¡°And who is this guy?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know him!¡± Matilda¡¯s words were light, her gaze still sharp. ¡°Why, Mr. Boyd, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re jealous now.¡± Yvan clenched his fists. ¡°Looks like you haven¡¯t learned your lesson.¡± With that, he grabbed her wrist, and Matilda, slightly sobered, cast a seductive nce at the handsome stranger she was flirting with just moments ago. ¡°Let me deal with a private matter first.¡± The man gracefully allowed her to leave. Yvan dragged Matilda through the crowd, past the deafening beats of the DJ¡¯s deck, into the lounge¡¯s service corridor, where he finally let go of her with a fierce shove. Matilda nearly lost her bnce, steadying herself against the wall. She raised her head, anger flickering in her eyes. Yvan sneered. ¡°Can¡¯t go a day without a man, can you?¡± th Matilda retorted calmly, ¡°Is that any of your business?¡± ¡°If your son knew how his mother was cavorting in bars, he¡¯d be thrilled to have such a wanton mother.¡± ¡°You!¡± Matilda¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare smear my name to Logan!¡± ¡°With the way you¡¯re acting, I hardly need to.¡± Yvan crossed his arms. ¡°Matilda, I 10:49 Chapter 47 underestimated your talent for seducing men.¡± Matilda, face ashen, remained silent. ¡°Yvan, why can¡¯t I escape from you even now? Why?¡± She yelled inside. Yvan took pleasure in seeing Matilda¡¯s pain, even allowing himself a chuckle. ¡°Matilda, you really are quite shameless.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m shameless.¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as she forced a smile. ¡°The most shameless thing I ever did was falling for you five years ago!¡± Yvan felt a pang in his chest but didn¡¯t show it, barely containing his anger. ¡°Regret it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Matilda¡¯s smile was bright, yet her eyes were red. ¡°My affairs are none of your concern, right? Or do you want to lower yourself for me too?¡± Yvanughed bitterly. ¡°As if you¡¯re worth my concern. I just came to remind you to be a decent mother in front of our child, so my son isn¡¯t ridiculed because of you.¡± Matilda¡¯s shoulders shook as she fought back the tears, repeatedly muttering ¡®fine¡®, then added shakily, ¡°Thank you for your advice, Mr. Boyd. Are we done here? If so, let me go.¡± Before Yvan could reply, she had already opened the service door. The muffled music from outside surged in, along with the colorful lights of the dance floor. Amid the shifting shadows, he thought he saw a tear slide down Matilda¡¯s cheek, but he restrained himself from following her. As he watched her disappear into the crowd, Yvan stood in the dark corridor, asionally lit by passing lights that revealed his chiseled features and icy gaze. Later, when he returned to his own lounge, a bold woman approached him. Yvan, surprisingly, didn¡¯t push her away but wrapped an arm around her waist, ready to head home. Chase watched him, shaking his head, ¡°Getting your appetite back, huh?¡± Yvan joked with a mask of indifference, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? Feeling lonely and need somefort from me?¡± Chase shuddered at the thought, downing a drink to quell the sensation. ¡°Yvan, don¡¯t tell me you swing that way!¡± Yvan¡¯s cold smile dismissed the insinuation as utterly foolish, prompting no reply. Chase turned to Mason, seeking sce. ¡°Mason, I think I¡¯d rather have youfort me. Mason, also taken aback by Chase¡¯s dramatics, retorted, ¡°With that act, I wouldn¡¯t want you even if I were gay.¡± Chase was furious, thinking, ¡°Excuse me? You think I¡¯d be interested in you even if I were gay?¡± The girls around them giggled at the banter. ¡°Mr. Farrell, Mr. Boyd, you guys are hrious.¡± Chapter 47 N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Come here, I¡¯ll take care of you!¡± Yvan stood, the woman still in his arm, and the men exchanged nces. It seemed Yvan was serious this time. Five years and Yvan had never brought a woman home. So, five minutes after Yvan left, Chase and Mason stealthily followed him in their car. Chase questioned their actions, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit wrong to tail him like this?¡± Mason replied, ¡°Yes, but you¡¯re driving, so it¡¯s on you, not me.¡± Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chase and Mason were cursing up a storm in their car when Yvan pulled up in front of the grand entrance to the Boyd Mansion. The woman beside him had never been whisked away by a man of Yvan¡¯s stature before. Her voice was trembling with excitement. ¡°Mr. Boyd¡­ you¡­ you really¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Yvan asked, furrowing his brow. ¡°I¡¯m Evie!¡± Evie eagerly introduced herself, ¡°I never imagined there would be a day you would need someone like me!¡± ¡°Evie, from now on, zip it. Whatever you see, keep it to yourself. If word ges out. I¡¯ll make sure you regret it.¡± Evie mmed up instantly, scared and stiff by Yvan¡¯s tone, but inside, she was buzzing with excitement. Oh God, the man in front of her was Yvan! The Yvan that every woman in Ashton City dreamed of getting into bed with! What stroke of luck had she hit to find herself here? Yvan ushered Evie inside, realizing there were no spare shoes to offer her except for a pair of men¡¯s slippers. Evie didn¡¯t mind and quietly thanked him. Yvan ignored her, his gaze sweeping over the shoe rack, but he couldn¡¯t help thinking back to five e years ago when Matilda was around. Back then, everything in the house was so well organized. After she was locked up, he¡¯d thrown out all her belongings, and yet, the absence. lingered to this very day. Shaking off the memories, Yvan instructed, ¡°Upstairs, take a shower.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Evie didn¡¯t dare to disobey. Just being brought home by Yvan was bragging rights for a lifetime! After Evie showered and stepped out, the lights in the room suddenly shut off. Someone pushed her onto the bed, entering her from behind without a trace of gentleness. But it seemed the man on top of her had no desire to see her face, offering not an ounce of pity. treating Evie like she was just an adult toy. She felt no pleasure, only pain. Evie even thought that if this man was Yvan, she wouldn¡¯t be able to tell in the pitch dark¡­ Why did he have to turn off the lights? Despite everything, Evie¡¯s heart was still filled with a sweet delusion. She lied to herself, saying it couldn¡¯t be true; she had been brought home, after all. This man was Yvan, the prince of Ashton City! Chapter 48 A forbidden thought began to bloom within her. Could she perhaps take Matilda¡¯s ce from five years ago? When it was all over, half an hourter, the lights came back on. Yvan walked in, impably dressed as if nothing had happened, his face cold and indifferent as if she were a stranger. She felt a pang of bitterness, quickly reced by a surge of happiness. No matter what, she had been with Yvan. Maybe this would mark a turning point in her life¡­¡± Bute the next morning, when Evie woke up, she found herself and Yvan under the same nket, yet worlds apart. He hadn¡¯t touched her since that night, as if any further interaction was superfluous. Upon waking. Yvan simply stared at her face and uttered one word, ¡°Leave.¡± Feeling wronged, Evie murmured, ¡°Mr. Boyd, did I displease you in some way?¡± Yvan let out a coldugh but said nothing. His smile sent shivers down Evie¡¯s spine. She quickly dressed and headed for the door, only to see a little boy standing there, looking up with features strikingly simr to Yvan¡¯s! Evie staggered back in shock. Yvan finally spoke, ¡°What are you gaping at? Didn¡¯t I tell you to leave?¡± Evie turned back, her voice quivering. ¡°Mr. Boyd, the child¡­¡± ¡°I believe I warned you about keeping your mouth shut.¡± Yvan¡¯s voice was icy, his expression fierce, ¡°Do I need to make you shut it myself?¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 ¡°No! Mr. Boyd, I understand!¡± Evie stumbled down the stairs, leaving Yvan¡¯s house with a wild thought racing through her mind. She needed to cool off. After Evie left, Logan nced at Yvan and asked casually, ¡°Is she the one you brought homest night?¡± Yvan remained silent. Logan chuckled, although hisughter seemed to sting. ¡°Well, Mr. Boyd, you have your freedoms. I won¡¯t pry. But she doesn¡¯t even hold a candle to thatdy who came knocking some time back.¡± ¡°Logan, do you think because you¡¯re my son, I won¡¯t do anything to you?¡± For the first time, Logan felt a shiver run through his small frame under Yvan¡¯s icy tone, and he stammered, ¡°I understand, Mr. Boyd.¡± Logan¡¯s voice was more distant than before. Yvan, frustrated, clicked his tongue. Logan took the cue and left the room without further bothering him. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. As soon as the boy was gone, Yvan¡¯s face fell, and he dialed a number, ¡°Carl? It¡¯s me. Check into what Matilda was up tost night.¡± Meanwhile, Matilda returned to her studio the next day, dusted off the sparseyers of neglect. and settled back in front of herputer. Even though Yvan had given her five million, she wasn¡¯t about to fall into decadence; she¡¯d just had a rough day and ended up at a bar, where a friend introduced her to a charming young man. Just as she booted up herputer, a woman appeared at the door. Matilda looked up to find Willow Simpson standing there. The name Willow wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to Matilda. Back when she was the Thompson family heiress, she had brushed shoulders with the equally prestigious Simpson family and had met the haughty and headstrong Willow. Spoiled by her family, the little princess hadn¡¯t changed much in five years, still exuding an air of arrogance. Willow nced at Matilda, who was lounging in her office chair, sizing her up. Matilda had slimmed down since theyst met. Willow remembered feeling secretly heartbroken when Matilda married Yvan, even toasting to them at their wedding. Now that the mes of love had turned to ash, Willow was ready to make her move¨Cas long as Matilda was no longer an obstacle. With that intent, Willow approached confidently, smiling. ¡°Do I need to introduce myself?¡± Chapter 49 Matilda returned the smile. ¡°No need, Miss Willow Simpson. I remember you quite well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure,¡± Willow said as she took a seat across Matilda, getting straight to the point, ¡°No beating around the bush¨CI¡¯m here to make a deal with you.¡± ¡°A deal?¡± Matilda raised a questioning eyebrow. Willow lifted her chin with her usual pride, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve been badgering Yvan since you got back, so I¡¯m here to propose a trade. Give up on him, and in return¡­¡± ¡°Me, badgering Yvan?¡± Matildaughed lightly, not bothering to correct her misconception but simply giving her a cool look, ¡°Go on.¡± Willow was briefly taken aback by Matilda¡¯s indifferent attitude but quickly recovered, clearing her throat. ¡°I¡¯ve learned that you¡¯ve angered Yvan, and you¡¯re practically cklisted. So, I offer the Simpson family¡¯s influence to get you out of this mess, and in exchange, you stay away from Yvan forever. How does that sound? If you bother him again, I¡¯ll make sure to cut off your ie stream.¡± It seemed Willow thought she could easily manipte Matilda, like a ything in the palm of her hand. Matilda chuckled. ¡°Where¡¯s your confidenceing from?¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Willow was taken aback by Matilda¡¯s retort and found herself momentarily speechless, scrambling for a comeback. It took her a while to collect her thoughts. ¡°You¡­ what¡¯s with that attitude? Without my family¡¯s help, you think you could slip through Yvan¡¯s fingers? Not a chance!¡± ¡°Oh, but I don¡¯t have to listen to you,¡± Matilda replied with a scoff, her arms crossed defiantly over her chest. ¡°I¡¯ve always been on my own, never leaning on anyone else!¡± Matilda¡¯s words struck a chord in Willow, and when she saw the cold smirk on Matilda¡¯s face, it shook her to the core. Even with that icy smile, Matilda was stunning¨Ca woman whose allure once set the hearts of Sea City¡¯s men aze. But after marrying Yvan, she had fallen from her pedestal like a shooting star, her radiance dimmed. ¡°I find you quite amusing,¡± Matilda said. ¡°If you¡¯re so set on chasing after Yvan, be my guest. What do I have to do with it? Or are you actually afraid of me deep down, feeling inferior, and that¡¯s why you concocted this scheme to manipte me?¡± Willow was at a loss for words, recoiling as if struck, muttering, ¡°Nonsense! What do Ick.pared to you? Just don¡¯te crying to me when your studio is cklisted by Yvan!¡± ¡°No matter who I cry to,¡± Matilda said with a narrowed smile, ¡°I won¡¯t shed a tear in front of your lot.¡± Fuming. Willow¡¯s pretty face turned a shade of angry red. ¡°Matilda, stop acting so high and mighty! When Yvan¡¯s done with you, you won¡¯t know how miserable you really are!¡± ¡°True,¡± Matilda conceded with a self¨Cdeprecatingugh. ¡°When he didn¡¯t want me, I was less than a dog. Willow, make sure you don¡¯t follow in my footsteps.¡± Once upon a time, Matilda had thrown caution to the wind in pursuit of Yvan, even offering her family¡¯s influence in exchange for marriage. In the end, it was all for naught¨Can empty dream. When she awoke, she was alone, with nothing but the prison walls to greet her: ¡°You¡­ cut the act!¡± Willow stammered, shaking with anger. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re so capable, I can¡¯t wait to see how long youst!¡± Matilda remained silent, her gaze lowered. Suddenly, Willow chuckled. ¡°Oh, right, I visited Yvan¡¯s house the other day and saw his son.¡± At the mention of the word ¡®son,¡® Matilda snapped her head up, her eyes shing dangerously, the pain in her voice unmistakable. ¡°You saw him?! Yvan, oh Yvan, you demand that I maintain the image of a good mother, yet you bring home every Tom, Dick, and Harry! How disappointed Logan must be if he saw that!¡± Willow seemed to relish seeing Matilda lose herposure, smirking triumphantly. ¡°Yeah, the Chapter 50 N?velDrama.Org owns this. boy looks to be about five or six. Poor you. After loving Yvan for so long, his kid is already that big. Hahaha, when you were in jail, for all you know, they were living it up as a happy family of three!¡± Willow was clearly unaware that Logan was Matilda¡¯s child, only knowing that Yvan had a son out of wedlock. But even as an illegitimate child, as Yvan¡¯s son, nobody dared to look down on him. Matilda clenched her fists tightly, struggling to keep herposure and her voice from sounding too frantic¨Cbut it was all in vain. Matilda could be tough as nails, impervious to physical pain, but when it came to matters involving Logan, she lost all control. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Logan was Matilda¡¯s only Achilles¡® heel. Her eyes pinned Willow with a ferocity that seemed to pierce through her smug grin. It was like looking directly at the sun¨Cblinding and unbearable. How was her son faring at the Boyd family? Swallowing her trembling voice, Matilda mustered a cold facade. ¡°Are you done? If so, please leave. The studio doesn¡¯t have the luxury of entertaining people who have nothing better to do.¡± People who have nothing better to do? Willow almost erupted again, but Matilda¡¯s defeated stance delighted her. With a smug curl of her lips, she strutted out of the studio like a victor leaving the battlefield while Matilda¡¯s gaze followed her, icy and lingering¨Cher eyes at that moment as fierce as Yvan¡¯s had ever been. ¡ª A day without progress, every coboration was sinking like a stone in the ocean, and not a single response to her invitations. Matilda slumped in her chair, curling in on herself in silence. Gideon was away on business, and their project likely wouldn¡¯t secure the deal they needed. Was this the end? No¡­ She looked down at her right hand, the crisscrossed scars and the stub of her little finger a constant pain. Even though the wounds had healed and stopped bleeding, the scars were a perpetual ache. The darkness of her past haunted her, a reminder of the madness she once embraced. The brighter the love had shone, the more intense the hatred that now burned. Matilda¡¯s right hand could no longer bear weight; even making a fist was a struggle. Nevertheless, she clenched her fist tightly, her arm shaking, but her grip fierce. She couldn¡¯t be defeated, not again. With her other hand, she fished out a pill and swallowed it with water, sitting in front of theputer, taking deep breaths, clutching at her chest as if trying to force more air into her lungs. But it was futile. Her chest felt tight, suffocating, gasping for breath. Tears mixed with pain surged from within, and Matilda let out a sound like a trapped animal in distress. Chapter 51 ¡°Logan, what do I do? How do I save you, and how do I save myself?¡± She yelled. She once read, ¡°The greatest regret of my life is that the one who pushed me into hell also once led me to heaven.¡± But Matilda thought, Yvan never took her to heaven, only cast her straight into hell. All her suffering, he was the root. Not once was there tenderness. She had been naive, unwilling to face the truth until now, still gasping for breath in Yvan¡¯s shadow. Willow had left with a swish, not bothering to shut the door behind her. Such ady was likely unused to such things, always having attendants to close doors for her. So, when she left, the studio door remained ajar, letting the cold pre¨Cwinter wind howl in. Papers on the desk fluttered wildly in the breeze. Matilda sunk into the couch, her face sickly pale, and slowly turned her gaze toward the door as the night grew darker. She realized shecked the strength to close it, just as shecked the courage to face Yvan. The night wind was cold, carrying sighs that might belong to anyone, swirling through every corner of this glittering metropolis. It witnessed the warmth and coldness of human rtionships but remained as elusive as ever, carrying away nothing but time and temperature. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Back at her family¡¯s sprawling estate, Willow¡¯s mind kept reying her standoff with Matilda. The way Matilda had brushed her off with such nonchnce lit a fire in Willow. In a huff, she texted a group of her friends, rallying them for a night of drowning sorrows and mischief at the local pub, never expecting that she¡¯d run smack into Evie. Evie, the queen of the night scene, was cozied up in Yvan¡¯s arms¨Ca sight to behold since Yvan typically had the emotional range of a stone. His icy exterior was legendary, and the fact that he allowed ady¡¯s touch was nothing short of a miracle. Willow stormed over, yanked Evie to her feet, and without so much as a by¨Cyour¨Cleave, delivered a stinging p across her cheek. Evie might have been the talk of the town, with whispers of a less¨Cthan¨Cster reputation trailing her like a shadow, but a public face¨Cpping was a first. She trembled with rage, her scream piercing the boozy hum of the pub, ¡°What the hell! Have you lost your mind?¡± Yvan looked upzily at themotion, his gazending on Willow. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Evie, tears welling in her eyes, ran to him, a perfect picture of wounded innocence. But Yvan just watched, his eyelids barely lifting, the epitome of disinterest. Willow, face aze with anger, turned to Yvan, ¡°Yvan, how could you let this¡­ this tramp touch you? Yvan shot a derisiveugh back at her. ¡°And who should it be? You?¡± Willow stumbled back, her pride as a society darling bruised, eyes rimmed red with the sting of humiliation. ¡°You once married Matilda! The Matilda! The unrivaled gem of Ashton City, Sea City, River City, and Sapphire Citybined! And now you stoop to nightcrawlers like her?¡± Evie, clutching her reddened cheek, felt her tears flow freely. Matilda? Matilda! She wouldn¡¯t let this night¡¯s disgrace go unchecked. How pristine could Matilda be? No matter, she vowed to drag her through the mud, to see her name in tatters. As luck would have it, Matilda emerged from the restroom right as Bet Fuller spotted her. ¡°Matilda!¡± he cried out. The room froze for a fraction of a second, all eyes drawn to the woman at the restroom door. Under the kaleidoscope of club lights, Matilda stood in a tailored cocktail dress, a delicate chain gracing her vicle, her hair swept to one side, revealing the elegant line of her jaw and neck. Her lips parted slightly, makeup impable, her gaze cool and distant as she moved through the crowd, brushing past admirers. Yvan felt his throat tighten while Bet whistled appreciatively, calling out to the bartender, ¡°Hey! Did you see that dame? Bring her over to our booth!¡± That night, a hazy legend took root in Sea City. The scion of the Boyd family and Bet turned the pub inside out, searching for one woman. Her identity was shrouded in mystery; she seemed both a ghost from the past and a sudden apparition. No one remembered the Matilda of old, nor could they recognize the Matilda of now. She had an enigmatic allure, like a fine wine maturing into a pure, heady fragrance. At that moment, even Yvan, who usually regarded women as mere diversions, felt a primal urge to im her. His devilishly handsome features sharpened, his aura chilling, his eyes glinting with a predatory sharpness. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Matilda was blissfully unaware of the many eyes that had followed her as she made her way back to Chloe¡¯s private booth. No sooner had she taken her seat than a waiter approached with a deference that bordered on reverence. ¡°Miss, our young master would like to invite you over for a drink at his table,¡± the waiter said with a polite bow. Where in the world did this ¡®young master¡® spring from? Chloe leaned in close and whispered, ¡°Did you piss someone off?¡± Matilda shook her head, bemused. ¡°Ever heard of bad luck in love following a woman fresh out of jail?¡± Chloe¡¯sughter wasden with a sultry charm. ¡°Sure have. Yvan¡¯s a ssic case, isn¡¯t he?¡± Matilda couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, even as she feigned annoyance. ¡°Mention him one more time, and you¡¯re dead meat!¡± ¡°Whoa, easy there!¡± Chloe raised her hands in mock surrender. ¡°Look, just go check it out. If anything feels off, text me, and I¡¯ll swoop in to the rescue. For all you know, this ¡®young master¡® might be your Prince Charming. Give him a chance to impress you.¡± Matilda gazed at Chloe¡¯s stunning visage, clicking her tongue in mock disapproval. ¡°You¡¯re always ying the game, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s stating the obvious,¡± Chloe retorted with a smirk, nudging Matilda gently. ¡°Off you go, don¡¯t keep the man waiting. I¡¯m rooting for you!¡± Led by the waiter to the reserved area, Matilda¡¯s face fell the instant sheid eyes on the two men seated there. She turned to leave, only to find herself caught by Bet, who had risen to his feet and grasped her wrist. So delicate¡­ that was Bet¡¯s first thought. It had only been a few days, but Matilda seemed¡­ even more beautiful. With a forced smile, Matilda allowed Bet to pull her into the booth, only to be greeted by Yvan¡¯s simrly strained grin. She greeted him coolly, ¡°Good evening, Mr. Boyd.¡± ¡°Good evening,¡± he replied, his eyes scrutinizing her with an unfathomable depth. Without hesitation, Matilda grabbed a shot ss, clinked it against Bet and Yvan¡¯s drinks, and said with a smile that was a touch too perfect, ¡°Since you¡¯ve invited me for a drink, I¡¯ll have this one and be on my way. Enjoy your evening.¡± With that, she downed the shot in one fluid motion, her lips glistening in the bar¡¯s colorful lights. Bet swallowed hard, the sight unexpectedly stirring him. ¡°Won¡¯t you stay and hang out with Chapter 53 us for a bit?¡± ¡°Mr. Fuller¡­¡± Matilda turned, her eyes catching the kaleidoscope of club lights, giving them an almost ethereal glow. ¡°We¡¯re divorced, after all. Sitting here together is¡­ awkward.¡± Awkward? She thought this was awkward? Yvan¡¯sugh held a trace of anger. ¡°Matilda, since when did you start caring about propriety?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. His words implied she hadcked it before? Matilda brushed back her hair with a nonchnce that belied her inner turmoil. ¡°Exactly. I¡¯ve foolishly clung to you without shame in the past. Isn¡¯t it better to cut my losses now?¡± Despite her cool facade, a sharp pain throbbed in her heart, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly. She was clearly pushing through the hurt. ¡°Yvan, why does it still hurt so much to see you? I keep telling myself to remain calm, so why¡­. do I always lose?¡± She thought. A self¨Cdeprecating smile flickered across Matilda¡¯s face, her previous defiance fading, only to be interrupted by another voice. This time, it was Willow. Approaching with a deep, prating gaze, Willow looked at Matilda, then let out a soft chuckle before ncing at Evie, who was standing next to Yvan. The tension between the two women peaked at that moment. Without a word, Willow¡¯s gaze lingered on Matilda before she turned to leave, her exit suggesting she was done with the bar scene for the night. Matilda remained silent, watching Willow¡¯s departure. Yvan made no move to stop her but instead turned to Matilda. ¡°Sit down.¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Matilda locked eyes with Yvan for a long moment before he let out a knowing, cold chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, scared I¡¯ll gobble you up?¡± Matilda¡¯s fist clenched suddenly, but she sat down all the same. She couldn¡¯t escape this, so why not face it head¨Con? The bar lights cast a soft glow just then, and in the dimness, she saw in Yvan¡¯s face those eyes that had haunted countless memories¨Ccold, dismissive, carrying a chill that set her heart on edge. Taking her seat, Matilda shed a wry smile at Yvan and Bet. ¡°I can¡¯t stay long, though. There are people waiting for me at another booth.¡± Bet, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, probed, ¡°Oh? Guys or girls?¡± Matilda didn¡¯t specify, simply settling down to y games with Bet while Yvan¡¯s gaze lingered on her, probing. Probing for whatever thoughts she was hiding. Matildaughed derisively to herself, thinking, ¡°Yvan, back when I used to hover around you, you wouldn¡¯t spare me a nce. And now, you¡¯re suddenly all interested? What is this, ying games?¡± Herugh wasced with sarcasm, but Bet seemed entranced by the beauty before his eyes. Unconsciously, he reached out and caressed Matilda¡¯s cheek. Taken aback by the forward gesture, Matilda looked up at Bet, then chuckled lightly. ¡°Mr. Fuller, interested in your buddy¡¯s ex¨Cwife?¡± Bet¡¯s gaze darkened, his voice husky as he said, ¡°You should be d you¡¯re Yvan¡¯s ex¡­ Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be sitting so safely beside me right now.¡± Matilda¡¯s heart skipped a beat; then sheughed it off. ¡°I¡¯m ttered by your attention, Mr. Fuller, but I¡¯m just a humble woman now, hardly worthy of your notice¡­¡± Bet was taken aback, murmuring softly, ¡°But back then¡­¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Matilda seemed lost in memory, her eyes glistening, ¡°I used to be someone quite special¡­¡± Her voice trailed off, stirring up a storm of recollection as she winked at Bet. ¡°All the glitz and mour of the world¨Cthey¡¯re just passing clouds. I once had so much, and yet, in the end, what do I have left? They say time proves everything, but time also spares no one.¡± Bet was staring intently at Matilda, his look one of deep longing that even Yvan found irritating. Didn¡¯t Bet know that Matilda was his ex¨Cwife? Why was he looking at her with such heated interest? Chapter 54 N?velDrama.Org owns this. Yvan scoffed to himself, underestimating Matilda¡¯s talent for drawing men in. He signaled the waiter to fill Matilda¡¯s ss to the brim, and with a casual lift of his hand, he toasted her. That simple gesture plunged Matilda into the depths of her past. It was in a bar just as wild and chaotic as she was in right now. She sat there, uninterested in the revelry, exuding an aloof elegance that kept men at bay. All except for Yvan, who, from across the room, had raised his eyebrows and toasted her with a smile, Like a line from a song, at that moment, under the flickering bar lights, their nces collided, and Matilda knew that she was not like the others there¨Conly he stood out as extraordinary. Snapping back to the present, a tide of emotion caught her off guard, her eyes welling up as if the past was reying itself. Yvan, across the booth and past the others, toasted her with that same smile, and at that moment, her heart skipped a beat. She held back a tremble and raised her ss in return, then took a sip. The bite of the alcohol steadied her, and she regained a measure of control. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Bet¡¯s gazended on Matilda, her disheveled appearance giving him pause. ¡°You and Yvan are¡­ ¡°We are done,¡± she cut him off briskly, attempting to rise from her seat only to feel the room. spin from the alcohol. As she wobbled, Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed, anticipating her fall. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, she was caught in a steadying grip. Chloe¡¯s voice was in her ear. ¡°Knew you¡¯d get yourself into a pickle!¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Looking up in confusion, Matilda noticed another man standing beside Chloe, who gave Yvan a nod. ¡°Mr. Boyd, fancy seeing you here.¡± ¡°Mr. Yeager¡­¡± Yvan quickly regained hisposure. The man was Chloe¡¯s high¨Cranking boss, and he returned the greeting with a knowing smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to bump into you tonight.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just here to pick up a friend for Chloe,¡± Den Yeager exined, ncing at Matilda. ¡°Are you done catching up?¡± Both Yvan and Bet were taken aback by the connection between Den and Chloe. It seemed Matilda had some influential friends¡­ As the others mulled over their thoughts, Matilda had no time for introspection. She steadied herself and, looking down, thought about how Chloe had managed to bring such a heavy hitter to escort her home, almost giving her a heart attack. Den¡¯s arrival was indeed timely, and Matilda quickly mustered a smile. Addressing Yvan and Bet, she said, ¡°Guess I¡¯ll head back to my booth. Mr. Fuller, if you want to hang out, let¡¯s n for another time.¡± With that, she sidestepped Den and made her way back, thinking to herself that even Chloe was wary of this big shot¨Cbest keep her distance. Den sauntered back, and Chloe whispered conspiratorially, ¡°I was afraid I wouldn¡¯t be intimidating enough, so I sent Mr. Yeager. How did I do?¡± Matilda clutched her chest. ¡°He¡¯s too high¨Cprofile; don¡¯t do that again!¡°. Chloe chuckled, guiding her to sit and handing her a ss of orange juice. ¡°Calm your nerves. honey.¡± Den settled across from them with a sardonic smile. ¡°What, nothing for me?¡± Chloe scurried over with a ttering smile and poured Den a drink. ¡°Boss, have some bourbon.¡± Then she lit a cigarette for him. ¡°Boss, have a cigarette.¡± Den grinned at Matilda. ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Thompson.¡± ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all mine, Mr. Yeager,¡± Matilda murmured awkwardly. ¡°Your reputation precedes you Chapter 55 in Sea City¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± Denughed, pulling Chloe closer. ¡°Let me introduce you then; this is my ¡®dog.¡± Chloe.¡± Chloe managed a tight smile. ¡°I thought I was your exclusive assistant?¡± ¡°Calling you that seems a bit too intimate.¡± Den winked without a trace of real mirth and leaned in to whisper menacingly, ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, making mee out here for you, Chloe. You¡¯re getting too bold.¡± Matilda exchanged a concerned look with her friend, what said, ¡°Are you okay? When did you get mixed up with Den?¡± Chloe mouthed back silently, ¡°Long story: he¡¯s the boss from way up the chain! Matilda let out a lightugh. ¡°And here I was wondering why Chloe woulde to a bar alone. Turns out it was to meet Mr. Yeager.¡± Den twisted Chloe¡¯s arm yfully. ¡°So you¡¯ve been unting my name to show off?¡± Chloe maintained herposure, tantly lying. ¡°Not at all. I would never indulge withpany funds.¡± Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Matilda quietly nibbled on a fruit tter, trying her best to appear invisible as Chloe and Den engaged in flirtatious banter beside her. Across the room, Yvan¡¯s gaze lingered on their booth, sharp and piercing like the de of a freshly unsheathed knife. Matilda felt the intensity of his stare prickling her skin, and her fingers tightened instinctively around the fork. Yvan exchanged a loaded nce with Bet, then let out a cold chuckle. ¡°Bet, some games you just shouldn¡¯t y with fire.¡± Annoyed, Bet locked eyes with Yvan and retorted, ¡°Didn¡¯t you two get a divorce?¡± ¡°You can have your eyes on anyone for all I care, but she¡¯s my ex¨Cwife,¡± Yvan replied icily. ¡°Bet, there are lines you can¡¯t cross.¡± ¡°Oh, what? Still hung up on old mes?¡± Betughed mockingly. ¡°You¡¯re the one who pushed her my way, and now you¡¯re having second thoughts? No chance, buddy. I¡¯m going after her, and you can eitherpete fairly or back off. But if you try to stop me¡­ we¡¯re done as friends.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t mind that she¡¯s been with me?¡± Yvan raised his tone incredulously. Bet shrugged. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t mind my long list of exes, why should I care?¡± Yvan¡¯s anger simmered even more. Bet was serious! Meanwhile, Evie seemed momentarily forgotten, herplexion pale. She bit her lip and leaned closer, ¡°Mr. Boyd¡­¡± ¡°Shut it.¡± With a sharp gesture, Yvan pulled away from her. ¡°Enough. I¡¯ll have Carl write you a check tomorrow. After that, we¡¯re strangers.¡± He was done with her. Evie¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°Please, Mr. Boyd¡­ Did I do something wrong?¡± Bet watched Evie¡¯s panic with scorn in his eyes. How boring such a woman was, utterly lost without a man. But Matilda? She carried her pride as if it would never fade, and that was truly appealing. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re not even in Matilda¡¯s league, so you might as well go home and practice,¡± Bet mocked. ¡°Yvan, did you lose your mind? Even Willow was right; you¡¯re not picky at all if you¡¯d go for All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Chapter 56 someone like her.¡± And again, Matilda¡­ always Matilda! Evie¡¯s fingers clenched as Bet¡¯s mockery brought tears to her eyes. Her resentment towards Matilda peaked. Matilda! Why did all men see her as untouchable? What was so great about being aloof? A woman who had been to jail dared to act holier¨Cthan¨Cthou! As Evie plotted Matilda¡¯s downfall, Bet remained indifferent to her expressions. Provoked by Bet, Yvan let out a bitterugh. ¡°Aren¡¯t you after a woman who¡¯s divorced and been to jail?¡± ¡°You son of a¡­¡± Bet, tipsy and agitated, confronted Yvan. ¡°Are you itching for a fight because I fancy your ex¨Cwife?¡± Yvan remained silent. ¡°Ha! Just wait till I win Matilda over. Then you¡¯ll be filled with regret, left with irreparable damage!¡± Bet taunted. Yvan justughed. ¡°Give it a try!¡± His cold tone put pressure on Bet, who, undeterred, rolled his eyes and snorted dismissively. ¡°Pfft! Tough talk!¡± Matilda and Chloe moved to another booth to enjoy themselves. When Chloe got tipsy, her inhibitions vanished, and she became daring, almost seductive. In a bold move that left Matilda in shock, Chloe summoned over a couple of charming male escorts, boldly taking one under each arm. Theirughter and carefree demeanor filled the night with a wild and reckless energy. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 ¡°You sure can pack it away,¡± Matilda remarked with a brief nod. Chloe rolled her eyes. ¡°Hmph, one¡¯s for you. Hey, handsome, go on, take a seat next to thedy here!¡± The escort settled down beside Matilda with an enthusiastic grin, taking her by surprise. She blurted out without thinking. ¡°Easy there, big guy!¡± At another booth, Bet craned his neck, spotting two men appearing out of nowhere at Matilda and Chloe¡¯s table. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, teasing Yvan, ¡°Hey Yvan, your ex is something else, hired a couple of escorts.¡± Yvan¡¯s handsome face turned pale with irritation, but he managed to stay seated, just like Bet, craning his neck to see. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. He gritted his teeth and asked, ¡°Which two? What do they look like?¡± Betughed even more. ¡°Ah, they¡¯re pretty dashing, though not quite on my level¡­¡± Meanwhile, Matilda was cornered by the overly friendly escort. Seriously, when did these people get so hands¨Con? The escortplimented her, ¡°You¡¯re really beautiful, miss. Are you some kind of heiress or something?¡± The question hit a nerve. Heiress? She was far from it. Chloe quickly changed the subject. ¡°Hey now, don¡¯t go falling for someone else. Who¡¯s prettier, me or her?¡± The other escort smoothly intervened, ¡°You¡¯re dazzling, and thisdy here is elegant.¡± ¡°Aw, what a sweet¨Ctalker!¡± Chloe¡¯s tone and expression were all but that of a ruffian flirting with an innocentdy. Matilda covered her face while Den coughed twice, ¡°Chloe, maybe dial it back a bit?¡± Chloe, slightly drunk, turned to Den with a flirtatious glint in her eyes. ¡°Mr. Yeager, are your saying you want me to find you a male escort?¡± Den¡¯s handsome face fell instantly! Chloe shuddered, then turned to Matilda with a mournful expression, ¡°Mat, you go ahead. Mr. Yeager and I¡­ have some private matters to discuss.¡± Matilda couldn¡¯t wait to leave, so she quickly got up, said her goodbyes, and headed out. Just as she reached the entrance, she bumped into someone. He had sandy blonde hair and pale skin, with striking blue¨Cgreen eyes, giving him a half¨Cblood look. Wearing a mischievous grin, he wrapped an arm around her as they collided, his yful demeanor carrying a hint of roguish charm. ¡°Well, what do we have here? A delivery?¡± Matilda nced at him coldly and kept silent. He continued, ¡°Too bad, I¡¯m here on business today, so I can¡¯t y around. Let¡¯s grab a drink next time. Without a word, Matilda walked away. Behind her, someone whispered, ¡°Bro, that chick is gorgeous.¡± ¡°Right?¡± The blond man touched his chin, dressed in designer streetwear, his legs encased in skinny jeans, and his feet in a pair of Yeezys. His attitude was carefree yet devilishly charming. ¡°Man¡­ should¡¯ve asked for her number.¡± But halfway through the thought, he suddenly remembered his actual business and cursed, ¡°Damn, what are you waiting for? Get that no¨Cgood sister of mine out of there!¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Matilda slipped through the night, her steps light as the moonlight draped over her shoulders like a ghostly shawl. She pushed open the door to find the quiet of the house unsettling. No little figure, her son Logan, rubbing his sleepy eyes to greet her. The loneliness pricked at her heart just a little sharper tonight. Her brother Gideon, always on the road for business, often bunked down in his studio rather than coming home. So, for the most part, it was just her and Logan. Now, with him away at camp, the silence in the house was enough to drive anyone crazy. Head bowed, Matilda felt the alcohol magnifying all her emotions, her heart pounding so fiercely that each beat seemed to echo with a sting. A shower washed away the panic that had started to set in. Toozy to dry her hair, she flopped onto the bed, curling into a ball. She stared out the window at the heavy night, and when the lights went out, the darkness swallowed everything. Her own breathing sounded to her like distant whispers from far¨Coff horizons. Being alone¡­ was enough to drive a person mad. Matilda was seized by a despair so deep, it felt like she was thest person left on earth. Eventually, sleep took her, a grueling surrender to exhaustion and pain, as she clutched the nkets tight. Dawn was reluctant, and once again, she was left to battle her fate alone. But drama has its consequences, and Matilda caught a cold. She woke up dizzy, and by the afternoon, she was running a fever with a stuffed nose. At the studio, two loud sneezes echoed off the walls, and she nced at her empty inbox. Standing up, she decided it was time to see a doctor. She wasn¡¯t about to y the martyr; sick was sick, and she wasn¡¯t waiting for some knight in shining armor toe to her rescue. That kind of thinking was asking for it. Sick meant doctor and medicine. If you don¡¯t love yourself, who will? By the time she reached the hospital, her fever was quite high. The dashingly handsome doctor, holding the thermometer, whistled, ¡°103.6, holy smokes! Anyter, and you might have been a goner.¡± Matilda was about toment on his familiar face when she passed out. When she came to, Yvan was sitting beside her. She jerked in surprise, trying to speak but wincing at the pain in her inmed throat. Still, she managed to say through the pain, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± 1/2 10-55 §³§á§Ñ§â§ä§Ö§â 38 Yvan, eyes on his phone¡¯s stock app, replied nonchntly, ¡°Your doctor called me.¡± Ah, now she remembered. No wonder the doctor looked familiar; he was Chase Johnson¡¯s younger brother. Back when she was Miss Thompson of the Thompson family, they had met at a g. How ironic to meet again under such circumstances. The notable always seemed to mingle in the same circles. Back then, Matilda was no exception. Now, they probably all had forgotten her. Yvan added, ¡°He recognized you, so he gave me a call.¡± Chase¡¯s brother was surprisingly considerate in reaching out to her ex¨Chusband for help. But Matilda wasn¡¯t one to not know right from wrong. She simply said thanks, cutting off whatever else Yvan had to say. She gave him a weary smile, eyes bright with defiance. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Yvan¡¯s gaze drifted to Matilda¡¯s fists, clenched unconsciously, her knuckles white with tension. Yvan smirked, still as disarmingly charming as ever, and taunted, ¡°Matilda, I¡¯ve realized you really have failed in this society. Burning up like this and not a single soul to keep yourpany at the hospital.¡± Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Matilda felt a sharp pang in her chest and mustered a pale smile at him. ¡°I appreciate your concern, Mr. Boyd, but I can handle my own matters. If you¡¯re not busy, please feel free to go about your day.¡± Her words were a clear dismissal. Yvan¡¯s smile twisted with anger. ¡°Don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you, Matilda.¡± He, Yvan, a man of importance, had never concerned himself with a sick woman before. This was a first, and she had the nerve to send him away? Matilda returned his gaze with a sarcastic smirk. ¡°I¡¯m hardly on my deathbed with a cold, Mr. Busybody. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. If you¡¯re here to have augh at my expense, then by all means, have yourugh and be on your way.¡± Seething with nowhere to channel his fury, Yvan retorted, ¡°I just came to see how pitiful you are on your own. There¡¯s nothing here worth my time.¡± With that, he stormed toward the door. Matilda, sitting on the hospital bed, clenched the sheets tight and let out a self¨Cmockingugh, thinking. ¡°Yvan, don¡¯t pretend to care now. You never considered my feelings when you hurt me before. Now you¡¯re all concern and care? What a joke!¡± After Yvan left, Matilda sent a text to Chloe, who didn¡¯t reply. Considering Den¡¯s menacing demeanor the night before, Matilda decided not to press her friend to keep herpany. After two hours of IV treatment, she got up, went through the discharge process, and bumped into the same doctor on her way out. The doctor was apanied by the man she¡¯d bumped into outside the barst night. The man with sandy blond hair turned to look at her, gave a whistle, and dressed to the nines; he winked at her with a mischievous tone. ¡°Hey, Miss¡­ wait a minute, I don¡¯t even know your name.¡± Chase¡¯s brother rolled his eyes in disdain. ¡°She was my patient this afternoon. Came in with a fever nearly hitting a hundred and four.¡± The blond man¡¯s response was identical to his initial reaction, ¡°Damn!¡± Noticing the band¨Caid on Matilda¡¯s hand, he approached her and said, ¡°You¡¯ll need toe back for a couple more days. Remember to take your medication tonight.¡± Matilda simply thanked him. He added, ¡°No need for thanks. But hey, five years, and you¡¯re all by yourself?¡± For some reason, Matilda felt a sudden sting at her nose. ¡°Who else would be with me?¡± The conversation fell silent, and with pursed lips, it was the blond man who stepped forward, 1/2 10.55 Chapter patting Matilda¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So, you and Dr. Keaton go way back?¡± Matilda nodded, ready to leave. But he called after her, ¡°Hey¡­ you still haven¡¯t told me your name.¡± Matilda hade to feel that even mentioning her own name was a disgrace. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. The Matilda of five years ago was not the same person she was now. The name that once carried nobility was now steeped in shame. But as she stepped outside, she froze. Greeted by the cool evening breeze, a servant of the Boyd family approached her with a respectful bow. ¡°Ms. Thompson, Mr. Boyd would like to see you.¡± How long had it been? Was Yvan waiting for her? Matilda¡¯s hands clenched, the needle marks beginning to bleed again. She struggled to maintain her composure. ¡°No need. I¡¯m not familiar with Mr. Boyd.¡± ¡°Mr. Boyd mentioned your illness to the young master. He¡¯s in the car right now and would like to see you.¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 As soon as Matilda heard it was about Logan, she swallowed the bile of hatred that rose in her throat, striving to maintain a tranquil tone as she addressed the servant, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll stay right here. Just tell Logan to hop out ande see me. I won¡¯t step foot in that car. Her vignce was palpable; she was determined not to let herself be tainted by anything rted to Yvan. With no choice but to ry her message, the butler did just that. Yvan, upon hearing her words. couldn¡¯t help but let out augh that was more of a scoff and then barked at Logan, Your mom¡¯s calling you to get out of the car.¡± Logan sprang out as if granted a reprieve, stumbling towards Matilda¡¯s open arms. ¡°Mommy!¡± His quivering voice reached her ears as she fought back tears. ¡°Did you miss me these past few days?¡± ¡°So, so much!¡± Tofort Logan, Matilda crouched down and ruffled his soft hair, her voice thick with emotion. ¡°Mommy¡¯s caught a bit of a cold, but don¡¯t you worry about me.¡± ¡°Seriously!¡± Logan, sounding like a little adult, shook his head. ¡°Without me around, you just don¡¯t take care of yourself!¡± Matildaughed at his tone, but then she felt a lump in her throat and murmured, ¡°Yeah¡­ without you, I can¡¯t even sleep well.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try toe back.¡± Logan¡¯s clear eyes locked with Matilda¡¯s, his gaze trembling her heart. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t give up hope. I always think about you, and you¡¯ve got to keep trying, too, to bring me back home Someday!¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes welled up once more. ¡°Okay, I promise you. Is Yvan treating you well?¡± Logan pretended to boast, ¡°Super well, gourmet meals three times a day!¡± Matilda¡¯s expression darkened as the boy continued, ¡°But I still want toe back to you, even if every meal you cook ends up burnt.¡± This time, Matilda couldn¡¯t hold back her tears, and they rolled down her cheeks as she hugged Logan, crying, ¡°Logan¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I¡¯m so sorry I can¡¯t protect you¡­¡± Why, why did he have to be Yvan¡¯s child? Why couldn¡¯t he be just hers so their little world would never again be disturbed by anyone else? The harsh reality was inescapable; no matter how far she fled, she was always dragged back. Yvan was fighting to take her child, and she felt powerless to stop him. Logan, seeing his mother cry, felt a twinge of sorrow himself, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t cry. At least Mr. Boyd doesn¡¯t mistreat me. Maybe when I¡¯m a bit older, I can negotiate with him. We¡¯re not Chapter 60 without options.¡± Look at her five¨Cyear¨Cold son, fighting with every fiber of his being to return to her side from Yvan¡¯s. Matilda felt fortunate beyond words to have such a son. She smiled, stroking Logan¡¯s face. ¡°Always the sweet talker. Make a pinky promise with Mommy, and when I get through this tough time, I¡¯ll bring you back to our own home.¡± Logan extended his finger with a grin, ¡°Pinky promise!¡± Matilda stood up, patting Logan on the shoulder. ¡°Alright, go back now.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°I wanted to stay with you a bit longer¡­¡± Logan pouted, ¡°You seem so eager to send me away, hmph. You must think I¡¯m a burden!¡± ¡°Who taught you that?¡± Matilda was moved to tears andughter in turn, ¡°Mommy¡¯s just worried you¡¯ll catch a cold standing out here in the chill.¡± Logan pointed over Matilda¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I thought maybe you were trying to push me away because you wanted to start something new with that man over there!¡± Matilda stiffened, turning to see the blond man standing in the breeze. The evening sun cast a shattered orange glow in his eyes, making them shimmer and appear misty. His towering frame stood with hands in pockets, an almost¨Csmiling, roguish charm on his face, exuding the formidable presence of a fashion model. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 He strode forward, eyes lighting up as if he¡¯d stumbled upon some rare treasure, and squatted down without so much as a greeting. ¡°Wow, is this your kid?¡± Logan¡¯s face was all suspicion. ¡°What do you want? You¡¯ve been eyeing my mom from behind for a while now¡­¡± ¡°Cheeky brat!¡± The blond man reached out and pinched Logan¡¯s cheek without warning, ¡°I was admiring your mom¡¯s silhouette. Aren¡¯t you worried your daddy might get jealous seeing you so protective of your mommy?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a daddy!¡± At the mention of this, Logan grew even more agitated, inching forward to shield Matilda, fearing this flippant man might take liberties with her as he had earlier. ¡°You better not do anything to my mommy!¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°No daddy?¡± The half¨Cblooded Adonis chuckled, ¡°Little rascal, how about I y the role of your daddy?¡± Logan shuddered all over, gripping Matilda¡¯s hand, ¡°Mom¡­ Mommy, this guy¡¯s a creep!¡± Matilda, too, took a few steps back with Logan, wary of this man who they kept running into yet was so strangely unfamiliar. His attire suggested he was a part of the trust¨Cfund elite, but she couldn¡¯t recall ever seeing him before. Then again, she mused with a self¨Cdeprecating smile. It had been ages since she¡¯d left those circles; it would be no wonder she hadn¡¯t seen him. Just then, a dashing doctor emerged, pausing as he saw the man and Matilda together. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± he asked, then turning to Logan, he clicked his tongue. ¡°You must be Yvan¡¯s son, right? The spitting image of him.¡± The blond man at Matilda¡¯s side heard the name Yvan and smirked, turning to face her, ¡°You¡¯re Yvan¡¯s wife?¡± Before Matilda could answer, he continued, ¡°No, that can¡¯t be right; Yvan¡¯s currently single¡­¡± ¡°I am Yvan¡¯s ex¨Cwife,¡± Matilda spoke coolly, no longer willing to hold back, then turned to leave, only to come face to face with Yvan stepping out of his car. 12:38 Chapter 61 Yvan sneered at the sight of the enigmatic man by Matilda¡¯s side, ¡°Matilda, can¡¯t you live without a man?¡± ¡°How interestingly you phrase that.¡± Matilda¡¯sugh tinted her eyes red, ¡°Haven¡¯t I already ¡®died¡® once, pushed into prison by your very hands?¡± A sting in Yvan¡¯s heart, he quickly retorted with scorn, ¡°What, after all this time, you still want to prove your innocence? Flirting with another man in front of your son, is that seemly?¡± Matilda clenched her fists. ¡°Yvan, I find you pitiful, desperately trying to hurt me. What are you really after?¡± His face darkened at her words, but she continued, ¡°It¡¯s alright, keep it up. I can still feel pain, and you should be d for that. The day I can face your mockery without fear, no one will y this heartless game with you!¡± Matilda, leading Logan by the hand, walked past Yvan and instinctively let go. She smiled at Yvan, her eyes reddening in the wind, her beauty heartbreakingly vivid. ¡°Yvan, remember this. If one day you realize how wrong you¡¯ve been to me, time will not turn back for you!¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 62 She finished speaking and just walked away, a brisk breeze following her departure. Her slender figure swayed in the cool air, her back resolute and unbending. It was the second time Yvan had watched Matilda leave, and with each turn, he felt she was drifting further away from him¡­ The blond man remained, chuckling to himself before asking Keaton, ¡°Did they get a divorce or something?¡± Keaton rolled his eyes, ¡°Can we not? They split up five years ago, dude.¡± ¡°What¡¯s she been up to since then?¡± After a long pause, Keaton replied, ¡°Did time. But I don¡¯t run in her circles much, not clear on the details.¡± Keaton blinked, then smiled. ¡°So, she¡¯s got a past like mine, huh?¡± His smile carried an inscrutable depth, making his friend frown. ¡°Cut it out; don¡¯t even think about hitting on Matilda. We may not be close, but even as an outsider, it doesn¡¯t sit well with me. Besides, I don¡¯t believe Matilda¡¯s that kind of person.¡± In this world, there will always be men who admire a woman unconditionally, untainted by murky romantic feelings, simply a form of respect expressed from one peer to another. After all, not all interactions between men and women are tainted like the sordid streets of the red-light district. He said, ¡°Actually¡­ during those five years Matilda was locked up, a fair few people worked to clear her name.¡± If Matilda had lingered a moment longer and heard this, tears would have surely fallen on the spot. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. You see, most people aren¡¯t so obtuse. Theye from esteemed backgrounds, and their most prized possession is their unyielding integrity. A woman like Matilda, with eyes so defiant, how could she commit murder? So, when they heard about Matilda¡¯s imprisonment, many in their circle used their connections, discreetly or otherwise, to help out. Some asked questions and offered support; others simply wanted the full story, to watch the video evidence and find. discrepancies for Matilda. 1/2 12.38 Some of them Matilda didn¡¯t even know. ording to Keaton, some were from neighboring cities, men and women alike. They had admired Matilda¡¯s work, knew of her character, or trusted in her integrity, and thus they wanted to lend a hand. But in the end, none could match the clout of a single Yvan. The world of the wealthy isn¡¯t as sordid as people think, not just a perpetual scene of debauchery and dominating CEOS from trashy novels. They have their loyalties, and due to their upbringing and education, they often possess more patience and manners than the average person. Regarding Matilda, they maintained a sense of sympathy and awe. Even Yvan¡¯s close friends wanted to help this forlorn woman. ¡°Yvan¡¯s woman; For her to catch Yvan¡¯s eye, she must be something special,¡± the blond man mused, staring at the spot where Matilda¡¯s silhouette had vanished. He said, ¡°Hey, Keaton¡­ do me a favor and check out what Matilda¡¯s doing for work these days?¡± The answer he received was, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not a CEO. I¡¯m just a doctor.¡± The blond man gave an exasperated eye roll, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll dig it up myself.¡± Driving home took Matilda an hour, even though it was only a twenty¨Cminute trip. She looped around, wandering the city¡¯s twists and turns for a full hour before finally arriving home. Home felt too lonely, and she was reluctant to return. Now, she finally understood why people flock to bars at night seeking the thrill of alcohol or the rush of nightlife ¨C because the loneliness was crushing. In her entire house, she was alone, every word and action echoing into nothingness. Chapter 63 12:38 Chapter 63 Matilda felt like her depression was sinking its ws deeper into her, and Yvan¡¯s reappearance was knocking her for six. Prostrate on the couch with a throbbing headache, her work wasn¡¯t making any headway, and her son was not with her. She felt like a total failure, nowid up with a fever, clueless about what to do next. Then, out of the blue, her phone rang. She nced at the disy: an unknown number. With a sigh of indifference, she answered. But the voice on the other end was familiar. It was Willow. In a voice that was cool and to the point, Willow said, ¡°Head over to Fusion. I¡¯ve got a business proposal for you.¡± Matilda was puzzled. What game was this heiress ying now? In Matilda¡¯s eyes, Willow was lucky to have been coddled by her family for so long, especially considering her Simpson family¡¯s own scandal she vaguely remembered before her stint in prison. Somehow, that fiasco had been smoothed over, and soon after, the news of Matilda¡¯s incarceration eclipsed the Simpson family¡¯s troubles. Five years in jail, with a shattered heart, had left her still feeling half¨Cdead on the outside. Matilda snorted at the memory, then heard Willow continue, ¡°I know you see me as a rival, and truth be told, you¡¯re stillpeting for my affections. But, frankly,pared to that piece of work, Evie, I¡¯d rather deal with you.¡± Matilda remained silent, and the line went dead. After stewing in silence for twenty minutes, she got up, showered, applied makeup, picked out a sharp outfit, spritzed some perfume, and, instead of driving, hailed a cab. An hourter, as Willow sneezed in the chilly air, Matilda approached.¡± The wind bit as Matilda walked up, draped in a stylish shawl, her long legs showcased by a leather skirt, feet d in ck boots. A blowout and curling iron had teased her hair into loose waves, tossed to one side to reveal the delicate curve of her neck. Matilda¡¯s beauty was undeniable, but it wasn¡¯t just her looks that made people stop and stare; it was her cool, detached aura. 12:38 Chapter 63 She moved as if she could pass through a garden without disturbing a single petal, her presence like a fleeting silhouette, ready to vanish with the wind. Seeing Matilda now, Willow thought she possessed a morbid allure, like someone on the brink of death yet radiating a final, stunning burst of life. Her eyes were deep and desperate, like parched earth, lifeless yet piercingly cold. It was Yvan who had reduced her to this state. As Matilda approached, Willow noted her nasal voice and frowned, ¡°Caught a cold?¡± Matilda said nothing. With a sneer, Willow said, ¡°Don¡¯t expect any sympathy from me. I¡¯ve juste to realize that Yvan isn¡¯t worth our sacrifices.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re looking for an ally to lean on?¡± Matilda¡¯s tone was even and calm. ¡°But I¡¯ll pass on being your friend, and I don¡¯t need your ttery.¡± Stunned, Willow stared at Matilda incredulously, her voice rising, ¡°How can you be so ungrateful, Matilda?¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org With a lightugh, Matilda replied, ¡°Only realizing that now?¡± Through gritted teeth, Willow spat, ¡°Don¡¯t get too smug! I¡¯m here because someone asked me to meet with you¡­¡± Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Someone? To be honest, Matilda was already surprised when Willow approached her on her own initiative today. But to think that there was someone else behind Willow¡­ At that moment, a masculine scent crept closer, and she felt arms wrapping around her from behind, a voice tinged withughtering from above her head as someone casually yed with a lock of her hair. Matilda turned around to meet those piercing blue¨Cgreen eyes, her heart skipping a beat before she promptly wriggled out of the man¡¯s embrace and put some distance between them. The blond man clicked his tongue and turned to Willow, ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell her who ! am?¡± Willow looked like she was about to roll her eyes to the heavens, ¡°Bro, the moment you showed up, you were all over her. I haven¡¯t even had a proper chat with her¡­¡± Bro? Willow called this man bro? Confused, Matilda nced at the man before her. His face might be strikingly attractive in a devil¨Cmay¨C care way, but it was still¡­ utterly unfamiliar. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Willow exined, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be surprised. My brother has been living abroad, out of the scene, for like five or six years now, so it¡¯s normal that you don¡¯t know him.¡± Matilda, still trying to process her shock, said, ¡°You mean your brother wanted to meet me today?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Willow flicked her hair back. ¡°He has his own fashionbel overseas and wants to coborate with you on a limited edition line.¡± A thrill went through Matilda, but then she quickly became wary, ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± ¡°There is one condition,¡± the man said, his smile narrowing his eyes, yet they held no warmth, as cold as a cial pond. He had shown such enthusiasm for Matilda, yet his eyes were like still water. Such a deceitful man was¡­ really¡­ ¡°Come work with ourpany. If you need, we can put your studio under ourpany¡¯s name. You¡¯ll have full autonomy, but we¡¯ll take a cut¨Ca partnership deal, essentially.¡± Matilda stared at the man in astonishment. ¡°Why¡­ would you do that? What¡¯s in it for you?¡± 1/2 Chapter 64 He gave a soft chuckle. ¡°Firstly, your work is exceptional, so having you on board is definitely a win for us. Secondly¡­¡± He leaned in close to Matilda¡¯s ear, ¡°You¡¯re Yvan¡¯s ex¨Cwife, and, to be frank, you¡¯re just my type. Standing by me. I can help you get under Yvan¡¯s skin. Sounds like a fair deal, right?¡± Matilda scoffed. ¡°Yeah, seems like I can¡¯t lose either way.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, shall we sit down inside and talk more?¡± His eyes narrowed, gleaming like fine gemstones yet predatory like a wolf, causing Matilda to clench her fists. He said, ¡°I think I have all night to discuss this properly with you.¡± Willow chimed in, ¡°Bro, I¡¯ve brought her here. Can I head back now?¡± ¡°Scram,¡± the man turned on a dime, face¨Cchanging in a second, ¡°If I catch you in a bar again, I¡¯ll break your damn legs, you little runt!¡± Willow hopped back, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Matilda, I wouldn¡¯t bother helping you at all!¡± The man faced Matilda again and slipped back into his charming demeanor, ¡°Oh right, introductions. My name¡¯s Adrian Simpson. The eldest son of the Simpson family. Did a five¨Cyear stretch. I don¡¯t know if that scares you.¡± Matilda felt oddly moved by his mention of jail time, her eyes misting over, which somehow broke down her defenses. She extended her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯m Matilda¡­ just like you.¡± Matilda hung out with Adrian at the bar until 2 in the morning. Eventually, sheughed and said to him, ¡°At first, I thought you were a creep.¡® Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Adrian stroked his chin, an amused twinkle in his eye. ¡°I do give off that creepy vibe at times.¡± Matilda sighed, her voiceced with a hint of apology. ¡°My son¡¯s still young; he can be a bit impulsive with his words. I just wanted to say sorry for that.¡± Adrian chuckled, swirling the amber liquid in his ss. ¡°No need for apologies. It would¡¯ve been pretty weird if I¡¯de off all chummy right out of the gate.¡± Matilda¡¯s smile faded a touch as she got straight to the point. ¡°Look, Mr. Simpson, what do you need from me, really?¡± ¡°Do you believe me if I say I¡¯m here for your work?¡± Adrian yed coy for a moment, then admitted, ¡°Alright, you got me. I don¡¯t believe it, either. I¡¯m interested in you, Matilda, because you¡¯re, well, easy on the eyes and quite the looker.¡± Matilda¡¯s face registered shock. ¡°What exactly are you implying?¡± Adrian winked at her. ¡°Maybe Ie across a bit more forward. But you know how it is, over there people act on impulse and get over it pretty quick. I¡¯m looking to have a more tangible rtionship with you. If you decide to walk away afterward, I won¡¯t hold you back. Clinginess just causes problems for everyone. Of course, with your talents, it¡¯d be best for you to stay at ourpany¡­¡± Now Matilda understood and offered a strained smile. ¡°Are you asking me out?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Adrian snapped his fingers in mock revtion. ¡°There¡¯s the word I was looking for. Yes, that¡¯s right, I¡¯m asking you out.¡± A one¨Cnight stand. Matilda¡¯s gaze turned icy as she regarded him. ¡°The world¡¯s full of people expressing their passion and impulse, Mr. Simpson. But to be so blunt about a hookup, this is a first for me.¡± Adrian¡¯s smile grew ambiguous. ¡°Nobody said there¡¯s anything wrong with it. In the adult world, we don¡¯t really need all that ¡®true love¡® or ¡®deep affection.¡® That stuff is burdensome and holds you back. I¡¯m just after a quick thrill.¡± Matilda¡¯s smile froze over, and after a long pause, she spoke softly, ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right; maybe deep affection is just masochism.¡± Look where her profound love for Yvan had gotten her. Five years in prison, no sunlight, trapped in purgatory, over and over subjected to torment and torture. 12:39 The scars on her wrists, the broken skin on her finger, the pain and hatred etched deep into her soul. The price of her deep love was too steep, so much so that she might never love again. Matildaughed at herself bitterly, then said to Adrian, ¡°Even so, Mr. Simpson, event having tasted the bitterness of love, I don¡¯t want to indulge myself and fall into desire. It¡¯s no different from sumbing to deep love. So, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to disappoint you.¡± Adrian¡¯s lips curled with interest. ¡°Is this some new kind of ying hard to get?¡± Matilda answered firmly, ¡°Not at all.¡± Adrian conceded, ¡°Oh well, that sounds like a rejection to me.¡± Matilda nodded and took a swig of her drink. The clear liquid cascaded over her lips and down her throat, a moment of beauty that was utterly intoxicating. Adrian found Matilda infinitely more intoxicating than the drink in her hand. He smiled, though his voice was colder now. ¡°Since you have turned me down, there might not be another chance like this. But business is business; I¡¯ll still give you the deal. After all, Willow told me you have a lot more backbone than the other women despite being a rival. She respects that and doesn¡¯t want to y dirty.¡± That was thest straw for Matilda. She offered a mockingugh. ¡°Should I bow down and thank you profusely?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Seeing Matilda¡¯s reaction, Adrian¡¯s smile faded into a cold, dismissive line. ¡°Ms. Thompson, don¡¯t make me switch from offering you a friendly drink to insisting on a penalty shot.¡± ¡°Penalty shot? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I have no interest in your so¨Ccalled help. Anything you¡¯ve sent my way, I don¡¯t want it.¡± Matilda scoffed, rising from the booth with an air of defiance. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for a hookup, just take a left outside the door. The Royal Garden Club has plenty ofdies who¡¯ll be more than willing to entertain you.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Adrian¡¯s chest tightened with irritation at her taunt. What was she implying, that he was some kind of dog in heat? Matilda¡¯s coldughter trailed behind her as she left the booth. Adrian watched her slender figure disappear, his expression slowly morphing into something predatory. Matilda hit the sack as soon as she got home, and the next day, Chloe called her up, summoning her to the Yeager Group. At the entrance, Chloe greeted her with her signature red lips. ¡°I know Yvan¡¯s been giving you the cold shouldertely, so I talked Mr. Yeager¡¯s ear off for you. How about joining us as a marketing strategist?¡± Matilda eyed the faint love bite on Chloe¡¯s neck and could guess how that conversation with Den went. She replied awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure I know enough about marketing. I¡¯m just a designer¡­¡± ¡°Oh,e on, designing requires creativity, and so does marketing. It¡¯s all about the packaging and the pitch, just a different kind of design,¡± Chloe insisted, dragging her toward HR. ¡°Let me tell you, nobody in Ashton City dares to mess with Yvan, but here, I¡¯ve got your back.¡± With a wink, she added, ¡°Besides, Den and Yvan still have business ties.¡± Chloe practically hauled Matilda to HR for registration, then gave her a whirlwind tour, showing her what it was like to have someone influential in your corner. Everywhere Chloe went, heads nodded, and people bowed, and with Matilda by her side, they treated her with the same respect. 12:39 Chapter 66 After the tour, Chloe pushed open the door to the CEO¡¯s office, only to find it empty. Den must have been out on business. Chloe shrugged it off. ¡°Whatever, just settle in for now. And listen to me, don¡¯t you dare go back to Yvan. Figure out something else for your studio. In the meantime, fill the gap with this job and look online for someone else to help you.¡± Matilda looked at Chloe with a touch of gratitude, which only made Chloe¡¯s skin crawl. ¡°Oh, stop with the puppy eyes, will ya? I¡¯m not into that, but if I had the penis parts, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad trade.¡± Matildaughed and yfully told her to get lost. After Chloe sashayed away on her towering heels like a true siren, the curious colleagues swarmed around the new beauty. ¡°You know Chloe?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Chloe?¡± ¡°Oh, please, what¡¯s there to ask? Another one parachuted in by connections,¡± sneered a woman while touching up her makeup. ¡°Don¡¯t get too smug. Without the skills, you¡¯ll still get canned.¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond. She was used to such snide remarks. When she first got out of jail and was job¨Chunting, people would scoff at her past, ¡°Pretty face like yours in prison¨Cwhat did you do, work as an illegal escort? Ha!¡± She endured it all silently. The others mistook her indifference for apathy and doubled down on their mockery in front of her. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Sometimes, the more you try to ignore the idle gossip, the louder it gets, as if people are itching to rip off your stoic mask and revel in your humiliation. ¡°Look at her face; you can tell she¡¯s trash!¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably just like Chloe; one seduces the CEO, and the other¡¯s on the prowl for God knows who.¡± ¡°Ha, imagine if she¡¯s after the CEO too? Now, that would be a show, dogs fighting over a bone.¡± Matilda clenched her fists, turning on herputer where Chloe had sent her several files, detailing her day¨Cto¨Cday tasks and thepany¡¯s operations. She tried to block out the noise, focusing on the job at hand, determined to be worthy of Chloe¡¯s extended hand. In the afternoon, Den returned, Chloe, as always, in tow. As she passed by, she dropped a piece of chocte on Matilda¡¯s desk and asked, ¡°You holding up okay?¡± Matilda looked up, her gaze cool and detached. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m not taking it to heart.¡± ¡°You just hang in there, and once your studio picks up again, you won¡¯t have to deal with this crowd,¡± Chloe said, her voice tinged with sympathy, ¡°Wish I could do more to help¡­¡± ¡°No need, you¡¯ve already done plenty,¡± Matilda replied with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, go on with your work.¡± Chloe nodded and hurried to catch up with Den. As soon as she left, the office¡¯s perception of Matilda twisted into something strange. Despite their contempt and disdain, they had to show her a sliver of respect because of her influential backing. Matilda sneered inwardly at the so¨Ccalled workce politics; it was all so superficial. Come evening, Chloe was waiting downstairs when she saw Yvan approaching their office building. The handsome man walked in with amanding presence and striking features. Chloe immediately messaged Matilda, warning her to stay put, but as fate would have it, they ran into each other as the elevator doors opened. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Yvan was visibly surprised to see Matilda there, his voice rising with a probing tone, ¡°Why are you here?¡± 12:40 Chapter 67 His implication was clear, suggesting Matilda was up to no good, Matilda stepped out of the elevator, facing Yvan squarely. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business, Mr. Boyd,¡± Yvan, who was about to take the elevator, stopped at her words, stepping forward and grabbing her wrist. ¡°What, cklisted by me, so now you¡¯re desperately trying totch onto Den?¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, her grip tightening. ¡°Not everyone is as despicable as you think, Mr. Boyd. No matter what, I refuse to climb thedder on the coattails of a man! Let go of me, please!¡± Her words rang with conviction, and Yvan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he released her. The moment he let go, Matilda turned and walked away without a backward nce, her departure as decisive as if Yvan were a mere stranger. He watched her leave, squinting after her, just as Den emerged from another elevator, greeting him. The two men had business matters to discuss, and Yvan¡¯s presence after hours wasn¡¯t unusual. However, Yvan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Matilda works here?¡± Den thought for a moment, remembering Chloe¡¯s arrangement to slot someone into thepany, and nodded, ¡°Yes, she does.¡± Yvan clenched his jaw, ¡°And what is she doing at yourpany?¡± Den couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Working, what else?¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Working? Yvan snorted to himself, clearly underestimating Matilda¡¯s resourcefulness. She managed to rope in Den to help her out. Watching Matilda and Chloe¡¯s retreating figures at the door, Yvan clenched his fists tightly. That evening, Matilda got back to her ce and immediately checked her email to see if anyone was interested in coborating with her studio. Unfortunately, Yvan¡¯s influence was too strong. Aside from Den, who dared to extend a helping hand because he was a business partner, otherpanies were too scared to take her on. She sat down and poured herself a ss of milk. Soon after, the doorbell rang. As usual, when Matilda went to answer it, Yvan was standing there, right in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat. As she stared at Yvan¡¯s face and quickly tried to shut the door, he had already thrust a hand inside, gripping her wrist tightly. Matilda shuddered, instinctively trying to shake him off. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Yvan moved closer, his kiss unexpected and searing. Matilda was trapped in his arms, unable to resist, the sudden invasion sending her into a panic. When she finally gathered her wits, she pushed him away forcefully. Leaning against the wall, her face was ashen, but her eyes, filled with loathing, were fixed on Yvan. Her voice trembled as she spoke, ¡°Yvan! What the hell do you want from me?¡± Yvan stared at her intently, his voice dragging out after a long pause. ¡°Matilda, don¡¯t take it personally. A woman like you is just for fun, nothing serious.¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes welled up with tears at his words, and with a bitterugh, she pointed at him. ¡°What, you can¡¯t wait to throw yourself at me? Yvan, what are you not getting? If you think I¡¯m stained, why do you keep hassling me over and over?¡± Yvan pinned her against the wall with force. ¡°Because I find your pain quite satisfying!¡± Matilda tried to push him away, but she couldn¡¯t. He was already ripping at her 12:40 Chapter 68 clothes, exposing skin that was shockingly pale ¨C untouched by anyone for five years as she desperately avoided Yvan¡¯s advances. He dragged her over to the couch, and Matilda screamed, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Yvan. don¡¯t touch me! You devil!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I am the devil! Matilda, if you dare let another man touch you, I won¡¯t hesitate to show you what a real devil looks like! In this lifetime, only I can make you this miserable!¡± Yvan held her down on the couch, face down. Matilda¡¯s eyes reddened with involuntary tears, her fists clenched tight. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I find you disgusting!¡± Disgusting? She found him disgusting?All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Yvan let out a coldugh, seizing Matilda¡¯s chin with force. ¡°With your Mason on the left and Den on the right, even Bet¡¯s got his eyes on you. Do you think you¡¯re cleaner than me?¡± Mason? She considered him just a friend, and as for Den, that was just baseless gossip! ¡°Yvan, stop slinging mud at me! I only know what kind of person I am, and I have nothing to do with the men you¡¯ve mentioned! And if you¡¯re here because you saw me at the Yeager Group today, what is this? Jealousy?¡± A p came across her face, and Yvan flipped her over, her hair in disarray. She had always been elegant and dignified, dressed in her personal taste, walking in heels with the grace of a socialite. When had she ever suffered such humiliation? Matilda was trembling all over, like she was on the verge of death, her eyes filled with distinct hatred. ¡°Yvan, you¡¯re like a joke right now!¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Yvan¡¯s grip on Matilda¡¯s neck was like a vice. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see your son again?¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes narrowed in a mix of fear and defiance. ¡°Are you threatening me with Logan?¡± ¡°He might not carry the surname Thompson in the future¡­¡± Yvan sneered, ¡°He¡¯ll take my name and forget all about you, his so¨Ccalled mother!¡± ¡°Over my dead body!¡± Matilda struggled furiously. ¡°Let go of me! Logan is my child, and you¨Cusing him to ckmail me¨Cyou¡¯re a monster!¡± ¡°If you know where it hurts, then behave yourself.¡± Yvan¡¯s piercing gaze pinned Matilda down, and his eyes fell on her partially exposed chest, igniting a me of desire within him. His voice was husky as he held Matilda¡¯s wrist so tightly she thought it would break, ¡°Yvan, let me go. I¡¯ve served five years; why are you still tormenting me?¡± ¡°Because.¡± The man¡¯s hands pressed against her, his smile as chilling as a demon¡¯s. His face, though handsome, was twisted with a ferocity that sent shivers down her spine. In his eyes, Matilda saw a rage that could destroy everything, saw her disheveled and powerless self spiraling into the abyss¡­ Whispers of a curse echoed in her ears, ¡°Your punishment is far from over.