《His love》 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 ¡°What truth?¡± Willow realized she was asking the obvious. There was no other truth aside from the truth Behind Nic¡¯s death. Sure enough, after Skyler entered uninvited and sat on the couch, she spoke leisurely, ¡°The truth about Nic¡¯s death! ¡°Lolo, I couldn¡¯t speak the truthst night because there were so many people near the cliff. But now, I can tell you everything you want to know.¡± Skyler nced at the coffee table and noticed Willow¡¯s phone was there. Once she confirmed there was no recording, she smiled maliciously and spoke again. ¡°Lolo, to be honest, I brought those men to Nic. In fact, Sylvia and I drove Nic to suicide! When Sylvia and I led Ss there, the scene by the cliff was chaotic. ¡°After what happened, those men told us that Nic hadmitted suicide due to extreme humiliation. Lolo, know how we instructed those men? We asked them to torture her. do you ¡°How could a woman who had just lost her child withstand such humiliation? Oh! The blood on the cliffst night was all Nic¡¯s.¡± ¡°Skyler!¡± Willow hated her so much that her eyes were about to burst into mes. She gritted her teeth tightly. But Skyler seemed oblivious to her anger. She continued with great pride, ¡°Lolo, do you know why I¡¯m telling you the truth? It¡¯s because I enjoy seeing you suffer in pain. It makes me happy!¡± ¡°Skyler, for Nic¡¯s and Aaron¡¯s sake, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Willow couldn¡¯t hold back her anger any longer. She rushed forward and wanted to fight Skyler to death.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Due to her weak strength, Willow was no match for Skyler. Skyler pushed Willow to the ground with only a little force. Willow wasn¡¯t going to let Skyler leave like this. However, without taking any painkillers and with such excruciating pain in her stomach, she didn¡¯t even have the strength to get up. Seeing Willow¡¯s painful appearance, Skyler looked satisfied. ¡°Lolo, you¡¯d better not think about avenging anyone in your current state. You¡¯d better die soon and reunite with Nic and your son!¡± Skyler slowly got up from the sofa. As she walked past Willow, she kicked her in the face. ¡°Lolo, I don¡¯t mind sending you off to hell early!¡± Skyler mmed the door shut, leaving Willow lying on the ground. Chapter 171 Willow didn¡¯t know if she had bitten her lips in her hatred or if she was simply vomiting blood. Blood continued to flow from the corner of her lips, She was filled with extreme hatred. But she couldn¡¯t even muster the strength to avenge Nic and Aaron. It embarrassed Willow to know she couldn¡¯t strike against the haughty Skyler. Willow thought for a while and decided that happiness was the key. She would live happily for the rest of her life. She remembered what Nic had once said. Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Nic once said, ¡°We all came empty¨Chanded as the day we¡¯re born. We ought to leave empty¨Chanded. Be faithful to one person, and keep your soul free.¡± Willow covered her mouth. She couldn¡¯t stop sobbing. Nic was cheerful and optimistic. But in some ways, she was also very conservative. She only wanted to give herself to the man she deeply loved. But those disgusting men had vited Nic. Nic must have felt that she was no longer clean. That¡¯s why she was in so much pain. She couldn¡¯t even muster the strength to live. Since Nic was already vited, Willow couldn¡¯t let those usations tarnish Nic further. So, even though she was no longer alive, Willow wanted Zayn to testify in court to clear Nic of any wrongdoing. Trembling, Willow reached for her phone on the coffee table and dialed Zayn¡¯s number. She waited for a while before hearing his indifferent and somewhat impatient voice. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Carter, you promised to testify for Nic. I hope you can prove her innocence.¡± ¡°Willow, you seem to have forgotten something.¡± Willow didn¡¯t understand what Zayn meant by that, but she knew he would exin. So, she didn¡¯t ask further and waited quietly for him to continue. ¡°Willow, I promised to help you prove Nic¡¯s innocence, but only if you satisfy me.¡± Zayn¡¯s voice was tinged with disdain as he continued, ¡°Right now, I¡¯m not satisfied with you!¡± Willow was so angry that she wanted to curse, but she needed his help. So, she suppressed her anger and spoke, ¡°Mr. Carter, what do I need to do to satisfy you?¡± She didn¡¯t want to get close to Zayn anymore, but Nic was the best in the world. Willow could not let Nic be known as a murderer after her death. Willow would bear all the me by herself. ¡°Look for Room 2208 at Velvet Noir tonight at 9:00 pm!¡± Zayn hung up the phone without any hesitation.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Willow knew that his invitation would mean nothing good. But to clear Nic¡¯s name and establish Sylvia as the murderer, she decided to meet Zayn. She clearly knew she shouldn¡¯t be doing this. But it would be worth it if Willow could use her broken body to make those people she hated pay a price. Chapter 172 Unable to endure the pain any longer, Willow bought some painkillers. After eating a simple dinner, she put on a coat and hurried to Velvet Noir. She felt unusually cold recently. She still shivered while wearing thick clothes when the air conditioning was on. The cab driver stopped the car on the roadside opposite Velvet Nolr. As Willow walked this short distance, she felt an immense coldness throughout her body. Her life had almoste to an end. As she suppressed the tremble in her body, Willow walked to the private room mentioned by Zayn. The door was not closed tightly. With a gentle push, the door was already open. She immediately understood why Zayn insisted on hering over. It was because Kenan was also there. Chapte Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Zayn was clearly trying to humite her in front of Kenan. It was really despicable of him. Willow¡¯s eyes turned red. Zayn always had a way to make her feel miserable. She couldn¡¯t be bothered less if he was humiliating her in front of someone else. But her feelings for Kenan were somewhat different. She wasn¡¯t trying to act noble in front of him just to impress him. She genuinely regarded him as family. Zayn humiliating her in front of him felt like a blow to her dignity. Willow refused to let Zayn have his way. She wanted to leave. But before she could, Kenan eximed joyfully, ¡°Willow, what brings you here?¡± Kenan stood up and quickly approached her. He gently sped her hand. ¡°Willow, I was just thinking of looking for you, but I didn¡¯t expect you toe first. Great minds do think alike.¡± ¡°Huh! Think alike?¡± Zayn sneered and frowned coldly. His presence was as cold as ice. Willow clearly heard the mockery in his tone. Her face instantly turned pale. She was afraid that Zayn would reveal her purpose foring any time. ¡°Venus?¡± A seemingly excited voice had spoken up in the private room. Willow looked at the source of the voice and was surprised to see the foreign man sitting on the couch. He was the same man she had met with Zaynst time at Rumpus Club. Seeing Willow notice him, Thane became even more excited and waved at her eagerly. Kenan also heard Thane¡¯s voice and tugged Willow over. ¡°Do you know each other?¡± Willow didn¡¯t know how to respond. Their encounter had been brief, so she couldn¡¯t really tell whether they were acquainted. ¡°We do!¡± Before Willow could speak, Thane said happily, ¡°To be precise, I know Venus. I¡¯m her fan! Her dancing is really nice!¡± Thane gave off a clean, enthusiastic, and sincere vibe. Though his gaze toward her was passionate, it didn¡¯t make her ufortable at all. Nor did it contain any hint of any inappropriate intentions. It was just pure admiration, ¡°Willow¡¯s dancing is indeed beautiful! You have good taste!¡± Kenan was happy that someone praised Willow. Thinking of something, he quickly said, ¡°What do you think of Willow participating in the casting for this ad?¡± Chapter 173Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Once it involved his profession, Thane became serious instantly. After all, he was an International director He carefully examined Willow. ¡°Venus¡® image is certainly not a problem. But even for amercial, I still require acting skills. Whether she would be cast depends on the final oue of the ad. ¡°If you really want her to film this perfume ad, you can let her audition tomorrow. I¡¯ll make a fair decision.¡± Willow waspletely baffled. She was clueless about what kind of ad she could shoot with her current state. Before Kenan could speak, Thane suddenly realized something. He nced doubtfully at Zayn. ¡°If I remember correctly, aren¡¯t Venus and Zayn¡­¡± ¡°So what if Willow had an ex¨Cboyfriend?¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Though Kenan said it casually, he rified the rtionship between Willow and Zayn. As an ex¨Cboyfriend, no matter how intimate they were before, they were all in the past. ¡°Oh!¡± Thane suddenly realized. ¡°Of course! Venus is so pretty. It¡¯s only natural that men pursue her!¡± Thane lightly patted Zayn, who was beside him. Then, he said, ¡°Zayn, you have no luck! Venus is such a prettydy, and you¡¯ve lost her to Kenan!¡± Thane picked up his wine ss and finished the wine. ¡°Kenan, congrattions! I wish you and Venus a lifetime of happiness!¡± Zayn¡¯s face was already dark. But after hearing Thane¡¯s words, his expression became even more grim. He clenched his fists tightly as if one more word from Thane would bring him to shut his mouth. Thane was on a roll, so he didn¡¯t notice Zayn¡¯s expression. He continued adding fuel to the fire. ¡°By the way, Zayn, what¡¯s your current girlfriend¡¯s name? Oh, I remember! It¡¯s Skyler! The award¨Cwinning actress. Zayn, I don¡¯t mean to criticize you, but your taste¡­ ¡°Thane, you¡¯re talking too much!¡± Upon meeting Zayn¡¯s stern gaze, Thane couldn¡¯t help but tremble. He was somewhat afraid of Zayn, who was good at martial arts. He didn¡¯t dare to look down on him anymore. To prevent Zayn from beating him up, he quickly changed the subject. ¡°It seems that Ms. Dawson is alsoing for the audition tomorrow. I wonder who¡¯ll stand out? Will it be Ms. Dawson or Ms. Sanford?¡± Thane smiled at Willow. ¡°Venus, what do you think?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Willow was stunned. She couldn¡¯t keep up with Thane. One moment ago, the topic was about Skyler. The next moment, Thane was talking about her. She pondered Thane¡¯s words carefully and responded politely, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Thane became more excited. ¡°Venus, you muste to the audition tomorrow. I¡¯ve been looking forward to your dance again!¡± Willow didn¡¯t want to participate in any audition, let alone dance for Thane. She was just about to decline his invitation when he poured himself another ss of wine and poured her a ss as well. ¡°I wish you sess in tomorrow¡¯s audition!¡± With that, he finished the wine in his ss. Since Thane had finished his drink, Willow would be considered rude if she didn¡¯t drink at least a sip. Chapter 174 2/2 However, she couldn¡¯t handle alcohol with her stomach like this. After some thought, she decided to take a small sip of the wine and excuse herself to the restroom to spit it outter.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. When her lips touched the ss, Kenan took away the ss in her hand. He smiled warmly and said, ¡°How could I let her drink when I¡¯m here?¡± Kenan finished the wine in the ss. ¡°Thane, do you think I¡¯m invisible?¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Thane looked frustrated, and he suddenly smacked his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kenny. It was my fault! How could I let this beautifuldy drink alcohol?¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°I wasn¡¯t considerate enough, beautiful Venus. I¡¯ll take a shot to make up for it!¡± Kenan stopped fooling around after cing the wine ss in front of him. With an intense gaze, he said, ¡°Willow, you don¡¯t have to do what you don¡¯t like in front of me. That¡¯s because I¡¯ll always have your back.¡± Meanwhile, Zayn red darkly at the wine ss in front of Kenan. They kissed Indirectly again through the wine ss. However, Willow and Kenan had probably kissed each other many times. This indirect kiss probably didn¡¯t mean anything to them. Besides, Kenan had already said that a man couldn¡¯t let the woman he loved drink in his presence. Yet Zayn had forced Willow to drink with a group of old men. Zayn felt ufortable the more he thought about it. He wondered if Kenan did not consider him a real man. Then, he became infuriated when he saw how moved Willow was because of Kenan¡¯s actions. He wondered how a flirtatious woman like Willow could be deceived so easily. ¡°Zayn? Zayn, what¡¯s wrong with you? Calm down, Zayn!¡± Zayn only came to his senses when Thane started yelling loudly. The former had instinctively crushed the wine ss in his hands, and his palms were filled with blood. On the other hand, Thane was stunned by his friend¡¯s actions. He hurriedly approached Zayn and grabbed thetter¡¯s hands. Once he saw the deep wounds, Thane shouted, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Zayn? Why did you take things too hard and cut yourself? ¡°I saw Ss this afternoon! He was drunk and held a broken wine ss in his hands. He didn¡¯t even know that he was bleeding! Do all men from Marley enjoy harming themselves?¡± Thane boldly nced at Zayn¡¯s palms again. ¡°Zayn, can I ask you a question? Do you feel very excited when you self¨Charm? Does it feel good?¡± own was Zayn was already feeling very angry because he lost control of his feelings due to the promiscuous woman. He became angrier since Thane kept talking after that. Then, he gave thetter a ss shard expressionlessly. ¡°You can try it yourself!¡± Seeing Zayn was about to turn violent again, Thane hurriedly threw the ss shard away. Chapte: 175 ¡°Zayn, you have to stop being like this! If you have a mental illness, you should treat It! Your twisted personality will bring harm to your family! Which woman will want to marry you after this?¡± Meanwhile, Zayn wasn¡¯t in the mood to continue listening to Thane¡¯s nonsense. He leaned against the couchzily. At the same time, a cold atmosphere filled the room. ¡°Kenan, did you think Willow came here to look for you?¡± Upon hearing that, Willow¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The situation she feared the most had finally arrived. As expected, Zayn looked at her condescendingly. ¡°Speak up! Willow, why did youe to Velvet Noir?¡± Willow bit her lower lip ufortably. However, she wasn¡¯t a timid person. So, she forced her sadness down and raised her head. Then, she looked at Zayn and replied, ¡°Mr. Carter, I¡¯m begging you to help me prove Nic¡¯s innocence!¡± ¡°You¡¯re begging me for help?¡± Zayn blinked indifferently. ¡°Since that¡¯s a request, you¡¯ll have to be more sincere than that! ¡°I told you before to make me satisfied. Otherwise, I won¡¯t help Nic!¡± Willow bit her lip so hard that she bled. Even though her blood dripped onto the floor, she didn¡¯t feel that pain at all. Instead, she just felt very cold. Charte: 176 Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Willow felt really cold. Her entire body was freezing. She had always known how evil Zayn was. However, she didn¡¯t expect thetter to force her to please him in front of Thane and Kenan. Willow sat stiffly on the leather couch, and her eyes zed over. Though she was still in the room, thoughts had already drifted to the past. ¡°Zayn, I really want to eat ice cream. Could you please let me have one bite of it?¡± ¡°Behave, Willow. You can¡¯t eat ice cream because of your period cramps!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. I just want to eat it! Zayn, I¡¯m begging you!¡± ¡°Behave, Willow! If ice cream is good for you, you won¡¯t have to beg for it. I¡¯ll do anything for you. However, if it¡¯s bad for you, I won¡¯t give in even if I get hurt.¡± His indifference toward her was extremely painful since he had treated her very well in t Then, Willow hastily turned away and tried to control her tears.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. in the past. her Back then, both of them were the happiest couple in the world. Yet, they turned into enemies who only harmed one another. She didn¡¯t know what had happened for them to be like this, ¡°Are you unwilling to do that?¡± Zayn¡¯s cold voice rang out. ¡°This is yourst chance, Willow!¡± Willow became very upset after hearing that. She looked at him with reddened eyes. She couldn¡¯t understand why he was so cruel. ¡°Zayn, well¡­¡± Meanwhile, Thane couldn¡¯t stand the tension in the room andughed awkwardly. He stepped in and tried to smooth things over. ¡°Zayn, you¡¯re too petty! You should man up and let things go! You¡¯ve already broken up with Venus. So, why are you making things difficult for her? You¡¯re too¡­¡± Then, Zayn red at Thane, which made thetter shut up. ¡°You want her to beg for it?¡± Suddenly, Kenan spoke up. He hurriedly held her hands when he saw Willow trembling ¡°Zayn, please! Please be Nic¡¯s witness and help to prove her innocence!¡± Then, he knelt on the floor. On the other hand, Willow¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Though she knew Kenan treated her well, she didn¡¯t read too much into it. Chapter 176 She didn¡¯t expect such a privileged man to behave so humbly for her. She had done nothing to deserve him. Then, Willow¡¯s eyes filled up with tears. She owed Kenan an immense favor because of that. She wouldn¡¯t be able to repay him for it Meanwhile, Zayn didn¡¯t expect Kenan to do so much for Willow. So, his face darkened while staring at Willow intensely. He wanted to know what that shameless woman did to convince the arrogant Kenan to kneel down, now?¡± ¡°Zayn, you wanted someone to beg you for help. Aren¡¯t I begging you Act Fast: Free Bonus Time isR Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Kenan chuckled loudly. There wasn¡¯t a trace of bitterness in hisughter at all. Even though he was kneeling on the floor, he didn¡¯t look pathetic. Instead, he was still the capable and magnificent Kenan. ¡°Please stand up, Mr. Dawson!¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Willow couldn¡¯t stop herself from rushing forward. She tried to pull him up from the floor. ¡°Mr. Dawson, don¡¯t do this for me. I¡¯m not worth it! Mr. Dawson, don¡¯t beg him for help. Let¡¯s not beg him. for help anymore, alright?¡± ¡°Willow, you¡¯ll be upset if Nic has a bad reputation.¡± Kenan looked at her gently. ¡°Willow, I can¡¯t bear to let you feel sad.¡± ¡°Mr. Dawson¡­¡± When Kenan saw Willow¡¯s eyes fill up with tears, he felt bad for her. So, he wiped away thetter¡¯s tears and smiled brightly. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re a crybaby! You¡¯ll drown me in your tears if you keep crying! Hey, Willow. Please smile instead! ¡°If you keep crying, you¡¯ll be ugly. Once you turn ugly, you¡¯ll cry again! The more you cry, the uglier you will be. What should I do? ¡°Oh, you¡¯re so ugly!¡± He made a funny face at Willow. After seeing that, Willow couldn¡¯t help but smile. Then, Kenan continued talking to Zayn. ¡°Zayn, please be Nic¡¯s witness! Since we have been friends for so many years, please help me this time! On the other hand, Zayn clenched his fists tightly. His veins bulged from his forehead as he stared at the couple before him. At that moment, he wanted to chop off their tightly held hands. However, Kenan had already mentioned their years of friendship. As Zayn highly valued his friendships, he couldn¡¯t refuse the request. such, heughed coldly and stared at Willow while he spoke. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll help the both of you! It¡¯s a promise!¡± ¡°Zayn, you can¡¯t take back your words! You must do as you say! Otherwise, I¡¯ll look down on you for the rest of my life!¡± Kenan got up from the floor cheerfully and held Willow¡¯s hands. He continued, ¡°Willow, don¡¯t worry. Nic won¡¯t be wrongfully used of being a murderer anymore!¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Dawson, Willow replied sincerely. However, Kenan didn¡¯t like seeing Willow behave politely toward him, so he pretended to be angry. Willow, If you keep being so polite, I¡¯ll get angry!¡± ¡°Kiss me if you want to thank mel Kenan had lowered his voice as he spoke. Yet, Zayn had a good sense of hearing and had been standing near the couple. Thus, he could hear what his friend was saying. Zayn became more upset, and he looked away coldly. He seemed even more aloof once he saw Willow blush. Thane felt ufortable because of the frosty atmosphere, so he rubbed his goosebumps. ¡°Stop it, Kenan! ¡°Go home if you want to show affection! Don¡¯t do that in front of me. I¡¯m still single! You¡¯re really despicable!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do that at home instead!¡± Meanwhile, Kenan embraced Willow happily. ¡°Let¡¯s go home, Willow!¡± Then, he walked out of the room with thetter. He didn¡¯t actually want to be affectionate with Willow at home. Kenan just wanted to prevent her from interacting with Zayn after that. He was also afraid that the ce would make her upset. In the meantime, Willow had not been close to another man before. So, she wiggled out of his embrace when they left the room. Kenan knew she was unwilling to ept him now, and he didn¡¯t care about her rejection. He onlyughed. If he put in enough effort in the future, she would be willing to ept him one day. On the other hand, though their rtionship was innocent, Zayn still felt offended by their actions. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Zayn wondered if Kenan and Willow would be affectionate to each other at home. Zayn couldn¡¯t stay in the room any longer. He seemed almost possessed as he grabbed his car keys. He tailed after Willow and Kenan, who were heading to Bordello. Meanwhile, Kenan knew that Willow had not eaten dinner. As such, he decided to cook some tasty dishes for her at Bordello. After parking the car in the neighborhood, he asked Willow if there were any ingredients in her house.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Thetter thought he was hungry and wanted to find some food in the apartment. So, Willow told him truthfully that there were no ingredients at home. It was troublesome to buy the ingredients and cook them. However, Kenan felt that the food from outside was a little unsanitary. Since Willow was in bad health, he wanted her to eat healthier food. In the end, he decided to buy some ingredients at a grocery store near the neighborhood with her. It was a short distance away from Willow¡¯s apartment. So, they didn¡¯t drive and walked there instead. Though Willow had already expressed disinterest in the audition the next day, Kenan kept convincing her to try it. ¡°Willow, just try it. I think the advertisement is creative and good. It suits you.¡± ¡°Mr. Dawson, I don¡¯t know how to act, and I can only dance, so I can¡¯t shoot the advertisement. Besides, I¡¯m not a celebrity, which won¡¯t be suitable for this.¡± ¡°Willow, Legends is a top¨Ctier global brand. So, it doesn¡¯t need celebrities to advertise for them. I hope Legends¡® brand ambassador has apatible aura with our perfumes. ¡°Willow, although Legends is Dawson Group¡¯s fragrance brand, I¡¯m inviting you to the audition not because I like you. Instead, I feel you¡¯ll fit our artistic concept well.¡± ¡°Mr. Dawson, thank you for your kindness. I.¡± Actually, Willow wanted to tell him that she was already dying. Hence, there wasn¡¯t a need for her to work so hard. 1 But those words were too negative, and she didn¡¯t want to spread her negativity to him. After thinking about it, she said gently, ¡°Mr. Dawson, I don¡¯t like facing the cameras. Nor can I act at all. I¡¯m afraid others will criticize me for myck of acting skills. That would be embarrassing!¡± ¡°What do you mean, Willow? You¡¯re skilled in acting!¡± To Kenan, Willow was the best in everything. He wouldn¡¯t allow her to belittle herself. Then, Willow wanted to reject Kenan again, but she saw a ck van speeding in their direction. That van Chapter 178 seemed to be driving toward them on purpose. Willow¡¯s expression changed. She hurriedly pushed Kenan away. ¡°Mr. Dawson, please leavel¡± The van was speeding very fast, and her weak body couldn¡¯t avoid it in time. But Kenan could dodge it easily. After hearing that, Kenan noticed the ck van as well. He knew that he would be safe if he moved away. However, Willow would be badly injured. Meanwhile, if he pulled Willow away with him, they wouldn¡¯t be fast enough to avoid the van. As such, he dashed over and shoved Willow away. Kenan was hit by the van,nding on the ground heavily. His blood spurted everywhere. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 ¡°Mr. Dawson!¡± Willow screamed in pain and dashed toward Kenan wildly. She realized that the van was going to run him over again after the driver noticed that Kenan was still alive. However, a ck Koenigsegg approached them from a nearby alley. The van driver, who was wearing a mask, narrowed his eyes. He didn¡¯t stay there any longer and hurriedly drove away. Willow stared at Kenan dazedly. Thetter was lying in a pool of blood. For a brief moment, she could only see the red blood all around her. The scene reminded her of when Skyler hired a van to run over Jett. Thus, she could recognize easily that the van that hit Kenan was sent by Skyler as well. It wasn¡¯t an ordinary car ident. Instead, it was a nned murder. Willow knew that Skyler hurt her and wanted her to die a terrible death. Yet Kenan was thetter¡¯s biological brother. But Kenan was beside Willow. Willow wondered if Skyler wasn¡¯t worried about identally hitting Kenan. But Skyler had already harmed her brother. Not only did she harm Kenan, but she also tried to murder her own mother, Caroline. Thetter had not woken up since then. Skyler was ruthless for hurting her family members in cold blood. ¡°Mr. Dawson!¡± Willow rushed over to Kenan. She wanted to hug him but was too afraid to do so. His injuries looked very severe. Willow was afraid that by hugging him, Kenan would hurt even more. Willow wanted to call an ambnce. However, Zayn, who had gotten out of the Koenigsegg, had already called them. So, she didn¡¯t do that.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. She could only hold on to Kenan¡¯s hand tightly and give him some warmth. ¡°Mr. Dawson, you have to hold on! Nothing bad should happen to you! You can¡¯t be harmed!¡± Kenan was such a great man. He should have had a peaceful and healthy life instead of encountering such bad luck. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Willow¡­¡± Meanwhile, Kenan tried to raise his hand and wipe away Willow¡¯s tears. Yet, he didn¡¯t have the strength to do so. When Willow realized what he was trying to do, she gently ced his hand on her face. Then, she wiped away her tears with his hand and held his palm against her cheek. ¡°Mr. Dawson, I won¡¯t cry. So long as you¡¯re alright, I won¡¯t cry.¡± Chapter 179 ¡°Willow, please attend the audition. Your dream is to be a great perfumer. Even if you can¡¯t make your own perfumes, at least it¡¯ll be a step to fulfilling that goal. ¡°Willow, I hope you¡¯ll love yourself. You will shine brightly even in thest moments of your life.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll attend the audition!¡± Though Willow didn¡¯t want to make Kenan sad by crying, her tears couldn¡¯t stop falling. ¡°Mr. Dawson, I¡¯ll agree to everything if it means you¡¯ll be alright! I¡¯ll love myself. You must love yourself too, okay?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kenan forced a smile. Although that smile was slightly stiff, his youthful face still looked cheerful. ¡°Willow, promise me one thing, okay?¡± After that, Willow hurriedly nodded without any hesitation. ¡°Mr. Dawson, I promise you. I said I¡¯ll agree to anything, no matter what you say.¡± ¡°Willow, if I survive this ident, let¡¯s be together, alright? Marry me, and be my beautiful bride. ¡°I know that you have a lot of worries. But a healthy person can get into an ident at any time. It¡¯ll be a pity to waste our time worrying about when we¡¯ll die!¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Willow nodded vigorously.. ¡°I promise you, Mr. Dawson! You have to be alright. I¡¯ll marry you so long as you¡¯re alright! We¡¯ll live in the moment for now!¡± On the other hand, Zayn felt very sad when he saw his good friend lying in a pool of blood. Yet he couldn¡¯t control the rage in his heart once he heard Willow¡¯s promise. He didn¡¯t understand how his woman could marry another man.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Kenan¡¯s breathing turned weaker. His eyelids were closing. After hearing Willow¡¯s voice, he opened his eyes with much difficulty. His voice was very soft, and he kept pausing. ¡°Willow¡­ Can you¡­ Can you kiss me?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Willow nodded and leaned over. Her tears rolled down to her lips as she kissed Kenan¡¯s forehead. That kiss was devoid of lust, but it was full of emotion. This made Zayn clench his fists in jealousy. Just then, Willow realized that Kenan had lost all consciousness. ¡°Mr. Dawson!¡± Her lips slowly left Kenan¡¯s forehead. She trembled and checked his nose for signs of breathing. However, perhaps she was too nervous, for she couldn¡¯t feel him breathing at all. Then, she raised her head and observed her surroundings anxiously. She didn¡¯t see an ambnce anywhere and only noticed Zayn standing coldly in front of her. ¡°Mr. Carter, please. Please help me check if Mr. Dawson is still breathing or not, I¡­¡± Willow was sobbing so hard that she couldn¡¯t speak. After a deep breath, she said, ¡°I can¡¯t feel him breathing. Once he heard that, Zayn¡¯s expression turned serious. He didn¡¯t care about his grudge against her anymore and hurriedly approached Kenan. Then, he stretched out his fingers and ced them near his friend¡¯s nose. Though his breathing was weak, Kenan was still alive. That was a good thing. Zayn was also very anxious to see how badly injured his friend was. He wanted to drive thetter to the hospital immediately. But Kenan was badly injured, and his bones were hurt as well. Since Zayn was afraid that he would harm his friend further, he could only wait for the ambnce to arrive. On the other hand, Willow¡¯s tears rolled down her face. She wiped them away furiously. ¡°Mr. Dawson, let¡¯s Chapter 180 make a pact, okay? ¡°I¡¯ll cherish my body from now on. You¡¯ll have to take care too and be healthy again, alright? ¡°Mr. Dawson, nothing bad should happen to you. I¡¯m still waiting to be your beautiful bride! ¡°Mr. Dawson, I haven¡¯t worn a wedding dress before. I want to wear a wedding veil for you. ¡°Mr. Dawson, if you don¡¯t wake up, I won¡¯t have the opportunity to wear a wedding dress in this life. I¡¯ll be really angry then!¡± Willow kept talking to Kenan. She felt if she continued speaking to him, he would recover from his injuries. So, she didn¡¯t dare to stop. When the ambnce arrived, her voice had turned hoarse. But she still tried to speak. Though she didn¡¯t love Kenan, she still wanted to talk to him. Willow really wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Even if they couldn¡¯t be together for long, at least they were together before. Yet, she didn¡¯t know if he would give her the chance to do so. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 When the doctor checked on Kenan¡¯s injuries, he kept shaking his head. Willow became really worried. She wanted to ask the doctor how Kenan was. However, she was afraid to disturb them, so she didn¡¯t speak much. After briefly treating Kenan¡¯s injuries, they rushed to the hospital. Then, the doctor pushed him into the emergency room. Meanwhile, Willow felt that she would be filled with despair whenever she stood outside the emergency room. Back when Aaron was being saved, she was filled with despair as well. Her heart was filled with grief and destion. Zayn was also waiting outside the emergency room because he was worried about his friend¡¯s injuries. At the same time, he was also furious with Willow¡¯s promise earlier. Once he saw Willow¡¯s pale face outside the emergency room, he couldn¡¯t control his emotions. He grabbed her shoulder roughly. ¡°Willow, are you really going to marry Kenan?¡± Willow numbly replied, ¡°Yes! I¡¯m going to marry Mr. Dawson!¡± Even if she didn¡¯t love the other man, she wanted to treat him well. ¡°Say that again, Willow!¡± Then, Willow calmed down and raised her head slowly. Her gaze seemed empty and misty. Yet, it seemed to taunt Zayn. ¡°Mr. Carter, is there any use in doing this? No matter how many times you ask me to repeat my words, I¡¯ll still promise to marry Mr. Dawson!¡± ¡°How dare you, Willow!¡± ¡°Why won¡¯t I dare to do that? Kenan and I aren¡¯t married to anyone yet. Why wouldn¡¯t I dare to marry him?¡± Willowughed. Her gaze was emotionless. ¡°Mr. Dawson, though I¡¯m timid, I won¡¯t be scared of you! It¡¯s no use yelling at me. You won¡¯t scare me at all! ¡°I¡¯ll just think that you¡¯re shameless and ridiculous!¡± ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn was so angry that he wanted to break her neck. However, he was certain that she wouldn¡¯t change her decision even if he tried to kill her. That realization made him extremely furious. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about your status, Willow!¡± Chapter 181 212 ¡°My status?¡± Willow continuedughing. Earlier, herughter was filled with self¨Cmockery. But it was different now.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Zayn made her hate her life, but she wanted to carry on living because of Kenan. ¡°Mr. Carter, are you referring to my status as your mistress? Yes, I signed the contract with you, but so what? ¡°You can use that contract to sue me or get someone to kill me. But I don¡¯t care about anything anymore!¡± She didn¡¯t care anymore. Zayn was extremely upset to hear that. He couldn¡¯tprehend why Willow didn¡¯t care about him. anymore. He missed her and resented her obsessively every day. Meanwhile, she could tell him calmly that she didn¡¯t care about him. He wondered how she could have done that. ¡°Willow!¡± Willow remained unbothered by what Zayn said. As such, thetter could only yell her name loudly. Suddenly, he seemed to realize something. After contemting for a while, he suddenly yelled, ¡°Willow, you¡¯re my woman!¡± Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Willow chuckled. ¡°Mr. Carter, you aren¡¯t old yet. But you¡¯re already muddle¨Cheaded. I¡¯m just your ex¨Cwife. Skyler is your woman instead! ¡°Mr. Carter, it doesn¡¯t matter how much you have harmed me because I¡¯m grateful to you for one thing. I¡¯m grateful that you didn¡¯t give me a wedding.¡± Zayn felt upset after hearing that. However, Willow continued talking coldly, ¡°You didn¡¯t give me a wedding, and I haven¡¯t worn a wedding dress before. ¡°So, I will wear a wedding dress for the first time because of Mr. Dawson. Even if I¡¯m not a virgin anymore, or I was married to you before, my wedding to Mr. Dawson will be my first to me.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°He¡¯ll be my real husband! Zayn, you¡¯re nothing to me. You already were nothing to me a long time ago.¡± ¡°Shut up, Willow!¡± Then, Willow didn¡¯t seem to realize the pain in her body. Her eyes zed over. She seemed to recall the past ¡°Willow, I¡¯ll give you the wedding of the century. You¡¯ll be the most beautiful bride in the world.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be your beautiful bride, Zayn.¡± Now, Willow no longer wanted to be Zayn¡¯s bride. She would rather marry a beggar in her next life than marry him. Willow also would not me Zayn for betraying her. Instead, she med herself for loving the wrong man. Soon after, Skyler received the news and rushed over. Upon seeing Willow, she became very agitated. ¡°What happened, Lolo? Kenan was fine this afternoon. Why did he get into an ident when he was with you? What did you do to him, Lolo?¡± Meanwhile, Willow felt amused. Skyler was the main culprit, but she was trying to make her the scapegoat instead. Skyler was so shameless. ¡°Lolo, why are youughing? Say something! Kenan is badly injured. How could youugh? You harmed him, right? ¡°Lolo, I really treated you as my older sister, but why do you keep hurting me? I¡¯m fine if you hurt me. But why did you hurt my mother and my brother? Will you finally be happy when I have nothing? ¡°Zayn, I¡¯m so upset! Why isn¡¯t Lolo willing to let me go? I know she hates me for getting together with you, and I¡¯m fine if she hurts me. ¡°I was willing to bear with it when she killed my child, but she can¡¯t hurt my mother and Kenan! ¡°My mother is still unconscious, and I don¡¯t know if Kenan will survive. How can I continue living?¡± ¡°Skyler, Kenan will be fine!¡± Zayn gently rubbed Skyler¡¯s back andforted her. After seeing Skyler cry, Willow continuedughing coldly. She didn¡¯t know why Skyler was such a hypocrite. When she thought about the deaths of Nic and Aaron and what Kenan looked like as hey in a pool of blood, she couldn¡¯t control her anger anymore. The thought made Willow use all her strength to pull Skyler away from Zayn and push her to the ground. She kicked thetter¡¯s face roughly. ¡°You should die, Skyler! I¡¯m going to avenge Nic, Aaron, and Mr. Dawson!¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Willow kicked the other side of Skyler¡¯s face with no hesitation. The former didn¡¯t know if it was because of her violent tendencies. But she felt satisfied every time she hit Skyler. ¡°What are you doing, Lolo? What did I do to make you hit me?¡± Skyler, the hypocrite, was about to act up again. Since she liked acting weak, Willow would help her keep up the facade. The dustbins in the hospital were made of steel. Since Zayn had not helped Skyler yet, Willow grabbed the rubbish bin beside her and mmed it against the other woman¡¯s head. Though the rubbish bin wasn¡¯t very heavy, it could still hurt others badly. Then, Skyler fell to the floor. Her forehead started bleeding¡­ Suddenly, the lid of the bin fell. The rubbish sticking to the lidnded on Skyler¡¯s head. There was rubbish, such as a banana peel, an apple core, toilet paper, and spit inside the bin. The spittle stuck on Skyler¡¯s body. It was disgusting. Besides, it smelled terrible. At first, Skyler wanted to pretend to be weak in front of Zayn so he would help her make Willow upset. However, she didn¡¯t expect her sister to behave so crazily and m the rubbish bin on her head. The stench was overwhelming, and the disgusting rubbish was all over her. She almost had a meltdown. She could only yell for help. ¡°Zayn, save me! Lolo wants to kill me! Help!¡± Meanwhile, Zayn had fallen into a daze earlier and didn¡¯t realize what Willow was doing to Skyler. He only came to his senses when he heard Skyler¡¯s screams. After seeing the scene, he couldn¡¯t help but frown. Then, he realized that Willow was the one who caused that. His face turned gloomier. ¡°How could you treat Skyler like that, Willow? Apologize to her now!¡± Previously, Willow would have been very upset whenever Zayn forced her to apologize to Skyler without finding the truth behind the situation. Now, she didn¡¯t feel anything. She simply looked at him and smiled faintly. ¡°Apologize? Why don¡¯t I beat her up first?¡± After that, she grabbed the rubbish bin and mmed it against Skyler¡¯s body. At that moment, her damaged body was filled with strength. Meanwhile, Skyler didn¡¯t expect Willow to continue hitting her after Zayn intervened. She was stunned for Chapter 183 a moment. After that, Willow hit her again with the rubbish bin. All the rubbish that remained in the binnded on her again. Skyler was injured once more. 20 After smelling the stench on her body, Skyler was furious. Since Willow hit her chest, she began to feel breathless as well. Skyler couldn¡¯t handle it. ow to the Skyler really wanted to push Willow to the ground and beat her up. for offending her. She wanted thetter to pay the price But she couldn¡¯t go overboard because Zayn was still there. So, she pretended to be aggrieved andBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. helpless. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Actually, Skyler felt really aggrieved. As such, her tears fell naturally this time. She rushed toward Zayn sadly. ¡°Zayn, It hurts.¡± Instead of falling into his embrace, Skylernded on the ground. Her head hit the wall heavily. She felt very dizzy and confused. Skyler had moved toward Zayn. She didn¡¯t understand why she fell to the ground instead. Meanwhile, Zayn felt a little guilty upon seeing the aggrieved expression on his wife¡¯s face. Earlier on, he had dodged her instinctively. Skyler was really smelly. But Zayn had mysophobia. As such, he couldn¡¯t hug her tightly andfort her. After that, he slowly looked at Willow. Though he was a germaphobe, he made an exception for her. Four years ago, Willow was angry with him. Thus, she drank too much and puked on him. Yet, he didn¡¯t care about the mess andforted her in his embrace. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zayn. I shouldn¡¯t have tried to hug you. I¡¯m dirty! I¡¯m so dirty and smelly.¡± Skyler was a famous celebrity who cared about her public image. But there weren¡¯t many people at the hospital, and her fans wouldn¡¯t recognize her in that state. So, she gave up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Skyler.¡± Zayn raised his hand and wanted tofort her, but he couldn¡¯t bear to do it because she was too smelly. On the other hand, Willow didn¡¯t care about the two of them. She only eagerly hoped that the emergency room¡¯s door would open soon. Then, the doctor would tell them that Kenan was alright. After that, Skyler¡¯s aggrieved sobs were heard. ¡°Zayn, I¡¯m not a petty person who quarreled with Lolo intentionally. ¡°But she has gone too far! She harmed my mother and my younger brother. I won¡¯t allow her to go near my brother anymore! Zayn, can you get her to leave?¡± Zayn said coldly, ¡°Alright!¡± However, he wanted Willow to leave not because he felt bad for Skyler. Instead, he hated how Willow was getting closer to Kenan. Meanwhile, Willow could put up with Skyler¡¯s rants. But she couldn¡¯t stand getting chased out of the hospital. If Willow couldn¡¯t enter the hospital, she couldn¡¯t stay beside Kenan to wait for him to recover. ¡®I won¡¯t leave!¡± Chapter 184 Willow looked at Skyler coldly. ¡°Skyler, you should leave the hospital instead! Are you sure the main culprit isn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What are you saying, Lolo? I don¡¯t get it?¡± After ignoring Skyler, Willowughed bitterly and said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t a coincidence that Mr. Dawson got into an ident today. It was a premeditated murder attempt! ¡°Mr. Carter, I know you¡¯re too blind to see this. However, I¡¯d like to ask you onest question tonight. Would you believe me if I told you that Skyler hired someone to kill Mr. Dawson? ¡°Do you believe me, Mr. Carter?¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 1/2 ¡°Willow, Kenan is Skyler¡¯s brother!¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Mr. Carter, Mr. Dawson is Skyler¡¯s brother. But the person she wanted to kill was me! Mr. Dawson was only hit by the van because he was trying to save me! He¡­¡± ¡°Willow, enough!¡± Zayn interrupted Willow coldly. ¡°Skyler could never do such a thing!¡± Willowughed bitterly. Of course, Skyler would never do such a thing. Hence, it must be Willow who was being shameless and a liar. Suddenly, Willow no longer wanted to talk to Zayn because it was like howling at the moon. It was totally pointless ¡°Lolo, Kenan really ended up like this because of you? Why didn¡¯t you stop Kenan? How could you just watch him die for you!¡± Skyler became more agitated as she spoke, ¡®Lolo, you¡¯ve hurt Kenan. I don¡¯t want to see you. I never want to see you again! I think Kenan won¡¯t want to see you either! Please leave!¡± As soon as Skyler finished speaking, several bodyguards rushed in from the hallway. They grabbed Willow without exnation and started dragging her outside. Willow desperately wanted to see Kenan one more time. She couldn¡¯t let Sky have her way. She struggled with all her might. ¡°Let me go! Skyler, Zayn, you have no right to treat me like this! Let go!¡± Having exhausted all her strength beating up Skyler earlier, Willow couldn¡¯t muster any strength now. Seeing the operating room door slowly open, Willow was so anxious that tears were about to fall. ¡°Mr. Dawson¡­¡± She wanted to go to Kenan, even if it was to see him one more time. But they wouldn¡¯t give her the chance. She couldn¡¯t even hear what the doctors said to Skyler and Zayn. The bodyguards had already dragged her into the elevator. The next moment, she was taken outside the hospital. The bodyguards nced at her coldly. Then, they stood guard at the hospital¡¯s entrance. They guarded the hospital strictly, not giving her any chance to enter. This hospital was the most famous private hospital in Havenpoint. Rumor had it that Zayn¡¯s cousin, Joel Harris, had opened this hospital. It was already difficult to enter this high¨Cend private hospital. With these bodyguards guarding it now, it would be trickier for Willow to get in. ¡°Let me in! Please let me in! I¡¯ll just take a look at Mr. Dawson, okay? I¡¯m really worried about him!¡± ni Chapter 185 2/2 Willow supported herself against the wall as she got up. She was about to rush into the hospital, but she was forcefully pushed to the ground. Bright red blood spurted from her mouth, sshing on her eyshes. The blood on her eyshes blurred her vision, making everything look hazy and unclear. Seeing Willow spit up blood, the bodyguards¡® eyes showed no mercy, only their usual coldness. Willow no longer hoped the bodyguards would let her in. She thought of another way to enter the hospital to see Kenan. There was an elevator in the underground parking lot that led directly upstairs. If she could find a way to enter the underground parking lot, she could still see Kenan. Willow was exhausted and could hardly straighten her back. Yet she still supported herself and quickly walked toward the underground parking lot. Everything went smoothly. Willow sessfully reached the floor where Kenan¡¯s ward was located. Before she could enter the ward, she saw Skyler standing at the door. Willow had been struggling outside for half an hour. By now, Skyler had already showered and changed into clean clothes. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Skyler¡¯s long, curly hair wasn¡¯t fully dry. The ends were still dripping water. Her burgundy wavy hair framed her petite face, enhancing her beauty while adding a sense of malice. ¡°Lolo, you¡¯re more troublesome than I thought. I¡¯ve even had bodyguards guarding outside, but I didn¡¯t expect you to still be able toe upstairs!¡± Willow didn¡¯t have time to talk nonsense with Skyler here. She just wanted to enter the ward and see Kenan. ¡°Skyler, let me in!¡± But Skyler pressed the door handle, pulling the ward door shut. Then, she locked it. ¡°Lolo, I¡¯ve said it before, I won¡¯t let you get close to my brother again!¡± ¡°Skyler, you¡¯re sick! If it weren¡¯t for you, Mr. Dawson wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this! You have no right to stop me!¡± Willow said as she tried to push Skyler aside. Skyler was now on high alert and naturally wouldn¡¯t let Willow have her way. Moreover, before Skyler even made a move, two bodyguards, one on each side, were already standing in front of her. ¡°Lolo, they¡¯re Zayn¡¯s bodyguards.¡± Skyler smiled triumphantly. ¡°Look, Zayn doesn¡¯t want you to harm Kenan anymore!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t harm Mr. Dawson! Skyler, the one who has always been hurting people is you!¡± Willow stared coldly at the two bodyguards. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± ¡°Throw her out!¡± Skylermanded the two bodyguards indifferently. She casually swept back her slightly messy curly hair. Skyler had already bribed the two bodyguards. Now that Zayn wasn¡¯t here, they naturally followed Skyler¡¯s everymand. They expressionlessly grabbed Willow¡¯s shoulders, lifted her up, and dragged her toward the staircase. Willow was already in a lot of pain, and she had just been knocked down several times. She couldn¡¯t get up, no matter how hard she tried. Seeing Willow¡¯s pained expression, Skyler knew Willow¡¯s stomach was starting to hurt again. Skyler waved her hand, signaling the two bodyguards to leave. She stepped forward. With her sharp high heels, she stomped hard on Willow¡¯s stomach. ¡°Willow, doesn¡¯t this feel great?¡± ¡°Skyler, I want to see Mr. Dawson!¡± ¡°Willow, forget it! You¡¯ll never see Kenan alive again. Don¡¯t even think about showing up at his funeral!¡± Chapter 186Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Willow¡¯s face turned pale. She red at Skyler with hatred. ¡°Skyler, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Willow, have you ever heard a saying?¡± Before Willow could respond, Skyler said coldly. ¡°Never give your enemies the chance to fight back.¡± ¡°Kenan trusts youpletely. If he wakes up one day, he will surely believe your words, thinking that I hurt him. ¡°Then, he will be enemies with me. I don¡¯t want such a formidable enemy. Now is the best time for me to eliminate this enemy!¡± ¡°The doctor said his injuries are severe, and he won¡¯t wake up for at least eight or ten days! Tell me, how much can I do in those days?¡± ¡°Skyler, you¡¯re crazy! Mr. Dawson is your brother! I want to see Mr. Dawson! I won¡¯t let you hurt him!¡± Willow forcefully propped up her body, trying to get up from the ground. But it was difficult for her to do so in the first ce. Now, with Skyler stepping on her stomach, it was even harder. ¡°I can kill my own mother, so a brother is nothing to me!¡± Skyler¡¯s eyes were full of resentment and hatred. Then, Skyler continued, ¡°In this life, no one can stand in my way! I¡¯ll kill anyone who tries to stop me!¡± Skyler¡¯s face suddenly darkened as if she had thought of something. She smiled maliciously at Willow and said, ¡°Willow, let¡¯s make a deal!¡± Chapter 187 Chapter 187 ¡°Skyler, what the hell are you up to?¡± Skyler¡¯s smile became even more sinister. ¡°Willow, I¡¯m not going to do anything! I only want to get your opinion. ¡°Should I directly inject him with drugs and kill him? Or should I create a medical ident and let him die on the operating table? ¡°Or perhaps I should hire someone to stab him a few times and let him die in a more visually satisfying manner!¡± After hearing her words, Willow couldn¡¯t help but tremble with hatred.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Skyler, I won¡¯t let you hurt Mr. Dawson! If you hate me, just kill me! Don¡¯t hurt innocent people!¡± Skyler moved her foot, making it even harder for Willow to breathe. ¡°Willow, it¡¯s no fun to just kill you. I want you to have nothing and die in despair and pain! ¡°You won¡¯t get the people you love, or the people who love you, Willow!¡± ¡°Skyler, you lunatic! You will suffer a horrible death!¡± Willow hated herself for being powerless. She wanted to be strong and worked hard to change all of this. But bing strong wasn¡¯t that easy. ¡°Willow, I don¡¯t know how I will die, but one thing I can be sure of is that you won¡¯t be around to see it!¡± Skyler was about to say something else, but her phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, she frowned but still answered, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Skyler¡¯s expression became very unpleasant after listening to the person on the other end of the phone. ¡°What? Zayn is back? And he brought Quintus? They¡¯re going to take turns guarding Kenan? Alright, for now, don¡¯t act rashly!¡± Skyler¡¯s mood turned sour after she received the call, but Willow felt a sense of relief wash over her. Although she was starting to dislike Zayn, she had to admit that Skyler wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to Kenan with Zayn around. Moreover, she had heard Kenan mention that although Quintus was his assistant, he was more like at brother to Kenan. With Quintus around, she felt reassured. From Skyler¡¯s words, Kenan¡¯s injuries were severe but not life¨Cthreatening. As long as he could live well, it was enough Even if she couldn¡¯t see him for a while, she would be content as long as he was safe and healthy. Perhaps afraid of being seen by Zayn, Skyler didn¡¯t dare to continue torturing Willow. She hurriedly stopped stomping on Willow and scurried toward Kenan¡¯s ward. Chapter 187 7/2 Willow was finally free. She felt the air around her be fresher. She held onto the nearby door and crawled up from the ground, struggling toward the elevator. As the elevator doors opened, she couldn¡¯t help but turn her head, her gaze fixated on the direction of Kenan¡¯s ward. Willow prayed for Kenan¡¯s speedy recovery. She knew he would visit her when he was better. Willow also silently promised to take care of herself when he was not around. She would also not disappoint Kenan by attending the audition. Both of them had to be well. After all, Willow would never break her promise to Kenan. When he became conscious, she would wear a beautiful dress and be his bride. If she decided not to attend the audition, that would be fine. But since she had made up her mind to go, she would give it her best shot. Most importantly, Skyler would also be there. Willow didn¡¯t want Skyler to be too smug about it. Willow¡¯splexion did not look well recently due to her illness, but her skin was still good. Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Willow¡¯s skin was truly exceptional. As people age, it¡¯smon for spots or e scars to appear on their faces. However, Willow¡¯s face had no spots, e scars, or evenrge pores.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She put on light makeup and added some blush, and Instantly, herplexion looked great. Her face looked even more delicate and wless. The wound on her forehead hadn¡¯t fully healed. But it was barely noticeable after applying concealer. Furthermore, Wynn¡¯s ointment was very effective. With a few more applications, the scar on her forehead would likely disappearpletely. But the wound on her body still hurt asionally, and she always felt fatigued. She hoped it wouldn¡¯t affect her dance performance. The audition was held on the top floor of the Dawson Group building. When Willow arrived, Skyler, Wilhelmina, and several other actresses were already there. Lately, Zayn had sidelined Wilhelmina. She hadn¡¯t been getting much work recently. In fact, she only managed to score this audition opportunity through Matthew¡¯s connections. Thus, she was determined to win this endorsement. Skyler was even more confident. Among the actresses here, she had the highest fame, and the Dawson Group was her family¡¯spany. If they weren¡¯t going to give the job to her, there was no one else for the job. Skyler didn¡¯t pay attention to the other actresses until Willow walked in. Skyler¡¯s expression changed slightly. She didn¡¯t expect Willow to participate in this audition. But she quickly regained herposure. Willow had a good appearance, but endorsements depended on fame. There was no way an unknown supporting actress like Willow couldpete with Skyler. Zayn and Matthew were also present. Matthew was here to apany Wilhelmina, while Zayn imed to be apanying Skyler. Truthfully, Zayn wouldn¡¯t have bothereding to show off their affection if he hadn¡¯t known Willow would be participating in today¡¯s audition. When Willow came in, the first actress to audition had just taken the stage. This advertisement wasn¡¯t just about shooting a few scenes. It told a poignant and touching story. The shortmercial would be broadcast on various television channels for several seconds. Meanwhile, the story wouldst for a few minutes. It would be disyed on screens around the city and Chapter 188 on the inte. Everyone present would be auditioning for this story. The story was quite simple. It portrayed a once innocent and kind young woman who became the king¡¯s enchanting concubine after experiencing the loss of her family. She gave up love and abandoned herself, Instead, she would seek revenge against those who had harmed her and her loved ones. But after achieving her revenge, her beloved died to protect her from assassins. Holding his gradually cooling corpse, she suddenly realized that revenge was meaningless without him. Love was more important than hatred. The most breathtaking part of the story was when the drunk concubine danced among the flowers, sending off her lover. At the end of the dance, she hugged his corpse tightly, and they transformed into a wisp of fragrant mist, symbolizing Legends¡®test perfume line, Whispers of Love. Willow was thest to audition. Dawson Group provided a mix of vintage and modern¨Cstyle costumes. The top was a traditional garment, while the bottom was paired with 12cm crystal high heels. When Willow went to the changing room to change into the costume, she discovered that the heel of her high heels was broken. Chapter 189 Chapter 189 At first nce, the high heels looked perfectly fine. But upon wearing them, the heel instantly broke. If it had been someone else, they would have definitely fallen. Fortunately, Willow¡¯s body was much more flexible and agile than an average person. She managed to stabilize herself in time, avoiding a sprained ankle. Dawson Group certainly wouldn¡¯t intentionally break the heels. After all, they wanted the actresses to perform well. The broken heel was undoubtedly the work of someone with malicious intent. Willow didn¡¯t care whether it was Wilhelmina or Skyler behind this. Right now, she only wanted to find a way to solve the shoe problem.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Each actress had their own set of clothes and shoes. Willow considered wearing the shoes of actresses whose audition was over. But her feet were too small. Even a size 4.5 was too big. The size 5.5 heels Dawson Group had prepared for her were way toorge. The other actresses had feet. no smaller than size 7, so it was impossible for Willow to wear their shoes. Skyler and Wilhelmina had their auditions right before Willow. The audition proceeded quickly. As the actresses took the stage, Thane disdainfully rejected them upon seeing their faces. By now, Skyler and Wilhelmina had already finished their auditions. Now, it was Willow¡¯s turn to take the stage. Willow thought for a moment and directly threw the shoes in her hands to the side. Actually, dancing in high heels would have looked better. But since Willow¡¯s heels were broken, she had no choice but to go on stage barefoot. Now, she was somewhat grateful to Skyler for not ruining her clothes. It was okay to be barefoot, but if she didn¡¯t have any clothes to wear, she really wouldn¡¯t have the courage to go on stage. Skyler and Wilhelmina had performed well earlier. Several judges couldn¡¯t stop praising them, but Thane frowned deeply. From his perspective, Skyler and Wilhelmina¡¯s performances were mediocre. He was looking for an astounding performance. As Willow took the stage, Thane¡¯s impatient gaze suddenly brightened. He had always perceived her as Innocent and noble. Chapter 189 2/2 But now, as she transformed into an evil concubine, she exuded an alluring aura. The king could have fallen for her beauty, leading to the downfall of kingdoms. Many modern portrayals of viinous concubines relied on heavy makeup, such as thick eyeliner and dark eyeshadow. It gave the impression that darker colors could make them appear more evil. But Willow¡¯s face bore no excessive adornment. Standing on stage, she was the epitome of an enchanting concubine. Her delicate beauty hinted at seductive charm, captivating the hearts of countless men. No one said an evil concubine must have a face full of hatred and malice. A woman with only evil and malice could never enchant a king who had seen countless beauties. More often than not, he was attracted by the ethereal allure of a woman¡¯s innocent yet unintentionally seductive charm. Often, physical attractiveness became synonymous with the very essence of justice itself. Even the most skilled actress couldn¡¯t portray the unparalleled charm of a concubine with an ordinary face. But with an enchanting face, Willow effortlessly embodied the role, even without acting skills. The concubine¡¯s lover enjoyed watching her dance the most. His greatest dream was to marry her. Thus, the concubine hugged him tightly after his death. Together, they danced gracefully in the flower field where they had pledged their eternal love. The lover of the concubine was represented by a simple prop¨Carge pillow. Chapter 190 Chapter 190 When Willow first saw the pillow, she found it somewhat amusing. But as she thought about the concubine¡¯s lover, who had died to save her, she felt a sudden, Inexplicable sadness. Kenan was also in a her. Willow¡¯s graceful movements seemed to fill the air with an eternal sadness. Despite her enchanting face and seductive gaze, a hint of unspeakable loneliness lingered in her eyes. It was as if she waspletely disconnected from the bustling world around her. Even the king¡¯s power and favor could notpare to the joy of seeing her beloved riding away and ncing back with a brilliant smile. When Willow raised her arms, she identally agitated the wound on her back, causing her pain. But remembering Kenan¡¯s words from the night before, she felt an inexhaustible strength rise within her. Willow wanted to hold her head high for him. She did not want to be a lowly bug in the gutter but to shine brilliantly, even if just for once. Her feet were delicate and petite, smaller than an adult¡¯s palm. Her skin was so white and fair that she seemed to have emerged from a ray of light. This captivating sight left the audience spellbound, both men and women alike. Matthew knew Wilhelmina disliked Willow. He shouldn¡¯t have been looking at Willow. But Matthew couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from her exquisite feet at that moment. He even felt an impulse to cover her feet with his coat, to shield them from other men¡¯s gazes. Wilhelmina and Skyler could have left after their auditions but chose to stay. They were eagerly anticipating that Willow would stumble because of the broken heels. But to their surprise, Willow boldly chose to take the stage barefoot. Her feet were as enchanting as her face. Wilhelmina¡¯s face contorted with hatred as she noticed Matthew¡¯s gaze seemingly glued to Willow¡¯s face. She tried to control her expression, gripping Matthew¡¯s arm tightly. ¡°Matt¡­¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Wilhelmina thought that reminding Matthew would make him realize his inappropriate behavior. But his gaze remained fixated on Willow¡¯s feet as if under a spell. Her desperate voice went unnoticed by Matthew. But Zayn heard her and instinctively nced in Matthew¡¯s direction. That nce made him want to dig out Matthew¡¯s eyes. Zayn didn¡¯t understand how Matthew dared to stare tantly at the flirtatious woman. Chapter 190 Besides, as a promiscuous woman, Willow should have known how seductive she could be. It was shameless of Willow to unt herself in public. Zayn wanted to drag Willow off the stage in a fit of jealousy. He wanted to break her legs and ensure she could never dance and seduce men again. After the concubine finished dancing, she seemed to have exhausted all her energy. Stumbling and swaying in a drunken stupor, she sobbed as she hugged her lover tightly. She had poured every ounce of love she had harbored over her entire lifetime into that embrace. marry you! Just wake u Willow¡¯s next line would have been to say, ¡°Roman, I¡¯ll and I¡¯ll marry you!¡± ording to the script, Willow should have said the same line while holding the pillow. Yet she was already lost in her own grief. As she clung tightly to the pillow, a despairing plea filled her bloodshot eyes. Willow eximed, ¡°Mr. Dawson, I¡¯ll marry you! Just wake up, and I¡¯ll marry you! I vow to be with you in life. and to follow your soul in death!¡± The air around Zayn seemed to freeze. He wondered if he had heard her right. Chapter 191 Chapter 191 1/2 The atmosphere around Zayn was icy. Yet it couldn¡¯t suppress the thunderous apuse in the room. The judges couldn¡¯t stop praising Willow¡¯s performance. Although some had admired Skyler and Wilhelmina¡¯s auditions, Willow¡¯s performancepletely outshone them both. Wilhelmina¡¯s naturally sweet appearance limited her to adorable roles. Thus, she couldn¡¯t capture the essence of the enchanting concubine. Skyler¡¯s image was marginally fitting. However, her dance moves were stiff and failed to convey the devastatingly charming spirit of a femme fatale. In the end, Willow mispronounced the name. But it didn¡¯t really matter. The error could easily be fixed in post¨Cproduction, after all. What truly mattered was that she genuinely portrayed the feelings they wanted. Overwhelmed by her performance, Thane excitedly rushed onto the stage. He gave Willow a passionate hug, his voice trembling with excitement. ¡®Perfect! You¡¯re just like the goddess Venus. You¡¯re incredible! I feel you¡¯ll be a nationwide idol once this advertisement airs! You¡¯ll be the dream lover of all men! ¡°Yes, your alluring presence! This was exactly what I wanted! Venus, you have no idea how seductive you are! It¡¯s simply breathtaking!¡± Willow didn¡¯t know how to respond when Thane said she was seductive. She wondered if he was her. Whether he wasplimenting or teasing her didn¡¯t matter much to her. She only felt that Thane was hugging her too tightly, and she could barely breathe. As Willow was about to ask Thane to release her, two icy voices echoed at the same time. ¡°Let her go!¡± Willow was startled beforeing to a realization. She had no idea when Zayn and Matthew had stepped on stage. ¡°Matt¡­¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s voice trembled with sorrow. Despite all her efforts, Matthew had been captivated by Willow. Matthew regained his senses upon hearing Wilhelmina¡¯s voice on the verge of tears. He couldn¡¯t believe he had lost control. Seeing Thane embrace Willow made him want to chop off Thane¡¯s hands. Not wanting to reveal his feelings for Willow, he walked off the stage with a cold expression. ¡°Matt, do you like Willow now?¡± Wilhelmina bit her lip, her sweet face only showing misery. ¡°Matt, I know Willow is great. She¡¯s beautiful and dances gracefully. If you really like her, I¡¯m willing to step aside, even though it pains me to let go of our four¨Cyear rtionship.¡± Chapter 191 212 In a fleeting moment, Matthew seemed to see himself lying on the ground, bleeding heavily and Incapacitated. A pair of soft hands embraced him tightly. She whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll be by your side, and we¡¯ll get through this together.¡± Wilhelmina was the girl who stood by him. She was the girl he could never betray. Forcing himself to look away from Willow, Matthew pulled Wilhelmina into his arms. ¡°Wi, I¡¯ve told you, I only want you in this life! Willow means nothing to me.¡± As if hypnotizing himself, Matthew repeated, ¡°Willow means nothing to me.¡± Matthew had already walked off the stage. When Thane released Willow, all he saw was Zayn standing beside him. Thane quickly released Willow. ¡°You¡¯re right, Zayn! She¡¯s my friend¡¯s wife! I shouldn¡¯t have hugged her so tightly! I must let go of her, even though I only admire her talent!¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 191 The atmosphere around Zayn was icy. Yet it couldn¡¯t suppress the thunderous apuse in the room. The judges couldn¡¯t stop praising Willow¡¯s performance. Although some had admired Skyler and Wilhelmina¡¯s auditions, Willow¡¯s performancepletely outshone them both. Wilhelmina¡¯s naturally sweet appearance limited her to adorable roles. Thus, she couldn¡¯t capture the essence of the enchanting concubine. Skyler¡¯s image was marginally fitting. However, her dance moves were stiff and failed to convey the devastatingly charming spirit of a femme fatale. In the end, Willow mispronounced the name. But it didn¡¯t really matter. The error could easily be fixed in post¨Cproduction, after all. What truly mattered was that she genuinely portrayed the feelings they wanted. Overwhelmed by her performance, Thane excitedly rushed onto the stage. He gave Willow a passionate hug, his voice trembling with excitement. ¡°Perfect! You¡¯re just like the goddess Venus. You¡¯re incredible! I feel you¡¯ll be a nationwide idol once. this advertisement airs! You¡¯ll be the dream lover of all men! ¡°Yes, your alluring presence! This was exactly what I wanted! Venus, you have no idea how seductive you are! It¡¯s simply breathtaking!¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Willow didn¡¯t know how to respond when Thane said she was seductive. She wondered if he was Whether he wasplimenting or teasing her didn¡¯t matter much to her. She only felt that Thane was hugging her too tightly, and she could barely breathe. As Willow was about to ask Thane to release her, two icy voices echoed at the same time. ¡°Let her go!¡± Willow was startled beforeing to a realization. She had no idea when Zayn and Matthew had stepped on stage. ¡°Matt¡­¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s voice trembled with sorrow. Despite all her efforts, Matthew had been captivated by Willow. Matthew regained his senses upon hearing Wilhelmina¡¯s voice on the verge of tears. He couldn¡¯t believe he had lost control. Seeing Thane embrace Willow made him want to chop off Thane¡¯s hands. Not wanting to reveal his feelings for Willow, he walked off the stage with a cold expression. ¡°Matt, do you like Willow now?¡± Wilhelmina bit her lip, her sweet face only showing misery. ¡°Matt, I know Willow is great. She¡¯s beautiful and dances gracefully. If you really like her, I¡¯m willing to step aside, even though it pains me to let go of our four¨Cyear rtionship.¡± Chapter 191 In a fleeting moment, Matthew seemed to see himself lying on the ground, bleeding heavily and Incapacitated. A pair of soft hands embraced him tightly. She whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll be by your side, and we¡¯ll get through this together.¡± Wilhelmina was the girl who stood by him. She was the girl he could never betray. Forcing himself to look away from Willow, Matthew pulled Wilhelmina into his arms. life! Willo ¡°Wi, I¡¯ve told you, I only want you in this life! Willow means nothing to me.¡± As if hypnotizing himself, Matthew repeated, ¡°Willow means nothing to me.¡± Matthew had already walked off the stage. When Thane released Willow, all he saw was Zayn standing beside him. Thane quickly released Willow. ¡°You¡¯re right, Zayn! She¡¯s my friend¡¯s wife! I shouldn¡¯t have hugged her so tightly! I must let go of her, even though I only admire her talent!¡± Chapter 192 Chapter 192 1/2 Willow was Thane¡¯s friend¡¯s wife. Zayn¡¯s demeanor grew colder. Zayn knew that when Thane mentioned ¡°friend¡°, he wasn¡¯t referring to Zayn but to Kenan. ¡°Venus, you truly embodied the essence of a seductive concubine in your performance! Yes, you¡¯re a seductress who can spell doom for an entire nation! Only you are worthy to y the evil concubine in my heart!¡± Willow never wanted to be praised by Thane again upon hearing the word ¡°seductress¡°. He would end up with no friends if he praised anyone in this way. ¡°Venus, let¡¯s sign the contract now, shall we? I¡¯m certain that Kenan will be overjoyed when he hears about your sessful audition! When Kenan awakes, I¡¯ll tell him this good news first!¡± ¡°Thane, I¡¯d like to tell Mr. Dawson about this myself.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Willow looked up and smiled warmly, her heart softening as she thought of Kenan. ¡°It¡¯s because of Mr. Dawson that I came for the audition today.¡± When Zayn heard that Kenan was the reason Willow came to audition, he couldn¡¯t hold back his anger any longer. He stepped forward and roughly grabbed Willow¡¯s wrist. ¡°Willow, do you enjoy flirting in front of men? Will you die if you don¡¯t seduce them for a day? Dream on if you think you¡¯ll be in this advertisement!¡± Willow found Zayn¡¯s words rather tiresome. But she genuinely wanted this role. She only feared that Zayn might try to sabotage her. ¡°Flirting?¡± Thane clearly disagreed with Zayn¡¯s words, his handsome face showing dissatisfaction. ¡°Zayn, that¡¯s a bit too harsh! Venus¡® performance is art! It¡¯s art, do you understand? I won¡¯t let you tarnish art!¡± ¡°Having this flirtatious woman perform is a real disgrace to art!¡± ¡°Zayn, it¡¯s ungentlemanly to speak about your ex¨Cgirlfriend like that! Rtionships are about destiny. ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t work out, people should wish each other well. Zayn, you¡¯re always picking on Venus. It¡¯s not very manly of you!¡± ¡°Say that again?¡± Thane felt that men who bully their ex¨Cgirlfriends were awful. But he was scared of Zayn¡¯s anger, so he didn¡¯t argue with him. Heughed dryly. ¡°What did ¡®say? Why can¡¯t I remember anything? Do I have amnesia or something?¡± ¡°Willow, quit this audition!¡± Zayn ordered coldly, leaving no room for negotiation. Chapter 192 2/2 He really didn¡¯t want Willow to be in the advertisement. Thinking of men holding pictures and having dirty thoughts of Willow made him furious. Thane was afraid of Zayn, but he was even more afraid Willow might give up. After all, finding the perfect enchanting concubine in his heart was very hard. Thane bravely said, ¡°Zayn, Kenan said I have the final say in this audition. You can¡¯t interfere!¡± ¡°Venus broke up with you. It¡¯s not a reason to hurt her career! Zayn, a man should be mature, even after a breakup! You¡¯re so twisted because she left you once¡­¡± ¡°Thane!¡± Thane fearfully covered his mouth. ¡°Okay! Okay! I¡¯ll be quiet! I¡¯m mute!¡± Skyler saw that Zayn didn¡¯t want Willow in the advertisement, so she quickly grabbed his arm. Skyler said, ¡°Zayn, I know you don¡¯t want to see Willow¡¯s face. I have a perfect solution that keeps Willow¡¯s face hidden and makes the advertisement sessful.¡± Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 197 Chapter 193 Chapter 193 ¡°What¡¯s this perfect solution?¡± Thane asked without thinking. Skyler straightened her shoulders, acting like a top celebrity. ¡°Thane, I think Willow can be my dance double. She¡¯ll dance, but I¡¯ll do the parts that show my facel Skyler didn¡¯t like Willow, but she had to admit her dancing was captivating. It would be hard to scout for someone as talented as her in the whole country. She wanted to endorse ¡°Whispers of Love¡± and make the advertisement sessful. So, the best solution was to have Willow as her dance double. After all, when the face was revealed as hers, any praise for the dancing would automatically go to her. Skyler would effortlessly gain a bunch of new fans. Thane remained silent, looking at Skyler¡¯s face with a pensive expression. Skyler thought he was considering her idea, so she continued, ¡°Thane, though I¡¯m not a top star, I¡¯m still well¨Cknown. ¡°My reputation and work speak for themselves. I¡¯m a better fit for a luxury brand than an unknown rookie! ¡°Please consider my suggestion! Endorsing luxury goods with a rookie like Willow is too risky!¡± Thane kept looking deeply into her face. His gaze held a hint of intense emotion. Seeing his expression, Skyler became confident in her idea. Thane finally spoke, but his words didn¡¯t match Skyler¡¯s expectations. He taunted, ¡°Skyler, why would I choose you over Venus, who has a much more beautiful face? Do you think there¡¯s something wrong with my eyes, or is it your brain?¡® Skyler¡¯s face changed dramatically. She never imagined Thane would embarrass her in front of Zayn. She was too shocked and upset to know what to say. Thane continued, ¡°Oh, Skyler, even if there¡¯s something wrong with your brain, there¡¯s nothing wrong with my eyes! With Venus here, I¡¯d never choose someone as in¨Clooking as you!¡± When Thane called her in¨Clooking, Skyler was so angry her eyes nearly popped out. Everyone who saw her praised her beauty. Thane couldn¡¯t consider her as average. Skyler nced around. Fortunately, the crowd had dispersed, and no one noticed their conversation Otherwise, she would have no dignity. ¡°Thane, you¡¯ve gone too far today!¡± After receiving a warning look from Zayn, Thane quickly covered his mouth. But after a few seconds, he still muttered, ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth.¡± Women care most about their image in front of men they love. Thane had embarrassed Skyler in front of Chapter 193 Zayn, upsetting her. With tears in her eyes, her mean face showed a pitiful expression. ¡°Zayn, am I really that ugly?¡± ¡°Skyler, you¡¯re the most beautiful in my heart,¡± Zayn said, expressionless. Although he spoke to Skyler, his gaze remained fixed on Willow as if dering war on her. Willow kept telling herself she didn¡¯t care, but her heart ached.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. There was always someone more beautiful. No one could im to be the most beautiful in the world. 212 Chapter 94 Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Love had made Skyler the epitome of beauty. Skyler was beautiful in Zayn¡¯s heart because he loved her so much. ¡°Zayn, thank you.¡± Skyler snuggled contentedly in Zayn¡¯s embrace. Willow didn¡¯t want to see them showing off their affection. After confirming the contract signing and filming schedule with Thane, she turned and left. Actually, Thane wanted to sign the contract with Willow Immediately. But he needed to adjust some contract details as she wasn¡¯t a well¨Cknown actress. He could only schedule the contract signing for the next day. Skyler knew she couldn¡¯t win this endorsement by arguing with Thane. Only Zayn could help her, but he showed no interest in intervening further. Since Skyler did not want to appear too opportunistic, she decided to snatch the endorsement herself. A brand emphasizing a positive image would never choose a spokesperson with a tarnished reputation. If the world knew about Willow¡¯s dirty secrets, Thane wouldn¡¯t risk using her. With that thought in mind, a sinister smile tugged at the corners of Skyler¡¯s lips. She wanted Willow to be Willow was deeply concerned about Kenan¡¯s condition. Although she had interacted with Quintus a few times, she didn¡¯t have his phone number to contact him. She knew Quintus would let her see Kenan in the hospital room. However, the bodyguards were stationed at the hospital entrance and the underground¡® parking lot. It made it impossible for her to go directly to the hospital room.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. After leaving Dawson Group¡¯s building. Willow bought Nic¡¯s favorite daisies and visited her grave. Willow couldn¡¯t find Nic¡¯s body. Hence, she had to bury her bloodstained boots just like she buried Aaron¡¯s clothes Nic had no rtives in Havenpoint except her grandmother, who had been sent abroad by Ss. Thus, her funeral was simple. Today was Nic¡¯s 22nd birthday. They had promised to celebrate each other¡¯s birthdays every year. This year was no exception. Nic¡¯s grave was next to Aaron¡¯s. The plot was meant for Willow herself, but in the end, Nic rested there. Willow bought another plot next to Nic¡¯s, hoping to be close after her death. Their three graves, positioned so close together, would unite them eternally. Nic¡¯s photo on the gravestone showed her radiant smile, like the most beautiful spring flower. Yet, Chapter 194 such a wonderful girl perished in despair and silence. ¡°Nic, I¡¯m sorry. I still haven¡¯t avenged you. Your murder charge has been cleared, but Sylvia found a scapegoat. She¡¯s unscathed for now. ¡°Nic, I wish I could live longer to n and avenge you, Aaron, and Grandma. Be happy down there. Don¡¯t shed tears for scumbags anymore. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it. I won¡¯t cry for scumbags anymore.¡± Willow ced the flowers in front of the grave. She reluctantly turned away and walked toward the cemetery exit. 10% The chilly wind made her instinctively pull her clothes tighter around her, trying to ward off the cold. Then, four burly men appeared before her. She recognized them immediately. It was them who drove Nic to suicide. Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Willow gritted her teeth, wishing she could rush forward and tear those disgusting men into pieces. But she still had her wits about her and knew she couldn¡¯t act recklessly. The men blocking her path looked menacing. Willow¡¯s priority was to escape the situation. She had promised Kenan that she would cherish herself and not y games with her life. It seemed she couldn¡¯t pass them, and Willow had no intention of confronting them either. She turned around and headed toward the other fork in the road. She didn¡¯t believe she had run into these men by chance. It was clear they were acting on someone else¡¯s orders. One of the men held a camera. When she looked up earlier, he had waved the camera at her with a sly grin. Willow¡¯s stomach began to ache again. Despite this, she continued to run away desperately. She was almost there. Once she reached the cemetery, there would be people she could turn to for help. She could even call the police and report that these four men were harassing her Last time, Willow had also reported Nic¡¯s incident to the police. But these four men told the police the same story, iming that Nic had led them on. Without any evidence, she couldn¡¯t bring them to justice. This time, if she could hold on until she reached the gate, people would see these four men chasing her. Then, they wouldn¡¯t be able to escape the police. ¡°Hey,dy. Why are you running away? We only want to have some fun with you!¡± A lewd and sinister voice echoed behind Willow, sending shivers down her spine. It caused her to quicken her pace involuntarily.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. The cold wind blew, tousling Willow¡¯s hair. She paled further. It made her dizzy, and she nearly copsed. But the thought of ending up like Nic,pletely in the clutches of these men, spurred her on She tightened her grip on her phone, wanting to call for help. But making a call now would waste too much time. By the time the police arrived, she might already have been taken away by these men. Her priority now was to run as far away as she could. ¡°Hey! How are we supposed to take your picture if you run away? came a voice. ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve got cameras ready. We can¡¯t finish the job If you don¡¯t cooperate!¡± another man yelled. Despite the cold weather, Willow was sweating profusely. Her vision began to blur. She had overestimated herself. When her body finally gave out, she fell to the ground. Even if she didn¡¯t pass out, these men could easily capture her. They were just enjoying the chase, waiting 2/2 toer her before taking her. A rough hand firmly gripped Willow¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hey, why¡¯d you stop running? Go on, run!¡± ¡°Let me go! Help!¡± Another hand grabbed her chin, making Willow feel sick to her stomach. She tried to turn away to avoid their touch but couldn¡¯t escape. Willow quietly unlocked her phone. She was about to dial the emergency number when her phone rang. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Willow instinctively answered the phone, and Zayn¡¯s cold voice came through. ¡°Willow, give up the endorsement!¡± Willow knew that the kidnappers had noticed her intention, and she lost her chance to call the police. She could only take the chance and seek help from Zayn. ¡°Help me!¡± Willow cried. ¡°Willow, don¡¯t y tricks on me! Not only do you not need my help, I¡¯ll even celebrate if you do die!¡® With that, Zayn coldly hung up the phone. Willow had anticipated Zayn¡¯s response. But her blood still ran cold. Sometimes, she found herself quite ridiculous. Zayn had disappointed her countless times. Yet she still clung to hope. He would celebrate if she died. Well, at least her funeral would be a lively one. ¡°You bitch! Were you calling for help? Haha! You failed, didn¡¯t you?¡± The man with a big mole on his face, Mico Lloyd, violently snatched Willow¡¯s phone and smashed it on the ground. He thought it wasn¡¯t enough, so he lifted his foot and stomped on the phone a few times. Seeing Willow staring nkly at her shattered phone, Mico¡¯s expression became even more smug. ¡°Bitch! Give up! No one¡¯sing to save you! You¡¯d have to cooperate with us even if you scream your lungs out!¡± ¡°Let me go!¡± Willow knew that the more frightened and helpless she appeared, the more brazen theseContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. men would be. So, she forced herself to calm down. ¡°Someone paid you to hurt me, right? I can pay you too. Il give you double the money if you let me go!¡± Willow didn¡¯t have much money but she had a way to escape as long as they agreed. ¡°Bitch, are you trying to bribe us? Damn it! Dream on!¡± Mico spat at Willow. The tall and thin man behind him, Kiran Simmons, felt bad for her. When he saw Mico about to kick Willow, he quickly pulled him aside. ¡°Mico, go easy on her! Ms. Dawson said we needed to take photos of herter. How are we supposed to do that if you hurt her?¡± Kiran reasoned. Mico agreed and gave Willow a fierce re but didn¡¯t continue to hurt her. As she expected, Skyler was behind this. Skyler was wealthy and had worked with these men several times. She must have offered them a lot of money. Willow knew that her attempt to turn the tables was futile. But even if her death was warranted, she Chapter 196 wanted to know why. ¡°What kind of photos do you want to take of me? What did you do to Nic? How did she die?!¡± Willow shouted. ¡°You asked too many questions. Which one do you want us to answer?¡± Kiran squinted his eyes and stared at Willow with a lustful gaze. Her skin was as smooth as butter, and he liked the way it felt under his touch. ¡°This one is as pretty as the one before. I¡¯m so fucking lucky!¡± Kiran grinned. ¡°This bitch does look pretty good! We¡¯ll get some nice photoster!¡± Mico was in a daze. ¡°Kiran, how about you and I take some photos with herter?¡± 12 Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Though these men didn¡¯t give any details, Willow could tell from their demeanor what photos they wanted to take of her. The thought of those indecent photos spreading made Willow¡¯s heart drop. She didn¡¯t want Kenan to wake up and see a flood of those disgraceful images. ¡°Let me go! What you¡¯re doing is illegal!¡± Willow knew her words were feeble. But a person would do anything when push came to shove. ¡°illegal?¡± Mico sneered. ¡°Whatws are we breaking if we said you led us on? When we sell the photos the paparazzi, I guarantee you¡¯ll be famous overnight!¡± With that, Mico reached out and grabbed Willow. Willow was disgusted and struggled desperately. ¡°Get off me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± to She tried to get up, summoning all her strength to escape from these disgusting men. But her stomach hurt too much, and her body was too weak. She didn¡¯t even have the strength to stand up. ¡°Mico, do you really want to do it here?¡± Kiran pointed to the tombstone. ¡°Although I¡¯m not superstitious, I can¡¯t help but feel a chill down my spine!¡± After Kiran said this, the chubby man beside him, Finn Lockwood, looked around and furrowed his brows. I don¡¯t feelfortable here either!¡± Mico was brave, but guilt weighed on his heart. Especially when he remembered how Nic had cursed them when she jumped into the sea. He shivered and quickly lifted Willow onto his shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go and find a good ce to take photos of this bitch!¡± Mico yelled. ¡°Yes! We need to make sure the photose out good! Ms. Dawson said she¡¯ll reward us greatly if we do!N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Kiran chimed in. ncing at Willow¡¯s pale face, Kiran felt a little sorry for her. ¡°Lady, don¡¯t look so sad! It¡¯s not like you¡¯re going to die! ¡°Truthfully, we¡¯re only here to take photos and have fun. We don¡¯t want your life! Just don¡¯t be stupid like your friend!¡± Finn echoed, ¡°She can¡¯t die! Ms. Dawson said she wants the girl to admire her photos when they spread all over the inte!¡± The remaining man, Enan Hall, sighed, ¡°Lady, don¡¯t me us for this. You¡¯re to me for being at odds. with Ms. Dawson. ¡°How could you snatch the endorsement from Ms. Dawson? Prepare to see your reputation ruined when those photos go viral!¡± Amid their conversation, these men had already stuffed Willow into a sack. Chapter 197 Every time Willow was stuffed into the sack, despair flooded over her, Willow didn¡¯t want to experience the feeling again. But she was too weak. She couldn¡¯t escape from this. The sack was securely tied, and Willow clenched her fists, sweat dripping from her palms. Right now, she hoped that the heavens would give her more time, even if it were just half a year. She would use every means possible to make everyone who had hurt and betrayed her pay! The men took Willow to a wooden house on the outskirts. The house looked small from the outside but was quite spacious inside. Inside the wooden house was a medium¨Csized bed. Mico dragged Willow out of the sack. As soon as they entered the house, they threw her onto the hard bed. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Chapter 198 There was nothing on the bed. Willow felt like her waist was breaking from the impact when she fell on the bed. She was already seeing stars, and being thrown made her vision go ck. She couldn¡¯t see any hope now. Seeing a dusty ss on the nearby table, Willow gritted her teeth and grabbed the ss. Then, she smashed it toward Mico¡¯s head. Mico waspletely engrossed with Willow¡¯s beauty and didn¡¯t notice her intention. It was Enan who noticed her movement. He quickly stepped forward and snatched the ss from Willow. With his hot temper, he wanted to smash the ss onto the ungrateful woman. Yet he feared the injury. would affect the photo shootter, so he only hit her body. Enan¡¯s blow happened to hit Willow¡¯s stomach, which was already in severe pain. It caused her to spasm in agony. ¡°You bitch! How dare you attack me?¡± Mico raised his hand and was about to p Willow again when Enan stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t hit her face! We still need to take her photos!¡± he reminded. The photography enthusiast, Finn, had already set up the tripod. He fixed the camera on it, looking like a professional photographer. He rolled his sleeves and pointed the camera at Willow. ¡°Who¡¯s going first?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree that Kiran and I would go first?¡± With that, Mico started to take off his clothes. Kiran didn¡¯t want to let Mico steal his spotlight and swiftly discarded his clothes. Enan didn¡¯t want to wait. But it wasn¡¯t his turn yet. It was freezing cold in the middle of winter. His eyes lit up at Willow¡¯s clothes. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Willow wished she could rip these disgusting men apart, but she had no knife on her. She could only watch in despair as her clothes were gradually taken off. The sound of the shutter suddenly echoed in the air, and Willow¡¯s heart dropped. She couldn¡¯t escape in the end. And this was just the beginning.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Willow closed her eyes, then forcefully opened them again. She wanted to bite her tongue and end it all. But there was no difference even if Willow died. These photos would still spread, and she would remain a slut to everyone. And she didn¡¯t know how to face Aaron and Nic in the afterlife. As long as she was still breathing, Willow would live her best life. Willow conjured up her strength and bit down on Mico¡¯s shoulder. She bit so hard that arge chunk of flesh almost fell off his shoulder. Chable 198 Mico screamed hysterically. He wanted to p Willow but didn¡¯t dare move too much. He was afraid that Willow would tear the flesh off him if he pulled away. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Chapter 199 ¡°Bitch, let go!¡± Seeing Mico in pain, Enan had enough and pped Willow. Half of her face had swelled up, but she still didn¡¯t let go. It seemed she wouldn¡¯t release her grip unless the chunk of flesh fell off. ¡°Let me go! Damn bitch! Let go!¡± Mico roared. He raised his hand, but the intense pain made him lose the ability to strike. Willow wanted to demand the men to delete the photos. But she was afraid Mico would escape if she did. So she didn¡¯t say anything and continued to bite him. Willow had always been against violence. But now, she found it refreshing to punish the people she hated with ferocity. Skyler better wished she was dead. Otherwise, Willow swore she would pay Skyler back tenfold. ¡°Bitch! Have you lost your mind? Let go! Let go of me now!¡± Mico was in so much pain that he wanted to find something to pry Willow¡¯s mouth open. However, hispanions hadn¡¯t found a suitable object yet. He suddenly felt a release on his shoulder, followed by an even more excruciating pain. Suddenly, Mico realized that Willow had torn off that chunk of flesh from his shoulder. Willow was surprised as well. She didn¡¯t possess sharp teeth. But it seemed her hatred was enough toThis material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. make up for it. ¡°Bitch, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Mico screamed in agony. He gritted his teeth and pped Willow hard. Hispanions were shocked by this. But since they hadn¡¯t finished the job, they couldn¡¯t kill Willow yet and had to endure it. Seeing Mico pull out his knife, Enan quickly grabbed the knife from him in fear of ruining the n. ¡°Mico, that¡¯s enough! Have you forgotten what Ms. Dawson told us? Do you still want the remaining two million dors?¡± Hearing this, Mico instantly calmed down. He couldn¡¯t bear to give up the money. Since he couldn¡¯t kill Willow, he red at her and threatened, ¡°I¡¯ll give you hellter, fucking bitch!¡± Willow spat out the flesh and chuckled at this threat. She was going all out now. So, she wasn¡¯t afraid of some low¨Clife thugs. Seeing Willow¡¯s contempt, Mico¡¯s anger began to re again. He threw his clothes on the ground and rushed toward her. ¡°How dare you ? I¡¯ll make sure you cry so hard that your eyes fall out! I¡¯ll give you hell!¡± ¡°Ouch! It hurts!¡± Mico didn¡¯t manage to keep his word when his wound throbbed, causing him to tremble Chapter 199 in pain. Since he couldn¡¯t teach Willow a lesson, Mico entrusted the task to his aplices. 22 Mico wrapped his wound with his clothes to slow the bleeding. He then pointed at Willow and said to the others, ¡°Kill her! I want her to die in the most miserable way possible! I want her to regret living!¡± Chapter 200 Chapter 200 ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mico. I¡¯ll avenge you!¡± Enan stuffed a plece of cloth into her mouth to prevent Willow from biting again. In truth, Willow didn¡¯t have the strength to bite anyone anymore. She had exhausted all her energy. Now, she could only lie on the bed helplessly. However, she felt relieved. If she hadn¡¯t bitten Mico, she would have been better off dead. Now, even if she couldn¡¯t escape the torture, at least she didn¡¯t go down without a fight. Willow¡¯s face was swollen on one side. Thus, they had to find a good angle to capture the side of her face that wasn¡¯t swollen. The frequency of the shutters became faster, and Willow knew that the photos taken would only be more unbearable to look at. But there were some things that she was powerless to change even if she wanted to. At that moment, she finally understood why Nic sought death that day. She hadn¡¯t even been physically vited by those men yet, and she was already miserable as it was. And ording to Skyler, Nic was¡­ Nic never could have recovered from that. Just when Willow thought her fate was sealed, the locked door was suddenly kicked open. Matthew stomped in with a dark look Willow turned around, staring at the tall man in a daze. For a moment, she felt like the Matthew who had been through thick and thin with her had returned. The same Matthew who had protected and joked around with her. He also promised never to let anyone hurt her. In her daze, Willow couldn¡¯t distinguish between reality and memory. In her confusion, she saw Matthew kicking Kiran off her while Mico tried to stab him. However, before he could get close to Matthew, the knife was kicked away from his hand and fell out the window. Later, she saw Finn and Enan being beaten to a bloody pulp. After realizing they were no match for Matthew, they didn¡¯t even bother to pick up the fallen camera. Instead, they ran out of the house after grabbing their clothes. Willow finally lost consciousness from her exhaustion. She felt like she was still in the dungeon, relying on Matthew and Aaron for survival as Nic waited eagerly for her return. And all of this seemed nothing more than a ridiculous dream. If it wasn¡¯t a dream, Aaron and Nicole wouldn¡¯t have left her alone. They promised to be together forever. They wouldn¡¯t break their promises. And if she wasn¡¯t dreaming, Matthew would have never hurt her multiple times, even though he swore to protect her. They had vowed to protect each other forever, even if they weren¡¯t blood¨Crted. If this wasn¡¯t a fucking dream, Zayn would still treat her like a daint flower instead of killing the child in. her womb for some stupid bitch. He wouldn¡¯t even have abandoned Aaron. Willow would rather believe that she was caught up in a nightmare. Once she woke up, Aaron, Matthew, Nic, and Zayn would be there. ¡°Willow!¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that the cloth in Willow¡¯s mouth was stained with blood, Matthew hurriedly removed it. He took off his coat and covered her exposed body, then tightly hugged her. He knew he should be loyal to Wilhelmina and stay away from Willow, who had wormed her way into his heart. But at that moment, he couldn¡¯t stop himself. Matthew couldn¡¯t stop the way his heart ached for her. He couldn¡¯t wipe away the yearning to have her to himself and be one with her forever. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 At that moment, upon feeling Willow¡¯s warmth, Matthew suddenly felt Incredibly grateful for the wildcat that almost caused an ident on the road. His countryside vi was just in front of this wooden house. Whenever he was down, he liked toe here alone. Today, as he approached the vi, a wildcat had suddenly dashed out of the grass beside the road. He had to m on the brakes to avold hitting it. As Matthew stopped the car, he nced out the window. It was pure coincidence, but he happened to see a lone sneaker lying by the roadside. He clearly remembered that Willow was wearing shoes identical to this one before she changed into her performance outfit for her audition today. He found it amusing that, despite his efforts to rid himself of Willow¡¯s influence, he could still remember exactly what shoes she was wearing. Matthew considered that the shoe lying there could merely be a coincidence. But it was too small¨Cbarelyrger than his hand. Few adult women had feet that small. This shoe was definitely Willow¡¯s. After glimpsing the unlicensed ck Volkswagen parked nearby and the wooden house not far ahead, Matthew grabbed the shoe and sprinted toward the house. Sure enough, he found Willow there, along with several men. Had he been a few minuteste, Willow wouldn¡¯t have escaped being sexually assaulted. At this thought, Matthew felt a strange tightness in his chest. He unconsciously held her even tighter. Noticing one of Willow¡¯s feet was bare, he nced at the shoe he had tossed aside. Driven by some inexplicable urge, he picked up the shoe and put it on her foot. Her sock had been removed, revealing her smooth foot. Matthew¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed vigorously, and his eyes darkened significantly. As if possessed, he couldn¡¯t resist brushing his fingertips against Willow¡¯s sole while putting the shoe on her.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Willow was incredibly ticklish, especially on her sole. Upon being touched there, she reflexively kicked off the shoe he was trying to put on her. Though she was not fully unconscious, her mind waspletely muddled. Back then, in the dungeon, Matthew and Aaron often tickled her feet. The three of them would y guessing games to pass the time, and the loser would be tickled. She would always lose. The feeling of her foot being tickled made Willow feel like she was transported back to the dungeon. She yfully pouted. ¡°Matthew, stop it!¡± Hearing Willow¡¯s voice tinged with slight annoyance and an endearing innocence tugged at Matthew¡¯s heartstrings. Unable to restrain his emotions any longer, he forwent the shoe and pulled her fiercely into Chapte: 201 his arms. Willow was already feeling dizzy. The tugging spun her world further off its axis, which made her fall. Matthew not only tickled her foot but also dropped her. It was truly exasperating Grinding her teeth silently, Willow decided to give Matthew a taste of his own medicine. In fact, he was very ticklish, too. Her most ticklish spot was her sole, while Matthew¡¯s was his armpits, Whenever Matthew upset her, she would instruct Aaron to tickle his armpits. She fumbled around but couldn¡¯t find Aaron, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. ¡°Matthew, I¡¯ll make you cry now for bullying me!¡± she dered as she reached to tickle him. Before she could reach him, her wrist was suddenly caught in his firm grip. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 ¡°What are you trying to do, Willow?¡± ¡°Tickle you,¡± Willow responded earnestly. Matthew¡¯s eyes darkened even more. He wasn¡¯t some naive youngster. He knew what a woman throwing herself at a man and wanting to tickle him implied. But this time, Matthew really misunderstood. Willow genuinely just wanted to tickle him. Back in the dungeon, they were like family. Tickling each other was an innocent and endearing act. ¡°Willow, hadn¡¯t you given up?¡± ¡°No!¡± How could she give up without even tickling him? She had her principles when it came to tickling. Matthew¡¯s heart raced. He thought Willow had given up trying to seduce him after clinging to Kenan, but she hadn¡¯t. He shamefully realized that hearing her say she hadn¡¯t given up brought him an inexplicable joy. When Matthew stopped talking, Willow took it as his tacit approval for her to tickle him. She rubbed her hands together and prepared to continue her mischief. Seeing Willow¡¯s small hand reaching out again, Matthew couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He turned and pressed her under him before lowering his lips. ¡°Willow, you brought this on yourself. If you want to be mine so badly, I¡¯ll grant your wish today.¡± At that moment, countless thoughts shed through Matthew¡¯s mind. Eventually, he became certain about one thing: he shouldn¡¯t betray Wilhelmina. He kept telling himself he would give Wilhelmina a proper status, treat her doubly well, and let her stay by his side openly. As for Willow, she would only be his hidden mistress. With her, it was just a transaction for pleasure and nothing serious. Willow was utterly confused. She only wanted to tickle him. Why was she being kissed? Before she could figure out what was happening, Matthew¡¯s stern warning voice spoke in her ear. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you, Willow. It¡¯s just a transaction between us, so don¡¯t you dare expect anything else.¡± Instantly, Matthew¡¯s words in the dungeon shed in her mind. ¡°Wi, when we get out, I¡¯ll work hard to make a lot of money. I won¡¯t let you and Aaron suffer anymore. We¡¯re family for life. I¡¯ll never let you and Aaron be wronged.¡± Willow suddenly opened her eyes. Was this cold¨Chearted man truly the same Matthew who had helped her through the dungeon? No, not anymore. Time had passed, and their bond formed in the dungeon was just a dream. ¡°Matthew, let me go!¡± Willow tried to push Matthew away with all her might. When he lifted his face, it revealed his cold eyes that were tinged with a hint of mockery. Chapter 202 ¡°Willow, you were the one who was throwing yourself at me. Ha! Your coy tricks are really pathetic! You¡¯d better know your ce. No matter what tricks you y, don¡¯t expect more. You¡¯ll only ever be my mistress. With that, he smirked disdainfully and sealed her lips with his own again.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Willow certainly didn¡¯t want to be anyone¡¯s mistress. She was about to rify things with Matthew and p some sense into him when Zayn¡¯s icy voice echoed from the doorway. ¡°Willow!¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Zaynnded a powerful punch on Matthew¡¯s face. In the next instant, he pressed Matthew against the nearby table. ¡°Who gave you the right to touch her?¡± Zayn¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a wild beast that was encroached upon. He clenched his fists andnded another blow on Matthew¡¯s face. ¡°Answer me! Who gave you the right to touch her?¡± Matthew¡¯s face remained cold. He casually wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and stood gracefully. ¡°She¡¯s my lover. I¡¯ll touch her if I want. What does it have to do with you, Mr. Carter?¡± Lover? Zayn¡¯s eyes burned even redder. Such a bright color yet filled with chilling destion. He wondered when Willow had be Matthew¡¯s lover again. Right, she was always fickle. Being Matthew¡¯s lover wasn¡¯t surprising. As Zayn was about to look away from Willow¡¯s face, he noticed a small puddle of blood by the wooden bed. He stared at that small patch of blood, almost trying to bore a hole through it with his gaze. Zayn felt that Willow was utterly shameless. She was dirty and cheap, yet she insisted on pretending to be innocent. How could she be so disgusting? It was absurd that he was so frantic over her. He mobilized all his resources to scour the entire city and even enlisted the help of Theodore just to locate her possibly destroyed phone. He did all that for her, but she wasn¡¯t even in danger. Instead, she was here with her sugar daddy. Zayn knew that this ce was right next to Matthew¡¯s vi. ¡°Disgusting!¡± he thought. Zayn¡¯s eyes grew redder and redder as if the small patch of blood by the bed had stained his eyes. His gaze shifted slowly from that small patch of blood to Willow¡¯s face. His voice dripped with as he said, ¡°You¡¯re quite something. Willow.¡± Willow knew Zayn must have misunderstood her rtionship with Matthew again. Indeed, her action with Matthew just now could easily lead to misunderstandings. But she had done nothing wrong, and her conscience was clear.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. In the past, Willow might have exined to Zayn, but it wasn¡¯t necessary now. She believed that those who had faith in her would trust her implicitly without requiring exnations. However, those who didn¡¯t trust her would doubt her, regardless of how hard she tried to exin. Zayn fell into thetter category, so she didn¡¯t want to waste her time exining to him. Willow grabbed her coat and roughly threw it over herself. Expressionlessly, she said, ¡°Mr. Carter, think whatever you like. It has nothing to do with me.¡± Nothing to do with her? Was she serious? Zayn was already on the verge of exploding. Hearing her clearly delineate the boundaries between them Chapter 200 only made him want to strangle her even more. He stepped forward and was ready to grab her neck roughly to tell her that there was no way for her to cut ties with him. Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Before Zayn could make a move, Matthew had already positioned himself in front of Willow. Matthew¡¯s features were gentle, but when his face turned cold, he seemed to be on par with Zayn. The two men stood together like it was an invisible confrontation. Ignoring the rage burning in Zayn¡¯s eyes, Matthew calmly spoke, ¡°Mr. Carter, you¡¯re meddling in matters that don¡¯t concern you. Whoever my sugar baby is is none of your business.¡± ¡°Sugar baby?¡± Zayn suddenlyughed. It made him seem even more sinister and Intimidating than his usual stoicism. ¡°Forgive my ignorance. In all my years, I¡¯ve never heard of a woman being a sugar baby for multiple men.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I was her honored guest at Rumpus Club.¡± Zayn dered his authority with just one sentence. Matthew¡¯s expression changed instantly. He never imagined that Willow would have been to Rumpus Club. She was Zayn¡¯s lover, yet she disyed affection with Kenan and repeatedly tried to seduce him. Matthew couldn¡¯t fathom how there could be such a shameless woman in the world, Perhaps those four men he scared off earlier were also seduced by her. Matthew felt that Willow was truly filthy. Even thedies of Velvet Noir were more noble and purepared to her. He kept telling himself that he didn¡¯t want to let go, not because he cared about Willow, but because her face suited being a mistress too well. ¡°Mr. Carter, how much did you spend at the Rumpus Club?¡± Matthew paused slightly before continuing with determination, ¡°I¡¯ll double for your losses.¡± Zayn¡¯s head throbbed with anger. Willow¡¯s feigned innocence really worked. Matthew was already viewing her as a treasure. Suppressing the urge to crush her, Zayn replied coldly, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. Your money is nothing to me.¡± Matthew was about to continue the tug-of¨Cwar over Willow when his phone rang. Seeing it was from Wilhelmina, he quickly answered the call. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Wi?¡± ¡°Matt, I have a fever, I feel terrible.¡± Matthew¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I¡¯ming over right away.¡± After hanging up, Matthew didn¡¯t care about their confrontation anymore. He nced coldly at Willow and quickly left the wooden house. After all, Willow had already shown an inclination toward him. Her bing his mistress was only a matter of time. Willow felt incredibly weak. Even though she was in an embarrassing and miserable situation, she had almost drifted off to sleep again. Chapter 204 In a semi¨Cconscious state, she felt a sudden pain in her chin. When she opened her eyes, she met Zayris furious gaze. His anger gradually turned into chilling sarcasm. ¡°Hal Willow, what¡¯s the use of pretending to be innocent? No matter how innocent you pretend to be, to Matthew, you¡¯re nothing more than a mistress who can¡¯t be seen in public. You¡¯re nothingpared to his Wilhelmina.¡± Willow was too exhausted. She really didn¡¯t want to argue with Zayn. She turned her face away andN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. business.¡± numbly responded, ¡°Mr. Carter, even if I¡¯m nothing, it¡¯s none of your ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn was so angry that he wanted to destroy everything, but he couldn¡¯t bear to actually kill Willow. All he could do to vent his anger was to kick the ground fiercely. As he did so, he noticed a ck Canon camera lying beside his foot. Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Zayn hesitated for a moment but eventually picked the camera up from the ground. It was still on. probably having been used recently to view its contents. Zayn casually pressed a button, and the small screen lit up again. Upon seeing the indecent photo on the screen, he got so angry that he almost smashed the camera to pieces. Willow noticed Zayn¡¯s actions. She knew how explicit the photos on that camera were. Initially, she didn¡¯t want Zayn to see them. However, remembering that he was no longer hers, she didn¡¯t bother to stop him. Her reputation was already so tainted. A bit more dirt wouldn¡¯t matter. Willow wanted to leave the wooden house and get as far away from Zayn as possible, but her body hurt too much¨Cso much that she couldn¡¯t even move. Unable to leave, she could only close her eyes and brace herself for the impending storm. Zayn had experienced too many bad things in his childhood and had suffered from severe autism. His psyche wasn¡¯t exactly healthy. He was obsessive, violent, and cold, but that didn¡¯t mean he was stupid.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. His memory was exceptionally good, so even though he hadn¡¯t paid much attention before, he instantly recognized the men in the photos as the ones from the cliff that day. He didn¡¯t know the exact truth of that day, but Willow believed those men were responsible for Nic¡¯s death. She cared deeply about Nic, so she would never get involved with those men voluntarily. These photos couldn¡¯t have been taken with Willow¡¯s consent. They must have forced her. With this realization, Zayn pieced together the events of the day. That phone call was indeed Willow asking for his help, but Matthew had arrived first. He yed the hero, and she offered herself in return. The thought of Willow being coerced and assaulted made Zayn¡¯s heart twist. She had refused to be his lover for 100 million dors but had thrown herself at Matthew to be his hidden mistress. How could she be so cheap? Zayn smashed the camera onto the ground with a loud bang, and Willow¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the sound. His face was filled with uncontroble rage, like a storm about to break, yet his words were cold and controlled. ¡°Willow, do you like Matthew that much?¡± Willow didn¡¯t bother exining her rtionship with Matthew to Zayn, so she chose to remain silent. Zayn interpreted her silence as an admission. He kicked the camera again, smashing itpletely. When he noticed Willow¡¯s face was still expressionless and numb, his anger red even more intensely. As he looked down at her, he exuded unmatched elegance and chilling ruthlessness. ¡°Willow, your feelings for Kenan must be just as superficial. I truly pity him.¡± And he pitied himself even more, Chapter 205 2/2 The only time he fell for a woman ended up in such a mess. This betrayal made him unwilling to trust anyone again. Mentioning Kenan brought some expression back to Willow¡¯s face. However, Zayn had no right to judge. her rtionship with Kenan. ¡°Mr. Carter, how I feel about Mr. Dawson and whom I like is none of your business. I only hope you will never appear before me again.¡± Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Willow continued, ¡°Mr. Carter, you always call me cheap, dirty, and disgusting. But in my eyes, you are noContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. different!¡± ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn¡¯s rage exploded, nearly transforming him into a ferocious demon. Suddenly, he thought of something, and his expression gradually became cold and mocking. He nced at the scattered camera pieces on the ground. It was in a sorry state, but the memory card remained intact. As he slowly squatted down, an air of darkness enveloped him. Zayn pinched the small memory card with his fingertips. Then, he smirked at Willow. ¡°Willow, how do you think Kenan will react when he sees the photos on this memory card?¡± At that, Willow¡¯s face turned as white as a sheet, and her lips trembled with hatred. She thought Skyler was the one driving her into a corner. But in the end, it was Zayn. Biting her lips hard, Willow suppressed the urge to scream. She was already in a miserable state. She didn¡¯t want to give Zayn the satisfaction of seeing her worse off. The old Zayn she once knew was her knight and her redemption. But the current Zayn was a demon dragging her into the depths of hell. He was her lifelong enemy. She gripped the edge of the bed tightly and summoned all her strength to rise and get off the bed. She aimed to snatch the memory card from Zayn, but she missed it. She felt as though her heart had also skipped a beat. ¡°Zayn, give me the memory card!¡± Even though Willow felt utterly filthy, she didn¡¯t want everyone to know just how dirty she was. Zayn wasn¡¯t actually so despicable as to show the contents of the memory card to Kenan or anyone else. He was already furious. There was no way he would let anyone else see such photos of her. However, he couldn¡¯t stand seeing Willow care about Kenan or any other man. That was why he behaved. so harshly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Afraid you won¡¯t be able to pretend to be a virgin in front of Kenan?¡± Zayn sneered coldly, like a demon born from blood. Willow felt so embarrassed that she could almost die. But she couldn¡¯t afford to offend Zayn. He might expose the photos. She pushed him hard. Seeing Willow¡¯s fierce demeanor, Zayn suddenly remembered the sweet and gentle girl from four years ago who asionally showed her ws to him. He felt like he had traveled back in time for a moment. In that moment of distraction, Willow had already wrapped her coat around herself and stumbled out of the wooden house. ¡°Zayn, do whatever you want with the contents of the memory card! I don¡¯t care Chapter 206 anymore! I don¡¯t care at all! ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. I won¡¯t be threatened by you anymore! I don¡¯t care if you ruin me or kill me. You won¡¯t be able to threaten me anymore!¡± As Willow stepped out of the wooden house, she felt a sudden pain in her body. She realized Zayn had pressed her against the door, which he had just closed. His cold eyes burned with a passionate desire, giving him a dangerous allure. Chapter 207 Chapter 207 The look in Zayn¡¯s eyes made it clear to Willow what he might do next. She had promised Kenan that they would be together once he woke up. She was determined not to sleep with Zayn again. She pushed against Zayn with all her might. But before she could fully push him away, his furious voice.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. echoed in her ears. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can get away, Willow!¡± Then came the sound of clothes hitting the ground. Willow¡¯s hatred reached its peak. Her teeth were clenched so tightly that they ached, yet she couldn¡¯t escape. Her body trembled like a leaf in the wind. She opened her mouth and wanted to sink her teeth into Zayn¡¯s shoulder, like how she bit the man who had just assaulted her. But even in her hatred, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to truly harm him. Thinking she hadn¡¯t tried to please Matthew, Zayn felt an inexplicable joy in his heart. He gently kissed Willow¡¯s temple. But his touch only made her tremble more violently. She gritted her. teeth. ¡°Zayn, what does it matter to you?¡± She knew she couldn¡¯t match his strength, but she still tried to break free from him. After another failed attempt, her hatred shook her to the core. ¡°Pull out, Zayn! You¡¯re no different from those men just now! You¡¯re just as disgusting as them!¡± Zayn¡¯s tender gaze turned to ice in an instant. How dare shepare him to those four men? His fury surged once again, washing over his senses. He didn¡¯t know how time passed. Willow knew the more she suffered, the more pleased Zayn would be. She didn¡¯t want to give him that satisfaction. She bit her lip fiercely and gripped the door handle, but she struggled to stand up from the ground. Her legs trembled incessantly as she look at him. There wouldn¡¯t be anyone around in a ce like this anyway. Besides, her coat was so long that it reached her knees. It was cold, but it was enough to cover up anything inappropriate. ¡°Whatever,¡± she thought. When Zayn saw her continue to walk away, his anger intensified. He strode forward and lifted Willow up without a word before heading briskly toward the Koenigsegg.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Willow felt intense resistance toward his embrace. She used all her strength to break free. Suddenly, a spasm in her stomach left her powerless. Even as he ced her in the back seat, she remained too weak to move. The Koenigsegg sped off like a lightning bolt, leaving her feeling even more dazed and disoriented. She numbly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. She wondered when this absurd and painful time would end, Probably soon, when she died, everything would finally be over. She was worried she wouldn¡¯t live long enough to see Kenan wake up. A metallic taste filled her throat, but Willow refused to show weakness in front of Zayn. She didn¡¯t want him to think she was ying the victim again, so she forced herself to swallow the blood back down. Zayn didn¡¯t take Willow to Lakecoast but instead returned to Bordello. As soon as they entered the bedroom, Willow lunged at the bottle of painkillers on the bedside table. Without bothering to pour herself some water, she took out several pills and tried to swallow them. But before she could do that, Zayn snatched the pills from her hand and threw the bottle of which he had torn thebel off out the window. ¡°Zayn, you lunatic! Give me back my pills!¡± ¡°Willow, are you so afraid of having my child?¡± Willow was taken aback. She didn¡¯t know that Zayn took the painkillers as contraceptive pills. She didn¡¯t bother to exin to him. She just said wearily, ¡°You¡¯re insane, Zayn.¡± ¡°Answer me, Willow! Are you so afraid of having my child?* Willow found his repeated questioning ridiculous. She was willing to have his child. In fact, she had only ever wanted to have children with him. But did it matter? She had given birth to Aaron with great difficulty, only for Zayn to cruelly abandon him for Skyler. Later, when she became pregnant again, he ordered the doctors to kill the baby in her womb just to please Skyler. Chapter 208 The thought of her two children¡¯s tragic deaths made her eyes turn so red that it seemed they might bleed. She wanted to cry. But in the end, all she could do wasugh bitterly. ¡°Yes, Zayn! I don¡¯t want to have your child! I¡¯d rather have a child with animals than have a child with you. Zayn Carter!¡± chapter 209 Chapter 209 ¡°What did you say? Say it again!¡± Zayn shouted. Ignoring the bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes, Willow smiled radiantly. ¡°I said I¡¯d rather have a child with a pig or a beggar on the street than ever have another child with you, Zayn!¡± As Zayn stared at her, his eyes were filled with hatred and violence. It was as if there were countless vicious beasts inside, ready to tear Willow to pleces. Yes, she never wanted to have his child. Four years ago, she had killed their child with her own hands. He still couldn¡¯t forget the sight of their child¡¯s blood mixing with his own and dripping from his forehead. All the warmth in his heart seeped out with each drop. Recently, she was pregnant again, but she didn¡¯t care about the child at all. She risked her pregnancy to harm Skyler, which led to her losing the baby. ¡°Hah!¡± Just as Willow thought he was going to strangle her, he sneered coldly. ¡°Willow, who do you think you are? You don¡¯t want to have my child? So be it. Do you think I¡¯d force your to? You don¡¯t even deserve to bear my child! If I ever have a child, it will only be with Skyler.¡± Zayn took out a wad of cash from his wallet and threw it at Willow¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to buy emergency contraceptives!¡± He slowly put his wallet back in his pocket. This was Zayn. Even in his most ruthless moments, he carried an air of superiority.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. As he stood up, he looked down at Willow with contempt and coldness etched on his perfectly sculpted face. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can y games with me, Willow. If I find out you didn¡¯t take the pill, or if you get pregnant with my child¡­ I promise I¡¯ll kill that child with my own hands!¡± Without a second nce, Zayn mmed the door and left. ¡°Hah!¡± Unable to move from the pain, Willow could onlyugh bitterly. Zayn needn¡¯t worry. With her broken body, she couldn¡¯t conceive his child even without emergency contraception. When he cruelly killed her unborn child, he had taken away her ability to ever be a mother again. Dor bills scattered across Willow¡¯s face. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to remove them. She justy stiffly on the bed and let the overwhelming pain consume her until she fell into darkness. As soon as Zayn exited the small apartment, he took out the memory card from his pocket. Thinking of the photos on it, he tightened his grip and snapped the card in half. Only when the card was irreparably broken did he throw it into the garbage bin downstairs. He pulled out his phone and called Liam. ¡°I need you to find four people. I want them.., to disappear Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Willow¡¯s stomach was still in pain. She didn¡¯t want to move, but she had to sign the contract. She pushed through the difort and got up. Her phone had been destroyed by those four men yesterday. She feared Kenan might try to reach her once he woke up, so she headed to the mall to buy a new phone and a new SIM card of the same number after a simple meal. As she inserted the SIM card into her new phone, it immediately started ringing. For some reason, as Willow stared at the unfamiliar number shing on her phone screen, a very bad feeling crept into her heart. Her fingertips trembled uncontrobly. She swiped the screen several times before finally answering the call. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± ¡°Ms. Sanford. Hi, I¡¯m Mr. Dawson¡¯s assistant, Quintus Lane.¡°Though Willow hadn¡¯t saved Quintus¡® number, she had seen him and spoken to him before. It was indeed his voice on the other end. ¡°Yes, Mr. Lane. How is Mr. Dawson¡¯s condition? Has he woken up? There are so many bodyguards outside the hospital. I can¡¯t get in. Could you please arrange for me to see Mr. Dawson?¡± ¡°Ms. Sanford, Mr. Dawson¡­ Quintus¡® voice choked up, and Willow¡¯s sense of dread intensified. She nervously held her breath, afraid of what Quintus might say next. ¡°Mr. Dawson¡¯s condition suddenly worsened early this morning. Despite the doctor¡¯s best efforts, he passed away. ¡°Ms. Sanford, please ept my condolences. Before Mr. Dawson passed away, he woke up once. Hel said he hoped you wouldn¡¯t be sad for him and that he wished you could live a happy life.¡± ¡°What?¡± Willow¡¯s hand shook so much that she could barely hold the phone. What are you talking about, Mr. Lane? Wasn¡¯t Mr. Dawson out of danger already? How could his condition suddenly worsen?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Sanford, I¡¯ll fulfill Mr. Dawson¡¯s final wish and bring his ashes to you this afternoon.¡± Quintus¡® voice choked up. He quickly hung up after saying that, as if afraid he might break down. Even as the screen of her phone turned ck, Willow couldn¡¯t ept the news Quintus had just delivered. How could Kenan, who was smiling at her just moments ago, suddenly be gone? Quintus was Kenan¡¯s closest aide, so he wouldn¡¯t lie to her. Still, she refused to believe that Kenan was really gone.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. She needed to see it for herself. Kenan must still be lying in the ward. If she went to the hospital, she would see that he was still alive and realize that this was all just a prank. With that thought in mind, Willow wasted no time. She hailed a cab and rushed to the private hospital Chapter 210 where Kenan was staying. If the bodyguards refused to let her in, she would call Quintus toe down and escort her. 212 Arriving at the hospital gates, she noticed that the guards who had been stationed there were nowhere to be seen. Willow¡¯s heart pounded even harder. While she had resented those guards for blocking her from seeing Kenan, their absence now filled her with dread. She sprinted toward Kenan¡¯s
  1. om. As she reached the door, she saw that even the guards outside his
room were gone, leaving only two nurses tidying up the bed. Seeing the empty bed, Willow struggled to breathe. But she still clung to a glimmer of hope. ¡°Excuse me, where¡¯s the patient who was staying in this room? His name is Kenan Dawson. He had a car ident and was staying in this room. ¡°Why isn¡¯t he here anymore? Did he get moved to another room or transferred to another hospital?¡± Chapter 211 Chapter 211 ¡°Mr. Dawson?¡± The nurse, who was removing the pillowcase, turned and looked at Willow.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Yes, Mr. Dawson. I heard he was out of danger. Is he doing better now?¡± ¡°Mr. Dawson has passed away,¡± the other nurse said indifferently, showing little interest in engaging with Willow. Willow¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Passed away? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Passed away means he¡¯s dead. He¡¯s nevering back.¡± The nurse looked at Willow impatiently before returning to her task. Clearly, she didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation. Dead¡­ Nevering back.. Willow felt her heart plunge into the depths of despair. Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly, falling like pearls slipping off the string of a broken ne. She desperately hoped that Quintus¡® call had been a cruel prank. However, the two nurses said that Kenan would nevere back. They couldn¡¯t possibly be joking with her, along with Quintus. Kenan was truly gone. Instantly, all the strength drained from Willow¡¯s body. She helplessly crouched on the ground and hugged herself tightly, but her body continued to shiver uncontrobly from the cold. She had promised him that she would marry him when he woke up. She would be his beautiful bride in her finest dress. But yesterday, Zayn had vited her. Was losing him forever heaven¡¯s way of punishing her for not being faithful to Kenan? But why did Kenan, who was so good and warm, have to be the one to pay the price? They should take her instead since she was the filthy one. With shaking hands, she took out her phone and wanted to call Quintus to find out where Kenan¡¯s body. was. But no matter how many times she dialed, Quintus didn¡¯t answer. Unable to find Kenan, Willow could only leave the hospital like a lifeless shell. The weather was growing colder. The biting wind cut across her face like knives. Normally, she would be freezing, but today, she felt numb to everything. She walked aimlessly down the street, not knowing where to go. Suddenly, her phone rang. She hoped it was Quintus calling her back, but it turned out to be Thane. Thane¡¯s voice was filled with regret. ¡°Venus, I¡¯m sorry, but we can¡¯t sign the contract today. You truly are the perfect ambassador for Whispers of Love in my eyes, but Zayn¡­. ¡°Well, he used my family¡¯s business to threaten me. I really fear his authority, so I¡¯m choosing Skyler. Chapter 211 ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Venus. I know my actions are unforgivable, but I sincerely wish you all the best. I believe that with your talent, you will be the brightest star in Marley and beyond.¡± Hearing Thane¡¯s words, Willow didn¡¯t know what to feel. Anger? Yes, at Zayn. Resentment? Yes, also at him. Kenan had always hoped she would be the ambassador for Whispers of Love and shine brightly. She had thought that even with Kenan gone, she could fulfill hisst wish by securing the ambassador role and shining brilliantly for once. Chapter 212 Chapter 212 1/2 Who would¡¯ve thought that after sessfully auditioning and almost signing the contract, Willow would still disappoint Kenan due to Zayn¡¯s interference? ¡°Venus, are you listening to me? I know you must be devastated by this news, and I feel terribly sorry. I sincerely apologize to you, Venus.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Willow repeated mechanically, as if lost in a daze. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± She didn¡¯t me Thane. She knew the extent of Zayn¡¯s influence. If he wanted to thwart something, Thane couldn¡¯t change it. ¡°Venus, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Thane felt even more guilty, knowing that Willow didn¡¯t me him. ¡°I¡¯m so disappointed in myself for not keeping promises! ¡°But Venus, while I can¡¯t decide on the ambassador for Whispers of Love, I can decide on the leading actress for my next movie. You¡¯ll be the female lead in my next film.¡± Thane¡¯s voice suddenly became somber as he thought of something. ¡°Venus, I heard about what happened with Kenny. I hope you¡¯re not too upset.¡± So, Thane had heard about Kenan¡¯s death, too. Later, Thane said manyforting words, but Willow didn¡¯t register any of them. Her mind was consumed with the thought that Kenan would never return. Kenan, who gave her the most genuine warmth and treated her like she was the finest woman in the world, was really noting back. Willow didn¡¯t know how she made it back to Bordello. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Quintus standing at the entrance of her apartment. Quintus held a delicate urn in his hands. His expression was filled with grief, as if he had aged a dozen years in an instant. Seeing Willow, he approached her and gently ced the urn in her hands. ¡°Ms. Sanford, Mr. Dawson requested that his father agree to send his ashes to you.¡± Quintus choked up for a moment. When he lifted his face, he tried hard to hold back the tears. He took several deep breaths before finally regaining hisposure. ¡°Ms. Sanford, Mr. Dawson really liked you. He said he wanted to protect you through life and death. Please, take good care of him.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. With those words, Quintus turned¡¯abruptly and hurried back to the elevator. In the moment he turned away, Willow clearly saw his eyes rapidly redden. Her own eyes welled up with tears. She trembled as she hugged the urn close. Afraid of dropping it, she cradled it protectively against her chest. This was Kenan¡¯s um. A once vibrant and radiant person was reduced to ashes just like that. Opening the door¨Cwhich was a seemingly simple task¨Ctook Willow over ten minutes. Chapter 212 213 With her illness, she thought she would be the first to leave this world. But now, before her own time, the ones she cared about most had left her one after another. She didn¡¯t know if she could find them on the road to the afterlife. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Willow truly didn¡¯t wee Skyler, but in Kenan¡¯s presence, she didn¡¯t want to argue with her. After carefully cing the urn on the coffee table, Willow ignored Skyler as if she were invisible. Even when Willow ignored her, Skyler showed no signs of anger. She elegantly walked up to Willow. ¡°Lolo, Kenan was already out of danger. The doctor said he was about to wake up. His condition had improved, and he wouldn¡¯t be in any danger. So why did he suddenly die?¡± Upon hearing Skyler¡¯s words, Willow realized something. Her body tensed with instant hatred. ¡°Was it you, Skyler? Did you kill Mr. Dawson? He was your brother! Your brother from the same mother! How could you do such a thing to him?¡± ¡°Yes, I did it! I killed my brother!¡± Skylerughed triumphantly. There was a cruel indifference in the corners of her eyes. ¡°Willow, I¡¯ve said it before. No one can get in my way. I¡¯ll take down anyone who does! I didn¡¯t want to hurt Kenan, but he stood in my way because of you!Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Lolo, I didn¡¯t kill Kenan. It was you! You caused a rift between me and Kenan and forced me to turn against him!¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Willow found it incredibly ludicrous. Skyler always had the audacity to shift her own guilt onto others. She could harm her own mother and brother yet still pretend to be innocent. Her shamelessness knew no bounds. ¡°Willow, it¡¯s all because of you! If it weren¡¯t for you, my mom wouldn¡¯t be in a vegetative state, and Kenan wouldn¡¯t be gone. You killed them. You¡¯re the one who killed my family!¡± ¡°Skyler, you¡¯re insane! Don¡¯t tell me every sin¡¯you¡¯vemitted is because of me! Don¡¯t tell me I forced you to ruin my rtionship with Zayn. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me I forced you to kill Grandma! And don¡¯t even tell me I forced you to kill Aaron and Nic! *Skyler, so many people have died because of you! Why don¡¯t you just die, too? You deserve to die, Skyler! If you don¡¯t die on your own, I¡¯ll make sure to kill you!¡± With that, Willow grabbed a teacup from the table and hurled it viciously toward Skyler¡¯s face. Skyler had been on guard, so she was able to dodge Willow¡¯s attack quickly. She looked down at Willow, who was panting from her exertion, with a smile. ¡°Willow, you think you can kill me with your frail body? Dream on!¡± Skyler took slow steps forward, then suddenly bent down andnded her hand on the urn on the coffee table. Fearing Skyler might damage Kenan¡¯s urn, Willow quickly stood up to snatch it away. However, Skyler¡¯s movements were quicker than hers. She swiftly grabbed the urn first. Chapter 213 ¡°Give me back the urn, Skyler!¡± Willow rushed around the coffee table to grab the urn from Skyler¡¯s hand, but Skyler agilely evaded her. After taking a step back, she smiled sweetly at the nervous Willow. Suddenly, she raised her hand, and the urn she held fell to the ground. ¡°Mr. Dawson!¡± Willow¡¯s eyes turned red with fury. She rushed forward and frantically grabbed the scattered ashes, fearing something might be missing. ¡°Oh no, how did that happen?¡± Skyler¡¯s expression was extremely innocent. ¡°It must have slipped.¡± ¡°Get out, Skyler. Get out now.¡± At that moment, Willow had no energy to fight Skyler. She just wanted to gather the ashes on the ground. and protect that warm¨Chearted young man. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Skyler had achieved her goal, so she didn¡¯t linger at Willow¡¯s apartment for long. She hummed a tune triumphantly as she gracefully walked out of the door. Fortunately, the um was made of hardwood, so Skyler¡¯s earlier actions didn¡¯t damage it. Even so, it took a considerable amount of effort for Willow to gather the scattered ashes and put them back into the urn. As she held the urn tightly, tears threatened to spill from Willow¡¯s eyes once again. She hastily took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears. However, despite her efforts to restrain the strong urge to weep, her voice still quivered with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Dawson. I¡¯m so sorry. From now on, I¡¯ll protect you well. You protected me when you were alive. Now, it¡¯s my turn to protect you. I¡¯ll be brave.¡± Willow forced a smile, but it was more grimace than anything else. She had promised Kenan to marry him and be his most beautiful bride. Yet, before he could see her in bridal attire, he had turned into a pile of ashes. The more Willow thought about it, the more deste she felt. But even though he was gone, her promise to him remained unchanged. She would marry him, even in death. Willow had already made up her mind about what to do next. Marriage required a ring. Back then, he had kneeled on one knee and asked her to be his girlfriend amidst the flowers. This time, she would propose to him.. She would buy the ring and wedding dress first. Then, she would seek revenge on Skyler. After that, she would wear her wedding dress and go to find Kenan on the road to the afterlife. With her decision made, Willow grabbed her bank card and headed out to buy a diamond ring and wedding dress. After purchasing the ring and dress, she also nned to buy sulfuric acid. That was for Skyler. If she had any energy left, she would also get a bottle for Sylvia. The cold wind continued to blow relentlessly, but Willow found sce in the chill. At least the cold breeze cleared her mind, making her ns for the future crystal clear. She had one million dors left. It was originally intended for Aaron¡¯s surgery. After his passing, she had nned to leave the money to Nic. But fate had other ns, and Nic was gone, too. Now, with no no parents, husband, friends, or children left in this world, she saw no reason to hoard the money. So, she would spend the one million dorsvishly on the ring and dress. Willow didn¡¯t like modern¨Cstyle wedding gowns. She preferred Marleyan traditional wedding dresses. Hence, she went to a branch of Enchanted Moments. Enchanted Moments was a brand founded by Wynn, Caroline, and Harper Vance when they were young. It featured Marleyan¨Cstyle designs and also had a wedding dress collection. Chapter 214This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 212 Willow particrly admired the designs from Enchanted Moments. Wearing their wedding dress for her wedding had been her dream since she was young. Once upon a time, this dream was for Zayn. Now, it was only for Kenan. It seemed fate had a sense of irony. As soon as Willow stepped into the quaint shop, she saw Zayn and Skyler. Matthew and Wilhelmina were there, too. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Willow rolled her eyes in her mind andmented forgetting to check her daily horoscope prediction before leaving. Nevertheless, she had no intention of avoiding the situation. She genuinely liked the wedding dresses at Enchanted Moments. And with little time left, there was no need to reschedule just for a few insignificant people. She could simply treat them as if they were invisible. Willow nned to ignore the two couples and headed straight for the wedding dress section after entering the store. The designs of the clothes in Enchanted Moments were undeniably beautiful. Each piece had the power to capture anyone¡¯s gaze. A modified version of the Marleyan traditional wedding dress in vibrant red caught her eye. It was hanging there quietly, like a scene from a romantic tale. Willow Immediately fell in love with the two¨Cpiece wedding dress set on the far right. The style of that wedding dress was actually quite simple. Inside, there was a red fitted gown with delicate pleats and golden embroidery around the stic waistband. The gown itself didn¡¯t have any other embellishments. ore two doves On the outside, there was a fiery red, semi¨Ctransparent cape. Adorning the cape were two embroidered from gold thread soaring together, apanied by faint floral patterns. It was a minimalist design, yet it struck a chord in Willow¡¯s heart. She wanted to possess it and wear it to walk toward the most important moment of her life under the witness of the gentle breeze and the vast earth. Willow nced at the price tag on the dress. The set was around 180 thousand dors. Such an expensive price tag would have made her hesitate to buy it in the past. But with only a little time. left in her life, she decided to indulge now when she still had some money. With the wedding dress chosen, Willow nned to try it on in th by Zayn and the others to get to the fitting room. fitting room. However, she had to pass Well, she didn¡¯t care anymore. After all, encountering flies or mosquitoes while shopping was nothing out of the ordinary. With that in mind, Willow grabbed the dress and headed straight for the nearest fitting room without looking elsewhere. ¡°Lolo, what a coincidence! Why are you here, too?¡± Skyler¡¯s voice sounded pleasantly surprised as if she and Willow were very close. As she nced at the dress in Willow¡¯s hand, her expression became even more delighted. ¡°Are you buying a wedding dress? Loto, are you getting married?¡± Getting married? At those words, Zayn¡¯s and Matthew¡¯s gazes involuntarily fell on the wedding dress in Willow¡¯s hand. Chapter 215 Annoyed by the interference, Willow didn¡¯t bother to beat around the bush with Skyler. She simply replied,¡± Yes, I¡¯m getting married.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Skyler¡¯s voice was filled with even more excitement. ¡°When are you getting married? Who are you marrying? Zayn and I will definitely attend your wedding.¡± ar that she would grab a hanger and hit Skyler was really too noisy. Willow frowned in disgust. Out of Skyler on the head if she continued to face her, she forced herself to keep moving forward.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Just as she took a step, her wrist was roughly grabbed. When Willow looked up, she met Zayn¡¯s dark eyes. Layers of menace covered the light in his eyes. They were like a ck hole, wanting to devour people¡¯s souls entirely. ¡°Speak, Willow. Who are you marrying?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Willow smirked coldly and tried to shake off Zayn¡¯s hand. However, his grip was as strong as iron, making it impossible to break free. ¡°Let go, Mr. Carter!¡± ¡°Willow, don¡¯t test my patience.¡± The indoor heating in the store was running full st, providing a warmth akin to spring despite the biting winter outside. But as Zayn uttered those words, the atmosphere in the store seemed to transform into deep winter with snow everywhere. Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Willow knew if she dodged Zayn¡¯s question again today, she could kiss peace goodbye. With a calm gaze, she stated, ¡°Mr. Carter, I¡¯m marrying Mr. Dawson, I made a vow, and I¡¯m sticking to it. Nothing¡¯s tearing us apart,e what may.¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Thinking of Kenan¡¯s cold ashes and his parting words delivered by Quintus, Willow¡¯s heart throbbed with pain so fierce that it threatened to consume her. There¡¯d never be another man like Kenan in this world. He must¡¯ve been one such a nice guy to wish her well on his deathbed. The intense pain fueled Willow with unwavering resolve, and she shoved Zayn away. She wasn¡¯t lingering a moment longer. Clutching her clothes, she stormed into the fitting room. Zayn retracted his hand rigidly. His gaze cut through the closed fitting room door like a sharpened de. *She wants to marry Kenan! This ungrateful woman actually wants to marry Kenan!¡± he seethed silently. Kenan¡¯s condition took a sudden turn for the worse,nding him under the care of Zayn¡¯s mother, Wynn, in herb. ¡°Kenan hasn¡¯t even regained consciousness, and she¡¯s already rushing to buy a wedding dress to be his bride. ¡°She must be smitten with Kenan! How could she be so crazy about him? Who gave her the guts?¡± Zayn couldn¡¯t help but wonder. ¡°Zayn, Zayn¡­¡± Skyler¡¯s voice jolted Zayn back to reality. He looked down and realized he had twisted the metal clothes hanger in his hand into a mangled mess. The fitting room door swung open, and Willow stepped out in her wedding dress. A store clerk hurried over to ask about her purchase, but the words died in her throat as she took in the sight of Willow in the vibrant red gown. She was stunning. Willow looked so beautiful that even a woman couldn¡¯t look away. This dress was one of the simplest designs in the store. When the staff first saw it, a few of them gathered around, talking about how in it was and figuring it wouldn¡¯t sell as well as the others. But now, seeing Willow standing proudly in front of the mirror like a blooming flower, they realized just how wrong they had been. At that moment, it was clear: this dress was the most perfect one in the entire store. After Willow got sick, she lost a lot of weight, but none of it seemed toe from where it mattered most. It was as if each pound lost honed in on that slender middle. Her waist was incredibly slim; it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say it was barely a handful. Chapter Anyone with a slightly thicker waist would look bulky in that dress. But on Willow, it entuated her curves, transforming her into a captivating siren. The semi¨Ctransparent cape draped over her, teasingly concealing and revealing, adding to the allure that. begged to be unraveled just to uncover the truth about her remarkably narrow waist. Was it truly as small as it seemed, capable of driving anyone to madness with desire? Matthew¡¯s face mirrored sheer amazement, tinged with a hint of possessiveness. A sudden impulse seized him¨Cto keep Willow all to himself, shielded from the prying eyes of other men. But before he could act on this instinct, Wilhelmina¡¯s sweet voice whispered in his ear. ¡°Matt, that wedding dress on Willow is just breathtaking! I¡¯m absolutely smitten with it! Matt, could you do me a favor? Get it for me, and imagine me in that dress, bing your most beautiful bride ever. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Matthew stayed stone¨Cfaced. But Zayn heard Wilhelmina¡¯s voice. His eyes darted her way and locked onto Matthew¡¯s starry¨Ceyed gaze. Zayn¡¯s face darkened In this world, nobody understood the slim curve of Willow¡¯s waist quite like him. And the sensation of holding her close, locked in desperate intimacy, was a knowledge uniquely his own. The mere notion of Matthew indulging in simr fantasies sparked a smoldering fury within Zayn. If Matthew dared to cast another nce Willow¡¯s way, Zayn swore he¡¯d gouge out those eyes without a second thought. Luckily, Wilhelmina called out to Matthew again, saying, ¡°Matt, did you hear me? I absolutely love Willow¡¯s wedding dress! ¡°Matt, I need that dress. Let¡¯s buy it, alright?¡± In the Enchanted Moments boutique, every wedding dress was a one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind masterpiece. If Wilhelmina wanted this dress, she¡¯d have to talk Willow into giving it up. Matthew slowly came back to reality. He gently sped Wilhelmina¡¯s hand with care. But when his gaze fell upon Willow¡¯s face, it chilled to the bone. ¡°Willow, take it off!¡± Willow was startled. She hadn¡¯t expected Matthew to suddenly confront her in front of everyone. ncing at her attire, Willow wasn¡¯t one to relish in public nudity. Why would sheply with his order to strip? Willow was particrly fond of her wedding dress. Ignoring Matthew, she calmly addressed the store clerk nearby. ¡°I¡¯ll take this dress. I¡¯ll go and change now. Please pack it up for me.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Before the clerk could even respond, Matthew had already approached her and Willow. He stood tall, looking down on Willow with an air of superiority. His gaze was icy as it swept over her -crimson dress. With each word carrying an unmistakablemand, he ordered, ¡°Willow, take off that dress!¡± Looking all innocent andpliant, Wilhelmina gently wrapped her arms around Matthew¡¯s. ¡°Matt, if Willow isn¡¯tfortable, let¡¯s just drop it. While I do adore this dress, I don¡¯t want to make things harder for her. Matt, can you please ease off on Willow?¡± ¡°Wi, I¡¯ll make sure you get what you want. Nobody¡¯s gonna steal what you love.¡± Matthew¡¯s grasp on Wilhelmina¡¯s hand tightened. ¡°Willow, this dress is mine!* While Willow did fancy the dress, she wasn¡¯t keen on dragging out a pointless dispute with Matthew. Every minute of her life she had left was precious, and she shouldn¡¯t squander it on trivial matters. Chaberne Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but feel thoroughly annoyed with Wilhelmina. Since childhood, Wilhelmina had a knack for snatching things from her and always trying to outshine her. If Willow wore something nice and receivedpliments from ssmates, the next day Wilhelmina would show up in the exact same outfit, seeking the same praise. People said ¡°twinning outfits wouldn¡¯t be a problem, but whoever looked ugly would be the one who felt. embarrassed. From childhood to now, Willow had lost count of how many times Wilhelmina had made a fool of herself. Yet here she was, in front of everyone, trying to steal her dress. Well, if she derived such perverse pleasure from making a spectacle of herself, she was wee to continue down that ignominious path. Chapter 218 Chapter 218 ¡°Sure thing. Honestly, this wedding dress isn¡¯t really doing it for me anyway. Since y¡¯all seem to be head over heels for it, feel free to snatch it up.¡± With that, Willow quickly returned to the fitting room and changed back into her own clothes. As Willow casually expressed herck of enthusiasm for the dress, Wilhelmina couldn¡¯t conceal her dismay. However, having already gushed about the dress in front of Matthew and sumbed to his insistence on trying it on, she feltpelled to follow through. Snatching things from Willow had always given Wilhelmina an inexplicable thrill. But at this moment, she felt far from satisfied. There lingered a nagging sense that she was seizing something Willow didn¡¯t truly desire. However, the anticipation of Matthew¡¯s inevitable awe when heid eyes on her in the dress managed to lift her spirits slightly. Hastily slipping into the wedding dress, she was eager to unveil her unparalleled allure to her beloved. As the fitting room door swung open and Wilhelmina emerged with grace, the store clerks couldn¡¯t help but exchange subtle, knowing nces. With Matthew in the picture, everyone knew Wilhelmina was his prized possession, and ttery was the order of the day. But as theyid eyes on Wilhelmina now, the usualpliments seemed to stick in their throats. In their minds echoed a damning verdict: what a waste. When Willow donned the dress, it was like watching magic unfold vibrant, captivating, and utterly enchanting. Yet, on Wilhelmina, it lost its luster, fading into ackluster, ill¨Cfitting ensemble. This dress was just too selective, Despite Wilhelmina¡¯s undeniable charm and sweetness, her figure leaned toward the more juvenile side. Her curvescked definition, and instead of graceful contours, there was a hint of bulkiness. The meticulously crafted gown, designed to entuate feminine allure, seemed misced on her. To put it kindly, it was akin to a child ying dress¨Cup in clothes too big for her. To be blunt, it was like squeezing into a tight sack.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. As for the once¨Cflowing, semi¨Ctransparent cape, it draped over her like a raincoat. The store manager was quick to react, gliding over to Wilhelmina with a practiced smile. u two ¡°Ms. Foster, you are absolutely stunning in that wedding dress! Mr. Mayer is one lucky man. When you walk down the aisle, Ms. Foster, you¡¯ll be the most breathtaking bride in the world!¡± At first, Wilhelmina had doubted if she looked as good in the dress as Willow did earlier. But the store manager¡¯s praise injected her with an instant surge of confidence. With all eyes on her, how could she not feel like a beauty? The store manager¡¯s lips twitched ever so slightly, but her tteringpliments continued unabated. Chapte 218 200 ¡°Ms. Foster, your curves are simply incredible. Just look at that waist, those legs! My, Ms. Foster, how did you be so stunning? No wonder Mr. Mayer can¡¯t take his eyes off you!¡± Wilhelmina turned to Matthew, casting him a shy nce. ¡°Matt, do you think I look good in this dress?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Matthew replied absentmindedly, his attention elsewhere. Upon hearing his affirmative answer, Wilhelmina felt ted. When one was extremely confident, they would tend to lose sight of themselves a bit. She continued to ask Matthew, ¡°Matt, who do you think will look better in this dress, Willow or me?¡± This time, Wilhelmina didn¡¯t get a response from Matthew. She noticed that Willow had made her way upstairs. And Matthew, seemingly spellbound, followed closely behind. Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Willow knew Wilhelmina¡¯s wicked nature all too well. She understood that if she continued trying on dresses, Wilhelmina would employ the same tactics to snatch them away. So, she wasn¡¯t about to waste any more energy. Being slim, she could fit into any of the wedding dresses here. Eyeing another one, she decided she¡¯d have the store clerk wrap it up for herter. Just as she was about to reach for the dress, a sudden wave of nausea hit her throat. She fought to hold it back. But this time, the feeling of blood rushing up was too strong, and she couldn¡¯t stop it. She refused to show any vulnerability in front of these people. Clutching her mouth, she bolted for the upstairs bathroom. As she burst into the bathroom, a rush of bright red blood spilled from her mouth. Her stomach twisted with intense pain, and despite her efforts to hold it back, the agony persisted. And the blood just kepting, as if there was no end in sight. She kept retching, the metallic taste lingering in her throat.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. When she finally finished, her legs felt so weak she could barely stand. She remained crouched on the floor for a while before summoning the strength to grasp the door handle and stumble out of the bathroom. She figured that after spending so much time in the bathroom, Zayn, Matthew, and the rest must have left. This time around, stepping out, she wouldn¡¯t have to put up with those annoying pests anymore. But to her surprise, as soon as she stepped out, barely having had a chance to clean up, she spotted Matthew standing there, radiating a chilly aura. Willow couldn¡¯t wrap her head around why Matthew would corner her here. She had already handed over the dress to Wilhelmina, so what more did he want? Too drained to deal with Matthew, Willow decided to blow him off. She acted like she hadn¡¯t seen him and kept on walking. ¡°Willow, have you considered my proposal?¡± Willow lookedpletely bewildered. She couldn¡¯t recall Matthew ever making any proposal before. ¡°Mr. Mayer, I have no clue what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯ve got better things to do with my time than you. Move aside, please. I need to get out of here.¡± ¡°Willow, be my mistress.¡± Matthew¡¯s voice dripped with contempt. ¡°Willow, I know you¡¯re aiming to marry into high society. But let¡¯s be real: a woman like you wouldn¡¯t even get a foot in the door with the Dawsons, let alone any other wealthy family! ¡°So, go ahead and let go of that pipe dream of yours for good!¡± Willow¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. It was true. The Dawsons would never ept her. But right now, she didn¡¯t need their approval. All she wanted was onest shot at marriage with Kenan, to Chames119 wear her wedding gown and track him down on the other side. Before she could shake off her despair, Matthew¡¯s voice cut through with dripping sarcasm. ¡°How much did Zayn offer you? I¡¯ll double it!¡± ¡°Matthew, you¡¯re barking up the wrong tree. I¡¯m not interested in you. If I won¡¯t marry you straight up, why in the world would I be your mistress? I¡­¡± ¡°Ten million!¡± Matthew cut her off before she could finish. ¡°Ten million a month!¡± Matthew paused for a moment and then continued, ¡°Cut ties with Zayn. Tonight, I¡¯ll have someone send you to the vi at Preston Heights!¡± Before Willow could even think to respond, the sharp sound of Wilhelmina¡¯s voice rang out from the staircase. ¡°Matt, what the hell did you just say? Do you actually want to keep Willow as a mistress? Matt, you promised me you¡¯d treat me right for a lifetime! How could you do this to me?¡± As Wilhelmina spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks. Her expression was the picture of utter despair. It was as if the entire world had let her down. Matthew was caught off guard. He never imagined Wilhelmina would overhear his conversation with Willow. Chaple: 220 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Earlier downstairs, Willow mentioned she was going to marry Kenan, and Matthew was absolutely furious. When heid eyes on her slipping into that alluring wedding dress, the very idea of her walking down the aisle with another man drove him over the edge. In his fury, hepletely forgot about Wilhelmina¡¯s existence. Zayn and Skyler also came up. Zayn smirked coldly. Zayn couldn¡¯t help but notice how Willow, the femme fatale, never missed a beat when it came to turning heads. Now, she could even strike up a sugar daddy deal in the restroom. Zayn¡¯s fists clenched tightly, emitting a faint crackle as he advanced. He was ready to give Willow a harsh reality check about her ce. But just as he neared her, a soft pair of hands grasped him firmly. ¡°Zayn, we haven¡¯t picked out our engagement rings yet. How about we do that now?¡± Zayn snapped back to reality and shot Willow a cold re. With Wilhelmina in the room, he doubted she¡¯d dare to flirt with Matthew so shamelessly. Assured that Willow and Matthew wouldn¡¯t be causing any more scenes today, Zayn turned and headed downstairs. Skyler followed Zayn¡¯s shadow down the stairs. As she approached Wilhelmina, she paused. ¡°Wi, don¡¯t let yourself get too torn up. I know Matthew¡¯s feelings for you are real. There¡¯s gotta be some kind of misunderstanding here.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta trust your man, Wi, and not let a moment of doubt open the door for someone else. Don¡¯t let this chance slip through your fingers, Wi.¡± With those words, Skyler sauntered downstairs with a subtle sway in her hips, her high heels tapping out a confident rhythm on the steps. Wilhelmina¡¯s mind cleared a bit after Skyler¡¯s words. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Matthew. Her voice was shaky with emotion, ¡°Matt, I know you care about me, I believe in your feelings for me. Like Skyler said, there must be some misunderstanding, right?¡± Matthew wasn¡¯t one to dodge responsibility, especially now that Wilhelmina had seen everything. He decided it was time toe clean. ¡°Wi, I¡¯ll always treat you right. No matter what happens, you¡¯ll always be the only Mrs. Mayer!¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s body jerked. She was unable toprehend that Matthew would say such words right in front of her. No matter what happens¡­ Was he admitting he wanted to keep Willow as his mistress? If Matthew took Willow under his wing, even the deepest love, buried deep within, might resurface, defying any attempts to erase it. And if he fell for Willow again, where would that leave Wilhelmina in the Mayer family? ¡°I don¡¯t agreel¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s voice echoed through the room,ced with desperation. ¡°Matt, I love you. I¡¯ve been loyal to you with every fiber of my being, and I need that same loyalty from you! Matt, I won¡¯t stand by while you get tangled up with Willow!¡± ¡°Wi, calm down!¡± Matthew¡¯s voice turned sharp, his Irritation evident. The icy edge in Matthew¡¯s tone cut through Wilhelmina like a knife. She seethed with rage and was itching to unleash her fury and tear Willow¡¯s alluring face to shreds. But Wilhelmina wasn¡¯t foolish. She knew her outburst wouldn¡¯t win Matthew back; it would only push him. further into Willow¡¯s embrace. With Matthew¡¯s heart still within her grasp, she had to act fast before he realized his true affectionsy elsewhere. Chapter 221 Chapter 221 1/2 ¡°Matt, could you head downstairs and wait for me? I need a moment alone with Willow,¡± Wilhelmina proposed. Matthew wasn¡¯t entirely certain what Wilhelmina intended to discuss with Willow. But he knew he had so he didn¡¯t protest her request. been in the wrong today ¡°I¡¯ll go wait for you downstairs, Wi. I hope you won¡¯t dwell on this,¡± Matthew replied. As Wilhelmina¡¯s hand trembled, her heart sank even further. To him, her longing formitment seemed nothing more than stubbornness. lifelong It was a bitter pill to swallow: when a man loved you, he would promise you the world. But when his affections strayed, he would be nothing more than a jerk. Clenching her trembling fingers, Wilhelmina watched Matthew go downstairs, then slowly made her way toward Willow. Willow¡¯s stomach was hurting badly, and she was relieved to see Matthew leave. She didn¡¯t want to waste time talking to Wilhelmina. The space wasrge, and there was more than one staircase. With Wilhelmina blocking her path, Willow decided she could take the back stairs to leave. Before Willow could turn away, Wilhelmina grabbed her wrist tightly. ¡°Willow, I need a word with you.¡± ¡°Wilhelmina, let go. There¡¯s no need to waste your breath because I have zero interest in Matthew. Spare me the paranoia. I¡¯ve never tried to steal your man.¡± Willow tried to shake off Wilhelmina¡¯s grip, but the pain in her stomach was too much, sapping her strength. ¡°Willow, you say you¡¯re not trying to steal Matt from me, but your actions are still ruining our rtionship!¡± Wilhelmina, fearing her hysterics might carry downstairs and tarnish her angelic image in Matthew¡¯s eyes, quickly lowered her voice. ¡°You know what ticks me off about you, Willow? It¡¯s your high¨Cand¨Cmighty attitude! ¡°Who do you think you are? You¡¯re just some discarded refuse from a man¡¯s past. What makes you think you canpete with me for a man? ¡°You couldn¡¯t take Skyler¡¯s man, so don¡¯t even think about mine!¡± Willow felt Wilhelmina¡¯s behavior was beyond frustrating and responded coldly, ¡°Wilhelmina, I never had any interest in your man. I just hope you can keep him away from me.¡± Wilhelmina seethed with anger. The man Wilhelmina adored like a god had been dismissed by Willow Yet, Wilhelmina had to keep a wary eye on Willow, as she was afraid that any slip would result in her man fallingpletely under Willow¡¯s spell. But the truth was, Matthew was already enchanted by Willow. Chapter 221 Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be causing Wilhelmina such agony and despair. 2/2 Suddenly, Wilhelmina yanked her hand from Willow¡¯s grasp and sank to her knees. ¡°Willow, I¡¯m over two months pregnant. I¡¯m begging you. Please stop getting involved with Matt. Let my child¡¯s father go!¡± Caught off guard, Willow was unsure what to make of Wilhelmina¡¯s theatrics. But theatrics aside, Willow didn¡¯t have time for this nonsense. Her legs wobbled, and the back stairs were too far. With her hand no longer in Wilhelmina¡¯s grip, she could take the nearest stairs. ¡°What are you doing, Willow? Please don¡¯t kill my child!¡± As Willow reached the staircase, Wilhelmina sprang to her feet, threw herself backward, and tumbled down the steps. Willow hadn¡¯t seen thating. This cheap attempt at framing her was something she didn¡¯t want to entertain. She reached out to try and catch her, but Wilhelmina fell too fast for her to grab hold of her. Chapter 222Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 222 Chapter 222 1/2 As the noise reached his ears, Matthew sprinted to the staircase. Upon arrival, he beheld a horrifying scene: Wilhelminay at the foot of the stairs, drenched in blood, while Willow loomed above, her hand poised in midair. It was crystal clear to Matthew that Willow had sent Wilhelmina tumbling. In a heartbeat, a ferocious anger consumed Matthew. It transformed him into a primal beast, craving vengeance against Willow. But Wilhelmina¡¯s dire state demanded his immediate attention. Pushing his desire for retribution aside, he hurried to Wilhelmina¡¯s side. ¡°Wi!¡± Matthew cradled Wilhelmina gently in his arms. ¡°Wi, are you alright? Let¡¯s get you to the hospital right away!¡± ¡°Matt, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell you about the pregnancy. I wanted to surprise you when we got engaged, but I couldn¡¯t protect our baby. ¡°Matt, it¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have interfered with Willow. If I hadn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t have lost control and harmed our child!¡± ¡°A baby?¡± Matthew murmured, stunned. He hadn¡¯t realized Wilhelmina was carrying their child. ¡°Matt, I know your memory wasn¡¯t the best before. During your recovery, I was there for you, and that¡¯s when we conceived our baby.¡± Matthew¡¯s eyes zed over, lost in the haze of his past struggles. Though the details were fuzzy, certain memories remained vivid. He couldn¡¯t remember all the details of those years, but he remembered the most important things.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Wilhelmina had been his rock during those dark times. His love for her ran deep, and their intimacy during his recovery felt like the most natural thing in the world. ¡°Matt, this is our first child. I was so excited for him toe into this world, but my stupid mistakes have put him in danger. Matt, I hate myself for it. If anything happens to our baby, I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll go on!¡± ¡°Wi, I won¡¯t let anything happen to you or our baby! You hear me? You both gotta be okay!¡± ¡°Matt, it hurts¡­ God, it hurts so much¡­¡® Wilhelmina was in genuine agony A surge of warmth stained her pristine white dress red. Her body trembled violently, and she copsed into Matthew¡¯s arms,pletely limp. ¡°Wi!¡± Matthew gathered Wilhelmina in his arms and bolted toward the door. Abruptly, he wheeled around, fixing a piercing stare on Willow at the top of the stairs. Willow¡¯s heart clenched at the sight of him. She¡¯d never seen him so menacing, not even during the car Chapte: 222 incident. 2/2 His eyes zed with a fury that seemed to swallow everything in its path. There was a hatred so potent it could annihte all in its wake. Willow knew that trying to plead her case to Matthew now would be pointless. What mattered most was finding evidence to clear her name. In a store this size, there had to be security cameras. Just as she was about to head downstairs to inquire about the surveince footage, Damon, Matthew¡¯s assistant, intercepted her. He seized her hand firmly. ¡°Ms. Willow, you¡¯reing with me.¡± Without waiting for her response, he escorted her to Matthew¡¯s waiting car. Meanwhile, the store staff carried on with their tasks and acted as if they hadn¡¯t seen a thing. Damon took her to Matthew¡¯s car, where Matthew and Wilhelmina were already in. Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Matthew held Wilhelmina close in the backseat. Damon took the wheel while Willow upied the front passenger seat. Through the rearview mirror, Willow caught sight of Matthew¡¯s once gentle features, now hardened with icy anger. She felt a pang of frustration at Matthew¡¯s irrationality. Yet, she couldn¡¯t forget how Matthew had stood by her through four years of trials. She didn¡¯t want such a huge misunderstanding to drive a wedge between them, especially with her uncertain fate looming. She instinctively wanted to exin to Matthew, her lips parting, but she held back. She knew that without evidence, any attempt to exin would only fuel Matthew¡¯s fury further. She turned to Damon, ¡°Mr. Miles, please pull over. I need to go back to the store. Enchanted Moments is a huge store, and there has to be security cameras. ¡°I didn¡¯t push Wilhelmina, and the footage will prove my innocence.¡± ¡°Ms. Sanford, I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± Damon hesitated, casting a wary nce at Matthew in the backseat, awaiting his cue. ¡°Innocence?¡± Matthew¡¯s voice sliced through the tension, sharp and unforgiving. ¡°Willow, I saw you push Wi down those stairs with my own eyes. What innocence could you possibly im?¡± ¡°Mr. Mayer, I swear it wasn¡¯t me! Wilhelmina fell down those stairs on her own! If you don¡¯t believe me, go check the surveince footage at Enchanted Moments!¡± Willow¡¯s frustration with Matthew boiled over. How could he use her like this? ¡°Willow, you still want to argue?!¡± Matthew¡¯s t¨®ne was harsh, his words cutting through the air like a knife.¡± You better pray Wi and her baby are okay, or I¡¯ll make sure you pay dearly!¡± Willow¡¯s patience with Matthew wore thin. It felt like talking to him was like trying to reason with a brick wall. She decided to shut him out and focus on finding a way to prove her innocence. Enchanted Moments¡® downtown branch was conveniently close to the hospital, so they arrived there in no time. Willow had no intention of going to the hospital with them, but Damon kept a close watch on her, blocking any chance of escape. The thought of calling the police crossed Willow¡¯s mind, but she knew that with Matthew¡¯s connections, it would likely backfire on her. She quickly dismissed the idea, Willow¡¯s mind raced, trying to figure out how to prove that she had been set up by Wilhelmina. Even if she returned to the Enchanted Moments branch, she doubted the staff would willingly show her the surveince footage. She needed toe up with a different n. Chapter 223 2/2 Enchanted Moments was a venture Wynn had started with a close friend years ago. Willow knew that if she could reach Wynn, she could get ess to the surveince footage.This is from N?velDrama.Org. While she didn¡¯t have Wynn¡¯s contact information, she had added Celeste on WhatsApp after meeting her once before. She decided to reach out for help. Willow quicklyposed a message and sent it to Celeste. ¡°Cece, I¡¯ve run into a bit of trouble. I could really use your help.¡± Celeste, the country¡¯s top¨Ctier influencer and hottest female celebrity, was someone Willow knew must be constantly busy. She braced herself for a while before Celeste replied. To her astonishment, Celeste¡¯s response came almost instantly. ¡°Willow, what happened? Tell me, I¡¯m really worried!¡± Willow¡¯s heart melted at Celeste¡¯s immediate concern. Zayn might be cold and distant, but his family was genuinely caring. ¡°Cece, I need the surveince footage from the second floor of today¡¯s Enchanted Moments branch on Royale Street. I¡¯ve been set up, and I need that footage to clear my name.¡± Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Chapter 224 1/2 ¡°Willow, you¡¯ve been framed? Who¡¯s the conniving bitch that did this to you? Tell me, and I¡¯ll make sure she regrets ever being born!!!¡± Celeste¡¯s message popped up, loaded with exmation points, and Willow could practically feel her friend¡¯s fiery spirit through the screen. She couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile. ¡°Cece, I¡¯m fine. Once we get that surveince footage, no one will be able to frame me.¡± Since Willow didn¡¯t want to name the culprit, Celeste didn¡¯t press further. But it had been a while since she had the chance to take down a two¨Cfaced snake, and her fingers were itching for some old¨Cfashioned payback. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go get that surveince footage for you. Willow, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll stay in touch. Nobody crosses Kenny¡¯s woman and walks away unscathed!¡± Seeing ¡°Kenny¡± on her phone screen brought a lump to Willow¡¯s throat. Willow felt a swell of gratitude. In this world, not everyone was as heartless and cold¨Cblooded as Skyler. Some, like herself, held onto memories of Kenan with a deep, abiding affection. Not long after, Celeste sent another message. ¡°Willow, I just called and asked about it. The cameras on the second floor of that shop were all broken, and the manager forgot to get them fixed. I¡¯m so sorry I couldn¡¯t get the surveince footage for you, but I¡¯ll think of something else.¡± Reading Celeste¡¯s reply, Willow¡¯s spirits sank. Despite being grateful for Celeste¡¯s offer to help, Willow knew deep down that without the surveince footage, clearing her name would be tough. ¡°Cece, it¡¯s alright. Appreciate the effort. I¡¯ll find another way to prove I¡¯m innocent.¡± Just as Willow finished her message to Celeste, the emergency room doors burst open. Upon spotting the doctor, Matthew hurried over. ¡°How¡¯s Wi?¡± The doctor, taken aback by Matthew¡¯s urgency, instinctively took a step back. ¡°Mr. Mayer, Ms. Foster¡¯s condition is stable now, but she lost the baby. And¡­¡± ¡°And what?¡± ¡°Ms. Foster¡¯s miscarriage caused severe bleeding, and her uterus was badly damaged. She¡­ she won¡¯t be able to get pregnant again.¡± ¡°What?¡± Matthew grabbed the doctor¡¯s cor. ¡°You better say that again!¡± The doctor, visibly shaken, stuttered, ¡°Ms. Foster¡­ won¡¯t be able to get pregnant again!¡± Matthew held the doctor in a piercing stare. Just when it seemed like the doctor was about to be pummeled, Matthew abruptly let go. Relieved, the doctor hastily instructed the staff to transfer Wilhelmina to her room for proper care. Chapter 224 2/2 In a slow, deliberate motion, Matthew turned around, his gaze piercing Willow with icy contempt. He locked eyes with her, his hatred burning like a fire. ¡°Willow, you destroyed Wi. You killed my child. How do you n to make this right?¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. Willow had no taste for being falsely used. With her chin held high, she stood her ground. ¡°Matthew, Wilhelmina intentionally fell down the stairs. She¡¯s the one responsible for your child¡¯s death. If you¡¯re looking for someone to me, it¡¯s her!¡± ¡°Willow, say that again!¡± Matthew¡¯s voice thundered with fury. Like a wild animal unleashed, Matthew tightened his grip around Willow¡¯s throat. ¡°Who¡¯s gonna pay for this?¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 ¡°Mr. Mayer, you gotta move! Wi¡¯s in trouble. She¡¯s trying to do something drastic!¡± Skyler¡¯s urgent voice cut through the tension, prompting Matthew to abandon his confrontation with Willow and sprint toward Wilhelmina¡¯s room. Willow couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at Skyler¡¯s timely intervention. It seemed Skyler had a knack for inserting herself into every situation. Assuming Matthew had gone to deal with Wilhelmina, Willow thought she could finally make her exit. But to her dismay, Damon remained steadfastly at her side, preventing her from slipping away unnoticed. Before she knew it, a group of bodyguards arrived and escorted her forcibly to Wilhelmina¡¯s room. Wilhelminay on the bed; her face was a pallid mask, and her eyes were vacant. She trembled uncontrobly, the agony evident in every quiver. Before this, Matthew kept his distance and didn¡¯t want to touch her. After her reckless night of drinking, she¡¯d wound up pregnant. The child wasn¡¯t Matthew¡¯s, and she knew the truth woulde out eventually. She never intended to keep the baby. She¡¯d thought framing Willow at Enchanted Moments would solve all her problems: destroying Willow¡¯s reputation and getting rid of the baby she never wanted. While she seeded in smearing Willow¡¯s name, she paid a hefty price. She¡¯d lost her chance at motherhood forever. It was a consequence she hadn¡¯t fully grasped until now. Wilhelmina suddenly covered her face, tears streaming down. She yanked out the needle from her handContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. and tried to get out of bed. Wilhelmina¡¯s sudden outburst caught Matthew off guard as he walked into the room. He quickly swept her into his arms. ¡°Wi, don¡¯t cry. Everything will be alright. Focus on getting better. I won¡¯t let you do anything to harm yourself,¡± Matthew whispered soothingly. ¡°It won¡¯t be alright!¡± Wilhelmina cried out. have Wilhelmina¡¯s emotions were running high. ¡°Matt, it¡¯s over! I can¡¯t have children anymore! I¡¯ve lost my chance to be a mother!¡± she sobbed uncontrobly. ¡°I¡¯ll never be able to have your children. I can¡¯t even call myself aplete woman anymore,¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s voice cracked with despair. ¡°Matt, let me die! Let me die! I lost my baby, and I¡¯ll never have another. What¡¯s the point of living? ¡°Matt, please, let me go. Let me die! I¡¯m begging you¡­¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s plea was desperate. ¡°Wi, I¡¯m sorry. I failed to protect you,¡± Matthew¡¯s voice wasced with regret. Matthew held her tighter. ¡°Wi, don¡¯t leave me. Never leave me!¡± he implored. Chapter 225 2/2 ¡°But Matt, I can¡¯t give you kids anymore. Can you handle someone as broken as me? I can¡¯t even handle myself like this! ¡°Matt, I ain¡¯t worthy of you. I ain¡¯t worthy no more!¡± Wilhelmina cried harder and harder until she was downright sobbing. ¡°Wi! Cut it out with that bullshit! No matter what, you¡¯re always gonna be my number one!¡± Gently stroking her back, Matthew spoke with deep conviction, ¡°Wi, let¡¯s get married! I¡¯ll make sure everything is perfect. We¡¯ll get married next month!¡± ¡°Matt, even with me all messed up like this, you still wanna marry me?¡± Wilhelmina asked. Her eyes were blurry with tears, and disbeliefced her voice. ¡°Wi, I¡¯ve said it before, and I¡¯ll say it again. You¡¯re the only woman for me in this lifetime,¡± Matthew affirmed. ¡°Matt¡­¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s voice quivered as she spoke, ¡°Matt, don¡¯t you dare leave me. I¡¯ve lost our baby. You have to promise you¡¯ll stick with me through thick and thin.¡± ¡°Wi, I ain¡¯t going anywhere. I¡¯ll be rig Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Matthew gently guided Wilhelmina back onto the bed. ¡°Wi, I¡¯ll make that bastard pay for what she did to you and our kid,¡± he promised. After ensuring the nurse readministered Wilhelmina¡¯s IV and soothing her to sleep, Matthew the room. Outside, Willow stood at the doorway. She was held back by two burly bodyguards. ¤Þ Matthew approached her slowly. His every step echoed with a deadly intent. quietly exited ¡°Willow, you took the life of my child. Normally, I¡¯d take yours in return. But your kid¡¯s already gone. So tell me, how do I get justice for my child?¡± Willow winced, her stomach churning with pain. She didn¡¯t bother to defend herself; she knew Matthew wouldn¡¯t believe a word she said anyway. Her only regret was not having picked out her wedding dress and rings yet before everything went to hell at Matthew¡¯s hands. ¡°Mr. Mayer, Willow¡¯s child might be gone, but that grave ain¡¯t disappearing anytime soon,¡± Skyler sneered from the side.This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You and Wi¡¯s baby never even got a chance to see daylight because of her. Why should her kid rest in peace?¡± ¡°Skyler, shut it!¡± Willow couldn¡¯t believe Skyler would stoop so low as to mention Aaron¡¯s grave. Her eyes zed as she locked gazes with Matthew. ¡°Matthew, I know you¡¯re blind to reason. It¡¯ll take you forever to see through Wilhelmina¡¯s lies. If you don¡¯t believe me, then take it out on me. Aaron¡¯s gone, and I won¡¯t let you hurt him again!¡± Matthew remained silent, but the darkness in his eyes intensified. Skyler sensed Matthew¡¯s interest in her proposition. She shot Willow a smug nce and pressed on, ¡°Mr. Mayer, I know where Willow¡¯s kid is buried.¡± With that, she grabbed her car keys and headed toward the elevator. Matthew wasted no time following her. Fearful that Skyler and Matthew might desecrate Aaron¡¯s grave, Willow dashed after them. But the elevator doors had already closed, and she couldn¡¯t stop them. Frustrated, Willow anxiously awaited the next elevator. Despite the VIP status of the ward, today seemed to be an exception, and the wait felt endless. Growing restless, she opted to take the stairs. However, upon reaching the parking garage, Matthew and Skyler¡¯s car was already gone. Perhaps confident she would head to Aaron¡¯s grave, Matthew¡¯s men didn¡¯t bother to follow her this time. Willow quickly caught a taxi outside the hospital and headed straight for the cemetery where Aaron and Chapter 226 Nic were buried. Skyler and Matthew moved incredibly fast. By the time she got there, Matthew¡¯s men had already dug up Aaron¡¯s grave and even disturbed Nic¡¯s next to it. Their coffins were mmed to the ground. Aaron¡¯s blood¨Cstained rags and Nic¡¯s gore¨Cspattered bootsy strewn across the earth. After a few days, the clothes had started to fade, and the bloodstains lost their edge, but these men wouldn¡¯t leave them alone. Matthew¡¯s men stomped on them, tearing the clothes to shreds and obliterating the boots. Willow¡¯s heart was in her throat, her breathsing in ragged gasps. She ignored the pain and charged forward, grabbing hold of a piece of Aaron¡¯s fabric and a button from Nic¡¯s boot. She couldn¡¯t hold back the tears. She couldn¡¯t protect them in life. And now, even in death, she had to watch them suffer this indignity. She was heartbroken and furious. Chapter 227 Chapter 227 As Willow witnessed a man viciously spit on Aaron¡¯s tom clothes, fury surged through her veins. She sprang to her feet and shoved the man with all her might, sending him stumbling backward. ¡°Back off, all of you! I won¡¯t let you keep trashing Aaron and Nic¡¯s stuff!¡± Willow went wild, pushing against the men who were desecrating Aaron and Nic¡¯s belongings. But her petite frame stood no chance against the hulking, brutish men. In no time, she found herself roughly shoved back to the ground, her body aching and bruised. The agony churning in her gut paled inparison to the knives twisting in her heart. Every inch of Willow¡¯s skin trembled with pain. She clenched her teeth, fighting to back up. But before she could muster the strength, Skyler moved in, mming her foot down hard on Willow¡¯s hand. ¡°How¡¯s it feeling, Willow? Enjoying the show?