¡± ¡°Not over¡­ Why not¡­ Yvan, how much more hope will you steal from me¡­¡± she couldn¡¯t help but say. Eventually, unable to bear Yvan¡¯s cruelty, Matilda bit down on her own tongue at the brink of copse¨C perhaps in the hope of release. Yvan shouted in disbelief, ¡°You¡¯d rather die than face me? Matilda? Don¡¯t you dare!¡± When Matilda woke up again, it was dusk. The first thing she saw was her son, Logan, and beside him was a woman she recognized from a bar¨CEvie. Evie raised an eyebrow at Matilda, ¡°Well, look who¡¯s not dead.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Where am I?¡± She wondered. 12:40 Logan saw the confusion in her eyes. ¡°Mom¡­ we¡¯re at the Boyd residence. Mr. Boyd brought you here last night.¡± Boyd residence? Then why was Evie here? Evieughed arrogantly. ¡°Ah¡­ Mr. Boyd asked me toe over, of course. Seriously. he¡¯s so tough on me. Said we had to keep a low profile, and then he invites me over to his house¡­¡± Logan¡¯s hand clenched tightly at his side, his small frame trembling. After what felt like an eternity, he lifted his head and gently touched Matilda¡¯s face, ¡°Mommy, does it hurt?¡± Matilda shook her head, her eyes catching the tears in Logan¡¯s. Seeing your own father bring another woman home right in front of your mom would be too much for, any kid, wouldn¡¯t it? Matilda let out a bitterugh just as Yvan walked in. Behind him trailed a personal doctor, the same man who had recognized her in the hospital before, who now sighed in relief, ¡°Lucky you didn¡¯t have the strength, or the damage could¡¯ve been severe. If you¡¯d really bitten down hard, it could¡¯ve been fatal.¡± A look of despair crossed Matilda¡¯s eyes, for in that moment, she had truly intended to end her life. Yvan just watched her pale face without a word, his eyes a tangled web of guilt and conflict. Matilda wanted tough, thinking. ¡°Guilty for what, the pain you caused? Yvan, hearts are made of flesh, and they can only take so much pain before they die.¡± And at that moment, Evie suddenly spoke up. ¡°Mr. Boyd, since she¡¯s awake now, let¡¯s just let her go. Stop meddling in her life.¡± Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Matilda¡¯s gaze snapped onto Evie. Her silence failed to mask the cutting sharpness in her eyes. There was a chill in those orbs that sent an involuntary shiver down Evie¡¯s spine. How could a woman who¡¯s done time have such a presence? Evie retreated, seeking refuge in Yvan¡¯s embrace, but Yvan, with a poker face, subtly put more distance between them. Ignoring the obvious, Evie clung to Yvan¡¯s arm and turned to Matilda with a sneer. ¡°Once you¡¯re feeling better, pack your bags and get out. The Boyd family doesn¡¯t harbor freeloaders.¡± She spoke as if she were thedy of the Boyd household. Yvan had grown to detest this woman. It wasn¡¯t him who had been with her that night, which is why he had turned off the lights and had someone cover her eyes. But the mere thought of Matilda stirred such fury within him that, out of spite, he had summoned Evie back. What a curse¡­.. Once outside, Yvan shook off Evie with a cold, merciless look. ¡°You know why I called you here. Stay in yourne. If you overstep again, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll never speak another word.¡± Evie stared at Yvan, filled with fear, resentment, and a touch of self¨Cpity. What did sheckpared to that sanctimonious woman? But she didn¡¯t dare voice this in front of Yvan; instead, she stored her vengeance for Matilda. After Yvan left, only Matilda, her son, and the doctor remained. Dr. Keaton sighed, ¡°There seems to be a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°The misunderstanding is too deep. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s resolved or not,¡± Matilda replied, her tone detached, but her eyes betrayed fragmented light. ¡°There¡¯s no going back.¡± ¡°I hope you both can find peace.¡± Everyone had thought Matilda and Yvan were the golden couple destined for each other. How had they come to this point of mutual destruction? 12:40 Chapter 70. ¡°What¡¯s the point of finding peace?¡± Matilda¡¯sugh wasced with irony. ¡°Why should I? I¡¯m clear about love and hate. I stand by my actions. If I choose to hate, it will be for life. I¡¯ll never forgive him; never give him a chance!¡± ¡°Yvan is¡­ well, he¡¯s cruel, but maybe he¡¯s just awkward with his emotions. You were imprisoned for five years, and he didn¡¯t take another woman. Evie was not his doing. Maybe he does have feelings for you.¡± ¡°Feelings?¡± Matildaughed until tears rimmed her eyes. ¡°Do feelings guarantee a lifetime? Look at what I¡¯ve be. It¡¯s a gift from his own hands. If he ims to have feelings for me now, wouldn¡¯t that be pping his own face?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Yvan stood silently at the door, overhearing Matilda¡¯s piercing words. A frost seemed to settle over his features, casting a daunting shadow over his presence. Dr. Keaton was Yvan¡¯s friend, naturally defending him. She thought, ¡°But Yvan, do you think a simple mention of care can erase the suffering of these past five years as if it never happened?¡± Matilda felt drained of the energy to argue. To some people, ¡®it doesn¡¯t matter anymore¡® is just an excuse, making any attempt at justification futile. Only their son remained between Matilda and Yvan. Once she secured custody, she¡¯d leave for good, never looking back. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Logan told his mom to catch some more Zs while Evie¡¯s gaze turned venomous the moment she saw him step out of the room. At first, she thought he might be Yvan¡¯s love child, but she had never imagined that he was Yvan and Matilda¡¯s kid! This kid, she simply couldn¡¯t let him stick around! With Matilda blissfully unaware in her room, Evie approached Logan, who was lounging in the living room, and cooed, ¡°Hey there, what¡¯s your name, sweetie?¡± Logan didn¡¯t even nce her way; he just sauntered over to the couch and started setting up a game of chess with himself. Taking a deep breath, Evie tried again, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m your daddy¡¯s new girlfriend. Aren¡¯t you going to introduce yourself?¡± Logan looked up. ¡°New girlfriend? I guess you only say that when Mr. Boyd¡¯s not around. Ma¡¯am, I don¡¯t know you.¡± His tone left no doubt that he felt no need to exin himself to her. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Evie¡¯s smile froze on her face, and then, with a re, she warned Logan, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll tattle to your dad?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Logan was unfazed. ¡°I really don¡¯t care. If he doesn¡¯t want me, that¡¯s just perfect.¡± Evie was taken aback by the kid¡¯s resilience. For a moment, she was at a loss, uncertain of Yvan¡¯s feelings. Did he actually like the kid or not? If he did, why did he lock himself away in his study as soon as he got home? If he didn¡¯t, why bother bringing him home? Biting her lip, Evie stood up and marched to the kitchen to whip up a hot chocte, using boiling water to mix it. She brought it out to Logan. ¡°As a treat, I made you some hot cocoa. Want some?¡± she offered as she approached. Without a second thought, Logan declined, ¡°No, thanks.¡± But as if by ident, Evie ¡®tripped¡®, and the next second, the scalding hot chocte sshed all over Logan! 12:42 Chapter 71 ¡°Ah!¡± Scorched by the hot liquid, Logan screamed. Evie cried out as well, drawing Yvan from upstairs. He stormed down, fury in his eyes, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Both Evie¡¯s hand and Logan¡¯s arm bloomed with blisters. Through teary eyes, she stammered, ¡°I¡­ I just wanted to make the boy some hot cocoa, but¡­ but¡­¡± She trailed off as if the words were stuck. Logan, shocked and in agony, trembled in ce, unable to utter a word. He had never experienced such a sudden scalding. His clothes were soaked, the carpet ruined. Yvan strode over, berating Logan, ¡°Do you think you can just run wild in this house?¡± Logan shuddered,ing to his senses to face the angry man before him, his little body shaking from pain and fear. The confusion in his eyes was crystal clear. Upstairs in the resting room, Matilda heard themotion, yanked out her IV, and rushed down, pushing Yvan aside. Without a word, she pped Evie across the face! ¡°Ah!¡± Evie screamed, ¡°You dare hit me!¡± Matilda clutched Logan protectively, her eyes zing, and hissed at Evie, ¡°Have a problem with me, fine. But youy a hand on my son; are you even human?¡± ¡°Matilda!¡± Yvan, witnessing Matilda strike first, rushed over and grabbed her wrist, ¡°Apologize to her!¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 ¡°Apologize?¡± Matilda¡¯s voice trembled with fury. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see Logan¡¯s hurt? Yvan, he¡¯s your son, too!¡± ¡°What, you think ying the family card will get you off the hook?¡± Yvan scoffed, shrugging off Matilda with a swift motion. Logan looked up at his father, his disappointment so palpable it sent a shiver down Yvan¡¯s spine. The little boy didn¡¯t say a word, nor did he try to defend himself. It was as if he was giving his father the silent treatment. Yvan narrowed his handsome eyes, a pity that they held no warmth. ¡°Do you admit you were wrong?¡± ¡°Admit what?¡± Matilda got up from the floor and lunged forward again, shielding Yvan¡¯s view with her body. ¡°He¡¯s just five years old! Even if you hate me, you can¡¯t take it out on our child! What could he possibly have done at his age?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°He¡¯s five, and he looks at me like that!¡± Yvan roared. ¡°Do you have any idea how infuriating it is to come home every day to those eyes? At five years old, he¡¯s already a master of backhanded compliments and passive aggression. Matilda, he¡¯s truly your son¨Cwhat can¡¯t he do?!¡± Logan flinched violently, then looked up at Yvan, whoughed bitterly. ¡°See, that¡¯s the look I¡¯m talking about. Like a little wolf cub, a goddamn Judas goat!¡± Matilda turned to Logan and touched his face gently, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, baby, Mommy¡¯s here.¡± Logan finally closed his eyes, tears tracing the contours of his cheeks. Matilda¡¯s heart ached as she saw the string of blisters from a burn on Logan¡¯s arm. Without treatment, it would scar. She stood up, disregarding everything else, and demanded of Yvan, ¡°Where¡¯s the doctor from earlier?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my private physician. You think you¡¯re entitled to summon him?¡± Yvan pointed at Logan. ¡°He apologizes first!¡± ¡°Apologize?¡± Tears filling her eyes, Matilda took a few steps back and repeated the word as if it were a mantra. 1/2 12-42 Cooter 72 Her eyes reddened withughter, and she turned to Evie. ¡°Yvan, you want an apology, fine! I¡¯ll give it. Logan¡¯s too young to understand, so as his mother, I apologize to you! Miss, I¡¯m so sorry for the trouble. Please, be generous and forgive us.¡± Humble and defeated, Matilda finished her apology and turned to Yvan. ¡°Is this like five years ago? Do you want me to kneel and bow my head to her?¡± A sharp pain clenched Yvan¡¯s heart as he watched Matilda, his fingers starting to tremble uncontrobly. For some reason, it felt like something was slipping through the gaps in his fingers, something he couldn¡¯t grasp, and it was sliding away from him. Matilda carried Logan upstairs, leaving Evie and Yvan standing in the living room. As the little boy was lifted, he rested his head on her shoulder. Climbing the stairs, he red at Yvan and Evie with a look a hundred times more ferocious than before. For a fleeting moment, his gaze was a mirror of Yvan¡¯s own rage. Like father, like son¨Cwhen they hated someone, their expressions were identical. Yvan watched Matilda¡¯s retreating figure ascend the stairs. Silent for a long time, he finally lowered his voice and said to Evie, ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Mr. Boyd¡ª Evie, clutching her burn, began to weep. ¡°Mr. Boyd, it hurts¡­¡± ¡°Did you not hear me? I said, get the hell out!¡± Yvan¡¯s cold expression didn¡¯t soften as he summoned the servants to escort Evie out despite her frantic struggles. ¡°What are you doing? Let me go! Mr. Boyd, Mr. Boyd!¡± The mansion¡¯s grand door closed in front of her, shutting out all hope. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 N?velDrama.Org owns this. Yvan finally called back the same doctor who had attended to Logan before to treat his wounds. After the application of the ointment, Logan spoke his first words, ¡°Mommy, it hurts¡­¡± Matilda¡¯s tears fell in an instant, holding her child with a heart full of pain. ¡°It¡¯s all Mommy¡¯s fault; I wasn¡¯t strong enough¡­¡± Logan cried, too, his eyes reddened, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. Thatdy wanted to give me a cup of hot cocoa. I didn¡¯t even touch her, and the cup just spilled¡­¡± ¡°Mommy knows, our Logan is not that kind of boy.¡± Matilda let him go, wiping away his tears, ¡°Mommy won¡¯t let you stay with the Boyd family any longer; it¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Logan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you to take me home. Mommy, can you stay with me at the Boyd family for a few days?¡± The boy had been scalded in a set¨Cup, and deep down, he still carried a shadow, suddenlycking a sense of security. And Yvan was not the one to provide thatfort. Matilda thought hard and finally nodded firmly, ¡°Okay, Mommy will talk to Yvan about it.¡± After saying this, Matilda stood up and walked out the door, only to see Yvan standing at the doorstep, his face a picture of deep, silent contemtion. Matilda smiled coldly, ¡°Heard everything, did you?¡± Even though her voice was calm, her body trembled. Yvan remained silent. Matilda said, ¡°You wronged him, but you never admit when you¡¯re wrong.¡± It was the same five years ago, and it¡¯s the same now. It was then that Yvan finally spoke, ¡°Why didn¡¯t he exin to me?¡± ¡°Exin?¡± Matildaughed bitterly, her eyes tinged with red as she looked at Yvan. ¡°Yvan, would you listen to his exnation? You don¡¯t trust him, calling him a Judas goat. What do you expect him to exin? You¡¯re his father, yet you say such things in front of your own child!¡± 1/2 12:42 Chapter 73 Yvan paled, his pupils shrinking. ¡°I really want to take Logan home. He can¡¯t live like this in your house. I can¡¯t ept it. Yvan, can you let go?¡± Matilda steadied herself; for her son¡¯s sake, she had to confront Yvan, no backing down. Yvan clenched his teeth. ¡°Not a chance! My son will not be taken away!¡± ¡°But you let him live like this; doesn¡¯t your conscience hurt?¡± Matilda stepped forward, summoning strength from somewhere to seize Yvan¡¯s shirtfront. ¡°Yvan, ask yourself, where did I ever wrong you? Even my son is framed by your mistress! Five years in prison wasn¡¯t enough to quench your hate; what about now? Do what you want with me! How can you harm your own flesh and blood?¡± Yvan was left speechless by Matilda¡¯s piercing words. He grabbed Matilda¡¯s wrist to pull her hand off his shirt, and after a long while, he spoke in a dangerous tone, ¡°Come at you? Matilda, if I wanted you dead, it¡¯d be as simple as squashing an ant.¡± ¡°Then let me die!¡± Matildaughed absurdly, staring intently at Yvan. The hatred in her eyes was startlingly bright. As time passed, her hatred had reached a dead end. ¡°Yvan, I ask you, if I were to die, would you let my son be?¡± How dare she take death so lightly? In that instant, Yvan felt as if his heart was being squeezed tightly, wrenched with severe pain. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Staring into the face before him, Yvan suddenly felt as if he were looking at a stranger. Would the Matilda he knew five years ago have ever red at him with such eyes? Impossible. Five years ago, she was head over heels in love with him, utterly andpletely. Matilda noticed Yvan¡¯s stunned silence and, with a burst of strength from who knew where, shoved the man hard. Without a second thought, she raised her hand and delivered a stinging p across Yvan¡¯s cheek! The p shocked Yvan quite much. Had he just been pped by a woman? And damn it, one he¡¯d cast aside after having his way! Yvan reached out to grab Matilda¡¯s wrist, pinning her down, but she didn¡¯t panic. Her eyes were red with fury as she locked her gaze on him and let out a bitterugh, ¡°Yvan, cut the crap with your high and mighty talk! You owe me so much; this p is the least of it!¡± In his rage, Yvan¡¯s grip tightened around Matilda¡¯s throat, but she justughed wildly, as if betting everything on this one moment, ¡°Go on, kill me! Yvan! If you¡¯ve got the guts, just finish me off! Better off dead; it would be a relief to be free of the pain you¡¯ve caused me!¡± Her words echoed ¡°better off dead¡± in his mind, sending a violent tremor through his body, and he suddenly released her. That phrase unwittingly struck at the most tender part of his heart. Five years ago, Rachel died and now, Matilda seemed to have lost the will to live too. Who was behind all this misery? Who?! Yvan¡¯s fist crashed next to Matilda¡¯s face, the force of it hitting the wall with a thud that seemed to carry all his turmoil. Matilda¡¯s eyshes fluttered, but she never once pleaded for mercy. After a long silence, it was Yvan who spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°Just go. And don¡¯t you ever show your face around me again!¡± Matilda¡¯sugh wasced with tears, ¡°Give me back my son, and I¡¯ll be more than d to stay away from you!¡± Yvan¡¯s fierce gaze bore into her as if trying to see through her charade, but Matilda¡¯s facade was too strong, a thousand times stronger than she¡¯d been five years ago. What had enabled her to traverse the long, dark period and emerge with a heart of 12:42 Chapter 74 steel? Yvan remained silent, his handsome features as striking as ever, possessing the kind of devilish allure that could drive women wild, yet incapable of moving the woman before him now. With a derisive chuckle, Matilda shook off Yvan¡¯s grip and walked down the hallway. Her voice was detached as she said, ¡°Logan¡¯s still in his room. I don¡¯t want him to see us like this.¡± Her figure was slender, and even as she spoke, there was an undeniable toughness about her, a sense that nothing could shake her anymore. Once, she had watched Yvan walk away; now, it seemed that it was Yvan¡¯s turn to watch her leave. As Matilda reached the grand front door of the Boyd Mansion, her steps faltered. She paused, turning to look back at Yvan with half her face, whispering, ¡°Yvan, from the day we met, to our wedding, to the subsequent years of imprisonment, it¡¯s been fifteen years. How many sets of fifteen years does a person have to waste?¡± She¡¯d already wasted fifteen years on him. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Those words made Yvan¡¯s body jolt. He slightly lifted his head, and his enigmatic face with deep¨Cset eyes seemed to flicker with emotion for a moment before settling into a void of nothingness. Matilda opened the door, and the cold autumn air hit her full in the face. She stepped into the chill, her frailty apparent, her eyshes trembling as if chilled to the core. But she made no sound. Five years had tempered her fire and impulsiveness. She was no longer the Matilda of five years ago. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 However, Matilda never expected to find herself back in the spotlight so soon in another way. The next day, she tried to keep a level head on her way to work, but as she passed the open office area, she could hear the whispers. ¡°Is that her?¡± ¡°Sure looks like it.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°Definitely her, tsk, appearances can be deceiving.¡± ¡°Chloe¡¯s friend, huh? Birds of a feather, I bet she¡¯s no good either.¡± Matilda straightened her spine, and when she reached her desk, she stashed her purse and booted up herputer. Chloe¡¯s chat window was shing incessantly. She clicked it open. Chloe asked, ¡°OMG, have you seen what happened?¡± Matilda, puzzled, typed back, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Chloe quickly sent over an image, a screenshot from the entertainment news section. There was Matilda, her profile prominently disyed on the front page, with Adrian¡¯s back in the shot. His face wasn¡¯t visible, but Matilda¡¯s was clear. The angle was perfect, as if it caught Matilda and Adrian in a cozy, intimate conversation, suggesting to anyone a rather ambiguous rtionship. Matilda¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and before she could process it, Chloe bombarded her with messages, ¡°The whole office is buzzing about whether it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It is me.¡± Matilda sighed and admitted it with few simple words. She hadn¡¯t expected a night out at the bar to lead to ndestine photos and wild rumors. Her and Adrian? How was that possible? Matilda rubbed her temples, sensing aplicated situation brewing. As an employee of thepany, such a scandal could tarnish its reputation. Sure enough, before she had settled in, a nosy coworker approached with a sneer, ¡°Well, well, I hear someone¡¯s cozied up with the Simpson family¡¯s son!¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± Chimed in another, ¡°The young Mr. Simpson just got back to town, and 1/2 12:42 Chapter 75 she¡¯s already on him. Quite the fast mover.¡± ¡°Shh, maybe they¡¯re just good friends, haha.¡± ¡°Good friends? Hah! The young Mr. Simpson¡¯s pals are all high¨Csocietydies. What¡¯s she in comparison? Just amoner trying to y Cindere!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond verbally, and just shot the gossipmonger a chilly re, which surprisingly made the woman falter. But she wasn¡¯t about to show defeat, ¡°What, got a problem? Think a fierce look makes you special?¡± Matilda smirked. These kinds of women weren¡¯t worth her attention, not now and not five years ago. She turned her attention back to her work, unfazed, leaving the others feeling like they were punching air. Just a woman pretending to be all pure and lofty, who knew how she¡¯d ingratiate herself with those rich men; they sneered internally, convinced she was putting on an act just for them. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of another building, as a man saw the headline ¡°Simpson Family Heir¡¯s Mysterious Late¨CNight Date¡°, he tore the newspaper in half. On the inte, he barked, ¡°Carl!¡± Carl entered swiftly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you need me?¡± *Shut down these rags!¡± Yvan¡¯s handsome face was a mask of fury, ¡°And find out what Matilda was really up to that night!¡± Chapter 76 Chapter 75 However, Matilda never expected to find herself back in the spotlight so soon in another way. The next day, she tried to keep a level head on her way to work, but as she passed the open office area, she could hear the whispers. ¡°Is that her?¡± ¡°Sure looks like it.¡± ¡°Definitely her, tsk, appearances can be deceiving.¡± ¡°Chloe¡¯s friend, huh? Birds of a feather, I bet she¡¯s no good either.¡± Matilda straightened her spine, and when she reached her desk, she stashed her purse and booted up herputer. Chloe¡¯s chat window was shing incessantly. She clicked it open. Chloe asked, ¡°OMG, have you seen what happened?¡± Matilda, puzzled, typed back, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Chloe quickly sent over an image, a screenshot from the entertainment news section. There was Matilda, her profile prominently disyed on the front page, with Adrian¡¯s back in the shot. His face wasn¡¯t visible, but Matilda¡¯s was clear. The angle was perfect, as if it caught Matilda and Adrian in a cozy, intimate conversation, suggesting to anyone a rather ambiguous rtionship. Matilda¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and before she could process it, Chloe bombarded her with messages, ¡°The whole office is buzzing about whether it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It is me.¡± Matilda sighed and admitted it with few simple words. She hadn¡¯t expected a night out at the bar to lead to ndestine photos and wild rumors. Her and Adrian? How was that possible? Matilda rubbed her temples, sensing aplicated situation brewing. As an employee of thepany, such a scandal could tarnish its reputation. Sure enough, before she had settled in, a nosy coworker approached with a sneer, ¡°Well, well, I hear someone¡¯s cozied up with the Simpson family¡¯s son!¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± Chimed in another, ¡°The young Mr. Simpson just got back to town, and 1/2 12:42 Chapter 75 she¡¯s already on him. Quite the fast mover.¡± ¡°Shh, maybe they¡¯re just good friends, haha.¡± ¡°Good friends? Hah! The young Mr. Simpson¡¯s pals are all high¨Csocietydies. What¡¯s she inparison? Just amoner trying to y Cindere!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond verbally, and just shot the gossipmonger a chilly re, which surprisingly made the woman falter. But she wasn¡¯t about to show defeat, ¡°What, got a problem? Think a fierce look makes you special?¡± Matilda smirked. These kinds of women weren¡¯t worth her attention, not now and not five years ago. She turned her attention back to her work, unfazed, leaving the others feeling like they were punching air. Just a woman pretending to be all pure and lofty, who knew how she¡¯d ingratiate herself with those rich men; they sneeredN?velDrama.Org owns this. internally, convinced she was putting on an act just for them. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of another building, as a man saw the headline ¡°Simpson Family Heir¡¯s Mysterious Late¨CNight Date¡°, he tore the newspaper in half. On the inte, he barked, ¡°Carl!¡± Carl entered swiftly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you need me?¡± *Shut down these rags!¡± Yvan¡¯s handsome face was a mask of fury, ¡°And find out what Matilda was really up to that night!¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 75 However, Matilda never expected to find herself back in the spotlight so soon in another way. The next day, she tried to keep a level head on her way to work, but as she passed the open office area, she could hear the whispers. ¡°Is that her?¡± ¡°Sure looks like it.¡± ¡°Definitely her, tsk, appearances can be deceiving.¡± ¡°Chloe¡¯s friend, huh? Birds of a feather, I bet she¡¯s no good either.¡± Matilda straightened her spine, and when she reached her desk, she stashed her purse and booted up herputer. Chloe¡¯s chat window was shing incessantly. She clicked it open. Chloe asked, ¡°OMG, have you seen what happened?¡± Matilda, puzzled, typed back, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Chloe quickly sent over an image, a screenshot from the entertainment news section. There was Matilda, her profile prominently disyed on the front page, with Adrian¡¯s back in the shot. His face wasn¡¯t visible, but Matilda¡¯s was clear. The angle was perfect, as if it caught Matilda and Adrian in a cozy, intimate conversation, suggesting to anyone a rather ambiguous rtionship. Matilda¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and before she could process it, Chloe bombarded her with messages, ¡°The whole office is buzzing about whether it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It is me.¡± Matilda sighed and admitted it with few simple words. She hadn¡¯t expected a night out at the bar to lead to ndestine photos and wild rumors. Her and Adrian? How was that possible? Matilda rubbed her temples, sensing aplicated situation brewing. As an employee of thepany, such a scandal could tarnish its reputation. Sure enough, before she had settled in, a nosy coworker approached with a sneer, ¡°Well, well, I hear someone¡¯s cozied up with the Simpson family¡¯s son!¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± Chimed in another, ¡°The young Mr. Simpson just got back to town, and 1/2 12:42 Chapter 75 she¡¯s already on him. Quite the fast mover.¡± ¡°Shh, maybe they¡¯re just good friends, haha.¡± ¡°Good friends? Hah! The young Mr. Simpson¡¯s pals are all high¨Csocietydies. What¡¯s she inparison? Just amoner trying to y Cindere!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond verbally, and just shot the gossipmonger a chilly re, which surprisingly made the woman falter. But she wasn¡¯t about to show defeat, ¡°What, got a problem? Think a fierce look makes you special?¡± Matilda smirked. These kinds of women weren¡¯t worth her attention, not now and not five years ago. She turned her attention back to her work, unfazed, leaving the others feeling like they were punching air. Just a woman pretending to be all pure and lofty, who knew how she¡¯d ingratiate herself with those rich men; they sneered internally, convinced she was putting on an act just for them. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of another building, as a man saw the headline ¡°Simpson Family Heir¡¯s Mysterious Late¨CNight Date¡°, he tore the newspaper in half. On the inte, he barked, ¡°Carl!¡± Carl entered swiftly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you need me?¡± *Shut down these rags!¡± Yvan¡¯s handsome face was a mask of fury, ¡°And find out what Matilda was really up to that night!¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Chapter 78 Chapter 75 However, Matilda never expected to find herself back in the spotlight so soon in another way. The next day, she tried to keep a level head on her way to work, but as she passed the open office area, she could hear the whispers. ¡°Is that her?¡± ¡°Sure looks like it.¡± ¡°Definitely her, tsk, appearances can be deceiving.¡± ¡°Chloe¡¯s friend, huh? Birds of a feather, I bet she¡¯s no good either.¡± Matilda straightened her spine, and when she reached her desk, she stashed her purse and booted up herputer. Chloe¡¯s chat window was shing incessantly. She clicked it open. Chloe asked, ¡°OMG, have you seen what happened?¡± Matilda, puzzled, typed back, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Chloe quickly sent over an image, a screenshot from the entertainment news section. There was Matilda, her profile prominently disyed on the front page, with Adrian¡¯s back in the shot. His face wasn¡¯t visible, but Matilda¡¯s was clear. The angle was perfect, as if it caught Matilda and Adrian in a cozy, intimate conversation, suggesting to anyone a rather ambiguous rtionship. Matilda¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and before she could process it, Chloe bombarded her with messages, ¡°The whole office is buzzing about whether it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It is me.¡± Matilda sighed and admitted it with few simple words. She hadn¡¯t expected a night out at the bar to lead to ndestine photos and wild rumors. Her and Adrian? How was that possible? Matilda rubbed her temples, sensing aplicated situation brewing. As an employee of thepany, such a scandal could tarnish its reputation. Sure enough, before she had settled in, a nosy coworker approached with a sneer, ¡°Well, well, I hear someone¡¯s cozied up with the Simpson family¡¯s son!¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± Chimed in another, ¡°The young Mr. Simpson just got back to town, and 1/2 12:42 Chapter 75 she¡¯s already on him. Quite the fast mover.¡± ¡°Shh, maybe they¡¯re just good friends, haha.¡± ¡°Good friends? Hah! The young Mr. Simpson¡¯s pals are all high¨Csocietydies. What¡¯s she inparison? Just amoner trying to y Cindere!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond verbally, and just shot the gossipmonger a chilly re, which surprisingly made the woman falter. But she wasn¡¯t about to show defeat, ¡°What, got a problem? Think a fierce look makes you special?¡± Matilda smirked. These kinds of women weren¡¯t worth her attention, not now and not five years ago. She turned her attention back to her work, unfazed, leaving the others feeling like they were punching air. Just a woman pretending to be all pure and lofty, who knew how she¡¯d ingratiate herself with those rich men; they sneered internally, convinced she was putting on an act just for them. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of another building, as a man saw the headline ¡°Simpson Family Heir¡¯s Mysterious Late¨CNight Date¡°, he tore the newspaper in half. On the inte, he barked, ¡°Carl!¡± Carl entered swiftly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you need me?¡± *Shut down these rags!¡± Yvan¡¯s handsome face was a mask of fury, ¡°And find out what Matilda was really up to that night!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 79 Chapter 75 However, Matilda never expected to find herself back in the spotlight so soon in another way. The next day, she tried to keep a level head on her way to work, but as she passed the open office area, she could hear the whispers. ¡°Is that her?¡± ¡°Sure looks like it.¡± ¡°Definitely her, tsk, appearances can be deceiving.¡± ¡°Chloe¡¯s friend, huh? Birds of a feather, I bet she¡¯s no good either.¡± Matilda straightened her spine, and when she reached her desk, she stashed her purse and booted up herputer. Chloe¡¯s chat window was shing incessantly. She clicked it open. Chloe asked, ¡°OMG, have you seen what happened?¡± Matilda, puzzled, typed back, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Chloe quickly sent over an image, a screenshot from the entertainment news section. There was Matilda, her profile prominently disyed on the front page, with Adrian¡¯s back in the shot. His face wasn¡¯t visible, but Matilda¡¯s was clear. The angle was perfect, as if it caught Matilda and Adrian in a cozy, intimate conversation, suggesting to anyone a rather ambiguous rtionship. Matilda¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and before she could process it, Chloe bombarded her with messages, ¡°The whole office is buzzing about whether it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It is me.¡± Matilda sighed and admitted it with few simple words. She hadn¡¯t expected a night out at the bar to lead to ndestine photos and wild rumors. Her and Adrian? How was that possible? Matilda rubbed her temples, sensing aplicated situation brewing. As an employee of thepany, such a scandal could tarnish its reputation. Sure enough, before she had settled in, a nosy coworker approached with a sneer, ¡°Well, well, I hear someone¡¯s cozied up with the Simpson family¡¯s son!¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± Chimed in another, ¡°The young Mr. Simpson just got back to town, and 1/2 12:42 Chapter 75 she¡¯s already on him. Quite the fast mover.¡± ¡°Shh, maybe they¡¯re just good friends, haha.¡± ¡°Good friends? Hah! The young Mr. Simpson¡¯s pals are all high¨Csocietydies. What¡¯s she inparison? Just amoner trying to y Cindere!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond verbally, and just shot the gossipmonger a chilly re, which surprisingly made the woman falter. But she wasn¡¯t about to show defeat, ¡°What, got a problem? Think a fierce look makes you special?¡± Matilda smirked. These kinds of women weren¡¯t worth her attention, not now and not five years ago. She turned her attention back to her work, unfazed, leaving the others feeling like they were punching air. Just a woman pretending to be all pure and lofty, who knew how she¡¯d ingratiate herself with those rich men; they sneeredN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. internally, convinced she was putting on an act just for them. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of another building, as a man saw the headline ¡°Simpson Family Heir¡¯s Mysterious Late¨CNight Date¡°, he tore the newspaper in half. On the inte, he barked, ¡°Carl!¡± Carl entered swiftly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you need me?¡± *Shut down these rags!¡± Yvan¡¯s handsome face was a mask of fury, ¡°And find out what Matilda was really up to that night!¡± Chapter 80 Chapter 75 However, Matilda never expected to find herself back in the spotlight so soon in another way. The next day, she tried to keep a level head on her way to work, but as she passed the open office area, she could hear the whispers. ¡°Is that her?¡± ¡°Sure looks like it.¡± ¡°Definitely her, tsk, appearances can be deceiving.¡± ¡°Chloe¡¯s friend, huh? Birds of a feather, I bet she¡¯s no good either.¡± Matilda straightened her spine, and when she reached her desk, she stashed her purse and booted up herputer. Chloe¡¯s chat window was shing incessantly. She clicked it open. Chloe asked, ¡°OMG, have you seen what happened?¡± Matilda, puzzled, typed back, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Chloe quickly sent over an image, a screenshot from the entertainment news section. There was Matilda, her profile prominently disyed on the front page, with Adrian¡¯s back in the shot. His face wasn¡¯t visible, but Matilda¡¯s was clear. The angle was perfect, as if it caught Matilda and Adrian in a cozy, intimate conversation, suggesting to anyone a rather ambiguous rtionship. Matilda¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and before she could process it, Chloe bombarded her with messages, ¡°The whole office is buzzing about whether it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It is me.¡± Matilda sighed and admitted it with few simple words. She hadn¡¯t expected a night out at the bar to lead to ndestine photos and wild rumors. Her and Adrian? How was that possible? Matilda rubbed her temples, sensing aplicated situation brewing. As an employee of thepany, such a scandal could tarnish its reputation. Sure enough, before she had settled in, a nosy coworker approached with a sneer, ¡°Well, well, I hear someone¡¯s cozied up with the Simpson family¡¯s son!¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± Chimed in another, ¡°The young Mr. Simpson just got back to town, and 1/2 12:42 Chapter 75 she¡¯s already on him. Quite the fast mover.¡± ¡°Shh, maybe they¡¯re just good friends, haha.¡± ¡°Good friends? Hah! The young Mr. Simpson¡¯s pals are all high¨Csocietydies. What¡¯s she inparison? Just amoner trying to y Cindere!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond verbally, and just shot the gossipmonger a chilly re, which surprisingly made the woman falter. But she wasn¡¯t about to show defeat, ¡°What, got a problem? Think a fierce look makes you special?¡± Matilda smirked. These kinds of women weren¡¯t worth her attention, not now and not five years ago. She turned her attention back to her work, unfazed, leaving the others feeling like they were punching air. Just a woman pretending to be all pure and lofty, who knew how she¡¯d ingratiate herself with those rich men; they sneered internally, convinced she was putting on an act just for them. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of another building, as a man saw the headline ¡°Simpson Family Heir¡¯s Mysterious Late¨CNight Date¡°, he tore the newspaper in half. On the inte, he barked, ¡°Carl!¡± Carl entered swiftly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you need me?¡± *Shut down these rags!¡± Yvan¡¯s handsome face was a mask of fury, ¡°And find out what Matilda was really up to that night!¡±All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Chapter 81 Chapter 75 However, Matilda never expected to find herself back in the spotlight so soon in another way. The next day, she tried to keep a level head on her way to work, but as she passed the open office area, she could hear the whispers. ¡°Is that her?¡± ¡°Sure looks like it.¡± ¡°Definitely her, tsk, appearances can be deceiving.¡± ¡°Chloe¡¯s friend, huh? Birds of a feather, I bet she¡¯s no good either.¡± Matilda straightened her spine, and when she reached her desk, she stashed her purse and booted up herputer. Chloe¡¯s chat window was shing incessantly. She clicked it open. Chloe asked, ¡°OMG, have you seen what happened?¡± Matilda, puzzled, typed back, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Chloe quickly sent over an image, a screenshot from the entertainment news section. There was Matilda, her profile prominently disyed on the front page, with Adrian¡¯s back in the shot. His face wasn¡¯t visible, but Matilda¡¯s was clear. The angle was perfect, as if it caught Matilda and Adrian in a cozy, intimate conversation, suggesting to anyone a rather ambiguous rtionship. Matilda¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and before she could process it, Chloe bombarded her with messages, ¡°The whole office is buzzing about whether it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It is me.¡± Matilda sighed and admitted it with few simple words. She hadn¡¯t expected a night out at the bar to lead to ndestine photos and wild rumors. Her and Adrian? How was that possible? Matilda rubbed her temples, sensing aplicated situation brewing. As an employee of thepany, such a scandal could tarnish its reputation. Sure enough, before she had settled in, a nosy coworker approached with a sneer, ¡°Well, well, I hear someone¡¯s cozied up with the Simpson family¡¯s son!¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± Chimed in another, ¡°The young Mr. Simpson just got back to town, and 1/2 12:42 Chapter 75 she¡¯s already on him. Quite the fast mover.¡± ¡°Shh, maybe they¡¯re just good friends, haha.¡± ¡°Good friends? Hah! The young Mr. Simpson¡¯s pals are all high¨Csocietydies. What¡¯s she inparison? Just amoner trying to y Cindere!¡± Matilda didn¡¯t respond verbally, and just shot the gossipmonger a chilly re, which surprisingly made the woman falter. But she wasn¡¯t about to show defeat, ¡°What, got a problem? Think a fierce look makes you special?¡± Matilda smirked. These kinds of women weren¡¯t worth her attention, not now and not five years ago. She turned her attention back to her work, unfazed, leaving the others feeling like they were punching air. Just a woman pretending to be all pure and lofty, who knew how she¡¯d ingratiate herself with those rich men; they sneeredN?velDrama.Org owns this. internally, convinced she was putting on an act just for them. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of another building, as a man saw the headline ¡°Simpson Family Heir¡¯s Mysterious Late¨CNight Date¡°, he tore the newspaper in half. On the inte, he barked, ¡°Carl!¡± Carl entered swiftly, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you need me?¡± *Shut down these rags!¡± Yvan¡¯s handsome face was a mask of fury, ¡°And find out what Matilda was really up to that night!¡± Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Seeing his boss so tormented on the other end of theputer, Carl couldn¡¯t help but feel an inexplicable sense of relief wash over him. Yet, with that feeling came a deep sense of empathy for Matilda. What dark past had twisted and tortured her to this extent? Carl, a grown man, shuddered at the mere knowledge of these events, let alone what Matilda must have endured at the time! How harrowing must her pain have been? Carl could hardly bear to think that Matilda must have hated Yvan with every ounce of her being; with each stab of pain, her loathing for him grew until all the love she had turned into hatred, tormenting her endlessly through those inhumane days. Yvan¡¯s shoulders shook, and when he looked up again, his eyes were red and his voice hoarse. He instructed Carl, ¡°No matter the cost, you must trace that IP address overseas!¡± Someone had dared to harm Matilda under his name, to reduce her to this state- unforgivable! Yvan¡¯s heart quivered violently, as if a knife had been twisted into it, ripping away at the flesh, leaving him in a bone¨Cchilling cold that seemed to freeze his very blood and made his heartbeat sting with pain. Why had ite to this? Who would go to such lengths under his name? But Yvan knew all too well that no matter who was to me, the original siny with him. alone. He was the one who had sent Matilda to jail, who had subjected her to public humiliation, andter, whatever Matilda endured behind bars, people took it for granted. After all, didn¡¯t Yvan hate her enough to wish her dead? What did it matter if someone killed her? Wasn¡¯t that what Yvan had wanted? Yes, wasn¡¯t that what he had wanted? Yvan closed his eyes which were slightly red, his fingertips digging in tightly as he grappled with immense pain. He had never considered how his actions had cast Matilda into such depths of despair. And yet, this tragedy was indeed his own making. What could he do now? How did he salvage a hate that has reached a dead end? This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Yvan began to panic, fearing the zing hate in Matilda¡¯s eyes, a hate fierce enough 1/2 12-457 Chapter 82 to consume her whole. How could he begin to exin that it wasn¡¯t him who had orchestrated all of this against her back then? Exhausted, Matilda returned home to find Gideon on the couch, his face buried in his hands. She approached tofort him, ¡°Bro.¡± Gideon, his eyes red, rested his chin on Matilda¡¯s forehead, ¡°I feel like a failure. I couldn¡¯t even protect my own sister. I watched helplessly as you were humiliated.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me.¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes welled up, but she forced a smile, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Those words can¡¯t hurt me anymore.¡± She had endured pains a thousand times worse; what were these cold words? What was Yvan? ¡°I¡¯m going to see someone tomorrow, someone who might be able to help,¡± Matilda wasn¡¯t sure why, but she thought of this person who always seemed to point out a new path. Maybe it was worth a try. Matilda patted Gideon on the shoulder, ¡°We can¡¯t be defeated so easily, Gideon. I¡¯m fine.¡± Gideon hugged her tightly. ¡°Mat, you¡¯re the only family I have left in this world. Our parents are gone without a trace; you¡¯re all I have.¡± Matilda looked up, tears silently streaming down her face. Yes, where indeed were their parents since that day? Chapter 83 Chapter 83 On the morning after, at nine o¡¯clock sharp, Matilda strolled into a caf¨¦, right on time for the meeting. Her eyes found the man waiting and she greeted him with a faint smile. Mason returned the gesture, his surprise from when Matilda had reached out to him. still lingering. He hadn¡¯t expected her to seek him out at all. When she had asked for his help, Mason had found himself unexpectedly moved by her plea, especially when she mentioned how his words had stayed with her. He agreed to the appointment with crity, and so here he was, waiting for her arrival. She lowered her eyelids slightly. ¡°Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s totally fine.¡± Mason¡¯s hands were sped together, his posture impable. He carefully told the barista that he preferred his coffee on the cooler side before turning his attention back to Matilda, ¡°So, running into new troubletely?¡± Matilda¡¯s hands twisted together in herp, a clear sign of her anxiety. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m ashamed to have to ask for your help. Yvan has cklisted our studio, and we¡¯re at our wits¡® end. I don¡¯t want to grovel to anyone. If you could lend a hand today, Mr. Farrell, I¡¯d be forever in your debt. If not, I won¡¯t hold it against you. I¡¯ll just have to find another way.¡± She was a woman with undeniable pride. Mason narrowed his eyes slightly, ¡°I might be able to help but¡­ Dawn, remember, I¡¯m a businessman.¡± The unspoken question was clear, ¡°What¡¯s in it for me, Matilda?¡± Matilda¡¯s face paled, her fingers tightening. Her defensive stance brought a slight chuckle from Mason, ¡°Rx, I¡¯m just teasing. Let¡¯s say you¡¯owe me one. I¡¯ll send your bio to some of my contacts and see if they can throw some work your way.¡± Her eyes lit up, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± There was a mysterious depth to Mason¡¯s gaze that Matilda couldn¡¯t quite read, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it. Instead, she just nodded, her eyes misting with gratitude as she thanked him gently, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how much this means to me, Mr. Farrell.¡± ¡°No need for being this distant.¡± Mason looked at her with a hint of amusement, ¡°We¡¯ve met privately enough times. Maybe we should just be friends; what do you 1/2 Chapter 83 N?velDrama.Org holds this content. say, Matilda Thompson?¡± It was the first time he had used her full name. Matilda¡¯s smile widened, and she slipped out the bill that had been hidden beneath her menu, ¡°Then let me buy you this cup of coffee.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of refusing.¡± Mason didn¡¯t reject. Smiling, he watched as she went to settle the bill. Their table was bathed in sunlight streaming through the ss, casting a warm glow over the cozy scene. Adrian whistled cheerfully as he and his sister finished their shopping spree. Through the caf¨¦¡¯s ss, they caught sight of Mason at his table. ¡°Look, it¡¯s Mason!¡± Willow eximed. Adrian rolled his eyes, ¡°As if he could outshine me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get too ahead of yourself. There are no ugly ducks in our circle.¡± Willow teased. Adrian mockingly raised his hand to swat at his sister, but halted mid¨Cmotion when he saw Matilda return to her seat across from Mason after paying. Adrian¡¯s face scrunched in confusion, asking his sister, ¡°What the heck is this all about?¡± Willow was just as puzzled, muttering. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re dating or something?¡± ¡°Dating, my foot.¡± Adrian shoved the shopping bags into Willow¡¯s arms, ¡°Carry these yourself!¡± ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± Willow jabbed the ss window, tugging her brother towards the parking lot, ¡°So what if the girl you like is cozying up to someone else? Just double down and invite her out for coffee yourself. That¡¯s how it works, right?¡± The dashing blond man snapped his fingers in realization, ¡°You¡¯ve got a point!¡± Chapter 84 12:457 Chapter 84 However, what Matilda didn¡¯t foresee was that hertest outing with Mason would once again be snapped by paparazzi. In no time, headlines were screaming about her swapping malepanions as if they werest season¡¯s jeans, with the Simpson family¡¯s eldest son being yesterday¡¯s news and Mr. Farrell the vor of the day. Everyone was specting about the woman¡¯s background, but all Matilda did upon her return was to toss it aside after ncing at the newspaper. She texted Mason a message. [Sorry, Mr. Farrell, I didn¡¯t anticipate this mess. Apologies for the trouble.] Mason quickly replied, saying it was no big deal, and told Matilda not to worry. Looked like he was used to the limelight, Matilda mused privately. Meanwhile, in the president¡¯s office of the Boyd Group, Carl was treading on eggshells as he watched his boss seething with rage. His coffee had gone from piping hot to stone cold without so much as a sip. Yvan was ring intensely at the newspaper headline. Carl was braced for something to be thrown. And sure enough, Yvan reached to hurl his ashtray, but Carl, quick as a cat, caught it, and this pas de deux of throw and catch continued with Carl urging. ¡°Mr. Boyd! Please, calm down!¡± A cold veneer covered Yvan¡¯s handsome face, ¡°She must be quite something! To ensnare Mason like that!¡± Carl, having put everything back in its ce, kept his peace. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Yvan mmed his hand on the desk, ¡°Go find out! What¡¯s the deal with her meeting Mason?!¡± Mason¡¯s business contact responded promptly, and after forwarding the message to Matilda, he also passed on the contact details to her. Matilda expressed her profound gratitude and quickly started liaising with his contact. It wasn¡¯t long before they hammered out a general n and process. Mason¡¯s contact, a straightforward guy, was thoroughly impressed with a few previous pieces from Matilda¡¯s workshop and decided on the spot to coborate with her. They agreed on a meeting ce to sign the contract and casually suggested grabbing a bite together. Matilda happily agreed, and Mason, as the intermediary. 1/2 Chapter 84 joined in. When the day arrived, Matilda donned a fresh outfit and did her makeup before heading out. Gideon noticed her upbeat mood and cheered her on from behind, ¡°Go get ¡®em! Conquer those business folks with your charm!¡± ¡°It¡¯s about talent!¡± Matilda retorted with a smile, turning back to her brother. That day. she wore a bomber jacket, jeans, and a pair of leather boots, exuding youth and energy. She waved at Gideon, ¡°I¡¯m off!¡± ¡°Stay safe.¡± Gideon called out from the couch, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting to hear the good news!¡± Twenty minutester, Matilda arrived at a well¨Cknown steakhouse, which usually required reservations. They had clearly booked in advance because, upon giving the business contact¡¯s name, she was promptly escorted to an elegant private dining room. Opening the door, she found Mason already seated. She greeted him with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re always so early.¡± ¡°Old habits,¡± Mason gestured for Matilda to sit down. She did sofortably, and they both settled in with the ease of old friends. The business contact was an older gentleman who quickly shook hands with everyone upon arrival, smiling at Matilda. ¡°Never would have guessed the mysterious Dawn in our industry was such a lovely lady.¡± Matilda¡¯s response was graceful and natural, ¡°Appreciate thepliment, Micah.¡± Micah had also brought his son along, a young man who couldn¡¯t seem to take his eyes off Matilda, causing her a bit of difort. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 No sooner had Micah finished speaking than his son slid up beside Matilda with an eagerness in his eyes that was hard to miss. He was clearly angling to make her acquaintance, hoping to curry favor as he poured her a ss of orange juice. Matilda managed a polite smile and murmured her thanks. After expressing her gratitude, she felt Micah¡¯s son rest his hand on the back of hers. Micah caught the gesture and couldn¡¯t help but sh a grin that was tinged with a bit of awkwardness, shooting his son a look that clearly said, ¡°Cut it out.¡± But his son. seemed oblivious, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Matilda¡¯s face. Her smile stiffened as she gently but firmly withdrew her hand. Unfazed, the young man scooted his chair closer, encroaching on her personal space. Mason noticed and, with an effortless motion, drew Matilda toward him. As she found herself suddenly in the crook of his arm, her heart skipped a beat. She whispered a soft ¡°thank you¡± in his direction. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this.¡± Mason replied quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought this could happen. Micah¡¯s a stand¨Cup guy, but I didn¡¯t expect his son to act out like that.¡± He really did make his father look bad. Grateful for Mason¡¯s intervention, Matilda noticed that Micah¡¯s son, Troy, had toned down considerably, even quieting down during the meal. In the midst of a conversation with Micah, the man, embarrassed by his son¡¯s impolite behavior, offered Matilda an additional share of the profits. Matilda tried to decline, but as Troy excused himself to the restroom, Micah hastily apologized on his son¡¯s behalf. ¡°My apologies. Ms. Thompson. I have a lot of respect for you and hope that my son¡¯s antics won¡¯t hinder our partnership.¡± ¡°I understand where you¡¯reing from, Micah. I¡¯m not one to hold a grudge.¡± Matilda replied with a small smile. It was clear Micah was a good man, but perhaps. it was this very kindness that had spoiled his son, leading to the current situation. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Straightening her hair, Matilda raised her ss to Micah. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling up to alcohol tonight, so let¡¯s toast with this orange juice. I¡¯m definitely on board with the deal and, nope you can rest easy. And in the future, I hope you¡¯ll consider me for other opportunities.¡± Chapter 85 Feeling indebted because of his son¡¯s rudeness, Micah eagerly agreed. The conversation flowed, and when the atmosphere at the table was just right, he had Troy bring over a contract for Matilda to sign. After Mason reviewed the contract and found nothing disadvantageous for Matilda. he gave her a nod of approval. Matilda inked her signature, and Micah, along with his son, toasted her in turn. Troy, perhaps chastened by his father¡¯s stern looks, reluctantly poured Matilda another ss of orange juice and raised his ss. Mason¡¯s smile was graceful as he stood, his arm protectively around Matilda¡¯s waist to steady her. The four of them toasted, snapped a photo tomemorate the sessful negotiation, and sealed the deal. As they wrapped up, Micah shook Matilda¡¯s hand. When it was Troy¡¯s turn, he slyly grazed the palm of her hand with his forefinger, his grin implying more than words could say. Matilda felt a wave of goosebumps but was relieved when Micah and Troy finally left, with thetter ncing back every few steps as he headed to his car. Mason offered to fetch the car from the underground parking lot, asking Matilda to wait for him there. As she stood in the cool breeze of the early evening, the day¡¯s events began to settle; Matilda tugged her coat, and a sudden heat washed over her. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Fanning herself with her hand, Matilda felt the heat not only failing to dissipate but intensifying and surging towards her in waves. The early autumn evening should have been cool, yet Matilda¡¯s face was flushed, her stance growing unsteady as she leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths. continuously. It dawned on her that there must have been something wrong with the dinner she had just eaten. But what could it possibly be? Why was she the only one affected when everyone else seemed fine? The thought struck her like lightning ¨C the orange juice! All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. It had to be Troy. He must have tampered with her drink because, unlike the other. dishes that could have been sampled by anyone, the orange juice was solely hers, and Troy had been particrly attentive in refilling her ss throughout the evening. So, he could have easily slipped something into it while pouring her another ss! By the time Matilda realized this, it was toote. The drug¡¯s effect exploded within her, sending her head spinning, her vision whirling into chaos. So hot¡­unbearably hot. Her eyes reddened, staring into the void of the underground parking lot until a man¡¯s voice, deep and laced with panic, reached her, ¡°Matilda, what¡¯s wrong?¡± It was Mason. Matilda clutched at Mason¡¯s arm, copsing into his embrace as she gasped for air, struggling to piece her words together, ¡°Troy¡­he¡­he drugged me. Mason was sharp, instantly grasping the situation; he likely suspected that Troy had done something to the orange juice. Without hesitation, he scooped Matilda into hist arms and settled her into the backseat of his car. Amid the turmoil, Matilda heard Mason curse ¨C an uncharacteristic slip for such a refined man. Then she heard Mason make a call, presumably to a private doctor. As she leaned against the leather backseat, its touch brought a strangefort to her scorched skin, and she murmured weakly. ¡°Mason.¡± Mason¡¯s hands trembled slightly on the steering wheel, ¡°Stay calm. I¡¯m taking you to my ce now. The doctor will be there in half an hours just hang on? Matilda¡¯s fevered eves burned, her body radiating an intense heat. Her mind caLK¨¦ with thoughts as she asked shakily, ¡°Was it¡­ Trov ¡°It¡¯s the likely quess.¡± Mason replied as he maneuvered the car around a crosstonta ¡°Seems like Micah has been too lenient, allowing her son to get this for out of control¡± Right now, confrenting Troy would have to wait; Matilda¡¯s energency was the priority. Mason sped all the way to his vi, and as he carried Matilda out of the car, her ams instinctively wrapped around his neck in a gesture that seemed almost like an invitation. Her trail body trembled in his arms, clearly in agony. Kicking open the door to his home, Masonid her on the bed before rushing to fill the bathtub with cold water, turning the faucet to its maximum. The cold, clear water quickly filled the tub. Matilda felt her consciousness slipping away, her soul slowly engulfed by a burning torment. She clutched the bed sheet beneath her, her mind in disarray, and her voice brokenly called out a name. ¡°Yvan.¡± When Mason returned and heard Matilda whisper that name, he paused briefly before approaching the bed with an apologetic tone, ¡°Pardon me, but I need to get you into the cold bath now.¡± With that, he undressed her upper body, and as her skin made contact with the chilly air, Matilda¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 When Matilda felt the cool touch of the fingers, it was like her entire being ignited in an instant, the following moments slipping beyond thought and into the realm of the uncontroble. Mason, with his other hand hanging idly by his side, suddenly tightened his grip. pulling Matilda into the bathtub. The shock of cold water against her skin snapped her back to a brief moment of lucidity. But it was akin to a drop in the bucket. Elsewhere, Yvan had just finished a meal with a business associate and was heading toward the underground parking when he spotted Troy skulking around. Instinctively, he asked, ¡°Who¡¯s that? Looks familiar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Micah¡¯s son.¡± Yvan¡¯spanion replied, ¡°Micah¡¯s a decent man, but it¡¯s a shame about his son. Up to no good, I bet.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Yvan responded indifferently, just as Troy approached, greasing up to them with a too¨C eager hello. Yvan returned the greeting with a cool detachment, offering nothing more. N?velDrama.Org owns this. But it was Troy who broke the silence, ¡°Mr. Boyd, have you seen a woman on your way down here?¡± ¡°A woman?¡± Yvan, about to walk away, paused as he looked at Troy, bewildered, ¡°What woman?¡± Troy approached with a sly smile, replying, ¡°I slipped a little something to a dame I fancy, you know.¡± Disgusted by Troy¡¯s leering face. Yvan wondered if the man had any brains at all. Did he really think everyone operated on the same base instincts as him? Troy, oblivious to Yvan¡¯s revulsion, carried on, ¡°But just as I was shaking off the old man, she disappeared. What a drag.¡± Yvan, not wanting to involve himself with Troy any further and demean his own standards, was about to leave with his associate when Troy muttered something that stopped Yvan dead in his tracks. He said, ¡°Strange, where did Ms. Thompson go? Surely Mason didn¡¯t swoop in and cash in on my tuck?¡± Ms. Thompson, Mason?! A thunderous boom seemed to explode in Yvan¡¯s ears. He snapped back to reality his eyes turned cold and sharp as daggers, ¡°Pepeat what you just sag ¡°M¨CMr. Boyd,¡± Troy stumbled backward, intimidated by the murderous inRARE HI Yvan¡¯s eyes, ¡°I said, Ms. Thompson¡­she might have been, pk ked up by lizen You don¡¯t know her, do you?¡± ¡°Which Ms. Thompson?!¡± Yvan only felt his heart lurch, his adrenaline surged at Troy¡¯s words. ¡°Uh¡­I¡¯m not sure which one. It¡¯s just¡­the designer my dad was dealing with the They call her¡­Dawn, I think,¡± As soon as these words left Troy¡¯s mouth, Yvan¡¯s face underwent a rapid transformation, a killing intent flickering across his eyes, a chitting fury taking told. Troy, frightened by Yvan¡¯s vtile emotions, stood frozen as Yvan lunged forward, grabbing him by the cor with a threatening re, ¡°You dared to drug he ¡°She¡­what¡¯s so special about her?¡± Troy, defiant even in the face of danger, retortes, ¡°Her luck, catching my eye!¡± Yvan pinned Troy against the wall, his gaze piercing him for a long moment before abruptly releasing him, ¡°I¡¯ll settle your ount in time.¡± With a cold fury. Yvan turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Troy and the business associate behind. Marching through the parking lot towards his car, Yvan pulled out his phone. ¡°Car? It¡¯s me. I need Matilda¡¯s location, now. Immediately!¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 The door to the Mason residence flew open with a thunderous kick from Yvan.. When the two men locked eyes, neither had expected to find the other in their space that day. Without a second thought, Yvan lunged forward, seizing Mason by the cor, and pinned him against the wall with a force that sent a shudder through the frame. His eyes, sharp as daggers, bore into Mason. The coldness in his voice sliced through any remnants of their past camaraderie, ¡°You got a death wish or something?¡± ¡°A death wish?¡± Mason¡¯s lips curled into a half¨Csmirk, ¡°Interesting. So getting cozy with Matilda is a capital offense now?¡± Yvan¡¯s fury painted his handsome face with an intensity that was almost palpable. His mouth opened to retort but he swallowed the words, releasing Mason instead. Both men were panting, visibly struggling to contain their emotions. It took considerable effort for Yvan to speak, each word measured and deliberate, ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°The bathroom.¡± Mason seemed to regain hisposure first, ¡°She¡¯s been drugged by Troy.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Yvan didn¡¯t waste another moment, striding towards the upstairs bathroom of the Mason house, ¡°I¡¯ll settle the score with Troy myself.¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate to fling open the bathroom door, and there was Matilda, slumped over the edge of the bathtub. Her fair face flushed pink from the drug, an image of undeniable allure. The thought of Mason witnessing her in such a vulnerable state ignited an uncontroble rage within Yvan. Snatching a towel from the rack, he wrapped Matilda in it and lifted her soaking body. from the water. As she nestled her head against Yvan¡¯s chest, she murmured unconsciously, ¡°Yvan.¡± Despite the softness of her voice, it struck a heavy blow to his heart, crumbling a piece of his defenses. Knowing full well that her words were clouded by the drug¡¯s influence, Yvan couldn¡¯t help but respond. He replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± As he carried Matilda out, passing Mason who stood outside the bathroom, Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. His grip on her tightened involuntarily, yet he managed to say, ¡°Thanks, Mr. Farrell, for stepping in.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Mason¡¯s lips twisted into a smile, unfazed by Yvan¡¯s guarded stance. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it for you. It was all for Matilda.¡± ¡°You seem pretty invested in my ex¨Cwife. I¡¯m ttered.¡± Yvan¡¯s coldughter intensified, a chilling aura emanating from his devilishly handsome face. Knowing full well his antagonism, Mason raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Done being friends, Yvan?¡± ¡°That depends on you.¡± Clutching the woman in his arms, Yvan looked up, his sharp and beautiful eyes shing a warning. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t mess with what¡¯s not yours to touch.¡± ¡°You sure like to meddle.¡± Masonughed on spot, ¡°Your ex¨Cwife is none of your business anymore, so why the clinginess? If you admit you¡¯ve fallen for Matilda, I wouldn¡¯t mind a fair fight.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I mind.¡± Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed abruptly, his smile belying a sinister undertone. ¡°You¡¯re out of the league.¡± With that, he left Mason¡¯s house, cradling Matilda in his arms, his tall figure receding into the distance. Mason watched Yvan¡¯s retreating figure for a long time before looking away, scoffing forcefully. ¡°Boring.¡± Pulling out his phone, Mason made a call with practiced ease, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me. I want to dig up what Matilda went through five years ago. And where are her parents. now?¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Matilda was unceremoniously tossed onto the passenger seat of Yvan¡¯s sports car, d only in a bathrobe and a towel wrapped around her. The moment Yvan hit the gas, the car roared to life, shooting off into the night like a bullet from a gun. The distance from Mason¡¯s ce to Yvan¡¯s secluded vi was a solid twelve miles, but with Yvan¡¯s reckless speeding, the trip took mere dozens of minutes. Upon arrival he barely paused to scan his fingerprint to unlock the door before storming upstairs and dumping Matilda onto the massive bed. The world spun around Matilda as if she were caught in a maelstrom. Her vision blurred and the drugs coursing through her system left her as helpless as a fish out. of water, gasping for breath on the shore. Suddenly, there was a weight upon her. With no strength to fight back or even to open her eyes, she struggled to see who was looming over her, but could only make out a hazy silhouette. A familiar warmth and scent enveloped her, and in her confusion, she murmured a name, ¡°Yvan.¡± After that, her consciousness was a blur, a sensation of falling into darkness, disintegrating, vanishing. Tears silently soaked into the sheets, mirroring the silent agony that screamed within her heart. When Matilda awoke the next day, the bed beside her was empty. Memories of the previous night flooded back, sending a shiver through her scalp as she nced around the room. Her movement caught the attention of the man in front of her, who was in the midst. of a video conference. Yven turned his attractive fair face towards her, the schrly coolness of his sses rendering him a tinge of refined rascal vibe. He was dressed in a turtleneck sweater, the morning light casting a soft golden halo around him, giving him an air of casual. elegance. Matilda stared at Yvan for what felt like an eternity before he let out a derisive chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did the drugs scramble your brain?¡± She shot up, realizing she was naked, and quickly retreated back under the covers. Her panicked expression didn¡¯t escape Yvan¡¯s notice, and his smirk deepened, 12 12:46 Chapter 89 ¡°Looking for clothes?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Matilda stayed silent, her shoulders trembling slightly. She was afraid of him. With a click of his tongue, Yvan strode over to the wardrobe, flung it open, and tossed a woman¡¯s blouse at Matilda, ¡°The stuff you left behind five years ago is annoying, so I moved it all here.¡± The implication was clear: these clothes, these remnants of her, didn¡¯t deserve to be in the Boyd Mansion. Bearing the brunt of Yvan¡¯s scorn, Matilda dressed hurriedly, and then grabbed a pair of leggings from the wardrobe. Her legs were long and slender, the kind of well¨Cproportioned that spoke of grace rather than undernourishment. Yvan¡¯s gaze lingered on Matilda¡¯s legs, and his eyes darkened. Standing up, Matilda felt the aching soreness throughout her body, a testament to Yvan¡¯s rough handling the night before. She covered her face with her hands in frustration, leaning against the wall next to the wardrobe for support as if to steady herself through a few deep breaths. After a long while, she finally spoke softly to Yvan, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Just like that, after the intimacy night, she thought she could walk away. Yvan¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile, speaking up, ¡°Wait a second.¡± As Matilda turned, he tossed her phone to her, ¡°Don¡¯t forget this. Wouldn¡¯t want you to be unreachable if someone needs to contact you.¡± Hisst words were said though gritted teeth, clearly insinuating something. Matilda slid the phone into her pocket and straightened her back, ¡°Whoever tries to contact me is none of your business.¡± ¡°Matilda, is that how you treat your savior?¡± Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed; his gaze following her slender figure. Matildaughed, ¡°I never asked for your help!¡± Chapter 90 Chapter 90 From her bitter tone, it looked like they couldn¡¯t get along well anymore. It was a rare asion that they didn¡¯t start off at each other¡¯s throats, but as fate would have it, things had spiraled back to their usual chaos. Matilda swallowed the sting of hurt and feigned indifference, ¡°Well, knowing Mr. Boyd, there¡¯s no shortage of flings in your life. It¡¯s all a y, and once the curtain falls, the actors leave. You stopping me like this, I might start thinking you¡¯ve got a soft spot for me.¡± Predictably, her provocation drew out Yvan¡¯s sardonic grin, ¡°Got a soft spot for you? Matilda, you do tter yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always seen myself clearly.¡± Matilda spun around to face Yvan, her body trembling yet her smile stunning, ¡°In your eyes, I¡¯m just some tart, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°If you know it, then scram!¡± Yvan¡¯s simmering rage erupted at once, his gaze fierce as he stared Matilda down, contempt shing through his eyes, ¡°Get out of my sight before you taint my mansion any further!¡± With tears glistening in her eyes, perhaps mocking them both, she retorted, ¡°I¡¯m. gone. But don¡¯t you dare miss me.¡± With that, she mmed the door behind her. The sound of the door crashing shut seemed to symbolize the shattering of their worlds.N?velDrama.Org owns this. As Matilda¡¯s figure disappeared beyond the threshold, Yvan, in a fit of fury, smashed the ashtray beside him. The woman was insufferable. Why¡­why had he ever taken her away from Mason¡¯s ce? At that moment, his phone rang. Yvan¡¯s gaze settled on the iing number, and his expression abruptly softened. When he answered, a sweet, tender voice greeted him, ¡°Yvan, I¡¯m back home. Are you going to pick me up?¡± Dragging her weary body out of the cab, Matilda returned home to find Gideon bustling in the kitchen, preparing lunch. When he saw her, he rushed over anxiously, ¡°Where were youst night? I was this close to calling the cops; do you know that?¡± 12:47 Chapter 90 Upon seeing Gideon, Matilda felt a surge of relief. Her eyes, already red, couldn¡¯t hold back the tears any longer, and they fell freely. The physical pain, the emotional torment, it all came crashing down on her in that moment. Clutching at Gideon¡¯s shirt, she sobbed with a raw intensity, as if expelling all her strength. Gideon¡¯s anger red upon noticing the love bites on Matilda¡¯s neck, ¡°Who was it?! Who took advantage of you?!¡± Matilda shook her head, crying, refusing to confess. Gideon gripped her shoulders firmly, ¡°Was it Yvan? Was it him? I¡¯ll confront him, I swear! How dare he treat you this way! He has the nerve to¡­¡± Matilda trembled violently, feeling as though she was suffocating. Ever since she had faced Yvan, the struggle had been relentless. She had tried to contain herself, but now her fingers trembled uncontrobly. In broken sentences, she managed to convey her despair, ¡°Gideon¡­I¡¯m in so much pain¡­I can barely breathe.¡± Gideon scooped her up and ced her on the bed, fetching some water and rummaging for medication to ease her distress. Matilda, unable to contain her fear, curled up defensively and pleaded, ¡°Gideon¡­save me. I can¡¯t get entangled with Yvan anymore. Please save me.¡°. Yvan ¨C the deepest wound in her heart, one that bled profusely at the slightest touch. 1 As Matilda¡¯s fingers twisted together, Gideon stayed by her side, soothing her until she finally calmed down. It took a while longer for her to fully exin the events of the previous night. Gideon listened, each word a thorn in his heart. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 For an entire day after the incident, Matilda didn¡¯t step foot outside her home. Gideon, feeling distressed for her, took it upon himself to handle her business affairs. He met with Micah to discuss their uing coboration, and in the midst of it, the topic of the drugging came up. Micah was utterly shocked, apologizing profusely and promising to make a personal apology with his son in tow when he found the time. Gideon had been all set to give Micah a piece of his mind, but the old man¡¯s sincere remorse and the silver streaking through his hair softened Gideon¡¯s resolve. Troy had really let down a good man, his father. As Matilda rested at home, Gideon started sketching designs for their new project. Micah had approached them to create a spin on the trendy ¡°box bag¡± style. There were numerous distinct kinds of box bags. To stand out, they would need to infuse their bags with a unique ir, something to carve out their own niche in the market. Gideon saw it as a fresh challenge for the studio, one that could potentially bring them fame and fortune once it seed. After a few days of recuperation, Matilda ventured back to the studio. As she left work, she decided to drop by Logan¡¯s ce, timing it perfectly to miss Yvan¡¯s return from the office. Violet was away traveling, a convenient absence that spared Matilda any awkward encounters. Meanwhile, as Yvan was wrapping up his day, Carl approached him with deference, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you have a visitor. ¡°Who is it?¡± Who woulde looking for him after hours? Before he could ponder any further, the clicking of high heels echoed through the hall and a slender figure rushed in, throwing herself into his arms as he stood up, ¡°Yvan! It¡¯s me!¡± As Yvan looked down at the familiar face nestled against him, his icy demeanor. melted away. He brushed her cheek, ¡°E?¡± It was E Archer, with her cascading waves and the kind of knockout figure that turned heads. Yvan, exceptionally, shed her a smile, and then asked, ¡°Why you didn¡¯t give me a heads¨Cup beforeing here?¡± 1247 evene to pick me up from the algort so had toe find your receiving her call the day Matida had lift which day Matida had witt, which had driven thinks i sight of drinking instead of werkoming back The thought of Mutina and Year¡¯s eyes momentarily but E noticing his lence and do action pinched his cheek ytots, res. Yvan ware did you drift at of Chants the dared to be so bold with Yvan Other women kept their distance, vertimted by his storily aura Elia who bore a striking resemnce to her Binder Rachel Meche was vibrant and untamed unlike the more demure Kachri Sewing Eta¡¯s tack, we liker Rachel¡¯s timed something different in Yvan now. Why did Marlina i mage dwade his thoughts when he looked at Elia? the curd his oves to a moment taking a deep breath When they operied again, he Was The Impastave her of the hard tamily a man who never lingered on any woman V¨¦res & mischievous smirk, he twirled a lock of flia: har around his finger. How sumatur to you by taking you out tonight? There¡¯s this renowned Murger Chu Bepard her arms around his neck. A wee kiss first. Then we can i talk about how you make up N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Chapter 91 E replied coyly. ¡°To give you a surprise, of course! You¡¯re so cold, Yvan. You didn¡¯t evene to pick me up from the airport, so I had toe find you!¡± Yvan remembered receiving her call the day Matilda had left, which had driven him to a night of drinking instead of weing E back. The thought of Matilda darkened Yvan¡¯s eyes momentarily, but E, noticing his silence and distraction, pinched his cheek yfully, ¡°Hey, Yvan, where did you drift off to?