¡± Skyler¡¯s lips curled into a malicious grin. When she saw Matthew approaching, she reluctantly lifted her foot off Willow¡¯s hand. Skyler jabbed an usatory finger at Willow. ¡°Willow, Wi grew up with us. How could you be so heartless to hurt our best friend like that? ¡°Wi lost her baby, and she¡¯ll never be a mother again! You¡¯ve destroyed her life. Is that what you wanted, Willow? How could I have a sister as monstrous as you?¡± ¡°Cut the act, Skyler! Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know what Wilhelmina did!¡± Willow¡¯s eyes zed with fury. ¡°Skyler, I¡¯ll never forgive you! You¡¯ve hurt me and everyone I care about over and over. If I¡¯m going to hell, I¡¯m taking you with me!¡± e ¡°Willow, you¡¯re truly unrepentant!¡± Matthew¡¯s face, usually gentle, was now chillingly cold as he watched Willow stand up to Skyler. ¡°Unrepentant? Heh!¡± Willowughed bitterly. ¡°You all say I¡¯m unrepentant, but what did I do wrong? What should I regret? ¡°Alright, I do regret something! I regret loving the wrong person, and I regret trusting the wrong friends! ¡°Matthew, you¡¯re not the friend I once knew. You¡¯ve be a heartless monster!¡± ¡°Willow, what the heck did you just say?¡± Matthew¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously, his cold stare piercing through her. ¡°Spit it out, Willow. Say it again!¡± ¡°Matthew, I don¡¯t even recognize you anymore,¡± Willow retorted, her voice wavering with a mix of anger and sadness. She fought to hold back her tears, refusing to show any weakness in front of the very people who had tormented her relentlessly / But as memories of their time in the dungeon flooded back, Willow felt her resolve weaken. The days of clinging to hope with Matthew and Aaron seemed like a distant dream, shattered by the 2/2 harsh reality of their current situation. She tried to recall the warmth of Matthew¡¯s smile, the way it used to light up their darkest moments. But now, all she saw was a stranger staring back at her with cold indifference. At that moment, Willow realized that the Matthew she once knew was gone, reced by someone unrecognizable. Matthew¡¯s men continued to vandalize Aaron and Nic¡¯s graves. They ripped Aaron¡¯s clothes to shreds, setting them aze with their lighters, and Nic¡¯s bloodstained boots suffered the same fate. No matter how much rage and defiance filled Willow¡¯s heart, she couldn¡¯t reim Aaron and Nic¡¯s possessions. As relics turned to ashes, time stubbornly refused to turn back. How could she possibly preserve their memory? Through tear¨Cblurred eyes, Willow glimpsed the Matthew she once knew from their days in the dungeon. It was when Aaron was just a newborn, crying nonstop. Willow was in agony, feeling overwhelmed by Aaron¡¯s persistent cries.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. She had no desire to console Aaron, but Matthew stepped in, cradling him in his arms with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with their grim reality. Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Matthew tried tofort Aaron repeatedly. He said, ¡°Aaron, you need to grow up quickly and be a strong and upright man. We¡¯ll protect your mom together. ¡°Aaron, your mom and I both love you very much.¡± But the past became a tragedy. Matthew didn¡¯t get to see Aaron grow up, nor did he properly protect Aaron¡¯s mom.This is from N?velDrama.Org. He said he loved Aaron. But now, he cruelly ordered Aaron¡¯s grave to be destroyed, denying him peace even in death. ¡°Matthew, you will regret this!¡± Willow gritted her teeth as she fought to pull herself up from the dirt. Whether it was the searing pain or the burning rage, she couldn¡¯t tell, but her body quivered uncontrobly. Several times, she almost crumpled back to the ground, but sheer willpower kept her standing tall. ¡°Matthew, you said Aaron and I meant more to you than anything in this world. We¡¯re not just family, we¡¯re closer than family. But you destroyed Aaron¡¯s grave and pushed me to the edge time and again! ¡°Matthew, I hate you, but damn if I don¡¯t feel sorry for you. You¡¯ve gone and forgotten all about us. No matter how you treat us now, you might be feeling all high and mighty. ¡°But what about when realityes crashing back? I hope you¡¯ll be just as satisfied then as you are now! Matthew, I¡¯ll never forgive you, and neither will Aaron! ¡°Time ain¡¯t turning back for nobody. If the dayes when you regret your actions, it¡¯ll be too little, tool Because by then, Aaron would be gone, and she¡­ well, she wouldn¡¯t be around either. Sometimes, she longed for Matthew to remember their past. But now, she secretly hoped he¡¯d stay oblivious for the rest of his life. Even though she despised the demon inhabiting his body, she still cared deeply for Matthew, who had been her rock. She feared the day he¡¯d recall, knowing he¡¯d be faced with a harsh reality where his loved ones were gone. It would tear him apart. ¡°Willow, you wicked woman, what game are you ying now?¡± Matthew¡¯s eyes zed with disgust as he red at Willow. the ¡°I ain¡¯t got no regrets! The only thing I regret is ever thinking about keeping a snake like you around and giving you a chance to hurt Wi! Willow, if I had known you¡¯d hurt Wi like this, I would¡¯ve killed you moment you came into my sight!¡± ¡°Willow, you better be thankful!¡± Skyler¡¯s words always added fuel to the fire. ¡°You killed Wi¡¯s child, and now Mr. Mayer has only destroyed your child¡¯s grave. You should be grateful!¡± ¡°Skyler, shut your damn mouth!¡± Chapter 228 Willow¡¯s hatred boiled over, simmering like a pot ready to explode. If she had a bottle of acid in her grasp, she¡¯d have hurled it at Skyler¡¯s face without a second thought, unveiling her true, hideous nature for all to see. Skyler didn¡¯t immediately respond. Instead, she shot a cunning nce at Willow¡¯s tightly clenched fist. In Willow¡¯s gripy a piece of Aaron¡¯s bloodstained shirt and a button from Nic¡¯s shoe. Skyler aimed to obliterate everyst shred of Willow¡¯s remaining sce. Skyler turned to Matthew, her tone dripping with feigned kindness. ¡°Mr. Mayer, Willow¡¯s still clinging to keepsakes of her son and Nic, Perhaps you should let her hold onto those, a final token of remembrance.¡± Hearing Skyler¡¯s words, Matthew¡¯s gaze cut to Willow¡¯s hand like a knife. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Willow was keenly aware of Matthew¡¯s intentions. She instinctively tucked her hand behind her back. The piece of cloth and the button, stained with Aaron¡¯s and Nic¡¯s blood, held the memories of their final moments. Willow couldn¡¯t bear the idea of letting go of thesest fragments. ¡°Willow, hand them over!¡± Matthew¡¯s voice, typically smooth, now carried a chilling edge. ¡°These belong to Aaron and Nic. Why should I give them to you?¡± Willow¡¯s response was sharp and unwavering. Willow clenched her fist and retreated, but Matthew was faster. He closed the distance in a few swift strides and roughly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Matthew, let go of me!¡± Willow demanded. Matthew¡¯s grip was unyielding, causing Willow¡¯s eyes to redden with tears. She suppressed a sob and yelled, ¡°Matthew, you¡¯ve already destroyed Nic¡¯s grave! What more do you want?¡± ¡°You im you¡¯re seeking revenge for Wilhelmina and her unborn child, but I neverid a hand on them! ¡°It¡¯s you who keeps tormenting me¨Cso who am I supposed to seek justice against?¡± Willow¡¯s voice cracked with emotion. Even at this moment, Willow¡¯s refusal to admit any wrongdoing only intensified the darkness in Matthew¡¯s expression.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. He didn¡¯t waste time arguing with her. Instead, he forcefully pried open her fingers and retrieved the items from her grasp with a cold determination. As the button and the blood¨Cstained piece of cloth fell to the ground, Willow felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. Frantically, she reached out to pick them up. But before her fingers could even touch them, Matthew¡¯s foot came down hard, crushing them mercilessly. The wooden button from Nic¡¯s boot, sturdy and substantial, was no match for the force with which Matthew destroyed it. ¡°Matthew, get your foot off! Give me back my things! They¡¯re mine¨Cwhat gives you the right to stomp on them?¡± Willow¡¯s voice cracked with desperation. Truly pushed to her breaking point,/Willow lunged at Matthew, exerting all her strength to push him. But he stood firm as a rock, unmoved by her efforts. Finally, he relented and moved his foot. Without hesitation, Willow reached for the items on the ground. To her dismay, Matthew¡¯s men were quicker. They swiftly snatched up the items and tossed them into a nearby fire. In an instant, the mes engulfed the cloth and wood, consuming them until they were nothing but ashes scattered by the wind.. 22 Willow desperately wanted to rush forward and snuff out the dancing mes. But Matthew¡¯s vice¨Clike grip on her shoulders held her back, rendering her powerless. As the fire dwindled, Willow copsed to the ground, utterly spent. This time, Wilhelmina and Skyler had seeded. They had seeded in wrenching away herst semnce of attachment to this world. ¡°Matthew, I will never forgive you. Never¡­¡± Willow murmured as if in a trance. She couldn¡¯t shake the notion that if he ever came to his senses, he¡¯d be haunted by self¨Ccondemnation, too. Though Matthew believed Willow was the one at fault, her shattered demeanor stirred an unsettling fear within him. It was as if she could crumble into nothingness, fading from existence. This thought made Matthew deeply uneasy. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on her, as if only by holding her so tightly could he prevent her from disappearing from his life. ¡°Willow, just shut your mouth!¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out Chapter 230 Chapter 230 As Matthew listened to Willow¡¯s fragmented words, his difort grew. ¡°Matthew, I won¡¯t ever forgive you. Never gonna forgive you¡­¡± Willow¡¯s voice seemed distant. She was lost in her own turmoil, oblivious to his presence. And she wouldn¡¯t forgive herself either. Because she had falled to protect Aaron and Nic. ¡°Shut your mouth, Willow!¡± Matthew¡¯s words sliced through the tension as he clutched her throat in a fit of rage. ¡°Matthew, I¡­¡± But Willow¡¯s attempt at a response was silenced by the tightening grip, leaving her staring into the abyss, lost like a child in the dark. With nothing left, she knew. Even in death, Aaron and Nic, would never forgive her. It was a bitter irony¨Cbereft of everything, yet unable to seek retribution for Nic, Aaron, Kenan, or her grandmother.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Skyler¡¯sughter rang out. It was a haughty, disdainful sound that grated on Willow¡¯s nerves. How could she find amusement in Willow¡¯s suffering? With a surge of adrenaline, Willow pushed aside the fear of Matthew snapping her neck and lunged at Skyler. Spotting a shard of broken wood on the ground, Willow seized it and swung at Skyler¡¯s head. ¡°Are you out of your fucking mind, Willow?¡± No one expected Willow to act so boldly, not even with Matthew¡¯s hand tightening around her throat. Skyler took the brunt of the blow. But Willow was weak, and it wasn¡¯t enough to draw blood. Still, she continued to rain down blows on Skyler, determined to make her feel the same pain she endured. ¡°Thunk!¡± Willow¡¯s attack came to an abrupt halt as Matthew viciously mmed her to the ground. Looking down at her with disdain, he spat, ¡°Willow, have you really turned into a rabid dog?¡± Willow¡¯sughter was tinged with bitterness and despair. She wished she were a rabid dog. That way, she¡¯d be capable of tearing apart everyone who had ever wronged her. ¡°Mr. Mayer, I reckon Willow¡¯s gone off the deep end. Let¡¯s just leave her be. Wi¡¯s still waiting for you at the hospital,¡± Skyler suggested. She was eager to get Matthew away so she could continue her cruel game with Willow. She figured when Matthew heard Wilhelmina¡¯s name, he¡¯d bolt to the hospital. Instead, he barked orders to his crew, ¡°Get Ms. Dawson back to the damn hospital!¡± Chapter 30 Then, stepping forward, he yanked Willow up like she was a rag doll. Willow was limp and powerless as Matthew grabbed her shoulders and did as he pleased. ¡°Mr. Mayer, Wi¡­¡± Matthew didn¡¯t even nce at Skyler. His eyes drilled Into Willow with a hatred as sharp as a de. Willow, you still owe me.¡± Skyler had nned to rough up Willow herself. But hearing Matthew¡¯s words, she knew he wouldn¡¯t go easy on her. Matthew¡¯s ways were always brutal. Skyler savored the thought of Willow suffering. With Willow¡¯s fate. sealed, Skyler turned and briskly left the cemetery. ¡°Willow, you killed my child. Now, you owe Wi and I a child in return!¡± Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Willow was in agony. It was the kind that blurred the lines between pain and existence. It just ached, a constant, throbbing torment. The agony loft her in a haze, her mind clouded to the point where she couldn¡¯t make out Matthew¡¯s words. All she could register was the intensifying pain. Her body felt weightless, and she was then mmed onto the car seat with brutal force. Before she knew it, the Lamborghini roared away, hurling her into darkness. Willow woke up gasping for air. She felt something tight constricting her neck, making every breath a painful struggle. She thought it might be the Grim Reapering for her soul. But when she opened her eyes, she was met with a pair of bloodshot orbs. It was Matthew. Perhaps she¡¯d seen his icy demeanor too oftentely, for she almost forgot the warmth that once resided in his gaze. ¡°Matthew, please¡­ let me go¡­ Willow struggled to speak through the tight grip around her neck. Aaron and Nic¡¯s gravesy desecrated; she couldn¡¯t bear to see their resting ce dishonored. She had to restore it. ¡°Let go?¡± Matthew¡¯s sneer was as cold as a winter wind. ¡°Willow, you took the life of my and Wi¡¯s child. Letting you go? Who¡¯s going topensate us with another child?¡± Compensate them with another child? Taken aback, Willow struggled to grasp the meaning behind Matthew¡¯s words. Her children were already gone¨Cone forsaken by his own father, the other brutally taken by him. She had no more children. How on earth was she supposed to offer Matthew and Wilhelmina a child? Matthew¡¯s lips twisted into a mocking smirk as he noticed the confusion in Willow¡¯s eyes. ¡°Willow, your cruelty has robbed Wi of her chance to be a mother, But Wi dreams of having a child!¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Matthew, Wilhelmina¡¯s inability to conceive is her own doing. It¡¯s got nothing to do with me!¡± As Willow spoke, the pain in her neck spiked, rendering her momentarily voiceless. ¡°Nothing to do with you? That¡¯s a ! ¡°You want a child with Wilhelmina! How could I ever beat your child with her? Matthew, you¡¯re out of your mind!¡± But Matthew wasn¡¯t budging. He stared at her with a menacing re.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Willow, once that kid¡¯s here, you¡¯re out. And it¡¯s just gonna be me and Wi raising it.¡± Willow¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around his twisted scheme. To make her carry the baby, then off her once it was born. How had the once decent Matthew turned so rotten? ¡°Matthew, let me go! I¡¯m not birthing your child! Release me!¡± Willow was on the brink of losing it all. Zayn¡¯s relentless assaults had left her feeling unworthy of Kenan. Now, if Matthew got his way, how could she ever face Kenan, even in the afterlife? ¡°Willow, I¡¯ve told you. This is your reckoning! You gotta pay for your sins!¡± Willow was dumbfounded by Matthew¡¯s twisted logic. She swallowed her bitterness and mustered,¡± Matthew, Wilhelmina can¡¯t have kids anymore, and I can¡¯t get pregnant.¡± Matthew froze at the sound of Willow¡¯s voice. As Willow spoke, her words hit him. ¡°Matthew, not too long ago, I was carrying a child. But someone took that away from me. The doctor said I might never be able to have children again. ¡°So, Matthew, please, just let me go!¡± Her revtion struck a chord in Matthew, stirring an unsettling sensation in his chest. But in an instant, his heart reverted to its icy demeanor. How could it possibly be such a coincidence? Wi¡¯s child was killed by her, and she was iming her experience mirrored Wi¡¯s. ¡°She¡¯s o gotta be lying!¡± Matthew mused inwardly. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m buying into your bullshit, Willow? Well, let me tell you, once that kid pops out, I¡¯ll personally escort you straight to hell!¡± Willow gasped for air, struggling to suppress the metallic taste rising in her throat. She squeezed her mouth shut, but blood kept oozing through her trembling fingers. ¡°Matthew, you don¡¯t need to worry about sending me to hell. I¡¯m already knocking on death¡¯s door. Even if, by some miracle, I could still get pregnant, there¡¯s no way my body could handle carrying a child. ¡°Matthew, I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re so dead set on ming me for what happened to Wilhelmina, but I¡¯ll say it one more time: I didn¡¯t do it. Chapter 232 ¡°She¡¯s lying. If you don¡¯t belleve me, then fine¡­¡± She sighed, resigned to the fact that some things just couldn¡¯t be changed, no matter how hard she tried. ¡°Spitting blood now, Willow? Spare me the theatrics,¡± Matthew snapped. With that, Matthew¡¯s lips crashed. onto hers, oozing with a toxic blend of hatred, anger, and an unsettling undercurrent of fear. Willow was overwhelmed with despair. Even after revealing she was dying, even after coughing up blood, Matthew still wouldn¡¯t release her. To be imprisoned by Matthew, treated as nothing but a tool for breeding? She couldn¡¯t bear it. Spending herst days in such degradation was unthinkable. She made a decision. It was better to end it all now before she became even more tainted. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 As fate would have it, a fruit knife sat on the nightstand. Willow¡¯s hand shook as she reached for it, gripping it tightly before shing it across her left wrist. She had briefly entertained the idea of turning the knife on Matthew. But despite the hurt and betrayal, four years of shared experiences had forged an unbreakable bond, Even though he had wounded her deeply, she couldn¡¯t find it in herself to inflict harm upon him. Since she couldn¡¯t bring herself to harm him, she resolved to walk her own path to the afterlife. As the blood poured from her wrist, Willow felt an unexpected sense of calm wash over her. Atst, she could escape the final humiliation. It was the right choice. Now, she could reunite with Aaron and Nic. On the journey to the afterlife, she would be adorned in her best attire, prepared to honor her vow to marry Kenan. Matthew couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of unease as Willow suddenly ceased struggling. But almost immediately, he knew why. This brazen woman loved to y cat¨Cand¨Cmouse games, She might be saying no now, but deep down, she probably craved nothing more than to bear his child. Matthew sneered. As he was ready to tear off her clothes in a fit of rage, the door was forcefully kicked open. A servant quivered behind Zayn, stuttering, ¡°Mr. Mayer, I¡¯m sorry, I couldn¡¯t stop Mr. Carter¡­ The moment Zayn stepped into the room, his eyes were assaulted by the shocking sight of vivid red. And that red was all dripping from Willow¡¯s left wrist. In the blink of an eye, his eyes zed as red as the blood pooling on the floor. Zayn¡¯s fist crashed into Matthew¡¯s face, violently wrenching him away and pulling Willow into his arms.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn¡¯s voice echoed through the room. But shey still as if life had already abandoned her. Stunned by the unexpected blow, Matthew seethed with frustration. His unfulfilled desire only fueled his anger, Intensifying his ire. His anger grew, his fists clenched, and he aimed a punch at Zayn. ¡°Zayn, let her go!¡± Matthew demanded. Zayn caught Matthew¡¯s fist. If it weren¡¯t for Willow¡¯s critical condition, he would have torn Matthew apart. Zayn threw Matthew¡¯s hand aside. His lips curled into a derisive smirk. ¡°Dragging a woman to the brink of suicide¡­ Matthew, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself,¡± Zayn taunted, hist words dripping with sarcasm. Matthew¡¯s frustration boiled over at Zayn¡¯s mocking tone. His expression darkened with disapproval. What the hell are you implying, Zayn?¡± Chapter 230 -2/2 ¡°Willow killed my child. She wanted to give me another. She- Matthew¡¯s voice trailed off as he noticed the blood flowing from Willow¡¯s wrist. The knifey beside the bed, stained with her blood. She had used it to sh her own wrist. Matthew¡¯s body trembled uncontrobly. His legs felt like they might give out beneath him. When he had forced himself on her, she had fought back. But when she suddenly stopped struggling, he had mistaken it forpliance. He never imagined she would be so still, so quiet. It wasn¡¯t about giving in to him. She had chosen to end her own life. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Willow would rather slit her wrists than let him touch her. The thought sent waves of fury through Matthew but also stabbed him with an agonizing ache. Before he could even attempt to calm himself, a USB drive was hurled at his face. ¡°Matthew, I might not care much for Willow, but she¡¯s still my woman. And my woman ain¡¯t someone you can just mess with or falsely use,¡± Zayn spat. ¡°Today, you and Wilhelmina hurt her, Mark my words: neither of you are getting away with it.¡± Zayn swiftly scooped up Willow and dashed out of the room. Matthew stood there, stunned, unable to move. His mind was consumed by the image of Zayn carrying Willow away, her wrist still bleeding. Drop by drop, her blood seemed endless, sapping away her life force. ¡°Mr. Mayer¡­¡± The servant approached cautiously. But Matthew remained lost in his thoughts and was oblivious to the servant¡¯s presence. After what felt like an eternity, Matthew slowly stooped to pick up the fallen USB drive. Deep down, he knew it held something crucial, perhaps tied to either him or Willow. Quickly booting up hisputer, he inserted the USB drive. Theputer responded with lightning speed. Within moments, he was watching the video stored on the drive. It featured Willow and Wilhelmina, though there was no sound. Still, Matthew could clearly see Wilhelmina suddenly dropping to her knees in front of Willow, catching her off guard. Willow seemed eager to steer clear of Wilhelmina, attempting to move past her and down the stairs. But then, without warning, Wilhelmina hurled herself down the stairs. Willow neverid a hand on her. As Wilhelmina tumbled downward, Willow¡¯s shock was palpable. She reached out instinctively, attempting to grab hold of Wilhelmina, but it was toote. The fall was too swift, and she slipped through Willow¡¯s grasp. After reying the video numerous times, Matthew couldn¡¯t shake off the shock. It was crystal clear: Wilhelmina had orchestrated the entire scene, dragging an unsuspecting Willow into her treacherous plot. The realization hit Matthew like a ton of bricks, shattering his beliefs and leaving him in unbearable anguish. When he saw Wilhelmina fall down the stairs with Willow standing nearby, her hand raised, Matthew Immediately jumped to the conclusion that Willow was at fault. After all, how could he doubt what his own eyes had seen? As the realization dawned on him, Matthew felt the weight of his grave mistakes crush down on him. The first time he falsely used Willow, he cut off her little finger. The second time, he inflicted severe injuries on her. This time, he desecrated the graves of her child and best friend and drove her to the brink Chapter 734Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. of death. The image of blood trickling from Willow¡¯s wrist reyed in his mind like a relentless loop, apanied by her chilling words: ¡°Matthew, I don¡¯t need you to send me to hell. I¡¯m about to die anyway.¡± She had said she was about to die, and she hadn¡¯t been lying. She was truly resigned to her fate. Matthew dashed out of the room in a frenzy. But if she died, what would be of him, the executioner who had driven her to this end? Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Matthew¡¯s chest felt heavy, and he suffocated from the intense emotions. He got into his car and stepped on the elerator. However, he soon realized that he had no idea which hospital Zayn brought Willow to. He couldn¡¯tb through the various hospitals in Havenpoint. That would be akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. Instead, he quickly called his assistant Damon. ¡°Look into the hospital that Willow was sent to!¡± With that, he hung up. The efficient Damon called back with the information not long after Matthew absentmindedly drove around the streets. Willow had been transported to the same hospital as Wilhelmina, and she was currently in the ER. Sick from being worried, Matthew rushed to the hospital in no time. When he arrived, he btedly realized that he had hung up on Damon before Damon could inform him about the location of the ER. It would be difficult for him to check the multiple ERS in the hospital, Just when he was about to call Damon, he overheard a conversation among a few patients who passed him by. One said, ¡°I pity that girl! She bled so much!¡± ¡°Yeah. She was badly hurt. Poor girl took herst breath before the doctors could save her.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t understand girls these days. Why would she cut her wrist at this young age? Her parents would be devastated.¡± ¡°Kids these days are worrisome.¡± ¡°Say, did she take her life over love troubles? I nced at her when they wheeled her in. Her clothes were in tatters.¡± ¡°Oh, she did not kill herself over love. She must have failed to get over a sexual assault!¡± Matthew¡¯s ears buzzed. He could not hear what the patients said after that. All he could think of was Willow¡¯s death. Without warning, he charged at them and grabbed the cor of one of the men. ¡°Who died? Where is she now?¡± The man, shocked by his attack, did not immediately recognize Matthew Mayer as he rarely watched the news. Despite feeling angry at Matthew¡¯s treatment of him, he sympathized with Matthew as he had mistaken the guy for the family of the dead girl. He replied truthfully, ¡°I do not know her name. She was recently transported to the hospital, and she tried to cut her wrist.¡± ¡°She¡¯s dead now. I think she must be at the morgue!¡± Matthew let go of the man stiffly. At that moment, he seemed to have lost all his energy. His towering build was hunched. Chapter 235 22N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. He thought, ¡°Willow is dead¡­ I have forced her to her death¡­¡± Clutching his chest, he felt as though a knife was plunging repeatedly into his heart. He could not breathe. due to the intense pain. Still, he wanted to pay Willow a visit at the morgue. He was confused by his stubbornness. Did it stem from guilt or other emotions? He had no answer. One thing was clear: he had made Willow¡¯s life hell, and in return, he put himself through hell as well. The morgue was in the basement. The girl who died from cutting her wrist had just been wheeled into the morgue. The doctor was still around. Matthew charged at the doctor like a madman. ¡°Where¡¯s Willow? Where¡¯s that girl who cut her wrist?¡± The doctor recognized Matthew. Though he did not manage to catch the name of the girl, he knew that Matthew was looking for the suicide victim. Chapter 236 Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! im Chapter 236 The doctor fearfully pointed at the white sheet draped across a body, saying, ¡°Mr. Mayer, she¡¯s here.¡± Matthew staggered. He released the doctor and slowly dragged himself to the body. He reached out to lift the white sheet over her. Never had he expected it to feel so heavy. He mustered all his energy to lift it. ¡°Mr. M-¡± Matthew was thrilled when he realized it wasn¡¯t Willow under the sheet. Pressing a hand against his chest, he realized that the fact suggested that Willow was still in the ER¨Cshe might have a shot at life! He received a text from Damon after stepping out of the morgue. Damon began, ¡°Mr. Mayer, you hung up before I could tell you the location of Ms. Sanford. She¡¯s being operated on in the ER on the fifth floor.¡± Matthew shoved the phone back into his pocket, feeling surprised yet thankful that it was all a misunderstanding. When he arrived at the fifth floor, he found Zayn anxiously waiting by the doors of the ER. Havinge across Zayn a few times for business, this was the first time Matthew saw the esteemed Mr. Carter in such a perturbed state. Zayn had always been calm in the face of any adversity. Zayn¡¯s feelings were obvious to the people around him. He had repeatedly imed he disliked Willow, yet Matthew found the truth to be the opposite. At that thought, heughed at himself in a self¨Cdeprecating way. It seemed he was no different than Zayn. He, too, had imed to despise Willow, but he became an anxious wreck when something bad happened to her. He was not himself at all. When the doors of the ER flung open, Zayn dashed over, asking, ¡°Doctor, how is she doing?¡± ¡°Mr. Carter, she has unfortunately lost a huge amount of blood. She needs a blood infusion urgently, but she has a rare Rh¨Cnegative blood type. ¡°We don¡¯t have enough supply of Rh¨Cnegative blood at the blood bank. We¡¯re thinking of another solution.¡± ¡°Take my blood! I¡¯m Rh¨Cnegative, too!¡± Without hesitation, Zayn rolled up his sleeve and motioned at the doctor to draw his blood. The doctor, aware of Zayn¡¯s high social standing, was cautious about drawing his blood. Still, he wouldn¡¯t want to turn down Zayn¡¯s offer after seeing how worried Zayn acted. He made Zayn change into a PPE suit and led him into the ER to donate blood for Willow. For the first time in Matthew¡¯s life, he regretted not being born with Rh¨Cnegative blood as he watched Zayn disappear into the ER. He could have donated his blood to Willow if only he were Rh¨Cnegative. Despite that, he patiently waited by the entrance, hoping to get the news that she was safe and sound. Before he got any updates on Willow, his phone rang incessantly. He furrowed his brows when he saw Skyler¡¯s name on the screen. Chopte: 236 ¡°Mr. Mayer, where are you? Come here right now! Wi is having a sudden meltdown. She refused to cooperate with the doctor. ¡°She ims that her stomach hurts, but she removes the IV needle from her hand. Check on her now. I¡¯m worried for her health if this keeps going on!¡± Matthew cast an unreadable look at his phone screen that slowly dimmed. Wilhelmina was warded in theN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. department right behind the ER building, and her room was on the top floor. Matthew walked down a long corridor to reach the inpatient department. The top floor, where the VIP rooms were located, was rather empty as there were only a few patients around. He immediately overheard Wilhelmina¡¯s piercing scream upon descending the stairs. ¡°No! Don¡¯t kill my child! Save me! Don¡¯t kill my child!¡± Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Matthew was reluctant to speak ill of his love, whom he had spent four years with. However, he couldn¡¯t help but feel cynical when he heard her clearly faked screams.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. He marched forward and pushed the door open. As expected, he saw tear stains on Wilhelmina¡¯s face. She wore a vulnerable and helpless expression as though she had been put through great injustice. Skyler immediately urged him, ¡°Mr. Mayer,e here now and soothe Wi! I managed to coax her to sleep, but she woke up and had a meltdown. I guess she had a nightmare.¡± ¡°Wi¡­¡± Matthew began. At that moment, he realized he had nothing more to say to the woman he loved the most. ¡°Matt!¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s tears streamed down her face when she noticed his presence. A sorrowful look was etched on her face as if she was the victim of a cruel world. She continued. ¡°Matt, I¡¯m so sad. I feel like dying whenever I think of my uselessness. I failed to protect our child! Every time I close my eyes, my vision will be filled with the sight of the bright blood¨Cthe blood of our child! ¡°Matt, why did Willow do that to me? I always see her as my best friend, so why would she kill my baby?¡± Matthew replied, ¡°Wilhelmina Foster, you imed that Willow was your best friend when you framed her, too.¡± She looked taken aback, as she had expected Matthew to cautiously coax her and to think up a worse punishment for Willow. Little did she expect the opposite to happen¨Che had dropped an emotionless remark instead. ¡°Matt¡­¡± Wilhelmina, always the actress, put on her pitiful persona. ¡°Matt, I admit that I have wronged Willow before, but I recognized my mistakes! I even asked for her forgiveness. ¡°Matt, I¡¯m willing to change and to make up for my mistake! It is my sin to bear. She should havee at me instead of cruelly hurting the baby I was carrying! ¡°The baby was innocent. It never hurt anyone. How could Willow be so heartless as to harm our baby? I¡¯d rather she take my life instead!¡± Matthew was ovee with fatigue. ¡°Wilhelmina, aren¡¯t you tired after all the effort you pour into acting? He no longer wanted to watch her act, and he went straight to the point. ¡°Matt, what do you mean?¡± Her eyes widened in shock, followed by despair from injustice. ¡°Matt, do you think I¡¯m doing this on purpose? ¡°I lost our child¨CWillow even deprived me of a chance to be a mother again. How could I be putting on an act?¡± ¡°Wilhelmina, did Willow really shove you down the stairs?¡± he questioned. Hearing that, Wilhelmina instinctively assumed that Willow must have said something to his face.. She thought, ¡°Willow must have shamelessly seduced him. That¡¯s why he chooses to believe in her.¡± Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Wilhelmina gritted her teeth as she seethed within. Her expression turned even more vulnerable. ¡°Matt, of course, Willow shoved me down the stairs! It was just me and her at the scene. Are you saying that I fell down the stairs myself? ¡°Matt, I was pregnant, and I looked forward to this baby more than anyone else. Why would I hurt my baby? ¡°Do you think I killed our child? If that¡¯s how you see me, I have no reason to live anymore! Matt, I always thought you would trust me unconditionally. I would rather die if you lose trust in me!¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Wi..¡± She felt relieved when she heard him calling her nickname in a loving voice. She thought, ¡°He might have been temporarily seduced by Willow, but deep down, he loves me the most. He will not believe in Willow¡¯s words.¡± She said to him, ¡°Matt, your behavior just now saddens me. For a second, I thought you fell in love with I Willow. You started suspecting me for her!¡± ¡°Wi, I did not suspect you of anything. But I am sure that Willow did not hurt our child.¡± ¡°Matt, what are you talking about?¡± Her jaw fell to the floor in surprise. ¡°Wi, I watched the security footage of the second¨Cfloor staircase at the Enchanted Moments store.¡± Pausing, he revealed, ¡°The footage proved that Willow did not touch you at all. You stumbled down the stairs yourself.¡± Hearing that, Wilhelmina couldn¡¯t stop herself from shooting Skyler a quizzical nce as if asking, ¡°What is going on?¡± Skyler merely shook her head softly. She, too, had not expected the turn of events. After getting the news of Wilhelmina falling down the stairs, she immediately went to work. She first called the branch of Enchanted Moments. The store manager, an acquaintance of hers. destroyed the security footage of the second floor without hesitation. Not only that, but the manager also fabricated the security footage glitch issue. Skyler wondered how Matthew watched the original footage after all the careful preparations she had done. Simrly, Wilhelmina did not believe that Matthew had watched the original footage. In a Hail Mary attempt, she wailed, ¡°Matt, I did not frame Willow! Please believe in me, will you?¡± Matthew refused to prolong the argument upon seeing Wilhelmina¡¯s stubbornness. He said coldly. Wilhelmina, will you only admit to falling down the stairs on your own if I send you the footage?¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s heart pounded against her chest. Did Matthew have a copy of the footage? ¡°I¡± She wanted to defend herself, but she was at a loss for words. She resorted to acting pitifully. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Chapte 238 2/2 Matthew felt drained at the sight of the crying Wilhelmina. After a long silence, he sighed helplessly. Wi, is it worth killing our child and harming your body all to frame Willow?¡± Before this, Wilhelmina had been feigning victimhood. However, his final remark struck a chord, causing her to suffer an emotional breakdown. Tears fell uncontrobly down her face. She realized that she could not hide the truth anymore, and any attempt at denying it would only irritate him. However, he would hate her the same if she admitted to the truth. At that thought, she cried even louder. She forcefully wiped away the tears and stared at him with swollen, red eyes. ¡°Matt, you think I¡¯m a bad woman for framing Willow, and you¡¯re about to break up with me now. Am I right?¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Before Matthew could speak, Wilhelmina sobbed loudly, ¡°Matt, I knew it! I knew you¡¯d break up with me one day. ¡°It was all my fault. I failed to frame Willow, and I even gave myself fertility issues! Matt. I¡¯m no longer aplete woman. I lost my privilege of bing a mother. Since I can¡¯t give you children, I deserve to be broken up with because I¡¯m no longer good enough for you!¡± ¡°Wi¡­¡± Wilhelmina had indeedmitted a grave mistake. However, his love for her had be a habit. Her pitiful behavior evoked his sympathy. She was, after all, the woman who had stayed by his side at his lowest point for four years! ¡°Matt, stop. I know you¡¯ll never marry me anymore.¡± Wilhelmina struggled to catch her breath. Gaping, she waited for her breathing to stabilize before saying, ¡°Matt, am I a despicable, horrible woman in your eyes now? ¡°I know I¡¯m in the wrong, but I¡¯m scared you¡¯d hate me. Matt, I beg of you. Please do not hate me even if we break up.¡± ¡°Wi, you shouldn¡¯t hurt yourself for Willow.¡± She touched his soft spot. He gently clutched her tiny hand. ¡°Wi, even if you seeded in framing Willow, you¡¯d still suffer from long¨Cterm health issues. It¡¯s not worth it at all.¡± ¡°No! Matt, you don¡¯t get it!¡± She shook her head hard. ¡°Matt, I love you. I fell hopelessly in love with you the moment I set my eyes on you. ¡°That¡¯s why I stayed by your side when the whole world turned against you, when you had nothing to your name and struggled to build your life. Matt, I thought you¡¯d love me as much as I love you. But how could you think of taking Willow as your mistress? ¡°I want true love, not just a marriage on paper! How could you think of dating other women when you already have me? I can¡¯t take it! I can¡¯t ept you thinking of another woman! That¡¯s why I¡¯d rather hurt myself to separate you and Willow!¡± ¡°Wi¡­¡± He cast aplicated nce at her. Indeed, she had steadfastly stood by him through the most difficult time of his life. However, he fell for another woman after he reestablished himself. It was his fault for being unloyal to her.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Still, he struggled to make sense of Wilhelmina¡¯s actions. He truly believed that it was unwise to sacrifice their child and her health just to frame Willow. Had Zayn not appeared in time, Willow would have been dead. He and Wilhelmina would have made an irreparable mistake. ¡°Matt, I¡¯m sorry. It was my fault. I did you, Willow, and our baby wrong. I¡¯m filled with shame when I¡¯m with you. Let¡¯s break up because I don¡¯t deserve you!¡± Chapte 239 ¡°Wi, let¡¯s register our marriage tomorrow!¡± Matthew sped her hands tightly and said with determination. Her misty eyes widened in disbelief and delight. She did not expect her tactic to work and revive her dying rtionship. Skyler was right¨Cas long as she brought up her four years of sacrifice for Matthew, he¡¯d forgive her no matter what she had done. Suppressing the glee, she put on a doubtful expression. ¡°Matt, don¡¯t you see me as evil? Even I find myself unreasonable.¡± ¡°Wi, you did not give up on me at my lowest. I have promised not to let your love be in vain, and I¡¯ll throw a wedding of the century for you!¡± ¡°Matt, you¡¯re so good to me.¡± Wilhelmina leaned against his chest tenderly. He wrapped his arms around her, but his thoughts wandered. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 When Matthew was at his lowest, Wilhelmina stayed by his side. Now that he had bullt his life, he wanted to repay her loyalty. He needed to take responsibility for her infertility after the miscarriage. He would keep his word and marry her, but that was all he could do for her. He had once entertained the idea of making Willow his mistress, but he was riddled with guilt toward Wilhelmina. However, his guilt vanished after he learned of what Wilhelmina had done. Willow enjoyed a sweet dream. In her dream, she was dead. Dressed to the nines, she made her way to the purgatory. Allie, Aaron, Nic, and Kenan were all waiting for her over there. Under Allie and Aaron¡¯s witness, she and Kenan held a romantic wedding. The wedding wasn¡¯t grand, but it was sweet and cozy. Kenan clutched her hands tightly. He said to her, ¡°Willow, we¡¯ll never be apart again.¡± Despite not loving Kenan romantically, Willow felt touched when he sped her hands firmly. It felt like a reunion of a long¨Clost family. Finally, all of them could stay together forever. ¡°Mr. Dawson, let¡¯s stay together forever,¡± she mumbled. She slowly opened her eyes to take a better look at the bunch of people she cared for the most. Sensing someone grabbing her hand, she instinctively held his hand tighter. ¡°Mr. Dawson¡­¡± Zayn, not Kenan, was holding her hand. Aaron, Nic, and Allie, who had surrounded her and were beaming at her, vanished into thin air. She looked around vacantly. No matter how hard she tried, she could not find them, including Kenan. As Zayn¡¯s face loomed in front of her, she slowly regained her consciousness. It turned out that she was still alive. What a tragedy! ¡°Willow, what did you say just now?¡® Zayn felt suffocated after she repeatedly mumbled Kenan¡¯s name. He heard from Celeste that Willow might have gotten into trouble. After that, he instantly rushed to the specific branch of Enchanted Moments to get hold of their security footage. The footage had been destroyed. An ordinary person could not have recovered the damaged footage.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. However, Zayn went to great lengths by stopping hisputer whizz brother, Theodore, from boarding a ne, so that he could recover the footage. Then, he dispatched Liam to track down Willow. After the footage was repaired, he received an update that Willow was at Matthew¡¯s Preston Heights vi. Having no time to catch a breath, he rushed over to her side. He worried and fussed for her, even donating nearly two pints of blood for her. All he received in return was her tenderly calling the name of another man. He found the situation ironic and maddening. He gave his heart away for nothing. Chapter 240 Enraged, he tightened his grip on her hand. ¡°Willow, take a good look at the man in front of you. It¡¯s Zayn, not Mr. Dawson!¡± Chapter 241 Chapter 241 ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re Zayn, not Mr. Dawson.¡± While speaking, Willow struggled hard to free her hand from Zayn¡¯s grip. She was no match for his strength in her full health, not to mention when she was hospitalized. It was a David and Goliath situation. ¡°Mr. Carter, please let go of me!¡± She grew anxious after failing to free herself. She might have survived, but she knew that time was running out for her. She still had unfinished business, including interring Aaron and Nic in their graves. Their belongings might have been burned to ashes, but she would never allow their coffins to be carelessly discarded on the ground and trampled on. Besides, she wanted to return to Bordello and visit Kenan. Zayn had wanted to advise her to rest more and stop moving around after she suffered a hemorrhage. However, he could not keep his cool after she triggered him. He growled, ¡°You want me to release you so that you could meet with Kenan, right? Willow Sanford, I¡¯ll tell you what, you can¡¯t find him even if you manage to leave!¡± Willow could never locate Kenan without Zayn¡¯s help, as Kenan was kept in Wynn¡¯sb. However, she misinterpreted his words, thinking that he meant that she could never meet with Kenan because Kenan was dead. The thought of Kenan¡¯s cold ashes at Bordello caused her to tear up. She insisted, That¡¯s right! I¡¯m looking for Mr. Dawson. I¡¯ll keep searching for him even if I fail. One day, I¡¯ll reunite with him.¡± Feeling weak, she nheless struggled to get up from her bed. Due to her hastiness, she clumsily stumbled all the way to the ground ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn instinctively wanted to pull her into her hug, only for her to swat at him aggressively to keep him away. ¡°Stay away! You stay away from me. Mr. Carter, please do not show up in front of me again. I¡¯m looking for Mr. Dawson, and no one can stop me! I¡¯ll search for him. He¡¯s still waiting for me¡­¡± She supported herself by holding onto the wall. Before she could find her bnce, pain shot through her body. Zayn had tossed her back onto the bed. The bed was plush, yet she felt dizzy after hitting the surface. Enduring the pain in her body, she struggled to get up. This time, she failed. ¡°Willow Sanford, you¡¯re mine. Even if I dumped you one day, you shouldn¡¯t dream of dating another man!¡± Then, he sealed her lips with a kiss. Painful memories from Matthew¡¯s failed sexual assault surfaced, causing her to nearly bite her tongue off. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re mine! You¡¯re mine!¡± A long time after, he heard her wispy voice. She dered, ¡°Go ahead and force yourself on me, then. If you get your way, I promise I¡¯ll cut my wrist!¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. He froze on top of her. His pupils wavered with pain and anger. He could not believe that she had threatened him with her death just to save herself for Kenan. Right. She had narrowly escaped death once. She must have tried to take her own life at Matthew¡¯s ce just to save her dignity for Kenan¡¯s sake! He seethed at the depth of her love for Kenan, and he strengthened his grip on her wrist. Hatred nearly drove him to snap her neck, but her pale face and bleeding wrist scared him. He was afraid that she might die for real. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 All Zayn could do was pinch Willow¡¯s chin like a raging beast. ¡°Willow, you shall not love Kenan Dawson! I won¡¯t let you!¡± A smirk appeared on her lips. Her once charming eyes were dull and listless. ¡°Pardon me, Mr. Carter. You won¡¯t let me? What right do you have? Think you can do that because you¡¯re my ex¨Chusband?This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Remember? It was you who forced me to sign the divorce papers. I did everything you asked, and we have no rtionship with each other anymore.¡± ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn wanted to confess that he hadn¡¯t signed the divorce papers, but his inted ego prevented him from making such a humbling statement. ¡°Mr. Carter, I know I¡¯m Willow. I also know that I¡¯m just your ex¨Cwife.¡± She slowly pried away his fingers on her chin. ¡°Mr. Carter, you¡¯reme. Why would you pester your ex¨Cwife when you already have a fianc¨¦e?¡± When Zayn was taken aback, she took the opportunity to get out of bed and ran toward the entrance without even putting on a jacket. He wanted to run after her, but he was too angry to do so, and his ego stood in the way, too. He thought, ¡°I will not give up my dignity, clinging onto a woman who thinks of me as an annoying fly!¡± However, he immediately found an excuse to give up on his dignity. He convinced himself that his action had nothing to do with dignity. He was merely worried that she might freeze to death, and he wouldn¡¯t want to take care of her body if she died. He grabbed her jacket and marched out of the patient room. He caught up with her in no time. ¡°Willow, stand there!¡± Then, Zayn forcefully draped the jacket onto Willow. His exquisite features remained aloof, but there was a hint of awkwardness. He said to her, ¡°Willow, forget about Kenan. I¡¯ll give you a chance to start anew with me.¡± However, she did not turn around. Instead, she drew her jacket close and departed with a regal air. Her resolute departure set Zayn off. He had put aside his ego and caved in. He thought, ¡°How dare this bold woman refuse to turn around and look at me? She must be madly in love with Kenan!¡± Still, she¡¯d be delusional to think she could betray him by getting together with Kenan! Willow hailed a cab at the hospital entrance and headed to the cemetery. It started snowing outside after she hopped into the cab. The snowkes fluttered and settled across Nic and Aaron¡¯s graves, adding to the destion of the run¨Cdown site. The coffin pieces were scattered all around, Willow shakily picked up the pieces of wood that had been purposely desecrated. Despite trying her best, she could not piece them back to their original state. Still, she carefully carried the pieces of wood and ced them back into the grave sites. She did not call Chapter 242 2/2 for help or use any tools. With her bare hands, she dumped the soil that had been dug out by Matthew¡¯s men back onto the top of the chipped coffins. During the process, tears flowed down her cheeks. Hurting and grieving badly, she did not notice a figure closing in from behind. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Chapter 243This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Nic, Aaron, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Willow had so much to say to Nic and Aaron, but she choked up whenever she started to speak.. She stifled her sobs as she didn¡¯t want Aaron and Nic to worry about her in the afterlife. As a result, she held back her words. She could not fill up the grave with all the soil, given her weak stamina. She did not n on doing so either. She thought of getting one of her clothing items and cing it in the grave, which she would consider as her cenotaph. At least she would be buried together with the people she cared about. As Willow had signed up for a body donation, there would be no need for a funeral after her death. Perhaps she had been growing more superstitious when death was nearing. Worried that not having a resting site would prevent her from reaching purgatory and meeting up with her loved ones, she decided to perform a simple ritual for her impending death. She slowly rose and turned around once she was done. She saw Matthew standing behind her. The sight of him evoked terrible memories in her mind. She immediately took a step backward. ¡°Willow.¡± Her fingers trembled when she heard him calling her name in a neutral tone. She feared that he might demand her to pay for the child that he and Wilhelmina lost. She continued backing off with a vignt look. ¡°Matthew, please spare me. I¡¯ve died once. Even if I were responsible for Wilhelmina¡¯s miscarriage¨Cwhich I¡¯m not¨Cwe should be even by now. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you. I am dying soon, and I¡¯m never going to produce a child.¡± The mention of death caused him to knit his brows. His sixth sense told him that she wasn¡¯t referring to her act of cutting her wrist. What exactly happened to her? Why did she repeatedly insist that she was close to death? Was she lying, or was she really dying? Matthew took a step forward out of concern, but that action only added to her uneasiness. Looking pallid, she stumbled backward. Then, she drew a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. ¡°Matthew, I do not owe you and Wilhelmina anything. You don¡¯t have the right to force anything on me!¡± ¡°Willow, I¡¯m sorry.¡± His unexpected apology took her by surprise. Still, she was traumatized after Matthew forced her to carry his child. His apology did not reduce her fear at all. ¡°What do you mean, Matthew?¡± ¡°Willow, I looked into the incident. You did not push Wi down the stairs.¡± Chapter 243 Hearing that, she let out a long, relieved sigh. She assumed Matthew wouldn¡¯t force her to produce a child for him now that he had learned about the truth. Great. Once the misunderstanding was cleared, she refused to waste time talking to Matthew. He was no longer the old Matthew. Turning away from him, she walked out of the cemetery. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 ¡°Willow!¡± She stopped in her tracks. ¡°Mr. Mayer, is there anything else?¡± ¡°You said you were dying soon. What did you mean?¡± Matthew was hesitant to show concern to Willow, but he was distressed by her words and blurted out his question at the end. Willow would have exined everything to the old Matthew, but she had nothing to say to him now. She shed him a faint grin. ¡°Mr. Mayer, that¡¯s a private matter. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Matthew hade to Willow with a heart heavy, full of remorse and tenderness. Yet, he was angered by her eagerness to draw a line between them. His temper was terrible, to begin with, and he struggled to contain his emotions at the moment. He took a step f forward and harshly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Willow Sanford, exin yourself!¡± He had unknowingly grabbed the wrist that she had slit. Though the wound was stitched and bandaged, she felt ufortable in his forceful grip. She inhaled sharply, and her face paled due to the pain. The color started draining from her slightly rosier lips as they trembled. She reached out to pry away his hand, but she failed. ¡°Mr. Mayer, please let go of me!¡± Her struggle intensified the pain in her wrist. Matthew finally noticed something was amiss. He hurriedly lowered his gaze and was shocked to find that he had been grasping her injured wrist. After letting go of her wrist awkwardly, he was at a loss for words. Willow had wanted to slip away when he fell into a daze, but she could not endure the great pain in her body. Perhaps she suffered from mobility issues in thest two days of her life withte¨Cstage cancer. She could not even keep herself upright. All she wanted to do was to copse onto the ground and never stand up again. ¡°Willow, I¡¯ll make it up to you for what happened this time,¡± Matthew offered. He was about to suggest that she be his mistress in exchange for more material rewards, but she spoke in an airy voice. ¡°Mr. Mayer, sing ¡°Little Star¡® for Aaron if you want to make it up to me. We¡¯re even if you do.¡± Kenan had once sung ¡°Little Star by Aaron¡¯s grave through the night, and Willow believed that he made Aaron very happy. Still, Aaron cared more about Matthewpared to Kenan. To Aaron, Matthew was a father figure. Willow believed that her son could only rest in peace if Matthew sang the nursery rhyme for him once more. ¡°Are you seriously making me sing for that kid?¡± Matthew put on a wild look of disbelief. ¡°Willow, I never sing! And I¡¯ll never sing for someone else!¡± Chapter 244 Willow did not feel too disappointed, as she had anticipated his refusal. After all, she had begged him to sing Aaron ¡°Little Star¡± to no avail in the past. Why would he agree now?This is from N?velDrama.Org. Holding back her tears, she put on a self¨Cdeprecating smile. ¡°Mr. Mayer, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to It¡¯s a tough ask from me anyway. sing. ¡°If possible, Mr. Mayer, could you visit Aaron from time to time after I¡¯m gone? Well, it¡¯s okay if you refuse.¡± ¡°Willow, exin it to me!¡± He blocked her path as she started walking away. ¡°You keep telling me that you¡¯re dying, but why? Willow, what are you hiding from me?¡± Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Ignoring Matthew, who had blocked her path, she left the cemetery from the side road. He was gripped by panic at the sight of her straight and proud posture. Somehow, he had a sinking feeling that he¡¯d never see her again if he let her go today. Hence, he racked his brains just to keep her around for a little longer. ¡°Willow, I¡¯ll sing it! I¡¯ll sing ¡®Little Star to that son of yours!¡± Surprised by his own suggestion, he let out a low, helpless chuckle. Never had he expected to lower his dignity for a woman. He was a man who had repeatedly turned down Wi¡¯s coquettish request for him to sing a song at the private lounge. ¡°What did you just say, Mr. Mayer?¡± Willow spun around instantly and gave him a look of disbelief. Her voice was trembling from agitation. ¡°I said I¡¯d sing ¡®Little Star¡® for your son!¡± Matthew wasn¡¯t used to singing. He couldn¡¯t recall ever having sung. Even after agreeing to sing ¡°Little Star¡± for Aaron, he still felt a little uneasy. If he sang off¨Ckey, he would make a joke of himself. Even Matthew Mayer was afraid of embarrassing himself. Still, he would not walk back on his words. He searched for the lyrics to ¡°Little Star¡± on his phone and awkwardly opened his mouth while staring at the screen. ¡°Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky¡­¡± His familiar voice brought tears to her eyes. Her mind wandered. She felt as though she was looking at the same Matthew who had kept her and Aaronpany in the dungeon. His voice was deep and melodious, like the notes from a cello. His voice could easily turn people on. Aaron loved listening to Matthew sing, especially ¡°Little Star¡°. Once, Aaron fell down when he was fooling around. It was the worst fall he had experienced¨Che grazed a huge patch of skin on his knee, and he sustained an injury to his head.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. As cheerful as he was, he cried nonstop from the agonizing pain. Matthew pulled the sobbing three¨Cyear- old into a hug and coaxed him by repeating ¡°Little Star tirelessly. Aaron¡¯s howling slowly calmed down after hearing the familiar tune and voice. Finally, he fell asleep with a smile. Willow walked over to Aaron¡¯s tombstone. Wiping away her tears, she forced a smile. She thought, ¡°Hey, Chapte 245 Aaron, did you hear that? Uncle Matthew is singing ¡®Little Star¡® for you again!! ¡°He¡¯s granted your final wish. So, could you forgive him for destroying your things? He didn¡¯t do it on purpose. He¡¯s just¡­ forgotten about us.¡± ¡°When the zing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night¡­¡± Chapter 246 Chapter 246 ¡°Tis your bright and tiny spark, Lights the traveler in the dark¡­¡± While clutching his phone and singing, Matthew froze. From what he could remember, this was his first time singing ¡°Little Star¡®, but he was surprisingly in tune. Besides, he did not recall ever having sung such a childish luby. Why, then, did the song feel familiar to him, as if he had performed it many times before? The song even evoked sadness in him¨Ca sorrow for someone else. In the lights and shadows, he noticed a figure limping toward him and holding onto something. He could not tell if it was a human or a toy. The figure, holding onto the unknown item, repeatedly sang to ¡°Little Star¡°. His voice ovepped with Matthew¡¯s. The happy tune seemed to drop a bomb into his mind, evoking memories buried deep within him. He wanted his memories to resurface amidst a raging headache, but he failed. Finally, he finished singing ¡°Little Star¨Ca simple song that depleted all his energy to sing. When his singing ceased, Willow returned to reality as well. She beamed brightly at him. ¡°Mr. Mayer, thank you! Thank you for granting Aaron¡¯s final wish. He must be really happy now. Thank you¡­¡± At that moment, she sensed a strong metallic taste in her throat. She tried her best to cover her mouth, but blood gushed out of her mouth, trickling out of her fingers. The bright red of the blood appeared more horrifying against the backdrop of her paleplexion. Refusing to show her vulnerability in front of Matthew, she turned around and tried harder to cover her mouth. s, the blood wouldn¡¯t stoping up her throat. Despite her best efforts, blood continued flowing out of her mouth. Finally, she groaned and threw up a mouthful of blood. She felt as though she had vomited everything out, yet blood continued to trickle down from the corner of her lips. ¡°Willow!¡± Matthew dashed to her and hugged her tight. He reached out to wipe away her blood, forgetting that he was a clean freak. Right after he cleaned the corner of her mouth, blood started oozing out from her lips again. The amount. of blood loss made him wonder if she might bleed herself dry. Trembling violently, he fell into a panic. He had never experienced this level of panic, not even when he found Wilhelmina lying in her pool of blood after she had fallen from the stairs. He hugged Willow¡¯s emaciated, light frame with all his might, yet he could feel her slowly drifting away. She could not possibly lose this much blood from slitting her wrist. He suddenly recalled that she had vomited blood when he forced himself on her. At that time, he was hell- bent on taking revenge. Hence, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to her health issues. Thinking back, he was riddled with heartache. ¡°Willow, I¡¯ll get you to the hospitall¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± Despite the agonizing pain, Willow remained fully conscious. ¡°I want to go home! I want to look for Mr. Dawson. I¡¯m looking for him¡­. Her remark brought him pain and anger. Why would she still obsess over Kenan when she was in poor health? Was that how much she cared for that guy? Matthew forcefully carried her into the car. Then, he stepped on the elerator, and the Lamborghini sped off.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Matthew Mayer, stop the car! I¡¯m getting out!¡± Of course, Matthew would not pull over. However, when he turned around to check on her, he witnessed her trying to open the door. She seemed prepared to jump out of the car if he refused to pull over. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 ¡°Willow Sanford!¡± Matthew ground his teeth in a fury. Still, he caved in and stopped the car. This was his first time bowing down to a woman. Once the car rolled to a stop, Willow opened the door wider and hopped off in a great hurry. As her legs felt wobbly, she curved her knees when she jumped, causing her to nearly fall face¨Cdown on the ground. She had to grab the door to support herself. Matthew swiftly left the car and rushed over to hold her arm. ¡°Mr. Mayer, don¡¯t touch me!¡± She stared at him vigntly, even taking a step back. She had wanted to distance herself further, but she could not move as he was grabbing her arm too hard. He examined her sternly. She could be infuriating sometimes, but he still worried for her health. Given her current state, he feared she might not make it home.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Hence, he gave in again. ¡°Alright, Willow. I won¡¯t take you to the hospital. I¡¯ll send you home.¡± She quickly looked up with visible shock in her twinkling eyes. She could not believe his kind offer to send her home. If he was being serious, that¡¯d be perfect. It was difficult to get a cab in that alley, and it¡¯d take her forever to walk to Bordello, given her feeble state. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you then, Mr. Mayer.¡± She did not turn down his offer. Instead, she freed himself from her grip and entered his car. He noticed her grimace whenever he sped up. So, he slowed down. As the Lamborghini cruised down the street, Willow looked out of the car window and did not feel dizzy anymore. When they arrived at Bordello, Matthew not only wanted to see her to her ce and even harbored a greedy wish to hang around. However, she was wary of him. Like a defensive animal, she had her defenses up, and he had no way to break through. Feeling disappointed and helpless, he did not force her against her will. He had plenty of time, and he believed he¡¯d get what he wanted one day. There was no need to rush it. The doors of Bordello were tightly shut, looking the same as when she left home. Still, she noticed a difference when she stepped foot in the ce¨Cthe urn she carefully ced on the table had been shattered. The urn could not have rolled off the table on its own. Someone must have broken in and shamelessly destroyed Kenan¡¯s urn. Apart from herself, only Zayn held the keys to the apartment, which wasn¡¯t a surprise because he owned the property. The doors had been destroyed once, but the lock cylinder was intact. She did not change the lock cylinder because she couldn¡¯t be bothered to get new keys. Hence, Zayn could still ess the apartment. Zayn did not have a habit of carrying the keys with him, as he never considered Bordello his home. She couldn¡¯t believe that his keys were finally put to use for such a despicable purpose. She assumed he had given Skyler his keys, and Skyler broke into the apartment to destroy Kenan¡¯s urn. The premium wood used for the urn was broken into pieces. Ashes scattered all across the floor. Staring at the mess, she could easily picture the huge impact sustained by Kenan¡¯s urn when she wasn¡¯t around. Not only that, she found wet spit on the ashes, which disgusted her. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Willow¡¯s heart ached at the thought of Kenan¡¯s ashes being rudely stomped on and spat on. The pain was too much to bear. Not only had she falled to protect Nic and Aaron¡¯s belongings, but she also failed to safeguard Kenan¡¯s ashes. Amid the wood shredsid a piece of note stained with spit. She recognized the handwriting as Skyler¡¯s Lolo, I can¡¯t tell what you¡¯d feel when you see this, but I can assure you that it was cathartic for me! It was fucking cathartic! ¡°Sometimes, happinesses at unexpected times. When I think of you being upset, I can¡¯t help but feel gleeful. This is a gift from me. You don¡¯t have to thank me!¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Willow held the note tightly before crumpling it and flung it out. She could not wrap her head around the existence of someone as vile as Skyler. Skyler didn¡¯t seem content despite taking many lives; she wouldn¡¯t even spare Kenan¡¯s ashes! She thought, ¡°Skyler, how cruel and despicable can you be?¡± Her fingers trembled violently; veins bulged on the back of her hands. She clutched her chest tightly, feeling the intense pain and hatred. She would only rest in peace if she made Skyler suffer the same pain. ¡°Skyler, let¡¯s go to hell together!¡± Then, she cautiously gathered the ashes from the floor and cleaned up the mess before rushing out of her apartment with only her phone and purse. Knowing Skyler, that woman cared the most about her face, which she had painstakingly taken care of. Therefore, Willow equipped herself with some sulfuric acid and a fruit knife to disfigure Skyler before killing thetter. Willow was aware of her rash actions, but she couldn¡¯t care less about it. She was a dying woman anyway. Even if her mission failed, she had nothing to lose. The neighborhood that Skyler lived in had tight security. It would be difficult to gain entry, but thanks to Willow¡¯s identity as Skyler¡¯s sister and her prior visits to Skyler¡¯s ce, the security did not stop her at all. Willow had no idea if Skyler was in the vi, but she did not bother to track down Skyler¡¯s whereabouts. Since Skyler stayed at the vi often, Willow believed that Skyler would eventually show up if she waited around. Willow opened the bottle of sulfuric acid. To inflict maximum damage on Skyler¡¯s face, she had specifically picked a bottle with a wide mouth. Once she threw the acid in Skyler¡¯s face, she bet that no one would ever recognize Skyler again. In less than half an hour, Willow saw Skyler exiting the vi. She thought, ¡°God must be helping me!¡± Skyler looked slightly astonished to see Willow at the entrance. ¡°Lolo, what brings you here?¡± What brought her here? Willow thought, ¡°Well, I¡¯m here to throw acid in your face!¡± Chapter 248 2/2 Willow, for whom time was a luxury, had no time to waste, especially not on putting on the act of a loving sister. All she wanted was to shower Skyler with her ¡°gift¡°. Mustering her energy, she raised her hand and forcefully flung the bottle of acid in Skyler¡¯s face. Chapter 249 Chapter 249 ¡°What are you doing, Lolo? Zayn, save me!¡± Skyler¡¯s face fell when she recognized the smell of sulphuric acid in the air. After all her schemings, she still failed to get Kenan killed. Therefore, she forged Kenan¡¯s death to morally crush Willow and drive her crazy. She knew that desecrating the ¡°ashes¡± would provoke Willow to do something crazy, which would evoke Zayn¡¯s contempt. Never had she anticipated Willow throwing acid at her. Skyler covered her face tightly, nearly wetting her pants from the fear. Thankfully, Zayn rushed to her rescue at the critical moment and wrapped her in a tight hug. The acid that Willow flung at Skyler made contact with Zayn¡¯s back. ¡°Zayn, how are you?¡± Skyler collected herself and hurriedly checked on Zayn. As the weather was chilly, Zayn wore a fewyers. However, he suffered acid burns as Willow had used highly concentrated acid. The burn looked horrifying. ¡°Zayn¡­¡± Tears rolled down Skyler¡¯s cheeks. She felt sorry for the acid burns that Zayn suffered. In the aftershock, she was gripped by lingering fear. If Zayn was badly injured even when he woreyers of clothes, she could not imagine what would happen if she were the victim instead. She might never be able to show up in public! ¡°Zayn, does it hurt?¡± Sobbing, she held his arm and reached out to touch his back. Yet, she worried that her touch might hurt him more. ¡°Skyler, I¡¯m fine.¡± Zayn quietly pulled away from her. ¡°How about you? Are you hurt?¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°Zayn, you¡¯re a fool!¡± She cried louder upon hearing his concerned question. ¡°Look at you! You¡¯re badly hurt, but you still care about me. That really pains me. I feel so bad for you!¡± ¡°Skyler, I¡¯m okay as long as you¡¯re safe.¡± Meanwhile, Willow stared at the lovey¨Cdovey scene between the two. She did not anticipate Zayn shielding Skyler from the attack. In fact, she spotted Zayn before she threw the acid. Thinking she could carry out the attack swiftly, she underestimated his concern for Skyler. The acid attack was a failure. Willow turned her face away stiffly as she repeatedly reminded herself that she was no longer in love with Zayn. Nheless, she felt a heartache when she saw the bloodied burns on his back. Upset that she did not manage to disfigure Skyler, she silently grabbed the fruit knife to stab Skyler. Before she had the chance to do so, she heard Zayn¡¯s icy voice ringing out. ¡°Willow Sanford, how could you do this to Skyler? If I hadn¡¯t rushed over in time, she would have been Chapter 250 Chapter 250 ¡°You¡¯re right! I want to destroy Skyler¡¯s face! Even send her to hell!¡± Willow intended to exacerbate the situation, so she didn¡¯t hide her resentment for Skyler Skyler used her superb acting skills again, stepping forward and looking at Willow with tearful eyes. ¡°Lolo, have i done something wrong? Why are you doing this to me? ¡°Women are mostly concerned with appearance. If you ruin my face, I¡¯ll be worse than dead! Please let me know if I made a mistake. ¡°I¡¯ll admit it and change it. Could you please stop hurting me? To be honest, I¡¯m not afraid, even if youOwned by N?velDrama.Org. intend to hurt or kill me. ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that you¡¯ll hurt Zayn again! Lolo, look at his back. You injured him! Zayn, let¡¯s go to the hospital. You look bad.¡± ¡°Skyler, I said I¡¯m fine.¡± Zayn patted the back of Skyler¡¯s hand soothingly. When he looked at her, he appeared tender. Willow, on the other hand, was coldly treated. ¡°Willow, apologize to Skyler! I won¡¯t let you hurt her again!¡± ¡°Apologize to her?¡± Willowughed. Her pretty face revealed boundless sadness. ¡°Mr. Carter, did you ask me to apologize to Skyler? Are you kidding me? ¡°She killed my grandmother, Aaron, and Nic! And now she-¡± Willow choked up and couldn¡¯t continue when she thought of the mess in Aaron and Nic¡¯s graves, as well as the mess inside the small apartment in Bordello. Zayn found her statements to be extremely absurd. ¡°Willow, how is your child¡¯s death rted to Skyler? She¡¯s even less likely to be involved in your grandmother and Nic¡¯s deaths! You must be crazy!¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m crazy! Skyler drove me mad!¡± Willow struggled to breathe and nearly spat out another mouthful of blood. She tightly covered her mouth to keep the gushing blood from flowing up. She stared at Skyler with reddish eyes like a crazy murderer. ¡°Skyler Dawson, you¡¯ve harmed me repeatedly. As long as I¡¯m alive, I¡¯ll send you to hell one day! ¡°I have nothing now, so I¡¯m not afraid of anything. How about you? You¡¯ve done so many awful things. Won¡¯t you be scared awake if you dream about it at night?¡± ¡°Willow Sanford!¡± Zayn¡¯s voice grew colder as Willow¡¯s statements became increasingly inappropriate. ¡°Mr. Carter, you don¡¯t have to remind me of my name repeatedly! Even if I die, I¡¯ll never forget who I am!¡± Willow suddenly burst out with infinite strength. She swiftly stepped forward, grabbed Skyler out from behind Zayn, and shoved her hard against the wall. ¡°How about you, Skyler? What will your name be when you die? Should you be known as a murderer? Or a drama queen? It¡¯s time for you to go to hell! I¡¯ll give you a ride!¡± Chapter 250 Willow waspletely outraged. She abruptly pulled out a fruit knife and attempted to stab Skyler. the sun. The fruit knife shed through the air and shone in the Skyler stared intently at it. Even if Willow wanted to kill her, she could easily avoid the attack or shovel Willow to the ground. But she didn¡¯t want to run away at this point. She merely moved her body slightly to avoid the fruit knife from piercing her vitals. In the next second, Willow stabbed the gleaming fruit knife hard into Skyler¡¯s left shoulder. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Skyler screamed in pain. ¡°Help, Zayn! Lolo wants to kill me!¡± She clutched her injured shoulder, looking panicked. ¡°Help, Zayn! Save me! Lolo, please stop! I¡¯ve gotten along with you for over 20 years! How could you do this to me! Willow regretted her failure to pierce Skyler¡¯s heart. Thetter¡¯s groaning indicated that she was putting on a performance once more. She knew she had fallen into Skyler¡¯s trap again but wouldn¡¯t back down. She never considered stepping back. After all, killing Skyler had be her only wish in life. ¡°Go die, Skyler!¡± Willow tightened her grasp on the fruit knife, attempting to stab Skyler hard again. But this time, she failed to attack Skyler. Before she could even touch Skyler, she felt a pain in her wrist and uncontrobly dropped her knife to the ground. It was Zayn again, Willow despised him for being nosy. But it wasn¡¯t the time to argue with him. She only wanted to kill Skyler and avenge those she cared about most. She had gone insane, especially after recalling the dirty saliva spat on Kenan¡¯s ashes. She even imagined Aaron being ripped apart by wild beasts and Nic being eaten by sharks in extreme despair. ¡°Willow, stop being crazy!¡± Zayn¡¯s expression darkened as he realized Willow still wanted to hurt Skyler, who had been stabbed without repentance. But he couldn¡¯t stop Willow. Her hands trembled as if she were dying, and refused to let go of Skyler. She tightly held the fruit knife and fiercely stabbed forward. ¡°Stop it, Willow!¡± Zayn grasped Willow¡¯s wrist tightly, He felt sorry for her when shemitted suicide by cutting her wrist. However, her outrageous behavior that day turned his sympathy into anger. ¡°Let go of me, Zayn! I must kill Skyler!¡± Only by killing Skyler could she rest in peace. Then, she could muster the courage tomit suicide to find the ones she cared about the most. ¡°I won¡¯t let you hurt Skyler!¡± ¡°Fuck off! Skyler has done many horrible things and kept hurting me! She has killed many people! She must die!¡± Willow was insistent that Skyler had to die. Apart from killing her, Willow found no other way tofort the souls of the deceased. ¡°Willow, you¡¯ve really lost your mind! You¡¯re the one who keeps hurting Skyler! Be sober! If you dare to hurt Skyler again, I¡¯ll cut you into pieces!¡± *Just do what you want! I don¡¯t care how I die as long as I can kill Skyler!¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Willow was so anxious at being unable to release herself from Zayn¡¯s grip that she nearly copsed. She couldn¡¯t help raising her voice. ¡°Zayn, you¡¯re no different from Skyler! ¡°You conspired with her! You two are devils! Get out of my way! I must kill Skyler!¡± Willow grew dizzy as the blood surge increased in intensity. Her courage was her constant source of strength. However, no matter how brave she was, she was in poor health and had lost her strength. She couldn¡¯t make Skyler pay in death. She realized she couldn¡¯t grant her wish anymore. She might soon be unable to stand up. Chapter 251 Skyler screamed in pain. ¡°Help, Zayn! Lolo wants to kill me!¡± She clutched her injured shoulder, looking panicked. ¡°Help, Zayn! Save me! Lolo, please stop! I¡¯ve gotten along with you for over 20 years! How could you do this to me!¡± Willow regretted her failure to plerce Skyler¡¯s heart. Thetter¡¯s groaning indicated that she was putting on a performance once more. She knew she had fallen into Skyler¡¯s trap again but wouldn¡¯t back down. She never considered stepping back. After all, killing Skyler had be her only wish in life. ¡°Go die, Skyler!¡± Willow tightened her grasp on the fruit knife, attempting to stab Skyler hard again. But this time, she failed to attack Skyler. Before she could even touch Skyler, she felt a pain in her wrist and uncontrobly dropped her knife to the ground. It was Zayn again. Willow despised him for being nosy. But it wasn¡¯t the time to argue with him. She only wanted to kill Skyler and avenge those she cared about most. She had gone insane, especially after recalling the dirty saliva spat on Kenan¡¯s ashes. She even imagined Aaron being ripped apart by wild beasts and Nic being eaten by sharks in extreme despair. ¡°Willow, stop being crazy!¡± Zayn¡¯s expression darkened as he realized Willow still wanted to hurt Skyler, who had been stabbed without repentance. But he couldn¡¯t stop Willow. Her hands trembled as if she were dying, and refused to let go of Skyler. She tightly held the fruit knife and fiercely stabbed forward. ¡°Stop it, Willow!¡± Zayn grasped Willow¡¯s wrist tightly, He felt sorry for her when shemitted suicide by cutting her wrist. However, her outrageous behavior that day turned his sympathy into anger. ¡°Let go of me, Zayn! I must kill Skyler!¡± Only by killing Skyler could she rest in peace. Then, she could muster the courage tomit suicide to find the ones she cared about the most. ¡°I won¡¯t let you hurt Skyler!¡± ¨C Chapter 251 ¡°Fuck off! Skyler has done many horrible things and kept hurting me! She has killed many people! She must die!¡± Willow was insistent that Skyler had to die. Apart from killing her, Willow found no other way tofort the souls of the deceased. ¡°Willow, you¡¯ve really lost your mind! You¡¯re the one who keeps hurting Skyler! Be sober! If you dare to hurt Skyler again, I¡¯ll cut you into pieces!¡± ¡°Just do what you want! I don¡¯t care how I die as long as I can kill Skyler!¡± Willow was so anxious at being unable to release herself from Zayn¡¯s grip that she nearly copsed. She couldn¡¯t help raising her voice. ¡°Zayn, you¡¯re no different from Skyler! ¡°You conspired with her! You two are devils! Get out of my way! I must kill Skyler!¡± Willow grew dizzy as the blood surge increased in intensity. Her courage was her constant source of strength. However, no matter how brave she was, she was in poor health and had lost her strength. She couldn¡¯t make Skyler pay in death. She realized she couldn¡¯t grant her wish anymore. Sh Chapter 252 Chapter 252 It was Willow¡¯sst chance to kill Skyler. Willow bit her lip and forced herself to escape Zayn¡¯s grasp. He grew enraged when he saw her refusal to repent. Abruptly, he increased the force of his grip, nearly breaking her wrist. She was in excruciating pain. Her wrist soon went limp, and she could no longer apply any force. Her knife then dropped heavily to the ground, sounding like it hit a death knell. Willow lowered her gaze and stared at her hands nkly. She suddenly felt the urge to cry. Herleft Her left wrist was bandaged. It was the scar left by her suicide. She couldn¡¯t use her left hand. Now, she felt like her right wrist was almost broken, as she couldn¡¯t exert any strength. She couldn¡¯t even pick up the knife that had fallen. Without a weapon, how could she avenge those she cared about? Despite her powerlessness, she wanted Skyler to pay the price. Wiping away a trace of blood seeping from her mouth, Willow rushed toward Skyler stubbornly and desperately. Her attempt to hurt Skyler failed this time as well. Zayn shoved her away violently, causing her to fall heavily on the ground and be unable to get up. At the sight of Willow falling, he subconsciously wanted to step forward and help her up.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. But before he could even take a step forward, Skyler¡¯s breathless voice sounded, ¡°Zayn, it hurts¡­ It¡¯s hurting so much¡­ Am I going to die? It hurts¡­¡± Zayn came to a halt. He swiftly turned around to hug Skyler tightly. Arge amount of blood flowed down her shoulder and over her clothes. Skyler wore a white down jacket, so her blood was visible, which looked frightening. ¡°Skyler, I won¡¯t let anything happen to you!¡± Zayn embraced her tightly. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital!¡± ¡°Zayn¡­¡± She reached out and gently stroked his brows. ¡°I feel awful. I feel like I¡¯m about to die. I¡¯m not terrified of death. I¡¯m just worried that I won¡¯t see you again. Chapter 252 2/2 ¡°I like you so much that I¡¯ll happily sacrifice for you. I¡¯ll never forget the wonderful times we shared through thick and thin four years ago. If there is a next life, I¡¯ll still love you unconditionally¡­ ¡°Zayn, I don¡¯t want to hurt Lolo. I believe she¡¯s sick. Can you send Lolo to a mental hospital? I¡¯m not worried she¡¯ll hurt me. I¡¯m just afraid that she¡¯ll hurt you you¡­ ¡°Please, Zayn. You must send Lolo to a mental hospital for treatment!¡± Zayn¡¯s mind shifted when Skyler reminded him of their difficulties four years ago. After returning to Marley, he didn¡¯t immediately take over Carter Group. Instead, he started his own business as an ordinary man. Four years ago, Skyler hadn¡¯t yet been recognized by the Dawsons when Zayn was seriously injured in a car ident caused by Willow. If Zayn hadn¡¯t received surgery in time, he would have been permanently disabled even if he had survived. Skyler thought he was poor back then. She was unaware then that she could seek help from the Carters, so she sold a kidney to pay for his surgery. Zayn felt he couldn¡¯t let her down. But now, Willow had harmed Skyler, and thetter had requested him to send Willow to a mental hospital. Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Zayn believed he was losing his sanity. Willow had harmed Skyler, but he still wanted to give her another chance. ¡°Willow, apologize to Skyler!¡± ¡°Why should I apologize to chemu Willow red at Skyler in Zayn¡¯s arms. ¡°I¡¯ll only apologize to my grandmother, Aaron, Nic, and Mr. Dawson! I failed to kill Skyler and avenge them!¡± ¡°Kenan?¡± Zayn frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, Kenan¡¯s injury has nothing to do with Skyler!¡± Willow felt like ayer of fog had appeared before her for no apparent reason, separating her from that couple into two worlds. She could see Zayn¡¯s lips move slightly but couldn¡¯t hear what he said. She felt like she was talking to a brick wall but still mumbled in a daze. It seemed that only by speaking continuously could she prove that she was still alive and existed in this world. ¡°Mr. Dawson is dead¡­ Skyler killed him! As she did to Aaron, Nic, and my grandmother! She destroyed Aaron and Nic¡¯s graves and also Mr. Dawson¡¯s ashes¡­ She disturbed their peace even though they¡¯re dead!¡± Zayn¡¯s frown deepened as he thought, ¡°Kenan is dead? How could he have died? He was fine in the Carters¡® such a frigid day. A gust of chilly wind blew by, carrying a heavier odor of corruption instead of a fresh air breeze. Willow felt exhausted. She was already dying, but she felt uneasy in this unusual environment. ¡°Hello, is anyone there?¡± she asked tentatively.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. No one responded. Soon, someone creaked open the wooden door. Willow subconsciously looked over and found Skyler stepping in with a smile. Skyler was dressed in a red woolen dress and wearing matching lipstick. She appeared radiant, making it Impossible for others to believe she had been severely stabbed in the shoulder the day before. ¡°Skyler? Why are you here? What are you trying to pull again?¡± Skyler felt even morecent at Willow¡¯s vignce. ¡°Willow, do you know where this ce is?¡± Before Willow could ask, Skyler/continued eerily, ¡°We¡¯re at ckstorm Mental Hospital.¡± Willow¡¯s expression shifted drastically when she heard that. Despite her calmness, she couldn¡¯t help but get goosebumps when she thought about ckstorm Mental Hospital¡¯s horrific rumors. Havenpoint¡¯s ckstorm Mental Hospital was a more terrifying existence than any other scary story. When a child made a mistake, a parent would threaten, ¡°If you don¡¯t listen to me, I¡¯ll send you to Chapter 254 ckstorm Mental Hospital.¡± This sentence was frequently used to terrify children into good behavior. Willow heard a rumor about it while she was a student. A young woman had identally offended someone and was sent to ckstorm Mental Hospital by her enemies. Three dayster, the woman was discovered on a hill behind the mental hospital. 7/2 Her face had been scratched until she was no longer recognizable. Her body was covered in scratches and bite marks, with some areaspletely disabled. She was sane when she was admitted, but she was utterly insane afterward. Skyler¡¯s smirk grew wider as she watched the weak Willow turn paler. ¡°Willow, do you know who sent you here? It was Zayn. ¡°He felt awful after you hurt me. He wanted you to pay the heaviest price, so he transferred you to ckstorm Mental Hospital. ¡°Zayn has asked me toe here today. Do you know why he did that?¡± Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Willow couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with Skyler after she learned about her circumstances. Skyler didn¡¯t get angry at Willow¡¯s silence and continued, ¡°Lolo, do you intend to ruin my face with sulfuric acid?¡± She gently touched her face. Her expression appeared sweet, but her eyes were terrifyingly malicious. She resembled a demon, having set her sights on her prey and wanting to devour it alive. ¡°Despite your failure, Zayn feels terrible for me and wants to torture you. ¡°He suggested tit for tat. Since you want to ruin my face, I should retaliate in kind! But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t destroy your face myself. ¡°We¡¯ve gotten along well as sisters. How can I bear to hurt you? I kindly asked your fellow patients for help!¡± Skyler swiftly opened her backpack and extracted a syringe filled with liquid. Then, she approached Willow with a creen malice smile. ¡°Lolo, do you know what¡¯s in this syringe? Zayn offered it to you!! ¡°He imed you didn¡¯t listen to him and always intended to hurt me. The easiest way to resolve this issue. is to disable and paralyze you. You¡¯ll never be able to hurt anyone again! ¡°Zayn is so kind to me and treats me sincerely. Lolo, do you envy me? It¡¯s a pity you won¡¯t be able to enjoy his tenderness forever!¡± Willow¡¯s eyshes couldn¡¯t stop trembling as she heard that. She had assumed that if her revenge failed, Skyler and Zayn would make her pay. Despite her determination, she was nervous when she saw the syringe in Skyler¡¯s hand. Her knee¨Cjerk reaction was enough to reveal that she was still not brave enough. She could muster her courage with determination, but she couldn¡¯t face the fact that she would be disabled, let alone be bitten, injured, or destroyed by a group of mental patients.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. But no matter how terrified she was, she refused to ask Skyler for mercy. Even if she did, Skyler wouldn¡¯t be merciful and release her. Thetter would only grow morecent and arrogant. ¡°Lolo, I know you¡¯re in horrible condition and dying. Perhaps you¡¯re not afraid of death. What about being unable to move? You¡¯ll only be able toy on the bed like rotten flesh, waiting to die!¡± Indeed, Willow couldn¡¯t stand to wait for her death, but she could do nothing. Regardless of Skyler¡¯s actions, Willow would die sooner orter. Skyler would only waste her drug. After all, Willow couldn¡¯t move and was nearly paralyzed regardless. ¡°Lolo, I¡¯ll give you the injection right now. Enjoy your time before you die!¡± Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Willow subconsciously wanted to push Skyler away, but thetter held her down. Her hopeless struggles had no effect. She could only watch the liquid in the syringe decrease as it was injected into her body. Skyler smiled as she removed the syringe from Willow¡¯s leg. ¡°Lolo, do you feel it? How does it feel?¡± Willow began to experience burning pain in her legs and feet. She tried her best but couldn¡¯t move her legs. She only felt excruciating anguish, like being on the tip of a dagger or being struck by countless knives. Skyler smiled broader as she saw the sweat on Willow¡¯s forehead. ¡°Lolo, even if you don¡¯t thank me, I know you must be enjoying it!¡± Skyler threw the syringe into the trash can. Then, she zipped up her backpack and walked toward the door. Before she left, she thought of something and promptly returned. ¡°Lolo, I¡¯ve forgotten to tell you something. I¡¯m always kind. I won¡¯t let you die oblivious. Even if you die, you should die after knowing the truth. ¡°You must be wondering why I stabbed my biological mother, Caroline Shepherd. Would you like to know why I also want to kill my biological brother, Kenan?¡± Willow regained her focus when Skyler brought up Kenan. She looked at Skyler with hatred and asked coldly, ¡°Why?¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Because¡­¡± Skyler drawled maliciously. Her resentment was so great that her voice sounded strangely distorted. ¡°Because Caroline and Kenan aren¡¯t my biological family! I have no blood ties to them!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Willow appeared to guess the truth. Skyler continued before Willow could think further, ¡°You must have guessed it! The Dawsons¡± long¨Clost daughter is in the Sanford family! If I¡¯m not the Dawsons¡® biological daughter, then their daughter can only be you, my dear sister! *Remember how the gangster guarding you yanked your hair in the dungeon? Do you know why he did that? Because I wanted to use strands of your hair to run a paternity test against Xavier Dawson! ¡°I used my identity but with your hair for the test! That¡¯s why I¡¯m confident you¡¯re the Dawsons¡® real daughter! Chapter 256 Oh, as for Caroline, I attacked her because she overheard my conversation with my mother. She knew the truth. Even if I don¡¯t have the Dawsons¡® blood, I¡¯m meant to be an heiress! I¡¯ll never let anyone destroy my wealth, glory, and bright future! ¡°Just wait here to die, Lolo! Maybe it won¡¯t be long until your blological mother, Caroline, goes to hell to reunite with you!¡± Willow couldn¡¯t help but be agitated when she heard that Skyler was still unwilling to let Caroline go. ¡°Skyler, I won¡¯t let you hurt Aunt Caroline again! You¡¯re full of sins! You¡¯ll face a terrible end! You¡¯d better kill me right now. If I¡¯m alive, I¡¯ll make you lose everything!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do that! It won¡¯t be fun if I kill you right now. I prefer to torture you slowly and let you die in the worst way possible. ¡°As for Caroline, you can¡¯t save her! Bye, Willow. We¡¯ll never meet again! I wish you a good death!¡± Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Skyler then turned gracefully and strode out of the ward in high heels, firmly closing the door. Willow¡¯s intense difort persisted. She couldn¡¯t believe that she was Caroline and Xavier¡¯s biological daughter. It was no wonder that when she first saw Caroline on TV as a child, she felt an inexplicable sense of Intimacy. Aside from that, she felt a simr sense of warmth toward Kenan as if she were facing her brother. It was also unsurprising that the Sanfords always preferred Skyler. Willow once believed she was unlovable, even her biological parents preferred an outsider. She was relieved to have finally learned the truth. It turned out that they favored Skyler only because she was their real daughter. Family ties connected by blood couldn¡¯t fool anyone. Willow didn¡¯t me them for being nice to Skyler. She just couldn¡¯t understand why the Sanfords were so cruel to her. They should have developed some feelings for her. After all, she had addressed Sarah as her mother for over 20 years, but Sarah still drove her to despair for Skyler¡¯s sake. Perhaps the Sanfords had always treated her as less than dirt. Willow figured that she¡¯d refused to care about them anymore since they didn¡¯t care about her. Willow took out her phone tremblingly. Lightly tapping the web browser app, she entered Caroline¡¯s name. Soon, many images appeared. Caroline appeared stunning and unparalleled in every photo. Willow gently touched her phone screen in tears. Even though she wasn¡¯t used to it, she still called out urgently, ¡°Mom¡­¡± That was her mother, Caroline was almost in her 50s, but her face showed no signs of aging. Despite her distant temperament, Willow was aware that she was kind. Skyler had boasted to her many times that Caroline was the perfect mother. Willow wanted to call Caroline ¡°Mom¡± in front of her, but she would never get such a chance again in this life. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Suddenly, she remembered something Kenan had said earlier¨CCaroline awoke briefly after suffering major injuries. It was at that point that Caroline told Xavier not to hurt Willow. Willow cried even more bitterly to realize that Caroline recognized and loved her. Chapter 25% She wasn¡¯t an unpleasant or unloved child. Her mother had genuinely loved her. ¡°Mom, I love you too. I love you very much.¡± Willow¡¯s tears blurred the phone screen, obscuring Caroline¡¯s face in the photo. She hastily wiped the phone screen while continuing to look at her mother. She intended to inform Xavier that Skyler wasn¡¯t his biological daughter. But she couldn¡¯t reach him. Still, even if she revealed the truth before Xavier, he wouldn¡¯t believe Willow was his biological daughter. He had already determined that Skyler was his daughter. He would never could have hurt his beloved wife. trust a suspicious person who Willow was concerned for her mother¡¯s safety. She was worried that Skyler might go insane and harmThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Caroline. She desperately wanted to reveal Skyler¡¯s actual identity. It would be ideal if Kenan were still alive, as he would believe her. Willow couldn¡¯t stop crying as she thought of him. She hadn¡¯t gotten the chance to tell him that she was his real sister. Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Kenan had already left Willow forever before she could hear him say, ¡°My dear sister, nice to know you.¡± Her eyes then sparkled as she remembered she had Quintus¡® contact information. She hurriedly located his phone number, dialed it, and anxiously awaited his response. But she failed to reach him. After she called more than a dozen times, he still didn¡¯t answer. Holding the phone nkly, Willow had no idea who she should call for help to inform Xavier of the truth. She had to expose Skyler¡¯s ugly nature. Suddenly, her phone rang. Seeing that it was Zayn, she hesitated for a moment before answering it. The Dawsons and Carters got along well. Xavier and Caroline treated Zayn as their son. If he believed her, he could easily exin everything to Xavier. ¡°Willow, have you gained rity?¡± Willow immediately heard Zayn¡¯s impatient voice. ¡°Gain rity?¡± she muttered. She wasn¡¯t sure what he meant. She was unaware of what she needed to think clearly about. ¡°Admit your mistakes and apologize to Skyler!¡± Zayn was typically calm before others but not with Willow, He was usually irritated with her. ¡°I can¡¯t think clearly,¡± Willow mumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll never be able to think clearly in this life.¡± She could apologize to everyone except Skyler, who wrecked all of her attachments. ¡°Willow Sanford!¡± Willow still had something important to tell Zayn and didn¡¯t want to argue with him. She tried to calm her emotions before addressing him in an intimate way she had almost forgotten, Zayn. Zayn was stunned. How long had it been since she called him like that? It felt like a lifetime ago. He gradually eased his irritability and subconsciously softened his voice. ¡°Willow, I¡¯ll give you another chance if you admit your mistakes.¡± ¡°Zayn, please do me a favor. Tell the Dawsons that Skyler isn¡¯t their biological daughter. She¡¯s fake. I-¡± Willow wanted to im that she was the Dawsons¡® real daughter. However, she chose to swallow her following words when she thought about how she was on the brink of death.. Chapter 758Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Despite her desire for family affection, she didn¡¯t dare to acknowledge them. She was afraid that they would be separated again soon after they were reunited. All she had to do was merely expose Skyler¡¯s true identity. ¡°You said Skyler isn¡¯t Uncle Xavier and Aunt Caroline¡¯s daughter?¡± Zayn¡¯s rare warmth froze slightly. ¡°They¡¯ve conducted paternity tests. How could Skyler not be their daughter? ¡°What tricks do you n to use to injure Skyler again? Are you trying to tell me that you¡¯re the real daughter of the Dawsons? Don¡¯t kid me!¡± That was indeed the case, but Willow didn¡¯t say it because she knew Zayn wouldn¡¯t believe it. She didn¡¯t. have to tell him the truth. ¡°You¡¯re really crazy!¡± After saying that, Zayn abruptly hung up the call. Willow became more distressed as the phone screen turned ck. She then considered her sess rate if she asked the media folks to expose Skyler¡¯s true identity. However, someone busted open the wooden door. Several people with sickly smiles entered the ward in bizarre postures. Chapter 259 Chapter 259 As the patients rushed in, Willow¡¯s mind filled with dreadful rumors about ckstorm Mental Hospital Patients there enjoyed fighting, biting, and injuring others. If she could defeat them, they would obey her from then on. But if she couldn¡¯t, they would bully her every day. Countless bloody scenes shed across Willow¡¯s mind. She subconsciously shrank under the quilt, but the patients grew closer to her. Scaryughter erupted, giving her goosebumps all over. ¡°Look! It¡¯s her! She stole our boss¡® face!¡± As one of the patients finished speaking, a middle¨Caged woman in colorful, shabby clothes pushed the others aside and approached Willow. Her face was covered with crisscrossing scars. She was clearly the boss referred to by the previous patient. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss! We¡¯ll take your face back!¡± ¡°Bad woman! How dare you steal our boss¡® face! Give it back!¡± ¡°Return it!¡± Amidst themotion, several of them extended their smelly hands toward Willow¡¯s face.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Willow knew well that those patients couldn¡¯t rece the disfigured woman¡¯s face with hers. Their real purpose was to destroy her face. Naturally, she didn¡¯t want her face scratched. She tried to get out of bed and away from those horrible people. But she couldn¡¯t even move her legs. She had no way out of this hellish ce. Willow could only cover her face tightly to prevent those people from destroying it. Although she knew she would die, she couldn¡¯t deny that every woman loved beauty. Even if she died, she wished to die looking pristine and beautiful rather than with a damaged face and scars all over her body. ¡°Give it back to me! Give me back my face!¡± The leading woman couldn¡¯t help but be enraged at the sight of Willow shielding her face. The woman grabbed Willow¡¯s long hair, flung her to the ground, and beat her. Willow experienced agony. Her stomach and legs hurt, and her entire body was in excruciating pain. She couldn¡¯t even defeat a child in her current state. Faced with numerous strong patients, she had no choice but to let them harm her. Fortunately, she kept her face well protected. Even though her body was in excruciating anguish that she was almost suffocating, there wasn¡¯t a single scratch on her face from their attacks. Chapter 259 ¡°She¡¯s the devil! She has only four fingers on her left hand! She¡¯s a monster!¡± When someone mentioned it, the others grabbed Willow¡¯s left hand tightly. ¡°We must destroy this monster today!¡± ¡°Agree!¡± Sometimeter, Willow could no longer make out what they were saying. All she knew was that the pain in her body was intensifying. Moreover, she was still bleeding. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t even protect her face. In a trance, Willow noticed the scarred woman holding a rusty knife, waving it, and preparing to sh at her face. Realizing she couldn¡¯t escape the cmity, she closed her eyes in despair. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Willow thought she would receive a scarred face like that woman. Unexpectedly, someone snapped the woman¡¯s wrist as the knife was about to reach her face. It flew out of the woman¡¯s hands uncontrobly. ¡°Who is is it? How dare you mess with our boss! You¡¯re seeking death!¡± The arrogant patient who spoke failed to stand up for her leader. Instead, she let out a horrible shriek. Willow be believed she was in a dream or that she had died. It was because she saw Kenan, who was in casual clothes. Kenan was always a handsome young man with a gentle appearance. But he appeared very violent when fighting with those patients, He resembled a hero who drove away the demons and monsters who attempted to harm Willow without mercy. Those patients were only bullies who targeted the weak. Seeing that some of them had been pummeled to the ground and were unable to move, those who had received minor injuries didn¡¯t dare to attack Kenan again. He had no time to pay attention to them either. He only wanted to check on Willow. He stepped forward and hugged her tightly. ¡°Willow¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Dawson, Is it really you? Are you here to take me away?¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s me! I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte! I¡¯ll take you to the hospital!¡± Willow subconsciously rejected the hospital and struggled to get out of Kenan¡¯s arms. ¡°I won¡¯t go there! I want to go home!¡± The hospital always smelled of cold machinery and disinfectant. In contrast, her cozy apartment had Aaron and Nic¡¯s photos and Kenan¡¯s supposed ashes. She wanted to go home. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you home!¡± Kenan knew Willow disliked going to the hospital, so he didn¡¯t force her. He also figured having her wounds treated by a private doctor rather than going to the hospital was more convenient. ¡°Go home¡­¡± Willow reached out, wanting to touch Kenan¡¯s face. The man before her was her biological brother. They had the same blood flowing in their veins, which was Chapter 260 why she felt such an attachment to him. She wanted to address him by his first name instead of ¡°Mr. Dawson¡°. She said inwardly, ¡°Kenan, I¡¯m your biological sister.¡± It was a pity that she didn¡¯t have the strength to speak. She could only let herself be utterly consumed by the endless darkness. Willow had been in aa for three days. Throughout this period, Kenan had stayed by her side regardless of his injuries. He arrived at the mental hospital in the nick of time that day. Despite the numerous scars on her body. she hadn¡¯t sustained particrly significant injuries. The doctor had treated her external wounds, but he found it difficult to cure her inner ones. Willow hadn¡¯t woken up when Zayn and Skyler got engaged on a perfect day. Kenan was aware that Skyler was the one who sent Willow to ckstorm Mental Hospital. After taking Willow back that day, he reprimanded Skyler. Kenan would have taught Skyler an unforgettable lesson if Xavier hadn¡¯t interjected and beaten him. He refused to attend Skyler and Zayn¡¯s engagement ceremony. However, Xavier cautioned him that if he dared to be absent, Willow would disappear. Kenan was well familiar with his father¡¯s means. He worried that Xavier would do something awful to Willow, so he intended to attend the engagement ceremony and return shortly. He assumed he could protect his precious woman adequately from then on. Unexpectedly, Willow was no longer in this world when he returned. Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Not long after Kenan left the small apartment, Willow struggled to open her heavy eyelids. It was an eventful day. As soon as she opened her eyes, she heard a firecracker outside. Havenpoint had officially forbade the use of fireworks and firecrackers in the city. So, she didn¡¯t expect someone tomit a crime in broad daylight. Willow didn¡¯t pay heed to anything that happened outside. She merely wanted to know if she had died. When she felt her stomach and legs ache and throb severely, she realized she was alive. Her thoughts wandered to Kenan. Willow observed her surroundings and found herself in Bordello. She figured someone had brought her home. In other words, what she witnessed in ckstorm Mental Hospital that day wasn¡¯t a dream. Kenan was indeed alive. Still, Quintus was the person Kenan trusted the most. He shouldn¡¯t have intentionally lied to her. She wondered about what exactly was going on. Willow felt that her thinking ability had slowed significantly after waking up. Whenever she used her brain, her head hurt terribly. Since she couldn¡¯t figure it out, she stopped torturing herself from overthinking. All that mattered was that Kenan was still alive and well. She found that to be the best surprise. She had to inform him that she was his biological sister. Furthermore, Quintus must have betrayed Kenan because he had deceived her. She had to remind Kenan to watch out for Quintus.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Willow grabbed the phone and was about to call Kenan when she noticed some message notifications. Zayn and Skyler were engaged. Willow shook and almost dropped the phone in her hand. She had known for a long time that Zayn and Skyler would be engaged. Not only would they get engaged, but they would also get married. Despite knowing, she still felt an unbearable pain. She clutched her chest tightly, attempting to relieve the pain, but the heart¨Cwrenching pain continued unabated. Willow didn¡¯t want to see the media praise Skyler and Zayn, so she shifted her phone view to the address book. She wanted to get in touch with Kenan. As soon as she clicked on the button to call him, she detected a distinct odor of smoke. Willow coughed violently and looked toward the door in confusion. She wondered why she could smell smoke in the room. It seemed like there was a fire in her ce. Chupter 261 The odor of smoke grew stronger. She knew she couldn¡¯t sit still if a fire broke out, so she had to escape quickly. She couldn¡¯t move her legs, so she braced her arms on the side of the bed and attempted to climb out.. She struggled and eventually got out of bed by rolling off it. The billowing smoke appeared to have rushed to the door of her room. Willow rolled several times, attempting to open the door and check out the situation outside. However, the door had been locked from the outside. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to open it. The fire grew hotter and thicker. Smoke was alsoing in from the balcony of her room. Willow knew there must be a fire on the balcony, too. Her room would eventually be engulfed in mes. She would be so horribly burnt that nobody would be able to recognize her. It didn¡¯t matter that she died, but the fire was getting bigger. The nearby residents would also be impacted. She was still ratherpassionate and didn¡¯t want innocent people to be affected by it. After rolling and crawling on the floor, Willow eventually found her phone, which had fallen beneath the bed. She intended to contact the fire department but misdialed Zayn¡¯s number instead. It was a mistake she often made as she saved his contact as ¡°AA¨CZayn¡± In her address book. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Zayn¡¯s name was always at the top of her address book.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Willow felt a throbbing pain as she looked at the name on the phone screen and decided to hang up. However, he had picked it up before she did so. ¡°Willow? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Willow felt even more saddened as she listened to Zayn¡¯s voice. She was going to die soon. Her ce would most likely be in ruins when the firefighters arrived. Even if she didn¡¯t burn alive, the dense smoke would suffocate her to death. She wanted to call the police simply because she didn¡¯t want to involve the nearby residents. ¡°Zayn, I¡¯m about to die.¡± Willow had loved and hated him. But as she approached death, her feelings seemed less significant. She simply wanted to bid Zayn a proper goodbye. She didn¡¯t like holding grudges. Despite her hatred for him, she hoped he would be fine for the rest of his life after she died. ¡°Willow, what tricks are you trying to y? Skyler and I have gotten engaged today. Are you trying to ruin our engagement? ¡°I¡¯ll marry Skyler and make her the happiest woman in the world! Don¡¯t even consider ruining our engagement and wedding!¡± ¡°I never wanted to ruin it,¡± Willow stated bluntly. She was initially alert but soon became unfocused from all the smoke that was choking her. She murmured, ¡°Zayn, I just want to say goodbye to you.¡± She wished to end her lifelong love affair with a simple farewell. From then on, she would never be able to meet him again. ¡°Zayn, I¡¯m going to die. Goodbye.¡± Willow thought Zayn might speak gently to her after she said that, but it was merely her fond fantasy. She only heard him respond coldly, ¡°Go ahead and die, Willow. May you rest in peace!¡± Tearspletely blurred Willow¡¯s vision. She thought that was enough. At the very least, she received Zayn¡¯s ¡°blessing¡± before her death. Zayn expected her to quarrel with him after he spoke so harshly. But she remained silent, which made him inexplicably uneasy. However, his uneasiness instantly turned to indifference because he believed she was the best at 22 maniption. ¡°Still not hanging up?¡± Zayn sneered. ¡°Did you expect me to pray for your soul?¡± ¡°No, Mr. Carter. Thank you for your kindness.¡± Willow then hung up the call with all of her strength. Thest words Zayn said to her were harsh, but she was already satisfied. Willow worried she wouldn¡¯tst much longer and wanted to say goodbye to Kenan. But she couldn¡¯t reach him after calling him several times. She wanted to text him and inform him that Skyler was an imposter. But before she could grasp her phone again, a piece of the wooden ornament fell from the ceiling, taking mes with it as it fell. It severely damaged the phone in front of her. Her right hand would have been destroyed if she hadn¡¯t retracted it in time. The mes on the balcony were approaching. Willow soon experienced violent dizziness. Before she lost consciousness, sheughed at herself. It turned out that her life ended with being buried in the fire. Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Chapter 263 The engagement ceremony of the Carters¡® youngest son and the Dawsons¡® eldest daughter was a grand event in Havenpoint. Many distinguished guests attended the engagement banquet, which was so extravagant that even the ordinary wealthy person¡¯s wedding ceremony couldn¡¯tpare with it. Skyler was wearing a bright red dress. Her dress didn¡¯t have many Intricate embellishments, only embroidered patterns in gold thread. Its tailoring was decent, making her appear more aristocratic, elegant, and graceful. She walked into the banquet hall, holding Zayn¡¯s arm and smiling brightly. She exuded unconceble joy. On the other hand, Zayn appeared solemn and indifferent, as if he were attending a funeral. Despite attending their engagement banquet, Kenan didn¡¯t bother to congratte Zayn. Even though Skyler was his biological sister, he believed Zayn was blind to fall in love with her. He didn¡¯t need to congratte an oblivious man on marrying a woman with wicked intentions. Xavier adored Caroline. So, he naturally loved the precious daughter she had birthed for him. He felt ufortable seeing Kenan¡¯s unpleasant expression during his lovely daughter¡¯s engagement. He soon dragged Kenan into the lounge upstairs and reprimanded him. Kenan might seem carefree, but he was most afraid of his father. When Xavier scolded him, he didn¡¯t even dare to refute and muted his phone in advance. After being beaten and lectured thoroughly by Xavier, he could finally escape his harsh father. As soon as he reached downstairs, Kenan took out his phone to check the time. Unexpectedly, the phone showed him six missed calls from Willow. Kenan¡¯s gloom faded and was reced by excitement as he realized she had finally woken up. He swiftly called Willow back. ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unavable¡­¡± Kenan called her several times in session, only to receive a robotic female voice in return. He suddenly had a dreadful foreboding as if he had realized something horrible. He could no longer stay at Zayn and Willow¡¯s engagement banquet. He hurried up the stairs to search for his car keys, abandoning any concerns about getting beaten by Xavier again. When he was beaten by Xavier earlier, he seemed to have left his car keys upstairs but couldn¡¯t find them after searching around the lounge. Coincidentally, he ran into Zayn, a protagonist of that day, in the corridor outside. Kenan was in a hurry to find Willow. He put aside his unpleasantness toward Zayn. Chapter 263 He swiftly grabbed Zayn¡¯s arm and urged, ¡°Zayn, lend me your car keys!¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Zayn¡¯s intuition told him Kenan wanted to borrow his car keys to look for Willow. He subconsciously wanted to reject it, so he asked further. ¡°I¡¯m going to find Willow!¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. Kenan was very anxious. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get through to her on the phone. I¡¯m worried!¡± Zayn couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous when he heard that. Willow had called him about half an hour ago. She was still fine at that time. He wondered why Kenan couldn¡¯t reach her, He contemted if she was performing a trick again. ¡°I just came from Bordello! Holy crap, there¡¯s a unit on fire upstairs! The firefighters have been there for a long time but haven¡¯t put out the fire! I heard there was a woman inside. She had been calling for help in the apartment. s, she was severely burned!¡± A voice abruptly sounded at the top of the stairs. Zayn subconsciously looked over when he heard the mention of Bordello. The person who spoke was Nelson Danes, the president of Weblight Holdings. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 The man with Nelson was Otis Cooper, the president of Freemont Holdings. Intrigued by Nelson¡¯s story, Otis pressed, ¡°And then what happened to the woman? Did the firemen get her out in time?¡± A heavy sigh escaped Nelson. ¡°The firemen hadn¡¯t gotten to her when I passed by. I heard she could have escaped if her bedroom door hadn¡¯t been locked.¡± Otis was about to say something when his phone rang. He hurriedly put the call through and demanded, ¡°Alfred! How are things at Bordello? I¡¯ve been following the news. Has the woman been rescued? ¡°What? She wasn¡¯t? She died in the fire? Oh, dear. I figured it was unlikely that she would make it out alive. He sighed. ¡°Burned to a crisp, you say? How horrible!¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Overhearing Otis¡® phone conversation, Zayn couldn¡¯t help thinking about his call with Willow earlier. She had told him she was going to die. She even bade him farewell. Willow¡¯s abrupt goodbye and the fire that broke out in an apartment in Bordello, where she lived, were too coincidental forfort. Zayn didn¡¯t want to believe that Willow might have been a victim of the fire, but his heart tightened so much that breathing became difficult. He took out his phone and called Willow, but all his attempts were met by the mechanical female voice that told him to leave a message after the beep. ¡°The person you called is unavable. Please leave a message after the beep,¡± the monotonous female voice said again. ¡°Nelson, did that woman really die in the fire?¡± Otis demanded incredulously. Nelson nodded. ¡°Yes! Alfred just told me the details. She was practically burned to a crisp! What a horrible death. *Then again, she was trapped in the burning building for a long time. It¡¯s no surprise she was burned beyond recognition.¡± Nelson and Otis were still talking. At that point, Zayn¡¯s panic had gotten the better of him. Chapter 264 He marched up to the two men and grabbed Nelson by the cor, growling, ¡°Where did you say the fire broke out? Tell me!¡± Nelson had been partaking in the festivities of Zayn¡¯s engagement ceremony, and he did not appreciate being suddenly manhandled by the host himself. Although upset at the rough treatment, Nelson¡¯s fear of Zayn kept his temper in check as he replied cautiously, ¡°Mr. Carter, the fire broke out at¡­ Bordello.¡± ¡°Which apartment unit?¡± Zayn seethed. ¡°I think¡­ it was an apartment in the eighth block,¡± Nelson said hesitantly. Zayn staggered backward as his eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he looked like he might copse. He asked shakily, ¡°What¡¯s the apartment number?¡± Kenan thought Zayn was behaving oddly at first, but when he heard the questions thetter asked Nelson, the bad feeling in his gut somehow worsened. Willow lived in Bordello and hadn¡¯t been picking up any of Kenan¡¯s calls. When Nelson did not answer, Kenan roared, ¡°Which unit caught fire? Answer me!¡± Nelson had no idea why he was being hounded on by two big shots like Nelson and Kenan. He became so scared that his mind went nk. It took him a while to find his voice again. ¡°I don¡¯t know which unit it was. All I know is that¡­ the fire broke out on the sixth floor!¡± Zayn felt his heart drop to his stomach before¡¯it shattered into a million pieces. He was sure no one and nothing could ever put it back together again. Willow¡¯s apartment was on the sixth floor. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 ¡°The sixth floor¡­ Willow!¡± Kenan dashed down the stairs like a madman. Willow stayed on the sixth floor of the eighth block. While it might not be her apartment unit that caught fire, it was still concerning that she did not pick up any of his calls. Zayn couldn¡¯t keep hisposure, either. He released Nelson and ran downstairs after Kenan but bumped into Skyler on the first floor. Skyler beamed at Zayn and said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re celebrating our engagement, Zayn! It feels like a dream.¡± Zayn didn¡¯t bother stopping to muse over that day¡¯s festivities with Skyler. He charged past her as if she weren¡¯t there at all. Skyler sensed that something was wrong when she noticed how frantic he was. She hurried after him and clutched his arm tightly. ¡°Where are you going. Zayn? The ceremony¡¯s about to start! You can¡¯t leave now.¡± ¡°Skyler, I have to go!¡± Zayn said as he pried her hands off him. ¡°No, Zayn. You can¡¯t!¡± Skyler insisted, tightening her grip. ¡°We¡¯re getting engaged today, and many guests are waiting for us. If you run away now, what will they think of me? ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me, Zayn. You can¡¯t be so cruel as to embarrass me like this!¡± Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said this. Just like how he hadpromised with her countless times in the past, she thought Zayn might stay after seeing her waterworks. However, Skyler was surprised that her crying did not affect him at all. He looked like he hadn¡¯t even seen her tears as he continued running out the door like a madman. ¡°Zayn!¡± she shrieked after him in disbelief. At that point, Zayn had already bolted through the doors. He and Kenan made their way to the parking lot in silence. Zayn¡¯s Koenigsegg zipped down the road like lightning, but even then, Zayn found it too slow, The fear was eating away at him. He could step on his gas pedal to the maximum, but there was no way he could immediately transport himself to Bordello. The car sped past the buildings so fast that it was a blur. A good ten minutes had passed before Zayn and Kenan arrived at Bordello. A crowd had gathered outside the neighborhood to watch themotion, though a small part of them Chapin 265 were mourning over the loss of a life. Zayn did not make his way up the apartment building immediately. He stood on the ground floor and stared nkly at thest bit of smoke trailing from the window of one of the units. He counted the floors. The first, the second, the third¡­ He counted the units from left to right.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. The smoke wasing out from the window of the apartment he and Willow called home. Zayn staggered backward. He would have copsed to the ground if he weren¡¯t still holding onto the car door. Kenan¡¯s face was ashen. A grim look passed over his youthful features as he trudged forward, his movements stiff and his shoulders hunched like his bones had been turned into lead. He couldn¡¯t help the sense of loathing that filled him. He should never have left Willow all by herself in the apartment. All the foolish thoughts he¡¯d had before leaving the apartment haunted him now. He thought he would only be gone for two hours, at the most, and make it back to the apartment before she woke up. He¡¯d told himself that nothing wrong could happen to her then. And yet, something terrible did happen to Willow. Zayn and Kenan moved on autopilot. They weren¡¯t sure how they reached the sixth floor. As they stopped outside the apartment and stared at the swaying front door that had been nearly burned step in. off its hinges, they couldn¡¯t muster the strength or courage They couldn¡¯t lift their feet and move past the threshold without some superhuman effort. The apartment had been barricaded by police tape. The firemen were putting out smoke in various ces to keep the wind from fanning the mes and causing another fire. The body, which had been burned to a crisp,y in the center of the living room. When the firemen broke through the apartment, the upant no longer showed any signs of vitality. They didn¡¯t bother calling the ambnce after that. All they did wasy a piece of fireproof cloth over the body as a show of respect to the dead. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 The firemen who put out thest of the fire in the apartment didn¡¯t know who Zayn and Kenan were. When Zayn and Kenan went past the police tape to enter the apartment, the firemen shooed them out. ¡°No civilians allowed beyond the police tape! You have to leave now!¡± one of the firemen ordered. Zayn and Kenan ignored the fireman¡¯s orders and headed straight for the living room. When the firemen noticed the pained expressions on Zayn¡¯s and Kenan¡¯s faces, they understood immediately¨Cthey were most likely the victim¡¯s family. After that, the firemen collectively sighed in sympathy and did not chase Zayn and Kenan out of the apartment. Now that the fire had been put out, the firemen were no longer needed. As such, they pulled out of the scene and left the victim¡¯s family to handle her postmortem affairs. The small living room felt oddly empty after the firemen left. Zayn and Kenan stood like statues before the corpse on the floor. The closer they drew toward it, the more uneasy they felt. Neither of them dared to lift the fireproof cloth to peek at the body beneath. ¡°No, this can¡¯t be Willow. It just can¡¯t,¡± Kenan muttered derisively, shaking his head. ¡°She was fine when I left home today. She even called me just now. I didn¡¯t pick up because my phone. was in silent mode. ¡°Yes, Willow must be fine. She¡¯s perfectly all right somewhere. This corpse can¡¯t be hers!¡± As the words tumbled out of Kenan¡¯s mouth, he grabbed a corner of the white cloth and lifted it to reveal the corpse underneath. The moment Kenan saw the corpse, tears streamed down his cheeks uncontrobly. Even Zayn¡¯s eyes turned red and misty as he stared at the corpse before him.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. The body was burned beyond recognition. Where there should have been hair and a face were now nothing more than charred flesh. It was like looking at a pile of human¨Cshaped charcoal. A dead human. There was no sign of life at all/The clothes had been burned away save for a few flimsy pieces of fabric that clung to what was left of the woman¡¯s flesh, which made for a gut¨Cwrenching sight. The charred and ckened mess that the fire made of the woman¡¯s skin was akin to a rotisserie chicken that had been left on the spit for too long. 2/2 Zayn stared at the corpse with a hollow gaze, refusing to believe that this was the woman whose one talent was to grate on his nerves. ¡°This isn¡¯t Willow! This cannot be her!¡± He repeated this line with certain madness as if to convince himself. Desperation had him believing that if he kept saying this line religiously, Willow might turn out to be alive somewhere instead of sprawled across the floor as a burned corpse. s, no matter how much he tried to tell himself otherwise, he knew deep down that the corpse before him was Willow¡¯s. She was dead. ¡°I¡¯m going to die, Zayn,¡± Willow had told him over the phone. What had he said to her then? Something along the lines of, ¡°Go ahead and die, Willow. May you rest in peace!¡± He had even added sarcastically, ¡°What, did you expect me to pray for your soul?¡± Zayn had been satisfied when he said those hurtful things. But now, looking at the charred corpse before him, he did not feel a trace of satisfaction at all. His heart twisted painfully, and it felt like it was bleeding a river. Zayn had never been so devastated. Chapte 257 Chapter 267 Chapter 267 ¡°Wake up, Willow! You¡¯re not Willow!¡± It was as if Zayn had suddenly gone mad as he clung to the corpse tightly. A thought crossed his mind as he lifted the corpse¡¯s left hand. ¡°That¡¯s right! Willow doesn¡¯t have a left pinky! You can¡¯t be Willow. You¡¯re not Willow!¡± The corpse had no left pinky, nor did it have any of its left fingers. Even half its palm was gone, probably crushed by some heavy object that had toppled down from the beam during the fire. ¡°Zayn, let go of Willow! Let go of her right now!¡± Kenan screamed, lunging forward to pull the corpse out of Zayn¡¯s arms. However, Zayn¡¯s arms were wound so tight around the corpse that Kenan couldn¡¯t pry them away. Kenan wanted to try and take the corpse away from Zayn but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it when he saw. how devastated Zayn was. Kenan knew Willow had tried to be nice to him and ept him, but the person she loved had always been Zayn. Perhaps dying in Zayn¡¯s arms was what she might have wanted. At the thought of this, Kenan quickly looked away from the disfigured corpse. If he stared at it any longer. he might want to die, too. Willow would have wanted him to live and be happy. ¡°Willow! Open your eyes! I don¡¯t care what games you¡¯re ying, Willow! Open your eyes right now!¡± Zayn yelled hysterically, but there was no response from anyone. He lowered his head stiffly and gazed at the badly disfigured corpse in his arms. He couldn¡¯t tell the features apart anymore but gently rubbed where the eyes and brows should have been. Willow had cared about looking her best. Zayn would have to wait for ages before she was ready to go on their dates because she wanted to doll up. He had once told her that she was pretty in her own right and still found her stunning without makeup. She had pouted at him then. ¡°What do you know about dolling up, Zayn? I¡¯m dressing up for myself and take pride in looking my when I¡¯m with you.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I want to look pretty every day, Zayn. I hope that for the rest of your life, you¡¯ll only ever see me at my most beautiful.¡± Zayn felt like someone had sawed his heart into miserable pieces. Willow, who spent hours looking her best each day, was now a corpse that had been burned beyond recognition. best Chapter 267 Willow had a remarkably low pain threshold, too. There was a time when she and Zayn had been newly in love when she insisted on cutting an apple for him. Clumsy as she was, she had identally nicked her finger with the tip of the sharp de. If a small cut like that had made her wince and grouse, Zayn couldn¡¯t imagine how much pain she had been in while she was burned to a crisp. He had heard thementary of the crowd gathered outside the neighborhood. Someone said they heard a woman screaming and crying for help inside the apartment for a long time. In other words, the pain Willow had felt while being burned alive hadsted more than a few seconds. Zayn couldn¡¯t even picture how much agony she had been in when she was trapped in the fire and licked all over by mes. Willow had called him, too, at some point. Zayn figured out from the time of the call that the apartment must have already been engulfed by mes. She had probably called him for help. Even in thest moments of her life, Willow had been thinking of Zayn. Chapte 268 Chapter 268 Chapter 268 1/2 What had Zayn done in Willow¡¯sst moments? He had eviscerated any hope she had in him by telling her to die and rest in peace. In truth, he hadn¡¯t wanted Willow to die or to rest in peace. Love or hate aside, he only wanted her to live the rest of her life somewhere he could see her. ¡°Willow, wake up¡­¡± For a moment, Zayn thought he might have died himself. He felt hollow inside out, but even so, the pain in his heart was indescribable. ¡°Excuse me, are you both Ms. Sanford¡¯s family?¡± Zayn and Kenan were still grieving when two young men opened the creaking front door and entered the apartment. ¡°If you¡¯re both family, we request that you let us take Ms. Sanford¡¯s body. She signed the organ donation agreement with us before her death,¡± one of the young men said. Zayn looked up and glowered at the two men with bloodshot eyes. His feral snarl and his baleful gaze were like those of a struggling beast in itsst moments. The two men backed away when they saw this. However, at the thought of the 700 thousand dors their organ procurement center had paid Willow in advance, they stood firm and exined to Zayn, ¡°Ms. Sanford has agreed to donate her organs to our center. *As she was in desperate need of money to pay for her son¡¯s surgical procedure, we made an exception for her out of pity and paid her arge portion of the sum in advance. ¡°It was stated in our agreement that her corpse must be in good condition at the time of her death. ¡°We¡¯re afraid that with her corpse so badly damaged, you and the rest of her family won¡¯t be entitled to the remaining proceeds.¡± The braver of the two men stepped forward and handed Zayn the organ donation agreement Willow had signed to show that they were indeed entitled to collect her corpse.. A red mist descended upon Zayn when he saw the agreement. He reached out and snatched the agreement from the man before tearing it to shreds. Tightening his arms around the corpse, he roared, ¡°She¡¯s mine! Don¡¯t any of you dare take her away from. mel Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± ¡°I think¡­ he¡¯s Zayn Carter.¡± One of the men recognized Zayn and gently nudged hispanion. As dismayed as they were about the 700 thousand dors they had paid out to Willow in advance, what Chapte 260 they needed more was for her corpse to be in good condition. There was no way they could recoup the 700 thousand dors now that Willow¡¯s corpse was so badly burned, but their loss would be more significant if they couldn¡¯t take the corpse back to the center at all. That being said, their fear of Zayn outweighed their fear of making a huge business loss. Given Zayn¡¯s influence in Havenpoint, he could easily turn their organ procurement center into a pig farm if they crossed him. In hopes of avoiding having their business turned into a pig farm, the two men decided not to provoke Zayn any further. Just as they were leaving, Zayn asked in a somewhat shaky, frigid manner, ¡°How much did you pay Willow? I¡¯ll have the money wired to your ount, plus interest.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ 700 thousand dors,¡± one of the men answered.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. The two men were so intimidated by Zayn that they dared not keep quiet. Zayn couldn¡¯t helpughing at the amount they quoted, though he wore a grimace, and hisughter sounded hollow and forlorn. Willow had sold her corpse for 700 thousand dors. It was almost like she had wanted to die. She had borrowed money from Zayn before, saying she needed a million dors for Aaron¡¯s surgery. At the time, Zayn thought she wanted the money to splurge on fancy things for herself. He never imagined she was actually in desperate need of a million dors, so much so that she had signed an organ donation agreement for it. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 A million dors. There were times when Zayn threw a party, and a million dors wouldn¡¯t be enough to cover his tab. Yet, the love of his life had signed her corpse away for it. Sea burials were all the rage in Havenpoint. The deceased would be cremated and have their ashes scattered across the sea. The topic hade up while Zayn and Willow were still in their honeymoon phase. He had told her that a sea burial, where one¡¯s remains became one with the sea and drifted freely across the world, had its appeal. She had shaken her head vehemently, frowning and pouting as disagreement colored her face. e were not She didn¡¯t like the idea of sea burials and preferred conventional burials, iming that if one tethered to thend after death, their souls might get lost on the way to the great beyond. ¡°You know that being lost terrifies me,¡± Willow had told Zayn, She was slightly superstitious, to be frank. While Zayn did not believe in an afterlife, much less in the theory of souls transcending through lifetimes, Willow was different. Willow stubbornly believed in both the afterlife and that souls were eternal. She didn¡¯t want to get lost on her way to the great beyond, thus the appeal of a ground burial. And yet, she had signed away those beliefs along with her corpse to an organ procurement center just to raise money for Aaron¡¯s surgery. Donating one¡¯s corpse meant one could never have a ground burial, and one might get lost on the way to the great beyond. Willow wouldn¡¯t have agreed to donate her corpse unless she was truly desperate. How hopeless did she have to be to sign an agreement like that? In the end, it was all for naught. Aaron hadn¡¯t gotten the surgical procedure, for he fell into a beast- infested abyss and became food for wild predators. ¡°Mr. Carter.. The two men from the organ procurement center were frightened by Zayn¡¯s ferocious re and the violence that rippled off him. They didn¡¯t bother asking Zayn How much he would repay them. They exchanged a brief look and bolted from the apartment. ¡°Lolo!¡± Zayn cried, his voice breaking as he caressed Willow¡¯s charred face like he was in a trance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lolo! I won¡¯t let anyone take you away! ¡°I¡¯ll give you a proper burial like you wanted! I won¡¯t let you get lost. How else will you find your way to me Chupter 259. when it¡¯s my turn to go to the great beyond? ¡°Lolo¡­ My Lolo¡­¡± Investigations revealed that the fire was caused by arson, but the surveince cameras along Bordello. were found to have been intentionally destroyed. Whoever was behind this had taken precautions andmitted a seamless crime, turning this into an unsolved case. The fire became headline news, but incidents like this were happening too often in modern society. Within the blink of an eye, the fire at Bordello and Willow¡¯s death became old news. A beautiful but tragic tale made its rounds through Havenpoint three dayster. Rumor had it that Zayn was in love with someone else. His heart did not belong to Skyler but to some unnamed mystery woman. Rumor also had it that something terrible happened to the mystery woman during Zayn and Skyler¡¯s engagement ceremony. After that, Zayn abandoned Skyler at the party so he could rush to his true love¡¯s aid. Unfortunately, Zayn¡¯s desperation could only do so much, for his true love had taken her own life by the time he reached her. ording to sources, his true love had ended her own life because she couldn¡¯te to terms with Zayn and Skyler¡¯s engagement, which left her to settle for being a mistress he had to hide away forever. Rumor had it that while the mystery woman was still alive, Zayn had no ns to make an honest woman out of her and intended to keep her as a mistress forever. However, he only realized his feelings for her after her death. He had loved her for a long time, but it wasThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. toote. She was gone, and no amount of regret on his part could bring her back to life. All Zayn could do was hold onto over it. hor corpse and cry Rumor had it that the mystery woman was so stunning that Zayn¡¯s heart was not the only one she had captured, but Kenan¡¯s and Matthew¡¯s as well. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Chapter 270 On the day of Zayn¡¯s mystery lover¡¯s burial, rain poured down from the wintry sky over Havenpoint. Zayn personally carried the urn filled with his mystery lover¡¯s ashes through the drizzle and set it down in the casket. He had ced a pearlb inside her casket. Word had it that he¡¯dbed her wig with it before she was cremated, muttering, ¡°You look beautiful, sweetheart. I¡¯m lucky to be your husband.¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. On that day, Zayn buried her as her husband while Kenan and Matthew were the pallbearers. All the reporters in Havenpoint flocked to the burial site to learn about the woman¡¯s identity and name, but the security at the funeral was airtight. The reporters hovered around the vicinity, but they could not even pinpoint the exact location of the mystery woman¡¯s burial plot In the end, such rumors of a tragic tale were never confirmed. Skyler had¨Cheld several press conferences to stop those rumors, insisting each time that the stories of that mystery woman were ridiculous and untrue. She further exined that her engagement to Zayn had suddenly been canceled because she had fallen ill, and Zayn was worried about her health. She insisted the cancetion had nothing to do with some mystery woman who was Zayn¡¯s alleged true love. Skyler added that no engagement ceremony would make up for thest one. She and Zayn would have a wedding instead. She wrapped up her statement by insisting that no one hade between her and Zayn and that they were a true love match. §ë§Ö Skyler sounded so convincing at every press conference that her fans believed her every word. After all, Skyler and Wilhelmina were the epitome of perfection. How could an unnamed woman possibly charm and steal their men? Only fools would believe such an absurd story. However, a small part of the public believed that the mystery woman truly existed. Her identity was simply too well¨Ckept a secret. A monthter, Liam was scrolling through his phone at Carter Group when he stumbled upon something that left him in a stupor. Liam was a dedicated assistant who took his job seriously. He hadn¡¯t meant to scroll through the day¡¯s news during work hours, but he clicked on his browser app earlier out of boredom and was immediately greeted by a news article about Willow. Chiale 270 He felt like his mind had just imploded. Even more shockingly, the news article was posted merely minutes ago.. A month ago, they had confirmed that the woman who tragically died in the fire at Bordello was Willow. And yet, Willow was smiling up at Liam through the phone screen. She was pictured wearing a vintage- looking white dress and holding a perfume bottle. Liam¡¯s hand trembled. He might have believed evil spirits were ying tricks on him by hacking it if it weren¡¯t daytime. He clicked on the news link and was redirected to a page with more pictures of Willow. In each frame, Willow was holding a bottle of perfume. She looked so ethereal in the white dress that she might as well have been a fairy in an enchanted forest. Liam¡¯s eyes widened when he read the headline. Willow had be an overnight sensation after pictures of her holding a bottle of perfume started trending online. She was now regaled as ¡°The Nation¡¯s First Love¡°. Liam clutched his phone as a chill ran down his spine. He was trying to reconcile the news with the events fromst month. Zayn¡¯s ex¨Cwife had not died in a fire and had instead be an overnight sensation who was deemed The Nation¡¯s First Love¡°. Liam debated telling Zayn, whose grief made himsh out at his subordinates, about this shocking development. Chapter 271 Chapter 271 After much contemtion, Liam decided to tell Zayn about Willow¡¯s situation. Zayn had grown even more intimidating since Willow¡¯s apparent death. His frighteningly icy expression and brooding demeanor were enough to loosen the dders of any high¨Clevel executive who dared approach him. The top floor of the Carter Group building had been crackling with a dark, menacing energy these days. Everyone in thepany dared not so much as make a pip when they were on the top floor lest they angered Zayn and get themselves thrown from the rooftop. The day before, the head of the finance department had made a minor mistake¨Cso minor it was practically negligible¨Cwhen he was reporting his work progress to Zayn. Zayn was strict with work. In the past, he would have given the head of the finance department a dark look if thetter made the same mistake. However, during the meeting the previous day, the head of the finance department had been met with a look so frigid that Zayn might as well have been hurling ice blocks at him, The words that came out of Zayn¡¯s mouth were even more menacing, and the entire office had felt the chilling threat in his voice. They always looked like they were on the verge of tears whenever they finished their coffee run. As for the secretaries who had always vied for Zayn¡¯s attention in the past, they had grown less eager and more terrified about bringing Zayn his coffee. Even Liam hade close to tears on his recent encounters with Zayn, Liam patted his chest and mustered his courage before carefully knocking on Zayn¡¯s office door. ¡°Hey, boss?¡± ¡°Enter!¡± came Zayn¡¯s harsh bark that made Liam shudder. He gently pushed open the office door and walked over to Zayn¡¯s desk, his steps quick and his body tense with nerves. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s something ¡°Spit it out!¡± Zayn glowered at Liam and snapped, his impatient tone implied that Liam might be thrown. from the rooftop if he did not cut to the chase. Liam¡¯s skin pebbled when a cold breeze came through the open window. He thought about what it might feel like to have the air rush past him if he were to be thrown out of the window. His well¨Ctoned body trembled at the idea of free¨Cfalling from such a great height. Liam set his phone down on Zayn¡¯s desk and informed, ¡°Boss, I came across this news just now.¡± He could have gone mute from having Zayn¡¯s sharp and warning gaze scan his features. Zayn looked like he was inclined to tear Liam to pieces and send him to meet his maker. Biting his tongue, Liam forced his wits to stay with him and tried to look as unfazed as possible. He closed his eyes and summoned all his courage as his following words tumbled out of him in one breath. ¡°I was reading the news not because I was cking, boss! It was purely coincidental, I swear! ¡°Ms. Sanford is on the news. Yes, your ex¨Cwife¨CWillow Sanford¨Cis still alive and has now be an overnight sensation after pictures of her holding a bottle of perfume gained traction online. ¡°Not only that, she¡¯s won over millions of boys and has been regaled as The Nation¡¯s First Love! ¡°Thest I checked, Ms. Sanford¡¯s name has topped the list of trending topics. She¡¯s the most poprOwned by N?velDrama.Org. inte celebrity right now!¡± It had been a month since the fire at Bordello, but Zayn¡¯s heart still bled whenever he heard Willow¡¯s name. He tried not to think of her or of anything that had to do with her, but his grief and pain only worsened over time. There were days when Zayn believed he had died alongside Willow and that his heart had burned into. ashes just as her corpse had. It was as if his heart, which so rarely beat for anyone or anything, had stopped beating altogether and was now buried six feet under. At that moment, Zayn was no better than a walking corpse, a machine that functioned solely for work and nothing else. He buried himself in work every day and handled thepany affairs robotically. It was the only way for him to keep that hollow cavity within him, where his heart should have been, from aching. Upon seeing how disinterested and nk Zayn looked, Liam panicked. He cleared his throat and raised his voice before speaking again. Chapter 272 Chapter 272 ¡°Boss, Ms. Sanford is still alive!¡± Only then did Zayn pause whatever work he was in the middle of, the pen he gripped in his left hand hovering above the paperwork. A self¨Cdeprecating scoff escaped him next as Liam¡¯s words sank in. There they were again, the delusions that had been mocking him since Willow¡¯s death. He¡¯d just imagined Liam, who had never been a wisecrack and took his job seriously, telling him Willow was still alive. How could Willow possibly be alive when Zayn himself had applied makeup on her reconstructed face andbed through her wig before she was cremated?This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. He had even personally carried the urn containing her ashes, which was all that was left of her. Willow was noting back. ¡°What did you just say, Liam?¡± Zayn¡¯s icy voice was quiet, but it seemed to draw the air out of the room and leave Liam breathless. Liam had to take a deep breath to feel the air pressure in the room return to normal. Gathering his courage again, he pointed at his phone on Zayn¡¯s desk and said, ¡°Boss, Ms. Sanford is alive and has be an inte sensation. She¡¯s now The Nation¡¯s First Love!¡± Zayn finally cast his gaze on Liam¡¯s phone screen when he heard this. On the screen, Willow was indeed pictured smiling as she held up a bottle of colorless perfume. She looked breathtaking in a vintage¨Clooking white dress. She wore the barest makeup that entuated her naturally beautiful features. With a face like that, she could put other women to shame even without makeup. In truth, Willow¡¯s presence had always been a sensuous one. She was a born temptress. She smiled so brightly in the pictures and looked so angelic in her white dress that it was hard to imagine her as anything but demure. She looked enchanting, like an ethereal fairy. Zayn couldn¡¯t help rubbing the phone screen with the t side of his thumb as though caressing Willow¡¯s face¨Cthe face that upied his thoughts day and night. He felt his heart strum back to life in his chest. Willow was alive. For a moment, everything felt right and wonderful. However, Zayn¡¯s happinesssted only a second before he was filled with violent anger. Chapter 272 Willow was still alive, and yet everyone in the world had heard of Zayn losing himself in grief over the death of a mystery woman. He had lived like a robot, a functioning corpse, for a month since Willow¡¯s supposed death. And yet, she couldn¡¯t even bother telling him she was alive and breathing. He wondered if she simply enjoyed watching his mind unravel with grief. Zayn let out a humorless chuckle as he contemted Willow¡¯s newfound title, ¡°The Nation¡¯s First Love¡°. It was bad enough that she had won over Kenan and Matthew, but to seduce all the men in the world? Zayn wondered where she got the audacity. As Zayn threw a violent fit, Liam¡¯s phone became coteral damage. Liam trepiditiously picked up his phone, the screen cracked from Zayn¡¯s aggressive smashing. He was about to leave Zayn before thetter threw another tantrum when a news update popped up on his phone. It read, ¡°The Nation¡¯s First Love, Willow Sanford, epted an invite to audition as an ambassador for Arena of Glory.¡± Liam froze when he read this. Disbelief colored his face as he thought about the news he read days ago about how determined Skyler was to be Arena of Glory¡¯s ambassador. ¡°Boss,¡± Liam began warily, lifting his phone. ¡°There¡¯s more news on Ms. Sanford.¡± Chapter 273 Chapter 273 ¡°Spit it out, then!¡± Zayn barked. Liam gulped. ¡°ording to thetest news, Ms. Sanford will be trying out for Arena of Glory¡¯s ambassador role. She¡¯ll be going up against Ms. Daws for the role.¡± Arena of Glory gained poprity in recent years in the gaming world. It was currently the most¨Cyed video game in Marley. The game did not have an ambassador all this while because there wasn¡¯t a need for one. The game¡¯s poprity was entirely self¨Cmade. The game producers were now on a nationwide search for the perfect female celebrity to endorse their game. The endorsement fees had to be astronomical, given how the game¡¯s backer, Nightingale Corporation, was a behemoth in the business industry. Even if being the ambassador of Arena of Glory did not pay a single cent, the game was still popr enough that female celebrities would kill to secure the endorsement deal. A deal like that meant reaching out to at least half the poption in Marley. Every time a gamer logged into the game, they would first be greeted by pictures of the ambassador. In other words, even the most invisible of female celebrities couldunch themselves into stardom by bing the ambassador of Arena of Glory. While Skyler was doing well in the entertainment industry, certain constraints kept her from achieving household¨Cname status. Her goal was to be an A¨Clister like Celeste and Caroline. Naturally, she would not pass up the chance to be the ambassador of Arena of Glory. Liam had only just told Zayn about thetest update on Willow when Zayn¡¯s phone buzzed on the desk. Zayn saw Skyler¡¯s name sh on the screen. He frowned but epted the call anyway. Skyler¡¯s coquettish, earnest tone immediately filled his ear. ¡°Zayn, I¡¯ll be auditioning for Arena of Glory¡¯s ambassadorship this afternoon. I was wondering if you could apany me?¡± Skyler had already done her research on the audition. She had procured the list of female celebrities who would audition that afternoon and felt she was the most outstanding one. She had a good chance of scoring the deal, but she would be in a league of her own if she showed up. with Zayn to the audition, Chapte 273 Nightingale Corporation would be persuaded to name her as the game¡¯s ambassador if they wanted to maintain good rtions with Zayn, the man behind Carter Group. However, Skyler had been anxious when she called Zayn. After all, he hadn¡¯t spared a nce at her since. the fire at Bordello. Convincing him to go to the audition with her might be the biggest challenge of her life. Unexpectedly, she heard Zayn say, after a brief pause, ¡°Sure.¡± Skyler felt like she had just been blessed by the high heavens. ¡°I love you, Zayn! You¡¯re the best. Thanks for wanting to go to the audition with me!¡± She kissed her phone screen several times before reluctantly hanging up. Zayn¡¯s expressionless face belied the tempest brewing in his heart. The audition was where he would see Willow and make her pay for putting him through a whole month¡¯s worth of emotional torment. Willow was alive, and so was Aaron, After falling off the cliff, Aaron was rescued by Moses Quayle, medical extraordinaire and Wynn¡¯s mentor. Moses had been the one to remove and discard Aaron¡¯s bloodstained clothes after stumbling upon him under the cliff so that he could treat Aaron¡¯s wounds. Being the medical extraordinaire Moses was, he had saved Aaron from certain death. He even performed surgery on Aaron and cured thetter¡¯s thssemia major. However, with Aaron¡¯s fragile state, too many surgeries might not work out in his favor.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Moses thought Aaron should regain some strength before undergoing follow¨Cup surgeries. He couldn¡¯t guarantee that the future surgeries would be sessful, either. Moses felt as though destiny had tied him and Aaron together, so he decided to take thetter in as a disciple. He wanted to train Aaron as the heir to his legacy. Aaron was unconscious for days after suffering the brutal fall, and he was unconscious for a while after the initial surgery as well. When he came to, he wouldn¡¯t stop talking about Willow and asked Moses to take him to see her. He wanted her to know he was still alive. It was by sheer coincidence that the day Moses followed Aaron¡¯s instruction and showed up outside Willow¡¯s apartment building at Bordello happened to be the day when the fire broke out. Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Moses was pushing 70. But being an excellent martial artist with a strict health regime, he possessed a stronger build than men far younger than him. Naturally, it wasn¡¯t difficult for him to rescue Willow from the burning apartment. Willow was already passed out by the time he had reached her. If he had arrived a few minutester, he might not have been able to revive her, no matter how skillful he was as a doctor. There was another woman in Willow¡¯s living room when Moses rushed in to save Willow. The woman was the arsonist. She had left after starting the fire but returned to the apartment to swipe some valuable items. She had been rummaging through drawers and cabs when the hanging lights in the living room fell on her. It pinned her to the ground, and the fire spreading through the unit cut off any means of escape. The woman¡¯s clothes had caught fire when Moses saw her. He wanted to save her, but he knew that doing so would put a strain on him. If he wanted to save the woman, he might also end up trapped in the burning apartment. As such, Moses chose only to save Willow. Willow¡¯s condition was so critical that not even a medical extraordinaire like Moses could cure her. The only thing he could do was to extend her lifespan. A monthter, Willow¡¯s condition improved significantly. Moses promised she could live up to a year if she took good care of herself and avoided emotional outbursts, smoking, drinking, and spicy foods.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Willow was happy enough with the one year she had left. In the past, she hated her failing body for not giving her the time she needed to take revenge on Skyler and the others who had tortured her. But now, she had a year to make them pay in blood. Skyler and the others had walked all over her in the past, but Willow would not tolerate that anymore. She would stomp on them like pests. Looking back, Willow had stooped to amateur levels of revenge by sshing acid on Skyler and stabbing her. Murdering someone outright was not as satisfying as making them beg for death, and this time, Willow was determined to make Skyler beg Willow would destroy everything Skyler loved and cared about. She would make Skyler live like a street rat, scorned and abandoned. She wanted Skyler to lose everything. The pictures of Willow that were trending on the inte had been taken by a photography enthusiast, but the effects far exceeded Willow¡¯s expectations. She was even more surprised to be invited to audition as Arena of Glory¡¯s ambassador. Willow was an Inte celebrity at most. Most A¨Clist celebrities would kill to audition for a huge endorsement deal like this, and Willow never thought a micro¨Cinfluencer like her would be invited. When Willow showed up for the audition, she learned from the staff that Skyler was one of the contenders. The staff also told Willow that there was a high chance the endorsement would go to Skyler. A corner of Willow¡¯s mouth curled at the mention of Skyler¡¯s name. Skyler had stolen the Whispers of Love endorsement deal from Willow thest time. Now, it was Willow¡¯s turn to give Skyler a taste of her own medicine. Willow would make Skyler pay for everything she had taken from her. She wanted to have front¨Crow seats. to Skyler¡¯s spectacr fall from grace. She would like to know which of them would be scorned by the public. Willow was ready to take on Skyler in this long battle. She was determined to win. After going through the script provided by the audition staff, Willow was on her way to the dressing room to try on the performance attire when she saw Skyler and Zayning her way. Skyler clung onto Zayn¡¯s arm and beamed like a woman in love. Not wanting to spare the sickening couple another nce, Willow kept walking. She had only just brushed past them when Zayn suddenly grabbed her wrist. Chapter 275 Chapter 275 ¡°Watch yourself, Mr. Carter!¡± Willow hissed as she tried to shrug off Zayn¡¯s vise¨Clike grip. However, it only made him grip her wrist tighter. ¡°Willow,¡± he breathed, the rage in his voice a culmination of the grief and pain he had experienced in the past month. As emotions flooded him, he added shakily, ¡°You¡¯re still alive.¡± Willow couldn¡¯t care less about the emotions she saw flickering in his eyes. A small and distant smile curled on her lips as she drawled, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m still alive. You can save your prayer for someone else. Sorry to disappoint you!¡± ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn saw Willow through a red mist. He looked at her ferociously like he was debating on cutting open her chest to see if she had a heart at all. Willow was still smiling. She stopped trying to pull away from him. He was gripping her left wrist, and while her injury had recovered, her nerves were damaged. She couldn¡¯t exert the same strength anymore and decided that Zayn was not worth the effort of struggling. Even as her smile widened and grew dazzling, the look in her eyes turned icy. ¡°Are you holding my wrist so you can drag me to hell yourself, Mr. Carter? ¡°Sorry, but I have no ns to go to the afterlife right now, so don¡¯t bother.¡± Zayn was already furious about Willow¡¯s fake death, but to hear her take shots at him like this pushed him over the edge. Forgetting that Skyler was still with him, he stepped forward and pinned Willow to the wall. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself, Willow. I wouldn¡¯t soil my hands by dragging you to hell.¡± Willow sneered as if she had already expected his insult.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. The old Willow had been burned to death in that fire, and the new Willow had risen from the ashes. She was bulletproof now, and it would take more than words for Zayn to hurt her. ¡°But you won¡¯t mind dirtying your hands by touching me like this, Mr. Carter? You must be a masochist,¡± Willow said. ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn growled warningly, letting go of her hand and pinching her jaw roughly. She always had a knack for getting under his skin. He had nearly lost himself to grief when he thought she¡¯d died, but it seemed she was not going to give him peace of mind even when she was alive and well, either. However, Zayn would be lying if he said he hadn¡¯t hoped she was alive. Willow was starting to find this back¨Cand¨Cforth with Zayn rather tiresome. He had be predictable. He would pinch her jaw, strangle her, or roar her name whenever she pissed him off. Bored with his show of violence, she raised a brow at him and smirked. The look of contempt suited her. With such stunning features, she looked even more like a temptress, albeit an arrogant one. Willow¡¯s lips were slightly parted from the pressure of Zayn¡¯s grip on her jaw. Her red lips looked like rose petals trembling in the breeze, and for a moment, Zayn was entranced. He missed her. As though acting on instinct, Zayn leaned forward until his lips were mere inches away from Willow¡¯s. Skyler¡¯s face reddened when she saw this. She dug her nails into her palms to keep herself from falling apart and shrieking like a mad woman. ¡°Zayn!¡± she cried, the hatred swirling in her eyes when she saw how close Zayn¡¯s lips were to brushing against Willow¡¯s. She quickly clung onto Zayn¡¯s arm and tried to snap him back to his senses. Zayn snapped out of his daze when he heard Skyler¡¯s screeching. When he saw how close Willow¡¯s lips were to his, he couldn¡¯t help cursing. He vowed not to be ensnared by Willow¡¯s temptress wiles again. She was more scheming than he thought, and he refused to give her the satisfaction of tricking him. Chapter 276 Chapter 276 ¡°Zayn, the audition¡¯s about to start. Could youe with me to get changed?¡± Skyler asked softly. Zayn didn¡¯t hear her at all. He couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away from Willow as if under a spell. He didn¡¯t snap back to his senses until Skyler asked again, ¡°Please, Zayn?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Zayn muttered, finally pulled out of his daze. Willow felt like the air had finally cleared after Zayn and Skyler disappeared down the corridor. As she watched them leave, her fists clenched at her sides. Aaron might have survived the fall from the cliff, but he had sustained severe injuries. She¡¯d watched him get his dressings changed and undergo surgeries, which left him feeling as if his bones were picked apart. Willow would make Skyler pay for putting Aaron through such turmoil, just as she would make Skyler pay for Nic¡¯s and Allie¡¯s deaths. She wouldn¡¯t forget about the fire that broke out in Bordello, either. Willow had no idea why Skyler picked the day of her engagement ceremony to set the former¡¯s apartment on fire, but Willow didn¡¯t need to be a genius to know Skyler was behind the arson. Skyler was Willow¡¯s sworn nemesis. Only one of them could be left standing. Willow wanted to protect the people she loved from Skyler, and the only way to do that was to ruin Skyler for life. At that thought, Willow reached into her purse and grazed her phone with her fingertips. She wanted to call Kenan and tell him the truth, but she couldn¡¯t contact him.This is from N?velDrama.Org. ording to Moses, Kenan believed Willow was dead and left for Afrinia after her burial. It was a form of self¨Cexile, and not even his father, Xavier, could reach him. Still, even if Willow couldn¡¯t reach Kenan through his phone, she was determined to find a way to expose Skyler as a false heiress so that the Dawsons would cast her out. Not wanting to risk another run¨Cin with Zayn, Willow waited until Skyler finished her wardrobe change before heading to the dressing room. Applicants for the audition were put through another elimination round before the official audition that afternoon. As such, only 15 candidates, including Willow, were left to contend for the role of Arena of Glory¡¯s ambassador. Skyler was the secondst candidate to audition. Willow, on the other hand, was ted to be thest audition purely because she was thest person to be added to the list of contenders. Willow nced through the script she would deliver for the auditionter. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the ywright was sick in the head. Why did she have to sit on a swing barefoot? Were all the contenders meant topete against each other¡¯s feet qualities? Auditions for TV shows and movies typically required candidates to go in for the recording individually. However, acting skills weren¡¯t a priority in casting the ambassador role, so it was an open audition. In other words, candidates could enter the audition room together and observe thepetition. Thest thing Willow wanted was to go into a room that probably smelled like feet, but it would seem rude for her to stay outside the room while the other candidates filed in to watch thepetition. With much resignation, she clutched the script and sat in the back row. Willow had only just sat down when a man in an impable, tailor¨Cmade ck suit walked into the hall. She was so busy going over the script that she couldn¡¯t be bothered to give the man more than a nonchnt nce. Little did Willow know that this man woulde to leave a mark on her life. The man was none other thann Nightingale. Chapter 2.7 Chapter 277 Chapter 277 12 Tim Selwood, the game director in charge of the audition, followedn around like a sycophantic ghost..Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Tim pointed at the barefoot starlet perched atop the swing and said dutifully, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, that¡¯s Rowena Levinsky, one of the Four Flowerbuds of showbiz¡­¡± ¡°Her feet are too wide,¡±n said curtly, cutting Tim off mid¨Csentence. ¡°All right, then¡­¡± Tim replied slowly and crossed Rowena¡¯s name from his head. The female celebrities that went up after Rowena had tried their best to showcase their beauty, at least by Tim¡¯s standards. However,n frowned through their performances and did not show any approval for any of them at all. Tim wiped the beads of cold sweat on his forehead and mentally crossed out the names of the starlets who did not make the cut. His face, slick with sweat, finally brightened when it was Skyler¡¯s turn to audition. Skyler had the most potential among the candidates, and Tim had indeed ster, though it had more to do with her graceful nature than her acting skills. She could transition from elegant to bright and intelligent effortlessly. The muslin dress she wore for the audition had a pale green bodice. The top half of the skirt was a matching shade of green and faded into white toward the hem, which cut off at Skyler¡¯s ankles before pooling into a train at the back. Skyler resembled a nymph. With Nightingale Corporation¡¯s impressive funding, even the stage design for a simple audition like this wasplex and surreal. White mist unfurled across the stage, which was decorated with all manners of flora. Skyler might as well have been swinging above an enchantedke from a fairytale. The swing was entwined with vines and blossoms. There was an ethereal beauty to the handiwork. As Skyler perched atop it, her stunning looks seemed to bring the entire setting to life. She had dyed her long hair a deep, ebony shade for the audition. She had half of her hair twisted into a simple up¨Cdo and left the rest cascading past her shoulders. Her hair lifted in the invisible breeze as she swung back and forth. A few locks of it curled at her chest. As her bare feet kicked off against the flowerbed and she swung gently through the air, a lock of her hair Chapter 277 fell past her face. With her side profile partially obscured, she looked like a woond princess¨Cbeautiful and demure. Tim couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Skyler. He nearly drooled at the thought of what she promised him in exchange for the endorsement deal. 2/2 He swallowed and decided he must have Skyler as the ambassador of Arena of Glory so that he could savor every bit of her beauty. Tim turned ton and said, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, the woman on stage is the famous actress Skyler Dawson. She¡¯s the Dawson family heiress and Zayn Carter¡¯s fianc¨¦e. ¡°Her status in the entertainment industry makes her the perfect ambassador for Arena of Glory, to say nothing of her impressive background. What do you say, Mr. Nightingale?¡± Tim broke into another bout of cold sweat after saying this. He couldn¡¯t help feeling as though all the air had been drawn out of his lungs whenever he was in imposing presence. Chapter 278 Chapter 278 He stared at Skyler for a few seconds. Tim thought he was captivated by her stunning looks. However,n surprised Tim when he said Icily, ¡°Her feet are too big!¡± ¡°Too big?¡± Tim nced toward the stage and focused in on Skyler¡¯s feet. If he were frank, he didn¡¯t think her feet were the most delicate work of art. Skyler was nearly five feet six inches tall, and her feet size looked to be about nine and a half. That being said, her big feet did not distract from her beauty. Tim wondered who would care about the size of her feet when she had the face of a goddess. More importantly, her feet weren¡¯t unattractive. Despite their size, they looked clean and slender. Any man would be happy to rub her feet for her and cherish them. Tim gulped Emboldened by his desire to appoint Skyler as the ambassador for the game, he said ton, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I think Skyler is a strong contender. ¡°Her graceful nature is perfect for Arena of Glory, and- Tim wiped the sweat from his brows. He puzzled overn¡¯s remark about revolting feet. He couldn¡¯t help thinkingn was being too harsh with thementary, but he dared not point it out. ¡®Boss, these are all the celebrities who showed up for audition today. The only one left is an influencer. We can go now,¡± Ian¡¯s assistant, Eric Pearson, said respectfully. He added, ¡°You also have three live conferences and two video conferences to attend. You¡¯ll also need to attend a contract signing this evening.¡± Eric couldn¡¯t stand seeingn, whose schedule was packed as it was, wasting time on something as trivial as an audition for some video game ambassador. After all, video game production was an insignificant enterprise under Nightingale Corporation¡¯s umbre. Moreover, Eric had a vague idea of what Influencers were. An influencer could never beat out a female celebrity in terms of beauty. Where a female celebrity stood out like a rose amongmoners, an influencer might find her beautycking in front of the cameras. Chapter 278 2/2 Eric thought it was rather generous of the public to call a woman who probably used high¨Cgrade beauty filters on camera ¡°The Nation¡¯s First Love¡°. He was confident the woman in question might look like the stuff of nightmares once the makeup and beauty filters came off. Eric was merely looking out forn¡¯s best interests. As such, he wanted to getn out of the audition hall before the influencer took to the stage. ¡°Very well,¡±n said as he nced at his expensive watch. He had indeed wasted too much time on a trivial audition such as this one. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, what about the matter of appointing an ambassador?¡± Tim asked cautiously, a corner ofContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. his lips twitching. Eric thought Tim was somewhat oblivious. Sparingn from having to answer such a redundant question, he shot an icy look at Tim and said, ¡°You¡¯ll have to select new candidates to try out for the role, of course! ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious that Mr. Nightingale doesn¡¯t approve of any of these candidates?¡± Tim¡¯s sweat was trickling down his temples like rivulets at this point. He doubted a new pool of candidates could win over someone as persnickety and entric as reached out to nudgen, only to halt mid¨Cair, remembering Reluctantly retracting his hand, Eric muttered, ¡°Boss, that influencer on stage, the one who goes by Willow Sanford, must be straight out of a nightmare! Fear not, I¡¯ll make a call right now to ensure she¡¯s cklisted. I swear she won¡¯t get another chance to assault your delicate senses!¡± Eric pulled out his phone, intending to instruct his men to ensure that Willow, whom he disdainfully referred to as ¡°The Nation¡¯s Nightmare¡°-formerly known as ¡°The Nation¡¯s First Love¡®¨Cwould be banned from future events to spare others from her visual assault. Cheete 279 72 As he began to dial, his curiosity gnawed at him and he couldn¡¯t resist ncing toward the stage, only to find himself struck dumb by what he saw. Standing there was a figure that seemed to have descended from the heavens¨Can angel or, perhaps, a fairy. Eric couldn¡¯t quite discern her nature, but one thing was undeniable¨Cshe was stunningly, disarmingly beautiful. Willow¡¯s expression was impassive, giving off an exceptional air of detachment. Yet, such aloofness only enhanced her beauty, adding ayer of mystery to her allure that made her even more captivating. Eric wondered what kind of influencer she was. He thought it was a waste for her just to be an influencer with such striking features. He figured she should be a celebrity. her demeanor. Chapter 280 Chapter 280 As Eric closely watchedn, he had a good sense of whatn had decided.This is from N?velDrama.Org. With a smile, Eric turned ton and eximed, ¡°Boss, that Influencer, Willow, she¡¯s incredible! Our Arena of Glory could really use someone like her as a brand ambassador Boss-¡± ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, Eric,¡±n interrupted. His unexpected words stunned Eric. Eric stared atn, who maintained his usual poise, and asked cautiously, ¡°Boss, where do you feel unwell? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call the doctor right away!¡± ¡°My heart, Eric. It¡¯s pounding like never before,¡±n said, causing Eric to nearly choke on his own saliva as he rushed to dial the private doctor. Eric hated tough in front ofn, who was more intimidating than the Grim Reaper, but he couldn¡¯t contain himself this time. He chuckled uncontrobly. get closer than six feet, his innocence in matters of the heart was only to be expected. ¡°Boss, um¡­ you might be lovestruck,¡± Eric said honestly. ¡°No, no, Boss. You¡¯re just experiencing the first stirrings of love!¡± peculiar and he needed time to process it. Meanwhile, Zayn seethed as he watched Willow gracefully leave the stage with a downward gaze. How dare she unt her flirtatious charms and hold the audience spellbound, all while barefoot once again. Zayn wondered if she was oblivious to the maic allure of her bare feet. Zayn remained unmoved earlier as Skyler attempted to ooze seduction on stage. Yet, the mere thought that every man had beheld Willow¡¯s delicately fair feet, the graceful sway of her legs beneath her flowing skirt, and nurtured impure fantasies about her was just too much for him to bear. His anger skyrocketed when the gamingpany suddenly crowned Willow as the new brand ambassador of Arena of Glory. Was she addicted to unting herself under the spotlight? Wasn¡¯t it enough to strut her stuff in front of a small crowd? Now she even almed to showcase herself in front of the entire nation. Zayn spun around, determined to nab Willow for her brazen antics, when Wilhelmina¡¯s anxious voice 2,2 echoed through the hall. ¡°Matt, my bracelet is missing! Has anyone seen it? If any of you catch sight of it, could you please let me know? It¡¯s very important to me.¡± Noticing tears threatened to spill from Wilhelmina¡¯s eyes, Matthew couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Wi, which bracelet are you talking about?¡± ¡°Matt, it¡¯s the one your grandmother gave me when we first met! She said every daughter¨Cinw in the Mayer family receives one. Grandma will be upset if I lose it! ¡°I really cherish it, Matt. Earlier, I switched from the emerald bracelet to the silver one for the audition and carefully kept the emerald one in my bag. I never imagined it would just vanish.¡± Wilhelmina turned, her captivating face marked by sincere desperation. ¡°The one I¡¯ve lost is an emerald bracelet. Could everyone please help me search for it?¡± Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Since Wilhelmina herself mentioned it, everyone feltpelled to join the search for her missing bracelet. This was partly to help her and to dispel any suspicions against themselves. every The hall was air¨Cconditioned, allowing to remainfortable in shirts. This made it difficult for anyone to hide the stolen bracelet on their person. Only Zayn, Matthew, andn wore smart suits. Yet, given their high status, they seemed unlikely to be involved in stealing Wilhelmina¡¯s bracelet. As a result, everyone¡¯s suspicion turned toward the women in the hall with handbags. To prove their innocence, they willingly searched through their bags and opened them for Wilhelmina to inspect, showing they hadn¡¯t taken the bracelet. Willow reflexively tightened her grip on her handbag. Although she didn¡¯t look inside, Wilhelmina¡¯s determined expression told her that the supposedly missing emerald bracelet was indeed in her bag. The setup was clich¨¦d, yet Willow couldn¡¯t deny the ruthless effectiveness of Wilhelmina¡¯s strategy. Having been recently appointed as the brand ambassador for Arena of Glory, Willow knew the consequences of beingbeled a thief would be disastrous. Such a scandal would undoubtedly prompt the gamepany to sever ties with her to avoid associating with an influencer marred by moral failings. Willow maintained a cool, unreadable expression as she looked up at Wilhelmina, who was weeping. She understood Wilhelmina¡¯s motives weren¡¯t just about supporting Skyler. There were also selfish reasons behind her actions. Skyler and Wilhelmina had previously served as brand ambassadors for Whispers of Love. Although Wilhelmina¡¯s role had been minor, the opportunity to endorse such a prestigious brand had been a significant honor for her. Willow suspected that Skyler probably told Wilhelmina that if she helped secure the endorsement this time, she¡¯d get something out of it, too. This exined why Wilhelmina was so set on undermining Willow and helping Skyler win the endorsement. After all, Skyler would have already secured it if Willow hadn¡¯t appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Could you all please help me find my bracelet?¡± Wilhelmina pleaded, tears rolling down her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯d be so grateful if anyone could find it!¡± ¡°Everyone, please help Wi find her bracelet! It means a lot to her. Thank you!¡± Skyler added, looking around at the crowd with sincerity. ¡°A bracelet doesn¡¯t just sprout wings and fly away!¡± eximed a female celebrity, a close friend of Wilhelmina. ¡°It must¡¯ve been stolen!¡± Chapter 281 Turning to Willow, she exaggerated a look of shock.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Influencer, perhaps you could show us the inside of your bag? We¡¯ve all checked ours, except you. Could you please help Wi in her search? ¡°The bracelet was a gift from her fianc¨¦¡¯s grandmother when they first met. It¡¯s not right to steal something so significant!¡± All eyes in the hall turned to Willow. Murmurs spread like wildfire among the onlookers. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve all checked our bags except for her. There must be something wrong!¡± ¡°How dare she steal the gift? This influencer must be really desperate for money!¡± ¡°The main issue is how wrong it is. Stealing? I can¡¯t believe someone would do that among us!¡± ¡°Wrong? It¡¯s downright disgraceful! Anyone who resorts to theft is vile. And she¡¯s supposed to represent a game? Who would trust a game promoted by someone so deceitful?¡± ¡°Exactly! The gamepany must be desperate to have chosen someone like her to promote Arena of Glory!¡± Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Willow¡¯splexion turned a shade paler. The female celebrities animosity toward influencers was clear Their usatory tone made it apparent¨Cthey believed Willow had stolen Wilhelmina¡¯s bracelet But how could they? Willow hadn¡¯t taken anything. It was unjust to be med for a crime she didn¡¯tmit. She had fought hard to survive, not to be unfairly used, but to confront and punish those who had wronged her. Willow lifted her head defiantly. Her petite frame made her seem even tinler than these celebrities, who embodied an extreme standard of thinness. Yet, as she gazed up, the fierce determination in her eyes overshadowed her rivals superficial charm Standing tall andposed, Willow resembled a sturdy tree weathering a brutal snowstorm ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anything, and 1 wont step down as the brand ambassador of Arena of Glory. My conscience is clear, and I am innocent.¡± Wilhelmina gave Willow a pitiful look. ¡°Willow, I didn¡¯t mean to use you of stealing. But what if what if someone identally ced my bracelet in your bag? Willow, the bracelet is incredibly important to me. Could you please check your bag? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Willow. Even if I find my bracelet in your bag. I wouldn¡¯t assume you stole it!¡± Internally, Willow scoffed at Wilhelmina¡¯s words. She knew that if the bracelet were found in her bag. everyone would immediately use her of theft, and her reputation would be irreparably damaged Meanwhile, Wilhelmina gritted her teeth when she noticed Matthew staring at Willow. She grasped his hand, seeking to win his favor. ¡°Matt, please don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I¡¯m not using Willow of stealing. ¡°I just hope she can help me find the bracelet. You know how much it means to me! I care a lot about it.¡± ¡°Lolo, why not check your bag? Look how worried Wi is!¡± Skyler chimed in Although she looked concerned, the spite gleaming in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. Murmurs began swirling among the crowd, their growing volume seemed like needles stabbing into Willow¡¯s ears ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s outrageous! She stole but won¡¯t admit it. How shameless!¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°A thief like her shouldn¡¯t just be banned from the entertainment industry, but from the inte, too! The Nation¡¯s First Love? Is she trying to teach everyone how to steal?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I auditioned alongside such a shameless thief today! It¡¯s humiliating!¡± ¡°She¡¯s such a nasty person! Why doesn¡¯t someone like her just end her life?¡± J Roscher was a celebrity known for having integrity. Sitting beside Willow, J was infuriated at Chapter 292 2/2 Willow¡¯s refusal to admit her wrongdoing. Unable to contain her frustration, J snatched Willow¡¯s bag and stormed onto the stage. She emptied Willow¡¯s bag onto the stage floor, revealing a phone, tissues, wet wipes, keys, and an item meticulously wrapped in severalyers of tissue paper. As J tore away the tissueyers in a swift move, she uncovered the emerald bracelet. However, what truly caught the audience¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t the bracelet but a stack of folded papers. Chapter 283 Chapter 283 J, a celebrity known for having integrity, was worried that the stacks of papers might contain some. other stolen goods. She instinctively started rifling through them. Her eyebrows drew together in a frown as she read the bold headline aloud. ¡°Sugar Baby Agreement?¡± As J¡¯s voice reached everyone¡¯s ears, every gaze shifted to the documents in her hands. Relishing. the spotlight, she eagerly captured more attention. She shook the stack of papers, her face twisting with contempt beneath her wless makeup.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. After clearing her throat, J resumed reading the agreement out loud. ¡°Mr. Duncan Whitman agrees to provide Ms. Willow Sanford a monthly allowance of 100 thousand dors, along with amodations and transportation. ¡°If Ms. Sanford¡¯s performance is deemed exceptionally satisfactory, Mr. Whitman may increase this financial support. Ms. Sanford has to follow the conditions below. First, she must remainpletely loyal to Mr. Whitman. ¡°Second, she mustply with all of Mr. Whitman¡¯s requests.