¡± In all of Sea City, only E dared to be so bold with Yvan. Other women kept their distance, intimidated by his steely aura. E, who bore a striking resemnce to her sister Rachel Archer, was vibrant and untamed, unlike the more demure Rachel. Seeing E¡¯s face, so like Rachel¡¯s, stirred something different in Yvan now. Why did Matilda¡¯s image invade his thoughts when he looked at E? He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When they opened again, he was the impassive heir of the Boyd family, a man who never lingered on any woman. With a mischievous smirk, he twirled a lock of E¡¯s hair around his finger, ¡°How about I make it up to you by taking you out tonight? There¡¯s this renowned restaurant I know.¡± ¡°Humph!¡± E looped her arms around his neck, ¡°A wee kiss first. Then we can talk about how you¡¯ll make it up.¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Yvan was caught off guard when E, seizing the moment of his distraction, wrapped her arms around his neck and nted a kiss thatnded on the corner of his mouth as he instinctively stepped back. E pouted, looking genuinely hurt, ¡°Yvan, you¡¯ve changed!¡± All Yvan did was pat her shoulder, ¡°Cut it out, E. Let go.¡± Reluctantly, E dropped her arms but then quickly caught Yvan¡¯s hand. Such gestures were once second nature to them. E used to shower Yvan with her vibrant passion, but now¡­ Tilting her head, she nced at this man next to her, her eyshes fluttering, feeling that something was off with Yvan. Thetter let her lead him by the hand. As they passed through the lobby after work, the staff, who were still toiling away, caught the sight where Yvan¡¯s hand was held by a girl as they walked out, and covered their mouth in shock. ¡°Who¡¯s that girl?¡± ¡°How bold can she get! My God!¡± ¡°She¡¯s actually holding Mr. Boyd¡¯s hand? And he didn¡¯t tell her to buzz off? Unbelievable!¡± ¡°That¡¯s it. Mr. Boyd must have a new me.¡± The whispers inevitably reached E¡¯s ears. She frowned, nced back, and the gossipers immediately pretended to be engrossed in their work, as if those words had never slipped from their lips. Those remarks from a bunch of ragtags were nothing but ?our grapes. E rolled her eyes. Then, she pulled Yvan towards the elevator, and they headed down to the parking lot where Carl was waiting to finish his duty of escorting Yvan. With an icy bow, Carl said, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Boyd.¡± Yvan raised an eyebrow nonchntly and replied, ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡± After the routine send¨Coff, Carl left, and Yvan opened the car door, inviting E, ¡°Get in: I¡¯ll drive you.¡± ¡°Wow! You¡¯re driving?¡± E gasped in delight, bouncing into the passenger seat like a child, ¡°I¡¯ve been so sick of your stuffy drivers. You¡¯re finally taking the wheel!¡± 124767 Chapter 92 N?velDrama.Org owns this. Yvan listened to E¡¯s ceaseless chatter, started the car silently, and skillfully backed out of the parking space. E was busy admiring the car¡¯s interior when she said, ¡°Yvan, you look so cool driving. Can I take a picture?¡± A bit noisy. Yvan frowned slightly, and then, repressing his irritation, he said, ¡°Sure, but don¡¯t make a scene.¡± That was a yes! Triumphantly, E whipped out her phone, snuggled up to Yvan, and snapped a selfie. In the photo, Yvan wasn¡¯t looking at the camera, and just focused on the road. His profile was sharp and handsome, reminiscent of a brooding celebrity, while E¡¯s radiant smile shone brightly in the foreground ¨C a stark contrast of cool and warm. E excitedly continued to take selfies, while Yvan just drove, asionally answering her questions. Otherwise, his gaze never left the road ahead. E found his noble, aloof demeanor to be quite charming and sneakily took some more photos of him driving alone, saving them on her phone. Upon arrival, Yvan gave his name, and Carl had already reserved thergest private room for them five minutes earlier. They were greeted by a waiting attendant as they entered. ¡°Hey.¡± E paused by the window, her eyes catching a familiar face. She murmured, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Mason? Does he have a girlfriend now? The woman sitting across from him is pretty cute.¡°* Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Hearing E¡¯s murmurs, Yvan instinctively turned his head and saw Matilda and Mason sitting together, chatting animatedly with a stack of papers in their hands, seemingly deep in discussion about a contract. Yvan remembered the times Mason hade to Matilda¡¯s aid in the past. He turned his face away so as not to see them, the chill in his gaze seemed to drop a few degrees, and his voice carried a frosty undertone, ¡°Let¡¯s go, no need to bother with them.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± E kept ncing back, intentionally or not, ¡°Maybe we should say hi! It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve seen Mason.¡± Before Yvan could collect his thoughts, E had already linked her arm through his and was guiding him towards the table by the window where Mason and Matilda sat engrossed in the design drafts. Just as someone nearby called out. ¡°Mason!¡± Mason looked up and saw E, all smiles, approaching with Yvan in tow. As they drew near, Matilda noticed their approach, and her expression froze. Yvan, looking indifferent, was led over by E. When he saw Matilda, the scorn on his face was unmistakable. He didn¡¯t speak a word, but his sarcastic gaze was enough to make Matilda tingle with pain. Mason, on the other hand, seemed far moreposed, casually taking a sip of his coffee before asking, as if offhandedly. ¡°You¡¯re back from abroad?¡± E, with the innocence of a child, gave Matilda a once¨Cover, ¡°Yeah, is this your new girlfriend?¡± The question immediately soured the mood for both Mason and Yvan. But the next second, Mason responded with a sly smile, ¡°E, don¡¯t talk nonsense; you¡¯ll scare her off.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°Well¡® E pouted, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you with ady friend before, so I thought maybe I should think she¡¯s special¡± ¡°E!¡± Yvan¡¯s voice came out cold and sharp, sending a shiver through E. ¡°Why the outburst, Yvan?¡± His gaze narrowed as he looked at E, ¡°Don¡¯t talk more than you need to.¡± Chapter 93 E¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, a somewhat pitiful sight. ¡°Are you ming me for being nosy?¡± ¡°You could say that.¡± Matilda, who had been silent until now, suddenly lifted her head with a radiant smile, looking at the girl. Despite her apparent simplicity, the words she spoke seemed calcted to mislead Yvan. Was she to be praised for her cleverness, or was she even more cunning than her sister? ¡°E,¡± Matilda thought to herself, ¡°you don¡¯t know me, but this face of yours that resembles hers. I will never forget it, even in my dreams!¡± The malice in Matilda¡¯s eyes as she looked at E gave thetter a start. E had always found only Yvan¡¯s anger to be terrifying, but why was she now feeling this same oppressive sensation from being stared at by this woman? E had never met Matilda; she only knew that Yvan had been divorced. Even when he was married, his heart belonged to her sister. E had always been overseas, and only after her sister¡¯s passing did she start toe into Yvan¡¯s life. She knew nothing of Matilda. Mason, noticing the hostility Matilda held for E, tried to defuse the tension with augh, ¡°Are you guys here for dinner? Perfect timing.¡± ¡°How about joining, us?¡± Unexpectedly, Yvan spoke up with an invitation, ¡°Sitting by the window, just the two of you, must be a bit lonely, right? Why not join us in the private room?¡± ¡°No, thank you,¡± Matilda declined without a second thought. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Matilda stood abruptly, her very posture screaming indifference. Her every action was a testament to her deep resistance to all things rted to Yvan. As she took her first step towards the exit, Yvan¡¯s voice,ced with amusement, floated from behind her, ¡°Matilda, you¡¯re not actually scared of me, are you?¡± Her shoulders tensed violently, her fingers clenched into fists. She spun around, meeting Yvan¡¯s piercing gaze with a tremor in her chest, and retorted almost instinctively, ¡°Cut the crap, Yvan. I don¡¯t want to share a room with you, and it sure as hell isn¡¯t because I¡¯m scared.¡± Without a backward nce, she strode away, her steps light but decisive, her words hitting the air like a lead weight, heavy with loathing, ¡°It¡¯s because you make me disgusted!¡± Yvan stood there, momentarily shaken by her blunt deration. Disgusted by him? What gave Matilda the right to be disgusted? After Matilda had disappeared, Mason whistled softly from his seat and quipped in an icy tone, ¡°Well, you made her leave. Happy now?¡± Yvan turned a cold re toward Mason, ¡°I¡¯ve warned you countless times.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve warned me.¡± Mason chuckled, ¡°But from what stance, Yvan?¡± Mason¡¯s question left Yvan speechless. ¡°I¡¯m quite taken with Matilda, even if it¡¯s just a budding fondness for now.¡± Mason dabbed at his mouth with a napkin and locked eyes with Yvan. A predatory glint surfaced in Yvan¡¯s eyes, and Mason let out a slow smile as he watched the menacing intent in his gaze, ¡°Or is it that you still have a torch for her, Yvan?¡± The phrase hung in the air, and E, who was nearby, visibly paled. Who was that woman? No wonder Yvan¡¯s demeanor had shifted so dramatically upon her approach ¨C it was all because of Matilda¡¯s presence! E¡¯s fingers tightened, and as Mason stood up, her face twisted into a coquettish plea, ¡°Mason.¡± ¡°E,¡± Mason turned to her with a smile, ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, but some people are untouchable.¡± 1/2 Chapter 94 His words weren¡¯t meant to imply that E couldn¡¯t go after Matilda because Mason was protecting her. No, it was Matilda herself who was unassable. Matilda had eyes as clear as a mountain stream, utterly unlike E who relied solely on men¡¯s favor. Matilda was in a league of her own, far above anyparison with E. So, in every way, E would never measure up to Matilda. After delivering his piece, Mason called over the waiter to settle the bill. Passing by Yvan, he grasped his wrist firmly. ¡°Some people need to be felt with the heart.¡± He said, ¡°Everything you thought your saw in your eyes might have been an illusion.¡± Yvan¡¯s pupils contracted sharply as Mason whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve dug up some leads from five years back. If you¡¯re interested, meet me at Tiger Pub this weekend.¡± The two men exchanged a silent understanding before parting ways. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As Mason walked away, Yvan¡¯s gaze sank heavily, his eyes deep as a universe shrinking into a singrity where all light was devoured. Heposed himself with poised silence, his handsome features as striking as ever, yet ayer of frost seemed to settle upon his visage. Leads from five years ago? Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Matilda stormed out of the diner and gged down a cab, heading straight home. She hadn¡¯t expected to be interrupted by Yvan when she¡¯d barely settled in to focus on her design drafts. Thest unpleasant encounter with him was still fresh in her mind; she instinctively moved to shut the door on his face. But this time, Yvan didn¡¯t make any other move. He just stood there, smirking coldly, ¡°Go ahead, m the door. If you don¡¯t care about your son burning up with a fever, that¡¯s your choice.¡± Her hand froze mid¨Cmotion as the words sunk in. She whipped around, clutching at Yvan¡¯s shirt and shouted, ¡°What¡¯s happened to Logan?!¡± Twenty minutester, Matilda was at Logan¡¯s bedside. His cheeks were flushed, he was panting with feverish breaths, and he looked incredibly weak. Matilda sat by the bed, her hand brushing Logan¡¯s forehead, feeling the heat radiating from him. She hurriedly rifled through the medicine stored at the house, and helped Logan sit up before dashing downstairs to fetch a ss of water ¨C every detail of the Boyd Mansion was second nature to her, every memory still vivid. Climbing back upstairs with the ss, she found Logan had woken up. He weakly called out. ¡°Mommy.¡± As Matilda heard Logan¡¯s voice, her heart melted. She helped him take his medicine and asked, ¡°How come you get a fever, sweetheart? I¡¯ll take you to the hospital, okay?¡± ¡°The doctor will be here soon; no need for the hospital,¡± Yvan¡¯s voice cut in coldly from the doorway. Logan¡¯s eyes flickered away when they met Yvan¡¯s, and the little boy shrank into the covers, gripping Matilda¡¯s hand ¨C a clear plea forfort. Matilda stroked his face, and then turned to Yvan. ¡°Why are you scowling at him like that? You are his dad. Don¡¯t you know that¡¯s scary for a child?¡± ¡°Scary for him?¡± Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he let out a derisiveugh, ¡°Does he even acknowledge me as his dad? Why don¡¯t you ask him that?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t ept you, have you ever considered it might be your fault?¡± Matilda couldn¡¯t hold back her anger and raised her voice, ¡°Yvan, stop ming others for everything. Or do you really think you¡¯re faultless?¡± Yvan¡¯sugh was utterly attractive, yet his eyes were chilling, a waste of his handsome features, ¡°I¡¯ve given him the best of everything at the Boyd Mansion, and all he gives me is attitude and dirty looks. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he¡¯s my blood, I wouldn¡¯t even acknowledge him as my son!¡± His words were harsh, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling enraged every time he saw. Logan¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t understand why ¨C perhaps it was the frustration of being a father to a child who only looked at him with fear and distance. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all our fault. I should never have had him!¡± Matilda¡¯s voice cracked with tears. ¡°You¡¯re always right, sitting on your high horse! If you despise him so much, why not let me take him away? We don¡¯t care for the Boyd family¡¯s fortune one bit. I¡¯ll take him, and even if we die, we won¡¯t die in front of you!¡± ¡°Matilda!¡± Yvan¡¯s voice shot up in volume. ¡°Don¡¯t provoke me with that kind of talk. If you¡¯re so keen on dying, why not show me?¡± With that, a sharp pain shot through Matilda¡¯s core, spreading from deep within. She murmured to herself. ¡°Alright. Yvan. Just remember this day and pray you don¡¯t live to regret it.¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Yvan¡¯s words left Matilda speechless. She quietly administered medicine to Logan, and then took the ss back downstairs as if nothing had happened, resuming her vigil by Logan¡¯s bedside. But Yvan, seeing Matilda¡¯s silence, felt a pang of panic. It was as though Matilda was ready to leave him at any moment, and Yvan was suddenly gripped by the illusion that she had truly resolved to break away from him. Those who really left did so without a sound. They gave up the struggle and the resistance, too weary to argue or exin, leaving nothing but a silent silhouette behind. And Matilda seemed to be in exactly that state. Irritated, Yvan left Logan¡¯s room, where Matilda was softly telling bedtime stories to her son, the two of them flipping through picture books in an image of serene domesticity from an outsider¡¯s perspective. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Sometimes Yvan wondered, why did it have to be Matilda, the woman who bore his son? Why did it have to be her? A strange feeling crossed his handsome face before he mmed the door and stormed out of the Boyd Mansion. Yvan descended the stairs and called Mason, ¡°It¡¯s me. The leads from five years ago¡­we don¡¯t have to wait for the weekend. I¡¯ming over tonight.¡± As Matilda read fairy tales to Logan, he soon grew tired and turned his head away, closing his eyes. Sensing his resistance, she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you like them?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Logan¡¯s reply was decisive and swift, ¡°I hate these stories.¡± In his young eyes, Matilda saw a loathing a loathing for the sharine fairy tales. ¡°Why do adults like to write these deceitful novels? Mommy, reality is nothing like this. What¡¯s the point of these stories?¡± Logan looked up, his eyes shining with defiance, ¡°Everyone lies, and novelists are the biggest liars of all! That¡¯s why I hate fairy tales; I don¡¯t like them one bit!¡± It was the first time Matilda felt such a strong repulsion from Logan, and it rattled her. She hurried to reassure him, ¡°Stories are just make¨Cbelieve.¡± ¡°Storytellers are liars.¡± Logan stubbornly repeated, ¡°Mommy, the world we live in, it¡¯s nothing like what they describe in their tales.¡± Tears welled in Matilda¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault, for not being able to give you the life in fairy tales.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your apologies.¡± Logan¡¯s eyes also brimmed with tears as he clung tightly to Matilda¡¯s hand. ¡°The one who should be sorry is Daddy. No, he¡¯s not my Daddy: he¡¯s just the son of the Boyd family!¡± The child was precociously mature, only five years old but with the insight of someone much older. Logan leaned against Matilda, ¡°Mommy, I made myself catch a cold on purpose. I missed you so much. I want to live with you, not with Mr. Boyd.¡± His own father, yet the look in his eyes was always so frightening. Logan was afraid of Yvan, more afraid than hateful. It was a cruel irony, being terrified of his own father. ¡°Logan.¡± Matilda trembled as she stroked his face, ¡°Let¡¯s get you better soon, and Mommy won¡¯t run away anymore. We¡¯ll confront Mr. Boyd head¨Con and I¡¯ll bring you back to our home; how about that?¡± Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Logan and Matilda held each other in an embrace before she coaxed him to sleep. They chatted for a while, the conversation flowing easily between them until the deepening night outside went unnoticed, and Matilda, without realizing it, dozed off at Logan¡¯s bedside. Meanwhile, at Tiger Pub, Yvan and Mason sat opposite each other, swapping the information they had gathered. Mason handed a report over to Yvan. ¡°Rachel fell down the stairs; that much is true. But since that corner was a blind spot for the mall¡¯s security cameras, there¡¯s no video evidence to prove that Matilda pushed her.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Yvan wanted to say something, only to be interrupted by Mason, ¡°You¡¯re going to say you saw it with your own eyes, right? Yvan, how did you just happen to see Matilda push Rachel at that exact moment?¡± ¡°Someone tipped me off.¡± Yvan felt like he was missing a crucial detail, ¡°At that moment someone was on the phone with me, mentioned Rachel, so I turned to look and just saw¡­ ¡°Who was it?¡± E. The name slipped from Yvan¡¯s lips, and Mason¡¯s mouth curled into an almost imperceptible smile. ¡°E?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be. It was just a coincidence. E has no reason to harm her own sister.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re again back to square one.¡± Mason tapped the stack of papers, ¡°I had someone check the cleaning staff roster from that mall five years ago, pulled up their schedules and cleaning logs. Found out that the esctor where Rachel had her ident had just been mopped with soap; do you realize what that means?¡± Yvan¡¯s pupils contracted in sudden realization. Anyone passing that area could have slipped! But why such a coincidence? ¡°Moreover,¡± Mason pointed to a line in the spreadsheet, ¡°the mall¡¯s esctor was under maintenance at the time, so it was logged specifically. Typically, theserge malls will record esctor maintenance. There were signs around at the time, but for some reason, someone moved them.¡± 12487 Mason spoke rapidly and with clinical precision, ¡°Five years on, the rest of the mall¡¯s footage is gone. We can only say this might have been a tragic ident. Rachel happened to pass by an esctor being cleaned, and Matilda¡­¡± ¡°So how did Matilda and Rachele to meet?¡± Yvan quickly spotted the w in Mason¡¯s theory, ¡°It it was just an ident, Rachel would have slipped on her own. Why was Matilda there? Unless Matilda went looking for Rachel, how could she be by her side and just happen to extend her hand when I saw her?!¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Mason looked incredulous. ¡°You¡­you saw Matilda do it? You¡¯re sure it wasn¡¯t a mistake?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a mistake.¡± Yvan seemed to be recalling something. ¡°I saw it with my own. eyes¨CMatilda reaching out, and Rachel falling, tumbling down from the esctor to the ground floor!¡± Mason¡¯s brow farrowed deeply in frustration, ¡°How is that possible?!¡± ¡°Besides, my testimony alone doesn¡¯t count for much. After the incident, the police canvassed the area, and most of the witnesses corroborated seeing Matilda make her move.¡± Yvan enunciated each word, ¡°That¡¯s why I had her put behind bars!¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Alone witness might be mistaken, two could be bought off, but with so many eyes on the scene, the thought of bribery became absurd. If even one person remained unbought, the story would crumble. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. But when every witness told the same tale, it was a sign that no one had been deceived. Otherwise, someone had gone to incredible lengths to buy the silence of every soul in the mall! The mall was bustling that day, and to keep such a scheme airtight, one would need a photographic memory to recall every face, coupled with the clout to dig up every detail about every person that walked through those doors. But even now, neither he nor Yvan could pull off such a feat. The idea that they could buy off a crowded mall was as likely as a snowball¡¯s chance in hell. So, there was only one possibility ¨C they really did see Matilda push her. Mason shook his head, as if trying to convince someone. ¡°It can¡¯t be. How could this happen?¡± A storm of emotions flickered through Yvan¡¯s eyes before being swallowed up by the deep pools of his pupils. It seemed the truth hade full circle. Five yearster, digging up the past was as tough as scaling the heavens! Mason and Yvan wrapped up their conversation at the stroke of midnight, bidding. farewell outside Tiger Pub before going their separate ways. Little did they know, their every move was being shadowed by a mysterious figure. ¡°Miss. I saw Mr. Boyd and Mr. Farrell leave.¡± ¡°Excellent.¡± In the shroud of night, the woman¡¯s lips arched upwards, her breath mingling with the wisps of smoke, and then sheughed alluringly, ¡°Seems like someone¡¯s getting restless. When you cut the grass, you have to dig up the roots. Matilda, don¡¯t me me for being cruel.¡± Yvan pushed open his front door just past midnight. As he ascended the stairs, he passed Logan¡¯s bedroom, and at the thought of this brat¡¯s distant gaze, he pushed the door open on a whim to steal a nce. But what he saw took him by surprise. Matilda hadn¡¯t left. There she was, dozing off at Logan¡¯s bedside, mother and son, a serene and beautiful picture of vulnerability. Logan, in his slumber, showed no hint of the day¡¯s defiance. Yvan stood, transfixed at the doorway, before snapping back to reality and retreating to his own room, frustration etching his brow. As he showered, the image lingered ¨C Matilda staying the night at the Boyd Mansion, albeit identally. The man looked down silently; hisshes, heavy with water, cast shadows on his chiseled features. Under the shower head, the man his face exquisite, his body as sensuous as that of a supermodel¡¯s, hunched over, revealing one of the sturdy dorsal muscles. Water droplets traced the outline of his taut body, cascading down his narrow waist and slender legs, then shattering against the floor. Yvan was wrapped in steam, his thoughts seemingly wandering elsewhere, the hot water coursing bver him, unheeded. As he stepped out of the shower, his body still misted with droplets. He opened his wardrobe; his gaze paused on a nket tucked away in the corner. Logan¡¯s bedroom door cracked open again, and a tall silhouette approached, draping the nket stealthily over Matilda. After that the figure retreated swiftly, as if fleeing a crime scene, the door closing behind, severing the last sliver of light from the room. The night stretched on, silent and profound. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 When Matilda woke up the next day, she found herself draped in a luxurious nket, the kind only Yvan would custom order, monogrammed with his initials at the corner. The letters Y.B seemed to scorch into her field of vision like branding iron, and with a jolt, she flung the nket to the floor, gasping for breath. Logan, startled by her action, blinked his eyes open and lifted his head to look at her, ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Matilda gathered her wits about her, scoffing at the idea that Yvan would cover her with a nket. How could that be possible? ¡°I must¡¯ve fallen asleep with youst night.¡± Matilda caressed Logan¡¯s face, ¡°Has your fevere down? I should be going now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go, Mommy!¡± Logan clutched the hem of Matilda¡¯s clothes, his voice barely above a whisper, ¡°Can you stay with me just one more day, please?¡± Seeing the longing in Logan¡¯s eyes, Matilda couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°I won¡¯t stay the night, but I¡¯ll stay with you until the afternoon, okay?¡± Logan nodded, his eyes rimmed with red, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to leave. I don¡¯t want to be alone in this big house.¡± It felt so empty, devoid of family warmth and affection. Matildaforted him for a moment before heading downstairs to whip up some breakfast, her movements as fluid as if she¡¯d done this countless times before. Yvan, who had risen early, was taken aback when he saw the figure bustling about in the kitchen. For a moment, he was transported five years back, to the days when Matilda would rise at dawn to make him breakfast, even though he never once took All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. it with him. But now, as he watched her from the staircase, a wave of familiarity washed over him, and he found himself lost in a daze. Matilda emerged from the kitchen with a te of sunny¨Cside¨Cup eggs and bacon, her voice cold as she saw Yvan, as if she was merely performing a routine, ¡°I apologize for using the ingredients from your fridge.¡± 12:49 Chapter 99 Her words were t, but she remembered everything, every piece of furniture in the kitchen, each steeped in memories. Matilda¡¯s shoulders trembled as she faced Yvan. She told herself not to be afraid; she had nothing left to lose. Yvan noticed Matilda¡¯s slight quiver and stared at her for a long while before uttering an indifferent ¡°Mm¨Chmm¡°. There he was, looking fearless as ever. Matilda felt like a fool, wounded by memories that, it seemed, had only ever affected her. She took the breakfast back to Logan¡¯s room, swiftly kicking the door shut with her foot, leaving Yvan on the other side. As if nothing had happened, Yvan continued downstairs, but when he saw another set of sunny¨Cside¨C up eggs next to the stove, a crack appeared in his usually impassive facade. Medium¨Ccooked eggs, with runny yolks¡­ that had been his most familiar breakfast five years ago. Memories, like fleeting shadows, burst forth from the recesses of his mind, and in that split second, his heart seemed to quiver, a sudden pang of ache spreading. unbidden. A flicker of surprise crossed Yvan¡¯s handsome face, his pupils contracting slightly as his fingers involuntarily tightened at his side. Those life details he¡¯d never bothered to look at twice were now the objects of his nostalgia. Was Matilda deliberately leaving this for him? She never ate her eggs runny; only he preferred eggs cooked soft. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Once Matilda had shut the door behind her, she breathed a sigh of relief, watching as Logan wolf down his sunny¨Cside¨Cup eggs and crispy bacon. After tidying up the dishes, she turned to Logan and said, ¡°Next time, you can¡¯t intentionally get yourself sick to get my attention, okay? If you miss me, just have Yvan give me a call. I¡¯lle by to see you.¡± ¡°The only thing you can cook worth a darn are fried eggs.¡± Logan licked his lips. ¡°Did you practice this a bunch or something?¡± Matilda stiffened. How could she exin that she had practiced countless times in the kitchen to perfect Yvan¡¯s odd preference for a medium¨Ccooked egg? She made up an excuse on the fly. ¡°Your uncle showed me how to do it.¡± ¡°Guess Uncle¡¯s the clever one then,¡± Logan said, nodding his head. ¡°Mommy, your cooking barely scrapes by as edible. I won¡¯t set my expectations too high.¡± ¡°You cheeky monkey!¡± Matilda went over and pinched Logan¡¯s cheek. ¡°Getting feisty now that you¡¯re full, huh?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. While teasing him, a sudden thought struck her. She might have absentmindedly cooked an extra egg. Oh, no! Standing in Yvan¡¯s familiar kitchen, memories flooded back, leading her to prepare an extra breakfast portion without much thought ¨C including an egg cooked just the way Yvan liked- medium! Matilda buried her face in her hands. Oh, Heavens. She needed to get rid of that egg, and fast! With this thought propelling her, she grabbed Logan¡¯s finished dishes and dashed towards the kitchen downstairs. But as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw Yvan standing at the dining table, elegantly dabbing at his mouth ¨C the egg was gone. Matilda turned ashen. ¡°Yvan, you¡­¡± Yvan said nothing, his gazending on Matilda¡¯s pale face. Without a word, he picked up his suit jacket ¨C it was time for work. Matilda could only stare as Yvan walked out the door, not managing to utter a word 12:49 Chapter 100 of exnation. The egg wasn¡¯t specially made for him; it was just a habit. As Yvan disappeared from sight, Matildaughed hollowly to herself. Then, tears quietly traced down her cheeks as she slid down the wall next to the staircase, burying her face in her hands once again. Habit. Listen to how terrifying yetughable that word was. Five years ago, she had desperately sought to please him, and in an instant, their world had crumbled ¨C a dream shattered, the music ended, and the audience departed. ¡°Yvan, did you know? My dream was for you to enjoy the eggs I made with my own hands, and it took five years for that dream toe true.¡± And in between, there was nothing but her own indelible, one¨Csided devotion. Matilda had to admit that even in jail, she clung to ast, fragile hope and love.. wishing Yvan would come to her rescue. That foolish thought left her along with the blood she shed on the operating table, nearly dying while carrying their child. At the depths of despair, she had been dragged back into her cell, her body aching unbearably without anesthesia. ¡°From then on, Yvan, my fate with you was exhausted. If we couldn¡¯t part on good terms, then it was to be a bitter end!¡± When Matilda lifted her head, her tears sparkled with a bitterughter. ¡°Yvan, loving you was like enduring purgatory on earth!¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Matilda stormed out at three in the afternoon, despite Logan¡¯s pleas for her to stay. Her resolution was firm, and with a heavy heart, she parted ways. A nagging fear haunted her- the prospect of losing to Yvan and, consequently, losing Logan. was a cruel lesson, but she had to teach Logan to stand on his own two feet, to grow up even if it meant being without her. Wiping tears from her eyes, she hailed a cab home. No, she couldn¡¯t give up. Not while there was still a sliver of hope for her boy to return to her arms. E made another visit to Yvan¡¯s office that day, bringing with her a thoughtful breakfast to start his morning. Much to her dismay, Yvan dismissed it with a casual Tve already eaten,¡± pushing it aside. E, feeling slighted, resolved to cling to Yvan until he agreed to take her home that evening. Yvan, outmatched by her persistence, could only acquiesce, escorting her home to keep the peace. When Logan saw Yvan bring another woman home, his reaction was eerilyposed, a numb calm in his demeanor. Holding a warm mug of milk, his cheeks still flushed from the fever that had recently subsided. he greeted, ¡°Wee home, Mr. Boyd.¡± His voice was youthful yet unnervingly steady. The voice irked Yvan, who was growing increasingly frustrated with the boy¡¯s constant resistance and cold demeanor. Without a word, Yvan fetched a pair of slippers that Evie had once worn for E. Surprised, E nced at Logan, who appeared unfazed. ¡°Are you Yvan¡¯s kid? You look a lot like him.¡± Her tone was insincere, almost artificial Logan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly before he replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°Indeed, I am Mr. Boyd¡¯s son.¡± The boy¡¯sposed rationality was unsettling, even for adults. E¡¯s gaze lingered on Logan, thoughts racing before she mustered a smile and extended her hand. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Rachel Archer¡¯s sister, E Archer.¡± The mention of Rachel stirred something familiar. Logan mimicked her smile, taking her hand. ¡°Nice to meet you, E.¡± Yvan looked on, stunned by Logan¡¯s politeness ¨C a stark contrast to the boy¡¯s usual standoffish 1025 Chapter 101 attitude. Had he suddenly turned a new leaf? Only Logan knew the truth. E was not to be underestimated, and direct confrontation would only sour his father¡¯s opinion of him further. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Adults loved their charades; Logan decided to y along. With an innocent smile, he asked, ¡°Is E staying the night with you, Mr. Boyd?¡± The question hung in the air, insinuating E was just another one of Yvan¡¯s flings. E¡¯s face flushed with indignation. ¡°No, my rtionship with your dad isn¡¯t like that.¡± In truth, Yvan hadn¡¯t evenid a finger on her. ¡°Really? So, is Mr. Boyd bringing home a housekeeper?¡± Logan¡¯s smile was free of malice. ¡°Wee, E. Don¡¯t feel out of ce, just think of yourself as one of the family.¡± E was speechless, cornered by a child¡¯s cunning words. Damn it, what was this kid¡¯s game? His words seemedced with mockery. And why did he refer to his father so formally as ¡°Mr. Boyd¡± instead of ¡°Dad¡°? E¡¯s gaze hardened as she studied the boy before her, her thoughts plunging into a chasm of uncertainty. Logan, still smiling, hopped off the couch and gave Yvan a ceremonious bow, as if to a stranger rather than kin. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯ll retire upstairs. Goodnight, Mr. Boyd. Goodnight, E.¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 After returning home that evening, Matilda sent the design sketches of her new personalized box bag to Micah and Mason. Both were impressed with her creative touch. Matilda had tapped into the recent craze for charms,unching a line of customizable. monogrammed logo pendants that could dangle from the chains on the outside of the bags. It was fresh, novel, and reeked of individuality. Micah was over the moon, firing off a couple of ¡°Awesome!¡± texts and insisted on taking Matilda out for another meal to celebrate. Mason, on the other hand, was far more reserved. It seemed as if he had always had faith in Matilda¡¯s talents, offering a subduedpliment before casually inquiring about her avability. With time to spare, Matilda agreed to meet him at a quaint bistro, a ce much quieter than the raucous pubs, frequented by couples and friends immersed in intimate conversations under the warm glow of dim lighting. Mason ordered a ss of amaretto, while Matilda went for a gin and tonic. Their conversation meandering from design concepts to personal anecdotes. Eventually, Mason probed into the events of five years prior, hoping to glean evidence from Matilda that could overturn the theories circling at that time. Unfortunately, Matilda could only reiterate her innocence regarding any harm to Rachel, and as for evidence to the contrary, she had none. Otherwise, who would dare to send the darling of the Thompson family to prison? Mason shook his head in disappointment. Clearing Matilda¡¯s name was proving to be a herculean task. Unbeknownst to her, he wasn¡¯t just making small talk: he was on a mission to exonerate her. Their secretive exchange, however, was being documented by a mysterious tail, who swiftly snapped photos and sent them to an unknown contact. After finishing their drinks, Mason and Matilda parted ways at the¨Cbistro, each heading home. On her way, Matilda received a call from her brother, Gideon. ¡°Hey, little treasure, did you forget something?¡± he teased. Matilda, thinking she had missed a work detail, nced at the time¨C12 o¡¯clock on the dot¨Cand frowned, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so forgetful! Gideon eximed from the other end. ¡°Come on, wish your big bro a happy 27th birthday already!¡± A smile instantly lit up Matilda¡¯s face, radiant enough to turn heads on the street. Passersby couldn¡¯t help but wonder who on the phone could make her so ted, herughter reminiscent of a girl unblemished by the world. Chapter 102 Must be a boyfriend, they presumed. ¡°Sorry, totally slipped my mind. Happy birthday! I¡¯ll make it up to you tonight,¡± Matilda promised. ¡°Great, let¡¯s get Logan to join us, huh?¡± Gideon alsoughed heartily. ¡°Or if not, at least drop off a cake for him, or the kid¡¯s gonna feel left out again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fetch him!¡± Matilda volunteered eagerly. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t brought it up, I might have forgotten that my birthday is also approaching soon.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re my little heartless one,¡± Gideon joked. ¡°Be careful tomorrow, and if it gets tricky, just call me. I refuse to believe we can¡¯t spring Logan from the Boyd family for one day. And hey, it¡¯ste, come home soon. No need to be out dating some wild guys. Can any of them measure up to your brother?¡± ¡°Not a chance. You¡¯re the handsomest guy around!¡± After hanging up, Matilda quickly hailed a cab home, filled with a sudden rush of excitement for Gideon¡¯s birthday. It was only once a year, after all, and definitely worth celebrating, especially considering how much her brother had devoted to raising Logan and how he had scarcely thought about his own future. Chapter 103 Chapter 103 As Matilda brooded over her thoughts, Mason had just returned home when the living room lights zed on. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Mason¡¯s mother. Colleen, sat in the living room, an impably maintaineddy of society. Even in her middle years, she carried an air of aristocratic grace, and her gazemanded an invisible authority. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Mason could only offer a sheepish smile. ¡°Mom, I was out grabbing a few drinks with friends.¡± ¡°Friends?¡± Colleen scoffed. ¡°With a woman? One who¡¯s been divorced, done time, and has a kid in tow?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Mason¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°Are you having me followed?¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ If someone hadn¡¯t tipped me off, I¡¯d still be in the dark about your little escapade with that unsavory woman!¡± Colleen¡¯s scoff grew more pronounced. ¡°I ran into E while shopping the other day, and she mentioned it offhand. That¡¯s how I found out!¡± ¡°E?¡± Mason said without thinking. ¡°What the heck is she up to now?¡± ¡°Mind yournguage!¡± Colleen¡¯s tone grew more severe. ¡°At least E is respectablees from a good family!¡± ¡°Mom, don¡¯t jump to conclusions. She¡¯s just a friend¡­¡± ¡°Just a friend?¡± Colleen was unconvinced. ¡°A divorced woman with baggage¨CI doubt she¡¯s just looking for friendship!¡± Colleen insisted, her voice stern. ¡°End it with her!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you be reasonable? Besides, I¡¯m the one who reached out to her.¡± ¡°Oh, really! Mason, you¡¯ve grown up, and after all the nurturing I¡¯ve given you, after introducing you to all those fine youngdies from good families, you choose to seek out such a tainted woman? Have you considered our family¡¯s reputation? Do you want to disgrace the Farrell name?¡± Colleen red at Mason. ¡°You will stay with us and reflect on your behavior!¡± ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t be like this!¡± Mason, not wanting to argue with his mother, capitted. ¡°I was just being reckless, but don¡¯t make it sound so ugly. Nothing else happened between us.¡± ¡°Nothing?¡± Colleen mmed a photograph in front of Mason. ¡°Then what is this?¡± Mason¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply at thepromising images. The woman in the photos indeed looked like Matilda, but¡­ but he had never touched her. So, what was this? ¡°I had people investigate and bring this to me, and I even had it verified¨Cit¡¯s not photoshopped! I wouldn¡¯t have believed it if I hadn¡¯t seen these pictures with my own eyes. My esteemed son, wanting such a repulsive woman!¡± 1/2 10:26 m A wave of shock engulfed Mason¡¯s heart. Impossible. The man in the photo wasn¡¯t him, nor Yvan. His mother had it all wrong. But who was this man? He trusted that Matilda wasn¡¯t that kind of person, yet the woman in the photos bore an uncanny resemnce to her face! ¡°Matilda, did I misjudge you, or was this all a deliberate scam?¡± He thought. Mason¡¯s mind was in turmoil; his handsome face turned ashen, while Colleen took deep. breaths to calm herself, the photo always stirring her anger. Gathering herposure, Colleen spoke firmly. ¡°You¡¯re to stay home for the next few days. I won¡¯t allow you to associate with that kind of woman!¡± Mason¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the photo, his fingers clenching tightly at his side. A photo not doctored with Photoshop? ¡°Matilda, please don¡¯t betray my trust.¡± Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Matilda had no idea that a storm had hit Mason; she had spent her night in blissful slumber, taking a day off just to celebrate Gideon¡¯s birthday. The siblings hit the town, shopping bags in hand, and by dusk, Matilda was hailing a cab. She shed Gideon a grin, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m off to the Boyd¡¯s to pick up Logan.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got thirty minutes, tops,¡± Gideon looked worried. ¡°If you aren¡¯t back in half an hour, I¡¯m heading over to the Boyd¡¯s to find you both!¡± ¡°Chill, I got this.¡± Matilda handed her shopping haul to Gideon. ¡°I¡¯ll grab a cake on my way back. You better have dinner ready when I get home!¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Gideon might have agreed, but he was still anxious. He gged down another cab and added, ¡°Remember to watch your back, and don¡¯t go head¨Cto¨Chead with Yvan. If things get hairy, call me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much!¡± With a reassuring smile, Matilda slid into the cab, taking a deep breath as her eyes hardened with determination. She gave the driver the Boyd¡¯s address, and they slowly made their way to the destination. Fifteen minutester, they arrived at the grand entrance to the Boyd Mansion. The staff, who had seen Matilda several times, all unexpectedly greeted her with a warm ¡°Good evening. Miss,¡± as she approached. Thest time, a simple ¡°thank you¡± from her for making way had made them blush. Respect was a two¨C way street; they initially mistook her for some crazy girl causing a scene, but Matilda had shown such grace and poise. The staff had warmed up to her, and now they exchanged friendly smiles. As Matilda approached the house, she noticed Yvan was home. Her fingers tightened by her side before she gathered the courage to face him. ¡°Today¡¯s my brother¡¯s birthday.¡± ¡°And?¡± Yvan was lounging on the sofa, skimming the newspaper, his handsome face lifting to meet Matilda¡¯s gaze. His brow furrowed slightly at her presence. ¡°What are you getting at?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to take Logan home to celebrate with Gideon,¡± Matilda said, her voice trembling slightly with fear. ¡°So, I was hoping tonight¡­¡± ¡°You want to take him away?¡± Yvan¡¯s cruel chuckle sent a chill down her spine, his features twisting into something sinister. ¡°Matilda, who gave you the impression that I¡¯m an easy man to talk to? That you can just waltz in here and take my son away?¡± Logan was not on the ground floor. Yvan guessed Matilda¡¯s intentions and remarked indifferently. ¡°He¡¯s up in the study reading.¡± 1/2 10-27 Chapter 104 That kid was always sneaking into his study. Yvan wondered if Logan could evenprehend the complex material in there. Matilda¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Yvan, do you really have to be this cruel? I just want to bring my son home for a family birthday celebration!¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°My no means no,¡± Yvan¡¯sugh was more bloodthirsty than a demon¡¯s, ¡°How do I know this isn¡¯t just some new trick? Matilda, you seem capable of fabricating any excuse to take our son away from me.¡± Pain ripped through her heart, and Matilda clenched her fists, eyes welling with tears. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to run away with him!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in an exnation from a murderer.¡± Yvan¡¯s words cast her heart into a hellish abyss. ¡°Matilda, who would believe anythinging from a woman with a record like yours?¡± Caught off guard, her heart pierced by his words, Matilda cried out with tears streaming. ¡°Yvan, who made me out to be a murderer in the first ce!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y the victim,¡± Yvan sneered devilishly. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling wronged, what about the feelings of the person who died?¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Matilda staggered backward, her face turning ashen under the weight of Yvan¡¯s words. ¡°Yvan, I just couldn¡¯t be as ruthless as you!¡± she yelled inwardly. Just then, the ringtone of her cellphone cut through the tension, her hands trembling as she fished it out of her pocket. The sight of the iing number made her heart sink. A bad omen, she thought. ¡°Hello? Are you the sister of the guy who just got into a wreck on Lupia Skyway?¡± a stranger¡¯s voice crackled through the line. ¡°We¡¯re taking him to the City Hospital right now. You bettere quick; any later and you might not get to see him alive.¡± Matilda¡¯s grip loosened, and the phone crashed to the ground, the screen shattering like a spiderweb ¨C a stark reflection of her fragmented heart. It was as if a thunderp had gone off beside her ear, buzzing and disorienting. Her brother¡­ her brother was in an ident! Because she couldn¡¯t bring Logan home, Gideon must have guessed that Yvan had given her a hard time, prompting him to hurry over. As Matilda, shaking violently, spun on her heels and dashed for the door, Yvan felt a stab of pain and chased after her, grabbing her wrist. ¡°Hey, what the hell are you doing?¡± ¡°To the City Hospital!¡± Her legs gave out, and Yvan¡¯s pull sent her tumbling to the ground. Her voice quivered. ¡°To the City Hospital. My brother¡¯s been in an ident!¡± Yvan¡¯s expression shifted, and without another word, he scooped her up and raced to his car. gunning it toward the hospital. Forty minutester, Matilda faced the icy, endless corridor leading to the operating room. It felt like a merciless ck hole pulling her in as tears blurred her vision and her mind spun in chaos. The doctor¡¯s regrets echoed in her ears as she pushed through the door, her knees buckling at the sight of Gideon¡¯s lifeless body. She felt as if her soul had been drained, her eyes numbly wide open. Memories of Gideon flickered through her mind in a rapid montage, slowing to a haunting crawl, pulling her back to the grim corridor, freezing on his still face. Yvan had always imagined a breakdown to be a dramatic, over¨Cthe¨Ctop affair. But he never considered it could be this silent and deadly, as if someone had hit pause on her world, leaving her stranded in a cage of pain with no escape. Matilda stood stone¨Cfaced, rising slowly from Gideon¡¯s bedside. Chapter 105 Yvan moved to support her, but when she looked up, the hatred In her eyes was sharp as knives, her voice hoarse, her stance weak, yet he sensed her utter despair. ¡°Are you happy now?¡± she asked. And then sheughed augh so hollow and full of tears it was almost grotesque. The medical staff, ustomed to the grief¨Cstricken outbursts of loved ones, moved to restrain her. But herughter, intermingled with tears, stopped as abruptly as it started, leaving an eerie silence. Yvan¡¯s fingertips started trembling as he watched Matilda, in a fit of rage, swept the bedside. items to the floor, shattering ss at his feet. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He shouted, ¡°Calm down!¡± How could she calm down? How, when this tragedy was his doing! Matilda¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with hate, her words incoherent, her tears uncontroble. Her world was copsing, her sky had fallen. She had lost everything, and now Gideon too! Her brother who had always been there to protect her, even at the cost of his own life! There¡¯s a saying that losing someone dear tears at your soul, but for thest one standing, it¡¯s not just heartbreak ¨C it bes a call for vengeance. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Matilda¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears,ughter shaking her like an autumn leaf in the wind, Her voice, once sweet and melodious, now carried the tragic weight of a nightingale singing with Itsst breath. She called out to Yvan with a teasing familiarity, reminiscent of their intimacy five years prior. But the fleeting joy was quickly smothered by an onught of frigid agony, every sense amplified and wailing in despair. ¡°Yvan, oh Yvan, my brother¡¯s dead! Can¡¯t you crack a smile for me? If I were you, I¡¯d beughing in my dreams! You keep using me of lying, but today was truly my brother¡¯s birthday, now forever marred by his passing! Yvan, you wanted revenge, didn¡¯t you? You wanted me to suffer worse than death! Well, congrattions, you¡¯ve seeded!¡± Herst words tore from her throat with the force of her anguish, gesturing towards the door, a metallic taste of blood in her mouth. ¡°Get out!¡± Yvan felt an inexplicable panic, gazing at the Matilda before him, drained of all strength. Why had ite to this? ¡°Get out, I said! Leave!¡± The Matilda of the past would never have unleashed such fury on Yvan, not even if she was deeply wronged. But now¡­ ¡°Could you both please calm down? The deceased has passed; let¡¯s show some respect.¡± A nearby nurse, witnessing the vtile emotions, intervened out of concern for maintaining order in the hospital. But the phrase ¡®The deceased has passed¡® drained the color from Matilda¡¯s face, leaving her feeling as if crucified in the next instant¨Cbleeding profusely, her pain bone¨Cdeep and excruciating. Every cell, every inch of her skin screamed with a pain that made life feel worse than death. ¡°I¡¯m a murderer¡­¡± Matilda suddenlyughed, a bizarre and chilling sound. ¡°I really am a murderer.¡± It was her who had killed her brother. When Yvan heard the word ¡®murderer¡® escape her lips, his heart clenched as if shed by a razor¨C sharp de. No, that wasn¡¯t the Matilda he knew. Even when she was reviled by everyone, she stood tall, never admitting any wrongdoing to Rachel, not even when she was sent to prison. Her eyes always held defiance and hatred. But now¡­ Matilda turned to him with a twisted smile. ¡°I really am a murderer, aren¡¯t I, Yvan? Why don¡¯t you throw me back behind bars?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Yvan¡¯s body ached all over, but Matilda¡¯sughter grew more hysterical. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you wanted? For me to admit it, to take revenge for her? Look, I¡¯m admitting it now. If your have the guts, let me die again!¡± 1/2 10-27 Chapter 106 Yvan stumbled backward, his heart racing with fear at the sight of Matilda¡¯s torment. The nurse, concerned by Matilda¡¯s state, quickly sent a young assistant to fetch a sedative, then turned to Yvan. ¡°Does she have a history of mental illness?¡± Depression, she suffered from depression. Yvan quickly exined Matilda¡¯s condition to the nurse and requested that the hospital provide Matilda a room for rest and recovery. The shock she had endured would surely lead to a breakdown. ¡°You want to make me out to be crazy again, don¡¯t you!¡± Matilda, held down by the medical. staff, pointed at Yvan, her expression one ofughter but her face etched with pain. ¡°Yvan, the biggest regret of my life is ever meeting you!¡± Her words were a dagger to his heart, a dull pain tearing from within. Matilda guarded her brother¡¯s bedside, refusing to let the hospital staff take him away. But the body that once held life was now just a shell, no longer of this world. A dose of sedative was injected into her hand, and the nurse¡¯s worried voice echoed in her ear, ¡°She also needs immediate hospitalization for rest. Sir, please take care of your wife¡¯s admission.¡± I¡¯m not his wife! I¡¯m not! Matilda wanted to shout the truth, but her mind was clouding. consciousness slowly slipping away from her. Gideon, she wanted to leave¡­ to leave this world where she had nothing left. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Matilda was caught in the tendrils of a dream that seemed to stretch on endlessly. In this dream, she was the beloved daughter of the prestigious Thompson family, her grace and elegance unmatched. Gideon, her older brother, was the very definition of dashing, with a charm that attracted the city¡¯s elite like moths to a me. It was Gideon¡¯s birthday, and in the dream, Matilda was 25, Gideon 27. The siblings stood side by side, epitomizing closeness. Their parents were the picture of health and happiness; the family of four was a paradigm of domestic bliss. In the dream, Matilda¡¯sughter rang out so heartily it was as if she was using up a lifetime¡¯s worth of joy. When she awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar hospital bed, still Matilda, but every ounce. of warmth and affection dissipated the moment her eyes opened. The final frame of her dream lingered on Gideon¡¯s face before it began to crack down the middle, splintering like a shattered ss pane, bit by bit. The familiar smile and voice of her brother were carved apart by those fractures, crumbling into nothingness. Matilda looked around in panic. She was in a private hospital room, jolting awake as if from at nightmare, herplexion ghostly pale. Silence enveloped her, so profound it seemed to swallow even the echo of her own breath. This eerie quietude gave her an overwhelming sense of solitude, as if she were thest person left on earth. Instinctively, Matilda hugged herself, the IV needle in her arm dislodged by the movement, swelling into a small bump on the back of her hand. Yet she hugged herself tighter, as if oblivious to the pain. Gideon¡­ Her eyes reddened, but no tears came. She gasped for air, feeling as though she was suffocating. Her body was wracked with a searing pain, as if being torn apart. How Matilda wished she could faint, to escape the sharp, icy agony. Suddenly. Yvan burst through the door, flooding the room with light. ¡°What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?¡± With a forceful yank, Matilda pulled the needle from her hand. Blood gushed from the tiny puncture, quickly dripping onto the sheets. But the wound was small, and the bleeding soon. stopped. With no desire to clean it up, Matilda fixed her gaze on the man before her. He still had that captivating allure, but now his eyes swirled with a soul¨Cdeep shock and pain. ¡°Matilda, you¡­¡± Yvan¡¯s voice trembled. 1/2 10:27 Chapter ¡°Don¡¯t say my name!¡± With a burst of fierce energy, she pushed Yvan away and bolted down the hallway, running as if against the current of time. The years seemed to flow past her as she desperately raced backward, toward a ce where Gideon was, to the very beginning. Until she reached¨Cthe morgue. Matilda¡¯s steps faltered, her body swayed as if about to copse, but she didn¡¯t let herself fall. Clutching the wall through a brain¨Csplitting pain, she bit down hard, her gums oozing blood between clenched teeth. The door to the morgue was locked. ¡°What could I do, Gideon? I¡¯m locked out of your world.¡± ncing at the lock, Matilda grabbed her earring, ignoring the pain as she yanked it out in a single, ruthless pull¨Cblood spattered, and pain seared through her. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. She shuddered violently from the pain, took a deep breath, and straightened the earring with trembling hands. Then she inserted it into the keyhole, whispering to herself to stay calm, to breathe. A faint click signaled the lock giving way. The moment the door opened, an intense light zed in her eyes. She pushed the door open and ran to Gideon. With reckless abandon, she surged forward like a child into a parent¡¯s embrace, like a fish gasping for water and finding the sea, like someone rushing headlong into the inevitable embrace of death. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Yvan and the medical staff searched for a full fifteen minutes before finally catching her trail through the security footage. This woman had even learned how to dodge the cameras! Her cunning at such a time was terrifying to him! Finally, people saw Matilda standing in the corner of the morgue, next to where Gideony. She was talking non¨Cstop, tears streaming down her face as she spoke. Yvan approached her and heard her apologizing. Over and over again, she was apologizing. She said. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Gideon. I¡¯m so sorry. You must be joking, right? I¡¯m still waiting to celebrate your birthday with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t bring Logan home.¡± ¡°Please stop joking, okay? Gideon, I¡¯m begging you to get up. I can¡¯t live without you. How could you leave me?¡± ¡°Gideon¡­ brother!¡± Today was Gideon¡¯s birthday. He had reminded Matilda at midnight to celebrate together that evening, but she could never have imagined that such a beautiful birthday n would shatter so unexpectedly. The moment Matilda learned of Gideon¡¯s tragedy, it felt as if her entire world had copsed from her phone. Matilda looked up to see Yvaning towards her, her gaze numb as she tilted her head towards him. Blood was still flowing from her ear, and her hand was covered in blood. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. The medical staff watched with pity, while Yvan¡¯s figure trembled slightly. He said, ¡°Matilda, you¡¯re hurt. You need to rest.¡± ¡°Rest?¡± Matilda murmured, repeating. ¡°Yvan, aren¡¯t you trying to kill me?¡± Her retort left Yvan breathless. Matilda gave a faint smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you¡¯d love to see? Today is my brother¡¯s birthday. I want to stay here with him, I¡­¡­.¡® ¡°Enough, Matilda!¡± Yvan, with strength he didn¡¯t know he had, grabbed Matilda by the wrist. Her arm was so delicate it felt like it might break with a little pressure. ¡°You can¡¯t keep doing this. Gideon is gone, and you need to move on. Logan still needs you!¡± ¡°Spare me your pretty words!¡± Matilda jerked her hand away, shouting sharply, ¡°Who do you think caused all this? You always said I was making excuses, but what¡¯s the truth, Yvan! Tell me, what have I lied about? My brother came to pick me up, he died because of me, and you 10:29 Chapter 108 can¡¯t wash your hands of it! You are the original sin!¡± You are the original sin! These words pierced Yvan¡¯s heart like a de. He felt every nerve in his body tense up. He stepped back, looking at Matilda. ¡°You need to calm down¡­¡± ¡°Calm down?¡± Matilda suddenlyughed, her voice almost silent, raspy like a growl, each word stabbing into Yvan¡¯s heart. ¡°Yvan¡­ in fact, how could I ever owe you an apology? You better never forgive me because I will never forgive you.¡± What was left for her to lose at the end of a dead¨Cend road? Nothing! She would no longer be threatened by Yvan! Because her Achilles¡® heel had already been murdered by her own hands¨Cand Yvan¡¯s! Yvan looked at Matilda, his handsome face clouded with the storm toe. ¡°You better stop this¡­¡± But Matilda spoke, her voice so soft it cut off Yvan¡¯s next words. She said, ¡°God is kind, He forgives everyone, but Yvan, I am venomous, and I hope you, go. to.. hell.¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Yvan thought she had temporarily calmed down as he watched her return to her room and quietly lie down, but little did he know, it was all an act ¨C a pretense of tranquility in the aftermath of the storm. When Yvan left for the office, Matilda took matters into her own hands, handling her discharge. She cleaned herself up, tended to her wounds, and applied her makeup with a frightening level of composure. It was like thest surge of energy in someone on the brink of death. Matilda left the hospital in a hurry, picking up a cake on her way home. Upon arriving, she tidied the entire house and then prepared a spread of dishes, cing the cake in the center with candles on top. She watched silently as the candles burned down. As if the mes were a metaphor for her own life flickering away. Staring at the candle, Matilda whispered softly after a long while, ¡°Gideon, happy birthday. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t celebrate with you, and now, your life is forever frozen at 27.¡± Matilda didn¡¯t cry. She sat down to eat, then cut a piece of cake, setting it aside for Logan. She knew that if Logan realized he had missed his uncle¡¯s birthday, he would throw a tantrum for a slice of cake. But Matilda couldn¡¯t bring herself to deliver it to the Boyd family for Logan; she couldn¡¯t face Yvan anymore. Facing him would unleash the uncontroble pain and hatred within her, turning her into a devil. Yvan, the man who ruined her life, the nightmare she couldn¡¯t escape! Matilda¡¯s thoughts were clouded with grief and pain. From the initial shock to the eventual screaming, it seemed as if she had exhausted all her strength in her defiance and attempts to wound Yvan. It was only in these quiet moments alone that the immense, tidal pain crashed over her, leaving her most vulnerable and desperate, yet terrifyingly silent. True despair wasn¡¯t wailing or thrashing about¨Cit was this deadly stillness. Her eyes reddened as she finished eating and cleared the table. She tried to muster a smile, but her lips were too heavy. Eventually, she sank back into the couch, burying her head in her hands. Her body convulsed like a trapped animal, emitting a subdued, agonized growl- as if trying to shatter her own soul. At that moment, Matilda thought of someone who might help her deliver the cake to Logan. She reached for her phone, only to remember it had smashed on the doorstep of the Boyd Mansion¨Cshe was cut off from any means ofmunication. After a long silence, Matilda decided to leave the house. She went to a nearby phone store, randomly selected a model, and got a new number. Returning home, she searched for a 10:28 Chapter 109 business card and dialed the number. After a long wait, the call connected, and Mason¡¯s voice came through colder than usual. ¡°Who is this?¡± he inquired. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. A flurry of thoughts crossed Matilda¡¯s mind before she finally spoke, ¡°Mason, it¡¯s me, Matilda.¡± Hearing her name seemed to strike a nerve in Mason¡¯s mind, his expression hardening as he reflexively asked, ¡°Why did you switch numbers?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Matilda struggled to exin, ¡°My phone broke on the doorstep of the Boyds. I¡­ I need to ask you for a favor.¡± The doorstep of the Boyds? Why was Matilda still entangled with Yvan after everything? A surge of anger, unbidden, filled Mason¡¯s mind. He shouldn¡¯t be getting angry; he wasn¡¯t the type to be easily swayed. But the words that escaped his lips betrayed his fury. ¡°Matilda, don¡¯t you think you should have some self¨Crespect? Why are you going back to Yvan again?¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110 The moment Mason thought about the photos his mother had shown him, rage burned within him, It shouldn¡¯t be like this. He hadn¡¯t felt this angry when he saw Matilda leaving with Yvanst time. Why was today different? Was it because he felt deceived? ¡°What was really behind your righteous facade, Matilda? Who was the man in those photos?¡± He wanted to ask Matilda but not. Matilda¡¯s face turned ghostly pale when she heard Mason¡¯s words. She murmured in disbelief, ¡°Mason, don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Mason didn¡¯t reply. After a long silence, he finally said, ¡°Matilda, have you ever lied to me? Are you using my family¡¯s influence?* What a ridiculous question. Tears welled up in Matilda¡¯s eyes as sheughed bitterly. ¡°Mason, if I say I haven¡¯t, would you believe me?¡± There was no response from Mason, just the sound of his heavy breathing. Matilda suddenly understood and let out a low chuckle, fearless, as she finally let go of even thisst defense ¨C Mason himself. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s nothing more to say. Thank you for your hospitality. Mr. Farrell. I won¡¯t trouble you anymore. Goodnight.¡± The call ended like a final farewell, Matilda¡¯s voice hoarse with unspoken goodbye, and Mason heard the silent parting. A sudden sense of panic gripped him, as if he was losing hold of something crucial. By the time he recognized the source of this unease, it was Matilda¡¯s fading silhouette that lingered in his mind. Then, the call abruptly ended with a beep. Mason stood there, phone in hand, his usuallyposed face now painted with fear, disying a childlike panic for the first time. Unbeknownst to Mason, this painful misunderstanding would cause him sleepless nights for a long time toe, as hey in bed, longing incessantly for a woman he could never possess. It was pouring rain. Matilda stared nkly out the window, her days a blur, unable to distinguish between day and night. Chapter 110 Gideon¡¯s death was a crushing blow. She curled up in bed, assuming the fetal position, her mind in chaos, her consciousness flickering in and out. She felt as though she were trapped in a surreal dream, where the lines between reality and illusion blurred. She could almost hear Gideon¡¯s voice, almost see his face. However, the harsh truth relentlessly dragged her back into a cold, dark reality, repeatedly jolting her awake only to plunge her back into her painful delusions. She couldn¡¯t go on. It was too hard¡­ unbearably hard. Matilda didn¡¯t know how she would get through this ordeal. With her reality shattered and no future in sight, what was left of her life? The rain outside didn¡¯t seem to know when to stop, echoing the day her life was devastated by Yvan five years ago. The rain pounded the windows fiercely, and Matilda, paying no mind to anything, ran out into the storm, running wildly as if to vent all her frustration and hatred. ¡°Yvan, did you feel even the slightest remorse? How would you repay me for this broken life of despair?¡± Clutching her cell phone, Matilda found herself on a deserted street, all storefronts closed except for a coffee shop glowing with a soft light. The light seemed to pierce the darkness in her heart. Matilda moved closer, hoping to take shelter from the rain. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Her figure swayed, and in the next moment, a shadow loomed over her. A man stood beside her with an umbre, observing her drenched appearance, her wet hair and clothes clinging to her body, droplets sliding down her curves. Adrian Simpson stood behind her, holding an umbre, his devilishly handsome face adorned with a mocking smile, his stunningly beautiful eyes fixed upon her. His voice was flippant yet carefree. ¡°Why is it that every time I find you, you¡¯re at your wit¡¯s end?¡± Chapter 111 Chapter 111 No sooner had the echo of his words faded, than the sound of rain intensified, heralding a deluge that made their umbre quiver above them. Rainwater traced a path down Matilda¡¯s drenched forehead, dripping off her delicate nose, With a pale face, she gazed at the man who had just appeared before her. Sensing the escting storm, he tilted the umbre more over her, letting the rain assault him instead. As the rain beat down on him, she nced once more at the figure before her, drenched by the downpour, resembling a fleeting apparition from a surreal dream. Adrian had been holding the umbre for a while, now thoroughly soaked on one side. He stared at Matilda for a moment before breaking into a grin, his striking eyes gleaming with beauty, almost deserving thebel ¡®exquisite.¡± He asked, ¡°What are you doing out here in the rain? Looking for misery? Acting as if someone would actually miss you if you were gone.¡± It seemed that pain had a limit, and this kind of taunt didn¡¯t even register anymore. Matilda managed a wry smile in response. ¡°Yeah, as if anyone would care.¡± Adrian clicked his tongue and then, with a hand on her shoulder, nudged her forward, while using his other hand to push open the door of a caf¨¦. The light from inside shone through like a hole scorched in the night, casting a warm, yellow glow across Matilda¡¯s face. It was only then that she realized he had led her into the caf¨¦. The ce was empty, which made sense¨Cfew people would venture out for coffee in such weather. Adrian stood by the door, closing his umbre to stow it in a stand, then hung up his coat and casually picked up a remote control to turn on the heating. It dawned on Matilda as she watched his movements. ¡°You¡¯re this coffee shop¡¯s¡± ¡°Owner.¡± Adrian filled in the missing word, then rolled up his shirt sleeves before approaching Matilda. His gaze briefly flickered over her, noting her drenched clothes that clung to her body, entuating her curves. Without a word, Adrian fetched a men¡¯s shirt from the back andid it on the counter. ¡°There¡¯s a restroom straight ahead and to the left.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Implying that was where she could change. Matilda nced at the shirt and murmured a thank you. She took the shirt and stepped into the restroom. ___ __fa ha lot hir 370 fall away chuckling with a hint of intrigue. When Matilda emerged, her face still ashen, Adrian skillfully prepared a mocha, creating a design on top. ¡°Here, on the house.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Matilda said again, her voice soft. The warmth of the coffee started to revive her spirits slightly. She couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed by the situation- rushing out in the middle of the night and finding herself in a stranger¡¯s caf¨¦ were mortifying. ¡°No need for thanks,¡± Adrian replied with a roguish smile. ¡°But if you¡¯re offering yourself in exchange, I wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± He smirked at her. ¡°Funny coincidence, no one was scheduled for the night shift, so I came to check on the ce. What brought you out in this mess?¡± Matilda looked at Adrian¡¯s refined face, murmuring softly. ¡°You run this ce all by yourself?¡± What was the heir of the Simpson family doing opening a quaint, anonymous coffee shop? ¡°Just bored, I guess.¡± Adrian brought out a box of pudding, then sat down across from Matilda. Despite the raging storm outside, the caf¨¦ exuded a cozy atmosphere. The hum of the air conditioner filled the space with warmth, and as Matilda sipped her coffee. her mood began to settle. Reflecting on her earlier suicidal thoughts, she couldn¡¯t help but let out a self¨C deprecating chuckle. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Adrian scooped himself a spoonful of pudding, then paused to gaze across the table at Matilda, whose complexion still bore a hint of pallor. ¡°You look like you¡¯re under the weather,¡± he said with concern. Matilda hesitated, her lips quivering, struggling to form her words. ¡°My brother¡­ he passed away.¡± ¡°My condolences,¡± Adrian replied, his movements freezing for a moment. He set down his spoon and reached across to gently pat Matilda¡¯s damp hair, then resumed his casual posture. ¡°So, you¡¯re upset because of your brother¡¯s departure?¡± ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s not that.¡± As warmth returned to Matilda¡¯s body, so did the surge of emotions, overwhelming her as she stared into her cup of coffee. The unfamiliar kindness made her want to cry. Outside, the rain persisted, sounding like a tidal wave ready to breach the walls and swallow her whole. Matilda felt as if her heart was still out in the rain, uncollected, bleeding and aching non¨Cstop. And then, tears dropped into her coffee. She quickly lifted her head and pulled away from the mug, her body trembling slightly. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t give up¡­ I can¡¯t die¡­ Not yet, not when I still have Logan¡­ It would be too cruel to leave Logan behind¡± she thought. Matilda fought back her tears while Adrian had already ceased eating, watching the woman in front of him who was being strong to the point of breaking his heart. Who had driven her to such a state of forced resilience? Was it reality. Yvan, or herself? Adrian pulled his thoughts back and pretended not to notice Matilda¡¯spse. ¡°I¡¯ve lost someone very important to me as well. ¡°How important?¡± Matilda asked instinctively. Adrian chuckled softly as if it was of no consequence, but his eyes were clearly filled with sorrow. ¡°Important enough that when I lost her, I was so filled with regret that I felt like dying too, just like you. In the end, I did something desperate, and not even five years behind bars could bring things back to the way they were.¡± Matilda stared at Adrian, taken aback, and then said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to bring up painful memories for you.¡± ¡°How can you call them painful memories?¡± Adrian said as he took Matilda¡¯s coffee and stirred 1/2 10:29 Chapter it with a spoon. ¡°To me, even the loss has be something beautiful.¡± There¡¯s a kind of love that seeps into your bones, one where even if you end up with nothing, anything rted to her is still something to cherish. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have pegged you as the sentimental type.¡± Matilda tried to lighten the mood with a joke. ¡°It doesn¡¯t quite match your rugged exterior.¡± After all, Adrian had the look of a man who was more about living in the moment than dwelling on the past. Adrian watched Matilda with an intense gaze for a long while before pushing the cup back towards her. Resting his chin in his hand, he asked, ¡°Ms. Thompson, what does deep love mean to you?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t understand deep love.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Her capacity to love someone had been shattered by Yvan five years ago.. Matilda didn¡¯t touch the coffee again. She stood up and, feeling a bit sheepish, asked Adrian, ¡°Mr. Simpson, do you have¡­ some spare pants by any chance?¡± She wanted to leave, but her clothes were soaked through. She had rushed out earlier wearing only an oversized shirt that fell to her knees, which was hardly appropriate for stepping outside. Adrian noticed Matilda¡¯s attire as she stood up, and a meaningful smirk curled his lips. He stepped forward, pinning her in ce before she could react, and his tongue teasingly grazed her earlobe. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 A peculiar tingling sensation raced through her body at that moment, and Matilda, feeling utterly humiliated, attempted to push back, to rebel, but Adrian pinned her down. His voice, mingling with the cool patter of rain, reached her ears, devoid of any warmth, ¡°Come on, shouldn¡¯t we create some good memories at a time like this? After all, we¡¯ve alreadyid bare our wounds.¡± ¡°You were just¡­ trying to sleep with me?¡± Matilda cried out, disbeliefcing her voice. Adrian chuckled mischievously. ¡°Ah, I spun a tale that moved you, didn¡¯t I? Sorry about that: perhaps I¡¯m just too convincing an actor, Ms. Thompson. What do you say?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Matilda, her cheeks burning with shame, pushed him away. Her hands trembled at her sides. She thought she had found a kindred spirit in him. But what was it all in the end? Nothing but an act! Sheughed at herself, a bitter, self¨Cmocking sound. She had let her guard down and confided in a stranger, and she only had herself to me. Taking a few steps back, Matilda realized she was trapped. To step out into the rain in her current state¡­ she might as well be wearing nothing at all. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes as Adrian watched her dilemma with glee. He knew this woman was only resisting on the surface. Besides, going outside in her current attire would surely get her soaked, and a woman as theatrical as her would definitely care about appearances. She wouldn¡¯t dare. But in the next second. Adrian¡¯s pupils contracted to pinpoints as if he¡¯d witnessed something utterly shocking. His azure¨Cgreen eyes shimmered with an astonishing beauty. ¡°Matilda!¡± Adrian shouted, reaching out to grab her, but in the next moment, his hands grasped air. The woman he was trying to hold was already sprinting outside! Herughter, mingled with the steady drum of rain, taunted him, ¡°Adrian, you wanted to humiliate me, didn¡¯t you? You thought I wouldn¡¯t dare run out, didn¡¯t you?¡± Yes, that¡¯s what he had thought, but¡­. ¡°Matilda!¡± Adrian called out her name again, but the woman didn¡¯t turn back, her slender figure disappearing into the rain. Her single, soaked shirt clung to her skin, the contours of her body shamelessly outlined. She didn¡¯t look back, not even pausing for a second. Adrian¡¯s voice quivered with anger and disbelief. Damn it, why would she make such a choice? Any sensible woman would have chosen to stay with him! He stood frozen for a few seconds before grabbing a dried trench coat that had been hanging 1029 Chapter 113 nearby, his silhouette cutting through the curtain of rain as he chased after Matilda. Catching up to her in just a few strides, he yanked her back, his voice chillingly cold and tinged with panic, ¡°Are you out of your mind? Running out like this for the whole world to see!¡± That night, as he pulled her back, Matilda turned her head towards him amid the rain, and in that moment, everything else faded away; all sounds were muted, and only herughter remained. Tears or rain on her face were indistinguishable, yet sheughed beautifully, nearly bare under the downpour, a sight that should have been humiliating. But Matilda stood tall and proud, just like the heiress of the Thompson family she had been five years ago. ¡°Adrian, do you know who you reminded me of just now?¡± Her voice was ethereal, as if it would be washed away by any more rain. Adrian swallowed hard, disbelief etched on his features. The next second, he draped the trench coat over her, covering her whole body. Damn it, he didn¡¯t want anyone else to see her like this! Matilda stepped back and began to p mockingly. ¡°You¡¯re like Yvan! That tried to deceive and threaten me, it¡¯s just like Yvan!¡± ting way you Herparison struck Adrian to his core, and the pouring rain continued, a backdrop to a confrontation that was as revealing as it was concealing. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Adrian¡¯s ears were pierced with the shrill, prating cries of a woman, his arms instinctively wrapping around her, enveloping her in the warmth of his overcoat, concealing her nearly transparent, drenched blouse. He scooped her up, Matilda struggling against his grasp. ¡°Let me go!¡± she yelled. Without a word, Adrian carried her to his car parked not far from the storefront, both drenched from the pouring rain, resembling a pair of fugitives on them. *Do you even realize you¡¯re running a fever?¡± he barked. Her body was rmingly hot to the touch; Matilda¡¯splexion was pallid, but her eyes were lucid and bright. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business!¡± ¡°Yeah, none of my damn business. I¡¯m just a fool for pitying you!¡± Adrian cursed as he locked the car doors and stomped on the gas pedal. Matilda pounded on the windows. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± ¡°To get a room!¡± Adrian snapped, his temper ring. ¡°Shut up! Keep annoying me, and I¡¯ll crash us into a bridge, and we can die together!¡± Matilda shivered at his outburst, a flicker of fear in her eyes that only fueled Adrian¡¯s anger. ¡°What are you staring at? Never seen a hot¨Ctempered hunk before?¡± No¡­ she had never. The heavy downpour made the roads treacherous, and the bad weather only added to Adrian¡¯s recklessness. Ignoring Matilda¡¯s screams, he floored the elerator, the car nearly drifting along the slick surface lightning¨Cfast. Countless times when Matilda thought they were about to crash into the car ahead, Adrian would swerve away at thest instant. He drove like a man with a death wish. By the time they reached the Simpson Mansion, Matilda waspletely spent. Adrian carried her from the backseat into the mansion, up the stairs to the second¨Cfloor bathroom, and unceremoniously dropped her into a tub of hot water. ¡°Can you swim? Don¡¯t drown yourself. Adrian left her with those cold words as he went next door to change into dry clothes. When he returned, he found Matilda, pale¨Cfaced, watching him. ¡°What are you really trying to do?¡± ¡°Being charitable, pitying you,¡± Adrian said, looking much improved from before, though his hair was still a wild mess. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. He folded his arms and gave her a lopsided grin. ¡°You should be grateful I¡¯m in a better mood 1/2 10:29 now, or I¡¯d have impregnated you a long time ago.¡± Matilda had no desire to listen to his vulgar talk, ¡°Bro, what the heck are you doing up here?¡± Willow, clutching a bag of chips, froze in the doorway of the second¨Cfloor bathroom, taking a step back in shock. ¡°Matilda?¡± Matilda shrank back into the water, her embarrassment tangible, unable to even greet her. ¡°Damn, Adrian! What the hell have you done?!¡± Willow swung between pointing at Matilda and her brother, ¡°Impressive, bro! You brought her home? Holy cow, are you two an item now?¡± ¡°Not even close.¡± Adrian shut the door with a swift kick. ¡°Go find her some clothes to wear and grab some cold medicine.¡± Willow rolled her eyes. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do it? You¡¯ve got hands and feet.¡± ¡°Your room¡¯s a pigsty. I¡¯m not setting foot in there.¡± Adrian ushered his sister out. ¡°Just bring the stuff and get back in here!¡± Ten minutester, Adrian handed Matilda a fresh set of clothes Willow had fetched, the price tags still dangling, each marked with a hefty sum. Chapter 115 Indeed, it was totally Willow¡¯s style. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 After she changed, Adrian brewed her a cup of tea with milk, aforting British ssic. Willow, for once, wasn¡¯t holed up in her room gaming. Clutching a bag of crisps, she emerged and cast a nce at Matilda. ¡°You know, it actually looks pretty decent on you.¡± ¡°Spill the beans,¡± Matilda demanded. Willow, lounging on the sofa with the air of an imperious old man, crisps in hand, lost her usual haughty outdoors demeanor. Yet, her eyes still held a hint of arrogance as they flitted back and forth between Matilda and Adrian. ¡°My brother mentioned once that he found you pretty. Tried to ask you out but didn¡¯t make it, and now, here you two are together? What¡¯s the story?¡± The question struck at Matilda¡¯s pride. She paled a little. ¡°Nothing of the sort.¡± ¡°Taken your meds yet?¡± Adrian nced at Matilda, who nodded in confirmation. The man then stared at her with a meaningful intensity. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say to a man who kindly took you in on a rainy night?¡± Matilda¡¯s response was crisp and clear. ¡°Thank you.¡± Willow observed the exchange and couldn¡¯t help butmend, ¡°Impressive. No woman has ever talked to my brother quite like that.¡± Adrian, visibly irritated, raked his fingers through his hair and looked outside where the rain had tapered off. His voiceced with impatience, he said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not fishing for your gratitude. If there¡¯s nothing else, you can hail a cab and leave. You don¡¯t expect me to drive you, do you?¡± His tone was now dismissive and cold as if their serendipitous coffee shop encounter had been nothing but a dream. Matilda understood all too well that it was merely a y he was willing to enact. She straightened her back, trying to appear less disheveled, but her dignity had already been trampled that rainy night. The tale spun as a pretense to resonate with her, the intentionally chosen clothes that put her in a bind, and the final push into the rain¨Call engineered to soften and then shatter her heart, to bleed and ache repeatedly. Such a cruel man¡­ It was his initial act of kindness, the overly gentle cup of coffee, that made his cruelty so extreme. She had believed his fabricated story as if it were true. Without a word, Matilda left. Her silhouette was slender as she walked away, with Adrian watching her until he scoffed. ¡°Hypocritical woman.¡± ¡°Please,¡± Willow retorted, still munching on crisps. ¡°You just wanted to drive her home, didn¡¯t 1/2 10-30 YOU?¡± ¡°Which eye saw me wanting that?¡± Adrian snatched the crisps from Willow¡¯s grasp. ¡°Junk food again? You¡¯ll turn into a pig at this rate!¡± Three dayster, Willow received a transfer for the exact amount of the new clothes, which was deposited neatly into her ount. Willow, smirking, showed Adrian the bank notification. ¡°Matilda paid me back.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s she paying you?¡± Adrian brushed back his hair to look at her. ¡°Got some new melodramatic scheme?¡± ¡°Get over it. She¡¯s not even into you.¡± Willow curled her lip mockingly. ¡°With an ex like Yvan, you think she¡¯d give you a second nce? You can¡¯tpare to Yvan.¡± Meanwhile, Matilday in bed, drained by the death of a loved one and a recent illness. Pale and propped against the headboard, she was caught in a nightmare. In her dream, she was running endlessly, with Yvan in pursuit. His handsome face, now demonic in its coldness, seemed intent on her destruction. ¡°Matilda, if you want your child,e and atone!¡± he demanded.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 ¡°No¡­ I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Matilda struggled at the edge of the cliff, resisting with all her might. ¡°Yvan, you devil, you¡¯ve ruined me. Do you feel even a hint of remorse?!¡± But in an instant, Yvan¡¯s face morphed into Adrian¡¯s, the man smiling as he pushed her into the abyss. Matilda screamed, hearing his icy voice, ¡°You pretentious woman, if you die, you die; you won¡¯t be missed!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Matilda woke with a start from the nightmare, and looking out the window, she saw that night had fallen. She had taken cold medicine and had slept straight through to this hour. The scenes from her dream still left her shaken, her heart pounding in her slender chest. Matilda felt like she had returned to those days haunted by nightmares, unable to shake off the shadows or find salvation. Gone were the days when a caring figure would warm her milk as she woke. Matilda¡¯s eyes. reddened, but she held back her tears, rising alone to pour herself some hot water and digging through the drawer for more medicine. Her silent silhouette cast a lonely shadow on the wall, a solitude that drove one mad. Logan was not by her side, Gideon was no longer in this world, and with the people around her hurting her over and over, how was she to guard herself? She understood, she understood all of it, but she truly had nowhere to turn. ¡°Dear God, please, it¡¯s about time you gave me a break¡­¡± She prayed silently. Clutching the mug in her hands, Matilda felt the tears threatening again. She held them back. her cold body opening theptop to see that Micah had sent her an email while she was offline. Her design caught the attention of a manufacturer, and they set up a production line, especially for the handbags she had created. They hoped she could provide them with the details of her designs and materials as soon as possible. It was like a faint light in a day of utter darkness. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Matilda once thought she couldn¡¯t go on, but this faint yet steadfast belief dragged her shattered life forward. She clenched her fists; her broken little finger trembled slightly. In the deep of the night, when all the lights in the building were extinguished, only Matilda¡¯s room glowed dimly. The woman¡¯s pale face bore an unmistakable sickness, but her eyes. shone with astonishing brightness. She stared at the screen, surrounded by countless discarded drafts filled with various shapes, Chapter 116 models, and construction ns. From the deepening night to the first light of dawn, the woman finally lifted her head from the desk, scanned her drawings Into theputer, and sent her response back to Micah via email. She watched the dawn break, whispering softly. ¡°The day hase¡­¡± Lighting up her world as well. ¡°Brother, this bag was our joint creation, and I won¡¯t let it fall. I will show the entire world our efforts!¡± she vowed inwardly. Matilda stood to pour herself another cup of water, then sat down again to continue refining her design. She was meticulous and focused, her loose hair falling softly on her forehead, adding at touch of gentleness to her demeanor. It was as if she had made up her mind, her gaze filled with unwavering determination. Even though the Thompson family was no longer what it used to be, even though she was no longer the young Miss Thompson, her pride and talent remained steadfast! Her hand trembled slightly as she held the pen. Matilda sketched, her eyes reddening, but she forcefully held back the tears. Resilient, she forced herself to keep living, to survive until the daybreak that was sure toe. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Matilda¡¯s designs were a hit even before they hit the shelves, with socialites lining up to ce custom orders. When Micah transferred his share of the profits into her ount, he promptly called her up. ¡°Ms. Thompson, I really must express my gratitude for your coboration with ourpany on this collection. I was wondering if you might be free this evening to join me for dinner?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Micah was polite as always and even provided the address. Matilda didn¡¯t refuse. Despite the fact that his son had once wronged her, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Micah, who consistently apologized for his son¡¯s foolish actions. She noticed the streaks of grey in his hair, and her heart softened a fraction. So, she agreed to meet him that night. After hanging up, Matilda started rifling through her wardrobe. She had always been a woman of refined taste, and her clothing choices were no exception. As the weather had taken a chilly turn, she opted for a cream¨Ccolored overcoat. Given its generous cut, she wore just a snug¨Cfitting turtleneck underneath and chose a pair of sleek stilettos. before heading out.. The evening breeze was brisk, and Matilda pulled her coat tighter as she arrived at the restaurant right on time. Pushing the door open, she found Micah and a group of associates already gathered, raising their sses in her direction, ¡°Ms. Thompson, you¡¯ve arrived!¡± ¡°The epitome of beauty and brains!¡± ¡°Thank you all,¡± Matilda replied, unable to decline the gesture. She poured herself a modest ss of red wine and toasted with the group. During the meal, Micah brought up Matilda¡¯s designs,vishing praise on her work while rmending her to his partners. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a record¨Cbreaker for us!¡± ¡°Ms. Thompson, here¡¯s my card. I¡¯d love to coborate with you in the future.¡°. Matilda was handed business cards from all around the table, and it felt as though new doors were opening up in her life. She designed with care, and Micah paved the way. This time, her trust was not misced. She thanked everyone repeatedly, and the group sharedughter and drinks. Once satiated with food and wine, some of the executives suggested heading out for some karaoke, and all eyes. turned to Matilda. Feeling the weight of everyone¡¯s expectations, she agreed to join. Micah quickly booked a private karaoke suite on his phone, and the group left in high spirits. Someone joked as they noticed Matilda trailing behind, ¡°What fun is it for Ms. Thompson to hang out with a bunch of middle¨Caged gents? Bradford Simpson, why don¡¯t you call your son over to join in? It would be a shame for Ms. Thompson to feel bored.¡± ¡°That rascal¡¯s got ns tonight, sigh. Ms. Thompson, I hope you don¡¯t mind ourpany.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Matilda replied courteously. ¡°I used to go singing with my dad, actually.¡± Upon arriving at the karaoke suite, Micah made sure Matilda wouldn¡¯t feel awkward by inviting a few young women to join them. Matilda smiled and raised a ss, filled to the brim, toasting the group again. Twenty minutester, feeling a bit bored, Matilda stood up to get some fresh air. ¡°I¡¯ll just head to the restroom.¡± After she stepped out of the restroom, she felt the buzz of the alcohol and took a deep breath by the sinks. Suddenly, a shadow loomed behind her. As she looked up. Adrian¡¯s face, barely suppressing a smile, appeared behind her in the mirror. His mixed heritage features, sharply reflected, sent a chill down Matilda¡¯s spine¡­ Whistling nonchntly, the man behind her remarked. ¡°Came in here out of boredom, and what do you know, stumbled upon something interesting.¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Matilda eyed Adrian¡¯s flippant demeanor, and memories of that rainy night he toyed with her came flooding back. Her expression chilled instantly as she snapped. ¡°Mr. Simpson, step aside, please.¡± Without uttering a word, Adrian seized her wrist. Before Matilda could grasp what was happening, he was dragging her towards another private room in the club! ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her cry wentrgely unnoticed; in the noisy club, the staff mistook their tussle for a lovers¡® spat. especially given Adrian¡¯s air of prestige. They stepped aside, none daring to intervene. Despite her struggle, Matilda found herself hauled into the room. Adrian pushed her inside with such force that she nearly lost her bnce, steadying herself against a wall as the strobe lights flickered erratically, her face ashen. Adrian hit the pause button on the music and quipped with a smirk, ¡°Look who¡¯s here.¡± Everyone halted their revelry to turn and stare at Matilda. It took her no effort to spot Yvan in the crowd, the most conspicuous of all. The room was smoky, the lights dim, and there he sat, surrounded by women vying for his attention, ther center of gravity in a designer suit, looking every bit the celebrity. Matilda wanted to leave, but Adrian was blocking the exit. She forced a smile, realizing she couldn¡¯t escape this predicament. Adrian, gripping her arm, thrust a ss of liquor into her hand. ¡°Come on, I brought you here. The least you could do is have a drink, right?¡± Yvan¡¯s gaze was aloof as he looked at her, the two of them exchanging nces like strangers before looking away. A shiver ran through Matilda¡¯s heart as she met Yvan¡¯s icy stare, feeling as if her blood had turned to ice. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Sheughed at herself, thinking, ¡°Yvan, it was just wishful thinking on my part, hoping you¡¯d stand up for me!¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to drink?¡± she said. Adrian sneered, ¡°Are you really going to throw away your dignity again?¡± He was referring to thest time at the bar when he propositioned her for a night of fun, and she bluntly refused. Matilda¡¯sugh was colder than Adrian¡¯s. ¡°Mr. Simpson, don¡¯t you already know?¡± But before she could finish her sentence, a woman had already risen to her side and pped her across the tace The stap lett Matilda¡¯s head ringing. Mia Yvan bellowed the woman¡¯s name. So, it was her¡­ the persistent woman from Yvan¡¯s doorstep, who had once tangled with Matilda and Gideon. ¡°You dare to disrespect a Simpson? Matilda, do you really think so highly of yourself that your believe no one would dare touch you?¡± As Matilda looked up, a second p followed, sending her crashing to the ground. Mia grabbed a bottle from the table and poured its contents over her, taunting, ¡°Matilda, you¡¯re nothing but a sellout, acting all high and mighty! One minute, It¡¯s Mr. Boyd; the next, it¡¯s Mr. Simpson. Do you think men are brainless? Do you think we don¡¯t know you¡¯re a slut? Haha, even Mr. Simpson has gossiped about your little rainy night escapade. Quite the seductress, aren¡¯t you? Especially for someone who¡¯s been behind bars!¡± Matilda remained silent, but the moment she lifted her head, her gaze became lethal. Mia recoiled from that look, hissing through clenched teeth, ¡°You resent this? My exposing your hurts, doesn¡¯t it?¡± *Resent it?¡± Matildaughed, her voice dripping with scorn. ¡°Mia, do you really think you¡¯re worth my resentment? Who¡¯s the real dog here, desperate for a man¡¯s scraps? I think you know. the answer to that better than anyone!¡± Chapter 119 Chapter 119 This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Everyone thought it was the ultimate humiliation, but the woman before them, Matilda, actually stood up even though she was shaking. She was too thin, painfully so, and it made their hearts twinge. A collective pause. Heartache? For this woman? With a smirk still ying on her lips, Matilda pped Mia across the face before anyone could recover. In that instant, her features were stunningly beautiful! Mia, never having been struck in public, touched her cheek and cried out, ¡°How dare you hit me?¡± Immediately, a couple of thugs grabbed Matilda and mmed her back down. Her knees buckled, and she crashed towards the booth¡¯s table. Agony shot through her as she struck it, and she let out a muffled groan, a sound of extreme restraint. ¡°Mia,¡± Yvan frowned, ¡°that¡¯s about enough.¡± ¡°Ah, Mr. Boyd, you wouldn¡¯t happen to be feeling sorry for your ex¨Cwife, now would you?¡± Adrian chimed in coolly. ¡°Who¡¯s gonna feel sorry for our dear Mia, then?¡± Yvan¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°You know she¡¯s my ex?¡± The room was stunned. They turned incredulously towards the woman pinned to the ground, recognizing something familiar in those features. This woman was Yvan¡¯s ex¨Cwife! ¡°Mia, darling, I think we ought to punish her properly, lest she still thinks she¡¯s the high and mighty Ms. Thompson,¡± E spoke up, her seemingly casual words strategically pushing Matilda to the brink. ¡°Ms. Thompson, the heiress?¡± Mia scoffed. ¡°There¡¯s no Thompson family in Sea City anymore, Matilda. What are you, a prostitute from Golden Society next door?¡± Laughter erupted around them, and Mia grabbed Matilda, who was held immobile. She began to pour liquor down her throat. ¡°Drink up! Weren¡¯t you just ying hard to get with Mr. Simpson? Drink!¡± ¡°Mia!¡± Yvan¡¯s voice rose again, a warning, ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± ¡°Oh, Mr. Boyd, ever the good Samaritan. How about this, Matilda? Beg Mr. Boyd. If he says so, I¡¯ll let you go. How¡¯s that?¡± Mia¡¯s words seemed to seal Matilda¡¯s fate. As she looked up, all color drained from her face. Yvan approached, his body trembling with barely contained concern. He feared she might copse from whatever agony she was holding back. As he drew closer, Matilda kept her head down. Her hand was lifted onto the table, and someone said, ¡°This is the hand that struck Mia.¡± Chapter 119 Her battered right hand was exposed, drawing gasps from the onlookers. Matilda wanted tough. What was this pain? It was nothingpared to the turmoil within herl ¡°Does It hurt¡­¡± Yvan noticed Matilda¡¯s trembling hand and her other hand clutching her abdomen. He asked softly. ¡°If I say it hurts, will you let me go?¡± Matilda¡¯s gaze met Yvan¡¯s defiantly, like someone with nothing left to lose. Silence. Matildaughed, augh that spoke of deep wounds. ¡°Then I¡¯m not in pain.¡± Pain, until it kills you, until your heart dies, and you can¡¯t feel it anymore. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 ¡°You think this is funny?¡± Mia couldn¡¯t believe the nonchnt expression stered on Matilda¡¯s face. How could this woman¡¯s heart be so cold? Was she not ashamed? She was being humiliated in front of everyone! But why did it feel like the more she tried to anger Matilda, the more she felt like the one being insulted? Mia clenched her fists, her gaze falling to Matilda¡¯s hand resting on the table, the little finger tragically cut off at the knuckle. The sight made everyone wonder just how much more Matilda could take. They were supposed to beughing at her, yet it felt like they were also mocking themselves¡­ Grinding her teeth, Mia stepped forward and stomped down hard on the back of Matilda¡¯s hand! ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Mia!¡± Yvan¡¯s eyes shrank in shock, ¡°Get off her!¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± A woman¡¯s voice joined Yvan¡¯s from the doorway. Chloe was stunned as she walked in. She had only stepped out for a moment to see Mr. Yeager off; how had things turned so sour in her absence? Seeing Matilda pinned to the floor. Chloe felt a pang of sympathy. She shoved Mia aside and, without another word, pped her across the face. Struck for the second time. Mia clutched her cheek and staggered back, looking incredulously at the returning Chloe. ¡°You hit me?¡± ¡°Yeah, I hit you. You think I need to schedule an appointment?¡± In full view of everyone, Chloe helped Matilda to her feet. Matilda was unsteady, pale¨Cfaced, but smiling at Chloe. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I just dropped Mr. Yeager downstairs. What about you?¡± Chloe wiped the spilled wine from Matilda¡¯s face with a napkin, then turned to the onlookers, ¡°What¡¯s this all about? Has Matildamitted murder or arson that you¡¯re all ganging up on her? Don¡¯t you have any conscience?¡± Adrian felt a stab of guilt at Chloe¡¯s words and retorted reflexively, ¡°Does a woman like her deserve our pity?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like Matilda is dying for your pity!¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes reddened. Ignoring Adrian, she turned to Mia. ¡°That p was just a taste of what you deserve! Being used as a pawn, and you don¡¯t even see it. E is the one Yvan truly cares for. You¡¯re sleeping with the same man and fighting her battles; talk about sisterly love!¡± Mia¡¯s face drained of color, disbelief turning her gaze toward E. E had told her she was just Yvan¡¯s sister, so she hadn¡¯t targeted her. E¡¯s pitiful facade was slipping, and she cursed Chloe silently for Interfering. But Chloe didn¡¯t care; she had Mr. Yeager¡¯s backing, and even Yvan wouldn¡¯t dare touch her. Thus, Chloe helped her friend stand, only for Matilda to shrug her off and steady herself. Her slender silhouette seemed like a mere shadow, swaying as if about to fall, but at thest second, she would always find the strength to stand tall. Matilda locked eyes with Yvan; in them. Yvan could see a world crumbling, a fierce defiance. She stood tall before everyone, her presence somanding it took their breath away. They held their breath, waiting for her retaliation. But she just smiled. Merely smiled, turning all their insults into a joke so dismissively light. As she turned away, without a word, they felt an inexplicable pain¡­ This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. When Matilda disappeared from view, her cold smirk lingered, wounding them long after she was gone. In the glitzy, sordid world of high society, her smile had made captives of all the men in the room. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Matilda paced down the narrow corridor, her steps quickening with each heartbeat until they crescendoed into a full¨Con sprint. She burst from the loud, metallic building. Its walls throbbing with electronic beats, Into the all¨Cconsuming embrace of the night. In the solitude of the darkness, she seemed determined to exhaust every ounce of energy, running towards its unseen end. Irony swirled around her, and she let out augh¨Ca frantic. wild cackle. She could hear footsteps behind her, a man in pursuit, his hand reaching out to grab her. Matilda didn¡¯t look back. But his voice clung to her like sharp needles piercing her skin, sending a prickling sensation. that suddenly enveloped her entire body. She turned, her patience shattered, and her palm met Yvan¡¯s cheek with a resounding smack. What a ridiculous man, she mused. With a smirk. Matilda withdrew her icy hand and prodded Yvan¡¯s chest¨Ca gesture that struck him like a sledgehammer, shattering his ribs and making his heart bleed with every tick. Cutting off his attempts at reconciliation, she dissected his defenses with her words¨Cwords that were as much a weapon as any de. ¡°Any old grievances between us are far from settled, Yvan. Spare me the reminiscences of past. affections,¡± she said. ¡°Henceforth, Yvan, let our love be a jest¨Cheard and then forgotten.¡± At that moment, Yvan felt a pain more acute than a thousand arrows could inflict. Matilda hailed a cab with a swift gesture and slid into its backseat. She may have been soaked in spilled beer, her pride seemingly drenched before the crowd, but as she stood, her chin lifted with the same haughty grace she possessed five years prior, reducing everyone to a mere wisp of faint derision in her gaze. The taxi sped away as if chased by demons, and Yvan, reaching out with an empty palm. realized he once held her wrist in that very hand. Now, there was nothing but air. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be this way. The Matilda he knew wouldn¡¯t look at him with such indifference, such mocking disdain, as if nothing remained between them. When the realization dawned on him, a bitterugh escaped his lips. What had they really shared? How many times must her love¨Ca love so fervent and unyielding¨Chave been wounded and ravaged to transform into the cold, resistant shell she presented today? Feeling a loss so profound, Yvan paled as it surged towards him with relentless force. He looked up at the empty street, the night breeze carrying away a sigh into the darker corners of the sleepless city. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 121 Matilda sat in the back of the taxi, her silhouette intermittently illuminated by streetlights passing by¨C shes that made her presence seem fleeting and intangible. Her fingers clenched tightly, trembling, yet her gaze burned with an intensity that could light up the darkest of nights. It was as if she was offering a final, zing glimpse into a world that she was about to set ame. ¡°Yvan, you took advantage of my love. From now on, if love won¡¯t suffice, then hate will take its ce. And if I cannot hate, then I shall perish!¡± Such is the world¨Cwho ever dreams of a happy ending? Chapter 122 Chapter 122 A week had passed before Yvanid eyes on Matilda again. It was at a swanky cocktail party. where the city¡¯s who¡¯s who mingled, sses clinking andughter echoing off the marble walls. There she was, arm in arm with a man, draped in a scarlet dress that clung to her like a second skin. Her hair fell in carefree waves, and her lips were a bold, sensuous red. They made an entrance that captured every gaze in the room. The man by her side was the world¨Crenowned creative director of Noble Blue Brand, Criss. At thirty, with his fine features and a reputation for being a maverick, he was the envy of every bachelor there. Women whispered among themselves, specting on how Matilda had managed to snag such a catch. Criss shed her a smile. ¡°They¡¯re all looking at you.¡± ¡°They?¡± Feigning ignorance, Matilda asked, ¡°Are you referring to someone in particr, Mr. Criss?¡± ¡°Smart as ever.¡± Criss¡® voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°Your ex¨Chusband is watching you.¡± As Matilda lifted her gaze, she found Yvan amid the crowd. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment across the sea of partygoers before each calmly looked away. She thought to herself how much she hade to resemble Yvan. Once upon a time, seeing him would have sent her running. Now, they could pass each other like strangers. ¡°Yvan, thank you for your repeated betrayals. They¡¯ve forged my heart into steel,¡± she thought. That night, Matilda¡¯s presence was unanticipated, yet there was something familiar about her slender silhouette. It seemed to many that they had seen such a face before, years ago¨Ca face that exuded an air of noble grace. Who was she? Once a wild young thing, her eloquence had dazzled, her red dress swirled, and a single nce could deceive the world. Five yearster, she emerged from her trials, donning that fiery red dress once more, stunning all onlookers! N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Criss, clearly pleased,plimented her, ¡°Matilda, you should havee to me sooner.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t dare disturb you, fearing I¡¯d ruin the image you had of me.¡± Matilda batted her eyshes yfully. ¡°Good thingse to those who wait, right?¡± ¡°You do have a way with words.¡± Criss squinted at Yvan, who was moving through the crowd with an air of cold, aristocratic grace. His chiseled features stood out, and even from a distance, one could sense his formidable presence. ¡°He¡¯s quite the man,¡± Criss assessed. His validation wasn¡¯t given lightly, so his four¨Cword endorsement spoke volumes of Yvan¡¯s caliber. 10:31 Chapter 122 Matilda joked, ¡°Too bad he¡¯s not into men. Criss, as if in on her thoughts, teased back, ¡°Sleeping with a man like that, you didn¡¯t lose out.¡± ¡°Did I not?¡± Matilda retorted, her high heels clicking with each step that seemed to stamp on the hearts of the men around her. They couldn¡¯t help but follow her with their eyes. The woman held her chin high, her gazenguid yet devoid of mercy. She continued on, arm in arm with Criss, greeting the press with a poised and practiced ease that spoke of countless encounters with the spotlight. Indeed, she had been there before. Five years earlier, a scandal had erupted, and Matilda had been escorted into a police car as Yvan summoned a horde of journalists to surround her. In that moment of panic and helplessness, the click of cameras sounded like the haunting echoes of a nightmare. Now, those memories resurfaced, tugging at old wounds that still throbbed with pain. Yet here she was, five years on, reiming the limelight with a smile so fitting for the cameras; one could never guess the turmoil she¡¯d faced in the past. She had learned her lesson well back then. Even on your knees, under the re of the spotlight, you must always smile. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 At the soiree, she effortlessly became the center of attention, turning heads as she glided through the crowd. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Criss, with his arm securely around her, led her to the central disy where they added their signatures to the guestbook. Cameras shed as they posed; a reporter with a microphone stepped up to them and asked, ¡°Mr. Criss, could you please introduce us to thedy by your side?¡± With a charming smile and a touch of grace, Criss replied, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve been looking forward to introducing her all evening. Her name is Dawn, which, as you know, means the break of day. You may call her Miss Dawn.¡± ¡°Miss, are you the enigmatic Dawn who¡¯s been the talk of the inte, with an identity shrouded in mystery?¡± the reporter inquired, extending the microphone towards Matilda. Matilda¡¯s smile was poised yet warm. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the Dawn you¡¯ve heard about online.¡± The crowd was abuzz with surprise! A year ago, a designer named Dawn burst onto the scene, her creativity unmatched and her. designs outstanding. Her fresh perspectives on spatial concepts and her coborations with exclusive brands maintained an exceptionally high standard. Attempts to meet Dawn were often met with polite refusals, enhancing her mystique. She owned a studio that periodically released handcrafted bag designs, each in limited editions that sold out almost instantly. Dawn¡¯s name was like a bright yet distant star in the design world, and now, here she stood among them, as radiant and stunning as her reputation had suggested! Matilda¡¯s smile was friendly yetposed. Noticing the reporter¡¯s initial nervousness and how it eased under her gentle demeanor, he asked another question, ¡°Is there a special meaning behind choosing the name ¡®Dawn¡®?¡± Meaning? A fleeting cascade of emotions crossed Matilda¡¯s eyes. In a swift moment, her gaze met Yvan¡¯s in the crowd, and it seemed as if centuries had passed in their silent exchange. Collecting herself, Matilda chuckled softly before she spoke, ¡°As Mr. Criss mentioned, ¡°Dawn¡® signifies the first light. I¡¯ve been through dark times that cast a long shadow over my life, times that nearly plunged me into despair. So, I longed for dawn, I anticipated it, and I hoped to be the dawn for myself. I believe that darkness leads to daybreak, so here I am, standing anew, reminding myself that the day has brightened!¡± Her heartfelt speech moved everyone. If anyone had harbored doubts about Matilda¡¯s standing with Mr. Criss, those doubts were now dispelled by her sincerity and spirit. Chapter 123 The light in her eyes as she spoke was undeniable. Yes, who was she? She had once stood under the spotlight, triumphant, only to fall from grace. Five years in prison had nearly broken her, but now she was back, reiming her ce in the public eye. Who was she? She was Matilda Thompson. In Sea City, there had always been only one Matilda Thompson. From the beginning, even through her darkest hour, she was destined for dawn. No one would break her spirit. ¡°Brother, if your spirit lingers, can you see me now? I¡¯m back in the elite circle, carrying on your belief, fighting alone!¡± she murmured inwardly. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 After introducing herself, Matilda stepped down from the stage before the audience had a chance to react, disappearing into the crowd with Criss. It was only when they had vanished that everyone seemed to snap out of their trance, murmuring the name Dawn. That night, Dawn became an enchanting dream in everyone¡¯s minds. She was dignified and aloof, her gaze proud. Even though she had faced downfall, she had risen from the ashes time. and again. As long as she still breathed, as long as her convictions held, life was but a chance to start anew! Matilda wove through the crowd, soon spotting her friend Chloe arm¨Cin¨Carm with Den Yeager as they, too, descended the stage. Chloe shed Matilda a smile, ¡°You¡¯re quite the star tonight.¡± Feeling a touch of shyness, Matilda returned thepliment, ¡°You look gorgeous as well. Den, a man whose presence was always enigmatic, regarded Matilda with the respect one gentleman reserved for another. His light golden eyes, reminiscent of fine amber. acknowledged her presence. ¡°Ms. Thompson, a pleasure,¡± he greeted her warmly. Talented women naturallymanded men¡¯s admiration. Grateful for Den¡¯s past assistance, Matilda shook his hand and grabbed two sses of champagne from a passing server¡¯s tray. Their sses clinked, the bubbly liquid shimmering. ¡°Thank you for your hospitalityst time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Den replied, casually wrapping an arm around Chloe¡¯s waist. They made quite the pair, Den¡¯s casual eleganceplementing Chloe¡¯s charm. Chloe yfully warned, ¡°If Mr. Yeager ever tires of me and I¡¯m out on the streets, you¡¯ll take me in, won¡¯t you, Matilda?¡± With augh, Matilda replied, ¡°Nonsense, Chloe. How could anyone let you go?¡± ¡°Exactly. I cherish you too much to ever let you go,¡± Den said with his usual sardonic grin, causing Chloe to roll her eyes before turning back to Matilda with a warm smile. ¡°We¡¯re off to greet some partners. If we¡¯rete wrapping up, let¡¯s grab ate¨Cnight bite together.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Matilda nodded. Chloe whispered before leaving. ¡°Behind you, there¡¯s a guy who¡¯s been watching you for a while now.¡± Before Matilda could inquire further, Chloe and Den were off. Matilda turned, only to lock eyes with Yvan. Chapter 124 Yvan stood out even in a crowded room, his imposing presence hard to miss. With his impable attire, handsome features, and an air of detachment, he was the epitome of cool reserve. Though numerous socialites greeted him, his smiles remained distant, his eyes icy pools. He was the kind of man who kept emotions at bay, discussing anything but love. To him, love was a mere diversion, a game he could abandon at any moment without a second thought. Matilda¡¯s gaze met Yvan¡¯s, a shback to a birthday party long ago when a younger, more naive version of herself had first encountered Yvan. Their eyes had met after a lengthy avoidance, a moment that made her heart skip a beat. The scene was reminiscent of a dream from yesteryear, but the yers had changed, the passage of time rendering everything unrecognizable. Matilda suspected she had been the first to fall, and in that instant, she had unwittingly conceded victory to Yvan. He approached her, his steps measured, his aristocratic demeanor chilling. As he stopped before her, his almost devilishly attractive face turned to hers. He addressed her with a familiarity that sent a jolt through her, ¡°Mat.¡± Chapter 125 Chapter 125 In that fleeting moment, memories surged like a tidal wave and threatened to drown Matilda. In the blink of an eye, her mind raced through countless shared moments with him. Five years married. how had he managed to cast her aside so easily? Matildaposed her distraught expression, but Criss beside her was quick to break the ice with a question, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you seem to know Dawn from before?¡± Privately, Criss often called her Dawn, and in those times, Matilda felt truly alive¨Cas if reborn from the ashes rather than the foolish woman who had loved him with such cautious devotion. Criss¡® inquiry caused Yvan¡¯s gaze to darken subtly, as if a flicker of emotion had passed through his eyes, only to be swallowed by the abyss of his deep pupils. His eyes were shimmering with a rare and exotic beauty. Yvan, as fickle as the night. Matilda offered a smile and said to Criss, ¡°No, we¡¯re not close.¡± At that instant, Yvan¡¯s pupils contracted imperceptibly before he asked, ¡°Is that how you see. our rtionship, Matilda?¡± ¡°What rtionship do we have?¡± Her sharp retort cut through the air, a scene she¡¯d imagined countless times. Yet, confronted with the reality, her heart still ached, and her blood still rushed with anger. Facing Yvan, she could never be as calm andposed as she wished. Criss felt Matilda¡¯s fingers tighten around his arm, seekingfort like a drowning person grasping for a lifeline, yet her gaze remained fixed on the man before her. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Her look was cutting as if she wished to slice through Yvan¡¯s devilishly handsome facade, shatter his pretense of nobility, and tear apart his well¨Ccrafted veneer. She wondered if his heart, which had inflicted so much cruelty upon her in her darkest hours, was capable of feeling pain. ¡°Mr. Boyd. I¡¯m rather unaware of any ¡®rtionship¡® we¡¯re supposed to have: Why don¡¯t you enlighten us?¡± she said, her voiceced with sarcasm, putting on a facade. Matilda¡¯s demeanor caught Yvan off guard. He had never expected her to reveal such a thorny side, nor had he foreseen a day when she would stand defiantly against him. He thought that even if Matilda could be cold to others, she would never be so towards him. As the man moved to grasp her hand, she smoothly evaded his touch. Matilda edged slightly behind Criss, then addressed Yvan, ¡°Mr. Boyd, if you have nothing further, we¡¯ll be taking our leave.¡± Chapter 129 Her tone was brisk, clearly indicating a desire to have nothing to do with Yvan. Sensing hispanion¡¯s subtle tremors, Criss nced at Yvan before choosing to stand by Matilda. ¡°I apologize, Mr. Boyd. It seems mypanion isn¡¯t feeling well. I¡¯ll be taking her back. to the hotel,¡± Yvan¡¯s brow twitched at the mention of ¡°back to the hotel,¡± disbelief washing over him as he stared at Matilda. She was staying with Criss? But Matilda didn¡¯t give him time to ponder; she quickly followed Criss through the crowd toward the hotel lobby. Yvan watched Matilda¡¯s receding figure for a long while before abruptly pulling out his phone. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me. Look into Criss¡® background¨CASAP. I need the info right now.¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Criss guided Matilda to their room for some rest, the twin beds neatly made. Matilda perched on one, taking deep, steadying breaths. Seeing her like this, Criss heaved a sigh, grabbed the kettle to boil some water for tea, and asked while filling it, ¡°Sweetie, you gotta tell me who he is already, right?¡± Matilda offered a resigned smile. ¡°He¡¯s my ex¨Chusband.¡± ¡°Oh my God!¡± Criss¡® hand trembled, nearly dropping the kettle. ¡°Then I don¡¯t wanna sleep with him.¡± Matilda¡¯s voice pitched up in disbelief. ¡°You wanted to sleep with my ex¨Chusband?¡± Criss stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Well, he doesn¡¯t look like the submissive type. I bet if we hit the sack, we¡¯d end up wrestling.¡± Matilda raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. ¡°Okay, okay, Lord Criss, I admit my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have kept it from you. I¡¯ll be upfront next time.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Criss lost his usual air of poised aloofness, sat beside Matilda after setting up the kettle, and said, ¡°Honey, you gotta figure something out. You can¡¯t keep dodging him forever. The event nners were talking him up big time. How did you guys even get together back in the day?¡± ¡°It just happened.¡± Prodded by Criss¡® question, memories came flooding back. Matilda chuckled self¨Cdeprecatingly, shook her head to dispel those thoughts, and then said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to tell; it¡¯s all in the past, dear Mr. Curiosity.¡± ¡°Alright then, my sweet little secret keeper is keeping things from me now.¡± Criss feigned injury with a sigh. ¡°Seems like we can¡¯t continue being besties.¡± Matilda looked up at the renowned creative director, who smiled down at her, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re rivals in love now.¡± Matilda couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Go ahead, try your luck. If you can turn Yvan gay, you¡¯re wee to my troubles.¡± ¡°Boring.¡± Criss rolled his eyes and gazed out the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window at the crowd below. People were mingling, clinking sses, the socialite dance of ambiguity¨Ceveryone hunting, everyone climbing, all with a shared aim: ascend thedder. ¡°Your ex is quite the catch.¡± Criss observed Yvan in the crowd, his tall, distinguished figure and his aloof, handsome face Chapter 126 drawing the attention of many socialites. Yet, Yvan remained unimpressed, as if no woman there could plque his interest. ¡°Oh darling, with the way he¡¯s giving the cold shoulder to thosedies, you¡¯d think he yed for the same team as us.¡± Criss poured a cup for Matilda and carefully fetched her medication. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. After taking her medicine with the water, Matilda remarked sarcastically, ¡°Him? Impossible. Women are the least of his shortages.¡± Yvan, the perennialdies¡® man¨Chow could he be waiting for anyone? Meanwhile, among the crowd, Yvan received a voice message from one of his people: ¡°Mr. Boyd, we¡¯ve located the hotel room where Matilda and Criss are staying. It¡¯s the most expensive suite in the hotel, top floor, room 2101¡­¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Yvan replied coolly, then inquired, ¡°How long have they been in there?¡± ¡°Based on our surveince, they¡¯ve been inside for over half an hour and haven¡¯te out yet.¡± Over half an hour¡­ Matilda and Criss alone in a room, and still no sign of them? Yvan¡¯s brow furrowed unexpectedly at the realization that he was so concerned about a woman. He calmed the irritation in his heart, took a deep breath, and instructed, ¡°Keep watching and report back to me with any updates.¡± Chapter 127 Chapter 127 As thest sliver of sunset was engulfed by the night, the curtain of darkness gently descended upon the city that never sleeps. The social g was in full swing, the atmosphere reaching a feverish crescendo as couples twirled on the dance floor, theirughter and chatter a symphony of the night. In the corners, hushed conversations over potential deals and better prospects took ce among the ambitious. At that moment, Yvan was undeniably the center of female attention. Matilda and Criss were invited downstairs by the host for a casual drink, and as they emerged from the hotel, they bumped into the host himself, who greeted them with a warm smile. ¡°Ah, there you are! I was just about toe up and fetch you two.¡± Matilda returned the smile graciously. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Simpson.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no bother at all. Let me introduce you to my son.¡± Bradford Simpson began, but he was cut off as a voice rang out from behind. ¡°Dad, there¡¯s no need for introductions.¡± Adrian stood there with a meaningful smirk, his eyes locked on Matilda and the man by her side. ¡°Ms. Thompson and I are old acquaintances.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Bradford missed the undercurrent in his son¡¯s tone and pped Matilda on the shoulder. ¡°Well, that saves me a bit of trouble. Ms. Thompson, I was hoping to discuss the prospect of working with us next time¡­¡± Matilda hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Adrian here. Her face had yet to settle into an appropriate expression when Adrian cut in bluntly. ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you go ahead and entertain the other guests? I can chat with them just fine.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cause a scene, son.¡± Bradford shot Adrian a look before excusing himself. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it then.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Simpson.¡± Matilda said with a polite nod as the host¡¯s figure disappeared from view. It was then that Adrian¡¯s sneer grew more pronounced. When he smiled, his oceanic eyes shimmered with a haunting beauty. ¡°So, you¡¯re cozying up to Criss now?¡± ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Matilda¡¯s retort wasced with sarcasm. She wasn¡¯t alone anymore; she wouldn¡¯t be bullied as she had been in the past. Adrian¡¯sughter was openly contemptuous. ¡°Denying old mes now, are we, Ms. Thompson? How cold. I wonder if Yvan gets the same sharp¨Ctongued treatment.¡± He always knew where to strike deepest. Such a man was like a beast. Matilda¡¯s smile was forced, masking the pain. ¡°He¡¯s an ex¨Clover. What are you?¡± Adrian¡¯s face darkened, his hand reaching out to grab her, but Matilda deftly sidestepped. Her smile was chilling, her eyes icy pits as if she had anticipated his anger. Her exterior was delicate and lovely, but her demeanor was cold as a winter pond. She sneered with disdain, brushing past Adrian. In a whisper meant only for his ears, she left him with a parting shot. ¡°Men can be so dull. Going to great lengths to hurt the very thing they¡¯ve tried so hard to possess.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. In the next instant, Adrian¡¯s pupils dted, and when he turned to look at Matilda again, she had already turned away without a hint of regret. Arm in arm with Criss, Matilda¡¯s heels clicked against the floor as she made her way to the elevator. Her backless crimson gown red behind her like a me, zing out of Adrian¡¯s sight. Watching her leave, he extended his tongue, slowly tracing his thin lips. His expression was impassive and devilish, his movements suggestively alluring. A wolfish gleam of amusement crossed his eyes as he murmured to himself, ¡°Interesting.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Matilda and Criss made their way back to the center of the ballroom, a hubbub ofughter and conversation buzzing around them. Guests approached, clinking sses with a yful touch, their smiles tinged with a hint of flirtation. ¡°Your date is quite the catch,¡± they chuckled. Criss, ever the charmer, took thesepliments in stride, his arm possessively wrapped around Matilda¡¯s slim waist, almost as if he were showing her off. This was especially true when they passed by Yvan, whose intense gaze lingered on Matilda a little too long. Criss couldn¡¯t resist brushing past Yvan repeatedly, and sure enough, he caught Yvan¡¯s frown deepening each time. ¡°Honey, look at him. It¡¯s hrious,¡± Criss whispered in Matilda¡¯s ear, unable to contain his amusement. Matilda responded with a knowing smile. ¡°You¡¯re terrible.¡± ¡°With that tone,¡± Criss winked, ¡°it¡¯s a good thing we¡¯re besties, or what if I fell for a woman like you?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d be the savior of all men.¡± Matilda¡¯s lips parted in a bold, seductive grin. ¡°They should all be thanking me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saving men right now,¡± Criss murmured, his voice low. ¡°Have you seen the way they. look at you? My God, like you¡¯re a goddess. I think I might be the target of their envy.¡± shing an impish smile that would seem coy and enticing to onlookers, Matilda let go of Criss as Chloe waved at them from across the room. ¡°I shall leave you to pick up some handsome. men.¡± ¡°I highly doubt I¡¯d find one tonight,¡± Criss shrugged, ¡°Every man here I¡¯ve thought of approaching is smitten by you.¡± As an apology, Matilda blew him a kiss as she left, capturing the hearts of all men who were blessed to witness it. Meanwhile, unaffected by the kiss, Criss calmly grabbed a handsome. young man. ¡°Hi, what¡¯s your name?¡± The young man was absolutely dumbstruck by Matilda,pletely ignoring the internationally famous design director, murmuring, ¡°An angel¡­¡± Matilda approached her friend Chloe, who had changed into a sharp pantsuit that entuated her sleek, powerful aura, much like a corporate queen. Seeing Chloe in a different light, Matilda teased, ¡°Wow, look at that chest.¡± Puffing up her chest, Chloe retorted yfully. ¡°Jealous? I can share some with you.¡± Matilda poked Chloe¡¯s cheek. ¡°No need. Stick around after the party, will you? Let¡¯s hit the town 1/2 05:52 Chapter 128 together.¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled with surprise and delight. ¡°Really? You¡¯re finally up for it? Let¡¯s do it! Forget window shopping; I¡¯m taking you to the hottest club in town!¡± The phrase ¡°hottest club in town¡± made Matilda¡¯s expression waver with a touch of awkwardness. ¡°Easy, tiger. Let¡¯s not get too wild.¡± Chloe¡¯s voice turned sultry as she hugged Matilda close. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Tonight, I¡¯ll introduce you to the new eye candy they¡¯ve got. Fresh on the scene!¡± ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± Matilda quickly declined, ¡°Let¡¯s just stick to a couple of casual drinks. No need for anything over the top.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re no fun.¡± After agreeing on a time to meet up, the two women went their separate ways to find their respective malepanions. Matilda, however, couldn¡¯t find Criss and instead bumped straight into Yvan. Van was surrounded by a bevy of women, all eager for his attention and attempting to toast with him. But Yvan paid them no mind, walking straight past them. It wasn¡¯t until his eyes caught Matilda¡¯s figure that he paused. That nce swept past all other distractions, like twoets on the verge of collision, sparking a chaotic maic field. At that moment, Yvan¡¯s pupils were filled with nothing but Matilda¡¯s presence. It was as if the past ovepped with the present as he waded through a storm of memories, breaking free from the chrysalis of the past, and approached Matilda once more. And, as if driven by some unseen force, Yvan called out her name again. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mat.¡± The man¡¯s call was crisp and sharp, like a gust of wind that swiftly ends, cold and biting. Matilda¡¯s eyes twinkled with a mirthful red, ¡°Mr. Boyd.¡± She finally mustered the courage to face him. As Yvan stepped forward, Matilda retreated, their silent standoff palpable. She warned, ¡°Mr. Boyd, any closer, and you¡¯ll be invading my personal space.¡± Yvan halted not far from her, his smileden with unspoken intent. ¡°I¡¯ve been closer before.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve forgotten that.¡± Matilda deftly parried his advance, herughter reminiscent of an innocent, oblivious child. For a moment, it seemed as if time had rewound to the startling beauty of their first encounter. Yet she asked, ¡°Did you call my name for a reason, Mr. Boyd?¡± So distant and detached. Yvan¡¯s fingers tightened around his ss as if he were clenching Matilda¡¯s throat. After a long pause, he finally let out a few sybles, ¡°Matilda, you¡¯ve changed.¡± ¡°Indeed, I have. If I hadn¡¯t, I¡¯d surely be dead,¡± she thought. Matilda¡¯sugh was sharp as ice, a dance upon the de¡¯s edge, ready to embrace destruction at any second, yet she epted it all. ¡°Thanks to you.¡± Those three words cut deep into his heart, and Yvan¡¯s brows slowly gathered a shadow. In a tone Matilda couldn¡¯t decipher, he asked, ¡°Do you hate me?¡± Matilda¡¯sughter was as if she had heard the world¡¯s biggest joke. Eventually, she shook her head and said, ¡°Yvan, it¡¯s far toote to talk about hate. You¡¯re not worthy of that question anymore.¡± Yvan flinched as Matilda¡¯sughter trembled like branches in the wind, undeniably dazzling. She had been the center of attention five years ago, and now, upon her return, she easily captured the gaze of men. Her every smile and frown was full of charm, a pity that her eyes. nowughed with icy cruelty. She dered, ¡°Yvan, there¡¯s a kind of hatred that has reached a dead end, a point where it doesn¡¯t even matter anymore. To me, you are as poison.¡± Matilda stepped forward, gracefully passing by him. Yvan reached out to grab her slender wrist, only to have it swiftly pulled away. In front of him, she walked into the arms of another man who happened to pass by, saying, ¡°The poison has seeped into the bones; there¡¯s nowhere left to go. You ask if I hate you? Of course I do. As 1/2 Chapter 129 much as I once loved you, Iter hated you. But now¡­¡± She wrapped her arms around the neer¡¯s neck, ncing back to see the shock exploding in Yvan¡¯s eyes. Matilda¡¯s smile was that of a siren. ¡°Yvan, there¡¯s no turning back the years. When a person is stripped of everything, nothing in this world can hold her back.¡± The devil named Hatred had devoured her reason; when Yvan shattered her remaining warmth, a person in despair fears nothing. Because there¡¯s nothing left to lose, she fears nothing at all! Yvan¡¯s pupils contracted as his eyes seemed to whirl with a storm, threatening to engulf the image of Matilda within. Adrian hadn¡¯t expected to be used as a pawn to wound another man. Matilda released her hold on his neck and whispered, ¡°Thanks for ying along, Mr. Simpson.¡± Then, she quickly withdrew, vanishing from the sight of both men, stepping out from the crowd and disappearing as if their encounter had been an illusion. But, oh, but. The organ in Yvan¡¯s chest, known as the heart, throbbed violently, each beat pulling a string of painful relief through his veins. The audacious and proud heiress of the Thompson family had returned. With a bloody, visceral hatred for him. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 The party had wound down by ten o¡¯clock. Matilda sat by the fountain, the high heels she wore taking their toll on her feet. She rested alone, her elegant profile softly illuminated by the fountain lights, a stark contrast to her earlier, more strained interactions with Yvan. Adrian emerged from the crowd just in time to catch this tranquil moment. A cynical smirk crossed his lips as he approached, hands casually tucked into his pockets, his blue¨Cgreen eyes almost bewitching under the night lights, reminiscent of the eerie glow of fireflies. Matilda noticed him but didn¡¯t bother with any pretense, greeting him as casually as anyone else would, ¡°Good evening. Mr. Simpson.¡± ¡°Good evening,¡± Adrian spat through clenched teeth. This woman had deliberately bumped into him earlier just to put on a show for Yvan. He had never been so tantly used by anyone before! It was clear that Matilda had no intention of engaging with Adrian, so after her brief greeting. she fell silent, waiting as he stepped closer. She looked up, her gaze shing with his piercing eyes. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± she asked. Adrian let out augh. ¡°Just toss me aside after using me? Do I look like someone who¡¯d let that slide so easily?¡± Matilda chuckled lightly. ¡°It was a mutual need, and you were not shortchanged.¡± ¡°A mutual need, huh?¡± Adrian¡¯s scoff held a deeper chill, ¡°I underestimated you. How did you manage to feign such innocence before? Or is duplicity just your nature?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your answer, then.¡± She stood up, not wanting to linger with Adrian. ¡°Think of me as duplicitous if you like. Compared to Yvan¡¯s ruthlessness, my duplicity could almost be taken as apliment.¡± Adrian¡¯s smile deepened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. ¡°Someone like Yvan, you¡¯ll never outy him.¡± Matilda felt a twinge in her chest, only to hear Adrian¡¯s mocking voice continue. ¡°But you, you¡¯re the kind of woman who¡¯s only good for a man¡¯s amusement.¡± As she turned, she stepped back from the fountain, distancing herself from the menacing figure. At that moment, Criss returned, wrapping his arms around her, ¡°Hey, darling, what are you doing here alone with Mr. Simpson?¡± The word ¡°alone¡± drew a sneer from Adrian. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself; I can hardly bear Ms. Thompson¡¯s affections.¡± Matilda remained silent, too weary from dealing with Yvan to argue, confused as to why Adrian seemed intent on provoking her anger with every pointed and mocking remark. 1/2 Chapter 130 N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Seeing Matilda¡¯s silence as boring. Adrian lost interest. She had been fiery in front of Yvan, but in his presence, she was just dull. Criss, noting Matilda¡¯s fatigue, sighed. ¡°Where to tonight?¡± ¡°I promised Chloe we¡¯d grab a drink. How about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll join you,¡± Criss replied softly, then looked up at Adrian. Standing confidently by Matilda¡¯s side, they made a striking couple, irking Adrian for reasons he couldn¡¯t fathom. Criss¡®posure made it hard for Adrian to retaliate, especially as he bid him farewell with impable manners, leaving no room for critique. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll take Dawn back to rest. If there¡¯s a spot to hang out later tonight, we¡¯ll be sure to invite you, Mr. Simpson.¡± With that, Criss escorted Matilda away from Adrian, their departure marked by confidence and presence. Adrian watched their retreating figures until frustration finallypelled him to shake off his irritation. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 After slipping out of her gown at the hotel, Matilda lounged on the edge of the bed, taking the time to touch up her makeup. It took a while before she got up to change into something morefortable¨Ca casual hoodie paired with denim shorts that showcased her long legs, topped off with over¨Cthe¨Cknee boots. She was reapplying her lipstick when she casually asked Criss. ¡°So, you¡¯re really going with me tonight?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Criss replied. ¡°That guy hanging around your friend is quite the looker, too.¡± Matilda pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Oh, you mean Den Yeager?¡± Criss nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the one. Heard he¡¯s quite the catch?¡± ¡°He¡¯s something else,¡± Matilda walked over, giving Criss a yful smile. ¡°Even Yvan gives him props. But if you¡¯ve got your eye on Den, you might be in for heartbreak.¡± Criss let out a dramatic groan. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Matilda continued with a mysterious grin, ¡°I have a hunch that our dear Chloe and Den have a little something¨Csomething going on.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Criss flopped back onto the bed, deted. ¡°The guys I like are either into you or your friend. My love life is tragic. I¡¯m done being gay.¡± Laughing, Matilda finished her lipstick and wrapped an arm around his neck, ¡°Don¡¯t be so down. We¡¯ll grab some drinks tonight and see what happens.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t steal any guys from me.¡± Criss raised an eyebrow yfully. ¡°Your allure is just too strong. Lucky for me..I¡¯m gay. Speaking of, Mr. Boyd and the others don¡¯t know, do they? The way they look at me, you¡¯d think they want to devour me.¡± Matilda chuckled lightly. ¡°Him? What does he have to do with me? After all, I was the reject he discarded years ago.¡± ¡°Chin up, girl, that¡¯s the spirit,¡± Criss encouraged her. ¡°Ready to go?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hit it, Mr. Criss.¡± Matilda took her friend¡¯s arm, and with a natural smile, they pushed open the hotel door. Meanwhile, Yvan¡¯s men, secretly tailing them, quickly messaged him, ¡°Mr. Boyd, they¡¯re on the move.¡± ¡°Keep watching.¡± came Yvan¡¯s icy voice. ¡°How long have they been together?¡± ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen Ms. Thompson and Mr. Criss rested for at least an hour- An hour. Chapter 131 Yvan clenched his hand, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes before he repressed it. The man seemed eternally unswayed by others, gathering his thoughts as he walked to the floor¨Cto¨C ceiling windows of his hotel room, the night sky held captive in his gaze. Meanwhile, Matilda and Criss were on their way to the bar, following the address Chloe had given them. When they arrived, Chloe was waiting outside, puffing on a cigarette with practiced ease, her eyes half¨Cclosed, a far cry from her poised demeanor at the afternoon¡¯s event¨Cshe looked like a street¨C smart ruffian. Approaching, Chloe yfully blew smoke in Matilda¡¯s face and teased in a flirtatious tone, ¡°Hey there, prettydy,ing for a drink all by your lonesome?¡± Criss chimed in from behind, ¡°And me.¡± ¡°Lord Criss.¡± Chloe winked at him. ¡°Joining the party?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve hit a spot like this,¡± Criss replied with a smile. ¡°Used to be a regr at the bars back in the day. Now that I¡¯m older, I miss that fresh thrill. Shall we go? Got friends inside?¡± With an arm around Matilda, Chloe looked back at Criss and said, ¡°Of course, gotta make sure Matilda gets the VIP treatment.¡± Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Matilda finally got what Chloe meant by VIP treatment. No sooner had she settled into the booth than a line of young, dashing men approached, each one a fresh¨Cfaced Adonis, and they just plopped down around Matilda, their presence even more ostentatious than Chloe¡¯sst shindig. The whole scene gave Matilda the heebie¨Cjeebies, but Criss, on the other hand, lit up like a Christmas tree, mingling with the group of flirty waiters like they were old friends. The throbbing electronic music seemed to awaken every dark desire lurking in the corners of the soul. Under the kaleidoscope of lights, everyone¡¯s face took on a different mask ¨Cughter, anger, joy, and sorrow all yed out like a drama. Every time, Matilda felt as if the bar was some kind of modern¨Cday purgatory, where everyone wore their vice on their sleeve, a parade of grotesque figures and mboyant characters taking turns on the stage of excess. Everyone amplified their senses to the extreme, drinking and squandering away precious moments of life, seeking nothing but a night of fleeting pleasure in a ce where no soul could find peace, tumbling again and again into the abyss. The guys around her were relentless in urging her to drink, Matilda, unable to fend them off, could only smile and decline, but when she couldn¡¯t escape, she¡¯d down the drink. As the alcohol burned its way down her throat, it felt as if her soul was spilling out from her silenced. lips. She leaned on the guy next to her,ughing as the lights flickered over her face, half in heaven, half in hell. Yvan and Adrian had been called over to the bar by some friends and unexpectedly ran into Matilda. She was nestled in another man¡¯s arms; her lips stained a luscious red from the drinks she¡¯d been having, looking every bit the enchantress of the night. Yvan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple involuntarily bobbed, and his gaze darkened considerably. Feeling the scorching look on her, Matilda looked up and locked eyes with the man. She arched an eyebrow ever so slightly as if she hadn¡¯t really seen him, then effortlessly passed her drink to the lips of the man beside her, her movements smooth and flirtatious as if she¡¯d done it a thousand times before. Yvan stepped forward, with Adrian right behind him, and they made their way to Matilda¡¯s booth, prompting a lightugh from her. ¡°Care to sit and have a drink?¡± she asked. Yvan stared at Matilda, trying to see some sign of¡­ anything different. But there was nothing. Matilda was probably drunk, her eyes half¨Cclosed, smiling at them fearlessly. ¡°You looking for me for something?¡± she asked softly. Yvan scoffed. ¡°Matilda, I underestimated your talent for seduction.¡± At that, Matildaughed again, leaning on the shoulder of the man beside her, looking utterly charming. ¡°Yvan, my seducing someone ¨C what¡¯s it to you?¡± 1/2 N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Chapter 132 A sting shot through Yvan¡¯s heart, and he stepped closer, grabbing Matilda¡¯s wrist. Her smile faded, her gaze sharpening as she looked at him. ¡°Let I go,¡± she said, each word a clear, cuttingmand. ¡°Matilda!¡± Yvan¡¯s voice rose in pitch. Why was he so agitated at this sight? Why did the thought of Matilda leaning on someone else seem so damn painful? Why? Yvan¡¯s inner turmoil found no outlet, and his grip on Matilda¡¯s wrist tightened, the pain snapping her partly out of her drunken haze. She stood up, shaking off his hand forcefully. ¡°I said let go of me!¡± Adrian stood behind them the whole time, silent, with a look in his eyes when he gazed at Matilda that was both deep and dangerous. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Yvan seemed to snap, yanking Matilda to the side of the booth with a force that drew everyone¡¯s attention. Chloe¡¯s cry and rise to her feet were met with Yvan¡¯s icy re. His grip on Matilda was relentless, and as the rest of the booth¡¯s upants stood, tension crackled in the air ¨C a fight seemed imminent, and bystanders began to back away. Chloe¡¯s eyes zed with anger as she pointed at Yvan, ¡°Let her go, Yvan!¡± His sneer was cold, ¡°And what gives you the right to tell me what to do?¡± Chloe¡¯s retort wasced with bitterughter. ¡°And what right do you have to take her away? Yvan, you were the one who dumped her! Now what? Trying to win her back with your tail. between your legs?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Yvan¡¯s rage flipped into a grin at Chloe¡¯s sharp tongue. Matilda tried to pull away, but he was unyielding, dragging her toward the exit. As onlookers turned their heads, catching a glimpse of Yvan¡¯s well¨Cknown face before quickly looking away. Matilda¡¯s resistance was futile against his brute strength. Her face flushed with the effort as she protested, ¡°Everyone¡¯s watching! Let go!¡± ¡°Well, if you know everyone¡¯s watching, maybe you should behave!¡± With that, Yvan pulled her into the service corridor, mming the door behind them and cutting off the curious stares of the crowd. His hand tightened around her throat, a gesture that carried an unsettling intimacy. Matildaughed, a cold, sharp sound. ¡°Yvan, what are you trying to do? Humiliate me again?¡± Yvan shuddered, looking down at the woman in his arms. He hadn¡¯t wanted anyone to see her in this drunken state, hence his impulse to seclude her. When had such a thought taken root in him, and to what extent had it affected him? Suddenly, Yvan released her. Matilda crouched, clutching her throat and fighting back tears of physical pain. Her eyes, reddened, stared at him, two words cutting through the tension, ¡°Get lost!¡± Something snapped in Yvan¡¯s mind. When his pride was trampled on one time too many, he grasped the front of Matilda¡¯s blouse and pushed her beneath him, sealing her lips with a forceful kiss. The moment he invaded her mouth, Matilda turned her head away, her voice a thin line of defense. ¡°Get off me! You disgust me!¡± Yvan, losing control, pped her across the face. chapter The p stunned Matilda, Her clothes disheveled, her eyes red¨Crimmed, and her cheek throbbing with pain, she regained her senses and covered her face, trembling. Yvan panicked, reaching for her shoulders, but the words of apology stuck in his throat. Fear gripped him as he recalled the look in Matilda¡¯s eyes when she first looked up at him- it was like a knife slicing through his heart. ¡°You¡­¡± She swatted his hand away with a fierce gesture, nearly stumbling forward. Yvan caught her from behind, but Matilda fought to free herself. The pain on her face seeped into her heart, leaving it numb with cold. ¨C The look she gave Yvan sent shivers down his spine. It was like a silent battle she fled, he pursued. Then someone opened the service door, and light flooded in, revealing Matilda falling straight into Adrian¡¯s arms. He looked down at the woman who had crashed into his embrace, lifting her swollen cheek with a meaningful smile, ¡°Got yourself into trouble, and now youe to me?¡± He was no knight in shining armor, either.. Matilda hurried away again, her steps erratic as if in a desperate escape, her figure. disappearing into the crowd. Only then did Yvan follow, a moment toote. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 ¡°Where is she?¡± Yvan locked eyes with Adrian¡¯s sea¨Cgreen gaze; his voiceced with urgency. ¡°She went home.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Adrian let out a light chuckle. ¡°Yvan, you sure are a gentleman, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yvan¡¯s face paled; his body suddenly felt as if it had been drained of all strength, and he stood there, a sense of bewildering helplessness washing over him. Adrian crossed his arms, his handsome brows arched in inquiry. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you just lost your cool over a woman you once rejected?¡± Yvan found himself speechless, shocked by his ownck of control. To have acted out in such a way! The man¡¯s silence only deepened Adrian¡¯s keen look. ¡°Yvan, I thought you wouldn¡¯t fall for such a woman.¡± Yvan quickly denied it. ¡°Fall for her? Her? Is she even worthy?¡± Adrian¡¯s eyebrows shot up at the triple rhetorical questions. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you needn¡¯t have made such a scene.¡± With his arms still crossed, Adrian¡¯s mind unbiddenly swept back to the image of Matilda, tears in her eyes, crashing into his embrace. He shook off the thought, emphasizing each word, ¡°For such a woman, I have my ways to make herply.¡± As he finished, his tone was almost biting, each word a deliberate strike, as though he intended to shatter every ounce of pride Matilda might possess. Yvan watched Adrian¡¯s face, an odd irritation bubbling up within him again. ¨C Matilda had left early; Yvan had drained all her interest in staying. After saying goodbye to Chloe, she walked alone to the underground parking lot. She hadn¡¯t driven there she just needed some air, feeling nearly suffocated by the day¡¯s events. She had nearly drowned in Yvan¡¯s gaze. Her fingers were still trembling. The fear of Yvan had long ago seeped into her bones, bing an instinctive habit. She hugged herself in the empty parking lot, its silence surrounding her as she leaned against the wall and let out a meaningless, low growl. How many more times¡­ how many more repetitions of this pain before she could step out of this shadow? ¡°Yvan, what kind of steely heart must I forge to withstand your relentless hurt?¡± She screamed. Chapter 134 Tears rolled down uncontrobly as Matilda gasped for air, her heart spasming with acute pain. Like a wounded animal, she could only lick her own wounds salvation had toe from within; no one else could be her savior. ¨C It was under such coincidental circumstances that Adrian bid farewell to Yvan, only to spot that frail figure in the parking lot. Matilda was collecting herself, ready to call a cab when she saw someone approaching from a distance. His slow yet graceful stride became clear as he drew closer, his green eyes gleaming like fine emeralds with an unsettling brilliance. Adrian¡¯s golden hair was loosely tied back, his striking features entuated by his fair skin. He drew near, whistled, and, with hands in his pockets, quipped, ¡°What are you doing here? I thought you¡¯d be off crying on someone¡¯s shoulder by now.¡± His teasing tone made Matilda frown. She attempted to leave, but he called out to her. ¡°Hey, Matilda Thompson.¡± He rarely called her by her full name, usually opting for a more teasing moniker. But now, there was a rare seriousness in his voice. Matilda paused subconsciously, listening as he continued, ¡°When you pushed Rachel down five years ago, do you remember what else happened?¡± Why was he asking about this now? Matilda turned, her voice cold, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯d rather not discuss this with you.¡± With that, she walked out of the parking garage, moving swiftly as if chased by a predator. Adrian watched her leave, his phone vibrating in his pocket, signaling an unexpected message. He pulled it out, his longshes fluttering with surprise. The night wore on, the crescent moon high above, as the city breathed into its final frenzy. Matilda left the bar, navigating through the crowd with her striking features drawing attention, but she ignored all advances. Her icy gaze cut through the night as she stepped out: She called Criss to say she was heading home early and hailed a cab. On the way home, Matilda frowned, the smoky scent of the bar leaving her nauseous. A breath of fresh air in the cab seemed to help, and she let down the window, her face pale in the moonlight, restraining something with great effort. Once home, she paid the cab fare briskly and strode inside. The nausea had subsided somewhat after the night air, but it left her with a lingering unease that broke out into a cold sweat. This feeling was not unfamiliar. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Matilda crashed into bed that evening, utterly spent, and when the sun peeked through her curtains the next morning, she pulled herself together for a trip to the pharmacy. With swift determination, she picked up a few items and headed home, Once there, she used a pregnancy test she¡¯d bought. One line was clear as day, but the other was faint, barely visible. She tried all three different brands she¡¯d bought, but each test showed that same, ambiguous second line. Feeling anxious and confused, a situation she¡¯d never encountered before her pregnancy with Logan had been confirmed straight away she reached for her phone and dialed Chloe¡¯s number to see if her best friend was free to talk. After sharing her concerns, Chloe insisted they needed to hit up the hospital to get a clear answer. Chloe took the day off without a second thought, hailed a cab to Matilda¡¯s ce, and together, they cabbed to the hospital. While registering at the hospital, Matilda bumped into the same doctor Keaton she¡¯d met when she had a fever some time ago. He gave her a once¨Cover as she and Chloe waited in line at the OB¨CGYN¡¯s door, too preupied to notice his gaze, As Matilda¡¯s number was called, Keaton watched her disappear into the examination room and, after a long silence, pulled out his phone and dialed a number. Yvan was sprawled out in bed, having taken the day off work, his mood as stormy as the weather outside. His phone rang, and seeing it was Keaton, he answered without hesitation, ¡°Keaton, what¡¯s up?¡± Keaton paced the hospital corridor, phone in one hand, the other tucked into his coat pocket. His towering figure turned heads among the nurses. ¡°I saw Matilda.¡± That nameing out of his mouth was a surprise. Yvan squinted, ¡°Meaning?¡± ¡°She¡¯s here with another woman at the OB¨CGYN.¡± Keaton¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, ¡°Thought I should give you a heads up.¡± OB¨CGYN? A rush of images swept through Yvan¡¯s mind, and he bolted upright, shock etching his features, his voice deepening with urgency, ¡°Text me the address. I¡¯ming over now!¡± Meanwhile, Matilda sat in front of the doctor with Chloe by her side, exining the results of the pregnancy tests. The doctor, experienced and nonplussed, suggested, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start with a urine sample, followed by a blood test.¡± Chapter 135 White typing, the doctor looked up. ¡°When was yourst menstrual cycle?¡± Matilda thought for a moment and provided a date. The doctor did some quick math, ¡°It¡¯s been. forty days since yourst period.¡± Matilda nodded in confirmation. After sharing this, the doctor nced at Matilda, noticing her apanied by a young woman, and asked, ¡°And where¡¯s your boyfriend?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Boyfriend? Matilda¡¯s face paled slightly, ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend¡­¡± ¡°No boyfriend, and yet here we are,¡± the doctor frowned, ¡°You see, it¡¯s you who ends up with the complications. Youngdy, be sensible, don¡¯t y around¨Cit¡¯s not worth the trouble.¡± Chloe could onlyfort Matilda, telling her not to take it to heart, as the doctor handed them a chip card. ¡°Go downstairs to pay, then head to the third floor for the urine test.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you, doctor.¡± Leaving the doctor¡¯s office, they heard the electronic screen buzz for the next patient. Chloe gently guided Matilda through the urine test and blood draw, and while waiting for the results, they casually strolled through the streets surrounding the hospital. Chapter 150 Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Chloe tossed the question out casually as if she werementing on the weather. ¡°Was it Yvan?¡± Matilda¡¯s face turned ashen, and after a long silence, she didn¡¯t deny it, whispering softly. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That jerk.¡± With a frustrated mutter, Chloe kicked at the nearby shrubbery, then fished a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket. Catching sight of Matilda, she hesitated and put them back. ¡°Can¡¯t smoke around a pregnantdy.¡± Matilda let out a snort ofughter. ¡°You¡¯re actually holding back.¡± ¡°What, do I look heartless to you?¡± Chloe arched her graceful eyebrows, ¡°Let¡¯s just wait another twenty minutes; the results should be in by then.¡± Matilda nced at her. ¡°You seem like you¡¯ve got more to say?¡± ¡°What are you gonna do if you really are pregnant?¡± Chloe¡¯s questions always seemed casual, as if she was mindful of Matilda¡¯s feelings. Still, Matilda felt a twinge of pain at the question. She gave a pale smile. ¡°Get rid of it, what else?¡± Chloe slung an arm around her shoulder. ¡°To be honest, you could keep the baby as leverage against Yvan. Wouldn¡¯t that be sweet?¡± ¡°Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.¡± Matilda forced augh, ¡°You¡¯re ruthless.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not ruthless, just standing my ground.¡± Chloe winked. ¡°Then, the Boyd family¡¯s second grandchild would be right there in your belly. You could y Yvan like a fiddle, couldn¡¯t you?¡± Her tone was so nonchnt she might as well have been talking about a sunny day. Matilda chuckled at the idea.¡°y Yvan? How?¡± ¡°Ruin him! Leave him broken and alone! A life of misery!¡± Chloe, still not satisfied, gave another angry kick to the garden foliage. ¡°That¡¯s what he deserves for everything he¡¯s done to you!¡± Only through punishment can errors be redeemed, not forgiveness. Matilda shook her head, murmuring. ¡°Better to end it. Bringing the child into a world filled with This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. generational hatred isn¡¯t fair to them.¡± our Chloe stroked Matilda¡¯s cheek. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t care about the kid. It¡¯s just a means to an end for revenge against Yvan.¡± Revenge against Yvan? How chilling those words sounded. Matilda smiled wryly. She had grown to hate some people so much that forgiveness no longer 1/2 mattered. ¡°Better to abort it. Even if not for the baby, I should think of myself and umte some good karma.¡± Matilda gazed into the distance with indifference. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to put my child through so much. Just thinking about Logan breaks my heart.¡± ¡°Logan, that little rascal, I don¡¯t know how you managed to raise him.¡± Chloe walked with Matilda back inside. ¡°He¡¯s so mature for his age; it¡¯s a bit unnerving.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± Matilda exhaled the words weakly. It was this harsh reality that forced her son to grow up too soon; her inability to shield him and give him a happy, carefree childhood, made Logan so precocious. They returned to the lobby to collect the test results, and the blood test came out at the same time. Matilda held the papers as they made their way back to the clinic door. The doctor nced at them and took the papers. ¡°Take a look at this. The pregnancy indicators are positive.¡± The doctor looked at Matilda again. ¡°Do you want to keep the baby?¡± Matilda hesitated, then replied almost subconsciously, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Abortion, then? Medical or surgical? Have you had one before?¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 ass Matilda felt bombarded by the doctor¡¯s rapid¨Cfire questions, barely keeping up as she answered. ¡°I had one before, a C¨Csection¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had a child before?¡± The doctor¡¯s gaze upon Matilda grew curious, ¡°And what about the father, your former boyfriend?¡± Chloe, unable to contain herself, blurted out, ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± Meanwhile, Yvan, driving to the hospital, suddenly sneezed. Ever since Chloe mentioned the death of Matilda¡¯s boyfriend, the doctor looked at Matilda differently, his voice softening. ¡°And this one¡­ are you sure you want to abort it?¡± Matilda nodded, her jaw set. ¡°Yeah, bringing it into this world is just signing it up for more hardship.¡± Hearing this, the doctor seemed to sympathize with the struggles of a single mother. He went on about the importance of self¨Ccare before helping her schedule the procedure. ¡°An abortion, then? I rmend a conservative management; it¡¯s pricier, but it¡¯s the least harmful option.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go with that one,¡± Matilda nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll just have to go downstairs and payter, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the doctor, now quite gentle, said, ¡°I¡¯ll prep the paperwork for you. After you¡¯ve paid, there¡¯s also a consent form to sign.¡± Chloe rolled her eyes at the doctor as they paid and went back upstairs. Just as they finished signing for Matilda¡¯s appointment next week, Yvan arrived. He wasn¡¯t sure why he was in such a rush, almost sprinting from the elevator doors. A passing nurse stopped and murmured, ¡°Wow, did you just see that gorgeous guy?¡± But when she turned back, he was already gone. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Matilda and Chloe had just signed the paperwork for the abortion when they bumped into Yvan at the entrance. Chloe muttered under her breath, ¡°Look who¡¯s back from the dead.¡± Matilda¡¯splexion paled. Yvan¡¯s sudden appearance couldn¡¯t be a coincidence; someone must have tipped him off. Sure enough, Yvan strode towards Matilda, his presencemanding enough to clear a path. He confronted her. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡± Matilda stepped back. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Yvan snatched the medical file and documents from her hands. ¡°Matilda, when did you get so bold, thinking you could go behind my back for surgery?¡± Embarrassed by the public scene, Matilda lowered her voice. ¡°What do you want, Yvan? Everyone¡¯s watching, Do you want to make a scene?¡± ¡°Me, make a scene?¡± Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his handsome features took on a mocking edge. ¡°Believe me, one call from me, and there won¡¯t be a clinic in Sea City that would dare perform your abortion!¡± Matilda¡¯s heart sank, She clenched her fists. ¡°Whether I¡¯m pregnant or not, whether I keep the baby or not, what¡¯s it to you, Yvan? Don¡¯t tter yourself!¡± ¡°Whether I¡¯m ttering myself, we¡¯ll know once the baby¡¯s born, won¡¯t we?¡± Yvan¡¯sugh was sharp and scornful. ¡°Matilda, you¡¯re cold¨Chearted. This is a life we¡¯re talking about. Do you n to snuff it out without a whisper? Or is it that you¡¯re so used to this that you don¡¯t care anymore?¡± Humiliated as never before, Matilda¡¯s eyes reddened. Chloe, unable to stand it any longer, grabbed Matilda¡¯s arm to leave, but Yvan blocked their way. ¡°From today on, Matilda, you¡¯reing back to the Boyd family until the baby is born. Forget about the abortion!¡± ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± Chloe shoved Yvan hard, ¡°What¡¯s next? You¡¯re going to imprison her?¡± Suddenly, Yvan¡¯s entourage, which had appeared unnoticed, stepped forward, restraining Chloe and surrounding Matilda. The leader spoke, ¡°Ms. Thompson, if you please.¡± Pushed aside, Chloe watched as Matilda was forcibly led away. She yelled after Yvan¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Yvan, if you keep this up, you¡¯ll drive her to her grave!¡± Yvan stiffened but didn¡¯t turn. Undeterred. Chloe shouted. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this, Yvan! You will! Karma exists, and what goes. around comes around. You¡¯ll get yours!¡± Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Matilda was practically dragged back to the Boyd residence. Yvan must have been wary of Logan catching the scene, so he called off his goons at the front door and then whispered in a hushed tone, ¡°You better get your act together.¡± He was threatening her. Matilda¡¯s face was ashen. As the door swung open, Logan caught sight of his mother outside, and his whole world seemed to freeze in shock. Tears streamed down his face as he ran to her. throwing himself into her arms, ¡°Mommy! Why did it take you so long toe to see me?¡± Matilda¡¯s heart ached violently, her fingers trembling as she held Logan. ¡°Mommy¡¯s been¡­a bit tied up with thingstely.¡± Tied up? More like cozying up with some guy, right? Yvan scoffed silently, then entered the house. He watched the mother and son embrace with an indifferent gaze as if he were an outsider. ¡°I¡¯ll have a room prepared for you. From today onwards, you¡¯ll stay here at the Boyd estate.¡± He made it sound nice, mindful of Logan¡¯s presence. But the underlying message was clear: Matilda had just lost her freedom! He really wanted to imprison her! Matilda hugged Logan, trying not to let him see anything was wrong. The little boy looked up at his mother. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re shaking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, sweetheart. Mommy¡¯s just so happy to see you¡­¡± Matilda stroked Logan¡¯s face. ¡°Have you been good these past few days?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been super good; I became the ss chairman!¡± Logan couldn¡¯t wait to share his recent adventures with his mom, pulling Matilda upstairs. ¡°Mommy, are you going to stay here and be with me?¡± The innocence in the child¡¯s eyes tore right through her. It waste when the two of them emerged from the room. After tucking Logan in, Matilda opened the door to find Yvan standing outside. His expression was cold, his features sharp. That face, which haunted her in her darkest dreams, always made her feel so powerless¨Csuch a pity for Yvan¡¯s beautiful eyes. What kind of ruthless heart was hiding behind that handsome facade? ¡°Your room is across the hall.¡± Yvan¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°Is Logan asleep?¡± Matilda just nodded and started to walk away. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about running away, Matilda. You¡¯re going to have this baby whether you want to or not!¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 136 Matilda clutched her stomach. At that moment, a reckless thought crossed her mind, ¡°Yvan, the child is in my belly, yet you think you can control me?¡± There was an unusual flicker of loss of control in Yvan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Matilda, how much do you not want this child?¡± ¡°Anything to do with you makes me sick to my stomach!¡± Matilda hissed through clenched teeth, her patience at its end. Yvan had confiscated all her means ofmunication. He was locking her up, trapping her once again! Yvan dragged her into the room and mmed the door shut, gripping her chin tightly. ¡°My patience is wearing thin. Don¡¯t think you can do whatever you want just because you¡¯re pregnant!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Matilda¡¯sugh wasced with sarcasm. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you let me get rid of it? Are you concerned, Yvan? Or could it be that you¡¯ve fallen for me?¡± Her mockingughter was like needles in Yvan¡¯s ears. He clenched her skin tightly, the pain eliciting a muffled groan from her. Yvan¡¯s sneer deepened. ¡°Matilda, you have no shame!¡± Beneath him, Matilda trembled with the pain. He threw her off and left the room, locking the door from the outside. Panic set in as Matilda fell from the bed and started pounding on the door, ¡°Yvan! You have no right to do this to me! What gives you the right to lock me up?¡± But the sound of the lock clicking from the outside continued unabated. Matilda shouted, ¡°You think Logan won¡¯t find out? Let me out! What gives you the right?¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 But Matilda¡¯s cries couldn¡¯t bring back the man walking away. Yvan had left, and Matilda stared nkly out the window at the protective fence, feeling as though she had been thrown back into a prison cell. The dark days without a glimmer of light had returned to her mind when she least expected it, and the humiliation she suffered in that cell once again plunged her into a deep fear. Curled up on the floor, Matilda didn¡¯t even have the strength to crawl into bed. Shey there, hugging herself with a ghostly pallor, asrge beads of sweat slid down her forehead, muttering like someone in the throes of hysteria, ¡°Open the door¡­ open the door¡­ let me out¡­ It wasn¡¯t me¡­ I¡¯m not the criminal¡­ let me out¡­. Tears streamed uncontrobly down her face, her eyes wide with terror, as she helplessly cried out to the empty air for help. ¡°Help me¡­ don¡¯t lock me up¡­ I didn¡¯t kill anyone¡­ it wasn¡¯t me¡­ help me¡­¡± Her world had once again slipped into a nightmare. There was a kind of conditioning that had seeped into her bones; even if her mind had forgotten, her body remembered, sparking reflexive, instinctive reactions. She hugged herself tightly, her knuckles turning white with the strain. But Matilda didn¡¯t realize that her room was soundproofed; no matter how desperately she screamed for help, no one woulde to her salvation. At the end of this darkness, there was simply no one waiting for her. ¡°Help me¡­¡± In her moment of utter desperation, clutching at her chest and gasping for air, Matilda felt as though her depression was about to destroy her life. She began to hallucinate seeing her brother smiling at her. With hollow eyes, she whispered, ¡°Bro¡­ I really didn¡¯t kill anyone¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t until the next evening that Yvan opened the room door. He had thought that a day¡¯s confinement would make Matilda calm down, but he was unprepared for the harrowing scene that awaited him. Matilda was lying on the floor, her left hand clutching a shard from the shattered bedsidemp, embedded deep into the flesh of her palm from the force of her grip, while her right wrist bore the stark new scar of a fresh cut! Blood had pooled on the floor at some unknown time¡­. At that moment, Yvan¡¯s soul felt as if a hammer had struck it. His heart pounded violently, his fingertips trembling before he let out a loud cry. ¡°Matilda!¡± He rushed forward, lifting Matilda from the ground, her blood fresh and not yet dried, staining. his clothes. Holding Matilda in his arms, his eyes reddened, he rushed frantically out of the house, calling to the nanny at the door, ¡°Quick! Call 911!¡± Logan had emerged from the house, rmed by themotion, but before he could grasp what was happening, he saw the man he called father rushing out with his mother in his arms. He tried to follow but was stopped by the nanny. ¡°Is my mom in trouble?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, young master. Mr. Boyd is already on it.¡± the nanny could only restrain him from witnessing the gruesome scene. The boy nced down, noticing drops of blood trailing in the direction Yvan had run, leading straight to the front door. In that moment, a vivid hatred shed in Logan¡¯s eyes¡­ The nanny was startled by Logan¡¯s gaze: the look he gave her as he lifted his head sent a chill down her spine. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He was just a five¨Cyear¨Cold child. How could he have such a terrifying look in his eyes? Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Matilda had been out cold for two whole days, and it was in the dead of night when Yvan rushed her into the ER. With just one phone call, Keaton had sped from his house straight to the operating room, and when he saw the state things were in, his brow furrowed deeply. ¡°Did your ex¨Cwife suffer from depression?¡± After the surgery, Keaton, d in his white coat, posed the question to Yvan. It took a long while before Yvan could muster a response, ¡°Yes, she did.¡± Keaton let out a humorless chuckle. ¡°Well, congrattions then. If you wanted her dead, why go. through the trouble of bringing her to the hospital? A few minutester and she could¡¯ve been gone for good. Wouldn¡¯t that be easier?¡± A sharp pain struck Yvan¡¯s heart, and he quickly retorted, ¡°Why would you say I wanted her dead?¡± ¡°She¡¯s depressed.¡± Keaton struggled to keep his voice even. ¡°I swear, if you hadn¡¯t done something to trigger her or make her rpse, she wouldn¡¯t have tried to take her own life! Don¡¯t you get it? The moment she cut herself, she had already given up on living!¡± Keaton¡¯s words escted to a forceful growl by the end. He couldn¡¯t understand. If Yvan loved Matilda, why the hell did he let her get locked up five years ago? And if he didn¡¯t love her, what was all this apparent concern about? Yvan turned ashen under Keaton¡¯s barrage. He stood there frozen. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ I didn¡¯t force her¡­ I just¡­ wanted her to stay at my house.¡± Back in the day, Matilda was highly respected in the circles of the wealthy elite. Even after the incident five years ago, many had her back, Keaton included, who held her in high regard. Despite everything she¡¯d been through, making it to the present day, she was stronger than anyone could imagine. Yet, here she was, a woman of such fortitude, repeatedly driven to the brink by Yvan! Keaton asked softly, ¡°Just how cold is your heart, Yvan?¡± Yvan¡¯s pupils constricted slightly at Keaton¡¯s words, whichnded like a sledgehammer to his chest. He showed a rare hint of panic as if trying to justify himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Stop pushing her, Yvan. If Matilda really didmit murder five years ago, she¡¯s already paid a hefty price.¡± Keaton locked eyes with Yvan, searching for a trace of guilt on his face but finding none. So he continued, ¡°If¡­ Matilda is innocent of the crimes from five years back, then tell me, Yvan, can you ever repay that debt in this lifetime?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Chapter 140 Yvan¡¯s whole body jolted, a chill running down his spine. He looked at Keaton, ¡°Are¡­ are you defending her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m speaking for the truth.¡± Keaton tucked his hands in his pockets, sighing for Yvan, who seemed oblivious to his own true feelings. Patting Yvan on the shoulder, Keaton said, ¡°Listen, while you still have the chance, settle your scores, pay your dues.¡± Settle what scores, pay back what dues to Matilda? Yvan was plunged into deep realization as Keaton walked away. He stayed in the hospital room, watching over Matilda, herplexion deathly pale as shey on the hospital bed. lifeless. For two long nights, Yvan hadn¡¯t slept a wink, his mind a tangled mess, emotions seeking an outlet. Until Matilda awoke. But when she did, her first words were, ¡°Don¡¯t hit me! Don¡¯t hit me! I didn¡¯t kill anyone, I swear!¡± Chapter 141 Chapter 141 The moment Matilda¡¯s eyes met his, fragile as a spooked deer caught in headlights, Yvan felt his heart being torn to shreds. He couldn¡¯t fathom why he felt this way; her pain was his pain, a shared torment that bound them inseparably. Curled up into herself, Matilda clutched her arms as if seekingfort in their embrace. Her voice was frall yet desperate, ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ I¡¯m not a killer¡­¡± Who, five years ago, had cast her into this relentless maelstrom of fate? Yvan stepped closer, his voice a whispering balm. ¡°It¡¯s me, Matilda.¡± Lifting her tearful eyes to his, she looked at Yvan with a lost gaze. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± The chill that ran through Yvan¡¯s veins was mirrored in her eyes, where he saw his reflection, diminished and faint. She murmured, ¡°Yvan, you could leave me behind, but I¡­ I just can¡¯t do the same. It¡¯s such a pity.¡± Such a pity, indeed. ¡°Yvan, please¡­ no more curses,¡± she pleaded. Yvan¡¯s body trembled. He yearned to hug her, yet hecked the courage. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to touch her, a woman marred by wounds both seen and unseen. Matilda, hands gently pressed against her belly, asked, ¡°Is the baby still there?¡± With eyes rimmed red, Yvan slowly closed his own, the truth heavy on his lips. ¡°The pregnancy was too fragile in the beginning. We lost the child.¡± Augh escaped Matilda, bitter and broken. Tears streamed down her face as her body convulsed with sobs. Through her blurred vision, she saw the pain etched onto Yvan¡¯s face, fueling herughter with a tragic sense of joy. ¡°Yvan, I didn¡¯t want this baby. Anything tied to you, I reject! That child would¡¯ve known nothing but hardship. I say it¡¯s a blessing it left us early!¡± Yvan¡¯s grip tightened on her shoulders, his voiceced with anguish. ¡°How can you detest me this much?¡± ¡°Detest?¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes widened, her gaze searing into him. ¡°Yvan, you wanted me to atone, didn¡¯t you? You love Rachel so desperately, don¡¯t you? Why, then, does my child¡¯s loss trouble you?¡± ¡°How dare you bring up Rachel!¡± Yvan¡¯s retort was instinctive and swift. ¡°What right do you have¡­¡± But his words halted midway, the cutting remarks that once flowed so easily now stuck in his 05:56 Chapter 141 throat. Why? Why couldn¡¯t he say them? Matilda¡¯sugh wasced with scorn, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Ready tobel me a murderer again? Fine. I¡¯ve got enough blood on my hands already, and now I¡¯ve added my own child¡¯s to the count!¡± Her words wounded others as much as they wounded herself. Yvan¡¯s gaze was filled with pain, his fingers tensing. ¡°How can you be so cruel?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all be miserable together then!¡± Herughter was wild, each chuckle a hammer strike against the very core of Yvan¡¯s soul. ¡°You want revenge? You want to lock me up? Go on! Yvan, unleash all your fury on me! I¡¯m telling you, every single thing you¡¯ve done to me, I remember it all. You better not regret it because if I don¡¯t get you, someone else will. The world will.¡± Never forgive, never forget, never tread the same path, never reconcile. Preserve every ounce of pain he¡¯s given, every mistake he¡¯s made. Give him no chances, no redemption. Loss is irreversible. Should he evere to his senses, filled with remorse, let his own sins consume This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. him. If her love and hate have reached a dead end, let it all shatter into oblivion! Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Yvan felt a chill run through his veins as he looked at the woman before him. Matilda, the woman he had shared his life with, now seemed like a stranger. When had a chasm so wide formed between them? With a heavy heart, Yvan stood up. Facing Matilda now gave him a sense of denial, as though he couldn¡¯t confront the illusion of their estrangement. He fled Matilda¡¯s hospital room, his steps almost a sprint. He had stayed awake for two restless nights, only to falter the moment she woke up. As the door to her room clicked shut, Matilda let her eyes fall closed once more. She copsed back onto her bed and let the tears cascade freely down her cheeks. Outside, Yvan lingered in the hallway. Though only several feet separated them, it felt to him as though an entire worldy between them¨Ca world so distant it was unattainable. Two days after being admitted, Matilda insisted on being discharged. Yvan couldn¡¯t dissuade her, and even Keaton had no luck. ¡°You know they say a miscarriage is like going through a mini postpartum confinement,¡± Keaton said, concern creasing his brow. ¡°Do you really want to risk your health like this?¡± Matilda offered a wan smile. ¡°What does it matter if this body gets a little more broken?¡± It was already imperfect; a cracked vessel might as well shatterpletely. Keaton¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°The hurt maye from others, but the body is yours to cherish.¡± Matilda remained silent, steadfast in her decision to leave. Unable to force her to stay, Yvan helped her out, though he had initially thought that she could be cared for just as well at home. But Matilda wanted to return to her own ce. In the car, Yvan turned to her. Her pallor was sickly, her eyes chillingly cold. ¡°I said I¡¯m going back on my own!¡± ¡°Where can you possibly go in this state?¡± Yvan exploded, his patience frayed to its limit. ¡°Do you have topletely ruin yourself to be satisfied?¡± ¡°What does it matter to you?¡± Matilda shot back from the back seat. ¡°You wanted a son, and I gave you one. You locked me up in the Boyd family home because I was pregnant. Now that there¡¯s no child, what else do you have to threaten me with?¡± Yvan felt as if his heart had been gouged out. ¡°Matilda, do you really think I¡¯m being kind to you just to hold something over you?¡± He just wanted her to recover in the safety of his home! 05:56 To his surprise, Matildaughed a bitter sound. ¡°Kind to me? Are you making a joke?¡± Her fingers clenched tightly at her sides as if mustering all her strength to counter Yvan. ¡°Weren¡¯t you always only concerned about your precious Rachel? Wasn¡¯t I just a wretched person in your eyes? I thought you wouldn¡¯t bat an eyelid even if I died. And now you¡¯re telling me you¡¯re being kind to me? Howughable!¡± Her counterattack made Yvan instinctively floor the gas pedal. He roared. ¡°Matilda, don¡¯t be ungrateful! I am doing this because you¡­¡± But Matilda cut him off. ¡°Let me out! Stop it right now!¡± She sensed his eleration, terrified of being trapped again in the Boyd family home, that suffocating feeling of being unable to escape. She couldn¡¯t bear Yvan¡¯s imprisonment any longer. ¡°Stop the car!¡± She screamed like a cornered animal. ¡°Let me out!¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Yvan didn¡¯t listen and pressed the pedal even further. ¡°Matilda, let me tell you, the Boyd estate isn¡¯t a ce you can juste and go as you please! If you¡¯ve tangled with me, be ready to face the consequences!¡± But the only response he got was a faint whisper, followed by Yvan¡¯s pupils constricting. Within seconds, he watched in horror as Matilda flung the car door open! Chapter 143 Chapter 143 ¡°Matilda!¡± In that heart¨Cstopping moment, Yvan¡¯s grip on the steering wheel went ck, his body lurching backward to grab her. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Do you have a death wish?* But in the next instant, the woman turned her head to nce at Yvan with eyes full of despair. Then, without any hesitation, she leaped from the speeding car! With the vehicle¡¯s momentum, Matilda tumbled onto the asphalt, her knees scraping and bleeding, her body spinning until it hit the curb¡¯s flowerbed. Yvan mmed on the brakes, the car skidding several meters beforeing to a halt, evidence of just how fast they¡¯d been going when she jumped. Matilday by the roadside, then pulled herself up, clutching amppost. Blood trickled from a gash on her leg, but she seemed oblivious to the pain as she staggered away. Yvan followed, but Matilda knew she couldn¡¯t outrun him and stopped. Turning around, she screamed at him, ¡°Don¡¯te any closer!¡± That look in her eyes chilled Yvan to the bone. ¡°Matilda¡­¡± His voice trembled as he called her name. ¡°Why do you insist on doing this?¡± ¡°If youe any closer, I¡¯ll throw myself into traffic!¡± she threatened. Her voice, hoarse and desperate, shook Yvan to his core. He looked up at Matilda, seeing in her eyes a reckless determination. ¡°I mean it! Yvan, just try me!¡± She despised him, despised everything about the Boyd family, even more than she feared death itself. Yvan¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°Do you hate me that much, Matilda?¡± Her response was immediate and unequivocal. ¡°Yes!¡± Yes, she hated him! Hated him enough to prefer death over returning to his side! In that moment, Yvan had to face the truth: he¡¯d lost. He¡¯d lost to the stark hatred in her eyes. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Trembling, he reached out to her. ¡°Matilda, you¡¯re in the middle of a depressive episode. Just calm down, alright? Let¡¯s go home and talk¡­¡± Matildaughed bitterly. ¡°Home? My home is long gone, Mr. Boyd. Disappointed? My family was ruined five years ago.¡± She was no longer the Matilda of the past! Time could never be turned back! Yvan covertly dialed a number, hastily texting his men, unsure if they¡¯d understand his cryptic 1/2 05:56 Chapter 143 message. Then, he raised his voice again, ¡°Come back to the Boyd estate!¡± ¡°The Boyd estate?¡± Matilda shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s your home, not mine.¡± ¡°That was¡­¡± Our home. Yvan¡¯s voice caught in his throat. Matilda¡¯s expression made it clear she wanted no further entanglement with him. He couldn¡¯t bear to see her wounded and standing by the roadside, remembering how proud and privileged she once was. Who had driven her to this? Yvan tried to buy time, waiting for his people to arrive, certain they could take her back by force if necessary. He¡­ he couldn¡¯t stand the thought of her out of his sight again. Hardening his heart, he yed hisst card. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, your son is still at our house!¡± Your son! Yvan¡¯s words shook Matilda, her gaze unfocused before slowly sharpening as she looked at him. ¡°Yvan, how many more schemes will you use to force me? Doesn¡¯t your heart ache when you use Logan as a threat?¡± Yvan was taken aback. Matilda continued, ¡°Is it that you¡¯ll only truly hurt when Logan is gone, too?¡± Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Yvan¡¯s face darkened in an instant while Matilda clutched her chest,ughing at her own absurdity. ¡°Yvan, you can¡¯t begin toprehend the agony I¡¯ve been through; you wouldn¡¯t even try. If you could understand even a fraction of my pain, you wouldn¡¯t have driven me to this!¡± With a turn of her heel, Matilda made to move on, but Yvan caught a glimpse of his men rolling up in their car and shouted, ¡°Freeze!¡± Just as Matilda¡¯s foot poised to bolt, the man¡¯s voice sliced through the wind and into her ears like a knife, cleaving her in two! ¡°Don¡¯t let her get away! Catch her!¡± Startled, Matilda looked up to find herself surrounded by ck SUVs. She stumbled back. realizing there was no escape. When had they¡­ How did they get here? Again, Yvan¡¯s goons grabbed her, this time stuffing a rag into her mouth to prevent her from biting them or, worse, from biting her own tongue in a desperate act of self¨Charm. Trapped, with tears scalding her cheeks, Matilda trembled, feeling herself slipping back into the isting darkness she¡¯d known all too well. She was hoisted into the vehicle, with men nking her on either side. Yvan tossed the keys to his driver and slid into the passenger seat of the van beside Matilda. Through her tear¨Cblurred eyes, Matilda saw Yvan¡¯s chiseled features, as cold and cruel as a demon from the deepest pits. He sneered at her. ¡°All this trouble could¡¯ve been avoided if you¡¯d just been obedient from the start.¡± He was mocking her vulnerability, her helplessness. Eyes shut, the rag muffling her cries for help, Matilda could do nothing but let the car carry her ever closer to the Boyd estate. Twenty minutester, Matilda was back at the Boyd residence, but this time, Yvan didn¡¯t lock her in some dark room. Instead, he carried her to a bed. The rag was yanked from her mouth, and she gasped for air. ¡°What the hell do you want from me?¡± Desperation tinged her voice. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Yvan looked down, his gaze inadvertentlynding on the wound on her leg. At a snap of his fingers, someone brought in a first¨Caid kit. ¡°If you can¡¯t fight back, then submit. That¡¯s what smart people do. What do you think you can win against me with just instinct and impulse?¡± Indeed, when it came to a hardened heart, she was no match for Yvan. 1/2 05:567 Chapter 144 Some battles could be fought with passion and impulse, but there were others where even gambling with her life on a death wish wouldn¡¯t be enough to ovee the man before her. Matilda felt a chill on her leg and involuntarily shivered, her thigh pinned down. Yvan cleaned her wound with a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic, diligently tending to her injuries before securing them with a bandage and adhesive tape. The tenderness he exhibited now was like a cruel poison pouring down Matilda¡¯s throat. Her eyes reddened. ¡°ying the good guy now, are you?¡± Yvan snorted, meeting her gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve never been the good guy; just unbearable to look at.¡± Matilda¡¯s face smarted under his piercing look. ¡°Yvan, what do I owe you?¡± Yvan remained silent. ¡°I¡¯ve given you everything; I have nothing left. What more do you want from me?¡± Still, Yvan said nothing. With a hopelessugh, Matilda pleaded, ¡°Let me go, Yvan. If this keeps up, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose even my life.¡± Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Yvan¡¯s presence seemed to plummet with the weight of a leaden sky when he heard Matilda¡¯s plea for mercy. Gripping her chin firmly, he spat out each word with venomous force, ¡°Matilda, you don¡¯t get to call it quits until I say it¡¯s over!¡± How much more did he want her to lose before he¡¯d be satisfied? Matilda¡¯s silentughter wasced with scorn as she mocked his cruelty. ¡°Yvan, someday, I¡¯ll have nothing left, and I¡¯ll have you to thank for it.¡± When that day came, she knew the world would no longer have a ce for her. Without a word, Yvan stormed out, this time leaving the door unlocked. He was probably confident that Matilda wouldn¡¯t dare defy him again, especially since Logan was still under his control. If Yvan wanted to crush her, it would be as easy as snapping his fingers. But that very night, the unexpected happened. E showed up. Yvan was shocked. Who had called E? And who had let slip that Matilda was at his ce? As soon as E arrived at Yvan¡¯s doorstep, she headed straight for Matilda¡¯s room and pushed the door open without a second thought. Yvan didn¡¯t even have time to stop her. Upon seeing Matilda in Yvan¡¯s home, E turned ghostly pale. She murmured to herself, ¡°He didn¡¯t lie¡­ he really didn¡¯t lie¡­¡± Who was she talking about? Yvan¡¯s mind was a whirlwind of confusion, but before he could unravel it, E stepped forward and raised her hand to deliver a stinging p to Matilda¡¯s face. Yet in the next heartbeat, her hand was caught mid¨Cair by Matilda, who red back fiercely and sneered, ¡°You want to hit me?¡± E stumbled backward, tears welling up in her eyes. She had been the one to make the first move, and now she was ying the victim. Quivering, she pointed at Matilda, ¡°Why are you in Yvan¡¯s house?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. E herself rarely entered Yvan¡¯s home, sometimes lounging in the living room when he was in a good mood. The number of women who made it to Yvan¡¯s bedroom was even smaller. So, how did Matilda manage to lie sofortably in the master bed of Yvan¡¯s house? Matilda found E¡¯s feigned shockughable. ¡°Ask him, not me.¡± She, too, wanted to know why Yvan insisted on keeping her trapped in the Boyd family estate. E was livid, her face deathly white. Yvan stepped forward. ¡°E, don¡¯t be rash¡­¡± But E, tears streaming down her face, threw herself into Yvan¡¯s arms. ¡°Yvan, why is there Chapter 145 another woman in your house?¡± Yvan was exasperated and unsure how to exin it to E. Yet she clung to him as if they were the closest of lovers while Matilda observed them with a touch of amusement, her gaze undisturbed. Yvan felt a sting from Matilda¡¯s indifferent stare and quickly pulled E aside, saying. ¡°She¡¯s just staying here temporarily.¡± His tone suggested he didn¡¯t even want to delve into the reasons. Matilda scoffed. Could Yvan really not see the ferocity in E¡¯s eyes? Her own heart trembled at the sight. How could Yvan be so blind to this vicious woman¡¯s true nature? It was a pity, Matilda thought, that E had such an innocently angelic face. The moment she yed the victim, she seemed pitiful. Matilda shook her head in mock sympathy. If E¡¯s sister Rachel were here, she¡¯d be turning in her grave at the treachery of her own kin. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Yvan¡¯s face turned a shade of iron blue at Matilda¡¯s mocking nce, and in an act of defiance, he nted a kiss on E¡¯s cheek right in front of her. E, who had never been kissed by Yvan of his own volition, was grinning like she¡¯d won the lottery, her eyes flicking towards Matilda, eager to gauge her reaction. However, Matilda¡¯s gaze was as cold as if she were looking at a stranger. The flirtatious exchange between Yvan and E only served to make her stomach turn with disgust. Beyond that, her heart, long dead, remained unmoved. In front of Matilda, Yvan whisked E away to another room, and upon seeing the nursery¡¯s contents, E¡¯s suspicions were confirmed. Yvan¡¯s child had been borne by Matilda. She¡¯d always wondered, and now her suspicions had been validated. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. E¡¯s fingers clenched tightly, her eyes shing with a dangerous intent. She could not allow this child to exist! As E and Yvan vanished into the hallway, Matilda¡¯s door was pushed open once more, this time by a much smaller figure. It was Logan. Logan dashed into Matilda¡¯s arms. ¡°Mommy, did Mr. Boyd make you sad again?¡± Matilda smoothed back Logan¡¯s hair with a smile. ¡°Mommy¡¯s okay, sweetheart.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ¡®cause Mr. Boyd¡¯s been mean too many times,¡± Logan said, his innocence not quite understanding the depth of hurt, his limited vocabry failing to fully convey the pain Yvan had inflicted on Matilda. He clung to her hand. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t be scared. We¡¯ll be together again soon.¡± ¡°I believe so, too.¡± Matilda gripped Logan¡¯s tiny hand, confused by the strange look in his eyes today¨Ca look that seemed tooplex for a child. But Logan¡¯sughter soon dispelled her worries. ¡°Then I¡¯m sleeping here with you tonight!¡± He¡¯d never called Yvan ¡®dad¡® again, constantly referring to him as Mr. Boyd, a term both distant and formal. Perhaps out of spite, Yvan ended up letting E stay at the house. She was thrilled, deliberately leaving a pair of panties on the bed after her shower. When Yvan entered the bedroom that night, and his eyes fell on the provocative undergarment, Chapter 146 he quickly averted his gaze with indifference. Had the thought of Matilda quenched his desires recently? Yvan shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought as E¡¯s voice echoed from the bathroom, ¡°Yvan¡­ Can you bring me my panties? I seem to have forgotten them.¡± To any other man, this would have been a tant invitation, and Yvan understood it as such. But his expression remained t as he picked up E¡¯s panties and cracked open the bathroom door just enough to slip his hand through. E stared at the hand extended towards her, puzzled. Was Yvan not getting her hints, or was he simply not interested in her? Taking the panties from Yvan¡¯s grasp, E brushed her fingertips across his palm, a flirty gesture that would typically unsettle any man. Yet, Yvan quietly withdrew his hand, closed the door, and walked away without a word, showing no interest in joining her. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 E couldn¡¯t help but question her allure. Where had she gone wrong? Previously, even when Yvan didn¡¯ty a finger on her, his eyes still held a certain warmth. This time, when Yvan asked her to stay overnight, she thought maybe, just maybe, something real might happen between them. But, to her dismay, Yvan remained as detached as ever. Could it really be that after five long years, he had no desire to touch her? She refused to believe it. If he didn¡¯t want her, why would he keep her close for five years? Why shower her with affection? N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Then it hit her. It must be because of Matilda¡¯s presence in the house; that¡¯s why Yvan was acting this way. If only Matilda and her son didn¡¯t exist! A surge of dark intent swelled within E¡¯s eyes as she slipped into her lingerie and draped a sheer nightgown over herself, one as thin as a butterfly¡¯s wings. She checked her tousled, sensual hair in the mirror before opening the door and stepping out. Yvan was in the midst of shedding his shirt when he saw E in her seductive attire. His movements halted, his fingers stiffening over the buttons before he continued. Without a word, he strode past her into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. The speed of his dismissal left E stunned, but she quickly reassured herself. It couldn¡¯t be disinterest; Yvan must have been startled by her appearance, she thought. With a semnce of calm restored, E positioned herself enticingly on the bed and distracted herself with her phone. As soon as the sound of running water from the en¨Csuite bathroom ceased, she switched her attention back to the door, silently waiting for Yvan to emerge. He appeared, his face as exquisitely handsome as ever. E had fallen for those mesmerizing eyes five years ago, but those same eyes had since remained impassive as if nothing could stir his interest following Rachel¡¯s death. When he looked at her, it was always with a sense of nostalgia¨Ca longing for Rachel. E knew that her resemnce to Rachel was the reason she had been able to stay by Yvan¡¯s side for so long. Yet, after five years, she desperately wanted to be truly desired. But Yvan offered nothing more than embraces as if he needed nothing more. Yet, it was evident¡­ Matilda had been pregnant, and E had confirmed that the child was Yvan¡¯s. The child had been lost before E could intervene, a fact that gave her a twisted sense of satisfaction. Why was he willing to be with Matilda but not with her? In what way was she inferior to Matilda? Watching Yvan lie down beside her, E reached out to embrace him, pressing her body against his, and murmured in a daze, ¡°Yvan¡­¡± Chapter 147 It was a voice no man could resist. Yvan murmured low in response, patting her back in a patronizing manner, ¡°Sleep now, goodnight.¡± That¡¯s it? Just like that? E was not content. Seizing the cover of darkness, she grabbed the back of Yvan¡¯s head and kissed him fervently. At that moment, as the warm touch of lips neared, Yvan¡¯s head exploded with sound. He quickly pushed E away, but it was toote¨Cthe kiss hadnded on his lips. Instantly, his mind was flooded with images of Matilda, vulnerable and trembling beneath him, her skin exposed and hauntingly pale. Yvan felt feverish all over. E, pushed aside by Yvan, persisted, once again wrapping her arms around his neck, determined as ever, and leaned in for another attempt. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 E clung to Yvan¡¯s neck as if under some strange spell, but his reaction was more fervent. Before she could resist, she found herself shoved to the edge of the bed. In the darkness, Yvan¡¯s eyes were wide open. ¡°E, don¡¯t test my limits,¡± he said sternly. E¡¯s heart turned cold, and her voice began to quiver. If the lights were on. Yvan could almost picture the hurt expression on her face. But the man remained unmoved. ¡°If you¡¯re notfortable sleeping here, you can go back to your room,¡± he suggested without a hint of sympathy. E¡¯s soft sobs filled the room. It must be Matilda, she thought bitterly. Yvan¡¯s resistance had to be because of Matilda. Otherwise, she would have already had her way! The night stretched on, agonizingly long. Yet, in another room, thanks to Logan¡¯spany, Matilda slept soundly for the first time in ages. The mother and son woke up entwined in bed, with Matilda tenderly caressing Logan¡¯s face. ¡°Logan, for you, I¡¯d sacrifice anything,¡± she murmured. Logan knew that Yvan had spent the night with E. When he woke up, he didn¡¯t say a word; he just pulled Matilda into the kitchen to help with breakfast. They prepared two delightful and delicate meals, then sat contentedly at the dining table. ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡± Logan eximed with a crisp voice. With Matilda by his side, even in the Boyd household, he feltpletely at ease. The child must have received a lot of top¨Ctier education from Yvan; even his table manners were impable, like a little gentleman. Matilda¡¯s eyes welled up with tears ¨C her son was so young, yet he had endured so much. When E and Yvan came downstairs, they saw Matilda and Logan washing the dishes together in the kitchen. Logan, short as he was, had pulled up a chair next to Matilda, and theyughed together by the sink, an image of tranquil domesticity that made Yvan question his own reality. The cold Boyd residence hadn¡¯t seen such vitality in a long time. E, standing beside him, red at Logan¡¯s small figure with a viciousness that suggested she wished she could tear the boy apart. The presence of this child would surely threaten her future! Yvan¡¯s heart held a ce for Logan, and when the boy grew up, he would undoubtedly share in Yvan¡¯s power and authority. In E¡¯s mind, it was best to nip such threats in the bud while they were still manageable. When Matilda and Logan turned and saw Yvan and E descending the stairs, they acted as if 1/2 05:57 Chapter 148 they hadn¡¯t seen them at all, not even a flicker in their eyes as they passed by like strangers without a moment¡¯s pause. As they brushed past, Yvan¡¯s heartbeat skipped a half¨Cbeat. He turned instinctively, only to see Matilda leaving him with a receding figure. It seemed that the mother and son had no desire to engage with him at all. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. E thought this was to her advantage. The more distant they were from Yvan, the higher her chances of sess. That afternoon, Logan insisted on going out with Matilda. Unable to resist his pleas, the young boy approached Yvan, whom he hadn¡¯t spoken to in a long while. ¡°Mr. Boyd, I¡¯d like to go to the mall with Mommy,¡± he said, as formally as if he were an employee requesting leave. Yvan¡¯s eyes fell on Matilda and Logan¡¯s tightly sped hands, and he had to admit he felt a sting. They clung to each other as if Yvan¡¯s very words could shatter them. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 A whirlwind of thoughts raced through Yvan¡¯s mind, but all that managed to escape his lips. were a few sparse words. ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡± He¡­ he agreed? Pigs must be flying! But Yvan¡¯s smirk quickly returned. ¡°Sure, run away with him if you dare. But if you get caught, don¡¯t expect to be treated this well.¡± Matilda¡¯s heart clenched at his words, her face drained of color. She forced a smile in Yvan¡¯s direction. ¡°I should be thanking you, Mr. Boyd, for your generosity in letting my son and me have a day out.¡± Yvan¡¯s brow furrowed, but before he could utter a word, Matilda was already being tugged away by an ecstatic Logan, his face alight with excitement. ¡°Mommy, no daydreaming! Let¡¯s get going!¡± It had been ages since he had this kind of fun with his mom! The joy on Logan¡¯s face was like a p to Yvan, who never received such expressions from the boy. What a pitiful sight. Yvan watched the departing figures of Matilda and her son for a long time before turning away. Meanwhile, E covertly took out her phone and sent a quick message. ¡­ It had been a long time since Matilda had a chance to spend time alone with Logan. They hopped into a taxi, and the little boy, gripping her hand, asked, ¡°Mommy, can I y with Uncle next time?¡± Tears welled up in Matilda¡¯s eyes, her hand trembling as she stroked his face. After a moment, she whispered back, ¡°Of course, honey.¡± Logan¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight. ¡°That¡¯s awesome! I miss Uncle so much!¡± Matilda lifted her head, staring at the taxi¡¯s ceiling, fighting back tears. She forced a smile. It was okay; she just had to endure. She could handle it. ¡°Brother, if you¡¯re watching over us, can you feel Logan¡¯s longing? Are you lonely up there?¡± She thought, looking up. The mother and son got out at a bustling mall, Logan scampering ahead while Matilda followed with a graceful trot. The lively boy and his elegant mother turned heads as they passed. Matilda helped Logan snag two plush toys from a w machine, and his squeals of joy made his cheeks flush with excitement. It had been far too long since he¡¯d been this happy. ¡°Mommy, I need to pee.¡± Clutching his new friends, Logan looked up at Matilda, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the 1/2 N?velDrama.Org holds this content. 05:58 bathroom.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Matida led him to the restroom entrance. ¡°Call for me when you¡¯re done. I¡¯ll be right outside ¡°Okay** But Logan wouldn¡¯t let go of his toys, clutching them as he entered the men¡¯s room. Five minutes passed, and there was no sign of Logan. tilda grew anxious. ¡°Logan, are you feeling okay? Should Mommye in to check on you?¡± Her voice echoed down the empty corridor. It was then that Matilda¡¯s heart sank with the realization that something was terribly wrong. She rushed inside to find Logan¡¯s plush toys abandoned on the floor, but the boy¡¯s voice was absent from the stalls. Logan, Logan! The word ¡°kidnapping¡± leaped into her mind, and panic set in. As if on cue, a man walked in and whistled at the sight of a woman in the men¡¯s room. ¡°Hey, gorgeous, looking for a quickie?¡± Matilda grabbed him, her voice desperate. ¡°Have you seen my son? About this tall, five or six years old¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the fuss about a kid?¡± A sinister glint passed through the man¡¯s eyes as he lunged forward. ¡°The little brat might still be alive if he¡¯s lucky. But how about we take care of some¡­ other business first?¡± rm bells rang in Matilda¡¯s head. She was about to scream when arge hand covered her mouth. Without thinking, Matilda bit down hard! ¡°Damn it!¡± Chapter 150 Chapter 150 The man cursed as Matilda bit him, retaliating with a fierce p across her face, ¡°I was doing you a favor, bitch!¡± ¡°Help!¡± Matilda¡¯s plea was cut off as he snatched her phone, smashing it with force against the bathroom floor. Tears welled in her eyes as she weakly protested, ¡°Let me go!¡± In the next second, he brutally smashed her face against the wall! As pain flooded her senses, tears mixed with blood streamed from her battered face. Tasting blood, breathing blood, every gasp was crimson. Matilda¡¯s body trembled before going limp, losing all strength to fight. She passed out in the man¡¯s arms, droplets of blood falling rhythmically onto the tiled floor. ¡°Tough girl, huh?¡± The man grunted, throwing her over his shoulder with one arm and making a call, ¡°Miss? Got her, heading your way now. The kid? We¡¯ve got that sorted too.¡± The man slunk into thest stall, where a venttion window was conveniently open. He hefted Matilda up to waiting hands on the other side, and a few aplices quickly transferred the unconscious Matilda through the men¡¯s restroom vent before swiftly exiting themselves. Yvan waited at home all day, but darkness fell, and there was still no sign of Matilda. A nagging unease settled in his gut. Matilda wouldn¡¯t just run off; she didn¡¯t have the guts to challenge him again, or did she? Why was there no word from her? Yvan dialed Matilda¡¯s number, only to be met with the dead tone of a powered¨Coff phone. Panic setting in, Yvan wasted no time and called Carl, who answered immediately, ¡°Mr. Boyd, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Find out where Matilda is.¡± Yvan¡¯s gaze grew steely as he contemted the possibility that the daredevil woman had actually fled. An hourter, Carl¡¯s update only added to Yvan¡¯s confusion. ¡°Mr. Boyd, we¡¯ve located Matilda¡¯s phone IP¨Cit¡¯s¡­ at a mall.¡± Sensing there was more to the story, Yvan¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ in a men¡¯s restroom.¡± Carl was just as baffled, but the data was irrefutable, triple¨Cchecked, ¡°No joke, Mr. Boyd. That¡¯s the location, and¡­ there¡¯s been no movement.¡± That meant the phone was deliberately left there. 1/2 05.58 Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 150 Yvan¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Find Matilda now! Check the mall¡¯s security footage!¡± Yvan¡¯s mind raced. Was Matilda crafty enough to use her phone as a decoy? Yet. Yvan¡¯s trembling fingers betrayed an unfamiliar fear creeping into his mind. If Matilda wasn¡¯t purposefully avoiding his search, why on earth was her phone in a men¡¯s restroom at the mall? He didn¡¯t want to consider the possibilities. Without hesitation, Yvan dialed another number, ¡°Hey, Adrian? It¡¯s me. I need a favor.¡± Adrian was surprised Yvan would call in a favor for a woman, especially Matilda, whom Yvan initially dismissed. But the urgency in Yvan¡¯s voice was unmistakable. With some influence in the right ces, dispatching a search warrant and rallying police support was a minor task for Adrian¡¯s family. Adrian hadn¡¯t been concerned until a chilling update from his team made both men¡¯s hearts clench. ¡°Mr. Simpson, surveince footage shows Matilda entering the restroom and not leaving. A man followed her in and didn¡¯te out either. We suspect¡­ Matilda¡¯s been kidnapped.¡° Chapter 151 Chapter 151 When Yvan and Adrian heard the words ¡°Matilda¡¯s been kidnapped,¡± both men were jolted to full attention. Yvan snapped out of his shock first, grabbing Adrian¡¯s phone and bellowing at his underlings. ¡°Find out where Matilda is now!¡± Kidnapped? Who the hell would want to kidnap her? A wave of unexined panic surged through Yvan¡¯s chest. He had a gut feeling that this was no random incident. For some reason, it seemed like someone had orchestrated everything. including Matilda¡¯s disappearance. His fingers trembled slightly, a reaction that didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Adrian, who narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Matilda awoke on the cold concrete floor to a grotesque, sneering face¨Cthe same man who had beaten her in the restroom was now leering at her with a twisted grin. Barely conscious, Matilda gasped for air as a sharp pain seared through her lungs. Blood traced a crimson line from the corner of her mouth, her appearance a pitiful sight.. ¡°Well look who¡¯s awake.¡± The blond thug chuckled viciously, using the toe of his boot to lift Matilda¡¯s face. Bound hand and foot, she was powerless to resist as he closed in, his hands groping her and igniting a wave of revulsion within her. ¡°Miss sure didn¡¯t lie to us¡­¡± the thug sneered. ¡°Though you¡¯re a mother, you¡¯ve still got a body that we can barely enjoy.¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she attempted to shrink back, her movements restricted by her bindings. Her struggles seemed only to fuel the man¡¯s desire. He grabbed her chin roughly, wiping the blood from her face with his coarse fingers, and studied her with a smirk. ¡°Not a bad face either, kind of tantalizing.¡± Shivering, Matilda tried to muster strength in her hoarse voice, ¡°Stay away from me!¡± But her cries were barely a whisper. Sapped of strength, the terror of being brought to this unknown ce gripped her, and the dark memories of her time in jail flooded back. Her face turned ashen, making her eyes appear bloodshot and desperate. ¡°What are you screaming for? You¡¯ll have plenty of fun soon enough!¡± The thug dragged her from the floor, his threat clear. ¡°If you resist, I can¡¯t promise your precious son will stay safe.¡± Matilda¡¯s body quaked. ¡°Where¡¯s Logan? What have you done to him?¡± ¡°You care about him that much? Well, what if his life was snuffed out? How desperate would you be, then? Hahahaha!¡± He tossed her onto a disheveled cot, a gesture that felt like being locked in a hopeless prison 10:49 Chapter 151 cell. Matilda was forced face¨Cdown into the mattress, and then a heavy handnded on her back as if to plunder everything from her. Tears streamed down Matilda¡¯s face uncontrobly. ¡°Let me go! Just let me go!¡± ¡°Miss would love to see you dead.¡± the man taunted. ¡°What did you do to offend her so?¡± Who was this ¡°Miss¡°? Matilda screamed, ¡°I don¡¯t know your so¨Ccalled Miss. Don¡¯t touch me¨Cdon¡¯t!¡± As he tore at her clothes, the man delighted in Matilda¡¯s frantic, helpless despair, grunting a name through clenched teeth, ¡°You might as well know before you die¨CMiss is an Archer. You know her, don¡¯t you?¡± Miss Archer? E Archer! Matilda¡¯s eyes zed with fury. ¡°If youy a hand on me, I¡¯ll die right here in front of you!¡± It was E, it had to be! Her heart was cold, not only aiming to destroy her but also her son! How innocent Logan was! Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re making empty threats! You¡¯re in no position to threaten us.¡± ¡°How much did E pay you to be sowless?¡± Blood trickled from Matilda¡¯s throat. ¡°If you hurt my child, you¡¯ll be cursed! You¡¯ll all be cursed!¡± ¡°Oh, always with the talk of curses.¡± The thug ripped her blouse apart. ¡°The most boring thing in the world is revenge¨Cit¡¯s just a tool for comfort for sad little creatures like you. I¡¯ve got plenty of life ahead of me, and I¡¯ll live it up just fine!¡± Matilda spat out a mist of blood, feeling her life fraying at the edges, her mind slipping away in her most vulnerable moment. Her eyes began to ze over as if the pain had dulled her senses to a faint. The man burned the image of her defeated state into his mind before his hands resumed their exploration of her skin. Hatred boiled within her¨Cfor E, for Yvan! She had been cast into hell five years ago, and now, once more, she was living a fate worse than death. ¡°Yvan, it all started with you. You are the original sin, the incurable transgression!¡± she yelled. Under the man¡¯s weight, Matilda trembled on the rickety bed that screeched with every movement. The man seemed to grow more brutal, his palm striking her face with force. Numped to the pain, the p felt like it hit cotton. Matilda didn¡¯t make a sound, her body taut as 10:50 7 Chapter 151 the man reached for her legs, which she kept fiercely closed, inciting a roar from him, ¡°Damn it, stop ying the saint! There¡¯s no woman I can¡¯t have!¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 A faint knock at the door broke the silence of the secluded mountain retreat. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The locale was nestled deep in the woonds, surrounded by amunity of farmers tending their fields. Who could possiblye knocking? ¡°Hello there, I¡¯m from just around the bend. Made a bit too much stew and thought I might bring some over for you.¡± The earnest voice of a local yokel followed, and the man with the sandy hair sneered, muttering. ¡°These country bumpkins sure are simpletons.¡± Matilda sensed her chance and let out a few weak cries for help, only to be silenced by a harsh punch to the stomach from the man. As the door opened, hope shed before her eyes, but she could no longer make a sound to call for help. Please¡­ someone notice me here¡­ Her consciousness began to slip away, and in a hazy mist, she thought she saw the blond man fall to the floor and a shadow rushing towards her. With her consciousness fading, right before she cked out, she thought she saw a pair of eyes¡­ The next moment, she closed her eyes emptily, lifeless, her entire being void of vitality. ¡°If I could start over, Yvan, I would choose differently. I would never fall in love. This world has twisted me into a monster, taking everything from me, destroying all I had, and in the end, it wants to destroy thest kin I have in this world,¡± she said inwardly. In this web of sins, no one can im innocence. Everyone bears their share of me. Matilda felt herself plummeting into an abyss, surrounded by darkness, silence, and void, her body continuously falling until all strength left her. Matilday unconscious for a full five days. Yvan sat by her bedside, his eyes red with strain, unable to shake the shock of first seeing her on that disheveled bed. The bloodied womany there, still as death, her fingers clenched so tightly that even in her unconscious state, he couldn¡¯t pry them apart. His heart felt as if it had been gouged out, leaving a gaping, bloody hole in his chest. Holding her hand, he trembled. He didn¡¯t understand his own panic. Who had done this to her? Who kept pushing her to the brink of death? 10:50 Chapter 152 ¡°Matilda, please wake up. Let¡¯s get you to the hospital.. don¡¯t fall asleep¡­¡± He followed her into the ambnce, clutching her bloodstained hand, his body convulsing like he was having spasms. At that moment, the towering figure of a man seemed as helpless as a child. ¡°Please open your eyes, okay? Don¡¯t scare me¡­ Matilda, don¡¯t let this be real¡­ Adrian sat aside, his expression cold and detached, yet his face was deathly pale. He never imagined Matilda could be so ravaged, lifeless, as if she were gone forever. He knew her to be cunning, ying her games among men, but he never considered that one day, seeing such a vibrant woman devoid of life, how he would face her. He had to admit the harsh truth: Matilda had suffered brutally. Innocent of the hatred she bore, innocent in the loss of her loved ones, and innocent¡­ in the repeated hurt inflicted by Yvan. Though Adrian satposed, his heart trembled. He wanted to go to her and see the extent of her injuries, but he had lost the courage. He was afraid. Afraid that she might no longer exist in this world. He loathed her, but why, upon seeing her like this, did his heart feel as if it were being pierced with needles? When Matilda was rushed to the hospital, the two men stood in the corridor outside the operating room, their eyes reflecting unease and panic when they faced each other. Yvan seemed to finally lose his strength, slumping against the wall and copsing into a chair. He murmured, ¡°Who¡­ who could have¡­¡± Adrian stood up and walked back down the hall. Yvan called after him, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Adrian¡¯s calm facade¡¯finally cracked, his hands clenched tight. ¡°You wait here for her results. I¡­ I¡¯m going to check on her son.¡± As they diverged, their eyes betrayed their emotions. Adrian left, stepping into the elevator, pressing the button for the lower floor, and then made his way to the pediatric ward to see Logan peacefully asleep. Noticing someone enter, Logan opened his eyes. His injuries were minor, just some scrapes. It seemed the assants hadn¡¯t dared to harm the child as they had Matilda, or perhaps they saw him as the final bargaining chip, sparing Logan from such vicious treatment. The boy looked up at the man and whispered, ¡°Hi, Sir.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Adrian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, his voice hoarse. ¡°Hey there, kiddo.¡± Logan lifted his head. ¡°Where¡¯s my mom?¡± Adrian sat down beside him, struggling to keep his voice steady, ¡°Your mom¡¯s doing just fine. Don¡¯t you worry.¡± Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Louan chuckled, the wisdom in his five¨Cyear¨Cold eyes dancing like mischievous sprites. ¡°They¡¯ve even taken me away, no way Mommy¡¯s fine.¡± At that moment, Adrian had to admit that he had been outsmarted by a child. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, kiddo, your mom¡¯s gotpany.¡± Adrian tried to offer somefort, but Logan¡¯s bright eyes suddenly dimmed. ¡°Is it Mr. Boyd with her?¡± The title ¡®Dad¡® had long since fallen from his vocabry, reced with the more distant Mr. Boyd.¡® A chill ran through Adrian as he replied, ¡°Yes.¡± He didn¡¯t understand why he felt like running away. Seeing Yvan pacing anxiously outside the OR, he was hit with an urge to bolt. Adrian let out a self¨Cdeprecating chuckle and gently caressed Logan¡¯s cheek. ¡°Let the grown¨Cups handle grown¨Cup stuff, buddy.¡± Logan¡¯s gaze was unsettlingly mature for a five¨Cyear¨Cold. In a soft voice, he said, ¡°Mom won¡¯t want to see Mr. Boyd. Sir, could you be there for her instead of me?¡± Those e words shook Adrian to the core. He asked reflexively. ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Logan¡¯s expression remained unfazed. ¡°Mom¡¯s going to be furious with Mr. Boyd when she wakes up. To keep him from upsetting her again, Sir, I need your help.¡± The calmness in his voice as he spoke such heartbreaking words ¨C was this really just a five¨Cyear¨Cold? Shaking his head Ito clear his thoughts, Adrian looked into Logan¡¯s eyes and replied softly, ¡°Okay, when she wakes up, I¡¯ll be there for her.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. A sweet smile bloomed on Logan¡¯s face, and for a moment, he was just an innocent child. ¡°Thanks.¡± Adrian sighed inwardly, his heart aching slightly as he watched Logan. It was pity, he realized. When Matilda came to, the piercing sunlight streaming through the window made her blink. ufortably. She felt as if she¡¯d been asleep for ages, wing her way out of darkness back into the world. It took a moment for her mind to gather itself. She looked around at what appeared to be a private hospital room, alone with an IV needle in her arm. Matilda stared at the recent pinpricks on her hand, her skin still marred by their invasion. Just then, the door opened, and Adrian walked in, his hands casually pocketed. He squinted 10:50 Chapter 153 slightly at the sight of Matilda and said in a gentle voice, ¡°Awake?¡± Matilda fixed her gaze on him, wary. ¡°Where¡¯s Logan?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine. Sent me to check on you.¡± Adrian took a seat beside her, noticing the bruises on her skin. His eyes darkened imperceptibly, recalling the horrific scene of finding her bloodied in bed. ¡°I want to see him.¡± Matilda¡¯s hands clenched together, her body trembling faintly. ¡°I need to see Logan.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get you better first.¡± Adrian didn¡¯t mention Yvan, simply adding, ¡°No need to be on edge. I just came to see how you¡¯re doing. After all, I¡¯m sort of a lifesaver here, so ease up on the death re.¡± Matilda remained silent. Adrian felt that something about Matilda had changed since she¡¯d awakened, yet he couldn¡¯t put his finger on what exactly was different. All he knew was that there was something in her eyes he couldn¡¯t read. Once, Matilda was strong, her eyes always shining even when cornered. But now, waking up again, she seemed hollowed out, her eyes numb and weary, like someone who had glimpsed death. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 As Chloe learned of Matilda¡¯s misfortune, she hurried to the hospital, her heels clicking urgently on the polished floor. At the entrance of the hospital room, she spotted Yvan lingering just outside; his gaze fixed on the scene inside where Adrianforted Matilda. He stood there, a man torn, hesitating to breach the threshold. With a snort of derision that echoed down the sterile corridor, Chloe pushed past the door. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Yvan? Even you can be scared?¡± Yvan, aware of Chloe¡¯s barbs, remained silent. Together, they stepped into Matilda¡¯s line of sight. Matilda¡¯s head lifted, and with it, a gaze so charged with venomous fury that Yvan hadn¡¯t even fully entered before she bellowed, ¡°Get the hell out!¡± Yvan froze, pale as a sheet at the doorway. Her eyes bloodshot with rage, Matilda screamed, ¡°Get out! Take all your stuff and get out!¡± From the bedside table, a ss vase flew towards Yvan as Adrian shouted, ¡°Matilda, calm down!¡± ¡°How can I be calm!¡± Matilda felt a bitter taste rising in her throat. ¡°Because of him, Logan, suffered everything!¡± It was because he insisted on keeping Logan close that E harbored such malice! Yvan, unable to bear the weight of Matilda¡¯s stare, spat back defensively, ¡°You couldn¡¯t keep your son safe, and you me me?¡± Matildaughed, a hollow, mocking sound. ¡°Yvan, all of this is the doing of your precious E. What right do you have to use me?¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Yvan denied it without a second thought. ¡°E is naive; she would never do such a thing!¡± ¡°Naive?¡± Matilda scoffed as if she¡¯d heard the world¡¯s cruelest joke. ¡°Yvan, you are the most pitiful man on earth, blind to everything, knowing nothing!¡± ¡°Stop slinging mud here!¡± Yvan stepped forward, only to be blocked by Chloe. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear her? She told you to leave!¡± ¡°Oh, what¡¯s the matter, Chloe? Think you¡¯ve ascended from the ashes to be a phoenix?¡± Yvan brushed past Chloe, who cursed from behind, ¡°Yvan, you¡¯ve already destroyed Matilda. What more do you want? Her life?¡± Yvan felt a chill in his heart. Everyone thought he wanted Matilda dead. How could he exin that this was not his intention? If that was the case, he saw no point in exining. 10:50 Auran, umahle to watch any longer, rose to intervene, but Yvan¡¯s words came as a threat. ¡°Wanita, you think you can order me around? You owe your fucking life to me. Are you that ungrateful? This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°You saved me? it weren¡¯t for you imprisoning us, would E have done such a thing?¡± Chice rushed to the bedside, shielding Matilda in her arms. ¡°If what Mat says is true, then Yvan, you have no right to im innocence!¡± Maritta¡¯s body shook nonstop, her eyes closed to the harrowing shbacks of her own brutal beating. The memories were too vivid, etched brutally into her mind. She clutched herself and waled. ¡°Get out. Yvan, just get out!¡± Tf you ever want to see your son again, you¡¯ll do as I say,¡± Yvan growled, his brow furrowed, his words growing more reckless. ¡°Say one less bad thing about E, and maybe take a look at yourself! in a fit of rage. Yvan stormed out, mming the door behind him, leaving Adrian and Chloe to tend to Warida. Her hands clenched so tightly that her nails sliced into her palms. Her voice was a low roar, a primal scream that seemed to tear through her very soul. ¡°wan, I want you dead¨CI want you dead!¡± Chapter 155 Chapter 155 For a whole week, Yvan had not set foot in Matilda¡¯s hospital room. When he finally re¨Centered the sterile space. Matilda¡¯s pale face lifted to meet his gaze, her eyes seething with a startling intensity of loathing. ¡°I¡¯m taking our son with me,¡± she dered. It wasn¡¯t a plea but a statement, crisp and clear. A twitch flickered between Yvan¡¯s brows. He couldn¡¯t quite exin his obsession with Logan, their son. Perhaps he feared that if Logan left. Matilda would vanish from his life entirely. Holding Logan close was like holding onto Matilda; it was his way of keeping her within his grasp. But this time, the raw emotion in Matilda¡¯s eyes frightened him. She seemed to have cast aside. all her vulnerabilities, ready to flee from him at all costs. His voice took on a darker edge. ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to take Logan away.¡± Matilda remained silent, her voice only surfacing after a long pause. ¡°Yvan, if you want to be a part of Logan¡¯s life, then you bettere clean about E! I won¡¯t let my son be around a murderer!¡± The usation set a wave of irritation through Yvan. ¡°What do you want to achieve with this tantrum, Matilda? I admit the kidnapping was an unfortunate ident, but can¡¯t you stop ndering innocent people? Murderer? Who is the murderer here?¡± Matilda felt as if her chest had been torn open, the icy wind whistling through the gaping hole. She fixed her gaze on Yvan¡¯s handsome face, searching for a shred of guilt or remorse, but he was impassive. Sheughed bitterly. ¡°Yvan, it doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t believe me. I¡¯m beyond caring! But I will never put my son back in such danger! It¡¯s because of you that he was taken!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Have you had enough of this?¡± Yvan could no longer contain his frustration and roared, ¡°Matilda, stop using your grievances to justify your overreactions!¡± Her body shuddered under the force of his shout, and with a low, mockingugh, she retorted, ¡°Me? Grievances? What right do I have to feel aggrieved when my life is in someone else¡¯s hands?¡± She was taunting him relentlessly. Yvan understood her game, but as he stepped closer and saw the redness in her eyes, the hurtful words he meant to say suddenly got stuck in his throat. Matilda had once warned him, ¡°Yvan, one day, I will leave your world for good.¡± She wanted to escape desperately. When Yvan stormed out, mming the door behind him, his hands trembled violently. Matilda¡¯s expression always made him feel as if their hopeless situation might Indeed be reaching its end. What would he do the day Logan could no longer anchor her to him? Yvan¡¯s heart shook at the thought. The next day, the skies over Sea City wept a torrential downpour as if the heavens themselves were crying. The rainshed against people¡¯s faces, stinging with its ferocity. It was on this dreary day that Matilda chose to leave. She packed her bags, determined to discharge herself from the hospital, her body still marked. with bruises. At the reception desk, Yvan arrived to visit her while she waspleting the discharge paperwork. His eyes immediately found her frail form amid the crowd. She looked painfully thin after the ordeal of the kidnapping. Noticing the luggage at her side, Yvan¡¯s heart clenched. He strode over and grabbed her wrist. ¡°What are you trying to pull now?¡± But Matilda simply looked up at him with an indifferent gaze as if he were a stranger. She pulled her hand free and gave Yvan a wry smile. ¡°Yvan, I¡¯ve finally escaped your clutches.¡± Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Yvan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, words failing him as Matilda slipped away. He hurried after her. blocking her path once more, ¡°What the hell do you want?¡± Matilda chuckled lightly. ¡°I¡¯ve already made it crystal clear; you need to get E to turn herself 1. in. ¡°E would never do that!¡± Yvan still thought Matilda was messing around. ¡°It¡¯s not safe for your out there alone. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to stay in the hospital and recover properly?¡± ¡°Not safe?¡± Matilda wrenched herself free and, in front of the bustling hospital crowd, stapped Yvan hard across the face. ¡°What right do you have to say that to me? Who got me into this mess, Yvan? Don¡¯t you dare y innocent with me!¡± Publicly humiliated, Yvan felt a surge of anger, but before he could retort, Matilda cut him off. ¡°Shut up! Yvan, I owe you nothing! Go live your life with E, but from today forward, stop bothering me! Hugging E while refusing to let me go, Yvan, did you lose your fucking conscience or something? Let me tell you, I couldn¡¯t care less. I don¡¯t need this kind of drama in my life!¡± Spectators at the hospital sensed themotion at the front desk, casting sidelong nces their way. ¡°See those two over there? Looks like thedy¡¯s giving the guy a piece of her mind.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s she going off on him? The guy¡¯s pretty easy on the eyes.¡± ¡°I caught a bit of their convo. Sounds like the dude¡¯s been ying the field.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. looks can be deceiving, he¡¯s a scumbag. No wonder she¡¯s so cut up about it¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, look how thin that poor girl is. She needs a good man to take care of her¡­¡± ¡°That jerk has the nerve to show up at the hospital after what he did? Bet she¡¯s there because of his crap. ¡°Shh. let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. Always the same story ¨C plenty of beauties fall for assholes who don¡¯t appreciate them.¡± Yvan trembled with rage, the bystanders¡®ments stinging his ears. When had he ever been subjected to such insult? He found Matilda utterly irrational. ¡°Matilda, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself since five years ago!¡± ¡°Yeah. I was a murderer back then!¡± Matilda¡¯sugh was tinged with hysteria, ¡°Let go of me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you care about your son anymore?¡± Yvan roared, ¡°Logan is still with me¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care anymore!¡± The moment those words spilled out, Yvan felt as if the ground beneath him shifted. Chapter 150 The pain began to spread throughout his body. In disbelief, his hands shaking, it took him a while to regain hisposure and ask again, ¡°What did you just say?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Matilda¡¯sughter was bitter as she walked away, ¡°I said I don¡¯t care anymore. Yvan, you like using Logan to threaten me, right? Well, I don¡¯t want my son anymore! Is that what you wanted? If I were you, I¡¯d beughing in my dreams! You can make him call anyone ¡®mom¡® you like. I don¡¯t care about Logan anymore; he¡¯s all yours. Now get fucking lost!¡± Her final word, ¡°lost,¡± was a scream of exhaustion. She had said it; she had voiced it out loud! ¡°Yvan, from now on, you have nothing to threaten me with!¡± At that moment, her slender silhouette was etched into the far reaches of his vision, and it stayed there until Matildapletely disappeared from view. Only then did Yvan seem to snap back to reality, his face ashen. After several seconds, he staggered backward as if he¡¯d been pushed. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 She walked away¡­ She didn¡¯t even care about Logan anymore. How desperately she wanted to leave him behind, even abandoning her once most cherished son! ¡°Matilda, how could you be so heartless!¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Everyone in the hospital lobby witnessed a devastating scene: a strikingly handsome man. standing where the woman had left, motionless, like a soul had been ripped from his body. turned into a statue. It felt like his heart had been punctured, bleeding out, filling every pore of his body with pain. Yvan didn¡¯t understand what was happening to him. Matilda had given up on her son, leaving Logan in his care. He should¡¯ve been ted. Yet, his heart trembled violently, as if in agony. Yvan took deep breaths, his eyes bloodshot from the effort. Carl hurried over from behind. In his hands were some documents. ¡°Mr. Boyd, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. I just saw Ms. Thompson leaving the hospital¡­¡± Yvan snapped back to reality, staring at Carl, muttering, ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Carl paused, ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Boyd?¡± Everything was over. Matilda had handed Logan over to him¨Cjust like that. Yes, wasn¡¯t this what he wanted, to use Logan to manipte her? And now that she had willingly let go, why did it hurt so much? Because he had nothing left to hold Matilda with. He had driven her to a point where she didn¡¯t even dare to keep her son! Suddenly, Yvan felt drained of all strength, gasping for air, clutching at his chest as if it would ease the stabbing pain. But he couldn¡¯t find joy. This was all he wanted, so why¡­ why was it so heartbreaking? Yvan¡¯s eyes reddened as he fought down his thoughts, barely managing to say, ¡°Take Logan back to the Boyd residence.¡± ¡°And Ms. Thompson?¡± Carl asked tentatively. ¡°She¡­ she¡¯s given up on Logan.