¡± The celebrities, who had always carried themselves with an air of arrogance, now looked at Willow with even greater contempt. A few discreetly spit to the side, highlighting their disgust and affirming their moral superiority. They wanted nothing to do with someone they deemed so disgraceful, Willow¡¯s gaze remained locked on the ¡°Sugar Baby Agreement¡± in J¡¯s hands. She had expected to find the emerald bracelet in her bag, but not this scandalous document as well. Wilhelmina and Skyler were obviously out to ruin Willow¡¯s life that day, but Willow was resolute in not letting them seed. Meanwhile, J continued, ¡°Third, in light of Mr. Whitman¡¯s generous financial support, Ms. Sanford must personally prepare certain things.¡± J looked disgusted and could no longer continue reading. She forcefully hurled the agreement onto the stage. ¡°This is vile! I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s a thief and someone depending on a sugar daddy! This is fucking disgusting!¡± Then, holding out the emerald bracelet, J walked over to Wilhelmina and said,¡± Wi, take this. You should thoroughly disinfect this.¡± Wilhelmina epted the bracelet with care and gingerly ced it in her bag. ¡°Thanks for helping me find my bracelet, J. But please, go easy on Willow. She¡¯s genuinely a good person, I can¡¯t see her stealing. There must be some misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± J scoffed, clearly unconvinced. ¡°We caught her red¨Chanded! The bracelet was in her bag. How¡¯s that a misunderstanding? You¡¯re too forgiving, Wi! ¡°What does a gold¨Cdigger know about honesty or decency? All she cares about is money. She¡¯d do anything for it! Wi, you shouldn¡¯t let this slide. Theft is a crime. You should call the police and have her arrested to stop her from buzzing around like a fly and annoying everyone!¡± Enjoying her role as the victim in this scenario, Wilhelmina spoke with a gentle and endearing voice, Please, J, enough. I¡¯ve known Willow since childhood and I trust herpletely. She¡¯s my friend. I don¡¯t believe she would steal from me!¡± ¡°Wi, are you a fool? How can you befriend someone who relies on an old geezer for money? A woman like her is willing to sell herself just for money. Theft is practically nothing to her! Wi, your kindness could get you in trouble one day!¡± J¡¯s voice dripped with frustration. Wilhelmina lowered her eyes, looking helpless and disappointed. ¡°Regardless, I don¡¯t believe Willow would betray me like this.¡± Chapter 284 Chapter 284 The female celebrities, who already had a low opinion of influencers, were outraged when they saw Willow¡¯s shameless behavior. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of sugar babies but never seen one like her. Today has been truly eye¨Copening!¡± *100 thousand dors a month? That¡¯s over a million a year! And she¡¯s avable whenever? What a bitch!¡± ¡°Is there anything a bitch wouldn¡¯t do for money? Who knows what she does to satisfy her sugar daddy!¡± ¡°Wi must be regretting her choice of friends! Who knows what valuable things Willow has stolen from her!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been sitting beside her all day. I need to get a thorough check¨Cup when I get home!¡± Willow felt a surge of defiance as the insults grew more extreme. She couldn¡¯t afford to let their malicious gossip ruin her chance to remain the gamepany¡¯s brand ambassador. She stepped up and was about to speak up in her defense when Matthew¡¯s cold, angry voice pierced through the air. ¡°Willow, apologize to Wi!¡± Matthew¡¯s veins on his forehead were pulsing with anger. The stolen bracelet wasn¡¯t the reason that fueled his fury. Instead, it stemmed from Willow¡¯s preference for epting 100 thousand dors of financial support from someone else over his generous offer. With a sneer, Matthew figured that the man supporting Willow must be some sort of twisted sugar daddy. As soon as Duncan¡¯s name was mentioned, Matthew couldn¡¯t help but feel repulsed, imagining the guy as a disgusting old geezer. He wondered if Willow¡¯s choice meant she deemed Matthew to be even worse than that. The overwhelming joy of seeing her alive quickly gave way to a seething, indescribable rage. Matthew¡¯s gaze bore into Willow¡¯s fair, smooth face with such intensity that it seemed as though he was trying to burn a hole through it with the power of his stare. ¡°Apologize? Mr. Mayer, you do have a penchant for jests!¡± A faint smile crossed Willow¡¯s face. It was tinged with indifference but mostly mockery. ¡°This is the first I¡¯ve heard of a victim of a setup needing to apologize to the one orchestrating it! IfProperty ? N?velDrama.Org. anyone should offer an apology, it¡¯s Wilhelminal¡± Willow eximed. Willow¡¯s shimmering eyes slowly morphed into a sharp glint. ¡°Wilhelmina, you slipped that agreement and bracelet into my bag while I was changing, all to tarnish my reputation. You owe me an apology!¡± Chapter 284 2/2 1¡­¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s tears flowed down her cheeks in distress. ¡°Willow, what are you saying? How could I possibly set you up like that? I didn¡¯t even know you were alive before entering this hall. ¡°Willow, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I had no idea you were alive, let alone have any intention to harm you! I won¡¯t hold it against you even if you took my bracelet. I know you might be in a tough situation as you rely on financial support. ¡°I understand you and I¡¯m here to help. Please, Willow, just stop going against me, alright?¡± As Wilhelmina finished speaking, the hall¡¯s entrance burst open. A balding middle¨Caged man with a beer belly, appearing to be in his 50s, squinted as he entered. ¡°Willow, are you done with your audition? I¡¯m here to take you home.¡° Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Willow froze as sheid eyes on the sleazy and disgusting man standing before her. She couldn¡¯t remember ever encountering someone quite like him. It all clicked into ces when she recalled the ¡°Sugar Baby Agreement¡± that J had extracted from her bag. The unsavory man before her must be the Duncan Whitman mentioned in the agreement. Skyler and Wilhelmina¡¯s scheme to frame Willow was unfolding meticulously, each step seamlessly leading into the next ¡°Willow, are you feeling tired today? If you are, I could give you a nice massage when we get back,¡± Duncan said, reaching out to grab her arm. Willow swiftly moved away to avoid his inappropriate touch. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Willow?¡± Duncan looked confused. ¡°You weren¡¯t like this before! We¡¯ve spent every day together this month. Why are you so distant now?¡± ¡°Zayn, I have to speak up. Lolo shouldn¡¯t be with an old geezer like that! She¡¯s demeaning herself!¡± Skyler said, feigning concern for Willow. ¡°I need to talk some sense into her. I can¡¯t stand by and watch her debase herself like this!¡± Zayn¡¯s expression darkened further with displeasure after hearing Skyler¡¯s words. Although the air conditioning in the hall was already on full st, those nearby could feel the temperature drop several degrees. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re really something!¡± Zayn¡¯s voice rang out, chilling and deste, echoing like the winds across a barren wastnd. ¡°Just how many sugar daddies do you have?¡± Willow refused to argue with Zayn amidst the crowd.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Without making eye contact with Zayn, she politely but firmly addressed Duncan, ¡°I don¡¯t know you, sir!¡± ¡°What do you mean, Willow?¡± Duncan questioned, looking incredulous. ¡°How can you just turn on me in the blink of an eye?¡± ¡°Sir, I really don¡¯t know you, and I would never call you my darling,¡± Willow stated expressionlessly. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me, Willow!¡± Duncan tried to grab her hand again, but she dodged, turning his embarrassment into rage. He straightened his posture, his oily face now twisted into one of arrogant fury. ¡°Willow, you need to exin yourself today! I¡¯m giving you 100 thousand dors a month, providing 2/2 everything you need, yet you¡¯re dissatisfied? You were the one who approached me first, the one who signed the agreement saying you¡¯d be at my beck and call. ¡°Do you think you can simply dump me now that you¡¯ve be an influencer and gained poprity? If it weren¡¯t for me spending money to promote you, if I hadn¡¯t found resources for you, you¡¯d be nothing more than a bitch at my feet, begging for scraps!¡± Skyler looked utterly shocked. After regaining herposure, she gently clung to Zayn¡¯s arm and softly pleaded, ¡°Zayn, let¡¯s help Lolo, okay? Even if she did something shameful, she¡¯s still our Lolo. How will she live with herself if this scandal spreads? ¡°Zayn, please help Lolo get rid of this man. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯llpletely ruin her reputation!¡± Zayn didn¡¯t respond to Skyler. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Willow. His lips remained tightly sealed, but Willow could feel the pressure in his eyes¨Ca silent but unmistakable demand for her to beg for his help. Chapter 286 Chapte 286 Chapter 286 Willow sneered inwardly at the thought of begging Zayn¡® to bail her out of the situation. Hadn¡¯t she already humiliated herself enough in front of him? Enough was enough. She was done being treated like a fool. She calmly shifted her gaze away from Zayn, Ignoring the scornful whispers filling the room. Lifting her chin, she turned to Duncan and emphasized each word as she spoke, ¡°Sir, you¡¯re overthinking. I never intended to dump you.¡± Hope flickered in Duncan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Willow, does this mean you¡¯re consideringing back to me-¡± Before he could finish his words, Willow interrupted him sharply. ¡°Sir, we were never together in the first ce, so the question of who ended things shouldn¡¯t even exist!¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Willow, are you really set on burning bridges today? Let me remind you that you have been my pet from the moment you signed the agreement. How can you think a pet can leave its owner? Keep dreaming, Willow!¡± ¡°Mr. Whitman, is it?¡± Willow didn¡¯t wait for Duncan to reply. She simply gave him a faint smile. It was like all the colors in the world came together in that smile, but it carried an unmistakable chill. ¡°Mr. Whitman, here¡¯s a piece of advice. Take a good look in the mirror before you speak next time. Do you think I¡¯d be your sugar baby with your looks? Please, my taste in men isn¡¯t as twisted as that! ¡°I¡¯d go through anything for the man I love, money or not! But I wouldn¡¯t give someone I despise a second nce, not for 100 thousand, a million, or even ten million a month!¡± Willow¡¯s words stung, causing Duncan¡¯s expression to sour. But the person feeling the worst in the room wasn¡¯t Duncan¨Cit was Matthew. He believed he was the one Willow wouldn¡¯t even look at twice, even if he offered her ten million a month. Matthew was in a foul mood and seemed eager to cause trouble. He sneered, his ordinarily warm eyes now frosty and vacant. ¡°Willow, you signed the Sugar Baby Agreement. How can you be acting innocent now? Who would believe that? I don¡¯t care who¡¯s paying your bills, but you stole Wi¡¯s bracelet. You need to apologize to her!¡± His look toward Willow hardened/further. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯ll ensure you¡¯re left to rot in jail!¡± Willow quietly repeated hisst words to herself. It would be untrue to say she wasn¡¯t hurt by the mistrust from someone with whom she had once faced life and death with. Bitterness and irony slowly tainted her smile. ¡°Yeah. It seems that none of you are willing to trust me! But even if no one here believes me, I want to Chapter 256. make it crystal clear¨CI haven¡¯t stolen or robbed anyone, and my conscience.is clear. It doesn¡¯t matter if you doubt me. The world is vast, and I¡¯m sure someone will believe me.¡± Willow felt even more disheartened after saying those words. Despite being able to prove her innocence, the readiness of so many in the hall to brand her as guilty without knowing the truth deepened her sorrow over the coldness of human hearts. Just as she braced for more mockery and ridicule from the crowd, a deep, melodious voice cut through the air. ¡°I believe you!¡± Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Willow suddenly turned, her eyes widening in disbelief asn confidently approached the stage. She had never imagined that the person who would believe her unconditionally would be neither the man she had loved for years nor her trusted friend with whom she had experienced life¨Cand¨Cdeath situations, but rather a stranger. Ian rarely made public appearances, so Willow didn¡¯t even know his name. She felt his presence to be powerful and cold. Yet, she believed that there was a passionate heart beneath his icy exterior. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have managed to cut through doubts and offer her his trust. Perhaps it was because she had endured plenty of skepticism and betrayal, and now, faced with someone who showed such firm belief in her, Willow felt an overwhelming urge to cry. She was the kind of person who was touched more by kindness than by sternness, and even the slightest show of support could touch her profoundly. Fighting back the urge to cry, Willow managed a broad smile and said ton, ¡°Sir, thank you! Thank you for believing in me. I¡¯m truly grateful to meet you!¡± Willow extended her hand towardn, seeking nothing more than a polite handshake from the stranger who had deeply moved her. Standing besiden, Eric looked utterly shocked. Ian was known for his aversion to women. He couldn¡¯t bear having them in close proximity to him. While Willow was undeniably attractive, her gesture¨Creaching out to shaken¡¯s hand¨Cwas akin to provoking a tiger. It seemed like a sure way to invite disaster.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Eric was concerned thatn might react aggressively, possibly sending Willow flying with a kick. However, to his utter astonishment,n, who usually avoided women as if they were the gue, took Willow¡¯s hand. He wondered what on earth had gotten inton that day. ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± Eric asked, his eyes filled with concern as he watchedn. He recalled an incident involving ady from a prestigious family who had a crush onn. One night, the typically reserveddy suddenly hugged . He then forcefully pushed her away and almost retched in response. Eric worried thatn might experience nausea again. However,n didn¡¯t even spare a nce at him. He unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand, squeezing so hard that it caused her pain. Willow instinctively let out a soft cry. Her cry joltedn out of his trance. He quickly loosened his hold and looked at her with an unreadable expression. ¡°Willow Sanford, wee to your new role as the brand ambassador of Arena of Glory!¡± Willow was caught off guard. She never imagined that the imposing man standing before her was Chapter 287 connected to the gamingpany. It was a pleasant shock to learn that they had faith in her: She felt a surge of joy, knowing that Skyler and Wilhelmina couldn¡¯t steal this endorsement from her anymore. Yet, she couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of someone ring at her hand as if it could bore a hole right through it. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 1/2 Willow nced over and saw Zayn giving her an icy re, just as she had expected. His expression resembled that of a man betrayed and deeply humiliated by his wife. She subtly mouthed the words to him, ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Zayn was enraged. He seemed on the verge of exploding. ¡°What? Willow is still the brand ambassador of Arena of Glory?¡± J¡¯s disbelief was evident in her tone. She shouted furiously, ¡°What were you thinking? You¡¯ve selected an influencer who stole from Wi and has such questionable ethics as your brand ambassador. Aren¡¯t you worried about bing aughingstock online?¡± J¡¯s boldness beforen caused Eric¡¯s expression to cloud with displeasure. He was on the brink of confronting her when Duncan swiftly moved to Willow¡¯s side. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re not allowed to be the brand ambassador of Arena of Glory! Our agreement explicitly states that you must seek my approval for any job you take! What if you gain fame and then decide to terminate our agreement? ¡°I¡¯ve invested a lot of money in you, Willow. I won¡¯t allow you to breach our agreement. Come back with me immediately! I need you right now, and you must return and fulfill yourmitments to me!¡± After Duncan finished speaking, he reached for Willow¡¯s arm. But before his hand could make contact,n swiftly intervened, tossing him aside as if he weighed no more than a sandbag Duncan was always mindful of his image, especially around women. Humiliated by this public rebuke before the many attractive women in the hall, he quickly regained his footing and unleashed a string of curses atn. ¡°Who do you think you are, brat? Do you even know who I am? You¡¯d be terrified if you did!¡± Eager to show his loyalty to , Tim pped away Duncan¡¯s hand and countered, ¡°How dare you raise your voice to the scion of the Nightingale family? Are you looking for trouble?¡± The scion of the Nightingale family¡­ Only one person in the world held the titlen Nightingale, the sole. scion of Nightingale Corporation in Eldoria. J hurriedly reapplied her lip gloss. She switched to her most charming and gentle look before fluttering her eyshes atn without pause. Recalling her earlier rudeness/before the esteemed scion of the Nightingale family, she was filled with such regret that she nearly bit her tongue in half. She desperately hoped her current charm could undo the damage she had caused to her reputation. The other female celebrities in the hall had all heard ofn but had never met him in person. They discreetly touched up their makeup, hoping to leave a memorable impression. 2/2 ¡°Mr. Nightingale¡­¡± Duncan was visibly shaken. He copsed to the floor, trying to muster the words to make up for his earlier conduct. However,n paid him no attention. He reluctantly released Willow¡¯s hand before turning to Zayn, seated in the front row. ¡°Zayn, it¡¯s been a long time.¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, good to see you,¡± Zayn responded, though his focus remained on Willow. J put away herpact mirror after perfecting her makeup. She lifted her chin at a poised angle and addressedn with the most stunning stance and the softest voice she could muster. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, my earlierments were sincerely meant to protect your interests. ¡°Willow has been entangled in several scandals, and her reputation is far from ster. I¡¯m worried she might tarnish the image of Arena of Glory! It would be a shame for such an outstanding game to be ruined by someone who¡¯s both a sugar baby and a thief. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, would you please reconsider the choice of Arena of Glory¡¯s brand ambassador?¡± Spin to im Your Surpri Chapter 289 Chapter 289 After speaking. J shot a flirtatious nce atn, who finally met her gaze. Generally known for her strict and direct manner, J now gazed down bashfully like a teenage girl.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Nightingale,¡± she murmured. J looked atn, pleasantly surprised. Everything she had done that day was to gain favor with Wilhelmina and Skyler. She never expected such an opportunity to arise. Yet, she couldn¡¯t express her desire to be the brand ambassador for Arena of Glory outright. Instead, she responded shyly, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, you¡¯re making me blush.¡± J seemed oblivious to his feelings of disgust. She batted her eyshes at him, her expression brimming with flirtatious charm. ¡°If I could earn your favor, Mr. Nightingale, I assure you won¡¯t regret it.¡± The hall had thick carpets lining its floor. Everyone had gone barefoot earlier for the audition, leaving their shoes in the wardrobe. Thus, J remained barefoot even after the audition was over. J¡¯s excitement surged when she noticedn¡¯s gaze on her feet, and her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. She subtly shifted her feet, hoping to seducen with her bodynguage. She thought his unwavering gaze was a sign of him being captivated by her looks. Just as J considered feigning a stumble to create an intimate moment and capture his interest further,n¡¯s ruthless and mocking voice reached her. ¡°A brand ambassador of Arena of Glory should unt bare feet, not ones resembling smoked pig trotters!¡± Smoked pig trotters? J nced down at her feet, her face flushing with embarrassment. She wondered when her feet resembled, ¡°smoked pig trotters¡°. She admitted that they were slightly tanned, but she felt theparison seemed harsh. Yet, J didn¡¯t dare to speak her thoughts aloud. She endured the mockingughter of the other celebrities and returned to her seat awkwardly. ? Meanwhile, Wilhelmina mentally berated J for her foolishness. She realized she couldn¡¯t rely on J to bring Willow down anymore and would have to take matters into her own hands. Wilhelmina rose gracefully and addressedn, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, please don¡¯t get the wrong idea. Willow is a good person. I¡¯m sure she didn¡¯t take my emerald bracelet intentionally. I trust her, so please don¡¯t disqualify her as the brand ambassador! Chapter 289 ¡°As for the rumors about Willow being a sugar baby, I¡¯m sure she has her reasons. She truly is a good person at heart.¡± Unable to endure Wilhelmina¡¯s performance any longer, Willow looked at her and questioned, ¡± Wilhelmina, do you actually enjoy setting me up like this?¡± Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Chapter 290 ¡°Willow, why would you think I¡¯m trying to set you up? I¡¯m just worried that Mr. Nightingale might remove you as the brand ambassador. I really do care about you,¡± Wilhelmina said, her eyes filled with hurt. ¡°Even if you stole my bracelet, Willow, I wouldn¡¯t hold it against you. I just hope you don¡¯t misunderstand my intentions again. Willow, I really hope things look up for you. You¡¯ll always be my best friend.¡± ¡°Best friend¡­¡± Willow¡¯s voice lingered on the words. ¡°Wilhelmina, if being a ¡®best friend¡® means slipping a ridiculous Sugar Baby Agreement and your bracelet Into my bag to make me look like a sugar baby and a thief, then I definitely don¡¯t need a ¡®best friend¡® like you!¡± ¡°Willow, what are you talking about?¡± Tears trembled on Wilhelmina¡¯s eyshes, making her look even more distraught. ¡°How could you think so poorly of me? I don¡¯t even know what a Sugar Baby Agreement is, let alone slip it into your bag! ¡°And the bracelet is a gift from Matt¡¯s grandmother. It means the world to me. Why would I use it to set anyone up? Willow, I thought we were friends. You can¡¯t just use me without any proof!¡± ¡°Wilhelmina, are you finished with your act?¡± Willow¡¯s patience had worn thin. She checked the time on her phone. She needed to pick Aaron up from kindergarten soon, and time was running out. *Besides, if I were involved in something like a Sugar Baby Agreement, I wouldn¡¯t be silly enough to carry the agreement in my bag everywhere.¡± ¡°Willow- Refusing to give Wilhelmina any room to continue her charade, Willow cut her off. ¡°Wilhelmina, I knew having you and Skyler at the brand ambassador audition would spell trouble. You two never give me a moment¡¯s peace!Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why would I give you the chance to set me up when I knew you¡¯d never let up? If I hadn¡¯t been sure about I the surveince cameras in the wardrobe room, I wouldn¡¯t have left my bag there while I changed, just for you two to set me up! *Wilhelmina, there are no surveince cameras in the changing rooms, but plenty in the wardrobe room. Go check the footage if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s expression underwent a dramatic shift at Willow¡¯s words. She had always believed the wardrobe room was private. She never imagined it was being watched. All her carefullyid ns would fall apart if that footage leaked. Hers and Skyler¡¯s chance at bing Chapter 290. the brand ambassadors for Arena of Glory would be ruined if it got out. Yet, Wilhelmina was convinced that if they could somehow stop the footage from being leaked, Willow¡¯s innocence wouldn¡¯t matter to most people. With the items found in Willow¡¯s bag, everyone would still see her as a thief, and her reputation would be ruined. ¡°Enough, Willow!¡± Matthew exploded with anger. He couldn¡¯t shake off his difort from her earlierment about not caring for someone she despised, even if they paid her millions. Seeing her defiance now only made him angrier and almost pushed him to violence. ¡°Willow, no matter how hard you try to pretend, the fact that you¡¯re filthy remains unchanged!¡± Matthew snapped. Dressed sharply in a suit,n slowly approached Matthew. ¡°Mr. Mayer, I¡¯ve heard great things about you. Some have called you a young genius. But seeing you now, I must say you¡¯re quite ordinary!¡± The hall fell silent as the two imposing men seemed to engage in an unspoken confrontation. Chapter 291 Matthew snorted, his once gentle countenance now etched with severity. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, can someone who relied on financial support from others truly be Innocent? ¡°Listen, Mr. Nightingale, the most deceptive feature of a woman is her appearance. Don¡¯t let a seemingly pure and innocent face fool you. I don¡¯t believe Willow is Innocent. But if she proves me wrong, I¡¯ll let her have her way with me!¡°. ¡°Eric, pull up the footage!¡±n instructed. He had been anticipating those words from Matthew. His trust in her was like a puzzle that even his highly regarded intellect couldn¡¯t solve. Yet, he found pleasure in this enigma. Renowned for his efficiency, Eric swiftly retrieved the footage from the wardrobe room and uploaded it to the video yer connected to therge LCD screen in the hall. As the yer turned on, the scene from the wardrobe room was disyed on the screen. The footage showed Willow entering the changing room to switch outfits. She had hung her handbag on a rack just outside the changing room. Wilhelmina¡¯s handbag sat on a nearby table. Willow was thest person to step into the changing room. By then, almost everyone had left for the hall, leaving the wardrobe room deserted. Just as it seemed Willow might use this opportunity to steal the bracelet from Wilhelmina¡¯s bag, the door to the wardrobe room, which was ajar, suddenly swung open wide. J slipped in, looking extremely suspicious. J¡¯s expression shifted dramatically when she saw herself on the LCD screen. Forgetting to maintain her elegance, she shouted anxiously, ¡°Turn it off! Turn it off, now!¡± Yet, no one paid any attention.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. As the video continued, J grew more and more panicked. She stood up, ready to rush over and stop the yer. Yet, Eric politely and firmly stood in her way, stopping her from reaching the LCD screen. The rest of the people in the hall quickly understood the events, as J¡¯s actions only made them more suspicious. They focused even more on the screen to confirm their suspicions. After ensuring the wardrobe room was deserted, J tiptoed inside. She quickly retrieved the emerald bracelet from Wilhelmina¡¯s bag and ced it into Willow¡¯s bag. In the footage, everyone saw J slip the bracelet into Willow¡¯s bag and fold a stack of papers before tucking them in. She then carefully zipped up Willow¡¯s bag. Chapte Willow¡¯s bag was quiterge, so the added items didn¡¯t make it look unusual. When Willow emerged from the changing room, she was unaware of the extra contents In her bag. She casually took her bag and left the wardrobe room. The footage on the screen cut off, but J¡¯s anxious voice was still audible. ¡°It¡¯s not what it looks like! That¡¯s not what happened!¡± The video had just finished ying, but the female celebrities in the hall continued to stare at the now- dark screen with disbelief written all over their faces. After a brief, stunned silence, the hall erupted into furious grumbles. ¡°How could this happen? We¡¯ve all been so harsh on Willow, calling her shameless, but the real culprit was someone else!¡± ¡°This is unbelievable. She acted so righteous, yet she was secretly setting someone else up. Yuck, this is quite an eye¨Copener!¡± ¡°I think the person who should be banned isn¡¯t Willow, but J, that shameless schemer. She was sitting right next to me. How disgusting!¡± Chapter 292 Chapte: 292 Chapter 292 ¡°Exactly! Her behavior is disgusting! She depicted Willow as someone relying on some twisted sugar daddy for money and wrongly used her of theft. She¡¯s trying to ruin a person¡¯s life.¡± ¡°And she even presents herself as someone having integrity! It¡¯s all just a sham!¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s not what you think!¡± J eximed, shaking her head vehemently.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. She felt utterly powerless on her own as she had acted under Wilhelmina¡¯s orders. She could only turn to Wilhelmina for help. Fearing that J might expose her involvement, Wilhelmina shot her a warning nce and took action preemptively. ¡°J, you¡¯ve truly let me down! How could you do this to Willow? Do you realize that your actions could devastate Willow¡¯s life?¡± Wilhelmina pretended to be indignant as she added, ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far this time, J!¡± ¡°¡­¡± J began, eager to defend herself. However, she opted for silence upon noticing the caution in Wilhelmina¡¯s gaze. If J maintained Wilhelmina¡¯s secret, there might still be hope for J to fix the situation with Matthew¡¯s support for Wilhelmina. However, revealing Wilhelmina¡¯s involvement wouldn¡¯t help J from clearing her own name as she was already recorded framing Willow. Additionally, it would deeply offend Wilhelmina, ruining any chance of rectifying the situation. J was determined to turn things around. Thus, she was willing to shoulder the me for Wilhelmina temporarily. ¡°Willow, I¡¯m sorry. I was jealous of your beauty and saw you as my biggestpetitor. That¡¯s why I hoped you would fail your audition,¡± J apologized, her head bowed in sincere remorse. ¡°Please, Willow. I¡¯m begging for your forgiveness. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me, just this once?¡± Willow wasn¡¯t surprised when she noticed the footage didn¡¯t reveal Wilhelmina or Skyler cing those items in her bag. They were far too crafty to engage in such tricks themselves. Although a bit disheartened, Willow remained confident that she would eventually bring Wilhelmina and Skyler down and ensure they would never recover from their downfall. Skyler and the others would never leave Aaron in peace as long as he was alive. To ensure Aaron¡¯s future safety and peace, Willow needed to ensure they had no further opportunities to cause harm. Meanwhile, Duncan had intended to stir up trouble. Yet, after watching the LCD screen, he quickly ducked Chapte: 292 under a nearby table with his tail between his legs. He feared facingn¡¯s severe confrontation. However,n was too upied to confront Duncan. He was confident that Eric would deal with Duncan He tore his gaze away from the LCD screen, his brows knit together in a deep frown. ¡°Mr. Mayer, isn¡¯t it time you fulfilled your promise and apologized to Willow?¡± he demanded. Matthew¡¯s expression grew grim, but he wasn¡¯t one to avoid owning up to his actions. He arched an eyebrow, his gaze locked onto Willow. As he looked upon her naturally captivating features, memories of the excruciating pain he had felt a month ago upon hearing of Willow¡¯s supposed death came rushing back. He realized how foolish he had been at the sight of her standing before him at that moment. Willow couldn¡¯t care less about him. Matthew¡¯s lips parted slightly, and his tone turned unwittingly icy cold. ¡°Willow, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he stated, though his apology dripped with insincerity and a hint of disdain. Willow felt deeply grateful ton. Without his help, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to ess the surveince footage from the wardrobe room effortlessly, despite her knowledge of its existence. Moreover,n had always shown her respect even given his lofty status. His actions deeply moved her. Ignoring Matthew, Willow turned ton and said sincerely, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Nightingale!¡± ¡°Do you truly want to thank me?¡± had arranged a blind date for him the following night. After a pause, he continued, ¡°Let¡¯s n for the night after tomorrow to meet and sign the contract.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡°Willow agreed readily. Breathing a sigh of relief, Willow was d he hadn¡¯t suggested dinner for the next night because Moses had forced her into a blind date with his grandson. Even though Willow knew she had at least another year to live, she wasn¡¯t keen on starting any new rtionships. She was conscious that her fragile health could pose a burden on others if she entered into §à§á§Ö. However, as a doctor, Moses believed in encouraging his patients to embrace life fully. He never approached Willow with pity but rather enthusiasm, always eager to introduce her to potential partners and push her toward a new rtionship.This is from N?velDrama.Org. This time, he had gone as far as setting up a blind date for Willow with his own grandson. Although Willow had no interest in blind dates, she feltpelled to honor Moses¡® goodwill. She agreed to dinner with his grandson the following night, intending to express her thoughts politely yet firmly. Willow headed out of the hall once she finalized her ns withn. That day marked Aaron¡¯s first day at kindergarten, so she needed to pick him up earlier. Even after Willow left, Eric remained stunned, struggling to regain hisposure from the shook. He gently picked his ear while questioning his own hearing. He wondered if he had genuinely heartn, who typically detested women, boldly ask one to buy him dinner. ¡°Boss, isn¡¯t your time too valuable? Maybe Tim should handle the contract signing with Ms. Sanford,¡± Eric suggested. Chapter 293 had just spoken. Eric had made such a foolish mistake. ¡°Clear my schedule for the night after tomorrow. She¡¯s buying me dinner, and we¡¯ll sign the contract,¡±n ordered. Eric¡¯s jaw dropped open so wide that one could almost fit a ball in. He had indeed heardn correctly. The usually reserved and distantn was actually looking forward to having dinner with a woman. To him, women were the most intimidating beings on the. Eric wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a sense of relief. At least now he didn¡¯t have to worry aboutn possibly being interested in men or making advances toward him. While everyone in the hall was preupied with their own thoughts, no one noticed Zayn seated in the front row, silently crushing his cup in his hand. Skyler left the venue a bit earlier than Zayn to rush to her next gig. Meanwhile, J was thest celebrity to leave. As she exited the hall, she noticed Zayn standing outside. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Zayn asked, his tone indifferent. His expression was inscrutable as he looked at J. A wave of excitement washed over J. She had never imagined that someone as renowned as Zayn would take an interest in her, especially after the embarrassment she had faced earlier that day. After all, Zayn was celebrated not just for his breathtaking, once¨Cin¨Ca¨Clifetime looks but also for hailing from a family as distinguished asn¡¯s. Chapter 294 Chapter 294 1/2 J decided to winn¡¯s favor earlier because she knew Zayn was already deeply in love with Skyler She thought her chances of winning Zayn¡¯s affection were low. However, that day presented an unexpected opportunity. Despite his rtionship with Skyler, Zayn seemed quite taken with J¡¯s allure. With Zayn being such an impressive figure, J believed that even if she couldn¡¯t be his official girlfriend, settling to be his mistress could still afford her a life of luxury. Lowering her gaze, J said coyly, ¡°Mr. Carter, I¡¯m J Roscher, Please, just call me J.¡± ¡°J Roscher¡­¡± Zayn repeated her name, his expression unreadable. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember that.¡± ted, J decided to redirect the staged fall she had initially nned forn toward Zayn instead. She made herself appear fragile by twisting her waist subtly before letting herself topple toward Zayn. She had it all envisioned perfectly, convinced that any physical contact would ignite a night of passion. However, her n went awry. Instead of catching her, Zayn coldly stepped aside, and she crashed heavily onto the floor. Her face met the ground first.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. J was still reeling from the pain on her face when she heard Zayn¡¯s ruthlessmand. ¡°Get lost!¡± Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at him in disbelief. Zayn, who had seemed interested in her and even asked for her name, was now utterly indifferent to her. ¡°Mr. Carter¡­¡± Zayn ignored Jpletely, pulling out his phone and dialing Liam¡¯s number. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s up?¡± asked Liam. ¡°cklist someone for me.¡± Just as Zayn was about to continue, he remembered J¡¯s cutting remarks about Willow earlier in the hall. She had described Willow as an annoying fly, always buzzing around. Those harsh words had deeply unsettled Zayn. ¡°Boss, who do you want to cklist? Liam¡¯s voice quivered with anxiousness on the other end of the phone. ¡°J Roscher,¡± Zayn replied, casting a disdainful nce at J, who looked disheveled the floor. It was rare to hear Zayn, usually so reserved, speak so much. He added, ¡°cklist her! That way, she¡¯ll stop buzzing around like a fly, annoying everyone!¡± Chapter 294 J¡¯s cheeks, already red from her tumble, deepened to a rich crimson when she heard Zayn¡¯s words. Weren¡¯t those the same insults she had hurled at Willow? How could Zayn throw her words back at her, word for word? She wondered if Zayn was really taking Willow¡¯s side. Panicking about the possibility of being cklisted, J quickly scrambled to her feet and rushed to plead for leniency. But Zayn was already nowhere in sight when she looked down the hallway. Meanwhile, Willow was consumed with worry about Aaron¡¯s ability to adjust to kindergarten, given his delicate health and limp.. The traffic was horrendous, and the bus made frequent stops, adding to the dy. By the time Willow finally reached Aaron¡¯s kindergarten, it had already been out for a while. After getting off the bus, Willow was rummaging through her handbag for Aaron¡¯s youth pass when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her wrist. Before she could grasp the events, she was forcefully dragged into a nearby ck car. Almost instantly, a tall, muscr figure pinned her down with great force. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 295 Chapter 295 ¡°Let me go!¡± Willow eximed, looking up to find herself mere Inches from Zayn¡¯s furious, handsome face. The absurdity of the situation brought a sense of amusement to her. She had been forcefully pulled into the car and pinned down. Logically, she should have been the one seething with anger. Instead, Zayn looked inexplicably livid. ¡°Willow, do you find it amusing to toy with me?¡® Zayn snapped. ¡°Mr. Carter, I honestly have no clue what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Willow protested, pushing against him with all her might. But he remained unmoved, as solid as a statue. ¡°Willow, it wasn¡¯t you who died a month ago!¡± Anger flickered in Zayn¡¯s eyes like mes. ¡°Does pretending to be dead just to deceive me bring you joy? Do you enjoy making a fool of me?¡± ¡°Mr. Carter, you¡¯re beingpletely unreasonable!¡± Willow retorted, too frustrated to continue the conversation. She struggled against his hold, attempting to break free, but Zayn tightened his grip, pinning her wrists and immobilizing her. ¡°You faked your death, tormenting me with thoughts of you, all while you were flirting with Mr. Nightingale. How can you be so ¡®impressive, Willow?¡± Willow had never flirted withn, nor did she want to. But having to justify herself to Zayn felt draining. With a cold yet strikingly alluring smile, she stated, ¡°Mr. Carter, who do you think you are? Who I flirt with is none of your business! Let me go! I want nothing to do with you from this moment forward¨Cneither in life nor death!¡± Her words instantly transported Zayn back to a haunting memory from just a month ago when he had believed she perished in a fire. He was engulfed by excruciating heartache as he cradled the charred remains. That moment had shattered his already fragile hold on sanity. Zayn stared at Willow¡¯s trembling lips with bloodshot eyes. A whirlwind of emotions¨Clonging, pain, hatred, jealousy¨Cstormed through him. ¡°Mr. Carter, keep yourself in check!¡± Willow eximed. Her face turned ghostly white when she sensed Zayn spiraling into madness. They were outside the kindergarten¨Ca ce bustling with activity as people came and went. Aaron had been brought to the school gate by his teacher, waiting for his parents to pick him up. Willow worried about the humiliation she would face if anyone saw how Zayn treated her in the car. Fortunately, Zayn¡¯s car windows were heavily tinted. While they could see everything outside just fine, noProperty ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapte 245 one outside could observe them inside. Still, Willow couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that people stared at her as they passed. ¡°Mr. Carter, Aaron ising out! Get your hands off me!¡± Zayn froze at the mention of Aaron. Instinctively, he turned his gaze toward the kindergarten gate. He saw a group of children, escorted by their teachers, energetically filing out in a neat line. However, while the other children bounced with energy, Aaron was limping. Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Zayn¡¯s chest constricted, a sharp pain shooting through him as he watched Aaron hobble closer. Aaron¡¯s face was etched with deep scratches. Although Aaron remained alive, he was now crippled. Zayn was sure that Aaron¡¯s injuries stemmed from the fall off a cliff due to Zayn¡¯s decision to leave him for Skyler. The weight of guilt crushed Zayn, plunging his mind into turmoil. He was uncertain about how he could face Aaron or even Willow. Seizing the opportunity while Zayn was lost in thought, Willow forcefully pushed him away. She quickly straightened her clothes, flung open the car door, and hurried toward the kindergarten. The moment she exited the car, a sharp sting welled in her eyes, threatening to cascade into tears. She hadn¡¯t expected that reuniting with Zayn would almost result in another unwanted advance. She gazed up at the sky, struggling to hold back her tears. However, Willow had transformed. Before, she had been deeply in love with Zayn, which made it easy for him to manipte her feelings. But now, she had locked away those romantic fantasies deep within her heart, making herself invulnerable. It wasn¡¯t until she faced near death that she recognized her love for Zayn as her greatest vulnerability, leaving her weak in every facet of her life. Now, she severed her vulnerability by trying hard to extinguish her love for Zayn. However, being invulnerable wasn¡¯t a trait any woman truly desired. It was merely a fa?ade of strength built uponyers of scars from past wounds. Willow took a deep breath and put on her brightest smile as she opened her arms wide, ready to hug Aaron as he ran toward her. Yet, her smile froze when she saw the ring scratches on his face. ¡°What happened to your face, Aaron?¡± Willow asked, her voice tinged with worry as she reached for his hands. Aaron winced in pain, prompting Willow to nce down at his hands. His left hand bore a deep scratch, its severity causing her heart to ache at the mere sight of it. His right hand showed the unmistakable marks of a severe bite, with fresh blood oozing continuously from the wound. It was indeed a ghastly sight. Willow noticed faint bruises on Aaron¡¯s wrist and Immediately rolled up his sleeve. His arm was covered in purplish bruises. Someone had clearly pinched him ruthlessly. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she could no longer hold back her distress. ¡°Aaron, what happened? Tell me, who bullied you?¡± she demanded. Aaron had looked troubled even since he emerged from kindergarten. It had obviously been a rough day for him. Yet, he tried to smile brightly when he saw Willow even though scratches marred his face as he didn¡¯t want to worry her. Chapte 296 ¡°Mom, no one bullied me. I really like school,¡± Aaron said. ¡°No one bullied you?¡± Willow echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°Aaron, these don¡¯t look like the kind of injuries you get from just a fall!¡± ¡°Mom¨CAaron began, trying to downy the severity of the day¡¯s events, but he was interrupted by a sharp female voice slicing through the air.. ¡°Are you Aaron Sanford¡¯s mother? Your son bulChapter 296 Zayn¡¯s chest constricted, a sharp pain shooting through him as he watched Aaron hobble closer. Aaron¡¯s face was etched with deep scratches. Although Aaron remained alive, he was now crippled, Zayn was sure that Aaron¡¯s injuries stemmed from the fall off a cliff due to Zayn¡¯s decision to leave him for Skyler. The weight of guilt crushed Zayn, plunging his mind into turmoil. He was uncertain about how he couldThis is from N?velDrama.Org. face Aaron or even Willow. Seizing the opportunity while Zayn was lost in thought, Willow forcefully pushed him away. She quickly straightened her clothes, flung open the car door, and hurried toward the kindergarten. The moment she exited the car, a sharp sting welled in her eyes, threatening to cascade into tears. She hadn¡¯t expected that reuniting with Zayn would almost result in another unwanted advance. She gazed up at the sky, struggling to hold back her tears. However, Willow had transformed. Before, she had been deeply in love with Zayn, which made it easy for him to manipte her feelings. But now, she had locked away those romantic fantasies deep within her heart, making herself invulnerable. It wasn¡¯t until she faced near death that she recognized her love for Zayn as her greatest vulnerability, leaving her weak in every facet of her life. Now, she severed her vulnerability by trying hard to extinguish her love for Zayn. However, being invulnerable wasn¡¯t a trait any woman truly desired. It was merely a fa?ade of strength built uponyers of scars from past wounds. Willow took a deep breath and put on her brightest smile as she opened her arms wide, ready to hug Aaron as he ran toward her. Yet, her smile froze when she saw the ring scratches on his face. ¡°What happened to your face, Aaron?¡± Willow asked, her voice tinged with worry as she reached for his hands. Aaron winced in pain, prompting Willow to nce down at his hands. His left hand bore a deep scratch, its severity causing her heart to ache at the mere sight of it. His right hand showed the unmistakable marks of a severe bite, with fresh blood oozing continuously from the wound. It was indeed a ghastly sight. Willow noticed faint bruises on Aaron¡¯s wrist and immediately rolled up his sleeve. His arm was covered in purplish bruises. Someone had clearly pinched him ruthlessly. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she could no longer hold back her distress. ¡°Aaron, wh what happened? Tell me, who bullied you?¡± she demanded. Aaron had looked troubled even since he emerged from kindergarten. It had obviously been a rough day for him. Yet, he tried to smile brightly when he saw Willow even though scratches marred his face as he didn¡¯t want to worry her. 7/2 ¡°Mom, no one bullied me. I really like school,¡± Aaron said. ¡°No one bullied you?¡± Willow echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°Aaron, these don¡¯t look like the kind of injuries you get from just a fall!¡± ¡°Mom-¡± Aaron began, trying to downy the sharp female voice slicing through the air. y of the day¡¯s events, but he was interrupted by a ¡°Are you Aaron Sanford¡¯s mother? Your son bullied my son terribly! Just look at the state my son is in! You must make that cripple apologize to my son!¡± Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Willow questioned if she had indeed heard that woman call her son a ¡°cripple¡°. Ever since Aaron had injured his leg, thest thing Willow wanted to hear was someone using that derogatory term to describe him. She whipped her head around and fixed a cold stare on the young woman standing before her, d in designer attire and adorned with sparkling jewels. The woman was Mandy Fisher. Mandy¡¯s appearance was passable, but her thin lips and prominent cheekbones lent her a sharp, unfriendly demeanor. She clearly wasn¡¯t someone who made friends easily.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Next to her was a young boy, about four years old, named Han Selwood. His face bore a faint scratch and was streaked with dried tears. Pointing at Aaron, he sobbed, ¡°Mom, it was him! The cripple! He hit me! See this scratch? He did it! Mom, it really hurt. You must do something about him!¡± ¡°Oh, my darling, don¡¯t cry! It breaks my heart to see you upset!¡± Mandy eximed, gently cupping Han¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, darling. I¡¯ll make sure the cripple learns his lesson! Let¡¯s see if he ever thinks about bullying you again!¡± ¡°You damn cripple, how dare you fight me! My mom is the best. You¡¯re going to regret this!¡± Han wiped his nose and taunted Aaron with a bold arrogance. Willow knew Han was undoubtedly the one who caused Aaron¡¯s injuries. The irony was palpable¨Cthe minor scratch on Han¡¯s face was almost imperceptible, whereas Aaron had been seriously hurt. It was evident that Han owed Aaron an apology, not the other way around. ¡°Did you hear me? Apologize to my son right now!¡± Mandy demanded, pulling Han forward and looking down at Willow with a haughty air. ¡°I won¡¯t ask again. Apologize!¡± ¡°Apologize?¡± Willow tightened her grip on Aaron¡¯s hand. ¡°Are you joking? If anyone should be apologizing, it¡¯s your son to Aaron!¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Mandy¡¯s face contorted with fury upon hearing Willow¡¯s words. She pointed at Han¡¯s face. ¡°Look at my son¡¯s face¨Call scratched up by this cripple! How dare you demand him to apologize to this cripple?¡± ¡°Aaron is not what you called him! His leg will heal!¡± Willow retorted firmly, her expression resolute. ¡°Both you and your son owe Aaron an apology!¡± ¡°Mom, I won¡¯t apologize to this cripple!¡± Han shouted back, pointing at Aaron. ¡°You damn cripple, you walk so weird, and your mom is shameless. No wonder your dad left you! A cripple like you who struggles to walk will never have a dad, even in your next life!¡± Willow froze. She was shocked by the cruelty of such wordsing from a young child. Before Aaron had started school, there had been a parent¨Cteacher meeting at his kindergarten. During this meeting, the teacher had asked the parents toplete a card with their basic information. Aaron¡¯s card had been left empty on the subject of his father. Typically, children that young wouldn¡¯t notice such details unless pointed out by their parents. It was clear that a child raised by such unreasonable and mean¨Cspirited parents would struggle with respect for others. Han continued to pull mocking faces at Aaron. ¡°You¡¯re shameless, you damn cripple! You have a shameless mom but no dad to love you! Shame, on you! You waddle like a penguin, you cripple-¡± Aaron usually shrugged off personal insults, but he couldn¡¯t tolerate disrespect toward his beloved mother, Willow. He lifted his head, his eyes zing with anger at Harlen. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about my mom like that! She¡¯s the best mom in the world! Apologize to her now!¡± Chapter 298 Chapter 298 ¡°Mom, he¡¯s bullying me again!¡± Han cried as he threw himself into Mandy¡¯s arms, bursting into tears. Mandy instantly seethed with anger as she saw Han reduced to tears again. Holding Han close, she red menacingly at Willow and Aaron, ¡°Listen, you two. Don¡¯t test my patience! Do you know who my husband is? Cross me, and I¡¯ll make sure you regret it here in Havenpoint!¡± Willow was reluctant to escte the situation, but Mandy¡¯s aggressive behavior was overbearing. Backing down andpromising would definitely affect Aaron¡¯s view of her profoundly. She needed to stand firm, showing Aaron she was a mother who wouldn¡¯t be intimidated. Willow was about to argue with Mandy when Mandy shouted happily, ¡°Honey! Honey,e here quickly! A cripple and a shameless woman are picking on our precious darling! You have to stand up for us today, Honey!¡± Willow looked in the direction Mandy was looking and saw Tim, the game director of Arena of Glory, approaching. Tim was surprised to learn that Willow was the person Mandy wanted him to confront. Looking at Willow¡¯s naturally captivating face, he was reminded of Skyler. He remembered bitterly that Willow¡¯s appointment as the brand ambassador had cost him a romantic night with Skyler. Seeing Tim staring at Willow in a daze instead of teaching her a lesson, Mandy was convinced Willow¡¯s beauty entranced him. She flew into a rage. She pped Tim sharply, then turned her fury on Willow, yelling, ¡°You brazen hussy! How dare you try to seduce my husband right in front of me? Screw you! No wonder your husband left you and your cripple son! You make me sick!¡± Tim regained his senses. Even though Tim still felt attracted to Skyler, he knew he needed to show his loyalty to Mandy at that moment. ¡°Sweetheart, you¡¯re the only one for me! A woman like her is nothing but trouble! Even if she threw herself at me, I wouldn¡¯t touch her!¡± he dered. He straightened and cleared his throat before continuing, ¡°Ms. Sanford, I believe in fairness. Your son bullied my son, so I think an apology is necessary. How about we settle this simply? ¡°Where exactly did your son hit mine? I suggest we allow my son to hit your son in the same spot, and then we can move past this incident.¡± Willow snorted, a mix of anger and amusement bubbling up at his words. ¡°Mr. Selwood, following your own reasoning, shouldn¡¯t your son faceparable consequence. considering the severity of the injuries to Aaron?¡± Tim was surprised by Willow¡¯s audacity in talking back to him, especially considering she was just an influencer. His gaze darkened, and his tone became icy. Chopte: 298 ¡°Ms. Sanford, I¡¯m telling you this for your own sake, so don¡¯t mistake my kindness for weakness. You should realize who you¡¯re dealing with! Cross me, and forget about being the brand ambassador for Arena of Glory. You¡¯ll also find yourself banned from Havenpoint entirely!¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. Zayn stood by his car when Tim¡¯s haughty remarks reached his ears. His eyes, as frigid as a winter pond, narrowed dangerously. He was about to confront Tim and ensure he learned a valuable lesson when a sleek ck Rolls¨CRoyce glided to a stop in front of Willow. Ian immediately emerged from the car and stood before Tim, poised and gracefully. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Zayn¡¯s eyes suddenly darkened like a cloud skimming across a pond. With a mocking chuckle, he lit a cigarette and began to smoke. Tim was surprised to seen. Ian¡¯s arrogant expression had yet to fade. It remained frozen in a way that made him look utterly ridiculous. ¡°Mr. N¨CNightin-¡± ¡°What are you mumbling about?¡± Mandy expected Tim to scold Willow sharply, but his sudden meekness infuriated her. She jabbed a finger toward Willow and yelled, ¡°You brazen hussy, and you fatherless cripple! How dare you cross my precious son? This is yourst chance. Kneel and apologize to my son, or you¡¯ll deeply regret it!¡± As more parents arrived to pick up their children, many of them, driven by a sense of justice, found the arrogance disyed by Mandy and Tim hard to tolerate. Even though they were indignant, actually confronting Mandy and Tim seemed daunting. The duo¡¯s attire. signaled their wealth, dissuading anyone from risking offense. ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re telling to kneel?¡± Mandy looked up atn. She was quick to notice his air of high status. Confident that neither Willow nor Aaron could know someone of his stature, she felt emboldened. Her voice rose dramatically as she yelled, ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m telling the hussy who temps men and the cripple to kneel! So what if she¡¯s attractive? She can¡¯t even maintain her own marriage after having a dumb child who waddles like a penguin!¡± ¡°Yeah, you dumb, fatherless cripple!¡± With Mandy backing him up, Han puffed himself up, taunting Aaron with a stick¨Cout tongue. ¡°You¡¯re a burden, you poor thing! Your mother is disgraceful, and you deserve to be left all alone! It¡¯s pitiful how you¡¯re unloved and fatherless. You really should be ashamed of yourself, you cripple-¡± ¡°Who are you calling fatherless ?n cut in sharply, hismanding tone silencing Han and making the boy cower back into Mandy¡¯s arms in fear. honed his ability to regain . As Tim thought about the possibility of tarnishingn¡¯s impression of Willow, thereby shifting the Arena of Glory¡¯s ambassador role to Skyler and reaping the benefits thetter had promised him, he felt a surge of Chapter 299This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. excitement. He took a deep breath and bravely metn¡¯s gaze. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, Han is speaking about Willow¡¯s son! You may not be aware but Willow¡¯s personal life. is quite chaotic. ¡°We can¡¯t even be sure who the father of her child is. Our brand, Arena of Glory, can¡¯t afford to associate with someone so mired in scandal as a brand ambassador! ¡°And this cripple boy¡­ clearly, he¡¯s not been raised right! He wouldn¡¯t have behaved so poorly toward Han if he had any manners. It¡¯s no wonder his own father abandoned him.¡± Tim¡¯s words cut deep, and though Willow knew Aaron¡¯s biological father had left them, it didn¡¯t change her view of her son. She still considered Aaron the most precious child in the world. ¡°Darling, go on. Hit him back! This fatherless cripple dared to strike you. Give it back to him twice as hard! * barked, standing with her hands on her hips, her demeanor as fierce as ever. Mand Willow positioned herself in front of Aaron, preparing to defend him once again interrupted the escting argument. further, butn¡¯s clear and crisp voice Chapter 300 Chapter 300This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°He has a father,¡±n dered. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I¡¯m well aware that the cripple boy didn¡¯t simply appear out of nowhere,¡± said Tim. ¡°But given how he behaves, even if he does have a father, I doubt the father is anything to be proud of=¡± ¡°I am his father!¡±n interjected sharply. Tim¡¯s words stuck in his throat. His eyes widened in shock. As the gravity of his statement sank in, a look of terror shed across his face. He had just insulted Aaron¡¯s father, andn had just revealed he was Aaron¡¯s father. Tim¡¯s legs buckled under him. He weakly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice uncontrobly. trembling ¡°M¨CMr. Nightingale, w¨Cwhat did you just say? D¨CDid you say you¡¯re the cripple boy¡¯s father? A¨CAre y joking?¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡±n responded with a stern question. Hearing this, Tim copsed to the ground with a heavy thud.. you Initially, Mandy had thought Tim was being overly cowardly, but as she heard him repeatedly addressn as ¡°Mr. Nightingale¡°, she suddenly realized his true identity. The name ¡°Mr. Nightingale¡± was widely known yet shrouded in mystery since no media had ever published his photo. People knew his name but not his face. Reflecting on how she had yelled at Aaron and even forced him to kneel, Mandy felt her legs gave way a little. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, you¡­¡± Willow¡¯s voice faltered as she looked weakly atn. She hadn¡¯t expected him to go to such lengths for her. She was wary of bing too indebted to him. However, after his deration, he realized he wasn¡¯t entirely averse to the idea of bing a father figure, especially for Willow¡¯s sake. His usually aloof and indifferent demeanor had softened ever since he met her. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I was wrong! I didn¡¯t recognize your son!¡± Tim apologized fearfully. ¡°I had no intention of disrespecting you or your son! ¡°Your son, even if he¡¯s a cripple, he¡¯s still quite something¨Cno, scratch that, he¡¯s absolutely remarkable He takes after his father!¡± Chapter 300 22 ¡°Dad, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Han asked, his arrogance evident as he eyed Tim with confusion. ¡°Why are you praising that cripple boy? What¡¯s so great about him? He¡¯s just a dumb cripple!¡± Terrified, Tim lunged to muffle Han¡¯s mouth, his smile now strained and twitching. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, please disregard Han¡¯s ramblings! Your son is truly exceptional. My son is sometimes just a bit ignorant, but don¡¯t mind him!¡± With a chilling re, hemanded, ¡°Apologize to Willow!¡± Chapter 301 Chapter 301 I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Sanford, Mr. Aaron. Please forgive us just this once.¡± Tim trembled as he pped his own face repeatedly as he begged Willow for forgiveness. Mandy looked equally distressed. ¡°Ms. Sanford, Mr. Aaron, I was just joking earlier. We didn¡¯t mean any harm. Please don¡¯t hold it against us.¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Dad, Mom, why are you apologizing to this woman and that stupid cripple? You said you¡¯d make them beg on their knees. You-¡± Tim raised his hand as if to p Han but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. He could only continue covering Han¡¯s mouth. ¡°Ms. Sanford, Mr. Aaron, please don¡¯t mind Han. He¡¯s just talking nonsense ¡°He didn¡¯t mean it! How dare he bully Mr. Aaron? I promise I¡¯ll discipline him severely when we get back,¡± Time said solemnly. Willow disliked using her status to intimidate others, but Tim and his family had gone too far. She needed to speak up. Her gaze shifted over the family, finally resting on Han. ¡°Han, Aaron¡¯s leg is indeed injured, but he is not less than other children. He¡¯s smart, optimistic, and kind. ¡°He¡¯s the best child in the world. So, you can¡¯t mock him or bully him because of his physical condition.¡± Han looked at Willow, confused. ¡°But he walks funny.¡± ¡°If peopleughed at you for the way you walk, would it make you sad?¡± Han thought for a while, then said, ¡°I guess so.¡± Willow continued, ¡°When youughed at Aaron, it made him sad, too, so you should apologize to him.¡± Han looked reluctant, but after some thought, he realized his mistake. Pouting, he walked up to Aaron. and awkwardly said, ¡°Aaron, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to bully you. Can we be friends? I won¡¯tugh at your leg anymore. He added, ¡°Your mom is a good mom, too. I shouldn¡¯t have said bad things about her. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Aaron was not a petty child. He graciously took Han¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°I ept your apology, Han.¡± Seeing Aaron¡¯s scratches and bites broke Willow¡¯s heart, but Han was only four years old. She couldn¡¯t let Aaron retate. The best oue was for the children to reconcile and get along. No child was born inherently bad. Han wasn¡¯t evil by nature. His parents were just too arrogant, and their influence made him develop a spoiled attitude. If Tim and Mandy continued to spoil him, he would worsen. However, if they taught him properly, he could still be a good child. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home, Willow, offered. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mr. Nightingale. I¡¯ve already troubled you¡­¡± After ncing at Aaron standing beside Willow,n decisively picked him up and ced him in the back seat of his car. Willow was rendered speechless. Well, she couldn¡¯t leave Aaron alone in a stranger¡¯s car, so she opened the car door and sat next to Aaron. She assumedn would sit in the passenger seat, but to her surprise, he opened the back door and sat next to her. Willow suddenly felt the air around her grow thin. Tim clung desperately to the car door. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I¡¯m really sorry. I was stupid and blind. Please forgive me just this once.¡± ¡°Say goodbye to your bonus this year.¡± Chapter 302 Chapter 302 If it were any other day,n would have tossed the person who made him angry into the ocean without a second thought. But he was in a good mood. He also didn¡¯t want to make an enemy out of Willow, so he decided to show some mercy. ¡°What?¡± Tim looked atn incredulously. When he finally processed whatn said, he was so happy that he almost jumped for joy. Just losing his bonus meant he wouldn¡¯t be fired or severely punished. What a relief! Tim profusely expressed his gratitude to Willow andn before walking back to Mandy and gently pulling her into his arms. After gaining some wealth, he had indeed be arrogant. He indulged in a life of pleasure and forgot to spend time with his loved ones. He even neglected Han¡¯s education. Though the allure of the outside world was strong, he realized that family was what truly mattered. Han needed a proper upbringing. Otherwise, his arrogance could offend someone powerful and cause a disaster. Held tenderly by Tim, Mandy couldn¡¯t help but tear up. She hadn¡¯t always been a harsh person. Tim¡¯s coldness, Han¡¯s mischief, and the burden of various stresses had made her adopt a domineering facade. Gradually, she lost touch with the kind and simple person she once was. Today, she felt grateful to Willow for the lesson. People often get lost at the top. Sometimes, a fall into the mud would help them see clearly. Meanwhile, Zayn stood by his car, holding a cigarette. His eyes were fixed onn as he imed to be Aaron¡¯s father and walked away with Willow and Aaron. The burning cigarette eventually scorched his fingers, jolting him back to reality. Like a crazed stalker, he got into his car and followedn¡¯s Rolls¨CRoyce all the way to Willow¡¯s neighborhood. Aftern went upstairs with Willow, Zayn waited like a fool for an hour, then two.n still had note down.This is from N?velDrama.Org. The thought of what could happen between a man and a woman at that time drove him nearly insane. A month ago, Willow had Aaron call/Kenan ¡°dad¡°. Now, she was lettingn take on the role of a father, How many fathers did she want Aaron to have before she was satisfied? Zayn punched the wall in frustration. Blood seeped from his knuckles, but he didn¡¯t feel the pain. Unable to contain his rage, he called Theodore. ¡°Theo, I don¡¯t care how you do it, but getn over to your ce now.¡± He hung up right away after saying, that. Theodore was speechless, He realized how tough being an older brother was. He was always at Zayn¡¯s beck and call. Chapter 302 2/2 Aftern left the neighborhood, Zayn stubbed out his cigarette and headed inside. Liam had already found Willow¡¯s apartment number, making it easy for Zayn to locate her. Whenn left earlier, he forgot his coat at Willow¡¯s apartment. When she heard the doorbell, she assumed it was him returning to retrieve it. So she opened the door without checking through the peephole. To her surprise, Zayn stood there. As soon as Willow opened the door, Zayn saw the table full of dishes in the living room. Thinking of how she used to stay away from chores when they were together, he was enraged to see her now cooking soup to please another man. His eyes burned with rage. Chapter 303 Chapter 303 ¡°Willow, who gave you the right to cook forn? You can sacrifice your dignity just to please a man?¡± ¡°Mr. Carter, who I cook for and how I choose to please them is none of your concern.¡± Willow didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with Zayn. She tried to close the door, but Zayn¡¯s strength was greater. He pushed his way in and mmed her against the door. ¡°Willow, I won¡¯t allow you to cook forn!¡± He wouldn¡¯t allow her to let Aaron casually call someone else his father, either. ¡°You¡¯re overstepping, Mr. Carter. I don¡¯t need your permission for anything I do.¡± In truth, Willow hadn¡¯t specifically cooked forn. Aaron had taken a liking to him, and when they arrived downstairs, Aaron warmly invited him to dinner. Before Willow could stop him,n had already agreed. Since he had already epted, she couldn¡¯t possibly say, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Nightingale, I don¡¯t wee you to join us for dinner.¡± Besides, she was going to cook for Aaron anyway, so what harm was there in having one more person join them? Moreover,n really only entered her apartment just for dinner. Throughout the whole time, he didn¡¯t say a word to her. He was so reserved that it was hard for her to even thank him. However, Willow wouldn¡¯t bother exining any of this to Zayn. He was no longer a part of her life, and trying to reason with him would be a waste of breath. ¡°Willow, did you learn to cook to seduce men? Hah! You even let your son calln ¡®dad¡®. How many men do you want that bastard to call dad before you¡¯re satisfied?¡± Bastard. Willow hadn¡¯t heard that word in a long time. Hearing it again after so long made her feel angry but also amused. The one who kept calling Aaron a bastard wasn¡¯t anyone else but his biological father. However, Zayn had long since proven himself unworthy of being Aaron¡¯s father. The moment he abandoned Aaron for Skyler, Aaron no longer had a father. ¡°First, it was Louis, then Kenan. And now,n!¡± Meeting Zayn¡¯s fiery gaze, Willow suddenly smiled. Her smile was enchanting and captivating. ¡°Mr. Carter, Aaron is not a bastard, He is the most precious treasure of my life. Whoever his father may be is none of your concern. But no matter who his father is, it will never be you, Zayn!¡± ¡°Willow Sanford!¡± Zayn gripped Willow¡¯s throat tightly. He didn¡¯t know what hade over him. Before, when she stubbornly imed Aaron was his son, he was angry. Now, when she was eager to disassociate Aaron from him, he was even more furious. Willow continued to smile radiantly. ¡°You¡¯re still the same after all this time. Besides choking me, your only other move is reminding me of my name. How dull!¡± Chapter 303. ¡°Dull?¡± The crimson hue in Zayn¡¯s eyes intensified as he smirked coldly. ¡°Are you saying that I bore you butn intrigues you? You cooked to please him and threw yourself at him. Willow, how can you be so cheap?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m cheap.¡± Willow¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter for a moment. But no matter how brilliantly she smiled in front of Zayn, there was no hint of sincerity, only a chilly indifference.This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You still pester me even though you know I¡¯m cheap. How noble of you, Mr. Carter!¡± ¡®Willow Sanford!¡± Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Just as Zayn was about to explode, Willow spoke in a casual tone. ¡°Mr. Carter, you said it before. You wished for me to rest in peace.¡± Herv voice was exceptionally calm, as if she were stating the most ordinary thing. But even in its calmness, Zayn couldn¡¯t shake off a sense of unease. He couldn¡¯t help but recall how desperate he had felt when he thought she perished in that fire. He feared losing her, yet his heart was too heavy with resentment to truly love her. ¡°Mr. Carter, are you upset because you couldn¡¯t kill me personally? Is that why you¡¯re pestering me and making trouble for me?¡± Zayn stared at Willow with inscrutable eyes. He wanted to say he didn¡¯t mean that and that he never truly wanted her dead. But as the words were on the tip of his tongue, they twisted into something else. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m upset! Willow, I truly wish it had been you who died in that fire!¡± ¡°Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Carter,¡± Willow gently pried Zayn¡¯s hand away from her neck. ¡°But your wish wille true sooner orter.¡± Zayn¡¯s pupils constricted. What did she mean by that? Did she want to fake her death again? At that moment, all Zayn could think of was Willow feigning her death. But muchter, he would realize that Willow¡¯s demise was real and irreversible. ¡°But for now, while there¡¯s still breath in me, I¡¯ll live well. I¡¯ll love who I love, chase my dreams, and make the most of this precious time. But, Mr. Carter, my life has nothing to do with you anymore Nothing to do with him¡­ Zayn took a step forward and roughly grabbed her shoulder as if he were a trapped animal making a final struggle. *You said you loved me, Willow!¡± Willow didn¡¯t expect Zayn to say this. She paused for a moment, then let out a faint, rueful smile. ¡°Mr. Carter, that was during my previous life.¡± Her voice carried destion mixed with a hint of resignation. The fire had consumed all her feelings for him. Having survived, she sought a fresh start, a and Zayn had no ce in this n for a new life.This is from N?velDrama.Org. However, Zaynpletely misunderstood Willow¡¯s meaning. He smirked coldly. ¡°You finally admitted it, Willow. You never truly loved me ¡°That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t hesitate to kill our child to marry Louis and even hired a hitman to silence me, fearing I¡¯d expose your past. Yes, I nearly forgot how evil you are. ¡°But Willow, even if you¡¯re evil, my 100 million dors at Rumpus Club can¡¯t go to waste. Strip, Willow!¡± When he saw Willow stubbornly biting her lip and showing no intention ofplying, his smile turned crueler. Chapter 304 22 ¡°Don¡¯t want to? Oh, I almost forgot. You¡¯re too good for a regr arrangement. Fine, Willow, I¡¯ll fulfill your wish.¡± Spin to im Your Surprise Reward? Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Zayn had always been despicable toward Willow. No matter how innocent she was, she was unforgivable in his eyes. ¡°Let go of me, Zayn!¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. Willow mustered all her strength. She was about to push him away when Aaron¡¯s angry voice pierced through the air. ¡°Bad guy, I won¡¯t let you bully my mom!¡± Aaron¡¯s sudden appearance caught Willow off guard. Her heart was filled with boundless distress. Thankfully, she was wearing plenty of clothes, so even if her cor was torn, there wouldn¡¯t be any exposure. Clearly, Zayn hadn¡¯t expected Aaron to show up either. His expression was slightly stunned. Willow took advantage of the moment and pushed him away before quickly running to Aaron¡¯s side. ¡°Mom, are you okay? Did the bad guy hurt you?¡± Despite his intelligence, Aaron was still just a three¨Cand¨Ca¨Chalf¨Cyear¨Cold child. He had yet to understand theplex affairs between men and women. He only felt that Zayn must have caused Willow a lot of pain. ¡°Aaron, I¡¯m fine.¡± Willowfortingly rubbed Aaron¡¯s head. ¡°I can protect myself. I¡¯m not that easy to bully. With that said, Willow lifted her head and addressed Zayn firmly. ¡°Mr. Carter, I¡¯ll repay the money I owe you, but we¡¯re done.¡± Remembering something, Willow dug out a stack of cash from her bag and threw it forcefully at Zayn. Mr. Carter, I¡¯ll pay ten thousand dors here. From now on, make sure you note down every cent i repay you. I don¡¯t want you to swindle me.¡± ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn grabbed the wad of bills tightly as his eyes burned holes into Willow¡¯s. He looked like he wanted to devour her whole. Despite herck of strength, for some reason, when Willow threw the money at his chest, it hurt him badly. Since he was in pain, he wanted Willow to suffer, too. ¡°Hah! Ten thousand dors?¡± Zayn sneered, holding up the stack of bills contemptuously. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you think you can offset the 100 million dors I¡¯ve spent on you with just this.¡± ¡°Mr. Carter, you must be hard of hearing. I never said I¡¯m using ten thousand dors to offset 100 million dors. I simply said I¡¯ll pay you back slowly.¡± Willow actually had several hundred thousand dors more, but she couldn¡¯t donate her body now. She had to pay off the debt to the research institution first. Right now, she couldn¡¯t produce too much money. for Zayn at once. But this year, she nned to work hard to earn money. Even if she couldn¡¯t earn 100 million dors, she would try to repay Zayn as much as possible. 2/12 Even if she died, she didn¡¯t want to leave a mountain of debt behind that would burden Aaron. Upon seeing the terrifying glint in Zayn¡¯s eyes, Aaron was afraid he would bully Willow again, so he quickly. shielded her. ¡°Bad guy, if you have any guts,e at me! What kind of man are you to bully a woman?¡± Undisguised hatred danced In Aaron¡¯s bright eyes. ¡°Get out, bad guy! Neither my mom nor I want you here! With that, Aaron let go of Willow and limped over to the door, wanting Zayn to leave. Zayn clenched his fists. He really wanted to crush this ungrateful bastard, but seeing him hobble away, he felt guilty. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to hurt him. He found it all incrediblyughable. A bastard like Aaron deserved to die. He was just crippled anyway. Zayn felt that there was nothing he should feel guilty about. Chapter 306 Chapter 306 Zayn smirked disdainfully. His handsome face was now filled with maliciousness. ¡°Willow, you have a month to pay off the money. Otherwise, I make sure the whole world knows just how filthy you are.¡± He turned away ruthlessly. Then, as if remembering something, he slowly turned back. He looked down the limping Aaron like he was looking at a despicable worm. ¡°And this cripple¡­ Willow, you better control him. If he annoys me, I won¡¯t hesitate to make him die again.¡± With those words, Zayn left without a trace of remorse and mmed the door of Willow¡¯s apartment shut. Willow¡¯s face turned extremely ugly. Hearing others call Aaron a cripple didn¡¯t bother her as much. But Zayn was Aaron¡¯s biological father. How could he call their son a cripple? A sharp pain engulfed her heart, causing her stomach, which hadn¡¯t hurt in days, to convulse uncontrobly. Seeing Aaron¡¯s pale face, Willow forgot about her own pain and pulled him into a tight embrace. ¡°Aaron¡­¡± ¡°Mom¡­ Aaron¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°I know I¡¯m a cripple, but it still hurts so much when he says it.¡± ¡°Aaron¡­¡± Willow wanted tofort him, but at that moment, she couldn¡¯t find the right words to ease his pain. Being called a cripple by his biological father was a pain she couldn¡¯t imagine. What could she do to ease his suffering? ¡°Mom, is he really my dad?¡± After a long time, Aaron¡¯s voice, tinged with obvious trembling, echoed in the air. ¡°No, he¡¯s not my dad. I don¡¯t have a dad. My dad died a long time ago. He died in my heart when I fell off the cliff.¡± ¡°Aaron.¡± Willow couldn¡¯t contain the pain in her heart any longer. She used all her strength to hug AaronC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. tightly. ¡°Aaron, we don¡¯t need him. We don¡¯t need him at all. I¡¯ll take good care of you. We¡¯ll only be better.¡± ¡°Yeah, I just need you.¡± Aaron¡¯s face lit up with a bright smile. ¡°Actually, God is fair. Although I don¡¯t have a dad, I have the best mom in the world. I¡¯m so d.¡± Willow¡¯s tears fell even more fiercely at those words. However, she didn¡¯t want Aaron to see her weakness, so she quickly turned her face away. Aaron loved her. He thought she was the best mother in the world. But she knew she wasn¡¯t good. She couldn¡¯t even apany him as he grew up. She wasn¡¯t a good mother. Aaron was an optimistic child. He didn¡¯t want to be tainted by any pessimistic emotions, so he tried to make himself smile brightly. Chapter 306 22 ¡°Mom, you promised me earlier that you¡¯d take me to buy toys after dinner. Can we go now?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Willow quickly changed into a different outfit. Smiling brightly, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Aaron.¡± Willow wanted to buy Aaron some clothes as well, so she took him directly to a mall in the city center. As she held Aaron¡¯s hand, they entered a children¡¯s clothing store. She saw a cute on. But when she turned around, she little suit and was about to pick it up for him to realized that Aaron, who had been standing quietly beside her, was nowhere to be seen. Chapter 307 Chapter 307 ¡°Aaron!¡± No one answered Willow. Her face turned pale as she frantically searched the children¡¯s clothing store. However, she still couldn¡¯t find Aaron anywhere. Aaron had always been a sensible child. Whenever she took him out shopping, he would always obediently follow her and stay close while she picked out items. She never expected that this time, just a few seconds of releasing his hand while reaching for clothes would lead to him suddenly disappearing. Aaron had a phone with him. After a brief panic, Willow quickly dialed Aaron¡¯s number. Luckily, Aaron answered the phone quickly. ¡°Aaron, where are you?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m at¡­¡± Aaron nced around before continuing softly, ¡°I think it¡¯s the underground parking lot.¡± ¡°Stay there and wait for me. Don¡¯t run around. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Willow didn¡¯t have time to ask him why he had run off to the underground parking lot alone. She just wanted to see him as soon as possible. In fact, Aaron didn¡¯t run away on purpose. He left the store quietly because he saw Matthew. Aaron had lived with Matthew since he was born. In his heart, Matthew was as important as Willow, even more important than his biological father. After escaping from the dungeon, he had been waiting for news about Matthew every day. But even after so long, the man who had raised him didn¡¯t appear in front of him nor give him a warm hug again. Now, when he finally saw Matthew, Aaron didn¡¯t want to let him disappear from his sight like this. Even with his limp, he tried his best to move forward, but he still remained a considerable distance behind Matthew. It wasn¡¯t until they reached the underground parking lot that the distance between them shortened a little. ¡°Uncle Matthew!¡± The underground parking lot was rtively quiet. When Aaron shouted, Matthew finally heard his voice.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Standing beside Matthew, Wilhelmina gently pushed him. ¡°Matt, that child seems to be calling you. Do you know him?¡± When Matthew turned around and looked at Aaron, his face showed obvious impatience. ¡°No.¡± After saying that, Matthew opened the car door and was about to get in. ¡°Uncle Matthew!¡± Afraid that Matthew would drive away, Aaron quickly ran forward, but his limp was too severe. As he tried to run, he ended up falling awkwardly to the ground. ¡°Uncle Matthew!¡± Aaron shouted. He couldn¡¯t understand why his beloved Uncle Matthew, who was so kind to him, would say he didn¡¯t know him and look at him with such cold eyes. Chapter 308 Chapter 308 No matter how mischievous Aaron was, Matthew always had endless patience for him. He sang ¡°Little Star¡± to him, taught him to read and count, and even named him. To Aaron, Matthew was like a teacher and a father. He was the most important person in his world. If Aaron identally fell, his Uncle Matthew would surely be worried about him. But now, when he fell, Matthew showed no concern in his eyes. There was only cold indifference. Looking at Matthew like this, Aaron suddenly felt like crying. But Matthew had said that Aaron was a man, and men were brave and strong. He had to protect Willow with him so he couldn¡¯t cry Aaron propped himself up from the ground and tried his best to stand. He continued to hobble forward as he looked at Matthew¡¯s retreating figure pitifully. ¡°Uncle Matthew, I¡¯m Aaron. I¡¯m your baby, Aaron. Why did you say you don¡¯t know me? Uncle Matthew, I missed you so much¡­¡± Aaron wanted to put on a bright smile and give Matthew a big hug, but before he could even lift theers of his mouth, tears were already falling from his eyes. He really missed Matthew too much. ¡°Aaron?¡± Seeing Aaron crying non¨Cstop, Matthew felt somewhat upset, but he was absolutely certain that there was no memory of this child in his mind. ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± Looking at Matthew, Aaron widened his eyes in disbelief, then shook his head vigorously. ¡°No way, Uncle Matthew! You can¡¯t not know me!¡± Aaron stepped forward, wanting to throw himself into Matthew¡¯s arms. He wanted to take a good look at what had happened to him and why he had be so strange. But before he could touch Matthew, the With tears in his eyes, Aaron stood motionlessly. Although Matthew behaved so coldly, Aaron still couldn¡¯t bear to miss this chance. Suddenly remembering something, he quickly said to Matthew, ¡°Uncle Matthew, I¡¯m Aaron! My mom is Willow. ¡°Since I can remember, the three of us have been living together. Uncle Matthew, are you sick? Why did you forget about me?¡± Willow? The annoying feeling in Matthew¡¯s heart became even stronger. He spoke with a stem face. ¡°Did Willow send you here?¡± ¡°Matt, of course, Willow sent him. What would a child know?¡± Matthew didn¡¯t remember Aaron, but Wilhelmina did. She stepped forward. Her sweet face looked gentle and friendly. Chapter ¡°Aaron, Matt really doesn¡¯t know you. I don¡¯t understand why you pretend to be so familiar with him when you have no connection. ¡°Matt is really busy today. Don¡¯t bother him anymore. Go back to find your mom, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not pretending! He is my Uncle Matthew!¡± The children were really sensitive. Although Wilhelmina smiled innocently, Aaron didn¡¯t like her at all. He looked at her warily. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Uncle Matthew? He said we were his closest people. Why doesn¡¯t he recognize me and my mom anymore?¡± ¡°Aaron, Matt shouldn¡¯t have known you in the first ce.¡± After a pause, Wilhelmina continued, ¡°He knows your mom, but they aren¡¯t close, and your mom has done many bad things to us. ¡°I don¡¯t know why your mom asked you toe here and say these things on purpose, but what she did was wrong. No matter what her purpose is, she shouldn¡¯t teach you to lie.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you talk about my mom like that! And I didn¡¯t lie!¡± Aaron was so anxious that his face turned red. He didn¡¯t want to bother with Wilhelmina anymore. He continued to shout at Matthew, who was already sitting in the car, ¡°Uncle Matthew, I didn¡¯t lie to you!Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You really are my Uncle Matthew! We¡¯re the closest people! I¡¯m Aaron!¡± ¡°Wi, get in the car.¡± Matthew rolled down the window and spoke calmly to Wilhelmina. Wi¡­ Hearing Matthew call Wilhelmina ¡°Wi¡°, Aaron became more anxious. ¡°Uncle Matthew, she¡¯s not Wi! My mom is Wi! ¡°You always called my mom Wi during the years we spent together! She¡¯s a liar! She must be a liar!¡± Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Willow¡¯s name had two sybles. Most people familiar with her called her Lolo, but Matthew always called her Wi. A few days before leaving the dungeon, Matthew had told Aaron that he liked to call Willow Wi because she was his will to live in this messed¨Cup life. Although Aaron was young and didn¡¯t fully understand what Matthew said, he knew that in Matthew¡¯s heart, Willow was the one and only Wi. Matthew couldn¡¯t just casually call someone else Wi. Now that he was doing that, he must have been deceived. The more Aaron thought about it, the more anxious he became. ¡°Uncle Matthew, she must be a bad person! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask Mom. She¡¯s Wi!¡± ¡°Stop, Aaron. Matt will get angry if you keep saying that.¡± Wilhelmina pretended to be a caringdy. Gently holding Aaron¡¯s hand, she lowered her head and whispered in a voice that only Aaron could hear, ¡°Aaron, Matt hates you and Willow. ¡°Do you know why he hates her? Because she¡¯s despicable and shameless. Looking at her makes Matt feel sick. ¡°Bad woman!¡± Aaron couldn¡¯t stand others saying bad things about Willow. He tried to shake off Wilhelmina¡¯s hand but couldn¡¯t. In his panic, he grabbed her hand and bit it hard. ¡°Ah!¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s piercing scream echoed in the air. Hearing the sound, Matthew hurriedly got out of the car, but he was toote. Wilhelmina twisted her high heel and fell heavily to the ground, hitting her head hard on a nearby pir. She exerted all her strength to hit her head. Blood instantly seeped from the back of her head. The pain made her question everything. This was the scene Willow saw when she arrived. Wilhelminay weakly on the ground while Matthew rushed over frantically and held her tightly in his arms. Aaron stared nkly at his hand. He had indeed bitten Wilhelmina¡¯s hand in his anxiety, but he didn¡¯t push her. He had no idea how she suddenly fell against the pir. ¡°Wi, are you okay?¡± Matthew looked at Wilhelmina¡¯s face with concern. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± ¡°Matt, it hurts so much¡­¡± Wilhelmina couldn¡¯t even open her eyes because of the pain, but even in this state, she didn¡¯t forget to act.. ¡°Matt, I was just worried that he would cause trouble here and make you angry, so I persuaded him to go back and find his mom. I didn¡¯t expect him to suddenly go crazy. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have worn high heels today. If I hadn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t have been pushed down by a child so easily. It took Wilhelmina quite a while to recover before she could finally open her eyes again. But when she did, she was horrified to find that everything was pitch ck in front of her. She couldn¡¯t see anything. Chapter 309Wen 2/12 ¡°Matt, did the lights in the parking lot go out? Why is it suddenly so dark?¡± Matthew was taken aback, but he truthfully replied, ¡°Wi, the lights are still on.¡± Initially, Wilhelmina could deceive herself by thinking that there was a power outage, but shepletely broke down at Matthew¡¯s words. She frantically rubbed her eyes, but everything remained dark, as if she were staring into a ck hole. She had only wanted to frame Aaron and make Matthew take action, like how he cut off Willow¡¯s pinky finger. She just wanted to punish Aaron a little.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. She never expected that she would fall and end up being blind. Chapter 310 Chapter 310 ¡°Matt, I can¡¯t see! I can¡¯t see anything! I¡¯ve gone blind! What should I do? Matt, I don¡¯t want to be blind. 1 really don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Wi.¡± Matthew waved his hand in front of Wilhelmina¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t even blink. Wilhelmina was really blind. Willow held Aaron tightly in her arms. She knew Aaron¡¯s character very well. He would never push Wilhelmina without reason. Moreover, Aaron¡¯s body was much weaker than that of ordinary children. He didn¡¯t have the strength to push down an adult. Willow believed that Wilhelmina¡¯s blindness was her own doing. However, she was worried that Matthew might hurt Aaron because of Wilhelmina.. She had experienced Matthew¡¯s cruelty firsthand. Just because of one word from Wilhelmina, he had cut off her pinky finger. Now that Wilhelmina was genuinely blind, what kind of torment would he inflict on Aaron? Willow held Aaron even tighter. She would never allow Matthew to hurt Aaron. ¡°Matt, it hurts. It hurts so much¡­¡± After a brief breakdown, Wilhelmina slowly calmed down. Blindness wasn¡¯t an incurable condition. Perhaps this incident was an opportunity topletely eliminate Willow and Aaron. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Wi. I won¡¯t let anything happen to you. I promise you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Matthew¡¯s tone was gentle and patient whenforting Wilhelmina, but when he turned to look at Willow and Aaron, his eyes were filled with cold cruelty. His sharp gaze swept over Aaron¡¯s face and finally ¡°Willow, is this your ¡®dead¡® child?¡± Before Willow could respond, Matthew spoke each word with deliberate precision. ¡°Right, he should have died a long time ago. ¡°Willow, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re pretending to be virtuous while trying to get close to me. I don¡¯t have the time to investigate your reasons. But know this: If anything happens to Wi, I¡¯ll make sure your child dies again. ¡°Rest assured. This time, I¡¯ll ensure he diespletely. There will be no mistakes like allowing him toe back to life.¡± With that, Matthew carefully lifted Wilhelmina and started walking toward his Lamborghini.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Wilhelmina continued to cry helplessly. ¡°Matt, it hurts so much. I take you to the hospital now, Wi. I¡¯ll find the best doctors for you. I won¡¯t let you suffer any harm ¡°Matt, can I ask you for a favor? Wilhelmina clutched Matthew¡¯s sleeve phifuly. Please don¡¯t hurt Abro Chapter 310 2/2 ¡°After all, I did wrong before, and I owe Willow. Let¡¯s just chalk this up to my bad luck. Please don¡¯t hurt Aaron and Willow.¡± ¡°Wi, you¡¯re my woman. If you hurt others, I¡¯ll protect you. But if anyone dares to harm you, I¡¯ll make them regret ever being born.¡± ¡°Uncle Matthew, she¡¯s framing me. I didn¡¯t push her!¡± Aaron¡¯s usually happy face was now unusually serious. He pressed his lips together tightly and met Matthew¡¯s icy gaze. ¡°Uncle Matthew, I recorded it. I recorded what she whispered to me. She¡¯s a bad woman! She said bad things about my mom! She tried to frame me on purpose!¡± Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Aaron¡¯s words hit Wilhelmina hard. Her smug expression turned pale instantly. The things she whispered to Aaron were vicious. If Matthew heard them, he would undoubtedly think Aaron was justified in shoving her out of anger,C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Worse, her harsh words wouldpletely shatter the angelic image Matthew had of her. Grinding her teeth in frustration, Wilhelmina thought about how the Carters¡® children were all born prodigies. Theodore and Celeste were the geniuses of their circle. Although Zayn was autistic, he was exceptionally talented and astoundingly intelligent. Even if 7 if Zayn refused to acknowledge Aaron as his son, Aaron still carried the Carter bloodline, which was marked by extraordinary talent. ¡°Matt, you heard what I said. I didn¡¯t mean to speak ill of Willow. I really don¡¯t understand why he would frame me like this!¡± Wilhelmina put on an award¨Cworthy performance. ¡°Matt, I don¡¯t understand how such a young child could have such a twisted mind. I¡¯m so upset.¡± ¡°Stop pretending!¡± Aaron unlocked his phone and searched for the recording he had made earlier. ¡°Uncle Matthew, once you hear this recording, you¡¯ll see her true colors. She¡¯s a bad person! She wants to hurt me and my mom! You can¡¯t fall for her lies!¡± Aaron acted quickly. He scrolled through the screen and found the recording. There was a brief silence at the beginning before Wilhelmina¡¯s voice started. Just as her voice was about to y, Aaron felt a sharp pain in his hand. It turned out that Matthew had kicked the phone out of Aaron¡¯s hand. Matthew was strong. When he kicked the phone out of Aaron¡¯s hand, he also hit Aaron¡¯s hand. The base. of Aaron¡¯s right thumb throbbed painfully, and his dark eyes were filled with tears. He stared in disbelief at Matthew, who looked like a demon. For a moment, he truly felt he would never find his Uncle Matthew again. He bent down to pick up his fallen phone. But before he could reach it, Matthew¡¯s shoe came down on it, crushing it. ¡°Move your foot, Matthew!¡± Willow didn¡¯t want Matthew to misunderstand Aaron, so she gave Matthew at hard shove. The moment his foot moved, she quickly reached for Aaron¡¯s phone. But she couldn¡¯t retract her hand because Matthew¡¯s foot came down hard on the back of her hand. ¡°Uncle Matthew, what are you doing? You can¡¯t hurt Mom!¡± Children¡¯s minds were really simple. Aaron couldn¡¯t understand why Matthew, who always said he would protect him and Willow, would bully her over a bad woman. By Chapte: all With tears in his eyes, Aaron tried to push Matthew away. But his body was weak, and he had a limp. He couldn¡¯t even overpower an ordinary four¨Cyear¨Cold, let alone move the six¨Cfoot¨Ctwo Matthew. ¡°Willow, I don¡¯t know what kind of trick you¡¯re trying to pull, but you brought today¡¯s suffering upon yourself,¡± Matthew said as he looked down at Willow with hatred, anger, and disdain. With those words, he pressed his foot down harder. Willow could almost hear the bones in her hand breaking. The pain was excruciating. Chapter 312 Chapter 312 ¡°Mom!¡± Aaron¡¯s tears rolled down his cheeks as he frantically pounded on Matthew,C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. He wanted to bite him, but no matter how cruel Matthew was, he was still the man who had raised him like a father. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to bite Matthew. ¡°Let my mom go, Uncle Matthew! You said you¡¯d never let anyone hurt her, so why are you hurting her now? You¡¯re a liar!¡± Aaron screamed at Matthew, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Matthew was truly enraged with Willow. She despised him but still schemed to stay connected to him. This hypocritical woman had made him suffer deeply after her staged death. Aaron¡¯s death must have been staged as well. No wonder there were no ashes in the grave. Matthew felt ridiculous, singing ¡°Little Star¡± at that empty grave. Matthew felt like aplete fool, manipted by her. He was, without a doubt, the biggest joke in the world. The fury made Matthew press down harder with his foot. Willow¡¯s body arched in pain, but the agony only increased. Finally, Matthew stopped and coldly withdrew his foot. He had been stepping on Willow¡¯s left hand. The bloody hand, with the permanently missing pinky finger, looked both horrifying and pitiful. Matthew¡¯s chest tightened. The pain made it hard to breathe. He almost couldn¡¯t restrain himself from picking up her hand to see how badly she was hurt, but he forced himself to suppress that urge. He just coldly spat out, ¡°Willow, this isn¡¯t over.¡± He then opened the car door and carried Wilhelmina into the car. The Lamborghini sped away, leaving a cloud of dust that blurred Willow¡¯s vision, Matthew¡¯s face in her memories seemed to blur as well. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Aaron clung to Willow while weeping. He was a brave little boy, but even the strongest hearts could break. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry. This is all my fault. If it weren¡¯t for me, your hand wouldn¡¯t be hurt. ¡°I¡¯m not a good boy. Mom, are you in a lot of pain? You¡¯re bleeding so much. It must hurt terribly!¡± Willow couldn¡¯t stand seeing Aaron so upset. She lifted her uninjured hand and gently pinched his cheek. I¡¯m okay, Aaron. ¡°Today wasn¡¯t your fault. I know you missed Uncle Matthew. And you were amazing for recording what Wilhelmina said. Even if Uncle Matthew doe want to listen to it now, we have proof of our innocence.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mom¡­¡± Aaron¡¯s heart ached as he looked at Willow¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go to Mr. Quayle¡¯s. He¡¯ll make sure you stop bleeding.¡± ¡°Aaron, I¡¯m fine.¡± Willow didn¡¯t want to trouble Moses sote at night. ¡°We have the ointment he gave us at home. I can apply it myself when we get back.¡± Chapter 312 7/2 Besides, Willow needed to do one more thing. The underground parking lot of the mall had surveince cameras. She had to find a way to get hold of the footage from earlier. ¡°Mom, will I ever find my Uncle Matthew again? It feels like I¡¯ve lost him,¡± Aaron said as he clutched Willow¡¯s sleeve. Willow¡¯s chest tightened. She, too, felt like she had lost Matthew, whom she once went through thick and thin with. She was about to say something tofort Aaron when a silver sports car screeched to a halt before her. Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Willow hadn¡¯t expected the owner of this unfamiliar luxury car to be Zayn. But in families like the Carter family, changing cars was nothing unusual. ¡°Willow, what are you doing here?¡± Willow ignored Zayn and focused intently on inspecting Aaron¡¯s damaged phone. Both its screen and body were severely damaged. She tried to manipte it for a while but couldn¡¯t piece it back together. She wasn¡¯t sure if it could be repaired. ¡°Answer me, Willow!¡± Zayn mmed the car door shut. Just as his temper was about to re, he noticed Willow¡¯s bloody left hand. He grabbed her hand and asked with reddened eyes, ¡°What happened to your hand?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, Mr. Carter.¡± Willow tried to pull her hand away from Zayn¡¯s grip, but she couldn¡¯t. Aaron didn¡¯t want to see Zayn holding Willow like this. He red at Zayn fiercely. ¡°Bad guy, I won¡¯t let you touch my mom!¡± Zayn¡¯s gaze swept over Aaron¡¯s face like a chilling de. Despite his intense anger, Aaron felt a sudden diminishment of his presence under Zayn¡¯s re. Uninterested in arguing with a child, Zayn tightened his grip on Willow¡¯s wrist. ¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡± Willow tried to step on Zayn so she could escape, but his cold voice cut through the air. ¡°Liam, pull up the surveince footage from the underground parking lot.¡± This mall belonged to Carter Group. Getting ess to the surveince footage would be impossible for Willow, but for Zayn, it was a piece of cake. And she needed that footage. Noticing that Willow had stopped struggling, Zayn knew she needed the footage. He was now even more certain that someone had intentionally harmed her. A raging fire consumed Zayn¡¯s mind. How dare anyone bully his woman, even if he hated her to the bone? He wouldn¡¯t allow that. ¡°Give me the phone, Zaynmanded as he stared at the phone in Willow¡¯s hand. Before Willow could react, he snatched the phone from her and handed it to Liam, who hadn¡¯t left yet. ¡°Have Theo recover the data.¡°, As Liam was about to turn around, Zaynmanded sternly, ¡°And have a doctor go to the upstairs lounge.¡± Liam swallowed nervously. He wondered why Zayn couldn¡¯t say everything at once. But he dared not Chapter 313 voice his thoughts. He just respectfully replied, ¡°Yes, boss. Right away.¡± Once Liam left, Zayn grabbed Willow¡¯s hand again and headed toward the elevator. Willow didn¡¯t want Zayn to hold her like this. ¡°Let go of me, Mr. Carter.¡± ¡°What now? You want me to carry you?¡± Willow didn¡¯t know what to say. It seemed that being dragged along was a better option. 212 Puffing out his cheeks, Aaron kept a wary eye on Zayn. He was ready to fight at any moment. But because he also wanted to see the surveince footage, he didn¡¯t insist on leaving. After Zayn brought Willow and Aaron to the lounge, it didn¡¯t take long for Liam to order his men to extract the footage Zayn wanted. In the lounge, there was a smart LCD TV for entertainment. After plugging in the USB drive, the footage. from the underground parking lot appeared on the screen. The camera angle was perfect. It captured, in clear detail, the moment when Wilhelmina faked her fall. Chapter 314 Chapter 314Property ? N?velDrama.Org. From the video, anyone with eyes could see that Aaron never pushed Wilhelmina. Instead, she suddenly fell to the ground and even deliberately banged her head against a pir. Even through the screen, the impact looked painful. She was really ruthless to herself, Watching Wilhelmina¡¯s exaggerated and melodramatic performance in the video, Zayn narrowed his eyes. Since she wanted to be blind, she could actually lose her eyes. When Zayn saw Matthew rudely stepping on Willow¡¯s hand, his veins bulged so much that they seemed ready to burst out of his skin, as if they wanted to smash the image of Matthew on the screen. ¡°Great, this blind man again,¡± he thought. Zayn was determined to make Matthew regret ever opening his eyes. Liam was nearly suffocating from the pressure in the lounge. He timidly spoke up to Zayn, ¡°Boss, Dr. Regina Kidd is here. Should I let her-¡± ¡°Let her in!¡± Liam weakly shut his mouth and silently ushered Regina in to tend to Willow¡¯s wound. Willow¡¯s hand looked awful, but fortunately, there was no irreversible damage to the bones. Regina was usually good at treating wounds, but Zayn¡¯s oppressive presence made her nervous. Moreover, his icy gaze made her tremble uncontrobly. Several times, she identally applied the ointment to the wrong ces. Zayn couldn¡¯t stand to see Regina¡¯s clumsy attempts anymore. He spoke up with disdain, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Regina wiped the cold sweat from her forehead silently. Finally, she was relieved. If she continued to be stared at by Zayn like that, she would probably lose 20 years of her life. Zayn¡¯s experience in tending to wounds was limited, so his movements were clumsy beyond description. But even with his clumsy hands, he felt that Regina¡¯s treatment made Willow suffer too much. Even though he maintained a grim expression, he wouldn¡¯t let her suffer that much. Willow hadn¡¯t expected Zayn to voluntarily tend to her wound. She instinctively wanted to pull her hand away, but Zayn held onto her wrist firmly, so she could only let him do as he pleased. In a daze, she couldn¡¯t help but recall a time when they were deeply in love, and she identally scraped her knee. Even though it was just a small wound, he insisted that the doctor treat her. He even thought the doctor was clumsy and forcefully took the ointment from him to apply it himself. In reality, his action was much clumsier than the doctor¡¯s, but it made her feel warm inside. Willow didn¡¯t know if it was the sweetness of the past or a moment of madness, but she found the image of Zayn tending her wound, ovepping with memories from before. Surprisingly, she felt his actions were somewhat gentle. Chapter 314 /2 After applying the ointment, she suddenly snapped out of it. The so¨Ccalled gentleness was just an illusion because Zayn was staring at her with a cold and disdainful gaze. ¡°Willow, don¡¯t think I helped you today because I care about you. I just can¡¯t stand seeing a woman 1 bought being bullied by a bunch of pests. No one dares to bully even my dog.¡± Willow lowered her eyes and replied coldly, ¡°I know.¡± She had known about it for a long time. ¡°Willow Sanford and dogs are not allowed inside.¡± He had always equated her with a dog, so she would never again hope for anything from him. She just wished she could forget about him. Soon, Theodore recovered the recording and sent it to Zayn. With the recording and video copied from Zayn, Willow took Aaron back to her apartment. She had originally wanted to quickly give these things to Matthew, but she didn¡¯t have his contact information. She couldn¡¯t find him, so she could only ask around tomorrow and then give him the evidence. However, as soon as they arrived at the gate of the neighborhood, Matthew led a group of people to surround her and Aaron. ¡°Dig out this cripple¡¯s eyes!¡± Chapter 315 Chapter 315 ¡°Are you out of your mind, Matthew?¡± Willow shouted. She feared Matthew might actually harm Aaron, so she hurriedly pulled Aaron into her arms. ¡°Matthew, Aaron did nothing wrong today. Wilhelmina framed him. You can¡¯t me Aaron without knowing the whole story.¡± ¡°Framed?¡± Layers of ferocity surged in Matthew¡¯s clear eyes. ¡°Willow, Wi still can¡¯t see anything now. You let this cripple you gave birth to harm Wi like this, and you have the nerve to say Wi is framing him?¡± The mention of ¡°cripple¡± was really grating. Willow could clearly feel Aaron¡¯s small body tensing up like a stone. She knew how much this scene was hurting him. Even though Aaron deluded himself into thinking he had lost his Uncle Matthew, in reality, he still treated the man in front of him as his beloved Uncle Matthew. ¡°I have evidence.¡± Willow pulled out a USB drive from her bag. ¡°I¡¯ve extracted the surveince footage from the underground parking lot. ¡°Wilhelmina fell on her own. Aaron didn¡¯t push her at all. ¡°Matthew, once you watch this video, you¡¯ll see that Aaron is innocent and just how hypocritical Wilhelmina is.¡± ¡°Willow, I¡¯m not blind.¡± Matthew¡¯s face remained stern as he fixed his gaze on Willow¡¯s face. His face was truly chiseled.. However, the warmth of it had now been reced by ayer of icy coldness. ¡°I saw with my own eyes that this cripple pushed Wi. I only believe what I saw.¡± Staring deeply into Matthew¡¯s increasingly cold face, Willow felt her heart grow cold, too. ¡°Yes, Matthew, you¡¯re not blind, but your heart is.¡± A blind heart couldn¡¯t perceive the truth behind what the eyes saw. ¡°Say it again to my face!¡± Matthew stepped forward and rudely gripped Willow¡¯s chin. His cold eyes carried a heavy warning. ¡°Who did you say is blind?¡± ¡°You, Matthew! Your heart is blind!¡± Willow spoke defiantly with her chin held high, but the pain from her jaw made her frown. Yet she still calmly and proudly raised the USB drive in her hand. ¡°Matthew, the truth is on this USB drive. If you don¡¯t want to remain blind, then watch what¡¯s inside it.¡± ¡°Uncle Matthew, let go of my mom!¡± Seeing Matthew holding onto Willow, Aaron couldn¡¯t help but panic. He rushed forward and tried to push Matthew with force. But as soon as he touched Matthew¡¯s leg, he was mercilessly kicked away. 372 ¡°Aaron!¡± Willow was frantic. She wanted to lift Aaron from the ground, but Matthew¡¯s grip was too strong. She couldn¡¯t move, let alone reach Aaron.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. All she could do was watch as Aaron struggled awkwardly to his feet. With red¨Crimmed eyes, he limped forward. His small face disyed a stubbornness simr to Willow¡¯s. He gently grabbed Matthew¡¯s sleeve and said, ¡°Uncle Matthew, you weren¡¯t like this before. Why did you be like this? ¡°Uncle Matthew, a man¡¯s word is his bond. You promised to protect my mom. Why are your Give me back my Uncle Matthew!¡± her? Chapter 316 chapter 316 Chapter 316 In a surge of emotion, Aaron shoved Matthew once more. This time, Matthew didn¡¯t shove him back; instead, his men pinned Aaron forcefully to the ground, ¡°Matthew, tell them to let Aaron gol¡± Willow was on the edge, contemting dialing 911, but she knew better than to underestimate Matthew. If he had the guts to show up, he had a n, and she wouldn¡¯t get a chance to call for help. As the night sky grew darker, theplex stood deserted, with no sign of life outside. Even the security guard had vanished into a nearby shack, deep in the throes of a snooze. ¡°Matthew, you can head to my apartment. There¡¯s aputer there, and I¡¯ve left the USB drive on it. That¡¯s where you¡¯ll find the truth!¡± Willow had been soaking in medicinal baths at Moses¡¯s ce practically every day for a month. Moses swore that after a month of his treatments, her stomach would hold up, even without popping pills. But perhaps due to all the emotional upheaval, her stomach was acting up again. It spasmed like crazy. Willow gripped her stomach, drawing in a deep breath before speaking again. ¡°Matthew, Aaron couldn¡¯t have shoved Wilhelmina! ¡°You¡¯ve seen Aaron. He¡¯s weak and barely has any strength left in him. He couldn¡¯t even knock over a kid, let alone Wilhelmina! ¡°Matthew, you can¡¯t just take Wilhelmina¡¯s word as gospel. Remember all the times she¡¯s tried to sabotage me? It isn¡¯t me who¡¯s in the wrong here, Matthew. It¡¯s Wilhelmina!¡± ¡°Willow, yeah, Wi messed up before, but she¡¯s different now. She¡¯s got bite marks from that cripple onThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. her hand! ¡°Wi was only trying to help him, and he bit her. Why wouldn¡¯t he push her?¡± Matthew shot Aaron a contemptuous look before speaking. ¡®This cripple just foolishly tried to shove me! ¡°He pushed me, and he got what he deserved. But Wi was wearing heels today! She was already off- bnce, and then this cripple pushed her and bit her. It¡¯s no wonder she got hurt!¡± ¡°Matthew, you don¡¯t have solid evidence. You can¡¯t just throw usations at Aaron like that! But I do have proof. Matthew, please! Just take a look at what¡¯s on this USB drive!¡± Matthew didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, he released Willow¡¯s chin and took the USB drive from her hand. Willow thought he was on board to check out the contents. But she had misjudged Matthew¡¯s cruelty and arrogance. He smirked, then coldly hurled the USB drive away. ¡°Matthew, you¡¯re a lost cause!¡± Willow was boiling with rage, but her main focus was on getting the drive back. Before she could even take a step, Matthew shoved her hard against the nearby wall. With a nod from Chapter 316 Matthew, his men hoisted Aaron up and held a glinting knife to his eye. Matthew¡¯s eyes held a chilling contempt as he looked at Willow, as if she were the lowest of the low. ¡°Willow, you have two choices,¡± Matthew said coldly. ¡°Either I gouge out this cripple¡¯s eye, or you be my woman.¡± ¡°Matthew, you¡¯re crazy! I won¡¯t let you hurt Aaron!¡± Willow snapped back. Matthew¡¯s gaze turned even colder, making the air feel heavy. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to take his eye? Fine, then you belong to me. Willow, you better start pleasing me,¡± he Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Willow was at her wit¡¯s end with Matthew. She ground her teeth in frustration. ¡°Matthew, I will never agree to that! Aaron is innocent. Even murderers get a chance to prove their Innocence Why can¡¯t you give us a chance to show Aaron did nothing wrong?¡± ¡°Innocence?¡± Matthewughed, and Willow couldn¡¯t believe how such a gentle face could turn so demonic. ¡°Innocence is a luxury you don¡¯t deserve, Willow. I gave you a chance to save this cripple, but you refused.¡± Matthew¡¯s dark eyes turned frigid, like ck ice in a forgotten tundra. The sheer defiance of Willow¡¯s refusal to yield, even after his gruesome threat, ignited a fierce hatred within him. With a swift pivot, his gaze became void of any humanity.. ¡°Take out this cripple¡¯s eye!¡± hemanded. ¡°No!¡± Willow screamed, putting all her strength into shoving Matthew away to save Aaron. She fought to shove Matthew away, but he callously threw her to the ground, wrenching her ankle in the process. She ¡°Aaron! The glint of the knife in Matthew¡¯s henchman¡¯s hand pierced Willow¡¯s eyes. Ignoring her own pain, she gritted her teeth and struggled to stand. But she was too far from Aaron. Even if she managed to get up, she couldn¡¯t stop Matthew¡¯s men in time. Willow¡¯s heart ached with helplessness. Aaron had fought to survive for a better life, not to be condemned to eternal darkness as a blind man. Aaron¡¯s demeanor was eerilyposed, though Willow sensed the fear pulsing beneath the surface. A kid his age had every reason to be scared of a knife pointing at his eye. Yet, despite his trembling, heContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. didn¡¯t break down or scream. Instead, he locked eyes with Matthew, as if probing for something hidden within him. ¡°Uncle Matthew¡­¡± Aaron¡¯s tears trickled silently down his cheeks, his voice barely audible. ¡°Uncle Matthew, I don¡¯t hold it against you. Mommy says you just forgot about us,¡± Aaron murmured, hisshes fluttering as he shut his eyes. Matthew couldn¡¯t shake the sense that gouging out this defiant cripple¡¯s eye would be a just punishment. Yet, Aaron¡¯s forgiveness cut through him like an iron w tearing at his heart. The knife gleamed as it rose, casting a harsh light on the wielder¡¯s face. Willow braced herself for Aaron¡¯s eye to be taken, but the knife unexpectedly ttered to the ground. Chapter 317 2/2 It wasn. Willow gaped at the tall, imposing figure before her. She never expectedn to return. Chapte 318 Chapter 318 Chapter 318 ¡°Mr. Nightingale¡­¡± Aaron blinked in disbelief, shocked that he still had his sight. ¡°Aaron!¡± Willow staggered toward Aaron and enveloped him in a tight embrace, her voice trembling with emotion. ¡°Aaron, my sweet boy¡­¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m okay. Please don¡¯t cry,¡± Aaron reassured her, gently wiping away her tears. ¡°It hurts me to see you like this.¡± Willow held onto Aaron, whispering his name over and over, her voice filled with relief and gratitude. Her mature and gentle Aaron was always being ruthlessly hurt. As she felt the warmth of the little one nestled in her arms, Willow¡¯s resolve to ensure that Wilhelmina and Skyler never caused them trouble again only strengthened. The influence of the Dawsons, the Carters, and the Mayers was too vast. Even if she and Aaron went into hiding, it wouldn¡¯t be long before Skyler¡¯swork found out Aaron was alive. They wouldn¡¯t stop until they had Aaron. If she wanted Aaron to live without fear, she knew she had to eliminate all obstacles in their path while she still had the chance. ¡°Mr. Nightingale?¡± Matthew¡¯s surprise was evident asn appeared unexpectedly. His face darkened. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, if you don¡¯t want to be on my bad side, stay out of tonight¡¯s business!¡± ¡°Mr. Mayer, I can¡¯t just stand by tonight,¡±n responded calmly, his voice steady butmanding. Despite hisposed demeanor, there was an undeniable air of authority about him. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, are you really going to stick up for this shameless woman and this cripple?¡± Matthew¡¯s gaze swept over Willow with clear disdain. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, favoring a woman like her is a serious misjudgment on your part!¡± Matthew¡¯s words dripped with disdain. The intense humiliation and shame caused Willow¡¯s spine to stiffen involuntarily. She hadn¡¯t expected Matthew to stoop so low as to openly mention her past with Zayn in front ofn. She had no romantic feelings forn and had never sought to manipte or tter him. But he had shown her kindness and helped her, and she didn¡¯t want to tarnish the image of someone who had been a rare source of warmth in her life. More importantly, Aaron was here. Ian¡¯s distinguished brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Mr. Mayer, I don¡¯t need your judgment. But you, Mr. Mayer, are targeting this woman repeatedly¨Cnow that¡¯s an interesting stance.¡± ¡°Me? Targeting her?¡± Matthew chuckled bitterly. ¡°If she and that cripple hadn¡¯t repeatedly hurt Wi, would I even be in this position? ¡°Mr. Nightingale, let me be clear: tonight, no one is going to save this cripple! He hurt Wi, and he¡¯s going Chapter 310 to pay the pricel¡± ¡°Mr. Mayer, you really do think you¡¯re thew, huh?¡± tan drawled, lifting his eyelidszily, his gaze piercing. ¡°Let me make this clear: If anyone even thinks about harming Willow or Aaron tonight, they¡¯ll have me toContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. answer to.¡± Matthewughed bitterly atn¡¯s words, his anger palpable. Willow always yed the Innocent victim in front of him, which only fueled his resentment. The surge of anger twisted Matthew¡¯s hatred further, distorting his features Into a mask of Icy disdain. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, let me give you some friendly advice,¡± he sneered. ¡°Get Involved with her, and you might just end up regretting it.¡± Chapter 319 Chapter 319 As Matthew said this, Willow was leading Aaron to find the USB drive he had thrown away. His words. drained the color from her face, leaving her pale and shaken Matthew always had a knack for humiliating her to the point where she could hardly breathe. With her gaze lowered, Willow picked up the USB drive from the edge of the greenery and grasped Aaron¡¯s hand, heading towardn She had never crossed paths withn before. But rumors about this privileged man had reached her ears. ording to gossip, he suffered from severe germophobia and shared Theodore¡¯s peculiar allergy to women. As she approached , she maintained a cautious distance, mindful of the rumors she had heard. Despite her clear conscience, Matthew¡¯s words were too cruel. She worried they might repulsen, who was already known for avoiding femalepany. Willow¡¯s oversized wool coat did little to hide her frailty. It made her look even more delicate, like a leaf trembling in the wind, ready to be crushed into dust with the slightest force.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Gazing at her pallid face, a heavy emotion settled in his chest. Acting on instinct, he stepped forward and gently sped her hand. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re not dirty. I trust my own eyes, and I believe you have the est cord in the world.¡± Willow¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She never expected this lofty man to look past the nderous words. and see her without a hint of disdain. Instead, he dered her soul the purest. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, thank you.¡± Willow¡¯s heart fluttered, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°Thank you for believing in me.¡± Remembering hown had used hisptop to send files during their ride back, she hesitantly asked, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, myputer is upstairs, and it would be a hassle to get it. Could I borrow yourptop to show a video?¡± ¡°Of course,¡±n responded calmly. He turned to give a subtle nod to his chief assistant, Eric, who swiftly fetched hisptop from the Rolls Royce. Willow realizedn was still holding her hand. She instinctively tried to pull away. Feeling Willow¡¯s attempt to withdraw,n inexplicably hesitated to let go of her soft, cool hand. He involuntarily tightened his grip, experiencing a flutter of emotion he couldn¡¯t quite understand. When Willow kept trying to pull her hand free, he realized his mistake. Rarely showing such vulnerability, Chapter 319 22 Willow had always been careful to maintain a respectful distance fromn, avoiding both undue ttery and provocation. But in Matthew¡¯s eyes, their interaction seemed like a calcted attempt by Willow to seducen, full of coy maneuvers and false resistance. Layers of scorn filled Matthew¡¯s eyes. ¡°Boss, here¡¯s theptop!¡± Eric eagerly presented theptop ton, but Willow politely declined. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Pearson. I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± Chapter 320 Chapter 320 Willow plugged the USB drive into theptop and opened the video she had copied to the desktop. ¡°What kind of stunt are you trying to pull now, Willow?¡± Matthew red at her calm face, his voice tight with anger. ¡°Mr. Mayer, I¡¯m not pulling any stunts. I just want to prove Aaron¡¯s Innocence.¡± Willow swiveled theptop around so the screen faced Matthew. ¡°Mr. Mayer, when someone makes a mistake, they should admit it. If Aaron is innocent, you owe him an apology.¡± ¡°Willow!¡± Matthew started to step forward, ready to throttle the defiant woman, but then he saw Wilhelmina in the video. Wilhelmina leaned in close to Aaron, whispering something in his ear. The video had no sound, but it was clear she was saying something to him. Wilhelmina¡¯s words clearly enraged Aaron. The next moment, he bit her hand fiercely, like an angry little beast. The video was zoomed in, capturing every detail of Aaron¡¯s and Wilhelmina¡¯s faces. Matthew could see Wilhelmina suddenly pulling her hand away, dramatically throwing herself backward. As she fell, she made sure to hit the back of her head on a nearby stone pir. Aaron didn¡¯t push her. In fact, he didn¡¯t move his hands at all. Matthew stared at the screen in disbelief. From his vantage point in the underground garage, he had only seen Wilhelmina¡¯s back and missed many details.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. He saw Aaron bite Wilhelmina, and when she suddenly fell against the pir, he naturally assumed Aaron had pushed her. But now, he realized it was all a setup orchestrated by Wilhelmina. Matthew felt a mix of anger and betrayal. He had married Wilhelmina, and as his wife, he believed she -deserved his unconditional trust. Yet, she had betrayed that trust so brutally. Matthew was still reeling from the intense shock when Willow¡¯s voice, tinged with a hint of sarcastic resignation, broke the silence. ¡°Matthew, you must be curious about what Wilhelmina whispered to Aaron.¡± With that, Willow yed an audio recording. ¡°Aaron, Matt hates you, and he hates your mom, Willow, even more. Do you know why he hates your mom so much? It¡¯s because Willow is cheap and shameless. ¡°She¡¯ll sleep with anyone. Just the sight of her makes Matt sick!¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s voice dripped with malice. Matthew felt as if his world had been turned upside down. He couldn¡¯t believe that the woman he had loved and protected, who had stood by him through thick and thin, could speak with such venom. Chapter 320 2/2 But it was unmistakably Wilhelmina¡¯s voice. The video clearly showed her deliberately hitting her head against the pir, fabricating the whole incident. Before Matthew could fully process the shock, Willow¡¯s voice, now icy andmanding, cut through hist thoughts. ¡°Matthew, you falsely used Aaron. You owe him an apology!¡± Chapter 321 Chapter 321 ¡°Willow!¡± Matthew¡¯s head jerked up. His eyes zed with a terrifying red¨Can unsettling mix of anger, hatred, and maybe even regret. Willow, unfazed by his almost predatory fury, repeated her demand, ¡°Matthew, apologize to Aaron!¡± Matthew, too proud to ever consider apologizing to someone he deemed insignificant, hesitated. But then his eyes dropped to Willow¡¯s left hand. Her hand was wrapped in thick bandages, yet even through theyers, blood had seeped through, staining her skin. The bandages mostly covered the back of her hand. But as he looked closer, he noticed she was missing a finger. Even though the scab where her pinky had once been had healed, the scar couldn¡¯t hide the pain she¡¯d endured. And all of this¨Cevery bit of her suffering¨Cwas his doing. All at once, Matthew felt a wave of weakness wash over him, his legs trembling beneath the weight of his doubts. He had been so certain, so adamant in his belief that Willow was a tainted woman. But now, faced with the truth, he realized she had always been innocent and unjustly used. ¡°Mr. Mayer, apologize to Aaron!¡±n¡¯s voice boomed with authority. His anger was fueled by the damning evidence of Matthew¡¯s intentions to harm Aaron. Asn watched the video, his fury grew. He was unable toprehend how someone could be so easily manipted by a woman with such malicious intent.. Matthew¡¯s guilt weighed heavy on him, but seeing Willow seemingly manipten into defending her ignited a fit of fierce anger. His remorse transformed into a burning fury. ¡°Willow, you think I¡¯m gonna apologize to this cripple?¡± Matthew¡¯s sneer dripped with cruelty. ¡°In your dreams!¡± ¡°Wi¡¯s the woman I love most. Even if she set you and this cripple up, you had iting!¡± ¡°Yeah, we had iting!¡± Willow¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. Matthew¡¯s blind loyalty to Wi shook her to the core, but she wasn¡¯t about to back down now. Many might think an apology was just a formality, not worth the hassle, but Willow knew how crucial Matthew was to Aaron. His misunderstandings and hurtful words were like daggers to Aaron¡¯s heart. Only a genuine apology from Matthew could begin to mend those wounds and ease Aaron¡¯s suffering. ¡°Mr. Mayer, you¡¯re standing by your woman. She framed us, and you even wanted to gouge my son¡¯s eyes out. ording to you, we deserved it.¡± Willow¡¯s voice remained steady, though tension crackled in the air. ¡°I won¡¯t argue with you on that point. But here¡¯s something else you should know. ¡°If you don¡¯t apologize to Aaron, I¡¯ll post this video online. Let¡¯s see how your beloved Wilhelmina, who treasures her image so dearly, likes being exposed as a hypocrite and a malicious woman.¡± ¡°Willow, you wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Matthew¡¯s voice was a snarl as he reached for the USB drive on theptop But Willow remained unfazed by his threat, her chin held high with unwavering pride. ¡°Mr. Mayer, I¡¯m not easily scared. ¡°You can try me. Oh, and by the way, you can destroy this USB if you want. I have backups.¡± Matthew seethed with rage, but he couldn¡¯t let Wilhelmina¡¯s reputation be tarnished. She had been hist rock during his darkest times. After shooting Willow a venomous re, Matthew¡¯s gaze settled on Aaron. ¡°Hey, crip¨CAaron, I apologize. I wrongfully used you this time.¡± Even in his apology, Matthew¡¯s arrogance persisted. But for now, those words would have to suffice.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Aaron¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, but he didn¡¯t respond to Matthew. Instead, he gently tugged at Willow¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go home.¡± Deep down, he yearned for his Uncle Matthew to hold him once more, but the man standing before him was no longer the warm, caring figure he remembered. He didn¡¯t want his mom to worry any longer. ¡°Alright, Aaron, let¡¯s go home.¡± Willow felt grateful and handed theptop back to Eric before turning ton. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, thanks for theptop. Your jacket¡¯s still at my ce. I¡¯ll bring it downter.¡± ¡°No need,¡±n replied, though he wanted to offer to go up himself. He paused briefly before adding. Willow, I¡¯ll swing by another day to grab it. Take care.¡± Feeling genuinely exhausted and in considerable pain from her ankle, Willow was relieved not to have to climb back up to delivern¡¯s jacket. She nodded politely to him before taking Aaron¡¯s hand and slowly making their way back into the apartmentplex. As they crossed through the gates of theplex, Aaron abruptly stopped and turned around. Biting his lip as if wrestling with a weighty decision, he fixed his gaze on Matthew. ¡°You¡¯re not my Uncle Matthew anymore. My Uncle Matthew was the best person in the world. He loved me and my mom. He just forgot how to find us. ¡°Even if he neveres back, he¡¯ll always be important to me, irreceable. Mr. Mayer, you¡¯re not him. You¡¯re just Mr. Mayer. With those words, Aaron tightly gripped Willow¡¯s arm and marched forward without a backward nce. Matthew stood motionless, observing their departure. He instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, feeling an unexpected pang. He had convinced himself he didn¡¯t care about the kid, but now he felt a sense of abandonment. It was as if the world around him had turned frigid and deste, leaving him isted and unable to find any semnce of warmth. After slipping into the car,n felt the urge to call his grandfather, Moses, and let him know he wouldn¡¯t be making it to the arranged date tomorrow. Meeting Willow had made the whole blind date seem pointless. Moses, being a night owl, hadn¡¯t hit the hay yet and picked up the phone right away. ¡°, what is it?¡± ¡°Grandpa, I won¡¯t be going to that blind date tomorrow night,¡± said, keeping his words brief and to the point. It was a habit even when speaking to his cherished grandfather. ¡°What did you say?! I¡¯ve already booked the private room, and now you¡¯re telling me you¡¯re not going? Chapter 322 n, I¡¯m telling you, you must go tomorrow night! If you don¡¯t, then¡­ you¡¯re no longer my grandson!¡± With that, Moses hung up abruptly Asn stared at the darkened phone screen, his expression grew increasingly grimn. He loathed maniptive women. Many had tried to ingratiate themselves with Moses in the past, resorting to desperate measures like drugging him. None seeded, and all met miserable ends. This woman had Moses wrapped around her finger, and it disgusted him. Seeingn¡¯s dark expression, Eric instantly grasped his thoughts.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. He cautiously said, ¡°Boss, that woman really doesn¡¯t know her ce.¡± Such gold¨Cdiggers, who would stop at nothing to marry into wealth, deserved a harsh lesson! Eric didn¡¯t want to dwell on that revolting woman any longer and decided to report the information he had gathered about Willow to his superior. ¡°Boss, Ms. Sanford is 22 years old and has been married once before,¡± Eric reported.n didn¡¯t bat an eye at Eric¡¯s words. With Willow already having a kid, a previous marriage wasn¡¯t too shocking. ¡°Hmm, go on,¡±n replied, his demeanor calm and collected. Eric figuredn would shun Willow once he learned about her past marriage. After all, the superior¡¯s aversion to anything remotely tainted was legendary, both physically and emotionally. How could he possibly tolerate a woman with a marital history and a kid to boot? Butn surprised him by letting him continue. So, Eric reluctantly soldiered on. ¡°Boss, from what I¡¯ve dug up. Ms. Sanford¡¯s ex is Mr. Carter. Their divorce was finalized just a month ago, right when Mr. Carter tied the knot with Skyler.¡± Eric¡¯s nod was firm. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s him, Mr. Carter! And, there¡¯s more I uncovered.¡± Taking note ofn¡¯s reaction, Eric proceeded with caution. ¡°If my sources are urate, that elusive woman Havenpoint was gossiping about, the one Mr. Carter gave a husband¨Cand¨Cwife farewell to, is none other than Ms. Sanford!¡± stayed silent, his brows creasing ever so subtly. Upon seeing his superior¡¯s brows furrow, Eric sensedn might be having second thoughts about Willow. Mustering his courage, he ventured, ¡°Boss, truth be told, Ms. Sanford¡¯s past seems a bit tangled. With your germophobia and all, she might not exactly be your cup of tea.¡± Eric wasn¡¯t judging women who had been married and had children. It was just that his superior was on a whole different level. Even when a princess from another country came knocking, he didn¡¯t give her the time of day. With someone as high and mighty as .This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°I admit I¡¯ve done wrong by Willow in the past, but I¡¯ve tried to make amends. I didn¡¯t expect her to manipte that child to do something like this to me. ¡°Matt, I¡¯m not pointing fingers at Willow. I just believe a child¡¯s innocence should be protected. Even if Willow had her own motives, she shouldn¡¯t have dragged a kid into this mess. ¡°Matt, please don¡¯t hold it against Willow or the kid, alright? I might be hurting, but it¡¯s not as bad as it seems,¡± Despite Wilhelmina¡¯s seemingly forgiving words toward Willow, each sentence subtly indicted her. She silently hoped Matthew had already dealt with Willow and Aaron. ¡°Matt, did you go see Willow and Aaron? Did youy a hand on them? Please don¡¯t hurt them. I¡¯m begging you, Matt. Matthew¡¯s gaze was intens¨¦, locking onto Wilhelmina¡¯s face. After what felt like an eternity, he spoke, Wi, aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Wilhelmina was taken aback. Despite considering herself sharp, she couldn¡¯t fathom why Matthew would Chapter 324 suddenly ask such a question. Before she could voice her confusion, Matthew continued in an indifferent tone, ¡°Wi, I did go see Willow and that cripple. I almost gouged that cripple¡¯s eyes out.¡± 2/2 Wilhelmina¡¯s heart soared with joy. She wished Matthew had actually blinded Aaron and even Willow. Yet, she maintained her pitiful facade. ¡°Matt, no matter what Aaron did, he¡¯s just a kid. Please spare him this time,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Wi, I didn¡¯t gouge out the boy¡¯s eyes, Matthew said, his gaze deepening with emotions that she couldn¡¯t decipher. ¡°Because I learned the truth.¡± Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Wilhelmina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She fought to maintain herposure. ¡°Matt, what¡¯s that supposed to mean? Isn¡¯t it obvious that Willow is using that kid to get to you and turn him against me?¡± ¡°Wi, did that kid actually push you?¡± Matthew¡¯s e bore into her, his voice cold and probing. Wilhelmina, normally unapologetic for her actions, felt an unsettling wave of apprehension wash over her at Matthew¡¯s icy Interrogation. ¡°Of course! If Aaron hadn¡¯t pushed me, how else would I have fallen? ¡°But Matt, please, don¡¯t me him. No matter what Willow might have influenced him to do, he¡¯s just a kid!¡± Matthew¡¯s memory was razor¨Csharp. He had only heard the recording once, yet he could repeat it word for word.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°Aaron, Matt hates you, and he hates your mom, Willow, even more. ¡°Do you know why he hates your mom so much? Because Willow is cheap and shameless. She¡¯ll sleep with anyone. Just the sight of her makes Matt sick!¡± As Wilhelmina listened to Matthew¡¯s monotonous delivery, her face drained of color. She tried to speak up in her defense. But before she could, Matthew¡¯s voice pierced the air again, cold and unwavering. ¡°Wi, I saw the video. You tripped on your own.¡± Wilhelmina¡¯s face was drained of color. She hadn¡¯t counted on Matthew¡¯s parking spot being under surveince. Frantically, she tried to clear her name. ¡°Matt, it¡¯s not what you think! It¡¯s not like that at all! You¡¯ve got it all wrong! ¡°The heels of my shoes were too high, and I identally twisted my ankle. I thought Aaron had pushed me! Matt, please, listen to me! ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to set up Aaron and Willow! I genuinely didn¡¯t realize he hadn¡¯t pushed me! I was in so much pain when I fell. I was disoriented!¡± Matthew sneered, his tired eyes veiled with darkness. If only Wilhelmina had admitted to her actions, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t feel so repulsed. But her desperate denial only deepened his disgust. He had often imed that Willow was filthy, that she made him sick. Yet, deep down, Willow never truly disgusted him. Instead, he found himself inexplicably drawn to her time and time again. He thought it was almostughable that the one who truly disgusted him was the woman he had loved for so many years¨CWi, the one he had imagined spending his life with. Despite Wilhelmina¡¯s sordid history of framing Willow, he had always chosen to believe her. It wasn¡¯t out of gullibility but out of sheer love and a desire to trust her. But now, his trust had be the most ludicrous of jokes. Chapter 325 2/2 ¡°Matt, can¡¯t you just believe me? I¡¯ve seen the error of my ways. I¡¯ve suffered, I¡¯ve paid the price, and I genuinely want to make things right with Willow.¡± As he gazed upon Wilhelmina¡¯s tear¨Cstreaked face, Matthew felt an overwhelming sense of weariness. wash over him. He couldn¡¯t even muster the desire to offer aforting embrace to the girl he¡¯d once loved with all his heart. ¡°Wi, you¡¯re my wife. I¡¯ll make sure you have everything you need: a life offort and luxury. But beyond that, I can¡¯t make any promises.¡± With a cool detachment, Matthew gently freed himself from Wilhelmina¡¯s grasp and turned away, not bothering to look back. ¡°Matt!¡± Wilhelmina scrambled to stop him, but her frantic movements only resulted in a tumble to the floor. She fell heavily to the ground, hitting her head on the nightstand in a chaotic flurry of desperation. Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Wilhelmina thought that with such a severe fall, Matthew would at leaste back tofort her. But he didn¡¯t. Feeling the sharp pain in her forehead and surrounded by endless darkness, Wilhelmina¡¯s face twisted in fury. ¡°Willow, you think ruining my reputation with Matt will give you a shot at stealing him away? Not a chance! ¡°In this game between us, I will have thestugh. And you, you¡¯ll be left to rot in the depths of despair, never to rise again!¡± Wilhelmina seethed inwardly. Tonight, Willow had a blind date lined up. After fetching Aaron from kindergarten, she dropped him off at Moses¡¯s ce. Moses lived just across the street from the small apartment Willow rented.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. He was eager to teach Aaron medicine and suggested that she drop Aaron off after school or let him send someone to pick Aaron up. Aaron showed a keen interest in medicine, and while Willow didn¡¯t want him to get too tired, she couldn¡¯t ignore his passion for learning. She decided to wholeheartedly support him. With Aaron studying medicine at Moses¡¯s, Willow found herself with more time to focus on her work and hustle for extra ie. As Willow collected Aaron from kindergarten, the teachers couldn¡¯t apologize enough. With only three of them to wrangle almost 30 kids, it was no surprise things asionally slipped past them. Aaron stood out from the crowd; while most kids would wall at the slightest injury, he remained quiet, even concealing his bruises. Despite noticing the scratches on his face, the teachers didn¡¯t delve deeper. Willow didn¡¯t feel inclined to push the issue with the teachers. Their pledge to give Aaron extra attention was all she needed to hear. Willow had no intentions of pursuing a rtionship with Moses¡¯s grandson, so she didn¡¯t bother dressing up for the asion. She simply wanted to have a straightforward conversation. Moses was a stand¨Cup guy, and she figured his grandson would be decent, too. It was better toy everything out now to avoid any future awkwardness. She slipped into a casual white dress and threw on a beige coat. Even without makeup, her natural beauty radiated like a work of art. Moses had arranged a private room at Gourmet Haven for them. When Willow arrived, his grandson hadn¡¯t shown up yet. The only thing on the table was a pot of lukewarm water. Thirsty, she poured herself a ss and casually scrolled through the news, patiently awaiting Moses¡® grandson, The VIP room at Gourmet Haven was exquisite, blending ssical elegance with modem luxury. The privacy was impable, and with the door closed, it felt like the world outside didn¡¯t exist. Chapter 326 It was just her and the pot of tea, enveloped in tranquility. Willow waited for nearly half an hour, but Moses¡¯s grandson still hadn¡¯t arrived. She was about to call Moses to check when the door suddenly opened. To her disbelief, standing in the doorway was Duncan, the man responsible for orchestrating that scandalous affair. Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Duncan being Moses¡¯s grandson? Well, that was just downright imusible. Moses hadn¡¯t even hit 70 yet, and Duncan had to be pushing 50. There was just no way Moses could have a grandson that old. Besides, Moses said his grandson grew up with him. Now, Moses was a real gentleman. No chance he could have raised someone as offbeat as Duncan. ¡°Duncan, what in tamation are you doing here?¡± Willow demanded, eyeing Duncan with suspicion. She rose from her seat, intending to leave the private room. But Duncan swiftly locked the door from the inside. Seeing Duncan¡¯s actions, Willow¡¯s nerves instantly went on high alert. Honestly, Willow would¡¯ve preferred a casual diner for a blind date. But Moses had insisted on Gourmet Haven, a fancy joint with nothing but private rooms Trusting Moses, she hadn¡¯t thought much of it. But she sure as heck didn¡¯t expect Duncan to show up. ¡°Willow, I¡¯m here for our date, sweetheart!¡± Duncan¡¯s voice oozed with desire as he closed in on Willow. his arms outstretched. ¡°Willow, I never figured we¡¯d cross paths again. But here we are, sharing this moment on a blind date.¡± ¡°Duncan, I¡¯m not going on a date with you!¡± Willow bolted toward the door, her hand gripping the handle tightly. But Duncan was a step ahead. He snatched her wrist and forcefully pushed her aside, blocking her escape. ¡°Willow, feeling a bit toasty, aren¡¯t you?¡± Duncan¡¯s narrowed eyes held a sinister gleam as he addressed her. Willow braced herself against the wall, realizing only now the heat creeping up on her. Despite the room¡¯s cool air and her light clothing, sweat trickled down her brow. It hit her like a ton of bricks: the water she¡¯d sipped had been tampered with. Fury boiled inside Willow. She couldn¡¯t believe Duncan would stoop so low. Who would¡¯ve thought that a simple drink at a fancy restaurant could be spiked? ¡°Duncan, get the hell away from me!¡± Seeing Duncan reach for her arm, Willow forcefully shoved him away and continued toward the door. But Duncan calmly stood in her path. ¡°Willow, besides feeling hot, are you noticing anything else?¡± Willow balled her fists, feeling a wave of weakness crashing over her. ¡°Duncan, you scumbag!¡± She pushed with all her might, determined to break free. She had to get out, or this night would be a totalC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. disaster. ¡°Scumbag? Willow, you¡¯re calling me bad! They say women love a bad boy. I know you¡¯re into me!¡± Chapter 327 22 Yeah right! Willow fought the urge to gag. Into him? Should she be into his receding hairline or his beer gut? Or maybe that greasy smirk of his? Those were enough to give her nightmares! Chapter 328 Chapter 328 1/2 Willow cringed away from Duncan¡¯s mmy, fishy¨Csmelling hand. But her body felt as limp as a rag doll. She was incapable of breaking free. As Duncan¡¯s face drew nearer, Willow was hit with a wave of revulsion. She turned and gagged uncontrobly. ¡°What are you puking for, Willow? I haven¡¯t even made a move yet. Are you pregnant already or what?¡± ¡°Duncan, let me go!¡± With her right hand ensnared, Willow reached for her phone with her injured hand, aiming to dial the police. ing to snap a selfie? ¡°What¡¯s the phone for, Willow?¡± Duncan¡¯s greasy face glinted with amusement. ¡°nning to ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll give you plenty of chances to take all the pictures you want!¡± Before Duncan could utter another word, his phone rang abruptly Seeing it was Skyler calling, he quickly answered, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here. Ms. Dawson, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll start the live stream soon!¡± The sound of Duncan conversing with Skyler made Willow¡¯s blood boil. Live streaming this? They had to be kidding! If Duncan dared to assault her on live broadcast, her life would be over. Despite the drugs clouding her mind, Willow managed to connect a few dots. Duncan¡¯s unexpected appearance, likely orchestrated by Skyler and possibly involving Moses¡® grandson, felt like a deliberate ploy to humiliate her. It seemed Moses¡® grandsoncked the courage to face her himself and instead sent Duncan as his proxy. And Duncan, eager to curry favor with Skyler, probably spilled the beans, leading to their joint scheme to make her suffer. Willow couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sadness. If Moses¡® grandson wasn¡¯t interested in her, he could have just declined the date. She wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about it either and was only agreeing out of politeness. But she never expected such cruelty. Nevertheless, no matter how heartless they were, she refused to let them win. With her mind growing foggier, Willow bit her lip hard to stay awake.. She opened her mouth and shouted, ¡°Help!¡± But the room¡¯s soundproofing was too good. No one outside could hear her. Chapter 320 2/2 ¡°Willow, stop yelling. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will to save you. Don¡¯t waste your energy!¡± Duncan sneered. He turned and shoved Willow onto the leather seat. ¡°Duncan, get the fuck away from me!¡± Duncanughed wickedly. cing his phone on a stand, he opened a streaming app and started a live broadcast. ¡°Willow, now you can put on a real show!¡± he taunted.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Chapter 329 Chapter 329 ¡°Get away from me! Fuck off Willow¡¯s mind was swimming in a thick fog. She had lost track of time and could only instinctively cover her face to keep it out of the camera¡¯s view. Duncan made her feel endlessly disgusted. She had no idea what he were terrifyingly strong. Her body wouldn¡¯t respond to her at all. had drugged her with, but its effects Willow knew that if she lost control, stripped off her clothes, and threw herself at Duncan on a live stream, her life would bepletely ruined. Before, Skyler had tried to tear her down with photos and videos, but those four guys had botched it. But this time, Skyler had resorted to this vile tactic of live streaming. Willow gritted her teeth; she wasn¡¯t about to roll over for Skyler. With a grunt, she hoisted her hand, putting every ounce of her strength into smashing the ss on the table. Gripping a jagged shard, she sliced a deep gash into the back of her hand. The searing pain jolted Willow¡¯s mind back into focus, giving her a brief surge of adrenaline. She snatched the teapot off the table and mmed it down on Duncan¡¯s skull. Though Willow put some muscle into it, her weakened state spared Duncan from a bloody mess. Still, his face twisted into an ugly grimace. Knowing that the live stream rolled on, he swallowed his rage and shed a sickening smile. ¡°Willow, quit it. We¡¯ve got an audience waiting for us.¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Willow wanted tond another blow on Duncan, but her muscles wouldn¡¯t cooperate. the tim He sensed the timing was perfect. With a smirk stretching his pudgy face, Duncan said, ¡°Willow, don¡¯t be mad! Come on, I¡¯ll keep youpany.¡± With that, Duncan pounced on Willow, Furious to the point of nearly grinding her teeth to dust, Willow¡¯s feeble body and the need to shield her face left her helpless. She could only watch in despair as Duncan¡¯s repulsive face loomed closer. Suddenly, the door to the private room was violently kicked open. Zayn stormed in, his presence crackling with fury. ¡°Willow, who the hell told you it was okay to go on a date with another guy? You think I¡¯m dead, Willow? Damn it¡­ ¡°Help!¡± Willow¡¯s plea echoed in the tense air. She didn¡¯t want to see Zayn, but he was herst hope. Duncan was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. He scrambled to shut down the live stream and turned to face Zayn, his smile now forced and uneasy. Chapte 329 2/2 ¡°Mr. Carter, Willow and I are on a date tonight. Willow couldn¡¯t even wait until after dinner. She¡­¡± Duncan¡¯s words trailed off, the unspoken usation hanging thick in the tense atmosphere. ly at th news of Willow¡¯s rendezvous Zayn¡¯s expression morphed swiftly. His anger simmered with another man, and his fists clenched with a desire to throttle her for her perceived betrayal. But amidst his fury, Zayn wasn¡¯t foolish. Despite Willow¡¯s questionable taste, she wouldn¡¯t willingly consort with someone like Duncan. And from her demeanor, it was evident she had been coerced into this situation by someone else. She was calling out for him to save her. ¡°Mr. Carter, could you A sharp smack interrupted Duncan¡¯s words.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ce step outside for a moment¡­. Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Zayn¡¯s fistnded square on Duncan¡¯s face, knocking a tooth right out of his mouth and sending it skidding across the floor. Duncan clutched his bleeding mouth, his chubby cheeks twisting in agony. Before he could even think about recovering, Zayn¡¯s foot mmed into his chest, stealing the air from his lungs. Struggling to breathe, Duncan finally managed to choke out, ¡°Mr. Carter, I¡­ I quit¡­¡± With a thunderous crash, Zayn mmed Duncan to the ground and then delivered a vicious kick to his most sensitive area. The pain was too much, and Duncan passed out. As consciousness slipped away, Duncan, the aging yboy, couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this might just be the end of the line for him. Zayn took Willow straight back to his vi. Even though he had beaten up Duncan, the mere notion of Willow eagerly entertaining another man on a date ignited a firestorm of rage within him. He was itching to teach this clueless woman a lesson. Yet, as he witnessed the blood still oozing from the wound on her hand, his heart wavered with conflicting emotions. In the end, he begrudgingly fetched some ointment and carefully tended to her injury. ¡°Willow, from now on, you¡¯re not allowed to go on dates with other men anymore!¡± his voice rang out with a firmness that brooked no argument. After applying the ointment, Zayn turned around and noticed that the buttons on her coat were undone. Her porcin¨Clike face was flushed an unnatural shade of red. With her naturally alluring features enhanced by the enticing flush on her cheeks and the misty allure in her eyes, she exuded the aura of a seductive enchantress. The thought of Duncan, that repulsive old man, catching sight of Willow¡¯s captivating appearance if he had arrived anyter fueled Zayn¡¯s already zing temper. ¡°Willow, if you ever dare to go on another date with another man, I¡¯ll break your legs!¡± His words carried a menacing undertone. Willow¡¯s consciousness waspletely muddled, so she shrugged off the heavy coat. Even the light, white dress beneath it was too constricting. ¡°Willow!¡± He pulled her into his arms and kissed her urgently. Willow¡¯s butterfly¨Clike eyshes fluttered gently as she slowly opened her eyes. Her mind was still foggy, her reactions sluggish. Seeing the handsome face in front of her, she felt like she was dreaming.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. She was seething with anger. Despite her efforts to convince herself she couldn¡¯t love Zayn anymore, still invaded her dreams. She couldn¡¯t afford to dream of him, let alone entertain the idea of loving him. again. he Chapter 330 2/2 She closed her eyes and repeated to herself like a mantra, ¡°Zayn, I don¡¯t love you anymore. I don¡¯t love you anymore¡­¡± He had hurt her too many times, and loving him had be the cruelest joke. She refused to be the punchline. ¡°Willow, what did you say? Say it again!¡± Zayn¡¯s intense gaze bore into Willow¡¯s enchanting face, his words slicing through the tension. ¡°Willow, who do you love?!¡± Chapter 331 Chapter 331 ¡°Who does she love?¡± Willow wondered. She feltpletely lost. It seemed like Zayn was the only person she had ever truly loved. But Zayn had abandoned their son, Aaron, killed the baby she was carrying and even tried to end her life. Now, she had no idea who she loved anymore. All she knew was that she no longer loved Zayn. She couldn¡¯t love him, didn¡¯t dare to love him, and didn¡¯t want to love him. ¡°Zayn, I don¡¯t love you anymore. I don¡¯t love you anymore¡­¡± Willow repeated as if she were lost in a trance. Zayn could sense something was wrong. A feeling was gnawing at him, telling him she wasn¡¯t herself. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to take advantage of her vulnerability. But her repeated deration pierced through him like a knife, awakening a fury inside him that he could barely contain. Each utterance of her rejection stoked the mes of his anger. ¡°Willow, I forbid you to stop loving me!¡± he eximed. Zayn grabbed Willow¡¯s shoulders tightly. His eyes quickly turned a terrifying shade of red, reflecting the most violent of emotions. Yet, Willow was oblivious to his anger and continued murmuring, ¡°Zayn, I don¡¯t love you anymore¡­¡± ¡°Willow, how dare you!¡± With his anger boiling over, Zayn could no longer contain the tempest of emotions swirling within him. ¡°Boss, Duncan took care of it,¡± Eric reported ton about the situation with the shameless woman. ¡°Alright,¡±n responded calmly while elegantly flipping through the documents in front of him. Despite his curiosity about how badly Duncan had treated the woman, Eric knew better than to indulge in gossip withn, who detested such idle chatter. Still, he couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity and wanted to check on the situation. Just as he was about to dial Duncan¡¯s number,n¡¯s phone began ringing urgently. ncing at the caller ID,n saw it was his grandfather, Moses. He hesitated briefly. He wasn¡¯t eager to take the call, but out of respect for his grandfather, he reluctantly answered. ¡°Grandpa, what is it?¡± n, have you arrived yet? Don¡¯t keep the youngdy waiting for your first meeting! You¡¯ve met her by now, right? I wasn¡¯t lying: Ms. Sanford is a rare gem!¡± Despite the abundance of Sanfords in the world,n had never linked this shameless Ms. Sanford with Willow. He was on the verge of telling Moses he wouldn¡¯t entertain the blind date and cautioning him about the woman¡¯s true intentions when a child¡¯s innocent voice broke through the line. ¡°Mr. Quayle, Mommy¡¯s going on a date? Who¡¯s she meeting? I¡¯m so curious!¡± Willow¡¯s son. Aaron¡¯s mom¡­ Sanford¡­ Could it be that Moses was setting him up with Willow? 2/2 CC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. chapter 332 hapter 332 Chapter 332 ¡°Aaron, you¡¯ll find out soon. If they hit it off, they¡¯ll be over here together in no time!¡± Moses reassured. Aaron with a grin. Turning ton, Moses¡¯s smile remained. n, when you¡¯re with ady, be a gentleman. And if I hear you¡¯ve scared Ms. Sanford off with that cold demeanor of yours, you¡¯ll have me to answer to!¡± Thoughn was nearly certain the blind date was with Willow, he grasped onto a faint hope and inquired, Grandpa, what¡¯s the name of the woman I¡¯m supposed to meet?¡± Previously indifferent to her identity,n now felt an urgent need to know. ¡°It¡¯s Willow Sanford! Ms. Sanford is practically the nation¡¯s sweetheart right now. With your ice¨Ccold demeanor and aversion to women, you¡¯re hardly a match for her. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t practically begged Ms. Sanford to meet you, she wouldn¡¯t have agreed to this date!¡± So it really was Willow. Ian couldn¡¯t hear anything else Moses said. All he could think about was getting to Gourmet Haven as fast as possible to tell Willow he was willing to go on this blind date. *To Gourmet Haven!¡±nmanded coldly as soon as he hung up the phone. Eric was taken aback by the sudden order, but he quickly pieced it together. Knowing how much the boss despised that shameless, conniving woman, and if she was being tormented by Duncan, Ian would definitely want to witness it firsthand. Understanding his boss¡¯s intentions, Eric was eager to impress him. He thrust his phone towardn, saying, ¡°Boss, Duncan is a real piece of work! Sending him over tonight was spot¨Con. Look, I didn¡¯t even notice earlier, but he actually sent me a message an hour ago. ¡°He¡¯s been at Gourmet Haven early, spiking the teapot with God¨Cknows¨Cwhat. Bet he¡¯s already sealed the deal with that woman. ¡°That conniving broad tried to cozy up to you, boss, but ended up in bed with some sleazy old geezer. Ha, bet shell be gagging once it¡¯s all said and done!¡± Eric figured his boss, the icy, unppablen, would just grunt in response. Instead, face went white as a sheet. He practically shouted, ¡°What the hell did you just say?¡± Eric couldn¡¯t believe it. The man standing before him, usually as emotionless as a brick wall, now wore an expression of pure panic and dread. Was this really the same guy who never batted an eysh in the face of danger? Eric¡¯s sharp mind couldn¡¯t wrap itself aroundn¡¯s sudden change in demeanor. He managed to stammer, ¡°Boss, that woman¡¯s getting what¡¯sing to her tonight, for sure.¡± Butn, regal and unmatched, had already snatched his car keys and stormed out of the office like a bat out of hell before Eric could utter another word. Chapter 332 Bewildered, Eric followed suit, trailing after his boss on the frigid winter night. As the biting wind cut throughn¡¯s chest, he rolled down the car window, letting the icy air wash over him. Amidst the suffocating pain in his heart, the chill offered a brief respite. He refused to let Eric take the wheel, opting to drive himself and pedal to the metal. What should¡¯ve been an hour¨Clong drive was cut in half. Eric, unustomed to such speeds, clung dearly to the door handle. He was afraid he¡¯d be ejected if he let go. When he finally snapped back to reality,n was already in the elevator. Eric stumbled after him, determined to stick by his side. Moses had booked a private room on the second floor. ¡°Boss, are you sure about this? Heard Duncan¡¯s left a few women crippled before. It¡¯s gonna be a bloodbath in there. Let me check it out first,¡± Eric urged as they reached the door. Inside, the room was eerily vacant, But the pool of crimson on the floor searedn¡¯s eyes with its brutal truth. Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Taking in the mess inside the room, Eric was caught off guard. After a beat, he couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Duncan¡¯s still as messed up as ever. Boss, you can breathe easy now. That shameless woman must¡¯ve been put through hell. Bet she¡¯s too shattered to even shed a tear¡­¡± Eric¡¯s voice trailed off when he noticed the look inn¡¯s eyes. His usuallyposed and stoic boss had eyes zing with a deep, crimson fury¨Cborn from heart-wrenching pain. EricC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ovedn with concern. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong? You look¡­ rough.¡± ¡°The woman tonight¡­ was Willow,¡±n¡¯s voice quivered as if it came from afar. Eric¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Willow? That meant the person who suffered so horribly was Willow! No wondern was acting so strangely. Eric wanted to speak up, butn¡¯s menacing presence rendered him speechless. He quietly exited the room to find out about Willow¡¯s well¨Cbeing. Zayn¡¯s unexpected appearance at Gourmet Haven had raised eyebrows among the staff, making it easy for Eric to uncover the truth. Returning cautiously to the room, Eric foundn still frozen in ce. Taking a deep breath, he broke the silence, saying, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve got word on Ms. Sanford¡¯s location.¡± ¡°Speak!¡±n barked, sending Eric stumbling back a few paces. Eric¡¯s lips trembled before he cautiously responded, ¡°Boss, I couldn¡¯t confirm if Duncan got what he wanted tonight. But right before we arrived, Mr. Carter came and took Ms. Sanford away. ¡°As they left, a staffer saw them and said¡­ said she was bleeding. Bad.¡± She was bleeding¡­n felt a sharp pang in his chest, nearly suffocating. He clutched at his heart, but the pain was only escting. So much time had passed, and with Duncan being so twisted, the chances of her getting out unscathed were slim to none. She was probably already¡­ He had hurt her. And in the end, he wasn¡¯t the one to swoop in and save her. Tonight, no matter what went down, she still meant the world to him. He¡¯d spend his days making up for the mess he unwittingly caused. For her, he¡¯d face any challenge and brave any danger. As Willow stirred awake, dawn¡¯s light already filled the room. She blinked, her gaze fixated on the ceiling. Her mind was foggy with confusion. But soon, that confusion Chapter 333 morphed into a searing humiliation. Despite being drugged into a haze the night before, she could still recall what followed. She had slept with Zayn again. 22 Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Once again, she¡¯d slept with the very person she swore to cut out of her life. Willow felt filthy, even to herself. Zayn, an early riser, had already left the vi. Willow stiffly picked up her clothes from the floor, hastily put them on, and headed out. Her inner garments were torn beyond recognition. But fortunately, her thick wool coat had proven too resilient for Zayn¡¯s attempts to rip it apart. And with the coat trailing down to her ankles, after squeezing into her inneryers, she wrapped it tightly around herself, managing to hide most of her disheveled state. As winter crept in deeper and the icy wind bit harder, Willow was numb to the cold. All she wanted was to hustle back to her small apartment and wash away the filth. She knew that by now, Moses would have arranged for Aaron to be taken to school, but she still felt the urge to call and make sure. As fate would have it, just as she pulled out her phone, Moses called. Thinking back tost night stirred up a whirlwind of emotions in Willow, leaving her unsure of what to say to Moses. But before she could gather her thoughts, Moses burst in with unbridled enthusiasm, ¡°Ms. Sanford, what¡¯s your take on my grandson? I hope I didn¡¯t oversell him. Isn¡¯t myn just drop¨Cdead gorgeous?¡± n?¡± Willow¡¯s mind raced as she tried to ce something together. It felt familiar, yet distant, like a forgotten dream. ¡°Yeah,n. You remember him, right? Didn¡¯t he introduce himself?¡± Moses¡® voice crackled with amusement. ¡°That sly kid! Ms. Sanford,n¡¯s full name ish Nightingale. He¡¯s got quite the reputation. I figured since you weren¡¯t exactly thrilled about the blind date, I¡¯d keep his identity under wraps. Can¡¯t me a guy for trying, can you?¡± ¡°Ms. Sanford, I just calledn. He¡¯s smitten with you, Ms. Sanford. Can you believe it? I thought that guy was into men, but it turns out he¡¯s got eyes for you! So, spill it, Ms. Sanford. Are you inton?¡± Listening to Moses¡¯s warm and kind voice, Willow couldn¡¯t quite decipher her own feelings. Moses¡¯s grandson turned out to be none other than the renowned Mr. Nightingale. Butst night, Duncan showed up in the private room,n went so far as to involve Duncan, a downright despicable character, just to avoid meeting her or, more likely, to publicly shame her. Ironically, from their previous encounters, she had believedn was different from those arrogant, aloof men, thinking he possessed a genuine warmth. Yet, once again, she found herself underestimating the cruel depths of human nature. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything, Ms. Sanford? What do you really think ofn?¡± Willow wasn¡¯t about to mix up her moralpass. She knew that no matter how awfuln had been to Chapter 334 her, Moses had nothing but genuine concern for her. Not wanting to cause him any more worry, she softly responded, ¡°He¡¯s okay.¡± No further interaction would be the best oue. It was best to leave it at that.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Satisfied with her response, Moses hung up the phone contentedly. 2/2 Willow slid her phone back into her pocket, mustering a stiff smile that bordered on self¨Cmockery. Moving forward like a specter, she pressed on. She yearned to rise above, to grow stronger. That was why she cherished the opportunity to endorse Arena of Glory. But now, it seemed that chance was slipping through her fingers. Yet no matter how many tried to trample her, Willow was determined to thrive as long as she had breath In her lungs. In her lifetime, she pledged to provide the best protection for Aaron. Walking the streets like a zombie, Willow didn¡¯t even realize how she made it back to her small apartment. As she reached for her keys, ready to unlock the door, she looked up and spottedn standing outside the apartment. Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Chapter 335 1/2 Willow couldn¡¯t help but tear up when she recalled hown had instructed Duncan to torture and assault herst night. What happened to his trust in her and his remark about her having the purest soul in the world? Taking a step back, she tried to address him calmly, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, are you here to retrieve your jacket?¡± to make his heart flutter. Yet, Willow left a strong impression on him after he took a glimpse of her. He could never forget about her in this life, and he wouldn¡¯t want to either. Her face was extremely pale. Ayer of frost lined her wind¨Ccaressed cheeks. Her pale and tiny face made her appear more vulnerable, as if she¡¯d fall apart if he held her. His gaze traveled from her face to her neck. The obvious red marks on her neck were proof of violent strangtion. He furrowed his brows at the jarring sight of the scary red marks. His frown deepened when he noticed the deep scratch¨Cabout the length of a thumb¨Con the back of her right hand. He had wanted to reach out to examine the injury on the back of her hand when his attention was drawn to her bandaged left hand. Blood continued seeping out of the gauze, and to his astonishment, he noticed. the missing pinky finger on her left hand. Eyes wavering, he approached her for a better look at her left hand, only for her to back off. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, could you please step aside?¡± Staring at her feet, she struggled to conceal her embarrassment. *Please make way so I can open the door and get you your jacket.¡± After he stepped aside, Willow clutched the key and limped to the door. Last night, she twisted her ankle when Matthew shoved her. Despite the pain, she stood straight and tall. Knowing thatn looked down on her, she knew she¡¯d only disgust him by acting deferential. She wanted to defend her dignity and refused to be perceived as inferior and filthy. Due to the agonizing pain, she struggled to open the door. After clumsily opening the door, she headed to the couch. She had wanted to grabn¡¯s suit and jacket from him, but she refrained from doing so since he had entered the room with her. Her hands were slightly dirty, and she wouldn¡¯t want to soil his jacket. Ian did not take his jacket. Instead, his eyes were glued to Willow¡¯s face, never once looking away. She softly reminded him, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, your jacket is on the couch.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Sincen refused to move, she wiped down her less¨Cinjured right hand with a wet napkin and carefully Chapter 336 Chapter 336 ¡°Mr. Nightingale, here¡¯s your jacket,¡± Willow spoke, pullingn back to reality. He stiffly epted the jacket with intense emotions in his deep eyes. She could not make sense of the emotions in his eyes, and she had no desire to. Since he refused to leave, Willow had to politely ask him to leave. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I¡¯ve returned your jacket. Please leave. To ensure that he¡¯dply, she added, ¡°I need to take a shower.¡± He couldn¡¯t possibly hang around her tiny apartment when she took a shower, could he? Hearing that, he finally noticed the bruises on her neck, apart from the red strangtion marks. He was averse to women and shied from physical contact, but he knew what had happened to cause the bruises on her neck. Frozen on the spot, he nced at her vacantly. He was a tacit man, but he knew very well that she wanted to take a shower to wash away the filth on her body fromst night¨Cno thanks to him. ¡°Willow¡­¡± She mistakenly thought he wanted to remind her to keep the incident a secret from Moses. Chuckling in a self¨Cdeprecating manner, she said softly, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, don¡¯t worry. I will not tell Mr. Quayle aboutst night. He won¡¯t hear about your refusal to attend a blind date with me.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Just now, Mr. Quayle called me, but I did notin about you with him.¡± ¡°Willow, that wasn¡¯t what I meant,n argued. He had always been clear¨Cminded and straight to the point, yet he was at a loss for words when he addressed Willow. The cynical expression on her face deepened. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, you didn¡¯t have to resort to great lengthsst night, you know.¡± Her tone softened. ¡°You really didn¡¯t have to.¡± Then, she remarked, ¡°I know you didn¡¯t want to attend the blind date with me. To be honest, I did not want to show up to the date, but I found it hard to turn down Mr. Quayle¡¯s request¨Che¡¯s such a nice and enthusiastic old man. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, don¡¯t you worry. I have no interest in you, and I will not cause you any trouble. You don¡¯t have to get jerks like Duncan Whitman to humiliate me. ¡°Sure, I wanted a better life for Aaron, but I never intended to social climb. Mr. Nightingale, you are overthinking. ¡°Please go home now. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll never cross paths again. I will not show up in front of you and make it unpleasant for you.¡± She thoughtn would leave after she gave him her promise. To her dismay, he remained rooted in the middle of her living room. Undecipherable emotions surged in his eyes. 27 Purple veins stretched across the white of his eyes. His usually cold and distant eyes were now bloodshot, giving him a more human appearance. He resembled a fallen angel who had sumbed to human desires and emotions. Willow slowly looked away from him. It was then she noticed the closed door, which pieced together the puzzle. A man as haughty asn would hate to open the door for himself. She thought, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll open the door for him and send him on his way.¡± The pain in her ankle intensified. Leaning against the wall, she struggled to make her way to the door. Opening the door, she said to him, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I¡¯ve opened the door for you. Please leave now.¡± He moved toward her in great strides. At first, she thought he would finally leave. To her surprise, he went over to her and pulled her into a hug. Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Willow¡¯s eyes widened. She was utterly shocked byn¡¯s bizarre behavior. He had first gained her trust, warming her heart, only to instruct Duncan Whitman to humite her after everything. Now, he hugged her for no reason. She suspected that he might be schizophrenic. Willow had nothing against patients with mental illness¨Csome could be gentle and friendly. Still, she could not shake off the trauma and fear from her time at ckstorm Mental Hospital. She feared thatn might be an outlier¨Cone of those violent patients. Judging from his treatment of her fromst night, he must be struggling with some serious issues. Although she was resentful of Zayn, she had to thank him for saving her from Duncan. Else, she would be ruined for life. Duncan must have spiked her drink with some potent drugs, as shepletely forgot about her identity when she was brought back to Zayn¡¯s vi. Had she remained with Duncanst night, she feared that the livestream audience would have to witness the shameful scenes of Duncan assaulting her. incidents. She decided to keep a distance from crazies like him. She frantically pushed him away. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, please calm down!¡± Casting a wary look at him, she then noticed his jacket falling onto the ground. Picking it up, she stuffed it into his arms. ¡°Here¡¯s your jacket. Y¨CYou must be a busy man. Please leave now!¡± Her vignce distressed him. However, he believed he totally deserved to be hated after seeing the injuries on her hand. He exined, ¡°Willow, I didn¡¯t know you were the woman at the blind datest night. Born into a high social status,n was prideful and never bothered to exin himself. However, he suddenly humbled himself in front of Willow in the hope of getting the chance to be closer to her. ¡°Hm?¡± Willow did not expect him to exin himself. Before she could recover from the shock, he continued, ¡°Willow, I never wanted to hurt you. I would never have asked Duncan to demean you if I had known you were the woman from the blind date.¡± It was the first timen had spoken at such length, and he was surprised to find that exining himself to Willow didn¡¯t feel terrible at all. *There were cases of women trying to curry favor with my grandpa to approach me. Some of them even spiked my drinks for a chance to date me. ¡°Their behavior disgusted me. When my grandpa called me about the blind date, I thought you were one of those women. Willow, I misunderstood you and hurt you. For that, I apologize.¡± Chapter 337 She was shell¨Cshocked. Having heard rumors aboutn¡¯s ruthless and arrogant nature, she couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d apologize.. Though she was surprised by his action, she was by no means touched. Had she been assaulted by Duncanst night, no amount of apology from a high¨Cborn man liken could make up for it. Even if she narrowly escaped being sexually assaulted by Duncan, she ended up sleeping with Zayn. The shame that came with it could never be erased. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I¡¯m sure you were aware of the consequences when you decided to send Duncan Whitman after me. Did you ever consider how my life would be ruined? Call me difficult or stubborn, but I refuse to ept your apology.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 338 hapter 230 Chapter 338 Willow urged, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I really need to take a shower. Please leave. ¡°It¡¯s good to be upfront with each other. We are not from the same world, and we¡¯re not a good match, Goodbye, Mr. Nightingale!¡± The door was wide open. Sincen remained unresponsive, she repeated her action of holding the door, hinting at him to leave. However,n seemed to have nted himself firmly on the floor. He did not budge at all.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Concerned, Willow knew she was too weak to forcefully remove him. She turned around furiously and retreated to her bedroom so that she did not have to engage in a staring war with him even if he refused to leave. ¡°Willow!¡±n grabbed her wrist. His tone was filled with concern and pain, which was unfamiliar to her. You¡¯re injured!¡± ¡°Mr. Nightingale, I¡¯m totally fine. I¡¯ll take care of the injuries.¡± She tried to remove her hand, but he did not n to let her go. Forcing her to take a seat on the couch, he offered, ¡°I¡¯ll dress your wounds.¡± After that,n made a call to Eric. Eric was highly efficient. Within ten minutes, he delivered a tube of medicinal cream, along with the antiseptic solution, cotton swabs, gauze, medicated ointment, and more. Asn grew up under Moses¡¯s care, he knew a thing or two about applying treatment. Dressing Willow¡¯s wounds was a piece of cake for him. First, he worked on the wound on the back of her right hand. Zayn had applied some ointment to the wound earlier, but it still looked terrifying. Frowning,n carefully dabbed the cotton swab in the medicated ointment before applying it to her wound. Willow did not wantn¡¯s help, but she was too exhausted to fight back against his stubbornness. She let him be. Meanwhile, Eric¡¯s jaw dropped to the fall. He stared in shock atn, feeling his perception ofn shifting.n, who was gently tending to a woman¡¯s wound, resembled nothing like the ruthless leader he used to
  1. be.
How interesting! Eric stood hesitantly in the living room, debating between leaving or staying. In the end, he broke out in cold sweat, shifting ufortably at the unusual behavior of his boss. Aftern was done dressing the wound on Willow¡¯s right hand, he reached out for her left hand. The bandage on her left hand, soaked in blood, should be discarded. He knew removing the bandage would hurt because the cloth clung to their skin from the blood. Despite that, she did not utter a word when he removed the bandage, but she turned pale from the pain. felt sorry when he noticed Willow silently enduring the pain. She was just an ordinary woman who must have been afraid of pain. How many challenges had she suffered through to develop such a high Chapter 238 tolerance for pain? Besides, the injury on her left hand was worse than what he had imagined. Her skin was a bloodied mess, resembling nothing like what it looked like before. The already¨Chealed stump of her pinky finger started bleeding again. Knowing the touch sensitivity of human fingers, he could only imagine how much pain she was in. For the first time in his life,n teared up for a woman. He tightened his grip on her wrist. ¡°Willow, how did you lose your pinky finger?¡± im Bonus For Free Every Da Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Willow wasn¡¯t only hurt in her hand. Ian noticed the uneven patches of skin and scabs on her wrist- evidence of her failed attempt at slitting her wrist. How much despair had she experienced to drive her to take her own life?n¡¯s regrets deepened. He regretted not meeting her earlier in life and protecting her from the vicissitudes of life. Willow stared down at the stump where her pinky finger used to be. She replied nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡± Then, she said, ¡°Mr. Nightingale, thanks for tending to my wounds. My hands are certainly not in the best shape to do it myself.¡± She andn were not close, not to mention there were grudges between them. She wasn¡¯t ready to share her inner thoughts with him. Since the injury on her left hand had been tended to, she thought it was time forn to leave. However, he grabbed her ankle this time. She couldn¡¯t find her socks in Zayn¡¯s bedroom that morning and went around barefooted. Willow felt uneasy when a grown man held her by the ankle. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, please let go of me!¡± At the same time, Eric covered his face in embarrassment, thinking, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re shameless! It¡¯s one thing to dress her wounds. Why would you grab her by the ankle? That¡¯s so kinky and twisted! How lustful of you!¡± ¡°Willow, you have a sprained ankle,n exined. Despite that, she didn¡¯t want his help to treat her ankle. She mustered all her energy to withdraw her foot, but he gripped her ankle tightly. ¡°Mr. Nightingale, my ankle is fine. Thanks for dressing my wounds. I¡¯m feeling much better now. Please go home.¡± ¡°Willow, I¡¯ll massage your ankle for you,¡± he insisted in a gentle yet charmingly assertive tone.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Since Willow did not seem cooperative, he added in a rare move, ¡°Willow, just see me as your doctor for now.¡± She froze. If she were at a doctor¡¯s office, the doctor¨Cmale or female¨Cwould do the same, massaging her ankle and applying medicine Not wanting to seem petty, she decided not to argue againstn¡¯s reasoning. Once she relented,n unbottled the medicinal ointment and applied it to her ankle, massaging it like a professional. Chapter 339 observing Moses massaging his patients. He replicated Moses¡® methods skillfully. Eric watched, baffled and surprised. He couldn¡¯t reconcile the gentleman massaging Willow¡¯s ankle with his bloodthirsty boss. At this moment,n was just an irresistible womanizer. Feeling conflicted, Eric realized he might need to gain Willow¡¯s favor for his own benefit. Who knew if she might one day be Mrs. Nightingale? Initially, Willow felt ufortable withn massaging her ankle. However, his professionalism soon put her at ease, and she gradually perceived him as a doctor.. Chapter 340 Chapter 340 After some massaging, the pain in Willow¡¯s ankle seemed to have lessened. The cooling sensation of the medicinal ointment feltfortable. The physical contact with the opposite sex did not temptn. It wasn¡¯t that Willow was unattractive to him. On the contrary, she was the only woman he ever felt attracted to. However, his desire for her was eclipsed by the anguish he felt. His heart ached upon seeing the injuries across her body, and his soul was thrust into deep pain. Her calm demeanor brought to mind a fortune teller¡¯s prophecy from his childhood. He had been told he would lead a life of boundless wealth. Only after meeting Willow did he realize that, despite his arrogance from his privileged background, he would one day willingly sacrifice everything for a woman. He reluctantly released her ankle and asked her in a low voice, ¡°Willow, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better. Thank you, Mr. Nightingale.¡± She stood up, steadying herself on the couch. ¡°I¡¯m orry for taking up so much of your time. Let¡¯s forget about what happenedst night. We have to move on somehow.¡± ¡°As for the blind date¡­ Please inform Mr. Quayle that we are, unfortunately, not a good match. Mr. Nightingale, to be honest with you, I have no ns to date. I think I¡¯m fine living with Aaron, ¡°I hope you meet the woman of your dreams soon.¡± his dreams¨Cthe only woman who made his heart flutter. However, he refrained from confessing his feelings upon seeing her dead eyes and her polite smile. Willow started off with a good impression of him, but he messed it up. He single¨Chandedly ruined her perception of him. He¡¯d only scare her away if he insisted on pursuing her. ¡°Willow, have a good rest. He reached out to pat her on the shoulder, but he eventually withdrew his hand, as he believed the move to be too intimate for their current rtionship and might disgust her.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. She silently let out a sigh of relief. The troublemaker was finally going to leave her apartment. ¡°For tonight.¡±n began. His words reminded her of her promise to buy him dinner from the auditionst night. She cut him off.¡± Mr. Nightingale, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m feeling unwell, so I will not treat you to dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Feeling disappointed, he did not insist on a dinner nheless. ¡°Eric will contact you this afternoon to get the contract signed.¡± With that,n turned around and left her apartment. Eric followed closely behind him. Certain details about the contract did not requiren¡¯s approval, but Eric thought it was necessary to consultn, given the importance of Willow ton. ¡°Boss, regarding Ms. Sanford¡¯s endorsement fee¡­ Chapter 340 ¡°Well, the contract stipted an annual endorsement fee of 10 million dors¨Cthe rate for A¨Clisters. But Ms. Sanford isn¡¯t even a D¨Clister. Based on the industry rules, we can only offer her a tenth of the rate for an A¨Clister, or even lower.¡± ¡°Willow Sanford will be an A¨Clister one day!¡±n insisted with determination. Eric immediately got the hint that there was no need to change the endorsement fee in the contract. Zayn had just parked his car by the street when he sawn emerging from Willow¡¯s neighborhood. Zayn wasn¡¯t in the best mood that day, and his expression crumpled even more at the thought ofn leaving Willow¡¯s apartment. Chapter 341 Chapter 341 ¡°That easy woman is really something!¡± thought Zayn as he was ovee with a murderous feeling. He left his car with a sour face and the urge to smash the food container in his hand. On second thought, he brushed off the idea and picked it up instead. As he had visited Willow¡¯s apartment before, it didn¡¯t take him long to find his way there. Willow was about to remove her clothes and take a shower aftern left, but she was interrupted by the ringing doorbell. It was highly unlikely forn to return. Instead of answering the door, she peered out of the peephole with a frown. She found a furious Zayn standing by the door. It was such an incredulous situation. She should have been the one to be angry at him. What made him think he could throw a fit at her? ¡°Willow Sanford!¡± he bellowed. Willow had no ns to open the door for him. She turned around and headed to her bedroom. Suddenly, she received a call on her phone. She answered the call without checking the caller ID. Zayn¡¯s voice rang in her ear. ¡°Willow Sanford, open the door!¡± Her ear hurt from his yelling. Pulling the phone farther from her ear, she retorted tly, ¡°Zayn Carter, you¡¯re sick in the head!¡± ¡°Willow Sanford, you may refuse to open the door for me, but I¡¯m warning you now¨Cyou can¡¯t afford the consequences!¡± The heating in the apartment made it feel like a warm spring day, especially in her cozy bedroom. However, Zayn¡¯s voice brought her back into the dreary winter. ¡°Willow Sanford, you¡¯d better not challenge my patience!¡± He raised his voice. ¡°Do you want me to break your door?¡± Trembling in rage, she knew that Zayn was capable of carrying out his threats. She¡¯d rather open the door for him than have a broken door at the end of the day. She thought, ¡°Oh, well. Count myself unlucky.¡± She limped to the door and opened the door with a furious look. Then, she growled at him, ¡°Zayn Carter, is this fun? I told you that I¡¯d return the money. Please don¡¯t show up in front of me ever again! Instead of replying to her, he glowered at her as if he wanted to make her heartless behavior toward him. He thought he was pathetic. Last night, he had a fit because she imed she wasn¡¯t in love with him anymore. However, she was the first thing that crossed his mind in the morning.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Instead ofing up with a punishment for her, he found himself worrying about her stomach issues. She had a weak stomach and always woke up hungry. If she did not eat breakfast in time, she¡¯d suffer from gastric problems. Worried, he quickly washed up and made breakfast in the kitchen. He thought their rtionship might Chapter 34T improve if they had breakfast together. He despised her, yet he missed her too. He found himself yearning for peace between them. He went to her bedroom to wake her up for breakfast, only to find that she had left. Knowing she must have returned to her apartment, he traveled all the way to the ce with the food containers because he didn¡¯t want her to starve. Chapter 342 Chapter 342 To Zayn¡¯s fury, he witnessedn leaving Willow¡¯s ce. He fumed, thinking, ¡°I never cooked for anyone- not even my mom!¡± Sadly, Willow never cared about him. She only had her eyes on a different man. Blinded by rage, he spun around and pinned her against the wall. He snarled, ¡°Willow, how could you be so shameless?¡± ¡°Zayn Carter, what is wrong with you?¡± Her body shook in anger. Zayn had always been unreasonable, but his insults still stung her every single time. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re not in love with me anymore. Ian is your new love, isn¡¯t he? Are you thinking of dating him? Dream on!¡± Despite not being in love withn, Willow did not deny the usation to spite Zayn. ¡°Zayn Carter, whoever I choose to date is none of your business. Tell you what¨CI¡¯d rather die than date you!¡± ¡°Say that again?¡± Zayn nearly exploded in anger. How could she insult him in that way? ¡°You can ask me to repeat myself, and I¡¯d still say the same. I¡¯m no longer in love with you from a long time ago. You¡¯re nothing to me!¡± ¡°Nothing to you?¡± He waspletely provoked by her words. He could taste blood. His hostility grew. So, am I nothing to you whilen Nightingale is your one and only love?¡± Suppressing her anger, she put on a cynical expression. ¡°Zayn Carter, you¡¯re filthy!¡± ¡°Willow Sanford!¡± Zayn so wished he could crush the woman in front of her. He couldn¡¯t wrap his head around his reaction to Willow. He wanted to get along with her, but every time he was around her, he¡¯d lose his temper. ¡°Willow Sanford, you¡¯re mine. Even if you fell in love with another man, you can only belong to me in this life!¡± Willow gathered all her energy to shove him away. Knowing him well, she knew her attempts to fight back would only provoke him further. She stood still like a pole by the wall and let him be. As expected, he released her fairly soon after she gave up fighting. Once she was free, she grabbed a wet wipe from the coffee table and wiped her lips. She mumbled, ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s filthy!¡± After cleaning her lips, she tossed the wet wipe into the trash can with all her might. She realized that no matter how hard she tried to clean herself, she could not shake off the feeling of disgust. Perhaps her mind and soul were irrevocably contaminated. ¡°Willow Sanford!¡± Zayn fixed his eyes on the wet wipe she tossed away. Then, he identally spottedn¡¯s jacket which was left behind. Pain, anger, and various emotions filled his eyes until there was nothing left inside.n had taken off his Chapter 342 clothes in her apartment, and she looked disheveled. He assumed that she must have slept withn. Otherwise, how would a small¨Ctime influencer get the endorsement for Arena of Glory? 20 Zayn found a woman who traded her body for what she wanted to be disgusting. He chided himself for failing to get over an easy woman like Willow.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Willow thought she was being ridiculous for suffering heartache fromn¡¯s hurtful remarks after trying hard to fall out of love with him. Refusing to disy her vulnerability in front of him, she shed a heartless, aloof smile at him. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty fun. Mr. Carter, want to give it a try?¡± ¡°Willow Sanford!¡± Zayn gripped her shoulders tightly, thinking, ¡°Willow, you should havee to me if you wanted fame! Who made you sleep with fuckingn Nightingale?¡± ¡°Mr. Carter, you¡¯re forgetful. Didn¡¯t I tell you that you disgust me?¡± ¡°Hah!¡± He chuckled. He seemed unfeeling when he wasn¡¯t smiling. But when he smiled, he came across as intimidating, inducing fear in others. ¡°How dare a slut like you call me filthy? Willow, you¡¯re brazen! You like being a slut, right? How about! make your wishe true?¡± ¡°Let go of me, Mr. Carter!¡± Willow grew worried when she realized Zayn was losing it. ¡°I might be a slut, but I have a say in who I take as a client. You don¡¯t deserve to be my client.¡± ¡°I see! I can¡¯t sleep with a slut for free, can I?¡± He feigned a look of realization before grabbing two hundred¨Cdor bills from his wallet and tossing them in her face. ¡°This is forst night and today. Keep them well!¡± Willow was close to biting her tongue off under his muscr body. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a teapot on the coffee table. She clutched the teapot firmly before attempting to smash it on the back of his head. Previously, she had unhesitatingly smashed items into the heads of the men who tried to force themselves on her. Sadly, she realized she did not have the heart to do the same to Zayn. No matter how much she hated him and wished to stay away from him, she could not bring herself to hurt him. When she came to that realization, she let go of the teapot, sending it crashing onto the ground loudly. The sound of the teapot shattering attracted his attention. He spun around and stared at the broken teapot with an unreadable expression. ¡°Woah, Willow Sanford, did you try to hit me?¡± He sniggered, his handsome features contorting into a devilish smirk. ¡°Is that how much you wish to save yourself forn Nightingale? Hah, how dare a whore like you dream of doing that for your client? How ¡®virtuous¡® of you! ¡°Willow Sanford, you can¡¯t have your cake and eat it too. I spent money on you, which means you have to pleasure me without question if I want you to!¡± Pleasure him without question¡­ Willow hated herself for not smashing the teapot into the back of his Chapter 343 head. She was curious as to what was going on in his mind. 2/2 The pain in her body intensified when she was pinned underneath him, especially her ankle. Her eyes would redden whenever she was in pain. Refusing to show her vulnerability, she turned her face away to hide her reddened eyes. Unfortunately, he mistook her action as contempt, thinking she only had eyes forn and couldn¡¯t bother to take a look at him. The misunderstanding made him seethe. He wanted to tear her into pieces, but at the end of the day, he couldn¡¯ty a finger on her.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. All he could do was ravage her body to remind her that she belonged to him. Right as he was about to plow her, he suddenly noticed blood seeping from the back of her right hand. He remembered treating her wound the previous night and was acutely aware of the severity of her injuries on both hands. Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Willow¡¯s wound had been tended to, and the bleeding had stopped. However, Zayn unknowingly caused her wound to bleed again during the wrestle. He thought spitefully, ¡°Serves her right for sleeping around like the whore she is! She deserves to bleed to death!¡± Grinding his teeth in rage, he nheless could not watch as she bled. Despite his disgust, resentment, and disdain toward her, his heart ached at her suffering. ¡°Willow, you-¡± Angered by her frequent injuries, he had tried to threaten her, but he was soft toward her at the end of the day. His feelings of concern and empathy trumped everything else. Getting up angrily, he tried to find some medication to treat her wound with. It was then he noticed the huge shopping bag by the couch. The bag was filled with all sorts of medication, and the pack of gauze had been opened. Zayn instinctively nced at her left hand¨Cit was recently bandaged. Assuming it wasn who helped her, he realized thatn could not have slept with her. It wasn¡¯t that long since Willow left his ce for her apartment. Moreover, it would taken some time to dress her wounds. The two couldn¡¯t possibly have time for sex. In a fit of anger, Zayn momentarily forgot about Eric¡¯s presence. Even if Willow andn were shameless, they couldn¡¯t have gone at it in front of Eric. The realization that Willow hadn¡¯t slept withn filled Zayn with tion. However, he immediately felt frustration when he imaginedn gently applying the ointment to her wound. He had the urge to pin her in his arms and threaten her not to get her wounds dressed by other men. He wanted to have the sole privilege of doing that to her. On n second thought, he realized that was a dumb statement, as medical professionals should be allowed to tend to her injuries as well. Knowing Willow¡¯s character, she would heartlessly taunt andugh at him for his immature remarks. He was not going to give her that opportunity. Once Zayn released Willow, she sat up and tried to leave the couch to distance herself from him. He was about to get some ointment for her wound, but his expression fell when she tried to get up. He warned her, ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to move around! Just stay still!¡®This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She shot him an incredulous look. Did he really ask her to stay put? Of course, she wasn¡¯t going to linger around and give him a chance to force himself on her. That wasn¡¯t her kink. ¡°Mr. Carter, I assume you¡¯re done with your tantrums. You¡¯re not wee here, and you may leave now.¡± Standing straight and tall, she made her stance clear. He paused in the middle of reaching out for the medicine bottle, thinking, ¡°This ungrateful woman is trying to throw me out again! What for? ¡°Is it so that she could wee another man? If so, she¡¯s delusional!¡± He barked at her, ¡°Willow Sanford,e here!¡± He nearly acted on his rage when he saw her getting off the couch and heading to her bedroom. He wondered why she held him in such contempt, avoiding him like the gue yet eagerly throwing herself at other men! She dered, ¡°Mr. Carter, I¡¯ll repeat myself once more. I¡¯ll return the money to you. Now, please get out of my sight forever!¡± Did she order him to get lost forever? Frowning, he rose from the couch and approached her to apply the medicine to her wound. However, she frantically stumbled backward as she thought he might go nuts again. While retreating, she identally twisted her already sprained ankle. She fell onto the ground after losing her bnce. Enjoy Ad Free Reading Chapter 345 Chapter 345 1/2This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Willow!¡± Zayn hadn¡¯t expected Willow to copse to the ground. He hurried over and carried her in his arms. It was at that moment he noticed the awful swelling on her ankle. Despite her best attempts at enduring the pain, her eyes reddened from the agony. Zayn, who had treated her coldly, finally caved in at the sight of her reddened eyes, swollen ankle, and the horrific wound on the back of her hand. She might be vile, selfish, and shameless. But at that moment, she was just a patient. He repeatedly convinced himself that he only lent her a hand because he couldn¡¯t stand the sight of an injured, pitiful¨Clooking woman. And it was not because he truly cared for her. ¡°Mr. Carter, let go of me!¡± She immediately tried to free herself. She made a terrible mistakest night, and she would never carelessly sleep with him again. ¡°Willow, I will teach you a lesson if you keep getting yourself injured!¡± he threatened. She thought he was about to force himself on her when he tossed her onto the couch. To her surprise, he grabbed some lodine solution from the shopping bag to disinfect her wound. After that, he found some medicine to stop her bleeding, which he carefully applied to her wound with a cotton swab. ¡°Mr. Carter, you don¡¯t have to do this. I can deal with the wound myself,¡± she said to him coldly, refusing to ept his help. ¡°Do you think you could dress your wound with that badly injured left hand of yours?¡± He took her hand and continued applying the medicine to her wound. After dressing her wound, he did not seem ready to leave. Just as she was about to make him leave, he suddenly said in an awkward manner, ¡°Willow, you haven¡¯t had breakfast, have you?¡± She was momentarily caught off guard by the jump in his logic. Why would he ask that question? Was he trying to have breakfast with her? Hell not His expression soured when he did not get a reply. Still, considering she was injured, he asked, ¡°Willow, you¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± After some pause, she added, ¡°Mr. Carter, please go out for breakfast if you¡¯re hungry. I¡¯m not going to make breakfast for you ¡°Willow Sanford, you¡¯re hungry.¡± Staring squarely at Willow, Zayn suddenly said to her, ¡°Well, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± She finally saw the wooden food container in his hand. The juxtaposition of the handsome, aloof man and the tiny wooden food container appeared oddly funny. She could not figure out his intentions. Whatever it was, she couldn¡¯t care less about it. ¡°I thought I made myself very clear. I¡¯m not hungry. You¡¯re not wee here, so please leave!¡± While speaking, she arrogantly lifted her chin. Unfortunately, her stomach growled uncooperatively. Chapter 345 shattering her proud persona. She felt embarrassed by the familiar growling sounds. Meanwhile, Zayn¡¯s tense lips softened into a smile. He made no remark, but he was clearly gleeful to have caught her in a lie¨Cshe was indeed hungry! Willow wanted to dig a hole and hide out of shame. Zayn opened the food container andid out the food on the coffee table in her living room. He made a soup and four different dishes¨Cbaked fish with creamy lemon sauce, stir¨Cfried cucumber, and buffalo wings¨Cher favorite foods from the honeymoon phase of their rtionship. Chapter 346 Chapter 346 The feast on the table made Willow tear up once more. Back when she was passionately in love with Zayn, she used to wake up hungry. She¡¯d be famished after washing up. Later, Zayn always made breakfast before she got up so that she could have someforting, warm soup when she woke up. Zayn hadn¡¯t started off as a good cook. The first time he tried to cook, he nearly burned the kitchen to the ground. Still, he was willing to get to work for Willow. After a few tries, his cooking skills improved. As he was smart and a fast learner, he gradually became as skilled as the hotel chefs. At present, Willow stared at Zayn through tears. She wondered if he was offering her a carrot after giving her the stick. Too bad she would not ept that. She¡¯d never forget how cruel he had been to Aaron and Nic. Besides, people would change all the time. The dishes in front of her might have been her favorites. However, after four years in the dungeon, these dishes had be a nightmare for her. ¡°Have some food, Willow.¡± Zayn ced the fish on her te. He felt somehow uneasy and furious at the sight of her emaciated frame. He waspelled to pile more food on her te. Soon, her te was filled to the brim with food. She stared vacantly at the deboned fish on her te as terrible memories resurfaced. Skyler forced her to eat fish when she was held prisoner in the dungeon. She remembered Skyler saying, Lolo, you love fish, don¡¯t you? And you always get Zayn to cook it for you. Fine, then. I¡¯ll let you have fish today!¡± The fish in question was raw. Skyler forced the raw fish down Willow¡¯s throat. Her men pinned her down and stuffed her mouth with the raw fish.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Willow hated the stench, and her throat was in so much pain. Still, they did not go easy on her. The bones or the gills must have scratched her throat. In great pain, she couldn¡¯t speak for a while. It was after that traumatic incident that she stopped eating fish. The sight of the baked fish reminded her of the disgusting taste of raw fish and the despair and helplessness during her time in the dungeon. Besides fish, she had since stopped eating stir¨Cfried cucumbers. The people at the dungeon had force¨Cfed her some rotten cucumbers. When she refused to swallow the rotten food, they shoved a stick into her mouth and pushed the food down her throat. In the end, she did not manage to swallow the rotten cucumbers. She did, however, cough up a huge mouthful of blood from the injuries in her mouth and throat. When Zayn ced a piece of buffalo wings on her te, she turned to the trashcan and puked her guts out. The worst experience by far was that time when her captors force¨Cfed her some spoiled buffalo wings. that reeked of rotten flesh. She could neither swallow the rotten wings nor spit them out. Chapter 346 The bones from the wings got stuck in her throat, a hellish experience that she wouldn¡¯t want to go through again. Zayn, unaware of her trauma, was angered by her disgust at the breakfast he had kindly prepared for her- he even went so far as to debone the fish for her! He thought, ¡°No matter how I try to please her, she seems to find me revolting.¡± im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Zayn was furious at Willow¡¯s disrespect. His expression clouded as a storm raged within. The light in his eyes went out while he put down his utensils. ¡°Willow Sanford, do I disgust you?¡± Willow wanted to exin that she was triggered by the nightmarish memories from the dungeon and that she wasn¡¯t disgusted by him. s, she was too nauseated to speak. She had a weak stomach to begin with. She hadn¡¯t taken any food sincest night, and her stomach suffered as a result. However, she only managed to vomit out some bile mixed with strands of blood. ¡°Willow, answer me!¡± Zayn shot up from his seat, ready to teach her a good lesson, when he spotted specks of blood on the corner of her lips. His eyes wavered in shock. ¡°Willow, why did you cough up blood? Do you feel unwell?¡± He then approached her and pulled her into a tight hug. A look of heartache shed across his eyes as he stared at her pale face. Earlier, she had coughed up blood when she had te¨Cstage stomach cancer,¡± which he assumed was a ruse to gain his sympathy. However, she couldn¡¯t have possibly put on an act. She spent most of the time fighting him off, and she wouldn¡¯t have had the time to stuff a blood bag into her mouth. ¡°Mr. Carter, please release me. I¡¯m just feeling a little sick.¡± Willow brought up her stomach cancer to Zayn multiple times, but he refused to believe in her. Hence, she gave up talking about it. He did not let go of Willow. Instead, he red at the corner of her lips, which were stained with blood. Thankfully, she did not cough up much blood. That must have happened because of an empty and weak stomach or because she suffered a scratch in her throat or mouth.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Despite feeling sorry for her, he soon felt a surge of anger. She¡¯d rather starve than eat the breakfast he prepared, which he took as a sign of her disgust toward him. ¡°Willow, you difficult woman! Eat up, now!¡± he demanded, nearly force¨Cfeeding her in his rage. However, he reconsidered that idea, not wanting to embarrass himself by feeding someone who found him repugnant. His pride wouldn¡¯t allow it. In the end, he brought her a bowl of soup. Since she did not have any trauma rted to soup and wanted to avoid any stomach issues, she finally took small sips of the soup. Her stomach felt much better after consuming the soup. Soon, she finished the bowl of corn soup. Still hungry, she helped herself to a second serving, which she ate slowly. Zayn¡¯s hostility gradually dissipated as he watched her obediently drink the soup. He didn¡¯t notice the softening of his demeanor, marked by the grin on his lips. Though he wasn¡¯t fond of sweet soup, he made it because it was Willow¡¯s favorite. Watching her Chapter 347 enjoy it, he decided to get himself a bowl as well. The corn soup didn¡¯t bother him as much today, perhaps because he was happy. He even considered rekindling their rtionship if Willow could behave like she did today. 2/2 He might have harbored longtime grudges against her, but he wouldn¡¯t mind sweeping them under the rug in exchange for moments of fleeting sweetness like this. Chapter 348 Chapter 348 As Zayn was a busy man, he immediately left Willow¡¯s tiny apartment after breakfast. Peace and calm were restored after his departure. Willow took a bath, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t wash off the feeling of filth that clung to her body. Once her soul was corrupted, no amount of bathwater and high¨Cend shower gel could cleanse her body. Willow got a call from Eric in the afternoon, notifying her that the contract was finalized. He was waiting for her in the apartment lobby to sign the contract. She was surprised that Eric showed up with the contract without any fuss because she thought she¡¯d lose the endorsement deal for Arena of Glory after the conflict between her andn. After carefully poring through the contract and making sure there wasn¡¯t any unreasonable use, she finally signed it. She thought a million dors would be a fair endorsement fee, but she anticipated a lower offer from Arena of Glory due to its poprity and herck thereof. To her shock, the contract stated an endorsement fee of 10 million dors! She was overjoyed at the endorsement fee, as she could finally repay much of her debts to Zayn. Honestly speaking, she disliked the corrupted entertainment industry. Yet, she had put a foot in the industry, and she resolved to make a name for herself despite her negative feelings about the industry. She could only increase her earnings by gaining fame. Then, she could clear her debts to Zayn and offer Aaron a better quality of life. Only by being sessful could she deal a blow to Skyler, Wilhelmina, Sylvia, and the others who had wronged her. 23 The Nightingale Corporation was indeed generous and agreeable. From what she heard, celebrities usually received their endorsement fee in installments. However, the 10 million dors immediately appeared in her bank ount on the same night. The Nightingale Corporation even took care of the taxes on the endorsement fee on her behalf.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. She delightedly counted the eight¨Cdigit figure in her bank ount a few times, vowing to perform well to repay Nightingale Corporation¡¯s investment in her career. She decided to get Zayn¡¯s bank ountter to transfer some money to him. Without the burden of debt, she could rest in peace when death knocked on her door. Moses¡® men fetched Aaron from school and sent him to the Quayle Manor. Willow felt indebted to Moses for sharing her childcare burden, So, she decided to buy some quality ingredients and cook up a feast at the Quayle Manor for everyone. Before she left her apartment,¡® she received a call from the private detective she hired. She hurriedly answered the call. The detective reported to her, ¡°Ms. Sanford, we got some updates from tailing Skyler Dawson and Louis Mayer per your request. Chapter 348 22 ¡°They showed up at Splendid Paradise tonight. I know you hired us, but all we could do is provide you with their whereabouts, as we cannot afford to get on the bad side of the Dawsons and the Mayers. We hope for your understanding.¡± Willow did not expect anything more from the private detective. After all, she¡¯d only feel reassured by taking certain matters into her own hands. She took out a pinhole camera she had bought earlier from the drawer and casually tossed it into her handbag. Years a ago, Willow had been aware of the licentious rtionship between Skyler and Louis. Since Skyler repeatedly attempted to record sex tapes to ruin Willow¡¯s reputation, Willow decided to give her a taste of her own medicine. She thought, ¡°Let¡¯s see if Skyler will ever recover from the scandal!¡± Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Chapter 349 Chapter 349 Willow did not want to expose others¡® private affairs, but Skyler and Louis disgusted her to the point that she wouldn¡¯t feel any quilt for wronging them. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Skyler, Despite professing her deep love for Zayn, Skyler still slept around without any inhibition. Poor Zayn¨Che treated Skyler like a treasure, mistaking her for a prim and proper youngdy! After Skyler¡¯s debut, she established a fresh and innocent persona in the industry. Her fairytale¨Clike rtionship with Zayn helped her gain a bunch of new fans. Since Skyler was addicted to acting all pure and innocent, Willow was interested in the fallout after Skyler and Louis¡® sex tape was leaked to the public. Splendid Paradise, owned by the Mayer family, was a high¨Cend lounge simr to Velvet Noir. However, it was more exclusive and sophisticated than Velvet Noir. Since a lot of socialities and film stars loved frequenting Splendid Paradise, the lounge had tight security to keep out the paparazzi. Skyler, careful in protecting her reputation, would never openly wander into the lounge hand¨Cin¨Chand with Louis. She¡¯d show up with her manager Evangeline and drank a little before sneaking into Louis¡® room for their rendezvous when no one was watching. Before leaving, Willow put on exquisite makeup. Already blessed with alluring beauty, she now looked like an angel with her cat¨Ceye makeup and ming red lips. She could seduce the most celibate man on earth with her looks. The security at the entrance of Splendid Paradise gaped at Willow. They assumed she might be a famous. star, judging from her ravishing beauty. Hence, they did not bother checking her bag before granting her entry. The private detective had shared Louis and Skyler¡¯s room number with Willow. She quickly scanned her surroundings before making her way to the penthouse. Willow was in luck because Skyler and Louis hadn¡¯t turned up yet. The door of the penthouse was left ajar. All it took was a push to enter the room. The two pinhole cameras she prepared were disguised as a lighter and a button, respectively. She ced the ¡°lighter¡± on the headboard and the ¡°button¡± on the window sill, which would clearly capture all the action that was bound to happenter. Never in their wildest dreams did Skyler and Louis think their affair would be filmed. Since the couple might show up at any time, Willow hurriedly set things up and left the penthouse without further ado, To her dismay, someone entered through the door when she was about to leave. Jumping in shock, she thought Skyler and Louis showed up earlier than expected. However, it was Matthew who had dropped by. ¡°Willow Sanford? Why are you here?¡± Matthew looked taken aback. He then approached her and aggressively grabbed her wrist. ¡°Tell me, bitch! What are you up to this time around?¡± Chapter 340 2/2 Willow was speechless at Matthew. The hopeless dude fell for Wilhelmina¡¯s lie every single time Wilhelmina tried to frame her.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. She thought, ¡°How dare he use me of being up to no good? He¡¯s being ridiculous!¡± In a hurry to leave, she did not want to waste time arguing with him. She struggled to free herself from his grasp. ¡°Matthew Mayer, let me go!¡± She nearly bit him in the hand from the anxiety, but she worried that he might refuse to release her if she physically attacked him. In the end, she could do nothing but glower at him. ¡°Willow, are you at Louis¡® penthouse to meet him?¡± A shadow passed over his eyes. ¡°Louis told me you tried to seduce him. Are you still flirting with him now?¡± What? Willow thought, ¡°I¡¯d never seduce a man as twisted as Louis Mayer!¡± Chapter 350 Chapter 350 1/2 ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Matthew. I never had anything to do with Louis. We only have a blood feud!¡± Recalling those terrible days in the dungeon, Willow couldn¡¯t help but tremble with hatred. She wanted to convince Matthew that her hatred for Louis was more intense than his. But she knew Matthew wouldn¡¯t believe her, so she didn¡¯t bother exining Matthew sneered sarcastically. His indifferent face was attractive, but she couldn¡¯t see his good side. ¡°Willow Sanford, you¡¯re still lying as always. I don¡¯t believe what you said!¡± ¡°Skyler, why didn¡¯t you contact me recently? I haven¡¯t seen you for a long time. I miss you so much!¡± Louis¡± voice sounded unexpectedly outside the door. Willow realized he and Skyler had arrived at the door when she heard footsteps approaching. If they saw her, her ns would be ruined. She instantly put the issue of dealing with Matthew aside. Now, she had only one thought¨Cshe must not let that adulterous couple see her! Seeing the bathroom nearby, Willow rushed over without hesitation. Matthew still clutched her hand. When he saw her dash to the bathroom, he couldn¡¯t help but frown. Still, he didn¡¯t stop her and hid inside with her instead. As soon as he entered the bathroom, he pushed Willow against the wall. His eyes zed withplex emotions¨Canger, hatred, contempt, disgust, and an uncontroble obsession. Willow¡¯s heart beat wildly to the extreme. When she sessfully installed the pinhole camera in the private room, she thought her n was on track. Only after hearing Louis and Skyler¡¯s footsteps outside and seeing Matthew approaching did she realize she was unlucky tonight. ¡°Willow, did youe here just to eavesdrop?¡± Matthew dropped his voice and sneered into her ear. ¡°Or do you want to film something to ruin Skyler¡¯s reputation?¡± Willow¡¯s expression shifted dramatically. She didn¡¯t expect him to be so perceptive about her intentions. She subconsciously took a step back, but her ankle still throbbed horribly. She retreated too quickly and almost fell to the ground. Matthew held Willow firmly and pressed her tighter against the wall. ¡°I guessed it right, didn¡¯t I? ¡°What happened tonight surprised me. I didn¡¯t expect Louis and Skyler to still be together, let alone that you¡¯d be interested in recording them! ¡°Do you want to use the video to threaten Louis into abandoning Skyler and choosing you? Or do you want to use this opportunity to get closer to Zayn?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 350 212 Before Willow could respond, Matthew¡¯s low but chilling voice sounded again, ¡°I wonder, if I throw you out now, how Skyler and Louis will react when they see you?¡± im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Chapter 351 Chapter 351 ¡°Matthew!¡± Willow let out a low growl, her body shaking even more as her anger surged. If she were a match for Matthew, she would have to stuff him in the toilet and flush him down so he wouldn¡¯t continue to harm her with his wicked thoughts! ¡°Are you scared?¡± He smiled more wantonly, his expression full of malice and evil. ¡°I look forward to them being surprised when they see you!¡± Willow gritted her teeth in rage. She truly wanted to yell at this unreasonable man, but she was afraid that Louis and Skyler would notice her presence. So, she swallowed her curses. Skyler and Louis hadn¡¯t seen each other for a long time and were both impatient. After entering the room, they stopped speaking and hurriedly climbed onto the bed. Matthew didn¡¯t close the bathroom door tightly, leaving a small crack. Willow could see what was happening outside. She was often shy. So, she felt her cheeks heat up as she watched the scene outside. Not to mention, Matthew was still in the bathroom. He also heard the sounds outside. His expression darkened, and his eyes zed with fury. She didn¡¯t want to be so near him, so she gritted her teeth and pushed him away, but he stood still. Matthew stared at Willow with an increasingly emotional gaze. Just as he was about to say something, Skyler¡¯s flirty voice came from outside. ¡°Louis, don¡¯t let anything go wrong this time! Willow must die!¡± Louis held Skyler in his arms and gently kissed her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Skyler. You can believe me. I¡¯ll do it well. Since Willow makes you unhappy, I¡¯ll make her die horribly!¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°How can I trust you? When we set fire to Bordello, you also said I could rest assured and leave it to your such a fool again, we don¡¯t have to meet again!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Skyler. I¡¯ll never make the same mistake again!¡± Louis kept his head down and spoke to Skyler tteringly. Things could be odd sometimes. Louis was so cunning and insidious that he could attack even his closest rtives. But his crush on Skyler was his weakness. He fell so deeply in love with her that he became obsessed and lost himself in it. He would go through anything for her, including death. ¡°Skyler, my dear Skyler, please don¡¯t be angry with me. I feel bad to see you unhappy.¡± Louis held Skyler¡¯s hand and coaxed her gently. Chapter 351 She still appeared dignified and cool. ¡°I¡¯ll only forgive you this time! But you must handle the next n properly! Willow and her bastard son must die!¡± ¡°I promise you. I¡¯ll torture them to death!¡± Louis smiled as he maintained his obedience to her. Chapter 352 Chapter 352 ¡°That shameless Willow keeps seducing Zayn! She deserves to die for grabbing my man!¡± Skyler¡¯s hatred for Willow became stronger as she thought of it. She couldn¡¯t help but reveal a bit of resentment in her voice. ¡°My dear Skyler, I know you regard me as a backup and only have Zayn in your heart. But we rarely have dates. Could you please stop mentioning Zayn? That makes me sad.¡± Louis hugged Skyler tightly. He usually looked sinister and cunning, but now he appeared pitiful. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t mention Zayn again.¡± She hugged him too. ¡°As long as you do a good job, I¡¯lle to you more often.¡± After she said that, they continued to do intimate things in bed. Matthew frowned deeply and gloomily. When Willow reappeared, he assumed she had purposefully faked her death over a month before. But after listening to Skyler and Louis¡® conversation, he realized she didn¡¯t orchestrate the fire. She also didn¡¯t pretend to have died in the fire. The culprits were Skyler and Louis, who wanted to harm her.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Previously, Matthew had no negative impression of Skyler because she was Wilhelmina¡¯s best friend. He couldn¡¯t help but express his disgust as he recalled her previous harshments and heard the sounds outside. Everyone at Havenpoint knew Skyler was passionately in love with Zayn. But it turned out that her so- called love was nothing more than cheating and getting into another man¡¯s bed! Matthew initially didn¡¯t want Willow to do anything bad to them because Louis was his younger brother. But now, he thought they deserved to suffer the consequences of their actions even if Willow took their video and exposed it. ¡°Please let go of me, Mr. Mayer!¡± Willow eximed. She felt embarrassed enough because of the sounds and sights outside. When Matthew got closer to her, she felt extremely awkward. He didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he turned sideways and grabbed the bathroom door handle. Willow tensed. She suspected he intended to open the door and shove her out. Unexpectedly, Matthew closed the door rather than opening it. Because the bathroom door was of high quality, he was able to close it quietly with a little trick. He lowered his head and stared at Willow¡¯s face with an intense gaze. He had never seen her wear heavy makeup before because she rarely used makeup. He thought she was already gorgeous without makeup. She was like a flower emerging from the water.. Chapter 352 However, she looked more attractive after applying makeup. Her bright red lips made her skin appear fair, like crystal. Regardless of how indifferent he was, his mood fluctuated slightly as he noticed her nervousness. He wanted to kiss and hold her! ¡°Be my woman, Willow! Otherwise, I¡¯ll hand you over to them right now! Your efforts would be in vain!¡± he said, Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Not only would her efforts be in vain, but Skyler and Louis were both vicious. They would never let Willow leave the private room alive if they found out she had witnessed their secret romance. ¡°Willow, I don¡¯t have much patience. I¡¯ll only give you a few seconds to think about it! If you keep being stubborn, you¡¯ll never change your fate!¡± Matthew understood how despicable it was to threaten a defenseless woman with such demands. Although he had never been kind, he despised threatening a woman in such unsavory ways. But he had no other choice. He wanted Willow so much that his heart ached. She was like a spell that lingered in his mind, showing up in his dreams constantly. Matthew had always been proud of his remarkable self¨Ccontrol. So, he was upset and furious at himself for having such an insaneck of control. He was confident that he wouldn¡¯t fall in love with Willow. He expected to be less enthusiastic after sleeping with her. And he wouldn¡¯t be any less like himself. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, Mr. Mayer!¡± Willow didn¡¯t want to alert Skyler and Louis outside, but she didn¡¯t want Matthew to seed either. She then trod on his foot without hesitation. Taking advantage of his stunned moment, she quickly got out of his grasp. The bathroom was too small. She had nowhere to escape from him. She wanted to rush out and stay far away from him. But Skyler and Louis were outside. If she went out, her situation would be even more dangerous. ¡°Willow Sanford, do you want to do it the hard way?¡± Without giving Willow any chance to escape, Matthew pressed her to the ground with force. ¡°Let go of me! If Louis finds you here, you won¡¯t be able to leave unscathed!¡± She took a deep breath and tried to keep herself calm. ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Matthew didn¡¯t take Willow¡¯s warning seriously. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m afraid of him?¡± Indeed, he no longer had to be cautious of Louis. After Matthew returned to the Mayers, he appeared to have done something, seizing all of the Mayers¡® wealth and power. Louis, on the other hand, merely had the title of the Mayers¡® second scion, but he was without any real authority. Matthew could crush Louis effortlessly. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re nothing but a dirty bitch!¡± Matthew¡¯s eyes zed with fury, and his expression was terrifying. Willow wanted to p him. But she A Chapter 353 2/2 worried that she would make too much noise, alerting Louis and Skyler. So, she could only grit her teeth and retract her hand.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He realized what she wanted to do and sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t act like a victim to protect your ¡®chastity¡®! If it wasn¡¯t for your slightly pretty face. I would never want to touch you even if you threw yourself into my arms!¡± Willow took a deep breath and attempted to stay calm, but her voice still trembled as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times. If I like a man, I¡¯m willing to give myself to him even if he doesn¡¯t give me anything. ¡°I¡¯m willing to live and die with him without leaving him. Simrly, I won¡¯t pay attention to the man I dislike even if he pays me. ¡°You¡¯re so pointless to force a woman to like you when she clearly despises you!¡± ¡°Willow!¡± Because Matthew was enraged, he couldn¡¯t help but raise his voice. It was fortunate that he had shut the door tightly. Skyler and Louis didn¡¯t hear him. ¡°Do you dare to repeat it?¡± ¡°I said I despise you! Please stop humiliating yourself!¡± Willow said. Matthew¡¯s expression darkened as he became increasingly irritated. Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Willow had once again made it clear that she loathed him. Matthew didn¡¯t understand why he was inferior to Zayn and Kenan. She was willing to do everything nasty to please other men. But when it came to him, she pretended to be a woman who valued her dignity! He found her disgusting. As wickedness formed in his heart, his remarks grew colder and meaner. ¡°Do you think I have a crush on you, Willow?¡± ¡°I just hope that you won¡¯t shamelessly pester me anymore after we have a deal!¡± Willow sweated profusely as she saw Matthew go insane again. Skyler and Louis had no intention of leaving the room. Willow had no way of defending herself against Matthew¡¯s threat when she couldn¡¯t go out. But she didn¡¯t want to be his woman! Even when they went through thick and thin in the dungeon, Willow never thought that she would be Matthew¡¯s woman one day. ¡°Matthew, you may continue if you want to force me to death again!¡± she said. Matthew stiffened. He stared at Willow, his increasingly cold eyes filled with uncontroble rage for a moment. He gritted his teeth and wanted to say, ¡°Go die if you dare to! A dirty bitch like you deserves to dieProperty ? N?velDrama.Org. miserably!¡± But he couldn¡¯t say that. Because he was afraid she would die. She would truly kill herself. When he forced herst time, she tried tomit suicide by slitting her wrist. He would never forget the sight of her blood that day. Matthew tightened his fist and swung it down hard. Willow thought he was going to hit her and subconsciously closed her eyes. Surprisingly, he only hit the ground near her. ¡°Willow!¡± Matthew raised his face to stare at her, and at that moment he looked like a beast falling into an abyss with no way out. He muttered, ¡°Why? Why¡­¡± Willow hadn¡¯t expected Matthew to ask such a question. She was perplexed. How could she know what he wanted to say if he didn¡¯t finish his sentence? ¡°Why do you like others but hate me? Why!¡± he asked. By the end of his sentence, Matthew¡¯s voice had be hoarse, as if someone had choked his throat. Chapter 214 He groaned in desperation. Willow didn¡¯t respond right away but lowered her eyes and stared at her left hand. The bandage on her left hand was soaked with blood again. It was time for her to change it. Thinking of that, she slowly untied the thick bandage, She winced in pain when she removed the innermostyer of the bandage, which was stuck together with pus and blood. She couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly, Willow raised her hand and said, her voice tinged with mockery, ¡°Mr. Mayer, I don¡¯t have masochistic tendencies. Try to imagine it. Would you have a crush on me if I kept torturing you for no reason and chopped off one of your fingers?¡± Chapter 355 Chapter 355 ¡°You wouldn¡¯t! Unless you¡¯re crazy!¡± Willow said. Matthew narrowed his eyes. He wanted to curse Willow again. But when he saw her left hand, which was bloody and missing her little finger, he swallowed those curses. She was right. A normal person wouldn¡¯t have masochistic tendencies. How could she have a crush on a man who repeatedly bullied and mistreated her? Unless she was insane. Matthew no longer wanted to force Willow. He stood up from the ground in embarrassment, wanting to rush outside to calm himself down. But thinking that Skyler and Louis were still outside, he came to a halt at the door. After he let her go, she let out a long sigh of relief. But she didn¡¯t dare to put down her guard. She stood up and swiftly moved to the corner, keeping a safe distance from him. Seeing her treating him like a ferocious beast, he couldn¡¯t help but smile self¨Cmockingly. He stared at her with aplicated gaze. But in the end, he helplessly realized that no matter how much she hated or rejected him and wanted to stay away from him, he still wanted her. Matthew felt panicked when he got such a thought. Some emotions were hidden in his heart, and he couldn¡¯t sense them clearly. But vaguely, he could feel that there was something more about her that drew him in. He wondered what exactly it was. He was unable to express his emotions clearly since the feelings between people were too abstract and hazy. As if a century had passed, he slowly withdrew his gaze from Willow¡¯s hand and spoke piously, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Willow.¡± She was stunned. It wasn¡¯t the first time Matthew apologized to her, but it was the first time he did it with such sincerity. He was like family to her, so she never regarded him as a real enemy. Even if he had harmed her, she couldn¡¯t hate him after hearing his sincere apology. With a hint of fatigue, Willow sighed slightly and responded calmly, ¡°What¡¯s past is past, Mr. Mayer.¡± Whether it was four years of hardships together or his harsh treatment, everything had passed. From now on, they were only strangers. After Willow said that, they fell into an awkward silence. She was a little worried that Skyler and Louis mighte to take a shower after they had sex. She had been focusing on the situation outside in anxiety and was no longer paying attention to Matthew. Suddenly, Skyler received a call. She seemed to have an important matter and needed to leave immediately. Chapter 355Property ? N?velDrama.Org. She didn¡¯t even have time to take a shower. Hastily, she put on her clothes, touched up her makeup briefly, and left the private room. Louis only focused his attention on Skyler. Since she had already left, he naturally wasn¡¯t in the mood stay alone in the empty room. Hezily put on his clothes and waited for her to go out for a while before leaving. After they both left, Willow didn¡¯t go out right away because she was worried they would return. So, she stayed in the bathroom for a few more minutes before opening the door and walking out. Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Matthew didn¡¯t intend to stay any longer too. ncing at the filthy bed, he felt disgusted and quickly walked out of the private room. Willow didn¡¯t dare to dy either. She hurriedly took back the two pinhole cameras, kept them in her handbag, and dashed downstairs. Splendid Paradise was in a convenient location, with taxis avable even at night. When Willow arrived at the entrance, she noticed a taxi and promptly stopped it. She was eager to get back to her small apartment to export the video and upload it to the inte. She was ratherpassionate. She didn¡¯t want to contaminate the public¡¯s eyes with this dirty video. So, she pixted the roughly two¨Cminute video she edited. Even if she blurred the video, everyone could see how disgusting Skyler and Louis¡® rtionship was once they watched it. After posting the video, Willow got into bed in a good mood, waiting for the public to criticize Skyler. Still, she was aware that Skyler had always been cunning and scheming. Even if she released the video, she might not be able to bring Skyler downpletely. Willow would do her best to continue to deal with Skyler. Skyler left Splendid Paradise in a hurry because her friend who worked as a host had offered her a role, to be a substitute at an award ceremony tonight. Celeste, a super A¨Clister, was originally invited to present the awards. However, she had an important matter and had to rush abroad, so the organizer had no choice but to look for another celebrity to rece her. Caroline was the only female celebrity in Marley who shared Celeste¡¯s status. The organizer, however, couldn¡¯t invite Caroline because she was still unconscious. In the end, they could only invite A¨Clister Skyler, whose status was significantly lower than Celeste¡¯s. Skyler had hoped to steal the show at this award ceremony, but she didn¡¯t dare topete with Celeste and could only envy thetter. Unexpectedly, luck favored her. She was eventually chosen to present the awards. ording to the arrangement, Celeste was supposed to present the final grand award and only appear on stage at the end of the award ceremony. So, Skyler still had plenty of time to dress up and make herself look more stunning. Evangeline¡¯s work efficiency was particrly high. After receiving a call from the organizer, she had already prepared a Marleyan¨Cstyle red gown for Skyler, which had recently been released by Enchanted Chapter 356 Moments. The gown was well¨Ctailored and looked gorgeous. The hem was embroidered with several rings of rubies, making it appear particrly elegant and dignified. The one¨Cshoulder design added ¨¤ touch of vividness to this graceful and luxurious gown, making Skyler appear fairer and prettier. She was aware that she was going to be an attraction tonight. Skyler was right. As soon as she took the stage, she became the center of attention. Listening to the fans¡® excited shouts, she proudly raised her chin. She always considered herself the most noble queen. Whatever the circumstance, she was the definition of beauty as long as she was present. ¡°Skyler, you¡¯re the prettiest!¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Skyler! You¡¯re our goddess!¡± ¡°Skyler is the most beautiful woman in the entire universe!¡± Skyler was so immersed in everyone¡¯spliments that she didn¡¯t notice a discordant voice from the audience. ¡°Hmm? What is this¡­ Holy crap! This naked woman in the video looks so much like my goddess Skyler!¡± Chapter 357 Chapter 357 The person who spoke was a male college student. He was Skyler¡¯s hardcore fan. Upon hearing that she would be the award presenter of the final grand award, he canceled his date with his girlfriend to y Arena of Glory and rushed over to support her. When he took out his phone to record the glorious moment of his goddess, he received a notification. Curiously, he clicked it and a video of two people in an intimate act popped up. The female lead in the video was Skyler, whom he had always regarded as a wless goddess! Although they followed and supported Skyler, they wouldn¡¯t force her to remain unmarried and childless for the rest of her life. They were aware of her and Zayn¡¯s deep love and bestowed genuine blessings on her. But the male lead in the video wasn¡¯t Zayn! ¡°What video?¡± The boy next to him heard that and quickly looked over. Seeing the video, he jumped out of his seat in disbelief. ¡°Holy shit! Is there something wrong with my eyes? How is the woman in this video my goddess? No! That¡¯s impossible! She has a fianc¨¦! She is devoted to Mr. Carter! There is no way she would sleep with another man!¡± The male college student holding the phone was already stiff. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible either! Skyler is the most pure celebrity in the entertainment circle! ¡°She is different from that scandalous Celeste! Skyler wouldn¡¯t seduce other men!¡± ¡°Hey, who are you talking about?¡± The majority of the audience was Celeste¡¯s hardcore fans. Even if the unreliable Celeste broke the appointment and was unable to attend the ceremony, they wouldn¡¯t tolerate anyone insulting their goddess. Celeste¡¯s fans were the strongest and most cohesive group in the entertainment circle. As soon as a fan spoke up, the fans around him became agitated. ¡°Yeah, what are you talking about? You spoke too brutally! Those male celebs are eager to spread scandals with Cece because she is charming!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Nobody can resist Cece¡¯s charm!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t mind if you guys praise and support Skyler. But you went too far in praising Skyler by criticizing Cece!¡± ¡°The most pure female celebrity? Everyone knows that many celebrities set their own hashtags! Only Cece reveals her true self!¡± When confronted with Celeste¡¯s fans¡® verbal attacks, Skyler¡¯s fans could contradict a few words at first, but the other party¡¯s eloquence was intimidating. In the end, Skyler¡¯s fans were almost crushed by Chapter 357 Celeste¡¯s fans. Although Celeste¡¯s fans had won, they were nevertheless upset that their idol had been insulted. It happened that a fan saw Skyler¡¯s video and immediately rushed to the center of the dispute with his phone. 2/2Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Holy shit! Guys, look at your ¡®pure goddess¡® Skyler here! You guys belittled Cece just now. But does your¡® pure goddess¡® always behave this way? She broadened my horizons!¡± ¡°Let me see¡­ Damn, it¡¯s really that ¡®pure goddess¡®! A celeb really can¡¯t pretend to be pure. A fake pure goddess easily loses her reputation!¡± Skyler¡¯s fans certainly didn¡¯t tolerate their goddess being ndered and insisted on defending her. ¡°Get lost, you anti¨Cfans! You guys nder her because you¡¯re jealous of her!¡± ¡°Skyler is the purest! Skyler is the most stunning! You guys are just envious of her!¡± Chapter 358 Chapter 358 ¡°Yeah, Skyler is the purest girl in the world! Otherwise, Mr. Carter wouldn¡¯t have a crush on her!¡± Celeste¡¯s fans scoffed. ¡°Skyler is the purest? The most stunning you say? ¡°Has she ever looked at herself in the mirror? She¡¯s so shameless to use her mean look topare with Cece¡¯s beauty! I sincerely suggest that she take a good look in the mirror! Don¡¯t overestimate her appearance!¡± Skyler¡¯s fans were so outraged that they were almost impulsive. Just when they tried to argue for their idol, many fans on their side began to speak hesitantly. ¡°The woman in the video seems to be Skyler!¡± The more they gazed at the woman on the video, the more she resembled their purest goddess, Skyler. They then decided not to continue debating with Celeste¡¯s fans. Many fans took out their phones and attentively watched the video, trying to find any clue to prove that the woman in the video wasn¡¯t Skyler. However, they found no such clues. Instead, they became increasingly convinced that the woman in the video was the same as the dazzling Skyler on the stage! They even wore the same ruby watches! Following the award ceremony, there was an interview with the award winners and presenters. Tyson, Theodore, and Zayn weren¡¯t celebrities, yet they had as many fans as the A¨Clisters. Reporters knew that the public wanted to know more about Zayn, so when they interviewed Skyler, they asked her about him. ¡°Ms. Dawson, I heard you and Mr. Carter are set to marry. Is that true?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, you have been with Mr. Carter for many years. Has he ever proposed to you?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, what¡¯s the most romantic thing Mr. Carter has ever done for you?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, what do you think Mr. Carter finds most attractive about you? Is it your purity that he values the most?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, I¡¯d like to ask a more personal question. Have you ever had any boyfriends other than Mr. Carter?¡± Skyler took the microphone from the host and grinned, appearing even more charming. Her voice was soft, with the unique shyness of a feminine woman. She gave a slight touch of coquettishness, instantly closing the distance between her and the reporters. ¡°I¡¯ve been asked a lot of questions at once. Which one of you would like me to answer first?¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 358 She continued, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll answer your questions one by one! I¡¯m indeed getting married to Zayn soon. He¡¯s nning to propose to me. He has done many things for me. Everything he does for me is the most romantic. ¡°What does Zayn find most attractive about me? Well, you should ask him yourself. As for boyfriends, Zayn is the first andst man in my life. I only love him!¡± After Skyler responded, there was a loud apuse. The reporters were about to ask her more questions to gather more information for the news. But suddenly, a man in his early 30s rushed to the stage agitatedly, holding up a phone. ¡°Skyler! Are you the woman in this video?¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Security guards were present at the ceremony to prevent some crazed fans from causing harm to the celebrities on stage. When that man raced onto the stage, the security guards rushed up to take him down. Skyler¡¯s fans had always described her as friendly, gentle, and approachable. She couldn¡¯t break her image. So, she definitely couldn¡¯t let the security guards throw her hardcore fan off the stage in front of everyone. She passed through the reporters blocking her and approached the male fan with a sweet smile. ¡°Hello, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Skyler, the woman in the video isn¡¯t you, right? Someone framed you!¡± he eximed. ¡°What video?¡± Skyler maintained an elegant smile. ¡°Could you please make it clearer? I can answer your questions.¡± ¡°Here is the video!¡± The male fan clicked on the video again agitatedly. ¡°They all imed you slept with another man behind Mr. Carter¡¯s back! I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re the woman in the video!¡± Skyler assumed the video was a prank and didn¡¯t take it seriously. She continued to smile generously and softly. ¡°I only have Zayn in my heart. Whether it¡¯s my body or soul, I belong to him and him only!¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. She wanted to speak more to express her great love for Zayn. But when she saw the video, she was stunned. It was her and Louis. They were always cautious when dating. How could someone record them having sex and post it online? Skyler¡¯s mind went nk. She was used to pretending, but she was so shocked that she forgot to respond. Seeing her reaction, the male fan instantly realized something. Deep love could result in deep hatred. His love for Skyler had evolved into a crazed obsession, well beyond what most fans had for idols. Realizing that the goddess he had adored for so long had a dark side, he immediately changed from being a hardcore fan to an anti¨Cfan, ¡°You disappoint me, Skyler! I always thought you were pure and different from other celebs who followed unspoken rules! I thought you were wless, but you¡¯re actually filthy! ¡°You¡¯ve been showing affection to Mr. Carter in front of the media, expressing your loyalty to him. But you¡¯ve slept with another man! Don¡¯t you feel disgusted? ¡°You¡¯re so disgusting! I¡¯ll never follow a two¨Cfaced and dirty woman like you again!¡± Chapter 359 2/2 Skyler stared nkly at the video. She still couldn¡¯t believe what she and Louis did today would be posted online. ¡°Apologize to me, Skyler!¡± The male fan became increasingly agitated as he spoke. He rushed forward, pushing Skyler to the ground hard. ¡°You deceived us! You should apologize to your fans! Apologize!¡± Seeing that he dared to attack Skyler, the security guards rushed over and pulled him away. The male fan felt heartbroken when the security guards held him back. He could no longer push Skyler. But when he saw that she wore the same ruby watch as in the video, he struggled and kicked her wrist hard. Men were stronger, and that male fan had gone mad. His kick made Skyler¡¯s wrist numb. She was badly hurt. One of the sides of her gown split after that male fan pushed her to the ground, and her high heels fell off. She appeared inexplicably embarrassed at this point. Chapter 360 Chapter 360 The host quickly came to Skyler¡¯s rescue. He came on stage and helped Skyler up. ¡°The fan just now was too agitated. Skyler, are you alright?¡± Skyler was only concerned about how to ovee the influence of the video and replied numbly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Many reporters also spotted the video on the male fan¡¯s phone. They went online andpared the woman¡¯s face in the video to Skyler¡¯s. After making theparison, they couldn¡¯t help but identify her as the woman in the video. A young female reporter was a fan who fancied Zayn¡¯s appearance. Skyler¡¯s betrayal of Zayn angered her. So, she grabbed her microphone and asked Skyler angrily, ¡°Ms. Dawson, you keep saying you love Mr. Carter! Is this the way you love him?¡± Other reporters were concerned that they might miss out on the trending topic, so they rushed to ask, ¡± Ms. Dawson, the man in the video is Louis Mayer, right? How long have you been with him?¡± ¡°Does Mr. Carter know what happened between you and Mr. Mayer?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, do you really love Mr. Carter?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, do you have any other men besides Mr. Mayer?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, you¡¯ve been exposed by such a scandal. Do you still have the nerve to ept Mr. Carter¡¯s proposal?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Skyler backed away in panic. The reporters¡® questions were so sharp that she could hardly react. She was also aware that after the video was posted online, the public had already assumed she had sex with another man behind Zayn¡¯s back. But she was unwilling to give up her efforts after so many years of hard work. She was even more unwilling to lose her original noble and elegant image and be a public enemy, despised by everyone. Even if she was in a desperate situation, she had to make aeback! Skyler then staggered and sobbed, ¡°You all misunderstood me! I¡¯m not the woman in the video! I don¡¯t know who posted such a video online, but that¡¯s not me! ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with Mr. Mayer at all. I only have Zayn. I won¡¯t do anything to betray him! Please believe me. Someone framed me on purpose!¡± Skyler had always considered her tears as her most effective weapon. She believed that if she cried sincerely, her fans would feel sorry and speak up for her. Unexpectedly, when her fans saw her crying, they became even angrier.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Skyler, why do you always resort to crying when you encounter problems? You should prove to us that Chapter 360 Chapter 360 The host quickly came to Skyler¡¯s rescue. He came on stage and helped Skyler up. ¡°The fan just now was too agitated. Skyler, are you alright?¡± Skyler was only concerned about how to ovee the influence of the video and replied numbly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Many reporters also spotted the video on the male fan¡¯s phone. They went online andpared the woman¡¯s face in the video to Skyler¡¯s. After making theparison, they couldn¡¯t help but identify her as the woman in the video. A young female reporter was a fan who fancied Zayn¡¯s appearance. Skyler¡¯s betrayal of Zayn angered her. So, she grabbed her microphone and asked Skyler angrily, ¡°Ms. Dawson, you keep saying you love Mr. Carter! Is this the way you love him?¡± Other reporters were concerned that they might miss out on the trending topic, so they rushed to ask, Ms. Dawson, the man in the video is Louis Mayer, right? How long have you been with him?¡± ¡°Does Mr. Carter know what happened between you and Mr. Mayer?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, do you really love Mr. Carter?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, do you have any other men besides Mr. Mayer?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, you¡¯ve been exposed by such a scandal. Do you still have the nerve to ept Mr. Carter¡¯s proposal?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Skyler backed away in panic. The reporters¡® questions were so sharp that she could hardly react. She was also aware that after the video was posted online, the public had already assumed she had sex with another man behind Zayn¡¯s back. ÌÇ But she was unwilling to give up her efforts after so many years of hard work. She was even more unwilling to lose her original noble and elegant image and be a public enemy, despised by everyone. Even if she was in a desperate situation, she had to make aeback! Skyler then staggered and sobbed ¡°You all misunderstood me! I¡¯m not the woman in the video! I don¡¯t know who posted such a video online, but that¡¯s not me! ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with Mr. Mayer at all. I only have Zayn. I won¡¯t do anything to betray him! Please believe me. Someone framed me on purpose!¡± Skyler had always considered her tears as her most effective weapon. She believed that if she cried sincerely, her fans would feel sorry and speak up for her. Unexpectedly, when her fans saw her crying, they became even angrier. ¡°Skyler, why do you always resort to crying when you encounter problems? You should prove to us that Shunt 360 you¡¯re not the woman in the video!¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t! We only noticed that you looked exactly like the woman in the video! You both wear the same limited edition watch!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Skyler stared at the audience in disbelief. She never thought her hardcore fans, who praised her as a goddess, would criticize her with such contempt and disgust. It was as if they weren¡¯t her hardcore fans, but outright anti¨Cfans! ¡°Skyler, you pretend to be pure, but you¡¯ve deceived us! You¡¯re even more disgusting than shit!¡± Abruptly, Skyler¡¯s fans in the audience surged onto the stage. They threw anything in their hands toward her, including fruit peels, toilet paper, paper cups, and other garbage. Chapter 361 Chapter 361 1/2 Skyler tightened her grip on the microphone and bit her lip. She wanted to defend herself, but her enraged fans appeared scary as they rushed toward her. She feared they would beat her to death. When a half¨Cfilled mineral water bottle struck her head hard, she nearly fainted from the intense pain. Evangeline soon approached themotion with the security guards. She grabbed Skyler¡¯s hand and dashed backstage. Skyler didn¡¯t dare to stop running. She didn¡¯t even have time to put on her high heels. She just hid backstage in embarrassment. Evangeline stood tremblingly in front of Skyler, who had dirt all over her body. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Skyler. I¡¯ll clear up your rumorster!¡± ¡°No need!¡± Skyler clenched her fists tightly. Her panicked eyes gradually grew firm. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to the vi in the suburbs tonight. Find a way to bring Anson Brentwood to me!¡± The inte was in an uproar. In only half an hour, the video of Skyler and Louis had gone viral. Later, she used the Dawsons¡® power to remove the video, but the bacsh against her grew strongerThis material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. online. ¡°I¡¯ve always despised this kind of seductive bitch who pretends to be pure! I felt disgusted when I watched her in the video. Her fake innocence on stage makes me disgusted!¡± ¡°Not only is it disgusting, I even threw up after watching it!¡± ¡°Have you noticed that we can no longer find the video on the inte? She must have acted out of guilt and paid someone to remove the video!¡± ¡°Skyler is the most disgusting celeb I¡¯ve ever seen! I bet I¡¯ll throw up every time I see her!¡± ¡°Poor Mr. Carter. Despite his handsome look, he still got cheated by a bitch! I want tofort him!¡± ¡°Comfort Mr. Carter +1.¡± ¡°Comfort Mr. Carter +2.¡± Of course, Skyler¡¯s moron fans hadmented to defend their goddess. It was simply that what she did was too disgusting, and the influence of anti¨Cfans was too great. Fans who came out to speak up for her were immediately attacked. In the end, mostizens sted Skyler as a shameless woman, wishing her to leave the entertainment circle or die. Soon, her issue was a trending topic. Willow calmly turned off theputer. She had expected theizens to criticize Skyler. Skyler wouldunch a counterattack. Still, even if she found a way to fight back, manyizens would Chapter 361 212 continue to believe she and Louis had a secret romance. Her image of a pure goddess had been crushed. After returning to her warm bed, Willow was thinking about how to ensure her and Aaron¡¯s safety. In the private room that night, she overheard a lot of information from Skyler and Louis¡® conversation. They wanted her and Aaron to die. Even if she didn¡¯t take the initiative to attack Skyler, they wouldn¡¯t let her go. She was now struggling to take action. She wanted to be extremely powerful all of a sudden, but that was only her wishful thinking. She could only work harder to make herself stronger and never give Skyler any chance to hurt her and Aaron. The night was cold and windy. After thest video conference, Zayn opened the window. The chilly wind struck his face, making his consciousness clearer. He got along nicely with Willow in the morning and enjoyed that very much. When Zayn lit a cigarette, he remembered that Willow hated the smell of cigarettes the most. So, he immediately put out the cigarette. He was still brooding over her cruel betrayal four years ago, but he suddenly wanted to show mercy and give her another chance. Zayn felt unbelievably thrilled after making his decision. Just as he was about to call Arthur to prepare more ingredients for the meals, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in!¡± Chapter 362 Chapter 362 Liam entered the CEO¡¯s office with his phone and nervously approached Zayn. ¡°Boss, something happened to Ms. Dawson!¡± When he said that, he secretly observed Zayn¡¯s expression. The worst thing that could happen to a man was being betrayed by his woman. If the proud Zayn discovered that his fianc¨¦e had cheated on him, he would make things very difficult for others. The first person to suffer the brunt of it must be the poor personal assistant, Liam. Despite his nervousness, he had to tell his boss the truth as a qualified special assistant. ¡°Who¡¯s in trouble?¡± Zayn was stunned. He was a little distracted just now and didn¡¯t hear clearly who Liam was talking about. ¡°Is it Willow?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Ms. Sanford, but Ms. Dawson.¡± Zayn subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it would be fine if it weren¡¯t Willow. She had beenContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. having troubles recently, which made him a little nervous. ¡°Boss, someone posted a video of Ms. Dawson and Mr. Mayer in bed online! Now everyone knows Ms. Dawson cheated on you!¡± Zayn was dumbfounded. He hadn¡¯t expected Skyler to be linked to Louis, so he asked instinctively, ¡°Skyler and Louis?¡± Liam couldn¡¯t figure out what Zayn was thinking and didn¡¯t know how to exin. After thinking about it, he respectfully handed over the phone. It would be better to let Zayn watch it by himself. Swiping the phone screen, Zayn saw the scene of Skyler and Louis having sex. He found it funny. Skyler was the woman he wanted to marry. But when he discovered her sleeping with another man, he didn¡¯t have much reaction. Liam, on the other hand, was so frightened that he didn¡¯t dare to speak and nervously observed Zayn. Unexpectedly, Zayn remained expressionless. Zayn was always expressionless, yet that contained all of his emotions. It was difficult for Liam to guess what he was thinking about. Liam¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he noticed Zayn¡¯s frown. Zayn¡¯s expressionless face might indicate anger, so his frown would mean something much worse. Liam believed Zayn must have been furious. That was normal. Zayn¡¯s fianc¨¦e betrayed him, making him the most famous cuckold in Havenpoint. How could he not be angry? Chapter 362 ¡°Boss¡­ don¡¯t feel bad. I believe there must be some misunderstanding. Ms. Dawson loves you so much. She wouldn¡¯t betray you. She must have a reason.¡± Zayn was indeed upset, but not because of Skyler. He was angry at Willow. Looking at the joyful Louis in the video, he couldn¡¯t help but recall the scene from four years ago. ¡°Louis Mayer!¡± Liam grew frightened after hearing Zayn¡¯s angry tone. Just as he was about tofort his poor boss, Zayn¡¯s phone rang. It was Evangeline who called him. As soon as he picked it up, her panicked voice came through. ¡°Help, Mr. Carter! Skylermitted suicide! §± Chapter 363 Chapter 363C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 363 Skyler couldn¡¯t bear the humiliation andmitted suicide by taking sleeping pills. After confirming the destination, Zayn hung up the phone, took the car keys, and rushed to the hospital. His eldest cousin Joel¡¯s newly opened private hospital was of high quality and maintained strict confidentiality, so no paparazzi surrounded the hospital entrance. When Zayn arrived, Skyler was still in the emergency room. Looking at the red light outside the emergency room, he realized he wasn¡¯t particrly nervous. But he wanted Skyler to live. After all, she was his savior and lost a kidney for him. Although he didn¡¯t love her, he hoped to live up to her deep love for him and give her a happy ending. He waited outside the emergency room for nearly two hours until the door slowly opened. When the doctor spotted Zayn, he hurriedly went over and said, ¡°Mr. Carter, we performed a gastricvage on Ms. Dawson. She¡¯s now out of danger, but she¡¯s rtively weak.¡± Zayn stepped forward and looked at Skyler, who was lying motionless on the hospital bed. She looked pale as she frowned in pain. He couldn¡¯t help but recall her sickly pale appearance when he awoke from the vehicle ident. At that time, she sold a kidney to pay for his surgery fees, to save him from bing disabled. Before him. she could take a good rest, she dragged her frail body to take care of him. CD Zayn¡¯s heart softened when he recalled that. After Skyler was pushed into the ward, he reached out and gently held her hand. C ¡°Don¡¯t do stupid things, Skyler! No matter who you choose to be with, I want you to be happy and healthy.¡± As if sensing Zayn¡¯s presence, Skyler slowly opened her eyes. Her sickness wasn¡¯t fake. She was indeed ufortable. She had nned tomit suicide by slicing her wrist to present the scenario well, but deceiving others in this way proved to be difficult. If she sliced it shallowly, it would appear fake; if she cut deeply.. Holding the knife, Skyler thought she couldn¡¯t be so cruel to herself. After much thought, she decided to take the risk and take sleeping pills. She felt that taking sleeping pills was simr to sleeping. Even if the doctor rescued her, she was unlikely to feel the pain. Unexpectedly, despite the small amount of sleeping pills she took, she still needed gastricvage. Skyler awoke when the doctor did the gastricvage on her. That feeling was so horrible that she would never take sleeping pills again in her life. Chapter 363 2/2 After the gastricvage, she still felt like a tube was violently entering her throat, which was excruciatingly painful. ¡°Zayn¡­¡± Skyler called out weakly with reddish eyes. ¡°Take good care of yourself, Skyler. Don¡¯t harm yourself again!¡± ¡°Zayn, I wanna die!¡± She cried as she said that. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Skyler shrieked, ¡°Why did you save me, Zayn? I¡¯d rather be dead right now!¡± ¡°Skyler, stop saying such things!¡± Zayn clutched Skyler¡¯s hand tightly, worried that she might go over the edge and hurt herself. She implored miserably, ¡°Zayn, I¡¯ve lost everything¨Cmy reputation, my dignity! I might as well die! I don¡¯t want to live anymore. ¡°Just let me die. Please, Zayn! That woman in the video was not me. I was set up, and now, everyone thinks I¡¯ve done those outrageous things with Louis! ¡°Everyone thinks I¡¯m some filthy harlot and treats me no better than a sewerage rat! You know I¡¯ve always wanted to live with my head held high. I have too much pride to live like this!¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Zayn stared at her and vowed solemnly, ¡°Skyler, I promise I¡¯ll take care of that video, but you have to promise me you¡¯ll live, and live well.¡± He couldn¡¯t care less who she had slept with. By putting out the scandal caused by that video, he was simply returning her the favor he owed her years ago. ¡°Do you think I was the woman in that video too, Zayn?¡± Skyler shook her head belligerently as she buried her face in her hands, sobbing. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! Zayn, I swear that woman wasn¡¯t me! ¡°You have to believe me, Zayn! You¡¯re the only man I¡¯ve ever been with, I swear this on my life! How could I have done something so filthy with Louis? ¡°Someone set me up! Someone¡¯s out to get me! Please don¡¯t fall for their trick, Zayn. Please don¡¯t think of me as a tramp who gets in bed with anyone!¡± O ¡°Skyler, I¡¯ve never thought of you that way,¡± Zayn said patiently. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll look into this and clear your name for you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me, Zayn!¡± Skyler¡¯s tears streamed down her cheeks like rivulets, and her voice cracked as she added, ¡°I can tell you¡¯re justforting me. You don¡¯t think I¡¯m innocent at all!¡± She sat up and drew her knees to her chest, looking small and vulnerable. ¡°What do I have to do to make you believe me, Zayn? Do you even know how disgusted I am with myself? ¡°I was presenting an award at the award ceremony this evening. All my fans who imed to love me before went crazy and started throwing trash at me! They sttered me with garbage! ¡°I can¡¯t help feeling like I¡¯ve been/covered in filth since then! I know I haven¡¯t betrayed you, but I felt like I was covered in sewage. ¡°I went home and scrubbed myself raw, but I still feel filthy. I¡¯m disgusting and repulsive. That¡¯s how I will feel for the rest of my life!¡± Zayn pulled her into his arms and murmured, ¡°You¡¯re not filthy, Skyler. You¡¯re a proper youngdy!¡± Skyler sobbed, her tears falling harder. Suddenly, she looked up and stared at Zayn with a fanatical gleam Chapter 364 in her eyes. ¡°Zayn¡­ My darling Zayn, did you mean what you said? ¡°You can¡¯t turn around and think I¡¯m repulsive after this! I will not allow it! If you do, I won¡¯t have any reason to live! 2/2 ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, Zayn. Stay with me forever, I beg you. I don¡¯t love Louis or any other man besides you!¡± Zayn patted Skyler¡¯s back soothingly as he reassured her, ¡°I promise I won¡¯t leave you.¡± After he made the promise, Skyler wiped her tears as steely resolve glimmered in her eyes. She bit her lower lip and said slowly, ¡°Zayn, I actually have an idea on how I can clear my name.¡± With that, she slithered out of Zayn¡¯s embrace and quickly stripped off her clothes, baring every inch of her skin to him. Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Zayn did not expect Skyler to pull a move like that. He gawked at her in surprise. It wasn¡¯t like he could have averted his gaze when she was standing buck naked in front of him. The irony of the moment was not wasted on him. Skyler was his fianc¨¦e, the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with, yet he did not feel even the slightest bit of desire for her even as she bared her skin at him. Zayn reckoned he would feel the same way about a pig hung up at the butcher¡¯s storefront. In all fairness, Skyler¡¯s figure was as stunning as her face. Zayn simply was not attracted to her at all. It was different with Willow. For some reason, the control Zayn prided himself on having would always slip whenever he was around Willow. She could have bundled herself up inyers of clothing and he would still want to tear those fabrics awayContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. so he could get a glimpse of her skin. ¡°Skyler¡­¡± Zayn began patiently as he bent over to pick up the jacket Skyler had discarded on the floor. He stepped forward and draped it over her chivalrously. However, Skyler shrugged off the jacket and pressed a hand to the skin above her right hip, bitterness shing in her misty eyes. She took a step back and let her hand drop. ¡°Zayn, look at me! Take a good, long look at me! I am not the woman from the video! ¡°I had a kidney taken out, and I have the scar to prove it. There¡¯s no way for me to remove this scar even if I wanted to. ¡°I¡¯ve seen that video, Zayn. The woman in that video didn¡¯t have a scar at all! She couldn¡¯t have been me! She couldn¡¯t! ¡°You have to believe me, Zayn! I¡¯m innocent! Someone set me up!¡± At the mention of this, Zayn¡¯s gaze flickered to the long scar that ran along the skin above Skyler¡¯s right hip. The long scar was hard to miss. While Zayn had not paid much attention to the video, he had seen enough to notice that the woman in the video had wless skin, unlike Skyler. Even if the woman in the video bore a strong resemnce to Skyler, there was no way they were the same person. Chapter 365 2/2 That being said, Zayn wasn¡¯t particrly ted or relieved to learn that the woman in the video was not Skyler. He didn¡¯t particrly care if she had slept with another man, either. But seeing the scar that ran along her abdomen reminded Zayn of how she had stuck by him during his hardest times. He owed her for that, and he would return the favor. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Skyler. I won¡¯t let anyone get away with ruining your reputation!¡± Zayn threw the jacket over her and covered her modesty, adding firmly, ¡°Anyone whoys a finger on you will have me to answer to!¡± ¡°Zayn¡­¡± Skyler¡¯s tears streamed past her cheeks, seemingly moved by Zayn¡¯s promise even as sadness filled her eyes. She sniffed and feigned a nervous look as she pointed out, ¡°I believe the only way I can clear my name is for everyone to see this scar on me. ¡°I¡¯ve been too proud to bare my skin to the public and show them my scar, which was why I¡¯d rather die as a harlot than clear my name. ¡°But now that I¡¯ve been saved, I want to keep living. Zayn, I want to clear my name. I¡¯ll hold a press conference tomorrow and show them my scar. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zayn. I won¡¯t strip naked before the press. I¡¯ll show them the scar and nothing else. ¡°But do you think that¡¯s too bold of me? Will you think I¡¯m some filthy woman who¡¯s so thick¨Cskinned that she¡¯d strip for anyone?¡± Zayn said gravely, ¡°I told you, Skyler. You¡¯ll always be the purest youngdy I¡¯ve ever met!¡± Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Skyler was so happy to hear Zayn¡¯s solemn promise that her heart might fly out of her chest. She also secretly praised herself foring up with such a brilliant n. In truth, Skyler had never sold her kidney to save Zayn. As such, her abdomen had never been scarred from surgery. The scar she had shown Zayn was stage makeup that had been painted on a few hours ago. Anson Brentwood was the best makeup artist abroad. The scars he painted on his subjects looked so much like the real thing, they could have fooled anyone. Considering the favor Anson owed Skyler previously, he was happy to help when she asked him to draw a scar on her abdomen. Presently, Skyler gently grazed the puckered lines of the fake scar that ran along her skin. She figured she should get a real scar, just to be safe. ¡°Skyler, get some rest. I¡¯lle by to see you tomorrow,¡± Zayn said. ¡°Zayn!¡± Before Zayn could reach the door, Skyler caught up to him and clutched his arm tightly. The jacket he had draped over her slipped from her frame, revealing every inch of her skin. Right now, they were separated only by Zayn¡¯s clothes. Skyler¡¯s soft hands tightened their grip on his shirt as she pleaded, ¡°Zayn, can¡¯t you stay with me tonight? I don¡¯t want to be alone. I¡¯m scared. ¡°What if you think differently of me once you step out that door? Please don¡¯t think of me as a filthy tramp, Zayn. If you do, my life will lose all meaning.¡± Zayn was not ustomed to having someone intrude upon his personal space like this. He instinctively pushed Skyler away as he said, ¡°Skyler, I told you, I¡¯ll never think of you as filthy.¡± He closed his eyes slowly before opening them again. What was this feeling swirling in his chest? Whatever it was, it bordered on disgust.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Zayn felt as if a b of raw meat had been thrown at him and clung to his clothes. It was a strange sensation. He knew he shouldn¡¯tpare Skyler, who had risked it all to save his life, to a b of raw meat, but his disgust overwhelmed his voice of reason. ¡°Zayn, I can tell you¡¯re disgusted by me!¡± Skyler¡¯s tears, which had stopped not too long ago, began to fall again. ¡°You may not want to admit it, but I know you¡¯re disgusted by me! ¡°I know you¡¯ve been seeing Lolo again! You can¡¯t let go of her, and because of that, you refuse to touch me! Chapter 366 2/2 ¡°Don¡¯t you know how that breaks my heart? I¡¯m not saying Lolo¡¯s bad for you. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand why I¡¯ve gone through so much and saved myself for you, only for you to love Lolo in the end! She¡¯ll only hurt you. ¡°This is not fair, Zayn. It¡¯s not fair to me!¡± Zayn said softly, ¡°Skyler¡­¡± Indeed, he owed Skyler far too much. ¡°Zayn, please, I¡¯m begging you. Even if you can¡¯t let go of Lolo, please don¡¯t cast me aside all the time,¡± Skyler pleaded, tightening her arms around Zayn like he was her only beacon of hope and faith. Before he could say anything, she added, ¡°Could you please let me have a child with you, Zayn?¡± Chapter 367 Chapter 367 Zayn knew Skyler¡¯s request was not unreasonable, but he simply couldn¡¯t fulfill it. ¡°Skyler, you¡¯re not well right now. You need to rest,¡± Zayn said gently but firmly as he pried Skyler¡¯s arms off him and quickly opened the door. He left the hospital room in long, swift strides, making a beeline to the elevators. Skyler stood by the door like a statue, her hands gripping thin air. She was in such a daze that she forgot to put on the clothes she had discarded on the floor. It wasn¡¯t until Evangeline came through the door that Skyler returned to her senses. With a maniacal rage, Skyler began putting on her clothes. She gritted her teeth so hard that she could grind them into dust, and the hatred in her eyes made her look like some creature from hell. ¡°Willow!¡± she snarled, her voice dripping with menace and sending chills down Evangeline¡¯s spine. Evangeline asked bracingly, ¡°Is there anything you need me to do, Skyler?¡± Skyler seethed, ¡°I¡¯ll hold a press conference tomorrow to clear my name! And I want to destroy Willow¡¯s reputation entirely! ¡°Even if she had nothing to do with the video this time, I¡¯ll find a way to pin it on her. I want her dead! I want her soul ripped into pieces!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Skyler. Leave the press conference to me,¡± Evangeline said. She was Skyler¡¯s most loyal subordinate, but even she was frightened by Skyler¡¯s feral and menacing expression. Evangeline then excused herself to call the press and bolted out of Skyler¡¯s sight with her phone in hand. After snapping at Evangeline, Skyler turned to throw her pillow on the ground. When that did little to quell the rage boiling in her, she grabbed her phone and dialed Louis¡® number. Louis picked up almost immediately. ¡°Baby, now that everyone knows about us, why don¡¯t we just make things official and tell the world about it?¡± ¡°Make things official, my ass!¡± Skyler was so angry that she swore. ¡°If you tell anyone about us, we¡¯re over! ¡°Okay, okay! I won¡¯t say a word. I¡¯ll do anything you ask of me as long as it makes you happy, my darling Skyler,¡± Louis crooned on the other line. Skyler snapped, ¡°I want Willow dead! I can¡¯t wait around any longer. I want her dead right now! Help me end her existence, Louis!¡± Louis couldn¡¯t bear to hear or see Skyler so upset, so he quicklyforted her, ¡°I promise, Skyler, I¡¯ll get rid of Willow by tomorrow evening! ¡°You can skin me alive if I don¡¯t kill her this time.¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 367 2/2 Louis¡® promise appeased Skyler. She would turn the tables in her favor and celebrate Willow¡¯s death. Tomorrow will be a day tomemorate! Meanwhile, Willow didn¡¯t feel like making breakfast that morning. Her left arm was as good as disabled during the four years Skyler and Louis had imprisoned and tortured her. It was only thanks to Moses¡® treatment that Willow regained some use of her left arm, albeit just a little. However, the pain that shot through her arm thanks to Matthew¡¯s trampling prevented her from moving it. There was no way she could make breakfast like this. As such, Willow washed up and headed to the diner just around the neighborhood for breakfast. Chapter 368 Chapter 368 1/2 Willow had been following the news surrounding Skyler¡¯s recent video scandal. While waiting for her breakfast order, she scrolled through thetest entertainment updates. The scandal had been left stewing for a night, and the bacsh Skyler received had only worsened. The waiter set Willow¡¯s food down. Willow was just about to put her phone aside and indulge in breakfast when she identally clicked on a video. It was a live broadcast of the press conference Skyler had scheduled this morning. Willow was admittedly impressed with Skyler¡¯s resilience. For someone who had a melodramatic breakdown and attempted to take her own life by consuming sleeping pills the night before, Skyler looked surprisingly well¨Crested, to her makeup artist¡¯s credit. Skyler donned a white dress for the press conference this morning. She had always been good at ying up her innocence, and her ivory visage made her look pure and untainted. The video scandal had be groundbreaking news overnight, and the city¡¯s press were vying to get the most exclusive scoop of the day. The moment Skyler showed up before the cameras, the reporters swarmed around her and pelted her with questions. ¡°Ms. Dawson, by holding a press conference today, are you admitting that you are the woman in that video?