¡± Though Logan was the one abandoned, Yvan felt as if he, too, had been discarded. The day Matilda left, the rain poured heavily. She came home drenched, but she seemed oblivious to the cold as she stripped and stepped into a hot shower. Underneath the shower nead, her tears mingled with the water cascading down her face, indistinguishable from one another. Chapter 15/ Eventually, she copsed, hot water pattering against her slender back, the sound of water echoing, steam filling the air. She felt as though she had died. The scalding water couldn¡¯t warm her frozen heart. Her chest felt unbearably tight, and Matilda banged on it futilely. She retched on the shower floor, but there was nothing to throw up except bile, the burning pain in her stomach bringing her back to some semnce of reality. Trembling, Matilda pushed herself up, sweeping her hair back, revealing a pale, grief¨Cstricken face. That night, the storm raged on, relentless, lightning tearing through the darkness, illuminating the world outside her window for a fleeting moment before plunging back into obscurity. It was a haunting echo of the day, five years prior, when Matilda had been taken away in a police car. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Matilda had one of those dreams thatsted an eternity, the kind that clings to your eyelids even as you pry them open to the morning light. That morning, she awoke with a start to find the sun high in the sky, nearly noon. Gasping for breath as if to shake off the remnants of the dream world, she finally felt anchored back into reality. She fixed her hair into a fresh style and shot quick texts to Criss and Chloe. Today felt like a new chapter¨Cshe had shed her past pains and, with them, her vulnerabilities. She wondered if Yvan was satisfied with this oue. After all, everything had yed out exactly as he wanted, hadn¡¯t it? Criss responded almost immediately, suggesting they grab lunch together. Matilda dolled herself up and stepped out, a bounce in her step, to meet him at the bustling shopping center. Half an hourter, they found each other at the grand entrance. Criss was decked out in a sharp suit, looking every bit the part of a suave gentleman. Matilda couldn¡¯t help but grin at the sight. ¡°Dressed like you¡¯re on a date, huh?¡± Criss wrapped an arm around her neck with a yful swagger. ¡°Aren¡¯t you my biggest frenemy? Always forgetting me for the good times, but the first to call when there¡¯s trouble.¡± After a few teasing apologies from Matilda, they linked arms and strolled into the mall like besties on a spree. They flitted from one boutique to the next, and soon, both were toting a couple of shopping bags each. ¡°Dumping that jerk should call for a celebratory meal, don¡¯t you think?¡± Criss quipped with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s invite Chloe over to join us.¡± ¡°I messaged Chloe, but no clue why she hasn¡¯t replied,¡± Matilda said, checking her phone again and murmuring about it being odd before refocusing. ¡°Let¡¯s just go eat, and she can cab over when she gets back to me.¡± ¡°Sounds like a n.¡± Criss picked out a trendy bistro and led the way inside. His features drew admiring nces from the staff, who whispered to each other about how ¡°adorably in love¡± the pair seemed. They settled into the private booth, and Criss casually hooked a stool with his foot to prop his long legs up, abandoning any pretense of the polished celebrity demeanor for one that screamed nouveau riche¨C only a cigar in the mouth would havepleted the picture. With a roguish glint in his eye, he drawled, ¡°Order for me, darling.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a pig,¡± Matilda teased with augh. ¡°I heard someone saying how handsome you are when we walked in.¡± Thatment sent Criss¡® ego sky¨Chigh, and he hummed with satisfaction. ¡°We mixed¨Crace folks are just naturally good¨Clooking. Like that Adrian guy. He¡¯s pretty sharp, too.¡± 1/2 This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. 10:51 Chapter 150 ¡°Why bring him up?¡± Matilda made a face. ¡°I¡¯ve cut ties with all of them.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Criss raised an eyebrow yfully. ¡°In that case, maybe I¡¯ll go sleep with Yvan tor get back at him for you.¡± ¡°Do whatever you want, but don¡¯t make it about revenge for me.¡± Matilda rolled her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s there to like about a scumbag like that? A fresh young thing would be far better.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re lecturing me?¡± Criss fished out a cigarette, lit it like he owned the ce, and squinted at the menu. ¡°You should thank your lucky stars for having a gay best friend like me. Look at me, shopping with you through your break¨Cup blues.¡± Break¨Cup blues? That notion sent Matilda into a fit of giggles. ¡°I stopped loving Yvan five years ago.¡± Chapter 159 Chapter 159 ¡°Really?¡± Criss squinted, trying to gauge any hint of difort on her face, but Matlida delivered her line with such smoothness that there wasn¡¯t even a hint of awkwardness. Sheesh, women are as mysterious as the ocean¡¯s depths! Criss unfolded his legs and propped his chinzily. ¡°What¡¯s taking your friend so long? Shoot her the diner¡¯s address and tell her to start getting dolled up.¡± ¡°Probably tied up with something.¡± As Den¡¯s personal assistant, Chloe had to be avable for him at the drop of a dime, which meant her hours were anything but typical. Even though it was the weekend, she might still be caught up helping Den with work matters. ¡°No way Den¡¯s working her to the bone on a weekend. Doesn¡¯t the guy ever take a break?¡± Criss tapped his fingers on the table. ¡°Give her a ring: at least let her know.¡± Matilda figured it was a good idea, so she casually dialed Chloe¡¯s number. But as soon as the call connected, a faint groan came through the line. The sound sent a shiver of unease through Matilda. ¡°Chloe, where are you? Youing for brunch?¡± she asked. There was no reply, just a man¡¯s cold chuckle before the call was abruptly ended. The dial tone left Matilda dazed. It wasn¡¯t like Chloe to be unresponsive: she was usually upbeat and outgoing. This was highly unusual. Having experienced her own share of troubles, Matilda¡¯s concern for her friend¡¯s safety spiked. She didn¡¯t bother with the menu any longer and stood up, clutching her phone. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re heading to her ce!¡± Matilda¡¯s heart raced with worry. ¡°I¡¯m afraid something¡¯s happened to Chloe¡­¡± ¡°Ok. We better check it out. It¡¯s not like her to not answer calls on a weekend. Could be something serious,¡± agreed Criss. The two of them left the diner in a hurry, clutching their cell phones. They gged down a cab outside the mall, and Matilda gave the driver the name of an upscale neighborhood. The taxi sped off in her direction. wha¡± Cric ¡°Chloe¡¯s got a nice ce, huh?¡± Criss remarked when he heard the address. ¡°Is it her own, or did Den set her up there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hers,¡± Matilda replied vaguely, unsure whether Den would be at Chloe¡¯s ce today. Den always seemed aloof and unpredictable, and with his powerful background, Matilda had her concerns when Chloe became his personal assistant. But upon arriving at Chloe¡¯s doorstep, they encountered another man. 11/2 Chapter 159 It was Horatio Yoakum, Chloe¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦. As Matilda and Criss climbed over the balcony, they saw Horatio pinning Chloe down on the couch, her mouth covered and her body struggling. The disparity in strength between men and women was evident, and Chloe was easily overpowered. Her back had beenid bare as Horatio had effortlessly torn through her clothes, revealing skin that was undoubtedly alluring to any man. It was at this moment that Matilda and Criss, having climbed over the balcony outside, saw the scene through the curtains of the dimly lit living room. Matilda¡¯s body tensed with shock. Without thinking, she grabbed a flowerpot from the balcony and hurled it with all her might at the ss! Chapter 160 Chapter 160 The deafening crash jolted the two people inside. Matilda cracked a window with a swift hit, and then Criss kicked it wide open, shattering the ss into a thousand pieces. He charged in, yanking the man off Chloe with all his might. Slipping off her own jacket, Matilda draped it over Chloe¡¯s shoulders, her face a mask of fury as she turned on Horatio. ¡°Are you insane? Couldn¡¯t you see she didn¡¯t want it?¡± Horatio was a familiar face, and his reputation was known among the well¨Cto¨Cdo youth of the city. Matilda had heard of him, seen him around, but never would have guessed that beneath the dapper exteriory a beast capable of such vile acts. Her heated words only drew augh from Horatio. ¡°What would you know about matters between us? You¡¯re an outsider.¡± Chloe, usually so vibrant and alive, now trembled in Matilda¡¯s arms, her face streaked with tears, clinging to her friend. ¡°You came¡­ thank goodness you¡¯re here.. Seeing Chloe, usually so fierce and proud, broken like this, Matilda¡¯s heart ached. Why did the innocent always suffer? Why did her friend have to endure such humiliation? ¡°Oh, Lord, why do you let the innocent get hurt?¡± She yelled inwardly. ¡°Chloe is my best friend, and I won¡¯t stand aside when she¡¯s in trouble, especially when you were forcing her. What right do you have to think you¡¯re in the right?¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes zed with a protective rage. When she had been alone and vulnerable, it was Chloe who hadforted her. Now, it was her turn to stand up for Chloe. Horatio¡¯sughter faltered as he faced Matilda¡¯s protective stance. His handsome features twisted into a scornful sneer. ¡°Chloe, you really are something. Climbing from nothing to where you stand now. You surely know how to win hearts!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Criss couldn¡¯t stand by as Horatio insulted her, his voice thundering as he flung open the living room door. ¡°Get out!¡± Horatio, as if deaf to themand, advanced, only to be met by Matilda¡¯s retreat, shielding Chloe. He leaned in, his suit immacte, his gaze fixed on Chloe hiding behind Matilda. ¡°Chloe, this ce was never yours to run wild in. Don¡¯t think for a minute you can bewless just because you have Den at your back. You¡¯re not yet worthy to take on my family, the Yoakum family.¡± With that, he straightened up, dusted off his suit, and, with a mocking nce at Chloe, mmed the door behind him, leaving only silence. Once Horatio left, Chloe allowed herself a soft sob. Clutching at Matilda¡¯s clothes, her body shook. ¡°Mat, I¡¯m so d you¡¯re here¡­¡± Matilda sighed, and Criss brought over a mug of coffee, squatting down tofort the crying 1/2 10:52 This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Chapter foo Chloe. ¡°Poor girl, no more tears, okay?¡± Chloe forced the remaining tears back, biting her quivering lip, refusing to let herself cry anymore. Matilda touched her face gently, ¡°He didn¡¯t do anything else, did he?¡± ¡°No.¡± Chloe handed back the jacket. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it; we¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± Matilda smiled, ¡°Go change; I¡¯ve cut ties with Yvan. so dinner¡¯s on me tonight.¡± Knowing Matilda was trying to cheer her up, Chloe managed a smile. ¡°Alright, just let me freshen up.¡± Matilda and Criss waited in the living room as Chloe took ten minutes to reappear. The fragile woman was reced by the cool, decisive secretary to Den, and any previous vulnerability was seemingly an illusion. Matilda realized that maybe it was their simr strength that made her and Chloe such good friends. Chloe called themunity security to fix the window, paid them, and left with Matilda and Criss. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see that mess,¡± she said. ¡°If something¡¯s bothering you, you should always talk to me,¡± Matilda said, concern etched on her face. ¡°What on earth was Horatio thinking?¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes were red¨Crimmed as she tried to smile. ¡°I deserved it.¡± Matilda didn¡¯t press further, and they settled into a cozy booth at a buffet, waving a waiter over with a flick of her wrist. But as they were about to order, they identally bumped into two men passing their table. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161 At that moment, Adrian and Mason were just settling down at a table opposite Matilda. As they looked up, their gazes collided with hers. Matilda hadn¡¯t expected to run into them here, and her expression instantly became guarded. She quickly pretended she hadn¡¯t seen them and turned her attention back to discussing the menu with Chloe. Chloe winked conspiratorially at Matilda. ¡°Looks like your bad luck in love has followed you here.¡± Matilda let out a sigh. ¡°Please, for the love of God, let¡¯s drop it. I really don¡¯t want to see them.¡± Their words had drifted to Adrian and Mason, causing the men to stiffen. Mason had been grounded by his mother for quite some time and had only recently regained his freedom. Unaware of Matilda¡¯stest tribtions, he was still brooding over some scandalous photos. Seeing Matilda¡¯s nonchnt demeanor only intensified his sense of injustice. He felt duped, misled into believing Matilda was a good girl, but now she seemed more enigmatic than ever. Criss, meanwhile, was just being himself, leaning in and chatting casually with the two young women as if he were their older brother. Adrian¡¯s gaze lingered on Criss, prompting Mason to inquire softly. ¡°Who¡¯s that guy? Why does Matilda always seem to be surrounded by different men?¡± Adrian¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°Mr. Criss.¡± At the mention of the name, Mason showed a flicker of surprise. The infamous designer Criss? Why was he mingling with them? Matilda was aware of the probing stares from the table across, but she was done living under their judgmental gaze as if she couldn¡¯t survive without them. She¡¯d had enough of that condescending attitude. Who couldn¡¯t live without whom, after all? The trio ordered their meals and huddled over their phones. Chloe mentioned that Den had recently invested in a mobile game still in beta, and she pulled out her phone. ¡°Den sent me a copy too. Wanna give it a try?¡± ¡°Oh? It¡¯s a romance simtion game, huh?¡± Criss chimed in with his thoughts, ¡°That¡¯s unexpected. Den investing in something like this doesn¡¯t quite fit his style.¡± Chloe chuckled. ¡°As long as it makes money, right? Young girls these days love these romance sims. There are several male characters to pursue: a superstar, a domineering CEO, a politician¡¯s son, a gentle doctor, and a university professor. And there are all sorts of scenarios: spiked drinks, masquerade balls, bar encounters ¨C each one a dream for romantics. These games are like catnip for young girls.¡± 1/2 10521 This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 161 ¡°Sounds irresistible¡­¡± Matilda felt she was past the age of obsessing over virtual idols, but there were plenty of young girls who would be captivated. The game could be a massive hit. ¡°Now I want to y,¡± said Criss, visibly excited. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Den if he can send me a copy. With all those handsome characters, I¡¯ve got to try it out.¡± ¡°Can you tone it down a bit?¡± Matildaughed lightly. ¡°Games like this will definitely require in¨Capp purchases to unlock the most thrilling and romantic scenarios.¡± ¡°Smart girl!¡± Chloe snapped her fingers. ¡°You¡¯re free right now, aren¡¯t you? Why don¡¯t youe help us with the design aspect? The heroine can change outfits, and we¡¯re nning to release new items regrly. You could design a few looks.¡± The casual banter and ns for the future seemed a world away from the tension at the other table, where Adrian and Mason sat, watching the scene unfolding with mixed feelings. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 That¡¯s a brilliant idea, Matilda thought, beaming with enthusiasm. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll swing by your studio when I get a chance.¡± Chloe gave Matilda a brotherly p on the shoulder. ¡°Hey, girl, you gottae to our studio! We¡¯ve got a designer who¡¯s drop¨Cdead gorgeous!¡± ¡°I¡¯m in. I¡¯m in!¡± Criss was even more excited than Matilda. ¡°She¡¯s sworn off dating, man. She¡¯s practically a nun now. Leave the handsome guys to me!¡± Right then, the waitress brought over the array of sushi and sashimi, and the trio dove into the feast, creating a cheery atmosphere in stark contrast to the solemn and quiet demeanor of the two men sitting across from them. Adrian watched Matildaughing and chatting with others, and for some reason, he felt a heaviness in his chest as if a stone were pressing down on it. He felt sick. Ever since Matilda got out of the hospital, he found himself snooping for news about her, and learning that she was hanging out with Criss stirred a feeling inside him known as jealousy. Thest time, at a fancy party, she was arm¨Cin¨Carm with Criss, passing by him like a dazzling couple, and it stung his vision. Mason got up to grab some pastries and, after casting several nces at Matilda, grumbled, ¡°I should bring a date next time.¡± Otherwise, sitting here with Adrian, heir to the Simpson family fortune, eating a Japanese buffet, just the two of them¡­ it¡¯s bloody ridiculous. ¡°Bring one, then,¡± Adrian said, shifting his attention to Mason¡¯sment as he picked up a slice of salmon and chuckled. ¡°I heard you got grounded by your mom recently. What was that about?¡± Mason¡¯s face darkened at the mention. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it; nothing worth mentioning.¡± Adrian¡¯sughter made his blue¨Cgreen eyes sparkle, catching the attention of a passing waitress who couldn¡¯t help but steal several nces. ¡°What, was it over a woman?¡± Mason¡¯s gaze turned somber, as though he wanted to say something but held back. Eventually, he let out a sigh. ¡°Forget it; I¡¯ve been let out now.¡± But what Mason didn¡¯t realize was that he had already arrived toote in Matilda¡¯s life¨Csote that no matter what he did, he couldn¡¯t catch up to her. The meal was a rapid affair. Matilda and her friends were determined to get their money¡¯s worth, attacking the sushi and sashimi with gusto. Criss was tearing into a creamy. cheese¨Ctopped Argentine red shrimp, his fifth one, no less. It was all¨Cyou¨Ccan¨Ceat, after all, and they were determined to eat their fill. 1/2 10:52 Chapter 162 After polishing off her tenth portion of sea urchin, Chloe frowned. ¡°These portions are too small It¡¯s like I haven¡¯t eaten anything.¡± Matilda nced at her. ¡°With your speed, there¡¯s no way that¡¯s enough.¡± Chloe scooped up a spoonful of roe and popped it into her mouth, chewed for a moment, then swallowed. ¡°Ah! I just love all¨Cyou¨Ccan¨Ceat sushi!* Right then, her phone lit up. Matilda noticed the surname on Chloe¡¯s screen¨CYeager. It must be Den Yeager. Chloe answered, and whatever was said on the other end of the line left her looking deted. She hung up and turned to Matilda. ¡°Looks like I have to head out early.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go together,¡± Matilda offered, understanding the demands of Chloe¡¯s job. ¡°We¡¯ll finish up here and walk you out.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll head out now. You and Criss enjoy your meal¡± Chloe grabbed her coat and cast a nce at Adrian and Mason across the way. ¡°After I leave, if they dare to bother you, call me. okay?¡± Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Matilda let out augh, her eyes sparkling with humor. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be great if you were my boyfriend?¡± ¡°I suppose I¡¯d reluctantly agree to that,¡± Chloe quipped, flicking her crimson lip gloss. ¡°Matilda¡¯s my girl. Anyone who tries to mess with her has to deal with me!¡± ¡°Cut the crap, you¡¯re in a rush, aren¡¯t you? Get going,¡± Matilda nudged Chloe yfully. ¡°We¡¯lle back next week, and be careful on your way.¡± With a confident stride in her heels, Chloe made her exit, and just like that, the fun seemed to drain from the room. Criss and Matilda didn¡¯t linger much longer over their meal before getting up to pay, only to find out someone had already covered their tab. Matilda¡¯s gaze immediately found Adrian, who was squeezing a credit card in his hand as he walked away from the front desk. A frown creased her brow. She had wanted to pretend she hadn¡¯t seen him, but Adrian turned back toward the front desk and started walking directly toward her with an unmistakable presence. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Matilda instinctively stepped back, standing close to Criss for support. ¡°Finished eating?¡± Adrian¡¯s voice,ced with an unspoken challenge, demanded attention. Matilda answered with a quick ¡°Yep¡± and tried to leave, grabbing Criss¡® Adrian¡¯sughter followed them. ¡°Matilda, I¡¯m not some kind of monster, and I¡¯m certainly not Yvan. How scared of me can you be?¡± There he went again, poking at her sore spots with ease. Matilda¡¯s grip tightened on Criss¡® arm as she turned to face Adrian. ¡°Mr. Simpson, you and I aren¡¯t exactly friends, so there¡¯s no reason to stay. What¡¯s next? Should we for a cup of tea?¡± She had be quite the wordsmith. pop by your ce. Unbeknownst to Adrian, Matilda had let go of everything. When a person has nothing left to lose, fear bes irrelevant. Mason noticed their exchange at the front desk and approached. Matilda hadn¡¯t seen him in days and could see he had changed a lot. She had tried to open her heart to Mason once, only to have her sincerity met with his suspicion, turning all her efforts into a joke. Perhaps now Mason saw her as just another woman trying to use his family¡¯s status to her advantage. But Matilda no longer cared about how Mason saw her. She had been hurt in the past. 10:52 Chapter 163 wondering why friends seemed to drift away, but she hade to understand that true friends never part, and those who leave are merely passing through her life. Her gaze on Mason was no longer filled with the earnestness of the past: she simply gave him a cool ¡°Hello, Mr. Farrell¡± and prepared to move on. Both Mason and Adrian called out to her simultaneously. Matilda paused again but didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°Is there something else?¡± ¡°Matilda.¡± Mason was clearly taken aback by her coldness, oblivious to the turmoil she had endured recently and the depths of her suffering. He could only look at her with the detachment of a stranger, his voice tinged with mockery. ¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡± Matilda¡¯sugh was bitter, and when she turned back to face him, there seemed to be a shift in the very atmosphere. She looked at Mason, and for the first time, she thought that maybe this was his true face. Men often cloak themselves in mystery when they¡¯re on the chase, but when they realize they might never get what they want, their true, cold indifference emerges. Matildaughed at her own naivety, how much she had once trusted this man. She said, ¡°Mason, do you know? I once thought of finding a safe harbor in you.¡± Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 As the words fell from her lips, Mason¡¯s pupils shrank in an instant. Then, the woman turned away, intertwining her arm with another man¡¯s and leaving without a backward nce. ¡°But I¡¯vee to realize that it was all just wishful thinking on my part. Let bygones be bygones. Thanks for everything, Mr. Farrell.¡± She was gone, and just as she left, a gust of wind blew through the doorway, chilling Mason to his core as if it had swept right through his chest. People say some encounters hit you like a sudden draft that triggers andslide. Mason never believed in such things; he thought those were just the fantasies of poets, and the world couldn¡¯t possibly be filled with so many stunning yet regrettable moments. He was a skeptic, after all. How could a mere draft cause andslide? But now, he truly felt engulfed by a tidal wave, realizing for the first time that he had once brushed past Matilda. Adrian stood behind Mason, his gaze murky and unfocused as he watched Matilda¡¯s retreating figure until she vanished from sight. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Chloe texted Matilda to let her know she¡¯d arrived at the office and to put Matilda at ease. She then pocketed her phone and turned to the man before her. Den was smirking with an unfathomable expression, lounging on the couch. He wore an unbuttoned shirt that draped casually over him, the sleeves rolled up, and the tail tucked into his dress pants. Resting his chin on his hand, his amber eyes seemed to twinkle as he looked at Chloe. Chloe felt a shiver run down her spine, ¡°Mr. Yeager, if there¡¯s anything you need, justmand.¡± After a long pause, Den drawled, ¡°What kind of coffee did you buy for me?¡± ¡°Nescaf¨¦.¡± ¡°Dump it. Go get another.¡± Chloe was in Den¡¯s private mansion, summoned by a phone call just to make him a fresh cup of coffee. Meeting Den¡¯s half¨Csmiling eyes, Chloe replied, ¡°Mr. Yeager, that¡¯s all we have right now.¡± Den¡¯s brows knitted slightly, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a coffee machine?¡± ¡°The coffee machine broke a while ago.¡± ¡°How did it break?¡± 10-52 Chapter 164 ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? A social media star came by the other day, saw me here, thought I was your kept woman, and then we got into a fight.¡± Chloe recounted with an unnervingly calm demeanor, ¡°And that¡¯s how your living room coffee machine got smashed.¡± ¡°I forgot,¡± Den didn¡¯t bother remembering such incidents and only vaguely recalled it when Chloe mentioned it. ¡°Then it¡¯s your responsibility to get a new one.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t break it,¡± Chloe protested, feeling wronged. ¡°Weren¡¯t they here because of you?¡± Den still wore his deadpan face. ¡°They were here because of you!¡± ¡°Are you trying to discuss liability with me?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Chloe quickly changed her expression, ¡°No worries, Mr. Yeager. I¡¯ll go buy one right now.¡± But when she checked the price of Den¡¯s coffee machine model on her phone, holy cow, five eights! She was going to be broke! How could it be so expensive! Chloe reluctantly confirmed the purchase and then looked up at Den, ¡°Mr. Yeager, is there. anything else?¡± ¡°What about my coffee now?¡± ¡°I chose express delivery; it should arrive tomorrow?¡± ¡°But I want coffee now.¡± Chloe internally cursed Den¡¯s high¨Cmaintenance demands inside but said calmly, ¡°So what do you suggest?¡± Den finally smiled. ¡°We have coffee beans at home. Go grind them into powder for me. There¡¯s a mortar in the kitchen.¡± A million expletives crossed Chloe¡¯s mind, but she suppressed them, especially after Den added, ¡°Grind it fresh. If you do, I¡¯ll double your bonus at the end of the month.¡± Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Chloe swiftly swapped her frown for a beam. ¡°Mr. Yeager, you know I adore you.¡± After grinding the beans for what felt like an eternity, she brewed Den a cup of straight¨Cup Americano. The man finally began to sip itnguidly, nestling into the couch. He shot a nce at the standing Chloe, his brow furrowing. ¡°Scoot over; you¡¯re blocking the TV. I¡¯m trying to get my game on with the PS4.¡± Chloe stifled her frustration, grinning sheepishly. ¡°About that end¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmonth bonus, Mr. Yeager ¨C any updates?¡± Den didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Depends on my mood.¡± Where¡¯s a knife when you need one? She was ready to go for the jugr! But as Chloe leaned in. Den¡¯s keen eyes spotted the love bite on her neck, his gaze suddenly taking on a suggestive quality. With a smirk that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes, he teased Chloe, ¡°Been leading a colorful life.tely, haven¡¯t you?¡± Her mind didn¡¯t register the jab at first. But before she could grasp his meaning. Den set his coffee down and stood, his slender fingers tracing her throat in a mock¨Ccaress that tightened ever so slightly. Chloe felt the air being squeezed from her lungs. With Den¡¯s mood swings, she was always off¨Cbnce. His fingers brushed her lips forcefully, smearing her lipstick, as he insinuated, ¡°Someone¡¯s been touching you?¡± Chloeughed it off, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°My cheap life is in your hands. You wantughter, I won¡¯t shed a tear. Yourfort heals me because you care,¡± she thought. Den was silent; he let her go and returned to his seat, the enigmatic tone still in his voice. After a long pause, he murmured, ¡°Chloe, don¡¯t let me catch you slipping back into old habits.¡± Her smile froze, herplexion turning pale. *Thaver t¡ª* ¡°The words thate out of your mouth,¡± Den said with a smirk, ¡°how credible do you think they are?¡± That¡¯s right, she thought. In his eyes, she was always that kind of person. 10:53 Chloe shivered. ¡°It was Horatio; he came to see me at lunch.¡± ¡°And?¡± Den appeared leisurely as he watched her, ¡°That just proves you¡¯re quite the siren.¡± Mocked like this, Chloe kept up her smile, ¡°You¡¯re a great teacher, Mr. Yeager.¡± Den snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t use that attitude on me, the one you reserve for other men. I¡¯m not buying it. Shape up or ship out. No excuses, I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± Chloe¡¯s fists clenched, but she held her tongue, finally murmuring. ¡°You¡¯re right, as always, Mr. Yeager.¡± That was Den ¨C even when he insulted her to her core, she had to agree. devoid of dignity. Mr. Yeager was always right. He was the puppet master, and she, the marite. Rumor had it that Den had a dog by his side, and that was Chloe, who¡¯d work herself to the bone for him and the business, seducing anyone if it meant sess. Some called Chloe heartless, but if anyone was truly heartless, it was Den. Once Den finished his coffee, his mood seemed to lighten, and he dismissed her. Chloe left his house in a daze, and the doorman always assumed she was just another one of Den¡¯s kept women. She mustered a smile, noticed a text from Matilda, and replied: (Swing by my ce tonight, stay over?] She just needed someone by her side. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Matilda spent the night at Chloe¡¯s ce with Criss. They had a candlelit dinner that made her feel a sense of joy she hadn¡¯t experienced in ages. The shadow of Logan and the tangled web with Yvan had haunted her days and nights like a nightmare. But now, she was finally waking up. She missed Logan, but she couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Yvan any longer. Every time she remembered how he¡¯d defended E, her blood would boil with a seething rage. She clenched her fists in silent fury. So, she decided to harden her heart. Once she could face losing Logan without pain. Yvan¡¯s threats would hold no power over her. There was nothing left to cling to in Yvan¡¯s world. During dinner, Matilda noticed Chloe¡¯s gloom and pried gently until the truth came out: Chloe was stressed over Horatio. ¡°Did Horatio call off the engagement, or did you initiate the breakup?¡± Seeing Chloe drown her sorrows in red wine, Matilda couldn¡¯t bear the sight of her friend in emotional turmoil. She wrapped an arm around her, ¡°Stop drinking; that¡¯s enough.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Chloe leaned into Matilda¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t love Horatio. I broke it off. Then we spread the word that he had jilted me.¡± She preserved Horatio¡¯s reputation, which was the biggestpensation she could offer him. ¡°Why be with him in the first ce if you didn¡¯t love him?¡± Matilda asked, stroking Chloe¡¯s flushed cheek, reminded of her own painful past with Yvan. Love often blinds and torments. ¡°Because.¡± Chloe chuckled, ¡°Den asked me to seduce him. His family and the Yeager Group were negotiating a deal¡± Matilda was taken aback, unaware of Chloe¡¯s arrangement with Den. Did Chloe love Den? No, she didn¡¯t. So why go to such lengths for him? After Chloe had too much to drink, Matilda and Criss helped her to bed. The two then retreated. to a guest room, where Matilda finally let out a deep sigh. ¡°You and your friends¡­ it¡¯s tough for you all,¡± Criss copsed onto the bed. ¡°Love isn¡¯t simple at all. It can¡¯t work with just one person¡¯s effort.¡± Matilda smiled, pulling the covers over them both as they nestled into the darkness. She knew Criss¡® journey wasn¡¯t easy either. Being gay wasn¡¯t without its struggles, and the pressures he faced surely outweighed the cheerful front he put on. Chapter 166 At midnight, a strange call jolted Matilda awake. Without looking, she answered, ¡°Hello?¡± Yvan¡¯s obsession with his ex¨Cwife turned morbid upon hearing her voice. ¡°Matilda¡­¡± The sound snapped Matilda awake, and Criss grumbled sleepily beside her. ¡°Who¡¯s that? Can¡¯t they let people sleep?¡± Yvan was drinking at home, unsure why he¡¯d called Matilda or why he was desperate to hear her voice, even if it was full of scorn. He feared her disdain and Indifference. But a man¡¯s voice from Matilda¡¯s end, tinged with irritation, chilled Yvan to the bone as if he¡¯d been dropped into an ice cer. Matilda hung up without giving Yvan a chance to react. He stared nkly at the dial tone before reality sobered him up. Yvan¡¯s grip crushed the ss in his hand. ¡°Mr. Boyd¡­¡± Carl who¡¯d been drinking with Yvan, watched his boss¡¯s vacant expression with concern. ¡°Mr. Boyd, maybe you should stop.¡± ¡°Carl¡­¡± Yvan murmured after a long pause. ¡°Does life always haunt us with what we couldn¡¯t have?¡± Carl stayed silent for a while before finally speaking, ¡°Mr. Boyd, you¡¯ve never truly lost. anything.¡± Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Yvan chuckled lowly, a hint of sarcasmcing his voice. ¡°Are you suggesting that I, too, have never truly had anything?¡± Carl remained silent. Yvan knew that Carl held a deep respect for Matilda. He nced up at Carl and said, ¡°So, what¡¯s your take on Matilda¡¯s kidnapping?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t presume to specte, Carl replied, maintaining a respectful distance. ¡°Whatever you believe, Mr. Boyd, that¡¯s the reality.¡± He wouldn¡¯t make excuses for Matilda to Yvan; he knew Matilda herself would consider it beneath her. Yvan looked at his assistant andughed softly. ¡°I¡¯ve rounded up everyone involved in the incident. They all sing the same tune¨Csaying that they seized the opportunity to kidnap Matilda on a whim. Whether it¡¯s through threats, bribes, or even under duress, their story doesn¡¯t change by a single word. Yet Matilda insists that E is behind it all. I¡¯m curious: why does she insist on ming E?¡± Carl lowered his gaze. ¡°If you¡¯re puzzled, perhaps you should ask Ms. Thompson yourself. ¡°Me, ask her?¡± Yvanughed as if he¡¯d heard a good joke. ¡°Matilda wouldn¡¯t deign to answer, would she? After all, she¡¯s just a woman. I¡¯m freer without her.¡± Exactly, better off she¡¯s gone, better off he¡¯s free! He was curious where Matilda found the courage to use E when E had been loyal to him for five years. If there was anything amiss, he would have noticed. Yvan mused, looking down. ¡°After Rachel¡¯s death, I¡¯ve looked after E as a sort of guardian. Matilda probably resents Rachel and, by extension, targets E.¡± ¡°Since you already have your own conclusion, there¡¯s no need to ask for my opinion.¡± Carl was quiet for a long while before he spoke again. ¡°I just hope, Mr. Boyd, that you won¡¯t live to regret this. Regret? Him? Yvan grabbed a fresh ss and poured himself a new drink. ¡°I won¡¯t regret it. It¡¯s not even possible,¡± he muttered, perhaps to himself. But¡­ when Yvan thought of the male voice he heard near Matilda earlier, he couldn¡¯t help but feel an inexplicable surge of irritation. She was clearly asleep, and at thiste hour, sleeping next to a man. The thought almost drove Yvan to the edge, wanting to burst in and drag them out of bed. Matilda had sworn she loved him five years ago, so why¡­ why could she just leave now? 10-537 Chapter 167 N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She was utterly heartless and cruel! Yvan downed his drink in one go, with Carl silently pouring more. Since Matilda had left, Yvan now relied on alcohol to fall asleep. He dreaded dreaming of her face, so he kept himself intoxicated. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this. Matilda was the one at fault five years ago; she was the one who had cut ties with himpletely. So why did he feel this way? Where had it all gone wrong? In a fit of anger, Yvan kicked over the bottle, spilling alcohol all over the floor, the acrid smell filling the air. His eyes reddened with fury, and he threw his ss against the wall, shattering it into pieces. Carl stood by in silence, not moving to pick up the fragments.. ¡°Just a woman¡­ just a woman¡­¡± Yvan clenched his fists tightly. ¡°What right does she have to use me? She¡¯s the one rolling in bed with another man now!¡± The mere image of Matilda with someone else was maddening. What leverage did he still have to hold Matilda in the palm of his hand? What could he do to keep her from running away? Ideas flickered through his mind, and suddenly, he turned to Carl, his voice trembling. ¡°Find out where Matilda¡¯s parents are hiding now!¡± Chapter 168 Chapter 168 The sun was already high in the sky when Chloe¡¯s rm clock beeped relentlessly, signaling the start of another work week. With a yawn and a stretch, she pulled herself out of bed, casting a fond nce at Matilda and Criss, who were still sound asleep in the guest room. A soft smile graced her lips as she quietly got ready and slipped out the door to work. Matilda and Criss didn¡¯t stir until the afternoon, their sleep prolonged by the rich red wine they had indulged in the night before. Lately, Matilda felt her routine was gettingzier by the day. Rising from her bed, she noticed Criss was still lounging under the covers She nudged the duvet with her foot. ¡°Rise and shine.¡± Rubbing his hair, Criss grabbed his phone, and his eyes widened as he saw the date. ¡°Damn, I need to head back to Liberty Country.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Matilda, now dressed, turned to look at him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just get here?¡± ¡°Yeah, well, I came back because of you.¡± Criss retorted, rolling his eyes. ¡°I took a break from my family and the business. It¡¯s gonna be crazy when I return.¡± Matilda chuckled at hisint. ¡°You could always ask for my help.¡± ¡°In your dreams,¡± Criss quipped as he quickly got out of bed. ¡°I¡¯ll book my flightter. Let¡¯s go grab brunch as a farewell.¡± ¡°Sounds like a n,¡± she agreed, fixing her hair. ¡°I need to pick up Chloe from workter anyway. She¡¯s seemed a bit downtely.¡± After deciding on a restaurant, they hailed a cab and were soon in the hotel lobby, only to find out that the ground floor was booked for a corporate New Year¡¯s bash. Winter had crept up on them, and the New Year was just around the corner. Matilda wrapped her coat tighter around herself and followed Criss into a quieter, private dining room. ¡°It¡¯s a bit more private here, though the ambiance in the main hall is better. If you don¡¯t mind mingling with the employees from thatpany¡­¡± the waiter offered tentatively. ¡°No worries, this is fine. Thank you,¡± Matilda replied, dismissing further assistance. They settled in and started to peruse the menu. Downstairs, the grand hall buzzed with activity as tables filled with people, a testament to the company¡¯s size and spending power. Criss casually ordered some of the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes while Matilda excused herself to visit thedies¡® room, leaving him alone in the private space. But she didn¡¯t expect to run into Den there. And she was even more surprised to learn that Decian had booked the entire floor below for hispany¡¯s staff lunch, also inviting their business partner, Yvan. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. 1/2 Chapter 160 Fate had a funny way of throwing people together. Standing at the restroom entrance, her face drained of color, and without a greeting, she turned on her heel to leave. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Yvan¡¯s voice echoed behind her. But hismand only made Matilda quicken her pace, desperate to escape. She hadn¡¯t gotten far when her arm was suddenly gripped tightly. Yvan¡¯s smirk was cold. ¡°Running away at the sight of me?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to discuss between us.¡± Matilda struggled to free her arm, but Yvan¡¯s grip was unyielding. ¡°Mr. Boyd, let go!¡± Her tone was identical to Logan¡¯s when he addressed him! Anger red within Yvan. This woman once had eyes only for him and would do anything for him, but why now did she flee at his mere presence? How had he be so monstrous in her eyes? Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Matilda¡¯s struggle only served to fan the mes of Yvan¡¯s rage. With a forceful shove, he mmed her against the hallway wall, utterly Indifferent to Den¡¯s presence. ¡°What are you hiding for, Matilda? Even if you were dead, I wouldn¡¯t let you go!¡± The words drained the color from Matilda¡¯s face. Sheshed out, trying to strike Yvan, but he deftly blocked her, his anger palpable. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve grown some spine, haven¡¯t you? Daring to confront me now? I clearly underestimated you, didn¡¯t I? How quickly you¡¯ve managed to hook up with some other guy!¡± Tears welled in Matilda¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yvan, you have no right to use me!¡± ¡°And who does? That stray you had warming your bed?¡± Yvan was furious; his handsome face twisted with anger. To Matilda, it was nothing short of terrifying. She wouldn¡¯t allow Yvan to insult Criss like this. ¡°You can insult me all you want, but not Criss!¡± With a burst of strength, Matilda pushed Yvan away. ¡°I told you to stop bothering me. Who I see and what I do is none of your business!¡± The audacity! She was defending another man right in front of him! Yvan was so livid he could strangle her. ¡°So, now you¡¯re speaking up for him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not some stray!¡± Matilda shouted back, her fury matching his. ¡°Criss is my dear friend, beyond gender! He¡¯d drop everything and fly from Liberty Country just tofort me if I called. Can you say the same? During our five years of marriage, you never gave me the time of day! If it weren¡¯t for Criss, I don¡¯t know how many times I would¡¯ve died from the pain I suffered here! Every wound you inflicted, he was there to heal! You call him a stray, but are you even worthy to Say that?¡± Her usations hit Yvan like a hammer, hisplexion turning ghostly pale, his refined features etched with disbelief. He was rendered speechless, utterly lost in the force of Matilda¡¯s words. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He couldn¡¯t muster a single retort. For every harm she suffered, there was someone else to mend her wounds. In her eyes, was he nothing more than a devil? He had good intentions, but to Matilda, those were always twisted into hurtful actions. She never considered that sometimes, all he wanted was to do right by her. He had been the one to rescue her when she was kidnapped, to rush her to the hospital, to vigntly watch over her without rest, to avenge her by bringing those criminals to justice. She knew nothing of this! She only saw her own grievances, pinning them on him, her cold words only driving him to recklessness. Why did every attempt at a simple meeting spiral into 15 Chapter Tap chaos? Matilda saw the dangerous fury in Yvan¡¯s eyes, a look that could tear her apart. She felt an overwhelming urge to flee.. But when she dodged, it only fueled Yvan¡¯s anger. He pinned her against the wall, his arms caging her in a small world of his making, his gaze unyielding. Matilda couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Get off me! What do you look like, desperately clinging on like this?¡± Her dismissive expression made Yvan feel like the punchline of some cruel joke. ¡°Matilda, even if I¡¯m nothing in your eyes, I¡¯m still human, and I can still hurt! You have no idea what I¡¯ve done for you, so spare me that disdainful look!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you those words right back!* Matilda finally shoved him aside. ¡°You have no idea what I¡¯ve lost because of you. You want to talk about sacrifice, Yvan? Your contributions are nothingpared to what I¡¯ve lost! You don¡¯t even deserve to feel sorry for yourself! You got what you deserved!¡± Pushing past him, Matilda saw Criss at the end of the hall, who hade out of concern for her. Tears filled her eyes as she threw herself into his arms. Criss looked up to meet Yvan¡¯s gaze, one filled with predatory intent. Tightening his hold on Matilda, he led her away from Yvan¡¯s murderous stare, a cold smirk on his lips. ¡°I think you still hate her, Yvan. After all, you never were one for self¨Creflection. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 The words felt like a dagger plunging into Yvan¡¯s chest. He staggered back, his face a mask of disbelief as he watched Criss wrap his arm around Matilda and walk away. A sharp pain radiated from the depths of his being at that moment. Den had witnessed the whole melodrama unfold with an expressionless face, and with ack of self¨Cpreservation, hemented, ¡°That was intense.¡± Yvan turned to see Den¡¯s half¨Csmirking face, seemingly unfazed by the scene. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Reading Yvan¡¯s thoughts, Den spoke up. Then, with a detached nce in the direction where Matilda had disappeared, he remembered that Chloe and Matilda were close friends. Surely, Chloe must be privy to the history between Matilda and Yvan. With a mischievous curve of his lips, Den said, ¡°Setting aside Matilda¡¯s past, she¡¯s quite ther capable one.¡± Her designs, at least, were something to be admired. And she was a woman of spine. Yvan remained silent, his gaze dropping, a shadow crossing his handsome features as he thought to himself, ¡°Matilda world was never yours to walk in and out of at will!¡± my After dinner with Criss, Matilda drove him to the airport. Watching him head toward the security. check, her eyes began to redden. ¡°You¡¯re leaving again.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look so forlorn,¡± Criss said, pinching her cheek. ¡°Isn¡¯t New Year next few days? I¡¯lle back to spend it with you this year.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Matilda brightened up. ¡°I¡¯ve got ns with Chloe, too.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll work out.¡± Criss hinted. ¡°I bet Den will want Chloe to spend New Year with him.¡± At that, Matilda¡¯s smile froze for a moment before returning to normal. ¡°We¡¯ll see when the timees. No rush. You better get going.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off! I¡¯ll text you when Ind!¡± Criss waved to Matilda, who bid him farewell, ¡°Take care, and watch your wallet and valuables!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. They parted ways at the airport. By the time Matilda left, it waste at night. Criss¡® flight had been the last one of the evening. She looked up at the night sky, where stars were scattered and twinkling. She exhaled, warming her chilled palms, and dialed Chloe¡¯s number. ¡°Hey, Chloe, it¡¯s me. Have you finished work?¡± Tm¡­ might have to pull ate one,¡± came Chloe¡¯s breathy reply. ¡°Just head to my ce. The key¡¯s under the flowerpot. There¡¯s some fresh steak in the fridge¡­ cook us a couple, medium¨Crare, and wait for me.¡± 1/2 10:54 Reassured, Matilda smiled, ¡°Medium¨Crare, got it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± Chloe called out. ¡°I¡¯ll be homete for that steak!¡± And with that, she hung up. Matilda took a cab to Chloe¡¯s house, feeling much more resilient than before. Life was better now, without those people around, and she could slowly emerge from the shadows. Upon arrival, she pondered Chloe¡¯s tone during their call. What had she been doing at that time? But as soon as she entered Chloe¡¯s home, a man lunged at her, mping a hand over her mouth. They struggled, and in the moonlight, they recognized each other. Horatio froze and released her. ¡°Why is it you?¡± Matilda red at Horatio. ¡°How did you get in? You have a key?¡± ¡°She gave me one a while back.¡± Horatio¡¯s brows knitted in confusion. ¡°But why are you here? Where¡¯s Chloe?¡± Chapter 171 Chapter 171 When Matilda saw Horatio, her gut reaction was to boot him out. ¡°What¡¯s your game now, Horatio? Get the hell out of her ce!¡± Horatio pushed forward, his hands gripping her shoulders tightly. ¡°Where is she? Tell me where Chloe¡¯s hiding!¡± Matilda sneered. ¡°In your dreams, I¡¯m not telling you anything.¡± Horatio¡¯s hand was raised to strike her, but he restrained himself. ¡°Give me Chloe¡¯s address. Or believe me, I can make your life a living hell.¡± Matilda burst outughing. She was curious to see just how far Horatio could go, thinking he was just bluffing with his threats. Horatio, unfazed, dialed Chloe on his phone and spoke with a threatening calm. ¡°Listen up, you¡¯ve got ten minutes to show your face here, or else your little friend gets it!¡± The response from the other end was fierce. ¡°You bastard!¡± Chloe¡¯s voice erupted through the phone. ¡°What kind of man are you? Don¡¯t you darey a finger on Matilda!¡± With a snap of his fingers, several of Horatio¡¯s goons dressed in ck barged into the apartment. They pinned Matilda down on the carpeted floor, her body held tight as she struggled. Horatio grabbed her chin, his smile cold. ¡°How about it, Chloe? Your friend¡¯s quite easy on the eyes. Maybe I¡¯ll give her a try?¡± ¡°Youy a hand on her, and I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Chloe roared from the other line. ¡°Come at me, Horatio! You¡¯re not man enough to face me yourself, are you?¡± Matilda, pinned to the ground, watched as Horatio sneered into the phone. ¡°Your choice, Chloe. Get over here, or your BFF will pay the price. I¡¯m a man of my word.¡± Chloe¡¯s response was to m the phone down in a rage. Den, who had been observing her meltdown with a grin, couldn¡¯t help butment. ¡°Looks like Horatio¡¯s desperate to drag you back, huh?¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes were rimmed with red. ¡°Mr. Yeager, I can¡¯t stay here today. Matilda¡¯s in trouble because of me¡­¡± Chapter 171 ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare harm Matilda.¡± Den leaned backzily, eyes narrowing. ¡°Horatio might be scum, but he¡¯s got some limits. He wants you, Chloe, not your friend. He¡¯s using Matilda as leverage.¡± Chloe clutched her purse, ready to leave, but Den¡¯s volce dropped to an icy tone. ¡°Are you defying me, Chloe?¡± Her voice shaking, Chloe replied, ¡°Even if Horatio wouldn¡¯t actually hurt Matilda, I can¡¯t stand by. He¡¯s holding a knife to my weak spot, and I can¡¯t be indifferent.¡± ¡°And so?¡± Den sneered. ¡°You¡¯re just going to give in? Sleep with him?¡± Chloe¡¯s face drained of color. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who sent me to seduce¡­¡± Den cut¡® her off with a swift retort. ¡°There¡¯s a party tonight, and you¡¯reing with me. Drop the purse; if you walk out now, don¡¯t bothering back.¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she turned to Den. ¡°Are you really pushing me this far?¡± Den¡¯sugh was cruel. ¡°Pushing you? Chloe, you tter yourself.¡± She was nothing more than a dog to him. Shivering, her purse strap twisted in her grip, Chloe faced him. ¡°I¡¯m a person, Den. A living, breathing person. I have things I care about!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me eliminate you along with Matilda,¡± Den warned with a tilt of his chin. ¡°Sit down, make up, get dressed. We¡¯re leaving at eleven sharp. I won¡¯t repeat myself.¡± ? The purse finally dropped from Chloe¡¯s shoulder, her face pale, eyes lost in despair. ¡°Fine, Mr. Yeager.¡± Meanwhile, Horatio waited impatiently in Chloe¡¯s house with Matilda until eleven at night. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Finally breaking free from the thugs¡® hold, Matilda backed into a corner with augh. ¡°Chloe¡¯s not coming back, Horatio. You¡¯ve lost.¡± Pain shed in Horatio¡¯s eyes, but his voice was harsh. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! She wouldn¡¯t just abandon me. Unless¡­¡± Unless Den had his ws in her. Chapter 171 The thought fueled Horatio¡¯s rage. He grabbed Matilda¡¯s chin. ¡°Your dear friend left you high and dry. Doesn¡¯t that hurt?¡± Herugh was hollow. ¡°Why should I be sad? I¡¯m happy for Chloe. She made the right choice not to be manipted by you! But you, Horatio, you should be the one that¡¯s hurting. Between you and me, it¡¯s always been you that Chloe¡¯s left high and dry.¡± Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Horatio¡¯s gaze lingered on Matilda¡¯s smile with an intensity that could shatter stone. He signaled his men to restrain her despite her fierce struggle, and with cold indifference in his eyes, he forced her into the car. ¡°Den¡¯s got a shindig at Mago tonight,¡± hemanded, ¡°Take this woman there!¡± Twenty minutester, Horatio was forcefully ushering Matilda into Mago. They made a beeline for the V2 room, and Matilda couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Horatio had gotten wind of their location. But then, it made sense¨Cthe Yoakum family¡¯s influence was far¨Creaching. It was unlikely they wouldn¡¯t know where Den and Chloe were. As they entered, Matilda and Horatio spotted Chloe, all smiles, gracefully toasting with the men at Den¡¯s side. She had the act down pat¨Can old pro at ying the part of the charmingpanion. The word on the street was that Chloe would do anything for Den, even if it cost her her life. She was his fiercest defender, his most loyal hound. Men came and went, treating her with disdain or cruelty, but at Den¡¯smand, Chloe would rise, battered but beaming, her voice sweet as honey, ¡°How are you doing, sir?¡± It was as if she felt no pain¨Cor perhaps she had long ago discarded her own senses. It was then that Matilda noticed the shift in Horatio¡¯s mood. Chloe¡¯s hand stiffened as she saw Horatio bring Matilda in, and her practiced smile froze. Sensing an unexpected turn of events, Den casually squinted his eyes and raised his ss toward the door. ¡°Mr. Yoakum, joining the party? Care for a drink?¡± Chloe¡¯s face drained of color. ¡°Mr. Yeager, please¡­¡± she pleaded silently for a shred of dignity. But Den, as if deaf to her pleas, continued to watch Matilda with a half¨Csmile. ¡°Ms. Thompson, are you joining us too?¡± Matilda¡¯s hands were restrained behind her back; it was clear she wasn¡¯t there by choice. The crowd sensed a drama unfolding¨CHoratio Yoakum, the family¡¯s golden boy, hade with a purpose. 10.03 Chapter 172 ¡°Horatio, let Matilda go!¡± yelled Chloe. Horatio sneered, ¡°Chloe. Since when do you give orders to me?¡± Chloe¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke, ¡°Who gave you the right toy a hand on her!¡± ¡°Do I need your permission to act?¡± Horatio flicked his cigarette to the floor and crushed it under his heel, hands in his pockets as he strode in, his men following with Matilda in tow. Dapper andposed, only his eyes betrayed a ruthless glee as he addressed Den. ¡°Mr. Yeager, I need to borrow your secretary.¡± ¡°You fancy my secretary?¡± Den chuckled nonchntly. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll gift her to you.¡± As Chloe¡¯s eyes welled up, she stood to protect Matilda and preserve the peace. She grabbed a ss of liquor. ¡°Mr. Yoakum, don¡¯t scare me. If I¡¯ve offended you, I apologize. Please, have mercy and let my dear friend go!¡± Look at that¨CHoratio loathed nothing more than Chloe¡¯s silver tongue, her way of charming and disarming anyone who dared to degrade her. I Horatio¡¯sugh was sinister. ¡°Drink a whole bottle, and I¡¯ll let you off the hook.¡± Chloe¡¯s grip on the ss shook. Den noticed her fear but remained silent, the room. thick with tension. Then, a clear, cold voice cut through the silence. ¡°Drink a bottle? Mr. Yoakum, you didn¡¯t specify who, did you? I¡¯ll do it!¡± Before anyone could react, Matilda snatched an unsealed bottle of Hennessy from the table and pressed it to her lips, tilting it back fiercely. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Chloe couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. Den¡¯s pupils constricted in shock. He had always thought Chloe, devoid of dignity, could never have a true friend. Yet, in the face of adversity, when everyone else was eager to torment a defenseless woman, it was the slender Matilda who stood up for her. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 The whole bar fell silent as if electrified by the sheer audacity of what they¡¯d witnessed. Not a single soul stepped forward to intervene. It took Matilda just five minutes to down the entire bottle of Hennessy, and the silence was broken by a chorus of gasps. Some patrons trembled faintly, eyes wide in disbelief. They had thought Horatio was only bluffing, but here was Matilda, proving them wrong with her reckless drinking. Such a stunt could lead to¡­ it could tear her stomach lining to shreds! The burning alcohol scorched her throat, and a searing, cramping pain spread through her belly. Matilda felt like she was going to hurl right there and then, but she fought back the urge with a roar. Staggering over to Chloe, she grabbed her friend¡¯s hand and, with reckless abandon, smashed the empty bottle onto the ground. The shattering sound reverberated through the bar, making every heart skip a beat. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of your high and mighty act¡­¡± Matilda spat out each word, shielding Chloe behind her. ¡°Can¡¯t you see she¡¯s shaking? Do you get off on pushing a woman. to the edge? What did Chloe ever do to you, huh? Did shemit murder or ruin your precious families? I¡¯ll have you all know, I¡¯m Matilda Thompson, and I did time for murder five years ago. I won¡¯t hesitate to go back if it means protecting her from the likes of you!¡± With that, Matilda, eyes zing with fury, grabbed Chloe¡¯s hand and dragged her toward the exit, managing to choke out a single word, ¡°Go!¡± And just like that, no one dared to stop them. They had been outbraved by a woman¡¯s courage. Once outside, Chloe burst into tears, sobbing, ¡°Mat, I¡¯m so sorry. We need to get you to the hospital; you could have a bleeding ulcer¡­¡± Matilda didn¡¯t reply. Her consciousness was dimming, and suddenly, leaning against the wall, she vomited blood. Chloe, shaking uncontrobly, clutched Matilda¡¯s hand, crying out for help, ¡°Someone, call an ambnce! She¡¯s got alcohol poisoning; she¡¯s vomiting blood!¡± As Adrian was leaving the bar, a young woman on his arm, he overheard the desperate cries for help. The girl beside him sneered, ¡°Sounds like one of those barflies drank herself into a stupor for some quick cash. Not exactly a tragedy.¡± 10:03 Chapter 173 Adrian didn¡¯t respond, but neither did he disagree. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. It wasn¡¯t until he heard Chloe¡¯s quivering voice once more that he froze in his tracks. ¡°Matilda, please wake up! I¡¯m taking you to the hospital; don¡¯t you pass out on me! Can someone help me get her into a cab, please!¡± Chloe¡¯s pleas grew more agonized by the second. Adrian¡¯s face went pale, and he raced back. At the entrance, he saw Chloe supporting an unconscious woman. He sprinted over and scooped up Matilda, shouting in panic, ¡°Matilda?¡± Upon seeing the Simpson family¡¯s eldest son, Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and fresh tears streamed down her face. She was known as the poised and powerful secretary, never before so disheveled. ¡°Mr. Simpson, please, I¡¯m begging you. She just downed a whole bottle of Hennessy¡­ she might die¡­¡± Without a word, Adrian lifted Matilda into his arms. Her eyes were tightly shut, her face ashen and tinged with blue. Chloe, barely able to walk straight, stumbled after them, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking and get in the car,¡± Adrianmanded, opening the door of his SUV. He gently ced Matilda in the back seat, Chloe scrambling in after her. Ignoring the risks of driving under the influence, Adrian floored the elerator and sped towards the hospital. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 ¡°Mr. Simpson¡­ Wait up, Mr. Simpson!¡± The click¨Cck of high heels echoed as a woman dashed out after him, but Adrian didn¡¯t so much as nce back. He simply pinched a wad of cash from his wallet and scattered it out the car window. The engine roared to life, and he sped away, leaving a whirlwind of bills fluttering behind. The woman stood frozen, unable to believe what had just happened, as the money danced in the air around her. Adrian had dropped Matilda off at the hospital at one in the morning. Keaton Johnson was still in the land of nod when a jarring ring of his phone ripped him from his dreams, informing him that someone needed their stomach pumped. Rushing to the hospital in his white coat, Keaton arrived just in time to see Matilda lying on the gurney. He let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Was she bullied or something?¡± Chloe was beside herself with tears. Adrian, overwhelmed and irritated, shouted, ¡°Knock off the waterworks, will you?¡± This only made Chloe cry harder. Adrian¡¯s temper red. ¡°Shut it, or I¡¯ll call Den over!¡± The threat of Den worked like a charm; Chloe mmed up instantly. Adrian looked at Matilda inside the room and then at Keaton. They waited outside until, after what seemed like an eternity, Keaton stepped out forty minutester. ¡°You¡¯ll need to handle her admission paperwork. Alcohol poisoning and a bleeding stomach¨Cif we¡¯d waited any longer, we¡¯d have a real wake on our hands.¡± Keaton peeled off his gloves, ncing at Chloe. ¡°Unbelievable. How can she drink so much?¡± Chloe, sniffling, recounted the night¡¯s events. Adrian listened, his expression darkening. ¡°She didn¡¯t have any guys looking out for her?¡± He had always assumed Matilda was never short of malepany, but now, in this crisis, it appeared the two of them had been left helpless. Tears welled up in Chloe¡¯s eyes again. ¡°What guys? Matilda used to have her brother Gideon Thompson watching her back, but since Gideon¡¯s gone, she¡¯s been on her own!¡± 10:03 Chapter 174 Even Logan, the little man of the house, was away from home. Adrian fell silent, then began to pull out more money. ¡°Go get her checked in.¡± Chloe, still crying, asked, ¡°And what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait here for her to wake up.¡± Chloe stared at Adrian for a long moment. ¡°Do you like her or something?¡± Adrian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly retorted, ¡°Like someone who¡¯s been to jail and had a kid? I¡¯d sooner fall for a guy!¡± Chloe, unconvinced by his tough exterior, trotted off in her heels to handle the paperwork. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Adrian, having arranged for Matilda¡¯s admission, sat quietly in the room. Meanwhile, Keaton, hands in his pockets and draped in his white coat, strolled out with effortless charm. As he passed through the hospital corridor, the sleepy night¨Cshift nurses perked up at the sight of him, their faces flushed. ¡°Dr. Keaton, what brings you here tonight?¡± Keaton offered a casual smile. ¡°An acquaintance of mine had a bit of trouble. Just. came to check in.¡± The young nurses swooned. ¡°You¡¯re so dedicated, Dr. Keaton.¡± He smiled again and moved on without a word. Behind him, the nurses gushed. ¡°Dr. Keaton is so dreamy¡­¡± ¡°Stop drooling. He¡¯s out of your league.¡± ¡°I heard Dr. Keaton¡¯s brother is a famouswyer. That family is something else.¡± ¡°I also spotted a gorgeous halfie sitting star. Tonight¡¯s shift is totally worth it!¡± in the corridor earlier. Looked like a movie Chapter 175 Chapter 175 When Matilda woke up, thest thing she expected to see was Adrian¡¯s face hovering over her. She blinked hard, thinking her mind was ying tricks on her. But when she opened her eyes again, there it was¨Cthat half¨Csmirk, half¨Csmug grin on Adrian¡¯s face. His eyebrows arched in a roguish manner, dressed down in a hoodie and ripped jeans, his long legs stretched out beneath her hospital bed, holding a throw pillow and smiling at her. That smile sent shivers down Matilda¡¯s spine. Adrian let out a whistle, ¡°Hey there, Sleeping Beauty, decided to join the living?¡± Matilda¡¯s throat was dry as she tried to speak, but before she could utter a word, Adrian stood up, leaned in close, and assessed her with those unsettling turquoise eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, you know that? Downing a bottle of Hennessy in under five minutes.¡± Pale and still looking unwell, Matilda retorted, ¡°And what¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t any of my business before,¡± Adrian shrugged casually, ¡°But it is now. I¡¯m the one who brought you to the hospital. Don¡¯t you think you owe me a little thank¨Cyou?¡± Whenever Matilda found herself in a mess, Adrian seemed to be right there in the thick of it. She clicked her tongue, her eyes brimming with defiance. Adrian chuckled as he gently pinched her chin, careful not to hurt her. ¡°You know, Matilda, if you¡¯d shown that kind of reckless spirit with Yvan, maybe you wouldn¡¯t be in this sorry state now.¡± His words were a sharp jab to her heart, knowing exactly what would make her ache. Matilda forced a mockingugh knowingly, the sarcasm thick in her voice. ¡°And what do you suggest I do? I love him. I can¡¯t let go.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The admission that she loved Yvan, though deliberately, made Adrian¡¯s pupils contract, his sardonic smile turning frosty. His eyes seemed to glint like a wolf¡¯s. ¡°Pathetic.¡± He summed her up in one harsh word. Chapter 175 Matilda replied indifferently, ¡°Thanks for thepliment.¡± Her imprable facade made Adrian grit his teeth. This woman was truly heartless, bearing any and all suffering, which made her terrifying. The more one could endure, the deeper they buried their pain, and when they finally exploded, no one could stop them. Adrian withdrew his hand, his smile yful yet predatory, as if Matilda was nothing more than a game to him. And why wouldn¡¯t he? With women throwing themselves at him, he wouldn¡¯t waste his energy on someone so broken. Matilda knew well of his angelic exterior, but what of his soul? Perhaps no different from a devil¡¯s. She closed her eyes, signaling she wanted him gone. Adrian grinned. ¡°That¡¯s how you treat your savior?¡± With no choice, Matilda opened her eyes and faced him. ¡°How much? I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± Hisughter was bitter. ¡°And what about the time and energy I¡¯ve wasted on you?¡± Matilda smiled back. ¡°Should I find you another girl right now?¡± Adrian¡¯s anger red as he stood up abruptly, ¡°Don¡¯t be ungrateful, Matilda!¡± He had brought her to the hospital and looked after her, and she couldn¡¯t even muster a thank you. But Matilda wouldn¡¯t, couldn¡¯t thank a man who had once hurt her, no matter how he tried to make amends now. It was toote to change the vile image she held of him. With a light chuckle, Matilda yed her final card. ¡°Adrian, I just remembered that rainy night you held the umbre for me. I think¡­ you were more impressive back then.¡± Memories couldn¡¯t be relived, and she could no longer see the Adrian from that night. It was all an act, a scene set to resonate with her¨Ca performance that had long since ended. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Adrian froze, seemingly entrapped by his own memories. When he managed to pull away, he looked at Matilda with an expression that was part panic, part something else he couldn¡¯t quite ce. But he didn¡¯t show it; he just scoffed instead. ¡°Matilda, how many men have your sweet little lies fooled?¡± Matilda remained silent for a long moment before speaking softly, ¡°Mr. Simpson, I¡¯ve always wondered what made you pursue me in the first ce?¡± To let her fall for his deceit, to let her guard down around him, only to have her thrown back into the harsh reality. Deep down, Adrian thought that the initial attraction was all because of her striking beauty. To Matilda, Adrian was like a dangerous, mesmerizing riddle; to Adrian, Matilda¡¯s face was the kind that men would go bankrupt for just to win her smile. It was a twisted kind of admiration, one that would rapidly cool off once the initial dazzle faded away. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Sensing Adrian¡¯s silence, Matilda slowly smiled, ¡°Sorry, I only have a pretty face,¡± implying shecked an interesting soul. To her, the world was as dull as she was. Matilda felt as if her life was caught in a never¨Cending cycle of pain, always enduring alone. If the hardship was a trial she had to face, then she wondered, perhaps it was time for the heavens to cut her some ck? She was tired of life¡¯s bitter taste. Adrian was silent for a long time before standing up. He stared intently at Matilda¡¯s face as if he had something to say but stopped himself at thest moment. He searched for any sign of hope for life in her eyes but found none. What he really wanted to say was that if she ever needed a man, she might consider turning to him. If she wanted a night of indulgence, he was more than willing to offer that much. As for anything more, perhaps not. In the country he lived in, people were known for their openness, just like how he bluntly suggested a one¨Cnight stand the first time they talked. But now, he found Chapter 176 himself struggling to voice such a proposition. What Matilda needed was no longer that. The man got up, his face still wearing that nonchnt grin, feeling an intense curiosity about Matilda for the first time. But he didn¡¯t voice it, and thus, Matildal never knew. When Adrian left, he simply closed the door gently behind him. After a week in the hospital, Matilda was discharged. On discharge day, Chloe hugged her, crying. Tears and snot smeared on Matilda¡¯s clothes; her friend was a sobbing mess. ¡°Mat, I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± Matilda pushed her yfully, ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you proposing to me?¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Yeah! How about we set up house together?¡± Matilda shuddered at her best friend¡¯s outrageous idea. ¡°Well, I still need a man in my life.¡± ¡°Jerk.¡± Chloe poked Matilda¡¯s chest. ¡°I¡¯ve fallen out with Den over you!¡± Matilda was surprised, her eyes widening. ¡°What? You quit your job?¡± ¡°Yeah, I quit.¡± Chloe put her hands on her hips, ¡°You should move in with me. No need to live alone anymore. I¡¯ve changed the locks; nothing like before will happen again. Now we¡¯re both unemployed, ready to live off dumpster diving.¡± Matilda joked back, ¡°Well, that¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. I¡¯ve still got the five million Yvan left me.¡± Chloe paused, then said seriously, ¡°Fair point. I reckon I¡¯d be shortchanged without ten million from Den. I¡¯ll go make a scene at his office tomorrow.¡± Matilda was speechless. ¡°And demand a house and a car while I¡¯m at it.¡± Matilda just remained silent. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Matilda and Chloe had be roommates, navigating the tricky waters of job hunting while plotting their next moves. Matilda hadn¡¯t reached out to Logan in what felt like ages. She missed him, no doubt about it, but she never expected to receive a call from him. Staring at the unfamiliar number on her phone, she hesitated for a long moment. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s me.¡± Logan whispered from his study, ¡°Dad won¡¯t let me see you, so I got Violet¡¯s phone to call you.¡± ¡°Is that her number?¡± Matilda was pleasantly surprised to hear from Logan, and his young voice came through the line, ¡°Nope! They got me my own phone, so now you can call me anytime!¡± He sounded proud of himself. Matilda¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, ¡°You need to be good, okay? Mommy can¡¯t see you for a while, so don¡¯t make a fuss.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be good. Will youe back to see me?¡± Hope tinged Logan¡¯s voice. ¡°Mommy, I really don¡¯t want to stay with the Boyd family.¡± But what could she do? Matilda had entrusted him to Yvan. The thought made her heart ache as if it were in a vice, ¡°Logan, if you have to be apart from Mommy for a long time until you¡¯re all grown up, can you wait?¡± ¡°I can.¡± Logan¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°When I¡¯m a big guy, will you not recognize me?¡± ¡°Never,¡± Matilda choked back tears, ¡°When you¡¯re a big guy, Mommy will bring your home.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll eat lots of burgers and grow up fast to protect you!¡± Logan dered with the earnestness of a little adult. ¡°Mommy, you take care of yourself too. Uncle Gideon and I will be waiting.¡± The mention of Gideon brought fresh tears to Matilda¡¯s eyes. She covered her mouth, pulling the phone away before finally managing to say, ¡°Yeah, Uncle Gideon would be so happy to see you all grown up.¡± ¡°Brother, Logan still remembers you. You¡¯re not alone; we haven¡¯t forgotten¡­¡± she said inwardly. Chapter 177 After hanging up, Matilda wiped her tears andposed herself to continue sending out resumes. Chloe, fiddling with her phone, muttered, ¡°Your kid¡¯s brain is turbocharged.¡± Matilda felt a mix of pride and sorrow at Chloe¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s my fault he didn¡¯t get a happy childhood.¡± ¡°Hey, snap out of it. The kid¡¯s pretty resilient,¡± Chloeforted her, ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have such a son. Yvan¡¯s a piece of work, but thankfully, Logan didn¡¯t take after him.¡± The little rascal even knew how to console an adult. Grown up, he¡¯d probably be a heartbreaker. Meanwhile, Logan ended the call, saved Matilda¡¯s number into his new phone, and ran out to thank Violet. ¡°Thanks for the phone, Madam.¡± Violet had returned from her international travels and had brought him a brand¨Cnew phone as a gift. Logan loved it now he had a way to keep in touch with his mommy! ¨C E sat in the living room, seething as Violet showered Logan with attention and ignored her. The woman¡¯s face twisted with resentment. Damn that boy, why didn¡¯t he just die earlier! She should¡¯ve taken care of him when he was kidnapped! Now, he was nothing but trouble! As Logan passed by E, he nced up at her. E quickly put on a smile, trying to win him over, ¡°Logan, need anything from me?¡± naBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Violet had ascended the staircase, leaving Logan and E alone in the living room. The child looked up at her, and in that gaze, E swore she saw the same fierce expression that Yvan often wore. It was uncanny; those eyes were a perfect replica. E¡¯s voice wavered, ¡°Logan, why are you looking at me like that? I know you¡¯re not my biggest fan, but it wasn¡¯t me who drove your mommy away¡­¡± She slipped into her usual melodramatic self¨Cpity, portraying herself as the victim so onlookers would believe the child was making a fuss and she was just an innocent adult. Logan chuckled softly. ¡°E, drop the act. No one¡¯s watching.¡± The chill in his voice sent a shiver down E¡¯s spine. What was this look? It was so intimidating that even an adult like her felt a twinge of fear! E felt her forced smile slipping and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Logan, what are you talking about? Ha¨Cha¡­ Have you been watching too many cartoonstely?¡± She refused to believe it! A five¨Cyear¨Cold could not possibly cause any real trouble! She refused to believe that Matilda¡¯s son had that kind of influence! Logan remained unfazed by E¡¯s antics, his cold smirk mirroring Yvan¡¯s distant demeanor. Indeed, he had inherited Yvan¡¯s features, his face like that of a miniature adult. His hand slid into his pocket, gripping his phone tightly. ¡°I know it was you.¡± His words struck E, her face draining of color! She stuttered, herposure faltering, ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about, Logan. Is there some kind of misunderstanding?¡± ¡°I said I know you¡¯re the one who had me kidnapped.¡± Seemingly concluding that arguing with E was a waste of time, Logan spoke directly, turning E ashen. Sheughed nervously, ¡°Ha¨Cha? Why would you say that? Has your mother been filling your head with nonsense? Don¡¯t make usations; I would never do such a thing¡­¡± Chapter 178 ¡°You really do babble on.¡± Logan clicked his tongue, sounding hauntingly like Yvan, ¡°No need for more excuses. I know you paid someone to kidnap me and my mommy. You even took the kidnappers¡® families hostage, threatening to harm them if they uttered a word about you to Mr. Boyd. That¡¯s why the kidnappers stuck to their story, iming it was a spur-of¨Cthe¨Cmoment crime.¡± He spoke with a rity and coherence that left no room for doubt. E¡¯s pupils shrunk in shock. How could a five¨Cyear¨Cold have such cunning? His intellect seemed almost otherworldly. ¡°You¡­ You must be parroting your mother¡¯s wild ims!¡± E¡¯s voice was tinged with panic, but after a moment, she regained her calm. She was an adult; how could she not outwit a child? ¡°If you really have evidence it was me, why not go to your father with it?¡± E sneered maliciously, ¡°Because you¡¯re just echoing your mother¡¯s fantasies, don¡¯t think you can take me down. Your father won¡¯t believe your absurd stories.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°My father?¡± Logan¡¯s retort left E frozen in ce, ¡°I never thought to bring it up with Mr. Boyd because, frankly, I think he deserves someone like you. It would be a shame to have him spoil my mom. So, it was his own choice not to tell Yvan, yet he knew the whole truth! Just how terrifying were the depths of this child¡¯s mind? Chapter 179 Chapter 179 ¡°You know, maybe you underestimated me because you think I¡¯m just a kid, and that¡¯s why you lost,¡± Logan chuckled, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. ¡°I overheard your calls to the Boyd household asking for preparations numerous times. I didn¡¯t expose you because I saw it as an opportunity. An opportunity for my mom and Mr. Boyd to finally cut ties.¡± When he had said to Matilda, ¡°Mommy, we¡¯ll be okay soon,¡± she must have seen that unusual emotion flickering in his eyes. He had yed his part well, masquerading as an innocent child. E had been outwitted by a five¨Cyear¨Cold! This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Behind the scenes¡­ it was all the work of a child! She recalled how Logan had deliberately manipted her with the Boyd family¡¯s guidance. She remembered the odd glint in the little boy¡¯s eyes every time he looked at her! E trembled with rage, ¡°Who are you, really? Impossible¨Cyou¡¯re just ying tricks! Yvan won¡¯t believe you!¡± Logan let out a softugh without responding and headed upstairs. His small frame seemed so youthful, yet his thoughts were far beyond those of a normal child. E¡¯s fingers clenched tightly as she watched Logan ascend the staircase, the murderous intent in her eyes growing stronger. If that¡¯s the case, this child couldn¡¯t be allowed to remain! Sensing the vicious gaze behind him, Logan leaned against the door after closing it, slowly curving his lips into a smile as he thought, ¡°Yes, E, that¡¯s exactly what I need¨Cyour hatred¡­ your desire to see me dead.¡± The little boy clutched the phone in his hand, never letting go. In a soft voice, he said, ¡°Mommy, just wait for me a little longer; I¡¯ll be out to find you soon.¡± Matilda had not expected a visit from Willow Simpson. The pampered heiress was undoubtedly there to y the mediator on behalf of her 10:04 Chapter 179 brother Adrian Simpson. As soon as they sat down at the caf¨¦, Willow fixed her on Matilda and said, ¡°My brother wants you to work at hispany. Aren¡¯t your looking for a job these days?¡± gaze Without a second thought, Matilda replied, ¡°I believe I¡¯ve already declined that offer once before.¡± Willow fumed, ¡°Don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you. My brother is just trying to help out of pity for you!¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t need his pity,¡± Matilda ordered a cup of coffee. ¡°Please tell him to keep his condescending sympathy to himself. I won¡¯t keel over without him.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Willow struggled to find the words. ¡°stubborn woman!¡± Matilda remained silent, offering no denial. ¡°I don¡¯t see why you¡¯re so resistant to my brother¡¯s help. You¡¯re not doing anything else right now, and our Simpson Group is a major enterprise. What¡¯s wrong with working there and making money? What do you have against money?¡± Willow couldn¡¯t understand. Her brother was such a catch, dropping hints to Matilda time and again, yet Matilda seemed oblivious. No, it wasn¡¯t that she was oblivious¨Cshe chose to ignore it. ¡°I have nothing against money,¡± Matilda said bluntly. ¡°I just can¡¯t stand your brother, that¡¯s all.¡± Willow was at a loss for words. This wouldn¡¯t do; her brother Adrian had promised her a new sports car if she could lure Matilda to work at the Simpson Group! Suppressing the urge to leave, Willow tried another approach, coaxing Matilda, ¡°My brother would just be your boss, and you wouldn¡¯t have to see him often. Taking the job won¡¯t cost you an arm and a leg.¡± ¡°Pleasee work for us,¡± she thought desperately. Her dream car hinged on Matilda¡¯s decision! Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Matilda brushed off the offer without a second thought, cheerfully picking up the tab before turning to Willow and saying, ¡°Such a pity. Tell your brother to stop wasting his energy, and oh, to bother me less in the future.¡± With that, she sauntered off, leaving Willow sitting at the table, utterly disheveled. Damn, Matilda¡¯s ice¨C cold attitude was something else! W Back home, Willow recounted the tale to Adrian, who was in the middle of an intense gaming session. Hearing of Willow¡¯s failure, he clicked his tongue in annoyance. ¡°Useless! Can¡¯t even con someone properly!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, why don¡¯t you chase her yourself? Why bother me?¡± Willow shot back, flipping Adrian off behind his back. ¡°Loser! Total chicken!¡± ¡°Who Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. said I¡¯m chasing her?¡± Adrian shot back, sitting up from the couch with a huff. ¡°Which of your eyes saw me take an interest in her?¡± Willow decided it was no use arguing with her clueless brother and trudged upstairs. ¡°I¡¯m hitting the hay. Goodnight, lone wolf.¡± Adrian, still gaming, nearly snapped the controller in his hands. Sitting alone in the living room, he fell silent for a moment before a sly smile began to edge across his lips. Chloe returned to the Love Evolution game studio where she worked, pulling some strings tond Matilda a position. The team was thrilled to have her on board. ¡°Is that Dawn we¡¯ve heard about? Can we coborate with her? It would make for a great publicity angle.¡± Matilda dly epted the offer, signed the nondisclosure agreement, and joined Chloe at the studio. Though Den was the investor behind the romance game, he only cared about the financial side and left the rest to his team. Chloe, using her connections, had managed to sidestep his blockade. On their first day, they were met with great enthusiasm, and the studio¡¯s lead, Baxter, greeted them with open arms. ¡°Goddess! Our goddess is finally here!¡± Matilda chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m ttered, but thank you for the warm wee.¡± Chapter 180 ¡°Ah, we¡¯ve been up to our necks in work, so it¡¯s a bit chaotic inside, but we cleared some space for you two. Chloe, you¡¯ll join the marketing team with your widework, and Dawn, how about youe to the design department with us?¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Matilda replied with a smile. After helping Chloe settle into the marketing department, she was escorted to the design team by Baxter, a long¨Chaired man. ¡°Baxter, did you bring a beauty to join our team?¡± ¡°Man, Baxter, you¡¯re our hero!¡± The game studio was decked out with creative ir, with a circle of people seated around arge table, each with multiple monitors before them. d A guy in a green dinosaur onesie handed Matilda an instant coffee packet. ¡°Wee to the Singles Club.¡± ¡°We¡¯re called ¡®Love¨Cor¨CDie¡® now, remember?¡± A girl with short hair looked up from herputer, where a sketch and a list of character development progress, IQ, EQ, height, upation, and other stats were disyed. ¡°That¡¯s a bit morbid, isn¡¯t it?¡± Yoshi remarked. ¡°Luna, take it easy, or that ¡®die¡® part might juste true for you.¡± Matilda¡¯s new workspace was amid the hub of activity, with three monitors, a drawing tablet, a printer, and a pile of design drafts that rivaled the mess in her old studio. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind, Goddess; we just threw this togetherst minute.¡± Baxter¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Hey, H, you around?¡± buxom girl zoomed past Baxter, tossing an ashtray in his direction, ¡°What¡¯s with the yelling? I¡¯m in the middle of a plot outline here!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Spare me, H!¡± Baxter ducked and dodged. ¡°I¡¯m just introducing the newbie, Matilda. Or as most know her as, Dawn.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard about her.¡± H nced up at Matilda and smirked with a weing grin, ¡°Hey there, we¡¯re pretty chill here. Make yourself at home.¡± The geeky guy with a green dinosaur hoodie scooted over with his chair, rolling up to Matilda, ¡°Are you joining our merry band of misfits?¡± Matilda returned the smile, confirming her new role. The vibe was casual and cozy, just like a down¨Cto¨C earth family gathering. No sooner had she sat down than the gang started sliding her packets of instant coffee. ¡°It¡¯s a rite of passage here. We survive thete nights on instant coffee,¡± Baxter said with a chuckle. ¡°If you need more, just spin your chair around and help yourself from the box.¡± Twisting around, Matilda¡¯s eyesnded on a mountainous box stuffed with¡­ instant coffee. ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± she gulped. ¡°You bet,¡± H chimed in without looking up from her keyboard. ¡°I used to boast at proud E¨Ccup, but ever since I joined the studio, I¡¯m down a whole size.¡± Matilda couldn¡¯t help but think that was still pretty impressive. Surrounded by a quirky cast of design nerds ¨C from Yoshi in his pajamas to the curvaceous H, the tomboyish Luna, and Baxter, who¡¯d first brought her in Matilda felt right at home. Soon enough, she was handed a steaming mug of coffee. ¡°This ce isn¡¯t like those shy, shallow joints out there. We¡¯re all easy to get along with,¡± said Luna, ncing over at Matilda, ¡°Except when ites to lending money.¡± Baxter burst intoughter. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re all buddies until money¡¯s involved. Then it¡¯s like, ¡®Who are you? I don¡¯t know you.¡± 10:05 Chapter 181 Matilda¡¯s first day at the studio stretched well into the night. Her desk was buried under a pile of drafts as tall as a small hill, which effectively cut her off from the world. Around eight in the evening, Baxter came around with a pot of coffee, pouring a cup for everyone. As he reached Matilda, the paper mountain trembled. Startled, Matilda watched as a man with sses emerged from the heap, dark circles under his eyes like badges of honor. ¡°Look who¡¯s up, our very own vampire,¡± H clicked her tongue, ¡°Waking up earlier than usual. He¡¯s usually not up until ten at night.¡± ¡°Must be Dawn¡¯s presence. He can sense the living amongst us,¡± Yoshi joked, likening Orson to a canine. He nodded towards Orson, ¡°Take a look to your left, man.¡± The man known as Orson, groggy and disheveled, squinted at Matilda with sleepy eyes, ¡°Huh? We got a neer?¡± His voice was unexpectedly alluring, deep, and resonant. ¡°Cold as ever, Orson,¡± Luna feigned a heartache, ¡°Come on, do the customary greeting.¡± Orson rummaged through his drawer and flung a packet of instant coffee Matilda¡¯s way, ¡°Nice to meet you¡­¡± But he noticed something off. Matilda hadn¡¯t reached out to take the coffee. Was she not a fan of the vor? Orson swapped it for a different variety, yet the reaction was the same. Confused, he looked up only to find Matilda staring at him, her eyes brimming with tears. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Orson had no inkling that his first day at the new job would be so dramatic. The rookie in the cubicle next to him, with tears streaming down her face, looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and sorrow. Pointing at himself, Orson asked, ¡°Do I know you from somewhere?¡± ¡°No,¡± came the tearful reply. Yet, that face¡­ Matilda¡¯s hands shook ever so slightly as she faced the uncanny resemnce. She had always thought fate to be cruel, but at this moment, she felt like she was being given a second chance. She wiped away her tears and took the coffee mug Orson was offering. ¡°You look just like a rtive of mine who passed away.¡± Orson paused, his voiceced with a hint of annoyance. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying I remind you of someone who¡¯s dead?¡± Baxter and Yoshi tried to diffuse the tension, with Baxter chiding, ¡°C¡¯mon, big boy, why the long face? Our gal Matilda¡¯s just feeling a bit sentimental, that¡¯s all. No offense meant.¡± Orson shot a re at Yoshi. ¡°Yoshi, for thest time, stop calling me ¡®big boy!¡± Yoshi, unperturbed by Orson¡¯s irritation, kept up his teasing. ¡°Chill out, T¨CRex, don¡¯t scare off our leadingdy! Hey Matilda, check me out. I¡¯m pretty easy on the eyes, too, right?¡± Yoshi had a knack for lightening the mood. Orson, ever the stoic type, huffed and started sorting through his desk, booting up hisputer for work, while Matildal sneaked another nce at his profile. He was the spitting image of her brother Gideon. Curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, ¡°How old are you, Orson?¡± Orson stiffened and turned to face her with his strikingly pale face and piercing eyes that could give any runway model a run for their money. ¡°Is this yourtest pickup line?¡± he retorted coolly. Matilda¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°Sorry¡­ I couldn¡¯t help butpare you to my brother.¡± So, it was about her brother. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. 10:05 Chapter 182 Orson¡¯sugh was cold. ¡°Sorry to disappoint, but I never had an extra sister.¡± Even though she knew the man before her wasn¡¯t Gideon, Matilda¡¯s heart ached. She offered an apologetic smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to trouble you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind Orson; he¡¯s clueless when ites to girls,¡± Yoshi said in an attempt to smooth things over. ¡°He¡¯s got a big heart, really.¡± Orson didn¡¯t respond; he only scoffed and began focusing on his work. He opened his drawing application while Matilda, on the other hand, was sketching designs for next spring¡¯s fashion line, which she then bundled and sent to him. Though a glint shed in his eyes when he saw the designs, Orson still critiqued the designs with his usual blunt candor. ¡°Looks like recycled ideas to me. What do you think our game¡¯s wardrobe is? A knockoff high¨Cstreet brand? Our heroines don¡¯t need swag; they need whimsy, princess vibes, not something off a couture runway.¡± He actually wanted to say that Matilda¡¯s designs were too fashionable and unique, but they came out sounding like he was deeming them worthless. After all, he had never been a man good with words. ar Despite his harsh words, Matilda remained patient. ¡°I¡¯ll rethink the designs.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush,¡± Orson advised, his voice still frosty. ¡°You haven¡¯t even grasped the concept of our game yet, and you¡¯re already trying to show off your creativity. This is not about skill; it¡¯s about understanding the work. y through the beginning of our game with this file I¡¯m sending you. You¡¯ll get a better idea of what kind of costumes to design.¡± His tone might have been rough, but his advice was spot on. As they exchanged files through the company chat, Yoshi yawned loudly. ¡°Looks like anotherte night,¡± Yoshi muttered, tweaking some data while simting a fight scene. ¡°Does our sim game really need a physics engine? What¡¯s the point? In a visual novel, who cares about logic? Do those cheesy CEO romance novels have any?¡± ¡°Because not everyone will let you off the hook with that excuse,¡± Luna retorted with an eye roll. ¡°Better to have it and not need it. Just calibrate it and move on.¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ve got another client swinging by.¡± H finally finished typing up the day¡¯s work, ran a spellcheck, and printed out several copies. She handed out the A4 sheets like a dealer at a poker game, ¡°Take a look at the script, folks. If it¡¯s all good, we¡¯ll roll with it for next month¡¯sunch. I¡¯ve nted a ton of forks in the road, including two tragic endings¨Cone where the lead bites the dust and another where the yer kicks the bucket.¡± ¡°Oh man, those endings are gonna get us roasted alive,¡± someone groaned. Baxter, tying her long hair back with a scrunchie, said, ¡°Matilda, tough first day, huh? Burning the midnight oil already.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Matilda replied, genuinely enjoying the vibe here. There was none of that cutthroat competition she¡¯d seen in other workces. ¡°Let¡¯s circle back for a quick meetingter. Orson, you done with those sketches?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Orson had bags under his eyes big enough to qualify for carry¨Con luggage, a sure sign of sleep deprivation. Matilda half¨Cexpected him to face¨Cnt into his monitor and snooze. ¡°H just mentioned a clienting tomorrow, and I¡¯m not in the mood to y host. Whoever¡¯s got the bigger cojones can take it.¡± Luna quipped, ¡°That¡¯s practically a dig at me.¡± ¡°I might be well¨Cendowed in that department,¡± H added, ¡°but I¡¯m not going. Matilda, your turn.¡± Who was this client that they all dodged like a pop quiz? Being the newbie, Matilda couldn¡¯t really say no. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡± ¡°Use those good looks to charm our client, will you? Maybe they¡¯ll cough up a few million for our startup fund,¡± Orson said, eyeing Matilda as he tweaked a graphic. ¡°You¡¯re passable, with a bit of effort. Thanks in advance.¡± ¡°If I had a few million, I¡¯d ditch this whole girly sim game in a heartbeat!¡± Yoshi piped up from a corner. ¡°I¡¯d be crafting the next big MMO!¡± ¡°Someone pass Yoshi a pillow,¡± Orson said drily. Baxter and Yoshi looked baffled. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°He needs to dream.¡± Chapter 183 At ten in the evening, Matilda wrapped up another long shift and strolled past the now¨Cdeserted marketing department. The ce was a ghost town, which told her they didn¡¯t burn the candle at both ends as her department did. Chloe had probably clocked out hours ago. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Matilda flexed her wrists, feeling surprisingly at home with this gig. It had reignited a spark in her that had been dormant for far too long. As she stepped outside, she noticed a light drizzle had begun, casting a chilly dampness over the night. Orson caught up to her, umbre in hand¨Ca precaution he took ever since the rainy season started, keeping it stashed at the studio just in case. He watched Matilda stand under the shelter of the doorway, taking his sweet time before he finally said, ¡°Come here.¡± Matilda was taken aback for a moment, her gaze fixed on his face in the dim light. The studio was nestled within an office building, and by ten at night, all the lights on the first floor were off, leaving only the emergency exits and the elevator glowing faintly. In the shadowy light, Orson¡¯s face seemed distant, almost otherworldly. Sensing her hesitation, Orson clicked his tongue impatiently. ¡°Come. Here.¡± With a start, Matilda shuffled over to him. Orson opened his umbre, sheltering her from the rain. He walked her to the curb to hail a cab. As she was about to thank him, Orson had already turned, striding away with his umbre. She had wanted to offer him a ride as a token of gratitude. But judging by his pace, Orson probably lived close to the office. Matilda refocused, gave the driver an address, and the car pulled away from the building. The rain continued, persistent. After a while, a figure emerged from the shadows of the office block. His face was soaked, and he clutched a slender umbre. He stared after the departing taxi, lost in thought, then chuckled softly to himself as if realizing the absurdity of his actions. Raindrops cascaded off his face. Yvan pursed his lips, his expression silent, pale, and detached. His pupils were as cold as the drizzly night, mirroring the weather outside. The surroundings were drenched, yet a small, dry corner marked where someone had Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Matilda awoke the next day with a sense of anticipation, knowing that she had been assigned to greet a client at her studio. She put extra care into her appearance, dabbing on some lipstick and donning a thick trench coat before stepping out the door. Upon arrival, she caught H eyeing her with a yful smirk. ¡°Wow, if I were a guy, I¡¯d totally fall for you.¡± With a chuckle, Matilda asked, ¡°What time¡¯s the client due?¡± ¡°One in the afternoon.¡± H slid a cup of instant coffee across the desk to Matilda with a wink. ¡°Your daily fix. No more fear of dropping dead from thosete nights.¡± d in pajamas, Yoshi roamed the studio, misting a nt here and tidying a desk there. H exined that Yoshi often stayed overnight due to work, hence his perennial pajama attire. Matilda couldn¡¯t help butugh at the sight of Yoshi¡¯s dinosaur hoodie,plete with a mouth agape on the hood and a little tail dragging behind him. ¡°No more watering, man,¡± Luna called out as she walked in. ¡°You¡¯ve already drowned four cacti this month. I¡¯m begging you, think about the cacti¡¯s feelings for once, not just your own.¡± Orson was thest to clock in, floating into work as if on a cloud, sporting sunsses that made him resemble some sort of mad professor obsessed with his research. He crashed onto his desk with a loud thud. Matilda was startled, rushing over to check on was already sprawled out, eyes shut, slipping. By the time she arrived, Orson N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into him?¡± into power nap mode. ¡°Oh, just his routine,¡± Baxter said with a dismissive wave. ¡°He does this every day. Charges up now, wakes upter, and then he¡¯s all work.¡± ¡°Different circadian rhythm,¡± Luna shrugged, pointing at Yoshi. ¡°Look at that geek, up all night and still so chipper. Finds time to overwater nts, too. Other people¡¯s nts die of thirst; ours are practically victims of a flood.¡± Yoshi continued his morning stretches in his onesie, the tail wagging as he exercised. ¡°Gotta keep up my hobbies,¡± he said. ¡°Otherwise, I can¡¯t code.¡± Chapter 184 Matilda thought that it must have been fate that brought together a group with such peculiar habits. When one o¡¯clock rolled around, and the client was due, Baxter gave Matilda an encouraging pat on the shoulder. ¡°The studio¡¯s retirement fund is in your hands.¡± With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, Matilda waited until 1:20 PM, when the client finally arrived. She looked up to greet them, but the words froze on her lips. Yvan stood before her, impably dressed in a tailored suit that entuated his refined features. Carl trailed behind him, nodding a silent greeting to Matilda, who was still frozen in ce. Yvan sat across from her, a sardonic smile ying on his lips. ¡°Surprised?¡± His familiar tone of mockery made Matilda involuntarily shiver. Why did Yvan have to haunt her life so persistently? Why was it that she always seemed to run into him when she least expected it? Seeing the distaste and resistance on Matilda¡¯s face, Yvan realized for the first time just how much a simple frown could wound someone. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 At that very moment, Yvan was smirking at Matilda, a chill¨Cinducing grin stered on his face. He watched her for a long time before speaking in a haunting tone, ¡°Is this really how yourpany greets its clients?¡± Matilda felt insulted but clenched her fists to contain her anger. She approached Yvan and poured him a cup of coffee. As he eyed her porcin neck, his gaze deepened. ¡°Instant coffee?¡± He scoffed, ¡°Is the studio so strapped for cash?¡± Unable to tolerate Yvan¡¯s contempt, Matilda snapped, ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, you don¡¯t have to drink it!¡± ¡°Is that the attitude to have when you¡¯re asking for help?¡± Yvan¡¯s smirk took on a vicious edge. ¡°If you can¡¯t even stomach this, Matilda, you might be better off fending for yourself.¡± His words implied she was unfit for her job. Matilda¡¯s fingers trembled as she gripped the documents. It took all her willpower not to turn on her heel and leave. Instead, she pushed the papers towards him. ¡°Mr. Boyd, here¡¯s our pre¨Cmarketunch n. The studio could really use some seed money. I was hoping to see if you might be interested¡­¡± Yvan said nothing.. It was Carl who took the documents and reviewed them before Yvan. After a brief nce, Yvan lifted his head to continue his scrutiny of a tense Matilda. ¡°Sit down. I didn¡¯t say no. Why put on such an act?¡± Fighting the sting in her heart, Matilda sat and once more exined the studio¡¯s immediate needs. Then, she looked at Yvan with expectation. ¡°I wonder what you think, Mr. Boyd¡­¡± ¡°Give me a week to decide. I need a clear game concept and audience demographics,¡± Yvan said, pinpointing the ws in the report. ¡°If it¡¯s only aimed at girls aged 12-25, you¡¯ll lose a muchrger audience. If possible, I¡¯d like to see some changes in the n to broaden the target demographic.¡± His stern andposed demeanor momentarily took Matilda aback, reminding her of the time five years ago when she had secretly watched Yvan conduct a video conference. Back then, he was as decisive and unemotional as he was now. 10:05 F Chapter 185 Quickly regaining herposure, Matilda took back the documents. ¡°We¡¯ll revise our proposal based on your feedback and hope, Mr. Boyd¡­¡± ¡°Funding?¡± Yvan looked at Matilda with a meaningful smile. ¡°This romance game of yours needs to hit the market. How much funding do you already have?¡± Matilda pursed her lips. She was new to the team and only knew that Den had invested in the project, but she had yet to fully grasp the details. ¡°It seems you¡¯re not quite on top of your job. Let¡¯s talk again once you¡¯ve figured it out. As for investing, I¡¯d like to see the revised pitch first.¡± Yvan stood up quickly, his business persona as cold and authoritative as ever, leaving no room for rebuttal. Matilda watched Yvan leave, stunned that she hadn¡¯t managed to secure the client and instead received a scolding. She called out to him, ¡°Yvan!¡± Yvan paused, seemingly surprised that she would call out to him. As he turned, his eyes showed a flicker of astonishment. ¡°Is there something else?¡± He was trying hard to maintain a calm voice. N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°If you¡¯re making things difficult for the studio because of me, then please drop this petty act!¡± Matilda¡¯s words struck a nerve, and Yvan¡¯sughter was cold; his handsome face was somehow even more striking in his anger. ¡°If you think so highly of yourself, then maybe you shouldn¡¯t bothering to me for investment!¡± Chapter 186 Chapter 186 The stinging words pped Matilda across the face, leaving her ashen as she watched Yvan and Carl exit the building. She sat in the lobby, lost in a daze, before eventually drifting back to her desk in the studio. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Her colleagues quickly noticed her off¨Ckilter demeanor and gathered around with concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you have a spat with the client?¡± ¡°I told you that client seemed high¨Cmaintenance; should¡¯ve sent one of the guys. Look, they¡¯ve gone and scared our goddess!¡± Yoshi brewed aforting cup of coffee for Matilda. She muttered a small thank you, and as the warm brew trickled down, it brought a semnce of calm. Orson, busy with his coloring work, nced at Matilda¡¯s slumped figure and said after a long silence, ¡°You know Yvan?¡± Matilda¡¯s face tensed, and then she quickly turned away, ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t know him.¡± ¡°Your face tells a different story, like there¡¯s history there,¡± Orson smirked cryptically. ¡°You sure there¡¯s nothing between you two?¡± Her face turned a shade paler as she quickly denied it, ¡°No. Impossible. If I had anything to do with him, I wouldn¡¯t be working here now.¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± Orson said with a loaded tone, looking at her knowingly. ¡°Seems he¡¯s not a fan of your charms. I thought a beauty like you could¡¯ve at least won us some funding.¡± Matilda gave a wry smile. Yvan had never spared her a shred of affection. And her own affection had been worn away with the years of waiting. At lunch, the mood was noticeably somber. Matilda¡¯s spirits were down, likely due to the failed investment pitch for the studio. Concerned she might be feeling too pressured, Baxter sat beside her with a dish of barbecued ribs. ¡°Stop worrying about it. No one¡¯s ming you.¡± Matilda sighed. ¡°Would he sponsor you if I left?¡± Did he despise every ce she existed? Was he targeting her on purpose? ¡°Why would you say that out of the blue?¡± Baxter was taken aback. ¡°Don¡¯t quit over this; it¡¯s not worth it.¡± Chapter 186 ¡°Hey, goddess, don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Yoshi chimed in, bringing over a te of grilled sausages. ¡°Fancy a bite? They¡¯re delicious.¡± Looking at her friendly colleagues, Matilda could only offer a smile tinged with regret. If it hadn¡¯t been her facing Yvan today, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have rejected them so coldly and decisively. It seemed he was everywhere, determined to beat her at every turn. That night, Matilda thought long and hard about not dragging this out any further. Perhaps joining this studio had been a mistake. The next day, she didn¡¯t show up for work, opting to sit at home and reflect instead. How could she escape Yvan¡¯s cklist? Then, the doorbell rang. Opening the door, she saw Orson standing there, looking every bit the well¨C traveled trust fund kid in his thick hoodie and sporty watch. When he saw her, he grabbed her with one Matilda was startled. ¡°How did you know where I live?¡± ¡°It¡¯s on your records.¡± Orson clicked his tongue impatiently. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe to work?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Matilda¡¯s words died in her throat. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking¡­ maybe I¡¯m not really cut out for¡­¡± Orson, gripping her shoulder, marched into her apartment, then pulled out a chair at the dining table as if he owned the ce. His gaze was piercing as he looked at her. ¡°This neighborhood costs a pretty penny per square foot. Anyone who can afford to live here, why would they work at ourpany? You¡¯re telling me you have nothing to do with Yvan? I don¡¯t buy it.¡± He always spoke so bluntly, with no regard for Matilda¡¯s feelings. This man, apart from his face resembling Gideon¡¯s, had none of Gideon¡¯s tenderness. Matilda must be unwell, she thought. The pain of losing Gideon was too much, causing her to see Orson, this cold and heartless man, as her brother again and again. Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Matilda¡¯splexion was ghastly, yet she managed a smile. ¡°So what exactly do you hope to pry from me? Would it ease your mind if I said, ¡°Yes, I was once Yvan¡¯s lover¡®?¡± She had never used such a sharp tone with Orson before. In their recent interactions, Matilda had always looked at him with eyes filled with dependency. Orson understood that she was seeing someone else in him, and her reliance was due to the shadow of her brother that she saw in him. Even so, her demeanor had always been gentle, never as biting as it was now. It took Orson a while to respond, ¡°Get back to work.¡± Matilda covered her face and chuckled, ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve let everyone down. It¡¯s because, of me that Yvan decided to turn down the sponsorship.¡± There it was, an outright admission. Orson¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he said, ¡°So you were involved with Yvan.¡± Matilda muttered emptily, ¡°Yeah, I was involved with him. And between him and me, it¡¯s always been a matter of life and death.¡± The situation seemed intense. Orson watched Matilda¡¯s face for a long time before continuing, ¡°But that¡¯s no reason to skip work. Our studio won¡¯t copse without Yvan. We can find another investor. You don¡¯t need to me yourself.¡± Matilda smiled and said, ¡°Do you really think that if Yvan knew I was at this studio, he¡¯d let me off easy?¡± For the remaining days, he might just repeat the embargo he pped on her previous studio, drowning Orson and the others¡® game studio in countless sanctions, making their already difficult path even tougher! Orson understood Matilda¡¯s point. His eyes grew somber as he looked at her pained expression, softening his voice, ¡°What exactly happened between you two?¡± ¡°What happened between us?¡± That was the first time Orson really took a hard look at Matilda, seeing in her eyes a vast, stormy, ice¨C cold despair. For the first time, he realized that a human being could wear such a valiant expression. Chapter 187 Matildaughed self¨Cdeprecatingly, ¡°There¡¯s no point dredging up the past. Now that he knows I¡¯m here, he¡¯ll definitely find ways to attack us. So, it¡¯s only by my leaving that everyone else can move forward.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You don¡¯t need to think of us as that fragile,¡± Orson said calmly after hearing Matilda¡¯s words. ¡°We¡¯re not as weak as you think. So,e back. It¡¯s clear they all like you.¡± Yoshi, Baxter, H, tomboy Luna, and the stoic straight¨Cshooter Orson in front of her¨Cit was indeed a remarkably warm studio, and that¡¯s why Matilda didn¡¯t want to be their downfall. ¡°You missed a morning of work, and they¡¯re worried sick,¡± Orson said, pouring himself a ss of water from the pitcher on the table. ¡°Yoshi was about to call the cops, afraid you¡¯d do something rash. So he sent me to find you.¡± ¡°Will they be mad at me?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Orson nced at her briefly. ¡°The folks in our studio aren¡¯t so easily defeated.¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes reddened slightly. It would be a lie to say she wasn¡¯t moved. ¡°Drop the drama. If you feel like you owe everyone, then design something new. We¡¯reunching next month, with interviews and a promotional blitz with you next week. Can you handle that?¡± Orson tapped his fingers on the table¨Ca habit he shared with her brother Gideon, who also liked to drum his fingers rhythmically when idle. She had just thought how different he was from her brother when she noticed this familiar detail. It seemed like a cruel joke by fate; the man before her and the brother who had left her werepletely different individuals. Despite reminding herself over and over, she couldn¡¯t help but think that perhaps this was destiny¡¯s way of letting her meet him again. She lost Gideon, and then she met Orson. Strangers to each other, with no shared blood. Matilda sniffed, pushing all her thoughts back down, and offered Orson a smile. ¡°I¡¯d be honored!¡± Chapter 188 Chapter 188 When Matilda returned to the studio, the crewforted her again, urging her not to take things to heart. Then Orson went back to his usual aloof self. He had just settled in front of his desk when the lights flickered out and he dozed off with a ng. ¡°Talk about a power nap,¡± H remarked with a click of her tongue, ¡°Surviving till 27 is no small feat.¡± ¡°Getting old,¡± Luna stretchednguidly, ¡°I mean, Orson¡¯s tall and fair¨Cskinned, could be a heartthrob anywhere else. But it¡¯s weird that he never seems to have a girlfriend. Pushing thirty and still single, why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°With his graveyard shift lifestyle? Forget a girlfriend, he¡¯s lucky to be alive,¡± Yoshi said with a flick of his imaginary tail as he bounced back to his seat. ¡°Ever heard the saying, ¡®No girlfriends in the design industry?¡± Bute evening, a new client arrived that took Matilda by surprise. Luna had begged and pleaded with thepany execs to get the WhatsApp number of a big¨Cshot CEO, and after a whole afternoon of pestering, she managed to get him to drop by. Keen to make amends, Matilda volunteered to give it another shot. With H rooting for her in the background, she entered the reception with a fluttering heart. However, the sight of the blond man lounging on the sofa froze her smile. Just her luck, always running into thest person she wanted to see. Her smile faltered. ¡°Hello, Mr. Simpson.¡± Adrian lounged on the sofa like he owned the ce, legs propped on the coffee table, more like he was in a VIP lounge than a business meeting. His eyes sparkled like jewels when he smiled, utterly captivating. ¡°Oh, what a coincidence,¡± he greeted Matilda with an irreverent grin. Gathering her resolve, Matilda took a deep breath and sat across from him. Adrian¡¯s amusement grew at her stern expression, ¡°Hey, no warm wee for me?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re here to goof off,¡± Matilda pointed towards the door, ¡°the exit¡¯s that way, no escort needed.¡± ¡°Come on, can¡¯t you be a bit more grateful?¡± Adrian was baffled. He had helped her 10.04 Chapter 188 more than once, yet she always greeted him with the same unappreciative demeanor. As far as Matilda was concerned, Adrian was in the negatives, and she wasn¡¯t about to change her attitude. Handing over the documents, she said tly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be you again.¡± ¡°Oh, so there was someone else before me?¡± Adrian¡¯s face soured at the implication. ¡°Who was it, Yvan?¡± Matilda¡¯s grip on her papers tightened as Adrian straightened up and leaned in closer. Hisughter was charmingly disarming, the mixed features of his face now disturbingly alluring, ¡°What, Yvan¡¯s okay, but I¡¯m not?¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Matilda felt immune to the sting of his words. Once, they would have hurt, but now she¡¯d grown numb to such mockery. With a smile devoid of warmth, she replied, ¡°As long as there¡¯s payment, anyone¡¯s wee.¡± Adrian¡¯sugh turned colder, and the two seemed to be locked in a battle of wills. He reached across the table and grasped her slender wrist. To an onlooker, they might have seemed like an intimate couple. He narrowed his eyes, a look that sent chills down Matilda¡¯s spine. She tried to pull away, but he held firm and said, ¡°Matilda, you should know who I¡¯m here for.¡± ¡°Let go,¡± she hissed, ¡°Act with some dignity in public!¡± Adrian, shameless as ever, released her but continued to gaze at Matilda with an intensity that burned. ¡°I¡¯m quite curious about how many masks you wear.¡± He found himself fascinated by the push and pull, the forceful way he was prating her world,yer byyer. Chapter 189 Chapter 189 ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for your stupid games.¡± Matilda snapped, rising abruptly from her seat. ¡°If you¡¯re looking to kill time, why don¡¯t you go to the club? They¡¯ll wine and dine with you, and even warm your bed¨Cmight help you with that insatiable itch you seem to have, like a dog in heat.¡± Adrian¡¯s smile froze on his face, contorting into anger the next second as he grabbed Matilda¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Did you justpare me to a dog?¡± Sheughed, a cold sound that made Adrian¡¯s handsome face turn an ugly shade of green. He lurched forward, seizing her chin, and Matilda struggled, ¡°We¡¯re at the office, let go of me!¡± ¡°Since I¡¯m a dog in your eyes, wouldn¡¯t it be disappointing, Ms. Thompson, if I didn¡¯t act the part?¡± The name ¡®Ms. Thompson¡® struck a nerve, and Matilda gritted her teeth against the insult, ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep showing up, trying to prove something. I have zero interest in you or anyone of your ilk!¡± With a forceful shove, she freed herself. Adrian sensed a change in her¨Cshe seemed utterly fearless now. Adrian scoffed, ¡°Matilda, you really think you¡¯re somebody now, don¡¯t you? Without me, you-¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. He was cut off by a cool voice. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Orson, carrying a freshly brewed cup of coffee, had strolled through the lobby, not expecting to stumble upon such a scene. Catching sight of Matilda being aggressively held, a smirk yed at the corners of his mouth. He had underestimated her¨Cflitting between Yvan and now the Simpson family¡¯s golden boy, Adrian. Appearances could be deceiving indeed. ¡°Who¡¯s this handsome fellow?¡± Adrian appraised Orson from head to toe, turning to Matilda, ¡°Your new boy toy?¡± Her eyes red with anger, ¡°Stop insulting people. He¡¯s a colleague!¡°* ¡°Oh.¡± Adrian swung around to Orson, ¡°And what¡¯s it to you? Is it your ce to speak on matters between me and Matilda?¡± Adrian¡¯s tone was humiliating, and Matilda, breaking free, showered him with a flurry of documents, ¡°You¡¯re the one who deceived and hurt me, and now you¡¯re the one who can¡¯t stop pestering me. Do you find this amusing? Because I find you utterly dull.¡± Without cleaning up the mess, she stormed out, not even sparing Orson a nce. Matilda was taken aback by his early arrival but was more heartbroken by Adrian¡¯s relentless pursuit. When would they tire of this cat¨Cand¨Cmouse game? Adrian watched her leave, a low chuckle escaping him. Matilda had indeed grown bolder since her brush with death. She seemed to have shed all her vulnerabilities, unafraid and uncaring of 1/2 10:19 Chapter 10Y their actions. Was this her so¨Ccalled fresh start? To Matilda¡¯s surprise, Adrian agreed to invest in their project, increasing the sponsorship considerably. The next day, as they signed the contract, everyone praised her for securing such a substantial financial backer. Only Matilda was skeptical. Why would Adrian suddenly offer so much support? But the reality left her no time to ponder, as the funds were quickly allocated. Yoshi was astounded, ¡°Dude, this much cash? We could produce a major online game now.¡± Only Orson cast a mocking nce at Matilda upon hearing the news. His look was enigmatic, yet the scorn in his eyes was like a needle to Matilda¡¯s heart. She clenched her fists, opting not to justify herself with words. What began as a thoughtless farce by Adrian turned out to be a mere facade of tranquility in Matilda¡¯s supposed new life. Just as she believed she could embark on a new chapter, the cruel specter of her past stealthily followed her every step. Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Yvan started to notice something was off with Logan in the past few days. The kid seemed to be growing more rebellious by the minute, and Yvan couldn¡¯t quite.put his finger on why. The emotion in Logan¡¯s eyes was so intense that Yvan found it challenging to meet his gaze. Lately, E had been insisting on staying with the Boyds, leading to frequent shes with Logan. Each confrontation ended with E running to Yvan in tears, seeking justice. But the little boy seemed to have no interest in defending himself. He would watch E fling herself into Yvan¡¯s arms with an indifference that suggested he didn¡¯t care one bit about his father¡¯s escapades, no matter how many mistresses the man had. On the rare asions when Yvan was at work, E would re at Logan venomously, ¡°Don¡¯t get too smug!¡± Logan would smirk back at her sarcastically, ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about your stuff.¡± It was as if he had put up a barrier of thorns around himself, repelling E and Yvan. His smile was hollow, and his eyes carried a mocking hatred. How could a five¨Cyear¨Cold harbor such resentment? E made her move on a weekend when Violet was out visiting friends. That evening, Yvan was also taking her to a dinner party. E sneakily handed the house keys to someone else, leaving Logan alone in the Boyd residence, setting the stage for another kidnapping attempt. At ten o¡¯clock, when Yvan returned home, he was horrified by the chaos. It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck him. The living room looked as if it had been ransacked, and Yvan took a deep breath, shocked that such a crime could ur in their upscale, secure neighborhood. A terrible thought crossed his mind, and Yvan sprinted up to Logan¡¯s room, calling out, ¡°Logan!¡± But there was no answer. His heart constricted with fear, his face turning ashen, his breath quickening. The house was empty, save for Logan, when he had left for the evening. Frantically, Yvan searched every nook and cranny, his voice quivering with panic, ¡°Logan! Can you hear me? Logan, where are you?¡± Logan was gone¡­ Those people had taken him¡­ Yvan¡¯s pupils narrowed with dread. If Matilda knew what had happened to Logan under his roof, she would be ready to go to war! Meanwhile, E was reveling in her malice, surprised at how deeply Yvan cared for Logan despite his usual indifference. She had yed her cards right; it was best to nip the problem in 1/2 10:40 Chapter 190 the bud. ¡°Yvan, don¡¯t panic. Let¡¯s just keep looking,¡± she cooed. ¡°Look for what?¡± Yvan roared, his eyes bloodshot with fury, looking more terrifying than E had ever seen. He was like a child who had lost hisst shred of hope as he screamed, ¡°Call the cops! Call them now!¡± Logan was his flesh and blood; even if Yvan was seen as a scoundrel by others, his heart ached with worry. N?velDrama.Org ? content. When the police heard that the illustrious Mr. Boyd¡¯s home had been burrized and his son kidnapped, they rushed over in the middle of the night to investigate. But they found the scene in disarray, with furniture and belongings shattered and any potential evidence destroyed,plicating their search. Seeing the officers shaking their heads. Yvan grabbed one by the cor and shouted, ¡°Find my son! If you can¡¯t, I swear I¡¯ll have your badges by tomorrow!¡± Material possessions were trivialpared to Logan¡¯s safety. As Yvan spiraled into madness, E clutched her chest, a mix of satisfaction and fear taking hold. Luckily, her n was foolproof, leaving no trace behind. If Yvan ever discovered her involvement, she might never recover from his wrath. Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Logan awoke in darkness, his wrists and ankles bound tightly. He squirmed, making a faint noise, which prompted a figure to turn around and sneer, ¡°Well, look who¡¯s not a crybaby.¡± Putting on his best terrified face, Logan trembled in his constraints. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± He was in the back of a truck, the kind you see rumbling down highways. A shlight beam hit his face, and on cue, Logan let out a heart¨Cwrenching sob. A rough kick sent him rolling across the metal floor, his knees scraping raw against the unforgiving surface. Biting back the pain, Logan looked up in horror. ¡°Are¡­ are you going to kill me?¡°. ¡°Ha! We heard through the grapevine that snatching you up would make your old man Yvan cough up a king¡¯s ransom. And if he doesn¡¯t pay, well, we¡¯ll just have to kill you, won¡¯t we?¡± The word ¡®kill¡® sent a shiver through Logan. ¡°You¡¯ve been yed. My dad won¡¯t give you a dime.¡± They hoisted him up, the shlight blinding him as theyughed at his feeble struggles. ¡°What does a kid know, huh? The moment we spread the word about the kidnapping, Yvan¡¯s gotta pay up to save face. He can¡¯t afford to look like a dad who doesn¡¯t care about his own son!¡± These guys had done their homework. Tears ran down Logan¡¯s cheeks as he cried out, ¡°Let me go! Please, just let me go!¡± ¡°You think we¡¯d let a cash cow like you get away that easy? Your rich daddy¡¯s made you a target, kid.¡± Something cold and sharp pressed against his throat, the chill of metal sending a wave of fear down his spine. ¡°We get the money, then we get rid of you. You¡¯ve seen us now; you¡¯re a liability. So, what will it be? Your left eye first, or the right?¡± No wonder they were keeping him in a truck; they didn¡¯t want him to see their faces. Trembling, Logan pleaded, ¡°How much do you want? I¡¯ll tell my dad to pay!¡± The naivety made themugh harder. ¡°You really think it¡¯s that simple, kid? There¡¯s someone out there who¡¯s put a price on your head!¡± Logan¡¯s heart skipped. ¡°Is it¡­ ady?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know the details about our benefactor. All we know is that you¡¯re a juicy piece of meat. With Yvan¡¯s cash and the bonus from our client, you¡¯re worth a fortune! Ha!¡± The knife stayed at his throat, making it clear any sudden moves would end badly. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± ¡°Can you swim?¡± The question was met with a sinister chuckle. ¡°We¡¯re heading to the coast, kid. Ha!¡± 1/2 10:40 Sea City was near the ocean, with a small port where cargo ships docked. If they threw Logan overboard there, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. His body shook uncontrobly as the kidnappers found amusement in his terror, flicking the shlight on and off, each burst of light searing into Logan¡¯s mind. He began to dissociate, his limbs no longer his own. He was too young to understand trauma or ustrophobia, but the mockingughter and shing lights were etching a nightmare into his brain that reyed at a sickening rate. ¡°You think you broke the kid?¡± one of the captors joked as Logan¡¯s body convulsed, ¡°He¡¯s just a little squirt. Bet he¡¯ll be scared of elevators for life after this.¡± ¡°Life? After we get the money, we won¡¯t have to worry about him having bad dreams.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Their cruelty knew no bounds, and the darkness of the truck¡¯s interior seemed to swallow Logan whole. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 The kidnapper¡¯s call had Yvan and the team of special unit detectives wound up tight as a drum. The moment the phone rang, Yvan shot up from his chair and answered, ¡°Name your price, but don¡¯t you dare hurt that kid!¡± ¡°Ha¨Cha-ha, who knew the stone¨Ccold Yvan could have a soft spot? I¡¯d love to hear you beg. Come on, kid, tell your daddy goodnight.¡± At 4 a.m., Logan¡¯s voice came through the line, tearful and choked, ¡°Dad¡­ help¡­¡± It had been ages since he¡¯d called out for his dad. Now, the word ¡®dad¡® was like a dagger to Yvan¡¯s heart. He felt his blood run backwards, and his eyes, those of a grown man, reddened. ¡°Hang in there, son. Daddy¡¯sing to save you.¡± The thug snatched the phone back, demanded a staggering fifty million, and gave Yvan the location for the exchange before hanging up. The cold tone of the disconnected call echoed in Yvan¡¯s ears, his hand trembling as he held the phone. Carl had rushed over in the dead of night upon hearing about the trouble at Yvan¡¯s ce. Now, standing by his side, he watched Yvan, eyes red, turn to him and bark, ¡°Get the fifty million ready! Now!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Only when facing the potential loss of someone dear do all the powers and status in the world amount to a cruel joke. Once a man dies, he¡¯s left with nothing. The call had been recorded by the police, some of whom were analyzing the voices while others prepared a capture n. Learning that the exchange was to take ce at the Sea City docks, they had made their way there under cover of darkness to set up a discreet ambush. inclothes officers began monitoring every movement around the harbor, which was under surveince; another team of cops was stationed nearby to watch for any unusual activity. Yvan arrived at the docks half an hourter, half an hour before the scheduled exchange time, but he couldn¡¯t wait. Logan¡¯s life was hanging by a thread, and Yvan couldn¡¯t gamble with his son¡¯s life. Fifty million, five hundred million ¨C could any amount buy a second chance at time? Yvan¡¯s heart was on the grill, being seared over and over. He stood in the biting wind until, at longst, someone appeared with Logan. They had their n: take the money, split up into three groups, the one with the cash taking to the sea, the others distracting pursuers, and then rendezvous abroad to divide the spoils. Upon seeing Yvan, Logan cried out, ¡°Daddy!¡± Each plea cut through Yvan like a razor. He approached, carrying several cases filled with cash and set a few more at his feet. He locked eyes with the thugs and said, ¡°Release my son!¡± 1/2 10:40 Chapter 192: ¡°Throw over the money, and you¡¯ll get your boy.¡± they demanded. A knife pressed against Logan¡¯s throat, drawing a thin line of blood, the sight of which seared Yvan¡¯s eyes. Without a second thought, he kicked over the cases filled with cash toward the kidnappers. The kidnappers were many, and quickly, a few stepped forward to collect the cases, not bothering to count the cash on the spot ¨C any distraction could lead to failure. The police, hidden in the shadows, signaled each other, ready to swoop in once the kidnappers let down their guard. But just then, the kidnappers changed their minds! ¡°I can¡¯t be sure you haven¡¯t brought the cops with you, Mr. Boyd. So, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t hand over your son just yet!¡± The ringleader, his face obscured by a mask, chuckled with augh that sent chills down the spines of everyone present, ¡°We¡¯ll release him once we¡¯re clear. If there are any cops lying in wait, and we lose your boy, we¡¯ve got no bargaining chip left!¡± Their professional awareness of counter-surveince was evident; these were no amateurs. Yvan ground his teeth and said, ¡°The money¡¯s yours, as we agreed¡­¡± ¡°Ha¨Cha, making deals with criminals?¡± The kidnapper dragged Logan back, and the police subtly tightened their encirclement. Sensing movement, the thugs bolted for the boat, dragging Logan with them! Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Once they boarded the boat, capturing them would be a whole lot trickier! The open sea offered too many avenues for escape; they couldn¡¯t let them set foot on that deck! The order came down from the cops, ¡°Surround them!¡± ¡°Don¡¯te any closer!¡± The kidnapper bellowed, having spotted the sudden appearance of the police force, ¡°Your son is still in our clutches!¡± In that moment, Yvan truly understood the meaning of a fate worse than death. He pondered, when he had uttered such words to Matilda, when he¡¯d used Logan to threaten her, did she feel as helpless and anxious as he did now? Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. In her eyes, he was nothing but a devil, a kidnapper who had stolen every ounce of happiness from her life. Yvan¡¯s eyes reddened as he yelled, ¡°I advise you to give up the struggle now!¡± ¡°Mr. Boyd, leave the expertise to us,¡± came a voice from the SWAT team stepping forward, negotiating with the criminals, ¡°You¡¯re surrounded. There¡¯s no chance you¡¯re boarding that ship. Cease your resistance, or there¡¯s no turning back from the consequences!¡± But they were desperados, weren¡¯t they? How could they possibly heed the call? ¡°We have no turning back long ago! Step any closer and I¡¯ll do it¨CI¡¯ll really do it!¡± The ringleader intensified the pressure on Logan¡¯s neck, causing the child to struggle violently, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Don¡¯t touch me! Dad!¡± No cry for ¡®dad¡® had ever sounded as heart¨Cwrenchingly desperate as Logan¡¯s plea. Yvan trembled in the wind, shivering with cold. These people had lost all humanity. If they truly harmed Logan, Matilda would never forgive him for as long as she lived! ¡°Get us a boat, or we kill him!¡± The gang shouted, ¡°What is it, isn¡¯t the life of the hostage the top priority?¡± Then, out of nowhere, the tables turned! Logan, summoning strength from who knows where, bit into the arm of the man holding him. The knife cut sharply across Logan¡¯s neck, but he wasn¡¯t frightened. He bit down until blood was drawn! ¡°Ah! You little brat!¡± The man who had gripped him roared in pain, releasing his hold, and Logan seized the moment to jump down and bolt toward the dock. He kept falling, but he kept on running, his lithe figure sprinting with a do¨Cor¨Cdie determination. ¡°Now¡¯s our chance! Go!¡± The hot¨Cblooded cops, who had been waiting eagerly, surged forward. Eventually, Logan stood Chapter 193 at the harbor entrance, bloodied but unbowed, and the criminals, having lost their bargaining chip, were quickly subdued and restrained by the police. Yvan was shaken to the core. Logan¡¯s bite was borne out of pain; he had thrown himself against the de. At the horizon, unbeknownst to them, a sliver of light began to rise. The darkness was on the brink of dawn. There stood Logan at the port, facing the slowly rising sun behind him, and he smiled at Yvan. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m calling you ¡®dad¡® onest time.¡± That¡¯s what he said. Then, he fished out a small, child¨Csized cell phone from his pocket and, with thest of his strength, tossed it through the air to Yvan. ¡°Inside is everything you want and the whole truth,¡± Logan said, his gaze as numb as a dead man¡¯s. Yvan realized that Logan¡¯sposure was unnervingly excessive. Compared to his own disheveled, frantic self today, his son was disturbingly calm. The expression on Logan¡¯s face was utterly incongruent with his age, making Yvan feel that the kidnapping wasn¡¯t the end but rather, it was now that Logan was truly saying goodbye. ¡°Mr. Boyd, I¡¯ve always hated you,¡± Logan continued, his voice steady, ¡°Hated your ignorance, your cold¨Cheartedness. My mom suffered five years in prison because of you, lost everything because of you. So, I guess I must be thest thing my mom cares about.¡± Chapter 194 Chapter 194 When Logan finished his speech, he exhaled deeply, cing his hand over his heart, looking up with an inscrutable smirk that Yvan couldn¡¯t fathom. ¡°I don¡¯t want you two back together, not even a bit. You don¡¯t deserve my mom¨Cyou deserve to spend the rest of your days crying in hell!¡± His voice was ice¨Ccold, cruel, each word slicing into Yvan¡¯s chest as if it were a knife. Logan suddenly yelled, ¡°Stay back!¡± He spotted E lurking behind Yvan, her face taut with anxiety. Probably scared her secret woulde out, he thought. Logan sneered at her, his voice a low whisper, ¡°I¡¯m still alive. Not quite what you hoped for, huh? But don¡¯t worry, your wish wille true soon enough.¡± Yvan paled at his words. ¡°Logan, what¡¯s wrong with you? What¡¯s with all those words?¡± ¡°Boring,¡± Logan scoffed, his lips curling into a satisfied grin as he saw Yvan¡¯s panicked face. Turning to E, he said, ¡°Thanks for your hatred, and for staging my little ¡®adventure. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t have known how to get back at Mr. Boyd. You¡¯ve shown me the way.¡± Taking a few steps back, he stood at the edge of the vast ocean, his small frame appearing to teeter precariously in the eyes of the onlookers. The cops, suspecting Logan¡¯s erratic behavior stemmed from the trauma of a kidnapping, were nning to bring in a shrink for some on¨Cthe¨Cspot counseling. His wounds were deep, still bleeding, but Logan didn¡¯t bother to cover them. How tough he was¡­ and how ruthless? ¡°Mr. Boyd,¡± Logan said, turning to face the sea, ¡°this little escapade has shown me that my own body is the best weapon to threaten you with.¡± He spread his arms wide, defiant between heaven and earth. against the crowd, like the bravest warrio ¡°If I die, will my mom hate you to the bone from now on?¡± Yvan¡¯s heart snapped as a sharp de pierced his lungs! ¡°What are you going to do!¡± Yyan took a few steps forward and Logan smiled back at him This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Yvan¡¯s heart lurched as if pierced by a de. as Logan turned, giving him a smile. ¡°My life is the perfect tool for revenge. All my mom¡¯s hatred, and the indignities she endured because of you, I¡¯ll be taking them all back!¡± And with those final words, as he fell, the boy mouthed silently to Yvan. Goodbye, Mr. Boyd. In life or in death, farewell. EO LL The sea quickly swallowed the trail figure, the cops not fast enough to intercept. As Logan plummeted. Yvan reached out but grasped nothing but the air Logan left behind In that missed moment, Yvan saw the deep¨Cseated loathing in Loger¡¯s eyes¨Ca hatred so fierce it was unstoppable. He had no idea, he had always been oblivious, to the depth of Logan¡¯s hatred! How long had he yed the dutiful son, letting down his guard? How much effort had he put into manipting E into the kidnapping, just to set up his ultimate revenge? He chose death, a self¨Cdestructive method, to get back at Yvan, to make him regret, to make him suffer beyond measure! ¡°Logan!¡± Yvan roared, watching him disappear into the ocean, the vast sea stirring up a maelstrom in his heart. He¡­ he couldn¡¯t outmatch the pure ruthlessness of a child. Chapter The sea quickly swallowed the frail figure, the cops not fast enough to intercept. As Logan plummeted, Yvan reached out but grasped nothing but the air Logan left behind. In that missed moment, Yvan saw the deep¨Cseated loathing in Logan¡¯s eyes¨Ca hatred so fierce it was unstoppable. He had no idea, he had always been oblivious, to the depth of Logan¡¯s hatred! How long had he yed the dutiful son, letting down his guard? How much effort had he put into manipting E into the kidnapping, just to set up his ultimate revenge? He chose death, a self¨Cdestructive method, to get back at Yvan, to make him regret, to make him suffer beyond measure! ¡°Logan!¡± Yvan roared, watching him disappear into the ocean, the vast sea stirring up a maelstrom in his heart. He¡­ he couldn¡¯t outmatch the pure ruthlessness of a child¡­ Chapter 195 Chapter 195 The morning sun plerced through the clouds and bathed the harbor in its light, a chill breeze brushing across every face. Yvan felt as if his heart had skipped a beat, he stood transfixed, staring at the now tranquil sea, like a statue robbed of its soul. His gaze lingered on the spot where Logan had jumped. After what seemed like an eternity, his body began to shudder uncontrobly. The toy cell phone he clutched slipped from his grasp and ttered at his feet. The morning was picturesque, the scenery breathtaking, yet it harbored a cruel twist. He felt abandoned, as though the world had left him behind, alone. Yvan¡¯s eyes reddened, a tightness in his chest spreading pain throughout his body. Trembling, he fumbled with the toy cell phone. Inside were several voice recordings, and staring at the y button on the screen, Yvan found himself terrified to press it. He feared what overturning his world might mean¨Cif he heard something that challenged everything he believed, how could he possibly save Logan and Matilda, who were seemingly at their wits¡® end? He would give all he had for a second chance. Sensing Yvan¡¯s panic, one of the officers stepped in to press y, and a conversation filled the air. The voices were familiar to everyone. The youthful one belonged to Logan, and the clear, feminine voice¡­ it was E.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°I know it was you. I know you hired someone to kidnap me.¡± ¡°Ha! Why would you say that? Your mom¡¯s been filling your head with nonsense. You can¡¯t just use me like that¨CI wouldn¡¯t do such a thing¡­¡± ¡°You really do talk too much. There¡¯s no need to keep exining. I know you paid those people to kidnap me and my mom. You even took their families hostage, threatening to hurt them if they spoke a word about you to Mr. Boyd. So the kidnappers stuck to their story, insisting it was a spur¨Cof-the¨C moment crime.¡± ¡°You¡­ You must have been misled by your mother! If you really had evidence it was me, why didn¡¯t you go to your dad? Because you¡¯ve been fed lies by your mom. Don¡¯t think you can bring me down. Your dad won¡¯t believe your wild usations.¡± ¡°My dad? I never thought about going to Mr. Boyd to expose you because I feel like her deserves someone like you. He shouldn¡¯t be allowed to mistreat my mom. Do you know, maybe you¡¯ve underestimated me because I¡¯m a kid, and that¡¯s why you¡¯ve lost. Many times when you called associates, I overheard everything.¡± 7/2 11:03 Logan¡¯sughter was also captured, ringing in everyone¡¯s ears. I couldn¡¯t be bothered to expose you since this just seemed like an opportunity. An opportunity for my mom and Mr. Boyd to cut ties for good.¡± You¡­ who are you, really? Impossible, you¡¯re just ying tricks! Yvan won¡¯t believe you!¡± Thest sounds were of Logan ascending the stairs, his softughter carrying the weight of a chilling resolve that pierced straight into Yvan¡¯s heart. It felt like there was a hole in his chest, blood gushing out, the cold wind blowing through it, chilling him to the bone. He snatched the phone back from the officer, reying the recording over and over. Impossible¡­ impossible¡­ where had everything gone wrong? Under what circumstances was this recording made? Logan¡­ why would Logan leave this recording for him? With eyes zing, Yvan looked up at E, his gaze filled with a haunting hatred, ¡°Arrest her!¡± The officers sprang into action, seizing E, who screamed in panic, ¡°Yvan, what are you doing?¡± Yvan spared her not a single nce, gripping the phone in his shaking hands. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 If this recording wasn¡¯t synthesized, then what had Yvan done to them, to his own flesh; and blood? My God, what atrocities had hemitted against that innocent mother and son! He had hurt Matilda, deceived her, humiliated her, and even sided with the true viin behind the scenes right in front of her! Matilda had told him, screamed her usations at him over and over, but he hadn¡¯t listened. Not one damn word did he believe her at the time! Yvan felt an excruciating pain engulf his entire body, clutching at his chest as if he had been wounded a thousand times over, his heart bleeding, his very sinews being torn apart. He was gasping for air, spasms racking his frame, as he clicked on the next audio clip. A child¡¯s voice emerged, innocent yet haunting. ¡°Mr. Boyd, this is Logan. By the time you hear this, I won¡¯t be by your side anymore. Thanks a lot for keeping E close, for making her so angry at me, time and time again, that she wanted to kill me.¡± Those words were like a knife twisting in Yvan¡¯s heart. His face turned ashen, and he shuddered, the phone slipping from his grasp and crashing to the floor. But the voice continued relentlessly. ¡°To escape making. you, I had to pay a fair price. Do you see it now? This tragedy is your ow making. You¡¯re the origin of all these disasters, and you will be the one to pay the price, the ultimate redeemer. I don¡¯t know what my mom did to you five years ago, but I hope for your sake it¡¯s exactly as you imagined. Because if the dayes when I unveil the truth once more, Mr. Boyd, you¡¯ll have nothing left.¡± Yvanughed, a hollow, tearful sound. ¡°And now, let me congratte you with a line I read in a book¨Ccongrattions on your vast empire, your eternal solitude from this day forth!¡± His own son had cursed him to eternal solitude! He couldn¡¯t even ovee a child¡¯s hatred! Yvan felt as if his heart had been literally ripped out, his legs gave out, and he copsed to the floor. He was like a man stripped of consciousness, staring nkly at the vast blue sea below; suddenly realizing that maybe the one in need of redemption wasn¡¯t Matilda, but himself. And Matilda¡­ she was his only shot at redemption. 11:04 In the end, even Logan had abandoned him. What was left for him now? Nothing! Yvan had never felt so utterly defeated In his life, not even his own son wanted to be with him! Pathetic, that¡¯s what he was. Yvan let out a derisiveugh as Carl stepped forward to help him up, but Yvan staggered back to the shore, staring out at that ocean, his voice still trembling, ¡°Search! Find Logan even if you must drain the sea!¡± Carl ced a hand over Yvan¡¯s eyes. Blinded by Carl¡¯s hand, Yvan babbled, ¡°What are you doing, I can¡¯t see, Carl¡­¡± Until he choked up. Carl, with a heavy heart, covered half of Yvan¡¯s face, the rising sun casting its light upon his cheeks, reflecting something shiny and liquid. In the deep winter of that year, Yvan lost Matilda, Logan, and everyone who had ever been close to him. He stood at the edge of the sea where Logan had fallen, as if in silent tribute. But he knew, no one would forgive him again. He had extinguished all the warmth he had with his own hands. Everyone¡¯s hearts ached for him. Witnessing Yvan¡¯s expression, they felt as if the sky had fallen. The once¨Cglorious Mr. Boyd was nothing more than a pitiful man. Until the break of dawn, until the first light tore through the darkness, Carl covered Yvan¡¯s bloodshot eyes, and everyone waited in silence, waiting for Yvan¡¯s sobs to subside.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Adrian thought it was miraculous that Logan had managed to find him. When someone barged into his office, clutching a battered and soaking¨Cwet kid, Adrian was taken aback. ¡°Holy smokes, isn¡¯t that the little rascal from the Boyd family? What the heck happened to him?¡± Without time to ponder, Adrian had his staff rush the boy to the hospital, but all the way there, Logan clung to the hem of Adrian¡¯s coat, gripping it tightly, his eyes barely open, murmuring faintly, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t tell Mr. Boyd¡­¡± He had just escaped from that ce, and he was never going back. Looking at the kid curled up in his arms, Adrian felt as protective as if his own son had been bullied. He hurried Logan to the hospital, and after his surgery, he made sure the boy was settled into the pediatric ward. Keaton, d in his whiteb coat, gave Adrian a brief rundown. ¡°You¡¯ve been quite the Good Samaritan lately¨Cpicking up Matilda today, and Logan tomorrow. Why don¡¯t you just take the mother and son in to live with you?¡± Adrian retorted, ¡°And have Willow and Matilda at each other¡¯s throats? No thanks.¡± Keaton quipped, ¡°Somehow, I think you¡¯d side with Matilda even if they did.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Adrian rolled his eyes. ¡°How is Logan?¡± ¡°His wounds are deep, no idea what he¡¯s been through. His lungs had water in them too, nearly drowned. Was he kidnapped or something?¡± Keaton casually threw out the question, and Adrian¡¯s gaze darkened as if he had suddenly made a connection, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s got Yvan¡¯s fingerprints all over it.¡± Keatonughed, ¡°Man, you¡¯ve got guts, raiding Yvan¡¯s turf. If he finds out, he¡¯ll probably being after you with a butcher knife.¡± Adrian sprawled in Keaton¡¯s office, throwing a leg carelessly over the desk. ¡°I bet Matilda doesn¡¯t even know about this yet.¡± ¡°Are you gonna tell her?¡± Keaton knew the story between Matilda and Yvan wasplicated, which was probably why little Logan had ended up in such a state without. Matilda¡¯s knowledge. ¡°Ah, poor kid.¡± Adrian mused for a moment, ¡°Let¡¯s keep him in the hospital for now. I¡¯ll cover the bills.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Keaton twirled a pen in his hand. ¡°nning to y the role of the generous daddy?¡± Adrian kicked a stool in Keaton¡¯s direction, ¡°Shut it. If I wanted a son, there¡¯s a line of women who¡¯d jump at the chance to have my baby!¡± Keaton just smirked. Tough talk. When Logan woke up, he saw Adrian, a man with striking blue¨Cgreen eyes, so different from his own. With a soft voice, Logan called out, ¡°Uncle Adrian¡­¡± Adrian was engrossed in his video game, only half¨Cturning to show his chiseled profile. ¡°Ease up, kiddo. I¡¯m about to take down a tower.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Logan didn¡¯t respond. He just sat quietly, waiting for Adrian to finish his game. Thest time Logan had woken up, it was Adrian sitting by his side, after another harrowing abduction. He never expected this man toe see him, and instinctively, he felt touched. So after he had jumped into the sea and climbed aboard a ship, he paid the crew all the money he had hidden on him to take him ashore, and he made a beeline for Adrian. He didn¡¯t know why, but he feltpelled to seek Adrian¡¯s help. Before, he had asked Adrian to check on his injured mother in the hospital. Somehow, he felt Adrian was¡­ nicer than Yvan. Adrian won his game and turned to Logan with satisfaction. ¡°Hey there, little rascal. You¡¯re awake?¡± Keaton, hearing Adrian¡¯s shout from down the hall, couldn¡¯t help but think that any other. kid would have already thrown a punch. But Matilda¡¯s son was gentle and unassuming, not bothering to argue with an immature adult. Logan softly replied, ¡°Yeah, thanks for everything.¡± Seeing his demeanor, Adrian asked, ¡°Did you have a falling out with Yvan?¡± At the mention of Yvan, Logan¡¯s whole body shuddered. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 The look of fear etched on Logan¡¯s face tugged at Adrian¡¯s heartstrings. Poor Logan, torn from his mom¡¯s side, neglected by his dad, and with E who seemed hell¨Cbent on hist demise. Life in the upper crust certainly wasn¡¯t a cakewalk for him. ¡°Ah, if you don¡¯t want to talk about it, that¡¯s fine,¡± Adrian said, leaning back in the hospital chair. ¡°So what¡¯s your game n once you¡¯re discharged? Did you pull a Houdini and escape all by yourself?¡± ¡°I was¡­ kidnapped,¡± Logan said after a long pause, unspooling his tale in fits and starts. Adrian recoiled slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll never call you a runt again. You¡¯re a downright wolf cub, kiddo! So cutthroat, you¡¯re giving your godfather here the heebie¨Cjeebies!¡± ¡°Are you taking advantage of the situation?¡± Keaton strode in, tossing out a yful jab. ¡°Since when did you appoint yourself his godfather?¡± Adrian rolled his eyes and said, ¡°Like I¡¯d ever want to be your godfather!¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want that either!¡± Keaton retorted with a chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up, Mr. Simpson. No sugar daddy deals here.¡± ¡°Like I¡¯m dying to sponsor you. Come here, kid, check out the new threads I got for you!¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Adrian had picked up a few new outfits for Logan, which heid out on the couch in their spacious private room. Keaton kicked out a folding table from behind the door and marched in, armsden with takeout bags. ¡°Man, Keaton, you¡¯re the real MVP. What did you bring?¡± ¡°Pizza,¡± Keaton grinned. ¡°You like pizza?¡± Keaton was the younger of the two, with a gentler air about him. Logan felt like he was the cool older brother, always ready to save the day with a heart of gold. ¡°Sure do!¡± Logan¡¯s spirits lifted, and he called out, ¡°Thanks, bro!¡± Adrian clutched his chest, feigning injury. ¡°Unfair! Why do you call him ¡®bro¡® and me ¡®uncle¡®? I¡¯m just two years older than him.¡± Logan said crisply, ¡°He¡¯s younger!¡± Adrian eyed Keaton. ¡°I don¡¯t see how he¡¯s any younger than me. Am I old?¡± Keaton and Logan nodded in silent agreement. ¡°Since when is twenty¨Cseven old?¡± Adrianmented. ¡°That¡¯s it, Keaton, does your hospital do Botox? Hook me up with a youth serum, will ya?¡± Both Keaton and Logan burst intoughter. They set the table at the foot of Logan¡¯s bed and spread out the feast. ¡°You¡¯re still healing, so no spice for you. I got you some soup, Keaton¡¯said. Thanks, bro!¡± ¡°Christ, you¡¯re hooked on this ¡®bro¡® thing,¡± Adrian grumbled from the sidelines. ¡°Fine, call me ¡®Brother Adrian¡® then.¡± I¡¯ll stick with Uncle Adrian.¡± Adrian nearly choked, ¡°Why do you have to be as infuriating as your mom?¡± ¡°Is my mommy infuriating?¡± Logan blinked innocently. ¡°She¡¯s beautiful and graceful. She can¡¯t be infuriating!¡± Adrian pondered how fiercely this kid would defend his mother. If he ever crossed Matilda, he was sure Logan woulde knocking with a vengeance. ¡°Perfect, once you¡¯re all patched up, I¡¯ll take you to your mom¡¯s. She doesn¡¯t know about your brush with death yet, does she?¡± Adrian mused, sizing Logan up. ¡°You¡¯re going to be a force to be reckoned with when you grow up.¡± ¡°Mr. Boyd wouldn¡¯t dare tell my mom, not anymore,¡± Logan puffed out his chest proudly. ¡°I got my revenge on Yvan, and now it¡¯s just going to be me and my mom, living our best life. No more baddies to mess with us.¡± ¡°A duo¡¯s life can be a bit dull. How about making it a trio with me?¡± Adrian blurted out without thinking. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Keaton¡¯s hand twitched as he reached for thest slice of pizza, and it flopped back onto his te with a st. Adriah realized how flirty hisment had sounded the moment it left his lips, and he hurried to change the subject. ¡°Anyway, if you remember me, feel free to drop by during Christmas and bring me a gift, as a token of respect, you know.¡± Logan¡¯s grin was sly as a fox. ¡°Got it. Are you, by any chance, crushing on my mom?¡± Adrian jumped up as if he¡¯d sat on a firecracker, his usuallyposed face a mask of sheer panic. ¡°What? No way! I¡¯m loaded, I¡¯m a looker, why would I be hurting for female attention? I¡¯m definitely not into your mom, kid. Don¡¯t tter yourself!¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Logan scooped up a spoonful of cream soup and took a casual slurp. ¡°Well, good news for you, my mom isn¡¯t into you either, so you can rx.¡± Adrian felt like he¡¯d been shot in the chest. Keaton was cracking up beside them. ¡°Let me tell you, Uncle Adrian¡¯s a real piece of work, almost on par with your dad, Yvan. Don¡¯t let his smooth talk fool you.¡± Adrian tossed a breadstick in Keaton¡¯s direction. ¡°You really have to throw me under the bus like that?¡± Logan nodded solemnly. ¡°I know! My mom told me you used to pick on her.¡± That wasn¡¯t him being mean, he just thought back then she was so delicate he wanted to tease her a bit¡­ besides, she looked kind of cute flustered and all! Adrian, with a thick skin, defended himself, ¡°I was just¡­ testing her character.¡± ¡°You made her cry before.¡± The more he talked, the more embarrassed he felt¡­ ¡°My mom really doesn¡¯t have the best impression of you, so if you¡¯re thinking of chasing after her, it¡¯s gonna be tough,¡± Logan said, chewing on the end of his breadstick with a look of mock seriousness. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for being so nasty at first.¡± Nasty? That was nothingpared to his ruthless moments! Comparatively, he was at saint to Matilda; he hadn¡¯t even done anything to her yet! Adrian made excuses to himself, unsure whom he was trying tofort. ¡°Women say one thing but mean another.¡± Logan shot him down without hesitation. ¡°No, my mom actually really dislikes you.¡± Adrian thought this kid would be the death of him. Keston, still chuckling, patted Logan¡¯s cheek. ¡°How can you be so adorable, managing to Teave Adrian speechless?¡± Logan tilted his head up proudly. ¡°That¡¯s because my mom raised me right!¡± Well done, Matilda! Adrian silently apuded her for raising such a sharp kid. Adrian asked, ¡°Are you gonna eat or what? If not, time for bed. You need to heal for a couple of weeks, and then what? You gonnae clean to your mom?¡± Logan replied fearlessly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll tell the truth, no matter how grim.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk,¡± Keaton shook his head. ¡°I feel sorry for Yvan. If Matilda finds out about this, she probably won¡¯t want to see him for the rest of her life.¡± Logan quickly countered, ¡°He brought this on himself, so he doesn¡¯t deserve sympathy.¡± Adrian and Keaton, two grown men, fell silent at the steadfast look in Logan¡¯s eyes. It took Adrian a long while to collect himself before he spoke. ¡°You¡¯re too extreme, kid. That¡¯s gonna lead to rash decisionster in life.¡± Logan¡¯sugh broke the tension, and even though it was filled with shards of light, it was clear. ¡°But my extreme nature is his creation.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Silenced by the weight of the boy¡¯s words, Adrian and Keaton could do nothing but reflect on the sins of one man, Yvan, whose guilt was too heavy to bear alone. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Matilda had no clue that her little Logan had survived such a harrowing ordeal. On the weekend, while she was still nestled in the warmth of her bed, dreaming away, the doorbell jolted her awake. d in her nnel pajamas, she shuffled to the door, not expecting to lock eyes with a pair of striking blue¨Cgreen eyes. There stood Adrian, his golden hair shimmering, a roguish smile spread across his fair, handsome face, with a child tucked under his arm. He quipped, ¡°Here you go, brought your little rascal back home.¡± Logan leaped from Adrian¡¯s embrace and dove into Matilda¡¯s arms, ¡°Mommy! I missed you so much!¡± Only in Matilda¡¯s presence did he revert to the naive boy he truly was. A tremor ran through Matilda¡¯s heart as she instinctively asked, ¡°How did you get back?¡± ¡°I can live with you now!¡± Grinning, Logan reached out and grabbed Matilda¡¯s fingers, ¡°We won¡¯t ever have to be apart because of Mr. Boyd anymore!¡± His disdain for Yvan had seeped deep into his bones. Matilda, as if in disbelief, gently touched Logan¡¯s cheek, ¡°Is this real? Oh my¡­ you¡¯re back with me¡­¡± Dear heavens, you¡¯ve finally granted us our reunion¡­ Adrian still loitered on the doorstep, watching the tender scene of reunion. He stepped inside as he said, ¡°Hey, I bring back your kid and that¡¯s all you got to say?¡± Matilda nced up swiftly, then feigned surprise, peering past him, ¡°Willow? What are you doing here?¡± Damn, did his little hellraiser sister tag along? Adrian¡¯s hair stood on end. As he turned to look, Matilda seized the moment to m the door shut in his face. With a resounding thud, Adrian realized he¡¯d been duped. Staring at the closed door, he muttered, ¡°Fine, you win this round!¡± Grumbling under his breath, Adrian stormed off, ¡°Damn, heartless woman. I looked after your son for weeks! All because I got a little fresh when we first met, damn, women are unfathomable.¡± From behind the window, Matilda watched Adrian disappear into the elevator, breathing a sigh of relief. She settled Logan onto the couch and gazed at him adoringly, ¡°How did you manage toe back?