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, what does Mr. Carter make of the scandal? Have you two broken up?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, do you have any ns on going out officially with Mr. Mayer?¡± ¡°Ms. Dawson, looking back on the time you were beloved by all and regaled as the industry¡¯s purest woman, do you find this situation ironic?¡± Skyler did not falter at the reporters¡® endless stream of questions. She looked wounded, her wlessly made¨Cup face conveying her heartache as if the world had forsaken her. Skyler leaned forward slightly and said into the microphone, ¡°I will never break up with Zayn, nor will I ever go out with Mr. Mayer, because I am not the woman in that video! ¡°While I¡¯ve never imed myself to be the purest woman in the industry, I would never do anything so unconscionable!¡± Upon hearing this, one of the few reporters who were buzzing with questions demanded, Unconscionable? Ms. Dawson, you slept with another man behind Mr. Carter¡¯s back! How is that not unconscionable?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Ms. Dawson! You can¡¯t expect us to believe you! Do you have any proof that you aren¡¯t the woman in that video?¡± Chapter 368 2/2 Skyler met the reporters¡® contemptuous gaze as she enunciated, ¡°I do have proof.¡± Without another word, she reached a hand toward Evangeline. Evangeline understood the gesture and immediately ced a pair of scissors in Skyler¡¯s hand. Turning back to the microphone, Skyler said, ¡°I¡¯ve been in showbiz for long enough to have my fair share of bacsh, but I have been praised as well. ¡°But no matter how others have hurt me, I have never med any of you because I know you didn¡¯t do it on purpose! ¡°What I don¡¯t understand is why I am painted as the viin time and time again even when I¡¯ve done nothing wrong!¡± As she said this, she flicked the scissors and cut the bodice of her dress. The reporters had no idea what Skyler was doing. Stumped by her actions, they stayed quiet and waited to see what she would do next. Skyler continued cutting the bodice until her midriff was bared. She stood tall and straight like a proud martyr who would stand for no insult. Surveying the crowd of reporters, she said, ¡°I am not the woman in the video, and the proof you seek is this scar that runs along the side of my abdomen! ¡°The woman in the video did not have a scar like this, but I do because of an old injury!¡± Skyler thought the reporters would be convinced once she showed them the scar, but she was wrong. A young female reporter snorted and remarked, ¡°A scar, huh? Stage makeup has been getting moreProperty ? N?velDrama.Org. advanced these days. ¡°A proper makeup artist could paint ten scars, that look like the real thing if they wanted to! Ms. Dawson, if this scar is real, surely you wouldn¡¯t mind getting a doctor to verify it and support your im.¡± Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Willow stared at her phone screen and silently praised the female reporter for her clever questioning. She knew for a fact that Skyler did not have a scar running along her abdomen, which made her heroic tale of selling a kidney for Zayn aplete joke. That being said, Willow also knew Skyler was cunning and would not falter so easily. In the broadcast, Skyler appeared stunned for a moment as something like fear flickered in her eyes. However, Skyler knew there was no backtracking. She had gotten this far with her lie, and so she would continue it. She replied to the reporter congenially, ¡°That¡¯s a brilliant idea. With a doctor¡¯s confirmation that this scar is real, I can finally clear my name.¡± Skyler was the heiress of the Dawson family and Zayn¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Not wanting to cross Skyler, the female reporter decided to back off with the questions and said, ¡°I was only kidding, Ms. Dawson. The scar looks too real for it to be stage makeup. ¡°I am curious, though, as to how you got that scar in the first ce. Female celebrities such as yourself are usually particr about their appearances. ¡°I¡­¡± Skyler bit her lip hesitantly as if gued by a serious dilemma. Just then, Evangeline rushed out to shield Skyler, like she couldn¡¯t stand to see Skyler so torn. ¡°Please stop with your questions! Don¡¯t you guys have your answers already? ¡°What more do you want from Skyler? Isn¡¯t it bad enough that she tried to take her own lifest night by swallowing sleeping pills? ¡°If you have any more questions, let me answer them for you! If it¡¯s the story behind this scar you want, then so be it. ¡°Skyler only has one kidney at the moment! There¡¯s your story!¡± Shock registered on the reporters¡® faces. ¡°What? She only has one? Was she terribly ill before?¡± e kidney? What happened to the other ¡°Yeah, how would a youngdy like her lose a kidney? Besides, she looks healthy to me!¡± Skyler was flustered as she tugged on Evangeline¡¯s arm, hoping to stop thetter from spilling any more details. ¡°Evangeline, stop! I don¡¯t want them to know abContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. this.¡± Evangeline shrugged off Skyler¡¯s vise¨Clike grip. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to use Mr. Carter as a tool for publicity stunt, Skyler, but I need to tell everyone the truth. ¡°I can¡¯t stand hearing everyone me you for something you didn¡¯t do!¡± Evangeline then turned to address the reporters, ¡°Four years ago, Skyler sold one of her kidneys to save Chapter 369 Mr. Carter¡¯s life. 2/2 ¡°At the time, Mr. Carter returned to the country penniless to start his business. He got into a terrible car crash and required immediate surgery, without which he would be permanently disabled. ¡°Skyler had no idea of Mr. Carter¡¯s identity, and she didn¡¯t have the money to help him. To get the money. for his surgery, she sold one of her kidneys!¡± Willow snorted at the shock and other unreadable emotions flickering past the reporters¡® faces. As expected of the manager of the queen of the silver screen, Evangeline had such talent for acting that it was a shame she was not a celebrity. E Growing bored with Skyler¡¯s strategic performance and Evangeline¡¯splimentary act, Willow exited the broadcast and returned to scrolling through the news. She had expected Skyler to find a way to get through the reporters¡® questions, so she wasn¡¯t the least bit disappointed in how the press conference had turned out. The live broadcast of Skyler¡¯s press conference began to gain traction on the inte. Having seen the broadcast, the fans who had been disappointed in Skyler after the intense bacsh yesterday were starting to feel sorry for her. Their loyalty to Skyler was fortified by their sympathy for her. ¡°See, I knew Skyler was an angel! How could someone as wonderful as her betray Mr. Carter?¡± ¡°Skyler¡¯s dedication to Mr. Carter is so moving! Gosh, I¡¯m crying over their love story. She sacrificed her health to help the man she loves get back on his feet. This love will stand the test of time!¡± Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Skyler¡¯s fans rallied to support her. ¡°Those who condemned Skyler should apologize! A goddess like her doesn¡¯t deserve to be besmirched like this!¡± ¡°I pledge my loyalty to Skyler for life! I will always root for her!¡± ¡°Skyler, you¡¯re the best! We¡¯ll always stand by you!¡± Skyler¡¯s fans defended and praised her so much that it became annoying. Willow was getting heartburn just from looking at thements, so she didn¡¯t bother scrolling through the rest of them. Willow had expected Skyler to rebuild her reputation and gain her fans¡® support through the press conference today. However, some fans were still skeptical and level¨Cheaded enough to question Skyler¡¯s side of the story. A viewermented, ¡°Don¡¯t spin the whole video was wearing the same limited-editioney¨Cselling incident out of the blue! The woman in the watch as Skyler! ¡°As far as I can recall, only three of those watches exist in the world. One was gifted to Wynn by Mr. Carter, another was bought by the princess of Fernhallow, and the third is the one Skyler uses. ¡°So where did the woman in the video get her limited¨Cedition watch?¡± Another usatoryment popped up. ¡°Skyler can hold all the press conferences she wants and feign her innocence, but I still think she¡¯s the woman in the video. ¡°It¡¯s not like she went to get a doctor¡¯s confirmation on whether the scar is real.¡± ¡°Am I the only one who noticed that the woman in the video had huge feet? If I remember correctly, Skyler is known in the industry for her big feet! Haha! ¡°I bet she¡¯s the woman in the video! Only her fans are stupid enough to believe otherwise!¡± Willow sputtered at theizens¡®me As amusing as thements were, they were true. Skyler did have big and wide feet. Sometimes, wearing size nine¨Cand¨Ca¨Chalf shoes pinched her toes. Still, Willow had to admit Skyler¡¯seback was perfectly executed. By ying the victim in front of the press and spinning a sob story, Skyler had propelled her reputation in the entertainment industry to new heights. That being said, Willow was still pleased with how the video scandal had turned out. Someizens were already skeptical of Skyler¡¯s statements and found her pretentious. If another scandal hit her, it would be much harder for her to clear her name and regain control of the narrative. Willow happily finished her breakfast and headed to Dreamscape Entertainment¡¯s shooting set. Chapter 370 2/2 She would take costume photos and film a short promotional video for Arena of Glory today. Her hands were not as swollen anymore, but the wounds were still jarring. Thankfully, her gown for the promotional video came with long, flowing sleeves that hid her wounds. Willow would be portraying the role of Nephelle, one of the characters from Arena of Glory. In the initial script, Nephelle was meant to swing barefoot in a floweryndscape. At nightfall, when the moon was high, Nephelle would flutter down from the swing and dance in the silvery moonlight for herContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. beloved. However, the ywright must have been inspired at thest minute to make Nephelle wear shoes instead of swinging barefoot. Willow wasn¡¯tining. After all, she thought it would be rather strange to be barefoot while filming the scene. Eric told her to show up at the set before 9:00 am in the morning. She arrived ten minutes ahead. She had only just walked onto the set when she noticed Zayn, Skyler, Matthew, and Wilhelmina entering from the other side. Willow cursed her timing and wondered why she was so unlucky as to run into these jerks on set. Chapter 371 Chapter 371Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. 1/2 Chapter 371 Willow had no ns on ruining her day, so she looked away from the four eyesores and headed straight for the studio. The studio was thergest in Havenpoint, with different sets and boothsid out. Wilhelmina and Skyler had shown up at the studio today for photoshoots and to film promotional videos too. Skyler was miffed to lose out on the endorsement for Arena of Glory, but she worked hard and scored an endorsement deal for another game. Wilhelmina, on the other hand, snagged the supporting role for the endorsement deal courtesy of Skyler. Zayn hadn¡¯t intended to to the studio with Skyler today. He wouldn¡¯t have wasted his time if Liam hadn¡¯t told him Willow would be at the studio too. While Willow avoided Wilhelmina and Skyler like the gue, they did not return her favor. Although Wilhelmina had recovered from her temporary blindness, she couldn¡¯t help feeling as if her response time was slower since she took a hit to the back of her head. She walked up to Willow elegantly, her eight¨Cinch heels clicking against the floor, and said crisply, ¡°Lolo! Fancy running into you here. I¡¯m sorry about what happened in the cer the other day. ¡°It was wrong of me to do that, and I¡¯m truly sorry for it. Will you forgive me?¡± Willow was too bright to fall for Wilhelmina¡¯s tricks. ¡°What do you hope to achieve by putting on this goody -two¨Cshoes act in front of me, Wilhelmina? Would you forgive me if I had someone chop off your fingers and leave scars all over your body? ¡°I doubt it. So do me a favor and stop irritating me with your false contrition. People have gone to hell for less!¡± ¡°Willow, you little-¡± Wilhelmina flushed angrily as she red at Willow with hatred in her eyes. Remembering Matthew was with her, Wilhelmina concealed her malice and continued piteously, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for you to get hurt, Lolo. I promise I¡¯ll make it up to you!¡± Willow was getting sick of Wilhelmina¡¯s pretenses, She shot Wilhelmina a cold look as she said, ¡°If I caused you to be permanently disabled and live the rest of your life in agony, would you forgive me if I said I didn¡¯t mean to do it? ¡°Cut the act, Wilhelmina. Only idiots beyond saving would believe a two¨Cfaced liar like you!¡± ¡°Willow!¡± Matthew growled. He hadn¡¯t missed Willow¡¯s pointed remark that hinted at him being the idiot beyond saving. ¡°Oh, are you reminding me of my name again, Mr. Mayer? Thank you, but I¡¯m not so stupid as to not know what my name is!¡± Willow snapped. Chapter 371 2/2 With that, she turned on her heels and strode toward the booth designated for her photoshoot and filming today. Her ankle still hurt, but she could move effortlessly thanks to the ointment Moses had given her, which worked wonders. Matthew was left fuming after Willow stormed off, the vein near his temple throbbing. Zayn, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t help the smile that curled on the corner of his mouth. For some reason, it gave him a rush to hear Willow put Matthew in his ce. Matthew, the idiot beyond saving, was so tense with anger that he did not soften even as Wilhelmina clutched his arm. She said, ¡°Matt, the director for our shoot today won¡¯t be here for another hour due to personal reasons. ¡°Why don¡¯t we drop by Lolo¡¯s booth and see how her shoot goes instead of waiting around here? I could find a chance to tell her how sorry I am about the other day.¡± Matthew had not looked away from Willow since he saw her in the studio, so he was more than happy to ept Wilhelmina¡¯s suggestion. Meanwhile, Skyler was not inclined to let Zayn go with Matthew and Wilhelmina. She was worried he might lose control of himself around Willow. Skyler thought it was rather foolish of Wilhelmina to want to parade Matthew in front of Willow, especially since Wilhelmina was afraid that Willow might steal her man. Honestly, how did Wilhelmina expect to keep a tight leash on Matthew at this rate? Chapter 372 Chapter 372 ¡°Zayn, why don¡¯t we take a stroll outside?¡± Skyler asked. However, her suggestion fell on deaf ears, as Zayn had already lifted his foot and fallen in step behind Matthew as they made their way to Willow¡¯s booth. Skyler clenched her jaw, but she couldn¡¯t throw Zayn out of the studio, so she followed him begrudgingly. Nightingale Corporation had deep pockets, and it showed. They hired one of the top directors in the country, Harvey Chastain, for the promotional video. As for the photo shoot, Nightingale Corporation had the international award¨Cwinning photographer, Cole Gnis, at the helm. Over ten costumes had been tailor¨Cmade by world¨Cfamous designers for the character of Nephelle alone. Skyler and Wilhelmina knew of Nightingale Corporation¡¯s wealth, but they were still surprised to see the costumes they had prepared for Willow. It wasmon for costumes to be subpar in video game promotional shoots, as per the industry¡¯s standards. More often than not, small¨Ctime video gamepanies would rent costumes and essories from costume studios. The costumes would look like a cheap rendering of what the characters wore in the games, and the roughThis material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. workmanship usually showed on camera. However, there was nothing rough or cheap about the costumes Nightingale Corporation provided for Willow. Every piece was bespoke and luxurious, handmade with an attention to detail. The costume that caught Wilhelmina¡¯s eye was a bright red gown with a plunging neckline, modified to suit the game character¡¯s design. She had seen the gown in a fashion magazine spread. It happened to be a collector¡¯s piece designed by Harper, the CEO of Enchanted Moments. Because the dress was tailor¨Cmade, it was the only one of its kind in the world. No woman could resist beautiful clothes. Wilhelmina had wanted the gown sinceing across it in the magazine. Unfortunately, Enchanted Moments did not make the gown for sale. She hadn¡¯t expected Nightingale Corporation to be the one to buy it, or for it to be used for Willow¡¯s photoshoot. As for Skyler, she was immediately drawn to a winter outfit that could very well be regarded as vogue. It featured a vintage¨Clooking dress with blue fur trim and a quilted jacket patterned with cherry¨Cpink blossoms. Chapter 372 2/2 Skyler would never have known how well blue and pinkplimented each other had she note across this outfit. The dress was elegant, edgy, and utterly unique. ¡°Matt, this gown is gorgeous!¡± Wilhelmina pointed to the red gown and said enviously, ¡°It¡¯s a collector¡¯s piece made by Harper, the genius behind Enchanted Moments! ¡°I would be over the moon if I could wear a gown this beautiful for my video game shoot,¡± Willow was rendered speechless by Wilhelmina¡¯s statement. She couldn¡¯t believe Wilhelmina was pulling this old trick again. Willow hadn¡¯t forgotten how Wilhelmina had snatched the wedding gown she was eyeing at Enchanted Moment¡¯s branch. This stunt was getting tiresome. Unfortunately, people like Wilhelmina spent their entire lives without even a hint of self¨Cawareness. Matthew followed Wilhelmina¡¯s gaze and took in the red gown with the plunging neckline hung up on the rack. He nched at the thought of Willow shooting her promotional video and popping up on the screens of countless male gamers in a dress like that. Just as Matthew was about to take the dress for Wilhelmina so that Willow wouldn¡¯t get the chance to wear it, a low voice rang through the air. ¡°Let her wear it!¡± Chapter 373 Chapter 373 The man who spoke wasn. Willow froze. She hadn¡¯t expectedn, whose schedule was so tight that it was nned down to the minute, would show up to oversee the video game promotional shoot. Wilhelmina was ted when she heard whatn said. Perhaps Wilhelmina might prove herself worthy of the endorsement deal for Arena of Glory if she performed well today. Straightening up and shingn a sweet smile, Wilhelmina said brightly, ¡°Thank you for giving me the gown, Mr. Nightingale!¡± Eric felt his heart bleed as he looked at the gown. It cost nearly as much as Willow¡¯s endorsement fee, and he couldn¡¯t believen was just going to hand it over to someone else. However, Eric did not try to understand the inner workings ofn¡¯s mind as he quietly took the gown off the rack and handed it to Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina beamed as if she had just won the lottery and clutched the gown in her arms. Judging by the sewn¨Cin pearls and the heavy fabric, Wilhelmina could tell the gown had to havee atAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org. an astronomical price. Excited to unt the gown, Wilhelmina stuck her tongue out yfully at Matthew and said, ¡°Matt, I¡¯m going to try this on. If it fits, I¡¯ll wear it for the shootter!¡± She carried the gown in her arms and practically sashayed into the fitting room. She came out a momentter wearing the gown. The gown¨Cfrom its silhouette to its delicate embroidery -was wless. However, Wilhelmina could not bring out the luxurious beauty of the gown. It hung oddly from her frame and hugged her in all the wrong ces. She looked far from elegant, and her waist filled out the dress so much that the seams were close to bursting. She hadn¡¯t even noticed that she had ripped the fabric on the back of the dress. Wilhelmina seemingly sensed that she did not look as good in the gown as she had envisioned. But there was an old saying that the clothes made the man, and she refused to believe she did not look beautiful in a stunning piece like this. The thought gave Wilhelmina¡¯s ego a boost. She smiled sweetly atn and yed up her charms. ¡°Thank Chapter 373 2/2 you for giving me this gorgeous gown, Mr. Nightingale.¡± She turned and walked slowly toward Matthew, sying her arms as she asked, ¡°What do you think, Matt? Do I look pretty in this gown?¡± Matthew did not respond at all. He was in a daze as he watched Wilhelmina approach him, but he couldn¡¯t help pieturing Willow in the gown., Chapter 374 Chapter374 Willow¡¯sfigurewaswhollydifferentfromWilhelmina¡¯s. Wilhelmina¡¯sbuildwaspetiteandslender,butherwaistdidnotdipwhereitshouldandshehadnocurvestospeakof. Fromtheside,shelookedlikeawashboard. Willow,ontheotherhand,haddoll¨Clike proportions thatwouldhavedheredgownjustice.Thegownwouldhavehuggedhercurvesinalltherightces,andherslenderwaistwouldn¡¯thaverippedtheseams. Moreimportantly,Willow wouldnotlookasridiculousas Wilhelmina. MatthewnarrowedhiseyesashestaredatWilhelminaashersilhouettegraduallytookonWillow¡¯slikenessandshape. ¡°Matt, saysomething!DoIlookgoodin thisgownornot?¡±WilhelminapromptedagainwhenMatthewdidnotanswerher. WilhelminalookedupandmetMatthew¡¯sintensegaze.Thatwasalltheanswersheneededfrom him.Ifthescorchinglookinhiseyes wereanyindication,shemustlooksplendidinthegown. InalltheyearsshehadbeentogetherwithMatthew,thiswasthefirsttimehehadregardedherwithsucharavenousgaze. WilhelminapraisedherselfformakingtherightcallinstealingWillow¡¯sgownthistime.ShemadeuphermindtoputmoreeffortintosnatchingWillow¡¯swardrobeinthefuture.¡°Matt,stoplookingatmelikethat,¡±Wilhelminasaid,feigninggirlishembarrassmentassheavertedhergaze.¡°You¡¯remakingmeblush!¡± ShewasjustabouttosaysomethingelsewhenMatthewclosedthedistancebetween themandpulledherintohisarms.The nextsecond,shefeltthehardntofhislipspressagainsthers. Hekissedherdeeplywiththepassionofaburningwildfire,unbridledandendless. ¡°Matt¡­¡±Wilhelminawhisperedagainsthislips,meltingintothekissashereyesflutteredclose. ShewasabouttowrapherarmsaroundhisneckanddangleherrtionshipinfrontofWillowwhenMatthewsuddenlysaidinafirm,domineeringvoice,¡°You¡¯remine,Willow!¡±AllcolordrainedfromWilhelmina¡¯sfaceasshestaredatMatthewindisbelief. ThstthingWilhelminaexpectedfromMatthewwasforhimto calloutWillow¡¯snamewhilekissingher,much lessimagineherasWillowinfrontofeveryone. Howwouldsherecoverfromthishumiliation? Zaynsnorted atthisasheeyedMatthewcoldly,wonderingifthtterhadtrulybeensoboldastopictureWillow¡¯sfacewhilekissinganotherwoman. Matthew snappedbacktohissenseswhenheheardZayn¡¯ssnicker.Whenherealizedthat thewomaninhisarmswasnotWillow,heinstinctivelyshovedher away.Wilhelminastaggeredand crashedtotheground.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Ow!Matt,thathurt!¡±WilhelminawhinedasshelookedupatMatthewresentfully,hereyesgrowingmisty.¡°Areyouunwell,Matthew?Whyareyoutreatingmelikethis?¡± Chapter375 Chapter 375 Chapter375 Matthew¡¯sbrowsfurrowed.¡°Wi?¡± AND1/1 Hehadn¡¯tmeanttohurtWilhelminawhilehewasinadaze.HehurriedforwardandpulledWilhelminaintohisarms.¡°I¡¯msorry,Wi.Iwasjust¡­¡± Whatwashesupposedtosay?Thathehad imaginedtheloveofhislife assomeotherwoman?Itwasunforgivableofhimtodothat,anditwouleoutwrongnomatterhowhardhetriedtoexinhimself. Wilhelmina¡¯shearttightened.ShewasafraidtohearMatthewspeakthe truth¨CthathehadpicturedherasWillowandlostcontrolofhimself. Wilhelminawouldn¡¯tknowhowto livewiththeshame. ShethrewherselfintoMatthew¡¯sarmsandsaidsorrowfully,¡°It¡¯sokay,Matt.Youdon¡¯thavetosayanything.Ibelieveyou,andIhavefaithinourrtionship. ¡°We¡¯vestuckbyeachother¡¯ssideforfouryears.Wepromisedwewouldfacetheworldtogether.Youwouldn¡¯tbetraymeafterallwe¡¯vebeenthrough. ¡°Ifyoudid,thentheretrulywouldbenogoodmenleftinthisworld.Iknowyourloveformeistrue,andyou¡¯lwayshave mytrust.¡± WilhelminahaetotheboothtodaytogiveWillowahardtime,yetdespitehereffort,sheonlyseededinhumiliatingherself.Willow,incontrast,wasunscathed.Wilhelminawastooembarrassedtolingeraround.ShegrippedMatthew¡¯shandtightlyandpleaded,¡°I¡¯mnotfeelingtoowell,Matt.Canwegohome?¡± Ian,whohadbeensilentallthiswhile,suddenlyinterjected,¡°Hold on,Ms.Foster.¡± Wilhelmina¡¯sembarrassmentgave way todelightandreliefwhensheheardIan¡¯svoice.Shecouldn¡¯thelpfeelinglikeshehadjustseenthelightatthe endofthetunnel. Shereckoned Ianhadstoppedherfromleavingbecausehewantedtoofferheranendorsementdefterseeinghowbeautifulshelookedinthegown. ¡°Mr.Nightingale,istheresomethingIcanhelpyouwith?¡±Wilhelminaasked.Shewouldn¡¯taskforanendorsementdealoutright,soshesettledforshingademure andpolitesmileatIan. Forsomereason,Ian¡¯sstomachchurnedeverytimehelookedatWilhelmina. He had tokeephimselffromretchingashepointedoutimpassively,¡°Ms.Foster,Ibelieveweshoulddiscuspensationafter yourippedthegown.¡± ¡°What?¡±Wilhelminademandedloudly,hersurpriseevidentinhervoice. Shehadtotakeafewdeepbreathsbeforeshefoundhervoiceagain.¡°Mr.Nightingale,Ithought¡­yougavemethisgownasagift.¡± Ianregardedherlikeshewasanidiot.¡°Ibelieveyou¡¯vemisreadthe situation,Ms.Foster.WhywouldIgiveyouthegownwhenIbarelyknowyou?¡± Wilhelminawasrenderedspeechlessbyhisretort.Nowthatshethoughtaboutit,hewasright.Hehadallowedhertotryonthegown,buthehadn¡¯texplicitlysaiditwasagift.Inanycase,Wilhelminahadmisconstruedhisintention. Shelookeddownandappraisedevery detailofthegownshewaswearing.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Thedelicateembroidery,threadedwithgoldanddepictingsubtlepatterns,wasaworkofart.Themother¨Cof¨Cpearlsewnintothebodiceand pleatslookedfineandexpensive.TheFostersrantheirownbusiness,butitwasn¡¯tfaringwendthefamilydidn¡¯efrommoney. Dorothy,Matthew¡¯sgrandmother,hadpulledacalctedmovebysecretlyhavingWilhelminasignaprenuptigreementbeforeWilhelminamarriedMatthew. Wilhelmina¡¯scareerintheentertainmentindustrywasn¡¯texactlyflourishing,either. Shecouldn¡¯tbringherselftoaskMatthewforthemoneyforthegown,bupensatingforitoutofherownpocketwouldcosther anarmandaleg. Notwantingtopayacentindamages,WilhelminamusteredhercouragetoreasonwithIan.¡°Mr.Nightingale,Iwouldneverhavetriedonthegownifyouhadn¡¯taskedmeto.¡°SoIcan¡¯tbeheldliableevenifIrippedthegown.¡± Iancounteredsharply,¡°WhileIletyoutryonthegown,Ineversaidyoucouldtrytosqueezeyourself intoitevenwhenitwouldn¡¯tfit.¡± WilhelminanchedatIan¡¯ssharpremark. Meanwhile,Erouldn¡¯tresistapudingIan¡¯sretortandsoundinghisagreement. Atfirst,EricthoughtIanwasinsaneforlettingWilhelminatryonthegown. HehadquestionedIan¡¯sjudgmentandwonderedifIanhada thingforunavablewomenwhowerevapid,washboardlookalikes. HewasrelievedwhenherealizedIanhadonlydonesotomakefoolsoutofWillow Chapter 376 Chapter376 Eric secretlycheeredforIan¡¯ssuaveback. WilhelminahadbeengettingonZayn¡¯snerves fora while now.Hecouldn¡¯thelpbutsmirkwhenhesawIanputherinherce. However,hissmileslippedwhenherememberedthatIanhadhumiliatedWilhelminatogetonWillow¡¯sgoodside. ¡°Harperisanoldfriendofmygrandfather¡¯sandonlyagreedtoloanmethegownbecauseofit,¡±Ianpointedout.¡°Seeingasyou¡¯veruinedthegown,IsuggestyouseeHarperpersonallyanddiscussthematteropensation.¡± Asifrecallingsomething,headdedwithmockkindness,¡°Oh,someoneonceofferedtenmilliondorsforthegown.ButHarpercouldn¡¯tbeartopartwith thegownandturneddowntheoffer.¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Tenmilliondors. Wilhelmina¡¯skneeswentweakwhensheheard theamountandshecopsedtotheflooronce more. Thedresshadn¡¯t beentornduringherpreviousfall,buthermovementsthistimerippedtheseamsatherwaistandbackwideopen.Therewasnosavingthegownnow. Panicking,Wilhelmina triedbutfailedtopulltheseamsathersidestogether.Theripswerefartoowideforhertodoanythingaboutthem. Zayncouldn¡¯tstandtheideaofIanstealingthespotlightinfrontofWillow. Assuch,hechimedinsuitably,asiftoremindWillowofhispresence,¡°Wilhelmina,tryingtosqueezeintoadressthat¡¯stoosmallforyouisbyfarthedumbestthingyou¡¯vedone.Yousure you¡¯vegotabrainupinthatheadofyours?¡± ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡±WilhelminawantedtosnapatZaynandtellhimhewasthedumbone,butshedidn¡¯tdareinsulthim. MatthewthoughtitwasstupidofWilhelminatosqueezeintothegowntoo.Butshewashiwfullyweddedwife,andanyhumiliationonherparttrantedtohisaswell. PullingWilhelminabehindhimprotectivelyandpinningIanwithawarninglook,hesaidbegrudgingly,¡°20milliondorsapensationforthegown.I¡¯llwirethemoney toyourbankount,Mr.Nightingale. ¡°Asforthegown,mywomancanshreditorburnitforallIcare.AslongasI¡¯maroundtoindulgeinherwhims,shecandowhatevershewants.¡± Withthat,MatthewgrabbedWilhelminabythewristandledheroutoftheboothexpressionlessly. ¡°Zayn,shouldweleavetoo?Iwanttomake sureWilhelmina¡¯sokay.I¡¯mworriedabouther.¡±Skylerfinallybrokehersilence. Zayndidnotbudge.¡°Whyworryaboutanidiot?¡± ¡°I¡­¡±Skylerwiselykepther argumenttoherself.ShewouldbenobetterthananidiotifsheinsistedongoingafterWilhelmina. Aftertheshenanigansinthedressingroom,thepromotionalshootbegan. Thepromotionalvideowouldnormallybeshotafterthephotoshoot,butHarveyoperatedonadifferentwavelength.Heinsistedonfilmingthevideofirstbeforeanythingelse. Thescriptforthepromotionalvideohadbeentweakedinsomeces,andWillowcouldn¡¯thelpbutcringeatthedialogue. Afterleapingdowngracefullyfromthe swing,Nephelle¨CWillow¡¯scharacter¨CwouldfallintoAither¡¯sarmsandsaycoyly,¡°GreatHero,ifyouwouldbesogracious,allowmetodanceforyou¡­¡± Forsomereason,Willowfound ithardtoaddresssomeone,evenifitwereafictionalcharacter,as¡°GreatHero¡°. However,asaninfluencerdedicatedtoherartandcareer,shehadnochoicebuttofollowthescript. Nephellewasthemaincharacterinthepromotionalvideo,andonlyAither¡¯ssideprofilewouldmakeitintothefinalshot. ItwasdecidedthattheyoungandhandsomeHarveywouldpersonallyytheroleofAitherforthevideo. Thescriptincludedakissingscenebetweenthedamsndhergreathero. Ian¡¯sbrowsfurrowedwhenhesawWillowin hercostumeandHarveyinhisgantget¨Cup.Hecouldn¡¯thelphisire asHarveysteppedintotheflowerndscapeandapproached Willow. ShovingthescriptintoEric¡¯sarms,Iansnappedandsaid,¡°I¡¯llbeAither!¡± SpintoimYourSurpriseReward! X y Chapter 377 Chapter377 EveryoneonsetwasshockedtohearthatIan,theelusivescionandheadoftheNightingalefamily,hadvolunteeredtostarin apromotional video. Naturally,HarveywasmorethanhappytoletIanytheroleofAither. Evenifonln¡¯ssideprofilewouldmakeitinto thefinalshot,hiselegantsilhouetteandcharismawouldhavemillionsoffemaleyerssquealinginfrontoftheirscreens. ¡°Verywell,Mr.Nightingale!Let¡¯sprepareforanothertake,guys!¡±Harveyannouncedtothecrew. Hethenorderedthestyliststopull anoutfittogetherforIanandleadhimtothemakeupbooth. Harvey¡¯swardrobeasAitherconsistedof anindigotunicwornoverawhiteshirt.Hewouldhavetakenthe outfitoffandletIanchangeintoit,buthereckonedthesilverarmorinthedressingroomsuitedIanmore. AssuchnwastedtoyAitherasadashinggeneralin shiningarmor. Ian¡¯sfacewasaworkofart,hisfeatureshandsomeandhiseyeslikethestarrynightsky. MostA¨Clistactorsrequiredmakeuptobringouttheshapeoftheirbrowsandentuatetheirfeatures,lesttheydidnotlookasdefinedorhandsomeoncamera. Howevern¡¯sbrowsweredark,thick,anddefinedallontheirown,withnosparseareasthatneededtobefilled in. Nowadays,mostactorsusedeyelinertowidentheireyesortoaddmoredimension,butIanneedednosuchrefinements. Hiseyeswerelikethestarrynightsky,sodarktheywerealmostonyxandfleckedwithpurple.Hisgazewas fathomlessandcapableofpullinganyoneintoathrall. Usinganeyelineronhimwasredundantatthispoint. Ianboastedaperfectlychiselednose,fulllips,andwlessskin.Itwasasiftheheavenshadblessedhimwith stunning featuresthatsparedhimfromeverneedingcosmetics. ThestylistsmadequickworkofsecuringthewigonIan¡¯sheadandhelpinghimintohiswardrobe. Whenthestylistsweredonewithhim,Ianemergedfromthedressingroomabriefmomenterindarksilverarmorandshoulder¨Clengthhairpulledbackwithaleatherband.Helookedgant,ahandsomerenderingofafairytalehero. ZayngrewsullenatthesightofIanappearinginAither¡¯sget¨Cup.Evenasaman,hehadtoadmitIanwashandsome. Still,hecouldn¡¯thelphisbitterjealousywhenhesawhowgoodIanandWillowlookedtogether. Meanwhile,HarveywasblownawaybyIan¡¯sfinallook. HehadexpectedIanto pulloffthefantasy,medievalherovisage,buthedidn¡¯tthinkIanwouldlooksostunning. TheCartermenwereknownforbeingextremelygood¨Clooking,yetIan¡¯sfacewasjustasexquisiteasZayn¡¯s,Theodore¡¯s,andTyson¡¯s.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Harveycouldn¡¯tresistsneakingalookatZayn.HefoundhimselfpicturingZayn,Theodore,andTysoninmedievalwear.Hecouldhavedrooledoverthethoughtofhowdashingtheywouldlook. ¡°Mr.Nightingale,thearmorsuitsyou!¡±Harveypraisedwholeheartedly. Indeed,Iandidn¡¯tjustlooklikeawar¨Csavvygeneralin thisget¨Cup.Helookedlikeaking,apowerfumanderandwarriorwhocouldleadanarmyto victoryonthebattlefield.¡°Zayn,don¡¯tyouthinkMr.Nightingalelooksgoodinmedievalwear?Lololooksgoodinhercostumetoo!¡±Skylersaid.¡°Theylooklikeaperfectpair,almostlikethey¡¯reamatchmadeinheaven!¡± Amatchmadeinheaven?Zayn was soangrythatitwasamiraclesmokewasn¡¯ingoutof hisears. HeshruggedoffSkyler¡¯shand andstewedinfrustration. Skylergrittedherteeth,furiousthatZaynhadforgottenallaboutheraftersurrenderinghisattentiontoWillow. Chapter 378 Chapter378 SkylerhatedthatZaynwasignoringherbecauseofWillow. DesperatetoremindZaynofherpresence,Skylerreachedouttograbhishandandsaid,¡°Zayn,Mr.Nightingaleisaprivatepersonandneveragreestointerviews.Ican¡¯tbelievehe¡¯svolunteeringtogooncameraforLolo! ¡°Ithinkhemustreallylikeher.I¡¯msureshe¡¯stouchedbyhiskindgestureandaffection.I hopesheandMr.Nightingalewillhavetheirhappilyeverafter.Lolodeservesit!¡± Zaynwassofuriousthathealmostswore.HeshruggedoffSkyler¡¯s handoncemoreandstoodstifflyince,hisjealousypracticallyrollingoffhisskin. ¡°Mr.Nightingale,Ms.Sanford,areyoureadyforthescene?We¡¯llstartfilmingonceyouare,¡±Harveysaid,raisinghishandtosignalthecrewtogetintheirces. Everyonewasonedgeasthecamerarolled. Willowworeacanaryyellowgownwithlongsleevesandamatchingshawl.Thesashthatcinchedherwaistwasadeepershadeofyellow,entuatingherslenderframeandthedelicatereofherhips. The gowndidnotrevealmuchofWillow¡¯sskin,andthehighnecklineconcealed herchiseledcorbone,leavingonlythegracefulcurveofhernapevisible. ThecanaryyellowfabrontrastedagainstWillow¡¯sfair skin. Anyannermightnothavebeenabletopullofftheshade,butonWillow,thecoloplementedherbrighplexion. Shehadskinlikeaporcindoll.Thegownbroughtoutherdelicatebeauty,andsheseemedto glowasshesmiled. Willowlookedlikeshewasbaskinginsilverymoonlight.Therewerenoblemishesonherexposedskin.Asshecranedherslenderneck,itseemedtoglimmerunderthelights. ThestylistshadsecuredpartofWillow¡¯shairwithbandmatchingyellowsilkribbons,whichcascadeddownherbackwiththerestof herdarklocks.At thatmoment,Willowlookedethereal. Herdarkhairdrapedoverhershouldersandreachedherwaist,strandsofhairgentlymovingassheswung.Shewaslikeamovingpieceofartwork,daintyandpriceless.ordingtothescript,NephellewasmeanttoswingoverthefullbloomsinthegardenuntilshenoticedthearmoredAitherwhohadjustreturnedfromthebattlefield. Herfacewassupposedtolightupwithjoy,andshewouldgentlyleapfromtheswingbeforndingsoftlyinAither¡¯sarms. Revelingintheirreunion,theywouldwordlesslyindulgeinapassionatekissthatwouldsettheworldaroundthemonfire. Afterthekiss,NephellewouldlookdeepintoAither¡¯seyesandsmileasshesaid,¡°GreatHero,ifyouwouldbesogracious,allowmetodanceforyoutocelebrateyourtriumphantreturn.¡± Willowperchedonherswingforawhile,andwhenshesawIan¡¯sfigurecrossingtheblossomstowardher,sheknewitwastimeforhertoleapdown. Shegaugedthedistancebetweenthem.Foraheartbeat,shegrewworried thathemightnotcatchher,andshewouldfallonherface. However,Willowshovedherfearsasideinthenameofprofessionalismandbeamedathergreathero.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Withtheimpatienceofayoundywhohadbeen keptfromherlovefortoolong,sheleapedfromtheswing. Thankfully,Iancaughther.Shefelthisarmstightenaroundherwaist,andshehadtoadmit,itwasquiteromantic.The longing kissthatthreatenedtoset the worldonfirehappenedaseconter. Chapter 379 Chapter379 Willowfeltnoembarrassmentfromtheirkiss,sinceitwasacheatcut.Acheat¨Ccutkissmeantthattheyweren¡¯tactuallykissing,butmerelygivingofftheimpressionthatthey were. Shehaddecidedtoentertheentertainmentcircleandfilminthefuture.Shewouldn¡¯ttakescenesthatweretooextreme,butshewouldbedeemedtoofussyifsherefusedtodoakissingscene. Sincesheaspiredtobeanactress,sheshouldtreattheprofessionwith respect. Willow hadnofeelingsaboutthecheat¨Ccutkiss.Fromtheangleofthe shot,Ianappearedtobekissingher.Hislipsslippedaway,buthischeekrestedlightlyagainsthers. Thiskindoftouchingwaslessintimatethancheek¨Ckissinginsomeforeigncountries. WillowhadnointerestinIan,sosheremainedcalm,buthisfeelingsweredifferentfromhers. Whenheheldhertightlyinhisarms,hefelthisheart,whichhadbeenemptyformorethan20years,instantlyfillup.Hewantedtoholdherlikethisforever.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. HoldingWillow¡¯swaist,Iannoticedshewas surprisinglyslim. Hislipsrestedonherear,andhischeeklightlytouchedhers.Hersmoothskininstantlywarmedhisheartandmadehimexcited.Hisheartbeatbecamerapidaswell. ¡°Cut!¡± JustwhenIanwasimmersedandunabletoescapefromhisstrongfeelings,Harvey¡¯sloudvoiceshatteredtheambiguousatmosphere. Zayn¡¯sgloomgraduallydissipatedwhenheheardHarveystoptheactors¡®action. Hewasawarethattheirkisswasacheatcut.Butevenso,hecouldn¡¯tstandWillowandIanbeinginsuchcloseproximity. IfHarveyhadn¡¯tstoppedthescene,Zaynwouldhaverushedforwardandpulledthemapartviolently. ¡°Mr.Chastain,isthereanyproblem?¡±ItwasWillow¡¯sfirsttimefilmingavideoasthelead.ShewasnervousandworriedHarveyhadstoppedthescenebecauseofherpooracting,sosheaskedcautiously. Hecouldseeheranxietyandquicklyexined,¡°Don¡¯tgetmewrong,Ms.Sanford!YouandMr.Nightingaleperformedverywell!It¡¯sjust that¡­I¡¯mabitpickyandalwayswantbetterresults. ¡°HowshouldIsaythis¡­Youtwoareconsistent withthecharactersinappearanceandtemperament.ButNephelleandAitherloveeachotherdeeply.Theyhavethefeelingofbeinmittedtoeachotherandneverleaving. ¡°Iknow thisisonlyagamepromotionalvideo.Perhapsit¡¯sabittoomuchtoaskyoutwotoperformlikethat.But evenifit¡¯sonlyapromotionalvideo,Ihopetomakeitthebest!¡±Beinmittedtoeach other andneverleaving¡­ WillowlookedatIan.Facinghim,shefounditdifficulttoimmerse herselfinthatemotion. Shedidn¡¯twanttomakethingstoughforHarvey.So,afterthinkingaboutit,shespokesoftly,¡°I¡¯lltrytofigureitout,Mr.Chastain.I¡¯llperformwelter.¡± ¡°Ms.Sanford,Ithink¡­¡±HarveylookedatIan,thenatWillow,as ifunsurehowtoexpresshisthoughts. Ericrealizedsomethingandasked,¡°Mr.Chastain,doyouthinkthescenewasn¡¯tthatperfectbecause ofthecheatcut?¡± Harveyseemedtohave discoveredsomeonewhounderstoodhim,lookingatEricwithexcitement. ¡°That¡¯sright!Iwasalittleconfused justnow.ButIfinallyrealizedtheproblemafteryoupointeditout!Thebiggestissueinthescene wasthecheatcut!¡± SpintoimYourSurpriseReward! Chapter 380 Chapter380 ¡°Itisindeedamereact,whichiswhyweshotthekiss sceneusingacheatcut!ButwhatIwantisfortheactorstofeelthecharacters¡®emotions!Ifthekissisunreal,itwon¡¯tlooktouchingandsoulful!Soweshouldn¡¯tshootthisscenewithacheatcut!¡± Harveyspokepassionately.ButwhenhecaughtIan¡¯sgaze,hebecameextremelynervous. HeknewIanwas allergictowomenandsuffered fromgermaphobia.Holdingawomaninhisarmswasalreadyadifficulttask.Harveydidn¡¯tdaretoasntokissWillow. Asadirector,Harvey¡¯sactingskillsandappearancewerenolessthanthoseofmalecelebritiesintheentertainmentcircle. However,ifheshotthisscenehimselfandaskedforarealkisswithWillow,hewouldappeartobetakingadvantageofher.Hecouldn¡¯tdosuchathing. Suddenly,Harvey¡¯seyeslitupashenoticedthehandsomeEricstandingatthecorner. ¡°Tobehonest,Mr.Pearsonpointedoutmyrealthoughts.ButMr.Nightingaleisallergictowomen¡­¡± HeturnedtolookatEricandasked,¡°Mr.Pearson,howaboutyoushootthisscenewithMs.Sanford?¡± ¡°Me?¡±Eroveredhismouthtightly,believingthatHarveywastryingtoframehim. SensingIan¡¯ssharpgaze,hetrembledviolently. WillowwasprobablyIan¡¯sfuturewife.IfErickissedher,hewouldprobablybedoomed. ¡°Areyoukidding me,Mr.Chastain?I¡¯vehadamouthallergyrecently.Itmaybecontagious.HowcouldIshootakissingscenewithMs.Sanford?¡±Eric coveredhismouthtighterasifhehadafatalinfectiousdisease. Uponhearingthat,Harveycouldn¡¯thelpbutfeelthingsturndifficult.Itwastoteforhimtofindatemporaryrecementactor.Itseemedthathehadtodotherealkissscenehimself. ¡°Forgetit.PerhapsI¡ª¡± Beforehecouldfinishspeaking,Ericabruptlypulledhimaside.HelookedperplexedwhenhesawEric¡¯swink. Erouldn¡¯thelpbutfenxiouswhenhesawHarvey¡¯sconfusedexpression.Heloweredhis voiceandofferedHarveysomeadviceasafavor. ¡°Mr.Chastain,mybossdislikestouchingwomenthemost.But,takeaguessastowhyhesuddenlyofferedtocooperatewithMs.Sanford.¡± Harveywasn¡¯t stupid.HiseyeslitupasheheardwhatEricsaid. HethenlookedatIanpleadingly.¡°Mr.Nightingale,Ithinkthecheatcutinthekissingscenewillseriouslyaffecttheoueofthevideo.CouldyoutakearealkissscenewithMs.Sanford?¡± ¡°I¡­¡±Willowwasstunned.Shestillpreferredcheatcuts.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ihavenoobjection.Weshouldaimforthebestvideoeffect,¡±Ianstatedinly. Harveycouldn¡¯thelpbutlookatEricgratefullyashegotIan¡¯sapprovalofhissuggestion.HethenturnedtofaceWillowwithafriendlysmile.¡°Ms.Sanford,whatdoyouthinkofmyproposal?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ZaynstaredatWillow.HeappearedtobereadytoteachheralessonifshedaredtoagreetohavearealkisswithIan. ¡°Ihavenoobjectionaswell.¡±Willowdidn¡¯twanttokissIan,butHarveyimedhewantedthebestvideoeffect.Ifsherejectedthem,shewouldseemtoounprofessionndfussy. Moreover,itwasonly work.Asanactress,sheshouldhavethe mostbasicqualitytorespectherprofession. Harveybeamedinstantly.Zayn,ontheotherhand,wasoutragedafterhearingWillow¡¯s response. Chapter 381 Chapter381All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ZaynwonderedifWillowwaseagertokisn.Hethoughtshebecamebetteraftershereturned,buthewassurprisedtofindherasflirtyasever! Shecouldn¡¯twaittogetclosetoanothermanandcouldbarelyholdherselfback.However,shealwayspretendedtobeinnocentinfrontofhim! Shootingresumed. Willowsatontheswingandkeptswinging.Sheoriginallylookedalittlelonely.Butwhenshespottedherarmoredloverdismountingfromhishorseandwalkingquicklytowardher,sheinstantlysmiled. Shejumpedofftheswinganndedin¡¯sarms. Helookedatherintensely,filloflongingandjoyatseringheragainafteralongseparation,aswesanunbreakableprofoundlove. Heheldherinhisarmsandspunheraround.Asa calmandsteadyman,heshowedararehintofyouthfulvigorandeagemess. Suddenly,TanleaneddownandkissedWillow¡¯slips deeply.Whenheleaneddown,shecouldn¡¯thelpbutblush.Shewasn¡¯tusedtobeingsoclosetoothermen,soshesubconsciouslywantedtopushhimaway. Butconsideringthatitwasher job,shehadtobeprofessional.So,sheloweredhereyesandlethimkissherlips. SeeinntrulykissingWillow,Zaynfeltextremelyufortable.. ¡°WillowSanford¡± Willowwasalittlefarawayfromhim.Evenifhisvoicesoundedterrifying,shecouldn¡¯thearit. Zayncouldn¡¯tendureitanylongerwhenhesanstillholdingWillowandrushedtowardtheshootingarea. ¡°Zayn¡­¡±Skylerturnedpale.EveryoneknewsheandZaynwerealovingcouple,Whatwouldtheythinkif herushedforwardandstoppenandWillowfromkissing? Shewouldbethehatfeltmostembarrassed! ¡°Zayn,myshootingisabouttobegin.Canyouapanymethere?¡±Skylershookhisampitifully.¡°Please,Iwantyoutostaywithme.¡± Zayndidn¡¯trespondatall.Butintheend,hedidn¡¯trushoverbecausnandWillowhadstoppedlossing. Willowlookedextremelyshy.Despitetheacting,shewastrulyabit embarrassed.Afterall,itwasawkwardtokissamansheshouldn¡¯tinteractwith. Sheworriedthatifshedidn¡¯tperformwell,Harveywouldstopthesceneandaskhertodoitover.Toavoidendlesskissing,itwouldbebetteriftheycouldseedwithjustake Su,sheusedallherbestactingskillsinthekiss scenejustnow. willowtookafewstepsback.Sheloweredhereyesslightlyandtriedtorecallthelinesfromthescript. ¡°GreatHero,ifyouwouldbesogracious,allowmetodanceforyoutocelebrateyourtriumphantretum.¡± Asshespoke,shegentlyraisedhersleevesanddancedgracefullyamidtheflowers. Shecouldn¡¯tdointenseexercisebecauseofherwoundedankle,butshedidn¡¯thavetoperformincredibledancesinthispromotionalvideo.So,sheonlydancedcasuallyamidthe flowers. Anotherpromotionalvideothatneededhertodancemoreprofessionallywasscheduledtobeshotinafewdays. Althoughitwasonlyafewsimpledancemoves,Willowappearedlightandslim.Shestippearedstunning.ThiskindofbeautyseemedtoonlyexistinthehoweTIS. Itwasn¡¯tuntilshefinishedthosemovesthatthestunnedHarveyreturnedtohissenses. Chapter 382 Chapter382 Harveywasustomedtobig,action¨Cpackedscenes,buthewasstillshockedafterwatchingthekisssceneandWillow¡¯sdancing. Everyoneknenwasindifferent,steady,self¨Cpossessed,andregardedwomenasadisaster.ButHarveynoticen¡¯suncontrobleobsessionwithWillow. Ericdesperatelycoveredhisfacehardinawkwardness Janremainedimmersedinthekissevenafter theshootinghadended.HelostcontrgaininfrontofWillow.Justnow,healmostcouldn¡¯tletgoofher. Evenifhewantedto,hedidn¡¯twanttodoanythingextreme.Hisactionsmightleadpeopletobelieveshegottheendorsementbecauseofunspokenrules,whichwouldaffectherAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org. reputation ¡°Mr.Nightingale,it¡¯smyhonortocooperatewithyou.Thankyou,¡±Willowstatedpolitelyaftertheshooting- Harveypromptlyechoed,¡°Yes,Mr.NightingaleThankyousomuchforyourhelp!Withyourfullsupport,Ibelieveourvideowillgainpopritybeforeit¡¯sbroadcast!¡± ¡°Ah?¡±Shelookedconfused.Shedidn¡¯texpecthimtosaysuchathingallofasudden. Landidn¡¯tfeelembarrassedtoaskforamealfromher.¡°Yousaidyouwouldtreatmetoameal.¡± EroveredhisLaceagainandfeltshameless,thinking,¡°Boss,canyouhaveasenseofshame?You¡¯retheheiroftheNightingaleCorporation!You¡¯rewealthy!Whydoyouappeartobesopoorthatyoucan¡¯tevenaffordameal? SkylerhuggedZayn¡¯sarmtightly,notforgettingtoirritatehimfurther.¡°Mr.NightingaleisactingratherunusualinfrontofLolo.IneverimaginedtheindifferentMr.Nightingalewouldpursueawomanlikethis. ¡°HeseemstolikeLolosincerely.Sheseemstohaveacrushonhimaswell,orshewouldn¡¯tkisshimshyly.Sheevenofferedhimameal.¡± Shy?Willowwasindeedshyjustnow.EspeciallywhensheaddressedJanasagreathero! Zayncouldn¡¯tbearitanymoreForgettingthatSkylerwasbesidehim,heabruptlysteppedforward.Skylerlostherbnceandfelltothegroundindisgrace. Hewasunawareofwhat hadurredtoSkylerandgrabbedWillow¡¯swristaggressively. ¡°WillowSanford!Don¡¯tyoufeelashamed?Greathero?Doyoucallinnthat? WillowfeltimmensepainwhenZymgrippedherwrist. Shethoughthewasunreasonable.Thosewerethelinesinthescript.Whydidhetakeitsoseriouslyand humitateher? Willowwasoutragedandfounditamusing. Staringathim,shewasnolongerascowardlyasshehadbeen,showingonlysarcasmandcalmness.¡°Doyouwanttotryit?It¡¯sapitythatMr.Nightingaleisn¡¯tinterestedinyou!¡± ¡°WillowSanford!¡±Zayntightenedhisgrip.Hewassoenragedthathewishedhecouldtransformintoabombandblowupthisannoyingwoman. ¡°Zayn,letgoofher!ncouldn¡¯thelpbutfrownwhenhesawWillow¡¯spainedexpression. ¡°It¡¯snoneofyourbusinessn!Doyoulikemywomanthatmuch?¡± SpintoimYourSurpriseReward! y Chapter393 Chapter 383 Chapter383 Assoon asZaynsaidthat,theon¨Csitestaffinstantlyshowedsubtleexpressions.TheyshiftedtheirattitudetowardWillow,fromenvytocontempt. Nobodywasanidiot.TheycouldtellfanwasinterestedinWillowfromthefactthathewaswillingtoshootavideowithher. TheyexpectedWillowtobe ten¡¯sfuturewife,buttheyhadnoideashewouldhaveanaffairwithZayn! AwealthyfamilyliketheNightingaleswouldneverlettheirheirmarryanindecentwoman! AfterhearingZayn¡¯swords,Willow¡¯sfaceinstantlyturnedpale.Shefeltevenmoredisgracedwhenshesensedthedisdainfulgasesfromthesurroundingstaff. Shewasn¡¯tyetcapableofbeingdetachedfromtheworldandnotcaringaboutotherpeople¡¯sopinions.Shefeltsadwheneveryonelookedatherwithdisdain. EversinceWillowreturned,sheworkedhardtoliveabetterlife,butZaynalwayswantedtodisgraceher! ¡°Ineverexpectedhertobethiskindofperson!Sheappearstobepure,but..Indeed,weshouldn¡¯tjudgeapersonbyappearance!¡± ¡°That¡¯sright! IthoughtsheandMr.Nightingalewereaperfectmatch,butIdidn¡¯texpecthertobesodisgusting!¡± ¡°EveryoneknowsMr.CarterandMs.Dawsonaredeeplyinlove,yetshewenttoseducehim!She¡¯ssoshamelesstobeamistress!¡± ¡°ShemighthaveseducedmanyothermenbesidesMr.Carter!Whatadirtybitch!Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Willowshiveredviolentlyasshelistenedtothewhispersofthestaffaroundher.Justasshewasabouttocopsefromtheimentsandinsultsnabruptlysaid,¡°Zayn?,you¡¯renotworthyofWillow!¡± HegazedatWillowwithwarmthand sincerityratherthancontempt. ¡°Willow,nomatterwhatyou¡¯veencounteredbefore,you¡¯lwaysbethebestwomaninmyheart!¡± Willowappearedslightlydazedandstaredannkly.Despitehermanyupsanddowns,onlytwopeoplethoughtshewasthebest Onewasherbiologicalbrother,Kenan,andtheotherwan.Theywerpletelydifferentpeople,buttheymadeherfeel thesamewarmth. Herscarredheartwaswarmed,andshewasnolongerembarrassed.Shespoketosincerely,¡°Thankyou,Mr.Nightingale!¡± ZaynregrettedwhathesaidtoWillow.Afterhemadebreakfastforher,theirrtionshipbecamelesstense,butheruinedthatbitofwarmth Hedidn¡¯tknowwhatheshoulddo.Hecouldn¡¯t standwatchinghergetclosetoothermen.Whenhesawhershowingherattractivenesstoothermenandkissingthem,hecouldn¡¯tendurehisanger. Zayndidn¡¯tbackdown.Heretorted,¡°Thebestwomanintheworld?tan,youhavepoortastein women. ¡°YousaidI¡¯mnotworthyofWillow?1feelsickwheneverIlookather!She¡¯snotevenworthyofbeingmatchedwithme!¡± Chapter 384 Chapter384 ¡°Letgoofher,Zayn!¡±Lan¡¯sexpressiondarkenedashenoticedWillow¡¯swristbingredder. Hesteppedforward,intendingtoseparateZaynandWillow. Zayndidn¡¯tnot¡¯smovements.HeonlynoticedthatWillow¡¯swristhadturnedredfromhisgrip.Feelinganxious,hehurriedlyletgoofherhand, LawottiedZaynw wouldhurtWillowagain,sobeswiftlyprotectedherbehindhim.¡°Zayn,areyoureallyaman? Zaynnarrowedhiseyes.¡°Whatdoyoumean?¡± ¡°WhetherWillowisyourex¨Cgirlfriendorex¨Cwife,youshouldbeagentlemanafterthedivorce!Isitfuntopesteryourex¨Cwifeallday?tansaid.¡°Ex¨Cwife?¡±Zaynsmiledsarcastically.Hisexpressiontumedunfriendlyandcold. ¡°MyrtionshipwithWillowisn¡¯tassimple asthat!¡±heeximed Willowstiftened.ShethoughtZamwasgoingtomentionhehadbidonheratRumpusClub¡¯sauction.Unexpectedly,hestated,¡°Willow,youoweme!¡± Shefounditfunny.HedideverythingunfairlyandmistreatedherforSkyler,neverseekingthetruth.TheyevenharmedAaronandcausedhimtobeacripple!Theyweretheoneswhoandher! BeforeWillowcouldrespondnsaidangrily,¡°Willowneverowedyouanything!You¡¯retheonewhoowesher! ¡°Idon¡¯tknowwhatissuesyoubothhadbeforeyoumarried.Butevenafteryoumarriedher,youstillgotentangledwithSkylerandlethergetpregnant!Youwereunfaithfulinyourmarriage! ¡°YoucheatedonWillow!Youoweheraffectioninyourmarriage! Theon¨Csitestaff exchangednces.Theyneverthoughtthattheywouldhearsuchshockingnewstoday. Willowdidn¡¯tshamelesslyseduceZayn.Instead,shehadoncemarriedhim!AndSkylerwaspregnantduringtheirmarriage! The¡°puregoddess¡±SkylerturnedouttobeZayn¡¯smistressbackthen! TheyoriginallythoughtWillowwasshameless.Itappearedthatskylerwasthemostshamelessbitch! Theon¨Csitestaffwereallshockedbythisscandalandhadtheirviewssubverted.Nheless,theywouldn¡¯tdaretospoutnonsenseandspreadthisevenafterknowingsuchabigsecret.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Theymightspreadrumorsaboutotherpeople¡¯sscandals.Butiftheydaredtospoutrubbishaboutthebigshots,they¡¯dbedoomed! TheycouldonlysilentlygiveWillowalookofguiltandsympathy. Afterhearingwhansaid,Zaynrealizedhecouldn¡¯trefutn. LookingatWillowwithplicatedgaze,hesuddenlywantedtoaskifshethoughthewasacheatingscumbag Allthistime,hemerelywantedtoexactrevengeonherforherbetrayal.Butnooneevertoldhimthathisbehavioramountedtocheatingandbetrayal WhathehaddonewasevenmorehatefulthanWillow¡¯sactionsbackthen, Skylerwasundoubtedlythegloomiestpersonthere.Thestaff¡¯sscornfulgazesalmostcausedhertocopse Shegrittedher teethandspoketn,¡°Mr.Nightingale,youprotectLolowholeheartedlywhileimingZaynowesher.Butdoyouknowwhatshedidtome? Chapter 385 Chapter385 ¡°Shecruellykilledthechildinmybelly!¡±Skydereximed. SkylerthoughtanwoulddespiseWillowaftershetoldhimWillowwasaviciouswoman. Tohersurprise,hisexpressionwasstillfullofaffectionandsympathywhenhelookedatWillow.Ontheotherhand,hebecameincreasinglysarcasticandscornfultowardskyler. ¡°Youwereonlyamistressbackthen!HaveyouintendedtogivebirthtoachildforWillow¡¯shusbandatthattime?¡± Lansmiledsarcastically,andhisindifferentexpressionlookedincreasinglyunreadable,¡°Nottomention,evenifWillowwastheonewhokilledyourchild,youdeservedit¡°You-¡°Skyler¡¯sfacebecamepaleShewassoannoyedthatshewantedtoyetanwithoutregardforherimage,butshedidn¡¯tdaretodosoduetohiscruelmeans. Shecouldonlylookathimpitifullyandsaid,¡°Youmisunderstoodme,Mr.Nightingale,Iwasn¡¯tamistress.ZaynandItrulyloveeachother.Lolo- ¡°Hah!¡±tanscoffed.¡°Youandamarriedmanloveeachother?You¡¯renotonlystupid,butalsoshameless!¡± Erouldn¡¯thelpbutchuckle.Hisbosswasusuallynobleandcondwasnotamanofmanywords,yethecouldalwaysleaveeveryonespeechlesswith hissharpwords. H ¡°Skylerhasgivenmeafreshperspective!Mr.Carterwasmarriedatthattime.She¡¯ssoshamelesstoimthey¡¯retrulyinlove!¡± ¡°IthoughtSkylerwaselegant.Butitturnedoutshewasamistress!She¡¯sevenshamelessenoughtoaddressherselfasapuregoddess!!! ¡°That¡¯sright!PoorMs.Sanford.Ahitchruinedhergoodmarriage!!! ¡°ButIbelieveMs.Sanfordislucky.LookathowdevotedMr.Nightingaleistoher!Tenyhersomuch!Hernewandoldloversareallbeyondourreach!¡± Mistress,bitch¡­ Skyler¡¯sfaceflushedwithwrathafterhearingeveryone¡¯ments. Beforeshecouldsayanythingtoturnthesituationinherfavorn¡¯scoldvoicesoundedagain,¡°TheardfromEggythatZaynwasextremelydrunkthatnight.Skyler,I¡¯malittlecurious.Howdidadrunkmangetyoupregnant?¡± Afterthat,hedidn¡¯tsayanythingelsebutgraspedWillow¡¯swristdomineeringlybeforewalkingtowardtheshootingarea. ¡°Willow,don¡¯tforgettotreatmetodinnertonight!¡± Lanhadtoomanythingstodealwithandcouldn¡¯tapanyWillowonshootingsallthetime.AfterbrieflyexiningtoHarvey,hereturnedtothethephotostudio,shepitifullyracedafterhim. ¡°Zayn,pleasedon¡¯tlistentoMr.Nightingale¡¯snonsense!You¡¯retheonlymanI¡¯veeverhad.Howcouldthechildinmybellybe someoneelse¡¯s?Pleasebelieveme!!Infact,Zayndidn¡¯tcarewhosechildSkylerhadcarriedbackthen.Nheless,hefelpelledtotrustherafterrecallingthescaronherbody. Chapter386All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Chapter 386 Chapter386 Herespondeddistractedly,¡°Ibelieveyou,Skyler!! ¡°Zayn,whatMr.Nightingalesaidmademeufortable.H¨ChesaidIwasamistress!DoyoualsothinkIwasyourmistressbackthen?Skylersaidpitifully. Zayndidn¡¯tanswerherrightawaybecausehewasunsurewhetherhispreviousviolentand childishrevengeonWillowwasright. Noticinghewasdistractedagain,SkyderrealizedhewasthinkingaboutWillowagain. Sheinstantlyrevealedahideousexpressionofhatred.Just asshewasabouttoremindhimofherpresence,herphonerang. Afteransweringit,Skylergraduallybecamehappy,butsheheldbackherrealemotions.Regardlessofhowdirtyherthinkingwas,shecouldmaintainthemostinnocentandpatheticexpression. ¡°Zam,Evangelinefoundoutwhoframedmewiththatvideo!¡±shetearedupasshegazedatZayn.Sheactedasifeveryonehadforsakenher. Hewasstilldistractedandsubconsciouslyasked,¡°whoisit?¡± 1/1 Skylercouldn¡¯tholdbackhertearsanymore.¡°Evangelineaskedseveral mediafolkswhohadgoodconnectionswithher.TheyallsaidLolosent themthevideo! ¡°Zaym,haveIdoneanythingwrong?WhydidLolowanttoframenie?IfIhadn¡¯tsoldmykidneyandleltascar,thatvideowouldhaveruinedme! ¡°She¡¯smysister!Ihadgottenalongwithherforover20years.Whydidshewant todestroyme?Zayn,I¡¯msoheartbroken!IneverexpectedLolotodothatto me!¡± Zam¡¯sexpressionfroze.Hedidn¡¯texpertWillowtobetheonewhoharmedSleder.Buthewouldn¡¯timmediatelyassumeWillowwastheculpritbasedsolelyonSkyler¡¯swords, HethenpickeduphisphoneandcalledLiam,askinghimtofindoutwhopostedthevideo.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Soon,hediscoveredthattheoriginalIPaddressthatuploadedthevideowasthesameasthputerinWillow¡¯ssmallapartment! ItturnedoutWillowwastheonewhoattemptedtodestroySkylerinsuchanunsavoryway! Nheless,hefoundthatevenifWillomitted suchanoutrageousacttoSkyleragain,hewasunwillingtoexposeherevildeeds.Heevencalledandorderedamnottoletanyonecausea scene andcreateanissueaboutthevideo¡¯screator. EventhoughZayndidn¡¯tallowotherstocriticizeWillow,hewantedtoteachheralessonaftershedidsuchaviciousthing Inotherwords,hewaslooking foranexcusetoseeher. Afterdealingwiththematters,Zamtookthecar keys andwentstraightinWillow¡¯ssmapartment.Herangthedoorbellforalongtime,butnobodycametothedoor. OnlythendidherememberthatWillowandTanhadmadeanappointmenttohavedinnertogethertonight Hislingeringwarmthwasinstantlyrecedbycoldness.He¡¯dliketoseehowshe couldhavearomanticdinnerwithanothermanbehindhisback! Chapter 387 Chapter387 WillowhadnointentionofhavingdinnerwithIan. ThegameorganizerhadpreparedtoomanystylesforNephelle.Shespentalongtimewearingandchangingeightdifferentcostumes. ItwasalreadyeveningwhenshpletedthephotoshootContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Originally,Willow¡¯sanklenolongerhurtthatmuch.However,afterworkingforawholeday,shefeltherandbegintohurtagain Shedidn¡¯twant todoanythingbutreturntoherapartment,takeagoodbath,andsleep.Butassoonasshewalkedoutofthestudio,shenoticedtanwaitingoutside. Shedidowehimameal.ConsideringhewasMoses¡®biologicalgrandchild,shedidn¡¯twanttheirrtionshiptobetensebecausetheywouldbemeetingfrequentlyinthefuture.So,shedecidedtotreathimtothemealfirst SheassumedsomeonelikeTanwouldalwaysdineatacelikeGourmetHaven.ButshehadalreadybeentraumatizedbytheincidentwithDuncanandnolongerwantedtogothere SeeminglysensingherrejectionofGourmetHavenndidn¡¯tsuggestgoingtherebuttookhertoanordinaryrestaurantinstead. Willowappeareddazedasshesatinafamiliarposition Theywereinalocalrestaurantonthefoodstreetbehindherhigh school ItcouldbesaidtobethecesheandZaynhadtheirdatesbackthen.Whenthetwoofthemhadsomemoney,theywoulddidn¡¯texpectthealoontoknowaboutthiskindofce. ¡°Willow,haveyouvisitedherebefore?Sensinghernostalgia,tanputdownthemenuandaskedmeaningfully. ¡°Yes,¡±sherespondedsoftlyasshereturnedtohersenses Janwasnotamanofmanywords.Willowbelievedtheatmospherewouldbeawkwardifshedidn¡¯tsayanything.So,sheclearedherthroatanddecidedtohaveacasualchatwithhim Althoughhehaddonebadthingstoher,itwasunintentionfterall.Shecouldtrytotreathimasanordinaryfriend. ¡°Istudiedinthehighschoolaroundhereandoftencameoverfordinnerwithmyfriends.¡± Willowtookupthemenufromthetable.¡°Mr.Nightingale,theseafoodstewhereisdelicious.Let¡¯sorderit.¡± ¡°Asyouwish,Willow.It¡¯syourtreattoday.¡± Sheoriginallywantentoorderafewdisheshimself.Sincehesaidso,sheordereditordingtoherpreference, SheandZaynhadfrequentlyvisitedherebefore.Inadditiontoseafoodstew,theyalsoorderedateofstir¨Cfriedcucumber.Butshehadalreadyexperiencedpsychologicaltraumafromcucumber,soshedidn¡¯torderthecucumberdish,butorderedafewothersidedishesinstead. Infact,shealsofeltalittleufortablewhenshesawseafoodstew.Butthatwasthesignaturedishhere.Sheshouldlentryit. Therestaurantownerswereanenthusiasticoldcouple.BecauseofWillowandZayn¡¯sfrequentvisits,therestaurantownerswerequitefamiliarwiththem. Chapter 388 Chapter388 Evenafteralltheseyears,oneoftheowners,NadiaGlover,recognizedwillowrightaway. ShesetdowntheteandcameovertogreetWillow,¡°Ms.Sanford,youhaven¡¯tchangedataftermanyyears!Bytheway,youandMr.Carter-¡± OnlythendidNadianoticethatthepersonsitting oppositeWillowwasn¡¯tZayn,butanotherhandsomeman Shehadseenmanythingsinlife andhadvastlifeexperience.Lookingatthescene,shenaturallyguessedthatWillowandZaynhadbrokenuplongago. PerhapsthemaninfrontofherwasWillow¡¯snewboyfriend. Ofcourse,NadiafeltawkwardtobringupWillow¡¯sex¨Cboyfriendinfronton.So,shesmiledpolitelyandasked,¡°Ms.Sanford,whydon¡¯tyouintroduceyourboyfriendtome?¡±¡°Ms.Glover,he¡¯snot¡ª¡± BeforeWillowcouldfinishspeaking,Nadiainterrupted withasmile,¡°Ms.Sanford,youmusthavetakenpreservativestolooksoyoung!Lookatmywrinkles.I¡¯mgetting old.Butyoustilllooklikeahighschoolstudentattermanyyears!¡± NadiaassumedWillowandZaynwereagoodmatchbackthen.Sheexpectedthisyoungcoupletstforever,soshewassurprisedtoknowtheyhadsplitup. Shesighedattheirbadending.Butthen,shesmiledenthusiasticallyandturnedtolookan.¡°Youngman,you¡¯resoluckytohaveMs.Sanfordasyourgirlfriend!Shewasthemostbeautifndwell¨Cbehavedgirlinhighschoolhere!¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes,I¡¯mindeedlucky,¡±anechoed.Hisindifferentexpressionrevealedararetouchofwarmth,makinghimradiateanauraofgentleness. Willowalmostchoked.HeechoedNadiaasifadmittinghewasherboyfriend.Buttherewasnortionshipbetweenthem! ¡°You¡¯resolucky!¡±Nadiaeximedagain.Whensheraisedherhead,shenoticedZaynstandingattherestaurant¡¯sentrance. Healwayslookedattractive.Whenhestoodatthedoor,halfobscuredbyhazylight,heresembledadeity Itwasjustthatthisdeityseemedcoldandhostile,whichmadehernervous. NadiawasstartledandncedatanoppositeWillow,thenatZayn.ItappearedthatZaynwasgoingtocausetrouble.Foramoment,shecouldn¡¯tfigureoutwhatwasgoingon.JustasshewasabouttotellWillowthatZaynarrived,herhusbandcalledherovertohelphim,soshehurriedtothekitchen. Willowanndidn¡¯tnoticeZayn¡¯sarrival.Hermindwasfilledwitn¡¯mentabouthowluckyhewas.. Themoreshethoughtaboutthatsentence,themoreembarrassedshefelt. Shedidn¡¯tlikeambiguities,butitseemedtoostrangetoaskfanwhathemeant.Shethoughtforamomentbeforespeakingsoftly,Mr.Nightingale,oustblinddateisover.¡°Wedon¡¯thaveacrushoneachother.Let¡¯sjustgetalongasordinaryfriendsfromnowon.Don¡¯tfeelembarrassed.It¡¯snormalforblinddatestofanyway! ¡°Idon¡¯tlikeblinddates,butIstillhopeyoufindsessonablinddatesoon.Mr.Quaylewillbereassuredthen.¡± ¡°Willow,ourblinddatedidn¡¯ttallI¡¯llnevergoonanotherblinddate!¡±Ianeximed Whatdidhemeanbythat? Willowlookedatfaninastonishment.Beforeshecouldaskforrification,hestaredatherwithbeamingeyes.¡°Willow,I¡¯mpursuingyou!¡± Chapter 389 All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Chapter389 Willowhadcourage,butTan¡¯swordsstillscaredher. Shewastouchedbn¡¯strustinher,butbeingpursuedbysomeonelikehimwastrulyterrifying.Shedidn¡¯twanttobetheenemyofcountlesswomen.Besides,shehadnointentionofstartinganewrtionship. ¡°Mr.Nightingale,wearenotsuitableforeachother,¡±Willowsaid.Shedespisedleadingpeopleonwhenshecouldn¡¯tgivethemadefiniteoue.Shepreferredtocutthingsoffquicklyandwithouthasslewhenthingsweren¡¯tworkingout. ¡°Mr.Nightingale, tobehonest,Ihavenonstostartdatingagain.Rightnow,IonlywanttofocusonmyworkandgiveAaronabetterlife.¡± ThstblinddatehadhappenedbecauseMoseshadbeentoopersistent.Shedidn¡¯twanttoburdenanyoneelsewithhercurrentstate. ¡°Willow,Aaronneedsafather,¡±tansaid,staringintentlyatWillow.Hiseyesseemedsoprofound,almostcapableofdrawinginone¡¯ssoul. Hecontinued,¡°AndIamthebestchoice.Willow,1lmowwehaven¡¯tknowneachotherforlong.You maynoteptmesosoon,butIamwillingtogiveyoutime.¡± Willowloweredhergazeandtookasipofwater.Sheadmittemwasright.Aarondidneedafather,andevenifsheweregone,tanwouldprotectAaronwell.Shecouldthenleavewithoutworry. Butshecouldn¡¯tbesoselfish. ¡°Mr.Nightingale,thankyouforyourlove.Butwearenopatible.¡± Fortunately,thepiping¨Chotdishessoonarrived,providingaperfectdistractionfromtheconversation. Willowenthusiasticallyservedanaspoonfulofstew.¡°Mr.Nightingale,youmusttrythis!Theseafood stewhereisdelicious!It¡¯sspicyandvorful,leavingyouwantingmore!ThememoryofbeingforcedtoswallowlivefishbySkylerwastoohorrifying.Willowdidn¡¯tdareeatfish,butthearomaofthisseafoodstewstillmadehermouthwater.Everytimeshehadseafoodstew,shelookedforwardtodrinkingthebroth Thebrothatthisrestaurantwasparticrlydelicious,andshecoulddrinkawholepot! Whilesheusedtocravespicyfood,hernowdelicatestomachcouldn¡¯thandleitanymore So,shecouldonlysavorthearomaandswallowhard. Willow¡¯srejectionwaswithinfan¡¯sexpectations,sohewasn¡¯tverydisappointed.Seeingheradorablemannerofsalvatingoverthestew,hecouldn¡¯thelpbuugh.¡°Doyouwanttotrysome?¡±Ashespoke,IanhadalreadypickedoutapieceoffishforWillow,thoughtfullyremovingthebones. Noticingshedidn¡¯tseemtowanttoeatit,hecouldn¡¯thelpbutask,¡°Whyaren¡¯tyoueating?Can¡¯tbeartoeatityet?* ¡°No,Idarenoteatspicyfood,¡±Willowsaid.Sheswallowedandpickedapleceofstir¨Cfriedlettuce,ithelpeddistractherandrasehercraving. fanfrowned.Shehadsaidthatthisce¡¯sseafoodserwwastasty,spicy,andvorful.Itwasclearthatshehadeatenitbefore Howcouldsomeonewholovedspicyfoodsuddenlybeafraidtoeatit? ¡°Mr.Nightingale,howisit?isn¡¯tthisseafoodstewparticrlydelicious?¡±Willowlookedanexpectantlyassheasked. Sheswallowedhard,lookingatthedishlonginglybutnotdaringtoeatit.tan¡¯sheartpoundedsuddenly Herpublicimagehadalwaysbeencoldandaloot.Yethereshewas,showingachildishside. Thisgenuine,vulnerablesideofherwasendearing, Chapter 390 Chapter390 ¡°n¡¯sdelicious.¡±Inswallowedamouthfulofseafoodstewandspoketruthfully.Hearinghisaffirmativeresponse,Willow lookedsatisfied.Itwasasifshehadeatenapotof Lanstaredather,hisheartpoundingsoharditfeltlikeitwasabouttoburstfromhischest. Heinstinctivelypressedhishandagainsthischest.Atthatmoment,heknewhecouldneverlethergofortherestofhislife. Shehadrejectedhim,ashehadexpected,buthedidn¡¯tfeeldisappointed.Itonlymadehimmoredetermined ¡°Willow,isyourhighschoolnearhere?Seeinghernodncontinued,¡°Takemeforatouter.¡± willowdidn¡¯twanttogettooclosetn.Heranklewashurting.Shewouldn¡¯ttakehimforatour.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr.Nightingale,I¡¯mafraidIcan¡¯tapanyyou.Myankleissore,andI¡¯dEketorestearly.¡± tanputdownhischopsticksandstaredsympatheticallyatWillow¡¯sswollenankle.Shehadbeenonherfeetallday,soitwasnowonderheranklehurt! Today,Willowwaswearingsocks,butheranklewassoswollen thatevenwiththesocks,itwasobvious, The mornlookedatherpuffyankle,thedeeperhisfrowngrew.Inexplicably,hebentdownandgentlygraspedherankle. Willowneverexpectedhimtograbherankleinpublic.Shewasstupefiedbythesituation. Itwastheholidayseasonandtherewerenoothercustomersintherestaurant.Buthisactionstillmadeherfeelincrediblyembarrassed. ¡°Mr.Nightingale,pleaseletgoofmy.¡± ¡°Willow,letmemassageitforyou,¡±Jansaidfirmly.HegaveWillownochancetorefuse.Hiscallousedfingertipspressedrhythmicallyagainstheranklethroughhercotton socks.Willowfeltmortifiedandinstinctivelytriedtopullher ankleaway.Butbeforeshecould,Zam¡¯sfuriousvoiceeruptedbehindher.¡°Whatareyoudoing?¡± WillowreflexivelytumedherheadandmetZayn¡¯spiercingstate Zaynwaslivid.LiamhadfoundoutthatWillowhadbroughntothislittlerestaurant.ThiswaswhereZaynandWillowhadsharedsomanyspecialmoments.Knowingthat,Zaynwasalreadyfuming Whenhearrivedandsawhersittingwithtanintheirusualspot,hewasevenangrier.Ragebolledinsidehim. Nheless,hecontinuedtorestrainhimself. Sheevenshamelesslyservedtanfishandattendedtohimsolicitously! Inthepast,whentheydinedtogether,sheneverservedhimfood!Itwasalwayshimwhdledsoupandpickedoutfishforher,pamperingherlikeatreasure! Evenworse,shecouldn¡¯tevencontrolherselffromflirtingwithaninpublic! Jantookthebaitandgrabbedherfoot. Hishandslippedin,whatelsedidheintendtotouch? Weretheynningtoengageinshamelessactsinpublic?Whataneyesore! Zayncouldn¡¯tstand WillowknewZaynhadmisunderstood,butshenolongercaredwhetherhedidornot. Shewithdrewherfootfron¡¯shandandsaidtly,¡°Mr.Carter,whateverwe¡¯redoingisnoneofyourbusiness!¡± ¡°Willow!¡±Zaynmmedhisfistontothetableinfrontofhim.Thescaldingseafoodsoupspilledontohishand,buthedidn¡¯tnotice.Hiseyeswereredasheroared. Chapter 391 Chapter391 ¡°Willow,haveyouabandonedyoursenseofpropriety,integrity,andhonor?Areyouthrowingawayyourdignity? Zayn¡¯swordsgrewmoreoffensive.Willowcouldnolongertolerateit.¡°Zayn,you¡¯resick! ¡°ThereisnothingbetweenMr.NightingaleandL.Weareinnocent.Eveniftherewassomethingbetweenus,it¡¯sstillnoneof yourbusiness!¡± ¡°Willow,youaremywoman!¡±Zaynsoundedlikeabeastbackedintoer.Hisragewastingedwithpanickedpossessiveness. ¡°Yourwoman?¡±Willowsneered.¡°Huh!Mr.Carter,areyoujoking? ¡°Whatgivesyouthe righttosaythat?Isitbecauseyou¡¯re myex¨Cboyfriendormyex¨Chusband?Orbecauseyou¡¯reSkyler¡¯sman,thefatherofherdeceasedchild? ¡°Mr.Carter,Iamnotyourwoman.Idon¡¯tknowhowmanytimesIhavetosayitforyoutounderstand.Thereisnothingbetweenusanymore! ¡°Marriageisforlifeanddeath,andinsicknessanddeath.YouandIhavenothinglikethatwitheachotheranymore!¡± WhatrightdidZaynhave? HearingWillow¡¯sbluntanddecisivewords,Zaynsuddenlylosthisstrength.Hecouldnolongerremainenraged. Willowhadnodesiretocontinuearguingwithhimthere.Sheleftmoneytopaythebill,turnedaround,andstaggeredoutoftherestaurantContent ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Thebitingwindgnawedatherface,andWillowinstinctivelywipedherface. Shefounditironic.Thewindshouldhavedriedherface,butinstead,ithadmoistenedit.Shedidn¡¯twanttoadmitit,butthetruthwas,shehadbeencrying ShefeltdisgustedbyherweaknessbuttearswerehardtocontrolOncetheystarted,itwaslikeafloodgatehadopened,impossibletobestopped. Maybeshefeltvulnerabletonight.BecausethisceheldtoomanybeautifulmemoriesofherandZayn.Thememoryofhimwastooperfect,whileinreality,Zaynwastoocruel, Hissuddenappearancehadthrobbedinpain.Willowremainepletelyunharmedinhisembrace. Wilhelminahadbeeninafoulmoodandwasdrivingaimlessly.SheunexpectedlyencounteredWillow,whomshedespised.AsurgeofhatredmadeherwanttorunoverWillow,toeraseher fromexistence. SheneveranticipatedZayntobargeoutandsaveWillow. RunningintoWillowtonightwasanident,andWilhelminahadn¡¯tpreparedanydisguise.Shewasn¡¯tsureifZaynhadseenherface,butsheknewifshestayed,shewouldn¡¯tescapetonight. Wilhelminawastednotime,flooringthegaspedstheAudiA8spedaroundthecorner. Zayn¡¯sexpression wasdarkandgrim.HehadseenWilhelmina¡¯sface.ShehadrepeatedlyharmedWillowbeforeandhehadalreadywantedtoseverelypunish her. Now,shehadattemptedtotakeWillow¡¯slifethiswasunforgivable! JancameoutabiterthanZayn.He sawthespeedingAudiA8andhisexpressionturnedequallygrim.Hememorizedthelicensete,nningtoexactaharshrevengeonthe car¡¯sowner Chapter392 Chapter 392 Chapter392 ¡°Willow,areyouhurt?Zayn¡¯sfuryhadn¡¯tdissipated,buthewasmoreconcernedaboutWillow¡¯swell¨Cbeingnow. Hedecideditwasn¡¯twortharguingwithawomanandsetasidehisgrievances. ¡°I¡¯mfine.Thankyou,Mr.Carter,Willowsaidcoldly.Sheextricated herselffromZayn¡¯sembrace. ShewassomewhatworriedaboutZayn.Shehadnoticedthathehadtakenasolidhitearlier.Buttheirrtionshipwastoostrainedforher tovoiceherconcern. ¡°Mr.Nightingale,IapologizefortonightI¡¯msorryitturnedouttobesuchanunpleasantevening.I¡¯mheadingbacknow.Youshouldgetsomeresttoo.¡± ¡°Willow,letmesendyouhome!sangrabbedWillow¡¯shand,speaking firmly ¡°Willow,don¡¯tyoudare!¡±Zaynrefusedtobackdown,grabbingherotherhand.¡°I¡¯llsendyou!¡± Willowsmiledcoldlyandbrokefreefromtheirgrip.¡°Mr.Nightingale,Mr.Carter,whydon¡¯tbothofyougobacktogether?Iwon¡¯tbejoiningyou!¡±Justthen,ataxicameby.Willowquicklyggeditdownandgotin Theairconditioningmadethetaxistuffy,butsittinginside,Willowfeltararesenseofcalmness. DealingwithmenwasdrainingWillowtrulyhopedherlifewouldbefreeofendlessconflictswithmenfromnowon. Thechattytaddriverrambledonabouteverythingunderthesam.HisconstanttalkingalmostlulledWillowtosleep. Aftergettingoutofthetaxi,Willowstretched.Shedecidedtoskiptheshowerandsoakherfeetbefore bed. Willowblissfullyanticipatedherfootsoak.Butassoonasshereachedtheentranceofhersmapartment,shesawZaynstandingtherelikeadoorman.Willowhadn¡¯texpectedZayntoactivesoquickly.Seeinghiminfrontofherstartledher, ¡°Mr.Carter,don¡¯tblockmydoor!Pleasemove,you¡¯reinmyway!¡± ¡°Willow! Zayn¡¯seyeswerestillbloodshot.Hesteppedforwardandpinnedheragainstthedoor. ¡°Willow,whydidyouhavetohurtskylerlikethat?!hebellowed. Willowsmiled,realizinghehadrushedheretodemandanexnationatherdoor. ¡°Mr.Carter,sorry.Idon¡¯tunderstandwhatyoumean. ¡°Willow,don¡¯tydumbwithme!YouweretheonewhosentoutthevideothatharmedSkyler!Howcouldyoubesovicious,determinedtodestroySkyler?* Willow¡¯shearttrembledslightly,butshequicklyregainedherI¡¯mvicious, cruel,andruthless,IdreamofputtinganendtoSkyler,thatbitch!¡°Willow! ThinkingofWillow¡¯sevildeeds,Zaynwishedhecouldyheralive.Tohisdismay,herealizedthatnomatterhowirredeemablyevilshebecame,hecouldn¡¯tpushherawayHehatedherbutlovedherevenmore WillowthoughtthatZayn¡¯sfuriousroaringmeanthewasabouttotormenther.Shehadnotimetoindulgelusmadness.Shepushedhimawayforcefullyandturnedtoleave.Butthenextsecond,Zayntightlyembracedherfrombehind.Hedidn¡¯tchokeherorroarininger.Instead,hespokeinaslightlypitiful,pleadingvoice,¡°Willow,Igotinjured.Myahurtsalot.¡± Chapter 393 Chapter393 Willow¡¯sexpressionfroze.Hermindwentnkforamoment.ShewasusedtobeingatoddswithZayn Suddenly,shedidn¡¯tknowhowtoreactwhenhespoketoherinavoicetingedwithgrievanceandahintofpleading. Ithadbeenso,solongsincetheyhadaproperconversation. Afterabriefpause,Willowrespondedtly,¡°Mr.Carter,youshouldgotothehospitalifyou¡¯reinjured.What¡¯stheuseintellingme? ¡°Willow,I¡¯mintoomuchpaintodrivetothehospital¡± WillowwasabouttosayhecouldtakeacaborhaveLiampickhimup.Butbeforeshecouldgetthewordsout,Zaynspokeagaininthatpitifndaggrievedtone.¡°Willow,Igothurtrescuingyou.Youcan¡¯tleavemelikethis!¡± Thisattitudeofimingadebtofgratitudeleftherspeechless. Willowdidn¡¯twanttodealwithZayn,buthistonesoundedpathetic.Hedidsaveherlife. WhenWilhelminadrovethecartowardher,heranklehurtsomuchthatshecouldn¡¯tn Zaynhelpedherdodgethatcmity far.Shecouldhavebeenseriouslyhit Eventhoughshehatedandresentedhim,afavorwasafavor.Tonight,hehelpedher,sosheshouldgivehimsomemedicineforhisinjuries. Thatwouldbeenoughto repaythedebtfortonight. ¡°Mr.Carter,letmego.Ican¡¯topenthedoorwithyouholdingmelikethis!¡± SeeingWillow¡¯sattitudesoften,Zaynpromptlyreleasedher. Willowquicklytookoutherkeysfromherbagandtriedtoopenthedoor.Afterallthatfuss,thedoorstilldidn¡¯topen. Toherimmenseembarrassment,Willowrealizedthatshehadbeenusingthewrongkeyalong. Thekeys foreachdoorinthissmapartmentlookeddifferent.Shehadnevermadethismistake before.Tonight,Zayn¡¯sactionshadthrownheroff,leadinghertmitthissillyerror. ZaynwatchedWillow¡¯sactions,unabletosuppresshisjoy. Shewasnervous. Thefactthatshestillgotnervousaroundhimprovedthatdeepdownshestillcaredabout him. ThisrealizationliftedZayn¡¯sspirits,purtinghiminagreatmood.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ItevenmadehimwanttogiveWillowachancetoexinwhathappenedfouryearsago. Shehadexinedcountlesstimesbefore,andhehadn¡¯tbelievedher.Butnow,hewaswillingtogiveheronstchance,andhimselfaswell. Thatfiremadehimrealizehisfearoflosingher.Hestubbornlyremainedentrenchedinhisdefenses,unwillingtoadmithisvulnerability.Butdeepdown,heknewhecaredabouther. Finallyopeningthedoor,WillowignoredZaynandwalkedstraightintothesmapartment. ThevariousointmentsErichadbroughtoverstillhadplentyleft.WillowtookthrgeshoppingbagfromthecabandtossedittoZayn. ¡°Mr.Carter,I¡¯mgivingyouallthesemedicines.Pleaseeptthemasasignofmygratitudeforsavingmetonight.¡± Withthatdebtrepaid,theycouldgo theirseparatewaysfromnowon Willowdidn¡¯twanttocareaboutZayn¡¯swell¨Cbeing.Butseeinghimstandingthere,painfullyclutchinghisarm,shecouldn¡¯thelpherself.¡°Ifyourarmhurtsthatmuch,Mr.Carter,Isuggestyougotothehospital.¡± Zayndidn¡¯tsayanythingInstead,heforcefullyremovedhissuitjacketandtosseditaside. Chapter 394 Chapter394 1/1 Willow¡¯sbrowknittedinfrustrationasshewatchedZaynbegintotakeoffhisclothes. Shehadonlysuggestedhegotothehospitaloutofconcern,butheseemedintentonprovingherwrong. Regretstabbedherassherealizedhermistakeinallowinghiminsideinthefirstce. ¡°Mr.Carter,Ithinkit¡¯sbestifyouleave,¡±shesaid,pointingtohissuitjacket Tohersurprise,Zayndidn¡¯treactwithhisusuggression.Instead,therewasavulnerabilityinhiseyesasheawkwardlyliftedhisleftarm,almostasifpleadingforunderstanding. ¡°willow,didn¡¯tyougivemethemedicinesoIcouldapplyit?¡± Willowwasleftspeechless.His questioncaughtheroffguard. Thewayheframedit,itsoundedlikeshewastheonewithulteriormotives,doubtinghisintentions. Feelingasurgeoffrustration,Willowturnedherfaceaway,dismissingZaynasifhewerenothingmorethanair. Sincehewantedtoapplythemedicine,fineHecoulddoitandthenhittheroad. Asforhisclothes,hecouldstripdownifhepleased.Itwasn¡¯tlikeshehadn¡¯tseenitbefore,andtherewasn¡¯tanythingworthseeinganyway. Withthatrealization,awaveofcalmwashedoverWillow.Ifshecouldhandlethesightofstreetpacidoutintheopen,shecouldcertainlytolerateZaynstandingtherehalf-naked Itwasnobigdeal.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Sincewhatstoodbeforeher wasmerelyabofmeat,Willowsawnoneedtolookaway.SheunabashedlylethereyesroamoverZayn¡¯sexposedform. Butthenshenoticedsomething¨Chisleftarmwasbadlyinjured. Therewasanasty,bloodygashrunningseveralinchesalonghisleftarm. Clearly,hehadlostquiteabitofblood,butshehadn¡¯tnoticedearlierbecausehissuitjacketwasck. ApangofuneasesettledinWillow¡¯schest,butshepusheditaside,maintainingacool,detachedtone.¡°Mr.Carter,ifyou¡¯regoingtoapplythatmedicine,doitquickly.Thenyouneedtoleave.It¡¯te,andIneedtorest.¡± willow,helpmewiththemedicine.Zaynthrusthisinjuredarmforwarddeliberately.¡°I¡¯mhurt,Ineedyourhelp.¡± ¡°Mr.Carter,you¡¯vegothands,don¡¯tyou?Applythemedicineyourself!Willow¡¯sresolvehardenedasshemaintainedhercolddemeanor. ¡°Willow,myrightarm¡¯sbusted too.Ican¡¯tEtit,¡±Zayncountered. Witheffort,Zaynmovedhisrightarm,revealingscrapesandsignificantswelling,despitetheminimalbleeding. Willow¡¯sgazelingeredonZayn¡¯sinjuredarm,momentarilydistractedinash,hepulledherintohis embrace.Hisholdwasfirmaroundherwaist. Willowseethedwithamixoffuryandembarrassment. Zaynhadjustimedhecouldn¡¯tlifthisrightarm,yetnowheheldhertightly,Was thishisideaofbeingunabletolifthisarm? Herangersurgedevenmore.Despiteherresolvetocuttieswithhim,seeinghimhurtstichedherheart. ¡°Mr.Carter,letgoofme!¡±Willow¡¯svoicewasfirmasshepushedagainsthimwithallherstrength. Inaswiftmove,hespunaround,pinningherdownonthelivingroomcouch. Hislipscamedownonhersdenwithrestraineddesireandprofoundaffection ¡°Willow,I¡¯mgivingyouachancetoexin.Let¡¯sstartover.¡±Zayn¡¯svoicewasthickwithdesperation. TherewasaroughedgetoZayn¡¯svoice,amixoffearandhope.¡°Willow,whateverwentdownfouryearsago,ifyou¡¯rereadytoopenup,I¡¯mallears.¡°Willow,I¡¯mreadytoputmytrustinyouonsttime.¡± Chapter 395 Chapter395 AmitsuddenlydePillon Hetrosylipsquivered,butshecouldn¡¯tfindthewordstospeak¨C¨C¨C Instead,shewhisperedsoftlyinhetheart.¡°It¡¯stote,Zayn.It¡¯sreallytote.¡± hehadsaidthosewordsbeforeAaron¡¯sincident,shewouldhavebrokendown,seekingconfortinhisarms, Shewouldhavepouredoutallherpainandsorrow,revealingjusthowdifficultthepastfouryearshadbeenandhowdesperatelyshehadyeanedforfilmsinthatdark,distece ButAaron¡¯sidenthadchangedeverything. Atthecliff¡¯sedge,heabandonedAzrenwithoutasecondthought,allforSkyler. Andthenthere wasNic. ithehadn¡¯tintentionallymadethingshardforher,ithehadtestifiedonherbehalf,maybeherdeathwouldn¡¯thavebeensogruesome. Antonwasletcrippled,andNicwaslostatsea.Toomuchhaebetweenthem,andtherewasnoturningback Furthermore,healwaysboastedabouttrustingher,althoughheneveractuallydid.ButwhenitcametoSkyler,heneverhesitatedtotakeherside. EvenifsheweretoimthatshebrokeupwithhimbecauseSkylerpressuredher,bestillwouldn¡¯tbuyit. Willowletoutabitteugh,pushingasidehertangledthoughtsasshespokewithankexpression,¡°Mr.Carter,letmehelpyouapplythe medicine.¡± Oncethemedicinewasapplied,theywouldpartways.Noonebelongedtoanyoneanymore. Zavbelievedhehadmadeamajorconcessiontoday. DespiteherusingthatvideotohurtSkyler,hedidn¡¯tholditagainstherandevenofferedherachancetoexinwhathappenedfouryearsago.Yet,sheshowednogratitude.Howungratefulother! Asurgeofintenseangeri shedinhiseyes.Butjustashewasabouttoexplode,hemanagedtoholditback. Sincehecouldn¡¯tbeartolethergo,evenifshedidn¡¯tappreciateit,hewouldhavetoendureitfornow. ¡°Willow,exinyourselftome!¡±Zayn¡¯sgazeburnedintoWillow.Hisvoicewamandingashelookeddownather. Uponhearinghisdemand.Willow¡¯ughterbubbledupunexpectedly. Heughterwasenchanting,withahintofallurereminiscentofcountlesspeachblossomsinfallbloom. Butbeneaththefacadeofbeauty,therewasnowarmthofspring,onlyacold,cynicalundertone. ¡°Mr.Carter,whatexactlydoyouwantmetoexin?Willow¡¯svoicecarriedatouchofsarcasm. ¡°Thatfouryearsago,Skylerforcedmebythreateningmygrandmother¡¯slife?¡± ¡°Willow!You¡¯restisunrepentantasever!Igaveyouachance,andyoujustusedittosmearSkyler¡¯sname!Willow,youare¡­ ¡°Heh,¡±Willowinterjectedwithacolugh.¡°Mr.Carter,youstillthinkI¡¯msmearingSkyler?See,youdon¡¯tbelievemeatall.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ifyoudon¡¯ttrustme,demandinganexnationfrommeisjustridiculous,Mr.Carter.You¡¯rebeingridiculous! ¡°Mr.Carter,Idon¡¯tknowwhat¡¯sgottenintoyou.AllIknowisthatAaronandIdon¡¯tneedyouanymore. ¡°Once,Aaronreallywantedyouashisfather.Hecravedyourcareandaffection,butyounevergaveittohim.Youevendrovehimtodespair!Thankstoyou,Aaronsayshedoesn¡¯thaveafatheranymore.Hisfatherdiedlongago,inhisheart¡± ¡°Willow! Zayn¡¯sgriptightenedaroundWillow¡¯sshoulders.Butwhenhelookedintohereyesandsawthehauntingemptiness,hisangryvoicewaveredwithatremor. ¡°Willow,isthatbastard..isAaronreallymyson?Youdidn¡¯tkillourchild? Willowabruptlyturnedherfaceaway,strugglingtocontaintherisingsobinherthroat, ¡°Mr.Carter,you¡¯remistaken.I¡¯vealreadytoldyou.Aaron¡¯sfatherisgone.Aarondoesn¡¯thaveafatheranymore!¡± Chapter396 Chapter 396 Chapter396 Zaynturrowedhisbrows.Hecouldn¡¯thelpbutfeellikepleteidiot BackwhenWillowhadbeggedhimtobelievethatAaronwashisson,hehadrefused.Butnow,assheimedAaronhadnofather,hefoundhimselfentertainingthepossibilitythatAaronmighttrulybehisson. IfAaronwasindeedhis¡­ Zayn,usuallysotoughanposed,couldn¡¯thelpthetremblethatranthroughhisbody. IfAaronwastrulyhisson,itmeantWillowhadn¡¯tabortedtheirchildfouryearsago.Itmeantshehadalegitimatereasonforbreakingthingsoffwithhim. Andyet,hehadruthlesslysoughtrevengeagainsther,evenforsakinghisownfleshandbloodatthecliff¡¯sedge.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Zayn¡¯sfiststightenedabruptly,thoughhisfingersstilltrembledviolently. Aaronendedupcrippled.Itwashisfaultthathisownsonwasnowdisabled. Furthermore,Aaronwasluckytohavesurvivedthefall.Fromsuchaheight,themoreprobableouewouldhavebeenabrokenbody,anddeathwithoutaZaynwantedto pourhisheartouttoWillow,buthefoundhimselfatalossforwords. ¡°Mr.Carter,please,don¡¯tevermentionAaronagain.You¡¯vealreadycausedhim..causedhimtobecrippled.Ifyouhaveanydecencyleft,justleavehimoutofthis.¡±Willow¡¯svoiwasfirmasshetookadeepbreath. ¡°Mr.Carter,it¡¯stimeforyoutogo.You¡¯rereallynotweehere.¡± Zayndidn¡¯twanttoleave,butthethoughtthatAaronmightbehissonletthimfeelingmorevulnerablethanever. Forthefirsttime,whenWillowaskedhimtoleave,hedidn¡¯trespondwithaggression.Instead,hegrabbedhisclothesandleftinahurry. Standinginthehallway,hequicklythrewonhisshirt.Histall,ruggedframeandstridinggoodlookscouldstillbarnheads. Butnow,hisfaceshowednoneoflife¡¯susualemotions.Therewasonlydeep¨Cseatedloneliness. Withasigh,helitacigarette,exhalingsmoke.Yet,afterafewpuffs,herememberedWillow¡¯saversiontomenwhosmoked.Grimacing,hecrushedthecigarette. Afteralongpause,hefinallyreachedforhisphoneanddialedLiam¡¯snumber. ¡°Boss,what¡¯sgoingon?¡±Liam¡¯srxedeveningwithfriendsabruptlyshiftedasheansweredZayn¡¯scall.Heinstantlysnappedintoalertmode. ¡°Ineedapaternitytest.¡± Uponhearingthis,Liamalmostchokedonhisownsaliva.HeknewbetterthantopryintoZayn¡¯spersonallife,buttherequestcaughthimoffguard.Liamhesitatedforamomentbeforecautiouslyasking,¡°Boss,doyouhaveanillegitimatechildyoudidn¡¯tknowabout?¡± Thewords¡°illegitimate child¡±madeZayninexplicablyirritated. ¡°IneedapaternitytestwithAaronSanford.Iwanttheresultsbytomorrowmorning.¡±Zayn¡¯svoicewasfirm,leavingLiammomentarilyspeechless.Withthat,hehungup, Liamwassoshockedhejumpedoutofhis seat ¡°Tomorrowmorning?That¡¯satightdeadline!¡±Lam¡¯smindraced. GettingAaron¡¯shairandrunningthetestinsuchashorttimewaspracticallyimpossible. Eventhoughitwasatoughtask,asadedicatedseniorassistant,Liamhadtotackleithead¨Con¡­ MoseswasWynn¡¯smentor,andLiamhadconnectionswithpeoplearoundhim,GettingasampleofAaron¡¯shairwouldn¡¯tbetoodifficult Thatnight,LiampulledoutallthestopsandfinallymanagedtogetAaron¡¯shair.Beforedawn,thepaternitytestresultswereready.Yowning,mdialedZayn¡¯snumber.¡°Boss,thepatemitytestresultsarein!¡± Chapter 397 Chapter397 LianhaddialedZayn¡¯s numberwithlittlehopeofreachinghim. Itwasearly,andheassumedZaynwouldstillbelostinslumber.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Tet,tohissurprise,Zaynpickedupalmostinstantly. HewonderedifZaynhadactuallystayedupallnightwaitingforthisresult Liamstoodtall,bracinghimselfforwhateverwaste. ¡°What¡¯stheresult?Zayn¡¯svoicehadahintofraspiness,tingedwith eithernervesor excitement.Liamcouldn¡¯tquitediscernwhich. ¡°Boss,youandMr.AaronSanford.no,scratchthat,Mr.AaronCarter..youtwo..you¡¯reblood,fatherandson!¡± LiamknewZayn¡¯sdisdainforAaronalltoowell,sohehurriedlyadded,¡°Boss,ifyou¡¯reskeptical,I¡¯llbringthatpaternitytestreportovertoLakecoastrightthisminute! ¡°Andboss,Iswearoneverythingholy,thatthepaternitytestisaslegitasthee!I¡¯vebeencampedoutat thehospital,sothere¡¯llbenochanceforanymonkeybusiness.SobelievemewhenIsay,youandMr.Aaron,you¡¯rebloodthroughandthrough!¡± Later,Liarprattledonaboutsomething,butZayncouldn¡¯tmakeoutthewords.AllthatreverberatedinhismindwasLiam¡¯ssolemnpromationthatheandAaronwereblood,fatherandson Zamgrippedhisheadintorment.Willowhadn¡¯tdeceivedhim.Aaronwasindeedhisownfleshandblood. Yet,hehadspatvenom,brandingAaronadespicablebastard,andWillow,awhore HehadturnedablindeyetoAaron¡¯smedicalneeds,forcingWillowtostrikeadealwithadubiousorganizationjusttoscrapetogetherthecashforAaron¡¯ssurgery. WhenAaronwaskidnapped,heremainedaloot.Tosavehim,Willowhadto sellherselfattheRumpusClub. Inthatmoment,shesuffered humtionanddespair,whilehecallouslystompedonherdignitywiththeRumpesClubscandal Afterallherhardship,shefinallyscrapedtogetherenoughtorescueAaron.ButhehadheartlesslysentAaronplummetingintotheabyss. IfAaronwastrulytheirs,thenshehadn¡¯tdeceivedhim,andshehadn¡¯tabortedthechildallthoseyearsago, Shemust¡¯vesplitfromhimunderduress,maybecoercedbyLouisorothercircumstances.Itcouldn¡¯thavebeenwhatshewanted. AndasforherandLouisgettingtogether¡­ He¡¯dseenLouispinningherdown,butmaybeitwasn¡¯tconsensual. IfLouishadbeentormentingherallthistime,howhadshemanagedtomakeitthroughalonewithachild? aynwasitchingtosee Wallow,butthisinnerturmoilheldhimback.Now,hecouldn¡¯tsummonthecouragetofaceher. Zayn Hewastooashamed. ¡°Boss,Mr.andMrs.Carterhavebeenyearningforagrandson.WithAaron¡¯sidentityconfirmed,shouldIsharethegoodnewswiththem?¡± ¡°No,notyet,¡±Zaynsaid,hisvoicequivering.¡°I¡¯llbreakthenewstothempersonallter.¡± ZaynhadalwaysenvisionedafuturewherehereconciledwithWillowandAaron,bringingthembacktotheCarterresidence,tohisbelovedparents.Theywouldbeaunitedfamily,nevertobetornapartagain Littledidheknow,hismomentarpseofjudgmentwouldleadtounforgivablemistakes. HecouldonlywatchhelplesslyasWillowsufferedwhilebeingconsumedbyhisownregret. Butthosewerestoriesforanothertime. WynnwasMoses¡®mostprizedstudent.Theirbondwasthatofmentorandprot¨¦g¨¦,yetitfeltmorelikefatheranddaughter. AfterMosessettledinHavenpoint,Wynnoftenapaniedhiminsolvingmedicalenigmas. Zamknewthismuch.ItcouldbesaidthatMosespracticallywatchedZayngrowup Chapter398 Chapter 399 Chapter399 ¡°Nope Jenny, aproudlittleprincess,refusedtoentertaintheideaofbeingassociatedwithacrippleShevigorouslyshookherhead,fearingthatevenaslightnodmightdoomhertomarryacripplewhenshegrewup. Tosolidifyherstanceagainstmarryingacripple,JennypoutedandcastadisdainfulnceatAaron ¡°I¡¯dnevermarrya cripple!Mymomsaysit¡¯slikebeingcursedforeightlifetimes!Iwanttomarryaprince!¡± ¡°Marryingacrippleislikebeingcursedforeightlifetimes!Hahaha!Tammycouldn¡¯thelpbutburstintoexaggerateughteratjenny¡¯sderation. Hecontinued,¡°Cripplescan¡¯nd awife!They¡¯relikestreetbeggars,destinedforadetimeofbachelorhood!¡± AsTimmy¡¯ughterfilledtheair,JackandTommyjoinedin,theiughterechoingTimmy¡¯s. Whiletheydidn¡¯twanttoendupspouseless,theyfoundAaron¡¯swalkingstyletoicaltoresist.So,whenTimmywasn¡¯twatching,theymimickedhislimpforafewsteps. Withmischievousgrins,JackandTommyquicklygrewtired ofimitatingAaron¡¯swalk.However,theycouldn¡¯tresistteasinghimabitmore. WhileAaronwasoffguard,Tommysneakilyextendedhisfootandtrippedhimhard. Aarontookabrutalfall.Despitehisresiliencparedtootherkidshisage,hecouldn¡¯tholdbackthetearsofpain. ¡°Look,thecripple¡¯scrying!¡±Tommyremainedoblivioustohiswrongdoing,takingprideinstead. Standingvwithhisroundbelly,hejeeredatAaron,¡°Areyoucryingbecauseyou¡¯rescaredyouwon¡¯tfindawifewhenyougrowup,cripple?¡± ¡°Hahaha, stupidcripple,can¡¯tfindawife,stupidcripple,crying,hahaha.Tommy¡¯ughterresonatedwithcruelmockery. Despitetheirinnocenceanckofa strongsenseofrightandwrong,thechildrenimitatedAaron¡¯swalkandteasinglycalledhimacripple,tindingamusementinitwithoutmaliciousintent However,theywereoblivioustotheprofoundimpacttheiractionshadonothers. Beingmockedandmadefanofcouldinflictdeepemotionalwounds,leavinstingscars. AsZaynlistenedtothechildren¡¯sexaggerateughterandwitnessedAaron¡¯ssilenttears,hisheartbroke. Hissonenduredridiculeandbullying,andheboretheguiltofhavingputhim insuchapainfulsituation. Honestly,Aaronwasastandouparedtotheotherkidsaroundhim. WithZaynandWillow¡¯sgenes,itdidn¡¯tmatterwhosetraitsAaroninherited,hewasheadandshouldersabovetherest. Butbecauseofhislegs,everyoneseemedtooverlookhisperfectlittletace.Theyonlyfocused onhisimperfectionsandstruggles. Takingcautioussteps,ZaynapproachedAaron.HecroucheddownandextendedhishandtohelpAaronup ButbeforehecouldtouchAaron¡¯shand,Aaronrecoiledasitspookedandquicklywithdrewhisownhand. Sincebingcrippled,Aaronhadgrownustomedtoothers¡®mockery. ButseeingZayn,thelittleboyfeltanindescribableembarrassment. Hehatedhisownweakness.Hehadremindedhimselfrepeatedlythathenolongerhadafatherandshouldn¡¯tcareaboutZaynanymore.Yet,hestilldidn¡¯twantZayntoseehiminsuchahumiliatingstate. Hewishedhecouldfindaholetocrawlinto.Buttherewerenoholesaround,andwhatwasworse,hewasinpainfromthefandcouldn¡¯tgetup. AfterAaronfell,thenannyalsonoticedthmotion.ShequicklycanoverandliftedAaronupfromtheground. ¡°Aaron,areyouokay?Didyouhurtyourself?Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Aaron¡¯slegsweretremblingfromthepain.ButwhenhesawZaynlookingathim,heforcedhimselftoshakehishead.Aarondidn¡¯twanttospendanotherminuteinthisce.Hewantedtofindsomewhere Chapter 400 Chapter400 Aaronsquirmedoutfromthenanny¡¯sgraspandboltedforward.Butwithhislegalreadycrippledandthrobbingwithagony,hestumbledandcrashedbackdowntothe Thistime,theimpactwasevenharsher.Hisfacesmackedagainsttheground. Thetearshefoughttoholdbacknowflowedsilentlydownhischeeksashythere. WatchingAarontakeanotherfall,Tommycouldn¡¯thelpbutburstintughter.Hecopsedontothegroundwithamusement. HeturnedtowardJenny.¡°Hey,cripple!Alwaystrippingoveryourself!Girlsshouldn¡¯thitchthemselvestocripples!It¡¯sbadluck!¡± ¡°Onlyfoolswouldtietheknotwithacripple!I¡¯mnofoul¡±Jennyshotback,tossingherheadwithdisdainandpointedlyturningaway,showinghercontemptforthe disal Intruth,evenatsuchatenderage,kidsalreadygraspgenderroles. Atthatage,theymightnotunderstandloveandsuch,butinstinctively,theycaremoreabouthowtheoppositesexwouldviewthemthanhowtheirpeersdo. Jenny¡¯srejectiononlyreinforcedAaron¡¯sbeliefthathewasahopelesscripple,doomedtoremainunwed. AaronstubbornlysniffedandwasabouttofighttogetupwhenZaynscoopedhimintohisarms. ¡°Letmego!¡±Aaronbithisliphard.HewantedtocallZaynajerk,butthewordswouldn¡¯e out. ItwasthefirsttimeZaynhadeverhuggedhim, Despitehisfaults, hisembracefeltoddlywarmanforting. Hisdadwasholdinghim.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. AaronsquirmedawkwardlyinZayn¡¯sarmsbutultimatelydidn¡¯tmanagetowrigglefree. ¡°What¡¯soneplusone?¡±ZaynheldAaronfirmly,casuallyaddressingTommynearby. Tommy,whohadbeenswaggeringjustmomentsbefore,suddenlyfeltuneasyinthepresenceofthepoisedZayn. Despitebeingfourandahalfyearsold,hisexpertisyprimarilyineating,andtheconceptofadditioneludedhim. Feelingabitembarrassedastheself¨Cproimedlittletoughguy,Tommyscratchedhishead.¡°Idon¡¯tknow.¡± Seeminglyitchingtoprovehewasn¡¯tdumb,hequicklypointedatAaronandsaid,¡°Thatidiotcrippleprobablydoesn¡¯thaveaclueeither! ¡°Heyme¨Co,youknowwhatoneplusoneis?Suchabrainteaser,acripplelikeyouwouldn¡¯tstandachancel¡± Aaron wasn¡¯toseekthespotlight,butunderZayn¡¯sencouraginglook,hereluctantlyreplied,¡°Oneplusone equalstwo.¡± Zaynsmiledwithsatisfaction,unknowinglywearingthegenuineprideofafather. ¡°What¡¯s15plus100?¡±ZaynkeptquizzingTommy, ¡°What¡¯s50plus108? ¡°What¡¯s600plus909?¡± Asexpected,chubbyTommycameupempty¨Chanded,whileAaronansweredeachquestioncorrectly. Bytheend,Zaynwassomewhatsurprised.Hehadn¡¯tanticipatedthatAaron,atsuchatender age,wascapableofhandlingslightlymorplexmath. Hecouldn¡¯t helpbutfeswellofpride.Indeed,Aaronwashisson. ListeningtoAaron¡¯sconfidentresponses,Jennycouldn¡¯thelpbutadmirehim.ShehandedherhandkerchieftoAaron. ¡°Aaron,you¡¯reincredible!You¡¯rethemostamazingboyI¡¯veevermet!Thishandkerchiefisforyou!¡± ¡°Jenny,didn¡¯tyousayyouhatecripplesthemost?Areyounningonmarryingonewhenyougrowup?Tommyremaineddefiantashespoke. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!