¡± 11-05 As Logan stared into his mother¡¯s eyes, he took a deep breath before recounting the entire Baga, leaving Matilda with eyes rimmed red. She shakily ced a hand on Logan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Logan¡­ you¡­¡± Her voice broke with emotion. So her son had been fighting so hard to return to her, while she had once chosen to abandon him. Matilda pulled Logan into an embrace. ¡°It¡¯s okay now. No one will ever separate us again. If Yvan dares to show up, I¡¯ll fight him tooth and nail before I let him take you away!¡± Logan smiled,forting his mother, ¡°Mommy, I want to be with you forever.¡± This child was the gift heaven left her, the redemption in all her darkest days. Matilda stroked Logan¡¯s cheek, yfully changing the subject, ¡°Looks like Uncle Adrian took good care of you at the hospital; our Logan¡¯s gotten stronger.¡± ¡°You mean I got fat?¡± Logan looked horrified, ¡°No, I can¡¯t get fat. Mommy, let¡¯s start jogging tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°You silly. It¡¯s okay for kids to be a bit chubby. How about tomorrow Aunt Chloe and I take you shopping for some new clothes?¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Logan agreed eagerly, and as they passed Chloe¡¯s room, it was clear she¡¯d just crawled into bed and was still groggy. Rubbing her eyes, she opened them to see a mini Yvan standing before her, which nearly gave her a heart attack before she realized, ¡°Little Logan! You¡¯re back?¡± Logan clutched Matilda¡¯s hand tighter and said, ¡°Yep, I¡¯m back to live with Mommy!¡± Chloe was utterly smitten with Logan, immediately squatting down to pinch his chubby cheeks, ¡°Oh my gosh, you¡¯re too cute! What a sweetheart. Let¡¯s go out for a feast tonight, my treat!¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Logan¡¯s voice pitched with excitement, then he said, ¡°Thank you, Aunt Chloe.¡± Chloe clutched her chest, repeatedly eximing how adorable and well¨Cbehaved the boy was, wearing a look of someone struck by Cupid¡¯s arrow. ¡°I can¡¯t take it, Matilda, how did you ever bring such a cutie into the world? I¡¯m gonna fight you for custody of this kid!¡± Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Matilda gave a coy smile and led Logan to her bedroom. With a boundless energy, Logan- leaped onto the bed. ¡°Mommy, are you going back to sleep?¡± ¡°You go ahead and sleep, sweetie. Mommy¡¯s gotta start my day and get some work done.¡± Matilda gazed at Logan¡¯s face. ¡°In a few days, I¡¯ll sign you up for preschool.¡± ¡°I already know all that stuff. I¡¯m ready for elementary school!¡± Despite being the weekend, theunch of the video game from Matilda¡¯s studio was only a week away. The team was working overtime, preparing everything needed. Baxter had been running around town, getting all sorts of permits, and had splurged on some prime advertising spots in app stores. Matilda had her hands full finalizing several design concepts and had arranged for Orson toe over around noon to discuss them. True to his word, Orson arrived promptly at eleven o¡¯clock, knocking on Matilda¡¯s door. To his surprise, the person who greeted him this time was a little boy¨Ca particrly handsome one at that. Logan eyed Orson at the door and, after a moment of uncertainty, ventured a tentative, ¡°Uncle?¡± Orson was taken aback. Matilda, still oblivious to the mix¨Cup, hurried Orson inside. Once Logan shut the door behind them, he said, ¡°Are you Uncle Gideon? You seem different. My uncle doesn¡¯t wear sses¡­¡± Matilda¡¯s face froze. She looked frantically from Orson to Logan, at a loss for how to exin that Gideon was no longer part of this world. But the truth had to be told someday. How could she possibly convey this heartbreaking story? Tears began to well up in Matilda¡¯s eyes, her voice trembling, ¡°Logan, go lie down for a bit, Mommy needs to have a talk¡­¡± ¡°What about Uncle Gideon?¡± Logan, sensing that Matilda was hiding something, stepped forward with a worried look and pointed at Orson. ¡°He¡¯s not my uncle! Where is my uncle? Mommy, why hasn¡¯t hee to see me?¡± The child¡¯s innocent yet urgent questioning was like a thousand needles piercing her heart. Matilda didn¡¯t know how to mask the pain, ¡°Logan, your uncle¡­¡± 05:25 She couldn¡¯t get the words out, merely holding back tears was exhausting enough. Orson, observing Matilda¡¯s helplessness, casually offered, ¡°He¡¯s gone abroad.¡± Logan and Matilda both turned to look at Orson. Orson closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and upon opening them again, looked at Logan indifferently¨Ca coldness never seen on Gideon¡¯s face. He couldn¡¯t pretend to be the man they both loved so dearly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a rtive of his. He had to go abroad suddenly. Do you miss him a lot?¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Though his tone was harsh, it was difficult to discern its truthfulness, perhaps because his t affect masked any guilt. Logan¡¯s eyes reddened, disheartened at the thought of not seeing his uncle upon his return. ¡°Uncle Gideon just left for another country, huh? How long will he be gone? I wanted to go to the amusement park with him¡­¡± Orson replied, his expression unchanging as he sat down across from Matilda, ¡°He¡¯s doing well, no need to worry.¡± Matilda stared up at the ceiling, fighting the tears back. Logan clung to Orson, sharing how much he missed Gideon, and finally, with reluctance in his eyes, said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you Uncle Orson for now. When my unclees back, you have to tell me, okay?¡± Orson looked at the boy¡¯s youthful face and quietly agreed. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Logan had finally retreated to his room when Matilda, her voice choked with emotion, managed a grateful, ¡°Thanks.¡± It was all an act, of course, but she still felt the need to thank Orson for ying his part. Alone, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to tell Logan that Gideon had passed away, Orson¡¯s expression was as impassive as ever. ¡°No big deal, let¡¯s get down to business. How many design directions are you juggling right now?¡± At the mention of work, Matilda quicklyposed herself, opened herptop, and they huddled together at the dining table, diving into a serious discussion about the project. Orson brought over his USB drive, and they synced their styles before initiating a video call with a few other colleagues. Orson stayed at Matilda¡¯s ce until dinner. When Chloe emerged from her room and spotted him, she nearly jumped. ¡°Holy smokes! Orson, what are you doing here?¡± Orson¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°You scared me¡­¡± ¡°Oh,e on!¡± Chloe breezed past Orson, turning to Matilda. ¡°See, this is that dashing designer I told you about. Didn¡¯t realize you two had hit it off already Orson added tersely, ¡°We¡¯re just acquaintances, nothing more.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you join us for dinner then?¡± Chloe returned from the bathroom with a facial mask on, saying, ¡°It¡¯s perfect timing; I was about to treat Logan to a feast tonight¡­¡± Orson didn¡¯t decline but epted the invitation with surprising ease. His gaze swept over Matilda¡¯s profile, lingering momentarily on her delicate neck before swiftly moving away. It was quite unexpected ¨C she already had a son, and he was no toddler. Yvan never expected to run into Matilda at the mall. She, of course, didn¡¯t notice him. He was even more surprised to see a man by her side who bore a striking resemnce to Gideon! Had he not witnessed Gideon¡¯s death with his own eyes, he might have believed it was him, faking his demise to live under the radar. But the man¡¯s demeanor was nothing like Gideon¡¯s gentle elegance. This man was cold, showing only a trace of patience when dealing with Logan, probably just out of politeness. Yvan felt rooted to the spot at the sight of Matilda. He simply watched her back, Chloe¡¯s beaming smile, Logan¡¯s blissfulughter, and Orson¡¯s cold yet handsome face. Where did this mane from? If he had no blood rtion to Gideon, why was he by 05/25 Matilda¡¯s side? Was it possible that Matilda couldn¡¯t ept Gideon¡¯s death and sought someone resembling her brother forfort? Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Numerous thoughts shed through Yvan¡¯s mind, but he pushed them all down. He saw Matildaughing heartily, probably at some joke Chloe had cracked. Even Orson, usually so stoic, cracked a rare smile. ¡°Holy cow, you¡¯ve got dimples! Did you know that?¡± Chloe eximed, pointing at Orson as if she¡¯d discovered a new world. ¡°Unbelievable, the eternal ice block is melting!¡± Orson quickly reverted to his stoic demeanor, while Logan continued to giggle. ¡°Your smile is even cooler than Uncle Gideon¡¯s.¡± ¡°Oh, you ungrateful little rascal,¡± Chloe scolded. ¡°Your uncle would fly back from overseas just to give you a whooping if he heard that!¡± Logan took off running, with Chloe in hot pursuit. Only someone as boisterous as Chloe could engage in such child¡¯s y with Logan. The two of them chasing each other around the mall ¨C it was hard to tell who was more childish. Matildaughed, though her face showed a hint of exasperation. ¡°Those two have too much energy.¡± BRZE OF 20 Orson replied coolly, ¡°Hasn¡¯t Chloe always been like this?¡± ¡°From the sound of it, you¡¯ve known Chloe for quite some time, huh?¡± Matilda asked, tilting her head to look at him. Orson maintained his ¡®couldn¡¯t¨Ccare¨Cless¡® expression. ¡°A couple of years, I guess.¡± ¡°She seems so upbeat, but she¡¯s been through a lot, hasn¡¯t she?¡± Matilda reflected, admiring Chloe¡¯s resilience. To maintain such a pure heart through it all was indeed touching. Chapter 203 hapter 203 Through the crowd, Yvan could see Matilda asionally chatting with Orson at her side. Although Orson¡¯s expression was cool and detached, he was obviously well¨Cbred. Standing tall at over six feet, he made a striking pair with Matilda from behind. Yvan was seething with jealousy. So, Matilda could be this tender and beautiful beside another man. She could let down all her guards and hostilities, a side she never once showed to him. Yvan watched her like a thief in the night, as if trying to etch her silhouette into his memory. In the past, he would¡¯ve marched right up to them, and even if he couldn¡¯t break Matilda away from herpanion, he¡¯d at least throw a few biting remarks to ensure nobody had a good time. But now, he was scared, Scared after learning the hard truth from Logan, He had dismissed her pain, tirelessly defending E, but reality had pped him hard across the face, proving how horribly wrong he was. How many times had he pushed them to the brink, watching idly, never once reaching out a hand to save them? Yvan¡¯s heart ached with a sharp, persistent pain. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Carl noticed Yvan¡¯s distress and spoke up, ¡°Mr. Boyd?¡± Yvan snapped out of his daze, looking bewildered as if he¡¯d just woken from a nightmare. ¡°Carl,¡± he muttered, ¡°who¡¯s that with Matilda?¡± Carl remained silent. Yvan insisted, ¡°Find out! Even if she¡¯s my ex¨Cwife, she¡¯s not up for grabs!¡± That¡¯s when Carl spoke up. ¡°Yvan, Ms. Thompson loved you. It was you who let her go.¡± That single line struck him like lightning. Yvan stood frozen, his fingers trembling. Even his loyal assistant couldn¡¯t help but imply that he got what he deserved! He remembered how Carl had once warned him, hoping Yvan wouldn¡¯te to regret his decisions. And how had he responded? With a quick, sharp retort: he would never regret anything. Yvan Boyd didn¡¯t do regrets. But now, how was he to admit that he was filled with remorse? If he could go back, he¡¯d risk everything to rewind this tragedy. How could he express the pain that felt like it was killing him? Reality and memory fractured, and all the warmth of the past now sliced through him like des. Yes, she had loved him recklessly, but he had sent her to prison, to depression, to self¨Charm, to the point where she lost part of her finger! With reddening eyes, Yvan slowly shut them. Bot He wanted to walk away, to stop watching the tender scenes that no longer included him his woman and his son. His heart felt like it was being torn in two, an excruciating rip through his chest. Carl nced at his watch. ¡°Mr. Boyd, it¡¯s almost time for your dinner with Mr. Yeager. We should head up.¡± 1/2 11:52 203 Yvan was lost in his thoughts, unresponsive. Carl repeated himself, and Yvan snapped back to reality, pulling his gaze from the distant scene. Without a word, he turned and walked away, each step feeling like he was treading on knife des. He was maddened with jealousy. Why, Matilda, why is there a new man at your side so quickly, while I¡¯m cruelly trapped in memories, unable to clear or forget them? If cruelty was the game, he wasn¡¯t even a fraction as cruel as Matilda and Logan had been, exacting their vivid revenge in a self¨Cdestructive manner. He had lost, thoroughly and utterly defeated. Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Matilda didn, know that Yvan had been ke eping a watchful eye on her for quite some time. She was tob preupied with Chloe and Logan, who were ying a game of tag through the sales of the busting mat, causing her to call out, ¡°Hey, slow down don¡¯t bump into anyonel Enough ying around,e back? Logan, with a cheeky grin, ducked behind Matilds and prowed, ¡°No more games, time for a feast Chloe, yfully chasing after the little rascal, guaded Matilda and the others toward a restaurant, which was quite the local hotspot. By the time they arrived, a line had formed outside Orson clicked his tongue in apparent dislike for waiting With a smirk of triumph, Chloe announced, ¡°No worries, I¡¯ve got this covered. I know the manager here, I¡¯ve already snagged us a spot¡± And with that, she led the group past the onlookers and straight into the restaurant, ignoring the queue and heading to a private booth. ¡°Well, well, if it isrit Chloe, you little troublemaker Finally decided to grace us with your presence? greeted a dashing young man in a waiter¡¯s attire, shing a charming smile at Chloe, ¡°Been avoiding me for too long. eh?¡± ¡°Cut the ttery,¡± Chloe shot back with a wave of her hand. ¡°Anyway, this is my good friend, Matilda, and that¡¯s her son.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± said the man, winking at Logan. ¡°Your mom¡¯s a knockout Logan immediately stood protectively in front of Matilda, dering, ¡°Back off! No one¡¯s hitting on my mom!¡± The little guy was as stubborn as ever about keeping men away from Matilda. Chloe chuckled and introduced him to Matilda and the rest. This guy¡¯s a good friend of mine, the manager of this ce and head chef. He¡¯s the genius behind several of the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes¡± ¡°That¡¯s the nicest thing you¡¯ve said about me in ages, the man quipped, then turned to Orson. ¡°And who¡¯s this gentleman?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my Uncle!¡± Logan quickly answered for Orson, who simply gave a nonchnt nod in agreement. ¡°Alright, take a look at the menu, and I¡¯ll make sure your order gets priority, the man said to Matilda. ¡°Any dietary restrictions for your son?¡± ¡°I can eat anything!¡± Logan puffed out his chest, eager to prove he was grown up. ¡°Nothing¡¯s off the table for me!¡± Chloeughed softly. ¡°Let¡¯s start with a round of oysters, two each. The restaurant¡¯s got amazing creamed and truffle oysters, but personally, I love them raw. If you¡¯re not used to it, Matilda, you might want to try the ones with the cheese and cream.* ¡°Sounds good,¡± Matilda agreed, picking out a lobster with a creamy mushroom sauce for Logan, then handed the menu to Orson. Orson ordered a roasted foie gras and a warm ss of red wine, followed by a steak, medium¨Crare, with a side of fruitpote. ¡°Coming right up,¡± said the man with a smile, taking the menus back. He was then called to attend to another VIP table, excusing himself with, ¡°I¡¯ll be back to catch up with you all in a bit.¡± ¡°Go for it, the ce is hopping.¡± Chloe waved him off. They casually chatted among themselves until a shrill ¡°Do you have any idea who I ani to Mr. Yeager? And you serve us this trast? Does this restaurant want to stay in business of 0017 The volen belonged to a petnt young woman causing a scene. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯re something special just because your restaurant¡¯s popr. Watch out or we¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re cklisted¡± Chlon stood up abruptly, banging her hand on the table Matilda followed her out of curiosity and saw the handsome man from before being pped by a woman, all the while he was apologizing profusely for any offense caused by the food not being to her taste. Chloe¡¯s temper red as she stepped in front of her friend, dending the irate customer, ¡°This establishment has sourced its ingredients internationally since day one, and our chef holds Michelin three¨Cstar credentials! You can watch the entire cooking process through that window. Why don¡¯t you take a long, hard look at yourself? Lack of taste and making a scene¡ªhonestly, you¡¯re better off sticking to instant noodles at homet¡± Chapt an seemed taken aback by the sudden appearance of someone defending the restaurant. Her gaze Up to Chlow, and upon recognizing her, she burst intoughter. Well, look who we have here! If it isn¡¯t our very own Chloe! Her tone shifted to one of mocking superiority. Oh wait, that¡¯s right, Chloe¡¯s been booted out by thepany. A stray dog now, aren¡¯t we?¡± Chloe¡¯s face drained of color, a sickly pale giving way to a deep flush of embarrassment. Matilda, standing at her side, asked who the woman was. ¡°That¡¯s Reese, Chloe said, her voice low. ¡°An influencer. She¡¯s the one who smashed Den Yeager¡¯s coffee machinest time¡± Reese clearly hadn¡¯t expected to run into Chloe here, and with the backup of Den, her confidence was soaring. Snide and merciless, she taunted, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s this? Spot a good¨Clooking chef and can¡¯t help but try to catch his eye, Chloe? Haha, how pathetic. Without Mr. Yeager¡¯s support, you actually think you matter?¡± Chloe bit back a response, swallowing the humiliation as she steadied her friend. ¡°Godfrey, are you okay?¡± Reese mocked their interaction with an exaggerated smirk. ¡°Oh, listen to that tone. It reeks of desperation from a mile away, Chloe, surely you¡¯re not so starved for attention.* Godfrey, his voiceced with anger, snapped back, ¡°Miss, you can insult me all you want, and critique my cooking, but I won¡¯t stand for you disrespecting my friend!¡± ¡°Friend? Since when are men and women just friends without something more?¡± Two men approached from behind Reese. Chloe and Matilda tensed at the sight. Den and¡­ Yvan. Damn, it was like a convention of jerks. Matilda softly urged, ¡°Chloe, let¡¯s get Godfrey out of here. Is your face still hurting?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Godfrey said with a forced smile, though half his face was swollen from the confrontation. It was the first time his restaurant had dealt with such tantly unreasonable customers. ¡°Tsk, tsk. What a scene. Like moths to a me, each one of you,¡± Reese snickered, admiring her manicured nails, acting as if Chloe and her friends were beneath her notice. Yvan was the first to break the silence, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°The lobster here is not fresh at all,¡± Reeseined, sidling up to Den and hooking her arm through his with an air of entitlement. ¡°Just the right time to put these chefs in their ce, and these two nobodies decided to jump in.¡± Matilda¡¯s face paled, then she scoffed, ¡°Clinging to Den so eagerly, and you have the nerve to criticize others? Did you get those beauty injections into your brain or something?¡± The sharp retort froze Reese¡¯s smug expression. As she lunged at Matilda, thetter deftly avoided her and pinned Reese against a wall. Matilda¡¯smanding presence made Reese feel as though she was staring down a furious Yvan. ¡°What¡­what are you going to do? Everyone¡¯s watching, you want to start a fight in public?¡± ¡°If you continue with your nder, I won¡¯t hesitate to shut that mouth of yours for good!¡± Matilda released her with a shove and moved to stand by Chloe, who was visibly shaken. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Why 11.53This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. waste time on such people? They¡¯ve never tested quality lobster and there they can tarnish the reputation of this ce with their words. I heard fleese has her own new restaurand opening soon. Trying to sabotage The campet on so everyone fleeks to your ce?¡± The surrounding crowd, who had been enjoying the drams, now understood the situation. They looked at Rease with disdain, whispering among themselves ¡°Can¡¯t believe she¡¯d stoop so low ¡°What kind of person bes an influencer these days?¡± ¡°She was my brother¡¯s ssmate¡¯s girlfriend in high school. Talk about a scandalous past ¡°Are those guys blind or what?¡± ¡°Shh, keep it down. Maybe the rich like that kind of thing, two guys and a girl¡­ Chapter 205 restaurant. Her gaze Up to Chlow, and upon recognizing her, she burst intoughter. Well, look who we have here! If it isn¡¯t our very own Chloe! Her tone shifted to one of mocking superiority. Oh wait, that¡¯s right, Chloe¡¯s been booted out by thepany. A stray dog now, aren¡¯t we?¡± Chloe¡¯s face drained of color, a sickly pale giving way to a deep flush of embarrassment. Matilda, standing at her side, asked who the woman was. ¡°That¡¯s Reese, Chloe said, her voice low. ¡°An influencer. She¡¯s the one who smashed Den Yeager¡¯s coffee machinest time¡± Reese clearly hadn¡¯t expected to run into Chloe here, and with the backup of Den, her confidence was soaring. Snide and merciless, she taunted, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s this? Spot a good¨Clooking chef and can¡¯t help but try to catch his eye, Chloe? Haha, how pathetic. Without Mr. Yeager¡¯s support, you actually think you matter?¡± Chloe bit back a response, swallowing the humiliation as she steadied her friend. ¡°Godfrey, are you okay?¡± Reese mocked their interaction with an exaggerated smirk. ¡°Oh, listen to that tone. It reeks of desperation from a mile away, Chloe, surely you¡¯re not so starved for attention.* Godfrey, his voiceced with anger, snapped back, ¡°Miss, you can insult me all you want, and critique my cooking, but I won¡¯t stand for you disrespecting my friend!¡± ¡°Friend? Since when are men and women just friends without something more?¡± Two men approached from behind Reese. Chloe and Matilda tensed at the sight. Den and¡­ Yvan. Damn, it was like a convention of jerks. Matilda softly urged, ¡°Chloe, let¡¯s get Godfrey out of here. Is your face still hurting?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Godfrey said with a forced smile, though half his face was swollen from the confrontation. It was the first time his restaurant had dealt with such tantly unreasonable customers. ¡°Tsk, tsk. What a scene. Like moths to a me, each one of you,¡± Reese snickered, admiring her manicured nails, acting as if Chloe and her friends were beneath her notice. Yvan was the first to break the silence, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°The lobster here is not fresh at all,¡± Reeseined, sidling up to Den and hooking her arm through his with an air of entitlement. ¡°Just the right time to put these chefs in their ce, and these two nobodies decided to jump in.¡± Matilda¡¯s face paled, then she scoffed, ¡°Clinging to Den so eagerly, and you have the nerve to criticize others? Did you get those beauty injections into your brain or something?¡± The sharp retort froze Reese¡¯s smug expression. As she lunged at Matilda, thetter deftly avoided her and pinned Reese against a wall. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Matilda¡¯smanding presence made Reese feel as though she was staring down a furious Yvan. ¡°What¡­what are you going to do? Everyone¡¯s watching, you want to start a fight in public?¡± ¡°If you continue with your nder, I won¡¯t hesitate to shut that mouth of yours for good!¡± Matilda released her with a shove and moved to stand by Chloe, who was visibly shaken. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Why 11.53 waste time on such people? They¡¯ve never tested quality lobster and there they can tarnish the reputation of this ce with their words. I heard fleese has her own new restaurand opening soon. Trying to sabotage The campet on so everyone fleeks to your ce?¡± The surrounding crowd, who had been enjoying the drams, now understood the situation. They looked at Rease with disdain, whispering among themselves ¡°Can¡¯t believe she¡¯d stoop so low ¡°What kind of person bes an influencer these days?¡± ¡°She was my brother¡¯s ssmate¡¯s girlfriend in high school. Talk about a scandalous past ¡°Are those guys blind or what?¡± ¡°Shh, keep it down. Maybe the rich like that kind of thing, two guys and a girl¡­ Chapter 206 Chapter 206 eached Den and Yvan¡¯s ears, their expressions turned sour, Reese was trying to k but her earlier disdain was long gone. She quivered as she spoke, ¡°Stop slinging mud! This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. pretty clear who¡¯s looking for trouble here,¡± came a voice from the crowd. Matilda noticed Chloe¡¯s stiffness, probably scared of Den, and she quickly ushered Chloe und Godfrey to the back, saying. ¡°Go ice that cheek in the kitchen.¡± With a quick nod, Chloe helped Godfrey away, leaving Matilda to face the music alone. Matilda turned to Reese with a sardonic smile, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, darling? nning to plug your new bistro in the middle of this mess?¡± Reese looked pitifully at Den, hoping he¡¯d take her side, but when she turned to him, she found him lost in thought Den¡¯s gaze followed Chloe and Godfrey as they left, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints. She¡¯s gone! She just walked away, right in front of him, with another man! And didn¡¯t even nce his way! Fine, Chloe, spread those wings of yours! Inside, Logan couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and came out to look at Matilda, calling out, ¡°Mom¡­¡± That one word made Yvan shudder uncontrobly as he blurted out, ¡°Logan!¡± But Logan turned around, giving Yvan a look of indifference reserved for strangers, before returning his smile to his mother, ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and eat, Mom. Forget about the riffraff.¡± Yvan¡¯s heart clenched as he heard his own son¡¯s harsh words. He tried again, ¡°Logan, I know it wasn¡¯t you guys who spilled the mess¡­¡± ¡°Shut it.¡± Matilda stepped in front of Logan, looking up at Yvan with a steely gaze as she said, ¡°You made a mistake, and I let it go. We missed our chance, and there¡¯s nothing to do.¡± Yvan felt the urge to chase after Matilda, to sit down and exin everything, to tell her he¡¯d got it all wrong, but¡­ he just didn¡¯t have the courage. = 2 5 2 3 5 3 3 92 86 ¡ê2 Just as he was about to speak, Orson followed Logan out. The sight of the tall man filled his entire being with a chill. Logan jumped into Orson¡¯s arms without any fear, something he¡¯d never done with Yvan¡­ ¡°Knock it off, let¡¯s go back inside for dinner,¡± Orson said, his voice cool but his eyes soft on Logan. He casually rested one hand in his pocket, the other ruffling Logan¡¯s hair, and nodded at Matilda. She responded to him, and the three of them headed back to their private dining room together. They looked like a family, and Yvan felt a bone¨Cdeep chill. Watching Matilda¡¯s retreating figure, he felt as though his heart was being scooped out of his chest. Five years ago, he¡¯d ignored her repeatedly, thinking he wouldn¡¯t care about anything to do with her. So why was it that today, just watching her walk away with someone else¡­ hurt so much? Matilda, was it me who made the mistake, and you who forgave? Is that what we¡¯ve missed? But¡­ he couldn¡¯t let go. He couldn¡¯t stand it! She¡¯d given him so much, and now, at this moment, she was saying she didn¡¯t need it anymore! Yvan¡¯s eyes reddened as he called out, ¡°Matilda!¡± 11:53 His voice broke with emotion. But Matilda was gone, not even pausing, not even granting him a backward nce, just like he¡¯d done to her five years ago. Yvar¡¯s heart trembled violently. No one had ever hurt him like this ¨C a single act of indifference, and he was bleeding out. He knew the kidnapping was orchestrated by E, and he wanted to talk to Matilda, to clear the air, but why wouldn¡¯t she even spare him a nce? Did she hate him that much? His memories frayed at the edges, as he pleaded silently, just turn around, just once¡­ just one look. Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Matilda quickened her pace, fighting back tears with every step she took away from Yvan. She didn¡¯t want him, that heartless man, to see her in a moment of weakness, to know the depth of her pain. Orson, ever the gentleman, poured her a steaming cup of tea as they waited for their meal. The food arrived promptly, and Logan tried to distract her with his innocent charm. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not think about it. How about we order some oysters?¡± Matilda forced a smile and caressed Logan¡¯s cheek. ¡°Sure, honey. Do you want the ones with cheese topping? I¡¯ll get one for you.¡± Chloe breezed into the room, followed by Godfrey. Godfrey apologized, ¡°Sorry for the drama, everyone. Let me make it up to you with a tter of smi.¡± ¡°Wow, is this our treat?¡± Chloe eximed, her spirits lifting. ¡°Bring it on, don¡¯t be shy!¡± Godfrey, d in his smart waiter¡¯s uniform, shared augh with them before heading back to his duties. Watching him go, Matilda nudged Chloe, ¡°You know, he¡¯s way more reliable than Horatio or Den. You could give it a try!¡± Chloe rolled her eyes yfully. ¡°I think Orson¡¯s more dependable than Yvan or Adrian. Why don¡¯t you give him a shot?¡± Orson¡¯s gaze deepened but he remained silent. Matilda chuckled, shaking off the suggestion. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m better off focusing on raising Logan.¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief. ¡°You know what, you¡¯re right. Logan is so cute; he¡¯s going to be a heartbreaker when he grows up. I might just wait for him to be my toy boy!¡± Logan protested, ¡°I don¡¯t want to. By that time, you¡¯ll be old enough to be a grandma.¡± Chloe feigned offense, ¡°You little rascal, that¡¯s no way to talk to a beautifuldy!¡± Theirughter filled the space, and for a moment, Matilda¡¯s troubles seemed a world away. They enjoyed their meal thoroughly until Chloe, after insisting on picking up the tab, was confronted by a group of stern¨Clooking men in dark suits. Clutching her purse, Chloe¡¯s palms were sweaty with fear. ¡°What do you want?¡± she demanded, her voice shaky. ¡°Our boss wishes to see you, Ms. Chloe,¡± the lead man said respectfully. It had to be Den. Chloe stepped back, shing a signal to the young waitress, then bolted, determined not to drag Matilda into this mess. But she didn¡¯t want to return to Den either! She didn¡¯t get far before she was caught. Chloe fought fiercely, yelling, ¡°Let go of me! Let go!¡± Her struggle was futile against the professionally trained bodyguards, and she was shoved into a car. Tears welled up as she continued to resist, her throat raw from screaming, ¡°Let me go! Let me out!¡± Bound and helpless, Chloe¡¯s heart seemed to be in a vice as the car sped away. Matilda would worry; she knew it. ¡°Give me my phone!¡± she cried out desperately. But her pleas went unheard in the car. They arrived at Den¡¯s mansion, and Chloe was trembling, her face ashen with fear. ¡°I won¡¯t go in! Let me go!¡± She was brought before Den in a humiliating manner.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. 1/2 11:08 Chapter Once, she had been free toe and go from Den¡¯s mansion, and everyone assumed she shared an intimate rtionship with him. But only Chloe knew the truth: Den had saved her, not out of kindness but because he valued her beauty. On that rainy night two years ago, he had smirked down at her, saying, ¡°Your body isn¡¯t worth much, but this face of yours¡­ it¡¯s worth a¡¯fortune.¡± He pulled her from the abyss, away from the nightmare of a club that preyed on women, preserving her dignity, a!! so that Chloe would owe him her life. Later, she did anything and everything to ensnare men, to lure wealthy businessmen¨Call for Den¡¯s sake. But as time passed, even Den¡¯s cold¨Cblooded nature had be something Chloe numbly epted. Chapter 208 A Chapter 208 But now, seeing Den again, looking into that handsome face, Chloe felt a chill in her heart. She didn¡¯t seem to recognize his expression anymore. Beneath that veneer of respectability, just how tainted was his soul? Den eved Chloe, pinned to his bed, and walked over. He reached out and callously popped a button off the cor of her blouse. Chloe trembled all over. ¡°Let me go,¡± she said. But Den was merciless as he tore at her clothes, not even sparing a thought for the bodyguards present. Chloe struggled feebly, her skin crawling with goosebumps. Den smirked, tilting her chin up. ¡°You know why I¡¯ve neverid a hand on you?¡± He thought she was filthy because he saw her as nothing more than a tool, a tool for sleeping with others to secure the business deals he wanted. So, he would never touch her. Tears silently streamed down Chloe¡¯s cheeks as she answered, ¡°Because I used to work at Haven Club.¡± ¡°A bit of self¨Cawareness, not bad.¡± Den¡¯sugh was full of pleasure as he patted her face. ¡°Because, Chloe, you¡¯ve been worn out by my business associates. I don¡¯t fancy wearing someone¡¯s sloppy seconds.¡± Listen to him, with just a few words, he could sh her into a thousand pieces! Chloe¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. ¡°But¡­ the one who asked me to be with those associates was you.¡± He used her beauty as a weapon, putting her in the front line, making her endure. He always thought that for his sake, Chloe would sleep with anyone. But he never considered that behind his back, Chloe had drunk herself to the point of vomiting blood for the sake of a deal, just so the other party would sign on the dotted line. She had guarded herself carefully, preserving her shattered reputation, only to be met with Den¡¯s inhumane insults. He forced her legs apart, and Chloe cried with a hoarse voice, ¡°If you think I¡¯m dirty, then don¡¯t touch me!¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ve be quite boldtely,¡± Den said yfully. ¡°Flirting with Horatio, getting too close to that man in uniform. Chloe, have you forgotten who your master is?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve resigned¡­¡± Chloe sobbed uncontrobly, ¡°I¡¯m not a dog, I¡¯m a living person, Den. Please, have some pity on me. I don¡¯t want to live like a dog by your side anymore!¡± The bodyguards around them remained expressionless, and Den seemed indifferent to Chloe being seen in this state. He stripped her bare, cuffed her hands and feet, and as Chloe was humiliated in front of an audience, she thought death would be a kinder fate. ¡°Den, let me go, don¡¯t touch me!¡± Her eyes were rimmed with red, ¡°If you think saving my life once is such a big deal, then how about I give it back to you?¡± Den¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, and a terrifying emotion slowly filled his amber eyes. Heughed, a handsome sight, but his words were vicious, ¡°Chloe, a dog doesn¡¯t get to negotiate with me. You¡¯re the kind of person who wouldn¡¯t be missed if you died.¡± Her world shattered with those few words, her face turned pale as if she¡¯d fallen into a nightmare she¡¯d never wake from. 1/2 When Den entered her, the pain shot through her, and Chloe couldn¡¯t help but let out a muffled cry. Her vision blurred with tears, her voice broken, ¡°It hurts¡­ Help¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Her cries for help only pleased Den. Just as he was about to move, his gaze caught the specks of blood on the bed sheets, and for a moment, his perfect eyes were fixed on that stain. He felt as if he had been struck by a catastrophe, unable to move! In disbelief, he turned and grabbed Chloe¡¯s throat, ¡°You¡¯re a virgin? That¡¯s not possible!¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes were hollow as she didn¡¯t answer, just staring at Den, her look sending chills down his spine. Then she slowly twisted into a smile, as if resigned to her fate, she asked, ¡°Den, is this what you wanted?¡± Chapter 209 Chapter 209 On the other side, Matilda was freaking out after realizing Chloe ad vanished without a trace. She was so worried that she considered calling the cops. But after a brief visit to the station, they told her it was too soon to file a missing person¡¯s report and advised her to just go home and wait. Later that night, deep into the witching hour, Matilda¡¯s phone rang with Chloe¡¯s number. Matilda answered in a panic, ¡°Where the heck have you been after settling the bill? You scared the life out of me! I thought someone had snatched you!¡± ¡®I¡¯m downstairs. Let me in when you can.¡± Chloe¡¯s voice was hoarse, devoid of her usual bubbly demeanor. Five minutester, Matilda opened the door to find Chloe standing there, ghostly pale. Tears clung to her eyes. ¡°Mat, I¡­¡± The sight of the angry bruises marring her neck sent a jolt of pain through Matilda. Without a word, she wrapped Chloe in a tight embrace, whispering, ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s all okay now. You¡¯re safe, you¡¯re home. I was terrified you¡¯d be someone¡¯s captive.¡± Chloe buried her face in Matilda¡¯s shoulder and sobbed. By this time, Logan had long since retired to his room, and Chloe¡¯s return was sote that Matilda, too, was worn out from waiting. She guided Chloe to her room, and they huddled together under the covers, Chloe¡¯s tears flowing ceaselessly. ¡°Enough now,¡± Matilda said with a heavy heart, ¡°Forget about it, Chloe. Hey, how about we both head out to a new city?¡± Chloe looked up, her eyes a sea of confusion. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. Den won¡¯t let me go¡­¡± ¡°I made it through the tough times,¡± Matilda said, looking into her friend¡¯s face, ¡°and so can you.¡± Chloe stared nkly at Matilda for a long time. ¡°Once we wrap up the studio project, let¡¯s quit and leave this ce.¡± Run away. Escape this city that harbors the men they fear. Matilda nodded firmly. ¡°Deal! You¡¯re a whiz at admin, and I¡¯ve got the design chops. We¡¯ll never go hungry, wherever we go. No need to suffer over Den anymore.¡± Chloe¡¯s tears started anew, ¡°Mat, can feelings reallyst a lifetime in this world?¡± ?? ? Matilda met her gaze and said softly, ¡°Feelings are the most fickle things on earth. If you keep your heart in check, it won¡¯t hurt.¡± Chloe¡¯s resolve seemed to harden, ¡°But I can¡¯t ept this. I want Den to suffer¡­ Just like I hope you can tame Yvan, despite him being a jerk. I want him to be consumed by the 1/2 10-21 agony of the unattainable.¡± To suffer endlessly, craving what he can never have. Matilda chuckled lightly, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about that now. Den will regret his actions eventually, just like Yvan will.¡± Clutching each other¡¯s hands, the two women foundfort and warmth in each other¡¯spany. Chloe¡¯s eyshes trembled as she spoke with a chilling resolve. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I want them to lose everything, to live in misery and insignificance, penniless and haunted by memories of our goodness!¡± In that moment, a fearsome hatred flickered in Chloe¡¯s eyes. ¡°Matilda, help me, please help me!¡± Matilda looked at her steadfastly. ¡°If ever you find yourself at rock bottom, needing someone to reach out to, it won¡¯t be Den. It will be me.¡± The studio¡¯s ¡°Love Evolution¡± game had been on the market for a week and quickly garnered rave reviews from countless young women. A Facebook group even popped up dedicated to the game, with people sharing their gamey experiences. The romantic storylines satisfied their yearning for love, attracting even the most reclusive gamers, with burly men downloading the game and swooning over the male leads. ¡°Dude, that CEO character is a total stud!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going all out to win over the doctor!¡± ¡°Shoot, that cop looks so hot in his uniform. Talk about uniform appeal!¡± Amid the tidal wave of positive feedback, Matilda felt a surge of pride. However, a dark cloud loomed over another corner of the studio. That cloud came in the form of a departure¨Ca final one. Chloe was gone. Gone for good. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 No one knew about the tragedy that had unfolded, except for Matilda. She was the sole keeper of that grim secret. The day Chloe left was like any other she got dressed in her crisp work attire, slipped into her pumps, and headed to the office. When the workday ended, she quietly handed in her resignation letter while no one was looking, tying up all her foose ends before she vanished without a backward nce. Matilda had wept for her. Back when Chloe was crumpled on the floor, her blood painting a stark contrast against the white tiles, she had clutched Matilda¡¯s hand, her wrist still bleeding profusely. =11 ¥ß¥ä¥ß ¡°Matilda,¡± she had whispered, ¡°don¡¯t let Den touch me. Don¡¯t let him find me.¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¥ß¥Ë¥ß With tears streaming down her face, Matilda promised, and from that moment on, there was only silence. Matilda continued her life as though nothing had happened. She went to work, sharedughs and banter with her quirky colleagues, brainstormed new fashion lines in meetings, and kept Chloe¡¯s secret locked away. Nobody in the marketing department knew that their bright and bubbly beauty was gone. It was a weekter when Den realized Chloe had gone radio silent. After theirst encounter, he had callously tossed her aside like yesterday¡¯s newspaper, not even bothering to help her get dressed. He didn¡¯t spare a thought for the pain she must have endured as she walked away, nor the depths of despair she must have felt. To him, she was just a toy, and he regretted not having onest fling before discarding her. But a week of silence had passed, and Chloe hadn¡¯t reached out to him, not a single WhatsApp message or a yful ¡°Mr. Yeager¡± like she used to. She had once been ever¨Cpresent, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, all to earn a few extra bucks from Den. He had always considered Chloe the kind of woman who would spread her legs for anyone who shed the cash. She was like an annoying fly that couldn¡¯t be swatted away, always buzzing around him, her voice dripping with a fawning tone whenever she called him ¡°Mr. Yeager.¡± Yet, to others, she exuded a cold and sexy demeanor. Den was well aware that many men coveted her, and he took pleasure in knowing she obeyed only him. Everymand he gave, every task he demanded, was met with herpliance, and it fed his ego. All men wanted her, but she was his pet. But Den never considered the possibility that the woman who seemed so resilient, who never comined of pain, might one day admit that she was hurting ¨C and how 22:36 soul¨Cwrenchingly painful that admission would be Irritated, Den stubbed out his cigarette and nced at his phone. Chloe¡¯s chat was silent; her Facebook untouched for a week. He scoffed, thinking she was ying some kind of game with him. But he¡¯d never be the one to reach out first. So, with cold finality, he deleted Chloe¡¯s contact, expecting her toe crawling back, begging to be added again. The thought brought a twisted smile to his face. She was just another boring woman, after all. What a waste of his time. Matilda was settling into the rhythm of the creative studio. The team was a motley crew of personalities, all easy to get along with. Orson might have had a resting glum face, but- his talent was undeniable. Together, they often came up with ideas that were outside the box. The game¡¯sunch was a hit, with yer registrations skyrocketing. Their creative direction was paying off, so they doubled down, crafting new storylines and releasing fresh fashion. The studio¡¯s value soared. asionally, Matilda¡¯s thoughts would drift to Chloe and the scar on her wrist. She¡¯d look at her own scars and shake her head at how fate yed its cruel games. As time went on and the game topped the download charts for a month, Matilda felt a mix of pride and impending loneliness. The thought of parting ways with the studio made her heart heavy. She never expected to grow so attached in such a short time. Leaving now would be harder than she ever imagined. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 On that fateful day, Matilda walked into her home only to find it hollow, a void left by Chloe¡¯s departure. Now it was just her and Logan, rattling around in the silence. Whenever Logan¡¯s innocent eyes sought answers about where Chloe had gone, Matilda couldn¡¯t bring herself to utter the painful truth. She¡¯d simply tell him, ¡®It¡¯ll be alright soon,¡± and Logan would nod, a knowing patience in his gaze as if he understood they were bracing for some impending event. But that evening, an unexpected knock shattered the calm. The door swung open to reveal Yvan, and Matilda¡¯s world spun for a heartbeat. ¡°You¡­¡± Words failed her, and in a knee¨Cjerk reaction, she tried mming the door shut. Topte¨C Yvan¡¯s hand was wedged between the door and the frame! Matilda inhaled sharply, sure she¡¯d hurt him, but she couldn¡¯t care less. She didn¡¯t want to see Yvan, she wanted him out. Yvan forced the door open, cradling his injured hand. No sign of pain crossed his chiseled features as he sneered at her, ¡°If I wanted toe in, your flimsy door and a dozen locks wouldn¡¯t stop me,¡± he said, his voice so cold it sent shivers down Matilda¡¯s spine. ¡°What do you want?¡± she demanded, eyeing him through the crack. ¡°Open the door,¡± Yvan insisted. ¡°No way!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me bring a bulldozer from the construction site to tear this door down.¡± Matilda trembled with anger. ¡°Go ahead! If you¡¯re so tough, do it now!¡± She was determined to shut him out, but with a grunt, Yvan pried the door wider, and Matilda stumbled backward as the door flung open. ¡°Don¡¯te in!¡± she roared. ¡°Get out!¡± Yvan¡¯s heart chilled when he met her furious gaze. How deeply had he driven her away? ¡°Matilda, we need to talk,¡± he said, his voice low. *About what? There¡¯s nothing to talk about!¡± Matilda backed away. ¡°Are you here for Logan? Let me tell you, I won¡¯t hand him over to you again. You let him be kidnapped, and pushed him to the brink! You¡¯re not fit to be a father.¡± Yvan felt as if his chest had been sliced open, raw and bleeding. ¡°¡­ I came to talk aboutst time¡­¡± He wanted to say he was wrong, that the real viin This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. 22.36 was E, whom he had overlooked again and again. He longed to tell Matilda that he was just there to apologize, but now he feared forcing her and Logan¡¯s hatred and rejection. Facing Matilda, who seemed like a cornered animal, Yvan¡¯s words choked in his throat. His usual cold, decisive demeanor was gone, reced by a hint of panic. ¡°About the kidnapping¡­ I wanted to say¡­¡± Before he could finish, Matilda cut him off. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it. Please leave.¡± Those words were enough to condemn him. ¡°Matilda, can¡¯t you listen to my exnation?¡± Yvan pleaded. ¡°Your exnation?¡± Matildaughed bitterly. ¡°Did you listen when I told you it wasn¡¯t me five years ago? Yvan, you don¡¯t have the right to im innocence!¡± Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Yvan felt as if his heart was being excavated with every word Matilda uttered, his voice quivering, ¡°Matilda, do you really have to be this way?¡± She didn¡¯t even give him a chance to apologize! Matildaughed, a light retort from her lips slicing through Yvan¡¯s heart like a knife, ¡°Yvan, do you honestly think I¡¯m still hanging on your every excuse?¡± Yvan froze, his soul shaking as if struck by a sledgehammer. ¡°Forget about saying sorry, the past doesn¡¯te with an ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡® card, Yvan. What you did to me is way past the point of being fixed by a simple apology!¡± Her final sentence was almost a roar, her whole body trembling violently. As tears made their way down her cheeks, Matilda realized her heart had truly died. The man she once loved now stood before her, and she felt nothing but sorrow, not a flicker of emotion. Oh, Yvan, what have you done with the woman who once loved you so dearly? Wiping away her tears, Matilda said, ¡°Go now, Logan¡¯s still sleeping, and I don¡¯t want to wake him.¡± ¡°Matilda¡­¡± Yvan panicked. He had never seen her like this, her entire being radiating hate towards him. She didn¡¯t even want his apology; she would never forgive him! At some point, hate bes so deep that even ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡® loses its meaning.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Matilda pointed towards the door, her voice softening, ¡°Yvan, just go. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.¡± Yvan looked at the woman before him. She seemed fragile and powerless, yet she was hysterically refusing him. She had told him more than once to get lost, to vanish from her sight, but how could Yvan justply? The woman who had loved him so profoundly five years ago was now cutting ties without a second thought. Had she even considered his feelings? She, Matilda, had no right to break it off like this! Instead, he stepped forward and grabbed her hand. She shook violently, trying to break free, ¡°Are you trying to force me again?¡± Yvan let out a coldugh, ¡°I would never stoop to forcing you.¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes reddened as she said, ¡°Your pathetic persistence is embarrassing.¡± Enraged by her words, Yvan pinned her against the wall. ¡°Matilda, my patience has its limits. Stop ying hard to get with me!¡± 1/2 11.550 Matilda let out a ridiculousugh, ¡°ying hard to get? With you? You think you¡¯re worth that?¡± It had always been him using those words to shame her, but now, hearing them from her lips ignited something in Yvan. His emotions swelled to a breaking point, then exploded. He gripped Matilda¡¯s neck tightly, ¡°Don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you!¡± ¡°Come on, what haven¡¯t you done yet?¡± Matilda was fearless now, ¡°Yvan, I¡¯m curious to see just how ruthless you really are, to what lengths you¡¯ll push me!¡± So he was the devil in her eyes, wasn¡¯t he? He wanted to make amends, but what about her attitude? That cold look in her eyes as she faced him, did she think he couldn¡¯t feel pain? He wanted to have a proper conversation with her and their son, to make things right. But she faced him with such disdain; why should he ept that? Matilda, he, Yvan, had never begged for a woman¡¯s forgiveness in his life, and she had no right to treat him this way! Furious, Yvan flung her onto the couch. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re something special? Let me tell you, if I wanted to keep you, you wouldn¡¯t even have the luxury to think about death! I take pity on you, and you have the audacity to reject it? Who do you think you are?¡± Matildaughed, augh more bitter than Yvan¡¯s, ¡°Pity me? I don¡¯t need your pity. You¡¯d better stay away and stop disrupting my life!¡± Yvan pressed down on her, ¡°Don¡¯t reject the wine and then resent the hangover.¡± Matilda met his gaze fearlessly, her words crisp and clear, ¡°Yvan, I¡¯d like to see what you can threaten me with this time. Whatever you use to threaten me, that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯ll let go of!¡± Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Yvan had no idea how he managed to leave Matilda¡¯s ce that day. Her final words had left him shattered, his armor discarded, his defenses torn asunder. He fled, tearing away from her home as if chased by demons. His sports car roared down the highway, the windows rolled down, the biting wind funneling straight into his soul. His whole body trembled uncontrobly, spasms of pain gripping his chest. Stumbling into his house like a wounded soldier, he copsed onto the couch, his spirit in tatters. Gradually, he curled up, fetal¨Clike, as helpless as a newborn, clutching the fabric over his heart as if to hold himself together. He felt like a defeated generat, his consciousness in disarray, his breaths shaky and painful. It seemed even breathing was a stab of agony. Tears, cold and unbidden, fought to escape the corners of Yvan¡¯s eyes. After a long silence, he let out a guttural growl, choked by sobs. He had thought it wouldn¡¯t matter, that he could face this easily. But Matilda¡¯s piercing gaze and the venom in her words had yed him alive. He felt dissected, pain throbbing through every part of him. He had never paid her any mind, and had loathed her, so why did her indifference wound him so deeply? Was it just a man¡¯s petty possessiveness that caused such agony? His fingers clenched tightly, but not enough to stop their trembling: He felt as if he had been stricken by a terrible illness, his own insults to her now reflected back upon him. How could he say he regretted it? He didn¡¯t love her; he couldn¡¯t. And yet, why was the pain so profound? The night stretched on, each second an eternity, torturing Yvan¡¯s heart. The pain of losing Matilda seemed, unfathomably, to exceed even the loss of Rachel Archer. 1/3 This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. 10:44 Chapter 213 The turmoil of the night caused Matilda to bete for work the next day. She figured she¡¯d get docked for attendance and yawned as she settled back into her seat. ¡°Rare sight, you beingte,¡± H twirled her pen nearby. ¡°Thought that was Orson¡¯s trademark.¡± No sooner had she spoken than anotherter, Orson, shuffled in, his face the very image of sleep deprivation. ¡°Morning, folks¡­¡± ¡°Congrattions Orson, you¡¯rete again,¡± H quipped. Orson justzily lifted his lids, slumped at his desk, and promptly fell into a nap. Luna¡¯s fingers flew over her keyboard. ¡°Impressive, he¡¯s totally given up.¡± ¡°He makes more in bonuses than his base sry anyway,¡± H shrugged. Yoshi sauntered over, his jacket swishing. ¡°Looks like our goddess could use a pick¨Cme¨Cup. How about a cup of instant coffee?¡± Matilda couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, epting the coffee he was handing out to everyone. She then booted up herputer, ready to tackle another day. But she didn¡¯t expect Den to show up at their studio. When she saw him in the reception area, her first instinct was to turn and walk away. But then Den called out to her, and she had no choice but to stop. ¡°Luna said someone was looking for me. I didn¡¯t expect it to be you,¡± Matilda said without even sitting down, getting straight to the point. ¡°What do you want, Mr. Yeager?¡± Den scrutinized Matilda, searching for any crack in herposure, but found none. ¡°Where¡¯s Chloe?¡± he eventually asked, his voice deep and pressing. Matilda¡¯s silence was as final as death itself. With an impatient click of his tongue, Den repeated, ¡°Where¡¯s Chloe? I¡¯m not a patient man¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s dead.¡± Matilda met Den¡¯s gaze squarely. ¡°Looking for her? Want to light 10-44 Chapter 213 a candle?¡± Den¡¯s amber eyes narrowed to pinpoints, a visceral denial rising within him. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°Impossible? The service has already passed.¡± Matilda¡¯s voice wasced with scorn. ¡°Chloe had no family; I arranged everything myself. What, you¡¯ve had a change of heart and want to pay your respects?¡± A chill crept up Den¡¯s spine, slow and inexorable. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. No way, Den couldn¡¯t fathom it¨Cunless he witnessed it with his own eyes, he couldn¡¯t believe that something terrible had happened to Chloe. His eyes narrowed to slits as he confronted Matilda. ¡°Cut the crap, I want the truth.¡± ¡°The truth?¡± Matilda¡¯sugh was a gentle mockery as she observed Den¡¯s disbelief. ¡°Mr. Yeager, why is it that you folks alwayse knocking only after the ship has sailed?¡± A chill descended upon Den as he locked eyes with Matilda, searching for the telltale signs of a lie. But there were none. Matilda¡¯s gaze held a mocking light, as if¡­ as if she was avenging Chloe. ¡°Say it again,¡± Den¡¯s voice was a low growl. ¡°It¡¯d be the same story no matter how many times I repeat it.¡± Matilda¡¯sughter was brief and bitter. ¡°She¡¯s dead. Shouldn¡¯t you be over the moon?¡± Struck by lightning, Den stood frozen on the spot. Despite his effort to remainposed, the shock was evident in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± His denial was fierce, as if volume alone could reverse reality. ¡°She was just fine before¡­¡± ¡°Sure, she was just fine,¡± Matilda snapped back, ¡°What did you do to her, Den? She came back one night covered in bruises. Chloe was nothing but loyal and devoted to you, and all she got in return was your scorn! Don¡¯t you have a conscience?¡± Den paled, his usual cool demeanor crumbling. He stood abruptly, facing Matilda¡¯s usation. ¡°That can¡¯t be, true. She can¡¯t be dead. This has to be some sick joke you¡¯re ying on me¡­¡± Tears welled in Matilda¡¯s eyes. ¡°A joke? What good would lying do me? Den, you should be ecstatic! One less nagging woman in your life. If I were you, I¡¯d shout it from the rooftops, celebrating Chloe¡¯s good riddance!¡± Her words were a knife through Den¡¯s chest, his hands trembling as he grasped the enormity of his loss. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Chloe can¡¯t be dead! Even if she were, I¡¯d dig her up myself!¡± Den¡¯sposure was shattered as he grabbed Matilda¡¯s blouse. ¡°Tell me, where is she hiding?¡± Matilda scoffed, ¡°Her ashes are buried underground, perhaps you should go dig around the cemetery?¡± A bone¨Cchilling cold enveloped Den, his voice quivering with panic. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re heartless!¡± ¡°How many times do I have to say it?¡± Matilda¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Mr. Yeager, let go. Chloe is dead. Congrattions, you¡¯re free from her.¡± But Den felt as though he had been doused in ice water. A lump in his throat choked back his words. He kept repeating, ¡°It¡¯s not possible. Chloe can¡¯t be dead¡­¡± She was so strong, so resilient. How could she just¡­ die? She was his indispensable secretary. He hadn¡¯t dismissed her yet. How dare she leave? She always managed to smile through her tears. She couldn¡¯t be dead! He hadn¡¯t even considered what he¡¯d do if she were gone. Impossible! Den¡¯s eyes burned with barely contained fury. ¡°You must be lying. Come clean now, or if I find out the truth myself, you won¡¯t get off so easily!¡± Yet Matilda regarded him as one might a stranger, indifferent. ¡°Do you remember what Chloe once told you?¡± 1/2 17:46 Chapter 214 ¡°it you think saving my life once is such a big deal, then how about I give it back to you?¡± In that instant, Den¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had taken her words as a spat a mere jibe¡­. But Matilda smiled. See, she gave it back, didn¡¯t she?¡± Chapter 215 Chapter 215 At that moment, Matilda saw a storm of emotions raging in Den¡¯s eyes, emotions she had never before witnessed on his usually stoic face. He was a man ustomed to indifference, rarely showing any sign of inner turmoil. But now, it was as if she could see a tempest tearing through his soul, hisposure crumbling away like a decaying cliff face in a relentless sea. Gone¡­ She¡­ She¡¯s really gone. Den staggered backward, his hand clutching at his shirt over his heart, as if trying desperately to anchor himself amid the pain. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. His heart was in agony, a pain so sharp it felt as though it could wrench his bones from his body. Den¡¯s face, ashen, lifted to meet Matilda¡¯s gaze. She smiled at him sarcastically, her eyes red with unshed tears, ¡°She¡¯s paid her debt to you, Den. No one will ever trouble you again. You were right, she was nothing but a stray dog. Dead is dead, nothing to mourn.¡± The very words he¡¯d once used to Chloe were now the weapon Matilda wielded to cut him deep. Den didn¡¯t remember how he left Matilda¡¯s office. He felt like he was in a daze, trapped in a nightmare he couldn¡¯t escape. He felt like he was suffocating. His mind was flooded with images of Chloe, always so eager to please, always by his side. She was like a roach that couldn¡¯t be killed, fighting so hard to stay alive, to be the person he needed the most. Den couldn¡¯t bear to imagine a life without her, not now. Matilda watched Den¡¯s retreating figure, pulling back her tears, when she turned to see Orson holding a cup of coffee. ¡°You know Den?¡± His voice was t, almost indifferent. Subconsciously, Matilda wanted to deny any closeness, ¡°Not really, he¡¯s a friend of a friend.¡± Orson looked at her for a long moment before responding with a nomittal, ¡°Oh.¡± Sometimes Matilda couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on in Orson¡¯s head, but then, designers were known to be free spirits, and she didn¡¯t care to pry. After work, Matilda headed home, nning to take Logan out for a bite, only to find out he¡¯d already eaten. ¡°How did you eat already?¡± she asked, surprised. Logan, fiddling with his gaming device, said, ¡°Uncle Adrian took me out!¡± The name made Matilda frown. ¡°Don¡¯t hang out with him anymore.¡± Logan looked up, his eyes crinkling with a smile, ¡°Mommy, do you not like him?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± Matilda admitted without hesitation, ¡°He¡¯s just like Yvan, and we need to keep our distance.¡± Logan pondered for a moment, ¡°But he¡¯s nice to me.¡± ¡°Nice because he wants something,¡± she cautioned. Matilda squatted down to meet Logan¡¯s gaze, ¡°Remember, never trust someone just because they offer you a little sweetness. We need to protect ourselves. I don¡¯t want you to suffer like I did.¡± Her words may have been harsh for a child, but Logan took them to heart. ¡°Okay, if you don¡¯t like him, I won¡¯t hang out with Uncle Adrian anymore.¡± Chapter 215 Satisfied, Matilda nodded. ¡°Good, tomorrow I¡¯ll take you out to eat.¡± But what was Adrian up to? Taking her child out without her knowing¨Cit was unsettling. If Logan didn¡¯t come home one day, she¡¯d be frantic! After some thought, Matilda decided they couldn¡¯t stay in that house any longer. It was time to find a new ce or a roommate for added security. Between Yvan¡¯s unexpected visits and Adrian¡¯s unsettling attentions, she was at her wit¡¯s end. She posted an ad on a roommate¨Cfinding app, looking for someone clean and tolerant of children. The rent was reasonable; she just wanted an extrayer of safety. The very next day, someone texted her in response to the ad, suggesting they meet to sign a lease agreement and move in. Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Matilda didn¡¯t give it much thought. After checking out the details of the person¡¯s workce and all, she agreed to let him move in. But when the time came for him to show up at her doorstep, both of them were taken aback. There was Orson, standing outside with his suitcase in hand, while Matilda was inside, both staring at each other in disbelief. After a long silence, they blurted out in unison, ¡°How is it you¡­?¡± However, Logan, upon seeing Orson, burst into excitement and shouted, ¡°Uncle Orson! You¡¯re moving in to live with us?¡± ¡°The lease isn¡¯t signed yet.¡± Orson replied in his usual standoffish tone. ¡°It¡¯s not certain.¡± ¡°Stay, please stay!¡± Logan grabbed Orson¡¯s hand, ¡°If Uncle Orson lives here, Mom won¡¯t be lonely anymore!¡± Their words seemed innocuous enough to the adults, but Matilda¡¯s expression shifted, ¡°What made you think of moving?¡± ¡°Thedy I was renting from got herself a boyfriend who wasn¡¯t too thrilled about me,¡± Orson exined sinctly, revealing the crux of the matter. Matilda surmised that thendlord¡¯s boyfriend must have felt uneasy about his girlfriend sharing a space with another man and had decided to stop renting to Orson. Seeing Orson with his suitcase, Matilda couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of sympathy and sighed, pulling his suitcase inside. ¡°Well, you can stay here for the time being. I don¡¯t have many requirements, just as long as my roommate has a clean record.¡± A clean record? Orson didn¡¯t respond. Meanwhile, Logan came over with a strawberry. ¡°Uncle Orson, have a strawberry!¡± ¡°Logan,¡± Matilda said while moving Orson¡¯s luggage, ¡°Did you wash the strawberry? Don¡¯t give it to our guest if it¡¯s not clean!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°It¡¯s washed!¡± Logan chirped happily, handing the strawberry to Orson. ¡°Mommy says we must always serve clean fruit to guests.¡± ¡°And you should always eat clean, too,¡± Matilda said, yfully tweaking Logan¡¯s nose. ¡°Don¡¯t eat too much before bed.¡± Orson watched the mother and son interact, somewhat surprised at how well Matilda had raised her son to understand these little life lessons. ¡°I¡¯ll have four then, and one is for Uncle Orson,¡± Logan said, looking expectantly at Orson, who had no choice but to eat the offered strawberry, muttering a quiet ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°No need to be polite, Uncle Orson, you¡¯re family! If you want more, just help yourself from the fridge. Mommy won¡¯t mind!¡± Logan was clearly gettingfortable with Orson, pulling him to the couch, ¡°Do you y video games, Uncle Orson? I got a console.¡± Orson¡¯s interest piqued at the mention of games, his voice deepening, ¡°I actually make video games.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Logan eximed, ¡°Uncle Orson, that¡¯s so cool! Are you good at ying them? We could y together!¡± Orson cracked a rare smile, nced at the console and asked, ¡°You¡¯re ying Pok¨¦mon? Do you understand it?¡± While Matilda was dragging Orson¡¯s luggage, she called out, ¡°Orson, could you come here and help me sort this out?¡± Matilda then turned to Logan, ¡°Logan, slow down with the game. Uncle Orson hasn¡¯t settled in yet. Do you want 17:46 Chapter 216 to help?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help!¡± Logan bounced off the couch. ¡°Mommy, is Chloe¡¯s room going to be his?¡± Matilda nodded. ¡°Yes, could you check if the room is clean?¡± Logan scampered off to tidy up Chloe¡¯s room, and soon after, Matilda and Orson moved his belongings in and gave the ce another once¨Cover. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, you can use these sheets and nkets for tonight. We¡¯ll look for new ones at the mall tomorrow.¡± Orson grunted in acknowledgment, then asked, ¡°What about the girl who used to live here?¡± Matilda¡¯s eyes momentarily filled with emotion, but she casually replied, ¡°Oh, she went back to get married to her boyfriend, so she won¡¯t be returning for a while. She transferred the lease over to me, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± It sounded almost like she was dead and left the house to you, Orson thought somberly but didn¡¯t voice it. Instead, he simply said, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I never expected it would be you moving in; saves me the trouble of getting to know someone new,¡± Matilda said with a smile from the doorway. ¡°If you need anything, just holler. My boy seems to like you a lot.¡± Orson¡¯s eyshes fluttered, but he remained silent. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 As the moon hung high, casting its silver glow through the window, Logan crept towards Orson¡¯s room, nudging the door ajar just enough to peer inside. Through the sliver of space, he caught a glimpse of Orson, spectacles perched on his nose, in the midst of a video call with someone Logan couldn¡¯t quite make out. The only thing he could discern was a particrly melodious female voice emanating from the screen. ¡°?rson, we¡¯ve been together for ages now. Can¡¯t you just marry me already?¡± ¡°Us? Together? Since when?¡± ¡°Have you not been with me these past two years?¡± Orson adjusted his sses, his handsome, expressionless face as stoic as ever. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t realize we were dating.¡± ¡°Are you freaking insane? What¡¯s so great about those silly games? How can you just ignore me after all the time I¡¯ve wasted on you?¡± Orson remained as impassive as a block of ice. ¡°Did I ever ask you to waste your time on me?¡± The girl on the screen¡¯s eyes began to well up, her voice breaking, ¡°Orson, you can¡¯t treat me like this¡­¡± Her words trailed off as she caught sight of something, ¡°Orson, why is there a kid behind you?¡± Orson swiveled around to see Logan standing at the door, looking lost and forlorn. ¡°Uncle Orson, did I interrupt something?¡± Heaving a sigh, Orson wheeled his chair over, scooping Logan into his arms before presenting him to the screen. Logan nced at the screen, taking in the sight of the rather pretty girl on the other end. However, Orson, holding Logan close, told her, ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t marry you. I have a son.¡± Logan, quick to pick up on the cue, chimed in with an impromptu shout, ¡°Daddy!¡± The two of them yed their part in this farce with straight faces, leaving the girl sobbing on the other side, ¡°How could you do this to me? Do you know how much I care about you? You jerk! I¡¯ll tell your mother about this!¡± Orson clicked his tongue in annoyance. ¡°Don¡¯t bother my mom. You two would drive a man to his grave with your nagging.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m a nuisance, don¡¯t you?¡± the girl red up, ¡°I¡¯ll go to your mom and she¡¯ll set you straight! Mark my words, you¡¯ll marry me whether you like it or not! There¡¯s only one Mrs. Crowe, and that¡¯s me!¡± Orson snorted, ¡°I¡¯d rather spend a lifetime with a guy than with you. Get that through your head.¡± As the girl opened her mouth to cry again, Orson promptly ended the call, then patted Logan on the cheek. ¡°Thanks for ying along.¡± Logan grinned, ¡°Was she one of your admirers?¡± Orson took off his sses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ¡°Something like that. She¡¯s a nuisance.¡± Logan couldn¡¯t help but gossip, ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever thought about getting a girlfriend?¡± Orson replied without hesitation, ¡°Nope. Gaming is my life¡¯s project.¡± Logan pouted, ¡°Uncle Orson, you¡¯ll never get a girlfriend with that attitude.¡± Orson chuckled for once. ¡°Are you lecturing me now?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Logan said, climbing onto Orson¡¯sp and smiling. ¡°Mom was worried about my uncle¡¯s dating life 1/2 17:46 Chapter 217 before. If you can¡¯t find a girlfriend as well, she¡¯ll probably go nuts with worry.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You sure do care a lot¡­¡± After a long silence, Orson looked into Logan¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°Maybe you should worry more about your mom first.¡± At that, Logan lifted his head proudly, patting his chest. ¡°My mom¡¯s a heartbreaker! She has no trouble finding boyfriends!¡± Orson put him down on his feet. ¡°Get some sleep. It¡¯s past your bedtime.¡± ¡°I want to sleep with you,¡± Logan blinked innocently. ¡°I¡¯ve never slept in your bed before.¡± Orson was silent for a moment, then said nothing. The next morning, when Matilda couldn¡¯t find Logan, she pushed open the door to find arge bed with a grown man and a small boy sleeping side by side. Logan was nestled close to Orson, whoy with his eyes shut, the nket only half¨Ccovering his back. They faced each other, each in their own unique pose, looking just like father and son. Matilda chuckled, ¡°Logan, why did you end up sleeping in your Uncle Orson¡¯s roomst night?¡± Stirred awake by Matilda¡¯s voice, Logan rubbed his eyes. ¡°Morning, Mom. You¡¯re up early.¡± The little boy mbered out of bed and sidled up to Matilda at the doorway, whispering, ¡°Shh! Uncle Orson is still sleeping¡­¡± Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Orson was jolted awake by a noise, and the grumpiness that clung to him like a second skin in the mornings was evident as he squinted up at Matilda, who stood in the doorway. The covers slid off him, revealing his torso, shirtless and surprisingly appealing despite his usual hunch over aputer. His lean chest bore the subtle testament to a modestmitment to fitness. Matilda couldn¡¯t help but see a resemnce to her own brother in Orson¡¯s face. ¡°Did I wake you?¡°. He mumbled an incoherent response, propping himself up with one hand while the other raked through his tousled hair. Squinting at Matilda, he asked, ¡°What time is it?¡± She replied, ¡°Nine¡­ Nine in the morning¡­¡± Before she could finish, Orson copsed back onto his pillow with a thud, surrendering to sleep as if it were his natural state. Here we go again, the art of instant slumber. Logan tiptoed around, whispering, ¡°Is Uncle Orson going back to sleep?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s leave him be,¡± Matilda suggested, ushering Logan out and gently closing the door behind them. In the quiet of his room, Orson¡¯s face softened in sleep, free from his usual icy detachment. The bed, evidently chosen to suit his taste, cradled him in undeniablefort. That aftemoon, Matilda took Logan to enroll in a prep ss at an exclusive private school. The admissions officer was taken aback by Logan¡¯s age. ¡°Five years old? Our program starts at seven¡­¡± ¡°I can do it!¡± Logan insisted, clutching Matilda¡¯s hand. The officer was charmed both by Logan¡¯s good looks and his politeness. ¡°How about we give you an entrance test? If you pass, you can join the older kids at our school. How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Logan was confident, having spent countless hours poring over eclectic books in Yvan¡¯s study, his young mind already brimming with knowledge. Matilda apanied Logan to the assessment, then reassured him, ¡°Mommy will wait outside for you. Go ahead with your test.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Logan psyched himself up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy, I¡¯ve got this.¡± Half an hourter, the examiner was bbergasted, holding thepleted test. ¡°You did this all by yourself?¡± Logan nodded proudly. The examiner was astonished. ¡°Solving elementary algebra, using idioms in sentences, quoting famous sayings, and your handwriting! Did you learn all this on your own?¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± Logan exined. ¡°I picked it up at someone else¡¯s house.¡± He was referring to the influence of Yvan¡¯s elite education during his enforced stay with the Boyd family. Matilda nced at Logan¡¯s paper. The script was impossible without practice. She whispered, ¡°Did he make you practice it?¡± ¡°He¡® meant Yvan. Logan nodded, ¡°He said the font was elegant. Good to start young.¡± It was one of the few positive legacies Yvan had left on Logan. The examiner praised Logan¡¯s advanced cognitive development and began the enrollment process. ¡°Ms. Thompson,e back the day after tomorrow with all the necessary documents, and we¡¯ll register your son as soon as possible.¡± ! Matilda thanked her profusely. The examiner, still in awe, gently touched Logan¡¯s cheek, marveling at his intelligence and beauty. ¡°In a few days, you¡¯ll join the first graders. It¡¯s different from pre¨Cschool, you know. Will you cry?¡± ¡°No way.¡± Logan¡¯s eyes sparkled with eagerness. ¡°I¡¯ll study hard!¡± The examiner¡¯s impression of the mother and son duo was overwhelmingly positive. As Matilda led Logan away, whispers followed them. ¡°Such a well¨Cbehaved child, they¡¯re blessed.¡± ¡°The mother has such poise. Could she be an heiress?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the father? Could it be one of those arranged marriages?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Poor things, such a lovely mother, and son, their time wasted.¡± Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Matilda arrived home just as the evening was settling in, having taken Logan on a little supermarket adventure. The friendly cashiers had grown familiar with the sight of her and her super cute son, and couldn¡¯t help but greet them with a yful cheer, ¡°Little Logan, out with Mommy for some treats today?¡± ¡°No treats today,¡± Logan dered, imitating the grown¨Cups with a shake of his head, ¡°Mom says we¡¯re having a family fondue night!¡± The bunch of them showered Logan with praise, chuckling at his antics. With such an adorable little charmer, Matilda had practically won over everyone in the neighborhood. Leading Logan by the hand, she could hear the continued praises for her fortune in having such a clever boy. Once home, Matilda and Logan busied themselves in the kitchen, washing the veggies and preparing the tter for their fondue feast. Everything set, Matilda caught Logan eyeing the bubbling pot on the table with anticipation. She chuckled, ¡°Wash your hands and grab a chair, sweetie. I¡¯ll go fetch Uncle Orson.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Logan hopped onto a chair as Matilda headed to the room that used to be Chloe¡¯s, knocking twice before calling out, ¡°Excuse me¡­ As she opened the door, she caught sight of Orson, shirtless, in the midst of changing. His muscled back was to her, each defined muscle flexing as he moved. Matilda paused, ¡°You¡­¡± Orson, nonchntly, tossed his shirt to the floor and approached her, ¡°Dinner time?¡± Hisid¨Cback demeanor was like that of a lord of the manor, and Matilda felt like his dutiful housekeeper. Matilda replied, ¡°It¡¯s your first day here, and Logan and I have prepared a family fondue. We¡¯ve got a variety of dips and bites. Hope you like it.¡± Orson, still bare¨Cchested, moved closer, ¡°Got a shirt I can borrow?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Matilda was momentarily thrown off. Orson gestured to the shirt on the floor, ¡°Too tight, can¡¯t fit.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought and a lengthy rummage through her things, Matilda unearthed a shirt from the bottom of a suitcase and handed it to Orson. He slipped his arms through, fastening the buttons with his slender fingers before casually adjusting the cor and checking his reflection in Chloe¡¯s full¨C length mirror. He made a sound of approval, ¡°Not bad. You keep men¡¯s shirts?¡± Matilda stiffened slightly, then said, ¡°Used to be someone else¡¯s.¡± It was for Yvan, but that ended up just being a joke, best forgotten. Orson acknowledged her with a nod, then, still in his pajama bottoms, made his way out, yawning. ¡°Which bathroom can I use?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°The one on the left. I¡¯ve put out a new toothbrush and cup for you. Logan chose them when we were at the supermarket.¡± Orson muttered a thanks and took a nce, only to find a toothbrush cup adorned with Winnie the Pooh and a pink toothbrush. Logan, scampering on his little legs, arrived at the bathroom door and peered in. ¡°Uncle Orson, do you like your new toothbrush and cup?¡± Orson swallowed his initial reaction, then stiffly managed, ¡°Sure.¡± Logan beamed, ¡°I knew you would! I used to like Winnie the Pooh, but now I¡¯m all about Star Trek.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!